John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Former President George W. Bush has accepted an invitation to deliver a eulogy at the funeral of Sen. John McCain at the National Cathedral and is "honored to have been asked to speak," Bush spokesman Freddy Ford confirmed to ABC News on Sunday. Former first lady Laura Bush will also be in attendance. McCain, a Vietnam War hero with more than 35 years of public service who became one of the most distinctive figures in modern American politics, died Saturday at his home in Arizona at the age of 81 after a long battle with cancer. The New York Times reported on Saturday night that McCain requested that both Bush and former President Barack Obama each of whom has run against the Arizona senator in presidential campaigns be invited to deliver eulogies at the senator's funeral. The Times also reported Saturday that while Vice President Mike Pence was invited to attend the funeral, President Donald Trump, who has had a tumultuous relationship with McCain, was not invited. ABC News has reached out to the White House and Obama's representatives, but a request for comment was not immediately returned. McCain has a long history of reaching out to lawmakers across the political aisle to pass major legislation in the Senate and of overcoming political differences. The Arizona senator lost to fellow Republican George W. Bush in the 2000 GOP primary for president. Bush paid tribute to McCain on Saturday, writing, "Some lives are so vivid, it is difficult to imagine them ended. Some voices are so vibrant, it is hard to think of them stilled. John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order." Obama, who defeated McCain in the 2008 presidential election, offered his condolences to the McCain family and shared a heartfelt tribute to the Arizona senator in a statement on Saturday. John McCain and I were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds, and competed at the highest level of politics, he wrote. But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed. McCain's fellow Arizona senator, Republican Jeff Flake, said on This Week Sunday that McCain's greatest lesson is to forgive and to see the good in his opponents." Flake added that we can honor McCain's legacy by "seeing the good in our opponents, by being quick to forgive, by realizing that there's something more important than ourselves, to put service over and above our self interest." Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. It is common for companies to organize various informal events where workers can come with their partners. One of those... Trade exchange between Egypt and China surged up to 24 percent in the first seven months of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017, according to Chinese customs data reported by MENA on Sunday. The trade volume between the two countries reached $7.5 billion, while China's exports to Egypt were estimated at $6.5 billion, a 22.6 percent increase year-on-year. Egypt's export s to the Asian giant jumped 34.1 percent to $1 billion. On a monthly basis, the trade exchange stood at $1.298 billion in July, according to the data. The Egyptian-Chinese trade exchange volume surged from $3.19 billion in 2006 to $11 billion in 2017, according to official data. China occupied the 21st place in Egyptian foreign country investment with $600 million in 1,320 projects across the country, the Egyptian Ministry of Trade said in 2017. China also came in ninth place among tourism exporters to Egypt. On Saturday, minister counsellor for economic affairs at the Chinese embassy in Cairo said that trade exchange between China and African states increased 14 percent year-on-year in 2017, registering $170 billion. In statements to MENA, Han revealed that Chinese investments in Africa recorded $3.1 billion in 2017. China sees major opportunities for the expansion of economic cooperation with African countries in fields such as agriculture, investment, energy and natural resources, Han said. Earlier this month, the Egyptian cabinet held a meeting to discuss preparations for President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's upcoming visit to China, which is scheduled for September. The meeting reviewed a number of agreements that are set to be inked between the two countries during the visit, especially in the fields of transportation, industry, electricity, education and housing. The ministers reviewed a number of projects between Egypt and China, including the electric monorail project to link the country's industrial zones with new cities and the establishing of a coal-fuelled power plant in El-Hamrawein region in the Red Sea governorate. They also discussed financial terms for the second of phase of Egypt's New Administrative Capital's central business area. President El-Sisi's last visit to China was in September 2017, where he held talks with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. Search Keywords: Short link: 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 - Social : Funeral of Claire Francois Duvignaud On Saturday, many political authorities, personalities, relatives, colleagues and friends gathered at the St James Catholic Church in North Miami for the funeral of Claire Francois Duvignaud (born August 4, 1970 in Marchand Dessalines), an emeritus activist who devoted a large part of his life to the emancipation of Haitian women in Haiti. Many were those who paid tribute to her, all of whom spoke of the natural benevolence of this great patriot and socio-political activist, who placed at the service of others to promote a socially inclusive and inclusive society. In his eulogy of sadness and emotion, ONA's Director General, Mr. Chesnel Pierre did not fail to greet and honor the memory of his friend and collaborator at ONA Fanm who was his Deputy Director, declaring in front of the smiling image of the deceased, exposed near the coffin "Claire had the solidity of the oak and the flexibility of the reed... So, the sorrow of having lost her will not forget the happiness of having known her. Concluding "Far from our eyes, but always in our hearts. We love you forever, Claire." The death of Claire Francois Duvignaud also deeply affects the members of "Fanm Yo La" who offer their condolences to her family, including her two sons, Jamar and Julian Duvignaud, and her spouse Jacques Duvignaud. Natacha Clerge, General Coordinator of "Fanm Yo La" said "We keep of Claire Duvignaud the memory of a woman who fought against the exclusion of women from the sphere of power and who has committed herself to the political life of his country despite, in particular, structural obstacles. We keep of her the memory of a frank, jovial, caring and supportive of friends and comrades of struggle." Learn more about Claire Duvignaud : She lived for several years in Miami where she was very involved with her spouse in the inclusion of children and teenagers living with a disability or drug addict who lost her bearings, young people that she welcomed in her private home which held of refuge. In politics, she was nominated in 2015 to the senatoriales of 2015 for the Artibonite under the banner of the Party "Renmen Ayiti". In 2016, she was President of the Women's Political Tribune (TPF), which advocates for the participation of women in power. In 2017, she became Deputy Director of ONA Fanm, an ONA program designed to help poor women access credit and develop women's entrepreneurship. However, she will not stay long, suffering from breast cancer that has cut her off in the fullness of her strength and in her fight. S/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Agriculture : Towards the return of white gold in Haiti Brazil and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in a trilateral cooperation, support Haiti in the revival of the cotton sector. A mission composed of FAO members, "Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria" (EMBRAPA) and the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) were also in Haiti at the end of July to work with the Government on the progress of this project. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25052-haiti-news-zapping.html Currently, the project is in its final drafting stage and should be submitted to the government authorities for approval within the next two months, before official signatures committing the various institutions and partners involved in this project. The launch of the project is scheduled for the first quarter of 2019 and the first plantings in July of the same year. If the revival of cotton production is done in good conditions, Hugh Locke co-founder of the Haitian cooperative (Gonaives) "Smallholder Farmers Alliance" (SFA / Alyans ti Plante) aiming to reintroduce cotton as export crop for Haitian small farmers, is convinced that the development of the cotton sector, together with marketing, could create in the next 5 years nearly 17,000 jobs in Haiti. He believes that in a few years, cotton could become Haiti's white gold and provide millions of pounds of organic cotton for shoes, shirts and other clothing sold in US stores, recalling that before the disappearance of this sector in Haiti in the late 80s https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24397-haiti-agriculture-towards-the-resumption-of-cotton-cultivation.html , cotton ranked 4th in Haitian agricultural exports. Recall that following a joint feasibility study between Timberland "Impact Farming" and the Haitian cooperative SFA field trials, various varieties of cotton were grown according to biological principles and harvested successfully in Haiti https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16999-haiti-agriculture-study-on-the-reintroduction-of-cotton-as-an-export-crop.html Cecilia Malaguti do Prado, General Coordinator of Trilateral South-South Cooperation with International Organizations in the CBA, said that the positive experiences of the return to cotton cultivation in some Latin American countries, such as the Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Paraguay suggest that such a move would also be successful in Haiti, stressing that cotton is very resilient and can grow in areas where growing food is difficult. Adriana Gregolin, regional coordinator of FAO's Project + Algodon (Beyond Cotton), said that a preliminary analysis of the sector has established the existence of export potential in addition to the local market. She added that one of the main challenges to revive cotton production in Haiti is the supply of seeds and the training of specialists and producers for sustainable cotton cultivation. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24397-haiti-agriculture-towards-the-resumption-of-cotton-cultivation.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23595-haiti-agriculture-the-cotton-sector-could-create-nearly-17-000-jobs-in-5-years.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16999-haiti-agriculture-study-on-the-reintroduction-of-cotton-as-an-export-crop.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8114-haiti-agriculture-positive-impact-for-the-sfa-cooperative-of-gonaives.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6922-haiti-agriculture-south-south-agreement-of-$20-million-for-the-cotton-sector.html SL/ HaitiLibre Former vice president of the Egyptian Petroleum Authority Medhat Youssef told Ahram Online that Egypt has nothing to fear over the ongoing renegotiations of the Cyprus natural gas deal, noting that it is a normal procedure that should be undertaken if there is a change in the market, including oil prices. Youssef added that the changes in the agreement that may happen will only guarantee benefits for every side involved including Egypt, Cyprus, and foreign investors. The Cypriot Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis said last week that the consortium wants to renegotiate deal terms because current, lower global oil prices dont make the preliminary agreement to sell Aphrodite gas to a Shell-operated processing plant in Egypt viable, according to Cyprus Mail. "If all goes as planned, natural gas will start flowing to Egypt in 2022," the minister stated. Youssef said "Egypt is the best hub for Cyprus to export liquefied gas to Europe," adding that an alternative to Egypt will be very hard to find in the short term. He suggested that the agreement will very likely be successful. The existing preliminary agreement involved connecting the Aphrodite field with Egypt's liquefaction plants in Idku and Damietta through an underwater pipeline worth up to $1 billion. Currently, brent crude oil is traded at around $70 a barrel, down from over $100 per barrel four years ago. Lakkotrypis added that the current plan is contingent on talks between the Cypriot government and a consortium consisting of Texas-based Noble Energy, Israels Delek, and Royal Dutch Shell, who are all looking to renegotiate the financial terms of their contract for the field, according to Cyprus Mail. The best option is to try and find a mutually acceptable solution with the consortium so that the Aphrodite reserve is developed as soon as possible, the minister said, adding that the development of the reserve would have a lot of financial and geopolitical benefits. Former vice president of the Egyptian Petroleum Authority, Salah Hafez, told Al Ahram Online that such a deal is needed for Egypt to capitalize on the potential production of Egyptian gas liquefaction companies who are working far from their full capacity. "Should the deal go through, Egypt will gain a lot of revenues from the difference of the import price of the natural gas from Cyprus and the export price of the liquefied one," he said. Egypt seeks to be a natural gas collection hub for Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Palestine, and, potentially, for Lebanon. Oil minister Tarek El Molla had previously said to El Watan that Egypt would reach natural gas self-sufficiency by January 2019 as it piles up production from the Zohr gas field and other projects. He added that there remain no specific targets for how much natural gas Egypt should be exporting noting that it will not be large quantities since fulfilling domestic demand remains the top priority. The minister said that Egypt is targeting about $10 billion in foreign investment in the oil and gas sector for the 2018/19 fiscal year that began in July, according to Reuters. 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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 The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) said on Sunday that it will not allow third parties to access bank account data belonging to companies or individuals, referring to a proposal by the countrys Tax Authority to amend the law to allow access to account data by the finance ministry. In an official statement, CBE governor Tarek Amer said that the bank will not accept amendments to the income tax act that would allow the finance ministry access to company accounts. The statements by Amer came a few hours after the head of the countrys Tax Authority Emad Samy told Enterprise on Sunday that the finance ministry is seeking access to corporate bank data under proposed amendments to the income tax act to help combat tax evasion. Samy said the amendment will require discussion with the central bank to ensure that the language conforms to the Central Bank Act, explaining that under the proposed measure, the ministry would have to make a formal request to the CBE to be allowed to view bank data or investigate suspicious activity. Amer stressed that the central bank will continue to preserve the confidentiality of bank accounts. He has also called on Samy not to exceed his authority. Egypt said last July that it is planning major amendments to the tax code during the next legislative term to facilitate and streamline tax procedures and cut red tape. Search Keywords: Short link: Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli on Sunday chaired a meeting to discuss the establishment of an integrated investment map for projects in all sectors. The meeting was attended by Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Sahar Nasr and Board Chairman of Egypt's bourse Mohamed Farid. During the meeting, Madbouli underlined the government's keenness to attract foreign investments. The government has exerted efforts to attract foreign direct investments, including varied legislative amendments. Madbouli stressed the need for coordination between the Ministry of Investment and other governmental bodies. For his part, Farid highlighted the Egyptian bourse's efforts to boost the capital market during the period between August 2017 and July 2018, including the development of the technological infrastructure. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Search Keywords: Short link: As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Email IC Arizona at azpoliticalintel-at-yahoo.comIC Arizona is a subsidiary of IntellectualConservative.com iciHaiti - Exhibition : Faces of freedom by Jean Claude Legagneur Thursday, August 23 at the Galerie Nader (Petion-ville), was held the opening of the traveling exhibition of the visual artist Jean Claude Legagneur: "Faces of freedom" on the theme of abolition of slavery. This exhibition, of paintings and sculptures, will remain two weeks in Haiti before continuing its tour in North America including San Francisco and Washington DC At the end of its journey, the exhibition will definitely return to Haiti where it should be installed in permanence in a dedicated museum this end. This opening was also the occasion to celebrate "the day of the slave trade and the abolition of the slavery" decreed by UNESCO, which underlined the Artist Erol Josue, Director General of the National Office Ethnology by interpreting one of his most beautiful traditional songs from his repertoire in front of distinguished guests and many personalities at this artistic event. "Faces of freedom", an exhibition not to be missed! IH/ iciHaiti iciHaiti - Culture : Festival Gede FEST 2018 The Festival of History, Arts, Culture and Gastronomy "Gede FEST" to be held from 25 October to 3 November 2018 in Port-au-Prince and Jacmel, aims to safeguard Haitian traditions and culture. "Without the ceremony of the Bois Caiman, without the voodoo, without the general revolt of the slaves in Santo Domingo in 1791 we would not be today this free people, proud of their past, animated by a joy of living even among the daily difficulties that the country faces, "said Richard Morse, Festival producer and founder of the group Mizik Ayisyen RAM whose title of his latest album, "August 1791" refers directly to these historical events. This Festival is part of the concept "Sisters Twin Reunited" which is a platform for cultural exchange between Haiti and New Orleans. In addition, remember that in this context, since August 16, began "Thursdays pre Gede FEST" at the Oloffson Hotel, which host weekly groups and artists invited to familiarize them with the public. IH/ iciHaiti iciHaiti - DR : 22nd Eco-tourism and Production Fair For many years, the Foundation for the Development of Alternative Tourism in Haiti (FONDTAH) has been promoting, through its Ecotourism and Production Fair, the natural resources and eco-tourism in the border areas between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. This approach facilitates better harmonization between the two peoples and contributes to enhancing the ecological, tourist and cultural potential of these border regions. To do this, it appeals to the different institutions of the two countries, including the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of the Interior and Territorial Communities, as well as civil society organizations and the private sector. Thus, from October 25 to November 4, 2018 will be held the 22nd Edition of the Ecotourism and Production Fair around the theme "A hymn to nature for human development and solidarity of peoples". For this 22nd edition, Belladere, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, will be the guest of honor. IH/ iciHaiti The film by Ahmed Amer has been screened internationally in festivals and commercial cinemas The Egyptian film Kiss Me Not will be screened on 30 August at the NVIC (Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo) rooftop cinema. Directed by Ahmed Amer, Kiss Me Not tracks the rise and fall of the kiss in Egyptian cinema in a comedy that blurs the line between documentary and fiction according to the film synopsis on the Facebook event. The film had its international premiere at The Dubai International Film festival, and its Egyptian premiere at the Aswan International Womens Festival. Kiss Me Not has been featured in international festivals including the Arab Film Festival in Paris, the Shanghai International Film Festival, the Tripoli Film festival, and the Miami Film Festival. It was also screened commercially in Dubais VOX cinema, along with five Tunisian cinemas and the Metropolis cinema in Lebanon, but hasn't been released commercially in Egypt. Kiss Me Not follows a young and ambitious Egyptian director who faces challenges while shooting a kissing scene in his new film because the lead actress, Fajr, decides to pursue a more religious personal path. The film stars Yasmin Raeis, Mohamed Mahran, and Salwa Mohamed Ali, and features actress Sawsan Badr, the late director Mohamed Khan, and director Khairy Beshara. Programme: 30 August, at 7.30pm Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo, 1, Dr. Mahmoud Azmi Street, Zamalek Search Keywords: Short link: We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Popular female fashion designer, Tope FnR, has reportedly appealed to the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode to build a wall separating the Island from the mainland In a now viral video, the young entrepreneur was spotted stating that her opinion is the only feasible solution instead of all the other things he is constructing that makes no sense. The video has since stirred up a controversy and debate on social media with many tongue lashing the aggrieved female fashion designer while others think she probably spoke angrily over the traffic caused by the three days closure of the third mainland bridge Watch the video below and share your thoughts https://instagram.com/p/Bm6d0reDdxJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_loading_state_control Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki has refuted claims that the Senate is yet to reconvene the National Assembly due to fear of impeachment by Senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a chat with journalists after a closed-door meeting with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, on Saturday, Saraki said he is not the least but worried as those calling for his impeachment are only engaging in cheap blackmail, ChannelsTV writes. I am not losing any sleep about impeachment. We have a country that a lot of Nigerians believe there must be rule of law, those who are talking about impeachment are engaging in cheap blackmail and I am not concerned about that, he said. Saraki also revealed further reasons why he dumped the ruling APC for the opposition, PDP. He claimed that projects Nigerians expect of the present administration were never realised. I have made a four-page statement on why I left the All Progressives Congress (APC) and I made it very clear that the ideas and visions of what we expected, was not realised in the areas of democracy, justice. Those that followed the political terrain of the last three years can see that the people are not happy. It is not about myself but about Nigerians and about the kind of country we want to build. The kind of democracy we want to be practised and the kind of leadership we need. We have not been able to achieve any of this under the APC as much as we have tried, he said. Saraki was accompanied on the visit to Delta by a number of his colleagues, including, Senators Dino Melaye and Peter Nwaoboshi. A 35-year-old man, Mr. Yinka Alabi, recently pleaded before a Customary Court in Agodi, Ibadan, Oyo State, not to dissolve his marriage. Responding to a divorce suit filed by his wife, Funmilola, Alabi told the court that the woman claimed to have been forcefully slept with in her office, but that he still loved her. He also added that his wife is a serial adulterer who often receives the calls of her boyfriends right in his presence and that he pays before he is allowed to sleep with her. My wifes adulterous ways are terrible. She was in the habit of receiving her boyfriends calls in my presence, but my ill-health condition makes me to accept all her shortcomings. My lord, I urinate through the use of catheter and my wife knows what am passing through. I paid her upfront before allowing me to have sex with her, but I am not bothered because I love her and do not agree with the dissolution of our 10-year-old marriage, NAN reports. Funmilola, 31 in her own part urged the court to grant her divorce request, alleging constant brutality on her by the husband. She said Alabi is always suspicious that I engage in extra-marital affairs. He has no regard for my parents, so I can no longer endure his nagging and brutality, she stated. President of the court, Chief Mukaila Balogun, in his ruling urged the couple to resolve the issue for the sake of the only child of the marriage and advised Alabi to find means of reconciling with his wife since he was the one who doesnt want the marriage to end. The case has been adjourned. My husband is gonna be like 5 to 10 years younger than me. I can already tell hahahahaha. I seriously doubt he will be Nigerian. Naija men just dont like me. Well, trust me, I know Im just not destined to be with one. Ive tried my best, she said. Vanguard Barely a week after a group of purported beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, under the aegis of Niger Delta Ex-agitators Forum (NDEF), petitioned the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, over sundry issues, an interesting twist is unfolding, as some of those listed as victims of the alleged fraud have disowned the petition. Thisday The immediate past governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, is set to quit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) this week, THISDAY has learnt. The Sun The All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a swipe at the Bayelsa State Government accusing it of cover up over the alleged killing of two APC members by suspected thugs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Daily Trust A retired Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Ojukwu has commended Acting President Yemi Osinbajo for directing the Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris to overhaul the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force. The Nation President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met troops battling bandits, kidnappers and criminals in Zamfara and neighbouring states under Operations Sharan Daji and Diran Mikiya. Tribune Senate President Bukola Saraki has said he would not lose sleep over threats to impeach him when the National Assembly resumes in September. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. North Karachi Industrial Development NKIDMC Karachi Jobs Latest North Karachi Industrial Development & Management Company Management Posts Karachi 2021 NKIDMC North Karachi Industrial Development & Management Company Karachi, Pakistan required applications from experienced candidates for the posts of Accountant and Site Supervisor. How to Apply on North Karachi Industrial Development & Management Company Job Advertisement Apply as per details in job advertisement. In some cases, you may apply online at vacancies after registering at https://www.jobz.pk online. Note: Beware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities. If the employer asks you to pay money for any purpose including processing to shortlisting, do not pay at all and report us using our contact us form. Apply as per instuctions & dates mentioned in official job ad. Govt jobs cannot be applied online here. Error & omissions excepted. WASHINGTON (AP) - Senator, war hero and GOP presidential candidate John McCain has died. His office says McCain died Saturday. He had battled brain cancer. The longtime Arizona senator was known as a maverick whose rebellious streak extended from his days as a POW in North Vietnam to his time in the Senate. President Donald Trump released a tweet this evening saying "My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!" Over five decades, John Sidney McCain the Third became a towering figure in American politics and public service. Born on a US military base near the Panama Canal, McCain grew up in northern Virginia, he was the middle child of three in a family of Navy admirals. He attended the Naval Academy and became a combat aviator and flew missions over north Vietnam during the war. In 1967, McCain was shot down, captured, and later tortured during five and a half years in a North Vietnamese jail dubbed the Hanoi Hilton. In 1982, McCain ran for Congress from Arizona, home to his second wife Cindy Lou Hensley. McCain served five terms in the U.S. Senate and ran for president twice. His wife Cindy said her husband died on "his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved". McCain was 81. HOUSTON COUNTY, Minn. - A Wells, Minn. man suffered life-threatening injuries after being thrown from his motorcycle Saturday evening. According to Minnesota State Patrol, it happend just after 5:00 p.m. John Huston, 66, was travelling southbound on his Yamaha motorcycle on Highway 76, west of County Red 22 in Sheldon Township. His shirt got caught in the right side rear brake and locked it up. Huston was thrown from his motorcycle and transferred to Gunderson Lutheran in LaCrosse. Authorities say he was not wearing a helmet. Caledonia Fire and Rescue, Caledonia Police Department, Houston Police Department, and Houston County Sheriff's Office all responded to the scene. ROCHESTER, Minn. - 10 years ago, Dr. LaPrincess Brewer M.D., M.P.H. founded 'Fostering African-American Improvement in Total Health,' or FAITH! in Baltimore as a class project. It involves partnering with African American churches to share health and nutrition information. It's a cause that hits close to home, because Dr. Brewer has lost loved ones to heart disease. "I just want to make an impact so that other families won't have to go through what our family has gone through and to just start early by preventing heart disease in the first place," she says. Since its creation, Brewer moved the program to Rochester when she became a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic. To celebrate its 10 year anniversary, HEART! had a health fair, a presentation by Dr. Brewer, and a 2-mile walk around Rochester. Looking back on the last 10 years, Dr. Brewer is proud of the progress the African American communities she works with have made to get active, eat healthy, and live more healthy lifestyles overall. "There is a more collective spirit towards promoting heart health and people are just really excited about being healthy and changing their lives for the better through eating healthier, being more active, and just coming together as a community," explains Dr. Brewer. FAITH! now works with more than 6 churches in the Rochester and Twin Cities area and has developed a phone application to help people make healthy choices. MASON CITY, Iowa - Hundreds took part in an annual walk Saturday in Mason City in hopes of raising funds for Sudden Infant Death Syndrom (SIDS). SIDS is the unexplained death of a child less than one-year-old. Event organizers told KIMT they raised $2,500. This is the 10th year the walk has taken place in Mason City. It's one of a handful of SIDS walks around the state. To learn more about the Iowa SIDS Foundation. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High near 45F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight A few clouds. Low around 25F. Winds light and variable. President Moon Jae-in offered condolences Sunday on the death of U.S. Republican Sen. John McCain, calling him a "symbol of the American value of freedom." McCain, 81, died at his home in Arizona on Saturday (local time) after a yearlong battle with brain cancer. "I wish for the freedom and peace he pursued to take root on the Korean Peninsula and all over the world," Moon wrote in a Facebook posting. A poster for the Sarang cultural festival / Embassy of India By Yi Whan-woo Sripriya Ranganathan The Indian Embassy in Korea will host its fourth annual cultural festival, Sarang, from Sept. 6 to 16 in six Korean cities _ Seoul, Busan, Gwangju, Jeonju, Chuncheon and Donghae. This will be the embassy's largest event taking place in Korea since Indian Ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan took office on Aug. 8. The festival started as a small event in 2015 and has grown into a colorful larger one introducing the Korean public to food, language, art, music, dance, performance and film from all parts of India. The 2018 edition will introduce two classical dance forms _ Kathak and Odissi _ as well as Carnatic classical music from southern India. "The festival is part of the embassy's ongoing effort to introduce various facets of India and Indian cultural heritage to the people of Korea," Ranganathan said, adding it is "truly representative of the rich cultural diversity of the country." The diplomatic mission expressed hope to use the Sarang as a platform to better promote Indian culture. "While only few people know that there are several cultural similarities between our two countries, be it art forms, language, music and even cultural aspects, we use Sarang as a platform to introduce those elements to Korean friends. And that's exactly the reasons why we have chosen Sarang as the name of our festival. It means love in Korean and colorful, diversity and peace or love in Indian languages," the embassy said. A poster for the Odissi dance performance at the Sarang cultural festival / Embassy of India As part of the festival, Kathak and Odissi performances will take place in Seoul at Ewha Womans University's Samsung Hall (Sept. 6), the Indian Culture Centre (Sept. 7) and the National Museum of Korea (Sept. 8). According to the embassy, the Indian Cultural Centre offers classes for both dance forms and they have been "quite popular" among Koreans. Kathak, which is one of eight forms of Indian classical dance, conveys stories through foot-tapping, hand movements and facial expressions. Odissi, one of the other dance forms, is performed predominantly by women who illustrate ancient mythologies, religious stories and spiritual ideas through body movements, facial expressions, gestures and sign language. Among the Odissi troupe will be Keum Bena, a Korea citizen who has practiced Odissi in India for the last 10 years. By Arthur I. Cyr "Selflessness," said President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Ike was replying to a question from Vice President Richard Nixon, who had asked him what he considered most important in selecting people to work with him, whether in war or peace, or the twilight ambiguous struggle known as the Cold War. Nixon in his memoirs writes that the president was silent for an extraordinarily long time before answering. The quiet continued for so long that the vice president wondered if the boss had forgotten the question. Not a chance. Silence is essential to serious reflection and analysis, can be golden, and clearly is hard to find in today's tweet-happy Washington D.C. Selflessness is vital to serious service, especially but not exclusively in the public sector. Arguably, this is particularly true in intelligence agencies, where risks can be mortal and stakes very high including national survival. Shortly after the 2016 election, the heads of the CIA, FBI, NSA (National Security Agency) and the Director of National Intelligence launched a public relations offensive to argue Russia, including President Vladimir Putin, meddled in the 2016 elections, including hacking Clinton campaign email. With great fanfare, they met with President-elect Donald Trump to present evidence behind the conclusions. With equal hype, the top spooks testified before the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee. The most plausible reason why the officials went public with lights, cameras and media melodrama has to do with self-protection in the contemporary political warfare of Washington. Politicians want to score points with anxious voters, and Putin remains one scary bear. Agency directors were defending their turf and themselves. The national media soap opera related to intelligence continues. Current controversy and consternation swirls around President Trump's removal of the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan, who has become a constant harsh public critic. In earlier periods, intelligence work involved maintaining a disciplined silence, a rule worth remembering. Traditionally, intelligence work has involved balancing electronic and human surveillance. Today our government deemphasizes human agents. In World War II and the Cold War, that dimension was vital. It still is, as our British partners well understand. Current emphasis on public relations by officials is the other side of reliance on relatively automated electronic tools. Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA), a successful tech entrepreneur, is insightful criticizing current inertia. In 2016, he publicly opposed FBI legal efforts to try to force Apple to decrypt the iPhone. Issa and General Michael Hayden, former director of both the CIA and the NSA, argued Apple should not be required to comply. Government professionals should handle such hard tasks, as eventually they did. Issa is retiring from Congress next year. Candidates vying for the seat include Democrat Doug Applegate, a retired Marine Corps officer, who narrowly lost to Issa in 2016. Consider seriously with fairness military veteran candidates; beware retired intelligence officials seeking public celebrity. On Nov.3, 1959, President Eisenhower spoke at a special ceremony to lay the cornerstone of the new CIA headquarters in Langley Virginia. He emphasized that in this field "Success cannot be advertised; failure cannot be explained. In the work of intelligence, heroes are undecorated and unsung, often even among their own fraternity." In that era, there was no significant debate about the need for intelligence pros to operate in secret. In evaluating candidates for Congress this November, consider the degree to which they express maturity and selflessness rather than political expediency in addressing questions of national security. Arthur I. Cyr (acyr@carthage.edu) is Clausen Distinguished Professor at Carthage College in Wisconsin and author of "After the Cold War." US should keep momentum of dialogue with North Korea U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to cancel Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's planned visit to North Korea is somewhat disappointing, but not surprising. The cancellation reflects growing skepticism about the North's real intention of denuclearization. Trump cited two reasons for his abrupt decision. The first reason is lack of progress in the North's denuclearization. The second is China's inaction to help with the denuclearization process partly due to escalating trade disputes between Washington and Beijing. As some experts point out, Trump seems to have done the right thing. He apparently does not want Pompeo to come back empty-handed again following his third visit to Pyongyang early last month. So Trump's hardheaded action is sending a clear message to the Kim Jong-un regime: The North should make substantial progress in denuclearizing. In other words, Trump has made it clear that the U.S. will not hold a dialogue with the North for the sake of dialogue. This is his expression of dissatisfaction with the slow pace of ongoing negotiations with Pyongyang. The nuclear talks have reached an impasse since Trump and Kim agreed on a vague commitment to the "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" at their historic summit in Singapore in June. The ongoing talks have been deadlocked not least because Pyongyang demanded Washington declare an end to the 1950-53 Korean War, which finished with not a peace treaty but an armistice. The Trump administration has turned down the demand, saying the North should first make meaningful steps toward denuclearization. The North is also seeking sanctions relief, while the U.S. wants sanctions to remain firmly in place until the North gives up its nuclear and missile programs. Against this backdrop, Pompeo was supposed to visit Pyongyang this week to revive the stalled negotiations. But his trip was put on hold. It is not clear if and when the U.S. will put Pompeo's delayed visit back on track, although Trump said the secretary of state looked forward to going to the North in the near future. Trump might want to put pressure on Pyongyang to make a sincere effort toward denuclearization. But considering a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency that the North's nuclear weapons program and ballistic missile development program remain intact, no one knows if the North will start the denuclearization process in good faith. In this regard, the cancellation of Pompeo's visit is feared to have negative implications on denuclearization talks. It could also negatively affect President Moon Jae-in's bid to open a liaison office in Gaeseong and his push for the early declaration of an end to the Korean War, possibly during the U.N. General Assembly session next month. It is imperative to keep the momentum of dialogue between the U.S. and the North alive. Moon is scheduled to visit Pyongyang next month. We hope his trip will lead to a breakthrough in denuclearization talks and the peace process on the peninsula. More than anything else, Seoul and Washington must work together more closely to achieve this shared goal. By Tong Kim President Donald Trump canceled Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's planned trip to Pyongyang within 24 hours after Pompeo announced the plan last Thursday. In a series of tweets, Trump said there was not enough progress on denuclearization, blaming China for not cooperating because of Washington's trade war with Beijing. Pompeo was going to make his fourth visit to Pyongyang with his newly appointed special envoy for North Korea Stephen Biegun, who served as executive secretary for the National Security Council during the George W. Bush administration, to seek a breakthrough in the standoff with the North on denuclearization. Trump maintains he has a good relationship with Kim Jong-un. He again sent his "warmest regards and respect to Chairman Kim," looking forward "to seeing him soon." Earlier he said a second meeting with Kim was "most likely." Trump's cancellation of Pompeo's trip proves again he is the ultimate decision-maker who approves or disapproves decisions made by his secretaries and advisers, or changes his mind at the last minute. Such an erratic decision may have undermined the credibility or even the authority of the secretary of state under the Trump administration. In Washington skepticism and distrust of North Korea's commitment to denuclearization have been growing and gaps have been widening between Washington and Pyongyang. It is true that the North has not stopped production activities to increase their nuclear and missile arsenal. Even if Pompeo would go to Pyongyang, there is no guarantee he will meet with the North Korean leader. In July, Kim Jong-un did not see him, unlike on two previous occasions. North Korea seldom promises a foreign cabinet member a meeting with their leader in advance. It is Kim who decides whom to see and when, and sometimes only at the last minute. The issues of denuclearization are "tough to resolve," as admitted by the new North Korea policy representative, who will coordinate and lead follow-up negotiations in the future. North Korea, armed with an advanced nuclear and missile capability, believes their nuclear weapon is the only reliable means of survival. They will not give it up without tangible security assurances from Washington. Pyongyang has already rejected the U.S. offer of eventual economic and political benefits to follow from "denuclearization first." The North will not agree to a "final, fully verified denuclearization" within a year, regardless of what Kim may have told President Moon Jae-in prior to the Trump-Kim summit in Singapore on June 12. The North strongly demands, and the South supports, a declaration to end the war in the current phase of negotiation. The inter-Korean relationship is moving fast towards mutual accommodation and cooperation. Last week's reunions of the separated families were a remarkable example of humanitarian cooperation by the two Koreas. Through his August 15 speech marking Liberation Day, President Moon demonstrated determination to play a sovereign role in the settlement of peace on the peninsula, proposing an ambitious plan of economic cooperation with and through North Korea. Since their April 27 Panmunjeom summit, there has been no noticeable provocation by the North. Some guard posts in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) are withdrawn as an effort to demilitarize the heavily militarized DMZ. The South is considering stopping calling North Korea an enemy. Soon there will be a joint liaison office in Gaeseong. More importantly, Moon will visit Pyongyang in September, with an exact date yet to be determined. Everybody knows a durable peace is not possible without denuclearization. There is a possibility that the two Koreas could declare an end to the war, before the U.S. and China may come on board. Some envision that would lead to an easing of sanctions by China and Russia, and help the South's economic expansion into the North, which is not possible under the current sanctions. However, Washington is fixed on sanctions. No easing or lifting until after the completion of denuclearization, although Kim recently complained about the sanctions. Trump said last week in a supporters' rally that "we will not lift the sanctions" before denuclearization. There are many ideas being tossed around on how to make progress. They include an exchange of "a declaration of the arsenal" for "a declaration to end the war," "an exchange of liaison offices," and "a front loading of 20 percent denuclearization for a security guarantee by the U.N. Security Council" and "holding a trilateral summit between the U.S. and the two Koreas to agree on a peace regime" as part of the denuclearization process. It will take the right price for peace and denuclearization. Tong Kim (tong.kim8@yahoo.com) is a Washington correspondent and columnist for The Korea Times. He is also a fellow at the Institute of Corean-American Studies. Donald Trump . . . "Just a newcomer with no Asia experience." By Emanuel Pastreich By Baek Byung-yeul Google Korea CEO John Lee (ARIZONA) John Sidney McCain III, a Vietnam War hero with more than 35 years of public service and who became one of the most distinctive figures in modern American politics as a maverick conservative who took delight in disruption, died Saturday at his home in Arizona. He was 81. McCain was the admirals son who refused an easy out from a Vietcong prison, enduring torture rather than abandoning his friends. He was also a six-term Republican senator who gained an outsized influence by going against his own party and negotiating with Democrats - even after the 2008 Republican presidential nominee faced a crushing defeat to Barack Obama. McCain had just been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive and usually lethal brain tumor. The vote would be his final act of defiance against his own party, and against President Donald Trump, whom he held in open contempt. The enmity between the two men carried on into 2018, this time over another of McCains passions - his intense dislike of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Last October, as his health declined, McCain spoke of his life in public service. Ive had the good fortune to spend 60 years in service to this wondrous land, he said. It has not been perfect service, to be sure, and there were probably times when the country might have benefited from a little less of my help. "But Ive tried to deserve the privilege as best I can, and Ive been repaid a thousand times over with adventures, with good company, and with the satisfaction of serving something more important than myself, of being a bit player in the extraordinary story of America," he said. "And I am so very grateful. McCain is survived by his wife Cindy and his seven children. Reporting provided by ABC News. Due to the high winds from Hurricane Lane that damaged electrical equipment, Maui Electric is asking about 4,800 customers in the West Maui area currently without power to prepare for an extended outage through Saturday, Aug. 25. Downed poles and damaged electrical wires must be repaired in order to restore power, and there is currently restricted access to some of these locations due to the fire. In the interest of safety, Maui Police Department will increase patrol units in the affected West Maui areas this evening. Crews restored power to critical infrastructure in the area, including the Lahaina Fire Station, Lahaina Police Station, and Lahaina Civic Center, which is serving as an emergency Red Cross shelter. Maui Electric crews are continuing restoration efforts through the night in various areas of West Maui to repair about 30 broken, cracked or downed poles from Lahaina town to Kaanapali. Repairs also need to be made to two of the three transmission lines feeding West Maui. The remaining transmission line running on steel poles feeding West Maui remains in service with enough capacity to serve the area. On Molokai, repair crews were able to restore power to a majority of customers, with crews currently working to restore six remaining customers. Should customers experience any outages or encounter downed power lines, report them to Maui Electrics trouble line at 871-7777 on Maui or toll-free for Lanai or Molokai at 1-877-871-8461. The public can sign up for outage and restoration updates at www.mauielectric.com or follow Maui Electric on Twitter @mauielectric; Facebook The Hawaiian Electric Companies; and Instagram The Hawaiian Electric Companies with hashtags #MauiOutage, #MolokaiOutage, #LanaiOutage. Tesla is not going private. Chief Executive Elon Musk said so Friday. Now the public companys board of directors can turn to another serious matter what to do about Elon Musk. Musks bizarre behavior, inflammatory tweets, flouting of norms governing corporate disclosure, and poor communication with his own board of directors are raising questions about his future at Tesla. So, too, is his inability thus far to raise Model 3 production to projected levels and turn Tesla profitable. No one at the moment expects the board to dump Musk. But theres talk about bringing in a chief operating officer, or a co-CEO. Those would be risky moves, given Musks domineering personality. But doing nothing about Musk presents a risk as well, opening the board of directors to increased criticism, shareholder lawsuits, regulatory scrutiny and possible criminal action especially with the Securities and Exchange Commission investigating Tesla, as Bloomberg reports. Advertisement This is a company is under substantial financial and legal distress at the moment, said Peter Haveles, a corporate law specialist at the Pepper Hamilton law firm. Musks recklessness with his comments over the last two weeks have caused the company great stress, at a minimum, and possibly subjected it to legal liability. Of all Musks jaw-dropping tweets including tagging a diver who helped rescue children trapped in a Thailand cave as a pedophile, with no foundation in fact the tweet he sent on August 7 is the one causing him and Tesla the most trouble: Am considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured. The tweet sent the companys stock price soaring as high as $387.56, up 13% from the previous days close. After Musk failed to identify any funders or funding, the stock fell again as investors waited to see whether the going-private claim was real, and it has been treading around $320 a share for days. Many securities law experts, including former Securities and Exchange Commission officials, said the funding secured tweet, if false or misleading, could violate federal securities laws. On Thursday, Teslas board decided to drop the private buyout idea and remain a public company. On a Tesla blog post Friday, Musk said talks with shareholders and investment bankers had persuaded him that remaining a publicly traded company was in Teslas best interest. Fortunately they reversed it quickly enough before more damage could be done, said Ross Gerber of Santa Monica investment firm Gerber Kawasaki, which holds Tesla stock. A big fan of both Tesla and Musk, Gerber nonetheless thought going private was a bad idea. This shows that you have to be very careful what you say on Twitter, he said. Hopefully it was a lesson to Elon. Hopefully hell be more intelligent about how his actions affect everybody, especially shareholders. Musk has copped to over-sharing on Twitter several times in the past, but has failed to show consistent restraint. In an emotional Aug. 16 interview with the New York Times, Musk admitted no one had reviewed the funding secured tweet before he sent it, and that the long hours he has spent trying to fix production problems with the new Model 3 sedan have taken a toll. If he doesnt think there will be any consequences, hes going to keep doing what hes been doing, said Jim Rosener, also an attorney at Pepper Hamilton. Thats why now is the time for the board to take real action, he said. They need to look at their communications policy, and enforce it, educate Mr. Musk about it, and really get a lot more strict about it. But, Rosener said, Based on what Ive read, I question whether some [Tesla board members] are truly independent and have the gravitas to act as a director and act independently. The board has long been criticized as captive to Musk. Musks brother Kimbal is a member. Antonio Gracias, the boards lead independent director, is an early Tesla investor and a friend of Musk. Brad Buss, who led the three member independent special committee created two weeks ago to evaluate the proposed buyout and disbanded on Thursday, was chief financial officer of SolarCity from 2014 to 2016, the year Tesla bought that company for $2.6 billion. (Musk was chairman of SolarCity and held 22% of its stock; Musks cousins, since departed, ran the company.) No board member beyond Musk has direct experience in the auto industry. Buss comes closest, serving on the board of Advanced Auto Parts, the retail chain. Tesla declined a request to interview Musk or members of the board. A prepared public statement Friday from Teslas independent directors said in part, The Board and the entire company remain focused on ensuring Teslas operational success, and we full support Elon as he continues to lead the company moving forward. What the board should do next, according to Gerber, is bring in a chief operating officer under Musk. They need someone who has expertise, preferably in the freaking auto industry, Gerber said. The ideal candidate, he said, would be someone Elon can trust. Someone he respects that respects him back would help the company tremendously, Gerber said. He pointed to Gwynne Shotwell, chief operating officer as Musks spacecraft company, SpaceX, as an example of how such a relationship might work. By all accounts, Musk trusts Shotwell to do her work even if their debates sometimes are heated. But Musk has burned through dozens of top executives, including Jon McNeill, Teslas well regarded head of sales and service. Several employees told The Times that McNeill was regarded as the most likely candidate to partner with and perhaps eventually replace Musk. He quit Tesla to become COO at ride-hailing company Lyft in February. Finding a number-two for Musk at Tesla with enough talent to fix the companys problems while willing to bend to Musks will could prove impossible. If he cant or wont change, the board will face a tough choice. Move him aside, and the stock price will likely plunge, given how many shareholders believe in his vision of a sustainable energy future with a solar panel on every roof, a storage battery on every wall, and an electric car in every garage. Let Musk be Musk, however, and risk continued controversy. Even if you have the perfect board, what do you do when the CEO is not controllable? said Rosener. Do you fire him? What to you do to control Elon Musk? Im not sure anyone can. russ.mitchell@latimes.com Twitter: @russ1mitchell Jeannine G. Vanian, 51, is chief operating officer of Kayne Anderson Rudnick, a boutique investment advisory firm in Los Angeles that manages nearly $24 billion in assets for institutional, broker-dealer and high-net-worth clients. The 29-year-old company has 90 employees. In 2017, Kayne Anderson Rudnick was ranked first on Barrons Top 100 Independent Advisors list. The annual ranking is based on a survey of more than 3,500 advisors. Virtus Investment Partners, based in Hartford, Conn., is the firms parent company. Motivated Vanian was born to an Armenian family living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Her father, Ghazar, who was an accountant, died when Vanian was just 11. Watching her mother, Hasmig, struggle to support three children formed a lifelong determination. Advertisement I decided I was going to be an independent woman that could take care of herself and whoever else I needed to take care of, including, obviously, my mother, Vanian said. Early drive The kind of long hours that Vanian would later devote to her career began early as she held various jobs while earning a degree in business and executive management at the American University in Cairo. I was working in the university administration office, Vanian said, typing notes for teachers, organizing, filing, whatever needed to be done. It was not full time, but I was there as much as I could, while still studying and attending classes. Finding mentors By the time she earned her degree, some family members had moved to the U.S. Vanian decided to join them and wound up temping for Allan M. Rudnick while he was working as portfolio manager and chief investment officer for the Pilgrim Group. When he left to help start Kayne Anderson Rudnick, in 1984, he brought Vanian with him. I was there whenever needed, Vanian said. I remember long hours, weekends, trying to help build a business. I was lucky to have a mentor, like Allan Rudnick, and the other two founders. They gave me the opportunity to try things out, to learn, to fail. Their positive encouragement was really important for me. Climbing the rungs Since coming on as an assistant, Vanian has been a portfolio administrator, director of portfolio administration and managing director. She has been chief operating officer since October 2005. When she took on more leadership responsibilities, her bosses were encouraging. Vanian said her superiors always said, You can do this, youve got this. We know you can. Were confident in your abilities. Secret sauce Vanian said she has always shown that Im very passionate about the firm, and really believe in what we do here. Having the attitude of, well do whatever it takes as a team, and really look at new opportunities as a new challenge, something to really learn from. Collaborative As chief operating officer, Vanian is responsible for the operations department, trading, marketing, accounting, client services, human resources. Shes part of a three-person executive team that reports to the parent companys chief executive. I think its really powerful to have two partners, she said. We can bounce ideas off each other and collaborate. Because no matter what issue or decision were faced with, its nice to have two other opinions or points of view. Leadership style The key is really hiring the right people that fit our culture and believe in what were doing. And then, its about keeping that talent and not losing them to competitors. Vanian said she chooses people who are team-oriented, believe in the mission and want to make a difference. Advice Vanian said its important to have an open-minded attitude. Be willing to listen to other viewpoints before you jump to conclusions. Be willing to change in your ways and evolve. And be open to feedback. Well rounded Vanian has helped assemble a team unlike many in her industry. There are 22 languages represented by the companys 92 employees. Were in finance, which is generally a male-dominated industry, Vanian said, and 41% of our employees are women, and 53% of our managers are women. My hunch is that we might see more women come through here than many other firms in our industry primarily because when they go to the website, they see that there is a strong presence here. They are attracted to that. Personal Vanian and her husband, Craig, have been married for about 20 years, she said. They have three children, a twin boy and girl who are nearly 16 and another daughter, 14. And lets not forget the dog, she quipped. Traveling is a favored family activity. We have been to, I think, 42 countries. The kids have been to between 20 and 25 countries. Exploring different cultures as much as we practically can is something that we love to do. Dear Liz: What would be the ownership status of assets covered in our will and our retirement accounts when our heirs and beneficiaries receive them? In the case of married heirs, do the asset ownership laws of their state of residence dictate whether inheritance proceeds get held individually or jointly? In addition to having a candid conversation with our kids, we are debating the need for and risk associated with a revocable living trust to provide some assurance that our wishes be honored for our direct descendants to receive and manage any proceeds. Answer: Inherited assets can be kept as separate property, even in community property states where assets acquired during marriage are typically considered jointly owned. Keeping property separate requires some vigilance, however. If an inheritance is deposited in a joint account, or joint funds are used to improve a separately owned house, those assets could become marital property. Even if your heirs are scrupulous about keeping property separate, their spouses may ultimately inherit should your heirs die first. If those spouses remarry, the assets could wind up with another family, rather than with your grandkids. If you want your assets to ultimately get to your grandchildren, there are a few ways to do that, such as bequeathing assets directly to them or through generation-skipping trusts. You can use either a will or a revocable living trust. Advertisement Youd be smart to talk to an experienced estate planning attorney about what you want and the best way to achieve those ends. Big severance creates a tax problem Dear Liz: My husband is being laid off with a severance package equal to seven months pay. Whats better for tax avoidance in California, a 529 college savings plan contribution or investing in an IRA? Answer: A 529 college savings plan contribution wont save you taxes in California. Theres no federal deduction for such contributions, and unlike most other states, California doesnt offer a state tax break, either. Your husband can contribute up to $5,500 to IRAs for each of you, plus an additional $1,000 per person if youre 50 or over. Whether the money will reduce your 2018 tax bill depends on your income and whether youre covered by workplace retirement programs. If your husband had a 401(k) or similar plan, he would be able to deduct his contribution only if your modified adjusted gross income as a married couple filing jointly is under $101,000. A partial deduction is available until the tax break phases out at $121,000. If you arent an active participant in a workplace plan, however, higher income limits apply. Your husband can make and deduct a spousal IRA contribution for you as long as your joint modified adjusted gross income is under $189,000. A partial deduction is available until the tax break phases out at $199,000. Even if youre able to reduce your taxable income with such contributions, youll still probably owe a sizable tax bill on this severance. Please consult a tax pro about how much of the money to put aside and whether youll need to make any payments before next years tax deadline. Getting spousal benefits after divorce Dear Liz: When I retired at 63, my husband had been on Social Security for several years. We had been divorced about six months at that time. Should I have been bumped up to his benefits? We had been married for 42 years. Answer: You wouldnt get an amount equal to his benefit if hes still alive thats called a survivors benefit, and its only available after his death. But you could get a spousal benefit of up to half of his check if that amount is larger than your own retirement benefit. Both spousal and survivor benefits are available to divorced spouses if the marriage lasted at least 10 years. Neither benefit reduces what your ex or any subsequent spouses get. You should call the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213 to see if you qualify for a larger check. Liz Weston, certified financial planner, is a personal finance columnist for NerdWallet. Questions may be sent to her at 3940 Laurel Canyon, No. 238, Studio City, CA 91604, or by using the Contact form at asklizweston.com. Distributed by No More Red Inc. Liz Weston, certified financial planner, is a personal finance columnist for NerdWallet. Questions may be sent to her at 3940 Laurel Canyon, No. 238, Studio City, CA 91604, or by using the Contact form at asklizweston.com. Distributed by No More Red Inc. When Aint Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations, the Broadway-bound jukebox musical, is in motion, its a force almost as irresistible as any of the powerhouse R&B bands greatest hits. That list includes such everlasting records as My Girl, Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me), I Cant Get Next to You, Papa Was a Rollin Stone and, of course, the song that gave the show its title, Aint Too Proud to Beg. The show, which opened Friday at the Ahmanson Theatre under the propulsive direction of Des McAnuff, is better at conveying the bands story through the music than through Dominique Morisseaus book. The narrative is loose and conventional, but nothing can get in the way of the productions vibrancy when the actors are grooving at full tilt. Motown being the incubator of the Temptations fame, the musical quite naturally involves other artists from the storied Detroit record label. Smokey Robinson, whose songwriting talent helped launch the Temptations, and the Supremes, whose towering success set the bar for all would-be recording kings and queens, contribute to the pop-soul gold mine. Advertisement Its never possible to exactly duplicate the singular sound of a classic group. The stars of McAnuffs production encompass the diverse blend of voices that set the Temptations apart. Jawan M. Jackson, who plays Melvin Franklin, possesses a bass almost as resonantly subterranean and Jeremy Pope, who plays Eddie Kendricks, has many of the same astonishing falsetto-style capabilities. But acoustical challenges at the Ahmanson smudge the harmonies. At times Friday it felt as though the production were still testing sound levels. Ephraim Sykes, who is so light on his feet he practically levitates in the role of David Ruffin, the band member whose seductive voice and slick moves propelled the Temptations to the top of the charts, started strong but ended vocally ragged. This may have been intended to reflect the characters descent into drugs and bitterness, but it was odd hearing references to the characters irreplaceable talent as the singing grew frayed. What the performers do manage to replicate to perfection is the energy of the music the attack, the smoothness, the masculine cool. (Sykes in this regard is truly irreplaceable.) Aint Too Proud concentrates the theatrical experience of seeing the Temptations in concert. When the men are snapping, swaying and slicing the air with their limbs, there is no defense. Sergio Trujillos choreography translates the yearning and drive of band members into pure dynamism. Derrick Baskin anchors the show in the crucial role of Otis Williams, the founder and last surviving original band member. He is our appealingly earnest guide for the Temptations story, which has been derived by Morisseau from the memoir about the group Williams wrote with Patricia Romanowski entitled The Temptations. Ephraim Sykes in Aint Too Proud (Doug Hamilton) The shows book is at its most effective when its least conspicuous. McAnuff, who knows his way around jukebox musicals, having directed the Tony-winning Jersey Boys, absorbs as much of the narrative as possible into musical activity. The stage, especially in the early going, seems to be almost in kaleidoscopic motion. Peter Nigrinis projection design sustains a hustling tempo. Howell Binkleys lighting electrifies the entire auditorium with theatrical flash. One of the dramatic challenges of a biographical musical about a band that continually refreshed its personnel is figuring out whose story to concentrate on. Morisseau, a dramatist with a keen sociopolitical imagination (shes the author of the three-play cycle The Detroit Project, which includes Skeleton Crew, recently produced at the Geffen Playhouse), tries somewhat unwisely to cover the gamut. The struggle to form a band and develop a distinctive sound and image is followed by the strain of success. The pressure of fame and relationships, Otis tells us in a line that could well have been cut, was starting to show a crack. He soon fills us in on Davids coke habit, sounding like a writer for VH1s Behind the Music, David was getting addicted to the worst drug of all: the spotlight. The personal problems, while serious and deserving of sympathy, have a formulaic ring. Enlarging the musicals scope are issues such as segregation in the South, urban unrest and the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. But the treatment is largely perfunctory, a series of bullet points. As the Vietnam War ignites protest music, Berry Gordy (Jahi Kearse) is reluctant to have his crossover group enter the fray. Stories about individual songs such as the bands initial bewilderment over Papa Was a Rollin Stone, a funkadelic trip with an endless intro that became to the groups surprise a monster, Grammy-winning hit are more engaging than the tales of crackups and dissolution. One exception to this rule is the way David, after getting expelled from the group, keeps springing up at concerts, a mad jack-in-the-box determined to get back in the act. Artistic soul searching exacerbates conflicts that have long been festering over money, control and professional conduct. The relationships among the band members are carefully outlined, but there isnt sufficient time with so many characters to develop deep emotional bonds. Otis quarrels continually with strung-out David and hot-tempered Eddie, has to confront Paul Williams (James Harkness) about his debilitating drinking and worries that Melvin will call it quits after he become stricken with arthritis. As founding members are moved out on a conveyor belt, new ones, such as Dennis Edwards (Saint Aubyn), are brought in. Whenever your life is shaky, fame makes it worse, Otis observes in another moment of hackneyed moralizing Morisseau should have resisted. Sometimes the selection of songs doesnt precisely match the dramatic context. Its not clear why Otis wife, Josephine (Rashidra Scott), sings If You Dont Know Me By Now as she prepares to leave her all-too-absent husband, but its one of the vocal highlights of the show. Likewise, its confounding why Paul, just before his tragic final exit, serenades us with For Once In My Life, but it at least offers him a moment to shine on his own. The music of the Go-Gos has landed on Broadway this summer and Chers will be resounding in the late fall. The Temptations catalog rivals any in the history of pop, soul and R&B, so its only fitting that this music gets to strut its sensational stuff on stage. At the curtain call at Fridays opening, Baskin saluted a few of the special guests in the audience, including Motown founder Berry Gordy and the man of the hour himself, Otis Williams. These stylish, larger-than-life gentlemen seemed from a distance more intriguingly complex than their broadly drawn fictional counterparts. But its the showmanship, not the story, that makes Aint Too Proud an entertaining addition to the admittedly lesser jukebox genre. Aint Too Proud The Life and Times of the Temptations Where: Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave. L.A. When: 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays (call for exceptions). Ends Sept. 30 Tickets: $30-$160 (subject to change) Information: (213) 972-4400 or www.centertheatregroup.org Running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes (including intermission) charles.mcnulty@latimes.com Follow me @charlesmcnulty The Trump administration is appealing a federal judges preliminary injunction against family separation, saying it would not derail the effort to reunify hundreds of migrant children who remain apart from their parents or guardian as a result of the administrations zero-tolerance immigration policy. The notice to appeal was filed with the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals late Friday, just under the 60-day deadline. Hours earlier, Deputy Assistant Atty. Gen. Scott Stewart warned the judge overseeing the reunifications that the notice of appeal was coming. But he assured the judge that the notice is standard protocol and would not disrupt the ongoing reunification effort. The notice preserves the governments right to appeal the larger issues at stake surrounding families being processed through the U.S. immigration system. Advertisement There are continuous issues being raised by various plaintiffs that have created continued doubt as to the scope and application of the courts injunction, Stewart said. U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw of San Diego thanked Stewart for the heads-up, saying: I fully understand the need for all parties to protect their rights. While Stewart did not provide specific examples, there have been a number of recent cases that illustrate the complexities involved. For instance, does the injunction cover families that come with both parents if only one is separated? That question was at the forefront of a recent San Diego case involving three asylum-seeking Salvadoran fathers who were put into adult detention while their wives and children went to family detention centers together, then were later released. The governments warning of an appeal came at the end of a weekly status hearing on a landmark lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union. The parties are well into a massive effort to reunify some 2,500 migrant children separated from their parents and placed in detention centers after trying to cross illegally into the U.S. More than 1,900 children have rejoined their parents since the courts order, while another 200 have been placed with sponsors or have turned 18, according to the latest figures from the government. The focus now is on locating the deported parents of 343 children and then reuniting those families who wish to. A steering committee of pro-bono lawyers and nonprofits has been conducting a massive telephone campaign to contact the parents, reaching 225 parents thus far in Mexico and Central America. Another six parents were reached in person by Justice In Motion representatives who have ventured into remote villages. For families who want to reunite, the plan calls for flying children to their home countries. Sabraw on Friday called the progress report very encouraging. Meanwhile, about 140 children remain in government custody for other reasons. Many are ineligible for reunification because their parents failed a background check or are in criminal custody. Others have parents who have waived reunification. Several related legal issues that have arisen during the reunification effort remain unresolved. One involves whether children will be permitted to pursue their own asylum cases or whether their parents many of whom were extremely distraught about being separated during their own credible-fear interviews will be given a second chance to apply for asylum. Other areas of litigation include whether parents who waived their asylum rights due to misunderstanding or alleged government coercion will get another try. Sabraw has asked the opposing parties to try and negotiate these issues informally for now, though he has said that he leans toward allowing children to pursue asylum. Once the reunification effort wraps up, Sabraw has asked the government to more fully address another arm of the preliminary injunction that prohibits the future separation of families once the parents are out of criminal custody. That area is where the government will likely focus its appeal. Sabraw has made it clear that nothing in his injunction impedes the governments discretion to enforce immigration law or to detain people. The legal consensus for now is that detained parents can either decide to keep their children with them in immigration detention, or parents can decide to let their children live in government youth shelters with the possibility of placement with a sponsor. kristina.davis@sduniontribune.com It got off to a bad start, and President Donald Trumps venomous relationship with Sen. John McCain probably wont end well either. The president was reportedly disinvited to McCains funeral months ago, after McCains battle with brain cancer took a turn for the worse, and now the veteran Arizona Republican senator has decided to discontinue medical treatment. McCain died on Saturday at age 81. Throughout McCains illness, Trump has continued to publicly snub him - including a recent appearance in which the president declined to say McCains name when signing a bill that was named for him. As of late Friday, Trump had said nothing about McCains medical decision. Advertisement Trump does not want to comment on McCain before he dies, White House officials said, and there was no effort to publish a statement Friday as many politicians released supportive comments on the ailing senator. Their increasingly combative relationship has served as a metaphor of sorts for the Republican Party: the former Vietnam POW and proud conservative who fell short to Barack Obama in his run for president in 2008 versus the loud draft avoider who rapidly seized control of the GOP and White House eight years later. McCain rarely disguised his distaste for Trump as the real estate developer ran for president on a platform that included attacks on immigrants and U.S. allies. In July 2015, after then-candidate Trump rallied an estimated 15,000 in Phoenix and claimed to represent a silent majority, McCain said Trump had fired up the crazies in his state. The battle was on. By the end of that month, Trump had disparaged McCains Vietnam War service, saying McCain was not a war hero despite spending more than five years as a POW and enduring torture. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured, Trump said during a forum in Ames, Iowa. Trump refused to apologize at the time, despite criticism from nearly every corner, and has never retracted the statement. He has occasionally told people that he does not regret the comment. The reality is that John McCain the politician has made America less safe, sent our brave soldiers into wrongheaded foreign adventures, covered up for President Obama with the VA scandal and has spent most of his time in the Senate pushing amnesty, Trump wrote in an op-ed for USA Today that month. He would rather protect the Iraqi border than Arizonas. McCain did eventually endorse Trump in 2016, then withdrew his support weeks before the election after release of an Access Hollywood tape where Trump is recorded bragging about assaulting women. Trumps immediate and angry response: The very foul mouthed Sen. John McCain begged for my support during his primary (I gave, he won), then dropped me over locker room remarks! In office, McCain has supported much of Trumps economic and national security agenda, despite his misgivings about Trumps dismissive approach to traditional U.S. alliances. But he has also shown frustration toward Trumps White House, dismissing nominees abruptly from his office or growing angry at senior West Wing aides. McCain crossed the White House last year over the GOP attempt to repeal Obamas Affordable Care Act, and Trump has never forgiven him. After the vote, Trump said that McCain voted no out of a personal vendetta against him and that he would never vote yes to something that helped Trump. He repeatedly told advisers that McCain should step down from the seat and let the Republican governor appoint another senator. Trump has also told White House aides that his supporters are not big fans of McCain and boasted that he became president while McCain did not. Trumps retelling of the health-care vote, usually without mentioning McCain by name, has continued throughout the senators more than year-long treatment for brain cancer. The 81-year-olds family said Friday that he is discontinuing treatment. Obamacare, we got rid of the individual mandate, which is the most unpopular aspect, Trump said during a political speech Aug. 13 in Utica, N.Y. I would have gotten rid of everything, but as you know one of our, one of our wonderful senators said, thumbs down, at 2 oclock in the morning. Trumps aggrieved references to the health-care vote never stops being gross, McCains daughter Meghan wrote on Twitter in June. Ive let him know several times that was beneath the office and it doesnt reflect well on him, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and longtime McCain friend, said of Trumps attacks. Hes an American hero by any stretch of the imagination, and I dont see how it helps the president. Graham said Trump feels like he helped McCain in his primary, and John is sort of picking on him. In May, Trump and press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders declined to apologize for an aides remark that McCains opposition to Gina Haspel, nominee for CIA director, doesnt matter because hes dying anyway. The aide, Kelly Sadler, left her job the next month but White House aides said her departure was not a punishment for the remark. Trump told advisers he did not care if she apologized or not and was more determined to suss out who leaked the comments, calling advisers in for a West Wing scolding. During occasional Oval Office conversations about McCains health or status in the Senate, Trump would usually say nothing, current and former officials said. He grew angry regularly that McCain was portrayed as the good guy in the news media and he as the bad guy, according to a former senior administration official who spoke to Trump about McCain. Trump has fumed to friends about McCains role in receiving research compiled by a former British intelligence officer that alleged Russia had potentially compromising information about Trump. He has complained that McCain has criticized him over Russia and foreign policy, questioning his expertise and noting that he won the presidency and McCain did not. Even a remote risk that the President of the United States might be vulnerable to Russian extortion had to be investigated, McCain wrote in what he called his last book, The Restless Wave, published this year. I could not independently verify any of it, and so I did what any American who cares about our nations security should have done. I put the dossier in my office safe, called the office of the director of the FBI, Jim Comey, and asked for a meeting, McCain wrote. McCains assessments became more withering the longer Trump was in office. In August 2017, McCain denounced white supremacists who held a deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, after Trump had said the event was attended by fine people on both sides. White supremacists arent patriots, theyre traitors - Americans must unite against hatred & bigotry, McCain tweeted at the time. In accepting the Freedom Medal at the National Constitutional Center in October, McCain condemned half-baked, spurious nationalism cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems, a clear dig at Trump. Asked about McCains remarks the following day, Trump said people have to be careful, because at some point I fight back. You know, Im being very nice, Im being very, very nice, but at some point I fight back and it wont be pretty, Trump said in a WMAL interview. Not long afterward, McCain appeared to take a shot at Trump for avoiding the draft during the Vietnam War. One aspect of the [Vietnam] conflict by the way that I will never ever countenance is that we drafted the lowest income level of America and the highest income level found a doctor that would say that they had a bone spur, McCain said during an interview with CSPAN. McCain did not mention Trump by name, but his meaning appeared clear. Trump received five wartime deferments, including one in which a doctor diagnosed him with bone spurs. Finally in July, McCain pilloried Trump for his chummy performance alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin at a news conference in Helsinki, calling it one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory. The U.S. president had rhetorically embraced Putin and appeared to side with him over U.S. intelligence officials on Moscows aggressive election interference. The damage inflicted by President Trumps naivete, egotism, false equivalence, and sympathy for autocrats is difficult to calculate, McCain said. No prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant. Trump said nothing in response. As McCain spends his final days in Arizona, aides say, Trump is inclined to still say nothing at all. Dickelle Fonda was a college student in New York in 1968 protesting the Vietnam War when chaos erupted in Chicago as activists descended on the Democratic National Convention. On Saturday, she and more than 100 other activists retraced the steps of those protesters while drawing attention to war, racism and poverty that is still taking place abroad and in Chicago. The rally to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of the contentious protests started at Daley Plaza, snaked around City Hall and ended in front of the Gen. John Alexander Logan Monument at Grant Park, which was one of the sites of the 1968 protests. Its hard to imagine that we are still doing this 50 years later, said Fonda, who now lives in Evanston, just north of Chicago. For me, I dont know if it will make a difference or if Ill be able to change it in my lifetime. I havent in 50 years. But I cannot not do it; does that make sense? I cannot not do it. So we keep coming back. In 1968, activists descended on Chicago to protest the Vietnam War and were met with a heavy police presence that included the National Guard. Then-Mayor Richard J. Daley told reporters, Gentlemen, lets get the thing straight once and for all. The policeman isnt there to create disorder, the policeman is there to preserve disorder! But Chicago officials and police would later be criticized for law enforcements response to the protests. Advertisement Saturdays rally was much more peaceful than the protests in 1968, and it ended with a group photo in front of the Logan monument. Chicago police officers on bicycles surrounded the group as they marched through the Loop, chanting against police, war and politicians, including Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Tourists on sidewalks stopped to take photos of the crowd. Two men joined the group in a chant against Chicago police while another man yelled, Dont believe him as one of the organizers spoke. Andy Thayer, a rally organizer, said the demonstration was meant to draw attention to efforts still needed to end U.S. involvement in wars. He said activists learned bitter lessons from the 1968 protests that were later used by movements that helped end the war in Vietnam and establish abortion rights, and also were used by the Black Panthers. The lesson learned was that people could not depend on any major party, Thayer said before the rally. The movements after that actually began relying on their own strength and their own people rather than hoping to get salvation from someone higher. At Daley Plaza, speakers talked about issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and civilian oversight of investigations of abuse by Chicago police officers. Natasha Erskine, a member of Chicago Veterans for Peace, urged the crowd to focus on demilitarizing Chicago public schools, arguing that students need more counselors instead of resource officers. We need to evolve past the old mindset that young people need discipline over mentorship, over innovation and over progressive ideas of what it looks like for our young folks to be in a school, Erskine said. They should be in a safe haven. Among those in the crowd were Madeleine Cooley, 77, and her husband, Ron Cooley, 79, who didnt attend the protests in 1968 because they were busy tending to their two young children. The couple worried about the Vietnam War, though, and knew people who were drafted to fight overseas. The Downers Grove couple have spent the decades since then marching against war and writing to lawmakers. Madeleine Cooley said she remembers writing to politicians about gun reform when her daughter was in college in the 1980s. And though they arent sure how much effect they have had, they dont have any plans to stop marching for change. You know what, Madeleine Cooley said. You have to do something. Malagon writes for the Chicago Tribune. Ikaika Kailiawa stood on a wall along the world-famous white sands of Waikiki Beach surfboard by his side as a wave slammed against the barrier and sent surf spraying. Then came another. And another. He stood still like a statue, not ceding an inch to the ocean. He got wet, but not scared. Kailiawa stared out at normally turquoise water that turned dark as it stretched to the horizon. About 180 miles away, Hurricane Lane was moving slowly and deteriorating rapidly. Once a Category 5 storm, it had become a shell of its former self. Still, Kailiawa knew the beaches were closed. Government officials had announced it Thursday and Friday as a precautionary measure. Lifeguard towers sat vacant. Police were highly visible around the beach. Across the street, stores were closed with windows either taped or boarded up. Advertisement Kailiawa surfed anyway. If I thought it was really bad, I wouldnt go out, he said. But its not that bad. All around him, defiance arrived by the thousands armed with surfboards, sea kayaks and inflatable devices shaped like flamingos, fat sharks and smiling dolphins. They swam or waded into the warm water uninhibited by any sense of dread. Hurricane Lane was like an aging prize fighter lured into the ring with a marquee name and little left of what had made him once feared. Its a delicate balancing act for government officials. Dont warn enough and suffer the consequences of tragedy. Warn too much and suffer the consequences of complacency. Even the old prizefighter might manage to connect on a defenseless jaw with a right hook. Despite the beaches being closed because of the threat of Hurricane Lane, people play in the waters at Waikiki Beach in Hawaii. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Irving Biederman, the Harold Dornsife chair in neurosciences and a professor of psychology at USC, said there has been study done on what is called the corruption of early warning systems. He said if something is repeated many times, people begin to process it as noise. It begins to lose impact. Coupled with peoples curiosity and feelings that bad things happen to other people, warning systems can backfire. Its one of those aspects of education that we completely fail to communicate in the schools, Biederman said. We should teach decision-making in junior high where we have systems that predict dangers, and there will be false alarms and thats to be expected. Instead, what we learn growing up is to make fun of the weatherman when theyre off. Its a source of humor. But what we should be learning is there is uncertainty in forecasting. The storm hadnt touched Honolulu by Saturday afternoon barely giving the city a few short drizzles and very few sustained gusts of high winds. Hurricane Lane did most of its dirty work on the Big Island, where some spots received in excess of 30 inches of rain, and sustained flooding closed roads and damaged homes. There have been no fatalities due to the hurricane. Local television stations broadcast hours and hours of coverage, showing dramatic video of flooding in Hilo. On the western side of the Big Island, Kona saw some heavy wind. Maui got hit with heavy rain, which triggered evacuations. And 100 homes were evacuated because of a brush fire the cause of which was not yet determined. But as Waikiki Beach kept waiting for Lanes arrival, patience wore thinner with each passing day as more and more people, tourists and state residents, began creeping back to the beaches. Hawaii Gov. David Ige wasnt entirely surprised. I think most visitors want to be safe, he said. There are a few that will want to be in the ocean no matter who tells them what. All were trying to do is express there is a risk. Because high winds had been forecast and the fact the beaches were technically closed lifeguards did not keep watch from their towers. Instead, they patrolled the beaches by truck, foot and jet ski. A few times per hour, a bullhorn would crackle and a lifeguard would dutifully make an announcement to the crowd: For your safety, you should be seeking shelter immediately. Please stay out of the water due to the very strong and dangerous weather conditions. It is not safe and you are swimming at your own risk. While he spoke, a few heads turned but then people resumed swimming. The lifeguard smiled and shrugged. Marius Van Der Merwe was trailing his 16-year-old daughter with a camera as she carried a long surfboard under her arm and headed into the water. The 54-year-old watched her start to paddle out and she soon got lost amid a series of black dots bobbing on the waves. He said shed been surfing for three years and theyd traveled from Toronto to catch waves in Hawaii. After three days of hurricane warnings and barely a anything more than a drizzle to show for it, they decided to do what they came to Hawaii to do. Van Der Merwe watched for about 15 minutes, briefly lost sight of her, and then suddenly saw her paddling in. She emerged from the water in her black swimsuit and smiled. What happened? he asked. It was a little rough out there, Mika Van Der Merwe said. He nodded. The 54-year-old had been surfing for decades and said the sport was a way for him to connect with his daughter. There is nothing as exhilarating as catching that wave, and its indescribable for someone who hasnt experienced it, he said. I wanted my daughter to know that feeling, too. He said theyd be in Hawaii through Thursday, so there would be other chances to surf. A light drizzle started as they headed up the sand and back to their hotel weaving past people lying on beach towels and building sand castles. On the pier, people took pictures of the surf and posed for selfies their backs to the ocean, the horizon and a storm that never really came to Waikiki. david.montero@latimes.com | Twitter: @davemontero The young men had gathered at Chicago Pizza in Jacksonville, Fla., to conduct some serious business: crushing one another at Madden NFL 19 as their fans watched online. The finalists in Sundays regional video game tournament would proceed to the Madden Classic in Las Vegas, where the top prize is $25,000. David Katz, a slender 24-year-old who nicknamed himself Bread, had traveled from Baltimore to compete only to be eliminated, witnesses said. But Katz wasnt done. As his competitors continued to game Sunday, Katz got a handgun and opened fire in the pizzeria. Horrified fans watched the violence unfold on a livestream online. The shooter targeted a few people before killing himself, according to Stephen Steveyj Javaruski, one of the gamers, who took shelter in a bathroom. Advertisement At the end of it, Katz and two of his competitors were dead: Elijah Clayton and Taylor Robertson better known to their rivals and fans in the gaming world by the handles they adopted for the screen. RIP to Trueboy and Spotme, Javaruski tweeted. This is the worst day of my life. Sundays shooting was the latest in a tragic sequence for Florida, which was home to the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando in 2016 and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre in February. Florida Gov. Rick Scott, whose office said he was headed to Jacksonville to meet with law enforcement officials about the shooting, tweeted that President Trump had offered any federal resources needed to respond. Each of the Florida tragedies invaded a corner of American culture that was supposed to be safe from mass violence. This time the victims are gamers, and the city is Jacksonville. Jacksonville is mourning, Mayor Lenny Curry said. We have faced an occurrence that is all too common. Gaming tournaments are common in the increasingly lucrative world of professional gaming. Talented gamers and personalities who take up popular titles such as Madden and Overwatch can harness social media to rack up fans and endorsement deals while earning advertising revenue from streaming video services. The online audiences can be massive. And just like in the living room where emotions can run so high that players use the term rage quitting for sore losers who wont play to the end professional matches can be tense. The stakes can be thousands of dollars, larger audiences and sometimes just honor. But the violence is supposed to stay onscreen. The start of the shooting was captured on the livestreaming network Twitch, which broadcast footage of the restaurant and the game. A red laser dot can be seen on Claytons sweater before the streams video feed switched to a kickoff return. Then 11 gunshots can be heard as the video feed was quickly replaced by the message controller disconnected. Clayton was on the 2012 football team at Chaminade High School in West Hills and played at Calabasas High School in 2013. Twelve victims had gunshot wounds, and two others suffered injuries while escaping, officials said. All the hospitalized victims as of Sunday evening were in stable condition except for one, who was in serious condition. The wounded included gamer Tony GTech Montagnino of Austin, Texas, whose daughter was due to start school Monday. Drini Young Drini Gjoka, a player from Washington, D.C., was shot in the hand. InfamousGuru was shot in arm. George Fitzmagic13 Amadeo, a 17-year-old from Belford, N.J., was shot and wounded so seriously that fellow players started a GoFundMe campaign so that his family could travel to see him at the hospital. The gaming community reacted in shock, and some industry figures tweeted that security was often lax for such tournaments across the country. Ive been saying events NEED better security, tweeted Seth Abner, a popular Call of Duty player. Such a damn shame that now event coordinators will respond after a tragedy happens. Thoughts are with everyone at the Madden tournament and their families. This weekends tournament was sanctioned by EA Sports, which owns the Madden franchise. We are working with authorities to gather facts at this stage, EA Sports tweeted. This is a horrible situation, and our deepest sympathies go out to all involved. The two-day competition began Saturday morning. The opening round featured round-robin matchups for as many as 256 players, though its not clear how many attended. The first- and second-place finishers were to advance to the next round in Las Vegas and each receive $250, plus travel and lodging. The third- and fourth-place finishers were to receive $1,000 each but not advance. The operators of the pizzeria, which was hosting the event, couldnt be reached for comment after the shooting. The attack could have an impact in the current race for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Bill Nelson, who is being challenged by Gov. Scott, a Republican. After the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre, Scott broke with the National Rifle Assn. to sign into law several measures aimed at preventing shootings. Those measures include raising the minimum age to purchase a firearm from 18 to 21; increasing funding for school police officers and mental health services; allowing teachers and staff to carry guns; broadening the power of law enforcement to seize firearms; and banning bump stocks, which essentially convert semiautomatic weapons to automatic ones. Nelson has called for more gun control. Have spoken to FBI, he tweeted Sunday. Making sure that all federal resources will be available to assist victims and their families, and to help law enforcement do their jobs. The student gun-control activists of Stoneman Douglas quickly leaped into the fray after news of the shooting. Remember in November, activist David Hogg tweeted. We need everyone to put 100% of their energy into: volunteering on congressional campaigns; registering new voters; voting on November 6th. The attack came two days after one student was killed and two others were wounded in a shooting at a Jacksonville high school football game that drew a crowd of 4,000. Investigators said the two male victims including the student who was killed had gang ties and were targeted, while the female victim was caught in the crossfire. Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams, right, discusses the shooting Sunday in Jacksonville, Fla. (Laura Heald / AP) Times staff writers Eric Sondheimer and Todd Martens contributed to this article. This post will be updated as more information becomes available. (Los Angeles Times) matt.pearce@latimes.com | Twitter: @mattdpearce molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com | Twitter: @mollyhf UPDATES: 6:25 p.m.: This article has been rewritten with information about the suspected gunman and the victims. 3:45 p.m.: This article has been updated with information about the video game tournament and statements from two hospitals where shooting victims were taken. 2:35 p.m.: This article has been updated with a description of the video, including the identity of one of the players, and details from a news conference held by the sheriff. 12:07 p.m.: This article has been updated with staff reporting on more details about the shooting. 11:58 a.m.: This article has been updated with a suspect dead at the scene. 11:48 a.m.: This article has been updated with a report of multiple fatalities. This story originally published at 11:15 a.m. President Trump has been warring with Jeff Sessions ever since the attorney general recused himself from the FBI investigation into Russian election meddling, which has led to the mounting legal problems for Trump and his associates as special counsel Robert S. Mueller III investigates potential collusion. Now, in the wake of this weeks guilty plea from Trumps one-time personal lawyer Michael Cohen, the tax fraud conviction of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and news that the Trump organizations longtime chief financial officer may be cooperating with prosecutors, the president is stepping up his attacks against Sessions and appears to be laying the groundwork to fire the nations top law enforcement official. Congressional Republicans, at one time solidified in their support for Sessions and strongly against his ouster, now look to be wavering and that apparently has emboldened Trump to suggest he may soon take action. In tweets Saturday morning, Trump again sought to distance himself from the Cohen case and implications that he did anything wrong, and he wrote: Jeff Sessions said he wouldnt allow politics to influence him only because he doesnt understand what is happening underneath his command position. Highly conflicted Bob Mueller and his gang of 17 Angry Dems are having a field day as real corruption goes untouched. No Collusion! Advertisement Trump then tweeted remarks made by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Friday when the senator was asked by Fox News about the acrimonious relations between Trump and Sessions: Every President deserves an Attorney General they have confidence in. I believe every President has a right to their Cabinet, these are not lifetime appointments. You serve at the pleasure of the President. The latest from Washington .@LindseyGrahamSC Every President deserves an Attorney General they have confidence in. I believe every President has a right to their Cabinet, these are not lifetime appointments. You serve at the pleasure of the President. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2018 Moments later, Trump brought up his long-running complaint that Sessions and the FBI had not done a proper job of investigating the controversy over Hillary Clintons use of private emails while she was secretary of State. Referring to a Fox report on the email scandal, Trump tweeted: Big story out that the FBI ignored tens of thousands of Crooked Hillary Emails, many of which are REALLY BAD. Also gave false election info. I feel sure that we will soon be getting to the bottom of all of this corruption. At some point I may have to get involved! Whether his comment that he may get personally involved was referring to Sessions wasnt clear, but the latest tweets reflect the presidents swelling agitation at the continuing and widening probe by Mueller. And in citing Grahams remarks, Trump may have concluded that he has enough political space to remove Sessions. Trump has made clear he wants to shut down the special counsel investigation, or at least refocus it on his political enemies, and Sessions is his biggest obstacle right now. But such a move would have major legal and political repercussions, raising the prospect to obstruction of justice and further jeopardizing several vulnerable Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections. Another high-ranking GOP senator, Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, who chairs the chambers Judiciary Committee, also has signaled openness to replacing the attorney general. And conservative activists like Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, the embattled Orange County congressman, are joining radio and television pundits on the right goading Trump on, accusing Sessions of disloyalty for refusing to shut down the Russia investigation. Even so, a number of other Republican lawmakers, including the Senate GOP whip, John Cornyn of Texas, in recent days renewed their support for Sessions and essentially called on the president to back off. Sen. Ben Sasses (R-Neb.), who sits on the Judiciary Committee, warned he will not vote to confirm the attorney generals replacement should Sessions be fired for refusing to act as a partisan hack. The conservative group Republicans for the Rule of Law has been running ads mocking Trumps oft-stated claim that Muellers probe is a witch hunt, and warning the president not to interfere with the special counsels work. Democrats, meanwhile, are demanding Congress pass legislation to shield the special counsel investigation from being disbanded by Trump or his administration, even as Republican leaders balk on advancing it. While I have opposed many of the actions taken by Attorney General Sessions, it would be unacceptable for the president to fire him now in order to install someone willing to subvert the Mueller investigation, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said in a statement. The Republicans have argued throughout the probe that they are confident Trump would not try to interfere with it, and thus, they said, legislation protecting Mueller was unnecessary. Now, the president has complicated matters for them. For Graham, a senior senator who sits on the Judiciary Committee, it was only a year ago that he had warned Trump against firing Sessions, saying that there would be holy hell to pay if Trump took such action. Big story out that the FBI ignored tens of thousands of Crooked Hillary Emails, many of which are REALLY BAD. Also gave false election info. I feel sure that we will soon be getting to the bottom of all of this corruption. At some point I may have to get involved! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2018 But in reversing course this week, Graham said that while Sessions is a fine man and has been a good attorney general, his working relationship with Trump was neither sustainable nor profitable for the nation. The president is entitled to an attorney general he has faith in, he told reporters. Sessions, for his part, earlier in the week fired back at Trumps criticisms. The former Alabama Republican senator and once one of Trumps biggest supporters on Capitol Hill said that as long as he is attorney general, the Justice Departments actions will not be improperly influenced by political considerations. I demand the highest standards, and where they are not met, I take action. David M. Axelrod, a political consultant who was a top Obama advisor, said that for Sessions, the writing is on the wall or in his case, Trumps Saturday Twitter messages. One way or another, hell remove Sessions, relieve [Deputy Attorney General Rod] Rosenstein of control of Russia-related matters and try to strangle the Mueller probe and other actions he views as existential crises, Axelrod tweeted. Trumps own potentially legal and political troubles mounted this week after Cohen, his longtime fixer, on Tuesday pleaded guilty to eight felony counts, including for violations of campaign finance laws that involved hush money payments to two women who claimed they had had affairs with Trump. Cohen said that he had acted in coordination with and at the direction of a man, clearly identifiable as Trump, for the principal purpose of influencing the election for president in 2016. On the same day, a jury found Manafort guilty on eight counts of tax evasion and bank fraud. The Cohen case has put the spotlight on the Trump Organizations finances, which could imperil the president and his family. don.lee@latimes.com Follow me at @dleelatimes UPDATES: 4:40 p.m.: This article was updated with additional background and comments from Charles E. Grassley, John Cornyn, Ben Sasse and Dianne Feinstein. This article was originally published at 9:40 a.m. Sharon Moore had heard the stories about her father getting his duffel bag stolen on his way back from the Korean War. The New Hampshire woman never expected to see any of the contents. In July, Moore received a Facebook friend request from a stranger in France. She deleted it. But, the person responded with a Facebook message asking for help in finding the owner of a lost wallet. Attached were several black-and-white pictures, including one of her mother as a young woman, and another of her aunt, as well as a tattered Social Security card and Massachusetts drivers license. I immediately saw my dads drivers license and my mothers photo. I knew it was my dads wallet, Moore said of her father, Robert McCusker, who died a day before her 20th birthday in 1983. I couldnt believe it. Really, my dads wallet after all these years? It was just weird. The brown leather wallet was found in the basement of a building in Chatellerault, France, a small city about 185 miles southwest of Paris. Workers had tossed it out, but the buildings owner, Patrick Caubet, noticed it on a pile of gravel and was drawn to the half-dozen photographs and what looked like official documents. Advertisement On closer inspection, he saw a field ration permit dated September 1950 belonging to Cpl. Robert S. McCusker, as well as McCuskers Social Security card and other military documents. It was unclear how the wallet ended up in the building, although Moore said Caubet had heard that the building once was a social club for American officers and that officers might also have stayed there. The photographs made it very sentimental and personal, and really gave me the desire to find the family they belonged to, said Caubet, who works in communications for the French military. My grandfather and father were also in the war, he said, adding that his grandfather had been injured by a shell in World War II and his father suffered serious burns in the Algerian War. I would have loved it if someone had found papers or other things belonging to them and sent them to me. Caubet, who was interviewed in French, found a friend who spoke English and together they found an obituary for Moores mother, Jean McKenney McCusker, who died in 2014. They went in search of his surviving relatives listed in the obituary, first posting the wallets contents on Caubets Facebook page. That prompted some replies from friends, including one who surmised that the wallets owner was possibly a soldier who fell in love with a French woman. They tried contacting the Pentagon and the U.S. Embassy in Paris, but got nowhere. Then Caubet sought the help of a French military office in Paris, which tracked down the names of McCuskers children in just days. Caubet found Moore on Facebook last month and shortly after the wallet was headed to Dover, N.H. She was so happy to know there was this trace of her father, Caubet said. She was almost ready to come to France with her brother to get the wallet. But I told her I could send it. I was so afraid it would get lost in the mail. But it arrived in less than a week. I was so happy. When the package arrived, Moore and her brother, Steven McCusker, filmed themselves opening the wallet and emailed the video to Caubet, so he could share in their joy. For Moore and her relatives, the wallet represents another part of a father who rarely talked about his time at war. He also fought in World War II, forging a birth certificate at the age of 15 and running off to the Merchant Marine. He re-enlisted for the Korean conflict and received a Purple Heart after he was injured in a grenade attack. Moore gave the wallet to her brother, Steven, who also lives in Dover, because she already has her fathers Purple Heart, his dog tags and the flag from his coffin on display in her home. The family also sent Caubet a gift basket featuring maple syrup from her backyard, some of the candy her father enjoyed and a New England Patriots jersey. Its just amazing. Its just amazing. To hold something he held every day, there are just no words, Moore said, adding that her father would have been floored by the whole story and just thankful and grateful, especially because it was a soldier that helped get it back to us. A few days before casting the vote that kept Obamacare intact in the face of a GOP attack, Sen. John McCain, the Arizona Republican who died Saturday after a yearlong battle with brain cancer, gave a speech that his colleagues should heed if they want to find their way out of the wilderness theyve blundered into. Lets trust each other. Lets return to regular order, McCain said, referring to the process of holding hearings and working in committee to improve legislation before passing it into law. Weve been spinning our wheels on too many important issues because we keep trying to find a way to win without help from across the aisle. Thats an approach thats been employed by both sides, mandating legislation from the top down, without any support from the other side, with all the parliamentary maneuvers that requires. Were getting nothing done. Although he never achieved his ambition to be elected president, McCain was an enormously consequential figure in the Senate, despite his reputation as a maverick. His voting record shows him to be a solidly conservative Republican, and a hawkish one at that. But his willingness to cross party lines and bridge differences was as much his signature as his outspokenness and occasional bursts of temper. The image of McCain the maverick cant obscure the fact that he was an advocate and practitioner of the sort of consensus politics that seems to be vanishing Advertisement We are a polarized society, with potentially unbridgeable differences on many issues. But McCain was right: When the two major parties cannot work together to find common ground, our problems fester. Many of the tributes to McCain have focused, appropriately so, on his personal qualities his patriotism, his willingness to admit error, his personal decency, his readiness to engage with critics and the press. Inevitable contrasts are also being drawn between the senator who wanted to be president and the reality TV star who actually is president, a man who avoided the draft during the Vietnam war through medical and educational deferments and who once disparaged McCains heroism as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. (I like people who werent captured.) Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion Whereas Donald Trump rode to political prominence by questioning whether Barack Obama was born in the United States, McCain famously corrected a voter who announced at a town hall meeting that I cant trust Obama because hes an Arab. McCain responded: No, Maam. Hes a decent family man [and] citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and thats what the campaign is all about. McCain is also being remembered for substantive positions that put him at odds with some in his party, including his support for immigration reform, limits on special-interest money in political campaigns and an end to the use of torture in the interrogation of suspected terrorists. But the image of McCain the maverick cant obscure the fact that he was an advocate and practitioner of the sort of consensus politics that seems to be vanishing in the Senate. To his credit, McCain took steps to try to reverse the erosion in bipartisan comity. Yet his accomplishments on that front are proving to be ephemeral. For example, after Democrats in the Senate filibustered some of President George W. Bushs judicial nominees in 2005, McCain was the leader of an effort by a bipartisan group of senators known as the Gang of 14 to allow some nominees to receive votes. The deal headed off a threat by Republicans to trigger the nuclear option and abolish filibusters for judicial nominations. The partisan wrangling over judges eventually picked up steam again, however, leading Senate Democrats to abolish filibusters for all nominees except Supreme Court justices in 2013. Four years later, after refusing to hold even a hearing on Obamas last Supreme Court pick, Senate Republicans killed the filibuster on Supreme Court nominees as well. In 2010, McCain warned Democrats against using the budget reconciliation process to approve elements of the Affordable Care Act by a simple majority vote, predicting that it would fundamentally alter the nature of the Senate. Sure enough, Republicans used reconciliation this term to try to repeal the ACA, and have mulled deploying it for other highly partisan proposals as well. The senators now giving tribute to McCain should revisit the warnings hes given over the years about the consequences of polarization and the recurring cycle of partisan payback. Sadly, theres no indication that theyre willing to take his advice to heart. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook I didnt want to take my kid to the West Bank city of Hebron. A few years ago, a former Israeli paratrooper had guided me through the silent, sterilized streets of its old city, free of any Palestinian presence. I saw Hebrew graffiti triumphantly sprayed on sealed homes and shops, walked by the checkpoints that ensure complete separation of the Jewish and Muslim populations. Hebron is not an easy place to be I wasnt sure my 14-year-old was ready for it. My family and I travel to Israel as often as we can. Our kids bedtime stories are tales of the struggles and triumphs of the Jewish people, our people. They have learned Hebrew as a living language. They love Israeli culture and food and they FaceTime their cousins in Tel Aviv nearly every day. And we speak honestly and critically with them about whats happening in Israel, just as we do about whats happening in the United States. We talk about the miracles and the missteps, the dreams fulfilled and those unrealized. And now, at 9, 12 and 14, theyre old enough to begin to understand the complexities. To love a place Israel or the United States does not necessarily mean to love its government. Advertisement Thats why it was important to us, on our latest trip to Israel this summer with the Ikar community, that the kids walked the vibrant public squares of West Jerusalem and the sweltering corridors of the Old City, experienced Yad Vashem and rafted down the Jordan River. And, when our group went to Hebron with the Israeli anti-occupation organization Breaking the Silence, our 14-year-old came with us. She knew I was hesitant, but she insisted. She wanted to see the occupation for herself. Trust me, Ima, she said. I love Israel. I need to see the other side with my own eyes. Our guide, a former sergeant in the Israel Defense Forces, showed us how 850 Jewish settlers, guarded by 600 Israeli police and soldiers, live among 200,000 Palestinians. We saw buildings once inhabited by members of the Jewish community massacred in 1929, and the homes of those trying to reestablish a Jewish presence, albeit an extreme and ideological one. We witnessed the harshest effects of the occupation: roadways forbidden to Palestinians, abandoned blocks, Jewish settlements the world deems illegal. We saw the once-thriving Casbah, dead quiet now. All of this, the direct result of Israeli military policy. My daughter, my Israeli brother and I wandered from the tour group and struck up a conversation with a settler named Aaron, originally from New York. He proudly showed us the newest Jewish settlement in Hebron, explaining that seizing Palestinian homes is a redemption for the Jewish people. Aaron reveres Baruch Goldstein, who slaughtered 29 Muslims at the nearby Tomb of the Patriarchs. He told us the 1994 massacre was a heroic act, Gods will. Baruch Goldstein killed a lot of innocent people, my brother said to him. A lot of animals, Aaron corrected him. People, my brother said again. People, bowing in prayer. Aarons views were loathsome to me as they are to most Israelis, but I was glad my daughter heard them firsthand. Never would she be able to hear religious extremist and point only to them, without also thinking us. If only Aaron and his cohort were the sole threat to Israels Jewish and democratic aspirations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus governing coalition continues to recklessly enforce its ideological absolutes, passing an anti-democratic nation-state law, denying surrogacy rights to LGBTQ Israelis, escalating personal attacks against the New Israel Fund and other progressive organizations, and detaining American journalists at the border, interrogating them about their political beliefs and associations. As an American rabbi, I cant ignore the message the Israeli government is sending to diaspora Jews: Stick to the playbook. Send Israel your money, your youth, your tourists and your unquestioning loyalty. Dont talk about the occupation (now in its 51st year) or the millions of Palestinians denied equal protection, freedom of movement, the right to vote for the government that dictates their daily lives. Dont visit Bethlehem or Ramallah, where you might hear a Palestinian narrative. Pay no attention to Breaking the Silence, Parents Circle or any other group where Israelis and Palestinians speak frankly about the challenges and the possibilities for a shared future. And dont dare judge our willingness to cozy up to the scandal-ridden American president you overwhelmingly rejected. Stick to Fantasy Israel, bvakasha. The rising generation of American Jews is increasingly alienated from Israel. They say theyre tired of the fantasy, a defensive story of half-truths. Yet many American Jewish community leaders, while wringing their hands over the lost generation, persist in the sanitized approach to teaching young people about Israel. They argue that its simply not possible to instill a love of Israel while exposing its faults. They are wrong. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion Israel holds a multitude of truths. It is a Jewish state, yet moral leadership tends to come not from its official rabbinate, but from its artists, academics and activists. It is a proud, striving democracy that fails to uphold basic democratic norms for many under its control. It is a young nation of exemplary ingenuity, imagination and frankness that has failed to use that same creativity and honesty to seriously deal with what sovereignty means when one profoundly traumatized population holds great power over another. My kid is still grappling with what we saw and heard in Hebron that day. But I dont regret taking her there because I trust her to grasp Israels complexities. I trust she understands that to love a place Israel or the United States does not necessarily mean to love its government. In fact, it sometimes means precisely the opposite. I dont know what shell ultimately do with everything she has seen. I do know that she wont grow up and say to us, as so many young Jews are now saying to their parents, rabbis and teachers, You never told me. Rabbi Sharon Brous is the senior and founding rabbi of the Jewish community IKAR in Los Angeles. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook We are mourning Sen. John McCain this week most of us, at least and well we should. But what exactly are we mourning? Why do we feel a sense of loss? Its not that McCains politics were universally popular; far from it. Democrats enjoyed his bouts of rebelliousness, but he was never really on their side; he was always a conservative and a hawk. Many Republicans distrusted him; by the end of his life, his partys pro-Trump base considered him an apostate. Nor is it the record of bipartisan legislation he leaves; that record is, in fact, rather thin. His most important achievement, the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law, has been eviscerated by the Supreme Court. Most of his other projects, like immigration reform, ended in failure. An easy answer is that McCain is an object of reverence for his personal courage, which was considerable when he exerted it, and for his old-fashioned civility in political battle. His concession speech to Barack Obama at the end of the nasty 2008 presidential campaign Senator Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and his country. [He] will be my president was a model of grace amid disappointment. Advertisement But plenty of politicians, even in the age of President Trump, still manage to behave civilly toward their opponents. McCain was more complicated and more interesting. McCains most oddly attractive characteristic: He hated hypocrisy especially if he was the one practicing it. What distinguished the Arizonan most was his adherence, worn on his sleeve, to a rigorous code of honor inherited from his father and grandfather, both decorated Navy admirals combined with his recurring habit of falling short of his own standards and reproaching himself for his failings in public. Nearly all politicians cut corners on their way to the top. Few of them apologize when they do. (The current president of the United States, who loathed McCain, never apologizes for anything.) None, at least none in recent memory, ever apologized as fully and relentlessly as McCain. All honest politicians hate the squalid little tradeoffs that politics demands the favors, the compromises, the truckling to campaign donors. But most of them express their distress in private. McCain felt compelled to express his in public. In his 2000 campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, for instance, McCain faced a difficult choice in South Carolina. Demands were rising to remove the Confederate flag from the state capitol, and McCains first instinct was to agree: Its a symbol of racism and slavery, he said. But after aides told him his position, however admirable, would lose him the states primary, he backed off, saying he understood both sides. Months later, after losing, McCain returned to the state to confess his error. I chose to compromise my principles, he said. I broke my promise to always tell the truth. In a later memoir, he was even tougher on himself: I had not just been dishonest. I had been a coward, and I had severed my own interest from my countrys. That was what made the lie unforgivable. That was McCains most oddly attractive characteristic: He hated hypocrisy especially if he was the one practicing it. It was attractive because it conveyed a larger lesson. In his life and in his words, McCain preached that every American should try to meet the highest standards of honor and valor but he recognized that no one will always succeed, including himself. The test of character, he argued, was whether you owned up to your errors and spurred yourself to do better. No wonder he found himself in bitter opposition to Trump, whose standards of honor and valor have proven undetectable. Soon after Trumps inauguration, McCain became the de facto leader of the GOP opposition in the Senate, more willing to condemn the presidents offenses against decency and good government than most of his colleagues. He warned the president against cozying up to Russias Vladimir Putin (a thug), criticized Trumps order banning U.S. entry to people from seven mostly Muslim countries (harmful), and denounced his proposal to tax imports from Mexico (insane). Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion A year ago, McCain cast one of the decisive dissenting votes against his partys attempt to repeal Obamas healthcare law not because he wanted to keep the law (he didnt), but because he considered the bill Trump was pushing hopelessly inadequate. The president never forgave him. And only a few weeks ago, after Trump praised Putin at a summit in Helsinki, Finland, McCain unloaded again. No prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant, he said. That was McCain at his best. After his cancer diagnosis, McCain wrote in his recent memoir that because his career was nearing its end, Im freer than colleagues who will face the voters again. I can speak my mind without fearing the consequences much. And I can vote my conscience without worry. Have three sadder sentences ever been written about American politics? Alas, that fully liberated version of McCain was free only for the final 20 months of his career. We are the poorer for that and that is what we mourn. Doyle McManus is a contributing writer to Opinion. Twitter: @DoyleMcManus Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook Arizona Sen. John McCain, who survived 5 years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam to become one of the highest-profile, most confounding and pugnacious personalities in American politics a one-time Republican presidential standard-bearer who alternately trampled and embraced GOP orthodoxy has died. He was 81. McCain, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in July 2017, died at 4:28 p.m. Saturday, his office confirmed in a statement. McCains passing came a day after his family announced he was ceasing medical treatment. Although he spent more than three decades in Congress representing his adopted home state, McCain was hardly a stamped-from-the-mold politician. At a time when the country grew increasingly tribal and partisan, he drew admiration and antagonism from both parties. Warts and all, he was an iconic figure, said Charlie Cook, a nonpartisan campaign analyst who followed McCains political career from the lawmakers arrival in Washington in the early 1980s. As irascible and curmudgeonly as he could be, he was real. There was an authenticity. Advertisement Within moments, tributes began to pour in from across the political divide. President Trump issued a brief statement on Twitter. My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain, he wrote. Our hearts and prayers are with you! President Obama, who defeated McCain in 2008, went on at greater length. Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage he did, he stated. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At Johns best, he showed us what that means. McCain had a volcanic temper and an almost demonically willful streak, once describing himself as one who doesnt mind getting up on the high wire and doesnt mind fighting. His career as a hell-raiser in the Navy and iconoclast in the Senate often read more like a picaresque novel than the shelf load of books inspired by his harrowing life story. In addition to his experience as a prisoner of war, marked by years of torture and solitary confinement, McCain survived near-banishment from the Naval Academy, three plane crashes, a divorce caused by his philandering, a career-threatening Senate scandal, two unsuccessful tries for the White House and a legislative record marked by at least as many setbacks as victories. Then-Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, accompanied by his daughter Meghan McCain, waves to supporters in Ohio in October 2008. Stephan Savoia / Associated Press He was described (and described himself) as a charmer, a wise guy, an underachiever, a warrior, a hero, a coward, a straight-talker, a shape-shifter and, perhaps more than any label, a maverick. He was conservative in coloration and stood firmly by his beliefs, even when it contravened the wishes of his partys leadership. He fought bitterly with right-wing elements of the GOP over immigration, gay rights, global warming. In July 2017, he cast the decisive vote killing Republicans long-cherished hope of repealing the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare, as they derided it marching onto the Senate floor, turning a thumb down and delivering a forceful no as the chamber erupted in gasps. His relationship with Trump was not good. Trump derided his wartime heroism during the 2016 campaign I like people who werent captured and McCain did not hide his contempt. Todays press conference in Helsinki was one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory, McCain tweeted of Trumps kid-gloves approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin at a July meeting. Trump responded in kind. A month later, he pointedly made no mention of Arizonas ailing senator when he signed the 2019 military appropriation bill the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act into law. McCain unburdened himself at length in The Restless Wave, the last of several books he wrote, which was published in May and served as his last political testament. He seems uninterested in the moral character of world leaders and their regimes, he said of Trump. The appearance of toughness, or a reality show facsimile of toughness seems to matter more than any of our values. Flattery secures his friendship, criticism his enmity. A fixture on Washingtons political talk shows and eagerly sought interview in the halls of Congress ever-ready with a quip or snide observation McCains power extended beyond his role as a committee chairman and aggressive investigator of military spending, influence peddling and pork-barrel spending, among other causes. He became a leading voice in the Republican Party, especially on military and foreign affairs. (During Senate breaks, he often passed the time visiting war zones and other foreign hot spots.) And though he faced a number of unsuccessful primary challenges back home, the only time he ever lost an election was when he reached for the White House. His first run, in 2000, was a joyful, insurgent romp that saw him nearly upset the prohibitive GOP favorite, Texas Gov. George W. Bush, in the primaries. His second try, as the Republican nominee in 2008, was more of a cheerless grind, ending in a decisive loss to Democrat Obama. Despite his beet-red outbursts My temper? he joked. I was just exploding about it this morning he engendered deep loyalty, forging a bipartisan cadre of friends and trusted advisors who remained close to him for decades. One of them was fellow Vietnam veteran John F. Kerry, the former Massachusetts senator and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, who briefly considered McCain as his running mate, a highly unconventional move. To a considerable degree, McCains career reflected the Nietzschean notion of that which does not kill us makes us stronger. Tarred by an influence-peddling scandal, McCain emerged as a champion of open government and campaign finance reform. As a twice-defeated presidential candidate, he used his new celebrity to heighten his influence in Congress and emerge as one of the GOPs most prominent leaders. Although he wished to be known for more than his service in Vietnam and, especially, his hellish captivity, it became the leitmotif of his public life an irrefutable testament to his personal bravery and excuse for everything from his irksome explosions to the fact he was relatively new to Arizona the first time he sought political office. Attacked as an outsider in that 1982 run for the House of Representatives, he brought opponents up short with a blunt and unassailable rejoinder: The longest place I ever lived in was Hanoi. John Sidney McCain III was born Aug. 29, 1936, in the Panama Canal Zone, where his father, a Navy officer, was temporarily stationed. At that instant, his future was seemingly ordained. As the son and grandson of acclaimed admirals, with a military lineage dating to 17th-century Britain, there was never a question what McCain would do once he grew up, though at times it seemed he was bent more on self-sabotage than extending his familys proud service. Relatively small as an adult he topped out at 5 feet 7 inches and often the new kid in class, he compensated with a snarling attitude and flying fists. In high school, he was known as Punk and McNasty. When he graduated from the Naval Academy in 1958, he finished fifth from the bottom of his class but near the top in demerits. I was an arrogant, undisciplined, insolent midshipman, he wrote years later with typical candor. In short, I acted like a jerk. He trained as a naval aviator, surviving three crashes and acquiring a reputation as a pilot who tended toward recklessness. In July 1967, serving in Vietnams Tonkin Gulf, he lived through another disaster when a stray electrical charge ignited a missile on the aircraft carrier Forrestal, killing 134 sailors and injuring 161. McCain could have returned home but, fatefully, refused. A few months later, on a bombing mission over Hanoi, his A-4E Skyhawk was hit by a missile, which sheared the right wing. McCain ejected and landed, with a broken leg and two broken arms, in a lake in the middle of the North Vietnamese capital. His captors soon realized they had lucked into a prize possession: the son of a famous American admiral. Seeking a public relations coup a seeming show of humanitarianism they offered McCain his freedom. That, however, would have breached the American military code of conduct that required the release of POWs in the order they were captured. When he refused the offer, his jail keepers were infuriated. Now, McCain, he recalled being told, It will be very bad for you. It was. He endured years of torture and solitary confinement; at one point, after being beaten for days and bound with ropes forcing his head between his knees, McCain broke and signed a taped confession that was broadcast to fellow prisoners: I am a black criminal and I have performed the deeds of an air pirate. Lt. Cmdr. John McCain is shown in the documentary Return With Honor. 1999 American Film Foundation He took years to forgive himself, though eventually his dark humor won out. Decades later, a reporter for Esquire was with him when a staffer sought McCains advice regarding her son, who was acting up in school. Tell him to confess, McCain told her. Say, I am a black air pirate and I have committed crimes against the peace-loving people at my school. It always worked for me. When McCain was finally freed in March 1973, after the signing of the Paris Peace Accord, he walked with a limp that persisted the rest of his life. He also had limited range of motion in his arms he couldnt raise them high enough to comb his hair; worse, from McCains perspective, the handicap thwarted his desire to return to the cockpit as a Navy pilot. After years of recovery, McCain was rewarded with an assignment as the Navys liaison to the U.S. Senate, where he got his first taste of political power. He forged a number of bipartisan friendships, including a father-son relationship with Republican Sen. John Tower of Texas, who urged him to run for Congress, saying he could do more good there than in the Navy. By then, McCain had divorced his first wife, Carol, after multiple admitted affairs on his part, and married Cindy Lou Hensley, the daughter of a wealthy Phoenix beer distributor. It was there, in the burgeoning desert of the Southwest, McCain finally rooted himself, working as public relations executive for his father-in-laws liquor business. In 1982, when a shot at an open House seat arose, he jumped at the opportunity. He knocked on some 15,000 doors in Arizonas beastly summer heat and blanketed the local TV airwaves with an ad touting his military record that showed him hobbling on crutches soon after his release as a POW. He narrowly won the GOP primary and trounced his Democratic opponent. After two terms in the House, McCain was elected in a 1986 landslide to replace retiring Sen. Barry Goldwater, another crusty, speak-his-mind Republican. McCain was reelected five times, the final time in 2016. He kept a mostly low profile during his early years in Congress, voting a faithfully conservative line. In the 1990s, in a move with great symbolic and political resonance, he worked across the aisle with Kerry to end the U.S. trade embargo on Vietnam and renew diplomatic ties. Perhaps his greatest notoriety, however, came as a member of the Keating Five. In the late 1980s, Charles H. Keating Jr., the owner of Irvine-based Lincoln Savings & Loan, spread cash donations to five U.S. senators including McCain in hopes of thwarting a federal investigation into Lincolns questionable investments and lending practices. After a lengthy court-like procedure, McCain was found guilty by the Senate Ethics Committee of showing poor judgment for twice meeting with regulators at Keatings request. Although there was no sanction, McCain called the experience worse than anything he suffered as a war prisoner. The Vietnamese, he said, didnt question my honor. The experience changed McCain in two ways. He became increasingly accessible to reporters, figuring the best path to political rehabilitation was openness and unvarnished authenticity. He also took up campaign finance reform, opposing leaders of his own party and working with Wisconsins Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold to pass legislation restricting the flow of unregulated campaign cash and limiting political advertising. In January 2010, however, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down key aspects of the McCain-Feingold bill, ruling curbs on political spending were an unconstitutional infringement of free speech. The worst decision of the United States Supreme Court in the 21st century, McCain called it. By then, McCain had established himself as a national figure, after two tries for the White House. His 2000 bid was an upstart effort that pitted him against Texas Gov. Bush and most of the GOP establishment. McCain wrote off Iowa, where voters cast the first ballots in precinct caucuses, and camped out for more than a year in New Hampshire, staging more than 100 town halls. His ask-me-anything style appealed to voters demanding accessibility and reporters who loved McCains freewheeling personality. (My base, he jokingly called the political press corps.) McCains walloping of Bush in New Hampshires leadoff primary stamped him as a serious contender for the nomination. Bush supporters responded with a smear campaign, including false allegations that McCain fathered an African American child out of wedlock. That helped Bush prevail in South Carolinas do-or-die primary, but opened a deep personal chasm; when McCain finally came around to endorsing Bush after the primaries, he likened it to swallowing a bitter pill. If McCains 2000 run for president was mostly a joy ride aboard the aptly titled Straight Talk Express, his 2008 campaign was a slog. Though he began as the presumptive front-runner, his open disdain for Christian conservative leaders, promotion of campaign-finance reform and moderate position on immigration alienated much of the Republican base. He quickly fell behind in polls and fundraising and retreated in desperation once more to New Hampshire, where his familiarity and another blitz of town halls helped lift him to victory and an eventual path to the GOP nomination. McCain entered the general election as a distinct underdog against Obama. After eight years of Bush, voters were inevitably ready for change and, as the first African American to seriously vie for the White House, the Illinois senator was the living embodiment of new and different. Charismatic and 25 years younger than McCain, Obama also capitalized by portraying his GOP rival as old and out of touch. McCains slow, diffident response at the onset of the Great Recession didnt help. Trying to shake up the contest, McCain gambled by choosing little-known Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. Her rocky performance left campaign aides publicly lamenting the selection, though McCain expressed no regrets until death began its approach. Only then did he reveal his second thoughts, writing in his final memoir and stating in an HBO documentary that he was sorry he did not select his close friend, Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman, a Democrat-turned-independent. McCain said campaign advisors told him the move would outrage hard-core Republicans and cost him the election. Sound advice, he wrote. But my gut told me to ignore it, and I wish I had. Palin issued a statement Saturday night on Twitter, calling McCain an American original. John never took the easy path in life and through sacrifice and suffering he inspired others to serve something greater than self, she wrote. After losing to Obama, McCain returned to the Senate and became one of his harshest critics, especially on defense and foreign policy matters. He continued to break with Republicans when it suited him, most recently pushing President Trump for a tougher stance against Russia and repeatedly opposing efforts to repeal Obamas signature achievement, the Affordable Care Act, without ensuring coverage for the millions of Americans it added to insurance rolls. He never bothered reconciling with conservatives back home, who threw up vigorous primary challengers when McCain sought reelection in 2010 and 2016. Both times he shifted right, on immigration and other issues, before moving back closer to the middle once he fended off the intraparty challenge. If there was a single motivation threaded through his career it was public service, said Tom Volgy, a University of Arizona political scientist and former Democratic mayor of Tucson who worked well with McCain despite their partisan differences. He wasnt a poor guy who needed to get rich by being in Congress, Volgy said. He didnt need to serve so long, or run again after losing for president. Although both his White House bids fell short, McCain seemed awed and genuinely grateful for the mere chance to vie for the nations highest office. This is the noblest experience in the world, he told a firehouse crowd as he campaigned one night in 2000 in New Hampshire. Its marvelous, and I cant tell you how uplifting it is. I seize every moment, every moment I can, to be in this campaign. In my darkest days, long ago and far away, I never, ever believed that I would have this golden opportunity. mark.barabak@latimes.com @markzbarabak UPDATES: 6:30 p.m. : This article was updated with reaction from McCains former vice presidential running mate, Sarah Palin 6:07 p.m.: This article was updated with reaction from President Trump and former President Obama. This article was originally published at 5:25 p.m. Sen. John McCains death heralds a sea change for congressional challenges to the Trump administration on national security, as the presidents two most vocal Republican critics pass their powerful committee gavels to two of President Trumps biggest supporters. McCain (R-Ariz.), who used his chairmanship of the Senate Armed Services Committee to question the presidents stance on issues such as Russia, torture and immigration, leaves control to Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.). Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), who has been a one-man Greek chorus of epithets decrying Trumps chaotic approach to diplomacy, will hand the reins to Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho) at the start of the new year. The departure of either committee chairman would be noteworthy, as both have attracted considerable attention for criticizing the White House over foreign policies they deem flawed. But together, they portend a sweeping change in how Congress may use its oversight authority to check the presidents international agenda, according to current and former lawmakers, lobbyists and policy watchers a changing of the guard with potentially enormous consequences for holding the president to account during crises. Corker and McCain, the way they have led those committees, have been exceptions to the rule. ... Both have done a good job of really probing and questioning and disagreeing with their own Republican president when they needed to, said former defense secretary Chuck Hagel, who also served in the Senate as a Republican alongside McCain, Corker, Inhofe and Risch. That will shift theres no question about it. Advertisement McCain and Corker have been celebrated for the tenacity they have brought to oversight of both Democratic and Republican administrations. As a former presidential candidate, Vietnam War hero and one of the most recognizable American statesmen on the world stage, McCain was one of the few lawmakers who could often command more authority on national security than the commander in chief which he used to dare presidents to cross him. John McCain, war hero, political maverick and GOP standard-bearer, dies at 81 Since Trump took office, that has happened most frequently on matters concerning Russia. McCain and Corker have been as pointed in their criticism of Trumps actions vis-a-vis Russian President Vladimir Putin, as they were instrumental last year in getting Congress to pass sanctions that checked the presidents authority to scale back punitive measures against Moscow without lawmakers approval. Both also led repeated legislative efforts to reaffirm the United States commitment to NATO in the face of presidential statements they thought were intentionally designed to undermine it. No prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant, McCain said of Trumps performance during a July summit in Helsinki, in which the U.S. president suggested he might take Putins denials of interference in the 2016 election over the findings of his own intelligence community. The Helsinki conference was a sad day for our country, and everyone knows it, Corker said, calling Trumps performance deplorable. Such commentary earned them the jeers of the president and his allies but the cheers of the foreign policy establishment and the previous administration. I dont like to picture a Senate without Bob Corker and John McCain ... sometimes we butted heads hard, but I never doubted for a second that they were serious, former Secretary of State John Kerry said in an email. McCain and Corker both grilled Kerry fiercely over the Obama administrations policies, including the deal with Iran to end crippling sanctions in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. Both lawmakers opposed the deal, though Corker, who led the legislative effort to guarantee that Congress could review the pact, later urged Trump not to withdraw from it. You need enough people like that on both sides to create a critical mass to get something done, otherwise you have a big flashing disincentive that empowers the worst actors to call the shots, Kerry said. Colleagues fear the Senate will lose that edge once Inhofe and Risch take over, concerned that they will be more acquiescent to the White House. Weve transferred a lot of authority to the executive over the years ... and Im concerned that new leadership that is closer to the president doesnt view as skeptically as it should executive power, said Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), who has also criticized Trumps approach to foreign policy and is also retiring at the end of his term. I think theyre less likely to question moves by the president ... its going to be less independent. McCains death comes at a critical juncture, as the Trump administration slaps steep, controversial tariffs on adversary and allied nations and attempts, in fits and starts, to strike a historic denuclearization agreement with North Korea one that has eluded previous administrations for decades. Democrats and Republicans alike have railed against the tariffs and expressed skepticism about the likelihood of talks between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un succeeding. They have challenged Trumps team to articulate a clearer strategy to hold Pyongyang to account not only for its nuclear arsenal, but the aggression and threats it carries out in cyberspace, via biological and chemical weapons, and against the human rights of its own people. But from their perch on their respective panels, Inhofe and Risch have chided those who voice doubts about the presidents ability to orchestrate a historic denuclearization deal even when that person is the presidents own director of national intelligence. Im a little more optimistic than your hope springs eternal, Dan, and I want to think that this aggressive behavior of our president is going to have a positive effect on [Kim], Inhofe said to Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats this year during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, after Coats expressed skepticism that the North Korean leader would ever give up his nuclear weapons. More recently, Risch effectively admonished lawmakers who have expressed concern that Trump might overlook Kims human rights record to strike a deal, urging them to trust the president. Look, were all about human rights ... but if you try to overload this and try to resolve all these things at once, I think youre just setting things up for failure, Risch said during a Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee hearing on North Korea in June. We have a different situation with President Trump than we have in the past . . . Kim Jong Un recognizes that hes dealing with a person who has a very strong personality, and hes not going to tolerate the kinds of things that have happened in the past. In general, both Risch and Inhofe have approached the business of executive oversight with less zeal than either McCain or Corker. Risch, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations panels subcommittee on the Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and counterterrorism a portfolio that also gives him jurisdiction over Afghanistan and Pakistan has not held a single subcommittee hearing since Trump took office. By comparison, Inhofe is far more active. He took the reins of the Armed Services Committee as McCain remained in Arizona since December, undergoing treatment for brain cancer. Inhofe has worked with McCains staff through the summer to steer a record-setting $716-billion measure outlining defense priorities through Congress. But even that bill named after McCain this year, though Trump did not mention his name at the signing bears marks of the late senator that experts think Inhofe will be hard-pressed to replicate. For years, McCain waged a battle against the Defense Department to reduce excessive spending on costly programs, such as the F-35 fighter jet and the Ford-class aircraft carrier. He was credited with driving an investigation that exposed the George W. Bush administrations Air Force tanker lease deal that seemingly shortchanged Boeing, a recent defense spending scandal. Lobbyists have also long eyed Inhofe as more deferential to the department and sympathetic to the contracting industry than McCain. But McCain has also been one of the chief champions of increasing military spending, taking on Trump last year. What he did was remarkable: The president of his own party put forth a budget, and he put forth an alternate budget and strategy saying, My own party is underfunding the Department of Defense, said Mackenzie Eaglen, a defense expert with the American Enterprise Institute. [McCain] went farther than [Defense Secretary] Jim Mattis had gone. And he won ... Ive never seen anything like it. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) eventually deferred to McCain over Trump, and the bill secured veto-proof majorities in Congress. It was the second time in a year that a McCain-backed bill had successfully forced Trump to sign a foreign or defense policy he had pushed against the first being the legislation that gave Congress the power to block conciliatory moves on Russia sanctions. Since McCains diagnosis, his face-offs with Trump were largely restricted to official statements and through Twitter, where the senator made a point of reserving carefully worded vitriol for the matters that most defined him. On the matter of torture, he challenged lawmakers to vote against confirming now-CIA Director Gina Haspel, who was involved in the agencys interrogation program. On the rule of law and matters concerning allegations of Russian interference, he reprimanded Trump for attacking special counsel Robert Mueller III and his probe. And in response to Trumps statements flouting long-standing global alliances, he has gone around the president to address other nations on behalf of the American people. Americans stand with you, even if our president doesnt, he wrote on Twitter after Trumps break with the Group of Seven. McCain hasnt been entirely alone in the GOP in his criticism. Flake and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) joined him in opposing Haspel, while several Senate Republicans similarly excoriated the president over his deference to Putin in Helsinki, admonished the president for attacking Mueller, and blasted him for disregarding the United States oldest allies. But lawmakers openly wonder whether, in the era of Trump, there is anyone in Congress who can fill the void McCain and Corker will leave. Sen. Christopher Coons (D-Del.) ticks off the names of five Republican senators who could step up: Sens. Marco Rubio (Fla.), Todd Young (Ind.), Cory Gardner (Colo.), Ben Sasse (Neb.) and Thom Tillis (N.C.). These are all folks who have shown some independence and taken some initiative. You dont leap from being a first-term senator to being a John McCain, but there is an opening, said Coons, a close friend of McCains. I think it is a tragedy Sen. Corker served only two terms. I think he had a great deal more to give us, Coons said. And its an equal but greater tragedy that Sen. McCain will not be with us for another decade. We need both heroes and fighters, and McCain and Corker are both. When Donald Trump ran for president, he didnt exactly wow Arizona. He carried the state with less than 50% support, though youd never know it from Republicans vying in Tuesdays U.S. Senate primary. Kelli Ward calls Trump one of the greatest presidents of all time. Martha McSally flew cross-country for a bill signing and brief presidential shout-out, which she immediately posted on Twitter. Joe Arpaio boasts of a relationship going back years, to the time the former Maricopa County sheriff and Trump were a tag team peddling the fiction that Barack Obama was born outside the U.S. The pledges of unflagging loyalty may be exactly what it takes to win the primary. But all that Trumpian devotion is complicating Republican efforts to hang on to the Senate in November. Advertisement Arizona is central to the fight for control and if the political dynamic here is familiar, a GOP base that loves the president far more than everyone else, the difference is the states relatively late primary just 40-some days before ballots start arriving in the mail and 10 weeks before the general election. Thats not much time to pivot from a narrow, single-minded audience to an electorate split evenly among Republicans, Democrats and voters professing no party preference. Worse for the GOP, as the Senate candidates and their allies savage one another, the Democratic front-runner, Kyrsten Sinema, has spent months floating above the competition, running lofty advertisements that paint her as a nonpartisan problem solver. A recent morning found the local congresswoman at a Phoenix food bank, accompanied by a swarm of reporters, stuffing paper sacks with carrots and avocados. The message she delivered to news cameras please donate fruits and vegetables so the needy can eat right made no mention of politics or her GOP rivals. For Democrats, who need three seats to gain Senate control, Arizona is vital. Sen. Jeff Flake, one of Trumps harshest GOP critics, chose to step aside rather than risk losing a primary, creating a rare open-seat election at a time Arizona, once solidly Republican, has grown increasingly competitive. (With Sen. John McCains death, GOP Gov. Doug Ducey will appoint a replacement to fill his seat. McCains successor will face voters in 2020 for the right to finish the last two years of his term.) Rep. McSally, 52, is the front-runner in Tuesdays primary and favorite of the GOP establishment, owing in good part to her background as an Air Force fighter pilot and ability to win election to Congress twice from a Tucson district evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. A highly caffeinated campaigner, she sprinkles her rat-a-tat delivery with a few salty epithets: crappy, pissed off, BS. That, McSally tells listeners, is the way fighter pilots talk. She offers an offhanded non-apology apology. Her enlistment in the ranks of Trump faithful has been a striking conversion. McSally skipped his nominating convention, condemned his proposed Muslim ban and vulgar comments about women, and pointedly refuses to say whether she voted for the president, which is seen as proof she did not. Since Trump took office, however, McSally has a near-perfect voting record in support of the president who despite making no formal endorsement can be heard excerpted in ads calling McSally the real deal. Her backers shrug off the makeover, ascribing it to necessity and fully expecting the McSally of old to return as soon as the polls close Tuesday night. Sometimes in politics you make decisions to win the primary to get to the general election, said Yasser Sanchez, an immigration attorney and longtime GOP activist who is no fan of Trump. You have to hug the president and say everything he does is good and anyone who opposes him is wrong. Ward, of course, sees it differently. Sometime in politics you make decisions to win the primary to get to the general. Yasser Sanchez, a GOP activist, on Rep. Martha McSallys newfound devotion to President Trump. The 49-year-old physician and former state senator from Lake Havasu City, who unsuccessfully challenged McCain in the GOP primary two summers ago, has all but surgically attached herself to Trump. She echoes his talk of a deep state conspiracy to undermine his presidency, endorses Trumps proposal to wall off the border with Mexico and calls for complete repeal of the Affordable Care Act even as other Republicans have capitulated and abandoned the fight against Obamacare. She distributed a photo of herself and Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort, implying his endorsement, and touts support from the presidential rooting squad of Fox News Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham and Mark Levin. Ward dismisses McSallys congressional record supporting Trump as completely fabricated nothingness. She let Hillary Clinton win her district by 5 points as the Republican leader in that part of the state, Ward scoffed. Its despicable, the lies shes willing to tell to advance her own ambition. Arpaio criminally convicted for racial profiling, pardoned by Trump seems mostly to be pulling votes from Ward. The 86-year-old former lawman hired two of her unhappy ex-employees, who have used social media to vent their grievances and level salacious allegations against the candidate and her husband. Sinema, a three-term congresswoman, faces her own primary challenger, civil rights attorney Deedra Abboud, whose left-leaning campaigning has gained little traction. Sinemas incarnation as a centrist voting against Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, defending the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, equivocating over Trumps Supreme Court picks marks her own conversion from days in the Legislature as a Green Party leftist. Many see opportunism. Sinema, 42, calls it a willingness to learn and grow. What I learned early on, in my very first term in the statehouse, was that when I was willing to listen to other people, listen to their ideas and work together, we can actually get a lot of stuff done, she said. I dont know when it became uncool to compromise, but I am working to make it cool again. She takes an evenhanded approach to Trump. When the president does something really good for Arizona, I support it as do, I think, most of the voters, Sinema said amid the forklifts and floor-to-ceiling boxes marked emergency food. And when he does something thats not good for our state, she went on, we oppose it. In the final days of the primary, McSally has turned her focus to the general election with a TV spot recalling her combat role after Sept. 11, 2001, and contrasting it with Sinema seen in a flamboyant pink get-up protesting the Iraq war. There is no mention of Trump. The honor-and-country message is a potentially resonant one in this strongly pro-military state but its unclear whether Sinema, who has run thousands of ads painting an image of sobriety and moderation, can be easily recast as a wild-eyed liberal. Jerry Proctor, 70, is one Trump voter somewhat taken with the Democratic congresswoman. I dont think shes been hijacked like the rest of those Democrats, said the retired New York City corrections officer, citing Pelosi, Senate Democratic leader Charles E. Schumer of New York and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. I cant stand listening to them. Kyrsten is a little different. Hes not sure whom hell support, Proctor said after hearing Ward at a neighborhood forum in Scottsdale. His wife, Barbara, showed up with a pink Adorable Deplorables Trump T-shirt. But he didnt rule out a vote for Sinema even if the couple end up cancelling each other out. mark.barabak@latimes.com @markzbarabak Allies balk at Trump administration bid to block Chinese firm from cutting-edge telecom markets By David S. Cloud Britain and Germany are balking at the Trump administrations call for a ban on equipment from Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, threatening a global U.S. campaign to thwart Chinas involvement in future mobile networks. Both countries are expected to limit Huawei and other Chinese companies from providing core components including routers. But other types of Chinese equipment for next-generation, high-speed communications could still be installed on British and German networks, officials and analysts say. The U.S. push to ban Huawei has provoked a global dispute in recent weeks, with senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, publicly urging NATO allies in Europe to exclude the company and warning that the United States might limit its military presence in countries that did not do so. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Confucius Institutes: Do they improve U.S.-China ties or harbor spies? By Don Lee Hanging red lanterns welcome visitors to the University of Marylands Confucius Institute, the oldest of about 100 Chinese language and cultural centers that have popped up over the last 15 years on American campuses, subsidized by millions of dollars from Chinas central government. But last fall, when four U.S. Senate investigators walked into the Confucius offices in Maryland and spent hours questioning staff, they werent looking for an educational exchange. The committee has been seeking detailed information from the university about the program, including contracts, email exchanges and financial arrangements that school administrators have kept under wraps since it started in 2004. American colleges once viewed these jointly funded institutes as an economical way to expand their language offerings one that could also bring warmer ties with China and, importantly, an influx of Chinese international students paying full tuition. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch Live: White House holds surprise news briefing amid government shutdown Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement U.S. policy toward China shifts from engagement to confrontation By David S. Cloud For decades, China had no closer American friend than Dianne Feinstein. As San Francisco mayor in the 1970s, she forged a sister-city relationship with Shanghai, the first between American and Chinese communities. As U.S. senator, she dined with Chinese leaders at Mao Tse-tungs old Beijing residence. And in the 1990s, she championed a trade policy change that opened a floodgate of Western investment into China. Today the Democratic senator sees China as a growing threat, joining a broad array of Trump administration officials, national security strategists and business executives who once favored engagement with Beijing and now advocate a confrontational approach instead. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Mnuchins attempt to calm markets backfires as Trump takes another shot at the Federal Reserve By Jim Puzzanghera An attempt by Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin to calm plunging financial markets backfired Monday, further rattling investors with new fears about whether major U.S. banks have enough cash on top of worries about interest rates, political instability in Washington and a slowing global economy. Adding to the volatile mix was a fresh attack on the Federal Reserve by President Trump, who declared that the central bank was the U.S. economys only problem and that it didnt have a feel for the market. The Fed is like a powerful golfer who cant score because he has no touch -- he cant putt! Trump said on Twitter. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print He speaks to Democratic hearts. But is Beto ORourke a serious White House contender? By Mark Z. Barabak Hes a failed U.S. Senate candidate with an undistinguished congressional record who, for the moment, is a blazing-hot 2020 presidential prospect despite the fact that he may not run and faces long odds if he does. Beto ORourke suggests the will-he-or-wont-he speculation is something he himself cant quite fathom. I think thats a great question, he responded in a Dallas Morning News interview when asked whether his unsuccessful November Senate bid merited a promotion to the White House. I ask that question myself. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Russian disinformation teams targeted Robert S. Mueller III, says report prepared for Senate By Craig Timberg, Tony Romm, Elizabeth Dwoskin Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. (Associated Press) Months after President Trump took office, Russias disinformation teams trained their sites on a new target: special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. Having worked to help get Trump into the White House, they now worked to neutralize the biggest threat to his staying there. The Russian operatives unloaded on Mueller through fake accounts on Facebook, Twitter and beyond, falsely claiming that the former FBI director was corrupt and that the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election were crackpot conspiracies. One post on Instagram which emerged as an especially potent weapon in the Russian social media arsenal claimed that Mueller had worked in the past with radical Islamic groups. Such tactics exemplified how Russian teams ranged nimbly across social media platforms in a shrewd online influence operation aimed squarely at American voters. The effort started earlier than commonly understood and lasted longer while relying on the strengths of different sites to manipulate distinct slices of the electorate, according to a pair of comprehensive new reports prepared for the Senate Intelligence Committee and released Monday. Read more Timberg, Romm and Dwoskin report for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement President Trump announces Mick Mulvaney as acting White House chief of staff By Associated Press President Trump says budget director Mick Mulvaney will serve as acting chief of staff, replacing John F. Kelly in the new year. I am pleased to announce that Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management & Budget, will be named Acting White House Chief of Staff, replacing General John Kelly, who has served our Country with distinction. Mick has done an outstanding job while in the Administration.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print It aint over when its over: In Michigan, Wisconsin and elsewhere, losers seek to undermine election results By Mark Z. Barabak Democrat Gavin Newsom has yet to become California governor, but already a candidate for state Republican Party chairman is promoting a recall effort. In Michigan and Wisconsin, GOP lawmakers have rushed through legislation to thwart their incoming Democratic governors and hamper others in the opposing party from doing the jobs voters chose them to do. In Congress, GOP leaders have echoed President Trump and sought to undermine the legitimacy of Democrats strong midterm performance, raising unsubstantiated allegations of fraud and political malfeasance. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print New CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger says she wont be a puppet of Mick Mulvaney By Jim Puzzanghera On her first full day leading the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Kathy Kraninger said she wont be a puppet of Mick Mulvaney, the controversial acting director whom she replaced in the powerful regulatory position. To underscore that point, the former White House aide said she would even reconsider a Mulvaney action that critics saw as a gratuitous jab at Democrats who championed the agencys creation: changing its name to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. Kraningers declaration during a meeting with reporters Tuesday addressed one of the main criticisms of her selection. She is considered a protege of Mulvaney, her boss at the White House Office of Management and Budget who has executed a dramatic, industry-friendly shift at the watchdog agency. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trumps pick for chief of staff, Nick Ayers, out of running By Associated Press Nick Ayers, right, with Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, at the funeral service for George H.W. Bush on Dec. 3. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Associated Press) President Trumps top pick to replace John F. Kelly as chief of staff, Nick Ayers, is no longer expected to fill that role. Thats according to a White House official who is not authorized to discuss the personnel issue by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. Ayers is Vice President Mike Pences chief of staff. The official says that Trump and Ayers could not agree on Ayers length of service. The father of young children, Ayers had agreed to serve in an interim capacity though the spring, but Trump wanted a two-year commitment. The official says that Ayers will instead assist the president from outside the administration. Trump announced Saturday that Kelly would be departing the White House around the end of the year. Thank you @realDonaldTrump, @VP, and my great colleagues for the honor to serve our Nation at The White House. I will be departing at the end of the year but will work with the #MAGA team to advance the cause. #Georgia Nick Ayers (@nick_ayers) December 9, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement U.S. hiring slows to 155,000 jobs, unemployment rate holds at 3.7% By Jim Puzzanghera Job growth slowed significantly in November but still was solid, indicating the economy remains in good shape but not expanding so quickly that it will lead to sharply higher interest rates. U.S. employers added 155,000 jobs last month, well below analyst expectations and a steep decline from Octobers strong 237,000 figure, the Labor Department reported Friday. Still, monthly job gains are averaging 206,000 this year, the best since 2015. Even the slower pace of 170,000 over the last three months is close to last years average of 182,000 and well above the amount needed to keep up with population growth. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump is expected to pick State Department spokeswoman for U.N. ambassador By Associated Press Heather Nauert at a briefing at the State Department on Aug. 9, 2017. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) President Trump is expected to nominate State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Two administration officials confirmed Trumps plans. A Republican congressional aide said the president was expected to announce his decision by tweet on Friday morning. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly before Trumps announcement. Trump has previously said Nauert was under serious consideration to replace Nikki Haley, who announced in October that she would step down at the end of this year. Trump has been known to change course on staffing decisions in the past. Nauert was a reporter for Fox News Channel before she became State Department spokeswoman under former Secretary Rex Tillerson. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Senate confirms new consumer financial protection chief: Kathy Kraninger, protege of industry-friendly Mick Mulvaney By Jim Puzzanghera The Senate, in a party-line vote Thursday, confirmed White House aide Kathy Kraninger to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and experts predicted a continuation of the industry-friendly shift it has taken since President Trump installed an acting director last year. Kraninger is a protege of acting director and White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney, an outspoken critic of the agency that was created in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis to prevent predatory lending and other abuses that led to it. Democrats and consumer advocates have denounced him for sharply departing from the aggressive watchdog role the bureau had pursued under its first director, Obama-appointee Richard Cordray, including scaling back enforcement and moving to reassess tough new rules on payday loans and narrow the definition of abusive practices by banks and other firms. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Shutdown postponed by two weeks under plan approved by Congress By Erik Wasson Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), shown at the Capitol on Tuesday, says President Trumps border wall is a waste of money. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) Congress passed a two-week stopgap spending bill that will delay the chance of a partial government shutdown until Dec. 22 as lawmakers and President Donald Trump negotiate over his demands to pay for a wall on the southern border. The House and Senate passed the measure Thursday without dissent, and Trump has indicated hell sign the bill before the current shutdown deadline of midnight Friday. Negotiations were delayed by memorial services this week for former President George H.W. Bush. The temporary measure gives Democrats and Republicans more time to find a resolution to their biggest hurdle: funding a wall on the U.S. Mexico border wall. Trump says he wants $5 billion for parts of a concrete wall on the southern border and is willing to shut down the government if he doesnt get it. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York has said Democrats will provide no more than $1.6 billion for border security, because the wall is a waste of money. The presidents demands for wall funding from Congress come after he said during the campaign that Mexico would pay for it. This week he said on Twitter that a $25 billion border wall would pay for itself in two months, without providing evidence. Most of the U.S. governments $1.2 trillion discretionary budget has been appropriated already by Congress for the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1. Departments at a risk of a partial shutdown late this month include the departments of State, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Treasury and Homeland Security. Talks to resolve the differences have been on hold since a meeting among Trump, Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California originally slated for Dec. 4 was postponed due to Bush memorial events. The three are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the matter. Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby of Alabama told reporters the rest of the seven-bill spending package being negotiated is basically done. Shelby in recent weeks had tried to broker a compromise in which Trumps $5 billion request would be split over two years, but Schumer has rejected that. Some Democrats have been willing to trade border wall funding for deportation protections for young undocumented immigrants. Pelosi ruled out such a deal in remarks to reporters Thursday. The stopgap government funding measure also would extend the National Flood Insurance Program, which provides subsidized coverage for homes in flood-prone areas, to Dec. 21. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Bipartisan Senate group wants to formally blame Saudi crown prince for journalists killing By Karoun Demirjian Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires. (Associated Press) A bipartisan group of senators filed a resolution Wednesday condemning Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as responsible for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, directly challenging President Trump to do the same. This resolution -- without equivocation -- definitively states that the crown prince of Saudi Arabia was complicit in the murder of Mr. [Jamal] Khashoggi and has been a wrecking ball to the region jeopardizing our national security interests on multiple fronts, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said in a statement accompanying the release of the resolution. It will be up to Saudi Arabia as to how to deal with this matter. But it is up to the United States to firmly stand for who we are and what we believe. The resolution put forward by Graham and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who are expected to lead the Judiciary Committee together next year, comes just one day after CIA Director Gina Haspel briefed leading senators about the details of the agencys assessment that Mohammed ordered and monitored the killing and dismemberment of Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Senators emerged from that closed-door briefing furious not only with Saudi Arabia, but Trump as well for dismissing the heft of the CIAs findings. You have to be willfully blind not to come to the conclusion that this was orchestrated and organized by people under the command of MBS and that he was intricately involved in the demise of Mr. Khashoggi, Graham said following the briefing, referring to Mohammed by his initials. He added that Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Defense Secretary James N. Mattis, who briefed senators last week, were at best being good soldiers and at worst were in the pocket of Saudi Arabia for presenting the evidence of Mohammeds involvement as inconclusive. The release of the resolution condemning Mohammed also comes as the Senate is preparing to move ahead with debate on a resolution to curtail U.S. support for the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. Though the Yemen resolution does not directly address Khashoggis murder, its popularity is a sign of how strained the United States patience with Saudi Arabia is on multiple fronts, including its role in worsening the civilian cost of the war in Yemen, cited by the United Nations as the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. Last week, the Senate voted 63 to 37 to advance the Yemen resolution past an opening procedural hurdle. But Graham and Feinsteins resolution on the crown prince has the potential of drawing broader support, especially from Republicans, who are deeply divided about how fiercely to punish Saudi Arabia over Khashoggis killing. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who has been an outspoken advocate for human rights and is seen as one of the more influential foreign policy voices in the GOP, did not vote for the Yemen resolution last week or sign on to a bipartisan measure last month to sanction Saudi officials and cease weapons transfers to the kingdom. But he is an original co-sponsor of the resolution condemning Mohammed over Khashoggis death. So is Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), who represents the other end of the GOP spectrum in terms of recent Saudi-related votes and endorsements. Young was an initial co-sponsor of the bill Graham wrote with Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) to sanction Saudi officials deemed responsible for Khashoggis killing and stop the sale of anything but exclusively defensive weapons to the kingdom until it ceased hostilities in Yemen. Young also voted to advance the Yemen resolution something Graham did as well, though Graham has signaled he will not be lending any similar support to the measure, fearing it may establish a precedent of invoking the War Powers Act too broadly. Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) are listed as original co-sponsors of the resolution condemning Mohammed, which also urges Saudi Arabia to negotiate with Houthi rebels to end the Yemen war, work out a political solution to its standoff with Qatar and release political prisoners. But how much sway the resolution has probably comes down to how forcefully the administration decides to heed it -- and thus far, Trump has not shown any interest in condemning the crown prince the way the senators hope he will. Demirjian reports for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Los Angeles County offices and U.S. Postal Service closed Wednesday in honor of George H.W. Bush By Brian Park The Honor Guard carries the casket of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush following his funeral on Dec. 5 in Washington, DC. (Doug Mills - Pool/Getty Images) The U.S. Postal Service will suspend regular mail delivery Wednesday, which President Trump has declared a national day of mourning in honor of former President George H.W. Bush. All retail postal outlets will be closed, and package delivery will be limited. In Los Angeles, all nonessential county departments, offices and libraries will be closed for the day, L.A. County officials said. The Los Angeles County Library said no overdue fines will be assessed for books, and due dates will be moved forward one week. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health offices also are closed Wednesday. The Sheriffs Department, Fire Department, clinics and hospitals will continue to operate, the county said. The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health clinics are being operated with reduced staffing, and the department asked patients to confirm or reschedule any appointments. All county courts and the disaster recovery centers for the Woolsey fire in Malibu and Agoura Hills will remain open. Larger federal government operations will be closed Wednesday. To honor the life and legacy of President Bush, the Postal Service will observe the National Day of Mourning. Learn how Postal operations will be affected. https://t.co/Mffch7bPCh pic.twitter.com/vG46BsIOpm U.S. Postal Service (@USPS) December 4, 2018 L.A. County offices and libraries will be closed tomorrow (Dec 5) in observance of the #NationalDayOfMourning for President George H. W. Bush. The Countys Disaster Recovery Centers in Malibu & Agoura Hills will remain open from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. pic.twitter.com/Sv1J7GoJ7T Los Angeles County (@CountyofLA) December 4, 2018 @LAPublicHealth offices will be closed tomorrow December 5 in observance of the national Day of Mourning for President George H. W. Bush. Essential Services including clinics and other services will remain open: https://t.co/tZGoGGHRlg pic.twitter.com/ypXsV6vlYY LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) December 4, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick to skip 2020 White House race, sources say By Associated Press Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick speaks during an interview in Boston on Dec. 15, 2014. (Elise Amendola / Associated Press) Former Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts will soon announce he wont launch a 2020 presidential campaign, according to three sources familiar with his plans. They did not say why the Democrat decided against a run. A formal announcement was delayed as the country observed a day of mourning for President George H.W. Bush, one source said. News of Patricks plans was first reported by Politico. Patrick, 62, served two terms as governor, from 2007 to 2015, was assistant attorney general for civil rights in the Clinton administration and since leaving the governors office has been a managing director for Bain Capital. Patrick traveled the country in support of Democratic candidates in the recent midterm election. Earlier this year, some of Patricks supporters and close advisors started the Reason to Believe political action committee, a grassroots organization dedicated to advancing a positive, progressive vision for our nation in 2018 and 2020. Reason to Believe PAC had been holding meetups across the country, including in early presidential primary states. While Patrick is opting against a 2020 run, dozens of Democrats are considering jumping in, including nearly a half-dozen members of the Senate, several House members, and other Massachusetts politicians. On Tuesday, Michael Avenatti, the attorney for adult film star Stormy Daniels and a vocal critic of President Trump, said in a statement that he would run. Patrick had previously expressed some concerns about breaking through if he sought the nomination, telling David Axelrod, a former advisor to President Obama, that he wasnt sure he could stand out in such a large field. Its hard to see how you even get noticed in such a big, broad field without being shrill, sensational or a celebrity, and Im none of those things and Im never going to be any of those things, Patrick said in a September interview with Axelrod. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Former Trump adviser Roger Stone invokes 5th Amendment right and wont testify before Senate Judiciary Committee By Associated Press Roger Stone in 2017. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images) Roger Stone, an associate of President Trump, says he wont provide testimony or documents to the Senate Judiciary Committee. An attorney for Stone said in a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the committees top Democrat, that Stone was invoking his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination in refusing to produce documents or appear for an interview. Stone has been entangled in investigations by Congress and special counsel Robert S. Mueller III about whether Trump aides had advance knowledge of Democratic emails published by WikiLeaks during the 2016 election. Stone has not been charged and has said he had no knowledge of the timing or specifics of WikiLeaks plans. In the letter to Feinstein, Stone said the committees requests were far too overbroad, far too overreaching and far too wide-ranging. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch live: Vice President Pence and lawmakers honor George H.W. Bush at the U.S. Capitol before he lies in state Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Rebuilding crumbling infrastructure has bipartisan support. But who gets to pay for it? By Jim Puzzanghera The grades for major U.S. infrastructure would give any parent indigestion if they were on a childs report card. Roads: D; bridges: C+; dams: D; ports: C+: railways: B; airports: D; schools: D+; public transit: D-. The nations overall grade: D+, which translates to being in fair to poor condition and mostly below standards with significant deterioration and a strong risk of failure, according to an evaluation last year by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump calls former lawyer Michael Cohen a weak person who is lying By Associated Press President Trump says his former lawyer Michael Cohen is lying to get a reduced sentence. The president is reacting to Cohens guilty plea Thursday to lying to Congress about work he did on a Trump real estate project in Russia. During a surprise court hearing, Cohen admitted to lying in testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee about a plan to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. Cohen in his guilty plea said he made the false statements to be consistent with Trumps political message. Cohens lawyer says he continues to cooperate with special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs investigation into Russian election interference and possible coordination with Trump associates. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print As California Republicans confront a congressional wipeout, GOP leader Kevin McCarthy faces a reckoning By Mark Z. Barabak When the House voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Kevin McCarthy trooped with other Republican lawmakers to a splashy Rose Garden celebration, smiling alongside President Trump as they celebrated the moment. As majority leader, McCarthy had helped round up the votes to narrowly pass the hard-fought legislation, convincing 13 other California Republicans to go along, even though several faced tough reelection fights. Fewer than half will be returning in January. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print As California Republicans confront a congressional wipeout, GOP leader Kevin McCarthy faces a reckoning By Sarah D. Wire When the House voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Kevin McCarthy trooped with other Republican lawmakers to a splashy Rose Garden celebration, smiling alongside President Trump as they celebrated the moment. As majority leader, McCarthy had helped round up the votes to narrowly pass the hard-fought legislation, convincing 13 other California Republicans to go along, even though several faced tough reelection fights. Fewer than half will be returning in January. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Michael Cohen, President Trumps ex-lawyer, pleads guilty to lying to Congress about Trump real estate project in Russia By Associated Press Michael Cohen, President Trumps former personal lawyer, pursued a Russian real estate project on candidate Trumps behalf well into the 2016 campaign, he said Thursday while pleading guilty to lying to Congress. Cohen had previously said that the project was abandoned in January 2016, but he now admits he continued to pursue a deal and says he updated Trump and members of his family about the negotiations, according to a new court document. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement James Comey says acting Atty. Gen. Whitaker may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer By John Wagner Acting Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitaker speaks at the Justice Department in Washington on Nov. 14. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press) Former FBI Director James B. Comey apparently isnt too impressed with the mental prowess of President Trumps acting attorney general. Matthew Whitaker may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer, Comey said during a radio interview on Monday night in which he sized up the man Trump installed this month to replace ousted Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions. Comey was asked by WGBH News in Boston if he thinks Whitaker could derail the investigation of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Whitaker has spoken critically of the probe, and Trump as recently as Tuesday continues to call it a witch hunt. I think its a worry, but to my mind not a serious worry, Comey said. The institution is too strong, and [Whitaker], frankly, is not strong enough to have that kind of impact. He may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer, but he can see his future and knows that if he acted in an extralegal way, he would go down in history for the wrong reasons, and Im sure he doesnt want that, added Comey, who was fired by Trump last year and later wrote a book that portrays the president as an ego-driven congenital liar. Whitaker, a former U.S. attorney in Iowa, was Sessions chief of staff before being picked by Trump to lead the Justice Department. Trump has called Whitaker a very smart man. Earlier this year, Trump called Comey an untruthful slime ball. Wagner writes for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Interior Department watchdog clears Zinke in investigation of Utah national monument By Juliet Eilperin Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, third from the left, and Gov. Jerry Brown tour fire damage in Paradise, Calif., on Nov. 14. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) The Interior Departments Office of Inspector General has cleared Secretary Ryan Zinke in a probe of whether he redrew boundaries of a national monument in Utah to aid the financial interests of a Republican state lawmaker and stalwart supporter of President Trump. In a Nov. 21 letter to Zinkes deputy, David Bernhardt, Deputy Inspector General Mary Kendall wrote that her office found no evidence that the secretary or his aides changed the boundaries of Utahs Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in an effort to help former Utah state representative Mike Noel, who serves as executive director of the Kane County Water Conservancy District. Last December, Trump shrank the monument, first established by President Clinton in 1996, by 46% based on Zinkes recommendation. Noel owns 40 acres that had been surrounded by the monument, but now lies outside its boundaries. The new boundaries also would make it easier to construct the proposed Lake Powell Pipeline, which would deliver water to sites in Kane County that include Noels property. Earlier this year, the Interior Department had proposed selling off 120 acres of federal land from the former monument that lay adjacent to some of Noels land holdings, but later reversed the plan. We found no evidence that Noel influenced the DOIs proposed revisions to the [monuments] boundaries, that Zinke or other DOI staff involved in the project were aware of Noels financial interest in the revised boundaries, or that they gave Noel any preferential treatment in the resulting proposed boundaries, Kendall wrote. Neither the Interior Department nor the inspector generals office would release the actual investigative report. In the letter, Kendall writes that her office will provide the report to Congress no sooner than 31 days from Nov. 21, when it is provided it to Zinkes office. The Associated Press first reported the inspector generals conclusions Monday night, but did not provide details from the report itself. Noel emailed Zinke about the effort to alter Grand Staircase-Escalante, according to emails released by Interior under the Freedom of Informational Act. But those emails do not make references to Noels land holdings. Noel also pushed to rename a Utah highway in honor of Trump, but abandoned that effort in March after some of his fellow Republicans objected to the idea. Noel did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday. The inspector generals office still has at least two ongoing probes of the secretary, including one focused on his real estate dealings in Whitefish, Mont., and another regarding his decision to deny a permit to two Connecticut tribes who were hoping to jointly run a casino after MGM Resorts International lobbied against it. Interior Department spokeswoman Heather Swift welcomed the watchdogs conclusions. The report shows exactly what the secretarys office has known all along that the monument boundaries were adjusted in accordance with all rules, regulations and laws, she said in an email. This report is also the latest example of opponents and special interest groups ginning up fake and misleading stories, only to be proven false after expensive and time consuming inquiries by the IGs office. But Kendalls spokeswoman, Nancy DiPaolo, defended the inquiry, even though she said the report has not been publicly released and we will not be speaking specifically about the matter at this time. The OIG opens investigations based on credible allegations and reports our findings objectively and independently, DiPaolo added. Any time or resources spent investigating conduct or activity that may be a violation of law, regulation or policy is a service to the public, Congress and the Department. Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, said in a statement that he still intended to investigate the way Zinke and his colleague redrew the boundaries for Grand Staircase-Escalante and another Utah national monument, Bears Ears, next year. I have great respect for the inspector general, and I accept these findings, but Secretary Zinke should have known the people he listened to while destroying our national monuments had disqualifying conflicts of interest, he said. Should I chair the Natural Resources Committee in the next Congress, the process he and President Trump used to destroy Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante will be front and center in our oversight and investigations efforts. We need to know why they ignored overwhelming public expressions of support for both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, why they ignored Native American tribes throughout their decision-making, and why they removed protections on parcels of land with known mineral deposits. Eilperin and Rein report for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump advisor Larry Kudlow says China must do more to end trade war By Jim Puzzanghera Larry Kudlow, President Trumps top economic advisor, said Tuesday that Chinas response to U.S. efforts to rework the two economic superpowers trade relationship has been extremely disappointing but the planned meeting this weekend between the nations leaders is an opportunity for a breakthrough. They have to do more. They must do more, Larry Kudlow, director of the White House National Economic Council, told reporters ahead of a Saturday dinner between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Group of 20 Summit in Argentina. I think the president is exactly right to show strong backbone when prior administrations did not, to break through these Chinese walls, Kudlow said. Theyre so resistant to change. We have to protect the country. We have to protect our technology, our inventiveness, our innovation. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch live: White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders holds a media briefing amid tensions at the border By Los Angeles Times Staff Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Democrat TJ Cox grabs lead over Republican David Valadao in nations last remaining undecided House race By Maya Sweedler Democrat TJ Cox slipped past Republican incumbent David Valadao on Monday to take the lead in the countrys sole remaining undecided congressional race, positioning Democrats to pick up their seventh House seat in California and 40th nationwide. Cox, who trailed by nearly 4,400 votes on election night, has steadily gained as ballot counting continues nearly three weeks after the Nov. 6 election, a pattern consistent with the states recent voting history. On Monday, he pulled ahead by 438 votes after Kern County updated its results. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former CIA director Michael Hayden hospitalized after suffering a stroke By Deanna Paul Then-CIA Director Michael Hayden testifies before a Senate committee in 2008. (Saul Loeb / Getty Images) Former CIA Director and retired Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden has been hospitalized after suffering a stroke, his family said Friday. He is receiving expert medical care for which the family is grateful, according to a statement issued by his namesake organization. The General and his family greatly appreciate the warm wishes and prayers of his friends, colleagues, and supporters. Hayden, 73, served as director of the CIA and National Security Agency during the George W. Bush and Obama administrations. He retired from the CIA in 2009. Hayden has been a vocal critic of Donald Trumps campaign and presidency. Earlier this year, after Trump decided to revoke the security clearance of former CIA director John Brennan, Hayden was one of several former intelligence leaders who signed a statement in opposition. Criticizing the president for crossing a line, he quickly became one of the individuals whose security clearance Trump threatened to review. Deanna Paul writes for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tells troops hes thankful for what hes done for the U.S. and rails against courts and migrants By Associated Press President Trump talks with troops via teleconference from his estate in Palm Beach, Fla., on Thanksgiving. (Susan Walsh / Associated Press) President Trump used his Thanksgiving Day call to troops deployed overseas to pat himself on the back and air grievances about the courts, trade and migrants heading to the U.S.-Mexico border. Trumps call, made from his opulent private Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., struck an unusually political tone as he spoke with members of all five branches of the military to wish them happy holidays. Its a disgrace, Trump said of judges who have blocked his attempts to overhaul U.S. immigration law, as he linked his efforts to secure the border with military missions overseas. Trump later threatened to close the U.S. border with Mexico for an undisclosed period of time if his administration determines Mexico has lost control on its side. The call was a uniquely Trump blend of boasting, peppered questions and off-the-cuff observations as his comments veered from venting about slights to praising troops You really are our heroes, he said as club waiters worked to set Thanksgiving dinner tables on the outdoor terrace behind him. It was yet another show of how Trump has dramatically transformed the presidency, erasing the traditional divisions between domestic policy and military matters and efforts to keep the troops clear of politics. You probably see over the news whats happening on our southern border, Trump told one Air Force brigadier general stationed at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, adding: I dont have to even ask you. I know what you want to do, you want to make sure that you know who were letting in. Later, Trump asked a U.S. Coast Guard commander about trade, which he noted was a very big subject for him personally. Weve been taken advantage of for many, many years by bad trade deals, Trump told the commander, who sheepishly replied, Mr. President, from our perspective on the water we dont see any issues in terms of trade right now. And throughout, Trump congratulated himself, telling the officers that the country is doing exceptionally well on his watch. I hope that youll take solace in knowing that all of the American families you hold so close to your heart are all doing well, he said. The nations doing well economically, better than anybody in the world. He later told reporters, Nobodys done more for the military than me. Indeed, asked what he was thankful for this Thanksgiving, Trump cited his great family as well as himself. I made a tremendous difference in this country, he said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump contradicts CIA assessment that Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi killing By Josh Dawsey | Washington Post (Susan Walsh / Associated Press) President Trump on Thursday contradicted the CIAs assessment that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, insisting that the agency had feelings but did not firmly place blame for the death. Trump, in defiant remarks to reporters from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, defended his continued support for Mohammed in the face of a CIA assessment that the crown prince had ordered the killing. He denies it vehemently, Trump said. He said his own conclusion was that maybe he did, maybe he didnt. I hate the crime .... I hate the cover-up. I will tell you this: The crown prince hates it more than I do, Trump said. Asked who should be held accountable for the death of Khashoggi, who was killed at the Saudi Consulate in Turkey, Trump refused to place blame. Maybe the world should be held accountable because the world is a very, very vicious place, the president said. He also seemed to suggest that all U.S. allies were guilty of the same behavior, declaring that if the others were held to the standard that critics have held Saudi Arabia to in recent days, we wouldnt be able to have anyone for an ally. Trumps remarks came after he held a conference call with U.S. military officers overseas, during which he repeatedly praised his administration and sought to draw the officers into discussions of domestic policy. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former FBI Director James Comey gets subpoena from House Republicans By Bloomberg Former FBI Director James B. Comey said he has received a subpoena from House Republicans, according to a Twitter post on Thursday. Bloomberg News reported last week that Comey would be receiving a subpoena alongside former Atty. Gen. Loretta Lynch as part of continuing probes into their handling of investigations into Hillary Clinton and Russian election meddling, according to a top House Democrat. Happy Thanksgiving. Got a subpoena from House Republicans. Im still happy to sit in the light and answer all questions. But I will resist a closed door thing because Ive seen enough of their selective leaking and distortion. Lets have a hearing and invite everyone to see. James Comey (@Comey) November 22, 2018 Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Republican David Valadaos lead slips to 447 votes over Democrat TJ Cox in still-undecided Central Valley House race By Mark Z. Barabak Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford), right, finds himself in an increasingly harrowing cliffhanger against Democrat TJ Cox. (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) On election night, it looked like Rep. David Valadao had survived a close shave and was destined to return to Washington for his fourth term. But on Wednesday, when Fresno County announced its latest vote totals, the Hanford Republican found himself in an increasingly harrowing cliffhanger against Democrat TJ Cox, with his lead in the Central Valley district shrunken to 447 votes. Thousands remain to be counted. Valadao, a repeated Democratic target, finished election night with a lead of nearly 4,440 votes. Cox, an engineer and a business owner who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2006, has steadily gained ground in the 21st Congressional District ever since. The trend is consistent with historic patterns showing Republicans in California tend to vote early and Democrats later, meaning their mail ballots continue to stream in past election day. Under California law, ballots postmarked up to midnight on Nov. 6 will be counted. Democrats have already picked up six House seats in California. They ousted Reps. Dana Rohrabacher, Mimi Walters, Steve Knight and Jeff Denham and won the seats of retiring Reps. Ed Royce and Darrell Issa. All six represented districts that backed Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in 2016. Valadao was the seventh California Republican in a district Clinton won, though his previous successes he last won reelection by a 14-point margin suggested his ouster was a longer shot for Democrats. If Cox prevails, it would give Democrats a 40-seat gain nationwide, far more than the 23 seats needed to take control when Congress reconvenes in January. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump says no new punishments against Saudi Arabia in Jamal Khashoggi murder By Eli Stokols In this Oct. 25 photo, candles are lit in front of a photo of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. (Lefteris Pitarakis) President Trump made it clear on Tuesday that he does not intend to punish Saudi Arabia or Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, an American resident killed by Saudi officials in Turkey in October. In a remarkable statement replete with exclamation points, Trump cast doubt on the CIAs reported conclusions that it has a high degree of confidence that the crown prince ordered Khashoggis murder and sent his closest allies to Saudi Arabias consulate in Istanbul to carry it out. Read MoreThis article has been updated with staff. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Sixteen House Democrats vow to oppose Nancy Pelosi as next speaker By Mike DeBonis | Washington Post House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) Sixteen House Democrats said Monday that they will vote to deny Rep. Nancy Pelosi another stint as House speaker, a show of defiance that puts her opponents on the cusp of forcing a seismic leadership shake-up as their party prepares to take the majority. Their pledge to oppose Pelosi (D-San Francisco), both in an internal caucus election and a Jan. 3 floor vote, delivered in a letter sent to Democratic colleagues, comes as Pelosi has marshaled a legion of supporters on and off Capitol Hill to make her case. But her opponents said Monday they are convinced it is time to select a new leader. We are thankful to Leader Pelosi for her years of service to our Country and to our Caucus, they wrote. However, we also recognize that in this recent election, Democrats ran on and won on a message of change. Pelosi has expressed complete confidence that she will retake the speakers gavel in January eight years after she lost it following massive Republican gains in the 2010 midterms and 16 years after she was first elevated to the top Democratic leadership post in the House. Come on in, the waters fine, she said Friday about a potential leadership challenge. The signers might not be able to force Pelosi out themselves. The size of the Democratic majority remains in flux, but Democrats have already won 232 seats, according to the Associated Press, with five races still undecided. All those races have Republican incumbents, but the Democratic challenger is ahead in only one of them. If the leads hold in the uncalled races, Democrats would have won 233 seats, a 16-seat majority. That means Pelosi could lose as many as 15 Democratic votes when she stands for election as speaker on Jan. 3. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democratic senators sue over Whitakers appointment as acting attorney general By Associated Press Acting U.S. Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitaker (Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty Images) Three Senate Democrats filed a lawsuit Monday arguing that Acting Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitakers appointment is unconstitutional and asking a federal judge to remove him. The suit, filed by Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, argues that Whitakers appointment violates the Constitution because he has not been confirmed by the Senate. Whitaker was chief of staff to Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions and was elevated to the top job after Sessions was ousted by President Trump on Nov. 7. The Constitutions Appointments Clause requires that the Senate confirm all principal officials before they can serve in their office. The Justice Department released a legal opinion last week that said Whitakers appointment would not violate the clause because he is serving in an acting capacity. The opinion concluded that Whitaker, even without Senate confirmation, may serve in an acting capacity because he has been at the department for more than a year at a sufficiently senior pay level. President Trump is denying senators our constitutional obligation and opportunity to do our job: scrutinizing the nomination of our nations top law enforcement official, Blumenthal said in a statement. The reason is simple: Whitaker would never pass the advice and consent test. In selecting a so-called constitutional nobody and thwarting every senators constitutional duty, Trump leaves us no choice but to seek recourse through the courts. The lawsuit comes days after a Washington lawyer challenged Whitakers appointment in a pending Supreme Court case dealing with gun rights. The attorney, Thomas Goldstein, asked the high court to find that Whitakers appointment is unconstitutional and replace him with Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein. Rosenstein, the second-ranking Justice Department official, has been confirmed by the Senate and had been overseeing special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. Whitaker is now overseeing the investigation. The Justice Department issued a statement Monday defending Whitakers appointment as lawful and said it comports with the Appointments Clause, the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and legal precedent. There are over 160 instances in American history in which non-Senate confirmed persons performed, on a temporary basis, the duties of a Senate-confirmed position, Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said. To suggest otherwise is to ignore centuries of practice and precedent. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gov. Rick Scott says Sen. Bill Nelson concedes Florida Senate race By Associated Press Republican Senate candidate Rick Scott speaks with his wife, Ann, by his side at an election watch party in Naples, Fla., on Nov. 7. (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) Floridas Republican Gov. Rick Scott says incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson called him to concede defeat in their extremely tight race. Scott issued a statement Sunday saying Nelson graciously conceded their Senate race shortly after the states recount ended. The final results show Scott defeated Nelson by just over 10,000 votes out of 8 million cast. Nelson is scheduled to release a videotaped statement later Sunday. The defeat ends Nelsons lengthy political career. The three-term incumbent was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000. Before that he served six terms in the U.S. House and as state treasurer and insurance commissioner for six years. Scott spent more than $60 million of his own money on ads that portrayed Nelson as out-of-touch and ineffective. Nelson responded by questioning Scotts ethics and saying he would be under the sway of President Trump. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Orange County goes blue, as Democrats complete historic sweep of its seven congressional seats By Michael Finnegan Gil Cisneros defeated Republican Young Kim on Saturday in the last of Orange Countys undecided House races, giving Democrats a clean sweep of the states six most fiercely fought congressional contests and marking an epochal shift in a region long synonymous with political conservatism. With Cisneros victory, Democrats will constitute the entirety of Orange Countys seven-member congressional delegation, the first time since the 1930s that the birthplace of Richard Nixon, home of John Wayne and spiritual center of the Republican Party will have no GOP representative in the House. Sitting back in the 1960s, I would never have believed this would happen, said Stuart K. Spencer, a party strategist who spent more than half a century ushering Republicans, including President Reagan, into office. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Going, going ... with midterm wipeout, California Republican Party drifts closer to irrelevance By Michael Finnegan For a party in freefall the last two decades, California Republicans learned that its possible to plunge even further. The GOP not only lost every statewide office in the midterm election again, in blowout fashion but Democrats reestablished their supermajority in Sacramento, allowing them to legislate however they see fit After major defeats in Orange County and the Central Valley, two longtime strongholds, Republicans will have a significantly smaller footprint on Capitol Hill. (Democrats hold both Senate seats.) When the vote-counting is finished, the GOP may not even have enough lawmakers in Californias 53-member House delegation to field a nine-person softball team. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Congresswoman-elect Katie Porter says she will support Rep. Nancy Pelosi for speaker By Maya Sweedler Democratic Rep.-elect Katie Porter is congratulated by volunteers at her campaign headquarters in Irvine. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Congresswoman-elect Katie Porter said she plans to support Rep. Nancy Pelosis bid for speaker of the House and will make campaign finance reform her top priority when she enters the chamber in January. Im going to continue to have conversations, but so far I feel like Leader Pelosi is definitely making the things that were a priority to the families that elected me her priorities, including announcing her support for campaign finance reform and anti-corruption as HR1, Porter said in her first public appearance since being declared the winner in Californias 45th Congressional District on Thursday evening. It means a lot to me that she is a Californian. She understands our state, Porter added. When we talk about environmental protections, this is a person who understands as a Californian how fragile our environment is and whats at risk in things like drilling off our coasts. Porter, a law professor at UC Irvine, defeated two-term Republican Rep. Mimi Walters. The 45th District, covering inland Orange County, has never been represented by a Democrat. Porter became the third Democrat to claim a Republican-held seat in Orange County, following the victories of Harley Rouda in the 48th District and Mike Levin in the 49th. A fourth, Gil Cisneros, is running slightly ahead of his Republican opponent in the race for the open seat in the 39th District, which extends into Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Porter attributed the massive political shift in the county, for decades a conservative stronghold, to increased levels of political engagement. Folks here care about education, they care about the environment, they believe climate change is real, they want healthcare that protects preexisting conditions, they want a tax system that doesnt punish California, they want our schools and places of worship to be safe from gun violence, she said. Those are the issues we campaigned on, and to the extent that Donald Trump and Mimi Walters were on the wrong side of those issues, the voters have made clear what direction they want us to go. Porter was flying back from the East Coast when her race was called, she said. She turned on her phone to find 167 text messages from friends and supporters. Among them was Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who was one of Porters teachers in law school and with whom she has remained close. The pair spoke via FaceTime this morning, she said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Bitter battle for Senate seat in Florida goes to hand recount By Associated Press Employees look through damaged ballots during a recount Thursday in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) Floridas acrimonious battle for the U.S. Senate headed Thursday to a legally required hand recount after an initial review by ballot-counting machines showed Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson separated by less than 13,000 votes. But the highly watched contest for governor between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum appeared to be over, with a machine recount showing DeSantis with a large enough advantage over Gillum to avoid a hand recount in that race. Gillum, who conceded the contest on election night only to retract his concession later, said in a statement that it is not over until every legally casted vote is counted. The recount so far has been fraught with problems. One large Democratic stronghold in South Florida was unable to finish its machine recount by the Thursday deadline due to machines breaking down. A federal judge rejected a request to extend the recount deadline. We gave a heroic effort, said Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher. If the county had three or four more hours, it would have made the deadline to recount ballots in the Senate race, she said. Meanwhile, election officials in another urban county in the Tampa Bay area decided against turning in the results of their machine recount, which came up with 846 fewer votes than originally counted. Media in South Florida reported that Broward County finished its machine recount but missed the deadline by a few minutes. Counties were ordered last weekend to do a machine recount of three statewide races because the margins were so tight. The next stage is a manual review of ballots that were not counted by machines to see whether there is a way to figure out voter intent. Scott called on Nelson to end the recount battle. Its time for Nelson to respect the will of the voters and graciously bring this process to an end rather than proceed with yet another count of the votes which will yield the same result and bring more embarrassment to the state that we both love and have served, the governor said in a statement. The recount has triggered multiple lawsuits, many of them filed by Nelson and Democrats. The legal battles drew the ire of U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker, who slammed the state for repeatedly failing to anticipate election problems. He also said the state law on recounts appears to violate the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that decided the presidency in 2000. We have been the laughingstock of the world, election after election, and we chose not to fix this, Walker said during a morning hearing. Walker vented his anger at state lawmakers and Palm Beach County officials, saying they should have made sure they had enough equipment in place to handle this kind of a recount. But he said he could not extend the recount deadline because he did not know when Palm Beach County would finish its work. This court must be able to craft a remedy with knowledge that it will not prove futile, Walker wrote in his ruling turning down the request from Democrats. It cannot do so on this record. This court does not and will not fashion a remedy in the dark. The overarching problem was created by the Florida Legislature, which Walker said passed a recount law that appears to run afoul of the 2000 Bush vs. Gore decision by locking in procedures that do not allow for potential problems. A total of six election-related lawsuits are pending in federal court in Tallahassee as well at least one lawsuit filed in state court. Walker also ordered that voters be given until 5 p.m. Saturday to show a valid identification and fix their ballots if they have not been counted due to mismatched signatures. Republicans appealed the ruling, but an appeals court turned down the request. State officials testified that nearly 4,000 mailed-in ballots were set aside because local officials decided the signatures on the envelopes did not match the signatures on file. If those voters can prove their identity, their votes will be counted and included in final official returns due from each county by noon Sunday. Walker was asked by Democrats to require local officials to provide a list of people whose ballots were rejected. But the judge appointed by President Obama refused the request, calling it inappropriate. Under state law, a hand review is required with races that have a margin of 0.25 percentage points or less. A state website put the unofficial results showing Scott ahead of Nelson by 0.15 percentage points. The margin between DeSantis and Gillum was at 0.41 points. The margin between Scott and Nelson had not changed much in the last few days, conceded Marc Elias, an attorney working for Nelsons campaign. But he said that he expected the vote tally to shrink due to the hand recount and the ruling on signatures. The developments fueled frustrations among Democrats and Republicans alike. Democrats want state officials to do whatever it takes to make sure every eligible vote is counted. Republicans, including President Trump, have argued without evidence that voter fraud threatens to steal races from the GOP. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democrat Gil Cisneros pulls ahead of Republican Young Kim as more votes are tallied in Orange and San Bernardino counties By Michael Finnegan Congressional candidate Gil Cisneros (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Democrat Gil Cisneros pulled ahead of Republican Young Kim in one of Californias undecided congressional races Thursday, an ominous sign for a GOP already reeling from its loss of four House seats in the state. In updated vote counts released by the registrars for Orange and San Bernardino counties, Kim fell 941 votes behind Cisneros in the contest to succeed Republican Rep. Ed Royce in Californias 39th Congressional District. The 39th straddles Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange counties. In another unresolved House race, Democrat Katie Porter pulled further ahead of Republican incumbent Mimi Walters in the 45th District, which includes Mission Viejo, Tustin, Irvine, Rancho Santa Margarita and Laguna Hills. Porter, a consumer attorney and UC Irvine law professor, is now 6,203 votes ahead. The Nov. 6 midterm election has been devastating to Republicans in California. If Cisneros and Porter win, the party will have lost six of its 14 House seats in the state, essentially a wipeout in every contest that both parties spent heavily to win. The three Republicans already bounced from Congress are Reps. Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa, Steve Knight of Palmdale and Jeff Denham of Turlock in the San Joaquin Valley. Democrat Mike Levin won the seat of retiring GOP Rep. Darrell Issa of Vista in the fourth district flipped so far. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Florida Senate race likely headed to second recount By Associated Press A Palm Beach County Sheriffs deputy walks past boxes of ballots before a recount on Nov. 15 in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Wilfredo Lee) Unofficial Florida election results show that the governors race seems to be settled after a machine recount but the U.S. Senate race is likely headed to a hand recount. Republican Ron DeSantis is virtually assured of winning the nationally watched governors race over Democrat Andrew Gillum. Florida finished a machine recount Thursday that showed Gillum without enough votes to force a manual recount. Unofficial results posted on a state website show the margin between U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Gov. Rick Scott is still thin enough to trigger a second review. State law requires a hand recount of races with a margin of 0.25 percentage point or less. Counties have until Sunday to inspect the ballots that did not record a vote when put through the machines. Those ballots are re-examined to see whether the voter skipped the race or marked the ballot in a way that the machines cannot read but can be deciphered. The election will be certified Tuesday. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Pelosi says she has the votes to become the next House speaker By John Wagner Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi speaks during a news conference in Washington on Nov. 14. (Susan Walsh) House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi insisted Thursday that she has the votes to become the chambers speaker despite solid opposition from more than a dozen Democrats who want fresh leadership when the party takes control next year. I have overwhelming support in my caucus to be speaker of the House, the San Francisco lawmaker told reporters. I happen to think at this point, Im the best person for that. A vote within the Democratic caucus is scheduled for Nov. 28. The full House votes on Jan. 3 to elect a new speaker. During her remarks, Pelosi touted the size of the Democratic victory in the midterms, which she called almost a tsunami. With a few races still to be decided, Democrats are poised to pick up close to 40 seats in the chamber. Pelosi called that the biggest victory for the Democrats since 1974, when the Watergate babies came in. Pelosis comments come as she faces solid opposition from at least 17 Democrats, setting the stage for a battle over who will ascend to one of the most powerful positions in Washington. After a campaign in which some Democrats prevailed in competitive districts by promising to oppose her, a coalition of incumbents and newly elected members has denied her a smooth path to the speakership. The defections, if they stand, would leave Pelosi, who has led the Democrats for more than 15 years, several votes short of the 218 she would need when the full House votes for speaker Jan. 3. However, no Democrat has stepped forward to run against her for a job she held from 2007 through 2010. Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) told reporters Wednesday that shes being encouraged to stand for speaker if Pelosi doesnt have the votes. In an interview with the Washington Post on Thursday, she said she has been overwhelmed by the support from many of her colleagues for her possible entry into the race for House speaker. Over the last 12 hours, Ive been overwhelmed by the amount of support Ive received, Fudge said, adding that there are probably closer to 30" Democrats who have privately signaled that they are willing to oppose Pelosi. Things could change rapidly, Fudge said. Fudge, 66, a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, said she is building a diverse coalition as she mulls a speaker run, talking with allies in the caucus, moderate Democrats and newly elected members. To this point, Pelosi has enjoyed the strong backing of the Congressional Black Caucus. On Thursday, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), one of its members, wrote a letter to colleagues praising her insight, fortitude and strategic thinking and urging support for her speakership bid. Former Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr., an African American who is contemplating a 2020 presidential bid, also voiced support for Pelosi, praising her in a tweet as an architect of the recent midterm success. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), a leader of the resistance to Pelosi, said during an interview on CNN on Thursday that Fudge is the kind of new leader that we need in this party. Shes in touch with middle America. She understands what the American people want. Shes a next-generation leader that people will look to and say, Thats the future of our party, thats the future of our country, and thats exactly the kind of leader that I want to see as our next speaker. Wagner reports for the Washington Post. The Posts Robert Costa, Erica Werner, Mike DeBonis, Paul Kane and Elise Viebeck contributed to this report. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement GOP Rep. Jeff Denham concedes to Democrat Josh Harder in Central Valley race By Maya Sweedler Rep. Jeff Denham (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) Republican Rep. Jeff Denham has conceded to Democrat Josh Harder in the race to represent Californias 10th Congressional District in the San Joaquin Valley. It has been an absolute honor to serve our community and represent the Central Valley in Congress over the past eight years, the 51-year-old congressman said. The enormity of the responsibility was never lost on me. My wife Sonia and I look forward to starting the next chapter of our lives. Harder said he had spoken with Denham and the two were committed to a productive transition. Denham, an Air Force veteran, previously represented the region in the state Senate for eight years and founded a company specializing in plastic packaging used in agriculture. While a member of Congress, he sat on the Transportation and Infrastructure, Veterans Affairs and Agriculture committees. First-time candidate Harder was born and raised in the district. After graduating from Stanford University, he served as vice president of a Silicon Valley venture capital firm. Since moving back, he has been teaching at Modesto Junior College. Denhams House seat is one of four in California that Republicans lost in the Nov. 6 election, with two contests in Orange County still undecided as of Thursday morning. Jeff Denham called me this morning and we had a very productive conversation. I'm honored that I've been chosen to serve our community in Congress, and we're both looking forward to a productive transition that best serves the people of District 10. Josh Harder (@JoshHarder) November 14, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democrat Katie Porter now nearly 3,800 votes ahead of GOP Rep. Mimi Walters By Maya Sweedler Rep. Mimi Walters thanks all of her supporters as she watches election results in Irvine on Nov. 7, 2018. (Alex Gallardo / Associated Press) Democrat Katie Porter opened a 3,797-vote lead Wednesday over Republican Rep. Mimi Walters in Orange Countys 45th Congressional District. In the neighboring 39th, Democrat Gil Cisneros has nearly tied the race against Republican Young Kim. Cisneros now trails Kim by a razor-thin margin of 122 votes. The 39th District straddles Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties; Wednesdays updated ballot counts came from the latter two. There are more than 202,000 ballots left to count in Orange County, which includes parts of seven congressional districts. The 45th is entirely in inland Orange County. In California, the ballots counted first tend to lean Republican and those tallied later skew Democratic. In the Central Valleys 21st Congressional District, Democratic challenger TJ Cox has pulled within 2 percentage points of Rep. David Valadao, who is serving his third term. The Associated Press had projected a win for Valadao on election night, but his 4,839-vote advantage has shrunk to 2,090. Back in CA-21, Valadao (R) wins a batch of ballots from his stronghold in Kings Co., but by a considerably smaller margin (14 points) than his previous ~30-point margin in the county. We're moving to Lean R from Likely R; today a bit scary for Valadao.https://t.co/WqJVUVkqGW Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) November 15, 2018 A spokesman for Valadao told the Fresno Bee that the changes were expected and that [s]tatistically, David Valadao has won this race. Democrats in California have already flipped four House seats, defeating three Republican incumbents and claiming an open seat previously held by the GOP. Reps. Steve Knight of Palmdale, Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa and Jeff Denham of Turlock have already lost their races, and retiring Rep. Darrell Issas San Diego County seat was claimed by Democrat Mike Levin. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump aide departs West Wing after rebuke from Melania Trump By Associated Press First Lady Melania Trump. (Alain Jocard / AFP-Getty Images) Deputy national security advisor Mira Ricardel is leaving the White House, one day after First Lady Melania Trumps office issued an extraordinary statement calling for her dismissal. No replacement was named. Aides said Ricardel clashed with the first ladys staff over her visit to Africa last month. Yet it is highly unusual for a first lady or her office to weigh in on personnel matters, especially the presidents national security staff. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Ricardel would have a new role in the administration. On Tuesday, Stephanie Grisham, the first ladys spokeswoman, released a statement saying, It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House. President Trumps White House has set records for administration turnover. Ricardel was the third person to hold the post under Trump. An ally of national security advisor John Bolton, Ricardel began her service in the Trump administration as associate director in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, then moved to the Commerce Department last year. Bolton brought her into the West Wing shortly after taking the job in April. He is traveling in Asia this week alongside Vice President Mike Pence. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Race for House Minority Leader is Kevin McCarthys to lose By Associated Press (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy is running to take over next years shrunken caucus in closed-door elections that will set the tone for the new Congress. The race for minority leader is McCarthys to lose Wednesday. But the California Republican, who is an ally of President Trump, must fend off a challenge from conservative Jim Jordan of Ohio. Jordan is a leader of the House Freedom Caucus. The two encountered questions and finger-pointing during a private meeting with lawmakers Tuesday night as the GOP sorted through the midterm defeat that put Democrats in the majority next year. Elections Wednesday will also determine party leadership in the Senate. Voting for the biggest race, Nancy Pelosis bid to return as the Democrats nominee for speaker, is later this month. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Melania Trump calls for the firing of deputy national security advisor By Justin Sink First Lady Melania Trump arrives at the Chateau de Versailles outside Paris on Nov. 11. (Alain Jocard / AFP/Getty Images ) First Lady Melania Trumps office said she wants Mira Ricardel, the deputy national security advisor, ousted from the White House. It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House, Trumps spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said in a statement in response to a question about reports the first lady had sought Ricardels removal. Ricardel is the top deputy to national security advisor John Bolton. She drew the first ladys wrath after threatening to withhold National Security Council resources during Melania Trumps trip to Africa last month unless Ricardel was included in her entourage, one person familiar with the matter said. Grishams statement comes as several media outlets have reported that President Trump is considering a broader shakeup of his administration, including ousting Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. Sink and Jacobs report for Bloomberg. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print CNN sues Trump over the suspension of Jim Acostas White House press credentials By Jim Puzzanghera CNN said Tuesday that it is suing President Trump and other administration officials over the decision to suspend the White House press credentials of correspondent Jim Acosta after a conflict at a news conference last week. The suit, to be filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, escalates an ongoing battle between Trump and the cable news outlet that he frequently accuses of disseminating fake news for its aggressive coverage of him and his administration. The wrongful revocation of these credentials violates CNN and Acostas 1st Amendment rights of freedom of the press, and their 5th Amendment rights to due process, CNN said in a written statement. If left unchallenged, the actions of the White House would create a dangerous chilling effect for any journalist who covers our elected officials. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Maxine Waters to take aim at Wells Fargo and Deutsche Bank as new head of House Financial Services Committee By Jim Puzzanghera Rep. Maxine Waters plans to zero in on two big banks Wells Fargo & Co. and Deutsche Bank when she becomes head of the powerful House Financial Services Committee. The Los Angeles congresswoman, now the committees top Democrat, is widely expected to gain the gavel after her party won control of the House in last weeks elections. While Waters has outlined a wide-ranging agenda, she said her focus on bank oversight will target two large institutions she has been tangling with for a while including one, Deutsche Bank, that spills into her bitter feud with President Trump. With Trump in the White House, I know that our fight for Americas consumers and investors will continue to be challenging. But I am more than up to that fight, Waters wrote in a letter last week to her Democratic colleagues on the committee that was obtained by The Times. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Heres how a controversial voting system will decide a congressional race in Maine By Kurtis Lee For the first time in U.S. history, a controversial voting system known as ranked choice is being used to decide a federal election. Its happening in Maine, which adopted the system in 2016. Rather than marking a single candidate, each voter ranks them all, assigning a first-place vote, a second-place vote and so on down the ballot. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print ACLU files suit to stop Trumps new asylum limits By Associated Press A group of Central American migrants march to the office of the U.N.'s humans rights body in Mexico City on Nov. 8. (Rebecca Blackwell / Associated Press) The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a legal challenge to President Trumps order denying asylum to migrants if they cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. The lawsuit was filed Friday in federal court in San Francisco and argues the new rules are against the law. Attorney Lee Gelernt said the regulations will put families in danger. The suit seeks to declare the regulations invalid and wants a judge to stop the rules from going into effect while the litigation is pending. The new rules were spurred in part by caravans of Central American migrants slowly moving north on foot, but officials say they will apply to anyone caught crossing illegally. Officials say about 70,000 people who enter the country illegally claim asylum. The order invoked the same national security powers Trump used to push through his travel ban. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump on new acting AG: I dont know Matt Whitaker By Associated Press President Trump talks with reporters before departing for France on the South Lawn of the White House on Nov. 9. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) President Trump is moving to distance himself from Matthew Whitaker as he faces criticism over his choice for acting attorney general. Trump told reporters Friday that I dont know Matt Whitaker and said he didnt speak with Whitaker about special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. Whitaker has made public comments critical of Muellers investigation, and critics have called on Whitaker to recuse himself from oversight of the inquiry. Under former Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, the investigation was overseen by Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein. Of the scrutiny Whitaker is facing, Trump said: Its a shame that no matter who I put in they go after. He also called Whitaker a very highly respected man. Whitaker was Sessions chief of staff before Trump made him Sessions interim replacement. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg out of hospital after fall By Associated Press The Supreme Court says 85-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is home after being released from the hospital. She had been admitted for treatment and observation after fracturing three ribs in a fall. The court said Ginsburg was released Friday. Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg says she is doing well and working from home. The court had previously said the justice fell in her office at the court on Wednesday evening and went to George Washington University Hospital in Washington early Thursday after experiencing discomfort overnight. Ginsburg broke two ribs in a fall in 2012. She had two prior bouts with cancer and had a stent implanted to open a blocked artery in 2014. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gun-control activist Lucy McBath defeats GOP Rep. Karen Handel in Georgia By Associated Press Lucy McBath speaks during a rally for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams on Nov. 2 at Morehouse College in Atlanta. (Alyssa Pointer / Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) Democratic gun-control activist Lucy McBath has defeated Republican Rep. Karen Handel of Georgia in a suburban congressional district long considered safe for the GOP. Handel had to seek reelection after winning her seat last year in a close special election race against Democrat Jon Ossoff. McBath became an advocate for stricter gun laws after her son, Jordan Davis, was fatally shot at a Florida gas station in 2012 by a man angry over loud music the teenager and his friends were playing in a car. McBaths margin of victory was narrow enough for Handel to have requested a recount. The Associated Press declared McBath the winner Thursday after Handel conceded. Handel conceded in a statement Thursday morning, stating that after reviewing all of the election data, its clear she came up a bit short in Tuesdays vote. Handel congratulated McBath, offering good thoughts and much prayer for the journey that lies ahead for her. McBath, who is African American, declared victory Wednesday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg hospitalized after fracturing 3 ribs in fall By Associated Press Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press) The Supreme Court says 85-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg fractured three ribs in a fall in her office at the court and is in the hospital. The court says the justice went to George Washington University Hospital in Washington early Thursday after experiencing discomfort overnight. The court says the fall occurred Wednesday evening. Ginsburg was admitted to the hospital for treatment and observation after tests showed she fractured three ribs. Ginsburg broke two ribs in a fall in 2012. She has had two prior bouts with cancer and had a stent implanted to open a blocked artery in 2014. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print White House suspends press pass of CNNs Jim Acosta after heated exchange with Trump By Associated Press The White House on Wednesday suspended the press pass of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta after he and President Trump had a heated confrontation during a news conference. They began sparring after Acosta asked Trump about the caravan of migrants heading from Latin America to the southern U.S. border. When Acosta tried to follow up with another question, Trump said, Thats enough! and a female White House aide unsuccessfully tried to grab the microphone from Acosta. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement accusing Acosta of placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern, calling it absolutely unacceptable. The interaction between Acosta and the intern was brief, and Acosta appeared to brush her arm as she reached for the microphone and he tried to hold onto it. Pardon me, maam, he told her. Acosta tweeted that Sanders statement that he put his hands on the aide was a lie. CNN said in a statement that the White House revoked Acostas press pass in retaliation for his challenging questions Wednesday, and the network accused Sanders of lying about Acostas actions. This conduct is absolutely unacceptable. It is also completely disrespectful to the reporters colleagues not to allow them an opportunity to ask a question. President Trump has given the press more access than any President in history. Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 Contrary to CNNs assertions there is no greater demonstration of the Presidents support for a free press than the event he held today. Only they would attack the President for not supporting a free press in the midst of him taking 68 questions from 35 different reporters... Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 As a result of todays incident, the White House is suspending the hard pass of the reporter involved until further notice. Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 Sanders provided fraudulent accusations and cited an incident that never happened. This unprecedented decision is a threat to our democracy and the country deserves better, CNN said. Jim Acosta has our full support. Journalists assigned to cover the White House apply for passes that allow them daily access to press areas in the West Wing. White House staffers decide whether journalists are eligible, though the Secret Service determines whether their applications are approved. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump spars with reporters at post-election news briefing, ordering several to sit down By Associated Press President Trump assails CNNs Jim Acosta at a White House news conference. President Trump sparred with reporters at his post-election news conference, ordering several to sit down and telling another hes a rude, terrible person. He told another reporter hes not a fan of yours, either. The presidents mood turned sour Wednesday after reporters pressed him on why he referred to a migrant caravan making its way to the U.S. on foot through Mexico as an invasion. Trump ramped up his anti-immigrant rhetoric against the caravan in the final days of the midterm elections. Trump was also pressed on why his campaign aired an ad featuring a Mexican immigrant convicted of killing American police officers and linking the mans actions to the caravan. Several television networks pulled the ad after airing it or declined to air it at all. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Im living one hour at a time at this point By Christine Mai-Duc Republican congressional candidate Young Kim and gubernatorial candidate John Cox campaign in Rowland Heights. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Republican congressional candidate Young Kim greeted gubernatorial candidate John Coxs giant campaign bus, the words HELP IS ON THE WAY emblazoned across it, as it rolled into the parking lot outside her Rowland Heights field office. Standing beside Cox on Saturday, Kim predicted that a string of GOP victories Tuesday would start with voters repealing the gas tax hike. Can you imagine Gavin Newsom being our governor? Can you imagine Gil Cisneros being your representative? Kim asked the crowd, to loud boos and cries of Nooo! The former state assemblywoman who worked for retiring Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) is vying for his seat with Democrat Gil Cisneros. She led the crowd in chants of Enough is enough! and, though short-lived, Drain the swamp! Ive served you in Sacramento and Ive seen dysfunction personally, Kim continued. We cannot continue that route. She urged her supporters to stay and help make phone calls or walk neighborhoods. Lets get out there the 72 hours is really critical. Its all going to come down to a few votes, it could be your vote, she said pointing to her left, then pivoting right, it could be your vote. So dont sit back and do nothing. Every night I go to sleep thinking, OK, how many more votes can I get or how many more people can I call tomorrow? Kim said. It can be physically exhausting but Im mentally, emotionally very energized. She listed off her events so far that day and the next one she was heading to. Thats just what I can remember, she said. Im living one hour at a time at this point. Kims campaign invited press to two of her events on Saturday. After she was whisked away to her next event a high tea fundraiser in Walnut, a couple dozen volunteers remained. John Freeman, a statewide field manager for the state Republican Party, tried to pump them up. This is the Super Bowl. Were not in an NFL stadium, were not getting paid millions of dollars, but you know what? Freeman said. Were walking on the field right now. This is that high-stakes-level game. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Its going to be tough out there Democratic candidate Katie Porter speaks to volunteers in Mission Viejo. Jon Bauman, Bowzer from the band Sha Na Na, is in the background. (Victoria Kim / Los Angeles Times ) Judging from the cheers in the crowd, about half those assembled at Katie Porters campaign headquarters in Mission Viejo Sunday morning were old enough to remember 70s rock n roll star Bowzer from the band Sha Na Na. Jon Bauman, as Bowzer is known off stage, said it was her position on senior issues including retirement and social security that has him out supporting Porter over her opponent, incumbent Rep. Mimi Walters. I want you to make sure every phone is called and every door is knocked, he told the crowd of about 80 volunteers. There has never been a more important election. Both Bauman and his nephew, California Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman, were interrupted by yells from Trump supporters coming from an adjoining hillside. We love Trump, the voice cried out. We love him too, he makes great fodder, the younger Bauman retorted, before introducing Porter. Porter, a UC Irvine law professor and first-time candidate, acknowledged the uphill battle some of her canvassers might face in this more conservative end of the long-red Orange County district. I know its going to be tough out there, she said, motioning to the hillside. But she said the attacks meant the other side viewed her campaign as a significant threat. This election is going to be close, she said. If we dont fight all the way to the finish line, until 8 oclock on Tuesday, this could slip away. Bowzer then took to a keyboard piano to lead the crowd in a reworded rendition of the song Good Night Sweetheart: Good night, Mimi Walters, he crooned. A woman in a black tank top, jeans and flip flops holding a cup of coffee later joined the crowd with her two sons, 17 and 14, the younger one wearing a Trump 2016 T-shirt. She declined to give her name, saying she was concerned about being attacked, but said she lived up the hill and said she had been the one yelling. She said she was encouraging her sons to talk to people on both sides and make up their own minds. We need to have a government that runs the way government teachers are telling kids its supposed to be run, said the woman, a retired registered dental assistant who voted early for Mimi Walters. Referring to Democrats, she said: Theyve had control over all these years and Californias gone to crap. Among those canvassing was Stacie Campbell, 37, who was at the launch with her husband Jerome and three children, the youngest of whom was 2 months old. Campbell, a Mission Viejo resident who runs a business, had never canvassed or volunteered for campaigns before, and her husband is a French citizen and unable to vote. She said they had been talking to their children the older ones are 5 and 2 about the presidency and the government since Trumps election. Together, they worked on homemade Katie Porter lawn signs and put them up around town. This is the first time its felt like a big deal and there isnt a president up for election, she said. Because her city is a mix of conservatives and liberals her next-door neighbor is an NRA-supporting Republican she the race felt m It got off to a bad start, and President Trumps venomous relationship with Sen. John McCain didnt end well, either. The president was reportedly disinvited to McCains funeral months ago, after McCains battle with cancer took a turn for the worse. The veteran Arizona Republican senator, 81, died Saturday, a day after his family announced he had decided to discontinue medical treatment for an aggressive form of brain cancer. Throughout McCains illness, Trump continued to publicly snub him including a recent appearance in which the president declined to say McCains name when signing a bill that was named for him. Advertisement White House lowers flags to half-staff, former colleagues pay tribute after McCains passing Trump did not want to comment on McCain while he was alive, White House officials said, and there was no effort to publish a statement Friday even as many politicians released supportive comments on the ailing senator. Soon after McCains death was announced Saturday evening, Trump tweeted condolences: My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you! The pairs increasingly combative relationship served as a metaphor of sorts for the Republican Party: the former Vietnam POW and proud conservative who fell short to Barack Obama in his run for president in 2008 versus the loud draft avoider who rapidly seized control of the GOP and White House eight years later. McCain rarely disguised his distaste for Trump as the real estate developer ran for president on a platform that included attacks on immigrants and U.S. allies. In July 2015, after then-candidate Trump rallied an estimated 15,000 in Phoenix and claimed to represent a silent majority, McCain said Trump had fired up the crazies in his state. The battle was on. By the end of that month, Trump had disparaged McCains Vietnam War service, saying McCain was not a war hero despite spending more than five years as a POW and enduring torture. Why did Carter and McCain have such different brain tumor outcomes? He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured, Trump said during a forum in Ames, Iowa. Trump refused to apologize at the time, despite criticism from nearly every corner, and never retracted the statement. He has occasionally told people that he does not regret the comment. The reality is that John McCain the politician has made America less safe, sent our brave soldiers into wrongheaded foreign adventures, covered up for President Obama with the VA scandal and has spent most of his time in the Senate pushing amnesty, Trump wrote in an op-ed for USA Today that month. He would rather protect the Iraqi border than Arizonas. McCain did eventually endorse Trump in 2016, then withdrew his support weeks before the election after the emergence of an Access Hollywood tape where Trump is recorded bragging about groping women. Trumps immediate and angry response: The very foul mouthed Sen. John McCain begged for my support during his primary (I gave, he won), then dropped me over locker room remarks! In office, McCain supported much of Trumps economic and national security agenda, despite his misgivings about Trumps dismissive approach to traditional U.S. alliances. But he also showed frustration toward Trumps White House, dismissing nominees abruptly from his office or growing angry at senior West Wing aides. McCain crossed the White House last year over the GOP attempt to repeal Obamas Affordable Care Act, and Trump has never forgiven him. After the vote, Trump said that McCain voted no out of a personal vendetta against him and that he would never vote yes to something that helped Trump. He repeatedly told advisors that McCain should have stepped down from the seat and let the Republican governor appoint another senator. Trump has also told White House aides that his supporters are not big fans of McCain and boasted that he became president while McCain did not. For McCain, a life of courage and politics came down to 1 vote Trumps retelling of the healthcare vote, usually without mentioning McCain by name, continued throughout the senators more than year-long treatment for brain cancer. Obamacare, we got rid of the individual mandate, which is the most unpopular aspect, Trump said during a political speech Aug. 13 in Utica, N.Y. I would have gotten rid of everything, but, as you know, one of our, one of our wonderful senators said, thumbs down, at 2 oclock in the morning. Trumps aggrieved references to the healthcare vote never stops being gross, McCains daughter Meghan wrote on Twitter in June. Ive let him know several times that was beneath the office and it doesnt reflect well on him, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and longtime McCain friend, said of Trumps attacks. Hes an American hero by any stretch of the imagination, and I dont see how it helps the president. In May, Trump and White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders declined to apologize for an aides remark that McCains opposition to Gina Haspel, nominee for CIA director, doesnt matter because hes dying anyway. The aide, Kelly Sadler, left her job the next month, but White House aides said her departure was not a punishment for the remark. Trump told advisors he did not care if she apologized or not and was more determined to suss out who leaked the comments, calling advisors in for a West Wing scolding. During occasional Oval Office conversations about McCains health or status in the Senate, Trump would usually say nothing, current and former officials said. He grew angry regularly that McCain was portrayed as the good guy in the news media and he as the bad guy, according to a former senior administration official who spoke to Trump about McCain. Trump has fumed to friends about McCains role in receiving research compiled by a former British intelligence officer that alleged Russia had potentially compromising information about Trump. He has complained that McCain criticized him over Russia and foreign policy, questioning his expertise and noting that he won the presidency and McCain did not. Even a remote risk that the President of the United States might be vulnerable to Russian extortion had to be investigated, McCain wrote in his last book, The Restless Wave, published this year. Senator John McCains support for boxing, including Ali Act, is remembered before championship match in Arizona I could not independently verify any of it, and so I did what any American who cares about our nations security should have done. I put the dossier in my office safe, called the office of the director of the FBI, Jim Comey, and asked for a meeting, McCain wrote. McCains assessments became more withering the longer Trump was in office. In August 2017, McCain denounced white supremacists who held a deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, after Trump had said the event was attended by fine people on both sides. White supremacists arent patriots, theyre traitors Americans must unite against hatred & bigotry, McCain tweeted at the time. In accepting the Freedom Medal at the National Constitutional Center in October, McCain condemned half-baked, spurious nationalism cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems, a clear dig at Trump. Asked about McCains remarks the following day, Trump said people have to be careful, because at some point I fight back. You know, Im being very nice, Im being very, very nice, but at some point I fight back and it wont be pretty, Trump said in a WMAL radio interview. Not long afterward, McCain appeared to take a shot at Trump for avoiding the draft during the Vietnam War. One aspect of the [Vietnam] conflict by the way that I will never ever countenance is that we drafted the lowest income level of America, and the highest income level found a doctor that would say that they had a bone spur, McCain said during an interview with CSPAN. McCain did not mention Trump by name, but his meaning appeared clear. Trump received five wartime deferments, including one in which a doctor diagnosed him with bone spurs. Finally in July, McCain pilloried Trump for his chummy performance alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin at a news conference in Helsinki, calling it one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory. The U.S. president had rhetorically embraced Putin and appeared to side with him over U.S. intelligence officials on Moscows aggressive election interference. The damage inflicted by President Trumps naivete, egotism, false equivalence, and sympathy for autocrats is difficult to calculate, McCain said. No prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant. Trump said nothing in response. First off, yes, I got both the station and time wrong for the TV broadcast of the Travers. It was on the big NBC and I failed to convert the time to PDT. Everyone will receive a full refund for the Saturday newsletter. Oh, thats right. Now, Saturdays Travers was supposed to be a reaffirmation of the talent of Good Magic. Instead, Catholic Boy, once a favorite of the wiseguys before a disappointing fourth in the Florida Derby, dominated the Travers winning his third straight race after skipping the Triple Crown races. He won by four lengths over Mendelssohn, who went to the lead and held it until the top of stretch when Catholic Boy went to the front. Bravazo was third. Good Magic finished ninth. It just doesnt get any better, trainer Jonathan Thomas told NYRA media officials. Im just so proud of this horse and [jockey] Javier [ Castellano ] was incredible. Hes a much stronger, mature horse and this really shows that patience helps. In case you missed it, the Personal Ensign was the race everyone expected with Southern California-based Abel Tasman and Elate going stride-for-stride down the stretch. Hard as Elate tried, she just couldnt get past Abel Tasman, who is trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Mike Smith . Heres a bonus contribution from Rob Henie of the WCHR (West Coast Handicapping Report) and the ECHR (East Coast Handicapping Report). The thinking is if you can know and understand the strategies, it will make you a better handicapper. This is a starter allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Lets talk about handicapping based on a horses likely style TODAY, not what they showed last time out, often an effective angle. Our top selection MONGOLIAN HUMOR (#3) , many will dismiss simply based on fading down the lane last time out. But one of the sharpest angles when looking for a price is simply bypassing the most recent running line. Most handicappers will hurriedly scan through, quickly notice a speed and fade type of effort, while clumping the horse into the category of front runners. First off, lets look at this ones own running line last time out, her own individual fractional splits-- :23.3 / :24.3 / :24.4 / :24. These are nice steady type of drills, ideal for this more methodical distance which can allow for an even more relaxed effort, from gate to wire. Secondly, the, lets make others chase us last time out, didnt pan out real well, which is precisely why Enebish Ganbat removes the blinkers while also adding the patient presence of Stewart Elliott . Look for a productive effort, reverting to slightly off the pace tactics. FOXTAIL (#1) strings races together for the first time, and heres another example of a horse likely to revert to tactics prior to her last start. In her most recent race, she came from further back due to the slow start, just not her thing ( Tyler Baze is also not the guy we wanna see with a closer on the turf). Today, were looking for either a front running effort, or, a close up trip just off the flank of another wanting the front end, but either way, a different trip than what we saw last time out, also, giving us contrary running styles, from further back with the top choice and closer up with the second choice, often a nice way to capture an event. 2 Sea Sensation - The distance is ideal, as is Kent Desormeaux , though one thing that bothers us when we come across it, is the horse whos now featuring his or her fifth different rider in five starts, just no commitment from an agent/rider. 5 November Tale - Despite Drayden Van Dyke up, shes 1 for 12, and you can clearly see their resistance to trying the main track, meaning, what we see is what we get with regard to running on the turf, and she just doesnt do much for us, a plodding sort. The featured stakes on Saturday had such promise, but when half the field scratched including Ransom the Moon and Roy H, the Grade 2 $200,000 Pat OBrien Stakes turned into little more than a workout for Catalina Cruiser. The colt bided his time midway through the backstretch of the seven-furlong race before easily taking the lead and winning by 7 lengths. Drayden Van Dyke went to the whip only once in the stretch and hand-rode him to the easy win In the first stakes of the day, Tatters to Riches won the $100,000 Shared Belief Stakes for 3-year-olds going one mile. It was a short field of five, but Tatters to Riches was never in a bad spot, sitting a comfortable second all the way around until the top of the stretch. The winning margin was 3 for jockey Tyler Baze . He broke sharp and put me right where I wanted to be, Baze said. So much credit to [trainer] Jeff [ Mullins ] and the guys at the barn. Theyve spent a lot of time getting this horse right. Now hes a dream. I hope he keeps on going and becomes a real dream horse. Its a hodgepodge card on Sunday with 10 races starting at 2 p.m. The first three races are restricted to Cal-breds. There are four allowance/optional claimers, two turf races and one stakes race. The feature is almost in the gloaming at 6:05 p.m. You know, gloaming is a word you dont hear used that much. In fact, Ive only heard it used once and that was in reference to Gabby Hartnetts homer for the Chicago Cubs in 1938. Sorry, got distracted. The favorite in the $100,000 Torrey Pines Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going a mile is Just Grazed Me at 5-2. The second favorite is Thirteen Squared at 3-1. These two horses couldnt be much different. Just Grazed Me is two-for-two, but lacks graded stakes competition. She won her two races by 3 and 6 lengths. Shes trained by Phil DAmato and ridden by Tyler Baze . Thirteen Squared has won only one of nine races but has been running in heavy company. She was third in the Santa Anita Oaks and second in the Santa Ysabel and the Summertime Oaks in her last out. Baffert is the trainer and Joe Talamo will ride. Competitive stakes race for sophomore fillies but I like the way this Richard Baltas trainee won in her SoCal debut, easily handling older allowance runners over this track. She should fall into another great trip behind the speed and might be good enough to win this Grade 3 as third choice on the morning line. I have always felt this gelding is better than what he has displayed in his first four starts and now he drops into a maiden claimer for the first time. In his last sixth-place outing from the rail post, he was bumped after breaking slow when competing in the nights fastest 300-yard dash. He was fifth vs. two next-out maiden winners two races back and was fourth three outs ago in race where one-length winner One Cool Winner since ran second vs. allowance company. Always looking to add more subscribers to this newsletter. Cant beat the price. If you like it, tell someone. If you dont like it, then youre probably not reading this. Either way, send to a friend and just have them click here and sign up . Remember, its free, and all we need is your email, nothing more. Del Mar Charts Results for Saturday, August 25. Copyright 2018 by Equibase Company. Reproduction prohibited. Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar, California. All finishes confirmed by Plusmic USA. Official program numbers may not correspond with post position. 29th day of a 36-day meet. Clear & Fast FIRST RACE. 5 Furlongs. Purse: $60,000. Maiden Special Weight. Fillies. 2 year olds. Time 22.62 46.11 57.94 1:04.39 Pgm Horse Wt PP St 3/8 Str Fin Jockey $1 5 Fighting Mad 120 4 2 2hd 21 22 1ns Talamo 2.50 4 Honeyfromthesouth 120 3 1 1hd 11 11 26 Van Dyke 0.50 6 Encanta 120 5 3 31 3 34 38 T Baze 9.80 1 Nomizar 120 1 4 42 42 44 45 Roman 12.00 2 Pasito 120 2 5 5 5 5 5 Franco 13.60 5 FIGHTING MAD 7.00 2.60 2.10 4 HONEYFROMTHESOUTH 2.10 2.10 6 ENCANTA 2.80 $1 EXACTA (5-4) $4.30 $2 QUINELLA (4-5) $3.00 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (5-4-6-1) $2.63 50-CENT TRIFECTA (5-4-6) $7.15 WinnerFighting Mad B.f.2 by New Year's Day out of Smokey's Love, by Forestry. Bred by Gary & Mary West Stables Inc. (KY). Trainer: Bob Baffert. Owner: West, Gary and Mary. Mutuel Pool $251,252 Exacta Pool $105,528 Quinella Pool $5,012 Superfecta Pool $26,460 Trifecta Pool $60,163. ScratchedHurley. FIGHTING MAD pressed the pace between horses then stalked off the rail on the turn, angled out into the stretch and came back on under left handed urging to get up in the final stride. HONEYFROMTHESOUTH sped to the early lead, set a pressured pace inside, inched away on the turn, came off the fence into the stretch, drifted out some despite right handed urging in deep stretch and was edged on the wire. ENCANTA hopped slightly at the start, pressed the pace three deep then stalked off the rail on the turn, came out some into the stretch and weakened but clearly bested the others. NOMIZAR broke a bit slowly and was bumped, saved ground stalking the pace, continued inside on the turn and in the stretch and weakened. PASITO hopped and bumped a rival in a slow start, chased off the rail, came out into the stretch and had little left for the drive. SECOND RACE. 1 1/16 Mile Turf. Purse: $34,000. Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $32,000. Time 24.42 49.26 1:13.18 1:36.73 1:42.82 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 3 Hard Fought 123 3 1 22 1hd 21 1hd 1 Roman 5.00 2 Popyhowuspelcupcak 123 2 7 31 3 4 31 2nk Conner 6.60 1 Yes Yes Yes 123 1 2 1hd 22 1hd 21 3 Pedroza 5.70 4 Broken Up 123 4 4 6 6hd 7 5 4nk Quinonez 4.00 5 Royal Albert Hall 123 5 6 7 7 52 7 51 Fuentes 3.40 6 Mr. Opportunist 118 6 3 4 5 6hd 6hd 63 Figueroa 5.00 7 Westwood's Wizard 123 7 5 51 41 31 4hd 7 Gonzalez 5.70 3 HARD FOUGHT 12.00 7.20 5.40 2 POPYHOWUSPELCUPCAK 6.40 4.80 1 YES YES YES 4.40 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (5-3) $41.60 $1 EXACTA (3-2) $41.10 $2 QUINELLA (2-3) $53.60 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (3-2-1-4) $67.42 50-CENT TRIFECTA (3-2-1) $89.60 WinnerHard Fought B.g.4 by Hard Spun out of Miss Netta, by Street Sense. Bred by Candy Meadows LLC (KY). Trainer: Robert B. Hess, Jr.. Owner: Mark Kornegay. Mutuel Pool $286,813 Daily Double Pool $57,975 Exacta Pool $136,378 Quinella Pool $6,586 Superfecta Pool $44,505 Trifecta Pool $86,138. ClaimedBroken Up by Purple Rein Racing and Westside Racing Stable. Trainer: Doug O'Neill. Scratchednone. HARD FOUGHT dueled outside a rival, put a head back in front in midstretch and gamely prevailed under urging. POPYHOWUSPELCUPCAK stalked inside, came out into the stretch and went on willingly three deep on the line. YES YES YES had good early speed and dueled inside, put a head back in front into the second turn, fought back along the rail through the stretch and continued gamely late. BROKEN UP chased inside then between foes on the backstretch and outside a rival on the second turn, split horses in midstretch and was outfinished. ROYAL ALBERT HALL (GB) stalked outside a rival then three deep on the backstretch, continued alongside a foe on the second turn and three wide into the stretch, also split horses in midstretch and was outfinished. MR. OPPORTUNIST angled in and saved ground chasing the pace throughout and lacked the needed late kick. WESTWOOD'S WIZARD close up stalking the pace outside a rival then off the rail on the second turn, came three deep into the stretch, was four wide in midstretch and weakened in the final furlong. THIRD RACE. 1 Mile. Purse: $100,000. 'Shared Belief Stakes'. 3 year olds. Time 23.49 47.58 1:12.11 1:24.36 1:36.94 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 5 Tatters to Riches 120 5 2 21 2 21 11 13 T Baze 1.20 2 Afleet Ascent 119 2 1 11 1hd 1hd 24 23 Desormeaux 5.50 4 Shivermetimbers 120 4 5 3hd 3 41 31 34 Van Dyke 2.60 3 Yulong Warrior 124 3 3 5 5 5 5 41 Roman 14.00 1 Cool Bobby 118 1 4 41 41 3 41 5 Gutierrez 3.10 5 TATTERS TO RICHES 4.40 3.00 2.10 2 AFLEET ASCENT 5.00 2.80 4 SHIVERMETIMBERS 2.20 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (3-5) $32.60 $1 EXACTA (5-2) $10.30 $2 QUINELLA (2-5) $12.60 50-CENT TRIFECTA (5-2-4) $10.55 WinnerTatters to Riches B.c.3 by Union Rags out of Poco Mas, by A.P. Indy. Bred by Mount Brilliant Farm, LLC (KY). Trainer: Jeff Mullins. Owner: Red Baron's Barn LLC and Rancho Temescal LLC. Mutuel Pool $421,419 Daily Double Pool $23,617 Exacta Pool $131,809 Quinella Pool $7,506 Trifecta Pool $89,426. Scratchednone. $1 Pick Three (5-3-5) paid $70.30. Pick Three Pool $62,498. TATTERS TO RICHES a bit washy at the gate, was three deep early then stalked outside a rival, bid between horses on the backstretch and alongside the runner-up on the second turn, took the lead in upper stretch, inched away under left handed urging and won clear. AFLEET ASCENT sped to the early lead, set the pace inside, fought back along the rail on the backstretch and second turn, came out a bit into the stretch, drifted inward in midstretch and was clearly second best. SHIVERMETIMBERS broke slowly, stalked three deep then bid three wide on the backstretch, fell back some on the second turn, came three wide into the stretch and bested the others. YULONG WARRIOR between horses early, stalked outside a rival then just off the rail, found the inside into the stretch, was in a bit tight nearing midstretch, came out for room and weakened. COOL BOBBY saved ground stalking the pace, came out into the stretch, drifted back to the inside nearing midstretch and also weakened. FOURTH RACE. 1 1/16 Mile Turf. Purse: $60,000. Maiden Special Weight. Fillies and Mares. 3 year olds and up. Time 22.17 47.07 1:11.66 1:36.07 1:42.36 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 4 K P Pergoliscious 120 4 4 51 51 5 31 12 Van Dyke 9.90 6 Room to Finish 120 6 3 6 6 61 6hd 2ns Mn Garcia 4.00 1 Take a Leap 120 1 6 44 3hd 3 2 31 Desormeaux 13.70 2 Gattaia 120 2 8 8 8 8 5hd 41 Talamo 23.80 7 Untouched Elegance 120 7 2 1 1 1hd 1hd 5 Stevens 5.00 5 Chiffon 120 5 7 74 72 71 72 63 Roman 10.40 3 Loving Moment 120 3 5 3 42 41 8 7 T Baze 1.70 8 Madaket Sunset 120 8 1 23 21 21 4 8 Franco 5.00 4 K P PERGOLISCIOUS (IRE) 21.80 8.40 4.80 6 ROOM TO FINISH 5.60 4.20 1 TAKE A LEAP 6.40 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (5-4) $58.80 $1 EXACTA (4-6) $55.20 $2 QUINELLA (4-6) $46.20 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (4-6-1-2) $332.82 50-CENT TRIFECTA (4-6-1) $231.50 WinnerK P Pergoliscious (IRE) B.f.3 by Declaration of War out of Inkling, by Seeking the Gold. Bred by Tower Bloodstock (IRE). Trainer: Jeff Mullins. Owner: Karl Pergola. Mutuel Pool $467,248 Daily Double Pool $51,366 Exacta Pool $238,066 Quinella Pool $9,829 Superfecta Pool $78,723 Trifecta Pool $142,784. Scratchednone. $1 Pick Three (3-5-4) paid $202.10. Pick Three Pool $42,066. K P PERGOLISCIOUS (IRE) chased a bit off the rail then inside, continued along the fence on the second turn and into the stretch, bid inside in the drive, gained the advantage past the eighth pole and inched away then won clear under left handed urging. ROOM TO FINISH angled in and chased outside a rival then a bit off the rail on the second turn, came three wide into the stretch and finished well late for the place. TAKE A LEAP saved ground stalking the pace, came out leaving the second turn and three wide into the stretch, bid three deep in midstretch and was edged late for second. GATTAIA broke a bit slowly, settled off the pace inside, came out on the second turn and around a rival into the stretch and found her best stride late. UNTOUCHED ELEGANCE pulled her way to the lead and drifted out leaving the chute, angled in and dueled inside then inched away on the first turn, dueled again on the backstretch and second turn, came off the rail into the stretch, was between horses in midstretch and weakened in the final furlong. CHIFFON angled in and saved ground chasing the pace throughout and lacked the needed late kick. LOVING MOMENT stalked outside a rival, fell back some three deep on the second turn, came four wide into the stretch and weakened. MADAKET SUNSET wide in the chute, angled in and dueled outside a rival then stalked, bid again alongside the pacesetter on the backstretch and second turn and weakened in the drive. FIFTH RACE. 5 Furlongs. Purse: $20,000. Maiden Claiming. Fillies and Mares. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $20,000. Time 21.96 46.35 59.25 1:06.18 Pgm Horse Wt PP St 3/8 Str Fin Jockey $1 8 As a Rule 123 7 3 21 11 1hd 1ns Fuentes 71.90 10 Eskenforadrink 120 9 2 31 2 23 22 Pedroza 2.90 1 Veiled Heat 118 1 8 11 9hd 7hd 3nk Payeras 13.10 13 Baby Ice 123 11 1 6hd 51 33 4 Pena 21.20 9 Amore Gattina 123 8 6 4hd 7hd 4hd 54 T Baze 2.30 4 Sweetener 120 4 10 8hd 82 6hd 6ns Conner 19.00 3 Cal Pack Queen 120 3 11 91 6hd 84 73 Quinonez 41.10 5 Pray for Corday 120 5 7 5 4hd 5 81 Ceballos 5.20 2 Springtime Dance 123 2 9 102 11 92 96 Talamo 15.10 11 Fantastic Chloe 115 10 4 71 10 102 1016 Espinoza 9.40 6 True Martha 120 6 5 1hd 32 11 11 Elliott 8.20 8 AS A RULE 145.80 51.20 16.00 10 ESKENFORADRINK 4.80 3.60 1 VEILED HEAT 5.60 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (4-8) $3,398.20 $1 EXACTA (8-10) $467.60 $2 QUINELLA (8-10) $315.80 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (8-10-1-13) $2,551.59 50-CENT TRIFECTA (8-10-1) $1,631.60 WinnerAs a Rule B.f.4 by Tribal Rule out of Avenida La Cresta, by Avenue of Flags. Bred by Patricia Keeline & Elliston Black (CA). Trainer: Jeff Bonde. Owner: Patricia Keeline. Mutuel Pool $434,615 Daily Double Pool $44,605 Exacta Pool $225,248 Quinella Pool $11,033 Superfecta Pool $108,707 Trifecta Pool $165,907. ClaimedEskenforadrink by Sinnott Family Trust and Altamira Racing Stable. Trainer: Peter Miller. ScratchedCoco Loco Mama, Omerta, Two Timing Lucy. $1 Pick Three (5-4-8) paid $1,875.40. Pick Three Pool $127,135. 50-Cent Pick Four (3-5-4-8) 4 correct paid $6,176.35. Pick Four Pool $258,981. 50-Cent Pick Five (5-3-5-4-8) 5 correct paid $43,259.55. Pick Five Pool $654,029. AS A RULE dueled outside a rival, inched away on the turn, fought back off the rail through a long drive and gamely held under urging. ESKENFORADRINK stalked outside then off the rail, bid alongside the winner into the stretch, battled outside that one through the drive and continued willingly but was outgamed. VEILED HEAT chased inside then a bit off the rail, split horses on the turn, came three deep into the stretch, angled back in past midstretch and got up for the show. BABY ICE stalked four wide then three deep on the turn and into the stretch and was edged for third late. AMORE GATTINA stalked between horses, fell back three deep on the turn, came four wide into the stretch and put in a late bid at a minor award. SWEETENER chased three deep, split rivals on the turn, came three wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. CAL PACK QUEEN chased between horses then a bit off the rail on the turn, split rivals into the stretch and again past midstretch and could not offer the necessary late kick. PRAY FOR CORDAY angled in and saved ground chasing the pace, split horses leaving the turn, found the rail in the stretch and did not rally. SPRINGTIME DANCE saved ground off the pace, came out into the stretch and lacked the necessary response. FANTASTIC CHLOE stalked three deep between horses, dropped back on the turn and weakened. TRUE MARTHA had speed between horses then angled in and dueled inside, stalked on the turn, fell back leaving the turn and gave way. SIXTH RACE. 1 1/16 Mile Turf. Purse: $48,000. Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Prices $50,000-$45,000. Time 23.50 48.43 1:12.93 1:36.07 1:42.24 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 1 Conquest Typhoon 120 1 6 1 11 11 11 1 T Baze 2.10 6 Cool Green 122 5 3 6 6 5hd 512 2nk Elliott 7.80 7 DHFabozzi 120 6 1 52 52 3hd 2 31 Van Dyke 2.50 3 DHTwentytwentyvision 120 3 5 21 21 21 31 31 Desormeaux 3.50 2 Terrys Tom Cat 120 2 4 41 3 42 4hd 519 Gutierrez 4.60 5 Winning Road 115 4 2 3hd 41 6 6 6 Espinoza 12.60 1 CONQUEST TYPHOON 6.20 3.60 2.20 6 COOL GREEN 7.80 3.00 7 DHFABOZZI 2.10 3 DHTWENTYTWENTYVISION 2.10 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (8-1) $927.80 $1 EXACTA (1-6) $24.50 $2 QUINELLA (1-6) $28.40 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (1-6-7-3) $9.69 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (1-6-3-7) $9.83 50-CENT TRIFECTA (1-6-7) $22.75 50-CENT TRIFECTA (1-6-3) $21.45 WinnerConquest Typhoon B.g.6 by Stormy Atlantic out of Swanky Bubbles, by Ascot Knight. Bred by Josham Farms Limited (ON). Trainer: Jack Carava. Owner: Paymaster Racing LLC, Slugo Racing and Burns, Greg. Mutuel Pool $406,629 Daily Double Pool $37,117 Exacta Pool $181,346 Quinella Pool $9,349 Superfecta Pool $52,334 Trifecta Pool $110,325. ScratchedBob's Bad Boy. $1 Pick Three (4-8-1) paid $3,138.30. Pick Three Pool $86,423. CONQUEST TYPHOON had speed inside on a short lead then inched away on the first turn, set the pace inside, inched clear a bit off the rail in the stretch and held gamely under urging. COOL GREEN saved ground chasing the pace, came out into the stretch and in upper stretch and got up for the place four wide on the line. TWENTYTWENTYVISION pressed the pace outside the winner then stalked a bit off the rail to the stretch, continued between foes in the drive and held for a share of third. FABOZZI five wide in the chute, angled in and chased a bit off the rail then between foes on the second turn, came three deep into the stretch, was between horses in deep stretch and also shared the show. TERRYS TOM CAT saved ground stalking the pace, bid along the rail in the stretch and was outfinished. WINNING ROAD four wide in the chute, angled in and stalked three deep then outside a rival, dropped back on the second turn then angled in and gave way. SEVENTH RACE. 7 Furlongs. Purse: $200,000. 'Pat O'Brien Stakes'. 3 year olds and up. Time 22.23 44.82 1:09.37 1:22.13 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 1 Catalina Cruiser 121 1 3 2 1 13 17 Van Dyke 0.20 8 Battle of Midway 123 4 4 32 31 22 22 Prat 2.60 2 Vorticity 119 2 1 4 4 31 35 Pereira 18.80 3 Threefiveindia 119 3 2 1hd 2hd 4 4 Talamo 14.00 1 CATALINA CRUISER 2.40 2.10 8 BATTLE OF MIDWAY 2.20 2 VORTICITY $2 DAILY DOUBLE (1-1) $7.00 $1 EXACTA (1-8) $1.90 $2 QUINELLA (1-8) $2.40 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (1-8-2-3) $0.51 50-CENT TRIFECTA (1-8-2) $2.75 WinnerCatalina Cruiser Ch.c.4 by Union Rags out of Sea Gull, by Mineshaft. Bred by W. S. Farish (KY). Trainer: John W. Sadler. Owner: Hronis Racing LLC. Mutuel Pool $533,042 Daily Double Pool $46,184 Exacta Pool $146,449 Quinella Pool $6,372 Superfecta Pool $26,638 Trifecta Pool $61,586. ScratchedHorse Greedy, Ransom the Moon, Roy H, St. Joe Bay. $1 Pick Three (8-1-1) paid $340.70. Pick Three Pool $68,171. CATALINA CRUISER had good early speed and dueled inside, inched away on the turn, came a bit off the rail into the stretch, was pushed along to open up and drew off under a couple taps of the whip inside the eighth pole and a steady hand ride while being shown the stick. BATTLE OF MIDWAY bobbled at the start, dueled three deep then stalked outside a rival on the turn, angled in off the rail into the stretch and was clearly second best. VORTICITY chased off the rail, continued off the inside on the turn under urging, came out into the stretch and gained the show. THREEFIVEINDIA had good early speed and dueled between rivals, stalked a bit off the rail then angled to the inside on the turn and weakened in the stretch. EIGHTH RACE. 5 Furlongs Turf. Purse: $62,000. Allowance Optional Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $40,000. Time 22.02 44.64 56.77 Pgm Horse Wt PP St 3/16 3/8 Str Fin Jockey $1 7 Regal Born 120 7 3 41 5hd 4 1nk Pereira 5.70 2 Placido 120 2 8 8hd 62 3hd 21 Roman 5.80 3 Ride to the Wire 118 3 5 2hd 1hd 1 3hd Gutierrez 7.80 10 Lauren's Ladd 122 10 2 5hd 7hd 83 4hd Gonzalez 15.00 9 Circus Act 118 9 1 33 31 51 51 Franco 5.30 1 Facts Matter 113 1 6 61 4hd 63 6ns Espinoza 12.70 4 Cats Blame 120 4 9 9hd 81 7 71 Conner 9.90 6 Smiling Angelo 118 6 4 1hd 22 21 82 Talamo 2.30 8 My Heart Awakens 120 8 10 10 10 91 93 Stevens 12.30 5 Stylistics United 115 5 7 7 9hd 10 10 Payeras 51.30 7 REGAL BORN 13.40 6.80 4.00 2 PLACIDO 6.40 4.80 3 RIDE TO THE WIRE 6.40 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (1-7) $19.20 $1 EXACTA (7-2) $39.10 $2 QUINELLA (2-7) $38.00 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (7-2-3-10) $207.80 50-CENT TRIFECTA (7-2-3) $148.05 WinnerRegal Born Dbb.g.4 by Maclean's Music out of Reina Victoriosa (ARG), by Interprete (ARG). Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY). Trainer: Tim McCanna. Owner: Quadrun Farm LLC. Mutuel Pool $493,869 Daily Double Pool $35,390 Exacta Pool $264,258 Quinella Pool $11,612 Superfecta Pool $125,606 Trifecta Pool $178,980. ScratchedEskimo Roses, What'sontheagenda. $1 Pick Three (1-1-7) paid $38.10. Pick Three Pool $78,580. REGAL BORN stalked off the rail then three deep on the turn, came four wide into the stretch, rallied while drifting in some under left handed urging to gain the lead three wide in deep stretch and held gamely. PLACIDO a bit slow to begin, saved ground chasing the pace, continued inside on the turn and through the stretch and finished willingly. RIDE TO THE WIRE had good early speed and dueled inside, came a bit off the rail in the stretch, was between foes in deep stretch and held third. LAUREN'S LADD chased outside then three deep on the turn and into the stretch and was edged for the show outside. CIRCUS ACT pressed the pace three deep then stalked off the rail on the turn, came three wide into the stretch and was edged for a minor award between foes late. FACTS MATTER stalked inside then a bit off the rail on the turn, was between foes leaving the turn and lacked the needed rally. CATS BLAME a bit slow to begin, chased between horses, came out some in the stretch and lacked the needed rally. SMILING ANGELO dueled between horses then outside a rival on the turn and into the stretch, fought back in midstretch and weakened some in the final furlong. MY HEART AWAKENS chased outside then four wide on the backstretch and three deep on the turn, came four wide into the stretch and lacked a rally. STYLISTICS UNITED chased between horses then outside a rival, angled to the inside on the turn and weakened. HAND TIMED. NINTH RACE. 1 Mile. Purse: $24,000. Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $20,000. Time 23.70 48.15 1:13.41 1:26.63 1:40.28 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 1 DHKona Coast 118 1 1 21 21 11 1hd 1nk Figueroa 3.30 5 DHShirl's Ready 123 5 6 71 6hd 41 2 1nk Pena 12.00 3 We Go Now 123 3 2 3 3 2hd 31 3 Maldonado 15.70 6 Taniko 123 6 8 9 81 5hd 41 4 Gonzalez 2.90 9 Premium Forest 120 9 3 41 4hd 61 51 52 Roman 24.10 7 Run Like Rhett 123 7 4 6hd 72 81 62 61 Van Dyke 3.40 4 Plum Dandy 118 4 7 81 9 9 7 78 Espinoza 5.10 8 Bourque 123 8 9 1 1 3hd 82 812 Gutierrez 24.90 2 Pappou 123 2 5 51 51 7 9 9 Talamo 9.40 1 DHKONA COAST 4.80 5.00 3.60 5 DHSHIRL'S READY 11.20 10.80 7.00 3 WE GO NOW 7.60 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (7-5) $82.00 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (7-1) $37.20 $1 EXACTA (5-1) $37.00 $1 EXACTA (1-5) $30.10 $2 QUINELLA (1-5) $64.00 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (1-5-3-6) $136.48 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (5-1-3-6) $168.31 50-CENT TRIFECTA (1-5-3) $151.40 50-CENT TRIFECTA (5-1-3) $172.30 WinnerKona Coast Dbb.g.4 by Eskendereya out of Christmas Choir, by Songandaprayer. Bred by Sanford R. Robertson (KY). Trainer: Doug F. O'Neill. Owner: R3 Racing LLC, Calara Farms and Rothblum, Steve. WinnerShirl's Ready Ch.c.4 by More Than Ready out of Shirl's Soul, by Perfect Soul (IRE). Bred by Charles Fipke (KY). Trainer: Genaro Vallejo. Owner: Battle Born Racing Stable, Bussey, Kevin, Casucci, Vito, Ferrara, Nick, Nentwig, Michael and Waldner. Mutuel Pool $366,805 Daily Double Pool $36,335 Exacta Pool $193,600 Quinella Pool $8,233 Superfecta Pool $88,980 Trifecta Pool $137,888. ClaimedTaniko by Troy Onorato. Trainer: John Martin. Scratchednone. $1 Pick Three (1-7-5) paid $36.60. $1 Pick Three (1-7-1) paid $15.20. Pick Three Pool $35,291. KONA COAST had speed inside to duel for the lead then stalked a bit off the rail, re-bid outside a rival on the backstretch, took the lead on the second turn, inched away a bit off the rail leaving that turn, fought back outside SHIRL'S READY through the drive under urging then had the rider lose the whip late and gamely finished even with that one. SHIRL'S READY chased between horses, split rivals on the second turn, found the inside into the stretch, bid along the rail, put a head in front in deep stretch and continued gamely to the wire under urging. WE GO NOW stalked between horses then off the rail on the second turn, came three wide into the stretch and edged a rival for third between foes late. TANIKO chased off the rail, advanced outside on the second turn and three deep into the stretch and was edged for the show four wide on the line. PREMIUM FOREST four wide early, stalked three deep to the stretch, angled to the inside in the drive and finished with interest. RUN LIKE RHETT chased three deep, lugged out some and steadied nearing midway on the second turn, angled in then came out three wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. PLUM DANDY settled inside, came out leaving the second turn and three wide into the stretch and could not offer the necessary late kick. BOURQUE broke a bit slowly, went up five wide then four wide on the first turn, bid outside a rival to take the lead, kicked away and angled in on the backstretch, battled along the rail into and early on the second turn and weakened. PAPPOU saved ground chasing the pace, came out into the stretch and gave way. TENTH RACE. 1 Mile Turf. Purse: $60,000. Maiden Special Weight. 3 year olds and up. Time 22.65 46.62 1:10.60 1:23.27 1:35.34 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 6 Noivo 120 6 9 93 93 7 3hd 1 Stevens 2.70 10 Sellwood 120 10 4 41 41 3hd 21 22 T Baze 2.30 1 Breakers Isle 120 1 7 61 51 51 51 3nk Franco 26.00 2 Pointed 120 2 6 71 71 6hd 6 4nk Gonzalez 33.60 3 Cupid's Claws 120 3 10 8 82 94 72 5hd Pereira 6.20 8 Henry County 120 8 1 2 32 41 41 61 Talamo 5.70 9 Blitzkrieg 120 9 5 33 1 12 1hd 72 Roman 17.90 7 Cold Brew Kid 120 7 2 51 6hd 81 83 81 Mt Garcia 45.10 5 Malibu Magic 118 5 8 10 10 10 9 920 Payeras 49.00 4 Paladar 120 4 3 1hd 21 21 10 10 Van Dyke 5.00 6 NOIVO (IRE) 7.40 3.20 2.60 10 SELLWOOD 3.20 2.60 1 BREAKERS ISLE 7.40 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (5-6) $58.60 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (1-6) $14.60 $1 EXACTA (6-10) $8.90 $2 QUINELLA (6-10) $9.60 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (6-10-1-2) $74.44 $1 SUPER HIGH FIVE (6-10-1-2-3) $3,102.60 50-CENT TRIFECTA (6-10-1) $49.00 WinnerNoivo (IRE) B.g.3 by Casamento (IRE) out of Kiss Goodnight (IRE), by Papal Bull (GB). Bred by Highfort Stud (IRE). Trainer: Dan Blacker. Owner: Jpf Investments I LLC, Radley Equine, Inc., Wine Alot Stables, FC3, LLC, Lizarraga, Joe and O'Sulliv. Mutuel Pool $469,147 Daily Double Pool $134,094 Exacta Pool $250,282 Quinella Pool $9,546 Superfecta Pool $146,335 Super High Five Pool $43,785 Trifecta Pool $195,394. Scratchednone. $1 Pick Three (7-1-6) paid $56.40. Pick Three Pool $154,647. $1 Pick Three (7-5-6) paid $156.40. 50-Cent Pick Four (1/4/5/6/7-7-1/5-6) 4 correct paid $64.05. Pick Four Pool $520,504. 50-Cent Pick Five (1/4-1/4/5/6/7-7-1/5-6) 5 correct paid $218.45. Pick Five Pool $656,623. $2 Pick Six (8-1/4-1/4/5/6/7-7-1/5-6) 5 out of 6 paid $86.60. $2 Pick Six Jackpot (8-1/4-1/4/5/6/7-7-1/5-6) 6 correct paid $130,850.00. Pick Six Jackpot Pool $201,712. $1 Place Pick All 10 correct paid $12,111.70. Place Pick All Pool $31,739. NOIVO (IRE) chased outside a rival, came out leaving the second turn and four wide into the stretch, rallied under some urging to gain the lead outside the runner-up in deep stretch and gamely prevailed. SELLWOOD angled in and chased outside a rival, came three deep into the stretch, bid outside the leader in midstretch, gained a slim advantage past the eighth pole, fought back inside the winner in deep stretch and continued willingly. BREAKERS ISLE chased inside then outside a rival into and on the backstretch, continued off the rail leaving the second turn, came out into the stretch and edged foes for third between horses late. POINTED between horses early, chased outside a rival, came three wide into the stretch and was edged for a minor award between foes. CUPID'S CLAWS saved ground chasing the pace, came off the rail leaving the backstretch, swung four wide into the stretch and also was edged for a minor share four wide on the line. HENRY COUNTY dueled between horses then stalked a bit off the rail, split rivals into the stretch and lacked the needed late response. BLITZKRIEG pulled his way along to duel three deep then outside a rival, kicked clear and angled in leaving the second turn, fought back inside in the stretch and weakened late. COLD BREW KID between horses early, angled in and chased inside, came out in the stretch and lacked a rally. MALIBU MAGIC steadied between horses early, angled in and saved ground to the stretch to no avail. PALADAR had good early speed and angled in, dueled inside, stalked leaving the second turn and gave way in the stretch. As someone who has traveled to Cuba more than once, I can definitely respond to the question raised in On the Spot: Yes, Cuba is worth the price [Is Cuba Worth This Price?, by Catharine Hamm, Aug. 19]. But it seems to me that the headline was misleading: Although it may have been the Cuba response that caused Global Entry to be denied, the actual issue was trying to avoid telling the truth. And that, in my humble opinion, is never worth the price. Ruth Kramer Ziony Los Feliz Advertisement I have been to Cuba on an approved program through Saddleback Community College. When I applied for Global Entry, I listed it on the places Id traveled during the last five years. During my interview, I was told that although I was a participant in an approved people-to-people program, my Global Entry application would be delayed. I was asked to provide the following information: what group I went with, my day-to-day itinerary and a list of my fellow travelers. After submitting this information, I received my Global Entry. I thought it was intrusive to submit a list of my fellow travelers, but I did so. As Hamm surmised, Global Entry was probably denied to the couple in the column because they were not honest on their applications versus another reason. By the way, our groups visit happened to coincide with Barack Obamas trip, which made talking to Cubans especially interesting. Susan Wexler Im a community college French teacher and a Francophile, of course. Peter Mandels piece was the best Ive ever read on this subject [Expats Guide to Paris Life, July 29]. I will use his article in my fall French class. Richard Goldsmith Thousand Oaks Capping a capitol tour I relished Christopher Reynolds short piece on our beautiful California Capitol in Sacramento and the grounds surrounding it [Visit Sacramento? Its a Capital Idea, California Bucket List, Aug. 12]. I have been visiting state capitols, starting with travel with our kids in the mid-60s. We stopped to tour capitols wherever we found them (Boston; Richmond, Va.; Denver, etc.) and often went out of our way (Helena, Mont.). I visited a few on business (Salt Lake City, Indianapolis, Atlanta), and then my husband and I got serious and took U.S. vacations picking up capitols and micro traveling around them. (Cheyenne, Wyo.; Pierre, S.D.; Bismark, N.D.; Augusta, Maine; Concord, N.H.; Montpelier, Vt.; etc.). Each visit involved a guided tour of the building. Our sons will accompany me to Ohio and West Virginia for my 49th and 50th State Capitols. Im thinking of a way to celebrate that! My husband has been to most of them with me, but hes not compulsive and doesnt mind missing a few. Its been a wonderful education! History, architecture, government, people. All of that. And glorious memories. Joy Picus Reseda travel@latimes.com @latimestravel China on Saturday lashed out at President Trump for accusing Beijing of not being supportive in efforts to denuclearize North Korea, while South Korea called the U.S. decision to call off a trip to the North by Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo unfortunate. The reaction in Seoul and Beijing came hours after President Trump directed Pompeo to delay his trip because of what he saw as a lack of progress on nuclear disarmament talks with the North. Trump also said the nuclear negotiations with North Korea have been hampered by a lack of support from China, which is the Norths only major ally and is engaged in an intensifying trade dispute with the United States. The Chinese foreign ministry blasted Trumps comments. The U.S. statement violates basic facts and is irresponsible, the ministry said on its website. We are seriously concerned about it and have made solemn representations to the U.S. side. Advertisement Beijing supports advancing the process of a political settlement after the Trump-Kim meeting in Singapore, the statement said. It appealed to both sides to show more sincerity and flexibility instead of being capricious and overly prejudiced. Meanwhile, while describing the postponement of Pompeos trip as a setback, South Koreas Foreign Ministry said it expects China to continue serving a constructive role in international efforts to solve the nuclear crisis and noted that Beijing continues to express commitment to fully implement sanctions against the North. Its most important to maintain a long-term view while maintaining a momentum for dialogue and concentrate diplomatic efforts to faithfully implement the agreements from the summits between South Korea and North Korea and between North Korea and the United States, instead of attaching meaning to each change in the situation, the ministry said in a statement. While we consider the delay of the visit to North Korea as unfortunate, we believe its most important for the North Korea-U.S. dialogue including Secretary Pompeos visits to North Korea to contribute to substantial progress in complete denuclearization and the establishment of a permanent peace regime in the Korean Peninsula, the statement said. South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa spoke with Pompeo over the phone and agreed that the allies should work to keep the atmosphere of dialogue alive, it said. Trumps surprise announcement appeared to mark a concession by the president to widespread concerns that his prior claims of world-altering progress on the Korean Peninsula had been strikingly premature. Ending a period of animosity over North Koreas nuclear and missile development, Trump made history by meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore in June. But the meeting produced only a vague statement on a nuclear-free peninsula without describing how and when it would occur. Post-summit nuclear talks got off to a rocky start, with North Korea accusing the United States of making unilateral demands on denuclearization. The North has been demanding that the United States ease or lift the sanctions that are crippling its economy. It also wants the United States to fast-track discussions to formally declare an end to the 1950-53 Korean War, which stopped on an armistice and not a peace treaty, leaving the peninsula technically at war. Pompeo and other administration officials have suggested some concessions short of easing or lifting sanctions are possible before verified denuclearization, but have refused to be specific about what they could be. And they have been skeptical about an end-of-war declaration in the absence of any progress on the nuclear matter. A former Vatican ambassador to the United States has alleged in an 11-page letter that Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI -- among other top Roman Catholic Church officials -- had been aware of sexual misconduct allegations against a top American cardinal years before that prelate resigned this summer. The letter from Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, who was recalled from his Washington post in 2016 amid allegations that hed become embroiled in the conservative American fight against same-sex marriage, was first reported by the National Catholic Register and LifeSite News, two conservative Catholic sites. The letter offered no proof and Vigano on Sunday told the Washington Post he wouldnt comment further. Silence and prayer are the only things that are befitting, he said. Asked about what had been published under his name in the Catholic outlets, Vigano said, I confirm that it is my text and that I wrote it. Advertisement The letter sent shock waves through the Catholic world as Francis prepared to speak before a massive crowd Sunday at Dublins Phoenix Park. Francis and other church leaders are facing a bitterly polarized Catholic Church and some Francis critics, including Vigano, are calling for the pope to step down. The letter was the latest dramatic development stemming from a fresh wave of allegations related to clergy sex abuse and its coverup. Rumors that had swirled for decades about former District of Columbia Archbishop Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and adults exploded in June when McCarrick was accused of groping a teenage altar boy. Francis suspended McCarrick, who was soon accused of sexually abusing another boy, and of harassing and inappropriately touching seminarians and a young priest. Last month, McCarrick became the first U.S. cardinal in history to resign. Vigano, 77, was the Holy Sees apostolic nuncio, or ambassador, in Washington from 2011 until 2016. He has been a lightning rod within the Vatican who lost a power struggle in Rome under Benedict, emerged as a Francis critic, and reportedly ordered the halt of an investigation into the alleged sexual relations between an archbishop in Minnesota and seminarians. Viganos letter said that McCarrick had been privately sanctioned under Benedict though only after years of warnings about his alleged behavior. The warnings that Vigano describes dealt with McCarricks alleged behavior toward seminarians and young priests -- not toward minors. Viganos letter says in 2013, he met Francis months into his papacy and told him face to face that there was a dossier this thick about McCarrick. He says he then told Francis about Benedicts order that McCarrick remove himself from public life. McCarrick never pulled away from public life until this summer and was more of a high-profile figure after he retired in 2006, representing the church in prominent foreign diplomatic efforts in places like China and Iran. He corrupted generations of seminarians and priests and Pope Benedict ordered him to withdraw to a life of prayer and penance, Vigano says he told Francis. The Pope did not make the slightest comment about those very grave words of mine and did not show any expression of surprise on his face, as if he had already known the matter for some time, and he immediately changed the subject. Vigano also alleges in that conversation that Francis told him American bishops must not be ideologized, they must not be right-wing ... and they must not be left-wing, and when I say left-wing I mean homosexual. It wasnt possible to reach Benedict or his representatives right away. Francis has not commented previously about what he was ever told about McCarrick, and Sunday morning his spokesman Greg Burke did not respond to a request seeking comment. This summer several clerics said they had communicated to Vatican representatives years ago concern about the rumors, and about the case of a New Jersey priest whose private letters allege his life was ruined by McCarricks sexual behavior. The priest reached a $100,000 settlement in 2006 with the church in New Jersey, the New York Times reported this summer. He was himself removed amid allegations of inappropriately touching minors and has not responded to efforts by the Post to be interviewed. The Post and other outlets this summer quoted several clerics who said theyd alerted the Vatican about the rumors of misconduct against McCarrick, which have been on conservative blogs and those of several anti-abuse advocates for decades. The unanswered question has been: Who in the Vatican knew what? Whats new in Viganos letter is his allegation that Benedict knew of the allegations and sometime in 2009 or 2010 had ordered McCarrick to halt behaving as a priest in public life and to dedicate himself to a life of prayer and penance. Vigano says he was told this by a high-ranking Italian cleric, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. At the time Vigano was a delegate within the secretary of states office, working with the Vaticans embassies around the world. He says in his letter that his job included the examination of delicate cases, including those regarding cardinals and bishops. Vigano was sent to Washington -- reportedly as punishment -- in 2011 and was there until May 2016. He arranged a hugely controversial meeting between Francis and an American woman, Kim Davis, who had lost her job as a municipal clerk for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-gender couples. Allies of Francis alleged he set up the pope during a high-profile U.S. visit, and that Francis didnt intend to affirm Davis cause. The letter also includes an allegation against the District of Columbias current archbishop -- McCarricks immediate successor -- Cardinal Donald Wuerl. Wuerl is a close ally of Francis and is already under scrutiny following a grand jury report in Pennsylvania about clerical child sex abuse in Pennsylvania and alleged coverup. Wuerl for years led the diocese of Pittsburgh. Vigano is vague in the allegation against Wuerl. He says it is unthinkable that previous Vatican ambassadors to Washington hadnt told Wuerl. Wuerls spokesman, Ed McFadden, Saturday night denied the report. Cardinal Wuerl was never informed of any action taken by the Holy See, was never provided documentation of any kind. If the claim is that Cardinal Wuerl was made aware of this so-called suspension, he was never made aware of that, McFadden said. He repeated Wuerls previous statements that the cardinal didnt know of allegations against McCarrick, nor of the two legal settlements by adult accusers that came out this summer. No, never. He knew nothing until the formal announcement [this summer] that a substantiated claim had been made. Victims and Catholics around the world have been demanding more transparency from Francis and the church in general, and that clerics who covered up for priest-abusers be held accountable. The letter says Francis must honestly state when he first learned about the crimes committed by McCarrick, who abused his authority with seminarians and priests. McCarricks attorney, Barry Coburn, Sunday morning declined to comment. The accusations come as Francis makes a high-profile trip to Ireland, a country that has been deeply scarred by generations of church-related abuse. The failure of ecclesiastical authorities -- bishops, religious superiors, priests and others -- to adequately address these repugnant crimes has rightly given rise to outrage, and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community, Francis said on Saturday to start a two-day trip. I myself share these sentiments. Organizations & Institutions Burning Man live stream from the Black Rock Desert Burning Man live 26.08.2018 10:30:12 - Watch live streaming from Burning Man. Gerlach Burning Man festival live stream and webcam. (live-PR.com) - The fabulous and unique Burning Man festival returns to the remote regions of the Black Rock desert this week, culminating as always in the burning of the symbolic statue. You can watch the Burning Man live stream here: www.myworldevents.com/music-festival/burning-man.html Festival background Burning Man is a unique counter cultural event in the United States, famous worldwide for it's variety and range of events and features. - The fabulous and unique Burning Man festival returns to the remote regions of the Black Rock desert this week, culminating as always in the burning of the symbolic statue.You can watch the Burning Man live stream here:Festival backgroundBurning Man is a unique counter cultural event in the United States, famous worldwide for it's variety and range of events and features. Each year the Burning Man festival has a theme, which for 2018 is I, Robot, referencing the short stories of Isaac Asimov, and especially relevant in today's technological age. First held 32 years ago in 1986 on Baker Beach in San Francisco as a small function organized by Larry Harvey and Jerry James who built the first "Man", it has since been held annually, spanning from the last Sunday in August to the first Monday in September (Labor Day). Burning Man 2017 was held from August 27 to September 4. An extra day was added for the 2018 event. At Burning Man, the community explores various forms of artistic self-expression, which are created to be enjoyed by all participants. Participation is a key precept for the community selfless giving of one's unique talents for the enjoyment of all is encouraged and actively reinforced. Some of these generous outpourings of creativity can include experimental and interactive sculpture, building, performance, and art cars, among other media. These contributions are inspired by the yearly theme, which is chosen by the organizers. Burning Man is organized by the Burning Man Project, a non-profit organization that, in 2014, succeeded a for-profit limited liability company (Black Rock City, LLC) that was formed in 1997 to represent the event's organizers, and is now considered a subsidiary of the non-profit organization. In 2010, 51,515 people attended Burning Man. Attendance in 2011 was capped at 50,000 participants and the event sold out on July 24;[7] the attendance rose to 70,000 in 2015.[8] Smaller regional events inspired by the principles of Burning Man have been held internationally; some of these events are also officially endorsed by the Burning Man Project as regional branches of the event. Because of the variety of goals fostered by participatory attendees, known as "Burners", Burning Man does not have a single focus. Features of the event are subject to the participants and include community, artwork, absurdity, decommodification, and revelry. Participation is encouraged. The Burning Man event and its affiliated communities are guided by ten principles that are meant to evoke the cultural ethos that has emerged from the event. They were originally written by Larry Harvey in 2004 as guidelines for regional organizing, then later became a universal criterion of the general culture of the multifaceted movement. "Burning Man is devoted to acts of gift giving. The value of a gift is unconditional. Gifting does not contemplate a return or an exchange for something of equal value." Instead of cash, participants at the Burning Man event in the Black Rock Desert are encouraged to rely on a gift economy, a sort of potlatch. In the earliest days of the event, an underground barter economy also existed, in which burners exchanged "favors" with each other. While this was originally supported by the Burning Man organization, this is now largely discouraged. Instead, burners are encouraged to give gifts to one another unconditionally. "Burning Man encourages the individual to discover, exercise and rely on his or her inner resources." The event's harsh environment and remote location requires participants to be responsible for their own subsistence. Since the LLC forbids most commerce, participants must be prepared and bring all their own supplies with the exception of the items stated in Decommodification. "Burning Man encourages the individual to discover, exercise and rely on his or her inner resources." The event's harsh environment and remote location requires participants to be responsible for their own subsistence. Since the LLC forbids most commerce, participants must be prepared and bring all their own supplies with the exception of the items stated in Decommodification. Each year the Burning Man festival has a theme, which for 2018 is I, Robot, referencing the short stories of Isaac Asimov, and especially relevant in today's technological age.First held 32 years ago in 1986 on Baker Beach in San Francisco as a small function organized by Larry Harvey and Jerry James who built the first "Man", it has since been held annually, spanning from the last Sunday in August to the first Monday in September (Labor Day). Burning Man 2017 was held from August 27 to September 4. An extra day was added for the 2018 event.At Burning Man, the community explores various forms of artistic self-expression, which are created to be enjoyed by all participants. Participation is a key precept for the community selfless giving of one's unique talents for the enjoyment of all is encouraged and actively reinforced. Some of these generous outpourings of creativity can include experimental and interactive sculpture, building, performance, and art cars, among other media. These contributions are inspired by the yearly theme, which is chosen by the organizers.Burning Man is organized by the Burning Man Project, a non-profit organization that, in 2014, succeeded a for-profit limited liability company (Black Rock City, LLC) that was formed in 1997 to represent the event's organizers, and is now considered a subsidiary of the non-profit organization. In 2010, 51,515 people attended Burning Man. Attendance in 2011 was capped at 50,000 participants and the event sold out on July 24;[7] the attendance rose to 70,000 in 2015.[8] Smaller regional events inspired by the principles of Burning Man have been held internationally; some of these events are also officially endorsed by the Burning Man Project as regional branches of the event.Because of the variety of goals fostered by participatory attendees, known as "Burners", Burning Man does not have a single focus. Features of the event are subject to the participants and include community, artwork, absurdity, decommodification, and revelry. Participation is encouraged.The Burning Man event and its affiliated communities are guided by ten principles that are meant to evoke the cultural ethos that has emerged from the event. They were originally written by Larry Harvey in 2004 as guidelines for regional organizing, then later became a universal criterion of the general culture of the multifaceted movement."Burning Man is devoted to acts of gift giving. The value of a gift is unconditional. Gifting does not contemplate a return or an exchange for something of equal value." Instead of cash, participants at the Burning Man event in the Black Rock Desert are encouraged to rely on a gift economy, a sort of potlatch. In the earliest days of the event, an underground barter economy also existed, in which burners exchanged "favors" with each other. While this was originally supported by the Burning Man organization, this is now largely discouraged. Instead, burners are encouraged to give gifts to one another unconditionally."Burning Man encourages the individual to discover, exercise and rely on his or her inner resources." The event's harsh environment and remote location requires participants to be responsible for their own subsistence. Since the LLC forbids most commerce, participants must be prepared and bring all their own supplies with the exception of the items stated in Decommodification."Burning Man encourages the individual to discover, exercise and rely on his or her inner resources." The event's harsh environment and remote location requires participants to be responsible for their own subsistence. Since the LLC forbids most commerce, participants must be prepared and bring all their own supplies with the exception of the items stated in Decommodification. Author: Martin Kerrigan e-mail Web: http://www.myworldevents.com Phone: 0035799813173 26.08.2018 10:30:12 - 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. A tea variety from Arunachal Pradesh has been auctioned at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre for a whooping amount of Rs 40,000 per kg. The auction broke the record created by an Assan Tea Variety auction a month earlier. It was sold for an amount of Rs 39,001 per kg, a price that the GTAC had claimed to be highest across the world. A 1.1 kg lot of Golden Needle from Arunachal Pradeshs Donyi Polo tea estate was sold at Rs 40,000 per kg to Assam Tea Traders, one of the oldest tea shops in Guwahati. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. BAGHDAD, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- A leader of Islamic State (IS) militants was killed in a fire between two IS groups in Iraq's eastern province of Diyala. Separately, two of the extremist militants were killed in clash with the security forces in the province, provincial security sources said on Saturday. Intelligence reports confirmed that Abu Ahmed, a local IS leader was killed in a clash between two IS groups at the orchards of Mkheisa area in northeast of the provincial capital Baquba, some 65 km northeast of Baghdad, Ahmed al-Shimary, from Diyala Operations Command, told Xinhua without saying when the incident took place. Ahmed was one of the aides of the former al-Qaida top leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in 2006, Shimary said. Ahmed, who is an Iraqi national, joined IS extremist militant group in 2014 and became one of the main group's leaders in Diyala province. Separately, a joint Iraqi army and police force killed on Saturday two IS militants and destroyed their vehicle while they were trying to transfer fuel to the extremist militants in Himreen mountainous area in north of Diyala province, Sadiq al-Husseiny, head of the provincial security committee, told Xinhua. Despite repeated military operations in Diyala province, remnants of IS militants were still hiding in rugged areas near the border with Iran, as well as the sprawling areas extending from western part of Diyala to Himreen mountainous area in the northern part of the province. On Dec. 9, 2017, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi officially declared full liberation of Iraq from the IS. However, small groups of IS militants have since regrouped in rugged areas, carrying out attacks against security forces and civilians from time to time. DAMASCUS, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- As the Syrian army will launch a wide-scale offensive against the last major rebels' stronghold in Idlib province in northwestern Syria, analysts say that the United States and its allies want to place hurdles. New threats come to put pressure on the Syrian forces, who are poised to launch an offensive on Idlib, or establish reconciliation to resolve the situation with the help of Russia, which is already engaged in talks with Turkey to figure out a solution regarding Idlib. The Western powers, which have been so downright about their opposition to the administration of President Bashar al-Assad and his rule, frequently said about the need of power transition in Syria. On Tuesday, the United States, France, and Britain warned Assad against using chemical weapons, warning that "we remain resolved to act if the Assad regime uses chemical weapons again." The three powers had launched a missile attack on Syrian military positions in April over chemical weapons charges. At the time, they said they had targeted the facilities involved in the manufacture of chemical weapons in Syria. At the time, the Syrian government charged that the Western powers are supporting the terrorist groups in Syria, vehemently denying claims of chemical weapons use in the battles with the rebels. The government countlessly said that all the chemical arsenal of Syria was handed over the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which later said that the Syrian government has made its chemical weapon production facilities inoperable. But the Western powers continued to accuse Damascus of using toxic gas in the battles with the rebels. Now the same scenario is being repeated in terms of the Western threats to launch attacks on Syria over the same allegations. Analysts believe that the statement of the three Western powers aim to encourage the rebels with such reasons to strike the Syrian army as its emerging victories after more than seven years of war in the country. In its response, Syrian Foreign Ministry said the new escalation is part of "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." Mahmoud Meri, a Syrian political analyst, said that the United States is preparing an attack on Syria as it doesn't want an end to the crisis with the army capturing all rebel strongholds. "The United States is preparing an attack on Syria and always they take the chemical weapons as a pretext despite the fact that Syria handed over its chemical stocks to the OPCW long time ago," he said. Meri said the recent escalation comes as the Syrian army is sending reinforcements to Idlib, "which means that the U.S. wants to prolong the Syrian crisis and prepares an attack on Syria but the Syrian army and government are ready to liberate all Syrian areas despite all of the powers of aggression as the Syrian army is determined to restore all of Syria." The analyst said that Washington wants to pull back the Syrian war to the time of the 2012 Geneva meeting on Syria, which came up with the need for a "transitional government body with full executive powers" in Syria. Meri said the situation has changed, adding that the solution for the crisis is no longer about the 2012 Geneva talks, but should be based on the UN resolution 2254 that was adopted in 2015. He also said that inter-Syrian talks should be based on the Sochi talks that included members of the home-based opposition, not the exiled opposition. Osama Danura, another political expert, told Xinhua that the recent remarks of the United States indicate that there are "hidden threads between the U.S. and the Nusra Front." "We can sense this coordination as the U.S. has not struck any position of the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front even though the al-Qaida-linked groups are designated as terrorists along with the Islamic State," he said. Maher Ihsan, a political expert and a journalist said that the situation in Idlib is being discussed between Turkey and Russia, noting that both sides will eventually agree to an acceptable formula. He said that the United States may have a totally different reason behind the escalation and the possible attack that they are planning to carry out. "President Donald Trump is now having a hard time dealing with his own crisis at home so he may need to divert the attention from his issues by launching an offensive elsewhere," he said. : cccpwx (flg), : Missouri : () : BBS (Sat Aug 25 11:05:22 2018, ) http://www.newsweek.com/couple-couldnt-conceive-because-theyve-been-having-sex-wrong-way-four-years-1089162 Military : WCNMLGB (CCC), : Military : : BBS (Sat Aug 25 03:16:05 2018, ) Couple Couldn't Conceive Because They'd Been Having Sex the Wrong Way for Four Years "Four years of marriage and neither the husband nor wife knew how to get pregnant," obstetrician Liu Hongmei said. August 24, 2018 A Chinese married couplewho were desperately trying to conceivelearned they had been having sex the wrong way for four years. The young pair, whose identities have been kept anonymous, went to see obstetrician Liu Hongmei after the woman failed to get pregnant despite having sex on a regular basis, reported the Guiyang Evening News. During their appointment, the woman admitted that sex was "usually painful," ; which prompted Liu to perform a gynecological examination. "The couple were very young, the man 26 and the woman 24. They were very healthy, but, despite being married for four years, couldn't conceive,& #34; Liu said. "Their family was giving them a lot of stress because of it." The results were unexpected. Liu discovered that the couple had mistakenly been having anal intercourse rather than vaginal to conceive. According to the Guiyang Evening News, Liu gave the couple a sex-education handbook and within months, the woman became pregnant. To show their appreciation, the two sent Liu a live hen and 100 eggs as a gift. "Four years of marriage and neither the husband nor wife knew how to get pregnant. Couples so lacking in general knowledge are very rare," Liu said. "But it is not uncommon for people to lack or have misconceptions regarding sexual knowledge." Although China's alarming lack of sex education has been a widely discussed issue in recent years, little progress has been made to address the problem. Today, the topic of sex remains largely taboo in schools. In May, Chinese students at Beijing Normal University held a demonstration demanding that the government provide better sex education for its youth. The protestors held signs that read "Adult videos can't be our sex education, universities must say yes to sex education" and "We want to enjoy safe sex lives." China's National Center for STD/AIDS prevention found 115,000 new cases of HIV in 2015 across the mainland, 14.7 percent of those who tested positive were between 15 and 24 years old, CNN reported. A select number of universities now have vending machines that dispense home HIV testing kits. "Machines alone can't solve the problem unless there's follow-up education to help students," Xiong Binqi, vice president of the Beijing -based 21st Century Education Research Center, said. "Sex education faces great challenges in China," Jing Jun, a professor of sociology at Beijing's Tsinghua University told CNN. " At Tsinghua, students take sex education classes where they learn basic knowledge about sex safety, condom use, etc. As far as I know, this is the first time most of my students have ever taken such a class." -- :cccpwx Aug 25 11:07:03 2018 [FROM: 173.] :iOS mitbbs.com [FROM: 2601:2c0:c380:1] [] We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. Major Nepali and English broadsheet newspapers published from Kathmandu on Sunday have given the top priority to various issues surrounding the rape and murder of a teenage girl, Nirmala Pant, in Mahendranagar of Kanchanpur district, around a month ago. The government and the Nepal Police are under fire for delaying the investigation process and demonstrations have been held in Kanchanpr and Kathmandu among other places demanding legal action against the guilty. In this context, the Ministry of Home Affairs has launched a fresh investigation into the case, and most of the newspapers have highlighted the probe progress on their front pages. Reports about the Central Working Committee meeting of main opposition Nepali Congress have also been published on the front pages as it has decided that date and venue for its mahasamiti meeting. Few other issues from political, sociocultural and economic affairs have been featured on the front pages today. Important Govt launches fresh probe into Pant murder Nagarik, Kantipur and Naya Patrika report that the government has launched a fresh probe into the rape and subsequent murder of Kanchanpur teen Nirmala Pant thanks to the public pressure. Kantipur says police in the district have decided to begin the investigation from the Point Zero again. Accordingly, two sisters of a family in the neighbourhood have been arrested as Nirmala got disappeared from their houses, according to the report. On the other hand, some police officials are also under the scrutiny as they have been allegedly involved in destroying the evidence, according to Naya Patrika. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to suspend SP Dilli Raj Bista and summon DSP Gyan Bahadur Seti and Inspector Ekendra Khadka to the headquarters. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, on his part, has assured that the guilty will be booked, according to Nepal Samacharpatra. Nepali Congress prepares for mahasamiti meeting The main opposition party Nepali Congress has decided to hold its powerful mahasamiti meeting from November 21 to 25 in Kathmandu, according to newspaper reports. Though the party had earlier decided to hold the meeting with an agenda of amending its statute by mid-September, a Central Working Committee meeting held on Saturday finalised the date and venue. The meeting also formed a main organising committee under the leadership of President Sher Bahadur Deuba, according to Gorkhapatra. Likewise, the partys Vice-President Bimalendra Nidhi, General Secretary Shashanka Koirala and Treasurer Sita Devi Yadav have been assigned to prepare political proposal, organisational report and financial report respectively, the report inform quoting the partys spokesperson Bishwa Prakash Sharma. No new retreat venue for BIMSTEC leaders The Himalayan Times reports in its anchor story that the government has cancelled its plan to take dignitaries who will arrive in Kathmandu for the fourth BIMSTEC summit later this week to Gokarna Forest Resort on the northeastern outskirts of Kathmandu. The plan was cancelled after the Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha expressed his reluctance to travel to Gokarna by road owing to bad road conditions and security concerns. The government also devised a Plan Bairlifting the visiting dignitaries, but it has been proved infeasible as Nepali Armys MI17 helicopters cannot land there, according to the report. Meanwhile, stakeholders and experts have called on governments of the BIMBSTEC member states to make join efforts to make the regional group stronger, reports Annapurna Post in its lead story. On the other hand, Nepals Foreign Affairs Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali has confessed that the regional body has been unable to meet expectations, according to the Abhiyan. Ignored Palpa medical college hires fake patients to deceive monitors Lumbini Medical College in Palpa recently hired some fake patients to show to a monitoring team so that the team will conclude that there are sufficient patients, Rajdhani reports in a two column anchor story. The team comprising representatives of Kathmandu University and Nepal Medical Council had monitored the facility last week. It has been learned that each fake patient was paid Rs 1,000 per day for being admitted to the hospital. Govt to hold talks with rebel groups Naya Patrika reports in a snippet that the government has formed a team to hold talks with various political groups that have been carrying out various underground activities. Ruling Nepal Communist Party leader Som Prasad Pandey heads the committee, which includes Suresh Ale Magar, Tara Kanta Chaudhary, Lila Bhandari and a joint secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs as members. The committee will hold talks with the political groups led by Netra Bikram Chand, CK Raut and Kumar Lingden. Interesting You may have to wear special dress to visit DAOs The Ministry of Home Affairs is preparing to fix a dress code for visitors going to district administration offices for various tasks, according to a snippet in Kantipur. The report quotes spokesperson at the Ministry, Ram Krishna Subedi, to inform that the preparation is being made so as to ensure that all visitors at the office look decent. However, the Ministry is yet to decide what it means by decent, the report comments. Letter to editor: Congress can get this right August 26, 2018 Syria Sitrep - The Build Up For The Idleb Campaign The long awaited Syrian army campaign to liberate Idleb governorate in Syria's northwest is supposed to start shortly after September 7, the date when the Turkish, Russian and Iranian presidents will meet. Strong forces have been put into place and are ready to strike. The Russian fleet in the Mediterranean has been strengthened, new air defense positions were established. There are signs that al-Qaeda in Syria and similar groups will try to preempt the upcoming attack on them by an offense of their own. The U.S., UK and France prepare for another chemical incident in support of the Jihadi attack. They would strike Syrian government forces and institutions after a new fake incident would be attributed to the Syrian government. Turkey was given until the summit to remove al-Qaeda and similar Jihadi groups from Idleb governorate. It so far failed to do so and its chance of achieving that is practically zero. Al-Qaeda in the form of Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS, formerly Jabhat al-Nusra) and in coalition with other foreign Jihadis from all over the world rules about 70% of Idleb governorate: Idlib Province is the largest al-Qaeda safe haven since 9/11, says Brett McGurk, the senior US envoy to the international coalition fighting Isis. bigger Idleb is a cesspool in which various Jihadi factions continuously fight each other. At least 290 members and leaders of such groups have been assassinated during the last four months. Hundreds of locals who talked with the Syrian government to negotiate rehabilitation were arrested by HTS. The Syrian army and Russian military police opened corridors to allow civilians to flee the area. The Inspector General of the U.S. aid agency shut down an aid program through which al-Qaeda in Idleb was fed: US charity Catholic Relief Services wouldnt directly confirm it was the NGO involved but left little doubt, saying it had closed its operations in northwest Syria following reports of aid diversion, and had dismissed staff as it works to further enhance anti-fraud measures. CRS has received $147 million from USAID for projects in Syria over the last three financial years, according to the USAID website. USAIDs inspector general, reporting to Congress, first in March and with more details released in July, said that staff of an unnamed non-profit added fighters of armed group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham to lists of civilians eligible for food packages and then covered up the records. The US government regards HTS as a successor to the al-Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front. First reports of this scheme through which the U.S. supplied al-Qaeda were already published in 2012. It was widely known that al-Qaeda systematically "taxed" up to 50% of all food and weapon supplies U.S. supported "moderate rebels" received. On August 24 the Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu met with his Russian colleague Lavrov in Moscow. The meeting came just ten days after Lavrov visited Ankara. The Turkish Defense Minister and the head of the Turkish secret services also met their counterparts to discuss the upcoming campaign. Turkey agrees that HTS is a legitimate target and must be removed, but it fears that they, and their families, will in the end flee to Turkey. Turkey would also like to annex Idleb and other areas. Lavrov said that the final decision about an attack will be handled by the upcoming summit: [W]hen the de-escalation zone was created in Idlib, no one suggested to use it to ensure that terrorists, primarily from Jabhat al-Nusra, could use civilians as a human shield. Moreover, they are not just sitting there. They use it to carry out raids and shell the positions of the Syrian army. Several dozen drones (about 50) that were launched from this area to attack the Russian airbase in Khmeimim have been shot down. Today, we spoke about this in great detail. We need to do our best to ensure that this disengagement effectively takes place, and to minimise risks for the civilians. I am confident that the presidents will discuss this matter in detail. In preparation for the general attack on Idleb the Russian Navy is building up a strong force in the eastern Mediterranean which includes several frigates with Calibr cruise missiles: Yoruk Isk - @YorukIsik - 12:38 utc - 25 Aug 2018 #Syria campaign deployment continues. 4 RussianNavy ships transited today & 13 ships during the last week. There are some 20 Russian units at sea near the Syrian coast. Iran's Defense Minister Amir Hatami is currently in Damascus to renew an agreement on bilateral defense and military cooperation. Damascus also asked Hizbullah, which will be the next target of the "west", to keep some of its forces in Syria. Some Iranian advisors will support the Idleb operation as well as some Hizbullah special forces. No Iranian troops will be involved. On Tuesday the U.S., the UK and France published a statement to warn against a chemical attack: As we have demonstrated, we will respond appropriately to any further use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime, ... On Wednesday the 22nd a new speech of ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was published. A new video of HTS chief Abu Mohammad al-Jolani showed him rallying his forces. Joining the Islamists chorus of the day Abu Jihad John Bolton warned that any use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government would be responded to with force: "We are obviously concerned about the possibility that Assad may use chemical weapons again. "Just so there's no confusion here, if the Syrian regime uses chemical weapons we will respond very strongly and they really ought to think about this a long time," [Bolton] added. This was obviously an invitation to the terrorists to stage a fake chemical weapon attack as they had done earlier in east-Ghouta and other places. Those incidences were blamed on the Syrian government without any evidence and led to U.S. strikes on Syrian forces. Yesterday the Russia Defense Ministry warned of a similar scheme: A provocation with an alleged chemical weapons use in Syria, which terrorists are plotting to stage with the assistance of UK special services, will serve as a pretext for missile strikes by the West and the United States against the Arab country, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Saturday. ... "The staging of this provocation with the active participation of the UK special services is set to serve as a new pretext for missile and bomb strikes by the United States, Great Britain and France against Syrias government and economic facilities," the spokesman said. For this purpose, "the US Navys destroyer Sullivans with 56 cruise missiles on its board arrived in the Persian Gulf several days ago while a B-1B strategic bomber of the US Air Force armed with AGM-158 JASSM air-to-surface missiles was redeployed to the Al Udeid air base in Qatar," the Russian general said. There is an obvious build up on all sides for a large battle over Idleb province. No plans on how the battle will proceed have been published. The number of forces assembled will make sure that it will be the biggest battle the war on Syria has seen so far. A first phase will likely avoid the city of Idleb itself. Jish al-Shigur in the north-west and the areas south and east of the M4 and M5 highway will be the primary targets. The battle will proceed from there. It is likely that the U.S., in one way or another, will try to hamper any Syrian army progress. Six month from now, after the Idleb operation is over, the Syrian army is likely to move further north to retake the Syrian areas Turkey is currently holding and attempting to annex. After that the U.S. occupation force in north-east Syria will come into sight. Additional U.S. operations against Syrian, Iraqi and Iranian forces might soon come on the Syian-Iraq border where U.S. forces are building up for new operations. It is claimed that the U.S. deploys radar systems to north-east Syria which it keeps occupying. These would be useful in establishing a no-fly zone over the territory of its Kurdish proxy forces. The U:S. is likely underestimating the local hostility against this development. The 2-5,000 U.S. troops there may soon find themselves in a hopeless fight with local guerilla forces. Posted by b on August 26, 2018 at 15:15 UTC | Permalink Comments Home Just In We need your support, invest here: Dahal tells US Assistant Secretary of State Kathmandu, August 26 Ruling Nepal Communist Party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has requested the United States to increase investment in Nepal, assuring that the government will ensure security of the investment. Receiving the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Alice G Wells, at his residence in Khumaltar of Lalitpur this morning, Dahal said Nepal needed the Americal support for development of infrastructures, tourism, hydropower and agriculture among other sectors. He also thanked the senior official for the support Nepal received from American people and government for promulgation and implementation of the constitution and the conclusion of peace process. In response, the Assistant Secretary told Dahal that successes achieved in Nepals peace process and constitution promulgation would be a model for other countries of the world, according to Dahals Secretariat. She also added that the US was interested to support Nepal in cyber security and disaster control among others. Regional Manipur govt to deposit funds based on banks performance Manipur chief minister N. Biren inaugurating the newly rejuvenated MSCB office in Imphal on Sunday. (NP) Correspondent IMPHAL, Aug 26 | Publish Date: 8/26/2018 11:50:21 AM IST Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Sunday said that state government will deposit the money from states exchequer in the banks based on their performance ranking. In this regard, he said state government was preparing ranking of all the banks operating in the state on the basis of the services provided by them to the needy people. The amount of money to be deposited from the states exchequer to these banks would be decided based on the ranking, he said after inaugurating the newly renovated building of Imphal Branch of Manipur State Co-operative Bank Ltd at Old Assembly road. Singh said that there was no point to deposit money in the banks which are not willing to serve the needy people. A circular would be issued to ask the banks to submit the details of the services provided to the public soon, he said. Lauding MSCB Ltd for extending help to different sections of the society, the chief minister said, It is really encouraging to know that the bank has so far provided loan of around Rs nine crore to different individuals and organizations who approached him for financial support on Meeyamgi Numit and Hill Leaders Day. Singh also said that his government has started taking up steps to enhance states economy by encouraging entrepreneurship and self employment through StartUp. State social welfare and co-operation minister Nemcha Kipgen, who attended the function said that the state government has decided to launch integrated cooperative development projects with an aim to develop primary agricultural credit societies as multi-purpose self-reliant entities, allied sector cooperatives, and viable functional linkages among cooperatives, The first phase of the project will cover six districts - Kangpokpi, Ukhrul and Tamenglong in the hills and Imphal East, Imphal West and Jiribam in the valley, she informed. Under these six proposed ICDPs to be launched, the minister added, government expected to benefit 2,700 societies by promoting various economic activities through cooperatives in the sphere of agriculture, agro-based industries, cottage and household industries and agro-allied sector like fishery, dairy, handloom, horticulture, rural industries in the six selected districts. State Nagas will never surrender their rights: NSCN (I-M) DIMAPUR, AUG 26 (NPN) | Publish Date: 8/26/2018 12:19:45 PM IST NSCN (I-M) asserted that the group had never softened its stand on the Naga history, identity and inherent rights of all Nagas during the negotiation process with the Government of India. NSCN (I-M) through its MIP reminded that Nagas will never surrender their rights and the Naga national movement spearheaded by NSCN is a peoples movement. Therefore, MIP said NSCN was prepared to go to any length against those trying to sabotage the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process as we believe that no one has the right to dictate the fate of others for their own convenience. Despite repeated clarifications, MIP said the adversaries were portraying confusion through printed and other social media. By UNI NEW DELHI: Hero Cycles on Sunday celebrated its founders day in Ludhiana by remembering the company's founder late OP Munjal, known as much for his visionary entrepreneurship skills as for his philanthropy and love of Urdu poetry in the city's literary circles. The Munjal family and guests present for the grandeur celebration paid rich tributes to Munjal, who rose from being a 16-year-old bicycle spare parts manufacturer in 1944's Amritsar to becoming the owner of the largest cycle manufacturing business in the country. "It took sheer will, integrity, grit and determination to successfully negotiate a shaky business climate on the eve of India's independence and the early years after. There was the tragic event of the partition to overcome. Fortunes could have been destroyed, were it for a lesser man. Company's founder late OP Munjal. (Youtube screenshot) "We are proud to be part of this tradition by birth. We would like to congratulate and thank all the members of this fraternity that form part of the workforce at Hero Cycles and all those who have retained faith in our products. We hope to continue to be inspired to innovate and strengthen our business and social responsibilities to greater heights in the coming future", said Pankaj M Munjal, Chairman HMC, A Hero Motors Company. Hero Cycles was formally incorporated as a company in 1956 and Munjal and his brothers soon moved to assembling entire bicycles at their own unit in Ludhiana. Within three decades, Hero had entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest single producer of bicycles a day and upwards of 40 per cent of market share in domestic cycle sales. Today, Hero Cycles has acquisitions in Sri Lanka and the UK, while being invested in well-known and diverse parts-manufacturing and is constantly scouting for new opportunities to expand. Maruti Suzuki former MD Jagdish Khattar presided over the function as the honourable chief guest. Other notable attendees at the celebration included past and present bureaucrats, statesmen and fellow industrialists from Punjab and across the country. By PTI NEW DELHI: Country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) would continue to bring in models with varied body styles as it aims to cater to 'every segment and lifestyle', a top company official said. The auto major, which has over 50 per cent market share in the domestic passenger vehicle segment, is also focussing on giving enhanced features across its model range with market moving gradually towards premium products. "Our intent is that we will provide car for every pocket for every lifestyle and for every aspiration and we will also keep focus on the premiumisation in terms of the variants which we are giving," MSI Senior Executive Director (Sales and Marketing) R S Kalsi told PTI. The company's strategy is to keep launching varied body types -- hatchbacks, sedans and SUVs, he added. "We won't ignore any vertical," Kalsi said. He was responding to a query if the company would focus more on SUV body style going ahead as the segment is showing tremendous growth in the country. He, however, added that Vitara Brezza has given the company some good insight in the market place and certainly MSI would respond to expectations of the customers. On rolling out vehicles with premium features, Kalsi said with changing economic profile of the customers they now seek a vehicle which does not have any functional compromise. "So they want good features even in the entry level. We are not compromising on any of the functional features. So it is not like earlier times when we used to go for bare bones model at lower price. It is not so now," he noted. On sales network, Kalsi said that the company is focussing both on urban and rural areas for future growth. "We are bringing in new dealers, investing in land parcels, which will be given to dealers. Sales network expansion is as important as products," he added. Kalsi said the company is on track for double-digit growth in the current fiscal, he added. A couple of years back, MSI had announced a target to achieve a target of 2 million sales per annum by 2020. Kalsi said MSI is committed to 20 lakh sales target and introduction of 20 models by 2020. "Anything else which might come would be a bonus," he added. In the first quarter of this fiscal, MSI sold 4,90,479 vehicles, a growth of 24.3 per cent over the same period of the previous year. Sales in the domestic market stood at 4,63,840 units, a growth of 25.9 per cent. The company sold a total of 16,53,500 units in 2017-18, a growth of 14.5 per cent over 2016-17. Anuradha Shukla By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Saddled with bad loans worth Rs 2.5 lakh crore, the fate of 34 power companies and about 50-odd power projects is on tenterhooks as the deadline for formulating resolution plans comes to an end on Monday. With no concrete roadmap from both the power and finance ministries, the sectors fate rests on the mercy on banks. The power sector is in its worst phase. About 34 companies are feared to undergo bankruptcy proceedings, which will affect projects worth Rs 2.5 lakh crore, a senior official from Power Finance Corporation said. All these power projects have a combined capacity of 39 GW. The Reserve Bank of Indias February 12 circular on restructuring bad loans had mandated banks to take loan accounts, which remain unresolved for over 180 days, to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. With the deadline ending on August 27, the banks will be required to push unresolved cases to NCLT benches for resolution. The Supreme Court on August 8 refused the plea of the RBI to stay proceedings in Allahabad High Court against applicability of the February 12 circular on the cash-strapped power sector. The SC would further hear the matter on August 28, when RBIs plea to transfer the case from the High Court to the apex court would be considered. While RBI is sticking to its stand, there is no concrete resolution or road map offered by the power and finance ministries. Both the ministries keep throwing the ball in each others court. The deadline will be over on Monday. The sector is literally on the mercy of court and banks, said an executive from DB Power. While the State Bank of India said on Friday that it will reach a resolution for projects worth Rs 17,000 crore, it is likely to impact only players for whom SBI is the lead banker, such as Adani Tiroda, which has an outstanding of Rs 11,700 crore, Jaypee Bara with an outstanding of Rs 11,494 crore, DB Power Baradarha with outstanding of Rs 6,721 crore. Many power assets under construction have already been referred to the NCLT for not servicing their loans, which includes Lancos 1,320 MW plant in Odisha, East Coast Energys 1,320 MW Andhra Pradesh unit, Athena Energys 1,200 MW Chhattisgarh plant and others like GMRs 1370 MW Raikheda plant, Coastal Energens 1,200 MW Mutiara plant and KSK Energys 3,600 MW Akaltara plant. By PTI NEW DELHI: Unfazed by industry's criticism of some past decisions, TRAI chairman R S Sharma has asserted that the regulator is not into a PR role, but is, rather, doing its job transparently with wide stakeholder consultation in the interest of consumers and the sector. In his first interview after winning a second term at the helm of TRAI, Sharma said legal options are available for anyone not happy with a particular regulation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). "I don't think we are into a PR (public relations) exercise. We are doing our jobs to best of our capabilities. There may be situations where some stakeholders may not be happy with the decision we take, and I have maintained that appropriate forum to challenge these is the legal forum," Sharma told PTI in a recent interaction. The approach of TRAI has never been one of taking arbitrary action, and each and every decision, order, or regulation has been backed by "full consultation and full transparency", he noted. "We don't do anything without consultation or dialogue. But our purpose is not to establish PR. Our purpose is to do our job effectively," Sharma said. His comments assume significance as TRAI's past decisions from slashing of call connect charges, to its stance on provision of points of internet (sought by Reliance Jio at the start of its services), and predatory pricing rules have come under blistering attack by established operators like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular. Earlier this year, TRAI's predatory pricing rules sparked off a furore as older players and industry body Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) slammed the new norms. The COAI had indicated that the order distorted the market, placing all operators, except one (it had not named Reliance Jio) at a serious disadvantage. The fiery TRAI chief has firmly stood his ground all through and maintained that while he takes telecom industry's 'fair criticism' in his stride, the levelling of allegations of bias without any proof bothers him as it discredits and lowers the institution's esteem. "TRAI is a vibrant organisation and we are a regulator who has a certain standing in the world. We are proud of that legacy. The organisation will continue to take forward the agenda," Sharma said outlining the work done by the regulator in areas like net neutrality, data privacy and machine-to-machine communication and others. The regulator plans to hold internal meetings to take stock of outstanding issues against the backdrop of the agenda that had been set at the beginning of the calendar year 2018. The calibration of pending issues and new, emerging ones will be done over the next few weeks, Sharma added. COAI has urged the TRAI chairman to outline his major focus areas and priorities for the next two years, so the industry can look to "predictable" and stable regulatory environment" crucial for its growth. The industry body -- which has, in the past, been severely critical of major TRAI decisions under Sharma's watch -- has further said that the industry is seeking from the regulator a relationship of "trust, information sharing and predictability". By Express News Service BENGALURU: With just a fortnight left for Ganesha Chaturthi, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials seem to have woken up to take action against Ganesha idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP). On Saturday, officials seized 853 PoP Ganesha idols from the southern part of the city. A statement from the civic body said the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has banned PoP idols as these not just pollute waterbodies, but also the bottom soil. BBMP health officials conducted raids on Ganesha-making units at RV College Road in Basavanagudi, seized the idols and locked them up. The officials have appealed to people not to buy PoP Ganeshas or those that are painted with lead-based paint. Selling or buying such Ganeshas are banned, officials said. However, the late action has attracted criticism from within the corporation. According to officials, these drives just before the festival are not effective. Usually work on making idols with PoP starts in April. Now officials will announce the ban and conduct drives. And the makers will appeal to the BBMP to allow the idols this time as they have invested money. The officials will allow it on humanitarian grounds. There is no stringent action against them, an official said. Earlier, only local artistes would make Ganesha idols for the city, but for the past many years, artistes from West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha and Maharashtra come to Bengaluru to make bigger idols, which now most often have harmful chemical paint. By Express News Service BENGALURU: A drunken brawl went horribly wrong when a 35-year-old cab driver was stabbed to death by a gang of four men inside a bar in Kadirenehalli in Banashankari on Friday night. Kumaraswamy Layout police arrested three of the accused after the incident came to light on Saturday. The deceased has been identified as Sarabande Chandur, a resident of Banashankari. The arrested are identified as Nayaz (32), Nadeem (36) and Riyaz (30), residents of Kadirenahalli. The police said that Chandru, who was in an inebriated state, was coming out from a bar and was standing at the cash counter to pay the bill. A gang of four, including Nayaz, who came to the bar, asked Chandru to give them way to go inside. Chandru allegedly asked them to wait for a while and then the gang picked up a quarrel with him. In a fit of rage, Nayaz and Riyaz attacked him with a knife and fled the scene. The cashier alerted KS Layout police, who rushed to the spot. The accused were nabbed at their house. However, another one is still at large. Further investigations are on. Chetana Belagere By Express News Service BENGALURU: The investigative officers looking into the murders of journalist Gauri Lankesh and rationalist M M Kalburgi are having a tough time extracting information from those arrested so far. According to investigating officials, some of the accused had received meticulous training on how to handle interrogation and would even resort to chanting mantras or meditating to prevent themselves from divulging information. On Saturday, the special court set up under the Control of Organised Crime Act, granted custody of accused Bharath Kunre for 10 days, but officers interrogating the accused are finding it difficult to break their silence. Though the ones arrested in Karnataka have divulged certain information, there are some links which have been difficult to establish. An officer from Maharashtra ATS told The New Indian Express, We observed that every time we asked a question, especially to the recently arrested right wingers, they would go silent and start meditating. The accused first complain of harassment from the police to threaten the investigating officers but when this does not work, they adapt to the meditation technique, which is supposedly part of their training to keep the alleged Hindu extremist group intact, another officer explained. This practise was confirmed when the Bengaluru team told the Maharashtra ATS that T Naveen Kumar, the first person to be arrested in Gauris murder, had accused the Bengaluru police team of harassment and had also refused to take the lie detector test. He had even threatened to commit suicide. Similarly, in the Nalsopara arms haul case, the accused Vaibhav Raut, Sharad Kalskar and Sudhanva Gondhalekar also complained of harassment. But when no heed was paid to their complaints, they allegedly resorted to the silent treatment technique. We came across the same strategy when we went to Satara Prison to question Sameer Gaikwad, the prime accused in Govind Pansares murder. When we asked him questions about the murder of Kalburgi, he would start chanting mantras and also meditate, the source said. Several code words mentioned in the diary recovered from Amol Kale are being decoded by the joint team. These men had codes for everything, starting from the location of practice to meeting dates. We found multiple phone numbers and names of other pro-Hindutva activists, whom he had allegedly recruited to kill other rationalists and progressive thinkers. These phone numbers and SIM cards led to the arrest of Vaibhav Raut and two others, sources said. It remains to be seen whether any of the guns seized from Rauts possession match the bullet casings found near Gauri Lankeshs home, sources said. The team from Karnataka is also trying to find if there are any others who are linked with right wing group Sanatan Sanstha and linked with murders of Kalburgi or Gauri Lankesh. we are watching Sanatan Sanstha in Goa very closely. an officer confirmed. Interestingly, the controversial right-wing group, Sanatan Sanstha, also issued an advisory on its website on August 20, asking followers to pray and chant Lord Krishnas name to evade arrest. Another arrest likely soon One more person is likely to be arrested from the state in connection with the murders of Gauri and Kalburgi, sources from Criminal Investigation Department team in Pune confirmed. The ATS along with CID Karnataka and officers from Pune held a joint meeting in Pune on Friday to discuss the next course of action. The accused has been changing his location frequently and the police suspect that he must have been tipped off. By Express News Service CHENNAI:Chennai city police on Sunday arrested gangster Ennore Dhanasekaran involved in at least 40 offences including seven murder cases and extortion of money from businessmen. He was picked up by police, based on a complaint from one Kumaran (48), a lorry driver with a private transport company in Manali New Town, that Ennore Dhanasekaran, along with two others, intercepted him and robbed him at knife-point of Rs 2,500. Police, who have registered a case, launched a search for Dhanasekaran. When they stormed into his hide-out in Ennore, he tried to escape in his car. But his car met with an accident and he sustained injuries. Finally, he was arrested. He was involved in the August 14 murder of James (38), a resident of Burma Nagar, Ennore, who provided contract workers to various factories and the thermal power plant. He had been booked under the Goondas Act five times. Donita Jose By Express News Service HYDERABAD: The Central government on Saturday appointed a scientific adviser to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Dr G Satheesh Reddy, as the new chairman of the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) for a period of two years. Its a proud moment to take over the position that great leaders like Dr Kalam and others held, an elated Satheesh Reddy told Express soon after the announcement. Speaking to Express from his native village Mahimalore, 60 km from Nellore, where he had gone to meet his mother, Dr Reddy said he is looking forward to taking ahead the governments aspiration of making indigenous products. Many of the things that we are now procuring need to be indigenously developed. The focus will be to support the industry and make the industry come up to the international level, he said. A graduate in Electronics and Communication Engineering from JNTU in Anantapur, he did his PG and PhD from JNTU-Hyderabad. The 55-year-old scientist started his career in 1986 with the Hyderabad-based DRDL where he started as a young navigation scientist. He contributed to the Indian defence research in the areas of missiles, strategic systems, navigation and guided weapons. Students nowadays are showing interest in research organisations and indigenous companies and startups. I am glad that they are staying back in the country, Reddy said. First Telugu to hold The High position Dr Reddy is the first Telugu to hold position of DRDO chief. A winner of Homi J Bhabha Memorial Gold Medal, Reddy is also the Director General of Missiles and Strategic Systems, where he worked on mission critical technologies for Long Range Agni-5 missile. He is also credited with developing the countrys first 1000 kg class Guided Bomb. Medha Dutta By Express News Service Author Michel Danino talks to Medha Dutta about his recent book Sri Aurobindo and Indias Rebirth. Tell us about the book. Sri Aurobindo is regarded as a thinker, poet, philosopher and spiritual master, but his vision of India is poorly knownthe countrys foundations, accomplishments, potential, destiny (a word that often comes under his pen), mission in the world, but also her supreme challenges. This book covers some six decades of his writings, speeches, notes, talks and letters to disciples, in an attempt to convey the richness of that vision, its evolution in time, and something of its power. Are Sri Aurobindos thoughts relevant today? If not, such an anthology would only have historical value. In my opinion, Sri Aurobindos remarks on the errors India should avoid both in her struggle for freedom, and the lasting foundations she should build on afterwards, are particularly rich in lessons for today. Do you think he was right in doubting Gandhis method to attain freedom and insistence on Ahimsa? He was not the only one to think so; historians such as R C Majumdar shared this scepticism. A whole decade before Gandhis return to India, Sri Aurobindo was one of the architects in Bengal of what he called the doctrine of Passive Resistance, which included the boycott of British goods, Swadeshi, national education, etc. However, he also regarded the use of force, if appropriate and with a reasonable chance of success, as perfectly legitimate. To him, Gandhis stand on Ahimsa was dogmatic and often counter-productive. It will take some time before we have a comprehensive and dispassionate assessment of how much the end of the colonial rule owes to Ahimsa. Could we achieve the India of his vision? Like many leading figures and freedom fighters of his time, Sri Aurobindo wanted India to stand on her own legs and not on post-colonial crutches. Yet Independent India hardly altered the political, judicial, bureaucratic or educational systems she inherited. Some of his political and social thoughts offer alternatives. You have been in India for a while now. How has it changed over the years? The outer change is obvious, both for good and bad; the inner change is harder to gauge: intellectual hypocrisy and self-contempt have grown by leaps and bounds, but genuine (and often silent) attempts, through individuals or institutions alike, to rediscover what made Indian civilisation tick for five millenniums, to ask the right questions (can the past help our future?), have also multiplied. What is that one thing that India has taught you? Not one but many; trust, patience, detachment (keep trying but never expect results), a healthy sense of insignificance but also of a divine hand behind appearances. Are we as a nation letting go of our cultural roots? As a modern nation, did we ever bother about them? Almost nothing of them is to be found in our curricula and textbooks, for instance; or how much is reflected in our culture of corruption or our crass neglect of the environment? Indeed, the worst failure is to believe that culture is fine for museums, puja rooms or perhaps weddings, while it is to be lived in every days small gestures and choicesif not, it is a dead culture. Do you think our leaders today need to go back to Sri Aurobindo? How many would feel such a need at all? In every party, most are quite content wallowing in the present decayed system, as long as they can extract privileges from it. What are you working on next? An old karma revisited: a fresh study of the Aryan issue. Something different, I hope, showing the lack of rigour in that old debate (or non-debate, rather). The focus will ultimately be on the genesis of Indian civilisation. Ravi Shankar By Express News Service In the quantum world of cuisine, seductive shapes and colours pose on perfect porcelain and crystal, torturing the gourmand with unattainable promise. Like almost everything in the Pixel Age, food too has digital form and growing. Ever since Instagram was launched in October 2010, a generation of cell phone food photographers are uploading bytes of exotic salads, fresh oysters in brine with a twist of lemon or surprised looking Mangalorean pompretsall looking good enough to eat, but alas cannot be eaten. Instagram has brought the tables of the world to our homes as eclectic sculpture. Michelin restaurants, exclusive chef-aries, home kitchens, obscure eateries, the bill of fare at generations-old local restaurants and the tripod stands of street vendors. Food has been mankinds obsession for millennia; first as a nutritionary need and later as taste. Egyptian hieroglyph inscribed pictographs of bread on tablets. Portraits by Renaissance painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo used fruits and vegetables as facial features. The great Post-Impressionist Cezannes oh-so-realistic oranges, Wayne Thiebauds pastel rows of pies and cakes and Andy Warhols iconic Campbell Soup tins spoke to a hunger that went deep into the soul: you wished you could eat them, but you cannot. So when? Screenshots of food Instagrammers Ronak Rajani, Sarah Philips and Anna Barnett Cooks accounts The father of food art is Filippo Tommaso Marinetti who found the art of preparation and consumption of food can be translated into art mediums. Then came the roving eye of mobile phone camera that was never faraway from dining tables and food shelves. Instagram was the perfect medium for showing off virtual moveable feasts with picture-perfect food and drink. If food was a social metaphor in pop art times, it is a lifestyle for millennials now. Cuisine is a photograph, eaten with the eyes, illuminated by second-hand light that brings out perfect tableware in relief: tactile but untouchable. The hashtag is the Millennial foodies magical cipher that will spread the word of the new food religion that is Instagram. The medium is changing the way foodpreneurs think of presentation and restaurant design. They are on Instagram, posting pictures of their new creations or of them as food selfies. @nelrestaurant is the Insta handle for the eponymous Sydneys restaurant that focuses on fresh, local produce and a different menu every six weeks, which are pictures as contrast art. The strongest competition to selfies now is from food pictures on Instagram, that are slowly percolating to Twitter and Facebook. There are unwritten rules however. The real Instagrammer will only use natural light except in unavoidable circumstances and will eschew filters; but what the hell, where there are rules there will be rebels. Social media is the Hermes of the modern dining experience and what better way for an establishment or chef to be seen than on Instagram? Instagram is also an alternate photographic career. Information about cuisine is the holy grail of gastronomy. The app has created food legends such as @spoonforkbacon and @foodminimalist that promise to make you a better chef, place no bar. Healthy Food Instagrammers and @annabarnettcooks give organic gyan. Hong Kong-based @ladyandpups describes her output as an angry food blog that is definitely not iPhone only. Sneh Roy operates the account Cook Republic, featuring home food using the shutter release method to create the illusion of movement of dishes. Instagram is the new food revolution, changing the way people perceive food. The food influencers use it to enhance their celebrity status or become new stars themselves. Their legion of followers decide their star power pecking order: British superchef and restauranteur Jamie Oliver has 5.9 million Instagram followers. Top food stylist Sarah Philips (just @food) has 5,16,000 followers. The 26-year-old clean eating blogger, Ella Woodward has 1.1 million followers on Instagram. Indian food influencers are not far behind. Ronak Rajani (#mumbaifoodie) with 3,06,000 followers and Karan Dua with 1,97,000 followers are the new food photographers of the Indian Millennial. Have cellphone? Will eat. Amar Bhushan By Strange as it may sound, Indians do not have an identity. They are citizens because they believe that they are. A few documents like passports, birth certificates and Aadhaar do exist, but these have no pan-India acceptance. A small beginning was made in this direction on July 30, when the draft list of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) was released, identifying genuine residents of Assam. It was long overdue because the distinction between them and illegal settlers had become blurred and their cultural and linguistic identities had been disfigured. The NRC did not come cheaply. People of Assam had to agitate for years, compelling the government to prepare it in 1951. But its documentation left them hugely disappointed. People reacted violently, angry at the states apathy and relentless influx of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. Rajiv Gandhi, then Congress Prime Minister, was forced to sign the Assam Accord on August 15, 1985, agreeing that the NRC of 1951 would be updated with names of those that had appeared in the electoral rolls of March 1971. The Congress, however, dragged its feet over implementing the Accord, for fear of losing votes of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and kept the revision of NRC on hold. Finally, the Supreme Court directed the Registrar General of India to update the NRC of 1951 as per the criteria, laid down in the Assam Accord. Congress again delayed the process, apprehensive of its adverse impact on the parliamentary election in 2014 and state election in the following year. But with BJP forming governments in the Centre and the state, the process of updating NRC was expedited. By December 1, 2017, vetting of claims of 1.9 crore of 3.29 crore applicants was completed and on July 30, 2018, an NRC draft list was released after verifying claims of the remaining applicants. The list identifies 2,89,83,000 as legal residents and 40,07,000 as ineligible for citizenship. In the list, 2,48,000 voterswhose names had figured in the electoral rolls of March 24, 1971have been found doubtful. However, those left out of the list can still file their claim on the inclusion and exclusion of names to the State Coordinator from August 30 onwards. The final NRC list is due for release by the end of the year but given our self-deceiving stance on vital issues of national interest, who knows if the timeline will be adhered to. Barring BJP, the reaction of political parties that vie for Muslim votes has been crazy. Congress, caught in a bind because it had initiated the NRC, accuses that several names have been excluded for communal and political reasons. It is true that some discrepancies are glaring but in any enumerative exercise of this magnitude and complexity, errors are common and will surely get rectified. The irrepressible West Bengal Chief Minister hallucinates that NRC will unleash a bloody civil war in the country. Probably, she is unaware that the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants hardly affects the daily lives of 90 percent Indians. She also smells a sinister design to expel Bengalis and keep Assam only for the Assamese. She should know that several names of those from Nepal and other parts of India also do not figure in the list. Her other compatriotsSP, BSP, RJD, JD(S), NCP, AAP, CPI(M) etcwhose dependence on Muslim votes is critical, decry this process as divisive and inhuman, while Muslim hardliners accuse BJP of using NRC to Hinduise Assam first and then, the rest of India. But the list makes no distinction between illegal Muslim or Hindu immigrants from Bangladesh. Social activists and liberals have nightmares of the unknownWill illegal immigrants be declared stateless and deprived of voting rights, social welfare and health benefits and employment? Will they be forcibly pushed back and killed if they resist deportation? Will they be herded in detention camps, etc. They want people of Assam to accept the illegal immigrants as fait accompli and allow them to enjoy their fundamental rights as before. Sadly, they have no tears for genuine residents who feel like foreigners in their own land. It will be a supreme folly to delay or dilute the publication of the final NRC list. A call can always be taken later, on where and how to settle the illegal immigrants, keeping in view our civilisational values, security needs and the economic and social cost that we can bear. Assam has lit the path for the country to have an NRC so that people can define themselves as citizens of India. Let us not waste this opportunity by fanning communal passions and raising war cries. Amar Bhushan Former special secretary, Research and Analysis Wing amarbhushan@hotmail.com By Express News Service The politics in election-bound Rajasthan has heated up after Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje's Gaurav yatra faced series of protests on Saturday. Raje's yatra had faced stone pelting and sloganeering in the second phase of her yatra at Osian and Peepad city of Jodhpur division. Facing series of protest, Raje has targeted former Chief Minister and AICC general secretary Ashok Gehlot, blaming him for instigating the protest in the Jodhpur region which is considered to be the bastion of Gehlot. In retaliation, Gehlot says that the protests and attacks on yatra seem to be the BJP's own conspiracy to attract attention towards Raje's Yatra. Rajasthan's chief minister Vasundhara Raje's Gaurav Yatra had faced a bumpy ride in Jodhpur on Saturday. While Raje was addressing a public meeting in Osian, some people, reportedly from Rajput community, shouted anti-Raje slogans before being dispersed by police. After the meeting when she was on the way to Bawari village to address a meeting, stones were pelted at her cavalcade, breaking window panes of the car in which state Health Minister, Kalicharan Saraf was travelling. The situation became even tenser when Raje's rath reached Peepad city at 9 PM when some alleged Congress supporters started waiving black flags in front of the rath and shouted slogans in favour of Ashok Gehlot. After a while, stone pelting started again in front of the Dak Bungalow area. When some stones hit Raje's rath, the chief minister instructed the police to catch hold of the protesters but the had fled by then. Addressing the people during the protest, she targeted Ashok Gehlot and alleged that the stone pelting at the yatra is being done on the behest of Gehlot. But she continued by saying that she would not be deterred by it, and that the people of the state have already decided who to vote for. She said: It's the people who are fearing the defeat who are pelting stones, these are people who have done nothing for the state in their rule. Those who are trying to scare a woman and can't be part of the civil society, are forgetting that woman power is not going to be held back from all the hooliganism. And it will be my good luck if I lose my life for my people." Former CM Gehlot reacted sharply at Raje's allegations and criticized the attack on Raje's yatra. Defending his party workers Gehlot said that the congress can't indulge in these type of activities and it might be a BJP propaganda. Gehlot further attacked Raje on woman power saying, "Raje talks about women power (Nari Shakti), but the state has created a record in rapes, injustice, and atrocities against women and here she talks about women power. She need not fear but govern the state so that the women could be saved." During the afternoon when Raje was addressing a meeting in Osian town, a young crowd had raised slogans against local BJP MLA and tore apart Raje's posters. They blocked roads after CM's address and it became difficult for the police to control the protesters. At Shergrah, protesters raised slogans against Babulal Rathore sitting MLA from there. According to a local BJP leader the miscreants were believed to be the supporters of independent MLA Hanuman Beniwal. Ahead of assembly polls, Raje is touring Rajasthan through her 'Gaurav Yatra' which began in Udaipur division on 4th of August but in the second phase of the yatra in Jodhpur she is facing opposition from day one. With elections around the corner, the BJP is facing stiff opposition from Rajput community, particularly in Marwar region and many see their anger as the trigger for the protests now. The Rajputs are angry with the saffron party over different issues including encounter of Chatur Singh by Jaisalmer police and denying ticket to senior BJP leader and former union finance minister Jaswant Singh in last Loksabha elections. Raje's decision to oppose Jodhpur MP and Union minister Gajendra Singh as party's state president was also not well received by the Rajput community. Harpreet Bajwa By Express News Service NEW YORK: Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and president of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee Manjit Singh GK was allegedly attacked by a group of pro-Khalistanis outside the Yuba City Gurdwara in California. This is the second attack on him within a week. SAD sources said Manjit escaped unhurt but the attackers managed to toss his turban in the air. READ| Khalistan supporters hold rally in London, Amarinder Singh terms it a 'damp squib' The incident happened when Manjit had gone to the gurdwara to pray. A video of the incident that has gone viral shows the mob attacking Manjit and kicking him after he fell to the ground. Manjit was saved by his supporters and Gurdwara Management Committee members. Police have rounded up three persons in this regard. On Tuesday he was attacked by pro-Khalistan supporters outside a TV studio in New York and on August 20, members of Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast, USA, protested against him for the Bargari shootout. #WATCH: Akali Dal leader & Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee member Manjeet Singh GK attacked, face blackened outside a Gurdwara in California. 3 people have been arrested in connection with the attack. #USA (25.08.18) pic.twitter.com/HdhnlJn8zP ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2018 SAD president Sukhbir Badal condemned the attack and blamed Pakistan's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). This attack has been done on behest of ISI who are anti-India, against stability of Punjab & want to create a wedge between Sikhs. Have requested Sushma ji to take up the matter with her American counterpart: Sukhbir Badal on Akali Dal's Manjeet GK attacked in US pic.twitter.com/TtHHQrKq1A ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2018 He was attacked on behest of ISI as the agency is against stability in Punjab and wants to create a wedge between Sikhs. I have requested external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj to take up the matter with her American counterpart." I strongly condemn the cowardly attack on Manjit Singh GK. He was unarmed & paying obeisance at Gurughar where he was attacked by goons backed by ISI. @Akali_Dal_ has never cowed down to terror & will continue to stand strong on the principles of Sikhism! Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) August 26, 2018 Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president GS Longowal said, It is very unfortunate that Sikhs are being repeatedly targeted in USA. It is the responsibility of the US authorities to take strict actions against people behind the attack. By PTI NEW DELHI: The government today distanced itself from BJP MP Subramanian Swamy's remarks that India should "invade" the Maldives if the upcoming presidential election in the island nation was rigged. Two days after a meeting with exiled former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed in Colombo, Swamy had tweeted on Friday that "India should invade Maldives if rigging of election takes place." Responding to a query on the BJP parliamentarian's comments, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "The opinion expressed by Dr Swamy in his tweet is personal.It does not reflect the views of the Government of India." Swamy met Nasheed in Colombo on Tuesday during which the Maldivian leader apprised him about the political situation in his country and expressed concerns that the September 23 presidential election may be rigged by incumbent President Abdullah Yameen. "We discussed the current political situation in the Maldives, upcoming presidential elections and our concerns on how President Yameen intends to rig Sept 23rd election," Nasheed had tweeted after the meeting. On Tuesday, Swamy tweeted that Nasheed was apprehensive of "gross rigging" in the elections and that India cannot allow that to happen as a neighbour. "We need an action plan," Swamy said, adding the "current usurper" President Yameen has "humiliated Indians". In June, the national electoral commission of the Maldives had said Nasheed was disqualified from running the presidential election. Ties between India and the Maldives nosedived after Maldivian President Yameen declared emergency on February 5 following an order by the country's Supreme Court to release a group of Opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely criticised trials. The emergency was lifted 45 days later. Last month, India expressed concern over announcement of elections in the Maldives without allowing democratic institutions, including Parliament and the judiciary, to work in a free and transparent manner. India had said it wanted "credible restoration" of the political process and the rule of law in the island nation before the elections are conducted. By UNI NEW DELHI: Amid Intelligence input suggesting that a large number of people have migrated from Assam to different parts of the country since the commencement of updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state in 2015, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is contemplating a similar process for all states. Highly placed source in the Home Ministry told UNI that a proposal was being examined by the ministry for 'Assam-like NRC' for all the states and the Union Territories. The proposal comes as the reports of Intelligence agencies indicated that a large number of people who possess valid voter ID cards and other identity documents but have been unable to provide legacy proof have migrated to different parts of the country from Assam since 2015. "The intelligence reports suggest that that majority of them migrated to such states where construction workers are high in demand including Andhra Pradesh, National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi, Karnataka, Maharastra," a government functionary said. The officials of the security establishment feels that the government may not have to face much trouble in initiating such exercise in other states which has turned to be 'challenging and complex' in Assam. Sources in the MHA, however, noted that a final decision on preparing NRC in other states is yet to be taken. In the meantime the immediate concern is to take a decision on the fate of those, who face the possibility of being declared "illegal foreigners" in Assam, they added. Meanwhile in Assam, where the final draft of the NRC left out names of 40.07 lakh people out of the 3.29 crore applicants, the MHA is also working out a strategy to initiate the idea of issuing a 'biometric work permit' to all those, who may at a later stage be declared 'illegal migrants' after the publication of final NRC. "The idea has been mooted while realising that it would be almost next to impossible to physically deport such a large number of people to their identified country of origin," the official said. The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is a record of all legal citizens in Assam. The first list of NRC was created way back in 1951. During the anti-illegal foreigners' movement in Assam in 1980, demands were raised to update the list. The Registrar General of India, under Supreme Court's monitoring, released the final 'draft' of the Assam NRC on July 31 in which names of 2.89 crore out of 3.29 crore applicants were included, but 40 lakh people could not find mention. Those leftout of the NRC final draft now face a nearly month-long process, of claims and objections to the draft that starts from August 30. Pushkar Banakar By MUZAFFARNAGAR: Farah and Rahul (name changed), both 22, have known each other since they were children. Rahul, a Hindu Rajput, and Farah, a proud Muslim, went to the same village school and are in the same college now. We want to spend our lives together but the thought of telling this to my parents is very scary. They will either kill me or her, said Rahul near the highway to Delhi, where the lovers often spend the time together, away from prying eyes. We know our relationship will not end in marriage so we want to be happy till we are together. Both of us dont want to forego our religion, said Farah with a tinge of sadness. Rahul and Farahs foreboding about the future of relationship reflects the ground reality in Muzaffarnagar since August-September 2013, when more than 60 died and 50,000 were left homeless in two weeks of communal violence that rocked the somnolent villages of this district in western Uttar Pradesh. Post the riots and atrocities, not a single inter-religious marriage has been registered under the Special Marriage Act, according to data with the district administration. The Act allows couples from different faiths to marry without giving up their religion. Not that Muzaffarnagar recorded a high number of inter-religious marriage prior to the riots. Two marriages were registered under this Act in 2011 and four in 2012. But to record no inter-faith marriage in five years is unprecedented even for this communally-divided district. Officials and villagers attributed this to the deep sense of hatred, suspicion and rivalry between the Hindus and Muslims after the riots. Five years have passed, the State has seen a change of government, but the wounds not only fester but seem fresh. On the face of it life appears to be normal in this riot-prone district. But scratch the surface and the distrust and hate come out in a torrent, often in abusive language. After what happened in 2013, couples are very scared to even disclose their relationship, let alone get married. Some of them approach the higher courts to obtain security, said Muzaffarnagar Additional District Judge Ram Kishore. Pragya and Yusufs story mirrors that of Rahul and Farah. They have been lovers since the past four years and dream of spending life together. But they are unsure if that will happen as both their parents, who know of their relationship, are violently opposed to it. We meet 24 kilometres away but we do meet daily. When my parents got to know of my relationship with Pragya, they were livid. They threatened to kill her entire family saying Hindus are traitors but that has not deterred me, said the 29-year-old Yusuf, who runs a bike repair shop. Pragya is five years younger to Yusuf. Unlike her outspoken lover, she is shy and agrees to speak only after much reassurance from Yusuf. We have been together since the past four years. We met each other at a common friends wedding. About eight months ago, my parents learnt of our relationship and strictly told me not to meet Yusuf. I meet him daily but the day I am caught I am sure I will be disowned or killed. I have no idea where the future of our relationship is headed, she said before breaking into tears. The story of Priya and Sajid is a little different. Priya, 27, is three years elder to Sajid and despite the age gap and differing communities, Sajids parents have no objections to their relationship. I met her at the bus stop and from the moment I saw her I knew she was the one. Slowly, we became friends. Later my parents came to know of our relationship and surprisingly, they accepted it. But, Priyas parents dont know about it, said Sajid. Priyas nerves begin to fray at the thought of telling her parents. They dont have any idea of our relationship. I know they will never agree to me marrying a Muslim but we will try our best to take our relationship to marriage, she said, her voice betraying her nervousness. Rekha Agarwal, a senior advocate in the Supreme Court, said the Special Marriage Act does not mandate the registration of all inter-religious marriages. Only in case both the parties want to retain their original religion after marriage then registration under the Act is compulsory, she said. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the Country will not tolerate those committing rape. Modi in his monthly mann ki baat episode talked about a range of issues including Kerala floods, Asian Games 2018, simultaneous polls and Triple Talaq Bill. PM Modi said that India stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of Kerala in this hour of grief and added that condolences are with the people who have lost their loved ones in the floods. He also appreciated the efforts of Air Force, Army, Navy, BSF, CISF, RAF, NDRF who have left no stone unturned in the rescue and relief operations in flood-hit Kerala. On the issue of the passing of bill related to the offence of rape, the PM said, No civil society can tolerate any kind of injustice towards the woman-power of the country. The nation will not tolerate those committing rapes. With this point in view Parliament has made a provision of strictest punishment by passing the Criminal Act Amendment Bill, Modi said as he also talked about recent death sentence served in a rape case in Madhya Pradesh. Modi also talked about triple talaq assuring Muslim women of justice by saying that the whole country stands by them to provide social justice. The Triple Talaq Bill has been passed by the Lok Sabha although it could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha, I assure the Muslim women that the whole country stands by them to provide them social justice. When we move ahead in the national interest, a change in the lives of the poor, the backward, the exploited and the deprived ones can also be brought about, he said. Modi also talked about Atal Bihari Vajpayee, saying the country would remain grateful to the BJP patriarch for bringing good governance into the mainstream. I just want to touch upon one more facet of Ataljis legendary personality and that is the political culture which Atalji gave to India, his efforts in the direction of bringing about the changes in our political culture, his efforts to mould it into an organised framework and which proved very beneficial for India and a bigger benefit will accrue in days to come, Modi said. Speaking further, the PM talked about simultaneous polls saying that presently efforts are afoot and discussions are being held about simultaneously holding the elections for Lok Sabha and for state assemblies. The Government and the opposition both are putting forth their viewpoints. This is a good development and a healthy sign for our democracy. I must say that developing healthy traditions for a sound democracy, making constant efforts to strengthen democracy, encouraging open-minded debates would also be appropriate tribute to Atalji, he added. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar By Online Desk Crippled with violence, West Bengal, today stands divided on communal grounds and religious intolerance, overturning everything that once Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore fought for. And on this day of Raksha Bandhan, its imperative to take a look back at history and how the thread of rakhi was once used to keep the erstwhile state of undivided Bengal, united. Traditionally celebrated across the country as a symbol of the brother-sister relationship, Raksha Bandhan still finds a different meaning into the hearts of Bengalis, especially those, who had to bear the brunt of Indias partition. READ| This Raksha Bandhan, Varanasi muslim women are making rakhis for PM Narendra Modi A century back in June of 1905, at the peak of Indias nationalist movement, Lord Curzon decided to divide united Bengal( which consisted province of Assam, Odisha, and Bangladesh) on a religious majority. The plan was to divide the Hindu majority regions of West Bengal, Bihar and Odisha from Muslim-dominated areas of Assam and Sylhet(now in Bangladesh). Curzon pronounced October 16, as the day of partition. Rabindranath Tagore declared the presumed partition day to be national mourning day and decided to strengthen the bond between two religious communities through a single thread of rakhi. Tagore gave the call to bind Hindus and Muslims in unity for centuries to come and people obliged. Thousands of people from Bengal, Assam and Dhaka showed up on the banks of Ganges, tying rakhi to each other. Tagore started a Raksha Bandhan rally after taking a dip in the holy Ganges, followed by the ardent leader taking the rally to a mosque and tying rakhis to the clerics (which none had objected to). Tagore wrote two of his most famous songs, amar sonar Bangla, Banglar mati Banglar jol during that period and sang them out loud throughout the procession. That day, Bengal stood united against all odds, forcing the East India Company to call off the partition until 1912 when Bihar, Assam, and Odisha were ripped off from Bengal on linguistic grounds. However, the period of Hindu- Muslim brotherhood ended after a brief period of 35 years with the carnage of Direct Action Day in 1946, which left over 40 thousand people dead in 24 hours. Following partition, West Bengal, although witnessed several bouts of violence, the Left-government throughout its 34-years of rule kept religious polarization at bay. The state has seen a spike of communal violence over the past three years, which the present Trinamool government could be counted liable for. As per the Home Ministry record, the state recorded 27 incidents of communal violence in 2015 where five people were killed, the numbers of incidents almost doubled in 2017 with 58 incidents of violence being recorded. The riots in Kaliachak, Malda in January 2016, Naihati-Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas in October that year and the ferocious, Dhulagrah and Howrah are the biggest dent in West Bengals communal harmony in the recent past. Although students and residents of Tagores Santiniketan still follow the tradition of tying Rakhi to neighbours and the textbooks echo tales of Tagores endeavour to bring harmony, West Bengal has a long task ahead to bind people again with the thread of unity. By Express News Service MUMBAI: Weapons used in the murders of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar and activist-journalist Gauri Lankesh were same, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has said. Two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants had fatally shot Dabholkar in Pune on the morning of June 20, 2013. Almost four years later, Lankesh was shot dead outside her residence in Bengaluru on September 5, 2017. Though it had been widely suspected for long, the CBI has for the first time established a link between the two murder cases from Karnataka and Maharashtra. "Some of the accused in the Gauri Lankesh case are connected with Sachin Andhure and Narendra Dabholkar's murder," the CBI remand application said, seeking the extension of Andhure's custody. The suspects claimed that the same weapon was used in both the murders, the federal agency said. Subsequently, a Pune court extended Andhure's custody till August 30. Andhure was arrested from Aurangabad last week. The CBI is also likely to demand the custody of Sharad Kalaskar, who was arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) in connection with the Nalasopara arms haul case on August 10. Andhure told his interrogators that one of those arrested for the Gauri Lankesh murder had handed over to him a 7.65-mm country-made pistol and three bullets, the CBI informed. According to the remand petition, Andhure claimed that he passed on the weapon to his brother-in-law Subham Surale in Aurangabad who in turn passed it on to his friend Rohit Rege. The CBI sought his remand to interrogate him. The CBI, which has already named Dr Virendrasingh Tawde as the mastermind in Dabholkar murder case, said Andhure planned the murder along with Tawde. It also claimed the assailants had received training at a resort in Karnataka. Besides making efforts to trace the missing motorcycle used in the Dabholkar murder, the CBI is also expected to apply for remand of one of the accused arrested by the Karnataka police in the Gauri Lankesh killing Amit Agnihotri By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Citing leakages of Aadhaar data, the Congress has red-flagged the DNA bill saying not only did such profiling of citizens violated their right to privacy, the legislation was introduced in parliament in a hush-hush manner. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi pointed out how the government first listed the DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2018 in the Rajya Sabha during the monsoon session but quickly withdrew it fearing an Opposition backlash only to notify it in the Lok Sabhas list of business late on August 8 night and introduce it the next day. The idea was to resist the opposition to introduction of the bill. The magnitude of desperation of the Modi government is so huge, that they did not even wait for the Ministry of Electronics and IT to present its Data Protection Bill, as the DNA Bill violates the principles of the Srikrishna Committee Report on data protection in India and the Personal Data Protection Bill submitted by the committee, said Singhvi. We demand the DNA bill be withdrawn, he said. He alleged the recent government flip-flops over Aadhaar data, Supreme Court recognising right to privacy as fundamental, date collection through tainted global firms and absence of a data protection law were centres attempts at snooping into the lives of common people. Getting into the specifics, the Congress leader said among the major loopholes in the DNA bill were related to selection of members of the DNA Regulatory Board, Data Processors and Data Collectors do not have compliance to ensure data protection, Entitlement of powers to DNA Regulatory Board overpowering judiciary, no information to Data Subjects about data sharing with third parties and no clarity on deletion of data. Noting the DNA database could lead to be another Aadhaar like data leaks, without adequate protection and safeguards, the Congress leader said there was greater risk of information from DNA profiling getting misused to create a profile of an individual and use it for surveillance as well as for making profits. DNA samples can reveal not just how a person looks, or what their eye colour or skin colour is, but also more intrusive information like their allergies, or susceptibility to diseases, he said. Talking about further shortcomings in the DNA bill, Singhvi said that while there was no guarantee of data security, the legislation was not in line with the International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Also, the Bill will not only give intrusive details like DNA data, but also gender and caste which are sensitive from a sociological aspect. Finally, the Modi government did not hold a single consultation with stakeholders and civil society on such a sensitive Bill which reeks of mal intent, Singhvi added. Ritwika Mitra By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Around 190 scheduled caste and scheduled tribe students who have fared well in their class 10 and class 12 board examinations in 2017 will be felicitated by Dr Ambedkar Foundation here on the occasion of Dr Ambedkar National Merit Award on Wednesday. The award ceremony will be held in Dr Ambedkar International Centre where the Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawarchand Gehlot will hand over the merit certifications. The students will also have the opportunity to travel locally, visit the Parliament House and the Ambedkar Museum. Over 100 students and over 80 students who performed well in their class 10 and class 12 examinations respectively will be given out the awards. The students have been invited from across 29 boards and councils which give the foundation the information on the toppers. Students who have performed well from across all states including Bihar, Chattisgarh, Goa, Haryana have been invited for the function, said an official of Dr Ambedkar Foundation. The student who has secured the highest marks get a cash assistance of Rs 60, 000, the one with the second highest marks get an assistance of Rs 50,000 and the student with third highest marks gets Rs 40, 000. If a girl student is not in the above three categories, she is given a grant of Rs 40, 000. In addition, 250 special merit awards of Rs.10,000 each are given to SC & ST students securing next highest marks, based on the state-wise population of SC & ST. The eligibility criteria include no student should have scored less than 50 per cent marks in aggregate and should belong to the SC/ST communities. Invitees: The total number of awardees class 10 - 50 girls, 54 boys. The total number of awardees class12 - 48 girls, 38 boys. Pushkar Gireesh Banakar By Express News Service NEW DELHI: India and France will begin working on launching a constellation of maritime surveillance satellites by next year, an official of the French Space agency said. The satellites will be designed to cover areas ranging from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean and parts of the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, keeping in mind the interests of both the countries, the official said. The study of the exercise has taken the views of maritime agencies of both countries and will soon chalk out the schedule of the exercise. India and France unveiled a joint space vision in March this year and resolved to strengthen cooperation between their space agencies Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) of India and CNES of France. ISRO and CNES would work together for design and development of joint products and techniques, including those involving Automatic Identification System, to monitor and protect assets in land and sea. In particular, both sides will pursue the study of a constellation of satellites for maritime surveillance, the joint vision statement had said. The announcement to start working on the constellation satellites, with a major focus on the Indian Ocean, assumes significance as the region is seeing an increased presence of China. The purpose of this constellation is monitoring sea traffic management, the official said. The Indian Ocean is critical in safeguarding interests of both India and France. On our part, we have several areas territories in the Indian, Pacific Ocean and in the tropical region. The satellites will be designed to serve the purpose, the official added. Both countries have been working on the aspect of climate monitoring on the joint missions Megha-Tropiques and Saral-Altika, and the ongoing studies of the Trishna satellite for land infra-red monitoring and the Oceansat3-Argos mission. Pradip Phanjoubam By A petition by 356 Army officers to the Supreme Court against any move to dilute the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act, AFSPA, brings to the fore once again some of the vexed issues associated with this Act and its application. In a somewhat related way, this is also another reminder to the Indian state to begin reimagining the role of the military. That is, if full-scale war becomes redundant, as it indeed seems to have, what are the new roles the military should be made to shoulder? The Army officers petition comes in the wake of an SC ruling of July 8, 2016 which said the shield against legal prosecution provided by the AFSPA to Army officers for their actions under the Act cannot be to all extent and must yield to the universal standards of human rights. The AFSPA also gives sweeping powers to Army personnel acting under it, including to kill on suspicion, enter homes and search without warrant, destroy structures on suspicion they are hideouts of militants, over and above the impunity clause. This SC ruling was in a case filed by the Extra Judicial Execution Victim Families Association Manipur, EEVFAM, seeking an inquiry into the alleged 1,528 fake encounter killings in the state by the Army and the state police in the name of counterinsurgency during the period between 2000 and 2012. Earlier, in January 2013, taking cognizance of the gravity of the case, the SC had constituted a committee headed by a retired SC judge, Santosh Hegde, to do an initial probe. Former Chief Election Commissioner JM Lyngdoh and former Karnataka DGP Ajay Kumar Singh were other members of the committee. The committee picked up six of the 1,528 cases at random and held hearings in Imphal, and at the end of it concluded that all six were killed in custody and that none of the victims had criminal records. On July 14, 2017, another ruling of the SC ordered the CBI to form a team and thoroughly investigate the cases. After being severely reprimanded by the SC for dragging its feet on the matter, the CBI has now begun investigating in earnest. Amidst the heat generated, whistle-blowers from within the Army and police establishments have come out in public claiming they are witnesses to many of these executions. The sensational revelation of custodial torture, killings and extortions by a unit of the 3 Corps Intelligence and Surveillance Unit, 3-CISU, last month by Lt. Col. Dharamvir Singh,in particular would have shaken up the Army establishment. Col. Singhs own petition is now pending in the Manipur High Court. It is against this backdrop that the current petition by the army officers has come. The argument is, the Army is trained to fight enemies in war and not for civil policing duties, and if it is called upon to do the latter, it has to be given the powers and impunity that the AFSPA guarantees. Furthermore, the Army has entered these conflict theatres not out of choice but because the civil authorities invited it, and if the civil authorities do not want it, it would be happy to go back to its barracks. Dissent against the AFSPA is often misinterpreted as dissent against the Army, therefore this clarification at this point that the two are not the same. The point of contention here is definitely the AFSPA, but not necessarily the Army. Nobody will dispute that the Army is trained to fight wars and guard the nations borders, but should a situation arise that the civil authorities need the Armys firepower to meet internal challenges, it is obliged to obey, after all, India is a republic where civil authority is supreme and definitely above that of the military. It is no coincidence that the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army is a civilianthe President of India. By the same logic, if the Supreme Court wants the Army to not transgress the international principles of human rights, the Army is again obliged to abide by the directive. In any case, the AFSPA does not indicate any allowance for custodial killings or torture, except, perhaps, the ambiguous phrase that the Army is empowered to use force as may be necessary. Otherwise, any person the Army takes into custody is to be handed over to the police in the shortest time possible. The AFSPA also mentions nothing of civil crimes such as rape, theft, torture or extortion, and if such crimes do come to be committed by Army personnel, it would only be natural for relevant civil laws to arbitrate. There is a larger issue here. The last declared full-scale war India fought was nearly 50 years ago, in 1971, and quite likely it may never fight another such war again. Under the circumstances, the Armys role may be restricted to only deterrence. Should this be enough purpose, or should other gainful responsibilities be thought of for the Army? It is quite likely such a new role will more likely be duties akin to policing, perhaps in the nature of UN peacekeeping forcesnot fighting enemies or wars but assisting in upkeep of civil order. For instance, there are reports that in China their army is being used to fight the challenges of pollution. Would it not be appropriate then for India to start conceiving of legislation that can live up to the expectations of such a future, and not be stuck with undemocratic, colonial legacies such as the draconian AFSPA? The other false argument often forwarded to debunk criticism of the AFSPA is that there is an ulterior motive in such criticism. It is contended that human rights activists and the media are too quick to attack state forces for alleged human rights violations but are unwilling to charge the militants of the same violations when they commit atrocities. The truth is, this is exactly as per the mandate of the UNs Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948. The human rights movement was born in the aftermath of World War II, and in acknowledgment that the state can be a serious violator of individual rights. However, especially in the wake of the LTTE, which was a virtual state once, there was an attempt to give parity to both kinds of atrocities with the introduction of the Geneva Conventions Protocol-II, 1977. Unfortunately, most countries with radical internal dissents refused to ratify it as this would give the challengers the status of putative states. Until such a protocol comes to be adopted as an international law then, atrocities by state forces will remain human rights violations and those by militants law and order problems for the state to resolve. Pradip Phanjoubam phanjoubam@gmail.com Follow him on Twitter @PradipPhanjouba Shankkar Aiyar By October 13, 1999. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was sworn in as prime minister for the third time. Among the well-wishers was Nitin Gadkari, the flyover minister who delivered Indias first expressway. Vajpayee asked Gadkari, half in jest, Is there a flyover to connect Bharat with India? Gadkari had connected 16,000 villages in Naxal-hit areas with roads and had no hesitation saying yes we can. Vajpayee set up the National Rural Road Development Committee with Gadkari as chief to design the Prime Ministers rural roads programme. The PMGSY has since enabled over 5.5 lakh km of roads connecting Bharat. The journey of Vajpayees ashes across India this week symbolises Vajpayeenomics. Connectivity was a theme song of Vajpayee. In politics it was connecting people with ideas, and in governance it was connecting people with access to services to prosper. The idea as a force multiplier for investments and employment was nurtured and propelled by Yashwant Sinha and Jaswant Singh. The national highways programme connecting east with west and south with north connected people and markets for economic growth. Many would recall the `16 per minute mobile tariff days of 1998. Exorbitant costs detained telecom penetration and the licence fee regime had crippled telecom companies. Vajpayee enabled the migration of telecom companies from a high-licence fees regime to a revenue sharing model. By 2004, India was logging over 3 million subscribers per month. The popular image of Vajpayee as a political colossus is rooted in and owes much to his comprehension of real-world economics. Many of the strategically significant reforms after 1991 were founded in the Vajpayee yearsmost critically, interventions to combat hunger and deprivation and promote human resource development. The Antyodaya scheme providing 35 kg of food grains at `3 and `2 per kg for BPL families was launched by Vajpayeeand is the template for the National Food Security Act. The Kisan Card was introduced in 1998. The much-discussed Swaminathan Committee is an avatar of the National Commission for Farmers. It was set up by Vajpayee in 2003 to be led by Sompal Shastri for determining a formula for MSP and ensuring equitable returns to farmers. Agri policieswhether it was BT cotton or dairy developmentwere focused on raising farmer incomes. Today, India has over 14 lakh schoolsup from 8.6 lakh in 2001. The number of students enrolled in schools is over 19.7 crore that is roughly the population of UK, France and Germany. The catalysts are the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan launched in 2000-2001 and the 86th Amendment of the Constitution in December 2002, which legislated the right to education. The macro fundamentals India is proud ofthe consensus for a cap on government spendingrests on the FRBM Act passed in August 2003. The idea of GST was conceptualised as a grand bargain with states by the task force on the implementation of FRBM Act led by Vijay Kelkar. FDI in insurance was first opened up in 1999in fact the scope for opening sectors for FDI, and the steps announced subsequently to allow foreign equity in financial services, infrastructure, aviation and retail stem from the 2002 report of the N K Singh Committee. The induction of the private sector in defence production was born in Vajpayees tenure. On June 18, 1998 George Fernandes interacted with corporates at a CII meeting. In May 2001, the government articulated the vision to open the defence sector for both, the Indian private sector and FDI. Vajpayee then tasked a committee led by Vijay Kelkar with defining the contours of engagement. Pranab Mukherjee as defence minister accepted the report in 2005, but thanks to the reigning saints in the UPA, implementation of the policy was stalled. The need to get the government out of business has been a saleable slogan since the 1991 liberalisation. Vajpayee empowered Arun Shourie to get the sarkar out of karobar. Sixteen entities, including Balco, VSNL, IPCL, Hindustan Zinc Ltd., Modern Food, and hotels were privatized. The regimes which preceded the Vajpayee regime and those which followed chose expediency over efficiency. No doubt there was resistance to privatisation and liberalisation. When VSNL was to be privatised, his ministers were up in arms, including many who are in the Cabinet now. Vajpayee smiled through the diatribe and ended the meeting with a simple yeh karna hai (we must do it). Vajpayee was also aware of the limits of disruption. On a Thursday evening in September 2001, a multinational consultancy made a presentation for 10 per cent growth. At the end the wily Buddha smiled and only said magar yeh sab hoga kaise (how will all this happen?). Vajpayee came to power when Asian economies were reeling under the currency contagion, companies were struggling under debt, banks were laden with NPAs and state electricity boards were running on empty. In its six-year tenure, the regime enacted SARFESI to enable asset reconstruction companies, bailed out banks and UTI, funded SEBs and enacted the Electricity Act 2003, opening up the power sector. Team Vajpayee, particularly Yashwant Sinha and later Jaswant Singh, steered the economy through the contagion, past the Kargil war, through the Parakram border stand-off and US sanctions after Pokhran. Vajpayee balanced pain and gain of reforms under a framework of reforms by consensus with a common sense perspective. He invested political capital for peace across the borders and to establish India as a nuclear power. He also invested capital for economic growth and positioned it as a goal for national security. The Atal model of development designed the building blocks for the $2.5 trillion economy and the India story. Shankkar Aiyar Author of Aadhaar: A Biometric History of Indias 12 Digit Revolution, and Accidental India shankkar.aiyar@gmail.com T J S George By How many will learn how many lessons from the floods that devastated Kerala and Kodagu? The most important lesson is bound to go unlearnedthat, ultimately, these were again examples of nature collapsing under the impact of human greed. We were warned of it five years ago when cloudbursts and landslides turned Uttarakhand upside down, killing nearly 6,000 people. It was adjudged a man-made disaster with hydroelectric dams, illegal mining and construction activities upsetting natures balance. The same greed-driven factors have been threatening most of the Western Ghats as Madhav Gadgil warned seven years ago. Land exploitation and illegal quarrying had reached dangerous levels. But the profiteers behind such exploitation always get support from government leaders and political parties. So, the Gadgil Report was subverted. Gadgil has pointed to the Kerala disaster and warned that Goa would be next. To see what he means, we only have to take a drive along certain areas of interior Goa that have been turned by mining companies into gaping holes in the earth. The miners and their political friends earned Rs 35,000 crore in profits, as an inquiry commission found. The story is the same whether it be Kerala, Goa or Kodagu, where entire plantations have disappeared in flood fury. Converting paddy fields and forest lands into resorts is an easy way to make money. When the natural movements of water are blocked and when hill slopes are cleared of vegetation, nature breaks into landslides, debris flows and rock falls. But we refuse to learn lessons as greed dances with corruption. The depredation that wrecked Kerala threw light on the best and the worst that make up our country. The way the local people rose to the occasion was both inspiring and humbling. Individuals and groups plunged into rescue operations disregarding all political and religious differences. Coastal fishing communities transported 700 boats by lorries to the affected areas and helped move 65,000 people to safe shelters. Social media groups set up online control rooms and call centres manned by hundreds of volunteers. Prisoners in the states jails prepared food in vast quantities in addition to contributing Rs 12 lakh from their prison-work wages. The authorities closed the gates of a dam to save a flood-trapped elephant. Four men risked their lives to save a dog that couldnt swim against a strong current. The media did a great job combining responsibility with dedication. The chief minister showed timely leadership and instilled confidence in people while coordinating relief activities. He was even courteous to the media. What the world saw was a spontaneous peoples movement with the We shall overcome theme as a driving force. This groundswell of voluntary action by a people who refused to be cowed down by catastrophe added weight to the help that rushed in from outside. The armed forces, Central teams with special skills, and flood relief experts from Orissa were so brave that the locals took to them as family. The message was: This is a country that citizens can be proud of. But one sinister streak marred the whole scenario. Discordant notes came from the religious right and, astonishingly, from the Central government. A Swamys comment that Kerala was punished for eating beef may be dismissed as the ranting of a mental case. But what about a man from the BJPs IT cell who uploaded an audio clip and text saying that the flood-affected people were mostly from well-to-do families who, therefore, deserved no assistance. He still asked for donations, but to a BJP-sponsored platform. There were others who said contributions should not be sent to the Chief Ministers Relief Fund because the money could go to the minorities. The Central governments partisan positions were the worst. What cacophony over the UAEs supposed Rs 700-crore assistance offer. It forced the UAE to diplomatically unmention any figure, and it forced Delhi to say that its own Rs 600-crore offer was only for starters. At one point Delhi said that no foreign aid would be accepted, then it changed its semantics. It said rice supplied to the state would have to be paid for, then it said it would be free. The air got so filled with hatred that the misery of multitudes of people was forgotten. A BJP television personality in Kerala said in effect, his voice trembling with emotion, that all those who disagreed with him were idiots. None of this is the real issue. The real issue is that the Government of India has given the impression that it is inimical towards the government and people of a state. This is unprecedented and bodes ill for the future. After the flood waters and devastation, Kerala is now battling to return to normalcy. It will be a Herculean effort and will need huge doses of funding. As is usual, after the disaster, come the controversies. The big one: Is there an aid offer of Rs 700 crore from the United Arab Emirates? And if so, should India take the funds? The first time we heard of it was from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who tweeted the Rs 700 crore offer. Amidst the controversy, UAE Ambassador to India Ahmed Albanna has now said no specific amount was offered but conceded that a committee has been formed to provide assistance. The obvious takeaway: We should vet our figures and sources before going public on sensitive matters. Meanwhile, the Centre, which has committed an interim amount of Rs 680 crore, has indicated that it will not accept foreign government contributions and will rely solely on domestic efforts to tide over the challenges. The Kerala chief minister has asked for a special fund of Rs 2,600 crore and pegged the devastation at over Rs 20,000 crore. This does not include huge reconstruction costs. The state electricity board estimates that Rs 350 crore in power infrastructure has been wiped out. About 14,000 km of roads and highways have been washed away. The states finances are in doldrums with the fiscal deficit for FY2017 rising to Rs 26,448 crore from Rs 17,818 crore in the previous year. In this context, the Union government should not stand on prestige and accept aid from wherever it comes after a security check. Kerala is facing a crisis and the Centre has declared it a calamity of severe nature. The states talent has contributed to the growth of many countries; and if those governments want to give a helping hand, we should not turn them away. India itself has pioneered aid efforts in Afghanistan and during the floods in Nepal last monsoon. Fighting a natural disaster and humanitarian aid should have no borders. By Express News Service KURNOOL: With interest, I will collect, what is due to Andhra Pradesh form the Centre, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu thundered at a huge gathering of Nammaka Droham Pai Dharma Porata Deeksha here on Saturday. He said when someone makes a vow to Lord Venkateswara in Tirupati, the Lord collects it with interest. Referring to the promises, including special category status, made to the people of Andhra Pradesh in Tirupati, Naidu said he will see that what is due to the State is given, that too with interest. He said Telugu people would rather retaliate and show their power than take injustice being done to the State by the Centre lying down. We will get back what is rightfully ours, he asserted. Citing the recent Assembly polls in Karnataka, he said Telugu people had shown the BJP what they meant and warned the saffron party to be prepared to face their greater ire in 2019 elections if it fails to remedy the situation by giving what is due to the State. He said the TDP floated by NT Rama Rao stands for the self-respect of Telugu people and will not bow down under any pressure. We allied with the BJP in the larger interest of the State, following irrational bifurcation by the Congress-led government. But even after four years, no justice was done to the State. So, we quit the NDA and now we are fighting for our rights, he explained. The Telugu Desam Pary is the first regional party which has moved a no-confidence motion against the Centre to protect the rights of the State, the Chief Minister said. Making a presentation of Prime Minister Narendra Modis speeches assuring that all the bifurcation promises would be kept, Naidu said the BJP turned out to be a cheat and betrayer. He likened the NDA to the British and said like Telugu people fought against the British, now they will fight against Delhi for their rights and justice. Describing Modi as an inexperienced politician, Naidu said he had become Chief Minister in 1995 and Modi became Chief Minister in 2002 and by luck, he became the Prime Minister today. I do not need his certification on my ability, calibre and capacity, he fumed. At length, he described as to how the Centre failed to keep several of its promises and even cited the example of revenue deficit and funding for the capital city. He reiterated that he is committed to completing the Polavaram Project and making the State drought proof. He claimed that YSRC chief Jaganmohan Reddy and Jana Senas Pawan Kalyan are being used by the BJP to weaken TDP. But, it will never happen, as we have the support of 5 crore people of Andhra Pradesh, he said and added that they do not need an alliance of any party but will welcome the support of all for the State development. Speaking on the occasion, TDP MP JC Diwakar Reddy said all such Dharma Porata Deekshas will not fetch the State special category status. Deekshas will not yield anything, says JC TDP MP from Anantapur JC Diwakar Reddy said all such Dharma Porata Deekshas will not fetch the State special category status or make the Centre yield to implement the provisions of AP Reorganisation Act. Though there was no need, I came all the way from Anantapur, to tell you, sir, that all those sitting here are misleading you. There is no need for you to tell people time and again the need for Dharma Poratam. I will be quitting politics and do not have any aspirations to seek any post or position from you. I once again tell your Dharma Porata Deeksha will not yield anything, the TDP MP said. Tiki Rajwi By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The armed forces on Sunday announced a formal end to active Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations undertaken in the flood-hit areas of the state but added that medical assistance and other forms of support will continue. Addressing a joint press conference by the services here, Air Marshal B Suresh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command (SAC), said that the post-flood rehabilitation phase has now started, which, essentially, is the responsibility of the state government. The armed forces will continue to be there every step of the way. ''As the rehabilitation now starts, army medical teams, IAF mobile hospitals have been deployed in various regions. Kuttanad is still an area under stress. From our side we will continue to support,'' he said. Every aspect of the relief operation will be studied in detail to learn from the lessons and emerge as a better response force, Suresh said. He declined to comment on the possibility that the simultaneous opening of dams may have caused the floods, but said it was for the government or the KSEB to say. The armed forces have been actively supporting government's rescue and relief efforts since August 8 when they were alerted to the looming disaster. However, the inclement weather, the terrain and topography, the population density and the intensity of operations offered unique challenges. The IAF had christened its operation 'Operation Karuna,' the Navy 'Operation Madad,' army 'Operation Sahyog' and the Coast Guard 'Operation Rahat.' This was also one of the most high-intensity relief operations undertaken by the IAF, Suresh said. ''Here everything was packed into a short span of time. But there was close coordination and cooperation from all sides. All agencies worked in unison,'' he said. On the first day, IAF flew ten sorties, but subsequently mobilised more resources including 26 helicopters. On a comparative scale this was the largest disaster-related induction exercise ever conducted in the country in terms of load wherein over 11,96,736 kgs (approx 1200 tonnes) was airlifted at short notice, IAF said. The army had deployed, in all, 70 composite teams which included infantry, engineer task forces and medical units, Brigadier C G Arun, Commander, Pangode Military Station, said. ''The troops have opened roads, cleared landslides and constructed temporary bridges utilising the natural resources available in the area. So far approximately 26 temporary bridges have been constructed/repaired and approximately 50 roads have been opened/cleared for the general public,'' Arun said. According to the army, almost 15000 people stranded in various parts of flood-affected areas have been rescued by the troops of Southern Army Command. This includes victims in Kodagu district in Karnataka. The Navy, operating out of the Southern Naval Command (SNC), Kochi, operated 20 aircraft, Commander S Sanooj said. This was also the largest ever HADR operation undertaken by the SNC, with 16,843 persons having been rescued, of which 15670 were by boat, while 1173 had to be airlifted. As many as 13 Coast Guard ships and seven bases were actively involved in the Coast Guard operations during the floods, Commandant V K Varghese said. The agency deployed 36 rescue teams and opened 17 medical camps. ''177.7 tonnes of relief materials were provided and 35 tonnes are in transit,'' he said. #North Korea Seoul urges Pyongyang to accept proposed visit by pope The South Korean government on Monday urged North Korea to respond positively to a suggestion that the pope visit there, expressing hope for progress in efforts to promote regional... #People Power Party Main opposition party enters final stretch of presidential primary with polling The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) kicked off the final week of its presidential primary Monday as the two front-runners appeared to be locked in a tight race for the nom... By Express News Service HYDERABAD: A week after NRI Affairs Minister KT Rama Rao urged immigrants in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to come back home, six Telangana residents are set to return to the state from the middle-eastern country on Sunday after availing the recently-launched Amnesty 2018 programme in the country. Rajam Kailotu and Mohan Kelopth from Rajanna Sircilla, and Nizamabad residents Govardhan Bhukyam, Mahipaul Malavath Bharath Kumar Mangalapalli and Rathan Ambgoth, are set to land at Rajiv Gandhi Internation Airport in Hyderabad. NRI Department officials have directed airport protocol authorities to receive them arrange transportation for them to their respective native places. Under the Amnesty Period, launched on August 1, UAE is granting exit permits to immigrants who wish to leave the country and regularise residence of those staying illegally. It also helps people whose passports have been confiscated by their kafeels (sponsors). On Monday, Rao had appealed to immigrants to avail the scheme and return to the country. The NRI department also addressed a fax message to the Consulate General of India in Dubai, and Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi to facilitate such immigrants when approached. Nine immigrants from state trapped in Malaysia to return Following the intervention of NRI Affairs minister KT Rama Rao, nine immigrants from the state who were trapped in Malaysia for months, are set to return to India on Sunday. The immigrants, most of them who had gone to Malaysia two months ago, were cheated by local agents on the pretext of securing good jobs in Malaysia. They were asked to pay a lump sum by an agent, who sent them to the country. However, upon reaching they were kicked out of the promised job and had no job or money since. According to a press note from the NRI Affairs Department, one Thirupathi Saidam of the Malaysia Telangana Association rescued the nine and shifted them to High Commission of Indias deportation centre. They have been there for the last 20 days with food and accommodation. KTR coordinated with High Commission of India in Kuala Lumpur for their immediate repatriation. Amit Agnihotri By NEW DELHI: The Congress is planning to rope in the NGOs to spread its message against the Modi government highlighting issues like corruption in the Rafale fighter jet deal, demonetisation, GST, joblessness and lynchings. According to party sources, the first task is to convince the NGOs to take up these issues and make people aware about them.NGOs are non-political bodies. They highlight peoples issues and solve their problems. They can help spread our message, Mumbai Congress leader Manish Shah told The Sunday Standard. READ| Anil Ambani writes to Rahul Gandhi on Rafale deal, says party has been misinformed, misled A gathering of over 250 NGOs from across the country was planned for August 30 in Mumbai but had to be postponed because of the demise of party veteran Gurudas Kamat. Fresh dates are being worked out, said the local leaders involved in the process. As the party is adopting a novel way to communicate with the voters, party insiders realise not everyone among the NGOs may come on board. Not all of them may be galvanised into action, but most would believe, said a senior AICC functionary. The interaction was the idea of AICC minority department chief Nadeem Javed, who is making efforts to enlist the support of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and others ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Party insiders said the minorities appear to have a lot of apprehensions about the Modi government and the BJP and need to be assured that the Congress would stand by them. Congress managers are desperate to woo back the minorities, once the traditional vote bank of the grand old party who had deserted it over the past several years. Manish Anand By NEW DELHI: Well aware that Uttar Pradesh holds the key to Prime Minister Narendra Modis return to power in 2019, BJP chief Amit Shah has set a 60-point agenda for the party in the state, including poaching ground-level workers from the rival political outfits and spearheading membership drive among Dalit and other backward castes (OBCs). The significance of UP is marked by the fact that Shah has set 22-point agenda for the party in most other states. UP, with 80 Lok Sabha seats, will be the key electoral battleground for the BJP. In the wake of the emerging Opposition unity, particularly a possible pre-poll alliance between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP), its going to be a stiff challenge. Hence, the BJP is significantly ramping up its poll preparedness in the state, said a senior party functionary. In a clear indication that the BJP is wary of the consolidation of Dalits and OBCs behind the possible SP-BSP alliance in the state, the party has asked its workers to enlist 20 new members at each of the polling booths from the scheduled castes and the backward communities. The party has also asked the state units to establish contacts with workers of rival outfits at booth level and wean away. The BJP is preparing a database of people with smartphones at each polling booth in a bid to connect them with the partys digital media resource base, added the leader.In another strategy, the BJP is gearing up to establish contacts with members of self-help groups, co-operatives linked to agricultural marketing, dairies and district cooperative banks. It is also seeking to make members from among the NGOs active in each parliamentary constituency. The BJP is providing micro-details of the two previous Lok Sabha elections and the Assembly polls to the workers at the polling booth level. The partys national general secretaries will closely monitor the progress on the tasks set for the party workers at booth levels, said the BJP leader. With the aim to counter the Opposition campaign that the Modi government hasnt fulfilled the promises made during the 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign, the BJP plans to hold meetings of the beneficiaries of various Central schemes at each polling booth. Long list of priorities 60-point agenda: UP 30-point agenda: Bihar, Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Assam etc. 22 point agenda: MP, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, etc. Namita Bajpai By LUCKNOW: As the 2019 Lok Sabha poll battle is inching closer, fissures in the first family of Samajwadi Party are reappearing to trouble the organisation. The rumblings in the family are trickling out with the flip-flop of senior leader Shivpal Yadav, who has been estranged with nephew and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. Running out of options and turning redundant in SP, Shivpal has once again given indications of floating his own outfit before general elections. He is apprehensive about restoration of his pride and stature in the party, with Akhilesh at the helm, said a source close to Shivpal. With elder brother and party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav under whose wings Shivpal nurtured his political dreams having reconciled to Akhileshs ways of running the organisation, his doubts are gaining ground. According to the sources, Shivpal, worried not only about his future but also his son Adityas, had been sending feelers to Akhilesh for reconciliation but they were not reciprocated. Shivpalji tried hard to mend ties with party chief, but now he is trying to come to terms with the fact that its too late and he doesnt fit in the present scheme of things in the party, said a close aide of the SP leader. In all probability, Shivpalji will launch his own outfit before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he added. READ| BJP frightened by shaping up of Opposition unity: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav After the Rajya Sabha polls in the state in March, when Shivpal was seen standing firm with the party, speculations were rife that he might be sent to Delhi. But nothing concrete took shape. He recently conceded that he was not on talking terms with Akhilesh. He said he had attended the birthday celebrations of SP general secretary and cousin Ram Gopal Yadav in June on Mulayams insistence. But it paid no dividends and the ties remained as tense as ever with Akhilesh and Ram Gopal despite his we stand united as a family posturing in Etawah during the event, said a senior SP leader close to the Yadav family. Waiting in the wings for almost a year now, Shivpal undertook a number of visits to Delhi in the past few months to consult political experts while exploring the option of floating his own front, said the sources. Not just Shivpal, but several other senior leaders are grappling to find a foot in the new set-up in the party under Akhilesh. The new leadership has its own ways of running the show. It wants the veterans to sit at home. As a result, many are looking out for other options, said political observer Ashutosh Mishra. Leaders like Bhagwati Singh, Narad Rai, Mohammad Azam Khan, Mohammad Shahid and Deepak Mishra, who were the part core team during Mulayams time, are feeling left out now, said a Samajwadi leader. All such people are in touch with Shivpal, said a source close to one of those leaders. However, the Shivpal camp is weighing options and the choices are varying between floating a secular front and reviving an old party like Charan Singhs Lok Dal. The family dispute In September 2016, then SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav replaced son Akhilesh with Shivpal as the partys state chief. The family feud culminated in a coup of sorts by Akhilesh, who not only removed Mulayam from the party chiefs post and got himself appointed in his place but also stripped Shivpal of party post and cabinet berth at a hurriedly called national executive on January 1, 2017. According to party sources, immediately after the 2017 Assembly polls, when SP suffered a crushing defeat, Shivpal was all set to branch out and float his own outfit, but Mulayam had intervened and stopped him. But now, even he appears to have accepted the fact that Akhilesh-Shivpal ties are beyond rapprochement. By PTI LAHORE: A woman and her friend were today shot dead allegedly by her father and uncle in a suspected case of "honour killing" in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province, police said. Fauzia, 24, and Imran, 30, were in a relationship and used to meet without the knowledge of their families, The Express Tribune reported. The woman's father and other family members came to know that she had gone to meet Imran at his house, police said. "In a fit of rage, the woman's father Iqbal, uncle Yaseen and two cousins rushed to his house and opened fire on them," he said. The couple were killed on the spot in the firing. Police said after initial investigation, they found that the woman's family found them in an objectionable condition and killed them, the report said. A case of murder has been registered against the culprits and raids were being carried out to nab them, police said. According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, nearly 1,000 women and girls in deeply conservative Pakistan are being murdered every year for allegedly bringing shame on their family. The rights group says that the women are killed for being accused of having illicit relations and marrying without the family's consent. Most of the women are killed by their brothers and husbands, the group said. By AFP KABUL: The leader of the Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan was killed by airstrikes over the weekend along with 10 other people, government officials said Sunday following a string of deadly attacks by the extremist group. The intelligence agency said Saad Arhabi died in a joint operation with coalition forces late Saturday in the group's eastern stronghold in Nangarhar province near the border with Pakistan. "The Emir of Daesh in Afghanistan along with 10 others was killed," said a statement by the National Directorate of Security, calling the group by an Arabic acronym. Arhabi is the fourth leader of IS's Afghan branch to be killed since the group first emerged in the country around 2014. ALSO READ | At least 27 hostages held by Islamic State in south Syria: Human Rights Watch The agency also said a large number of weapons, ammunition and explosives were destroyed by the air attacks. Provincial governor's spokesman Attaullah Khogyani confirmed the leader's death, also citing a joint operation involving strikes. ALSO READ | Syrian regime bombs Islamic State jihadists in southern desert US forces in Afghanistan confirmed they had conducted a strike in the location described by Afghan officials, which "targeted a senior leader of a designated terrorist organisation". IS has a relatively small but potent presence in Afghanistan, mainly in Nangarhar but more recently in the northern province of Jowzjan. Hours before the raid the group claimed a deadly suicide attack which appeared to target a sit-in protest outside an election commission office in the city of Jalalabad. Two people were killed. ALSO READ | Islamic State chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi urges 'jihad' in purported new recording The bombing followed a number of bloody attacks claimed by IS in recent weeks, including assaults on several government installations in Kabul and a bombing at a school in a Shiite area of the capital that killed at least 37 people. The group, however, has suffered repeated setbacks in the latest fighting season amid a bloody turf war with the much larger Taliban. Estimates of their numbers in the country run as high as around 2,000. More than IS 150 fighters surrendered to Afghan forces in Jowzjan on August 1, a move which troops and the Taliban hailed as the end of the groups foothold in the north of the country. By AFP TOKYO: Shinzo Abe confirmed Sunday he would run in his ruling party's leadership election, putting him on track to become Japan's longest-serving premier and bolstering his dream of reforming the constitution. Abe is expected to be re-elected head of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) easily, with the vast majority of lawmakers behind him and only one challenger, former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba. "I have decided to lead Japan as the LDP leader and the prime minister for three more years, and with this determination, I will run for the leadership election next month," Abe told reporters in a televised news conference. Winning the September 20 run-off would effectively keep the hawkish Abe in power for another three-year term at the helm of the world's third-largest economy, with no real political party opposition to speak of. Shinzo Abe. (Photo | AP) Abe pledged Sunday to focus on the demographic issues raised by Japan's rapidly ageing society as well as the "tumultuous changing international situation." His rival Ishiba has also identified demographic concerns and the regional security threat from nuclear-armed North Korea as the two biggest challenges facing Japan. In April, Abe found himself on the ropes amid twin cronyism scandals that reignited the debate over whether he had sufficient backing to win a third term as LDP leader as his approval ratings dipped. But Mikitaka Masuyama, professor of political science at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), predicted the election would be a "landslide victory for Abe, as he has already obtained support from an overwhelming majority of MPs." The election is decided 50-per cent by MPs and the other half by the LDP's rank-and-file members. "There is no one else qualified to lead Japan in an environment where (President Donald) Trump's US and China continue their trade battles that could hit the world economy," Masuyama told AFP. Forever renounce war Analysts believe Abe, 63, will seize on the expected victory to resume his push to reform Japan's post-war constitution, specifically an article that forces the country to "forever renounce war" and that armed forces will "never be maintained." The article creates a headache for Japan's Self-Defence Forces (SDF), a well-equipped military stuck in a constitutional grey zone. With regional tensions still high, allies have urged Japan to bolster the role of the SDF but former foes in Beijing, Seoul and Pyongyang would likely react furiously. "The revision of the Constitution is a long-held policy goal" of the LDP, Abe said earlier this month. "We cannot keep just discussing (it)," he said. Revising the Allied-imposed Constitution is a very sensitive matter in pacifist Japan and an August 5 poll in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper showed 52 per cent of people were opposed to changing it, compared to 31 per cent in favour. Moreover, more than two-thirds of people in an NHK poll in April said there were more pressing issues in Japan, which continues to battle deflation and problems relating to an ageing society. According to Masuyama, Abe intends "to clarify the role of the Self-Defense Forces, and nothing more," whereas defence hawk Ishiba prefers a deeper reform of Japan's military strategy. "It's unthinkable that Japan would take a path towards military power," said the analyst. Abe took power in December 2012 after a landslide general election victory for the LDP, making a dramatic comeback after a bowel ailment forced him to resign the premiership in 2007 following a year in the role. Currently, the longest-serving Japanese prime minister is Taro Katsura, who served as premier three times between June 1901 to February 1913. If Abe serves beyond November next year, completing more than 2,886 days as premier including his 2006-2007 term, he will be the longest-serving prime minister in the country's history. By PTI WASHINGTON: "I believe there is no limit to our potential", this is how veteran Senator John McCain viewed US-India relations, especially in the defence sector, as he underscored the importance of setting the foundation correctly for the critical bilateral relations. In an editorial he wrote for CNN ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington in 2016, had said that it was remarkable how much bipartisan support the US-India relationship enjoys on Capitol Hill, an upsurge of interest and respect that is normally reserved only for close partners and allies. ALSO READ | Presidents, lawmakers laud McCain for devotion to country "In all my years in Congress, I recall only a select few countries that rose so quickly to such an exalted esteem," McCain, who died yesterday in his home in Arizona at the age of 81, wrote in the editorial two years ago. Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., celebrates in Miami after winning the Florida Republican presidential primary. Aide says senator, war hero and GOP presidential candidate McCain died Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. He was 81. (Photo | AP) McCain, an influential Republican lawmaker and the party's nominee for president in the 2008 election, however, noted that moving forward US-China relationship will require "hard choices and determined leadership". "But if any two countries were up to this challenge, it would be two of the most stable democracies in the world -- two countries that have already overcome much historical baggage to arrive at this moment together," McCain, who has served as Chairman of the Senate Committees on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and most recently, Armed Services, wrote. Commenting on Prime Minister Modi's visit to Washington in 2016, he wrote that his trip underscores just how important America's relationship with India has become -- and how critical it is that we set the foundation correctly for the years to come. In the editorial, he pointed out that India was one of the fastest growing sources of foreign investment in the US, with Indian companies investing in American entrepreneurship, creating jobs and leading in corporate social responsibility. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, and Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., greet each other at the start of a townhall-style presidential debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo | AP) "At the same time, as I have watched the partnership develop over the past several years, it is remarkable how much progress we have made on defence and security issues. From joint exercises to joint technology development, and from defence sales to defence strategy, our security interactions and cooperation are increasingly becoming the backbone of our global strategic partnership," he wrote. "A quarter-century ago, this would have been hard to imagine. As our two countries emerged from opposite sides of the Cold War, suspicion was high and distrust even higher," he recalled. He noted that the two countries could not agree on trading mangos or Coke, let alone trading fighter jets and attack helicopters. ALSO READ | Veteran US senator John McCain ends cancer treatment But in the intervening years, the world changed, and with it, so did our two countries. Remarkably, both sides are now keenly working to make such activities a reality, he wrote. Given our history, he wrote in 2016 that the current defence relationship is indeed a significant achievement. "But what encourages me the most is not the road we have travelled, but rather the path that lies ahead," he wrote. Republican presidential candidate John McCain acknowledges the crowed as he goes on stage at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn. (Photo | AP) "Over the next 25 years, if we are able to overcome our mutual timidity and our respective historical hang-ups, I cannot imagine anything that could derail our defence relationship and prevent it from becoming ever closer," he wrote in the same year the US recognised India as a Major Defence Partner. "When it comes to the defence relationship, I believe there is no limit to our potential, and I will be working hard to ensure these principles are carried into the next administration and the next Congress," he had vowed two years ago. "I am confronted every day I see in India a country that can and should fight with us to maintain global security. "In the coming years, I see an India that provides critical stability in a rapidly changing Indian Ocean region. I see an India that maintains regional balance against expansionist adversaries in the Pacific. And I see an India that is a stronger, more capable ally in the struggle against global terrorism and piracy," McCain wrote, during his stint as the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "And this is just the beginning. If we can come together as defence partners, our countries can be immensely positive forces for increased global peace and security," he wrote. Getting there, however, will not be easy, he had cautioned. "To achieve all this, the US will need to begin treating India the same as it does its close partners and allies," he wrote. India must begin acting like a close partner and ally, he wrote. By Associated Press KNOCK: Pope Francis on Sunday denounced how Irish children were "robbed of their innocence and taken from their mothers" by Catholic-run institutions that put them up for adoption to erase the shame of having been born to unwed mothers. Francis spoke out about Ireland's haunted history of forced adoptions during a prayer Sunday in Knock, the country's main shrine dedicated to Christ's mother, Mary. His comments, on the second and final day of his visit to Ireland, came after an emotional meeting with abuse victims on Saturday, including some forced adoptees. ALSO READ | Pope Francis listens to the wounds of the abused in Ireland "None of us can fail to be moved by the stories of young people who suffered abuse, were robbed of their innocence or taken away from their mothers, abandoned and left scarred by painful memories," he said. "This open wound challenges us to be firm and decisive in the pursuit of truth and justice." Wind blows Pope Francis' cape as he delivers his speech at the Knock Shrine, in Knock, Ireland. (Photo | AP) Ireland has thousands of now-adult adoptees who were wrench at birth from their unwed mothers, who had been forced to go live and work in laundries and other workhouses for "fallen women." One forced adoptee, Clodagh Malone, said Francis was "shocked" at what they told him and "he listened to each and every one of us with respect and compassion." The survivors asked Francis to speak out Sunday to let all the mothers know that they did nothing wrong and that it wasn't a sin as church officials have told them to try to find their children later in life. They said the Argentine pope understood well their plight, given Argentina's own history of forced adoptions of children born to purported leftists during its 1970s military dictatorship. ALSO READ | Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar asks Pope Francis to ensure justice for sexual abuse victims "That is a big step forward for a lot of elderly women, particularly in the countryside in Ireland, who have lived 30, 40, 50, 60 years in fear," another adoptee, Paul Redmond, told The Associated Press. "That would mean a lot to them." People wait for the arrival of Pope Francis in front of the Knock Shrine, in Knock, Ireland. (Photo | AP) Francis' first day in Ireland was dominated by the abuse scandal and Ireland's fraught history of atrocities committed in the name of purifying the Catholic faith. He received a lukewarm reception on the streets, but tens of thousands of people thronged Dublin's Croke Park Stadium on Saturday night for a family rally featuring Ireland's famous Riverdance performers and tenor Andrea Boccelli. The abuse scandal has devastated the church's reputation in Ireland since the 1990s and has exploded anew in the U.S. The U.S. scandal took on a new twist Sunday, with a former Vatican ambassador to the U.S. penning a letter accusing Vatican officials of knowing about the sexual escapades of ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick since 2000, but making him a cardinal anyway. The letter attributed to Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano was published Sunday by two conservative outlets, the National Catholic Register and LifeSiteNews. Francis accepted McCarrick's resignation as cardinal last month after a U.S. church investigation determined an accusation he molested a minor was "credible." But in the letter, Vigano said McCarrick had been initially sanctioned by the Vatican in 2009 or 2010 but that Francis rehabilitated him in 2013 despite being informed of McCarrick's penchant to invite young seminarians into his bed. The Vatican didn't immediately comment on the letter. Pope Francis visits the Knock's shrine during his apostolic trip to Ireland, Sunday. (Photo | AP) Francis sought to respond to the outcry over the U.S. and global sex abuse and cover-up scandal during a speech Saturday to Irish government authorities at Dublin Castle. "The failure of ecclesiastical authorities bishops, religious superiors, priests and others to adequately address these repugnant crimes has rightly given rise to outrage, and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community," he told them. "I myself share these sentiments." But neither his words nor the meeting with victims assuaged demands for heads to roll over the abuse scandal. Colm O'Gorman, who is leading a rally Sunday in Dublin for abuse victims, said Francis' remarks about sharing the shame were an "insult to faithful Catholics, who have no reason to feel shame because of the crimes of the Vatican and the institutional church." ALSO READ | Pope on sex abuse: "We showed no care for the little ones" Survivors of one of Ireland's wretched mother-and-baby homes planned to demonstrate Sunday at Tuam, site of a mass grave of hundreds of babies who died at a church-run home. Francis was not far away at Knock on Sunday but did not visit the site at Tuam. He did, however, hear about Tuam from Ireland's minister for children, Katherine Zappone. Their conversation Saturday wasn't released but Francis said her words "still echo in my ears." Deeply Catholic Ireland has had one of the world's worst records of clergy sex abuse and the ill-treatment of women and children. Government-mandated inquiries concluded that thousands of children were raped or molested by priests or physically abused in church-run schools and Irish bishops worked for years to hide those crimes. By Associated Press WASHINGTON: Presidents and lawmakers from both parties honoured Sen. John McCain's decades of service to his country in the hours after his death Saturday. President Donald Trump, who once criticized McCain for being taken prisoner during the Vietnam War, said his "deepest sympathies and respect" went out to McCain's family. McCain, 81, died at his ranch in Arizona after a yearlong battle with brain cancer. On Saturday night, a black hearse accompanied by a police motorcade could be seen driving away from the ranch near Sedona where the Republican senator spent his final weeks. ALSO READ | Veteran US senator John McCain ends cancer treatment Trump's brief Twitter statement said "hearts and prayers" are with the McCain family. My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 26 August 2018 First lady Melania Trump thanked McCain for his service to the nation, which included more than five years as a prisoner of war and six terms in the Senate. Trump and McCain were at odds until the end. The president, who mocked McCain's capture in Vietnam during the 2016 campaign, jabbed at the senator even after his illness for voting against Republican efforts to roll back President Barack Obama's health care law. Earlier this summer, McCain issued a blistering statement criticizing Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks at a rally in Davenport, Iowa. Arizona Sen. McCain, the war hero who became the GOP's standard-bearer in the 2008 election, has died. He was 81. His office says McCain died Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. He had battled brain cancer. (Photo | AP) Former presidents, including those who blocked McCain's own White House ambitions, offered emotional tributes. Obama, who triumphed over McCain in the 2008 election, said that despite their differences, McCain and he shared a "fidelity to something higher - the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed." Obama said the two political opponents "saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world." Former President George W. Bush, who defeated McCain for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination, called his one-time political rival "man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order" and a "friend whom I'll deeply miss." Joe Gruber, of Anthem, Ariz., holds an American flag at an overpass along Interstate 17 as he and dozens of others wait for the procession with the hearse carrying the late Arizona Sen. John McCain, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, in Anthem, Ariz. (Photo | AP) Bush was among those expected to speak at McCain's funeral. McCain was the son and grandson of admirals and followed them to the U.S. Naval Academy. A pilot, he was shot down over Vietnam and held as a prisoner of war for more than five years. He went on to win a seat in the House and in 1986, the Senate, where he served for the rest of his life. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called McCain a "fascinating personality." "He would occasionally be in a bad place with various members, including myself, and when this would blow over it was like nothing ever happened," McConnell said Saturday after a GOP state dinner in Lexington, Kentucky. "He also had a wicked sense of humor and it made every tense moment come out better." Former Vice President Joe Biden, who developed a friendship with McCain while they served together in the Senate, said the Arizona lawmaker will "cast a long shadow." "The spirit that drove him was never extinguished: we are here to commit ourselves to something bigger than ourselves," Biden said McCain is expected to be remembered in Arizona and Washington before being buried, likely this week, at the Naval Academy Cemetery on a peninsula overlooking the Severn River. Other plans were taking shape, too. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced that he wants to name the Senate building that housed McCain's suite of offices after the Arizona senator, who served as chairman of the Commerce Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee. "As you go through life, you meet few truly great people. John McCain was one of them," Schumer said. "Maybe most of all, he was a truth teller - never afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all too rare." By PTI HANOI: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived here tonight as part of her four-day visit to Vietnam and Cambodia, which aims at deepening India's strategic cooperation with the two key nations in the ASEAN region. India's ties are on an upswing with the two major countries in the powerful ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) grouping. India has been particularly scaling up its cooperation with Vietnam in areas of maritime security and energy. "Hon'ble External Affairs Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj arrives in Hanoi on a three day visit to Vietnam (26-28 August 2018)," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Ravish Kumar tweeted. In Vietnam, Swaraj will co-chair the 16th meeting of the Joint Commission, along with the country's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. The External Affairs Minister's visit to Vietnam and Cambodia will provide an opportunity to hold in-depth discussions with the political leadership on a wide range of global, regional and bilateral issues, and advance our strategic engagement with these countries and the ASEAN region, the MEA had said yesterday. In her first official visit to Cambodia, Swaraj will hold extensive talks with her counterpart Prak Sokhonn, covering the entire expanse of bilateral and regional issues of mutual interests. She will call on Prime Minister Hun Sen and President of the Senate Say Chhum. During Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang's visit to New Delhi in March, both the sides had vowed to join hands for an open and thriving Indo-Pacific, besides ensuring an efficient and rules-based regional security architecture. Vietnam and several other ASEAN member countries have territorial disputes with China over the resource-rich South China Sea. China has been opposing India's Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) exploring oil in areas claimed by Vietnam in the South China Sea (SCS). India has been asserting that the ONGC's exploration is a commercial operation and not connected with the dispute. Oil exploration in the SCS is a sensitive issue in the Vietnam-China relations. By PTI LAHORE: In an unusual move, a top Pakistan Railways official has requested for a 730-day full pay leave, saying the attitude of the new minister for railways Sheikh Rasheed is "extremely non-professional and ill-mannered". Hanif Gul, a Grade-20 officer, said in his application letter that as an honourable member of the Civil Services of Pakistan, it is not possible for him to continue to work under him, Geo news reported. The application letter has since gone viral on social media in the country. "With due respect, it is submitted that the attitude of new Minister is extremely non-professional and ill-mannered. "As an Honourable member of the Civil Services of Pakistan, it is not possible for me to continue to work under him. The Minister is fully entitled to work with a team that shares his vision. It is, therefore, submitted that 730 days leave may kindly be allowed to the undersigned," the letter reads. Rasheed recently chaired a meeting of railways officials where he reportedly admonished them for telling "stories" about the department's better performance, the report said. The minister also asked them not to praise "any minister" in front of him. Rasheed has often criticised former railways minister Saad Rafique's performance. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Columnist Tom Kacich is a columnist and the author of Tom's Mailbag at The News-Gazette. His column appears Sundays. His email is tkacich@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@tkacich). One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021 The Police aim to arrange more visits to law enforcement agencies for future training camps, which will be regularised and held every July and December. Police Public Relations Branch Chief Inspector Charlotte Lam (third right) says Police hope the initiative will provide an interactive experience to help the youths integrate into the community and cultivate positive values. The training camp includes sharing sessions by officers of various disciplinary forces. Participants of the Cross-disciplined Forces Training Programme for Ethnic Minority Youth try out firefighter training sessions and suits, giving them insight into the rigorous demands of the job. The first phase of the Cross-disciplined Forces Training Programme for Ethnic Minority Youth was held from July 28 to 30, attracting more than 100 participants aged between nine and 25. They took part in various training sessions, giving them a taste of the skills and physical requirements needed for different posts in the disciplinary forces. Apart from helping the youths with career planning and community integration, the training camp also boosted their sense of social responsibility and raised crime prevention awareness. In on the action The summer programme left a lasting impression on 18-year-old Kaur Emandip. She said their visit to the Fire & Ambulance Services Academy was an exciting part of the training camp. In the Fire & Ambulance Services Academy, it was really big. It was my first visit there and I saw (a lot of) equipment. "Also, we saw real-life fire. So that was the coolest part over there and the heat was really strong, like you cant even go near it. There was an airplane and I was quite surprised to see an airplane there because it was really huge. Another participant, 19-year-old Shahzeeb, said their time at the academy gave him insight into the rigorous demands of the job. We got to try out their training sessions and try out their fireman suit, which I think is quite heavy. The equipment they have is quite heavy. And it was a great experience. The programme, held at the academy, the Police College and other facilities, was a real eye-opener for Kaur and Shahzeeb. They experienced scenarios which emulated real-life situations faced by firefighters and police officers. I didnt know they had an imitated centre for the police officers to train. Because in that centre they had different scenarios already built for them, like different types of streets, different roads and different apartments for them to train in. Because police officers, they dont know what kind of situation is going on when they arrive on the scene, Shahzeeb said. Officers even gave the participants a live-fire shooting demonstration at the Police College shooting range. Career insight The three-day training programme offered a wide range of activities, including fitness and first-aid training. Shahzeeb said it helped with his career planning. Throughout this training camp, I got to meet different officers from Customs, the Immigration Department, the Fire (Services) Department as well as the Civil Aid Service and Auxiliary Medical Service. They really told us more information regarding the recruitment, the training process and how they became an officer. From an early age, Kaur has aspired to join the Police Force. She said one of the camps sharing sessions gave her more motivation to become a police officer. I am quite interested in becoming a police officer in Hong Kong. During the sharing session, one of the officers, he actually motivated me and he said, you dont really need to panic or worry about the exams and all that, because all you have to do is be confident and actually take your time and work hard, and your hard work will pay off in the future. Future potential The programme was one of the initiatives Chief Executive Carrie Lam introduced in her 2017 Policy Address. It provides disciplinary, physical and team-building training to young ethnic minorities and raises their crime prevention awareness. Police Public Relations Branch Chief Inspector Charlotte Lam said officers wanted to ensure the participants felt comfortable and fully supported during the whole programme. We arranged Halal food to fulfil their religious requirement. Also, we have arranged special facilities and arrangements during the programme to support their prayer needs. We aim to provide an all-rounded and interactive experience for them to integrate into the community and also cultivate positive values. The initiative, which boosts participants' sense of social responsibility and leadership skills, will be regularised and held every July and December. The Police plan to arrange more visits to law enforcement agencies for future programmes. Some top officials and former top officials have been arrested. The prejudice runs into millions of dollars. We are still doing a number of things to unpack all that happened. I do not want to prejudice the rights of the accused and all I can do is to allude to the case without making any particular references, said Mr Hodzi. If You Want to Avoid Vampires, Here's Where You Should Go (Newser) Barbara Rae-Venter isn't exactly a household namebut the 70-year-old retired attorney and genealogist was a key factor in the Golden State Killer investigation, the San Jose Mercury News reports. "Her expertise proved to be invaluable," says Paul Holes, a retired inspector who's been credited with solving the case (and even became an "unlikely sex symbol," per the Sacremento Bee). Rae-Venter herself probably never expected this: She was volunteering as a "search angel" for DNAadoption.com, where she helped people find their missing birth parents, when a detective's 2003 email drew her into the complex case of a girl abandoned in a California trailer park by a man who had murdered his girlfriend. story continues below Rae-Venter's DNA searches helped investigators identify the girl and link the man, Terry Peder Rasmussen, to multiple murders in New Hampshire. Then Holes contacted her in 2017 for help finding the Golden State Killer, the perpetrator of several rapes and murders in the 1970s and 80s. "She came in and was like, 'No, no, no, you need to do it this way,'" says Holes. "She gave us structure." Using a Golden State Killer DNA sample, Rae-Venter traced his lineage, learning he was partly Italian and likely had blue eyeswhich shone a strong spotlight on suspect Joseph DeAngelo, who was ultimately arrested. Now the Northern California amateur sleuth is in demand with law enforcement and receiving praise of her own. As a woman who knew two Golden State Killer victims recently told her: "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" (Read more Golden State Killer stories.) (Newser) While Pope Francis is facing down the Catholic Church's abuses in Ireland, a new accusation has sprung up, this time from the Vatican's own former ambassador to the United States: In an 11-page statement the National Catholic Register calls "extraordinary," Carlo Maria Vigano says that Francis knew about the sexual abuse of former DC archbishop Theodore McCarrick as early as "June 23, 2013 and continued to cover him." Vigano says he wrote Francis that McCarrick had "corrupted generations of seminarians and priests and Pope Benedict ordered him to withdraw to a life of prayer and penance." He says he received no response and McCarrick continued to serve until he was forced out late last month, reports CBS News. What's more, Francis "must acknowledge his mistakes and," according to his own standard of "zero tolerance ... set a good example to Cardinals and Bishops who covered up McCarrick's abuses and resign along with all of them." story continues below Vigano doesn't stop there, blasting as complicit in the McCarrick coverup DC Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the former Pittsburgh bishop who says he knew nothing about widespread abuse there uncovered last month. "His recent statements that he knew nothing about it are absolutely laughable. The cardinal lies shamelessly," Vigano writes. Wuerl previously suggested that McCarrick, having "been told to stay in seclusion," is paying a "pretty substantial penalty." Vigano isn't having it, writing that "if we truly want to free the Church from the fetid swamp into which she has fallen, we must have the courage to tear down the culture of secrecy and publicly confess the truths that we have kept hidden." (Read more Theodore McCarrick stories.) (Newser) Playwright Neil Simon, a master of comedy whose laugh-filled hits such as The Odd Couple, Barefoot in the Park, and his Brighton Beach trilogy dominated Broadway for decades, has died. He was 91, the AP reports. Simon died early Sunday of complications from pneumonia surrounded by family at New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, says a longtime friend. In the second half of the 20th century, Simon was the American theater's most successful and prolific playwrights, often chronicling middle-class issues and fears. Starting with Come Blow Your Horn in 1961, his list of credits is staggering. Simon's stage successes included The Prisoner of Second Avenue, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, The Sunshine Boys, Plaza Suite, Chapter Two, Sweet Charity, and Promises, Promises, but there were other plays and musicals, too, more than 30 in all. story continues below Many of his plays were adapted into movies and one, The Odd Couple, even became a popular television series. He was the recipient of multiple awards including four Tonys and the Pulitzer Prize. Even before he launched his theater career, he made history as one of the famed stable of writers for comedian Sid Caesar that also included Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, and Carl Reiner. In a 1997 interview with the Washington Post, Simon reflected on his success: "I know that I have reached the pinnacle of rewards," he said. "There's no more money anyone can pay me that I need. ... I have no reason to write another play except that I am alive and I like to do it." The theater world mourned his death, with actor Josh Gad calling Simon "one of the primary influences on my life and career." Playwright Kristoffer Diaz said simply: "This hurts." (Read more playwright stories.) New Delhi: One person was killed and four others injured after two building blocks at a government colony in Gujarat's Ahmedabad collapsed owing to heavy rainfall in the last few days. While four people were rescued from the debris of the four-storey building blocks in Odhav locality, some are still feared trapped under the debris. A number of families resided in the nearly 20-year-old building blocks, but the majority of them had vacated the premises on Saturday after the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) officials asked them to do so, looking at the poor condition of the structures. Two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the personnel of the city fire brigade were rushed to the spot for the rescue operations, sources said. #LatestVisuals from Ahmedabad's Odhav area where a four-storey building collapsed last night. 3 people have been rescued, at least five still feared trapped under the debris. Rescue operation is underway. #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/g2ZEPE2Ka5 ANI (@ANI) August 27, 2018 Also Read | Kerala floods due to slaughtering of cows in open: BJP MLA Gujarat Home Minister Pradipsinh Jadeja said five NDRF teams were being deployed, adding required machinery would be deployed immediately. (More details awaited) New Delhi: At least 10 people were killed in the past 24 hours as heavy rains wreaked havoc in different regions of Uttar Pradesh, according to an official statement. As many as 10 deaths took place in different districts of the state in the past 24 hours. Three deaths were reported today. This includes death of two persons in Bahraich, while one person died in Lakhimpur Khiri, the statement said. Also Read | Kerala floods due to slaughtering of cows in open: BJP MLA Heavy rains and thundershowers are likely to occur at a few places in eastern Uttar Pradesh on August 28 and August 29, the weatherman said. Two people were killed Basti district, while one death was reported each from Kushinagar, Unnao, Kanpur, Dehat, Bareilly and Allahabad on Saturday, the statement added. Torrential rains and thundershowers have thrown life out of gear in many districts, affecting rail and road traffic. Many trains were left stranded for hours due to water logging on the tracks in Moradabad railway division. More than two lakh people were affected in areas close to the Ghaghra river. Rainfall was recorded at a number of places, including in Kannauj, Gyanpur, Mirzapur, Musaffirkhana, Patti, Thakurdwara, Aliganj, Bhogaon, Chhibramau and Phoolpur. Kannauj received around 250-millimetre rain in just 24 hours. Many rivers including Ganga, Yamuna, Ramgamga, Dewha, are in spate in different areas. Also Read | Heavy rain lashes Odisha, more shower in next two days: Met As many as 11 NDRF companies, three SDRF companies and 17 PAC flood battalions were deployed in 26 districts. On Saturday, day temperatures were below normal in Allahabad, Faizabad, Bareilly, Moradabad, Jhansi, Varanasi, Kanpur and Lucknow divisions. (With inputs from agencies) New Delhi: Vijayapuras BJP MLA and former Union Minister Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, known for making controversial remarks, said that the devastating floods in Kerala occurred because of slaughtering of cows in the open. In Kerala, people openly slaughter cows. What happened? Within a year, a situation like this (flood) arose. Whoever hurts the Hindu religious beliefs will face such consequences, he told reporters on the sidelines of a function at Vijayapura on Saturday. Also Read | Kerala BJP asks CM Vijayan 'to explain' UAE's Rs 700-crore help In June, 2017, Kerala MLAs had held a "beef festival" at the assembly canteen protesting against the ban of cattle trade and slaughter, triggering a controversy. The BJP MLA maintained that Hindus had sentiments attached to cows, saying nobody should hurt others religious beliefs. Also Read | Kerala Flood: SC asks TN to keep Mullaperiyar Dam water level at 139ft Yatnal said added that if the BJP came to power in Karnataka, cow slaughter will be stopped. (With inputs from agencies) New Delhi: Samajwadi Party leader and former Cabinet minister Azam Khan on Sunday sparked a fresh controversy after he took a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government over former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Asthi Kalash Yatra across the country. In a veiled attack to the BJP government, the Samajwadi Party leader said, "If I somehow get to know that after death so much respect will be accorded to me then I would like to die today itself". If I somehow get to know that after death so much respect will be accorded to me then I would like to die today itself: SP leader Azam Khan on #AsthiKalashYatra of #AtalBihariVaajpayee pic.twitter.com/9zBdCgWnYT ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 26, 2018 Read | Mann Ki Baat Highlights: PM Modi extends greetings on Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami The Saffron party has decided to take out yatras with urns carrying ashes of Vajpayee in all districts and immerse those in rivers across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with BJP chief Amit Shah, handed over the ashes of the late BJP stalwart to the party's state unit presidents. The BJP said since all party workers and people across the country want to pay tributes to Vajpayee, it has decided to take out 'Asthi Kalash Yatras' in all states. Read | Raksha Bandhan 2018: Here is how B-town biggies celebrate their special moment Vajpayee, who was one of the tallest leaders and an orator par excellence, breathed his last at Delhi AIIMS on August 16, 2018. He had been battling kidney tract infection, urinary tract infection, and low urine output and chest congestion since June 11. He was 93. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday said that the killings of Bengaluru-based journalist Gauri Lankesh in 2017 and Pune-based rationalist Narendra Dabholkar in Pune in 2013 were linked. The CBI, seeking extension of the custody of Sachin Andure, one of the alleged shooters in the Dabholkar murder case, told the Shivajinagar Magistrates Court in Pune that one of the accused in the Gauri Lankesh murder case had handed over a pistol and three bullets with a magazine to him. Also Read | Narendra Dabholkar murder case: Main accused Sachin Prakasrao Andure arrested Judicial Magistrate (First Class) H R Jadhav extended Andures CBI custody till August 30. While, Dabholkar, 67, a rationalist who founded the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS), was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne assailants when he was out on a morning walk near his Pune home on August 20, 2013, Gauri Lankesh (55), journalist-cum-activist, was shot dead outside her residence in Bengalaru on September 5, 2017. The CBI told the court that it would seek the custody of Sharad Kalaskar, another alleged shooter in the Dabholkar murder case. Kalaskar was among the five persons arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) earlier this month in connection with the seizure of crude bombs and firearms from various parts of the state. Apart from Kalaskar, the ATS had arrested Vaibhav Raut (40), Sudhanwa Gondhalekar (39), Shrikant Pangarkar and Avinash Pawar (30) in the case. Also Read | Gauri Lankesh Murder Case: Police arrest goldsmith, TSR driver for destructing evidence Special Public prosecutor Vijaykumar Dhakane said that during interrogation Andhure revealed that one of those arrested for the Gauri Lankesh murder had handed over to him a 7.65-mm country made pistol and three bullets and he had passed those over to his brother-in-law, Shubham Surale, at Aurangabad (Maharashtra) on August 11. Surale in turn passed the weapon to his friend Rohit Rege in the same city, according to the prosecutor. The CBI had seized a black-coloured country-made pistol with a magazine and three 7.65 mm live cartridges (bullets) from Reges Aurangabad residence, Dhakane said, adding that the CBI was probing if the weapon was used to kill Dabholkar. Andhures name was revealed by Sharad Kalaskar, who was arrested by the Maharashtra ATS after a major arms haul in Palghar on August 10. Kalaskar revealed that it was him and Andhure who went on a motorcycle and shot Dabholkar August 20, 2013. (With inputs from agencies) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) working president MK Stalin, who is all set to be elected as party chief at DMK's general council meet on August 28 in Chennai, on Sunday filed nomination for the post. "MK Stalin files nomination for the post of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president," according to reports. According to a statement, released by the DMK, the council meet, which is slated to take place at party headquarters Anna Arivalayam, will be the election of party president, and treasurer. While Stalin will be the party chief, senior leader and party principal secretary Duraimurugan is tipped to be elected to the post of party treasurer. Chennai: MK Stalin files nomination for the post of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president. #TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/XluMCNlTRQ ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2018 The date for DMK's council meeting has been announced days after Stalins estranged brother MK Alagiri threw an open challenge to his brothers leadership skill to stake a claim to Karunanidhi's political legacy. Read | DMK Succession War: Alagiri mounts challenge against Stalin for Karunanidhis political legacy Stalin is not working, was his cryptic remark to a question from a scribe on the elevation of Stalin as the president from the post of working president that he currently holds. It was seen in Chennai bye-election, how DMK lost its deposit in RK Nagar bye-election that TTV Dhinakaran won, Alagiri told media persons in Chennai after paying homage to his father at his memorial at Marina Beach in Chennai. "The true followers of Kalaignar are with me. They support me," the expelled DMK leader added. However, Alagiris opposition to Stalin is not expected to cast a shadow on his elevation since party units are firmly by his side, according to the party source. DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan has also asked all elected general council members to take part in the meeting without fail. Read | DMK under strain a challenge for Stalin DMK patriarch Karunanidhi who died on August 7 after a prolonged illness, during his lifetime made it clear that Stalin will be the successor of his regime. Stalin, who had been working as the DMK chief owing to his father's ill health, held several party posts including that of treasurer, MLA, youth wing secretary and Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. (With inputs from agencies) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Congress president Rahul Gandhi, in a shocking statement, on Saturday claimed that fugitive tycoon Vijay Mallya met several BJP leaders before leaving India, though he did not name any one of them. Addressing the Indian media in London, the Gandhi scion said, "Before Mallya left India, he met senior BJP leaders, that is documented. I won't name them". Launching a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government, the Congress chief also criticised them of being lenient to industrialists like Mallya as well as Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, two absconding diamantaires and the key accused in the multi-million-dollar Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam. Referring to the Vijay Mallya case, Gandhi said that Indian prisons are "difficult places" but fugitives like Vijay Mallya should not be treated differently. "There is a relationship between Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and the Prime Minister. No action is taken against them," the 48-year-old leader added. Read | Congress gears up for 2019 Lok Sabha elections, forms three crucial committees Terming BJP President Amit Shah as a "murder accused" in connection to the Judge Loya death, the Congress president came down heavily on the Modi government and criticised them for creating a coercive environment to prevent institutions like the Supreme Court, Election Commission, and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) from functioning on their own. "Earlier people would go to judges for justice, but now judges are coming to the public and expressing that they are not being allowed to work. Supreme Court, EC, RBI are the walls of our country, they're being torn apart now," he claimed. Accusing the prime minister of insulting Indian citizens, Rahul further said, "When Prime Minister Modi says nothing happened before he became a Prime Minister, he insults every Indian's forefathers who toiled hard to build this country. Today in India, people are discriminated against on the basis of their caste and religion. Marginalised are betrayed while people like Anil Ambani benefit. While China creates 50,000 jobs in a day, India creates only 450 jobs". Read | Rahul Gandhi says he supports punishment to those involved in 1984 anti-Sikh riots "You all have come here from all corners of the country and have made India proud. Congress party was powered by Non-Resident Indians (NRI) like you. Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Dr Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru were all NRIs. They travelled the world and helped India with new perspectives," Gandhi went on to claim further. Rahul Gandhi is currently on a two-day visit to the United Kingdom after completing another in Germany. The Congress chief will leave for India later on Sunday. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said he should be judged based on his capability and not be "condemned" for the family he came from, while addressing the Indian Journalists Association in London. Also Read | Rahul slams Modi for not discussing Doklam during his China visit I have now worked for 14 to 5 years in the political system. I have taken a beating and have learnt a lot. I am a person who listens, respects other peoples ideas. The most important thing to me about myself is I see through hate. And I really think, I am proud of that. But at the end. its your choice. Do you condemn me for the family I come from, or do you judge me based on my capability? Thats your choice. Its up to younot up to me, Rahul said. Do you condemn me for the family I come from, or do you judge me based on my capability? : Congress President @RahulGandhi #RahulGandhiInLondon #RahulGandhiPressMeet pic.twitter.com/g2mu7EgyJZ Congress (@INCIndia) August 26, 2018 Rahul, on being asked about his privileged Gandhi background, pointed out that his family had not been in power since his fathers time. Also read | Support punishment to those involved in 1984 anti-Sikh riots: Rahul My family has not been in power since my father was the prime minister. This is something that is forgotten. Second, yes, I am born in a familylisten to what I am saying, talk to me about issues, talk to me about foreign policy, economics, Indian development, agriculture openly and freely. Come to me with whatever questions you want, and then judge what I am, Rahul said. Rahul Gandhi is currently on a two-day visit to the United Kingdom after completing another in Germany. The Congress chief will leave for India later on Sunday. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Chinese researchers have revealed that earths magnetic poles are switching 30 times faster than previously. The data collected during the research suggested that the magnetic field of the earth is nearly ten percent weaker when compared to the records obtained 175 years ago. Research also suggests that the pole shift is likely to happen soon. ALSO READ | NASA probe captures first images of asteroid Bennu Usually, magnetic pole shift happens 200,000 to 300,000 years, but the last flip happened approximately 780,000 years ago. This delay in pole shift indicates that a flip could happen at any time bringing about severe consequences. "Excursions affecting the Earth's poles are happening with ever greater frequency. Although they do not pose any immediate threat to humanity, we could see mass satellite failure," said Jurgen Matzka, a top researcher at the Institute of Earth and Environmental Science in Potsdam. "The record provides important insights into ancient magnetic field behaviour, which has turned out to vary much more rapidly than previously thought," study co-author Andrew Roberts, a professor of Earth sciences at Australian National University, said in a statement. ALSO READ | Chandrayaan-1 data shows presence of ice on Moon, confirms NASA Satellite data from the European Space Agency shows the magnetic field is weakening due to restless activity in the Earths core. (With inputs from agencies) For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: NASAs Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft has taken its first images of asteroid Bennu. OSIRIS-REx is expected to arrive at asteroid Bennu on December 3 2018. Launched on September 8 2016, OSIRIS-REx is NASAs first mission to visit a near-Earth asteroid which will help unveil the mysteries of our solar systems formation, the US space agency said in a statement. Earlier, on August 17 spacecrafts PolyCam camera obtained the image from a distance of 2.2 million km. ALSO READ | Chandrayaan-1 data shows presence of ice on Moon, confirms NASA The cropped set of five images were obtained over the course of an hour. Bennu is visible as a moving object against the stars in the constellation Serpens, the statement said. As OSIRIS-REx approaches the asteroid, the spacecraft will use its science instruments to gather information about Bennu and prepare for arrival. OSIRIS-REx will regularly observe the area around Bennu to search for dust plumes and natural satellites and also study its light and spectral properties. Now that OSIRIS-REx is close enough to observe Bennu, the mission team will spend the next few months learning as much as possible about Bennus size, shape, surface features, and surroundings before the spacecraft arrives at the asteroid, said Dante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx principal investigator at the University of Arizona in the US. ALSO READ | NASA likely to allow SpaceX fuel rockets with astronauts on board After arrival at Bennu, the spacecraft will spend the first month performing flybys of Bennus north pole, equator and south pole, at distances ranging between 11.8 and 4.4 miles (19 and 7 km) from the asteroid. The spacecraft will extensively survey the asteroid before the mission team identifies two possible sample sites, which will allow the team to pick one for sample collection, scheduled for July 2020. After the sample collection, the spacecraft will head back towards Earth before ejecting the Sample Return Capsule for landing in the Utah desert in September 2023. For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Islamabad: Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has summoned former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister tomorrow in a Rs 35 billion money laundering and fake bank accounts case. In July, the Supreme Court listed Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur as beneficiaries in an alleged scam "running into billions of rupees" that led to the arrest of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman's close aide and famous banker Hussain Lawai. The FIA issued notices on Saturday to the former president and his sister to appear at the agency's headquarters in Islamabad on Monday. This is the fourth time they have been summoned, Dawn newspaper reported. Also Read | John McCain's daughter posts heart touching tribute to late father Despite earlier summons, Zardari and Talpur failed to appear before the FIA's joint investigation team probing a multi-billion money laundering scam. The FIA has been asked by the Supreme Court to submit a comprehensive report in connection with the fake accounts case on Tuesday, it said. Zardari and Talpur have not joined the investigation in the case. Instead, they have expressed lack of confidence over the investigation team probing the case. On August 17, a local banking court in Karachi had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Zardari and other absconding suspects in the ongoing probe. The court ordered the suspects to be arrested and presented before it by September 4. Also Read | Egypt officials say four police, four militants killed in Sinai On August 18, the Islamabad High Court approved the former president's petition for protective bail in the case. Zardari had filed a petition in the court through his counsels Aitzaz Ahsan and Latif Khosa after a local banking court on August 17 issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the former president and other absconding suspects in the ongoing probe. The FIA is investigating 32 people in relation to money laundering from fictitious 29 accounts, including Zardari and his sister Talpur. Zardari's close aide Lawai was arrested last month in connection with the probe. Lawai was arrested by the FIA last month in the money-laundering case in which he is accused to have helped facilitate the opening of fake accounts in Summit Bank, Sindh Bank and United Bank Limited. In addition to 29 bank accounts already under scrutiny, the investigators have "detected 15 more suspicious accounts", a senior official of the FIA was quoted as saying by the report. Also Read | Pope Francis says he shares outrage over clergy abuse cover-up These accounts were opened in the names of persons other than those in whose names the 29 accounts were opened, said the official. Up to Rs 1 billion, Rs 2 billion and Rs 3 billion had been transferred from these newly discovered accounts, he added. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Vilnius: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said that Jews were still at risk even decades after the Holocaust as he wrapped up a groundbreaking visit to Lithuania, a Baltic state once home to his forefathers. For the Jewish people, what has changed in these 75 years. Not the attempts to destroy us, they still seek to destroy us, Netanyahu told around 300 Lithuanian Jews gathered in Vilniuss Choral Synagogue. Also Read | Chicago:Fire in Little Village neighbourhood kills eight The Israeli leader identified what he termed new existential threats facing the Jews, with Iran and the Islamist movement Hamas which runs the Gaza Strip being among them. What has changed is our ability to defend ourselves by ourselves... This is a magnificent change of history, added Netanyahu, who is the first-ever Israeli premier to visit Lithuania, a Baltic EU state. Pre-war Lithuania was home to a thriving Jewish community of more than 200,000 people, with Vilnius a hub of learning known as the Jerusalem of the North. But historians contend that around 195,000 perished at the hands of the Nazis and local collaborators under the 1941-44 German occupation, nearly the entire Jewish population. Also Read | President Asif Ali Zardari summoned in money laundering case Today there are around 3,000 Jews living in the EU and NATO member state of 2.9 million people. Netanyahu said, on Saturday, he spent touring the Vilna Ghetto and recalling Lithuanian Jews taken to Paneriaialso known as Ponar or Ponaryon the outskirts of the city, the site of the Ponar massacre. Up to 100,000 people including Jews, Poles and Russians were slain there by the Nazis and Lithuanian collaborators during World War II. What a distance we have travelled in 75 years from the death pits of Ponar to a rising power in the world, Netanyahu said. His groundbreaking visit has not been without controversy and Netanyahu has come under sharp criticism from top Israeli Nazi hunter Efraim Zuroff for warming to Lithuania. Also Read | Boat capsizes in Nepal: Two die, three go missing Arguing that Vilnius has not done enough to come to terms with the role Lithuanians played in the Holocaust, Zuroff charged in a Facebook post today that to praise the Lithuanian governments efforts to commemorate the Shoa is like commending the KKK for improving race relations in the US. A Lithuanian research centre has identified 2,000 Lithuanians suspected of taking part in the Holocaust, either by killing Jews, sending them to execution or by confiscating their wealth. At the same time nearly 900 Lithuanians hold the honorary title of Righteous Among The Nations, awarded by Israel to gentiles who risked their lives to save Jewish neighbours. The Holocaust was either distorted or ignored in Lithuania under five decades of Soviet rule that followed the war. An honest examination only began after it became the first republic to split from the USSR in 1990. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Kathmandu: Two women died and three persons went missing after a boat capsized on the swollen Lal Bakaiya river in Rautahat district near the Nepal-India border, the police said on Monday. The incident happened last evening when 26 people, including women, were returning to Tikuliyaghat from Banjaraha on the ill-fated boat, which capsized on the river flowing over the danger mark due to heavy rains in the area, they said. Also Read | Egypt officials say four police, four militants killed in Sinai Around 21 people managed to swim out of the water safely, the police said, adding rescue workers recovered the bodies of two women today. They have been identified as 35-year-old Runa Devi Patel and 25-year-old Shanti Devi, both are residents of Gaur, which is the district headquarters. According to Chief District Officer Govinda Prasad Rijal search was on to find the three missing persons, in which the help of India's border security force Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) was also sought. Also Read | John McCain, US Senator and Vietnam War hero dies at 81 Meanwhile, in another incident, three persons, including two teenagers, have gone missing after they were swept away by the Kamala river in Siraha district. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The authorities at the King Fahad Causeway have informed us that a temporary ban prevents Pakistani nationals from entering the Kingdom through the causeway from Saudi Arabia, a few Pakistani sources confirmed. Tribune tried to obtain information from the Pakistan Embassy officials, but efforts only ended in vain. I know many Pakistani nationals could not meet their relatives in the Kingdom during Eid Al Adha because they were now allowed to enter through the causeway, a Pakistani national told Tribune, on grounds of anonymity. I managed to enter Bahrain via the bridge on Wednesday and returned to Saudi Arabia on the same day. However, when I tried to return to Bahrain on Friday, I was prevented from entering the Kingdom. The reasons behind the ban are not clear to me or to other Pakistanis whom I know. All that we have been informed by the Bahraini authorities at the bridge is that we are prohibited from entering Bahrain temporarily. Pakistanis expressed their surprise at the decision, while some confirmed that they had received a visa to enter Bahrain. Despite the presence of many schools run by different expat communities, getting seats for children whose parents have recently arrived in the Kingdom after securing new jobs, is a tough task, say sources. The sources add that it could be a really daunting experience in the middle of an academic year. Speaking to Tribune, a parent, who doesnt want to be identified, said, We recently moved to the kingdom along with our three children. We tried to enrol our kids at various schools in the Kingdom. Some schools blatantly told us they dont take in transferred students while others denied us admission forms. We have approached a number of schools but did not receive a positive response from any of them. This seems to be extremely unfortunate as we have no clue as to what to do as our kids future is at stake. Even though some schools have vacant seats available they deny accepting transferred students. When asked, an official from Ibn Al Hytham Islamic School said, We do get in a lot of admission calls. Depending on the seats available we admit the students. But what parents need to understand is that we have to follow the laws of the land when it comes to admitting transferred students. We will definitely offer a seat to students if they meet the criteria listed by the Ministry of Education. Anand R Nair, the Vice-Principal of The Indian School Bahrain said, The Indian School Bahrain takes transfer students based on the Ministry of Education norms and vacancies in the respective sections. The documents are as per the rules of the Ministry of Education. The admission process starts by March end and continues till vacancies exist. Bahrains Embassy in the United Kingdom has filed a report with the UK authorities after a British MP became victim to harassment from protesters camped outside the Embassy. The protesters led by fugitive Ali Mushaima were accused of harassment in the report filed by the Embassy. According to the Embassy, forceful verbal and physical harassment, threats, and acts of bullying have been some of the tactics used by the group. The group has been protesting outside the embassy claiming that medical treatment was refused to his Alis father Hassan Mushaima. The claim was debunked numerous times by the Bahrain authorities who stated that Hassan was at fault for missed medical appointments because he declined to attend the appointments as he refused to cooperate with prison rules. The Embassy is sorry to hear about the harassment and intimidation of Rehman Chishti and deplores attempts by so-called protestors outside its building to prevent its visitors from carrying out their business. The incident has been reported to UK authorities, the embassy stated. Forceful verbal and physical harassment, threats, and acts of bullying are absolutely unacceptable. This is, unfortunately, the latest is a series of consistent pattern of behavior that goes go far beyond any legitimate freedom of expression. When is the right time to teach your child good manners? To say Please and Thank You? Unquestionably, when they begin to demand their own way and things. Oiling the transactions of life with politeness will take them far and it is a good habit that must be inculcated early on. Good habits, eating right, exercise, and the power of hard work these are all values that we believe our children must be taught from a very young age. In that case, why are we hesitant to also teach them to participate in the glorious exercise of our democratic process? I am referring, of course, to the ongoing debate in Bahrains House of Representatives and among human rights groups about the participation of Bahraini children in election campaigns. I believe that the House of Representatives was quite right in rejecting a draft law to ban children from the political arena. With few rare exceptions, children have no decision-making in the political process the world over. Most recently in America, a 14 year-old ran for governor of Vermont and in Nigeria, youth have started a citizens movement to change the entry conditions for themselves into their countrys politics but by and large, children below age 18 are ignored by politicians and the system as such. This has got to change, of course, but we have to be very careful how we welcome children into the political arena which has the potential to change life and the world for the better but also holds the dangers of ruthless jettisoning of morals by politicians. We must not use this as an excuse to hold back children from exposure to the political world and its transformational power. The elected representatives of the people bring necessary changes to a countrys laws and its social and commercial climate. They safeguard the rights of individuals and balance the rights of people with their responsibilities. In the analysis of our performance and I mean this globally we adults have fared weakly where the rights of our children are concerned. Have we delivered laws that will protect the environment of the planet and leave it a habitable place for them? No. Are we any closer to world peace, to eliminating poverty and disease? Thats a mixed bag our children can face the world as healthier and more educated persons, for sure. But challenges still stalk mankind and we must use the energy and ideas of youth to meet them instead of shutting them out. How can children be exposed to the promise of democracy without being sullied by the weakness of compromise? To start with, we must not just use their presence as a token but engage them as participants and stakeholders in the process. Like the Model United Nations which schools participate in to understand the process of global development and diplomacy for peace, we must encourage university and senior school-level debate across the Kingdom on what Bahrain needs and give our youth a structured role to play in our democratic stage. So while I believe that children must not be kept away from the upcoming elections, I must add a caveat that we should not use children as accessories for photo-ops in our elections. That is meaningless and will not build our future. Engage with young minds and give them a say in their own future. Troubled productions don't necessarily produce troubled works. For every three Apocalypse Now-type shoot, there's a Jaws to balance it all out. Of course, some have been more rough than others and some have passed on into legend. Here's a rundown of some of the worst, most bedraggled, most intense productions of all time. 6. 'The Island Of Dr. Moreau' There's a reason you're not overly familiar with this film. In a nutshell, it was a giant mess from start to finish and cruel, twisted fate had a big part to play. The film went through two directors, various rewrites, a tumultuous relationship between its star (Val Kilmer) and the replacement director (John Frankenheimer) and Marlon Brando trying to cope with his daughter's suicide on set. Yeah, really. The original director, Richard Stanley, had spent years developing the film and was even a descendant of a real-life explorer who served as an inspiration to H.G. Wells' writing. What happened? The studio went behind the original director's back and tried to cut him out, offering it to Roman Polanski instead. The original director then managed to get Marlon Brando and Bruce Willis onboard and was ready to begin production. Before filming began, Bruce Willis dropped out due to his highly-public divorce with Demi Moore whilst Marlon Brando's daughter, Cheyenne, committed suicide. Brando retreated to his private island and refused to return to the set for filming. Brando and the original director had formed a bond and were fighting off studio interference. Val Kilmer was brought on to replace Bruce Willis, who immediately demanded 40% less screentime and less time on set. As well as this, Kilmer was reportedly ALSO in the middle of an acrimonious divorce from his then-wife, Joanne Whalley. Set crew and actors also attested to Kilmer being nothing short of a bully during his time, regularly berating Richard Stanley's ideas as director and undermining him at every opportunity. The fallout After a total of three days on set, Stanley was fired by the studio and offered his full director's fee if he left quietly and said nothing. The female lead clashed with studio executives and ordered her PA to drive her from Cairns Island to Sydney - in a limousine. That's a trip over 2,000 miles. Another director, John Frankenheimer, was brought in who held the studio over a barrel and got a three-picture deal and a huge fee off them. The production lurched on, with more hassle between Frankenheimer, Kilmer, Brando and the crushing weather in Australia. What's more, the film was a critical and commercial bomb. 5. 'Blade Runner' Often cited as one of the most inventive and original sci-fi films ever made, 'Blade Runner' is hailed as the crux point between arthouse cinema and blockbuster. Pioneering special-effects, a director at the height of his powers, a strong cast - all that couldn't stop a truly difficult shoot for all concerned. What happened? As with most of these things, studio interference and a headstrong director. Ridley Scott came from a background where he worked with small English crews on commercials and was used to his orders being followed without question. The film was shot mainly at night, which became hugely expensive for crew costs and was taxing on all the actors involved. Harrison Ford, meanwhile, "tangled" with Ridley Scott on more than one occasion. Ridley Scott's clashes with the crews became even worse when, during an interview with a British tabloid about the production, said that he preferred working with British crews over US crews. The 'Blade Runner' set crew got wind of the article and turned up wearing t-shirts that directly referenced the interview. Meanwhile, the film's budget began to get bigger and bigger and the special effects became more and more complex. The fallout Harrison Ford was on the hook to record a voiceover track, despite the fact he was expressly against it. The film, meanwhile, was marketed completely differently to what the film really was. Early trailers and previews pitched Blade Runner as an action / adventure. The film received middling reviews, with one review calling it "Blade Crawler" whilst others felt the special effects overshadowed everything else. The film went through three different versions - the Theatrical Cut, the Director's Cut and, 25 years after its release, the Final Cut. Still, it's since been reevaluated for what it is - one of the best sci-fi films ever made. 4. 'Ishtar' Ishtar didn't so much as destroy the promising career of director Elaine May as it nuked the whole thing from orbit - she wouldn't direct another movie again until 29 years later. Despite the initial help from Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman, the arduous filming in the North African desert began to take its toll whilst the worsening political situation in Morocco made production even worse. What happened? Elaine May had worked up a lot of favours in Hollywood, having helped with rewrites of 'Reds', 'Tootsie' and many more. With that in mind, Warren Beatty had gone to bat for May and urged the studio to hire her - despite the fact she was relatively untested as a film director. On-set battles raged between Beatty and May, with matters coming to a head when May effectively told Beatty to shoot the film the way he wanted. The result was that the number of takes on the film doubled and so to did the production's costs. Towards the end of the film's production, a new studio exec was brought on who had a score to settle with Beatty and Hoffman and leaked stories about the film's troubled production to the press. The fallout As mentioned, Elaine May didn't work again for three decades as a director. She and Warren Beatty, who were close friends up until the film, didn't speak for two years. To this day, May reportedly is incredibly bitter about the entire experience. The film, naturally, was a complete disaster - both critically and commercially and is regularly cited as one of the worst films ever made. 3. 'Blade: Trinity' The third and final film in the Blade Trilogy currently sits at 25% on Rotten Tomatoes. Yet, despite this, the film was a financial success for New Line. Of a budget of $65,000,000, it managed to earn a total of $128,900,000. However, the on-set tension between Wesley Snipes and David S. Goyer was nothing short of legendary. What happened? We'll let Patton Oswalt, who starred in the movie explain it all in a way that only he can. "He (Wesley Snipes) wouldnt come out of his trailer, and he would smoke weed all day. Which is fine with me, because I had all these DVDs that I wanted to catch up on. We were in Vancouver, and it was always raining. I kept the door to my trailer open to smell the evening rain while I was watching a movie. Then I remember one day on the setthey let everyone pick their own clothesthere was one black actor who was also kind of a club kid. And he wore this shirt with the word Garbage on it in big stylish letters. It was his shirt. And Wesley came down to the set, which he only did for close-ups. Everything else was done by his stand-in. I only did one scene with him. But he comes on and goes, Theres only one other black guy in the movie, and you make him wear a shirt that says Garbage? You racist motherfucker! And he tried to strangle the director, David Goyer." "So later that night, Ron Perlman was in the city. Everyone who makes movies in Vancouver stays in the same hotel. Its like an episode of The Love Boat. Every time the elevator stops, youve got a different celebrity getting on. Like, [announcer voice] Hey, now weve got Danny Glover! So we went out that night to some strip club, and we were all drinking. And there were a bunch of bikers there, so David says to them, Ill pay for all your drinks if you show up to set tomorrow and pretend to be my security. Wesley freaked out and went back to his trailer. And the next day, Wesley sat down with David and was like, I think you need to quit. Youre detrimental to this movie. And David was like, Why dont you quit? Weve got all your close-ups, and we could shoot the rest with your stand-in. And that freaked Wesley out so much that, for the rest of the production, he would only communicate with the director through Post-it notes. And he would sign each Post-it note From Blade." The fallout Surprisingly enough, it was quite small-scale with Wesley Snipes coming off the worst. Snipes sued the studio for $5 million and argued that one of the film's crew members wore a racist t-shirt whilst he was being pushed out of the production. David S. Goyer, meanwhile, went on to work on Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy and Zack Snyder's 'Man of Steel' as well as 'Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice'. The co-stars, Ryan Reynolds and Jessica Biel, both went to even more success - Wesley Snipes did three years in jail for failing to file income tax returns. 2. 'Alien 3' Before a single frame of film was shot for 'Alien 3', a whopping $7 million had been spent on pre-production, artwork, conceptual imagery and a number of directors and screenwriters. To say that 'Alien 3' was doomed before it even hatched was an understatement. What happened? David Fincher was one of several directors approached to take on the film. His first big-budget film, Fincher had honed his craft working on music videos and commercials - much like Ridley Scott had done back in 1979. However, with no script locked in and a deadline to meet, Fincher launched himself into the production. Pretty soon, studio pressure became instantly apparent and constant phonecalls between the studio and Fincher were the norm. Charles Dance, who played Clemens, spoke highly of Fincher's abilities. "Fincher had the studio on his back the whole time phoning him at all hours of the day and night not taking into account the time change... I remember walking on this huge set at Pinewood Studios and Fincher comes up and fires off his shot list for the day. Heres this guy young enough to be my son who knew all the crews jobs, all the shots he wanted, and where he was going to make the cuts in the film, and I thought, my God, this guy is going to go far." The fallout David Fincher rarely speaks of 'Alien 3' in interviews and has been pretty open about how much he hates the film. In a BFI interview, Fincher said that 'Alien 3' was a "baptism by fire." "I was very naive. For a number of years, I'd been around the kind of people who financed movies and the kind of people who are there to make the deals for movies. But I'd always had this naive idea that everybody wants to make movies as good as they can be, which is stupid." Of all four of the 'Alien' films, Fincher was the only director who refused to take part in the restoration of them for a DVD boxset. The series continued on, with 'Alien: Resurrection' and the sort-of spinoff sequel 'Prometheus' and the very much a sequel 'Alien: Covenant'. Pretty much everyone walked away unscathed, which is rare for such a high-profile failure. 1. 'Apocalypse Now' Easily the most well-known of troubled productions. Forget 'The Revenant'. Forget 'Justice League'. Forget any of these. 'Apocalypse Now' had heart-attacks, Communist insurgencies and a director slowly but surely going mad in the jungle. What happened? What didn't happen? To properly understand just how batshit insane Apocalypse Now was, seek out the excellent documentary 'Hearts Of Darkness' that gives you a full insight into exactly what happened. The cliff notes? Martin Sheen, who was a high-functioning alcoholic throughout the production, was trying to sober up. Pretty soon, he had a massive heart-attack. Marlon Brando would only work a total of 30 days or so on location for a then-gigantic fee of $3.5 million. When Brando did turn up on set, he was overweight and hadn't learned any of his lines. In fact, he didn't even really understand what the film was about. Francis Ford Coppola then had to cut around Marlon Brando's ballooning shape and rewrite the ending to suit. Costs spiralled out of control as Coppola became more and more pressured by the film's constant problems and the fact that it was his own money on the line. The fallout For all the problems, the madness and the infamy that surrounded 'Apocalypse Now' the end most definitely justified the means. 'Apocalypse Now' is the definitive Vietnam War movie, charting the brutality and callousness of US military involvement in the region, the lingering madness of the jungle and the oppressive reality that war is a part of humanity as much as anything else. Bleak, dark and utterly, utterly brilliant, 'Apocalypse Now' is one of those films that's required viewing and knowing the sheer scale of the problems involved in making it has fuelled its legacy. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 If you havent used a travel agent, or you havent done so in years, contact a Travel Leaders / Fly Away Travel professional at 541-672-5701 to learn what they can do to improve your travel experience. 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. Paducah, KY (42003) Today Mostly sunny this morning then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High 57F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low near 40F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. In October 2017 a tweet from Microsoft's SVP OS Group Joe Belfiore all but admitted that Microsoft had dropped out of the smartphone business. Then in July 2018 an internal Microsoft leak surfaced about a disruptive foldable smartphone in the works. Later in July Wired interviewed Microsoft's SVP hardware devices Panos Panay and tried to get him to admit there was a new phone in the works. Panay hummed and hawed and danced around that direct question and finally said, "Well I wouldn't say it includes a Surface Phone," but then later added that "I think communication changes and evolves." It's a game of semantics. If you have a FaceTime session on your Mac, does it make it a smartphone? No, but it's still communications like a phone. At the top of this month Patently Apple posted a report titled "Contrary to Company Denials, the U.S. Patent Office Reveals another Microsoft Patent Pending Dual Display Smartphone." And as the month closes out this week Patently Apple has discovered three new IP developments published by the U.S. Patent from Microsoft regarding smartphones. The first patent application presented below was filed on February 20, 2018 months after the tweet from Joe Belfiore. Did Microsoft's phone team just not get the memo? Did they still file the patent so that they could license out the technology? While we don't have an answer as to why Microsoft continues to file modern smartphone patents, we'll continue to post information about their smartphone developments as they surface at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database just in case. #1 - Thermal Dock for Mobile Devices The first of three new smartphone patents from Microsoft covers thermal management and more specifically, covers a thermal dock that cools a mobile device. Microsoft's patent application notes that the purpose of thermal management is to maintain the temperature of a device within a moderate range. During operation, electronic devices dissipate power as heat that is to be removed from the device. Otherwise, the electronic device will get hotter and hotter until the electronic device fails, reducing service life of the electronic device. Short of failure, electronic devices run slowly and dissipate power poorly at high temperatures. As devices get thinner, thermal management becomes more of an issue. Depending on the thickness of the device, there may not be sufficient room within the device for active thermal management components such as, for example, fans. As mobile devices (e.g., phones and tablets) replace larger laptop and desktop computers, the microprocessors may sometimes be tasked with running a full desktop environment and may thus generate more heat. The mobile device may be positioned on a thermal dock to remove enough heat from the mobile device so that the mobile device may run the full desktop environment. Disclosed herein are apparatuses, systems, and methods for improved heat dissipation from an electronic device. The improved heat dissipation within the electronic device may be provided by a thermal dock including an active cooling device (e.g., a Peltier device) that is physically connected (e.g., at a hot side of the Peltier device) to a spring-loaded heat sink. Magnets located on a computing device (e.g., a back side of the computing device, opposite a display of the computing device) to be cooled and the thermal dock, respectively, keep the back side of the computing device in physical contact with the Peltier device. The thermal dock also includes one or more fans positioned in line with the heat sink to cool the heat sink and thus the hot side of the Peltier device physically connected to the heat sink. When the computing device is docked with the thermal dock, data may be transmitted between the computing device and the thermal dock via respective transceiver modules. The transceiver modules include locating features (e.g., a protrusion and a recess) to locate the computing device relative to the thermal dock, and, more specifically, the transceiver modules relative to each other, such that communication between the computing device and the thermal dock is possible. Microsoft's patent FIG. 8 FIG. a bottom view of an example of a computing device 800 with a cover removed. The computing device #800 is dockable on a thermal dock as noted below in FIG. 4. Microsoft filed this patent application in Q1 2018 and the U.S. Patent Office published it on Thursday. #2 - Smart Battery for Ultrafast Charging The second Microsoft patent application for smartphones relates to ultrafast charging of a smart battery on a computing device. While the primary focus of the patent filing is aimed at a smartphone, like most patents, the company doesn't limit the invention to a smartphone and lists other possible devices that could use this invention such as Surface tablets/2-in-1's, the Surface Book and others. In Microsoft's patent FIG. 7 presented above we're able to see conceptual diagram #700 of a structure of a smart battery and its components. For example, the conceptual diagram includes an example of smart battery that uses one or more micro-coils for harvesting power from high-frequency signals. Although not shown, each battery module of smart battery #120 may include at least one charging coil. Micro-coils 702-1, 702-2, 702-3, 702-4, 702-5, and 702-n are smaller in size than charging coils 208-1, 208-2, 208-3, 208-4, 208-5, and 208-n, and are configured to harvest power from based on the high frequency signal coupling energy to at least one of the plurality of micro-coils. The patent was filed in early 2017 and published on Thursday by the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office. #3 Full Screen Smartphone Microsoft's third smartphone patent that surfaced this week was a granted patent relating to a smartphone with a close to full screen design that is now the rage. For more details on this invention, review granted patent 10,057,999. For the record: The first two patent applications in this report had absolutely no connection to Nokia employees that Microsoft inherited back in 2013. The latter patent regarding a close-to full display for a smartphone lists one of the inventors as Vicente Calvo Alonso who was a principle engineer at Nokia in 2013. He was promoted by Microsoft in 2016 as Lead Innovator, Display and Touch Technologies and has since returned to Finland as CEO and co-founder of Comptek Solutions Oy. At the end of the day, Microsoft's leaked memo talked about a disruptive folding device and it's just as clear that Microsoft may not market it as a "smartphone" according to their SVP of hardware. It could very well be that their Nokia branded phones were seen as old baggage and a loser from day one for Microsoft. After a few years of being out of the market, Microsoft might want to restart with new phone-like line of products with a clean slate and a fresh start under the Surface brand. They may be seeking to be disruptive in nature right out of the gate so as to set the Surface brand as new, bold and innovative so as to differentiate their products from the likes of Google's Pixel and Apple's iPhone. Microsoft's hardware to date has not made a dent worth caring about, even though they have some very nice designs. While I'm personally a big fan of their Surface Book and Surface Studio designs, I'm just not rich enough to afford their hardware, like most. Now with smartphones from Apple, Samsung and Red selling for between $US1,000 to $1,800, perhaps Microsoft is thinking of re-entering the smartphone market (or smart-mobile devices with communication capabilities - Ha!). It's not like their hardware to date has ever come close to challenging Apple. So should a cool dual display smartphone with thermal docking and fast charging surface in the next year or two, it's unlikely to be an iPhone challenger even if it ends up being a cooler design. One More Thing: Earlier this month The Verge posted a report titled "The Galaxy Note 9 is one step closer to the smartphone-computer dream." Microsoft started this trend with Continuum. With one of today's covered patents introducing a Thermal Dock, it's clear that the smartphone-computer was/is being reinforced by Microsoft. Of course Microsoft could license the technology or bring it to market in future products. Only time will tell which direction they take. A Note for Tech Sites covering our Report: We ask tech sites covering our report to kindly limit the use of our graphics to one image. Thanking you in advance for your cooperation. Patently Mobile presents a detailed summary of patent applications with associated graphics for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent application should be read in its entirety for full and accurate details. About Posting Comments: Patently Mobile reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus. News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. Iranian Journalist Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison For Criticizing Ultra-Conservative Cleric in a Tweet 08/25/18 Source: Center for Human Rights in Iran Amir Mohammad Hossein Miresmaili, a former journalist and satirist for the Jahan Sana'at (Industry World) newspaper in Iran, has been sentenced to a decade in prison after allegedly disparaging a Shia imam in a tweet aimed at criticizing an ultra-conservative cleric in Iran. Iranian Journalist Amir Mohammad Hossein Miresmaili Branch 1060 of the Government Workers Court in Tehran handed down the sentence on August 19, 2018. Miresmaili was also banned from media activities for two years as well as prohibited from traveling abroad for two years. "There are many objections to the ruling against my client," his lawyer Hossein Ahmadiniaz told the state-funded Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA). "He was trying to criticize officials within the framework of satire but unfortunately, his words have been taken as insults," he added. "I believe the government should show tolerance and understand the nature of satire." Miresmaili was arrested at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport a day after he tweeted the tongue-in-cheek criticism of Ahmad Alamolhoda, the ultra-conservative Friday prayer leader of Mashhad, for declaring that children shouldn't be allowed to dance in public. In a tweet on April 23, 2018, Miresmaili wrote: "There are two stories about how Imam Reza was martyred. One of them says he ate poisoned grapes and according to the other, he drank pomegranate juice. There's no doubt he loved grape juice, chips and yogurt and then Alamolhoda says dancing and music are an insult to Imam Reza! Stop the nonsense. Imam Reza is one of us." (@amirmiresmaili) April 24, 2018 Ali Ibn Musa al-Reza is the 8th Shia Imam (765-818 A.D.) and the butt of many Iranian jokes. Hours later, Miresmaili deleted the tweet and apologized for posting it. "I reiterate that I had no intention whatsoever to insult Imam Reza," he tweeted at the time. "I'm a Shia Muslim and I just wanted to criticize Alamolhoda and if anyone got upset, I apologize." On the day of his arrest, religious extremists posted videos on social media showing a crowd in front of the judiciary's headquarters in Tehran demanding stiff punishments against "foul-mouthed journalists." Miresmaili's sentence was based on four charges: "insulting sacred tenants and the imams," "insulting government and judicial officials," "spreading falsehoods to disturb public opinion" and "publishing immoral and indecent matters." Ahmadiniaz said he would appeal the ruling within the 20-day time limit. Africa holds 60 percent of the worlds arable land and yet, imports $35 billion worth of food annually. Ghana on the other hand, imports some $2.4 million of food annually. Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance, quoting the AFDB Group President, said this when he commissioned the Multi-Purpose building of the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement(WACCI) of the University of Ghana-Legon. We fundamentally acknowledge agriculture as the bedrock of our countrys industrialization and thus, creation of wealth and jobs for our people. But we need to ask ourselves what type of agriculture, the Minister said. He observed, that the importance the President Akufo-Addos government attached to the countrys agriculture, makes it heart-warming to see this multipurpose building being commissioned. The Minister said the governments keen attention towards the agricultural sector, stemmed from the sectors unique position and crucial contribution to economic growth, employment and the transformation of lives. Mr. Ofori-Atta observed, that the Agricultural sector had experienced very difficult challenges in the recent past. The sector grew by a paltry 2.8 percent and 3.0 percent in 2015 and 2016 respectively, underscored by a 2.5 percent growth in the crops subsector in 2015 and 2016, the minister said. He added that the sector had also experienced a declining share of GDP, consistent with the relatively slow growth in the sector and improved performances by the industry and services sectors. This led to government intervention, which to a large extent influenced the implementation of the Planting for Food and Jobs(PFJ)programme and other interventions in the sector, which have helped to improve the fortunes of agriculture in Ghana, Mr. Ofori-Atta said. The Finance Minister said as a result, the crops sub-sector then grew by 9.4 percent in 2017, the first year of implementing PFJ, from a growth of 2.5 percent in 2016. This together with other sub-sectors, pushed agriculture GDP to grow by 8.4 percent in real terms in 2017, compared to 3.0 percent in 2016, he said. Mr, Ofori-Atta noted that transforming agriculture in Ghana would require a concerted effort from all stake-holders, adding, That is why WACCI is so important to achieving a Ghana Beyond Aid. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The government has given a firm indication of its preparedness to hold persons involved in the unethical and criminal conduct in the banking sector to book. This will be in addition to the introduction of mechanisms that will forestall a repetition of the current challenges in the financial sector in the future. The Information Minister designate, Mr Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, said at a news conference in Accra on Wednesday that the government was fully committed to going full throttle to clean up the sector once and for all. He said the measures were part of efforts to clean up and strengthen the financial services, so that they could engender confidence and perform optimally. The challenges in the sector come in various forms there are those who have their own challenges with the normal recoveries and there are those who literally went in to dip their hands into depositors money and so for those who have been found culpable, sanctions will be brought to bear, he emphasised. These objectives are being achieved simultaneously and it is being done in strict compliance with the legal and international best practices that are known to us, he added. The government has already pumped GH7.9 billion into emergency liquidity support for the distressed banks and to protect depositors funds. This is in addition to the GH450 million used to capitalise the Consolidated Bank, the newly established entity that has absorbed the assets of the liquidated banks. The government is doing its best to ensure a full, firm and final resolution of the challenges that have bedeviled the financial sector, the minister designate stressed. But he cautioned that resolving the challenges could take some time, saying: It may take a bit of time; it will be a difficult and expensive process, but the government is committed that it will be done. Mr Oppong-Nkrumah stated that the cleaning up of the banking sector was not over yet and that it would be carried on until the entire industry was cleaned. He said the government had stepped in to provide relief and protection for depositors and ensure that deposits were safe. The government is ready to use the legal means at its disposal to retrieve and, where necessary, punish those found culpable, he emphasised. The government, he said, fully backed the actions of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and had demonstrated that at all times. The BoG has already announced plans to prosecute executives of the failed local lenders suspected to have dissipated depositors funds and carried out insider dealings. It is also considering barring culpable directors from operating in the Ghanaian financial sector. Bank failure In a report on uniBank, the biggest of the failed lenders and ranked the countrys sixth largest lender by assets before its collapse, the BoG cited shareholders and other affiliates as taking for themselves GH5.3 billion ($1.1bn), representing 75 per cent of its total assets. It said GH3.7 billion of the funds taken by shareholders was neither granted through the normal credit delivery process nor reported in the banks loan books. But the founder of uniBank, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, has rejected the charges. The BoG, on August 1, 2018, revoked the licences of five badly performing banks and created the Consolidated Bank as the receiver to manage the assets of the five collapsed banks. Collapsed banks The collapsed banks are uniBank Ghana, the Royal Bank, the Beige Bank, the Sovereign Bank and the Construction Bank. The BoG last year rolled out measures to strengthen the financial sector in the country, leading to the collapse of the UT and the Capital banks. Ghanas banking sector has faced challenges, such as poor corporate governance and risk management practices, related party transactions, regulatory non-compliance and poor supervision. The crisis in the sector has triggered calls for the prosecution of the directors of the failed banks. Source: Daily Graphic Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Akufo-Addo has constituted a nine-member committee to see to the organisation of a State Funeral for the former Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), Mr Kofi Annan. The committee, chaired by Ambassador Annan A. Cato, a Diplomat and a former Secretary to the Cabinet, included Mrs Cecilia Abena Dapaah, Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources; Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister-designate for Information; Ambassador Mercy Debrah Karikari, Secretary to the Cabinet; Ambassador Ahmed Hassan, Director of State Protocol; Mr Samuel Kumah, Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Brigadier General Charles Awity, Director General, Personnel Administration of the Ghana Armed Forces; Ambassador Patrick Hayford, Retired UN official and Mr Kojo Annan, son of the late Mr Kofi Annan. A statement issued by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, MrEugene Arhin said the Director of Protocol at the Office of the Vice President, Nana Mensah will serve as Secretary to the organising Committee. The State Funeral of Mr Kofi Annan will be held on Thursday, September 13, 2018. Mr Annan is said to have died Saturday morning, August 18, 2018 in Switzerland, where he was receiving medical care. He was 80 year. Source: Graphic.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video National Organiser of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Adams has said the ruling New Patriotic Party [NPP] will be living in 'fear' over the return of former President Mahama to the contest the presidency in 2020. The former President sent a high powered delegation to inform the National Executive Committee of the NDC about his intention on Thursday, 23rd August 2018. Some NPP members have reacted on Mahamas comeback with claims that he will be defeated and retired from politics in 2020. But the National Organiser of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Adams told Mac-Jerry Osei Agyeman on NEAT FM's political talk show Torchlight that, the Elephant fraternity wasnt expecting the return of Mr Mahama. I think they are suffering from diarrhea. They least expected his return. They will regret the day Mahama made his decision to contest the presidency again, he said. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Ambrose_wash Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Executive Director of Afrobarometer, Professor Emmanuel Gyimah-Boadi has urged Ghanaians to make their verdict on the performance of President Akufo-Addo's government size when it's time to pass judgement after 4 years. Many eyebrows were raised after Akufo-Addo appointed the largest number of ministers (110) in the nation's history since independence insisting that the performance of his team should be the benchmark to judge them. The former Executive Director of Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) remarked that he felt scandalised like many other Ghanaians after the announcements were made. However, Professor Gyimah-Boadi observes that despite the assurances given by the President, the performance of his government should be one to interest everyone throughout his tenure. Speaking in an interview with Kwabena Kyenkyenhene Boateng, host of '21minutes with KKB' on ghanaweb.com, the professor recounted, "Well for some of us, the number 110 just sounded scandalous. We felt scandalous that we could have this very very high numbers but since the President says we have to watch the performance, its one of those areas that we have to 'watch this space The debate about the number of Ministers the president should be permitted to appoint was reawaken by Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu who argued that the number should be capped at 65. He emphasised the need to have a legislation backing his proposal to make it binding on all Presidents of the nation. Haruna Iddrisu made the proposal when he addressed the launch of the National Public Sector Reform Strategy (NPSRS 2018-2013) in Accra. Professor Gyimah-Boadi, however, believes that any judgement of the number appointed by the president should be made after four years when we have had occasion to evaluate the work done within the period of his first term in office. "In four years, we will get the chance as a nation to judge as to whether it has been worth having 110 ministers and others, I'm suggesting that there is an opportunity to make a judgement down the line so I will wait for that opportunity" he suggested Source: Ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ghanas former Ambassador to Algeria Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo has said stated the chances of the National Democratic Congress (NDC in the 2020 general elections is brighter than the New Patriotic Party (NPP). He observed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos government has disappointed Ghanaians, claiming it has not been able to fulfil many of its 2016 juicy campaign promises that influenced Ghanaians to vote for the NPP. In his estimation, in an attempt to fulfil some of the promises such as the free Senior High Schools (SHSs), the One District, One Factory (1D1F) and the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJs), the government has created a lot of mess. The former ambassador was speaking to TV3 on the sidelines of a fund raising rally at Dumasua in the Sunyani West District of the Brong Ahafo. He said the NDC and many Ghanaians in particular were strongly against the Double Track System, being introduced by the government to address the intake challenges of the free SHS programme arising out of lack of infrastructure. Mr Nyamekye-Marfo expressed discomfort with high taxes and import duties, which he said were collapsing businesses, and worsening the socio-economic livelihood of many Ghanaians. He thus urged supporters and members of the NDC to work hard to intensify their campaign and reach out to particularly voters at the grassroots and sensitize them on the need to return the party to power for the good of Ghanaians. The former ambassador said the NDC could regain power if the party leadership, supporters and members demonstrate unity of purpose, identify and address peculiar challenges which affected the party in the 2016 electioneering. He said petty squabbles, backbiting and internal wrangling would only divide the front of the party and jeopardize its chances in 2020. The fund raising event was organised by the newly elected Sunyani West constituency executives of the NDC to seek public support towards the construction of an ultra modern office complex for the constituency, yet to be executed at Odumase at the cost of GHC500,000. The 28 constituency executives have already acquired four acres of land, and raised GHC10,000 for the project, comprising offices, conference halls, and recreational centre, to commence. Source: 3news 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 Former President Mahamas decision to declare his intentions to contest for the National Democractic Congress flagbearership race on the same day that marked the historic visit of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to Akyem to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Ofori-Panin, has landed him in trouble. A special aide to the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Mr. Andy Owusu, has released a statement accusing the ex-president of not wanting the see the two tribes flourish in unity and peace. According to him, though his visible absence did not in anyway dim the beauty of the event, it was a golden chance for former president Mahama to dispel the notion many had about his feelings towards the two tribes. Full Statement below Until last Thursday, August 23rd, 2018, my doubts about former president John Mahama's dislike for the culture of Akyem-Abuakwa was basically shaky. Some Ghanaians who perfectly understood the traditions of Asanteman and Akyem-Abuakwa had always accused the former president of plotting moves aimed at straining healthy relations between the two groups just to advance his political career. His move to pitch the Akyems against Ashantis intensified when he took over from the late former President Mills simply to ensure the NDC retained power. However, as hard as he tried to cause disunity and break the front of these great kingdoms, the contrary has always been the case. If there was any day in the country's traditional history that will forever remain golden and significant, particularly, in the annals of Asanteman and Akyem-Abuakwa, then that was Thursday, 23rd August, 2018. It was a day that the Asantehene, the 16th occupant of the Golden Stool, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, made what many had described as a triumphant entry to Akyem-Abuakwa State, where he joined his brother, Okyenhene, Amoatia Ofori-Panin, of Akyem-Abuakwa, to mark the 75th anniversary of the death of Ofori-Panin. It was a display of rich and unique traditions, cultures and above all, to show that Osei Tutu and Ofori Panin are rather brothers and not enemies. It also shot down the evil political interest some politicians wanted to share with Ghanaians. The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, led a powerful government delegation to witness the historic event. Former president Jerry Rawlings, his wife, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawling as well as top diplomats, the clergy, politicians and traditional rulers graced the big occasion. Conspicuously missing at the great event, was the immediate past president, Mr. John Dramani Mahama and his entire NDC party. Though his visible absence did not in any way dim the beauty of the event, it was a golden chance for former president Mahama to dispel the notion many had about his feelings towards the two tribes. But his absence was a big statement, and an endorsement of what people always think about his abhorrence for Asanteman and Akyem-Abuakwa. And, in a desperate way to see the ceremony relegated to the background, he decided to announce his return to lead the opposition party as it's flagbearer. My question is: why would the former president choose to relaunch his political career on the same day when Ghanaians were bracing themselves to support a good cause? Was it a deliberate move? Why does he hate to see these two kingdoms grow? If he (Mahama) cares to know, the people of Asanteman and Akyem-Abuakwa will continue to glow in glory and remain as united as ever. And Mr. Mahama should clearly understand that there is absolute nothing that he can do to divide them. By now, he should be ashamed of his botched actions. Signed Andy Owusu Special Aide to Bernard Antwi-Boasiako 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 In a dramatic showdown on the Senate floor, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., stunned his colleagues by joining two other Republicans to reject the latest attempt to rewrite the ACA. Read more How big was John McCain's life? Minutes after news broke Saturday night of his passing, it was what many people were talking about in homes, at parties, and on social media noting the senator's heroic five years of torture and imprisonment, and his decades of public service as a testament to his patriotism. It was something Democrats and Republicans finally seemed to agree on. Those sentiments also poured out on social media. "John McCain spent his entire adult life serving our country and he did it with honor and integrity," Mayor Kenney said. "He exemplifies what it means to be an American hero. May he rest in peace." Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey said "the nation mourns" the loss of a "patriot who spent a lifetime honorably serving the country he loved." Philadelphia Rep. Bob Brady also noted McCain's service and said the death would "be felt around the globe." Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey praised McCain as someone "who was not afraid to fight for what he thought was right, even when it was unpopular." And Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware noted, "John McCain literally lived a life of service to this country." McCain 81, died at his ranch near Sedona, Ariz. He was diagnosed in July 2017 with a brain tumor. Late last week, his family said he was stopping all medical treatment. Embracing the role of a maverick, McCain spent three decades representing Arizona in the Senate. He ran twice for president. One of those losses was to Barack Obama in 2008. "John McCain and I were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds, and competed at the highest level of politics," Obama said. "But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed. We saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world. We saw this country as a place where anything is possible and citizenship as our patriotic obligation to ensure it forever remains that way." Obama also went on to say that "few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did." President Trump, who had often been at odds with McCain, tweeted: "My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!" New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker said McCain welcomed him when he first entered the Senate in 2013 and left him inspired. House Speaker Paul Ryan called it "a sad day for the United States." "Our country has lost a decorated war hero and statesman," Ryan said. "John McCain was a giant of our time not just for the things he achieved, but for who he was and what he fought for all his life. This Congress, this country mourn with them." NEWSALERT-CLIMATE-BIDEN-TRUMP Biden: 'I do apologize' for Trump pulling US from Paris climate accord, says US 'will do our part' to lower emissions.(AP)Biden: 'I do apologize' for Trump pulling US from Paris climate accord, says US 'will do our part' to lower emissions.(AP) Skip Marley covers Bob Marley classic Johnny Was , taken from Yardie OST (Island Records) by Khyle Deen . Published Sun 26 Aug 2018 22:26, last updated: 26/08/18 August 31st sees the release of YARDIE, the directorial debut from Idris Elba (OBE), one of Britains greatest actors. Produced and distributed by STUDIOCANAL, and based on the 1992 book by Victor Headley, the film is released nationwide in cinemas across the UK. Set in 1970s Kingston, Jamaica and 1980s Hackney, London Island Records UK will release the Original Soundtrack, spanning music across two decades including reggae legends Dennis Brown, Yellow Man and Black Uhuru, plus a special bonus track by Skip Marley, a cover of the Bob Marley classic Johnny Was. Released on CD, digital and vinyl on 24th August, the album is available for pre-order now. Skip Marley explains: Johnny Was is a true classic, not just in my grandfather's catalogue but in reggae music overall. The story Bob Marley told decades ago was a reflection of the times. Now here we are years later, and it still resonates today as truth for my generation. It's an honour to be a part of the YARDIE project in such a powerful way. Speaking about his decision to direct the film Idris Elba says YARDIE is a story about a young man dealing with the trauma of losing a sibling at the tender age of 10. Victor Headleys book was one of the few books I read as teenager, Im not a big reader, so this was a big deal to me at the time and the story stuck to my ribs for many years. YARDIE centres on the life of a young Jamaican man named D (Aml Ameen), who has never fully recovered from the murder, committed during his childhood, of his older brother Jerry Dread (Everaldo Creary). D grows up under the wing of a Kingston Don and music producer named King Fox (Sheldon Shepherd). Fox dispatches him to London, where he reconnects with his childhood sweetheart, Yvonne (Shantol Jackson), and his daughter who he's not seen since she was a baby. He also hooks up with a soundclash crew, called High Noon. But before he can be convinced to abandon his life of crime and follow the righteous path, he encounters the man who shot his brother 10 years earlier, and embarks on a bloody, explosive quest for retribution a quest which brings him into conflict with vicious London gangster Rico (Stephen Graham). Published in 1992, Victor Headleys YARDIE proved an instant cult hit. Put out by a two-man independent publishing operation, X Press, it was sold at clothing stores and outside nightclubs rather than in traditional bookshops, and through strong word-of-mouth sold 30,000 copies. VINYL TRACKLIST 1. Kingston Town Lord Creator 2. Zungguzunggunguzungguzeng - Yellow Man 3. Guess Who's Coming To Dinner - Black Uhuru 4. My Jamaican Guy Grace Jones 5. Work To Do The Isley Brothers 6. Holy Mount Zion Culture 7. Dedication To Dean Fraser & Nambo - Roots Radics 8. Revolution - Dennis Brown 9. Prophecy Fabian 10. Satta Amassa Gana - The Abyssinians Stream or buy the Soundtrack here - https://yardie.lnk.to/OSTPR KEY DATES 26th & 27th Aug Pop Up at Peoples Sound - Notting Hill Carnival 31st Aug YARDIE released in cinemas nationwide United States Senator John McCain, a prisoner of war in Vietnam and a two-time contender for the presidency, died on Saturday at his home in Arizona at the age of 81. IMAGE: McCain endured more than five years of imprisonment and torture by the North Vietnamese as a young naval officer. Photograph: @SenJohnMcCain/Twitter McCain had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, called a glioblastoma, in 2017 and was being treated periodically with radiation and chemotherapy. According to a statement from his office, McCain died at 4:28 pm local time. His family had announced this week that he was discontinuing medical treatment. The son and grandson of four-star admirals, McCain endured more than five years of imprisonment and torture by the North Vietnamese as a young naval officer. "My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved best," McCain's wife Cindy McCain said in a post on Twitter. Condolence messages poured in from across party lines on McCain's passing. US President Donald Trump tweeted, "My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!". Former US President Barack Obama said in a statement that while McCain and he came from completely different backgrounds and competed at the highest level of politics, "we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher -- the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched and sacrificed." "Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own," Obama said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed grief over the demise of McCain. "Deeply saddened by the demise of Senator John McCain. People of India join me in sincerely condoling the loss of a steadfast friend. His statesmanship, courage, conviction and understanding of global affairs will be missed. Condolences to his family and well-wishers," Modi tweeted with a picture of himself and McCain. During three decades of serving as Arizona Senator, McCain made two unsuccessful attempts for the presidency. He lost a bitter primary campaign to George W Bush and the Republican establishment in 2000. He won the nomination in 2008, only to be defeated in the general election by Obama. IMAGE: His statesmanship, courage, conviction and understanding of global affairs will be missed, Modi said about McCain. Photograph: @narendramodi/Twitter Bush called his one-time political rival "man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order" and a "friend whom I'll deeply miss." Former vice president Al Gore said he always admired how the senator "would work to find common ground, no matter how hard." McCain was close friends with Senator Lindsey Graham and former senator Joe Lieberman -- a trio dubbed the "Three Amigos." Graham wrote that "America and Freedom have lost one of her greatest champions. And I've lost one of my dearest friends and mentor." Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer hailed him as a "truth-teller" with "unsurpassed" dedication to the US and its military. He said he would seek to rename a Senate building in McCain's honour. McCain was also a persistent critic of Obama's foreign policy. "The demand for our leadership in the world has never been greater. People don't want less of America they want more," McCain said in 2012. "Everywhere I go in the world, people tell me that they still have faith in America. What they want to know is whether we still have faith in ourselves." Despite his serious health condition, McCain had appeared in the Senate to cast a thumbs-down vote against his party's drive to repeal the Affordable Care Act. John Sidney McCain III was born August 29, 1936, in the Panama Canal Zone and into a family whose military lineage included an ancestor who served as an aide to Gen George Washington during the Revolutionary War. Lauding the contribution of non-resident Indians in the development of the country, he said, 'Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, B R Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru were all NRIs. They travelled the world and helped India with new perspectives.' IMAGE: Congress president Rahul Gandhi interacts with Indian Journalists Association in London. Photograph: Courtesy @INCIndia/Twitter Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday alleged that the judiciary and election commission were being 'torn apart' under the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was keeping mum on grave issues confronting the nation. Addressing the Indian Overseas Congress in London, he said the prime minister insulted every Indian by saying that nothing had happened in the last 70 years. "India shows the future to the world. The people of India made this possible, and the Congress helped them," he said. "If the prime minister says nothing had happened before he assumed office, he is not commenting on the Congress, he is insulting every person of the country," Gandhi said. He alleged that at present, Dalits, farmers, tribal people, minorities, the poor in India are told they will not get anything, and 'if they raise their voice, they are beaten up'. The SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act has been 'destroyed, and scholarships have been discontinued', he claimed. "Today in India, people are discriminated against on the basis of caste and religion. Marginalised are betrayed, while people like Anil Ambani benefit," he alleged. Attacking the BJP-led government on the Rafale deal, Gandhi said that the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited had been manufacturing aircraft for the last 50 years, but the contract was given to 'someone who floated his company just 19 days before the deal'. "Nobody will get anything. Only Ambani will get everything. This man has accrued a debt of Rs 45,000 crore," the Congress president alleged. Gandhi has been attacking the BJP government for allegedly inking the deal at a much higher price than the one the previous United Progressive Alliance regime had negotiated to benefit 'one businessman'. Facing allegations of getting undue benefits from the multi-billion dollar Rafale deal, Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group has sent legal notices to several Congress leaders asking them to 'cease and desist' from levelling such charges. Reliance Group has denied the allegations relating to the deal under which France's Dassault is supplying the fighter jets and has entered into a joint venture with an Anil Ambani-led group firm to meet its offset requirement of the contract. Ambani recently wrote to Gandhi on the deal saying his party has been 'misinformed, misdirected and misled' by 'malicious vested interests and corporate rivals' on the issue. Gandhi said, "When the farmers of Karnataka and Telangana ask for loan waiver, PM Modi says this is not our policy. India's handful of richest businessmen have NPAs of Rs 12.5 lakh crore, but the prime minister says nothing." He alleged that the prime minister kept quiet 'when his own party's MLA raped a woman and when Nirav Modi ran away with people's money'. "Institutions such as the Supreme Court, Election Commission, Reserve Bank of India, which are the walls of our country, are being torn apart now," he alleged. It was the first time that four senior-most judges of the apex court come out in public earlier this year to say they were not being allowed to work, he said. "I do not use bad language for the prime minister. And if you have listened to the debate on the Rafale deal in Parliament, you would have seen that the PM could not answer my questions," he said. Gandhi said China creates 50,000 jobs a day, while India creates only 450, and unemployment was a pressing issue. "Our farmers need help. Our youth needs education, elderly people need health care. But, there is no discussion on the issues of farmers, education and health care," he said. Lauding the contribution of non-resident Indians in the development of the country, he said, "Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, B R Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru were all NRIs. They travelled the world and helped India with new perspectives." 'People support leaders like Trump, Modi because they don't have jobs' Gandhi said that people support populist leaders like United States President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi because they are angry over not having jobs. Interacting with Indian Journalists' Association in London, Gandhi said that instead of solving the problem, these leaders ride on that anger and damage the country. "People support populist leaders like Mr Trump and Mr Modi because they are angry that they don't have a job. Instead of solving this problem these leaders ride on that anger. They damage the country by this," he said. On Friday, Gandhi said India was facing a 'full blown crisis' of unemployment and the government was refusing to admit it. The Congress president said there is a systematic attempt to impose one ideology on the country, the ideology coming straight from Nagpur. There are attempts to centralise power. Gandhi again maintained that 'there is a lot of similarity between Muslim Brotherhood and RSS. They use democratic processes to capture power'. The Muslim Brotherhood is the oldest political Islamist group in the Arab world. It is banned and declared as a terrorist organisation by the governments of several countries. He said that 'both the organisations were formed in the 1920s, both believe in institutional capture and both were banned, particularly the RSS was banned after Mahatma Gandhi's assassination'. On Vijay Mallaya, Gandhi said that Indian prisons are 'pretty decent' while commenting on his ongoing extradition case. "Indian prisons are pretty decent as far as Mr Mallya is concerned," he said. In July, Mallya appeared before the Westminster Magistrates' Court in London where both defence and prosecution presented clarifications on Barrack 12 at Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, where Mallya is to be held post-extradition. Judge Emma Arbuthnot asked the Indian authorities to submit within three weeks a video of the Barrack 12 of the Arthur Road Jail. Mallya is separately fighting extradition to India on fraud and money laundering charges worth an estimated Rs 9,000 crores. Asked whether he supported attempts to ban books, Gandhi said: "I don't believe in banning books unless there is a clear indication that it would lead to violence." Asked about the Congress' strategy for 2019 general elections, Gandhi said 'the Opposition in our conversation is very clear that the first and most important challenge is to stop the RSS, the BJP from attacking and destroying Indian state and institutions'. "There is absolute acceptance and unity on that point. We are not getting into any conversation that distracts us from that goal," he said. From triple talaq to simultaneous polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday touched upon the various issues in his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio address. On women's safety The country will not tolerate those committing rape and the law passed by Parliament in this regard will play an effective role in curbing crimes against women and girls, Modi said. The prime minister said when we move ahead in the national interest, a change in the lives of the poor, the backward, the exploited and the deprived ones can also be brought about. "No civil society can tolerate any kind of injustice towards women of the country. The nation will not tolerate those committing rapes. With this in mind, Parliament has made a provision of strictest punishment by passing the Criminal Act Amendment Bill. "Those guilty of rape will get a minimum sentence of 10 years and those found guilty of raping girls below the age of 12 years will be awarded the death sentence," Modi said. He said, recently, courts have awarded stringent punishment to rape convicts after a speedy trial lasting only a few days. The new law will play an effective role in curbing crimes against women and girls, the prime minister said. On instant triple talaq Referring to the issue of talaq-e-biddat or instant triple talaq, he said economic growth will be incomplete without a social transformation. "The triple talaq bill has been passed by the Lok Sabha, although it could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha, I assure the Muslim women that the whole country stands by them to provide them social justice. "When we move ahead in the national interest, a change in the lives of the poor, the backward, the exploited and the deprived ones can also be brought about," Modi said. To make the proposed law palatable to the opposition, a provision of bail for the accused from a magistrate has been added. The amendments to the bill, cleared by the Union Cabinet recently, also has the provision for settlement between the husband and the wife. The FIR can now only be lodged by the victim, her blood relations and those who have become her relatives by virtue of her marriage. Others, like neighbours, cannot lodge an FIR to prevent misuse of the proposed law. On monsoon session In his address, the prime minister also referred to the performance of both Houses of Parliament, saying whenever a discussion on Parliament is held, it is about hold-ups, noisy scenes and stalling of proceedings. "But when something good happens, it is not given much importance. The monsoon session of Parliament ended just a few days back. You will be glad to know that the productivity of Lok Sabha remained 118 per cent and that of Rajya Sabha -- 74 per cent. All the members rose above party interests to make the monsoon session most productive and this is why the Lok Sabha passed 21 bills and Rajya Sabha 14," he said. He said the recently-concluded session will always be remembered as a "session for social justice and youth welfare". Modi pointed out that a number of important bills beneficial to the youth and the backward classes were passed during the session, including he one to grant constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes. "This step will prove to be the one to move forward our march towards achieving the goal of social justice," he said. He also referred to a bill which overturned a Supreme Court order putting in place safeguards in a law on atrocities against SCs and STs. "This act will give more security to the interests of SC and ST communities. This will also forbid criminals from indulging in atrocities and will instill confidence among the dalit communities," the prime minister said. On Kerala floods The prime minister also hailed the humanitarian assistance rendered to victims of Kerala floods by people from all walks of life, saying irrespective of age group or area of work, people are contributing for the cause. He also put on record his appreciation for the role rendered by the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the National Disaster Response Force, the Border Security Force, the Central Industrial Security Force and the Rapid Action Force in relief and rescue operations. "Yesterday was the festival of Onam. We pray for Onam to provide strength to the country, especially Kerala so that it returns to normalcy on a newer journey of development. Once again on behalf of all Indians, I would like to reassure each and everyone in Kerala and other affected places that at this moment of calamity, the entire country stands by them," Modi said. He said loss of lives cannot be compensated, but he assures the grief-stricken families that in this moment of suffering, every Indian stands by them shoulder to shoulder. "I earnestly pray for those injured in this natural disaster to get well soon. I firmly believe that the sheer grit and courage of the people of the state will see Kerala rise again," he said. Disasters, he said, leave behind a trail of destruction. But one gets to witness facets of humanity, humaneness during disasters. "From Kutch to Kamrup, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, everyone is endeavouring to contribute in some way or the other so that wherever a disaster strikes, be it Kerala or any other part of India, human life returns to normalcy. Irrespective of age group or area of work, people are contributing," he said. On simultaneous polls Describing the debate on holding Lok Sabha and assembly polls together a healthy sign for democracy, Modi said it was an appropriate tribute to former premier Atal Bihari Vajpayee who changed the country's political culture. He said efforts were afoot and discussions being held about simultaneously holding Lok Sabha and assembly polls. "The government and the opposition -- both are putting forth their view points. This is a good development and a healthy sign for our democracy. "I must say that developing healthy traditions for a sound democracy, making constant efforts to strengthen democracy, encouraging open-minded debates would also be an appropriate tribute to Atalji," Modi said. Political parties are divided on the issue of simultaneous polls. The BJP, its National Democratic Alliance partners, the Shiromani Akali Dal, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Samajwadi Party and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti have supported it. The Congress, the Trinamool Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Telugu Desam Party, Left parties and the Janata Dal-Secular have opposed the proposal. The parties have given their response to the Law Commission, which is set to come out with a legal framework required to hold the mammoth exercise. Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat had recently said there are no chances of holding the two polls together without a legal framework. "Koi chance nahi (no chance at all)," he had said. "The lawmakers will take at least a year to frame a law that can be enforceable...," Rawat had said. If simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies are held in 2019, the EC will require nearly 24 lakh EVMs, double the number required to hold only the Parliamentary polls. During their discussion with the Law Commission on May 16 this year on the issue of holding simultaneous polls, EC officials had said they would need around Rs 4,500 crore to buy nearly 12 lakh additional electronic voting machines and an equal number voter-verifiable paper audit trail machines. In his address, the prime minister said the country will remain grateful to Vajpayee for bringing good governance into the main stream. "But, I just want to touch upon one more facet of Atalji's legendary personality and that is the political culture which Atalji gave to India, his efforts in the direction of bringing about the changes in our political culture, his efforts to mould it into an organised framework and which proved very beneficial for India and a bigger benefit will accrue in days to come," Modi said. He said the 91st constitutional amendment law brought in 2003 restricted the size of cabinets in states to 15 per cent of the total seats in the legislative assembly. "For many years in India, the political culture of forming a very large cabinet was being misused to constitute jumbo cabinets not only to create a divide, but also to appease political leaders. Atalji changed it. This effort of his resulted in saving of money as well as of resources. This also helped in improving efficiency," Modi said. He said the constitutional amendment also ensured that the limit under the anti-defection law was enhanced from one-thirds to two-thirds. "Besides, clear guidelines were defined to disqualify the defector," the prime minister said. Describing Vajpayee as a "true patriot," he said it was during his tenure that the timing of presenting the budget was changed from 5 pm to 11 am. Earlier, as was the British tradition, the budget used to be presented at 5 pm because in London, Parliament used to start working at that time. In 2001, the Vajpayee government changed the time of presenting the budget to 11 am. He said the framing of the Flag Code in 2002 was another "freedom" for India as it brought the national flag closer to the masses. "A number of such rules have been included in this code which made it possible to unfurl the tricolour in public places. This provided a chance to more and more of our countrymen to unfurl our national flag. Thus, he brought our beloved tricolour closer to the common man," Modi said. Flood-ravaged Kerala may have to wait a few months to get the complete financial aid package from the Centre as the process of assessing the extent of damage and fund release is time-consuming, officials said. IMAGE: Flood victims collect food inside SDVP school converted into a temporary relief camp in Kerala's Alleppey. Photograph: PTI Photo After the initial release of funds, the central government follows certain rules and guidelines before awarding the final aid to any state for a natural calamity, a home ministry official, privy to such circumstances, said. The Centre has so far released Rs 600 crore for Kerala, which witnessed its worst flood in a century. The death toll in Kerala floods has touched 293 since August 8 while 15 people are still missing. According to the existing guidelines on disaster relief funds, the central government's contribution to the State Disaster Response Fund is 75 per cent for general category states and 90 per cent for special category states of hilly regions. But the amount is released in each financial year in two instalments -- in June and December. However, the central government, upon being satisfied that exigencies of a particular calamity so warrant, may recommend an earlier release of the central share but that too up to just 25 per cent of the funds due to the state in the following year. But this release will be adjusted against the instalments of the subsequent year. IMAGE: People wade across a waterlogged street in a flood-affected area in Alleppey. Photograph: PTI Photo Similarly, for getting relief from the National Disaster Response Fund, the state government will have to first submit a memorandum showing sector-wise damage with proper justification for requirement of funds and then it is assessed whether a case for additional assistance from the NDRF is made out under the existing guidelines. This itself is a time-consuming exercise for a state which is still trying to recover from the disaster, the official said. An official statement from the ministry of home affairs, which was issued on August 23 giving details of the flood relief measures taken by the central government in Kerala, noted that the submission of the memorandum by the state will take time. The memorandum from the state government, when comes, will be examined to assess the likely requirement of funds as per items and norms of expenditure under the SDRF/NDRF. If the preliminary examination reveals that there are adequate funds in the SDRF for providing relief as per norms, the state would be advised accordingly. If the preliminary examination reveals that the state is in need of assistance, a central team will be deputed for making an on-the-spot assessment, the guidelines say. After the tour and assessment, the central team will submit a report. The report of the central team will be examined by the sub-committee of the national executive committee headed by the Union home secretary. The SC-NEC will assess the extent of assistance and expenditure which can be funded from the NDRF as per norms and make recommendations. Based on the recommendations of the SC-NEC, a high-level committee, headed by the Union home minister, will approve the quantum of relief to be released from the NDRF. IMAGE: Doctors monitor the health of flood victims. Photograph: PTI Photo The release of assistance from the NDRF will be subject to adjustment of 50 per cent of the balance in the SDRF as on March 31 of the preceding financial year. Upon the approval of the high-level committee, the ministry of finance will release assistance from the NDRF to the state. Another official said the whole exercise normally takes three to six months and hence the final award from the central government to a state comes late. Expenditure from the NDRF is meant to assist a state to provide immediate relief in those cases of severe calamity, where the expenditure required is in excess of the balance in the state's SDRF. According to the guidelines, the expenditure on reconstruction, restoration, disaster preparedness and mitigation should not be part of the SDRF or the NDRF and is to be met from the normal budgetary heads or plan heads. On August 21, the central government had released Rs 600 crore as immediate relief to the Kerala government. Citing a 2004 decision, the central government has announced that it would not accept any assistance from a foreign government, which created a huge controversy. The statement of the ministry of external affairs came after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the United Arab Emirates had offered to give Rs 700 crore as assistance to his state. However, UAE ambassador Ahmed Albanna had clarified that there has been no official announcement so far by the UAE on any specific amount as financial aid. The biggest procurement green-lighted was the Rs 217 billion purchase of 111 naval utility helicopters. Ajai Shukla reports. The defence ministry's apex procurement body, the Defence Acquisition Council, has accorded approval for acquisitions worth about Rs 460 billion, which include missiles and two types of helicopters for the navy, and artillery guns for the army. The biggest procurement green-lighted on Saturday, August 25, was the Rs 217 billion purchase of 111 naval utility helicopters, which will be built by a competitively chosen Indian private sector company. 'This is the first project under the MoD's prestigious Strategic Partnership model, which aims at providing a significant fillip to the government's 'Make in India' programme, the ministry said in a statement. 'The SP model envisages indigenous manufacturing of major defence platforms by an Indian SP, who will collaborate with foreign OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), acquire niche technologies and set up production facilities in the country,' the ministry added. The search for a suitable foreign OEM began more than a year ago. On December 1, the navy chief, Admiral Sunil Lanba, said: 'We have floated an RFI (request for information) and we have gotten responses from five OEMs. They are being examined.' On July 30, the defence ministry had promulgated the 'implementation guidelines' for choosing an SP in the helicopter category, clearing the way for this procurement. The basic SP policy framework is part of the Defence Procurement Procedure of 2016 (DPP-2016). However, equipment-specific selection criteria need to be separately drawn up for each of the four weapon categories the SP policy covers -- fighter aircraft, helicopters, submarines and armoured vehicles. The guidelines for fighters, submarines and armoured vehicle categories are still awaited. In another procurement that the navy chief had identified as 'the most important helicopter for us', the DAC cleared the purchase of 24 naval multi-role helicopters, which operate from the decks of capital warships, providing early warning and locating and destroying enemy submarines. The navy's NMRH fleet currently consists of less than a dozen vintage Seaking helicopters, which are increasingly difficult to maintain.sp; In a badly-needed fillip to army firepower, the DAC approved the manufacture of 150 indigenously designed and developed advanced towed artillery gun systems at an approximate cost of Rs 33.65 billion. These guns, which the ministry terms 'the mainstay of artillery in the near future', are being procured under the 'Make -- Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured' category. The Defence Research and Development Organisation has overseen their development and two private firms will build the guns in parallel -- the Kalyani Group and Tata Power (Strategic Engineering Division). The plan is to eventually induct about 1,500 ATAGS. The current order is a preliminary batch, which will be used to continue gun development. Finally, the DAC cleared the procurement of 14 vertically launched short-range missile systems, which will boost the capability of warships to shoot down and destroy incoming anti-ship missiles. Amid the row over Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's itinerary during her visit to flood affected Kodagu district, Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday praised her for the help she extended for rescue operations. Sitharaman and Karnataka minister Sa Ra Mahesh were locked in an exchange of words over her itinerary during her visit to Kodagu district on August 24 in full view of officials and the media at the district commissioner's office. Sitharaman was interacting with a group of affected people of Kodagu district when Mahesh, the district in-charge minister, told her that officials were waiting for her for a review meeting and they have to go for rehabilitation work. This had irked the defence minister. In a Facebook post, Kumaraswamy said, "I am deeply pained at the turn of events with regard to the visit of Hon'ble Defence Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman to the flood-affected areas in Kodagu district." The government, along with the relief agencies of both the state and the central governments besides the volunteers were working day and night for the relief and rehabilitation of the flood-hit citizens with support from the Union government, he said. Lauding Sitharaman, elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka, Kumaraswamy said she extended all possible support to carry out rescue operations and visited the flood-affected areas in Kodagu to understand the situation and to support the rehabilitation work. Regretting the inconvenience caused to the defence minister, Kumaraswamy said it was 'unfortunate' that such an incident occurred despite the government and the district administration following the protocol even during the tough situation in the region during her visit. "I believe this is the time for all of us to forget the small differences and forgive each other and join hands for the rehabilitation of the flood affected people in Kodagu. The grave situation in the district warrants it," he said. "Let us not colour such incidents and be distracted from our key focus. I look forward to the continued support of the central government and in particular of the Hon'ble defence minister," Kumaraswamy added. In a clarification issued on Saturday, a defence PRO statement, had claimed that Mahesh, who is the district in charge minister, had made certain 'personal' remarks against Sitharaman which had also lowered the dignity of Rajya Sabha and showed "utter lack of regard" and knowledge about the Indian polity. It had said the remarks made against Sitharaman were also in "bad taste," which do not merit a response. Hitting back at the defence minister, Karnataka deputy chief minister G Parameshwara said state governments derive their powers from the Constitution, not from the Centre. 'I don't think you have anything to say to me and I certainly don't have anything to say to you.' Bharat Bhushan recalls his encounters with V S Naipaul. The contest was between a sitting MP who was blind and his nephew. The blind uncle, Mukutbihari Lal Bhargava, belonged to the old order, the Congress-O (Organisation). His nephew had thrown in his lot with Indira Gandhi's Congress-R (Reformist) which was riding high on the victory in Bangladesh. Privy purses had been abolished and banks nationalised. As it is, the royalty in Rajasthan was up in arms. Then suddenly Maharaja Kishangarh was murdered by one Bhima Jat, the brother of his paramour. The atmosphere in the Ajmer parliamentary constituency, of which Kishangarh was a part, was electric. The correspondent from the Sunday Times magazine had quite wisely chosen to report the mid-term elections of 1971 from Ajmer and had found accommodation in the picturesque Circuit House. In nearby Mayo College, the students were oblivious of the momentous changes taking place in the Indian polity. Maharaja Kishangarh's murder, of course, had everyone excited as the Maharaja's two sons were associated with the school -- one had just graduated and the other, Prithviraj Singh, was still a student. The correspondent from London somehow found himself sitting next to the headmaster of Mayo, Shomie Ranjan Das, watching As You Like It, a co-production with the local girls' school. When he asked for help in hiring a professional interpreter, Das suggested that he take one of his boys who would do the job. That was how I first met V S Naipaul. I did not know who Naipaul was nor could I guess from his appearance where he was from. His face with its ropey lines looked like an unfinished model in clay. He wore a floppy hat, enunciated each word clearly and spoke in an accent that I had not heard before. All that I knew was that I would get a few days off from school. The prime campaigner for the blind candidate was the Maharana of Udaipur. We followed his car-cade. Although he attracted fairly large crowds, it was difficult defending a candidate so badly handicapped. That Bhargava could see better with his inner eye than those with normal eyesight did not convince even me and I was only 15 years old. Naipaul showed no reaction to the election speeches. He just jotted everything down in his notebook. Once at a railway crossing, he took out a flask and poured himself some black coffee. One of the onlookers remarked that angrez sahibs drank rum whenever they felt like it. Naipaul understood that and told me to tell that irritating fellow that he was drinking black coffee, not rum. At another time we found ourselves at a tea-shop in Nasirabad, outside Ajmer, late at night. Naipaul insisted that the shopkeeper wash his cup and saucer with soap. The shopkeeper asked his young son -- about seven or eight years old -- to wash the cup. Naipaul wanted to know why the child was not in bed. Did he not have to go to school the next day? How did he expect him to pay attention in class if he was forced to work till eleven at night? The shopkeeper heard out Naipaul with a resigned smile. One night our car ran out of fuel. We found a petrol pump but as there was no electricity, the petrol had to be pumped out by hand. Naipaul pushed the attendant aside and started working the crank himself explaining, "I need some exercise." The attendant told him he looked very young. Naipaul replied, "That is perhaps because I don't have any children." I have not understood that answer till today. Some of my teachers in school were upset that I was helping Naipaul who they said had written nasty things about India. I had not read India, A Wounded Civilisation, but the next day I told Naipaul what my teachers had been saying. "Have you read my book?" I shook my head. "Have your teachers read it?" I had no idea. "This is what happens in India. People make up their minds before reading anything." Naipaul then said that as an outsider he saw things which we did not. "What would you see in the corner of even a new government building?" he asked. "Dirt?" I ventured a guess. "No. That's where people think they can spit out betel-nut juice," he said. Naipaul went back to England and life returned to normal. The blind candidate lost. Indira Gandhi gained a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha. After the Naipaul visit, I was left with the strange revelation that people could earn a living writing about things around them. That one did not have to write novels and stories but describe things as they unfolded was an idea I found strangely exciting. I began corresponding with Naipaul, care of his publisher Andre Deutsch. When Naipaul's election reports from India were published in two parts, I was sent copies of the Sunday Times magazine. I frantically looked for my name somewhere, hoping that the famous man (by now I knew who he was) might have mentioned me, that this way some of his greatness might rub off on me. I was sorely disappointed. Maharaja Kishangarh's son Prithviraj, who was in my class, was visibly upset on reading the reports. Naipaul had printed a leaflet against his father's sexual escapades, distributed during the election campaign, in full. He blamed me for translating it. I was upset enough to write to Naipaul about putting such hurtful stuff in print. He wrote back that sometimes truth had this effect on people but it had to be told. The year was 1982 and I was a student at Imperial College, London. I bumped into Naipaul at a bookshop on Gloucester Road in South Kensington. By now I had read his books. I went up and introduced myself. "Oh yes, you used to write to me as a school boy. You wanted to study English literature," he said. "Yes. And you wrote back saying that literature has been spoilt by people like professors," I said. I told him that I was studying the impact of technology on the industrial labour process instead. "I suppose now you will now become a personnel manager," he said. I might teach instead, I ventured. That brought on a tirade about "rejecters" like me. "I have seen your kind. You are the type who would kill people if they disagreed with you. Are these the values your father stood for? What would he say to what you have become today?" "Patsy," he shouted out to his wife Patricia. "Meet Bharat. I had met him when he was in school. He has become a Rejecter now." "That is his description," I mumbled. His wife herded us out of the bookshop. Naipaul cooled down a bit and asked me to write to him about I how felt about life now. "Write to me care of my publisher as you used to," he said while walking away. "I'll be damned if I do," I said to myself. A fortnight later while walking down Gloucester road I saw Naipaul again. His wife was a few steps behind him. "Hello Mr Naipaul," I said. "Oh, hello, hello," he replied in an off-hand way and walked past me. His wife stopped me and apologised for his behaviour at the bookshop. "We must have you over for tea. Our apartment has been burgled this weekend, so call us next Saturday. Vidia, give him our telephone number," she told Naipaul. An irritated Naipaul turned back to walk towards us. He looked at me in a manner which was at once condescending and arrogant. "I will give you my telephone number only on the condition that you do not pass it on to any researcher, literary critic, journalist or other such pests," he said. Something snapped in me and I told him, "On second thoughts Mr Naipaul, forget about it. I don't think you have anything to say to me and I certainly don't have anything to say to you." He threw the pen and paper angrily back at me and walked away. I still read Naipaul admiringly. I am halfway through Half A Life and my wife is re-reading A House For Mr Biswas. When I recounted my encounter with Naipaul to her after he won the Nobel Prize for literature and expressed a desire to write about it, she said, "Write it, but there will be any number of people crawling out of the woodwork now to say, "When I was a boy, I knew Naipaul." Willie Jones (December 24, 1740 June 18, 1801) was an American planter and statesman from Halifax County, North Carolina. He represented North Carolina as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1780. Allen Jones, his brother, was also a delegate to the congress. In 1774, 1775 and 1776, Jones was elected to represent either the county of Halifax or the town of Halifax in the North Carolina Provincial Congress. For a brief time in 1776, as the head of North Carolinas Council of Safety, he was the head of the states revolutionary government, until Richard Caswell was elected as Governor. Thereafter, Jones served in the North Carolina House of Commons and the North Carolina Senate and was elected to the United States Constitutional Convention in 1787 but declined to accept his seat. He led the faction that opposed North Carolinas ratification of the Constitution in 1788. Among his last public roles was helping to determine the location of Raleigh, the new state capital, in 1791. He moved to Raleigh and died there in 1801. He was buried in an unmarked grave on ground that is now occupied by St. Augustines College. Jones County, North Carolina along with Jones Street where the North Carolina General Assembly building is located is named for him. ==Family== Willie Jones (pronounced Wylie Jones{fact|date=February 2014}), revolutionary leader and Father of Jeffersonian Democracy in North Carolina was born in Surry County, Virginia, May 25, 1741, the son of Robin, Jr., and Sarah Cobb Jones. Sometime prior to 1753, the Joneses moved to Northampton County, North Carolina, settling about six miles from the town of Halifax. Jones attended his fathers alma mater, Eton, from 1753 to 1758, after which he made the grand tour of the Continent. When he returned to Halifax, he was described as a peculiarly thoughtful and eccentric man. His home, the Grove, which he built at the southern end of town, became the center of social life and political activity for the region. He had one of the finest stables in the south and in 1790 owned one hundred and twenty slaves. On June 22, 1776, forsaking his vow of celibacy, he married the charming Mary Montfort. The couple had thirteen children. Only five of them lived to maturity. ==The Willie Jones and John Paul Jones Tradition== Willie Jones lived at The Grove, near Halifax. These old mansions, grand in their proportions, were the homes of abounding hospitality. When John Paul Jones visited Halifax, then a young sailor and a stranger, he made the acquaintance of those fine old patriots, Allen and Willie Jones; he was a young man but an old tar with a bold, frank sailor-bearing that attracted their attention. He became a frequent visitor/at their house, where he was always welcome. He soon grew fond of them, and as a mark of esteem and admiration, he adopted their name, saying that if he lived he would make them proud of it. Thus John Paul became John Paul Jones it was his fancy. He named his ship the Bon Homme Richard, as a compliment to Franklin; he named himself Jones as a compliment to Allen and Willie Jones. When the first notes of war sounded he obtained letters from these brothers to Joseph Hewes, member of Congress from North Carolina, and through his influence received his first commission in the navy. ==Political career== Between 1774 and 1775, he completely reversed his attitude about Englands relationship to the colonies and became a convert to the Whig cause. Historians have long speculated as to why he changed his views. While an aristocrat in social life, Jones fervently believed in political democracy. He interpreted the struggle with Great Britain as a democratic movement and was determined to embody its revolutionary ideals in the government of the state and nation. His later opposition to the United States Constitution was inspired by his fear of a government that might become too powerful. From the beginning of the quarrel with England he was an ardent supporter of colonial rights, and probably nothing else could have drawn him into politics. In 1774 he was recommended by the Board of Trade for a place on the colonial council but was not appointed because of his radical views. He served instead as chairman of the Halifax Committee of Safety. He supported the call for a provincial congress in 1774. This body remained in session for only three days, but during that time it fully launched North Carolina into the revolutionary movement. Jones was elected a member of each of the five provincial congresses, but he could not attend the fourth because the Continental Congress had appointed him superintendent of Indian affairs for the southern colonies. After a fifth provincial congress, with a liberal majority behind him, Jones served on the committee to draft the state constitution and bill of rights. He used his influence in shaping the state constitution. When it was completed, it was a compromise satisfactory to all but the conservative extremists. During the next twelve years, Jones was politically the most powerful man in the state. He was a member of the House of Commons from 1777 to 1780, and a state senator for three terms between 1782 and 1788. In 1781 and 1787 he was a member of the Council of State. In 1780 he was elected to the Continental Congress and served one year. Jones was elected a delegate to the federal Convention, but did not accept. When the Constitution was submitted to the state, he led the opposition to its ratification at the Hillsboro Convention of 1788. At this convention he wanted to adjourn the first day. He said, all the delegates knew how they were going to vote, and he did not want to be guilty of lavishing public money on a long and tedious discussion in support of the Constitution and its immediate ratification in advance of amendment. After eleven days of debate, by a vote of 184 to 84, the Anti-Federalists carried a resolution neither rejecting nor ratifying the Constitution . Jones favored a delay in ratification but public sentiment ran the other way. The Federalists carried on an effective campaign of education for a second convention to act on the Constitution. Jones was elected to the Convention of 1789, which met in Fayetteville and ratified the Constitution by a vote of 195 to 77, but he did not attend. His public career was over. A street in Raleigh and a county in North Carolina bears Joness name. He died in Raleigh after a long illness on June 8, 1801. At his own request, he is buried there in an unmarked grave. Source(s): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Jones_(statesman) . . . . 3 , 10 . , ... China will on Monday release July figures for industrial profits, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In June, industrial profits surged 20.0 percent on year. Hong Kong will provide July numbers for imports, exports and trade balance. In June, imports were worth 349.47 billion HKD and exports were at 340.33 billion HKD for a trade deficit of 9.14 billion HKD. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. Dear Editor Re: Metered Parking-a good initiative The new initiative introduced by the Government for the development of Samoa is a good move. My one cent contribution to this issue is for L.T.A. to raise awareness for the information of the public way ahead of time. As always, the public will have different views and opinions but eventually they will support the initiative if the message is well disseminated. Secondly every parking lot should be clearly marked, and not just the township area. Street cameras should be installed for monitoring purposes; otherwise it will be another waste of taxpayers money on these expensive machines. Parking meters is the way of the future. That is the message from the Government, and its the peoples responsibility to contribute for a better Samoa. Changes are good as they introduce new systems and process as a way forward, and this too will increase the government capacity to introduce more good things if only all have the same sense of humor and value such assets. As many argued this will add to financial difficulties, I totally agree but most importantly it is our role as a society to support and work together for the betterment of our country. Without our collective effort, we cannot improve our living standards and social conditions. Nine S89744110 The first time I truly met Gatoaitele Savea Sano Malifa, I was 19. I walked into his office for an interview to be a journalist for his newspaper. Do you know what I liked about your one page application to the reporter vacancy? he asked. I said no but was sure he would tell me. Theres no bull***t, he said. And that sentence encompassed in it his approach to life and to the craft of journalism. I worked for Samoa Observer for two years alongside Mataafa Keni Lesa who is now the Editor of Samoa Observer, Faimalo Matthew Lemisio who is now the Electoral Commissioner, Gerard Williams who is now the head of Datec in Samoa and Tupuola Terry Tavita, former Editor of Savali and Advisor to the Prime Minister who now resides in New Zealand. At that time, Savea was our Editor and Afamasaga Toleafoa was Deputy. There is no journalism class or lecture that will teach you the things that an editorial meeting with Savea teaches you in an hour. His no-nonsense approach to news gathering was both brutal and informative. We would walk into the editorial meeting braced to be taught a lesson or five about our pathetic pitches or missed opportunities the day before. We would receive both scathing and constructive feedback on our previous work. His history, craft and absolute pursuit of truth was inspiring and made every utter of discontent from him a valuable lesson on fine tuning ones nose for news and perfecting ones craft. His quiet grin, a sign that he was pleased by your work, was enough to make all of us collectively happy for a week. I was impressed by the way he and Muliaga Jean Malifa ran the operation then, making changes at a drop of a hat to respond to reader demand and ensuring that there was no compromise to the content. Samoa Observer is now one of the most well equipped and advanced newspaper operations in the Pacific islands. Working at Samoa Observer under Savea instilled in me a sense of absolute appreciation for news, for the role of the fourth estate in democracy, and the importance of journalistic integrity and standards in upholding the truth. There is an unspoken agreement among local journalists, that anyone who survived the editorial direction and leadership of Savea is not only tough as nails, respected and quietly applauded, but also admired for the fact they learned from the best. Samoa Observer has contributed in many ways to strengthening our democracy and to providing the necessary checks and balances needed in any governing structure. It is not perfect and it is not without errs or obstacles. It has been burnt to the ground, Savea has been punched in the face and families have been harassed and abused as a result of truth pursuit. But as Mataeliga Pio Sioa, Editor in Chief of the only other private print media in Samoa noted in his editorial: To survive this long in Samoa as an independent newspaper is all about perseverance and hard-headed resolve. Friday nights celebration of the 40th was testament to the true value of our only daily to Samoas journey as a young democratic nation. The presence of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, diplomatic corp, business community and community leaders spoke volumes to the impact that Samoa Observer has had on our small island state. The event was epic in many respects, but perhaps something that many did not notice that I definitely smiled at, was that the event, for the first time in my own account of media history in Samoa all the heads of local media were under one roof, smiling and celebrating together. That, to me, is more telling of the pioneering role of Samoa Observer in the media industry than anything else. TV1, TV3, Newsline, Savali, Talamua, Radio Polynesia and 2AP were all smiling and celebrating together. That is a monumental feat. So thank you Samoa Observer for continuing to fight the good fight and for persevering amid adversity. Thank you Gatoaitele Savea Sano and Muliaga Jean Malifa for the legacy that is Samoa Observer. It has made a tremendous difference in my life, and what anchored by passion for news it inspired my journey that lead me to the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford, work for the International Federation of Journalists and report for some of the leading news forces in the world. That grounding gave me the confidence to contribute to The Wall Street Journal, CNN, Al Jazeera, AFP and Huffington Post. It has and will continue to provide a source of ground truthing for my work, no matter the field and no matter the reach. It is most fitting then, to end with the words of Savea, a freedom hero and a true survivor of our times When this is all over Ill make it up to you, well sit down and talk, as normal people do. Evasiveness and half-truths will be a thing of the past, This is a promise Im making to you. - Savea Sano Malifa Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi, has appealed to Chief Executive Officers of Government entities to take on the recommendations of the Audit Office. He was responding to questions from the media following extensive coverage in the Samoa Observer in recent weeks on the findings of the Controller and Chief Auditors report for 2014 and 2015 on the accounts of various government agencies. The Government strongly enforces to the C.E.O's that whatever reports coming from the Auditors it must be adhered and should be thoroughly reviewed and make the necessary corrections, Tuilaepa said. Audit reports since Samoa became Independent have always revealed discrepancies within Ministries and that is their duty, to warn the C.E.O. who is not following finance policies. The Prime Minister added that some of the discrepancies highlighted occur at the time of the church annual taulaga (offering) when the expectation is high on people who work to provide money. Some parents are keen to have at least $10,000 for the taulaga so in the end the children will steal. Tuilaepa said the purpose of the audits is to reveal discrepancies within Ministries; hence the Government building the capacity of the Audit Office as it plays a vital role in governance. He said he has not seen the Auditors Report as it was submitted directly to Parliament. He also discussed a previous Audit report submitted to Parliament by the former Auditor, where a Commission of Inquiry was established to review it. The Chairman of the Finance Committee at that time was implicated in the report because he owed money to the Government, Tuilaepa said. Me and Tofilau (Eti Alesana) at the time felt the report wouldnt be thoroughly reviewed given the conflict of interest as the Chairman was implicated in the audit report. Fast forward to today, Tuilaepa said issues highlighted in the Audit reports are nothing new. He added that there have been instances in the past where the services of senior Government officials were terminated for stealing from the Government. When I first started at the Ministry of Finance, at the time when the person overseeing payroll was caught stealing, he was criminally charged and was jailed as a result." When I was the C.E.O. of Finance, a senior officer was implicated in misappropriation of finances for payroll." I gave this person the ultimatum and that within eight hours he must replenish the money he took which was in the amount of $7,000 if not, he will be turned over to the authorities. The money was repaid before 4pm that same day." In the end that Senior Officer was not reported to the Police but was terminated and the letter of termination was sent to P.S.C. to be stored in his files, to assure he will not work for the Government again, Tuilaepa said. The Prime Minister also spoke of two senior finance officers who clocked in for work but were drinking at a bar. Their services were later terminated as they were too drunk to work. What made it worse was that they also clocked in to claim overtime, Tuilaepa said. An interesting development in relation to the Criminal Libel Law emerged on Wednesday last week. A few months after Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi and his administration expedited the re-introduction of the law that has become obsolete and erased from the law books of most civilized countries in the world, the Government has quickly moved to use it. This time it has been put to use against a certain King Faipopo who has apparently been making some very serious allegations against the Prime Minister on Facebook. Without knowing the details, you only need to look at the name King Faipopo to get the idea that this person, whoever he is, must be a big joke. You see, in Samoa, there are no kings. Although everyone is a faipopo in some sense since we all need coconuts for daily sustenance, to claim one is the king of faipopo is a dead giveaway that one is not serious about anything. And yet this so-called King Faipopo has obviously gotten under Prime Minister Tuilaepas skin to compel him to quickly exercised the authority he has to bring legal action against this individual. In a statement issued by the Press and Communications Division of the Office of the Prime Minister, it said Prime Minister Tuilaepa has asked the Attorney Generals Office to begin the process of requesting extradition. Tuilaepa wants the king who lives in Australia to be brought to Samoa to be charged under the Criminal Libel Act. By the way, the King is a man by the name of Malele Paulo. During the past few weeks, hes been making some very damaging and serious allegations against Tuilaepa. For instance, he has accused Tuilaepa of murder and smuggling firearms. In one of his posts, Paulo claimed that Prime Minister Tuilaepa murdered his uncle and late Cabinet Minister Luagalau Levaalu Kamu by plotting his assassination. He further accused the Prime Minister as the ringleader in the alleged smuggling of three containers of firearms into Samoa. As if thats not serious enough, he then made a classic mistake. He dared Tuilaepa to pay for his airfares so that he can travel to Samoa from Australia for a face-to-face meeting. Well if Paulo wanted attention, he has got the Prime Ministers attention now. On top of that, he has also been given an invitation to meet Tuilaepa in the Courtroom. I am not prohibiting anyone from exercising their freedom of speech or freedom of expression but I take issue when the rights of the innocent, like myself are violated through lies and deceit, Tuilaepa said in the statement. This kind of lying and attacking members of the community through social media is what the law was designed to prevent. And my respect is based on factual claims provided there is sufficient evidence to prove that the claims are truthful. Its a public record that the men who assassinated the late Cabinet Minister had their fair trial and were convicted but this nit wit appears to have his own story to prove otherwise. If that is the case, its only fair for him to present his evidence in Court in Samoa. Tuilaepa said he has instructed the Attorney General and the Police to begin the process of bringing the king to Samoa. As a King, he will be treated first class in terms of brand new accommodation quarters and three square meals a day free of charge, when the new Tanumalala Prison is completed, Tuilaepa said. Will the King take up Prime Minister Tuilaepas invitation? And will Australia grant Prime Minister Tuilaepas request to have Paulo brought to Samoa to face the music in terms of the allegations he has made? Make no mistake about it; the allegations against the Prime Minister are very serious and defamatory. Apart from his position as the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa is entitled to be protected against such allegations, just like any other member of the public. No one deserves to be subjected to such unfounded and baseless allegations driven by malice and hate. Paulo could well make history here. Unlike the other infamous faceless blogger who doesnt have an identity, King Faipopo is different. We know who he is. What happens next would be very interesting to see. Stay tuned! Have a wonderful week Samoa, God bless! Dear Editor, I write to provide some facts for the matter to help capitulate and dispel what had been reported in your recent edition regarding a $5 mil lawsuit by some mob that had been filed against my government, over my countrys 2008 land law that violates, violates, violates... Yes Sir! Perhaps ... alleged to have VIOLATED the CONSTITUTION! Says who? May I ask! Ten years after the law was passed? Wow! With a condition of extreme adversity to brewing a storm in just a mere teacup, surely Sir, had caused me to chant aloud: Hallelujah! Praise Lord God Almighty and Jesus Christ thy Holy Devine Mercy!! In Him! Through Him! With Him! All thy things were made! Thy Kingdom Come! Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven! Praise be to those, blinded as a bat who have no slightest idea of a constitutional law ... other than criminal and the bush laws? As I do not entail in the fine print for ones qualification for being a bush-lawyer, however of course my honourable P.M friend is privy to define that into details. Take it up with him. I am sure he has the bush-lawyers encyclopaedia to help answer all media queries. But pertaining to this $5 mil lawsuit, that, I am able to relate well to. That so is nothing but a funny joke by the conducive juvenile jesters imperil, for only playing the fool. A $5 mil horrendous lawsuit for what? Please! Oh! Please! Samoa is no British rock band, Dire Straits to sing Money For Nothing. Get off the grass. This surely chills the hair on my neck for the -lepopoi- impetuous raucous acolytes endeavouring to milk some easy dough in broad daylight off the people of Samoa? The cracks are starting to confirm my suspicious this mob is not representing the interest of Samoa but themselves. But thank God matters pertaining to the Constitution of Samoa the court has already ruled in regards. Remember Mr. Editor Sua Rimoni Ah Chong who made the very same claim of VIOLATION! VIOLATION! VIOLATION! As Comptroller and Chief Auditor, Sua Rimoni Ah Chong took the government to court making the very same claim of violating the Constitution. Article 99 of the Constitution plus Clauses, Sections and Subsections were quoted to substantiate Sua Rimoni argument stating that my government had acted unlawfully by referring his report to the Commission of Inquiry rather the Public Accounts Committee, therefore violated the Constitution. Yes Sir! Violating the Constitution, Sua Rimoni Ah Chong had thought but when the Court rules: Samoa Parliament is the supreme law processing power no court has any jurisdiction over! I can categorically assure all, whatever is written in our Constitution is clearly defined by it as OBSOLETE, for as long as a two third margin hence that tally, is currently exceeded by the HRPP government with a margin of 99.99 percent! If you were well versed with Samoa politics back then Sir, hence you would understood the vigorous pattern of holding on to very dear life. In other words, should the current Samoa Parliament decide to suspend the whole Constitution to rewrite the entire to modernize it, no bush-lawyer can stop it. As it was in 1997, the HRPP amended the Constitution to make the Controller and Chief Auditor appointed for a term of three years, and to permit his removal upon motion of the government and a simple majority vote by Parliament. That Sir, was an iconic move condoned within the texture and peripheral of the Constitution. Prior to this amendment Sir, the position of Controller and Chief Auditor was like that of the Chief Justice; an appointment for a life tenure until reaching the age of 60 with the threshold for removal being a two-third vote in parliament. Without a slightest doubt in my simple mind, we are about to again, going through the very same process to hear the replaying of the old scratchy vinyl, and am feeling so so sorry for my poor ears going through a distorted audio. This lawsuit is doomed to failure from start; mark my word Sir. They will never succeed. This silly lawsuit has no leg to stand. Now lets cut the chase and read between the blurred lines down to memory lane to trace the precious pieces of history how the modern, for the real Samoa first of today: Remember that meeting by the paramount chiefs and paramount orators at Ulugia Suivais residence at Vaiusu where the real Samoa first, the HRPP was hatched and gave birth in 1979? Those attended were grey haired and long serving public servants in Samoa; not some recently repatriated expatriates who formed and registered with the backing of a huge majority of overseas based troublemakers. Then the ludicrous fiascos of the Year 1982 when Samoa had made itself to become a laughing stock of the world when in one year, with four governments, and four different prime ministers. As politics in Samoa was receiving a hammering though, the chicken frames had made a name for itself in the country when the discarded poultry part fitted only for manure had become a delicacies on most dining plates. Literally, the country was bankrupt. The same year, the late Tofilau Eti Alesana came to the rescue when he became the Honourable Prime Minister of Samoa for the second time, after a budget vote was a defeat for the Tupuola Efi government. The building of Samoa first ever television and mobile telephones. The flash high-rise Tupua Tamasese Meaole National Hospital; that is a Samoa first. The old age monthly pension; that is a Samoa first. The no school fees for primary schools; that is a Samoa first. And the 1998 so-called Tumua ma Pule petition and resistance that Tofilau Eti Alesana smashed into oblivions and attributed as the SNDUP lead campaign, that had collected over 220,000 signatures for the removal of the HRPP government, resulting in an appointed Commission of Enquiry with members selected from overseas palagi lawyers and judges! Remember that protest march towards the Head of State residence at Faatoia with many muscular men carrying on shoulders huge steel filing cabinets containing the names from local and overseas signatures Mr. Editor? Remember the convoy of semitrailer trucks that transported the filing cabinets from Faatoia to a safe keeping storage paid for by my HRPP government, to make sure every signature is protected from being vandalised? And when the Commission of Enquiry released its finding, out of 220,000 signatures, was just an allusion of a compassionate pity!!!!! Only12 signatures! Yes indeed Mr. Editor, out of the 220,00 overseas troublemakers hogwash (and some locals of course), just a mere 12 signatures were valid; all were just first names with no abode ... as if Samoa is a banana republic! What about the mass demonstration marches in Savaii and Upolu in 2009 to protest against the shifting of the vehicles driving side? Hence resulting to many members of the protest committee had stood as independent candidates against the HRPP government and when the 2011 general elections was held and dust settled, none of those candidates had won a seat. Even worst, some candidates were declared bankrupt. And then in 2013, a group of well educated matai, Leuluaialii Tasi Malifa who holds a Master in law of Afega, Fiu Mataese Elisara, an environmentalist of Sili Savaii, Teleiai Dr. Sapa Saifaleupolu, of Samatau, an environmentalist, and Lilomaiava Ken Lameta who successfully challenge the Asian Development Fund (ADB) regarding the leasing of lands as per 2008 land law. The question being: Why did not the four take the Samoa government to court rather appealing to the ADB, raising their valid concerns about the using of lands in Samoa for the purpose of mortgaging and leases of cultural lands? They are very wise men bare in mind Leuluai Tasi Malifa holds a Master degree in law. Perhaps they learnt and fully understood the plight of Sua Rimoni Ah Chong and the ruling that Samoa Parliament is the supreme law of Samoa no court has any jurisdictions over it when it comes to the Constitution. So with the tantalising stats of the 1998 Tumua ma Pule SNDUP petition and mass demonstration marches as well as the 2009 roadside driving side shifting pandemonium campaign, compare those to the present lawsuit against my government and the very low turn out to their appeal to march to show solidarity, perhaps Stui is reading the history and laugh his head off. Well, these are novices in politics compare to Palusalue Faapo ii the heavy weight and his cohorts in the last lawful recognised opposition party in parliament that Stui annihilated into the oblivions in the last general elections being held in 2016. Apparently, some are saying Samoa is a one party state hence I say, so be it. That is the will of the people based on what they have witnessed in the so many infrastructure development projects rising up at every corners of Samoa. The essence of actions speaks louder than just mere words. Samoa mo Samoa is the leadership of Samoa by the paramount chiefs and paramount orators who are in Parliament; The Head of State; The Council of Deputies; The Chief Justice and the Honourable Members of the Judiciaries; The Police Commissioner and his Subordinates; The village councils etc. etc.. That is the real Samoa First; not for some long shots from so so far away hiding from behind while sending some trolls to front the hysteria and hype that is nothing but blowing in the wind; the answer my friends, is blowin in the wind! What about the poor turnout who marched along Beach Road last December? How about the worst showing who marched in Savaii for the same group; and now they want to take my government to court, and also forming a party calling itself Samoa first?? First for what? Other than first for trying to take $5 million out of the Samoa peoples government? And or the connotation for the first here first there first this first that, spiralling lately around the world like a wild fire out of control with a supremacy and racial objections in mind to build hatred against other human races! If they are aiming to deny the new Chinese arrival the right to be in Samoa who are working tirelessly providing very cheap and low affordable goods for the locals, then these people are in for a shock. Samoa needs the Chinese; leave them alone. That, has no place in Samoa mo Samoa however, we must welcome all other immigrants for as long as they know, they are visitors and have no say in our local affairs. And a very wise absolute word of advise for the recently repatriated expatriates: Ole ala ile pule ole tautua. Fai muamua se galuega mo Samoa e saili ai soutou taeao ole Samoa Muamua silisili lena. Ia ava i e matutua aua le aumaia tou faiga faapapalagi i Samoa. Ia outou manatua ma teufatu Auega a se tasi o tamalii iloga ole atunuu the late, calm and collected afioga a Lemalu Tate Simi who once had composed: To be a Samoan, educate yourself so you may understand the ways of other people. But not too much that you may lose your understanding of your own. Try things papalagi, not so you may become a palagi but you may see the value of things Samoan. Learn to speak Samoan; not so you may be seen a Samoan, but you may feel the essence of being a Samoan. Above all else, be aware of what you are, so you may save yourself the agony of those who are asking: Who Am I? Well, I know who I am Sir! I am at your service Mr. Editor for 40 years as a correspondence for my newspaper. Happy 40th birthday Samoa Observer!!! Great effort guys! Democracy is alive and kicking strongly in Samoa. With my utmost due respect! Tofaeono Misatauveve Iosefo Joseph Hollywood Palisi The Ministry of Police spent over $90,000 on vehicle hire and racked up to $66,000 in bills on vehicle spare parts and maintenance costs, an audit has revealed. The non-registration of guns that were seized by the police and the rise in the number of damaged firearms were also raised in the same audit. The Ministrys books for the financial year 2014 came under the scrutiny of the Controller and Chief Auditor, Fuimaono Camillo Afele, and was compiled in a report which he presented to the Parliament recently. The audit report was critical of the exorbitant cost that the Ministry incurred on vehicle hire and recommended that more control should be put in place to decrease spending on hire vehicles and minimise maintenance cost. Vehicle hire expenses alone added up to $95,183. The Ministry should introduce steps to minimize the amount spent on hiring vehicles, and ensure all important details relating to the vehicles are recorded in the register and emphasize more controls on the use of vehicles to minimize the cost of repairs and maintenance. The audit report also noted the absence of guns in the armoury that were seized by the police and the rise in the number of damaged firearms that the police used as spare parts for other weapons. Several new guns seized by police (to be counted as part of police armoury) were not included. We also noticed the rise in the number of damaged guns which are now used as spare parts for other weapons. It is recommended that the armoury register be updated for safety reasons and for monitoring of weapons movement. It is also important to raise Irregularity Reports for any damaged or lost weapons, the audit stated. The continued recruitment of staff despite the absence of an approved organizational structure at the Ministry was also a cause for concern with the audit report warning the new staff positions risked not being vetted by the police commissioner and could breach the Police Service Act 2009. A review must be undertaken of the current implementation of the proposed organisation structure to ensure that it is complying with relevant laws and policies and if needed a separate opinion be sought from the Attorney General to ensure that the individual employment contracts for newly recruited positions can be ratified or whether they should be postponed. But the Ministry, in response to the issues highlighted by the auditor report, stated that it was addressing the issue by re-profiling the Ministry and working on a structure, which was expected to be approved by Cabinet in 2015. The failure by the Ministry to update debtors ledgers was also noted by the audit as their checks only uncovered records covering the financial years 2011-2012. Accounts receivables had increased with some debtors outstanding for more than a year. The register of debtors for the financial year under review was also incomplete with no reconciliation or follow-up for some accounts. The Ministry should ensure an updated debtors ledger, and a monthly reconciliation to Finance One is carried out with any variances being investigated and corrected. The Ministry was unable to achieve its forecast revenue during 2013/14. This has been a continuing trend for Police for the last three financial years. Current methods used to forecast revenue should be reviewed to ensure the most accurate forecast possible, stated the audit report. In response to the concerns highlighted by the audit, the Ministry has reviewed its fees and charges under the non-taxation revenue rebasing project. The forecast revenue is now based on volume, which is an accurate forecast for revenue which will assist the Ministry to achieve its targets. The Ministry also transferred $682,437 from its personnel budget to support and fund other expenditures such as capital and operating and will review spending on outputs that regularly exceed budget, in order to identify and act on any potential cost savings. Levalasi Vivian Su'a is stepping out from her comfort stone to live her childhood dream as one of the nine contestants who will be vying for the Miss Samoa crown in a few weeks time. In doing so, she has the blessing from her parents Mafua Sealiitu Andrew Sua and Sifomailagi Motiana Siaosi Sua, her sister and three brothers not to mention her relatives and church the Samoa Worship Centre but most importantly to the Miss Le Naumati Creations contestant is the endorsement from her father in heaven. Elaborated a cheerful Levalasi Vivian; "I have been watching the Miss Samoa Pageant from a very young age which inspired me where I told myself that one day I will run for Miss Samoa, and here I am today. " I firmly believe that this is Gods timing for me to step out from my comfort zone and take part in the Miss Samoa Pageant 2018. " Also, this is a good opportunity to showcase my uniqueness as a Tamaitai Samoa and as a person of value in terms of my gifts and talents and especially my character. " If it's God's will for me to win then so shall it be and that's for His name's sake," added the 22-year old intern with the United Nations Development Programme under the GEF Small Grants Programme. Climate change is her chosen pageant platform which is a perfect fit to her professional career. Elaborated Levalasi Vivian; "I want to be part of the solution and as a young adult, I have already started working with schools, village communities and youth organizations to create initiatives to tackle climate change through implementing climate action initiatives. "For instance, raising awareness of our children, women, youth and men within our villages and communities on the impacts because the level of capacity at the community level is very low, let alone, it is not effective." And she plans to engage stakeholders on the decision making level like representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and Ministry of Education. "I love working with students to up skill their knowledge, " she continued. "I will be the leading advocate to empower and enrich many and will create a campaign to raise awareness, promote and implement climate resilient action activities. "The target is to minimize carbon emissions cited as a major cause of the unpredictable climate change which is a threat to mankind including our country." She is certain that the Pageant experience will help boost her self confidence and will offer new opportunities to meet new people and expand her horizons. Hailing from the villages of Salelavalu, Satupaitea, Sapapalii, Lano, Fasitoo-Uta, Tufulele, Tiavea, Sinamoga, Maagiagi and Vaitele Fou, Levalasi Vivian started her education journey with the Anglican Pre-School at Malifa and off to the Saint Marys Primary School from Year 1-8 before graduating from Samoa College. Her education continued at the National University of Samoa completing the UPY with a Certificate in Arts in 2014. And by April this year, Levalasi is a proud holder of a Bachelors Degree in Arts double majoring in Sociology and Management. Win or lose, where to from here? "I strongly believe that no one lives for his/her own good," replied Miss Le Naumati. "We have to work and provide for others to show love and compassion. " In saying that, I will continue working and providing for my family, enjoying the fellowship with my church family and be of service to anyone who needs my help." The Journalist Association of Samoa (J.A.W.S.) president Rudy Bartley has supported the call to Samoas Government to abolish the Criminal Libel Act. International Press Institute (I.P.I.) Deputy Director Scott Griffen, in his speech at the Sheraton Samoa Aggie Greys Hotel last Friday, appealed to the Government to scrap the law. Mr Bartley, in an interview with Samoa Observer, echoed similar sentiments and said they supported the call. He said the Governments abolishing of the law in 2013 marked a monumental signal to progress press freedom, but its reintroduction in December last year was a step backward for Samoa. This reintroduction of libel is a regression in Samoas media freedom advancements. We agree with the statement by Griffen entirely, he said. He said the J.A.W.S. continues to raise the issue with the Government and they have suggested a more practical and realistic alternative to the draconian legislation. The J.A.W.S. has raised this before and our concerns with this and yes we too have suggested the same other more practical and realistic solutions to addressing issues why this law was reintroduced. Mr Griffen, in his speech during celebrations to mark the 40th Anniversary of Samoas only daily newspaper, highlighted the importance of press freedom and the role it plays in the lives of the people. He said the Criminal Libel law will continue to be an obstacle to press freedom in Samoa and an alternative solution should be considered. Samoa was ranked 22 on this years World Press Freedom Index but Reporters Without Borders the non-profit that annually compiles the international press freedom rankings warned in May this year that the country is in danger of losing its standing as a regional press freedom model, due to the Governments decision to reintroduce the Criminal Libel Act. Fijis Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has welcomed his Samoan counterpart, Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi to Fiji. Prime Minister Tuilaepa is in Fiji for an official visit. He arrived there on Sunday where Bainimarama welcomed him before accompanying him to a traditional welcoming ceremony that was performed by the members of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. Tuilaepa commended P.M. Bainimarama and the Fijian government for the ceremonies of welcome accorded to him and his delegation. I wish to express my sincere appreciation for the invitation from the government of Fiji to turn this visit into an official one. Prime Minister I thank you sincerely for your hospitality, PM Malielegaoi said. In more ways than one we as a Pacific family share many commonalities and what we all hold sacred is our customs and traditions. Let us hold onto our heritage for our future generations. Prime Minister Tuilaepa also invited P.M. Bainimarama to visit Samoa. For Neurocrine Biosciences, 2018 is shaping up as the year just about everything went right. The recent good news caps a dramatic recovery for the San Diego biotech company, that at one point came close to running out of money. Sales continue to grow for Neurocrines drug Ingrezza, introduced in May of last year for adults with tardive dyskinesia. Its the first drug approved for the movement disorder, which can be caused by psychiatric medicines. Tardive dyskinesia is an especially feared complication, because it can persist even after stopping the medications. And while the U.S. patient population of about 500,000 is relatively small, the lack of therapies made the launch of Ingrezza a big deal. Ingrezza revenue reached $168 million in the first six months of 2018. (Revenue was less than $10 million for the same period a year ago, when Ingrezza had just started selling). The drug is also being tested in children for Tourette syndrome, a U.S. patient population also reaching 500,000. Advertisement With Ingrezzas success and other drugs following close behind, its a pretty heady time for Neurocrine, founded in 1992 to treat neurological and endocrine disorders. The companys name is a portmanteau of neurological and endocrine. We are a company that is in the very early stages of a continuing extremely successful launch and with a product that treats a disease that was previously untreatable, Neurocrine CEO Kevin Gorman said on a July 31 conference call. And if that isnt enough, we have a second drug approved that will change the lives of millions of women, Gorman said in the call. Both of these drugs were discovered here at Neurocrine. I think I speak for all of us, both current employees and former employees, that we are both proud and humbled to be in this position. That second drug, Orilissa, Neurocrines drug for endometriosis, was approved last month. Endometriosis is a painful gynecological disorder affecting about 10 percent of women of reproductive age. Orilissa will be sold by Neurocrines marketing partner, AbbVie. Neurocrine earned $40 million from AbbVie as a milestone payment for Orilissas approval. On Wednesday, AbbVie added more good news: Positive late-stage clinical results of Orilissa in reducing menstrual bleeding in women with uterine fibroids. AbbVie said it expects to file an application for this use next year. With millions of American women affected by these diseases, Orilissa promises to be a blockbuster, with potential annual revenue in the billions. Another drug, for Parkinsons disease, is in late-stage clinical trials. The drug, opicapone, is designed to reduce movement fluctuations when used with levadopa, a standard Parkinsons drug. And while both Orilissa and Ingrezza were discovered by Neurocrine, the company is also looking outside its walls to acquire drugs through partnerships, he said. Neurocrine is expanding as sales increase and other drugs progress through the companys pipeline. Its adding to its payroll of about 500 employees, expected to reach 570 by years end. Its also adding more space in its Carmel Valley headquarters. Investors have taken notice. Over the last year, Neurocrine shares have more than doubled, from $52.83 on Aug. 25, 2017, to $118.71 at the close of trading Friday. Its market capitalization of $10.7 billion makes Neurocrine one of the most highly valued public companies in San Diego County. However, while Neurocrine wins praise for its products and management, its a relatively small company compared to the big pharmaceutical companies, in a highly competitive field. Research firm Morningstar places Neurocrines fair value at $88.12 as of Aug. 23, meaning the company is overvalued by about 33 percent. Morningstar says Neurocrine is a risky stock because of competition. It has no underlying advantage, or moat, in Morningstar terminology, to protect itself from competitors. Israeli drugmaker Teva Pharmaceuticals is one such competitor. In August of last year, the company received approval to sell its movement disorder drug Austedo for tardive dyskinesia. Austedo was developed by San Diegos Auspex Pharmaceuticals, which Teva purchased in 2015 for $3.2 billion. While Ingrezza had been initially preferred, Austedo is starting to catch up, according to a June article in the trade publication Fierce Pharma. But because the market for tardive dyskinesia drugs is so new, sales of both drugs are expected to increase. Neurocrine is also losing money as it ramps up, but the loss is diminishing. For the first half of 2018, it reported a net loss of $47.7 million or 53 cents per share. For the same period last year, Neurocrine lost $138.3 million or $1.58 per share. Rebound Neurocrines position a decade ago was far different than now. Desperate, in a word. Short of cash, with no significant new revenue in sight, the company slashed roughly 90 percent of its staff, leaving just 67 employees. The company had potential moneymakers in the programs that would eventually lead to Ingrezza and Orilissa. But it needed cash and time to develop them to the point where a major drug partner would be interested. Neurocrine had one major asset left: its headquarters in Del Mar Heights. We sold this entire campus for about $102 million, Gorman said. We had a bank note of $41 million. So we netted about $60 million. That allowed us to survive. Luck was also on Neurocrines side. The sale happened just before the financial crash that triggered the Great Recession. Six weeks after we closed the sale of the building, in 2008, the worldwide real estate market all went kaput, Gorman said. Our buyer was 50 percent under water on this. Today, Neurocrine is again active in real estate, leasing property to expand. A few months ago, we just closed a 10-year lease on that building, he said, pointing to an adjacent structure. That was a raw shell. Neurocrine has the money to buy all the buildings it now leases, if they were for sale, Gorman said. Theyre not. Right now, Im fine with leasing, Gorman said. A 10-year lease here, a 10-year lease there were set. With sufficient space secured, Neurocrine can focus on drug development and look forward to more revenue as theyre commercialized. Orilissas potential is particularly compelling, Gorman said. Endometriosis affects 7 million women in the United States. Nearly 10 percent of women of childbearing age, 9 million women in the United States, suffer from uterine fibroids. Those are enormous numbers. AbbVie is an ideal marketing partner, Gorman said, because it has the sales force and sophistication to do the hard work of manufacturing, distribution and sales. If Orilissa sales peak at $3 billion a year for both indications, thats $600 million directly to Neurocrines bottom line, he said, So even if Neurocrine did nothing else, Gorman said, a lot of value creation would still take place. But were not stopping there, he said. Neurocrine plans to introduce at least one more drug into clinical testing, for a neurological disease that has no approved drug. Our goal is to have one or more new drugs enter the clinic every year from our internal research, that we continue to invest heavily in. Focus on people Neurocrine was founded on the science of the late Wylie Vale, a noted Salk Institute researcher and worldwide expert on brain hormones. Vale was recruited by Gorman to co-found the company. With Vales assistance, Neurocrine licensed key technologies he developed. And Vales reputation helped attract other expert talent. Everyone wanted to jump on board because Wylie Vale was the founder, Gorman said in an interview shortly after Vales death in 2012. We got some of the best scientists and management talent into the company because of Wylies involvement. That desire for excellence continues today, Gorman said. Its something important during any phase of a companys cycle, from good times to the bad times, when Neurocrine was left with just 67 people and a building for sale. You cant teach creativity. You cant teach passion. You cant teach grit, Gorman said. I selected for it in that 67 that we kept, and then again with each person that weve added. Another lesson is that when you have hired excellent people, remove obstacles and let them do their jobs, he said. This produces multiple benefits. You have excellent communication, you have fast and better decision-making that goes on, and it allows people to follow their nose, he said. The culture that weve developed here is one of very direct, straight forward communication. Everyone brings a passion and everyone knows youre going to get punched in the gut over and over and over again. And you always get back up. No one here complains about setbacks. Everyone here just says, OK, we have to adapt. Youre constantly adapting. Related reading Neurocrine shares soar after Ingrezza approval, more hiring planned Neurocrine files for approval of tardive dyskinesia drug Neurocrine halts 2 clinical trials Neurocrine slips on failure of depression drug Wylie Vale, Salk Institute brain hormone expert, dies at 70 Abbott offers big cash infusion Neurocrine says it will lay off half its 120 employees Neurocrine must refile drug application Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1020 CITY COUNCILS CARLSBAD The Carlsbad City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive, when it will hear a report on the Special Events Ordinance as it applies to demonstrations. The council will consider a resolution updating the citys legislative platform to oppose offshore oil and gas leasing, drilling and exploration in state and federal waters in the Pacific Ocean; and a resolution authorizing staff to negotiate a lease with the Bob Baker Auto Group for the Hawthorne property at 2065 Camino Vida Roble. Commission vacancy Advertisement The city of Carlsbad has a vacancy on its Planning Commission. To apply, fill out an application at https://bit.ly/2AxKSp9 and submit to the City Clerks Office at clerk@carlsbadca.gov, or in person at the clerks office, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive, by noon Friday. Email planning@carlsbadca.gov; call (760) 602-4600. DEL MAR Developers of the Del Mar Resort, proposed for blufftop property on Border Avenue at Camino del Mar, are hosting a Citizens Participation Program from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday at the Del Mar Civic Center Town Hall, 1050 Camino del Mar. Representatives from Zephyr Development and the Robert Green Company will provide details on the blufftop resort, where 251 hotel rooms and 76 villas are proposed. Attendees can ask questions and offer comments to the development team. Contact Matt Bator, principal planner, at (858) 755-9313, ext. 1158, or mbator@delmar.ca.us. SAN MARCOS The San Marcos City Council has canceled its meeting set for Tuesday. VISTA The Vista City Council wil meet in closed session to discuss labor negotiations at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in City Council Chambers, 200 Civic Center Drive. In regular session at 5 p.m., the council will discuss an update to the citys Climate Action Plan. The council will also discuss plans for the park at Pala Vista Drive and what it should be named. SCHOOL DISTRICTS DEL MAR The Del Mar Union School District board is scheduled to meet in closed session at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday at the district office, 11232 El Camino Real, San Diego, and in regular session at 5:45 p.m. OCEANSIDE The Oceanside Unified School District board will meet in closed session to discuss litigation and labor negotiation at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the district office, 2111 Mission Ave. In regular session at 6 p.m., the board will discuss whether to apply for the California Energy Commission School Bus Replacement Grant to buy electric school buses. laura.groch@sduniontribune.com Industrious and hard-working, giving their all for the good of the community thats how people describe bees. That description also fits the late Brother Blaise Heuke, Oceansides beekeeping Benedictine monk. Heuke, noted for his ability and expertise in all things apiary, died June 21 at age 80 at Prince of Peace Abbey. His death was noted in the August edition of the Southern Cross, the newspaper of the Roman Catholic diocese of San DIego. Services were held June 29 and 30 at the abbey, where he made his home for nearly 50 years. He was buried in the abbey cemetery. Heuke was diagnosed with a recurrence of cancer in 2015 after being successfully treated earlier, but chose not to have further treatment. Advertisement He was so serene about the whole thing, recalled Father Abbot Sharbel Ewen, who presides over the abbey. He didnt complain. He said, Im ready to go home. I think thats pretty positive. He was just a gentle person, actually. He was easygoing, so compassionate with people if someone was irate about something, after they talked to him, they had settled down. Heuke was born Joseph Francis Heuke in 1938 in Louisville, Ky., the son of Charles (Carl) and Florence Hurst Heuke. He had seven siblings, all of whom survive him. Brother Blaise Heuke, a Benedictine monk at Oceansides Prince of Peace Abbey, photographed in 2015 checking the beehives he tended for more than 40 years. He passed away June 21 at the abbey. He was 80. (Charlie Neuman / U-T File) He knew early on that he wanted the religious life, and began his novice training in 1958 at St. Meinrad Archabbey in southern Indiana. He took his first vows in 1959, receiving the religious name Blaise. In 1962, he took his solemn vows and became a Benedictine monk. While studying in Rome, Heuke began learning about beekeeping and was stung so severely on his first efforts that his whole body swelled up. But after that experience, he had no problem with bee stings and seemed to be immune to allergic reactions to them. His expertise eventually led him to be called whenever people had swarms landing on their property, or especially, when they had hives that needed tending or relocating. The bees also provided honey that was used at the abbey and sold in the gift shop. For 30 years, he also taught Bible classes for children at Camp Pendleton bee-ology, as he called it. I used the bees as a way to explain how Christ came down to give his life and imbue the church with his spirit, Hueke said in a 2015 interview with the San Diego Union Tribune. I think its a really beautiful message. At the abbey, he was not only a beekeeper but the main plumber and handyman, skills he had acquired at St. Meinrads. Any problem, he could fix, said Ewen. He was very knowledgeable, and he loved to work. Will Jones has volunteered at the abbey for four years and lived there for two, helping Heuke with the hives. The first time I met him, he invited me to go get a swarm with him, recalled Jones, 73. I thought I was going to be an observer, but instead I got stung. Not only does it hurt, but it itches afterward! But we started talking right away and became friends. Their bond was so strong that it was Jones who nursed Heuke when the brother became ill. I elected to be his caregiver, Jones said. Thats what I did that (last) year and a half. He was just an all-around guy. He could do anything. I could barely believe that such a man was so full of love and joy and happiness. Brother Peter Khoa has been designated as the abbeys beekeeper, said Jones, but he will still work with the hives. Im just happy that were continuing on with it, he said. Jones admired Heuke and everything he did at the abbey. His faith was so strong. He gave everything he had for living a life as a monk. He was living his dream. He was a little guy with a big heart and was a good friend to his brothers and to the community. And a friend to the bees, though they may not always have realized it. About 13 years ago, said Jones, a huge die-off nearly put an end to all the beekeeping. Heuke theorized that cellular signals from two newly installed towers had disoriented and disturbed the bees, hastening the hives collapse. He scouted the property until he found a place where cellphone reception was poor, and moved the remaining hives there, where they began again to thrive. An infusion of nutritious syrup donated by another beekeeper is also helping keep them healthy. And I can tell you that the last time we went out to visit the hives, Brother Blaise got stung, said Jones. laura.groch@sduniontribune.com While most people are still snoozing, including his own family, Carmel Valley resident Joseph Reids creative juices are flowing. Basically, my routine is I get up at 4 and write until 8 a.m. I usually get my prime writing done early in the morning. Its not that Reid has a specific affinity for pecking away at his computer as the sun rises. Rather, its the only time of day he has a free opportunity to write. A lawyer at the international law firm of Perkins Coie LLP, the bulk of Reids days involve the mundane tasks involved with patent law. Perhaps thats why Reid has fills his early mornings spinning a thrilling story packed with action, danger and intrigue. Advertisement Unbeknownst to casual observers in Reids orbit, the patent lawyer has been living a double life authoring the novel Takeoff. Published by Thomas & Mercer, the book has been a wild success since its debut on Amazon.com earlier this summer, picked as part of the Amazon First Reads series, landing at No. 1 in the the War/Military Fiction category and garnering Reid a burgeoning worldwide fanbase. Its been a great run and a great ride, says Reid, marveling at the success of his debut novel. The reaction to the book has way exceeded my expectations. Both in stark juxtaposition to Reids day job and inspired by his intense work travel schedule, the plot for Takeoff focuses on an air marshal getting assigned to protect a teen pop star on a cross-country flight. As you may assume, things dont quite go exactly as planned. They get ambushed, and he has to take her on the run to keep her safe, explains Reid. They have to figure out whos trying to kill her. Reid notes that while some authors focus about writing about their hometowns think: Stephen King and his penchant for spinning stories about rural Maine Reid focuses not on the sunny shores of San Diego, but the fascinating minutiae of air travel. Because Im on the go for work so much, I tried to think about someone who would be the same way, he says. Enter the hero of Takeoff: Seth Walker, a nerdy air marshal. The more I thought about airports, Reid says, theres an awful lot of different elements they embody from the security to terror threats, storefronts and cargo. Exactly how a San Diego patent attorney became a published writer is a tale ripe for a novel itself. Thanks to a transient childhood as a Navy brat and his fathers later career as management consultant, Reid found his family moving from place to place. He didnt settle down until attending Notre Dame for law school and decamping for Carmel Valley with his wife 18 years ago, which is when he joined the ranks of Perkins Coie LLC, an international law firm based out of Seattle, working out of their North County offices overlooking I-5. I do plenty of writing for my job, but I never thought about becoming a quote-unquote writer until a decade ago, he explains of his foray into the craft. My wife and I were on a trip before my first daughter was born, and I was devouring a lot of books. I sort of sat around and thought of an idea for what could be a novel. Reid then took the dive and wrote his first novel, wrote a second, and attempted to learn as much as he could about the craft and the business along the way. However, Reid found it difficult to get published, a notoriously tough task. It was an awful long time of beating my head against the wall and saying, Id love to get published, says Reid of a frustrating six-year period of near-constant rejection. It was the kind of thing where every birthday and Christmas, if I wished for one thing, that would be it. It wasnt until Reid concocted the plot for Takeoff did he have a breakthrough. This one felt different, he says. It wrote faster. Through a freelance editor he was working with, Reid got in touch with a publisher and the rest, as they say, is history. Reid is already plotting the appropriately titled Takeoff to be the first in a series he recently turned in its follow-up to his publisher. As for whether hell pursue writing full-time, thats another story, so to speak. Its been a unique opportunity, he says. My day job is pretty consuming and balancing both can be tricky. I like my firm and what I do a lot, but well see where it goes. Ive only been out for a month, so Im not making any long-term plans just yet. LeDonne is a freelance writer. Thousands of people gathered across a wide swath of Liberty Station Saturday celebrating a shared passion of reading and writing at the second annual San Diego Festival of Books. While reading and writing can be largely solitary affairs, the festival sponsored by The San Diego Union-Tribune and KPBS also acknowledged how reading can bring communities together, with the announcement of the One Book, One San Diego selection. The program, now in its 12th year, seeks to create a common reading experience across the region by selecting one book that can be read, shared and discussed.. Residents nominate titles and a winner is selected by a committee. This years selection is March, a graphic novel about the civil rights movement by Congressman John Lewis, icon of the struggle for equal rights, and co-authors Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell. The book was selected from 10 finalists by a panel of librarians and educators. The selection for the childrens book was Blue Sky, White Stars by Sarvinder Naberhaus and illustrated by Kadir Nelson. The book is described as an inspiring and patriotic tribute to the beauty of the American flag. Advertisement The day-long event drew authors and editors as well as everyday readers comic book fans, sci-fi readers, romance and historical fiction aficionados. Scores of authors led some 30-different panels on those topics and more. In addition dozens of writers were also available at Authors Alley selling books and meeting fans. Among them was Lisa Kirazian, a San Diego native and author of her new novel Bravura, about the lives of young classical musicians in London. The festival was kind of a family affair for her, too. Seated just a few feet down from her at the same table was her mother, Dikranouhi Kirazian, with her own book Armenian Vegan. Its a compendium of 200 vegan recipes. Lisa Kirazian said as an author she was proud that the city now has a book festival to call its own, and said for authors like her its a great opportunity not just to sell books but meet readers and fellow authors. Its just a great community feeling here, she said. As festival goers walked around the grounds, about 300 filled a large hall for the lead-off panel, Fake News. Real Problems. Matthew T. Hall, editorial and opinion editor of the Union-Tribune, the papers Managing Editor Lora Cicalo, and journalist Brooke Binkowski, former managing editor of the fact-checking website Snopes.com, discussed the rise of bogus news sites and stories and the threat they pose to a society awash in media. Binkowski said the term fake news isnt accurate, and actually dilutes the nature of the problem. This is disinformation and propaganda, she said. The program included questions submitted by audience members, which ranged across a spectrum of media issues. Does the Union-Tribune have a liberal bias opposed to President Donald Trump? (We strive very hard to be fair in both the selection and the tone of stories, Cicalo said.) What should technology and social media companies such as Twitter and Facebook do to combat fake news? (Unfortunately what they are doing is not very much, Binkowksi said.) Ultimately panelists said that combating bogus news dissemination will take an engaged reading public that can spot and distinguish credible news from fabulation, as well as more vigorous funding of fact-based journalism. Twitter: @gregmoran greg.moran@sduniontribune.com August 26, 1920 Evening Tribune The San Diego Union-Tribune will mark its 150th anniversary in 2018 by presenting a significant front page from the archives each day throughout the year. Thursday, August 26, 1920 The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing American women the right to vote formally became part of the United States Constitution on Aug. 26. The Tennessee legislature had voted to approve the amendment on Aug. 18, but opponents tried to delay and rescind the ratification vote on technicalities. Their efforts ultimately failed. Almost a decade before the ratification of the 19th Amendment, women in California had gained the right to vote after suffragists successfully lobbied the state legislature to put the question before the voters. Here are the first few paragraphs of the story: Woman Suffrage Throughout U.S. Now Actuality FIGHT ENDS AS COLBY AFFIXES NAME International News Service WASHINGTON, Aug. 27. Suffrage for women became an actuality today when Secretary of State Colby signed a proclamation of the 19th amendment to the constitution The proclamation of the amendment, giving the vote to women, followed receipt of a certificate of ratification of the amendment by the Tennessee legislature, and brought to a conclusion one of the longest and most bitter legislative fights in the history of the United States. Secretary of State Colby arriving at the state department shortly before 10 oclock announced that he had signed the suffrage proclamation at 8 oclock this morning at his home. Leaders Waiting A delegation of suffrage leaders was awaiting at the state department when Secretary Colby arrived. The secretary immediately informed the delegation that the suffrage proclamation had been signed, and their by the fact that they had not been permitted to be present a the signing. Secretary Colby announced that the Tennessee certificate had been delivered to him at his home at 3 oclock this morning and that he had immediately turned it over to Solicitor Fred Nielson of the state department for examination. Solicitor Nielson returned the certificate and the proclamation early this morning and at 8 oclock, in the presence of Solicitor Nielson and Charles Cook of the diplomatic bureau of the state department, the proclamation had been signed. Secretary Colby stated that he had promised he would sign the proclamation as soon as possible enthusiasm was somewhat dampened after receipt of the Tennessee certificate, and for that reason he had affixed his signature at his home before going to his office. It was generally believed that Secretary Colby had acted to save embarrassment by singing the proclamation at his home, as there had been some evident conflict between suffrage leaders as to who should arrange for the ceremonies. Alone at Signing I think it a very great pity that on an occasion so momentous to millions of American women, that no women should have been with Secretary Colby when he signed this proclamation, said Mrs. Abbey Scott baker of the National Womans party. Representatives of all the suffrage groups should habe been present. Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, who was due to have arrived in Washington this morning, was not even at the state department when Secretary Colby announced his signature. We are confident that the signature of Secretary Colby completes the suffrage struggle, Miss Alice Paul, following announcement of the signature of the proclamation said. In spite of every obstacle that our opponents could put in our way, women have won the fight to an equal voice in the affairs of this government. Unceasing vigilance has been necessary at every point in the suffrage fight, and never more so than during the past week. Unwilling to accept the mandate of the congress of the United States and the legislatures of the 36 states, our opponents have attempted by every sort of legal subterfuge to render null and void the decision of representatives of 78,000,000 people. Their attempts have been uncussessful and the fight is now over. 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. Federal environmental regulators in San Diego had for several years raised concerns about a massive master-planned community proposed in the Merriam Mountains north of Escondido, dubbed Newland Sierra. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials in Carlsbad repeatedly told developers that the envisioned design would clog up a key wildlife corridor for everything from mountain lions to bobcats to golden eagles to gnatcatchers potentially undermining a federally mandated blueprint, decades in the making, to protect species habitat in the region. However, those same local Fish and Wildlife regulators have been largely bypassed as ranking officials in Sacramento started shepherding the project last year through the permitting process. Hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake for the developers of Newland Sierra, whose nearly 800-acre footprint for proposed residential and commercial construction is located west of Interstate 15, roughly five miles north of downtown Escondido. Advertisement According to recently obtained internal communications, Newland Real Estate Group conducted a lobbying blitz last year that courted members of Congress and officials within the Trump administrations overhauled Interior Department. Emailed communications between U.S. Fish and Wildlife staff, developers and congressional offices were obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by the Endangered Habitats league and the Golden Door Spa, both which oppose the project. Top Fish and Wildlife Service regulators for the Pacific Southwest Region located in Sacramento went from supporting the concerns of frontline staff about Newland Sierra in San Diego to excluding the Carlsbad office from at least one meeting at the behest of Jim Whalen, a powerful Newland Sierra lobbyist. Jim specifically said he did not want Carlsbad in that meeting, wrote Paul Souza, regional director for Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Southwest Region, in an email in March to his deputy, Michael Fris. Please see if we can get them thinking about fair solutions that are workable for the developers, Souza told Fris, whos been put in charge of overseeing the project from Sacramento. At the same time, federal regulators in San Diego had been voicing concerns internally, questioning to what extent, if at all, they were allowed to work on the project. In one email from November, Mendel Stewart, field supervisor overseeing the Fish and Wildlife offices in Carlsbad, told his staff: I realize we have been told to stay in our lane but it seems we need to better define what that means. By April 2018, staff in Carlsbad were concerned about even communicating with other federal agencies about Newland Sierra. Doreen Stadtlander, division chief for unincorporated San Diego County, sent an email to her superiors asking about whether she was allowed to engage with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about the project. Because of the March 29, 2018 email communication from Jim Whalen to Paul Souza where Mr. Whalen requested that Mike Fris be personally involved and that the process be completed with oversight from the regional office, it is unclear to me if staff from the field office should be meeting on this project or should I be directing the Corps to contact the regional office. Please advise. Attitudes in Sacramento about the Newland Sierra project seemed to shift after lobbyists made a trip to Washington D.C. sometime on or around March 30, 2017. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, had personally sent a letter concerning Newland Sierra to then-director of the Fish and Wildlife Service Dan Ashe in April 2016, which had little apparent impact on top officials in Sacramento. Im am writing you today to express some growing concerns with the Carlsbad Field Office, Hunter wrote. Following ongoing lobbying by Newland Sierra and the letter from Hunter, the Sacramento office continued to defer to the frontline officials in Carlsbad. In October 2016, Carlsbad chief Stewart reiterated the concerns of his staff to the developers lobbyists: The problem with the Newland Sierra project is that we dont believe it meets the agreed to framework (at least from our current understanding) of the countys regional plan. Lobbying by Newland Sierra continued steadily over the following months, and in April 2017, Robert Rische, legislative director for Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, set up a phone call with Souza, specifically citing concerns raised by Whalen. In an email to Souza in May 2017, a month after Issas office made contact, Whalen outlined a number of projects he was lobbying on behalf of San Diego County, including Newland Sierra, on which he asked the regional office to intervene. As part of that communication, Whalen wrote to Souza to discuss the role of Carlsbad chief Mendel Stewart in overseeing Newland Sierra. The consensus is that you are sincere, we want to work with you, Whalen wrote. That said, it will take tangible results to validate the effort. We agree that empowering Mendel is the only way your intervention has any chance of success over the long haul, even though it isnt yet clear how that would happen. Everyone here likes Mendel a lot and we wish him success. Following the communication, the tone at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Sacramento changed. Souza appointed Fris to supervise the project, and the Carlsbad officials were increasingly sidelined. At one point, front line Fish and Wildlife staff in Carlsbad helped draft a letter with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife that was strongly critical of the project. However, in August 2017, the Carlsbad staff told the state agency that they could not sign onto the letter. Unfortunately, we are not going to be able to go joint with you on it, Susan Wynn with the Carlsbad field office wrote to several people in the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. I had started to make a few edits. You can use or delete as you see fit. I also removed any reference to us. Officials with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Sacramento declined an interview for this story. In a prepared statement the agency said that its relationship with developers and lobbyists over the Newland Sierra project is appropriate and normal. A number of groups in San Diego have raised questions about their proposed projects to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices in Carlsbad, Sacramento, and (Washington D.C.) headquarters, said agency spokesman John Heil. It is common practice for the Regional and field offices to work together with groups on complex issues that require more dialogue for resolution. Veronica Wong, a spokeswoman for Issas office said such interactions are not unusual when it comes to Washington lobbying. The office approached this situation just as we would any other, she said in an email. Staff met with and heard the concerns of the group, made a standard request for information from the agency, and received a telephonic briefing on the matter. However, after Carlsbad staff didnt show up to a key county Planning Commission hearing on Newland Sierra in June, environmental groups started raising significant concerns. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been pressured by the Trump administration to not follow the law and the science, said Dan Silver, chief executive office with the Endangered Habitats League. Were in the midst of watching the potential breakdown of this agency. Carlsbad chief Stewart, who has been with the agency since 1985, said that efforts to lobby the Trump administrations Interior Department have made his job harder, but that such activity was part of government. It happens more with some administrations than others, and this administrations listening more to things like that, he told the Union-Tribune in a recent interview. As a result, theyre (lobbying) more often. Thats happening a lot in San Diego County right now because theres disagreements over several projects that we feel have some development problems, he added. At issue is whether Newland Sierra will comply with the countys Multiple Species Conservation Program, or MSCP, for North County. The plan outlines where development can occur and where land must be set aside for long-term preservation. The federally mandated plan has been decades in the making, but county officials have said it could be finalized within several years. In the meantime, that creates a lot of uncertainty for projects in undeveloped rural areas. Newland Sierra developers point out that they have already agreed to set aside more than 1,400 acres for preservation and alter the design of the project at the request of Fish and Wildlife officials in Carlsbad. They have said that demands for more open space by those officials would make the plan financially infeasible. In response to their input, the project design was altered to reduce the footprint and impacts onsite, resulting in a 1,209-acre preserve and an additional 240 acres of ungraded, unirrigated open space that will remain as native habitat, project developer Rita Brandin said in an email to the Union-Tribune. However, consensus could not be reached on the offsite mitigation for the project so we reached out to the regional office of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in Sacramento for guidance, she added. Environmental groups have come out in droves to oppose Newland Sierra. The Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Coalition, which includes 17 local organizations, have blasted the project for fragmenting habitat, saying the preserved open space would not be sufficient to allow animals to freely move through the area. Its not just about preserving scattered patches of undeveloped land because when you do that you dont leave enough habitat for larger species, said Frank Landis, with the San Diego chapter of the California Native Plant Society. Theres not too many paths going north and south, and if too many get cut by development, theres no point in doing an MSCP, he added. Its like saying if the I-5 gets cut everybody can use the I-15 to get to and from L.A. Karen Goebel, the frontline Fish and Wildlife official in San Diego working on the project agreed with those concerns. I cannot understand why the consulting biologists do not understand that the project creates a problem for the North County Plan We have been clear about this, havent we? The mitigation should address these issues, but it just doesnt, Goebel wrote in March 2017 to her counterpart Gail Sevrens at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. However, the county of San Diego sees things differently. In a March 2017 draft of the MSCP for North County, staff included Newland Sierra along with several other projects that had already been approved. The move infuriated environmental groups, but the county has maintained that it will be able to draft a feasible species plan around Newland Sierra. Developers of the Newland Sierra proposal bought the land for their project in 2010 after a similar project known as Merriam Mountains was rejected by the county Board of Supervisors. The project site is on nearly 2,000 acres and is currently zoned under the countys General Plan for 99 single-family homes. According to financial documents the land is valued at around $24 million. Developers for Newland are now asking the county to amend its general plan to allow for 2,135 housing units and commercial development at the site including 1,140 single-family homes, 995 multi-family units and 81,000 square feet of commercial space. The developer also envisions a six-acre school site, an equestrian staging area, and about 60 acres of public and private park area. If granted the necessary approvals and permits, Newland would need to raze several mountain tops to create a pad for development, provide some landscaping and build a $22 million interchange at Interstate 15 and Deer Springs Road. If completed, the property would be worth roughly $1.2 billion, according to financial records. The company would then most likely sell off lots to home builders. But closing the deal is far from assured, said Alan Nevin, industry analyst with the Xpera Group. The risk is huge, he said. Look at what happened with Lilac Ranch. They put a fortune into it, and the vote went against them. Its hard to calculate what Newland stands to profit if the deal goes through, Nevin said. The problem is that theyve held that land for many years, and have expended a small fortune trying to get it approved. The county Board of Supervisors is expected to vote Sept. 26 on amending their general plan to allow for the project. All board members declined to comment for this story. Twitter: @jemersmith Phone: (619) 293-2234 Email: joshua.smith@sduniontribune.com Tough talking John McCain, who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam, a maverick senator from Arizona and the Republican nominee for President of the United States, lost his brave battle with brain cancer Saturday night, his family said. He was 81. My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years, his wife, Cindy McCain, tweeted from the familys home in Arizona. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the place he loved best. McCain was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a rare brain cancer, more than a year ago. He had been receiving treatment in Arizona since December, largely staying out of Washington and the public eye except for a few policy statements. Days after ending his arduous treatment, and acknowledging that his survival had exceeded expectations, McCain drew his last breath at his Arizona home surrounded by family and friends, and mourned by a grateful nation inspired by his drive. Advertisement Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is introduced to supporters at a campaign rally Friday afternoon, Sept. 5, 2008 in Sterling Heights, Mich. (Stephan Savoia / AP) I love my husband with all of my heart, Cindy McCain tweeted as well wishes poured in. God bless everyone who has cared for my husband along this journey. Nicknamed The Maverick because of his guns-blazing style and his nonconformist political approach to politics, McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was a fighter to the end, sparring even with President Trump, a fellow Republican, over heath care and sanctions against Russia. Their clash dated back to Trumps 2016 campaign, when Trump attacked McCains war record, and needled the war hero for getting captured by the enemy during the Vietnam War. Hes a war hero because he was captured, Trump told a campaign crowd. I like people who werent captured. John McCain campaigns with his wife Cindy. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images) Trumps last insult came just weeks ago, with McCain nearing his end, when Trump came to New Yorks Fort Drum to sign the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act, a defense spending bill, without bothering to mention McCain. Im proud the NDAA is now law & humbled Congress chose to designate it in my name, McCain tweeted from the high road. As Chairman of the Armed Services Cmte, Ive found high purpose in service of a cause greater than selfthe cause of our troops who defend America & all that she stands for. Unlike Trump, McCain, a third-generation Navy man, followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, who were both four-star admirals. McCain on his way to airport after being freed by Vietnamese in 1973. (Horst Faas / AP) John Sidney McCain III was born on Aug. 29, 1936, at Coco Solo Naval Air Station in the Panama Canal Zone, which was then a U.S. territory. He spent his childhood and adolescent years moving between naval bases in America and abroad.He attended Episcopal High School, a private preparatory boarding school in Alexandria, Va., until he graduated in 1954. McCain went on to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, where he graduated fifth from the bottom of his class in 1958. He graduated from flight school in 1960. McCain volunteered for combat duty as the Vietnam War broke out, and became a naval aviator, flying ground attack planes from aircraft carriers. The pilot was nearly killed in 1967 when an aircraft carrier, the Forrestal, caught fire after a series of accidental explosions. The explosions killed 134 sailors and injured 161. Later that year, during his 23rd air mission, a bombing run over Hanoi, McCains aircraft was shot down, and he was seriously injured, breaking both arms and one leg during the crash. He was captured by the North Vietnamese, moved to Hoa Loa prison, nicknamed the Hanoi Hilton, on Dec. 9, 1969. It did not take long for his captors to learn that he was the son of a high-ranking Navy officer. They offered him early release, but McCain refused. For five long years, he was a prisoner of war, bounced around in various prison camps, where he was repeatedly tortured. For three of those years, McCain was held in solitary confinement. In prison, I fell in love with my country, McCain wrote in his book Faith of My Fathers: A Family Memoir. I had loved her before then, but like most young people, my affection was little more than a simple appreciation for the comforts and privileges most Americans enjoyed and took for granted. It wasnt until I had lost America for a time that I realized how much I loved her. He was finally released, along with other American POWs, on March 14, 1973, less than two months after the Vietnam ceasefire went into effect. McCain earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross. After nine months of physical rehabilitation, McCain tried to resume his Navy career, but his injuries were too much to overcome. So he found another way to serve his country. Portrait of a hero, 1964. (US Navy / Getty Images) McCains introduction to politics came in 1976, when he was assigned as the Navys liaison to the U.S. Senate. In 1981, after marrying his second wife, Cindy Hensley, McCain retired from the Navy and moved to Phoenix, Ariz. While working in public relations for his father-in-laws beer distribution business, he began establishing political connections. In 1982, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and in 1986 won a seat in the U.S. Senate after longtime Arizona senator Barry Goldwater retired. But his political future was threatened in 1989 when he became the subject of investigations by the FBI and the Senate Ethics Committee. As one of the Keating Five, McCain was accused of improperly intervening with federal regulators on behalf of Charles H. Keating Jr., a prominent donor and chairman of the failed Lincoln Savings & Loan Association, who was jailed on bank fraud charges.. McCain was cleared of any wrongdoing, although investigators declared that he had exercised poor judgment by meeting with the regulators. McCain weathered the scandal, and rebuilt his reputation with his push for campaign finance reform, and was highly-regarded enough to emerge as a solid challenger in 2000 to Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination. Bush went on to win, but when his two terms were up, McCain led the pack, and went on to become the Republican nominee for President in 2008. McCain picked Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, a decision he recently said was a mistake. Sen. John McCai holds up an article from The Washington Times on Capitol Hill, June 24, 1992, during a hearing of the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs. (John Duricka / AP) Despite reviving the success of his Straight Talk Express campaign bus, McCain lost the presidential race to Barack Obama. McCain grudgingly endorsed Trump when Trump won the nomination in 2016. Less than a year later, already under treatment for the cancer that would end his life, the Maverick delivered the crushing blow vote that defeated Trumps attempts to repeal Obama care. Sidelined, but not silenced, McCain mused on his own mortality in an April excerpt from from his upcoming memoir, The Restless Wave: Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights, and Other Appreciations. The world is a fine place and worth the fighting for and I hate very much to leave it, he wrote. I hate to leave it. But I dont have a complaint. Not one. Its been quite a ride. Ive known great passions, seen amazing wonders, fought in a war, and helped make a peace. I made a small place for myself in the story of American and the history of my times. Police were searching Saturday for men reported to have stolen cell phones and a set of keys from three San Diego State University students near campus, a university official said. The robbery happened shortly before 12:30 a.m. off Mary Lane Drive and Dorothy Drive, Jessica Rentto, the universitys associate vice president of administration, said in an email to students. Three phones and a set of keys were taken from three students, Rentto said. One of the students was taken to a hospital after the incident, though its unclear what the students condition was. Advertisement The area where the incident occurred is just a few hundred feet from campus. Victims and witnesses described the suspects as tall, thin men wearing hooded sweatshirts in their 20s, Rentto said. University and city police searched the area for the suspects immediately after responding to the robbery, but were unable to locate them,she said. pauline.repard@sduniontribune Twitter: @pdrepard Artist and comic creator Stan Sakai is the subject of a retrospective exhibit that opens this week at the Temecula Valley Museum. The Art of Stan Sakai, which runs from Aug. 25 through Oct. 22, offers audiences a window into the creative process and cultural influences behind Sakais work. The multimedia exhibit will include original artwork, prints and books representing the artists thirty-plus-year-career. Organized by museum director Tracy Frick and staff, the Art of Stan Sakai emphasizes Sakais iconic Usagi Yojimbo comic book series, which traces the life and adventures of Usagi Yojimbo, a wandering samurai or ronin characterized as a white rabbit clad in classic Japanese kendo attire. Set in the Edo period of Japanese history (think ancient feudal Japan), the Usagi Yojimbo character and comic books find their roots in both twentieth-century Japanese cinema such as the films by director Akira Kurosawa and in Japanese history and legend. Advertisement Beginning with his first appearance in the comic book Albedo Anthropomorphics #2 in 1984, the adventures of Usago Yojimbo have unfolded over the last thirty years. Usagi Yojimbo is comprised of one complete narrative, which is quite rare, said Sakai, noting that most enduring comics have many lead writers and creative teams over time, with each of those writers often having their own interpretation of a comic book character. I have complete control of the intellectual property, the story and the artwork, said Sakai, so readers see the progression and improvement of my artwork, writing and storytelling abilities over time. Sakais storytelling is appropriate for readers of almost any age, and he has been recognized with dozens of awards including a Parents Choice Award (1990), a San Diego Comic-Con International Lifetime Achievement Award (1991), six Eisner Awards, and the inaugural Joe Kubert Distinguished Storyteller Award (2018). Stans wife, artist Julie Fujii Sakai, said she is continually amazed at how Usagi Yojimbo seems to resonate with and connect people. He has this character that has affected lives around the globe, and a really loyal fanbase drawn to Usagis strong character and moral qualities. She recalled a conversation with one mom whose son was reading Usagi Yojimbo. The mom asked her son what he was reading, said Fujii Sakai, and the boy replied, simply: Its a story about honor. The Art of Stan Sakai Where: Temecula Valley Museum, 28314 Mercedes St., Temecula When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays; closed on Mondays Cost: Museum admission is free, with a suggested donation of $5 per person or $10 per family. Exhibition: Aug. 25 through Oct. 22 Reception: At 6:30 p.m. Aug. 30, Sakai will join guests at a reception to celebrate the exhibit opening. Workshops: At 2 p.m. Sept. 22, Sakai returns to the museum to lead an artist workshop. At 2 p.m. Oct. 20, artist Tony Moramarco of Bigfoot Graphics will teach guests how to make manga and comic book covers. Both workshops are free and open to the public however, due to limited space, RSVPs are required at https://bit.ly/2vmWBRK. Information: www.temeculavalleymuseum.org or call (951) 694-6450. temecula@sduniontribune.com For John McCain, a lifetime of courage, contradictions and contrarianism came down to one vote, in the middle of the night, in the twilight of his career. The fate of President Trumps long effort to repeal President Obamas healthcare law hung in the balance as a Senate roll call dragged on past 1 a.m. on a July night in 2017. Then came McCain 80 years old, recently diagnosed with brain cancer, his face still scarred from surgery, striding with purpose toward the well of the Senate. The Arizona Republican raised his right arm, paused for dramatic effect and flashed a determined thumbs-down, drawing gasps from both sides of the aisle. Advertisement Trumps healthcare bill was dead. McCains lifelong reputation as free thinker, never to be intimidated, was very much alive. It was the capstone of a political career that had taken McCain from the House to the Senate to the Republican presidential nomination, but never to his ultimate goal, the White House. McCain, who faced down his captors in a Vietnamese prisoner of war camp and later turned his trademark defiance into a political asset, died Saturday. He was 81. With his irascible grin and fighter-pilot moxie, McCain won election to the House from Arizona twice and the Senate six times. But twice he was thwarted in his quest for the presidency. His upstart bid for president in 2000 took flight in New Hampshire only to be quickly flattened in South Carolina. Eight years later, he fought back from the brink of defeat to win the GOP nomination, only to be overpowered by Democrat Obama in the general election. McCain had chosen a little-known Alaska governor as his running mate for that race, and in the process helped turn Sarah Palin into a political celebrity. After losing to Obama in an electoral landslide, McCain returned to the Senate determined not to be defined by a failed presidential campaign in which his reputation as a maverick had faded. In the politics of the moment and in national political debate over the decades, McCain energetically advanced his ideas and punched back hard at critics Trump not least among them. Scion of a decorated military family, McCain embraced his role as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, pushing for aggressive U.S. military intervention overseas and eager to contribute to defeating the forces of radical Islam that want to destroy America. Asked how he wanted to be remembered, McCain said simply: That I made a major contribution to the defense of the nation. Taking a long look back in his valedictory memoir, The Restless Wave, McCain wrote of the world he inhabited: I hate to leave it. But I dont have a complaint. Not one. Its been quite a ride. Ive known great passions, seen amazing wonders, fought in a war, and helped make a peace. I made a small place for myself in the story of America and the history of my times. Throughout his decades in Congress, McCain played his role with trademark verve, at one hearing dismissing a protester by calling out, Get out of here, you low-life scum. McCain stuck by the partys 2016 presidential nominee, Trump, at times seemingly through gritted teeth until the release a month before the election of a lewd audio clip in which Trump said he could kiss and grab women. Declaring that the breaking point, McCain withdrew his support and said he would write in some good conservative Republican whos qualified to be president. He had largely held his tongue earlier in the campaign when Trump questioned McCains status as a war hero by saying: He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured. McCain, with unusual restraint, said that was offensive to veterans, but the best thing to do is put it behind us and move forward. But by the time McCain cast his vote against the GOP healthcare bill, six months into Trumps presidency, the two men were openly at odds. Trump railed against McCain publicly over the vote, and McCain remarked that he no longer listened to what Trump had to say because theres no point in it. Unafraid of contradictions, McCain himself had campaigned against Obamas healthcare law, but voted against its repeal because Republicans had flouted what he called the old way of legislating, with full-fledged debate, amendments and committee hearings on the final bill. In his final months, McCain did not go quietly, frequently jabbing at Trump and his policies from the remove of his Hidden Valley family retreat in Arizona. He opposed the presidents nominee for CIA director because of her past role in overseeing torture, scolded Trump for alienating U.S. allies at an international summit, labeled the administrations zero-tolerance immigration policy an affront to the decency of the American people and denounced the Trump-Vladimir Putin summit in Helsinki, Finland, as a tragic mistake in which Trump put on one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory. On Aug. 13, Trump signed into law a $716-billion defense policy bill named in honor of the senator. Trump signed the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act in a ceremony at a military base in New York without one mention of McCain. Over a 31-year career in the Senate, McCain became a standard-bearer for reforming campaign donations. He railed against pork-barrel spending for legislators pet projects and cultivated a reputation as a deficit hawk and an independent voice. He even attacked senators own perks of office, such as free, up-close parking spots at Washington airports. But faced with a tough GOP challenge for his Senate seat in 2010, McCain disowned chapters in his past and turned to the right on a number of hot-button issues, including gays in the military, immigration and climate change. When the Supreme Court in 2010 overturned the campaign finance restrictions that he had worked so hard to enact, McCain said he was disappointed, but he seemed resigned to their demise. I dont think theres much that can be done, to tell you the truth, he said. It is what it is. After surviving the 2010 election, McCain wasnt about to roll over on any number of other issues. During a long and heated 2011 debate in Congress over the federal debt, McCain dismissed conservatives arguments against raising the governments borrowing limit as bizarro and foolish. In a 2014 hearing, he lit into Secretary of State John Kerry for talking strongly and carrying a very small stick in fact, a twig on foreign policy. Obamas vice president, Joe Biden, offered his own summation for a senator whom he described as quixotic. I think Johns legacy is that he never quits, Biden said in a 2015 interview. Over a lifetime in politics, McCains anti-authoritarian streak was both his greatest asset and Achilles heel. Often disinclined to follow the herd, McCain achieved his biggest legislative successes when making alliances with Democrats. He also piled up a full repertoire of over-the-top wisecracks, and had enough flare-ups with colleagues to cement a reputation as a hothead. Some questioned whether he had the right temperament to be president. McCains challenge always was to strike the right balance, offering himself both as a rabble-rouser and a reliable Republican standard-bearer. John Sidney McCain IIIs history as a Vietnam POW for five years after being shot out of the sky at age 31 was a powerful part of his back story as the son and grandson of four-star admirals. When his Vietnamese captors offered him early release as a propaganda ploy, McCain refused to play along. Now it will be very bad for you, Mac Kane, they told him, and they were true to their word. McCain returned home from his years as a POW on crutches and unable to lift his arms. Never again could he raise them above his head. He once said hed never known a prisoner of war who felt he could fully explain the experience to anyone who had not shared it. Indeed, he seemed more at ease joking about his incarceration than analyzing it. More than once he quipped after a distasteful experience: Thats the most fun Ive had since my last interrogation. In his darkest hour in Vietnam, McCains will was broken and he signed a confession that said, I am a black criminal and I have performed deeds of an air pirate. For all of that, though, McCain defied his guards. To his captors, just as to his superiors back at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., he was exasperating. He had to carry a different burden than most of us and he handled it beautifully, Orson Swindle, a former POW cellmate, once said. He didnt need any coping mechanism; thats just built into him. Even in prison, McCain played to the bleachers, shouting obscenities at his captors loudly enough to bolster the spirits of fellow captives. Appointed by the POWs to act as camp entertainment officer, a room chaplain and a communications officer, McCain imparted comic relief, literary tutorials, news of the day, even religious sustenance. Bud Day, a former cellmate and Medal of Honor recipient, said McCains POW experience took some great iron and turned him into steel. McCain once said that Vietnam wasnt a turning point in me as to what type of person I am, but it was a bit of a turning point in me appreciating the value of serving a cause greater than your self-interest. It taught him, he said, that if you put your country first, that everything will be OK. Still, a predilection for what McCain described as quick tempers, adventurous spirits, and love for the countrys uniform was encoded in the family DNA. His father and grandfather, the Navys first father-and-son set of four-star admirals, had set such a low standard for behavior at the Naval Academy that McCains self-described four-year course of insubordination and rebellion got little more than a yawn from his family. Speaking of his father, McCain once pronounced himself little short of astonished by the old mans reckless disregard for the rules. And yet for all the raucous tales of misconduct, the midshipmen of the McCain family abided by the schools honor code not to lie, cheat or steal. McCains Vietnam experience gave him new confidence in himself and his judgment. But it did not tame his wild side, and his first marriage was a casualty. McCain blamed the failure of the marriage on my own selfishness and immaturity and has called it my greatest moral failing. One month after divorcing his first wife, Carol, McCain married Cindy Hensley, 17 years his junior. McCains war story made him a celebrity in Washington. When he became the Navys liaison to the Senate, he quickly established friendships with some of the younger senators, who would stop by his office, put their feet up, and chew over the events of the day. The experience opened McCains eyes to the impact that politicians could have, and to the notion that he could be one of them. His 1981 marriage to Cindy, the daughter of a wealthy beer distributor in Arizona, helped clear the path forward. In one day, McCain signed his Navy discharge papers and flew west with his new wife to his new life. By 1982, hed been elected to the House and four years later to an open Senate seat. He and Cindy had four children, to add to the three from his first marriage. Their youngest child was adopted from Mother Teresas orphanage in Bangladesh. McCain set about establishing a conservative voting record and a reputation as a tightwad with taxpayer dollars. But just months into his Senate career, he made what he called the worst mistake of his life. He participated in two meetings with banking regulators on behalf of Charles Keating, a friend, campaign contributor, constituent and savings and loan financier who was later convicted of securities fraud. The S&L situation simmered for a few years, but eventually boiled over, and McCain got burned. As the industry collapsed, McCain was tagged as one of the Keating Five five senators who, to varying degrees, were accused of trying to get regulators to ease up on Keating. McCain was cited for lesser involvement than the others by the Senate ethics committee, which faulted his poor judgment. But to have his honor questioned, he said, was in some ways worse than the torture he endured in Vietnam. He spent years trying to live down the taint. In the 1990s, McCain shouldered another wrenching issue, the long effort to account for American soldiers still missing from the war and to normalize relations with Vietnam. People dont remember how ugly the POW-MIA issue was, former Democratic Sen. Bob Kerrey, a fellow Vietnam veteran, later recalled, crediting McCain for standing up to significant opposition. I heard people scream in his face, holding him responsible for the deaths of POWs. Few politicians matched McCains success as an author. His 1999 release Faith Of My Fathers was a million seller that was highly praised and helped launch his run for president in 2000. His most recent bestseller and planned farewell, The Restless Wave, came out in May 2018. Duncan Hunter isnt the first member of Congress to be indicted while in office. Its happened about two-dozen times in the past 30 years. He isnt the first to seek re-election with a criminal cloud overhead, either. Several have tried including one who ran while in prison. But to be indicted, and re-elected, and cleared in court? Thats rarefied air. Rep. Floyd Flake, a Democrat in New York, was indicted on 17 counts in August 1990, accused of tax evasion, embezzlement and conspiracy. He was re-elected later that year. In April 1991, three weeks into the trial, a judge dismissed most of the charges and prosecutors dropped the case. Advertisement Flake went on to serve another six years in Congress. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) was indicted in 1993 on charges related to her previous job as state treasurer, then acquitted in early 1994. She won re-election later that year on her way to a 20-year career in Congress. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) was indicted in 2015 on 14 counts, including bribery and fraud. After his trial last year ended with a hung jury, prosecutors dropped the case, and Menendez is on the ballot in November, seeking his third term. And thats about it. Its been far more common for those in Congress to resign while under indictment, or to not seek re-election, said Gary Jacobson, an emeritus professor of political science at UC San Diego. Half the cases he looked at since 1988 went that route. Its the path Rep. Chris Collins, a Republican from New York, took earlier this month after he was charged with insider trading. At first he vowed to keep his seat, then suspended his campaign, setting off a scramble over whether he can be replaced on the ballot by election day. Hunter, 41, is pushing back against a 47-page, 60-count indictment that accuses him and his wife, Margaret, of illegally funneling $250,000 in campaign contributions to personal use for family vacations, shopping sprees and meals. They pleaded not guilty at their arraignments Thursday. First elected in 2008, Hunter has resisted calls from the Union-Tribune and others to resign, saying, Im not going anywhere. He characterizes the case against him as a politically motivated witch hunt. Because of state election laws, his name will stay on the ballot in November, even if he were to quit. And although the criminal charges have raised the profile and the prospects of his opponent, Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar, political observers note that Hunters district is so red he won by 27 percentage points in the last election. If you have a district thats heavily weighted in the incumbents favor, they can absorb a loss of 10 percent of the vote or so, said John Pitney Jr., a professor of American politics at Claremont McKenna College. Even with the legal troubles, Hunter is no shoo-in to lose. Past as prologue? In looking at past cases of indicted Congress members seeking re-election, Jacobson said two stand out because of possible applications to Hunters situation. The first he mentioned is Michael Grimm. The New York Republican was indicted in April 2014 on 20 counts of tax fraud and other charges related to a restaurant he ran. A former Marine and ex-FBI agent, Grimm vowed to fight tooth and nail in court, and on the campaign trail. In November that year, he was re-elected, capturing 53 percent of the vote in his Staten Island district to remain the only Republican in New York Citys congressional delegation. Its not how hard you can hit, its how you can get hit and keep moving forward, he said in his victory speech. Grimm, like Hunter, held a very Republican seat, Jacobson noted. Thats an interesting one, because even with an indictment hanging over his head, he got re-elected. One month after the election, Grimm pleaded guilty to a single count of tax evasion and resigned. He was sentenced to eight months in federal prison. Your moral compass, the judge told him, needs some reorientation. After he served his sentence, Grimm ran again for his old seat in the June primary and lost. Jacobson said there may also be lessons in the case of Rep. William Jefferson, a Democrat from Louisiana. He was indicted in 2007 on charges of bribery and fraud. Investigators famously reported finding $90,000 in his freezer, stashed there to pay off a government official in Nigeria. Jefferson ran for re-election in 2008. He won the primary in a heavily Democratic district, centered in New Orleans, which gave more than 70 percent of the vote in the presidential election that year to Barack Obama. Then, in the general election, Jefferson lost to Anh Joseph Cao, the first time a Republican had won in that district since the late 1890s. When Cao ran for re-election two years later, he was trounced by a Democrat, 65 percent to 33 percent. (Jefferson) was defeated by a Republican who never would have won under other circumstances, Jacobson said. Thats the likely prognosis if (Campa-Najjar) defeats Hunter, too. He should probably enjoy his term, because its likely to be the only one he gets in that district. Early defiance Almost every member of Congress indicted in recent decades has been defiant at first. They proclaimed their innocence and attacked the motivations of law enforcement. The term witch hunt came up a lot. Few, though, have been as pugnacious as Hunter was in the days following his indictment, which detailed some 200 times the couple allegedly spent campaign funds for items ranging from shots of tequila to a family vacation in Italy. Ive never used my campaign for personal expenditures ever, he told reporters. He said leftist government thugs deliberately timed the release of criminal charges to hurt him in the election. He said he was the victim of a deep state conspiracy involving two U.S. attorneys who attended a fundraiser in 2015 for Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton. That kind of talk may play well in Hunters district, according to political scientists. If voters see the charges as trivial or the prosecution as politically motivated, his chances are better, Pitney said. This case involves the use of campaign funds, and many people think campaign money is dirty anyway. Jacobson said the current political climate is worth considering, too, while drawing comparisons with earlier indicted legislators. Partisan politics is so tribal these days that a lot of Republicans who might be disgusted by Hunter wont vote for a Democrat, he said. People are very reluctant to cross party lines these days. Its different than what we found in the 70s or 80s. Hunters promise to stand his ground is reminiscent of the posture adopted by the late James Traficant, a colorful nine-term Democratic congressman from Ohio. In May 2001, five months after being re-elected, Traficant was indicted on 10 counts alleging bribery, fraud and racketeering. Among other things, he was accused of trading his influence with federal regulators for free construction materials and labor, and of forcing his staff members to bale hay on his farm. He called the indictment a vendetta by federal officials angry that he had defeated them in a corruption case 18 years earlier, when he was a county sheriff in Youngstown charged with accepting more than $100,000 in mob bribes. (He said he was running a sting operation when he took the money. A jury acquitted him.) This time Traficant lost, convicted in April 2002 on every count. While he awaited sentencing, he resisted calls to resign, forcing a vote in the House of Representatives on whether to expel him. My people elected me, he told his colleagues, and I dont think you should take their representation away. The vote was 420-1 to kick him out. It was just the second time since the Civil War that a House member had been expelled. It hasnt happened again since. Traficant was sentenced a week later to eight years in prison. Later that year, while behind bars and running as an independent, he tried to win his seat back. He finished third, with 15 percent of the vote. Union-Tribune Research Manager Merrie Monteagudo contributed to this report. john.wilkens@sduniontribune.com Even in death, John McCain continues to bring political rivals together. He also made one last dig at President Trump. The maverick senator, who succumbed to brain cancer Saturday, requested former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush deliver eulogies at his funeral. But McCain, who had famously feuded with Trump, reportedly asked as far back as May that he not be invited to his funeral. Vice President Pence is expected to attend. Advertisement Obama and Bush both of whom campaigned against the 81-year-old Arizona statesman on their way to the White House got a head start by leading a list of political giants in paying tribute to McCain over the weekend. Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did, Obama wrote in a statement honoring the GOP nominee he defeated to become President in 2008. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At Johns best, he showed us what that means. And for that, we are all in his debt. Bush, who beat McCain to win the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, also shared a statement praising the late Navy veteran as an American hero and a friend. Some lives are so vivid, it is difficult to imagine them ended. Some voices are so vibrant, it is hard to think of them stilled, Bush wrote. John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order. He was a public servant in the finest traditions of our country. And to me, he was a friend whom Ill deeply miss. Former Vice President Joe Biden, a longtime friend who once referred to McCain as his brother somehow raised by different fathers, will speak at a separate service in Arizona, CBS News reported. John McCains life is proof that some truths are timeless. Character. Courage. Integrity. Honor, Biden wrote in a statement. A life lived embodying those truths casts a long, long shadow. John McCain will cast a long shadow. His impact on America hasnt ended. Not even close. Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton fondly remembered McCain Sunday in a phone interview on NBCs Meet the Press. I think that example that he set of working across the aisle, but more than that, working to bring people together here at home and around the world, is one we should remember, Clinton said. The former secretary of state wrapped her remembrance by urging Americans to keep in mind that if we abandon the ideals that we have stood forwe will be giving up on what he fought for, what he was imprisoned for, what he stood for, in a long line of American patriots. McCain apparently liked Presidents, such as Obama and Bush, who werent in the White House to speak at his funeral. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP) Despite having insulted McCain on numerous occasions and insisting the former POW was not a war hero, President Trump offered his condolences, too. My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you! tweeted the President, who spent his Sunday golfing in Sterling, Va. Trump famously claimed in 2015 that being shot out of the sky and tortured for more than five years in a Vietnamese prison camp didnt qualify McCain, a Navy pilot, as a hero. Trump earlier this month signed The John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act during a photo op in which he refused to say McCains name. With McCain on his deathbed last week, Trump toured the nation lambasting the ailing senator for voting against an executive proposal to revamp the nations health care system. McCain will be the 13th former senator to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda. He will be buried Sunday at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Pope Francis used his Sunday Mass in front of thousands of worshipers in Dublin to ask forgiveness for the abuses of the Catholic Church in Ireland, just hours after a retired archbishop accused him of covering up for a U.S. cardinal accused of sexual assault and called for his resignation. We ask forgiveness for the abuses in Ireland, abuses of power, of conscience, and sexual abuses perpetrated by members with roles of responsibility in the church, Francis said at Mass at the end of his 36-hour visit to Ireland, the first papal visit there since 1979. In a special way, we ask pardon for all the abuses committed in various types of institutions run by ...members of the church, and we ask for forgiveness for those cases of manual work that so many young women and men were subjected to, added the Pope, referring to the thousands of infants who were wrenched from their unwed mothers at birth in the 1950s and put up for adoption, while the young mothers were forced to live and work in laundries and other programs for fallen women. We ask forgiveness for the times that, as a church, we did not show the survivors of whatever kind of abuse the compassion and the seeking of justice and truth through concrete actions. We ask for forgiveness for some of the church hierarchy who did not take charge of these situations and kept quiet. Advertisement Hours before Francis sermon, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the Vaticans former ambassador to the United States, called for the Pope to step down in an open letter accusing senior officials of knowing about ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarricks alleged sexual assaults as early as 2000. Vigano also claimed he had warned Francis about a dossier on McCarrick in June 2013, three months after he was elected Pope. He corrupted generations of seminarians and priests and Pope Benedict ordered him to withdraw to a life of prayer and penance, Vigano claims he said of McCarrick. Vigano also claimed that Francis covered for (McCarrick) to the bitter end. McCarrick has denied all allegations, which include multiple accusations of sexually abusing underage men. While I have absolutely no recollection of this reported abuse, and believe in my innocence, I am sorry for the pain the person who brought the charges has gone through, as well as for the scandal such charges cause our people, he said in a statement. He resigned in late July. Early Sunday night, on the flight home from Dublin, Francis denied Viganos allegations and said the letter speaks for itself. I will not say a single word on this. I think this statement speaks for itself, and you have the sufficient journalistic capacity to draw conclusions, he told the National Catholic Register. When some time passes and you have your conclusions, maybe I will speak. But I would like that your professional maturity carries out this task. Earlier in his trip, Francis met with eight survivors of sexual assault, particularly at the hands of priests and inside Catholic-run organizations, comparing the coverup of widespread sexual abuse within the Catholic Church to toilet filth. Last week, the Pope offered shame and repentance for the churchs handling of sexual abuse, days after a Pennsylvania grand jury report detailed internal documents from six Catholic dioceses that alleged more than 1,000 child victims of 301 predator priests spanning 70 years. We have realized that these wounds never disappear and that they require us forcefully to condemn these atrocities and join forces in uprooting this culture of death; these wounds never go away, Francis wrote in a letter. The heart-wrenching pain of these victims, which cries out to heaven, was long ignored, kept quiet or silenced. But their outcry was more powerful than all the measures meant to silence it, or sought even to resolve it by decisions that increased its gravity by falling into complicity. According to BishopAccountability, a nonprofit group that tracks accusations of abuse within the Catholic Church, more than $3.8 billion has been paid out in lawsuits and claims to more than 8.600 victims since the 1950s. With News Wire Services Arizona Sen. John McCain, who survived 5 years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam to become one of the highest-profile, most confounding and pugnacious personalities in American politics a one-time Republican presidential standard-bearer who alternately trampled and embraced GOP orthodoxy has died. He was 81. McCain, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in July 2017, died at 4:28 p.m. Saturday, his office confirmed in a statement. McCain's passing came a day after his family announced he was ceasing medical treatment. Although he spent more than three decades in Congress representing his adopted home state, McCain was hardly a stamped-from-the-mold politician. At a time when the country grew increasingly tribal and partisan, he drew admiration and antagonism from both parties. Warts and all, he was an iconic figure, said Charlie Cook, a nonpartisan campaign analyst who followed McCains political career from the lawmakers arrival in Washington in the early 1980s. As irascible and curmudgeonly as he could be, he was real. There was an authenticity. Within moments, tributes began to pour in from across the political divide. President Trump issued a brief statement on Twitter. My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain, he wrote. Our hearts and prayers are with you! President Obama, who defeated McCain in 2008, went on at greater length. Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage he did, he stated. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At Johns best, he showed us what that means. McCain had a volcanic temper and an almost demonically willful streak, once describing himself as "one who doesnt mind getting up on the high wire and doesnt mind fighting." His career as a hell-raiser in the Navy and iconoclast in the Senate often read more like a picaresque novel than the shelf load of books inspired by his harrowing life story. In addition to his experience as a prisoner of war, marked by years of torture and solitary confinement, McCain survived near-banishment from the Naval Academy, three plane crashes, a divorce caused by his philandering, a career-threatening Senate scandal, two unsuccessful tries for the White House and a legislative record marked by at least as many setbacks as victories. Then-Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, accompanied by his daughter Meghan McCain, waves to supporters in Ohio in October 2008. Stephan Savoia / Associated Press He was described (and described himself) as a charmer, a wise guy, an underachiever, a warrior, a hero, a coward, a straight-talker, a shape-shifter and, perhaps more than any label, a maverick. He was conservative in coloration and stood firmly by his beliefs, even when it contravened the wishes of his partys leadership. He fought bitterly with right-wing elements of the GOP over immigration, gay rights, global warming. In July 2017, he cast the decisive vote killing Republicans long-cherished hope of repealing the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare, as they derided it marching onto the Senate floor, turning a thumb down and delivering a forceful no as the chamber erupted in gasps. His relationship with Trump was not good. Trump derided his wartime heroism during the 2016 campaign I like people who werent captured and McCain did not hide his contempt. Todays press conference in Helsinki was one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory, McCain tweeted of Trumps kid-gloves approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin at a July meeting. Trump responded in kind. A month later, he pointedly made no mention of Arizonas ailing senator when he signed the 2019 military appropriation bill the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act into law. McCain unburdened himself at length in The Restless Wave, the last of several books he wrote, which was published in May and served as his last political testament. He seems uninterested in the moral character of world leaders and their regimes, he said of Trump. The appearance of toughness, or a reality show facsimile of toughness seems to matter more than any of our values. Flattery secures his friendship, criticism his enmity. A fixture on Washingtons political talk shows and eagerly sought interview in the halls of Congress ever-ready with a quip or snide observation McCains power extended beyond his role as a committee chairman and aggressive investigator of military spending, influence peddling and pork-barrel spending, among other causes. He became a leading voice in the Republican Party, especially on military and foreign affairs. (During Senate breaks, he often passed the time visiting war zones and other foreign hot spots.) And though he faced a number of unsuccessful primary challenges back home, the only time he ever lost an election was when he reached for the White House. His first run, in 2000, was a joyful, insurgent romp that saw him nearly upset the prohibitive GOP favorite, Texas Gov. George W. Bush, in the primaries. His second try, as the Republican nominee in 2008, was more of a cheerless grind, ending in a decisive loss to Democrat Obama. Despite his beet-red outbursts My temper? he joked. I was just exploding about it this morning he engendered deep loyalty, forging a bipartisan cadre of friends and trusted advisors who remained close to him for decades. One of them was fellow Vietnam veteran John F. Kerry, the former Massachusetts senator and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, who briefly considered McCain as his running mate, a highly unconventional move. To a considerable degree, McCains career reflected the Nietzschean notion of that which does not kill us makes us stronger. Tarred by an influence-peddling scandal, McCain emerged as a champion of open government and campaign finance reform. As a twice-defeated presidential candidate, he used his new celebrity to heighten his influence in Congress and emerge as one of the GOPs most prominent leaders. Although he wished to be known for more than his service in Vietnam and, especially, his hellish captivity, it became the leitmotif of his public life an irrefutable testament to his personal bravery and excuse for everything from his irksome explosions to the fact he was relatively new to Arizona the first time he sought political office. Attacked as an outsider in that 1982 run for the House of Representatives, he brought opponents up short with a blunt and unassailable rejoinder: The longest place I ever lived in was Hanoi. John Sidney McCain III was born Aug. 29, 1936, in the Panama Canal Zone, where his father, a Navy officer, was temporarily stationed. At that instant, his future was seemingly ordained. As the son and grandson of acclaimed admirals, with a military lineage dating to 17th-century Britain, there was never a question what McCain would do once he grew up, though at times it seemed he was bent more on self-sabotage than extending his familys proud service. Relatively small as an adult he topped out at 5 feet 7 inches and often the new kid in class, he compensated with a snarling attitude and flying fists. In high school, he was known as Punk and McNasty. When he graduated from the Naval Academy in 1958, he finished fifth from the bottom of his class but near the top in demerits. I was an arrogant, undisciplined, insolent midshipman, he wrote years later with typical candor. In short, I acted like a jerk. He trained as a naval aviator, surviving three crashes and acquiring a reputation as a pilot who tended toward recklessness. In July 1967, serving in Vietnams Tonkin Gulf, he lived through another disaster when a stray electrical charge ignited a missile on the aircraft carrier Forrestal, killing 134 sailors and injuring 161. McCain could have returned home but, fatefully, refused. A few months later, on a bombing mission over Hanoi, his A-4E Skyhawk was hit by a missile, which sheared the right wing. McCain ejected and landed, with a broken leg and two broken arms, in a lake in the middle of the North Vietnamese capital. His captors soon realized they had lucked into a prize possession: the son of a famous American admiral. Seeking a public relations coup a seeming show of humanitarianism they offered McCain his freedom. That, however, would have breached the American military code of conduct that required the release of POWs in the order they were captured. When he refused the offer, his jail keepers were infuriated. Now, McCain, he recalled being told, It will be very bad for you. It was. He endured years of torture and solitary confinement; at one point, after being beaten for days and bound with ropes forcing his head between his knees, McCain broke and signed a taped confession that was broadcast to fellow prisoners: I am a black criminal and I have performed the deeds of an air pirate. Lt. Cmdr. John McCain is shown in the documentary "Return With Honor." 1999 American Film Foundation He took years to forgive himself, though eventually his dark humor won out. Decades later, a reporter for Esquire was with him when a staffer sought McCains advice regarding her son, who was acting up in school. Tell him to confess, McCain told her. Say, I am a black air pirate and I have committed crimes against the peace-loving people at my school. It always worked for me. When McCain was finally freed in March 1973, after the signing of the Paris Peace Accord, he walked with a limp that persisted the rest of his life. He also had limited range of motion in his arms he couldnt raise them high enough to comb his hair; worse, from McCains perspective, the handicap thwarted his desire to return to the cockpit as a Navy pilot. After years of recovery, McCain was rewarded with an assignment as the Navys liaison to the U.S. Senate, where he got his first taste of political power. He forged a number of bipartisan friendships, including a father-son relationship with Republican Sen. John Tower of Texas, who urged him to run for Congress, saying he could do more good there than in the Navy. By then, McCain had divorced his first wife, Carol, after multiple admitted affairs on his part, and married Cindy Lou Hensley, the daughter of a wealthy Phoenix beer distributor. It was there, in the burgeoning desert of the Southwest, McCain finally rooted himself, working as public relations executive for his father-in-laws liquor business. In 1982, when a shot at an open House seat arose, he jumped at the opportunity. He knocked on some 15,000 doors in Arizonas beastly summer heat and blanketed the local TV airwaves with an ad touting his military record that showed him hobbling on crutches soon after his release as a POW. He narrowly won the GOP primary and trounced his Democratic opponent. After two terms in the House, McCain was elected in a 1986 landslide to replace retiring Sen. Barry Goldwater, another crusty, speak-his-mind Republican. McCain was reelected five times, the final time in 2016. He kept a mostly low profile during his early years in Congress, voting a faithfully conservative line. In the 1990s, in a move with great symbolic and political resonance, he worked across the aisle with Kerry to end the U.S. trade embargo on Vietnam and renew diplomatic ties. Perhaps his greatest notoriety, however, came as a member of the Keating Five. In the late 1980s, Charles H. Keating Jr., the owner of Irvine-based Lincoln Savings & Loan, spread cash donations to five U.S. senators including McCain in hopes of thwarting a federal investigation into Lincolns questionable investments and lending practices. After a lengthy court-like procedure, McCain was found guilty by the Senate Ethics Committee of showing poor judgment for twice meeting with regulators at Keatings request. Although there was no sanction, McCain called the experience worse than anything he suffered as a war prisoner. The Vietnamese, he said, didnt question my honor. The experience changed McCain in two ways. He became increasingly accessible to reporters, figuring the best path to political rehabilitation was openness and unvarnished authenticity. He also took up campaign finance reform, opposing leaders of his own party and working with Wisconsins Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold to pass legislation restricting the flow of unregulated campaign cash and limiting political advertising. In January 2010, however, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down key aspects of the McCain-Feingold bill, ruling curbs on political spending were an unconstitutional infringement of free speech. The worst decision of the United States Supreme Court in the 21st century, McCain called it. By then, McCain had established himself as a national figure, after two tries for the White House. His 2000 bid was an upstart effort that pitted him against Texas Gov. Bush and most of the GOP establishment. McCain wrote off Iowa, where voters cast the first ballots in precinct caucuses, and camped out for more than a year in New Hampshire, staging more than 100 town halls. His ask-me-anything style appealed to voters demanding accessibility and reporters who loved McCains freewheeling personality. (My base, he jokingly called the political press corps.) McCains walloping of Bush in New Hampshires leadoff primary stamped him as a serious contender for the nomination. Bush supporters responded with a smear campaign, including false allegations that McCain fathered an African American child out of wedlock. That helped Bush prevail in South Carolinas do-or-die primary, but opened a deep personal chasm; when McCain finally came around to endorsing Bush after the primaries, he likened it to swallowing a bitter pill. If McCains 2000 run for president was mostly a joy ride aboard the aptly titled Straight Talk Express, his 2008 campaign was a slog. Though he began as the presumptive front-runner, his open disdain for Christian conservative leaders, promotion of campaign-finance reform and moderate position on immigration alienated much of the Republican base. He quickly fell behind in polls and fundraising and retreated in desperation once more to New Hampshire, where his familiarity and another blitz of town halls helped lift him to victory and an eventual path to the GOP nomination. McCain entered the general election as a distinct underdog against Obama. After eight years of Bush, voters were inevitably ready for change and, as the first African American to seriously vie for the White House, the Illinois senator was the living embodiment of new and different. Charismatic and 25 years younger than McCain, Obama also capitalized by portraying his GOP rival as old and out of touch. McCains slow, diffident response at the onset of the Great Recession didnt help. Trying to shake up the contest, McCain gambled by choosing little-known Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. Her rocky performance left campaign aides publicly lamenting the selection, though McCain expressed no regrets until death began its approach. Only then did he reveal his second thoughts, writing in his final memoir and stating in an HBO documentary that he was sorry he did not select his close friend, Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman, a Democrat-turned-independent. McCain said campaign advisors told him the move would outrage hard-core Republicans and cost him the election. Sound advice, he wrote. But my gut told me to ignore it, and I wish I had. Palin issued a statement Saturday night on Twitter, calling McCain an American original. John never took the easy path in life and through sacrifice and suffering he inspired others to serve something greater than self, she wrote. After losing to Obama, McCain returned to the Senate and became one of his harshest critics, especially on defense and foreign policy matters. He continued to break with Republicans when it suited him, most recently pushing President Trump for a tougher stance against Russia and repeatedly opposing efforts to repeal Obamas signature achievement, the Affordable Care Act, without ensuring coverage for the millions of Americans it added to insurance rolls. He never bothered reconciling with conservatives back home, who threw up vigorous primary challengers when McCain sought reelection in 2010 and 2016. Both times he shifted right, on immigration and other issues, before moving back closer to the middle once he fended off the intraparty challenge. If there was a single motivation threaded through his career it was public service, said Tom Volgy, a University of Arizona political scientist and former Democratic mayor of Tucson who worked well with McCain despite their partisan differences. He wasnt a poor guy who needed to get rich by being in Congress, Volgy said. He didnt need to serve so long, or run again after losing for president. Although both his White House bids fell short, McCain seemed awed and genuinely grateful for the mere chance to vie for the nations highest office. This is the noblest experience in the world, he told a firehouse crowd as he campaigned one night in 2000 in New Hampshire. Its marvelous, and I cant tell you how uplifting it is. I seize every moment, every moment I can, to be in this campaign. In my darkest days, long ago and far away, I never, ever believed that I would have this golden opportunity. mark.barabak@latimes.com @markzbarabak UPDATES: 6:30 p.m. : This article was updated with reaction from McCains former vice presidential running mate, Sarah Palin 6:07 p.m.: This article was updated with reaction from President Trump and former President Obama. This article was originally published at 5:25 p.m. Born to Navy royalty, John McCain had lifelong ties to San Diego, especially Coronado, where he spent part of his childhood and where one of the streets is named after his grandfather. He and his wife, Cindy, owned condominiums in Coronado Shores, which they visited often over the years. McCain used to joke that as a senator from Arizona, he had to visit during the summers because half of his constituents were here. As a presidential candidate seeking the Republican nomination in 2000 and then as his partys standard-bearer in 2008, he campaigned in different parts of San Diego County, talking usually about issues that resonated with local residents: immigration, the military, veterans. An early critic of bureaucratic hurdles at the Veterans Administration, he complained once to a local audience, For a routine health care need, someone goes down to the VA and stands in line to stand in line to make an appointment to make an appointment. Advertisement He also often quipped in appearances here that the real reason he came to San Diego was to get Arizonas water back. Its so dry in our state, the trees actually chase the dogs, he said at a military ball in Coronado in 2006. McCains sense of humor was one of the things being remembered Saturday night as local government officials and others who knew him mourned his passing. John and I became good friends almost 50 years ago, long before we served together on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Pete Wilson, former San Diego mayor, California governor and U.S. senator. From the first day to the last, he was a bright, gutsy, funny patriot who loved life, his family and loved his country. Wilson called McCain a loyal and solid friend, and a man of honor even when he disagreed. I will be inspired by his incredible courage and laugh again remembering all the times he made me laugh as we traded jibes and jokes. North County Congressman Darrell Issa, R-Vista, said, Senator John McCain was a patriot, statesman, fighter and someone I was honored to call a friend. From our travels to U.S. military bases to quiet moments in the Senate barber shop, I will forever remember his enduring passion for this great country. That passion had some of its roots in Coronado, and in his familys rich Navy history. His grandfather, Adm. John Sidney McCain Sr., commanded a carrier task force during World War II and was on board the Missouri when Japan surrendered in 1945. McCain Boulevard in Coronado is named after him. McCains father, Adm. John Jack McCain Jr., served in World War II and Vietnam and was in charge of the Pacific Command from 1968 to 1972. One of his postings was in Coronado, and the family lived at 800 A St. In 2011, a sign went up in the front yard there, denoting it as the Home of a Naval Aviator McCain, who flew Navy A-4 Skyhawks before he was shot down over Vietnam in 1967. He spent five years in captivity. The torture he endured as a POW is one of the things that endeared him to many San Diegans. In 2000, when he came to a rally in Balboa Park as part of his presidential run, he met with two women who still had their POW bracelets engraved with his name. One of them, Marilyn Miceli of Encinitas, was 11 when she bought the bracelet and 48 when she met McCain. She later told the Union-Tribune that McCain seemed genuinely touched that we had them, kept them, wore them and that they meant something to us. Miceli, a Democrat, wouldnt commit to voting for McCain. But she had an emotional attachment to the bracelet, and to him. To me, this was just a boy that fought in the war, she told the newspaper in 2008. Thats how I still think of him as a boy who I rooted for to come home. McCains passing brought back memories for Laurence Charles Baldauf Jr. of Ramona, a Navy veteran. He befriended McCain while both attended the Naval Academy in the 1950s. The young McCain, a skilled wrestler, was charismatic even then, Baldauf, 85, said in phone interview Saturday night. The two engaged in a friendly competition for the affection of a young lady who lived nearby at one point. McCain had the James Dean/Marlon Brando thing going on, Baldauf said, but he had a new convertible that he let the woman drive. McCain finally relented, saying he couldnt compete with a car. You win, McCain told him. You win. john.wilkens@sduniontribune.com Re John McCain: War hero, statesman (Aug. 26): How do we define a war hero? Serving our country as a combat Navy pilot and POW. Having been shot down and spending more than five years in a Vietnamese prison, some of us would call McCain a hero. Many POWs did not return, they too are heroes as I see it. The fact that John endured the treatment and who knows what all, came home and returned to civilian life, he has to be a hero. Running for president and senator shows us he was a great man. I just hope our President Trump can find a way to do and say the right things about Senator John McCain. Forget the past differences they may have had, please President Trump do him right. Tom Fox Advertisement San Diego John McCain was a true hero by any measure conservative or liberal. He was one of the few who could hold to their convictions. May his legacy empower others to do the same. Frank Hafner San Diego Now would be good time for a military parade, in honor of... John McCain. A great leader and true American that dedicated his life to keeping America safe. John Wimberly Chula Vista Donald Trumps Instagram post about McCain features a photo of Trump, but no McCain. Like he said, hes the only one that matters. I have no political affiliation and often disagreed with Senator McCains view points, but he was an example of what a public servant should be. A man of honor and integrity. A man who was able to engage in thoughtful debate without resorting to attacking or degrading the other person. A man who put the interests of the country first over the party platform. In the words of Dan Rather, We need ... more voices of conscience, more iconoclasts and more people imbued with a service greater than that of their own greed and power. In short, we ... need more John McCains, and no Trumps. Anthony Kopec San Marcos I just listened to the moving words of Governor John Kasich of Ohio who spoke in a national telephone interview with MSNBC a minute ago as he talked about the senator and first meeting McCain as freshman senators. I may have disagreed with McCain on many things but I never questioned his bravery, honesty and sincere desire to be a public servant. Those qualities are why he was so well respected across the Isle. He asked in his wishes before he died that both Presidents George Bush and Barack Obama speak at his memorial. The White House released a brief statement from our current occupant of the White House expressing condolences for the McCain family. I hope the president can reach back and find enough class to limit his comments to that. Any other direct comment by him on Senator McCain would be crass, classless, and hypocritical, all qualities our president appears to possess in unlimited quantities. Ed Karesky Escondido A disrespectful, egotistical demagogue doesnt hold a candle to a real hero, John McCain. A real hero is someone who fights with honor for their country like John McCain and doesnt shirk their duty because of bone spurs. A real hero doesnt denigrate others or lock children in cages. A real hero is one who stands for their convictions and is willing to put a thumbs down on a misguided health bill. A real hero is someone with enough class and dignity to represent our country with honor and respect. Godspeed John McCain. Kathy Cappos Hardy Chula Vista We have lost a great American today, Senator John McCain. Shot down in Vietnam and enduring 5 years of excruciating pain due to breaking both arms when shot down, he refused to leave his prison until all his fellow prisoners were also released. He was a man who reached out to Democrats and was bi-partisan when it came to legislation which he thought helped our country. He mad more integrity in his little toe than the person currently inhabiting the White House. Here is an example of one of the few Republicans in Congress today who put country over party. Let his example be a beacon to all politicians regarding what it is to truly love your country. Rest in peace dear John. G.D. Morrill Escondido Our country mourns the death of Senator John McCain. While I often did not agree with him, I respected his courage and his character. Mr. McCain spent most of his life serving his country with honor. He truly believed in reaching across the aisle for the good of the nation. Our representatives in Washington would serve us better by doing the same. Alicia Gonzalez Vicars 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. Make sure to cover the opposition as well Our President Trump works his heart out and never gets praised. This paper only writes about any mistakes he makes. Your headlines (Hunter, Cohen, Manafort) are just awful and voters dont care much about them. Why not headlines about all the crimes committed by Hillary Clinton and the Dems? Voters care about jobs, paychecks increased, tax relief, safety. Why not headlines about Barack Obamas years leaving big problems for our president (health care, crime, immigration, homeless)? Our president is doing his best to save our country. Advertisement Zoe Wettstein San Marcos President deserves benefit of the doubt If Karen McDougal and Stephanie Clifford had been paid by someone other than by the president of the United States would the Justice Department treat the provider of such payments as a victim or as a lawbreaker? It is possible that Trump was the victim of extortion in an effort to keep secret from his wife and family his consensual sexual events that predated both his campaign and election. Assuming for the sake of argument that the purpose was to protect his persona as a political candidate, is paying a blackmailer defined by the Federal Election Commission as a political contribution? Jim Stieringer La Mesa Dont fault Trump for avoiding Vietnam Re Not all Trumps fans are in the same basket (Aug. 21): In your letters to the editor, Robert Stewart called President Trump a coward for not fighting for his country. I was in the generation called to fight in Vietnam. My friends and classmates who went came home bitter, wounded or dead. The Vietnam War was declared Unwinnable in February of 1968 but the U.S. remained there for seven more years. But how the returning soldiers were treated when they came home will be a disgrace to America for 100 years. Those veterans were insulted, spit on and did not wear their uniforms in public when they returned for fear of more insulting confrontations. Participation in the Vietnam War was to be avoided if at all possible. Unfortunately for many avoidance was impossible. Duane Bowen Clairemont 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. Theres something you should know about the undergraduates who will flood San Diego Countys major universities this fall: comparatively few of them are millennials. The schools are welcoming a new generation of students digital natives who are temperamentally different than their predecessors. Theyre informally known as Generation Z. Here are answers to some questions you may have about this historical generational shift, which is a primary focus on todays cover story on the state of higher education. Q: Gen Z students began showing up on campus a few years ago. Why are you just highlighting them now? Advertisement A: Im on campuses a lot. But Im usually there to cover science stories, not undergraduates. I also dont have children, so that makes me even more out-of-touch. I mostly overlooked this generational change until I heard San Diego State University psychologist Jean Twenge talk about it recently on National Public Radio. Twenge has been analyzing generational shifts for 25 years, and she has a gift for clearly explaining whats going on. Some of you may have read her 2017 book, iGen: Why Todays Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood and What That Means for the Rest of Us. Twenge prefers to call this generation iGen, short for Internet Generation. As she says in her book, these people grew up with cell phones, had an Instagram page before they started high school, and do not remember a time before the Internet. Scientists have yet to agree on what to call this new generation, which is another reason many of us simply havent picked up on whats going on. Gen Z isnt a very catchy name. Neither is iGen. I think we should call them the Will You Please Put Down Your Smartphone And Look At Me generation. Q: How are these newcomers different than millennials. A: Broadly speaking, the Gen Zs or the iGen-ers are less independent, less self-confident and less optimistic than millennials. They are also in less of a hurry to move from adolescence to adulthood. That doesnt mean they wont speak their minds, or become great achievers. Theyre already pressing universities to offer more hands-on, experiential learning. They want professors who are facilitators rather than pontificaters. Q: Do you think universities will respond? A: Probably not as fast or thoroughly as the new generation wants. At least not in the near term. Universities are famously slow to change. UC San Diego advertises itself as a non-traditional university. Its actually very traditional. Its scientists helped create many of the digital devices we use today. But UC San Diego is strongly resisting student demand for online courses that lead to degrees. It feels like students are changing much faster than the universities that serve them. Q: What was the most interesting thing that you learned about this new generation of students? A: Canadian researchers did a study that suggests that members of this new generation have an attention span of roughly eight seconds. Thats supposedly one second shorter than the attention span of a goldfish. If thats true, well, imagine the consequences for higher education. Q: Is this driving faculty members crazy? A: Oh, that started long ago. I was on sabbatical during the 2000-01 academic year and got to audit a large lecture class at Harvard that was taught by famed evolutionary biologist Stephen Jay Gould. He hated distractions. During one class, a students cell phone went off. It played a snippet of classical music rather than a ring tone. Gould turned on his heels, pointed at the student, identified the piece of music, then said, Get out! Down from 100 horses in years past to about 70 in his current row of barns at Del Mar, trainer John Sadler isnt working any less. Hes working happier. In fact, hes got everybody in his crew getting up earlier than ever before to prepare for the day. The efforts are organized, focused. Im so excited to go to work, Sadler said late on Saturday afternoon, well past the 12-hour mark of his day. Its easy for me to come to work with these nice horses in the barn. With three training titles at Del Mar in his career, Sadler has put together some quality strings of horses, but this years talent is decidedly top heavy, and arguably the conditioners best ever here. Advertisement A week after Accelerate thrashed all competitors in the meets premier race, the Pacific Classic, Sadler was standing in the winners circle with the 4-year-old colt that has clearly become his 1A. After half the field ducked out through scratches from the Grade II $200,000 Pat OBrien Stakes, Catalina Cruiser basically toyed with the three horses who were left, and jockey Drayden Van Dyke used his whip just once over 7 furlongs in a 7-length victory. Battle of Midway coming out of retirement for Jerry Hollenderorfer in his first race since capturing the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile last November put in a game effort to finish second. He is something, Van Dyke said of Catalina Cruiser. I said he was one of the best horses Ive ever been on. He just might be the best. As expected, Roy H and Ransom the Moon were scratched, along with two Sadler trainees, Horse Greedy and St. Joe Bay. The win, worth $120,000, backed up Catalina Cruisers victory in the San Diego Handicap and now gives him four wins in as many career starts. It also earned him an all-expenses-paid trip to the Breeders Cup for the Dirt Mile. Accelerate is headed for the BC Classic. Im just really excited, Sadler said. I feel like now weve got a lot of planning to do for the Breeders Cup. Im trying to blank that out for today and well start the process for that tomorrow. The summer has been like few others for Sadler. His seven stakes victories are one shy of his all-time best here in 2008. Sadler expects to have four more stakes starters, including True Royalty (10-1 in the morning line) in Sundays Grade III Torrey Pines Stakes. Sadler cant reach Bob Bafferts phenomenal all-time Del Mar record of 13 stakes wins in 2000. Ive had great horses in the past, but youre younger, Sadler, 62, said. As a veteran trainer, it feels really good. There are others contributing to the Sadler wave. Hronis Racing, which owns Accelerate and Catalina Cruiser, has five stakes wins this summer. And Van Dyke has a meet-leading eight stakes victories and owns the jockey lead in total wins with 30 four better than Flavien Prat. Tatters to Riches wins Trainer Jeff Mullins admits that its been an unnerving time getting Tatters to Riches back into racing after nearly a year off due to a bone chip in his ankle. The concerns were warranted, but the results are proving they were for naught. Racing for the second time in less than a month, Tatters to Riches ($4.40) and jockey Tyler Baze notched a comfortable win in the $100,000 Shared Belief Stakes over 1 mile on the dirt. The 3-year-old colt, owned by Red Barons Barn and Rancho Temescal, made his comeback in a Del Mar allowance race on Aug. 4 and won. Before that, his last result was a sixth in the Del Mar Futurity last September. Its a feeling of accomplishment and relief, said Mullins, who won his second Shared Belief and 20th stakes overall at Del Mar. A horse coming off that long a layoff and running twice in 23 days is a little worrisome. But hopefully he comes out of it OK and we can map out his next spot. Notable One Pick Six ticket, purchased through Twin Spires for $540, paid $130,850. Among the days winners was a 70-1 As a Rule ($145.80) in the fifth race. Sports Videos tod.leonard@sduniontribune.com; Twitter: @sdutleonard Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Press Release August 24, 2018 Legarda: PHL Pavilion Takes Part in 'Meetings on Architecture' of Venice Biennale The Philippine Pavilion for the 16th Venice Architecture Biennale, has further expounded on its exhibition through its participation in the "Meetings on Architecture" Program of La Biennale di Venezia, said Senator Loren Legarda, the prime mover of the country's return to the Venice Biennale. Philippine Pavilion curator Edson Cabalfin led the collateral event "Exhibiting Architecture: Display in the Age of the Postcolonial and Neoliberal", which was chosen by the 16th Biennale Architettura curators Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara to be part of the "Meetings on Architecture"--an avenue to articulate diverse responses and interpretations of the FREESPACE Manifesto, while also providing a platform to hear from the many emerging and established voices presented in the International Exhibition. In the Philippine Pavilion's activity, which was held on August 24 at the Teatro alle Tese in the Arsenale, Cabalfin lectured on the relationship between architectural representation and the idea of nation by investigating how the Philippines was represented in international expositions during the colonial and post-colonial periods. Lisa Ito-Tapang, an independent curator, cultural worker and writer, and Yason Banal, Philippine Pavilion artist, also took part in the activity. Ito-Tapang's lecture, Spatial Reclamation as Resistance, presented two sites of grassroots struggle in the Philippines: the urban poor's occupation of idle public housing lots in Bulacan and the institution and defense of a rural school for the lumad indigenous peoples in Surigao del Sur. Meanwhile, Banal's talk engaged in the thematic of the two navels of post colonialism and neoliberalism in the wider context of the Biennale's theme of Freespace by exploring intersections and refractions of systems around architecture's owned nuanced network, abstract mechanism, and stylistic effect, reading architecture not only as a built and visual environment but also as a conceptual design and a coded translation of power, identity, market and affect. Marlon Fuentes also presented his film, Bontoc Eulogy, which centers on the story about a Filipino's search for his grandfather who was exhibited as an anthropological specimen at the 1904 World's Fair held in St. Louis, Missouri. The film draws its inspiration and interest on historical events, but is cleverly crafted from facts, subtle half-truths, and downright obvious falsehoods. Fuentes uses that portion of history he refurbished as a springboard for his discussion on his own fractured identity as a Filipino. "Exhibiting Architecture: Display in the Age of the Postcolonial and Neoliberal" will also be mounted at the Philippine Consulate Office in Milan, Italy on August 25 and at Fava Church in Venice on August 26. This is a collateral event of the Philippine Pavilion whose exhibition, The City Who Had Two Navels, is presented at the Artiglierie of the Arsenale in Venice. Legarda, the visionary behind the Philippines' return to the Venice Biennale in 2015 after 51 years of absence, said that the Philippine Pavilion's participation in the Meetings on Architecture allows the country to further contribute to the global dialogue on art and culture. "Our presence in the Venice Biennale gives us the opportunity to be part of the discussion on global truths presented through art and architecture, while also sharing the realities of our nation. Through this collateral event, we are able to engage more people into knowing and understanding our culture. What we present through the Philippine Pavilion sparks lengthy and complex conversations, and that is how we sustain interest in art and culture," said Legarda. The Philippine Pavilion, a joint project of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, is open to the public until November 25, 2018 at the Artiglierie, Arsenale, Venice, Italy. Press Release August 25, 2018 Senate should look into delay of Free Irrigation Law's IRR - De Lima Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has called for a Senate inquiry into the delay in the issuance of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the Free Irrigation Service Act which, among others, would accelerate the country's rice production. De Lima filed Senate Resolution (SR) No. 853 directing the appropriate Senate committee to find out what is keeping the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agency, the National Irrigation Authority (NIA), from promulgating the IRR. "The lack of IRR for the Free Irrigation Service Act has caused delays and unevenness in its implementation, with some regions voluntarily implementing it in spite of the absence of the IRR," she said. "The absence of the IRR also makes the law susceptible to partisan politics as well as any and all manners of politicking by various interest groups and individuals, there being no clear instructions and standards as to the implementation," she added. After it lapsed into law last Jan. 19, Duterte signed Republic Act 10969, also known as the Free Irrigation Service Act, exempting farmers with up to 8 hectares of land from paying irrigation service fees for water from national and communal irrigation systems. Once fully implemented, the Free Irrigation Service Act also condones all previously unpaid irrigation fees of farmers to NIA, benefitting approximately 98 percent of the total farmer population in the country - or about three million farmers. However, the Kilusan ng Magbubukid ng Pilipinas has questioned the DA and NIA for exacting these irrigations fees from farmers pending the issuance of the IRR which was supposed to be promulgated three months since the enactment of the law. In Cordillera, some 14,366 farmers have had their loans condoned in spite of the absence of IRR. Some PhP390 million in loans and unpaid fees of farmers from 1993 to 2017 were condoned as a result of the passage of the law. De Lima, who chairs the Senate committee on social justice, welfare and rural development, underscored the need to urgently determine the cause for delay, as well as the corresponding accountability for said delay, in the promulgation of the IRR. "This can also cause confusion on the farmers' end as they may lack the proper procedural knowledge to exact accountability from the State and its constitutive agencies for the benefits as provided for in the Act," she said. "The failure to promulgate the IRR can lead to the outright neglect of the State with its mandate as primary duty-bearer to provide for its intended beneficiaries altogether," she added. The Senator from Bicol also pointed out that the continued failure of the NIA to issue the corresponding IRR of the law "constitutes dereliction of duty on the part of the NIA as the primary implementing agency." Official figures showed that farmers, as a whole, are considered as one of the most impoverished sectors in Philippine society, recording a poverty incidence of 34.3 percent in 2015. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, farmers have been consistently more impoverished than the average Filipino and are thus relegated to the margins of society as members of the poorest of the poor. Press Release August 25, 2018 On her 2nd birthday in unjust detention, De Lima launches 2nd book To mark her 2nd birthday in detention, Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima will launch her 2nd book which she dedicates to the Filipino people who believe in her innocence despite the trumped-up charges hurled against her. Her second book will be formally released on the eve of her 59th birthday on Aug. 26 (Sunday) to be attended by former colleagues, relatives, supporters, and fellow human rights advocates. The book, entitled "Fight for Freedom and Other Writings," contains a collection of writings, speeches, letters and notes about De Lima and her quest for freedom, which she and other prominent personalities supportive of her plight wrote. "To my oppressors, jailing me despite my innocence is your burden to keep. To the Filipino people: No matter the persecution, I will never stop fighting. [This book] is dedicated to family, friends, and supporters who cry out for my freedom," she said in the book's dedication. It is the second time for De Lima to publish her book, the first time was on Feb. 24, 2018 to mark her first year in detention. Her 1st book entitled "Dispatches from Crame I" contains a selection of more than 100 of her handwritten statements from her detention at the Philippine National Police-Custodial Center, Camp Crame, Quezon City. Although she has no access to any electronic gadget and communication device, De Lima continues to write about her views and stands on significant societal and political issues, including her reflections about her life behind bars. While De Lima remains unjustly detained, known personalities who vouch for her integrity continue to share their reflections about the Senator's continued unjust detention and how her situation truly inspires hope, through their writings. As such, speeches and messages of solidarity for De Lima written by the likes of Vice President Leni Robredo, former Hong Kong Legislative Council Member Emily Lau, Liberal International President Juli Minoves, and columnists Solita Collas-Monsod, Vergel Santos and John Nery, among others, were included in the book. "Fight for Freedom and Other Writings" also carries words of support from known Hong-kong based professor James Rice, who believes that the Senator deserves the respect and recognition of her fellow Filipinos and citizens abroad. Former president Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, who wrote the book's foreword, said that "Fight for Freedom and Other Writings" "puts on the record what [De Lima] has gone through, and how her rights have been trampled upon in the year and a half the she has been unjustly incarcerated." "As it stands, this collection sends a clear message: If injustice could be done to Leila, a sitting senator, injustice could be done to anyone. One therefore is challenged to make a personal inquiry: What could I do; and if I have done something, is it enough?" Aquino said. "Fight for Freedom and Other Writings" is divided into five parts, namely, "From My Desk," "Freedom Fighters," Standing by My Innocence," Voices of Hope," and "Truth be Told." The cover of the book shows a smiling De Lima, a 2018 Prize of Freedom Awardee, flashing her signature hand sign and donning her remarkable blue scarf. De Lima remains detained inside the national police headquarters in Camp Crame over bogus illegal drug trade charges based on fabricated testimonies by convicted felons. She is expected to celebrate her birthday in detention for the second time on Aug. 27. Press Release August 25, 2018 Villanueva: Tech-voc carries full potential to deliver more, better jobs In celebration of National Tech-voc Day in accordance with Republic Act No. 10970 declaring August 25 of every year as National Tech-Voc Day, Senator Joel Villanueva emphasized how the observance of the said occasion paves the way in uplifting the dignity of blue-collar workers. Villanueva, principal author and sponsor of the law, reiterated the importance of promoting tech-voc in the creation of more jobs and in achieving inclusive growth and sustainable development. "Today, we give recognition to our tech-voc graduates and skilled workers who are living proof that there is hope and success in the field of tech-voc. Our Filipino skilled workers have consistently shown themselves that we are employable, competitive, and world-class," Villanueva said. The senator, however, lamented the current perception on tech-voc as a "second-rate" profession. "It is possible to change this perception because more and more Filipinos see that blue-collar jobs offer some real advantages, there are jobs available for tech-voc graduates and oftentimes the pay is even greater than white collar work," Villanueva shared. The senator said that through an effective information campaign, expansion of scholarship programs at the barangay level, private sector engagement, quality-assured systems, together with the implementation of the Philippine Qualifications Framework or PQF, more Filipinos will change their outlook about tech-voc. "It is very clear to us that tech-voc plays a key role in realizing both universal right to education and to work, people-oriented and socially responsible community, and the full potential to deliver more and better jobs. However, many challenges will persist if the "tech-voc lang" mentality remains," Villanueva further noted. "We are one with the tech-voc sector in celebrating a special day that recognizes the hard work, challenges, and successes of our Filipino skilled workers and graduates. Thank you for being our source of pride and inspiration. Mabuhay po kayo!" Press Release August 26, 2018 De Lima's birthday wish: More fortitude to defy oppressors As she turns a year older this Aug. 27, Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima said she only wishes to have more fortitude to continue leading the fight against the injustices happening under the present administration and in resisting the lies being peddled by some sinister quarters. De Lima made the statement ahead of her 59th birthday, which she will be celebrating for the second time in detention. "My birthday wish is to have more fortitude to keep defying and resisting my oppressors," she said from her detention at the Philippine National Police - Custodial Center, Camp Crame, Quezon City. "I also wish for more fortitude to keep fighting the injustices done not only to me but also to others. And more fortitude to carry on the torch of hope for my family, my staff and supporters," she added. This year, De Lima will celebrate her birthday in a simple gathering to be attended by some close friends, colleagues from the government, staff members and families. Last year, she celebrated her birthday in detention, which was marked by a simple lunch and a Thanksgiving Mass officiated by Dagupan Bishop Socrates Villegas, along with Fathers Albert Alejo, Robert Reyes, Hector Canon and Flavie Villanueva. On her birthday last year, the former chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights wished for vindication and freedom from all the trumped-up drug charges filed against her by the vindictive Duterte administration. "Tulad ng nauna ko nang nabanggit, ang birthday wish ko po: vindication. Paglaya hindi lamang mula sa di-makatarungang pagpapakulong sa akin ng rehimeng Duterte, kundi pati na rin ang paglaya mula sa mga kasinungalingan at paninira sa aking pagkababae at pagkatao," she said in Dispatch from Crame No. 143. "Gusto ko pong malinis ang pangalan ko, hindi lang para sa aking sarili. Para ito sa aking pamilya--sa aking ama at ina, na pinalaki kaming magkakapatid nang marangal. Para ito sa aking mga anak at mga apo, at sa kanilang magiging pamilya," she added. While De Lima has yet to be vindicated from all the bogus accusations against her, she nevertheless continues to reap international awards and recognitions for her unwavering fight for justice, human rights and the rule of law without being cowed. Interestingly, De Lima will launch her 2nd book entitled "Fight for Freedom and Other Writings" to mark her 2nd birthday in detention on Aug. 26. "Fight for Freedom and Other Writings" contains a collection of writings, speeches, letters and notes about De Lima and her quest for freedom that mirror her experience as the first prominent political prisoner under the Duterte regime. The book carries the foreword by former president Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and statements and messages of support from prominent personalities including Vice President Leni Robredo, former Hong Kong Legislative Council Member Emily Lau and Liberal International President Juli Minoves, to name a few. Even in detention, De Lima remains the staunchest critic of the government's all-out war on drugs despite deliberate efforts to harass and silence her from speaking out against the rampant human rights violations in the country. Press Release August 26, 2018 Gatchalian: Energy reforms needed to pacify rising consumer discontent Senator Win Gatchalian is calling for the swift implementation of energy sector reforms amid growing consumer uproar over high electricity rates in the country. Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, made the call in response to a recent Pulse Asia Survey poll which revealed that 60 percent of Filipinos were dissatisfied with current electricity prices. Metro Manila recorded the highest dissatisfaction rate, with 84 percent expressing their discontent, according to the survey firm. "The people need immediate respite from all these back-breaking commodity price increases, especially when it comes to their monthly electricity bills. The government must act quickly to institute pro-consumer reforms that will produce energy savings for Filipino households," Gatchalian said. The senator pointed to three primary reasons why electricity rates in the country are some of the highest across the region: bureaucratic inefficiencies that drives away potential investors; the lack of competition and transparency in power supply contracting; and the rising stranded contract costs and stranded debt left behind by the National Power Corporation (Napocor). To solve these issues, Gatchalian urged his colleagues in both chambers of Congress to expedite the passage of three energy-related measures which could save consumers as much as 1.85 per kilowatt hour if they are enacted into law, thus resulting in overall savings of 370 per month and 4,440 per year for a household consuming 200 kWh per month. The first measure, the Energy Virtual One Stop Shop (EVOSS) Act of 2017 (Senate Bill No. 1439), seeks to cut pervasive red tape in the permitting process of new power generation projects. EVOSS now remains pending in the House of Representatives after the Senate approved it on third reading last year. Meanwhile, the Murang Kuryente Act, a measure based on a bill authored by Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, proposes to use the 207-billion Malampaya Fund to pay the stranded contract costs and stranded debt of Napocor. Gatchalian explained that since these obligations are passed on to consumers through the universal charge in the monthly electric bill, applying the fund to pay these debts could save consumers more than 0.55 per kWh. The senator is scheduled to sponsor the measure on the Senate floor on Tuesday, August 28. Meanwhile, Senate Bill No. 1653 or the Competitive Selection Process (CSP) Act seeks to foster transparency and competition in power supply contracting by requiring all generation contracts to undergo open bidding. Through this, Gatchalian said it would be possible to "discover the real cost of electricity in order to get the lowest price for the benefit of the consumers." The measure is currently in the period of amendments. "I urge my colleagues in both chambers of Congress to prioritize the passage of these measures in order to provide relief to power consumers who have been burdened by exorbitantly high electricity rates for far too long," Gatchalian said. Chorus profit fell 24 percent as the telecommunications network operator slowed the number of customers switching to different providers or technologies in an increasingly competitive market. Net profit dropped to $85 million in the year ended June 30 from $113 million a year earlier, the Wellington-based company said in a statement. Still, that was a smaller decline than in the first half, and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of $653 million were at the top end of the company's guidance, pipping forecasts from First NZ Capital and Forsyth Barr analysts. Revenue slipped 4.8 percent to $990 million. "Investing to promote better broadband that's already available to many New Zealanders - our role as an active wholesaler - has succeeded in slowing the pace of connection decline," chief executive Kate McKenzie said. "Continuing competition from wireless and other fibre networks saw our total fixed line connections reduce, but the pace reduced considerably with 76,000 connections lost compared to 125,000 last year." Chorus increased marketing efforts in response to Spark New Zealand pushing its own hybrid wireless technology as an alternative to the network operator's copper lines. At the same time, the state-sponsored ultrafast broadband network roll-out has continued at pace and customers outside Chorus's catchments have switched services to their local fibre companies to access the newer technology. That fightback was successful with Spark converting fewer customers to wireless than expected in the six months through June. Chorus's June quarter connection numbers were ahead of analysts' expectations. Chorus's fixed line connections shrank 5 percent to 1.53 million, while broadband connections edged up by 1,000 to 1.19 million. The network operator expects a small decline in earnings for the 2019 financial year in what's seen as the peak year for the fibre roll-out. It forecasts ebitda of $625 million to $645 million, before returning to modest ebitda growth the following year. That forecast includes $10 million-to-$15 million of spending on innovation, regulatory processes, branding, and other one-off transformation costs, it said. "Our return to broadband connection growth in FY18, together with strong forecasts for urban housing development and underlying broadband trends, such as fibre uptake and the demand for streamed video content, give us added confidence in our strategy," McKenzie said. The network operator's capital expenditure was $810 million in the year ended June 30, of which $620 million was on the fibre roll-out. Chorus anticipates capex of $820 million to $860 million in the coming year, with fibre accounting for $660 million to $690 million of that spending. The board declared a final dividend of 13 cents per share, to be paid on Oct. 9 to shareholders registered on Sept. 25. That takes the annual return to 22 cents, and Chorus expects to pay dividends of 23 cents per share in the coming year. The shares last traded at $4.41 and have risen 5 percent so far this year. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. 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The US president returned to the topic on Friday with a tweet saying: "Social Media Giants are silencing millions of people... People have to figure out what is real, and what is not, without censorship!" The comments marked the second time in a week Trump has attacked tech platforms over alleged political bias. Days earlier, he tweeted that "Social Media is totally discriminating against Republican/Conservative voices. Speaking loudly and clearly for the Trump Administration, we won't let that happen." Both Twitter and Facebook deny bias in policing their platforms, and various studies suggest conservatives are thriving on social media. Still, a Pew Research Center survey released in June found 43 percent of Americans think major technology firms support the views of liberals over conservatives, and 72 percent accepted the idea that social media platforms actively censor opposing political views. Among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, a whopping 85 percent said they think social media sites intentionally censor political viewpoints, Pew found. The blocking of Alex Jones, who operates the conspiracy theory site Infowars, has given ammunition to those claiming motivations behind bans. And on Friday, a US House committee announced that Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and other tech executives will appear before a panel on September 5. Dorsey acknowledged in a recent CNN interview that the company's bias "is more left-leaning" but that this is not reflected on the platform. "The real question behind the question is, are we doing something according to political ideology or viewpoints? And we are not. Period," Dorsey said. - 'Game the refs' - According to Angelo Carusone, president of the left-leaning media watchdog group Media Matters for America, conservatives are railing at social media firms "to game the refs," and put more pressure on the platforms. Carusone said this strategy worked in 2016 when Facebook "essentially fell for a fake news story" after claims of bias against conservatives and eliminated its "trending topics" section. Social media firms are to blame in part, because "in an attempt to mollify their right wing critics they have reinforced and validated the critiques even though they are baseless," he said. Carusone said a study by his group and another by the social media monitoring firm NewsWhip found no systematic bias on tech platforms and concluded that conservatives had substantial presence on tech platforms. But the loud complaints from the president and his supports can still influence public opinion even if the claims are untrue, notes Jeff Hemsley, a Syracuse University professor of information studies. "Conservatives have long held the view that all media is liberal, so this is an old complaint they're now applying to social media," Hemsley said. - Algorithms, legal questions - Complicating the debate is how social media feeds are organized by algorithms based on user profiles. While some users might claim bias, "the algorithms take into account your interests, your habits and those collectively can influence what you see," said Liz Woolery, a policy analyst at the Washington-based Center for Democracy and Technology. Trump's assault however raises of host of legal and political issues about the rights and obligations of social media platforms. As private entities, they can set their own terms. If they are not public spaces they can't be accused of censorship. Conversely, the president's threats could be viewed as an infringement of the constitutional rights of the companies, legal scholars say. "Even if social media providers were biased against conservatives (and there is no evidence to support this), they would be fully permitted to do so -- just like the constitution protects Fox News's or Breitbart's strong editorial biases," Eric Goldman, co-director of the High-Tech Law Institute at Santa Clara University, said in a blog post. "As a result, any action Trump might take against social media providers would be clearly and unambiguously unconstitutional." Still, social media firms could face pressure from the unrelenting attacks by the president, said Hemsley. "I'm not sure the president has much legal recourse but I wouldn't put it past this administration to try to institute laws that give the government more control over media in general and that includes social media," said Hemsley. Dannagal Young, a University of Delaware communications professor, said the various political factions have differing views on bias and freedom of speech. "Liberals want social media to protect vulnerable communities from harmful speech and conservatives want the freedom to say the things they want to say," Young said. Woolery said one concern is that the pressure may prompt companies to take action rashly. She noted that Facebook's curbs on political ads, for example, have impacted many users with no political agenda because of how the policy is being enforced. "These companies are being told to do something, to do anything," she said. "They must be careful it doesn't create more problems down the road." Iraqi grandmother faces daily battle caring for 22 children Mosul, Iraq, Aug 26 (AFP) Aug 26, 2018 More than a year since the Islamic State group's expulsion from Mosul, Sana Ibrahim bears daily hardship to look after her 22 grandchildren, after losing five family members during the jihadists' occupation of the Iraqi city. Dressed in a long black robe, 61-year-old Sana never seems to stop. She is surrounded by children -- little girls with pigtails and little boys in colourful t-shirts, the youngest of whom is just two years old. She also cares for her 71-year-old husband, Mowafaq Hamid, who has Alzheimer's disease. Sana's greatest challenge is finding enough food for the household, which in total comprises 32 people. During the jihadists' three-year rule of Mosul, her sons Fares and Ghazwan were abducted by the Islamic State group, along with her son-in-law Massud. The men were members of the security forces and considered "apostates" by IS. The group probably killed them, says Sana, who hopes one day to find their bodies. Throughout the IS occupation, hundreds of government soldiers and police officers were kidnapped and executed by the jihadists, their bodies dumped in mass graves around the northern city. Iraqi forces launched an offensive in 2016 to retake Mosul, prompting a months-long battle into the heart of the city which culminated in the jihadists' ouster in July 2017. Two of Sana's other children were killed in the battle. Her 20-year-old son Youssef and her daughter Nour, 18, were shot by snipers as they tried to flee their longtime home in the Old City. - Living on donations - The historic district of western Mosul was devastated in the fighting. Sana and her family had to rush to find a new place to live after their home was destroyed. They moved to the eastern part of the city, paying 500,000 dinars ($430) a month to rent a house where they squeeze into a 150 square metre (1,600 sq foot) space. Paying the rent is a struggle for Sana, whose four surviving children are all unemployed. "We live thanks to the donations of charitable souls in Mosul. Without them we would have already have died from hunger and illness," she said. During AFP's visit, one such benefactor appeared bearing bags of clothes and food. The civil servant said she gives part of her monthly salary and that of her son to help struggling families. She is far from the only one to help, said Sana as she separated two squabbling grandchildren and cleaned the face of a third. In the small kitchen behind Sana, her youngest son's wife was busy preparing food for the increasingly impatient children. - Future hopes - Despite her busy daily life, Sana was clear when asked about her hopes for the future. She wants her grandchildren "to study so that they can find good jobs and can get by," she added. "I don't want them to beg on the streets like many other orphans." In the absence of official statistics, non-governmental organisations have estimated there are more than 3,000 orphans in Mosul. Sana is already "very proud" of her grandchildren who are old enough to attend school, all of whom passed their end-of-year exams. Ahead of the new academic year, 12-year-old Iman was enthusiastic about returning to the classroom. "At the moment I'm at secondary school, but I want to continue my studies," she said, as her grandmother looked on. "I will go to university and become a doctor." Iran defence minister in Damascus, says will help rebuild Syria Damascus, Aug 26 (AFP) Aug 26, 2018 Iran's top defence official met with his Syrian counterpart in Damascus on Sunday, hailing their strong ties and pledging to play a role in the war-torn country's reconstruction. Tehran has provided steady political, financial, and military backing to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as he has fought back a seven-year uprising. On Sunday, Iranian Defence Minister Amir Hatami arrived in Syria for a two-day visit and met his Syrian counterpart Abdullah Ayoub. "Syria is in a very, very important juncture. It is passing through the critical stage and it is entering the very important stage of reconstruction," said Hatami, in comments carried by Iranian state broadcaster IRIB. He said it was agreed with Syria that Iran would have "presence, participation and assistance" in reconstruction "and no third party will be influential in this issue." Since it erupted in 2011, Syria's war has cost it approximately $388 billion (334 billion euros), according to the United Nations' Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). Assad last month said reconstruction was his "top priority" in Syria, where more than 350,000 people have been killed and millions forced to flee their homes. World powers who long called for his ouster insist reconstruction aid should only come with political transition, but fellow regime ally Russia is pressing them to provide support. Ayoub, in comments carried by Syrian state media, championed the two countries' special relationship. "Syrian-Iranian relations are a model for bilateral ties between independent and sovereign nations," Ayoub said. The two countries have had strong ties for years. Iran has dispatched military forces to Syria but insists they are advisors, not fighters. Iran-backed militias, including the powerful Lebanese Hezbollah movement, have also backed Assad's troops. With help from them and Russian warplanes, Assad has recaptured around two-thirds of the country and is now eyeing the northwest province of Idlib. "Idlib will return to the nation's bosom, and all Syrian soil will be cleansed of terrorism, either through reconciliation or ground operations," Ayoub said on Sunday. He also slammed the United States, which has established military bases in Syria to fight the Islamic State group. "The Americans are looking for a way to stay east of the Euphrates River to lock in their presence in this region," said Ayoub. The comments came a day after a senior US diplomat, ambassador William Roebuck, visited territory around those bases and said the US was "prepared to stay" in Syria to defeat IS, but was also "focused" on ousting Iran. According to Al-Watan, a Syrian daily close to the government, Hatami arrived with an Iranian military delegation and is expected to meet Assad during the trip. Iran defence minister in Damascus, says will help rebuild Syria Damascus, Aug 26 (AFP) Aug 26, 2018 Iran's top defence official met Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and its defence minister on Sunday in Damascus, hailing their strong ties and pledging to contribute to the war-torn country's reconstruction. Tehran has provided steady political, financial, and military backing to Assad as he has fought back a seven-year uprising. On Sunday, Iranian Defence Minister Amir Hatami arrived in Syria and met with his Syrian counterpart Abdullah Ayoub, then with Assad. "Syria is in a very, very important juncture. It is passing through the critical stage and it is entering the very important stage of reconstruction," said Hatami, in comments carried by Iranian state broadcaster IRIB. He said it was agreed with Syria that Iran would have "presence, participation and assistance" in reconstruction "and no third party will be influential in this issue." Since it erupted in 2011, Syria's war has cost it approximately $388 billion (334 billion euros), according to the United Nations' Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). Assad last month said reconstruction was his "top priority" in Syria, where more than 350,000 people have been killed and millions forced to flee their homes. World powers who long called for his ouster insist reconstruction aid should only come with political transition, but fellow regime ally Russia is pressing them to provide support. According to comments carried by state media, Assad told Hatami that Damascus and Tehran should set "long-term cooperation plans." Minister Ayoub also championed the two countries' special relationship on Sunday. "Syrian-Iranian relations are a model for bilateral ties between independent and sovereign nations," Ayoub said. The two countries have had strong ties for years. Iran has dispatched military forces to Syria but insists they are advisors, not fighters. Iran-backed militias, including the powerful Lebanese Hezbollah movement, have also backed Assad's troops. With help from them and Russian warplanes, Assad has recaptured around two-thirds of the country and is now eyeing the northwest province of Idlib. "Idlib will return to the nation's bosom, and all Syrian soil will be cleansed of terrorism, either through reconciliation or ground operations," Ayoub said on Sunday. He also slammed the United States, which has established military bases in Syria to fight the Islamic State group. "The Americans are looking for a way to stay east of the Euphrates River to lock in their presence in this region," said Ayoub. The comments came a day after a senior US diplomat, ambassador William Roebuck, visited territory around those bases and said the US was "prepared to stay" in Syria to defeat IS, but was also "focused" on ousting Iran. Dakhla (refugee camps) August 26, 2018 (SPS) - The Third International Conference of Solidarity with the Saharawi Students held Saturday in Dakhla, refugee camps, under the theme "the respect of international law for the liberation of the last colony in Africa" called for the intervention of the international community to put an end to the suffering of the Sahrawi people by enabling them to exercise their right to self-determination. The conference appealed in particular to the United Nations and the Security Council to expedite the implementation of resolutions and recommendations related to the Western Sahara conflict in order to organize a free, democratic and fair referendum in which the Sahrawi people freely decide their destiny. It praised the endurance and resistance of the Sahrawi people in their struggle for their right to self-determination and independence. The conference called for the need to protect human rights in the occupied territories of Western Sahara and to monitor and report on them, stop the illegal looting of the natural resources of the territory, and dismantle the Moroccan military wall that represents a crime against humanity. The Third International Conference of Solidarity with Saharawi Students was attended by delegations from Algeria, Spain, Cuba, Mauritania, Norway and Namibia. (SPS) 062/SPS/TRA In mid-2018 the United States began mass production of a much delayed and now much-needed upgrade of its JCREW (Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare) devices that prevent most wireless bombs from detonating. The $100 million contract covers production through 2020. This will equip American forces overseas as well as those of some allies. A 2011 plan to upgrade the JCREW jammers, which are essential for disabling IEDs (improvised explosive devices) detonated wirelessly was finally completed in late 2017. This update was underway since 2011 but was delayed because, well, because of a lot of things. One of these was the appearance of ISIL and the continued popularity of terrorists using remotely detonated bombs. These jammers were very popular after 2001 when remotely detonated bombs became more common because so many new commercial wireless devices were on the market and easily obtained by Islamic terrorist bomb builders. By 2011 JCREW 3.1 was recognized as a major improvement in jammer design because it enabled the users to easily add new frequencies to jam and was available in several versions. This included one that could be carried by foot patrols. More upgrades had been ordered but by 2013 it was obvious that work on completing and delivering JCREW 3.3 was in trouble. The situation was so bad that the project was assigned to another company. By 2017 that second development effort apparently succeeded and JCREW 3.3 went into production. Details of what caused the delays are kept secret as are details of how 3.3 works internally. This is standard for electronic weapons that the enemy is constantly trying to duplicate or work around. All that is known about 3.3 is that it is even easier and quicker to upgrade to add or delete frequencies as well exactly when certain frequencies are employed. JCREW 3.1 arrived in 2011 after the United States had spent eight years (since 2003) and $17 billion to reduce the effectiveness of IEDs, especially roadside bombs. By 2011 that effort could be considered a qualified success but the enemy kept adapting so IEDs still inflicted casualties. IEDs had been around for over a century but had become much more frequently encountered decade by decade. For example, in Vietnam (1961-72) only 14 percent of combat deaths were from IEDs (especially roadside bombs), compared to 50-60 percent in Iraq and Afghanistan. That was mainly because U.S. combat troops were a lot more deadly and the Iraqis and Afghans found that fighting the Americans directly was suicidal. So the roadside bombs and suicide bombs were seen as a more viable approach. But the Americans responded with several generations of jammers that have made IEDs more difficult and risky to use. There were also new training and road security techniques developed along with computer simulators so troops could practice under realistic conditions without getting killed. Meanwhile, the enemy adapted. By 2011 most roadside bombs in Afghanistan used pressure plates or wire controlled devices to detonate these weapons because American jamming technology has made wireless detonation of the bombs so difficult. The Taliban had another advantage in that there was not a lot of old artillery ammo to use for bombs, so they had to use fertilizer bombs and all sorts of improvisations that created new and unfamiliar (to the Americans) IED designs, that negated some of the techniques developed for Iraq. Still, the roadside bombs remained a last-ditch weapon of terrorists who had no other alternatives. By 2011 the U.S. Department of Defense had developed a third generation of jammers, to make sure the terrorists had to rely on less effective means of detonating their bombs for the foreseeable future. There was also an effort to make the jammers capable of collecting and analyzing electronic information (to locate the terrorists) or even prematurely detonate some bombs. It is believed that some of these requested features are what derailed and delayed the completion of JCREW 3.3. Nevertheless, JCREW 3.1 was adequate for troop needs. That was because since 2003 the developers had all the money they needed as long as they came up with and shipped solutions as quickly as possible. There was a war on and peacetime delays and mucking about were not an option. For example in 2006 a major jammer innovation entered service as the JCREW dismounted (wearable) jammer. These cost about $99,000 each and had been frequently requested as soon as vehicle-mounted jammers became available. The wearable JCREW jammers are more useful in Afghanistan, where more of the patrolling is on foot. Since 2006 the wearable JCREW jammers had gotten lighter, more reliable and more capable. But after 2011 additional capabilities proved difficult to implement and getting from JCREW 3.1 to 3.3 took a lot longer and cost a lot more to develop and get into production. JCREW began as a further development of the first jammer, the 2003 Warlock, which was not for the foot soldier and mounted in vehicles. The jammers quickly went through many revisions, mainly to add more frequencies and better software. By 2011 rolling along in a convoy, with one or more jammers broadcasting, the troops had an electronic "bubble" that made them safe from any wireless IED they had not spotted. It was not uncommon for vehicles to have had an IED go off behind them, the result of the IED detonation crew continuing to send the signal, believing that there might be something wrong with their equipment. In those cases, the patrol often turns around and goes looking for the enemy team. Supply convoys just continue on their way. In addition to jammers like JCREW and Warlock, several of the U.S. Air Force and Navy electronic warfare aircraft were tweaked so they could perform the same jamming functions, but over a wider area. This was often used when American troops were in action against the enemy, shutting down IED detonation over the entire combat area, as U.S. troops moved around seeking out and fighting the enemy. One problem with the jamming was that it killed cell phone operation, as well as the use of many other remote electronic devices local civilians might be trying to use. The locals complain to each other, but asking the U.S. troops to shut it off would be futile, so they don't. JCREW 3.3 was apparently working to do something to make this less of a problem. JCREW 3.0 and 3.1 had lots of new features that frustrated terrorist efforts to work around. After 2011 most roadside bombs were set off via a wire connection between the detonator and a nearby guy pressing a button. This caused more terrorist casualties and generally made it more difficult for the bombers. Pressure plate detonation was less popular because the terrorists had no control over when the bomb goes off, and when it's a civilian vehicle getting blown up by mistake, the Islamic terrorists involved drop further in the opinion polls. The big (non-secret) improvement in JCREW 3.0 was it was easier to add new frequencies, and the jammer interfered less with other military communications and sensors. JCREW was also lighter and 3.1 (which initially was just referred to as the portable version) showed up because new versions of JCREW could be sent out for testing in a combat zone. For example, a hundred or so lightweight JCREW jammers were first sent to Iraq in 2008 for testing. These proved very popular with troops who did a lot of their patrolling on foot. It's become increasingly common for troops to make long movements on foot, to conduct raids or just patrol. The enemy has lookouts who are on the alert for U.S. vehicles, not dismounted American infantry sneaking up on them. For a while, JCREW 3.2 referred to the heavier version mounted in vehicles. Early on 3.3 had various names, all of them more difficult to remember. Because of all the delays, 3.3 just came to be known as the New JCREW. 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 ... Welcome, DISH customer! Please note that we cannot save your viewing history due to an arrangement with DISH. Watchlist and resume progress features have been disabled. ACCEPT Rain brings relief to drought-stricken Australia farmers Sydney, Aug 26 (AFP) Aug 26, 2018 Widespread rain fell across drought-affected parts of eastern Australia over the weekend, bringing relief to farmers struggling to cope with the driest conditions in more than half a century. Graziers have had to hand-feed sheep and cattle, sell down stock -- and in some cases even shoot them to end their suffering -- as they run out of hay and grain in the severe conditions affecting Queensland and New South Wales states. The wet weather was the first farmers in some areas had seen for more than a year, and even included hail. But locals cautioned the ground had become so dry in recent months that more downpours over the next few weeks and months would be needed to make a difference. "Those rains will be far from drought breaking," National Farmers' Federation president Fiona Simson told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Sunday. "What we need is 20 (millimetres, 0.79 inches) next week on 20 the next week, 20 the next week, and... (in the) next few months... to aptly build up those depleted soil and moisture reserves in the soil." The respite came as new Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he would make addressing the drought the top priority of his government. "It was pleasing to see the report on the rain yesterday in the last 24 hours," Morrison, who will visit stricken areas with the deputy PM this week, told ABC radio early Sunday. "That is encouraging, but we know that is nowhere near what is obviously needed." The government under previous PM Malcolm Turnbull, who was ousted in a party coup Friday, had pledged Aus$1.8 billion (US$1.3 billion) in financial aid for graziers and local communities. The Labor opposition called on Morrison to factor the battle against climate change into his drought policies, amid a push by the right wing of his Liberal Party to ditch an emissions mitigation policy which contributed to Turnbull's ousting. "If he is not prepared to stand up and say 'this is a consequence of climate change and I am going to commit to both mitigation and adaptation', then he will fail farmers," shadow agriculture minister Joel Fitzgibbon told Fairfax Media. While droughts are not uncommon in Australia, the length and severity of the dry conditions have strained farmers' efforts to stay afloat. BRENDAN O'NEILL Weve been told Brexit will bring hunger, sickness, pestilence what next plagues of locusts? By Brendan O'Neill25th August 2018The SunTHEYRE back. Like those horror movie monsters that keep rising from the grave, the Project Fear lobby have staggered back to life.We thought we had done away with them during the referendum in June 2016, when 17.4million of us ignored their warnings of doom and voted to leave the EU anyway. But here they come once more, these ashen-faced prophets of woe, to terrify us yet again about how awful life outside the EU will be.Be afraid, very afraid its Project Fear: The Sequel. Only like most sequels, this one is naff and utterly unconvincing. The star of this B-movie version of politics is the Chancellor Philip Hammond.The moaniest of the Cabinets Remoaners, Hammond has used his political clout to whip up dread about the impact Brexit will have on our economy. This week he slyly torpedoed Dominic Raabs cool analysis of what will happen if there is a No-Deal Brexit.Raab, the Brexit Secretary, gave an upbeat speech about how Britain will cope if we fail to reach a deal with the EU before exit day on March 29 next year. It was the speech Britons needed to hear. For too long, Brexit-bashing fearmongers have dominated the debate. Cranky Europhiles have weaved tall tales about how we will run out of food and medicine if there is no deal.They have even stirred up hysteria about an epidemic of super-gonorrhoea if we crash out of the EU. Hunger, sickness, pestilence . . . what next plagues of locusts? What a relief to hear Raab shoot down these apocalyptic scare stories.Yes, there will be practical problems if we leave without a deal, he admitted. For example, we would have to pay to access the EUs databases on crime. The removal of the EUs ban on credit and debit card surcharges would probably increase the cost of shopping. Customs changes will mean firms having to buy new software in order to continue exporting and importing.And British citizens who live in Europe might have difficulty accessing their pensions. But we can find solutions to these things, he said. And whats more, the sticky aspects of No Deal will be outweighed by the instant benefits.Like not having to pay the extortionate 39billion divorce bill Brussels is demanding. And having immediate control over laws and borders. And being able to sign new trade deals. Take that, Single Market.Many Brexit voters will have cheered Raabs speech. Here was a politician behaving like a grown-up. He was straight about the challenges of No Deal, while sweetening that pill by reminding us why we voted for Brexit to win back democratic control over our trade, laws and borders.Yet no sooner had Raab reassured the nation than Hammond was trying to freak us out again. Like a political Eeyore, he chose the day of Raabs speech to send a letter to the Treasury about the large fiscal consequences of leaving with no deal. It was petulant behaviour one Cabinet minister undermining another.And to the fury of Theresa May, it seems. The PM reportedly did not know about Hammonds plans to scupper Raabs positivity. This is all that Remoaners have left: The politics of fear. They seem to have forgotten one small fact, that Project Fear failed first time round.During the referendum, then Chancellor George Osborne tried to panic us into voting Remain by saying that leaving the EU would cause severe economic shocks and wipe 36billion a year from public finances. We ignored him and we were right to. Last year, analysis by the National Audit Office found that many of Osbornes claims made were flat-out wrong.What these anti-Brexit panic-mongers fail to appreciate is that the majority of us did not vote Brexit for economic reasons.Survey after survey has found people voted to leave the EU because they wanted to take back control, to breathe life back into British sovereignty. From the Ashcroft polls on referendum day, to the Centre For Social Investigations survey published this year, the evidence shows voters were motivated by a belief that decisions about the UK should be made in the UK.They voted out of principle. Because they believe in something democracy. Their motivation was not money or GDP or fear it was HOPE. Hope that if they pushed aside Brussels bureaucrats, they might finally have a greater democratic say in Britains future.To quote Oscar Wilde, Remainers such as Hammond know the price of everything but the value of nothing. Us Brexit voters, on the other hand, know you cannot put a price on something as valuable as democracy. The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara (Museum Macan), Jakarta, will celebrate its first anniversary with three solo performances and interactive exhibitions from Nov. 17 to March 10, 2019, the museum announced in a press release. The performances will comprise conceptual performance art from Indonesian Arahmaiani, Taiwanese-American Lee Mingwei and Japanese artist On Kawara. Arahmaiani, recognized as a significant player in the global arts scene, will showcase The Past Has Not Passed exhibition, featuring works from the 1980s until today. The exhibition will comprise over 70 pieces, including paintings, installations and re-enactments of iconic performances presented alongside some of her most recent projects. A 2017 performance of 'Handle Without Care' (1996-2017) at First Sight, Museum Macan, Jakarta. (JP/Handout/Museum MACAN) Previously, in Museum Macans First Sight program held in November last year, Arahmaiani staged a performance titled Handle with Care to highlight injustices and religious intolerance. Meanwhile, the internationally acclaimed Paris/New York-based Lee Mingwei will present seven different projects in Seven Stories. With a focus on the concepts of community and exchange, Lees works often rely on the audiences active participation. Lee's Guernica in Sand, an ongoing project that he started in 2006, will be presented as a large-scale installation made with locally sourced sands based on Picassos painting Guernica (1937). 'Guernica in Sand' (2005-2015), a mixed media interactive installation comprising sand, a wooden 'island' and unique lighting. (JP/Handout/Taipei Fine Arts Museum) A team of volunteers will construct the installation over the course of three weeks and the work will be ceremoniously transformed mid-point in the exhibition. People from the audience should be ready to be invited to walk on the sand while the artist completes the unfinished section of the sand painting. According to the museum's statement, at sunset in a Guernica in Sand performance, after the last audience member has walked on the sand, Lee and three performers will sweep the sand, and the project will be left in its state until the end of the exhibition. 'Lee Mingwei and His Relations', Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, 2015. (JP/Handout/Taipei Fine Arts Museum) Read also: Museum Macan unveils interactive installation for children Last but not least, On Kawaras installation One Million Years will involve male and female volunteers who take turns reading dates from Kawaras multi-volume collection, which comprises One Million Years [Past] and One Million Years [Future]. Each time the work is presented, the speakers will pick up where the last person left off, embodying the passage of time. 'One Million Years: Past', 1970-71. (JP/Handout/One Million Years Foundation/David Zwirner) Readings of On Kawaras work will be conducted every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday during the exhibition period, and as the shows come to a close in March 2019, the museum will launch two publications on Arahmaiani and Lee Mingwei. (mut) Luxury Swiss watch manufacturer Patek Philippe, founded in 1851, posted its first Instagram post in March and since then has been delighting timepiece aficionados with monthly insights related to the company, its history as well as highlighted products. For the month of August, the company acknowledges "The Remarkable Journey of World Time", inviting its fans to explore the history behind universal time and the challenges faced by watchmakers to display multiple time zones on just one dial. "In 1884, the International Meridian Conference adopted universal time and the world was officially divided into 24 time zones. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) became the principle meridian," read the post. It later notes that it was independent Genevan watchmaker Louis Cottier who invented the first mechanisms and dial components that simultaneously and continuously displayed the time in all 24 time zones in the 1930s. "These were referenced by the cities printed on the dial or engraved in the bezel. Patek Philippe worked with Cottier to develop and produce the companys first World Time mechanisms." Read also: Patek Philippe launches new World Time Minute Repeater, Ladies First Chronograph Presented through a video and images, it went on to explain that the core principle of a World Time mechanism is that city names circle the dial, along with a rotating 24-hour ring. "Such principles can be found in the rare Ref. 515 HU Patek Philippe World Time from 1937, which has a fixed time-zone plate showing 28 locations and a 24-hour rotating disk." "In the 1950s, city names were moved beneath the crystal glass and, for the first time, two crowns were used to set the local time. This can be seen in the Ref. 2523 from 1954, a mechanism patented by Louis Cottier for Patek Philippe," read the next post. The current Patek Philippe World Time collection is said to display an updated and contemporary design inspired by the 1950s models. "From the very first Patek Philippe World Time model, the Ref. 515 HU, introduced in 1937, through to todays timepieces, the World Time complication has ranked amongst the most popular Patek Philippe timepieces for over 80 years," it stated. (kes) The Indonesian Handicraft Exporters and Producers Associations (Asephi) branch in Pekalongan, Central Java, has integrated QR code technology in its batik authenticity hologram. The head of the Central Java Asephi committee, Romi Oktabirawa, told news agency Antara that the move was part of the association's aim to perfect the batik hologram developed over the past two years. "Through the QR code, customers can directly check the products they will buy or have bought to find out whether they are original batik or not," said Romi in Pekalongan on Monday. Read also: Differences between printed batik and authentic batik 'tulis Romi said the QR code integration in the batik hologram would officially be announced during the 2019 Inacraft exhibition, as it was currently still in the final stage of implementation. "We will continue to perfect this technology following a trial phase. Using it, customers can simply use their smartphones to detect whether the batik they have bought is original or not," he added. "We will only provide a complete hologram with manufacturer information on original batik, whether stamped, hand-drawn or a combination of both. Hopefully that will help customers select original batik." (kes) Ginger, auburn, strawberry blonde; all types of redheads turned out in their hundreds in western France on Saturday for the first "Red Love" festival. "I was born red, I will stay red and I am beautiful like everyone around me," declared Simon, a 32-year-old farm worker who traveled to the festival to hang out with "people like us". "I was teased when I was young, called named like 'carrot-top'," he added, "it's the same as if you're fat." Waiting to be served at a food truck, Liam Fife was standing with three friends he met at "Roodharigendag" (redhead day) the biggest get-together of redheads in the world which taken place every year in the Netherlands. "Until I was 15, it was awful for me," said the young man with a long red beard. "Now when I see a child I encourage them. I don't want them to be subjected to the same isolation," he said at the festival, held in the Brittany town of Chateaugiron. Read also: International Panji Festival to visit eight Indonesian cities The festival-goers enjoyed concerts and shows including a fashion parade of 18 redheads in wedding dresses. Among the best-selling items on display were T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan "Ginger is the new black". By midday, 1,200 people had showed up, said organiser Pascal Sacleux, who expressed the hope that "one day the jokes at the expense of redheads will be a thing of the past, when everyone realises how unfounded and stupid they are". Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 25 2018 Police are looking to charge a driver, identified only as MA, who allegedly assaulted a 14-year-old, identified as RA, on Wednesday, with the suspect facing up to five years in prison. Jakarta Police general crimes director Nico Afinta said the suspect would be charged under Article 351 of the Criminal Code for assault and Article 76c of the Child Protection Law, which forbids acts of violence against minors. Nico added that the police had arrested and investigated the suspect, interviewed witnesses and collected surveillance footage. Based on the suspects testimony and official report, MA is now a suspect, Nico said on Friday, as reported by kompas.com. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Surakarta Sat, August 25 2018 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Gemma Holliani Cahya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, August 26, 2018 22:14 1163 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df5503840 1 Sports #2018AsianGames,#AsianGames2018,#Athletics,#Track-and-Field,#sprint,#China,#goldmedal,#record,Asian-Games-2018,Athletics,track-and-field,record-breaking,China Free Chinese sprinter Su Bingtian sharpened the Asian Games record as he snatched the gold medal of the most prestigious event the mens 100 meter sprint at the 18th Asian Games in the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Sunday. Su who won the gold medal for his country in the 4x100 m relay at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games clocked 9.92 seconds, ahead of Tosin Ogunode of Bahrain and Japans Ryota Yamagata, who both recorded 10.00 seconds. Young Indonesian sprinter Lalu Muhammad Zohri finished seventh but managed to sharpen his personal best from 10.24 seconds in the semifinals to 10.20 seconds in the final. Indonesian chef de mission Syafruddin said Zohri had performed extraordinarily, considering he was still a junior runner. However, he said the result from the women's 100 m hurdles was below expectations. Indonesia's Emilia Nova took the silver medal in the discipline. "We had hoped she would get a gold medal," he said. Read also: Asian Games: Emilia Nova wins silver in 100m hurdles: In the womens 100 m, Edidiong Odiong representing Bahrain took the gold in 11.30 seconds. Odiong previously represented Nigeria at international level, but in 2014 she switched her citizenship to Bahrain ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Dutee Chand of India was second with 11.32 while Chinas Wei Wongli was third with 11.33. New York, NY, Aug. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zion Market Research has published a new report titled Digitization in Lending Market by Loan Type (Personal Loans, Auto Loans, and Business Loans); by Deployment (On Computer and On Smart Phone): Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 2025" has a vast information about the market and its potential. The global digitization in lending market was valued at around USD 1,790 billion in the year 2016 and it is expected to reach approximately USD 83,460 billion by 2025. The global digitization in lending market is expected to exhibit a CAGR of more than 53% between 2017 and 2025. Digital lending is advancement in the lending and borrowing process which is carried out on the online or digital platform without making use of paperwork. The digital loan origination platforms make use of automated processes such as document and electronic data capture, e-signatures, and automated underwriting. Advanced analytical models help in automation of credit decisions at a rapid pace. Request Free Sample Report of Global Digitization in Lending Market Report @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/digitization-in-lending-market Drivers and Restraints The digitalization in banking industry is the key factor driving the growth of digitization in lending market. Across the various aspects of business, digitalization is the reason for sweeping and large-scale transformations. The digitalization in banking industry also provides unparalleled opportunities for value capture and creation. Business leaders across all the sectors are adopting with the strategic implications of these transformations for their organizations and industry ecosystems. Digitization allows lenders to more effectively target their customers with appropriately timed offers. Digital lending automates complex processes and reduces manual interferences owing to which its demand is increasing. In the coming years, there will be an increasing adoption of digital lending. The lack of interoperability and standards may negatively affect the growth of digitization in lending market. Download Free Report Brochure: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/requestbrochure/digitization-in-lending-market Segmentation The business loan segment accounted for a major market share of around USD 980 million in the digitization in lending market in 2017. The growing number of small- and mid-sized business globally and the ease in the process of lending are factors driving the business loan segment in the global digitization in lending market. The personal loans segment is expected to grow at CAGR of 53.3% during the forecast period. The flexible process for personal loans through digitalized lending is expected to propel the growth of segment in the digitization in lending market over the forecast period. On computer and on smartphone are the two types of deployment in digitization in lending market. On smartphone deployment segment is expected to register rapid CAGR growth of 53.8% from 2017 to 2025. Ease of accessibility and support for several advanced applications are factors that are driving the on-smartphone segment. Whereas, on computer deployment segment accounted for the highest share in the global digitization in lending market in the year 2016. The large use of computers in various industries for digital lending is the key factor contributing towards the growth of the segment. Browse the full "Digitization in Lending Market by Loan Type (Personal Loans, Auto Loans, and Business Loans); by Deployment (On Computer and On Smart Phone)-Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 2025" report at https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/digitization-in-lending-market Regional Analysis Europe accounted for the largest share of around 39% in the digitization in lending market in 2017. In Europe, the U.K. and France contributed the largest share in the digitization in lendiToll-Freeng market in the region. Presence of major banking sectors in countries such as the U.K. and France have positively contributed to the growth of the market. In Europe, HSBC bank is one of the leading banks with total assets summing to under USD 2.5 trillion. Continuous growth in finance sector of the region is expected to open up immense growth opportunities for the market during the forecast period. China is expected to register the highest CAGR growth of 54.2% between 2017 and 2025. The rising adoption of online methods for banking in China and a strong base of the banking industry in the country is expected to propel the growth of the market over the forecast period. Moreover, increasing number of small- and mid-sized business in the country is expected to significantly contribute to the growth of the market in the country. In North America, the U.S. accounted for the largest share in the digitization in lending market. The presence of large banking lenders in the U.S. and the increasing adoption of the online platforms in the banking processes are expected to influence the growth of the market in the coming years. Inquire more about this report before purchase @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/digitization-in-lending-market Industry Players The report includes detailed profiles of the prominent market players that are trending in the market. Key companies profiled in the report are FirstCash, Inc., Speedy Cash, LendUp, Elevate, NetCredit, Avant, Inc., Opportunity Financial, LLC., Prosper Marketplace, Inc., The Business Backer LLC., Headway Capital Partners LLP, Blue Vine, Lendio, RapidAdvance, Amigo Loans Ltd, Lendico, Trigg, Lending Stream, 118118Money, Simplic, Wonga Group, Check'n Go Inc., OnDeck, Kabbage, Inc., and Fundation Group LLC., among others. The new product launch, technological advancement in digital lending, and increase in spending on research and development for better customer experience are the some of the major factors contributing towards the growth of market globally. Speedy Cash is an application that provides a loan to the customer. Speedy Cash is a payday lender that provides several ways for a payday loan with multiple choices of payment. Moreover, the increasing mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships among the various market players of the lending industry are expected to propel the growth of the market over the forecast period. For instance, in September 2016, the FirstCash, Inc. had signed the strategic merger agreement with Cash America International, Inc. Know More About Discount Offer: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/requestdiscount/digitization-in-lending-market The global digitization in lending market is segmented on the basis of the loan type, deployment, and the geographical regions. Global Digitization in Lending Market: Loan Type Segment Analysis Personal Loans Auto Loans Business Loans Global Digitization in Lending Market: Deployment Analysis On Computer On Smart Phone Global Digitization in Lending Market: Regional Segment Analysis North America U.S. Europe UK France Germany Asia Pacific China Japan India Latin America Brazil The Middle East and Africa About Us: Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting-edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the clients needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us. Follow Us LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zion-market-research Follow Us Twitter: https://twitter.com/zion_research Contact Us: Joel John 244 Fifth Avenue, Suite N202 New York, 10001, United States Tel: +49-322 210 92714 USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651 Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.com Website: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Emily Cadman (Bloomberg) Sydney, Australia Sun, August 26, 2018 15:43 1163 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df54f6909 2 World Australia,Julie-Bishop,resignation,ScottMorrison,foreign-affairs Free Australias Julie Bishop has resigned as foreign minister and will return to the backbench as the fallout from Fridays dumping of Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister continues. The 62-year-old stood in the three-way contest to become Liberal Party leader and prime minister after the ousting of Turnbull, but was knocked-out in the first round, gaining just 11 of 85 lawmakers votes. Her resignation came hours before new Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday unveiled his first cabinet, with Marise Payne replacing Bishop. Morrison is seeking to restore party unity after a week of tumultuous infighting. Bishop, who was Liberal Party deputy leader for the past 11-years, said in a statement on Sunday she would remain on the backbench as a strong voice for Western Australia and had not decided whether she will contest the next election, due by May. She was one of the great survivors of Australian politics who served under three different liberal leaders since 2007. The former lawyer, seen as a moderate, was one of the partys most popular figures with the wider public, according to opinion polls. Bishop is the most significant woman in the history of the Liberal Party, Education Minister Simon Birmingham told ABC TV earlier on Sunday. She has been an outstanding foreign minister.Turnbull on Sunday tweeted that Bishop, a longtime friend, had been Australias finest foreign minister and an inspiring role model. Today we have lost Australias finest Foreign Minister @JulieBishopMP I thank Julie for her loyalty and friendship over many years but especially as my Deputy. She has been and remains an inspiring role model for women here and around the world. Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) August 26, 2018 The new foreign ministers big challenge will be navigating a tricky relationship with China, Australias top trading partner. In June, lawmakers overwhelmingly passed bills to crack down on foreign interference after Turnbull said change was needed to stop reported meddling by China and other nations in the nations government, media and universities. On Friday, Australia said it was blocking Huawei Technologies from supplying its 5G network. Chinas foreign ministry spokesman said it was gravely concerned by the move. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, August 26, 2018 11:34 1163 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df54eed49 4 National Hamsad-Rangkuti,literary-award,obituary,artist Free Revered short-story writer Hamsad Rangkuti died at the age of 75 on Sunday, following a three-month-long coma. Hamsads widow Nur Windasari confirmed the news of his death. [He died] around 6:00 am, she said, as quoted by tempo.co. Born in Kisaran, North Sumatra, in 1943, Hamsad won numerous awards for his writing, including the 2003 Khatulistiwa Literary Award and the 2008 Southeast Asian Writers Award. Perhaps best known for his short story titled Maukah Kamu Menghapus Bekas Bibirnya di Bibirku Dengan Bibirmu? (Would You Erase the Trace of His Lips on My Lips with Your Lips?), Hamsad wrote his first short story, Sebuah Nyanyian di Rambung Tua (A Song in an Old Rubber Tree), when he was 16. He was among the writers and artists who signed the Cultural Manifesto in 1963, which attacked the artistic restriction imposed by Sukarno, who then favored leftist intellectuals in the People's Cultural Institute (Lekra). An acute daydreamer, Hamsad said an element of fantasy was required to make a story work. "In order for people to like your story, you must add a lie in it. This is not a crime. It is beauty. A beautiful lie. Many writers hate this term for it makes literature sound like a crime, and therefore they prefer calling it 'imagination'," he told The Jakarta Post in an interview in 2008. He suffered from multiple health problems in the past few years, including a stroke in September of last year, which he never fully recovered from. In September last year, several artists held a charity night to help with Hamsad's medical bills. Among them were painters Nasirun, Dolorosa Sinaga, Yani Maryani, Bambang Heras, Arahmaiani and Samuel Indratma, who donated artworks through an auction in the event. The charity event was organized by author Radhar Panca Dahana and scholar Yudi Latif. (kmt) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, August 26, 2018 12:49 1163 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df54f332d 4 National terrorism,terror-attack,Australian-Embassy,shooting,police,West-Java Free Police remain on the trail of three men involved in the shooting of two police officers on the Kanci-Pejagan toll road near Cirebon, West Java. West Java police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko said bullet casings had been removed from the chest and hands of the officers, who were recovering from their wounds at the Mitra Plombon hospital in Cirebon. "[The bullet casings] have been sent to forensics to determine what weapon was used," Trunoyudo said on Saturday, as quoted by kompas.com. The two traffic officers, First Adj. Insp. Dodon Kusdianto and First Adj. Insp. Aiptu Widi Harjana, were conducting a routine patrol on Friday night when they encountered three men sitting on the side of the toll road. The officers stopped, thinking the men might have needed assistance, but one of the men shot at Dodon and Widi as they approached. The motive and identities of the men remain unknown, but police seem to suspect possible terrorist involvement as the National Police's Densus 88 counterterrorism squad has joined the investigation. The shooting came only a day after a travel warning issued by the Australian government for visitors to Indonesia citing concerns about potential terrorist attacks. "We continue to receive information indicating terrorists may be planning attacks in Indonesia," the warning said on the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website, adding that Australia consular staff in Surabaya canceled their attendance in an event at Airlangga University due to said concerns. (kmt) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Tehran Sun, August 26, 2018 12:56 1163 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df54f36a7 2 World Iran,earthquake,disaster Free Two people were killed and more than 200 injured in a strong 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck western Iran near the border with Iraq early Sunday, officials told local media. The shallow quake hit 26 kilometres (16 miles) southwest of the city of Javanrud in Kermanshah province, the US Geological Survey said, near the site of a powerful quake last year that killed hundreds. The head of the emergency department Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Saeb Sharidari, told state news agency IRNA that two people were killed and 241 people injured, six critically. Sharidari said the two dead were a pregnant woman and a 70-year-old man who died of a heart attack. The provincial head of the Red Crescent, Mohammad Reza Amirian, said there had been at least 21 aftershocks. He said there were potential problems with drinking water due to damaged infrastructure in villages, but that it had not yet been necessary to distribute food and tents. Kermanshah governor Houshang Bazvand told the Tasnim news agency that electricity had been temporarily cut to several villages. A crisis centre was set up, with hospitals and relief organisations placed on alert. But the local director of crisis management, Reza Mahmoudian, told the Mehr news agency that "the situation was under control" and no request for help had been sent to neighbouring provinces. There were reports that the quake was felt far across the border into Iraq. Images on social media showed people being rushed to hospitals, but suggested relatively light damage to infrastructure. Iran sits on top of two major tectonic plates and sees frequent seismic activity. In November last year a major 7.3-magnitude quake killed 620 people in Kermanshah province and another eight people in Iraq. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Will Dunham (Reuters) Washington, United States Sun, August 26, 2018 08:27 1163 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df54e6f59 2 World #USA,senator-john-mccain,dies,DonaldTrump Free US Senator John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam who ran unsuccessfully for president as a self-styled maverick Republican in 2008 and became a prominent critic of President Donald Trump, died on Saturday, his office said. He was 81. McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona for over three decades, had been battling glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, discovered by his doctors in July 2017, and had not been at the US Capitol in 2018. He also had surgery for an intestinal infection in April of this year. His family had announced on Friday that McCain was discontinuing further cancer treatment. A statement from his office said: "Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28 p.m. on August 25, 2018. With the senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family. At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for sixty years." No further details were immediately provided. "My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years," Cindy McCain wrote on Twitter. "He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the place he loved best." Alternatively affable and cantankerous, McCain had been in the public eye since the 1960s, when as a naval aviator he was shot down during the Vietnam War and tortured by his North Vietnamese communist captors during 5-1/2 years as a prisoner. He was edged out by George W. Bush for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, but became his party's White House candidate eight years later. After gambling on political neophyte Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate, McCain lost in 2008 to Democrat Barack Obama, who became the first black U.S. president. McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was a frequent critic as well as a target of his fellow Republican, Trump, who was elected president in November 2016. McCain denounced Trump for among other things his praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders the senator described as foreign "tyrants." "Flattery secures his friendship, criticism his enmity," McCain said of Trump in his memoir, "The Restless Wave," which was released in May. McCain in July had castigated Trump for his summit with Putin, issuing a statement that called their joint news conference in Helsinki "one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory." He said Trump was "not only unable but unwilling to stand up to Putin." Sources close to McCain have said Trump would not be invited to the funeral. Shortly after McCain's death was announced, Trump tweeted: My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain." McCain, a foreign policy hawk with a traditional Republican view of world affairs, was admired in both parties for championing civility and compromise during an era of acrid partisanship in US politics. But he also had a famous temper and rarely shied away from a fight. He had several with Trump. THUMBS-DOWN He was the central figure in one of the most dramatic moments in Congress of Trump's presidency when he returned to Washington shortly after his brain cancer diagnosis for a middle-of-the-night Senate vote in July 2017. Still bearing a black eye and scar from surgery, McCain gave a thumbs-down signal in a vote to scuttle a Trump-backed bill that would have repealed the Obamacare healthcare law and increased the number of Americans without health insurance by millions. Trump was furious about McCain's vote and frequently referred to it at rallies, but without mentioning McCain by name. After Trump in 2015 launched his presidential campaign, McCain condemned his hard-line rhetoric on illegal immigration and said Trump had "fired up the crazies." Trump retorted that McCain was "not a war hero," adding: "I like people who weren't captured." After Trump became president, McCain blasted what he called the president's attempts to undermine the free press and rule of law, and lamented the "half-baked, spurious nationalism" of the Trump era. McCain denounced Trump's performance at a summit meeting with Putin in July as "a tragic mistake," adding, "The damage inflicted by President Trumps naivete, egotism, false equivalence, and sympathy for autocrats is difficult to calculate." MCCAIN VS OBAMA McCain, the son and grandson of US Navy admirals, was elected to the US House of Representatives from Arizona in 1982 after more than two decades of Navy service. He served four years in the House before Arizona voters elected him to the Senate in 1986 to replace Barry Goldwater, the 1964 Republican presidential nominee revered by conservatives. In running for president in 2008, McCain tried to succeed an unpopular fellow Republican in Bush, who was leaving office with the country mired in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and stuck in a financial crisis. It was a stark contrast between McCain, then a 72-year-old veteran of the Washington establishment, and the 47-year-old Obama, who was offering a "Yes, we can" message of change. McCain tried to inject some youth and enthusiasm into his campaign with his selection of Palin, Alaska's governor, as his running mate. But the choice backfired as her political inexperience and shaky performances in media interviews raised concerns about her qualifications. In his new book, McCain voiced regret for not choosing then-Senator Joe Lieberman, a Democrat turned independent, as his running mate. McCain wrote that he had originally settled on Lieberman, Democrat Al Gore's running mate in the 2000 election, but was warned by Republican leaders that Lieberman's views on social issues, including support for abortion rights, would "fatally divide" the party. "It was sound advice that I could reason for myself," McCain wrote. "But my gut told me to ignore it and I wish I had." Obama won 53 percent of the vote to McCain's 45.6 percent. WAR INJURIES During the Vietnam War, McCain flew attack planes off aircraft carriers. He was preparing for a bombing run in 1967 when a missile inadvertently fired from another plane hit his fuel tanks, triggering a fatal explosion and fire. He suffered shrapnel wounds. A few months later on Oct. 26, 1967, McCain's A-4 Skyhawk was shot down on a bombing mission over North Vietnam's capital and he suffered two broken arms and a broken leg in the crash. A mob then dragged him from a lake, broke his shoulder and stabbed him. Held at the notorious "Hanoi Hilton" prison and other sites, McCain was beaten and tortured, suffering broken bones and dysentery. He was released on March 14, 1973, but was left with permanent infirmities. In Congress, McCain built a generally conservative record, opposing abortion and advocating higher defense spending. He supported Bush's 2003 invasion of Iraq and criticized Obama for not doing more to intervene in Syria's civil war. Still, he prided himself on his reputation as a maverick and had a history of working across party lines on immigration, climate change and campaign finance reform. He also spoke out against the Bush administration's use of waterboarding, a torture technique that simulates drowning, and other harsh interrogation tactics on detainees in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. He urged the closure of the prison for foreign terrorism suspects at the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and also sponsored an anti-torture measure that passed Congress in 2005. In a 2002 memoir, McCain wrote, "I'm an independent-minded, well-informed public servant to some. And to others, I'm a self-styled, self-righteous maverick pain in the ass." John Sidney McCain III was born on Aug. 29, 1936, at an American naval installation in the Panama Canal Zone - US territory at the time - when his father was stationed there. He conceded he was a "smart ass" during his years at the US Naval Academy and graduated fifth from the bottom of his class. McCain divorced his wife Carol after 15 years of marriage in 1980 and weeks later married the former Cindy Henley, daughter of a wealthy beer distributor in Arizona. A dark period for McCain came as one of the "Keating Five" group of senators accused of improperly intervening with federal regulators to help political contributor and bank executive Charles Keating, whose Lincoln Savings and Loan failed in 1989 at a cost to taxpayers of $3.4 billion. McCain was cleared of wrongdoing in 1991, but the Senate Ethics Committee rebuked him for poor judgment. On July 25, 2017, McCain delivered a Senate floor speech not long after his cancer diagnosis that was widely seen as his farewell address. It included a call to fellow Republicans to stand up to Trump and for all lawmakers to work together to keep America as a "beacon of liberty" in the world. "That is the cause that binds us and is so much more powerful and worthy than the small differences that divide us," McCain said. An international hotel in Tokyo is set to tap into the LGBT community by offering a special accommodation package. In a statement, the Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo situated in Shinjuku, announced that the package includes access to the 45th floor Premier Grand Club Lounge and a 10 percent discount on a special gay area night tour of the Shinjuku 2-Chome LGBT area provided by Out Asia Travel, which offers a variety of tour packages in Asia for LGBT travelers. Read also: Gay Chinese tourists flock to Thailand for fun, acceptance Popular among foreign tourists, the Shinjuku 2-Chome region is said to host over 300 bars, restaurants and shops that cater to the LGBT community within a 200 meter radius. The accommodation package itself boasts Premier Grand guest rooms equipped with L'Occitane amenity items and Bluetooth capable BOSE speakers. The hotel also provides a cultural program that allows guests to experience interesting activities, such as a Japanese tea ceremony, flower arranging and a kimono and yukata traditional fashion. (kes) Aug 26 2018 2:14 pm Dr. Rich Roberts this afternoon hosted a luncheon for U.S. Senator Bob Menendez. The Senator, up for re-election, addressed many issues facing the Country, as well as local New Jersey and even Township issues. Among topics discussed, were National Security, the Iran Deal which he opposed, immigration, North Korea, Cuba, school funding and security and more. She was the Queen of the Upper East Side as Serena Van Der Woodsen in Gossip Girl, but in real-life Blake Lively is the undisputed queen of the red carpet. Blake has an impeccable sense of style and famously styles herself after previously admitting she's much too much of a control-freak to have a stylist. Which in our eyes makes her incredible looks even more impressive. In honour of the actress's 31st birthday we look back at 10 of her best ever red carpet looks. Cafe Society Premiere, 2016 A post shared by Blake Lively (@blakelively) on Jul 14, 2016 at 12:18pm PDT Blake wore this grey silk Carolina Herrera mini dress back in 2016 and it's still a firm favourite look. Embellished with floral detailing and teamed with stacks of Lorraine Schwartz jewels and an Ariana Grande style ponytail. Chic. Cannes Film Festival, 2016 A post shared by Blake Lively Style (@blakefashion) on May 22, 2017 at 1:28pm PDT This stunning Atelier Versace dress is a look that will go down in Cannes red carpet history. Rose gold was the shade of 2016, and this diamante embellished gown looked effortlessly glam teamed with her signature laid-back California girl waved hair. Met Gala, 2018 A post shared by Blake Lively (@blakelively) on May 8, 2018 at 8:03pm PDT At this year's Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination Met Gala in New York, Blake wowed the crowds in this dress. The hand-made ruby red and ornately beaded Versace creation reportedly took over 600 hours to create and was so large, Blake had to travel to the Met on a bus! Met Gala, 2016 A post shared by InStyle Australia (@instylemag) on Aug 25, 2018 at 12:26am PDT The Met Gala is all about show-stopping gowns and this custom Christopher Bailey for Burberry design was most definitely that! The handmade blush pink dress, which Blake herself helped to design, was embroidered with perspex red petals. Whoever said pink and red don't go together had obviously never met Blake Lively. Mr Turner Premiere, 2014 A post shared by Blake Lively Fan Page (@blakesource) on Aug 1, 2014 at 7:59am PDT Blake served serious ethereal goddess vibes in this all-white look. The sheer panelled Chanel Couture dress was cover in holographic floral embroidery which caught the light beautifully as she walked the red carpet. And just when you thought this dress couldn't get any more perfect... it has pockets! Slack Bay Premiere, 2016 A post shared by Blake Lively Fan (@alwaysblakelively) on Jun 30, 2018 at 9:05pm PDT Cinderella is real and her name is Blake Lively! This breath-taking baby blue gown by Vivienne Westwood Couture wowed the crowds at Cannes. Teamed with silver heels and a thin white headband, Blake looked every inch the real-life princess. Savages Premiere, 2012 A post shared by Blake Lively (@theblakelively) on Aug 27, 2017 at 11:51am PDT Back in 2012, Blake channelled Veronica Lake in this vintage-inspired look. The monochrome Zuhair Murad dress teamed with red lips and nails is a look that will never go out of style. BAFTA Brits to Watch Gala, 2011 A post shared by Blake Lively (@theblakelively) on May 10, 2017 at 2:19pm PDT Blake looks timelessly glam in this beautiful one-shouldered gown by Marchesa. The Grecian goddess style was huge back in the early 2010's and this intricately beaded chiffon sliver gown is still one of Blake's best looks. Age of Adaline Premiere, 2015 A post shared by Blake Lively (@theblakelively) on Feb 22, 2017 at 1:24pm PST The red dress dancing lady emoji has nothing on Blake in this dress. She looked phenomenal in a Monique Lhuillier gown, with a lace bustier and huge feathered skirt. The star of the film, Blake was also the star of the red carpet. Met Gala, 2014 A post shared by Blake Lively Style (@blakefashion) on May 6, 2018 at 11:34am PDT The 2014 Met Gala was held in homage to designer Charles James, often dubbed 'America's First Couturier'. Blake's stunning blush rose gold Gucci Premiere gown paid tribute to Charles James love for glamour and couture. Unfortunately, The Content Is Not Here You have arrived at this page because the page or post you were looking for no longer exists. Please check our main navigation pages for other content: Home Page Unlike other countries in the Sub-Saharan region, Liberia was never formally colonized by European imperialism. Therefore, the West African nation was neither militarily nor politically occupied by any of the colonizing states to give rise to the penetration of foreign capital for the colossal exploitation and exportation of raw material from the soil and sub-soil of Liberia after the partition of Africa took place in Berlin, Germany from 1884-1885. Nevertheless, Liberias social system has produced the principal contradiction of the Dictatorship of the multinational corporations. We do not abhor contradictions as they are mutually opposite aspects that exist in all phenomena whether nature, society or human thoughts. Wherever contradictions exist, the internal struggle of the opposites in those phenomena are what engender a new stage of human development and a new form of contradictions as well as new methods for resolving them. In our study of the Liberian state, there are two mutually opposite aspects of the contradiction of the dictatorship of the multinationals. On one hand, there is the exploiting class which consists of the owners of the multinational corporation and their office boys in the state bureaucracy, and on the other hand, the exploited classes which consist of the workers, farmers and lumpen masses. The multinational corporations and the office boys in the state bureaucracy are the principal elements of the contradiction while the workers, farmers and lumpen masses are the secondary elements of the contradiction. And of course, the principal element of any contradiction is what determines the nature of such a phenomenon or process in which the contradiction exists. The principal element of the contradiction in the Liberian society exploits the labor and resources of the country and export the surplus values with little appropriated to changing the quality of the Liberian society in other to pave the way for the industrial production of goods and services. It is against this unequal relations to the means of production that the nature of the Liberian society has been characterized as underdeveloped, impoverished and backward. The multinational corporations, with their international capital, are owners of Liberias properties of production. They acquired these instruments of production through the comprador bourgeoisie-multinational asymmetrical relations. In such a setup, the local middle class in Liberia formed a marriage with foreign capital not for the purpose of transforming the homeland, but to export and exploit the resources of our country in its most crude variety. Now, the multinationals accumulate huge surplus value and in turn give crumbs to its local lackeys dubbed as a middle class who do not form part of the production process but are rather occupying positions in the various state apparatuses. This social relation of production was entrenched by Tubmans Open-Door Policy after the World War II. The laws of the state are crafted around such a system which many progressive African scholars refer to as Neo-colonial Capitalism. This social system smoothens the way for the acquisition of the means of production by multinational corporations. Currently, as it was in the past, the multinational corporations have the iron ore, rubber, gold, timber, mega hotels, telecommunications, etc. Arcelor Mittal, one of the Worlds steel giants is here in Liberia, not manufacturing steel but exploiting iron ore and exporting in its raw state to advanced economies. Firestone has been in Liberia since 1926 growing, harvesting and exporting rubber in its latex form. Liberty Gold Mining is here in Liberia. MNG Gold Mining is here in Liberia. Golden Veroleum, Sime Darby, Farmington Hotel, Royal Grand Hotel, Boulevard Palace, Lonestar MTN, Orange etc. are also here in Liberia. At their various production centers, wealth dubbed as surplus value is produced by workers who play no part in its appropriation. The working people at those production centers are paid a paltry sum in real wages that cannot cater to their demand for goods and services. The surplus value they produce from the mountains, soil, forest, etc. are exploited by the owners of the means of production, which include the labor of working people, to amass wealth through private profit maximization. The surplus values, due to its outward orientation are exported instead of being reinvested in the Liberian economy; thus, leading to the underutilization of the productivity of labor. At some point in time, the private profit motive leads to an expansion in production which uses technologies that pollute the working peoples environment. When the working people and communities dwellers resist this, the standing army is sent by the state bureaucracy to crush the resistance of the mass of people. A case of reference is the pollution of the communities in Kokoya, Bong County by MNG Gold Mine and the lethargy of the people to resist due to fear of reprisal from the state. When there arises the economic situation of a downward shift in the demand for the commodity or service produced at the production centers, thus leading to a drop in total income, the working people whose labor is the only commodity of production that produces wealth while being consumed, are affected either through wage cut or employment/contract termination. When this is protested through strikes, the states standing army is sent to shoot at the working people. The shooting of protesting workers by the Emergency response Unit (ERU) of the Liberia National Police (LNP) at the Liberty Gold Mine in Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount County sometime this year is a case in point. The workers were demanding wage increment and better working conditions at the mining sites. The state responded to their plights with violence and thus condemnation from its communicators including the head of the Traditional Council Zanzan Kawar. When the board of directors, in isolation of the workers decides to close the production centers specifically due to declining profit levels, workers are layoff and the state does nothing in the interest of the working masses but justifies the actions of multinational corporations. Putu Iron Ore Mining Company and China Union in Grand Gedeh and Bong Counties respectively shut down operations, thus leading to the loss of hundreds of jobs! Up to now, many workers have not gotten their just benefits and the state is doing nothing to remedy such a situation. There are reports that Lonestar Cell MTN and Orange Liberia: the only two telecommunication service providers in the country recently threatened to shut down due to a colossal drop in their profit margins. As a way of saving the so-called investments, the state, under the watchful eye of President Weah (Country Giant) reacted by increasing tariff on international calls by US 0.05cents. Ordinary Liberians including workers, farmers, petite traders, etc. who communicate with their family, friends and loved ones in the diaspora will be highly affected. The reactionary involvement of Chief Zanzan Kawar in the repression and abuse of our people must now bring us to the conclusion that the aiding and abetting of the marginalization of the mass of people by a segment of the population should never be looked at from the perspective of minority Americo-Liberian domination against majority native Liberians. Throughout the history of our country, the subjugation of the mass of people by the exploiting class has always been orchestrated by the two elites of the Native and Congau social formations, just that for a very long time the Congau social sect has been the head of such alliance. The taking away of natives land in 1822 was never done without the consent of the elite native chiefs. Even the giving away of our people to Firestone Liberia in the 1920s as cheap laborers by state power which was controlled predominantly by Americo-Liberians was aided and abetted by elite native chiefs. During the Presidency of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a woman of Americo-Liberian descent, the National Legislature was dominated by the so-called educated native elites. Before 2012, the descendant of the Americo-Liberian social formation had sent to the National Legislature 68concession agreements between the government of Liberia and multinational corporations for rectification. The native dominated legislature, without proper due diligence, passed into laws all the concession agreements. A 2012 Moore Stephens audit report revealed that 66 of the 68 concession agreements were signed bogusly. So, class formation in human society is never premised on race, tribe, religion, social sects, etc. although members of these social formations form part of either the exploiting or exploited class. The crux of the debate is that class formation has always been formulated based on ones relationship with the properties of production properties that produce the wealth of human society. During slavery, the exploited class composed of the slaves while the exploiting class consisted of the slave masters. Under Feudalism, the exploited class consisted of the serfs while the exploiting class consisted of the feudal lords. Under present-day capitalism, especially in the advanced capitalist countries, the exploited class is the working class or what we call Proletariat those who produce wealth on the various factory floors but play no democratic part in how such wealth is appropriated. The exploiting class is the ruling class or the bourgeoisie the owners of the means of production who exploit the labor of workers to accumulate wealth through surplus values. There are black workers and they are black bourgeoisie. There are white workers and there are white owners of the properties of production. Therefore, civil rights leaders like George P. Jackson in the US did not limit the struggle to the abolition of racism. Their fight was also extended to the pattern of ownership of the means of production and thus the class struggle the liberation of labor from the exploitation of capital. To have only dealt with the issue of race and left out the pattern of ownership of the wealth and means of production would have been like dealing with the effect and leaving out the cause. Similarly, the African liberation struggle was not just limited to ridding the continent of the white-colonialists but also creating the condition to avoid the creation of black-colonialists. In Liberia, as we indicated in the labeling of Liberias principal contradiction, the exploited class consists of the workers, farmers, and lumpen masses while the exploiting class consists of the owners of the multinational corporations which are predominantly owned by foreign capital. Throughout history, Liberia has not produced indigenous bourgeoisie. The Liberian bourgeois class is found in the state bureaucracy. This class, which makes up elite Liberians who occupy a position in the three branches of government, makes every law conducive for the unhindered exploitation of Liberias resources and the labor of the Liberian working class by multinational corporations. Therefore, we say the social system produced the principal contradiction of the Dictatorship of Multinational Corporations. State power is exercised in the interest of the multinational corporations although the apparatuses of the state (Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary) were instituted democratically by the workers, farmers and lumpen masses to act in their interest. Paradoxically, when workers resist their exploitation by multinationals, state power sends the armed body of men to crush the class actions of the toilers. When the people protested Golden Veroleum for desecrating their traditional shrines in Sinoe County, the state sent in the ERU to violently curb the activities of the rural masses. The thing is, individuals, whether Natives or Congaus occupying the various apparatuses of the state depend on the multinational corporations for their economic survival. A portion of the surplus value exploited from the wealth produced by the workers is paid to the national government in the forms of taxes and rent. Instead of such funds being used to change the quality of the Liberian society (education, health, infrastructure, etc.), they are diverted to the huge salary and perks of robber bureaucrats in the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary Branches of government. The budget of the Presidents office is 21 million dollars for fiscal year 2018/2019, while there is zero allocation to improving technical and vocational education in the country. A cabinet minister in the Executive branch makes about USD7, 800.00 and other benefits monthly. It is an open secret that a lawmaker in the National Legislature makes over USD14, 000.00 plus other emoluments monthly. Same can be said of hierarchies in the Judiciary! In all of these, Liberia remains the citadel of illiteracy, disease, and poverty conditions which reproduce the other segments of the exploited class (impoverished farmers in the rural communities and lumpen masses in the urban centers). The contradiction of the Dictatorship of the Multinational Corporations has protractedly remained in place since the country got co-opted into the neo-colonial capitalist order although there have been molecular changes as the result of the struggle of the secondary aspect of the contradiction. These changes have only taken place relative to who occupy the apparatuses of state power/bureaucracy. This has left the social contradictions unresolved. Thus, the blames of the social crisis in Liberia has been continuously placed on dishonest and corrupt leadership, tribal and religious divisions, the mass illiteracy of the people, etc. But these are just other contradictions that have existed and developed as the result of the continued existence and development of the dictatorship of the multinational corporations which is the principal or contradiction in the Liberian society. Once this contradiction is resolved by the secondary aspect (exploited masses) struggle against the dominant principal aspect (owners of multinational corporations and occupants of state power), the Liberian society would enter a new face of socioeconomic development. As it is with every contradiction, the continue/protracted domination of the principal aspect of the contradiction goes side by side with the struggle of the opposite which is the secondary pole of the contradiction. It is this struggle of opposite that leads to a leap in the development process. With this, quantitative change is transformed into a qualitative change. The exploited becomes the exploiting while the exploiting becomes the exploited. This change from the principal into the secondary and from the secondary into the principal is a simple dialectical logic. Nothing is permanent. Everything is in constant motion, always changing, always coming into being and passing away. In the context of Liberias history, the The dictatorship of the Multinational Corporations has always been nurtured by reactionary regimes that emerge out of the ruling class but the struggle of all the segments of the exploited class always turned against these forces in the ruling class and one way or the other has led to the transformation of quantity into quality. This leap in the development process was experienced on April 12, 1980, when the mass of the Liberian people overwhelmingly supported the military overthrow of the decadent True Whig Party Oligarchy. Another leap occurred on December 24, 1989, when the people welcomed the Charles Taylors insurgency against the despot Samuel K. Doe and the ousting of Charles Taylor in 2003 by two rebel forces. But these struggles of the masses against the reactionary regimes that emerged out of the ruling class have led not to a genuinely new stage of development in which the people become the owners of the properties of production and that they develop the productive forces for the benefit of all and sundry. The change has only reflected in a segment of the exploiting class relative to changing those who occupy state power while the relations of production remain in place foreign monopoly capitals ownership of the means of production. This distortion in the process of development in Liberia is only due to the lack of a revolutionary party and its understanding of the quantitative change in the relative position of the masses and the exploiting class as well as its inability to draw out the right revolutionary leadership and programs to concentrate its struggle against the different reactionary forces and build up a broad-based united front to drive the social transformation of the Liberian society. Some enlightened intellectuals under the canopy of the Progressive Forces emerged in the 1970s to play such revolutionary vanguard role but were crushed by the combined forces of the exploiting class firstly in 1980 with the orchestration of the military coup; secondarily in 1984 when Samuel K. Doe with support from internal and external reactionary elements proscribed the two progressive parties from participating in 1985 Presidential and General Elections. Lastly, the crushing of the progressive forces culminated in 1989 when every effort to have the revolutionary vanguard lead the liberation war was sabotaged by the certain global power that had interest in the Cold War as well as links to most multinationals in Liberia. This lack of a revolutionary vanguard to facilitate the change from quantity to quality has led to the emergence of different reactionary regimes including the CDC led government of President George Manneh Weah. Our duty now is to not repeat the fatal mistakes of history! STRUGGLE OR PERISH There is no third way! Moses Uneh Yahmia is a student at the University of Liberia. He studies Political Science and Economics major and minor respectively. Yahmia can be reached via moseswyalc@gmail.com. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close 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. Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below. M.A. writes: I was looking to put 20,000 into an investment bond and gave my details to a website. I received a brochure and a sales call from Redcap Management offering a bond issued by Standard Chartered Bank. The paperwork has the banks logo and says the investment is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. But I contacted Standard Chartered and was told this appears to be a scam. You were right to be suspicious, this is a scam. Redcap Management claims to offer a Standard Chartered Special Issue Bank Bond with a one-year yield of 6 per cent, or 10 per cent if you invest for three years. Bogus: Redcaps address is actually the Credit Suisse HQ in Zurich This is all supposedly asset backed, protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, and tax exempt. Well, who could not resist such a package? Anyone with an ounce of sense is the answer. Redcap Management has a London telephone number 0203 411 6711 but where it rings is anyones guess. It also has a Swiss telephone number and gives its address as Paradeplatz 8 in Zurich. If it is there, perhaps it is hiding in a basement cupboard. This is actually the world headquarters of Credit Suisse. According to its website, Redcap Management is authorised by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). This means Redcap is permitted to offer the services of an asset management company in 27 countries of the European Union. Oddly though, Redcap does not appear on FINMAs public register of approved financial sector businesses. The Swiss watchdog told me: The company has no authorisation for any activities in the financial market requiring an authorisation in Switzerland. So is Redcap simply marketing Standard Chartered bonds without proper authorisation? Or do the bonds not exist? When I let the bank know what was on offer from Redcap, it was crystal clear in describing this as a fraud. Officials told me: We are aware of the existence of fake bond scams and have reported cases of which we are aware to the Financial Conduct Authority. Anyone considering any investment should consult an independent financial adviser, they added. What the UK regulator has done with this information is anyones guess. Probably nothing. There is not even a warning on its website about Redcap Management operating fraudulently and without authorisation, let alone a mention of fake Standard Chartered bonds being marketed. It would have been nice to discuss all this with Redcap itself, of course. I called its London number during normal business hours but after ringing out for an unusually long time my call went to an answering service. I left a detailed message and followed this up with an email offering to drop in at Redcaps London office if I could be given the address. Answer came there none. After a six-month search, I admit defeat Mrs V.R. writes: My husband took out two annuity policies in 1980 with Property Growth Pensions & Annuities Limited, based in Croydon. I understand Barclays Life took the company over and we have tried to contact it, but to no avail. This is a classic case of companies merging, being bought out, changing name and leaving customers downright confused. The Croydon company did become part of Barclays Life. This in turn became BL Telford Limited, run by a different company called ReAssure, itself controlled by the giant Swiss Re. But not all policies followed this chain of events. I traced your husbands annuity policies to yet another company, Phoenix Group. Phoenix helpfully dug through old records to find that in May 2000 both policies worth 22,707 were transferred yet again, this time to MGM Assurance. MGM Assurance no longer exists as such. Part of it is now called Retirement Advantage, but lots of the business was transferred to Scottish Friendly. Nationwide said that as I had failed to supply my email address, my application for the 100 fee had failed. This rang a bell and you found your husband is receiving 134 a month from Scottish Friendly. It told me this was just one of your husbands policies, so I tried Retirement Advantage which is now part of Canada Life. It even engaged an outside firm to scour the databases of companies and policies it had absorbed, but we hit a dead end. There was no trace of your husband, so after six months of searching, I have to admit defeat. It illustrates how important it is for all of us not to lose touch with any investment firm, or to rely on it still being in business decades after we trusted it with our cash. No email address? Sorry, you dont qualify for the 100 fee G.B.T. writes: My granddaughter and I booked an appointment at the Camberley branch of Nationwide Building Society under its refer-a-friend scheme which paid 100 for introducing a customer. We were asked for email addresses and explained that only my granddaughter has one. We were told this was OK. A week or so later my grand-daughter received details of her new account, but I did not receive 100. Nationwide said that as I had failed to supply my email address, my application for the 100 fee had failed. It is startling but true you really did introduce a new customer to Nationwide but were refused the 100 reward simply because you do not have an email address. When you protested, a Nationwide manager told you: Members need an email address as part of the refer-a-friend process. As you are not currently eligible for the 100, I am sorry to say we would not look to pay this to you. But as a consolation prize, you could have 50 in recognition of the service you provided. Nationwides head office was more sensible. Staff there explained to me that normally an introduction form would have been emailed for completion by you and your granddaughter. As you have no email address, the correct procedure should have been to email the form to your granddaughter. The society told me you were poorly advised by the branch. It added: We can see that his granddaughter has completed an account switch and it is clear it was their intention to make a claim under the scheme, so we have made an ex gratia payment of 100 to both him and his granddaughter. If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TS or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned. A lingerie company catering for women with voluptuous figures says it will have to leave Britain ahead of Brexit. The Big Bloomers Company was set up in 2007 by Laura Murray, 53, and her mother, Dianne Mannering, 76. It sold 3 million of extra-large knickers, bras and tights this year, mostly in the UK, but the products are made in Italy. Big Bloomers which has ten employees in Penryn, Cornwall is planning to shift operations to the European Union ahead of the UK leaving next March, with Ireland its most likely destination. Warning: Laura Murray, centre, says her lingerie firm will have to quit Britain because of Brexit Murray, who plans to move with her firm, said the switch would go ahead barring a miracle in Brexit negotiations. She believes a hard Brexit, and customs delays, would sink her business within two months so it will be safer to move to Ireland, which would allow her to import stock within the EU and then post garments to customers in the UK. Mannering said: Sitting it out till the end of next March in the hope Theresa May negotiates favourable import terms is not an option. We have to act now to secure an unrestricted flow of stock in 2019. The Government last week began issuing guidance on how to cope with a no-deal Brexit. Economic data and forecasts are being mined ruthlessly by both sides on the Brexit battleground. Dry numbers have been horrible word weaponised. Outside of the political and media bubble, people are bamboozled and more than a little bit bored. As the Brexit camp never tires of telling everyone, Project Fear has not materialised. George Osborne in 2016 scored a huge own goal by predicting a vote to leave would tip the economy into recession, lead to half a million job losses and a huge hit to growth. Economic data and forecasts are being mined ruthlessly by both sides on the Brexit battleground None of it has happened. But the Brexiteer take on the economy is pretty dodgy too. The UK is doing just fine, we were told last week, because were growing faster than Japan and Italy. Cue hollow laughter. Italy is a total mess, with high youth unemployment and a basket-case banking system. Japan has struggled for decades. More pertinent, perhaps, is the fact the UK is performing worse in terms of GDP growth than almost every other developed economy, but that is glossed over. The Brexit camp even used as ammunition the better-than expected public borrowing figures for July. These were taken as evidence that post referendum Britain is a land of surplus and plenty. To use one months figures in this way even if they are part of a positive trend is more than a touch misleading. Particularly when we have a debt mountain of nearly 1.8trillion and an ageing population that will be a burden on the public purse for decades to come. Chancellor Philip Hammond is in hot water for being a gloomster A few good months wont magic that away, and neither will Brexit. If fewer skilled migrants come here, the worker to pensioner ratio is likely to get worse, unless people start having many more children or dying much younger. Both sides bombard the public with data and facts, cited without context, aiming to score points rather than to illuminate. Who, if anyone, does this benefit? It certainly doesnt lead to greater public understanding, or help people and firms navigate the upheaval of Brexit. There is also a fundamental misunderstanding about the figures bandied around. Forecasts and data are often based on samples and are subject to sometimes major revisions. If they are to be of use at all, they need to be weighed in a spirit of informed scepticism, not ramped up as propaganda tools in an atmosphere of tribal politics. By the same token, the biggest costs attached to Brexit are probably unquantifiable. It is impossible to measure the opportunity cost the gains we have foregone by spending so much money and energy on Brexit instead of investing and coming up with innovations but it is nonetheless a real loss. Chancellor Philip Hammond is in hot water for being a gloomster because he said a no-deal Brexit will result in a 5 to 10 per cent hit to growth, and repeated official estimates that the economy will be 150billion smaller in 15 years. Brexit supporters say hes got it wrong. He probably has. Chancellors and economists get many of their predictions wrong. It would be surprising if they didnt, considering the complexity of the analysis involved. Economists have failed to anticipate no fewer than 148 of the past 150 recessions, so they are highly unlikely to be able to foretell with accuracy what will happen in a no-deal Brexit 15 years hence. They are, if anything, getting worse at making forecasts because the world is getting more complex. That profession, or perhaps it is a pseudo-science, needs to lose some of its arrogance and think hard about how it can better serve politicians and society. This has never been more important. As Brexit approaches, there is a desperate need for sane and dispassionate debate instead of yah-boo economics. If there is an economic or social problem that the Government needs to fix, call Isa is often the response. The trusty tax efficient Individual Savings Account, the financial Red Adair that can be relied upon to sort out a crisis or three. Although Isas were designed to help people build long-term wealth free from the taxmans clutches, they are now broader financial tools as governments have widened their remit. Care funding solution? Isas are now broader financial tools as governments have widened their remit So, if you want to get a foot on the housing ladder there is the Help to Buy Isa, designed to help first-time buyers build a big enough deposit to qualify for a mortgage. More recently, this has been complemented by the Lifetime Isa. A rather confused product that can either be used to save towards the purchase of a first home or as a retirement fund. Now, the Government is considering using Red Adair Isa to solve the countrys mounting care crisis. The solution? The Care Isa which would encourage people to put money aside for future care costs. The Care Isa is not a new idea. It is one that Ros Altmann, former Minister of State at the Department for Work and Pensions, has long trumpeted. And it has merit especially if, as Altmann proposes, it comes with an assurance that any money not used for care can then be passed on to the next generation free of inheritance tax. But if it gets the go-ahead, the Government must get it absolutely right from the start. Help to Buy and Lifetime Isas have both been inhibited by ill-conceived rules. The last thing we need is another half-cocked Red Adair Isa. It is not often that regulators get things right. But the Competition and Markets Authoritys decision to force the biggest banks and building societies to highlight how their customer service standards compare with rivals is a major step in the right direction. It means you should now be able to walk into your local high street bank provided you still have one and see how customers (personal and business) rank it on key issues. These include the propensity of customers to recommend a current account to family and friends as well as other services such as online, mobile and branch banking. Sixteen providers of current accounts and 14 suppliers of business banking services must comply with the authoritys edict. How they score can be found by visiting www.gov.uk/cma. Or by popping into your nearest bank. Unsurprisingly, the likes of First Direct, Metro, Nationwide and Coventry do well on current accounts. Handelsbanken leads the way on business banking. Early days as they are, the new system will take a while to bed down. A quick walk down Kensington High Street late last week revealed an inconsistent approach in how this data is being displayed. At Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks ridiculous Studio B branch (B presumably standing for Barmy), the information was not visible to the naked eye not even on the pillar allocated to statutory notices detailing savings rates. All I was bombarded with were messages asking whether I was beach ready (no, I am a red head) or if I wanted more sand for my castle (no thanks, I have long lost my bucket and spade). I came out of Studio B thinking that if any bank branch deserved to be closed this would rank highly. Incidentally, it will not surprise you to learn that Clydesdale comes joint bottom on overall service (personal) and 13th out of 14 for business banking sister brand Yorkshire fares better. The quicker Studio B, Clydesdale and Yorkshire are absorbed into the Virgin Money brand, the better for mankind. At Santander, the data on business banking was prominent but not so for personal accounts where only the overall service rankings were available tucked away with all the banks product literature. The branch assistant assured me full details would flash up on the in-store screen but they never did, much to his chagrin. Strange because Santander comes out of the analysis smelling of roses. As for Metro, ranked second overall for both personal and business banking, it only intermittently showed the data on its in-branch screen. Unusual for a bank that never misses a trick in promoting its customer-centricity. No doubt Vernon Hill, the banks larger-than- life chairman, will address this glitch in Red Adair style when he next jets into the UK from his home in the United States. Stepping into the latest tobacco store on London's Kensington High Street feels like entering some sort of futuristic science museum. Tastefully put together with hues of white, grey and copper, the beautifully designed shop mysteriously shows little evidence of any product for sale. Instead, there is an interactive display along the far wall to educate aspiring non-smokers on heated tobacco technology while trendy millennials perch on stools near the door sipping coffee and chewing on strange devices. Peter Nixon: iQos is 'the I phone of our industry' boasts UK managing director of Philip Morris The devices are called 'IQOS' and made by cigarette giant Philip Morris, famed for household brands such as Marlboro, Chesterfield and Benson Hedges. The purpose of IQOS is to help wean smokers off cigarettes a curious objective from a company that derives the vast majority of its revenue from these sin tax items. iQos is 'the I phone of our industry' boasts UK managing director of Philip Morris, Peter Nixon, before ordering a drink from the in-store cafe. Demonstrating how the thing works, he slips tobacco sticks a little smaller than cigarettes into a small device that heats them to half the temperature of burning cigarettes. This enables users to draw equivalent amounts of nicotine while reducing the inhalation of harmful compounds by over 90%, he claims. Philip Morris has spent over 15 years researching and developing smoke-free alternatives. The firm's efforts have escalated recently with a campaign launched over new year plastering full-page adverts in national newspapers promoting its 'ambition to stop selling cigarettes in the UK.' Modern alternative: The purpose of iQos is to help wean smokers off cigarettes Inside the IQOS store in Kensington High Street, west London Nixon is confident that IQOS is 'the best smoking alternative in the industry', supporting the stonking 3.5bn that his employer has ploughed into it over the last three years. The devices first hit Japanese shelves in 2014 and are now sold in over 40 countries. In case you're wondering what IQOS stands for, it doesn't stand for anything. A disappointment for inquisitive customers wondering if it might be 'I quit only smoking.' In facing regulatory bodies, IQOS has met with some resistance. Early this year the Food and Drug Administration in the US rejected initial safety claims made by Philip Morris. UK MPs took a softer line last week though in a report saying there is not yet enough information around the health implications, calling for ongoing research. For those looking for a cheaper smoking alternative, IQOS is not the answer. With an up-front cost of close to 100 per device and tobacco sticks at 8 per pack, the cost works out about the same as smoking. Vaping and e-cigarettes, on the other hand, tend to cost roughly half, Nixon says, but prices vary depending on many factors such as the device and liquid used. Between 2014 and 2017, e-cigarette users grew by almost 50 per cent, according to government numbers, with over 5 per cent of people over the age of 16 now hooked. Comparable smoking figures dropped by over 10 per cent with under 17 per cent of Britons now classified as smokers. Roughly 60 per cent of the 7.5m smokers in the UK are trying to give up, according to Nixon, who recalled having his last puff over four years ago in a bar in Moscow. That makes for millions of potential customers poised to capitalise on healthier smoking alternatives, or so the retailer hopes. Interestingly though, the short-term picture is different: the number of smokers in the UK marginally increased last year for the first time in five years, according to government figures. Meanwhile, the number of vape users ebbed for the first time since national vape statistics began. Musing over possible reasons for this, Nixon said the myths surrounding vaping, and the health concerns associated with it, were 'criminal'. He is hopeful that sentiment will change as more information becomes available. Indeed, last week MPs published a report calling for a relaxation of vaping laws claiming e-cigarettes are around 95% less harmful than conventional ones. Philip Morris's ambition to wean the UK off cigarettes is a bold one, and a campaign the company claims to be pushing globally. The results are yet to show over the last six months their cigarette sales in the UK have dropped about 5 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to Nixon, and this remains in line with long-term trends. While the tobacco company has not committed any date to when it might stop selling cigarettes, Nixon said he wished he could stop selling cigarettes tomorrow. The numbers suggest that this could be a long time coming. Big technology, telecoms and banking firms that handle data for millions of customers fear Brexit will create a digital wall, cutting off the UK from the EU. Vodafone, Twitter, Snapchat and Dropbox are among the companies that are fretting about major disruption if the EU refuses to recognise the UKs data regime. If the EU declines to do so, firms may no longer be able to store information about EU citizens in the UK, potentially forcing them to move data centres and large numbers of jobs to the Continent. Vittorio Colao, the boss of British telecoms giant Vodafone: We need to get equivalency with the EU David Richards, the British boss of data firm WANdisco, described data as a potentially huge problem and an iceberg-type issue that has not been fully recognised. WANdisco works with businesses across several sectors that are worried about data protection and are having to start preparing for Brexit-related problems. Banks, for instance, may lose the ability to store data on EU customers outside the region, and so are preparing to move it away from the UK. To avoid this, Richards said, the UK needs urgently to secure a legal agreement under which its data protection rules are recognised by the EU. It needs to get resolved now, he said. I think this is the most significant Brexit problem. Vittorio Colao, the boss of British telecoms giant Vodafone, told The Mail on Sunday: We need to get equivalency with the EU, so data can sit in either place, otherwise we are creating a digital wall. That is not good for any company or entrepreneur, given the ambition of the UK to become a digital hub. In a recent regulatory note to investors in the US, social media firm Twitter noted that the UKs new Data Protection Bill substantially implements EU standards under newly-introduced General Data Protection Regulation. However, Twitter added that it was not clear whether the EU would accept this, meaning requirements for data transfers between the United Kingdom and the EU are unclear. In a separate filing, Snap the owner of Snapchat, a photo messaging phone app popular among teenagers said it remained unclear how data transfers to and from the United Kingdom will be regulated. Online photo-sharing company Dropbox and News Corp, the international media company headed by Rupert Murdoch, have expressed similar concerns about the transfer and protection of data. The steam engine, the railways, the Forth Bridge, the Industrial Revolution now we can count superfast broadband as one of Britains great engineering achievements, according to a BT executive in a claim that will outrage customers who despair of their internet speeds. The striking statement was made last week by Clive Selley, the boss of BTs Openreach division, which looks after wires and other infrastructure. But Selleys words would have Britains most famous engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, turning in his grave, said critics, who pointed out that the UK still had slower internet than countries such as Madagascar. Is superfast broadband as one of Britains great engineering achievements? The comments came as the Government published a report assessing the rollout of superfast broadband in rural areas. But the UK is in the bottom third of EU countries and in 35th place worldwide for speed, said a recent survey. Evan Wienburg, chief executive of broadband provider TrueSpeed, described the 1.2 billion programme to roll out the superfast service across the UK as an interim solution that has had money thrown at it the harsh reality is that it will not support Britains future needs. His company advertises its own internet speeds as being more than eight times faster than those defined as superfast in the Government programme. Greg Mesch, chief executive of CityFibre, another BT rival, was also critical. Describing a copper-based network rollout that leaves the UK at 35th in the world speed rankings as one of Britains great engineering achievements will have Brunel turning in his grave, he said. The programme came under fire after it was launched in 2010 because all of the contracts were handed to BT. It led to accusations that the telecoms giant was using public money to rebuild its monopoly. Mesch said BT had committed itself to milking every last penny from its copper networks, instead of backing technology fit for the future. And TalkTalk said that while faster broadband was good news, it wont be sufficient to cope with rising demand. Full fibre connections are the fastest way to deliver broadband services, but only 4 per cent of the UK is covered, compared with 89 per cent in Portugal. Ithraa, Omans investment promotion and export development agency was recently honoured with the 2018 Corporate Excellence Award for Public Administration by the Excellence Awards Academy. Presented at the Savoy Hotel in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, the accolade recognizes Ithraas contribution to the field of inward investment and growth of Omans non-oil exports. Taleb Al Makhmari, Ithraas director general of Marketing & Media, who accepted the award, said: I am thrilled Ithraa has received this prize as it celebrates the work we do with our partners in government and Omans business community. We are absolutely committed to supporting local as well as international businesses succeed and this Corporate Excellence Award for Public Administration is testament to our continued innovation to develop these relationships. Indeed, foreign capital is crucial for Omans future growth and we work hard to attract international investors, he added. Ithraas success is based on its clear international strategy with its bespoke approach to different markets and sectors, crucially supported by private and public sector partners. The award underscores Omans outstanding business offer and further enhances its global brand as a great place to do business and as an investment destination. Over the past 20 years, Ithraa has helped create and safeguard jobs across the sultanate spanning a variety of sectors, ranging from highly innovative manufacturing investments to large-scale retail. Although we continue to work in challenging economic times, there are many outstanding opportunities that lie ahead for Oman and I have absolute confidence that Ithraa has the skill and determination to take full advantage of them, remarked Al Makhmari. Just being shortlisted for the Corporate Excellence Award for Public Administration, even better winning one is proof to colleagues and clients that our work has been judged to be among the best in the Arab region. Its a great morale booster for Team Ithraa and Omans business community, he concluded. TradeArabia News Service Bank Sohar recently pledged support to local youth partaking in the Oman Ambassadors Award - an accolade recognizing the individual achievements of academic scholarship holders representing Oman abroad. The Award recognizes achievements in educational projects, scientific research, artistic and literary talent, as well as the philanthropic initiatives of Omani youth abroad. The award ceremony will take place on January 1, 2019. Haider Al Lawati, unit head of Marketing Communication at Bank Sohar, signed the digital agreement on behalf of the Bank alongside a representative of the Oman Ambassadors Award for International Students. Ahmed Al Musalmi, CEO of Bank Sohar, said: Our commitment to young Omanis and recognizing educational excellence is unwavering, it is in fact an honour for the bank to participate in this prestigious award and acknowledge the achievements of those representing the Sultanate across the international arena. Supporting educational attainment, outstanding performance, and the contribution of students - at home and abroad - is a central component of our CSR programme and strategy to empower local communities with a view to achieving sustainable value, growth, and prosperity. Launched in 2015, the Oman Ambassadors Award for International Students was established by the Omani Student Consultative Council in the UK aided by the Cultural Attache in London. The first award coincided with Omans 45th National Day in Swansea, followed by second and third editions that were held in Birmingham and London, UK for 2016/2017 respectively. This years edition is witnessing the highest number of participation with Omani students joining from the various foreign countries. TradeArabia News Service Aramex, a leading global provider of logistics solutions, said that its Saudi division is entering into a strategic partnership with Al-Dawaa Medical Services Co. (DMSCO), the exclusive owner of Al-Dawaa Pharmacies. The agreement will look to expand the logistics providers presence in the Saudi market, provide a new and unique service to the e-commerce sector, and extend additional services to Al-Dawaa Pharmacies clientele. The first phase of the partnership will enable Aramex to launch service centres within 20 branches of Al-Dawaa Pharmacies distributed across the Kingdom. The second phase will see Aramex expand to hundreds of branches within the Al-Dawaa Pharmacies pharmaceutical network. The collaboration is part of Aramexs commitment to enhancing its accessibility and allowing customers to receive their shipments and parcels with ease. In addition, the agreement will allow customers to return e-commerce shipments by delivering them to service centres located across the pharmacys network. The arrangement will also serve Al-Dawaa Pharmacies strategy, which focuses on offering new and innovative solutions to its customers and partners. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Alnowaiser, general manager at Aramex Saudi Arabia, said: We are delighted to be partnering with Al-Dawaa Pharmacies (DMSCO). Our collaboration reflects a commitment to expanding Aramexs presence across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and enhancing the services we provide to customers and suppliers in the e-commerce market. The strategic nature of todays collaboration mirrors Saudi Arabias tremendous economic transformation, whilst meeting our customers demand for a convenient and accessible service. We look forward to expanding our collaboration with a large section of Al-Dawaa Pharmacies network across the Kingdom in the near future. Hussam Baraqouni, chief executive officer, Aramex, GCC, Levant, Turkey, Central Asia and Indian Sub-Continent, added: The Saudi market is a vital arena for Aramex. Over the past few years, we have successfully ingrained ourselves within the community and forged meaningful partnerships by providing reliable services. Todays agreement is uniquely positioned to strengthen these efforts and to develop the domestic e-commerce sector in line with the Saudi governments plans to strengthen its contribution to the national economy. Increasing Aramexs accessibility across the Saudi market is a top priority for us as we look forward to developing and delivering innovative solutions that can enhance our customer service experience. Mohammad bin Saad Al Faraj, executive manager at DMSCO, said: We are proud that Al-Dawaa Pharmacies is in a position to constantly provide its customer and partner base with innovative solutions. Partnering with one of the worlds leading brands is crucial as we look to develop our customer service and experience. Our vision is to be the first destination for our customers diverse cosmetic, medical, personal care and healthy nutrition needs. The Kingdom is witnessing tremendous growth in the e-commerce sphere and we believe that our collaboration with Aramex will empower its development. By leveraging our network, the logistics sector is set to strengthen its contribution to the countrys economic development and growing e-commerce sector. TradeArabia News Service Dhaka, Aug 26 (UNI) With the killing of 14 people in a road accident in Natore on the 4th day of Eid-ul-Azha, a total of 58 people lost their lives in road accidents across the Bangladesh from Monday to Saturday. The Natore crash also left 14 others injured on Natore-Pabna highway at Kadamchilan in Baraigram upazila on Saturday afternoon. Five of the deceased were identified as Rajofa, 45, and Shefali Begum, 48, of Narayanpur village of Boraigram upazila in the district, Logena, 60, and Aduri Biswas, 35, of Jamaidigha village in the same upazila and Abdus Subhan, 75, of Pakshi in Pabna district. The accident took place when a Bogura-bound bus of 'Challenger Paribahan' from Pabna hit a human-hauler (locally named as leguna) carrying 15 passengers around 1610 hrs, leaving 13 passengers of the human-hauler dead on the spot and 15 bus travellers injured, said Biplob BijayTalukder, superintendent of Natore police. Meanwhile, the district administration formed a 3-member probe committee, led by additional district magistrate Mohammad Saiduzzaman, which has been asked to submit its report within five working days. Besides, the local administration announced to provide TK 20,000 to each of the deceased's families and Tk 10,000 to each of the injured victims' families. Meanwhile, the roads and highways department formed a ten-member probe committee to investigate the accidents occurred across the country during the Eid vacation. The committee was formed at the directive of road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader, said Abu Naser, senior information officer of the department. The committee, headed by additional director Shafiqul Islam, was asked to submit its report within next 10 days, he added. Earlier in the morning, two people were killed and 25 others injured in a road accident on Dhaka-Chattogram highway at Jimaltola in Cumilla's Daudkandi upazila. In Rajshahi, Md Nazim, 50, and his grandson Arafat, 3, were killed and two others injured in a collision between a motorcycle and an auto-rickshaw in Katakhali area of the city on Saturday morning. Earlier on Friday, at least six people were killed and two others injured as a bus hit a CNG-run auto-rickshaw on Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Lemua upazila on the 3rd day of Eid. On Wednesday, at least six people, including a woman and a child were killed in separate road accidents in Cumilla, Kushtia and Laxmipur districts. On Tuesday, at least nine people, including a schoolboy and a local BNP leader, were killed while 53 others injured in separate road accidents in Gopalganj, Narail, Rajshahi, Natore and Khagrachhari districts. On Monday, at least19 people, including a woman and three children, were killed in road crashes in Narsingdi, Feni and Gaibandha districts. UNI MAZ SDR 1222 Belt and Road Initiative no Marshall Plan:Wang Beijing, Aug 25 (UNIS) The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is not a geopolitical strategy, but international public goods offered by China to the world, according to State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. "The initiative is not China's Marshall Plan," Xinhua quoted Wang telling reporters in the Mongolian capital Ulan Bator. The BRI has come under increasing attack and dubbed as "neocolonialism" for shackling participating countries and forcing them to hand over domestic resources to repay debts. Recently China was accused of using the huge infrastructure project to spy on companies and countries as well as to damp down dissent. The country is alleged to have targeted Belarus, the Maldives, Cambodia, European foreign ministries and non-governmental organisations, according to the report by US cyber security company FireEye. New Delhi/Kathmandu, Aug 26 (UNI) Raksha Bandhan, signifying the undying love and affection between a sister and a brother, was celebrated with gaiety and enthusiasm in the country, as well as in Nepal, on Sunday. Women tied colourful Rakhis on the wrists of their brothers, binding them in an inseparable bond of affection and love. In turn, brothers made a traditional pledge to protect them from evil and misery. At some places, women demonstrated secular culture by tying Rakhis on the wrists of the men of other faiths. Long queues were seen at Rakhi stalls. The sweet shops also made a brisk business at various places in the region on the occasion. A large number of people visited tastefully decorated temples and offered prayers. In Nepal, Janai Purnima, Rakshya Bandhan or Rakshabandhan was celebrated across Nepal. Janai Purnima is believed to be a harbinger of rejuvenation. On this day, Hindu thread-wearing men renew their Janai (white cotton string is worn diagonally from the left shoulder to the right waist). The priests tie coloured thread (raksha dhago) around peoples wrist which is said to protect people from evil. The day is also known as Rishi Tarpani. Priests visit their Yajman (hosts) and bless them with the sacred thread. It is believed that Indra, the king of gods was protected by a thread tied around his wrist by his Guru Brihaspati against the war with Bali, the king of demons. Prior to that, he was repeatedly defeated by Bali sans the thread. Likewise, Rakshya Bandan also known as Rakshabandhan is observed mostly by the Madhesi community on this day. Lately, the Rakhi culture has found popularity across various parts of this Himalayan nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu greeted people on the occasion. Greetings to my countrymen on Raksha Bandhan," the Prime Minister said in a message. Addressing more than 100 school children from various schools in Delhi, who came to his residence to tie rakhi, the Vice President said Raksha Bandhan is 'a symbol of care and protection'. Terming it as an ancient Bharatiya tradition, he explained that the festival which was traditionally a celebration of bonding between sisters and brothers, has a larger significance for contemporary times and probably for all times. 'It is celebration of solidarity, a celebration of unity and a celebration of humanism,' he added. 'Let us tie that rakhi that binds us all together. Let us forget all the differences that tend to fragment our social fabric,' he added. The raksha bandhan signifies the invisible bond between brother and sister and also reflects inherent implication of protection of a sister by the brother, he said. 'Let us all uphold the tradition by ensuring protection and respecting dignity of all women. Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao and Beti Badaao should be the mantra of every Indian,' he added. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj visited the Vice President's residence and tied rakhi to him. The traditional festival of amity and harmony was observed with flying colours by the organisations like Rastriya Swayamsebak Sangha(RSS), Banabasi Kalyan Ashram Tripura(BKAT) and others in the northern Tripura district of Dhalai. RSS activists tied threads on the hands of jawans and officers of the Border Security Force (BSF) and other paramilitary forces in their outposts. They also tied Rakhis to the patients in the hospitals and to the rank and file. At Raj Bhawan in Patna, Brahmkumari sisters of Brahamkumar Ishwariya Vishwavidyalaya tied rakhis to Bihar Governor Lalji Tandon. On the occasion, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar tied rakhi to a tree at Rajdhani Vatika in Patna, to create environmental awareness as Bihar observed tree protection day. Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, Energy Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav, road construction minister Nand Kishore Yadav, health minister Mangal Pandey, education minister Krishnandan Prasad Verma, MLAs Shyam Rajak and Arun Kumar Sinha and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP Misa Bharti, along with her other sisters, tied rakhis to their brothers- Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejaswi Yadav and his eldest brother RJD MLA Tej Pratap Yadav. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee greeted people on the occasion. Heartiest greetings to all my brothers and sisters on the occasion of Rakhi Bandhan. Inspired by the ideals of Rabindranath Tagore, we observe this day as Sanskriti Dibas in Bangla, Ms Banerjee posted on her social networking page. On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, the West Bengal Government is organising statewide programmes to observe Sanskriti Dibas. In 1905, Rabindranath Tagore had observed Rakhi Bandhan as a mark of unity between Hindus and Muslims, when the British decided to divide Bengal. Sanskriti Dibas is being observed in 341 Blocks, 117 municipalities, six Municipal Corporations and in all the 144 wards of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). Girls and women in the Fulbari region of West Bengal tied sacred threads on the wrists of personnel of the paramilitary Border Security Force (BSF). Raksha Bandhan was celebrated with religious fervour and enthusiasm in Haryana. Women tied 'rakhis' on the wrists of their brothers, who provided gifts to their sisters and promised to protect them. On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, sisters and daughters of various institutions greeted Haryana Governor Satyadev Narayan Arya and first lady Saraswati Devi and tied Rakhi on the wrist of the Governor. Earlier, the Governor and his wife gave the message of environment conservation by planting saplings in Haryana Raj Bhavan premises. Earlier in the day, sisters from Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya tied Rakhi on the wrists of Governor and the first Lady and prayed for their healthy and happy life. The Hindustan Scouts and Guides girls also tied Rakhi. The festival of Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety across Madhya Pradesh. Women tied colourful 'rakhis' on the arms of their brothers. In return, brothers provided gifts to their sisters and promised to protect them through all their life. Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, his Cabinet colleagues and other political leaders extended their wishes to the people on the occasion. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya celebrated the festival along with senior citizens and disabled persons in Indore. He said that he has been celebrating the festival in similar manner since many decades. Likewise, the festival was celebrated in traditional manner in Gwalior, Jabalpur, Ujjain, Sagar, Rewa, Shahdol and other districts. Raksha Bandhan, the festival of bond and faith between sisters and brothers, was celebrated with religious fervour and enthusiasm in this winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Markets in various areas of Jammu city were abuzz with customers, especially women, since early morning. All major markets in the city witnessed a heavy rush of customers besides long traffic jams. Kite flying competition, like in other parts of the country, is also popular in Jammu city to mark the festival. The sky was full of kites, with people standing on their roof tops amid hot and humid weather to enjoy the view. Tripura has immersed in Rakhsa Bandhan celebrations since Saturday with pomp and gaiety across religious communities and paramilitary forces. Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb accepted Rakhis in an open ceremony at his official residence after lunch. In his greetings on the occasion, Mr Deb said, 'Beyond every relationship, is the relation between a brother and a sister, which is best celebrated when a sister ties Rakhi to her brother's wrist, sealing the bond with the promise to always protect her.' The women workers of BJP tied Rakhi to the jawans at Indo-Bangladesh border here on Saturday, as part of the celebrations in Bengal. UNI Team RJ SHK2017 Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 26 (UNI) Kerala Government organised a formal farewell function on Sunday in the honour of various Central Forces, which played a pivotal role in the rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit state. 'We could directly witness the bold initiatives they took to rescue those who were stranded in flood waters,' said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the function held at Air Force Station, Shanghumukham, Thiruvananthapuram. He also appreciated the military and paramilitary forces, who saved the helpless, braving adverse circumstances. 'All that we can say is that your services will be kept in mind in the times to come too, with gratitude and appreciation,' the Chief Minister said. The Chief Minister also said that the calamity would have been greater, if the Forces haven't worked hand in hand with the state government. Citations were presented by the Chief Minister to Air Marshal B Suresh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Air Command , Rear Admiral R J Nadkarni, Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command, Brigadier C G Arun, Station Commander, Pangode Military Station, Rekha Nambiar, NDRF Commandant, Sanatan Jena, DIG Coast Guard, Giriprasad, IG, CRPF, B C Nair, DIG BSF, Vishal Anand, Commandant ITBF and Dhanya Sanal, Defence PRO and to all military and paramilitary forces, who participated in the rescue mission. Air Marshal B Suresh said that they could act efficiently because of the clear directions given by the Chief Minister. 'He was leading from the front,' said the Air Marshal. He also appreciated the volunteers, fishermen and all those who were part of the rescue and relief activities. The indomitable spirit of Malayalis also found mention in his speech. 'Even in camps, their spirit is alive,' said Mr Suresh. Ministers E Chandrasekharan, Kadakampally Surendran, K T Jaleel, M M Mani, K K Shailaja, A K Balan and E P Jayarajan, Chief Secretary Tom Jose, DGP Lokanath Behera and District Collector Dr K Vasuki attended the function. UNI DS RJ 2120 COVID-19: Telangana records 160 new cases, two more deaths 01 Nov 2021 | 9:50 PM Hyderabad, Nov 1 (UNI) Telangana added 160 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, pushing the cumulative caseload of the state to 6,71,623. see more.. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launches five vessels at Cochin Shipyard 01 Nov 2021 | 9:48 PM Kochi, Nov 1 (UNI) Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, on Monday inaugurated the simultaneous launching of five vessels at the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). see more.. Strict security arrangements for counting of Deglur-Biloli assembly by-poll tomorrow 01 Nov 2021 | 9:46 PM Nanded, Nov 1 (UNI) Strict security arrangements have been made for the counting of votes to be held on Tuesday for the Deglur-Biloli assembly by-election. see more.. Rs 1000 cr ODOP products of UP sold through Flipkart 01 Nov 2021 | 9:46 PM Lucknow, Nov 1 (UNI) More than 2 crore ODOP products of around Rs 1000 crore has been sold out in 2020-21 on Flipkart portal which has helped artisans of Uttar Pradesh in big way. see more.. United Nations, Aug 26 (UNI) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the attack on 23 August by presumed anti-Balaka elements on the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) in which one peacekeeper from Burundi was killed. In a statement issued by his spokesman, Mr Guterres offered his deepest condolences to the family of the deceased peacekeeper, as well as to the Government of Burundi. The UN chief also recalled that intentionally directing attacks against United Nations peacekeepers may constitute a war crime and that sanctions can be applied against the perpetrators. This combination of pictures created on Aug 24, 2018 shows US Senator John McCain and US President Donald Trump. (Photo: AFP/Mandel Ngan, Brendan Smialowski) The two men never pretended to like each other. It was not just their clashing personalities or vastly dissimilar backgrounds. Their differences were fundamental, their values dramatically at odds, and their disagreements public and pointed. When Trump announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination in June 2015, suggesting that many Mexican immigrants were criminals and "rapists", McCain denounced him for using language that "fired up the crazies". Senator John McCain, seen shortly after his brain cancer was diagnosed in July 2017 AFP/JUSTIN SULLIVAN Trump's response: McCain was a "dummy" who had barely managed to graduate from the US Naval Academy. Never one to give in, Trump then attacked the former navy pilot over what might have seemed his least vulnerable point: the military career - including more than five years as a wounded and tortured prisoner of war in Vietnam - for which he received a slew of decorations including the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit and three Bronze Stars. Trump, who received serial deferments and did not serve in the military, said that McCain was "a war hero (only) because he was captured", adding, "I like people that weren't captured." That comment that drew widespread condemnation, including from several veterans groups. McCain's response starkly illustrated the two men's different characters: The senator sought no apology on his own behalf but said that Trump did owe an apology "to the families of those who have sacrificed in conflict" and of those taken prisoner while "serving their country". The rise of Trump's populist candidacy in 2016 was widely seen as a disavowal of McCain-style Republicanism and of the more establishment approach he took during his own presidential run in 2008. Eight years later, here was a man who openly professed his love of money, who had avoided military service because of a foot problem he later said had healed itself, a man who bragged about greasing the wheels for his New York real estate empire by donating to both Democrats and Republicans, a man who, in short, unapologetically flouted the long-established traditions of American politics and the presidency. As McCain pursued his own re-election to the Senate in 2016, he broke with his party's nominee after a video aired in which Trump could be heard bragging that when he saw beautiful women he would sometimes "grab 'em by the pussy". McCain announced that he would instead vote for "some good conservative Republican who is qualified to be president". PUTIN AND TRUMP One day in November 2016, not long after Trump's surprise victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton, the Arizona senator exploded when journalists in the Capitol continued to pummel him with questions about the incoming president: "Do not ask me about Donald Trump. I do not want to be rude to anyone, but I do not want to be asked about Donald Trump." It was not an easy vow to carry out, given Trump's undeniable talent for dominating political debate even while blowing up long-established norms and tenets of American domestic and foreign policy. But what most scandalized the aging senator was the new president's persistent refusal to acknowledge and confront Russian meddling in the US political process. Senator McCain, seen here in the Capitol in October 2017, snapped at journalists when they refused to stop questioning him about the president AFP/MARK WILSON As time went on, McCain's resistance grew more direct and his words sharper. As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee he opened his own inquiry into Russian interference. And when he heard Trump's accommodating words toward Russian President Vladimir Putin when the two met in July in Helsinki, he could contain himself no longer. "Today's press conference in Helsinki was one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory," McCain said in a blistering statement. "The damage inflicted by President Trump's naivete, egotism, false equivalence, and sympathy for autocrats is difficult to calculate." Even as McCain's health ebbed, he missed few opportunities to lash out at the president. He was one of just three Republican senators to vote against - and thus defeat - a Trump-backed effort to repeal Barack Obama's signature health-care law. That single vote earned lasting disdain from the president. But McCain did not back down. In an op-ed article in the Washington Post, he called the president "impulsive" and "often poorly informed." In a prepared speech that seemed directed at the president and his aides, McCain denounced the "spurious nationalism" of people who "would rather find scapegoats than solve problems." And when an October 2017 interview turned to the subject of service in the Vietnam War - a profoundly marking experience in McCain's own life - he did not hold back. President Donald Trump signed the John S McCain National Defense Authorization Act without ever mentioning the senator's name AFP/Brendan Smialowski "One aspect of the conflict, by the way, that I will never countenance is that we drafted the lowest-income level of America, and the highest-income level found a doctor that would say that they had a bone spur," he said. "That is wrong. That is wrong." The allusion to the medical deferment that saved a young Donald Trump from serving in that war could not have been clearer. The patent contempt the two men displayed for each other showed no sign of fading, even as McCain continued to weaken. A few weeks ago, Trump could not even bring himself to say McCain's name during a signing ceremony for a defense funding bill that fellow senators had named in the Arizona lawmaker's honor. Overcome Hardships by Making the Most of Difficult Situations Facing adversity, one may find it hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Just the thought of suffering can cause anxiety and fear. Most people are familiar with this scenario, but many dont realize that, by changing our perspective, we can influence circumstances and even enhance Sport Virat Kohli admits India 'not brave enough' as World Cup hopes fade "We didn't have much to defend but we weren't brave when we walked out to field. When you play for the Indian cricket team you have a lot of expectations not just from fans, but players as well," Kohli said. Photo: Showtime In last weeks Who Is America? episode, Sacha Baron Cohens anti-terrorism expert character, Erran Morad, swung by the mansion of Real Housewives of Orange Country star Gretchen Rossi for a lesson in security. Mostly, though, he used it as excuse to flirt with Rossi and constantly insult her faggot boyfriend Slade Smiley, with the duo generally staying in good spirits throughout their four hours of filming time even though, as Rossi now tells the New York Post, they worried Cohen was a legitimate terrorist when he left. The production company called us beforehand to tell us about the show and what to expect, Rossi explained. And what they said to us was, Look, this is a Mousad agent from Israel hes a huge Trump supporter and hes this and hes that and we just want to make sure youre not going to be offended by anything hes saying or doing. Some of the stunts Cohen asked them to do they politely declined, such as Smiley acting like a big black man to try to break into their home. Rossi also said Smiley wanted to call the authorities at one point during filming, and they later destroyed the business card Cohen left behind because they believed a tracking device couldve been inside it. Still, Rossi had a fabulous time. Im so honored that Sacha Cohen thought to prank me and Slade! she sums up. To even be on his radar in any aspect, I feel honored that he even wants to be hanging out with us. As the nation mourns the death of Sen. John McCain, friends and colleagues of the Arizona Republican are remembering the life of the man who made a lasting impact on so many. McCain died Saturday, one day after his family announced he had chosen to stop treatment for the brain cancer he had been battling for more than a year. His death prompted an outpouring of reminiscences, including lighthearted stories from even his sometime political foes, with many calling him a patriot as well as a politician who will be remembered for his integrity. 'An emotional thing for John' Former Republican Sen. Bob Dole, a veteran like McCain who served for more than a decade in the Senate as majority leader, shared his favorite memory of McCain with anchor Ana Cabrera on "CNN Newsroom." "I wore John's POW bracelet for a number of years," Dole said. "And one day in the Senate, I decided to let John know, and so we got off in a corner, and I extended my arm, and on my wrist was a John McCain POW bracelet. It was kind of an emotional thing for John." McCain was a prisoner of war for more than five years after his plane was shot down in North Vietnam. The injuries he sustained in the war left him permanently incapable of raising his arms above his shoulders. "He was my friend," Dole said. "And, you know, what do you say about a man like John McCain?" Funny in the 'weirdest' ways McCain's longtime friend, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, recalled McCain's humor in an interview with CNN's Dana Bash. "You know, he is funny in the weirdest kind of ways," Graham said. "You know, I'm not a big reader. He is. But I might as well be because he reads the entire book to me." When asked to clarify if McCain would actually read the books out loud, the South Carolina senator replied: "Yes, reads it loud. ... You know, 'What you do think about that?' I said, 'Well, I think if I liked that book I would have bought it.' But John has a very sarcastic sense of humor that took him through some pretty dark times, but he's a funny guy." "You know, he can be tough," Graham added. "He is a politician like the rest of us. But the one thing I always believed about John, if I really needed him, he would be there. When he joins the fight, he sticks to the bitter end. There is no changing sides." 'Don't back down' McCain's fellow Republican senator from Arizona, Jeff Flake, shared advice McCain gave him after Flake was elected to the House and was being criticized in his home state for his stances on reducing spending and earmarks. Flake recalled the two traveling back to Arizona together, when McCain approached Flake with "a stern look on his face." "I was like, 'What'd I do? What'd I do?'" Flake said. "And he put his finger in my chest and said, 'Don't back down.' He said, 'Don't back down, you're in the right, they'll come around. They'll come around. Stick to it.' And that was ... really nice of him to do. And I did stick to it. And they came around." 'This joy for his work' Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota said McCain's love for his country was "unmatched." "While he never made it to the presidency, in the Senate he was the leader that would see a hot spot in the world and decide we need to go there and stand up for that democracy," Klobuchar said. She added: "He went every place -- every place that no one else would go -- to stand up for America, and in that way, he was a leader like no other. But I think part of the moment that people don't always realize about him was just this humor he had, this joy for his work, and that's anyone that worked with him experienced that. So, yes, it's about patriotism, but it's also about personal friendship." 'Doing vodka shots' Hillary Clinton recalled stories of her and McCain's travels together -- including one time when the two drank vodka shots together. "Well, our most famous experience with vodka shots was in Tallinn, Estonia, and of course we were there because John understood that Estonia was right on the front lines with Russia, and although we all hope that Russia would be a good partner, we had reason to be concerned," Clinton told Bash. "So we spent a memorable night in a hotel right on the old square in Tallinn doing vodka shots." When asked whose idea that was, Clinton said it was "a mutually agreed-upon venture." "We used to say what happens in Tallinn stays in Tallinn," she said. Devil horn 'revenge' Members of the media also shared their memories of their interactions with Arizona's senior senator. CNN's Manu Raju tweeted about an instance when McCain's humor shined; while Raju was on live television, McCain came up behind him and gave him horns with his fingers, later calling it "revenge" in a Twitter post. "McCain loved this moment when he gave me the devil horns on live TV - he especially loved his tweet about this episode, which he said may have been his most retweeted tweet," Raju wrote on Twitter. 'A chasm in the public square' CNN's Jake Tapper, who covered McCain for many years, also reflected on the senator and Vietnam War veteran's life on CNN's "State of the Union." "Unlike other politicians who never admit error or even imperfection, McCain was all too aware of his and was usually the first to raise them. And yet, there was always, with the senator, standing there, defiant, the reality of his past, of what he did as a prisoner of war," Tapper said, a reference to McCain's refusal to be released by his North Vietnamese captors unless the soldiers taken captive before him also were freed. "[A]nd as we say goodbye to Senator McCain this week, many of us feel as if we have lost something other than just a man," Tapper said. "That may be not only because he tried to encourage us all to serve a cause greater than ourselves, it may be because he never stopped trying to be a better man. He never stopped trying to become the man he wanted to be. 'We're all afraid of something ...' McCain wrote in his book 'Why Courage Matters.' 'Don't let the sensation of fear convince you that you're too weak to have courage. Fear is the opportunity for courage, not proof of cowardice. No one is born a coward. We were meant to love. And we were meant to have the courage for it. So be brave. The rest is easy.' "We're in an era right now of lies and indecency, of tribalism and nastiness, and in this era, we lost someone who tried -- tried -- to embody the opposite of those vicious impulses," Tapper said. "His loss leaves a chasm in the public square." Faulty travel apps cause confusion on I-24 in Trigg County Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 26, 2018 | PADUCAH By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 26, 2018 | 02:21 PM | PADUCAH An investigation into possible prostitution at a Paducah hotel led to the arrest of two people on Friday. The McCracken County Sheriff's Department says drug detectives started an investigation after they got a tip about possible prostitution and drug activity at a hotel in the 3000 block of Hinkleville Road. The investigation reportedly showed 44-year-old Cassidy Hawkins of Paducah had been staying at the room, and had posted online ads with an escort service suspected of being involved with prostitution. While conducting surveillance in the area, detectives identified and arrested 54-year-old Gregory Arnett, who was wanted on a Graves County burglary charge. Detectives said Arnett told them he was visiting a woman named Cassidy at the hotel. An undercover detective called Hawkins, who officers say agreed to have sex for money. Detectives arrested Hawkins Friday afternoon at the hotel. During a search they reportedly found methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. They also seized $850 in cash. Both Arnett and Hawkins were booked into the McCracken County Regional Jail. Hawkins is charged with prostitution, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Arnett is charged with the Graves County warrant for second degree burglary. Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. Signatures collected for an independent candidate by a Virginia Republican congressman's staffers listed 59 allegedly fraudulent signatures and the names of four dead people, according to a newspaper's investigation. Campaign staffers for U.S. Rep. Scott Taylor, who is running for re-election in Virginia's 2nd District, collected the signatures to help get independent Shaun Brown on the ballot ahead of the tight November race, The Virginian-Pilot . The signatures were submitted just before the June 12 filing deadline. Out of the 584 people listed, the newspaper was able to contact 115 listees or their family members. Of those reached, 59 declared the signatures to be fraudulent. Democratic party officials, who are suing state elections officials to end Brown's candidacy, say Taylor's petition was an effort to siphon votes from Democratic candidate Elaine Luria. Brown goes to trial in October on charges that she defrauded the federal government through a summer meal program for children. She has said she didn't know Taylor's staff was collecting signatures. Taylor's office said earlier this month that he was aware that his staff had volunteered to collect signatures for Brown. But he said he was not at all involved. He also said the campaign workers were collecting signatures because they thought Brown had been treated unfairly by Democrats. Taylor said weeks ago that he previously fired his campaign manager over separate issues, but "current knowledge underscores that decision." It also prompted him to fire a campaign consultant. Some of the fake entries contained misspelled names. Others included an outdated address next to the name. One person was in the hospital being treated for throat cancer on the day he was reported to have signed. Many of those named were elderly people, including Floyd Felten of Virginia Beach, whose name also was misspelled. Felten's daughter, Carol Campbell, said she's sure that her father didn't sign. "He's 102," Campbell told The Virginian-Pilot. "He really can't sign his name that well." Brown was the Democratic candidate in Virginia's 2nd District in 2016. She lost to Taylor by nearly 23 percentage points. The race between Taylor and Luria has been listed as either a toss-up or as leaning Republican. A handwritten document titled "Phases of a Terrorist Attack." Talk of confronting and attacking "corrupt" institutions, including Atlanta's Grady Memorial Hospital. Jokes about dying in jihad. An underground stash of weapons and ammunition. New court documents revealed these and other details in the case against five adults who lived in squalor with 11 starving children in a ramshackle New Mexico compound. Crime, law enforcement and corrections Criminal law International relations and national security Law and legal system Misc people National security Siraj Wahhaj Terrorism Terrorism and counter-terrorism Terrorist attacks Unrest, conflicts and war Children Demographic groups Families and children Family members and relatives Firearms Population and demographics Society Weapons and arms Atlanta Business and industry sectors Business, economy and trade Continents and regions Federal Bureau of Investigation Georgia Government and public administration Government bodies and offices Government organizations - US Health and medical Health care Health care facilities Hospitals Missing persons North America Southeastern United States The Americas United States US Department of Justice US federal departments and agencies US federal government New Mexico Southwestern United States Lucas Morten Jany Leveille In a case infused with allegations of abuse and terrorism, prosecutors this week asked a judge to reconsider an order granting bond to all five adults arrested at the compound. As part of the request, prosecutors on Friday cited not only the death of three-year-old Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj at the remote site but also plans by the defendants to attack law enforcement and "specific targets such as teachers, schools, banks and other 'corrupt' institutions." The dead boy's father, Siraj Wahhaj, 40, and his partner, Jany Leveille, 35, have been charged with abuse of a child resulting in death, a first-degree felony with a penalty of up to life in prison, according to court documents. They were also charged with conspiracy to commit child abuse, also a first-degree felony. The couple and three other adults -- Wahhaj's sisters, Hujrah Wahhaj and Subhannah Wahhaj; and Lucas Morten -- were previously charged with 11 felony counts of child abuse. 'The one-time terrorist' The 13-page motion filed Friday said items found at the compound included the "Phases of a Terrorist Attack" document. The handwritten document contained "instructions for 'The one-time terrorist,' instructions on the use of a 'choke point,' a location 'called the ideal attack site,' the 'ability to defend the safe haven,' the 'ability to escape-perimeter rings,' and 'sniper position detection procedure,'" according to the court filing. Some of the children at the compound told police that Morten allegedly "stated he wished to die in Jihad, as a martyr," prosecutors said in the motion. "At times, Jany Leveille would laugh and joke about dying in Jihad as would Subhanna Wahhaj," according to the court document. The state's case includes a letter from Morten encouraging the brother of Siraj Wahhaj to follow Allah "until he makes you die a martyr as you wanted and the only way is by joining the righteous." The relative was advised to "take all your money out of the bank and bring your guns," according to the court document. 'Displeasure with Grady Hospital' The children told police that Leveille "intended to confront 'corrupt' institutions or individuals, such as the military, big businesses, CIA, teachers/schools and reveal the 'truth' to these corrupt institutions or individuals," the document said. If her message failed to persuade members of those institutions, the plan called for her to signal Siraj Wahhaj to "shoot or otherwise attack the non-believer." One such institution was Grady Memorial Hospital, the document said. Leveille, in a journal, had "expressed her displeasure with Grady Hospital ... due to the treatment she and her mother received there." The document contained no details about how she said she was treated. Grady, in downtown Atlanta, is one of the largest public hospitals in the Southeast. A weapons stash in a tunnel The court document also revealed Siraj Wahhaj had instructed the group to defend the compound with weapons in the event of a nighttime police raid. Authorities have said the property included a makeshift shooting range. Police said they recovered an AR-15 rifle, loaded 30-round magazines, four loaded pistols and many rounds of ammunition. The children told investigators in recent interviews that a tunnel on the property was to be used as an "escape route" if police arrived as Siraj Wahhaj and Morten "stayed behind and battled with police," according to Friday's court filing. "The guns located at the exit of the tunnel were stored there ... so that as the group exited the tunnel, the group could arm themselves with weapons and ammunition," the document said. Advance firearms training The court document said two children told an FBI agent that they had been trained in "advanced firearms handling and had been instructed to shoot law enforcement personnel when the time came and that they would be instructed in the future to attack specific targets such as teachers, schools, banks and other 'corrupt institutions.'" Police raided the squalid compound on August 3, hoping to find Abdul-Ghani. His remains were found there days later. His mother in Georgia said the boy had been missing for more than eight months. He was last seen leaving his Jonesboro, Georgia, home with his father in late November. His mother had said he couldn't walk, suffered seizures and required constant medical attention. 'Terrorist watch list' CNN obtained dashcam video and lapel audio from a June 30 trespassing complaint at the compound. A couple, Tanya and Jason Badger, told the responding officer the suspects had set up the compound on their lot. They had previously called authorities to report a possible missing child living on the property. The officer told the Badgers that one of the men in the compound was on a "terror watch list." He said local authorities had not responded to calls about the missing child because of an FBI investigation. "We've gotten multiple calls on this child but, at the same time, our hands are tied because the FBI has whatever they got going on up there with them,'" Officer Bryan Donis said in the recording. Donis said calls about a missing boy on the property began in January. Tanya Badger said she only started making calls a few weeks earlier. "All I know is that he's on the terrorist watch list," Donis is heard saying, without naming the person. "I know this boy is missing from Georgia and that this guy is on the terrorist watch list and that there is a group of people they're (FBI) keeping an eye on for whatever reason." Frank Fisher, an FBI spokesman in Albuquerque, said the agency cannot confirm or deny whether a person is listed in a terrorist screening database. He declined comment on the officer's claim that local authorities were unable to intervene because of a federal investigation. "It would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time," he said via email. Taos County Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe this month walked out of a CNN interview after defending his decision not to search the compound despite having the property owners' permission to do so. Hogrefe said the FBI surveilled the property for weeks starting in May. In June, a sheriff's deputy showed up to serve an eviction notice. But the sheriff said the horrifying conditions that investigators later encountered didn't prompt more immediate action. No children were seen at the time, he said. FBI surveillance had spotted children, including one who walked with a limp, he said. "It's not like it's hard enough to live every day wishing that I could have got there quicker, but you've got to get there lawfully," he said before walking out on the interview. On Friday, President Donald Trump canceled Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's trip to North Korea, citing the lack of progress on denuclearization and blaming China. "Because of our much tougher Trading stance with China, I do not believe they are helping with the process of denuclearization," Trump tweeted. Trump is right. His trade war with China is undermining diplomatic efforts to denuclearize North Korea, as well as other US objectives. Donald Trump Foreign policy International relations International relations and national security Political Figures - US Asia Beijing Business, economy and trade China Continents and regions East Asia Economic policy Economy and economic indicators Government and public administration Government bodies and offices International trade International trade law North America North Korea Political Figures - Intl Tariffs and customs The Americas Trade and development Trade regulation and policy Trade wars United States US federal government White House Xi Jinping Trump promised Americans that a trade war would be "good and easy to win." While the trade war may be hurting China more than the US, tariffs are also taking a toll on American soybean farmers and businesses that rely on Chinese imports. Experts expect American consumers to be hit hard if the reciprocal tariffs keep escalating. On Thursday, as trade talks between American and Chinese officials failed to make any progress, the Trump administration's tariffs on $16 billion worth of Chinese goods went into effect. China retaliated in kind with its own tariffs on a similar amount of US goods. Trump has threatened to impose another round of tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports and Beijing is ready to keep the cycle going. Trump still seems to think that this trade war is going to lead to an easy win. Earlier this week, Trump boasted at a rally: "When I came we were heading in a certain direction that was going to allow China to be bigger than us in a very short period of time. That's not going to happen anymore." Trump's attitude is being interpreted in Beijing as a sign that Trump doesn't just want to equalize a trade imbalance, but instead wants to stop China's growth altogether. That has rankled Beijing, with some likening it to the start of a new Cold War. So it's no surprise that we're seeing the diplomatic consequences of our deteriorating relationship with China. The cancellation of Pompeo's visit to North Korea shows that Trump may be beginning to grasp just how significant a problem this could be for US national security. Pyongyang has a long history of promising to denuclearize and subsequently failing to follow through. It's not because of China that North Korea is repeating this pattern and failing to give up their weapons. But China wields leverage over North Korea by virtue of being its largest trading partner (it accounts for more than 90% of North Korea's foreign trade) and Beijing could exert more economic pressure on Pyongyang. That could force North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to choose whether to feed his people or continue to pursue his nuclear weapons program. Instead, China is giving North Korea a pass by failing to comply with existing sanctions. This isn't anything new. China has at times worked with the international community to pressure North Korea. More often than not, however, China has failed to implement international sanctions. But there's more at stake this time. In April, Trump credited Chinese President Xi Jinping for being a constructive partner on North Korea, tweeting: "Please do not forget the great help that my good friend, President Xi of China, has given to the United States, particularly at the Border of North Korea. Without him, it would have been a much longer, tougher, process!" But now Xi is playing a very different role. While US intelligence, as well as reporting from the International Atomic Energy Agency, indicates that North Korea may still be developing its nuclear program, Xi has suggested ending sanctions against North Korea. Xi is reportedly also considering going to Pyongyang in September. A visit by Xi would be a huge diplomatic win for Kim, as it would be the first visit by a Chinese president to North Korea since the hermit kingdom's resumed its missile testing in 2006. China is also taking other worrying steps. It is participating in Russia's Vostok 2018 war games, which begin at the end of the month, the first time China has taken part in this military exercise. And last month, China joined Russia's aerial drills, another first for Sino-Russia cooperation. China has the ability to undermine our objectives across the globe. Trump's acknowledgment that Beijing is not helping us with North Korea is just the beginning of the diplomatic fallout we may see from his trade war. In death, Senator John McCain has let loose an international outpouring of sympathy, respect and thinly veiled criticism of President Trump. The tributes flooding in from world leaders seem to amplify McCain's principled stand against his President. Continents and regions Donald Trump Government and public administration Government bodies and offices John McCain North America Political Figures - US The Americas United States US federal government White House Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May, who was criticized publicly by Trump last month, said that, "John McCain was a great statesman, who embodied the idea of service over self." It is hard to read those words and not hear frustration and understand the subtle subtext. Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Mass -- whose country is at loggerheads with Trump, in particular over NATO -- was less delicate: "John McCain was a convinced advocate of a strong and reliable transatlantic partnership, especially in difficult times. He believed in our shared values and principles." Maas leaves little doubt whom he'd have rather seen in the White House. The list goes on. Europeans are clearly troubled by Trump's apparent willingness to give new friends like Vladimir Putin -- whom McCain strongly campaigned against -- preferential treatment over the US's traditional allies. In those countries formerly under the Soviet Union's iron grip, tributes show a longing for the kind of constancy in US relations that McCain championed. Slovakia's President Andrej Kiska lauded McCain as "a man of courage, of strong principles and tireless fighter for the values we share on both banks of the Atlantic." Estonia's Prime Minister Juri Ratas said "he was a courageous and determined man, showing a remarkable understanding of global affairs. His contributions into the security of the Baltic states will never be forgotten." Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaite described McCain's passing as "a big loss not only to our region but also to the whole world." And Latvia's President Raimonds Vejonis, completing the triumvirate of Baltic leaders who have been rattled by Trump's apparent ambivalence to their concerns about Russian aggression, added that McCain was "a true defender of democracy and freedom, and a great friend of Latvia." Friend of many people To imply McCain has garnered such glowing tributes simply to sound off frustration about Trump would be wrong though. He was respected for who and what he was. He traveled the world as a tireless advocate for the United States, and made many friends along the way. I remember meeting him in Afghanistan -- at that time one of the wildest and more dangerous places a US Senator could go -- he was relentless in finding out the facts for himself, whatever potential harm that may have put him in. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday paid him high praise: "Senator McCain served his country honorably in uniform and his service in the Senate is truly exemplary. We will remember his dedication and support towards rebuilding Afghanistan." Where McCain had in the very real sense of the word been in harm's way -- a prisoner of war for five and half years in Vietnam, from 1967 to 1973 -- he was remembered by Vietnamese and Americans alike with flowers and tributes. One American visiting the monument near Truc Bach Lake outside Hanoi, where McCain's bomber jet crashed 51 years ago, told Reuters news agency that McCain "was the last guy I ever voted for as President." Today's world leaders, who have no vote in US Presidential elections, seemed to give a nod towards a man they'd pick over the present incumbent. They have done this not collectively in a carefully choreographed joint statement, but individually picking what's important for them and their countries in what amounts to a fusillade of criticism aimed at Trump. Australia's new Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that "Senator John McCain was a true friend of Australia who was committed to strengthening the alliance between our two nations." President Trump had a disastrous relationship with Morrison's predecessor Malcolm Turnbull, abruptly ending their first phone call days into office over a disagreement about refugees. Of course, any of these tributes can be explained away for simply what they are -- well-intentioned condolence. It is after all the skill of any accomplished politician to find phrases that appeal to all. What I hear may not be what everyone takes away. However, it would feel to me naive not to grasp that, at the very least, what has been said in tribute to McCain -- either intentionally or unintentionally -- amounts to the broadest sounding so far of global disquiet among America's allies with Trump. In that alone, Senator John McCain has been paid the highest accolade of all. UTICA, NY - Ride James. Ride. 10-year-old James Potvin and his father Chris, were out for a little bike ride Saturday. But this was no ordinary bike ride. And James is no ordinary 10-year-old. James is autistic. And the bike ride? A 1000 kilometer trip from their home in Whitby, Ontario Canada to Coney Island New York. The two stopped in Utica to spend some time at the Utica Childrens Museum and meet some new friends from the Kelberman Center. Along the way, Chris Potvin says he and James are not only trying to raise awareness for people with autism, but also $20,000. The money will be split evenly between Grandview Kids in Ontario and EJ Autism in New York City. James is a little trooper. He just keeps on peddling and keeps on going with me. He has a great time. He loves being out. He loves the autonomy and the control of being his own person on the bike and being in control of that. I think, for him, the repetitive motion of the peddling and the therapy of that is something that helps him out an awful lot. You can follow James and Chris to see how theyre doing by clicking here. ROME- Fort Stanwix National Monument in Rome had Junior Ranger Day on Saturday to encourage kids and their families to explore and learn about the countries national parks. The theme for the day was, "past tales, new discoveries", and gave people the chance to discover and enjoy the sights and sounds, and smells of the 18th century. "History is a lot of fun, and learning is also a lot of fun," said Arielle Goellner who is a park ranger at Fort Stanwix. She added, "Even though sometimes you don't know you're learning things, being at the fort and experiencing history as it was with people walking around in colonial gear, and seeing a cannon being fired, and smelling what it would have smelled like back then is a learning experience." Fort Stanwix is open seven days a week from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. and admission is free. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 00:47:21|Editor: zh Video Player Close KABUL, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday appointed the Afghan ambassador to the United States as his new national security advisor, a presidential spokesman said. Hamdullah Mohib will replace Mohammad Hanif Atmar, who resigned earlier Saturday, citing serious differences with leadership of the government over issues related to security, peace, electoral process, national unity and consensus as well as regional and international relations, spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri tweeted. The resignation came amid deteriorating security and increased terrorist attacks in the war-torn country. Islamic State (IS) militants launched a mortar attack on the Presidential Palace, the Defense Ministry building and nearby diplomatic district in Kabul on Tuesday. Scores of security forces and civilians were either killed or wounded in Ghazni city, capital of eastern Ghazni province after Taliban militants captured the city earlier this month. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 02:07:32|Editor: zh Video Player Close Yjastro dancers perform flamenco in old town Albuquerque, New Mexico, the United States, on Aug. 20, 2018. Flamenco, the traditional folk music in southern Spain, enjoys exceptionally wide popularity in the Southwest of the United States. Yjastros, the American Flamenco Repertory Company, has a revolutionary approach that combines the structured improvisation of traditional Spanish flamenco with modern American repertory dance. (Xinhua/Richard Lakin) By Richard Lakin ALBUQUERQUE, the United States, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Flamenco, the traditional folk music in southern Spain, enjoys exceptionally wide popularity in the Southwest of the United States. There are, in fact, more opportunities to experience live flamenco in the U.S. state of New Mexico than one might find in Madrid. Joaquin Encinias, the artistic director and founder of Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company, attributes it to both early settlement of European Spaniards in New Mexico, as well as the state's long history of supporting a diverse array of innovative artistic endeavors through patronage and large enthusiastic audiences. "New Mexico in general, is a hot bed for flamenco and I think there's an affinity here for the Spanish culture based on our roots, but I also think it goes beyond that as well," Encinias explained to Xinhua. "I think it has to do a little bit with our demographic and our socio-economic stature here in New Mexico that allows an art form, a little more niche art form, to cultivate and grow quite vigorously here." He is the third generation of flamenco artists who helped establish the genre in New Mexico, and attributes some of the current popularity to his family's efforts. "I would like to think it's because of the work of my grandmother and mother, as well as my aunts and uncles who did a lot to establish a flamenco community here in Albuquerque (New Mexico)." For anyone attending a flamenco performance for the first time, it is a compelling and dramatic experience. Colorful costumes, stirring guitars, and melodramatic singing create a thrilling concert. The wailing nature of the vocalizations reveals its North African roots. Arabic, Moorish, Jewish, and Gypsy influences came together in Southern Spain to create Andalucia's signature musical genre. Carlos Menchaca, one of Yjastros' dancers characterizes flamenco as, originally, the music of the disenfranchised. "Flamenco has a tragic overtone at times. It speaks of anguish, of ill treatment of the poor or the immigrant. It is almost an outcry. It can also speak of the tragedy of forsaken love. However, sometimes it also paints beautiful poetic pictures of everyday village life," he said. Menchaca was inspired by his aunt, who trained in both flamenco and classical ballet, while growing up in San Antonio, Texas. He came to Albuquerque to join Yjastros' distinctive approach to flamenco. When his aunt staged a three-day workshop with Joaquin Encinias, Menchaca was impressed with the Albuquerque artist's ability to "both dance and speak about flamenco with clarity" and knew then that he wanted to study with the dance group. New Mexico has always been a hub for artists exploring new approaches to painting, photography, ceramics, writing, and dance in artist communities in the solitude of the desert. To appeal New Mexican audiences who have a long history of appreciating avant-garde and experimental art forms, Yjastros has a somewhat revolutionary approach that combines the structured improvisation of traditional Spanish flamenco with modern American repertory dance. In traditional flamenco, it is rare to see more than one dancer performing at a time. Yjastros, however, features multiple dancers in unified choreography, making it a uniquely New Mexican art form. Just as Menchaca described: "Yjastros takes it further. We broaden the horizons of flamenco ... but without compromising its true form." The dance company's name is Spanish for "stepchildren" and it aptly describes a new southwest culture of flamenco, yet one that is still deeply rooted in its Spanish heritage. Utilizing more than 60 pieces of choreography from Spanish and international artists, Yjastros is the voice of choreographic flamenco here in the United States. Through this way, Encinias believes the dance company has impacted the art in a large degree. "We draw a lot of artists from Spain who come here and leave their stamp on our company through their choreography. We're a living archive of those pieces and a real important group of dancers and musicians that set the bar for a lot of young dancers to aspire to." The company has achieved international recognition for its innovative interpretations of classic flamenco and regularly features some of the world's finest flamenco guest artists in their performances for American audiences. The company performs at a variety of venues in central New Mexico, as well as during the Annual Festival Flamenco de Albuquerque, which features renowned artists from all over the world. "I don't think that there's a lot of places like New Mexico, and I also don't think there's a lot of places in the world where flamenco happens like it does here. We're a very interesting community and a very deep community when it comes to the art form," Encinias said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 07:56:39|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close In this aerial photo taken on Aug. 25, 2018, workers join together two girders of the Mafanggou bridge which is part of the Yinchuan-Xi'an high-speed railway in Wuzhong, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. As a major constituent of China's high-speed railway network, the 618-kilometer Yinchuan-Xi'an high-speed railway is scheduled to start operation by the end of 2020 with a designed speed of 250 kilometers per hour, and will greatly reduce travel time within Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei) Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 08:48:31|Editor: zh Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least three security personnel were injured when a blast hit a vehicle of security forces in Pakistan's southwest Mastung district of Balochistan province late Saturday night, local reports said. According to the reports, the vehicle carrying officials of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of police was passing through a market area of Mastung district when the bomb was exploded by a remote control device, injuring three officials of CTD. Police said the blast was apparently caused by an improvised explosive device. The blast also damaged two vehicles and created panic in the area, said local media Capital TV while citing security sources, adding that the blast targeted the vehicle of the security forces. The injured security personnel were shifted to a nearby hospital. After the blast, a heavy contingent of law enforcement agencies along with bomb disposal squad reached the spot and cordoned off the area. No group or person has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump depart from the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on Aug. 24, 2018. (Xinhua/Ting Shen) SEOUL, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's foreign ministry on Saturday expressed regret over the cancellation of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). From the South Korean side, it was sorry for Pompeo's "delayed visit" to the DPRK, the ministry said in a statement. The statement said it would be significant to continue to seek ways to make talks between the DPRK and the United States contribute to the common goal of the Korean Peninsula's complete denuclearization and the permanent peace settlement. It came after U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that "I have asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to go to North Korea, at this time, because I feel we are not making sufficient progress with respect to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." "Secretary Pompeo looks forward to going to North Korea in the near future," Trump tweeted. "In the meantime, I would like to send my warmest regards and respect to Chairman Kim. I look forward to seeing him soon," he added. Following the cancelled visit, South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha had a phone talks with Pompeo, who explained in detail to the top South Korean diplomat about the reasons for the "delayed visit," according to Seoul's foreign ministry. Kang told Pompeo that it was sorry for the "delayed visit" as the international community had lots of expectations for it, proposing to continue efforts to denuclearize the peninsula and build permanent peace while maintaining a dialogue momentum. The ministry said South Korea would take the appointment of Stephen Biegun as the new special U.S. envoy to the DPRK as an opportunity for strengthening consultations further with the United States. Pompeo said Thursday that he and Biegun would travel to Pyongyang next week "to make further diplomatic progress towards our objective." The top U.S. diplomat had visited the DPRK three times in April, May and July, respectively. Trump said on Aug. 20 that he would "most likely" meet with top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un for a second time, and he believed Pyongyang had taken specific steps toward denuclearization. In a joint statement issued after the June 12 DPRK-U.S. summit in Singapore, Trump committed to providing security guarantees for the DPRK, while Kim reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to a complete denuclearization of the peninsula. Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha delivers a speech at a press conference during the 8th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, June 16, 2018. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak) BANGKOK, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Kanit Sangsubhan, secretary-general of the Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor(EEC) Office introduced the EEC project to a group of Chinese entrepreneurs in Pattaya city and invited them to invest in infrastructure, new industries projects on Saturday. Kanit told the delegation of hundreds of Chinese entrepreneurs during the event "Thailand and China Belt and Road Initiative Connectivity for the Future" that the EEC, covering three southeastern Thai provinces, namely Chachoengsao, Chonburi and Rayong, aims at developing the area into a leading economic zone in Thailand and in the ASEAN region. Kanit said many infrastructure projects such as a 5.7 billion U.S. dollar high speed rail project, a 5.7 billion USD airport project, ports, are to be implemented in EEC to boost investment in 10 target industries and all these infrastructure projects are to be conducted by public- private partnership. Some Chinese companies already bought ToR document of the EEC high speed rail project which links Don Mueang airport in Bangkok with Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan province and U-Tapao airport in Rayong province, he mentioned, adding that the winner would be decided in this year. Kanit also mentioned ToR document of U-Tapao international airport and two ports will also be released soon in this year. He said Chinese companies, good at conducting infrastructure projects, are welcomed to invest in U-Tapao international airport, the high speed rail, Laem Chabang port, Map Ta Phut, and digital infrastructure projects and also in industries including digital, robotics, aviation and logistics, the next-generation automotive, etc. He also said Chinese companies are experienced in developing new cities and they are also welcomed to join the development of digital smart cities inside the area. In his speech, Kanit also mentioned the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) development project approved by Thai cabinet a few days ago, which will be piloted in four southern provinces, namely Chumphon, Ranong, Surat Thani, and Nakhon Si Thammarat. According to him, the project includes the development of Ranong Port as an important marine gateway to Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka and Europe and there would rail linkage between EEC and SEC so goods manufactured in EEC can also take advantage of the port to be developed in SEC, which is faster than transporting through malacca strait. EEC is a flagship project put forward by current Thai government to as a crucial part of plan to develop Southeast Asian country into a developed country. A robot serves food to customers at Naulo Restaurant, an automated restaurant in Kathmandu, Nepal, Aug. 24, 2018. (Xinhua/Sunil Sharma) KATHMANDU, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Amid many restaurants in King's Way, one of the most modern streets in Nepal's capital Kathmandu, a newly launched restaurant with robots as waiters has become the talk of the town lately. Under the slogan "Where food meets technology," the Naulo Restaurant (naulo means new in Nepali language) operates with the help of five robots, three named Ginger and two named Ferry, designed and manufactured by the Nepali hands. These robots are developed by Paaila Technology, a Nepali company established by six young engineers, specializing in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) technology. "Naulo is the first digitalized robotic restaurant not just in Nepal, but also in South Asia. We believe that our robot is one of the most advanced service robots in the world which is user friendly and very easy to operate," Binay Raut, CEO of Paaila Technology and Naulo Restaurant, told Xinhua. The restaurant has menu implanted in digital screen in table from where orders can be placed directly in the kitchen. After dishes are ready, the robots collect them from the kitchen counter and serve the customers automatically. This is the first time in the Himalayan country that any restaurant has used "Made in Nepal" robots as service provider, with fully digital services filled with innovative technology. According to the company established in December 2016, these robots are up to the international standards and have high degree of superiority in the current market as a Nepali product. 27-year-old Raut, who completed engineering studies in India and Britain, said "we travelled to different countries including China and Japan to learn about the design, framework and operation of robots before launching it in Nepal. Now, our target is to introduce this Nepali innovation into international market." To start with, Paaila Technology has registered a company in China, and is currently working to penetrate into the Chinese market followed by global market. According to the young engineers, Nepali hand-made service robots are not limited to merely being a fancy attraction, but have industrial and commercial values due to innovative capabilities and quick operations. "Our service robots have more features as compared with other robots of the world while the manufacturing cost is cheaper. So, we are quite hopeful that we can compete with the international products very soon," 26-year-old Rabin Giri, co-founder of Paaila Technology, told Xinhua. Robot Ginger is powered with swarm intelligence, speech recognition, natural language processing, auto-dock ability, among others. The robot also cracks jokes while answers the basic IQ questions in both English and Nepali language. "Robots have not just replaced some manpower, but also have saved time," according to Giri, who completed electronics and communication engineering studies from Nepal's Pulchowk Engineering College. Paaila Technology entered the hospitality sector after the operation of its first humanoid robot named Pari stationed in a local branch of Nepal SBI Bank. Pari has been deployed in the digital branch of the bank known as inTouch branch, which functions as a source of information and guides customers. The first humanoid commercial robot started the work by greeting customer with "Good afternoon. Welcome to Nepal SBI InTouch." Robot Ginger receives food from kitchen at Naulo Restaurant, an automated restaurant in Kathmandu, Nepal, Aug. 24, 2018. (Xinhua/Sunil Sharma) According to the bank officials, the robot received a good feedback from customers, due to which the bank was encouraged to use the second advanced robot manufactured by the same company within few months. Paaila Technology has spent around 15 million Nepali rupees (134,568 U.S. dollars) for research and development in last few years. Now, the members believe that the time has come to taste the fruits of hard work as they have been receiving demands from hospitality and banking sectors. "The service robots can bring a revolutionary change in the hospitality industry and commercial sectors. Thus, if we received positive feedback from the mass here at home, nothing can stop us to extend the reach of Nepali skill to the world," Raut said. For now, Naulo Restaurant is struggling to cater to the high flow of customers especially in the evenings and on weekends, as the robots have attracted people from all walks of life and of all age groups to experience the new technology. Sabita Bhandari, who was dining in the restaurant with a friend, told Xinhua that "I felt amazing to be served by robot instead of waiter. The robot is polite and friendly as well. It's a nice experience." Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 09:48:39|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close KIGALI, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The annual regional east and central Africa youth rugby tournament kicked off in Kigali on Saturday. The two-day tournament is taking place at the Red Cross field in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. Under the theme: "Connect to Africa" and "Friends of Rwandan Rugby", the tournament is in its third edition, which has attracted players between 15 and 18. The chief administrator of the Federation of Rwandan Rugby, John Livingstone Muhire said the tournament is very special because of the high level of involvement by female players. "World rugby has set out very clear targets for the increase in female participation. It is hoped that this tournament will show females in Rwanda of the standards in other parts of Africa and encourage more females to get involved. All of the clubs in Rwanda understand that females can play rugby and that with continued support there can be an increase in the numbers of female players and frequency of female games," he said. Participating teams are from Kenya, host Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi and Uganda. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 09:48:39|Editor: zh Video Player Close YANGON, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar government has returned over 481.92 acres (195 hectares) of farmland confiscated by the Ministry of Defense to 123 farmers in Toungoo, Bago region, Myanmar News Agency reported Sunday. A ceremony to return such lands to the farmers was held on Saturday in Toungoo, attended by Second Vice President U Henry Van Thio, who is also chairman of the Central Committee for Scrutinizing Confiscated Farmlands. Myanmar government has been taking measures to return seized land to farmers, its original owners, considering that the farmland is their lives. As of May this year, hundreds of hectares of confiscated land in Yangon, Mandalay and Ayeyarwady regions as well as in Shan and Kayin states and Nay Pyi Taw Council area had been handed back to their original owners. During the tenure of the former government, private companies and government departments were allowed to confiscate land, including farmland, in accordance with the 2012 Farmland Law under the pretext of urbanization and industrialization. However, land dispute was brought about between the government, landowners and investors over ownership. More than one month after taking office in April 2016, the new government voiced commitment to the speedy resolution of the farmland confiscation issue and for the prompt return of abandoned land to their lawful owners. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 09:58:41|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Having recently finished up a 10-day visit of mainland Internet enterprises, Lin Kun-sung is headed back to Beijing to continue his studies as an exchange student. "Seeing the mainland's economic and social development has made me more confident to start my career here," said Lin, a 20-year-old student from Soochow University in Taipei. Lin and 39 other Taiwan college students visited mainland enterprises including online retailer JD, ride-hailing platform Didi, coffee chain Luckin and Xinhua's official website Xinhuanet.com from August 12 to 21. The activity was jointly launched by Xinhuanet and Taiwan-based Want Want China Times Group, to introduce the mainland's Internet technology development to Taiwan youth. After learning about Didi's Internet ride-hailing technology, Lin said he was surprised by the vehicle tracking system and user feedback mechanism. Li Shan Lin, a senior student from Taiwan University, said her visit at Xinhuanet was eye-opening. "I didn't expect a traditional media institution to be so modern," she said, noting that she was impressed by Xinhuanet's video and drone footage production skills. She said she was hesitant about applying to study new media at Peking University before the visit. "But now I know that the mainland is a great stage for Taiwan students majoring in journalism," she said. Xinhuanet's deputy editor-in-chief Liu Jiawen said he hopes that Taiwan's young people can seize the opportunities in the mainland and bring new life to exchanges across the Taiwan Strait. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 11:38:54|Editor: zh Video Player Close LUSAKA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government on Saturday dispelled media reports that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has closed its resident office in the southern African nation. In a statement, Chileshe Kandeta, a spokesperson of the Zambian Ministry of Finance, said the office has not been closed although the IMF representative in Zambia Alfredo Baldini has been recalled for deployment elsewhere. "First and foremost, our relationship with the Fund is healthy and intact and the IMF Resident Office in Zambia will remain operational beyond the tour of duty of Mr. Baldini, who has been recalled by the IMF for deployment," the spokesperson said in the statement. According to the statement, the IMF has communicated to the Zambian government that a new representative will be sent to Zambia. The Zambian government has been seeking ways to resolve the country's debt problem which has reached distress levels. An IMF bailout package believed to be around 1.3 billion U.S. dollars is one of its planned resolutions, but the talks for the bailout plan have been suspended by the international lender due to concern over Zambia's debt situation. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 11:53:56|Editor: zh Video Player Close VIENTIANE, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, are conducting a basin-wide Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) of renewable energy development in southern Laos' Xekong River Basin. According to local online newspaper Vientiane Times on Sunday, it is the first ever CIA being conducted according to the draft CIA Guidelines for Hydropower Projects in Laos and will result in recommendations for a variety of sustainable scenarios for the development of this important national resource. "There are many demands on the Xekong River Basin. Not just from hydropower projects, but also from logging, mining and forestry activities," the Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines' Office Head, Daovong Phonekeo, said to the media last week. "We need to understand the possible impact that all these activities together will have, in order to plan for the sustainable development of this critical national resource," Daovong said. This cumulative impact assessment of the renewable energy sector in the Xekong River Basin, over 500 km southeast of Lao capital Vientiane, comes at a time when the implementation of good environmental and social standards is key, said the report. It is one of the few remaining major Mekong tributaries with high biodiversity value and few hydropower projects in operation, and provides a unique opportunity to better understand and manage the risks of development to the environment and local communities, according to the report. IFC Country Manager for Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia Kyle Kelhofer said, "IFC has been working with the Lao government to provide assistance on sustainability and advance environmental and social standards in the hydropower sector since 2012." "This pilot of the draft CIA Guidelines is an important next step in finding the best balance between meeting the energy needs of the country as well as the region and protecting the environment and communities," Kelhofer said. IFC, with the support of the Australian government, is working in partnership with Laos' Ministry of Energy and Mines to build capacity on how to carry out the best practice of CIAs and effectively implement the guidelines. Over the next nine months, the Xekong River Basin CIA will undertake broad consultations with stakeholders and technical experts, and produce a final evidence-based report with recommendations on a variety of renewable energy development scenarios. The Lao government has prioritized the expansion of power generating capacity over the coming years to reach an estimated potential of about 26,000 megawatts (MW) -- one of the region's highest. As of 2018, over 50 hydropower projects and a number of other renewable energy projects were under development across the country. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 12:14:00|Editor: zh Video Player Close GUANGZHOU, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chilean businessman Roberto Astete has had the same dream for the past years: used plastic cutlery at a diner are automatically sorted into small grinders, then the debris dissolves in water in just a few minutes and is flushed away. "We don't need to collect, transport and dispose of plastic waste at special facilities anymore. They can be processed easily on site to reduce ocean pollution," Astete explained. These days, his dream is almost a reality thanks to a new material and processing technology from his Chinese partner. In late July, Astete's company Solubag and Polye Materials in south China's Guangdong Province jointly launched a series of soluble shopping bags in Santiago, capital of Chile, right before the country enacted a new law barring businesses from giving out plastic bags to customers. It takes centuries for petrochemical plastic bags to degrade in the ocean, choking marine animals and harming the entire ecosystem. The bag introduced by the two companies dissolves in water quickly, and Astete even drank the mixture during a press conference to endorse its safety. According to Chen Gang, chairman of Polyrocks Chemical, Polye's parent firm, the bag's raw material is modified Polyvinyl Alcohol, or PVA, which comes from natural gas or calcium carbide. "PVA bags dissolve in water in minutes so they won't choke the marine animals. The solution will not pollute water or soil," Chen explained. "This alternative to plastic bags is eco-friendly." PVA has been used in paint, glue and textile manufacturing since the 1930s. PVA film has also been widely used for packaging in recent years. However, it was difficult and costly to process this material into shopping bags due to its lack of thermoplasticity, said Cui Yuefei, the bag's inventor and a senior engineer with the South China University of Technology. Cui had spent years on modifying PVA in laboratories and completed his experiments in 2008. By adding certain agents, he made it easier for the material to be pelleted, blow-molded and made into bags. The researcher's work caught the attention of Polyrocks, a reputed fire retardant producer that was trying to explore new business ventures. They joined hands in modified PVA industrialization in 2015. "We were looking for a suitable blow-molding machine in the northeastern Chinese city of Dalian in 2016," Cui told Xinhua. "That's when and where we met Astete." At that time, the Chilean had been searching for a company capable of and interested in making affordable water soluble bags around the world for over two years. "I was in the plastic industry and I thought to myself, we can't use petrochemical bags anymore," Astete recalled. "I tried some European and American manufacturers first, but they showed little interest because the profit margin of shopping bags is very small. Then I came to China." Cui and Polyrocks first focused on hot water soluble bags, which would be more durable for everyday use. But Astete, coming from a country with a long coastline, insisted that the bags should be soluble in cold water. "The Chilean helped us make this crucial decision in product development," Cui said. A prototype was produced in just two months, and Polye Materials was soon established for the project. "The bags launched in Santiago are our third generation products. Their cost is about 1.5 times of that of a normal plastic bag," Cui said. "We expect them to be as cheap as normal ones in our fifth generation." Li Lingyu, general manager of Polye told Xinhua that the company's yearly capacity of modified PVA pellets will reach 10,000 tonnes by November. "That's about 500 million water soluble bags," she said. Astete hopes the bags will hit the shelves in Chile by the end of this year and has been trying to persuade his Chinese partner to open factories in his country. "After the press conference, I got so many calls and there are thousands of inquiry emails in my inbox. It's crazy, really, really crazy," Astete said. "We need to further increase our capacity. Eighty-five percent of the inquiry calls are from outside Chile, such as Mexico, Germany, France, and Spain." Polye and Solubag plan to start a joint venture in Hong Kong to deal with sales in the global market. Plastic pollution is considered a major threat to oceans worldwide. At this year's World Ocean's Day on June 8, Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, called on the world to stop plastic pollution from contaminating the world's oceans. Eighty percent of all pollution in the sea comes from the land, including some eight million tonnes of plastic waste each year, which have resulted in the deaths of one million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals. Besides Chile, Britain is set to ban all sales of single-use plastics, including plastic straws and cotton swabs. Kenya and Morocco also have similar restrictions. "Bags are just the start. We can also use modified PVA to make glass lids, straws, diapers and to replace products made from petrochemical plastics," Astete said. "My country is small but people share a similar goal to have a beautiful, clean environment. It's also the aspiration of all humanity." Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 12:49:05|Editor: zh Video Player Close MEXICO CITY, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Mexican businessman is offering to buy the president's plane and use it as a "taxi," local media reported. Gustavo Jimenez Pons landed at President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors' office Thursday with an offer to buy the 300-seat Boeing 787 with 99 million U.S. dollars, the newspaper Reforma reported. Lopez Obradors, who won a landslide victory in elections in July, said he would never use the plane, calling it a wasteful luxury. He will assume the presidency on Dec. 1. The businessman said he wants to use the aircraft as a taxi for "presidents of other countries who do not have private planes, or rock groups like the Rolling Stones." The jetliner was purchased in 2016 by outgoing President Enrique Pena Nieto, and is valued at 220 million dollars, according to local media reports. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 13:44:12|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close CARACAS, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Keith Rowley signed a gas and oil partnership agreement on Saturday after a meeting between the leaders. "We have signed a very important document that will permit the generation of physical and monetary wealth for Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago, coming from joint gas fields," Maduro said, describing the meeting as "intense, productive, and positive." Rowley expressed appreciation to Maduro for agreeing to related negotiations, adding that he hoped "in the very near future, Venezuelan gas will reach the international market where it will be monetized for the benefit of the people of Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago." Maduro called for cultivating good relationships between neighboring nations of the region and said that Latin America and the Caribbean has everything necessary to be a strong region. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 14:29:19|Editor: zh Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Indian army Sunday said it arrested four newly-recruited militants near the Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir. According to Indian army spokesperson Col Rajesh Kalia, the four were trying to exfiltrate from Indian-controlled Kashmir into Pakistan-controlled part, near Kalaroos in frontier Kupwara district, northwest of capital city, Srinagar. "Four newly recruited militants were arrested this morning along with warlike stores in upper reaches of Kalaroos in Kupwara today morning while attempting to exfiltrate across the LoC," Kalia said. Kalia said the army and police laid an ambush after receiving "credible information" about four newly-recruited militants being guided by three cadres of Al-Badr outfit for a planned exfiltration. "After a brief gunfight, extreme restraint was exercised and opportunity was given to the militants to surrender," he said. "While the four newly-recruited militants surrendered, the Al-Badr militants deserted them and fled under cover of fire." LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts. A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troopers stationed in the region since 1989. However, of late Indian policemen too have been trained to fight them. Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 14:34:20|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close HANGZHOU, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's leading ride-hailing platform Didi Chuxing on Sunday said it would suspend its Hitch services nationwide, after a female passenger was raped and killed in the eastern Chinese city of Wenzhou. Didi said that the Hitch service would be taken down from Monday. Meanwhile, two senior executives have been removed from their posts. Didi said that the company would reevaluate the product's business model, rectify mistakes and upgrade customer service. According to local police, a 20-year-old woman went missing on Friday afternoon after hailing an auto from Didi Chuxing in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province. The driver was caught by police on Saturday morning, and confessed to rape and murder. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 15:04:25|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close SAN SALVADOR, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- El Salvador's export sector is banking on newly-established diplomatic ties with China to generate business opportunities, a senior economic official has said. Sigfrido Reyes, president of the Salvadoran export and investment promotion agency Proesa, said China's massive consumer market has the potential to boost production in the Central American country. "Opportunities are opening up to us now," Reyes said. "Those were closed before due to a lack of ties." "Today China is one of the world's biggest economies. It is without a doubt the global economy's emerging power ... and it is poised to become an economic giant of the 21st century," he said. Just days after China and El Salvador signed a joint communique in Beijing on the establishment of diplomatic relations, Proesa has already done its homework, studying Chinese investment trends abroad, especially in Latin America. "It has been increasingly on the rise in countries like Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Venezuela, and more recently, in Central America and the Caribbean," said the official. Reyes, former head of the Legislative Assembly and a leading figure of the ruling Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), noted China is at present one of the region's leading trade partners. "Establishing diplomatic ties opens major doors to the Salvadoran economy," said Reyes. China is already El Salvador's major supplier of imports, and holds "growing interest" for the country's export sector. "We have focused on agricultural goods, such as sugar and coffee a little, but our companies have enormous potential to reach consumers" in China, he said. El Salvador's geographic location in north Central America, as well as port and airport infrastructure, could also make it a convenient hub for cargo arriving via the Pacific and heading towards the Atlantic coast, or to North or South America, he noted. Greater cooperation with China also opens the possibility of being part of its Belt and Road Initiative to boost global growth by bolstering trade infrastructure, said Reyes. "We would be very interested in forming part of this project. I think El Salvador can see significant benefits and offers the conditions to be a player in this great project," Reyes said. "El Salvador has developed very modern infrastructure in ports, airports and highways. We have a high degree of connectivity in telecommunications and are moving towards digital telecommunications in general," he said. In the short term, El Salvador is looking to participate in the first ever China International Import Expo (CIIE) being held in November in Shanghai, to showcase its top exports: sugar, coffee, fruit and fish. "We hope to take our products there and demonstrate El Salvador's economic potential to meet the needs and demands of Chinese consumers, as well as Chinese companies," Reyes said. With ties established, the next step is to forge agreements that promote two-way trade and investment, he said. "We are ready to receive Chinese investment ... in every sector the country offers advantages, and I am certain it will be attractive," he said, adding that the institute will make more efforts to draw more companies and investments from China and help them grow in El Salvador. Proesa will then work to help local producers tap into China's "gigantic" market, said the official. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 15:29:30|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close TEHRAN, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least 171 people were hospitalized on Saturday because of the thick dust storm in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, official IRNA news agency reported Sunday. "Out of 810 people affected by the respiratory issues and registered in the clinics of Sistan and Baluchestan because of the dust storm, 171 people have been hospitalized," the province's Crisis Management Center said. Abolrahman Shahnavazi, head of the province's Crisis Management Center, told IRNA that these people also suffered from sight and heart problems because of the polluted dusty air. "So far, 7,852 bottles of mineral water and 906 parcels of food have been distributed by the Red Crescent Society among the regional people," Shahnavazi was quoted as saying. On Saturday, the educational centers and civil offices were closed because of the alarming levels of the dust in the cities of Zabol, Zahak, Hirmand, Hamoon and Nimrooz of the province. Meanwhile, four flights destined for the cities of Zabol and Iranshahr in the north of Sistan and Baluchestan were cancelled. On Aug. 13, Ali Mollashahi from Iran Meteorological Department in the province warned that dust concentration in Sistan and Baluchestan had reached the risky level to disrupt people's lives. The concentration of fine dust in the province currently stands at 8,073 micrograms per cubic meter, significantly higher than the normal level of 150 micrograms per cubic meter, said Mollashahi. Over the past years, Sistan and Baluchestan, along with the southwestern province of Khuzestan, has been plagued by alarming weather pollution because of the changing climate conditions. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 15:34:31|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close FAIZABAD, Afghanistan, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants abducted a government official in Nasai district of the northern Badakhshan province, provincial police spokesman Sanaullah Rohani said on Sunday. A group of militants, according to the official, raided Zaghar valley of Nasai district on Saturday and kidnapped district prosecutor Ahmad Khan and took him to an unknown location. However, reinforcement had been sent from the neighboring Shakai and Maimai districts to the area to ensure the safe release of the official, the spokesman said. Taliban militants who are in control of parts of Badakhshan province haven't commented yet. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 15:49:34|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close Prime Minister of Lesotho Thomas Motsoahae Thabane receives an interview with Xinhua in Maseru, Lesotho, on Aug. 22, 2018. The upcoming summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is a clear demonstration of China's commitment to the development and welfare of the African continent, Prime Minister of Lesotho Thomas Motsoahae Thabane has said. (Xinhua/Chen cheng) MASERU, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is a clear demonstration of China's commitment to the development and welfare of the African continent, Prime Minister of Lesotho Thomas Motsoahae Thabane has said. The summit is a landmark in the world aiming to improve itself for the survival of the human race which faces multiple challenges today, Thabane told Xinhua during an interview on Wednesday. The summit, scheduled for Sept. 3-4, is also another clear testimony of China's commitment to the welfare of Africa and its development, Thabane said. "The commitment is not only to specific countries in Africa, but in Africa in general," Thabane added. The prime minister described China as a "true friend" of Lesotho. "China is not being a friend by the word of mouth. It is being a friend through actions, actions that push us to go from the situation of being undeveloped to a situation of being developed." "What more can you wish for from a friend than to stretch a hand of friendship in order to raise you up when you were flat on your stomach?" he said. The two nations have made steady progress in bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Since Jan. 1, 2005, China has granted duty-free treatment to some of the goods imported from Lesotho. In 2017, the trade volume between China and Lesotho was 86 million U.S. dollars, with a year-on-year increase of 15.9 percent. Of which the Chinese export volume was 61 million dollars and the import volume was 25 million dollars. China mainly exports textile and electromechanical products to Lesotho, and imports mohair, jewelry and precious metals. "Our relations have been mutual beneficial. (For) countries that we have dealt with before from the West, the benefit was always for what they call 'the mother country'. Now China is not like that, that is why we feel like we have a true and loyal friend in China," said the prime minister. Thabane noted the growing cooperation between China and Lesotho which has seen the two working closely at the United Nations (UN) and other international forums in the past years. China takes a very strong stand to support Lesotho in the UN, and Lesotho will also raise voices for China when it needs, the prime minister said. The prime minister commended China's economic reform which transformed the country's economy to allow better trading. "Protectionism does not give results, results are realized where the economy is free," Thabane said, adding his country welcomes China's commitment to an open world economy, which is a good lesson for other developing countries. "We have to acknowledge that and remember that China has its own wishes and issues and it will need support of friends. I'm pledging openly that when China counts its friends, it should include Lesotho," he stated. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 16:09:36|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese express delivery giant SF Holding posted a 18.6-percent year-on-year increase in net profit in the first half of the year amid rapid expansion of the country's courier sector, according to a company statement. SF Holding's net profit attributable to shareholders stood at 2.2 billion yuan (about 320 million U.S. dollars) in H1, said the statement, which was filed to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. The company's operating revenue surged 32.2 percent year-on-year to 42.5 billion yuan, with revenue from the express delivery business up 31.7 percent to reach 42.2 billion yuan. The revenue growth was well above the 25.8-percent revenue increase for the country's overall courier sector. "A stable macro economy with a positive outlook effectively supported the sustained and healthy development of the courier sector." As of the end of June, SF Holding's international standard and economy express delivery services covered 53 countries and regions including the United States and the European Union, while its small-parcel service for cross-border e-commerce sellers covered 225 countries and regions. Revenue excluding taxes from international business reached 1.2 billion yuan in H1, up 40.8 percent year on year. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 16:59:48|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close TEHRAN, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- A magnitude-5.9 earthquake hit western Iran on Sunday, killing at least three, and injuring 243 others, semi-official Mehr news agency reported. According to Iranian Seismological Center, the focus of the earthquake in the town of Tazeh Abad in Kermanshah Province lied at the depth of 8 km, 34.631 degrees north latitude and 46.220 degrees east longitude. The earthquake was also felt in the neighboring provinces of Lorestan and Ilam, as well as in the border areas of Iraq. People in Tazeh Abad and nearby villages rushed to the streets in panic following the quake and camped in the parks. Long queues are reported at the petrol stations in all parts of Kermanshah Province. According to Mehr, the broken water and power connections, as well as the telephone lines in the quake-hit region, have been fixed. Red Crescent Society of Kermanshah Province has dispatched 24 rescue teams to Tazeh Abad and the villages affected. A total of 45 after-shakes, ranging magnitude 2.5-4.1, have taken place in the region. Tan Jian (R), Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia awards an Ethiopian student a scholarship in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, Aug. 8, 2018. The Chinese government on Wednesday provided 29 scholarships to Ethiopian university students to pursue further studies in China. The 29 recipients will pursue graduate studies in Chinese universities both in social and natural science disciplines, majority of them set to take on their doctoral studies. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government has provided more than 1,450 scholarship opportunities to Ethiopians in various academic and training areas during the first eight months of 2018, the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia revealed. Some 1,232 short term trainings were provided to Ethiopians in China while some 220 other Ethiopian candidates from federal and regional government, academic institutions and industries have been admitted by major Chinese higher education institutions to study masters and PhD programs, the embassy said on Saturday. Figures from the Ministry of Commerce of China also indicated that by the end of 2017, more than 5,650 Ethiopians have received trainings in different professions in China under China-aid framework covering over 20 fields that include education, health and medical services, agriculture, tourism, manufacturing industries, public administration, business management, urban development and poverty reduction, according to figures from the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia. Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Tan Jian said late on Friday that China's support in the human development sector mainly aims to improve management skills and practical techniques for government officials, academic experts, senior managerial personnel and specialized technicians. "Investing in people through education is the best investment," Tan said. Tan, who vowed to deepen the two countries' ties in human resources development, further said that "We developing countries have human resources potential in abundance and the thing is how to exploit this bonanza." The East African country has also frequently commended China's support to Ethiopia's human development efforts. Some of the Ethiopian students look at their scholarships in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, Aug. 8, 2018. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) The latest appreciation was given by Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed during a scholarship awarding ceremony late on Friday. "As we all know China is a very good partner for Ethiopia and they are supporting us in human capital development, which is a priority for my government," Ahmed said. "I would like to thank you (Chinese government) for all what you have done for our country," he added. Ahmed, who valued the opportunity to send more than 1,000 students to study in China this year alone, also called for further strengthening the support from China's government in Ethiopia's human development endeavors. "Nothing is impossible. Especially for Ethiopia and China, the sky is the limit," Ahmed said. Tan Jian (R), Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia awards an Ethiopian student a scholarship in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, Aug. 8, 2018. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) "We can go far to develop next generation to take responsibility and to work for their country," he added. The premier also called on Ethiopians who are set to embark on their education in major Chinese universities to learn "China's experience and wisdom" in the development and other sectors so as to help Ethiopia's ambitions in economic growth. Ahmed further urged Ethiopian scholarship winners to serve as connecting bridges between Ethiopia and China in strengthening ties after coming back from their studies. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 17:39:55|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close TOKYO, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Sunday that he will run in the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election to be held next month. "I am determined to hold the helm of Japan for three more years as LDP president and prime minister," Abe told reporters in Tarumizu, Kagoshima prefecture, in southwestern Japan. The election, to be held on Sept. 20, is likely to be a two-horse race between Abe and former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The ruling party's election will essentially decide not just the LDP's leader but also who will go on to serve as the nation's prime minister. If Abe, 63, who is currently favorite to win the race with five out of seven intraparty factions supporting him, does so, his third-term at the helm will all but ensure he becomes the longest-serving prime minister in postwar Japan. Abe has been unopposed and was reelected for his second consecutive three-year term in 2015. Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, 61, officially declared his candidacy on Aug. 10 and has since said that if Abe were allowed to run unopposed again, it would undermine democracy here. Ishiba, a lower house member, has in the past been outspoken about Abe and his policies and this will be the third time for the veteran politician to attempt to win the ruling party's top post. Official campaigning for the LDP leadership is slated to begin on Sept. 7. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 19:45:14|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close Photo taken on Aug. 23, 2018 shows a view of the Port of Long Beach, Los Angeles County, the United States. (Xinhua/Li Ying) LOS ANGELES, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. port business is taking a hit during the trade tensions between China and the United States, causing harm to the U.S. economy, an official of the country's second busiest container seaport has said. Although the full impact of the trade tensions is too early to be seen, 7 percent of the port's total revenue will be affected by the first round of tariffs, Dr. Noel Hacegaba, deputy executive director of Administration and Operations for the Port of Long Beach, told Xinhua in a recent interview. Based on a more pessimistic viewpoint, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti warned that if the full 200 billion U.S. dollars of threatened tariffs went into effect, the business of the Long Beach Port along with the Los Angeles Port, the busiest port in the country, could experience losses of up to 20 percent. The Port of Long Beach is the premier U.S. gateway for trans-Pacific trade that handles 2,000 vessels per year, carrying 82.3 million metric tons of cargo valued at 180 billion dollars. According to Hacegaba, East Asian countries dominate the port's trading volume and are responsible for 90 percent of all traffic through their gateway. China alone has represented between 70 and 80 percent of that total, historically. "China is far and away our largest trading partner," affirmed Hacegaba. Washington fired the opening salvo in a trade dispute between the world two largest economies by imposing 25 percent tariffs on a total of 50 billion dollars of Chinese imports since last month, and threatened to place 25 percent tariffs on an additional 200 billion dollars of Chinese goods. "The first round of tariffs hit right in the middle of production cycle," Hacegaba explained, concluding that the follow-up effects of the tariffs will radiate out. He urged the policymakers to understand the importance of the port as a national engine that keeps the U.S. economy humming. "The Port of Long Beach is responsible for one out of eight local jobs, more than 300,000 regional jobs, and generates well over 1.5 million jobs across the nation," Hacegaba said. It also generates 47 billion dollars in direct and indirect business sales per year, 14.5 billion dollars in trader-related wages, 5 billion dollars in U.S. Customs revenues and about 4.9 billion dollars in local, state and federal taxes, he added. Hacegaba also expressed his hope that the trade dispute between China and the United States could be resolved through reasonable discussions. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 20:00:15|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close TEHRAN, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday that the United States has failed to win support from its allies in dropping the Iranian nuclear deal. "From the moment U.S. President Donald Trump announced the pullout from the nuclear deal, the Americans have not achieved any of their desired goals," Zarif said in a live TV broadcast. Even those countries not on good terms with Iran, such as Canada, have stood against Washington regarding the nuclear deal, he added. The failure has caused the United States to wage a "psychological war" on Iran and its international partners, the minister noted. Washington decided on May 8 to quit the Iranian nuclear deal and vowed to reimpose sanctions, including oil embargo, on the Islamic republic. The U.S. withdrawal from the deal has sparked widespread criticism from the international community including the EU, which is working with Iran to develop mechanisms to salvage the nuke deal and Iran's economic interests under the deal. by Xinhua writer Zhang Dailei EDINBURGH, Britain, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Taking the newly-launched direct flight from Beijing to Edinburgh, and using Chinese mobile payment platform WeChat Pay to purchase tickets to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Chinese tourists feel their holiday trips to Scotland this summer are more convenient and enjoyable. "We are the first tourism business in Scotland to take on WeChat, so we are now at the very leading edge," David Allfrey, Chief Executive and Producer of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, told Xinhua. Visiting China many times, Allfrey is not only looking forward to strengthening cooperation between his Military Tattoo and Chinese art groups, but also has a good understanding of the Chinese consumption preference. With his support, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo reached an agreement with WeChat last year to become the first institutional user of the service in Scotland. Starting from this summer, Chinese audiences can use WeChat to pay for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo tickets and souvenir. "What we are watching is a increasing number of Chinese visitors coming to Tattoo, buying tickets on WeChat. That's fantastic and it means that they are able, even they don't speak English, they can totally engaged and enjoy it. This is good for anybody," said Allfrey, who has been the producer of Tattoo since 2011 and plans to bring the world famous show to China in 2020. "We now have official accounts in WeChat and Weibo, starting to tell the story of Tattoo in Chinese social media, which is very exciting and amazing," he added. In Scotland, under a China Ready project initiated three years ago by Edinburgh Tourism Action Group(ETAG), tourism businesses like Military Tattoo are joining the league to better prepare themselves for the influx of additional Chinese visitors, especially after the first direct flight from China to Scotland, starting June this year. Edinburgh, which is already the most popular UK destination for Chinese visitors after London, wants to improve its tourism sector to ensure that Edinburgh is positioned as one of the UK's premier China-friendly destinations, according to ETAG. The figures offered by the tourism promoting agency VisitScotland show that Edinburgh Castle alone welcomed over 170,000 Chinese nationals in 2017, accounting for 10.4 percent of total visits to the Castle. Total spend by Chinese visitors to Scotland has increased by 414 percent, from 7 million pounds to 36 million pounds since 2007. Continuous growth of the Chinese visitor market to Edinburgh presents an opportunity for the city's tourism sector. Chinese visitors in Edinburgh now can see Chinese welcoming signs on doors of many stores. In almost every Scottish wool or Scotch whisky store along the downtown Royal Mile, Chinese customers can seek help from at least one Chinese-speaking sale assistant. The city's leading visitor attractions, hotels and information centers are offering Mandarin "Welcome to Edinburgh" Guide which was first published last year, and more tourism businesses are considering catching up with Chinese spending and payment trends. These services are provided based on careful surveys which showed the five most common requests by Chinese tourists are free WiFi, Chinese payment facilities, kettle in room, city map in Chinese and availability of Chinese restaurants and food. ETAG Chair Robin Worsnop said: "Our research shows that 50 percent of Edinburgh's Chinese visitors also visit the Highlands; and 38 percent head to Glasgow. With numbers like these and the first-ever direct flight arriving from China, there is never been a better time for Scotland's tourism businesses to get China-Ready." Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 20:20:18|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close BEIRUT, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Around 16,000 Syrians illegally residing in Lebanon returned to their homeland from July 23 to Aug. 23 through the Masnaa Border Crossing, local newspaper Asharq Al Awsat reported Sunday. Lebanese General Security issued at the beginning of this month a decision to allow Syrian refugees staying in Lebanon illegally to go back to Syria. According to the newspaper, illegal Syrian residents in Lebanon can pay fines and return home, which would allow them to enter Lebanon in a legal way in the future. They will be denied access to Lebanon permanently if refusing to pay fines, it added. The Syrian refugee crisis has become a hot topic in Lebanon lately. More than 1 million Syrian refugees have registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Lebanon, while the government estimates the true number of Syrians in the country at 1.5 million. The flow of Syrian refugees to Lebanon weighed heavily on the country's economy. A Lebanese official said earlier this month that 270,000 Lebanese people have lost their jobs after 384,000 Syrian refugees poured into the country's employment market. This prompted Russia to draft a strategy that would secure a safe and gradual return for Syrian refugees to their homeland. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 21:20:31|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close by Zhang Yongxing, Jiang Shan SUVA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The free medical service offered recently by Chinese naval hospital ship Ark Peace has won praise from Tongans, who have described Ark Peace as the ship of peace, life and friendship. Currently, Ark Peace is heading for the countries in Central and South America for goodwill visit after wrapping up an eight-day visit to Tonga from Aug. 13 to Aug. 20. During her stay in Nukualofa, capital of Tonga, Ark Peace fulfilled consultation and treatment for 5,532 persons, conducted auxiliary examinations for 2,598 persons, hospitalized 28 inpatients and performed 34 surgeries. Coincidentally, the date of Ark Peace's current visit was the same as the first visit to the South Pacific island nation by her four years ago. This is a reunion of friendship and a get-together of happiness as well. For James Latu, a 26-year-old military doctor in Tonga, it was lucky to reunite with his Chinese teachers in Nukualofa. On Aug. 13, Ark Peace arrived at Port of Nukualofa. Amidst those greeting the ship on the wharf, a handsome young man, dressed in Changhai Hospital's doctor overall, was extremely excited. It was Latu, who used to be a trainee of the Chinese Navy's Naval Medical University from 2011 to 2017, majoring in clinical medicine science. He was the first military trainee from Tonga who studied at the Chinese naval university and also the first undergraduate trainee from the South Pacific island nations. "What a surprise, I could meet with my teachers from China in Tonga," Latu said. He met with his Chinese teachers and told them about his study, life and work after returning to Tonga. As there is no military hospital at present in Tonga, Latu can only be employed at a local civilian hospital as a military doctor. "I have a dream to establish the first military hospital in Tonga so that the men and women of His Majesty's armed forces can have their own special hospital like China," he told his Chinese teachers. "This patient has asthma. Wheezing rale can be heard from the auscultator when expiration," Shang Yan, a doctor with the respiratory medicine department continued to instruct her trainee while treating the local patients. As a medical volunteer from Tonga, Latu was quite busy not only as interpreter but also as assistant doctor. "I am reminiscent of the days as an intern doctor at Changhai Hospital when working with my teacher shoulder over shoulder to provide consultation and treatment for the public of Tonga," said Latu, showing a photo from his mobile phone taken when he was in China. The photo depicts that he was treating a Chinese patient under the instruction of his Chinese teacher, Shang Yan. "I quite cherish the memory of good times as a trainee in China. I always take a look at the photos when missing you." How time flies and it's time to bid farewell again. "I don't know whether or not the next reunion with you is available and when we have the reunion after this meeting," said Latu, who presented his teacher a special gift, a heart-shaped ornament engraved with his teacher's name. "You are the most welcome to Tonga forever!" Latu bade farewell to his teachers. Katonga, a 48-year-old accountant at Tonga High School, was given a new life after a successful operation onboard Ark Peace on Aug. 17. "Thank you, Ark Peace, for giving me rebirth," she said to the Chinese military doctors after receiving a successful invasive chest closed-drainage. Two years ago, Ikatonga accepted two surgeries at a local hospital as hydrops took place due to pulmonary infection. Unfortunately, the surgeries didn't cure her disease but left a psychological shadow, which is extremely painful, and the scar left after surgery is very conspicuous. "When I almost lost my confidence, my daughter told me that the hospital ship from China was coming to Tonga for the medical service and that the Chinese military doctors must be capable." As encouraged by her daughter, Ikatonga went to Ark Peace for treatment. Following embarkation, physical examination, hospitalization, surgery and so on, Ikatonga had her consultation and treatment completed within half a day onboard Ark Peace. "For this time, I didn't feel any pain from the surgery and there is no scar left," said Ikatonga. Honestly, there is still a great risk on minimally invasive chest closed-drainage. Doctor Han Qinqi with the department of cardiothoracic surgery made deliberate examinations prior to her operation and repeatedly elaborated on the operation plan. "This letter cannot express my gratitude yet. I will pray for you forever!" Ikatonga recovered quite well following the operation. She wrote a letter of appreciation. "After I am totally recovered, I will go to China to convey my sincere thanks." Tonga is the fourth stop of Ark Peace's current mission and the ship paid her first successful visit to the South Pacific Island nation in 2014. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 21:30:35|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami arrived in Syria on Sunday to meet top Syrian officials with various issues on the agenda, including expanding military and defense cooperation. Upon arriving at the Damascus airport, Hatami said his visit aims at discussing bilateral relations as Syria has transitioned to the reconstruction phase. He said the Iranian side hopes to be able to have a productive role in the reconstruction of Syria. Hatami later met with his Syrian counterpart, General Ali Abdullah Ayyoub, during which the Syrian minister said "we have defeated terrorism with the support of the axis of resistance," referring to the alliance between Iran, Syria and the Lebanese Hezbollah group. Ayyoub said the victories in Syria have "sparked the fears of the enemies including the United States and the Zionist entity (Israel)," according to War Media, the media wing of the Syrian army and its allies. "The relations between Syria and Iran are firm and sturdy and we won't allow any power to undermine it," he said. For his part, Hatami said the "relations between both countries have surpassed the traditional limit and reached to the stage of a strategic relationship." He added that the "resistance front has stood with the Syrian people to fight terrorism for eight years, which made us win over terrorism and preserve the stability and security in the region and even in the world." The Iranian minister noted that "the liberation of the Syrian territories from terrorism will lead to achieving a full stability to the security of the region and eliminating all pretexts for foreign intervention." "Iran will not hesitate to preserve the unity of Syria because the security in this country will be conducive to achieving the stability in the region," Hatami said. The visit of the Iranian minister comes at a time when the Syrian army has achieved major progress with the help of Iran and Russia as well as Hezbollah. The Syrian army is now poised for launching a massive offensive against the Idlib province, the last major rebel stronghold in Syria. The visit also comes as the United States, Britain and France have made new threats of force in case of any chemical weapons use by the Syrian forces, an allegation that is seen by Damascus as a pretext to strike Syria over "lies." The Russian Defense Ministry has also warned that the rebels are planning an attack with chemical substances to frame the Syrian government forces and draw in foreign strikes by the United States and its allies similar to what happened in April. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 22:20:52|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close MOSCOW, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Russian Helicopters is open to a broad range of cooperation with Chinese counterparts, the company's director general Andrey Boginsky has said. "Chinese aviation companies have traditionally been our key partners. We are connected, in my opinion, by strong professional and friendly partnership relations," he told Xinhua in a recent interview. Boginsky said Russian and Chinese helicopter makers are at the final stage of negotiations to create a heavy helicopter and he hopes that the work will be concluded this year. "The cooperation is quite extensive. The qualifications of Chinese colleagues, in our opinion, are quite high," he told Xinhua during the Army-2018 defense exhibition near Moscow that ends Sunday. "We might work jointly on projects of other helicopter projects depending on the needs of the Chinese market. We may also discuss using certain Chinese-made components in Russian helicopters," he said. He said Russian Helicopters, part of the Russian high-tech conglomerate Rostec Corporation, will participate this year in the aviation exhibition in China's Zhuhai in early November. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, right, meets with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Jaberi Ansari, left, in Damascus, Syria, on July 15, 2018. (SANA photo) DAMASCUS, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami arrived in Syria on Sunday to meet top Syrian officials with various issues on the agenda, including expanding military and defense cooperation. Upon arriving at the Damascus airport, Hatami said his visit aims at discussing bilateral relations as Syria has transitioned to the reconstruction phase. He said the Iranian side hopes to be able to have a productive role in the reconstruction of Syria. Hatami later met with his Syrian counterpart, General Ali Abdullah Ayyoub, during which the Syrian minister said "we have defeated terrorism with the support of the axis of resistance," referring to the alliance between Iran, Syria and the Lebanese Hezbollah group. Ayyoub said the victories in Syria have "sparked the fears of the enemies including the United States and the Zionist entity (Israel)," according to War Media, the media wing of the Syrian army and its allies. "The relations between Syria and Iran are firm and sturdy and we won't allow any power to undermine it," he said. For his part, Hatami said the "relations between both countries have surpassed the traditional limit and reached to the stage of a strategic relationship." He added that the "resistance front has stood with the Syrian people to fight terrorism for eight years, which made us win over terrorism and preserve the stability and security in the region and even in the world." The Iranian minister noted that "the liberation of the Syrian territories from terrorism will lead to achieving a full stability to the security of the region and eliminating all pretexts for foreign intervention." "Iran will not hesitate to preserve the unity of Syria because the security in this country will be conducive to achieving the stability in the region," Hatami said. The visit of the Iranian minister comes at a time when the Syrian army has achieved major progress with the help of Iran and Russia as well as Hezbollah. The Syrian army is now poised for launching a massive offensive against the Idlib province, the last major rebel stronghold in Syria. The visit also comes as the United States, Britain and France have made new threats of force in case of any chemical weapons use by the Syrian forces, an allegation that is seen by Damascus as a pretext to strike Syria over "lies." The Russian Defense Ministry has also warned that the rebels are planning an attack with chemical substances to frame the Syrian government forces and draw in foreign strikes by the United States and its allies similar to what happened in April. A Syrian woman uses her mobile phone to take a family selfie with artwork behind declaring "I Love Damascus" at Omayyid Square in Damascus, Syria on July 18, 2018. (AP photo) BEIRUT, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Around 16,000 Syrians illegally residing in Lebanon returned to their homeland from July 23 to Aug. 23 through the Masnaa Border Crossing, local newspaper Asharq Al Awsat reported Sunday. Lebanese General Security issued at the beginning of this month a decision to allow Syrian refugees staying in Lebanon illegally to go back to Syria. According to the newspaper, illegal Syrian residents in Lebanon can pay fines and return home, which would allow them to enter Lebanon in a legal way in the future. They will be denied access to Lebanon permanently if refusing to pay fines, it added. The Syrian refugee crisis has become a hot topic in Lebanon lately. More than 1 million Syrian refugees have registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Lebanon, while the government estimates the true number of Syrians in the country at 1.5 million. The flow of Syrian refugees to Lebanon weighed heavily on the country's economy. A Lebanese official said earlier this month that 270,000 Lebanese people have lost their jobs after 384,000 Syrian refugees poured into the country's employment market. This prompted Russia to draft a strategy that would secure a safe and gradual return for Syrian refugees to their homeland. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 22:40:59|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close by Misbah Saba Malik ISLAMABAD, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The development of Gwadar port will directly benefit Balochistan province and the whole Pakistan under the bilateral China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Chairman of the Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) Dostain Khan Jamaldini told Xinhua in a recent interview. "Gwadar is a city of some 110,000 people and such massive industrialization under CPEC will have a great impact not only on the city but also on the whole Balochistan province," said the GPA chief, adding that the Gwadar Free Zone will have the capacity to generate at least 38,000 direct jobs in the remote city. Geographically, the small city is located in southwestern Balochistan, being far from Pakistan's economic centers. Road, railway and air connectivity were a great issue for its development. "Since the launch of CPEC, a drastic change has happened and it brought a second life to the port city," said Jamaldini. "Before CPEC, even law and order situation was very weak. After the comprehensive project, it has been greatly controlled. Now people come freely to Gwadar not only for investment opportunities, but also for tourism purpose, and people in the area have a greater hope about the future of Gwadar." "The engine of economic development of Gwadar emanates from the Gwadar port. With the operationalization of the Gwadar port, the city now has its own university and its own vocational training institutes." "Along with our Chinese counterparts we have made a comprehensive plan about the future of Gwadar," the official said. "Gwadar is not only the port and free zone. We have discussed and started implementing all other factors which can greatly facilitate the port and free zone development such as internet connectivity, water provision, city development, power plants, Gwadar International Airport," said the official. He said that initiating mega projects in Pakistan were not so much in practice before CPEC, but the corridor brought many mega projects in the country. "There are many energy projects and industrialization projects coming here. Gradually the institutions in Pakistan will be familiar with the big projects. In earlier phase of CPEC, it was very difficult for us to conceive, plan, process and get approval for big projects, but now things are moving smoothly." Jamaldini said that the Gwadar port is very significant for Balochistan and the entire Pakistan, as it has the great potentials to become the second big port city after Karachi and rise as one of the country's commercial, financial and economic centers. He said that they have a long-term master plan for Gwadar, under which they will scientifically plan the city to make it one of the best tourist sites in the country. The chairman emphasized that although Balochistan province is remote, its fate has been changed due to Gwadar. "The city is attracting investors not only from all over the Pakistan, but also from neighboring countries." "Gwadar is opening up trade in Pakistan ever since it became part of CPEC. The port's development and its cargo handling facilities have enhanced its potential to become one of the largest ports in the region, enabling it to attract not only the transshipment, but also the transit trade," the chairman concluded. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 23:26:08|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close CHANGSHA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese villagers and forestry experts over the past two months have been racing against time to rescue a 1,700-year-old ginkgo tree in Hunan Province. The tree's leaves turned yellow and withered in June due to persistent high temperatures, drought and pests, according to Yi Guo'ao, a forest ranger in Hunan's Huarong County. "Local villagers first found the tree in critical condition. They watered it in turns and reported to the forestry authorities," Yi said. The dying ginkgo tree is the oldest of three ancient trees under top national protection in the county. With great historic and commemorative value, it was named as the most beautiful ginkgo tree in the province last year. The county's forestry bureau sent experts to the site immediately. They carried water to the mountain, sprayed insecticide with high-pressure machine, but all have failed to save the 40-meter-high ginkgo tree, also known as maidenhair tree. Researchers with Hunan Academy of Forestry rushed to help. They tried a string of measures, such as spraying insecticide with drones, asking villagers to remove shrubs and weeds around the tree to let fresh air in, and digging a ditch to water the tree with mountain water. "Thanks to joint efforts, the tree is recovering now," Yi said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-27 00:26:25|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close CAIRO, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian senior officials will visit Ethiopia on Monday to discuss developments of the giant dam under construction by Ethiopia on their shared Nile River, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Sunday. Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and head of the General Intelligence Directorate Abbas Kamel will meet with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, conveying a verbal message from Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi. "The visit aims at following up the course of Egyptian-Ethiopian relations and the ways of enhancing them as well as the developments regarding the negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)," the statement added. Upstream Nile Basin country Ethiopia and downstream Sudan eye massive benefits from the GERD construction, while downstream Egypt is concerned it might affect its 55.5-billion-cubic-meter annual share of the river water. Egypt's ties with Ethiopia have seen ups and downs since the latter started the dam project in April 2011 while Egypt was suffering turmoil following an uprising that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak. When Sisi took office in 2014, he showed understanding of Ethiopia's aspiration for development through the new dam. In March 2015, the leaders of Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan signed an initial cooperation deal on the principles of sharing the Nile River water and the construction of the GERD. They also met in January in Addis Ababa on the sidelines of the 30th African Union summit and agreed to avoid misunderstandings by joint cooperation on common interests amid the GERD construction. "The meeting with the Ethiopian prime minister is also expected to discuss the developments of the establishment of a fund for infrastructure between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan which would contribute to activating joint cooperation in the field of development projects," said the Egyptian statement. The GERD will be Africa's largest dam upon completion with a storage capacity of 74 billion cubic meters and a construction cost of about 4.7 billion U.S. dollars. It is expected to produce around 6,000 megawatts of electricity for Ethiopia. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-27 01:21:34|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIRUT, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda's minister of foreign affairs and cooperation arrived in Lebanon's Beirut on Sunday to promote her candidacy of Executive Secretary at International Francophone Organization, local media reported. Louise Mushikiwabo said she wants to meet with Lebanese officials to introduce herself and her program for the organization during the two-day official visit, according to National News Agency. Mushikiwabo is set to meet Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Designate Saad Hariri and Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Gebran Bassil. The International Francophone Organization, focuses mostly on the youths and their role in the current technological revolution, was created in 1970 to embody the active solidarity between its 75 member states and governments. Those nations represent over one-third of the United Nations' member states and account for a population of over 890 million people, including 220 million French speakers. It organizes political activities and actions of multilateral cooperation that benefit French-speaking people. People stand by the helicopter MI-28 at the Army-2018 International Military Technical Forum held in Moscow region, Russia, on Aug. 21, 2018. (Xinhua/Evgeny Sinitsyn) MOSCOW, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Russian Helicopters is open to a broad range of cooperation with Chinese counterparts, the company's director general Andrey Boginsky has said. "Chinese aviation companies have traditionally been our key partners. We are connected, in my opinion, by strong professional and friendly partnership relations," he told Xinhua in a recent interview. Boginsky said Russian and Chinese helicopter makers are at the final stage of negotiations to create a heavy helicopter and he hopes that the work will be concluded this year. "The cooperation is quite extensive. The qualifications of Chinese colleagues, in our opinion, are quite high," he told Xinhua during the Army-2018 defense exhibition near Moscow that ends Sunday. "We might work jointly on projects of other helicopter projects depending on the needs of the Chinese market. We may also discuss using certain Chinese-made components in Russian helicopters," he said. He said Russian Helicopters, part of the Russian high-tech conglomerate Rostec Corporation, will participate this year in the aviation exhibition in China's Zhuhai in early November. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-27 01:46:38|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Syria's Defense Minister General Ali Abdullah Ayyoub said Sunday that the Syrian army will recapture Idlib, the last major rebel bastion in Syria, either through military action or reconciliation. Ayyoub made the remarks during a press conference held following his meeting with the visiting Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami at the Syrian Defense Ministry on Sunday. "Idlib and what is left of Syrian areas will be restored and purged from terrorism, either through military operations or reconciliations," Ayyoub said. For his part, Hatami, who arrived in Damascus earlier on Sunday for a two-day visit, said Syria has a strong army, which was able to restore security to large swathes of the country, stressing his country's ongoing support to Syria in the battles against terrorism. 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 started returning to those areas. 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, with military reinforcements reaching the frontline areas in that part of the country. In his latest remarks, Bashar al-Jaafari, the permanent Syrian representative in the UN, said the Turkish side was supposed to send Turkish police with light weapons to the areas to observe the de-escalation of violence. Instead, he continued, Ankara send army forces with heavy weapons to Idlib. In addition to Turkey, Western powers have started waving threats of 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, warning that "we remain resolved to act if the Assad regime uses chemical weapons again." Damascus slammed the warnings as threats, saying these powers are pushing their allies of the rebels to use chemical weapons to frame the government forces to justify a foreign strike on Syria. Chemical products are seen inside a former rebel position shown to journalists during a media tour in Douma near Damascus, Syria April 23, 2018. (REUTERS PHOTO) MOSCOW, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- English-speaking foreign experts have arrived at Habit settlement in the south of the Idlib de-escalation zone in Syria to stage a "chemical attack" using chlorine-filled rockets, Russian military said Sunday. They were allegedly planning an attack on Kafr Zita village six km south of Habit in the next two days, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement. The Russian center for reconciliation of warring parties in Syria received the intelligence from residents of the Idlib province on Sunday, he said. "The interested extra-regional forces are once again preparing major provocations in Syria with the use of poisonous substances to sharply destabilize the situation and disrupt the steady dynamics of the ongoing peace process," Konashenkov said. Western media reported that Syrian government forces used chemical weapons in Douma district near Damascus in April, but Moscow called the allegation a provocation and that the "attack" was staged. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-27 02:16:41|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIRUT, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's Hezbollah leader said Sunday that restoring relations with Syria should not be a precondition to form a government, according to local TV channel. "The debate over the relations with Syria can wait until the formation of the new government during a meeting for the council of ministers," Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on OTV. Lebanon's Prime Minister designate Saad Hariri has been trying to form a 30-member national unity government for the past three months but facing rifts among rival politicians over the representation of the main Christian parties, as well as the Druze sect. Also, politicians have been divided over whether Lebanon should engage directly with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Hariri, a long-time supporter of the Syrian opposition, announced earlier in Aug. that his unwillingness to visit Syria or meet with Assad under any circumstances, even if that would cost him his position. However, Nasrallah, whose party is an ally of Syrian President, said that the relation with Syria can be discussed at a later time, urging political parties to speed up the formation of the government. "The difficult economic situation and regional circumstances do not allow us to wait more until the new government is formed," he said. Some media outlets reported the government formation is delayed on purpose because the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) will issue a verdict in September in the case of the assassination of late Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, which will impact the distribution of cabinet shares. The Hezbollah leader said that "I would like to tell these people that STL is of no value at all for Hezbollah. Hezbollah will not be intimidated by any decision made by STL." Hezbollah, backed by Iran, aims at assuming more influence in the next government to counter U.S. campaign against Tehran and its regional allies. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un walk together before their working lunch during their summit at the Capella Hotel on the resort island of Sentosa, Singapore, June 12, 2018. (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo) WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's tweets on China concerning the denuclearization of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) are ill-grounded and is merely "passing the buck", analysts said. Just one day after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced his visit to the DPRK next week, Trump tweeted on Friday that he has asked Pompeo not to go due to the insufficient progress with respect to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Trump also tweeted: "because of our much tougher Trading stance with China, I do not believe they are helping with the process of denuclearization as they once were." He added that Pompeo looks forward to going to the DPRK in the near future, "most likely after our Trading relationship with China is resolved." Benjamin Friedman, a foreign policy fellow and defense scholar at Defense Priorities, a Washington-based think tank, told Xinhua that the U.S. trade dispute with China is not the reason the DPRK hasn't fully denuclearized. "The challenge is that by essentially claiming to have achieved that goal in Singapore, President Trump has made it difficult for his administration to accept something less. Ideally the United States would adopt a more realistic goal ... more patience in seeking results would also be useful," he added. Troy Stangarone, senior director of congressional affairs and trade at the Washington-based non-profit Korea Economic Institute, also told Xinhua that "China's preference was always for dialogue over sanctions for dealing with North Korea and its actions likely reflects its own policy preference more than active efforts to exert a negative influence on the talks" between Washington and Pyongyang. "If the United States and North Korea are unable to find a way through this impasse, the talks will likely end where prior efforts have," he added. Vipin Narang, associate professor of political science at MIT, tweeted that "reason not to freak out: Trump ran this same play before Singapore, canceling and then going." "So this is the 'call me maybe' strategy. Worked once before with the Summit. Will it work again? I'm much more skeptical this time because ... this time he (Kim Jong Un) is in a much stronger position," he said. The expert added that by making these remarks, Trump hopes to blame China, and not himself for lacking of progress in the U.S.-DPRK negotiations. Eric Gomez, a policy analyst for defense and foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute, said that "once again with North Korea, Trump creates a problem that didn't need to exist." "U.S.-DPRK progress has been slow but its only been a few months since Singapore," said Gomez. "The slow progress is to be expected given the agreement that was reached but Trump's hype post summit bred frustration." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said Saturday in response to Trump's remarks that China's stance on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue is consistent and clear, and China hopes all relevant parties adhere to the direction of political settlement. U.S. remarks went against basic facts and were irresponsible, Lu said, adding that China has, for many years, played an important and constructive role in pushing for the proper solution to the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, and always comprehensively and strictly implemented the resolutions of the UN Security Council on the DPRK. Analysts also speculated that Trump's decision came for fear that Pompeo's fourth trip to the DPRK would be fruitless. Suzanne DiMaggio, director and senior fellow at New America, a think tank, said that "as Trump faces the worst week of his presidency, the last thing he wants to add to his mounting troubles is Pompeo coming home from North Korea empty-handed yet again. North Korea is supposed to be Trump's big foreign policy win." "By over-hyping the outcomes of his meeting with Kim Jong Un in Singapore ... Trump has given Pyongyang the advantage and undercut his own negotiators. Placing the blame on Beijing is not the way to dig out of this self-created hole," she added. Bruce Klingner, a senior research fellow for Northeast Asia at the Heritage Foundation's Asian Studies Center, said that "Trump's canceling Secretary Pompeo's trip to Pyongyang ... reflects poor coordination on the administration's North Korea policy." "Trump again incorrectly blames China for NK," he said. "The diplomatic road ahead is much longer and bumpier than originally depicted by President Trump." Mintaro Oba, a former State Department diplomat specializing in the Korean Peninsula, tweeted that "what's concerning to me is the implication here that the President is trying to link U.S.-China trade issues with North Korea denuke." "That's both a misguided read on the situation, and a game we will almost certainly lose," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-27 03:31:52|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TEHRAN, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Book City Institute in the capital Tehran will host the Iran-Ukraine Cultural Dialogue Days, Tehran Times daily reported on Sunday. The program is scheduled to begin on Tuesday by introducing a Ukrainian translation of "London 1939," a poetry collection by Iranian writer Alireza Bahrami. A Persian translation of well-known Ukrainian writer Ivan Nechuy's 1878 novel "Kaidash's Family" will be unveiled. Scholars are scheduled to make speeches during the program, which will continue until Friday with an exhibition of photos by Bahrami. The program will conclude on Sept. 2. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-27 04:12:00|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIRUT, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Over 20 agreements will be signed between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon after the formation of a new government, said Walid Al-Bukhari, charge d'affaires at the Saudi Embassy in Beirut, on Sunday. "Saudi Arabia is willing to bolster its ties with Lebanon in various fields and the kingdom wants to build with Lebanon a relation based on mutual respect and common interests," he said in a statement, quoted by local news agency Al Markazia. His remarks came during a lunch organized by the Lebanese-Saudi Business Council in Chouf attended by Lebanese officials and Saudi businessmen residing in Lebanon. Raouf Abu Zaki, chairman of Al Iktissad Wal Aamal Group, an independent private company with investors from 10 Arab countries, called upon Saudi nationals to come to Lebanon. "It is time to restore normal and complete ties with the kingdom in terms of tourism and investment which will benefit the two countries," he said. Last November, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait warned their citizens against traveling to Lebanon due to a Lebanese-Saudi crisis. This caused the tourism activity to slow down during this summer season compared to the previous years. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-27 05:17:10|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BUCHAREST, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Romanian border policemen caught a group of 33 Iraqi citizens hidden inside a truck bound for western Europe, the General Inspectorate of the Border Police announced on Sunday. According to a police statement, the joint control team made up of Romanian and Hungarian border policemen found 33 people hiding inside a truck loaded with electrical and textile materials, in a routine control on Saturday at the Nadlac border crossing point in western Romania. Preliminary investigations revealed that these people, 11 men and 11 women between the ages of 18 and 54, with 11 minors aged between 10 and 16 years, are all registered asylum seekers in Romania. They admitted that they wanted to reach a western European country. The truck involved was registered in Turkey, but the Turkish driver insisted he knew nothing about how dozens of immigrants became packed inside his truck. This was the second human smuggling incident in a week in Romania at the same Nadlac checkpoint, which, borders eastern Hungary, is Romania's main route to western Europe. Earlier the week, Romanian border police in Nadlac seized a Turkish truck with 42 migrants from Iraq, Palestine and Syria hidden inside. With increasingly harsh border controls in other European Union's outer borders, refugees in the Middle East have been trying to enter western European countries through Romania. They usually enter Romania by sea, through the Black Sea and illegally leave the country hiding in trucks. There had been media reports on the interception of refugees by the Romanian border police. According to General Inspectorate for Immigration, more than 1,200 foreign citizens were found to be residing illegally on Romanian territory, as of the first half of this year. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-27 05:22:12|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Four Islamic State (IS) militants were killed Sunday in an ambush by paramilitary Hashd Shaabi fighters at a rugged area in Iraq's central province of Salahudin, a Hashd Shaabi source said. The incident took place in the evening when Hashd Shaabi fighters ambushed a group of IS militants who were trying to infiltrate from IS hotbed of Mteibijah, a rugged area in the eastern part of the province, to nearby villages, Khudhair al-Matrouhi, leader of a Hashd Shaabi unit, told Xinhua. As the militants entered the ambush area, the troops opened heavy fire on them and killed four militants while the others fled the scene leaving their weapons and ammunition, Matrouhi said. Iraqi security forces repeatedly tried to retake control of Mteibijah, but the vast rugged land and mountains have made it difficult for them to dislodge the extremist militants from the region. Hundreds of IS militants earlier fled their former bases in the key cities of Salahudin, including the provincial capital Tikrit, some 170 km north of Baghdad, after the Iraqi forces cleared these areas during major anti-IS offensives. Late in 2017, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, also the commander-in-chief of Iraqi forces, officially declared full liberation of Iraq from IS militants after Iraqi forces recaptured all the areas once seized by the extremist group. However, some IS remnants have since melted in urban areas or fled to deserts and rugged areas in the country, carrying out attacks from time to time against security forces and civilians. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-27 05:52:17|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ADEN, Yemen, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The pro-government Yemeni forces shot down a drone belonging to the Houthi rebels over central Yemen's province of al-Bayda on Sunday, a government official said on Sunday. The local government source said that a Houthi drone armed with explosives was shot down after trying to carry out an attack against the 19th Armored Brigade in al-Bayda province. The official, who asked to remain anonymous, said that "the pro-government forces aborted the attack that Houthis had planned to carry out against the army base." Initial investigations revealed that the explosives-loaded drone was smuggled into Yemen from Iran along with other sophisticated weapons, the official said. The Houthi leaders in the country's capital Sanaa have yet to comment on the drone incident. But pro-Houthi media outlets claimed launching an attack with a drone against a meeting of high-ranking government officials in al-Bayda province earlier in the day. Last month, the Houthi fighters used an Iranian-made drone and tried to launch a missile attack against the headquarters of the Saudi-led coalition forces in the southern port city of Aden. But the Saudi-backed Yemeni air forces foiled the Houthi drone attack, causing no casualties. The coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in March 2015 to roll back the Iranian-allied Shiite Houthi rebels and support the internationally-recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. The rebels have seized control over much of the country's north since September 2014, including Sanaa, and forced Hadi and his government into exile in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. The war has killed more than 10,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, and displaced 3 million others, triggering one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-27 05:57:19|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close RABAT, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Moroccan police arrested on Sunday two Dutch brothers of Moroccan origin for their alleged involvement in killing one person and wounding two others in a cafe shooting in Marrakech last year. Last November, two hooded armed men opened fire in a coffee shop before fleeing the scene on a motorcycle, in an operation that revealed later on links to international drug trafficking. According to a statement from the Moroccan police, the arrest of the two suspects took place in two separate homes in a village near the northern city of Al Hoceima. The suspects were subject to an international arrest warrant as well as a Moroccan search warrant against them for their alleged involvement in this case. The two were put in police custody to conduct the investigation, said the statement, noting that international security procedures are ongoing to arrest the main instigator behind this crime. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-27 06:12:23|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close RABAT, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Moroccan police announced on Sunday the arrest of four people for alleged belonging to a criminal gang specialized in international drug trafficking. The police said in a statement the two main suspects, with criminal record for drug trafficking, were nabbed along with their accomplices near the northern city of Tetouan. During the police raid, some 376 kg of cannabis were seized in their possession, the police said, adding that they also seized money, cellphones and a car belonging to the suspects. The accused were remanded in custody to complete the investigation under the supervision of the competent public prosecutor's office to determine the possible ramifications of the network, it said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-27 06:27:26|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- A new artificial Intelligence (AI) system has been created to help detect small tumors for lung cancer often missed in conventional way of scanning, says a study to be announced at an international medical conference in Spain next month. The new AI system, developed by a group of engineers and doctors at the University of Central Florida (UCF), is about 95 percent accurate in spotting small tumors in computerized tomography (CT) scans, whereas human radiologists have a success rate of 65 percent. The scientists at the UCF Computer Vision Research Center taught a computer how to detect tiny specks of lung cancer in CT scans by adopting an approach similar to the algorithms of popular facial-recognition found on the iPhone X. "We used the brain as a model to create our system," which scans thousands of faces looking for a particular pattern to find its match, said Rodney LaLonde, a doctoral candidate at the UCF center. LaLonde was assisted by Engineering Assistant Professor Ulas Bagci who leads the group of researchers in the center that focuses on AI with potential medical applications. The research team fed more than 1,000 CT scans from the National Institutes of Health into the software they developed to help the computer learn to look for the tumors. Each CT scan taught the AI what to look for in tumor size and shape, among other trademarks, and the system learned how to differentiate between cancerous and benign tumors. "I believe this will have a very big impact," said Bagci, who has worked extensively in biomedical imaging and machine learning. "Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in the United States and if detected in late stages, the survival rate is only 17 percent," he said, adding that doctors can help increase survival rates by finding ways to identify cancerous tumors earlier. Media reports said earlier that lung cancer is the biggest cancer-related killer in the United States, which kills nearly 800,000 people each year. The UCF team will present their study at the 21st International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention, which takes place in Spain in September 2018. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-27 07:24:07|Editor: ZD Video Player Close Performers take part in the Children's Day Parade of the annual Notting Hill Carnival in London, Britain, on Aug. 26, 2018. The Notting Hill Carnival is the largest street festival in Europe and originated in the 1960s as a way for Afro-Caribbean communities to celebrate their own cultures and traditions. (Xinhua/Ray Tang) Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-26 21:15:30|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's tweets on China concerning the denuclearization of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) are ill-grounded and is merely "passing the buck", analysts said. Just one day after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced his visit to the DPRK next week, Trump tweeted on Friday that he has asked Pompeo not to go due to the insufficient progress with respect to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Trump also tweeted: "because of our much tougher Trading stance with China, I do not believe they are helping with the process of denuclearization as they once were." He added that Pompeo looks forward to going to the DPRK in the near future, "most likely after our Trading relationship with China is resolved." Benjamin Friedman, a foreign policy fellow and defense scholar at Defense Priorities, a Washington-based think tank, told Xinhua that the U.S. trade dispute with China is not the reason the DPRK hasn't fully denuclearized. "The challenge is that by essentially claiming to have achieved that goal in Singapore, President Trump has made it difficult for his administration to accept something less. Ideally the United States would adopt a more realistic goal ... more patience in seeking results would also be useful," he added. Troy Stangarone, senior director of congressional affairs and trade at the Washington-based non-profit Korea Economic Institute, also told Xinhua that "China's preference was always for dialogue over sanctions for dealing with North Korea and its actions likely reflects its own policy preference more than active efforts to exert a negative influence on the talks" between Washington and Pyongyang. "If the United States and North Korea are unable to find a way through this impasse, the talks will likely end where prior efforts have," he added. Vipin Narang, associate professor of political science at MIT, tweeted that "reason not to freak out: Trump ran this same play before Singapore, canceling and then going." "So this is the 'call me maybe' strategy. Worked once before with the Summit. Will it work again? I'm much more skeptical this time because ... this time he (Kim Jong Un) is in a much stronger position," he said. The expert added that by making these remarks, Trump hopes to blame China, and not himself for lacking of progress in the U.S.-DPRK negotiations. Eric Gomez, a policy analyst for defense and foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute, said that "once again with North Korea, Trump creates a problem that didn't need to exist." "U.S.-DPRK progress has been slow but its only been a few months since Singapore," said Gomez. "The slow progress is to be expected given the agreement that was reached but Trump's hype post summit bred frustration." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said Saturday in response to Trump's remarks that China's stance on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue is consistent and clear, and China hopes all relevant parties adhere to the direction of political settlement. U.S. remarks went against basic facts and were irresponsible, Lu said, adding that China has, for many years, played an important and constructive role in pushing for the proper solution to the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, and always comprehensively and strictly implemented the resolutions of the UN Security Council on the DPRK. Analysts also speculated that Trump's decision came for fear that Pompeo's fourth trip to the DPRK would be fruitless. Suzanne DiMaggio, director and senior fellow at New America, a think tank, said that "as Trump faces the worst week of his presidency, the last thing he wants to add to his mounting troubles is Pompeo coming home from North Korea empty-handed yet again. North Korea is supposed to be Trump's big foreign policy win." "By over-hyping the outcomes of his meeting with Kim Jong Un in Singapore ... Trump has given Pyongyang the advantage and undercut his own negotiators. Placing the blame on Beijing is not the way to dig out of this self-created hole," she added. Bruce Klingner, a senior research fellow for Northeast Asia at the Heritage Foundation's Asian Studies Center, said that "Trump's canceling Secretary Pompeo's trip to Pyongyang ... reflects poor coordination on the administration's North Korea policy." "Trump again incorrectly blames China for NK," he said. "The diplomatic road ahead is much longer and bumpier than originally depicted by President Trump." Mintaro Oba, a former State Department diplomat specializing in the Korean Peninsula, tweeted that "what's concerning to me is the implication here that the President is trying to link U.S.-China trade issues with North Korea denuke." "That's both a misguided read on the situation, and a game we will almost certainly lose," he said. 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. 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... Latasha Raynor furnished the new home she got through Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia with help from design students at Harcum College in Bryn Mawr. Read more After moving into her new townhouse in North Philadelphia earlier this summer, Latasha Raynor hung a "Bless Our Home" poster on the wall. She and her four children were finally home. Raynor, 37, grew up in rental properties in North Philadelphia and later rented an apartment for herself and children in the Logan section of Philadelphia. Home ownership had not been on her radar. She had a dream, though: "I wanted a blue house," she said. By chance, her new two-story dwelling is sheathed in blue-gray siding. Three years ago, at the suggestion of a coworker, Raynor, a staff coordinator at a retirement and rehabilitation residence, attended an information session sponsored by Habitat for Humanity. The nonprofit has built more than 200 affordable houses in Philadelphia. During the presentation on how to purchase a Habitat home, Raynor remembers thinking, "I can't do all this paperwork." But she summoned the will, completed an application, and was accepted to the program, which granted her an interest-free mortgage. Among Habitat's requirements were that Raynor contribute 350 hours of "sweat equity" with the organization. She spent time cleaning up construction debris and painting Habitat homes and worked as a sales clerk at Habitat's discount home improvement store, ReStore, in South Philadelphia. To furnish her future home, Raynor teamed up with interior designer Ellen Farber and eight of her design students from Harcum College in Bryn Mawr. Farber had been a design adviser at ReStore and wanted to involve the students in a project to assist a Habitat homeowner. Farber and the students started by interviewing Raynor about her preferences. "I told them I wanted the house to feel warm," she said. Habitat workers had installed hardwood floors and painted walls cream and the wood trim white. The students studied the layout of the three-bedroom house with its full bath, powder room, and basement and created design boards with furniture suggestions and fabric swatches. Armed with the boards, Farber spent two months helping Raynor shop. At less than 1,200 square feet, the house posed some furnishing challenges. They found bunk beds to fit the tight spaces at Bob's Discount Furniture in Cherry Hill. Sisters Aniya, 15, and Malaysia, 5, share one bedroom. Brothers Curtis, 20, and Darnell, 11, share another. Because of the range in siblings' ages, the decor could not be too cute or too sophisticated. The boys' room has a Marvel Comics poster, which appeals to both brothers, and the sisters like their white, yellow, and blue striped sheets and colorful pillows. Raynor initially admired the pink and purple color scheme that Harcum students chose for the master bedroom until she found a gray, white, and teal print comforter at At Home in Cherry Hill. She shifted course and found gray-and-white curtains and rug and a teal lamp from At Home, as well. Two fur pillows and a teal bench came from ReStore. A beige couch, glass coffee table, and side table for the living room were also ReStore buys. Black-and-white chairs and pillows came from Bob's, as did the dark walnut dining table and chairs, which match the kitchen cabinets. A giant kitchen clock came from At Home. "I always wanted an oversized clock" Raynor said. A framed photo of Barack and Michelle Obama with the presidential oath of office hangs on the wall near the front door. A red and black floral print brightens the dining area. Framed family photos are arranged on walls and scattered on tables. To create a cozy living space in the unfinished basement, Curtis and three friends laid carpet tiles from Home Depot over the cement floor. The tweedy squares in various colors form a patchwork pattern. The young people can lounge on the gray sectional from Bob's. The house has central air, but on a hot day, the above-ground pool in the backyard beckoned. The adjacent cement patio accommodates a table, chairs, barbecue, and kids' bikes and toys. Raynor is not the only family member to recently acquire a house: Malaysia received a Barbie Townhouse for Christmas. Raynor persuaded her to keep it boxed until the move, when it was set up in the basement. Now the little girl can care for her pink house while her mother tends her long-awaited blue house. Is your house a Haven? Nominate your home by email (and send some digital photographs) at properties@phillynews.com. Plaintiff Bryant Miller (left) walks into Philadelphia City Hall in September with lawyers arguing for better school funding in Pennsylvania. The lawyers are Maura McInerney and, Deborah Gordon Klehr of the Education Law Center and Michael Churchill of the Public Interest Law Center. Read more A landmark lawsuit challenging how Pennsylvania pays for public education is moving closer to trial after Commonwealth Court dismissed state lawmakers' last remaining objection to the case. State Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R., Jefferson) argued for dismissal on the ground that in 2016, Pennsylvania adopted a formula directing more money to school districts with greater student needs. But the plaintiffs among them the William Penn School District in Delaware County and parents of Philadelphia students said that disparities between low and high-wealth districts had increased despite the formula, which applies only to a portion of what Pennsylvania spends on public education. "Clearly, a factual dispute about the significance and adequacy of the funding changes persists," the court said in its order Monday. A spokesman for Scarnati did not immediately respond Tuesday to a request for comment. Neal Lesher, a spokesman for House Speaker Mike Turzai (R., Allegheny), said lawmakers had increased funding for school districts by $2 billion since 2015. "Crafting a budget, including education funding, is constitutionally a legislative matter that we take very seriously," Lesher said. "We continue to believe that this matter does not belong in the courts." Filed in 2014 by the Education Law Center and Public Interest Law Center on behalf of school districts, parents, and statewide organizations, the lawsuit alleges that the state is violating its constitution by failing to adequately educate children and discriminating against children based on where they live. It was dismissed in 2015 by Commonwealth Court, which held that education funding couldn't be reviewed by judges. But the Pennsylvania Supreme Court reversed that decision last year, reviving the case and sending it back to the lower court. Legislative leaders continued to argue that it shouldn't move forward in part because the state had since adopted a funding formula. Monday's order put an end to those objections. While lawmakers still may file additional motions, the next stage is deciding what the trial will look like, how the issues will be presented and the timetable for producing evidence, said Maura McInerney, legal director of the Education Law Center. Pennsylvania's formula "in no way resolved the broken funding system in the state," McInerney said. "It did not add a single dollar to the state contribution to education. There's no question that the schools that are underfunded continue to suffer from the same harm." Staff writer Kristen A. Graham contributed to this article. Composer George Walker in Verizon Hall, April 29, 2018, where his Lyric for Strings was performed by the Curtis Institute orchestra. Read more George Walker, 96, a pianist and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer trained in Philadelphia whose melancholy but warmly reassuring Lyric for Strings became a popular calling card, died Aug. 23 in Montclair, N.J., his family told NPR. Mr. Walker blazed a trail in the overwhelmingly white world of classical music. He achieved a number of African American firsts: the first to win the Pulitzer Prize in composition, among the first to graduate from the Curtis Institute of Music, and the first African American instrumentalist to solo with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Listeners praised the Walker style as economical and finely crafted. His work is "modern and fresh-sounding and is both lyrical and complex at the same time," said composer David Ludwig, artistic adviser to the president at Curtis. Mr. Walker, he said, echoed Bartok "in his preternatural gifts as a performer, sophistication as a composer, and his commitment to spirituals and American folk musical traditions." His scores received new attention after he won the 1996 Pulitzer for Lilacs, which had been commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra. As a pianist, he was "really and truly a major talent," former Curtis director Gary Graffman once said. In 1945, Mr. Walker recalled, he was the first African American instrumentalist to solo with the Philadelphia Orchestra, playing Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 conducted by Eugene Ormandy after winning the orchestra's student competition. But Mr. Walker said that the year after his piano debut he went backstage after a rehearsal to request an appointment with Ormandy to show the conductor his new Lyric for Strings. "He said he didn't have time," Mr. Walker told the Inquirer in 1996. It was 45 years more before the orchestra programmed the six-minute work on its first tribute concert for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1991. "I'm not bitter," he said, "but what I would like to say is, Why has it taken so long for the Philadelphia Orchestra to recognize what pretty much everyone else accepts?" Lyric for Strings was played on two more of the orchestra's MLK concerts, and made its subscription-series debut in 2006. The orchestra also played Lilacs and his Violin Concerto in 2009 with son Gregory Walker as soloist. Curtis played a pivotal role in his development. There, he studied piano with Rudolf Serkin and composition with Rosario Scalero. Efrem Zimbalist, the school's director, arranged a town hall recital debut. He was in the Curtis Common Room one day when another Serkin student, Seymour Lipkin, told him he was conducting a radio concert with string orchestra. Mr. Walker suggested adding a double bass part to a string quartet he had just written and expanding the work for string orchestra. "Of course I knew Barber had done that [with his Adagio for Strings], but I never talked about it in front of anybody else. It was just right on the spot," Mr. Walker told an interviewer from the site NewMusicBox. "And he said yes. So I rushed home and put the parts together and gave it to him and they played it." And Lyric for Strings was launched. In May, Curtis awarded him its president's alumni award at commencement the school gave him an honorary doctorate in 1997 and its orchestra performed Lyric in Verizon Hall in April with a smiling Mr. Walker in attendance. George Theophilus Walker, who lived in Montclair, was born in Washington. His father came to the U.S. from Jamaica and became a physician after graduating from Temple University. His mother bought him a piano and his first music books. "The same respect for Mozart and Bach that we heard at church carried over at home," he told the Inquirer. "Our piano teacher taught the same things we would have gotten at the Juilliard preparatory department. It was a different world. There was culture. All the boys who were my friends studied either piano or violin and we were expected to take it seriously." He earned degrees from Curtis, Oberlin College, and Eastman School of Music; was a Fulbright fellow; and studied with famed pedagogue Nadia Boulanger. He was the second African American to graduate from Curtis, in 1945 (another pianist, Russell Johnson, graduated in 1928), and was the first African American to receive a doctorate from Eastman, in 1956, a spokesperson for that school said. He taught widely over the decades, at the Peabody Institute, Rutgers, the University of Delaware, and Smith College. Mr. Walker's compositional style encompassed considerable range. Lilacs for voice and orchestra is both disturbing and stirring. His Piano Sonata No. 3 is terse and rather dry. "He used different techniques at different times," said pianist Leon Bates, who commissioned the Piano Sonata No. 3 from Mr. Walker in 1976 after hearing his music for the first time played by his Temple University professor Natalie Hinderas. "I don't think there was a sense of him moving forward on a gradual path out of one style into another. I think he tended to go back and use ideas as he wanted to." But it was the quintessential American sound of Lyric for Strings that made its composer an American classic. It embodies "a lyricism unique to the tradition of the many storied composition graduates of the Curtis Institute of Music," said Philadelphia Orchestra assistant principal double bassist Joseph Conyers, who conducted the piece in Italian cathedrals on a 2015 tour by Philadelphia's All City Orchestra. "There's an arch in the piece that begins with an optimism embodied in love and compassion. That love morphs into an acknowledgment of the struggle that such positive forces can face in the world a world where optimism can seem in short supply. Ultimately, hope wins out, and the listener is left both content and comforted." In addition to his son Gregory, he is survived by another son, playwright Ian Walker. Tony Royster, left and Dontae Thomas, right, of the drill team Positive Movement, with the empty suit of their colleague William "Elmo" Fulton Read more The 13-second video begins with a burst of smoke and flames shooting from a Kensington scrapyard. Stepping into the frame, a giant, loose-limbed Elmo leads a two-man drum line in the eyes of some of the iPhone clip's 750,000 viewers on Twitter, the essence of weird Philly. "Is Philly even a real place?" one viewer tweeted of the surreal scene. A blog compared the moment to the work of the filmmaker David Lynch. There was something very Philadelphia about a small drum line with a gangly Sesame Street character providing a soundtrack to a four-alarm environmental hazard. But there was another Philadelphia story behind all this: This Elmo, born William Fulton, has been struggling with housing insecurity for roughly a year and a half. There was a warrant out for his arrest he'd failed to report for probation. The day after the fire, police grabbed him, and he has been sitting in jail since he went viral. "I'm resting my bones," Fulton said at Philadelphia's Alternative and Special Detention Facility, where he greeted his first visitor in the month he's been behind bars. The North Philadelphia native is 29 and a father to two young children. He's won some notoriety on State Road for his role playing the furry red Muppet with the squeaky voice. Other inmates ask the 6-foot-4 Fulton to dance. He won't. Not there, he says. The night of July 11, the three, who are members of the Positive Movement drum line, were on their way to drop off equipment when they approached the fire. Tony Royster, founder of the group, had his doubts about performing there, but the other two pushed with a crowd gathering, they'd have a pre-made audience, and hopefully, donations. Fulton is aware from phone calls with loved ones that something with him marching that night flew across the internet. At the jail, he asked why the video posted by Rocco Avallone, a photojournalist, had become so popular. In an era where it's commonplace for the stars of viral moments to attempt to capitalize on the mercurial luster of internet notoriety, Fulton can hardly plug his brand. Questions over compensation for the video have become a long-lingering hurt for Fulton, another round of disappointment. In jail, he hasn't had the will to conjure the comical version of Elmo he crafted five years before while thinking of what he missed growing up without his father, moving in and out of juvenile placement. Rather, he's the man who, after a breakup and time away from his young children, gloomily concedes that the mask hid his pain. Aside from his performances, Fulton works for a fruit juice company, only earning enough to live day to day. He used to sell bootleg DVDs near 54th and Arch Streets. That's how he caught a case. Since getting arrested for selling bootlegged movies in 2012, Fulton has been in the system. He stopped reporting to his probation officer to avoid failing a drug test. Marijuana, he said, eased his stress. Pennsylvania registers the third-highest rate of adults under parole or probation supervision in the country, according to an April 2018 report from Columbia University's Justice Lab. The commonwealth's tallies stand among the highest "in the Western world," the report stated. Fulton's friend Taurean "Ron" Lowry invited him to dress up as a character for a children's party on the Delaware riverfront. Fulton was too tall for a SpongeBob costume. The Elmo costume felt, he said, like magic, or a first pair of Jordans. He joined forces with Positive Movement last year, after Royster had the idea that life-size characters would get the group hired for more kids' events. >>READ MORE: Philly drum lines: Show some respect we're your history At his probation hearing last month, Fulton said he needed some help. "What I really need is a fresh start," he testified. "This time I will go to a program." Even so, Fulton isn't sure he should be serving time. His hearing began unusually: Michael Welch of the Defender Association was not in the courtroom when Municipal Court Judge Bradley K. Moss wanted to begin, so he instructed a summer intern to get started. Legal experts say that violated the Sixth Amendment and could be viewed as a denial of counsel. Welch arrived shortly after the judge called on the intern, which, legal experts noted, would make a reversal of the sentence unlikely. Moss sentenced Fulton to two to four months in confinement. On the inside, Fulton spends his time dreaming up what he could do to take his Elmo act to the next level. To top the fire, he quipped, they'd need a backdrop of a hurricane or tornado. When Royster asked Avallone if there was any way the drum line could be compensated for the video, he replied that "it went low-key viral, but I haven't made much money from it." He gave Royster permission to use his photos from that night. (The Inquirer and Daily News paid $125 to license the video from the distribution firm Avallone engaged.) In Fulton's frustrations, both Jenna Loadman, an intellectual property attorney at Ballard Spahr, and Kevin J. Greene, a leading expert on the intersection of race and intellectual property, see questions that are native to the digital era. American copyright laws predate the rapid-fire, highly shareable publication modes of viral content, and while these statutes were designed to protect artistry, they may lack sensitivity to creative processes that may be associated with African Americans, like communal cultural production of a drum line. "Somehow," Loadman explained, "intellectual property benefits the creation and fixation of being in the right place in the right time, rather than the creative expression." Greene measures that Royster and Thomas could make a legal challenge for their likenesses being used, but not Fulton, because he doesn't own Elmo's face. Fulton isn't worried about that. He's thinking that maybe the video gets him a job at Sesame Place. When he's released, he plans on heading to a shelter. He says he's been working on getting himself together for the sake of his children, Harmony, 3, and Josiah, 1. He hasn't seen the video that made him the talk of Twitter. He knows it was an absurd, raw, widely shared moment. He missed it. District Attorney Larry Krasner, whose aides intervened in a robbery case after supporters of the defendant complained that they had been ordered from the courtroom. His office says the aim was to make sure any conviction.was not undone on appeal. Read more There was no push-back from lawyers in Courtroom 802 when Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Giovanni Campbell ordered family and friends of a man on trial for a pistol-whipping robbery to leave the room. The assistant district attorney handling the case had requested the courtroom clearing, worried about witness intimidation. The defendant's lawyer, for his own tactical reasons, had no objection. Their agreement makes what happened next all the more striking. Supporters of defendant Allen Robinson, a man with a long criminal record, wanted back inside. They reached out not to his attorney but to the highest levels of the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office. And they got action. District Attorney Larry Krasner dispatched a top aide to the courtroom. There, the aide, Michael Giampietro, reversed the young prosecutor and asked the judge to open the court to the defendant's backers. His attempt was unsuccessful. But as word of the intervention spread in the city's legal community after the Aug. 10 trial, critics, including former and current city prosecutors, questioned whether the District Attorney's Office had gone to bat for the man it was charged with convicting. A spokesperson for Krasner said that wasn't so that Giampietro was actually seeking to "protect a potential conviction." "There are very specific procedures of how a courtroom should be cleared and those procedures weren't followed," said Ben Waxman, director of communication for Krasner. "The issue that Mike was trying to flag was that the courtroom was not cleared correctly and that was reversible error." Waxman said Krasner's role was limited to asking his aide to investigate. That said, Waxman said that Giampietro had concluded that a Robinson conviction might face a successful appeal if his allies were kept out of the room. There is no record that the DA's Office made that argument in court. Rather, the request that the judge reverse himself was made in Campbell's chambers. Even in that setting, the DA's Office conceded the legal argument described by Waxman wasn't made. The judge, Waxman said, was too dismissive to listen. Legal experts interviewed for this story questioned the logic of Waxman's account, noting that in their experience it was unlikely the case would be reversed since the defense had not opposed the court's closing. "It's odd that another district attorney came in and went against the initial district attorney, especially in a case where the defense attorney was agreeing with the district attorney trying the case," said Abbie Heller, a Drexel University law instructor and former public defender who has represented clients before Campbell. "That's strange." Samuel Stretton, a veteran defense lawyer who has represented many Philadelphia judges in legal proceedings, said the idea that Giampietro was worried about an appeal struck him as "just a manufactured argument to justify the district attorney's conduct here." Stretton said he found the entire episode inexplicable especially the involvement of a supervisor in such a routine case. "It's unheard of," he said. The DA's Office has been under intense scrutiny since Krasner, a longtime defense attorney who specialized in civil rights cases, won election last year. As district attorney, he has won national attention for his new approaches to how defendants are charged, held for trial, and sentenced. But locally, some detractors complain he has been insensitive to victims' concerns while pursuing his reform agenda. This account of Robinson's trial comes from the official transcript and interviews with Waxman and others with knowledge of what happened. Those include Robinson's lawyer, Guy Sciolla, and the two Robinson supporters who directly solicited help from the District Attorney's Office. Campbell, the judge, declined comment. The DA's Office would not permit any staff involved in the case including Giampietro and the case's assigned prosecutor, Mark Burgmann to be interviewed. A long criminal record The trial itself concerned a rather ordinary robbery, ugly in its details, but otherwise little different from scores of cases that unfold every day in Philadelphia's Criminal Justice Center. Robinson was among the more than 2,000 robbery suspects arrested yearly in Philadelphia. Prosecutors charged Robinson, 41, with repeatedly slamming a handgun into the head of his victim, Steven Priester-Grabe, on Feb. 6, 2017, in Mount Airy, opening up a bloody head wound. The defense said that Robinson only struck back when sucker-punched and that he had no gun. Robinson had already run up a lengthy criminal record. In his 20s, he served two prison terms for gun-related convictions. In 2008, he was arrested again on a firearms charge, allegedly carrying a Glock, illegal for a felon. A judge ruled the search illegal. In 2009 and 2010, police arrested Robinson twice more, each time for confrontations with the same man in incidents that involved allegations of witness intimidation and possession of firearms. Both cases were also dismissed. His latest case put him before Campbell in a nonjury trial. Robinson was one of 13 defendants scheduled that day before Campbell. Tensions between accusers and the accused often can run high in the Criminal Justice Center, and in the Robinson case, all the pressure-cooker ingredients were in place when the trial began. Robinson and the alleged victim knew each other, having relationships with two sisters who were mothers of their children. The case was being prosecuted by Burgmann, a relatively new assistant district attorney who joined the office in 2015 soon after graduation from Temple law school. Sciolla, with more than 40 years of experience, represented Robinson. On the eve of the trial, Burgmann told Sciolla he would seek to have the courtroom cleared during Priester-Grabe's testimony due to the possibility of audience members intimidating him while he was on the stand, Sciolla said in an interview last week. Sciolla viewed Priester-Grabe as an erratic witness who might be more likely to make "wild allegations" of intimidation if people were allowed to stay and watch. So when the time came, Sciolla said he had "no problem with the judge's decision" to clear the courtroom. But people in the courtroom did. "Ain't this a public trial?" the transcript quotes one as saying from a gallery seat after it was announced that family and friends of Robinson would have to leave. Others were permitted to stay. Two of those ordered out appealed to the District Attorney's Office. One was Dorothy Johnson-Speight, a longtime antiviolence activist and founder of Mothers in Charge, a group that helps troubled youths. Robinson, she said in an interview, was a volunteer with her group and mentored young men. In the interview Thursday, Johnson-Speight criticized the judge's action. "There was no intimidation. There was no rowdiness in the courtroom," she said. "I didn't go there to intimidate anybody." Upset, she walked the two blocks from the Criminal Justice Center to the District Attorney's Office. There, she spoke with Jody Dodd, whom Krasner appointed this year as Restorative Justice facilitator. That is a new position in the office's Victim Services unit that is aimed, in part, at finding ways for victims and perpetrators to reconcile. Dodd previously worked as the office manager for Krasner's legal defense practice. She joined the DA's staff as part of Krasner's sweeping shake-up of office personnel. The other Robinson supporter to reach out to the District Attorney's Office was Harrod E. Clay Jr., pastor of a Baptist church in Glassboro, N.J., an activist on criminal-justice issues. He telephoned Arun Prabhakaran, Krasner's chief of staff, to complain. In an interview Thursday, Clay said that Prabhakaran asked him to calm down. "I'm not calming down," he said, describing his mood at that instant. "This is unprecedented. This is unheard of. That judge, the courtroom, that building are all the result of taxes that we the citizens of Philadelphia pay. That we would be put out is unprecedented." Word of the conflict reached Krasner. The DA then sent Giampietro, the veteran defense lawyer whom Krasner appointed in February to be a special adviser at a yearly salary of $160,000. His job includes troubleshooting issues that arise in court. (Giampietro and Krasner are friends and former business partners. In a May 2018 financial disclosure, Krasner listed Giampietro as a personal and business creditor in 2017. The unspecified debt was subsequently settled, Krasner said.) Waxman said the district attorney knew little about what happened in Courtroom 802. "Larry didn't know who had contacted our office, the specifics of the case, or other details. He just heard that there were reports of a problem and sent Mike over to check it out," Waxman said. Giampietro headed to the Justice Center, where he encountered Clay. "You better get us back in that courtroom," Clay said he told Giampietro. "Whatever you need to do." At the request of Burgmann and Giampietro, the judge held a conference in his chambers with all the attorneys, including Sciolla, to discuss letting Robinson's supporters back in the courtroom. Sources said Burgmann was troubled by Giampietro's intervention. Waxman said he would not discuss the reaction of the young attorney. No transcript was kept of the discussion in the judge's chamber. According to Waxman, Giampietro told the judge that he was "going to have to let the people back in the room." In an interview, Sciolla said Giampietro "was just asking the court to reconsider allowing people in." Waxman said that Giampietro had concluded the judge had mishandled the situation in a way that could jeopardize a conviction. To support that account, Waxman pointed to a pamphlet prepared by the Philadelphia courts instructing judges on how to deal with witness intimidation. It recommends fact-finding hearings to confirm that a witness' fear is well-placed before excluding spectators. Campbell held no such hearing in the Robinson case. Waxman cited a 1989 state Superior Court ruling, reversing a Philadelphia murder conviction on grounds that the judge had improperly cleared the courtroom during the testimony of a key witness. In that case, the defense attorney had protested the clearing. Waxman also disputed the significance of Sciolla's assent to the clearing of the courtroom. "The right to public access to a trial is not something that can be waived by a defense attorney," he said. "If that right is denied, it can always be grounds for appeal." Among those who found Waxman's explanation a stretch was Clay, the minister who called the office's chief of staff to complain about the ouster in the first place. "With respect to that nonsense they're floating," he said, referring to the worry that the case could be appealed, "that's nonsense." A tense meeting in chambers In any event, Waxman said, Giampietro was never able to make any legal argument to the judge during the "very brief meeting" in chambers. "He tried to express that to the judge and my understanding is the judge was not particularly interested in having the conversation," Waxman said. "Mike didn't get to say anything of this." Waxman said that the judge reacted sardonically to Giampietro's appearance in his chambers that day, saying in effect, "So you're trying the case now?" Ultimately, the judge ignored Giampietro, admitting Robinson's supporters back only for the verdict. In the end, the judge said he didn't believe either Robinson or Priester-Grabe. Since it was the prosecution's job to prove its case, Campbell said, he was acquitting Robinson. There will be no need for a defense appeal. An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that Ben Waxman, spokesperson for District Attorney Larry Krasner, had assigned blame for what the office saw as a potential legal error in closing the courtroom to the defendant's supporters. FILE In this Oct. 27, 2008 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks at a campaign rally in Pottsville, Pa. McCain's family says the Arizona senator has chosen to discontinue medical treatment for brain cancer. Read more U.S. Sen. John McCain, the son and grandson of four-star admirals, was bred for combat. He endured more than five years of imprisonment and torture by the North Vietnamese as a young naval officer and went on to battle foes on the left and the right in Washington, driven throughout by a code of honor that both defined and haunted him. Sen. McCain, 81, died Aug. 25 at his ranch near Sedona, Arizona, his office announced in a statement. The senator was diagnosed last July with a brain tumor, and his family announced this week that he was discontinuing medical treatment. During three decades of representing Arizona in the Senate, he ran twice unsuccessfully for president. He lost a bitter primary campaign to George W. Bush and the Republican establishment in 2000. He then came back to win the nomination in 2008, only to be defeated in the general election by Barack Obama, a charismatic Illinois Democrat who had served less than one term as a senator. A man who seemed his truest self when outraged, Sen. McCain reveled in going up against orthodoxy. The word "maverick" practically became a part of his name. Sen. McCain regularly struck at the canons of his party. He ran against the GOP grain by advocating campaign finance reform, liberalized immigration laws and a ban on the CIA's use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" widely condemned as torture against terrorism suspects. To win his most recent reelection battle in 2016, for a sixth term, he positioned himself as a more conventional Republican, unsettling many in his political fan base. But in the era of President Donald Trump, he again became an outlier. >> READ MORE: In Philly, a glimpse of what drives John McCain The terms of engagement between the two had been defined shortly after Trump became a presidential candidate and Sen. McCain commented that the celebrity real estate magnate had "fired up the crazies." At a rally in July 2015, Trump who avoided the Vietnam draft with five deferments spoke scornfully of Sen. McCain's military bona fides: "He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured." Once Trump was in office, Sen. McCain was among his most vocal Republican critics, saying that the president had weakened the United States' standing in the world. He also warned that the spreading investigation over Trump's ties to Russia was "reaching the point where it's of Watergate-size and scale." Sen. McCain's most dramatic break with Trump came nine days after the Arizona senator announced on July 19, 2017, that he had been diagnosed with brain cancer. He returned to the Senate chamber, an incision from surgery still fresh above his left eye, and turned thumbs down on a GOP plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. Sen. McCain's no vote, along with those of two other Republicans, sent his party's signature legislative goal hurtling toward oblivion. In both of his own presidential races, Sen. McCain had dubbed his campaign bus the "Straight Talk Express." To the delight of reporters who traveled with him in 2000, he was accessible and unfiltered, a scrappy underdog who delighted in upsetting the Republican order. "He was always ready for the next experience, the next fight. Not just ready, but impatient for it," said his longtime aide Mark Salter, who co-authored more than a half-dozen books with the senator, including three memoirs, the final of which included a stinging critique of Trump. "He took enjoyment from fighting, not winning or losing, as long as he believed he was fighting for a cause worth the trouble." So broad and party-bending was his appeal that Senate Democrats in 2001 quietly tried to persuade him to become one of them. In 2004, Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, a Senate colleague who later became Obama's secretary of state, considered offering Sen. McCain the second spot on his ticket. Sen. McCain's 2008 presidential campaign turned out to be a far more conventional operation than his first bid for the White House. He stuck to his talking points and came to represent the status quo that he had once promised to topple. >> FROM THE ARCHIVES: McCain no stranger to Philadelphia One move, however, would come to be regarded as a reckless political gambit. Sen. McCain picked as his vice-presidential running mate the little-known, thinly vetted governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin. Her well-received convention speech initially gave the sagging Republican nominee a lift, and her independent streak reinforced Sen. McCain's message and reputation. Looking back on the decision in 2012, Sen. McCain said he had been looking for "a way to galvanize and energize our campaign." But Palin's performance in interviews and on the stump sowed doubts about whether she was prepared to be next in line for the presidency and, by Election Day, polls indicated that she had become a drag on his candidacy. When he acted like an ordinary politician, trimming principles in the cause of ambition and expedience, it was all the more jarring because of the standard he had set. In the years that followed, a question often asked was: Which is the real John McCain? He represented the end of an era during which the nation looked at wartime military experience as practically mandatory for those who aspire to high office. "McCain was part of the tradition of being able to say, 'I did public service when I was young,' " historian Douglas Brinkley said. Sen. McCain, who rose to become chairman of the Armed Services Committee, was among the Republicans' most hawkish leaders on military matters and foreign affairs. It was a mind-set that came, in part, from his conviction that the Vietnam War, in which he had suffered grievously, was a noble and winnable endeavor. The real failure, he believed, was that of a spineless political class. During the Iraq War, often compared to Vietnam, Sen. McCain was an early and ardent proponent of a 2007 "surge" of troops. President Bush ultimately adopted that strategy, and it was widely credited with stabilizing Iraq, albeit temporarily. Sen. McCain was also a persistent critic of Obama's foreign policy. "The demand for our leadership in the world has never been greater. People don't want less of America they want more," Sen. McCain said in 2012. "Everywhere I go in the world, people tell me that they still have faith in America. What they want to know is whether we still have faith in ourselves." A military family John Sidney McCain III was born Aug. 29, 1936, in the Panama Canal Zone and into a family whose military lineage included an ancestor who served as an aide to Gen. George Washington during the Revolutionary War. He was named for the first father and son in Navy history to become full admirals: John S. "Slew" McCain Sr., a top Pacific-theater commander in World War II, and John S. McCain Jr., commander for all armed forces in the Pacific during the Vietnam War. The middle of three children, Sen. McCain manifested his famously hot temper early: As a toddler, he would hold his breath until he blacked out. His tantrums were so severe that a Navy doctor advised his father and mother, the former Roberta Wright, to drop him, fully clothed, into a bathtub of icy water at the first sign of an outburst. After transient early years spent mostly at military bases, he graduated in 1954 from a Virginia boarding school, Episcopal High School in Alexandria. Following his father's and grandfather's path, and his parents' often-stated expectations, Sen. McCain then enrolled at the U.S. Naval Academy, which he later recalled as "a place I belonged at but dreaded." At Annapolis, he rebelled against the hazing and the regulations and racked up so many demerits that he was at risk of expulsion. (That, too, was something of a family tradition.) As Sen. McCain often boasted later in life, he graduated fifth from the bottom of the 899-member class of 1958. From there, he headed to Pensacola, Florida, to be trained as a Navy pilot and continue the rowdy existence of his days at the academy. One girlfriend at the time was a stripper who went by the professional name Marie, the Flame of Florida. Sen. McCain recalled taking her as his date to a party of young officers and their mannerly wives. Marie became bored, drew a switchblade from her purse, popped it open and cleaned her fingernails. He did a stint as a flight instructor in Meridian, Mississippi, at McCain Field, named for his grandfather. It was there, Sen. McCain recalled, that he matured and became dedicated to distinguishing himself as a pilot. "As a boy and young man, I may have pretended not to be affected by the family history, but my studied indifference was a transparent mask to those who knew me well," the senator wrote in a 1999 memoir of his early life, "Faith of My Fathers," co-authored by Salter. "As it was for my forebears, my family's history was my pride." Sen. McCain also became involved in a serious romance, with Carol Shepp of Philadelphia, whom he had known since his days at the academy. They wed in July 1965, and he soon adopted her two sons from a previous marriage, Douglas and Andrew. The couple later had a daughter, Sidney. Sen. McCain requested and got orders to do a Vietnam combat tour, joining a squadron on the supercarrier Forrestal in the Tonkin Gulf. On July 29, 1967, having flown five uneventful bombing runs over North Vietnam, he was preparing for takeoff when a missile accidentally fired from a nearby fighter struck the fuel tank of his A-4 Skyhawk, Sen. McCain wrote in his memoir. It set off explosions and a fire that killed 134 crewmen, destroyed more than 20 planes and disabled the ship so severely that it took two years to repair. His own injuries being relatively and miraculously minor, Sen. McCain, then a lieutenant commander, volunteered for dangerous duty on the undermanned carrier Oriskany. He joined a squadron nicknamed the Saints that was known for its daring; that year, one-third of its pilots would be killed or captured. Brutal captivity On Oct. 26, 1967, Sen. McCain was on his 23rd mission and his first attack on the enemy capital, Hanoi. He dove his A-4 on a thermal power plant near a lake in the center of the city. As he released his bombs on the target, a Russian-made missile the size of a telephone pole blew off his right wing. The lieutenant commander pulled his ejection-seat handle and was knocked unconscious by the force as he was hurled from the plane. He came to when he hit the lake, where a mob of Vietnamese had gathered. With both arms and his right knee broken, he was dragged from the lake, beaten with a rifle butt and stabbed in the foot with a bayonet. Then Sen. McCain was taken to the French-built prison that American POWs had dubbed the "Hanoi Hilton." So began 5 1/2 years of torture and imprisonment, nearly half of it spent in solitary confinement. During that time, his only means of communicating with other prisoners was by tapping out the alphabet through the walls. At first, his family was told that he was probably dead. The front page of the New York Times carried a headline: Adm. McCain's Son, Forrestal Survivor, Is Missing in Raid. The North Vietnamese, however, perceived that there was propaganda value in the prisoner. They called him the "crown prince" and assigned a cellmate to nurse him back to health. As brutal as his treatment was, Sen. McCain later said, prisoners who lacked his celebrity endured worse. Shortly before his father assumed command of the war in the Pacific in 1968, Sen. McCain was offered early release. He refused because it would have been a violation of the Navy code of conduct, which prohibited him from accepting freedom before those who had been held longer. "I knew that every prisoner the Vietnamese tried to break, those who had arrived before me and those who would come after me, would be taunted with the story of how an admiral's son had gone home early, a lucky beneficiary of America's class-conscious society," Sen. McCain recalled. "I knew that my release would add to the suffering of men who were already straining to keep faith with their country." His lowest point came after extensive beatings that broke his left arm again and cracked his ribs. Ultimately, he agreed to sign a vague, stilted confession that said he had committed what his captors called "black crimes." "I still wince when I recall wondering if my father had heard of my disgrace," Sen. McCain wrote. "The Vietnamese had broken the prisoner they called the 'Crown Prince,' and I knew they had done it to hurt the man they believed to be a king." In March 1973, nearly two months after the Paris peace accords were signed, Sen. McCain and the other prisoners were released in four increments, in the order in which they had been captured. He was 36 years old and emaciated. The effects of his injuries lingered for the rest of his life: Sen. McCain was unable to lift his arms enough to comb his own prematurely gray hair, could only shrug off his suit jacket and walked with a stiff-legged gait. Entering politics Sen. McCain had hoped to remain in the Navy, but it became clear that his disabilities would limit his prospects for advancement. In the meantime, he found himself drawn toward the civilian world of politics and it toward him. Hobbling on crutches in his dress-white service uniform, he shook President Richard M. Nixon's hand. Sen. McCain also struck up a friendship with then-California Gov. Ronald Reagan, who invited the former POW to speak at an annual prayer breakfast in Sacramento. He developed a network of political contacts while working in the Navy's legislative affairs operation in the late 1970s. His office on the first floor of the Russell Senate Office Building was a popular late-afternoon socializing spot for younger senators and their staffs. Sen. McCain's marriage, meanwhile, frayed and fell apart. That was not an unusual story among returning Vietnam POWs, and in his case, the dissolution was aggravated by his infidelities. While he and his wife were separated, Sen. McCain visited Hawaii, where he met Cindy Hensley, the daughter of a wealthy Arizona beer distributor. A few months after his divorce became final in 1980, he married Hensley. Then-Sen. William Cohen, R-Maine, later to be a defense secretary, was his best man, and then-Sen. Gary Hart, D-Colo., a future presidential contender, was an usher. The couple had three children: Meghan McCain, who became a media personality and blogger, and sons Jimmy McCain and Jack McCain, both of whom served in the military. They also adopted a daughter, Bridget McCain, whom Cindy had met while visiting an orphanage in Bangladesh. Besides his mother, his wife and seven children, survivors include a brother, Joseph McCain of Washington; a sister, Jean McCain Morgan of Annapolis, Maryland; and five grandchildren. Sen. McCain retired from the Navy at the rank of captain and moved to Arizona in 1981, with an eye toward running for Congress. The opportunity presented itself the following January when a longtime Republican congressman, John Rhodes, announced his retirement. That same day, the McCains bought a house in Rhodes's Phoenix district, and John McCain was soon in a race against three other candidates. He was called an opportunist and a carpetbagger accusations he dispatched with a single answer at a candidate forum. "I wish I could have had the luxury, like you, of growing up and spending my entire life in a nice place like the 1st District of Arizona, but I was doing other things," he replied to one critic. "As a matter of fact, when I think about it now, the place I lived longest in my life was Hanoi." He won the primary by six points and breezed through the general election. Four years later, in 1986, he was elected in a landslide to the Senate, replacing the retiring Barry Goldwater, one of the most influential conservative politicians of the 20th century. John McCain was a Capitol Hill celebrity from the moment he was elected to the House. In many areas, he was a reliably conservative voice and vote. But from the beginning, he showed what became a trademark streak of independence. He called for the withdrawal of Marines from Lebanon in 1983 after a terrorist bombing left 241 U.S. service members dead; he voted to override President Reagan's veto of sanctions against the apartheid regime of South Africa in 1986. And surprisingly to many as a member of the Senate, he worked to normalize relations with Vietnam. Sen. McCain crusaded against pork-barrel spending, the practice by which lawmakers direct taxpayer money to projects in their districts. He was also the only Republican to vote against the Telecommunications Act of 1996, a deregulation measure he said had been "written by every [special] interest in the world except the consumers." Acclaimed by the media, he was not popular in the Senate. Many of his colleagues were put off by his certitude. "John puts things in terms of black and white, right and wrong," then-Sen. Tim Hutchinson, R-Ark., told The Washington Post in 2000. "If you disagree with him, you're wrong. He doesn't see that there could be legitimate differences of opinion that deserve respect." One of the greatest setbacks for Sen. McCain, who had styled himself an idealist and a reformer, came in 1989, when his name became associated with a scandal. He and four other senators all Democrats were accused of trying to pressure federal bank regulators to back off an investigation of Charles Keating Jr., a high-living Arizona businessman whose savings and loan collapsed and cost taxpayers more than $3 billion. Over the years, Keating had contributed heavily to Sen. McCain's House and Senate campaigns. The senator's family had taken at least nine trips, at Keating's expense, to the Bahamas, where Keating had a luxurious vacation estate. Sen. McCain and the four Democrats Alan Cranston of California, Dennis DeConcini of Arizona, John Glenn of Ohio and Donald Riegle Jr. of Michigan, all of whom had also benefited from Keating's largesse became known as the "Keating Five." The Senate Ethics Committee finally determined that Sen. McCain had not done anything more serious than showing "poor judgment" by attending two meetings with the regulators and the four other senators. It was the lightest reprimand the committee gave in connection with the scandal. The others were rebuked but were not charged with crimes. Sen. McCain felt that he bore a permanent taint. "It will be on my tombstone, something that will always be with me, something that will always be in my biography," he said, "and deservedly so." The experience also lit the fire for what would become his signature issue and biggest legislative achievement: an overhaul of campaign finance laws. Sen. McCain teamed up with one of the Senate's most liberal members, Russell Feingold, D-Wis., to author a measure that called for the most dramatic change to the system since the post-Watergate reforms of 1974. It took them more than seven years to get the legislation through. The 2002 law's main thrust was to ban unlimited, unregulated "soft money" donations to parties, which were used as a means of skirting the contribution limits to individual candidates. In less than a decade, however, the Supreme Court's Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision opened the money floodgate and led to the rise of super PACs, which can spend unlimited sums, as long as they do not coordinate directly with candidates. Sen. McCain called it "the worst decision of the United States Supreme Court in the 21st century." >> PHOTO GALLERY: Sen. John McCain dies at 81 Presidential campaigns When Sen. McCain announced in September 1999 that he was running for the Republican nomination for president, it was yet another assault on the political establishment, which had put its chips on then-Texas Gov. Bush, the son of a former president. "In truth, I had had the ambition for a long time. It had been a vague aspiration," he later wrote. "It had been there, in the back of my mind, for years, as if it were simply a symptom of my natural restlessness. Life is forward motion for me." He ran as a truth-telling reformer, held a record-setting 114 town hall meetings in New Hampshire (while effectively ignoring the Iowa caucuses) and pulled off a stunning 18-point victory over Bush in the Granite State's first-in-the-nation primary. But his campaign ran aground in South Carolina in what came to be regarded as the nastiest primary in memory. Sen. McCain was the target of rumors: that he had fathered a black child (twisting the facts about his dark-skinned adopted daughter); that his wife had a drug habit (she acknowledged having been addicted to painkillers and stealing them from a charity she ran); that his years as a POW had left him brainwashed and insane. One of his regrets, he later said, was getting tangled up in South Carolina's emotional debate over flying the Confederate flag at the capitol in Columbia. After describing the banner as "a symbol of racism and slavery," Sen. McCain bowed to the pleas of his panicked strategists and issued a statement saying he could "understand both sides" of the question. Later, he wrote that he regretted not having told the truth, which was that he believed "the flag should be lowered forever from the staff atop South Carolina's capitol." "I had not been just dishonest. I had been a coward, and I had severed my own interests from my country's. That was what made the lie unforgivable," he recalled. "All my heroes, fictional and real, would have been ashamed of me." Bush handily defeated Sen. McCain in South Carolina, beginning the end of the senator's insurgent campaign. In April, a month after he dropped out of the 2000 race, Sen. McCain returned to the state and publicly apologized for having chosen "to compromise my principles. I broke my promise to always tell the truth." The bitterness of that campaign lingered for much of Bush's presidency. Sen. McCain was, for instance, one of only two Senate Republicans to vote against Bush's 2001 tax cuts. He said they were fiscally irresponsible and benefited "the most fortunate among us, at the expense of middle-class Americans who most need tax relief." But by the time he ran again in 2008, Sen. McCain had come to terms with Bush and the Republican Party, and they with him. He not only voted to extend the tax cuts in 2006, but also advocated making them permanent. Whereas Sen. McCain had lashed out at evangelical leaders Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell as "agents of intolerance" during his first presidential bid, he delivered the commencement address at Falwell's Liberty University in 2006. Falwell introduced him with lavish praise, saying, "The ilk of John McCain is very scarce, very small." The shift rightward caused a breach with a constituency that Sen. McCain had long counted as in his corner: the media. "Are you going into crazy base world?" comedian Jon Stewart asked Sen. McCain during an appearance on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" a few weeks before the speech at Liberty. "I'm afraid so," Sen. McCain deadpanned. His campaign all but collapsed in the summer of 2007, but Sen. McCain battled back and won the nomination. Still, he was flying into head winds in the general election. The war in Iraq, which he had supported, was unpopular, as was the Republican incumbent in the White House. Palin's erratic, unprepared performance became a story in itself. Most important, he was up against a Democrat who seemed tailor-made for that moment in history: Obama was better financed, ran a better campaign, had opposed the Iraq War and offered the captivating prospect of putting an African American in the White House for the first time. Nonetheless, the race looked as if it could be close until the final weeks, when the financial system went into a meltdown. Sen. McCain, so sure of himself on national security issues, seemed less than savvy at handling economic ones. Even as the crash was building into the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the senator declared that "the fundamentals of our economy are strong." Returning to Congress, Sen. McCain became a frequent antagonist of the man who had defeated him for president. He contended for instance that Russian President Vladimir Putin's 2014 invasion of Crimea was a result of "a feckless foreign policy where nobody believes in America's strength anymore." When Sen. McCain got the gavel of the Armed Services Committee in 2015, he told The Post that he was having more fun than at any time since his 2000 presidential campaign. That same year, he announced plans to run for a sixth term in the Senate. Sen. McCain won handily, and in his victory speech to supporters, he predicted that campaign "might be the last." "Thank you one last time," he added, "for making me the luckiest guy I know." In his final book, reflecting on his life as it came to an end, McCain wrote: "It's been quite a ride. I've known great passions, seen amazing wonders, fought in a war, and helped make a peace. I made a small place for myself in the story of America and the history of my times." Abraham Lincoln said, "Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing." Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) was the real thing, and that is why his reputation will cast such a long shadow over our politics for years to come. McCain was the rare celebrity who was even more impressive in person than on television. I first met him after the publication of my 2002 book, The Savage Wars of Peace: Small Wars and the Rise of American Power. An avid student of history, McCain read the book and liked it, especially because, unbeknownst to me, it featured one of his ancestors: an army officer who had fought the Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa in 1916. His love of literature was not for show. I remember, on a flight to the Munich Security Conference, wandering to the front of the Air Force executive jet to find McCain engrossed in a lengthy historical tome. Imagine that: a politician who spent his spare time reading history. Or anything at all. Working on McCain's 2008 campaign as a foreign policy adviser was the easiest job I ever had, because McCain knew as much about foreign policy as anyone else in Washington. He traveled incessantly to tend to America's alliances. He was unshakable in his conviction that America's mission was to champion democracy and oppose despotism. Every U.S. president since the rise of Vladimir Putin in 1999 has engaged in naive reverie about working with the Russian strongman. McCain never had any such illusions. As he later said, "I looked in Mr. Putin's eyes and I saw three letters: a K, a G and B." McCain wasn't always right, of course. Who is? He was pilloried for being an avid supporter of the Iraq War a stance that he, like many of us, came to regret. But he should be remembered not just for his misguided advocacy of the invasion but for his brave and lonely support of the Iraq surge in 2007 at a time when he was preparing to seek the presidency and other supporters of the war, such as Hillary Clinton, had turned dovish. McCain was vindicated when the surge led to a 90 percent reduction in violence. If only President Barack Obama had listened when McCain warned against pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq in 2011 a mistake that led to the rise of the Islamic State. More than most politicians, of course, McCain was not simply a collection of policy positions much less of poll-tested positions. Although a true conservative, he could transgress Republican orthodoxy on issues ranging from his support for campaign-finance limitations and immigration reform to his vote last year against repealing Obamacare. McCain will be remembered, above all, for his character and courage. While other privileged young men were discovering ailments such as "bone spurs" to avoid the Vietnam War, McCain requested a combat assignment and spent more than five hellish years in the "Hanoi Hilton" POW camp. As the son of an admiral, McCain could have won early release, but he refused his captors' offer because he honored the POW code: first in, first out. Years later, he displayed characteristic largess of spirit by advocating reconciliation with his torturers. McCain's support for normalizing relations with Hanoi was just one example of the character that he displayed not just as a prisoner of war but also as a politician. In 2008, he corrected a woman at a rally who told him, "I can't trust Obama. I have read about him and . . . he's an Arab." "No, ma'am," McCain replied. "He's a decent family man, a citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that's what this campaign is all about." How easy would it have been for McCain to traffic in conspiracy theories and demagoguery. But he refused and his refusal, along with his own missteps (notably the selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate) may have cost him the presidency. McCain's passing, tragic at any time, is all the sadder now. His dedication to America's global leadership, advocacy for human rights, steadfast opposition to despots, devotion to bipartisanship, willingness to break with his own party, insistence on putting the nation's interest above self-interest, and, above all, his unwavering sense of right and wrong all are desperately needed at a time when his party has embraced an amoral, narcissistic demagogue who fawns over tyrants and flirts with isolationism and protectionism and white nationalism. Trump hated McCain and insulted him at every turn because McCain was everything Trump is not and everything that we need in our politics today but tragically lack. Max Boot, a Post columnist, is the Jeane J. Kirkpatrick senior fellow for national security studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a global affairs analyst for CNN. A day after Nobel laureate Amartya Sen's strong criticism about the current political situation in the country, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Sunday said Sen should remain silent. "Amartya Sen should remain silent. He should not react like this. He has nowadays minimum prestige and he should be conscious about that," said the BJP president. This is not the first time where Ghosh has reacted to Sen. In 2017, Ghosh had called Sen 'spineless' when the latter had criticised about demonetisation. Speaking on Ghosh's remark, Trinamool Congress party leader Partha Chatterjee said, "Dilip Ghosh doesn't know how to speak. He should have a minimum education to talk about Nobel laureate Amartya Sen. We also agree with Sen. Our chief minister Mamata Banerjee also believe religion forces must be gathered in nationwide perspective." CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said, "We totally agree with Amartya Sen's view. As a left party, we always try to learn. Sometimes we fail but we take lessons from our past. We don't want to say anything about BJP's views on Amartya Sen. They don't have any sense about this man. They only believe in communal politics." In a scathing attack on the Modi government, nobel laureate Amartya Sen on Saturday had said all non-communal, non-BJP forces should join hands in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as "democracy is in danger". "We must express our opposition to autocracy, we must fight against their autocratic trends, we must criticise the issues where we need to oppose the non-communal right-wing forces, but we must not take back our hands when it comes to fighting communalism which is the biggest threat," he had said in Kolkata. Sharply criticising the BJP government at the Centre, Sen said a party having got "31 per cent votes and ill motives in politics" came to power in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. "What happened in 2014 polls? A party having got 55 per cent seats but actually having secured 31 per cent of the total votes, came to power... A party with ill motives," Sen said during a question-answer session 'Bharat Kon Pathe' (Which way is India heading?) at Sisir Manch auditorium in Kolkata. Sen said during his visit to Kolkata this time, he has heard whispers in certain quarters that to stop the autocratic trends in the state, BJP can be the viable medium and not the weak CPIM. "This is a strange logic. To stop autocracy, we will be sowing the seed of communalism. This seed can be weeded after a lot of time, effort and battle in future," he said. He said every political question should not be interpreted through leftist and rightist prisms. Ara: The Bhojpur district police on Sunday claimed to have solved the murder case of a 19-year-old man, the recovery of whose body had led to violence, arson and stripping and parading of a woman earlier this week. The body of Vimalesh Sah was found adjacent to a railway track in Bihiyan on August 20. Suspecting that those living in a red light area nearby could have killed the man, people of Damodarpur village had torched several shops, assaulted shopkeepers and dragged a woman out on street, ripped off her clothes and paraded her naked. Superintendent of Police Awakash Kumar said Sah had visited a woman of the red light area where she was strangulated to death over some monetary dispute. Four people, including two woman, dumped the body near the railway track, the SP told reporters. Altogether 21 persons have been arrested in connection with the killing, the subsequent violence and outraging the modesty of the woman, he said. The mob had also hurled stones at a train that was passing through the area before a police team arrived and quelled the violence. Police also pasted arrest warrants on the wall of the house of five other persons allegedly involved in the violence, the SP said. Eight policemen were placed under suspension on August 20 for dereliction of duty. The Congress has decided to intensify its campaign against the Rafale fighter aircraft deal which, the party claimed, was altered to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's industrialist "friend" and "promote crony capitalism". The decision of the party comes even as legal notices are being served on its leaders. The Congress has lined up a series of events to take the issue to the people and "expose" the Narendra Modi government ahead of next year's parliamentary election. The main opposition party will stage agitations and take out marches at district and state levels over the alleged scam worth thousands of crores of rupees. Besides, senior party leaders will hold press conferences across the country till September 6 to "reveal the truths" about the revised deal which, it claimed, was inked at a much higher price than the one the previous UPA dispensation had negotiated. The district-level agitations will be held from September 7 to 15, while the state-level agitations will be organised from September 16 to 30. The Congress has also set up a separate control room at the party headquarters here to monitor district-level agitations. "Please ensure that a massive state-level agitation and a march to the Governor's House for submission of memorandum to the Governor," party general secretary Ashok Gehlot has said in a letter to the party's state unit chiefs. According to party sources, the Congress will make the alleged Rafale scam a "poll issue" and target the Modi dispensation over its claim of corruption-free governance. The Congress has accused the Modi government of not disclosing the price of the aircraft and alleged that the price was three times higher than that negotiated during the UPA dispensation with France's Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of the aircraft. The Congress has also accused Modi of "personally benefitting" from the deal and alleged that it was the reason behind his continued silence on the issue. "The Rafale scam is a sordid saga of squandering our national interests and promoting crony capitalism by the Modi government," the party said. It has also accused Modi of helping his "friend" Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group in getting offset contracts for the aircraft, bypassing the public-sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The Reliance Group has sent defamation notices to many Congress leaders warning them against levelling charges that are "misleading". The company has asked Congress leaders to "cease and desist" from levelling such charges. Ambani recently wrote to Congress president Rahul Gandhi on the deal, saying his party has been "misinformed, misdirected and misled" by "malicious vested interests and corporate rivals" on the issue. Leading the Congress attack on the government over the deal, Gandhi, during his recent interactions in Germany and the UK, alleged that the deal smelt of corruption, which has caused loss to the state exchequer to the tune of thousands of crores of rupees. Almost a year after the deaths of scores of infants were reported from the BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said the incident may have been blown out of proportion due to the institute's "internal politics". At the launch of a campaign related to the state nutrition mission programme on Saturday, Adityanath said that initially when he heard of the deaths, he was reminded of an incident where a reporter wrote an incorrect news item being not allowed to enter a ward by hospital workers. "Last year when I heard of the news, I thought a similar thing had happened. But when I saw that all news channels and media had made it an issue, I sent DG (Health) to Gorakhpur and a sought a report. I also sent my health minister and the minister for medical education and told them to submit a report," Adityanath said. Adityanath, who has represented Gorakhpur in Lok Sabha five times, said this was not enough and he decided to visit the hospital the very next day. "I asked people there what actually the matter was, and was told there was nothing as such...And if the deaths were due to the lack of oxygen, then children put on the ventilators would have been the first ones to die. I said there must definitely be something. From where were the figures coming? Then it emerged that it was internal politics," the UP chief minister told the gathering. Adityanath said that after the incident, doctors at the medical college were not keen on seeing patients worrying that it may become an issue. We had to counsel them that you do your job and not worry about anything else, he said. "If your conscience is clean, then you should not bother, we told the doctors," Adityanath said. Meanwhile, latching on to Adityanath's statement, opposition Congress on Sunday termed it as a move by the UP chief minister to hide his shortcomings. Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP PL Punia claimed on Sunday the comments were only an attempt by the chief minister to hide his failures. "The chief minister, in order to hide his failures, is trying to find new excuses. His statement that the deaths in the medical college did not take place due to shortage of oxygen is laughable especially when his government got arrested the owner of the firm which supplied oxygen to the medical college," Punia said. Nearly 60 children, mostly infants, died at the hospital within a week in August 2017. There were allegations that the deaths occurred due to disruption in oxygen supply over unpaid bills to the vendor. The state government denied that shortage of oxygen led to the deaths. In its report submitted on August 23, 2017, a committee under the then UP chief secretary Rajive Kumar probing the hospital tragedy had recommended initiating criminal action against the then principal of the BRD Medical College Dr Rajiv Mishra, HoD Anaesthesia Paediatric department Dr Satish Kumar and in-charge of 100-bed AES ward Dr Kafeel Khan and a firm Pushpa Sales. UP Chief Minister Adityanath had constituted the committee under the chief secretary on August 12, a day after deaths of children in the state-run hospital were reported. On August 24, 2017, an FIR was registered against nine persons, including Dr Mishra, in connection with the deaths of over 60 children there due to alleged lack of oxygen supply. The proprietors of M/s Pushpa Sales, the company responsible for the supply of liquid oxygen, were also named in the FIR. The FIR was filed under various sections of IPC relating to criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide and relevant provisions of the Anti Corruption Act. New Delhi: Distancing itself from BJP MP Subramanian Swamy's remarks that India should "invade" Maldives if the upcoming presidential election in the island nation was rigged, the government on Sunday said that such an opinion is personal and not the view of the government. In response to a query on the parliamentarian's comments, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "The opinion expressed by Swamy in his tweet is personal. It does not reflect the views of the Government of India." Taking to Twitter on Friday, Swamy had said, "India should invade the Maldives if rigging of election takes place", two days after a meeting with exiled former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed in Colombo. Swamy met Nasheed in Colombo on Tuesday during which the Maldivian leader apprised him about the political situation in his country and expressed concerns that the September 23 presidential election may be rigged by incumbent President Abdullah Yameen. "We discussed the current political situation in the Maldives, upcoming presidential elections and our concerns on how President Yameen intends to rig Sept 23rd election," Nasheed had tweeted after the meeting. On Tuesday, Swamy tweeted that Nasheed was apprehensive of "gross rigging" in the elections and that India cannot allow that to happen as a neighbour. "We need an action plan," Swamy said, adding the "current usurper" President Yameen has "humiliated Indians". In June, the national electoral commission of the Maldives had said Nasheed was disqualified from running the presidential election. Ties between India and the Maldives nosedived after Maldivian President Yameen declared emergency on February 5 following an order by the country's Supreme Court to release a group of Opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely criticised trials. The emergency was lifted 45 days later. In July, India expressed concern over announcement of elections in the Maldives without allowing democratic institutions, including Parliament and the judiciary, to work in a free and transparent manner. India had said it wanted "credible restoration" of the political process and the rule of law in the island nation before the elections are conducted. At least 10 people are feared trapped inside a four-storeyed building after it collapsed on Sunday in Odhav area of Ahmedabad in the western state of Gujarat. Two people have been rescued from inside the collapsed building. After the collapse, four fire tenders were rushed to the spot, as reported by news agency ANI. The rescue operations have been pressed to evacuate the people from the debris of the collapsed building. The building houses a total of 32 flats, according to Additional Chief Fire Officer Rajesh Bhatt. Earlier a notice was issued to the residents of the building and it was evacuated as per direction, added Bhatt. It remains to be ascertained how the people entered the premises on Sunday again, added Bhatt further. "10 people are feared trapped. Two people have been rescued from under the debris. There were total 32 flats in the building, notice was given and it was vacated. It will later be ascertained how did they enter again today. Rescue operations underway," Rajesh Bhatt, Additional Chief Fire Officer. After the incident, two teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have left from Gandhinagar for Ahmedabad. Reacting to the incident, Gujarat Home Minister Pradipsinh Jadeja said, "Teams of the municipal corporation, state government, NDRF and fire brigade are carrying out rescue operations. Five NDRF teams are deployed. Required machinery will be deployed immediately." Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Government on Sunday organised a formal farewell function in honour of various Central Forces which played a pivotal role in the rescue and relief operations in flood-hit Kerala. "We could directly witness the bold initiatives they took to rescue those who were stranded in the flood waters," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said at the function held at the Air Force Station in Thiruvananthapuram. Vijayan also appreciated the services of the military and paramilitary forces, who saved the helpless, braving adverse circumstances. "All that we can say is that your services will be kept in mind in the times to come with gratitude and appreciation', he said, adding the calamity would have been greater had the Forces not worked for hand in hand with the state government. Citations were presented by the Chief Minister to Air Marshal B Suresh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Air Command, Rear Admiral R J Nadkarni, Chief Of Staff, Southern Naval Command, Brigadier C G Arun, Station Commander, Pangode Military station and Rekha Nambiar, NDRF Commandant. Sanatan Jena, DIG Coast Guard, Giriprasad, IG, CRPF, BC Nair DIG Border Security Force (BSF), Vishal Anand Commandant ITBF and Dhanya Sanal, Defence PRO and all military and paramilitary forces who participated in the rescue operations were also given the citations, a government release said. Air Marshal Suresh said they could act efficiently because of the clear directions were given by the Chief Minister. "CM was leading from the front," he said and also lauded the services of fishermen and volunteers who were part of the rescue and relief operations. The devastation caused due to the rains and floods has claimed 302 lives so far and destroyed homes and infrastructure. Earlier, the government had also in a goodwill gesture thanked fishermen who took part in rescue operations. At a time when Rahul Gandhi has been leading Congress' charge against what he claims has been a suspicious deal with France for Rafale fighter jets, Anil Ambani has filed a Rs 5000 crore defamation suit against party mouthpiece National Herald for an article published in the paper. Labelling the article as 'libellous and derogatory', Anil Ambani's Reliance Group companies have taken on National Herald and filed two suits. The first is against Associated Journals Limited, the publisher of the National Herald, its editor in-charge and the author of the article. The second suit was filed Gujarat Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil seeking Rs 5,000 crore in damages for defamation. The contentious article claimed that Anil Ambani had established Reliance Defence as a company ten days before PM Modi announced the Rafale deal. Reliance Aerostructure Ltd would go on to enter into a joint-venture with Dassault Aviation - the makers of Rafale jets. DA agreed to pump in 100 million Euros in the joint venture after India inked a deal to purchase 36 Rafale jets from France. (Also read: Anil Ambani says Rafale deal received from DA, not Defence Ministry) Congress has repeatedly claimed that the jets have been purchased at an escalated cost and has also questioned the joint venture between Anil Ambani's company and 'DA. The questions raised have been strongly taken on by the business tycoon who has said that the Congress is running a vilification campaign against him. He even said that the Centre has had no role in DA picking Reliance Group as a partner. A number of defamation suits were previously filed against Congress leaders like Randeep Surjewala who have been at the forefront of the party's attack. (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: Kerala's once-in-a-lifetime rainfall was 2,378 mm over 88 days, four times more than normal -- but 30 per cent less and spread over 61 days more than the deluge of 1924, the most intense flood in the states recorded history, submerging as it did almost the entire coastline. So why was the flood of 2018 as devastating as the 3,368 mm rainfall that Kerala received 94 years ago? That`s because Kerala has reduced its capacity to deal with such extreme floods by allowing illegal stone quarrying, cutting down forests and grasslands, changing drainage patterns and sand mining on river beds, said experts. "Rampant stone quarrying and digging of pits is the reason behind the landslides and landslips, which worsened the situation in the Kerala floods," Madhav Gadgil, ecologist and founder of the Centre for Ecological Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, told IndiaSpend. "These quarries cause deforestation and block the natural streams, which help in reducing the intensity of the floods." Most of the 373 casualties in Kerala were caused by landslides in the northern districts of Malappuram and Wayanad, and the central district of Idukki. Gadgil is the lead author of a 2011 government-commissioned study written by the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) -- commonly called the Gadgil committee report -- which he headed. The report recommended that development be restricted in the Western Ghats, which sprawls across six states, including Kerala. "Our vulnerability to extreme rainfall is increasing as land development is changing drainage patterns," Roxy Mathew Koll, climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, told IndiaSpend. Most of the regions overwhelmed by the recent floods were classified as "ecologically sensitive zones" -- where there should be limited or no construction or deforestation -- by the Gadgil committee. In 2011, the Centre and the Western-Ghats states, including Kerala, refused to accept the Gadgil committee report. Spread across 160,000 sq km, more than three times the size of Haryana, the Western Ghats extends over six states -- Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat -- along India`s western coast. The rain and tropical forests of the Ghats are one of the world`s 10 "biodiversity hotspots", home to the most diverse range of life in the subcontinent: 7,402 species of flowering plants, 1,814 species of non-flowering plants, 139 mammal species, 508 bird species, 179 amphibian species, 6,000 insects species and 290 freshwater fish species. The Ghats are also a source of about 20 rivers and tributaries watering the Indian peninsula, and its forests and grasslands act as a super sponge, soaking up excess rain. With the biodiversity, water security and retention characteristics in mind, the Gadgil committee suggested classification of the Ghats into three zones: Ecologically highest sensitive zones (ESZ1), where certain types of areas would be "no-go"; ecologically high sensitive zones (ESZ2), where construction of new railway lines and major roads would not be allowed, except when "highly essential"; and ecologically moderately sensitive zones (ESZ3), where new energy projects and infrastructure such as roads may be allowed but with "strict environmental regulations". The committee`s recommendations included restrictions on mining and quarrying, use of land for non-forest purposes and no construction of high-rises. "A study in the southern region, comprising the states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, showed that between 1920-1990 about 40 per cent of the original forest cover was lost or converted to another form of land use," said the Gadgil committee report. "Change in land use of forests exposes the region to such [Kerala-like] calamities," said Gadgil, whose point has been that the scale of the disaster could have been reduced. Like other experts, V.S. Vijayan, a member of the Gadgil committee and former chairman of Kerala State Biodiversity Board, told IndiaSpend that cutting trees in the catchment areas of dams, illegal construction and farming on slopes exceeding 30 degrees were among the main reasons for flood devastation. "Many of these activities end up loosening the soil, making it susceptible to landslides," said Vijayan. "We had recommended against all of these practices in the Gadgil committee report, but no one listened." One of the main reasons for the rejection of the Gadgil committee report was the government`s confusion between the definition of ecologically sensitive zones and ecologically fragile areas, according to Vijayan. Kerala has a 15-year-old law called the Ecologically Fragile Lands Act, which says people can be evicted from protected areas, such as wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. The government thought that the ecologically sensitive zones were essentially the same, "which was not the case", said Vijayan. "We clearly divided the entire Ghats into three zones based on their ecology and needs of protection," said VIjayan. "It never meant that humans were to be evicted from sensitive areas." Extreme rainfall events cannot be stopped, but the impact of floods can be reduced if forests and natural landscapes are used as shields, he said. When winds from the west slam against the Western Ghats, clouds form and rain falls. In general, stronger winds lead to more intense rain, D. Shivanand Pai, head of the climatic prediction group at the India Meteorological Department, Pune, told IndiaSpend. In the monsoon of 2018, the "pressure gradient" -- which determines pressure changes and, in turn, rainfall -- between land and the Arabian sea was "very strong", said Pai, causing heavy rain. "A low pressure developed in the Bay of Bengal and moving inland contributed to the heavy rain by making the winds stronger." What Kerala witnessed was an event of high intensity rainfall over a short span of time. The intensity of such heavy rainfall events have been rising across India. Over 110 years to 2010, heavy rainfall events in India show an increasing trend of six per cent per decade, said a November 2017 study co-authored by Pai, who said high-intensity rainfall results from rising temperatures caused by climate change. India could see a six-fold increase in population exposed to the risk of severe floods by 2040 -- to 25 million people from 3.7 million facing this risk between 1971 and 2004 ? according to a 2018 study published in Science Advances, a peer-reviewed journal. New Delhi: People from all walks of life have come together to help people affected by the floods in Kerala. Many Bollywood celebrities have come forward to help the state in distress. Actress Kangana Ranaut, who was also moved to see the visuals coming from the Gods Own Country, as the state is called, decided to do her bit for those affected and discussed it with her father. However, since the actress was busy with her shoots, she had been unable to sit down and contribute to the cause. After a couple of days, when she came to know that her father had made a donation, she, too, decided to make her contribution immediately. Kangana did the transaction online, donating Rs 10 lakh for the CM Relief Fund for Kerala Floods, " a source told Zee News. I want to urge to people of this country that in whichever capacity they can, they should contribute, even a small amount will make a difference to Kerala, says the actress, adding, To my people there, I want to say, the whole nation is praying for them and supports them. We feel their pain and sense of loss. And by the grace of God, they will be soon back to their glory. VANDEY MATARAM!" On the work front, Kangana will be next seen in 'ManikarnikaThe Queen of Jhansi'. The film stars the actress in the role of the valiant Rani Laxmibai. The teaser of the movie will be released on August 15, 2018. Kangana recently wrapped up the shoot of Balaji Telefilms' Mental Hai Kya' in London in which she will be seen alongside Rajkummar Rao. Post her Manikarnika schedule, the actress will start working on Ashwini Iyer Tiwarys next to where she will essay the character of a kabbadi player. 'Manikarnika' will release in January 2019 while 'Mental Hai Kya' will hit the screens in February 2019. Islamabad: Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has summoned former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister on Monday in a Rs 35 billion money laundering and fake bank accounts case. In July, the Supreme Court listed Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur as beneficiaries in an alleged scam "running into billions of rupees" that led to the arrest of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman's close aide and famous banker Hussain Lawai. The FIA issued notices yesterday to the former president and his sister to appear at the agency's headquarters in Islamabad. This is the fourth time they have been summoned, Dawn newspaper reported. Despite earlier summons, Zardari and Talpur failed to appear before the FIA's joint investigation team probing a multi-billion money laundering scam. The FIA has been asked by the Supreme Court to submit a comprehensive report in connection with the fake accounts case on Tuesday, it said. Zardari and Talpur have not joined the investigation in the case. Instead, they have expressed lack of confidence over the investigation team probing the case. On August 17, a local banking court in Karachi had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Zardari and other absconding suspects in the ongoing probe. The court ordered the suspects to be arrested and presented before it by September 4. On August 18, the Islamabad High Court approved the former president's petition for protective bail in the case. Zardari had filed a petition in the court through his counsels Aitzaz Ahsan and Latif Khosa after a local banking court on August 17 issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the former president and other absconding suspects in the ongoing probe. The FIA is investigating 32 people in relation to money laundering from fictitious 29 accounts, including Zardari and his sister Talpur. Zardari's close aide Lawai was arrested last month in connection with the probe. Lawai was arrested by the FIA last month in the money-laundering case in which he is accused to have helped facilitate the opening of fake accounts in Summit Bank, Sindh Bank and United Bank Limited. In addition to 29 bank accounts already under scrutiny, the investigators have "detected 15 more suspicious accounts", a senior official of the FIA was quoted as saying by the report. These accounts were opened in the names of persons other than those in whose names the 29 accounts were opened, said the official. Up to Rs 1 billion, Rs 2 billion and Rs 3 billion had been transferred from these newly discovered accounts, he added. Open source Ukraine appealed against the decision of the World Trade Organization in a dispute over duties on ammonium nitrate. This was reported by the press service of the WTO. "Ukraine sent an appeal on August 23 to the decision of the panel of arbitrators of the WTO regarding the case initiated by the Russian Federation on anti-dumping measures against ammonium nitrate," the organization's representatives said. It is expected that for several days on the WTO website will appear a document with detailed information on the appeal filed by Ukraine. After that, the parties - Ukraine and Russia - will have to wait another three months while the WTO will consider the complaint. We remind you that earlier it was reported that Russia had submitted lawsuits to Ukraine and the European Union to the WTO. Claims are related to duties on ammonium nitrate and welded pipes of Russian origin. On July 20, the arbitration of the World Trade Organization decided in favor of Russia in the case of ammonium nitrate. Administration of Donald Trump took Russian side in the case of WTO regarding the Ukrainian transit, as Politico reports. According to the outlet, the decision of WTO panel, which is expected this year may have consequences for a number of cases against the USA for application of duties on steel and aluminum by Trump. The case against the Russian Federation concerns another question, in particular, transit limits, which Moscow imposed on Kyiv in January 2014, and cutting the Ukrainian exporters off the key markets in Central Asia and the Caucasus. Although the US is supporting Ukraine in the territorial conflict with Russia, Washington and Moscow are stressing that WTO has not right to consider the Ukranian case regarding the transit limits. The Russian side claimed that they introduced limits in accordance with the article 21 of The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which allows WTO members to resort to actions that violate their obligations in the organization, guided by considerations of national security. The US Government claims that the dispute, which concerns security has a political nature and that's why it falls outside the competence of WTO. Trump's Administration uses the same argument to justify introduced duties on steel and aluminum. Related: Trump not invited to the funeral of John McCain Friends and lawyer of Kateryna Handziuk claimed that necessary medicines can't be found in Ukraine Kateryna Handziuk, Adviser of Kherson Mayor who suffered from acid has deterioration of the health condition. It is claimed on the Facebook page created by the friends of Kateryna, activists and reporters. Yevhenia Zakrevska, Lawyer of Kateryna Handziuk confirmed this information on the health condition to Hromadske. The necessary medicines that Kateryna needs can't be bought in Ukraine. The community of the page claims that they have money for the medicine. 'There is no experience in the treatment of such acid burns neither in our country nor in others. This is why we have to resort to the newest medicines that haven't been certified in our country yet, so they can be bought abroad only,' reads the message. Later, it was reported that the medicine was found in two hours. As it was reported earlier, four suspects in the attempted murder of Adviser of Kherson Mayor Kateryna Handziuk pleaded guilty. Kateryna Handziuk, Adviser of Kherson's Mayor was attacked near her place. The attacker soaked her with acid. the woman was hospitalized. 30 percent of her body was burned: head, arms, legs, chest and left eye. Related: Attack on Kherson mayor adviser: SBU holds investigation The attack on the employee of the City Council of Kherson was reclassified from "Hooliganism" to "Serious physical injuries committed with the aim of intimidation", and after a while - on "Attempted murder with a special cruelty." Yuriy Lutsenko took the case under his own control. He reported that the attack on the adviser was a part of the plan to destabilize the situation in the south of Ukraine. Later the investigation was transferred to the central office of the SBU. Related: Police detain two more suspects of attack on Handziuk Suspected in the attack was detained on August 3. He name is Mykola Novikov, previously detained for robbing and illegal weapons handling. He is a member of one of the criminal organizations in the Kherson region. According to Anton Gerashchenko, obviously, the detainee was fulfilling someone's order. Whereas, Gerashchenko added that they approximately know who was the proponent. The Police have already published the picture of the second possible suspect in the attack on Kateryna Handziuk, Adviser of Kherson's Mayor. Related: Attack on Handziuk: Six people suspected Related video: Earlier, the Albanian Government claimed that will take 20 migrants from the vessel. Also, Ireland agreed to host 20-25 people Open source Illegal migrants who were aboard of Diciotti vessel in the port of Catania, Sicily will be able to go ashore. Matteo Salvini, Deputy Prime Minister and Head of Italian MIA claimed this on Saturday, AFP reports. According to him, most of them will be hosted by a church. Earlier, the Albanian Government claimed that will take 20 migrants from the vessel. Also, Ireland agreed to host 20-25 people. Related: Ukrainians detained in Slovakia for transportation of illegals to EU Reportedly, the migrants who were aboard of Diciotti vessel moored on the Italian shores declared a hunger strike. Also, it was found out on Saturday that the Italian Prosecutor's office initiated an investigation in accordance with the situation around the refugees on Diciotti vessel. The reason for it was the actions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Minister's orders that prohibit migrants to go ashore. Related video: The government-owned North Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun today, on August 26, published an article accusing Washington of "guile" and "preparing a criminal conspiracy" against the DPRK. The publication appeared after the visit of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Pyongyang unexpectedly was canceled, Reuters reports. Negotiations between the countries on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula have reached an impasse after the summit of the leader of the DPRK Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump was held in June. The US, including Secretary of State Pompeo, insists on concrete steps towards denuclearization from the DPRK, while Pyongyang demands that Washington first make concessions. The publication Rodong Sinmun in an editorial article states that Japanese-based American troops conducted aerial exercises, during which they worked out "penetration into Pyongyang". "Such actions prove that the United States is hatching a criminal conspiracy to unleash a war against the DPRK and commit a crime that deserves merciless divine punishment if the United States does not cope with the scenario of the unjust and gangster denuclearization of the DPRK," the publication states. At the same time, an American representative in Seoul said that he had no data on the conduct of the exercises, which are mentioned in the article. We remind you yesterday, August 24, it became known that the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, postponed the trip of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to North Korea. 112 Agency Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo's President Hashim Thaci during the panel discussion in Austria made it clear that they were ready to consider changing the borders of both countries to reach an historic peace agreement. According to Politico, both presidents have called on the European Union to support their efforts. "Kosovo intends to reach a legal agreement with Serbia, it's time to do it now, we have a small window of opportunity, it's not easy, it's very, very difficult, that's why everyone should support this," said Kosovo's President Hashim Thaci. The publication notes that the EU is against changing borders on the grounds that this could lead to the redistribution of other borders in the Balkans. EU Commissioner Johannes Khan, who was present at the discussion, took a diplomatic stance, saying that nothing should be ruled out at this stage. Serbian President Alexander Vucic criticized the international reaction to the idea of changing borders. "Why are you so worried about what we are doing? We are doing something for the future of Serbs and Albanians, and we must take care of ourselves, not harming anyone without affecting others in the region," he said. We recall, Serbia does not recognize the independence of Kosovo, unilaterally proclaimed in 2008. Both countries plan to become members of the EU, but before that, territorial disputes should be resolved. Earlier Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic held a meeting of the National Security Council of Serbia due to the threat of aggravation of the situation in relations with Kosovo. This is reported by Novosti.rs. It is about the north of Kosovo, where mostly Serbs live. The day before, information was voiced about the possible attack of Kosovo's security forces to the north. At the same time, yesterday, on August 3, a meeting of the Kosovo Security Council was held, at which they discussed information about the alleged intentions of the Serbs in the north to unilaterally declare autonomy. At the moment, it is known that the international forces led by NATO, responsible for ensuring stability in Kosovo (KFOR), are brought into a state of increased combat readiness. The possible declaration of autonomy by the Serbs in the north of Kosovo is associated with the refusal of the Kosovo authorities to fulfill the obligations to create a Community of Serbian municipalities. Earlier Serbians from Kosovo appealed to President of Russia Vladimir Putin in the open letter. The full text of the letter signed by the representatives of the movement of Serbians in Kosovo and Metohija "Homeland" was published on June 28 by Eadaily. In the letter, the Serbians ask Putin to not let the recognition of Kosovo at the international level. Particularly, they call the Serbian authorities "too pliable" because the bodies of the state power were closed at the territory of Kosovo and "the system of the justice, police and defense of the civilians were passed to the separatists." Moreover, the representatives of the movement are sure that president of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic prepares the signing of the peace agreement "with the separatists from Pristina" and it will reinforce "the real separation of Kosovo and Metohija from Serbia." Due to this, the Serbians from Kosovo ask Putin "to not agree", if the agreement is signed and Belgrade will ask the place for Kosovo in the UN. "Until there is the Resolution 1244 that says that Kosovo and Metohija are Serbia, they are Serbia," the representatives claim. "We hope that some next authority in Serbia will cancel all anti-constitutional and anti-state agreements signed by the current regime. Until this time, you are our only hope that the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo will never be recognized at the international level," the message said. Related: Italian Government allows immigrants to go ashore Ukrainian diplomats called McCain, as one of the greatest friends of Ukraine and American hero Open source The Embassy of Ukraine to the U.S. expressed its condolences to the family and friends of American Senator John McCain who died on Saturday, August 25. The agency posted the relevant claim on Facebook. 'We are mourning with you and the American people,' the Embassy claimed. Related: Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan dies at age 80 Ukrainian diplomats called McCain, as one of the greatest friends of Ukraine and American hero. 'His immense contribution to Ukraines freedom and democracy will never be forgotten. Senator McCains joining the Ukrainian people on Maidan in Kyiv in winter 2013, traveling to Donbas with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko on the New Year's Eve 2016 to lift the spirit of the Ukrainian soldiers,' reads the message of the Ukrainian Embassy. Along with the Ukrainian Embassy, Petro Poroshenko expressed his condolences to the family of the Senator. The Leader of the State claimed this on Facebook. 'We will never forget his invaluable contribution to the development of democracy and freedom in Ukraine and the support of our state. The Senator was with the Ukrainians on the Maidan and kept up the spirit of the Ukrainian military in the Donbass. - Condolences to the family and all American people. We grieve together with you ...' reads the message. Related: Ukrainian dissident Levko Lukyanenko passed away Glioblastoma was found out during his surgery to remove hematoma under his eye in July 2017. In the same month, he underwent a surgery on his brain and was back at his work in the U.S. Senate. Later, he claimed reporters that the doctors gave low chances of surviving. This is why Senator John McCain who has been diagnosed with brain cancer last year, decided to terminate his treatment. 112 Agency President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko during his working visit to Avdiivka on August 26 launched the full-fledged operation of the Ocheretyno-Avdiivka gas main, which will provide the city with gas supply from the territory under Kyiv's control. The broadcast was conducted by 112 Ukraine. At the end of his speech, the president expressed his intention to visit the houses of local residents with the hope of trying a borscht cooked on "Ukrainian gas." "Now we have agreed that we will go into one or two dwellings and see how the gas burner works, maybe someone will cook borscht already on Ukrainian gas? (Laughs) I think that this is a holiday that is necessary to celebrate, "the head of state said. During the speech, Poroshenko also said that he intends to urge the EU countries to help the settlements of Donbas. Note that the renewal of gas supply to Avdiivka was declared by the State Administration on August 20. At the same time, the head of the administration said that in the next few days the gas will be received by residents of the settlements of the Yasinovata district. We recall that the gas was supplied to Avdiivka through the main gas pipeline Makiivka - Avdiivka. In the summer of 2017, the gas pipeline section was damaged as a result of another shelling by militants. Thus, 20 thousand inhabitants of Avdiivka remained without gas. Related: Serbia and Kosovo considering possibility of peace agreement and changing borders Open source The celebration is held annually on the last Sunday of August. Last year it was the 26 of August. Apart from Ukraine, the professional holiday is marked in Belarus, Russia, Estonia, and Kazakhstan. The holiday is associated with Alexey Stakhanov who set a record in the mining at night on August 31, 1935. It let to the beginning of the Stakhanov movement in the future. Related: Savior of the Apple Feast Day is celebrated in Ukraine The Miner Day is marked according to the decree of President from August 16, 1993. It is noteworthy that the coal industry is common on the territory of Donbas, including, on the occupied its area. Also, along with the Miner Day, occupied Donetsk, Makiivka and the number of the other cities of the region mark the City Day. Related: Ukraine celebrates Savior of the Honey Feast Day Reportedly, Ukraine celebrates a series of holidays from August 23 - Flag Day was marked on that day. The 27th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Independence Day was celebrated the next day. Related: All about celebration of Christianization of Kievan Rus Related video: PLEASE NOTE! Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate! All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited! (One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!) Bilingual Preschools Leveraging language by Sabine Bickford From the August, 2018 issue American immigrants have long turned toward early immersive language programs for their children as a way to preserve a connection to their heritage. More recently, other parents have caught on to the benefits. Jessica Carter is director of the Manzanitas Spanish Immersion Preschool on Packard near Eisenhower. A mile east on Packard, just past Platt, May DeLosh directs May's Chinese/English Bilingual Preschool. PreK kids, both directors explain, are at a prime position to learn a new language and gain the benefits. "After twelve years old, you could have a hard time learning tones," says DeLosh. Chinese is a tonal language, and she says that mastering tones early can also help children with music and math. The schools encourage kids to learn through play, and let them speak whatever language feels most comfortable. "If they need water," says Carter, "or to go to the bathroom, or a hug, they can tell us those things in English and we'll just repeat it in Spanish." Both schools also are seeing more students who have no family connection to the language. DeLosh estimates only 25 percent of her students have Chinese heritage, while Carter estimates that hers are equally divided between families with and without a native speaker at home. Both directors say they'd like to see more immersive and multilingual preschools, and better language education for American children. "The most important goal is that we get kids exposed to this valuable language," says DeLosh. "I think everyone should go to an immersion program like ours!" Carter agrees. [Originally published in August, 2018.] Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday rejected the resignations of the intelligence chief and the interior and defence ministers, as the government faces fierce criticism over an increasingly deadly insurgency. Ghani called on Defence Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami, Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak and intelligence chief Masoom Stanekzai to continue their duties, after rejecting their resignation letters submitted Saturday and demanding they help bolster the country's defences. "President Ghani did not approve their resignations... and gave them the necessary instructions to improve the security situation," said a palace statement. Earlier Saturday Ghani's powerful national security adviser Mohammad Haneef Atmar had resigned, in a blow to the embattled unity government before parliamentary elections scheduled for October. The palace announced later Sunday that Atmar had been replaced by Hamdullah Mohib, who was serving as Afghanistan's ambassador to the United States. "Accepting the resignation of a long-time friend and colleague was a difficult decision for me, but the decision had to be taken for the sake of the interest of the country," said Ghani, according to a statement. The Ghani administration has been widely criticised for its inability to counter an energised insurgency. The Taliban have intensified assaults on police and troops across the country and the Islamic State group has targeted the capital Kabul. This month has seen an extraordinarily violent series of incidents, including an attack that saw the Taliban storm the provincial capital of Ghazni -- just a two-hour drive from Kabul -- despite repeated warnings from local officials that the city was in danger. Militants held large parts of the city for days and Afghan forces needed US air power to push them back, resulting in widespread destruction and estimates of hundreds of deaths. The resignation letters came a week after Ghani offered a conditional three-month ceasefire to the Taliban, a move welcomed by the United States and NATO after nearly 17 years of war. The Taliban have yet to officially respond to the offer. A brief ceasefire in June had sparked hopes that a path for talks with the insurgents was opening. President Ghani has rejected the resignations of his top security officials New Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison rewarded supporters and extended an olive branch to rebel right-wingers as he unveiled his "new generation" cabinet Sunday after taking power in a party-room coup. Morrison, the former treasurer (finance minister), was sworn in as prime minister Friday after winning a Liberal Party leadership challenge against incumbent moderate Malcolm Turnbull. The challenge had been instigated by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, whom Morrison -- also to the right of the party -- defeated in a secret ballot. He sought to heal the wounds exposed by the infighting. "This new Liberal-National team is a next-generation team," Morrison told reporters in Canberra of the governing coalition between the Liberals and the rural-based Nationals party. "What we have done today in pulling this team together is provide for stability... it does begin the process of healing." Dutton kept Home Affairs but his super-sized portfolio was split to separate immigration and national security, with migration issues to be handled by former assistant finance minister David Coleman. The environment and energy portfolio, which was held by the man who is now Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, was also broken up in an acknowledgement of the tensions the two issues caused within the party. Environment and energy policies were key bones of contention between Turnbull and the right-wingers, who wanted him to prioritise older electricity generation sources such as coal over renewables and emissions mitigation. Wind-farm critic and Dutton supporter Angus Taylor was chosen as energy minister, tasked with the job of lowering soaring electricity prices. MP Melissa Price, who represents major mining and agriculture centres in Western Australia state, picked up the environment ministry. Marise Payne, the former defence minister, was given the foreign affairs portfolio after incumbent Julie Bishop resigned Sunday. Bishop, a rare female voice in the Australian government, had put her hand up to be one of three candidates to replace Turnbull. But she received minimal support from colleagues, even as opinion polls pointed to her popularity among voters. Her departure has raised questions about whether she fell victim to party politics and to a perceived glass ceiling for women in Canberra. Renowned for her steely gaze dubbed the "death stare", Bishop's highlights as foreign minister include her strong condemnation of Russia's role in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines MH17 in 2014. Moderate Christopher Pyne was promoted to defence minister, while Dutton allies Matthias Cormann (finance), Mitch Fifield (communications) and Greg Hunt (health) remained in their cabinet roles. Former deputy PM and Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce, who was forced to quit in February and move to the backbench over his affair with his younger former media adviser, returned in a drought advisory role. But there was no room for ex-PM Tony Abbott -- a vocal critic of Turnbull after Turnbull ousted him as leader in 2015. Morrison said he was open to Abbott, who had supported Dutton, being involved in government decisions in an advisory capacity. New Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison pictured at the oath-taking ceremony: he has rewarded supporters and extended an olive branch to rebel right-wingers with his cabinet line-up A bear charged at a family during a hiking trip, knocking down and injuring a 10-year-old boy before his parents were able to drive the animal off with bear spray, park officials said. The unidentified boy was hiking with his family in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, US, on Thursday, when the bear charged from the vegetation, chased the boy and knocked him to the ground, park officials said in the statement. The boy, from Washington state, was transferred to a hospital for puncture wounds to his back, wounds around his buttocks and an injured wrist, park officials said in a statement. Its unclear how serious his injuries are, spokeswoman Morgan Warthin said. A bear charged a family during a hiking trip, knocking down and injuring a 10-year-old boy at Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Source: AP Photo/Jim Urquhart, file The park is home to grizzly and black bears, both of which are a top draw for the more than four million tourists who visit each year. Its not clear whether the bear that attacked the boy was a grizzly or a black bear. Yellowstone averages about one bear attack on a human per year, but its been three years since the last attack within in-park boundaries, according to officials. It wasnt immediately clear what caused the bear to charge. The boys parents deployed bear spray about 1.5 meters from the bears head, causing it to leave. The family walked to the trailhead and drove to the ranger station at Old Faithful, where they were sent to a nearby clinic. He was then transferred to a hospital. Wildlife and law enforcement officials are investigating the attack and looking for signs that would identify the type of bear involved. Tracks show the bear was a female with at least one cub. Bear wont be trapped or killed Yellowstone National Park officials said they dont plan to capture or kill the bear. Park officials said Friday the bears were likely foraging and were surprised by the family of four. They say the female bear was defending its cub. They applauded the family for doing the right thing by travelling in a group and carrying bear spray. A primary school teacher punished a grade five student and became so mad she almost threw something at him, after the pupil called her maam, the boys mother said. Tamarion Wilson, 10, whose parents say they raised him to refer to his elders as sir and maam as a mark of respect, was made to write the word repeatedly on a piece of ruled paper as punishment after he used it to address his teacher. Tamarion Wilson, 10, was punishment for using the word to address his teacher. Source: Ruben Israel / Facebook The educator at North East Carolina Preparatory School in Tarboro argued Tamarion had used the word after she had told the class she didnt like it. The boys mother Teretha told WTVD local news her son said the teacher told him if she had something, she would have thrown it at him. The 10-year-old was made to write the word repeatedly on a piece of ruled paper as punishment. Source: Ruben Israel / Facebook The boys father McArthur Bryant said his son was trying to show respect to his teacher, in the way his parents had raised him, but the punishment made his boy feel shame. At the end of the day as a father, to feel kind of responsible for that knowing that I have been raising him and doing the best that I can, its not acceptable, Mr Bryant said. Following the incident, Ms Wilson said she had a meeting with the principal and Tamarion had been transferred to a different class. In a brief statement the school said the incident was a personnel matter which has been handled appropriately. A 15-year-old boy has been accidentally shot in the back on a rural NSW property. The boy was shot at a property on Ilford-Sofala Road in Sofala, north-west of Sydney, about 9.30am on Sunday. The incident was an accidental discharge of a firearm, a NSW Police spokeswoman told Yahoo7. Paramedics received a call just before 9am on Sunday and took the boy from the property to Bathurst Airport. A 15-year-old boy has been accidentally shot in the back on a rural NSW property in the town of Sofala. Source: Getty (stock image) The 15-year-old boy was shot at a property on Ilford-Sofala Road in Sofala, north-west of Sydney, about 9.30am on Sunday. Source: Google Maps He was intubated before being airlifted to Sydneys Westmead Hospital. Westmead Hospital were unable to provide any more information about the boys condition. MORE TO COME. Colombians on Sunday failed to approve rules that hardened punishment for corrupt officials, a measure sent to voters as a referendum after congress proved reluctant to implement stricter anti-graft measures. Some 36 million voters were called to the polls amid an ongoing bribery scandal involving Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht that has engulfed the region. With almost all ballots counted by late Sunday, the measure was 470,000 votes short of the 12.1 million votes needed for approval, election officials said. "Ninety-nine percent of those of us who voted support the initiatives," President Ivan Duque said in an address to the nation. "Unfortunately the number of votes did not reach the minimum needed for approval," he said. Duque, in office only since August 7, was in favor of the measure even though it had only had lukewarm support from members of his rightwing party, the Democratic Center, which have a majority in the senate. "We were five cents short, but change is unstoppable and here there was a shaking of the traditional political class," said Green Party Senator Angelica Lozano, who also supported the measure. Colombians "want genuine changes to the political practices and to corruption," she told reporters. The measure included seven proposals, from cutting high-ranking officials' salaries to imposing term limits to eliminating house arrest as a punishment. While mostly aimed at cracking down on abuses by public officials, the initiative would have also made private contracts with the state more transparent, and ban companies convicted of corrupt practices from dealing with the public sector. One university study found that, from 1991 to 2011, corruption cost Colombia 4 percent of its GDP. Senator Claudia Lopez, seen here, urged a vote for tougher anti-graft measures, saying corruption in Colombia is 'more profitable than drug trafficking' Two people were killed and more than 200 injured in a strong 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck western Iran near the border with Iraq early Sunday, officials told local media. The shallow quake hit 26 kilometres (16 miles) southwest of the city of Javanrud in Kermanshah province, the US Geological Survey said, near the site of a powerful quake last year that killed hundreds. The head of the emergency department Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Saeb Sharidari, told state news agency IRNA that two people were killed and 241 people injured, six critically. Sharidari said the two dead were a pregnant woman and a 70-year-old man who died of a heart attack. The provincial head of the Red Crescent, Mohammad Reza Amirian, said there had been at least 21 aftershocks. He said there were potential problems with drinking water due to damaged infrastructure in villages, but that it had not yet been necessary to distribute food and tents. Kermanshah governor Houshang Bazvand told the Tasnim news agency that electricity had been temporarily cut to several villages. A crisis centre was set up, with hospitals and relief organisations placed on alert. But the local director of crisis management, Reza Mahmoudian, told the Mehr news agency that "the situation was under control" and no request for help had been sent to neighbouring provinces. There were reports that the quake was felt far across the border into Iraq. Images on social media showed people being rushed to hospitals, but suggested relatively light damage to infrastructure. Iran sits on top of two major tectonic plates and sees frequent seismic activity. In November last year a major 7.3-magnitude quake killed 620 people in Kermanshah province and another eight people in Iraq. burs-er/mtp Dozens have been injured in a strong 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck western Iran near the border with Iraq Nearly 140 migrants who had been stranded on a boat at a port in Sicily were allowed to disembark early on Sunday after Ireland and Albania agreed to take some of them in. The boat docked at Catania port on Monday but Italy had refused to let those on board disembark in the absence of any EU commitment to relocate them, prompting a new bitter row with Brussels. But following a deal brokered by the Catholic Church late on Saturday, Italy's far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini agreed to allow them to leave the Diciotti, the Italian coastguard ship which rescued them some 10 days ago. There were initially around 180 migrants on board when it arrived at Catania, but Rome allowed 27 unaccompanied minors to disembark on Wednesday and another 12 people left on Saturday following a health authority request. Albania, which is not a member of the EU, offered safe haven to 20 of the migrants, with Ireland saying it would take up to 25. It was not immediately clear what would happen to the others, although Italian media reports suggested Rome was in talks with Serbia and Montenegro. The migrants disembarked several hours after Sicilian prosecutors said they had opened an inquiry into Salvini for "illegal confinement, illegal arrest and abuse of power" over his refusal to authorise their disembarkation, reports said. EU migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos welcomed the deal, saying it was the result of "solidarity across borders and communities". "But we cannot always wait for this type of goodwill solidarity. We need to have structural measures," he said in a statement. - A warning to Italy - The Diciotti standoff was the latest in a string of incidents involving Italy's recently-installed populist government, which has vowed to stop taking in migrants rescued off Libya. On Friday, Rome threatened to pull its EU funding unless other states agreed to take some of the Diciotti migrants. But Avramopoulos warned Italy would end up "shooting itself in the foot" by its ongoing attacks on the EU. "Politicians in your country need to understand that you are not alone, that Europe is trying to help you. On the contrary, anyone who attacks the EU is shooting himself in the foot," he told Sunday's edition of La Repubblica newspaper. "We cannot move ahead with ad hoc solutions for each boat. The migration phenomenon is not going to stop overnight so we need to manage it together as one European family." Italy's economy minister Luigi Di Maio, however, remained defiant, saying Rome would be within its rights to hold back its annual EU budgetary contributions. "If their system of solidarity works like that, we will not give another euro to the EU," he said in a televised interview. - 'Once we were Eritreans' - Writing on Twitter late Saturday, Albania's Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati said Tirana was "ready to help", recalling how Italy accepted thousands who fled Albania by sea after the fall of communism in the early 1990s. "We cannot replace Europe but we are always here, on the other side of a sea where once we were the Eritreans suffering for days and nights in the middle of the sea, waiting for Europe to wake up," he said. "Yesterday, Italy saved us, today we are ready to give a hand." And Ireland's Foreign Minister Simon Coveney tweeted that Ireland would "accept 20-25 migrants from the Diciotti". "European solidarity is important + this is the right thing to do. Work continues (with) EU partners on more sustainable solutions." - Race to the bottom - Migration is a hot-button issue in Italy, where hundreds of thousands of people have arrived since 2013. Under EU rules people must seek asylum in their country of arrival, but Rome has recently moved to block boats from docking at its ports. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi had on Friday rebuked European nations over the standoff. "The time has come to end the back-and-forth that has seen countries competing in a race to the bottom on who can take the least responsibility for people rescued at sea," he said. "It is dangerous and immoral to put the lives of refugees and asylum-seekers at risk while states engage in a political tug-of-war on long-term solutions." The migrants were rescued about 10 days ago by the Diciotti, an Italian coastguard vessel, but were not allowed to disembark until Sunday Map locating Garaboulli in Libya, the main point of departure for migrant boats seeking to reach Europe Under EU rules people must seek asylum in their country of arrival, but Rome has recently moved to block boats from docking at its ports After months of punishing drought, our devastated farmers finally got some relief as the heavens opened in parts of NSW. Farmers across the state rejoiced as some of the hardest-hit NSW drought regions received a little respite after the first significant rainfall in months. One Dubbo farmer was filmed rejoicing as he sprinted through the downpour wearing nothing but a hat. A Dubbo farmer was filmed rejoicing as he sprinted through the downpour wearing nothing but a hat. Source: 7 News The nude man appeared ecstatic as he splashed about the field yelling woohoo as rain pelted down. Much of the Northern Tablelands and Central West received rainfall on Saturday, with a low pressure system forecast to deliver a wet start to the week. Inverell received 16mm between 9am and 9pm on Saturday, while Dubbo recorded almost 10mm. More rain on the way There is more rain on the way today with parts of northern New South Wales recording falls of up to 17mm. The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting up to 20mm for Parkes, where some farmers have been battling to feed livestock and others face the prospect of not harvesting a crop. Sheep on a farming property 40km outside Coonabarabran in NSW as the drought continues to grip the state. Source: Brook Mitchell/ Getty The BOM is also forecasting a wet week for Sydney, with up to 15mm predicted for the city on Sunday. That rain is expected to continue throughout the week as another cold front emerges from the Tasman Sea. The rain comes as the Sydney Desalination Plant prepares to kick into action if the citys water supply drops below 60 per cent. Dam levels sat at 65.2 per cent on Saturday evening. Southeast Queensland rainfall Southeast Queensland is also experiencing good rainfall with thunderstorms developing. Some drought-affected areas in southeast Queensland have received up to 50mm of rain this weekend, the BOM says. Some Queensland drought-affected areas have received more rainfall this weekend than in months. Story continues Areas east of Charleville, in the states south, have received as much as 50mm of rain, while Brisbane has taken 15 to 20mm since Friday. Areas west of Roma are quite clear at the moment and they wont see any further rain. But they have seen that pattern of generally 5 to 20mm, Bureau of Meteorologys Lachlan Stoney said on Sunday. How to help drought-affected farmers Donations can be made through: Israel's prime minister said on Sunday that Jews were still at risk even decades after the Holocaust as he wrapped up a groundbreaking visit to Lithuania, a Baltic state once home to his forefathers. "For the Jewish people, what has changed in these 75 years? Not the attempts to destroy us, they still seek to destroy us," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told around 300 Lithuanian Jews gathered in Vilnius's Choral Synagogue. The Israeli leader identified what he termed new existential threats facing the Jews, with Iran and the Islamist movement Hamas which runs the Gaza Strip being among them. "What has changed is our ability to defend ourselves by ourselves... This is a magnificent change of history," added Netanyahu, who is the first-ever Israeli premier to visit Lithuania, a Baltic EU state. Pre-war Lithuania was home to a thriving Jewish community of more than 200,000 people, with Vilnius a hub of learning known as the "Jerusalem of the North". But historians contend that around 195,000 perished at the hands of the Nazis and local collaborators under the 1941-44 German occupation, nearly the entire Jewish population. Today there are around 3,000 Jews living in the EU and NATO member state of 2.9 million people. Netanyahu said he spent Saturday touring the Vilna Ghetto and recalling Lithuanian Jews taken to Paneriai -- also known as Ponar or Ponary -- on the outskirts of the city, the site of the Ponar massacre. - Distorted or ignored - Up to 100,000 people including Jews, Poles and Russians were slain there by the Nazis and Lithuanian collaborators during World War II. "What a distance we have travelled in 75 years from the death pits of Ponar to a rising power in the world," Netanyahu said. His groundbreaking visit has not been without controversy and Netanyahu has come under sharp criticism from top Israeli Nazi hunter Efraim Zuroff for warming to Lithuania. Arguing that Vilnius has not done enough to come to terms with the role Lithuanians played in the Holocaust, Zuroff charged in a Sunday Facebook post "that to praise the Lithuanian government's efforts to commemorate the Shoa is like commending the KKK for improving race relations in the US". A Lithuanian research centre has identified 2,000 Lithuanians suspected of taking part in the Holocaust, either by killing Jews, sending them to execution or by confiscating their wealth. At the same time nearly 900 Lithuanians hold the honorary title of "Righteous Among The Nations", awarded by Israel to gentiles who risked their lives to save Jewish neighbours. The Holocaust was either distorted or ignored in Lithuania under five decades of Soviet rule that followed the war. An honest examination only began after it became the first republic to split from the USSR in 1990. Netanyahu said he spent Saturday touring the Vilna Ghetto and recalling Lithuanian Jews taken to Paneriai -- also known as Ponar or Ponary -- on the outskirts of the city, the site of the Ponar massacre A Sunshine Coast snake catcher has revealed why you should never try and catch the reptiles yourself. Stuart McKenzie, from The Snake Catcher 24/7 Sunshine Coast, shared photos of what happened when a man tried to catch a carpet python in his backyard on Saturday with a metal pole. When Mr McKenzie was finally called in to help, he found a gravely injured reptile. He said the man had tried to pin the slithering python down with a metal pole. A Sunshine Coast man tried to catch a slithering carpet python with a metal pole on Saturday, but reportedly fatally injured the reptile. Source: Facebook/The Snake Catcher 24/7 Sunshine Coast The snake suffered a gaping wound, which exposed the flesh underneath. Unfortunately veterinarians were unable to save the python and later died. It was taken to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital straight away, Mr McKenzie told Yahoo7. They did everything they could. Not sure of the cause of death but I can nearly guarantee it was from the injuries caused from the guy pinning it with a pole. The snake was injured by the metal pole and its skin was split open revealing the pink flesh underneath. Source: Facebook/The Snake Catcher 24/7 Sunshine Coast Mr McKenzie warned the public to refrain from catching snakes by themselves. The main message is just dont do it, he said. Mr McKenzie recommends people call a professional snake catcher and gave some interim tips. Leave the snake alone and it should hopefully move away by itself, he said. If its in a backyard, take your pets and kids away, and always maintain a safe distance from the snake. The advice comes as snakes have been found in strange locations across Australia from keeping warm under the bonnet of a car and coiled around a doorstep light. US President Donald Trump's cut of more than $200 million in aid for Gaza and the West Bank is the latest in a series of steps Palestinian leaders say aims to "liquidate" their cause. The move follows Trump's recognition in December of the disputed city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital as well as his freezing of $300 million in annual funding for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). Washington's new policy on Jerusalem overturned decades of precedent and prompted the Palestinian leadership to break off relations with the White House. The US president responded by threatening to withhold aid until they returned to the negotiating table, and Friday's announcement of the cut appeared to be in line with his stance. For many Israelis, the changes made by Washington are long overdue and bring years of failed peace efforts closer in line with reality. But Palestinian leaders argue the White House is playing into the hands of Israeli politicians. Speaking in June, when the US aid was merely frozen instead of cut, longtime Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat spoke of the need to "defeat the American-Israeli scheme to liquidate the Palestinian cause". He and other Palestinian leaders reacted furiously to Friday's announcement, with one calling it "cheap blackmail" to coerce them into accepting terms of the peace plan that the White House has promised to unveil. "America is now sharing in the dreams and the policies of Israel's right-wing government," said Palestinian political analyst Jihad Harb. - 'More than absurd' - But for Kobi Michael, formerly in charge of Palestinian issues at Israel's strategic affairs ministry, Trump's approach serves as a necessary rude awakening for the Palestinian leadership. He cited Palestinians' refusal to accept Jerusalem as Israel's capital, coupled with the UN's method of classifying Palestinian refugees, as "characteristics which are much more than absurd in the eyes of the majority of the Israelis". The aid cut adds to the financial woes of the Palestinian Authority, whose $5 billion budget for this year includes a $1.2 billion deficit. Foreign aid was put at $775 million. Humanitarian conditions in the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip, which is run by Islamist movement Hamas, are also badly deteriorating. Just last month, the World Bank announced it was increasing its annual allocation to the Palestinians to $90 million from $55 million "in response to an increasingly difficult situation". The US funding that was cut was for humanitarian programmes, infrastructure and budget support in the occupied West Bank. It also included assistance for humanitarian programmes, such as health care, in the Gaza Strip. The White House has maintained some $61 million in assistance this year for the Palestinian security forces, which coordinate with their Israeli counterparts. - Capping refugees? - The Trump administration is taking on core questions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Jerusalem's status being the most controversial of them all. The Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state and almost the entire international community takes the position that the issue must be negotiated between the two sides. After the dramatic reduction in funding, refugees' rights are now reportedly in Washington's crosshairs. Some 750,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled during the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation. Those still alive today along with their descendants are classified as refugees, amounting to a total of five million people who are eligible for services provided by UNRWA. Palestinians and rights groups say the agency provides vital assistance -- including schooling for hundreds of thousands of students -- that otherwise may not be available. But Israel argues UNRWA's means of operation perpetuates the refugee problem. It also insists on the Palestinian leadership giving up its demand that refugees be granted the right to return to their former lands now inside Israel. On Saturday, Israeli television reported the US now wanted to cap the number of Palestinians classified as refugees to 500,000. A US embassy official did not confirm the report. A USAID mural in the village of al-Badhan, north of Nablus in the occupied West Bank on August 25, 2018 A Palestinian child looks at a horse in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip on August 25, 2018 Palestinians wait at an UNRWA clinic in the southern West Bank city of Hebron on August 9, 2018 A suicide bomb attack killed at least two people Saturday in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, officials said, the latest violence to hit the war-torn country. The bombing -- claimed by the Islamic State group -- follows what has already been a bloody month with the Taliban ramping up assaults on security forces across the country and IS targeting the capital Kabul, with hundreds killed according to estimates. The attack appeared to target a protest camp outside an election commission office where a group of people were rallying in support of a candidate disqualified from parliamentary elections due in October. Jalalabad is the capital of Nangarhar province, the main IS stronghold in Afghanistan. The blast "killed two people, and four others were wounded", provincial governor spokesman Attaullah Khogyani told AFP, adding that it was carried out by a suicide attacker. Provincial health director Najib Kamawal confirmed the two deaths. An eyewitness to the bloody aftermath of the attack said a suicide bomber detonated near a tent full of protesters outside the office, and that security forces had cordoned off the area. "It was very big blast and it shook our home," said witness Mirza Amin, who added he lived 50 metres (160 feet) from the site of the explosion. Earlier this month, Afghanistan's Independent Electoral Complaints Commission disqualified 35 candidates from running in the upcoming parliamentary election for having direct links to illegal armed groups. The protest in Jalalabad was against the disqualification of candidate Javed Zaman Ghamsharik, who was barred for allegedly possessing illegal arms and for connections to illicit land deals. The blast comes nearly a week after President Ashraf Ghani offered a conditional three-month ceasefire to the Taliban, a move welcomed by the United States and NATO after nearly 17 years of war. The Taliban have yet to officially respond to the offer. The surge in violence this month comes after Afghans marked an unprecedented nationwide ceasefire between the Taliban and government forces in June, giving some relief to war-weary civilians. For three days, thousands of insurgents poured into cities across Afghanistan, eating ice cream and taking celebratory selfies with security forces. The brief respite spurred hopes a new path was opening for peace talks in the country after nearly 17 years of war. The Taliban have long insisted on direct talks with Washington and refused to negotiate with the Afghan government, which they see as illegitimate. Earlier this week, Gen. John Nicholson -- the top commander for US and NATO forces in Afghanistan -- said that warring parties now have an "unprecedented" opportunity for peace, citing the June ceasefire as a step forward. He stressed, however, that any peace talks must ultimately be "Afghan-led, Afghan-owned". The latest attack in the war-torn country appeared to target a protest camp outside the building in Nangarhar province Barring a major upset, Sweden's far-right is on course for a record result in September 9 legislative elections, capitalising on the mood of voters who feel they are being left behind in favour of hundreds of thousands of newly-arrived asylum seekers. With two weeks to go to the election, opinion polls suggest the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats (SD) could sweep around 20 percent of votes, making them the second- or third-biggest party. That could give SD -- an offshoot of the neo-Nazi movement but now clamouring for political legitimacy -- significant influence over Swedish politics. SD has said it is willing to collaborate with either the left or right, as long as it can shape the country's immigration policy. However, it will have a hard time wielding any newfound clout. While some parties on the right-wing have occasionally appeared tempted to court the SD for informal support to pass legislation in parliament, none of them seems ready to forge a more formal collaboration with a party still seen as pariahs by a large majority of Swedes. The far-right first entered parliament in 2010, garnering 5.7 percent of votes cast. Four years later, they more than doubled their score, taking 12.9 percent of votes and 42 of the 349 seats in the 2014 election. SD also holds one of three deputy speaker positions in parliament, a post occupied by Bjorn Soder, a hardliner who in June said the country's Jews were "not Swedes". Founded in 1988 and headed since 2005 by Jimmie Akesson, SD appeals to young voters and those disillusioned by social democracy, as well as those in declining rural areas where industries, schools and maternity wards are shutting down. Prime Minister Stefan Lofven's Social Democrats are expected to remain the country's biggest party, but polls suggest they are headed for their worst election result since proportional representation was introduced in 1911. They are seen winning around 25 percent of votes, down from 31 percent four years ago. - Social inequality - While Sweden's economic indicators all look rosy -- unemployment is at its lowest level in a decade, growth is forecast at around three percent this year -- income inequality is growing faster than in any other OECD country, a thorn in the side of a nation that has long prided itself on its egalitarian values. "These new social gaps have to be addressed to keep Sweden cohesive. If we do that, then there's no room for extremism," Goran Persson, who served as Social Democratic prime minister from 1996 to 2006, told AFP on Friday. The Social Democrats, which have dominated Sweden's political scene since the 1930s, are paying the price after welcoming in more than 300,000 asylum seekers since 2015 -- the highest number in Europe per capita, pushing the Swedish population over the 10 million mark. At the height of the migrant wave in the autumn of 2015, the Scandinavian country was overwhelmed: migrants were crammed into overcrowded school gyms, social services were swamped, and asylum housing centres were torched by angry locals. Three years later, after the government sharply curbed its refugee policy and suspended family reunifications, the situation has calmed down considerably. The massive chaos predicted by those opposed to the initially-generous refugee policy never materialised. But Sweden now finds itself confronted with the challenge of integrating its new arrivals. Prime Minister Lofven has vowed that if re-elected, he will pursue "a migration policy that holds up in the long term, and that has the backing of the Swedish people". As expected, SD gives the Social Democrats a failing grade on immigration. Its policy "has divided society, fuelled the sense of exclusion, bled the welfare system dry" and "harmed national security". Sweden saw its first terrorist attack in April 2017 when an Uzbek asylum seeker mowed down pedestrians in Stockholm in a truck attack that left five people dead. - Breaking barriers - The battle for the post of prime minister is being fought between the outgoing Lofven, a metal worker who rose through the ranks of his union before taking on the highest post in government, and the head of the opposition conservative Moderates, Ulf Kristersson, whose party is neck-and-neck with the far-right in the polls. Kristersson, an economist and former communications director, took over as Moderates leader in October 2017 after Anna Kinberg Batra was forced out by a faction of the party for breaking the "cordon sanitaire" around SD, saying she was ready to negotiate with it on a case-by-case basis. Kristersson has insisted he has no intention of doing that. Instead he plans to form a government with the three other centre and right-wing parties -- without SD's support. The latest polls put the "red-green bloc" -- the current two-party coalition government comprising the Social Democrats and Greens, as well as the Left Party -- ahead of the right-wing four-party Alliance (Centre, Liberals, Moderates and Christian Democrats). Founded in 1988 and headed since 2005 by Jimmie Akesson, SD appeals to young voters and those disillusioned by social democracy Firefighters tackle a blaze at a refugee accommodation centre in Fagersjo, south of Stockholm, in 2016 Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has promised to pursue an immigration policy which 'has the backing of the Swedish people' Egypts top prosecutor dismissed speculation that the death of two British tourists in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada was caused by poisonous gas emissions in their hotel room, as the hotel attributed their deaths to natural causes. An inspection by the prosecutors technical team of John and Susan Coopers room found that there were no toxic or harmful gas emissions or leaks, the prosecutors office said in a statement. All devices in the room were functioning efficiently without any defects, it added. The prosecutors office is awaiting a forensic analysis of samples taken from the bodies to provide more details about the incident, it said. British couple John Cooper, 69, and Susan, 63, died on a Thomas Cook holiday in Egypt had been in perfect health before going to bed but were found dying in their hotel room the next morning. Source: Facebook The statement came after the couples daughter, Kelly Ormerod, told Sky News that something suspicious has gone on, especially since her parents had not complained of any health problems prior to going on the holiday. The Cooper couples deaths prompted tour operator Thomas Cook to evacuate its 301 customers, of various nationalities, from the Steigenberger Aqua Magic hotel as a precautionary measure. The company said the circumstances surrounding their deaths are unclear and that it received reports of a raised level of illness among guests. In a statement Saturday, however, the hotel denied this, saying the couples death was due to natural causes. There are no indications to support allegations of an increased incidence of illness at the hotel. Such rash speculations should urgently be put aside out of respect for the family members of the deceased persons and for other guests, the hotel said in an email to The Associated Press. The Steigenberger Aqua Magic hotel, in Egypts Red Sea resort of Hurghada, was evacuated following the couples death.Source: AFP Photo/MOHAMED EL-SHAHED Other guests fell ill Also Saturday, Thomas Cook said approximately 100 Britons roughly half of the UK guests they had staying at the hotel at the time had returned home. The rest had opted to move to another hotel, the operator added. Jackie Elliott, 51, from Swindon, fell ill while staying at the hotel with her husband Gordon, 59, and daughter Lucy, 19, she told Sky News on Saturday. Story continues She was taken to hospital after passing blood and being sick every time she ate something in the hotel. She said she was unsure whether her sickness was caused by food poisoning or something to do with the hotel room, such as the air conditioning. Janette Rawning, a guest evacuated from the hotel who arrived in Manchester along with her family on Saturday, said she only learned about the deaths two days after the incident happened. Thomas Cook kept it from us for two days, she said. So despite their [the Cooper couple] being sick, vomiting and illness in the hotel, we went in, started as normal our holiday. The couples daughter Kelly Ormerod (right) describes deaths of fit and healthy British couple on a Thomas Cook holiday in Egypt as suspicious. Source: Facebook So any advice they could have given us for two days about avoiding food, being more careful, making sure the meat was cooked, or anything like that, they could have done loads of steps to mitigate any risks to us, and none was done at all. None. Nothing. Tracy Wooffindin, another evacuated tourist, said she is inclined to believe that it is a really unfortunate accident. Speculation over Cooper couples death continues Egyptian authorities dismissed criminal motives as being behind the deaths. An official statement by the Red Sea governorate on Friday said an initial medical examination of John Cooper showed he had suffered acute circulatory collapse and a sudden cardiac arrest. It also said Susan Cooper was later rushed to hospital after fainting and underwent resuscitation attempts for 30 minutes but died. Speculation over the couples death swirled in the media on Friday, with some suggesting that carbon monoxide poisoning may have been the cause. A later statement by Thomas Cook said that while the company was aware of the speculation, there was no evidence to support this. Egypts vital tourism industry has been dealt a severe blow due to political turmoil that ensued after a 2011 uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak. A 2015 Islamic State bombing of a Russian passenger plane over the Sinai Peninsula, which killed all 224 people on board, was among several incidents that led to the decimation of the countrys multibillion dollar industry. Russia subsequently imposed a two-year-ban on all flights to Egypt. Earlier this year, Russian flights to Cairo resumed but flights to resort cities have yet to be decided upon. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British-Iranian woman who has been held in Tehran for more than two years on sedition charges, returned to prison on Sunday after temporary release, dashing her family's hopes of an extension. "We have just heard the sad news that Nazanin's extension has been refused and she has returned to prison," said a tweet on the official "Free Nazanin" Twitter account. "Here is the moment she said goodbye to a distraught Gabriella," it added, along with a picture of Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her four-year-old daughter. She was unexpectedly released for a three-day furlough on Thursday, and was reunited with members of her family outside the Iranian capital. Husband Richard Ratcliffe said they had received "mixed messages" from the Iranian authorities on Sunday, ahead of her return to Evin prison. The charity worker had initially been told her request for an extension had been approved, but then received a call telling her to return to prison by sunset. "She was shivering and shaking and crying - and said: 'How can you take me away from my baby, when she needs me'?" he said in a an email received by AFP "Gabriella was crying and sucking her thumb -- she didn't want her mummy to go back." Ratcliffe said his wife, who has denied all charges filed against her in Iran, spent her time with her parents and daughter in Damavand, a mountain resort near Tehran. Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation -- the media organisation's philanthropic arm -- was arrested at Tehran airport on April 3, 2016. She is serving a five-year jail sentence for alleged sedition. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation -- the media organisation's philanthropic arm -- was arrested at Tehran airport in April 2016 America paid tribute Sunday to John McCain, the Vietnam War hero and two-time presidential candidate with a legendary temper whose personal courage and insistence on treating even his foes with respect earned him near-universal admiration. McCain died on Saturday, four days shy of his 82nd birthday, following a yearlong battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer. He is survived by his wife Cindy and seven children, three of them from an earlier marriage. Flags flew at half-mast over the White House and US Capitol in honor of McCain, as organizers announced he will lie in state at the US Capitol Rotunda. That honor has been accorded to only a few notable Americans, including John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and civil rights icon Rosa Parks. A memorial service will take place at the massive National Cathedral overlooking Washington on Saturday before McCain is laid to rest according to his wishes at the US Naval Academy in nearby Annapolis, Maryland, on September 2, his office said. Ahead of the national ceremonies, McCain will lie in state at the Arizona State Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday and a memorial service will take place at the North Phoenix Baptist Church. "This is a rare and distinct occurrence for a truly special man," said Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, adding: "John McCain is Arizona." In Phoenix, a succession of ordinary Arizonans left flags or flowers at McCain's office or a local mortuary to honor the man who represented them in Congress for 35 years. Former presidents George W. Bush, a Republican, and Barack Obama, a Democrat -- his successful rivals in, respectively, the 2000 and 2008 elections -- are set to speak at the national memorial service, according to The New York Times. Media reports earlier this year said the senator had expressly asked that President Donald Trump not be invited. Instead, Vice President Mike Pence is expected to attend. - 'Deepest sympathies' - As tributes poured in from the US and abroad, Trump said simply that he sent his "deepest sympathies and respect" to the McCain family. A rare Republican critic of Trump, McCain had accused the president of "naivete," "egotism" and of sympathizing with autocrats, especially after Trump's widely criticized appearance in Helsinki alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin. McCain cast a decisive vote last year that killed Republican attempts to repeal Obama's health care reforms. The repeal was a Trump priority, and the president never forgave McCain. The hawkish McCain was an unrelenting critic of Obama's foreign policy, saying the Democratic president was weak on Libya, Iraq and Syria. Still, Obama said he and the senator "shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher -- the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched and sacrificed." Bush, whose tough campaign against McCain in 2000 left both sides bruised, praised the Arizonan as "a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order." Ordinary Americans also paid tribute, many of them in Phoenix, McCain's hometown. "I didn't agree with him all the time," said Michelle Hasnelle of Phoenix "(but) he was always for the people of Arizona -- he was one of us." McCain spent more than three decades in the Senate, looming large in debates over war and peace and the moral direction of the nation. As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, he was a powerful advocate for the nation's veterans. - 'A great statesman' - As a fervent Atlanticist, a persistent critic of authoritarian leaders, and a frequent congressional traveler, he earned respect around the globe. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called McCain "one of the great political figures of our time (who) fought tirelessly for a strong transatlantic alliance." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was "an inspiration to millions." McCain "embodied the idea of service over self," according to British Prime Minister Theresa May, while French President Emmanuel Macron saluted "a true American hero." Across the Pacific, the China Daily referred to him as a "titan of American politics." Sarah Palin, whom McCain plucked from obscurity to become his 2008 White House running mate, described him as "a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs." McCain drew criticism from the left for giving a platform to Palin's right-wing views, which contributed to the rise of the conservative Tea Party movement. But he also earned respect from liberals for his steadfast opposition to torture and his push for immigration reform. Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said he would seek to rename a Senate building in his honor. Praise for McCain however was not universal: Chinese social media users called him an "enemy of China" for his hawkish foreign policy views. And comments on the US far-right Breitbart website slammed the senator for his key vote against the Obamacare repeal. McCain had been away from the Senate floor since December, remaining at his Arizona ranch for treatment of glioblastoma -- the same form of brain cancer that took the life of another Senate giant, Democrat Ted Kennedy, in 2009. The son and grandson of four-star admirals, McCain will be buried in the cemetery of the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, on a peaceful hillside overlooking the Severn River. As a student at the academy, he had a reputation as a rebel, but with a wit and charm that drew people to him. In 2015, McCain himself revealed the simple epitaph he wanted on his tombstone, which will stand alongside those of naval heroes going back to the 1800s: "He served his country." The US Capitol dome is seen as flags fly at half-mast in honor of senator John McCain who died following a yearlong battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer Photographs, flowers and notes at a makeshift memorial to senator John McCain outside his office in Phoenix, Arizona US Air Force veteran David Carrasco pays tribute to McCain outside a mortuary in Phoenix, Arizona, the state McCain represented in Congress for 35 years Barack Obama, who is expected to speak at McCain's funeral, said he and the Republican statesman "shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher" Key moments in McCain's life The Auburn Unitarian Universalist Society has been a presence in the Auburn community since 1821, and we have had a number of ministers over the past 197 years. Our latest minister, the Rev. Stan Sears, just retired last month. The Rev. Sears wrote this column for this paper during his 10-year tenure as our minister. Now that he is retired, various congregation members will be taking turns continuing the column, and our Sunday services committee has scheduled a wide variety of services to look forward to, including topical presentations, poetry, music, art and much more. Watch for our press releases and other announcements. The Central New York TomatoFest will be held Sept. 8 in downtown Auburn, and we will have two tables in the childrens area. Discovery Toys will be for sale as a fundraiser, with 15 percent of proceeds going to our general fund. One of our members has volunteered to teach children how to make easy origami birds with wings that actually flap. We will also be doing face painting for a $1 donation. The TomatoFest committee supports the Cayuga County food pantries, and we regularly support the Calvary Food Pantry. We will also have a presence at the Art in the Park event at Hoopes Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, an event that features artists, music, food and fun in a beautiful park. This is probably a good time to mention that we have a gallery in our sanctuary called Gallery 607. If you are an artist who would like to display your work, please contact our office at auusoffice@gmail.com or (315) 253-9029. As Unitarian Universalists, we try to engage in acts promoting social justice whenever we can, including discussion and focus groups on various relevant issues. For those of you who may not be familiar with Unitarian Universalism, let me share our seven principles that we as a denomination covenant to affirm and promote: 1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person 2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations 3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations 4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning 5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large 6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all 7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part If those principles resonate with you and you think you might like to be part of our faith community, we invite you to join us at 10:30 a.m. Sundays at 607 N. Seward St. in Auburn. We would love to see you! Kathy Haendle is the president of the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Society, which was founded in 1833 and is located at 607 N. Seward Ave., Auburn. Services are held at 10:30 a.m. Sundays. All men, women and children of every race, religious creed, political conviction and sexual orientation are welcome. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Catholic Schools in Auburn, New York from 1860 A Pictorial History has just been published. Its a wonderful pictorial chronicle of the contributions made by our local Catholic schools to the Auburn community, with memories, photos and history from 1860 until today. Its the best presentation of Catholic school life that Ive ever seen, and youre sure to find favorite photos of classmates, teachers, schools and lots of memories. With such a large Catholic population raised here in Auburn, its sure to be a big hit, and would make a wonderful gift for friends and family who attended our local Catholic schools. The book was designed and written by the Yantch sisters Anne Marie Saphara who graduated from Holy Family School and Davia Ellen Jordan who graduated from St. Marys. This pictorial history of the citys parochial schools and one hospital was gathered from parish files, diocesan and religious congregational archives, yearbooks, newspaper articles and private photos. It covers the years when the Catholic school system in the United States was at its height in numbers and influence. While that era is now over, the good works of the graduates of these Catholic Schools lives on. This history goes back so far, it even includes photos from the 1800s, including the Auburn Orphan Asylum on North Street, which was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph, as well as the first convent for the Sisters of Mercy, and Holy Family school, both on Chapel Street. Youll also find chapters on Holy Family, Blessed Trinity (now St. Josephs), St. Marys, St. Alphonsus, St. Aloyisius, St. Hyacinths, St. Francis of Assisi, SS. Peter & Paul, Sacred Heart, Mount Carmel High School and Mercy Hospital. The book costs $25 with net proceeds donated to the Sisters of St. Joseph in Rochester. To obtain a copy, phone Davia Jordan at (315) 252-9178 or email at daviajordan9178@gmail.com . Thank you to the Yantch sisters for truly being Legends of Auburn! Ormie King's column appears Sundays in The Citizen and he can be reached by email at ormie5king@gmail.com. Love 9 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 FLEMING A home in Fleming suffered extensive damage in a fire Saturday. Fleming Assistant Fire Chief Chris Lawton said a call came in for a garage fire at 5637 Silver Street Road at 12:41 pm., and the blaze eventually spread to the attached home. Firefighters from several area departments responded to help fight the fire and help out with the cleanup afterward. Lawton said the fire was extinguished at 1:15 p.m. and the cause was still being investigated Saturday afternoon. All occupants had been evacuated. According to property records, the home is owned by James and Joan Hogan. Silver Street Road was blocked off from Sand Beach to Glanville roads by emergency personnel for about three hours as firefighters worked at the scene. The entire garage was destroyed, and portions of the home and roof were damaged. Emergency personnel could be seen moving in and out of the building and to different vehicles. Lawton said the home was not habitable and the occupants would be working with the Red Cross for temporary accommodations. Lawton said he could not say if the building was salvageable. Emergency personnel from Fleming, Auburn, Owasco, Union Springs and Weedsport assisted with the fire. Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau. Love 0 Funny 5 Wow 5 Sad 30 Angry 2 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. I am in total agreement with your editor's views in Aug. 19, 2018, editorial article "Don't shut the public out of Cayuga Community College trustee meetings." As a current employee of the college, I can see why certain union members believe the change in time will certainly hurt their ability to attend these meetings, whether as a right to attend as a member of the public or as their right as a union member. The college will state they will make arraignments for those employees to attend if they wish. As long as it's OK with their supervisor of course. But most offices won't have the appropriate coverage. And judging from past practice, they will be asked to take the time as "their lunch." I too believe the public will find this new time ridiculous and will never be able to attend. Mr. Camardo is correct in voicing his concerns on this subject. According to your Aug. 17, 2018, report on the meeting, the 5 p.m. start time "made it difficult for trustees Stephanie Hutchinson and Pat Mahunik to attend," so let's accommodate two board members and make it more convenient for THEM to attend. When they agreed to be part of this board, they knew what their duties would be and the time commitments involved. If they can no longer be able to attend these once a month meetings and help govern this college, then perhaps step down and find others who can attend who find a 5 p.m., 6 p.m. or even a 7 p.m. start time that would be OK with them. Adam Williams Auburn Love 5 Funny 3 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 FERNDALE, Mich.Nalpac, one of Americas leading adult distributors, has announced that it is once again stocking and shipping all products from natural intimates manufacturer Sliquid as a full line distributor. Nalpac now carries all of the Sliquid products including their Sliquid Naturals, Sliquid Organics, and Sliquid Balance collections. In addition, Nalpac is now stocking the full line of Sliquids LGBTQ-focused male brand RIDE BodyWorx in its new packaging with new brand identity. We are very excited to have the full line of Sliquid back in-stock here at Nalpac. It has been one of the brands that is regularly requested by our customers, and were thrilled to be working together with Sliquid again. We encourage customers to get their orders in and look at adding some of the new products that Sliquid has recently released," said Glenn Leboeuf, Nalpac Director of Operations. Some of Sliquids new and top-selling products that are now available through Nalpac include Sliquid Shine Toy Cleaner in an 8 oz and 2 oz bottle; Sliquid's award-winning Silver Studio Collection; the worlds first personal lubricant for trans men, Buck Angels T-Lube; and Sliquids newest product and first ever bubble bath SOAK in scents Cherry Blossom and Limoncello. The timing felt right to revisit our partnership with the new incarnation and ownership at Nalpac. We are enthusiastic about the great vibes the entire Nalpac team has expressed thus far, and we look forward to a long and fruitful collaboration going forward, said Dean Elliott, CEO, and Founder of Sliquid. To place an order or learn more about Sliquid, contact a Nalpac sales rep or email [email protected]. To sign up for the Nalpac email newsletter and take advantage of the savings, special promotions, and sales, visit the newly redesigned Nalpac blog Nalpac.us. For more information on Nalpac, visit the company website Nalpac.com and follow them through social media for daily updates on Twitter @NalpacWholesale, on Facebook and on Instagram @Nalpac. LUGANO, SwitzerlandTheCashMatch has signed on as a Gold Sponsor of the European Summit, to be held at the Vienna House Diplomat in Prague, Czech Republic from September 14-17. This is the first time the newly launched dating affiliate program will partake in a sponsorship and company officials indicated that they are thrilled to have secured a spot in one of the industrys leading B2B conferences held in Europe. TheCashMatch by Teknology SA was released to the market in July of this year. The program is the latest addition to Teknology's extensive portfolio. Teknology, formerly Tekka Digital SA, was founded in 2007 by a team of experts with 15+ years of experience, having launched some of the most recognizable dating websites including 4CLUB & CasualClub. TheCashMatch was a natural progression for the group, as it operates in a wide range of niches, covering 16 countries. The program hosts 100% in-house built exclusive dating offers that cannot be found anywhere else. They work closely with partners to provide high, scalable payouts to ensure clicks are maximized to their full earning potential. We are very excited to sponsor TES for the first time ever with the launch of our new affiliate program. TES provides us an excellent opportunity to meet with many of our long-term business partners and find valuable new connections among the industry, said Teknologys CEO Giulio Lingua. Affiliates that are looking to expand their reach or monetize traffic in Tier 2/3 countries with highly targeted dating offers may set up a meeting with Teknology's team which will stationed at Booth G3 as well as at the Meet Market at table 17B. To arrange a meeting with TheCashMatch team during the European Summit, e-mail them at [email protected]. For more information, visit TheCashMatch.com. The public transportation system in Wilson, as in many places, needs taxpayer subsidies to keep the buses running. The difference between the cost of operating the system and revenues, led by passenger fares, is more than $1 million a year.As is the case with other cities, too few people use public transportation.Wilson Chief Planning and Development Officer Rodger Lentz said.Lentz believes the solution to his city's transportation woes could come from the Durham-based microtransit company TransLocWilson is flirting with replacing all of its buses with an agency-operated fleet of smaller vehicles powered by TransLoc's microtransit technology, which - much like Uber and Lyft, offers riders flexible routes rather than scheduled rides to and from fixed stops. TransLoc now sells its tracking technology to the campus transit systems at N.C. State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Duke University, and is in a pilot program with the GoTriangle transit agency.Taking the microtransit route would bring Wilson in line with a shift in living, working, and shopping patterns which has gone on for decades.Lentz said.Cities need such a solution. The suburbanization of the past four decades has rendered North Carolina's fixed transit routes obsolete and played havoc with ridership, said Robert Poole, Reason Foundation director of transportation policy.Poole said.TransLoc is gambling that it can solve that problem by selling its microtransit technology to transportation agencies, which own and operate the fleet of cars and vans.Other privately owned microtransit companies have floundered under high operating costs and flagging demand. They must maintain a fleet of vehicles, their drivers can unionize, and they often face hostile transit agencies or competing services.Even so, TransLoc, which sold to Ford Motor Co. earlier this year, faces political and logistic challenges. TransLoc may not take ridership from the bus system, but it takes money. The shift to microtransit usually requires the politically fraught decision to jettison fixed bus routes and replace traditional buses with commuter vans or other smaller vehicles, said Poole.Then there are the skeptics, who point out that microtransit almost always increases the number of miles logged by a transit agency while decreasing the number of people who can be served - including people who may not know or have the technology to effectively hail a ride on a public transit vehicle.In January, GoTriangle - the regional transit agency for Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill - began a year-long trial with TransLoc. It hoped to increase the ridership it had carried on an older system of shuttle buses. But under TransLoc, ridership fell by an average of 10 boardings a day, probably because of unreliable arrival times, said John Tallmadge, GoTriangle director of regional services.said Tallmadge.The city of Wilson paid TransLoc roughly $25,000 to run the system and tests. If it decides to go forward with microtransit, it will pay a licensing fee of up to $500 per vehicle each month.In small cities, Lentz hopes, TransLoc will offer quicker, more practical transit, as well as opening up new, underserved areas to public transportation.Lentz said.Other cities across the nation are experimenting with partnerships with on-demand services. Most offer subsidized rides to public transit stations, but some have replaced bus lines with discounted ridesharing services, a 2018 study by Chaddick Institute - an offshoot of DePaul University - says.said David Hartgen, UNC- Charlotte emeritus professor of transportation studies.Wilson is scheduled to begin its trial with TransLoc in late October.Poole said. Should Beaufort County's commissioners be resolved to ask the federal government to defend our Southern Border by ending the Biden /Harris Open Border policy in regards to that one border that is intentionally made OPEN? Yes, Illegal Migrants are a huge expense to local governments. No, the cost of Undocumented Immigrants is insignificant in our providing a pathway for the "Browning of America". After announcing yesterday that the Arizona Senator and American war hero was discontinuing his treatment for glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, John Sidney McCain III has died. Senator McCain's office released this statement just moments ago. McCain served in Congress for 36 years and spent five years in the Hanoi Hilton as a POW in Vietnam. He was 81 years old. [Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0] Anyone can activate the shutter on a camera, but dialing that device to just the right settings for a picture-perfect shot takes skill. Whether you want to take better photos for the 'gram or earn some extra money with that fancy DSLR you just picked up, the Pay What You Want: Professional Photography Bundle can show you how for a price that you get to choose. Here's how the deal works: Pay whatever you want, and you'll unlock one of the collection's courses. Beat the average price paid, and you'll take all seven home instantly. Featuring more than 30 hours of training, this collection takes you from the basics of camera operation to the more nuanced elements of professional photography. You'll start by getting to know your camera and how to take better shots without relying on the automatic setting. Then, you'll move on to mastering exposure, posing models for better shots, and even wedding photography as you make your way through the courses. You can start taking better photos today with the Pay What You Want: Professional Photography Bundle, available for a price you pick. Tragedy struck when Samson and his wife Sarah's shack set on fire and burned to the ground when they were asleep. Thanks to their tenant's bravery the elderly couple survived an event that could have easily cost them their lives. PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! On Saturday night 70-year-old Samson Nkosi and his 77-year-old wife Sarah Manganyi were slumbering peacefully when their shack set on fire in Moloto Village in Mpumalanga. Abednigo Hlungwani came to their rescue when he knocked on their door and then kicked the door down to get them to safety. The Daily Sun reports Samson said when he heard the knock he woke up to smoke in the bedroom. Abednigo screamed and knocked but the sleeping elders heard nothing. He then kicked the door in and rushed into the burning shack and quickly dragged the elderly couple outside before they could get injured. The men tried to put out the fire but they weren't very successful. The fire brigade was called but they were too little too late. READ ALSO: Heartbroken woman shares her story: His ancestors told him to dump me Sadly, Samson and Sarah's home and all their belongings went up in flames. All the elderly survivors have left are the clothes on their backs. It is not clear at this point what started the fire. Samson and Sarah are happy to be alive but devastated about their loss (Image Source: Bongani Mthimunye, Daily Sun) Sarah is grateful that Abednigo could come to their rescue. The elders now need to rebuild their lives. Sarah asked for help from anyone who could afford to reach out. We ask kind people to help us start our lives over. We have nothing left. Briefly.co.za learned that Councillor Lovers Mahlangu called municipal officials to find the elderly couple help in rebuilding their lives. Do you have an inspiring or beautiful story to tell South Africa? Let us know on our Facebook page and we could be telling your story. To stay up to date with the latest news, download our news app on Google Play or iTunes today. Watch the TOP-5 Miracles by African Pastors video and take a look at what else is happening on Briefly South Africa's YouTube channel. Source: Briefly.co.za News / Local by Staff Reporter The City of Bulawayo would like to advise members of the public and stakeholders that there is an ongoing exercise to normalise the Magwegwe Reservoir level.The council said the level has been critical for the past two weeks, due to erratic pumping from Nyamandlovu Aquifer."The boreholes have been affected mainly by power failure. ZETDC is working to restore the power supply and therefore increase the boreholes pumping to the City," said the council."In a bid to manage water supply from the Reservoir. Council would like to advise that there will be an emergency interruption of water supplies to the following areas fed directly from the Criterion and Magwegwe Reservoirs and some surrounding areas."- Nketa- Nkulumane- Cowdray Park- Mganwini"Residents are advised that the programme is subject to change should the Reservoir level improve or deteriorate beyond the critical level.""All high areas that are likely to be affected for more than 24 hours will be supplied by water Bowsers.Consumers are urged to conserve water.""The City of Bulawayo apologises to its valued customers for the inconvenience caused." News / Local by Staff Reporter Mthwakazi activist Hloniphani Ncube has claimed that the courts that are influenced by thugs to legitimise fraudulent systems of gukurahundist must not be tolerated."I cannot support and welcome the decision of the court that goes against its constitution such a constitutional court is a mockery to the justice system."UN, AU or SADC decision to side with flawed electoral process because people voted quietly will not influence my logic. The term Zimbabwe and it's founders was not legitimate in the first place. Giving Mthwakazi and Mashonaland the word Zimbabwe was illegal just like Rhodesia. We found ourselves identified like that through the power of a gun and we remained victims from that day," he said."We cannot expect gangsters currently masquerading as presidents to take the country out of this pit of poverty. Legitimacy in our land will exist when Mthwakazi is restored and forcefully taken away from the thieves who stole it from its owners by the power of a bullet. Let us not be gullible and think we can coexist with thieves, that would be a massive betrayal of our fallen heroes who perished in defence of our sovereignty." News / National by Staff Reporter The MDC Alliance was a victim of its own propaganda after it claimed to have awe-inspiring evidence to overturn President Mnangagwa's victory in last month's elections, Zanu-PF lawyers have said.The lawyers made the remarks following the Constitutional Court ruling yesterday that upheld the election President Emmerson Mnangagwa.The court ruled that MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa's claims of fraud and malpractices on the conduct of the polls were bald and unsubstantiated to cause the nullification of the results.President Mnangagwa's lawyer Advocate Lewis Uriri welcomed the ruling saying the judgment was well reasoned."Well, the judgment accords with the law, it accords with the principles and common sense," he said. "He who alleges must prove. The problem that we had with the applicant is that they concocted a story for their constituency and ended up believing it themselves. They fell victim of their own propaganda hence the result we have today."Adv Thembinkosi Magwaliba who also argued the case along with Adv Uriri described the ruling as a win for democracy in Zimbabwe but above all a winfor the legal profession."It is enrichment to our jurisprudence and the country is much wiser after the judgment than before and certainly in future petitions," he said."Applications of this nature will be guided by this judgment. But ultimately it is the people of Zimbabwe who benefited from this judgment."Another lawyer Mr Tinomudaishe Chinyoka from the same camp said: "If a litigant goes to court without evidence that litigant should expect to lose. It was not surprising. There was no evidence and no facts and the court correctly found so. That was an inevitable result."Mr Chinyoka said Mr Chamisa knew he had no case at all to bring such a petition. He said Mr Chamisa's petition was not mounted for legal results but for political purposes."One hopes he has achieved that political aim," he said. "But for purposes of the law, and clarity this was a good judgment."But MDC Alliance lead counsel in the case Advocate Thabani Mpofu was split on the outcome. He said he was happy with the matter his team had brought to court and on account of the issues they raised, which in his view Zec failed to answer."We have noted the judgment of the court and noted that our issues have not been dealt with," said Adv Mpofu."So, ultimately the court has spoken. The good thing is that people followed through the proceedings and are entitled to come up with their own conclusion. But there is a serious legitimacy crisis."A MDC Alliance member and lawyer Mr Douglas Mwonzora conceded that the ruling had put the dispute to rest and they will respect the court's decision."As MDC we will respect the decision of the highest court in the land," he said. "As far as the legal challenge is concerned this is the end of the matter."Mr Mwonzora, however, said if the dispute still remained, there were other ways to resolve such as the political route."I want to make it clear that as MDC we are going to act in accordance with the law," he said. "The party is going to do those things that are allowed by the law. It is not going to break the law. We can resolve some of the disputes via political solutions."Mr Mwonzora said his party will convene a meeting next Wednesday to chat the way forward.Zec lawyer Mr Charles Nyika applauded the ruling saying it has absolved the electoral body of any wrong doing."The court has made its ruling and we are pleased," he said."This landmark ruling exonerates Zec from all those unfounded allegations." Mr Nyika said. "It was now time for the Zimbabweans to move forward as a nation."Finance and Economic Planning Minister Patrick Chinamasa, who was part of Zanu-PF's legal team said his party was content that the institutions that were under attack were able to weather the storm and emerged as world class institutions performing under world class standards."We are very proud of all of them, Zec and the Constitutional Court," he said. "I must say am very impressed by the legal skills that have been displayed in this Constitutional hearing. Am very impressed it says a lot about the depth of legal skills in this country."He saluted the ruling saying the court fearlessly decided to uphold the free will of the Zimbabwean people expressed on July 30 harmonised elections, but criticised Mr Chamisa and the party's other principal Mr Tendai Biti for calling for sanctions and scandalising Zec and the judiciary."We are very pleased with the outcome," he said."We are naturally disappointed that there were a barrage of attack by Chamisa, (Tendai) Biti and accompany at the Zec, the electoral system and the integrity of the constitutional court and our judicial system as well as against the economy."Mr Chamisa declared publicly that the courts were an appendage of Zanu-PF and were involved in conspiracy to undermine his perceived ascendancy to the Presidency of Zimbabwe.The Minister also expressed his discontent over determinations by Mr Chamisa and Biti to ask for intensification and extension of sanctions against the economy, basically reversing the gains President Mnangagwa has made in re-engagement exercise in addressing issues of re-engage with the multilateral institutions."All that they have sought to do most particularly through the acts of banditry and riots that they instigated on August 1," said Minister Chinamsa."I am disappointed with the actions of the opposition in this regard."He said it was now time for Government to begin serious work and accelerate economic reforms saying that the country needed economic recovery the most. News / National by Staff Reporter HARARE - Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa on Thursday accepted the outcome of the Constitutional Court's ruling in favour of President Emmerson Mnangagwa regarding last month's hotly-contested polls.On his part - and as he embarks on the arduous task of uniting and rebuilding Zimbabwe - Mnangagwa himself extended an olive branch to Chamisa to join him in this mission.In a televised message that was beamed moments after the Con-Court's ruling, Mnangagwa said Chamisa had a role to play in ensuring that there was peace and unity in the country."Nelson Chamisa, my door is open and my arms are outstretched, we are one nation, and we must put our nation first. Let us all now put our differences behind us. It is time to move forward together," Mnangagwa said.The Zanu PF leader, who came perilously close to going into a run-off with Chamisa in the tightly-contested July 30 elections, also praised the MDC Alliance for choosing to use the courts to mediate the dispute."After the wholly unnecessary violent protests, we welcomed the legal route which the MDC eventually took to challenge the election."We have independent courts and we promised to respect their decision. Just as with the insights received from the international monitors, we will accept and implement all recommendations to further improve our democratic process," Mnangagwa said.MDC spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka, while describing the Con-Court's ruling yesterday as devastating, said the party accepted the verdict."Zimbabweans have just received with a heavy heart the Constitutional Court verdict that ... Mnangagwa was legitimately elected president of Zimbabwe in the just-ended harmonised plebiscite."As a party and as an Alliance, we believe in the rule of law and we respect the verdict of the courts; more so the verdict of the people of Zimbabwe who overwhelmingly voted for ... Chamisa; for transformation; for opportunities and for prosperity in their beloved country," he said.This comes after Mnangagwa was credited with presiding over arguably the most peaceful election process in post-independent Zimbabwe where for the first time the opposition was able to campaign freely in rural areas.However, the peaceful environment was marred by deadly violence which broke out in central Harare on August 1 when opposition supporters clashed with police leading to the deaths of six people following the intervention of the army which used live ammunition to break up the ugly protests. Opinion / Columnist Dear President N Chamisa Sir,I hope my letter finds you well, in good spirits and in good health.Allow me to be one of those who have chosen to congratulate you on your being inaugurated the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe today the 26th of August 2018.May l take this opportunity to assure you that there are more than 6 Million Zimbabweans both in the diaspora and in Zimbabwe who are behind your leadership. You are not President of the disporans only but for all Zimbabweans including those few who were cheated and forced into voting Mnangagwa. You should know that we are prepared to defend the wishes of the majority of the people of Zimbabwe who happened to have voted you into power but whose victory wanted to be stolen by Zanu PF by using a section of the military and a "Constitutional Court" which is not a court. We voted you to be our leader and so you are.We are therefore now only waiting for you to put in place more practical steps. These include forming your government. We are ready to save under your leadership.This is time to appoint those whom you think are ready to take up positions in your government. I am personally willing, ready and more than capable. If you feel you do not wish to do it publicly so as to avoid victimisation by the fake regime of Mr Mnangagwa then appoint someone to be your government's chief spokesperson. I am more than willing to take up that position should you wish to appoint me right there. l do not have anyone to be afraid of since this is what the people of Zimbabwe would have chosen me to do for our nation. I assure you that l will do as per the interest of Zimbabwe. However you may appoint anyone whom you feel is more suitable and we l am prepared to give him/her all the support.Let this be real. This is a good step in the right direction. Let us have our ambassadors in all countries. Let these not be seen as jokes since you are the genuine and legitimate Zimbabwean President. We say a big NO to a GNU with Mnangagwa and team who are the losers. We do not recognise their fake government. We are 100% behind your win and behind this inuguration.Thank you for the fight. We won. We will never recognise the fake ConCourt ruling. We are with you.Yours faithfully,Albert M. Matapo Health officials in British Columbia and beyond are demystifying what the air quality health index (AQHI) means as much of B.C. is still choked by wildfire smoke. The AQHI is an online health information communication tool, developed by Health Canada, which reflects the severity of air pollution and how it can affect both the general population and at-risk populations, such as seniors, infants and people with heart or lung conditions in the short-term. The AQHI takes the real-time levels of three pollutants commonly found in Canadian air fine particulate matter, ground-level ozone and nitrogen dioxide and runs them through a complex calculation. The provinces publish the numbers online within their respective jurisdictions. The result of the AQHI calculation is a number from one to 10 and "10+." Confusion has arisen when, on occasion, AQHI numbers exceed 10. For example, during the 2017 B.C. wildfires, some extremely high numbers were published: Williams Lake hit 36. Kamloops hit a staggering 49. What do the numbers mean? According to Dr. Dave Stieb, a Vancouver-based public health doctor with Health Canada, and one of the developers of the index, each number on the scale from one to 10 represents the percentage increase in mortality risk due to pollution. "We're pretty confident that when you move from a five to a 10 on the scale, the risk to health doubles," Stieb said. "But moving from a 10 to a 20, we're not as confident. "The slope of the line sort of levels off, for whatever reason." For that reason, the scale is capped at 10. The scale also includes the figure of "10+" which represents an unquantifiable risk. Last year, some readers may recall hearing numbers far above 10, published during the 2017 B.C. wildfires In Smithers, B.C. Ministry of Environment meteorologist Ben Weinstein said that was simply a glitch in the AQHI reporting software that was fixed this year. Story continues "Some of these concentrations we saw last year and again this year are new extremes," Weinstein explained. "I think the magnitude kind of took everybody by surprise." He said because the health advice doesn't change beyond 10, there's little point to reporting higher numbers. Limitations Researchers generally agree the AQHI is a useful tool for reporting public health concerns to Canadians but it has limitations. Weinstein said the index uses uses three common urban pollutants, which can make it challenging to accurately report concerns in rural communities. "In a lot of rural communities where particulate matter [from smoke] is the main pollutant, the air quality health index sometimes ranks low even though particulate matter concentrations are quite high," he said. In those areas, or where other pollutants are found (such as industrial Trail, where the B.C. Lung Association found the province's highest levels of sulfur dioxide) special plans are developed, he said. McMaster University associate professor Dr. Sally Radisic says her 2012 research, in Hamilton, found only 21 per cent of people at risk were using AQHI info to plan their days less than the general population. "It's a great tool but it's really dependent on the user," Radisic said. "The individual has to sort of self-identify at what level the AQHI is having an adverse impact on his or her health." Public Health Ontario's chief of environmental health, Dr. Ray Copes, said the AQHI can't tell people the long-term risks of air pollution where they are, since it only measures short-term mortality risks. Long-term pollution exposure, he said, is a far greater health concern for most. "What works in reducing risks for air pollution is to reduce the amount of pollution in the air we breathe," Copes said. By Alison Bevege SYDNEY (Reuters) - An island volcano on the north coast of Papua New Guinea erupted early on Saturday, forcing 2,000 villagers to flee from lava flows, the National Disaster Centre said. Manam Island, just 10 km (6 miles) wide, is one of the Pacific nation's most active volcanoes and is home to roughly 9,000 people. Three villages were directly in the path of the lava flow and residents had to be evacuated to safer ground, Martin Mose, director of the PNG National Disaster Centre, told Reuters by phone. The Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO) reported the eruption began at 6 a.m. local time (2000 GMT Friday), sending an ash column 15 km (50,000 feet) above sea level. The ash falls were so heavy that trees broke under the weight, the RVO said in an information bulletin. "The most affected areas are Baliau and Kuluguma and due to the very poor visibility caused by the ash fall, people are using torch light to move around," it said. The RVO's Steve Saunders said it was an unusually large eruption. "There are no casualties as far as we know but we are telling people to keep away from valleys for risk of mud flows ... there's a heavy thick blanket of ash on the flank and if there is heavy rainfall, we are making people aware of the threat," he said by phone. Saunders said the initial phase of the eruption was over but a new vent had opened, indicating more activity may be likely. The Darwin Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (DVAAC) issued a threat warning to aviation to reroute around the cloud, which was above the cruising level of commercial airlines. The cloud was expected to dissipate over the next 12 hours, DVAAC meteorologist Amanda Alford told Reuters. Previous eruptions on Manam have killed residents who breathed in the ash or were buried by landslides, according to volcanic information website volcanodiscovery.com. (Reporting by Alison Bevege; Editing by Paul Tait) On a brilliant summer day, the horrifying accounts of Rohingyan refugees fleeing massacres in Myanmar rang out across the lawn on Parliament Hill. The voices of mothers who had children torn from their arms, of men beaten while their villages burned, blared from loudspeakers set up Saturday on the hill inviting everyone who walked beneath the Peace Tower to stop and reflect. The Ottawa demonstration was part of a countrywide dayof remembrance, organized by human rights activists lobbying the Canadian government to declare Myanmar's actions against its Muslim minority population an act of genocide. 'It meets all the criteria' It has been one year since stories emerged of hundreds of thousands of Rohingyans fleeing Myanmar, following coordinated attacks by the army and local militias. The United Nations has called those attacks a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing." "It's a genocide because it meets all the criteria of genocide," said Fareed Khan of the Rohingya Human Rights Network. Khan said the Canadian government needs to invoke the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide against Myanmar to seek justice for the victims and to begin the process of solving the root problems. "[Invoking the convention] means actions can be taken through the UN and other forums to bring to justice the actual perpetrators of genocide, and to start dealing with the on-the-ground problems that are the source of the crisis in Myanmar and in Bangladesh," said Khan. Hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the violence have ended up in refugee camps in neighbouring Bangladesh. No other country has invoked the convention, but Khan said Canada should lead the way. "We can't do anything about other countries, but we can ask our own government to take action on that front," he said. "Especially if we're going around the world declaring our commitment to human rights." Story continues $45M pledge Canada has already condemned the violence and has pledged more than $45 million to help the 700,000 Rohingyans who are living in the Bangladesh refugee camps but that's not enough for Raiss Tinmaung. Tinmaung is Rohingyan-Canadian. His parents were born in Myanmar and immigrated to Canada decades ago, but he still has relatives in the southeast Asian country. Tinmaung said he's particularly concerned about his cousin's family, who are living in fear in Maungdaw Township in western Myanmar. "The last conversation we had, he said he wasn't allowed to go out after 6 p.m. It only applies to Muslims. His kids aren't allowed to study and they're not allowed to go to school." Tinmaung said. "The tension and notion of fear is all over the place." This past winter, Tinmaung travelled to Bangladesh and spent one month interviewing Rohingyan refugees for the Shoah Foundation out of the University of Southern California. The Ottawa resident said he spoke to more than 100 Rohingyans who told him stories of being terrorized, of mutilations and of rapes. He's concerned that if Canada doesn't take stronger action, the violence in Myanmar will continue. "If we fail Rohingya, we fail other ethnicities," Tinmaung said. "We fail humanity." This is an excerpt from Second Opinion, a weekly roundup of eclectic and under-the-radar health and medical science news emailed to subscribers every Saturday morning. If you haven't subscribed yet, you can do that by clicking here. Reading the headlines lately, it seems as though there is suddenly new clarity at least in court about certain exposures that cause cancer. Two weeks ago, a California jury ruled that glyphosatethe most widely used herbicide in the world caused non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 46-year-old groundskeeper Dewayne Johnson, who was frequently exposed to Monsanto's Roundup Pro weedkiller at work. Monsanto was ordered to pay $289 million US in damages. Last month, a Missouri jury awarded damages to 22 women who claimed that talcum powder caused their ovarian cancer. Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay almost $4.7 billion US. Yet scientists have not been able to conclusively establish those cancer links. And Canadian health regulators, along with governments around the world, still permit the use of both products. How can a jury be so certain of something while scientists and regulators remain unconvinced? And how worried should the rest of us be about these cancer risks? Part of the answer lies in the standard of proof. "By no means should anybody take that to mean that it's now been demonstrated that those things cause cancer. That's not what a court is designed to do," said Scott Findlay, a biologist at the University of Ottawa who also studies the relationship between science policy and the law. He helped write the Science Manual for Canadian Judges. Burden of proof In civil litigation, jurors are told to weigh the evidence differently than a scientist would. They don't even have to decide "beyond a reasonable doubt" as they would have to do in a criminal case. Instead, they are asked to decide on the balance of probability. Did the exposure cause the plaintiff's cancer? "I'm not sure, but I think so" is the answer one of the groundskeeper's lawyers, Brent Wisner, told jurors they needed to reach in the glyphosate case. "That's really the standard here," he told them. Story continues But scientists use a much different standard of proof when deciding if something causes cancer. "When scientists investigate hypotheses about causes, the presumption is that A doesn't cause B, and that presumption will stand unless there's sufficiently compelling evidence to overturn it," said Findlay. "So you can see there is a potential problem here. In a civil proceeding, the standard is actually a pretty low standard." And in the end, jurors are free to decide which science and which experts to believe. Judge Suzanne Bolanos made that clear to the jury in the glyphosate trial "As with any other witness, it is up to you to decide whether you believe the expert's testimony and choose to use it as a basis for your decision," she said in her instructions. "You may believe all, part or none of an expert's testimony." What should the public believe? But what should the public believe, especially when regulatory agencies don't agree on the risk? In 2015 the World Health Organization's expert cancer body, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans." But in a review last year Health Canada concluded that glyphosate "is unlikely to pose a human cancer risk." The IARC lists the use of talc-based body powder in the pubic area as "possibly carcinogenic to humans." But Health Canada only restricts talc in baby products. It's unlikely that scientists will ever have definitive answers to questions about cancer risk from widely used chemicals. That's because it's unethical to do studies deliberately exposing people to see if they develop cancer. "But that does not mean we shouldn't act on the evidence that we have," said Findlay. "Somebody has to decide at the end of the day how much does the positive evidence have to outweigh the negative evidence before we're willing to say okay for the purposes of decision-making it causes cancer." "This is why you can have, with exactly the same science, two different regulatory agencies making completely different decisions." Duelling science The court cases also reveal the issue of duelling science. In the talc and glyphosate trials, lawyers on both sides have challenged the scientific methods used and the potential for conflicts of interest among the researchers. "You can design research to show that something is not harmful and maybe that it's even good for you," said Colin Soskolne, an epidemiologist from the University of Alberta. He says court cases can help reveal the way science can be manipulated, even if they can't make definitive scientific assessments. "Many cases get settled out of court. And they're not allowed to talk about the settlement. Those cases don't enter the public discourse and the scientific discourse." "But these [cases], where judgments are ruled, enter the scientific discourse and you can actually see all of the evidence that was produced in the process." Already some glyphosate court documents have made headlines because they suggest company involvement in scientific papers that appeared in the scientific literature. "So it really is profoundly important for public policy. It doesn't really advance the science a whole lot other than to help scientists to wake up to the fact that our science can be terribly misused," said Soskolne. - Quebec court authorizes class action lawsuit alleging link between talc powder and cancer It's not just the science that remains uncertain. The legal questions are still unresolved. Both companies have announced plans to appeal. And at the same time other plaintiffs are headed to court claiming damages from both glyphosate and talc powder. Companies appealing verdicts as more plaintiffs head to court On Thursday, Werner Baumann, CEO of Bayer, which acquired Monsanto in June, told analysts the company is now facing 8,000 plaintiffs in U.S. state and federal litigation. "These numbers may rise or fall over time but our view is that the number is not indicative of the merits of the plaintiffs' cases," said Baumann. "Glyphosate does not cause cancer. The verdict was wrong. We will appeal the jury's opinion and continue to vigorously defend glyphosate, which is an essential tool for farmers and others," Monsanto Vice President Scott Partridge said in a statement. "We respect the legal process and have sympathy for anyone diagnosed with any form of cancer, but jury verdicts are not medical, scientific or regulatory conclusions about a product," Carol Goodrich, Global Media Relations at Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., said in an email. "To date, not one verdict against us has been upheld on appeal. We will continue to pursue all available appellate remedies to defend the safety of Johnson's Baby Powder because it does not contain asbestos or cause ovarian cancer or mesothelioma." In the wake of a recent spike of violence in Toronto, Mayor John Tory and Toronto mayoral candidate Jennifer Keesmaat spoke Saturday afternoon at TamilFest about what more could be done to tackle the growing problem in the city. "We need to be creating a city where everyone feels safe in every single neighbourhood," Keesmaat told the media. "It's pretty clear that the things that have been done so far aren't working." The city saw a stabbing death Friday and a shooting in Scarborough early Saturday that left a man in life-threatening condition. Friday's stabbing was the city's 67th homicide of the year, a number that has already surpassed the number seen last year. "We need new solutions. We need bold solutions. This status quo just isn't going to cut it anymore," Keesmaat said. "Part of that is about pathways out of violence. It's about community benefits agreements. It's about stronger and renewed partnerships both with police and grassroots community organizations." Tory said that all three levels of government federal, provincial and municipal are working toward a solution. "Nobody who is being honest with you would tell you there's a magic solution to the gang activity and the trafficking of guns," the mayor said. "We're investing a record amount together in trying to make sure kids have a positive alternative away from guns and gangs, so we're going to have to keep doing that." Tory cites action, Keesmaat decries lack of leadership Earlier this year, Tory announced a $15-million "gun violence reduction plan" that included a bigger police presence in "high-priority areas." Shortly after, Toronto city council voted to approve a five-year $44-million plan that would see investments in enhanced enforcement measures, including the controversial ShotSpotter gunshot-detection technology, and community programs aimed at violence prevention. Story continues Tory also recently vowed to match $25-million in funding promised by the Ford government if he is re-elected. One third of the city's matching funding, Tory said, will go to police, while the other two-thirds will go to community programs which include everything from youth programs to job fairs. The mayor said gangs are behind much of the violence seen in the city and that police are working hard to tackle the issue. "We're just going to have to keep working harder and harder to make sure [gangs] don't challenge this as one of the safest cities in the world," Tory added. "We have to support our police if they go about rounding up the people that are leading this gang activity." Keesmaat, who has been critical of Tory, said leadership is crucial to solving the violence the city has seen in recent months. "We need to be approaching this in a much stronger way, in a bolder way and be more proactive instead of reacting," she added. "I think there's growing concern in this city about safety, and we need to address that, and we need a leader to do so." About Me William Kelly I am a freelance writer, journalist and historian whose major interests are music and history, with a special emphasis on the assassination of President Kennedy. View my complete profile Blog Archive FILE - In this Aug. 9, 2018 file photo, Mexico's President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador speaks to reporters after meeting with Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto at the National Palace in Mexico City. Lopez Obrador has thanked U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday, Aug. 25, for treating Mexicans with more respect, or at least not saying anything insulting lately. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte, File) WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump says the United States is close to a "big Trade Agreement" with Mexico and he's citing improving ties between the two countries. Trump says on Twitter that the U.S.-Mexico relationship "is getting closer by the hour" and he says a trade deal "could be happening soon!" He's spoken of better relations with America's neighbor following the rise of Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (ahn-DRAYS' mahn-WEHL' LOH'-pez OH'-brah-dohr). The U.S. and Mexico have been discussing a trade deal as part of negotiations over the North American Free Trade Agreement. The Trump administration is seeking a revised version of that trade deal with Mexico and Canada. Trump's relationship with Mexico has been strained over his push for it to pay for his border wall. The US has been accused of "blackmail" after cutting a sizeable chunk from the total aid it sends to the Palestinian Territories. The State Department said it was not longer providing more than $200m (155.7m) in bilateral aid following a review of funding for projects in the West Bank and Gaza. Palestinians attacked the decision, with a senior official in Ramallah describing it as "coercion". Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the ruling Palestine Liberation Organisation's (PLO) executive committee, said: "The US administration is demonstrating the use of cheap blackmail as a political tool. "The Palestinian people and leadership will not be intimidated and will not succumb to coercion. The rights of the Palestinian people are not for sale." A spokesman for PLO chair Mahmoud Abbas said the move was meant to force Palestinians to abandon their claim to Jerusalem. Nabil Abu Rdeneh reasserted that there would be no peace without east Jerusalem as capital of a Palestinian state. In January, Donald Trump threatened to cut off aid after the Palestinian Authority (PA) - which controls the West Bank - boycotted peace talks. The Palestinians had pulled out of negotiations after the US president said he would recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital . Mr Trump is yet to comment but the State Department said the review had been undertaken "at the direction of (the) president". Mr Trump's administration is understood to be preparing to outline a peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians. The State Department approved $230.1m in economic support for the PA in 2017, of which $25m for a hospital network remains under review. Some $65m of US funds intended to go towards United Nations relief work in the Palestinian Territories, Gaza, Jordan and Lebanon has also been frozen . That sum is not included in the $200m in aid withdrawn from the Palestinian Territories, the Associated Press reported. Story continues According to the Times of Israel, the US gives around $600m (467m) in aid annually to the Palestinians, made up of USAID cash, further aid to support the rule of law and order and more to allow relief work. Earlier this year, Mr Trump signed into law the Taylor Force Act, which proposed the halting of US economic aid to the PA until it stops providing payments to the families of citizens who commit acts of "terrorism" and are dead or imprisoned in Israel. The funding that has been cut from the Palestinian aid budget would "now address high-priority projects elsewhere", the State Department said. By James Pearson HANOI (Reuters) - A Vietnamese website, which only works when users correctly answer a quiz about disputed islands in the South China Sea, has infuriated scores of television fans in China desperate to catch the latest episode of a popular Chinese period drama. The drama -- "The Story of Yanxi Palace" -- has attracted a huge following in China for its colorful depiction of Qing Dynasty-era politics and the tale of a brave and plucky young concubine who outsmarts her rivals. The first 56 episodes of the show are being aired for free on Chinese video streaming platform iQiyi, which holds exclusive rights to the drama. For a fee, iQiyi members can watch eight more episodes. But a Vietnamese website somehow obtained extra episodes which have not yet been broadcast in China. Chinese drama fans flocked to bomtan.org, which hosts online copies of Asian television dramas, only to be met with a challenge which pits patriotism against the insatiable urge to binge watch television. The website, which did not appear to have rights to broadcast the drama, asks users to answer questions confirming their Vietnamese identity before the website loads. "This service is for Vietnamese people only. Please answer the following questions: To which country do the Hoang Sa (Paracel Islands) belong? Vietnam, China, Philippines or Japan?". The only correct answer to the question, according to the website, is Vietnam. The Southeast Asian country has long been embroiled in maritime disputes with China in the South China Sea, or "East Sea", as it is known locally, and claims sovereignty over the Paracels, which the Chinese military currently occupies. "This is nonsense!," said one Chinese drama fan, commenting on the Weibo microblogging platform. "Who gave Vietnam the courage to challenge China's territorial sovereignty?" "While stealing Chinese TV dramas, Vietnam has also stolen Chinese territory," said another viewer. The show's official Weibo account released a statement on Aug. 20 asking other online streaming services to respect copyright, and to remove unauthorized copies of the drama from their websites. A request for comment sent to a contact email listed on the Vietnamese bomtan.org website went unanswered on Friday. Copies of the drama had been removed from the platform. The quiz, however, remained. (Additional reporting by Khanh Vu in HANOI and the Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Darren Schuettler) President Trump at a rally in support of the Senate candidacy of West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, Aug. 21, 2018. (Photo: Craig Hudson/Charleston Gazette-Mail/AP) Since before he was elected president, Donald Trump has operated in the belief that he can control his narrative through sheer force of will and words. Day after day, he floods the airwaves with messages ad-libbed speeches, off the cuff remarks and incendiary tweets whose effect is to keep the worlds attention squarely on him. As he explained at a July rally in Granite City, Ill., the advantage of never relinquishing the spotlight is its covered live, much of it, and when I say it they cant do anything about it. But this week, Trumps relentless stream of words seems to have come back to haunt him, and may yet make the president want to reconsider his its all about me communications strategy. Trumps problems largely grew out of things that he himself is alleged to have said. It began on Sunday, when he issued a flurry of tweets blasting the New York Times for its report that White House counsel Don McGahn has been cooperating extensively with special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. McGahn has so far sat for 30 hours of questioning from Muellers team, detailing Trumps private statements about the firing of FBI Director James Comey and the presidents anger at Attorney General Jeff Sessions for recusing himself in the Russia investigation. Unlike Trumps personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani (more on him in a moment), McGahn represents the office of the presidency, and, according to the Times, felt compelled to testify to Mueller out of fears that the president was setting him up to take the fall on possible obstruction charges. White House counsel Donald McGahn attends a Cabinet meeting in the White House, Aug. 16, 2018. (Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP) The Times story clearly irritated the president, who claimed he had nothing to hide. The failing @nytimes wrote a Fake piece today implying that because White House Councel Don McGahn was giving hours of testimony to the Special Councel, he must be a John Dean type RAT. But I allowed him and all others to testify I didnt have to. I have nothing to hide Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2018 .and have demanded transparency so that this Rigged and Disgusting Witch Hunt can come to a close. So many lives have been ruined over nothing McCarthyism at its WORST! Yet Mueller & his gang of Dems refuse to look at the real crimes on the other side Media is even worse! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2018 It isnt known what McGahn told investigators. But its safe to assume he shared what he knew about Trumps outbursts against Comey, Sessions, disgraced former national security adviser Michael Flynn, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and others. Story continues On NBCs Meet the Press, host Chuck Todd asked Giuliani why the president didnt simply meet with Mueller and tell the truth about what had transpired, which led the former New York mayor into the realm of postmodern philosophy, raising the novel defense that Truth isnt truth! That Orwellian turn of phrase brought to mind what Trump himself declared in a July speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars: What youre seeing and what youre reading is not whats happening. Trump also stepped up his attacks on Mueller, likening the special counsels investigation to McCarthyism at its worst! In addition to the McGahn revelations, the backdrop to the increased volume of the presidents tweets was the imminent conclusion of the trial of his former campaign manager Paul Manafort. The White House braced for the possibility that Muellers team might secure its fifth conviction, not a bad tally for what Trump has frequently labeled a WITCH HUNT! As a Monday interview with Reuters showed, the president was worried about how the prosecution could use his own words against him. So if I say something and [Comey] says something, and its my word against his, and hes best friends with Mueller, so Mueller might say: Well, I believe Comey, and even if Im telling the truth, that makes me a liar, Trump said. Thats no good. Oddly, though, Trump also assured the country that, if he wanted to, he could simply pull the plug on an investigation into his own campaigns ties with the Russian government. I can go in, and I could do whatever I could run it if I want, Trump said. But I decided to stay out. Michael Cohen, former personal lawyer to President Trump, leaves federal court in New York after pleading guilty to eight charges, Aug. 21, 2018. (Photo: Mary Altaffer/AP) On Tuesday, Trumps longtime personal lawyer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to eight felonies, telling a federal judge that Trump had personally directed him to pay off two women to keep quiet about alleged extramarital affairs for the principal purpose of influencing the election. Cohens stunning admission contradicted all the dissembling stories Trump, Giuliani and White House press secretary Sarah Sanders had told about the payments. But Team Trumps bad day was far from over. A jury in Alexandria, Va., found Manafort guilty of eight felony counts that included tax fraud, bank fraud and hiding foreign bank accounts. But for a single holdout, the jury would have returned guilty verdicts on all 18 of the charges in the indictment. Mueller may yet decide to retry the remaining 10 with a new jury. Meanwhile, Manaforts trial on separate charges of money laundering and failing to register as a foreign agent is coming up next month in Washington, D.C. The president ended the day in West Virginia, at a rally for Democratic Sen. Joe Manchins opponent, Patrick Morrisey. But when his crowd launched into the obligatory chant of Lock her up! at the mention of Hillary Clintons name, Trump seemed more distracted than usual. Often at his safe space gatherings, the president will relish the portion of his speech that he reserves for going after Sessions, Comey and Mueller by name and deed, but after the Cohen and Manafort bad news, he limited it to a passing afterthought: Where is the collusion? You know theyre still looking for collusion, Trump said. Where is the collusion? Find some collusion. We want to find the collusion! On cable news, Cohens lawyer Lanny Davis was busy answering Trumps question. Mr. Cohen has knowledge of certain subjects that should be of interest to the special counsel, and is more than happy to tell the special counsel all he knows, Davis told MSNBCs Rachel Maddow. Not just about the obvious possibility of a conspiracy to collude and corrupt the American democracy system in the 2016 election, which the Trump Tower meeting was all about, 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. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders at the daily White House press briefing, Aug. 22, 2018. (Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP) On Wednesday, it was left to Sanders to try to explain exactly how what was being reported was not what was actually happening. As the president has said and weve stated many times, he did nothing wrong. There are no charges against him, and weve commented on it extensively, she told reporters gathered in the briefing room. Just because Michael Cohen made a plea deal, that doesnt implicate the president on anything. The president went ever further on Twitter, saying that the acts Cohen admitted to werent actual crimes. 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 How one pleads guilty to noncriminal acts is something legal scholars may parse for generations to come. To make it so, however, one needs only to return to Giulianis truth isnt truth logical framework. But as Thursday dawned, the administrations defense that it was Cohens word against Trumps was unraveling. David Pecker, an executive at American Media, the parent company of the National Enquirer, reached an immunity deal with federal prosecutors to provide them with the details of Trumps hush-money payments to actress Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal. That money was paid to the women in exchange for the rights to publish their stories, which the tabloid summarily buried. In a Fox & Friends interview, Trump continued to fume over Cohens betrayal, with the president suggesting his formers lawyers cooperation with prosecutors should be outlawed. Its called flipping, and it almost ought to be illegal, Trump said. The president also castigated Sessions, who recused himself from Muellers Russia probe shortly after he was appointed attorney general. President Trump watches as Vice President Pence swears in Attorney General Jeff Sessions in the Oval Office, Feb. 9, 2017. (Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP) I put in an attorney general that never took control of the Justice Department, Trump said. Jeff Sessions never took control of the Justice Department, and its a sort of an incredible thing. Jeff Sessions recused himself, which he shouldnt have done. Or he should have told me, Trump continued. 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? Sessions, who rarely responds to Trumps public criticism, fired back. I took control of the Department of Justice the day I was sworn in, he said, adding: While I am Attorney General, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations. Trump responded in a series of tweets urging the nations top law enforcement official to investigate a long list of his perceived enemies. But the news, as it seemed to do all week for Trump, went from bad to worse. Late Friday morning, the Wall Street Journal reported that prosecutors in the U.S. attorneys office in Manhattan granted immunity to Allen Weisselberg, the longtime chief financial officer of the Trump Organization. While Trumps latest defense is that those who flip to spare themselves from being prosecuted for the crimes they are accused of makes them a rat, its patently clear that even rats know when to jump a sinking ship. Protester Bill Christeson at the trial of Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, at federal court in Alexandria, Va., Aug. 21, 2018. (Photo: Jacquelyn Martin/AP) _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Back in May, the Canadian Parliament has passed Bill S-5, a piece of legislation that is a major overhaul to the countrys Tobacco Act. As a part of this bill, it gives Health Canada the authority to implement plain packaging on tobacco products including premium cigars. Now there is a grassroots movement hoping to stop that. In Canada as well as the U.S., when it comes to implementing regulations, there is a public comment period to give feedback. With a public comment period open in Canada on the plain packaging issue through September 6, Ontario-based retailer Village Cigar Shop has worked to organize other retailers to create a grassroots movement to fight this known as Better Cigar Plan. Very simply, Better Cigar Plan calls for an exemption to plain packaging for premium cigars. This is a similar system to what has been done in Great Britain and France. Premium cigar enthusiasts in Canada can log on to the bettecigarplan.ca website, select the province and city they live in, and a pre-populated letter along with who in Parliament the letter can be sent to will appear. Industry leaders are getting involved, including: Jose Blanco of E.P. Carrillo, Jon Huber of Crowned Heads, Dean Parsons of Epic Cigars, Rocky Patel of Rocky Patel Premium Cigars, Nick Perdomo of Perdomo Cigar, and Alan Rubin of Alec Bradley Cigars. Each has created video social media messages in support of Better Cigar Plan. The deadline for feedback on Bill S-5 is September 6, 2018. Photo Credits: Health Canada Jeremy Jack Cigars is a brand founded by Wyoming retailer Brady Hayek. Hayek named the company as a tribute to his father who was named Jeremy Jack Hayek. To handle production, Hayek works with Aganorsa Leafs Tabacos de Valle Jalapa S.A. (TABSA) factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. Last year the company came into its first IPCPR Trade Show and launched seven lines making a big impression. In fact, we identified Jeremy Jack as one of the revelations of the 2017 Trade Show when it came to new companies. This year it was more about continuing to develop those brands. The newest release was a lancero line extension to the JJ14 line, the companys Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade line. Its a cigar that actually was released earlier this spring. Jeremy Jack is one of the few companies to have an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade release out of TABSA (others being Aganorsa Leaf, Illusione, and Warped). I believe JJ14 is the only line that has an Ecuadorian Connecticut Lancero out of TABSA. The JJ14 Lancero measures 7 1/4 x 40. In addition to the Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, the remainder of the blend consists of Aganorsa farm tobaccos. While not on display, Hayek says the El Chapo line, the full-bodied Nicaraguan puro currently available in a 4 x 60 size will soon see a 6 x 60 size. 2018 Product Reports Photo Credits: Cigar Coop, except where noted Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has approved procurement of 111 utility helicopters for Indian Navy at cost of over Rs 21,000 crore. DAC is Union Defence Ministrys highest decision making body on capital procurement of Indian Armed Forces (Army, Navy and Air Force). Key Facts The procurement of 111 utility helicopters will be first project under Defence Ministrys prestigious Strategic Partnership (SP) Model that aims at providing significant fillip to Governments Make in India programme. Several aviation majors including Airbus (Eurpore), Kamov (Russia) and Bell (US) have offered their bids for this project in addition to state owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Indian Navy will shortlist helicopter it wants after extensive evaluation process which will be followed by contract where most of these helicopters will need to be built in the country in conjunction with local partners. The contract when finalised will result in vibrant and wide-spread Defence industrial eco-system in Indian Aviation Sector with private industry and MSMEs as major stakeholders. Strategic Partnership (SP) Model It envisages indigenous manufacturing of major defence platforms by Indian Strategic Partner, who will collaborate with foreign OEMs (original equipment manufacutures), acquire niche technologies and set up production facilities in country. The model has long-term vision of promoting India as manufacturing hub for defence equipment. It will help in enhancing self-sufficiency and establishing an industrial and R&D ecosystem, capable of meeting future requirements of Indian Armed Forces. Prithvi Man Shrestha is a political reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering the governance-related issues including corruption and irregularities in the government machinery. Before joining The Kathmandu Post in 2009, he worked at nepalnews.com and Rising Nepal primarily covering the issues of political and economic affairs for three years. Apart from foreign currencies, Rs 4.6 lakh cash was found in his jacket pocket. Kalimuthu Natesaperumal, who was about to board a Singapore-bound flight, was arrested for further interrogation. Chennai: Customs officials at Chennai Airport had a busy Sunday morning seizing nearly Rs 90 lakh worth of foreign currencies and gold from three passengers. According to a customs press statement, the officials intercepted Kalimuthu Natesaperumal (51) of Sivaganga when he was approaching the security check point on early on Sunday. He was stopped on suspicion and was taken in for questioning as he appeared to be nervous. When checking his baggage, foreign currencies concealed between saris were found, the statement said. About 66,300 Euros, $US 32,770, $S 1,600 and 2,650 Brunei Dollars in different denominations, totally valued at Rs 77 lakhs were recovered. Apart from foreign currencies, Rs 4.6 lakh cash was found in his jacket pocket. Kalimuthu Natesaperumal, who was about to board a Singapore-bound flight, was arrested for further interrogation. A few hours later, at around 10 am, the officials stopped another passenger - Rakeebudeen Kaja Nawas (43) of Ramanathapuram - who was bound for Colombo, at the departure terminal on suspicion. During the search of his baggage, the official found $US 5,000 (about Rs 3.5 lakh.) As he has not declared the amount, the currencies were seized under Customs Act, the statement added. In another incident, Customs officials stopped Shaik Shafi Ahamed (39) of Chennai, who had arrived from Kuwait and checked his baggage. During the search, the officials found 10 gold hairs coated with copper concealed by fixing within hair clips. The 148 grams of gold strips are of 24 karat purity and valued at Rs 4.5 lakh. The smuggled gold was seized from the passenger. The unprecedented monsoon deluge in Kerala earlier this month has triggered a colossal tragedy. Fortunately, the combined efforts of the local civil authorities, the armed forces and other agencies have minimised the loss of life. The sheer size of the population displaced and the damage caused or loss of property leaves the extent of resources that is needed to rehabilitate, clean up, rebuild and compensate undetermined. The Central government had initially, after Prime Minister Narendra Modis aerial survey and visit to the state, allocated Rs 600 crores, against the state government demanding Rs 20,000 crores. Logically, more funds should be allocated as the gap between states resources and the rehabilitation needs becomes clear. However, a controversy arose over the purported offer by the United Arab Emirates of Rs 700 crores, in recognition of the immense Malayalee contribution, since the 1970s, to their nations development. Malayalees are in any case predominant among the Emirati expatriate community. The Narendra Modi government promptly turned down that offer, pleading an old policy decision by the Manmohan Singh government dating back to the 2004 tsunami crisis, to eschew foreign assistance after natural or manmade disasters. What perhaps irked the Modi government was that the amount exceeded its initial grant, thus creating poor optics. Since then, arguments have been made both for and against the decision, leading to the UAE defensibly announcing that in fact it had not taken any final decision and that before taking one, it would consult the Indian government. Keralas chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, however, unwilling to drop the issue, argued that he had learnt about the offer from a prominent Malayalee billionaire based in Abu Dhabi, who claims proximity to the Al Nahyan ruling family. The Modi government had announced a National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) in May 2016. In the introduction, Prime Minister Modi noted that it incorporates global trends in disaster management. In its Chapter 9 and sub-head 9.2, international assistance is discussed. It specifies that while the government will not issue appeals, it may accept voluntary offers as a goodwill gesture in solidarity with the disaster victims. The home ministry has to coordinate with the external affairs ministry in this regard. Why then was the UAEs offer so summarily spurned? By way of background, even the United States policy on accepting foreign assistance for cataclysmic disasters is a work in progress. Both during the 2005 Hurricane Katrina devastation of New Orleans town and its vicinity and the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico region, offers of foreign help were only selectively accepted. For instance, offers from Cuba were rejected out of hand, as India should do with any offer from the Maldives, considering its diplomatic pinpricking of India. Equipment in short supply domestically, like machinery for oil removal from water, was immediately accepted. In retrospect, the US determined that some of the material sent by other countries was either unusable such as electronic equipment on 220 volts, when the US uses 110 volts or was not in conformity with US health or safety standards. Thus, for the future, the US has decided to encourage cash donations and not materials. Thus, India too must, in line with its NDMP, devise practical guidelines about the terms and conditions for accepting foreign assistance, instead of lapsing into an automatic nationalistic mode that India is self-sufficient and capable of handling any emergency. For instance, a lot would depend on the nature of the disaster and the kinds of equipment or specialised skills needed for immediate relief and rescue. Thereafter, a quick assessment by the National Disaster Management Authority should be undertaken to assess the extent of relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction required. That should enable a fair calculation of what, if any, foreign assistance is required. The first lesson to be learnt from the public relations disaster over the UAE offer is that all foreign aid offers need to be urgently jointly reviewed by the ministries of external affairs and home and the Prime Ministers Office. For instance, any offer from a Gulf state should take into account the paradoxical image of India among the local population in those countries. The older generation, having seen days of economic want before the oil-led prosperity, still regard India with respect. For the younger generation, India is seen as a country that provides cooks, drivers, maids and white-collar workers, and thus a degree of condescension colours their perception. Their elite, particularly the ruling families, on the other hand, are mindful of the increasing geo-economic and geostrategic role of a rising India in the 21st century world. Thus, a huge grant from a Gulf ruling family must be accepted taking into account its likely impact on the Indian image in that nation. It would also not be desirable that even in Kerala and among the Malayalee diaspora the impression gathers that a Gulf prince is more munificent and mindful of their welfare than their own government in New Delhi. Although some bruised royal Emirati egos are inevitable, the UAE must also realise that inter-state relations cannot be conducted on the advice of and through some Indians hovering around their majlises, however rich and savvy. Finally, such offers must be insulated from domestic Indian politics and are best handled through diplomatic channels. The Union government must also realise its image problem as it is seen as inimical to state governments which are not led by their allies. Kerala particularly has been a battleground due to the BJPs desire to penetrate a state with a unique balance of population belonging to Hinduism, Christianity or Islam. This is certainly not the time for politics or a blame game as people need help to rebuild their lives. The Union government must display alacrity and large-heartedness in putting Kerala back on its feet. That, and not bickering with the UAE or other nations, or with the state government, will earn it Malayalee goodwill. Its expected that the OnePlus 6T will feature a larger 6.4-inch AMOLED display with a smaller notch, similar to the ones on the latest OPPO phones. Smartphone manufacturers have been rolling out updates to their high selling models faster than before and OnePlus is a name synonymous with that concept. Since the last two years, a OnePlus flagship stays relevant only for a few months before its successor arrives with incremental upgrades. After the OP6 a few months ago, the company is preparing to roll out the OnePlus 6T and official proof of the same has been now obtained. According to a report by PhoneCorridor, the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) has just certified a device by the name of OnePlus A6013. While no other information has been stated about the device in the offcial document, it is evident this is the successor to the OnePlus 6 due for a global launch later this year. The OnePlus 5T was unveiled in November of 2017, a few months after the OnePlus 5 was launched. Speculations about the device have been high, with many expecting the smartphone to borrow certain design elements from the OPPO R17 Pro from China. Its expected that the OnePlus 6T will feature a larger 6.4-inch AMOLED display with a smaller notch, similar to the ones on the latest OPPO phones. It is expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset paired along with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The 6T should launch with Android Pie, considering OnePlus was a member of Googles Android Beta programme this year. The battery is also expected to be bigger along with a faster Fast Charge technology borrowed from OPPOs VOOC Flash Charge. And like the trend, it is also expected to be priced slightly higher than the outgoing model. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Government advice published said Britain imported around 3,000 sperm samples from a commercial sperm bank in Denmark last year, as well as around 4,000 samples from the United States. (Photo: AP) London: British couples looking to conceive through artificial insemination face uncertainty if Britain leaves the European Union without a deal because sperm would no longer be imported from EU countries under existing legislation. Government advice published yesterday said Britain imported around 3,000 sperm samples from a commercial sperm bank in Denmark last year, as well as around 4,000 samples from the United States. The Cryos sperm bank in Denmark says it is the worlds largest. Sperm donations in Britain have fallen sharply since donors lost the right to anonymity under a law that came into force in 2005. Britain also imports a small number of eggs and embryos from other EU countries, amounting to around 500 last year. If Brexit talks collapse, the government said the laws currently governing sperm imports, the EU Organ Directives and EU Tissues and Cells Directives, would no longer apply to Britain. Fertility banks would need new written agreements with relevant EU establishments, the government said, adding that this would for the most part be a minimum burden on industry. 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, it said. But Geetha Venkat, director of the Harley Street Fertility Clinic, told BBC radio today that couples were panicking. Venkat said a legislative change on US sperm imports meant these could take up to three months, while the imports from Denmark currently take only a week. Extra paperwork could create additional costs which could be passed on to couples, she warned. If there is Brexit with no deal, we do not know what is going to happen, she said, adding: As it is, its a stressful treatment, and this is going to add to that. A green sign on the door of a store in Nha Trang indicates that WeChat Pay, a Chinese digital wallet service, is available as a payment method. Photo by VnExpress/An Phuoc Vietnamese tax and provincial authorities are concerned that Chinese digital wallet services are bypassing them, easily and illegally. A green sign is appearing on the doors of an increasing number of stores and restaurants in the popular beach destination of Nha Trang in central Vietnam. The sign, written in both Chinese and Vietnamese, indicates that WeChat Pay, a Chinese digital wallet service, is available as a payment method at those stores. There are a lot of Chinese tourists in Nha Trang who shop a lot, and they use WeChat Pay, so we incorporated the service, said a store owner. According to local tour guides, some Vietnamese store owners have bank accounts in China, so money will be transferred directly to those accounts, not to Vietnam. This payment method, which is also popular in Da Nang and Ha Long Bay other hotspots for Chinese tourists, has raised concerns of tax losses for Vietnam, with tax authorities having no control over such payments. On Wednesday, the provicial administration of Khanh Hoa, where Nha Trang is located, said that they had sent a letter to the Government Office asking for solutions to manage these kinds of e-payment. Tran Son Hai, Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Committee of Khanh Hoa, said in the letter that there were signs of law infringement when Chinese tourists paid with the Chinese yuan, or used certain points of sale (POS) and Quick Response (QR) code via smartphones. It was difficult to control these payment methods as there are no invoices when a tourists use the QR code, the letter said. Identifying which POS device is legal or illegal is difficut, it added Khanh Hoa authorities proposed that technological solutions are identified and specific regulations issued to control these payment methods. Catching up It is illegal to have WeChat transactions in Vietnam as Vietnamese banks do not officially connect with this service, said Nguyen Duc Hien, deputy director of the Quang Ninh branch of the State Bank of Vietnam. Quang Ninh is the province where Ha Long Bay is located. Transactions from one e-wallet to another on WeChat cause tax losses as they are not controlled by any Vietnamese bank, Hien told local press. As in Khanh Hoa, Quang Ninh authorities are also finding that they have no control over such payments. We can only tell the store owners not to participate in this illegal payment method or to voluntarily disclose their transactions to limit tax losses, said Ho Quang Huy, Vice Chairman of the Peoples Committee of Ha Long City. It is a 4.0 world, there are matters that the government has not caught up with yet, he added. Zero dollar tours This is not the first time that Vietnamese authorities have expressed concerns about the activities of Chinese tourists, whose numbers have been increasing every year. In the first three months this year, hundreds of thousands of Chinese tourists entered the country through the Mong Cai International Border Gate in northern Vietnam. Officials at the border said that the influx was a result of the zero dollar tours, a form of marketing which allows Chinese tourists to travel with free accommodation and meals. Such tourists are forced to do their shopping at Chinese customers only stores for prices a few times higher than the market rate. These stores are owned by Vietnamese nationals but are actually operated by Chinese investors, and their operations are very hard for authorities to control, one official at the Mong Cai International Border told VnExpress. Last year, 15 of these stores were closed after Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked Quang Ninh Province to verify press reports. The media called them secret stores since they are always packed with Chinese tourists and Vietnamese locals are not allowed in. Chinese account for a large number of international tourists coming to Vietnam every year. In the first half this year, Vietnam welcomed 2.5 million Chinese visitors, or 32 percent of total number of international arrivals, a year-on-year increase of 36 percent. John McCain in Ottawa city, the U.S., in June 2008. Photo by Reuters Vietnam remembers departed U.S. Senator John McCain as a friend who worked hard to normalize bilateral ties. Dao Thi Tiec, 85, who lives near the Truc Bach Lake in Hanoi, told the Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA; German Press Agency) last October that she vividly remembers the day he was captured. It was in 1967, a time when the U.S. had expanded the war to North Vietnam with fierce bombing raids, forcing families like Tiec to send their children to evacuate to the countryside. On October 26, 1967, she heard that an American plane had been shot down and crashed into a nearby power plant. Soldiers and militia quickly captured the pilot whod ejected and landed in the Truc Bach Lake. Tiec ran outside, right in time to see security forces escorting the American pilot. He looked very tall, she recalled. "I was glad to be able to witness that scene after so many people were killed by American bombs," she said. The American pilot, U.S. Navy Captain John McCain, was imprisoned for more than five years at the Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi. After he was freed, McCain began his political career at home, becoming a U.S. House of Representatives Senator and Presidential Candidate. Vietnam remembers him as a person who worked hard to normalize U.S.-Vietnam bilateral ties. "There is a paradox in the relationship between Vietnam and the U.S., that is those who once fought during the Vietnam War became the pioneers in healing bilateral relations," said historian Duong Trung Quoc. McCain first returned to Hanoi was in 1985, 10 years before diplomatic relations were restored between the two countries. Since then, he regularly visited Vietnam, with his most recent trip being to Cam Ranh Port in June 2017 on the naval vessel named after him. U.S. Navy Captain John McCain (standing on the right). Photo by US Navy In recent years, McCain had consistently affirmed that Vietnam will be a strong security partner for the U.S., with Washington calling for peace, security and international law compliance in the Asia Pacific region, including the East Sea, also known as South China Sea. McCains advocacy for closer U.S.-Vietnam times came to the fore in a debate with Senator Sam Johnson, who was also a US prisoner detained in Vietnam, the Washingon Post noted. In a 1995 debate before the U.S. Congress on normalizing relations with Vietnam, Johnson said the U.S. should not resume diplomatic relations with Vietnam because the nation had not provided a full account of Americans missing in action during the Vietnam War. Johnson said normalization of diplomatic relations was "an attempt of Hanoi to reach the U.S. market. McCain, on the other hand, argued that the normalization move with Vietnam was necessary, and that letting personal emotions influence the decision of what is the best for the U.S. was an abrogation of responsibility. The debate between Johnson and McCain reflected the deep divide within the U.S. over Vietnam. The American Legion, America's largest veteran organization with many members who fought in Vietnam, was strongly opposed to the normalization of bilateral relations, while the Veterans of Foreign Wars, which represents 600,000 who served during the Vietnam War, supported McCain's efforts. McCain got the backing of Senator John F. Kerry and President Bill Clinton in his efforts, leading to the official normalization of relations in 1995. "It is important to consider that this American veteran's contributions to post-war Vietnam-U.S. relations are, in this respect, a factor, a figure of reconciliation," Vietnamese historian Quoc said. Despite suffering from brain cancer in the last years of his life, Senator McCain continued to call for peace, stability and legal order in Asia-Pacific. He was one of the most vocal opponents of China's artificial islands and the militarization of the South China Sea. McCain died in Arizona on the evening of August 25 (August 26 morning, Vietnam time) at the age of 81. Leaders around the world have condoled the death of a giant of American politics. The bridge in Da Nang is designed to make visitors feel like they're taking a stroll on a shimmering thread stretching across the hands of gods. Photo by AFP/Linh Pham Just months after it opened to public, Vietnams amazing Golden Bridge continues to grab the worlds attention. The Time magazine has listed it in its list of top 100 Worlds Greatest Places for 2018. Remarking on its architectural creativity, the magazines Julia Zorthian notes: The two massive stony hands emerging from the mountains of central Vietnam may look mossy and cracked like ancient ruins, but dont be fooled: theyre brand-new wire mesh and fiberglass supports for a striking footbridge that opened in June. Images of the two giant hands holding up the 150 meters long bridge at Ba Na Hills near Da Nang have gone viral and many international media outlets have remarked on the bridge, including AFP, Reuters and CNN. Vu Viet Anh, Design Principal at TA Landscape Architecture that designed the pedestrian walkway, told Reuters that the bridge was designed to stimulate the image of the giant hands of Gods, pulling a strip of gold out of the land. Other places on Times list include the Macan Museum in Indonesia and Tianjin Binhai Library in China. According to Time, editors and experts at the magazine evaluated the entries based on quality, originality, innovation, sustainability and influence. Offering grand views of mountains and forests from a height of almost 1000 metres above sea level, the bridge is set to attract increasing numbers of tourists to Da Nang and Ba Na Hills. Images of the bridge have gone viral on social media. Photo by AFP The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism reported that Ba Na Hills attracted 2.7 million visitors in 2017. In the first six months of this year, more than 1.7 million of four million plus people visiting Da Nang also visited Ba Na Hills. Kanchanpur rape and murder: Case reopens under pressure Bowing to unrelenting protests in Mahendranagar and elsewhere over the rape and murder of 13-year-old Nirmala Panta, the Kanchanpur District Police Office has promised to investigate the case over again. John McCain was among the US senators who most reliably engaged with the press, vacillating between rich sarcasm and bursts of anger or frustration. Photo by AFP John Sidney McCain III had but one employer throughout his iconic and tempestuous career: the United States of America. It was a family tradition. McCain was a direct descendant, he claimed, of a captain in George Washington's army during the Revolutionary War. And like his father and grandfather before him, each four-star admirals named John McCain, he lived in the service of his country: first as a U.S. Navy fighter pilot, then as a lawmaker until his death Saturday at age 81, following a brain cancer diagnosis in the summer of 2017. He too might have become an admiral, if a Soviet-made surface-to-air missile had not cut short his own high-flying military trajectory on October 26, 1967. On the day of his 23rd mission over Vietnam, his A-4 Skyhawk was hit as he flew across Hanoi's skies. McCain ejected, and parachuted into a small lake in the center of town, where he was nearly lynched by a furious mob. His two arms and right knee were badly broken. With his father the commander of all U.S. forces in the Pacific, McCain would remain a prisoner of war for more than five years. He was released in 1973 after the Paris Peace Accords, but physical consequences from prison time would cost him his career as a pilot. "For some reason it was not my time then, and I do believe that therefore because of that, that I was meant to do something," he said in a 1989 interview. Defeated by Obama That something, it became clear, would be politics. After a few years as the Navy's Senate liaison, McCain moved to Arizona, the home state of his second wife, and won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982. His ambitions grew, and he rose quickly to the Senate, the most powerful political body in America. It became his second home for 30 years. McCain long cultivated the image of a Republican maverick, defying his party on issues ranging from campaign finance reform to immigration. He saw little use for party discipline, an attitude reinforced by his past episodes of rebellion -- as an unruly student at the U.S. Naval Academy, or a hotheaded prisoner provoking his Vietnamese jailers. "Surviving my imprisonment strengthened my self-confidence, and my refusal of early release taught me to trust my own judgment," McCain wrote in his 1999 memoir, "Faith of My Fathers." It was this unorthodox, unbridled McCain, disdainful of authority and occasionally arrogant, who threw his hat in the ring in the 2000 presidential race. A self-proclaimed "straight talk" campaigner, he offered Americans his moderate-right vision, while keeping at arm's length the Christian conservatives that his opponent George W. Bush had successfully seduced. McCain came up short, but solidified his stature and eventually seized the Republican torch from the unpopular president Bush. In 2008, he made peace with the party establishment, and finally won the presidential nomination. With the White House within reach, he made an instinctive -- and deeply controversial -- call. Many of his associates would never forgive him for choosing as his runningmate a virtual unknown, the untested Alaska governor Sarah Palin. The decision helped usher in the grass roots Tea Party revolution and the rise of populism later embodied by Donald Trump. Democrat Barack Obama easily prevailed in the election. McCain, now twice defeated, took to joking about how he started sleeping like a baby: "Sleep two hours, wake up and cry, sleep two hours, wake up and cry." Dismayed by Trump McCain could work a crowd. In Washington, he held court with reporters in the halls of Congress, at times pithy and impatient. "That's a dumb question," he told one probing journalist. But the snappy tone could turn to self-deprecation: "I don't think I'm a very smart guy," he once said. He could also be volcanic, especially about causes dear to him: the armed forces and American exceptionalism. McCain's fellow Republicans occasionally mocked his interventionist reflexes, noting he could never say no to a war. After all, he once referenced a Beach Boys tune when singing about whether to "bomb bomb bomb" Iran. To the end, McCain remained convinced that America's values should be shared and defended worldwide. He routinely hopped a flight to Baghdad, Kabul, Taipei, or a revolution-wracked Kiev, received more like a head of state than a lawmaker. After the annexation of Crimea, Russia placed his name on a blacklist in retaliation for US-led sanctions. "I guess this means my spring break in Siberia is off," he shot back. Regarding Russia or Syria, McCain's voice carried far. But the senator was in effect a general without an army. Trump's election seemed to trample on the struggles and ideals of the veteran Republican, who quickly grew dismayed by the billionaire businessman's nationalism and protectionism, his flirtation with Putin and his seeming contempt for the dignity of the office of president. He even took issue with Trump's multiple draft deferments during the Vietnam war, granted after he was diagnosed with bone spurs in his foot. But none of it made McCain want to recede into happy retirement. Perhaps thinking of his grandfather, who died just days after returning home following Japan's surrender in World War II, McCain's non-stop work meant defying death. Even after his 2016 re-election, he refused to rule out another Senate bid in 2022. Cancer ultimately denied him that goal. McCain is survived by his wife Cindy and their four children, and by a daughter from his first marriage. The flags of Canada, Mexico and the U.S. are seen on a lectern before a joint news conference on the closing of the seventh round of NAFTA talks in Mexico City, Mexico, March 5, 2018. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido/File Photo The United States could reach an agreement with Mexico soon as the Mexican trade negotiator signaled solutions to NAFTA energy rules and a contentious U.S. sunset clause demand. Trump tweeted on Saturday morning that the United States relationship with Mexico is getting closer by the hour. Some really good people within both the new and old government, and all working closely together....A big Trade Agreement with Mexico could be happening soon! Jesus Seade, who will serve as chief negotiator for Mexicos next government, said he and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer were now discussing a periodic review process that spare the North American Free Trade Agreement from automatic expiration unless new terms were agreed. Mexico and Canada have adamantly opposed the U.S. sunset demand that would kill the pact unless it is renegotiated every five years, a plan that business groups also say will stifle long-term investment decisions. Its going to come out. Its no longer what the United States was putting first in any way, Seade said of the sunset clause outside the U.S. Trade Representatives office. Seade said he and Lighthizer last week began discussing a new approach to review the trade pact, that would have longer periods between reviews, providing more certainty for business investments. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Trade Representatives office denied that Lighthizer had softened his position on the sunset clause, without further elaboration. The sunset issue is one of the biggest remaining obstacles to a NAFTA deal as negotiators race to try to land a new NAFTA agreement in principle by the end of August. The United States and Mexico have been holding bilateral talks aimed at resolving their differences before bringing Canada back to the talks. Seade said the issue of auto sector rules is basically resolved, although some aspects, including time frames, are still being discussed. Seade also said on Saturday that a correct focus on NAFTAs energy chapter has already been substantially agreed. Since Mexicos July 1 presidential election, the Mexico-U.S. talks have been complicated by divisions between the incoming and outgoing Mexican administrations over energy policy. The team of leftist Mexican president-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has resisted enshrining the 2013-14 opening of the oil and gas sector enacted by outgoing president Enrique Pena Nieto in the new NAFTA, people close to the talks say. Lopez Obrador opposed Pena Nietos energy reform, and the issue is divisive within his own camp. Business-friendly aides back greater outside investment in the industry, while his more nationalist allies want the oil to remain in Mexican hands. NOT THERE YET Asked about Trumps tweet, Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo acknowledged some progress, but told reporters in Washington before beginning another day of talks that the two countries are not there yet. Nothing is done until everything is truly done, he said. Today will be an important day. Trump prompted the NAFTA revamp more than a year ago, complaining the pact has benefited Mexico to the detriment of U.S. workers and manufacturing. He made renegotiating NAFTA one of his top campaign pledges. Trump has threatened to withdraw from the pact if it is not reworked to the advantage of the United States. The U.S.-Mexico talks for weeks focused on crafting new rules for the automotive industry, which Trump has put at the center of his drive to rework the 24-year-old deal he says has been a disaster for American workers. Bolton also said Kyiv should consider inviting U.S. companies to explore gas in Ukraine. U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said during a trip to Kyiv on Friday that the Ukraine government should consider looking for alternatives to natural gas supplies from Russia. Speaking to reporters in Ukraine for talks with President Petro Poroshenko, Bolton also said Kyiv should consider inviting U.S. companies to explore gas in Ukraine, according to Reuters. As UNIAN reported earlier, Bolton said the United States was ready to help Ukraine counter Russian "meddling" during its 2019 presidential election. "It's a threat that a number of countries in the West have seen, we've made it clear what our position is. And so we are prepared to work with the government of Ukraine to prevent such meddling here," he said. In recent years, the Ukrainian Air Force, together with the defense industry, was actively upgrading the fleet of combat and transport planes and helicopters, as well as air defense systems. Today, Ukraine's designers and manufacturers are ready to take the next step and move to the creation of new weapons. Ukraine met the 27th anniversary of its independence with the new Army and Air Force. And this is not the same Armed Forces that defended our frontiers against Russian aggression in the spring and summer of 2014. By today, the military potential has grown substantially, including to defend the country from potential aerial threats. On the eve of Independence Day, UNIAN made a review of weaponry which is now at disposal of the Ukrainian Air Force to repel a potential air strike on the country. Homeland's wings One cannot imagine an air shield of any country without aviation, which at the first stages of Russian military aggression took an active part in battles in the skies over the Ukrainian Donbas, and now it is undergoing intensive repair and modernization of combat aircraft. In early August, Air Force Commander Serhiy Drozdov said that this year alone, the fleet of military aircraft in Ukraine will be replenished by almost three dozen renovated and modernized units. It's about MiG-29 and Su-27 fighter jets as well as Su-25 attack aircraft, the core of Ukrainian Air Force. In addition, the state-owned arms producer Ukroboronprom is planning to modernize the Su-24MR aircraft. Modernization will allow using aircraft for a much long time. For example, Su-25 aircraft have been equipped with an Adros KUV 26-50 decoy thermal target discharger and an anti-radar passive interference system. Numerous changes have also been made in the aircraft's internal avionics. In the near future, modernization of Su-27 and MiG-29 fighters will begin, to arm them with Ukraine-made air-to-surface and air-to-ship missiles, as well as guided bombs. In addition to combat aircraft, the Ukrainian army uses military transport planes An-24, An-26, Il-76, while domestic defense enterprises are actively working on the modernization of the first two. It is impossible not to recall a An-70 military transport aircraft produced by the state enterprise Antonov, which was accepted for service in 2015. Now, works have already begun on its significant modernization - installation of new avionics and getting rid of any Russian components. In addition, in just 18 months, Ukrainian designers created an An-132D transport aircraft, which took to the skies last spring. It is designed for medium-haul flights, and is able to perform a wide range of tasks, including transportation of troops and cargo. The cruising speed is up to 500 kmh, max cruising altitude is up to 9,000 m, with a maximum payload of up to 9.2 tonnes. Also promising is a Ukrainian-Turkish project for the creation of an An-188 military transport aircraft in line with NATO standards. Speaking about Ukrainian aviation, it is worth saying a few words about helicopters, which play an important role in strengthening the country's defense capability. The Ukrainian army has a fairly large number of Mi-24 attack helicopters, but an important issue remains their modernization to meet today's challenges. The domestic defense industry has successfully coped with the task by carrying out a profound modernization of said helicopter type to practically make a qualitatively new one, an Mi-24P. Konotop aircraft repair plant Aviacon went even further and in 2016 transferred to the army the Mi-24PU1 helicopters, acclaimed for increased protection, thanks to the establishment of the already mentioned ultra-modern protection system "Adros" by Nizhyn-based Progres Combine. The system tricks thermal-guided missiles so the helicopter is protected from portable anti-aircraft missile systems such as Igla and Stinger, as well as air-to-air missiles of R-60 and R-73 type. In addition, new more powerful domestic engines have been installed on the Mi-24PU1, while its capabilities have been significantly expanded due to modern sighting and navigation systems that allow performing tasks in total dark. The Ukrainian army also uses Mi-8 helicopters, which Motor Sich upgraded to the Mi-8MSB version by replacing the engines with new, more powerful TV3-117VMA-SBM1V series 4E and completing partial modification and refurbishing of the fuselage, and installation of a new engine start system. Aviacon recently transferred to the Army the modernized Mi-8MT helicopters with the new meteorological system, satellite navigation system and reserve radio station installed, while the Kyiv-based state enterprise Civil Aviation Plant 410 last year launched a program for overhauling and upgrading the Mi-8T helicopter to the Mi-8MSB type. Ukrainian Army also has at its disposal Mi-2, Mi-14, Ka-27, and Ka-29 helicopters. Air shield In addition to controlling airspace with aviation, it is necessary to provide protection against the threat of enemy aircraft. This is the task of air defense forces, equipped with anti-aircraft missile systems. This is primarily aboutl Buk, Kub, and Tor systems, the S-300 medium-range anti-aircraft missile system, and the S-125 short-range anti-aircraft missile system. Buk, Tor, and Kub systems are designed to combat maneuvering targets at small and medium altitudes, in fact, covering the surface from missiles, UAVs, guided aerial bombs, aircraft and helicopters. S-300 surface-to-air missile systems are capable of hitting various targets at various altitudes: from those below the possible flight altitude to those that exceed the altitude limit for targets. Their range is from several kilometers to 150-300 km. Another representative of the air defense system is S-125M, modernized this year by Luch design bureau and Radioniks. The renovated system, named Pechora, was successfully tested this year. It has undergone a comprehensive modernization of all elements, including the upgrading of missiles, as well as the use of a new radar. During the tests, air targets were hit by new 5B27D-M2 missiles with a semi-active radar homing head ensuring the detection and capture of an air target (type fighter jet) at a range of over 20 km. In addition, it greatly increases the accuracy of guidance and ensures that the missile hit even highly maneuverable targets. At the initial stage, the missile moves along an aeroballic trajectory, which significantly increases the far boundary of the hit zone - with new missiles it is more than 40 km, while max altitude is 25 km. Anti-aircraft defense of Ukraine is also represented by radar stations used for reconnaissance. Automated electronic support (detection) system Kolchuga has a range of 600 km into the depth of the territory and 150 km along the front line. For aerial targets at an up to 10 km altitudes, the range into the depth of the territory is up to 800 km. Thanks to the lack of active emissions, Kolchuga cannot be detected by means of electronic reconnaissance. P-18 Malachite radar is a modernized version of the P-18MU Terek that has been in service since 1971. This land-based mobile noise-proof radar station is intended for automatic detection of radar targets against the background of active and passive interference of natural and artificial origin. Put on the KrAZ chassis and a cargo trailer, the radar is able to detect targets moving at speeds of up to 1,000 meters per second. The domestic defense-industrial complex is now actively working on the development of new radar systems, which are already being adopted by the Ukrainian army or will strengthen it in the near future. In this regard, it should be noted that the experts of the Iskra research and production facility (based in Zaporizhia) have manufactured and are this year testing the new 1L220UK counterbattery radar, the high-mobility meter range radar MR-1, the automated radio interference complex Mandat, and a mobile 3D radar 80K6T. The 80K6T radar is designed to spot fire of air defense weapons and able to work with all antiaircraft missile systems that are in service with the AFU. The main feature of the radar is a digital active phased array, the technology allowing detecting and accompanying targets at high resolution. At the same time, thanks to a single station alone, simultaneous measurement of the target position is done by range, azimuth, and altitude. The radar is able to detect aerial targets at a distance of up to 500 km, at altitudes up to 40 km, while simultaneously tracking up to 500 targets. This station can perform amid significant countermeasures of enemy electronic warfare. Counterbattery radar 1L220UK is designed for reconnaissance of enemy artillery positions. It spots, at a distance of dozens of kilometers, the exact location of enemy cannons, mortars, multiple rocket launchers, anti-aircraft missile systems, and tactical missiles. This allows the Army getting the exact coordinates for a retaliatory strike, as well as to adjust fire of own artillery. In addition, 1L220UK conducts surveillance of airspace, with an opportunity to spot enemy drones. A highly mobile meter range radar MR-1 is designed to automatically detect air targets at a range of more than 400 km. The main feature of the MR-1 is the ability to see "stealth" aircraft, including fifth generation fighters. The automated radio interference complex Mandat is intended for monitoring and suppressing enemy communications at frequencies from 1.5 to 1000 MHz, which allows to reliably hinder communication, including digital and encrypted, paralyzing the enemy's control system. Also Iskra is now developing a special radar station DV1, designed to create a continuous radar shield along the Ukrainian border, as well as a new generation counterbattery radar Mangust. Army of drones Unmanned aerial vehicles are relatively new weapons, but Ukraine has made a significant breakthrough in this direction. Antonov also supplies to the army a Horlytsia UAV, the first domestic platform capable of carrying a strike load. In comparison with other drones of such type, Horlytsia is able to conduct longer air reconnaissance missions, remaining midair for seven hours. The tactical range is 120 km, practical range is 1,050 km, while max speed is 230 kmh. The UAV is able to conduct optical-electronic aerial reconnaissance in the visible and infrared range. Horlytsia automatically recognizes, captures, and accompanies moving targets and strikes them with guided high-precision ammo. With the help of this UAV, it is possible to set up operational communications and support combat units performing tasks in the enemy's tactical rear. The UAV is part of a promising mobile tactical unmanned aerial system. It will consist of four such unmanned aerial vehicles, a ground control station, and means for ensuring the takeoff and landing, transportation and repair. In addition to Horlytsia, in early 2016 Ukroboronprom handed over to the Army the first purely Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle BpAK-MP-1 Spectator, which was created by Kyiv Polytechnica and JSC Meridian. It is a system of 1-3 drones and a ground control station. The system has an optimal ratio of the weight of the payload per unit mass and high aerodynamic characteristics, which makes it possible to install recon equipment weighing up to 1.5 kg with the mass of the drone itself being just 2 kg. The drone can remain midair for two hours, with the maximum flight altitude of 2 km. Due to its dimensions (length 1,295 mm, wingspan 3,000 mm), the drone can easily be transported even in a backpack. The minimum time to prepare the start from the disassembled state is up to two minutes. Another advantage is that the Spectator is launched from hand. Developers of BpAk-MP-1 continued modernization of the UAV, and already in 2017, the Ukrainian army received a new Spectator-M, which border guards use to patrol the administrative border with the temporarily occupied Crimea. These drones are equipped with modern video and thermal imaging cameras, allowing the troops to monitor an area up to 50 kilometers wide at an altitude of up to 2,000 meters. Compared to its predecessor, BpAk-MP-1, Spectator-M performs better, has greater payload and range. *** All these capabilities are just the beginning in the formation of Ukraine's new army and air force. Further development of technology and production capacities of domestic defense enterprises will lead to the emergence of new elements of protection from aerial threats. There is no doubt that the components of our air shield will be of interest to the modern world, also facing a wide range of threats. Moreover, foreign partners have repeatedly noted the high quality of Ukrainian weapons. The active development of this sector of the military-industrial complex will undoubtedly open new markets for high-tech products, give impetus to the development of the domestic defense industry, and bring into the treasury more foreign exchange earnings. Ukraine already has means to protect itself and share its experience with the rest of the world. Dmytro Shvarts If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter The overarching strategy of the United States towards Russia is to deter Russia from confrontation by raising the costs of its aggression. This includes strengthening the military, economic, and political foundations of American power. Our Russia policy proceeds from the recognition that, to be effective, U.S. diplomacy must be backed by military power, said Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Wess Mitchell in congressional testimony.To that end, we have reversed years of cuts to the defense budget, begun the process of recapitalizing the U.S. nuclear arsenal, requested close to 11 billion dollars for the European Deterrence Initiative, and worked within NATO to bring about more than 40 billion dollars in new European defense spending. Through diplomatic expulsions and targeted sanctions, the U.S. has worked in close coordination with European allies to degrade Russian President Vladimir Putins ability to conduct aggression by imposing costs on the Russian state as well as on the oligarchs close to Putin who help to sustain the state. Even as [the U.S. has] imposed unprecedented penalties for Russian aggression, said Dr. Mitchell, we have been clear that the door to dialogue is open. In Syria, Dr. Mitchell said, we created de-escalation channels to avoid collisions between our forces. In Ukraine, we have maintained an effort under Ambassador Kurt Volker to provide the means by which Russia can live up to its commitments under the Minsk Agreements. But in all these areas, it is up to Russia to take the next step. The U.S. has bolstered frontline states in Europe. In Ukraine and Georgia, said Assistant Secretary Mitchell, we lifted restrictions on the acquisition of defensive weapons. In the Balkans, we have played a hands-on role in resolving the Greece-Macedonia name dispute and engaging with Serbia and Kosovo to propel the EU-led dialogue. From the Caucasus to Central Europe we are promoting energy diversification, fighting corruption, and competing for hearts and minds. Russia foments and funds both sides of controversial causes in an effort to destabilize societies and governments. Countering such threats in both its overt and covert forms is among the highest priorities of the U.S. government and our NATO allies. The United States is committed to countering Russian aggression and malign activities. At the same time, the door to dialogue is open our respective National Security Advisors have met in Geneva - should Russia choose to take steps toward a constructive path. (( Title: U.S. ENGAGEMENT IN INDO-PACIFIC HEAD: DATE: PUBLISHED AT: NUMBER: LEGACY CODE: BYLINE: Editorial AUDIO: YES VIDEO: NO WEB: YES TYPE: RED )) THIS EDITORIAL IS BEING RELEASED FOR USE BY ALL SERVICES. Anncr: Next, an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government: VOICE:As an Indo-Pacific nation, the United States is deeply committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific region that operates on a rules-based system, said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells. Speaking to reporters in Washington in advance of her travel to the annual Indian Ocean Conference to be held this year in Hanoi August 27-28, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Wells said she looked forward to highlighting at the conference U.S. economic and security commitments to in the region. The United States is promoting sustained, mutually beneficial, and high-quality economic and commercial investment that conforms to international best practices for transparency, governance, and debt-sustainability. This includes several funding initiatives in the areas of digital economy, infrastructure and energy that were announced in July by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Secretary Pompeo called the 113 million dollars a down payment on a new era in U.S. economic commitment to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Additionally, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Wells noted, on August 4th Secretary Pompeo announced nearly $300 million in additional security assistance for the nations spanning the Indo-Pacific. The Trump administration is proposing to the Congress that more than $100 million of this funding will go toward South Asia, including 40 million for Bangladesh, 39 million for Sri Lanka, and 17 million for Nepal. This investment, she said, will focus on maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, peacekeeping capabilities and countering transnational crime, all of which are key to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. The theme of this years Indian Ocean Conference is building regional architectures, and it is a timely one. South Asia, she noted, is the least economically connected region of the world in terms of intraregional trade, and building a stronger regional institutional architecture is one of my top priorities. Thats why, among other actions, the United States is expanding its diplomatic engagement with the Indian Ocean Rim Association and is lending its expertise to the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium.. I look forward to engaging further with our partners at the Indian Ocean Conference on ways to developorganizations and pursue initiatives that enhance the regions security, stability and prosperity, Ms. Wells said. Secretary Pompeo, she added, summed up our approach well when he said, Where America goes, we seek partnership, not domination. Congress defers apex body meeting Nepali Congress on Saturday postponed its Mahasamiti (apex committee) meeting for two months. Austria's foreign minister has defended her curtsy to Russian President Vladimir Putin at her wedding last week, calling it a customary dance move and not a sign of submission. Karin Kneissl made the comments in an interview with Austrian radio ORF broadcast on August 25, a week after her wedding at which Putin made a high-profile and controversial appearance. Video footage showed Kneissl dancing with Putin at the wedding celebration and delivering a deep curtsy at the end. "This was portrayed in commentaries as an act of submission, of prostration. And anyone who knows me knows that I submit to no one," Kneissl said in the ORF interview, adding that the curtsy came after Putin had bowed to her. Kneissl, an independent, was picked for the foreign minister job by the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe), a coalition partner in Austria's government. The FPOe, which has advocated lifting European Union sanctions against Moscow, has ties with Russia's ruling United Russia party. The European Union, the United States, and other countries imposed sanctions against Russia over its 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine who are fighting government forces. Austria was one of the few EU member states not to expel Russian diplomats following the poisoning of a former Russian double agent and his daughter in Britain in March. Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, AFP, and dpa DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) Iran's defense minister said Sunday his country will continue its support of the Syrian government to ensure improved security in the region, adding that the nature of the two countries cooperation won't be decided by a "third party." Israel has expressed concern over Iran's growing influence in Syria, accusing Iran of seeking to establish a foothold near the frontier with the Jewish state. The United States has been pressing for Iran to withdraw its fighters from Syria. In recent meetings between U.S. and Russian officials, President Donald Trump's national security adviser John Bolton said he and Russian officials are discussing ways to do that, without providing details, calling it a U.S priority. Iran says its presence in Syria is at the invitation of the Syrian government. "No third party can affect the presence of Iranian advisers in Syria," Iran's Defense Minister Amir Hatami told reporters in Damascus. His comments came at the start of a two-day visit to Syria, where he met with the Syrian President Bashar Assad and other senior officials. The high-level military delegation headed by Hatami is expected to boost cooperation between the two countries, and Iranian media reported the two are expected to sign new military and defense agreements. Iran has provided key support to Assad in the seven-year civil war, sending thousands of military advisers and allied militiamen to bolster his forces. Hatami said he hopes Iran can play a "productive role" in Syria's reconstruction, according to Iran's Press TV. "Iran will spare no effort to maintain Syria's territorial integrity, because security in the country will help (improve) regional stability," Hatami said in a meeting with his Syrian counterpart, General Ali Abdullah Ayyoub, in Damascus on Sunday, according to Press TV. Israel has expressed concern over Iran's growing influence in Syria, accusing Iran of seeking to establish a foothold near the frontier with the Jewish state. Earlier this year, Israeli jets carried out a number of strikes against suspected Iranian bases in Syria, including an unprecedented bombardment of Iranian military installations in May, reportedly in retaliation to an Iranian rocket barrage on Israeli positions in the occupied Golan Heights. The two-day visit comes as Syria gears up for an expected offensive in the northern Idlib province, the last major rebel stronghold, which also has a large al-Qaida presence. The province is home to nearly 3 million people and borders Turkey, which fears an offensive may trigger a humanitarian and security catastrophe. Ayyoub, the Syrian defense minister, said his government is determined to restore government control over Idlib whether through reconciliation deals or with military operations. A Turkish, Russian and Iranian summit is expected in early September in Tehran to discuss Syria. Idlib was on top of the agenda during talks between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Friday. Turkey has sought to delay any offensive, while Russia has expressed growing impatience, accusing insurgents of targeting its forces from the province. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 Trend: President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has congratulated President of Moldova Igor Dodon. On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I extend my sincerest congratulations to you on the occasion of Independence Day of the Republic of Moldova, President Aliyev said. Azerbaijan and Moldova are bound together by traditional ties of friendship and cooperation, he added. I am confident that we will continue our efforts towards expanding and deepening our bilateral relations and cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. I wish you the best of health, happiness and success and the friendly people of Moldova peace and prosperity, the president said. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 By Leman Zeynalova - Trend: The First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva built bridges of understanding between the East and West, Rob Sobhani, director general of the Caspian Group Holdings, told Trend. "The First Lady of Azerbaijan has been able to portray her proud nation with grace to the International community. Whether she is visiting Washington, DC or Paris, Mehriban Aliyeva always makes a point to inform her hosts about Azerbaijan's rich heritage and culture. She has been a tireless advocate of Azerbaijan as a historic hub of intersecting cultures. It is therefore not surprising that Mehriban Aliyeva has been a champion of religious tolerance, something the international community appreciates very much. Sobhani noted that humanitarian diplomacy is very important in terms of collaboration between East and West and Mehriban Aliyeva is a master diplomat in this field. "By using art, culture and renovation of historic sites she has slowly but surely built bridges of understanding between the East and West. When Mehriban Aliyeva became the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, I wrote an article in the United States highlighting the importance of this historic moment for woman around the world but more specifically Muslim woman. She is not only an example of what woman can achieve but also what woman can accomplish for their family, community and country," he said. Rob Sobhani noted that Mehriban Aliyeva is a kind mother, loving wife and caring daughter. "She brings all these human qualities to her job as not only the First Lady of Azerbaijan but as a mother to every Azerbaijani citizen. Her kind heart has touched the lives of so many people around the world. I have personally been a witness to how her generosity has helped children with severe disabilities get needed equipment or how an Azerbaijani child with a heart disease has received immediate treatment. Mehriban Aliyeva is truly the First Lady of Kindness. This character trait of Mehriban Aliyeva is very important because she has been true to her Muslim faith by being kind and generous to both Muslims and non-Muslims. The prophet Mohammad urged his followers to help the needy, take care of the poor and give to the less fortunate. Mehriban Aliyeva has followed these commandments and been true to her faith," he said. Further, speaking of large-scale events held in Azerbaijan, Sobhani particularly noted the high level of their organization. I was in Azerbaijan when Baku was host to the Eurovision Song Contest. It was a memorable event and drew the attention of the global media. This and other events organized under the leadership of Mehriban Aliyeva to showcase Azerbaijan to the world is a talent few people possess," Rob Sobhani said. Sobhani noted that it takes vision, attention to detail and enormous organizational skills to successfully host international events. "The First Lady of Azerbaijan possesses all these qualities and for this reason I am hopeful that Azerbaijan will host EXPO 2025. In addition, EXPO 2025 is a global event and since Mehriban Aliyeva has been an advocate of building bridges between East and West, North and South, Azerbaijan is now considered by many to be an ideal location to host international events," he said. Sobhani also touched upon the activities of First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation headed by her in the field of communicating the truth about the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan to the world community. "The Heydar Aliyev Foundation has been at the forefront of informing the world about the tragedy of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh. The key to the success of Mehriban Aliyevas efforts in this regards have been to humanize the conflict for Western audiences. This is very important when one is trying to gain the support of the international community for the resolution of the conflict. I sincerely believe that Mehriban Aliyeva can be the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Why do I say this? In any post conflict situation both sides have to better understand the human side of each other. Although the First Lady of Azerbaijan has be a tireless advocate for Azerbaijanis who have been the victims of Armenian occupation of Azerbaijan's territories, she can also have an enormous impact on healing the wounds of war and conflict," he said. Rob Sobhani noted that if the International community in general and Russia, US and France in particular are able to work with Azerbaijan and Armenia to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the role of Mehriban Aliyeva in post-conflict rebuilding will be critical. "She has good relations with the French, Russians and Americans and is therefore well placed to work with international donors from these countries as well as the World Bank to rebuild lands currently occupied by Armenian forces," he said. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 Trend: Germany can take part in all spheres of economy desired by Azerbaijan, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel answering the question of Trend, at a joint news conference with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku. "I came here with a delegation of business people. There are various proposals from companies. I can note that there are projects in the field of infrastructure and construction, as well as in the field of construction materials. We can carry out activities in the agrarian field, in the field of agricultural machinery technology, as well as digitization and education," she said. In addition, she said, the German company also takes part in the field of preparing documents related to the security of passports, identity cards and banknotes. "There is a very large, wide choice. We can take part in all areas desired by Azerbaijan. As I noted, 150 of our enterprises already operate in Azerbaijan. We invite other German companies to work here, too," she said. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the opening of the newly-built Damirchi-Lahij highway. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Azerbaijan Highway State Agency Saleh Mammadov informed the president and his wife about the characteristics of the road. The president cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the highway. The 22km-long road connects one settlement in Shamakhi district and four settlements in Ismayilli district. Azerbaijani president, first lady open newly-built school in Lahij Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the opening of a newly-built secondary school in Lahij settlement, Ismayilli district. The president and the first lady cut the ribbon symbolizing the inauguration of the school. Minister of Education Jeyhun Bayramov informed President Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva that the old building of the school was constructed in 1928. Although designed for 130 pupils, the school accommodated 232 pupils. The new 400-seat school was built under the order of the president. The three-storey school features a gym and a 175-seat auditorium as well as a number of subject rooms and laboratories. The school has video surveillance and centralized heating systems. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 Trend: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with businessmen in the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku on Aug. 25. The Azerbaijani President and German Chancellor made speeches at the meeting. President Ilham Aliyev said: - Dear Mrs. Chancellor, dear guests! I would like to welcome you to Azerbaijan once again. We have held an extensive exchange of views today. Many issues have been discussed, including cooperation in trade and economic spheres. We are continuing our meetings with the participation of business people. I should note that companies from Germany have been operating in Azerbaijan for many years. They have worked in many fields and implemented various projects. Using public funds alone, German companies have implemented projects worth more than $1 billion, and I am confident that this figure will increase even more in the future. Companies from Germany are known very well in Azerbaijan. Their quality and technologies are of great benefit to our country. Azerbaijan is experiencing a period of modernization, and economic diversification is our top priority. In general, I can say that the Azerbaijani economy is developing very fast. Over the past 15 years, the Azerbaijani economy has grown more than three times. The macroeconomic situation in our country is stable, the external debt accounts for only 20 per cent of the gross domestic product, while unemployment is at 5 per cent. Over the past 15 years, Azerbaijan has received investment in the amount of $250 billion. The Davos World Economic Forum ranks the Azerbaijani economy in 35th place globally in terms of competitiveness, and this shows that Azerbaijan is successfully pursuing a policy of economic diversification. Of course, we have major oil and gas resources. We are exporting them, but the main goal is to develop the non-oil sector, and companies from Germany can help us in this sphere, of course. At present, our priorities are to develop agriculture, tourism, the information and communication sector, infrastructure projects, including the modernization of railways, construction and other sectors. I am sure that as a result of the conversations that will take place today, new contracts will be signed and a new format of cooperation will be created. So let me welcome you to Azerbaijan once again and express my confidence that the final part of your visit will also be successful. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 Trend: Representatives of ENI International B.V. paid a visit to Kargaly district of Kazakhstans Aktobe region, Kapital.kz reported citing Kazakh Invest national company. The construction of a 50 MW wind power plant will be launched in Badamsha village at the end of 2018. Kazakh Invest company renders consulting and organizational support for the implementation of the investment project. Italian investors reviewed a 400 hectare-land plot allocated for the construction of the wind power plant. According to the schedule, wind power plant is expected to be commissioned in December 2019. This project was included by the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan in the list of energy producing organizations using renewable energy sources. Presently, the share of wind and solar energy in Kazakhstans general energy balance is 1 percent. At the same time, 12 percent of the total electricity in Kazakhstan is generated from water energy. Nevertheless, Kazakhstan is ready to increase the share of electricity production through wind power plants and solar panels to 3 percent by 2020. Defected, disaffected pieces We are in the bad books of the state. In other words, we are criminals who have committed the biggest crime possible. We are marked men and women and should either be in prison or be dead. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 Trend: Representatives of Kyrgyzstans textile business will take part in the First International Textile Conference, to be held in Uzbekistan on September 4, 2018, the Kyrgyz national news agency Kabar reported. "Uzbekistan Textile Conference" will be devoted to the latest trends in the industry, the development of international textile technologies, certification and digital marketing, scientific research in the development of "smart" textiles. In particular, the trends of developing textile clusters, the issues of certification of textile products for the European market, the expansion of the range of textile products, the increase in the export volume, the current state and prospects of the world textile industry, the legal regulation of relations in the field of electronic commerce, digital technologies in the textile and clothing industry, trends in the fashion industry are planned to be discussed. The Bangladeshi method is planned to be considered for the growth of the textile industry in Uzbekistan. The unique opportunities for creative business presented by Uzbek and international textile companies, as well as advantages in the supply of ready-made clothing, will be showcased at the event. Along with discussion of the current state and prospects of the world cotton fiber market, participants of the event will review the conditions created for attracting foreign investments to Uzbekistans textile industry. Representatives of the textile business from Germany, Switzerland, South Korea, China, Russia, India, Japan, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, the US, France, Russia and more than 30 countries will also attend the conference. There are more than 150 joint textile, clothing and knitwear enterprises in Uzbekistan today. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 Trend: Uzbekistan is ready to consider the proposal of partners to reform the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), Uzbekistans President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said at the summit in Turkmenistan, the UzA news agency reported. The fund is the only regional organization that has undergone a test of durability and today it can become an effective mechanism for cooperation," the president said. "I am confident that we will be able to achieve a balance of interests of all regional countries within the organization, our common future is in our hands," Mirziyoyev said. The president stressed that only with the full participation of all countries in the activity of the fund, it will be possible to solve common problems and challenges. "In this regard, we are ready to consider the proposals of our partners to improve the regulatory and legal framework and organizational structure of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea," he said. The summit of the heads of the founding states of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) was held in Turkmenistans Turkmenbashi. Leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan took part in the event. In 2016 Kyrgyzstan suspended its participation in the activity of the fund as it did not meet the interests and vital needs of the country. In 2009, Bishkek insisted on the need for reform to equalize the interests of all Central Asian countries. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 Trend: Uzbekistan intends to transform the Ministry of Health into the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Uzbek media reported. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyevs draft decree "On Measures for Cardinal Improvement of the Health Care and Social Security System of the Republic of Uzbekistan" has been published. According to the document, the Ministry of Health will be transformed into the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare will be a specially authorized body, which ensures the constitutional right of citizens to qualified medical care and social security, as well as medical education and science. According to the decree, the Concept of Public Health Care Development and Citizens' Health Protection for 2019-2029 is planned to be approved. According to the draft decree, an experiment on the transfer of some medical institutions to private operators management in the prescribed manner for a period of ten years is planned to be carried out from January 1, 2019. The share of the annual financing of the health care system is planned to be increased to the minimum level of 6 percent of the gross domestic product of the Republic of Uzbekistan recommended by the World Health Organization. Tehran, Iran, August 26 Trend: The Iranian energy minister said Tehran is in talks with Turkey and Azerbaijan to export electricity to its two neighboring nations. We are in talks with our neighbors to exchange energy following recent blackouts in the country during the hot season, Reza Ardakanian told ILNA news agency on August 26. We are currently exporting electricity to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq, he added. The minister noted that the government is holding negotiations with Turkey and Azerbaijan to export electricity. He further noted that Tehran could get help from its northern neighbors and export electricity to Europe in the future as well. On July 25, Payam Baqeri, head of Export Committee of the Iranian Power Industry Union, said connecting Irans electricity network to Russia would pave the way for the export of the countrys power to the European Union. Currently, there are two transmission corridors with the help of which we can export electricity to Russia and the EU, Baqeri told Trend at the time. Iran's electricity industry ranks 14th in the world in terms of output and 19th in terms of consumption. The country is the biggest exporter and importer of electricity in the Middle East and exports power to Pakistan, Turkey, Iraq and Afghanistan. Azerbaijan and Armenia supply electricity to Iran under swap agreements. Iran's installed power generation capacity is around 77,000 megawatts, over 62,000 MW of which comes from thermal power plants that burn fossil fuels along with hydropower plants (12,000 MW), Bushehr nuclear plant (1,000 MW) in southern Iran, distributed generation stations (1,500 MW) and renewables (less than 500 MW). The government aims to bring online 5,000 MW of new power output capacity annually through 2022, the end of Iran's Sixth Five-Year Economic Development Plan. Tehran, Iran, August 26 Trend: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif described the existing relations between Tehran and Baku as very good, adding that the two nations are working together in close cooperation to benefit from natural resources of the Caspian Sea. Our bilateral relations with Azerbaijan are at a very good level, Zarif said in an interview with Irans state TV August 26. He added that the two neighboring countries are closely cooperating with each other in the Caspian Sea, particularly in its sub-seabed and energy resources. The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water by area and is variously classified as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. Back in May, Iran announced it planned to form a joint oil company with Azerbaijan in what could prepare both to cooperate over the exploration and development of hydrocarbon reserves in the Caspian Sea and elsewhere. The announcement over the formation of the company was made by Amir Hossein Zamaninia, Irans deputy petroleum minister for international affairs and trading. Zamaninia told Trend that the company will be formed within the framework of a deal recently signed between the two parties. In April 2018, during a visit of Irans President Hassan Rouhani to Azerbaijan, the two countries signed "The Memorandum of Understanding on "Joint Development of Relevant Blocks in the Caspian Sea." Tehran, Iran, August 26 Trend: Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami arrived in the Syrian capital of Damascus on Sunday morning. Heading a high-ranking military delegation, General Hatami arrived at Damascus airport on Sunday morning and was received by top Syrian military commanders as well as the Iranian ambassador to Syria, Tasnim news agency reported on August 26. He has travelled to the Arab country at the official invitation of Chief of Staff of the Syrian Armed Forces General Ali Abdullah Ayoub. The latest developments in the region, fight against terrorism, expansion of military and defense ties, and reconstruction of Syria would top of the agenda during the Iranian ministers visit to the Arab country. Upon his arrival in Damascus, general Hatami expressed the hope that Iran could play a key role in reconstructing the crisis-hit country following the defeat of terror groups there. The visit came after Russias Defense Ministry said on August 25 that militants in a rebel-controlled province of Syria were preparing a chemical weapons attack. The Russian military cited its sources alleging that several containers with chlorine had been delivered to a local town and later taken to a nearby village. The Defense Ministry also claimed that a private British contractor is helping the rebels to stage the attack. Recently, US National Security Adviser John Bolton warned Syrias government against using chemical weapons and vowed a tough response if that happens. Tehran, Iran, August 26 Trend: At least 2 people were killed and more than 240 were injured in a powerful 6.1-magnitude earthquake which hit western Iran on early Sunday, a provincial official said. So far two people have been killed and more than 240 others injured, the head of Kermanshah provinces Emergency and Natural Disaster Department said, IRNA reported on August 26. He added that rescue teams have been deployed to affected areas and the rescue operation is underway. The epicenter of the quake was almost 6 miles from the city of Tazehabad and about 19 miles from the city of Javanrud. Both cities are close to the Iran-Iraq border. The earthquake struck at a depth of some 10 kilometers (6 miles). Last November, a 7.3 magnitude quake struck villages and towns in Kermanshah province along the mountainous border with Iraq, killing at least 530 people and injuring thousands of others. It was Iran's deadliest earthquake in more than a decade. Iran is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, being crossed by several major fault lines that cover at least 90 percent of the country. As a result, earthquakes in Iran occur often and are destructive. The deadliest quake in Iran's modern history happened in June 1990. It destroyed the northern cities of Rudbar, Manjil, and Lushan, along with hundreds of villages, killing an estimated 37,000 people. Bam in the countrys southeastern province of Kerman witnessed a strong quake in December 2003 which killed 31,000 people. Tehran, Iran, August 26 Trend: Iran's Minister of Information and Communications Technology Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi said the government plans to launch an online system to measure radio frequency levels in the country. One of the main duties of Communication Regulatory Authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran is to measure Cumulative Radiation Level in the country so that the standards are met, Azari Jahromi said on August 26, Fars news agency reported. He added that an online system for measuring the radio frequency levels in Iran will be unveiled soon on the occasion of the Iranian Government Week. Radio waves are a type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum longer than infrared light. Radio waves have frequencies as high as 300 gigahertz (GHz) to as low as 30 hertz (Hz). At 300 GHz, the corresponding wavelength is 1 mm, and at 30 Hz is 10,000 km. Like all other electromagnetic waves, radio waves travel at the speed of light. They are generated by electric charges undergoing acceleration, such as time varying electric currents. Radio waves are generated artificially by transmitters and received by radio receivers, using antennas. Radio waves are very widely used in modern technology for fixed and mobile radio communication, broadcasting, radar and other navigation systems, communications satellites, wireless computer networks and many other applications. Different frequencies of radio waves have different propagation characteristics in the Earth's atmosphere; long waves can diffract around obstacles like mountains and follow the contour of the earth (ground waves), shorter waves can reflect off the ionosphere and return to earth beyond the horizon (skywaves), while much shorter wavelengths bend or diffract very little and travel on a line of sight, so their propagation distances are limited to the visual horizon. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 26 Trend: German Chancellor Angela Merkels visit to Azerbaijan is a landmark event as the leadership of one of the leading European countries visited the region, Azerbaijani political analyst Fikret Sadikhov told Trend. Germany is the engine of the European Union, he said. Azerbaijan's relations with this leading European country have always been built on a mutually beneficial basis. "Azerbaijan and Germany have long-term partnership relations not only in the field of energy, but also historical aspects, political, humanitarian and economic ties, Sadikhov said. Moreover, Germany is interested in implementing energy projects, in particular the Southern Gas Corridor, he added. It also seeks to develop ties with the republics of the South Caucasus. Of course, the German chancellors visit to the three republics of the region is not accidental." The German chancellors visit to Baku will give impetus to the development and expansion of bilateral relations, he said. "I think that as part of bilateral talks between the leadership of Azerbaijan and Germany, besides energy and economic issues, security issues and the fight against terrorism were discussed, because they are important for Azerbaijan, Germany and the whole European Union," Sadikhov added. Of course, the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was also discussed during the meeting, he said. I think that much depends on Germany as a member of the OSCE Minsk Group in the direction of its settlement within the international law and the restoration of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani diplomats updated the German leadership about the importance and the need for rapid settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to ensure stability and security in this strategically important region, Sadikhov said. The settlement of the conflict in accordance with the laws of international law is important not only for Azerbaijan and region, but also for the European countries, he said. We maintain long-standing partnership relations with those countries. All agreements reached during the visit will further strengthen bilateral relations. Merkel paid a visit to the South Caucasus on August 23-25. Cameroon has deployed a 5th contingent of its troops for a stabilization and peace-keeping mission to neighboring Central African Republic (CAR), Cameroon's Defense Minister Joseph Beti Assomo said on Saturday, Xinhua reported. The soldiers are to contribute to the return of peace and stability while strictly respecting UN regulation of impartiality and respect for human rights during their mission, the minister said. The contingent is part of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) which started in 2014 to protect CAR civilians under the UN Charter. "Out of the 11,200 peace keeping soldiers deployed in MINUSCA, Cameroon provides more than a thousand staff within its battalion" said Assomo. "We are ready because we have received all the skills in line with UN standard and we have all the material necessary to accomplish the mission," said Colonel Martin Prospere Bayemi, commander of the 5th contingent of Cameroonian troops for MINUSCA. The contingent is taking over from predecessors who spent a year building peace in the war-torn country. The conflicts still in progress in CAR started in 2013 following a violent takeover of power by the armed group called seleka, meaning coalition in Sango, CAR's national language. Kanchanpur rape, murder case: Curfew reimposed from 10am after 5hr hiatus The District Administration Office, Kanchanpur reimposed curfew in Bhimdutta Municipality-4 and 18 of Kanchanpur district from 10am on Sunday. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday appointed the Afghan ambassador to the United States as his new national security advisor, a presidential spokesman said, Xinhua reported. Hamdullah Mohib will replace Mohammad Hanif Atmar, who resigned earlier Saturday, citing serious differences with leadership of the government over issues related to security, peace, electoral process, national unity and consensus as well as regional and international relations, spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri tweeted. The resignation came amid deteriorating security and increased terrorist attacks in the war-torn country. Islamic State (IS) militants launched a mortar attack on the Presidential Palace, the Defense Ministry building and nearby diplomatic district in Kabul on Tuesday. Scores of security forces and civilians were either killed or wounded in Ghazni city, capital of eastern Ghazni province after Taliban militants captured the city earlier this month. The North Korean authorities decided on Sunday to release a Japanese tourist who was detained in the country on suspicion of espionage, Sputnik reported citing KCNA. Tomoyuki Sugimoto, who has recently visited North Korea as a tourist, was detained after allegedly trying to videotape some military sites during a visit to the city of Nampo, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. The Japanese government has reportedly been in talks with Pyongyang on the release of the national. The two neighboring states have no diplomatic relations. However, recently Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated that Tokyo was ready for a new dialogue with North Korea. The situation on the Korean Peninsula has significantly improved over the last months after Kim held several rounds of talks with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in and participated in a summit with US President Trump in Singapore. During the June 12 summit, Kim and Trump reached an agreement that required Pyongyang to denuclearize in exchange for a freeze on the US-South Korean military drills and eventual sanctions relief. A number of Japanese citizens were abducted by North Korean agents during a six-year period from 1983 to 1997. The issue of the kidnapped Japanese citizens remains unresolved today and continues to be a key roadblock in bilateral relations between Tokyo and Pyongyang. The body of woman, who died 31 years ago while climbing Mount Elbrus in Russias North Caucasus, was found on the slopes of Europes highest mountain, regional rescue authorities said on Saturday, TASS reported. "The womans body was found by a group of tourists at the height of about 4,000 meters. They informed rescuers about their discovery. According to preliminary information, the woman died while climbing the mountain 31 year ago. The body has been evacuated," the rescue service of Russias republic of Karachayevo-Cherkessia said. The press service said that a group of seven climbers was buried by an avalanche in the area in 1987. "At that time, the search produced no result," the source said. A source in the republics interior ministry said the woman was quickly identified, because she had documents on her. "A passport was found on the name of Yelena Konstantinovna Bazykina, born in 1951, a native of the city of Novaya Ladoga in the Leningrad Region," the source said. The woman also had a plane ticket for a flight from Moscow to Mineralnye Vody, dated 10.04.1987. The Kuravilangad Police acted upon instructions from a magistrate court that ruled on a petition filed by the Imams Council. NCP unification: Leadership disputes stall lower panels After the disputes over selecting leadership of the lower committees continued to flare up, ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) co-chairman Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal have been given responsibility to resolve the issue. NTBs budget in limbo over board controversy Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has not been able to pass its proposed annual budget of Rs1.25 billion for this fiscal year following controversy over the removal of three board members at the countrys tourism promotional body. Dividend investors are often lured by high yields, but more often than not, you'd be better off owning dividend stocks that can earn enough to back those yields, especially at a time when they may have lost favor with the market. In-the-know investors know this well and are always on the lookout for companies that are laying out plans to return a greater portion of money to shareholders, even if that means taking a bit of risk. Our Motley Fool contributors believe Newell Brands (NYSE: NWL) and Cummins (NYSE: CMI) are two such dividend stocks with strong potential right now. Here's why. A risk-reward dividend investment worth considering Jason Hall (Newell Brands): It's been an ugly couple of years for Newell Brands investors. In 2015, the company acquired Jarden, and about the best way to describe that move was value-destroying. Since the deal closed in April 2016, Newell's stock price has fallen by 49%. Taken from the peak a few months post-closing, investors have lost almost 59%. To sum it up, it has been nearly a textbook case of a major acquisition gone wrong: failure to gain the benefit of "synergies" promised by management, loss of market share and declining sales from the combined business, and the inevitable infighting of executives and even the board as leaders clash over how to turn things around. Sometimes that creates opportunity, even with the risk. I think that might be the case with Newell. A sign board saying opportunity. Image source: Getty Images. As things stand today, the company has a plan to move forward, but it involves divesting a substantial amount of its business. Factor in weak results from the segments it plans to keep as of last quarter, and the results aren't pretty. Wall Street, in fact, seems to be hating them. Furthermore, the continued deterioration in its operating results could put the dividend -- now yielding over 4% after the big sell-off -- at risk. At least on paper. But within all the noise of asset divestitures, weak sales, and a murky future, Newell's plan to generate $10 billion to pay down debt and repurchase a whopping 40% of shares over the next 30 months could generate huge returns -- that's the potential reward. Or it could destroy more investor capital. That's the risk. Story continues This dividend stock is on steady ground Neha Chamaria (Cummins): Cummins' shareholders are well versed with ups and downs, given the cyclical nature of the company's business. But if there's one section of investors the company has consistently rewarded through thick and thin, it's income investors. The North American trucking markets are roaring back to growth after a bumpy ride in the past couple of years, so much so that industry orders for the heavy-duty Class 8 trucks hit highs not seen since 2004 between January through July of this year. That bodes really well for Cummins, a leading engine maker with nearly one-third of the heavy-duty and almost three-quarters of the medium-duty truck market in its corner. The risk is that economic conditions won't remain as strong forever, not to mention the looming threat to global trade as tariff wars heat up. Cummins has substantial operations outside the U.S., and tariffs could substantially drive the cost of raw materials higher. Yet Cummins doesn't feel the need to compromise on its shareholder returns. In fact, management recently increased dividends by 5.6% and now aims to return 75% of operating cash flow to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases. That compares with roughly 66% in operating cash flow that Cummins gave away between 2015 and 2017. Cummins has grown its dividends annually for more than 10 years now, and the pace is nothing to sneeze at: Its annual dividend per share increased almost 1,200% between 2006 and 2017. I don't expect Cummins to break its dividend streak anytime soon, which means in-the-know dividend investors might want to consider the stock's 20% year-to-date drop and 3.2% yield as an opportunity for the long haul. More From The Motley Fool Jason Hall has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Neha Chamaria has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Cummins. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. LeoLabs wants to offer a new infrastructure of equipment and software to track more objects in orbit around the Earth. The startup's recent round of funding raised $13 million, with Airbus Ventures and WERU Investment leading the round. LeoLabs sees three potential customer groups in the space industry: Satellite companies, public agencies and insurers. In the loud and crowded world of satellites, start-up LeoLabs is working toward offering both governments and companies alike a solution to cut through the noise. Tens of thousands of objects fly around the Earth many times faster than a bullet, capable of destroying billions of dollars in equipment. LeoLabs wants to offer an infrastructure of equipment and software to enhance the eyes on the sky with a new source of risk-assessment data. "Ninety-five percent of the risk of being hit by a piece of debris is not being tracked," CEO Dan Ceperley told CNBC. LeoLabs' most recent round of funding raised $13 million, with Airbus Ventures and WERU Investment leading the round, joined by Space Angels and Horizons Ventures. The cash means LeoLabs will begin building next-generation ground systems overseas, adding to the two it has in Midland, Texas and Fairbanks, Alaska. "Starting next year," Ceperley said, these phased-array radar ground systems "will be providing the information that makes tracking that debris possible." "You're looking at the first company trying to accomplish a Google Maps around the Earth," Airbus Ventures partner Julien Etaix told CNBC. LeoLabs estimates there are about 250,000 pieces of debris orbiting the Earth that are both not tracked and potentially disastrous if they collide with a satellite. The U.S. military is tracking about 23,000 objects in space around the Earth, according to AGI, a company which provides software to commercial and government entities to analyze and track objects. AGI estimates the current public catalogs only account for about 4 percent of the objects in space around the Earth. Story continues An animation of the history of space debris around the Earth. Source: AGI "It's our mission to be a global platform," says LeoLabs vice president of business development Alan DeClerck. "The real currency of what we're able to do with the radar is frequency of operations." LeoLabs sees three potential customer groups in the space industry: Satellite companies (which, shortly after a launch, want to know where a satellite is and whether it is healthy), public agencies (especially on the licensing and regulatory side of the public sector which are trying to avoid increase risk to assets in space) and insurers (which underwrite launches and satellite operations in space). "We specifically got into the business now because now is when the wave of developments are happening," Ceperley said. "15,000 new satellites are being slated to go into low Earth orbit over the next three to five years." With thousands of satellites set to launch, LeoLabs sees the insurance business as a potential boon especially given the existing risks. "If you have a big data set then we use that as an example of what developing future applications for space is going to look like," DeClerck said. "They can write applications that will be worth millions and millions of dollars to the insurance industry." Airbus Ventures had contributed to the $4 million LeoLabs raised in the last two years but in this latest round stepped up as co-lead with WERU, a Japanese firm. Etaix explained that Airbus Ventures is not structured "like other aerospace VC funds," saying that the firm "is quite independent from Airbus." "We can connect with Airbus but we don't really force the marriage with Airbus," Etaix said. Etaix added that LeoLabs is already working with the broader Airbus, due to the "number of businesses" that could benefit from this technology, he said. "Primarily OneWeb, because OneWeb is a project Airbus is heavily involved with because they need the data," Etaix said. OneWeb is one of several companies building a next-generation constellation of hundreds of satellites for high speed internet. With 15 employeesLeoLabs expects to add 10 more shortlythat headcount is expanding as the company builds more ground sites and adds capability. Ceperley said it will be "six months from breaking ground to delivering data" with the next location and expects LeoLabs to be able to build additional locations just as quickly. Investment in the space industry has introduced new trends which LeoLabs is attempting to capitalize on: New rockets, lighter and cheaper satellites and a new need to quickly get data from spacecraft in orbit. "LeoLabs has uniquely harnessed the energy of these trends ... and is thereby dismantling some of the last remaining barriers for new space entrants, while making massive constellations for the experienced incumbents newly manageable at an unprecedented level of detailed awareness and reactive capability," Etaix added. More From CNBC (Adds share reaction, Carlyle declines to comment) By Harry Brumpton and Greg Roumeliotis Aug 24 (Reuters) - Aluminum products maker Arconic Inc is discussing acquisition offers for the entire company, even though it announced a sale process last month only for its building and construction systems unit, people familiar with the matter said. The move comes after Arconic, which was spun out of Alcoa Corp in 2016, said in February it would carry out a "strategy and portfolio review," to be completed by the end of 2018, but has provided little detail about what this entails. Arconic is speaking with private equity firms that have shown interest in acquiring the company, including a consortium of Blackstone Group LP and Carlyle Group LP, another consortium of KKR & Co and Onex Corp, as well as Apollo Global Management LLC, the sources said on Friday. Arconic shares jumped on the news to end trading on Friday up 4.7 percent at $22.23, giving the company a market capitalization of $10.7 billion. Activist hedge fund Elliott Management Corp, which won board representation at Arconic last year following a proxy contest, has been instrumental in pushing the company to explore a sale, the sources said. However, some of the private equity firms have expressed doubts over whether the company's high price expectations for a sale can be met, some of the sources added. The sources cautioned no deal may be reached and asked not to be identified because the matter is confidential. Arconic, Elliott, KKR and Onex did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Apollo, Carlyle and Blackstone declined to comment. The Wall Street Journal first reported last month that Arconic was attracting interest from private equity firms. Arconic has said it will announce the outcome of its strategic review by the time it holds its investor day in November 2018. Arconic's products, which are made of aluminum, titanium or nickel, are used around the world by aerospace, automotive, commercial transportation and packaging manufacturers. Story continues As planemakers ramp up production to satisfy growing global demand for air travel, Pittsburgh-based Arconic is paying more attention to aircraft parts. Several parts suppliers are increasing hiring and capital expenditure to meet delivery targets. The announcement of the plan to sell Arconic's building and construction systems division, which makes facades, windows and framing products, came one year after a major fire broke out at Londons Grenfell Tower apartment complex, where the company's Reynobond PE panels were used in the cladding. More than 70 people were killed in the blaze. Higher aluminum prices lowered Arconics operating income by $20 million in the second quarter, Chief Financial Officer Kenneth Giacobbe said on a conference call with analysts last month. However, sales across Arconic's three major businesses - transportation and construction, engineered products and global rolled products - increased between 7.5 percent and 14 percent. (Reporting by Harry Brumpton and Greg Roumeliotis in New York Additional reporting by Joshua Franklin in New York Editing by Phil Berlowitz and Susan Thomas) Ready or not, here come some big changes to America's most important social program. According to the newest annual report from the Social Security Board of Trustees released in June, the program's costs are expected to exceed the revenue generated from its three sources of income by $1.7 billion this year. Though this isn't a particularly large number when compared to the nearly $2.9 trillion Social Security has in its asset reserves, it nevertheless represents a major shift and is the first net cash outflow since 1982. Casino chips and dice lying atop two Social Security cards. Image source: Getty Images. When looking at the bigger picture, Social Security's net cash outflow is indicative that the current payout schedule isn't sustainable. This is primarily due to three things: baby boomers are retiring and weighing down the worker-to-beneficiary ratio, life expectancies have been increasing for decades, and income inequality continues to grow. Ultimately, the Trustees believe that the only way to bridge Social Security's estimated $13.2 trillion cash shortfall between 2034 and 2092 and adjust for the expected depletion of its $2.9 trillion in asset reserves by 2034 -- assuming Congress passes no reforms -- is to reduce benefits across the board by 21%. While the positive takeaway here is that Social Security is in no danger of insolvency, there's not exactly much comfort in knowing that benefits could be slashed by 21% for current and future generations. As a reminder, 62% of current retirees lean on Social Security to provide at least half of their monthly income, per the Social Security Administration. Simply put, a fix is needed, and the longer Congress waits to act, the more painful that solution will likely be. Donald Trump's Social Security "solution" aims to prove forecasters wrong President Trump isn't oblivious to the fact that Social Security's long-term outlook is on somewhat shaky ground. During his campaign, he supported the idea that America uphold its promise to make guaranteed payments to eligible beneficiaries who'd paid into the system. But rather than approach Social Security head on, Trump has favored an indirect means of influencing the program. Story continues Trump's not-so-secret weapon to tackle Social Security's many issues was to pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This sweeping tax overhaul, which modestly lowers many of the individual income tax brackets, as well as slashes the peak marginal corporate income tax rate to 21% from 35%, is expected to accelerate growth in the U.S. economy. Since Social Security's payroll tax -- a 12.4% tax on earned income of up to $128,400, as of 2018 -- accounted for $873.6 billion of the $996.6 billion collected in revenue last year, the thesis here is that a strong economy with low unemployment and higher wages will lead to more payroll tax revenue being collected. President Trump speaking to an audience, with a giant American flag in the background. Image source: Official White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian. Considering how important payroll tax is as a percentage of total revenue, and taking into account that U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 4.1% in the second quarter, its fastest pace since 2014, it's not out of the question that the Trustees are proven wrong in 2018 and 2019. In other words, there may be no net cash outflow after all, thanks to a stronger U.S. economy, as a result of the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. But there's only so far that indirect solutions can carry Social Security. It's a certainty that Trump's Social Security fix will disappoint Back in 2013 at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Trump didn't mince his words when he said: As Republicans, if you think you are going to change very substantially for the worse Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security in any substantial way, and at the same time you think you are going to win elections, it just really is not going to happen... What we have to do and the way [to] solve our problems is to build a great economy. In plainer English, Trump doesn't believe that directly addressing Social Security is a particularly smart move for Republicans to consider. The reason why is that no matter what solution is implemented, someone eventually comes out a loser. With election seats on the line, Trump cautions that tackling Social Security could mean handing over seats in the House and Senate to Democrats. It's for this reason that he prefers to focus on the economy as an indirect way of "fixing" Social Security. A mature couple examining their finances on a laptop, with the husband visibly irritated. Image source: Getty Images. Unfortunately, I can say with almost concrete certainty that Trump's indirect Social Security solution is going to fail eventually. Why, you ask? Blame the economic cycle. Right now, we're in the midst of the second-longest economic expansion since the end of World War II at 109 months (and counting). It's taken a lot of help to keep the economy chugging along, including three rounds of quantitative easing from the Federal Reserve and now a major tax overhaul from Republicans that has put a lot of extra capital in the hands of corporations. But the thing is, no matter what's done from a fiscal policy or monetary policy perspective, it's impossible to prevent the U.S. economy from going through periods of economic contraction or recession. This suggests that, at some point, payroll tax revenue growth could slow. There simply isn't a feasible scenario where the U.S. economy grows fast enough or with enough long-term consistency to erase a $13.2 trillion cash shortfall. If President Trump is serious about securing Social Security for the future, the plain-as-day truth is that he's going to have to consider making compromises in order for that to happen. More From The Motley Fool The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Bahamian job seekers will now be able to share and verify their educational certificates from anywhere, thus reducing bureaucracy and enhancing convenience. This is after the Commonwealth of the Bahamas became the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean region to implement a blockchain-based nation-wide credentialing system known as Bahamas Blockcerts, according to The Nassau Guardian. Through these nationally-accredited digital certificates, the government of the Caribbean country aims to enhance how national educational qualifications including certificates, academic degrees and diplomas are created, issued, viewed and verified. #TheBahamas has issued their first #blockchain certificates last month to all 78 students in their Mandatory Workforce Preparatory Programme graduating class which will be delivered under @the_IDB project as pre-#Apprenticeship! Read more about it here: https://t.co/wgGUAwZgyP pic.twitter.com/ce8nu8Eva3 IDB Caribbean/Caribe (@IDB_Caribbean) August 3, 2018 The first Bahamas Blockcert digital certificates were issued late in June by the countrys National Training Agency (NTA) to 78 participants of an initiative meant to prepare trainees for the workforce. Collection of Digital Certificate Links Participants of the initiative store their Bahamas Blockcert Portfolios on a mobile app and this basically consists of a collection of URLs which uniquely identify every digital certificate that an individual has earned. Story continues Rather than requiring paper certificates all that individuals with Bahamas Blockcerts will need to do is add the website links to their resumes. These links can also be sent to potential employers who will then be able to view as well as verify the authenticity of the digital certificates. In the future, the NTA intends to issue the blockchain digital certificates for all its training courses offered to unemployed citizens as well as those adding to their skills. Currently, the National Training Agency of the Bahamas is the only body that is issuing the blockchain digital certificates though there are plans to add 23 national agencies to the project. Some of these agencies include the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute, the Department of Inland Revenue, University of the Bahamas as well as the National Insurance Board. Beyond Educational Certificates In future, the Bahamas Blockcerts initiative will be expanded to other sectors to include tax compliance certificates, business licenses and other documents. We piloted the initiative with the NTA, but the vision is to have Bahamas Blockcerts form a core part of the governments National Blockchain Strategy, the minister of labor in the Bahamas, Dion Foulkes, told The Nassau Guardian. We are talking about using the technology for citizen security, to improve the land registry and a host of other initiatives. As CCN has previously reported, similar initiatives in other parts of the world aimed at simplifying the verification of education certificates using blockchain have been conducted by among others the French academic institution, Leonardo da Vinci Engineering School, and the San Francisco, California-based Holberton School. In both cases, using blockchain was considered more secure, cheaper and efficient compared to traditional methods of verification. Featured image from Shutterstock. The post The Bahamas Establishes a Blockchain Credentials System in Latin America/Caribbean First appeared first on CCN. If rush hour in the Bay Area wasnt bad enough already, commuters encountered a novel obstacle on their way homes Friday: a truck spilled 300 gallons of acid on a major freeway, stalling traffic and igniting a fire in surrounding vegetation. The truck was carrying a blend of phosphoric and nitric acid when the chemicals spilled onto Interstate 880 near the city of Hayward in the East Bay. The corridor is a major thoroughfare used by people working in Silicon Valley and commuting to homes north of the tech hub. While the cause of the acid spill was unknown, the incident led to a toxic vapor plume that led authorities in Hayward to urge nearby residents to shelter in place. The San Francisco Chronicle said that the spill also caused a vegetation fire, prompting the California Highway Patrol to shut down traffic on I-880 on both directions. Late Friday afternoon, hazmat crews managed to stop the acid leak and was working to clean up the spill, the Chronicle said. I-880 update: All northbound lanes are reopened as hazmat crews continue to clean up the acid. As of 4 p.m., officials announced that crews partially neutralized the leak. Read more: https://t.co/nQx3TR5D9S San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) August 24, 2018 The summer of 2018 has been a hard one for California residents, with a number of wildfires raging in both the northern and southern portions of the state. Firefighters have battled blazes near recreational areas and homes in Northern California, notably the Mendocino Complex Fire that has become the largest wildfire in the states history. One of the Big 4 global accounting companies, Ernst & Young, has moved deeper into blockchain and digital assets. Tesla CEO and Founder, Elon Musk Twitters account was hacked on Thursday, for the second time. Elon Musk Hacked and Free Cryptocurrency Offered Elon Musk Twitter account was hacked. Musk, the controversial head of Tesla, is a frequent target of hackers due to his tendency to stand in the limelight regarding his many companies and projects like Tesla, the electric car manufacturer, and SpaceX which builds rockets for NASA. The hackers who took over Musks Twitter account (perhaps his fake Twitter account) offered free Bitcoin and Ethereum as part of a plan to take Tesla private. Being a hack the offer was obviously a scam, but the hackers took advantage of Musks recent bantering about potentially taking Tesla private may have been able to fool some of the 22.4 million followers Elon Musk has on Twitter. Since then, Musk abandoned his plan to take Tesla private and announced that the company remains public. The fallout from the hack has not been able to be tracked yet via individuals who may have fallen prey to the criminal hack. However, Twitter quickly responded to the hack on Musk by issuing a statement essentially warning its users once again that any offers of free cryptocurrencies should be viewed with extreme skepticism. The hacker (or hackers) certainly played into the recent news when Musk threatened to take Tesla private. A few weeks ago during one of his many loud pronouncements to the media and shareholders who question his handling of Tesla and its cash liquidity problems, which have surfaced and raised concerns, Musk said he was seriously considering taking Tesla private and could raise the funds to make this happen. Musk raised the ire of many, including shareholders with this statement and a legion of people who have become part of an anti-Musk vanguard warned lawsuits would greet him. The SEC is also taking a look into Musks pronouncements. However, Musk has made it known this past week that he is not going to attempt to take Tesla private. And the company will remain public. Skeptics surrounding Musk, of which there are many, said it would likely be impossible for Tesla to go private. Story continues A huge amount of money would have been needed to take Tesla private, approximately 80 plus billion U.S Dollars. And it has been suggested, serious questions exist about Teslas current cash liquidity situation which is under heavy scrutiny, and those who would have thought about funding the company going private would have likely balked upon seeing the auditing. Suggested Articles Ernst & Young Interest in Cryptos Growing Ernst & Young have moved deeper into blockchain and digital assets with the announcement they are buying cryptocurrency software. Ernst & Young is one of the Big 4 global accounting companies. The purchase of this software will allow Ernst & Young to expand its cryptocurrency services. The software purchased is from a Silicon Valley company called Elevated Consciousness. Ernst & Youngs is keen on offering its hedge funds and institutional investors who are clients a host of full cryptocurrency auditing procedures. Hedge funds and institutional investors are focusing an increasing amount of attention on the cryptocurrency and blockchain sector with an eye towards finding profitable avenues of investment for their clients. They are making direct investments into certain digital assets, finding ways to invest in growing infrastructure projects surrounding blockchain, engaging in trade for clients, and looking at the creation of Indexes and ETFs. Reality Shares of the U.S, an asset management company, has recently announced that it is launching an ETF based in China. And Reality Shares has also said it will start a cryptocurrency hedge fund using up to 100 million USD as a starting point. Also, Northern Trust which is a custodian bank is assisting hedge funds to enter the world of cryptocurrency. Northern Trust is a U.S based financial institution with its headquarters in Chicago. The bank via administrative technology based on an integration of data storage capabilities with the accounting firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers is looking to offer its clients full digital asset services. PwC, which is among the top 4 accounting firms along with Ernst & Young, and is considered among the best top accounting firms consistently. The news of these two top international accounting and auditing firms getting active within the blockchain and cryptocurrency sectors is another sign of genuine interest is strong as global corporations examine blockchain innovation and its potential benefits. In the midst of the downturn in value in 2018 which has taken place since the beginning of January, after over-exuberance sending cryptocurrencies sky high in values subsided, hedge funds and institutions are still clearly attracted to the multitude of potential revenue streams blockchain and cryptocurrencies are capable of producing. Yaron Mazor is a senior analyst at DX.Exchange and Private Equity Manager This article was originally posted on FX Empire More From FXEMPIRE: By Joseph Nasr and Jan Schwartz BERLIN/HAMBURG (Reuters) - All sectors of the German economy grew in the second quarter, data showed, with robust domestic activity helping to cushion against risks to exports from an uncertain global trade outlook. Construction and state spending expanded the most, both up 0.6 percent quarter on quarter - but the head of one economic institute said a record public sector surplus meant government investments should be rising more rapidly. Finance Minister Olaf Scholz cautiously agreed, saying the surplus created "further possibilities" though the precise extent of them would not become apparent until the end of the year. His remarks could cheer critics who have until now been disappointed in their hopes that the Social Democrat would follow a looser fiscal course than his conservative predecessor Wolfgang Schaeuble, a reluctant spender who was dead set against new debt. Friday's Federal Statistics Office figures, which matched a preliminary overall growth reading of 0.5 percent, confirmed the increasing reliance of Europe's largest economy on domestic drivers. "It's a good development (offering) further possibilities," Scholz said in Hamburg after meeting finance ministers from fellow German-speaking countries Austria, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein. He added that he would see at the end of the year exactly how much extra wiggle room had been created. Private consumption extended its growth run to six straight quarters, reflecting steady falls in unemployment during what has been a long phase of economic recovery. Story continues That surge has fuelled criticism of Berlin by its euro zone partners for not helping their economies by spending more of its budget surplus on investments. Carsten Brzeski of ING Diba said Friday's data should help counter that view. "Defying the often-heard international criticism, the economy is already showing a very balanced growth model," he wrote in a note to clients. It had delivered "a full strike", with all sectors growing. But after the data also showed the overall public sector surplus soared to a record high of 48.1 billion euros ($55.0 billion) in the first half of the year, the president of the DIW economics institute added his voice to the calls for more investments. "The massive surplus and tax revenues for the government are a source of envy," Marcel Fratzscher wrote on Twitter. "A smart investment offensive in infrastructure, education and innovation is necessary." BLUE SKIES FOR NOW Other critics say that, given the less robust export sector, the government should also approve tax relief for families beyond the 10 billion euros a year it granted in June. "The state needs to give taxpayers something back. The middle class needs to have more money in its pockets," Bavarian state Premier Markus Soeder told the RND newspaper group. Germany's economy has traditionally been dominated by exports. That sector's prominence has declined in recent quarters, and trade disputes between the United States and many of its largest commercial partners, including the European Union, risk diminishing its influence further. Stefan Kipar of BayernLB said he saw no signs of that yet, however. "It's encouraging to see that investments did not decline. And we don't see an export weakness," he wrote in a note to clients. Imports rose 1.7 percent in the second quarter while exports gained 0.7 percent, resulting in net trade deducting 0.4 percentage points from growth. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has imposed tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from the EU, agreed last month to defer imposing levies on cars imported from the bloc while the two sides negotiate over other trade issues. A larger-scale trade dispute between the United States and China could also harm Germany, many of whose manufacturers rely on growth in the world's two largest economies. ($1 = 0.8744 euros) (Additional reporting by Klaus Lauer and Rene Wagner; Editing by Maria Sheahan and John Stonestreet) Pokhara girl found dead in suspicious circumstances A 13-year-old school girl was found dead in suspicious circumstances at Lamachaur in Pokhara on Friday. In this article, Im going to take a look at The Home Depot Incs (NYSE:HD) latest ownership structure, a non-fundamental factor which is important, but remains a less discussed subject among investors. Ownership structure has been found to have an impact on shareholder returns in both short- and long-term. The effect of an active institutional investor with a similar ownership as a passive pension-fund can be vastly different on a companys corporate governance and accountability to shareholders. While this may be more interesting for long-term investors, short-term investors can also benefit by paying attention to when these institutions trade in order to take advantage of the heightened volatility. Therefore, it is beneficial for us to examine HDs ownership structure in more detail. Check out our latest analysis for Home Depot NYSE:HD Ownership Summary August 25th 18 Institutional Ownership HDs 70.9% institutional ownership seems enough to cause large share price movements in the case of significant share sell-off or acquisitions by institutions, particularly when there is a low level of public shares available on the market to trade. Although HD has a high institutional ownership, such stock moves, in the short-term, are more commonly linked to a particular type of active institutional investors hedge funds. For HD shareholders, the potential of this type of share price volatility shouldnt be as concerning as hedge fund ownership is is not significant,indicating few chances of such sudden price moves. While that hardly seems concerning, I will explore further into HDs ownership type to find out how it can affect the companys investment profile. Insider Ownership Insiders form a group of important ownership types as they manage the companys operations and decide the best use of capital. Insider ownership has been linked to better alignment between management and shareholders. Although individuals in HD hold only a minor stake, given HD is a large-cap company, it is relatively meaningful. This is a good sign for shareholders as the companys executives and directors have their incentives directly linked to the companys performance. It would also be interesting to check what insiders have been doing with their shareholding recently. Insider buying can be a positive indicator of future performance, but a selling decision can be simply driven by personal financial requirements. Story continues NYSE:HD Insider Trading August 25th 18 General Public Ownership A big stake of 29.0% in HD is held by the general public. This size of ownership gives retail investors collective power in deciding on major policy decisions such as executive compensation, appointment of directors and acquisitions of businesses. Private Company Ownership Another group of owners that a potential investor in HD should consider are private companies, with a stake of 0.001%. While they invest more often due to strategic interests, an investment can also be driven by capital gains through share price appreciation. However, an ownership of this size may be relatively insignificant, meaning that these shareholders may not have the potential to influence HDs business strategy. Thus, investors not need worry too much about the consequences of these holdings. Next Steps: HDs considerably high level of institutional ownership calls for further analysis into its margin of safety. This is to avoid getting trapped in a sustained sell-off that is often observed in stocks with this level of institutional participation. However, if you are building an investment case for HD, ownership structure alone should not dictate your decision to buy or sell the stock. Rather, you should be looking at fundamental drivers such as the intrinsic valuation, which is a key driver of Home Depots share price. I urge you to complete your research by taking a look at the following: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for HDs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for HDs outlook. Past Track Record: Has HD been consistently performing well irrespective of the ups and downs in the market? Go into more detail in the past performance analysis and take a look at the free visual representations of HDs historicals for more clarity. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. To help readers see past the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements. The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. For errors that warrant correction please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. Retirees living abroad have to take special care with their tax returns. If you forget to check it off this box on Schedule B when you live overseas, it could mean big trouble with the IRS. An IRS law was designed to increase tax compliance by Americans with financial assets held outside the U.S. We get it. People with millions of dollars sometimes like to hide the money overseas. Naturally, the government frowns on tax evasion. Following the 2008 financial crisis, the IRS in 2010 created the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, known as FATCA for short. FATCA works through "dual reporting": Other countries agree to report on the assets held by U.S. account holders. These account holders, in turn, must report to the IRS that they have money in foreign bank accounts each year when they file their taxes, says Katelynn Minott, a CPA and expatriate tax specialist with Bright!Tax. Some people are unhappy with the requirements. Edd Staton, an expat retiree who lives in Ecuador, said FATCA was intended to reel in "big-league tax evaders stashing money offshore." Small oversight leads to big problem Problem is, according to Ed Slott, CPA and founder of Ed Slott and Co., "they cast such a wide net they catch the little fish people who weren't doing anything wrong." A client of Slott's was caught up in an IRS audit and faced stiff penalties about a year ago after having neglected a small but crucial part of his tax return. Slott says the client hadn't told his accountant he had a bank account with about $3,500 in a foreign country. As Slott explains, Schedule B asks you to disclose whether you have a bank account in a foreign country. "Almost every tax program defaults to 'No,' " Slott said. More from Personal Finance: Earn more than $75,000 working from home at these seven jobs Your next raise could be bigger. Here's how to get it. Five things single parents absolutely have to pin down Story continues You must tell the government that you have this account, no matter how small, Slott says. "There's nothing wrong with having the account," he said. "It's not disclosing it" that can cause problems. And it did cause problems for Slott's client. The penalties were massive, and the issue was solved only with the intervention of an attorney experienced in the tax situations of people who live out of the country. Who has to file? How much you earn in income and how much you hold in assets help determine your filing requirements. Americans living abroad must still file a U.S. tax return, says Minott. "It doesn't matter where you live, if you pay foreign taxes or if the U.S. has a tax treaty with their country of residency," she said. As well as your Form 1040, there are often additional forms for the foreign earned income exclusion, or the foreign tax credit form. If you receive only Social Security and have no other income anywhere in the world, it's possible you do not require a tax return , regardless of where you live, according to Minott. Minott says that if you are a single taxpayer who lives in, say, New Jersey and has a U.K. bank account worth more than $50,000, "you must file Form 8938 and the FBAR disclosure" for foreign bank and financial accounts. It pays to be scrupulous in your tax reporting and requirements. As Staton points out, if "you can't afford to live in the U.S. because of the high cost of health care, taxes, among other costs," the last thing you want is to then incur penalties from the IRS. Staton, the author of three books on retiring overseas , is dedicated to making this idea a part of the national conversation. "Choosing this path for many baby boomers may be the best or only viable option to rescue their retirement," he said. Get expert help Slott recommends using a CPA. But first, he cautions, ask if the professional has experience with FBAR rules and what you need to disclose to the IRS to keep you out of trouble. "In people's heads, they want to keep it secret," Slott said. But "when you're a U.S. citizen, you pay tax on your worldwide income. It's all about disclosure." Another client of Slott's inherited a large bank account in Europe. "He had to pay a fortune in penalties," Slott said. "Even with a good law firm. You must disclose and you must be honest, Slott says. "Don't think anything is too small for the IRS," he said. "The form says any assets not any amount [of assets]." Most developed countries agreed to comply with FATCA, so check to see if the country you're interested in retiring to participates. More From CNBC The concept of Security Tokens has been a subject of debate and controversy since they came to prominence . How have they changed since they were first introduced, and where might they be heading next? Futures, and All Coins are Securities This was around Winter 2017 2018. The same time when the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the USA began focusing their attention on this new and previously unregulated form of cash. Before many other national, government authorities worldwide decided to follow suit. It was also around the same time when the first bitcoin futures contracts were launched and sold by enterprising new and existing firms with the SEC ruling creating a significant space for traditional investment and old-money to pour into the market. The opening of crypto-futures arguably exacerbated the pressure on cryptocurrencies which resulted from prying government eyes. The Two Tokens: Securities & Utilities Since those early days of regulation in the West, cryptocurrencies have eventually dichotomized into: security tokens and utility tokens. The definitions used by coin creators and the communities can be flexible, with many fundraisers opting to class their coins as utilities to avoid potential additional legal / administrative repercussions however the most commonly accepted definition is that: Securities are asset backed tokens (AKA fungible, often equivalent to a real-world asset). Utilities are functional assets within the blockchain project in questions eco-system whose value is based in more abstract terms. At present, the SEC has declared few tokens as being officially classed as utilities rather than securities and are thus not subject to laws pertinent to traditional securities. Two of these are Bitcoin and Ethereum. Independent Standards Agencies? Some companies, such as Luxembourg based Tokeny were able to establish their headquarters in a pro-crypto country in the first place, regardless of their seasoned international leaders. Story continues This team includes CEO and founder Luc Falempin: supported by a diverse team of executives coming from traditional financial services, as well as global roles in software and IT service companies like IBM and Syniverse. Tokeny hails itself as The end-to-end platform to issue, manage and trade Utility and Security tokens significantly cutting down on needs for otherwise unneccessary intermediaries. The organisation advertises its proprietary approval program entitled SICOP (AKA The Sustainable Initial Coin Offering Protocol): a standards and regulation process for ICOs and STOs which is independent of government intervention. Havens: Not Just for Taxes, But Cryptos Too! If youve read some of my writing on CCN or our sister site Hacked.com, you may notice a running theme of discussion surrounding security concerns and government regulations. This is in addition to the role which many international crypto-havens play as independent advocates of cryptocurrencies on the world stage. One example is the ways in which such financially liberal (and often nation-state) countries play in facilitating innovation and business migration from stricter countries. DSTOQ made its way to the news recently in-part due to being the first fully-licensed cryptocurrency as issued by the tax-haven government of Vanuatu. Also notable was the recent and unexpected surprise public reveal / launch of the company itself and MVP. The companys decision to acquire official legislative backing through the Commonwealth of Nations member country is a means of bypassing the strict legislation put in place by agencies such as the USAs SEC. It also prevents them from allowing investment from citizens of the USA; meaning that they are focusing their efforts in Europe to begin with. A decision which potentially reflects a smaller-scale crypto-flight from the USA as seen with China. Binance conversely has been noted for their relocation and international expansion outside of their native China: with various regional offices across South-East Asia, including Japan. Blue-Chip Big Dogs World-class asset management firms such as BlackRock, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs have been admitting interest repeatedly in potentially implementing crypto investments into their business roadmaps. The same can be said for market leaders in other sectors, such as tech giants like IBM. According to Sonali Basak of Bloomberg, Wall Streets money managers are in an arms race for technology that will help them gain market share, This only further proves the importance of opening as many methods for investment to traditional / old-money as possible. It also reveals the forthcoming generation of standard creators / bearers as potentially being those current market leaders who are successful in adapting blockchain to the needs of themselves and the general customers and users. These companies likelihood of dominating the discussion would come due to their economic and industry influence and experience, putting potential independent attempts to waste. Governments and Securities The SEC has been fickle with their outlook on various cryptocurrencies starting their public announcements with an aggressive tone regarding all tokens as-of-then being unregulated. They backed up their bark with a series of bites which came in the form of crackdown operations against crypto companies in the country which had been suspected of carrying out fraudulent actions. On a positive note, the government financial authority has also been establishing strong relationships with various blockchain companies who are willing to play ball with the recently created, developing ground rules. This move hasnt convinced everybody and US based or US citizen targeted ICO fundraising campaigns are all-but-strictly forbidden under current rulings. Featured image from Shutterstock. The post Security Tokens in 2018: What Now, and What Next? appeared first on CCN. On August 21, Michael Cohen, President Trumps former personal attorney, pled guilty to charges of tax evasion and banking fraudand in an tremor that rocked the political landscape, confessed to criminal violations of campaign finance laws. Cohens admissions are so explosive because hes alleging that, rather than acting on his own, he paid of hundreds of thousands of dollars in hush money that were in reality illegal, secret campaign contributions, at the explicit direction of his then-client, Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump. In recent days, Cohens plea has prompted charges from Cohens attorney, Lanny Davis, that theres no doubt President Trump committed a crime. Congressional Democrats have branded Trump the equivalent of an un-indicted co-conspirator, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) has asserted that a criminal indictment of the President should be on the table. But do the facts of the Cohen case actually present strong evidence that Trump committed a crime, as his former personal attorney is reportedly willing to testify? To get a unbiased perspective of how a federal prosecutor would view the evidence so far, Fortune turned to Patrick Collins, a white collar defense attorney at King & Spalding. As Assistant U.S. Attorney in Chicago, Collins served as head of the Public Corruption Section, and successfully prosecuted Illinois former Republican Gov. George Ryan. Collins analysis cuts through the fog of politics to assess the available facts through the lens of a seasoned prosecutor. His conclusion is that that the evidence from Cohen plea is far from decisive, and that the facts, dont meet standard of clear criminal misconduct that, on their own, would justify an indictment or impeachment. With guidance from Collins, lets examine four questions to clarify the legal danger Trump faces from the Cohen guilty plea. What crime could trump be charged with? The U.S. Attorneys Office in the Southern District of New York, which brought the Cohen case, states that Cohen pled guilty to violating two separate campaign finance laws. Both breaches arose from hush money payments made to two women who threatened to go public just prior to the election with revelations that theyd had affairs with Trump. In each instance, the U.S. Attorney relies heavily on the Cohens characterization of the state-of-mind that motivated his actions. As the U.S. Attorneys press release and indictment state, Cohen caused and made the payments in order to influence the 2016 presidential election. Story continues First, Cohen orchestrated a complex scheme in which the company, obviously a reference to the Trump Organization, paid $150,000 to a woman-1, the code name for former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal. The U.S. Attorney states that since the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 bans corporations from making any direct contributions to presidential candidates, and that Cohen admits the money went to bolster Trumps candidacy, the payment amounts to a criminal violation of federal campaign finance laws. Second, Cohen made a $130,000 payment from his personal funds to a second woman (Woman-2 in the indictment, identified from previous reports as pornography actress Stephanie Clifford, better known as Stormy Daniels, threatening to sell her story about an affair with Trump. Federal campaign laws set a $2,700 limit on an individuals contribution to a presidential campaign; Cohens hush money payment therefore violated a second provision of the Federal Election Campaign Act applying to contributions for individuals. Once again, its allegedly a crime because Cohen admits that the $130,000 was targeted to shield Trumps presidential bid from bad publicity, and is therefore a campaign contribution. According to press reports detailing Cohens statements to prosecutors, and Davis assertions on TV news shows, Trump knew about the threats and demands for payments at the time they were made. Cohen further asserts that Trump instructed him follow both of the illegal routesusing corporate funds and paying with Cohens personal cashand to keep the payments secret. Most potentially damaging, Cohen alleges that he and Trump shared the same motives: shielding the candidate from a flood of negative stories weeks before the election. For Collins, the case boils down to the intent of Trump, rather than Cohen, and whether federal campaign laws are as black and white as Cohens team is claiming. Does Trump have a convincing defense? Collins point out that for Trump to be guilty of a crime, prosecutors would need to prove that he ordered the payments chiefly to influence the election. Thats the crucial link in proving that the hush money actually amounted to campaign contributions. Cohen talked about his mental state, and that he was motivated by helping his campaign, says Collins. But what was the mental state of the President? Those who suggest a direct link between Cohens thinking and that of the President are missing crucial steps. Just because Cohen says that Trump was buying the womens silence for electoral purposes isnt in itself proof. Indeed, notes Collins, Trump may have acted for reasons not motivated by the election. He could have been motivated by protecting his wife and children from embarrassment, he says. He adds that a conversation between Cohen and Trump that Cohen secretly taped, in which they discuss how to channel money to McDougalthough damaging in other ways-does not provide proof of Trumps intent. Collins draws from his own experience as a prosecutor on the process of weighing evidence to determine whether or not to bring an indictment. Its not a slam dunk to conclude that just because hes a presidential candidate, that hes motivated principally by electoral purposes to suppress something as personal as an affair, he says. In an August 22 interview on Fox News, Trump appeared to be charting a defense strategy. He stated that he knew nothing about both payments until after they were made. That statement may be plausible in the case of Clifford, but contradicts the secretly-recorded tape, where he talks to Cohen about paying off McDougal. Trump also asserted on Fox that the hush money came from me and not from campaign funds. In effect, Trump is arguing that the payments werent campaign contributions at all. Trump didnt say what motivated him to kill what he characterizes false and extortionist allegations. But hes clearly saying he had a motive apart from protecting his campaign. Aside: Can Trump be indicted while in office? As Collins points out, the law isnt clear on the issue. During the 1990s Whitewater probe, independent counsel Kenneth Starr asserted that a sitting president can be indicted while in office. The most influential opinion, however, is contained in 1973 memo from the Department of Justices Office of Legal Counsel, reaffirmed in 2000. That opinion holds that indicting a sitting president implies a violation of the Constitution because it could hobble his ability to govern, preventing the the leader of the executive branch from accomplishing its constitutional duties. In the end, Starr decided not to seek an indictment, instead submitting his findings to Congress, effectively deeming that the removal of a president should best proceed through the impeachment process. Based on todays evidence, should Trump be indicted or impeached? Besides speaking to Collins, this reporter sought the views of a former prosecutor with deep experience bringing criminal cases and who is no fan of Donald Trump. Well call this revered veteran Top Cop. For Top Cop, any potential case against Trump for criminal campaign law violations seems weak. Its really an attenuated way to get him, he says. These were really attempts at extortion, where the women were saying, If you dont pay us, well go public and hurt you. They will say things that are embarrassing to your family, so you suppress it. Is that a campaign contribution? Collins basically agrees. To charge a sitting president based on a discrete offense committed before he was president, and relying on the word of Cohen, would be a highly aggressive prosecutorial act, he says. For a criminal prosecution of a sitting president, the evidence must be very strong and arguably go the heart of extremely serious misconduct. Collins reckons that the recent verdicts may prolong the investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller. The combination of the Cohen and Manafort verdicts have bought him some time against critics who believe he should be wrapping up the case, says Collins. From what I know about Mueller, hes a careful, dont-push-the-envelope prosecutor. Still, Collins doesnt think that Mueller will assert impeachable offenses based on the Cohen evidence as it now stands. We need to see what Mueller determines from the totality of his investigation and not this referral he made to the Southern District of New York for the Cohen case, says Collins. Those charges though politically explosive, will not determine what Mueller will ultimately do as it relates to the President. The key issue isnt that Trump knew about or ordered the hush money payments, but the state of mind that makes them a crime. For Trump, the danger is that proof of a dark, lets-buy-their-silence-to-protect-my-campaign motive emerges. That revelation could indeed prove crippling to his presidency. A local plant in Winnsboro, South Carolina, is going out of business, and the company is pointing blame at the Trump administration's latest wave of tariffs on imported goods from China. Element Electronics says it will lay off 126 workers in the process. The company, which assembles televisions made from imported Chinese parts, is hoping to get an exemption to the tariffs in time to allow them to reopen their doors. In just over a month, a local plant in Winnsboro, South Carolina , will close its doors, pointing blame at the Donald Trump administration's tariffs on imported goods from China , unless it's granted a lifeline in the trade war. Element Electronics, which assembles televisions made from imported Chinese parts, says it will lay off 126 workers in the process. In a letter sent to government officials, obtained by CNBC , the company said the "layoff and closure is a result of the new tariffs that were recently and unexpectedly imposed on many goods imported from China, including the key television components used in our assembly operations in Winnsboro." The company added it hopes the closure will be temporary and it will be able to reopen in "three to six months." The letter says the closing will commence on Oct. 5, with a skeleton crew of eight remaining. Element did not respond to repeated requests for comment from CNBC. In a statement on its Facebook page, Element wrote: "As we are the only USA assembler of televisions, we believe the inclusion of our parts on the list of affected products is accidental and resolvable. Element is working hard to have our parts removed from the tariff list and we remain hopeful that the closure of our South Carolina factory will be avoided." State Sen. Mike Fanning, D-17th Dist., said keeping the factory open is his top priority, adding that state lawmakers at every level are putting aside partisan politics to save these jobs, including Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, a Trump ally. Story continues "Folks will lose their ability to make their mortgage, their health insurance that final gut blow comes on Oct. 5," Fanning said. "The only thing that would change that is if we can get an appeal in time to allow them to reopen their doors to start production. This is not the way to do tariffs if you want to have a tariff policy, make sure that you are taxing people that are competing against Americans." A spokesperson for the U.S. Trade Representative clarified that there is no "appeal for exemption" on tariffs that do not yet exist. Rather, companies such as Element have been invited to comment on the proposed list of products to be subject to increased tariffs, including whether proposed products on the list should be retained or removed or whether products not currently on the list should be added. The USTR says the proposed tariffs Element is hoping to avoid have not been finalized or implemented and are not yet in effect. Residents raising concern Fairfield County, where Winnsboro is located, has suffered a series of unrelated economic blows in recent years. A Walmart WMT shut its doors, as did a textile factory. A hospital in Winnsboro is preparing to close, and a major multibillion-dollar nuclear power plant project was halted all resulting in thousands losing their jobs. The city's main drag, Congress Street, is lined with empty storefronts standing in stark contrast to a number of newer businesses, underscoring the rural community's challenges. "When President Trump first announced tariffs were coming we were excited. In fact, Element talked with us about leasing the Walmart so they could double their operation," Fanning said. "That excitement turned to devastation when we learned that tariff was not just on the product, but on the parts to the product." The most expensive part that Element imports for assembly is the glass that goes behind its television screens, he said. Local business owners are concerned about another blow to the area. Whitney Brown, owner-operator of a Sonic restaurant across the street from the facility, said she generates a sizeable amount of business from Element employees. "Element has a huge impact on our sales my breakfast sales are definitely pretty big because of Element," she said. "We have a lot of people here whose family members have jobs there. It's going to hurt us a bit." Meanwhile, Crystal Paulk, co-owner of The Donut Guy, said her sales will stay afloat even with another local business closing. But as a Winnsboro resident, she worries about her community. "I look at it as doors closing. Those are jobs, those are parents, those are families impacted. Those are their dollars that trickles down to us and we are blessed in that we do a variety of things like mobile and catering besides our location here," she said. "So my bigger concern is them before me." Trump administration ties The factory caught up in the trade war also has ties to members of the Trump administration: Mick Mulvaney , director of the Office of Management and Budget, as well as U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley . Mulvaney represented Fairfield County during his congressional term, and Haley was governor and helped lure Element to Winnsboro some five years ago, when the company received grant money to relocate. Fanning told CNBC he has spoken with Mulvaney, who is advocating the company's position for the appeal. A senior OMB official told CNBC that "these discussions are internal and pre-decisional. Director Mulvaney continually advises the president on many policy matters, including trade and tariffs as a whole, and ultimately President Trump will make the final decision," adding that Mulvaney has never spoken with the president specifically about Element. The White House directed CNBC to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, which declined to comment on tariffs under consideration. The South Carolina governor's office also did not immediately respond to request for comment, nor did the U.S. Mission to the U.N. regarding comment from Haley. Criticism of Element Element's push for a tariff exemption isn't without its critics. One vocal party has been the Alliance for American Manufacturing, which claims Element's "assembled in America" language is misleading to consumers who believe they are buying an American-manufactured product. "What Element Electronics wanted to do and continues to want to do is play both ends. It took advantage of Americans' genuine, admirable desire to buy more American-made products while also remaining heavily dependent on manufacturing in China. It used taxpayer dollars to help fund its South Carolina facility, but it all amounted to nothing more than a PR stunt," the group wrote in a recent blog post . Fanning fired back at the criticism: "Here in Fairfield County, South Carolina, we are sick of the political in-fighting, nit-picking, and unhealthy attacks on a county that is trying to keep our heads above water. Our 126 workers and our Element television manufacturing plant deserve better. They deserve the support of a 'part' exemption tariff request. If not, this will be one more industry forced overseas." Read the Element Electronics letter obtained by CNBC : More From CNBC President Donald Trump on Friday announced on Twitter that he had asked his secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, to cancel a planned trip to North Korea. The president cited a lack of progress on denuclearization talks, but also pointed a finger at China, which he accused of deliberately withholding cooperation on North Korea in order to gain an advantage in the escalating trade war between Washington and Beijing. Evidence strongly suggests that North Korea has continued to develop its nuclear capabilities in recent months, despite a joint statement in June from Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un that they would work toward denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula. President Donald Trump on Friday announced on Twitter that he had asked his secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, to cancel a planned trip to North Korea because there had not been enough progress in denuclearization talks so far. TRUMP TWEET TRUMP TWEET TRUMP TWEET Trump's tweets also indicated that he holds China responsible in part for the lack of progress. "I do not believe they are helping with the process of denuclearization as they once were," Donald Trump wrote, and claimed the shortage of help was "because of our much tougher Trading stance with China." The Trump administration is currently engaged in an escalating trade war with China that was launched earlier this summer, when the president announced unilateral tariffs on Chinese imports. China responded by imposing retaliatory tariffs on American products, which prompted Trump to announce that even more tariffs would be put in place. The latest round of tariffs went into effect this week, despite negotiations that were held in Washington between the U.S. and China aimed at resolving the crisis, which has roiled international markets. Trump said in his tweets Friday that talks with North Korea would be put on hold until trade issues with China were resolved. The State Department did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. Story continues In addition to the escalating trade war with China, Trump's decision Friday likely also reflects his reportedly growing frustration with the media coverage of his administration's diplomatic efforts with North Korea, which have so far achieved little progress. A new report this week from the the International Atomic Energy Agency said the IAEA had "grave concern" over what it called "the continuation and further development of the DPRK's [North Korea's] nuclear program and related statements by the DPRK." Evidence strongly suggests that North Korea has continued to develop its nuclear capabilities, despite a joint statement in June from Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un , who met at a summit in Singapore, to "work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula." The decision to cancel Pompeo's trip appears to have been made abruptly, coming just a day after Pompeo announced it would happen. It also came after Trump had reportedly sent a letter to Kim last week, urging him to stop taking steps that threaten to erase the diplomatic goodwill created by the Singapore summit. The cancellation also raises questions about what the State Department's newly appointed special representative for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, is expected to do next. On Thursday, Pompeo called Biegun's appointment "a very timely moment for Steve to join the team and come on board," because "he and I will be traveling to North Korea next week to make further diplomatic progress towards our objective." CNBC's Kevin Breuninger contributed to this report. More From CNBC The U.S. and Mexico reportedly reached an agreement on a new trade deal on Monday, bringing months of talks on a replacement for NAFTA to an end. Trump hinted on Monday morning that a trade deal with Mexico could be reached shortly. A big deal looking good with Mexico! Trump tweeted. The presidents comments echo those of House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who said Sunday a new trade agreement was nearing. I think itd be very soon, McCarthy, R-Calif., told Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures. Wed vote on it in the next Congress. He noted the need for a modernization of the trade agreement, which was enacted in 1994 under President Bill Clinton. The deal created a trilateral trade bloc between the U.S., Mexico and Canada. NAFTA has come under fierce scrutiny by President Trump since his time on the campaign trail, even calling the agreement the worst trade deal ever made. Attempts to form a new pact faltered numerous times between the three countries, and talks with Mexico have been focused on creating new rules for the auto industry. Trump has argued that lower wages for employees in Mexico have cost jobs at General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler The Big Three all of which have production sites in Mexico. The president said in June that the deal could remain trilateral or could be renegotiated into two separate arrangements. Mexicos Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo told reporters on Sunday a deal between the U.S. and Mexico was nearing completion. I would say that we're practically in the final hours of this negotiation, he said while arriving for talks at U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizers office in Washington. A few hours later, Guajardo said a deal still had yet to be reached. In addition to its close ties to the U.S. auto industry, Mexico also has been the top importer of U.S. corn for years and the No. 2 purchaser of American soybeans, though it has recently begun turning to Brazil and Argentina as well as working to increase its own supply. Mexico bought 584,000 metric tons of corn from Brazil last year a 970% spike over 2016, Reuters reported. 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John McCain, R-Ariz. is pursued by reporters as he arrives for the scheduled cloture vote to end debate on President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, April 6, 2017, as the Republican majority is poised to change Senate rules and lower the vote threshold for Supreme Court nominees from 60 votes to a simple majority. McCain feels that move will diminish the bipartisanship and said "I fear that someday we will regret what we are about to do." (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) A rogue competition that rewarded participating deputies for using force on inmates at the El Paso County jail only spurred a formal investigation after a deputy became convinced that a fellow deputy had slammed a woman face-first on a cell floor just to boost his ranking. The whistleblower deputy tried more than once to report the so-called fight club sport to his superiors including to the Detention Bureau chief in 2015. He eventually told one sergeant that he had lost faith in the agencys leadership after months of futile attempts urging supervisors to punish the deputies behavior. But it wasnt until late April 2016, when a now ex-deputy, 6-foot, roughly 250-pound Ryan Sanders, took down a 5-foot-2, 130-pound woman for ignoring his order to get on her knees that the whistleblowers supervisors finally told him to document his concerns and a formal investigation ensued, according to hundreds of pages of documents provided to The Gazette by the Sheriffs Office. Dan Montgomery, an Arvada-based police practices expert, praised the Sheriffs Office for completing an Internal Affairs investigation and later commissioning a consulting firm to review its use-of-force protocols. By not acting immediately, however, supervisors who overheard conversations between participating deputies allowed the flourishing and festering of cowboy subculture, in which deputies feel they have unfettered discretion to do what they please and ignore protocols and policies, Montgomery said. As a supervisor, or as a watch commander, you got to jump on it, and you got to stop it like right now, said Montgomery, whose 55-year law enforcement career included serving as police chief in Westminster. That didnt happen. By the time action was taken, what the informant called the Mid-night Fight Club which had spanned four years from 2012 to 2016 and involved deputies on the overnight Intake and Release shift at the jail had created a civil liability nightmare for Sheriff Bill Elder and would eventually contribute to the largest settlement ever by the county. Youve got a roomful of witnesses. Youve got a roomful of litigation, Sgt. Robert Bud Perry later told sheriffs staff assigned to the investigation, while describing his warnings to deputies to stop the open bantering about their rankings before nonparticipating colleagues and in front of inmates. First-hand accounts from those deputies and their supervisors are among the revelations in the nearly 1,000 pages of documents that raise questions about the attempts by supervisors to halt the practice. The reporting deputy whose name is redacted from the documents said talk of the competition had become so common that no one believes it is something to be reported. The county had sought to keep the cache of court documents secret. But a judge ruled that the records were public in court proceedings leading up to a $675,000 payout, finalized last month. Former inmate Philippa McCully sued the Sheriffs Office in U.S. District Court in Denver in 2016, two years after she suffered a torn ACL, broken knee and other injuries after jailers yanked her legs out from under her in an incident that, her attorney has noted, might have even given the deputies involved an advantage in the fight-club competition. Supervisors were aware of the rankings to some extent and tried, as one sergeant told sheriffs staff assigned to the investigation, to resolve the issue internally by rebuking deputies in back-room conversations and at daily briefings instead of documenting the transgressions and sending them up the chain of command. Records show supervisors overheard jailers comparing their stats as early as October 2015, when Sgt. Jeanette Reid asked one deputy who was later revealed as the unsanctioned scorekeeper for the rankings to admonish two co-workers after they joked about their numbers. Three months later, after witnessing a similar conversation between two deputies in the inmate booking area, Sgt. Christopher Klug pulled the jailers aside, warning, This is the last time this type of conversation goes undocumented. The Sheriffs Office acknowledged supervisors lapses in judgment in a statement issued to The Gazette on Aug. 16, saying that the matter should have been routed up the chain of command and addressed immediately. The Sheriffs Office expects its supervisors, among other things, to accept responsibility in matters of procedure; to hold their personnel responsible for their own conduct and the conduct of their subordinates; and to report any incidents or observations of misconduct, the agency said in the statement. Unfortunately, there were some supervisory failures in this particular matter and those failures were part of the internal investigation conducted into the inappropriate keeping of statistical comparisons on the use of force. The Sheriffs Office had been exposed for years to heightened civil liability for what one supervisor had chalked up to stupid boys doing stupid things, according to the documents. Those interviewed as part of the investigation said repeatedly that the practice resulted in no real harm to inmates. The so-called fight club, which became a pattern or practice among deputies on the overnight shift, paved the way for whats known as a Monell claim, brought by those alleging violations to their constitutional rights due to deficiencies in an entitys policies or failures to punish violations of those rules, said Baltimore-based police policies expert Jerry Buz Busnuk. The rankings gave inmates who alleged use of force during the fight club era a stepping stone for a lawsuit, and pinned the motive of bragging rights on any accused jailer, said Busnuk, a retired Baltimore police captain whos spent nearly 30 years working in law enforcement. Thanks to a two-year statute of limitations, claims of use of force against inmates during the four-year period of the rankings have likely expired, said Darold Killmer, McCullys attorney. Sheriffs officials have downplayed the investigation, saying the fight club moniker, coined by the whistleblower deputy, made the practice sound worse than it was. Supervisors have said they werent aware of a competition, only deputies that ribbed one another about their stats, according to documents from the investigation. Several deputies also denied there was a competition, saying the rankings were lighthearted statistical comparisons made by checking an internal report that shows each sheriffs employee and the number of uses of force incidents in which theyve been involved in a given period. In the wake of the probe, six Sheriffs Office staff received letters of counseling and four received written reprimands, one of the lowest forms of disciplinary action. Letters of counseling were issued to at least two supervisors, Lt. Lari Hanenberg and Sgt. Perry, because the deputies had participated in the competition on their watch. No one was demoted, and no salaries were docked, sheriffs officials confirmed. Sanders has since left the agency, and Reid has retired, Undersheriff Joe Breister previously told The Gazette. But all others who were investigated for policy violations in association with the fight club remain employed by the Sheriffs Office, although some are now working for different bureaus within the agency. The Gazette attempted to reach several named employees for comment through a spokeswoman for the agency and through email, but was unsuccessful. Even those who received written reprimands appeared to have faced just an administrative slap on the wrist and no real consequences, said Gregory Gilbertson, a former Georgia police officer and expert in police misconduct. Im surprised that this, quite honestly, didnt get the attention of the Justice Department and there wasnt a major inquiry into this, said Gilbertson, whos now a criminal justice professor at Centralia College in Washington. The supervisory staff had to have known that this was going on. And for them not to be called to the carpet, for them not to be disciplined, it just defies logic and reason. In late 2014, a deputy sent out an email to three supervisors and about eight other jailers that featured a pair of memes, or pictures with text superimposed, showing a deputy spanking an intoxicated inmate who had mouthed off to her. When you are wondering if the force you used was reasonable and appropriate the first image reads. Then, the second: And your buddies are wondering, Did she just spank him? Early in 2015, Deputy Sean Grady called the deputy featured in the meme, Sandra Rincon, an inspiration to us all and the gold standard in an email sent out to more than a dozen colleagues, including two sergeants and one lieutenant. Grady congratulated Rincon for hitting the big 5-0 a reference to both her birthday and the more than four-dozen instances she had used force on an inmate in 2014. The whistleblower deputy told sheriffs officials assigned to the internal investigation that one deputy would regularly reference adding to his count, the documents state. Another had once remarked to him that he hoped an inmate would give him the chance to release his pent-up energy. At a Sheriffs Office awards banquet in 2016, one deputy heard another deputy share their rankings with a television news reporter. Initially, the deputies in the jails Intake and Release section took notice that their use of force numbers appeared higher than the figures for those who worked floor security at the jail. As Lt. Hanenberg noted in an interview with sheriffs officials assigned to the investigation, the section deals with some of the most volatile inmates because tempers are high when people are first taken into custody making use of force a natural topic of conversation during day-to-day operations. But what started as monitoring an internal report documenting use of force later morphed into an unhealthy and unsavory competition that created a culture where it seemed OK for deputies to embrace use of force as a badge of honor and a part of everyday conversation, one investigating sheriffs staff member reported. The deputies involved have denied that there was a competition, instead characterizing it as somewhat routine statistical comparisons. Sgt. Perry offered a different description in his interview with sheriffs staff assigned to the investigation: Call it sht-talking, he said.Read investigation findings from a Sheriffs staff member assigned to the investigation. Read an excerpt from the investigation summary. Limbaugh Canyon where Palmer Lake, Colorado, mountain biker Tim Watkins was found shot and buried almost a year ago is again the site of an active investigation that could be related to his death. The trail running through the canyon west of Mount Herman was closed at 6 a.m. Wednesday by El Paso County Sheriffs deputies for an active investigation. Sen. John McCain, who defied death in the skies over Vietnam, endured years of torture in enemy captivity and embarked on a storied political An American hero died Saturday. Allies and opponents of Sen. John McCain mourn, without regard to politics. Rally demands #JusticeForNirmala Hundreds of citizens on Saturday afternoon joined a rally in the Capital following protests in Kanchanpur where a 14-year-old boy died and 24 people sustained severe injuries in police action.Routine life came to a standstill in the western town of Kanchanpur after local authorities imposed an indefinite curfew. On Friday police opened gunfire on protesters who demanded proper investigation and action against the rapist and murderer of 13-year-old girl Nirmala Panta. WASHINGTON Glowering in public and near-silent for two days, President Donald Trump relented under pressure Monday by tersely recognizing Se New York, NY, Aug. 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zion Market Research has published a new report titled Protective Relay Market by Voltage Range (High, Medium and Low), by Application (Feeder Protection, Transformer Protection, Generator Protection, Transmission Line Protection and Motor Protection), by End-user (Utilities, Industries, Marine and Renewable End Users): Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2017 - 2024. According to the report, the global protective relay market accounted for USD 3.64 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach USD 5.58 billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR of around 6.3% between 2018 and 2024. A protective relay is an integral part of the circuit protection system and it enables safe operation in an electrical circuit. The primary function of protective relays is to trip a circuit breaker when a fault is detected. A protective relay may respond to the magnitude of a quantity such as current or voltage. Protection relays use shaded-pole, magnets, operating and restraint coils, arrays of induction disks, telephone-relay contacts, phase-shifting networks, and solenoid-type operators. Browse through 42 Tables & 28 Figures spread over 136 Pages and in-depth TOC on Global Protective Relay Market Share 2017 Report: Industry Size, Trends, Segments, Growth Analysis and Forecast, 2024. Request Free Sample Report of Global Protective Relay Market Report @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/protective-relay-market Ongoing huge investments in electricity transmission & distribution in order to reduce power losses in various developing markets of Asia, Latin America, and Africa are expected to increase the growth of protective relay market in the coming years. Furthermore, urbanization & industrialization tends to increase the power need & simultaneously helps to further fuel the demand for protective relays. Moreover, the rising demand of protective relay from manufacturing industries and processing industries for protecting expensive industrial machinery from damages in case of electrical short circuits or other circumstances will further flourish the market. On a contrary, a high cost of installation and maintenance is expected to restrict the growth of the market in the years to come. Nonetheless, the promising market for the intelligent controller is predicted to open up significant opportunities in the near future. High voltage protective relays dominated the voltage range segment of the protective relay market in 2017, owing to the rising preference from utility and large industrial consumers. The medium voltage protective relay is expected to become the most attractive segment in the forecast period. Download Free PDF Report Brochure: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/requestbrochure/protective-relay-market Feeder protection application segment held the largest market share in 2017, the growth of this segment is mainly attributed to increased use in switchyards by transmission & distribution companies. Transformer protection segment is expected to experience significant growth owing to demand gas monitoring & temperature monitoring. Utilities end-user segment acquired the largest market share for protective relay market in 2017. The growth of the utility segment is primarily driven by growing transmission & distribution network across the globe. However, increasing industrialization is expected to contribute to the growth of industry segment in coming years. On a revenue basis, Asia Pacific held the majority share of the global protective relays market and is predicted to dominate the world marketplace within the coming years. The major factors driving the growth of the market are extensive electrical infrastructure upgradation coupled with the expansion of transmission & distribution networks. China held the largest market share in the Asia Pacific region. The growth in China is mostly attributed to the rising industrialization & urbanization. Rapid economic growth in the BRIC nations is expected to drive the protective relay market in this region. The emergence of developing countries coupled with the initiatives by the government to develop better electrical distribution network is also expected to support the growth of the market in this region. The growth of protective relays in the Asia Pacific is imminent. Browse the full "Protective Relay Market by Voltage Range (High, Medium and Low), by Application (Feeder Protection, Transformer Protection, Generator Protection, Transmission Line Protection and Motor Protection), by End-user (Utilities, Industries, Marine and Renewable End Users): Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2017 - 2024" report at https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/protective-relay-market The North American and European markets are mainly driven by the replacement of the conventional system with the advanced protective relay as a substitute. Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), General Electric (GE), ABB, Dazzler, and Siemens are some of the leading manufacturers in the North American market. Rising demand from the utility segment is expected to show considerable growth in Europe. Replacement market is expected to be one of the major segment encouraging the investments in these regions. The developing economies in Latin America also have a potential for the global protective relay market. Rising power demand coupled with increasing renewable energy generation projects are the key growth factors expected to contribute to the growth of the protective relay market in Latin America. Brazil, Chile, and Peru are expected to be the key contributing countries for the growth of the market owing to the increased transmission and distribution network sector. Inquire more about this report before purchase @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/protective-relay-market The Middle East and Africa region are estimated to be amongst the fastest growing markets for the protective relay in the years to come. Saudi Arabia is anticipated to be the most attractive market for the protective relay in the Middle East. The increasing number of retrofit projects and increased power consumption in the African region has led to heavy investments in the new infrastructure projects. Some of the key players in the protective relay market are Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc., Basler Electric, Siemens AG, NR Electric Co. Ltd., Eaton Corporation, ABB Ltd., General Electric, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Schneider Electric SA, Toshiba Corporation, Fanox Electronics, and Littelfuse Inc., amongst others. Know More About Discount Offer: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/requestdiscount/protective-relay-market This report segments the global protective relay market as follows: Global Protective Relay Market: Voltage Type Segment Analysis High Voltage Protective Relays Medium Voltage Protective Relays Low Voltage Protective Relays Global Protective Relay Market: Application Segment Analysis Feeder Protection Transmission Line Protection Motor Protection Transformer Protection Generator Protection Global Protective Relay Market: End-User Segment Analysis Utilities Industries Renewable Marine Global Protective Relay Market: Regional Segment Analysis North America The U.S. Europe UK France Germany Asia Pacific China Japan India Latin America Brazil The Middle East and Africa Related Reports: Next Generation Battery Market: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/generation-battery-market Embedded Systems Market: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/embedded-systems-market Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Market: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/industrial-internet-of-things-market Smart Agriculture Market: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/smart-agriculture-market Lithium-Ion Battery Market: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/lithium-ion-battery-market About Us: Zion Market Research is an obligated company. 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AjiteshArun GMATNinja mikemcgarry egmat RonPurewal DmitryFarber MagooshExpert ccooley ChiranjeevSingh GMATGuruNY When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. - Henry Ford The Moment You Think About Giving Up, Think Of The Reason Why You Held On So Long Signature Read More ST 1 ST 2: ST 2 + ST 1: solution for C File comment: visualization Capture.JPG [ 20.69 KiB | Viewed 100270 times ] Hifor geom it is often more convenient to name angles your own way to avoid excessive abstraction: a, b, c, d (please the attached file) - because many of the angles get cancelled out during calculations and overall the less astractive the more comprehensible.We are given that angle RPT=90. We derive that QSTU is a rectangle where one of the angles = x = 360 - 90 - c - d. We also understand that x = 180 - a - b.ANSWER C:: QR=RS hence a=a=angle RQS=angle RSQ - insufficient, because we do not know how other angles relate to each other and to x. At this point we understand that knowing b would suffice the question.ST=UT hence b=b - insufficient for the same reasons stated above. Clearly this statement gives just the same piece of information as the statement 1 does. We also understand it is a good thing to combine both statements.at this point we can stop and choose C because the stimulus gives you a bold hint that one of the angles of the triangle equals 90, x is within the rectangle where one of the angles is 90, 2 of the smaller triangles are isosceles, those base angles in the triangles are adjacent to x - having taken a short glimpse of all those factors you could figure out halfway that this is pretty much enough for a geom question like that to avoid answer E and choose C.However, this is the1. x=180-(a+b) and x=360-(90+c+d)2. a=180-c and b=180-d3. combine (1) and (2): 360-90-c-d = 180 - (180-c) - (180-d)4. c+d=2255. x=360-(90+225)=45 Insights from Columbia Admission Event @ Hyderabad [ #permalink 1 Kudos divyakesharwani wrote: I am in a very confused situation! I have been admitted to Kellogg and Booth part-time weekend MBA program. Both traditional pace. I know both schools are great and I can't go wrong with either one academically or faculty wise! Also, my career goals is to move from hard-core engineering to business development/corporate strategy in the tech industry or potentially strategy consulting (a long shot). The point of confusion comes here: 1. Booth has offered me a scholarship for 5 courses but nothing from Kellogg (~40k). BUT, 2. My interaction with both schools has resulted in different experiences - it was expected but wasn't expecting to be this stark. At Kellogg, I found a more supportive atmosphere, a warm feeling, a willingness to connect organically, down-to-earth nature of everyone I connected with, and a feeling that those people will be there for me. At Booth, it was a little cold. In general, students are very nice, supportive, and willing to help/discuss/and give the best information that they can provide, but it was all in a 'professional capacity' (if you know what I mean). Even among the students themselves, I just felt there weren't those warm commandries or organic bondings. It was more strategic bonding. I was almost leaning Booth despite all that - assuming this might just be a small sample set, but then I spoke with career services over the phone, and man - that was a super cold conversation that I couldn't continue beyond 15 min. I got nervous during the conversation. Not I am confused as to should I take the money and accept the fact that not everyone will be that amicable/cordial at Boot, and I will just need to find my type of people and work with them, OR go with Kellogg where I will kinda feel 'SAFE'!! Any input will be very helpful in making my decision. Thanks I agree with the other responses that $40K is a big deal. Have you let Kellogg know that Booth has offered you $$. They may be willing to match or at least throw a little bit of $ your way. Hi PRanjan1988,Im glad you reached out, and Im happy to help. Since you have been studying for three months but are still 90 points away from your score goal, you really need to look at HOW you have been preparing, and potentially make some changes. Based on your practice test scores, its clear that you lack certain GMAT verbal skills that are necessary for a high score. To develop such skills, you will need a study plan that allows 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. Improving your skills will take longer than just one month. Thus, you may consider pushing your GMAT to a later date.Lets say you begin studying Critical Reasoning. Your first goal is to master the individual Critical Reasoning topics: Strengthen the Argument, Weaken the Argument, Resolve the Paradox, etc. As you learn each Critical Reasoning problem type, do focused practice so you can assess how well you understand the topic. If, for example, you incorrectly answer a Weaken the Argument question, 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 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 comprehend the main idea of a paragraph. As you are reading a paragraph, also 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 answers to better determine why you tend to get a particular question type wrong, and then improve upon your weaknesses. You can perfect your reading strategy with a lot of practice, but keep in mind that GMAT Reading Comprehension passages are not meant to be stimulating, so to better prepare yourself to tackle 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, you likely will have to work on all three of those aspects. Furthermore, the reason that your Sentence Correction performance has not improved is likely that you have not been working on all three of those aspects.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 just a test of knowledge of grammar rules. The reason for learning 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. 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 that 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 regiments, 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, youll then want to practice with SC questions that test you on skills from multiple SC topics.Although your quant is stronger, you can follow a similar process for that section. For example, if you are reviewing Number Properties, be sure to practice 50 or more questions just from Number Properties: LCM, GCF, units digit patterns, divisibility, remainders, etc. As you 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. Number Properties is just one example; follow this process for all quant topics.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.So, work on accuracy and generally finding correct answers, work on specific weaker areas one by one to make them strong areas, and when you take a practice GMAT or the real thing, take all the time per question available to do your absolute best to get right answers consistently. The GMAT is essentially a game of seeing how many right answers you can get in the time allotted. Approach the test with that conception in mind, and focus intently on the question in front of you with one goal in mind: getting a CORRECT answer.In order to follow the path described above, you may need some new verbal and quant materials, 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!_________________ Haifa is on the "front line" in any action in the north but this blog looks at life in the shadow of danger to all of Israel IceViking strongly condemns physical attacks and harassment directed towards them. They are also often victims of the Islamic idea. This is true when it comes to the cruel and tragic treatment of Muslim women and children when it is in accord with the Koran, the example of Mohammed and Islamic law, Sharia, which may be applied regardless of where a Muslim male may find himself in the world, whether in a Muslim or non-Muslim country. However, in no way, shape or form should one judge all Muslim men because of what is in Islamic scripture and what constitutes the Islamic law, Sharia. "Race", ethnicity or basically anything that you are "merely" born with should never be a basis for bigotry and discrimination. Apostates from Islam have been executed for 1400 years in accord with the Koran and the words and actions of the Islamic prophet Mohammed and Islamic law, Sharia. They should be lovingly helped. Furthermore, approximately as many as 11,000,000 Muslims may have been killed by other Muslims since 1948. To quote the website The Religion of Peace (TROP), edited by Glen Roberts: While it may be safe to say that a true Muslim would not intentionally kill another true Muslim ( 4:92-93 ), the Quran places no such value on the life of a Muslim who is not true. Consider verse 9:73 : Strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be harsh against them, their abode is Hell. The Arabic for strive hard uses the same root as Jihad - and the context in this sura is holy war (see v. 86 and 91). Thus, there are two distinct classes of people that a true Muslim is to target with harshness: disbelievers and hypocrites. A disbeliever obviously refers to a non-Muslim, so a "hypocrite" must be a Muslim of some sort. In fact, hypocrites are those who say they believe, but do not act as they should. In other words, they are "Muslims", but not true Muslims. They will go to hell just as unbelievers do, and so, according to the verse, their lives matter for naught. The same sura says that a hypocrite can be recognized not just by lack of piety (reluctance to follow Sharia), but by fear of death ( 9:56 ), reluctance to fight ( 9:44-45 ) and even friendliness toward non-believers ( 9:67 ). A true Muslim would thus be a pious person who relishes martyrdom, is eager to fight, and shuns non-believers. Even the Quranic passage that warns against killing "believers" ( 4:88-94 ) is more complicated than it first appears. It never says that a true Muslim is incapable of killing another Muslim, just that it should not be done. In fact, it makes exceptions for the unintentional killing of "believers" in war and mandates the killing of "hypocrites." Verse 17:33 says, "Do not kill anyone which Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause" . The greatest cause of all is that Islam be superior ( 9:33 ), which is exactly what Islamic terrorists say is their goal. Thus believing Muslims are allowed to be collateral damage in the war on unbelievers. There is sadly a phenomena that I`ve noticed in Sweden and elsewhere of people using true facts about Islamic doctrine and history as a cover for all sorts of irrational targeting of Muslims, ranging from xenophobia and racism to verbal abuse and physical attacks. This is strongly condemned by this website and does not in any way serve serious criticism of orthodox Islam and other important work. It`s also important that one tries to express oneself in a civilized way. Words matter. In this bloggers humble opinion the root cause of the problem is the ancient doctrine of orthodox Islam. In simple terms a non-Muslim is a Kafir. " The Koran defines the kafir and kafir is not a neutral word. A kafir is not merely someone who does not agree with Islam, but a kafir is evil, disgusting, the lowest form of life." An exact quote, as stated in the writings of Dr. Bill Warner in the article "Kafir" at http://www.politicalislam.com/kafir . In the perfect Koran (Allah`s direct and literal word as revealed to Mohammed through the angel Jibril), Muslims are told 89 times to emulate Mohammed in all ways (see Koran 33:21 for instance). Mohammed`s example, the Sunna, is found in the Hadith (stories of what Mohammed said and did) and the Sira (biographies of Mohammed). Islamic law, Sharia , is directly derived from these unchanging scriptures. It is based on the Koran`s numerous commands to obey Allah and obey the Messenger, that is Mohammed (see Koran 4:59 for instance). Islam is Sharia. Sharia is Islam. It is a capital crime for Muslims to deny Sharia in any way. A Muslim is someone who submits to Islam and submitting to Islam means obeying the Sharia of Allah. Sharia law includes pronouncements for both Muslims and non-Muslims (Kafirs). Islam is a "complete way of life", a "complete code of life", a "complete system of life". Islam is not just a religion but also a comprehensive ideology. Islam is a supremacist ideology. Islam is a totalitarian and imperialistic ideology akin to Communism and Nazism. Islam is a civilization. Islamic law, Sharia, is a manual for a civilization. Islamic law, Sharia, governs every aspect of life. It has a say about every conceivable human act . Non-Muslims are morally and legally inferior in Islam. Women are morally and legally inferior in Islam. The History of Jihad: From Muhammad to ISIS by Robert Spencer is the first one-volume history of jihad in the English language and a great book on the topic. Allah guarantees Paradise to those who "kill and are killed" for him (Koran 9:111). A hadith depicts a Muslim asking Muhammad: "Instruct me as to such a deed as equals Jihad (in reward)." Muhammad replied, "I do not find such a deed." (Bukhari 4.52.44) Muhammad himself said: I have been commanded to fight against people so long as they do not declare that there is no god but Allah, and he who professed it was guaranteed the protection of his property and life on my behalf except for the right affairs rest with Allah. (Sahih Muslim 30) Freedom of speech, human rights, democracy, science and human lives are all at stake in the fight against the Islamic Jihad. Revise criminal code: FNJ The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has issued Godawari Declaration to conserve and promote freedom of expression, press freedom, right to information and civic rights.The federation issued the four-point declaration after discussing with the editors and its former chairpersons at Godawari. 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 peacemaker Kofi Annans illustrious career made the world realise the power of possibilities : Eight steps Texas can take to fix its managed-care mess How a companys refusal to cover medical costs is hurting sick foster kids in Texas Last summer, child-welfare workers dropped a disabled girl, two pairs of pajamas and some diapers at Lorna Spears home in Kerrville, about 100 miles west of Austin. The 11-year-old could hardly see, couldnt eat without choking and couldnt survive without constant monitoring. Spears knew that taking in a medically complex foster child would be tough, but she had watched her sister, a nurse who lived nearby, care for similar kids. Spears thought she could do it, too. I had raised my kids, and I just wanted to help, says Spears, 52. Its just that motherly instinct. Previously: Parents vs. the Austin machine Texas families take fight for fragile kids to the Legislature. Catch up. They had joyous moments, watching Disneys Moana over and over, and laughing when Spears husband played Elvis songs on a guitar. Often, though, Spears felt overwhelmed. The state assures foster parents that everything the children need, including expensive home nursing, will be provided by a health care company that it pays hundreds of millions of dollars each year. But Superior HealthPlan wouldnt provide enough medical supplies to keep the girl clean and comfortable, Spears says. Nor would the company pay for all the home nursing her doctor recommended, covering only 16 hours a day and leaving Spears alone with the child for eight. Foster parents cannot give consent for their children to be publicly identified, so The Dallas Morning News is withholding the girls name. Nurses noticed Spears stress: Fatigue with high demands, one wrote last August. Risk for caregiver breakdown. Soon after that warning, when the nurse had left for the day, the child went into shock and stopped breathing. Her feet were black, and I was in total panic because I didnt know what to do, Spears says. I was freaking out. Her sister, the nurse, raced over and stabilized the child. But last fall, Spears finally asked caseworkers to find the girl, now 12, a new home. It broke my heart, she says. I cried and cried. Tammy Bolin uses a plastic ring to help a foster child learn to walk at her house outside Kerrville. Bolin took in the 12-year-old girl after she experienced a medical crisis at Bolins sisters home, where Superior HealthPlan refused to provide all of the home nursing the childs doctor had recommended. Pervasive problems with Superiors health care management are worsening the states already troubled child-welfare system, a News investigation found. The companys refusals to cover medical costs, from inexpensive diapers to costly treatments, have made some foster parents tough jobs nearly impossible. Foster parents, doctors and child-welfare workers have filed hundreds of formal complaints about the company in recent years. Judges in Houston have stepped in to order medical care that Superior has denied to foster kids. And families who have taken in medically needy children are backing out, The News found, adding to the states drastic shortage of beds. STAR Health A managed-care program for foster children, run by Superior HealthPlan. Half of foster children have special health care needs, and some of them are "medically fragile" and need services like in-home nursing. Despite those failures, Texas health officials are renewing Superiors exclusive $350 million-a-year contract when it expires at the end of August without giving other companies a chance to bid for the program known as STAR Health. Superior says that it is committed to providing good care to the more than 30,000 foster kids it serves, and that it follows state rules to make sure the children receive the right services in the right place at the right time. The company declined to comment on specific cases, citing federal privacy laws. Carrie Williams, a spokeswoman for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, said that the state is doing a comprehensive review of Superiors treatment of foster children but that any revamp to the program probably wont happen until the companys contract extension ends in 2021. Williams defends sticking with Superior. Far fewer foster children are on psychotropic drugs than a decade ago, she says, and the company has received high marks for making sure kids receive routine checkups. Those measures indicate managed care may be working well for healthy children. The company and the state save money if those kids receive preventive care that keeps them out of the hospital, for instance. But half of foster kids have significant physical or mental health problems, and about 200 at any time are so sick or disabled that they need special care in therapeutic foster homes, according to the state. Therapeutic Family Life, one of the largest groups that place medically complex children, says Superiors tactics make it more difficult to find families to take in the kids, who otherwise can end up in expensive hospital facilities. In just a few years, the agency has lost at least 23 beds for these children, says Janelle Holland, the groups program coordinator. For foster parents, fighting for medical services becomes a full-time job, Holland says. The foster parents will give up on the children if they dont have the services to meet their kids needs because its not safe. The 12-year-old claims a place at the table as nurses share updates during an evening shift change. As many as six medically needy children at a time live in the foster home, where Bolin says she routinely argues with Superior HealthPlan over their medical care. A monopoly over foster kids The states child-welfare system has been dysfunctional for years, so much so that a federal court recently found that neglected and abused children were often worse off when they left foster care than when they came in. Children are often shuffled from home to home, and thus doctor to doctor, making it hard to ensure consistent and adequate health care. Texas wanted to improve that system when it created the STAR Health program and hired Superior to run it more than a decade ago. Health officials hoped giving just one company control over foster kids in all 254 counties would result in more consistent care. Lawmakers were also trying to save money. As wards of the state, foster kids are enrolled in Medicaid, the government program that today provides health care for about 4 million Texans, including chronically sick kids, elderly and disabled adults and extremely poor people. The state is paying this managed-care organization a lot of money to take care of our vulnerable kids, but that care is never getting to our kids, says Tara Grigg Garlinghouse, a Houston lawyer and director of the Foster Care Advocacy Center. Under the old system, Texas used state and federal tax dollars to pay doctors directly for billed services. The states share of the costs was rising, and lawmakers were increasingly worried about fraudulent billing. Superior, owned by Missouri-based Centene Corp., promised better health outcomes through managed care, which supporters said would reduce unnecessary costs and save taxpayer money while giving the company a small profit. Other Medicaid managed-care programs, including those covering Texans with disabilities, give patients at least two companies to choose from. Because they have to compete for patients, the companies have incentives to provide better care, experts say. But thanks to generous terms set in managed cares early, experimental years, Superior has enjoyed a monopoly over foster children, whose identities and well-being are shrouded by multiple layers of confidentiality. The state is paying this managed-care organization a lot of money to take care of our vulnerable kids, but that care is never getting to our kids, says Tara Grigg Garlinghouse, a Houston lawyer and director of the Foster Care Advocacy Center, which represents foster children. Our children should not be responsible for bolstering the bottom line of a company, she says. I have no idea how Superior has maintained this contract for so long. Advertisement Big profits, big problems Though foster children account for a tiny fraction of the Texas Medicaid population, in recent years theyve been managed cares most profitable line of business measured in dollars per patient. Superior makes twice as much profit on a foster child as it does on a patient in the traditional Medicaid plan for poor children and adults, state data shows. Yet state health officials concede theyve provided little meaningful oversight of STAR Health, and their own data raises questions about Superiors performance. Each year, more and more foster parents are filing appeals over Superiors medical denials; those appeals have climbed 31 percent since 2014 more than for any other Medicaid managed-care program in the state. Foster kids are more profitable Superior reported losses caring for foster children early on, but STAR Health later became Texas most profitable Medicaid program, on a dollar per patient basis. Foster children Healthy patients Elderly and disabled patients SOURCE: News analysis of Superior's reported earnings from from STAR, STAR+Plus and STAR Health programs Andrew Chavez / DMN The News reviewed more than 4,000 complaints lodged against Superior in the last three years. At least 375 were about the care of foster children, and 50 came directly from the states own child-welfare workers. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is supposed to advocate for foster children to get all the care they need, but it cant force Superior to do anything. We may not always win, but our loyalty and service is always to the child, says Patrick Crimmins, the departments spokesman. In June, the department began tracking when Superior denied care for foster children that was recommended by doctors or other medical providers. It counted about 450 denials in just six weeks, withholding everything from physical therapy to expensive home nursing and medical supplies. The department launched that effort after The News published a series that showed managed-care companies were bolstering their profits at the expense of vulnerable Texans. One article focused on a foster baby named Dashon Morris, who was denied round-the-clock home nursing as part of a statewide cost-savings strategy Superior deployed. As the babys foster mother and doctors had warned he would if a nurse werent around, Dashon pulled out his breathing tube, depriving his brain of oxygen. He is now in a persistent vegetative state. The foster mother, who adopted him last year, has since sued Superior over his treatment. State records show that when Dashons caseworker tried to argue for more home nursing, Superiors medical director complained that she and several other caseworkers were meddling. Dr. William Brendle Glomb threatened to protest to the state health commission, his former employer, whose top officials routinely hid the magnitude of problems with managed care, The News found. Foster children have been caught in the middle of such bureaucratic tugs-of-war for years, internal emails suggest. Just weeks before Dashons life-altering injury, one caseworker wrote, Foster parents are leaving due to the issues with STAR Health decreasing services. Nurse Pam McGough measures out medicine before the children travel to San Antonio for doctors appointments. It takes a team of nurses to prepare the kids and load them into ambulances and Bolins van for the trip. Extra hurdles Superior requires children to get approval before they can even see a specialist to be evaluated for physical, occupational or speech therapy. In traditional Medicaid, in which the state pays doctors, that initial hurdle is explicitly prohibited. With other managed-care companies, a family doctor can refer patients to a specialist, who performs an evaluation and prescribes treatment. Superiors extra layer of approval limits its exposure to expensive claims while hurting the development of foster children, according to dozens of interviews with foster parents and disability lawyers. State health officials have known about the problem for years but have done nothing. And when foster parents do cut through the red tape, Superiors thin network of providers leaves them searching across the state to find appointments. Late last year, Sharon Gerlach, a registered nurse and foster mom in Pearland, took in a 10-year-old girl who weighed 48 pounds and knew only nine words. She was in diapers and hadnt been weaned from a bottle until she was 8, Gerlach says, so she couldnt eat on her own. She often threw tantrums, screaming and kicking, her only way to communicate. The child needed speech therapy, a treatment dozens of health care providers and parents say Superior routinely denies. It helps children learn to socialize, but its also crucial in teaching children with developmental delays to chew and swallow food. Between struggling to find providers and to get the layers of approvals Superior required, Gerlach says, it took seven months before the girl got therapy. During that time, Gerlach says, she called paramedics twice because the girl was choking on food, once ending up in the emergency room. A normal family that isnt medically trained would just give up, she says. It was frustrating for me. I did a lot of cussin. Nurse Sarah Grothaus straightens a 3-year-old girl with severe brain damage in her wheelchair at Bolin's foster home. A recipe for disaster Some judges have become so fed up with poor health coverage for foster kids that theyre ordering the state to pay directly for services and medical equipment. So the child-welfare department is shelling out thousands of dollars to respond to family-court orders, on top of the more than $920 a month that the state pays Superior for each child. The state could provide no reliable data about how often it pays for court-ordered care. A spokesman said it isnt often. But in Harris County alone, three judges told The News they had signed dozens of orders for the state to pay out-of-pocket for speech therapy, household helpers, medical equipment and more. Even on a good day, the state is a lousy parent, says Michael Schneider, the top judge in the Houston court that oversees thousands of cases involving foster children. Even on a good day, the state is a lousy parent, says state District Judge Michael Schneider in Houston. When you compound that with a system that often denies coverage for these children, its a recipe for disaster. When you compound that with a system that often denies coverage for these children, he adds, its a recipe for disaster. Earlier this year, Schneider issued a standing order requiring child-welfare workers to report each denial of care for every foster child who comes through his court. In one order last September, a judge admonished Superior for creating barriers that were detrimental to a foster child who couldnt get speech therapy. In another case, Superior refused to provide a special cranial helmet that doctors prescribed for a child to prevent his misshapen head from becoming permanently deformed. Superior argued that it was a cosmetic matter that it wouldnt pay for, a lawyer who represented the boy told The News. But without the helmet, the boy would be deformed for the rest of his life, the judge concluded after considering recommendations from several physicians. "It is the responsibility of Star Health/Superior HealthPlan to pay for such a device, the order reads. It is not in the best interests of any child to experience stigma in the form of a deformity due to the unfortunate circumstance that he or she was in foster care Bolin and her 12-year-old foster child dance at Bolins foster home. Break people down Outside of Kerrville, in a ranch house that foster parents call Careville, the air is filled with the beeps and gurgles of medical machines, cartoon melodies and Tammy Bolins exasperated phone calls. Bolin is the sister of Lorna Spears, who tried and ultimately couldnt care for the girl who went into shock one night last year. The child lives with Bolin now, along with as many as five other kids, depending on the week. Sometimes, children go home. Sometimes they die here. Almost daily, Bolin says, shes arguing with someone at Superior, or calling a doctor to resend a prescription that the company denied because of a misspelling, or fighting because Superior reduced a kids nursing. Her latest battle: She doesnt have enough of the syringes she uses to measure out childrens medicines. She and the nurses have been reusing them over and over, and shes worried a child might get an incorrect dose. We have to wash them so much, theres no numbers on them, Bolin says. Among Bolins kids is a girl who was beaten so badly that shes lost almost all brain function. At age 3, shes had two strokes and a heart attack. When Bolin leans down and speaks to the girl Shes sooo pretty, Bolin says, pinching her cheek the girl smiles faintly. Thats all she can do, Bolin says. In late 2016, Superior cut the childs nursing; Bolin had to get a lawyer to fight the move, and even then succeeded only after state officials determined that the companys nursing policy violated state and federal law. They try to break people down, Bolin says of Superior. So if youve got 10 foster parents and two of them give up, well, you just saved that much money. Follow J. David McSwane, Andrew Chavez and Tom Fox on Twitter. Up Next Stacked against them Texas patients lose in the states appeals system. Keep reading. Advertisement The fighter jet, unveiled earlier this year, was discovered to be an F-5 Tiger, the likes of which first flew in 1959. Iran still has some of the incredibly outdated F-5s and F-14s in its inventory from before 1979, when Iran and the US still had a relationship. This attempted trickery reeks of the same desperation that previously led the Iranian Regime to reveal their supposedly stealth Qaher-313 fighter jet, which according to Joseph Dempsey, a defense and military analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, was nothing more than a failed propaganda stunt, as the advanced aircraft was too small to even lift its pilot off the ground. The real purpose But Justin Bronk, an aerial-combat expert at the Royal United Services Institute, reports that the real Kowsar project is merely using the F-5 as a placeholder because the real jet wasnt ready on time. Apparently, the real jet isnt a fighter, but a trainer and a light attack plane that could save Irans air force. Bronk advises that the Iranian Regime is not working on new fighter planes, because they are actually training new pilots. Their current batch of pilots is getting older, as they were all trained by the US prior to 1979, which means that the Regime is in danger of losing its air force altogether. Old Equipment Bronk said that the state of the Iranian economy, the US sanctions against the country, and the older equipment that they have to use has stopped Iran from delivering the real plane on time, but calls it impressive that the outdated planes are still flying in 2018. He said: Its not a bad play. It makes the most of the limited technology options they have. However, he does not that these planes would be hopelessly quaint against the air force of its Gulf rivals, Israel and Saudi Arabia, and especially the US. Indeed, Irans air force wouldnt stand a chance. Of course, the reason that the Iranian Regime is facing sanctions and a failing economy is entirely down to the actions of the mullahs. If they hadnt cheated on the nuclear deal or bankrupted their country with foreign wars, perhaps they would be able to introduce a new stealth plane. Even if Iran is still training new pilots, that doesnt mean that their planes will be able to do any damage, so no one should lose sleep over the Iranian air force, but its worth increasing the sanctions to prevent them from improving the planes. The Iranian Regime has two methods of destabilisation in the Middle East; inserting a proxy force to weaken the nation and take control by force (i.e. Yemen) or the same thing, but taking control through elections (i.e. Lebanon). In Iraq, the Regime has chosen the latter, but make no mistake the PMF are a terrorist fighting force (as with the Lebanese Hezbollah) who will fight and die to protect Iranian interference in their country. The PMF have run out pro-independence Kurdish groups, but have failed to stop the return of ISIS, which shows you exactly what the Iranian Regime is really scared of. They dont worry about terrorists, but politically engaged citizens in Iran and across the world. That is the threat to the Iranian Regime. Iran like to portray itself as the lone defender of Shia interests everywhere, but not when those interests conflict with the wealth and power of the Regime. This was clear to the Iraqi Shias (and Iraq as a whole) during the last elections, which is why pro-Iran parties did so poorly, and now, as anti-Iranian influence protesters take to the streets of Iraq, citing in large part Irans halting of electricity exports. The PMF has been told by Iran to play nice (or at least appear to) in the coming months in order to appease anti-Iran sentiment among the Iraqis and convince the Iraqi government not to abide by US sanctions, but this is not a permanent change. Iran will continue to act in whatever way best suits its wishes at that time and at present this requires pretending to appease Iraq. This will change once it is clear to the mullahs that Iraq is not backing down. Iraqs new policy of tacking corruption is hurting the Iranian Regime because corruption is all they know. Its how they got into power, enriched themselves, started many proxy wars, and remain in power. Corruption is the lifeblood of the Iranian Regime and any moves to root it out will weaken the mullahs, therefore all countries in the Middle East, especially those where the Iranian Regime is active, should take up strong anti-corruption campaigns to expel the mullahs from the region. It is whats best for Iran, its neighbouring states, and the world as a whole. EXCLUSIVE: US-Bangla pilot was mentally stressed and reckless According to details of the official investigation led by the Nepal government, a copy of which was obtained exclusively by the Post, Captain Abid Sultan was going through tremendous personal mental stress and anxiety, and a series of erroneous decisions on his part led to the crash of the Flight BS211. 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 India's government is requiring documentation from people to prove they are legal citizens. Some critics of the policy say it discriminates against a local minority Muslim population. The policy is being carried out in Indias northeastern state of Assam. The Hindu nationalist BJP party of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi won state legislative elections in Assam in 2016. Modi had promised to take action against illegal immigrants that some people accuse of stealing jobs and resources. The Assam government recently began expanding its work on the National Register of Citizens (NRC). People must be listed on the NRC to be considered legal citizens of India. About four million people in Assam were left off the NRC list and are being asked to provide documents to prove their citizenship. One of them is 33-year-old Riyazul Islam, who spoke to Reuters about his situation. He said he and his mother have no documents left to prove they are Indians. But his father and many others in his family are already listed in the NRC. If my father is an Indian citizen how come I am not? Islam said to Reuters. He spoke with the reporters in the town of Dhubri, near the border with Muslim-majority Bangladesh. What more proof do they need? he said. The government has not given details about the four million people living in Assam who are not on the citizenship list. But most are believed to be minority Bengali-speaking Muslims. Most of the states 33 million people are Assamese-speaking Hindus. Many of those left off the list cannot read or write and come from poor families. Reuters examined documents from several families in Assam state. The news agency found that in some cases, people were denied citizenship because the names listed on documents they provided were spelled incorrectly. In other cases, documents contained mistakes relating to a persons age. Several people who spoke with Reuters said officials rejected their explanations of the mistakes. Opposition parties say Modis BJP party aims to deny citizenship to Muslims through the Assam list. They say this could be used to demonstrate the partys commitment to Hindu nationalism ahead of a planned general election set for next year. The BJPs spokesman in Assam rejected claims that religion had played a part in the latest citizenship drive. (This is) being opposed for political mileage, whereas at ground zero there is absolutely no tension, the spokesman told Reuters. But Modis finance minister, Arun Jaitley, has spoken out on the citizenship list. He wrote in a Facebook post earlier this month that the NRC was necessary because growth in the Hindu population of Assam had been overtaken by that of Muslims. It is not clear what will happen to those left off the final list of citizens. Legal experts say they face denial of citizenship rights and government assistance and could even be sent to detention camps. They could also be taken off voter lists, which could affect the outcome of the general election. The Indian government said in 2016 that about 20 million illegal Bangladeshi migrants were living in India. Samujjal Bhattacharya is an adviser to the All Assam Students Union, which has led a campaign against illegal immigrants. He told Reuters that for 38 years, the group has been fighting to protect the language, culture and identity of our indigenous people in our own motherland. Bhattacharya denied the group discriminates against any one community. Its not against Muslims, it is not against Hindus, it is not against Bengalis, he said. Its against illegal Bangladeshis. It is a question of citizens and non-citizens. Im Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on a report by Reuters. was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story commitment n. a promise to support and work toward something absolutely adj. completely; beyond any doubt indigenous adj. existing naturally or having always lived in a place United States Senator John McCain, the Republican 2008 presidential nominee and former prisoner of war, has died after battling cancer for more than a year. He was 81. His Senate office announced his death in a statement, Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28pm on August 25, 2018. With the Senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family. At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for sixty years. His wife Cindy wrote on Twitter: My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the place he loved best. U.S. President Donald Trump offered his deepest sympathies and respect to the McCain family. He added on Twitter, Our hearts and prayers are with you! Earlier on Friday, McCains family said he had chosen to discontinue medical treatment. In July 2017, doctors found the cancerous growth and operated on McCain. Two weeks later, he returned to the Senate floor and cast the deciding vote against a Republican measure to end the Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare. The vote was seen as a setback for Trump. As a presidential candidate, Trump had questioned McCains public image. Trump said, Hes not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured. Prisoner of war McCain was born on August 29, 1936 at a U.S. naval station in Panama. The son and grandson of U.S. Navy admirals, McCain became a fighter pilot after he completed studies at the U.S. Naval Academy. On October 26, 1967, McCains airplane was shot down during a bombing run over North Vietnam. He broke both his arms and a leg in the crash and sank to the bottom of a lake in Hanoi. In his own words, McCain said, Some North Vietnamese swam out and pulled me to the side of the lake and immediately started stripping me. McCain said a crowd quickly gathered, shouting insults and kicking him. The North Vietnamese soon learned that McCain was the son of a high-level commander of U.S. forces and offered him early release. McCain refused. For five and a half years, he was imprisoned and tortured by the North Vietnamese. He was finally released, along with other American prisoners of war on March 14, 1973, after the cease-fire. Entering politics McCain retired from the Navy and moved to the American state of Arizona in 1981, where he married his second wife, Cindy Hensley. He has seven children, including three from his first marriage with Carol Shepp. The former prisoner of war easily won election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986. McCain generally represented the conservative traditions of his home state and the Republican Party. But he also was known to act independently at times. In the 1980s, McCain was one of five senators accused of helping a political donor, Charles Keating, to avoid financial regulations. Keatings actions led to a banking crisis that cost American taxpayers billions of dollars. McCain then became a leading supporter of campaign finance reform. He was also known for supporting the restoration of diplomatic relations with Vietnam, as well as increasing troops deployment to Iraq. Running for president McCain first sought the Republican nomination for president in 2000. He lost the nomination to George W. Bush. In 2008, McCain won the Republican presidential nomination. In the general election, he lost to Barack Obama, the son of a Kenyan father and an American mother. In a memorable moment during the campaign, McCain defended his Democratic opponent when one of his supporters said she cant trust Obama and that hes an Arab. McCain said, "No, ma'am. He's a decent family man [and] citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and that's what this campaign's all about. He's not [an Arab]." Returning to the Senate When he returned to the Senate, McCain became one of the leaders of the opposition against President Barack Obama. He criticized Obamas policies connected to the war against terror. In 2015, McCain became chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He was considered a leading voice for military and foreign issues. When McCain was asked how he wanted to be remembered, he said, That I made a major contribution to the defense of the nation. Hai Do wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story faithfully - adv. having or showing true and constant support or loyalty adventure - n. an exciting experience incredible - adj. extremely good, great, or large cast - v. to make (a vote) formally strip - v. to remove your clothing regulation - n. an official rule or law that says how something should be done contribution - n. something that is done to cause something to happen A new study suggests that in the United States, college and university students must think carefully about their first jobs after graduation. People who take a job that does not require a degree can find themselves in lower-paid positions than their educated peers even five or ten years later, researchers say. Burning Glass Technologies and the Strada Institute for the Future of Work partnered to create the report, released in May. Burning Glass is a software company that researches the labor market. The Strada Institute is part of the Strada Education Network, a national nonprofit organization that supports the growth of education in the United States. The study is based, in part, on data gathered from U.S. companies job advertisements and workers employment and education histories. Researchers used special software to examine advertisements listed on nearly 50,000 job search websites between 2010 and 2017. They also looked at the resumes of almost 4 million American workers dating from 2000 to 2017. By comparing this information, researchers found that during those periods, 43 percent of U.S. college and university graduates first jobs did not require a bachelors degree. The researchers considered a job that does not use a persons education underemployment. The high percentage of underemployed college graduates may not come as surprise, says a top official at the Strada Education Network. Michelle Weise is the senior vice president of workforce strategies. Some of the data from the study comes from a time when the U.S. economy was facing a serious recession and jobs were limited. But Weise points out that, in general, many kinds of jobs require little to no formal education. These include jobs in fields like food service or physical labor. The problem, she says, is the serious and possibly long-lasting effects of choosing such a job. For one thing, there is a major difference in how much money underemployed and fully employed graduates are likely to make, Weise notes. The researchers study of U.S. government data on pay suggests that recent graduates of bachelors degree programs who are underemployed earn about $10,000 less, on average, than the fully employed. Weise says the other issue is that underemployed graduates will likely be stuck in positions that do not use their education. The study showed that about two-thirds of graduates whose first jobs do not require a degree will still be underemployed five years later. And about three-fourths of that underemployed group are likely to remain underemployed for at least another five years after that. Both schools and students are responsible In a way, both the students and the schools are responsible for solving this problem, Weise argues. She says students need to be thoughtful about their career path, especially while they are still in school. The sooner they start considering the steps they need to take to help find a job after graduation the better. These steps include asking professors for advice and seeking out internships. And Weise suggests that if they can, recent graduates should not simply accept the first job offer they receive. Having the desire to work is important, but so is waiting for a job that could lead to better positions in the future. Field of study is also important, she says. The Strada and Burning Glass study found that graduates with degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics are less likely to be underemployed. And students who earn degrees in a liberal arts field, such as history, may have a harder time finding a job that uses their abilities. But Weiss argues that colleges and universities also have to do better to support liberal arts graduates in their job search. Something we have struggled with, especially since the Great Recession, is that we are not great at translating what those skills are that students are developing in those liberal arts programs and how they translate into the workforce, Weise told VOA. Were not good at showing our students, before they go on the market, how marketable they really are. Developing a number of skills Another expert points out that underemployment is also connected to how higher education operates in the modern world. Peter Cappelli is a professor of management at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He says asking students to start preparing earlier to enter the workforce is only part of the solution. Were telling them, Pick your career when youre 17 and youre applying to college, Cappelli said. And then if you happen to pick the wrong one and you graduate and theres no demand there, youre out of luck. Or you could get a very practical degree that helps get you an immediate job, but you havent learned anything that will help you later in your career. Cappelli notes that in recent years colleges and universities have worked hard to make higher education available to more people. But as the number of degree-holders nationwide has increased, graduates may find it harder to make themselves appear more desirable than others with a similar degree. Also, employers have increasingly come to expect more from graduates, somewhat unfairly, Cappelli says. For example, many advertisements for positions that normally would be perfect for recent graduates now ask for years of experience. Cappelli says that, to make themselves more competitive, college students can seek to gain skills outside of their normal study program. For example, liberal arts students might consider taking classes in computer programming during the summer break. And all workers should continue to seek ways to improve and expand their skills throughout their careers, he says. Is higher education still a good investment? The concern about underemployment may make some people wonder whether a college degree is still worthwhile. Nicole Smith says she understands why students and parents would ask that question. Smith is the chief economist for the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce in Washington, D.C. She admits that a traditional four-year degree is not the only path to a meaningful and well-paying job. And, she notes, as the cost of higher education continues to rise, families need to think carefully about the investment. But Smith stresses that the majority of well-paying jobs in the future will require some kind of degree. She says people need to consider how higher education might help them in the end. We dont want to discourage people from even stepping foot through the door or to discourage people from even thinking of that opportunity, Smith said. In addition, Smith says, readers need to look at reports such as the Strada and Burning Glass study with a critical eye. She notes that researchers and employers may have different ideas about the jobs recent college graduates can do. In other words, the reports definition of underemployment may not be entirely correct. Also, Smith argues many recent graduates choose jobs that do not require a college degree so they can more deeply explore their interests and identities. This period of exploration can help them in the end by teaching them more about what they do and do not want in a career. Im Pete Musto. And Im Dorothy Gundy. Pete Musto reported this story for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. How common is it in your country for college or university graduates to be underemployed? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Quiz Quiz - Study Suggests Many College Graduates are Underemployed Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story graduation n. the act of receiving a diploma or degree from a school, college, or university peer(s) n. a person who belongs to the same age group or social group as someone else resume(s) n. a short document describing your education and work history that you give an employer when you are applying for a job bachelors degree n. a degree that is given to a student by a college or university usually after four years of study strategies n. careful plans or methods for achieving a particular goal usually over a long period of time formal adj. received in a school internship(s) n. a position as a student or recent graduate who works for a period of time at a job in order to get experience translating v. leading to something as a result marketable adj. wanted by buyers or employers apply(ing) to p.v. to ask formally for something, such as a job, admission to a school, or a loan, usually in writing practical adj. likely to succeed and reasonable to do or use stress(es) v. to give special attention to something discourage v. to tell or advise someone not to do something opportunity n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done Credit: CC0 Public Domain Researchers have found a sweet spot of six to eight hours sleep a night is most beneficial for heart health. More or less is detrimental. Their findings are presented today at ESC Congress 2018. Study author Dr. Epameinondas Fountas, of the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Centre, Athens, Greece, said: "We spend one-third of our lives sleeping yet we know little about the impact of this biological need on the cardiovascular system." The study investigated the relationship between sleep duration and cardiovascular disease using a meta-analysis, a statistical tool for combining the results of previous studies on the same topic. The meta-analysis included 11 prospective studies of more than one million adults (1,000,541) without cardiovascular disease published within the last five years. Two groups, one with short (less than six hours) and another with long (more than eight hours) nightly sleep duration, were compared to the reference group (six to eight hours). The researchers found that both short and long sleepers had a greater risk of developing or dying from coronary artery disease or stroke. Compared to adults who slept six to eight hours a night, short and long sleepers had 11% and 33% greater risks, respectively, of developing or dying from coronary artery disease or stroke during an average follow-up of 9.3 years. Dr. Fountas said: "Our findings suggest that too much or too little sleep may be bad for the heart. More research is needed to clarify exactly why, but we do know that sleep influences biological processes like glucose metabolism, blood pressure, and inflammationall of which have an impact on cardiovascular disease." A strength of the current analysis is that only prospective studies were included, noted Dr. Fountas. This avoids recall bias, a source of systematic error in statistics arising from the inability of participants to accurately recall information. Dr. Fountas concluded: "Having the odd short night or lie-in is unlikely to be detrimental to health, but evidence is accumulating that prolonged nightly sleep deprivation or excessive sleeping should be avoided. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to get into the habit of getting six to eight hours a nightfor example by going to bed and getting up at the same time every day, avoiding alcohol and caffeine before bed, eating healthily, and being physically active. Getting the right amount of sleep is an important part of a healthy lifestyle." Explore further Can sleeping too much lead to an early death? More information: Abstract: "Relationship between sleep duration and cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis" By Ritah Kemigisa. The Uganda Local Government Association has asked government to establish a special fund for refugee host districts to cater for emergency refugee assistance such as drugs and food. The associations vice chairperson Patrick Besigye says government allocates resources based on resident population, which disadvantages border and refugee-host communities that have to share essential services with refugees. He adds that government takes long to respond to refugee situations yet the existing social facilities like boreholes, health centers and schools are overstrained by the high refugee influx. Uganda is currently host to more than 1M refugees majority of whom are from South Sudan, Dr Congo and Burundi. Four out of ten patients with atrial fibrillation but no history of stroke or transient ischaemic attack have previously unknown brain damage, according to the first results of the Swiss Atrial Fibrillation Cohort Study (Swiss-AF) presented today at ESC Congress 2018. "Our results suggest that clinically unrecognised brain damage may explain the association between dementia and atrial fibrillation in patients without prior stroke," said Co-Principal Investigator Professor David Conen of McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. Patients with atrial fibrillation have a significantly increased risk of stroke, which is why most are treated with blood thinners (oral anticoagulation). This increased stroke risk is probably the main reason why patients with atrial fibrillation also face an increased risk of cognitive dysfunction and dementia. However, the relationship between atrial fibrillation and dementia has also been shown among patients without prior strokes, meaning that additional mechanisms have to be involved. Clarifying the mechanisms by which atrial fibrillation increases the risk of cognitive dysfunction and dementia is a first step towards developing preventive measures. Swiss-AF is a prospective, observational study designed to pinpoint the mechanisms of cognitive decline in patients with atrial fibrillation. This analysis investigated the prevalence of silent brain damage in atrial fibrillation patients. The study enrolled 2,415 patients aged over 65 years with atrial fibrillation between 2014 and 2017 from 14 centres in Switzerland. All patients without contraindications underwent standardised brain magnetic resonance imaging and the images were analysed in a central core laboratory. Scans were available in 1,736 patients. Of those, 347 (20%) patients had a history of stroke and/or transient ischaemic attack and were excluded from the analysis. The final analysis included 1,389 patients with atrial fibrillation but no history of stroke or transient ischaemic attack. The average age of participants was 72 years, and 26% were women. The scans showed that 569 (41%) patients had at least one type of previously unknown brain damage: 207 (15%) had a cerebral infarct, 269 (19%) had small bleeds in the brain (microbleeds), and 222 (16%) had small deep brain lesions called lacunes. "Four in ten patients with atrial fibrillation but no history of stroke or transient ischaemic attack had clinically unrecognised 'silent' brain lesions," said Professor Conen. "This brain damage could trigger cognitive decline." Most study participants (1,234; 89%) were treated with oral anticoagulants. Co-Principal investigator Professor Stefan Osswald of University Hospital Basel, Switzerland, noted that the cross-sectional analysis looked at the data at a single point in time and cannot address the question of whether the cerebral infarcts and other brain lesions occurred before or after initiation of oral anticoagulation. But he said: "The findings nevertheless raise the issue that oral anticoagulation might not prevent all brain damage in patients with atrial fibrillation." Professor Conen said: "All Swiss-AF participants underwent extensive cognitive testing. These data will be analysed to see whether patients with silent brain lesions also have impaired cognitive function." Collaborations with other study groups will help to sort out whether these findings are specific to patients with atrial fibrillation. Explore further 7,000 strokes prevented as GPs improve diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation More information: Abstract: "Prevalence of silent vascular brain lesions among patients with atrial fibrillation and no known history of stroke" NOTICE: TO BE CLEAR: WE HAVE OUTLINED UNDER OUR RECORD MAINTENANCE POLICY WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE A FAIR PROCESS FOR ALL. SIMPLY PUT: IF THE COURT SAW FIT TO EXPUNGE YOUR RECORD,SO WILL WE, FREE OF CHARGE. 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As the price of cryptocurrency continued to climb, demand for mining rigs increased dramatically greatly affecting the global graphics card market. Hardware previously used mostly by gamers had become the favoured tools of cryptocurrency miners, and a shortage of graphics card stock quickly occurred. This gold rush was great news for companies like Bitmart, which sells ready-made cryptocurrency mining rigs to consumers. MyBroadband spoke to Bitmart CEO Jacques Serfontein about the current state of the cryptocurrency mining market compared to its peak in 2017. Massive sales At the height of the cryptocurrency mining mania, Bitmart was selling a huge number of ASIC miners and GPU mining rigs. The company delivered over 7,000 miners in South Africa in 2017, and locals continue to purchase mining rigs, said Serfontein. Bitmart is mostly selling ASIC miners at the moment due to their better return on investment compared to GPU mining rigs, although this could change depending on cryptocurrency market prices and the adoption of new mining algorithms. The amount of ASIC and GPU miners sold during the cryptocurrency boom is incredible, portraying a large amount of local investment into cryptocurrency mining hardware in 2017. In May of 2017, we were selling an average of 53 GPU rigs per day, during the week of the Ethereum boom, said Serfontein. In December 2017, we sold over 200 ASIC Miners in a single order during the Bitcoin boom. Active miners Of the 7,000 miners Bitmart sold to local consumers in 2017, it can only determine which are active if the user has not changed the default mining configuration, said Serfontein. From that data we are seeing a moderate drop in active miners over the past six months, especially from accounts with one or two miners on. This doesnt mean they switch off. They might switch to more profitable pools or they may be mining other coins not supported by Antpool. Users could also have sold their rig to another miner who set them up in their own configuration. Serfontein said that large local mining farms are generally still active and running at 100% and are even adding more machines While this data is not representative of the total cryptocurrency mining pool in South Africa, it does show a trend towards a more moderate perception around cryptocurrency mining rigs. Now read: Cryptocurrency exchanges team up to work with regulators 19272018 Leo Bruce Hopewell was born in Easton, PA. He was a leader, style setter, had an unlimited view of opportunities in life, an extensive knowledge of musical history especially in Jazz, was an enthusiastic fan and supporter of Track and Field, universal traveler, and life of any party. Bruce distinguished himself as a producer of world class jazz musicians and tax consultant. He attended College of New York City, Baruch Division with a degree in Accounting. He completed an Advanced Study at NYU Institute on Federal Taxation. Bruce remained a unique figure in New Yorks cultural life from the time he moved from Easton to Brooklyn during the euphoria of post-World War II America. His neighborhood friends have been celebrated as NEA Jazz Masters. He was a beloved member and remained a friend to a whole generation of musicians and artists who helped change American music. Bruces achievements are illuminated on his website. Briefly, Bruce Co-Founded the National Black Network, NYS Delegate and appointee by President Jimmy Carter to the National Advisory Council of Senate Committee on Small Business, chaired by Senator Lowell Weicker, Executive Member of DNC Small Business Council, American Federation of TV and Radio Artists, Founding Sponsor of the MLK, Jr., Memorial and as a gourmet cook Bruce enjoyed his friendships with Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Danny Meyer to name a few. A few of Bruces jazz accomplishments include: Producer of the Ray Charles Concert featuring Milt Jackson (Avery Fischer Hall, NYC), Festival Director of The First Harlem Jazz Festival, President and Founder of Festival on the River, Staten Island Ferry, NYC, which included 60 various jazz orchestras and jazz groups that performed for over 38,000 from NYC, continental U.S. and visitors from over 30 countries. These successful sailings were recorded by newspaper and jazz journals worldwide, National Television Networks and The Voice of America; organized Summer on Wheels a multiple cultural and jazz program sponsored by NYC Council on the Arts. Bruce served as Treasurer of NYC St. Peters Lutheran Church. A tax consultant and financial advisor for many leading musical artists, Bruce is the only person to present jazz concerts on the floors of NYSE and AMEX hosted by The Wall Street Olympic Committee and awards presentation included Muhammad Ali, Frank Gifford, Wilma Rudolph and Bruce Jenner. He was the founder and publisher of a weekly jazz paper, Jazzbill relating jazz events in and around NYC and nationally. An ardent jazzophile and intimate friend of many musicians, he accumulated an impressive record collection reflecting the many changing styles and periods of jazz over the past 60+ years. Everything Bruce did for jazz was a result of his inner necessity, passion, and love for the music. Music has always been one of the most enriching and beautiful enjoyments of my life and it is very rewarding to be able to contribute something of myself to sustaining and enhancing this greatest of artistic expressions. A few of Bruces contributions when he and his wife relocated to Napa, CA in 2007 include NVOH Board Trustee, and a Founder of NV Jazz Society. After being invited by the head of UNESCO, to Beijing in 2006, Bruce obtained interpreters for the U.S. Olympic Officials for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Bruce is survived by the love of his life, wife Mary Hopewell, sister-in-law, Marilyn Hopewell, grandson Ethan, nephews Marc McDowell, cousin Raymond Johnston Sr. Spring/Summer Celebrations of Life information to be held in NYC and Napa can be found on Bruces website www.brucehopewell.com as they become available. Contributions to honor Leo Bruce Hopewell, Sr. can be made to Napa Valley Jazz Society, SF Jazz, Palo Alto Jazz Alliance or CA Jazz Foundation. Remember how I wrote how the Youngest Huffman is leaving for college and we cant wait to get rid of all her stuff? I changed my mind. The stuff can go but the kid should stay. Now that her college move-in date is just days away, I think that our youngest (OUR BABY!) needs to stay at mommas side, sleeping in her childhood bedroom for at least a few more years. Whats the rush, anyway, kid? Youve got the rest of your life to adult. Hey, dont we have a good thing going at home? Mom knows about your favorite Hawaiian potato chips and your favorite Clif bar flavor. How about I go buy you a case of each? I would even promise to buy even more strawberries another favorite. You could have your own private stash. Call it a bribe, whatever. Im not above begging. What if I promise to step up my dinner-making skills? I could take a few classes at the CIA, start buying cookbooks. How about a fresh fruit smoothie every morning? Nightly dinner buffet with selection of your favorite appetizers and hot entrees? DESSERT BAR? I know, I know, Im all over the place. But I cant help it. Us moms of departing college students have the right to be wildly emotional, disjointed and confused. Its been a long 18 years and now its all going to hell in a college handbasket. Somebody do something! Someone stop her! Please explain that her parents still need her! Better yet, PENNY THE PUPPY needs her. THINK OF THE PUPPY! Pause. Did it work? Nope, shes still going. Were taking her to her college in Oregon, like it or not. Since were flying her to Portland, the Youngest Huffman is only bringing one large suitcase worth of stuff. The rest will be shipped directly to her new dorm room courtesy of Bed Bath & Beyond. Those smart people over at BB&B obviously figured out that new college kids need stuff and they make it easy (soooooo easy!) to order your goods online and then have them shipped straight to the school. The other night our girl headed to BB&B in Vallejo where she created her own personal going to college registry. That sounded way too similar to a wedding or baby shower registry, BTW. Gulp. Anyway, armed with a scanner gun, she clicked up and down the aisles at BB&B adding bedsheets and pillows and storage solutions and lamps and little twinkle lights. What else does she need? I mean, when I went off to college, there was definitely no BB&B registry. My mom and dad just packed me up and sent me off to Sac State. And her own laptop? HA! Thats a good one. We had no laptops. We had TYPEWRITERS. And mine was a very heavy Smith Corona electric. And you had to remember to buy typewriter PAPER and WITE-OUT. One bit of good news for our new college girl: Her roommate already told our girl that shes bringing a mini fridge and microwave for their dorm room. Thank you New Roommate and New Roommate Parents! Way to go! What else are you bringing? Any Hawaiian kettle chips or white chocolate Clif bars? Surrendering to Motherhood appears every other Monday. Follow Jennifer on Twitter: @NVRHuffman. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. I am going to write a few more columns based on our recent round-the-world cruise experiences. But this column is more about my husband Philips interest in the naval history of World War II in the Pacific. I must acknowledge his major contribution to the writing of this article because his knowledge of his own childhood, family history, and naval history is far better than mine. My husband was born at Annapolis, Maryland on the day World War II started in 1939. His father was the gunnery instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy and he quickly returned to sea as captain of a destroyer in the North Atlantic. A year later, he was transferred to the Pacific as the gunnery officer of the battleship USS Colorado. The Colorado and the USS Arizona were sister ships and shared mooring blocks at Pearl Harbor. On Dec. 7, 1941 the Arizona was destroyed by a Japanese bomb. The Colorado was not damaged because it was back in the United States being overhauled. But Philips father spent most of the rest of the war years on ships in the Pacific. His Napa Valley Register obituary in 1988 described his wartime combat service in the South and Central Pacific including the Solomons, Gilberts, Marshalls, Marianas and the first battle of the Philippine Sea. Philip had never been to that part of the world, and he was curious to see these areas where his father had served during the first five years of his own childhood. This was a major item on his bucket list. Our cruise started when we sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge. Philip still remembers watching his fathers huge grey battleship sailing through the mist under the bridge early one morning in 1943 as it left for combat in the Pacific. A few days later, we sighted Diamond Head, the famous symbol of Honolulu where we visited Pearl Harbor and the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in the Punchbowl Crater. We stood over the remains of the USS Arizona, where 1,102 officers and men are entombed. Bunker oil can still be seen bubbling to the surface from the wreckage, a stark reminder of the events of December 7, 1941. After passing through the Coral Sea we arrived at Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. Rabaul was a major World War II Japanese military and naval stronghold in the Pacific and many reminders of Japanese occupation are still visible, including tanks, barges, artillery, and aircraft. Japanese Imperial Navy Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto had his headquarters in Rabaul. Yamamoto planned the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. On April 18, 1943, he was killed when his airplane was shot down by American P-38 fighter planes over Bougainville after American code breakers broke the Japanese Naval code and learned of his travel plans. In addition to touring many of the historical sites on the Island, we were able to visit Adm. Yamamotos bunker on Rabaul where original maps still adorned the ceiling and walls. Philip was able to tour the bunker and visualize standing where Yamamoto had stood on that fateful morning in April, 1943. Our next port of call was Okinawa, where one of the costliest battles of the war was fought. Civilian and military casualties were estimated to have exceeded 300,000. At Okinawa, we visited several sites of historical significance, the most striking of which were the underground headquarters of the Imperial Japanese Navy. This huge buried complex housed the high command of the Japanese Navy and was the place where many of the senior officers killed themselves as defeat became imminent. One room, in particular, still bore the scars on the walls of the hand grenade detonation. Hiroshima and Nagasaki will always be remembered as the cities targeted by U.S. bombers with atomic bombs. Visits to ground zero, the museums, and memorials in each city were poignant reminders of the horrors of war. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom and it was hard to imagine the devastation after Little Boy and Fat Man exploded on Aug. 6 and 9, 1945. Both cities have recovered from destruction and have become busy vibrant metropolises. After visits to Shanghai and Singapore, we arrived in Penang, Malaysia where the Japanese held the crew of the USS Grenadier, an American submarine damaged and scuttled in the Straits of Malacca. The crew abandoned their sinking submarine and were picked up by a Japanese warship and taken to Penang where they were held in captivity at the Convent Light Street School. This girls school was run by French nuns, but was occupied by the Japanese Army during the war. The Grenadier crew were held there for three months before the survivors were sent to POW camps in Japan. Six crew members died during interrogations. The prisoners scratched their names on the wall of the classroom where they were held. Philip was able to get permission from the school administration to go into the school building and to view the classroom with its names on the wall. The breadfruit tree still stands in the courtyard where the nuns obtained the breadfruit, which they smuggled into the American prisoners. The school is still operated by the nuns and was filled with uniformed schoolgirls, who were fascinated by American visitors from a distant land. As we approach the anniversary of the end of World War ll (Sept. 2, 1945), this column is dedicated to the memory of Philips father. Jack Champlin. and all those who served. On Aug. 15, 23 students started first grade in room No. 6 at Pueblo Vista Magnet School. It was also someone elses first day of school. Their teacher. Meet Adan Arroyo, one of Napa Valley Unified School Districts brand new teachers. This is his first year teaching and his first classroom to lead on his own. I always thought about being a teacher in elementary school so I can be a role model to that age group, and give back to my community, said Arroyo, a native Spanish speaker. Arroyo is more than just a new teacher, hes also a homegrown educator. Arroyo grew up in Napa. He attended several elementary schools in town (although not Pueblo Vista), Silverado Middle School and graduated from Napa High School in 2010. He then attended Napa Valley College and UC Merced. He received his teaching credential from Sonoma State University. I think teaching is a calling, said Arroyo, age 26. Its definitely my calling. Returning to Napa Arroyo said he knew he wanted to teach in Napa. I grew up here, I was raised here, said Arroyo. Many of his former teachers influenced him, including his first male teacher, Leonel Rocca of Silverado Middle School, who, coincidentally, is the father of Arroyos new principal, Helen Rocca. As part of his high school senior project Arroyo worked inside a first grade classroom at the then-Phillips Elementary School. Arroyo said he enjoys teaching first grade because it is such a fundamental year. They learn so much, from reading to math, he said. They love to talk about their feelings, and in first grade, they (learn) to express themselves more in their writing and drawing. When he saw a job opening for a bilingual elementary school teaching job at Pueblo Vista, I thought itd be a great fit, he said. Im familiar with the community, I have a deep connection to the city. Arroyo said he was especially committed to teaching in Napa because I was once in their shoes, he said. He remembers what it feels like to be a young student especially one from a Spanish-speaking home. Due to the language barrier, his parents werent able to be as involved in his education, said Arroyo. My mom was scared to go to his classroom and school, he recalled. I dont want any of the kids I have to go through that. Arroyos principal, Helen Rocca, is delighted that hes joined Pueblo Vista on Barbara Road in west Napa. Im excited hes a part of our team, she said. You dont have a lot of male teachers in a primary classroom, she said. Arroyo can really have an impact on his students especially the boys, she noted. For some of his students, this is their only time to be around a male role model in a learning environment, Arroyo said. Arroyo shows the value of being bilingual to the students and school community, Rocca said. How great is it that? One of the 28 Of the 73 certificated employees new to Napa Valley Unified School District (NVUSD) this school year, 28 are first-time teachers like Arroyo. People may wonder why, with the budget cuts, some teachers lost their positions and yet NVUSD has 73 new teachers, said Elizabeth Emmett, director of communications and community engagement with the NVUSD. That is due primarily to resignations and retirements, and a few probationary teachers who were not invited back, she said. According to the NVUSD, the salary for a full-time teacher like Arroyo ranges from $54,433 to $54,801 per year. Arroyo said he chose the first grade position because I enjoy teaching the fundamentals of reading, which they still do a lot in first grade, he said. And the students are just a little bit more mature than when they are in kindergarten, he said. From his experience in that first grade classroom at then-Phillips Elementary School, I knew what to expect and the impact I could have. Getting ready for back to school Like any other teacher, Arroyo spent time inside his classroom preparing for the first day of school. I was here all summer, he admitted. I had my mom, aunts and cousins help me set up his room. There were posters to hang, desks to arrange and school supplies to sort. Additionally, the other two first grade teachers at Pueblo Vista Laura Roldan and Mindy Banuelos are such a great help, he said. Via an induction program designed for new teachers, Arroyo will continue to work with Roldan, in particular, throughout the school year. During a meet-and-greet the day before school started, Arroyo had already become acquainted with some of his new students and parents. Some parents asked how long he had been teaching. Some were amazed to hear Arroyo was a first-time teacher. Hopefully it was good amazement, he said. Some commented that he looks younger than 26-years-old. Can you handle this? asked one parent. I said yes, this is what Ive always wanted to do, said Arroyo. First day jitters The night before the first day of school, Aug. 15, It was nerve-racking, Arroyo admitted. School starts at 8:15 a.m. but I got here at 7:30 a.m. I wanted to make sure everything was ready to go, said Arroyo, who lives in Napa with his parents. I was so excited to start and meet my students and parents I hadnt met yet (and) start my career teaching. As they entered the classroom on that first day, the first thing this new teacher did was welcome his new students with individual high-fives. I used to love it when my teachers gave me a high-five, because it made me feel like Im at home, he explained. As for his students, I didnt know what to expect, but I was so happy to see their enthusiasm on that first day. A number exclaimed a maestro! meaning a male teacher. To settle the students, each took a seat and started a worksheet. Arroyo is already implementing classroom management techniques. For example, to get the students attention he uses the same call and response method. Clase, clase, he calls out. Si, si, the students respond. Because Pueblo Vista is a dual immersion school, 90 percent of the classroom instruction in first grade is in Spanish. By the time the students get to fifth grade, that ratio is 50/50 Spanish and English. On that first day, his students were a little shy, Arroyo thought, but a few had questions for their new teacher. Are you a dad? asked one. No, Im not a dad, Arroyo said. Are you the only boy teacher at the school? asked another. Yes, I am, Arroyo said. Out of habit, they kept calling me maestra, not maestro, or the masculine form of the word teacher, he said. He gently corrected them. The rest of the day was a blur, Arroyo said. Even though the first day ended at 12:30 p.m., It flew by so quick. I wish I had more time. Arroyo admitted that after that first day he went home and took a nap. On to week two The first three days of the new school year felt surreal, Arroyo said on Friday at weeks end. It was an amazing feeling of accomplishment. Hes happy to say hes already memorized his students names. No one cried and there were no bathroom accidents or other such mishaps. To be honest, the kids were really mature and very respectful and polite, he said. That was so nice to see. It eased my anxiety. According to Principal Rocca, hes off to a good start. The kids think hes amazing, said Rocca. When she asked him how the first day went his face was lit up, she said. He said, I did it. Its everything I wanted it to be. As a principal, thats the most rewarding feeling, said Rocca. Hes just as excited as the kids are to be here. Every day you learn something you can do a little better, said Arroyo. I just try to keep the kids engaged. Of course, this is the honeymoon period of a new school year, said Rocca. If you see enthusiasm in November, youll know Im still doing good, Arroyo said. Next in this occasional series: Arroyos first months as a new teacher. 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. When President Donald Trump tweeted Wednesday night that he had asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to look into violence against, and seizures of land from, white farmers in South Africa, he wasn't just amplifying a narrative he heard from Fox News host Tucker Carlson. Trump was also elevating a storyline that has floated around white supremacist blogs, podcasts and online forums for years. And the president's tweet shows how these white supremacist ideas bubble up from the internet's darkest corners and into the Oval Office. In 2015, Dylann Roof walked into a Bible study group at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., listened quietly for an hour and then opened fire, killing nine people. A photo that later surfaced online showed Roof wearing a jacket sporting the flag of South Africa's apartheid regime. The 24-year-old South Carolinian clearly felt an affinity with white South Africans. That sentiment is common across the white supremacist universe. The neo-Nazi website the Daily Stormer has published hundreds of stories about the plight of white South African farmers. Users of the white supremacist site Stormfront have been going on about the issue for years. White nationalist groups on platforms such as Facebook are similarly devoted to the fate of South African whites. These narratives often portray the treatment of South African whites as a critical front in an imagined global fight against white people. If whites in South Africa are treated so poorly after handing over power to the country's black majority, the story goes, it's just a preview of what could happen in the rest of the world as more diverse voices are allowed into the political conversation. This fear has been given a name: white genocide. In the leaked logs of an online white nationalist chat server operated by South African Willem Petzer, published by the independent media outlet Unicorn Riot, users explicitly discussed highlighting this story as part of a larger propaganda goal. "Are we selling this white genocide lie in SA as well as the jews did with the holocaust in ww2?" one user wrote, equating the neo-Nazi conspiracy theory that the Holocaust never happened with a desire to use inflated claims about the treatment of South African farmers to further the cause of white nationalism. "We need to build some head lice treatment rooms/showers," replied another, blithely nodding at killing methods used in Nazi concentration camps. "I think that may solve the problem." The white nationalist version of what's happening in South Africa is a twisted history of the land reforms that have been instituted since apartheid ended in 1994. The claim is that black South Africans are increasingly invading white farms, slaughtering farmers and claiming their land for themselves. But there's no evidence of a genocide against white South Africans. "There's no truth to this story whatsoever," said Ben Cousins, a senior professor at the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa. "Every now and then, a white person is robbed or killed on a farm, but the murder rate is far higher for black South Africans. This is just an attempt by the far-right to whip up a frenzy." Although there are certainly cases of white farmers being attacked and murdered in South Africa, the number of those attacks had steadily decreased since its peak in 2001 until last year, when it rose slightly. In 2001 there were 1,069 farm attacks and 140 murders in South Africa; by 2017 that number had dropped to 561 attacks and 47 murders, according to the South African Police Service. About 61 percent of murder victims in farm attacks even during the peak were white, according to a 2003 study. Trump likely isn't personally crawling through obscure internet forums to learn about agrarian South African politics. Instead, his information is being filtered through Fox News, which has increasingly played a role in spreading ethno-nationalist rhetoric. "Tucker Carlson has become our hate mainstreamer in chief," said Heidi Beirich, who leads the Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project on hate and extremism." He seems to be picking up the thinking of the white supremacist movement in the United States and expressing it in very harsh terms.... This isn't a dog whistle. This is just a blatant repeating of white supremacist ideas." Carlson's repeated surfacing of white supremacist rhetoric has earned him a devoted set of fans among online racists. On the far-right social network Gab, there are user-created groups devoted to fawning conversations about Carlson's show. Other groups on the platform promote neo-Nazi ideology or act as whites-only job search boards. Trump has pushed the narrative of white genocide into the national conversation before. During the 2016 presidential campaign, he retweeted a Twitter user with the handle @WhiteGenocideTM. But Wednesday night marked the first time he has referenced white South Africans directly. And white supremacists celebrated. "IT'S HAPPENING: Trump Tweets About WHITE GENOCIDE in South Africa," blared a headline on the Daily Stormer. "This is a fairly significant step in the right direction," read an article on the white supremacist site Infostormer. "Trump's involvement is going to draw even more attention to the plight of White farmers in South Africa." On Stormfront, Trump's tweet was seen as a welcome sign of an impending race war that users hope will drench the planet in a cleansing bloodbath. "It's a start," one Stormfront user wrote. "Regardless where I'll be in the world, when the shooting starts I'll be on my way back." Will Carless and Aaron Sankin are reporters for Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting, a nonprofit news organization. They produce a weekly newsletter on hate in America, the Hate Report. Closing in on two years after speaking loud and clear, the voters of Napa County are still waiting for what they asked for access to recreational cannabis. Worse, the city of Napa is only now taking a painfully tentative step toward providing access to medicinal marijuana, more than two decades after voters first approved it. The first medicinal dispensary is expected to open in Napa sometime around the end of the year, with construction or permit applications for several more pending. But the city ordinance still bans recreational sales, blocking access to anyone without a medical referral. Weve noted in this space before that Napa County came out strongly in favor of legalizing recreational use of marijuana and cannabis products, backing it by a convincing 61-39 percent. The proposition easily carried every town and city and every supervisorial district, with approval rates ranging from just over 56 percent in American Canyon to nearly 65 percent in the First Supervisorial District. Yet it took more than a year for the Napa City Council to decide finally to join the 1990s, passing an ordinance allowing medicinal-only dispensaries. There has been some discussion of a dispensary in Calistoga, but so far nothing has been approved. No other Napa County jurisdiction has seriously entertained the idea. This leaves Napa County patients and recreational enthusiasts travelling long distances, to Santa Rosa and Vallejo and sometimes beyond, to avail themselves of a product that is legal under state law. From those neighboring examples, we know that this regulatory process isnt impossible and that there are examples of clean, well-run dispensaries. At the urging of cannabis activist and political candidate James Hinton, we toured one such facility recently, ReLeaf in Vallejo, founded in part by a Napa native, which by all appearances is an model for how such a dispensary should be built, secured, and run. And we also know that there are entrepreneurs here in Napa County that are ready to go and that are committed to making sure that the local cannabis industry adheres to high standards of compliance, service, and quality. We met recently with leaders of the new Napa Valley Cannabis Association. Many of those leaders have experience in the wine industry and with the existing related trade association. They told us they are committed to making sure that cannabis businesses are devoted to best practices and to honoring the agricultural roots of the county, just as the Napa Valley Vintners, Napa Valley Grapegrowers and other wine industry groups have done. They vowed to protect and build the name and reputation of the Napa Valley just as other trade associations do every day. The Napa County Board of Supervisors is expected to discuss possible rules for commercial production of cannabis in the unincorporated areas on Aug. 28. We urge them to allow staff to begin developing rules and to work with the Cannabis Association and others to draft a workable ordinance. We urge the Napa City Council to abandon its wait-and-see policy and finally allow a full-blown recreational dispensary in the countys largest city. We urge the other cities of the valley to listen with an open mind to proposals for dispensaries, and at least agree not to stand in the way of responsible businesses providing delivery services. Its time we unshackle our local entrepreneurs to allow Napa County to join the post-prohibition cannabis culture and to give the voters what they so firmly said they wanted. The Napa Valley Register Editorial Board consists of Interim Publisher Davis Taylor, Editor Sean Scully, and public members Cindy Webber, Ed Shenk, Mary Jean Mclaughlin and Chris Hammaker. I, along with millions of Americans, have deep indignation toward the policies and behavior of a man unworthy to sit in the Oval Office in The White House the peoples house as a President. I was very touched by Patti Daviss recently published editorial about how her father President Ronald Regan would never have tolerated the growing hatred and massive divisions across our nation and world leaders, by the man who holds the most sacred position on earth, grounded and prescribed by our holy Founding Fathers the United States presidency (My father, Ronald Reagan, would never have stood for this, NapaValleyRegister.com, Aug. 16). I have been very open on my personal feelings of this current sitting man, not worthy of being called the word President. I have been involved in attempting to have him removed from office, as well as fully knowing in fullest details this current leader inspires hate, racism toward all cultures. I was infuriated when Trump met the chancellor of Germany and proceeded to grab several pieces of candy and literally threw them at the German leader and reportedly said Here, Angela, dont say I never gave you anything. I had a long standing relationship with President Reagan, corresponding with him before and throughout his presidency. To me President Reagan was a peacemaker, both in politics and his private life. He told me in one letter he sent that all the people from all walks of life, no matter how rich or poor, matter very deeply to me and Nancy (his loving wife) and his whole administration. He said he had always done my very best as president and as a nation, held together by love and the meaning of Gods loving grace, to shine down on all of us as long as we exist. That was President Reagan -- a true lover of all the people. Like past presidents, he had his shortcomings, and all may not agree with him. But Patti Davis in her editorial put in true perspective of the man and her father. That was the true way he was, public and private. He had a great relationship with the press, as most presidents had in the past. Trump hates the press and doesnt like them and their tactics one bit. Trump hates the press, so they retaliate to write trash about him. To sum it up, to know one president who was beloved by millions, and the other hated and very disliked by millions, shows a shift in the leadership, fouled up deeply now, coming out of the White House. Donald Trump needs much prayer, but he is failing rapidly and almost daily. I dont hate Trump personally, but again as a presidential historian and knowing, believe it or not, many of the past occupants, I have never seen nor experienced such a three-ring-circus-like atmosphere this particular outspoken and nasty man has brought to the landscape of not only the American people as a whole, but all over the world in the way he treats leaders and refuses handshakes, as well the kindness expressed from these leaders if he does not get what he wants. In closing, a president leading a Free World is patient, listens intently to all his cabinet and advisors most especially in the face of possible confrontation of possible war, how to divert it by real and honorable negations, and enable the office as a whole. He does not continue to disgrace it through the kinds of continued and unbalanced behavior of this man, his family, inciting hatred and more racism and riots across our land. Presently our nation is divided more than it was when President Abraham Lincoln became chief executive, as states seceded, causing a brother-to-brother American Civil War. Trump also has no desire to confer with any of his predecessors for advice and this may be because of intense pride; he has boldly said he can do the job himself and needs no advice. Well, he has and so far has created a catastrophe in the long process. This man will hang himself eventually with all his lies and misleading, and I predict on election night in 2020, will lose his ego-ridden office of the presidency by a massive landslide. I hope he doesnt cry to hard. 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(5) May 09 (2) May 08 (4) May 07 (4) May 06 (4) May 05 (4) May 04 (4) May 03 (3) May 02 (3) May 01 (4) Apr 30 (4) Apr 29 (6) Apr 28 (6) Apr 27 (5) Apr 26 (5) Apr 25 (4) Apr 24 (6) Apr 23 (6) Apr 22 (5) Apr 21 (6) Apr 20 (4) Apr 19 (4) Apr 18 (4) Apr 17 (7) Apr 16 (5) Apr 15 (4) Apr 14 (8) Apr 13 (5) Apr 12 (3) Apr 11 (3) Apr 10 (4) Apr 09 (6) Apr 08 (6) Apr 07 (5) Apr 06 (4) Apr 05 (3) Apr 04 (4) Apr 03 (6) Apr 02 (6) Apr 01 (3) Mar 31 (7) Mar 30 (6) Mar 29 (8) Mar 28 (5) Mar 27 (6) Mar 26 (8) Mar 25 (5) Mar 24 (5) Mar 23 (8) Mar 22 (5) Mar 21 (6) Mar 20 (5) Mar 19 (5) Mar 18 (4) Mar 17 (4) Mar 16 (5) Mar 15 (6) Mar 14 (5) Mar 13 (6) Mar 12 (4) Mar 11 (4) Mar 10 (3) Mar 09 (7) Mar 08 (4) Mar 07 (4) Mar 06 (4) Mar 05 (3) Mar 04 (4) Mar 03 (6) Mar 02 (3) Mar 01 (5) Feb 28 (7) Feb 27 (6) Feb 26 (8) Feb 25 (5) Feb 24 (8) Feb 23 (7) Feb 22 (8) Feb 21 (7) Feb 20 (7) Feb 19 (7) Feb 18 (5) Feb 17 (4) Feb 16 (6) Feb 15 (6) Feb 14 (5) Feb 13 (5) Feb 12 (7) Feb 11 (6) Feb 10 (7) Feb 09 (4) Feb 08 (6) Feb 07 (5) Feb 06 (5) Feb 05 (4) Feb 04 (4) Feb 03 (4) Feb 02 (5) Feb 01 (3) Jan 31 (5) Jan 30 (3) Jan 29 (6) Jan 28 (4) Jan 27 (3) Jan 26 (5) Jan 25 (4) Jan 24 (4) Jan 23 (5) Jan 22 (7) Jan 21 (6) Jan 20 (6) Jan 19 (3) Jan 18 (6) Jan 17 (5) Jan 16 (7) Jan 15 (4) Jan 14 (7) Jan 13 (5) Jan 12 (7) Jan 11 (5) Jan 10 (4) Jan 09 (4) Jan 08 (7) Jan 07 (3) Jan 06 (5) Jan 05 (5) Jan 04 (4) Jan 03 (4) Jan 02 (3) Jan 01 (6) Dec 31 (5) Dec 30 (3) Dec 29 (4) Dec 28 (7) Dec 27 (4) Dec 26 (4) Dec 25 (6) Dec 24 (5) Dec 23 (5) Dec 22 (5) Dec 21 (3) Dec 20 (3) Dec 19 (4) Dec 18 (4) Dec 17 (6) Dec 16 (5) Dec 15 (4) Dec 14 (5) Dec 13 (4) Dec 12 (5) Dec 11 (7) Dec 10 (4) Dec 09 (3) Dec 08 (5) Dec 07 (6) Dec 06 (4) Dec 05 (4) Dec 04 (7) Dec 03 (6) Dec 02 (4) Dec 01 (4) Nov 30 (6) Nov 29 (4) Nov 28 (4) Nov 27 (7) Nov 26 (3) Nov 25 (5) Nov 24 (4) Nov 23 (4) Nov 22 (4) Nov 21 (7) Nov 20 (5) Nov 19 (4) Nov 18 (5) Nov 17 (6) Nov 16 (7) Nov 15 (5) Nov 14 (5) Nov 13 (5) Nov 12 (4) Nov 11 (7) Nov 10 (6) Nov 09 (7) Nov 08 (4) Nov 07 (9) Nov 06 (7) Nov 05 (7) Nov 04 (7) Nov 03 (5) Nov 02 (6) Nov 01 (6) Oct 31 (7) Oct 30 (6) Oct 29 (7) Oct 28 (4) Oct 27 (7) Oct 26 (4) Oct 25 (3) Oct 24 (6) Oct 23 (10) Oct 22 (6) Oct 21 (5) Oct 20 (5) Oct 19 (5) Oct 18 (4) Oct 17 (6) Oct 16 (5) Oct 15 (6) Oct 14 (7) Oct 13 (3) Oct 12 (5) Oct 11 (5) Oct 10 (6) Oct 09 (8) Oct 08 (6) Oct 07 (5) Oct 06 (4) Oct 05 (4) Oct 04 (3) Oct 03 (4) Oct 02 (5) Oct 01 (5) Sep 30 (6) Sep 29 (5) Sep 28 (5) Sep 27 (6) Sep 26 (7) Sep 25 (6) Sep 24 (6) Sep 23 (6) Sep 22 (7) Sep 21 (5) Sep 20 (8) Sep 19 (6) Sep 18 (3) Sep 17 (5) Sep 16 (5) Sep 15 (5) Sep 14 (7) Sep 13 (5) Sep 12 (7) Sep 11 (5) Sep 10 (7) Sep 09 (7) Sep 08 (7) Sep 07 (6) Sep 06 (5) Sep 05 (3) Sep 04 (6) Sep 03 (7) Sep 02 (6) Sep 01 (6) Aug 31 (5) Aug 30 (5) Aug 29 (4) Aug 28 (5) Aug 27 (5) Aug 26 (3) Aug 25 (8) Aug 24 (5) Aug 23 (6) Aug 22 (7) Aug 21 (7) Aug 20 (6) Aug 19 (7) Aug 18 (5) Aug 17 (4) Aug 16 (6) Aug 15 (6) Aug 14 (6) Aug 13 (7) Aug 12 (6) Aug 11 (5) Aug 10 (6) Aug 09 (6) Aug 08 (5) Aug 07 (4) Aug 06 (4) Aug 05 (5) Aug 04 (6) Aug 03 (6) Aug 02 (5) Aug 01 (5) Jul 31 (7) Jul 30 (7) Jul 29 (4) Jul 28 (7) Jul 27 (6) Jul 26 (4) Jul 25 (3) Jul 24 (5) Jul 23 (4) Jul 22 (4) Jul 21 (4) Jul 20 (4) Jul 19 (5) Jul 18 (5) Jul 17 (5) Jul 16 (4) Jul 15 (3) Jul 14 (4) Jul 13 (5) Jul 12 (6) Jul 11 (5) Jul 10 (4) Jul 09 (3) Jul 08 (4) Jul 07 (7) Jul 06 (5) Jul 05 (6) Jul 04 (3) Jul 03 (5) Jul 02 (4) Jul 01 (4) Jun 30 (3) Jun 29 (5) Jun 28 (4) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (3) Jun 25 (4) Jun 24 (3) Jun 23 (4) Jun 22 (3) Jun 21 (3) Jun 20 (5) Jun 19 (3) Jun 18 (4) Jun 17 (5) Jun 16 (4) Jun 15 (4) Jun 14 (7) Jun 13 (5) Jun 12 (5) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (6) Jun 09 (4) Jun 08 (6) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (5) Jun 05 (4) Jun 04 (5) Jun 03 (5) Jun 02 (5) Jun 01 (5) May 31 (4) May 30 (5) May 29 (5) May 28 (5) May 27 (8) May 26 (7) May 25 (7) May 24 (5) May 23 (2) May 22 (5) May 21 (4) May 20 (5) May 19 (5) May 18 (5) May 17 (5) May 16 (7) May 15 (7) May 14 (7) May 13 (5) May 12 (6) May 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(6) Feb 09 (7) Feb 08 (6) Feb 07 (6) Feb 06 (6) Feb 05 (5) Feb 04 (5) Feb 03 (10) Feb 02 (9) Feb 01 (4) Jan 31 (8) Jan 30 (4) Jan 29 (9) Jan 28 (6) Jan 27 (5) Jan 26 (6) Jan 25 (7) Jan 24 (6) Jan 23 (6) Jan 22 (5) Jan 21 (7) Jan 20 (8) Jan 19 (5) Jan 18 (5) Jan 17 (5) Jan 16 (5) Jan 15 (5) Jan 14 (3) Jan 13 (5) Jan 12 (6) Jan 11 (5) Jan 10 (5) Jan 09 (4) Jan 08 (3) Jan 07 (5) Jan 06 (5) Jan 05 (6) Jan 04 (5) Jan 03 (3) Jan 02 (3) Jan 01 (3) Dec 31 (3) Dec 30 (3) Dec 29 (3) Dec 28 (4) Dec 27 (4) Dec 26 (5) Dec 25 (6) Dec 24 (7) Dec 23 (7) Dec 22 (4) Dec 21 (5) Dec 20 (6) Dec 19 (10) Dec 18 (9) Dec 17 (10) Dec 16 (8) Dec 15 (4) Dec 14 (6) Dec 13 (10) Dec 12 (6) Dec 11 (5) Dec 10 (6) Dec 09 (5) Dec 08 (8) Dec 07 (5) Dec 06 (6) Dec 05 (6) Dec 04 (7) Dec 03 (7) Dec 02 (6) Dec 01 (9) Nov 30 (5) Nov 29 (9) Nov 28 (7) Nov 27 (6) Nov 26 (7) Nov 25 (3) Nov 24 (4) Nov 23 (4) Nov 22 (7) Nov 21 (7) Nov 20 (4) Nov 19 (8) Nov 18 (12) Nov 17 (8) Nov 16 (6) Nov 15 (4) Nov 14 (11) Nov 13 (11) Nov 12 (9) 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Mar 11 (1) Mar 10 (1) Steve Daines bitcoin mining The junior United States Senator from Montana, Steve Daines, has warned that the planned closure of a coal power generator could harm the booming bitcoin mining business in the state. According to KULR-TV, all the four units of the Colstrip coal plant located in Rosebud County are expected to shut down by 2027. In Senator Daines view, reliable low-cost energy is necessary for Montana to retain and continue attracting new bitcoin mining companies. As the demand for Bitcoin miners increases and supply of cheap, reliable electricity from coal generation decreases, this could pose a threat of the expansion of Bitcoin generation and even greater threat to energy supply and prices for Montana as a whole, said Senator Daines during a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee meeting. Low Operating Costs coal bitcoin mining Besides the low energy costs, the naturally-cold temperatures have also served to make the state of Montana a favorite with bitcoin mining firms, as such an environment reduces cooling expenses. Notably, some of the biggest bitcoin mining facilities in North America are located in Western Montana. This includes CryptoWatt LLC, which operates a facility located in Butte and has an agreement with the Colstrip coal plant for the supply of 64MW ,making it one of the biggest users of electricity in the state. There is also the Bonner Bitcoin data center, which until recently was one of the largest in the world, as CCN reported two months ago. Last year, according to the Missoula Economic Partnership, an initiative aimed at promoting business activities in the Western Montana city of Missoula, the Bonner facility was expected to expand from the then 12,000 mining rigs to 55,000. Project Spokane Montanas pro-cryptocurrency bona fides are also proven by the fact that its state government is the first in the U.S. to offer a grant to a bitcoin mining operation. Last year in June, the governor of Montana, Steve Bullock, announced that out of the $1,124,030 that had been allocated as economic development grants to assist main street businesses in creating jobs, training employees, and planning for growth, $416,000 would go to a bitcoin miner named Project Spokane. Story continues Missoula County received $416,000 of BSTF Job Creation funds to assist Project Spokane, LLC to expand, which will allow the company to create 65 new jobs in Bonner, said a press release from Bullocks office. The BSTF funds will be used for purchase of equipment, machinery, furniture and software and for wage reimbursement. Project Spokane, LLC is a data center that provides blockchain security services for the bitcoin network. Featured Image from U.S. Department of Agriculture/Flickr The post U.S. Senator Warns Closing Montana Coal Plant Will Hurt Bitcoin Mining Industry appeared first on CCN. Praying for the direction to take in this years devotions, God directed my thoughts to the alphabet and 2x26 equals the weeks in a year, and that He can be described by many English words beginning with those 26 letters (X is the exception, but EX words will work). This year, I will gaze at the glory of God using the ESV and the alphabet! New pipeline capacity additions on both sides of the border have helped U.S. natural gas pipeline exports to Mexico to jump to their highest level on record in July. American exports are set to further increase with a number of pipelines expected to become operational by 2020, the EIA said in a note this week. The newly commissioned pipelines benefit both countries. For the United States, more pipeline takeaway capacity gives the Permian an additional export outlet from West Texas to Mexico as producers are looking at ways to ease pipeline constraints not only on crude oil production, but also on natural gas whose production is also booming. For Mexico, natural gas imports help to meet its rising gas demand as the country is adding gas-fired electricity generation capacity at a rapid clip while it faces a decline in its domestic gas production. More pipeline imports also mean cheaper gas than liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, of which Mexico is the number-one customer of the United States. However, several pipeline projects on the Mexican side of the border face delays of more than a year, capping the U.S. piped gas export surge, as well as the expected relief of Permian gas constraints via pipelines from West Texas into Mexico, the EIA warned. In 2017, the U.S. became a net natural gas exporter for the first time since 1957, the EIA said earlier this year. Thanks to growing demand for gas-fired power generation in Mexico and favorable prices compared to LNG shipments, U.S. pipeline capacity into Mexico has also increased over the past few years along with U.S. pipeline exports to Mexicoexports which have more than doubled since 2014 to average 4.2 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2017. Despite the current delays in Mexico, U.S. pipeline exports will continue to increase, according to the EIA. Total U.S. pipeline exports of natural gas are expected to average 7.0 Bcf/d this year and 8.5 Bcf/d next year, up from 6.7 Bcf/d in 2017, driven by growing U.S. production and the completion of new pipelines to demand centers in Mexico. Related: Alaskas Oil Renaissance Between January and May 2018, U.S. exports averaged 4.4 Bcf/d. Last month, after several key pipelines were commissioned in Mexico, U.S. natural gas exports to its southern neighbor jumped for the first time above 5 Bcf/d, the EIA said, citing data by Genscape. Currently, about three-quarters of U.S. natural gas pipeline exports to Mexico flow from South Texas, mostly from the Eagle Ford. Yet, despite the jump in cross-border pipeline capacity in recent years, exports from West Texas have been limited, due to delays of the connecting pipelines on Mexican territory which has led to relatively low utilization of cross-border pipeline capacity from West Texas, the EIA said. By the end of the year, however, West Texas can rely on two additional pipelines in Mexico expected to become operational in NovemberLa Laguna-Aguascalientes (1.2 Bcf/d) and Villa de Reyes-Aguascalientes-Guadalajara (0.9 Bcf/d). While these two pipelines will carry natural gas from West Texas into central and western Mexico, they may displace some LNG imports at the Manzanillo LNG terminal, according to the EIA. Mexico is the single largest market for U.S. LNG exports, having taken nearly 20 percent of all American exports since LNG shipments began in February 2016, U.S. Department of Energy data shows. Related: Is Renewable Energy As Clean As We Think? Rising U.S. natural gas exports to Mexico, regardless of whether they are shipped via pipelines or LNG cargoes, will help Mexico to meet its growing gas-fired power generation demand at a time when its domestic production is declining. The future of Mexicos energy sector overhaul is unclear under incoming president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador who has been critical of the reform that outgoing president Enrique Pena Nieto enacted in 2013 to end the monopoly of state firm Pemex. For example, Pemex signed in March this year a contract with San Antonio-based Lewis Energy to assess and develop an unconventional field, which is the extension of the Eagle Ford in Mexico, with investment expected at US$617 million. A month after Lopez Obrador was elected president of Mexico, he said that the country would not use fracking anymore, dashing hopes that Mexico could replicate the U.S. shale gas boom in 10 years time. With or without domestic shale gas production, Mexico will increasingly need natural gas, while the U.S. has an outletand a very close one at thatfor both its pipeline exports and LNG shipments. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: In a little over 16 months, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will ban the use of untreated marine fuels that emit high levels of sulphur oxide (SOx). Vessels that emit SOx in excess of 0.5 percent must be treated with special scrubber units to reduce environmental impacts. Within Emission Control Zones, mostly North America and Europe, the SOx content must be less than 0.1 percent. Although the Exhaust Gas Cleaning System Association (EGCSA) suggests $20 billion will be spent on scrubbers in the next 5 years, there are serious considerations that may dampen those expectations. There are signs refiners are not sitting idle and are opting to produce more IMO 2020 complaint marine fuels. Of the roughly 60,000 international dry bulk, container, tanker, and commercial vessels that make up international ocean-going commerce, even the most optimistic sources have figures below 1000 that are currently fitted or scheduled to be fitted with scrubbers in the future. Argus media claims that 308 vessels have the option to install but dont specify a year. Ship owners must understand which option is least costly to their business model in the coming decades. Scrubbers can cost between $1.1 to $5.7 million USD. This this does not include lost revenue from completing the installation, nor the project planning required, which can take a full year. On the other hand, paying higher fuel prices, possibly 25 percent more, for IMO 2020 compliant marine fuels may be the best option for some ship owners in the short term, while refiners try to catch up. The IMO predicts 3800 vessels to be fitted by 2020, but this figure appears to be quite optimistic. With additional IMO environmental regulations on the horizon, ship owners may be turning away from Green House Gas (GHG) emissions intensive fuels altogether. Denying the inevitable could cost their business long term, so making gradual changes that reduce environmental impacts from their operations may be most practical solution. Related: Brazils Opposing Energy Views Bunker fuel storage levels are dropping in major refining centres. U.S. bunker fuel levels their lowest levels in 3 decades. For Singapore, its 9 years. Norways SEB Bank even predicts 3 million of the current 4 million barrels per day of high sulphur marine fuel will disappear overnight to follow changes in the marine fuels market. With IMO 2020 regulations looming, many refineries are retooling and adding capacity to deliver more middle distillates. The International Energy Agency (IEA) anticipates 7 million additional barrels per day of refining capacity to come online by 2023, mostly in the Middle East, China and other emerging Asian markets. Currently, about 16 refinery coking projects are pending or underway in Europe, Russia, Central Asia (Former Soviet Union), and Turkey alone. Turning heavy residual components, like high sulphur marine fuels, into more middle distillates is a key driver. Refiners also see other options: Idled refining capacity can be restarted in key locations. In July 2018, for example, Arc Light Capital announced a $1.4 billion dollar plan to refurbish and restart the 650,000 barrel per day Limetree Bay refinery at St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Because the refinery can intake heavy crudes and produce IMO 2020 compliant fuels, the refinery seems well positioned when 1.1.2020 arrives. However, the Limetree Refinery restart is not intended solely for IMO 2020: Venezuelas crude production plummet has impacted supply to PDVSAs Caribbean refining assets in the region. In June 2018, a mere 29,000 barrels were processed at the 350,000 barrel per day Isla Refinery (whose assets where recently seized by ConocoPhillips). But, there are now signs that an economic slowdown may be emerging as refiners transition to IMO 2020 compliant fuels. Related: The Next Major Challenge For Norways Oil Industry Middle distillate fuels are a key indicator of global economic health due to use in aircraft, ship, truck, heavy equipment and rail transport. A little over a third, or roughly 35 million barrels per day, of global oil consumption serves markets for middle distillates. John Kemp recently reported that middle distillate availability in the U.S. appears to be rising faster than normal, perhaps an indicator that trade disputes between the U.S. and other nations is taking a toll on the global economy. There is also a much stronger U.S. dollar due to recent Federal Reserve rate hikes and a strong U.S. economy. Because the price of oil and the U.S. dollar have risen in tandem, it is a double-whammy for consumers in emerging markets. The price of oil, and subsequently fuel, becomes substantially more expensive. We shall wait and see how this affects availability of IMO 2020 complaint marine fuels. For refiners, the IM0 2020 regulation is one of several variables that will impact what future fuels will look like and who will buy them. But, there is significant cost to making these changes that does not happen overnight. Building new capacity, retooling or restarting existing capacity, and changing crude and product slates is expensive, time consuming and presents significant risk. But there is an even greater risk in assuming the current slate of refined products, like high sulphur marine fuels, will always have a market. For refiners of SOx and GHG intensive marine fuels, simply expecting ship owners to install scrubbers is wishful thinking, especially when the IMOs goal is to peak GHG emissions from international shipping as soon as possible and to reduce the total annual GHG emissions by at least 50 percent by 2050 compared to 2008 whilst pursuing efforts towards phasing them out. By Justin Ziebart for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: With the outlines of its six idle cranes obscured by thick fog and pouring rain, Kazakhstan's Caspian seaport Aktau seems an unlikely stop on China's much-hyped new silk road. But the sleepy port, which has been badly hit in recent years by new oil routes, is vying for a slice of the pie as competition for Chinese trade warms up on the shores of the world's largest inland sea. China's trillion dollar Belt and Road initiative has been a buzz-phrase in Kazakhstan ever since Chinese leader Xi Jinping unveiled the overland trade and infrastructure vision during a 2013 visit to the capital Astana. For the moment, evidence of Beijing's economic might is light on the ground at Aktau, more than 2,300 kilometres (1,400 miles) from the China-Kazakhstan border crossing that is a key entry point for goods bound for Europe overland. "This used to be an old port in poor condition with old equipment," said Oraz Koptleuov, a native of Turkmenistan who began working at the port of Aktau as a machinist in 1995. "Now we have new technology... But there is not enough work. Let there be more work!" he told AFP of the port where 500 people are now employed, down from 700 several years ago. During a recent visit, an AFP correspondent saw a corrugated steel container marked China Shipping being unloaded on an otherwise deserted dock. The container had carried a shipment of engine oil from Turkey to Kazakhstan via Azerbaijan's capital Baku, Koptleuov said, but would make the return journey empty. - Middle Kingdom, middle route - The experience of the Aktau port mirrors broader economic struggles in energy-rich Kazakhstan, which was badly burned by the oil price collapse in 2014 and hopes a trade and transit boom can ease an unstable commodity dependence. Oil once underpinned business at the port -- more than 14 million tonnes of crude passed through annually -- before a more economically efficient network of pipelines grew up, reducing the figure tenfold and triggering layoffs. But port president Abai Turikpenbayev now expects Aktau to emerge as an important overland trade node that can offer an alternative to the better-known northern route to Europe via Kazakhstan and Russia. "The Chinese call our route the middle route," Turikpenbayev said of the route boosted by Kazakhstan's own investments in domestic road and rail infrastructure. Authorities hope these investments can kickstart stagnating regional economies. The "middle route" includes a Caspian crossing and allows a shipment of goods from Chengdu in China to reach Istanbul via Aktau in just over 20 days by rail. This is both slower than the northern route, via which trains can reach Vienna in a fortnight, and more expensive than sea journeys that take over a month and account for over 90 percent of East-West trade. Nevertheless, the route via Aktau offers exporters access to very different markets in Turkey, the Caucasus and Iran. It could also offer cover for businesses suffering in the Moscow-Brussels sanctions battle. Turikpenbayev said the involvement of Dubai-headquartered logistics giant DP World in port operations -- "their specialists and their brand" -- has been a key part of convincing investors in China the new route is viable. Aktau port expects to process 1,500 containers from China in 2018, he says -- double last year's figure but still only three percent of the port's own modest overall turnover. - Neighbourhood competition - Aktau is not the only Caspian port jockeying for the China trade. Neighbouring Turkmenistan's leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov unveiled a $1.5 billion port in Turkmenbashi in May, while on the other side of the Caspian Azerbaijan has invested heavily in a new port called Alat. Domestically, the Aktau port might also one day be overtaken by rapidly modernising Kuryk, which lies three hours south and benefits from a slightly milder climate. Kuryk, where many former Aktau labourers now work, was presented with great fanfare to diplomats and businessmen by Kazakhstan's 78-year-old President Nursultan Nazarbayev this month. Adil Kaukenov, director of China Centre -- a think tank based in Kazakhstan's largest city Almaty -- said there may well be enough trade to go around so long as "conservative" businessmen in China buy into the less established routes. "If these routes take off the problem might be that these ports lack the capacity to meet demand," Kaukenov told AFP. Islam Aslanov, a Baku-born businessman who works with the Aktau port agreed the facility needs further preparation if it is going to profit from China's Belt and Road. "Service there has improved but rules still need to be clearer for importers and exporters," said Aslanov, whose West Stroy construction company is building a waterfront apartment hotel in Aktau aimed at foreign businessmen. "One time I went to the customs point and they made me walk 700 metres to get a stamp somewhere else. This last time I went and they didn't, so I suppose they are getting better" he said, laughing. Cows and their calves eat some hay from a manger standing on a dry pasture in Rheinberg, western Germany, in July. With no fresh grass, farmers have had to dip into winter feed stocks "Our cows have been living off hay cut in June, there isn't any grass," says Jean-Guillaume Hannequin, a farmer in eastern France, who like his counterparts across much of northern Europe is wondering how he will feed his animals this winter. Mediterranean countries long ago adapted their farming practices to little rain, but this year it is the north of Europe confronting a widespread drought that could see farmers having to send much of their herds to slaughter due to a lack of feed. In Sweden, where swathes of territory were burned by wildfires this summer as the country baked under century-high temperatures, the grain harvest is expected to be down around 30 percent and it is unclear whether recent cooler temperatures will allow farmers to take in more hay. "The feed shortage will be felt this coming winter," Harald Svensson, chief economist for the Swedish Board of Agriculture, told AFP, explaining that "most farmers have relied on their winter feed reserves during the drought this summer." The situation is similar in Germany, where officials say one in 25 farms is at risk of going out of business. In Lower Saxony, a key region for growing fodder crops, the harvest is expected to be more than 40 percent down from normal years. In the Netherlands, the deficit for fodder is estimated to be 40 to 60 percent, according to the agricultural association, with the deficit for grain at 20 percent. Price gouging The English countryside is far from its normal undulating green this year, having not seen a drought like this in 80 years, according to the official Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). Milk production is down sharply due to a lack of hay. In France, "the east has been suffering since the beginning of July, and the rest of the country since August with an extended heatwave," said Patrick Benezit of the FNSEA umbrella group of French farmers' unions. Farmer Christian Sancken shows dried grass in his drought-affected field in Cuxhaven, northern Germany, last month "In many places, even in the Massif Central, the 'water tower' of France, there won't be a second cutting of hay, this is really worrrying," he told AFP. Benezit also criticised the price gouging for straw. "Farmers need to buy straw to mix with hay to feed their animals, and the traders are profiting from the situation" by asking for up to 100 euros ($116) per tonne, he said, when straw sold for between 60 and 80 euros last year. As prices for fodder and hay climb higher, farmers are sending animals to the slaughterhouse earlier than usual. In Britain, the number of cattle slaughtered jumped by 18 percent in July, with dairy cows making up a large portion, according to the AHDB. In Germany, where the government has unlocked emergency aid for farmers, there was a 10 percent increase in animals slaughtered in the first two weeks of July, according to authorities. The Swedish government has responded by pledging 1.2 billion kronor (117 million euros, $135 million) in aid for farmers to buy fodder and avoid sending their animals to the slaughterhouse. French farmers are concerned due to the monopoly on slaughterhouses by the Bigard group. "We are afraid they'll turn the drought into a bonanza by buying our animals at even lower prices when we already have difficulty surviving," said one livestock farmer who requested anonymity. A blighted wheat field in Taby, central Sweden, in July Throwing in the towel? The situation is dire for dairy farmers, who have already been complaining that they are not being paid enough for their milk to survive. "The winter risks being catastrophic," said another French farmer. "To complement the rations of the animals we are going to have to buy grain, the price of which went up this summer, so milk will become more expensive to produce." According to Erwin Schoepges, president of the European Milk Board which counts as members more than 100,000 small dairy farmers, "even before this drought, production costs weren't being covered." He said farmers were producing milk at 40 to 45 cents per litre, but able to sell it for only around 30 to 33 cents a litre. With the drought, their production costs will increase further, he said. The European Commission has promised exceptional aid to farmers, like speeding up aid payments and allowing farmers to cut hay from fallow land. But French farmer Hannequin is not optimistic. "There are going to be a massive number of farms abandoned," he warned. Explore further Sweden's farmers count cost of historic drought 2018 AFP Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 4 Vote(s) - 4 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Massive ancient pyramid and lost city discovered in China LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 443824 08-26-2018 01:13 AM Post: #1 Massive ancient pyramid and lost city discovered in China Advertisement A massive ancient pyramid and city have been unearthed in China which archeologists believe was constructed around 2000 B.C. by a complex society which represented to political and economic heartland at the time. According to the report posted on LiveScience.com: A 4,300-year-old city, which has a massive step pyramid that is at least 230 feet (70 meters) high and spans 59 acres (24 hectares) at its base, has been excavated in China, archaeologists reported in the August issue of the journal Antiquity. https://www.intellihub.com/massive-ancie...na-report/ Pyramids were used as wifi generators.A massive ancient pyramid and city have been unearthed in China which archeologists believe was constructed around 2000 B.C. by a complex society which represented to political and economic heartland at the time.According to the report posted on LiveScience.com:A 4,300-year-old city, which has a massive step pyramid that is at least 230 feet (70 meters) high and spans 59 acres (24 hectares) at its base, has been excavated in China, archaeologists reported in the August issue of the journal Antiquity. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 440984 08-26-2018 01:14 AM Post: #2 RE: Massive ancient pyramid and lost city discovered in China China is full of pyramids, most of them unexplored.. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 443824 08-26-2018 01:16 AM Post: #3 RE: Massive ancient pyramid and lost city discovered in China LoP Guest Wrote: (08-26-2018 01:14 AM) China is full of pyramids, most of them unexplored.. Which brings the question, why were they built for? Which brings the question, why were they built for? LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 440984 08-26-2018 01:18 AM Post: #4 RE: Massive ancient pyramid and lost city discovered in China LoP Guest Wrote: (08-26-2018 01:16 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (08-26-2018 01:14 AM) China is full of pyramids, most of them unexplored.. Which brings the question, why were they built for? It looks like this one was built for religious purposes.. It looks like this one was built for religious purposes.. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 443824 08-26-2018 01:18 AM Post: #5 RE: Massive ancient pyramid and lost city discovered in China One star? sorry this is not a political thread. You cant make conspiracy threads anymore here. A very strong reason why I dont register. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 458745 08-26-2018 01:19 AM Post: #6 RE: Massive ancient pyramid and lost city discovered in China LoP Guest Wrote: (08-26-2018 01:18 AM) One star? sorry this is not a political thread. You cant make conspiracy threads anymore here. A very strong reason why I dont register. It is a very curious one star. Whoever did it is one butthurt mofo. It is a very curious one star.Whoever did it is one butthurt mofo. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 443824 08-26-2018 01:23 AM Post: #7 RE: Massive ancient pyramid and lost city discovered in China LoP Guest Wrote: (08-26-2018 01:19 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (08-26-2018 01:18 AM) One star? sorry this is not a political thread. You cant make conspiracy threads anymore here. A very strong reason why I dont register. It is a very curious one star. Whoever did it is one butthurt mofo. Then they whine and moan conspiracies are dead. The one star agenda driven was given a minute after the thread was posted, no chance to glance at the article. Then they whine and moan conspiracies are dead. The one star agenda driven was given a minute after the thread was posted, no chance to glance at the article. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 443824 08-26-2018 01:26 AM Post: #8 RE: Massive ancient pyramid and lost city discovered in China More signs of an imminent war with Iran. Google claims 39 YouTube channels were connected to Iran and part of a covert Iranian-backed operation to spread propaganda to U.S. viewers and 49 were part of a Russian-backed operation to spread disinfo, PC MAG reported. According to PC MAG, the propaganda campaign disguised itself by pretending to be several independent media websites, one of which was called the Liberty Front Press. Further digging shows the cybersecurity firm FireEye investigated the media group and alleges uncovered evidence that it actually originates from Iran. Google claims 39 YouTube channels were connected to Iran and part of a covert Iranian-backed operation to spread propaganda to U.S. viewers and 49 were part of a Russian-backed operation to spread disinfo, PC MAG reported. According to PC MAG, the propaganda campaign disguised itself by pretending to be several independent media websites, one of which was called the Liberty Front Press. Further digging shows the cybersecurity firm FireEye investigated the media group and alleges uncovered evidence that it actually originates from Iran. https://www.activistpost.com/2018/08/goo...ounts.html Google Bans 39 YouTube Channels For Ties To Iran; Facebook and Twitter Ban Accounts.More signs of an imminent war with Iran.Google claims 39 YouTube channels were connected to Iran and part of a covert Iranian-backed operation to spread propaganda to U.S. viewers and 49 were part of a Russian-backed operation to spread disinfo, PC MAG reported.According to PC MAG, the propaganda campaign disguised itself by pretending to be several independent media websites, one of which was called the Liberty Front Press.Further digging shows the cybersecurity firm FireEye investigated the media group and alleges uncovered evidence that it actually originates from Iran.Google claims 39 YouTube channels were connected to Iran and part of a covert Iranian-backed operation to spread propaganda to U.S. viewers and 49 were part of a Russian-backed operation to spread disinfo, PC MAG reported.According to PC MAG, the propaganda campaign disguised itself by pretending to be several independent media websites, one of which was called the Liberty Front Press.Further digging shows the cybersecurity firm FireEye investigated the media group and alleges uncovered evidence that it actually originates from Iran. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 443824 08-26-2018 01:27 AM Post: #9 RE: Massive ancient pyramid and lost city discovered in China LoP Guest Wrote: (08-26-2018 01:26 AM) Google Bans 39 YouTube Channels For Ties To Iran; Facebook and Twitter Ban Accounts. More signs of an imminent war with Iran. Google claims 39 YouTube channels were connected to Iran and part of a covert Iranian-backed operation to spread propaganda to U.S. viewers and 49 were part of a Russian-backed operation to spread disinfo, PC MAG reported. According to PC MAG, the propaganda campaign disguised itself by pretending to be several independent media websites, one of which was called the Liberty Front Press. Further digging shows the cybersecurity firm FireEye investigated the media group and alleges uncovered evidence that it actually originates from Iran. Google claims 39 YouTube channels were connected to Iran and part of a covert Iranian-backed operation to spread propaganda to U.S. viewers and 49 were part of a Russian-backed operation to spread disinfo, PC MAG reported. According to PC MAG, the propaganda campaign disguised itself by pretending to be several independent media websites, one of which was called the Liberty Front Press. Further digging shows the cybersecurity firm FireEye investigated the media group and alleges uncovered evidence that it actually originates from Iran. https://www.activistpost.com/2018/08/goo...ounts.html Wrong thread. MOds please delete posts. Wrong thread. MOds please delete posts. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 440984 08-26-2018 01:37 AM Post: #10 RE: Massive ancient pyramid and lost city discovered in China LoP Guest Wrote: (08-26-2018 01:23 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (08-26-2018 01:19 AM) It is a very curious one star. Whoever did it is one butthurt mofo. Then they whine and moan conspiracies are dead. The one star agenda driven was given a minute after the thread was posted, no chance to glance at the article. Don't worry about stars, they don't mean shit. It's a cool thread.. Don't worry about stars, they don't mean shit.It's a cool thread.. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 423870 08-26-2018 02:27 AM Post: #11 RE: Massive ancient pyramid and lost city discovered in China LoP Guest Wrote: (08-26-2018 01:19 AM) LoP Guest Wrote: (08-26-2018 01:18 AM) One star? sorry this is not a political thread. You cant make conspiracy threads anymore here. A very strong reason why I dont register. It is a very curious one star. Whoever did it is one butthurt mofo. Can't figure out how to blame this on Trump. Can't figure out how to blame this on Trump. Uppity Me Registered User User ID: 449159 08-26-2018 02:39 AM Posts: 37,701 Post: #12 RE: Massive ancient pyramid and lost city discovered in China Maybe they'll do a History or Nat Geo special on it would like to see that Quote: Les pauvres n'ont-ils des Euros ? Alors laissez les pauvres 'sh*t' dans les rues 1 hour ago American Water Works is a Strong Buy as Profits Continue to Flow American Water Works (NYSE:AWK) will deliver its third-quarter earnings report after the market closes on November 2. The third quarter has historically been the companys strongest quarter and this year appears to be no exception. The consensus opinion of analysts is for the utility giant to post earnings per share (EPS) of $1.52 cents on revenue of $1.21 billion. Read Article Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Red China & The American Presidential Elections - LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 458780 08-26-2018 01:26 AM Post: #1 Red China & The American Presidential Elections - Advertisement As an upcoming industrial power, Japan was always down-rated by the West. When they destroyed the Czar of Russia's Pacific naval fleet at Port Arthur, early in the 20th Century, Americans and Russians were suitably shocked. How is it they did not understand? In World War One, Japan was an ally of the Western Powers. The Japanese Royal Family interlocked with their business cartels, the Zai-batsu, and had plenty of financial muscle. They began pulling away from America in the 1930s. The Japanese Monarchy had huge deposits in U.S. banks. They angered the American aristocracy by withdrawing those deposits and contributing to the then oncoming bank collapse. President Franklin D. Roosevelt had to declare a bank holiday, an emergency, right after being inaugurated in 1933. When the common people of one nation are angered by those of another country, that is ethnic, nationalist, or religious friction. But, when the aristocracy of one country is really sore at the aristocracy of another country, however, that is not simply opposition; that means WAR. Japan began attacking China 1931. President Roosvelt sent in a top military expert, Brig.General Claire Chennault, to find out why the Chinese did not have an effective air force to counter the Japanese attacks. China began making demands for material assistance on the American government as well as American financiers. After all, with another World War expected, the U.S. needed items from China, such as tungsten, for the making of airplanes and battleships. One result was that American mercenaries became involved in aiding China fight an air war against Japan. They were called "The Flying Tigers". From documents released more than fifty years AFTER the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December, 1941, it became evident that the Japanese may have felt justified attacking our fleet and airfields in Hawaii. Six months BEFORE Pearl Harbor, the Flying Tigers were part of an American plan to aid the Chinese, known to the Japanese, to bomb Japan. [In recent years, Barbara Walters and ABC Network did a documentary, based on those documents, on this American plan to bomb Tokyo six months BEFORE Pearl Harbor.] Part of the world's then richest family, May-ling Soong, known as Madame Chiang Kai-shek, was the wife of the Chinese dictator. Her family member, T.V. Soong, was considered one of the richest men in the world. Their fortune, in great part, was based on narcotics exports. The American government contemplated that assisting China with war loans would minimize dope addiction in American. [Then, as now, the major dope coming into the U.S. was and is from China, now called "China White". The monopoly press, to protect Red China, falsely states the major dope now is from Colombia.] The American hope then was that narcotics exporting to the U.S. would diminish. Even all during World War Two, however, corrupt Chinese generals were in charge of dope exports, even, on occasion, through Japanese lines, down the Burma Road, and elsewhere. [Numerous details are in the book, "The Soong Dynasty" by Sterling Seagrave, hardback edition, Harper & Row, N.Y., 1985, pages 368-369.] Historically, arranging the finances of the dope cartel was the British bank owned jointly by the British Monarchy and dope-rich families of Shanghai, the HONG KONG & SHANGHAI BANK. [See, for example, the book "Dope, Inc."] The Queen of England, through the bank owned by her, Coutts Bank London, has a joint account for laundering illicit funds such as from the dope trafficking, jointly with George Herbert Walker Bush and his sons, George W., Jeb, and Neil. [See Federal Reserve secret wire transfer records, attached to our website series, "Greenspan Aids and Bribes the Bush Family".] The reputed head of the Red Chinese Secret Police IN THE UNITED STATES is tied to the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank. He lives in the Midwest and has direct communications links with the White House. [Visit our website series, "The Red Chinese Secret Police in the United States".] To benefit ethnic Chinese in controlling oil-rich Indonesia, the American CIA, in 1965, arranged the mass murders of some half a million of that nation of islands. The excuse, other than that the ones to be slaughtered, opposed the CIA-installed regime? The victims were considered and perceived as being "Reds", whether actually true or not did not seem to matter. Made fantastically rich on reputed dope exports and other contraband to the West, the ethnic Chinese family of Riady set up their North American headquarters from their flagship, Lippo Group and Lippo Bank, in Arkansas. For influencing American Presidential elections, they bought the tiny First National Bank of Mena,Arkansas. The further purpose? For reportedly assisting the American CIA and their surrogates, William Rockefeller Clinton, Ollie North, George Herbert Walker Bush, and Henry Hyde. The purpose? To launder the huge cash flow resulting from the narcotics flown in, through, or nearby, to the Mena airport. The cash flow, in turn, was relayed through two or more routes, among others. Some of the cash went through a small bank, in Noel,Missouri. The reputed body of the too-talkative bank president was found in a nearby lake. His murder was falsely blamed on to young fellows. The documents purportedly linking the dope cash affair to George W. Bush and his father, were in the possession of Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan running in 2000 for U.S. Senator. In an earlier story, we mentioned the sabotaged plane crash by which Carnahan was snuffed out to benefit George W. Bush's alleged "election". Other parts of the American CIA/Riady huge dope cash flow, from fourteen Southern states, was funneled to what became reportedly First Union. That bank ran surreal TV commercials, showing Wall Street as an area of great confusion, with mannequins suddenly falling down and splitting apart. The Southern states operations were under the supervision of Arkansas Governor Clinton, together with Jeb Bush, later Florida Governor, Ollie North, the Elder Bush, and Henry Hyde. As a Chicago-area lawmaker, Congressman Henry Hyde had numerous links to Arkansas and the dope cash. Hyde had been a director of a reputed CIA proprietary, Clyde Federal Savings & Loan of a Chicago suburb. [There have been 26 other S & Ls as CIA proprietaries sucking out the federally-insured funds for covert operations and then the S & Ls went under. See the book, "The Mafia, the CIA, and George Bush" by Pete Brewton, former Houston newspaper journalist, S.P.I. Books, N.Y., 1992.] Hyde was accused as an S & L director, in federal district court Chicago, of causing 67 million dollars of the thrift's funds to disappear in Arkansas. Contrary to the U.S. Constitution's mandate of "Separation of Powers", Hyde is also head of CIA's "black budget", covert funds to overthrow governments and to finance political assassinations. Also, Hyde arranged, for CIA, that the dope cash be laundered reportedly through the gambling casino on Paradise Island, the Bahamas. [Many more details. Visit our website series, "IRS Officials Face Exposure".] Another route for the American CIA/Riady dope cash reportedly went up through Garfield Ridge Trust & Savings Bank of Chicago. A principal owner of the small, closely held bank has been defrocked Congressman Dan Rostenkowski, an ex-convict. Having been for years head of the tax-writing committee of Congress, quietly and corruptly favoring with loopholes the Chicago markets, "Rosty" as he is known, had plenty of "muscle". [His daughters were reportedly paid by the exchanges in Chicago while apparently doing little if any actual work.] Rosty's pal, Clinton, pardoned him. Rosty had been federal criminally convicted of defrauding the private bank of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Riady/American CIA dope cash also reportedly benefitted, Tyson Chickens; J.B. Hunt Truck Lines, heavily transporting from Arkansas to a Chicago suburb; Wal-Mart discount store chain; and Beverly Enterprises, the reputedly highly corrupt nursing home chain. That truck line reportedly on occasion transports contraband, such as narcotics. Illinois state transportation regulators, however, know better than to dare stop and check their trucks. Other truck lines, not J.B. Hunt, are harassed and shaken-down for pay-offs for purporting to have "overweight" trucks. A terminus point for the Riady/Lippo/Red Chinese Secret Police/American CIA dope cash has been for several decades, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Five currency and commodity brokers have traded with use of this river of narcotics money, without filing reports, required by the U.S. Treasury, of cash intake over ten thousand dollars. The brokers knew, know, and have known, that the cash came in great part through the Red Chinese and reportedly the Riady Family, for the purpose of corruptly influencing U.S. Presidential Elections. In violation of Federal regulatory rules, they did not conduct "due diligence", to accurately determine who their "clients" were. But they had plenty good reasons to already know. Clinton as presidential candidate, and as president, often came to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, to supposedly give a "speech". Funny thing, if the monopoly press even mentioned he was at the "Merc" as it is called, which was seldom; they never mentioned what his speech there was all about. Clinton came to the "Merc", to tap into and connect into the illicit fountain of cash, masquerading as foreign currency and other deals. For some twelve years, https://rense.com/general7/red.htm Where did it start and when and how will it end? To understand that, requires pulling together little understood facts and making some sense of them. Perhaps this will give you a door into a better handle on the situation.As an upcoming industrial power, Japan was always down-rated by the West. When they destroyed the Czar of Russia's Pacific naval fleet at Port Arthur, early in the 20th Century, Americans and Russians were suitably shocked. How is it they did not understand? In World War One, Japan was an ally of the Western Powers. The Japanese Royal Family interlocked with their business cartels, the Zai-batsu, and had plenty of financial muscle. They began pulling away from America in the 1930s. The Japanese Monarchy had huge deposits in U.S. banks. They angered the American aristocracy by withdrawing those deposits and contributing to the then oncoming bank collapse. President Franklin D. Roosevelt had to declare a bank holiday, an emergency, right after being inaugurated in 1933.When the common people of one nation are angered by those of another country, that is ethnic, nationalist, or religious friction. But, when the aristocracy of one country is really sore at the aristocracy of another country, however, that is not simply opposition; that means WAR.Japan began attacking China 1931. President Roosvelt sent in a top military expert, Brig.General Claire Chennault, to find out why the Chinese did not have an effective air force to counter the Japanese attacks. China began making demands for material assistance on the American government as well as American financiers. After all, with another World War expected, the U.S. needed items from China, such as tungsten, for the making of airplanes and battleships.One result was that American mercenaries became involved in aiding China fight an air war against Japan. They were called "The Flying Tigers". From documents released more than fifty years AFTER the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December, 1941, it became evident that the Japanese may have felt justified attacking our fleet and airfields in Hawaii. Six months BEFORE Pearl Harbor, the Flying Tigers were part of an American plan to aid the Chinese, known to the Japanese, to bomb Japan. [In recent years, Barbara Walters and ABC Network did a documentary, based on those documents, on this American plan to bomb Tokyo six months BEFORE Pearl Harbor.]Part of the world's then richest family, May-ling Soong, known as Madame Chiang Kai-shek, was the wife of the Chinese dictator. Her family member, T.V. Soong, was considered one of the richest men in the world. Their fortune, in great part, was based on narcotics exports. The American government contemplated that assisting China with war loans would minimize dope addiction in American. [Then, as now, the major dope coming into the U.S. was and is from China, now called "China White". The monopoly press, to protect Red China, falsely states the major dope now is from Colombia.] The American hope then was that narcotics exporting to the U.S. would diminish.Even all during World War Two, however, corrupt Chinese generals were in charge of dope exports, even, on occasion, through Japanese lines, down the Burma Road, and elsewhere. [Numerous details are in the book, "The Soong Dynasty" by Sterling Seagrave, hardback edition, Harper & Row, N.Y., 1985, pages 368-369.]Historically, arranging the finances of the dope cartel was the British bank owned jointly by the British Monarchy and dope-rich families of Shanghai, the HONG KONG & SHANGHAI BANK. [See, for example, the book "Dope, Inc."] The Queen of England, through the bank owned by her, Coutts Bank London, has a joint account for laundering illicit funds such as from the dope trafficking, jointly with George Herbert Walker Bush and his sons, George W., Jeb, and Neil. [See Federal Reserve secret wire transfer records, attached to our website series, "Greenspan Aids and Bribes the Bush Family".] The reputed head of the Red Chinese Secret Police IN THE UNITED STATES is tied to the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank. He lives in the Midwest and has direct communications links with the White House. [Visit our website series, "The Red Chinese Secret Police in the United States".]To benefit ethnic Chinese in controlling oil-rich Indonesia, the American CIA, in 1965, arranged the mass murders of some half a million of that nation of islands. The excuse, other than that the ones to be slaughtered, opposed the CIA-installed regime? The victims were considered and perceived as being "Reds", whether actually true or not did not seem to matter.Made fantastically rich on reputed dope exports and other contraband to the West, the ethnic Chinese family of Riady set up their North American headquarters from their flagship, Lippo Group and Lippo Bank, in Arkansas. For influencing American Presidential elections, they bought the tiny First National Bank of Mena,Arkansas. The further purpose? For reportedly assisting the American CIA and their surrogates, William Rockefeller Clinton, Ollie North, George Herbert Walker Bush, and Henry Hyde. The purpose? To launder the huge cash flow resulting from the narcotics flown in, through, or nearby, to the Mena airport. The cash flow, in turn, was relayed through two or more routes, among others. Some of the cash went through a small bank, in Noel,Missouri. The reputed body of the too-talkative bank president was found in a nearby lake. His murder was falsely blamed on to young fellows. The documents purportedly linking the dope cash affair to George W. Bush and his father, were in the possession of Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan running in 2000 for U.S. Senator. In an earlier story, we mentioned the sabotaged plane crash by which Carnahan was snuffed out to benefit George W. Bush's alleged "election".Other parts of the American CIA/Riady huge dope cash flow, from fourteen Southern states, was funneled to what became reportedly First Union. That bank ran surreal TV commercials, showing Wall Street as an area of great confusion, with mannequins suddenly falling down and splitting apart. The Southern states operations were under the supervision of Arkansas Governor Clinton, together with Jeb Bush, later Florida Governor, Ollie North, the Elder Bush, and Henry Hyde. As a Chicago-area lawmaker, Congressman Henry Hyde had numerous links to Arkansas and the dope cash. Hyde had been a director of a reputed CIA proprietary, Clyde Federal Savings & Loan of a Chicago suburb. [There have been 26 other S & Ls as CIA proprietaries sucking out the federally-insured funds for covert operations and then the S & Ls went under. See the book, "The Mafia, the CIA, and George Bush" by Pete Brewton, former Houston newspaper journalist, S.P.I. Books, N.Y., 1992.] Hyde was accused as an S & L director, in federal district court Chicago, of causing 67 million dollars of the thrift's funds to disappear in Arkansas.Contrary to the U.S. Constitution's mandate of "Separation of Powers", Hyde is also head of CIA's "black budget", covert funds to overthrow governments and to finance political assassinations. Also, Hyde arranged, for CIA, that the dope cash be laundered reportedly through the gambling casino on Paradise Island, the Bahamas. [Many more details. Visit our website series, "IRS Officials Face Exposure".]Another route for the American CIA/Riady dope cash reportedly went up through Garfield Ridge Trust & Savings Bank of Chicago. A principal owner of the small, closely held bank has been defrocked Congressman Dan Rostenkowski, an ex-convict. Having been for years head of the tax-writing committee of Congress, quietly and corruptly favoring with loopholes the Chicago markets, "Rosty" as he is known, had plenty of "muscle". [His daughters were reportedly paid by the exchanges in Chicago while apparently doing little if any actual work.] Rosty's pal, Clinton, pardoned him. Rosty had been federal criminally convicted of defrauding the private bank of the U.S. House of Representatives.The Riady/American CIA dope cash also reportedly benefitted, Tyson Chickens; J.B. Hunt Truck Lines, heavily transporting from Arkansas to a Chicago suburb; Wal-Mart discount store chain; and Beverly Enterprises, the reputedly highly corrupt nursing home chain. That truck line reportedly on occasion transports contraband, such as narcotics. Illinois state transportation regulators, however, know better than to dare stop and check their trucks. Other truck lines, not J.B. Hunt, are harassed and shaken-down for pay-offs for purporting to have "overweight" trucks.A terminus point for the Riady/Lippo/Red Chinese Secret Police/American CIA dope cash has been for several decades, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Five currency and commodity brokers have traded with use of this river of narcotics money, without filing reports, required by the U.S. Treasury, of cash intake over ten thousand dollars. The brokers knew, know, and have known, that the cash came in great part through the Red Chinese and reportedly the Riady Family, for the purpose of corruptly influencing U.S. Presidential Elections. In violation of Federal regulatory rules, they did not conduct "due diligence", to accurately determine who their "clients" were. But they had plenty good reasons to already know.Clinton as presidential candidate, and as president, often came to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, to supposedly give a "speech". Funny thing, if the monopoly press even mentioned he was at the "Merc" as it is called, which was seldom; they never mentioned what his speech there was all about. Clinton came to the "Merc", to tap into and connect into the illicit fountain of cash, masquerading as foreign currency and other deals.For some twelve years, LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 458781 08-26-2018 01:26 AM Post: #2 RE: Red China & The American Presidential Elections - https://rense.com/general7/tracks.htm Part II LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 454627 08-26-2018 01:30 AM Post: #3 RE: Red China & The American Presidential Elections - China loves killery LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 458783 08-26-2018 01:35 AM Post: #4 RE: Red China & The American Presidential Elections - LoP Guest Wrote: (08-26-2018 01:30 AM) China loves killery and OWNS the MSM and Most High Tech Company CEO's and OWNS the MSM and Most High Tech Company CEO's Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 4 Vote(s) - 2 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Trump: Israel will pay higher price in peace talks after embassy move Archangel Michael User ID: 441975 08-26-2018 11:49 PM Posts: 14,103 Post: #1 Trump: Israel will pay higher price in peace talks after embassy move Advertisement [ ] Trump: Israel will pay higher price in peace talks after embassy move US president says recognition of Jerusalem will help negotiations: 'Palestinians will get something very good, because it's their turn next' [/size] By TOI staff22 Aug 2018, 6:31 am US President Donald Trump speaks during a rally August 21, 2018, at the Civic Center in Charleston West Virginia. (AP Photo/Tyler Evert) US President Donald Trump said Tuesday night Israel will pay a higher price in peace talks with the Palestinians due to his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Jewish states capital. Speaking at a campaign rally in Charleston, West Virginia, Trump said the Palestinians will get something very good in any future negotiations. It was a good thing to have done, Trump said, of his recognition of Jerusalem and the relocation of the US embassy to the capital, because we took it off the table. Because every time there were peace talks, they never got past Jerusalem becoming the capital. So I said, lets take it off the table. And you know what? In the negotiation, Israel will have to pay a higher price, because they won a very big thing. The Palestinians will get something very good, because its their turn next. Lets see what happens. Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up The presidents statements echoed ones he has made in the past. Speaking alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this year in Switzerland, Trump said They never got past Jerusalem. We took it off the table. We dont have to talk about it anymore. US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, eastern Switzerland, on January 25, 2018 (AFP PHOTO / Nicholas Kamm) He noted to the Israeli leader then: You won one point, and youll give up some other points later on in the negotiation if it ever takes place. In May Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman also acknowledged that Israel would likely pay a price for the embassy move, explaining, There is no free lunch. But, he added, it is worth paying it. We should welcome, and be prepared, to pay a price. The Trump administration said last week that neither Israelis nor Palestinian would be fully pleased with its long-awaited Middle East peace plan, whose contents are one of the most guarded secrets in Washington. Jason Greenblatt, Trumps special representative for international negotiations, tweeted a statement from multiple officials that said the only way to achieve a final-status accord was for both parties to accept painful compromises. No one will be fully pleased with our proposal, but thats the way it must be if real peace is to be achieved, the officials said. Peace can only succeed if it is based on realities. The quote was attributed to US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner and Greenblatt. Trump officials have said they are finishing the plan and working on rolling it out, but have not offered any timeline. Even before the release of the plan, the Palestinian Authority, which is boycotting the administration, has rejected the attempt to jump-start talks. The Palestinian leaders frustration with the White House dates back to last December, when Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as Israels capital and set in motion plans to move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv. The new compound was eventually opened in May. Since Trumps announcement, PA officials have refused to meet with members of Trumps cabinet, declaring them as having relinquished their capacity to act as an honest mediator in negotiations. Also at Tuesdays rally, Trump avoided mention of his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his former personal attorney Michael Cohen. The closest reference on Tuesday night came when he slammed the special counsel investigation into Russian election interference as a witch hunt and asked: Where is the collusion? Hours before the rally, Manafort was convicted in federal court in Virginia on eight counts of financial crimes. Cohen pleaded guilty in federal court in New York to eight felonies, including breaking federal campaign finance law by arranging payments to two women who said they had sexual relationships with Trump before he became president. Trump has denied the relationships. Cohen says he made the payments at Trumps direction. By TOI staff22 Aug 2018, 6:31 amUS President Donald Trump speaks during a rally August 21, 2018, at the Civic Center in Charleston West Virginia. (AP Photo/Tyler Evert)US President Donald Trump said Tuesday night Israel will pay a higher price in peace talks with the Palestinians due to his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Jewish states capital.Speaking at a campaign rally in Charleston, West Virginia, Trump said the Palestinians will get something very good in any future negotiations.It was a good thing to have done, Trump said, of his recognition of Jerusalem and the relocation of the US embassy to the capital, because we took it off the table. Because every time there were peace talks, they never got past Jerusalem becoming the capital. So I said, lets take it off the table. And you know what? In the negotiation, Israel will have to pay a higher price, because they won a very big thing. The Palestinians will get something very good, because its their turn next. Lets see what happens.Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign UpThe presidents statements echoed ones he has made in the past. Speaking alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this year in Switzerland, Trump said They never got past Jerusalem. We took it off the table. We dont have to talk about it anymore.US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, eastern Switzerland, on January 25, 2018 (AFP PHOTO / Nicholas Kamm)He noted to the Israeli leader then: You won one point, and youll give up some other points later on in the negotiation if it ever takes place.In May Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman also acknowledged that Israel would likely pay a price for the embassy move, explaining, There is no free lunch. But, he added, it is worth paying it. We should welcome, and be prepared, to pay a price.The Trump administration said last week that neither Israelis nor Palestinian would be fully pleased with its long-awaited Middle East peace plan, whose contents are one of the most guarded secrets in Washington.Jason Greenblatt, Trumps special representative for international negotiations, tweeted a statement from multiple officials that said the only way to achieve a final-status accord was for both parties to accept painful compromises.No one will be fully pleased with our proposal, but thats the way it must be if real peace is to be achieved, the officials said. Peace can only succeed if it is based on realities.The quote was attributed to US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner and Greenblatt.Trump officials have said they are finishing the plan and working on rolling it out, but have not offered any timeline.Even before the release of the plan, the Palestinian Authority, which is boycotting the administration, has rejected the attempt to jump-start talks.The Palestinian leaders frustration with the White House dates back to last December, when Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as Israels capital and set in motion plans to move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv. The new compound was eventually opened in May.Since Trumps announcement, PA officials have refused to meet with members of Trumps cabinet, declaring them as having relinquished their capacity to act as an honest mediator in negotiations.Also at Tuesdays rally, Trump avoided mention of his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his former personal attorney Michael Cohen.The closest reference on Tuesday night came when he slammed the special counsel investigation into Russian election interference as a witch hunt and asked: Where is the collusion?Hours before the rally, Manafort was convicted in federal court in Virginia on eight counts of financial crimes. Cohen pleaded guilty in federal court in New York to eight felonies, including breaking federal campaign finance law by arranging payments to two women who said they had sexual relationships with Trump before he became president.Trump has denied the relationships. Cohen says he made the payments at Trumps direction. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 110056 08-26-2018 11:50 PM Post: #2 RE: Trump: Israel will pay higher price in peace talks after embassy move You know this is what got JFK, JFK'd! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 434473 08-26-2018 11:53 PM Post: #3 RE: Trump: Israel will pay higher price in peace talks after embassy move That's what the "palestinians" will get. That's what the "palestinians" will get. Archangel Michael User ID: 441975 08-27-2018 12:01 AM Posts: 14,103 Post: #4 RE: Trump: Israel will pay higher price in peace talks after embassy move Trump just pulled $200 Million from what the US gives them. What a surprise!! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 110056 08-27-2018 12:02 AM Post: #5 RE: Trump: Israel will pay higher price in peace talks after embassy move Archangel Wrote: (08-27-2018 12:01 AM) Trump just pulled $200 Million from what the US gives them. What a surprise!! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 458449 08-27-2018 12:07 AM Post: #6 RE: Trump: Israel will pay higher price in peace talks after embassy move Archangel Wrote: (08-27-2018 12:01 AM) Trump just pulled $200 Million from what the US gives them. What a surprise!! See, that's very good. The Dear Leader is always right!!! See, that's very good.The Dear Leader is always right!!! Archangel Michael User ID: 441975 08-27-2018 12:09 AM Posts: 14,103 Post: #7 RE: Trump: Israel will pay higher price in peace talks after embassy move While the brutal, the coveteous, and the thieves celebrate harm to another. When will they learn? . LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 458948 08-27-2018 12:24 AM Post: #8 RE: Trump: Israel will pay higher price in peace talks after embassy move Israel will pay a price for the Jerusalem embassy an exact quote though should Israel be concerned that the price they may have to pay would be one that they're not prepared or willing to pay at this point we think that the president's decision was the right one to move the embassy as something that other presidents had promised and failed to do and this is a president who's been delivering on the promises that he's made sorry what price are we talking about well I might as well have to paint I don't have anything further for you https://youtu.be/51r9ap5uPk8?t=5m13s that quotean exact quote though should Israel beconcerned that the price they may haveto pay would be one that they're notprepared or willing to pay at this pointwe think that the president's decisionwas the right one to move the embassy assomething that other presidents hadpromised and failed to do and this is apresident who's been delivering on thepromises that he's made sorry what priceare we talking about wellI might as well have to paint I don'thave anything further for you LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 110056 08-27-2018 12:26 AM Post: #9 RE: Trump: Israel will pay higher price in peace talks after embassy move LoP Guest Wrote: (08-27-2018 12:24 AM) that quote Israel will pay a price for the Jerusalem embassy an exact quote though should Israel be concerned that the price they may have to pay would be one that they're not prepared or willing to pay at this point we think that the president's decision was the right one to move the embassy as something that other presidents had promised and failed to do and this is a president who's been delivering on the promises that he's made sorry what price are we talking about well I might as well have to paint I don't have anything further for you https://youtu.be/51r9ap5uPk8?t=5m13s MAGA! MAGA! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 458948 08-27-2018 12:27 AM Post: #10 RE: Trump: Israel will pay higher price in peace talks after embassy move Mar 10 2018 >>613193 We are saving Israel for last. Very specific reason not mentioned a single time. Q The Philippines is preparing to participate in the upcoming China International Import Expo in Shanghai in November 2018, after the Chinese organizers opened more booths to accommodate Filipino exporters. International Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine chairman Francis Chua said the Chinese government considered the Philippines petition for additional space, as the Philippines worked hard in promoting the expo to all major cities in the country. I think we have good spaces for the booths. We can promote well Philippine products and were hoping well land contracts for our products. China is the worlds biggest market. It will be needing a great deal of supply and we can deliver themfrom agricultural products to electronics and consumer goods, Chua said over the weekend. China Commerce Minister Zhong Shan also assured that more space would be allocated for Philippine exhibitors as a demonstration of Chinas commitment to make new progress in the bilateral relations. Zhong said CIIE demonstrated Chinas firm support for trade liberalization and globalization. Chua said in addition to seven booths, the Philippines would also have 348 square meters in the food hall, plus 45 sqm in the consumer goods hall, all located in an open space set-up, for a total of 393 sqm.About 30 Philippine companies already paid for the registration. The Trade Department earlier said it was looking at about 100 participants in the expo, but news spread that only two booths were made available for the Philippines. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez then wrote a letter to Zhong to help Filipino exporters acquire more space to promote Philippine products. The import expo in November 2018 is the first sellers event where China will open its market to possible import arrangements for goods needed by the 1.38 billion Chinese population. Chinese companies will participate as buyers and not as sellers during the expo. The focus will mainly be on importation of goods and services by China, with six exhibitions areas featuring trade in goods that include high-end intelligent equipment; consumer electronics and appliances; automobile; apparel, accessories and consumer goods; food and agricultural products; medical equipment and medical care products. DBP grants P2-b loan to Aklan hydro project posted August 24, 2018 at 07:50 pm by Julito G. Rada August 24, 2018 at 07:50 pm STATE-RUN Development Bank of the Philippines, the eighth-largest lender in terms of assets, signed a P2-billion term loan agreement with a renewable energy company for the development and construction of the 18-megawatt Timbaban hydropower plant in Madalag, Aklan province. DBP president and chief executive Cecilia Borromeo said Friday the loan to Oriental Energy & Power Generation Corp. was part of the banks efforts to help broaden access to reliable and affordable electricity, especially in the countryside. DBPs loan assistance to OEPGC reflects our continuing commitment to support the efforts of renewable energy firms in their quest to introduce clean energy technology, Borromeo said.The Timbaban hydropower project involves the construction and operation of a run-off river 18-MW hydropower plant in Barangay Ma. Cristina, Madalag, Aklan. It is the first hydropower project in the country to obtain a certificate of commerciality from the Department of Energy. It expected to be completed by April of 2019. COMMENT DISCLAIMER: Reader comments posted on this Web site are not in any way endorsed by Manila Standard. Comments are views by manilastandard.net readers who exercise their right to free expression and they do not necessarily represent or reflect the position or viewpoint of manilastandard.net. While reserving this publications right to delete comments that are deemed offensive, indecent or inconsistent with Manila Standard editorial standards, Manila Standard may not be held liable for any false information posted by readers in this comments section. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Pope Francis has declined to comment on a claim that he ignored sexual abuse allegations against a senior clergyman amid speculation conservative elements in the Catholic hierarchy are using the issue to mount a "putsch" to remove the liberal pontiff. Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, a former Vatican envoy to the United States, on Saturday said he had told Francis of the allegations against prominent US cardinal Theodore McCarrick in 2013. But rather than punish McCarrick, who was forced to resign last month, Vigano said Francis had lifted sanctions imposed on him by his predecessor pope Benedict XVI. "Corruption has reached the very top of the Church's hierarchy," Vigano said in a letter published in the National Catholic Register and several conservative US Catholic publications. But the pope refused to address the allegation on Sunday. "I will not say a word about that. I think that the communique speaks for itself," Francis said on his plane as he flew back from Dublin to Rome. The timing of the letter's release -- right in the middle of Francis's landmark trip to Ireland -- has raised speculation of a campaign against the Argentine pontiff by conservatives in the Church. Francis told journalists to "read the communique attentively and make your own judgement," referring to Vigano's letter, which called on the pope to resign. In his 11-page "testimony", Vigano, 77, who was a papal nuncio in Washington between 2011 and 2016, said Benedict XVI imposed canonical sanctions against McCarrick in the late 2000s. McCarrick was forced to leave his seminary and live a life of penance after former Vatican ambassadors in Washington, now dead, reported him for "gravely immoral" behaviour with seminarians and priests. - 'Homosexual networks' - Vigano claimed Francis asked him about McCarrick when he took office in June 2013, but that the pope ignored his warnings. He said the pope "knew from at least June 23, 2013, that McCarrick was a serial predator," adding that "he knew that he was a corrupt man, he covered for him to the bitter end". The pope accepted the resignation of McCarrick, now 88, in July, making him just the second cardinal ever to lose his status. In his letter, Vigano condemned the "culture of secrecy" in the Church but also railed against "the homosexual current" he claimed was prevalent in the highest echelons of the Vatican and contributing to a "conspiracy of silence" over abuse. "The homosexual networks present in the Church must be eradicated," he said. "These homosexual networks ... are strangling the entire Church." US cardinals Monday defended themselves against Vigano's allegations of a cover-up. Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, a progressive, expressed "shock, sadness and consternation" at the wide-ranging allegations and Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington denied any knowledge that his predecessor had been either sanctioned or accused of abuse. - 'A putsch is afoot' - "Make no mistake. This is a coordinated attack on Pope Francis," said an editorial article on the website of the progressive National Catholic Reporter weekly. "A putsch is afoot and if the US bishops do not, as a body, stand up to defend the Holy Father in the next 24 hours, we shall be slipping towards schism," the author Michael Sean Winters wrote. "The enemies of Francis have declared war." Nicolas Seneze, the Rome correspondent for the French daily La Croix, echoed that there is "a clear desire to attack Francis," telling AFP that "those who regard Francis as dangerous will stop at nothing." Among ultra-conservative Catholics, the pope is regarded as a dangerous progressive more interested in social issues than traditional Church matters. With his more conciliatory approach to the gay community Francis had raised hopes among that he might steer the Church towards greater acceptance of homosexuality but he remains in line with traditional Church teaching on sexuality and marriage. - Abuse scandals - During his visit to Ireland on Sunday the pope "begged for God's forgiveness" for past clerical abuse scandals, which have badly damaged the image of the Church in the Catholic stronghold. His trip was met with enthusiastic crowds but also protests, with about 5,000 abuse victims and supporters attending a "Stand for Truth" rally in the capital Dublin. The Catholic Church's standing has been badly dented by the abuse scandals. Stronghold Ireland has largely shed its traditional Catholic mores, voting earlier this year to legalise abortion after approving same-sex marriage in 2015. Multiple probes in Ireland have found Church leaders protected hundreds of predatory priests and former Irish president Mary McAleese revealed this month that the Vatican had sought to keep Church documents inaccessible to government investigators. The abuse scandals in Ireland are part of a worldwide crisis for the Vatican. A devastating report earlier this month accused more than 300 priests in the US state of Pennsylvania of abusing more than 1,000 children since the 1950s. By Abdul Qadir Sediqi and Hamid Shalizi KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's national security adviser, one of the most influential aides to President Ashraf Ghani, resigned on Saturday, a move one official said could be followed by his own bid for the top job in next year's scheduled election. Hanif Atmar's resignation was accepted by Ghani, presidential spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri told Reuters. The spokesman gave no official reason for the abrupt departure, but a copy of Atmar's resignation letter obtained by Reuters said he had developed "serious differences over policies and principles with government leadership". A senior government official close to Atmar, who spoke on condition that his name was not used, said the former security adviser was considering running against Ghani in the 2019 vote. "He has resigned because he is preparing to run for presidential election next year," said the official. Atmar, 49, has been considered the second-most powerful official in Afghanistan since he became national security adviser after Ghani was sworn in as president in late 2014. He was also minister of interior under former President Hamid Karzai before being sacked in 2010 after Taliban insurgents' attacked a "peace jirga" that was an early attempt at ending the now-17-year-old war with the Taliban. The exact details of the rift with Ghani were not immediately clear, but in the past week the Afghan government declined to attend peace talks hosted by Russia that representatives of the Taliban are expected to attend. Atmar, who began his security career with the Soviet Union-backed government in the late 1980s, is still seen as close to Russia. Ghani on Saturday appointed 35-year-old Hamdullah Mohib, Afghan ambassador to United States, to replace Atmar as national security adviser, the presidential spokesman said. (Additional reporting by Rupam Jain; Writing by Kay Johnson; Editing by Edmund Blair) Climate and disaster threats should scare Congress more than the resignation threat and bullying tactics of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Pena in opposing the transfer of two key agencies from his department to the proposed Department of Disaster Resilience. Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, principal author of the House of Representatives DDR measure, voiced this candid observation in reaction to Dela Penas reported threat to resign should the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology be transferred to the proposed DDR. Salcedas bill envisions the DDR to be the primary government agency to lead and manage national efforts to mitigate and address disaster risks, and take under its wings the Pagasa and Phivolcs from the DoST. Salceda noted that Dela Penas opposition was very disappointing since the proposal was already unanimously voted by the House committees on Government Reorganization, Defense, and Appropriations, which has also proposed an initial P21-billion budget for the new department. We value his opinion but climate and disaster threats scare Congress more than his personal threat, said Salceda. Climate and disaster threats have more force than Dela Penas personal threat. Pagasa is mandated to provide protection against natural calamities and utilize scientific knowledge as an effective instrument to ensure the safety, well-being, and economic security of all the people, and for the promotion of national progress. Phivolcs is mandated to mitigate hazards of volcanic activities through appropriate detection, forecast and warning systems, and to formulate appropriate disaster preparedness plans by predicting volcanic eruptions and earthquakes and their related geotectonic phenomena; determining how eruptions and earthquakes shall occur and also areas likely to be affected; and generating sufficient data for forecasting volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Salceda pointed out that in the US, the National Weather Service, Pagasas counterpart, is under the Department of Trade, while the USGS, Phivolcs counterpart, is under the Department of Interior. In short, the organization design puts them closer to their users rather than the science context. Pagasa, in fact, was originally created under the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The Albay lawmaker said the DDR bill fits the directive of President Duterte for the new agency to have unity of command, science-based approach and full-time focus on natural hazards and even human-induced disasters, with a Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Nation approach.Both government and private sectors publicly acclaimed and widely supported the proposed DDR. Among others who voiced support to the measure are Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, chair of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and former Metro Manila Development Authority chief Francis Tolentino. Tolentino, a veteran of disaster control operations in Metro Manila, noted that PAGASAs mandate is more aligned with the mandate of the DDR, which is to ensure protection of lives and properties in times of disasters. In a recent newspaper column, Tolentino said the information and data analysis PAGASA provides will be crucial in the formulation of disaster management and climate change mitigation plans of the new department. Salceda said the DRR substitute measure, HB 6075, is distilled from 34 other proposals, four house resolutions, six technical working group meetings with stakeholders. It also went through three committee hearings, two write-shops, and 11 regional consultations with 1,600 local government units and their local risk reduction management offices. Ultimately, it is wisdom of the majority of Congress in the plenary that will decide this policy issue as to what structure promotes the general welfare through the ability of the state to reduce risks, protect the vulnerable, save lives and livelihood, confront climate threats, and make the economy more sustainable, he stressed. Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo immediately pushed the three House panels to work on the Salceda measure upon assuming chambers leadership. The committees delivered within three days the bills approved version, which now awaits plenary deliberation when Congress resumes session this week. President Duterte called Congress for a law to create a disaster management department both in his 2017 and 2018 State of the Nation Addresses. HB 6075 seeks to amend RA 10121 which created the NDRRMC and recognized the primacy of LGUS and local efforts in disaster risk reduction. Airbnb has been forced to cancel a promotion that offered competition winners the chance to spend a night on Great Wall of China after an official heritage body said it had not approved the plan. We understand and respect the opinions put forth by the Cultural Commission, the room-booking app provider said on Weibo, Chinas Twitter-like service, on Tuesday. The statement, in Chinese, came in response to comments from the Beijing Yanqing Cultural Commission, which said on Monday night that it did not support the project as it is not in line with the Great Walls heritage conservation values. The government bureau, which is responsible for the popular Badaling section of the wall, said on Weibo it had never approved any plans for the project from any organisation. The Airbnb statement said it had been in talks with relevant parties over several months before launching the promotion. We have made the decision to not move forward with this event, it said in a separate statement in English on Tuesday, adding that it had apologised to those who had already entered the competition. Despite its comments, the page promoting the competition was still available on the companys English and Chinese websites on Wednesday. Beijing Badaling Tourism Company, Airbnbs local partner on the project, said, meanwhile, that the two companies were still working together, but did not elaborate. The cultural commission declined to comment on the issue. China introduced a law in 2006 to protect the 2,600-year old Great Wall, part of which prohibits the building of any structures on it that are not part of an official conservation effort. Airbnbs plan to convert a watchtower into a bedroom upset many people online. The Great Wall is a historic relic how can they let it be turned into a common guest house? a person wrote on Weibo. Story continues The company said last week that protecting historical and cultural relics was the original intention of our activity. One of the modern seven wonders of the world and a Unesco World Heritage Site, the Great Wall of China stretches about 21,000km (13,000 miles) from Liaoning province in Chinas northeast to Gansu province in the northwest. This article Airbnbs Great Wall of China competition crumbles as heritage bureau fails to give green light first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, a rare female voice in the Australian government, said Sunday she was quitting the frontbench after a failed tilt at the nation's top job during a messy party-room coup. The deputy chief of the Liberal Party, Bishop had put her hand up to be one of three candidates to replace former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull in Friday's leadership challenge, but received minimal support from colleagues even as opinion polls pointed to her popularity among voters. Her departure has raised questions about whether she fell victim to party politics and a perceived glass ceiling for women in Canberra. "I will be resigning from my cabinet position as Minister for Foreign Affairs", Bishop said in a statement, signalling her intention to remain on the backbench. A moderate, she reportedly garnered only 11 votes out of 85 in the leadership ballot -- significantly lower than the two other rightwing challengers, coup instigator Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton and Treasurer Scott Morrison. A leaked WhatsApp chat between some Liberal members, revealed by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Sunday, showed them pushing against voting for Bishop as a tactic to back Morrison, who finally emerged as the winner. Australia has endured a turbulent period in politics that has seen six changes in the top job in 11 years. The chaos has highlighted not just the infighting within the two major parties -- Liberals and Labor -- but also how politicians and the electorate view women in power. One of the casualties was Labor's Julia Gillard, Australia's first female leader, who constantly battled misogyny and made international headlines for her fiery rebuttal of then Liberal opposition leader Tony Abbott in parliament in 2012. Bishop has been candid about her experiences as the only woman among 18 men in cabinet after Abbott won national elections in 2013. "It was pretty lonely," the former lawyer said last year, adding that she would suggest ideas which were ignored until copied by her male colleagues. The male colleagues would suggest "exactly my idea, exactly my initiative... and the others would say, 'brilliant, what a genius idea!'", she said, putting down the behaviour to an "unconscious bias". "It's almost a deafness that we still see in Australian society," she said. A trailblazer who was Australia's first female foreign minister and the Liberals' first female deputy leader, the 62-year-old was hailed by her peers Sunday. Turnbull tweeted that she was "an inspiring role model for women here and around the world". Her Labor counterpart Penny Wong praised her "tireless work ethic", adding that her "commitment to standing up for Australia both here and abroad has never been in question". Renowned for her steely gaze dubbed the "death stare", Bishop's highlights as foreign minister include her strong condemnation of Russia's role in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines MH17 in 2014. New Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison rewarded supporters and extended an olive branch to rebel right-wingers as he unveiled his "new generation" cabinet Sunday after taking power in a party-room coup. Morrison, the former treasurer (finance minister), was sworn in as prime minister Friday after winning a Liberal Party leadership challenge against incumbent moderate Malcolm Turnbull. The challenge had been instigated by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, whom Morrison -- also to the right of the party -- defeated in a secret ballot. He sought to heal the wounds exposed by the infighting. "This new Liberal-National team is a next-generation team," Morrison told reporters in Canberra of the governing coalition between the Liberals and the rural-based Nationals party. "What we have done today in pulling this team together is provide for stability... it does begin the process of healing." Dutton kept Home Affairs but his super-sized portfolio was split to separate immigration and national security, with migration issues to be handled by former assistant finance minister David Coleman. The environment and energy portfolio, which was held by the man who is now Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, was also broken up in an acknowledgement of the tensions the two issues caused within the party. Environment and energy policies were key bones of contention between Turnbull and the right-wingers, who wanted him to prioritise older electricity generation sources such as coal over renewables and emissions mitigation. Wind-farm critic and Dutton supporter Angus Taylor was chosen as energy minister, tasked with the job of lowering soaring electricity prices. MP Melissa Price, who represents major mining and agriculture centres in Western Australia state, picked up the environment ministry. Marise Payne, the former defence minister, was given the foreign affairs portfolio after incumbent Julie Bishop resigned Sunday. Bishop, a rare female voice in the Australian government, had put her hand up to be one of three candidates to replace Turnbull. But she received minimal support from colleagues, even as opinion polls pointed to her popularity among voters. Her departure has raised questions about whether she fell victim to party politics and to a perceived glass ceiling for women in Canberra. Renowned for her steely gaze dubbed the "death stare", Bishop's highlights as foreign minister include her strong condemnation of Russia's role in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines MH17 in 2014. Moderate Christopher Pyne was promoted to defence minister, while Dutton allies Matthias Cormann (finance), Mitch Fifield (communications) and Greg Hunt (health) remained in their cabinet roles. Former deputy PM and Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce, who was forced to quit in February and move to the backbench over his affair with his younger former media adviser, returned in a drought advisory role. But there was no room for ex-PM Tony Abbott -- a vocal critic of Turnbull after Turnbull ousted him as leader in 2015. Morrison said he was open to Abbott, who had supported Dutton, being involved in government decisions in an advisory capacity. PKR president Anwar Ibrahim attending the launch of Anwar Returns: The Final Twist at the Hiltion Kuala Lumpur on Sunday (26 August). With him are his wife, Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (second from right) and the books author Mark Trowell (second from left). (PHOTO: Nicholas Yong / Yahoo News Singapore) Reporting from Kuala Lumpur The malicious prosecution that was visited upon him and his family should serve as a reminder to Malaysias leaders to guard against the abuse of power, said Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Anwar Ibrahim at the launch of a new book on his life over the past two decades. This book should be a lesson, in history, in law, but more so that we should not allow ever, ever the courts or authorities to abuse their position and continue in any manner or form, oppression, selective prosecutions and selective denial of basic rights to any man or woman in this country, he said on Sunday (26 August) during the official release of Anwar Returns: The Final Twist. Im not ever going to compromise when it comes to the issue of freedom and justice, added the 71-year-old, who was released from prison in May after receiving a royal pardon for his sodomy conviction and now heads the leading party in the nations ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition. Anwar, who is set to eventually succeed Mahathir Mohamad as Prime Minister, also called for immediate remedial action in order to protect those charged under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (SOSMA), a controversial anti-terrorism law. He added that he knew of people in Sungai Buloh Prison, where he was once detained, who have embarked on a fast to protest the treatment of prisoners held under SOSMA. The new law is far worse in terms of treating prisoners than the Internal Security Act Those who are protesting must be given adequate safeguard of their rights, he said, while addressing over 300 guests attending the books launch event the Hilton Kuala Lumpur. Penned by Australian Queens Counsel Mark Trowell, the book details the twists and turns in Anwars prosecution from when he was first charged with sodomy in September 1998 to his royal pardon 20 years later. Anwar Ibrahim is innocent of the charge of which he was convicted. Thats not a statement based on emotion. Its based on the evidence, said Trowell, who has now written three books on Anwar. The criminal lawyer was an independent observer during Anwars second sodomy trial in 2010. Story continues Trowell called his latest book an ode to (Anwars) 20 year struggle for justice. The father of six was imprisoned for a total of 10 and a half years over three stints in prison from 1999. He also endured beatings, solitary confinement and was not allowed to run for office for several years. Those present at the books launch included Anwars wife Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah, Members of Parliament and foreign dignitaries. Also speaking at the event was Sangeet Kaur Deo, daughter of the late opposition politician and lawyer Karpal Singh. Her father had acted for Anwar during the latters second sodomy trial. Kaur, who was also on Anwars defence team, charged that he had been imprisoned at the hands of a puppet-like judiciary and the shameless Barisan Nasional government. The current administration must really must set things right. Respecting the rule of law is far more than lip service, she said. (This book) documents the journey of a nation through this man who fought against all odds in the name of justice and freedom, added Kaur. BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's public sector debt could fall below the European Union's debt ceiling before the end of the year, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said on Sunday, after figures this week showed a booming economy was generating a record surplus. Speaking at the annual open day at which Berlin's ministries open their doors to the public, Scholz said that Germany's debt levels could fall below 60 percent of economic output earlier than the originally planned target of 2019. The plummeting debt levels are helped by the robust health of Europe's largest economy, which grew 0.5 percent in the second quarter, driving the public sector surplus for the first half of the year to a record 48.1 billion euros ($55 billion). That towering surplus has drawn increasingly urgent calls from lobbyists and other governments for Germany to invest more, prompting even the ultra-cautious Scholz to concede that the shower of cash offered "further possibilities". But on Sunday, Scholz reaffirmed Germany's commitment to meeting the so-called Maastrict criteria, the public debt element of which has been breached by most participants since the 2008 financial crisis, implying that Germany's debt could fall even further. "In 1990 debt was about 40 percent of social product," he said, referring to the time immediately before West Germany took on the the ageing industries and weak currency of formerly Communist East Germany, seeking to overturn 40 years of relative decline with one of the biggest investment programmes in history. The EU's Maastricht Treaty requires member states to run a deficit of no more than 3 percent of gross domestic product each year. The 60 percent public debt threshold has been violated by many member states for years, with Germany last keeping under the threshold 17 years ago. ($1 = 0.8744 euros) (Reporting by Markus Wacket; Writing by Thomas Escritt; Editing by David Goodman) Davao CityFarmers in Mindanao can now use blockchain technology to securely receive their salaries through their electronic wallets. TraXion, a transaction management company, has introduced blockchain as a form of financial security for the farmers using its e-wallet technology. Ann Cuisia, TraXion chief executive officer, explained over the weekend that through the e-wallet, farmers can receive their salaries without carrying around sizable amounts of cash. By engaging farmland owners, they can use the QR code. The QR code will be their e-wallet and can be used in cashless transactions. They can also cash out it through [payment] centers, Cuisia said. Using blockchain does not require the location to be a high-technology area, since the tech can easily be accessed by the farmers even in the hinterlands, Cuisia noted. TraXion is already coordinating with over 600,000 sari-sari stores in the country to engage and encourage them to use blockchain so that farmers can transact with them. We can also work out on drastically bring down the price on remittance, we can have it at [just] 1 to 2 percent remittance change, said Jojy Azurin, chief operating officer of TraXion, in a press conference here.Money transactions and the farmers salary are safe using the blockchain since it is permission-based, Azurin stressed. Organisations can access only limited data and information of the owner of the QR code, which only the owners are allowed to disclose. We can unite Mindanao thigh blockchain. Trust can be instilled in the farmers and the landowners or cooperatives, since they can easily trace the transaction of their products, Azurin said. He said that transparency is very vivid in the use of blockchain. TraXion is currently working with several cooperatives in Mindanao to apply the technology in their companies. We approached the cooperatives because the farmers already trust them, Cuisia said. The farmers do not need to know that they are using blockchain, all they have to do is to trust the system and their employers. Developed by Finaxar, this solution allows sellers to directly access working capital using a fully automated online application process, with credit approval in a short time Southeast Asias e-commerce leader Lazada, in partnership with fintech startup Finaxar, has launched online financing for its sellers in Singapore. An automated credit financing solution, this enables merchants to access working capital finance flexibly, according to a press statement. This credit line, integrated with Lazadas marketplace platform, allows sellers to directly access working capital using a fully automated online application process, with credit approval in a short time. Developed by Finaxar, the solution utilises a variety of data sources to algorithmically arrive at decisions to fund an online merchant. Its algorithm uses adaptive reasoning models and business graphs to underwrite online merchants based on their cash-flow data such as orders and transactions. This allows sellers to grow their businesses in various ways, including procuring inventory, increasing customer support and boosting general business expansion. In our experience, SMEs find it difficult to secure credit from traditional lenders such as banks, especially SMEs that do business online. They cant find suitable credit products that work best for them, said Finaxar Co-founder Vihang Patel. Even if theyre fortunate enough to secure financing, the options available to SMEs today are extremely limited. Our mission is to bring a full suite of products into the market to serve SMEs every financing need, added Finaxars Co-founder Dr. Tan Sian Wee. According to a 2015 study done by VISA and Deloitte, 40 per cent of small businesses in Singapore have no access to bank loan financing, despite their contributing 47 per cent to Singapores Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Finaxar provides innovative, data-driven credit solutions tailored to SMEs in Southeast Asia. Finaxar is backed by Monks Hill Ventures, 500 Startups, alternative asset funds and leading family offices from Singapore, the US and Europe. Launched in 2012, Lazada is present in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The firm helps more than 145,000 local and international sellers as well as 3,000 brands serving the 560 million consumers in the region through its marketplace platform. The post Lazada to offer online financing for its sellers in Singapore appeared first on e27. Rising star Aryna Sabalenka moved another step closer to her first title after easing past fifth seeded Julia Goerges 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) in the semi-finals of the Connecticut Open. The 20-year-old Belarusian has rocketed up the WTA Tour rankings this year, moving from being just inside the top 75 in the world at the end of 2017 to a career high 25 this week. "I played a lot of three sets this year," said Sabalenka, who has reached her third final of 2018. "I'm more fresh, ready for the final." Sabalenka has now beaten Goerges both times they have played. She won 73 percent of her first serve points and broke Goerges three times in Friday's one hour, 45 minute match. "She's a great player," Sabalenka said. "It's really tough to play against her because she's a big server. Sometimes it's impossible to take her serve. I mean no chance. "This is just about the mental game. You have to be focused 100 percent on every point." Sabalenka booked her spot in Saturday's final where she will face Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro who spent just 34 minutes on the court after Monica Puig of Puerto Rico quit with an injury. The two were tied 4-4 in the first set when Puig packed it in. Sabalenka will be in her fourth career final, but first ever meeting against the 29-year-old veteran Suarez Navarro in the final tune-up event before next week's US Open. "It's not the first time (final), so I know what I have to do tomorrow," she said. Sabalenka had to come from behind to win the second set against Goerges. She had her serve broken in the first game but got the break back to level at 4-4. The pair went to a tiebreak and Sabalenka clinched it in style by winning seven consecutive points after losing the first three points. "I tried a lot of different things today," said Goerges. "I can be very pleased with that. I did the best that I could. "I was fighting big-time. But theres only one winner." In the other semi, Suarez Navarro had just rallied from a break down to get to 4-3 when Puig took a long medical timeout. Puig returned but was visibly hampered, losing the next game to get to 4-4. That's when she made the decision to call it a day, leaving the court in tears. Puig blamed her loss on an abdominal strain. Suarez Navarro has benefitted from a biblical-like chain of events to get into her first WTA final of 2018. After a hard fought first round win over Barbora Strycova, she got a walkover from British No. 1 Johanna Konta in the second round. Then two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova retired in their quarter-final and finally reigning Olympic champion Puig pulled out halfway through the first set of the semis. The United States and Mexico are close to reaching a consensus over key issues stunting efforts to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, officials from both countries said Saturday. The trilateral treaty, which includes Canada, has been a key target in the US president's aggressive trade strategy, and he has repeatedly threatened to scrap it altogether, branding it a "disaster." But after a year of intense negotiations to salvage the 25-year-old pact, the US and Mexico now appear close to a point where Canada -- which had been waiting for US-Mexican agreement on auto industry rules -- can rejoin the talks. Speaking to reporters Saturday, Mexico's incoming government's negotiator suggested the US has even eased off on demands for a contentious "sunset" clause. "Our relationship with Mexico is getting closer by the hour," US President Donald Trump tweeted. "Some really good people within both the new and old government, and all working closely together....A big Trade Agreement with Mexico could be happening soon!" On his way into Saturday's talks in Washington, Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo praised the US president's "optimism," but remained cautious. "I think, depending what happens today, we could confirm it," he said. "But we are still not there, as I have said before." "Today will be an important day," he added. "Nothing is finished until everything is really finished." 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 major bilateral stumbling blocks, including rules for the auto market, before the end of August. Jesus Seade, an economic advisor to Mexico's incoming president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has also been participating in portions of the talks. According to him, the US's "sunset" proposal -- to require that the pact be reauthorized every five years -- has been "taken out," with new alternatives under discussion. "It is no longer what the US proposed in any way, it is an approach focused on future evaluation and continuation," he said. - 'We're doing well' - Guajardo had declined on Friday to go into detail on the topics remaining with the United States but said the agreement could happen at any time. Aside from the "sunset" proposal, issues on the agenda were dispute settlement mechanisms -- including a proposal to exclude some industries from settlement provisions -- and the auto-market rules. One of the White House's goals going into the talks was to significantly increase the proportion of US parts in the auto sector. Seade insisted the issue of auto country-of-origin rules was "basically resolved," with only details yet to be finalized. He also backed Trump's suggestion that an agreement is not far off. "He's a man whose style I really like," Seade said. "I think this reflects reality, I think we're doing well." He added that he expected the Mexican delegation to remain in Washington until Monday or Tuesday at the least. The United States and Mexico are keen to seal a new deal before Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto hands over power to Lopez Obrador on December 1. For that to happen, the US Congress must be notified 90 days in advance. Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland of Canada said earlier in the week that she was encouraged by the progress and would rejoin the talks once bilateral discussions concluded. Guajardo and Lighthizer began meeting at the end of July after negotiations between the three partners stalled in May. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a news conference at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Singapore August 4, 2018. REUTERS/Edgar Su By Matt Spetalnick and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly canceled his top diplomat's planned trip to North Korea on Friday, publicly acknowledging for the first time that his effort to get Pyongyang to denuclearize had stalled since his summit with the North's leader. Trump partly blamed China for the lack of progress with North Korea and suggested that talks with Pyongyang, led so far by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, could be on hold until after Washington resolved its bitter trade dispute with Beijing. It was a dramatic shift of tone for Trump, who had previously hailed his June 12 summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a success and said the North Korean nuclear threat was over, despite no real sign Pyongyang was willing to give up its nuclear weapons. But Trump still kept the door open to a second summit with Kim, with whom the president recently said he has "great chemistry.""I have asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to go to North Korea, at this time, because I feel we are not making sufficient progress with respect to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Trump wrote on Twitter. The North Korean mission to the United Nations declined to comment. Negotiations have been all but deadlocked since the June summit in Singapore. Pompeo has pressed for tangible steps toward North Korea's abandonment of its nuclear arsenal while Pyongyang is demanding that Washington first make concessions of its own. Trump's statement came just a day after Pompeo said he would again visit North Korea and would take his new special envoy, former auto industry executive Stephen Biegun, with him. But Trump asked Pompeo not to go during a Friday meeting and they crafted the tweets together, White House officials said. National security adviser John Bolton, considered a leading North Korea hawk, weighed in by speakerphone during a visit to Ukraine, U.S. officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Story continues Many other key officials learned of Trump's decision by seeing the crawl across a television screen, some during a meeting on North Korea negotiations, officials said. Some U.S. intelligence and defense officials had considered Pompeo's latest trip to be premature and said the prospects for significant progress appeared dim. Pompeo, who would have been making his second visit to Pyongyang since the summit, had not been due to meet Kim this time. Trump himself was still open to another meeting with Kim, in hopes of advancing the process, but was not pleased with the latest signals from North Korea, a White House official said. South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha spoke to Pompeo on the phone on Saturday and expressed concern over the delay of his visit. Kang asked Pompeo to keep the momentum of dialogue with North Korea to establish denuclearization and peace on the Korean peninsula, according to the Foreign Ministry's news release. ONUS ON CHINA Trump put some of the onus on China, North Korea's biggest trading partner and a crucial actor in enforcing sanctions to keep pressure on Pyongyang. "Because of our much tougher Trading stance with China, I do not believe they are helping with the process of denuclearization as they once were (despite the UN Sanctions which are in place)," Trump said on Twitter. "Secretary Pompeo looks forward to going to North Korea in the near future, most likely after our Trading relationship with China is resolved," Trump wrote. "In the meantime I would like to send my warmest regards and respect to Chairman Kim. I look forward to seeing him soon!" China's Foreign Ministry on Saturday expressed "serious concern" about Trump's comments, which it called "irresponsible," and said it made "stern representations" to U.S. officials. It said China would continue to play a positive role in working towards decentralization on the Korean peninsula. Trump told Reuters on Monday he believed Kim had taken specific steps toward denuclearization and that they would "most likely" meet again. Kelly Magsamen a former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for Asian affairs, said Trump was undermining his leverage with Kim as well as that of Pompeo and his new envoy. "It's fine to not send the Secretary due to lack of progress, but don't then also talk about how you are eager to meet with KJU and how China is thwarting you," she tweeted. Christopher Hill, a former U.S. ambassador to South Korea, tweeted: "Looks like @realDonaldTrump has begun to worry about #NorthKorea intentions. Good decision especially if otherwise Pompeo would have returned empty handed." Kim made a broad, vague commitment in Singapore to work toward denuclearization of the Korean peninsula but has given no sign of willingness to give up his arsenal unilaterally. Talks since then have made little headway, with the two sides far apart on denuclearization and the U.S. insistence for this to happen before North Korea sees any sanctions relief. Pompeo left his last visit to Pyongyang in July saying progress had been made, only for North Korea within hours to denounce his "gangster-like demands." U.S. officials have been trying without success to persuade North Korea to detail the extent of its nuclear arsenal. Trump's decision came just days after the U.N. nuclear watchdog reported it had not found any indication that North Korea had stopped its nuclear activities. However, some analysts suggested Trump's move may also be a negotiating ploy. In May, Trump announced he was calling off his planned summit with Kim, citing Pyongyang's "open hostility," only to reverse himself eight days later. The cancellation follows two days of U.S.-China trade talks in Washington that ended with no sign of progress toward resolving a deepening trade war between the world's two largest economies and no plans for more talks in the near term. (Reporting by Matt Spetalnick, David Brunnstrom, Steve Holland, David Lawder, John Walcott and Tim Ahmann in WASHINGTON, Michelle Nichols at the UNITED NATIONS, Haejin Choi in SEOUL and Tony Munroe in BEIJING; Writing by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Sandra Maler, Paul Tait and Helen Popper) America paid tribute Sunday to John McCain, the Vietnam War hero and two-time presidential candidate with a legendary temper whose personal courage and insistence on treating even his foes with respect earned him near-universal admiration. McCain died on Saturday, four days shy of his 82nd birthday, following a yearlong battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer. He is survived by his wife Cindy and seven children, three of them from an earlier marriage. Flags flew at half-mast over the White House and US Capitol in honor of McCain, as organizers announced he will lie in state at the US Capitol Rotunda. That honor has been accorded to only a few notable Americans, including John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and civil rights icon Rosa Parks. A memorial service will take place at the massive National Cathedral overlooking Washington on Saturday before McCain is laid to rest according to his wishes at the US Naval Academy in nearby Annapolis, Maryland, on September 2, his office said. Ahead of the national ceremonies, McCain will lie in state at the Arizona State Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday and a memorial service will take place at the North Phoenix Baptist Church. "This is a rare and distinct occurrence for a truly special man," said Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, adding: "John McCain is Arizona." In Phoenix, a succession of ordinary Arizonans left flags or flowers at McCain's office or a local mortuary to honor the man who represented them in Congress for 35 years. Former presidents George W. Bush, a Republican, and Barack Obama, a Democrat -- his successful rivals in, respectively, the 2000 and 2008 elections -- are set to speak at the national memorial service, according to The New York Times. Media reports earlier this year said the senator had expressly asked that President Donald Trump not be invited. Instead, Vice President Mike Pence is expected to attend. - 'Deepest sympathies' - As tributes poured in from the US and abroad, Trump said simply that he sent his "deepest sympathies and respect" to the McCain family. A rare Republican critic of Trump, McCain had accused the president of "naivete," "egotism" and of sympathizing with autocrats, especially after Trump's widely criticized appearance in Helsinki alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin. McCain cast a decisive vote last year that killed Republican attempts to repeal Obama's health care reforms. The repeal was a Trump priority, and the president never forgave McCain. The hawkish McCain was an unrelenting critic of Obama's foreign policy, saying the Democratic president was weak on Libya, Iraq and Syria. Still, Obama said he and the senator "shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher -- the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched and sacrificed." Bush, whose tough campaign against McCain in 2000 left both sides bruised, praised the Arizonan as "a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order." Ordinary Americans also paid tribute, many of them in Phoenix, McCain's hometown. "I didn't agree with him all the time," said Michelle Hasnelle of Phoenix "(but) he was always for the people of Arizona -- he was one of us." McCain spent more than three decades in the Senate, looming large in debates over war and peace and the moral direction of the nation. As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, he was a powerful advocate for the nation's veterans. - 'A great statesman' - As a fervent Atlanticist, a persistent critic of authoritarian leaders, and a frequent congressional traveler, he earned respect around the globe. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called McCain "one of the great political figures of our time (who) fought tirelessly for a strong transatlantic alliance." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was "an inspiration to millions." McCain "embodied the idea of service over self," according to British Prime Minister Theresa May, while French President Emmanuel Macron saluted "a true American hero." Across the Pacific, the China Daily referred to him as a "titan of American politics." Sarah Palin, whom McCain plucked from obscurity to become his 2008 White House running mate, described him as "a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs." McCain drew criticism from the left for giving a platform to Palin's right-wing views, which contributed to the rise of the conservative Tea Party movement. But he also earned respect from liberals for his steadfast opposition to torture and his push for immigration reform. Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said he would seek to rename a Senate building in his honor. Praise for McCain however was not universal: Chinese social media users called him an "enemy of China" for his hawkish foreign policy views. And comments on the US far-right Breitbart website slammed the senator for his key vote against the Obamacare repeal. McCain had been away from the Senate floor since December, remaining at his Arizona ranch for treatment of glioblastoma -- the same form of brain cancer that took the life of another Senate giant, Democrat Ted Kennedy, in 2009. The son and grandson of four-star admirals, McCain will be buried in the cemetery of the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, on a peaceful hillside overlooking the Severn River. As a student at the academy, he had a reputation as a rebel, but with a wit and charm that drew people to him. In 2015, McCain himself revealed the simple epitaph he wanted on his tombstone, which will stand alongside those of naval heroes going back to the 1800s: "He served his country." A THIRD aviation gateway in Bulacanas proposed by conglomerate San Miguel Corp. may be the optimal solution to the growing congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, a member of Congress said Sunday. Besides Clark International Airport in Pampanga, a second alternate gateway in Bulacan would go a long way in easing the aircraft and passenger traffic buildup at the Naia, said Rep. Aniceto Bertiz III. The National Economic Development Authority Board in April approved SMCs Unsolicited Proposal for the P736-billion Bulacan International Airport Project, with the confirmation subject to final review of the concession agreement. A large number of overseas Filipino workers were stranded when dozens of flights were either canceled, delayed or redirected due to the Aug. 17 Naia runway excursion of a Xiamen Air jet. The chaos caused by the 36-hour shutdown of Naias main runway lasted for three days, as carriers scrambled to bring in previously rerouted flights right after the airstrip was reopened. Bertiz welcomed the P5,000 cash grant that the Department of Foreign Affairs provided to every OFW stuck at the Naia at the height of the disorder. The cash subsidy was made possible after Congress approved President Dutertes request to increase the DFAs Assistance to Nationals Fund from P400 million to P1 billion for 2018, Bertiz, House appropriations committee member, said. The ATN fund is meant to aid distressed Filipinos overseas. Affected OFWs who managed to fly out of the country may claim the cash assistance at any Philippine Embassy or consulate general until Sept. 30, while those still in Manila may get the money from the DFA head office until Aug. 31. Many OFWs failed to report back to their jobs on time when their flights were called off, according to Bertiz. Bertiz said the House transportation committee chaired by Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento has tentatively scheduled a Sept. 5 hearing on the Naia accident and the readiness of airport authorities to deal with similar emergencies in the future.Meantime, in Bohol, new airport is set to be inaugurated in October, the Department of Transportation said. The New Bohol (Panglao) Airport is 92.14-percent complete as of July 31, which is ahead of its 2021 target., DoTr said. The construction started in June 2015 but accumulated up to 48 percent of slippage due to delays. We needed a catch-up plan for the Panglao airport. The 2021 target is just too long. How can you explain to the people that it took you six years to build an airport? Kinailangan po nating habulin at iyon po ang ginawa natin (We need to fast-track this and we have done it), DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said in a statement Sunday. Tugade along with airport officials recently inspected the ongoing construction works from the runway to the passenger terminal, perimeter fence, and the sewerage treatment system to ensure the completion of the project. Since the new administration took over in July 2016, Tugade ordered a 24/7 construction schedule to fast-track completion of the airport. The construction has seen a significant increase from the previous 6.48 percent completion recorded from June 22, 2015 to June 30, 2016. The percentage completion jumped to 85.66 percent in two years. The Panglao Airport will be the countrys first eco-airport as it will use natural ventilation while solar panels will be installed on the roof of its passenger terminal building which will cover around one-third of the airports passenger terminal building energy requirement. The airport is seen to boost tourist arrivals in Bohol as it is projected to accommodate two million passengers, more than double the capacity of the Tagbilaran airport. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Sunday stood firm on its decision to require establishments in Aklans Boracay Island to put up sewerage treatment plants either individually or in clusters to ensure that all waste water would undergo appropriate treatment prior to their discharge into the sea. The President described Boracay as a cesspool. By that word alone, he meant that the waters around the island is of very poor quality, DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said. And, indeed, it was. The concentration of e-coliform in the water samples that were put to test in the early part of our rehabilitation efforts were too highmillions of times beyond the standard, he added. Cimatu acknowledged the initiative of the local government in coming up with an ordinance requiring sewerage treatment plants before, but said such measure had not been faithfully enforced. This time, the Boracay inter-agency task force will make sure that the sewerage treatment plant requirement shall be enforced fully, he said. The Presidents order has always been to give premium to the environment rather than to economic gains. Therefore, the sewerage treatment plant is non-negotiable. It is one of the primary requirements for the opening of Boracay, he added. He said there are government financial institutions, such as the Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines, willing to assist in financing the sewerage treatment plants amid concerns from stakeholders that these would be expensive. Earlier, Malacanang asked the Supreme Court to dismiss a petition questioning the six-month closure of the world-famous Boracay Island resort.In a 61-page comment, Malacanang, through the Office of the Solicitor General, sought the dismissal of the petition filed by three residents of Boracay seeking to nullify President Rodrigo Dutertes Proclamation 475 that closed the resort to tourists and non-residents from April 26 to Oct. 25. Solicitor General Jose Calida justified the legality of Boracays closure, saying it did not violate any provision of the 1987 Constitution. Instead, the chief state lawyer sought the dismissal of the petition in April and a supplemental petition in June filed by Mark Anthony Zabal, Thiting Estoso Jacosalem and Odeon Bandiola for lack of merit. He disputed the petitioners assertion that the Executive had no power to close down Boracay. He said Duterte issued the closure order in the exercise of his power as chief executive under Sections 1 and 17, Article VII of the Constitution and declared Boracay under a state of calamity on the recommendation by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. In this case, the situation in Boracay Island called for a strong and urgent measure to address the human-induced hazards that have caused the degradation of Boracay Islands eco-system, Calida said. For his part, Labor Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod said the more than 21,000 displaced workers of Boracay could claim their six-month compensation to the nearest Labor Department regional office amounting to P4,205 a month. Only about 20 percent of the more than 21,000 displaced workers have claimed the assistance and livelihood program of the government, including the P4,000 in financial assistance to be given to affected workers regardless of status. If the success of Crazy Rich Asians made you think that there miiiiiiight be more of a market for Asian-American-led studio movies than the leisurely once-every-twenty-five-years schedule Hollywood has been following since The Joy Luck Club, good news: the studios are listening. Or Netflix is, anyway! Variety reports that Searching star John Cho will star in Tigertail, an upcoming Netflix feature from screenwriter and director Alan Yang that starts shooting next week. According to its logline, Tigertail focuses on two peoples poor life choices and the consequences of those decisions, exploring themes of regret, longing, passion and repression while spanning continents and generations, from 1950s Taiwan to present-day New York City. Along with Cho, the cast includes Arrivals Tzi Ma and The Great Indoors Christine Ko. Although a movie that starts shooting next week was almost certainly greenlit before Crazy Rich Asians opened, this is a well-timed announcement, given the publics recently-documented hunger for Asian-American stories. Tigertail should also beat Crazy Rich Asians 2 to the screen; Warner Bros. is moving ahead with a sequel, but hasnt officially greenlit it yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yang, a Parks and Recreation vet, co-created Netflixs Master of None with Aziz Ansari. Tigertail is said to be based on events in his own familys history, which represents a turnaround for Yang as well as the television and film market. In a 2016 interview, the screenwriter and director told Variety that hed written a pilot in 2012 about a white father and son, and refused to make his characters Asianeven when Parks and Recreation executive producer Greg Daniels asked. Yang was concerned that thered be no market for an Asian-American story. It wasnt even other people that shut it down, he told Variety, I shut it down in my own brain. Heres hoping the recent successes of projects like Crazy Rich Asians mean filmmakers like Yang feel less pressure to self-censor, and get more opportunities to tell their own stories. Neil Simon, the legendary playwright whose string of Broadway smashes in the 1960s and 1970s helped define American comedy, died Sunday at the age of 91, the New York Times reports. Simon, a native of the Bronx, attended NYU and the University of Denver through the Army Air Forces Air Reserve program. After leaving the military, he returned to New York, where his older brother Danny was working at Warner Bros., and the duo collaborated on television and radio skits. That work eventually landed them both in the writers room for Sid Caesars Your Show of Shows and Caesars Hour, where they joined a murderers row of comedy talent that at various times included Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, and Woody Allen. Advertisement In the late 1950s, Simon began work on his first play, Come Blow Your Horn, a comedy about a young man navigating New York City with the help of his ladies man of an older brother. It was a long process: Simon rewrote the play twenty times or more before it opened on Broadway in 1961. The rewrites helped: Come Blow Your Horn ran for 677 performances and was adapted into a Frank Sinatra movie that hit theaters in the summer of 1963. That same fall, Simon had the longest-running theatrical success of his career with Barefoot in the Park, a loosely autobiographical play about a newlywed couple living in a fifth-floor walkup. The original production was directed by Mike Nichols, who would go on to become a frequent Simon collaborator; the cast included Robert Redford and Elizabeth Ashley. By the time 1965s The Odd Couple made Simons characters Felix Ungar and Oscar Madison household names, the playwright was a household name, too. In 1966 he had four plays running on Broadway simultaneously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Simon, who had written his first play to escape television work, saw his career go full circle in the ensuing years, as the success of Gene Saks 1968 film adaptation of The Odd Couple led to a successful sitcom version on ABC from 1970 to 1975. Simon didnt make much money from the TV version, but his iconic pairing of a fastidious snob with a genial slob knew neither cultural nor temporal boundaries: Other Odd Couple spinoffs and sequels include the African-American remake The New Odd Couple, German television series Felix Und Oskar, TV movie The Odd Couple: Together Again, and the 1998 film The Odd Couple II, which Simon wrote himself. In addition to adapting his stage hits like Plaza Suite, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, and The Prisoner of Second Avenue for the screen, Simon also wrote original features, including The Out of Towners and The Heartbreak Kid. His comedic voiceurban, Jewish, fast, cutting, but always accessiblebecame a shared cultural touchstone in a way few writers ever achieve. Advertisement But ubiquity has its price, and Simons commercial successes never came with critical respect, which seemed to bother him. All the success has demeaned me in a way. Critically, the thinking seems to be that if you write too many hits, they cant be that good, he told the New York Times in 1991. That was after the most critically-lauded work of his career, the trilogy formed by Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues, and Broadway Bound; 1991 was also the year Simon won a Tony and a Pulitzer Prize for Lost in Yonkers. His later work was less successful both critically and commercially, a string of fast-closing plays punctuated by occasional successes like 2000s The Dinner Party. The last new Neil Simon play to be produced on Broadway was 2001s 45 Seconds from Broadway; his last new play to be produced at all was 2003s Roses Dilemma, which made the news because Mary Tyler Moore walked out right before a performance after receiving a critical letter from Simon. In 2006, he was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American humor; his other awards include a Tony for The Odd Couple, another for Biloxi Blues, and a special Tony Award in 1975. He was married five times to four womenhe married and divorced actress Diane Lander twiceand is survived by his wife Elaine Joyce, who he married in 1999, and three daughters. The former top Vatican diplomat in the United States wrote an explosive letter claiming Pope Francis knew all about the sex abuse carried out by a top American cardinal for years before the prelate resigned over the summer. The 11-page letter from Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, who was recalled from his Washington post in 2016, seemed to be timed to cause maximum damage to the pontiff. The release of the letter came as Francis was visiting Ireland and begged the Lords forgiveness for child abuse. Advertisement Viganos 7,000-word letter, which was published by several conservative Catholic news outlets, accuses Francis of being complicit in covering up the accusations against Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. Vigano claims Benedict XVI, Francis predecessor, had already disciplined McCarrick for his abuse of seminarians and priests. Vigano said he told Francis about this but the pope proceeded to rehabilitate McCarrick. Pope Francis has repeatedly asked for total transparency in the Church, Vigano writes. He must honestly state when he first learned about the crimes committed by McCarrick, who abused his authority with seminarians and priests. In any case, the Pope learned about it from me on June 23, 2013 and continued to cover him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Francis isnt alone in failing to take action, Vigano writes, noting that warnings about McCarricks conduct made it to the Vatican starting in 2000. Pope Benedict XVI eventually sanctioned McCarrick to a lifetime of penance and prayer in 2009 or 2010. Advertisement When Vigano met with Francis shortly after he became pope, they talked about McCarrick. Vigano claims he told Francis: Holy Father, I dont know if you know Cardinal McCarrick, but if you ask the Congregation of Bishops, there is a dossier this thick about him. He corrupted generations of seminarians and priests, and Pope Benedict ordered him to withdraw to a life of prayer and penance. That is why Vigano claims he was shocked when McCarrick started traveling on missions for the church. McCarrick became the first U.S. cardinal in history to resign last month following claims that he sexually abused boys. Viganos letter ends with a call for Francis resignation. In this extremely dramatic moment for the universal Church, he must acknowledge his mistakes and, in keeping with the proclaimed principle of zero tolerance, Pope Francis must be the first to set a good example to Cardinals and Bishops who covered up McCarricks abuses and resign along with all of them, he wrote. Vigano is hardly a neutral source considering his known hatred for Francis. After returning to Rome, Vigano has run with a crowd of traditionalist Catholics deeply critical of Pope Francis and recently attended a raucous meeting of anti-Francis prelates and faithful in the basement of a Rome hotel, reports the New York Times. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he will introduce a resolution to rename the Senates Russell office building after Sen. John McCain, who died on Saturday after a battle with brain cancer. The suggestion by the top Democrat in the Senate amounted to an acknowledgment of how McCain built up a lot of respect and goodwill among Democrats as well as Republicans after serving Arizona for more than 30 years on Capitol Hill. As you go through life, you meet few truly great people, Schumer said in a statement. John McCain was one of them. His dedication to his country and the military were unsurpassed, and maybe most of all, he was a truth tellernever afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all too rare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate, the United States, and the world are lesser places without John McCain. Nothing will overcome the loss of Senator McCain, but so that generations remember him I will be introducing a resolution to rename the Russell building after him. Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) August 26, 2018 Schumer went on to explain why he thought the tribute was important. Nothing will overcome the loss of Senator McCain, but so that generations remember him I will be introducing a resolution to rename the Russell building after him, Schumer said. The Russell office building is named after Richard Russell, a segregationist Democrat from Georgia who served from 1933 to 1971. Russell, known as a senators senator, often used parliamentary procedures to try to block civil rights legislation. There have been several failed efforts throughout the year to rename the building. Read more on the death of John McCain. Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison on Sunday dared President Rodrigo Duterte to join him in releasing their medical records to the public. I challenge Duterte to submit himself to medical examination by the best independent diagnosticians of the Philippine General Hospital in order to establish whether he is physically and mentally fit for his position, Sison said in a statement. Despite my right to privacy as a private citizen, I am willing to show a true and verifiable medical certification on the state of my health as soon as he shows his own medical certification as a matter of public interest, he added. The challenge comes a week after the two took turns casting doubt on the state of health of the other. Last week, Sison said he received unverified reports that the President had fallen into a coma, a claim Duterte denied. He then said it was Sison who had been in and out of hospitals in The Netherlands, where he has lived in exile for three decades. The Palace, meanwhile, dismissed claims by opposition lawmaker Magdalo Gary Alejano that the Presidents statements about wanting to resign were indications that he was sick. Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejanos misinformation is certainly in aid of election, said Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque Sunday morning. We hope the people will judge him accordingly.Just this week, we have seen the Chief Executive in his usual fiery self-addressing the Conference of the League of Municipalities Visayas Island Cluster in Cebu and the 12th Anniversary of the Eastern Mindanao Command in Davao, he said. The President has always been forthright about his condition. What he is experiencing is typical of people of his age, he added. Earlier, Alejano called for a disclosure of Dutertes state of health. This is not the first time we heard from the President that he wants to resign. More often, we would also hear from his speeches rants over being tired and experiencing illnesses due to old age, Alejano said in a statement. The public has the right to know the health status of the President, he added. The President has denied all claims that he is seriously ill, but has admitted he suffers from back pains, migraines, and Buergers disease. A former doorman at the Trump World Tower claims he knows about an affair that President Donald Trump had with a former housekeeper, which resulted in a child. Dino Sajudin had apparently been prevented from speaking up about the issue after American Media Inc., the parent company of the National Enquirer, paid him $30,000 to keep silent about the rumor. Sajudins attorney says AMI has released him from the catch and kill contract. CNN obtained a copy of the agreement between Sajudin and AMI that was signed on Nov. 2015, months after Trump announced he was running for president. Although the contract doesnt mention any details on the story itself, it does say the source shall provide AMI with information regarding Donald Trumps illegitimate child. The agreement involved paying Sajudin $30,000 but says he would owe $1 million if he violated the deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EXCLUSIVE: the former Trump World Tower doorman who claims to know about an affair Trump had with a former housekeeper that resulted in a child, was recently let out of his contract with AMI, allowing him to speak about the catch-and-kill contract. https://t.co/kbBW6dMhvp pic.twitter.com/0zMOZY3LbA Sonia Moghe (@soniamoghe) August 25, 2018 Mr. Sajudin has been unable to discuss the circumstances regarding his deal with American Media Inc. and the story that he sold to them, due to a significant financial penalty, Held told CNN. Just recently, AMI released Mr. Sajudin from the terms of his agreement and he is now able to speak about his personal experience with them, as well as his story, which is now known to be one of the catch and kill pieces. Mr. Sajudin hopes the truth will come out in the very near future. Advertisement Although The New Yorkers Ronan Farrow and the Associated Pres had previously written about the contract, news that Sajudin had been released from the agreement came shortly after news that AMI chief David Pecker has received immunity from prosecutors in exchange for information about hush money paid on behalf of Trump. There has long been speculation that Peckers tendency to pay to conceal stories about Trump could amount to a violation of campaign finance laws. At the time the National Enquirer insisted it spiked the story because it lacked any credibility. Advertisement There are clearly many reasons to doubt Sajudins credibility in the first place. When Farrow first contacted him about the story, for example, Sajudin responded in an e-mail, My time is valuable. Whats your offer?? When he was told the magazine doesnt pay sources, Sajudin stopped responding. His lawyer told the New York Daily News that Sajudin is likely to release new information about the deal with AMI soon. I do suspect he may release another statement and potentially new documents in the future, he saidl. Mr. Sajudin hopes the truth will come out in the very near future. On Saturday, John McCain, the Republican Senator from Arizona and Vietnam veteran, passed away at the age of 81. To talk about his role in the Republican Party, and how he fits into the history of American conservatism, I spoke by phone with Geoffrey Kabaservice, the director of political studies at the Niskanen Center in Washington D.C., and the author of Rule and Ruin: The Downfall of Moderation and the Destruction of the Republican Party, from Eisenhower to the Tea Party. During the course of our conversation, which has been edited and condensed for clarity, we discussed McCains real forebears in the GOP, why he seemingly changed positions with such regularity, and what might have happened to the Republican Party if hed ever won the presidency. Advertisement Isaac Chotiner: McCain is seen by a lot of people today as the archetypal moderate Republican, which is a now a very rare breed. Do you think that that is a helpful way to view him? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Geoffrey Kabaservice: I dont consider it accurate to consider McCain a moderate Republican. I think that is a disservice both to moderate Republicans and McCain. I think McCain was, for the most part, a fairly traditional and consistent conservative, in the Barry Goldwater tradition, but like his predecessor as Arizona senator, McCain could also act in ways that revealed his independence, his orneriness, and what he considered his fidelity to principles. It was that maverick quality that actually did endear him to a lot of moderate Republicans, but I dont think most moderates were under any illusion that he was someone other than a man of the right. He was the kind of Republican who made the Republican Party look more interesting, more thoughtful, more principled, and a lot better than it tends to look right now. Advertisement Right, although there was a period for McCain, after the 2000 primary loss to Bush, where it seemed like he was really, on a whole range of issues, not just the issues that he was known to care about, putting forward a moderate Republicanism based on things like a patients bill of rights, opposition to some form of huge tax cuts, and campaign finance reform. Advertisement I think thats a question about how we see him now versus how he might have seen himself at the time. When an idea enters into the political arena, its just an idea. Often, it doesnt have any particular political inflection until different forces coalesce for it or against it. There was nothing two decades ago, I think, that would have suggested that torture was inherently something a Republican should be for, so the fact that McCain was against it, based on his principles as well as his own hideous personal experience, didnt make him less of a Republican, didnt make him a Republican dissident in his own mind. Its just the fact that because of certain neoconservative influences on the administration, torture came to be seen as acceptable in a way that it had not. Again, McCain would not have seen himself as moving toward moderation by having opposed torture. Advertisement Advertisement McCain would not have seen himself as moving toward moderation by having opposed torture. In the same way, I dont think campaign finance reform is inherently something that Republicans or conservatives have always been against. Its just that for the Republican Party of that time, the forces were against the kind of reform that McCain proposed. A lot of the things that McCain had stood for were things that moderates did not care for in the slightest. McCain was never good, as far as they were concerned, on Second Amendment issues, but nonetheless, there were issues where there was alignment between what he considered principled conservative views and the moderates views of how the Republican Party was changing in ways they didnt like. Advertisement I think of McCain as someone who was incredibly driven by certain principles on certain issues, I think having to do with foreign policy, having to do with thingsyou brought up a couple of themlike torture and campaign finance reform, that fit into his conception of honor, and also based on his personal experience, one with the Keating Five scandal and one with what he went through in Vietnam. But there were other issues like taxes, like immigration, like health care issues, which we saw with Obamacare, where it always seemed to me like he really didnt have strong opinions, and did feel more driven by more mundane things on a day-to-day basis, rather than having some broader conception of what conservatism was and seeing that change over various eras. Advertisement I wish that the whole Senate was full of people like John McCain, from both parties, but theres a tendency to, in our moment of grief, assume that he was perfect and that everything he did was wonderful. He was a very human figure, and I think the people who covered him and often criticized him in the media came to be so fond of him because he really was upfront about both his mistakes and the things that he saw as where he was right. It was that effort of trying to uphold these ideals even if he would fall short that is part of the greatness of the man. Advertisement Advertisement Where do you think the Sarah Palin choice fits into the broader history of American conservatism? Advertisement I think McCain knew that he needed some kind of choice on the vice-presidential front that would excite the base, and she seemed to be a good option for a lot of reasons. I think like a lot of people he had a broader misconception about the Tea Party movement, that some of its grievances could be satisfied by establishment politicians like McCain. The fact that he was part of the establishment was part of the grievance they had against him. The fact that he wanted to keep the country together, and to have Congress and even the executive operate on some kind of bipartisan basis, was precisely the objection that they had to him. I think Sarah Palins selection, which I believe he did regard as a mistake, was just part of a larger misunderstanding of what the conservative movement had become. Advertisement You mentioned Goldwater, who McCain discussed as a role model. But how much did they have in common, aside from the Arizona stuff? Barry Goldwater was the leader of the conservative movement in 1964 in a way that John McCain certainly was not when he ran for president in 2000 or 2008. In fact, although he was not a moderate in my opinion, he was the person that moderates really loved in 2000, especially, when he seemed to be challenging the mainstream conservatism of George W. Bush. Advertisement Advertisement I think Goldwater would now be regarded as a consistent and principled libertarian, and a lot of the culture war aspects of Republicanism that came in later on were things that he simply had no agreement with. He rather famously said that every good American should kick Jerry Falwells ass. There were a lot of ways in which Barry Goldwater would not be admitted to the conservative movement today. Advertisement Advertisement John McCain would write occasionally or say things about his respect for Barry Goldwater and how he was trying to measure up to that legacy. I think that it was best reflected in the fact that McCain wasnt anxiously reading polls to see what leading conservative opinion-makers or even the base were thinking about any particular issue. He would say, This is what I think about this issue, and if I have to change my positions on this, then Ill change my positions. In that sense, he actually was in a tradition of conservatism that goes through Goldwater back to Robert Taft, the senator from Ohio who was the Mr. Conservative of his era. Its that kind of conservatism that is in some ways more flexible, capable of changing its mind, that people miss about the conservative movement today. Advertisement Advertisement Thats interesting about Taft, because isnt he principally remembered today for isolationism, which is the diametric opposite of McCain? True, but McCain was also one of the leading voices calling for the United States to restore diplomatic relationships with Vietnam after the communist takeover, and in that sense, was not so enthralled to ideology that he couldnt take what seemed to be unorthodox stands on those issues. Again, its just the question of where the conservatism comes from in the case of both politicians. My belief is that neither of them were what we would consider to be really rigidly ideological figures. In other words, most politicians in Washington, you know what their answer is going to be before the question is asked. That wasnt the case with McCain or Taft. They were somewhat unpredictable figures. Taft notoriously reversed his position that had opposed federal aid to education and to public housing because he believed, on some fundamental level, that every American, no matter what his or her race, class, or background, deserved an equal start in life. Through hard wrestling with what that actually meant in terms of federal programs, he came to a conclusion that he had been wrong. He didnt lose his position in the conservative movement as a result of these proposals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Interesting, although in terms of the Goldwater comparison, McCain seems far from a libertarian to me, in the sense that it seems you could always convince him that the federal government had a role in something, whether it was overseas or at home. When you say that he was unpredictable, I always thought it was interesting that he would say that Teddy Roosevelt and Goldwater were two of his heroes, because not only was Roosevelt quite clearly not a libertarian, but it did show that he was willing to pick and choose from different areas of conservatism. Yeah, and also that he identified with these kind of big, heroic, larger-than-life figures. I always thought there was a fairly hypocritical element to Goldwaters libertarianism, in the sense that he grew up in Arizona before it actually became a state. It was certainly an undeveloped frontier area. It needed tons of help from the federal government to grow and prosper, and Barry Goldwater never stood in the way of Arizona receiving much more from the federal government than it paid back in the form of taxes. I think McCain had a broad libertarian streak, but he was much more in line with Theodore Roosevelts new nationalism, in the sense of understanding that big government was a reality and hoping to use it to achieve American greatness. Advertisement Advertisement Do you see anyone in the Republican Party in Congress who is similar to McCain today? McCain also was in politics for a long time before people really started thinking of him as John McCain, maverick. A lot of the people who I would think of as having the potential to be like McCain are still fairly close to the beginnings of their careers, or at least havent been in office as long as he has. I feel like someone like Arizona Senator Jeff Flake felt like he was following in the John McCain tradition by making the critiques of the Trump administration that he did. Of course, his career seems now to be over. Its possible someone like Ben Sasse may evolve in that direction, but generally speaking, its hard to see obvious successors. Advertisement Advertisement Flake seems like a very similar Goldwater type, in that hes a much more consistent libertarian than McCain, but also someone that I think is looked to as a man of some principle, whatever critiques you want to make. Yeah, I agree. If John McCain had been elected in 2008, conservatism may have taken somewhat of a different turn these last 10 years. Do you ever think about what a McCain presidency, I guess either in 2000 or 2008 would have meant for conservatism and the Republican Party in some way? Advertisement Advertisement That is a question I go back to, myself. I suspect then we would probably be talking about a conservatism that was marked by some of McCains less attractive personal features, his bad temper, his impulsiveness, but we wouldnt be talking about a kind of Trumpian disaster situation like we are now. Advertisement Obviously, McCains defeat strengthened the contention of the emerging Tea Party movement that the Republican Party should not nominate establishment figures for president, that indeed clinging to a desire to govern responsibly was part of the weakness of the Republican Party in national elections. On some level, McCains defeat led to Trump, but I also like to think that if McCain had been elected, that you would have had a lot of other Republicans out there, who more or less go with the flow, who would have discovered some of the best aspects of McCains Republicanism and tried to adopt them for themselves. His willingness to consider each issue on its merits, his belief that all Americans are in it together on some level. His understanding that cooperating with the opposing party is not treachery, its how government has to work if its going to function. Advertisement Advertisement I think the one way in which Trump and the conservative media establishment have made me more bullish about the future of the Republican Party is its convinced me a little bit that people are willing to go along with the message of the day put forward, whatever it is. So I think that if McCain were a broadly popular president, we would have Fox News hosts mimicking what he was trying to put forward. I think that Republican voters would be more amenable to that, simply by virtue of the fact that he was the leader of the party. I dont want to fall into some liberal stereotype about how all conservatives are just waiting to follow the leader or to do whatever the leader says, but still. Very few politicians are inherently leonine figures. Most of them are more ovine. I agree. I think its not a partisan point to say that Congress, at any given moment, has very few lions. Very few politicians are inherently leonine figures. Most of them are more ovine. Its actually in some ways a good thing that politicians respond to success. If it turns out that Trumpism is poison for the Republican Party in the midterms and the 2020 elections, you wont see a whole lot of Republican politicians championing Republican Trumpian positions, or just the whole Trumpian approach. You actually might see some kind of return toward moderation or at least John McCain-style principled, non-ideological Republicanism. Read more from Slate on John McCain. Slate is an Amazon affiliate and may receive a commission from purchases you make through our links. Immediately after Sen. John McCains family announced his death from brain cancer at age 81 on Saturday, tributes began to pour out publicly from politicians across the ideological spectrum. President Barack Obama, who defeated McCain in the 2008 race for the White House, said in a statement that although the one-time adversaries were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds, and competed at the highest levels of politics, they shared a fidelity to something higher. Meanwhile, President Trumpwho infamously questioned McCains war heroism early in the 2016 presidential contestoffered his deepest sympathies and respect to McCains family. Our statement on the passing of Senator John McCain: pic.twitter.com/3GBjNYxoj5 Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 26, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2018 Below, read the rest of the statements from liberal and conservative figures alike, including McCains 2008 running mate Sarah Palin, former Vice President Joe Biden, and McCains wife Cindy and daughter Meghan. Advertisement John McCain was a giant of our timenot just for the things he achieved, but for who he was and what he fought for all his life. He will always be listed among freedoms most gallant and faithful servants. Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) August 26, 2018 Karen and I send our deepest condolences to Cindy and the entire McCain family on the passing of Senator John McCain. We honor his lifetime of service to this nation in our military and in public life. His family and friends will be in our prayers. God bless John McCain. Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) August 26, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement My statement on the passing of Senator John McCain. pic.twitter.com/ZuM18FUo31 Al Gore (@algore) August 26, 2018 Advertisement America and Freedom have lost one of her greatest champions. .And Ive lost one of my dearest friends and mentor. Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) August 26, 2018 Advertisement He was a patriotic, courageous hero who served his country above all. You will be missed, Senator McCain. May you Rest In Peace. Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) August 26, 2018 Advertisement As you go through life, you meet few truly great people. John McCain was one of them. His dedication to his country and the military were unsurpassed, and maybe most of all, he was a truth teller - never afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all too rare. Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) August 26, 2018 Advertisement MCCONNELL Stmt on the passing of @SenJohnMcCain: Today is a deeply sad day for the Senate and for our nation. pic.twitter.com/mNOIngpm0G Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) August 26, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement God Bless the memory and legacy of Sen. John McCain. Though we often disagreed, I always found him a gentleman and a patriot. RIP, Senator. Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) August 26, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement Words cannot express the sorrow I feel at John McCains passing. The world has lost a hero and a statesman. Cindy and the McCain family have lost a loving husband and father. I have lost a wonderful friend. Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) August 26, 2018 John McCain was an American hero, a man of decency and honor and a friend of mine. He will be missed not just in the U.S. Senate but by all Americans who respect integrity and independence. Jane and I send our deepest condolences to his family. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) August 26, 2018 Advertisement Senator John McCain was a patriot, and an extraordinary American war hero. Heidi and I send our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Cindy, and to the entire McCain family, as they grieve the loss of a loving husband, father, and grandfather. May he Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/PkOCPFVdf7 Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) August 26, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement Senator John McCain was an American patriot and hero whose sacrifices for his country, and lifetime of public service, were an inspiration to millions. Canadians join Americans tonight in celebrating his life and mourning his passing. Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) August 26, 2018 Advertisement John McCain was my friend. I will remember the good times. My family and I send prayers for Cindy and the McCain family. - Sarah Palin and family pic.twitter.com/KRvcIQ99cA Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) August 26, 2018 I have not know anyone with greater courage, stronger convictions or more devotion to country than John McCain. He is irreplaceable, but his legacy will live wherever democracy is defended, human rights are protected, and U.S. leadership is exerted in defense of universal values. pic.twitter.com/exnWGImiHQ Madeleine Albright (@madeleine) August 26, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement John McCains sacrifices to his country are immeasurable. With his passing today, America has lost more than a leader and more than a senator. We have lost a true American hero. https://t.co/gen9pgewRC Senator Rubio Press (@SenRubioPress) August 26, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement JUST IN: Former Vice President Biden statement on the death of Senator John McCain. https://t.co/Mql3J9hmNs pic.twitter.com/XAWr1Ewevd CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) August 26, 2018 Advertisement President George W. Bush reacts to death of John McCain pic.twitter.com/evqDZqIfnZ Stephen Sanchez (@SSanchezTV) August 26, 2018 Advertisement .@SenatorReid statement on passing of John McCain: "John and I both ended our final call a few weeks ago by telling each other, I love you, and that was how we felt about one another." pic.twitter.com/u7uqZlmPaL Riley Snyder (@RileySnyder) August 26, 2018 Advertisement Secretary Mattis on John McCain: We have lost a man who steadfastly represented the best ideals of our country...Passionately committed to our country, Senator McCain always put service to the Nation before self Ryan Browne (@rabrowne75) August 26, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement STATEMENT BY FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER ON THE PASSING OF SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN pic.twitter.com/dcuUIJp8tK The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) August 26, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement John McCains courageous and selfless lifetime of service is a profile in American exceptionalism. Prayers this evening for the Senator, Cindy and the entire McCain family. Jeb Bush (@JebBush) August 26, 2018 John McCain believed that every citizen has a responsibility to make something of the freedoms given by our Constitution, and from his heroic service in the Navy to his 35 years in Congress, he lived by his creed every day. https://t.co/946T7PnG53 Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) August 26, 2018 Advertisement I love you forever - my beloved father @SenJohnMcCain pic.twitter.com/Y50tVQvlVe Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) August 26, 2018 My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved best. Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) August 26, 2018 Read more in Slate about John McCain. John McCain, who died Saturday after a battle with brain cancer, had been planning his funeral services over the past year. As part of the preparations, the senator asked that former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush deliver eulogies at his funeral. The two former rivals of McCain in presidential contests will deliver the eulogies during a service at the National Cathedral. Former Vice President Joe Biden, a longtime friend of McCain, will speak at a separate service in Arizona. Advertisement That McCain wanted two of his former rivals to honor him says you all you need to know about John McCain, Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake said on CBS Face the Nation. He was quick to forgive, certainly put the good of the country above himself and the fact that his former opponents will be there speaking says all we need to know. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It had already been widely reported that McCain didnt want President Donald Trump to attend his funeral. Allies of McCain had told the White House that the senator wanted Vice President Mike Pence to attend instead. That position has not changed, two family friends told CNN. McCain will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda and will also lie in state at the Arizona Capitol before he is buried in Annapolis, Maryland. He will be laid to rest at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland, notes McCains official website, which says that a complete schedule of the funeral will be announced later. The burial service in Annapolis is expected to be private, according to the Arizona Republic. Advertisement Lying in state in the Capitol Rotunda is reserved for the countrys most eminent citizens and is a practice that began in 1852 with the death of Henry Clay, a former House speaker and senator, reports the New York Times. McCain would be the 13th former senator to receive that honor. I have ordered all flags be lowered to half-staff in honor and remembrance of the incredible life of @SenJohnMcCain. May God rest his soul and look over his entire family. Our state and our nation mourn together. #JohnMcCain #CountryFirst https://t.co/Bj9pgsLIon Doug Ducey (@dougducey) August 26, 2018 Advertisement Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey ordered all flags to be lowered to half-staff. President Donald Trump did the same for flags at the White House. Although flags are normally lowered by presidential proclamation, by executive order and tradition, sitting senators who die in office have flags lowered in their honor from their date of death until their burial, notes USA Today. Advertisement This evening, the @WhiteHouse flag has been lowered to half-staff in honor of Senator John McCain... pic.twitter.com/tYdBNK9bA7 Dan Scavino Jr. (@Scavino45) August 26, 2018 Read more on the death of John McCain. For democracies to work, Michael Ignatieff, the former leader of the Canadian Liberal Party and now the president of Central European University, once wrote, politicians need to respect the difference between an enemy and an adversary. An adversary is someone you want to defeat. An enemy is someone you have to destroy. As one of the most successful and influential politicians of his generation, John McCain made many important contributions to our country. He championed the most important piece of legislation on campaign finance to pass congress in the past half century. He warned about the danger Russia posed to democratic values when most Americans barely knew who Vladimir Putin was. He was one of Donald Trumps most cogent conservative critics. And when he bucked his own party to vote down the repeal of the Affordable Care Act with a dramatic late-night hand gesture, he helped to preserve health care access for millions of Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the epitome of McCains political decency came at the height of his 2008 presidential campaign. At a town hall meeting a few days before the election, a voter said that he was scared what would happen to his country if Barack Obama was elected. First of all, McCain emphasized, I want to be president of the United States and obviously I do not want Senator Obama to be. Then he pivoted. But I have to tell you: He is a decent person, and a person who you do not have to be scared of as president of the United States. Though some members of the audience reacted with loud frustration at this show of class, McCain doubled down a few moments later. I cant trust Obama, an older woman in the audience told him. Ive read about him, and hes not, hes not Hes an Arab. Gently shaking his head, McCain took back her microphone: No, Maam. No, Maam, he said. Hes a decent family man and citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues. And thats what this campaign is all about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some people hope that Americans might one day be able to cast aside our differences and recognize that, far from being either enemies or adversaries, we are actually friends. That hope is naive: Complex societies like ours will always have deep political fault lines. The spirit of democracy is not to hide or overcome those disagreements, but rather to channel them into productive political competition. Advertisement That is why McCain was not a bi- or even non-partisan patriot, as some misremember him. Rather, he represented something we need much more urgently: a decent partisan, who was animated by his conviction about how to change the country, and yet deeply respectful of the people with whom he disagreed. And this, of course, also helps us to understand the true nature of the man whom McCain so obviously disdained: The deepest problem with Donald Trump is not that he has political views with which many Americans viscerally disagree, or even that he desperately wants his own side to win. It is that he casts anybody who does disagree with him as an enemy, not only of himself, but of the country as a whole. And in that sense, the most ignoble thing Trump ever said about McCainhis suggestion that McCain wasnt a war hero because he had been captured (and badly tortured) by the Vietcongwas a logical outflow of his core convictions: Trumps world view does not brook the possibility that a man who disagreed with him as deeply as McCain always did might nevertheless have had universally admired accomplishments to his name. Advertisement Advertisement Now, one of the things about people whom we respect as adversaries even as we remember that they are not necessarily our friends is that they will sometimes infuriate us. In that sense, it is both unsurprising and perfectly healthy that some have, even at the moment of McCains passing, pointed out his mistakes. Like them, I felt that McCain was, at certain times in his career, overly hawkish. And like themindeed, like himI believe that he made a grave and consequential mistake in asking Sarah Palin to be his running mate. Our adversaries wont always make it easy for us. That was, at times, true even of a man as decent and impressive as John McCain. But that should only make us all the more willing to express our admiration for them: for if we are unable to feel deep respect, and perhaps even a healthy dose of grudging affection, when such an accomplished adversary passes away, we are doomed to forever think of half of our compatriots as inveterate enemies. The former director of the infamous Hoa Lo Prison, which is now a museum, has joined the string of people who are paying tribute to Sen. John McCain. Retired Col. Tran Trong Duyet, who ran the Hanoi Hilton where McCain was imprisoned as a prisoner of war for five-and-a-half years, says McCains strong views earned him his admiration. I had a lot of time meeting him when he was kept in the prison, he told Viet Nam News. At that time I liked him personally for his toughness and strong stance. Advertisement The former head of the prison said that he felt very sad when he heard the news about McCains death. I would like to send condolences to his family, he added. Duyet said he thinks most in Vietnam feel the same way considering McCain was instrumental in improving bilateral relations after the war. Later on, when he became a US Senator, he and Senator John Kerry greatly contributed to promote Viet Nam-US relations so I was very fond of him, Duyet added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even as he expressed fondness for McCain though, Duyet had previously denied that he or any other prisoners were mistreated. There was no torture, Vietnamese people saved him, Duyet said in an interview earlier this year. Advertisement Many in Vietnam, including Americans living there, went to a monument in Hanoi that remembers McCains capture to leave flowers and pay their respects. On Oct 26, 1967, at Truc Bach Lake, the military and people of Hanoi arrested Major John Sidney McCain, a pilot of the American Navys air force, reads the inscription on the sculpture depicting McCains capture. I felt compelled to come out here and bring some flowers, said Robert Gibb, an American in Hanoi. Read more in Slate about John McCain. Ten months ago, facing terminal cancer, John McCain delivered what was, in effect, his farewell address. While accepting the National Constitution Centers Liberty Medal, McCain diagnosed a sickness sweeping the West: a spurious nationalism cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems. Everyone understood that McCain was talking about Donald Trump. But he was also talking about something larger: McCain was telling us what real patriotism is. Patriotism starts with humility. You cant be a narcissist like Trump. You have to understand that youre part of something bigger. In his remarks, McCain poked fun at himself and his vices. He thanked the United States and its military for helping him escape the consequences of a self-centered youth and learn to serve something more important than myself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Second, patriotism requires good will. You cant love your country if you dont love your neighbors. Part of that is learning to accept their patriotism even when you disagree. When McCain ran for president in 2008, he refused to question Barack Obamas loyalty, and he rejected attempts by other Republicans to do so. In his speech last fall, McCain recalled that he and Vice President Joe Biden had often argued, sometimes passionately. But we believed in each others patriotism and the sincerity of each others convictions. Third, you have to support institutions. You cant go around attacking the Justice Department or reducing it to a personal tool. You have to work with other citizens to build national and local organizations that address peoples needs. Looking back on his career in Congress, McCain said of himself and Biden: We believed in the institution we were privileged to serve in. We believed in our mutual responsibility to help make the place work and to cooperate in finding solutions to our countrys problems. Advertisement Fourth, you must be willing to sacrifice for the common good. You cant just talk about the flag and the national anthem, as Trump does. McCain suffered as a prisoner of war, but he didnt talk about that in his speech. He talked about the greater sacrifices of others, recalling how the Pacific Ocean in World War II, in the words of President George H. W. Bush, wrapped its arms around the finest sons any nation could ever have, and it carried them to a better world. Advertisement Fifth, you have to recognize your fallibility. In trying to serve your country, sometimes you make mistakes. McCains critics fault him for advocating the Iraq war and choosing Sarah Palin as his running mate in 2008. McCain didnt address those complaints in his speech, but he acknowledged that he sometimes got things wrong. There were probably times when the country might have benefited from a little less of my help, he said, adding, I havent always served it well. Advertisement Advertisement Sixth, you have to recognize that your country makes mistakes too. McCain often supported military interventions overseas. Some of them failed or backfired. In his speech, he didnt name the failures, but he did speak of Americas sins at home. He counted the nations blessings despite all our flaws, all our mistakes. He noted that America today is freer and more just than it was in 1941. Trump thinks its unpatriotic to speak of Americas sins. But McCain understood that confronting our sins is deeply American, because principles define our country. We live in a land made of ideals, not blood and soil, said McCain. We define ourselves not by walls but by welcoming people of many languages and faiths. In McCains words, were the land of the immigrants dream. Advertisement Advertisement Were also a nation of self-correction. Trumps motto Make America Great Again imagines an ideal past. But America has always been a work in progress. Were the land that repairs and reinvents itself, said McCain. Sometimes the destination is clear only in retrospect. Among the few compensations of old age is the acuity of hindsight, said McCain. I was, knowingly or not, along for the ride as America made the future better than the past. Trump, never having served his country, thinks of America as a corporation. His foreign policy focuses on trade, seeking profits while ignoring human rights. McCain saw that as a betrayal of our vocation. We are the custodians of [our] ideals at home, and their champion abroad, said McCain. That means pursuing peace and stability but also confronting tyranny and injustice. Advertisement That mission, in turn, sometimes requires that we sacrifice for strangers. Trump looks at NATO and sees ingrates. He looks at the Middle East and sees oil we could take. McCain looked at these places and saw people in need. The United States has shared its treasures and ideals and shed the blood of its finest patriots to help make another better world, he said. Ive seen Americans make sacrifices for people who were strangers to them but for our common humanity. Advertisement Advertisement You can quarrel with McCains voting record or his judgment about wars. In some cases, those judgments cost many people their lives. But what he got righthis understanding of patriotismwas bigger than any of his mistakes. It encompassed and welcomed vigorous debate. McCain listened, and in some cases, he changed his mind. For years, he fought to maintain the militarys Dont Ask, Dont Tell policy, which kept gay service members in the closet. But in his final term, he endorsed an openly gay nominee for secretary of the army, opposed Trumps transgender military ban, and voted for federal legislation to ban job discrimination based on sexual orientation. Advertisement What McCain understood above all was that American patriotism is different from the patriotism of other countries. Its not about loving your country because you were born here. Its about loving what this country, in particular, stands for. Thats what McCain meant by spurious nationalism. Reducing love of America to tribalism is, in McCains words, as unpatriotic as an attachment to any other tired dogma of the past that Americans consigned to the ash heap of history. Thats an epitaph worthy of McCains life. It honors the history of the United States by embracing the radical idea this nation always was. If we betray that ideaif we abandon liberty, openness, or human rights in the name of America Firstwell lose America. McCain, who nearly gave his life in war, wasnt afraid to call that a deal breaker. We will not thrive in a world where our leadership and ideals are absent, he said as he accepted the Liberty Medal. We wouldnt deserve to. Read more from Slate on John McCain. By his own admission, retired Navy Capt. and Sen. John Sidney McCain III was an imperfect warrior and public servant. He died on Saturday at 81 with the respect of many friends, and more than a few foes too, as well as unfinished battles in Washington that will now fall to his successors in the Senate. But it was his heroism in Vietnamdemonstrated during five torturous years of captivity in Hanoithat most illustrated McCains unshakable commitment to country, and cemented his legacy too. McCains heroism wasnt that of a warrior who slaughtered enemies or a great battle captain who commanded thousands. His was the quieter, more resolute valor of a prisoner, who stood while trembling against years of brutality. McCains extraordinary courage continues to command respect because it was the kind of individual bravery America can venerate even against the backdrop of an unpopular war. McCains personal heroism also stands out because of how it empowered McCain as a congressman and senator to do things others could not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parts of the McCain story were pre-ordained from birth. His father and grandfather were admirals, eventually the first father and son pair to achieve a four-star rank. McCain earned more than his share of demerits at the Naval Academyforeshadowing both his maverick streak and his ability to endure punishment at the hands of his captors. McCain graduated into a career in naval aviation. It was (and is) a glamorous but dangerous field that requires physical bravery on a daily basis to launch and land multi-ton aircraft on a tiny floating runway. McCain lived hard and chafed at the Navys rules but excelled in this world where personal and physical courage mattered most. Advertisement Advertisement On Oct. 26, 1967, McCain flew his 23rd combat mission as a Navy pilot and his first that would take him into the intense anti-aircraft fire surrounding the North Vietnamese capital of Hanoi. After dropping bombs targeting a power plant, McCains A-4 Skyhawk was hit by a Russian-made missile that blew off its wing. McCain ejected, and the force of leaving the aircraft at that speed knocked him unconscious. He splashed down in a lake near Hanoi where a local mob had gathered as his parachute descended. Upon his landing, McCain was beaten severely, bayoneted in the groin and foot, before being transferred to North Vietnamese authorities and the prison where he would spend the next five and half years. Advertisement Advertisement McCains captors initially treated him well because of his father, then a senior admiral who took command of all U.S. forces in the Pacific in 1968. But when the North Vietnamese offered McCain an early releaseostensibly to undermine morale among other prisoners and to influence his fathers actions as a senior U.S. commanderMcCain refused. I knew that every prisoner the Vietnamese tried to break, those who had arrived before me and those who would come after me, would be taunted with the story of how an admirals son had gone home early, a lucky beneficiary of Americas class-conscious society, McCain wrote later of his decision. I knew that my release would add to the suffering of men who were already straining to keep faith with their country. Advertisement Advertisement The cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment worsened. After McCain spurned his captors offer, the prison commandant ordered guards to break his ribs, rebreak his arm, knock his teeth out. McCain stayed in Hanoi for more than four more years, much of it spent in solitary confinement, enduring more beatings and starvation. McCain seemingly survived by sheer willpower, as well as through the comradeship of other captives who passed messages through a clandestine system of tapping the prison walls. The North Vietnamese eventually repatriated McCain in 1973, along with scores of other POWs who endured similar treatment. Video from those moments shows McCain much thinner (he dropped to 105 pounds in captivity) and hobbled by his woundsyet defiant too. It was a mask of battle that he would wear for decades. Advertisement Vietnam produced many heroes, but McCains suffering stood out as a particular kind of valor in a deeply divisive war. Within the military tribe, there was great admiration for skilled warriors like future Sen. Bob Kerrey or for great battle captains like Lt. Gen. Hal Moore. But as America wrestled with the violence done on its behalf in Vietnam, society came to venerate more those warriors whose courage was exemplified by their suffering and perseverance. McCain epitomized that type of heroismall the more so because he volunteered to stay in Hanoi and endure more, out of loyalty to his country and fellow captives. His was a valor that even those opposed to the war could honor; McCains suffering is a parable for Americas during a long, costly, and polarizing war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCains heroism endowed him with the clout to do things politically that others could not. He courted the media and crossed the aisle and broke countless norms of politics because, well, what was anyone going to do to him in Washington that was worse than what he endured in Hanoi? When the time came to make peace with Vietnam and normalize diplomatic relations with Americas erstwhile enemies, McCain led those efforts too. And when post9/11 America seemed to descend irreversibly down a slippery slope that led from enhanced interrogation to torture, McCain singularly led Congress to stop it, as something only someone with his moral authority could do. In death, McCain leaves behind a story that will continue to inspire generations of service members, who will read his memoirs and wonder if they will have the courage to act as he did should their moment come. His heroism will also forever punctuate Americas memory of the Vietnam War, reminding us both of the horrors of war and the human potential to transcend them. Read more on the death of John McCain. When Sen. John McCains family was getting ready to say their last goodbyes as they informed the world that the former prisoner of war was ending treatment for brain cancer, Arizona GOP Senate candidate Kelli Ward suggested the announcement was all about her. McCain died mere hours after she suggested the announcement was part of an effort to hurt her campaign. Ward, one of three candidates for the Republican Senate nomination in Tuesdays Arizona primary to replace retiring Sen. Jeff Flake, wrote on Facebook that I think they wanted to have a particular narrative that they hope is negative to me. Advertisement I love my husband with all of my heart. God bless everyone who has cared for my husband along this journey. pic.twitter.com/v27sEbboii Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) August 24, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ward, a longtime critic of McCain, made that comment in response to a Facebook post by one of her campaign staffers who questioned the timing of the announcement. I wonder if it were just a coincidence that Sen McCain released his statement on the kickoff day of Kelli Wards bus tour or if it was a plan to take media attention off her campaign? Im not saying it was on purpose but its quite interesting, wrote Jonathan Williams. The post has since been deleted but screenshots have been making the rounds on social media. Advertisement WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?@kelliwardaz staffer: I wonder if John McCain's trying to steal attention from Ward's bus tour by announcing his life is coming to an end. Ward: Yup, it's all about me. #AZSEN pic.twitter.com/AXKAOhKYkU BrahmResnik (@brahmresnik) August 25, 2018 Advertisement Ward then wrote a follow-up post on Facebook in which she reportedly tried to blame the media for the comments, but that appears to have been deleted as well. The media loves a narrative. Ive said again and again to pray for Senator McCain & his family. These decisions are terrible to have to make. I feel compassion for him and his family as they go through this, Ward wrote, according to the Arizona Republic. Its not the McCains creating a narrativeits the media making something out of nothing. Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday morning, as outrage grew on social media, Ward posted screenshots of several insulting comments she had received. The Left is hateful, foul-mouthed, and easily misled. I do thank them (especially the out of staters) for increasing the reach of my page, though! wrote Ward. Ill repost my condolences for Mr. McCains family againplease take note of the trolling comments by people who buy into #FakeNews & political smearsor maybe they dontit could be that they just like any excuse to bully and attack. Beyond what she wrote on social media, Ward also continued her criticism of McCain on the campaign trail Friday after the announcement that the senator was ending medical treatment. We have a choice. Are we going to elect anther senator cut from the same cloth as Jeff Flake and John McCain? Ward said at two campaign events Friday afternoon, according to Politico. Ward explained it was important to be able to separate McCains personal health with his career. Theres Senator McCain the person, and I feel very bad for him and his family, but theres also Senator McCain the politician who has let down Arizona again and again and again, Ward told reporters. I can separate the two and I hope you all can too. Advertisement Advertisement Many on social media were quick to criticize Wards comments, some calling it a perfect example of Trump-style politics. The fact that Kelli Ward absurdly and falsely suggested that John McCains statement about stopping treatment before his imminent death *was timed to hurt her campaign* is a perfect reflection of just how lost and gross the Trump-era Republican Party is without people like McCain, wrote Brian Klaas. I have no words to express how I feel about Kelli Ward... Except narcissistic, selfish, idiotic, disgusting, horrible, rude, and moronic. Okay maybe I have a few words. Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) August 26, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement You have to wonder: Just what the hell is wrong with Kelli Ward? Then you remember: She's a Trumper. And suddenly the pathological self-absorption, utter absence of empathy and lack of decency make perfect sense. LaurenBaratzLogsted (@LaurenBaratzL) August 26, 2018 The fact that Kelli Ward absurdly and falsely suggested that John McCains statement about stopping treatment before his imminent death *was timed to hurt her campaign* is a perfect reflection of just how lost and gross the Trump-era Republican Party is without people like McCain Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) August 26, 2018 Read more on the death of John McCain. Update, 8:40 pm: Jacksonville police have identified the gunman as David Katz, 24, of Baltimore. He was reportedly in Jacksonville for the video game tournament where the shooting occurred. Additionally, police are now saying three people are dead, including Katz; previous reports said as many as four people had been killed. According to the New York Times, nine victims ranging in age from 20 to 35 are being treated at two local hospitals; all are expected to survive, although one victim was in serious condition. Advertisement Original post: There was a mass shooting at a downtown marketplace in Jacksonville, Florida, during a video game tournament Sunday. Early reports say that at least 11 people were shot and four were killed. The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office tweeted that one suspect was dead at the scene and at a news conference later in the day said there were no outstanding suspects. The sheriffs office had said earlier there were multiple fatalities but did not release any detailed information. Authorities have also urged people to stay away from the area because it is not safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooting took place during the Madden 19 Tournament at the GLHF Game Bar in Jacksonville, Florida, according to CompLexity Gaming, one of the professional gaming teams that had a player at the event. The tournament was taking place at the Jacksonville Landing, a waterfront site in downtown Jacksonville with lots of bars and restaurants. Advertisement An update from the Jacksonville Madden event: There appears to have been a shooting at the event, and @YoungDrini was grazed in the hand. He is away from the scene and safe. Complexity Gaming (@compLexity) August 26, 2018 The Los Angeles Times reports that the shooter was a gamer who was competing in the tournament and lost, according to Steven Steveyj Javaruski, who was also competing in the tournament. The shooter later turned the gun on himself, Javaruski told the Times. Thank god Im safe but Im broken over this, Javaruski wrote in a tweet. Advertisement Thank god Im safe but Im broken over this Noble SteveyJ (@ImSteveyJ) August 26, 2018 Advertisement I am literally so lucky. The bullet hit my thumb, wrote Drini Gjoka, the CompLexity Gaming player. I will never take anything for granted ever again. Life can be cut short in a second, he wrote in a subsequent tweet. Advertisement The tourney just got shot up. Im leavinng and never coming back Drini Gjoka (@Drini) August 26, 2018 Advertisement I will never take anything for granted ever again. Life can be cut short in a second Drini Gjoka (@Drini) August 26, 2018 Advertisement A witness at a nearby Hooters told CNN someone who was wounded came into the restaurant. I was in Hooters, all I heard was he got a gun and the shooting started, the witness told CNN. One of the men ran into Hooters with the shot woundsthey locked us in the restaurant. Advertisement A broadcast of the tournament on Twitch captured the moment when gunshots appeared to suddenly interrupt an ongoing game. Although the video doesnt show any images, it does contain disturbing audio that appears to be of the moment the shooting began and people trying to process the aftermath. Gunshots and screams can be heard in the video that was quickly taken down from the Twitch platform. Advertisement Twitch livestream of Madden NFL tournament qualifier in Jacksonville broadcasts mass shooting, horrific aftermath [video disturbing]https://t.co/kKcpNuGFRi pic.twitter.com/98FwkWMfOp Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) August 26, 2018 Coxs BazarThousands of Rohingya refugees staged angry protests for justice Saturday on the first anniversary of a Myanmar military crackdown that sparked a mass exodus to camps in Bangladesh. Many wept as they recalled the brutal killings and rapes inflicted on the Muslim minority last year as 700,000 fled across the border. The biggest refugee camp in the world is rigidly controlled by Bangladesh authorities and the peaceful but charged Rohingya marches and rallies seen there were unprecedented. We are Rohingya, we want justice, people chanted in the Kutupalong camp, where a giant banner proclaimed: Never Again: Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day. 25 August, 2018. In a different part of the camp, thousands of women and children marched behind a huge poster declaring: 365 days of crying. Now I am angry. Rohingya militants staged attacks on Myanmar police posts on Aug. 25 last year, sparking a bloody crackdown in Rakhine state. Nearly 7,000 Rohingya were killed in the first month, according to Medecins Sans Frontieres. Refugees arrived in Bangladesh on foot or in flimsy boats. Many brought horrific stories of sexual violence, torture and villages burned to the ground. Columns of people marching through the camp on Saturday waved banners and chanted Allahu Akbar (God is Great). Tears flowed as one Imam gave a sermon, saying Please Allah, return to us our homeland. Let us see our parents graves. We left them back in Myanmar. Myanmar authorities, who insist their forces only targeted insurgents, have made an agreement with Bangladesh to repatriate refugees but only a handful have gone back. Rohingya leaders say the exiles will not return home unless their safety is guaranteed.Myanmars civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi this week said it was up to Bangladesh to decide how quickly repatriation of the refugees can be accomplished. She said the terrorist threat posed by Rohingya militants remains real and present.The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, which has been blamed for attacks in Myanmar, issued an anniversary statement in which it condemned Myanmars terrorist government and genocidal military. Mohammad Hossain, a 40-year-old protester at Kutupalong, said: We are here remember to Aug. 25. We want justice. We want them (Myanmar) to recognize us as Rohingya. We are very sad because we are not in our native land. The Rohingya were stripped of their citizenship decades ago by Myanmar and have been chased from the country in successive convulsions of violence. About 300,000 were already in the camps in Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar district and the latest arrivals pushed numbers to one million. The Rohingya and aid agencies are most worried about the uncertain future of the refugees, who are stateless and seemingly unwanted in Bangladesh while conditions in their Rakhine homeland remain dangerous. International Red Cross Committee president Peter Maurer, who visited the camps and Rakhine in July, said in an anniversary statement that Rohingya in both places were living in misery. Unfortunately, since my visit we have not seen tangible improvements for those displaced or the few who remain in Rakhine. The Red Cross chief called for urgent sustainable solutions for safe, dignified and voluntary returns as soon as possible. He said this must include political steps in Myanmar and Bangladesh. While the Rohingya exodus from western Myanmar continues, with refugees still trickling over the border, the United Nations and international rights groups say conditions are not ready for their return. It may be decades until they can safely return to Myanmar, if ever, said MSF head of mission in Bangladesh Pavlo Kolovos in a statement. Calls have mounted for Myanmars military to be held responsible for the campaign and the United States has sanctioned two army brigades and several commanders who oversaw the expulsion. There have also been calls for an International Criminal Court inquiry but Myanmar has bristled at international criticism. Humanitarian agencies spearheading the relief effort in Bangladesh say just one-third of the roughly $1 billion needed for the refugees until March has been raised. Shortly after news that Sen. John McCain had died, President Donald Trump took to Twitter like many in Washington, to express his condolences. Yet unlike most others, the commander in chief had nothing to say about the late senator and war hero, only sending condolences to his family. My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain, Trump wrote. Our hearts and prayers are with you! My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tweet appeared to exemplify the bad blood that existed between McCain and Trump right up to the Arizona senators death on Saturday. The two disliked each other so much that when McCains closest friends and advisers spread the word that they were getting ready for the inevitable funeral, they made it clear that Trump wouldnt be invited. In a May story, the New York Times reported that McCains friends told the White House that Vice President Mike Pence should be planning to attend the service. Trump made clear earlier this month that the bad blood between them wouldnt subside just because the senator was nearing the end of his life. When Trump signed a piece of defense legislation named after the Arizona senator, he did so without once mentioning McCains name. Im here today to sign our new defense bill into law, Trump said. The national defense authorization act is the most significant investment in our military and our war fighters in our nations history. Advertisement The bad blood between McCain and Trump began in earnest during the campaign, and many point to McCain saying in July 2015 that Trump had fired up the crazies as the opening salvo. It was shortly thereafter that Trump questioned McCains war hero credentials. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured, Trump said. He later wrote an op-ed for USA Today doubling down on the criticism and blasting the senator. The reality is that John McCain the politician has made America less safe, sent our brave soldiers into wrong-headed foreign adventures, covered up for President Obama with the VA scandal and has spent most of his time in the Senate pushing amnesty, Trump wrote. He would rather protect the Iraqi border than Arizonas. Advertisement Advertisement Despite this tension though, McCain did end up toeing the party line and endorsing Trumps bid for the presidency. But he later rescinded that support following leak of the Access Hollywood tape. Trump didnt hide his anger, and took to Twitter to blast the senator: The very foul mouthed Sen. John McCain begged for my support during his primary (I gave, he won), then dropped me over locker room remarks! The very foul mouthed Sen. John McCain begged for my support during his primary (I gave, he won), then dropped me over locker room remarks! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2016 Advertisement After Trump moved into the White House, McCain often was one of the few voices within the Republican Party who stood up to the president. In one of the most remarkable episodes, McCain became the decisive no vote in the effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Trump didnt hide his anger and repeatedly mentioned that vote, without ever mentioning McCain by name, even as he continued his treatment for brain cancer. Trump has displayed a remarkable lack of sensitivity to McCains very serious health problems and his stature in the Republican Party, wrote the Washington Posts Amber Phillips recently. Advertisement McCain, meanwhile, also seemed to become more critical of Trump as his time in the White House increased. In his memoir published this year, McCain criticized Trumps apparent admiration for strongmen. He seems uninterested in the moral character of world leaders and their regimes, he wrote of the president. The appearance of toughness or a reality show facsimile of toughness seems to matter more than any of our values. Flattery secures his friendship, criticism his enmity. Advertisement Advertisement In one of his strongest statements against Trump, McCain harshly criticized the president after the one-on-one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland. Todays press conference in Helsinki was one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory, McCain said in a statement. The damage inflicted by President Trumps naivete, egotism, false equivalence, and sympathy for autocrats is difficult to calculate. But it is clear that the summit in Helsinki was a tragic mistake. That is why it came as little surprise that as many politicians on both sides of the aisle expressed sympathy for McCain after news that he was stopping treatment on Friday, Trump stayed silent. The president didnt mention the senator at all in a speech in Ohio Friday night. Read more on the death of John McCain. John McCain, a Vietnam War hero who became one of the most formidable Republicans in Congress throughout a political career that spanned more than three decades, died Saturday. He was 81. The six-term senator died a little over a year after he disclosed in July 2017 that he had been diagnosed with a deadly form of brain cancer called glioblastoma. And his death came a day after his family announced Friday that he was ending medical treatment. Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28 p.m. on August 25. 2018. With the Senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family. At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for sixty years, read a statement issued by the office of Sen. John McCain. His death came after McCain spent an unusual number of months away from the public eye, accepting visits from old friends and colleagues to discuss the meaning of his life and the future of the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCain was a naval officer, a jet pilot and then a prisoner of war when his plane was shot down on a bombing mission over North Vietnam in 1967. He spent more than five years suffering horrific torture and was used for propaganda purposes, which turned him into the most famous prisoner of the war. Then after retiring from the Navy with the rank of captain, he ran for a House seat. He served two terms in the House of Representatives until 1987, and six in the Senate. McCain always represented Arizona, which was the home state of his second wife, Cindy. McCain quickly emerged as a towering figure who became one of the most powerful forces within the Republican Party. He seemed his truest self when outraged, notes the Washington Posts Karen Tumulty. That led him to be known as the GOPs maverick for his penchant to go against the grain and speak up against his partys leadership. McCain was also known for compromising with Democrats on certain issues, particularly campaign finance reform and immigration. Advertisement Despite his successes in Congress, McCain never realized his obvious ultimate dream of becoming president. In 2000 he fought a fierce primary battle against George W. Bush, in which he played the role of little guy fighting against the Republican establishment. Then in 2008 he won the GOP nomination but didnt even come close and lost badly to Barack Obama. Many have pointed to his selection of Sarah Palin as his vice president as the launching pad for a more populist wing of the Republican Party to gain power, which ultimately led to the election of President Donald Trump years later. In a memoir, McCain expressed regret he did not choose Sen. Joseph Lieberman, a Democrat-turned-independent, to be his runningmate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More recently McCain openly clashed with President Donald Trump and became one of the few voices within the Republican Party willing to stand against the commander in chief. The two had made it clear during the campaign they didnt like each other and Trump even mocked McCains military past: He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured. Once in office, McCain often spoke up against the president. No prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant, McCain declared after Trumps meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland. He also famously became the decisive no vote on legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act. John Sidney McCain III was born on Aug. 23, 1936 at the Coco Solo Naval Air Station in the Panama Canal Zone, where his father was serving in the Navy. In an interview with CNN in September, host Jake Tapper asked McCain how he wanted to be remembered. He served his country and not always right. Made a lot of mistakes. Made a lot of errors, but served his country, McCain said. And I hope we could add honorably. Read more from Slate on John McCain. This weekend Freehold Raceway held the first leg of the Standardbred Development fund for two-year-olds. The $7,500 filly trotting divisions were held on Friday (Aug. 24), while the $7,500 pacing divisions were contested on Saturday (Aug 25). The first leg of the two divisions for trotting fillies was won by Princess Deo for trainer Noel Daley in 1:59.4. Princess Deo captured her first lifetime win for owners Noel Daley, Deo Volente Farms and John Fodera. The Trixton filly was bred by Deo Volente Farms. Big Weezy finished second and July was third under the wire. Jimmy Takter trainee Flos Conch Shack won the second division on Friday in 2:01.3. The Father Patrick filly wired the field to notch her first lifetime win for owner John Fielding. Marveloustrix finished a close second and Questing was third. Saturday featured all of the pacing divisions for both colts and fillies. The first division for filly pacers was won by Hurrikanesky. Owned, trained and bred by Patrick Hlubik, the daughter of Hurrikane Kingcole nosed out the odds-on favourite in 1:57.4. Surreality finished second and Devious Delight finished third. The first division for pacing colts was won by Just Plain Loco, who is trained by Tom Fanning, in 1:57.1. The victory marked win number three for the Well Said colt that is owned by Paul Lang and Fanning Racing LLC. Just Plain Loco was bred by Joseph Jannuzzelli of New Jersey. Trente Deo finished a close second and Big Sky Boom finished third. Miss Raggedy Ann took the second division for fillies for trainer Stacy Chiodo. The Bettors Delight filly stormed past the competition in the stretch to stop the clock in 1:59.2. Miss Raggedy Ann, bred by Timothy Tobias Stable in New Jersey, earned her first lifetime win for owner Donald Wolf. After a little interference in the lane, Love Love Me Too was placed second and Surrealism was placed third. The last division of the day for the pacing colts was won by Clintock for trainer Jason Skinner. The Hurrikane Kingcole colt nosed past Aperfectdeal at the wire for the win in 1:58.4, while Cloudbreak finished third. Clintock earned his first lifetime win for owner Kathleen Brewer. Live racing at Freehold will resume on Friday, August 31 with a post time of 12:30 p.m. (SBOANJ) Michael-in-Norfolk disclaims any and all responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, completeness, legality, reliability, operability, or availability of information or material displayed on this site and does not claim credit for any images or articles featured on this site, unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyrighted to it's respectful owners. Information on this site may contain errors or inaccuracies, and Michael-in-Norfolk does not make warranty as to the correctness or reliability of the site's content. If you own rights to any of the images or articles, and do not wish them to appear on this site, please contact Michael-in-Norfolk via e-mail and they will be promptly removed. Michael-in-Norfolk contains links to other Internet sites. These links are provided solely as a convenience and are not endorsements of any products or services in such sites, and no information or content in such site has been endorsed or approved by this blog. A former ambassador to the Vatican has accused Pope Francis of ignoring sexual abuse claims against prominent US cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was forced to resign last month. Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano said that he had told Francis, who is currently visiting Ireland, of the allegations in 2013, but that the pontiff instead lifted sanctions imposed on McCarrick by predecessor Pope Benedict. Vigano's eleven-page letter was published simultaneously on Saturday in several conservative Catholic publications in the US. The Pope on Saturday said he shared in the "pain and shame" of the church's failure to deal with historic allegations of clerical abuse, and the latest claims are likely to intensify calls for action. The Vatican said it had no comment to make on the allegations. Bishop Vigano, 77, who was a papal nuncio in Washington between 2011 and 2016, said that Benedict XVI imposed canonical sanctions against Cardinal McCarrick in the late 2000s. McCarrick was forced to leave the seminary where he lived, avoid all public contact and live a life of penance after former Vatican ambassadors in Washington, now dead, reported him for "gravely immoral" behavior with seminarians and priests. Vigano claims Pope Francis asked him about McCarrick when he took office in June 2013, but that Francis ignored his warnings, and instead made him a "trusted counselor." "He (Pope Francis) knew from at least June 23, 2013 that McCarrick was a serial predator," wrote Vigano," adding "he knew that he was a corrupt man, he covered for him to the bitter end." The former nuncio wrote that Francis was "abdicating the mandate which Christ gave to Peter to confirm the brethren," and urged him to "acknowledge his mistakes". The pope was on Sunday due to preach in front of around 500,000 people in Dublin at the end of a two-day visit to Ireland. AFP Seven reality show Zumbos Just Desserts may have been a fail on Australian television but an international screening through Netflix has led to a second season commission. The Australian Financial Review reports Seven Studios has inked a co-production deal with Netflix for another season. The 2016 series, which also featured Rachel Khoo Brazilian-born pastry chef Gigi Falanga, was on occasions fourth in its timeslot. But Zumbo already appears on another Netflix series, Sugar Rush. Seven has previously made Beat Bugs with Netflix, despite CEO Tim Worner complaining that Netflix, Facebook and Google were eating into the local advertising market. The show went on to score Emmy Award nominations. Zumbos company has gone into voluntary administration. Stephen King is one of the most popular horror authors and is often in the headlines in one form or another. One story doing the rounds is about a bear that entered the Stanley Hotel, a Colorado hotel that inspired Kings book The Shining, and also featured in the Stanley Kubrick Film. Meanwhile, King a very vocal critic of US President Donald Trump has written the shortest-ever horror story for just one person Trump himself. Also below are some interesting facts about the author that you might not already know. Bear enters the Stanley Hotel As reported by ITV News, there were 300 guests staying there at the time the bear decided to explore the Stanley Hotel. Stephen King stayed at the hotel in Estes Park with his wife, Tabitha in 1974 and the property inspired him to write The Shining. Also when Stanley Kubrick made a 1980 film adaptation of the story, he shot it at the Stanley Hotel. King himself was not impressed with Kubricks handling of the story, but the film did very well. The hotel originally opened in 1909 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places but not due to Kings famous story, of course. Stanley Kubrick framing a shot for The Shining pic.twitter.com/N6lbNFWhYZ Eyes On Cinema (@RealEOC) August 21, 2018 According to Vice President Reed Rowley, the bear worked out how to open the door to the hotel and then roamed around, climbing over furniture and generally having a good time. How they got the bear to leave the hotel is unknown, but brief footage of the incident is included below. Stephen King writes a very short story King is a very vocal critic of Donald Trump and often posts tweets about him, which appear top of the list on many Twitter feeds. One of his recent tweets included what the Washington Post described as a very brief story for just one person. That story, in just one word, is included below. Impeach. Stephen King (@StephenKing) August 23, 2018 King's tweet soon went viral, but whether Trump read it remains unknown. King-related tidbits that you might not know Most King fans know of the many and various film and TV adaptations coming out recently, including the excellent adaptation of Mr. Mercedes. The second season of the AT&T Audience Network series premiered on 22 August, telling the story of retired detective Bill Hodges (played by Brendan Gleeson) and the young psychopath he is trying to catch, Brady Hartfield (Harry Treadaway). There is also an excellent series set in Kings multiverse, but not directly adapted from an individual book. US fans have been watching Castle Rock on Hulu and it is hoped that series will soon hit the UK TV airwaves. #CastleRock is not what it seems. Open your eyes before it's too late. pic.twitter.com/3XDF7O5nrf Castle Rock (@castlerockhulu) August 16, 2018 On the subject of adaptations, Sissy Spacek, who now stars in Castle Rock, played the titular role in the film Carrie, which was adapted from Kings first published novel. The interesting part of that story is that King didnt like the manuscript he had originally written and threw it into the rubbish bin. Luckily, Tabitha, his fellow author wife pulled the manuscript out of the bin and made Stephen finish the story. What happened next is the plethora of King novels and short stories that we know and love today. Hulus Castle Rock is confirmed for a second season https://t.co/51Es2ZeUsn Anne Sewell (@anners2008) August 26, 2018 While King is now 70, it doesnt appear to be slowing him down, as he continues to write new novels for his Constant Readers. More TV and film adaptations are also on the way, including Doctor Sleep and the second part of the clown horror, It. What you might not know is that King has made at least 14 cameos in the various TV and film adaptations over the years. Watch out for him whenever you see a film or TV adaptation. King has also collaborated on various other films, including the musical film Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, where he worked with John Mellencamp. He also collaborated on Michael Jacksons short film Ghosts. Stephen King, fears and radio stations While King writes the scariest horror stories, he is also afraid of a couple of things himself. One thing he particularly hates is flying and wherever possible, he drives to wherever he needs to go. The horror author is also afraid of the number 13, a phobia with the wonderful name triskaidekaphobia. Another interesting item reported by Parade is that Stephen and Tabitha own three Maine radio stations: WZLO-FM, WKIT-FM, and WZON-AM. A view of a brine pools of a lithium mine on the Atacama salt flat in the Atacama desert A view of a brine pools of a lithium mine on the Atacama salt flat in the Atacama desert, Chile August 16, 2018. Picture taken August 16, 2018. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado By Dave Sherwood and Fabian Cambero SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chile is preparing major new restrictions on the extraction of water from the lithium-rich Salar de Atacama salt flats, home to top lithium miners Albemarle and SQM , the head of the country's water authority told Reuters on Thursday. Water authority chief Oscar Cristi said in an exclusive interview that regulators had stopped issuing new permits to extract water from the southernmost sector of the Salar's watershed, known as C2, which is a key water supply for BHP's Escondida copper mine, the world's largest, and Antofagasta 's Zaldivar mine. Cristi said the government had granted BHP and Antofagasta permits to pump six times more water from an aquifer at Atacama than it could sustain, prompting the ban. BHP has since proposed to cut water extraction from wells in C2 by more than half, but Cristi said regulators still believed that rate to be "insufficient." "We're evaluating this case and others where over-exploitation is taking place, to try to work with them to reach a voluntary agreement, and if not ... to reduce their extraction," Cristi said, adding that the government planned to issue new prohibitions in other areas in northern Chile shortly. Cristi said the water authority was analysing a recent amendment to the Chilean water code that would allow the regulator to unilaterally reduce extraction rates in areas where over-exploitation is taking place. BHP declined to comment. Instead, the company referred Reuters to a 2017 sustainability study in which it said it plans to use only sea water from its two desalination plants on the Chilean coast to feed its mammoth Escondida copper mine by 2030, and that it had already begun returning water rights to the state. Antofagasta did not respond to requests for comment. NEW WATER RESERVE Chile's water chief said the agency was also preparing to create a drinking water reserve nearer the core of the Salar, adjacent to the operations of SQM and Albemarle. Story continues "Once we've created the reserve, this water will no longer be available and that could give us the legal right to establish a restricted area," Cristi said. In a restricted area, only temporary, not permanent, rights to extract water are granted, and water regulators closely monitor use. Existing extraction permits would be unaffected, Cristi said. Cristi said the area of the salt flat where the lithium miners operate was not currently over-drawn, but a spike in demand for new water rights in the lithium-rich but water-poor region, as well as over-extraction elsewhere in the watershed, had prompted the conservative measure. Lithium helps to fuel modern life. Lithium-ion batteries power everything from electric cars and laptops to mobile phones, and global demand for lithium is expected to quadruple by 2025. Chile's Salar is home to one of the world's biggest deposits of the metal, sometimes referred to as "white gold." It was not immediately clear what impact, if any, the new restrictions will have on the two miners' operations. Albemarle declined to comment. SQM, which recently signed a contract with Chilean authorities that authorized it to nearly triple production capacity by 2021, said it already possessed all of the water rights it needed for current and future operations. Jon Hykawy, a battery minerals analyst at Stormcrow Capital, said new restrictions could impact current supply and add uncertainty to future development. "My projections on future lithium supply anticipates a big chunk of growth from SQM and Albermarle on Atacama, so if that's in any way endangered that changes the supply picture dramatically," he said Both fresh- and saltwater are critical to the production of lithium in the Atacama and have become a sticking point as local indigenous groups, long-standing producers SQM and Albemarle, regional copper miners and newcomers to the region all vie for water in the world's most arid desert. Albemarle, the world's top lithium producer, and competitor SQM together extract 37 percent of the world's lithium from brine, or saltwater, that is pumped from beneath the parched surface of the Salar de Atacama. (Reporting by Dave Sherwood and Fabian Cambero; Editing by Ross Colvin) Norway noise Norwegian bitcoin miner Kryptovault is facing a shutdown of its operations due to extensive noise complaints from locals and a lack of proper paperwork. The company, which is headquartered in a former paper mill in Norways capital of Oslo, uses more than 40MW of power to drive an arsenal of nearly 10,000 computers. The staff could mine several million Norwegian kroners worth of bitcoin per week, but financial promise isnt enough to keep residents interested. The sound of the factory comes 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, explains Trond Gulesto, one of the facilitys closest neighbors. Our summer has been ruined. The noise comes predominantly from the large fans required to cool down the operations mining computers. Many of the areas residents have been forced to evacuate bedrooms close to the ventures primary facility and keep their windows shut throughout the day, even during the summers rising temperatures. Things have gotten so out of control that the company allegedly received a bomb threat last week. The threat read, This is sabotage. If you are expanding crypto mining and filling the country with noise, then you will be sabotaging the peace. I am threatening to send you some explosives. Following the bomb threat, Kryptovaults managing director Gjermund Hagesaeter informed the nearby police force and warned employees to remain cautious while traveling to and from work. The threat has been reported to the police, and we are taking the whole issue very seriously indeed, he commented. We have also asked the police to assess whether any further action needs to be taken. He later stated that, while the threatened facility is in a fenced area and difficult to access, others are more exposed and could be vulnerable to potential attacks, and that everyone should remain on their toes. It appears as if the noise isnt the ventures biggest problem. According to the local municipality, the mining operation doesnt possess the required permissions to mine cryptocurrency and has been operating illegally since last spring. Arne Hellum, who handles construction cases for the municipality in question, states that Kryptovault may now be required to shut its doors temporarily and cease all operations until it gathers the appropriate permits. Story continues Executives of Kryptovault say they were told all their permits were in order when they first began conducting business. They plan to fight any threats of shutdown while applying for the missing permits but admit they have experienced conflict with locals. They are now investing in noise-reduction equipment that would potentially reduce the noise from approximately 60 decibels to about 45. This article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine. One of Papua New Guineas most active volcanoes erupted on Saturday, August 25, spewing ash and smoke into the sky. The eruption on Manam island prompted the evacuation of thousands of people as lava flows threatened at least three villages, Papua New Guinea National Disaster Centre told Reuters. Nearly 10,000 people were evacuated during the volcanos 2014 eruption, Radio NZ reported. Credit: Sally Proctor via Storyful KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani rejected on Sunday resignations tendered a day earlier by three senior security officials, the government said. The resignations from Defence Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami and Interior Minister Wais Barmak, as well as Masoom Stanekzai, the head of the National Directorate of Security, were submitted on Saturday hours after National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar quit. Government spokesman Haroon Chakansuri said in a statement Ghani had asked the three officials to continue with their duties and "work towards the betterment of the security situation". Two senior interior ministry officials said the security officials had cited policy differences with the government amid deteriorating security as the main reason for resigning. However, Ghani rejected the resignations and instead instructed them to find ways to prevent fresh attacks by militant groups. Heavy fighting between Taliban insurgents, as well as other militant groups, and security forces has raged across Afghanistan this year. There have also been suicide attacks in Kabul and other major cities. Authorities have been bracing for more attacks with parliamentary elections due on Oct. 20. The scale of the violence has shocked government officials, who are facing bitter criticism over their handling of the war. (Reporting by Hamid Shalizi and Abdul Qadir Sediqi,; Writing by Rupam Jain; Editing by Paul Tait) A woman in the Somali capital of Mogadishu. The country has more cases of forced marriage than India. Photograph: Carl de Souza/AFP/Getty Images British Somali teenagers are being taken back to their parents homeland under the pretence of a holiday and then kept in detention centres before being forced into marriages. Under the practice of dhaqan celis, loosely translated as the rehabilitation community, Somali children and teenagers are routinely taken to the country, where they are often sent to rehabilitation centres. The centres promote themselves as re-education schools to align young people with Somali cultural values and their Somali roots. The Home Office, however, says they tend not to deliver an academic curriculum and are in fact detention centres where young people are routinely subjected to physical, sexual and mental abuse. In some cases, those held against their will are told the only way out is to get married. David Myers, joint head of the Home Offices forced marriage unit (FMU) in the UK, said: What we are seeing in these communities is that young people who have antisocial behaviour issues, are getting involved in gangs and drugs, and are being sent back to Somalia by their parents for re-education and rehabilitation. The concept in Somali culture, dhaqan celis, means returning to the culture to help them rehabilitate and they are sent to what they call schools but what we call detention centres. We have had reports of physical abuse, mental abuse, sexual abuse within these centres, where they are kept in really strict conditions. These teenagers and children are told that the only way they can escape these centres is to get married to another Somalian and that is where the forced marriage element comes into it. The latest figures show there has been a 100% year-on-year increase in the number of forced marriage cases handled by Home Office involving Somali children and teenagers. In 2017, the figure rose to 91, more than India. Myers said: The Somalia case is unusual. Traditionally, when you look at these cases you always think of South Asian communities but the Somalian community is a new and emerging community in the UK and the second generation are coming of age. Story continues The number of cases reported to the FMU in 2017 was more than double the number received the previous year. Almost 75% of the victims, some younger than 15, were already overseas when they contacted the FMU. There were calls from 65 females and 26 males. Of those, 23 were under the age of 15. London had the highest number of victims at 64. Seven came from north-west England. When the Guardian contacted a number of UK-based Somali community organisations and charities, most said they had not heard of the practice or denied that forced marriage involving British Somali nationals was taking place. Sahra Abdi, the head of the Lodge Lane Somali womens group in Liverpool, said forced marriage was not a problem within the Somali communities in the north of England and was concentrated in London. Abdi, a mother of six, once missed a flight to Somalia after being questioned by police at the airport. She was travelling with her three daughters aged 14, 12 and 10. She said officers were concerned she was taking her daughters back to Somalia to force them to marry. That was two years ago. Abdi said she had never heard of forced marriage involving Somali British nationals in Liverpool: I dont think this is happening in Liverpool. Its probably going on in London. Because Somali children in London get involved in drugs. Most of this is happening in London. Never heard of Somali people in Liverpool taking their children for forced marriage. We have five big Somali communities in Liverpool. They started coming over in 1985 during the civil war and I have been here for 18 years and never heard of this. The Somali Golden Centre of Opportunity in Manchester, however, passed on the details of Abdillahi Abokor, a British Somali national who decided to move back to Somalia after living and working in London for several years. The former youth worker who worked at the United Nations office in Somalia said parents were taking their children back to Somalia to protect them. Speaking from Hargeisa in Somaliland, Abokor, a father of four, said the issue has been taken out of context and admitted that young people were being brought back to Somalia from across Europe, including the UK, Finland, France and Germany, and sometimes being married. He said that many young Somali people in the UK were getting involved in drugs and gangs. It is true that parents are bringing their children back here, but there is a reason for this. They are bringing them back so they learn that the life that they have in the UK is the wrong life. Parents do get them married but I wouldnt say it is forced. It is arranged and their lifestyle is changed. Abokor, 41, confirmed the existence of many rehabilitation centres. Referring to them as boarding schools, he said the government had started monitoring the centres after a recent case involving two girls. The girls contacted an embassy saying they had been abused. The Somali government was put on red alert, he said. But he denied abuse was taking place and claimed youngsters were making stories up so they could return to the freedoms they enjoyed in western countries. The girls did not like the lifestyle here so they had to make a plan to go back, he said. Yes, the boarding school are different to the lifestyles they have in the UK or America. Here they dont have access to social media, the internet, the freedoms that they had. They had to make a story up to get back. Abokor says his son, who is living in London, will be brought back to Somalia once he finishes his GCSEs. I will bring him back. I dont want him to end up dying or getting stabbed. I dont want him to get involved with gangs. In the UK, if you are young and Somali you are forced to join a gang. This is 100% a way of protecting our children. A marriage is sometimes arranged, yes. Calling for help in the midst of abuse Sabrine had just turned 17 and finished school when her parents forced her to travel to Somalia and put her under immense pressure to marry a man who would go on to rape her on a regular basis. In desperation and now pregnant with his child, she called the Karma Nirvana helpline, a charity that campaigns against honour-based violence and takes thousands of calls a year from victims. Sabrine, now 18, explained that her parents had told her that if she did not sponsor the man so that he would get a UK visa, she would be sent back to Somalia. Once he arrived her misery began. He lived with her and her parents. She said the man was very controlling and raped her numerous times. Sabrine, who also underwent female genital mutilation as a child, suffered in silence for a long time. She once plucked up the courage to confront her mother about being forced to have sex but was told she would have to endure it as her duty as a wife. Feeling suicidal and believing that she had no one to turn to, she called the helpline. Support workers gave her advice and she eventually managed to escape. She and her unborn child are now in safe accommodation. Anna, a professional who had been providing support to a 16-year-old called Sabha, also called the helpline concerned that the youngster would be returned to her home. Sabha was regularly subjected to sexual and physical abuse and was being threatened with forced marriage. Sabha, who was called the black sheep of the family for refusing to wear a headscarf, was beaten up by her father and told by her uncle that if she did not conform he would be happy to do 15 years in prison. After threats were made to take her abroad,social services became involved and she was placed into foster care. Shortly afterwards, however, social services said she could return home as they deemedher no longer at risk.Her family said that they missed her. This prompted Annato contact the helpline as she believed social services were not listening to the victim as they think that she is just misbehaving and are instead believing what the family are saying. Afterseveral calls to the charity, including one in which Sabha spoke to support workers, it was established that she was at very high risk of abuse and Anna was advised to contact the police. Sabha is now safe and will remain in foster care. Names have been changed Catholic priest abuse victim Mike McDonnell speaks in front of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia Catholic priest abuse victim Mike McDonnell speaks in front of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., August 23, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Fogarty By Vanessa Johnston PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Mike McDonnell was an altar boy who loved to sing Latin hymns at his church in suburban Philadelphia, but his Roman Catholic faith became a source of torment at age 12 when he woke up to find a priest molesting him in the vacation bed the clergyman forced him to share. "From that day forth, I would never be that same child," said McDonnell, now 49. "I went into shock mode and shut down. I would hold onto those secrets for 20-plus years." McDonnell, now a peer counsellor at a drug and alcohol treatment facility, agreed to share his personal story with Reuters in the wake of a stunning grand jury report of Roman Catholic priests accused of abusing more than 1,000 children across Pennsylvania. He said he wanted to encourage other victims to emerge from the shadows to begin their own healing. While the incident at age 12 broke him, he said the abuse started at age 10, when another priest molested him. "At that age, I wasn't sure the things that were going on," he said. His decades-long road to recovery was fraught with alcohol abuse, broken marriages and even a criminal record. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia paid for McDonnell's counselling sessions but he seldom attended. Instead he forged receipts and eventually was convicted of pocketing more than $100,000 in a theft he called payback for the abuse. "I sought retribution in the form of submitting false invoices for a number of years," McDonnell told Reuters in an interview this week. One priest accused by McDonnell was defrocked, the other was removed from public ministry. McDonnell joined the chorus of voices demanding Pennsylvania eliminate any statute of limitations for prosecutors to bring charges in child sex crimes cases. Youth advocates say a statute of limitations can block justice since it may take decades for children to realise they were victimized. Some 41 U.S. states have eliminated statutes of limitations for criminally prosecuting child sex abuse. In 2002, Pennsylvania was among the first to raise the age for reporting child sexual abuse when it lifted the age to 30 from 23. Five years later it raised the age to 50. Story continues "I was held accountable for my actions in a court of law. Can we say that about the Catholic Church today?" McDonnell said. "These bishops and the dioceses and the Cardinals need to come clean. You need to tell the Catholic faith community what you did. How you covered it up, how you transferred one to another parish so that he would go on and abuse more children. No one knew more about these abuses and no one did less," he said. (Additional reporting by Kevin Fogarty in Philadelphia; and Barbara Goldberg in New York; Editing by David Gregorio) green beret US Army The Army has recommended Capt. Michael Perozeni for a silver star, the military's third-highest valor award for gallantry. Perozeni, an Army Special Forces team leader, was singled out for blame in an investigation into the deadly Niger ambush last year that cost the lives of four US special forces soldiers. His superiors, however, believe that Perozeni, who was wounded in the firefight, ought to be commended for his heroism. The U.S. Army Special Forces team leader upon whom the Pentagon has heaped much of the blame for a deadly ambush in Niger last October may also be awarded a Silver Star for his heroic actions that day, the New York Times reported on Aug. 23. Army commanders have recommended that Capt. Michael Perozeni receive the militarys third-highest valor award for the gallantry he displayed when his 11-man team came under attack by dozens of Islamist militants on Oct. 4, 2017, according to an internal Special Operations Command report attained by the Times. The ambush occurred outside the village of Tongo Tongo, where Operational Detachment Alpha Team 3212 had stopped for water following a kill-or-capture mission that turned up nothing. The team was accompanied by 30 Nigerian soldiers. Four members of ODA 3212 were killed in the ensuing firefight, which lasted hours and was captured in helmet camera footage that later appeared in an ISIS propaganda video. Perozeni was shot in the attack but survived Two of the soldiers killed in the battle are being considered for the Distinguished Service Cross and the other two have been recommended for the Silver Star, according to the Times. Perozenis Silver Star nomination sharply contrasts with the summary of a U.S. Africa Command report released to the public in May that implied Perozeni and another junior officer had imperiled ODA 3212 by mischaracterizing its mission that day in a planning document. The summary stated that the officers described the mission as a trip to meet tribal elders rather than a counterterrorism mission, which would have required higher approval and a much larger contingent of troops. The planning document contributed to a general lack of situational awareness and command oversight at every echelon, according to the AFRICOM investigation. However, as the Times noted, the summary did not mention the fact that Perozeni had pushed back against the part of the mission that would eventually turn deadly, nor did it directly [attribute] any blame to senior leadership. A Defense Department official told the Times that it was doubtful that Captain Perozeni could be considered for the honor if his misleading mission plan had been a significant error, or had led to the deadly attack. NOW WATCH: This van transforms into the ultimate adventure vehicle Story continues See Also: Photographer Violeta Brosig screamed with excitement after a humpback whale made a surprise entrance at a whale shark watching tour on Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia. Perth Now reported more Australians and international tourist might get the opportunity to share the same experience. Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan has suggested making whale swimming tours into a permanent attraction in the state, the report said. Tens of thousands of humpback whales migrate from Antartica to the waters off Australias Kimberley region to breed each year. Credit: Violeta Brosig via Storyful The deputy prime minister is unrepentant over his actions: Reuters A Sicilian prosecutor has launched in investigation into far right Italian interior minister Matteo Salvini for alleged abuse of office, kidnapping and illegal arrest, after the deputy prime minister forced a ship carrying 150 rescued refugees to stay in port for five days in what constitutes an apparent human rights abuse until relenting and allowing them to disembark on Sunday. The decision to let people off the vessel concluded a bitter stand off between Romes anti establishment government and its European Union partners, after Italy initially insisted other European nations agree to take the majority of the migrants, who are mainly from Eritrea. Albania said it would take in 20 of the migrants who had been rescued in the Mediterranean on August 15 and Ireland said it would receive up to 25; with the rest to be hosted by the Italian church, to put an end to this dramatic situation and sufferance, a spokesman for the Episcopal Conference of Italy said. Mr Salvini who has led a populist crackdown against immigration since the coalition government took office in June was unrepentant on Saturday night, saying: If he wants to interrogate me or even arrest me because I defend the borders and security of my country, Im proud. Being investigated for defending the rights of Italians is a disgrace, he said, tweeting a Sicilian prosecutor had asked him for personal data. It had appeared Italy was in violation of the European convention on human rights during the impasse, with the international rules stipulating any asylum seeker detained for more than 48 hours should be released and given the opportunity to apply for refugee status. An official in a protective suit gesturing to detainees of the Diciotti vessel on Thursday (AFP/Getty) This prompted state prosecutors to question high ranking interior ministry officials as part of a criminal investigation, since the refugees were being held against their will, while magistrates travelled to Rome on Friday to question Mr Salvini. At that time, the investigation was said to be against unknown persons, but Mr Salvini said he was responsible for his ministrys actions and challenged the prosecutor to arrest him. That is a separate investigation to the one now being pursued by Sicilian prosecutors. Story continues Some 43 of the 190 migrants rescued were earlier allowed to leave the ship since they were unaccompanied minors and those in need of urgent medical care, reportedly including three people with tuberculosis symptoms and two with possible pneumonia. The Diciotti crisis in reference to the name of the rescue vessel began on August 15, when 190 people mainly fleeing unspeakably harsh conditions in Eritrea where military service is compulsory and poverty is rife were rescued from an overcrowded boat off the Italian island of Lampedusa. Around 200 protesters gathered at the port on Saturday, some of whom waved left wing flags, calling for the refugees to be allowed off, with skirmishes with police reported to have followed. The remaining 137 migrants disembarked in the early hours of Sunday and were set to be taken to a reception centre in the Sicilian city of Messina, from where they will go to the church dioceses, as well as Ireland and Albania. The only help from within the EU came late on Saturday from Ireland, whose offer to take in 20-25 migrants followed a pledge from non EU Albania to accommodate 20. Italys Foreign Ministry called Albanias offer a signal of great solidarity and friendship that Italy greatly appreciates. The United Nations had called for reason from all sides on Saturday, after a meeting of envoys from 10 EU states in Brussels a day earlier failed to break the deadlock. Frightened people who may be in need of international protection should not be caught in the maelstrom of politics, the UN refugee agency UNHCR said in a statement. The agency appealed to EU member states to urgently offer relocation places to the rescued people in line with an agreement reached at an EU summit in June and in the meantime, urged Italy to allow the immediate disembarkation of those on board. Rome had refused to back down, despite criticism from rights groups and the opposition, with Mr Salvini saying he considered the attacks he received a badge of honour. More than 650,000 people have reached Italian shores since 2014, and even though the numbers have fallen steeply in the last year, Rome says it will not let any more rescue ships dock unless the migrants are shared out around the EU, and threatened to suspend the countrys financial contribution to the EU if its demands were not met. The next ship can turn around and go back where it came from, because our limit has been reached, Mr Salvini said. The EU described the threats as unhelpful. Pope Francis has reportedly compared corruption and cover-ups within the Catholic Church to human excrement during a meeting with abuse survivors in Dublin. The pontiff held a 90-minute private audience with eight people who suffered at the hands of priests, with representatives from the Survivors of Mother and Baby Homes group claiming that he condemned their crimes as "caca". In a statement, the group said a translator told survivors that the word - used in Spanish and Italian - meant "literally filth as one sees in a toilet". No confirmation of the precise phrasing was forthcoming from the Vatican, but an official said he would not be surprised if the word had been used. :: Words are not enough on abuse, even if they are swear words The meeting came after Francis made a speech at Dublin Castle in which he expressed his regret over historical abuse by Catholic priests in the country. He said: "I cannot fail to acknowledge the grave scandal caused in Ireland by the abuse of young people by members of the church charged with responsibility for their protection and education - they are still in my heart. "The failure of ecclesiastical authorities - bishops, religious superiors, priests and others - adequately to address these repellent crimes has rightly given rise to outrage, and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community. "I myself share those sentiments." The Catholic Church has been vilified in Ireland after 9,000 reported cases of child abuse by priests - and for a past in which 30,000 single mothers were locked away in Catholic-run institutions. Francis touched down in Ireland on Saturday morning for a highly-charged two-day trip - the first papal visit to the country since 1979. During the afternoon, he travelled through the streets of Dublin in the "popemobile", but despite plenty of fanfare the crowds appeared to pale in comparison to those which greeted John Paul II almost 40 years ago. Story continues It was much the same in the evening at the Feast of Families event at Croke Park stadium, with plenty of empty seats dotted around the terraces, despite the presence of some 80,000 people. The tone of the trip is decidedly less celebratory than that of the 1979 visit, with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar unafraid to refer to "dark aspects of the Catholic Church's history" during his welcome speech at Dublin Castle. He described clerical child abuse and other such crimes as "stains on our state, our society and also the church". "These wounds are still open and there is much to be done to bring about justice and truth and healing for victims and survivors," he continued. "Holy Father, we ask that you use your office and influence to ensure this is done here in Ireland and also around the world. Above all, Holy Father, I ask to you to listen to the victims and survivors." And despite the best efforts of Francis, who vowed to end the "repugnant" sexual exploitation of children, for some survivors his words were not good enough. :: Pope's 'secret' to a happy marriage :: Pope Francis in Ireland: The ultimate guide Colm O'Gorman, who organised a rally for victims, said remarks about the shame felt by Catholics were an "insult to faithful Catholics". He said those people "have no reason to feel shame because of the crimes of the Vatican and the institutional church". As well as the backdrop of the abuse scandal, the visit of Francis has also highlighted just how much Ireland has changed since the last papal visit, when more than 75% of the population flocked to see the pontiff. Irish voters chose to relax the country's strict abortion laws in May - a decision that the Pope appeared to push back against in a section of his speech about a "materialistic throwaway culture". He questioned whether society is "increasingly indifferent to the poor and to most defenceless members of our human family, including the unborn, deprived of the very right to life." But Mr Varadkar, Ireland's first openly gay prime minister, used his speech to pay tribute to how "increasingly diverse" the country had become. He told the Pope it was a "different country than it was 39 years ago". "We have voted in our parliament and by referendum to modernise our laws," he said. "Understanding that marriages do not always work, that women should make their own decisions, and that families come in many different, wonderful forms - including those headed by a grandparent, lone parent or same-sex partners or parents who are divorced and remarried." Other features of the Pope's itinerary on his first day in Ireland included a visit to a homeless centre - and he has another busy day in store on Sunday. The pontiff will board a plane to visit Knock Shrine - a Catholic pilgrimage site in County Mayo - before heading back to the capital for a 3pm mass at Phoenix Park. More than a million people turned out for mass at the same venue in 1979, but it is expected to be around 500,000 people this time. Francis will be back at Dublin Airport for a farewell ceremony at 6.30pm and is due to land in Rome at 11pm local time. :: Follow day two of his visit live on Sky News on TV, online and on mobile. Thomas Cook's chief executive has vowed to "get to the bottom" of what caused the deaths of a British couple at a hotel in Egypt. John and Susan Cooper, from Burnley, Lancashire, died on Tuesday morning while on holiday at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada with their daughter and her three children. An inspection of the couple's hotel room revealed there were no toxic or harmful gas emissions or leaks, prosecutor Nabil Sadeq said. The deaths of the couple, aged 69 and 63, prompted tour operator Thomas Cook to evacuate 301 of its customers from the hotel as a "precautionary measure". The travel firm's chief executive, Peter Fankhauser, has told Sky News that the company had brought in experts to test water, food and air conditioning and the results of the tests should be known within ten days. "We have no real evidence what caused the deaths, but what I can promise is at Thomas Cook we are doing everything to support the family and to support the Egyptian authorities... to get to the bottom of it and to get to the cause," he said. "There is no evidence that it is a carbon monoxide poisoning. We have no evidence but I don't want to rule out anything before I really know the cause." Mr Fankhauser continued: "Twenty-four hours after the couple died we had we had our specialists... in the hotel. They took probes of the food, of the hygienic systems, of water, as well the air conditioning systems, and all those probes are now in Egypt. "They are now examining and testing the probes and we support them in doing that, but that takes about 10 days." Egyptian authorities dismissed criminal motives as being behind the deaths. Medical examinations showed that the couple both fell ill after suffering "respiratory failure" while staying at the popular hotel, Egyptian officials say. The local governor's office said the cause of Mr Cooper's death was "a sudden stoppage of the heart muscles and respiratory failure", with his wife dying due to "a stoppage of circulation and respiratory failure". Story continues The findings were made public shortly after daughter Kelly Ormerod revealed they had been "in perfect health" just hours before they died. She told Sky News she was convinced that "something suspicious" had happened to them, having enjoyed a family meal and then seen them off to bed at around 1.30am. Ms Ormerod, who found them unwell at around 11am, said: "I watched them die before my very eyes and they had exactly the same symptoms. "I believe something suspicious has gone on. I don't believe anyone has entered the room, but something has happened in that room that caused them to be taken away from us." Ms Ormerod, who is now back in the UK with her three children, told Sky News she has hired a local lawyer to find out what happened to her parents. At least 20 people have brought legal claims against the hotel over hygiene standards. Nick Harris, a lawyer who is representing the group, said his clients had reported becoming unwell after recent stays at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel. Mr Harris told Sky News complaints had been made over "the food, the temperatures of the food, things like that". He added: "It seems to be the same complaints coming back time and time again." CNN confirmed the passing of Arizona Senator John McCain on August 25, 2018. Sen. McCain is a Vietnam veteran who survived five years as a prisoner of war. He ended up serving 30 years in Congress and later became the Republican nominee for president in 2008. McCain was originally diagnosed with brain cancer last summer. McCain originally went to a hospital to remove a blood clot above his left eye, when doctors discovered the cancerous tumor. He immediately returned to Congress after surgery to take part in the Senate's health care debate. Senator McCain spent the past few months away from Congress and out of the public eye, in Arizona reflecting on his life and spending time with close friends and former political rivals. McCain published a memoir in May saying he hated to leave the world but had no complaints. McCain said he's lived well and deprived of all comforts. He's experienced the darkest of times and the highest exultation. John McCain absent from Congress but still fought bad policies Senator McCain had been absent from Washington since last December, leaving a void in the Senate he walked for decades. Despite being away from DC, he still managed to blast Pres. Donald Trump on Twitter, posting statements that showed he was still strong enough to put up a political fight. McCain was against Trump's "America First," policy saying it was a clear shift from the values of and traditions of the leadership that he saw epitomized in the country. I love you forever - my beloved father @SenJohnMcCain pic.twitter.com/Y50tVQvlVe Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) August 26, 2018 Fox News has reported that Senator McCain had been planning his funeral for the last year, and he has invited many of his political allies and rivals. However, he and his family made it clear that President Trump is not invited. Discuss this news on Eunomia The McCain family have requested former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush give euologies. McCain fell short of ultimate political prize Senator McCain ended up losing two presidential campaigns but fell short of becoming President of the United States. His legacy once seemed to be the perfect fit for president. McCain got involved in politics after coming home from Vietnam. John was a major anomaly in the Republican party, becoming one of a select few willing to criticize President Trump. John McCain first served as a Navy Senate liaison, ending up taking over the seat held by Barry Goldwater. He did not always see eye-to-eye with his fellow Republicans. He blasted former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for not having enough troops in Iraq. McCain leaves behind his wife Cindy, seven children and five grandchildren. In February 2017, Artnet News reported that the Italian government licensed the export of a full-length portrait of Napoleon's brother-in-law Prince Camillo Borghese to London gallery Robilnt+Voena for sale to the Frick museum in New York. For two centuries the work, painted by early 19th century French artist Francois Gerard, was in the collection of Borghese descendants. Now, more than a year after issuing the license, the export office is revoking it. Communication failure Maria Clarelli of the culture ministry in Rome told the Art Newspaper that her government wants the picture back because the Prince is an emblematic figure of the Italian aristocracy, and therefore a part of her country's cultural heritage. By that logic, the city of Florence should claim the Mona Lisa held by the Louvre as its cultural heritage. But Clarelli had another reason for wanting the picture back. She told the Art Newspaper that the gallery's application for the license didn't mention the image was of a Borghese prince, only that it was a male portrait. Arguing against her point, Christopher Martinello, who heads the Art Recovery International - a firm that specializes in mediating restitution claims - said in the same news story that the prince's identity is clearly marked on the back of the picture. All you have to do is turn it around and you have the name of the sitter. We believe that the dealer is acting completely in good faith and we hope to persuade the authorities to withdraw their claim. Art of the deal Good faith may be an embellishment. Given that the gallery knew the artwork portrayed Italian royalty, calling it male portrait comes across as sly. On the other hand, since Clarelli deems the Borghese prince a source of national pride, one may wonder why she didn't recognize his coat of arms? And while all these argument center on the celebrity of the subject, it's notable that only the Frick museum commented on the quality of the painting itself. Discuss this news on Eunomia Chief curator Xavier Salomon told Art+Auction that it wasn't hard to decide to buy the painting even though it was very expensive. He didn't disclose the price, but instead said, I recognized immediately the quality of this portrait and how great it was, and so, I decided to move very decisively, without leaving the dealer much time to offer it to other people. Business as usual The art world gets into headlines regularly for holding work in contention. Probably the most famous case is that of the British Museum refused to return its cache of marbles lifted from the Parthenon in 1801 when the 7th Earl of Elgin, Thomas Bruce, made off with 253 of the temple sculptures to sell to the museum. Despite pleas from the Greek government, the Brits still won't give them back. But wait, here's a story that promises a happier ending. While the Washington Free Beacon reported in 2016 that American museums were holding fast to art of Jewish collectors stolen by the Nazis and courts were slow to act, Ronald Lauder, leader of the World Jewish Restitution Organization, got a unanimous vote from Congress for legislation called the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act, which entitles Holocaust survivors to expedited court hearings for their claims.. Erin Krakow has evolved her character as Elizabeth Thornton on When Calls the Heart through an incredible arc through the past five seasons. Season 6 is set to premiere in early 2019. Portraying the determined and resilient Elizabeth Thatcher when she arrived in the rugged mining community of Coal Valley in the Northwest Territory, Erin Krakow embarked on her role with the same kind of spirit and openness as her character. She learned from every hardship and exchanging her upbringing of privilege and finery for friendships and faith that stood through great trials. Season 5 brought the full range of emotion, both in terms of Erin Krakows acting skill and for the loyal following of When Calls the Heart, as she celebrated the joys of at last becoming Elizabeth Thornton, the bride of Mountie Jack, to becoming his widow by the final two episodes. The legacy of her late husband and the love they shared will carry forth in the birth of their child, or children, in the coming season, and that certainly will solidify the residents of the aptly renamed Hope Valley more firmly at the side of their beloved teacher. Co-stars Lori Loughlin and Jack Wagner, who predicted romance is coming, have already given hopeful and optimistic outlooks for Elizabeth in finding new love in her future. That pace will come in a natural progression, with nothing pushed for Erin Krakow as her character discovers the depths and challenges of motherhood. Another part of Elizabeths life that is sure to stay is her dedication to the children of Hope Valley in providing the best possible education. But did Ben Seewald drop out of college because of the Duggar family? Discuss this news on Eunomia Even the best teachers understand that some of the best lessons in life come outside the classroom or the text of a book. Erin Krakow took some time to share a video of some tutoring that her younger castmates gave her in clapping games that are timeless in any era, and gave them all the credit on Twitter on August 24, along with a portrait of new cast member, Chris McNally, looking very comfortable with his horse. Hand-claps and horses Erin Krakow was born in Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, as its motto proclaims. The star has often shared glimpses of the close connection with cast between the long workdays on set in Vancouver, where the scenery can be stunningly beautiful, but where weather conditions can turn suddenly unkind. In a touching snippet of video, Erin Krakow is kneeling in full costume with Ava Cooper and Amelie Eve, among her cast of students on When Calls the Heart. Fingers and hands are flying as the girls instruct their teacher on all the right moves and rhythms, and her caption carries a greeting that her followers have a Friday full of double-double this-that! No wonder everyone seems to stay in such good spirits on When Calls the Heart with playful interludes like this one. Erin made it clear, reminding that THEY taught me! In a follow-up post. Krakow also captured a picture of Chris McNally, who just joined the cast, looking absolutely comfortable beside a horse, beaming with a broad smile. His new character of Lucas Bouchard is described as a saloon owner and gambler with something of a secret past. Portraying someone from this rustic period marks a distinct departure for the actor who formerly portrayed Sergei Brevlov in Altered Carbon and Sy in Supernatural, both series with a futuristic, sci-fi bend. It seems that McNally doesnt mind learning a new tack, as in reins, bit, and saddle with his equine on-screen partner, and only time will tell how the interactions will unfold with human townsfolk. Erin Krakow took some playful teasing from some followers for showing her new male castmates having too much fun. Some days ago, she showed Kevin McGarry, who portrays Mountie Nathan Grant in Season 6 of When Calls the Heart, taking a rest. Even in the TV world, women are clearly advanced in multitasking. Beating the Christmas rush The Hallmark Channel always gets the holiday season in full swing with its roster of Christmas movies, which is now only nine weeks away, beginning on October 26. Erin Krakow and another When Calls the Heart co-star, Niall Matter, look to bring their romantic saga at last to the altar in Marrying Father Christmas. There are bound to be complications, but many "Heartie" fans have become invested in the storylines of Miranda and Ian based on the Robin Gunn Jones book series, so seeing Erin Krakow donning another wedding gown will be a Christmas gift for fans, along with the When Calls the Heart Christmas movie already wrapped. Both Chris McNally and Kevin McGarry already have Hallmark movies in their resumes. McNally stars in The Sweetest Heart and Rocky Mountain Christmas, and McGarry stars in Love at First Bark and A Song for Christmas Lori Loughlin has also starred in a sleigh full of Hallmark Christmas offerings, so all this viewing cheer can tide fans over until When Calls the Heart returns. A scientist at the University of New Mexico, along with her colleagues, has uncovered evidence that supports the belief that decreasing oxygen levels in the ocean contributed to the Earths first mass extinction. The event is called anoxia and continues to occur in todays oceans. Scientists have discovered pockets of ocean, called dead zones, that contain little to no oxygen. The phenomena near coastlines can be linked to human activities but the dead zones in the open ocean are mostly natural occurrences. Maya Elrick, UNM professor of earth and planetary sciences, said studying what happened during the extinction 450 million years ago could help scientists understand, and in turn, address what is happening today. What are the extremes? she said. Were conditions (in the oceans) as bad as today, worse or better? Elrick, along with her former masters student Rick Bartlett, who is now getting a Ph.D. at Louisiana State University; James Wheeley from the University of Birmingham in England; and Andre Desrochers from the University of Ottawa in Canada, are hoping to answer these questions by studying deposits left in marine limestone. Their research is in part funded by a three-year, $680,000 National Science Foundation grant. We study the concentration of uranium, she said. We look at the ratio of uranium isotopes. We look at not just how much uranium there is, but the types of uranium. It develops differently depending on the oxygen in the ocean. Elrick said the Earth has had five mass extinctions, which means at least 75 percent of species became extinct. During the first mass extinction, called the Ordovician-Silurian, there were only marine organisms and none on land yet, Elrick said. More than 80 percent of species became extinct during this time. Elrick and her fellow researchers have traveled to several places, including Nevada, Germany, Austria, Italy and Anticosti Island in the St. Lawrence seaway of Quebec, Canada, to collect limestone rock samples, which are then brought back to UNM and analyzed. What she and her team have discovered is that oxygen levels in the oceans were low during the extinctions and for some time afterward but not before the event. The catalyst for the anoxia, she said, was a major ice age, which changed the oceans. We think the oceans started circulating more vigorously, she said. It brings things to the surface. That fertilized the phytoplankton. When the phytoplankton, which is a plant, dies, it needs oxygen to decompose. Essentially the decomposing plant sucks up all the oxygen, making it impossible for anything else to live there. The team will continue testing samples from different locations to determine whether the anoxia was global. We dont know what ancient oxygen levels were like, she said. We dont know what the whole ocean was like. In current day, coastal dead zones are linked to pollution, some from farming, that runs into the ocean and fertilizes the phytoplankton, helping it thrive. In the open ocean, its believed global warming is partly to blame for the growing dead zones because warm water carries less oxygen. Although part of the overall picture, anoxic events arent the only culprit of the mass extinctions. Scientists have also blamed massive volcanic eruptions, meteors, asteroid collisions, acidic oceans and falling sea levels. Its an area that scientists continue to study and understand. Elrick and her team hope to add to that understanding. Heres a group of people not to hail if they come to your front door: scammers who are trying to make a buck off of storm damage that has hit New Mexico over the past month. Theyre called storm chasers, and they have been fanning out across the state seeking to get people to pay for bogus hail damage repair, according to the Attorney Generals Office. They show up on street corners or at peoples doors, offering to fix hail damage done to home roofs or cars. Using a scammer rather than a real repair person or shop can cause more damage than the hail did, AG Hector Balderas warned in a news release. One thing to definitely not do: Dont let a door-to-door sales person making a cold call climb onto your roof to inspect damage. The bogus repairers have been known to file claims for injuries from falls that didnt actually occur, the AG says. Also, dont sign anything: all too often the document signed allows the scammer to bill the consumers insurance and/or allows the scammer to charge high dollars for repairs even if the work is shoddy or only partially done, the news release says. The safest thing to do is to check with a homeowner insurance agent to get recommendations for reputable repair people. However, if you do consider hiring an unknown person, check with the states Construction Industries Division to make sure the person or business is licensed and has no pending complaints. You can do this online at public.psiexams.com/search.jsp. While state law doesnt cover minimum requirements for dent repair on automobiles, you should still ask to see a business license before agreeing to sign a contract, the AG says. Mobile car repair units, which often advertise by posting signs on street corners, may offer low-cost services, but many move around frequently and could be gone before they complete a job. They also often dont offer legitimate warranties. When selecting businesses to do repair work, consumers should look to local, legitimate businesses who have a good reputation, the AGs Office says. Know that many of these legitimate businesses may have some backlog, and it may take a little while to get an appointment to get your car fixed. But the patience will pay off with an enforceable warranty and quality service. A new nationwide tech support scam has reared its ugly head in New Mexico, the Better Business Bureau is warning. One person, who had lost $500 to a fake computer repair scam last year, was victimized again by the latest scheme. This one involves someone who called to say the Better Business Bureau was requiring a particular tech company to issue refunds to customers because it was going out of business. The caller said the person was owed a refund of $400 from the company. The scammer talked the woman into providing her bank account information for easy deposit. The woman did so. The scammers charged $1,100 to her account. It gets worse. The scammer called back to say the only way to process the refund was for the victim to purchase two prepaid cards so the costs could be covered. The woman did so, doling out more than $1,500 to comply with the scammers second request. The Better Business Bureau says it wants people to know that it would never ask a company that is going out of business to issue a refund to its customers for any services that were completed. The BBB adds, If a company is asking for any monetary exchange in the form of prepaid gift cards then it is likely a scam. Ellen Marks is assistant business editor at the Albuquerque Journal. Contact her at emarks@abqjournal.com or 505-823-3842 if you are aware of what sounds like a scam. To report a scam to law enforcement, contact the New Mexico Consumer Protection Division toll-free at 1-844-255-9210. The recent death of Judge Elizabeth Whitefield drives home the urgency of an issue that impacts all of New Mexicans: the ability to decide how we wish to spend our remaining final days in the face of a terminal illness. In addition to her stellar 30-year career as a District Court judge and family law attorney, Judge Whitefield was a fierce advocate for passing the End of Life Options Act in New Mexico, also known as medical aid in dying. Medical aid in dying is a medical practice that gives mentally capable, terminally ill individuals with a prognosis of six months or less to live the option to request, obtain and self-ingest medication to die peacefully in their sleep if their suffering becomes unbearable. It is a well-established, palliative end-of-life care option with clinical criteria and guidelines that meet the highest standard of care. I was fortunate enough to witness Judge Whitefields advocacy firsthand at the Albuquerque City Council meeting this past May, where a bipartisan resolution in support of medical aid in dying was presented. She stood before the Council to testify in support of the legislation as she was very ill and dying of terminal, metastatic breast cancer. She had already survived having breast cancer two other times, throat cancer, lung cancer and two bouts with leukemia. She spoke with the aid of a tracheal tube and needed feeding tubes to provide her sustenance. She knew she was in her final days and desperately wanted the option of medical aid in dying, but understood that the bill would not pass the Legislature here in time to benefit her. Her words continue to resonate with me: I know my death is going to be painful. This resolution allows me to have the dignity that cancer has taken away in other areas of my life. We heard from many of our constituents that evening as well who testified on behalf of loved ones who died agonizing deaths and those who want the option for themselves. I was a proud co-sponsor of this resolution, along with Councilor Isaac Benton. It passed unanimously that evening, 9-0. The vote on May 8 made Albuquerque the first jurisdiction in New Mexico to endorse medical aid in dying, but we still have a long way to go before the law is authorized in our state. The bill had one successful hearing in the House and two in the Senate during the 2017 legislative session. Despite the monumental efforts of advocates and health professionals from across the state, the New Mexico End-of-Life Options Act narrowly failed to pass. Judge Whitefields death exemplifies the true cost of legislative inaction on this issue. She wanted to be freed of unnecessary worrying about suffering in pain during the final days of her life, and she deserved that option. Until there is an End-of-Life Options Act, many other New Mexico residents like Judge Whitefield at the end stages of an incurable, terminal illness will spend the final months and days of their lives worried about the unbearable suffering they will endure. In 2019, our legislators will have the opportunity in front of them to vote in support of this bill once again and bring hope to other terminally ill New Mexicans. I urge the lawmakers of New Mexico to put humanity before politics and in honor of Judge Whitefields memory, pass the End-of-Life Options Act before the next legislative session ends. My boys, ages 12 and 9, are my top priority. I have been actively and attentively helping them to learn the skills that will allow them to navigate their world since the day they were born. My goal is that they learn to be accountable for their educational choices, and to advocate for their individual needs. Moreover, it is extremely important that, regardless of our location, their educational experience provides for these needs. Thankfully, New Mexico has a school grading system that raises the bar for academic proficiency and growth. In 2011, The New Mexico Department of Education adopted an A through F grading system for schools. To determine a final grade, the state evaluates each school based on student growth and overall performance. In 2014, I returned to Shiprock to begin my career in the community where I was raised. My hope was my boys would be able to attend a school with peers they could identify with culturally and within the intimate social support system this community provides. It was equally important they have access to quality education that gauges success according to the same measures applied to students across the state and country. When they started school, Mesa Elementary had a grade of F; TseBitAi Middle School had a D; and Shiprock High School had a C. This was concerning, and although my sons were in the elementary school, they would eventually be entering the doors of the middle and high schools. I believe the school grading system ensures accountability within the schools, especially for students with individual academic needs as different as those of my boys. In the conventional system of education, one of my sons has thrived, while the other, equal in potential and curiosity, has struggled. My oldest fits the model of students who can successfully navigate the public education system, including standardized testing. From an early age, hes talked endlessly about college and his career path, and has been set on preparing himself academically. Throughout elementary third, fourth and fifth grades he earned a Level 5 on English Language Arts and Math PARCC tests. Last school year was his first year at TseBitAi Middle School, which at the time was on its third consecutive F. In June, he received his sixth-grade PARCC scores and was ecstatic; he earned 5s in ELA and Math. My youngest son is quite a different learner. The traditional classroom systems are a challenge for him on a daily basis. Therefore, I advocate for his need of a more flexible and attuned approach. For students like my son, it is imperative to have this flexibility and responsiveness provided to them. In previous years, I received negative feedback about his behavior and lack of engagement in the classroom. Last school year, as a third-grader, we worked collaboratively with his teacher and school to improve his learning environment so he had opportunities to be successful and grow in meaningful yet measurable ways. In June he received his first PARCC scores, a 4 in ELA, 5 in math. Im confident school grades hold teachers and school leaders accountable for meeting individual needs of diverse learners. When school grades were released, I was delighted to hear Mesa Elementarys improved to a B; TseBitAi Middle to a D; and Shiprock High up to a B. As a mother, I see the value of the school grading report card. It offers the accountability sorely needed in our public education system to help ALL students regardless of their facility with, or struggles within, conventional learning systems. All students across New Mexico deserve access to quality education and the opportunity to succeed in measurable ways at the standards, which will hopefully some day make them competitive and productive. not just locally but across the state, country and the world. Its that time again! I wonder what grade well get this year? This statement is from a 28-year veteran teacher. Why would an experienced teacher want to know what grade a school received if they are closer to retirement than anything else? How would such a teacher benefit? I am that veteran teacher. I anxiously await the release of my summative evaluation and the school grading report that are released by the N.M. Public Education Department in late summer. Someone like me might be more worried about making plans for retirement, but I look forward to how I and my school are performing. The public may not see the value and importance of a school grading report, but it would be especially important for parents whose children attend a New Mexico school. Our society demands transparency and accountability at all levels of government. Why wouldnt the public expect the same of our publicly funded schools? District officials and school employees have a responsibility to the public. We need to be transparent and accountable to all stakeholders. It is important to know how well our students are being served by the people responsible for their education. Knowing how our school is doing and how we can improve is of great importance to educators. Its easy to perceive that we are doing well, but a school grading report, as an outside point of view, helps a school community see what the areas of strength and weakness are. I see the report as another tool that provides additional information to assist schools in their efforts to continue to grow and strengthen areas that need attention. Many teachers tell students they must be lifelong learners, so I model this for my students. As an educator, I see the school grading report as an opportunity to reflect on my own practices and how they impact the school. How am I meeting the needs of our high- and low-performing students? I use the report to meet the individual needs of students to help them become proficient and demonstrate growth in their learning. The report should serve as a tool to help reflect on teaching practices and the relationship the school has with the community. School communities can learn from each other, especially struggling schools, which can learn from the schools that receive a higher grade. All have something to celebrate and areas they can improve upon, and the grades reflect this. In addition, the school grading report helps me to also improve the relationship I have with the overall community. The report also reflects how parents feel about a school being a good place to attend and learn. So again, this aspect of the grading report makes me reflect on my contributions to the overall school environment. During the school year I deliberately plan how to improve communication with parents and find ways to engage them outside the traditional conference. Accountability is not a bad thing. The school grading report should be viewed as a tool for enhancement and improvement. This report is a tool to improve my craft and make an impact in my school. I invite the community in and outside of any given school to see school grading report as means to improve the future and education of NM children. There is nothing more upsetting than receiving a phone call telling you that you have an active warrant and police are on their way to arrest you. Its an absolutely frightening scenario, and people often do whatever they can to try and fix it. Unfortunately that is exactly what scammers are counting on. Sadly, many New Mexicans have been tricked by these con artists, prompting Attorney General Hector Balderas to release a Scam Alert last year. Recently a 75-year old Lea County resident made her way to the Lovington Magistrate Court in reference to a bench warrant that she was told the judge had issued against her for missing jury duty. She had sent over $1,000 by way of Western Union to a con artist who portrayed himself as a Lovington police officer, and she was shocked when she discovered she had been scammed. But at the end of the day she is not alone. Since Ive taken the bench, Ive learned of dozens of people who fell for, or nearly fell for, this effective con. These scammers are relentless and audacious. Even I have received fraudulent calls advising me that there was a pending warrant for my arrest! But although stopping these scammers may prove difficult, there are several tell-tale ways of spotting a fraudulent call from a legitimate call from the courts: First, law enforcement officers ARE NOT COLLECTION AGENTS FOR THE COURT! We do not tell police officers to call people with active warrants and demand payment. If you get a call from a man or woman claiming to be a police officer and demanding payment or advising you that they are about to arrest you for having an active warrant, it is definitely fraudulent! Second, a court will never call demanding payment over the phone. We will call people with active warrants and advise them how to address these warrants, but we dont demand payment. If you feel pressured into making a payment over the phone, hang up and call the court. Third, you should regard any instructions discouraging you from calling the court yourself with the utmost suspicion. A court will NEVER discourage you from going to the court in person! In fact, that is the preferred way to handle warrants. Even if you get a call on the weekend telling you that there is a warrant, you can still ask to speak to the judge on Monday, and you will never be discouraged from doing so. Fourth, a court will NEVER ask you to pay a bond or a warrant via money transfer service like Western Union or by pre-paid credit cards or gift cards. At any time if you are instructed to go to Walmart or Western Union to wire money for your bond, then HANG UP THE PHONE IMMEDIATELY and call your local court or the New Mexico Warrant Hotline at 575-524-5860. You can also reach them by email at MagCollections@nmcourts.gov. Remember, you can always confirm with your local court if a bench warrant is legitimate or not. I dont care if they say you have a warrant from Socorro, Samoa or Siberia call us and we will get to the bottom of it and tell you if its legitimate or not. Most of these scammers are very persuasive and convincing. But if you get one of these calls just remember these four tips and always feel free to check with us before you do anything, no matter how demanding or persuasive the caller is. You always have the right to appear in person before a judge without fear of arrest to address a bench warrant, and you should never let someone pressure you into thinking otherwise. Never hesitate to hang up and call us to confirm. The revelations are absolutely stunning. Allegation upon allegation upon allegation of child rape, molestation and other inappropriate behavior made against the foster father since 2000, and yet he was allowed to continue fostering vulnerable children. And even after the state Children, Youth and Families Department began connecting the dots and sounding the alarm this year, the not-for-profit that had been placing high-risk children in his care still didnt get it. Indeed, the director of Familyworks the non-profit in question continued to ask if other children could be placed with the family. And when she was told no, she asked if boys could be placed there, since only girls were making allegations, according to court documents. The answer was an emphatic no. Still, the mere fact that the Familyworks director was asking those questions is troubling. Troubling because it suggests she was more interested in filling vacancies in that home than looking out for the best interests of the children her organization was supposed to be protecting. Its difficult to not jump to the conclusion that Familyworks cared more about keeping government dollars flowing than protecting kids, and that is inexcusable. CYFD was right to revoke this nonprofits license, and this foster familys authorization to house children. But it must also dig deep and examine its role in this mess. Because at the end of the day, this facility operated under CYFDs umbrella, and these vulnerable children were entrusted into CYFDs care. To be sure, children in treatment foster care have had difficult starts in life and can and do make false allegations. Although a criminal investigation is underway, no criminal charges have been filed against this foster father or anyone else in this case. And in our criminal justice system, people are innocent until proven guilty. That notwithstanding, when the well-being of a child is at stake, CYFD and everyone in the CYFD system and that includes contractors and subcontractors must go above and beyond to ensure theyre safe and not being placed in sketchy homes where they may be preyed upon. Its hard to believe that anyone was looking after the well-being of the kids placed in this home, considering the pattern of allegations spanning nearly two decades and involving at least seven girls ranging in age from 6 to 16. Those allegations include: In May 2000, a 16-year-old girl reported the foster father had raped her and grabbed her. The Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office investigated and turned the case over to the District Attorneys Office. A DA spokesman said the victim recanted her statement and the prosecutor closed the case due to a lack of evidence. In October 2012, when a 15-year-old girl was admitted to Desert Hills residential treatment center, she reported that the foster father had brought alcohol to her room and raped her. That was reported to CYFD; its unclear if police were told. In February 2013, a 12-year-old reported that the foster father had grabbed her by the arm and dragged her through the house. CYFD was notified; its unclear if police were told. In November 2015, a 10-year-old girl reported that the foster father had raped her. CYFD was notified, but a Familyworks employee noted we only reported because we had to, not because we were concerned. No safe house interview was done, and police werent notified. In August 2017, a 6-year-old girl reported to the foster mother, who in turn reported to Familyworks, that the foster father had touched her vagina. No report to CYFD or law enforcement could be found. In December 2017, the foster family reported that the same 6-year-old had said her vagina hurt. No report was made to CYFD or law enforcement. In April 2018, a 10-year-old girl reported that the foster father raped her. The disclosure was reported to CYFD and set off the audit and investigation. In June 2018, an 8-year-old girl who had been living in the home was given a safe house interview and reported that the foster father digitally penetrated her. Given this string of allegations, its incredible that no one spotted the pattern earlier or if they did, that they continued to send children to this home. Not everyone in this story comes off as a villain, though. A school counselor and a CYFD investigator who recently learned of the alleged abuse did their jobs. According to a search warrant affidavit, the investigations began in mid-April when a 10-year-old girl told her school counselor that her foster father had touched her inappropriately while they were in his Northwest Albuquerque home. The school counselor told a CYFD investigator, who began digging and stumbled upon the previous alarming allegations. I do believe if it werent for the way CYFD investigators did handle this most recent case, just looking at all the steps that were taken and their level of persistence, I do believe this (alleged abuse) could have gone on for another 20 years, CYFD Secretary Monique Jacobson said. And that also begs the question why no one at her agency connected the dots earlier. After all, four of the allegations of rape and molestation occurred during Jacobsons tenure as CYFD secretary. She says CYFD officials are working really hard to remind investigators that when they get an allegation, they need to look at all prior allegations so that they are looking at this holistically and making a determination about what is happening in that house. Unfortunately, well likely never know whether anyone at CYFD is held accountable, since the agency refuses to identify public employees who mishandle cases or to elaborate on specific discipline imposed. As for Familyworks and the foster family, they are now the targets of a criminal investigation. Familyworks was licensed by CYFD and also had a business agreement with Desert Hills residential treatment center to place children with families. The District Attorneys Office executed a search warrant on the non-profit to determine, among other things, whether proper notifications of child abuse or neglect were made by the entitys employees as required by state law. One can sympathize with Jacobson for the enormous job she has of keeping vulnerable children safe. But at the end of the day whether CYFD was aware of every one of the allegations against the stepfather or not the system that the agency operates allowed this family to continue to take in vulnerable kids, despite horrifying allegations. Jacobson and her investigators need to get to the bottom of how exactly something like this can happen and put a fix in place that minimizes the possibility of this type of thing happening again. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. Police say a shooting in southeast Albuquerque left a man in the hospital in critical condition Saturday morning. Albuquerque police spokesman Simon Drobik said the man would not cooperate with officers at the scene and the shooter has not been found. He said police responded to reports of gunfire on the 500 block of Louisiana SE, near Louisiana and Zuni, and found a man who had been shot at least once. Drobik said man was rushed to the hospital and officers searched for the shooter but came up empty-handed. Detectives will follow up with witnesses and the victim as this case continues, he said. Cutting staff positions. That was the biggest concern for charter school leaders when discussing how potential decreases in funds used to help with rent directly would affect their personnel not just their facilities. The worry stems from the possibility of schools being awarded up to 20 percent less money this year for lease payments. I would have to sit across the table from a P.E. teacher or a nurse and cut their salaries, said Ray Griffin, head administrator at Turquoise Trail Charter Elementary School in Santa Fe, at a recent Public Education Commission meeting. Robert Jessen, head learner at Monte del Sol Charter School in Santa Fe, said his students may not be able to get out of portables or the school may not hire more counselors if lease assistance were to go down. Charter school leaders were sent a memo dated April 6 this year from Jonathan Chamblin, the executive director of the Public School Facilities Authority, that said the maximum amount of money schools can get back for rent will be adjusted downward up to 20 percent from prior years. The consensus among charter leaders was that schools would have to dip into their operational funds to make up for any decrease in lease assistance. The proposed cuts would affect all charters regardless of whether they are overseen by a school district or the Public Education Commission. After hearing testimony from charter leaders, the Public Education Commission formally voted last month not to support a reduction in lease assistance. While the PEC does not control the lease awards, the unanimous vote with two PEC members absent and Tim Crone abstaining makes the official position of the PEC known. Thats important because PEC member Gilbert Peralta is also a member of the Public School Capital Outlay Council, which is the entity that ultimately will decide if the lease assistance were to go down. The council is expected to decide in September what happens next. Lease assistance reductions have been under discussion by the council in previous years for varying reasons. Chairman David Abbey said the council reduced lease assistance in 2016 due to some schools not complying with state statute. Abbey said the council later allowed for schools to reach compliance and get their awards adjusted. But again in 2017 the council considered reducing lease assistance due to decreased revenue for the public school capital outlay fund, according to Abbey. Ultimately, schools pushed back on those proposed cuts, saying they werent given enough notice and the council voted not to change lease assistance for the 2017-18 school year. And while Abbey told the Journal there is increased revenue this year and the council is not considering lowering the amount of lease assistance for the purpose of reducing spending, charters may still see a reduction in their lease assistance anyway. Square-footage assessments The PSFA conducted an extensive square-footage assessment for the first time that showed some schools were over-reporting space that is eligible for lease assistance. And the PSFA says that could result in schools losing some funding. Chamblin told the Journal that the PSFA has been verifying square-footage data, noting state statute only allows rent help for classrooms not other space such as bathrooms or hallways. It came to our attention that some of the square footage self-reported by the schools wasnt accurate, he said, adding he didnt think it was malicious. Rather, he thought people might not have known what was eligible. Abbey said the PSFA has estimated schools could lose up to 20 percent as a result of the square-footage corrections, which is about what the council has proposed in previous lease decrease discussions. The 20 percent that were looking at today is an estimate of staff of how much they think less square footage will reduce awards, he said. It is totally coincidental those numbers are the same. While the assessment could result in lower lease awards to schools, Abbey insists the assessments happened independently from previous conversations by the Outlay Council to possibly decrease lease assistance. Matt Pahl, executive director of the New Mexico Coalition for Charter Schools, said that hasnt been clear to charters. Schools received Chamblins letter saying that up to 20 percent could be cut and then the assessments were completed, with little communication in between. Schools have started and its still unclear how much is being cut and how, he said. They dont know right now how a cut is going to take place; they just know up to 20 percent is possible. Preliminary PSFA square-footage assessments show 82 percent of schools had been overclaiming square footage. I do think it is important that the state fund the right amount of square footage, Abbey said. But some charters pointed out the assessments initially werent accurate. Jeremy Jones, director of the Taos Charter School, said his and other Taos schools had to correct the square footage the assessor determined, saying the PSFA inspector didnt consult the administration on what spaces were used for. Jones said he had to plead with the PSFA to come back and remeasure to clarify what rooms were classroom space, which Jones was able to correct. The PSFA said it didnt talk to every assessed school but said it has since clarified classroom space with any school that reached out to it. 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. (Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.) Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal Roman Catholic bishops in Pennsylvania used a treatment center in Jemez Springs for decades as a laundry to recycle priests who abused more than 1,000 children so they could return to their parishes in their diocese back home, according to a Pennsylvania grand jury report released this month. Only one of the more than 300 priests mentioned in the grand jury report stayed in New Mexico, briefly, after being sent for treatment at the Servants of the Paraclete foundation in Jemez Springs that operated from 1947 until it closed in the 1990s. The grand jury found that sending priests to the foundation was part of the systematic cover-up to protect priests accused of sexually assaulting children that extended back to the 1950s. At least 12 priests from the six dioceses in Pennsylvania were sent to the New Mexico facility over the years. Parishioners in Pennsylvania were told that priests sent to the Paraclete and two other church facilities in other states were on sick leave or suffering from nervous exhaustion. In some cases they were told nothing at all. Put plainly, these institutions laundered accused priests, provided plausible deniability to the bishops, and permitted hundreds of known offenders to return to active ministry, the grand jury report says. Pennsylvanias Catholic bishops were not alone. For decades, priests accused of child sexual abuse were sent to the Servants of the Paraclete by bishops from around the country. Some priests remained in New Mexico, but many others returned to their home dioceses and were transferred to different churches. New Mexico has wrestled with the fallout of its own Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal since the early 1990s. Archbishop John C. Wester said in a statement issued Wednesday in reaction to the grand jury report, Once again, we find ourselves reeling from the shocking and horrific revelations of sexual abuse of children and young people by the clergy. Wester, who oversees the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, said, A very deep and profound wound has been reopened, but he recounted steps church officials have made to prevent systematic child sexual abuse and cover-ups from reoccurring here. In the early 1990s, several dozen civil lawsuits were filed in New Mexico claiming sexual assaults by priests in the Santa Fe Archdiocese and who had been treated at the Servants of the Paraclete. Most of those cases were settled out of court and the terms of the settlements were confidential. Several priests were prosecuted, but most of the national attention focused on Archbishop Robert Sanchez of Santa Fe, who admitted having improper relationships with young women in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He resigned his office 1993. Between 2010 and 2015 more than 60 additional lawsuits were filed in New Mexico and records of past cover-ups were unsealed. In 2017, the Santa Fe Archdiocese published a list of 74 clergy members who have been credibly accused of sexually abusing children in New Mexico. At that time, 38 of the priests had died. The release of the list in New Mexico has led to another round of lawsuits against the archdiocese as more victims came forward. The Pennsylvania grand jury also profiled many priests who had died. We decided it was crucial to include them anyway, because we suspect many of their victims are alive, the report said. Self-reports by priests There have been two other grand jury investigations of child sexual abuse by Catholic priests in Pennsylvania but the latest is by the far the most extensive, naming bishops and archbishops involved in helping to cover up allegations of sexual abuse. The report was issued as the Catholic Church was rocked by allegations involving bishops in Chile and the resignation of Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, who stepped down from the College of Cardinals after it was revealed he was alleged to have sexually abused minors and young seminarians in New Jersey. The other two facilities used by Pennsylvania bishops to launder priests were St. John Vianney Center in Downingtown, Pa., and St. Lukes in Suitland, Md. The bishops sent the priests for evaluation at church-run psychiatric treatment centers, and once there they were evaluated based on their self-reports regardless of evidence the priest had actually engaged in sexual contact with a child, the grand jury found. When a priest denied allegations he usually avoided any diagnosis related to the sexual abuse of children, such as being labelled a pedophile. These institutions focused on a clinical diagnosis instead of the actual behavior as reported by the victims. Serious red flag Father Edward R. Graff left the Diocese of Allentown, Pa., in 1992 and was sent to the Servants of the Paraclete for treatment of undefined but serious conduct after 35 years in the diocese. There had been a series of letters between then-Bishop Thomas Jerome Welsh of Allentown and then-Santa Fe Archbishop Sanchez about Graff and the seriousness of his case, but no details were contained in the letters. The grand jury found that vague language was typical of Welshs correspondence when it came to Graff, always expressing concern about legal liability if something untoward happened involving the priest. Welsh authorized Graff to retire from active ministry in Pennsylvania but allowed him to minister to the needy in the Santa Fe Archdiocese under supervision by the Servants of the Paraclete. Graffs pension, living allowance, and insurance for health, life and automobile would be carried by the Allentown diocese even though he was in New Mexico, according to the correspondence. Although it is known Graff went to Servants of the Paraclete, he does not appear on any records as having been attached to any New Mexico church or conducting any ministry here. He is not on the Santa Fe Archdiocese list of priests against whom there are credible accusations of sexual abuse, but in 1993 he showed up working as a priest in a small town near Amarillo. The bishop in Amarillo, according to the grand jury report and attached correspondence, wasnt in on the deal. He thought Graff was a recovering alcoholic and assigned him to work at a parish where he was much loved by the people. Graff later worked at missions in the diocese in poor Hispanic communities because he spoke Spanish. Allentown Bishop Welsh later wrote to his Texas counterpart that he needed to keep watch on Graff because of the known risks and potential legal liability Graff presented. The correspondence between Sanchez and the Pennsylvania bishop in 1992 came at a time when dozens of lawsuits were filed against the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and the Servants of the Paraclete. Criminal charges had been brought against priests and the local news media covered the lawsuits and resulting scandals extensively. Whether that had anything to do with Graff leaving the state after he was at the Paraclete is not known. Years passed. Sanchez had resigned and both the Pennsylvania and Texas bishops had retired, replaced by men who according to the grand jury report knew little or nothing of the seriousness of Graffs case. In October 2002, Graff was arrested in Briscoe County, Texas, for sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy. He died due to injuries suffered in an accident while in jail awaiting trial. After reports of the charges against Graff, at least four men came forward alleging they had been sexually abused by Graff in the 1970s and 1980s when he was a priest in the Allentown diocese. Paraclete vs. prison Father Robert Caparelli never made it to the Servants of the Paraclete in 1993 despite the efforts of Bishop James C. Timlin of Scranton, Pa. The grand jury report found that Caparelli was among a number of priests who highlight the wholesale institutional failure that endangered the welfare of children throughout Pennsylvania. Caparelli was ordained a priest in Scranton in 1964, and within four years a police officer in Hazelton, Pa., reported to the bishop at the time a position Timlin would hold later that Caparelli had molested two altar boys. The officer wrote that the boys mother did not want to press charges because if her husband found out, Caparelli could get killed. The grand jury found that records showed Caparellis superior believed the priest was under the control of an incubus, a Latin term for a male demon obsessed with sexual matters. According to the report, then-Monsignor Timlin was aware of concerns about Caparelli. In 1991, Caparelli was charged with 32 counts involving sexual abuse of minors. After the initial indictment, more victims came forward and additional charges were filed. Caparelli pleaded guilty and was awaiting sentencing in 1993 when now-Bishop Timlin wrote the judge in Caparellis case a letter suggesting that instead of sending Caparelli to prison he be sent for treatment to a facility in New Mexico that specialized in these cases. At the time the letter was written the Servants of the Paraclete were facing a growing number of civil lawsuits filed by New Mexico victims of sexual abuse by priests who had been treated there. Timlin wrote the judge that it would be a financial savings to the state government. At the time of the letter, the diocese was fighting lawsuits filed by Caparellis victims. The judge wasnt swayed by the bishops letter. He sentenced Caparelli to prison, where it was discovered he had been HIV-positive for years. He died in 1994 in prison. In response to the Pennsylvania grand jury report on the sexual abuse by more than 300 priests, Archbishop John C. Wester, head of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, issued a statement apologizing to the victims and their families. He described the crimes attributed to priests and former Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick as unspeakable. As I express my sorrow and reiterate my apology to all, Wester said in the statement, I once again remind everyone that when it comes to sexual abuse, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe has a zero tolerance policy. He said that since the early 1990s the diocese has put into place systems and programs to ensure a safe environment for children and young adults. Among those policies: Any clergy who are accused with any shade of credibility are, and will continue to be, immediately removed from ministry. All clergy and those religious volunteers and laity who in any way work with children must pass criminal and sex offender background checks on the local and national level. The Archdiocesan Independent Review Board, comprised of lay people who come from professional backgrounds with training and expertise in the area of sexual abuse and criminal behavior, conducts investigations of reported sexual abuse and monitors all of our procedures and policies to ensure that we are doing what we say we are doing. Victims are immediately offered professional counseling. In addition, Wester said the diocese follows the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People promulgated by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in 2002 and regularly revised. Annual national audits, which are conducted by a professional, independent and national firm, also help to ensure that the Archdiocese of Santa Fe is doing everything in compliance with the charter to keep minors safe, he said. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal Homelessness is visible in every sector of Albuquerque. Encampments are cropping up in parking lots, city parks, the bosque and in vacant plots of land from the far West Side to east of Tramway. Panhandlers at busy intersections and along interstates are part of the landscape just about everywhere. Coronado Park, just south of Interstate 40 between Second and Fourth streets, may be the most severe example of what happens when a neighborhood park is taken over by homeless people, but sizeable homeless populations regularly hang out at Downtowns Robinson Park at Eighth Street and Central, and at Los Altos Park at Lomas and Eubank NE, among others. People facing homelessness are also especially visible walking daily along Central Avenue, with large concentrations Downtown, in the university area and east of Louisiana. Service providers generally agree that the number of homeless people in Albuquerque is increasing, or at best remaining flat. Mary Garcia, executive director of the Albuquerque Indian Center, says the center provides services to more than 18,000 people a year, 92 percent of whom are Native American. Many of the homeless people seen east of Louisiana are Native Americans, who find their way to the area because of the services and free meals offered at the center, located at 105 Texas SE, and for medical, dental, and other social services from First Nations Community HealthSource at 5608 Zuni SE. Weve been seeing more homeless over the last year and a half, and specifically in the last eight months more African Americans and Anglos. Were not sure if theyre new to Albuquerque or came here from other parts of the city, Garcia says. Jeremy Reynalds, the late founder of Joy Junction, the states largest homeless shelter, said earlier this year that it is difficult to get a handle on how many people are homeless, in part because of differing definitions. He raised the question of whether people are homeless if they sleep on a friends couch, live out of their car, rent a motel room for part of each month or are in a long-term rehab program at a shelter? According to the 2017 biennial Point-In-Time Count, coordinated by the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness, 1,318 sheltered and unsheltered people are dealing with homelessness in Albuquerque. That number is up from 1,287 in 2015 and 1,170 in 2013. We recognize that the Point-In-Time count is an undercount, says Lisa Maury, director of the coalitions Albuquerque Continuum of Care section. We make strong efforts to identify everyone experiencing homelessness in the city, but some people dont want to participate in the count, which is completely voluntary; and frankly, its really difficult to find everyone who is homeless and ask them where they were on one particular night during the week of the count. While the Point-in-Time count may be the official number used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, it falls far short of painting an accurate picture. At any given time, between 3,500 and 4,000 students classified as homeless are attending Albuquerque Public Schools, says APS spokeswoman Monica Armenta. Danny Whatley, executive director of The Rock at NoonDay, estimates the homeless population at about 4,500 and growing. It may have been stagnant for a few years prior to 2007, and then when the 2008 recession hit we started seeing a different kind of homeless problem with people who lost their jobs, their homes and filed for bankruptcies. They were just temporary homeless and were able to turn it around. But the number of chronically homeless stayed the same until recently. Within the last four or five years, that group has increased at least 5 percent. That doesnt sound like a lot, but when youre talking about flesh and bodies it makes a huge impact on the community. At Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless, the number of clients remains relatively flat, because of the cyclical nature of homelessness, says Anita Cordova, the organizations director of development, planning and evaluation. During an average year, AHCH sees about 7,000 clients in all its programs, but in primary care programs were seeing about 4,700 a year, which has been pretty stable for about a decade, Cordova says. We see shifts in subpopulations. For example, were now seeing more people 65 and older. Its a small shift, maybe 1 or 2 percent, but its very concerning to us, because theyre extremely vulnerable and the services they require are specific to that population. Weve also been seeing more Native Americans over the last three years. That population used to hold steady at about 10 percent, but weve seen it grow to 12 percent. Perception is reality for many people. Doreen McKnight, president of the Wells Park Neighborhood Association, and Marit Tully, president of the Near North Valley Neighborhood Association, acknowledge they dont have hard numbers for the homeless people who pass through their neighborhoods daily. Anecdotally, it seems like theres way more homeless people on the streets than in the past, McKnight says. And Tully agrees. I cant put a percentage on it, but its absolutely noticeable because two primary service providers have moved into our neighborhood, she says. I dont think anybody who lives here would say it isnt visible. I think everybody can tell theres a change. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News N Augusta Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. The Donald Trump administrations heavy-handed approach with Turkey in its bid to secure the release of a detained US pastor has prompted Congress to recalibrate its approach to the wayward NATO ally. While lawmakers in both parties have steadily ratcheted up the pressure on Ankara in recent months, the presidents brash decision to target Turkeys economy for its detention of Andrew Brunson appears to have rattled some of them. Even Republicans who favor the presidents retaliatory tariffs are now floating the possibility of a free trade agreement with Ankara as a carrot to offset Trumps big stick. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., told Al-Monitor this week that he supports the presidents announcement of 50% tariffs on Turkish steel and 20% on aluminum, despite his stated skepticism of an initial round of tariffs on Turkey and other US trade partners. Unprompted, he then went on to sing the praises of a trade deal, an idea that has been floating around at least since trade talks with the European Union were the order of the day back in 2013. I hope that what were passing on the Senate floor is a trade agreement with Turkey, he said after hinting that Congress could tee up further retaliatory measures next year. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., also called for a free trade deal and emphasized the need to continue strategic cooperation with Ankara in Syria and Iraq following a meeting with the Turkish ambassador to the United States last week. Graham has previously voiced his support for Trumps Turkey tariffs. The goal for me is to have a free trade agreement with Turkey, Graham told reporters earlier this week. Their economys in the toilet. Its hurting our economy. With all their faults, theyre a NATO ally and what Im trying to do is focus on something positive. Tillis has worked across the aisle with other Erdogan critics in Congress, including Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., on legislation intended to cut Turkey off from certain international lending streams until it releases detained US citizens and consular staff. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced the Turkey International Financial Institutions Act last month. Her misgivings about Erdogan aside, Shaheen voiced concerns that the tariffs are exacerbating a trade war. Our goal ought to be to lower tensions with Turkey, not to heighten them, Shaheen told Al-Monitor. In that respect, I would hope the State Department and the administration would try and do that. The US ran a $2.6 billion trade surplus with Turkey in 2016. That did not deter Trump from slapping tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Turkey in March on national security grounds. Trump doubled the Turkey tariffs this month using the same legal justification after targeted sanctions on Turkeys justice and interior ministers failed to secure Brunsons release. The White House, however, has said that the pastors release would only result in sanctions relief, not the removal of tariffs. The tariffs that are in place on steel would not be removed with the release of pastor Brunson, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Aug. 14. The tariffs are specific to national security. The Turkish lira has already fallen 37% this year, and the escalating standoff with the United States has only accelerated the currency crisis. If the US secures Brunsons release but worsens Turkeys already dangerous economic crisis in the process, the damage to US interests from a destabilized Turkey could quickly outweigh the benefits, Nicholas Danforth, a senior policy analyst at the Bipartisan Policy Centers national security program, told Al-Monitor. Turkish media reported last week that Finance Minister Berat Albayrak spoke with his French counterpart Bruno Le Maire about pushing back against US economic measures against Ankara. The two reportedly plan to meet in Paris next week. Meanwhile, Qatar is providing Ankara with a $15 billion cash influx in an attempt to shore up the lira. US national security adviser John Bolton this week dismissed the Qatari investment as utterly insufficient to have an impact on Turkeys economy. Erdogan spokesman Ibrahim Kalin then pointed to Boltons statement as proof that the Trump administration is targeting a NATO ally as part of an economic war. Lawmakers have also raised concerns that the administrations narrow focus on Brunson, a cause celebre among Trumps conservative Christian base, risks leaving other American prisoners out in the cold while raising doubts about US motives. Turkey has also convicted and imprisoned NASA scientist Serkan Golge, a dual US-Turkish citizen, and detained several Turks locally employed as US consular staff, including Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) employee Metin Topuz. While Sanders said Aug. 14 that Trump is frustrated by Turkeys ongoing detention of other US citizens and employees of diplomatic facilities, the president and Vice President Mike Pence have exclusively referenced Brunson in their public remarks. And Bolton said this week that Turkey could end its crisis with the United States instantly by releasing Brunson. I admire and appreciate the presidents efforts to step up the pressure until we get to a resolution for pastor Brunson, but we also have to talk about a NASA scientist whos almost three years into a seven-year term, Tillis told Al-Monitor. We have to talk about a DEA agent. We have to talk about Turkish nationals who worked with the State Department. CAIRO Ayah Azeb, a 26-year-old graduate of the Faculty of Commerce at Cairo University, is among several women to become employed Aug. 11 by the Faisal Islamic Bank of Egypt (FIBE) in Egypt. FIBE announced July 31 that it will start appointing women to all of its branches for the first time since the bank was established in 1979 as the first Islamic bank in Egypt by the late Mohammed bin Faisal al-Saud, son of the late Saudi King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud. Azeb applied for a job at the bank after five years of working in different fields. She told Al-Monitor about the difficulties she faced in getting a job in the banking sector over the past five years. I received a Very Good assessment at the accounting department of the Faculty of Commerce where I studied. And I have received several training courses from various centers to further develop my skills. I applied to several banks but was never accepted, as banks tend to prefer males and believe they are more reliable and patient than females, Azeb said. During the interview at FIBE, Azeb said the questions were not gender discriminatory but rather were focused on her field of expertise. I dream of progressing in the banking sector like many women who have managed to overcome difficulties and reach high positions in the banking system, she said, referring to Lubna Hilal, the first woman to be appointed as deputy governor of the Central Bank of Egypt. Abdel Hamid Abu Moussa, the governor of FIBE, said in a press statement July 31 that the bank had for the first time approved the recruitment of females in all branches depending on the needs of each department. The announcement comes as the Egyptian state seeks to promote womens rights. Moussa added that the next couple of months would witness practical procedures for the selection of female candidates from among the applicants. He did not mention the number of applicants. He further noted that the banks decision has nothing to do with Saudi Arabias latest campaign to end restrictions on womens rights because the bank is Egyptian and operates in the local market. When Al-Monitor asked Moussa about the reason behind the banks failure to appoint women over the past years, the banks governor did not respond. This matter is subject to internal matters within the bank. We appreciate women, and they will be an important element [of the bank] in the coming years, he said. Egyptian member of parliament Inas Abdel Halim had submitted May 31 a briefing paper to then-Prime Minister Sherif Ismail about reports whereby the FIBE does not employ women. Abdel Halim stressed that the bank is violating Article 9 of the Egyptian Constitution, which stipulates that the state shall ensure equal opportunity for all citizens without discrimination. She called on both the prime minister and the governor of the Central Bank to investigate the incident, as it poses a great threat and is constitutionally and societally aberrant. Sahar el-Damaty, the first female vice president of Banque Misr one of the largest Egyptian banks in the country told Al-Monitor over the phone that women in Egypt occupy leadership positions within the banking sector, both in the public and private sectors, and there are no administrative restrictions on their promotions. She said the FIBE and its relationship with its founders in Saudi Arabia is the main reason behind the strict rules relating to the appointment of women over the past years. Damaty, who held high positions in foreign banks such as the Commercial International Bank, added that the number of women working in the banking sector is low compared to other sectors. The reason behind such a low figure is that this sector is affected by religious fatwas, whereby working at regular banks [not Islamic banks] is sinful for both women and men. She added that local banks in Egypt should follow the same policies followed by foreign banks in order to grant equal opportunities to both men and women, and efficiency should be the main criterion for promotion. Damaty said that the recent positive step announced by the FIBE comes as part of the major changes taking place in Saudi Arabia concerning the easing of restrictions on women. According to figures on government workers in 2016-2017 published by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, the percentage of women employed in the financial and economic sector reached 29.8% of the total number of working women in Egypt. In turn, working women in general account for 22.9% of the total labor force in Egypt. It seems the FIBE decision falls within a series of societal changes both in Egypt and Saudi Arabia aimed at granting women their full rights. Bolton-Patrushev talks stumble on Iran We wrote in this column more than a year ago, "Russia welcomes and needs US partnership in stabilizing Syria" while also saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin's "leverage with Damascus, Tehran and Ankara could be weakened, rather than strengthened, by closer ties with the United States. Putins endgame is relief from US-led sanctions. If no sanctions relief is forthcoming, Putin will have little interest in carrying Trumps water at the expense of his regional ties." This was the underlying theme in Geneva on Aug. 23 when US national security adviser John Bolton and his Russian counterpart, Nikolay Patrushev, struggled to find common ground on Irans role in Syria in the first high-ranking talks between US and Russian officials since the Trump-Putin summit in Helsinki on July 16. 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, writes Maxim Suchkov. Prior to Geneva, Bolton had visited Israel, where he said that Putin had told Trump that Russias interest and Irans were not exactly the same [in Syria]. So were obviously going to talk to him about what role they can play. 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. The Aug. 15 imposition of further US sanctions on Russia cast a pall over the meeting, where Patrushev gave Bolton a set of proposals to consider for the next round of talks. As we wrote here last month, Putin is not someone who works for free. If he believes he is helping Trump to achieve a responsible exit from Syria, while assuring Israels security, this is big stuff, and the Russian president also needs a win from the art of the deal. For Putin, that means relief from at least some of the US sanctions on Russia. The discussion wasnt much better on the use of chemical weapons in Syria, adds Suchkov. 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. Absent some quid quo pro involving sanctions relief, Russia is keeping all its options open with Iran, including reportedly making preparations to establish a regional integrated payment network, writes Moziar Motamedi, which could serve as a gateway for Iran to notably boost its commercial ties with other member countries. And in another sign of the pace and direction of Russian and Iranian diplomacy, both Putin and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani joined the heads of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan to sign a landmark agreement on the legal status of the Caspian and other multilateral agreements in Aktau on Aug. 12. By signing on to the Aktau convention, Iran has managed to gain a number of significant security guarantees while freezing the longstanding conflicts regarding the exact shares of the body of water and postponing decisions on such issues to an unspecified time in the future, writes Hamidreza Azizi. At the same time, Irans cooperative stance could help it further develop relations with its northern neighbors. Indeed, the latter is of vital importance to the current situation, as Iran faces increasing efforts by the United States to limit the scope of its international interactions. Did Turkey invite al-Qaeda affiliate to join rebel faction? Russia is further unlikely to ditch Iran with uncertainty over Turkeys intentions and capabilities in Idlib. 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, reports Fehim Tastekin. 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. Turkey appears willing to accept any and all armed groups into the big tent of the National Liberation Front (NLF), even extending an invitation to none other than Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the al-Qaeda affiliate in Idlib. While Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has held off, extremist groups Ahrar al-Sham and Naour al-din al-Zenki have joined under the banner of the Syrian Liberation Front. Both groups are deeply sectarian and enforce Sharia law in areas they control. Tastekin writes that the NLF, despite claiming 85,000-1000,000 fighters, is essentially a survival ploy by the factions to foil attempts to eliminate them" and "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. 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. ... In short, these groups, although pretending to heed Turkey, still do what they want. Even if Hayat Tahrir al-Sham stays out of the NLF, adds Tastekin, 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 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, Tastekin continues, 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? Lebanese backs Russian plan for Syrian refugees Russia is seeking to capitalize on the return of Syrian refugees and Internally Displaced People (IDPs) to those areas retaken by Syrian government forces. Since the beginning of 2018, the UN High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that nearly 13,000 refugees from neighboring countries and another 750,000 IDPs are estimated to have returned to their homes in Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Rural Damascus, Damascus, southwest and northeastern Syria. The 750,000 figure represents 11% of the over 6 million Syrian IDPs. While most media have missed, or ignored, this trend, Russian diplomacy has seized on it to press for humanitarian aid and reconstruction assistance in areas under Syrian government control. Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil endorsed the Russian-Syrian efforts to repatriate in a visit to Moscow on Aug. 20. There are close to a million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, according to UNHCR. Anton Mardasov reports that while some Lebanese politicians, including those aligned with Prime Mister Saad Hariri, may challenge the Russian-Syrian effort, taking geographic and political realities into account, Hariri is likely to soften his position on the Syrian regime. Lebanons citizens, and ultimately all its politicians, realize the unsustainable political and economic strain of a million refugees on its soil. A bicyclist in Huntsville died when struck by a vehicle on Governors Drive on Saturday night in an accident that police described as unclear circumstances. Police said Scott Sales, 52, died in the accident at about 6:25 p.m. Police said Sales was riding his bicycle eastbound on Governors Drive on the westbound shoulder on the north side of the road. It's unclear exactly what happened before Sales was struck by a vehicle, police said. According to police, Sales may have been struck by an unknown vehicle and was laying partially in the roadway or he may have fallen into the road before being struck by a vehicle. Police said there were no witnesses to the accident but that witnesses said Sales was seen drinking alcohol before the accident. Susan Cobb is suing Alabama Democratic Party chairwoman Nancy Worley for allegedly improperly removing Cobb from her position as chairwoman of the Marion County Democratic Executive Committee and planning to hold a new election for the post. Cobb states in a lawsuit she filed Aug. 21 in Marion County Circuit Court that a listing identifying her as chair of the Marion Committee - a position she was elected to in February - was removed from the Alabama Democratic Party's website one week after the June 5 primary election. The lawsuit alleges that when Cobb then asked Worley why her name was no longer listed on the site, Worley told her that it had been removed "at Worley's discretion because Cobb had failed to properly certify the election returns" of the June 5 primary. Cobb states that she "had never been instructed by the Party nor Worley, it was her job to communicate to the Party the results of the primary races. Cobb rightfully asserted to Worley that the probate judge was certifying the returns to the Secretary of State, and as such, she was not aware she had to personally certify the returns to the Party." Worley did not respond to requests for comment made via email and telephone Sunday afternoon. As of Sunday, Worley had not made any motions or filed a response to Cobb's lawsuit, according to online court records. The suit goes on to state that "Worley purportedly plans to hold a re-organization meeting, claiming that the Marion County Democratic Executive Committee does not exist" and that she plans "to hold a new set of elections for Marion County Democratic Executive Committee." Cobb claims in the lawsuit that "[n]othing within the Alabama Democratic Party bylaws allows such an ouster, nor provides for replacement in this manner." She asks that the court reinstate her as chairwoman of the Marion County Democratic Executive Committee and issue two injunctions: one that would temporarily Worley from holding a new election for the post, and another that would permanently prevent her "from removing any duly elected member of the Marion County Democratic Executive Committee, who was elected in the most recent election of that body, who still resides in said district, and remains a loyal Democrat." The executive committee of the Alabama Democratic Party reelected Worley as its chairwoman earlier this month despite the fact that U.S. Sen. Doug Jones - the only Democrat to hold statewide office in Alabama - had sharply criticized her for poorly leading a party that he says did little to assist him during his 2017 senatorial campaign. "I felt like I had made some progress in moving the party forward," Worley said after she was reelected. "We paid off about the half the indebtedness or at least half the indebtedness. I felt like we had a structure in order to get more staff in place and to get many of our county organizations reorganized. And I felt like we had the potential to move on that next level. So I felt like to change horses in midstream would not be productive." Jones had nominated Montgomery attorney and lobbyist Peck Fox to challenge Worley, but on Aug. 11 the executive committee elected Worley - who has been chairwoman of the party since 2013 - over Fox by a margin of 101 to 89 votes. "Our candidates are going to have to go it alone, just like I did," Jones said after Worley won reelection. "We need to have a party. We don't have a party. There is no social media. There's no outreach. There's no get out the vote effort. There's no organization. There's no field. And the vote today was simply to keep that." Cobb Complaint by Connor Sheets on Scribd Pecker used the famous tabloid to promote his buddy Trump and trash opponents This is an opinion column. The first time I heard David Pecker's name I was in church. It was early 2007. I was unemployed, having been hit by a wave of management layoffs at Time Inc. (RIP) a few weeks before. I was seeking a little divine intervention when my phone vibrated. I stepped out of the sanctuary and answered. It was a former co-worker who had moved on to a company called American Media Inc., which owned several magazines, including Men's Fitness and other fitness titles, and, at the other end of the spectrum, The National Enquirer. "Do you mind if I send I send your resume to my boss? His name is David Pecker. He's the CEO." Pecker called the next day and for the next four years, he was my boss, too. After initially engaging me to write a cover story on Tiger Woods (whom I'd known since before he attended Stanford, my alma mater, too, and written about several times), Pecker hired me as Editor-in-Chief of Men's Fitness in May 2007. It was a wild ride--almost every day. As anyone who's worked for Pecker will tell you. During one of my early meetings with Pecker and other company senior executives, he chewed me out over a layout with a raging ferocity the likes of which I'd never experienced in the workplace. After someone who had been in the room patted me on the back and said: "Welcome to AMI." The very next day, however, Pecker joyfully introduced me to a room of his media peers as "one of the top magazine editors in the business." He's fiercely passionate about his products, as well as fiercely loyal to and supportive of those who work for him. Often in ways far beyond what an employee has a right to expect. I know. When someone in my family suffered a catastrophic illness, he held nothing back to ensure we were able to get through it. In February 2011, I was laid off--hit once again by the realities of our then-reeling industry--as part of Pecker's consolidation of the fitness titles. I don't have a disparaging word for Pecker, however. Yet like others gaining pleasure as the wall of truth closes around Donald Trump, I do want to know what's in that safe. Or perhaps was there. Pecker, as many know now, is one of Donald Trump's closest pals. Or was. He wielded the full breadth of the National Enquirer to promote his friend and candidate during the 2016 presidential race and unmercifully bash opponents, especially Hillary Clinton. The Democratic nominee was often portrayed on Enquirer covers in godawful photos with bulging bags under both eyes. One headline screamed: HILLARY: 6 MONTHS TO LIVE! That was just tabloid follies, however, compared to what is/was reportedly in the safe. The Associated Press recently reported that Pecker paid hush-money for the rights to stories that might damage his friend, kept the documents in the safe, according to its sources, then never published the stories. Similar what the AP termed "catch-and-kill" deals were made with celebrities, whose potentially career-tanking secrets were also tucked away in the safe, reportedly in exchange for exclusive access and favors. Just days before the November 2016 election, The Wall Street Journal reported AMI Inc. had paid former Playboy Model Karen McDougal $150,000 for her story of an affair with Trump 10 years earlier. That revelation may have prompted Pecker to move--or even destroy--the docs, AP said. Friendship can be fiercely unyielding and yet tenuous--especially when tested by the threat of incarceration. Pecker, according to The Journal and Vanity Fair, was granted immunity by federal prosecutors in the case in which Michael Cohen, Trump's former attorney (and likely yet another ex-friend), recently pleaded guilty to campaign violations, tax evasion, and bank fraud. Cohen admitted making hush-money payments to McDougal and porn actress Stormy Daniels (reportedly $130,000) and said Pecker "offered to help deal with negative stories about [Trump's] relationships with women...", according to court docs. My ex-boss reportedly gave prosecutors corroborating details of Cohen's accounts of the transactions, says The Journal. He may have even told them what is (or was) in the safe--a revelation that would truly be a bit of divine intervention. Roy S. Johnson's column appears in The Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register and AL.com. Hit me up at rjohnson@al.com or/and follow me at twitter.com/roysj. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, responded on NBC's 'Meet the Press' Sunday morning to the growing concern that President Donald Trump might fire U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Asked by host Chuck Todd what members of the Senate Republican Conference think about the prospect of Trump potentially firing Sessions, Flake said, "there may be a few isolated voices saying that the president ought to fire him, but I can tell you that as a body we're saying, 'please don't.'" The discussion about Sessions - who served for 20 years as the junior U.S. senator from Alabama before he was sworn in as attorney general in February 2017 - was prompted by comments Flake made earlier in the interview. "There is a concern that the president has ramped up rhetoric about perhaps firing the attorney general," Flake said. "I hope that that doesn't happen. If it does we'll deal with it at that time." Flake, who has emerged as one of the Senate's most vocal Republican critics of Trump, announced in October that he will not he won't seek re-election. Trump has repeatedly lashed out at Sessions in recent months, saying that the attorney general should have recused himself from the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into whether Trump and his campaign colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 election. On Saturday, Trump tweeted that "Jeff Sessions said he wouldn't allow politics to influence him only because he doesn't understand what is happening underneath his command position." He followed that tweet up with a re-tweet of the following quote by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina: "Every President deserves an Attorney General they have confidence in. I believe every President has a right to their Cabinet, these are not lifetime appointments. You serve at the pleasure of the President." During Sunday's "Meet the Press" episode, Todd played footage for Flake of Graham making that statement immediately after a short clip from last year in which Graham said, "[i]f Jeff Sessions is fired, there will be holy hell to pay" in an attempt to demonstrate how some Republicans' views on the potential firing of Sessions have changed. Flake downplayed those concerns. "He serves at the pleasure of the president, we all know that, but I think it would be a big mistake for the president to fire him now," Flake said. He went on to say he worries that if Trump were to fire Sessions, he would potentially be only the first in a series of firings aimed at kneecaping Mueller's ongoing investigation. "The concern is obviously that he would be the first domino to fall. Then what happens with [Deputy Attorney General] Rod Rosenstein, what happens with Bob Mueller?" Flake said. "And I think firing Jeff Sessions would concern us all that that's the first domino. I frankly think the president will hold off. He's made these kinds of noises before but then has pulled back." Trump's attacks against Sessions have ramped up as the screws have tightened on the White House in recent days. On Tuesday, Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, pleaded guilty to eight violations of banking, tax and campaign finance laws as part of a federal investigation referred by Mueller to the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of New York. The campaign finance charges were related to Cohen's admission under oath that he paid hush money to ensure that two women who said that they had sexual relationships with Trump would not tell their stories and negatively influence the 2016 election. Also on Tuesday, Paul Manafort, a seasoned political operative who led Donald Trump's presidential campaign for several months, was found guilty of eight counts of financial crimes. Two children died Saturday in a Franklin County ATV crash, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. A four-year-old and an eight-year-old were killed when they overturned the 2009 Arctic Cat ATV they were riding at 2:50 p.m. Saturday, according to Corporal Gregory S. Simpson of ALEA. The crash took place on Mill Creek Road near AL-19 and the Marion County line. Authorities have not released any other information about the victims, including their names or genders. No further information was made public Sunday morning, as state troopers continued to investigate the crash. By Paul Kane Everyone walked away from fights with Sen. John McCain a little worse for wear, even if the Arizona Republican came out on the losing end. Some friends joked that McCain even drove his Vietnamese prison guards crazy. "John, you know those guards that you were stuck with for six years? They're still going to group sessions all these years later trying to recover," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told McCain, on more than one occasion. McCain - a prisoner of war, 36-year veteran of Congress and onetime Republican nominee for president - was a force of nature in Washington whose likes will not be seen anytime soon. His global stature rivaled or even exceeded the standing of official congressional leaders. McCain used his prominence to wage battles with congressional leaders and presidents, Democrats and Republicans alike, perhaps none fought quite as forcefully as McCain's clashes with President Donald Trump in his last months before succumbing Saturday to brain cancer. He returned home to Arizona in mid-December and has not been back to Washington since. "You've got someone who has really blazed an arc across the firmament of American history that will be rivaled, but rarely matched," Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Del., a frequent traveling partner when McCain led congressional delegations abroad, said in a recent interview. "A huge loss for the interest of liberty and rule of law and regular order and respect for the traditions of this institution." In the first half of 2017, McCain traveled more than 75,000 miles to more than 15 nations, meeting with longtime allies fearful of dramatic policy changes that Trump had suggested in sometimes offhand comments or gestures. His colleagues called it the reassurance tour, and in the fall of 2017 McCain delivered several speeches that did not mention Trump by name but told crowds that it was "time to wake up" and to "fight isolationism, protectionism and nativism." McCain's death marks the final passing of a generation of senators who were major power brokers, but also a contingent whose first loyalty was to the institution and its place in history where great compromises were forged. As the Navy's liaison to the Senate in the late 1970s, Capt. John McCain fell in love with politics watching a Senate that boasted legends who came to power in committee rooms and oversight hearings - from Howard Baker, R-Tenn., who rose to fame investigating Watergate, to Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who would become one of McCain's closest friends. McCain traveled the globe with those senators, planning their meetings with world leaders and often carrying on late into the night. On one trip to Athens, McCain stayed up for "after hours merriment" that included dancing on a tabletop with Jill Biden, the wife of then-Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del. He retired from the Navy in 1981 - the son and grandson of admirals abandoning his family calling. He moved to his second wife's hometown, Phoenix, where his political career began in 1982 by winning a House seat. But the Senate was always his true calling. In 1986, with Republican Barry Goldwater's retirement, McCain won the first of six Senate terms. He went on to lead three committees that produced three different portraits: He was the conservative hawk on national security, chairing the Armed Services Committee; the bipartisan dealmaker on the Commerce Committee; the righteous investigator exposing corruption among fellow Republicans while chairing the Indian Affairs Committee. With McCain gone, the Senate is almost entirely a top-down organization. Less than 20 years ago it was such a freewheeling place that McCain forced tobacco and campaign finance legislation onto the Senate floor for long debates even though GOP leaders opposed the bills. The bipartisan tobacco bill failed; the campaign bill succeeded, but each had its time in the spotlight despite leadership's opposition. Now, McConnell boasts that only he decides what comes up for debate - following the lead of his Democratic predecessor, Harry Reid - and the rank-and-file senators in both caucuses sit back and accept it, with only passive complaints. No one hated today's Senate more than McCain. "What I am asking for is simple. If we're going to stay here to work, then let's get some work done. Let's come in early and stay late," McCain said in a July 2017 speech delivered to a mostly empty Senate chamber. A week later, McCain's doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix called with grave news. He had been diagnosed with glioblastoma, the same form of brain cancer that took Kennedy's life in 2009. A few days after McCain triumphantly returned to the Senate for a whirlwind week that in many ways defined his career, from a conquering hero for conservatives to a complete turncoat; from a hypocritical pariah to liberals, to a man of conscience. All in less than 60 hours. When he arrived on a Tuesday afternoon, he delivered a stirring speech about returning the Senate to its glory days, opening it up for debate and passing bipartisan legislation. "We're getting nothing done," he told his colleagues, many brought to tears knowing he had just received a death sentence. He voted with McConnell to start debate on the GOP bill to repeal the 2010 Affordable Care Act, prompting liberals to decry McCain's position given that Republicans were moving unilaterally with no Democratic support. Two days later, McConnell had not been able to craft a bill that had enough support, so he came up with a plan to pass a shell bill, and then try for negotiations with the House later. As the clock ticked past midnight, into Friday morning, everyone knew McCain was the deciding vote. Despite a phone call from Trump and pleas from McConnell, McCain flashed a thumbs down and torpedoed the legislation - McConnell, standing a few feet away, did not move for 12 seconds. For more than a year, Trump has used that moment to excoriate McCain at campaign-style rallies, never actually mentioning his name but making the thumbs-down gesture while angrily talking about the failed vote. Some thought it was a hypocritical flip-flop, but his closest advisers said it was an easy vote on the merits: In his Tuesday speech he called for a full debate and promised to support the bill if the process was good and the policy turned out better. Instead, he thought the process was horrible and the policy a joke. "He's a unique individual. We've been together for 30 years, fighting vigorously for 10 of those years," McConnell said in an interview a few months before McCain's death. Their early clashes came over campaign finance restructuring, which McCain and McConnell battled over in very personal terms. But as they got older, particularly once McCain gave up the pursuit of the presidency, the two men grew closer and McConnell made McCain his de facto consigliere on national security issues. "He's one of those unique figures who come along not all that often, and nobody would have predicted this 10 or 15 years ago, but we have a great affection for each other," McConnell said. He then wiped tears from his eyes. McCain openly admitted he had his share of flaws. His quick temper served to alienate some potential allies, on both sides of the aisle, and his interest in campaign finance retooling came after an early ethics probe into questions about his ties to a major donor. Last October, in his final visit to his alma mater, the U.S. Naval Academy, McCain recalled the answer he gave in 2000 in support of flying the Confederate battle flag over the South Carolina State House, during the run-up to the crucial GOP presidential primary against George W. Bush. "That was the wrong answer and I lost anyway," he said. On some issues McCain had a way of shading his views, particularly on immigration, if it was an election season and he was facing a conservative challenge. Some Democrats understood that was about political survival. "You know, in a campaign, he may downplay it a little, but he never repeals what he's saying, he never retracts it and just keeps fighting," Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., said. "To me, McCain's legacy is you can pick core issues that you really care about - immigration, campaign finance reform - three or four major issues, he's never given up." Udall's uncle, the late Mo Udall, was in his last years in the House when McCain arrived in 1983 and took him under his wing, an old liberal and young conservative touring the Grand Canyon and Arizona's tribal nations. Years later, when Mo Udall fought Parkinson's disease in a veteran's hospital, McCain regularly visited and read Arizona political stories to the retired congressman, even when he clearly could not respond. In early April, Tom Udall attended a Grand Canyon event honoring McCain and Mo Udall, connecting those early days at his uncle's side to McCain's maverick moments many years later. "Mo Udall taught John McCain the value of consensus and bipartisanship, and in turn, John had the guts to buck his own party," Tom Udall said. In recent months McCain had received visitors that included longtime friends, such as McConnell and Biden, whose son, Beau, succumbed to the same type of brain cancer in 2015. But visitors also included the more junior senators, Coons and Udall and Jeff Flake, R-Ariz. That trio's entire Senate experience combined adds up to a little more than 20 years, and they have never experienced anything of the Senate that Capt. McCain discovered as a naval officer. And they were left to wonder whether the Senate will ever produce someone like John S. McCain III ever again. "The success of the Senate is important to the continued success of America," McCain said during his July 2017 speech. "This country - this big, boisterous, brawling, intemperate, restless, striving, daring, beautiful, bountiful, brave, good and magnificent country - needs us to help it thrive." This is an opinion column. President Donald Trump is absolutely entitled to an attorney general who runs the Department of Justice consistent with executive branch priorities. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has unequivocally done that on issues ranging from immigration enforcement to protecting religious liberty and combatting violent crime. But that's not enough. Trump wants a fixer, and Sessions isn't willing to be one. "Fixers," like former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, make inconvenient problems disappear for their clients. The expectation is that a fixer loyally protects his or her patron by any means necessary. Unfortunately for Trump, serving as the president's fixer isn't part of the attorney general's job description. Even so, Trump's ire is almost singularly focused on the fact that Sessions properly recused himself from matters related to the 2016 campaign. The president isn't hiding his desire to end Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation and install someone who behaves more like Cohen than Sessions. Trump's ideal attorney general would either end Mueller's investigation or take control of it in a manner that insulates Trump and his inner circle. After all, that's what fixers do. Attorney generals don't...or at least they shouldn't. In his most pronounced response to Trump's continued media harassment, Sessions bluntly stated, "While I am attorney general, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations." Trump responded that Sessions made such a statement "because he doesn't understand what is happening underneath his command position." Sessions does understand that the attorney general shouldn't make prosecution decisions based on political impulse and popular opinion. Trump has repeatedly called for Sessions to investigate the "other side" or weed out corruption in a manner that assumes Sessions isn't doing so already. As laws applied to facts justify federal prosecution, Sessions and his United States attorneys should absolutely do so. They probably won't go on Fox & Friends to talk about those investigations. That is how federal laws enforcement should work. It's a far different process than launching into investigations and prosecutions because a talking head on cable news or a presidential tweet demands it. The DOJ has already taken a look into matters the president continues to raise. For example, the DOJ inspector general's report from June exhaustively discusses whether impermissible political bias impacted department decisions related to Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server. It details former FBI Director James Comey's insubordination, but it did not find "evidence that improper considerations, including political bias, directly affected the specific investigative decisions." In spite of the thorough report addressing many of Trump's allegations lobbed at the Department of Justice, Trump continues his media barrage as if reliable answers aren't readily available. The political narrative takes precedence over reality. Again, Trump should absolutely fire Sessions if he has credible evidence that federal laws aren't being faithfully enforced or corruption is actually going unchecked. The processes, procedures and outcomes at the DOJ related to many of Trump's concerns simply fail to justify that conclusion. We can't let the DOJ be about politics. Period. That conclusion shouldn't change because operatives in the prior administration were bad actors. We wouldn't allow a CEO to claim that his embezzlement is justified because his predecessor did it as well. Arguing that justice may depend on political context rejects America's longstanding tradition of independently upholding the rule of law. If Sessions's cardinal sin is indeed refusing to be Trump's fixer, Republicans should defend him vigorously. At the same time, the attorney general does serve at the pleasure of the president. The Senate must thoroughly question Sessions's ultimate successor about the role of politics in the application of justice. Session's won't be the president's "fixer;" we must ensure the same can be said of our next attorney general as well. Cameron Smith is a regular columnist for AL.com and vice president for the R Street Institute, a think tank in Washington, D.C. He previously served as counsel for Jeff Sessions on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Athens, Greece Well before the sun came up on January 17, 2013, Shahzad Luqman woke up, hopped on his bicycle and took off for work in a suburb of the Greek capital, Athens. The 27-year-old Pakistani, who had been in Greece for six years, was going from his home in the Peristeri neighbourhood to nearby Petralona to unload oranges at the farmers market. But before he could reach work, he was stabbed seven times and left to bleed out in the street. When police swept the homes of the killers, they found leaflets published by Golden Dawn, the Greek neo-fascist party that currently has 16 seats in the countrys parliament. The incident wrought trauma in Greeces migrant community, particularly among Pakistanis, who are estimated to be around 50,000 in number and have been migrating in ebbs and flows to the Mediterranean country since the 1970s. {articleGUID} Javied Aslam, the 50-year-old president of the Pakistani Community of Greece and head of the Union of Immigrant Workers, remembers the day Luqman was killed as a turning point. They [had] targeted and attacked around 1,000 workers. And not one Golden Dawn member was punished until Luqman was killed and his two murderers were arrested, Aslam told Al Jazeera. That was the first time anyone from their party was arrested. Five years later, Aslam said migrant workers continue to bear the brunt of far-right violence. In 2017, the number of hate crimes motivated by race, skin colour and national origin almost tripled compared to the year before, according to police. Qamar Zaman was among those attacked when he got off a bus in Athens. A group of young Greeks followed him, beat him up and fled with some of his belongings when passersby approached. My life was saved because of that [people approaching], said Zaman. Otherwise, I wouldve probably died. Incumbent Berdymukhamedov faces eight challengers for the presidency but he is all but certain to win the elections. Citizens of Turkmenistan are going to the polls on Sunday for a presidential vote expected to further tighten the incumbent leaders hold over the gas-rich Central Asian country. Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, 59, faces eight other candidates including subordinate regional officials, the director of a government-owned oil refinery and a representative of the countrys state agribusiness complex. But these other men are completely loyal to Berdymukhamedov, who rose to power suddenly following the death of predecessor Saparmurat Niyazov in 2006. The opposition candidates are fairly irrelevant to the extent that people have been recruited from within the regime or the government departments, they are just a facade to show that the recoronation of the president ends up successfully, Luca Ancheski, a specialist on Turkmenistan at the University of Glasgow, told Al Jazeera. Voting in the country of over five million people began at 7:00am (02:00 GMT) and will continue until polling stations close at 7:00pm (14:00 GMT), the central electoral commission confirmed. READ MORE: Turkmenistan launches $10bn gas pipeline to South Asia Berdymukhamedov, a dentist by training, has kept in place Niyazovs repressive political system which tolerates no political opposition or public expressions of discontent. There is no position or opinion of [Turkmen] on the elections, when there is no media which makes the assessment of what people really think, Ancheski said. Al Jazeeras Central Asia expert, Mutiullah Tayeb, said the latest report by Reporters Without Borders mentions the crackdowns on some independent journalists in the country. In the absence of a powerful opposition, and the crackdown on press freedom, I dont see any real changes in the near future, Tayeb said. In the previous election in 2012, Berdymukhamedov won 97 percent of the vote. Last year, Turkmenistan amended its constitution in a way that could allow Berdymukhamedov to stay in power indefinitely, removing the 70-year age limit for presidential candidates and extending the presidential term to seven years from five. Despite some superficial changes in the democratic decor by allowing some unknown competitors in the election race, a real change is far away. Turkmenistan will remain one of most authoritarian states so far, Tayeb told Al Jazeera. This consolidation of power has been taking place against a background of slowing economic growth and shortages of foreign currency due to Russias decision to halt imports of Turkmen natural gas, Ashgabats main source of export revenue. READ MORE: Turkmenistan president set for landslide win Moscow had long been the main buyer of Turkmen gas and sales to China, although significant, have not completely offset the loss of Russian money flows. Faced with budget deficits after years of surpluses, the authorities are considering scaling down a generous welfare system which includes free petrol rations. Amid the gas fight, Turkmenistan has also flatly rejected the idea of Russia providing military assistance to the Central Asian nations in the light of escalating violence in neighbouring Afghanistan; it has also vehemently denied claims of violent incidents at the Afghan border. Morrison, who was treasurer under outgoing prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, emerged the surprise victor in a three-way challenge for the leadership of the Liberal party brought on by a right-wing rival this week. The new Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison attends a swearing-in ceremony in Canberra, Australia August 24, 2018. In 2014, Morrison became Social Services Minister, and when Malcolm Turnbull rose to leadership in September 2015, he became the new Prime minister's treasurer. It's the fourth time since 2010 that a prime minister has been voted out of the job by his or her own party. Morrison distanced himself from the turmoil, saying he had not been part of the push led by fellow lawmaker Peter Dutton to oust Turnbull over four chaotic days that was inspired by a feud between hard-right conservatives and moderates. Turnbull sought to raise doubts over Dutton's ability to continue sitting in parliament, with reports he has financial interests in daycare centres which receive government funding. I want to assure all Australian that those normal wheels are turning, " he added. It's also an global embarrassment for a nation that prides itself on being a safe and stable democracy in which to invest. It is not clear who if anyone will take Mr Turnbull's place on an important trip he planned next week to regional neighbours Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, which would end at an annual forum of 18 Pacific island nations on Nauru on Sept 5. As treasurer, Mr Morrison delivered three budgets, but the leadership ambitions of the number one ticket holder for the Cronulla Sharks were always obvious to his colleagues. Morrison will therefore need to find a way to meet Australia's commitment to reduce emissions by 26 percent from 2005 levels by 2030 under the Paris accord without stoking old divisions, a challenge Turnbull said would be hard. After the call, Trump took to Twitter to publicly congratulate Morrison on becoming Australia's 30th prime minister. Years earlier, he'd been involved in the highly acclaimed "100% Pure New Zealand" campaign after being recruited to set up that country's Office of Tourism and Sport. "We also have a political editor who has fearlessly reported the news of what was actually happening in Canberra, when others in the [media] chose to ridicule or ignore what was happening", Christopher Dore said in an email. A general election is due next year. Turnbull was forced to resign as prime minister after Dutton succeeded in collecting the required 43 signatures to force a renewed leadership contest. "It is described by many people ... as a form of madness, and it is remarkable we're at this point where only a month ago we were being avid readers of polls, and we were just little bit behind Labor". Foreign Minister Julie Bishop ran as well but did not advance to a final vote Friday. Dutton later suggested that the crisis was driven by personalities rather than policy differences. "In relation to the deputy's position, this was won in a overwhelming sense, in a majority, an absolute majority, by Josh Frydenberg". Morrison was sworn into office shortly after 6 p.m. (0800 GMT) on Friday. His departure from politics will spark a by-election for his Sydney seat, threatening the government's wafer-thin one-seat parliamentary majority. Defence and interior ministers, as well as a security chief, sent their resignations on Saturday. Afghanistans President Ashraf Ghani has rejected resignations tendered by three senior officials. The resignations from Defence Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami and Interior Minister Wais Barmak, as well as Masoom Stanekzai, head of the National Directorate of Security, were submitted on Saturday, hours after National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar quit. But government spokesman Haroon Chakansuri said in a statement that President Ghani asked the three officials to continue with their duties and work towards the betterment of the security situation. Two senior interior ministry officials said the trio cited policy differences with the government amid deteriorating security as the main reason for resigning. The security shake-up comes after weeks of unrelenting attacks by the Taliban, who have seized several districts across the country in recent years. There have also been suicide attacks in Kabul and other major cities. After the attack on Ghazni province and the presidential palace in Kabul, the government came under immense public pressure, Najeeb Nangyal, an Afghan political analyst, told Al Jazeera. So, President Ghani may decide to take some action to bring some reform because the attack on the presidential palace was a security failure. Authorities have been bracing for more attacks with parliamentary elections due to take place on October 20. Chicago residents reflect on anniversary of 1968 riots Anti-war and anti-police violence protesters mark the 50th anniversary of the violence that erupted around the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Colombians have failed to approve rules that hardened punishment for corrupt officials, a measure sent to voters as a referendum after congress proved reluctant to implement stricter anti-graft measures. About 11,700,000 Colombians headed to the polls to vote on the measure, which included seven proposals to target graft in politics and business. With almost all ballots counted, the measure was 470,000 votes short of the 12.1m needed for approval, election officials said. Ninety-nine percent of those of us who voted supported the initiatives, said newly elected President Ivan Duque in an address to the nation. Unfortunately, the number of votes did not reach the minimum needed for approval, he said. The new measure included seven proposals, which would have seen harsher punishments for corrupt officials, increased accountability and the potential lowering of politicians salaries. Green Party Senator Angelica Lozano, who also supported the measure, said the vote had still had an impact. We were five cents short, but change is unstoppable and here there was a shaking of the traditional political class, she told reporters. The changes could have seen Congress members salaries lowered by 40 percent, politicians forced to declare their income and changes to term limits. Enforcing mandatory jail sentences for corruption and changing the way public contracts are awarded in the country were also among the proposals. Voters could return a different answer on each separate measure. Each question required a yes vote from at least 50 percent plus one of valid ballots to pass, and no less than a third of the 36 million registered voters must have voted. Most parties in Congress voted in favour of holding the referendum before the presidential elections in June 2017, but have since avoided any promotion of the initiative. Weve been waiting 25 years for Congress to act on these measures, said Claudia Lopez, a former senator and a leading advocate of the initiative. Instead, they voted them down every single time. Activists collected four million signatures to get officials to fund Sundays referendum. Symbolic effect Corruption costs the country $17bn a year, equivalent to 5.3 percent of GDP, the countrys comptroller has said. Colombia ranks 96 out of 180 countries, according to Transparency Internationals corruption index. Colombian law currently sets senators salaries at about $124,000 a year, more than what parliamentarians make in countries like the Netherlands, Sweden and France. Many members of Congress have been accused of diverting public funds to local governments, led by mayors from their own political camps. Al Jazeeras Alessandro Rampietti, reporting from the capital, Bogota, said that the vote attracted an unprecedented number of voters for a citizen-driven initiative. It might be seen as a disappointment for the organisers and the more than tens of thousands of volunteers that have worked for the best of the last two years to bring this initiative to the ballot, yet even if it didnt pass, it is a symbolic victory since never before have so many Colombians come out to vote in an initiative that wasnt truly supported by the traditional political parties in the country. It says that a great number of Colombians want to see change in the way politics are done in the country and will put pressure on politicians to bring about concrete change and results against corruption, he said. Prior to the ballot, Duque announced he would vote, but many in his party said they would not. Laws dont solve corruption, said Samuel Hoyos, a member of the Democratic Center party. Colombia is full of codes, prohibitions and regulations, but nothing changes. We need to change the culture in the country and we need citizens to keep a close eye on politicians, Hoyos added. Otherwise, we are just throwing away public money in initiatives that will have little effect. Duque casts his ballot in Bogota during the nationwide referendum [Ivan Valencia/AP] Andres Hernandez, senior programme coordinator at Transparency International, believes the vote could have a major impact. If millions of citizens vote in favour of it, it will have a strong symbolic effect on the political class, he told Al Jazeera before the vote. It will say this is not an issue that will fade into the background, that Colombians are expecting results and concrete measures. Gaza brain drain: Woes force thousands to leave Stifled opportunities the 11-year-old blockade has suppressed Gazas industry and its people and many are taking a rare chance to try their option abroad. More than 240 injured by earthquake that hit the countrys west, where another strong quake struck in November. At least two people have been killed and at least 310 injured after a magnitude-6 earthquake struck western Iran. The US Geological Survey (USGS) said Sundays quake struck 26km southwest of the city of Javanrud in Kermanshah province, where more than 600 people were killed in an earthquake in November. State-run television station IRIB said the town of Tazehabad on the border with Iraq was the worst hit and that rescue teams were on their way there. More than 30 aftershocks had also been registered. The Iran Daily newspaper reported that the quake had been felt as far away as Baghdad, hundreds of kilometres further west, though no injuries were reported there. {articleGUID} The quake hit at 2:43am local time (22:13 GMT) at a depth of 10km, according to the USGS. The head of the emergency department Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Saeb Sharidari, told state news agency IRNA that six people were in critical condition. People rushed to hospital after strong earthquake hit western Iran#IranEarthquake pic.twitter.com/t38tzPwyB5 Press TV (@PressTV) August 25, 2018 The provincial head of the Red Crescent, Mohammad Reza Amirian, said there had been at least 21 aftershocks. He said there were potential problems with drinking water due to damaged infrastructure in villages, but that it had not yet been necessary to distribute food and tents. Kermanshah governor Houshang Bazvand told the Tasnim news agency that electricity had been temporarily cut to several villages. A crisis centre was set up, with hospitals and relief organisations placed on alert. Iran sits on top of two major tectonic plates and sees frequent seismic activity. Abu Saad Erhabi killed along with 10 other members of ISILs Afghan branch, security agency says. The leader of ISIL in Afghanistan was killed in air strikes in eastern Nangarhar province, the fourth head of the armed group to die since it emerged in the country in recent years. Abu Saad Erhabi and 10 other Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) members died in a joint operation with coalition forces on Saturday night, the National Directorate of Security said in a statement on Sunday. The emir of Daesh in Afghanistan along with 10 others was killed, it said, using the armed groups Arabic acronym. The air attacks on a village in Khugyani district, near the border with Pakistan, also destroyed a large number of weapons, explosives, and ammunition, the agency said. The provincial governors spokesman Attaullah Khogyani confirmed Erhabis death. US forces in Afghanistan said they conducted an air raid in the location described by Afghan officials, which targeted a senior leader of a designated terrorist organisation. Fourth leader killed Erhabi was the fourth ISIL leader killed in Afghanistan since the group emerged there in early 2015. Erhabi succeeded Abu Sayed who was killed in a US drone attack in early July. ISIL has a relatively small but potent presence in Afghanistan, mainly in Nangarhar the birthplace of the groups Afghan branch but more recently in the northern province of Jowzjan where it is fighting for control of smuggling routes into neighbouring Turkmenistan. Hours before Saturdays air raids, the group claimed a deadly suicide attack that appeared to target a sit-in protest outside an election commission office in the city of Jalalabad. Two people were killed. The bombings followed a number of attacks claimed by ISIL in recent weeks, including assaults on several government installations in Kabul and a bombing at a school in a Shia area of the capital that killed at least 37 people. The group, however, has suffered repeated setbacks amid a bloody turf war with the much larger Taliban. Estimates of ISILs numbers in the country run as high as 2,000. More than 150 ISIL fighters surrendered to Afghan forces in Jowzjan on August 1, a move troops and the Taliban hailed as the end of the groups foothold in the north of the country. ISIL in Afghanistan is also known as Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) after an old name for the region that includes Afghanistan. Far-right politician Salvini is being investigated after more than 150 migrants and refugees were stranded on a ship. Italys Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini is under investigation by a Sicilian prosecutor for refusing to allow more than 150 migrants and refugees to enter Italy. Salvini, who is also Italys interior minister, is being investigated for abuse of office, kidnapping and illegal arrest, after forcing refugees to stay on a ship at the Sicilian port of Catania for almost a week. Salvini blocked them from disembarking the Diciotti in the absence of an agreement from other European member states to share the responsibility of relocation. Following the news of the investigation, Italian authorities allowed people to get off the ship, hours after Saturdays decision to let 16 people off who were unwell. Salvini, leader of the far-right anti-migration League party, responded to the investigation into his conduct on his Facebook page. The prosecutor of Agrigento wants my information? Dont waste your time, Ill give it to you. Matteo Salvini, born in Milan on 9/3/1973, resident in Milan with Italian citizenship, he said. Im proud to be questioned and arrested if for defending and securing the borders of our country. {articleGUID} Health issues The Diciotti vessel docked at the Sicilian port of Catania on Monday night after rescuing 190 people from dinghies in distress off the Maltese coast in the Mediterranean. Eleven women and five men two of whom are suspected to have tuberculosis were given permission by Italian authorities to get off on Saturday, following an onboard visit by doctors requested by the health ministry. Of the 190 people originally on board the Diciotti, 27 unaccompanied children and 13 others had previously been allowed to disembark. Stand-offs with EU The Diciotti is the latest in a string of cases which saw Italy, as well as Malta, refuse or delay the disembarkation of people rescued in the central Mediterranean, often after spending many months in detention in Libya. Under European Union (EU) law, migrants must seek asylum in the country they arrive, leading to regular spats between Italy and its EU partners. In June, Salvini refused docking rights to the Aquarius, a rescue ship with 629 refugees and migrants on board, forcing it to travel to Spain. The following month, several European countries promised to relocate 270 out of more than 400 migrants and refugees that had arrived in the Sicilian port of Pozzallo. {articleGUID} Arrivals to Italy and to Europe overall have more than halved in 2017 to just over 172,300. More than 3,000 people died or went missing in the same year. Salvinis League party was one of the winners of the March elections. He has been at odds with the EU since Italy had its new government was installed. Recent polls say that popular support for his anti-migration platform has been increasing since the new government was installed in early June. However, EU partners, humanitarian groups and international organisations like the UN have heavily criticised Italys stricter stance on the acceptance of refugees. In the 1990s, the Taliban focused on moral policing. Now, the group runs parallel governments in areas of influence. Kabul, Afghanistan Late in May, 26-year-old truck driver Bilal Hakim was travelling along his regular route through Afghanistans northern province of Baghlan to Kunduz. He had taken the journey with the same cargo a 50-tonne tanker of oil several times in his five-year career. Oil tankers enter Afghanistan at Hairatan port in Balkh and carry fuel to Mazar, Samangan, Baghlan, Kunduz, Takhar and Badakhshan provinces. Somewhere in Baghlan-e-Markazi district, I was stopped along with a few other trucks at a makeshift checkpost manned by gunmen, said Hakim*, who did not want to use his real name for security reasons. Before he pulled over, Hakim had an idea of what was happening. He had heard about temporary posts popping up close to main motorways when the local Taliban felt emboldened. They asked me to stop and then they demanded I pay them 25,000 Afghanis ($350) as malia, he told Al Jazeera, using the Dari word for tax. I didnt know what I was supposed to do, he said. Hakim said his employers had received threats of extortion from local Taliban groups before, but this was his first incident of this nature with the armed group. The tanker owners had refused to pay so far, but when they held us captive, we had no choice, Hakim said, adding that tax rate for smaller trucks was $70. The Talibans Department of Tax and Revenue issued the drivers a receipt before releasing them. We have sent tribal elders and religious leaders to negotiate with the Taliban since we can not afford $350 for every vehicle. It will not only affect our business but will also impact the rate of oil in the region. Haji Shafiq, union member Representatives of the Baghlan Oil Tankers Union and Kunduz Tankers Unions confirmed several instances of the Taliban taxing drivers on northern trade routes. Haji Farid, a union member and oil tanker company owner from Kunduz, said his drivers have been affected. The Taliban stopped about 25 trucks three months ago, which included several of oil tankers in Baghlan, and asked them to pay $350 for each truck. Our drivers negotiated the rate down to $210, he said. The Taliban told us that they were formally collecting taxes from the entire north and northeastern region and were planning on expanding closer to Kabul as well. Afghan officials are aware of the tax. In June, provincial Baghlan governor Abdul Hai Nemati told Al Jazeera the Taliban was collecting ransom at gunpoint, adding he had ordered a security patrol to observe and secure all motorways passing through the province. Meanwhile, truck owners have taken matters into their own hands by attempting to negotiate with the local fighters. We (the union members) have sent tribal elders and religious leaders to negotiate with the Taliban since we can not afford $350 for every vehicle. It will not only affect our business but will also impact the rate of oil in the region, Haji Shafiq, a union member from Baghlan, told Al Jazeera. Union members have not considered avoiding the tax entirely, out of fear the Taliban would set tankers alight. The Taliban are sometimes as far as 50 metres away from the main road and can shoot at our oil tankers, even if we travel with police escort, Shafiq explained. He estimates that between 150 to 200 oil tankers pass through the northern highway each day, many of them carrying fuel for foreign troops. Taxes that Muslims must pay for their community Collecting funds is not limited to the road tax. The Talibans Ministry of Finance has expanded its activities in the region in an apparent effort at state-building. Farmers in Baghlan-e-Markazi have reported the Taliban demanding zakat, or charity, that is often paid in kind such as portions of the harvest. However, the Taliban have little use for agricultural produce and force farmers to buy back donated produce at market rates, issuing them similar attested receipts for payments. Local Taliban commander Maulawi Abdul Rahman said tax collection was legal and in accordance with Islamic law. What we collect is oshr and zakat, Islamic taxes that all Muslims must pay for their community, he told Al Jazeera, speaking from Dahna-e-Ghori, a district that remains largely under Taliban control. According to the Taliban, the group uses this money to improve local services. Social media posts by groups associated with Taliban show them engaging in public services such as building roads, bridges and religious schools. Road connecting many areas restored in Chahr Dara #Kunduz, afforestation campaign in Qisar #Faryab following directive by #AmirulMumineen pic.twitter.com/Ibu7yQUULH Abdulqahar Balkhi (@balkhi_01) March 14, 2017 Fund-raising and state-building go hand in hand; you cant establish yourself as a system of state without money, explained Ahmad Shuja Jamal, Afghan political analyst and editor of the Georgetown Public Policy Review. You have to be able to show the public projects, you have to show that you as a state are able to benefit people in the areas you control. It is a way for them to establish themselves as a viable potential state, he told Al Jazeera, adding that this approach differed from when the Taliban controlled the Afghan government in the late 1990s. All they offered was a draconian system of moral policing; that was the state. Grow your beard, wear your turban, wear your chadori (a headscarf worn by women), dont get out of the house that was literally what they offered. But what they are trying to do now is offer all of that and then some more. Their harsh approach to law and order was not popular, so they learned from it, Jamal told Al Jazeera. A report in June by Overseas Development Institute (ODI), Life Under The Taliban Shadow Government, explores the lives of millions of Afghans living under the groups influence. Taliban governance is more coherent than ever before; high-level commissions govern sectors such as finance, health, education, justice and taxation, with clear chains of command and policies from the leadership based in Pakistan down to villages in Afghanistan, the report says, while noting how Taliban taxes co-opt Islamic finance concepts, such as oshr and zakat, or mimic official state systems. The report adds: [Apart from] reviving and restarting parts of their government, such as justice, the Taliban had to invent other systems through trial and error. Much of the process appears to be bottom-up and demand-led, and influenced by local experience. The Taliban has attempted to correct some of its flaws that undermined its rule in the 1990s, including the ban on girls education. Though most Taliban officials insist no ban existed in the first place, and the Taliban have publicly stated that all women should have access to education, says the report, authored by ODIs Ashley Jackson. Talibans swift justice The Taliban are also building a parallel, but small-scale, justice system within areas they control. The Taliban have it in their DNA to be a draconian type of moral purifying force using their brand of religious interpretation, which they are using to dispense arbitration in local disputes, said Jamal, the political analyst. Some citizens appreciate the Talibans speed in ending legal rows in a society where such disputes can linger for decades. Mohammad, not his real name, is from Baghlan province and owns about a hectare of agricultural land. For several years, our family land was controlled by a tribal elder. I reported the matter to the governmental officials and approached various departments of the Afghan government to try and get our land back, but no one was willing to help us because the perpetrator was an influential tribal leader, he told Al Jazeera. Years later in January 2018, a friend introduced him to the local Taliban district judge. With nothing more to lose, I shared my problem with the Taliban judge. After reviewing my problem and having shared documents proving I inherited the land in question from my grandfather, the judge sent out their fighters to find the man occupying my land, he said. The accused was presented in a Taliban court the next day and asked to produce evidence, but said his documents were lost amid the countrys conflicts. The Taliban judge ruled that the land belonged to my family and told the elder to only return if he can find documents to counterclaim, Elham said, as he lauded the groups swift justice. However, Jamal warned against interpreting the Talibans justice system as fair. I would call it an attempt at fast, perhaps hasty, resolution of local disputes, he said. A lot of what they do doesnt conform to international norms, which is why they are able to do this quickly. It doesnt conform to Afghan, global, or Muslim standards of what justice should be fair and equitable The Taliban engage in a lot of extrajudicial killing after summary trials. The Afghan government, he said, should be concerned. It is the constitutional duty of the Afghan government to offer public services, justice and fair representation. And they should be more worried that in their absence, an armed opposition group is trying to fill the void. However, the shift in the Talibans strategy to present itself as a viable government hasnt necessarily won them significant support. For the Taliban, control of people rather than control of territory or popular support is the priority, the ODIs Jackson says in her report. They seek to control the population, mainly to prevent people from informing upon them or acting against them. With additional reporting by Ajmal Omari in Kabul. The Republican senator from Arizona, who became a prominent critic of Trump, dies after battling brain cancer. United States Senator John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam who ran unsuccessfully for US president in 2008 and became a prominent critic of President Donald Trump, died on Saturday, his office said. He was 81. McCain, a US senator from Arizona for over three decades, had been battling glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, discovered by his doctors in July 2017. He had not been at the US Capitol in 2018. He also had surgery for an intestinal infection in April of this year. Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28pm on August 25, 2018, read a statement from his office. With the senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family, the statement added. No further details were immediately provided. My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years, Cindy McCain wrote on Twitter. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the place he loved best. My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved best. Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) August 26, 2018 Meghan McCain, one of McCains daughters, tweeted a statement, saying: My father is gone, and I miss him as only an adoring daughter can. But in this loss, and in this sorrow, I take comfort in this: John McCain, hero of the republic and to his little girl, wakes today to something more glorious than anything on this earth. I love you forever my beloved father @SenJohnMcCain pic.twitter.com/Y50tVQvlVe Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) August 26, 2018 McCain had been in the public eye since the 1960s, when as a naval aviator he was shot down during the Vietnam War and tortured by his North Vietnamese captors during the more than five years he was held as a prisoner. John McCain after he was released from North Vietnamese detention [Horst Faas/AP Photo] He was edged out by George W Bush for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, but became his partys White House candidate eight years later. McCain lost in 2008 to Democrat Barack Obama. William Schneider, a political analyst, told Al Jazeera that McCain will be remembered as a beloved figure, not primarily for his ideology or his partisanship but because of his personal qualities. Many of McCains Republican and Democratic colleagues gave their condolences. Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer said he will be introducing a resolution to rename a congressional building in McCains honour. McCains dedication to his country and the military were unsurpassed, and maybe most of all, he was a truth teller never afraid to speak truth to power in an ear where that has become all too rare. Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, said in a statement that it is an understatement to say the Senate will not be the same without our friend John. He added: The nation mourns the loss of a great American patriot, statesman who put his country first and enriched this institution through many years of service. Foreign policy hawk In the Senate, McCain was a foreign policy hawk with a traditional Republican view of world affairs. He was a staunch supporter of Israel. In 2016, after the UN Security Council passed a resolution condemning Israels illegal settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, McCain called the decision a shameful chapter in the bizarre anti-Israel history of the United Nations. He specifically called out the US, who, under Obama, abstained from the vote, saying the abstention made us complicit in this outrageous attack, and makes a troubling departure from our nations long, bipartisan history of defending our ally Israel in the United Nations. While his support for Israel almost never wavered, he appeared somewhat reserved in his reaction to Trumps decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem. I have long believed that Jerusalem is the true capital of Israel, McCain said at the time. However, issues surrounding the final and permanent status of Jerusalem must ultimately be resolved by Israelis and Palestinians as part of an internationally supported peace process. McCain also supported Bushs 2003 invasion of Iraq and criticised Obama for not doing more to intervene in Syrias civil war. He was a staunch opponent of Iran, joking in 2017 about bombing the country. He sang bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran while on the campaign trail. He was also an outspoken critic of the Iran nuclear deal. In 2017, he praised Trump for his Iran goals, saying he agreed with the president that the [nuclear] deal is not the vital national interests of the United States. McCain v Trump While McCain and Trump found some agreement on certain issues, including Iran, the senator was a frequent critic and target of the president as well. As the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, McCain denounced Trump for, among other things, his praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders the senator described as foreign tyrants. Flattery secures his friendship, criticism his enmity, McCain said of Trump in his memoir, The Restless Wave, which was released in May. McCain in July had castigated Trump for his summit with Putin, issuing a statement that called their joint news conference in Helsinki one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory. He said Trump was not only unable but unwilling to stand up to Putin. McCain was also the central figure in one of the most dramatic moments in Congress of Trumps presidency when he returned to Washington, DC, shortly after his brain cancer diagnosis for a middle-of-the-night Senate vote in July 2017. Still bearing a black eye and scar from surgery, McCain gave a thumbs-down signal in a vote to scuttle a Trump-backed bill that would have repealed the Obamacare healthcare law and increased the number of Americans without health insurance by millions. McCain returned to Washington, DC, after just being diagnosed to vote against bill that would have repealed Obamacare healthcare law [J Scott Applewhite/AP Photo] Trump was furious about McCains vote and frequently referred to it at rallies but without mentioning McCain by name. Even before the president took office, Trump and McCain were often at odds. After Trump in 2015 launched his presidential campaign, McCain condemned his hard-line rhetoric on immigration and said Trump had fired up the crazies. Trump retorted that McCain was not a war hero, adding: I like people who werent captured. After Trump became president, McCain blasted what he called the presidents attempts to undermine the free press and rule of law, and lamented the half-baked, spurious nationalism of the Trump era. Following the news of McCains death on Saturday, Trump tweeted: My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you. Sources close to McCain have said Trump would not be invited to the funeral. 2008 presidential bid McCain, the son and grandson of US Navy admirals, was elected to the US House of Representatives from Arizona in 1982 after more than two decades of Navy service. He served four years in the House before Arizona voters elected him to the Senate in 1986 to replace Barry Goldwater, the 1964 Republican presidential nominee revered by conservatives. In running for president in 2008, McCain tried to succeed an unpopular fellow Republican in Bush, who was leaving office with the country mired in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and stuck in a financial crisis. It was a stark contrast between McCain, then a 72-year-old veteran of the Washington establishment, and the 47-year-old Obama, who was offering a Yes, we can message of change. McCain lost the 2008 presidential election alongside Sarah Palin as his vice president pick [Chris Carlson/AP Photo] McCain tried to inject some youth and enthusiasm into his campaign with his selection of Sarah Palin, Alaskas governor, as his running mate. But the choice backfired as her political inexperience and shaky performances in media interviews raised concerns about her qualifications. In his new book, McCain voiced regret for not choosing then-Senator Joe Lieberman, a Democrat turned independent, as his running mate. McCain wrote that he had originally settled on Lieberman, Democrat Al Gores running mate in the 2000 election, but was warned by Republican leaders that Liebermans views on social issues, including support for abortion rights, would fatally divide the party. It was sound advice that I could reason for myself, McCain wrote. But my gut told me to ignore it and I wish I had. Obama won 53 percent of the vote to McCains 45.6 percent. On Saturday, Obama released a statement, saying that while he and McCain had their differences they shared a fidelity to something higher the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed. A maverick In Congress, McCain built a generally conservative record, opposing abortion and advocating higher defence spending. Still, he prided himself on his reputation as a maverick and had a history of working across party lines on immigration, climate change and campaign finance reform. He also spoke out against the Bush administrations use of waterboarding, a torture technique that simulates drowning, and other harsh interrogation tactics on detainees in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks. He urged the closure of the prison for foreign terrorism suspects at the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and also sponsored an anti-torture measure that passed Congress in 2005. In a 2002 memoir, McCain wrote, Im an independent-minded, well-informed public servant to some. And to others, Im a self-styled, self-righteous maverick pain in the ass. A dark period for McCain came as one of the Keating Five group of senators accused of improperly intervening with federal regulators to help political contributor and bank executive Charles Keating, whose Lincoln Savings and Loan failed in 1989 at a cost to taxpayers of $3.4bn. McCain was cleared of wrongdoing in 1991, but the Senate Ethics Committee rebuked him for poor judgment. On July 25, 2017, McCain delivered a Senate floor speech not long after his cancer diagnosis that was widely seen as his farewell address. It included a call to fellow Republicans to stand up to Trump and for all politicians to work together to keep America as a beacon of liberty in the world. That is the cause that binds us and is so much more powerful and worthy than the small differences that divide us, McCain said. A senior Vatican official called on Pope Francis to resign, accusing the pontiff of failing to act sooner on sexual abuse allegations against former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. In an 11-page statement, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano said sanctions imposed on McCarrick by Pope Benedict XVI over sexual misconduct were lifted under Francis, despite reports about his gravely immoral behaviour with seminarians and priests. Vigano said he informed Francis in person in 2013 of the sanctions and how McCarrick, ex-archbishop of Washington, DC, corrupted generations of seminarians and priests. Pope Francis continued to cover for McCarrick despite the sanctions and even made him his trusted counsellor, Vigano alleged. In this extremely dramatic moment for the universal church, he must acknowledge his mistakes and, in keeping with the proclaimed principle of zero tolerance, Pope Francis must be the first to set a good example for cardinals and bishops who covered up McCarricks abuses and resign along with all of them, he said. Pope Francis declined to comment on the allegations. I will not say a word about that. I think that the communique speaks for itself, Francis said on his plane as he flew back from Dublin to Rome. The timing of the letters release right in the middle of Franciss landmark trip to Ireland raised speculation of a campaign by conservatives in the church against the liberal pontiff. Francis told journalists to read the communique attentively and make your own judgement, referring to Viganos letter. You have sufficient journalistic capacity to draw conclusions. When a little time has passed and you have the conclusions perhaps I will talk, he said. Betrayal Vigano, 77, a conservative whose hardline anti-gay views are well known, has long been seen as a critic of Pope Francis. His letter also contained a lengthy diatribe about homosexuality and liberals in the Catholic Church. Colm OGorman, an author, activist, and church abuse survivor, said the letter from Vigano was a fairly shocking development. In the 2,000-year history of the church, no senior church official has ever come out and called on a pope to resign, OGorman told Al Jazeera. I think we need to be careful because Vigano has an agenda of his own. Theres an ideological battle going on inside the church thats part of whats at play here I am surprised its emerged from such a high level within the hierarchy of the church. But its something the Vatican is going to have to respond to. Viganos criticism came as Pope Francis made a two-day visit to Ireland, where he addressed sex abuse scandals and begged for Gods forgiveness for the betrayal by the church. On Sunday, Pope Francis told tens of thousands of people gathered in Dublin: None of us can fail to be moved by the stories of young people who suffered abuse, were robbed of their innocence and left scarred. Francis met privately on Saturday with eight victims of clerical, religious and institutional abuse, saying he would seek greater commitment to eliminate the scourge. Vigano has been a critic of Pope Francis policies [File: Reuters] Viganos statement, first published in the conservative American publication the National Catholic Register, also claimed several Vatican officials knew for years about the allegations against McCarrick. An investigation was launched after a man claimed he was sexually abused by McCarrick when he was 11 years old. Similar allegations were made against McCarrick by other men who were seminarians studying for the priesthood. In July, McCarrick resigned as cardinal after he was removed from official duties in June. A recent US grand jury report into sexual misconduct and coverups found 300 priests abused more than 1,000 children over 70 years in the state of Pennsylvania while senior church officials took steps to conceal it. Vigano himself has had his own problems with allegations of trying to hide the truth. The coverup accusation, which Vigano denied, concerned accusations he tried to quash an investigation into a former archbishop accused of misconduct. He says the U.S. sanctions will remain in place until "the required change in Russian behavior". The chain of sanctions goes back a long way, and the move also echoes similar sanctions announced in April, which targeted 36 Russian oligarchs, government officials, and state-owned firms in response to "a range of malign activity around the globe". The U.S. announced details of new sanctions against Russia over the March poisoning in the United Kingdom of a former Russian agent and his daughter, the latest sign relations between the former Cold War foes continue to deteriorate. According to RT, Russia has been stockpiling gold and reducing its holdings of US debt, in order to mitigate the effect of sanctions. Although President Donald Trump has often said he would like better ties with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, Washington's relations with Moscow are at a low - frayed by USA allegations Russia interfered in its 2016 presidential election, and by disagreements over Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and its role in the Syrian civil war. What are the prospects of Ukraine towards North Atlantic Treaty Organisation membership here John Bolton recalled that since 2008, the administration of George W. Bush, the United States supported Ukraine in this matter. Russia's Foreign Ministry said the sanctions will only create more tension between the two countries, the RIA news agency reported on Friday. "The ruble should not be this weak based on, shall we say, fundamentals", said Chris Weafer, a Moscow-based senior partner at the Macro Advisory consultancy. These are just the latest in a long line of United States sanctions targeting the Russians. "Sanctions will have an impact, but we hope that we will get through", adds the woman. "It's not only about the position of the US President". He called the sanctions "counterproductive and senseless, especially regarding such country like Russian Federation", adding that he hoped "that the realization that this policy doesn't have a future will someday come to our American partners and we'll begin to cooperate in a normal manner". Iranian FM says the US was targeting Iran and its business partners but Washington would not achieve its goals. Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has accused the United States of waging a psychological war against Tehran and its business partners. US sanctions were re-imposed on August 7, just months after US President Donald Trump withdrew from the multilateral Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal. [Americas] focus is on a psychological war against Iran and its business partners, Javad Zarif said in comments reported on Sunday by the Iranian Tasnim news agency. The nuclear agreement, which was implemented in 2016, would see Iran reduce its capacity to develop nuclear weapons in exchange for limited sanctions relief. Its signatories included the US, the European Union (EU), several world powers, and Iran. At the time, it was thought to be one of former US President Barack Obamas biggest diplomatic achievements. But despite the US withdrawal, other parties to the accord are trying to find ways to save the agreement. The EU has vowed to protect companies dealing with Iran and has urged Iran to continue keeping its side of the bargain. Trump wants a broader deal, which addresses issues such as Irans missile programme and its involvement in several Middle Eastern conflicts, such as in Syria and Yemen. Trumps decision to withdraw from the accord has hurt the US, said Zarif, according to the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA). From the time that Trump announced the withdrawal from the nuclear deal, America has not been able to reach its goals, said Zarif. Irans foreign minister also said the nuclear deal has led to political conflict within Iran. There are some in the country who, instead of laying the groundwork for using the opportunities presented by the nuclear deal, chose a political fight. And this political fight led to despair and disappointment. Hardline critics of the deal have lashed out at Iranian President Hassan Rouhani after the USs withdrawal, claiming the agreement was a form of capitulation. Zimbabwe: Survivors still seek justice for Matabeleland killings President Emmerson Mnangagwa was state security minister in the 1980s when at least 20,000 people were killed by the army, leading some to question if he can reform the country, given his past political allegiances. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman who has been held in Tehran for more than two years on sedition charges, has returned to prison after a temporary three-day release. The move on Sunday dashed her familys hopes that Iranian officials were clearing the way for the dual national to return to her residence in the UK, where her husband has been working for her release. We have just heard the sad news that Nazanins extension has been refused and she has returned to prison, read a tweet on the official Free Nazanin Twitter account. Here is the moment she said goodbye to a distraught Gabriella, it added, along with a picture of Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her four-year-old daughter, Gabriella. Speaking of separating from her daughter, Zaghari-Ratcliffe said: I couldnt bear her tears. Nothing is worse than her tears. I cannot forget her face, according to the Twitter account. We have just heard the sad news that Nazanins extension has been refused and she has returned to prison. Here is the moment she said goodbye to a distraught Gabriella #FreeNazanin pic.twitter.com/YBEIbOdQb4 Free Nazanin (@FreeNazanin) August 26, 2018 Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a charity worker with the Thompson Reuters Foundation, was reunited on Thursday with members of her family outside the Iranian capital, Tehran, after the unexpected three-day furlough. Her husband Richard Ratcliffe said they had received mixed messages from the Iranian authorities on Sunday, in advance of her return to Evin prison. {articleGUID} She had initially been told her request for an extension had been approved, but then received a call telling her to return to prison by sunset, according to a statement by Ratcliffe. After discussion with her family in Iran, Nazanin decided that she would go into prison. She did not want to be dragged out of the house in front of her baby, but would walk into prison with her head held high, Ratcliffe said. She wanted to say goodbye to Gabriella calmly and left her in the care of her mother. Her father has taken Nazanin back to prison, he said in an email received by AFP news agency. She was shivering and shaking and crying and said: How can you take me away from my baby when she needs me? Espionage charges Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been imprisoned on espionage charges since 2016, when she was detained for allegedly conspiring to overthrow the Iranian government by running a journalism training programme while visiting Iran to introduce her young daughter to her grandparents. She 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 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. Iran does not recognise dual nationality and has been treating her solely as an Iranian citizen in the case. According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), Iran has arrested several dual nationals who have travelled to the country in recent years. About the show A weekly programme that examines and dissects the worlds media, how they operate and the stories they cover. Watch The Listening Post every Saturday at 0830GMT Pope Francis has said that he does not want to fire people in difficult times, even as the Vatican faces a big deficit. While getting rid of coal may be possible for some developed nations, it is not so simple for developing countries. Where is the concern for facts or even the greater concern for a destruction of national identity conducted by the uneducable twenty-year-olds? They tore another Confederate statue down. A mob of misinformed lawless miscreants in North Carolina, ignorant of history but allowed to alter history. Violating law and allowed to do so by gutless local authorities guarding not history or law but their positions and municipal pensions. Enter an expert, a person not wet behind the ears with a sledge hammer, but rather an astute historian who possesses knowledge beyond any level which the mobsters could imagine. Meet James "Bud " Robertson. If you have read Civil War history, you might have read one of his books. He has published forty. If you are a statue remover, you most assuredly have read none. Mr. Robertson is professor emeritus Virginia Tech. He has studied the politics of the great war for nearly six decades. He assisted the Kennedy administration in the commemoration of the Civil War Centennial. He provides great wisdom regarding the importance of history to a nation's identity and insights into the Civil War. His one hour speech can be seen on his video. It is remarkable collection of observations, both past and present, regarding a nation's history and the peril that comes with its altering. He corrects the misconceptions that fuel much of this Confederate statue controversy. His opening line is dramatic. "For the first time in my sixty year career I must say I take no pleasure in the talk I am about to give. Yet, it is time that the other side be heard in this monument furyI will address the factors that lay behind the insanity under which we live in many sections. I understand and I respect those whose friendships I may damage here." Here are some salient points from Mr. Robertson: Forgetting the War is impossible Slavery was the underlying issue but not the only factor. States rights and limitations on federal power were also in play. Probably 90% of our citizens could not pass a history exam. Cultural illiteracy is fast becoming a way of life in America. History is the greatest teacher you will ever have. Monuments compel us to look back, and learn from our history. Demagogic propaganda that purges fact and extols fantasy is destructive. Great men are being slandered by the noneducable. Robertson points out that there are laws on the books to prevent monument removal by local authorities. The wisdom of these laws is to disallow the ideological fashions of the day, implemented by fleeting politicians, to erase a history revered by the previous generations who were witnesses and participants. In 1906 a federal law was passed which state Confederate soldiers would be treated the same as any other American veteran. The statues in Virginia memorialize those who defended their state. Section 2742 of the Virginia code, passed in February 1904 protected all monuments from removal: "It shall not be lawful for the authority of any county or any persons whatever to disturb or interfere with any monuments. (Prohibiting removal, damaging or defacing was included later.) It is still the law in 2018. In short, monuments may not be removed due to the whims of a local agency or "loud mouths" seeking notoriety. Authorities in Leesburg and Alexandria sought to take down monuments but such proposals were quickly shot down. Robertson suggests individuals memorialized should be considered in the "context of their time", and that too many local politicians are to willing to bend to the politically correct trend of the moment. "It is sad that so many of my Democrat friends who have respect for history are having to take the other side merely because if the Republicans are for it, they must oppose." Politics must never supersede principle, says James Robertson. We must not ignore the presence of a mob mentality that is long on noise and short on knowledge. General John Kelly was castigated for commenting that the Civil War was caused by a "failure to compromise". Robertson notes that "failure to compromise" has been a staple of Civil War causes ever since the war ended. Noted historians including Columbia's Allan Nevins and Randall of the University of Chicago wrote extensively on just that point and thus General Kelly took the position of experts. According to polls, at least 70% of the electorate do not want monuments removed. There are laws on the books to prohibit removals. Yet, laws are ignored, historical fact is ignored. Why are bona fide references to history and its analysis, widely held for decades such as General Kelly's comments, now castigated? Is this intentional ignorance or anarchical globalist machinations? Or both? Robertson maintains eliminating the past has never been a successful means for healing. Winston Churchill said, "The farther backwards you can look, the farther forward you can see." But "When the present argues with the past, you have likely lost the future." Robertson notes "When we remove statues erected by previous generations we are destroying more than bronze and marble, we are tearing down our nation itselfall the things.. good and bad and inadequate that made it. Why should we want to learn from an imperfect past. We could learn from it and move to a more perfect future." But there are those who wish to "tear down" and there are those who choose not to "learn". Their mission is to erase history, to eviscerate and carve out the foundations of a nation's heritage. What could be more distasteful to a globalist than that which is the foundation of a nation, that being a nation's history? Robertson continued: Only when Americans learn more of their history will they become more respectful of it. Nothing is more critical to the future of liberty than the manner in which we educate our children. We can not sit idly and watch these incendiaries run loose, for protection of heritage is patriotism. Robertson closes with a call for more history, not less. We need more memorials. We yearn for more reminders of how far we have come and the obstacles we have overcome and the long journey. Eliminating memorials will not change yesterday. Learning from them can change tomorrow. And as Robert E. Lee stated, "It is the study of history that teaches us to hope." When Trump tweets something, the Self-Righteous Indignation Brigade demand that Christians immediately drop their support of the president. If we don't, then somehow we have lost our integrity or compromised our faith. Isn't that obvious? I used to be a harsh Trump critic and a NeverTrump, writing various articles in a mocking, condescending style (I won't link to them). Through a series of circumstances and listening to various people in my church tradition and just observing, I changed my mind. So I decided to flip this question 180 degrees. How could God use a man with such a deficient character as Trump's? That question is easily dispensed with. The Bible is full of heroes of the faith who had moral defects. It is time to disabuse ourselves of the notion that the presidency is sacred, in the sense that biblical and European monarchs underwent le sacre (sacred royal anointing and crowning). John Adams was laughed out of court, so to speak, when he suggested that the president take the title "His Excellency." This was not a far-fetched proposal, because that title appears everywhere in seventeenth-century colonial government documents. Bottom line: God can accomplish his purposes even with imperfect vessels. So I flipped the first question to this corollary opposite question: What if God set up this whole Trump phenomenon? Is it possible to see God at work nowadays with the Trump presidency? We need a Christian analysis of current events, so absent today, based on our constitutional founding in the late eighteenth century and some old-fashioned biblical principles. The answers are not clear in their details so far, but some sketchy lines are beginning to emerge. Let's accept these premises, as tens of millions of Christians do: 1. God has raised up America as she was constitutionally founded to offer maximum liberty: streamlined, without a gigantic government to limit our freedoms. 2. America has been blessed because of the gospel going around the globe, to be a beacon of light. If she loses her religious freedom, the gospel suffers, and so does humanity. 3. The left, for whatever warped reasons, intends to transform America from how she was constitutionally set up in the late eighteenth century. 4. Throwing monkey wrenches into the streamlined Constitution, the left opposes the way God ordained this nation to run. Now, how does Trump conform (or not) to those premises? First, he nominated two excellent Supreme Court justices. Let's face it: the flaw in our Constitution is the unpleasant fact that Article Three (judicial) can dismantle the laws that Articles One (legislative) and Two (executive) pass. And then Article Three can claim that its decisions are "settled law," a classic insider power-grab. And there is not a realistic thing Articles One and Two can do about it. So is the flaw fatal? Maybe, unless we submit to ugly politics that change from one election to the next. Elected representatives must nominate and vote for justices and judges who respect premises 1 and 2. It's hard to imagine more traditional Republicans who ran for president this last time around submitting to the Federalist Society's choices. Maybe they would; maybe they wouldn't. But since Trump is an inexperienced outsider, he did. Good for him. The liberty promised in premises 1 and 2 is on its way. Second, the left, both politicians or the mainstream news media, has gone stark raving mad. Leftists are howling at the Moon. Trump has to get credit for ripping off their masks and exposing who they really are. Sad to say, but it is difficult to imagine a more traditional Republican standing up to them. The older generation heard this maxim: "Don't pick a fight with the news media! You'll lose!" In the past, when the news media sensed Republicans stepping out of the path the media approved of, the media would attack, and the GOP politicians would hang their heads, put their hands in their pockets, and submit. Trump doesn't do that. He fights. We are about to see whether his running roughshod over the maxim will yield results. My prediction: It will. Whatever happens, we are now left with only one choice, since Trump has led us this far into the fray: we must never give up the fight against the media. We must not back down now. If we do, they will hand their fellow Democrats our meek and mild heads on a platter. Trump is fighting premises 3 and 4. Third, the GOP must change or die. The only reason the party appears conservative is that the Democrats have lurched far to the left. Let's not even try to accomplish overnight the streamlined government named in premise 1. (Maybe that's why Trump won: he did not come across as a "turbo-conservative.") After eighty years of FDR's big government, reinforced by LBJ, liberal Nixon, and Carter, it is not clear that we will ever go back to a streamlined government as the founders envisioned it. However, maybe we can roll it back incrementally. The House and Senate GOP failed Trump when both groups recently passed a budget with a huge deficit. Apparently, they did not recall that Clinton, coming from conservative Arkansas, worked with Newt Gingrich, then the speaker of the House, to cut taxes and trim the welfare state and other government programs. Following that conservative principle, they managed to squeak by with a small budget surplus, and the economy heated up as well. Today, what's wrong with a government cut across the board? You pick the percentage: 10%, 15%, 20%. If Clinton and Newt could do it, why not a Republican House and Senate and White House? The GOP has a lot of fat on it, and Trump is trimming it by rolling up his sleeves and fighting. The GOP chattering class hate him for it. Wrong and shortsighted. Fourth, Trump is about to go through a tough time. If even one member of the GOP political class speaks out against Trump during this momentary tough time, it will be awful. That member will appear self-righteous and priggish ("toldya!"), as if he confuses Trump's aggressive personality which is needed to counter-balance the left's insanity with his willingness and even eagerness to work with his own party to get things done. Dear GOP at the RNC and in the House and Senate, don't misread the American political landscape and roll over and play dead at the coming tsunami of venom from the media and their fellow Democrat politicians against Trump. Go out there in the media spotlight and defend him vigorously! We have to support him in his fight against the insane left (see premises 3 and 4). I believe that Trump will come out victorious, because if the left takes the House, and that's not a sure thing, it will overreach and write up articles of impeachment, and clear-thinking Americans will turn against the left. Trump will win in 2020, and the GOP will retake the House. Then it will be great to see the forlorn faces of the media and NeverTrumps (as I used to be). Fifth, politically correct culture, a creation of the left, has been corroding America for several decades now. If there is one thing the gospel requires, it is an honest look at the world as God created it and at oneself (see premises 1 and 2). "You shall know the truth [of the gospel of Christ], and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). The left has been engaging in the destruction of truth. Trump is currently fighting its attempt. Is he extra-loud and strong about it? Yes, but it is refreshing. Those extra-dignified GOP politicians and pundits don't like it, but they don't understand the right remedy: strength and toughness. It is easy to picture most (or all) of the candidates in 2016 rolling over at the first trumpet blast in their ears from the media, if they had the courage to resist P.C. culture in the first place. For those reasons, along with many others, God chose Trump. Let's work with and for the man we have now. He is a fighter. I say we fight with him, not against him. James Arlandson's website is Live as Free People, where he has posted When Jesus Used Harsh Language and How Evangelicals Can Support Trump. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr. Australia's incoming Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks at a press conference in Canberra on August 24, 2018. The new man will be Scott Morrison, the seventh prime minister of Australia in just over a decade. Former Australian minister for home affairs Peter Dutton, an ex-police officer and right-winger, was the driving force behind the move to oust Turnbull after a Liberal Party backlash against his more moderate policies. "We affirmed the strength of the relationship between the U.S. and Australia". "My plan for this country is for an even stronger Australia", he said. "Bull" Allen was an Australian soldier who served in New Guinea in World War II. The right-wing of the party would prefer greater investment in the country's coal sector and policies to lower Australians' power prices. Mr Turnbull may have been a singularly weak leader but many voters and many of Australia's friends overseas will agree with his assessment. It was Dutton's backers who forced Turnbull to hold the leadership vote on Friday. Trump described the refugee deal, negotiated by Turnbull and former President Barack Obama, as "dumb". Morrison, a former minister for immigration and border protection who took credit for "stop the boats" - a harsh policy to halt asylum seekers from entering Australia - is further to the right than Turnbull, but not as hardline as some in the party. "I have done everything I can to maintain the stability of government and the stability of the party". Mr Turnbull's leadership was vulnerable because his government was trailing in opinion polls. A haggard Malcolm Turnbull in his last hours as prime minister of Australia turned to a trusted colleague and said: "They've lost their mind haven't they?" Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg will take on the post of deputy prime minister. "We're dealing with someone who's familiar with the New Zealand political psyche, the composition of New Zealand, how [we] think and work so I would imagine that basically is a very good start", he said. "Once I have considered my options I will make a statement". He'll head out to regional Queensland later this week for a drought tour. "There was a determined insurgency from a number of people", Turnbull said. Turnbull blamed Dutton, former leader Tony Abbott and other Liberal "insurgents" for destabilising the party in their challenge to his leadership and Morrison must decide whether they should return to the frontbench. The fresh outbreak of political instability was met with renewed public disgust toward politicians, already among the least-trusted profession in the nation. Morrison, an evangelical Christian known as "ScoMo", admitted the government had been "battered and bruised" by the turmoil and has vowed to get the focus back on the Australian people. "Now we've got him. Manafort was convicted on eight counts." What do you do when your party has no viable policies acceptable to voters and no candidate to credibly lead them? I wanted to find out, so I wandered over to the Cafe California, where Democrats never leave. I'm old enough that with a bit of padding and an ugly large hat, I could look like a Bella Abzug wannabe, and I sat in the middle of the room, turning my hearing aids up to full blast. I couldn't stare at the speakers and don't know most of them, so I can't give you their names, but this is what I recall of the conversations around me. "For things that happened in 2007, involved Ukrainians, not Russians, and had nothing to do with Trump." "Well, there's the Cohen conviction." "It says right here in the New York Times Cohen made the extraordinary admission that he paid a pornographic film actress 'at the direction of the candidate' to secure her silence about an affair." "That doesn't seem to be illegal, even if he was, for once, telling the truth. Professor Dershowitz says, 'Any candidate has the right to contribute unlimited amounts to his own campaign.' And if you argue that somehow it was not reported and that that was a violation, he counters: 'Do you know how many technical violations the Obama campaign has committed and every other campaign has committed? Failure to report a contribution by the candidate itself is essentially jaywalking.'" "In any event, it seems a weird interpretation of the FEC requirement. Even the former FEC chairman says it's a strained interpretation of the distinction between campaign and personal expenditures." In the Wall Street Journal, Professor Bradley Smith explained it: Not satisfied with an old-fashioned sex scandal perhaps because the president seems impervious to that some want to turn this into a violation of campaign-finance law. Trevor Potter, a former member of the Federal Election Commission[,] told "60 Minutes" the payment was "a $130,000 in-kind contribution by Cohen to the Trump campaign, which is about $126,500 above what he's allowed to give." The FBI raided Mr. Cohen's office, home and hotel room Monday. They reportedly seized records related to the payment and are investigating possible violations of campaign-finance laws. But let's remember a basic principle of such laws: Not everything that might benefit a candidate is a campaign expense. Campaign-finance law aims to prevent corruption. For this reason, the FEC has a longstanding ban on "personal use" of campaign funds. Such use would give campaign contributions a material value beyond helping to elect the candidate the essence of a bribe. FEC regulations explain that the campaign cannot pay expenses that would exist "irrespective" of the campaign, even if it might help win election. At the same time, obligations that would not exist "but for" the campaign must be paid from campaign funds. If paying hush money is a campaign expense, a candidate would be required to make that payment with campaign funds. How ironic, given that using campaign funds as hush money was one of the articles of impeachment in the Watergate scandal[.] "With that line of attack falling on its face, the N.Y. attorney general is subpoenaing Cohen on the theory that Trump's own money all held in a trust couldn't be used legally, either." "Looks to me as if Cohen may have implicated himself, not Trump, in something that in any event seems a non-crime." "How will this play with FEC records showing that the Hillary campaign laundered $84 million?" "We tried to block it by refusing to confirm FEC commissioners to vacancies so there'd be no quorum when the complaint was filed, but there is a breakout provision that allowed the complainant to file in federal district court, and he just did." "Why haven't I seen anything in the press about it?" [Loud laughter from that table.] "Didn't Lanny Davis say Cohen would testify that Trump knew about the Trump Tower meeting even though Trump said he learned of it only afterward?" "Davis changed that story." "Yeah, and Trump capitalized on it." Donald J. Trump Verified account @realDonaldTrump 8m8 minutes ago Michaels [sic] Cohen's attorney clarified the record, saying his client does not know if President Trump knew about the Trump Tower meeting (out of which came nothing!). The answer is that I did NOT know about the meeting. Just another phony story by the Fake News Media! "You have to hand it to him. Lanny Davis announced the GoFundMe page on Megyn Kelly's show. The audience just laughed at him. In the meantime, Trump realized that Davis had never registered the domain so if viewers clicked on the link they were sent to a Trump website." "It is a bit like watching the Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote," said some guy in the corner, who sounded dismayed. "We got a lot of good coverage for stuff that never panned out, didn't we? Voting machines hacked, ballots not fully counted, electoral college will turn our way and refuse to elect Trump, Russia collusion, repeated writs of impeachment that go nowhere, Trump violating the emoluments clause, Trump is mentally ill and the 25th Amendment will be invoked. Now Cohen and Manafort. And we still aren't making any real progress. It's like wrestling Jell-O. The voters aren't buying." "Not even with the salacious stuff that always used to work against Republicans. Remember CNN's reports that there was a Russian prostitute arrested in Thailand who claimed to have evidence of Russian interference with the 2016 election?" "Yes, whatever came of that? Turns out she was servicing Oleg Deripaska, whom dossier author Steele was representing and was likely employed by to blackmail clients into spying." What becomes clear from all of this is that Anastasia Vashukevich was positioned as a Red Sparrow; a recruiting agent for prostitutes and escort workers under the employ of Oleg Deripaska, likely using the sex trade as Russian trade-craft. Anastasia Vashukevich was busted in Thailand for her recruiting efforts, as outlined in the media report. Ms. Vashukevich tried to extricate herself from the trouble by signaling/leveraging her knowledge of the communication between Deripaska and Christopher Steele to the media. It is entirely possible Ms. Vashukevich even had the recording of Deripaska telling Steele the ridiculous Trump-Russian-Hookers story; and was trying to use that tape as an exit from the Bangkok prison[.] ... Which, given the current situation and collapsing narrative, Deripaska would not want to have public. This further proves the extent to which the corrupt FBI/DOJ were willing to use Deripaska through the intermediary of Chris Steele. Remember, the DOJ allowed Deripaska to enter the U.S. by dropping the VISA block on his travel. In return for removing his travel restriction, the FBI asked Deripaska for help in framing Donald Trump and providing information about Paul Manafort in September of 2016. "Trump-supporters don't care about any of this. Salena Zito is right." This new conservative populist coalition is not the fluke the political class hoped it was. Donald Trump did not cause it, he is just the result of it, so no matter what he does, it continues. It is predicated on them, not him. The coalition is a strike at not just tone deafness in both Congress and the White House but also high levels of incompetence, negligence and shoddy performance at agencies, as well as inept social services, a bloated and incompetent bureaucracy, endless wars and multinational agreements and treaties that don't benefit average people. These voters knew who Trump was going in, they knew he was a thrice-married, Playmate dating, Howard Stern regular who had the morals of an alley cat. They were willing to look past all of that because of how institutions had failed their communities for three consecutive presidencies. Right now, the value of Trump to the Trump voter is he is all that stands between them and handing the keys to Washington back over to the people inside Washington. That's it. He's their only option. You've got to pick the insiders or him. "Bummer. Well, we have a policy advantage, don't we? Higher taxes, bigger federal government, anti-energy production, open borders, anti-Semite, anti-Christian, anti-male, anti-white, pro-Palestinian, pro-Antifa, pro-MS-13,support for unfair trade policies, anti-military, anti-law-enforcement," said someone out of eyesight who seemed to be sniffling. "Maybe we should try selling crazy to another group of voters American voters seem full up on ours." That's about it as September looms. I paid my check and left. Little did Mollie know, when approached by a 24-year-old illegal Mexican driving a black Chevy Malibu, she probably was being confronted by a cultural inclination that much like Muslim cultures considers women inferior to men. Nor is it likely at the time that Mollie realized that the guy following her came from a part of the world where males satisfy sexual appetites any way they see fit. Recently, a liberal-leaning American girl named Mollie Tibbetts, totally unaware that the norm that dictates male sexual behavior in Latin and Central American was about to cost her life, went out for an evening run. Women either submit or, in many circumstances, die. And so, when Mexican illegal Cristhian Bahena Rivera, 24, saw Tibbetts, aged 20, jogging, he did what his culture taught him to do: he "pursued her in his vehicle." A month later, in an Iowa cornfield, Mollie's decaying body was found. With the aid of a Spanish translator following his arrest, Rivera told police that after shadowing the Iowa college student in his car, he "[l]ater ... parked ... and started running near her." Apparently, in Mexico, males stalking females is considered a compliment. Nonetheless, according to Rivera, things changed when, not flattered by the unsolicited attention, Mollie "grabbed ahold of her phone and said, 'you need to leave me alone. I'm going to call the police.' And then ... took off running." On the night of Mollie's death, Rivera likely struggled with the frustration of rejection and the fear that the police would deport him. So, in response, the alleged DREAMer panicked and "chased [Mollie] down." Let's remember: Cristhian Bahena Rivera crossed the U.S. border illegally. Consequently, he was not about to accept "no" as an answer from a nina from Iowa. Rivera told police that after "blacking out," he awoke to find earphones in his lap and Mollie's body in the trunk of his car, bleeding from the head. To cover up the crime, Rivera camouflaged the corpse with corn silk after laying it in a cornfield, where the elements ravaged the girl's body for a month. While Mollie lay decomposing, Rivera continued contributing to the American economy by working illegally on Yarrabee Dairy farm, doing jobs the left says Americans won't do. Despite the Mexican illegal claiming on his Facebook page that Guayabillo, Guerrero, Mexico was his home, Cristhian had been milling around small-town Iowa for years. In another chilling account, Rolling Stone magazine reported that a young girl named Bailey Gibson told Mail Online that "her 17-year-old sister hung out with Rivera a few times and became 'creeped out' by his 'flirty behavior,' and [that] 'she had to keep telling him she wasn't interested'." In an interview with Crime Online, a man named Justin said Rivera followed his girlfriend twice "in the same exact black Malibu" he drove the night Tibbetts was murdered. Justin said "Rivera likely followed his girlfriend home and circled around the block in her neighborhood at least two times." Crime Online reported that "around sunset as [Justin's] fiance[e] made her way home from a grocery store, "someone driving a black car 'drove past her about six times,' then continued to circle around the neighborhood after she arrived home." For the record, in 2016 alone, an estimated seven women a day lost their lives in Mexico to femicide in public locations. Much like Mollie, Mexican women are chased; kidnapped; and, for reasons that sometimes include rebuffing male advances, murdered. Therefore, in light of the vast number of illegals roaming our nation's streets, wouldn't it be in the best interest of America's women to be aware that according to a U.N. Women report, "14 of the 25 countries with the highest rates of femicide worldwide are located in Latin America"? That statistic bodes poorly for women like Mollie Tibbetts. Even so, the left continues to grope for a reason to extol the virtues of and make excuses for the culturally diverse practices of people like Cristhian, who migrated illegally to America from a third-world hellhole. According to a 2017 Global Citizen article, which names a report from Mexico's interior department, the National Women's Institute, and U.N. Women, in Mexico, "[r]oughly two in five of all homicides against women take place outside of the home ... and unlike homicides of men, women are more likely to be killed without a firearm through means such as strangling and stabbing." Mollie died outside her home of "multiple sharp force injuries." Notwithstanding all the evidence, Democrats continue to wave hordes of illegal males over the border. Moreover, to downplay liberal culpability in Mollie's murder, a left-wing pundit had the gall to cite "toxic masculinity," rather than lax immigration policies, as the cause for an illegal alien stalking, kidnapping, and then doing God knows what before killing an American girl. Even Fox News contributor Geraldo Rivera maintained that Cristhian's illegal status had nothing to do with Mollie Tibbetts ending up dead. The stupidity of Geraldo's premise is comparable to a father insisting that the rapist he invited to sleep in his daughter's bedroom isn't the reason the rapist sleeping in her room raped his daughter. What open borders Democrats fail to acknowledge is that in Mexico and Central and Latin America, as well as Middle Eastern culture, "toxic masculinity" is a culturally accepted norm. Therefore, it stands to reason that importing machismo behavior and discouraging assimilation will continue to encourage illegal men to treat other American women as Cristhian Bahena Rivera treated Mollie Tibbetts. Jeannie hosts a blog at www.jeannie-ology.com. The funds come from the Illinois Crime Victims Compensation fund. But funeral directors often add on charges not covered by the fund, taking advantage of the emotional state of the families and their lack of knowledge about the law. Chicago funeral homes are making a literal killing by handling the funeral arrangement for the victims of homicides and pocketing up to $7500 in taxpayer funds. Fox News: 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. 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. In the early 1980's the country was rocked by a book exposing the corruption of the funeral industry. "The American Way of Death" by Jessica Mitford was a runaway best seller and was a big factor in reforms that were passed that protected consumers at the state and federal level. But having the laws on the books is one thing. Enforcing them is quite another. And the tragic fact is, most families are too emotionally drained after a funeral to file a complaint. Funeral directors know this which is why some of them try to take grieving families for everything they can. 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. Funeral homes have gone so far as to hold bodies hostage until families can come up with the extra cash. The fact is, funerals are still too expensive and too many funeral directors fail to inform consumers of the law. Most people in Illinois don't know that they do not need a casket to bury their loved ones, or that caskets are not required for cremation. The funeral homes prey upon this ignorance and do little to inform consumers. There is a special place in hell reserved for these people, but in this life, it's very difficult to punish them. In 2016, Bernie Sanders complained bitterly about the influence of Superdelegates who voted overwhelmingly for Hillary Clinton at the convention. Superdelegates are not bound to vote for the candidate who won the caucus or primary in the state they respresent. In the interests of "party unity," the DNC voted by acclamation to strip Superdelegates of most of their power. Superdelegates are made up of DNC members and elected Democrats at the national level. But the DNC, citing the leftover bitterness of Sanders supporters, now forbid Superdelegates from voting on the first ballot. Politico: Under the new rule, superdelegates the members of Congress, DNC members and other top officials who made up about 15 percent of delegates that year will not be allowed to vote on the first ballot at a contested national convention. The change could dramatically re-shape the calculus of future presidential campaigns, rendering candidates connections to superdelegates less significant. Its a big victory for the base of the party, said Jeff Cohen, co-founder of the online activist group RootsAction.org. Tom Perez realizes that hed rather lose 10 dead-enders in the DNC than a couple million activists, he said of the party chairman. While long a priority of Sanders and his supporters, the effort to reduce superdelegates clout was embraced more broadly in recent months by Democratic Party officials desperate to win over young voters skeptical of centralized party power. Perez described the change as historic, and DNC organizers played a video message from former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean in which the former DNC chairman cast the measure it as an urgent response to the will of grassroots voters. Many young voters, Dean said, have lost faith in our partys nominating process, and make no mistake, this is a perception thats cost us at the ballot box. The radical left has won a big victory. No Democratic convention since 1948 has gone beyond the first ballot. This gives a genuine shot at the nomination to someone far more radical than an establishment Democrat like Joe Biden. Indeed, so called "centrists" are the big losers. Outside of Biden, it doesn't seem likely that a more moderate alternative to the Sanders/Warren wing of the party can emerge to win at the convention. And while it's still two years away, the party is being pulled ever leftward by the emergence of far left activists who are pushing Medicare for All and free college tuition as litmus tests for the next nominee. Even if someone perceived to be more moderate than Sanders/Warren gets the nomination, they will have been driven so far left that they may be unelectable in 2020. Even with a favorable political climate, Democrats insist on shooting themselves in the foot. But the parents of the children, 5 to 7 years of age, got suspicious and discovered after questioning their kids that they had made the whole thing up. Out of the mouths of babes came a horrific story of a man urinating on a black child while shouting a racist epithet. The children told police of the hate crime and almost immediately, Grand Rapids, Michigan police arrested an unidentified 60 year old man after canvassing the neighborhood. The NAACP had immediately branded the incident a hate crime and sexual assault and that the perpetrator should be prosecuted to the "fullest extent of the law." MLive: Police said several children, all 7 or younger, were playing together sometime before 6 p.m. Wednesday when one of the children urinated on the 5-year-old girl. Kent County prosecutors said the parents of the children, in talking with them, ultimately determined the children "concocted the story to avoid trouble." "We appreciate the conscientiousness of the parents in bringing the matter to the attention of the police, and continuing to ask their children questions as new evidence was obtained," prosecutors said. Prosecutors said the 60--year-old man had a "verifiable alibi" from other people who vouched for his whereabouts. The allegations, when first reported late Wednesday, caused concern across the community and NAACP leaders on Friday said the incident should be considered both a hate crime and sex assault. In the initial report, the children told police they were playing hide-and-go-seek along Courtney Street NW, just west of Tamarack Avenue, when a man urinated on the girl through a chain-link fence. The children have learned well the lessons taught to them by adults. But what have the adults learned? The man arrested apparently had a history of mental illness and sexual assault. But in this case, the police did not rush to judgment, preferring a thorough investigation to ginning up hysteria and outrage against an innocent man. The same could not be said of the local NAACP: "This is clearly a case of child molestation, as well as a hate crime, and should be treated as such," Cle Jackson, president of the Greater Grand Rapids National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said in a Friday, Aug. 24, statement. [...] The local NAACP is "demanding" that prosecutors charge the man with sexual assault, assault and a hate crime. The organization is "monitoring the situation and working with law enforcement to ensure that all investigative processes are thorough." It said that if charges are filed the man should "be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." To the NAACP, there was no question but to believe 7 year old kids. That they claimed it was "clearly" a crime that had been committed, didn't leave much room if they were proved wrong. They were and now there's another victim of a rush to judgment by activists more interested in making hay out of a potentially horrific incident than the truth. There is no doubt that many "hate crimes" that are committed actually happen. But far too many reported "hate crimes" are nothing more than people seeking attention from the national media which tends to dwell on these incidents. The answer is for police and prosecutors to throw the book at the hoaxers and send them to jail. That shouldn't happen in the case of these kids, but someone should give them a good talking to in order to prevent this from happening again. In an extraordinary 11-page written testament, a former apostolic nuncio to the United States has accused several senior prelates of complicity in covering up Archbishop Theodore McCarricks allegations of sexual abuse, and has claimed that Pope Francis knew about sanctions imposed on then-Cardinal McCarrick by Pope Benedict XVI but chose to repeal them. Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, 77, who served as apostolic nuncio in Washington D.C. from 2011 to 2016, said that in the late 2000s, Benedict had imposed on Cardinal McCarrick sanctions similar to those now imposed on him by Pope Francis and that Vigano personally told Pope Francis about those sanctions in 2013. Archbishop Vigano said in his written statement, simultaneously released to the Register and other media, (see full text below) that Pope Francis continued to cover for McCarrick and not only did he not take into account the sanctions that Pope Benedict had imposed on him but also made McCarrick his trusted counselor. Vigano said that the former archbishop of Washington advised the Pope to appoint a number of bishops in the United States, including Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago and Joseph Tobin of Newark. Archbishop Vigano, who said his conscience dictates that the truth be known as the corruption has reached the very top of the Churchs hierarchy, ended his testimony by calling on Pope Francis and all of those implicated in the cover up of Archbishop McCarricks abuse to resign. The Register piece is well-written, so do read the whole thing, but to sum up, a former Vatican envoy says Pope Francis ended sanctions slapped onto him by Pope Benedict XVI for accused sex-abuser Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, let him out of Vatican bad-priest jail, knew about the bad stuff that put him there, made him a trusted advisor in charge of picking out new U.S. archbishops, and now needs to take his own advice and resign for the good of the Church. Have you ever read an accusation as bad as that one, and not from an anonymous source leaking to the New York Times, but from a well-connected insider with vast experience in the Vatican elites making an open accusation with his name on it? It's a bombshell. It's as if the accusing archbishop, Carlo Maria Vigano, is taking the pope at his word in his request for people to rock the boat and clean the Church out. The former nuncio has fired away once that request was made. But Pope Francis only made it to the laity, it must have come as a shock that the people heeding him were inside the clergy itself, sadly, where the actual knowledge was. We parishioners know nothing about the internal shenanigans of the Vatican and its battling archbishops or any of the coverups until we read about them in the news. It makes Pope Francis's appeals seem a bit wan, given how little we know. But then there's the insiders, and just one of them seems to be changing the dynamics. Now, there's more than a little whiff of politics in this scenario. We know that Pope Francis has been shunting aside conservatives in high office and appointing leftists in their place. The Knights of Malta battle is Exhibit A. We also know that in Europe, he's been accused of being 'the dictator pope' by other angry conservatives inside the Vatican establishment, something the pope with the image of being the friendly, 'people's pope' doesn't like. The news that McCarrick was let out of his Vatican doghouse (my argument earlier was that he should have been thrown to the long arm of the law here and been breaking rocks in the hot sun instead) is bad enough. But what's really bad is that obviously McCarrick, who's a leftist, was out there appointing other leftists and quite possibly fellow sexual predators, given that they were the people he trusted, to high Church positions. He was seeding the entire U.S. Church leadership with his kind of people. One example that leaps out at me is the appointment of Archbishop Robert McElroy of San Diego, who this week was pictured on the front page of the Spanish edition of Southern Cross, marching for illegals and their 'right' to break U.S. law. Sound familiar? Some of these guys in the Francis/McCarrick camp just don't like law. (Even when the Catechism of the Catholic Church commands the faithful to obey the laws of their country). McElroy was supposedly appointed by someone from the Vatican, according to this report, and now he's in line to succeed embattled Cardinal Donald Wuerl in Washington, D.C.? Sounds like cronyism run rampant, given how all these guys are connected. McCarrick was picking these guys? And all of them are leftwing? And who knows, bath-house buddies and quite possibly abusers? It boggles the mind. How sad to think that Pope Francis could be at the top of this, knowingly allowing it. I've always sought to give him the benefit of the doubt because the political angle is so strong. The hunkering down we see seems to be a bid to preserve the status quo. Was Pope Francis protecting McCarrick because he wanted all of our bishops and cardinals (who elect the next pope) to be leftwing? This sounds like Chicago-style politics. I have no idea if Pope Francis will resign. But his letter to the faithful came off as rather weak and spread-the-blamey, which now in light of these accusations it suggests weakness and self-protectiveness. Will he try to weather the mess out? Or will more opponents come forward, and magnify the pressure he's under? And cripes, why the heck did he do that? McCarrick is a disgusting guy who should have been thrown to the long arm of the law years ago. By protecting him, the pressure is on the pope, not McCarrick. He can either admit his error, get rid of the leftists, and ship McCarrick back to the states for prosecution, or else watch his credibility and the credibility of the Church itself drift downward. Image credit: Diliff, via Wikipedia // CC BY-SA 2.0 R.I.P. John McCain The passing of Senator John McCain has united the nations political and media voices in praise of his heroism, sacrifice, and dedication to service of the nation. His family deserves our sympathy and consideration in this most difficult moment. Remarkably, he is survived by his 106 year-old mother, Roberta McCain, whose own life has reflected the devotion to service of the entire family. Although daughter Meghan is in the public eye as a pundit, there are six other children who have lost their father. Official portrait of Senator John McCain (1936 - 2018) Even those who disagreed with his policies or resisted his political choices, or ran against him for president, must agree that his sacrifice as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam was extraordinary, refusing the release he was offered for propaganda purposes, as the son of one of the Navys top admirals. Who among us can point to anything remotely comparable to this decision? As the son and grandson of 4-star admirals, McCains upbringing was itself a matter of national service, with his family rarely staying long in any one place. McCains childhood featured a series of postings in the US and overseas. He was even born in the Panama Canal Zone (US territory at the time), emblematic of the devotion to the Navy his family expressed in every aspect of their lives. Although he formally joined the Navy when he attended the USNA, Annapolis, he was born into the Navy and faithfully followed that path until he was no longer physically able to serve, following his release by the North Vietnamese. The level of media coverage of his passing is intense, not merely on Fox News where military heroes are always honored, but throughout the media. The contentious relationship between Senator McCain and President Trump may well account for some of the fulsome praise of even those who vigorously opposed his candidacy for president. A friend wrote me that he believes that had Hillary Clinton won the election, the tenor and volume of media coverage of his death would far less hagiographic and 20% as voluminous. There is no way to know, but maybe there is some degree of truth to this. But if so, it would be one of lifes ironies if President Trump deserves credit for the extraordinary domination of the news by coverage of John McCains death. There will be ample time for an assessment of his political legacy, but today we honor a man whose undoubted sacrifice and devotion to our country cannot be equalled by many among us. The solons of our sophisticated society assure us that there is no election fraud. Concerns about elections in which non citizens participate and fanatical partisans vote multiple times are dismissed as a paranoid right wing fantasy. "Russian hacking" of our elections is the current grind, but our officials have not been able to demonstrate what was hacked, much less for whom, so they assure us that our votes were safe. My household suffered its third assault on our ballots in four years. Fortunately, I served as a city commissioner in Kentwood, Michigan for four years (until last fall) and had the means and the motive to trace the foul-ups to our city clerk's office. These are people I know and trust. They are good people who made some very human mistakes, but these effectively denied me and my wife our votes. I wrote up the first two on the blog I kept as a city commissioner and link to them. 1. I always vote absentee. In July 2016, my ballot return envelope had the return address of the city hall in Saline, Michigan (at the other end of the state) and would have been lost. I, my neighbor, and 57 others noted the error and got corrected envelopes. The fiasco was traced to a mix-up in the printing press where many cities have their ballots prepared and mailed. 2. July 2015, my wife needed to vote absentee for the first time and asked for the ballot. The envelope to return her ballot lacked an address but happened to have our return home address so came back. I hand-delivered it. The clerk had reached into a box of envelopes that she thought had been stamped with the return address, but some weren't. 3. I got a call from the Kent County election clerk this last week. The office had sent me a certificate of election to a minor office in the Libertarian Party as a precinct delegate but I had not gotten even one vote, so the clerk apologized, as I could not be a state-approved delegate. Well, I knew I had voted for myself on the absentee, so I insisted that he look it up in the official county log. He stated that there were zero votes for Haas in Kentwoods 14th precinct. So I called our city clerk, who found my original ballot, marked with my self-vote. It seems that the precinct delegates are not considered for the automatic "tape" that goes in on election night and is the main focus of the clerk's attention. These minor-office elections are handled manually, and she (assistant clerk and a very nice person) had forgotten to file the paperwork. She would correct it. These three lapses would have resulted in votes not being counted if we had gone on vacation for a few weeks and not gotten the message in time. It's a slipshod way of doing things. I offer three other lapses in collecting the votes here in Michigan. 4 and 5. These are courtesy of Bill Hall, chair of the Libertarian Party of Michigan. The absentee ballot in Laketon Township in Allegan County referred to the "two parties" instead of the three that would have included the Libertarian Party, which has just gotten major party status. The clerk promised to try to correct the problem for the primary election. In the second, Southfield, Michigan had similar misdirections to "two parties," but the city clerk acted insulted when the blunder was pointed out to her. 6. The irregularities ascribed to incompetent election-workers in Detroit precincts that would have voided half the vote in Nov. 2016 had the law been properly applied have been reported on but been passed off as the equivalent of hearing problems in an old folks' home. I report these lapses to bring it home to Michigan voters that they should look critically at their election material. Are addresses correct and present? Are the directions correct? We must point out to elected officials that they have to be careful about details. Elections are too important to be left in the hands of poorly trained or sloppy clerks at the point where they are gathered. Erwin Haas is a former flight surgeon in Vietnam, Kentwood city commissioner, and assistant clinical professor of medicine at Michigan State. He is running as a Libertarian for Michigan's 26th state Senate district. His blog is here. McCain's death comes three days before a primary in Arizona, but that's not a big deal, because Ducey himself is expected to win the GOP nomination for the gubernatorial election handily, Arizona Republic reports . Farther out, the House looks more in danger than the Senate of falling into Democrat hands, according to political strategists, so again, another bullet is dodged. With the passing of Senator John McCain, all eyes are going to be on Arizona's Republican governor, Doug Ducey, who was a friend of McCain's, to appoint a successor. But there is intense interest in a new appointee, particularly in light of McCain's tendency to declare conservative principles, yet disappoint, at voting time. It was the idiosyncracy of his being a maverick. Will it be a reliable conservative that voters expect when they pull the lever next time? Or will it be someone just as chancy as McCain? The Wall Street Journal has this list of possibilities: Among the names that have been mentioned recently are Barbara Barrett, a former U.S. ambassador to Finland and the wife of retired Intel Corp. Chief Executive Craig Barrett, as well as Kirk Adams, chief of staff to Mr. Ducey. A name that has been floated as a long shot is former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods, who was close to Mr. McCain. Three other names have circulated: Michael Bidwill, president of the Arizona Cardinals and son of the teams principal owner; Karrin Taylor Robson, who runs a land-use firm in Arizona and was appointed to the Arizona Board of Regents in 2017 by the governor; and Mr. McCains wife, Cindy. Her name is often mentioned, though conservatives have bristled at the prospecta factor that could weigh on Mr. Ducey. Ducey can also appoint himself, which is seen as unlikely. According to the Arizona Republic: Ducey publicly ruled out appointing himself after the senator's glioblastoma diagnosis in July 2017. In the year since, Ducey has declined to comment on potential candidates, with his staff rebuffing questions as "disgraceful" while McCain was still serving. My own suspicion is that the Ducey decision will come down to one of two things: either a classic reliable conservative to please Arizona's frustrated base, or ... Cindy McCain, who is generally conservative, but has some liberal tendencies, as a result of press pressure, particularly since he has a pretty strong opponent on the Democrat side in November. Presumably, McCain wanted Cindy McCain to succeed him, and there have been some reports last May to suggest that. There has been a precedent for that, too, in the appointment of Muriel Humphrey to succeed her deceased husband, Sen. Hubert Humphrey, when he died in 1978, making it a sort of political sati in reverse. But Ducey has rebuffed that as insulting talk because McCain was not dead at the time, so that may signal he will go conservative. At the same time, Ducey was a friend of the McCains, Ducey also pressured by his primary rival, to not appoint Cindy McCain, so there are many characters in the GOP base who think he will. So it's hard to say how this will go. Here's what will happen, though: The press, which wants Cindy McCain appointed, the better to prevent a classic conservative to take a seat in the Senate, will play up wildly the weepy emotional factor of McCain's passing. They will lionize Cindy, and beat the drum of her virtue, the better to put pressure on Ducey to appoint her to the seat. It's not a certainty that she would be an awful Senator if she is appointed, but on the other hand, she has made many liberal statements, so there's a significant chance she would swing to the left on critical votes, as well as fight with Trump. Ducey himself seems to be a solid conservative and will in turn be pressed by conservatives to appoint a more reliable conservative. The press will beat back with the emotional factor, and that will be the kind of pressure he is under. How Ducey handles it is anyone's guess, so stay tuned with the rest of the Arizona Kremlinologists, watching the movements on the cactus square... Standing utterly alone in the windswept plateau of Albany County, Wyoming, a couple of miles off Interstate 80 and accessible only by a dirt road, is a 60-foot tall stone pyramid. The rock hewn structure was erected by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1880 to honor the brothers Oakes Ames and Oliver Ames, Jr., who were instrumental in building the United States' First Transcontinental Railroad. Oliver Ames was the president of the Union Pacific Railroad, while his brother Oakes was a Massachusetts congressman. But before they assumed their respective positions, the brothers ran a successful business selling axes and shovels to gold-seekers in California, and making millions in the process. The duo later supplied shovels to the government during the Civil War, for excavating the Panama Canal, for mining Pennsylvania coal fields, and for digging the New York subway system. Photo credit During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln became convinced that building a transcontinental railroad was critical in holding the fragile Union together. But with track-laying progress impossibly slow, President Lincoln took Congressman Ames into his confidence and reportedly told him that if he could get the transcontinental railroad built then he would be "the most remembered man of the generation." Oakes seized the opportunity and using his influence as a congressman, ousted the president of the Union Pacific Railroad (who was also the founder of Credit Mobilier of America the construction company who earned the contract of building the railroad) and made his kid brother Oliver the head of responsibility. With big brother Oakes twisting arms in the Congress and kid brother Oliver calling the shots in the Union Pacific, they succeeded where others failed and completed the transcontinental railway. Behind the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad, however, was a nasty scandal. Credit Mobilier was a not a real company, but a sham created by the officers of the Union Pacific to provide a false impression that a corporate enterprise, independent of the Union Pacific Railroad, was the principal construction contractor of the project. The Union Pacific then billed the U.S. Government extortionate fees and expenses during construction of the line on the pretext of paying Credit Mobilier. In this way, the Union Pacific made some $44 million in illegal profits. Photo credit When the fraud was uncovered in 1873, Oakes was censured by the Congress. He died in disgrace two months later, and his brother Oliver followed within four years. The dust that rose from the scandal had barely settled when the Union Pacific decided to erect a monument honoring the Ames brothers, in the hope of reclaiming some of the company's lost reputation. The pyramid was designed by noted American architect H. H. Richardson. The monument is 60 feet square and 60 feet tall and constructed of light-colored native granite. Two 9 feet tall bas-relief portraits of the Ames brothers adorn the east and west sides of the pyramids top. It originally featured an interior passage, but this is now sealed. When it was completed, the pyramid stood on the highest elevation and close to the original transcontinental route. Trains made brief stops near the monument so that people could get out and visit. Unfortunately, the Ames brothers fame was short-lived. In 1901, the tracks were moved 3 miles south to a less expensive route. Having lost its audience the pyramid was soon forgotten. The Union Pacific eventually donated the monument to the state of Wyoming in 1983, and is now maintained by the State Parks. The structure is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Sources: Wikipedia / Roadside America / Strange But True, America by John Hafnor COWABUNGA! Thereturn in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles , Nickelodeon's brand-new 2D-animatedseries which reimagines the characters in a fresh new way later this year, and to celebrate, some of the animators behind the brand new series will be making an appearance at VidCon Australia 2018!Fans can head to the Nickelodeon booth on Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd September 2018 between 11am & 1pm to meet and chat with the animators ofand watch a turtle-y awesome live animation demo! Visitors will also get to take part in an immersive photo experience in the turtles lair, catch a sneak peek of the new series, and enter the Slime Zone! Plus, visitors are invited to stop by for an artificial sliming, and snap a pic of themselves experiencing the ultimate Nickelodeon honour - a Nickelodeon Sliming!VidCon Australia 2018 attendees will also get the chance to get extra with Liza Koshy, the host of the hit Nickelodeon game show Double Dare , premiering Monday, 3rd September 2018 at 6pm AEST on Nickelodeon Australia and New Zealand!Last minute tickets to attend VidCon Australia 2018 are still available at http://vidconaustralia.com/ premieres Monday 17th September 2018 on Nickelodeon USA and Monday 1st October 2018 Nickelodeon Australia and New Zealand ! Visit nick.com and nick.com.au for more Turtley Awesomeness.In additional news, Nickelodeon has teamed up with the NRL to win tickets to the 2018 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final on Sunday 30th September 2018! The winner will receive the aweslime chance to 'challenge' a NRL player in a slimy obstacle course during a filmed session, which will feature on Nickelodeon TV, online and across both Nick and NRL social channels! Visit nick.com.au/nrl for more information and to enter this aweslime competition! Marysville, CA (95901) Today Overcast with showers at times. High 61F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Cloudy with showers. Low 56F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Everyone is afraid and every people has its own ghosts. What sets some apart is their ability to rein in their fears and bury their ghosts, and that is the long battle that Catalonia and Spain are still locked in. They keep trying to get a grip on their fear of freedom and bury the ghosts that continue to haunt an imperfect political system, one that still fails to accept that managing diversity is part and parcel of any democracy. With a short office term that should, nevertheless, yield more than just a few gestures, PM Pedro Sanchez has decided to bury the great ghost, the body of the dictator whose regime lives on in the nooks and crannies of Spains political culture. The decision to move General Francos remains from the altar of a notorious monument to the familys vault over forty years after the dictators death is a necessary first step, a symbol that ought to be followed by many other decisions that allow good names to be restored and the bodies of so many victims of the war and the regime to be recovered. Burying the most symbolic body of the Franco regime means much more than removing Franco from under the protection of the State and the Catholic church because Spains democratic culture still has matters to resolve and ghosts to bury. All the unfinished business boils down to this: understanding that ideas cannot be imposed, not even the holy unity of Spain, set in stone in the Spanish Constitution. Obviously, independence cannot be imposed either, but it is perfectly legitimate to argue for a vote to choose from the existing proposals the best way to govern ourselves, assuming there are any alternatives besides independence and Spains obsolete system of autonomous regions. So Spain and Catalonia are immersed in a far-reaching political battle which is more like a long-distance track event than a sprinting race. It requires a strategy based more on the rationality of building the best possible project to entice the broadest segment of the population than on measuring the intensity of feelings or seizing an opportunity at a particular time, if there are no majority changes. Dinner at Portabellas The abuse of power, the way in which the case against Catalonias independence leaders has been put together and handled, has aroused strong feelings that will set the tone for this autumn, ahead of an appalling trial. A few days ago [Catalan filmmaker] Pere Portabella invited a few dozen people to dinner at his summer place, as he has been doing for forty years. The event is about bringing together people who hold very different political views and be able to listen to one another, build trust and share the universal language of Bachs music. Nowadays this is as necessary as it is generous and difficult. With a hint of sadness, the man who once produced Viridiana and directed about twenty movies recounted how the gatherings at his place were clandestine in the early years, and that most political leaders he invited last year are now either in prison or exiled. The silence of some of the politicians in attendance was louder than words. Once Francos remains have been reinterred in Spain, other ghosts will need burying. Chiefly among them is what you might call Spains avenging justice. In other words, the elements of the Spanish judiciary that took it upon themselves to do the job which they felt the lukewarm political right lacked the courage for. Led by Justice Llarena and his lack of impartiality, they have brought international discredit to Spains justice system at large and have handed the Catalan pro-independence movement its main political victory since October 1 last year [when the independence referendum was held]. Ill be my own self On September 4 Justice Llarena is expected to appear in a Belgian court of law, the same day when Catalan president Quim Torra will shed light on Catalonias political future in a public address. Ill be my own self, the president has said, meaning that his words will be consistent with his own political views and his own interpretation of Catalanism. Torra will speak about the work that everyone must do: the role of the exiles, who have managed to expose the weaknesses of the case against the independence leaders; the role of the government and of civil society and the grassroots groups that represent it (Omnium Cultural, the Catalan National Assembly and even the Committees for the Defence of the Republic). Catalonia has ghosts of her own, one of which is the divisive nature of our political actors and a tendency to keep checking the rear-view mirror. President Torra defines himself as a noucentista and, as such, he endorses the principles of civility, serenity and nation-building, which may prove useful provided he remembers that noucentisme and the Catalonia of that period [1900-1930] are nearly a century old now and, while they might be a symbol, they are also far removed from the sociological, cultural, political and economic reality of 21st century Catalonia. Morocco is a bridge to Africa, to the Middle East, and to the Muslim world, said U.S. Ambassador nominee to Rabat David T. Fischer during confirmation hearing at the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee. Building a strong relationship with King Mohammed VI will be paramount as we strengthen our collaboration from a foundation of trust, added Fisher in his statement. Morocco is one of our oldest allies and, as you know, our Treaty of Peace and Friendship with Morocco, ratified in 1787, is the longest unbroken treaty relationship in U.S. history. Our friendship and continued economic, political, and security collaboration are vital and must be strengthened, stressed the nominee of Donald Trump. With my business background, I appreciate the tremendous opportunities for trade as exports from the U.S. to Morocco have tripled in recent years, he said. Morocco, one of the few countries with which we have a free trade agreement, is also a gateway for U.S. companies to enter other markets. If confirmed, I would work closely with this Committee, as well as relevant departments and agencies, to expand opportunities for U.S. businesses, he underlined in his statement. The United States and Morocco stand firm in advancing religious freedom and rooting out violent extremism, he said, describing Morocco as an active and capable partner of Washington. As one of the first African countries to join the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, and as co-chair of the Global Counterterrorism Forum, Morocco plays a global role in the fight against terrorism, he stressed. If confirmed, I will seek to further strengthen our security cooperation with Morocco, added Fischer pledging to endeavor to strengthen Morocco as a secure, prosperous, and vital ally of the United States of America. Mr. Fischer is a prominent businessman and community leader in Michigan. He has been involved in his family automotive dealership group and related entities since 1967. He became CEO and partner in 1975, and principal owner in 1978. Known today as The Suburban Collection, Mr. Fischers organization has become one of the largest privately held automotive dealership groups in the United States. It represents most automotive manufacturers, both domestic and foreign, including over 90 active, automotive related, brother-sister entities. This organization operates state-of-the-art collision centers, accessories distribution centers, fleet management and retrofitting services throughout the United States and Canada. Recognized for his leadership, problem solving and fiscal management, Mr. Fischer has forged and managed a large organization of highly talented and loyal personnel, while dedicating time and resources to the welfare of his community, the arts and education through the support of 80 charities in the past 24 months alone. Mr. Fischer earned a B.A. at Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, in 1967 and participated in the CEO Presidents Seminar at Harvard College, 2015-2017. Russian army presents new modernized version of T-90 Main Battle Tank (MBT) called T-90M also nicknamed Proryv-3 during a live firing demonstration at Army-2018, the International Military Technical Forum which takes place in the Patriotic Park, Moscow Region, Russia. The T-90M was unveiled in January 2017. T-90M main battle tank during the live firing demonstration at Army-2018 International Military Technical Forum, Moscow Region, Russia. (Picture source Army Recognition) The standard T-90 main battle tank was upgraded thanks of the combat experience of the Russian armed forces gained during the counter-terror operation Syria. The layout of the T-90M Proryv-3 is similar to all the family of Russian T-90 MBT with driver's at the front, turret in the centre and the power pack at the rear. It has a crew of three including driver, commander and gunner. The T-90M Proryv-3 features a new all-welded turret design protected by the Relikt ERA (Explosive Reactive Armour) armour fitted at the front and on each side of the turret. An important new feature for the armour, is the use of an RPG metal net similar to the Q-Net add-on armor kit developed by QinetiQ to counter the threat of rocket propelled grenades. It uses metal nodes connecting the net to disrupt the fusing of the warhead. This RPG net is mounted to each side and at the rear on the lower part of the turret Main armament of the T-90M Proryv-3 consists of one 125 mm 2A46M-4 smoothbore gun able to fire standard ammunition but also Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) Refleks NATO Code AT-11 Sniper-B. A remotely operated weapon station armed with a NSVT 12.7mm heavy machine gun is mounted at the rear of the commander hatch. The T-90M Model 2017 is motorized with a V-92S2 engine developing 1,000 hp coupled to a manual transmission with seven forward and one reverse gears. It can run at a maximum road speed of 60 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 550 km. 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 A 49-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after he allegedly struck and killed a pedestrian crossing Highway 82 on Friday evening. I am not a sheep, I have my own mind I have had enough of being told what and how to think Whilst we are still allowed the remnants of free speech, I will speak out. I also reserve the right to discuss less controversial matters should I feel the urge. Its already too late to upgrade election system security for the 2018 midterms, but there are four things the U.S. can do to prepare for 2020, former Facebook chief information security officer Alex Stamos writes in Lawfare. Why it matters: 14 states are currently unable to double check that election results accurately reflect votes cast. Congress earlier this year set aside million of dollars to help states with election security in the face of potential Russian cyberattacks but it's likely not all of the funds will be used by the November midterms. First, Stamos writes, Congress needs to set legal standards that address online disinformation. Stamos cites the Honest Ads Act as a good start to building some guardrails for misinformation policies, but says more needs to be done to encourage tech companies to share threats from misinformation actors. Second, the U.S. "must carefully reassess who in government is responsible for cybersecurity defense. The current setup leads to overlapping authorities and responsibilities between the National Security Agency and the Pentagons U.S. Cyber Command. The Department of Homeland Security works on bolstering election infrastructure while the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigates cyber crimes after the fact. Stamos argues it would be useful for the U.S. government to create an agency thats focused on just defensive cybersecurity and lacks intelligence, law enforcement, and military responsibilities, to really zero in on threats. Third, Each of the 50 states must build capabilities on election protection, similar to how Colorado has organized election security teams and developed verifiable voting standards. This is a thorny issue: states have responsibility for elections but often can't afford new equipment and don't have the expertise to investigate cyberattacks originating overseas. But offers of federal support and federal standards can trigger complaints of federal overreach. Just this week secretaries of state from around the country and the White House pushed back on a bipartisan election security bill that would require post-election audits. citing states rights concerns. Finally, Americans should put pressure on the government, Stamos says: Americans must demand that future attacks be rapidly investigated, that the relevant facts be disclosed publicly well before an election, and that the mighty financial and cyber weapons available to the president be utilized immediately to punish those responsible. The bottom line: Recent history has shown that once a large, powerful nation-state actor demonstrates the effectiveness of a technique, many other groups rush to build cheaper, often more nimble versions of the same capability, Stamos writes. American officials say the Islamic State's leader in Afghanistan, Abu Sayed Orakzai, has been killed in a targeted airstrike, reports CNN. The big picture: ISIS has ceded much of its territory in Iraq and Syria, causing a significant number of its fighters to move into Afghanistan and allowing the U.S. to focus its efforts on eliminating the terrorist organization there. Senior Trump administration officials have spent the weekend holed up with their Mexican counterparts, haggling over the final details of a new NAFTA deal. Sources briefed on the negotiations tell us the negotiators are on the brink of a handshake deal, and Mexico's Economy Minister told reporters today the two countries were in the "final hours of this negotiation." But, but, but: Were skeptical. Remember, there's a third party to these NAFTA talks: Canada. The Canadians have sat on the sidelines while the Trump team has ironed out its bilateral issues with Mexico but they must be party to any deal. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be loath to appear to capitulate to demands from Trump, who is widely detested in his country. The three countries want to sign the deal by the end of August to stop the ultra-left wing Mexican leader Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador from throwing a wrench in the talks. U.S. trade law requires a 90-day waiting period after nations reach an agreement before they can sign a pact. Therefore, if the U.S., Canada and Mexico can't reach an agreement by the end of August, the negotiations would be transferred to Obrador, who gets inaugurated on December 1. Behind the scenes: Only a tiny circle of administration officials, including Robert Lighthizer and Jared Kushner, have full visibility of the NAFTA negotiations. They've been almost entirely leakproof. That said, two trusted sources who've spoken to Lighthizer outlined for me how he is privately angling to get a new NAFTA deal through Congress: The most important point: Trump is hugely popular with the Republican base, so just giving the new NAFTA his imprimatur will move a ton of Republican members of Congress at least 180 votes in the House, by Lighthizers count. For the rest, you grind it out. The coalition Lighthizer has privately discussed is "energy plus labor," according to two additional sources with direct knowledge of his thinking. He's looking to give the energy sector a better deal than some other industries on the investor-state dispute settlement to protect their investments in Mexico in particular, and to safeguard them from nationalization by AMLO. If the oil and natural gas industries are happy, it will be tough for members from energy states like Texas to oppose a deal. Lighthizers bet on labor unions has generated significant skepticism among sources close to the talks, inside and outside the White House. "He and Navarro think if the labor unions like the deal they will push Democrats to vote for it," a source with knowledge of Lighthizer's thinking told Axios. "I think that's crazy." The Trump administration response: After I shared this reporting with the administration, Emily Davis, a spokeswoman for Lighthizer, replied: "USTR declines to confirm or comment on this." The United States' trade war with China is likely to last much longer than originally thought extending well into the second half of next year and perhaps beyond, experts say. The main reason: Neither side is prepared to appear politically weak at home, and both are ready to absorb economic pain. Why it matters: The winners of a one-year or longer trade war without resolution are not clear, but here are some of the probable losers: In the U.S. : Farmers, users of steel, and consumers. And in earning calls last week, U.S. retailers "were sounding the alarm" about yet another escalation of tariffs threatened by President Trump, reports Axios' Courtenay Brown. : Farmers, users of steel, and consumers. And in earning calls last week, U.S. retailers "were sounding the alarm" about yet another escalation of tariffs threatened by President Trump, reports Axios' Courtenay Brown. In China : Manufacturers of all types will see business leave to neighbors like Vietnam and Malaysia, experts tell Axios. : Manufacturers of all types will see business leave to neighbors like Vietnam and Malaysia, experts tell Axios. For both: Economic growth will be slightly less next year, and depending on other factors such as the psychology of stock and commodities markets there is a small chance that part or much of the world tips into recession. The background: Last week, the two sides boosted the tariffs to cover $100 billion in trade between the countries. As early as Sept. 6 10 days from now the U.S. may substantially escalate, levying tariffs on $200 billion in trade, and Beijing is expected to strike back. The aim: Trump says he is determined to get China to stop hacking U.S. commercial secrets and forcing American companies to disgorge their intellectual property to Chinese rivals. But while that is the intellectual backdrop, politically speaking, neither Trump nor China's Xi Jinping can be seen publicly buckling under to the other. And, for economic reasons, neither feels he has to. The tariffs are unlikely to inflict a killer blow. "No question it will be bad, but not calamitous" for the U.S. or China, says Adam Posen, president of the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Adding to the time clock: On the U.S. side, Trump's most hawkish advisers actually want the talks to go on longer because they smell blood. They think the tariffs threaten the Chinese miracle, and want to wait for the suffering to start biting, report the WSJ's Lingling Wei and Bob Davis. Most of the China experts who Axios spoke with dispute this thinking. Brad Setser, an expert on China's economy at the Council on Foreign Relations, expects only about a 0.5% hit to Chinese GDP next year should Trump, as he has threatened, escalate to tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese goods or half its exports to the U.S. In Alibaba's earnings call Thursday, Joe Tsai, the company's executive vice chairman, underscored this point. He said China's economic strength relies mostly on domestic demand and local investment, not exports. In terms of Alibaba's business, he said, "The world is a big place." What's next: Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group, is forecasting the unfolding of a new Cold War next year between the U.S. and China, built on technology and foreign influence. "By the end of 2019, I suspect the biggest headlines on U.S.-China will be more focused on a changing global power balance than a direct trade war," he tells Axios in an email exchange. But as things now stand, handicapping the conflict, Claude Barfield, a trade expert at the American Enterprise Institute, said that it comes down to one question: "Can the Trump administration hold out against a rising political reaction to negative fallout from tariffs versus Chinese economic imperatives and pressures stemming from a falling currency, capital outflows, and a slowing economy?" The bottom line: There is an outside chance that the trade war spirals out of control, such as the enactment of "Buy American" procurement rules or China deciding to block U.S. ships in port, Posen said. Get more stories like this by signing up for Bill Bishop's indispensable Axios China newsletter. After being deactivated for seven years, the U.S. Navy has formally reactivated the 2nd Fleet based in Norfolk, Virginia, in an effort to explore Russia's military expansion, Politico reports. The details: Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson said the move is not because the Navy is "looking for a fight." The Navy had depended on the Cold War-era naval command "for decades to confront adversaries in the waters off North America," per Politico. The fleet will be responsible for assigning ships, aircraft and Marine landing forces "for potential operations along the East Coast and in the North Atlantic, where melting Arctic ice has also heightened the competition for natural resources." What they're saying: During a ceremony aboard the USS George H.W. Bush, Fleet Forces Command chief Adm. Chris Grady explained, "We as a Navy, as a nation, have not had to confront such peer competitors since the Cold War ended nearly three decades ago... Our sea control and our power projection, two vital elements of our national security, are being challenged by resurgent foreign powers, namely Russia and China." By Laman Ismayilova Tea is a popular hot beverage all across the world. People throughout the world enjoy tea in all of its kinds. These are all made of different herbs and plants. Each one has a unique taste and benefits to your health. In fact, tea is the second most popular drink after water. Many researchers believe that tea comes from China, where it originated as a medicinal drink in the 3rd Century AD. Drinking tea has become an indispensable part of Azerbaijani culture. In Azerbaijan, tea is associated with warmth and friendliness, therefore, the tradition says that one should not allow the guest to leave the house without having at least one cup of tea. A tea ceremony in Azerbaijan means freshly brewed, strong, bright-color, hot tea served in cups or crystal glasses, in particular, "armudu glass" i.e. "pear-shaped glass". Hot tea is served continuously when there are guests in the house or when there is an interesting conversation. Generally, tea is poured into ceramic and china dishes. Water is boiled in various ways, in particular, in heated metal containers known as samovars. Drinking tea has many health benefits. It reduces the risk of heart disease. Tea also contains antioxidants called "flavonoids", which may slow down the onset and risk of heart disease. Adding black tea to your daily routine is an easy way to boost heart health, reduce blood pressure, lower blood sugar level, reduce the risk of cancer and hydrate body. Many different types of tea, such as white, green, oolong and black, are beneficial. For example, green tea boosts the performance of the liver, and prevents arthritis by strengthening bones. If you want to get the most benefit from green tea, try and brew it from loose leaves rather than the tea bag. Black tea is great for preventing viruses in the mouth and gums and has also been known to widen impaired arteries by as much as 50 percent, preventing blood clots. Summer heat waves and hot weather can affect anyone. Drinking a hot beverage on a hot day actually can cool you down. The idea of drinking hot drinks in hot weather goes back centuries. A cup of tea could help people keep cool during a heat wave. Hot drink adds heat to your body, but that heat actually increases the rate at which you sweat, which can help cool you off. The human body can produce up to two litres of sweat per hour. It is an effective way of reducing your core body temperature. As long as the sweat can escape from your skin, hot tea can cool you down. However, if youre drinking a hot drink in a very humid environment where the sweat wont evaporate then hot tea probably wont do the trick. In addition, tea blends with cooling spices can also do your body good to keep you comfortable. Lemongrass teas, spearmint, peppermint, hibiscus blends can help cool you down in the summer. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the opening of the newly-built Damirchi-Lahij highway. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Azerbaijan Highway State Agency Saleh Mammadov informed the president and his spouse about the characteristics of the road. The president cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the highway. The 22km-long road connects one settlement in Shamakhi and four settlements in Ismayilli region. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the inauguration of an agropark built by Buta Group LLC in Ismayilli region. Minister of Economy Shahin Mustafayev and entrepreneur Bashir Guliyev informed the head of state of the works carried out in the agropark. AZN 7.7 million was initially invested in the creation of the agropark, the total cost of which is AZN 22 million. The agropark, which occupies an area of 602 hectares, features an agricultural farm, freezing storage complex, product sorting and packing facilities. President Ilham Aliyev launched the agropark. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The longtime Senator died on Saturday. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images Senator John McCain, who died on Saturday at 81, was a complicated man, and a complicated politician. But, though his star may have fallen among Republican voters in recent years, he remained one of the most widely admired public figures in American life esteemed, among other things, for his charming irascibility, honesty, willingness to buck convention, and civility in a post-civil political world. While President Trumps quasi-tribute to the man was notably chilly not surprising, given their adversarial relationship, scores of other politicians, colleagues, and journalists paid much more wholehearted tribute to McCain. (In keeping with McCains complex legacy, there was plenty of dissent, too.) Some of the most notable reactions, below: President Obama: John McCain and i were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds, and competed at the highest level of politics. But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher-the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed. President George W. Bush: Some lives are so vivid, it is difficult to imagine them ended. Some voices are so vibrant, it is hard to think of them stilled. John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order. He was a public servant in the finest traditions of our country. And to me, he was a friend whom Ill deeply miss. Cindy McCain: My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the place he loved best. Meghan McCain: He was a great fire who burned bright, and we lived in his light and warmth for so very long. We know that his flame lives on, in each of us. The days and years to come will not be the same without my dad but they will be good days, filled with life and love, because of the example he lived for us. Mark Salter, who served as a speechwriter for McCain and worked with the senator on his many books: McCain was a romantic about his causes and a cynic about the world. He had the capacity to be both things and to live with the contradiction. He had seen human beings at their best and worst often in the same experience. He understood the world as it is with all its corruption and cruelty. But he thought it a moral failure to accept injustice as the inescapable tragedy of our fallen nature. Sarah Palin, McCains Vice Presidential pick in 2008: Today we lost an American original. Sen. John McCain was a maverick and a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs. John never took the easy path in life - and through sacrifice and suffering he inspired others to serve something greater than self. Senator Lindsey Graham, who was one of McCains closest friends: America and Freedom have lost one of her greatest champions and Ive lost one of my dearest friends and mentor. Former Democratic Senator Russ Feingold, with whom McCain wrote a major campaign-finance law in 2002: John would have been a very good president. His fundamental respect for diverging viewpoints, his willingness to befriend people from different parties and philosophies, his intense desire not for political dominance but to get things done, and yes, his sense of humor, would have served our divided nation and fraught world well. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer: As you go through life, you meet few truly great people. John McCain was one of them. His dedication to his country and the military were unsurpassed, and maybe most of all, he was a truth teller never afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all too rare. Schumer also proposed renaming the Russell Senate Office Building after McCain. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell: In an era filled with cynicism about national unity and public service, John McCains life shone as a bright example. He showed us that boundless patriotism and self-sacrifice are not outdated concepts or cliches, but the building blocks of an extraordinary American life. Vice President Mike Pence: Karen and I send our deepest condolences to Cindy and the entire McCain family on the passing of Senator John McCain. We honor his lifetime of service to this nation in our military and in public life. His family and friends will be in our prayers. God bless John McCain. Dan Nowicki, a former Arizona Republic reporter who covered McCain for decades: A scrappy political pugilist enjoying the fight and taking chances, drawing strength from old comrades from the Hanoi Hilton and energy from town-hall audiences. By Trend As part of his visit to Ismayilli , President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the opening of Kurdmashi-Kalband-Girk highway after renovation and repair. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Azerbaijan Highway State Agency Saleh Mammadov informed the head of state about the road, which separates from the 5th kilometer of Garamaryam-Ismayilli-Shaki highway. The motorway links two settlements with a total population of 1000 people. The two-lane highway is 14km in length and 6m in width. President Ilham Aliyev cut the ribbon symbolizing the inauguration of the road. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the opening of a 1000-head modern cattle-breeding complex, owned by AZZA AGRO LLC, in Keyvandi village, Ismayilli . Minister of Economy Shahin Mustafayev and entrepreneur Zohrab Aslanov informed the head of state of the works done in the complex. Shahin Mustafayev said AZN 9.5 million was invested in the first phase of the complex, including AZN 3.5 million provided by the National Entrepreneurship Support Fund of the Ministry of Economy. The head of state was informed of Holstein Friesian cows brought through Agroleasing OJSC, newly-born calves, farming and milking systems produced by Swedish DeLaval company, and German- and Dutch-made agricultural machinery and equipment. The project created 14 jobs, and the number is planned to be increased to 70. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the opening of a vine-growing and wine-making complex owned by "Shirvan wines" LLC in Meysari village, Shamakhi region. Executive Director of "Shirvan wines" LLC Jeyhun Soltanov informed the head of state and his spouse that the vine-growing and wine-making complex occupies a total area of 310 hectares. A wine plant, which covers an area of 4,398 square meters in the territory of the complex, meets modern standards and is supplied with equipment of the French Pera company. The plant aims to achieve an annual wine production of 1.4 million liters. The complex also features a wine museum, restaurant, terrace, parking lot and guest house. French technologist Jam Montagnais said that the first vineyard was created here in 2015 when 100,000 seeds of French grape varieties were planted in an area of 40 hectares. The vineyard produced the first harvest last year, which included 233,379 tons of grape and resulted in the production of three types of wine named "Sadaf", "Marjan" and "Makhmari" under the brand "Meysari". President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva signed the first products. President Ilham Aliyev then met with the staff of the complex. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the inauguration of a new building of Meysari village secondary school in Shamakhi region. The 132-seat school was built on the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The head of state cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the school. Minister of Education Jeyhun Bayramov told President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva that the school had been built in the 1950s. The construction of the new building of the school started in 2016. The new building features an auditorium, gym, different subject and foreign language rooms and fully equipped informatics center. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the opening of a newly-built secondary school in Lahij settlement, Ismayilli . The president and the first lady cut the ribbon symbolizing the inauguration of the school. Minister of Education Jeyhun Bayramov informed President Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva that the old building of the school was constructed in 1928. Although designed for 130 pupils, the school accommodated 232 pupils. The new 400-seat school was built under the order of the president. The three-storey school features a gym and a 175-seat auditorium as well as a number of subject rooms and laboratories. The school has video surveillance and centralized heating systems. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami arrived in the Syrian capital of Damascus on Sunday morning. Heading a high-ranking military delegation, General Hatami arrived at Damascus airport on Sunday morning and was received by top Syrian military commanders as well as the Iranian ambassador to Syria, Tasnim news agency reported on August 26. He has travelled to the Arab country at the official invitation of Chief of Staff of the Syrian Armed Forces General Ali Abdullah Ayoub. The latest developments in the region, fight against terrorism, expansion of military and defense ties, and reconstruction of Syria would top of the agenda during the Iranian ministers visit to the Arab country. Upon his arrival in Damascus, general Hatami expressed the hope that Iran could play a key role in reconstructing the crisis-hit country following the defeat of terror groups there. The visit came after Russias Defense Ministry said on August 25 that militants in a rebel-controlled province of Syria were preparing a chemical weapons attack. The Russian military cited its sources alleging that several containers with chlorine had been delivered to a local town and later taken to a nearby village. The Defense Ministry also claimed that a private British contractor is helping the rebels to stage the attack. Recently, US National Security Adviser John Bolton warned Syrias government against using chemical weapons and vowed a tough response if that happens. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Iranian Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Massoud Karbasian failed to win a vote of confidence in an impeachment session in the parliament on Aug. 26. Karbasian appeared in the parliament on Sunday, for the impeachment inquiry in the wake of skyrocketing prices in the country and devaluation of the local currency. In the 290-seat parliament, 260 MPs were present in the voting session for the minister. Irans Tasnim news agency reported that 137 lawmakers voted in favor of Karbasians dismissal, while 121 voted against the plan to dismiss the minister. Two lawmakers abstained. The Iranian MPs have also questioned President Hassan Rouhanis performance, saying the administrations mismanagement of the conditions has resulted in price hikes and diminishing purchasing power. Rouhani will appear in the parliament on August 29 to answer a series of questions on his administrations performance. The Iranian money, rial, plunged to a record low against the US dollar this month. There has been growing demand for dollars among ordinary Iranians, who fear more plunge in the value of their assets and the growing price of goods, even those not imported from abroad. Foreign currency values began to rise in Iran after the US withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in May and announced plans for a fresh wave of sanctions against the Islamic Republic. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Laman Ismayilova Azerbaijan is an increasingly popular travel destination, particularly among nature lovers and adventure seekers. The Land of Fire has many amazing sights to offer for the travelers. Here you will find an array of stunning scenery, ancient monuments, natural paradise and much more. One the most intriguing places to visit in Azerbaijan is definitely Zaqatala. Sublime natural scenery, architectural wonders, and magical atmosphere await travelers in country's region. Azerbaijans hazelnut capital Zaqatala is located in the northwestern part of Azerbaijan, on the southern slopes of the Major Caucasus mountains. The highest point is Guton mountain (3648 m). Climate at the plain is warm, in mountains cold. The mid temperature of January on the plain is -1 C, in mountains it is -10 C, mid temperature of July reaches +24 C and +5 C respectively. Half of its territory is mountainous and covered with forests which makes it a great destination for nature lovers. The region is famous for its hazelnuts and walnuts. Mulberry trees are well adapted to the area, allowing Zaqatala to preserve the ancient tradition of silkworm breeding. Zaqatala State Reserve is an exceptional natural area to visit any time of year. Leafy forests extend to the foot of the mountains, mainly consisting of Oriental beeches (Fagus orientalis). The area is famous for plants, such as the rhododendron, cherry-laurel, blackberry, maple, and fern. Glaciers and alpine meadows can be found at the higher altitudes. Among the local species, shikra (Accipiter badius) can be found along the rivers, and Caucasian snowcock (Tetraogallus caucasicus) is present on the rock falls. The Reserve is home to the Syrian brown bear, Indian wolf, red fox, forest cat, Caucasian lynx, squirrel, weasel. It also has a diverse range of birds, including the golden eagle, Egyptian vulture, griffon vulture, etc. With its wooded mountainsides and beautiful waterfalls, Zaqatala offers great hiking opportunities. Due to its climate the town became a mountain health resort. The region is also of historic interest. The territory of modern Zaqatala was a province of Caucasian Albania. After that, the region was a separate kingdom within Georgian cultural and political influence. During the medieval era what later became known as Saingilo was mostly controlled by the kingdom of Georgia and Shirvan. Numerous historical and cultural monuments can be found in Zaqarala. The 18th century mosques in Qalal and Gozbarakh villages, the Alban tower dating back to the 12th century, and the 18th century mosque in Mazikh village, two monuments built in the 14th century in the village of Kebeloba, Perigala in Yukhari Chardakhlar village, the 13th century Albanian Tower in Pashan village, and the Chingozqala tower from the 14th century in Jar village, are among them. Moreover, Zaqatala is an international region where Azerbaijanis live alongside the people of more than 20 ethnic communities, including the Avars, Lezgins, Tsakhurs, Russians, Tatars, and Ingiloys. Zaqatala cuisine is famous for its abundance of vegetables, and root crops (beets, carrots, radishes). Among vegetables, a special place is occupied by potatoes. Nowadays it began to be used widely, so it enters the delicious Azerbaijani soup piti. Prior to this, its place was occupied by chestnuts. Spices and various kinds of greens and spices, including pepper, cinnamon, cloves, dill, parsley, ginger, coriander, mint, sumac, cumin are also widely used. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Senator John McCain Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images Senator John McCain, the iconic Republican senator, two-time presidential candidate, decorated Naval bomber pilot, and former prisoner of war in Vietnam, died at his Cornville, Arizona, home surrounded by his family late Saturday afternoon after a battle with brain cancer. He was 81, and is survived by his wife Cindy and seven children, including The View co-host Meghan McCain. His family had announced on Friday that he would discontinue his medical treatment. My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved best. Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) August 26, 2018 His body will soon lie in state at both the Arizona Capitol and the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, and a full dress funeral will be held for him at Washington National Cathedral before he is buried in Annapolis, Maryland. McCain will be only the 13th U.S. senator to receive the honor of lying in state at the U.S. Capitol. I love you forever - my beloved father @SenJohnMcCain pic.twitter.com/Y50tVQvlVe Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) August 26, 2018 McCain, the son and grandson of four-star U.S. Navy admirals, was born at a Naval airbase in the Panama Canal Zone in 1936. He eventually followed his family line into the military and became a Naval aviator after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy. He later went on to fly combat missions during the Vietnam War, where he earned two medals before being shot down and captured in 1967. McCain spent the next five and a half years in North Vietnamese prison camps, where he endured severe torture, routine beatings, long-term solitary confinement, and dysentery. He was at first denied medical care despite receiving multiple injuries from his crash and at the hands of his initial captors (who stabbed him and crushed his shoulder with a rifle butt). McCain somehow survived his brutal first several months as a P.O.W. and was offered repatriation in 1968, on account of his famous father, but refused to leave unless every other American prisoner captured before him was freed first. While his treatment eventually improved, he was not released until 1973, and his wartime injuries left him disabled and unable to lift his arms above his shoulders for the rest of his life. Back in the U.S., McCain eventually decided to leave the Navy in 1981, but not before getting a taste of politics as the Navys Senate liaison. Believing he could accomplish more as a member of Congress, the celebrity war hero and new Arizona resident was elected to the House in 1982, serving two terms before successfully running for the Senate. McCain would go on to serve the remaining years of his life as a senator and develop a reputation as a conservative maverick on account of his tendency to challenge other Republicans and conservatives, as well as his personal stands on issues like immigration reform, bipartisan cooperation, and most famously, campaign finance reform. The most important legislative accomplishment of McCains career was the campaign finance reform bill he co-authored with Democrat Russ Feingold. It was eventually signed into law as the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act in 2002. The Senate, the United States, and the world are lesser places without John McCain. Nothing will overcome the loss of Senator McCain, but so that generations remember him I will be introducing a resolution to rename the Russell building after him. Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) August 26, 2018 McCain served on the Senate Armed Services Committee during his entire tenure in the Senate, and was made its chairman in 1997. He was an ardent supporter and occasional critic of the military across his career. He also earned a sometimes notorious reputation as a hawk on foreign policy, particularly in relation to American adversaries like Russia and Iran which he once joked about bombing to the tune of a Beach Boys song. McCain supported, and sometimes advocated for, most U.S. wars and military interventions, including the disastrous Iraq War, which he continued to back even after it became widely seen as a failure. McCain also proudly worked to restore diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Vietnam, and the two countries are now allies as a result. He ended up publicly forgiving his captors, then making several trips to the country after the reconciliation. While the majority of his voting record in Congress reflected his conservatism, he did periodically vote against his party across a range of issues for a variety of reasons. Central to the maverick label, which McCain clearly relished, was the way in which seemed to make up his own mind on most political matters, even as heterodoxy became less and less acceptable on the post-Fox News (and post-Palin) American right. (Critics of McCain, on the other hand, argue that his views were more motivated by politics and self interest than his reputation suggested.) McCain was also widely liked and respected by many of the political journalists who covered him, which has led to occasionally outsized coverage of his ups and downs over the past few decades. McCain ran for president in 2000, riding his infamous Straight Talk Express bus on the campaign trail and going up against GOP establishment candidate George W. Bush, who ultimately defeated him after a memorably vicious campaign. McCain ran again in 2008, winning the Republican nomination this time and fatefully selecting Alaska governor and subsequent right-wing mascot Sarah Palin as his running mate. He lost the general election to Barack Obama and returned to the Senate. A statement from @BarackObama on the passing of his 2008 rival. They were different in virtually every way, but theres no question they shared a respect. pic.twitter.com/4H2R0DbJVj Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) August 26, 2018 Last summer, amid his sixth consecutive Senate term, McCain was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor after undergoing surgery to remove a blood clot over his eye. Just weeks later, the unhealed surgery scar still visible on the side of his face, he returned to the Senate and dramatically cast the decisive vote killing the GOPs last-ditch effort to repeal Obamacare. McCain when he cast his vote against the GOPs repeal of Obamacare in July of last year. Photo: C-SPAN2 McCain had also been one of the only GOP lawmakers to consistently stand up to President Trump, earning regular retaliation from the president, who went so far as to challenge McCains status as a war hero and criticize him for allowing himself to be shot down and captured. Trump, who found a way to avoid the draft during the Vietnam War, pointedly neglected to mention McCains name a few weeks ago while holding a signing ceremony for a military spending bill which was named after the senator as a tribute from his fellow lawmakers. McCain has also been one of the fiercest critics of the presidents unfounded skepticism about whether Russia interfered in the 2016 election, as well as his apparent admiration for Russian president Vladimir Putin. Though he is not known for his expressions or understanding of empathy, Trump offered his sympathies to McCains family in a tweet on Saturday, but said nothing about McCain himself. This tweet was sent via Twitter for iPhone. I compute a 11% chance it was written by Trump himself. https://t.co/w9ODmVky56 Trump or Not (@TrumpOrNotBot) August 26, 2018 McCain told several people before he died that he did not want President Trump to be invited to his funeral. Presidents Obama and George W. Bush, were reportedly asked to deliver eulogies. The drama of McCains request or more importantly, Trumps potential reaction to it means that McCains criticism of the president will probably live on and become amplified as the senators death dominates the news. In that way, McCain will be able to run the news cycle, and annoy a U.S. president, one final time from the grave. Hell also annoy Democrats in death. His now-vacant Senate seat will be filled by whomever Arizonas Republican governor, Doug Dacey, chooses to appoint for the remainder of McCains term. Had McCain resigned before June, the seat would have been filled via a special election this fall, but his decision to hold on to his seat has allowed the GOP to hold on to it too. This post has been updated throughout. Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 71F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Have you been keeping up on our local news coverage? Test your news knowledge by taking the TBC Quiz appearing on Fridays in The Bakersfield C Joseph Luiz can be reached at 395-7368 or by email at jluiz@bakersfield.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @JLuiz_TBC. The Hare Twins By Matt Faye Dylan Hare didn't bother bringing many of his belongings. His twin sister Melody had just received a text from a neighbor in Northwest Forest saying the subdivision was under a mandatory evacuation order. The 18-year-old twins rushed home to pack their things but tried not to overreact. They had been in similar situations before. "I just threw all my stuff on the bed," Dylan said. "We didn't really flood during Rita, so I thought it wasn't going to be that bad. I figured even if it did, the water wouldn't get that high." Dylan and Melody graduated from Hardin-Jefferson High School last school year, making them part of a rare class of students to experience both Hurricane Rita and Tropical Storm Harvey. > > RELATED: PA seniors graduate in venue that sheltered them after storm Although each storm caused the students to miss weeks of school, the siblings say Harvey left a bigger mess for months afterward. "Pretty much all of my friends and family went through Rita, and then Harvey hit," Melody said. "My parents thought it was going to be like Rita and we weren't going to flood. We thought we knew what to expect, but in reality, we had no idea." Melody remembers bits and pieces from Rita. The Hare family evacuated to Greenville, where they stayed with a neighbor's family member. When they returned three weeks later, they felt relatively lucky. The house had some wind damage, but that was it. Fences and trees were down, but those could be fixed. At Beaumont ISD's Roy Guess Elementary School where the twins attended kindergarten the effects of Rita were more apparent. "We were going to school in portables, and then all the middle school kids came to our building," Melody said. "We made it work, but there were way more students that what we started with." The twins founds themselves returning to another school in shambles 12 years later at Hardin-Jefferson High School. This time, their house was in bad shape, too. While the Hare family evacuated to Lumberton during Harvey, their home in Northwest Forest flooded with six feet of water. "We basically had to start over and tear everything down to the studs," Melody said. Many of the twins' classmates did the same. They returned to school on Sept. 19 after missing three weeks. "Everything was just so different the whole year," Dylan said. "The amount of people that were affected was insane. It was brought up all year because people were still dealing with it." "It was good to be back at school, but there was just a sad feeling around everyone because of what had happened," Melody said. While the Hares rebuilt their house, they rented a home in Beaumont. The twins moved back into their Northwest Forest home before many of the repairs were finished. The rest of family moved back on May 25 the same day Dylan and Melody graduated from Hardin-Jefferson. Melody will attend the University of Texas, and Dylan will go to Texas Tech. "It felt like I'd been waiting on that day forever," Dylan said of his family moving back home. "To have everyone together again in one house was an amazing feeling." MFaye@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/mattGfaye The Saleme Twins By Danny Shapiro When Maddie Saleme and her family evacuated for Hurricane Rita, she never felt alone. When Tropical Storm Harvey arrived last year, that feeling of comfort resurfaced. Saleme has a twin sister, Macie, and the two are so close, they're about to start at the same college with the same major. That meant when disaster struck and times got hard, they had each other to power through tough times. Typically for kids, the trauma of a storm like Rita or Harvey can manifest itself in ways ranging from anxiety to acting out, sometimes months after the event itself, experts say. "We both had someone to talk to who was going through the exact same thing," Maddie said. "It was really nice and something we were both definitely grateful for." The Salemes are 2018 Nederland High School graduates, which means their public school careers were bookended by Rita and Harvey. The sisters don't remember many specifics from Rita because they were five, but they do remember sitting together in the backseat of their mother's car in the midst of the evacuation. "Having my sister with me helped add a light to a scary situation when I was so young," Macie said. Both sisters said the feelings of living through their first hurricane lingered, even as time passed. When Harvey hit last August, they didn't have to evacuate, but the storm brought another set of challenges. The sisters were looking forward to their senior year of high school, a year they described as "the best and most exciting school year." When Nederland delayed school for almost two weeks, they said they were nervous about going back. "Students may need more support than they did previously," Joy Osofksy, a professor of psychiatry at LSU who worked with Louisiana schools after Hurricane Katrina, said shortly after Harvey. Children may have a harder time controlling their behavior or concentrating or may become withdrawn, she said, if they have been through the stress of displacement and loss. Maddie and Macie became more grateful for each other as time passed last year and they came closer to graduation. They would fill out forms in English class inquiring if they were still displaced from Harvey and would joke about whether Scorpions' classic, "Rock You Like A Hurricane" would be the class song. Their senior year didn't turn out as expected because of Harvey, but they made it. Maddie and Macie start nursing school at Lamar University next week. They plan to be there for each other again if another storm hits Southeast Texas. "Having a twin makes everything a bit better," Macie said. "It's something to smile about at the end of a rough day, even a day where everything in front of you can be taken away by something as simple as rain." dshapiro@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/dannyshapiro13 They were first on the scene, and to a one, they say they will never forget what they saw. Here are the first-person accounts of several Southeast Texas first responders to Harvey's havoc. Capt. Jerry Lowe Jefferson County Sheriff's Office "The most bizarre thing was you realize whenever we have a storm like that with flooding that the impact that it has on people, you don't always realize the impact it has on animals. I got one of the high vantage points because I'm one of the pilots here, so we were flying over a lot of it. And to just see all the dead animals floating all over the area was just like God, you don't really stop and think about that. Anything from wild animals like deer, wild pigs to dogs and cattle and horses a wide variety of animals. We started an operation out of our hangar here, flying feed and hay and stuff to the animals that couldn't get to any higher ground. Eventually even the military started doing that as well. We were in helicopters. You think more about rescuing people and the people being affected by the storm, but you don't really understand that there are a lot of other aspects of it. "You get in that high water and the ants are terrible. Fire ants will ball up into huge balls; and you walk through that water, and you get ants everywhere. Ants and alligators and snakes were a big concern. That was one of big hazards when you go into the homes to help people. I didn't see any alligators, but I came across snakes and balls of ants. You would see a ball of them about 2- or 3-feet in diameter. Another hazard we were dealing with was...some of these houses still had electricity going through them. We were going in them wading through waist-deep water, and people would get shocked." Lt. Scott Duncan Jasper County Sheriff's Office "There was a lot going on in Southeast Texas for sure. The damage to the families and the homes, all the evacuations the sheriff's office had to do that was the main thing that we saw. And also, the community support. That was probably the two biggest things that I saw. It brought a lot of good people together, helping each other. It really supported community support and community teamwork, so that was pretty awesome. Jasper County has always been like that when something goes on. Our community always pulls together and does awesome things, so it was pretty neat to see. The donations, the food donations, the clothes, the baby clothes, the supplies that they brought from their own homes, even from out of state. There was a group of kids from Oklahoma, I believe that worked together on their own in their community, gathered up a ton of supplies, and put it on a truck and sent it down. They made a cardboard sign that said, 'To Texas, From Oklahoma. Love.' I thought that was pretty cool. That really stuck out to me. "I hate to harp on all the misplaced families and all the damage because there were good things, too. In today's world that we are living in, all the negativity we see in the world with everything that is going on, it was just awesome. In Harvey you didn't see differences. You didn't see racial things. You didn't see all that negativity. All you saw was everybody of every race, creed, religion coming together from all different communities and walks of life. They all just came together and represented humanity. And seeing everybody helping everybody and not worrying about all the bull crap, it was refreshing to police officers. All we see is mainly negativity. And then every now and then, we see a sliver of light. It kind of reminds you of why you are out there protecting people." Chief Rod Carroll Vidor Police Department "I never knew 6 to 8 inches of rain could fall, and that the river left the banks for seven miles and it was running down Main Street. Cars and boats and trucks, military-grade vehicles and high-water vehicles became the norm of the day. I think the most disheartening thing to see was the people we had to evacuate out of the area with school buses to the civic center. I think we transported over 1,400 people over those three days. People lost everything. And it didn't matter if you were wealthy or poor, you were in the same predicament because there were no vehicles to get out of here. It was devastating to see that we were putting people on buses with only the things on their backs, only the clothes on their backs and the things they could grab from their house. And the despair in their eyes was tragic to me. I watched one rescue not too far from city hall where the water rose so quickly. There was a woman in the second floor window, an elderly couple, and the water was about 6- to 8-feet tall at that time. And I could see the boats going in there to get them out of the window and into the boat. That's the thing, the despair in their eyes of what is going on. But on the good side was the community helping us, the National Guard, the other officers." Chief Waylan Rhodes Silsbee Police Department "We got luckier than most counties. We were more fortunate than most. We had less flooding than most. Overall I think we had 48 homes that flooded or received flood damage, which is minimal compared to everyone else. We didn't have anything that was a shock to the conscience, if you will. We did the drop locations for the PODs and cases of water for the other victims. We kept most of our staff here to prepare, just in case the flooding continued. Like I said we were very lucky. You couldn't get here. That was the thing about Silsbee, you couldn't get in and you couldn't get out. The north side part of the bridge had collapsed, so it was shut down. You were literally trapped. We had a local church open up so people could go over there and sleep and house and stay awhile until they could get back on their feet. That was a huge help." Chief Jimmy Singletary Beaumont Police Department "I wanted to go out during the storm and see how bad it was, so I had one of our officers arrange (to meet us in) a dump truck. Me and another officer were waiting in knee deep water outside, and sure enough, here comes this dump truck down the street, grinding its gears and going real slow and jumping back and forth, jerking back and forth. I told the other officer, 'I hope this isn't Officer Simpson,' and turns out he is driving. He sticks his head out the window and goes 'Hey, Chief! You ready?' We get into the dump truck and I ask him how long has he been driving a dump truck, and he said. 'About a block.' He promptly runs over a 3-foot curb. Just like all the other officers, we did the best we could. We had fun when we could, but that was pretty bizarre. I had never made a call in a dump truck. There were so many things we had to do during the storm that we had never done before, and we hope to never have to do again." Since her father's drowning in Harvey floodwaters a year ago, Amanda Lee Scott Parker said she has uncovered more about him than she knew while he was alive. Parker said it was a strange feeling to learn things she "never knew" about her dad, Scott Coyle. "You always thought you knew the real story," she said. Coyle, 67, was living in a trailer on Silsbee's Village Creek Road when Tropical Storm Harvey hit. On Sept. 7, Hardin County officials found Coyle floating facedown in three feet of floodwater. > > PROFILES: Those we lost to Harvey It wasn't until Parker cleaned out her father's belongings that she discovered that her father, a Vietnam veteran, had received a Purple Heart. Although Coyle was never diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, Parker said he took to alcohol and drugs as "his way of coping" after two tours in Vietnam with the U.S. Marines. "It drove a wedge between us," Parker said. Parker said she "never knew" when she might get a call about her father's death. After all he lived through, she "didn't think it'd be during Harvey in Hardin County." Two months after her father's death, Parker said she attended a seminar where God spoke to her, saying that her father did love her despite his absence in her life. "That really closed it for me," said Parker, who said she has since forgiven her father. "Before I was created, God chose him for a reason (to be my dad)." Coyle had "his own qualities, his own demons," Parker said, "and I'm a better person today." Parker said she has since learned to see people differently, from acquaintances she interacts with every day to strangers standing on the side of the street. "That used to be my dad," she said. Coyle loved the ocean and spent years as a tug boat captain in Galveston, where Parker released some of his ashes in a glass bottle along with a note about his life. A woman later texted Parker saying that she had found the bottle and was going to release it again on her way to Progresso, Mexico. Parker's son and Coyle's only grandson, John Parker Jr., plans on joining the Marines after high school in honor of his grandfather and great-grandfather, Sgt. Maj. Strimple Coyle, a Pearl Harbor attack survivor. Phoebe.Suy@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/PhoebeSuy A group of diverse but like-minded individuals, the members of ARC have come together in their common desire to fight hatred, bigotry, intolerance and violence because of the harm these antisocial behaviors cause to our society. In that effort, we will not use or sanction the use of illegal actions (such as violence or intimidation) in pursuit of our desired aims and if we learn of anyone who does use these unethical methods we will report those individuals to the authorities. Instead, we will use the guarantees found in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that ensure freedom of legal speech and expression. Evangelical Christian Scott Morrison, who emerged as Australia's Prime Minister on Friday after a ruling party bun fight, is a key architect of the country's controversial "stop the boats" policy to halt the arrival of seaborne asylum-seekers. "Scott Morrison will sharpen the focus on Bill Shorten's failure to commit to real, lasting GST reform for West Australians", Senator Smith said. It's also an worldwide embarrassment for a nation that prides itself as a safe and stable democracy in which to invest. The former treasurer, a Turnbull ally who upset right-wing challenger Peter Dutton in the internal party ballot, said he had had a warm chat with the United States president. Later on Friday, Turnbull said he would quit politics "not before long". Relations between Trump and Turnbull started badly in February 2017 when Trump berated the Australian leader over a bilateral refugee agreement before abruptly ending their telephone conversation, according to a leaked transcript of the call. Aged Care and Indigenous Health Minister Ken Wyatt, whose personal popularity is key to the Government holding its most marginal WA seat of Hasluck, would have reconsidered his position if Mr Dutton became prime minister, because he boycotted the 2008 apology to the Stolen Generation. The new Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison signs documents as he attends a swearing-in ceremony in Canberra, Australia August 24, 2018. Freeland 'very encouraged' by reports of NAFTA progress Canada has been waiting for the Mexican and United States teams to reach common ground on autos before rejoining the negotiations. Mexican and US negotiators are close to agreeing a five-year phase-in period to implement the changes, the source said. "There are many challenges our country has - our economic security, our national security", Morrison said. Years earlier, he'd been involved in the highly acclaimed "100% Pure New Zealand" campaign after being recruited to set up that country's Office of Tourism and Sport. "We intend to be governing.so I don't think anybody should be making any plans for any elections any time soon, " Mr Morrison said. His resignation would cause a by-election that could cost the government its single-seat majority. "There was a determined insurgency from a number of people both in the party room and backed by voices, powerful voices, in the media", he told reporters, in reference to media mogul Rupert Murdoch's conservative News Corporation. "It was extraordinary. It was described as madness by many and I think it's hard to describe it in any other way". Dutton later suggested that the crisis was driven by personalities rather than policy differences. New South Wales is Australia's most populous state and the drought is the most severe in recent memory. Josh Frydenberg was voted in by his colleagues and was given the treasury portfolio on Friday. Parliament does not sit again until Sept 10. Turnbull's leadership was vulnerable because his government was trailing in opinion polls. DUBLIN - Pope Francis said Saturday that church failures to address sexual crimes have "rightly given rise to outrage," an acknowledgment of the traumas that are challenging his papacy and have radically diminished the authority of the Catholic Church here. Beginning one of the most fraught trips in his five years as pope, Francis described the "repellent crimes" and the church's inability to deal with them as "a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community" - remarks some Irish criticized as familiar and lacking any mention of concrete steps for reform. "I cannot fail to acknowledge the grave scandal caused in Ireland by the abuse of young people by members of the church charged with responsibility for their protection and education," he told a room filled with members of the Irish government, other lawmakers and diplomats. Francis later compared corruption and the coverup of abuse to human excrement, using the word "caca," according to three of the eight survivors who took part in a private meeting with him. The 36-hour trip represents the pope's most direct encounter yet with the ramifications of abuse scandals, as well as a test of whether he can rebuild the church's standing in a country where Catholicism was once the social and religious bedrock. It will also provide clues about how Francis, who has sometimes been criticized for his handling of the crisis, will guide a church facing a new wave of damaging cases across the world. Some Irish Catholics have said they want the pope to ask forgiveness for the Vatican's role in facilitating the coverup of sexual crimes - something he did not do Saturday. Others say he will be hard-pressed to regain the trust eroded by several government-backed inquiries into abuses in Irish dioceses and other church-run institutions. Francis is visiting Ireland for the World Meeting of Families, and on Sunday he will celebrate an afternoon Mass and address what is expected to be a large crowd in Dublin's Phoenix Park. But the first papal trip to Ireland in 39 years is also a marker of how secularization and feelings of betrayal have accelerated a move away from the church. In 1979, Pope John Paul II was greeted here over several days by an estimated 2.7 million people. Francis, as he toured Dublin in his popemobile Saturday, drew crowds of people cheering and waving yellow and white Vatican City flags. But the city did not come to a standstill, and many Dubliners continued with their routines, meeting in pubs, exercising, doing laundry, watching bits and pieces of the pope's visit on television. At Croke Park Stadium on Saturday evening, where Francis offered guidance on family life at an event dubbed the Festival of Families, papal merchandise was selling at discount prices. In a neighborhood where Francis met with homeless families, Esther Hyland, 78, said she was jeered by a passerby as she placed yellow-and-white bunting in front of her home. "I'm angry about the coverup, too," she said. "But it's my faith. He's my leader." Others preferred to keep their distance, indicative of a country where atheism is on the rise, some churches are being decommissioned, and priests are being imported from other countries. "It's hard to make up for the terrible things that happened here," said Matthew Hennessy, 26, who said he believes in God but not "in the Catholic Church the way it is now." Many Irish say they appreciate Francis' personal style, as well as his emphasis on environmental protection and social justice, but they say he has not delivered the necessary transparency or changes in church law to help the Vatican deal with abuse. A tribunal that Francis approved in 2015, designed for bishops accused of coverup or negligence, was thwarted by internal Vatican opposition. A commission he created to advise him on sexual abuse has delivered few significant breakthroughs, and a high-profile Irish abuse survivor, Marie Collins, resigned from the group last year in protest. Collins was among the eight survivors who met with Francis privately for 90 minutes Saturday - a follow-through on the pope's pledge to sit down with abuse victims at some point during his Ireland trip. The Vatican did not release details about the meeting, but three of the victims in attendance said Francis used the word "caca" when talking about corruption and coverup within the church. "It was his way of saying 'the lowest of the worst.' He was speaking from the heart," said Patrick McCafferty, a priest in Belfast who participated in the meeting and was abused by a priest as a seminarian. "So yes, he used that term. It was a very blunt term about those who have caused this catastrophe." Earlier Saturday, in a speech at Dublin Castle with the pope looking on, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who is gay, spoke about Ireland's social inclusiveness, where "families come in many different, wonderful forms, including those headed by a grandparent, lone parent or same-sex parents, or parents who are divorced." Varadkar said it was time for a "new relationship between church and state in Ireland" and that abuse by priests and in church-run institutions were "stains on our state, our society and also the church." "There can only be zero tolerance for those who abuse children or facilitate that abuse," Varadkar said. "We must now ensure that from words flow actions." In his own remarks, the Argentine-born pontiff said he was committed to eliminating the "scourge" in the church "at any cost." But he also said that steps taken by his immediate predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, continue "to serve as an incentive" in ending abuse. In 2010, Benedict wrote a letter to Irish Catholics in which he said he was "truly sorry" for the "sinful and criminal" acts that happened in Ireland. The letter, though, was widely criticized in Ireland because it did not mention the Vatican's culpability. Mark Vincent Healy, an Irish victim of clerical abuse, said Francis' speech was "empty - really empty." "I was with a group of survivors, and they were all upset with the statements as being ineffectual," he said. On Monday, in a letter addressed to Catholics around the world, Francis had noted the "heart-wrenching pain" of victims following a Pennsylvania grand jury report that detailed decades of sexual misconduct by priests and repeated failures by bishops to hold priests accountable. One of the prelates whose conduct was scrutinized in the report is Cardinal Donald Wuerl, who led the diocese in Pittsburgh for 18 years before coming to Washington. Wuerl has defended his record but withdrew from a speaking role during the pope's visit to Dublin. Another U.S. cardinal, Sean O'Malley, also backed out as he handles a probe into alleged sexual misconduct at a seminary. Francis was making his first trip to Ireland since 1980, when he was known as Jorge Mario Bergoglio and stayed for a time in a Dublin suburb to learn English. But the country has undergone a social transformation since then, approving same-sex marriage and ending an abortion ban with referendums. In Francis' first meeting of the day, Ireland's president, Michael Higgins, spoke about "how acts of exclusion, including those based on gender and sexual orientation, had caused, and were still causing, great suffering," according to a readout of the meeting provided by his office. In his Saturday evening speech on family matters, Francis did not address those issues, nor did he mention abuse. Instead, he gave accessible advice for families and couples, talking about the importance of limiting social media and of quickly making up after a fight. Brian D'Arcy, a priest and broadcaster, said there were competing expectations for Francis' Ireland trip. "The pope came here for the World Meeting of Families," D'Arcy said, "but the Irish people thought he was coming here to apologize for abuse, and the two never met." Here are nine recent health IT vendor contracts and go-lives: 1. 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. 2. Farmington, N.M.-based San Juan Regional Medical Center entered into an agreement with Cerner to implement its Cerner Millennium health IT platform. 3. New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery is working with tech companies such as imaging IT vendor Dicom Systems as part of a project to develop artificial intelligence algorithms to improve clinical care. 4. Greater Houston Healthconnect went live on InterSystems HealthShare to support its health information exchange service. 5. Montgomery (W.Va.) General Hospital, a 25 bed-critical access facility, signed the first Meditech cloud-based subscription for its Expanse enterprise health record. 6. The Iowa Clinic in West Des Moines implemented a patient self-scheduling platform from MyHealthDirect. 7. Baltimore-based University of Maryland Medical System partnered with Real Time Medical Systems, a healthcare interventional analytics company. 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.Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio is collaborating with respiratory health startup Propeller Health to roll out a program targeted toward chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. The tunnel was discovered last Tuesday, Aug. 14, as authorities executed a search warrant inside a former KFC located roughly 200 yards north of the worldwide border, said Scott Brown, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent. Homeland Secruity Investigations officials confirmed to KYMA that the tunnel was 22 feet deep and travelled almost 590 feet underground, before reaching a private home across the border. It remains under investigation. They were alerted to the tunnel after the former KFC owner, Ivan Lopez, was pulled over, according to KYMA News. The former fast food restaurant lies just 600ft (180 meters) inside the border, making it an ideal location for smugglers to establish a base in the US. Lopez is being held in federal detention without bond because he is considered a flight risk, according to court documents. Authorities don't know how long the tunnel had been in use, but Lopez only bought the property in April. The fentanyl alone was enough for three million doses. Hurricane Lane downgraded to a Tropical Storm as it approaches Hawaii Police on loudspeakers told surfers and swimmers to get out of the water, saying the beach would be closed until further notice. The airline added two more flights from Honolulu to San Francisco on Thursday to help transport people off the islands. The tunnel is lined with 2-by-4s, along with thinner planks of wood that resemble fence posts, for nearly the entirety of its 590-foot span, the video shows. It led from underneath the building in San Luis, across the US-Mexico border and into a bedroom in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora. Lopez, who is a resident of Yuma Arizona, was pulled out of his vehicle after drug dogs reacted to his transportation. Authorities say the cross-border tunnel was used to smuggle drugs including methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, the BBC reports. At the Mexican side, the tunnel exited through a trap door underneath a bed. "Such tunnels, not uncommon to the border of the United States and the Republic of Mexico, are nearly exclusively used for the smuggling of narcotics from Mexico into the United States", prosecutors noted. Unfortunately, this isn't the first time that a drug trafficking tunnel has been constructed into the United States. Police deal with an incident following a festival in Ardoyne on August 226th2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Police deal with an incident following a festival in Ardoyne on August 226th2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Police deal with an incident following a festival in Ardoyne on August 226th2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Police deal with an incident following a festival in Ardoyne on August 226th2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Police deal with an incident following a festival in Ardoyne on August 226th2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Police deal with an incident following a festival in Ardoyne on August 226th2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Police deal with an incident following a festival in Ardoyne on August 226th2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Police deal with an incident following a festival in Ardoyne on August 226th2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Police deal with an incident following a festival in Ardoyne on August 226th2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) A man in his 30s has been taken to hospital after being shot in Belfast on Saturday night. Police received a report that a man was shot in the Ardoyne Avenue area of north Belfast around 10:15 pm. He was treated at hospital for a gunshot wound to his calf and bruising to his face. Following the shooting another "agitated" man was seen patrolling the area with a machete around 10:40pm. He was described as being dark-haired, wearing a white tee-shirt and dark bottoms and swinging the weapon around him. It was reported that two males disarmed him before then becoming involved in an altercation with him. Police believe a male and a female may have received minor injuries during the incident. The incidents took place during the local Ardoyne and Marrowbone Community Festival. "The festival committee are disgusted and disappointed that a small amount of individuals set out to cause disruption last night following day 10 of positive events and community celebrations," a festival spokesperson said. Police linked the attack to criminal groups. The circumstances of this incident are particularly concerning as it took place at the same time as a local community event. This was a brutal attack and yet another example of how criminal groups seek to control communities through fear and violence," Detective Sergeant Danielle Moffett said. Local Sinn Fein Councillor Ryan Murphy has condemned those responsible for the incidents. The contrast between those community and voluntary workers providing a positive experience for young people in the area and those responsible for this shooting could not be more stark," he said. There was another incident in the area shortly afterwards when a man attacked and injured two people with a machete. Details of that attack are still emerging but I wish those injured a speedy recovery and clearly this incident could have had even more disastrous consequences." Detective Sergeant Moffett asked anyone with information to come forward. If anyone witnessed either of these incidents or has any information that could be useful to our investigation into them, they should phone detectives at Musgrave on 101, quoting reference number 1619 of 25/8/18," she said. "Alternatively, information can also be provide to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime." Pope Francis waves as he boards an airplane at Rome's Fiumicino international airport, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. The pontiff is traveling to Ireland for a two-day visit on the occasion of the 2018 World Meeting of Families. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Bishop Eamon Martin waits for the arrival of Pope Francis at Dublin International Airport, for the start of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Pope Francis is greeted by members of the clergy, representatives of Government and the local County Council, as he arrives at Dublin International Airport, at the start of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Pope Francis as he arrives at Dublin International Airport, at the start of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Pope Francis as he arrives at Dublin International Airport, at the start of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Pope Francis as he arrives at Dublin International Airport, at the start of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Pope Francis as he arrives at Dublin International Airport, at the start of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Pope Francis is greeted by Archbishop Eamon Martin as he arrives at Dublin International Airport, at the start of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Pope Francis arrives for a meeting with Irish President Michael D Higgins and wife Sabina , at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Pope Francis arrives for a meeting with Irish President Michael D Higgins and wife Sabina , at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Protestors wearing baby shoes, to signify the children who died in mother and baby homes in Ireland, protest in Dublin ahead of the start of the visit to Ireland by Pope Francis. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire Pope Francis arrives for a meeting with Irish President Michael D Higgins, at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Pope Francis arrives for a meeting with Irish President Michael D Higgins and wife Sabina , at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Pope Francis receives a bouquet of flowers from five-year-old Annalise, daughter of Foreign Affairs minister Simon Coveney, as he arrives at Dublin International Airport, at the start of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Pope Francis arrives for a meeting with Irish President Michael D Higgins, at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. Photo credit: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Pope Francis arrives for tree planting ceremony during a meeting with Irish President Michael D Higgins, at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire The Hassoun family, (left to right not given) Saif Eddin Hassoun, Sanaa Edris, Mohmoud Al A'Araj, Hasba Hassoun, Lana Al A'Araj (six), Aala Al A'Araj, (four) and Tala Al A'Araj (one), wait to meet Pope Francis following a tree planting ceremony at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire Pope Francis signs the arrivals book as he meets with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at Dublin Castle as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Pope Francis presents Taoiseach Leo Varadkar with a gift as they meet at Dublin Castle during his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Pope Francis delivers his speech in St Patrick's Hall at Dublin Castle, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire Pope Francis speaks with President Michael D Higgins in his study during a visit to Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire Pope Francis (centre right) leaves St Patrick's Hall at Dublin Castle, Dublin, with Taoiseach Leo Varadakar (centre left) after his speech, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire Pope Francis (centre right) arriving at St Patrick's Hall at Dublin Castle, Dublin, with Taoiseach Leo Varadakar (centre left) after his speech, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire Pope Francis (left) shakes hands with Taoiseach Leo Varadakar after his speech in St Patrick's Hall at Dublin Castle, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire Pope Francis speaks with President Michael D Higgins in his study during a visit to Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire Pope Francis (left) shakes hands with Taoiseach Leo Varadakar after his speech in St Patrick's Hall at Dublin Castle, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire Pope Francis delivers a speech in St Patrick's Hall at Dublin Castle, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire Crowds wait for Pope Francis at College Green, Dublin, prior to him travelling through Dublin in the Popemobile during his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire Priests await the arrival of Pope Francis to St Mary's Pro Cathedral in Dublin, where he will meet with recently-married couples, and couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire Pope Francis kisses a young girl at the end of his meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. Pope Francis is on a two-day visit to Ireland. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Pope Francis at St Patrick's Hall at Dublin Castle, Dublin, prior to his speech, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire Supporters wait to see Pope Francis outside Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Sean McDermott Street, Dublin, the resting place of Matt Talbot, on the first day of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Pairs of baby shoes hang from the railings on Sean McDermott Street in Dublin in memory of the children who died at the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, Co Galway, during the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Pope Francis arrives for a visit to St Mary's Pro Cathedral in Dublin to meet with recently-married couples, and couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire Stephen O'Brien selling bottles of holy water from the St Mary's Pro Cathedral on Talbot Street, Dublin, during the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Pope Francis arrives for a visit to St Mary's Pro Cathedral in Dublin to meet with recently-married couples, and couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire Pope Francis signs a guest book as he meets with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. Pope Francis is on a two-day visit to Ireland. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Pope Francis meets with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, right, as he arrives at Dublin Castle, Ireland, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. Pope Francis is on a two-day visit to Ireland. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Pope Francis meets with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at Dublin Castle as part of his visit to Ireland. Photo credit: Niall Carson/PA Wire Pope Francis waves to the waiting crowds on Christchurch, Dublin as he travels in the Popemobile during his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Pope Francis during a visit to St Mary's Pro Cathedral in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire Pope Francis during a visit to St Mary's Pro Cathedral in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire Pope Francis speaks during his visit to the Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. Pope Francis is on a two-day visit to Ireland. (Tiziana Fabi/Pool Photo via AP) Pope Francis shakes hands with Br Kevin Crowley as he arrives for a visit to the Capuchin Day Centre on Bowe Street in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire Pope Francis greets Aidan Walsh, during a visit to the Capuchin Day Centre on Bowe Street in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire Pauline Gallagher (right) with her daughters Amelia and Alana after seeing Pope Francis on College Green, Dublin, as he travels in the Popemobile during his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire Pope Francis waves to the waiting crowds on O'Connell Street, Dublin as he travels in the Popemobile during his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Pope Francis waves to the waiting crowds on Christchurch, Dublin as he travels in the Popemobile during his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire People hold up lights at Croke Park Stadium in Dublin, as Pope Francis joins an audience of 82,500 where he will hear five testimonies by families from Ireland, Canada, Iraq, and Africa, during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire Crowds and performers at Croke Park in Dublin, in preparation for the arrival of Pope Francis who will join an audience of 82,500 and hear five testimonies by families from Ireland, Canada, Iraq, and Africa, during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire Pope Francis arrives at the Croke Park stadium for the Festival of Families, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. Pope Francis is on a two-day visit to Ireland. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Pope Francis joins an audience of 82,500 at Croke Park Stadium in Dublin during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Pope Francis waves to the crowd as he arrives at the Croke Park Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. Pope Francis is on a two-day visit to Ireland. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Crowds and performers at Croke Park in Dublin, in preparation for the arrival of Pope Francis who will join an audience of 82,500 and hear five testimonies by families from Ireland, Canada, Iraq, and Africa, during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire Performers at Croke Park in Dublin, prior to the arrival of Pope Francis who will join an audience of 82,500 and hear five testimonies by families from Ireland, Canada, Iraq, and Africa, during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire Pope Francis speaks to the audience at Croke Park Stadium in Dublin, during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Pope Francis prays at Croke Park Stadium in Dublin, during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Pope Francis prays at Croke Park Stadium in Dublin, during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Pope Francis waves to the audience as he leaves Croke Park Stadium in Dublin, after attending the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire Pope Francis speaking at Croke Park in Dublin, during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire Pope Francis speaking at Croke Park in Dublin, during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire Cardinal Kevin Farrell (left) and Pope Francis enjoying the performances at Croke Park in Dublin, during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire Pope Francis joins an audience of 82,500 at Croke Park Stadium in Dublin during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. Photo credit: Brian Lawless/PA Wire. Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and President Micheal D. Higgins awaiting Pope Francis arrival at the Phoenix Park, Dublin for the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. Pope Francis at the Phoenix Park, Dublin for the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. Pope Francis at the Phoenix Park, Dublin for the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Pope Francis arrives to attend the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire People hold up names of children as they gather to protest at the site of the former Tuam home for unmarried mothers in County Galway, where a mass grave of around 800 babies has recently been uncovered, during the visit to Ireland by Pope Francis. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire People hold up names of children as they gather to protest at the site of the former Tuam home for unmarried mothers in County Galway, where a mass grave of around 800 babies has recently been uncovered, during the visit to Ireland by Pope Francis. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire The Stand4Truth protest at the Garden of Remembrance to coincide with the Papal Mass at Phoenix Park, before walking to the site of a nearby former Magdalene laundry, during the visit to Ireland by Pope Francis. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire People hold up names of children as they gather to protest at the site of the former Tuam home for unmarried mothers in County Galway, where a mass grave of around 800 babies has recently been uncovered, during the visit to Ireland by Pope Francis. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire An aerial view of the crowd at Phoenix Park in Dublin as Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Pope Francis arrives to attend the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Pope Francis speaks at the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Bed sheets with names of deceased children tied to the fence of the former Tuam home for unmarried mothers in County Galway, where a mass grave of around 800 babies has recently been uncovered, during the visit to Ireland by the Pope Francis. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Sex abuse victim William Gorry (left) showing emotions as he joins clerical sex abuse protesters at the General Post Office (GPO) on O'Connell Street in Dublin, prior to marching to the Garden of Remembrance to hold a protest to coincide with the Papal Mass at Phoenix Park, before walking to the site of a nearby former Magdalene laundry, during the visit to Ireland by Pope Francis. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire Pope Francis arrive to attend the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire An aerial view of the crowd / Pope Francis at Phoenix Park in Dublin as Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire An aerial view of the crowd at Phoenix Park in Dublin as Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire An aerial view of the crowd at Phoenix Park in Dublin as Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire Pope Francis arrives to attend the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire An aerial view of the crowd at Phoenix Park in Dublin as Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire Pope Francis arrive to attend the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Childrens toys are place at Scoil Mhuire primary school in Tuam, Co Galway in protest to Pope Francis visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes was set up following claims of mass burials of hundreds of children at the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire A message to Pope France is tied to the fence of the former Tuam home for unmarried mothers in County Galway, where a mass grave of around 800 babies has recently been uncovered, during the visit to Ireland by the pontiff. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Clerical sex abuse protesters assemble at the General Post Office (GPO) on O'Connell Street in Dublin, prior to marching to the Garden of Remembrance to hold a protest to coincide with the Papal Mass at Phoenix Park, before walking to the site of a nearby former Magdalene laundry, during the visit to Ireland by Pope Francis. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire Clerical sex abuse protesters assemble at the General Post Office (GPO) on O'Connell Street in Dublin, prior to marching to the Garden of Remembrance to hold a protest to coincide with the Papal Mass at Phoenix Park, before walking to the site of a nearby former Magdalene laundry, during the visit to Ireland by Pope Francis. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire Clerical sex abuse protesters assemble at the General Post Office (GPO) on O'Connell Street in Dublin, prior to marching to the Garden of Remembrance to hold a protest to coincide with the Papal Mass at Phoenix Park, before walking to the site of a nearby former Magdalene laundry, during the visit to Ireland by Pope Francis. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire Members of the Garda Siochana - the police service of the Republic of Ireland - in the rain await Pope Francis to board his plane to depart from the airport in Knock in County Mayo, after a visit to Knock Holy Shrine, in County Mayo, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire Orlagh McGlade, from Armagh, in Dublin's Phoenix park ahead of the arrival of Pope Francis for the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope Colour. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire People gather in Dublin's Phoenix park ahead of the arrival of Pope Francis for the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope Colour. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Pope Francis at Knock Shrine, County Mayo, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. Pope Francis with pilgrims at Knock Shrine, County Mayo, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. Pope Francis during a visit to Knock Holy Shrine, in County Mayo to view the Apparition Chapel and to give the Angelus address, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Audrey Elliott with the signed Co Mayo jersey by Pope Francis at Ireland West Airport, Knock in County Mayo, which she hopes will lift the Mayo 'curse' so the team can win an All-Ireland title. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. The Co Mayo curse dates back to the last All-Ireland winning Mayo team of 1951 who were said to be cursed on their victory drive home from Dublin with the winning cup. See PA story IRISH Pope Airport. Photo credit should read: Cate McCurry/PA Wire Pope Francis during a visit to Knock Holy Shrine, in County Mayo to view the Apparition Chapel and to give the Angelus address, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire A gust of win blows Pope Francis' cape as he speaks at the Knock Shrine, in Knock, Ireland, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018. Pope Francis is on a two-day visit to Ireland. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) Pope Francis during a visit to Knock Holy Shrine, in County Mayo to view the Apparition Chapel and to give the Angelus address, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Pope Francis is greeted by a delegation of clergy and representatives from Ireland West Airport as he arrives at the airport in Knock in County Mayo, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire Pope Francis arrives to attend the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Pilgrims wait for the arrival of Pope Francis at Knock Holy Shrine, in County Mayo where he will view the Apparition Chapel and to give the Angelus address, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Pope Francis is greeted by a delegation of clergy and representatives from Ireland West Airport as he arrives at the airport in Knock in County Mayo, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and President Micheal D. Higgins awaiting Pope Francis arrival at the Phoenix Park, Dublin for the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Pope Francis at the Phoenix Park, Dublin for the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. Pope Francis at the Phoenix Park, Dublin for the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. Thousands of pilgrims were making their way to a wet and windy Phoenix Park this morning, around the same time as Pope Francis was in Knock to visit the Apparition Chapel. During his speech at Knock he sent "a warm greeting to the people of Northern Ireland. Although my journey for the World Meeting of Families does not include a visit to the North, I assure you of my affection and my closeness in prayer. I ask Our Lady to sustain all the members of the Irish family to persevere, as brothers and sisters in the work of reconciliation." Meanwhile as the thousands of pilgrims from all over Ireland, including many from the North, made their way to Phoenix Park later in the morning the steady downpour gradually ceased, and there was a mood of joy and celebration as people moved into their "corrals" in the Park and waved Papal and Irish flags. Those who attended had to walk up to 7km from their buses to the Park, taking up to 75 minutes, and then they had to queue to get in. Some 500,000 visitors were expected at Phoenix Park. There were 3,000 "Papal" volunteers, and 2,000 volunteers assisting in the delivery of Holy Communion to the huge crowd. There were 1,000 first-aiders, including members of the Order of Malta, the Irish Red Cross, St. Johns Ambulance, and several hundred Gardai. The organisers also provided 150 food outlets and hundreds of toilets. The overall cost for such a massive operation was estimated at Euros 1 million-well over 900,000 sterling. The massive altar, which is the centre piece of the Park, dominated the area, on the exact spot where Pope John Paul II presided at the Mass during his 1979 visit to Ireland. In the early morning I joined a group of Irish and international journalists to visit the Papal Altar, and the dimensions of the structure were most impressive close-up. So too were the large array of chairs, and the corralls for the pilgrims which stretched as far as the eye could see. Physically the scale of the whole operation was staggering. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Pope Francis prays inside St Mary's Pro Cathedral during his visit to Dublin, Ireland. (Stefano Rellandini/Pool Photo via AP) AP Pope Francis at the Phoenix Park, Dublin for the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. PA Pope Francis at the Phoenix Park, Dublin for the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. PA Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire PA An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and President Micheal D. Higgins awaiting Pope Francis arrival at the Phoenix Park, Dublin for the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. PA Pope Francis is greeted by a delegation of clergy and representatives from Ireland West Airport as he arrives at the airport in Knock in County Mayo, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire PA Pilgrims wait for the arrival of Pope Francis at Knock Holy Shrine, in County Mayo where he will view the Apparition Chapel and to give the Angelus address, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA Pope Francis arrives to attend the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA Pope Francis is greeted by a delegation of clergy and representatives from Ireland West Airport as he arrives at the airport in Knock in County Mayo, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire PA Pope Francis during a visit to Knock Holy Shrine, in County Mayo to view the Apparition Chapel and to give the Angelus address, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA A gust of win blows Pope Francis' cape as he speaks at the Knock Shrine, in Knock, Ireland, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018. Pope Francis is on a two-day visit to Ireland. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) AP Pope Francis during a visit to Knock Holy Shrine, in County Mayo to view the Apparition Chapel and to give the Angelus address, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA Audrey Elliott with the signed Co Mayo jersey by Pope Francis at Ireland West Airport, Knock in County Mayo, which she hopes will lift the Mayo 'curse' so the team can win an All-Ireland title. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. The Co Mayo curse dates back to the last All-Ireland winning Mayo team of 1951 who were said to be cursed on their victory drive home from Dublin with the winning cup. See PA story IRISH Pope Airport. Photo credit should read: Cate McCurry/PA Wire PA Pope Francis during a visit to Knock Holy Shrine, in County Mayo to view the Apparition Chapel and to give the Angelus address, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA Pope Francis with pilgrims at Knock Shrine, County Mayo, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. PA Pope Francis at Knock Shrine, County Mayo, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. PA People gather in Dublin's Phoenix park ahead of the arrival of Pope Francis for the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope Colour. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA Orlagh McGlade, from Armagh, in Dublin's Phoenix park ahead of the arrival of Pope Francis for the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope Colour. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA Members of the Garda Siochana - the police service of the Republic of Ireland - in the rain await Pope Francis to board his plane to depart from the airport in Knock in County Mayo, after a visit to Knock Holy Shrine, in County Mayo, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire PA Clerical sex abuse protesters assemble at the General Post Office (GPO) on O'Connell Street in Dublin, prior to marching to the Garden of Remembrance to hold a protest to coincide with the Papal Mass at Phoenix Park, before walking to the site of a nearby former Magdalene laundry, during the visit to Ireland by Pope Francis. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire PA Clerical sex abuse protesters assemble at the General Post Office (GPO) on O'Connell Street in Dublin, prior to marching to the Garden of Remembrance to hold a protest to coincide with the Papal Mass at Phoenix Park, before walking to the site of a nearby former Magdalene laundry, during the visit to Ireland by Pope Francis. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire PA Clerical sex abuse protesters assemble at the General Post Office (GPO) on O'Connell Street in Dublin, prior to marching to the Garden of Remembrance to hold a protest to coincide with the Papal Mass at Phoenix Park, before walking to the site of a nearby former Magdalene laundry, during the visit to Ireland by Pope Francis. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire PA A message to Pope France is tied to the fence of the former Tuam home for unmarried mothers in County Galway, where a mass grave of around 800 babies has recently been uncovered, during the visit to Ireland by the pontiff. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA Childrens toys are place at Scoil Mhuire primary school in Tuam, Co Galway in protest to Pope Francis visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes was set up following claims of mass burials of hundreds of children at the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA Pope Francis arrive to attend the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA An aerial view of the crowd at Phoenix Park in Dublin as Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA Pope Francis arrives to attend the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA An aerial view of the crowd at Phoenix Park in Dublin as Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA An aerial view of the crowd at Phoenix Park in Dublin as Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA An aerial view of the crowd / Pope Francis at Phoenix Park in Dublin as Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA Pope Francis arrive to attend the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA Sex abuse victim William Gorry (left) showing emotions as he joins clerical sex abuse protesters at the General Post Office (GPO) on O'Connell Street in Dublin, prior to marching to the Garden of Remembrance to hold a protest to coincide with the Papal Mass at Phoenix Park, before walking to the site of a nearby former Magdalene laundry, during the visit to Ireland by Pope Francis. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire PA Bed sheets with names of deceased children tied to the fence of the former Tuam home for unmarried mothers in County Galway, where a mass grave of around 800 babies has recently been uncovered, during the visit to Ireland by the Pope Francis. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA Pope Francis speaks at the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA Pope Francis arrives to attend the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire PA Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire PA Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire PA Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire PA An aerial view of the crowd at Phoenix Park in Dublin as Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA People hold up names of children as they gather to protest at the site of the former Tuam home for unmarried mothers in County Galway, where a mass grave of around 800 babies has recently been uncovered, during the visit to Ireland by Pope Francis. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA The Stand4Truth protest at the Garden of Remembrance to coincide with the Papal Mass at Phoenix Park, before walking to the site of a nearby former Magdalene laundry, during the visit to Ireland by Pope Francis. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire PA Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire PA Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire PA Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire PA People hold up names of children as they gather to protest at the site of the former Tuam home for unmarried mothers in County Galway, where a mass grave of around 800 babies has recently been uncovered, during the visit to Ireland by Pope Francis. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA People hold up names of children as they gather to protest at the site of the former Tuam home for unmarried mothers in County Galway, where a mass grave of around 800 babies has recently been uncovered, during the visit to Ireland by Pope Francis. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA Pope Francis arrives to attend the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire PA Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire PA Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire PA Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire PA Pope Francis at the Phoenix Park, Dublin for the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. PA Pope Francis at the Phoenix Park, Dublin for the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. PA An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and President Micheal D. Higgins awaiting Pope Francis arrival at the Phoenix Park, Dublin for the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. PA Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire PA Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday August 26, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire PA Pope Francis joins an audience of 82,500 at Croke Park Stadium in Dublin during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. Photo credit: Brian Lawless/PA Wire. PA Cardinal Kevin Farrell (left) and Pope Francis enjoying the performances at Croke Park in Dublin, during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire PA Pope Francis speaking at Croke Park in Dublin, during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire PA Pope Francis speaking at Croke Park in Dublin, during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire PA Pope Francis waves to the audience as he leaves Croke Park Stadium in Dublin, after attending the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire PA Pope Francis prays at Croke Park Stadium in Dublin, during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA Pope Francis prays at Croke Park Stadium in Dublin, during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA Pope Francis speaks to the audience at Croke Park Stadium in Dublin, during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA Performers at Croke Park in Dublin, prior to the arrival of Pope Francis who will join an audience of 82,500 and hear five testimonies by families from Ireland, Canada, Iraq, and Africa, during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire PA Crowds and performers at Croke Park in Dublin, in preparation for the arrival of Pope Francis who will join an audience of 82,500 and hear five testimonies by families from Ireland, Canada, Iraq, and Africa, during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire PA Pope Francis waves to the crowd as he arrives at the Croke Park Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. Pope Francis is on a two-day visit to Ireland. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) AP Pope Francis joins an audience of 82,500 at Croke Park Stadium in Dublin during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA Pope Francis arrives at the Croke Park stadium for the Festival of Families, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. Pope Francis is on a two-day visit to Ireland. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) AP Crowds and performers at Croke Park in Dublin, in preparation for the arrival of Pope Francis who will join an audience of 82,500 and hear five testimonies by families from Ireland, Canada, Iraq, and Africa, during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire PA People hold up lights at Croke Park Stadium in Dublin, as Pope Francis joins an audience of 82,500 where he will hear five testimonies by families from Ireland, Canada, Iraq, and Africa, during the Festival of Families event, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire PA Pope Francis waves to the waiting crowds on Christchurch, Dublin as he travels in the Popemobile during his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA Pope Francis waves to the waiting crowds on O'Connell Street, Dublin as he travels in the Popemobile during his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire PA Pauline Gallagher (right) with her daughters Amelia and Alana after seeing Pope Francis on College Green, Dublin, as he travels in the Popemobile during his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire PA Pope Francis greets Aidan Walsh, during a visit to the Capuchin Day Centre on Bowe Street in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire PA Pope Francis shakes hands with Br Kevin Crowley as he arrives for a visit to the Capuchin Day Centre on Bowe Street in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire PA Pope Francis speaks during his visit to the Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. Pope Francis is on a two-day visit to Ireland. (Tiziana Fabi/Pool Photo via AP) AP Pope Francis during a visit to St Mary's Pro Cathedral in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire PA Pope Francis during a visit to St Mary's Pro Cathedral in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire PA Pope Francis waves to the waiting crowds on Christchurch, Dublin as he travels in the Popemobile during his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA Pope Francis meets with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at Dublin Castle as part of his visit to Ireland. Photo credit: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA Pope Francis meets with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, right, as he arrives at Dublin Castle, Ireland, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. Pope Francis is on a two-day visit to Ireland. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) AP Pope Francis signs a guest book as he meets with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. Pope Francis is on a two-day visit to Ireland. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) AP Pope Francis arrives for a visit to St Mary's Pro Cathedral in Dublin to meet with recently-married couples, and couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire PA Stephen O'Brien selling bottles of holy water from the St Mary's Pro Cathedral on Talbot Street, Dublin, during the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA Pope Francis arrives for a visit to St Mary's Pro Cathedral in Dublin to meet with recently-married couples, and couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire PA Pairs of baby shoes hang from the railings on Sean McDermott Street in Dublin in memory of the children who died at the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, Co Galway, during the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA Supporters wait to see Pope Francis outside Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Sean McDermott Street, Dublin, the resting place of Matt Talbot, on the first day of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA Pope Francis at St Patrick's Hall at Dublin Castle, Dublin, prior to his speech, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire PA Pope Francis kisses a young girl at the end of his meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. Pope Francis is on a two-day visit to Ireland. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) AP Priests await the arrival of Pope Francis to St Mary's Pro Cathedral in Dublin, where he will meet with recently-married couples, and couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire PA Crowds wait for Pope Francis at College Green, Dublin, prior to him travelling through Dublin in the Popemobile during his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire PA Pope Francis delivers a speech in St Patrick's Hall at Dublin Castle, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire PA Pope Francis (left) shakes hands with Taoiseach Leo Varadakar after his speech in St Patrick's Hall at Dublin Castle, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire PA Pope Francis speaks with President Michael D Higgins in his study during a visit to Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire PA Pope Francis (left) shakes hands with Taoiseach Leo Varadakar after his speech in St Patrick's Hall at Dublin Castle, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire PA Pope Francis (centre right) arriving at St Patrick's Hall at Dublin Castle, Dublin, with Taoiseach Leo Varadakar (centre left) after his speech, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire PA Pope Francis (centre right) leaves St Patrick's Hall at Dublin Castle, Dublin, with Taoiseach Leo Varadakar (centre left) after his speech, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire PA Pope Francis speaks with President Michael D Higgins in his study during a visit to Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA Wire PA Pope Francis delivers his speech in St Patrick's Hall at Dublin Castle, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire PA Pope Francis presents Taoiseach Leo Varadkar with a gift as they meet at Dublin Castle during his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA Pope Francis signs the arrivals book as he meets with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at Dublin Castle as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA The Hassoun family, (left to right not given) Saif Eddin Hassoun, Sanaa Edris, Mohmoud Al A'Araj, Hasba Hassoun, Lana Al A'Araj (six), Aala Al A'Araj, (four) and Tala Al A'Araj (one), wait to meet Pope Francis following a tree planting ceremony at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire PA Pope Francis arrives for tree planting ceremony during a meeting with Irish President Michael D Higgins, at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire PA Pope Francis arrives for a meeting with Irish President Michael D Higgins, at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. Photo credit: Danny Lawson/PA Wire PA Pope Francis receives a bouquet of flowers from five-year-old Annalise, daughter of Foreign Affairs minister Simon Coveney, as he arrives at Dublin International Airport, at the start of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA Pope Francis arrives for a meeting with Irish President Michael D Higgins and wife Sabina , at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire PA Pope Francis arrives for a meeting with Irish President Michael D Higgins, at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire PA Protestors wearing baby shoes, to signify the children who died in mother and baby homes in Ireland, protest in Dublin ahead of the start of the visit to Ireland by Pope Francis. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire PA Pope Francis arrives for a meeting with Irish President Michael D Higgins and wife Sabina , at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire PA Pope Francis arrives for a meeting with Irish President Michael D Higgins and wife Sabina , at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire PA Pope Francis is greeted by Archbishop Eamon Martin as he arrives at Dublin International Airport, at the start of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA Pope Francis as he arrives at Dublin International Airport, at the start of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA Pope Francis as he arrives at Dublin International Airport, at the start of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA Pope Francis as he arrives at Dublin International Airport, at the start of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA Pope Francis as he arrives at Dublin International Airport, at the start of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA Pope Francis is greeted by members of the clergy, representatives of Government and the local County Council, as he arrives at Dublin International Airport, at the start of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA Bishop Eamon Martin waits for the arrival of Pope Francis at Dublin International Airport, for the start of his visit to Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 25, 2018. See PA story IRISH Pope. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA Pope Francis waves as he boards an airplane at Rome's Fiumicino international airport, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. The pontiff is traveling to Ireland for a two-day visit on the occasion of the 2018 World Meeting of Families. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) AP / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Pope Francis prays inside St Mary's Pro Cathedral during his visit to Dublin, Ireland. (Stefano Rellandini/Pool Photo via AP) The special chair and altar for yesterdays Closing Mass was made by the Maghera Special Joinery Group, and Pope Francis green Celtic vestments for the occasion were designed and manufactured in Poland. In 1979 Pope John Paul II wore white clerical vestments. The Popes Phoenix Park visit followed the highly-successful Festival of Families Concert in Croke Park on Saturday night which was attended by some 80,000 people. The audience included the Presbyterian Moderator the Rt Reverend Dr Charles McMullen who also met Pope Francis earlier in the day at a reception in Dublin Castle. Two of the main entertainers at the Croke Park concert were Daniel ODonnell and the Three Priests. The Park has its own long history apart from being the site of two Papal Masses within the space of 39 years. Formerly the former residence of the British Vice-Regal, which is now the residence of the Irish President. The US Embassy is also sited in the Park. In 1882 a notorious incident took place in the Phoenix Park when the Chief Secretary Lord Frederick Cavendish and Thomas Burke, the chief Irish civil servant were stabbed to death by republican militants. Around half a million people are expected to gather to hear Pope Francis address a huge outdoor Mass on the second day of his historic visit to Ireland. A total of 500,000 free tickets have been distributed for the landmark religious event in Dublins Phoenix Park this afternoon. The event, which will conclude the pontiffs weekend trip to Ireland, will take place after Francis visits the Knock Holy shrine in Co Mayo, a site revered by many Irish Catholics. Did you know the Papal Cross is 116 feet high and was transported across the Liffey into the Park. Check out our new exhibition here in the Visitor Centre which tells the story of how the largest public event in the State was organised. pic.twitter.com/vzUYXaMrLv Phoenix Park (@phoenixparkopw) August 3, 2018 The religious engagements come after a day dominated by the bitter legacy of historic scandals linked to church abuse and mistreatment in Ireland. On Saturday, the Pope met a number of victims of criminality and cruelty inflicted by church members. The private engagement in Dublin came hours after Francis expressed pain and shame over failures to tackle the scandals. The world leader of the Catholic Church acknowledged that Irish people had a right to be outraged by its response to the crimes. Later, inside a Dublin cathedral, he prayed for all victims of clerical sex abuse at a candle perpetually lit in tribute to them. Coming to @Knockshrine tomorrow? Download the preparatory document which includes itinerary, guidance notes, hymns and Angelus text to help you participate fully in the liturgy. The download is available here: https://t.co/1lLSUJbL09 #Participate #Pray #Praise pic.twitter.com/S6ytvpXwN2 Knock Shrine (@knockshrine) August 25, 2018 The Popes decision to address the dark legacy of abuse in a speech in Dublin Castle drew praise in some quarters, but others criticised Francis for not saying enough or offering a public apology. With the reverberations of a litany of clerical sex crimes casting a shadow over the first papal visit to Ireland in almost 40 years, Francis acknowledged the gravity of what had happened. With regard to the most vulnerable, I cannot fail to acknowledge the grave scandal caused in Ireland by the abuse of young people by members of the church charged with responsibility for their protection and education, he said. The failure of ecclesiastical authorities bishops, religious superiors, priests and others adequately to address these repellent crimes has rightly given rise to outrage and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community. I myself share those sentiments. Expand Close Pope Francis shakes hands with Br Kevin Crowley (WMOF18/Maxwell/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Pope Francis shakes hands with Br Kevin Crowley (WMOF18/Maxwell/PA) On Saturday, the Pope also visited homeless people who receive support from a centre run by the Capuchin Fathers religious order. In his Dublin Castle speech, the pontiff also expressed hope that remaining obstacles to reconciliation in Northern Ireland could be overcome. Ireland has undergone seismic social changes in the four decades since the last papal visit in 1979, when John Paul II was lauded by a nation shaped by its relationship with an all-powerful Catholic Church. But the churchs response to clerical sex abuse scandals, most of which emerged years after John Paul IIs visit, have severely damaged trust in the religious institution and seriously weakened its influence on Irish society. While thousands lined the streets of the capital to catch a glimpse of Francis passing in his famous Popemobile on Saturday afternoon, the crowds were certainly not on the scale witnessed when John Paul II made a similar trip. And among the well-wishers lining Dublins streets there were also protesters, who vented their anger at the pontiff as he drove by. Crowds wait for Pope Francis during a visit to Knock Holy Shrine in Co Mayo (Niall Carson/PA) A knight celebrated his birthday with a trip to see the Pope at one of the most revered sites of Catholicism. Francis shared a wave and a warm smile with many as he made a pilgrimage to pray at the scene of an 1879 apparition of the Virgin Mary in Knock, Co Mayo. He made a highly anticipated entrance as his Popemobile toured hallowed ground thronged with around 45,000 flag-waving and cheering faithful. You know what keeps me young? Vitamin G - G for GodDavid Creggan They included David Creggan, from Londonderry in Northern Ireland, who turned 67 on Sunday but said everybody told him he looked 20 years younger. He said: You know what keeps me young? Vitamin G G for God. Mr Creggan was there as a member of the Knights of the Blessed Sacrament, a faith-based family organisation, and braved the rain well wrapped up in his wheelchair. It is the best birthday I could receive, being here in this blessed shrine of our mother in heaven, who is our popes mother, the mother of all children and of all the people, he added. The Pope presented the shrine with a set of golden rosary beads and said he understood how important the tradition has been in this country. Expand Close Schoolchildren from St Patricks National School, Cloonlyon (Yui Mok/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Schoolchildren from St Patricks National School, Cloonlyon (Yui Mok/PA) Mr Creggan said he covered every aspect of life, from hurt to healing. The pontiff begged for Gods forgiveness and said: None of us can fail to be moved by the stories of young people who suffered abuse, were robbed of their innocence and left scarred by painful memories. This open wound challenges us to be firm and decisive in the pursuit of truth and justice. Francis followed in the footsteps of his predecessor, John Paul II, at Knock, which attracts around a million-and-a-half visitors each year. Ann Bennison and her husband Harry, aged in their seventies and from London on holiday, made a point of visiting, the second successive pontiff they have seen. Organisation was on an industrial scale and preparations meticulous, a legion of helpers in bright green T-shirts enlisted to aid in the distribution of communion, and Knock shrine flags given out, creating a pale blue wave of colour. The tea was also free-flowing. Plastic ponchos to protect against the elements were ubiquitous. The crowds included the young and the elderly, some in wheelchairs and at least one with a guide dog. Expand Close The Rev Thomas Harrington (Niall Carson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Rev Thomas Harrington (Niall Carson/PA) The Rev Thomas Harrington, from Cork, displayed a VIP invite and joked with photographers I will sue you, as he made his way using a mobility aid. The atmosphere on this patch of venerated turf for Catholics was light-hearted and welcoming the congregation sang hymns, applauded and only fell silent while the Pope prayed behind a glass wall in the apparition chapel. His opening words on a massive stage underneath a large Celtic cross were straightforward and in English. Good morning. The Pope blessed the crowd, met local schoolchildren and unveiled a painting of Mary. Knock occupies a particular place in Irelands national imagination, the subject of several songs. Dana, the Eurovision song winner, wrote a piece called Lady of Knock and its strains played as the Pope made his exit. The Pope has begged for Gods forgiveness as he called for firm action in pursuing justice for church abuse victims in Ireland. On the second day of his historic Irish visit, Francis said the crimes committed by members of the church had left an open wound. At an address at the holy shrine of Knock, in Co Mayo, the pontiff said no-one could fail to be moved by stories of young abuse victims who were robbed of their innocence and left with painful memories. I ask our Blessed Mother to intercede for the healing of the survivors of abuse and to confirm every member of our Christian family in the resolve never again to permit these situations to occur. Pope Francis (@Pontifex) August 26, 2018 Thousands of pilgrims who braved the rain to see the Pope at a site revered by Irish Catholics applauded as he urged decisive steps to bring truth to the victims. None of us can fail to be moved by the stories of young people who suffered abuse, were robbed of their innocence and left scarred, distanced from mothers, abandoned, and left with painful memories, he said. This open wound challenges us to be firm and decisive in the pursuit of truth and justice. Expand Close Pilgrims await the arrival of Pope Francis at Knock Holy Shrine (Niall Carson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Pilgrims await the arrival of Pope Francis at Knock Holy Shrine (Niall Carson/PA) I beg the Lords forgiveness for these sins and for the scandal and betrayal felt by so many others in Gods family. I ask our Blessed Mother to intercede for the healing of the survivors and to confirm every member of our Christian family in the resolve never again to permit these situations to occur. The engagement at Knock came ahead of a huge outdoor Mass in Dublins Phoenix Park, for which half a million people have tickets. The first day of the papal visit on Saturday was dominated by the bitter legacy of historical scandals linked to church abuse and mistreatment. On Saturday evening, the Pope met a number of victims of criminality and cruelty inflicted by church members. .@Irelandwest welcomes @Pontifex to the West of Ireland - a historic and memorable day for the airport #popeinIreland pic.twitter.com/EGLl51zNeC Ireland West Airport (@Irelandwest) August 26, 2018 The private engagement in Dublin came hours after Francis expressed pain and shame over failures to tackle the scandals. Some of the survivors who attended the behind-closed-doors meeting said the pontiff employed blunter language with them, apparently using the Spanish word caca Spanish for shit to describe those who covered up abuse. Abuse survivor Marie Collins, who was at the meeting, told the Press Association: He was very frank, he listened to us all and he gave us all an opportunity to talk about our experiences. The Pope was driven through the crowds in Knock in a Popemobile ahead of entering a chapel at the site for a period of silent prayer. In August 1879, 15 people said they saw an apparition at Knock of the Virgin Mary, St Joseph, St John the Evangelist and a lamb. Around 1.5 million people now visit the site every year. While around 45,000 free tickets were distributed for the Knock event and 500,000 for the outdoor Phoenix Park Mass in Dublin, the final head counts may be impacted by the very bad weather in Ireland on Sunday. Expand Close Pope Francis in Knock (Niall Carson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Pope Francis in Knock (Niall Carson/PA) The Pope addressed the issue of abuse before leading the pilgrims at Knock in prayer. On Saturday, the world leader of the Catholic Church acknowledged that Irish people had a right to be outraged by its response to abuse crimes. The Popes decision to address the dark legacy of abuse in a speech in Dublin Castle drew praise in some quarters, but others criticised Francis for not offering a public apology or directly acknowledging the Vaticans role in the failures. With the reverberations of a litany of clerical sex crimes casting a shadow over the first papal visit to Ireland since 1979, Francis acknowledged the gravity of what had happened during his address. On Saturday, the Pope also visited homeless people who receive support from a centre run by the Capuchin Fathers religious order. In his Knock speech, the Pope also offered a warm greeting to the people of Northern Ireland and said while his itinerary did not include a trip north of the border, he offered an assurance to people in the region of his affection. I ask Our Lady to sustain all the members of the Irish family to persevere, as brothers and sisters, in the work of reconciliation, he added. Pope Francis is greeted by a delegation of clergy and representatives from Ireland West Airport (Yui Mok/PA) Pope Francis has arrived in Co Mayo for the second day of his visit to Ireland. The papal delegation arrived in Knock at around 9.30am on an Aer Lingus aircraft with a Papal flag and Irish tricolour flown from the cockpit. After arriving a few minutes late to Ireland West Airport, he was greeted on the apron by a number of people, including 100 schoolchildren from four local schools. The pupils, from St Attractas National School in Charlestown, Cloonlyon National School, Tavneena National School and Barnacogue National School, all waved Vatican and Mayo flags for his arrival. .@Irelandwest welcomes @Pontifex to the West of Ireland - a historic and memorable day for the airport #popeinIreland pic.twitter.com/EGLl51zNeC Ireland West Airport (@Irelandwest) August 26, 2018 After battling the wind and rain as he made his way down the steps from the aircraft, the pontiff was greeted by 11-year-old Saoirse McCarthy, daughter of John McCarthy, the operations manager of Knock airport. She handed Pope Francis a bouquet of flowers containing the Vatican colours of white and yellow roses. Mr McCarthys wife Mary and their other children Michael, 10, and eight-year-old twins Robin and Ruby also greeted him to the west of Ireland. He was also met by senior clerics and other dignitaries, including Kieran Gavin of Mayor County Council, Michael Ring, Minister for Rural and Community Development, as well as the Most Reverend Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam and Bishop John Fleming, Bishop of Killala. Speaking after greeting the Pope, Saoirse said: I welcomed him to the west of Ireland and he said never forget to pray for him and then he gave me a set of rosary beads. Expand Close Pope Francis greets schoolchildren after arriving at the airport in Knock in County Mayo (Yui Mok/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Pope Francis greets schoolchildren after arriving at the airport in Knock in County Mayo (Yui Mok/PA) I was nervous but once I did it I was OK. I thought he was really lovely and hes a wonderful man. The Pope will love Knock Shrine. Her mother Mary said: Even though its a cold day, the people and crowds will bring warmth to him. You could see the smile on his face, he was happy to be here. I think he was lifted, and when I held his hand it was lovely and warm and he had a smile on his face. He was very happy to be in the west of Ireland. Its a very special moment to be here and to welcome him. He has seen that we are the ordinary people here, that we do our best, we pray, we go to mass like anybody else. This will always mean a lot to us. It has been unforgettable. Expand Close The plane carrying Pope Francis arrives at the airport in Knock (Yui Mok/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The plane carrying Pope Francis arrives at the airport in Knock (Yui Mok/PA) Schoolchildren from Cloonlyon said the day will go down in history. Cadhla OGrady, 12, from Kilgarve, said: He was amazing, it was really good. I got up to the front of the barrier and he shook my hand. He said God bless you all which is really good. James Breheny, 10, said: It felt very exciting, theres people in Dublin and Rome that has never had the chance to meet him so we are very lucky. I think Pope Francis should like Knock because we have been putting in a lot of effort recently to get it right for him, its been non-stop working over the last few months making the best of plans for him. I love the town, its so nice. We have decorated Knock and worked on the old chapel. He shook my hand hes a very nice person and Im glad he took his time with everyoneDarcy McCudden, 12 Its been an exciting time. Aoidheann Diruy, eight, said: He said God Bless you and shook my hand, it was very good. The whole school has been very exciting. We liked when he came out of the door and we got to see him for the first time. Pupils from Tavneena school also greeted the pontiff. Jack Burke, eight, said: It was very exciting to the meet the Pope, he touched my forehead and it felt very good. Darcy McCudden, 12, said: I got to the front of the barrier and he came around and took his time with everyone. He shook my hand hes a very nice person and Im glad he took his time with everyone. Others said it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. In a news release from the Governor's office, Ige said, "Hurricane Lane is not a well-behaved hurricane". Besides upheaval for hundreds of thousands of residents living in low-lying flood-prone areas, the storm has spoiled vacation plans throughout the islands. The storm weakened to a Category 1 with winds of 74 to 95 miles per hour as it headed north toward the Hawaiian islands, the National Weather Service said. "We're going to see torrential rains occur for the next 48 to 72 hours". The storm's rain bands are producing significant rain and major flooding across parts of the Hawaiian Islands. "The sponge is full", he said. The longer a hurricane sits in one place, she said, the more it tugs on that water, leading it to rise higher, which can cause more flooding. Nina Roberts shops for last minute supplies while shelves remain empty as Hurricane Lane approaches Honolulu, Hawaii. In a cruel twist of fate, the island of Maui dealt with three wildfires, possibly caused by downed power lines and whipped by strong winds. A huge brush fire has broken out in West Maui as Hurricane Lane looms down on Big Island and Oahu. These storms have always been more common in the eastern US. Surf on shorelines could reach as high as 20 feet, according to the AP. "If floods the coastal areas". The canal marks the northern boundary of the Waikiki tourist district. The agency said about 2,000 people are in shelters, mostly in Oahu. Meanwhile United Airlines said it had cancelled all Friday flights to and from the main airports on Maui, the second-largest island. A woman got burns on her hands and legs and was flown to Honolulu, Maui County spokesman Rod Antone said. "We bought some potatoes and we figure that if worse comes to worse we can cook them in the microwave in our room and make potato salad", his wife, Raewyn Webber, said. Philadelphia Eagles: 5 takeaways from loss to Cleveland Browns in preseason Rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield relieved Taylor, and the top overall pick from this year's draft showed off his playmaking ability with this nasty move. Free transport will be available between the capital and Oahu island's evacuation shelters, which had welcomed around 350 people by noon, according to the Maui 24/7 local news portal. City residents used carts to push cases of bottled water and coolers full of ice, after warnings of possible power outages and evacuations. No storm-related deaths have been reported, though Big Island authorities said they plucked families from floodwaters and landslides closed roads. Most of Hawaii's population lives on Oahu island, where Honolulu is located, and which is still awaiting the full force of the storm. Stores along Waikiki's glitzy Kalakaua Avenue stacked sandbags along the bottom of their glass windows to prepare for heavy rain and flash flooding. Police on loudspeakers told surfers and swimmers to get out of the water, saying the beach would be closed until further notice. Hotels began putting deck chairs back alongside pools. "I opened up my front door, and I just saw the fire spreading and coming downhill", Galinato said. United, Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines have canceled some or all global and domestic flights. The airline added two more flights from Honolulu to San Francisco on Thursday to help transport people off the islands. Hawaiian Airlines canceled all Friday flights by its commuter carrier. 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. "There wasn't any water the other day when I went", Slusser said. After Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico past 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. Luckily for Hawaii, most of those typhoons form in the Pacific and gain strength while moving west, hitting Australia and east Asia, sparing the Aloha State from the megastorms. People gather in Dublins Phoenix park ahead of the arrival of Pope Francis (Brian Lawless/PA) Severe downpours could not dampen the spirits of pilgrims who trekked from near and far to Dublins Phoenix Park to see the Pope. Tens of thousands of people made their way through Dublins streets on Sunday morning ahead of the papal mass, the largest outdoor event taking place in Europe this year. A total of 500,000 free tickets were issued for the religious event in the 700-hectare park. It is the last event of Pope Francis whirlwind 36-hour visit to Ireland. For those making their way to the Phoenix Park, detailed routes and travel options for the Papal Mass are downloadable from our website. #PopeInIreland #papainEirinnhttps://t.co/GNZdCno6hJ pic.twitter.com/o5M1IhkGde WMOF2018 (@WMOF2018) August 26, 2018 The second day of the pontiffs historic visit to the country began early on Sunday with a pilgrimage to the National Marian Shrine in Knock, where local people reported an apparition of Our Lady in 1879. In Dublin, Heuston Station was a hive of activity from early on Sunday morning with people who had heeded the Gardas advice to take public transport. They were purchasing flags and trying to meet others before making the almost three-kilometre walk from the station to their seats. The trek being made by most who wanted to see the event involved at least a six-kilometre round trip walk. Prior to the event gardai had warned people to come prepared in the same way they would for a pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick in the west of Ireland. Expand Close People gather in Dublins Phoenix Park ahead of the arrival of Pope Francis (Brian Lawless/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp People gather in Dublins Phoenix Park ahead of the arrival of Pope Francis (Brian Lawless/PA) Young and old wore comfortable shoes, donned rain jackets and plastic ponchos in an assortment of colours. Many also carried fold-up chairs so they could rest any potentially weary limbs later in the day. Ann Dargan from Cappawhite, Co Tipperary and her friend Mary Holleren said the walk certainly was not going to deter them as they had walked the Camino de Santiago together. Were walkers, weve done the Camino together so walking is no problem, said Ms Dargan. She said it was a pity, however, if it had led others not to attend. Expand Close A total of 500,000 free tickets were issued for the religious event (Joe Giddens/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A total of 500,000 free tickets were issued for the religious event (Joe Giddens/PA) The friends rented an apartment on Francis Street for the weekend so that they could go to see the Popemobile pass by OConnell Street and also attend the Croke Park festival on Saturday night. They were not in Phoenix Park for the visit of Pope John Paul II almost 40 years ago so they were very excited this time around. Its a really lovely atmosphere, said Ms Holleren. Everyone is just laughing and joking and chatting, she added. Expand Close It is the last event of Pope Francis whirlwind 36-hour visit to Ireland (Joe Giddens/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp It is the last event of Pope Francis whirlwind 36-hour visit to Ireland (Joe Giddens/PA) Brian and Marie Smith travelled with their three young children by train from Portarlington, Co Laois for the occasion. Mrs Smith said the train journey had been very quick and pain-free because there were no stops. The family were not put off by the distance. I wanted to bring the kids to see the Pope, Mrs Smith said. Its a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Pope and get his blessing hopefully, she said. Husband and wife Robin and Patricia Cronin from west Limerick also opted to take the train. The early-morning start and journey involved in getting to the event did not deter them because they said they enjoy hikes and walks. Were farmers, said Mr Cronin. His wife added: Were used to getting up early. The couple, who have been married for 37 years, said while they were content to walk, others might have felt it was too difficult to attend. The only problem I would have is that a lot of people were put off by the warnings, I think it should have been made easier for them to come here, Mrs Cronin said. Thousands of eager pilgrims set off well before dawn on Sunday morning to make the up to five-hour long journey from all corners of the island for the Papal Mass in Dublin. The weather had not been kind to those who had planned ahead as rain poured from the early hours of the morning, and heavy winds whipped rain ponchos and pulled down hoods. Many visitors said despite the weather and the long walk they wanted to show young people that faith is strong in Ireland, and to set an example for younger generations. Latest imagery from our command unit in @phoenixparkopw. Corrals starting to fill up, people moving well #PhoenixPark #PopeInIreland #PopeInThePark pic.twitter.com/aSwj5577Vt Dublin Fire Boogade (@DubFireBrigade) August 26, 2018 Therese McKernan, who set off at dawn via bus with her fellow parishioners from St Brigids Church in Belfast, had been at Pope John Pauls Papal mass in Phoenix Park in 1979. I came here in 1979 for the last mass and it was a wonderful experience, she said. I had my tickets and bus booked ages ago, an event like this is too important. These things dont happen very often, a twice in a lifetime occasion in my case, but its important to set an example to young people in the family, to be part of this amazing community festival. Youth worker Orlagh McGlade travelled to the Papal mass from South Armagh along with friends, both religious and secular. Expand Close Orlagh McGlade travelled to the Papal mass from South Armagh (Brian Lawless/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Orlagh McGlade travelled to the Papal mass from South Armagh (Brian Lawless/PA) I was struck by the amount of young people who are here, its great to see, the 23-year-old said. Its just unreal to see everyone coming together, and sometimes you think the faith in Ireland has been lost but when you see everyone here today its clear the faith is still alive and well. Ive worked in a youth ministry for years in a range of different areas, and I have a mix of friends, who have faith and who dont. I have secular friends as well, who are here today, to see the faith is normal and full of life and fun and thats what its all about. Typical!! You wait all day for a Dublin Bus and then 70 turn up.#PopeInIreand #PhoenixPark pic.twitter.com/Du6mcgQihW Regina Looby (@reglooby) August 26, 2018 The McCorry family including a mother, six sisters, one husband and six children braved the elements in Phoenix Park decked out with Vatican flags on picnic chairs. Most of us were here for Pope John Paul, and had to come down for this, I mean why would you miss this? I think its important for everyone that faith is still alive in Ireland and to let people know were Catholics and we love our church. I attended Pope Benedicts mass in Rome, and I went to John Pauls funeral too. I love each pope as they guide the church in a different way, but Francis and his love for the poor, I love that about him. Undeterred by the typically Irish weather, many pilgrims brought their own supplies with folding stools and flasks of tea proving the most popular accessory for the early attendees. Expand Close Folding stools and flasks of tea proved popular for pilgrims (Brian Lawless/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Folding stools and flasks of tea proved popular for pilgrims (Brian Lawless/PA) One group of 45 friends and family from one parish left Co. Derry early on Sunday morning. We got a bus around seven this morning, we headed straight down the road with no stops, said Nicola Barker. We wanted to be here early, so we knew to pack lunches, weve plenty of tea, sandwiches and fruit. The weather hasnt bothered us at all, we wouldnt miss an event like this. Daniel ODonnell is coming, we wouldnt miss it for the world. After the mass were going straight home as were all back at work tomorrow, well be back at work blessed tomorrow. Philip Hammond has been accused of trying to frighten the population after warning that a no-deal Brexit could do major damage to the economy. Former Brexit secretary David Davis lashed out at bogus forecasts from the Treasury after the Chancellor suggested that GDP could fall and borrowing could be around 80 billion a year higher by 2033/34 if the UK resorted to World Trade Organisation (WTO) terms. In an op-ed in the Sun on Sunday he said that Mr Hammond was being either spectacularly incompetent, or deliberate, adding: I know what I think. It was an attempt to frighten the population into imagining the most terrible consequences of leaving the European Union without a dealDavid Davis Mr Daviss intervention came as his successor as Brexit Secretary, Dominic Raab, suggested some fiscal projections needed to be treated with a measure of caution. Writing in the Sun, Mr Davis, who quit in protest at Theresa Mays Chequers deal, said the Chancellors estimates, outlined in a letter to Treasury Committee chairwomen Nicky Morgan, came from a Treasury that has trouble forecasting deficits even 12 months ahead. He added: It was an attempt to frighten the population into imagining the most terrible consequences of leaving the European Union without a deal. And even more disgraceful, by doing so it will undermine the Governments hand in striking a deal with the EU. If they do not think we dare walk away, then they will give us the worst deal they can think of. Bear in mind that the Chequers deal already concedes enormous amounts to the EU. Expand Close Philip Hammond warned of the economic impact of a no-deal Brexit in a letter to Nicky Morgan on Thursday (Brian Lawless/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Philip Hammond warned of the economic impact of a no-deal Brexit in a letter to Nicky Morgan on Thursday (Brian Lawless/PA) Mr Hammonds comments emerged hours after Mr Raab had attempted to play down the likelihood of a no-deal Brexit while outlining the impact of such a scenario via a series of technical papers. Mr Hammond on Thursday was accused of launching a dodgy Project Fear with his letter. The Chancellor said that his initial January analysis on GDP and borrowing was undergoing a process of refinement ahead of a parliamentary vote on any deal, noting scenarios which have higher barriers to trade with the EU are expected to have a more damaging effect on the economy and public finances. He also defended the Governments 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. Expand Close Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said most Brexit economic forecasts have been proved to be wrong (Peter Nicholls/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said most Brexit economic forecasts have been proved to be wrong (Peter Nicholls/PA) Mr Raab risked a Cabinet row with Mr Hammond after questioning the worth of economic forecasts about Brexit. In an interview with the Sunday Times, the Brexit Secretary said that GDP estimates for 2019 have been revised up. Without naming Mr Hammond, Mr Raab told the Sunday Times: Im always chary of any forecast because most of them have been proved to be wrong. The newspaper also claimed that the Cabinet will meet to discuss no-deal Brexit preparations over fears that a row between Brexiteers and Remainers was undermining negotiations with Brussels. Meanwhile, former European Council president Herman Van Rompuy warned that a no-deal Brexit could cause the United Kingdom itself to collapse. The ex-Belgian prime minister told the Observer that crashing out without a deal was an an existential threat to the UK itself. He added: We could end up with a situation in which the EU27 becomes more united and a United Kingdom less united. This talk about a no deal is the kind of nationalist rhetoric that belongs to another era. Zimbabwes main opposition leader has said he rejects a court ruling upholding the presidents narrow election win and called the inauguration due to take place on Sunday false. Nelson Chamisa spoke a day after the Constitutional Court unanimously rejected the oppositions claims of vote-rigging in favour of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, saying it did not bring sufficient and credible evidence. Mr Chamisa said we have the right to peaceful protest and that other routes will be pursued. Change is coming, he said. Political doors are going to be opened very soon. Expand Close Nelson Chamisa has rejected the court ruling (Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nelson Chamisa has rejected the court ruling (Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/AP) Last months peaceful election was seen as a chance for Zimbabwe to move on from Robert Mugabes repressive 37-year-rule. But Mr Chamisa now alleges a new persecution after a deadly crackdown on the opposition. The 40-year-old opposition leader again said he won the election and that the southern African nation needs fundamental reforms that cannot be resolved by five more years of vacant leadership. Mr Mnangagwa, 75, a former Mugabe enforcer who has tried to restyle himself as a reformer, appealed for calm after the court ruling and in a Twitter post he told Mr Chamisa my door is open and my arms are outstretched. Zimbabwes electoral commission had declared Mr Mnangagwa the winner of the July 30 ballot with 50.8% of the vote. It later revised it to 50.6%, citing an error but arguing it was not significant enough to invalidate the win. It said Mr Chamisa received 44.3%. Expand Close Emmerson Mnangagwa will be inaugurated as Zimbabwes president on Sunday (Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Emmerson Mnangagwa will be inaugurated as Zimbabwes president on Sunday (Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/AP) Meanwhile, final reports are pending from dozens of Western election observers invited to the country for the first time in nearly two decades. They noted few issues on election day but expressed concern over excessive use of force that followed. Six people were killed two days after the vote when the military swept into the capital Harare to disperse protests. Mr Mnangagwa has said an inquiry would begin after his inauguration. A new statement by the joint mission of the US-based International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute noted the acts of repression against the opposition and said it was up to the people of Zimbabwe to weigh the courts ruling in light of the overall electoral process to determine the credibility of the election. The statement concluded: Zimbabwe has not yet demonstrated that it has established a tolerant, democratic culture that enables the conduct of elections in which parties are treated equitably and citizens can cast their vote freely. A final report is yet to come. Francis said he was committed to ridding the church of this "scourge" no matter the moral cost or amount of suffering. But his trip is being dominated by the issue of sexual abuse - both the decades long legacy of church-linked crimes in Ireland and a string of recent bruising revelations about priests and prelates across the world. The abuse scandal - which has convulsed Ireland since the 1990s and has recently exploded anew in the United States - took centre stage on the first day of Francis's two-day trip to Ireland. The visit was originally meant to celebrate Catholic families but has been overshadowed by the renewed abuse crisis. Collins, who past year resigned from a Vatican commission for child protection over its inaction, told reporters that the pope's speech was "disappointing" and "nothing new". After a visit to the residence of Michael D Higgins, the president, the Pope attended a reception in Dublin Castle that was attended by various members of the government and clergy. Amnesty Ireland Executive Director Colm O'Gorman said on Twitter that Francis "had the ideal opportunity to address the abuse issue". "Magdalene Laundries, Mother and Baby Homes, industrial schools, illegal adoptions and clerical child abuse are stains on our State, our society and also the Catholic Church". Pope Francis vowed on Saturday to end the sexual exploitation of children by clergy during a highly-charged visit to once deeply Catholic Ireland and, according to victims, said the corruption and cover up of abuse amounted to human excrement. The Pope has met with victims before in Philadelphia, Chile and at the Vatican. The highlight of the visit will be an outdoor mass in the city's Phoenix Park on Sunday expected to draw 500,000 people - a tenth of the country's entire population. Credit Suisse freezes US$5b of Russian money amid sanctions The bank incurred no financial damage through this action and Credit Suisse remained very active in Russian Federation. A spokesman for Julius Baer said it "cooperates with worldwide regulators.in the field of sanction regulations". "The church in Ireland, past and present, has played a role in the welfare of children that can not be obscured", the pope said. "It is my hope that the gravity of the abuse scandals, which have cast light on the failings of many, will serve to emphasise the importance of the protection of minors and vulnerable adults on the part of society as a whole". "These wounds are still open and there is much to be done to bring about justice and truth and healing for victims and survivors". He cited Francis' own call for "zero tolerance" of abuse and said: "We must now ensure that from words flow actions". "I can not fail to acknowledge the grave scandal caused in Ireland by the abuse of young people by members of the church charged with the responsibility of their protection and education", he said, as translated by RTE News. "It's a story all too tragically familiar here in Ireland". But Ireland's tortured history of abuse has left its mark. Over the last few years, a majority of Irish voters have approved measures contrary to Catholic teaching, legalizing same-sex marriage and overturning a constitutional ban on abortion. Large images of abuse victims and the hashtag #Stand4Truth - promoting a gathering of survivors and supporters elsewhere in Dublin during Sunday's mass - were projected onto some of the city's most recognised buildings on Friday night, including Dublin's Pro Cathedral. The location is Tuam, site of a mass grave of hundreds of babies who died at a church-run home. They described the 90-minute meeting as "cordial and polite". The Amnesty director said Pope Francis could've been more direct with an apology to people and children abused by the Catholic church: "The Pope was speaking not to the faithful, it wasn't a sacramental moment it was a State occasion". About half as many are expected Sunday for Francis. Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, the loss of religion in America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Allen Weisselberg, the longtime chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, entered an immunity deal with federal prosecutors in exchange for his testimony about Michael Cohen, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday. Cohen, who arranged hush-money payments before the 2016 US presidential election to at least two women who had alleged having sex with Trump, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to campaign finance violations and other charges. Mr Cohen pleaded guilty on Tuesday to tax and campaign finance violations. In addition to his title as chief financial officer, Mr Weisselberg holds executive positions at many Trump entities, including director of the Donald J Trump Foundation, which is being sued by the NY state attorney-general for allegedly tapping donations to settle legal disputes among other illegal uses. The other two executives are the President's elder sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump. But federal prosecutors in NY quickly subpoenaed Weisselberg to appear before a grand jury. "Weisselberg...surely knows things that travel beyond the borders of the Cohen investigation and into the more sprawling landscape of potential crimes that Mueller is investigating - including obstruction of justice, aiding and abetting a fraud, conspiracy against the US, and, in the words of the Constitution's impeachment clause, possible "high crimes and misdemeanors" in the Oval Office". Trump has denied the affair. Walmart Launches a New Digital eBook Store & $9.99 Audiobook Subscription Service Walmart eBooks will be accessible through co-branded iOS and Android apps , which also launched today, and on Kobo eReaders. In a challenge to Amazon, Walmart is getting into the electronic book business and is offering $10 off a first purchase. He added that he arranged to make the payments "for [the] principal goal of influencing [the] election". "Michaels Cohen's attorney clarified the record, saying his client does not know if President Trump knew about the Trump Tower meeting (out of which came nothing!)", Trump tweeted. Such payments could be considered illegal campaign contributions under federal election law. "If there is nothing improper that went on there, Donald Trump has nothing to worry about", Toobin told CNN. In his plea Tuesday, Cohen admitted that Trump directed him to pay hush money to Clifford shortly before the 2016 election in violation of campaign finance law. "The tape recordings say very clearly that Cohen did it on his own, didn't tell the president until much later", the 74-year-old presidential legal representative said. Legal experts told The Times that NY prosecutors could now question Mr Weisselberg about any topic and he would be required to answer under the immunity deal or risk perjury charges. In April, Trump denied he knew anything about the Daniels payment. Trump had previously said that for Mueller to investigate his businesses would be a "red line". Fox News' Ainsley Earhardt, who interviewed Mr. Trump this week, said that he mentioned pardoning Manafort to her. In this photo from June 21, 2017, special counsel Robert Mueller departs after a meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington. Global markets weakened as the intensifying trade spat between the United States and China was seen as a drag on economic growth. Crude oil was further supported by prospects of lower supply following USA sanctions on Iran. Also contributing to the decline was a gain in the United States dollar, which reduced the appeal of commodities priced in the currency. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were at $68.24 per barrel, up 41 cents, or 0.6 percent. It said the 2017 net oil export revenues increased by 29 per cent from the $441bn earned in 2016, mainly as a result of the increase in average annual crude oil prices during the year and the increase in OPEC net oil exports. Brent crude oil futures LCOc1 were at $75.07 per barrel at 0424 GMT, up 34 cents, or 0.5 percent, from their last close. The crude oil benchmark is now trading at $66.90 per barrel. In the United Kingdom, talks between union members and North Sea platform operator Total broke down, according to union Unite. Loris Karius Welcomed To Besiktas In Outlandish Announcement Video The German looked set to depart Liverpool after a disastrous Champions League Final. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says Loris Karius accepts his situation. Tuesday evening the American Petroleum Institute (API) reported that crude inventories dropped by 5.2 million barrels in the week ending August 17. Following the rally in global crude oil prices, Nigeria has recorded a significant increase in oil export revenue as the country earned an estimated $26bn in the first seven months of this year. Still, investors are also wary that a dispute between the USA and China could imperil global economic growth and weaken energy demand. The US sanctions are expected to make it challenging for India to sustain oil imports from Iran, its third-biggest crude supplier. Trade talks between the nations wrapped yesterday without major progress, setting the stage for further escalation of the conflict between the world's two largest economies. That notion has quickly taken a back seat to the familiar worry that market demand may actually wan due to the escalating trade war between the US, and China, the latest development of which saw the imposition on Thursday of 25 percent tariffs on $16 billion worth of each other's goods; both countries have now imposed tariffs on a combined $100 billion of products since early July, and Washington still has a list of another $200 billion worth of Chinese imports that could face duties. "We maintain our view that Brent prices will exceed $80/bbl before the end of the year", he said. Senator John Maccain died at age 81 John McCain died on Saturday following a battle with brain cancer. He was 81. The senator's passing marked the end of a storied, 35-year political career that brought the independent-minded Republican within reach of the White House as his party's presidential nominee. It's been quite a ride, McCain, who was tortured during five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, wrote in a memoir published earlier this year. I've known great passions, seen amazing wonders, fought in a war and helped make peace. I made a small place for myself in the story of America and the history of my times. McCain, who had been receiving treatment in his home state of Arizona, was surrounded by his wife Cindy and his family during his final hours. He was a great fire who burned bright, and we lived in his light and warmth, said Meghan McCain, one of the late senator's seven children three of them from a previous marriage. Near the driveway to his ranch in a rural part of Sedona, Arizona, a sign read Sen McCain, thank you for your service. A police escort accompanied the hearse that carried his body, as a fiery sunset cast its last light over the rustic countryside McCain loved dearly, and local residents came bearing flowers for the late political titan. A steady stream of friends and colleagues had come to bid him farewell at his Arizona ranch in the months since his cancer diagnosis, in July 2017. US President Donald Trump, who once mocked McCain's war record, said he sent his deepest sympathies and respect. McCain had been a rare and outspoken Republican critic of Trump, accusing him of naivete, egotism and of sympathizing with autocrats. He made a decisive vote last year that killed Republican attempts to repeal Barack Obama's health care reforms, and Trump never forgave him. The sharp-tongued McCain had disagreements with many fellow politicians including inside his own camp but the Republican stalwart was widely recognised for his deep integrity, and condolences came swift from the highest reaches of American politics. We are all in his debt, said former president Obama, the Democrat to whom McCain lost the presidency in 2008. We shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched and sacrificed. Democrat Bill Clinton hailed McCain for having frequently put partisanship aside, while his former vice president Al Gore said he always admired how the senator would work to find common ground, no matter how hard. John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order, said former president George W. Bush, whom McCain sought and failed to defeat in 2000 and succeed in 2008. On Capitol Hill, McCain became close friends with Senator Lindsey Graham and former senator Joe Lieberman a trio dubbed the Three Amigos. Now that the trio is missing its driving force, Graham wrote that America and Freedom have lost one of her greatest champions... And I've lost one of my dearest friends and mentor. Hailing him as a truth-teller with unsurpassed dedication to the US and its military, the top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said he would seek to rename a Senate building in his honor. By John Daly At a time when the economy faces potential pitfalls in the form of Brexit and global challenges to the corporation tax structure, Irelands food industry has remained a reliable marker of global growth and expansion. To promote greater start-up success at the grassroots, a new Digital School of Food was launched last week. An initiative of the Dublin Food Chain and the Local Enterprise Offices, the online programme is the first of its kind in Europe, giving food entrepreneurs access to expert advice through an e-learning initiative. While the initial focus the Digital School of Food will be in the Dublin region, producers from anywhere in the country can avail of the service for free. Once the testing phase has been completed, marketing of the service will be extended. Setting up a new food business of itself can be relatively straightforward. However, growing that business to make it successful and sustainable in the long term presents a far greater and more complex series of challenges, says chair of the network of Local Enterprise Offices Oisin Geoghegan. We need to ensure that our food entrepreneurs are provided with the right mix of support services so that they can identify opportunities and avoid pitfalls. This e-learning platform is a clever and very practical way to help small food businesses to learn the ropes at their own pace and in their own work environment, he said. The project is supported by Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia and the Dublin Institute of Technology. Food Starter, a two-day workshop programme, was the first interaction most producers had with our food expert trainers, and many expressed the wish to do some pre-learning in their own time prior to attending these workshops, he says. That demand motivated the Local Enterprise Offices to look at e-learning and enabled a successful funding application of 157,000 to kickstart the platform. It gives entrepreneurs access to sound commercial guidance and mentoring to help them get their products onto shelves, and also gives emerging food entrepreneurs and those who want to begin their food production journey, practical support to bring their idea or product to life, he said. The e-learning programme contains tips, advice, and information from existing producers, all related to succeeding in the food sector. James Burke, who has over 40 years experience working with early-stage food producers, developed the programme content. A pattern has emerged over the years of similar blockages and problems that producers encounter, and the Digital School of Food content is designed to help them identify these problems ahead of them arriving, said Mr Burke. Common problems include errors in calculating the costs associated with manufacturing a food product, not focusing enough on creating a strong food brand and a variety of difficulties associated with distribution. The Dublin Food Chain is the marketing and networking group of the local enterprise offices and from whose ranks all the producers featured in the learning videos are drawn. Mr Geoghegan cited the Dublin region as a good example of the food manufacturing sector acting as an important employment source. For the last three years, the Dublin region has seen an average of 83 new food producers seeking support from the four local enterprise offices. While not all of these producers continue in the food business, a minimum of 35 per year participates in the Food Academy programme, he said. This programme, which brings together the Local Enterprise Offices, Bord Bia and SuperValu, includes a live trial in SuperValu for producers who meet the required criteria. It is not long since Irelands food and drinks sector was seen as a sunset industry. Now, it is Irelands largest and most important industry, with an annual turnover of 25bn, exports making up 10bn and sustaining 230,000 jobs, he said. We have a well-regulated industry supported by an active government which, together with its agencies, has great skill at networking overseas, he said. Tens of thousands of people are making their way to Dublin's Phoenix Park where Pope Francis will say Mass at 3.30pm. Gardai, stewards and volunteers are in place at the Parkgate Street entrance of the 700 hectar park to make sure everyone is safe in the wet and slippery conditions. Five people have been taken to hospital following a two-car road collision in Co Wicklow. The incident occurred at around 9pm last night at Ballysize near Hollywood. Gardai are investigating after an off-license in Dublin was robbed yesterday evening. Staff were threatened by a man with what appeared to be a firearm at the premises in Ballycullen at around 8pm. Update - August 29: Athanasios Dritselis has been found safe and well. Mr Dritselis went missing from Munster Street, Dublin 7 on August 27. August 26: Gardai are seeking the public's assistance in tracing the whereabouts of Athanasios Dritselis. The 28-year-old has been missing from Munster Street, Dublin 7 since August 24. Athanasios was last seen at approximately 10pm on Friday, August 24. He is described as being 6'5" in height with black hair, brown eyes and a slim build. He was last seen wearing a dark blue jacket, black tracksuit bottoms, and burgundy runners. Athanasios has been visiting Ireland from Greece. Anyone with information is asked to contact Gardai in Mountjoy on 01 666 8600, the Garda Confidential line 1800 666 111 or any garda station. - Digital Desk Gardai have seized cannabis worth an estimated street value of 21,000 in a search in Co Clare. The search took place earlier today and was carried out by the Clare Divisional Drug Unit. Olivia Kelleher Medicinal cannabis campaigner, Vera Twomey, who secured a licence for the medication for her ill daughter Ava Barry has said that the eight-year-old is now pharmaceutical free. In a post on Facebook Ms Twomey says the youngster is solely being treated by medicinal cannabis CBD and THC. "Ava has become officially pharma-free. We were scared and excited at the same time to know what it would bring. "The last couple of photos of Ava I think speak for themselves and as it happens so does Ava as she is singing the beginning of nursery rhymes now more and more. Happy and healthy as we can be we move forward better and brighter and (with Ava) looking forward to getting back to school." Meanwhile, Vera spoke in the House of Commons in London earlier this summer where she explained the benefits of the alternative medicine in treating conditions such as severe epilepsy. Vera became friendly with British mother Hannah Deacon when they lived on the same street in Holland during a period where they were both "medical refugees." She was in the Hague to receive medicinal cannabis for her daughter Ava while Hannah was also in the same position with her son Alfie Dingley. Ms Twomey said the "exile for medical attention" continues in Holland for families from Ireland and the UK. Ms Twomey, who is from Aghabullogue, Co Cork, rose to national prominence during a three-year campaign to secure access to medicinal cannabis to treat Avas rare form of epilepsy, called Dravet Syndrome. Her campaigning included two 260-kilometre walks from Cork to the Dail to capture the governments attention to Avas struggle. Ava Twomey She also mounted a very successful social media campaign and she and husband Paul had to live abroad with Ava to guarantee supply of her THC cannabis. Vera says she continues to campaign for others around Ireland who are in need of medicinal cannabis. She recently climbed Croagh Patrick along with Noreen O'Neill from Kerry who is hoping to get a licence for medicinal cannabis for her two-year-old son Michael. Michael has a neurological condition called bilateral frontal polymicrogyric. He has too many folds on the frontal lobes of his brain and experiences seizures. Noreen has set up a petition seeking the legalisation of medicinal cannabis. The petition can be accessed https://www.change.org/p/simon-harris-minister-for-health-simon-harris-legalise-medicinal-cannabis-in-ireland-nowhere. Update: 6.30pm Pope Francis has boarded his flight home to Rome after a world wind two-day visit to Ireland. Pope Francis prepares to board his flight back to Italy https://t.co/uQAP4jHn50 RTE News (@rtenews) August 26, 2018 An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks to crew members at Dublin Airport prior to the departure of Pope Francis back to the Vatican putting an end to his visit to Ireland. Photo: Joe Giddens/PA Wire Pope Francis leaves Phoenix Park for Dublin Airport The event in the Phoenix Park has finished, please use the colour coded route on your ticket.#PopeInIreland#Popeinthepark pic.twitter.com/gcEJGY5izm An Garda Siochana (@GardaTraffic) August 26, 2018 People at the Lough Church, Cork, watching the Papal Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in the Phoenix Park in Dublin. Picture: David Keane Picture: David Keane Update - 4.31pm: World Meeting of Families closing mass continues at Phoenix Park PIC: POOL PIC, MAXWELLS ON BEHALF OF WMOF18 Danny Lawson/PA Wire Pope Francis during the closing mass of his Ireland visit at the Phoenix Park in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Pope Francis during the closing mass of his Ireland visit at the Phoenix Park in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and President Micheal D. Higgins attending the World Meeting of Famillies closing cermony mass at Phoenix Park. Today Im joining thousands from across Ireland to hear Pope Francis say Mass in Phoenix Park. Ireland is a different country to 39 years ago. But this visit has caused us to reflect more deeply on the relationship between Ireland and the Church, brought to Ireland centuries ago. pic.twitter.com/usujSdbm59 Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) August 26, 2018 PIC: POOL PIC, MAXWELLS ON BEHALF OF WMOF18 Update - 3.00pm: World Meeting of Families closing mass is underway. The Papal Mass in the Phoenix Park is getting under way #popeinireland https://t.co/VsVJG57j1f RTE News (@rtenews) August 26, 2018 Update - 2.50pm: Aerial photos of the crowds at Phoenix Park. Liam McBurney/PA Wire Liam McBurney/PA Wire Brian Lawless/PA Wire Update - 2.30pm Pope Francis has arrived at Phoenix Park. Pope Francis arrives prior to the commencement of the closing mass of his Ireland visit at the Phoenix Park in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Pope Francis arrives prior to the commencement of the closing mass of his Ireland visit at the Phoenix Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile Update - 12.46pm: Severe downpours have failed to dampen the spirits of pilgrims trekking to see the Pope. [gallery]37[/gallery] Jack Heffernan and Josh McGuerin, West Meath running through the water on their way to see Pope Francis saying mass at Phoenix Park, Dublin. Picture Dan Linehan Tens of thousands of people are making their way to Dublin's Phoenix Park where he will say Mass at 3.30pm. Update - 12.03pm Pope Francis arrives back in Dublin ahead of mass in the Phoenix Park. Pope Francis arrives back in Dublin ahead of mass in the Phoenix Park https://t.co/GN7634bzJ2 RTE News (@rtenews) August 26, 2018 Audrey Elliott with the signed Co Mayo jersey by Pope Francis at Ireland West Airport, Knock in County Mayo, which she hopes will lift the Mayo 'curse' so the team can win an All-Ireland title. Photo: Cate McCurry/PA Wire Pope Francis took the time to stop and sign a Mayo jersey for a fan before leaving Knock. Pope Francis signs a Mayo football jersey at the airport in Knock. Will that end the curse? #popeinireland pic.twitter.com/Zexo18JZXv RTE News (@rtenews) August 26, 2018 Update - 10.18am: Pope Francis has arrived at the Knock Shrine and is touring the grounds in his Popemobile. It is the second one being used in Ireland during his visit. Francis waved to well-wishers as he was driven past the flag-waving crowds. Popemobile travels through the estate of Knock Shrine #popeinireland pic.twitter.com/yr3kYhqXv0 RTE News (@rtenews) August 26, 2018 Pope Francis arrives for his visit to Knock Holy Shrine. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire Update - 10am: Pope met by local schoolchildren in Knock Pope Francis has departed Knock Aiport and is en route to the Shrine where he will be greeted by 45,000 pilgrims. The Pontiff was met at the airport by around 100 schoolchildren from Co Mayo as he landed in heavy rain. Pope Francis is welcomed to Knock Airport | https://t.co/giNhTUfh9p pic.twitter.com/s07bntFWeo RTE News (@rtenews) August 26, 2018 Meanwhile, attendees are eagerly awaiting the Pontiff's arrival at the wet and blustery Knock Shrine which is dominated by an enormous Celtic-style cross. Earlier, the crowd sang Ave Maria and waved blue Knock flags while listening to the tale of 15 ordinary people who witnessed the apparition. Pope Francis blesses schoolchildren as he arrives at Knock Aiport. Photo: Yui Mok/PA Wire Earlier: Early crowds brave the rain in Knock It is day two of the Popes trip to Ireland, with 500,000 people due to attend mass in Dublins Phoenix Park later today. Pilgrims arrive at Knock Holy Shrine. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire Before that, the Pontiff will fly to Knock Shrine in Mayo this morning, arriving at 9.45am to deliver a short address and to say the Angelus to 45,000 people. Pilgrims arrived early to queue for entry to the Shrine, braving the rain with umbrellas. Pilgrims braving the downpour in Knock. Pope not due for a few hours #PopeInIreland pic.twitter.com/80cCA9nPm7 Juliette Gash (@JulietteGash) August 26, 2018 Some people were taking the showers in their stride. Pilgrims arrive at Knock well prepared for the rain. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire While others seemed less impressed. A young boy ponders in the rain as he waits for Pope Francis' arrival at Knock Shrine. Photo: Ray Ryan Preparations are being made back in Dublin for the Pope's return this afternoon, where he will say Mass to 500,000 people in Phoenix Park at 3.30pm. Gardai, stewards and volunteers are already on the streets in preparation, while people are advised to prepare for wet conditions as rain sweeps across the country. Its pretty wet in the Phoenix Park, so if you are coming here later wear the right clothing and footwear. #popeinireland Will Goodbody (@willgoodbody) August 26, 2018 Digital Desk Pope Francis says the people of Northern Ireland are in his thoughts and prayers. The Pontiff made the comment during a visit to the Knock Shrine in Co Mayo. Catholics in Northern Ireland were left disappointed earlier this year when the details of the Popes visit revealed he was not going to travel north. However, Francis made clear today his affection for the people of Northern Ireland. My pilgrimage to Knock also allows me to address a warm greeting to the beloved people of Northern Ireland, he said. Although my journey for the World Meeting of Families does not include a visit to the north, I assure you of my affection and closeness in prayer. I ask Our Lady to sustain all the members of the Irish family to persevere, as brothers and sisters, in the work of reconciliation. With gratitude for the advance of ecumenism and the significant growth of friendship and co-operation between the Christian communities, I pray that all of Christs followers will support the continuing efforts to advance the peace process and to build a harmonious and just society for todays children. Scores of people from Northern Ireland travelled to Dublin and Knock across the weekend to see Francis. These included SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy, Ulster Unionist MLA Robbie Butler and Presbyterian Moderator Dr Charles McMullan. Pope Francis arrives to deliver a speech in St Patricks Hall at Dublin Castle (WMOF18/Maxwell Photography/PA) He was speaking to an audience at Dublin Castle, which included Secretary of State Karen Bradley and Good Friday Agreement peace deal architect George Mitchell. Northern Irelands powersharing administration at Stormont has been suspended for months in a row over identity issues like the Irish language, 20 years after a landmark accord largely ended violence. The Pontiff said the Irish Government, alongside leaders in Northern Ireland and Britain, had created a dynamic context for the peaceful settlement through the Agreement of a conflict which had caused untold pain on both sides. He added: We can give thanks for the two decades of peace that followed this historic agreement, while expressing firm hope that the peace process will overcome every remaining obstacle and help give birth to a future of harmony, reconciliation and mutual trust. - Press Association Nursing Homes Ireland says there are 'significant drawbacks' in the Government's Fair Deal scheme for nursing homes. That is according to its Chief Executive Tadhg Daly who is concerned over the delays into the Department of Health's review into extra charges for nursing home residents. This comes as the examination of the extra cost on fees was promised to be published in June last year, but as of this month, four private and four public nursing homes have been visited. Tadhg Daly says there needs to be more communication. "What we need to do in ensure we have high-quality care for our older population," said Mr Daly. "The Fair Deal is a very positive scheme from the point of view of older people themselves but there are significant drawbacks with the pricing of the scheme and also the fact that a whole range of goods and services are not included. "What we need to ensure is that all of the parties that are sitting around the table talking about how we could fund/manage and develop a whole range of services for our older population." - Digital Desk Tributes have been paid by politicians at home and abroad to the late US Senator John McCain. The American war veteran, presidential nominee and longtime leading politician died aged 81 after a battle with brain cancer. President Michael D Higgins extended his sympathy on behalf of the people of Ireland to the family of Mr McCain, praising his bi-partisanship on a number of issues. In a statement, President Higgins said: "Members of the Irish communities in the United States of America will have heard with sadness of the death of Senator John McCain of Arizona, after a brave battle with cancer. "They will recall his efforts with the late Senator Edward (Ted) Kennedy and others to achieve a resolution of the position of out-of-status immigrants, including the Irish, in the United States. "His commitment to bi-partisanship on a number of issues should also be acknowledged and particularly his efforts, for example, to attend crucial votes in the United States Senate at some of the most difficult periods of his illness. "On behalf of the people of Ireland, I extend my sympathy to his wife and family." Statement by President Michael D. Higgins on the death of John McCain:https://t.co/JWZGHG2fw4 President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) August 26, 2018 Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also expressed his condolences, describing Senator McCain as a wise and remarkable statesman. Writing on Twitter, Mr Varadkar said: On behalf of the people of Ireland, I extend my deepest sympathies on the death of Senator John McCain, a wise and remarkable statesman, US ally of Ireland and a proud Scots Irishman who was a champion for immigration reform in the US Senate. On behalf of the people of Ireland, I extend my deepest sympathies on the death of Senator John McCain, a wise and remarkable statesman, US ally of Ireland and a proud Scots Irishman who was a champion for immigration reform in the US Senate. Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) August 26, 2018 Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said Mr McCain was a "real friend of Ireland" and a "great Amercian of strength, principle and courage". A sad passing; A Great American of strength, principle and courage. John McCain was a real friend of Ireland too and will be missed by so many, R.I.P. https://t.co/aAHxn8bzgh Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) August 26, 2018 Political leaders across the world have been paying tribute to the senator. Donald Trump, who once criticised him for being taken prisoner during the Vietnam War, extended his sympathies to the McCain family. Hillary Clinton described Mr McCain was a "tough politician, a trusted colleague" and said "there will simply never be another like him". .@SenJohnMcCain lived a life of service to his country, from his heroism in the Navy to 35 years in Congress. He was a tough politician, a trusted colleague, and there will simply never be another like him. My thoughts and prayers are with Cindy and his entire family. Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 26, 2018 The official Twitter account for UK Prime Minister issued a statement on behalf of Theresa May saying: "John McCain was a great statesman, who embodied the idea of service over self. "It was an honour to call him a friend of the UK. My deepest sympathies go to his family, and the American people." "John McCain was a great statesman, who embodied the idea of service over self. It was an honour to call him a friend of the UK. My deepest sympathies go to his family, and the American people." - PM @theresa_may UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) August 26, 2018 Digital Desk Borussia Dortmund recovered from the shock of conceding a goal in the opening minute of the new Bundesliga season to beat RB Leipzig 4-1. Jean-Kevin Augustin gave the visitors a shock lead just seconds into the contest when he drilled a shot into the bottom corner, but Mahmoud Dahoud equalised 20 minutes later when he headed home from Marcel Schmelzer's cross. 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... Australian customers want to fight wrinkles, but the businesses smoothing the way to success with anti-ageing cosmetics say that few want to go under the knife. According to IBISWorld, the countrys cosmetic and plastic surgery procedure space is worth $1.5 billion a year, but close to one quarter of procedures in this space are non-surgical, including skin treatments that dont involve things like injections. Maria Halasz, CEO of Cellmid. Credit:Wolter Peeters. Entrepreneurs that play in the wellness cosmetics space say theyre jumping on an upswing of customers who want the results of anti-ageing treatments but want a more natural or less intense option. The nation's premium skincare product market is also approaching the half a billion dollar mark, worth $435 million this year and growing by 13 per cent a year, according to IBISWorld, powered by demand for organic beauty products. A doctor-led charity leading the fight to legalise the vaping of nicotine and giving the impression it is free of industry ties had accepted initial funding from e-cigarette businesses, Fairfax Media can reveal. In carefully worded statements on its website and in press releases, the Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association (ATHRA) says it doesn't accept tobacco company donations and its directors have no financial relationships with e-cigarette companies, giving the impression it is independent. Vaping proponents say legalising e-cigarettes would save lives. Credit:Joe Armao But Fairfax Media can reveal ATHRA, created last year and fiercely lobbying for change, had accepted initial funding from vaping interests $15,000 from e-liquid supplier Nicopharm and $2500 from e-cigarette maker Nicovape to cover set-up costs. "We do not say that we do not accept funding from the vaping industry, which is quite separate from the tobacco industry," ATHRA chairman and tobacco treatment specialist Colin Mendelsohn said. People excluded from this demographic have learned to consume such narratives with little complaint because we have never been indulged enough to believe that we must feature front and centre in order to relate to a story. Marketing campaigns have invested very little time in worrying about how to make a stock standard story featuring boy leads "appeal" to girls, because there are no widely held fears that stories excluding girls as heroes or protagonists will turn those readers or viewers away in droves. There are clear links between the representation or involvement in the fictional world thats offered to people and the inequality they will assume is normal in the factual one. In 2015, the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media reported that women make up only 17 per cent of people featured in any crowd scene in films and television. This is alongside the fact that women, in general, occupy only around 30 per cent of screen time in these same mediums, and speak for even less than that. These figures are bad enough but even worse are the ones that show viewers perceive women to be taking up too much space if their presence exceeds them. Some of the suggestions offered in Tilley et als piece come via childrens authors Fiona Stager and Jackie French. They both recommend taking conscious steps to diversify the books your children are reading, and to use the wonderful services offered to communities through your local libraries. Ask for advice from booksellers and librarians as to which books reflect diversity. Be active rather than passive consumers of stories. Think of the kind of world you want your children to see, and how they might conceive of their place within it. We should want our daughters to recognise their right to an equal playing field, and we should resist teaching our sons that their roles are more important and interesting by default. ACT Liberal senator Zed Seselja has emerged from the rubble of last week's federal government implosion with a more prestigious assistant ministry pitting him against local political rival and Canberra-based Labor MP Andrew Leigh. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has handed Senator Seselja the assistant ministry for treasury and finance as he extended the olive branch to backers of Peter Dutton's failed tilt at the leadership but left some on the backbench. Senator Seselja joined several pro-Dutton MPs in accepting Mr Morrison's invitation back into the Coalition government's senior ranks despite resigning from his portfolio last week in building momentum for the second spill that removed Malcolm Turnbull as Prime Minister. Zed Seselja has emerged from the Liberal party's ructions with a new assistant ministry. Credit:Jeffrey Chan While other core backers of Mr Dutton's leadership tilt remain without portfolios, including Michael Sukkar, Concetta Fierravanti-Wells and James McGrath, the ACT Liberal senator's ministerial career appears unscathed along with those of Michael Keenan, Angus Taylor, Steven Ciobo and others who supported the challenger. When Marina Maric met Kristina Kalnic, she was taken aback by the woman's intelligence and passion for learning, even going into her 60s. Ms Kalnic, from Serbia, had come to Australia "later in life", and had immersed herself in the language, community and education. Police found Kristina Kalnic with serious injuries and attempted to revive her, but she died at the scene. Credit:Seven News The pair were studying psychology together at Western Sydney University in 2013, and Ms Maric would visit Ms Kalnic's unit in Carramar in Sydney's west, where she lived with her husband. On Saturday, Ms Kalnic, 64, died outside that unit after what police have called a "random attack". A man has spent two hours in the water off the central Queensland coast after his boat hit a whale and sank during the early hours of Sunday. Police said the eight-metre vessel sank about 20 nautical miles off Hervey Bay after reporting it had hit a whale in Platypus Bay, off the western side of Fraser Island, about 3am. The rescue helicopter's flight path before spotting the man in the water in Platypus Bay. Credit:RACQ LifeFlight Rescue The Bundaberg RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter was called to help with the search and rescue effort after the sole occupant of the boat activated an EPIRB, or emergency beacon. The rescue helicopter spotted the man in the water wearing a life jacket about 4.30am. This is a pragmatic reshuffle that promotes new talent, rewards allies and restores rivals in roughly equal measure. Seeking unity after the infighting of last week, Scott Morrison did almost everything he could to reach a truce with the insurgents who took down Malcolm Turnbull. Almost. One move was a step too far for Morrison. He could not restore Tony Abbott to cabinet despite the hints last week that the former prime minister might get this prize if Peter Dutton became leader. Morrison has instead found a clever way to keep dumped leaders occupied and may use this to rebuild the relationship with Abbott after the rift between them over the leadership spill of September 2015. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has vowed to change the culture of his government to end conflict and infighting, using a careful cabinet reshuffle to reward allies while restoring key rivals to power. Mr Morrison named energy prices and congestion-busting city projects as some of the big themes of an overhaul that puts leadership contender Peter Dutton back in the home affairs portfolio, but with diminished influence. The changes come as a new Fairfax Media poll shows the leadership spill has failed to restore the governments fortunes in key electorates in NSW and Victoria. While the government still leads Labor by 52 to 48 per cent in two-party terms in the crucial Sydney electorate of Reid, the Liberal Party's primary vote has fallen almost six percentage points since the 2016 election. Another sharp fall in the Liberal primary vote fall means the government trails Labor by 47 to 53 per cent in two-party terms in the Melbourne electorate of Deakin. The Coalition has managed to retain its primary vote in Dickson, held by Mr Dutton. University leaders are picking up major pay rises, taking the annual average salary of vice-chancellors in NSW and Victoria to just below $1 million. Michael Spence, the vice-chancellor of Sydney University, is the highest paid of all, having seen his salary rise 60 per cent in just five years to $1.45 million. Sydney University vice-chancellor Michael Spence remains the highest-paid among all university bosses in the country. Credit:Brendan Esposito And Melbourne University's Glyn Davis is not far behind, with a $150,000 pay rise in the last year taking his total remuneration to $1.3 million. Analysis of financial disclosures of 21 universities in NSW and Victoria by Fairfax Media shows eight paid their vice-chancellors more than $1 million in 2017, compared to six last year. KEITH JACKSON Mirror On The Wall: selected poems, short stories and expositions by Raymond Muso Sigimet. JDT Publications, Port Moresby, 2018. 92 pp. ISBN-13: 978-1724-22-495-8. Amazon Books, paperback $5.50 SORRENTO, ITALY - Raymond Sigimet writes about real life and his writing is driven by the strong feeling that he should, in his own words, express myself on issues and topics of interest to me. Before the 2015 Rivers Award for writing on peace and harmony for which he wrote the prize winning poem he had never previously entered a writing contest. But he has made up for it since, with a rich output of wonderful essays and poems, some of which is represented in this collection. It is worth revisiting that prize-winning poem, because it tell so much about Raymond and the philosophy of life so authentically reflected in his writing. Raymond is from East Sepik Province, married with two daughters and is a secondary school teacher living in the Wewak District. But it was a considerable journey that brought him to this point. He grew up away from his province and village, with half his life spent in the New Guinea Islands. His father was a career officer in Papua New Guineas correctional service and the family moved to different parts of the country. For decades, gun enthusiasts around the world have been engaged in an endless debate over which is the better weapon; the iconic Russian-made AK-47 or the American-made AR-15. Now the legendary Russian gun-maker has unveiled a new product that it hopes will compete with a popular American counterpart. Kalashnikov's latest creation is a Columbia blue, retro-looking electric car known as the CV-1. Kalashnikov's CV-1, which it calls an electric supercar. Its competition: The American electric car-maker Tesla, the Silicon Valley darling headed by Elon Musk that is worth more than $US50 billion and remains the world's most famous electric car-maker. Central to the talks was the role of Iranian forces in Syria, and the presence of about 2000 US troops in the country's north-east, where they're allied with Kurdish fighters seeking autonomy from Damascus. As the Assad-Russia-Iran alliance gained a decisive advantage over Western-backed rebel groups, US goals in Syria have shifted. President Donald Trump's administration, like its allies in Europe and the Gulf, has largely abandoned the goal of toppling the Syrian leader. It's now more focused on removing the Iranian forces that played a key part in Assad's victory. This photo provided by the al-Qaida-affiliated Ibaa News Network, shows a tank of the al-Qaida-linked coalition known as Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, Arabic for Levant Liberation Committee, firing at Syrian troops and pro-government gunmen in rural Aleppo, Syria. Credit:AP The US and Russia are nowhere near an agreement on how that could be brought about, according to one of the people familiar with the talks. Still, the issue was raised in Geneva -- and so was the prospect of an eventual withdrawal of all US troops from Syria, something Trump aides said on Saturday that the president is still keen to achieve. An American pullout could only happen when all Iranian fighters, as well as their weapons and their militia allies, are gone from Syria -- and it's not clear if Russia could deliver that outcome even if it wanted to, one of the people said. The US would also have to be satisfied that Islamic State has been completely crushed in Syria. Borders, who unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination for a seat in the Arizona House of Representatives in 2014, said he has never seen a campaign more "undisciplined" and "unfocused" than Ward's. He said the Facebook posts should not have been written at a time when McCain's death was imminent and just days before the Tuesday primary election. In a follow-up comment, Ward said it's the media that is creating a negative narrative about her, not the McCains. Campaign buttons for Kelli Ward, Republican US Senate candidate from Arizona. Credit:Bloomberg "The media loves a narrative. I've said again and again to pray for Senator McCain & his family. These decisions are terrible to have to make. I feel compassion for him and his family as they go through this ... The media, the left, and the Establishment have the agenda. They've been attacking me over fake stories for a year on this issue. I ran against McCain. I don't agree with his voting record and rhetoric. I pray for him as a man who is suffering," Ward wrote, according to the Arizona Republic. That comment also appears to have been deleted. In a statement posted on her campaign Facebook page after McCain died, Ward expressed her condolences but did not addresses her previous comments. "We are saddened to hear of the passing of John McCain. His decades of service will not be forgotten by the men & women of Arizona. May God grant the McCain family comfort and peace during this difficult time," Ward said. She also continued to double down on Sunday, again blaming the left and "#FakeNews" and sharing images of vile messages she said she has received in response to the comments about McCain. "The Left is hateful, foul-mouthed, and easily misled ... please take note of the trolling comments by people who buy into #FakeNews & political smears - or maybe they don't - it could be that they just like any excuse to bully and attack," Ward wrote. This isn't the first time that Ward has found herself the subject of controversy over comments made about McCain. Shortly after he was diagnosed with brain cancer last year, Ward urged him to step down - and expressed interest in the possibility of her taking over his Senate seat. Ward, who had already announced her candidacy to replace Flake, told an Indiana radio station that she hopes McCain's family and advisers will "advise him to step away as quickly as possible, so that the business of the country and the business of Arizona being represented at the federal level can move forward." John McCain in 2017 Credit:AP Arizona law required the governor to appoint someone from the same party to fill McCain's seat if he left office, Ward continued. Asked whether her name was being considered as a possible replacement, Ward said: "Well, you know, I certainly hope so." Ward is running against Representative Martha McSally and former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio in the GOP primary to replace Flake. Guilty verdicts. Guilty pleas. Immunity. It was an eventful week in the judicial system for people associated with the Trump campaign, as investigations into the corruption and criminality of that campaign move forward. For Donald Trump, it was a particularly bad week. Thats because Michael Cohen, Trumps former lawyer who pleaded guilty to violating campaign finance law, implicated Trump in the decision to pay off two women who claimed to have had affairs with the president. And Cohen has the tapes to back it up. President Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen (left) pleaded guilty to financial crimes on the same day former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort (right) was found guilty of financial crimes. Credit:AP With Trump directly implicated in campaign violations and with Robert Muellers Russia investigation continuing to claim scalps talk of impeachment has forcefully returned. But rather than encouraging impeachment hopes or fears, last weeks verdicts should serve as a reminder of just how unlikely Trumps removal from office actually is. The go-to analogy for those eyeing impeachment is Watergate. In January 1974, the first of Richard Nixons campaign aides pleaded guilty. Other indictments and trials followed, and by August of that year, Nixon had resigned. Following that timeline, Trump would be out of office by next spring. But there are reasons to doubt the Watergate analogy. For one, other presidents have faced similarly dire circumstances and managed to avoid any real consequences. In more than three decades in Congress, McCain became known as a political maverick willing to stick to his convictions rather than go along with party leaders - an independent streak that has drawn a mix of respect and ire. Most recently, he was a thorn in the side of President Donald Trump, keeping up his criticism of the White House even while undergoing severe medical treatment in Arizona. In July, he issued a searing rebuke of Trump's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling it a "tragic mistake" and "one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory." The strained relationship between Trump and McCain dates back to 2015, when Trump suggested the Vietnam veteran, who spent more than five years in a North Vietnamese prison after his Navy plane was shot down, was not a war hero. The feud between the two men has persisted even amid the decline in McCain's health. While political leaders of both parties paid tribute to McCain and offered prayers Friday, Trump and the White House remained silent. Trump did not mention McCain or the health care vote in a speech Friday night at a fundraising dinner in Ohio. In this May 25, 1973, file photo, US Navy Lieutenant Commander John McCain is greeted by President Richard Nixon, left, in Washington, after McCain's release from a prisoner of war camp in North Vietnam. Credit:AP Earlier this month, Trump signed a military policy bill named for McCain, but he made no mention of McCain at a signing ceremony. Trump offered his "deepest sympathies and respect" to the family of McCain on Saturday night, setting aside a yearslong, bitter and often deeply personal feud between the two men that had lasted into the senator's final days. The president shared his condolences in a brief tweet, shortly after it was announced that McCain, who had been battling brain cancer, had died. "Our hearts and prayers are with you!" he said. The White House flag was lowered to half-staff Saturday in honour of McCain. The son and grandson of Navy admirals, McCain was a former Navy pilot, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He bore permanent physical scars from his incarceration and torture at the hands of the North Vietnamese after being shot down and held captive for years. He was elected to Congress in 1982 and to the Senate four years later, replacing the retired Barry Goldwater. Despite his famous stubborn streak and occasional orneriness, McCain is widely admired on both sides of the aisle, and tributes poured in Friday after the family announced the treatment decision. "We are so fortunate to call him our friend and colleague," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Twitter. "The entire McCain family are in our prayers at this incredibly difficult hour.'' McCain ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, then won it in 2008 before losing the general election to Obama. His choice of the controversial Alaskan governor Sarah Palin as vice-presidential running mate was regarded by many as a handicap in his tilt for the top office. Republican presidential candidate John McCain with vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin on the campaign trail in 2008. Credit:AP Over three decades in the Senate, McCain became a standard-bearer for reforming campaign donations. He denounced pork-barrel spending for legislators' pet projects and cultivated a reputation as a deficit hawk and an independent voice. His experience as a POW made him a leading voice against the use of torture. He achieved his biggest legislative successes when making alliances with Democrats. But faced with a tough GOP challenge for his Senate seat in 2010, McCain disowned chapters in his past and turned to the right on a number of hot-button issues, including gays in the military and climate change. And when the Supreme Court in 2010 overturned the campaign finance restrictions that he'd work so hard to enact, McCain seemed resigned. "It is what it is," he said. After surviving that election, though, McCain took on conservatives in his party over the federal debt and Democrats over foreign policy. McCain never softened on his opposition to the US use of torture, even in the recalibrations of the post-9/11 world. When the Senate in 2014 released a report on the CIA's harsh interrogation techniques at secret overseas facilities after the 9/11 attacks, McCain said the issue wasn't "about our enemies. It's about us. It's about who we were, who we are and who we aspire to be. It's about how we represent ourselves to the world." When Republicans took control of the Senate in 2015, McCain embraced his new influence as chairman of the Armed Services Committee, pushing for aggressive US military intervention overseas and eager to contribute to "defeating the forces of radical Islam that want to destroy America". 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 The national apartment market is showing signs of moderating this year amid an annualised 40% drop in sales and a 26% drop in launches during the second quarter, according to the latest data from Urbis. The April to June period saw 38 projects launching nationally, bringing 5,000 new apartments to the market, contributing to a total of 10,600 new products. Meanwhile, sales have been decreasing at a steady rate of approximately 10% per quarter in 2018, treading at 1,100 in the June quarter. However, the Gold Coast and Melbourne markets managed to buck the national trend, as both areas recorded steady sales into the second quarter. The average sales price in these cities has also increased for new apartments, showing a positive upward curve. The overall residential market is softening, with a slowing in auction clearance rates for established stock. The market for new apartments is matching this trend in most cities with a slowdown in sales rates, said Urbis national director Clinton Ostwald. However, with continued strong population growth and the likelihood of a steep slowdown in new supply over the next 18 to 24 months, we should start to see sale numbers and price growth start to tick up, he added. Two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments were the most popular, accounting for 50% of total sales this marks a significant rise from the same period a year before, when such products held just 39% of sales. With continued pressure on foreign investors sourcing finance, developers are starting to move away from investor stock, and are tapping into the local market, with first home buyers emerging from the woodwork. About Me Scott Because prophetic scriptures are found throughout the bible, it is obvious that a comprehensive, systematic approach would be useful, if not necessary, for the understanding of prophecy. Past prophecies have been fulfilled in a literal manner, as confirmed by the dating of these writings and historical records of confirmation. These past prophecies also serve as a model of how to interpret future prophecies. A literal view of prophecy clearly indicates a certain sequence of events will occur within a single generation, concluding with the Tribulation and Second Advent and these events will be obvious. The prophetic signs appear to be present in this generation and we believe these signs are revealed in the news from around the world. View my complete profile 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 corporate affairs ministry has sought details from crisis-hit about certain issues as well as from its auditors on the postponement of quarterly results, a senior official said. The full-service carrier, whose board is scheduled to consider the financial results for the June quarter on Monday, is exploring ways to reduce costs amid financial woes. A senior ministry official said the Registrar of (RoC) has asked for details from the about certain issues and that the process is going on. Specific details could not be immediately ascertained. Query sent to a spokesperson on whether the has received queries from the RoC regarding financial issues and delay in announcement of quarterly results remained unanswered. Information has also been sought from the airline's auditors against the backdrop of the deferring the announcement of June quarter results, he added. With respect to Jet Airways, the RoC has only sought details and things are at a preliminary stage. As of now, there is no decision on whether to carry out an inspection of its books or an investigation, the official said. ALSO READ: Jet Airways to discuss austerity, turnaround plans at Monday board meeting Last week, sources had said that the ministry is seeking clarifications from the auditors of the airline for the delay in announcement of results. Markets regulator Sebi is also looking into the airline delaying June quarter results after the carrier's committee expressed reservations, sources said earlier this month. The board of would consider cost reduction initiatives and turnaround plan along with June quarter results at its meeting on August 27. The airline's board, on August 9, deferred announcement of unaudited financial results for the June quarter. Amid reports that the ministry has opened a preliminary probe into alleged diversion of funds at Jet Airways, the airline, on August 21, said that it has not received any communication from the ministry in this regard. Recently, 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 the 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 August 9. A group of Khalistan supporters on Saturday staged a protest against here. Rahul was to address his last public meeting in the UK in Ruislip in West when the protestors bypassed the security and attempted to disrupt the event. Donning all black ensembles, the group raised slogans 'Khalistan Zindabad' at the venue. After a scuffle, the local police soon escorted them out of the venue. They reportedly protested against Rahul's remark that was not involved in the 1984 With the six-month deadline set by Reserve Bank to finalise resolution plans for around 70 large stressed accounts worth over Rs 3.8 trillion ending on Monday, banks are burning the midnight oil to avoid bankruptcy proceedings against these defaulters who are mostly Bankers prefer out-of- resolution as the bankruptcy resolution so far has seen them taking large haircuts which in cases like was a whopping 86 per cent. The RBI circular asks banks to identify projects with even a day's default as stressed assets, and conclude resolution proceedings in 180 days. The circular came into effect on March 1 and the 180-day deadline concludes on August 27. If no resolution is reached by Monday, these accounts, which also include some EPC and telcos companies, will have to be referred to to initiate bankruptcy proceedings, the RBI had said. Banks are trying to come up with a resolution plan for these accounts as going to will mean large haircuts. In some of the stressed accounts, some lenders have already finalised resolution plans, bankers said. ALSO READ: Finmin asks PSU bank CEOs to check frauds in NPAs or face penal action It can be noted that almost three-fourths of these Rs 3.8 trillion-worth stressed assets are power companies which had dragged the central bank to the where the matter is still pending. That the matter is sub-judice also gives bankers some confidence that they may get some more time to resolve them out-of-court. "A few banks have already sanctioned resolution plans for some cases and others are in the process of doing so" said an executive director of a state-run bank who sought not to be named. Most banks are having their board meeting to approve a resolution plan or a management committee meeting to sanction credit to these defaulting companies on Monday, he added. Last week State Bank managing director Arijit Basu has said about eight power projects worth Rs 170 billion were expected to be resolved soon as lenders were nearing consensus on these accounts. "We have looked at 13-14 accounts which would entail changes in the managements, investment etc. Of these, we are looking at seven to eight accounts very closely, to get some consensus among banks," Basu had said. Bankers, however, said the exact number of accounts where resolutions have been arrived at, or the number of cases that will be referred to NCLTs, will be known only by Monday evening. There are reports that lenders have identified at least 60 accounts worth Rs 3.5 trillion against whom bankruptcy proceedings will be initiated. According to a recent Icra report, 70 large accounts, mainly from power, EPC and telecom with a total exposure of Rs 3.8 trillion, would require resolution by September 1 as per the RBI's February 12 circular. Bankers hope that RBI may show some leniency in regard to these accounts by not asking them to refer all of them to NCLTs immediately after the August 27 deadline as it knows that in some of the cases resolution process is underway. "The RBI may not extend the deadline but they are unlikely to say take all these accounts to NCLTs the very next day....this is what everybody is feeling because in a few cases some resolution plans are already in place while many others are in the process of doing so," said the head of a state-run bank who also wanted not to be named. The government has introduced a single application form for foreign investors to enter into the domestic capital market as part of the exercise to improve Earlier, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) had to file a separate form to register themselves with the market regulator Besides, they had to approach bank for opening bank account, income tax department for (Permanent Account Number) and market intermediaries for account. Finance Minister in his 2017-18 Budget Speech had said a common application form for FPIs would be devised with a view to enhance operational flexibility and ease of access to Indian capital markets. The central government has now notified "the Common Application Form...for the purpose of registration, opening of bank and accounts, and application for permanent account number by FPIs in India". The long-pending single combined application form for registration of FPIs with the Securities and Exchange Board of India, allotment of and know your customer (KYC) for opening bank and account is expected to reduce time and cost for the foreign investors. The common application form was prepared jointly by Sebi, Reserve Bank of India and Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). As per the notification of the Department of Economic Affairs in regards to the common application form, FPIs will have to provide information regarding 'Ultimate Beneficial Owner' of investments. Last week, had extended the deadline for FPIs by two months till December for providing a list of beneficial owners and assured them that issues raised will be looked into by an expert panel. As per the form, for KYC purposes, the individual custodian/designated depository participants (DDPs) can seek additional information based on their independent evaluation and risk classification of the applicants "on the basis of multiple parameters such as home jurisdiction, type of entity, nature of business". Commenting on the government's move, Naveen Wadhwa, DGM, Taxmann, said integration of multiple compliance forms is a great initiative. "This is similar to the new company incorporation form introduced last year which enables the applicant to apply for PAN/TAN at the time of incorporation of company itself," he said. Making the compliances easy for the foreign investors would not only bring up their confidence on Indian market but it will also help to push India ranking in global index of ease of doing business, he added. According to the latest depository data, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) pumped in a net sum of Rs 20. 48 billion into equities during August 1-24 and a net amount of Rs 46.62 billion into the debt market, taking the total to Rs 67. 10 billion. Overall, so far this year, FPIs have pulled out more than Rs 21 billion from equities, while they withdrew nearly Rs 370 billion from the debt markets. Very often, defining a goal is the first step towards achieving it. But what if you dont know what you want to achieve? It's a question Kavita Anand, 55, asked herself after running Mumbais Shishuvan school for over a decade. She had built up a good school, and she saw many others that could be much better, but they simply did not know where the improvements needed to be. Thats when Anand met Spokey Wheeler (now her husband) who had headed three secondary schools in England and Germany, turned around a failing inner London secondary school and then set it up ... More than 2 million Muslims are currently gathering in Mecca ahead of the annual Hajj, which begins on August 19. As long as they are fit and financially able, the pilgrimage is an obligatory act of worship that followers of Islam owe to God once in their lifetime. Reenacting the faith-testing ordeals of Ibrahim (Abraham, the Biblical founder of monotheism) and his family, Muslims believe that an accepted Hajj will cleanse them of all their sins. Their hope is to return home as pure as the day they were born. But until the introduction of modern transport systems, most ... John S McCain, the proud naval aviator who climbed from depths of despair as a prisoner of war in Vietnam to pinna-cles of power as a Republican congress-man and senator from Arizona and a two-time contender for the presidency, died on Saturday at his home in Arizona. He was 81. According to a statement from his office, McCain died at 4:28 pm local time. He had suffered from a malignant brain tumor, called a glioblastoma, for which he had been treated periodically with radiation and chemotherapy since its discovery in 2017. Despite his grave condition, he soon made a dramatic appearance in ... Hanif Atmar stepped down as Afghanistan's National Security Adviser on Saturday, and was replaced by Hamdullah Mohib, who is currently serving as the Afghan Ambassador to the United States. Atmar's resignation letter cited "serious differences over policies and approaches at the top level of government" as the reason for his resignation. He also claimed to have had differences in terms of "national unity, national consensus, peace and security political management, electoral affairs, good governance and regional affairs," TOLO News reported. The report further noted that Atmar, who has served as a close aide to President Ashraf Ghani since 2014, resigned in order to prepare for next year's presidential elections. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A US drone strike killed an ISIS affiliate - Abu Sayeed Orakzai in Afghanistan on Sunday. Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani's deputy spokesperson announced the death of Orakzai, US Forces-Afghanistan spokesman Lt. Col. Martin O'Donnell was quoted as saying by the Fox News. "I would also add that the United States unrelentingly continues its counterterrorism efforts against ISIS-K, Al-Qaeda, and other regional and international terrorist groups," O'Donnell said in a statement. The ISIS-K leader was responsible for a number of bombings that claimed lives of hundreds of civilians. Ten other ISIS fighters were also killed in the airstrikes, which was launched in the Nangarhar province, near the border with Pakistan. The air strikes by the US military in Afghanistan has been increased over the past year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Alia Bhatt's personal photographer 'RK' seems to know all the 'right angles'. The 'Raazi' actor has shared yet another picture of herself on Instagram, clicked by her rumoured boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor, and captioned it, "When the angle is right, you gotta do what you gotta do.. RK" While Ranbir continues to hide away from social media, Alia is making sure that his fans don't miss out on his awesomeness. On August 1, Alia shared a photo clicked by Ranbir and captioned it, "& into the forest I go,to lose my mind and find my soul (amaze photographer - RK)" This public display of affection (PDA) on social media started a month back, when Alia posted a photo on Instagram, where she can be seen standing by a window overlooking the city view with a friend, and gave the picture credit to RK. The actors are currently shooting together for Ayan Mukerji directorial 'Brahmastra' in Bulgaria, which is scheduled to release on August 15, 2019. The cast list also includes Amitabh Bachchan, Mouni Roy and Tollywood star Nagarjuna. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Baloch activists on Sunday paid tributes to Nawab Akbar Bugti, who is known as the 'Father of the Baloch Nation' on his 12th death anniversary. It was on 26 August 2006, Bugti was killed in an army operation in Kohlu district in Balochistan following an order by the then Pakistan's army chief, General Pervez Musharraf. His death had led to widespread unrest in the area. Bugti, who served as the former chief minister and governor of Balochistan, Pakistan's largest and resource-rich province, was involved in the fight against exploitation of natural resources and forceful occupation of Balochistan. On his 12th death anniversary, the Baloch, living in various parts of the paid tributes to him and raised demand for an end to the forceful occupation of Balochistan by Pakistan. Brahumgadh Bugti, the grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti and founder of Baloch Republican Party (BRP), who now lives in exile in Geneva took to Twitter and said, "12 years since my grandfather, father of the nation #ShaheedNawabAkbarBugti sacrificed his life struggling for his people. The Baloch nation & the remembering & paying tribute to him today shows he won and his enemies faced humiliating defeat." The spokesperson of BRP, Sher Mohammed Bugti said, "We were very lucky to have had a leader like #ShaheedNawabAkbarBugti who made so many headships easy and struggle to make sure that the Baloch people enjoy their basic rights and live how they deem fit for themselves." In Germany's Cottbus, a seminar was organized by Baloch Republican Students' Organisation (BRSO) to pay tribute to Akbar Bugti. "I will be beheaded but will never bow my head before the oppressor and occupier", said Mohammed Baloch, an activist of BRP quoting Nawab Akbar Bugti during the seminar. Speaking to ANI, a Baloch political activist in Germany Ashraf Sherjan said, "Nawab Bugti was a staunch democrat who had strong faith in left-wing He would not shut the door on negotiations until the last minute. Having remained politically active for five decades, Bugti's figure looms large on the of Balochistan. He also has tremendous contributions towards Baloch nationalism." He added, "On the question of Bugti's life and legacy as that of a typical Sardar or a nationalist, there cannot be any doubt that he raised his voice for the rights of the oppressed people and this earned him great accolade." Events were also held in South Korea, Canada, the United Kingdom and many European countries where the exiled Baloch activists paid tributes and remembered their leader Akbar Bugti. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 15 people were killed and nearly 30 injured in a bus accident on Saturday in Bulgaria, the country's Minister of Health Kiril Ananiev confirmed. According to the Interior Ministry, the accident happened around 5:10 p.m. (1510 GMT) local time in the Iskar Gorge near the town of Svoge, some 40 km north of Sofia, when the bus overturned off the road, China's state-run news agency Xinhua reported. The cause of the incident is yet to be known. As per local officials, the people in the bus were on a tour organised by a pensioner's club, with no foreigners among them. The Council of Ministers declared Monday as a national day of mourning for the victims. In 2017, around 682 people were killed in road accidents in the Balkan country, the news report noted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recovered the pistol used for killing Bengaluru-based journalist-cum-activist Gauri Lankesh while investigating the Narendra Dabholkar murder case, thus establishing a connection between the two murders. The pistol was recovered from Shubham Surale, the brother-in-law of Sachin Andure, an accused in the Dabholkar murder case, who was arrested from Aurangabad by the on August 18. Following the court hearing on Sunday, the custody of Sachin was extended till August 30. During the hearing, it was stated that Sharad Kalaskar, who was arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in explosives recovery case from Nalasopara, will be handed over to the after August 28 at the end of his custody, on grounds of the need for a joint interrogation of Kalaskar and Andure. Apart from the connect established in the killing of Gauri Lankesh and Narendra Dabholkar, a link has also been established with the Nalasopara explosives case, the investigation of which led to Andure's arrest. Meanwhile, the Defence lawyer has moved an application to book the CBI's Investigation Officer under contempt of court, alleging that he was not allowed to meet an accused in spite of the court order during the last hearing. Narendra Dabholkar, who was the founder of Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS), was shot dead on August 20, 2013, by bike-borne assailants while returning home from a morning walk while Gauri Lankesh was shot dead outside her Bengaluru residence on September 5 last year. Many American political leaders paid rich tributes to Republican Senator and former presidential candidate John McCain, who passed away on Saturday after a prolonged illness. McCain breathed his last at his home in Arizona at the age of 81, his family announced on Saturday. From US President Donald Trump to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, a number of politicians took to their social media handles to express condolences for the departed soul. Trump, who shared a rocky relationship with McCain tweeted, "My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!" US Vice President Mike Pence also paid his tribute and hailed McCain for his lifetime services to the country. "Karen and I send our deepest condolences to Cindy and the entire McCain family on the passing of Senator John McCain. We honour his lifetime of service to this nation in our military and in public life. His family and friends will be in our prayers. God bless John McCain," Pence wrote on Twitter. McCain's wife, Cindy McCain also tweeted about her husband's demise, saying that her "heart is broken" and is "so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years." She tweeted, "My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the place he loved best." Former US President Barack Obama also paid his tribute to the 81-year-old Republican Senator. He said in a statement, "John McCain and I were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds, and competed at the highest level of But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher - the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants, alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed." "Few of us have been tested the way John once was or required to show the kind of courage that he did. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At John's best he showed us what that means," he added. Obama's predecessor, George W Bush described McCain as "a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order." In a statement, Bush said, "Some lives are so vivid, it is difficult to imagine them ended. Some voices are so vibrant, it is hard to think of them stilled. John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order. He was a public servant in the finest traditions of our country. And to me, he was a friend whom I'll deeply miss. Laura and I send our heartfelt sympathies to Cindy and the entire McCain family, and our thanks to God for the life of John McCain." Speaker of the House Paul Ryan said that it is "a sad day for the United States and our country has lost a decorated war hero and statesman." "This is a sad day for the United States. Our country has lost a decorated war hero and statesman. John McCain was a giant of our time-not just for the things he achieved, but for who he was and what he fought for all his life. John put principle before He put country before self. He was one of the most courageous men of the century. He will always be listed among freedom's most gallant and faithful servants. Our hearts are with his wife, Cindy, his children, and his grandchildren. This Congress, this country mourn with them," read a statement by Ryan. Last year, McCain was diagnosed with primary glioblastoma, a type of brain tumour, and was operated upon to remove a blood clot, in Phoenix, Arizona. In April this year, the senator underwent another surgery to treat an intestinal infection related to diverticulitis. On Friday, his family announced they had stopped McCain's treatment. McCain, who was always at loggerheads with Trump, had called on the latter to stop cornering the American media. He also termed Trump's administration attitude towards the press "inconsistent at best and hypocritical at worst," according to an op-ed published in The Washington Post. The 81-year-old senator had fought in the Vietnam War between the late 1960s and early 1970s, was captured by the Vietnamese troops and declared a 'prisoner of war'. He retired from the US Navy in 1981 and joined thereafter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Responding to Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal's claim of Congress leader Jagdish Tytler's involvement in the assault of a Sikh leader in California, senior advocate KTS Tulsi assured that the United States police will unearth the conspiracy without getting deviated from the path of truth. "I don't know where is the necessity of building up a defence is right now. The United States investigation is going to be very swift. Four people have already been arrested. They will unearth the entire conspiracy. Why do we come up with fanciful ideas and divert the attention of the investigating agency, this is not the Indian police, this is the US police, they are not going get deviated from the path of truth," Tulsi told ANI. In the wake of the attack on Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK in California, Badal had alleged that the men who were responsible for the attack had links with Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI, and enjoyed the support of senior Congress leader and the accused in the 1984 anti-Sikh riot case, Jagdish Tytler. "Heads of 'Sikhs for Justice' who are direct beneficiaries of ISI and work on their orders and are supported by those who are in direct touch with the likes of Jagdish Tytler, and Jasbeer Singh Lobana and his son Gagandeep Singh Lobana, were seen attacking him (Manjit Singh GK). Jasbeer Singh Lobana is the same person who has spent three months in jail for trying to intimidate an eyewitness against Jagdish Tytler in the 1984 massacre," she said. Harsimrat also accused Congress president Rahul Gandhi of having links with the miscreants who attacked the Sikh leader on Saturday. "Rahul Gandhi said in the UK that Congress had no role in 1984 anti-Sikh riots and within a few hours our president Manjeet Singh GK was attacked. You will find a connect between the attackers and Rahul Gandhi." The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader demanded adequate security for the DSGMC chief and said that she will discuss the issue with US Ambassador. Manjit Singh GK was attacked by a group of unknown men at the Yuba City Gurdwara in California on Saturday. This is the second such attack on Manjit in this week. On Monday, the DSGMC chief and his family were allegedly attacked by Khalistani sympathisers at a TV studio in New York, following which he appealed to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for help. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, on Sunday alleged that the men who attacked Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK in California have links with Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI and enjoy the support of senior Congress leader and accused in the 1984 anti-Sikh riot case, Jagdish Tytler. Harsimrat told ANI, "Heads of 'Sikhs for Justice' who are direct beneficiaries of ISI and work on their orders and are supported by those who are in direct touch with the likes of Jagdish Tytler, and Jasbeer Singh Lobana and his son Gagandeep Singh Lobana, were seen attacking him (Manjit Singh GK). Jasbeer Singh Lobana is the same person who has spent three months in jail for trying to intimidate an eyewitness against Jagdish Tytler in the 1984 massacre." "These people are attacking that person (Manjit Singh GK) of Sikh community, who has been fighting for years to get justice, to put Jagdish Tytler behind bars and to ensure that people get to know the reality of the Gandhi family. This attack clarifies that the nexus between the Congress party, the Sikhs for Justice and the ISI," she added. She also accused Congress president Rahul Gandhi of having links with the miscreants who attacked the Sikh leader on Saturday. "Rahul Gandhi said in UK that Congress had no role in 1984 anti-Sikh riots and within a few hours our president Manjeet Singh GK was attacked. You will find a connect between the attackers and Rahul Gandhi." The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader demanded adequate security for the DSGMC chief and said that she will discuss the issue with US Ambassador. "We demand adequate security to be given to Manjit ji so that these hooligans are not allowed to harm him. I am also going to meet the Ambassador of US and the Home Minister and we are going to lead a delegation and demand that these kinds of people who are creating havoc and are working against our country and community should be blacklisted from our country," she said. Meanwhile, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley took to twitter and condemned the attack on the DSGMC Chief. "Strongly condemn the attack on Sardar Manjit Singh GK in California. Manjit GK has made a huge contribution to the management and expansion of the Sikh religious, social and educational institutions," Jaitley tweeted. The reaction from several leaders came a day after Manjit Singh GK was attacked by a group of unknown men at the Yuba City Gurdwara in California on Saturday. The attackers pushed Singh to the ground, causing his turban to fall off and blackened his face. Three persons have been arrested in connection with the matter. The DSGMC chief recalled the incident and said that a group of over 20 people had attacked him. This is the second such attack on Manjit in this week. On Monday, the DSGMC chief and his family were allegedly attacked by Khalistan sympathisers at a TV studio in New York, following which he appealed to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for help and demanded action. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Army gathered at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to welcome the Indian rowing contingent which won three medals, including a historic gold in quadruple sculls, at the ongoing 18th edition of the Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang. The rowers clinched a gold and two bronze medals on the sixth day of the competition and were garlanded amid 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' cheers. The Indian men's team comprising Sawarn Singh, Dattu Bhokanal, Om Prakash and Sukhmeet Singh bagged the gold medal in the men's quadruple sculls event. The rowers clocked 6:17:13 to win the medal. Indonesia and Thailand settled for silver and bronze medals, respectively. In lightweight double sculls rowing event, the Indian team of Rohit Kumar and Bhagwan Das won bronze after clocking 7:04.61. Japan's Miyaura Masayuki and Takeda Masahiro bagged the gold with a timing of 7:01:70, while the South Korean team of Kim Byunghoon and Lee Minhyuk settled for silver with a timing of 7:03.22. Indian rower Dushyant Chauhan won the bronze medal in lightweight single sculls. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four newly recruited terrorists, along with warlike stores, were arrested on Sunday from the upper reaches of Handwara's Kalaroos region, while they were attempting to exfiltrate across the Line of Control. The terrorists, who were recruited by Al Badr for a planned exfiltration, were trapped after the army and local police laid an ambush. Al Badr is an Islamic terrorist group operating in the Jammu Kashmir region. In a statement the Army said, "After a brief gunfight, extreme restraint was exercised and opportunity given to the terrorists to surrender. While the four newly recruited terrorists surrendered, the three Al Badr terrorists deserted the new recruits and fled under cover of fire." The statement added that the search to trace the other terrorists is underway. Jammu and Kashmir is reeling under tense situation due to several terrorist attacks. On Saturday, the army busted three hideouts of terrorists and arrested a key Over Ground Worker (OGW) in South Kashmir's Pulwama district. On August 22, a policeman was shot dead by terrorists in Kulgam district outside an Eidgah, when he was leaving after Eid prayers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Tamil Nadu government has filed a counter affidavit before the Supreme Court denying the allegations of mismanagement, levelled by the Kerala government with regards to the release of water from Mullaperiyar dam. It filed the counter affidavit before the apex court on August 24 in response to the affidavit filed by the Kerala government on August 23. The affidavit submitted by Kerala government had blamed Tamil Nadu for ignoring its request to control water flow from Mullaperiyar dam during the floods. It also alleged that the sudden release of the water from the dam is one of the reasons of flooding in Kerala. The 21-page affidavit, filed by the Tamil Nadu government, a copy available with the ANI, claimed that it was incorrect on the part of the Kerala government to say that the Tamil Nadu had not alerted Kerala on time. M Selvaraju, who filed the affidavit before the Supreme Court said that Tamil Nadu is fully committed to the safety of people of both Kerala and Tamil Nadu, living downstream from the Mullaperiyar dam. The affidavit further stated that the designed Maximum Water Level (MWL) of Mullai Periyar Dam is 155 ft. for which the safety was examined and found to be safe by the Supreme Court. It further claimed that Tamil Nadu government had given enough warnings to the Kerala government officials as and when the water crossed the level of 136 ft in the Mullaperiyar dam. The Tamil Nadu government also said that the Dam Safety Organisation officials of the Central Water Commission, along with the members of the two states had inspected the Mullaperiyar dam on August 4 and found the overall condition of the dam satisfactory. It also stated that the Chairman of the Sub Committee under the Supervisory Committee inspected the dam on August 15 and found everything in order. Mullaperiyar dam is located in Kerala's Idukki district near Thekkady on Periyar River, but is maintained and managed by the Tamil Nadu government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A group of Khalistan supporters on Saturday staged a protest against Congress president Rahul Gandhi here. Rahul was to address his last public meeting in the UK in Ruislip in West London when the protestors bypassed the security and attempted to disrupt the event. Donning all black ensembles, the group raised slogans 'Khalistan zindabad' at the venue. After a scuffle, the local police soon escorted them out of the venue. They reportedly protested against Rahul's remark that Congress was not involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Days after reports emerged that Union defence minister, Nirmala Sitharaman lashed out at Karnataka Tourism Minister Sa Ra Mahesh, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday tried to resolve the matter saying "time to forgive each other and join hands for the rehabilitation of the flood affected people in Kodagu". Saying that he was "deeply pained at the turn of events" with regard to the visit of Sitharaman to the flood-affected areas in Kodagu district, the Chief Minister said, "Though the government and the district administration have ensured and followed protocol despite the tough situation in the region during her visit, it was unfortunate that the Defence Minister had to go through certain inconveniences, which we regret. I also spoke to her over the phone on the matter." In a letter, tweeted from Chief Minister of Karnataka Twitter handle, Kumaraswamy said, "Tourism and Kodagu district in-charge Minister Sa Ra Mahesh is with the rescue and relief team, at the affected areas, coordinating their operations from the day one. He has tirelessly worked to oversee the rescue and relief operations on the ground." Sitharaman, who visited flood-hit Kodagu district on August 24, allegedly snapped at the Karnataka minister. "I am following a minute-to-minute programme, minister. If officials are important, my parivaar (family) is also important.... Central minister follows the minister in-charge here. Unbelievable," Sitharaman can be seen telling Mahesh in a video, which surfaced on social media. However, later, the defence ministry issued a clarification on the matter, saying, "The tour programme of the RM (Raksha Mantri) was finalized by the district administration of Kodagu in consultation with the public representatives. This programme was approved and circulated to all concerned two days prior to RM's arrival. Subsequently, on the request of the district administration, an interaction with the veterans was added to the schedule." "On completion of the field visits, as per the programme, the RM was interacting with ex-servicemen who had been adversely affected by the floods, when the District in-charge minister objected and insisted that meeting with the officials be conducted first. RM clarified that the welfare of ex-servicemen was an essential part of the Ministry of Defence and the same was scheduled in the program. However, the district minister insisted that the RM immediately stop the interaction and proceed to the meeting with the officials," the statement added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (DMK) working president MK Stalin on Sunday filed nomination for the post of president, which has been lying vacant after the demise of his father M. Karunanidhi on August 7. Stalin will be standing against his brother MK Alagiri in the party presidential election, which is scheduled to be held on August 28. Alagiri was expelled from the political outfit in March 2014 by Karunanidhi, who was the then president of DMK, for slanderous attacks on senior party members and carrying out anti-party activities. The political battle between the brothers got more intense after Alagiri on August 13 claimed, "All the supporters in Tamil Nadu are on my side and are encouraging me only. Only time will give the answers; that is all I am willing to say now." Founded by C. N. Annadurai in 1949, DMK was a breakaway faction from the Dravidar Kazhagam that was popularly known as Justice Party until 1944. This political outfit had been headed by Karunanidhi from 1969 until his death in August. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's sister Qamar Mohsin Shaikh tied him a rakhi on Sunday at his residence here. Recalling her bond with the Prime Minister, Shaikh, a Pakistani-origin woman, told ANI that she has been tying him rakhi for the past 24 years. "Known him since the time he was an Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) worker and have been tying him rakhi for past 24 years. There has been no difference in his behaviour. It is just that he has got busy so we get less time, apart from that everything else is same," Shaikh said. "This time I thought PM Modi must be busy but two days back he called, I was very happy to know that; started preparing for Raksha Bandhan," she added. Qamar came to India after marriage and has been living in the capital since then. Apart from Shaikh, several girls and women tied Rakhis on the wrist of Prime Minister Modi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) During his visit to Ireland, Pope Francis spoke on the issue of child abuse in the Catholic Church and said that he shared the sentiments that led to an outrage over the 'appalling crimes'. However, the Pope did not mention the current scandal raging over a US grand jury report documenting at least 1,000 cases of pedophilia, involving the clergy, CNN reported. While speaking to a hall in Dublin Castle in the presence of political, religious dignitaries and foreign diplomats, he said, "The failure of ecclesiastical authorities -- bishops, religious superiors, priests and others -- adequately to address these appalling crimes has rightly given rise to outrage and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community. I myself share those sentiments." Ahead of Pope Francis' address, Ireland Prime Minister Leo Varadkar criticised revelations of current abuse from Pennsylvania. "In recent weeks, we have all listened to heartbreaking stories from Pennsylvania of brutal crimes perpetrated by people within the Catholic Church, and then obscured to protect the institution at the expense of innocent victims," he said as quoted by CNN."It is a story all too tragically familiar here in Ireland." Varadkar also called for a "zero tolerance" approach for sexual abuse in churches and impelled the Pope to implement stringent norms "to ensure that they do not happen again." Pope Francis also met with eight Irish people who were subjected to clerical, religious and institutional abuse, according to Greg Burke, the director of the Vatican's press office. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress president Rahul Gandhi will pay a two-day visit to flood-affected areas of Kerala from August 28. Rahul will reach the capital city of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram on August 28 following which he will visit the flood-affected areas of Chengannur, Alappuzha and Angamaly. On the second day of his visit, the Congress chief is scheduled to visit Wayanad district. Earlier on August 24, Rahul had expressed his solidarity with the people of Kerala and tweeted, "This is a difficult time for the people of Kerala. In relief camps and homes across the state, people are grieving for their loved ones. On this Onam let us pledge to put aside our differences, stand united together and focus on the task of #RebuildingKerala." Kerala has been facing the worst flood in a century, which claimed lives of as many as 357 people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Brothers and sisters in Nepal on Sunday celebrated the festival of Rakshya Bandhan (as it is called in the country), by tying 'rakhi' and praying for the longer lives of their respective brothers. "This day is special for all the brothers and sisters. The Bhaitika (of Tihar) and this Rakshya Bandhan both have importance. The festival of Bhaitika is only confined to between the limited number of brothers and it's not easy to get out of the home and we also can get out of the house and meet other brothers out of the kin," Bhumika Timilsina, who came to Pashupatinath Temple to tie rakhi to her brothers told ANI. Rakshya Bandhan is regarded as the festival to strengthen the relations between a brother and a sister. This festival's name has been derived from two words "Rakshya" and "Bandhan", which means the brother promises for the protection of his sister and the tying of the string on the wrist, bolsters the relations between the siblings. The people of Nepal are also celebrating the festival of Janai Purnima, where a sacred thread is tied to the wrist of the males and the and change the string they wear around their body. "This festival is celebrated from ancient time and on this day the Janai (sacred thread worn around the body by males) is changed and the thread is tied on the wrist is believed to protect the person and get blessing from the gods and goddesses," said Durga Prasad Kafle, a priest of the Pashupat area, tying the thread on the wrist of the visitors. The festival of Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated with equal fervour in India as well. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Around 500 people were evacuated after a fire broke out in Greenwich shopping centre in Russia's Ekaterinburg city on Sunday. The blaze broke out at 9 The local emergency services were quoted by Sputnik as saying, "The automatic fire alarm system allowed to quickly locate the fire and organise the evacuation." The fire was doused in 14 minutes. No details on casualties or material damage have been reported so far. This is not the first time that a fire incident has taken place at a shopping mall in Russia. On March 25, 64 people were killed after a massive blaze engulfed the fourth floor of Zimnyaya Vishnya (Winter Cherry) shopping mall in Siberia's Kemerovo region. Following the incident, Kemerovo governor Aman Tuleyev had stepped down from the post. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Republican Senator and former presidential candidate John McCain passed away on Saturday (local time) at the age of 81 after a prolonged illness. The news was confirmed by the senator's daughter Meghan McCain, who penned an emotional post on her father's demise on Twitter, captioned " I love you forever - my beloved father @SenJohnMcCain" Last year, McCain was diagnosed with primary glioblastoma, a type of brain tumour, and was operated upon to remove a blood clot, in Phoenix, Arizona. In April this year, the senator underwent surgery once again to treat an intestinal infection related to diverticulitis. Considered a staunch critic of Donald Trump, McCain had called on the US President to cease his attacks on the American press, when he was undergoing treatment in his home state. He also called the Trump administration's attitude towards the press "inconsistent at best and hypocritical at worst," in an op-ed published in the Washington Post. Following McCain's demise, the US President took to Twitter to extend condolences to the senator's family. "My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!" Trump tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday said that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy's tweets about invading the Maldives were his personal views and not the government's. "Opinion expressed by Dr Swamy in his tweet is personal. It does not reflect the view of Government of India," read the statement. Taking to his Twitter handle on August 22, Swami labelled Maldivian President Yameen Abdulla Gayoom a "usurper," and said, "In Colombo today I had a chance meet with Fmr Maldive President Naseed. He is apprehensive of gross rigging in their forthcoming election. India cannot allow that as a neighbour and also since current usurper President Yamin has humiliated Indians recently. We need an action plan." "India should invade the Maldives if rigging of election takes place," Swami added. Earlier today, Swamy defended his comments by saying that India should invade the Maldives "if" there is rigging in their elections. "Why is the present Govt of Maldives upset by my "If then" statement that if Maldive's Sept 24th general election is rigged then India should invade that nation? Already Indians in that nation are fearing reprisals. We have to protect our citizens," Swamy tweeted. Indo-Maldives ties have been strained recently over the political situation in the island nation, coming in the backdrop of reports suggesting that hundreds of work visas had been denied to Indians by the Maldives. The Indian government has recently called upon the Maldivian government to allow democratic institutions to work in a transparent manner. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister (EAM), Sushma Swaraj on Sunday departed for a four-day visit to Vietnam and Cambodia. In Vietnam, Swaraj is scheduled to co-chair the 16th meeting of the Joint Commission along with her Vietnamese counterpart, Pham Binh Minh. She will also call upon Vietnam's Prime Minister, Nguyen Xuan Phuc. On August 27, the EAM will inaugurate the third edition of the Indian Ocean Conference. The EAM will on August 29 head to Cambodia, where she will hold bilateral meetings with the Cambodian Foreign Affairs Minister, Prak Sokhonn. Swaraj will also meet Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and President of Senate Say Chhum. "The visit of EAM to Vietnam and Cambodia will provide an opportunity to hold in-depth discussions with the political leadership on a wide range of global, regional and bilateral issues and advance our strategic engagement with these countries and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. Earlier this month, Swaraj participated in the World Hindi Conference in Mauritius. She also visited Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan and held bilateral meetings there. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pregnant women with heart disease are recommended to give birth no later than 40 weeks of gestation. A study by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines has recommended such practice. "Beyond 40 weeks, pregnancy has no added benefit for the baby and may even have negative effects," said lead researcher, Jolien Roos-Hesselink. "Pregnancy is a risky period for women with heart disease because it puts additional stress on the heart, so the guidelines advise inducing labour or a cesarean section at 40 weeks," Hesselink added. Heart disease is the main reason why women die during pregnancy in many western countries. In comparison to healthy pregnant women, those with heart disease have a 100 times greater risk of death or heart failure. Most women with heart disease have a healthy pregnancy, but researchers recommend that they should be aware that they have a higher risk of obstetric complications, including premature labour, pre-eclampsia, and post-partum bleeding. An estimated 18-30% of offsprings have complications and up to 4% of neonates die because of such complications. Researchers time and again have recommended that In-Vitro fertilisation (IVF) is not for a pregnant woman with a heart disease since the said process often uses high doses of hormones, which increase the risk of thrombosis and heart failure. Also carrying more than one baby puts more stress on the heart; therefore the women with heart disease undergoing IVF are strongly advised to transfer a single embryo. Furthermore, women with congenital heart diseases, for example, pulmonary arterial hypertension, severely dilated aorta, or severely reduced ability of the heart to pump blood, need contraception advice to avoid unplanned pregnancy. "When drug companies have no data on whether a drug is safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding they tend to say it is not recommended. It may be appropriate to give a drug to a severely ill woman if there are no harmful side effects noted in the databases listed in the guidelines," said another researcher Vera Regitz-Zagrosek. Therefore a delivery plan should be devised at 20-30 weeks, specifying vaginal or cesarean delivery for pregnant women suffering from such diseases. "The delivery plan should be available 24 hours a day so that when a pregnant woman with heart disease arrives at the hospital in labour hospital staff knows exactly what to do," Hesselink further added. The study appears in the European Heart Journal . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 10 Islamic State (IS) militants have been killed in an operation against an IS hideout near Mosul, capital of Iraq's Nineveh province, the Iraqi military said. The provincial Rapid Response elite police force, backed by Iraqi aircraft, raided the IS hideout at a large cave near al-Shoura area, Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasoul, spokesman of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, said in a statement on Saturday, Xinhua reported. Meanwhile, another provincial police force captured five suspected IS militants in Mosul, some 400 km north of Baghdad, after tip-offs from civilians and intelligence reports, Rasoul said in a separate statement. The security in Iraq has dramatically improved since Iraqi forces fully defeated IS militants across the country late in 2017. However, militant 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. --IANS pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least two people were killed and 100 others injured when a 5.9-magnitude earthquake jolted Iran's Kermanshah province on Sunday, authorities said. The epicentre of the quake was almost 9 km from the city of Tazehabad and about 30 km from the city of Javanrud, reports CNN. Both cities are close to the Iran-Iraq border. The earthquake struck at a depth of some 10 km. Iran's Emergency and Natural Disaster Agency told state-run Press TV that five rescue teams have been sent to the area. Residents in Baghdad, Iraq, told CNN they felt the capital city shake. Baghdad is located about 342 km from the Iran border. More than 400 people were killed when a 7.3-magnitude earthquake had struck Kermanshah in November 2017. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das said on Sunday that a 26-member farmers' team left for Israel on a four-day trip to study farming techniques. " You (farmers) are going to Israel on the pious day of Raksha Bandhan with an aim to increase farmers' income. Learn Israel's technique of farming and adopt it in our state and share the experience with others," Das said while seeing off the team. "Israel is smaller than Jharkhand area wise but the country's per capita income is more than India due to farming. We should always learn from a place where something better is happening. Today Jharkhand is a deficit state as far as foodgrain production is concerned. But those days are not far when Jharkhand will become self dependent and export foodgrains to other states." The farmers will learn dairy farming, production of vegetables and fruits, drip irrigation and other things. The team is being led by Agriculture Secretary Pooja Singhal. --IANS ns/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The 60-day Amarnath Yatra ended peacefully on Sunday with over 2.85 lakh pilgrims performing the Himalayan pilgrimage this year. The Yatra started on June 28. The 'Chhari Mubarak' (Lord Shiva's Mace) carried by a group of Hindu priests headed by Swami Deepinder Giri, its custodian, reached the cave shrine on Sunday morning. The priests offered the final prayers at the shrine. Some senior officers of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) that manages the annual Yatra were also present. Swami Deepinder Giri told IANS that the devotees prayed for peace and prosperity of the country, especially in Jammu and Kashmir. More people performed this year's pilgrimage than in the last three years. Due to extraordinary security arrangements that included the deployment of over 70,000 security personnel and the cooperation of local Muslims, this year's Yatra ended peacefully. Except for four pilgrims who died in a landslide, the Yatra was incident free this year. No militant outfit carried out any attack on the pilgrims' convoys and most outfits issued statements that the Yatra was not on their target list as it was a purely religious exercise. Located 3,880 meters above the sea level in Kashmir's Himalayas, the cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that wanes and waxes with the phases of the visible moon. Devotees believe the ice stalagmite structure symbolizes the mythical powers of Lord Shiva. Devotees approached the cave shrine both from the north Kashmir Baltal base camp and the south Kashmir Pahalgam base camp. Helicopter services were also available for the pilgrims. --IANS sq/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The body of a police sub-inspector who was washed away in a canal in Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district was retrieved on Sunday, police said. Rescue workers found the body of Kota Vamsidhar (33) in Krishna Eastern Bank (KEB) Canal, about 20 km from the place where his car plunged into the canal on Saturday. The officer and his mother Kota Lakshmi (55) were on their way to his village Ismail Begpet in Krishna district to attend a marriage. The car fell into the canal after hitting the wall of a bridge near Papavinasanam village. While the officer's mother was rescued by locals, he was washed away. According to the police, there was heavy flow of water in the canal due to recent rains. The officer was working at Ramachandrapuram in East Godavari district. --IANS ms/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian women paddlers got their campaign underway at the 2018 Asian Games on a positive note as they reached the quarter-finals here on Sunday. Team comprising Mouma Das Ayhika Mukherjee and Sutritha Mukherjee defeated Qatar 3-0 in the first match but lost to China 0-3 in the second match. In the third match of the day, India outplayed Iran 3-1 to join China in the quarters. In the first affair, Mouma Das handed India a 1-0 lead as she registered a comfortable 11-3, 11-2, 11-4 victory over Maha Ali before Ayhika Mukherjee extended the lead 2-0. Ayhika won the first game 11-2 but her opponent -- Aia Mohamed -- made a comeback in the second game winning it 12-10. Ayhika however, didn't faulter in the next two games and won it 11-2, 11-3. Sutirtha Mukherjee then made the issue 3-0 as the 22-year-old paddler hammered Maha Faramarzi 11-3, 11-3, 11-6 to seal the first match. The second saw India tasting defeat against China but bounced back in style to win the third and final match to enter the quarters. Meanwhile, on the other hand, India men's team comprising G. Sathiyan, Sharath Kamal and Harmeet Desai won their first match 3-0 against UAE. --IANS gau/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India bagged two silver medals in the equestrian competition at the 18th Asian Games here on Sunday. In the final of the jumping team event, the Indian team of Rakesh Kumar, Ashish Malik, Jitender Singh and Fouaad Mirza scored 121.30 points to finish second. Japan scored 82.40 to win the gold medal while Thailand's 126.70 gave them the bronze. Fouaad shone in the final of the jumping individual event as well, taking the silver with 26.40 points. Oiwa Yoshiaki of Japan clinched the gold with 22.70 points while the bronze went to Alex Hua Tian (27.10) of China. --IANS ajb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop resigned on Sunday, ahead of newly-appointed Prime Minister Scott Morrison announcing his new cabinet after winning a bruising leadership contest. Bishop, 62, said she had not yet decided whether to stand at the next general election, due in 2019, reports the BBC. She had sought the Prime Minister's post after Malcolm Turnbull stood aside, but was eliminated in the first round. The leadership fight also ended her 11-year tenure as deputy leader of the ruling Liberal Party. "I will remain on the backbench as a strong voice for Western Australia," Bishop, who has been a federal politician for two decades, told the media. Last week's leadership crisis arose after Turnbull came under pressure from poor polling and what he described as an "insurgency" by conservative MPs. The Liberal-National coalition government has only a one-seat majority in parliament, and Labor is ahead in opinion polls, with a general election to be held at some point before May 2019. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actress Saiyami Kher, who is all set to make her debut into the Marathi film industry with "Mauli", is ecstatic about regional films doing well in the country, saying that the borders between language films are blurring. "Marathi films has had good content since very long... The borders between different language films are merging. Telugu and Malyalam films are doing well. It is a good opportunity for people to explore good interesting scripts, which is great," Saiyami told IANS here. The 26-year-old actress praised her "Mauli" co-star Riteish Deshmukh. "He is so much fun outside set. He makes you feel very comfortable and doesn't make you feel like he is a senior in the industry. Working with him as a co-actor, he is extremely comforting." Saiyami was here on the day four of the Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2018. She was seen walking the ramp for designers VineetRahul. She was seen sporting a stunning white lehengas paired with a grey choli. To complete her look, the actress sported smokey eyes and nude lips. The actress made her Bollywood in 2016 with Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra's "Mirzya" and since then she has not been seen on the silver screen. Asked what is keeping her away from the big screen, Saiyami said: "Nothing is keeping me away. I was doing the Marathi film 'Mauli', which releases this December. There were some projects which were suppose to start but never took off so, its a question of luck turning my way... "Somethings which have been offered, I was not keen on doing. So, it had been a mix of that." --IANS dc/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday said it has established links between the murders of Pune-based rationalist Narendra Dabholkar and Bengaluru-based journalist Gauri Lankesh. The CBI said it had established the crucial connection before the Shivajinagar Magistrate's Court in Pune to extend the police custody of one of the prime suspects, Sachin Andhure. Accordingly, the custody of Andhure - arrested from Aurangabad last week - has been extended till August 30. Medico and rationalist Dabholkar (67), who fought against superstitious beliefs through his Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS), was gunned down near his residence on the morning of June 20, 2013. Two unidentified motorcycle borne assailants fired several rounds at him near the Omkareshwar temple in Pune. Almost four years later, Gauri Lankesh (55), journalist-cum-activist, was shot dead outside her residence in Bengalaru on September 5, 2017. She also served as the editor of 'Lankesh Patrike', a Kannada weekly launched by her father P. Lankesh, and also ran her own weekly called 'Gauri Lankesh Patrike.' Though the two high-profile murders were committed four years apart, in both these cases, the long suspected alleged role of certain right-wing activists, including those associated with Sanatan Sanstha and others, has now emerged. In its remand plea, the CBI has not yet named any organisation/s which could be involved in these cases. The remand application adds that during interrogation, Andhure revealed that one of those arrested for the Gauri Lankesh murder had handed over to him a 7.65-mm country made pistol and three bullets. Later, Andhure - arrested by the CBI last week - claimed he passed it on to his brother-in-law Subham Surale in Aurangabad, on August 11, 2018. Surale in turn passed the weapon to his friend Rohit Rege in the same city, though the motives are not clear. Andhure's name was revealed by Sharad Kalaskar, a resident of Nala Sopara, Palghar, arrested by the Maharashtra ATS after a major arms haul there on August 10. It was Andhure and Kalaskar himself who went on a motorcycle and shot Dabholkar that day, he (Kalaskar) revealed. Now, armed with the fresh information, the CBI plans to seek Kalaskar's custody, after his remand with Maharashtra-ATS ends later this week. The CBI will also apply for the remand of one of the accused arrested by the SIT of Karnataka police in the Lankesh killing besides making efforts to trace the missing motorcycle used in the Dabholkar murder in Pune. "Some of the accused in the Gauri Lankesh case are connected with Sachin Andhure and Narendra Dabholkar's murder," the CBI remand application said, seeking the extension of Andhure's custody. --IANS qn/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Sunday said the DNA profiling Bill prepared by the Narendra Modi government was full of loopholes and would violate the right to privacy in its current form. It termed the proposed legislation as "ill-conceived" and an attempt by the government to "strengthen the conformity that surveillance breeds". Congress Spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the DNA profiling Bill was the latest in a series of attempts by the Modi government to "snoop and spy on ordinary citizens". "The introduction of DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2018, in a hush-hush manner, in the recently concluded monsoon session of Parliament is another attempt towards this mala fide objective," Singhvi said. "Surveillance breeds conformity. And this government is an absolute conformist government. The DNA bill is an attempt to strengthen this conformity," he added. He said that "fearing backlash" from opposition in the Rajya Sabha, the government withdrew the bill after listing it in the business of the House, but then it notified it in the business of the Lok Sabha, where it has a majority, at late night on August 8 and introduced it the next day. Singhvi clarified that the Congress party was not in principle against DNA profiling, but the government should first bring a comprehensive data protection law "encompassing issues pertaining to all the sectors and ministries" after wide public consultations. "The DNA Database could be another Aadhaar-like database, without adequate protection and safeguards. DNA samples can reveal more intrusive information about a person and hence there is a greater risk of this information getting misused," Singhvi said. The Congress leader pointed out that the A.P. Shah Committee on privacy has expressed its concerns on the issue of breach of privacy by DNA profiling. "The Committee made several recommendations including ensuring safeguards against breach of data by the government, right of citizens against retention of data, notification and mandatory consent of data subject taken before sharing the data with third party, besides many. The bill does not seem to consider either of the recommendations," he said. --IANS mak/prs/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Contrary to claims that good cholesterol is beneficial to the heart, a new study has showed that very high levels may be associated with an increased risk of heart attack and death. The findings showed that people with high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good") cholesterol levels of 41-60 mg/dl (milligrams per decilitre) had the lowest risk of heart attack or cardiovascular death. However, the risk increased in people with low levels (less than 41 mg/dl) as well as very high levels (greater than 60 mg/dl) of HDL cholesterol. People with HDL cholesterol levels greater than 60 mg/dl had a nearly 50 per cent increased risk of dying from a cardiovascular cause or having a heart attack compared to those with HDL cholesterol levels 41-60 mg/dl. "It may be time to change the way we view HDL cholesterol. Traditionally, physicians have told their patients that the higher your 'good' cholesterol, the better," said Marc Allard-Ratick, from the Emory University in Atlanta, US. "However, the results from this study and others suggest that this may no longer be the case," he added. The bad effects of very high HDL cholesterol were consistent even after controlling other risk factors for heart disease such as diabetes, smoking, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol, as well as other factors such as alcohol intake, race, and sex. HDL cholesterol has been considered "good" because the HDL molecule is involved in the transport of cholesterol from the blood and blood vessel walls to the liver and ultimately out of the body, thereby reducing the risk of clogged arteries and atherosclerosis, the researchers explained. The study investigated the relationship between HDL cholesterol levels and the risk of heart attack and death in 5,965 individuals, most of whom had heart disease. The results were presented at the ESC Congress 2018, the annual conference of the European Society of Cardiology in Munich, Germany. --IANS asj/rt/mag/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government on Sunday distanced itself from remarks made by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy suggesting that India should invade the Maldives if rigging happens in the upcoming presidential elections in the Indian Ocean archipelago nation. "The opinion expressed by Swamy in his tweet is personal," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in response to a query. "It does not reflect the views of the government of India," Kumar said. Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed had expressed apprehensions that the September 23 presidential elections in his country may be rigged by incumbent President Abdulla Yameen's party during a meeting with Swamy in Colombo on Wednesday. Swamy then tweeted on Thursday: "India should invade Maldives if rigging of election takes place." Ties between India and the Maldives have been strained since Yameen imposed Emergency in February after the Supreme Court ordered the release and retrial of Nasheed, a pro-India leader, and other prisoners. --IANS ab/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) group Himdhara Collective on Sunday sent a letter to the expert committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, demanding cumulative impact assessment of each hydropower project on the Satluj river basin. The committee, at its meeting on Tuesday, will consider the grant of clearance to public sector Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) Ltd's 219 MW Luhri Stage I Hydro Electricity Project, which is proposed downstream of the 420 MW Rampur hydro project in the state. The SJVN was earlier to construct a 750 MW project with a 35km-long tunnel in that stretch. "It was due to the objections of the locals that the massive tunnel will disturb the geology of the region, already prone to landslides, that the project was dropped," said Himdhara Collective's letter. Instead, the state government has now allocated three dams, namely Luhri Stage I, Luhri stage II (163 MW) and Sunni (355 MW) in that river stretch. The key objection raised in the letter is that the expert committee, instead of studying the overall impact of the three projects, should examine each project individually. The total land required for the three proposed projects is 654.02 hectares, which is twice the size of the land of the earlier proposed 750 MW Luhri project. Considering 70 per cent of the required land falls in the category of 'forest', this would lead to more deforestation in the Satluj river basin which has already faced severe forest diversion, erosion and slope de-stabilisation, it said. The letter highlighted that "the move to build tail end-to-tail end dams on a single river basin is destructive and this is the reason why we have been saying that the Ministry should look at the cumulative impacts of the dams rather than for individual projects." In 2013, on the directions of the Environment Ministry, the state Directorate of Energy had commissioned cumulative environment impact assessment studies for all the major river basins of the state. The process for the Satluj river basin was initiated in 2013. A series of public consultations were held where local communities and environmentalists had filed detailed objections. Himachal Pradesh's hydroelectricity generation potential is 27,436 MW -- about 25 per cent of India's total potential in the sector. However, according to state's Economic Survey 2017-18, only 10,519 MW has been harnessed till December 2016, which is 37.73 per cent of the total potential. --IANS vg/mag/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pregnant women with heart disease should give birth at no later than 40 weeks gestation, beyond that harm can be caused to the mother, new guidelines by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) recommends. Besides pre-pregnancy risk assessment and counselling, a delivery plan should be devised at 20-30 weeks, specifying vaginal or caesarean delivery, whether an epidural or forceps will be used, and the duration of hospital stay after delivery, the guidelines said. "Pregnancy is a risky period for women with heart disease because it puts additional stress on the heart, so the guidelines advise inducing labour or a caesarean section at 40 weeks," said Jolien Roos-Hesselink, Professor at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Netherlands. "Beyond 40 weeks, pregnancy has no added benefit for the baby and may even have negative effects," Roos-Hesselink added. Heart disease is the main reason women die during pregnancy in western countries, because they have a 100-fold greater risk of death or heart failure than their healthy peers. An estimated 18-30 per cent of the offsprings have complications and up to 4 per cent of neonates die. The new guidelines, published in the European Heart Journal, also recommended against in vitro fertilisation (IVF), contraception, and termination of pregnancy for women with heart disease. It is because IVF often uses high doses of hormones, which increases the risk of thrombosis and heart failure, so women with heart diseases need a cardiologist's confirmation. "Since carrying more than one baby puts more stress on the heart, women with heart disease undergoing IVF are strongly advised to transfer a single embryo," the guidelines said. While women with heart disease can have a healthy pregnancy, they should be aware of a higher risk of obstetric complications including premature labour, pre-eclampsia, and post-partum bleeding. Moreover, girls with congenital heart disease should take advice before using contraceptives because some methods are contraindicated in patients with certain types of heart disease, the guidelines noted. --IANS asj/rt/mag/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Days after a heavy rainfall that led to landslides and snapping of several road links, the hills of Himachal Pradesh will see subdued rainfall activity the coming week, the Met office here said on Sunday. Most of the rivers that were in spate would see a decline in water levels as there was no major rainfall in the state in the past 24 hours. "There will be no heavy rainfall in the state but precipitation will occur at a few places in the state till August 30," an India Meteorological Department official told IANS. Shimla experienced no rain, while Kangra town received 64 mm, Palampur 55 mm and Dharamsala 23.6 mm. The state capital recorded a low 15.8 degrees Celsius, while the maximum settled at 24.4 degrees. --IANS vg/mag/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hollywood celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres, Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Kimmel, Bob Iger, Katie Couric, Mandy Moore, Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski and Mia Farrow paid tribute to Vietnam war hero turned senator and presidential candidate John McCain. McCain died aged 81 on Saturday at his Arizona ranch, leading several celebrities from Hollywood to pen condolence messages on social media, reports hollywoodreporter.com. Goldberg, who hosts "The View" with McCain's daughter Meghan, tweeted: "Senator John McCain passed today, all I can think about... He never stopped trying to do his best. What an honour it's been to know him. My condolences to the family he loved and adored and to his daughter and my friend Meghan McCain... From all my family, much love." "The View" show page also issued a tribute, stating, "Tonight we lost an American hero. We send our deepest sympathies to Meghan, Cindy, and the entire McCain family. The View family honours the life and legacy of Senator John McCain - the beloved father and husband who devoted his life to serving our country." DeGeneres, who has hosted McCain on her show, tweeted: "I was honoured to have met John McCain. He always stood up for what he believed was right. Sending love to his family on this very sad day for our country." Actor and politician Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote: "I will miss Senator McCain dearly, and my thoughts are with Cindy and Senator McCain's whole family. What I said yesterday matters even more today. Each of us must strive for his dignity, his service, his commitment to country. He showed us the way." Calling McCain a "real hero", Kimmel said: "Condolences to Cindy Mccain, the McCain family and the Arizonans who were so fortunate to have the opportunity to vote for a man of principle. John McCain's sacrifice and the sacrifices made by all our POWs and MIAs must never be forgotten." McCain had survived years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Reese Witherspoon expressed "respect" for "this American citizen who proudly served our country for so many years", while Moore said: "We are forever indebted to you for your service and sacrifice." --IANS rb/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The hilly district of Idukki has been thrown back by 40 years following Kerala's worst flooding in a century, Power Minister M.M. Mani said on Sunday. "What our forefathers built in the past 100 years to take Idukki to where it was has been washed away. Idukki has gone back by 40 years," the Marxist leader told the media. This is one of the worst disasters Idukki has witnessed, he lamented. Long considered home to settlers, the main occupation in Idukki is farming. But with its numerous hills and treacherous terrain, life has never been easy in the district. Idukki is also home to some of the major dams which, when their sluice gates were opened after their water level came to the choking points, caused unprecedented destruction all over the state this month. Idukki received one of its highest rainfalls starting from the end of May till the middle of August. This pushed up the water levels in the Idukki, Mulaperiyar and other dams. For the first time in 26 years, the shutters of the Idukki dam were opened, causing a deluge. "This is the worst destruction I have seen," said Mani, who is from the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M). So bad is the situation that to reach the state capital Thiruvananthapuram from Idukki, Mani had to take a detour through the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu as the main link road linking Idukki and Thiruvananthapuram has been damaged. Mani came under severe attack from the opposition for faulty dam water management but he insisted that all rules were followed. "Everything was done according to clear-cut guidelines after discussing with all concerned," he said. The waters gushing out from the Idukki dam spread out far and wide, damaging everything that came in its way and forcing hundreds of thousands to take shelter in relief camps. While rains and flooding caused widespread damage to crops and buildings, landslides damaged several key roads connecting the major towns in the district with interior areas. Roshy Augustine, an Idukki legislator, said on Sunday that massive efforts were needed to get Idukki back on its feet and rehabilitate all those who had lost everything they had. "Ever since the tragedy struck, has taken a back seat. Everyone is working as one single team to restore Idukki to its original self... The need of the hour is a proper dam management policy," said the Congress MLA. Idukki, especially Munnar, a picturesque hill station, took the worst beating. Even now the main road that connects Munnar with Ernakulam is only partially motorable. --IANS sg/mr/rt (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iran's parliament on Sunday voted to impeach the Minister of Economy and Finance for failing to manage the country's ongoing economic crisis. Masoud Karbasian's firing comes in the wake of the latest round of US sanctions against Tehran imposed earlier this month following Washington's withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement, which has put pressure on the moderate government of President Hassan Rouhani. Iranian lawmakers were seen forcefully arguing during the impeachment session, with one MP approaching the central podium only to have his mouth physically covered by another MP, Efe reported. The motion to censure Karbasian passed with 137 votes in favor, 121 against and two abstentions, out of a total of 260 legislators who participated. Rohani is to address lawmakers on Monday and has up to three months to propose a replacement. On August 8, Iranian lawmakers also voted to sack the Minister of Labor, Ali Rabiei. --IANS qd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sicilian prosecutors are investigating Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini over his refusal to allow migrants off a coastguard vessel. The Diciotti docked in the Sicilian port of Catania on Monday. The Italian government is refusing to most of the migrants disembark until a solution is reached regarding their relocation with other European states. Prosecutors have now opened an inquiry into possible illegal confinement, illegal arrest, and abuse of power, BBC reported on Sunday. Salvini responded to the news by shrugging of the threat, saying those still on board would be allowed off "in the coming hours". According to Salvini, they would be taken in "by bishops who are opening their doors, their hearts and their wallets". So far only small groups have been allowed in, including unaccompanied children and the sick, two of whom are said to have tuberculosis. The fate of the more than 100 migrants, most of whom are Eritrean, has prompted local protests throughout the week and attracted international attention. The UN appealed for EU members to "urgently" offer relocation places to the migrants on Saturday, a day after a meeting of 10 EU envoys in Brussels failed to provide a solution. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said in a statement that Europe has recognised "a fundamental and legal obligation" to help "people fleeing war, violence and persecution" throughout its history. "The time has come to end the back-and-forth that has seen countries competing in a race to the bottom on who can take the least responsibility for people rescued at sea," he said. "It is dangerous and immoral to put the lives of refugees and asylum-seekers at risk while states engage in a political tug-of-war on long-term solutions." Under EU rules, people must seek asylum where they arrive, but Italy has increasingly barred boats from docking. Salvini refused the vessel permission to disembark until the EU agreed to distribute the migrants among other countries. He has maintained they are working to achieve a "positive and concrete solution" that was not a "burden" on Italian citizens. "I want to say that the dozens of complaints, insults and threats levelled at give me more and more strength to go on, and for me are badges of honour on my chest," he said of criticism. Sixteen people were allowed to disembark on Saturday on doctors' orders after inspectors from the Italian Healthy Ministry and the Red Cross went on board the vessel. Earlier this week 27 unaccompanied minors and 13 people in need of urgent medical help were also allowed to get off. Some of those left onboard are reported to be refusing food in protest. Since 2014, more than 640,000 migrants have landed on Italy's shores. Although many have since left for other countries, some remain. The UN says that more than 1,600 people have lost their lives trying to cross into Europe in 2018, despite overall numbers being down. In July, 450 migrants were allowed to disembark in Sicily once France, Germany, Malta, Portugal and Spain had each agreed to take 50 migrants each. --IANS pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Jammu-Srinagar highway remained closed for a second consecutive day on Friday due to landslides in Digdol area of Jammu and Kashmir's Ramban district. Traffic department officials said the highway was still closed for traffic as the landslide debris were still being cleared. A massive landslide hit the highway on Thursday morning. Officials said the clearing work could continue until the road was declared safe for the passage of vehicles and no vehicle would be permitted to move from either Banihal or Udhampur side. Media reports said over 3,000 vehicles were stranded at various places on the nearly 300-kml highway because of the blockade. --IANS sq/mag/mr (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Flood-hit Kodagu district in Karnataka is limping back to normalcy as hundreds of people returned to their homes from relief camps, said an official on Sunday. "Kodagu is getting back to normalcy. A total of 1,800 people returned from the relief camps to their villages wherever the houses are intact," state Relief Commissioner Gangaram Baderia said in a statement. The 51 temporary relief shelters, which housed 5,041 people across the district last week, have come down to 32, with 3,227 people residing in them. The relief camps were set up a week ago in the district after torrential rains caused floods and landslips in the hilly district during the southwest monsoon from August 14-22. The district's Deputy Commissioner P. Sreevidya had asked to relieve all the rescue teams, including the Army, Air Force, Navy and other agencies while keeping one team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the statement added. The torrential rains have claimed 17 lives while damaging more than 2,200 homes and public buildings. The Karnataka government has sought Rs 2,000 crore interim relief to rehabilitate the flood affected in the district, about 270 km from state capital Bengaluru. The district received moderate to heavy rainfall on Sunday, and is likely to continue to see moderate to heavy rains for the next two days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. --IANS bha/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday visited an ailing Sheila Dikshit, whom he defeated in Assembly elections, at her residence here to enquire about her health. The senior Congress leader and three-time Delhi Chief Minister has been unwell for some time and doctors had advised her surgery. "Visited Sheila Dikshit to enquire about her health. She has a cardio problem and will undergo surgery soon. I pray for her good health," Kejriwal tweeted. Dikshit suffered a shock defeat in the 2013 Assembly polls at the hands of Kejriwal, who went on to become the Chief Minister. --IANS nks/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Terming the controversy over Defence Minister Niramala Sitharaman's visit to Karnataka's flood-hit Kodagu district on Friday as unfortunate, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Sunday regretted the inconveniences caused to her. "Though the state government and the district administration have ensured and followed protocol despite the tough situation in the region during her (Nirmala) visit, it was unfortunate that the Defence Minister had to go through certain inconveniences which we regret," said Kumaraswamy in a post on the social media platforms Facebook and Twitter. Admitting that he was pained at the turn of events, the Chief Minister said he spoke to her on the reported tiff over protocol with state Tourism and district in-charge Minister Sa Ra Mahesh. "I believe this is the time to forget the differences and forgive each other and join hands in the rehabilitation of the flood-affected people. The grave situation in the district warrants it. I look forward to the support of the central government, especially of the Defence Minister," said Kumaraswamy. Lauding Nirmala Sitharaman for helping the state government in the rescue operations and visiting the flood-hit areas, the Chief Minister said the state and relief agencies were jointly working to rehabilitate the flood-hit people with the Union government's support. "Mahesh has tirelessly worked to oversee the rescue and relief operations by being with the teams on the ground since day one," he said. Kumaraswamy's comments came a day after the Defence Ministry clarified reports in the media that Nirmala Sitharaman was "angry with Mahesh" at the flood-review meeting at Madikeri over the issue of protocol. The media reports also alleged that Mahesh made personal remarks against the Minister. The controversy arose when Mahesh objected to the Defence Minister meeting ex-servicemen, as her visit was for reviewing the rescue and relief operations in which the Army, Navy and Air Force were also involved. "On completion of the field visit, as per the programme, the Defence Minister was interacting with ex-servicemen who had also been affected by the floods when the (state) Minister insisted that meeting with the officials be conducted first," said the Ministry in a statement. When Nirmala Sitharaman clarified to Mahesh that ex-servicemen's welfare was part of her ministry and her meeting with them was scheduled in the programme by the district administration, the latter insisted that she stop the interaction and proceed to the review meeting with the officials. --IANS bha-fb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Aayush Sharma, who is foraying into Bollywood with "Loveratri", comes from a political family in Himachal Pradesh. With his eyes firmly set on an acting career as of now, he doesn't rule out joining politics in future. Aayush, son of politician Anil Sharma and grandson of Sukh Ram, grew up in Mandi. He did his schooling in New Delhi. "My upbringing has been in a political setup, so that world never excited me as I was born into that world. Having said that, I also understood the kind of responsibilities they have because being a politician, I was studying in Delhi, my father was in Himachal, we would hardly meet. "I understood that he was doing what he is supposed to do but at least for me, I understood that to be in politics you have to have the drive to serve the people, which I don't think so at this age, I have. I was inclined towards politics because I grew up around political conversation, and it was all discussed the dining table." As for his own plans for the political world, he said: "I am politically aware of what's happening but I am not ready... It's no point getting into a profession of serving people and not doing it with your full heart. So, that's why I wanted to move out of it. "I would say never say never. Maybe in the near future, when I do feel I am ready or I can help someone, I might go to politics, but not for now." His maiden movie "Loveratri", produced by his superstar brother-in-law Salman Khan, will release on October 5. It --IANS rb/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A year after absconding mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar's son became a maulana, his close aide Chhota Shakeel's only son has also embraced the spiritual path in Karachi, Pakistan, where they live, reliable sources said here. Chhota Shakeel's 18-year-son Mubashir Shaikh -- his third and youngest child -- created a stir by recently becoming a "Hafiz-e-Quran" or one who has memorized the entire Quran, comprising 6,236 verses -- considered a milestone for any follower of Islam. The name "Mubashir" means "harbinger of good tidings", but many in the Mumbai underworld are crestfallen to hear the news of another don's descendant taking the religious path. The young Mubashir has now started teaching and preaching the Quran to people in the Karachi neighbourhood where he lives with his ageing father, Babumiya Shakeel Ahmed Shaikh, whose nom de guerre is Chhota Shakeel, the prime mover of Dawood's "D Company". Now in his mid-60s, Chhota Shakeel once ran a travel agency of doubtful credentials at Nagpada in south Mumbai. In the early 1980s, he threw in his lot with Dawood, then a rising mafia star. Quickly gaining Dawood's trust in all the tasks he was assigned, Chhota Shakeel is among the handful still enjoying the don's complete confidence, said the sources. However, Chhota Shakeel found himself in serious trouble after his arrest in December 1988 under the National Security Act. After spending nearly four months in jail, he got bail and quietly sneaked out of the country to join the don, then residing in Dubai. Later, they planned and executed India's biggest terror strike -- the March 1993 Mumbai serial blasts. Following Indian and global pressure, they shifted base to Pakistan. The latest whereabouts in Pakistan of Dawood and his key aides, including Chhota Shakeel, was confirmed by his brother Iqbal Ibrahim Kaskar, who was arrested 11 months ago by the Thane Anti-Extortion Cell and is currently in custody on various charges. During his interrogation, he spilled the beans on how his brother (Dawood) was suffering from depression after his only son, Moin, became a maulana (Muslim cleric-cum-religious teacher). Apparently inspired by the "Maulana Moin", now Chhota Shakeel's son Mubashir has decided to don the cap, hold a rosary and preach the teachings of the Quran to people. Like Moin, Mubashir apparently disapproves of his father's crime and terror activities but continues to live with him. This has raised questions afresh on who will inherit the sprawling business and criminal empires created by the don and his associates. Besides Mubashir, Chhota Shakeel has two daughters -- Zoya and Anam -- who are married to doctors in Karachi. --IANS qn/nir/sac/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Many opposition parties will reiterate their demand for paper ballots for future elections, among other things, in a meeting with the of India (EC) on Monday. The EC has called the meeting with seven national and 51 state recognised political parties to discuss various electoral issues such as electoral rolls, limiting political parties' expenditure and timely submission of annual audited reports by parties among other things. At least 17 parties, including the NDA ally Shiv Sena, have been pitching for returning to ballot papers. These include the Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S), Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Samajwadi Party, CPI-M, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), DMK, CPI, YSR Congress, Kerala Congress Mani (KCM) and AIUDF. "We will raise the issue of ballot papers in the meeting for fair and impartial elections. We want to make it clear that we do not consider EVMs as tamper proof," an opposition leader told IANS. "Secondly, we would point out that the election expenses of political parties must also be limited along with the candidates," he added. Although the EC in its official agenda of the meet released to the press has not mentioned simultaneous polls, the issue is likely to come up for discussion. A majority of opposition parties have already told the Law Commission that they do not consider this proposal as practical or desirable. The agenda for the meeting includes discussion on how to improve "accuracy, transparency and inclusiveness" of electoral rolls, measures to encourage enhanced representation of women in political process, issues related to expenditure ceiling for parties, timely submission of annual audited reports and election expenditure reports among other things. Also on the agenda are alternative modes of voting for domestic migrants and absentee voters. Pope Francis has met eight Irish victims of abuse committed by the clergy, on the first day of his historic trip to Dublin, where he is to participate in the IX World Meeting of Families. The meeting, which was announced by the Vatican prior to the trip, took place in the Apostolic Nunciature in the Irish capital on Saturday, Efe news reported. The meeting was with "eight survivors of clerical, religious and institutional abuse," Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said in a statement Two persons from the Irish Coalition of Mother and Baby Home Survivors (CMABS) who attended the meeting said Francis condemned corruption and cover ups within the Church, referring to these practices as "caca", which the interpreter politely translated as "filth you would see in the toilet". Among the victims who were present was Marie Collins, who resigned last year from the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors after denouncing the lack of cooperation by some members of the Vatican Curia The other victims who attended the meeting include reverends Patrick McCafferty and Joe McDonald, Damien O'Farrell, Paul Jude Redmond, Clodagh Malone, and Bernadette Fathy, while the eighth victim, who was abused by priest Tony Walsh, asked to remain anonymous. Clodagh Malone, who was born in the Saint Patrick's Mother and Baby Home in Dublin and was adopted after 10 weeks, "asked the Pope to clearly and publicly state that the natural mothers who lost their babies to adoption had done nothing wrong and call for reconciliation and reunion for these families broken by the Catholic Church both in Ireland and around the world." According to the statement by CMABS, the Pope "agreed to include the message in his mass tomorrow". Redmond, who was born in the Castlepollard Home and adopted after 17 days, asked the pope to demand that the nuns who ran the homes "acknowledge their actions and issue an unqualified apology to all the survivors of their institutions," as well as to "commit to paying the full cost of the current inquiry." The Pope apologised for what happened in the homes, Redmond said in the statement. During the meeting, the Pope received a copy of Redmond's book "The Adoption Machine," which contains details of thousands of deaths and other horrors that took place in the Mother and Baby homes. "The Pope was genuinely shocked to hear about the 6,000 babies who died and the 3,000 babies who were banished and the vaccine trials," the victims' statement says. --IANS pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday lashed out at Akali President Sukhbir Singh Badal for what he said was the unwarranted and uncalled for attack on Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on the issue of the 1984 riots. Castigating the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President for his statement that Rahul Gandhi was a 'partner' in the crime, the Chief Minister said Gandhi was in school at the time of Operation Bluestar. To blame him for anything was absurd, Amarinder Singh said in a statement here. To hold Rahul Gandhi responsible for an act which he was not even aware of at the time it happened was ridiculous, said the Chief Minister. The Congress, as a party, was never involved in the riots that continue to haunt the Sikh community. He said if any individual was involved, he or she would be dealt with as per the law. "To blame the entire party for the acts of a few was preposterous and typical of the political immaturity of Sukhbir Singh," the Chief Minister said. Amarinder Singh said Rahul Gandhi's latest comments need to be seen in context with his earlier statements on the 1984 riots, wherein he himself had named some Congressmen. The Chief Minister said Rahul Gandhi had condemned all violence, including the 1984 riots, and called for strict punishment to the guilty. "It is unfortunate that due to delays caused by the judicial system, justice had been denied to many victims of the 1984 riots," Amarinder Singh added. --IANS vg/mr/bns (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Elderly South Koreans headed back home on Sunday after brief, emotional meetings with their long-lost kin residing in North Korea in the second round of the inter-Korean family reunions. More than 300 South Koreans, from 81 families, left the North's Mount Kumgang resort, wrapping up their three-day visit for temporary reunions with their family members separated for decades after the 1950-53 Korean War, reports Yonhap News Agency. The separated families had three hours of farewell reunions and lunch on the last day. Many were spotted exchanging home addresses and papers with a family tree, trying to reassure themselves that they can meet again someday. Some others took pictures together or exchanged handwritten letters to remember each other. Throughout the reunions, the families meet up a total of 12 times. Last week, the first group of 89 elderly South Koreans travelled to the scenic resort for reunions. The latest reunion event comes amid a thaw in inter-Korean relations. It is a follow-up on an agreement their leaders reached in an April summit to address humanitarian challenges arising from decades of division caused by the Korean War. --IANS ksk/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Social media platforms will never be allowed to abuse India's election process and stringent measures backed by laws on data protection and individual privacy have been put in place, Information Technology (IT) Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said. Addressing the plenary of the G-20 Digital Economy Ministerial meeting in Salata, Argentina, on August 23-24, Prasad also noted that India had taken serious note of the reported data misuse by social media platforms and said the purity of the democratic process should never be compromised, an IT Ministry statement said here on Sunday. The Minister's remarks come after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched a preliminary enquiry against the British political consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica for alleged illegal harvesting of personal data of Indians from Facebook. The UK consultancy has also been accused of allegedly interfering in the 2016 US Presidential elections. "Minister Prasad stressed that India had taken a serious note of reported misuse of social media platform data. Such platforms will never be allowed to abuse our election process for extraneous means," the statement said. He also said that the purity of the democratic process should never be compromised and that India will take all required steps to deter and punish those who seek to vitiate this process. Noting that while privacy cannot prohibit innovation nor become a shield "for the corrupt or terrorists", Prasad said that data must be anonymous, objective and taken with consent for it to continue being an effective tool to improve business. In this connection, Department of Telecommunications Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said here earlier this week that the government has no intention of imposing a blanket ban on messaging applications and is looking for other "technical solutions" to curb instances of fake news and misuse of these apps. On Tuesday, Prasad met Whatsapp CEO Chris Daniels here and asked the visiting corporate to comply with Indian laws and take "suitable" steps to prevent the misuse of the instant messaging platform. At the G-20 event, Prasad also proposed that a part of the revenue generated by digital platforms needs to be reinvested in the host markets. According to the statement, India's digital infrastructure consists of 1.21 billion mobile phones, including 450 million smartphones, nearly 500 million internet subscribers and increasing broadband availability. --IANS bc/mag/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj left on Sunday on a five-day visit to Vietnam and Cambodia to further boost New Delhi's Act East Policy. "Adding dynamism to our Act East policy," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted, adding that the trip would help continue "our high-level engagement with South East Asian countries". In Vietnam, Sushma Swaraj will co-chair the 16th meeting of the Joint Commission along with her counterpart Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. She will also call on Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. On Monday, she will inaugurate the third edition of the Indian Ocean Conference. In Cambodia, she will have a bilateral meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and call on Prime Minister Hun Sen and President of Senate Say Chhum. "The visit ... will provide an opportunity to hold in-depth discussions with the political leadership on a wide range of global, regional and bilateral issues and advance our strategic engagement with these countries and Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement. The Asean-India region together represents a combined population of 1.85 billion, which is a quarter of the global population, and a GDP of over $3.8 trillion. --IANS ab/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump has publicly slammed Attorney General Jeff Sessions, saying that Sessions does not understand what was happening under him at the Department of Justice. "Jeff Sessions said he wouldn't allow to influence him only because he doesn't understand what is happening underneath his command position," Trump tweeted on Saturday. "Highly conflicted Bob Mueller and his gang of 17 Angry Dems (Democrats) are having a field day as real corruption goes untouched. No collusion!" Trump has frequently criticised Sessions over the Attorney General's decision to recuse himself from the Russia investigation. The President reinitiated his feud with Sessions in an interview with Fox News on Thursday, saying that the Attorney General "never took control" of the Justice Department. Sessions, in a rare, strongly worded statement, responded: "While I am Attorney General, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations. "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 President's agenda." Over the past year and a half, Trump has broached the idea of firing Sessions several times, CNN quoted informed sources as saying. Each time his aides and advisers have staved off his impulse, arguing to the President that such a move could damage him politically and present further problems with special counsel Robert Mueller. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US and its allies are planning to carry out new missile strikes on Syria on the pretext of a provocation that the Syrian government is behind a "chemical attack," the Russian Defence Ministry has said. However, the planned "chemical attack" by Syrian government forces in Syria's Idlib province is actually staged by the Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham terrorist group, previously known as "Jabhat al-Nusra" with the help of British personnel, the ministry's spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov said, citing information confirmed by several independent sources, Xinhua reported. Eight tanks of chlorine and a special group of militants, who were trained in handling poisonous substances under the supervision of a British private military company, have been brought to Idlib for the chemical attack, Konashenkov said. "The execution of this provocation with the active participation of the British special services is set to serve as another pretext for the US, UK and France to inflict missile and air strikes on Syria's state and economic facilities," Konashenkov said on Saturday. To this end, a Sullivans destroyer of the US Navy with 56 cruise missiles on board arrived in the Persian Gulf a few days ago, and a B-1B strategic bomber of the US Air Force armed with 24 air-to-surface cruise missiles was re-deployed to the Al Udeid air base in Qatar, according to the spokesman. The spokesman said that the actions of Western countries are "aimed at another drastic aggravation of the situation in the Middle East region and the disruption of the peace process on the territory of Syria". On April 4, 2017, a reported toxic gas attack hit the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib, killing over 80 people and wounding scores of others. Two days later, the US launched 59 cruise missiles against the Shayrat military base in central Syria, where Washington believes airplanes carrying chemical weapons took off. The US and many Western countries blamed the Assad government for the chemical attacks but Syria and Russia insisted that it's a plot by the West in a bid to overturn the Assad administration. --IANS pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and his cabinet colleagues on Sunday dispersed the ashes of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the Beas river at a function here. Earlier, a prayer meeting to pay tributes to him was held at a tourist resort where Vajpayee constructed his house. Hundreds of people paid homage to their beloved leader, who died on August 16 in New Delhi. Paying tributes, Thakur called Vajpayee a visionary leader who was above party His demise was indeed a great loss to the nation in general and Himachal Pradesh in particular. He said Vajpayee has a special place in his heart for the people of the state and the state would always miss his love and benevolence. Vajpayee always considered Himachal Pradesh his second home and has a house at Prini (near here). Whenever he got time from his busy schedule, he visited Manali and wrote some unforgettable poems there, the Chief Minister said. The idea to construct the Rohtang tunnel connecting the landlocked Lahaul valley with the rest of the world was conceived by Vajpayee in 1998 and the project was announced by him on June 3, 2000, he added. Thakur said that this project was nearing completion and would be the biggest gift of Vajpayee to the state. Forest Minister and local legislator Govind Thakur said Vajpayee had special love for the people of the state in general and Kullu-Manali in particular. Member of Parliament Ram Swaroop Sharma described Vajpayee as a world leader with a poet from the heart. --IANS vg/mag/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and his cabinet colleagues on Sunday dispersed the ashes of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the Beas river at a function here. Earlier, a prayer meeting to pay tributes to him was held at a tourist resort where Vajpayee constructed his house. Hundreds paid homage to the former Prime Minister who died on August 16. Paying tributes, Thakur described Vajpayee as a visionary leader who was above party His demise was indeed a great loss to the nation in general and Himachal Pradesh in particular. He said Vajpayee has a special place in his heart for the people of the state and the state would always miss him. Vajpayee always considered Himachal Pradesh his second home and had a house at Prini (near here). Whenever he got time from his busy schedule, he visited Manali and wrote some unforgettable poems there, the Chief Minister said. The idea to construct the Rohtang tunnel connecting the landlocked Lahaul valley with the rest of the country was conceived by Vajpayee in 1998, he added. Thakur said this project was nearing completion and would be the biggest gift of Vajpayee to the state. Forest Minister and local legislator Govind Thakur said Vajpayee had special love for the people of the state in general and Kullu-Manali in particular. --IANS vg/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Union finance ministry has refused to give Rs 300 billion of taxpayers money to the state-owned airline, Air India (AI). The Union ministry for civil aviation had apparently asked for the help as AI has once again found that its humongous debt burden is getting in the way of its regular operation, such as the payment of employees and vendors. The finance ministry has complained that there is still no coherent plan to revive AI and make it sustainable which means that sinking yet more hundreds of billions of rupees into the airline would not help. This is a welcome ... This refers to the editorial Looking beyond GDP (August 25). The modern concept of GDP was invented by Simon Kuznets during the inter-war period to measure the resources available to the USA to assess its preparedness for future war. Since then it somehow became conventional to measure a countrys progress on the basis of the rate of increase in this metric. Unfortunately, it was observed across the world and particularly in developing countries that growth in GDP did not always ensure better living conditions for the masses. It said nothing about the progress on ... The offender claimed he was the brother-in-law of state Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and threatened to call him. The entire incident was filmed by passers by and traffic cops and at some point it was uploaded on social media. While the nature of the traffic offense could not be ascertained, the video showed traffic slowing down on the busy road as cops and ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. 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Digital Editor State Bank of India (SBI) has asked its account holders to exchange their existing magnetic-stripe cards with EMV chip debit cards. In 2015, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had asked banks to issue chip-based debit and credit cards only. SBI has made it mandatory for all account holders to switch to these cards by the year end. No charges will be levied for the new cards. They can be obtained either through internet banking or from the home branch. Other banks have also started issuing EMV chip credit and debit cards. They give them while issuing a new card, but have not made the ... Union Minister on Saturday said he wonders how the threat of terrorism is often forgotten even by those who lived through the attacks in the United States. "The terror attacks was one of the events that shaped the conscience of the 21st century and "opened the eyes of those who insisted on keeping their eyes closed to the danger of terrorism," he said. The Minister of State for External Affairs was delivering a talk on 'India's Foreign Policy for the 21st Century' at Mapusa near Panaji. "It often surprises me that those eyes which were open on that day (9/11), so often relapse into sleep again, as if it has never happened. I wonder why they seem to be waiting for it to happen," the journalist-turned-politician said. "It (terrorism) is not an act of random barbarism. There are serious political objectives to the terrorism," he said. "They (terrorists) believe that nations are not created for people but nations are created for religion and for them the latest danger lies when (there is a) nation such as ours which gives equality to every citizen, which gives freedom of faith to every citizen, which treats every faith as an equal not only in law but also in a social way," he said. ALSO READ: Indian envoy in Pak meets Imran Khan, discusses bilateral ties, terrorism India's foreign policy under Prime Minister is based on the message that the whole world is one family, he said. "But more important is the fact that world is a family of equals," Akbar said. India does not believe in the distinction between "big nations and small nations", and this is fundamental to the philosophy of the prime minister, he said. In a tragic incident, two teenaged brothers drowned in the Mandakini river while performing a ritual on Raksha Bandhan here today, police said. According to the police, Shyamu Verma (17) and Bhanu Verma (15) had gone to the river along with their sister to perform 'Kajli Visarjan', a ritual performed in the Bundelkhand region before a sister ties 'rakhi' on a brother's wrist. During the ceremony, Shyamu slipped and fell in the river. Bhaju jumped into the river in a bid to save his brother. Unfortunately, both of them drowned in the river, a police officer said. The incident took place in Kashai village under Karwi police station limit. The bodies have been fished out and sent for post-mortem, the police officer said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Small parties in Uttar Pradesh such as the NISHAD Party, Apna Dal (S) and AIMIM may not account for many Lok Sabha seats in 2019, but are pitching themselves as potential "game changers" in the BJP versus opposition battle in the state. In the assembly polls, smaller political outfits play a key role in transferring their "dedicated" vote bank to their allies, but in Lok Sabha elections such parties have traditionally struggled to make a big impact. However, several parties such as the NISHAD Party, Peace Party, Apna Dal (Sonelal), Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) are pitching themselves as attractive allies for the 2019 polls, asserting that in close contests their transfer of vote bank would decisively influence the outcome in the state. It is likely that they would be given very few seats to contest, but these parties believe that they would be able to swing the result in favour of bigger alliance partners by transferring their vote bank. "In the current scenario, the SP (Samajwadi Party), the BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party), NISHAD Party, Peace Party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) will fight the 2019 polls together and talks are on with the Congress, Praveen Nishad, MP from Gorakhpur who won the bypoll on SP symbol after Yogi Adityanath vacated the seat, told PTI. He, however, cautioned that, We (NISHAD Party) should get our due and be given the seats on which we have our claim, otherwise if small parties are not given their due then the result will be there to see." The NISHAD -- Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal -- Party was formed for empowerment of those such as boatmen or fishermen whose traditional occupations depended on rivers. Its founder Sanjay Nishad is a former member of the BSP. "We are seeking about five to six seats," said the UP in-charge of the NISHAD Party that was formed in 2016. Small parties in the state are not just queuing up to be part of the opposition grand alliance, but some of them are working with the BJP as well. One such party is the Apna Dal (Sonelal), whose leader Anupriya Patel is a Union minister in the NDA government. "Our coalition with the BJP has been in place since 2007 when our party's founder Sonelal Patel was there... In 2019, we are fighting in alliance with the BJP, Apna Dal (S) spokesperson Arvind Sharma told PTI. "What will be the strategy and what will be the preconditions has not been decided. In-principle we are together and we are a trusted ally of the BJP," he said. In Purvanchal, the areas which have substantial Kurmi population, Apna Dal had transferred its votes to BJP candidates and helped them win in the past, Sharma said. Asked if small parties will play a crucial role by transferring their dedicated vote bank to big parties, he said that was the whole premise of having a smaller coalition partner. Apna Dal (S) constitutes 12 per cent the Kurmi vote bank and will play the role of a "game changer", Sharma claimed. Another party that is pitching to make a difference in Uttar Pradesh is the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM that is set to make its Lok Sabha elections debut in the state next year. The AIMIM is keen to take on the BJP by joining hands with the grand opposition alliance taking shape in the state, but is not happy with the response of opposition parties it has got till now. "If the (opposition) alliance ignores us, we will also ignore it completely. We want to be part of the grand alliance. If they don't include AIMIM, it is a political party and will contest elections," AIMIM spokesperson Asim Waqar said. "If we are sidelined and ignored, we know how to give a fitting reply," he said Without alliance with small parties, the BJP cannot be stopped in 2019, he asserted, adding that his party would prove to be a "game changer". The Peace Party is also keen to take on the BJP as part of the opposition coalition. "In all the by-elections that have taken place, Peace Party has fought with the opposition alliance. In the Lok Sabha elections next year also we will fight in the opposition alliance, part president Mohamed Ayub said. Another small party that is looking to make its presence felt in the 2019 parliamentary polls in UP is the SBSP, an ally of the BJP. The party was founded in 2002 with backward classes as its main support base. Its leader Om Prakash Rajbhar is a Cabinet minister in the BJP-led government in Uttar Pradesh. The SBSP has made it clear that it will fight the 2019 Lok Sabha polls with the saffron party, only if its preconditions on reservation are met. "The issues on which we have aligned with the BJP, if they are dealt with by the BJP, then the Bhartiya Samaj Party will work to get votes for the BJP on all seats in the state, SBSP spokesperson Arun Rajbhar said. Sanjay K Pandey, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and a political commentator, said the contest is expected to be very keen in UP and in such a scenario the smaller parties could play a crucial role. However, he said, If there is a Mahagathbandhan, the role of smaller parties, would be minimised to some extent. They will still make a difference, but not in a big way, Pandey said. Manindra Nath Thakur, an associate professor at the Centre for Political Studies of JNU, said small parties will be important if the fight is close and not one-sided. This is the new era of micro management and therefore, the small parties become important, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 7-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 50-year old shopkeeper in a village here and the incident came to light after its video was circulated locally, police said today. Rajesh Dhawan alias Bittu lured the girl inside his shop yesterday on pretext of offering her toffees and raped her, they said. She girl reached home but kept quiet as the accused had allegedly threatened of dire consequences. The incident came to light as it was videographed and circulated locally by some unidentified people. The girl's uncle identified her in the clip and lodged a police complaint last night, they said. DSP (Guruharsahai) Jasvir Singh said today the police was informed about the video from the girl's uncle and it, thereafter, raided the shop. However, the accused escaped before the police arrived. The DSP said a case under the provisions of POCSO Act and other sections of the IPC was registered against the key accused and some others who circulated the video, who are yet to be nabbed. "We have got the medical examination of the girl done," he said, adding the report would be prepared by the doctors by tomorrow. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Drug major Abbott India aims to launch around 100 products over the next five years as it looks to strengthen existing therapy areas as well as grow over-the-counter portfolio, a top company official said. The Mumbai-based firm, which is a subsidiary of US-based Abbott Laboratories, had launched 21 new products in the country last fiscal. "Abbott plans to launch around 100 products over the next five years. Our focus remains on growing existing therapy areas such as gastroenterology, metabolics, vaccines, central nervous system and women's health," the company's Managing Director Ambati Venu told PTI in an interview. The company is also looking at strengthening its over-the-counter portfolio with a wider range of product formats, he added. "In total, our pharmaceutical business covers 90 per cent of therapies in India so our goals are to increase the depth and breadth of the medicines we offer in these areas, ensure broader reach to people in India and continue to launch improved medicines that make it better or easier for people to get healthy," Venu said. He added that the company's strategic priorities are focused on making life better for the patient. "Over the next five years, we want to create an innovative healthcare ecosystem that improves access and is based on technology and insights, for both now' and next' therapies," he said. As part of the growth strategy, the company wants to accelerate its established brands by creating innovative services for patients, doctors, care givers and chemists across the continuum of care, he added. "And we believe that technology innovation through digital ecosystem is a key in markets like India, with increased penetration due to the recent boom in the telecom sector. "The current state of digital innovation in India, though rapid, is perhaps being carried out in silos pharma, diagnostics and doctors need to collaborate effectively to truly help improve health for people in India," Venu said. The company is in the unique position to help connect all the parties and be a holistic healthcare provider across the continuum of care, keeping patients as the focal point and that is going to be the key to company's sustainable success, he added. Abbott India, which is listed on the BSE, currently offers over 110 brands which cover multiple therapeutic areas such as women's health, gastroenterology, neurology, thyroid, pain management, general care, vitamins and vaccines. Therapeutic segments related to cardiac, diabetes, derma, neuro portfolio and hospital business fall under another group entity Abbott Healthcare Pvt Ltd (AHPL). Together, Abbott India and AHPL form the Established Pharmaceuticals business of Abbott in India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The leader of the Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan was killed by airstrikes over the weekend along with 10 other people, government officials said today following a string of deadly attacks by the extremist group. The intelligence agency said Saad Arhabi died in a joint operation with coalition forces late yesterday in the group's eastern stronghold in Nangarhar province near the border with Pakistan. "The Emir of Daesh in Afghanistan along with 10 others was killed," said a statement by the National Directorate of Security, calling the group by an Arabic acronym. Arhabi is the fourth leader of IS's Afghan branch to be killed since the group first emerged in the country around 2014. The agency also said a large number of weapons, ammunition and explosives were destroyed by the air attacks. Provincial governor's spokesman Attaullah Khogyani confirmed the leader's death, also citing a joint operation involving strikes. US forces in Afghanistan confirmed they had conducted a strike in the location described by Afghan officials, which "targeted a senior leader of a designated terrorist organisation". IS has a relatively small but potent presence in Afghanistan, mainly in Nangarhar but more recently in the northern province of Jowzjan. Hours before the raid the group claimed a deadly suicide attack which appeared to target a sit-in protest outside an election commission office in the city of Jalalabad. Two people were killed. The bombing followed a number of bloody attacks claimed by IS in recent weeks, including assaults on several government installations in Kabul and a bombing at a school in a Shiite area of the capital that killed at least 37 people. The group, however, has suffered repeated setbacks in the latest fighting season amid a bloody turf war with the much larger Taliban. Estimates of their numbers in the country run as high as around 2,000. More than IS 150 fighters surrendered to Afghan forces in Jowzjan on August 1, a move which troops and the Taliban hailed as the end of the group's foothold in the north of the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Afghanistan's top security officials have tendered their resignation, but President Ashraf Ghani asked them to remain at their posts. The presidential palace said Sunday that Ghani declined the offers to resign submitted by Defense Minister Tareq Shah Bahrami, Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak and Masoum Stanekzai, Afghanistan's top intelligence official. Yesterday, Ghani accepted the resignation of Mohammed Haneef Atmar, his national security adviser, and replaced him with Hamdullah Mohib, who previously served as the ambassador to the United States. The security shake-up comes after weeks of unrelenting attacks by the Taliban, who have seized several districts across the country in recent years. The insurgent group has also boosted its diplomatic profile, sending official delegations to Indonesia and Uzbekistan, and accepting an invitation for talks in Moscow. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scientists have developed an artificial intelligence system that can allow robots to interact with autistic children undergoing therapy. People with autism see, hear and feel the world differently from other people, which affects how they interact with others. This makes communication-centred activities quite challenging for children with autism spectrum conditions (ASCs). To address this challenge, therapists recently began to use humanoid robots in therapy sessions. However, existing robots lack the ability to autonomously engage with children, which is vital for improving the therapy. The fact that people with ASCs have atypical and diverse styles of expressing their thoughts and feelings makes the use of such robots even more challenging. Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US created a personalised machine learning framework for robots used during autism therapy. The framework, described in the journal Science Robotics, helps robots automatically perceive the affect -- facial, vocal and gestural behaviour -- and engagement of children as they interact with them. To achieve this exciting advance, project partners had realised that in the case of children with ASCs, one size does not fit all. As a result, they personalised their framework to each child using demographic data, behavioural assessment scores and other characteristics unique to that child. The novel framework enabled the robots to automatically adapt their interpretations of children's responses by taking into account cultural and individual differences between them. "The challenge of creating machine learning and AI (artificial intelligence) that works in autism is particularly vexing, because the usual AI methods require a lot of data that are similar for each category that is learned," said Rosalind Picard, a professor at MIT. "In autism where heterogeneity reigns, the normal AI approaches fail," said Picard. The researchers tested their model on 35 children from Japan and Serbia. Aged 3 to 13, the children interacted with the robots in 35-minute sessions. The humanoid robots conveyed different emotions -- anger, fear, happiness and sadness -- by changing the colour of their eyes, the tone of their voice and the position of their limbs. As it interacted with a child, the robot would capture video of their facial expressions, movements and head pose, as well as audio recordings of their tone of voice and vocalisations. A monitor on each child's wrist also provided the robot with data on their body temperature, heart rate and skin sweat response. The data was used to extract the child's various behavioural cues and was then fed into the robot's perception module. Using deep learning models, the robot then estimated the child's affect and engagement based on the extracted behavioural cues. The results were used to modulate the child-robot interaction in subsequent therapy sessions. Audiovisual recordings of the therapy sessions were also observed by human experts. Their assessments of the children's responses showed a 60 per cent correlation with the robots' perceptions. This was a higher agreement level than achieved between human experts. The study's results suggest that trained robots could play an important role in autism therapy in the future. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured Kerala Governor P Sathasivam that the flood ravaged state would get more central funds from the National Disaster Response Fund as per laid down procedure. The Rs 600 crore released by the Centre to the state was only the advance assistance, Modi informed the Governor when he met him in New Delhi yesterday to brief about the hardships suffered by Keralites in the recent floods. He also briefed the Prime Minister on the pace of the relief and rescue operations being carried out in the southern state, a Raj Bhavan release said here today. "Prime Minister has clarified that the Rs 600 crore released by the Centre is only the advance assistance and assured that additional funds will be released from National Disaster Response Fund as per laid down procedure," it said. The amount was released in advance, pending assessment by the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) and the high-level committee, considering the possible delay in preparing and submitting the additional memorandum. Modi said that this amount was in addition to the Rs 562.45 crore already made available in the State Disaster Response Fund of the state. He highlighted the fact that normal rules and procedures have been set aside in view of the emergency nature of requirement in Kerala. Besides this financial support, the Centre has provided large quantities of emergency food, water, medicines and other essential supplies,including foodgrains as required by the state, the release said. The Governor also met and apprised Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the law and order situation and the pace of the relief measures in Kerala. Singh also assured the release of additional funds on completion of assessment of damages as per set procedure, the Raj Bhavan release added. The murderous floods have so far claimed 302 lives and left about four lakh people in relief camps. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Whatever reason Baki may employ, though, many Papua New Guineans view the act as a conspiratorial servant-master scheme with no bearing at all on ONeills innocence of the alleged crime. However, according to Bryan Kramer MP on Facebook, Baki may have both rekindled the fire of justice and possibly set a trap for the prime minister and the commissioner. Is Peter O'Neill in the clear? There are serious doubts that the people of PNG have seen justice in the long-running Paraka fraud case If Baki thinks his recent action has put a complete end to the case, then he is far from reality in the eyes of Kramer. If Baki and ONeill think for a second that this issue will somehow disappear, they are gravely mistaken warned PNGs firebrand politician and no non-sense corruption fighter Bryan Kramer. Kramer stated there is sufficient evidence to commit ONeill to stand trial and, now that Baki had gone on record to close the case, he, Kramer, will file fresh complaints and proceedings against Baki for conspiring to defeat justice and against ONeill for official corruption. Kramer said that Baki needs to be summoned to explain in court the circumstances that led to Bakis appointment as commissioner, his role in dismantling the National Fraud Squad, his role in establishing the unconstitutional committee to vet allegations of major leadership crimes, siding with ONeill in national and supreme court proceedings seeking to stay the warrant of arrest against ONeill and now the most statement that the case against ONeill is closed. This high profile case has spanned more than three years and cost PNG state millions of kina in legal fees has not seen a proper trial. Instead, justice has been gagged, evaded and denied through numerous stay orders until the case hit a technical dead end through a supreme court ruling that quashed an arrest warrant against ONeill on a minor technical glitch. This effectively put an end to a proper trial on the substantive matter. This failre of the justice system has been harshly criticised and is regarded with great suspicion by the vast majority of educated Papua New Guineans. Many people want the case be accorded a proper trial in a prudent court of justice. Only through an appropriate trial of the substantive matter will Papua New Guineans see a true and just outcome of this case. This the lingering wish and desire of our people. If anyone is capable of ensuring this matter finds a just resolution, it is Bryan Kramer who must be commended for intenting to resurrect the case. We pray and hope that justice will eventually prevail. The annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas concluded today with over 2.85 lakh pilgrims offering prayers at the naturally-formed ice-shivlingam. According to officials, a total of 2,85,006 people paid obeisance at the cave shrine during the pilgrimage which commenced on 28 June through Baltal and Pahalgam routes. They said 38 people, including pilgrims, service providers and pony-wallas, died during the course of the yatra this year. The deaths were due to weather-related incidents or natural causes, the officials said. The number of pilgrims who performed the yatra this year is higher than last year. A total of 2.60 lakh pilgrims offered prayers at the shrine last year. Various security measures were taken this year for the smooth conduct of the yatra. For the first time, the government used radio frequency (RF) tags to track Amarnath-bound vehicles, while the CRPF introduced motorcycle squads with cameras and various life-saving equipment. The security was heightened for this year's yatra in view of the militant attack on a bus carrying pilgrims last year that left eight of them dead and 18 others injured. Around 40,000 security personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, paramilitary forces, National Disaster Response Force and the Army were deployed for this year's pilgrimage, the officials said. They said the yatra this year was peacefully. The holy mace of Lord Shiva, popularly known as 'Chhari Mubarak', carried by a group of sadhus and devotees led by its custodian Mahant Deepindra Giri, arrived at the holy cave in the wee hours for the day-long prayers, the officials said. The group of sadhus and devotees trekked 42 kilometres from Pahalgam to reach the cave shrine with night halts at Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarani. Additional chief executive officer of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) Bhupinder Kumar and Ganderbal Deputy Commissioner Piyush Singla visited the cave shrine early this morning and prayed for sustained peace, harmony, progress and prosperity in the state. The officers interacted with the camp officials and other officers at the holy cave, and reviewed the ongoing sanitation and camp cleaning initiatives being undertaken by them. They asked the officials concerned to ensure that all bio-degradable and non-biodegradable wastes, including plastic wastes, are disposed off. They complimented the civil and police administrations of Anantnag and Ganderbal districts, J-K Police, Central Armed Police Forces, Army, various state government departments and all other agencies for the smooth conduct of the yatra, the officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Army and other paramilitary forces deployed along the Line of Control (LoC) and other areas of Jammu division today celebrated 'Raksha Bandhan' with fervor and gaity, officials said. A defence spokesman said personnel of Jammu-based 'White Knight Corps' celebrated the festival in Nagrota military station here where Dainik Jagran newsgroup handed over 'rakhis' received from school children and people across the country. The initiative to celebrate the festival of love and bonding between a brother and a sister is regularly being undertaken by Dainik Jagran group to mark solidarity with the soldiers deployed far away from their families, he said. He said the initiative by the newsgroup was reciprocated with enthusiasm by Army Jawans by tying up the Rakhis received from the entire country. Army persons have wished all the sisters health and happiness and also prayed for their success, the spokesman said. "The gesture by the awaam (people) is a true reflection of the positive mindset towards the Indian Army, he said. He said Army also celebrated the festival at Jhullas and Daraba in Poonch and Palma garrison in Rajouri district. This initiative to celebrate the festival was taken up by group of girls from local population of Poonch district as a mark of solidarity and respect to the soldiers deployed in border areas, the spokesman said. During the event the women interacted with their brothers in the olive greens, and shared the experiences of tough and challenging Army life, the spokesman said, adding the women wished them health and happiness and also prayed for their success in their mission to protect the motherland. Rakhis have also been received from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Allahabad and Kendriya Vidyalaya, Jhunjunu for the soldiers that were accepted with warmth and compassion, he said. A BSF officer said many school girls and women visited the camps and tied 'rakhis' on the jawans and officers as a goodwill gesture. The girls of Jammu based Sunrise Public School also visited 166th battalion of CRPF headquarters at Sidrah in Jammu and tied the sacred thread on the wrists of Officers and Jawans, a CRPF spokesman said. Principal of the School Meenakshi Choubey said the CRPF Jawans are always there for the security, happiness and prosperity of the nation in the same way in which a brother sacrifices himself for the happiness of his sister. Commandant 166 Battalion CRPF Ashish Kumar Jha expressed gratitude for the gesture of the school girls towards Jawans. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Army today paid tribute to Rifleman Nehal Gurung who was killed in an explosion near the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district. "In a solemn ceremony at Badamibagh Cantonment, Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen A K Bhatt and all ranks paid homage to the martyr on behalf of a proud nation," an Army spokesperson said. He said in a show of solidarity, representatives from other security agencies also joined in to pay their last respects to the jawan. Rifleman Gurung, as part of the counter-infiltration grid, sustained fatal injuries in the line of duty at Keran sector on Friday night. The 22-year-old soldier was provided first aid and evacuated to the 92 Base Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries, the spokesperson said. He said Gurung, who hailed from Khagrohre village in Kathua district of Jammu region, had joined the Army in 2014 and is survived by his mother. His mortal remains were flown to Kathua where his last rites would be conducted with full military honours, the spokesperson said. "In this hour of grief, the Army stands in solidarity with the bereaved family of the martyr and remains committed to their dignity and well being," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Army has lauded its rowers who made the country proud by clinching three medals at the ongoing Asian Games in Indonesia. The rowers arrived at the international airport here in the wee hours today and were accorded a warm welcome by the Army personnel. The players later left for Pune, where they are being trained at the Army Rowing Node located in the College of Military Engineering, an official said. The Army oarsmen bagged one gold and two bronze medals at the Asian Games. The gold medal winning quartet included Subedar Sawarn Singh (Olympian - London Olympics 2012), Havildar Bhokanal Dattu (Olympian - Rio Olympics 2016), Havildar Om Prakash and Sapper Sukhmeet Singh, who won the Quadruple Sculls event. Naib Subedar Dushyant Chauhan won bronze in the Lightweight Men's Single Sculls event, while Sapper Bhagwan Singh and Sapper Rohit Kumar won bronze in the Lightweight Men's Double Sculls event. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As the faithful flocked to witness Pope Francis celebrate mass, protesters gathered in central Dublin to demand recognition, reconciliation and reparations for the historic wrongs of the Catholic Church in Ireland. In a city decked out in yellow-and-white Vatican flags, thousands of demonstrators -- some visibly emotional -- marched under the rainbow flag yesterday, calling for action from a Church they say is yet to redress decades of abuse. The "Nope to the Pope" demonstration called for gay and transgender recognition, a clearer separation of religion and state in Ireland and the acceptance of contraception by the Vatican -- as well as action on abuse. "I think he should get on his knees and beg forgiveness of the people of Ireland," Lisa Barcaen, who was dressed as a nun with fake blood on her hands, told AFP. Placards read "Victims need more than prayers", "Pope Francis you're out of chances" and "Religion is fine, rape is not" as the crowd heard speeches, songs and works by Irish poet Seamus Heaney in the light drizzle. William Gorry, founder of Residential Institutions Survivor's Network (RISN), broke down in tears as he addressed the crowd, explaining the abuse he suffered when he was taken into care as a boy. "It was all done behind closed doors, behind walls," the 53-year-old said. Gorry also revealed to the crowd he has asked to have his baptism and membership of the Catholic Church revoked, for their non-acceptance of his homosexuality. His thoughts were mirrored by trans protester Sonia Kolasinska. "If the Church excludes me, there is something wrong with the Church," she said. The protest later merged with the "Stand for Truth" demonstration -- where some 5,000 had gathered to hear more speeches and music. Many wore t-shirts, badges and held signs from the recent successful campaign to repeal Ireland's strict abortion laws -- resulting in a landslide referendum vote considered by many to be a bellwether poll indicating the Church's waning grip on Celtic culture. "This country went from one of the most conservative countries in the EU to having a groundswell of people who want change," said Kieran Allen, handing out leaflets calling for a separation of Church and state. "And it's only just starting," he said. Children wrote out the names of the 796 babies who died at a mother and baby home in Tuam in central Ireland, believed to have been buried in a mass grave in a disused septic tank. Colm O'Gorman, organiser, abuse survivor and head of Amnesty Ireland, told the crowd: "This is the new Ireland, an Ireland that refuses to be told how to love and care for its own people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, a rare female voice in the Australian government, said today she was quitting the frontbench after a failed tilt at the nation's top job during a messy party-room coup. The deputy chief of the Liberal Party, Bishop had put her hand up to be one of three candidates to replace former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull in Friday's leadership challenge, but received minimal support from colleagues even as opinion polls pointed to her popularity among voters. Her departure has raised questions about whether she fell victim to party and a perceived glass ceiling for women in Canberra. "I will be resigning from my cabinet position as Minister for Foreign Affairs", Bishop said in a statement, signalling her intention to remain on the backbench. A moderate, she reportedly garnered only 11 votes out of 85 in the leadership ballot -- significantly lower than the two other rightwing challengers, coup instigator Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton and Treasurer Scott Morrison. A leaked WhatsApp chat between some Liberal members, revealed by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Sunday, showed them pushing against voting for Bishop as a tactic to back Morrison, who finally emerged as the winner. Australia has endured a turbulent period in that has seen six changes in the top job in 11 years. The chaos has highlighted not just the infighting within the two major parties -- Liberals and Labor -- but also how politicians and the electorate view women in power. One of the casualties was Labor's Julia Gillard, Australia's first female leader, who constantly battled misogyny and made international headlines for her fiery rebuttal of then Liberal opposition leader Tony Abbott in parliament in 2012. Bishop has been candid about her experiences as the only woman among 18 men in cabinet after Abbott won national elections in 2013. "It was pretty lonely," the former lawyer said last year, adding that she would suggest ideas which were ignored until copied by her male colleagues. The male colleagues would suggest "exactly my idea, exactly my initiative... and the others would say, 'brilliant, what a genius idea!'", she said, putting down the behaviour to an "unconscious bias". "It's almost a deafness that we still see in Australian society," she said. A trailblazer who was Australia's first female foreign minister and the Liberals' first female deputy leader, the 62-year-old was hailed by her peers today. Turnbull tweeted that she was "an inspiring role model for women here and around the world". Her Labor counterpart Penny Wong praised her "tireless work ethic", adding that her "commitment to standing up for Australia both here and abroad has never been in question". Renowned for her steely gaze dubbed the "death stare", Bishop's highlights as foreign minister include her strong condemnation of Russia's role in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines MH17 in 2014. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The ruling BJP in Rajasthan today accused the opposition Congress of trying to disrupt Vasundhara Raje's statewide Gaurav Yatra, a day after miscreants hurled stones during a meeting of the chief minister in Jodhpur district. Raje was holding the meeting in Pipad town of the district last evening, when some people threw stones and disrupted her programme, Additional Superintendent of Police (Jodhpur rural) Khinv Singh said. He said 10 people have been arrested in connection with the incident and a court today sent them to judicial custody. The BJP has accused the Congress of staging the attack. The Congress refuted the accusation, saying people behind the incident cannot be from the party as it does not adopt "such tactics" for political gains. Congress national general secretary Ashok Gehlot and state party chief Sachin Pilot condemned the incident. "It is a highly condemnable act if someone has thrown stones during the visit of the chief minister," Gehlot tweeted. His tweet came after Raje at a public meeting last evening said "a Congress leader" was behind the incident. "Gehlot should understand that the people of state have decided against Congress and Congress is aware of its defeat," she had said. In Jodhpur today, Gehlot told reporters, "How could she comment on me and hold me responsible for the protest." He claimed those who created trouble were BJP workers, who were angry as their demands were not heard during the meeting. "Now when these people are protesting, she is intolerable to their protests and holding us responsible," Gehlot said. Pilot said it was unfortunate that the BJP was holding Congress responsible for the stone-pelting incident. Such an incident is highly condemnable, but that does not mean BJP leaders can blame Congress for it, he said in a statement. Earlier today, Rajasthan Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Rathore said an incident like this has never happened in the state. He said Congress has lost confidence in democracy and its leaders are misguiding the youth to cause disruption. He said the opposition party has insulted women by disrupting the Gaurav Yatra. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress claimed today the "ad hoc" policies of the BJP-led government at the Centre has put the Indian economy in "dire straits", and took a dig at Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, saying writing blogs cannot increase investment. In a series of tweets, AICC in-charge of communications Randeep Singh Surjewala alleged the manner in which the Modi government has sought to "suppress 'back series'" of GDP report and attempted to distort them, is now out in the open. "Truth has a way of coming out and cannot be ever suppressed. Jaitley ji, your Govt has left our economy to dire straits ... investment is in doldrums," Surjewala said. The GDP Back Series Report 2011 was made public earlier this month. According to the draft report, the economy recorded a 10.08 per cent growth rate in 2006-07 under then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the highest since liberalisation of the economy in 1991. The government has said the report was an unofficial document that has not been accepted by it. It has also said the report was at discussion stage and its acceptance will be based on wider consultation. Surjewala also claimed that the gross fixed capital formation as a per cent of GDP was 34.3 per cent in 2011-12. In 2013-14, he said, it was 31.3 per cent. But in the past three years, it has remained constant at 28.5 per cent and has impacted growth, he said. "No amount of white washing/blog writing can increase that!," Surjewala wrote, mentioning Jaitley in the tweets. He said Jaitley should know that the present government had inherited an economy that was on an upswing. "But due to BJP's adhoc and myopic economic policies -demonetisation, flawed implementation of GST and 'tax terrorism'; that momentum was lost," he alleged. He said the UPA-1 and UPA-2 delivered the highest decadal growth - 8.13 per cent at factor cost - since Independence. Under Modi government, GDP growth in 2017-18 is 6.7 per cent, which is at a four-year low, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two women died and three persons went missing after a boat capsized on the swollen Lal Bakaiya river in Rautahat district near the Nepal-India border, the police said today. The incident happened last evening when 26 people, including women, were returning to Tikuliyaghat from Banjaraha on the ill-fated boat, which capsized on the river flowing over the danger mark due to heavy rains in the area, they said. Around 21 people managed to swim out of the water safely, the police said, adding rescue workers recovered the bodies of two women today. They have been identified as 35-year-old Runa Devi Patel and 25-year-old Shanti Devi, both are residents of Gaur, which is the district headquarters. According to Chief District Officer Govinda Prasad Rijal search was on to find the three missing persons, in which the help of India's border security force Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) was also sought. Meanwhile, in another incident, three persons, including two teenagers, have gone missing after they were swept away by the Kamala river in Siraha district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With India likely to emerge as a major market for electric vehicles (EVs) and battery storage, Bolivia, known to have the largest lithium reserves used for making batteries, is seeking partnerships with public and private firms to ensure reliable access to the metal. The South American nation's ambassador to India, Sergio Dario Arispe Barrientos, said the country is also looking to sign a preferential trade agreement with India to create a framework to address issues pertaining to investments and markets. "Given India's massive programme on becoming a leading player in the electric vehicles' space, Bolivia can address the demand for lithium, which is the key component for battery storage. There is a huge opportunity for both India and Bolivia to work together in this area," Barrientos told PTI. He said Bolivia is also looking at partnering with Indian companies, both private and public. "If you associate yourself in Bolivia and produce value-added products here, you can ensure reliable access to this key material lithium," the ambassador said. "We are looking at public-private or public-public partnerships, because we need to understand that cobalt and lithium are key commodities in creating batteries tomorrow and there is going to be a gold rush for them," he said. Citing the massive escalation in prices of lithium, Arispe said the metal which used to cost USD 7,000 a tonne a couple of years ago has now jumped to USD 21,000 a tonne. "If you have the volatile trend, you can't really say what the end consumers are going to pay for that battery. So you have to address that on a bilateral sense because if we can ensure market, we can ensure provision of the metal," he said. "We can come to common grounds which is called fixing prices to avoid the market volatility. We can ensure a commitment to have a cheaper consumer-end project," he added. Expressing hope on partnership with Indian firms, Arispe said that on the policy front, India is very aggressive in promoting EVs and energy storage by providing subsidy, incentives, mainly to be a world trend-setter. "This gives us a great hope. We want to sign a preferential trade agreement with India in near future to create a legal framework that will permit and address certain securities from both the sides towards investment and markets," said Barrientos. A preferential trade agreement is a pact between countries that provides preferential access to certain products by lowering tariff and other conditions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) British authorities say a search in the North Sea for two missing fishermen has ended with the discovery of their bodies. A coastguard helicopter spotted the bodies yesterday near the wreckage of the men's boat, which sank Saturday about 40 kilometers northeast of Great Yarmouth, on England's eastern coast. Three other fishermen from the same boat floated in a life raft for four hours and were rescued late Saturday after being spotted by the crew of the Pacific Princess cruise ship, which was cruising around the British Isles. Britain's Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the three rescued men, all foreign citizens, arrived in Dover yesterday and will be returned home. The agency did not give the men's nationalities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Cabinet note is likely in a fortnight, paving the way for three of the top 12 major ports in India to pick up stake in state-run entity Dredging Corporation of India (DCI), a top official has said. The Dredging Corporation of India Limited (DCI), a state run entity under the administrative control of the Ministry of Shipping, provides dredging services to the major ports of the country and is a pioneer organisation for maritime development. "A Cabinet note is likely soon for pick up of equity stake in DCI by three of the 12 major ports in the country," a top official who did not wish to be quoted told PTI. The official said the ports that may pick up stake include Paradio Port Trust (PPT), Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) and New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT). The pick up of the stake, if Cabinet approves it, will be based on the availability of surplus funds with the ports, the official added. Earlier on June 18, 2018, a meeting of the heads of the major ports was held, chaired by Shipping Secretary Gopal Krishna in which the issue of divestment proposal of the DCI was discussed. Three of the ports had evinced interest in acquiring shares of the DCI, given the availability of surplus fund lying with them. The government had earlier said that a committee to understand the modalities with regard to proposal of acquiring shares of DCI by three ports had been constituted. Currently, the government holds 73 per cent stake in the company. DCI is involved in maintenance dredging, capital dredging, beach nourishment, land reclamation, shallow water dredging, project management consultancy and marine construction. India has 12 major ports: Kandla, Mumbai, JNPT, Marmugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Ennore, V O Chidambarnar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia). They together handle approximately 61 per cent of the country's total cargo traffic. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Can people be allowed to lodge a first information report (FIR) online or an e-FIR from the confines of their homes, the Home Ministry has asked the Law Commission. Registration of FIR is mandatory under Section 154 of the CrPC if the information discloses commission of a cognisable offence and no preliminary inquiry is permissible in such a situation, according to a November 2013 Supreme Court order. The law panel, while examining the issue, has come across suggestions that if the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) is amended to allow people to lodge FIRs online, one of the fallouts could be that some may use the facility to tarnish image of others. "Yes, people do find it difficult to go to police stations to lodge an FIR. It would be much easier to lodge one from the comforts of your home. But most find it difficult to lie before police. "Policemen understand the demeanour of the complainant. But anyone can use the online facility to tarnish the image of someone. This is what we have understood so far. But we have just begun to understand the concept. So, there is no finality," explained a senior law panel functionary. In 2016, a total of 48,31,515 cognisable crimes comprising 29,75,711 Indian Penal Code (IPC) crimes and 18,55,804 Special and Local Laws (SLL) crimes were reported, according to Crimes in India of the National Crime Records Bureau. This was an increase of 2.6 per cent over 2015 when the figure stood at 47,10,676 cases. Requesting anonymity, a former law secretary said if the law panel recommends that FIRs can be lodged online, it will also have to provide a legal framework on how to go about it. "Though as per law, FIR is compulsory for a cognisable offence, they will have to suggest how to check its misuse," he said. The commission has already interacted with several police officials from various states to understand the issue. During the DGP/IGP conference held in January, "it was suggested that there should be an amendment to Section 154 of the CrPC for enabling online registration of FIR," the Home Ministry informed the law panel. In a letter, its judicial cell said, "It has since been decided to request the Law Commission to consider the suggestion during the course of comprehensive review of criminal laws being carried out by them." Rights activist Kavita Krishnan welcomed the suggestion that people be allowed to lodge online FIRs. "It will give greater control to people over FIR. Then police cannot say no... For certain offences, police forces ask people to file FIRs over email. But they only accept complaints and not lodge FIR, no (FIR) number is given. It becomes an FIR much later," she told PTI. She said access of the poor to the facility will reman an issue as they do not have access to the internet. "But it is a welcome move," the activist said. Responding to a question, Krishnan rejected suggestions that online FIRs would open 'floodgates'. "FIR is a right under law. Be it online or not, police have to register it. That's the law," she said. In the Lalita Kumari versus the Uttar Pradesh government and others case in November 2013, a Supreme Court bench had made it clear that "registration of FIR is mandatory under Section 154 of the Code (CrPC), if the information discloses commission of a cognisable offence and no preliminary inquiry is permissible in such a situation." The bench had also observed that if the information received does not disclose a cognisable offence but indicates the necessity for an inquiry, a preliminary inquiry may be conducted only to ascertain if the cognisable offence is disclosed or not. "If the inquiry discloses the commission of a cognisable offence, the FIR must be registered. In cases where preliminary inquiry ends in closing the complaint, a copy of the entry of such closure must be supplied to the first informant forthwith and not later than one week. "It must disclose reasons in brief for closing the complaint and not proceeding further," it had said Former Uttar Pradesh director general of police Vikram Singh said for petty offences and accidents, a provision of online FIR already exists. Singh said that an online FIR "on the face of it is very good." But if people get the freedom of lodging it, then there would be a "flood". "Ten per cent of the population is involved in lodging fake cases against political rivals or people from other castes and others... To that extent it is not a good idea," he told PTI. He suggested that section 182 of the IPC dealing with "false FIRs" should be reworked to ensure that those indulging in such activities are punished with a jail term of five years. This he said will prevent burden on police. He also said a process to "sanitise" the FIRs is also required to prevent its misuse. "In India, there is an unhealthy practice of minimalising crimes among police stations" and it prevents "free registration" of FIRs, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bhojpur district police today claimed to have solved the murder case of a 19-year-old man, the recovery of whose body had led to violence, arson and stripping and parading of a woman earlier this week. The body of Vimalesh Sah was found adjacent to a railway track in Bihiyan on August 20. Suspecting that those living in a red light area nearby could have killed the man, people of Damodarpur village had torched several shops, assaulted shopkeepers and dragged a woman out on street, ripped off her clothes and paraded her naked. Superintendent of Police Awakash Kumar said Sah had visited a woman of the red light area where she was strangulated to death over some monetary dispute. Four person, including two woman, dumped the body near the railway track, the SP told reporters. Altogether 21 persons have been arrested in connection with the killing, the subsequent violence and outraging modesty of the woman, he said. The mob had also hurled stones at a train that was passing through the area, before a police team arrived and quelled the violence. Police also pasted arrest warrants on the wall of the house of five other persons allegedly involved in the violence, the SP said. Eight policemen were placed under suspension on August 20 for dereliction of duty. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Around 100 Cashew entrepreneurs and their family members observed fast on Onam day, in front of the secretariat here in support of their demands including stopping recovery measures by the Kerala government against them. KPCC President, M M Hassan, who inaugurated the strike yesterday,promised all support to the Joint Protest Council, which organised the protest, until a viable solution was found in order to save the industry, a release from the council said. Rajya Sabha MP Suresh Gopi, also visited the protesters and explained the steps he had taken in 2016 in order revive it by implementing the concept of a Cashew Board from the Centre. The council has demanded among other things stopping all recovery proceedings initiated by the banks and recovery measures by the state government against the cashew entrepreneurs with immediate effect. Based on the decisions taken by the Chief Minister, RBI and all the banks involved, the entrepreneurs, whose Accounts fell into the category of NPA, had submitted revival plans to their respective banks prior to March 31. But so far the banks have not agreed to that, the council said and appealed to the Chief Minister to persuade the banks to implementthe same. They also wanted revival of the 100 year-old traditional industry and wanted the state government to support them, the the release said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing has fired two executives and will suspend one of its carpooling services nationwide starting tomorrow after a woman was raped and killed allegedly by a driver in eastern China, the company said today. The moves come as the country's largest online ride-hailing platform scrambles to address public complaints it isn't doing enough to ensure the safety of its users who it says book 30 million rides daily. The killing of the female passenger on Friday was the latest violent crime involving a Didi driver, only three months after another Didi driver allegedly killed a flight attendant. Police in the city of Yueqing in Zhejiang province said they arrested a Didi driver who admitted raping and killing the 20-year-old woman on Friday. Yesterday, Didi Chuxing apologised, saying it has "inescapable responsibility" for the incident. The victim had used the carpooling service in the afternoon and after getting into a car had sent a text message to her friends calling for help, police said. Didi Chuxing will halt its "Hitch" service starting tomorrow, it said, referring to a carpooling service, one of several ride-hailing options available on Didi's platform. The company acknowledged that it failed to respond promptly to a possible warning sign about the driver who allegedly killed the woman on Friday, saying that the platform had received a complaint a day earlier from another passenger about him. That passenger had complained that the driver repeatedly asked her to sit in front, drove them to a remote spot, and followed her for a while even after she got off the car, Didi Chuxing said in a statement. "Our customer service promises to reply to customers within two hours but we failed and did not carry out an investigation into this complaint in a timely way. No matter what reasons we had, we shoulder inescapable responsibility," it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China's largest ride-hailing service provider Didi Chuxing has fired two executives and suspended its hitch carpooling service from tomorrow after the second rape and murder of a female passenger in three months allegedly by its drivers, the company said today. The move comes after a female passenger was killed on Friday only three months after another Didi driver allegedly killed a flight attendant. Didi will suspend its hitch online services nationwide and re-evaluate its business model and service logic, a statement issued by the ride hailing firm said today. The hitch ride sharing function allows car owners to provide taxi services. The company today dismissed Huang Jieli, general manager for the hitch business, and Huang Jinhong, vice-president for client services, from their duties. On Friday, the 20-year-old woman in Yueqing of Zhejiang province in eastern China, was raped and killed allegedly by her driver Zhong, who hailed from Southwest China's Sichuan province, state-run China Daily reported. She reportedly sent a message to a friend asking for help before the contact was lost. Zhong who was arrested had confessed to raping and murdering his passenger, police said, adding that the body has been recovered and the investigation is ongoing. The company said Zhong had no previous criminal record, but admitted there had been a previous complaint made against him. A previous passenger said the driver had allegedly taken them to a remote place and followed them after they left the car. "The incident shows the many deficiencies with our customer service processes," the statement said adding that it was "too high a cost to pay". Yesterday, the local transportation management authorities in Zhejiang banned Didi's hitch services in the province in an emergency response to the murder case. Didi suspended and changed its Didi Hitch service in May this year following the rape and murder of a 21-year-old flight attendant by a Didi driver in Zhengzhou. Didi's slow response to emergency calls has been widely blamed in the Zhejiang murder case, the second in a row after a flight attendant was killed by her "hitch" service driver on May 5, it said. Didi as it is known is the world's largest ride-hail company by number of trips and bought over Uber in 2016. Since then it has retained the monopoly in Chinese market. Besides emerging as the world's largest ride-hail company by number of trips, it is reportedly on the verge of completing more than one billion journeys. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Dipak Misra today asked law students to engage in the practice of "Cause Lawyering" and develop the idea of serviceability to the law by taking up 'pro bono' cases at a low income to protect human rights. Cause lawyering is described as a practice of "lawyering for the good" or using law to empower members of the weaker layers of society. Justice Misra was delivering the first Madhusudan Das Memorial Lecture at his alma mater at the Madhusudan Law College here on the topic Role of Lawyers in the Dispensation of Justice Delivery System. The function was attended among others by Chief Justice of Orissa High Court Justice K S Jhaveri. Speaking on the personal capabilities of a lawyer, Justice Misra said it is wrong to assume that lawyers practice only to earn money. Rather, the lawyers as a class are supposed to do service to society like that of the judiciary as an institution and protect human values, he said. "In some judgments of the Supreme Court, it has been mentioned about the serviceability of the Institution and the lawyers are to develop the idea of serviceability to the cause of law and to the cause of adjudication by believing in cause lawyering, Justice Misra said. Quoting Shakespeare, Dr Samuel Johnson, Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi and Mahadev Prasad Singh extensively in his address, the CJI told the students to believe and stand for law. When you practice law, you must hold the brief for your client and do the best as the client should have done, he said. Speaking on Lincolns concept of lawyering, he asked the students to be very articulate, passionate and to have a tremendous sense of intellectual honesty. On the duties of lawyers, the CJI said: It is the duty of a lawyer to argue forcefully, articulately and passionately but without aggressiveness. He also asked the students to continuously study for self improvement. "Unless you are continuously involved in educating yourself, there is a danger," the CJI said adding that for this, he is still a student of law and a student of philosophy. Earlier, paying rich tributes to legendary Madhusudan Das, the CJI particularly emphasised on "Madhu Babus" leadership quality, bravery and his belief in the pride of Odisha and his love for the motherland and mother tongue Odia. Justice Jhaveri too in his address threw light on Madhusudan Das' contributions to the judiciary and legal education in Odisha. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The recent occurrence of extreme rainfall events and associated floods in Kerala that killed many and rendered thousands homeless were due to climate change, a noted climate expert said today. Chandra Bhushan, Deputy Director General of New Delhi-based advocacy group Centre for Science and (CSE), said the dam management system in the country will have to be "re-evaluated" taking into account the repeat occurrence of extreme rainfall events and associated flash floods. "The floods in Kerala were caused by climate change and the disaster was exacerbated by bad development practises, particularly on Western Ghats and other ecologically sensitive regions of Kerala," Bhushan told PTI. Over 290 people were killed and lakhs of people have been displaced due to the heavy rains and floods in Kerala. He also said the extreme rainfall events and associated flash floods occurred in this century in many parts of the country including in Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Chennai, were triggered by climate change. Bhushan, who was honoured with ozone award by the UN Programme last year for providing policy and research support to the negotiations for the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, said the dam management system should be re-evaluated taking into account the climate change issue. "Considering that the temperature is rising, considering that there is a clear indication that the extreme rainfall event is repeated, we will now have to re-evaluate our dam management practises," he said. He also advocated for a much better forecasting system and much better warning system to save lives of people from the extreme climate change-related incidents. Bhushan, who has attended several climate conferences organised by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), said destruction of Western Ghats had huge impact on Kerala. He urged the Central and state governments to take steps to implement the Madhav Gadgil committee report or Kasturirangan committee report on the biodiversity-rich hill region. "Large-scale deforestation, mining and construction are happening, hurting the ecology of Kerala. Such harmful practises will increase the intensity of disaster damages in Kerala," he said. "This floods would have happened in any case. The destruction of Western Ghats and other ecological areas in Kerala made its impact worse," Bhushan said. He said it was quite clear that protection of Western Ghats, wetlands, protection of backwaters, rivers, streams and other ecologically fragile areas were "very very important for the ecological security of Kerala." Environmentalists argue that the miseries and destruction caused by the rains and floods in Kerala would have been less severe if the government had taken the initiative to implement the recommendations made in the Gadgil Committee report on preservation of the Western Ghats. The Gadgil Committee report had been a point of debate in the state ever since it was submitted in 2011 with all major political parties showing reluctance in accepting and implementing the recommendations in toto following protests from local people in high range areas. Even the Kasturirangan report, which studied the recommendations of Madhav Gadgil report, has also not received total support from politicians, religious leaders and local people in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today paid tribute to Saint Teresa on her 108th birth anniversary. "Sincere tribute to our beloved Saint Mother Teresa on her Birth Anniversary," the CM said in a Facebook post with the image of Mother Teresa and a white pigeon. Special masses and prayer sessions were held in the city today on the occasion. The Vatican had declared Mother Teresa 'Patron Saint' of the 'Archdiocese of Calcutta' on September 6, last year, in recognition of her selfless service towards helping the poor and the underprivileged in the city. The honour came a year after Pope Francis had proclaimed her 'Saint' at a canonisation mass at Vatican. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : As relief and rehabilitation work initon in flood ravaged Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today urged all Malayalees to donate one month salary to rebuild the state,where the death toll has now touched 302 and over four lakh are still in relief camps. In many districts, people have started moving from camps to their homes after cleaning work has been completed. The receding flood waters had left mounds of mud and debris in their homes and surroundings. The toll today climbed to 302 with more bodies being recovered, a government press release here. Vijayan also reviewed ongoing relief operations. There are still 4.62 lakh people in 1,435 relief camps. At least three lakh houses have been cleaned so far. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hailed the humanitarian assistance rendered to victims of Kerala floods by people from all walks of life, saying irrespective of age group or area of work, people are contributing for the cause. He also put on record his appreciation for the role rendered by the Army, Air Force, Navy, NDRF, BSF, CISF and the RAF in relief and rescue operations. "Yesterday was the festival of Onam. We pray for Onam to provide strength to the country, especially Kerala, so that it returns to normalcy on a newer journey of development. Once again on behalf of all Indians, I would like to reassure each and everyone in Kerala and other affected places that at this moment of calamity, the entire country stands by them," Modi said in his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio address. He said the loss of lives cannot be compensated, but he assured the grief-stricken families that in this moment of suffering, every Indian stands by them shoulder to shoulder. As Kerala struggles to stand on her feet, waterlogging of homes in various places, especally in Kuttanad region of the worst hitAlapuzha district continues to be a worrying factor. Huge pumps will be used to flush out water from homes and premises, after which the cleaning process will be taken up by removing the accumulated silt, authorities said. Vijayan, who had accompanied Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh during the aerial surveys, said they were touched by the intensity of the devastationand he hoped that the Centre would provide more funds. The union government has already released Rs 600 crore as immediate assistance against the state's demand for Rs 2,000 crore. Opposition leader in the assembly,Ramesh Chennithala said more central funds were needed for Kerala and there was nothing wrong in accepting foreign aid to help rebuild the state. With the floods having left a trail of massive destruction andrehabilitation and reconstruction requiring huge financial resources, Vijayan wanted Keralites, both in the country and outside, to exhibit their generous self and contribute one day's salary to the state. "We need to find our strength. It will be difficult to contribute one month's salary at a stretch. But Keralites, including from outside, can at first contribute three days salary a month and over a period of 10 months, donate the remaining sum', Vijayan told Malayalam TV channels here today. In the coming days, relief camps in schools and colleges will be wound up and people, whose homes were fully waterlogged even now, would be shifted to marriage halls and convention centres, Finance Minister Thomas Isaac told reporters in Alapuzha. Meanwhile, the defence personnel would continue to support the state authorities in flood hit areas in relief and rehabilitation initiatives, a spokesperson said. As on date a total of 10 Columns and 12 Engineer Task Force of the Army arecarrying out continuous rescue and relief operations in the area. The troops are involved in road opening, clearing of landslidess and construction of temporary bridges, utilising the natural resources available in the area. So far approximately 26 temporary bridges have been constructed, repaired and approximately 50roads have been cleared for the general public, a defence press release said. At least 3.64 lakh carcasses of birds and over 17,000 of big animals have been retrieved and buried so far. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today hit out at the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for attacking Rahul Gandhi on the issue of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, saying the Congress, as a party, was never involved in the carnage. He also asserted that 'whosoever was involved' in the senseless killings in 1984 should be "hanged". The SAD had yesterday hit out at Congress chief Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the 1984 riots, saying by disagreeing with the view that his party was involved in the "genocide", he had "rubbed salt into the wounds" of the Sikh community. Earlier, describing the 1984 riots as a "very painful tragedy", Rahul Gandhi, who was on a two-day visit to the UK, had said, "It was a tragedy, it was a painful experience. You say that the Congress party was involved in that, I don't agree with that. Certainly there was violence, certainly there was tragedy." Castigating SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, Amarinder Singh said the Congress chief was in school when Operation Bluestar and later the riots took place. To blame him for 'anything' was totally absurd, said Amarinder Singh, in a hard-hitting statement issued here. To hold Rahul Gandhi responsible for an act, of which he was not even aware when it happened, was completely ridiculous, said the chief minister. "The Congress, as a party, was never involved in the riots that continue to haunt the Sikh community," the chief minister said. Amarinder Singh said that if any individual was involved, he or she would be dealt with as per the law. "To blame the entire party for the acts of a few was preposterous and typical of the political immaturity of Sukhbir," the chief minister said. Amarinder Singh said "Rahul Gandhi's latest comments need to be seen in context with his earlier statements on the 1984 riots, wherein he himself had named some Congressmen". "You cannot blame an entire party because of the acts of such individuals," said the chief minister reiterating that "whosoever was involved in the senseless killings in 1984 should be hanged, irrespective of political affiliations." On Badal alleging that Gandhi was trying to protect Congress leaders involved in the "genocide", Amarinder Singh said "such thoughtless and superfluous statements were typical of the Akalis, particularly the Badals". "It is evident that the Akalis obviously did not have either the maturity or the sensitivity to understand or appreciate the sentiment behind the regrets expressed by Dr Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi on the issue. Their statements were never an admission of guilt or Congress party's involvement in the riots," said Amarinder Singh, emphasising there was no question of a volte face by Rahul Gandhi. By attacking Rahul Gandhi, Sukhbir Singh Badal has only exposed his fear of the Congress president's growing popularity, in India and abroad, said Amarinder Singh. The Punjab chief minister said Rahul Gandhi had unambiguously condemned all sorts of violence, including the 1984 riots, and had called for strict punishment to the perpetrators. It is unfortunate that due to delays caused by the judicial system, justice was denied to many victims of the 1984 riots, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress hit out at the BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government for allegedly supplying shoes lined with a "cancer causing chemical" to tendu leaf collectors as part of its Charan Paduka Yojana. MP Forest Minister Gaurishankar Shejwar said two lakh samples had been rejected after excess azo dye was found in the inner sole. Citing media reports which stated that the Central Leather Research Institute had confirmed the presence of an organic compound called "azo dye" in the inner sole of some of the footwear, the Congress demanded an inquiry into the issue. Azo dyes which were used for dyeing fibres, leather, plastic besides food items and were banned by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in 1997 after it was found to be carcinogenic. The MP government has so far distributed footwear to 8.14 lakh men and 10.20 lakh women tendu leaf collectors as part of the scheme. In a tweet on Friday, MP Congress chief Kamal Nath accused the state government of playing with their lives. "It is a cause of concern that the lakh of tendu patta collectors belonging to tribal community were distributed shoes laced with cancer causing chemical, according to CLRI testing," his tweet claimed. "No one has the right to play with the lives of these people. How these shoes and slippers were distributed without testing? Who is responsible," Nath's asked. He issued a statement demanding that the shoes distributed to the tendu leaf collectors be taken back and also called for details of their purchase and distribution. Reacting to the controversy, the state forest minister said, "Two lakh shoes out of the samples sent for testing have been rejected after excess amount of azo dye was found in the inner sole. No payment has been made so far to the company." Shejwar said the firm had been ordered to change the inner sole and once this is done, the footwear would be re-examined by central government laboratories. "Prior to their distribution, quality testing is essentially conducted by two prestigious institutes of the country, the Footwear Design and Development Institute, Noida and Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai. A pre-delivery test is also conducted besides a re-test before distribution," Shejwar said. He reiterated the shoes that were distributed were of good quality. He said the Madhya Pradesh Minor Forest Produce Federation has set a target of distributing shoes to 11.23 lakh men, slippers to 11.11 lakh women and 22.35 lakh water bottles to tendu leaf collectors under its Charan Paduka Yojana. Besides, the state government was also distributing 11.9 lakh sarees to the women tendu patta collectors. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai today accused the Congress of creating fear in the minds of people and portraying his party as being against Christians in the state. Addressing a gathering at Cuncolim, about 50 kilometres from here, Sardesai said that he would be the first to oppose any "anti-minority" measure of the Manohar Parrikar government. As per the Census 2011, a little over 25 per cent of Goa's population is Christian. The GFP, with three MLAs, is a constituent of the BJP-led Goa government and Sardesai is the state's agriculture minister. "It (anti-Christian) is absolutely false. I have even told the Archbishop (of Goa) that if this government takes any decision against Christians, then we will be the first to protest," Sardesai said. "The Congress need not create fear in the minds of the people," the GFP leader added. He claimed that the Parrikar government was stable and would complete its tenure without any hindrance. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Undeterred by legal notices served on its leaders, the Congress has decided to intensify its campaign against the Rafale fighter aircraft deal which, the party claimed, was altered to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's industrialist "friend" and "promote crony capitalism". The Congress has lined up a series of events to take the issue to the people and "expose" the Narendra Modi government ahead of next year's parliamentary election. The main opposition party will stage agitations and take out marches at district and state levels over the alleged scam worth thousands of crores of rupees. Besides, senior party leaders will hold press conferences across the country till September 6 to "reveal the truths" about the revised deal which, it claimed, was inked at a much higher price than the one the previous UPA dispensation had negotiated. The district-level agitations will be held from September 7 to 15, while the state-level agitations will be organised from September 16 to 30. The Congress has also set up a separate control room at the party headquarters here to monitor district-level agitations. "Please ensure that a massive state-level agitation and a march to the Governor's House for submission of memorandum to the Governor," party general secretary Ashok Gehlot has said in a letter to the party's state unit chiefs. According to party sources, the Congress will make the alleged Rafale scam a "poll issue" and target the Modi dispensation over its claim of corruption-free governance. The Congress has accused the Modi government of not disclosing the price of the aircraft and alleged that the price was three times higher than that negotiated during the UPA dispensation with France's Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of the aircraft. The Congress has also accused Modi of "personally benefitting" from the deal, and alleged that it was the reason behind his continued silence on the issue. "The Rafale scam is a sordid saga of squandering our national interests and promoting crony capitalism by the Modi government," the party said. It has also accused Modi of helping his "friend" Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group in getting offset contracts for the aircraft, bypassing the public-sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The Reliance Group has sent defamation notices to many Congress leaders warning them against levelling charges that are "misleading". The company has asked Congress leaders to "cease and desist" from levelling such charges. Ambani recently wrote to Congress president Rahul Gandhi on the deal, saying his party has been "misinformed, misdirected and misled" by "malicious vested interests and corporate rivals" on the issue. Leading the Congress attack on the government over the deal, Gandhi, during his recent interactions in Germany and the UK, alleged that the deal smelt of corruption, which has caused loss to the state exchequer to the tune of thousands of crores of rupees. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A court here has ordered that "criminal proceedings" be initiated against a police officer for filing a false case of theft of a starred question from the Legislative Assembly against a social activist. Starred questions are important queries tabled in the legislature. Such questions and the answers to them are compiled in booklets by the legislature staff, but they are not supposed to be published outside before a discussion in the House. Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Shubhalaxmi Shivolkar, in her order yesterday, said inspector Vishwesh Karpe of the Crime Branch should not have filed a case of theft in the matter by blindly following the orders of his superiors and political leaders. The Crime Branch had registered a case of theft under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against activist Kashinath Shetye in July, 2017 for allegedly stealing a copy of a starred question from the Assembly and uploading it on social media before it came up for discussion in the House. The case was filed on a complaint from the legislature officials. Shetye then filed a private complaint with the magistrate, seeking action against BJP MLA Nilesh Cabral, Goa Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma, Assembly Speaker Pramod Sawant and inspector Karpe for filing a false case. The magistrate dismissed the charges against Cabral, Sharma and Sawant, but ordered registration of a case against the police officer. "This is a classic example which shows how blindly the orders of political leaders and higher officers are followed by subordinate officers so as to cause hardship to the common man who is at the mercy of the so-called officers and political leaders," the magistrate said in the order. "....one can imagine the situation of a common man, to what extent a police officer can go to falsely implicate any person...if the so-called police machinery and persons in power intend to target a person," she said. Inspector Karpe was under obligation to hold a preliminary inquiry, but he went further and registered an FIR for theft by blindly following orders, she added. There was no "lawful ground" for registering a case of theft, the court said and ordered that "criminal proceedings" be initiated against the officer. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The killings of journalist Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru last year and rationalist Narendra Dabholkar in Pune in 2013 were "linked", the CBI claimed before a court here today. Seeking extension of the custody of Sachin Andure, one of the alleged shooters in the Dabholkar murder case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told the court that one of the accused in the Lankesh murder case had handed over a pistol and three bullets with a magazine to him. Judicial Magistrate (First Class) H R Jadhav extended Andure's CBI custody till August 30. Dabholkar, a Pune-based anti-superstition activist, was shot dead while he was on morning walk in August, 2013. Lankesh was shot dead in front of her residence in Bengaluru in September, 2017. The CBI told the court that the agency would seek the custody of Sharad Kalaskar, another alleged shooter in the Dabholkar murder case. Kalaskar was among the five persons arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) earlier this month in connection with the seizure of crude bombs and firearms from various parts of the state. "Kalaskar is currently in the custody of the ATS in the Nalasopara explosives seizure case. The CBI will seek his custody in the Dabholkar case also as he and Andure need to be interrogated together," Special Public prosecutor Vijaykumar Dhakane said. He added that the CBI would also seek the custody of those arrested by the Karnataka SIT in the Lankesh murder case as some of them were "linked" to the Dabholkar case and connected to Andure. "During Andure's interrogation, it was revealed that one of the accused in the Lankesh murder case had handed over a 7.65 mm country-made pistol and three bullets to him and he had passed those over to his brother-in-law, Shubham Surale, at Aurangabad (Maharashtra) on August 11," Dhakane told the court. Surale had passed on the pistol to one Rohit Rege, according to the prosecutor. The CBI had seized a black-coloured country-made pistol with a magazine and three 7.65 mm "live cartridges" (bullets) from Rege's Aurangabad residence, Dhakane said, adding that the agency was probing if the weapon was used to kill Dabholkar. The CBI was also trying to trace the motorcycle used by Andure and Kalaskar on on August 20, 2013, the day they allegedly killed Dabholkar, he said. Opposing the extension of Andure's custody, defence counsel Prakash Salsingikar cited a chargesheet filed by the CBI in 2016 in the Dabholkar murder case. In the chargesheet, the central agency had named Virendrasinh Tawde of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS), an alleged offshoot of right-wing outfit Sanatan Sanstha, as the conspirator in the killing of Dabholkar. It had identified Sarang Akolkar and Vinay Pawar as the assailants, who had fired bullets at Dabholkar. Quoting certain paragraphs from the chargesheet, Salsingikar said, "The investigation has established through oral and documentary evidence that Tawde, who harboured an enmity with Dabholkar owing to the ideological differences between the Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti and the Sanatan Sanstha, criminally conspired with Pawar, Akolkar and others to murder Dabholkar. "In pursuance of the said conspiracy, Pawar and Akolkar shot dead Dabholkar on August 20, 2013 on the Omkareshwar Bridge in Pune." The defence counsel told the court that the CBI was trying to bring in a new theory every time as far as the probe into the Dabholkar murder case was concerned. "As per the chargesheet, the CBI had already identified the assailants in the Dabholkar case," he said. Meanwhile, a CBI officer told PTI outside the court that they were awaiting the ballistic report of the pistol seized from Rege's residence. He said it would be premature to say whether the pistol was used to kill Dabholkar. Apart from Kalaskar, the ATS had arrested Vaibhav Raut (40), Sudhanwa Gondhalekar (39), Shrikant Pangarkar and Avinash Pawar (30) in the arms seizure case from various parts of the state. While Raut ran a little-known pro-cow protection outfit, Gondhalekar and Kalaskar are allegedly linked to fringe Hindutva groups. Pangarkar is a former Shiv Sena corporator who hails from Jalna. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) wants the subject of disaster mitigation be included in school curriculum to train students to become the first responders in times of natural calamities and help reduce casualties. The NDRF played a crucial role in Kerala where nearly 300 people have lost their lives since August 8 in the second spell of the monsoon that displaced 10.40 lakh people. "The need of the hour is awareness on natural calamities. We can train children on disaster mitigation by making it part of the school curriculum," Director General of NDRF Sanjay Kumar told PTI in an interview. Kumar said school children, cadets of the NCC, village defence force personnel can play vital role at the time of natural calamities like flood, fire, quake or tsunami and can be trained properly so that they can be the first responder in any disaster. The DGsaid about 67 lakhpeople across the country have been imparted basiccombat training by the NDRF till now as part of its efforts to create effective response against calamities like earthquakes and floods Talking about the latest rescue operations in Kerala, the DG said they have deployed their highest-ever strength in a single state with 207 boats and 58 teams. He said the force received thousands of distress calls at its control room and every effort was made to reach the marooned and flood-affected people. "Water level was up to the height of 2-3 stories in certain locations and rescue teams waded through river-like currents to reach the affected," Kumar said. "The operation was difficult in Kerala as we faced flooding, house and road collapse disaster situation at one time, the DG said. The NDRF is the federal disaster contingency forceand has undertaken over 3,000 operations all over the country till now. It is currently deployed and pre-positioned in a number of flood-affected and prone states. The NDRF, raised in 2006, has 12 battalions with a strength of over 13,000 personnel and is based in various states. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Educationist and IT industries veteran Mohan Das Pai has cautioned that dramatic shift in and has created disruption in industries and posed a threat to humankind. Stating that digital monopoly has emerged as a challenge which can even manipulate a user's mind, Pai said the country and the society need to be prepared for future. The society now needs to "reconfigure' itself to understand and adjust in the technology-driven era, he said, adding is ten years behind the impact as compared to developed nations. Apart from disruption in various kinds of industries, the emergence of and besides digital monopoly will have an adverse impact on humankind and the gap between the rich and poor people will increase, with the rich living longer, he said. Pai, the Chairman of Manipal Global Education, said the country needs to rope in top educational institutions for solving tomorrow's problems as the governments across the country are mostly engaged in solving yesterday's problems. Inthe next 15 years, we are going to see a rapid change due to the internet. Every industry is going to change", he said Pai said internet was available everywhere at all times and every human being on the plant will be able to do business, video conferencing, talk to each other and have access to information because "we have created a network society and its impact is felt on every business now. He said the situation is further going to change rapidly with new innovations and expansion of cloud technology, high-speed computing, and proliferation of new business model. In reply to a question, Pai, a former director, said that electric vehicles have started creating disruption in auto industry and the situation will drastically chang in the next decade. Similar disruption is also being faced in other industries as well due to shift, Pai said. The biggest threat to humankind is the rise of digital monopolies", he said adding by using the data, the mind of a person can be "manipulated". " is expanding and things are automated now, be it life sciences, manufacture industries, and and robots are taking over the large part of human being's works which is going to create a problem of employment generation, he added. President of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Manjit Singh GK was attacked in California allegedly by pro-Khalistan individuals, during which one of his associates was injured. Singh, who had travelled to California following a visit to New York, said the purpose of his visit was to hold discussions among the Sikh community about the 550th birthday anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak, to be commemorated next year. This is the second attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader. He was earlier attacked in New York. Singh was visiting the main Gurudwara in Yuba City, California yesterday when, he said, a group of 30-35 people supporting the 'Khalistan 2020 referendum' attacked him. "I am hurt. They pushed me and kicked me brutally. It was a brutal murderous attack," he told PTI over phone from California. He said one of his associates has been hospitalised while the police has arrested three people in connection with the attack. The DSGMC chief said that the attack will not deter or intimidate him. "We are not going to shy away," he said, adding that those demanding Khalistan can continue their fight but resorting to violence is not the answer. "We will not be part of this fight for Khalistan," he said. Meanwhile, 'Sikhs For Justice' (SFJ), a group demanding justice for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims and supporting the 'Khalistan 2020 referendum, in a statement issued through its legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, accused Singh and his supporters of "instigating violent attacks on pro-Khalistan activists" who were "peacefully protesting" in the SAD leader's presence in Yuba City Gurdwara. Pannun said the SFJ has also filed a complaint against Singh with the US Department of Justice for violations of the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) laws. He said SFJ filed the complaint against Singh for holding, attending and addressing political gatherings in the US in violations of FARA laws. "We will now ask US Immigration to take notice of illegal activities of Singh and make him inadmissible to the United States," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Eleven resorts constructed on the elephant corridor in Nilgiris district were sealed today in compliance with a Supreme Court directive to crack down on illegal structures in the area. The process of sealing the resorts, including the one owned by yesteryear Bollywood actor Mithun Chakraborty, began this morning, officials sources said. Adhering to an Apex Court order, the Nilgiris district administration had identified 39 illegally constructed resorts on elephant corridor, obstructing the free movement of pachyderms, leading to animal-human conflict. During the first phase, the authorities had sealed 27 resorts. Of the remaining 12, the officials had served notices to 11 resorts yesterday seeking valid documents or remove the structures. Verification of documents of the remaining one is on, they said. The top court had on August 9 observed that elephants were a "national heritage" and expressed displeasure as to how constructions had come up on the elephant corridor of Nilgiris and directed sealing of the illegally built resorts on the elephant corridor. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dubai's realty major Emaar Properties will complete all delayed projects, comprising 10,000 units, in India by the end of next year and has secured fund as well as ramped up workforce for execution. Emaar India's new CEO Prashant Gupta said the company needs about Rs 800-1,000 crore to construct these units and the funds have been tied up. "Our entire focus is on completion of all existing projects. We have increased the number of labourers at our sites to 9,000 from 7,000 workers few months back," he told PTI. Gupta had in June joined Emaar India, which is part of Emaar Properties. Earlier, he was with Aditya Birla group since 2011. About 10,000 units, comprising mainly flats and plots as well as some shops, are yet to be completed apart from 2,000 units where possession letters have been issued to customers. For completing these pending units, Gupta said about Rs 800-1,000 crore is estimated construction cost. "About Rs 500 crore fund has already been tied up from banks and NBFCs as construction finance. The remaining will be met through internal accruals," Gupta said, adding that the receivables from customers is about Rs 400 crore. The announcement comes at a time when many real estate developers, including Jaypee group, Amrapali and Unitech, have defaulted in delivery of projects leaving investments of lakhs of home buyers stuck. "Real estate is a complex business. There are lots of challenges. Therefore, we are trying to build a stronger organisation. Like in Dubai, the focus in India will be on customers and speed," Gupta said. The company has restructured operation where underperforming employees have been given pink slip and those positions being filled with quality talents from across sectors, he said. The company currently has about 600 employees. A new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will be appointed soon. "We would like Emaar to be India's most admired real estate player," Gupta said, exuding confidence of achieving this. "We know it's a long way and will take us a few years, but that is the ultimate objective, he said. In 2005, Emaar Properties entered Indian real estate market in partnership with India's MGF group and invested Rs 8,500 crore through joint venture Emaar MGF Land. However, in April 2016, it decided to end this JV. In January this year, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approved the proposed demerger scheme of Emaar MGF Land, paving the way for two JV partners - Emaar Properties and MGF Development - to go separate ways. The demerger got completed in July end but during this entire process, Dubai firm has been strengthened it's India operation. As part of this exercise, Emaar Properties in April this year appointed Hadi Badri as managing director of India business. Then, it appointed Prashant Gupta as CEO of Emaar India. Emaar India has completed more than 5,000 units over the last two years. It had raised debt to speed up construction of its various housing projects in Gurgaon, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mohali and Chennai. Post-demerger, Emaar India has about 4,500 acres of land bank across the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hindi cinema veteran Dharmendra says he never felt the trappings of any image and every time he took up a role, he gave the glimpse of a new actor in him to the audience. The original He-Man of Bollywood, who has inspired the likes of Salman Khan to take up working out, interestingly started off his career playing the common man roles in the '60s in films - "Anpadh", "Bandini", "Anupama" and "Aaya Saawan Jhoom Ke", among others. Then came the '70s where the masses saw his desi macho man side in "Sholay" and "Dharam Veer", among other enjoyable parts in films like "Guddi", "Chupke Chupke", "Mera Gaon Mera Desh". Once voted among the seven most good-looking men in the world, Dharmendra says though he was aware people used to call him a "Greek god", he still does not know what the term really encompasses. "I have always broken my image every time I went on screen. I don't believe I have an image. "I don't know what it means to be a Greek god but people used to call me one. People have given me a lot of love but it never got high on it. The love has given me a strong foothold. And I try to maintain this love, I hope it never wears away," the veteran actor told PTI in an interview. He later strengthened his action star avatar in the '80s with "Aag Hi Aag" and "Watan Ke Rakhwale", many more. But Dharmendra calls his roles in "Satyakam", "Pratigya" and "Dillagi" (opposite wife Hema Malini) as some of his memorable ones. The 82-year-old actor, who will be seen with sons, Sunny and Bobby, in "Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se", says he loves to do comedy films. "I love to do comedy. God has blessed me with timing. It should be like clockwork. 'Pratigya' was one of my films. It was a revenge story but I played my part throughout using a lot of humour." About the changing face of comedy in Bollywood, he says, "It's a variety of subjects actually. 'Chupke Chupke' was a different type of subject. So we do comedy accordingly. Also it's a team work - the actor, the writer, the director all together." Dharmendra says actors today come all prepared and are part of "rare" stories. "They are coming out with some very rare subjects. I watch Ranveer and Ranbir's films. Aamir is doing very well. "And all of them really live their characters. They don't leave any stone unturned. Artistes who move along with the times, go ahead," he says. The actor is hopeful for grandson Karan, who will debut under his father's direction in "Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas". Asked if he advised the newcomer, he says, "They all come trained today. They know themselves a lot. Karan has all my blessings. I hope he surpasses our success." Dharamendra still identifies himself as a farmer and says he often finds solace in going back to his farm and animals. Also a poet, at heart and in writ, he says he is working towards compiling his poetry. "I'm trying to get my poetry made into a video. I want the viewers to know the reference to the poems that I will share with them. So that everyone enjoys it. "I'm a shayar. I write about what people feel. Poetry cannot be enjoyed if a poet talks about artifice. But my shayari is universal," he says. Also featuring Kriti Kharbanda, "Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se" releases this Friday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has summoned former president Asif Ali Zardari and his sister tomorrow in a Rs 35 billion money laundering and fake bank accounts case. In July, the Supreme Court listed Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur as beneficiaries in an alleged scam "running into billions of rupees" that led to the arrest of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman's close aide and famous banker Hussain Lawai. The FIA issued notices yesterday to the former president and his sister to appear at the agency's headquarters in Islamabad tomorrow. This is the fourth time they have been summoned, Dawn newspaper reported. Despite earlier summons, Zardari and Talpur failed to appear before the FIA's joint investigation team probing a multi-billion money laundering scam. The FIA has been asked by the Supreme Court to submit a comprehensive report in connection with the fake accounts case on Tuesday, it said. Zardari and Talpur have not joined the investigation in the case. Instead, they have expressed lack of confidence over the investigation team probing the case. On August 17, a local banking court in Karachi had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Zardari and other absconding suspects in the ongoing probe. The court ordered the suspects to be arrested and presented before it by September 4. On August 18, the Islamabad High Court approved the former president's petition for protective bail in the case. Zardari had filed a petition in the court through his counsels Aitzaz Ahsan and Latif Khosa after a local banking court on August 17 issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the former president and other absconding suspects in the ongoing probe. The FIA is investigating 32 people in relation to money laundering from fictitious 29 accounts, including Zardari and his sister Talpur. Zardari's close aide Lawai was arrested last month in connection with the probe. Lawai was arrested by the FIA last month in the money-laundering case in which he is accused to have helped facilitate the opening of fake accounts in Summit Bank, Sindh Bank and United Bank Limited. In addition to 29 bank accounts already under scrutiny, the investigators have "detected 15 more suspicious accounts", a senior official of the FIA was quoted as saying by the report. These accounts were opened in the names of persons other than those in whose names the 29 accounts were opened, said the official. Up to Rs 1 billion, Rs 2 billion and Rs 3 billion had been transferred from these newly discovered accounts, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Soiled books, smashed furniture,damaged equipment and rooms and corridors filled with slush tugged at the heart strings of volunteers, officials and armed forces personnel at flood hit schools they to clean. Many schools ravaged by floods resembled graveyards of creative works of young children, teachers said. "It's really heart-breaking," said Sajoy George, a teacher, engaged in rehabilitation work in a Government school at Moothakunnam in Paravoor. George, the Ernakulam district project officer of Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA), said teaching and learning material were found strewn apart in class rooms hit by fury of the flood. "We've lost everything in the muddy water, including creative works of our children, their library and digital classrooms set by the government to impart them modern education," he said. Around 117 schools in North Paravoor and Aluva in Ernakulam district were the worst hit by the floods. Service books of the teachers and non-teaching staff also found lost in many of these schools, officials said. Top Education department officials said rehabilitation was being done on a war footing in the schools by teachers, non-teaching staff, officials of SSA and volunteers, aided by the local administration, to get them ready by August 29 when children return after the Onam holidays. CRPF personnel engaging rehabilitation works in some villages in Thrissur district said they too came across some moments which made them emotional. A CRPF official heading rehabilitation work in Kuzhur gram panchayat said tears welled up in the eyes of a man, M V Jose, when their personnel handed over Rs 1,640 they retrieved from the debris in his flood-hit home. "The money was not damaged. On handing over the cash, he became inconsolable and started crying," he said. "That was the only money he had saved. It seems to have been part of certain hard earned amount that he saved for Onam celebrations. We felt extremely sad and speechless. Somehow we managed to console him. Tough times indeed,"the official said. He said while cleaning the houses, CRPF personnel had found a lot of gold ornaments left there by people who ran for their lives when flood waters started gushing in. "House owners were obviously elated finding them at their ravaged houses," the officer told PTI. The death toll due in the floods had touched 302 since August 8. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five persons were injured in a gas cylinder blast at a house at Rakshit in Howrah district today, police said. The incident happened when all the five persons were busy cooking food for a birthday party hosted in the house under Bagnan police station. The fire was doused by locals, before two fire engines reached the spot. The ground floor of the two storied building was badly damaged. All the five persons were taken to a local hospital where two persons were admitted. The remaining three were discharged after first-aid, the police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Flood-ravaged Kerala may have to wait a few months to get the complete financial aid package from the Centre as the process of assessing the extent of damage and fund release is time-consuming, officials said. After the initial release of funds, the central government follows certain rules and guidelines before awarding the final aid to any state for a natural calamity, a Home Ministry official, privy to such circumstances, said. The Centre has so far released Rs 600 crore for Kerala, which witnessed its worst flood in a century. The death toll in Kerala floods has touched 293 since August 8 while 15 people are still missing. According to the existing guidelines on disaster relief funds, the central government's contribution to the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) is 75 per cent for general category states and 90 per cent for special category states of hilly regions. But the amount is released in each financial year in two instalments -- in June and December. However, the central government, upon being satisfied that exigencies of a particular calamity so warrant, may recommend an earlier release of the central share but that too up to just 25 per cent of the funds due to the state in the following year. But this release will be adjusted against the instalments of the subsequent year. Similarly, for getting relief from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), the state government will have to first submit a memorandum showing sector-wise damage with proper justification for requirement of funds and then it is assessed whether a case for additional assistance from NDRF is made out under the existing guidelines. This itself is a time-consuming exercise for a state which is still trying to recover from the disaster, the official said. An official statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs, which was issued on August 23 giving details of the flood relief measures taken by the central government in Kerala, noted that the submission of the memorandum by the state will take time. The memorandum from the state government, when comes, will be examined to assess the likely requirement of funds as per items and norms of expenditure under the SDRF/NDRF. If the preliminary examination reveals that there are adequate funds in SDRF for providing relief as per norms, the state would be advised accordingly. If the preliminary examination reveals that the state is in need of assistance, a central team will be deputed for making an on-the-spot assessment, the guidelines say. After the tour and assessment, the central team will submit a report. The report of the central team will be examined by the sub-committee of the national executive committee (SC-NEC) headed by the Union Home Secretary. The SC-NEC will assess the extent of assistance and expenditure which can be funded from the NDRF as per norms and make recommendations. Based on the recommendations of the SC-NEC, a high-level committee, headed by the Union Home Minister, will approve the quantum of relief to be released from the NDRF. The release of assistance from NDRF will be subject to adjustment of 50 per cent of the balance in the SDRF as on March 31 of the preceding financial year. Upon the approval of the high-level committee, the Ministry of Finance will release assistance from the NDRF to the state. Another official said the whole exercise normally takes three to six months and hence the final award from the central government to a state comes late. Expenditure from the NDRF is meant to assist a state to provide immediate relief in those cases of severe calamity, where the expenditure required is in excess of the balance in the state's SDRF. According to the guidelines, the expenditure on reconstruction, restoration, disaster preparedness and mitigation should not be part of the SDRF or NDRF and is to be met from the normal budgetary heads or plan heads. On August 21, the central government had released Rs 600 crore as immediate relief to the Kerala government. Citing a 2004 decision, the central government has announced that it would not accept any assistance from a foreign government, which created a huge controversy. The statement of the Ministry of External Affairs came after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the United Arab Emirates had offered to give Rs 700 crore as assistance to his state. However,UAE ambassador Ahmed Albanna had clarified that there has been no official announcement so far by the UAE on any specific amount as financial aid. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four newly recruited militants surrendered before security forces today after the forces launched an operation to stop them fromexfiltrating across the Line of Control (LoC) inKupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. "On receipt of credible information about four newly recruited terrorists being guided by three terrorists of Al-Badr for a planned exfiltration, the Army in a joint operation with police, laid an ambush and trapped the terrorists in upper reaches ofKalaroosin Handwara," Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said here. He said that after a brief gunfight, "extreme restraint was exercised and opportunity given to the terrorists to surrender". "While the four newly recruited terrorists surrendered. The three Al-Badr terrorists deserted the new recruits and fled under the cover of fire," Col Kalia said, adding war-like stores were recovered from their possession. The search is on to trace the other militants, the spokesman said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ganga Prasad was today sworn in as the 16th Governor of Sikkim at a function held at Raj Bhawan here. Justice Meenakshi M Rai, Acting Chief Justice of High Court of Sikkim, administered the oath of office to Prasad in the presence of Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and his cabinet colleagues and other dignitaries. The swearing-in ceremony was followed by offering of traditional "khadas" to the governor by the chief minister and all the dignitaries present. The governor was then given the Guard of Honour. Ganga Prasad has served as a Member of Legislative Council of Bihar for 18 years, and also as the Leader of the Opposition (Bharatiya Janata Party) in the Bihar Legislative Council. He was also the Leader of the Bihar Legislative Council for the ruling party during the earlier NDA regime. Ganga Prasad succeeds Shriniwas Patil as the 16th Governor of Sikkim. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government is arguing about pensions, with Merkel's center-left coalition partners pressing for a guarantee that they will remain stable until 2040. The coalition of Merkel's conservative Union bloc and the center-left Social Democrats agreed when it took office earlier this year to ensure pensions remain at the current level of 48 per cent of average wages through 2025. The Social Democrats are struggling in polls and looking to woo left-leaning voters. Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, a Social Democrat, has called for stable pensions to be guaranteed through 2040, a potentially expensive pledge in an aging society. Conservatives note the coalition already set up an expert commission to look at future pensions. Merkel told ARD television yesterday her message to the Social Democrats is: "Please don't create uncertainty. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government today distanced itself from BJP MP Subramanian Swamy's remarks that India should "invade" the Maldives if the upcoming presidential election in the island nation was rigged. Two days after a meeting with exiled former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed in Colombo, Swamy had tweeted on Friday that "India should invade Maldives if rigging of election takes place." Responding to a query on the BJP parliamentarian's comments, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "The opinion expressed by Dr Swamy in his tweet is personal. It does not reflect the views of the Government of India." Swamy met Nasheed in Colombo on Tuesday during which the Maldivian leader apprised him about the political situation in his country and expressed concerns that the September 23 presidential election may be rigged by incumbent President Abdullah Yameen. "We discussed the current political situation in the Maldives, upcoming presidential elections and our concerns on how President Yameen intends to rig Sept 23rd election," Nasheed had tweeted after the meeting. On Tuesday, Swamy tweeted that Nasheed was apprehensive of "gross rigging" in the elections and that India cannot allow that to happen as a neighbour. "We need an action plan," Swamy said, adding the "current usurper" President Yameen has "humiliated Indians". In June, the national electoral commission of the Maldives had said Nasheed was disqualified from running the presidential election. Ties between India and the Maldives nosedived after Maldivian President Yameen declared emergency on February 5 following an order by the country's Supreme Court to release a group of Opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely criticised trials. The emergency was lifted 45 days later. Last month, India expressed concern over announcement of elections in the Maldives without allowing democratic institutions, including Parliament and the judiciary, to work in a free and transparent manner. India had said it wanted "credible restoration" of the political process and the rule of law in the island nation before the elections are conducted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) :The Kerala Government today organised a formal farewell function in honour of various Central Forces which played a pivotal role in the rescue and relief operations in flood hit Kerala. "We could directly witness the bold initiatives they took to rescue those who were stranded in the flood waters', Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said at the function held at the Air Force Station here. Vijayan also appreciated the services of the military and paramilitary forces, who saved the helpless, braving adverse circumstances. "All that we can say is that your services will be kept in mind in the times to come with gratitude and appreciation', he said, adding the calamity would have been greater had the Forces not worked hand in hand with the state government. Citations were presented by the Chief Minister to Air Marshal B Suresh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Air Command, Rear Admiral R J Nadkarni, Chief Of Staff, Southern Naval Command, Brigadier C G Arun, Station Commander, Pangode Military station and Rekha Nambiar, NDRF Commandant. Sanatan Jena, DIG Coast Guard, Giriprasad, IG, CRPF, B C Nair DIG Border Security Force (BSF), Vishal Anand Commandant ITBF and Dhanya Sanal, Defence PRO and all military and paramilitaryforces who participated in the rescue operations were also given the citations, a government release said. Air Marshal Suresh said they could act efficiently because of the clear directions given by the Chief Minister. "CM was leading from the front', he said and also lauded the services of fishermen and volunteers who were part of the rescue and relief operations. The devastation caused due to the rains and floods has claimed 302 lives so far and destroyed homes and infrastructure. Earlier, the government had also in a goodwill gesture thanked fishermen who took part in rescue operations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ten people were killed and three injured in an accident involving a car and a truck in Gujarat's Surat district today, police said. The accident happened on the national highway near Baleshwar village under Palsana police station limits, an official said, adding that those who died were travelling in the car. "A Toyota Innova car with 11 passengers lost balance and broke the divider and crossed on to the other side of the road. It rammed into a truck coming from the opposite direction," Deputy Superintendent of Police Hetal Patel said. Patel said six persons died on the spot and four succumbed at a hospital. Apart from one person in the car, two of the four persons travelling in the truck sustained injuries, she said. The official said three of the people dead had been identified. She gave their names as Manish Sain (22), Vaibhav Parihar (24) and Bharat Sain (47). Patel said the vehicle belonged to a Vadodara resident who had handed it over to an agent in order to scout for a buyer. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haryana Governor Satyadev Narayan Arya marked the occasion of Raksha Bandhan by planting saplings in the Raj Bhavan premises here today. On the occasion, a number of girls and women tied rakhi to the new governor. Arya took oath as the new Governor of Haryana yesterday. Arya said Raksha Bandhan is the festival of love and affinity, which strengthens the relationship between brothers and sisters. He added that the presence of girls and women had filled the Raj Bhavan with happiness. Meanwhile, women police personnel from the state Rapid Action Force tied rakhi to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar at the latter's residence here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior journalists of Patna today urged the Patna High Court to "reconsider and revoke" its August 23 order restraining the media from reporting the investigation into the Muzaffarpur shelter home abuse case. It was because of media reports that abuse of inmates of the Muzaffarpur shelter home had come to the notice of all and even the Supreme Court had taken cognizance of it, a statement signed by senior journalists of prominent houses of both print and electronic media said. In the statement, the scribes urged the HC "to reconsider and revoke its decision to uphold the principles of free media in a democracy and allow media to report on the ongoing investigation related with the Muzaffarpur shelter home case." 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. A division bench of Chief Justice Mukesh R Shah and Justice Ravi Ranjan on August 23 had 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A woman and her friend were today shot dead allegedly by her father and uncle in a suspected case of "honour killing" in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province, police said. Fauzia, 24, and Imran, 30, were in a relationship and used to meet without the knowledge of their families, The Express Tribune reported. The woman's father and other family members came to know that she had gone to meet Imran at his house, police said. "In a fit of rage, the woman's father Iqbal, uncle Yaseen and two cousins rushed to his house and opened fire on them," he said. The couple were killed on the spot in the firing. Police said after initial investigation, they found that the woman's family found them in an objectionable condition and killed them, the report said. A case of murder has been registered against the culprits and raids were being carried out to nab them, police said. According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, nearly 1,000 women and girls in deeply conservative Pakistan are being murdered every year for allegedly bringing shame on their family. The rights group says that the women are killed for being accused of having illicit relations and marrying without the family's consent. Most of the women are killed by their brothers and husbands, the group said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A clash broke out between two communities outside a gurudwara here following which over 80 identified and hundreds of unidentified people were booked for rioting and damaging public property, the police said today. Additional Superintendent of Police (rural) Subhash Chandra Shakya said tension erupted yesterday when a watchman objected putting up a cart to sell 'rakhis' by a 14-year-old girl outside the gurudwara in the Banda area of the district. The watchman also allegedly hit the girl with a stick on her leg, the police said. As the spread, Hindus and Sikhs reached the spot and indulged in stone pelting, they said. Superintendent of Police, Shahjahanpur, S Chinappa said, "Three FIRs have been registered against more than 80 people from both sides and hundreds of others under various sections of the IPC for rioting and damaging public property." He said the FIRs were lodged on complaints by Sher Bahadur (father of the girl), Rajesh Jain (resident of Banda) and the police, respectively. Chinappa said heavy police deployment has been made in the area to maintain law and order. A meeting of the two sides was called by District Magistrate Amrit Tripathi to help law enforcement agencies establish peace, he said. Tripathi said, "Culprits are being identified through the video footage of the incident, following which they will be arrested." Those responsible for vitiating the atmosphere will not be spared, he added. "One police vehicle and two other vehicles were damaged in stone pelting," Sub-divisional Magistrate Satyapriye Singh had said yesterday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It has been over a year since Shruti Haasan made her last appearance on the big screen and the actor says it was a conscious decision to stay away from the camera as she wanted to reassess her career. Shruti, 32, who is the elder daughter of veteran actors Kamal Haasan and Sarika, says she took the decision to take a break to "reorganise" herself. "I took a conscious decision to take a break for one year. I thought it was important to take a break and reassess what I wanted to do. I believe when you get in to a rut you need to reassess," Shruti told PTI. The actor is now working on a Hindi as well as a Tamil movie and is venturing into production in a partnership with her mother. "I am producing films and getting back into music full time. So, I needed to step back and kind of reorganize things. I believe it is important for an artiste to take some time off to be with themselves. "I have been in films, but I always feel like an outsider. I think that's my strength and my weakness. But I like to keep it to myself and do my job. I am not someone to look back and think about it," she added. Shurti was speaking on the sidelines of Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2018, where she walked the ramp for designers Saaksha and Kinni. The actor said, even though she is conscious about her appearance, she does not believe in strictly following the fashion trends. "There is a lot of emphasis on fashion these days. There are a lot of actors putting in much more efforts then I do. I can see that, people are very particular to know what is in vogue. I am not like that. I have always followed my own instincts in terms of fashion. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't, but I always feel good about myself. "I am conscious. But I don't let myself follow every trend, because some of them are really ridiculous. For me it is more about feeling comfortable and confident, she said. Saakhsha and Kinni's collection titled "Raas", presented a kaleidoscopic swirl of colour and freedom of movement. The designer duo picked bold colours, playful prints and original embroideries for their new range, which also incorporates extensive use of Bandhani, Patola and Ikat. They also reinterpreted the can-weaving tradition of Gujarat's Kotwalia tribe with the help of metal-and-thread interweaving techniques. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) IG Petrochemicals (IGPL), which makes phthalic anhydride (PA) chemical aims to double turnover to Rs 2,000 crore by 2021 after completion of its brownfield expansion worth Rs 300 crore. Post expansion, the company will be among the top three PA manufacturers in the world and targets to nearly double turnover from Rs 1,150 crore in FY18 to Rs 2,000 crore by 2021, IGPL managing director and CEO Nikunj Dhanuka told PTI. "We have taken up expansion by adding another 53,000 tonne per annum of PA chemicals to our existing 1,70,000 tpa capacity and to make a foray into the downstream products at a cost of Rs 300 crore at Taloja near hear. We are hopeful of completing the project by next August," he said. The domestic PA market is 350,000 mtpa and has been growing at a healthy rate of 7 per cent at current levels. This is catered to by domestic production of 250,000 mt and balance of 100,000 mt is imported from Korea. The company is raising Rs 125 crore through equipment finance loan from Germany and the balance through internal accruals to fund Rs 300 crore capex plan, Dhanuka added. The global scenario of PA is dominated by demand led across Asia, with China being the largest consumer and countries like India, Saudi Arabia, UAE following suit alongwith other Asian countries. Currently there are only two manufacturers in India namely IG Petrochemicals and Thirumalai Chemicals, who produce the combined capacity for the Indian market. IGPL is one of the lowest cost producer of phthalic anhydride globally, and both have undertaken expansion. The market for PA is slated to grow at the rate of 9 per cent over the next 5 years, according to Dhanuka. Derived from ortho xylene (OX), which is a downstream petrochemical product; PA is used mainly as a critical raw material to produce plasticisers, unsaturated polyester resins and is essential in manufacturing across a range of sectors of paints, plastics, consumer care, home care and personal care products. The company has reported net sales of Rs 352 crore during the 3 months period ended June 30, 2018 as compared to Rs 297 crore in the same period last year. The net profit increased from Rs 39 crore to Rs 40 crore in Q1 FY 19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The adoption of new accounting standard IndAS has dented the net-worth of nine major listed real estate firms by 18 per cent and revenues by 23.6 per cent sequentially in June quarter, according to a report. IndAS 115, which came into effect from April 1, lead to these companies applying project completion method (PCM) compared to the earlier adopted percentage of completion method (POCM), and restating their net-worth with a retrospective effect. The companies had to reverse the gains recognised on projects that were not completed as on April 1. "The cumulative impact on the net worth of these nine companies has been to the extent of Rs 11,279 crore, an 18 per cent downward revision from their March 31, 2018 reported net-worth under the earlier accounting regime," ratings agency Icra said in its report. The companies under analysis are Godrej Properties, Prestige Estates Projects, Brigade Enterprises, DLF, Indiabulls Real Estate, Phoenix Mills, Sobha, Mahindra Lifespace Developers and Puravankara. These nine companies together had a net-worth of Rs 62,005 crore prior to IndAS adoption and the same stands restated to Rs 50,726 crore now, it noted. From a revenue perspective, the new accounting has seen their income being recognised for the on-going projects, declining by a whopping 23.6 per cent in June quarter compared to the March quarter, Icra said. Revenue stood at Rs 6,771 crore, against Rs 8,864 crore in Q4 of FY18 for these companies. Further, the total comprehensive income also plunged to Rs 743 crore from Rs 2,409 crore. These companies had Rs 42,517 crore debt on their book as of March 2018. This fall in net-worth has lowered their gearing from 0.69 times to 0.84 times, the report noted. "The application of IndAS 115 has impacted financial reporting. The impact has been more pronounced on the net-worth, revenue and profit," the agency said. "Companies had to restate net-worth as of March 2018, leading to deterioration in their gearing levels. Further, adoption has deferred revenue recognition," it explained. Icra said going forward, it expects there will be significant volatility in realtors quarterly revenue and profitability. While the adoption of IndAS 115 does not impact cash-flows of a company, the reversal in retained earnings on account of profit from on-going projects gives good visibility on future profits that will be recognised over the near-to-medium term as and when these projects get completed, the agency added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and France will commence work on launching a constellation of maritime surveillance satellites next year, an official from the French space agency said. The study, which has taken on board views of all stakeholders including the maritime security agency of the two countries, will chalk out the schedule of the exercise. The satellites will be designed to cover areas ranging from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean and parts of the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, keeping in mind the interests of both the countries, the official said. The study will access the number of satellites required in the constellation. In March this year, India and France unveiled a joint vision for space, resolving to strengthen cooperation between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and CENS, the space agency of France. "ISRO and CNES would work together for design and development of joint products and techniques, including those involving Automatic Identification System, to monitor and protect assets in land and sea.In particular, both sides will pursue the study of a constellation of satellites for maritime surveillance, the joint vision statement said. The purpose of this constellation is monitoring sea traffic management, the official said. The statement also envisaged to launch a constellation of maritime surveillance satellites with a prime focus on the Indian Ocean, a region that is witnessing an increased presence of China. Several crucial Sea Lanes of Communications pass through the Indian Ocean, a region critical to the strategic interests of India and France. The Indian Ocean is critical in safeguarding interests of both India and France. On our part, we have several areas territories in the Indian, Pacific Ocean and in the tropical region. The satellites will be designed to serve the purpose, the official added. India and France share robust space cooperation and have been working closely since the last six decades. Both sides have been working on the aspect of climate monitoring on the joint missions Megha-Tropiques and Saral-Altika, and the ongoing studies of the Trishna satellite for land Infrared monitoring and the Oceansat3-Argos mission. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian Army contingent beat its Pakistani counterpart in the final of a friendly volleyball match organised today on the sidelines of a mega anti-terror drill being held in Russia. An army officer said the team of 5 Rajput Regiment emerged winners among the eight participating nations, he said. Militaries of India and Pakistan are part of a mega anti-terror drill being held in Russia's Chelyabinsk city which was organised by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Around 200 Army and Air Force personnel from India are participating in the exercise. Other SCO member countries include Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It will be for the first time since Independence that India and Pakistan will both be part of a military exercise, though the armies of the two nations have worked together in UN peacekeeping missions. India and Pakistan were admitted as observers of the grouping in 2005 and they were admitted as full members of the bloc last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Coimbatore Sidco Industrial Estate Manufacturers Welfare Association (COSIEMA) today urged the Tamil Nadu government to roll back the increase in the Memorandum of Title Deeds (MOTD) charges for bank loans. The state government has increased the MOTD charges for bank loans from Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000, despite demands from the industry to reduce it to Rs 10,000, COSIEMA President, S Surulirajan said in a statement here. "But now all of a sudden without any reason this charge has been increased to Rs 30,000," he said and appealed to the government to revise the charge. The association also requested the government to consider charging only Rs 10,000 for Small and Tiny Industries on the basis of Udyog Adhar, Surulirajan said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP today came down heavily on Amartya Sen, likening him to people who have always misled the society, a day after the Nobel laureate called for an alignment of non-BJP, non-communal forces for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. "Intellectuals like Sen, who had always professed Left ideology, are losing touch with reality. Sen had said CPI(M) is getting invisible. Nothing can be truer than this, nothing can be truer than the fact that people like Sen, a Marxist, have little relevance in the present times," West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh told reporters on the sidelines of a party programme here. On Sen's call for defeating BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP leader said people like him have always taken the society on the wrong path. "He had always given wrong direction to the society, it is no surprise he is again doing the same thing," Ghosh said. Sharply reacting to Ghosh's diatribe against Sen, Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee said, "One has to be a reader of books to acquire the right to speak on Amartya Sen." Chatterjee said, "Those people, who wield lathis at processions, should refrain from making comments on a person of Sen's stature as they can't appreciate the words spoken by an erudite person like him." Criticising the BJP government at the Centre, Sen had said yesterday that a party having got 31 per cent votes and ill motives in came to power in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iran's top defence official met Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and its defence minister today in Damascus, hailing their strong ties and pledging to contribute to the war-torn country's reconstruction. Tehran has provided steady political, financial and military backing to Assad as he has fought back a seven-year uprising. Today, Iranian Defence Minister Amir Hatami arrived in Syria and met with his Syrian counterpart Abdullah Ayoub, then with Assad. "Syria is in a very, very important juncture. It is passing through the critical stage and it is entering the very important stage of reconstruction," said Hatami, in comments carried by Iranian state broadcaster IRIB. He said it was agreed with Syria that Iran would have "presence, participation and assistance" in reconstruction "and no third party will be influential in this issue". Since it erupted in 2011, Syria's war has cost it approximately USD 388 billion (334 billion euros), according to the United Nations' Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). Assad last month said reconstruction was his "top priority" in Syria, where more than 350,000 people have been killed and millions forced to flee their homes. World powers who long called for his ouster insist reconstruction aid should only come with political transition, but fellow regime ally Russia is pressing them to provide support. According to comments carried by state media, Assad told Hatami that Damascus and Tehran should set "long-term cooperation plans". Minister Ayoub also championed the two countries' special relationship today. "Syrian-Iranian relations are a model for bilateral ties between independent and sovereign nations," Ayoub said. The two countries have had strong ties for years. Iran has dispatched military forces to Syria but insists they are advisors, not fighters. Iran-backed militias, including the powerful Lebanese Hezbollah movement, have also backed Assad's troops. With help from them and Russian warplanes, Assad has recaptured around two-thirds of the country and is now eyeing the northwest province of Idlib. "Idlib will return to the nation's bosom, and all Syrian soil will be cleansed of terrorism, either through reconciliation or ground operations," Ayoub said today. He also slammed the United States, which has established military bases in Syria to fight the Islamic State group. "The Americans are looking for a way to stay east of the Euphrates River to lock in their presence in this region," said Ayoub. The comments came a day after a senior US diplomat, ambassador William Roebuck, visited territory around those bases and said the US was "prepared to stay" in Syria to defeat IS, but was also "focused" on ousting Iran. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iran's parliament impeached Economy Minister Masoud Karbasian today in the latest blow to the embattled government as it struggles to face down a mounting economic crisis. Karbasian lost the vote of confidence, which was carried live on state radio, by 137 votes to 121, with two abstentions, becoming the second minister in President Hassan Rouhani's cabinet to be impeached this month. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nearly 140 migrants who had been stranded on a boat at a port in Sicily were allowed to disembark early today after Ireland and Albania agreed to take some of them in. The boat docked at Catania port on Monday but Italy had refused to let those on board disembark in the absence of any EU commitment to relocate them, prompting a new bitter row with Brussels. But following a deal brokered by the Catholic Church late yesterday, Italy's far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini agreed to allow them to leave the Diciotti, the Italian coastguard ship which rescued them some 10 days ago. There were initially around 180 migrants on board when it arrived at Catania, but Rome allowed 27 unaccompanied minors to disembark on Wednesday and another 12 people left on Saturday following a health authority request. Albania, which is not a member of the EU, offered safe haven to 20 of the migrants, with Ireland saying it would take up to 25. It was not immediately clear what would happen to the others, although Italian media reports suggested Rome was in talks with Serbia and Montenegro. The migrants disembarked several hours after Sicilian prosecutors said they had opened an inquiry into Salvini for "illegal confinement, illegal arrest and abuse of power" over his refusal to authorise their disembarkation, reports said. EU migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos welcomed the deal, saying it was the result of "solidarity across borders and communities". "But we cannot always wait for this type of goodwill solidarity. We need to have structural measures," he said in a statement. The Diciotti standoff was the latest in a string of incidents involving Italy's recently-installed populist government, which has vowed to stop taking in migrants rescued off Libya. On Friday, Rome threatened to pull its EU funding unless other states agreed to take some of the Diciotti migrants. But Avramopoulos warned Italy would end up "shooting itself in the foot" by its ongoing attacks on the EU. "Politicians in your country need to understand that you are not alone, that Europe is trying to help you. On the contrary, anyone who attacks the EU is shooting himself in the foot," he told today's edition of La Repubblica newspaper. "We cannot move ahead with ad hoc solutions for each boat. The migration phenomenon is not going to stop overnight so we need to manage it together as one European family." Italy's economy minister Luigi Di Maio, however, remained defiant, saying Rome would be within its rights to hold back its annual EU budgetary contributions. "If their system of solidarity works like that, we will not give another euro to the EU," he said in a televised interview. Writing on Twitter late yesterday, Albania's Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati said Tirana was "ready to help", recalling how Italy accepted thousands who fled Albania by sea after the fall of communism in the early 1990s. "We cannot replace Europe but we are always here, on the other side of a sea where once we were the Eritreans suffering for days and nights in the middle of the sea, waiting for Europe to wake up," he said. "Yesterday, Italy saved us, today we are ready to give a hand." And Ireland's Foreign Minister Simon Coveney tweeted that Ireland would "accept 20-25 migrants from the Diciotti". "European solidarity is important + this is the right thing to do. Work continues (with) EU partners on more sustainable solutions." Migration is a hot-button issue in Italy, where hundreds of thousands of people have arrived since 2013. Under EU rules people must seek asylum in their country of arrival, but Rome has recently moved to block boats from docking at its ports. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi had on Friday rebuked European nations over the standoff. "The time has come to end the back-and-forth that has seen countries competing in a race to the bottom on who can take the least responsibility for people rescued at sea," he said. "It is dangerous and immoral to put the lives of refugees and asylum-seekers at risk while states engage in a political tug-of-war on long-term solutions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Jammu and Kashmir Police today briefly detained a man after he was caught on CCTV camera roaming in a suspicious manner outside the highly-fortified Police Control Room (PCR) premises here. He was later let off as nothing adverse surfaced against him, police said. "Yesterday, a man was found suspiciously roaming outside the Police Control Room, Kashmir. The said person was traced and detained for questioning," a police spokesman said here. The CCTV footage showed the man, carrying a bag, roaming around the main gate of the PCR at Batamaloo here. He was again seen with the bag later in the day, he said. The police, however, said nothing adverse surfaced against him after he was detained and questioned. "During the course of questioning, nothing adverse surfaced with regard to him," the spokesman said. He said the reports -- by some television channels -- linking the individual to some militant outfit were "factually incorrect". Media is requested to seek official confirmation before running such news, the spokesman said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The strategically important Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was reopened partially this evening after remaining closed for over 44 hours, in a relief to passengers who were left stranded due to a massive landslide, officials said. The landslide blocked the 270-km highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with rest of the country, at Ramsoo in Ramban district early yesterday. A major road clearance operation was launched immediately after the landslide but intermittent rains hampered the early reopening of the arterial road. "After hectic efforts, the road was cleared for one-way traffic this evening and accordingly the stranded vehicles are being allowed towards their respective destinations," the officials said. They said the road clearance operation was still going on in full swing to remove the remaining debris. Earlier in the day, the authorities used explosives to blast the huge rocks which had rolled down on the highway. "No vehicle was allowed to move from either Jammu or Srinagar on the highway for the second day this morning," the officials had said. Over 900 vehicles including those carrying passengers got stranded on the highway after the closure of the road yesterday. Many vehicles returned to the places of their origin but those which remained stranded at different places along the highway were moved to safer places and their passengers accommodated in shelter sheds and provided meals, the officials said. They said senior civil and police officers including the district development commissioner are personally monitoring the road clearance operation and ensured that all stranded passengers are provided meals besides night shelter at designated places. The officials said the decision to allow traffic from Jammu and Srinagar tomorrow would be taken after reviewing the latest situation later tonight. They requested commuters to contact traffic control rooms before starting their journey on the highway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shinzo Abe confirmed today he would run in his ruling party's leadership election, putting him on track to become Japan's longest-serving premier and bolstering his dream of reforming the constitution. Abe is expected to be re-elected head of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) easily, with the vast majority of lawmakers behind him and only one challenger, former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba. "I have decided to lead Japan as the LDP leader and the prime minister for three more years, and with this determination, I will run for the leadership election next month," Abe told reporters in a televised conference. Winning the September 20 run-off would effectively keep the hawkish Abe in power for another three-year term at the helm of the world's third-largest economy, with no real political party opposition to speak of. Abe pledged Sunday to focus on the demographic issues raised by Japan's rapidly ageing society as well as the "tumultuous changing international situation." His rival Ishiba has also identified demographic concerns and the regional security threat from nuclear-armed North Korea as the two biggest challenges facing Japan. In April, Abe found himself on the ropes amid twin cronyism scandals that reignited the debate over whether he had sufficient backing to win a third term as LDP leader as his approval ratings dipped. But Mikitaka Masuyama, professor of political science at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), predicted the election would be a "landslide victory for Abe, as he has already obtained support from an overwhelming majority of MPs." The election is decided 50-percent by MPs and the other half by the LDP's rank-and-file members. "There is no one else qualified to lead Japan in an environment where (President Donald) Trump's US and China continue their trade battles that could hit the world economy," Masuyama told AFP. Analysts believe Abe, 63, will seize on the expected victory to resume his push to reform Japan's post-war constitution, specifically an article that forces the country to "forever renounce war" and that armed forces will "never be maintained." The article creates a headache for Japan's Self-Defence Forces (SDF), a well-equipped military stuck in a constitutional grey zone. With regional tensions still high, allies have urged Japan to bolster the role of the SDF but former foes in Beijing, Seoul and Pyongyang would likely react furiously. "The revision of the Constitution is a long-held policy goal" of the LDP, Abe said earlier this month. "We cannot keep just discussing (it)," he said. Revising the Allied-imposed Constitution is a very sensitive matter in pacifist Japan and an August 5 poll in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper showed 52 percent of people were opposed to changing it, compared to 31 percent in favour. Moreover, more than two-thirds of people in an NHK poll in April said there were more pressing issues in Japan, which continues to battle deflation and problems relating to an ageing society. According to Masuyama, Abe intends "to clarify the role of the Self-Defense Forces, and nothing more," whereas defence hawk Ishiba prefers a deeper reform of Japan's military strategy. "It's unthinkable that Japan would take a path towards military power," said the analyst. Abe took power in December 2012 after a landslide general election victory for the LDP, making a dramatic comeback after a bowel ailment forced him to resign the premiership in 2007 following a year in the role. Currently, the longest serving Japanese prime minister is Taro Katsura, who served as premier three times between June 1901 to February 1913. If Abe serves beyond November next year, completing more than 2,886 days as premier including his 2006-2007 term, he will be the longest serving prime minister in the country's history. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sunday Observer 8 July, 2018 There are two new developments in Sri Lankaas contemporary politics which is getting crystalized and clearer these days. They are: (a) the consolidation of a hard right-wing alternative to a weak and shaky democratic regime option, and (b) the projection of an ex-military officer as the embodiment of the new right-wing agenda. At the core of the first are groups of Buddhist monks, and retired military and navy officers who took part in the final phase of the war against the LTTE. This essay comments on the first of the two right-wing political formations, the new movement of Buddhist monks, that has openly expressed its desire to see a aHitlera type military ruler winning Sri Lankaas next presidential election due in late 2019. The new right-wing Buddhist clerical movement has so far revealed the following key characteristics: * It is a post-democratic political formation. * It does not follow political parties. Rather, it wants political parties to follow its agenda * It has selected its own lay political leader, who is an ex-military person, as an ideal dharmika or arighteous ruler (dehemipalakaya) * It has conceptualized the concept of adharmika rulera within a post-democratic paradigm of political thought In the rest of this essay, I will discuss the following two features of this neo-right wing movement of the Buddhist Sangha: (a) the emerging paradigm of the ideal of dharmika ruler, and (b) its post-democratic character. I will also reflect, though briefly, on the political consequences of (a) and (b). That discussion will also offer a brief account of the conceptual evolution of the notion of dharmika ruler. Dharmika Ruler as aStronga Ruler The idea of dharmika ruler has an extremely interesting conceptual history in South Asiaas religious, social and philosophical thought. It is rendered into Sinhalese as dehemipalakaya and the word dehemi has a complex set of meanings. Ven. Wendaruwe Upali, who wants Gotabaya Rajapaksa to emerge as a Hitler-type dharmika ruler, is conveying only one version of it. It suggests aa strong ruler who can rebuild the country in alliance with the military.a It needs to be acknowledged that the present Sinhalese-Buddhist notion of astrong rulera derives its meaning in opposition to the yahapalanaya regime of President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe which is a weak, vacillating, and disunited government with no political will even to pursue its own reform agenda. Sinhalese nationalist groups are also thoroughly displeased with the regime which they see as one which has been giving into the pressures of ethnic minorities as well as internationals a all aanti-nationala forces. The emergence of the clamour for a strong ruler also indicates that there is now an emerging shift in public opinion in favour of regime change. It would be an uphill task for the incumbent Government to reverse this shift in the political consciousness of the voters. Against this backdrop, the notion of a new regime under a dehemipalakaya embodies to some degree concretization of a slogan that can appeal to Sinhalese-Buddhist voters, but threaten even the fragile sense of security among the ethnic and religious minorities. MP Vijayakalaas nostalgia for the days of LTTE administration in the North in a way indicates how both, Sinhalese and Tamil parties can even compete with each other in proposing post-democratic alternatives to post-yahapalanaya Sri Lanka. The idea of a dharmika ruler, which can be loosely translated into English as aduty-conscious,a or arighteousa ruler, has a long history in South Asiaas political and social thought. To understand its evolution as an idea and a concept in its changing historical contexts, let us see at least briefly its different versions as a conceptual category in Indian Hindu, Indian Buddhist and Sri Lankan Buddhist thoughts. In the classical Hindu, social and political thought evolved in pre-Buddhist India. The concept of dharma did not have an overtly religious meaning. Rather, it had a secular-ethical meaning. It simply meant the ruleras adherence to the raja dharma, or the duties and responsibilities of the King to his society as acknowledged in the Brahmin-dominated socio-cultural order. According to Manusmruthi that codified the dharma principle evolved during the Vedic period, the foremost duty of the Buddhist dharmika ruler was a secular one, that is, a ruler who ensures social unity and integration of the polity. It is extremely noteworthy that the Buddha reinterpreted the Hindu concept of dharmika ruler, but still within the secular paradigm. The Buddhaas notion of dharma was social equality. His strong advocacy of social egalitarianism through the reinterpretation of the pre-existing concept of dharma was a total rejection of social inequality sanctioned by the Hindu social ideology. Contrary to contemporary Sri Lankan understandings of the idea of dharmika ruler, the Buddha never expected the kings or the ruling class to protect his teachings (dharma), or the movement (sasana) he launched. Although the Buddha was a keen observer of politics of North India at the time, he never condoned the mixing of his ethical-spiritual movement with politics. Meanwhile, Emperor Asoka, who ruled north and central India three hundred years after the Buddhaas death, gave another interpretation to the idea of dharmika King that was indeed built on the Buddhaas ethical teachings. What he did was the re-elaboration of the notion of dharma (duty) outside the Vedic framework of caste rules and rituals and placing of it within the frame of the Buddhaas ethical teachings of tolerance, forbearance, truthfulness, equanimity, compassion, non-violence, and welfare of all living beings. Asokaas example gave rise to the subsequent South Asian and Southeast Asian Buddhist concept of dharmaraja (aKing guided by Dharmaa) as a paradigm of ethical kingship. As John Holt remarks in his study of Sri Lankaas Kandyan King Kirthi Sri Rajasinha, dhammaraja meant a ruler who fostered order in the world by appealing to the norms of ethical righteousness embodied in panchasila (five-fold morality), rather than by means of expedient military power (danda). King Kirthi Sri Rajasinha during the 18th century, also gave rise to a second meaning of the paradigm of dhammaraja. This second meaning was, as John Holt suggests, constructed around the specific account of Asokaas dhammaraja rule given in the Mahawansa, the foremost chronicle in Sri Lankaas Sinhalese Buddhist tradition. Dehemi Palakaya: Contemporary Meanings In this new account, dharmika king was the ruler whose actions were to be guided by the ethical principles of Buddha dhamma, dedicated himself to the protection of Theravada Buddhism and Theravada Buddhism alone, and subjected himself to the authority of the Sangha elite. It is these second and third components that constituted the core of the Sri Lankan appropriation and re-conceptualization of the dhammaraja or dehemiraju, in Sinhala. Thus, the Sri Lankan post-colonial concept of dharmikapalakaya, as developed by the intellectual Buddhist monks, has its roots in the second meaning of dhammaraja developed by King Kirthi Sri Rajasinha. In the modern Sinhalese Buddhist political thought, the concept of dehemiraju, or dharmikapalakaya, has acquired a host of nuances in Sri Lankaas specific post-colonial contexts. Foremost among them is the notion that the elected Prime Minister or the President should be a protector of the interests of the majority Sinhalese community. This also meant that a non-Sinhalese, or a non-Buddhist, would lack legitimacy to be the countryas democratically elected PM or President. The ruleras commitment to the constitutional guarantee for Buddhismas foremost place in relation to minority religions has to be unwavering. In the style of the old atraditiona, the rulers should obtain aadvise and counsela of the Sangha leadership on matters of governance, public policy, and statecraft (rajyapalanaya). This notion of dehemi/dharmikapalakaya in turn offers a reciprocal set of political functions to Buddhist monks. This is a point which has not received much attention of the scholars of contemporary Sri Lankan Buddhism. Not only the leaders of the priestly hierarchy and the elite, but also ordinary demagogic monks who are active in various populist political projects think that listening to them and following their agendas is the unconditional duty of political leaders if they were to abide by the dehemi/dharmikapalakaya ideal. They also consider it their constitutional duty to protect the unitary character of the state which politicians of all hues have thought warranted some change. This has created a situation, as we have noticed since 1987, where politically mobilized Buddhist monks emerged as the most ardent opponents of devolution. They genuinely believe that the protection of the unitary state that the British colonial rulers introduced to Sri Lanka, is their sacred religio-moral duty amidst threats to it emanating from some Sinhalese rulers themselves. J.R. Jayewardene, Chandrika Kumaratunga and Ranil Wickremesinghe are prominent in the list of these auntrustworthya Sinhalese leaders. Meanwhile, the relationship that the Sangha hierarchy maintains with Sinhalese political leaders is mixed with ritualistic and political significations.Frequent visits to the temples belonging to the top order of Sangha hierarchy by political leaders and high state officials, including the heads of the armed forces and the police, with offerings (atapirikara) on important occasions are a ritual with rich and fascinating symbolic meanings. It suggests, among other things, the acceptance of the supremacy of the religious order over the secular political order. The white clothes these politicians wear, their deceptive and often amusing body language, and their false mannerisms in these ritual moments show how a tradition that King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe inaugurated in order to secure legitimacy in a feudal society that was culturally alien to him, survives even in a post-colonial democratic setting in a manner that is totally at odds with modern, democratic, and egalitarian ethos. This ritualistic submission of the lay political and bureaucratic elites to the religious authority is now showing signs of moving out of its world of symbolism and entering the actual world of politics and state power. A shift in the political order? One way of interpreting the confluence of post-democratic political forces around a neo-right-wing agenda and a personality constructed in the mould of adharmika ruler is that Sri Lankaas contemporary political order is set to experience a major qualitative shift. In that emerging political order, there might develop two parallel authority structures, one secular, and the other, religious. As mentioned above, the new Sangha mobilization in Sri Lanka, with its right-wing political agenda, is a post-democratic phenomenon. The elaboration of this point warrants a separate essay. For the moment, we may note two of its defining characteristics. The first is the inability of the Sangha political movement to positively engage with modern democracy and pluralism and adopt its political and social visions to the post-feudal world. The second is its absolute disregard for a modern doctrine of social equality and therefore its lack of an egalitarian social ideology. What one can see now is the assertion of the religious authority structure over the secular authority structure in order to secure its place in the political order. The enormous setbacks that Sri Lankaas resurgent democracy has suffered as a result of the failings of the weak democratic regime of President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe are setting the context for this shift. The politics after 2020 will tell us how this emerging equilibrium will impact on the nature of Sri Lankaas state, governance, political institutions and ethnic relations. Thus, the presidential election of 2019 has the potential to mark a crucial turning point in Sri Lankaas future political history. Amid Jet Airways battling financial problems and coming under the regulatory scanner, an employees' union of the airline has sought clarity from the management on the issues that have led to the current situation. Flagging concerns, the Jet Airways Staff and Officers' Association, which claims to have around 10,000 members, has written to CEO Vinay Dube seeking a meeting with him to have a comprehensive understanding of the factors. In a letter to the CEO, the association has also complained that the management was wasting financial resources on "inefficient" operations and hiring of foreign pilots. The letter, written last week, comes against the backdrop of the crisis-hit airline deferring announcement of June quarter results, exploring cost-reduction ways, coming under the regulatory lens for alleged corporate governance lapses and talks of a possible pay cut for the employees. Meanwhile, aviation regulator DGCA is to start safety audit of the airline tomorrow, sources said. The board of the full-service carrier is scheduled to consider the June quarter results tomorrow where there would also be discussions on cost-reduction ways and turnaround plan. The association does not represent Jet Airways' pilots, engineers and cabin crews since these categories of staff have separate unions. "We are concerned for our members who are employed in the staff and officers category across the country in respect of their service conditions, salary and wage enhancement and conditions of service which have been brought to your notice vide our charter of demands to finalise a settlement," the association said. A response was awaited from an airline spokesperson on the queries about the letter. Stating that Dube failed to meet the association's representatives after giving an appointment for a meeting on August 10, the grouping said it is awaiting the schedule of the meeting with the management team to put across concerns and grievances. The association has also raised serious concerns about media reports and social media messages "relating to the insolvency of the company, concerns of violations of law, Sebi investigation into fraudulent transactions and other management actions". According to the letter, employees have not been able to get their due from the management all these 25 years while it is unfortunate that the company has squandered large sums of money on inefficient operations, expats' induction, unwanted expenditure, among others. "We also notice complaints that have come about malpractices in hiring employees for non-aviation related work. We will be happy to discuss these issues with you," the letter said. Further, the association has suggested that the CEO should have discussions with the HR department on all the pending issues in the last three years. This is for a "comprehensive understanding of the failure of the company in meeting the basic requirement of employees and the delay in resolutions of pending legal matters", it added. "Our members have shown utmost restraint in the last few months... and any delay in resolution of the subject matter will not be in the interest of the company," the association said. Meanwhile, a senior Corporate Affairs Ministry official said the Registrar of Companies (RoC) has asked for details from the airline about certain issues and that the process is going on. Query sent to a Jet Airways spokesperson on whether the airline has received queries from the RoC regarding financial issues and delay in announcement of quarterly results remained unanswered. Information has also been sought from the airline's auditors against the backdrop of the airline deferring the announcement of June quarter results, he added. Markets regulator Sebi is also looking into the airline delaying June quarter results after the carrier's audit committee expressed reservations, sources said earlier this month. The board of Jet Airways would consider cost reduction initiatives and turnaround plan along with June quarter results at its meeting on August 27. The board, on August 9, deferred announcement of unaudited financial results for the June quarter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today distributed 1000 free gas connection under Ujjawala Scheme after women tied Rakhi on his wrist on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan festival here. Das, who was in the steel city to celebrate the festival with his sisters, assured the women of the state that it was his governments responsibility to ensure their security, according to an official release. "I assure you that as long as I am the chief minister of the state, it is my responsibility to ensure your security. I will discharge my responsibility sincerely," the release quoted him as said. Stating that 1000 free gas connections were distributed today, the chief minister said the state government has targeted to distribute free gas connections to 35 lakhs women by the end of this year. He said the government has already distributed 23.50 lakh free gas connection so far. Earlier, five women have tied Rakhi to the chief minister. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today sent off a group of 26 farmers, accompanied by state government officials, to Israel to learn new techniques in farming there. Addressing the farmers before their departure, Das asked them to learn the new techniques minutely and and use those methods in their own farming. Israel is a country geographically smaller than Jharkhand, but its per capita income is greater than that of India, the chief minister said. Jharkhand is now lagging behind in grain production but the day is not far when it would not only become self-sufficient in producing grains but also would supply grains to other states, Das said. He called upon people to go for pisciculture, animal husbandry, horticulture, besides farming. In their four-day trip, the farmers would visit dairy farms, production units of fruits and vegetables and learn about functioning of drip irrigation, Agriculture Secretary Puja Singhal said. Agriculture Director Ramesh Gholop, Hazaribagh Deputy Commissioner Ravi Shankar Shukla, Garwha Deputy Commissioner Neha Arora, Horticulture Director Vijay Singh and Joint Director (Agriculture) Dr Subhas Singh are accompanying the farmers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haryana's main opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) MLA, Hari Chand Middha, died at a private hospital in Delhi, his party said today. The 76-year-old Jind MLA was suffering from a kidney ailment and died yesterday night at the hospital, party's state unit president Ashok Arora told PTI. "Middha ji had been admitted to a private hospital at Delhi for past few days. He was suffering from kidney ailment," he said. Middha was first elected to public office as a municipal councillor in Jind in 1986. He was elected as MLA of Jind, considered the political heartland of Haryana, for two consecutive terms in 2009 and 2014. Arora said Middha was one of Jind's oldest medical practioners. "Even until few weeks back he used to attend to patients and treat poor patients for free. He was a noble man, who commanded respect cutting across parties. The void created by his loss will be difficult to fill," Arora said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haryana's main opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) MLA, Hari Chand Middha, died at a private hospital in Delhi, his party said today. He was 76. Middha, who was MLA from Jind constituency, was suffering from a kidney ailment and died last night at the hospital, party's state unit president Ashok Arora said. He was cremated with full state honours in Jind today. "Middha ji had been admitted to a private hospital at Delhi for past few days. He was suffering from kidney ailment," Arora said. Middha was first elected to public office as a municipal councillor in Jind in 1986. He was elected as the Jind MLA for two consecutive terms in 2009 and 2014. Arora said Middha was one of Jind's oldest medical practioners. "Even until few weeks back he used to attend to patients and treat poor patients for free. He was a noble man, who commanded respect cutting across parties. The void created by his loss will be difficult to fill," Arora said. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar expressed grief over the demise of Middha. Khattar paid tributes and laid a wreath on the mortal remains of Middha. Haryana Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu was also present on the occasion. The chief minister said Middha was "not only a leader with clean image, but also a great human being". "He would always be remembered for his selfless service," Khattar said. He extended his condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed for peace to the departed soul. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Joaquin Phoenix is all set to get under the skin of iconic DC character The Joker and the actor says he is not feeling any pressure. After the likes of Jack Nicholson, Mark Hamill and Heath Ledger, Phoenix is the latest Hollywood star to play the character in a film, titled "Joker", which will be directed by Todd Philips. In an interview with Indiewire, the 43-year-old actor brushed aside any notion that he was under stress to get his performance right. "I could care less... I don't really think that much about what people think. Who cares, who cares? My approach to every movie is the same. What I'm interested in is the filmmaker and the idea of the character," the actor said. Phoenix also said the promotional obligations for his latest film "The Sisters Brothers" is proving to be a hindrance in his preparation process for The Joker role. "It is ideal to be able to focus on one thing and not do press while you're prepping for something else, which is not working out," he said. Also starring Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz and Frances Conroy, the film has a release date of October 4, 2019. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "I believe there is no limit to our potential", this is how veteran Senator John McCain viewed US-India relations, especially in the defence sector, as he underscored the importance of setting the foundation correctly for the critical bilateral relations. In an editorial he wrote for CNN ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington in 2016, had said that it was remarkable how much bipartisan support the US-India relationship enjoys on Capitol Hill, an upsurge of interest and respect that is normally reserved only for close partners and allies. "In all my years in Congress, I recall only a select few countries that rose so quickly to such an exalted esteem," McCain, who died yesterday in his home in Arizona at the age of 81, wrote in the editorial two years ago. McCain, an influential Republican lawmaker and the party's nominee for president in the 2008 election, however, noted that moving forward US-China relationship will require "hard choices and determined leadership". "But if any two countries were up to this challenge, it would be two of the most stable democracies in the world -- two countries that have already overcome much historical baggage to arrive at this moment together," McCain, who has served as Chairman of the Senate Committees on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and most recently, Armed Services, wrote. Commenting on Prime Minister Modi's visit to Washington in 2016, he wrote that his trip underscores just how important America's relationship with India has become -- and how critical it is that we set the foundation correctly for the years to come. In the editorial, he pointed out that India was one of the fastest growing sources of foreign investment in the US, with Indian companies investing in American entrepreneurship, creating jobs and leading in corporate social responsibility. "At the same time, as I have watched the partnership develop over the past several years, it is remarkable how much progress we have made on defence and security issues. From joint exercises to joint technology development, and from defence sales to defence strategy, our security interactions and cooperation are increasingly becoming the backbone of our global strategic partnership," he wrote. "A quarter-century ago, this would have been hard to imagine. As our two countries emerged from opposite sides of the Cold War, suspicion was high and distrust even higher, he recalled. He noted that the two countries could not agree on trading mangos or Coke, let alone trading fighter jets and attack helicopters. But in the intervening years, the world changed, and with it, so did our two countries. Remarkably, both sides are now keenly working to make such activities a reality, he wrote. Given our history, he wrote in 2016 that the current defence relationship is indeed a significant achievement. "But what encourages me the most is not the road we have travelled, but rather the path that lies ahead," he wrote. "Over the next 25 years, if we are able to overcome our mutual timidity and our respective historical hang-ups, I cannot imagine anything that could derail our defence relationship and prevent it from becoming ever closer," he wrote in the same year the US recognised India as a Major Defence Partner. When it comes to the defence relationship, I believe there is no limit to our potential, and I will be working hard to ensure these principles are carried into the next administration and the next Congress," he had vowed two years ago. "I am confronted every day I see in India a country that can and should fight with us to maintain global security. "In the coming years, I see an India that provides critical stability in a rapidly changing Indian Ocean region. I see an India that maintains regional balance against expansionist adversaries in the Pacific. And I see an India that is a stronger, more capable ally in the struggle against global terrorism and piracy," McCain wrote, during his stint as the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "And this is just the beginning. If we can come together as defence partners, our countries can be immensely positive forces for increased global peace and security," he wrote. Getting there, however, will not be easy, he had cautioned. "To achieve all this, the US will need to begin treating India the same as it does its close partners and allies, he wrote. India must begin acting like a close partner and ally, he wrote. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Influential US Senator John McCain, a Vietnam war hero and a towering figure in the American political scene, who turned out to be a prominent critic of President Donald Trump has died following a battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer. He was 81. McCain, a six-term senator from Arizona, who was a friend of India, had been suffering from a malignant brain tumor, called a glioblastoma, for which he had been treated periodically with radiation and chemotherapy since its discovery in 2017. According to a statement from his office, McCain died yesterday at 4:28 p.m. local time. His family announced on Friday that he was discontinuing medical treatment. The son and grandson of four-star admirals, McCain endured more than five years of imprisonment and torture by the North Vietnamese as a young naval officer. "My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved best," McCain's wife Cindy McCain said in a post on Twitter. In an editorial he wrote for CNN ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington in 2016, had said that it was remarkable how much bipartisan support the US-India relationship enjoys on Capitol Hill, an upsurge of interest and respect that is normally reserved only for close partners and allies. "In all my years in Congress, I recall only a select few countries that rose so quickly to such an exalted esteem," McCain wrote two years ago. Condolence messages poured in from across party lines on McCain's passing. US President Donald Trump tweeted, "My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!". However, with Trump's election as the nation's 45th president in 2016, McCain was one of the few powerful Republican voices in Congress to push back against Trump's often harsh, provocative statements. McCain had frequently sparred with Trump and had been planning his funeral services over the last year and his family made clear that Trump is not invited, a position that has not changed, two family friends were quoted as saying by the CNN. In his end-of-life memoir, McCain scorned Trump's seeming admiration for autocrats and disdain for refugees. "He seems uninterested in the moral character of world leaders and their regimes," he wrote of the president. "The appearance of toughness or a reality show facsimile of toughness seems to matter more than any of our values. Flattery secures his friendship, criticism his enmity." Former US president Barack Obama said in a statement that while McCain and he came from completely different backgrounds and competed at the highest level of politics, "we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher - the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched and sacrificed." "Few of us have been tested the way McCain once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above," Obama said. McCain, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, made two unsuccessful attempts for the presidency. He lost a bitter primary campaign to George W Bush and the Republican establishment in 2000. He won the nomination in 2008, only to be defeated in the general election by Obama. Bush called his one-time political rival "man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order" and a "friend whom I'll deeply miss." Former vice president Al Gore said he always admired how the senator "would work to find common ground, no matter how hard." McCain was close friends with Senator Lindsey Graham and former senator Joe Lieberman -- a trio dubbed the "Three Amigos." Graham wrote that "America and Freedom have lost one of her greatest champions. And I've lost one of my dearest friends and mentor." Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer hailed him as a "truth-teller" with "unsurpassed" dedication to the US and its military. He said he would seek to rename a Senate building in McCain's honour. McCain was also a persistent critic of Obama's foreign policy. "The demand for our leadership in the world has never been greater. People don't want less of America they want more," McCain said in 2012. "Everywhere I go in the world, people tell me that they still have faith in America. What they want to know is whether we still have faith in ourselves." Despite his serious health condition, McCain had appeared in the Senate to cast a thumbs-down vote against his party's drive to repeal the Affordable Care Act. John Sidney McCain III was born August 29, 1936, in the Panama Canal Zone and into a family whose military lineage included an ancestor who served as anaide to Gen George Washington during the Revolutionary War. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A junior engineer in a power utility company in Odisha's Balasore district was arrested by Vigilance sleuths for allegedly accepting bribe for installation of an electric transformer. Kaustuva Mohapatra, junior engineer in NESCO, Khaira section, had demanded illegal gratification of Rs 1,500 from the complainant for installation of transformer as the one installed earlier has been non-functional since August 14 this year, a vigilance release said. Accordingly, a trap was laid yesterday and Mohapatra was caught red-handed while accepting bribe of Rs 1,500 from the complainant. The bribe money was recovered from the pant pocket of Mohapatra and seized in presence of witnesses, it said. While the engineer was arrested, his rented house at Khaira was searched and the case is under investigation, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Junior doctors stopped working at the emergency services department at state-run NRS Hospital today for several hours in protest against alleged assault on their colleagues, including a woman doctor, by relatives of a patient who died in the facility. Hospital sources said a critically ill patient was brought to the emergency ward by a group of about 30 people this afternoon. The 40-year-old patient Pervez Hussein was recommended a CT scan and he died while being taken for the test. The people accompanying him then went on the rampage and allegedly assaulted the junior doctors present, including a woman, the sources said. Demanding security, the junior doctors went for ceasework running for hours, the sources said. During the ceasework, a patient, injured in road accident, was seen lying before the emergency ward triggering protest by his family who tried to block the nearby road in protest but refrained from doing so after the patient was later admitted to emergency ward. Junior doctors resumed work late in the evening after talks with the superintendent of hospital. The sources said a meeting will be held on August 30 in which representatives of the doctors, the hospital authorities and Patients' Welfare Committee of the hospital will be present to discuss certain issues including healthcare facilities and security. Police sources said a force from Entally police station went to the spot in the afternoon and the situation was normal now. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kenya's president will meet with President Donald Trump tomorrow as East Africa's commercial hub emerges from months of electoral turmoil. President Uhuru Kenyatta is the second African leader to meet with Trump at the White House. Nigeria's president visited earlier this year. Kenyatta's office says he and Trump will focus on trade and regional security. Kenya is the third highest recipient of US security aid in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the Security Assistance Monitor. Both Kenya and the US have troops in Somalia, and the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group has crossed the border to carry out dozens of attacks inside Kenya, calling it retribution for sending troops. Nearly 100 Kenyan police officers have been killed since May 2017 in bombings and ambushes. The Kenyan president during his Washington visit also is meeting with US business leaders to promote investment. The meeting with Trump will help Kenyatta's image after a crisis in which the Supreme Court overturned the August presidential election, citing irregularities, and the opposition boycotted the fresh vote, said political commentator John Githongo. Kenyatta then hosts British Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday. Kenya's foreign minister has said this is May's first visit to Africa since taking office in July 2016. Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma has said May's choice of Kenya shows the country's importance among the community of nations. Kenyatta and May are expected to discuss strengthening existing security agreements, Kenyan officials have said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Known for making controversial remarks, Vijayapura's BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal has kicked up a fresh row by saying the devastating floods in Kerala occurred because of slaughtering of cows in the open. "In Kerala, people openly slaughter cows. What happened? Within a year, a situation like this (flood) arose. Whoever hurts the Hindu religious beliefs will face such consequences," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function at Vijayapura yesterday. The BJP MLA was apparently referring to an incident in Kerala last year, where a group of men slaughtered a cow in the open, triggering a controversy. Yatnal said Hindus had sentiments attached to cows and that nobody should hurt others' religious beliefs. He added that if the BJP came to power in Karnataka, cow slaughter will be stopped. Known for making controversial statements, the BJP MLA had last month said if he was the home minister, he would have the intellectuals shot dead as they worked for the human rights of terrorists and not the soldiers who laid down their lives to protect the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid the row over Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's itinerary during her visit to flood affected Kodagu district, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today praised her for the help she extended for rescue operations. Sitharaman and Karnataka Minister Sa Ra Mahesh were locked in an exchange of words over her itinerary during her visit to Kodagu district on August 24 in full view of officials and the media at the District Commissioner's office. Sitharaman was interacting with a group of affected people of Kodagu district when Mahesh, the district in-charge minister, told her that officials were waiting for her for a review meeting and they have to go for rehabilitation work. This had irked the Defence Minister. In a Facebook post, Kumaraswamy said, "I am deeply pained at the turn of events with regard to the visit of Hon'ble Defence Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman to the flood-affected areas in Kodagu district." The government, along with the relief agencies of both the state and the central governments besides the volunteers were working day and night for the relief and rehabilitation of the flood-hit citizens with support from the Union Government, he said. Lauding Sitharaman, elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka, Kumaraswamy said she extended all possible support to carry out rescue operations and visited the flood-affected areas in Kodagu to understand the situation and to support the rehabilitation work. Regretting the inconvenience caused to the Defence Minister, Kumaraswamy said it was 'unfortunate' that such an incident occurred despite the government and the district administration following the protocol even during the tough situation in the region during her visit. "I believe this is the time for all of us to forget the small differences and forgive each other and join hands for the rehabilitation of the flood affected people in Kodagu. The grave situation in the district warrants it," he said. "Let us not colour such incidents and be distracted from our key focus. I look forward to the continued support of the central government and in particular of the Hon'ble Defence Minister," Kumaraswamy added. In a clarification issued yesterday, a Defence PRO statement, had claimed that Mahesh, who is the district in charge minister, had made certain 'personal' remarks against Sitharaman which had also lowered the dignity of Rajya Sabha and showed "utter lack of regard" and knowledge about the Indian Polity. It had said the remarks made against Sitharaman were also in "bad taste," which do not merit a response. Hitting back at the Defence minister, Karnataka deputy chief minister G Parameshwara said state governments derive their powers from the Constitution, not from the Centre. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hinting at a political realignment with the RJD ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha said a delicious "kheer" can be prepared with milk from the Yadavs and rice from the Kushwahas. The Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) led by Kushwaha is an ally of the ruling NDA government in Bihar. RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, who has time and again extended invitation to Kushwaha to align with the RJD, grabbed the opportunity and said today that "kheer" prepared with love and affection is delicious, energetic and full of nutrition. The Yadav community in Bihar is known for rearing cows while the Kushwahas are primarily agriculturists. Kushwaha was addressing a function organised by his party yesterday to mark the 100th birth anniversary of late B P Mandal, a former chief minister of Bihar, at the S K Memorial hall here. "Yaduvanshiyon ka dudh aur Kushwansiyon ka chawal mil jaye to kheer ban sakti hai (kheer can be prepared with the milk from the Yadavs and rice from the Kushwahas)," he said. The minister also said," We will get the sugar from Brahmins, Tulsi from Choudharyji (RLSP Bihar chief Bhudev Choudhary), and can make delicious kheer with the dry-fruits from the backward classes and Dalits. Then we can relish the delicious kheer together," Kushwaha told the gathering on the occasion. This is the definition of social justice that late Mandal dreamed of, he said. Mandal had also headed the Backward Classes Commission that recommended 27 per cent quota for OBCs in jobs. The panel's recommendations were implemented by the then V P Singh government in 1990. In a tweet, Tejashwi Yadav said, "Undoubtedly Upendra ji, delicious and nutritious kheer is necessary for working class. And health benefits of panchmewa not only provides energy to the body but also helpful in building healthy and equitable society." "Kheer prepared with love and affection is a delicious, energetic and full of nutritious value. This is a good dish," Tejashwi said on Twitter today. When pointed out that his party chief's statement sounded rebellious, RLSP national general secretary and spokesman Abhyanand Suman told PTI that the party was still very much in the NDA fold. On why Kushwaha made such a statement that was sure to embarrass the coalition, he said, "In a democratic set up, every party and its leader try to expand its social base by reaching out to different sections and communities and this effort is in that regard." Of late, Kushwaha has been embarrassing the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in Bihar with his statements. He has been critical of the Bihar government and had in the past even suggested Kumar to voluntarily "give up the bid" for a fourth term in office in 2020. Earlier this month, when an RLSP leader was gunned down in broad daylight, Kushwaha had asked the chief minister how many dead bodies would wake up the administration. The RLSP chief was conspicuous by his absence during the get-together of top NDA leaders in Patna on June 7. Kushwaha had later cited "personal reasons" for staying away from the function. The RLSP's partners in the Bihar government -- the BJP and JD(U) -- chose to tread cautiously on his "kheer" remark. They said Kushwaha's statement sounded more like a recipe and there was nothing more to read into it. "What Kushwaha ji has said it looked like a proverb. Rice, milk and sugar belonged to everyone... One should not read anything more in it as Kushwaha ji has already taken a resolve to make Narendra Modi ji prime minister in 2019 again," Bihar BJP chief Nityanand Rai told PTI. JD(U) spokesman and MLC Niraj Kumar said "It looks like more of a proverb than anything else... Upendra Kushwaha has played an important role in uprooting jungle raj from Bihar and he is with the NDA. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Vatican's retired ambassador to the United States accused senior Vatican officials of knowing as early as 2000 that the disgraced former archbishop of Washington, Theodore McCarrick, regularly invited seminarians into his bed but was made a cardinal regardless. The letter, an extraordinary allegation from a one-time Holy See diplomat, also accuses Pope Francis of knowing about McCarrick's behavior in 2013 but rehabilitating him a claim of cover-up against the pontiff himself. The National Catholic Register and another conservative site, LifeSiteNews, published the letter attributed to Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano on Sunday as the pope wrapped up a two-day visit to Ireland dominated by the clerical sex abuse scandal. Vigano, 77, a conservative whose hard-line anti-gay views are well known, urged the reformist pope to resign over the issue and what he called the "conspiracy of silence" about McCarrick. He and the pope have long been on opposite ideological sides, with the pope more a pastor and Vigano more a cultural warrior. The Vatican did not immediately comment on the letter or confirm its authenticity. In it, Vigano accused the former Vatican secretaries of state under the previous two popes of ignoring detailed denunciations against McCarrick for years. He said Pope Benedict XVI eventually sanctioned McCarrick in 2009 or 2010 to a lifetime of penance and prayer. Francis accepted McCarrick's resignation as cardinal last month, after a US church investigation determined that an accusation he had sexually abused a minor was credible. Since then, another man has come forward to say McCarrick began molesting him starting when he was 11, and several former seminarians have said McCarrick abused and harassed them when they were in seminary. The accusations have created a crisis of confidence in the US hierarchy, because it was apparently an open secret that McCarrick regularly invited seminarians to his New Jersey beach house, and into his bed. Coupled with the devastating allegations of sex abuse and cover-up in a recent Pennsylvania grand jury report which found that 300 priests had abused more than 1,000 children over 70 years in six dioceses the scandal has led to calls for heads to roll and for a full Vatican investigation into who knew what and when about McCarrick. Vigano apparently sought to answer some of those questions. His letter identifies by name the Vatican cardinals and archbishops who were informed about the McCarrick affair, an unthinkable expose for a Vatican diplomat to make. He said documents backing up his version of events are in Vatican archives. The Vatican's ambassador to the US from 2011 to 2016, Vigano said his two immediate predecessors "did not fail" to inform the Holy See about accusations against McCarrick, starting in 2000. He said Francis asked him about McCarrick when they met on June 23, 2013, at the Vatican's Santa Marta hotel where the pope lives, three months after Francis was elected pope. Vigano wrote that he told Francis: "Holy Father, I don't know if you know Cardinal McCarrick, but if you ask the Congregation of Bishops, there is a dossier this thick about him. He corrupted generations of seminarians and priests, and Pope Benedict ordered him to withdraw to a life of prayer and penance." Soon thereafter, Vigano wrote, he was surprised to find that McCarrick had started traveling on missions on behalf of the church, including to China. McCarrick was also one of the Vatican's intermediaries in the US-Cuba talks in 2014. Vigano's claim that McCarrick had been ordered by Benedict to stay out of public ministry and retire to a lifetime of prayer is somewhat disputed, given that McCarrick enjoyed a fairly public retirement. Vigano provides no evidence that such sanctions were imposed by Benedict in any official capacity, saying only that he was told they were. The letter also contains a lengthy diatribe about homosexuals and liberals in the Catholic church. It often reads like an ideological manifesto, naming all of Francis' known supporters in the US hierarchy as being complicit in a cover-up of McCarrick's misdeeds. "Now that the corruption has reached the very top of the church's hierarchy, my conscience dictates that I reveal those truths regarding the heart-breaking case of the archbishop emeritus of Washington," Vigano wrote. Vigano, however, also has had his own problems with allegations of cover-up, and he and Francis had a major dust-up during Francis' 2015 visit to the US, which Vigano organised. In that incident, a leading US opponent of gay marriage, Kim Davis, was among those invited to meet with the pope at Vigano's Washington residence. Francis was so enraged that Davis' supporters had leaked word of the meeting that the Vatican subsequently insisted he only held one private audience while there: with one of his former students, a gay man and his partner. The cover-up accusation, which Vigano denied, concerned allegations that he tried to quash an investigation into the former archbishop of St Paul-Minneapolis, Minnesota, John Nienstedt, who was accused of misconduct with adult seminarians. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Even as the Maharashtra government is walking the Maratha quota tightrope, the Muslim community too has stepped up its efforts for a similar concession. An action committee was formed today to push for the demands of the Muslim community for reservation in government jobs and education. The decision was taken at a meeting held here wherein over 60 organisations participated. The erstwhile Congress-NCP government had issued an ordinance in October 2014 announcing 5% quota in jobs and education for Muslims and 16 per cent for Marathas. After the decision was challenged, the Bombay high court scrapped the entire 16% Maratha reservation and 5% Muslim reservation in jobs but allowed the 5% Muslim quota in education. Meanwhile, the government changed and the BJP came to power in November 2014. Husain Dalwai, a Rajya Sabha member from the Congress and a key organiser of the meeting, said the Pune-based educationist P A Inamdar will head the newly-formed Muslim Reservation Joint Action Committee. "Other members of the committee will be finalised soon and in a couple of months, we will organise meetings across the state to sensitise people about the need for quota," Dalwai said. He said the committee would not take out rallies like Marathas for their demand. "However, various delegations will keep meeting the government regarding the quota demand," he said. Quoting the HC order, Dalwai said the court had noted a need for some reservation for the Muslim community in the education sector. "Unfortunately, the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena government did nothing in the last four years in offering quota for Muslims in education," he claimed. He clarified that the demand for quota is primarily aimed at catering to the poor people in the community. "Rich Muslim who can provide good education for their children should be kept out of this quota," he said. Members of the Maratha community have been holding protests in various parts of the state for reservation in jobs and education under the OBC category. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said that his government was committed to grant reservation to Marathas that will stand a legal scrutiny. The government is currently awaiting a report on the socio-economic status of the Maratha community being prepared by the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 27-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death in northwest Delhi's Nangloi today after he brushed past the accused, police said. The deceased was identified as Deepak, they said. The incident occurred at around 3:30 pm at Regar Chaupal after Deepak brushed past the accused Bolt which led to a heated argument between the duo following which Deepak abused Bolt. The accused then took the victim to a nearby park where he beat him brutally including on his stomach, a police officer said. Deepak was rushed to the hospital where he died due to severe internal bleeding during the course of treatment, the officer said. The accused was arrested and booked. Further investigation is underway, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The death of a man, who allegedly committed suicide after escaping from a police station in Odisha's Kendrapara district, has led to road blockade by irate villagers and suspension of a police officer. The deceased, identified as Abinash Paitala (25), had been arrested yesterday night in a mobile theft case. After interrogation, he was kept in a lock-up of Mahakalapada Police Station, the police officer said. He allegedly escaped from the police station at around 10 pm, when he was taken out of the lock-up to attend natures call. The police launched a search to trace the man but could not find him. Paitala's body was found hanging from the staircase railing of a house in the village today morning, the officer said. Director General of Police R P Sharma placed Inspector-in-Charge of Mahakalapada Police Station, Shyamaghana Behera, under suspension with immediate effect for gross negligence and dereliction of duty, the police officer said. The DGP also instructed Kendrapara Superintendent of Police to take stringent disciplinary action against the police station staff, found responsible for negligence and dereliction of duty in the case. Angry over the incident, the villagers put up a road blockade at Balana Chhak on on Jambu-Marshaghai Road. The family members alleged that Paitala had taken the extreme step due to police excesses. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 24-year-old man has been awarded death sentence by a court in Chhattisgarh's Durg district for raping and murdering a five-year-old deaf and mute girl in 2015. Special Judge, POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act), Shubhra Pachouri, pronounced Ram Sona, guilty on Friday and sentenced him to death, Durg's Additional Public Prosecutor Kamal Kishore Verma told PTI. The court also awarded five years' imprisonment each to his mother Kunti Sona (42) and friend Amrit Singh (23) for concealing evidence of the offence. The convict, a resident of Khursipar locality in Durg, had raped the speech and hearing-impaired girl, residing in the same area, on February 25, 2015, and then smothered her to death, Verma said. Later, his mother and friend helped him to pack the body in a plastic bag and dumped it at a secluded place in the district, located around 45 km from here, he said. During the course of investigation into the case, Ram Sona's mother admitted to the crime and the three were subsequently arrested, he said. This is the first case in which the Durg district court has handed death sentence to a rape accused, the prosecutor claimed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 32-year-old woman was allegedly killed in Rajasthan's Sriganganagar district by her husband, who suspected that she was in an illicit relationship, police said today. They said the man was arrested today after a case was registered on the complaint of the woman's 11-year-old daughter. The accused, Kishan Lal (35), after an argument late last night with his wife Manju, hit her with a brick on her head, Station House Officer, Suratgarh City, Niket Kumar Pareek, said. The body of the woman was handed over to family members after post mortem and the matter is being investigated, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Baby Rani Maurya was sworn in today as the new governor of Uttarakhand. The oath of office and secrecy was administered to Maurya by the acting Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court Rajiv Sharma at a ceremony held at Raj Bhawan here. The function was attended by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, his cabinet colleagues and a host of distinguished people and senior officials. Maurya, a former mayor of Agra, was nominated as governor of Uttarakhand on August 21. She replaces Krishna Kant Paul whose five-year tenure ended recently. Maurya was given a guard of honour at the Raj Bhawan lawns immediately after the swearing-in ceremony. Later talking to reporters the governor expressed her commitment to the development of the state. Describing Uttarakhand as one of the leading states in the country, she said her efforts would be directed towards contributing to its development. Women empowerment and protection of the girl child will be the areas of her focus, she said. Maurya also spoke in favour of quality education to children. Uttarakhand's development should be in sync with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a new India, she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maximum temperatures today stayed close to the normal in most parts of Punjab and Haryana. Union Territory Chandigarh, the joint capital of both the states, registered its maximum at 34.8 degrees Celsius, as per a MeT department report. Among other places in Haryana, Ambala, Hisar, Karnal recorded their respective maximums at 34.3, 36.5 and 33.8 degrees Celsius. In Punjab, Amritsar's maximum settled at 34 degrees Celsius while Ludhiana and Patiala recorded maximum temperatures of 35.2 and 35.1 degrees Celsius respectively. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One of John McCain's final wishes, as he struggled against a devastating brain cancer, could not have been more clear: He made it known that he did not want Donald Trump to attend his funeral. The two men never pretended to like each other. It was not just their clashing personalities or vastly dissimilar backgrounds. Their differences were fundamental, their values dramatically at odds, and their disagreements public and pointed. When Trump announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination in June 2015, suggesting that many Mexican immigrants were criminals and "rapists," McCain denounced him for using language that "fired up the crazies." Trump's response: McCain was a "dummy" who had barely managed to graduate from the US Naval Academy. Never one to give in, Trump then attacked the former navy pilot over what might have seemed his least vulnerable point: the military career -- including more than five years as a wounded and tortured prisoner of war in Vietnam -- for which he received a slew of decorations including the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit and three Bronze Stars. Trump, who received serial deferments and did not serve in the military, said that McCain was "a war hero (only) because he was captured," adding, "I like people that weren't captured." That comment that drew widespread condemnation, including from several veterans groups. McCain's response starkly illustrated the two men's different characters: The senator sought no apology on his own behalf but said that Trump did owe an apology "to the families of those who have sacrificed in conflict" and of those taken prisoner while "serving their country." The rise of Trump's populist candidacy in 2016 was widely seen as a disavowal of McCain-style Republicanism and of the more establishment approach he took during his own presidential run in 2008. Eight years later, here was a man who openly professed his love of money, who had avoided military service because of a foot problem he later said had healed itself, a man who bragged about greasing the wheels for his New York real estate empire by donating to both Democrats and Republicans, a man who, in short, unapologetically flouted the long-established traditions of American and the presidency. As McCain pursued his own re-election to the Senate in 2016, he broke with his party's nominee after a video aired in which Trump could be heard bragging that when he saw beautiful women he would sometimes "grab 'em by the pussy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Presidents past and present joined members of Congress from both parties and world leaders in mourning Sen. John McCain and praising him for a lifetime of service and accomplishments. Former Presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama, who blocked the Arizona Republican's own White House ambitions, are among those expected to speak at McCain's funeral. "These were bitter contests, both of them," said Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and "to ask them to speak at your funeral, and for them to be honoured at the opportunity, that tells you all you need to know." Flake told CBS' "Face the Nation" that McCain "was quick to forgive - certainly put the good of the country above himself, and the fact that his former opponents will be there speaking says all we need to know." McCain is expected to be remembered at ceremonies in Arizona and Washington this coming week or next, if the family prefers to give more time for Congress to return to the Capitol from its summer recess. McCain is to be buried at the US Naval Academy Cemetery on a peninsula overlooking the Severn River in Annapolis, Maryland. Yesterday his grave was marked where he had written he wanted to be buried next to his best friend from his Naval Academy days, Adm. Chuck Larson. President Donald Trump, who once criticised McCain for being taken prisoner during the Vietnam War, said his "deepest sympathies and respect" went out to McCain's family. First lady Melania Trump tweeted thanks to McCain for his service to the country. McCain, 81, died Saturday at his ranch in Arizona after a yearlong battle with brain cancer. A black hearse, accompanied by a police motorcade, could be seen driving away from the ranch near Sedona where McCain spent his final weeks. For 50 miles along Interstate 17 southbound, on every overpass and at every exit ramp, people watched the procession. Hundreds, including many waving American flags, parked their cars and got out to watch. Gov. Doug Ducey, R-Ariz, does not plan to announce his selection of a Senate successor to McCain until after McCain's burial. Under state law, the governor's appointee to serve until the next general election in 2020 must come from the same political party. A statement from Ducey's office said that "now is a time for remembering and honoring a consequential life." Trump's brief Twitter statement said "hearts and prayers" are with the McCain family. Trump and McCain were at odds until the end. The president, who as a candidate in 2016 mocked McCain's capture in Vietnam, had jabbed at the ailing senator for voting against Republican efforts to roll back President Barack Obama's health care law. Earlier this summer, McCain issued a blistering statement criticizing Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Obama, who triumphed over McCain in 2008, said that despite their differences, McCain and he shared a "fidelity to something higher - the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed." Obama said they "saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world." Bush, who defeated McCain for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination, called McCain a "man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order" and a "friend whom I'll deeply miss." Other tributes poured in from around the globe. French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted in English that McCain "was a true American hero. He devoted his entire life to his country." Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said McCain's support for the Jewish state "never wavered. It sprang from his belief in democracy and freedom." And Germany's chancellor, Angela Merkel, called McCain "a tireless fighter for a strong trans-Atlantic alliance. His significance went well beyond his own country." McCain was the son and grandson of admirals and followed them to the US Naval Academy. A pilot, he was shot down over Vietnam and held as a prisoner of war for more than five years. He went on to win a seat in the House and in 1986, the Senate, where he served for the rest of his life. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, called McCain a "fascinating personality." "He would occasionally be in a bad place with various members, including myself, and when this would blow over it was like nothing ever happened," McConnell said Saturday after a GOP state dinner in Lexington, Kentucky. "He also had a wicked sense of humor and it made every tense moment come out better." Former Vice President Joe Biden, who developed a friendship with McCain while they served together in the Senate, said the Arizona lawmaker will "cast a long shadow." "The spirit that drove him was never extinguished: we are here to commit ourselves to something bigger than ourselves," Biden said. The Senate's top Democrat, New York's Chuck Schumer, said he wants to rename the Senate building that housed McCain's suite of offices after McCain. "As you go through life, you meet few truly great people. John McCain was one of them," Schumer said. "Maybe most of all, he was a truth teller - never afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all too rare. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has refused to share details of request to Malaysia seeking extradition of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, being probed in India for alleged terror charges, citing RTI clauses that bars disclosure of information received in confidence from foreign government, among others. In response to an RTI application filed by this PTI correspondent, the ministry said there are 160 extradition requests from India pending with various foreign countries. To a query seeking details of extradition request made by India and response received from Malaysia, it said the information cannot be provided pursuant to Section 8 (1) (a) (f) and (h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. The Section (h) bars disclosure of information which would impede the process of investigation or apprehension or prosecution of offenders. As per Section (f) of the transparency law, information received in confidence from foreign government cannot be disclosed. The Section 8 (1) (a) bars information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the state, relation with foreign state or lead to incitement of an offence. The MEA was asked to provide copy of letter or request made to Malaysia seeking extradition of Naik and also the copy of any communication response from that government. Naik, who left India in July, 2016, is wanted for alleged terror and money laundering charges. MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had last month said that India's request to Malaysia to extradite Naik was under active consideration of that country. India has an extradition treaty with Malaysia. In January, the MEA made a formal request to Malaysia to deport Naik. Naik, who is in Malaysia, in a statement published in Malaysian newspapers in July, had thanked Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad for examining his case from an "unbiased perspective". Mahathir, who had met the radical Indian cleric last month, has made it clear that his government will not easily give in to India's demand to deport Naik. We do not easily follow the demands of others. We must look at all factors before we respond," Mahathir was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times. "Otherwise, someone will become a victim," the prime minister had said. Mahathir had also said that Malaysia will not deport Naik back to India, as long as he does not create problems in the country. The previous Malaysian government had granted Naik permanent resident status. India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), that probes terror cases, had last year filed a charge sheet in a court against Naik for allegedly inciting youth to take up terror activities, giving hate speeches and promoting enmity between communities. It had first registered a case against Naik under anti-terror laws in 2016. Naik is also under investigation for issuing hate speeches that reportedly inspired a deadly terror attack on a popular cafe in Dhaka in 2016. Naik's Mumbai-based non-government organisation, Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), has been declared an unlawful association by the Union Home Ministry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Japanese retail brand Miniso expects India to be among its top three markets globally as it amplify its reach here, a top company official said. The company also expects a "400 per cent" growth in its revenue in next the two years. Miniso, which achieved a revenue of Rs 700 crore in the first year of its operations, is quite upbeat and now has extensive plans to start operation in leading cities and tap the fast growing Tier II & III cities here, the company's Global Chief Designer and Co - Founder Miyake Junya told PTI. Moreover, Miniso is also exploring the fast growing e-commerce channels here besides traditional brick-and-mortar business model as part of its growth strategy. "By FY2019/2020, we expect to amplify our reach and revenue by 400 per cent. The pace of growth will put India in the top 3 markets for us, Miniso Global Chief Designer and Co Founder Miyake Junya told PTI. Presently, India is among top five markets for Miniso globally. It operates 27 stores here - 21 in NCR, three in Mumbai, and one each in Bengaluru, Lucknow and Jaipur. According to him: Indian market has a great potential for business expansion and the huge potential lies in the fact that it offers a very large customer base to tap into. Over expansion plans, Junya said: "The company has extensive plans to start operations in Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad while tapping heavily into Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets. The plan to have 800 stores by 2019 includes markets from all regions - metros, tier II and tier III cities which we will be announcing soon. Besides, Miniso would also expand in the existing cities by opening new outlets. It is also exploring the franchise route also. As part of its strategy, Miniso which is targeting the middle class and young generation, particularly the millenials, has priced its products within the reach and is adding new products every week in its shelves. This decision has led to an impulsive buying behaviour from the consumers and gave us an opportunity to expand our outreach in India, he said adding that Miniso has almost doubled its product portfolio to 4,000 SKUs (stock keeping units) from August 2017 when it started its operations here. Miniso's product range starts from Rs 75 and goes up to Rs 1,500. In coming years, we aim to keep this momentum and always new products to our customers, Junya added. Over online sales, Junya said that the company has plans to venture into this model. We will look to venture into the e-commerce model in the near future. We are working on a website which will have important information about Miniso, its products, offers, etc., he said. However, we may plan to start an e-commerce website but later. To make our products available within an easy reach of our esteemed customers & admirers, an e-com website is what we would want to work on," Junya added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hundreds of Moroccans have signed a petition urging authorities to provide urgent medical and psychological care to a teenage girl who says she was gang-raped. Khadija Okkarou, in a video posted online Tuesday, said she was abducted in mid-June outside the home of a relative in central Morocco by young men alleged to belong to a "dangerous gang". "They held me for about two months, and raped and tortured me," the 17-year-old said, showing what appeared to be scars from cigarette burns and tatoos carved into parts of her body. "I will never forgive them. They have destroyed me," she said. Her testimony has sparked anger in Morocco with social media users launching the "we are all Khadija" hashtag and a petition urging King Mohammed VI to provide her with medical and psychological care. More than 3,400 people had signed the petition by Sunday night. The girl's father, Mohammed Okkarou, said three suspects had been arrested on Saturday in connection with her abduction and that a trial was set to begin on September 6. Naima Ouahli, of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights, told AFP that a total of 12 suspects had been rounded up. Moroccan authorities were not immediately available for comment. Sexual harassment is commonplace in Morocco, despite the adoption of a new constitution in 2011 that enshrines gender equality and urges the state to promote it. And in January 2014, Morocco scrapped a controversial law that allowed child rapists to escape punishment if they marry their victims. Last year 1,600 cases of rape were heard by Moroccan courts, twice as many as previous years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madhya Pradesh forest department has written to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to revive the plan to reintroduce cheetahs in the state's Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary. The ambitious project, conceived in 2009, had hit a roadblock for want of funds. The country's last spotted feline died in Chhattisgarh in 1947. Later, the cheetah -- which is the fastest land animal -- was declared extinct in India in 1952. "We have written a letter to the NTCA seeking revival of the cheetah reintroduction project in Nauradehi sanctuary located in MP's Sagar district. We have sought its stand on the project," MP's Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Shahbaz Ahmad told PTI. The MP forest department would need finances from the Centre for the project, he said, adding that the NTCA, a statutory body under the Union ministry, had committed Rs 50 crore to the state for it in 2011. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) at Dehradun had prepared a Rs 260 crore cheetah re-introduction project around six years ago, wildlife activist Ajay Dubey said. It was estimated that an amount of Rs 25 crore to Rs 30 crore would be needed to build an enclosure in an area of 150 sq km for the cheetahs in Nauradehi, he said. The proposal was to put the felines in the enclosure with huge boundary walls before being released in the wild, he said. Nauradehi was found to be the most suitable area for the cheetahs as its forests are not very dense to restrict the fast movement of the spotted cat, Dubey said. Besides, the prey base for cheetahs is also in abundance at the sanctuary, he added. As per the earlier action plan, around 20 cheetahs were to be trans-located to Nauradehi from Namibia in Africa. The Namibia Cheetah Conservation Fund had then showed its willingness to donate the felines to India, Dubey said. However, MP was not ready to finance the plan contending that it was the Centre's project, officials had said earlier. MP houses six major reserves for the tiger and is often called as the 'tiger state'. Prominent among them are Bandhavgarh, Pench and Kanha tiger reserves. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 61-year-old man has sought action against the collector of Madhya Pradesh's Narsinghpur district for sending him to jail for allegedly "being drunk and creating ruckus" at a public function. P K Purohit, a resident of Khurpa village here, was attending the "jan sunwai" programme of Narsinghpur Collector Abhay Verma on August 21 when he was arrested. Purohit claimed today that he was at the function to apprise district authorities of the delay in building a proper approach road to his village. "The collector told me that Public Works Department (PWD) officials would sort out this complaint. But I pointed out to him that PWD officials were not even present at the public hearing," Purohit told reporters today. "As I was speaking, the collector told me that I talk a lot of nonsense and that he would send me to jail," Purohit alleged, adding that police then took him away and produced him before the sub divisional magistrate's court. Amit Dangi, in charge of Kotwali police station, said, "We had received a complaint from the collector's office. So, the police presented Purohit in the SDM court under section 151 (arrest to prevent the commission of cognisable offences) of the CrPC. The SDM court sent him to jail." "I was in jail since then and was released on Saturday," Purohit said today. Speaking on the issue, collector Abhay Verma, however, said that the man was drunk and was creating ruckus during the public hearing. Purohit today approached the district Superintendent of Police and demanded that a case be filed against Verma. He asked police to scour the CCTV footage of the jan sunwai programme to ascertain the truth. "I want justice. Despite apologising and telling them that I am an old man, I was sent to jail due to the anger of the collector," he claimed. Superintendent of Police D S Bhadoriya confirmed that Purohit's application had been received and added that further action would be taken based on a probe into the incident. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two Reuters journalists in Myanmar face a ruling today that could see them each jailed for up to 14 years, a landmark case that ignited global outcry after they were arrested while investigating a Rohingya massacre. Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, have been in Myanmar's Insein prison since December after they were invited to a dinner with police in Yangon and pounced on as they left the restaurant. They were charged with violating a colonial-era state secrets act for possessing classified documents about Rakhine state, claims undercut by a police witness who said his superior had ordered a set-up and by arguments that the documents had been published in state media. Reuters denied the charges and hired prominent rights attorney Amal Clooney to help, arguing the journalists were simply doing their job in working to expose abuses. "We tried for them as much as we could the whole time," Than Zaw Aung, one of the lawyers for the journalists, told AFP a day before the verdict. "Our journalists will be free if the judiciary is free and fair." Myanmar's former junta routinely jailed and censored the media, and journalists fear the Reuters trial shows that the repressive reflexes are on the rise even under civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The trial on the outskirts of the former capital has been packed with well-wishers and family, with Wa Lone flashing a trademark double thumbs up upon arrival and Kyaw Soe Oo embracing his young daughter in emotional reunions. Wa Lone's wife gave birth to their first child this month. The two consistently gave stirring defences of their work when speaking to reporters at the courthouse. "We are not wrong and the things alleged by the prosecution are baseless," Wa Lone told the media after closing arguments last week. Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone were probing the September 2017 massacre of 10 Rohingya men and boys in the Rakhine state village of Inn Din, a week after the military launched a sweeping crackdown on members of the stateless Muslim minority. The United Nations and Washington have labelled the campaign "ethnic cleansing", after some 700,000 Rohingya fled Rakhine to Bangladesh, bringing with them testimonies of rape, arson and indiscriminate killings in the northern part of the state. The Myanmar army leadership has denied most allegations of abuses, and said they were responding to attacks on police posts. But they conceded about a month after Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were arrested that the Inn Din massacre occurred, prompting speculation that authorities had attempted to thwart the story. In February, Reuters published its account of the murders, which contradicts the military's claim that the killings happened after the village came under seige by Rohingya fighters. If convicted, the two journalists can appeal and would also be eligible for a possible pardon by Myanmar's civilian president, a staunch Suu Kyi ally. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Is it too early to start a new US Attorney General short list (or wish list)? | Main | Lots of notable pieces in August 2018 issue of Criminology & Public Policy August 26, 2018 "Trauma and Sentencing: The Case for Mitigating Penalty for Childhood Physical and Sexual Abuse" The title of this post is the title of this new paper available via SSRN authored by Mirko Bagaric, Gabrielle Wolf and Peter Isham. Here is its abstract: People who lack guidance when they are young have an increased risk of committing crimes. The nurturing that many people receive during their formative years can play a key role in the development of appropriate values and behavior. Yet there is a reluctance to acknowledge the diminished culpability of offenders who have lacked appropriate guidance during their childhood because it is feared that doing so might be perceived as justifying criminal behavior and hence leading to more crime. The Federal Sentencing Guidelines expressly state that lack of guidance as a youth should not be a mitigating sentencing consideration. Despite this, approximately half of all federal judges believe that it should reduce the harshness of the penalty that is imposed on offenders. In this Article, we examine whether lack of guidance as a youth should serve to reduce the severity of criminal sanctions. In doing so, we also discuss the position in Australia where an offenders neglected upbringing can mitigate his or her penalty. We conclude that a neglected youth should not of itself mitigate penalty because this would make sentencing law too obscure and uncertain. There is not even an approximate line that can be drawn to demarcate the boundaries between appropriate and inadequate guidance as a youth. However, experiences that are commonly associated with being neglected during childhood and often profoundly set back the mental and/or emotional state of children, namely being subjected to physical or sexual abuse, are more concrete in nature and should be a mitigating factor in sentencing. Empirical evidence demonstrates that people who are subjected to such trauma in their childhood years have an increased risk of subsequently engaging in harmful behavior, such as criminal activity. Further, relatively clear criteria can be established to demarcate the scope and application of these experiences during childhood for sentencing purposes. Reforming the law to make childhood sexual and physical abuse a mitigating consideration would improve the doctrinal coherency of the law and may have the incidental benefit of reducing sentences for female offenders generally and for offenders from socio-economically deprived backgrounds, including African Americans. This reform could be implemented in a manner that does not compromise community safety, provided that it is complemented by targeted, effective rehabilitative measures. August 26, 2018 at 11:09 AM | Permalink Comments "Empirical evidence demonstrates that people who are subjected to such trauma in their childhood years have an increased risk of subsequently engaging in harmful behavior, such as criminal activity. " The problem with this approach is that it is subject to strong self-selection and reporting bias. Either one of two things happens. Either we limit sentencing relief only to those children whose abuse has been reported to the authorities, thereby leaving those victimized children whose abuse was not reported doubly victimized or we accept all self-reports of childhood abuse as valid leaving the system wide open to fraud and gaming. So in my view the reason we don't let childhood upbringing influence sentencing is not because as a matter of fact childhood experiences don't influence adult behaviors, it is because all the other options are worse. Posted by: Daniel | Aug 26, 2018 12:09:09 PM No. No. No. Prior victimization can obviously sometimes be mitigating, but it also should be aggravating sometimes---they ought to f'in know better. Posted by: federalist | Aug 26, 2018 4:37:24 PM Interesting, good concept. Just one should consider bunch of issues, have to do with evidences. One needs to prove all this. One should dig far back to childhood incidents, and bring forward evidences. Not that simple. And more, if the defendant was abused, then there is an alleged aggressor far back then. Now, the issue of his privacy, or presumption of innocence or his personal reputation, would have to be considered. He may object all this. Claiming falsity of course. Thanks Posted by: El roam | Aug 27, 2018 7:37:59 AM please explain, federalist, how/when prior victimization should be considered aggravating. Are you saying it could be appropriate and justified to give an offender a LONGER prison sentence based SOLELY on evidence that offender was previously subject to childhood physical or sexual abuse? Posted by: Doug B | Aug 27, 2018 12:34:12 PM Post a comment NASA's asteroid sampling spacecraft has caught its first glimpse of its target Bennu last week and begun the final approach towards it after an almost two-year journey. The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) obtained the image of the asteroid from a distance of 2.1 million kilometre on August 17 using its PolyCam camera. OSIRIS-REx is NASA's first mission to visit a near-Earth asteroid, survey the surface, collect a sample and deliver it safely back to Earth. The spacecraft has travelled approximately 1.8 billion kilometre since its 2016 launch and is scheduled to arrive at Bennu on December 3 this year. "Now that OSIRIS-REx is close enough to observe Bennu, the mission team will spend the next few months learning as much as possible about Bennu's size, shape, surface features, and surroundings before the spacecraft arrives at the asteroid," said Dante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx principal investigator at the University of Arizona in the US. "After spending so long planning for this moment, I can't wait to see what Bennu reveals to us," said Lauretta. As OSIRIS-REx approaches the asteroid, the spacecraft will use its science instruments to gather information about Bennu and prepare for arrival. During the mission's approach phase, OSIRIS-REx will regularly observe the area around the asteroid to search for dust plumes and natural satellites, and study Bennu's light and spectral properties. It will execute a series of four asteroid approach maneuvers, beginning on October 1, slowing the spacecraft to match Bennu's orbit around the Sun. The OCAMS will reveal the asteroid's overall shape in late-October and begin detecting Bennu's surface features in mid-November. After arrival at Bennu, the spacecraft will spend the first month performing flybys of Bennu's north pole, equator and south pole, at distances ranging between 19 and 7 kilometres from the asteroid. These manoeuvres will allow for the first direct measurement of Bennu's mass as well as close-up observations of the surface. These trajectories will also provide the mission's navigation team with experience navigating near the asteroid. "Bennu's low gravity provides a unique challenge for the mission," said Rich Burns, OSIRIS-REx project manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in the US. "At roughly 500 metres in diameter, Bennu will be the smallest object that any spacecraft has ever orbited," said Burns. The spacecraft will extensively survey the asteroid before the mission team identifies two possible sample sites. Close examination of these sites will allow the team to pick one for sample collection, scheduled for early July 2020. After sample collection, the spacecraft will head back toward Earth before ejecting the Sample Return Capsule for landing in the Utah desert in September 2023. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ANaxalwas today killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Narayanpur district, police said. The skirmish took place this morning in a forest near Kalepal village under Benoor police station area, district Superintendent of Police Jitendra Shukla told PTI. After receiving information about presence of rebels between Chinari and Kalepal villages, around 350 km from Raipur, a squad of the police's District Reserve Guard was sent to the spot, he said. The security forces came under fire from the Naxals near Kalepal, leading to a gun battle, Shukla said. After a brief exchange of fire, the rebels fled and the body of Soma Vadde, a member of Bayanar Local Organisation Squad of Maoists, was found subsequently, he said. Police also recovered a country-made gun, the SP said, adding that a search operation to nab other rebels was underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Israel's prime minister said today that Jews were still at risk even decades after the Holocaust as he wrapped up a groundbreaking visit to Lithuania, a Baltic state once home to his forefathers. "For the Jewish people, what has changed in these 75 years? Not the attempts to destroy us, they still seek to destroy us," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told around 300 Lithuanian Jews gathered in Vilnius's Choral Synagogue. The Israeli leader identified what he termed new existential threats facing the Jews, with Iran and the Islamist movement Hamas which runs the Gaza Strip being among them. "What has changed is our ability to defend ourselves by ourselves... This is a magnificent change of history," added Netanyahu, who is the first-ever Israeli premier to visit Lithuania, a Baltic EU state. Pre-war Lithuania was home to a thriving Jewish community of more than 200,000 people, with Vilnius a hub of learning known as the "Jerusalem of the North". But historians contend that around 195,000 perished at the hands of the Nazis and local collaborators under the 1941-44 German occupation, nearly the entire Jewish population. Today there are around 3,000 Jews living in the EU and NATO member state of 2.9 million people. Netanyahu said he spent yesterday touring the Vilna Ghetto and recalling Lithuanian Jews taken to Paneriai -- also known as Ponar or Ponary -- on the outskirts of the city, the site of the Ponar massacre. Up to 100,000 people including Jews, Poles and Russians were slain there by the Nazis and Lithuanian collaborators during World War II. "What a distance we have travelled in 75 years from the death pits of Ponar to a rising power in the world," Netanyahu said. His groundbreaking visit has not been without controversy and Netanyahu has come under sharp criticism from top Israeli Nazi hunter Efraim Zuroff for warming to Lithuania. Arguing that Vilnius has not done enough to come to terms with the role Lithuanians played in the Holocaust, Zuroff charged in a Facebook post today "that to praise the Lithuanian government's efforts to commemorate the Shoa is like commending the KKK for improving race relations in the US". A Lithuanian research centre has identified 2,000 Lithuanians suspected of taking part in the Holocaust, either by killing Jews, sending them to execution or by confiscating their wealth. At the same time nearly 900 Lithuanians hold the honorary title of "Righteous Among The Nations", awarded by Israel to gentiles who risked their lives to save Jewish neighbours. The Holocaust was either distorted or ignored in Lithuania under five decades of Soviet rule that followed the war. An honest examination only began after it became the first republic to split from the USSR in 1990. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The president of a prominent New Delhi-based Sikh body has been attacked outside a gurudwara allegedly by a group of pro-Khalistan supporters in the US state of California, the second attack on him in one week. Manjit Singh GK, president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), was in Yuba City to hold discussions among the Sikh community about the 550th birthday anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak which will be commemorated next year. This is the second attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader. He was last week attacked in New York. Singh was visiting the main Gurudwara in Yuba City, California yesterday when, he said, a group of 30-35 people supporting the 'Khalistan 2020 referendum' attacked him. "I am hurt. They pushed me and kicked me brutally. It was a brutal murderous attack," he told PTI over phone from California. One of his associates has been hospitalised, he said. Police have arrested three persons in connection with the attack, the DSGMC chief said, adding that the attack will not deter or intimidate him. Singh said that those demanding Khalistan can continue their fight but resorting to violence is not the answer. "We are not going to shy away. We will not be a part of this fight for Khalistan," he said. Meanwhile, 'Sikhs For Justice' (SFJ), a group demanding justice for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims and supporting the 'Khalistan 2020 referendum', in a statement issued through its legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, accused Singh and his supporters of "instigating violent attacks on pro-Khalistan activists" who were "peacefully protesting" in the SAD leader's presence in Yuba City Gurdwara. Pannun said the SFJ has also filed a complaint against Singh with the US Department of Justice for violating the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) laws. He said SFJ filed the complaint against Singh for holding, attending and addressing political gatherings in the US in violations of FARA laws. "We will now ask US Immigration to take notice of illegal activities of Singh and make him inadmissible to the United States," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Researchers at an Australian university have claimed that a "new technique" to detect early-stage cancer tumour cells in the blood using a malaria protein has been developed. The University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney and the University of Copenhagen jointly worked on the research led by the Australian varsity, the UNSW said in a statement. "We have developed a method where we take a blood sample, and with great sensitivity and specificity we are able to retrieve the individual cancer cells from the blood. "We catch the cancer cells in greater numbers than existing methods, which offers the opportunity to detect cancer earlier and thus improve outcome for patients." UNSW professor Chris Heeschen was quoted as saying in the statement. Hope is that this method, in which malaria protein VAR2CSA sticks to cancer cells, can be used as a "more effective" way to screen for cancer in the near future, he said. The findings of Heeschen and his team were published recently in the journal 'Nature Communications', the university said. According to the research, the new method can be used "more broadly to diagnose cancer" as it is not limited by cancer type. It also means all that is needed for a cancer diagnosis is a blood sample, the statement said. Heeschen thinks the new technique could be available in the market within two years if a bio-diagnostic company were to take it on. The latest research follows on from work done by researchers led by University of Copenhagen's professor Ali Salanti, who discovered in 2015 a new method of treating cancer with the protein VAR2CSA produced by malaria parasites, the statement said. "Previous methods to detect cancer in blood relied on detecting a particular marker found on the surface of tumour cells. However, not all tumour cells display this marker, which renders these methods unable to detect tumour cells spread to other organs such as the liver, lungs and bones," it said. The method based on the malaria protein "does not discriminate" between cancer types, and can detect all carcinoma cancers, accounting for 95 per cent of cancers detected in humans, the UNSW said. During the development of the new method, the researchers took 10 cancer cells and added them to five millilitres of blood containing millions of red and white blood cells. Magnetic beads coated with the malaria protein were then added to the samples. "The beads stick to the cancer cells only and can then be retrieved with a robotic machine that uses a strong magnet. This way, they were able to retrieve nine out of the 10 cancer cells which had adhered to malaria protein," the statement said. Heeschen said this was a "definitive result". "The malaria protein sticks to all cancer cells, with no exceptions. The 10th cell was probably missed due to technical limitations inherent to the retrieval technology," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has decided to engage to review the progress of standardisation and indigenisation of Metro rail systems being implemented across the country. According to the ministry, the move intends to promote the government's 'Make-in India' initiative while executing in states. An official said the ministry has standardised specifications of rolling stock, signalling and telecom systems for Metro rails across the country. "It has been decided that NITI Aayog's Member (Science) will review the progress of standardisation and indigenisation of Metro rail systems by the Housing and Urban Affairs ministry to ensure time- bound progress," the official said. In June this year, Prime Minister had approved a proposal to set up a committee headed by Metro Man Sreedharan to lay down standards for Metro rail systems in the country. Official said indigenisation will be ensured in several Metro rail systems being implemented across the country. According to data available with the Housing and Urban Affairs ministry, there are around 22 ongoing and under-construction in Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Lucknow, Chennai, Nagpur, Pune, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Noida-Greater Noida, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata and Gurugram. The ministry said Phase-IV of Delhi Metro is expected to complete by December, 2020 while Phase-II of Bangalore Metro (72 km length) will be completed by March 2021. Besides, Metro project having proposed length of 23 km in Uttar Pradesh's capital Lucknow is expected to be completed by March 2019. Also, the Nagpur Metro project, which was sanctioned in March 2018, will be completed in December 2019. German journalist Mesale Tolu, who faces terror charges in Turkey, arrived back home today but warned that "nothing has changed" about Turkey's human rights situation even after she was unexpectedly allowed to leave the country. Tolu, of Turkish origin, spent months in pre-trial detention in Istanbul before being conditionally released in December. But her travel ban was only recently lifted amid a thaw in relations between Ankara and Berlin. "I can't really be happy about being able to leave, because I know that nothing has changed in the country where I was locked up," the 34-year-old told a conference after landing at Stuttgart airport. "I don't think that anything has changed in the country in the direction of democratisation," she added. Tens of thousands of "colleagues, opposition figures, lawyers and students" remain behind bars, she noted, caught up in a mass crackdown following a failed 2016 coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Tolu herself was arrested in late April 2017 on charges of membership of the Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLKP), which is banned in Turkey as a terror organisation. She was held in an Istanbul prison for nearly eight months, with her now three-year-old son staying with her for most of that time. Tolu's trial will continue in her absence. The next hearing is scheduled for October 16. Tolu, who denies the charges against her, faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. Her husband Suat Corlu faces similar charges and is still barred from leaving Turkey. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas hailed the lifting of Tolu's overseas travel ban as "a step forward in improving our relationship with Turkey". Tolu's return to Germany comes as the two countries are working to normalise relations following a series of spats. Berlin had in particular sharply criticised Ankara's human rights record in the wake of the post-coup crackdown. But tensions have eased this year after Turkey released several German-Turkish nationals, including well-known journalist Deniz Yucel. Erdogan has also struck a softer tone towards Europe in recent weeks as his feud with US President Donald Trump over the detention of an American pastor escalates, triggering a bitter trade row between the two NATO members. Erdogan is due to travel to Germany for a state visit on September 28-29, his first since becoming president in 2014. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One person was killed and dozens injured in a strong 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck western Iran near the border with Iraq early today, local media reported. The shallow quake hit 26 kilometres southwest of the city of Javanrud in Kermanshah province, the US Geological Survey said, near the site of a powerful quake last year that killed hundreds. Houshang Bazvand, the governor of Kermanshah, told state agency IRNA that at least 90 people had been injured and one killed. The Tasnim agency earlier said that a 70-year-old man had died of a heart attack in the town of Novosbad, and it was not clear if this was the same fatality. Bazvand said a crisis centre had been set up, with hospitals and relief organisations placed on alert. There were reports that the quake was felt far across the border into Iraq, and IRNA said there were multiple aftershocks. Images on social media showed people being rushed to hospitals, but suggested relatively light damage to infrastructure. Iran sits on top of two major tectonic plates and sees frequent seismic activity. In November last year a major 7.3-magnitude quake killed 620 people in Kermanshah province and another eight people in Iraq. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Several people were killed at a mass shooting in the northern Florida city of Jacksonville, local police said today, adding that one suspect was dead. "Multiple fatalities at the scene, many transported," the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office tweeted, adding that it was unclear whether there was a second possible gunman. "Stay far away from the area. The area is not safe at this time. STAY AWAY." The Miami Herald newspaper said the shooting happened at a video game tournament and counted four dead and 11 wounded. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In view of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls slated for later this year, police in the state's Bhind district have arrested over 4,800 persons against whom different types of warrants were pending, a senior official said today. Bhind Superintendent of Police Rudolf Alvares also said that police stations were issuing notices to all such persons against whom court warrants are pending. "Our main focus is to act on the pending warrants in view of ensuing elections. So far this year, 1,015 out of 3,461 criminals, against whom permanent warrants were pending, have been arrested. Another 3,861 out of 5,542 criminals, against whom arrest warrants had been issued, were caught and presented in court," Alvares said. He said that the police would ask polling authorities to remove the names of those people from the voters list against whom warrants were pending but who were unavailable at their current addresses. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) William Thomas Cain/Getty Images(SEDONA, Ariz.) -- Senator John McCain, a Vietnam War hero with more than 35 years of public service and who became one of the most distinctive figures in modern American politics, died Saturday at his home in Arizona. He was 81. McCain had announced just one day earlier that he'd stopped treatment for the aggressive glioblastoma brain tumor he'd been fighting for just over a year. Senator McCain's friends, family and colleagues reacted to his passing. McCain's wife Cindy tweeted, "My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the place he loved best." McCain's daughter Meghan tweeted a statement that said, in part, "His love and his care, ever present, always unfailing, took me from a girl to a woman -- and he showed me what it is to be a man...But in this loss, and in this sorry, I take comfort in this: John McCain, hero of the republic and to his little girl, wakes today to something more glorious than anything on this earth. Today the warrior enters his true and eternal life, greeted by those who have gone before him, rising to meet the Author of All Things." President Donald Trump tweeted, "My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!" In a statement, former President Barack Obama said, "John McCain and I were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds, and competed at the highest level of politics. But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher -- the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed." Obama continued, "We saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world. We saw this country as a place where anything is possible and citizenship as our patriotic obligation to ensure it forever remains that way...few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At Johns best, he showed us what that means. And for that, we are all in his debt." Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has ordered that all flags in the state be lowered to half-staff "in honor and remembrance" of McCain. Sen. Lindsey Graham, McCain's longtime friend and colleague, tweeted, "America and Freedom have lost one of her greatest champions. .And Ive lost one of my dearest friends and mentor." U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement that said, in part, "In an era filled with cynicism about national unity and public service, John McCains life shone as a bright example. He showed us that boundless patriotism and self-sacrifice are not outdated concepts or cliches, but the building blocks of an extraordinary American life....Its an understatement to say the Senate will not be the same without our friend John. I will treasure the many memories weve shared together through the years." Former Vice President Joe Biden said in a statement, "John McCains life is proof that some truths are timeless. Character. Courage. Integrity. Honor. A life lived embodying those truths casts a long, long shadow. John McCain will cast a long shadow. His impact on America hasnt ended. Not even close. It will go on for many years to come...America will miss John McCain. The world will miss John McCain. And I will miss him dearly." McCain's former running mate Sarah Palin posted a Facebook message that said, "Today we lost an American original. Sen. John McCain was a maverick and a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs. John never took the easy path in life -- and through sacrifice and suffering he inspired others to serve something greater than self. John McCain was my friend. I will remember the good times." Senator Chuck Schumer said he'd introduce a resolution to name the Russell Senate Office Building after McCain. He said in a statement, "As you go through life, you meet few truly great people. John McCain was one of them. His dedication to his country and the military were unsurpassed, and maybe most of all, he was a truth teller -- never afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all too rare. The Senate, the United States, and the world are lesser places without John McCain." Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. The Vietnam Startup Wheel was organized by the the Business Startup Support Center (BSSC), the HCMC Department of Science and Technology, and the HCMC Young Businesspeople Association. The orgniazation board received more than 1,500 startup projects submitting preliminary rounds nationwide. Meete, an application creating connections for offline enterprises won the first prize in the category of startup business founders. CleverTube, a smart English learning application took the highest prize in the category of individuals/groups. The organizers also selected other 8 projects for investment and supporting, and awarded minor titles, such as Most Excellent Start-up Student, Most Favorite Project, Project With Best Performance. Winners will be granted 100% free enterprise registration certificate in HCM City and have a chance to enjoy preferential policies. By LE DUY - Translated by Kim Khanh Police have detained the owner of a hotel in northeastern China, where 19 people were killed and 23 others injured in a deadly fire yesterday. The owner, surnamed Zhang, of Beilong Hot Spring Leisure Hotel in the city's Songbei district in the tourist city of Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province, is now being questioned, state-run Xinhua agency quoted the local police officials as saying today. The deadly fire started in the early hours yesterday. Firemen evacuated more than 80 people and rescued 20 others trapped in the hotel. The fire was put out over three-and-half-hours later. The firemen found 18 bodies at the site and a person was declared dead at a hospital. A total of 23 injured have been admitted in local hospitals. The fire burnt an area of around 400 square meters. The cause of the fire and the identity of the victims is being investigated, according to the local government. More than 100 fire fighters and 30 fire engines were sent out in the incident. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistani authorities today shifted Dr Shakeel Afridi, who helped CIA track down Osama bin Laden in 2011, to Sahiwal prison in Punjab province for security reasons, his second inter-jail transfer this year, media reports said. Afridi, 56, was arrested after Osama was killed in a covert US raid at a compound in Pakistan's Abbotabad city on May 2, 2011. The US has been asking Pakistan to release him. Initially, he was accused of organising a fake immunization campaign for the CIA to confirm presence of then al-Qaeda chief but later awarded 33 years sentence for alleged links with militants. His sentence was later reduced to 23 years. Dawn reported that Afridi was shifted amid tight security to Sahiwal jail from Adiala jail for security reasons. He had been imprisoned at Peshawar jail but was shifted to Adiala jail in Rawalpindi in April this year, giving air to various kinds of speculations, including the one that American secret agencies were planning a jail break to take Afridi away. However, the Foreign Office had rejected all speculations about handing over Afridi to the US and said that there was "no deal" with the US for his release. His wife, daughter and son met him at Adiala Jail on August 3, the report added. Afridi, a former surgeon of Khyber Agency, had run a false vaccination campaign in the Pakistani garrison city of Abbottabad to help the CIA track down Osama in his compound and kill him in a raid by US Navy Seals on May 2, 2011. He was arrested from Peshawar later that year. The issue of Afridi's release is reportedly one of the major obstacles to the improvement of ties between the US and Pakistan. Soon after the death of Osama, the US media reported that Afridi had contributed to the success of the CIA operation by collecting DNA samples of Osama's family through the fake vaccination campaign in Abbottabad. The US State Department has previously said that Afridi has been unjustly imprisoned in Pakistan and Washington has clearly communicated its position to Islamabad in his case, both in public and in private. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today condoled the demise of US Senator John McCain, who died of brain cancer, describing him as a "steadfast friend" of India. "Deeply saddened by the demise of Senator John McCain. People of India join me in sincerely condoling the loss of a steadfast friend. His statesmanship, courage, conviction and understanding of global affairs will be missed," Modi wrote on Twitter. A Vietnam war hero and a towering figure in the American political scene, McCain, who turned out to be a prominent critic of US President Donald Trump, died yesterday at his home in Arizona at 4.28 pm local time, following a battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pope Francis "begged for God's forgiveness" today for multiple abuse scandals within the Irish church but faced accusations by a former Vatican official that he had personally ignored allegations against senior clergy. In front of 45,000 supporters at the rain-soaked Knock shrine in the west of Ireland, the pope sought forgiveness over the "open wound" of the church's sexual abuse scandal and demanded "firm and decisive" measures to find "truth and justice". At a later Mass to tens of thousands of flag-waving worshippers at Dublin's Phoenix Park, the showpiece event of the two-day visit to the former Catholic stronghold, he also confessed to other abuses by the Irish church, including at its so-called "mother and baby" homes. But in the city centre around 5,000 abuse victims and their supporters braved the weather to attend the "Stand for Truth" rally. A woman dressed as a nun, with fake blood on her hands, and a man handing out homemade placards reading "the church protects pederasts" were among those protesting. "I think it's obviously causing quite a lot of distress," abuse victim and campaigner William Gorry said of the visit. "Healing is something that's going to take a long, long time if it's going to happen at all," he told AFP. The scandal has dogged the visit, and intensified overnight when a former Vatican envoy to the US accused Francis of personally ignoring sexual abuse claims against prominent US cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was forced to resign last month. Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano wrote in a letter published in the National Catholic Register that he had told Francis of the allegations in 2013, but that he had responded by lifting sanctions imposed on McCarrick by predecessor Pope Benedict. "He (Pope Francis) knew from at least June 23, 2013 that McCarrick was a serial predator," wrote Vigano," adding "he knew that he was a corrupt man, he covered for him to the bitter end." The Vatican said it had no comment to make on the claims. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar yesterday directly urged the pope to take action against abuses and ensure justice for victims worldwide. "Holy Father, I ask that you use your office and influence to ensure that this is done here in Ireland and across the world," he said, calling the scandals a "stain" on the church and state. The pope met eight abuse victims yesterday, including a woman assaulted by a priest when she was in hospital aged 13. Paul Jude Redmond, who was illegally adopted from a Church-run "mother and baby home" because his mother was unmarried, also met the pope. He said the pontiff appeared "genuinely shocked" by the stories of abuse. But at a conference in Dublin yesterday by the group Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA), victim Mark Vincent Healey said the pope's speech in Dublin was a "total missed opportunity". "We're still waiting. We're left with uncertain silence. When is he going to act? What is he going to do?" The pontiff is in Ireland to close the 2018 World Meeting of Families (WMOF) -- a global Catholic gathering that addressed issues including the treatment of gay people in the Church. It is the first papal visit to Ireland since John Paul II spoke in front of 1.5 million people during a visit in 1979. The Church's role and standing has been badly dented by the abuse scandals and the Irish have shed traditional Catholic mores, voting earlier this year to legalise abortion after approving same-sex marriage in 2015. In Tuam, a town in western Ireland not far from Knock, hundreds joined in a silent vigil on Sunday in solidarity with victims of the "mother and baby" homes -- institutions accused of being punishment hostels for unwed pregnant women. "Significant quantities" of baby remains found in makeshift graves at the site of one such home in Tuam last year shocked the country. Multiple probes in Ireland have found Church leaders protected hundreds of predatory priests and former Irish president Mary McAleese revealed this month that the Vatican had sought to keep Church documents inaccessible to government investigators. The abuse scandals in Ireland are part of a worldwide crisis for the Vatican. A devastating report earlier this month accused more than 300 priests in the US state of Pennsylvania of abusing more than 1,000 children since the 1950s. The Pope was due to head back to Rome late today. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pope Francis visited a famous shrine today in Ireland and was to celebrate a Mass dedicated to families after an emotional meeting with Irish victims of clerical sex abuse and those wrenched away from their mothers in forced adoptions demanded by Catholic authorities. Francis arrived Sunday in Knock, the Marian shrine in northwestern Ireland, where he prayed and blessed thousands of jubilant Irish faithful, who gathered in raincoats under clouds. Yesterday, the first day of his visit, Francis spent 90 minutes meeting with victims of clerical and institutional abuse, including two people who were forcibly given up for adoption as newborns because their mothers weren't married. They are some of the thousands of Irish children taken from their mothers who were then forced to go live and work in laundries and other workhouses for "fallen women." One of them, Clodagh Malone, said Francis was "shocked" at what they told him and "he listened to each and every one of us with respect and compassion." The survivors asked Francis to speak out today to let all the mothers know that they did nothing wrong and that it wasn't a sin as church officials have told them to try to find their children later in life. They said the Argentine pope understood well their plight, given Argentina's own history of forced adoptions of children born to purported leftists during its 1970s military dictatorship. "That is a big step forward for a lot of elderly women, particularly in the countryside in Ireland who have lived 30, 40, 50, 60 years in fear," another adoptee, Paul Redmond, told The Associated Press. "That would mean a lot to them." Francis' first day in Ireland was dominated by the abuse scandal and Ireland's fraught history of atrocities committed in the name of preserving and purifying the Catholic faith. He received a lukewarm reception on the streets, but tens of thousands of people thronged Dublin's Croke Park Stadium for a family rally featuring Ireland's famous Riverdance performers and tenor Andrea Boccelli. Francis' visit had originally been intended to celebrate Catholic families at the close of the Vatican's once-every-three-years World Meeting of Families. But it has been overshadowed by the abuse scandal, which has devastated the church's reputation in Ireland since the 1990s and has exploded anew in the US following accusations of misconduct and cover-up by members of the US hierarchy. The US scandal took on a new twist today, with a former Vatican ambassador to the US purportedly penning a letter accusing Vatican officials of knowing about the sexual escapades of ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick since 2000, but making him a cardinal anyway. The letter attributed to Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano was published Sunday by two conservative outlets, the National Catholic Reporter and LifeSiteNews. Francis accepted McCarrick's resignation as cardinal last month after a US church investigation determined an accusation he molested a minor was "credible." But in the letter, Vigano said McCarrick had been initially sanctioned by the Vatican in 2009 or 2010 but that Francis rehabilitated him in 2013 despite being informed of McCarrick's penchant to invite young seminarians into his bed. The Vatican didn't immediately comment or say if the letter was authentic. Upon arriving in Ireland, Francis sought to respond to the outcry over the US and global sex abuse and cover-up scandal during a speech to Irish government authorities at Dublin Castle. "The failure of ecclesiastical authorities bishops, religious superiors, priests and others to adequately address these repugnant crimes has rightly given rise to outrage, and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community," he told them. "I myself share these sentiments." But neither his words nor the meeting with victims assuaged demands for heads to roll over the abuse scandal. Colm O'Gorman, who is leading a solidarity rally Sunday in Dublin for abuse victims, said Francis' remarks about sharing the shame felt by Catholics were an "insult to faithful Catholics, who have no reason to feel shame because of the crimes of the Vatican and the institutional church." Separately, survivors of one of Ireland's wretched mother and baby homes were to hold their own demonstration today. The location is Tuam, site of a mass grave of hundreds of babies who died at a church-run home. Francis is nearby, at Knock, but had no plans to visit the site. He did, however, hear about Tuam on Saturday from Ireland's minister for children, Katherine Zappone. Their conversation wasn't released but Francis said her words "still echo in my ears." Deeply Catholic Ireland has had one of the world's worst records of clergy sex abuse and the ill-treatment of women and children. Government-mandated inquiries concluded that thousands of children were raped or molested by priests or physically abused in church-run schools and Irish bishops worked for years to hide those crimes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pope Francis will visit an Irish shrine and hold a giant mass in Dublin today as he wraps up a visit overshadowed by abuse scandals and cover-ups in the Catholic Church. Francis is due to speak in front of some 500,000 faithful in Phoenix Park, as abuse victims and their supporters gather in a "Stand for Truth" rally in the city centre to demand justice. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar yesterday urged the pope to take action against abuses and ensure justice for victims worldwide, while Francis admitted the Church's "failure". Francis said inaction over "these repellent crimes has rightly given rise to outrage, and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community. I myself share those sentiments". Francis yesterday also met eight victims, including a woman assaulted by a priest when she was in hospital aged 13 and a man who was illegally adopted because his mother was unmarried. In a strongly-worded speech at the start of the pope's visit, Varadkar said the abuses in Ireland were "stains" on the Catholic Church, the state and Irish society as a whole. "There is much to be done to bring about justice and truth and healing for victims and survivors. Holy Father, I ask that you use your office and influence to ensure that this is done here in Ireland and across the world," he said. "Far too often there was judgement, severity and cruelty... people kept in dark corners, behind closed doors, cries for help that went unheard," he added. He demanded of Francis "that from words flow actions". Paul Jude Redmond, who was illegally adopted from a Church-run "Mother and Baby Home" and met the pope on Saturday, said the pontiff appeared "genuinely shocked" by the stories of abuse. But at a conference in Dublin on Saturday by the group Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA), victim Mark Vincent Healey said the pope's speech in Dublin was a "total missed opportunity". "We're still waiting. We're left with uncertain silence. When is he going to act? What is he going to do?" This is the first papal visit to Ireland since John Paul II spoke in front of 1.5 million people during a visit in 1979. The Church's role has been badly dented by abuse scandals and the Irish have shed traditional mores, voting earlier this year to legalise abortion after approving same-sex marriage in 2015. The pontiff is in Ireland to close the 2018 World Meeting of Families (WMOF) -- a global Catholic gathering that addressed issues including the treatment of gay people in the Church. But street vendors in Dublin selling papal souvenirs have complained of sluggish trade, as protesters rubbed shoulders with devout Catholics in the streets of the city. In Tuam, a town in western Ireland, a silent vigil was planned for Sunday in solidarity with victims of "mother and baby" homes -- institutions accused of being punishment hostels for unwed pregnant women. "Significant quantities" of baby remains found in makeshift graves at the site of one such home in Tuam last year shocked the country. Multiple probes in Ireland have found Church leaders protected hundreds of predatory priests and former Irish president Mary McAleese revealed this month that the Vatican had sought to keep Church documents inaccessible to government investigators. The abuse scandals in Ireland are part of a worldwide crisis for the Vatican. A devastating report earlier this month accused more than 300 priests in the US state of Pennsylvania of abusing more than 1,000 children since the 1950s. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prosecutors in Sicily have opened an inquiry into Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini for "illegal confinement, illegal arrest and abuse of power" in connection with Rome's refusal to allow a group of migrants to disembark from a coastguard ship, media reports have said. Rome has blocked more than 100 migrants from stepping off the Diciotti vessel, which docked at the port of Catania in Sicily on Monday night, leaving them stranded as Italy pushes for other EU nations to take them in. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) All India Congress Committee (AICC) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa today called Rafale deal the biggest scam in the country's defence sector post-independence. Alleging that BJP is directly benefiting from the scam, Bajwa demanded cancellation of the deal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman should end their silence and come out with the facts, the former Punjab Congress chief told reporters here. The cost per aircraft as per the international bid opened on December 12, 2012 was Rs 526.10 crore, said Bajwa, adding that eighteen aircrafts were to come from France in 'fly away' condition and 108 aircrafts were to be made in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited with transfer of technology. At this rate, 36 aircrafts should cost Rs 18,940 crore. On April 10, 2015, Modi announced emergency off-the-shelf purchase of 36 Rafale aircrafts in Paris, France for Euro 7.5 billion (Rs 1670.70 crore per aircraft). Will Modi explain why an extra amount of Rs 41,205 crore is being paid, Bajwa asked. While reports of a "secrecy clause" have surfaced, Bajwa claimed there is no such non-disclosure of commercial purchase price clause in the agreement between India and France. Further, Bajwa asked why the number of fighter aircrafts to be purchased were reduced from 126 to 36. The 36 aircrafts will reach India between 2019 and 2022. With looming threats from China and Pakistan, does it not compromise national security and defeat the purpose of emergency purchase? he said. He said no mandatory approval of the cabinet committee on security was taken before purchase of the aircrafts, besides the mandatory defence procurement procedure was also not followed. Why did the Modi government allow the offset contract to be given to a company that has zero experience in manufacturing fighter aircrafts? Bajwa questioned. Reliance Defence Limited was incorporated on March 28, 2015, just 12 days before the announcement of purchase of 36 Rafale aircrafts. Reliance Defence got the contract even though it does not have the experience to make a needle, he said. He alleged that the government had deliberately ignored the 20 per cent price reduction offer made by Eurofighter Typhoon and refused fresh bidding for lowest price. In the original tender invited by the UPA-Congress, two fighter aircrafts were found equal on all technical fronts - Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon, said the Congress leader, adding that Eurofighter Typhoon wrote a letter on July 4, 2014 to the then defence minister, offering a 20 per cent price reduction. Bajwa said the Congress has started a campaign to inform the people about the scam. He said Congress president Rahul Gandhi had already raised the issue in the Parliament and the Congress was demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the matter. Asked whether the Congress is in favour of cancellation of the deal, Bajwa said the agreement has to be cancelled as it is a matter of security. In response to a poser on the Bofors guns scam, Bajwa said Congress formed a JPC to investigate the matter. The Bofors guns showed their utility when it helped pound the enemy during Kargil war, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP today accused Congress President Rahul Gandhi of rubbing salt into the wounds of Sikhs with his comments that his party was not involved in the 1984 riots against the community and said that it amounted to denying them justice. BJP's national secretary R P Singh said Gandhi was trying to wash his party's hands of its alleged culpability in the riots, which had broken out following the assassination of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi. Gandhi, who was on a two-day visit to the UK, told an audience of UK-based parliamentarians and local leaders on Saturday that the incident was a tragedy and painful experiences, but disagreed with the view that the Congress was "involved". Singh said, Sikhs are already troubled due to lack of justice and such comments by Gandhi would vitiate the atmosphere and may push certain people in the same cycle of violence that was seen in 1980s. The Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leader said Congress leader Manmohan Singh had as prime minister apologised for anti-Sikh riots and the then party president Sonia Gandhi had expressed regret. "What was this apology from prime minister and regret from Congress president then all about," Singh asked. The Congress was forced to cancel its leader Kamal Nath's appointment as Punjab assembly polls in-charge following angry reaction from the community, whose members have alleged his involvement in the violence, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 55-year-old railway employee was killed allegedly after a truck hit his motorcycle in northwest Delhi's Hakikat Nagar, the police said today. Rakesh Kumar, posted at the New Delhi railway station, was returning home after his duty last night when the Delhi-registered truck allegedly hit his motorcycle near the red light at Hakikat Nagar, a police officer said. The accused driver fled the scene, leaving the truck behind, the officer said. Kumar was rushed to hospital where doctors declared him brought dead, the officer added. The truck was taken into police custody and a case was registered, police said, adding that the matter is being investigated. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) This is the first visit to Egypt by a head of the State of Vietnam since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1963.The visit is to reaffirm commitments that both sides signed in 2017, and promote measures to boost bilateral cooperation in all aspects such as politics, economy-trade and investment, culture and education.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 1, 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.Egypt was the first North African country to recognise Vietnams market economy in November 2013.Egypt is the fifth largest trade partner of Vietnam in Africa. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached 350 million USD in 2017. Vietnams main exports to the country included seafood, auto spare parts, fabrics, black pepper, coffee, rubber, and consumer goods.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.The two countries have coordinated and provided mutual support at international forums, as well as shared views on issues of mutual concern at the United Nations. Vietnamplus Curfew was relaxed today for two hours in violence-hit Malpura town of Rajasthan's Tonk district, where a clash had erupted involving members of a minority community and Kanwar Yatra pilgrims, police said. No fresh incidence of violence was reported in the areas under curfew, and considering the law and order situation, the clampdown was relaxed from 11 am to 1 pm. However, mobile internet services remain suspended, Superintendent of Police, Tonk, Yogesh Dadich said. He said people were permitted to buy essential commodities like water and milk. Over 20 people have been arrested so far for disturbing peace, Dadich said, adding the situation now is under control. Curfew was imposed in the town on Friday after members of the minority community allegedly pelted stones at kanwariyas, injuring 15 among them, on Thursday. The attack was followed by arson in which a vehicle was torched, forcing the authorities to impose Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which prohibits an assembly of more than four persons in an area. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Avengers: Infinity War" directors Joe and Anthony Russo may direct the film adaptation of Nico Walker's novel "Cherry". The Russo Brothers' production company AGBO is close to lock a deal to acquire the film rights to Walker's just-published book. The story, based on the author's life, follows an Iraq War veteran who returns home with undiagnosed PTSD, falls into opioid addiction, and begins robbing banks. Walker was caught in 2011 and is scheduled to be released in 2020. The film's screenplay will be written by Jessica Goldberg, who is currently writing another AGBO movie, "Exit West". The Russo Brothers, are best known for Marvel films "Captain America: The Winter Soldier", "Captain America: Civil War" and the summer tentpole, "Avengers: Infinity War". The duo is currently shooting for the untitled Avengers 4. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal and the SGPC today strongly condemned the attack on Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK in California allegedly by pro-Khalistan individuals, during which one of his associates was injured. Addressing a rally here today, the SAD president said the attack was planned by Pakistan's ISI agency. "This is not an attack on GK but an attack on our dastaar (turban)," he added. He alleged involvement of "parallel jathedars" behind the attack. Badal alleged that the "parallel Jathedars" had colluded with the Congress to weaken the Sikh 'Panth'. Significantly, Sikh hardliners had convened a 'Sarbat Khalsa' meeting on the outskirts of Amritsar three years ago and announced removal of top Sikh priests including the Akal Takht chief. They had appointed 'parallel jathedars' in their place. Badal alleged that some ministers in the Congress government in Punjab were "hand-in-glove" with these "(parallel) Jathedars". He claimed that these 'parallel Jathedars' along with the Congress had "hatched a conspiracy" to implicate the SAD in incidents of sacrilege through the Justice (retd) Ranjit Singh Commission's report. The Commission was set up by the Congress government in the state to probe sacrilege incidents and police firing on protesters at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura three years ago. Manjit Singh GK, who travelled to California following a visit to New York, earlier said the purpose of his visit was to hold discussions among the Sikh community about the 550th birthday anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak, to be commemorated next year. This is the second attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader. He was earlier attacked in New York. GK was visiting the main Gurudwara in Yuba City, California yesterday when he was attacked by a group of 30-35 people supporting the 'Khalistan 2020 referendum'. Meanwhile, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Gobind Singh Longowal also condemned the attack. "It is very unfortunate that in the United States, Sikhs are being repeatedly targeted. This is the handiwork of agencies that want to instigate tensions among the Sikhs. I condemn this incident," he said. The SGPC chief said that it is the responsibility of the US government to take strict action against the people behind the attack. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court has upheld an order of the National Green Tribunal, dismissing a plea challenging the declaration of one-km eco-sensitive zone around Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary in Mirzapur and Sonbhadra districts of Uttar Pradesh. A bench comprising justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan said there was no ground to interfere with the tribunal's direction. "We do not find any reason to interfere with the order of the National Green Tribunal. Accordingly, the civil appeal is dismissed," the bench said. In October last year, the tribunal junked a plea filed by an NGO on the ground that objections and suggestions were considered by the expert committee for declaration of one-km eco-sensitive zone around the sanctuary. "The tribunal cannot loose sight of the fact that limitation of distance cannot be taken to a distance of 10 km or so. The authorities and the (environment) ministry are likely to take various factors into consideration while ensuring the applicability of principle of sustainable development. "If carrying on of all different activities indiscriminately were permitted, then there might have been case of infringement of this principal. "However, in light of the specific restriction provided, we have no doubt in our mind that the ministry has acted in consonance with the settled principle as contemplated under Section 20 of the NGT Act, 2010. We see no reason to interfere and the application deserve to be dismissed," the NGT had said. The order had come on a plea filed by NGO Vindhyan Ecology and Natural History Foundation, which had challenged the declaration of one-km ESZ around the sanctuary. The plea had contented that the fixation of eco-sensitive zone of 1 km uniformly around the boundary of the sanctuary was unjustifiable. The petition had said the environment ministry should have taken into consideration the ecologically-sensitive areas, water bodies, forests wildlife habitats and other eco-sensitive areas on the basis of site selection and should not apply the uniform distance. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One of Scotland's leading universities is set to hand out pronoun badges to freshers joining in a new term so they know whether to refer to each other as "he", "she" or "they". The move by the Edinburgh University is intended to avoid any potential "misgendering" of non-binary or transgender students, who may display the physical attributes of one gender, while associating more closely with another or none at all, The Sunday Telegraph reported. Kai O'Doherty, the vice president for welfare at the Edinburgh University Students' Association, announced that pronoun badges will be available throughout the 'Welcome Week', which takes place before the official start of term next month. The students' union also published a guide to pronouns, which explains why it is important to "normalise" the practice of sharing gender pronouns. "Many people assume that the pronouns they should use for an individual are obvious: people who look like men should be referred to using he/him, and people who look like women should be referred to as she/her," it said. The guide explains that making these assumptions can be "frustrating and harmful" for transgender on non-binary students, who may in fact prefer to use gender-neutral pronouns, the newspaper reported. "If we choose to make assumptions about which pronouns are correct, we risk misgendering people and/or singling out trans people who want to clarify their pronouns," it said. The guide advises that saying you "don't care" which pronoun is used is offensive, as it "suggests that trans folks are silly for requesting that their pronouns be respected". Asking people about their "preferred" pronoun should also be avoided, as it can imply that pronouns are a mere preference rather than a necessity. Using the term "preferred" can also "isolate and alienate" transgender people, it said. The guide explains how as well as using the correct pronouns for fellow students when you meet them for the first time, so too must students ensure they are using the right pronouns for existing acquaintances. Students should bare in mind that gender is "fluid" so even if you have used a particular pronoun for someone in the past, this may not apply indefinitely. Pronoun badges are the latest form of linguistic etiquette being explored by leading British universities. Elsewhere, students and academics have been encouraged to sign their email with their names, titles, telephone numbers and whether they like to be known as "he/him", "she/her" or "they/them". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Expenses incurred on the security cover of BJP president cannot be disclosed, the (CIC) has held citing exemption clauses of "personal information" and "safety". The commission has denied the appeal of a petitioner who had also sought to know the rules governing extension of security cover to a private individual and the authorities, which foot the bill of such cover to a private individual. The application was filed by Deepak Juneja on July 5, 2014, when Shah was not a member of the Rajya Sabha. He had also sought to know the list of people who have been given security by the government. The information was denied by the Home Ministry citing Section 8(1)(g) that exempts from disclosure information that would endanger the life or physical safety of any person. The ministry had also cited Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, which exempts information that is personal, would cause unwarranted invasion of privacy and is not linked to any "public activity". In its previous order in the matter, the CIC had upheld denial of information as it was not disclosed before Parliament. Juneja challenged the CIC order in the Delhi High Court where Justice Vibhu Bakhru set aside the transparency panel's order stating that the commission was first required to examine whether information sought by the petitioner was exempted under clauses (g) and (j) of Section 8(1) of the It lobbed the matter before the CIC again to consider private contentions in the light of the exemption clauses of Section 8(1) of the act. The commission again heard Juneja and the Home Ministry in the matter. Juneja submitted that the grant of security cover to eminent persons under threat is the duty of the state in cases where the beneficiary holds a high office as they cannot perform their vital functions while reeling under threat, Information Commissioner Yashovardhan Azad noted in the order. However, the appellant submits that defraying cost of elite Z+ security cover to private persons must not be from the state exchequer, Azad pointed out. "Amit Shah, who happens to be the president of the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) has been granted Z+ security cover by the MHA since July 2014 despite him not being holding any constitutional or statutory office," Juneja said, adding that since it was public money he has the right to know. The ministry said the respondent's contention is that revelation of expenses incurred in providing security cover would reveal the intricacies, and magnitude and rigour of security cover. It said rules governing the entitlement of grant of security cover and process of threat assessment among others are framed in consultation with central security agencies, which are exempted from the purview of the RTI Act, and disclosure would nullify the exemptions. "Judicial notice can be taken of the fact that the protectees are already facing the highest level of threat and that is why they have been accorded with the highest level of security cover," Azad, a former IB special director, held. He said revelation of names of protectees if not adding on to the danger to their life or physical safety would be counterproductive to the efficacy of security cover. The names of private Z+ protectees are personal since they do not owe the security cover to their public office but private position in life, the information commissioner said. "The public eminence of the private person, threat perception and the potential harm... are key determinative factors while granting security cover," he said. He said the identity, specific threat perception analysis among other factors are personal information of a protectee who does not hold a public office. "The right to know, in such a case, must make way for the right to privacy of the individual and the efficiency of governance since the same furthers the concept of 'practical regime' of the RTI as conceptualised in the preamble of the RTI Act," Azad said. He also cited last year's Supreme Court order on Right to Privacy to buttress his argument. On December 9, 2015, the list of protectees in political and judicial field was disclosed in a Rajya Sabha question by the Home Ministry, hence making a further case for not disclosing it, Azad said. US Senator John McCain, a prisoner of war in Vietnam and a two-time contender for the presidency, died on Saturday at his home in Arizona at the age of 81. McCain had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, called a glioblastoma, in 2017 and was being treated periodically with radiation and chemotherapy. According to a statement from his office, McCain died at 4:28 p.m. local time. His family had announced this week that he was discontinuing medical treatment. The son and grandson of four-star admirals, McCain endured more than five years of imprisonment and torture by the North Vietnamese as a young naval officer. "My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved best," McCain's wife Cindy McCain said in a post on Twitter. Condolence messages poured in from across party lines on McCain's passing. US President Donald Trump tweeted, "My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!". Former US President Barack Obama said in a statement that while McCain and he came from completely different backgrounds and competed at the highest level of politics, "we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher - the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched and sacrificed." "Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own," Obama said. During three decades of serving as Arizona Senator, McCain made two unsuccessful attempts for the presidency. He lost a bitter primary campaign to George W Bush and the Republican establishment in 2000. He won the nomination in 2008, only to be defeated in the general election by Obama. Bush called his one-time political rival "man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order" and a "friend whom I'll deeply miss." Former vice president Al Gore said he always admired how the senator "would work to find common ground, no matter how hard."McCain was close friends with Senator Lindsey Graham and former senator Joe Lieberman -- a trio dubbed the "Three Amigos."Graham wrote that "America and Freedom have lost one of her greatest champions. And I've lost one of my dearest friends and mentor." Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer hailed him as a "truth-teller" with "unsurpassed" dedication to the US and its military. He said he would seek to rename a Senate building in McCain's honour. McCain was also a persistent critic of Obama's foreign policy. "The demand for our leadership in the world has never been greater. People don't want less of America they want more," McCain said in 2012. "Everywhere I go in the world, people tell me that they still have faith in America. What they want to know is whether we still have faith in ourselves." Despite his serious health condition, McCain had appeared in the Senate to cast a thumbs-down vote against his party's drive to repeal the Affordable Care Act. John Sidney McCain III was born August 29, 1936, in the Panama Canal Zone and into a family whose military lineage included an ancestor who served as an aide to Gen George Washington during the Revolutionary War. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police claimed today to have busted a sex racket in Mathura in Uttar Pradesh with the arrest of three persons, and said they were trying to identify other members of the gang. The racket was busted on Friday and the three men were arrested at Tekman colony under Highway police station. Police identified the three men as Naresh, Mukesh and the gang operator Sandeep. They have also recovered more than Rs 6,000 from them. SSP Babloo Kumar said the department was trying to get more information about the gang members and the role of a hotel manager was also being investigated. According to police, two women managed to escape from the place before they swooped in. Kumar said one of the women was Sandeep's wife, Suman. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five constables of Shamli district excise department has been suspended for alleged negligence of duties following the death of five people after drinking spurious liquor, an official said. On August 21 five people died and nine fell ill after consuming spurious liquor at Kamalpur village. The action against the five constables was taken last evening after a preliminary inquiry found them negligent of their duties, district excise officer R B Singh said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A shopkeeper was killed by suspected Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Kawardha district accusing him of being a police informer, an official today said. The bullet-ridden body of Hemprasad Sharma (50) was found on the banks of a stream near his village Bolda under Jhalmala police station limits this morning, police said. Bolda is on the border of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, around 200 km away from Raipur. As per the preliminary investigation, around a dozen rebels arrived in the village last night and asked Sharma, who ran a grocery shop, to come with them, a local police official said. Sharma's body was found in the morning, he added. A police team was rushed to the village after learning about the incident. According to some villagers, Naxals accused Sharma of being a police informer, the official said. He was not associated with police in any way, the official added. He might have refused to supply groceries to the Naxals which could have angered them, he said. A search operation was launched in the area to track down the killers, he said. According to senior police officials, the Naxals are trying to set up a base in the forested tri-junction of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, comprising districts of Balaghat, Gondia, Rajnandgaon, Mungeli and Kawardha. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. Special masses and prayer sessions were held in the city today on the occasion of Mother Teresa's 108th birth anniversary. At the Mother House, the global headquarters of Missionaries of Charity, nuns and shelter home inmates, along with general public, lit candles and offered prayers to the patron saint of Kolkata this morning. The Vatican had declared Mother Teresa Patron Saint of the 'Archdiocese of Calcutta' on September 6, last year, in recognition of her selfless service towards helping the poor and the undeprivileged in the city. A large number of people also gathered at the Archbishop House, around 1km from the Mother House, to offer floral tributes to the life-size bronze statue of St Teresa. The statue, designed by Church Art, was donated in 2016 to mark a symbolic link between Kolkata and Macedonia's capital Skopje, where she was born. Archbishop Reverend Thomas D'Souza, who shares his birthday with Mother, cut a cake on the occasion in the presence of Honorary Consul of the Republic of Macedonia in Kolkata, Namit Bajoria. Mother Teresa was born on August 26, 1910 at Skopje in Macedonia. She died on September 5, 1997, less than a month after her 86th birthday. She was the recipient of numerous honours, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and the Bharat Ratna in 1980. In 2003, she was beatified as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) DMK working president M K Stalin, who is set to be elected the party president, filed his nomination for the post at Anna Arivalayam, the party headquarters, in Chennai in Tamil Nadu today. Senior leader and party principal secretary Duraimurugan filed the nomination for the post of treasurer, hitherto held by Stalin. They are likely to be elected during the party's General Council meeting on August 28 in Chennai. The process to elect Stalin as DMK chief following the death of his father and party chief M Karunanidhi began with the 65-year-old leader formally filing his nomination for the post. Before filing the papers, Stalin, Duraimurugan and senior party colleagues T R Baalu and A Raja visited Dayalu Ammal, Karunanidhi's wife, at her Gopalapuram residence. Later they also met party veteran and general secretary K Anbhazhagan and headed straight to the memorials of DMK founder and former Chief Minister C N Annadurai and Karunanidhi at the Marina beach-front and paid floral tributes, party sources said. Stalin, who was given a rousing reception on his arrival by partymen at the party headquarters formally, submitted the nomination papers to DMK Organising Secretary R S Bharathi. Also the names of Stalin and Duraimurugan were proposed by all 65 DMK district secretaries for the post of president and treasurer respectively. Talking to reporters, Raja said Stalin and Duraimurugan would be elected "unanimously" at the General Council meet. Sibling rivalry between Stalin and his elder brother M K Alagiri came to the fore recently, when the latter claimed that true loyalists of Karunanidhi were with him. Alagiri, who was expelled from the party by Karunanidhi in 2014, has been questioning the leadership of Stalin. He has announced he would lead a peace rally in Chennai on September 5, to the mausoleum of Karunanidhi. Stalin, the younger son of Karunanidhi, had held several party posts, including that of treasurer and youth-wing secretary. His journey in the party began early when he campaigned in the 1967 elections as a 14-year-old school student. He became the party's youth-wing secretary in 1984. He was put in prison under Maintenance of Internal Security Act in 1976 during Emergency. Stalin's growth has been steady and he became party deputy general secretary in 2003. He was re-elected treasurer for the second five-year term in January 2015. He became an MLA for the first time in 1989 from Thousand Lights constituency in the city from where he was re-elected thrice. In 2006, he became the Municipal Administration Minister in the DMK government and went on to become the Deputy Chief Minister in 2009. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala today claimed that sugarcane payment arrears to farmers by private sugar mills in Haryana have crossed Rs 200 crore, saying the state government has "no concern" for their problems. Surjewala said that the Haryana government should ensure timely payment of cane arrears to the farmers in the state, failing which the Congress will be "compelled" to take up their fight in the Vidhan Sabha and the streets of the state. He alleged that the entire state government machinery is "hand-in-glove" with private sugar mill owners "at the cost of farmers' interests". "The collusion of private sugar mills with the BJP government has made the farmers to suffer innumerable challenges and deep financial hardships," he said in a statement here. Surjewala accused the BJP government of "cheating the farmers and the people" of the state in the last four years. "In previous elections, the BJP duped the farmers through various 'chunaavi jumla' (election rhetoric) whereas the harsh ground situation is that the farmers of Haryana are waiting for the payment of their due sugarcane prices for the last three months, which they should receive within 14 days of the delivery," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister arrived in Hanoi on Sunday night as part of her four-day visit to Vietnam and Cambodia, which aims at deepening India's strategic cooperation with the two key nations in the ASEAN region. India's ties are on an upswing with the two major countries in the powerful ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) grouping. India has been particularly scaling up its cooperation with Vietnam in areas of maritime security and energy. "Hon'ble External Affairs Minister Smt. arrives in Hanoi on a three day visit to Vietnam (26-28 August 2018)," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Ravish Kumar tweeted. In Vietnam, Swaraj will co-chair the 16th meeting of the Joint Commission, along with the country's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. The External Affairs Minister's visit to Vietnam and Cambodia will provide an opportunity to hold in-depth discussions with the political leadership on a wide range of global, regional and bilateral issues, and advance our strategic engagement with these countries and the ASEAN region, the MEA had said on Saturday. In her first official visit to Cambodia, Swaraj will hold extensive talks with her counterpart Prak Sokhonn, covering the entire expanse of bilateral and regional issues of mutual interests. She will call on Prime Minister Hun Sen and President of the Senate Say Chhum. During Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang's visit to New Delhi in March, both the sides had vowed to join hands for an open and thriving Indo-Pacific, besides ensuring an efficient and rules-based regional security architecture. Vietnam and several other ASEAN member countries have territorial disputes with China over the resource-rich South China Sea. China has been opposing India's Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) exploring oil in areas claimed by Vietnam in the South China Sea (SCS). India has been asserting that the ONGC's exploration is a commercial operation and not connected with the dispute. Oil exploration in the SCS is a sensitive issue in the Vietnam-China relations. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today met Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley in Delhi and discussed the new zonal system and other key issues concerning the state. Rao's meeting with the two Union Ministers came a day after he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the same issues. "CM thanked the Union (Home) Minister Rajnath Singh for taking steps for approval of the newly formed Zonal system in Telangana," an official release said here today. The new zonal system concerns government employment in the state. Rao also discussed other matters concerning the state with Singh, the release said. Several issues pertaining to division of assets and others between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh following bifurcation of undivided Andhra Pradesh in 2014 have been pending resolution. In his meeting with Jaitley, Rao requested release of Rs 450 crore towards the fourth instalment of Special Assistance for development of backward districts in Telangana, it said. He urged the Finance Minister to raise the annual borrowing limit for the state by an additional 0.50 per cent of GSDP 'as recommended by the 14th Finance Commission", it said. He also sought release of interest subvention from the Centre towards the Self Help Group (SHG) bank linkage programme, it added. Rao's meetings in Delhi assume political significance as they come amid speculation about the possibility of advancement of Legislative Assembly elections in Telangana, which are scheduled to be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls next year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Avinash Bali, the key witness in the 2011 murders of Keenan Santos and Reuben Fernandez, was allegedly killed by his friend Nilesh Shukla over some personal dispute, the police said today as they announced arrests of three persons in the case. A personal cum financial dispute between Bali (40) and Shukla (38), the prime accused in the case, seems to be the cause behind the crime, a senior police official said. Bali's body, with injury marks on his head and private parts, was found lying in his shop in the MIDC area of suburban Andheri in the wee hours of August 20, Shukla and another accused Vishwabahadur Singh (48) were arrested from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh and the third accused, identified as Ankit Dubey (21), from Nalasopara in Maharashtra's Palghar district yesterday, he said. The official said Bali had called Shukla to his shop where they along with Singh consumed alcohol on the night of the incident, he said. However, an argument ensued between them, following which Shukla allegedly hit on Bali's head with a heavy object, leading to his death, he said. He said the police suspected role of Shukla during probe. "We received a tip-off that Shukla and Singh fled to Uttarakhand and then Uttar Pradesh after committing the crime. Based on specific information that the duo were hiding in a hotel in Lucknow, a team of the Mumbai Police went there and arrested them," the official said. Their interrogation led police to Dubey who was arrested from Palghar late last night. Dubey was working as a driver cum bodyguard of Shukla, he said, adding that his role in the crime is being investigated. The official said Shukla was into the export-import business of pharmaceuticals and had been arrested in the past in a Narcotics case. "Prima facie, a financial cum personal dispute between Shukla and Bali was the cause behind the incident," said DCP, Zone 10, Navinchandra Reddy. He said the accused trio have been remanded in police custody till September 1. Bali was a prime witness in the double murder of Santos (24) and Fernandez (29) in 2011. The duo were attacked on October 20, 2011 while they were trying to save their female friends from eve-teasers outside a eatery in Amboli in suburban Mumbai. Bali had completed his deposition in the case in 2014 and had supported the prosecution case till the end of the trial. In 2016, Special Women's Court Judge Vrushali Joshi had sentenced all the five accused to jail for the remainder of their life, after finding them guilty for murder, outraging the modesty of a woman and other charges of the Indian Penal Code. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three members of a family have been killed in a road accident when the car carrying them fell into a river in Bhagalpur district, a police officer said today. Shahkund Police Station SHO Sunil Kumar said that one person identified as Kislay Kumar swam to safety while his wife Rekha Devi (42), son Kunal Kashyap (13) and daughter Kavya Kashyap (10) died on the spot. The car fell into Dhamna river at a place between Shahkund and Asarganj road after Kumar lost control over the vehicle, the SHO said. The family was returning home at Nayagaon village from their relative's house at Pachkatiya village. All the three bodies have been fished out from the river this morning and sent for post mortem at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital, Bhagalpur, the SHO said. The car has also been taken out of the river. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MGR Centenary Film Studio, the tallest such structure in the country, was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami near here today. The 56 feet tall, 110 metres long and 100 feet wide studio was constructed using funds collected by the Federation of Film Employees Union of South India (FEFSI), at Paiyanur. "I am happy to inaugurate the Studio named after MGR (former Chief Minister M G Ramachandran). It is also the tallest film studio set up in the country," he said. Palaniswami recalled that the state which was home to several film studios earlier, witnessed a drop in numbers as they were converted to residential or commercial buildings. "It is appropriate at this juncture to congratulate the employees of FEFSI for having made donations to establish this studio," he said. He suggested that directors of other language films could consider the studio for shooting, and added it would also lead to creation of jobs. The Chief Minister also assured government's support to construct houses, as per the Labour laws, for FEFSI workers. To a request by FEFSI President and film director R K Selvamani for funds to set up an auditorium, Palaniswami said, "I am happy to inform that the government will offer Rs 5 crore to set it up. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In an unusual move, a top Pakistan Railways official has requested for a 730-day full pay leave, saying the attitude of new minister for railways Sheikh Rasheed is "extremely non-professional and ill-mannered". Hanif Gul, a Grade-20 officer, said in his application letter that as an honourable member of the Civil Services of Pakistan, it is not possible for him to continue to work under him, Geo reported. The application letter has since gone viral on social media in the country. "With due respect, it is submitted that the attitude of new Minister is extremely non-professional and ill-mannered. "As an Honourable member of the Civil Services of Pakistan, it is not possible for me to continue to work under him. The Minister is fully entitled to work with a team that share his vision. It is, therefore, submitted that 730 days leave may kindly be allow. to the undersigned," the letter reads. Rasheed recently chaired a meeting of railways officials where he reportedly admonished them for telling "stories" about the department's better performance, the report said. The minister also asked them not to praise "any minister" in front of him. Rasheed has often criticised former railways minister Saad Rafique's performance. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Le Collectif Cheikh Yassine a organise un certain nombre dactivites et de festivites pour les enfants de Gaza sous le theme La joie des enfants de Gaza pour lAid . Ces activites ont commence le premier jour de lAid et continue jusquau 4eme jour de lAid dans la bande de Gaza. Plusieurs activites, ont ete organisees parmi lesquelles : des competitions recompensees par des prix, des jeux, des animations et des chants presentes par un groupe ainsi que des distributions de cadeaux et daides financieres. Unfazed by industry's criticism of some past decisions, chairman R S Sharma has asserted that the regulator is not into a PR role, but is, rather, doing its job transparently with wide stakeholder consultation in the interest of consumers and the sector. In his first interview after winning a second term at the helm of Trai, Sharma said legal options are available for anyone not happy with a particular regulation of the Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). "I don't think we are into a PR (public relations) exercise...we are doing our jobs to best of our capabilities. There may be situations where some stakeholders may not be happy with the decision we take, and I have maintained that appropriate forum to challenge these is the legal forum," Sharma told PTI in a recent interaction. The approach of has never been one of taking arbitrary action, and each and every decision, order, or regulation has been backed by "full consultation and full transparency", he noted. "We don't do anything without consultation or dialogue. But our purpose is not to establish PR. Our purpose is to do our job effectively...," Sharma said. His comments assume significance as Trai's past decisions from slashing of call connect charges, to its stance on provision of points of internet (sought by Reliance Jio at the start of its services), and predatory pricing rules have come under blistering attack by established operators like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular. Earlier this year, Trai's predatory pricing rules sparked off a furore as older players and industry body Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) slammed the new norms. The COAI had indicated that the order distorted the market, placing all operators, except one (it had not named Reliance Jio) at a serious disadvantage. The fiery chief has firmly stood his ground all through and maintained that while he takes industry's 'fair criticism' in his stride, the levelling of allegations of bias without any proof bothers him as it discredits and lowers the institution's esteem. "Trai is a vibrant organisation and we are a regulator who has a certain standing in the world. We are proud of that legacy. The organisation will continue to take forward the agenda," Sharma said outlining the work done by the regulator in areas like net neutrality, data privacy and machine-to-machine communication and others. The regulator plans to hold internal meetings to take stock of outstanding issues against the backdrop of the agenda that had been set at the beginning of the calendar year 2018. The calibration of pending issues and new, emerging ones will be done over the next few weeks, Sharma added. COAI has urged the Trai chairman to outline his major focus areas and priorities for the next two years, so the industry can look to "predictable" and stable regulatory environment" crucial for its growth. The industry body -- which has, in the past, been severely critical of major Trai decisions under Sharma's watch -- has further said that the industry is seeking from the regulator a relationship of "trust, information sharing and predictability". A person was killed and four others were injured when a truck ran over them at Alapur trisection in Pratapgarh, police said today. The accident took place last night when a speeding truck coming from Lucknow hit five pedestrians, they said While Dilip Kumar (27) died in the accident, the other four suffered injuries and were sent to Allahabad for treatment, police said. The body was sent for postmortem, they said, adding that efforts are on to nab the truck driver. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two men were arrested today for allegedly threatening a businessman and trying to extort Rs 50 lakh from him in northwest Delhi's Subhash Place, the police said. Himanshu Jain, a property dealer, and his employee Manoj Meena were arrested in connection with the case, they said. On August 19, the businessman lodged a complaint at the Subhash Place police station alleging that he was being threatened over phone by the accused who were demanding Rs 50 lakh from him, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (northwest) Aslam Khan. Based on a tip off and technical surveillance, a trap was laid to nab the accused and after an intense chase of seven days, the accused were arrested, Khan said. The accused revealed that in order to make easy money, they planned to place extortion calls to rich people across the city, the officer said. A mobile phone, a SIM used for commission of crime, and the documents used to procure the SIM were recovered from their possession, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two boys today drowned in a river while another was rescued in a critical condition near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. The trio was taking bath in the river near Dabraj bridge in Mankote sector when they slipped into the deep waters, a police official said. The rescuers immediately swung into action and managed to pull out one of them, Waseem Akram, 21. He was rushed to a local hospital for treatment where his condition was stated to be "critical", he said. Bodies of the other two boys, Umar Farooq, 15, and Mohammad Shakeel, 22, were fished out after hectic efforts. They were later handed over to their families for last rites after completion of formalities, the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two people were killed and more than 200 injured in a strong 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck western Iran near the border with Iraq early Sunday, officials told local media. The shallow quake hit 26 kilometres southwest of the city of Javanrud in Kermanshah province, the US Geological Survey said, near the site of a powerful quake last year that killed hundreds. The head of the emergency department Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Saeb Sharidari, told state agency IRNA that two people were killed and 241 people injured, six critically. Sharidari said the two dead were a pregnant woman and a 70-year-old man who died of a heart attack. The provincial head of the Red Crescent, Mohammad Reza Amirian, said there had been at least 21 aftershocks. He said there were potential problems with drinking water due to damaged infrastructure in villages, but that it had not yet been necessary to distribute food and tents. Kermanshah governor Houshang Bazvand told the Tasnim agency that electricity had been temporarily cut to several villages. A crisis centre was set up, with hospitals and relief organisations placed on alert. But the local director of crisis management, Reza Mahmoudian, told the Mehr agency that "the situation was under control" and no request for help had been sent to neighbouring provinces. There were reports that the quake was felt far across the border into Iraq. Images on social media showed people being rushed to hospitals, but suggested relatively light damage to infrastructure. Iran sits on top of two major tectonic plates and sees frequent seismic activity. In November last year a major 7.3-magnitude quake killed 620 people in Kermanshah province and another eight people in Iraq. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The two Indian military helicopters, gifted to Maldives, are likely to stay back along with a 48-member crew and support staff for at least next few months as talks between the two countries on their continued deployment in the island nation were "positive", diplomatic and military sources said. The lease agreement of the two helicopters, given to in 2013, has expired and the island nation had conveyed to New Delhi that it would not like to retain them. After several rounds of talks, there has been indication from about its willingness to keep the two along with the crew and support staff, the sources said. They said the preliminary outcome of the talks between the two countries on the issue has been positive and there was a possibility of the choppers being kept there for a longer duration. "The and the support staff are not being brought back," a highly-placed source said. The lease agrement of one helicopter operated by the Coast Guard had expired earlier this year, while the pact for the second chopper operated by the expired on June 30. One chopper is deployed in the nation's southern-most island of Addu and the other in the strategically-located Lammu. As relations between the two countries nosedived after opposed the imposition of Emergency in that country, the Maldivian government indicated that it would not renew the lease agreement for keeping the two choppers along with the support staff. The sources said the is extending visas of the Indian team comprising personnel from the Indian Navy, Coast Guard and support staff from (HAL), the manufacturer of the choppers. The development comes less than a month before the presidential election in Maldives and it is seen as an indication of slight easing of ties between the two countries. The strategically-located island nation is an important neighbour for and both countries were enhancing defence and security cooperation, particularly in the maritime sphere, in the last several years. However, the ties came under strain after Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen declared Emergency in the country on February 5, following an order by the country's to release a group of Opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely criticised trials. The Emergency was lifted 45 days later. had criticised the Yameen government for imposition of the Emergency and urged it to restore the credibility of the electoral and political process by releasing political prisoners. The presidential election is due in that country on September 23. Last month, India expressed concern over announcement of the elections without allowing democratic institutions, including Parliament and the judiciary, to work in a free and transparent manner. India had said it wanted "credible restoration" of the political process and the rule of law in the island nation before the elections were conducted. However, despite strain in ties, both sides were in touch with each other on the issue of Indian choppers stationed there. There have been considerable disquiet in New Delhi over China's growing influence over Male. Maldives had inked a free trade agreement with China in December last year, triggering concerns in New Delhi. At least two police officers have died in fresh violence in western Cameroon where English-speaking separatists have declared an independent state, the military said today. The men were killed by armed pro-independence fighters near the town of Wum in Northwest Region, an army spokesman said. The separatist camp spoke of nine police dead. Army spokesman Colonel Didier Badjeck said, on Facebook, that 21 of the attackers had been "neutralised", without saying how many had been involved in the assault. Separatist unrest in Cameroon's two minority English-speaking regions -- North-West and South-West -- has left scores dead and displaced around 200,000 people since late 2016. About 30.000 of those displaced have crossed the border into neighbouring Nigeria. Years of resentment at perceived discrimination at the hands of the Cameroon's francophone majority have led to almost daily acts of violence and retribution. Security in the two regions has deteriorated significantly since late last year and now clashes with separatist fighters are almost daily occurrences. A total of 109 members of the police and security forces have been killed, according to government figures. The conflict poses problems for the organisation of the presidential election, scheduled for October 7, in which the 85-year-old incumbent, Paul Biya, is bidding for a seventh consecutive term. Anglophones today account for about a fifth of the West African country's population of 22 million. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British-Iranian woman who has been held in Tehran for more than two years on sedition charges, returned to prison today after temporary release, dashing her family's hopes of an extension. "We have just heard the sad that Nazanin's extension has been refused and she has returned to prison," said a tweet on the official "Free Nazanin" Twitter account. "Here is the moment she said goodbye to a distraught Gabriella," it added, along with a picture of Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her four-year-old daughter. She was unexpectedly released for a three-day furlough on Thursday, and was reunited with members of her family outside the Iranian capital. Husband Richard Ratcliffe said they had received "mixed messages" from the Iranian authorities on Sunday, ahead of her return to Evin prison. The charity worker had initially been told her request for an extension had been approved, but then received a call telling her to return to prison by sunset. "She was shivering and shaking and crying - and said: 'How can you take me away from my baby, when she needs me'?" he said in a an email received by AFP "Gabriella was crying and sucking her thumb -- she didn't want her mummy to go back." Ratcliffe said his wife, who has denied all charges filed against her in Iran, spent her time with her parents and daughter in Damavand, a mountain resort near Tehran. Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation -- the media organisation's philanthropic arm -- was arrested at Tehran airport on April 3, 2016. She is serving a five-year jail sentence for alleged sedition. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Drawing flak for Rahul Gandhi's remarks that the Congress was not involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the party today listed steps it had taken after it and said its opponents should not sensationalise tragic events for political gains. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi was reacting to the Shiromani Akali Dal's comments that the Congress president's remarks on Sikh riots have "rubbed salt into the wounds" of the Sikh community. Gandhi, who was on a two-day visit to the UK, told an audience of UK-based parliamentarians and local leaders on Saturday that the incident was a tragedy and painful experiences, but disagreed with the view that the Congress was "involved". "Constantly distorting what Rahul Gandhi says is not going to convert untruth and lies into truth," Singhvi said, noting that their opponents should not sensationalise tragic events for political gains. He listed what the Congress did after the riots and asked the SAD to tell what their partner BJP did after the 2002 riots in Gujarat. "The Congress party from this forum and all over the country at least a thousand times has condemned that tragic episode, calling it the most unfortunate event, condemned it and never in the remotest sense directly or indirectly supported it. Even the prime minister of that time had apologised," he said. He also said that many senior leaders suffered serious harm in their political careers in the context of their alleged association with that event. "A large number have faced criminal prosecution, some have been convicted, some are pending but the Congress has never interfered," he said. He said the Akali Dal should ask if Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was Gujarat Chief Minister in 2002, and BJP president Amit Shah had done after the riots in Gujarat what the Congress did after 1984. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four days after the University Grants Commission (UGC) directed all higher educational institutions to ban sale of junk food on their campuses, officials of city varsities have said they are taking steps to that direction. The Vice chancellor of Calcutta University Sonali Chakravarti Banerjee told PTI "there is no sale of food items which can be categorised as junk food within the varsity campus. Still we are making everybody, including affiliated colleges, aware of the UGC directive." She said, "we have also instructed the canteens of the university and affiliated colleges to maintain hygiene norms while cooking items." When asked about report of sale of fried items and chips and other fast food packets from Jadavpur University canteens, its Registrar Chiranjib Bhattacharya said, "we'll launch awareness campaign among students about the UGC restriction on junk food consumption."Bhattacharya, however, said it was difficult to change an individual's food preferences "or change his love for junk food," but "we'll try to curb the trend of consuming junk food within the campus."Presidency University Vice Chancellor Anuradha Lohia said, "we'll put up the notice by UGC on our display board," in reply to a question on reports of sale of junk food items like noodles and burgers from some canteens of the College Street campus. Echoing Bhattacharya, Lohia said, "one's food habit is entirely a matter of one's personal choice, but the Presidency will go by the UGC directive." On August 22, the UGC in a communication to universities said, "banning junk food in colleges will set new standard for healthy food, make the students live better, learn better and reduce obesity levels. This will prevent lifestyle diseases which have a direct link with excessive weight." The circular was issued after a directive from the Ministry of Human Resource Development, asking the UGC to ban the sale of junk food on premises of higher institutions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Muslim woman today celebrated Raksha Bandhan with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, albeit a photograph of the two politicians. Nagma, a resident of Basarikapur village under Sikandarpur police station here, pasted a Rakhi on the photograph of Modi and Adityanath and called the two BJP leaders her brothers. Speaking to reporters here, Nagma said she has great expectations from Modi and Adityanath. Nagma said lakhs of divorced women are dependent on the two leaders. She said the initiatives undertaken by Modi and Adityanath would bring justice to Muslim women who are "victims" of talaq (divorce). On August 22, 2017, the Supreme Court had ruled that the practice of divorce through triple talaq among Muslims is "void", "illegal" and "unconstitutional". The apex court held that triple talaq was against the basic tenets of Quran. Following which, Nagma made a painting of the prime minister and the UP chief minister. However, this angered her husband Pervez Khan, who threw Nagma out of the house in September last year. Nagma registered a case in this regard at Sikandarpur police station. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US Senator John McCain, a celebrated war hero known for reaching across the aisle in an increasingly divided America, died on Sunday following a battle with brain He was 81. "Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28 pm on August 25, 2018. With the senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family," his office said in a statement. "At his death, he had served the of faithfully for 60 years. Sen McCain, thank you for your service," read a sign near the driveway of his home in a rural part of Sedona, Arizona, television footage showed, as a police escort accompanied the hearse that was to carry his body and local residents came bearing flowers for the late political titan. While he had many disagreements with fellow politicians, the Republican stalwart's integrity was not at question, and condolences came swift from the highest reaches of American after his passing. Ex- Barack Obama, the Democrat to whom McCain lost the presidency in the 2008 elections, said "we are all in his debt." " and I were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds and competed at the highest level of politics," Obama said in a statement. "But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher -- the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched and sacrificed." Former vice Al Gore -- who served under Democrat Bill Clinton -- said, "I always admired and respected John from the opposite side of the aisle, because he thrived under pressure, and would work to find common ground, no matter how hard." Donald Trump, who once mocked McCain's war record, said he sent his "deepest sympathies and respect." McCain had been a rare and outspoken Republican critic of Trump, accusing him of "naivete," "egotism" and of sympathizing with autocrats. On Capitol Hill, McCain became close friends with Senator Lindsey Graham and former senator Joe Lieberman -- a trio dubbed the "Three Amigos." Now that the trio is missing its driving force, Graham wrote that " and Freedom have lost one of her greatest champions... And I've lost one of my dearest friends and mentor." McCain, who was tortured during his five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, stopped treatment from an aggressive form of earlier this week, his family saying "the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict." He had spent more than three decades in the Senate, looming large in debates over war and peace and the moral direction of the nation. Before joining the upper chamber, he served as a US representative from 1983 to 1987. McCain had not been on the Senate floor in months, remaining at his Arizona home for treatment of glioblastoma -- the same form of brain that took the life of another Senate giant, Democrat Ted Kennedy, in 2009. From stringing flowers for a living to winning the silver medal at the ongoing Jakarta Asian Games, Kabaddi player Usha Rani has overcome all challenges to carve out a niche for herself. Usha Rani, 29, presently a constable at Doddaballapura police station, arrived to a rousing welcome at the Kempegowda International Airport here today. Besides her family, Kabaddi association members and friends, her boss ADGP (KSRP) Bhaskar Rao was there to receive her. "I'm extremely happy that our team won the silver medal at the Asian Games. By winning the medal my dream has finally come true. I had missed the Asian Games last time," an elated Usha Rani told PTI. Defending champions India were defeated 24-27 by Iran. Rani's sister Divyashree, also a Kabaddi player and posted in the Forest department, narrated the struggles her family had to go through before finally hog the limelight. Usha Rani is one among five siblings, including two brothers, all of whom are passionate about Kabaddi. Coming from a very poor family, Usha Rani and her sisters Divyashree and Shobha Rani used to assist their mother in stringing flowers under a small temporary tin shack at Yashwantapura in the city. "Even while stringing the flowers, we used to discuss Kabaddi a lot. We used to play Kabaddi too, but never ever imagined that somebody among us would rise to such heights," recalled Divyashree. On an average, they would earn Rs 50 a day, with which the family had to make ends meet. It was only after Usha Rani got a posting in the Karnataka police that the family's financial condition improved. After joining the police force, Usha Rani used to practice at Koramangala area here daily without a break. She even rejected many marriage proposals to achieve her goal. "We come from a very poor family. However, we all kept our passion alive and struggled hard to achieve our dreams," said Divyashree. Usha Rani said the department has decided to promote her as a Sub-Inspector for her achievement. Congratulating her for the success, ADGP Dr R P Sharma said the department was proud of her. "We all wish her success. Her achievement is an indication that social justice in the country is now reaching the optimum level and class differences are getting blurred," he said. Bengaluru police commissioner T Suneel Kumar too praised her, saying she has made the entire police force proud. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WelcomHeritage Hotels, a joint venture of ITC and Jodhana Heritage Resorts, is looking to add 10 hotels across the country by 2019-end, a top company official said. The company currently has 36 operational hotels and resorts across the country. "We will be adding 10 more hotels and resorts across the country by end of 2019 as part of our expansion plans going forward," WelcomHeritage Hotels Chief Executive Officer Sunil Gupta told PTI. Out of these, five properties are in project stage that are in various stages of development and renovation, he added. When asked about the business model the company follows, Gupta said, "We follow the franchise model. We also advise the properties that are under development on architectural aspects and interiors and other details." The company supports hotels under its brand with marketing and also helps them with quality standards and training, he added. On being asked about the investment to be made in the expansion, Gupta said, "As a franchise company, our investments are mainly on the technology and on the marketing and distribution." Going forward, domestic travellers will be providing the big boost to heritage tourism in the country along with inbound tourists, he added. Started in 1997, WelcomHeritage Hotels, a 50:50 joint venture of ITC and Jodhana Heritage Resorts, encourages heritage property owners to convert their properties into productive assets. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nearly a century ago when floods ravaged Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi had termed the misery of the people as "unimaginable" and stepped in to mobilise over Rs 6,000 to help them, records show. If the present rain fury has claimed over 290 lives and displaced over 10 lakh people, the massive floods that crippled the state in July 1924 are believed to have claimed a large number of lives and caused widespread destruction. Mahatma Gandhi, through a series of articles in his publications 'Young India' and 'Navajivan', had urged people of the country to generously contribute for the relief of the flood-hit' Malabar' (Kerala). Following his appeal, people from various walks of life including women and children had donated even their gold jewels and meagre savings to help the flood-affected people. Many had skipped a meal daily or given up milk to find money to contribute to relief fund mobilised by Gandhi, according to the journals penned by him. The "Father of the Nation" had mentioned in one of his articles in 'Navajivan' about a girl who had stolen three paise to contribute to the relief fund. "Malabar's misery is unimaginable," Mahatma had said in the article titled "Relief Work in Malabar." He said he had to "confess" that the response to his appeal had been "more prompt" than he expected. "It has been proved not once but many times that, by God's grace, compassion does exist in the hearts of the people." Many funds had been launched for collecting relief amounts and people could contribute whichever one they choose. "I would only urge that pay, they must," Mahatma Gandhi had said. The massive flood that lasted for around three weeks in July 1924 had crippled and submerged various parts of the then Kerala including hilly Munnar, Trichur (Thrissur now), Kozhikode, Ernakulam, Aluva, Muvattupuzha, Kumarakom, Chengannur and Thiruvananthapuram. It was commonly referred to as the "Great flood of 99" as it had happened in the 'Kolla varsham' (Malayalam calendar) 1099. As per records, Kerala, which was administratively fragmented into three princely states (Travancore, Cochin and Malabar) during the time, had received excessive rains. Just as now, all rivers were in spate and Periyar had flooded following the opening of the sluice gates of the Mullaperiyar Dam. Freedom fighter, K Ayyappan Pillai has vivid memories about the "Maha pralayam", the great flood of '99. "I was a school student when the heavy rains and floods submerged various places causing massive devastation. Normal life was crippled in the unabated rain," the 104-year old Ayyappan Pillai told PTI here. "Roads had turned into rivers... overflowing water bodies... paddy fields inundated...people even sought refuge on hill tops in many parts," he said. Gandhi, who came to know about the deluge from the state's Congress leaders, had sent them a telegram on July 30, 1924 asking them to assist the relief measures of the government and also work in their own way to help the affected people. In another telegram, the Mahatma said he was collecting money and clothes and his only thought was about people who had no food, clothes and shelter. In an article in 'Navajivan' dated August 17, 1924, he said, "A sister has donated her four bracelets and a chain of pure gold. Another sister has given her heavy necklace. A child has parted with his gold trinket and a sister with her silver anklets." "One person has given two toe-rings. An Antyaja girl has offered voluntarily the ornaments worn on her feet. A young man has handed over his gold cufflinks. Rs 6994-13 anna-3 paise have been collected in cash up to date," Gandhiji said. In the wake of the present floods, the state-based multi-lingual history website - dutchinkerala.com has carried Mahatma Gandhi's 1924 appeal to contribute to Kerala's relief fund to persuade people across the world to donate to the Chief Minister's distress relief fund. Meanwhile, donations pouring into the Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) have crossed Rs 500 crore. From school children to corporate giants, all are contributing to the relief fund to help rebuild the flood-hit state, whose loss has been estimated to be over Rs 20,000 crore. A woman returning home after purchasing rakhis has been shot dead by an unidentified miscreant in Bihar's Katihar district, a police officer said today. Superintendent of Police Vikas Kumar said that the woman, identified as 22-year old Priyanka Kumari, was shot at near Sant colony yesterday when she was returning home with her sister. The miscreant, who had covered his face with a handkerchief, had stopped the sisters near Sant colony and tried to snatch Priyanka Kumari's mobile which she resisted following which the miscreant shot at her leaving her seriously injured, the SP said. The woman was rushed to sadar hospital but doctors referred her to Katihar Medical College and Hospital where she was declared brought dead. The miscreant escaped from the scene after snatching the mobile phone. Raids are being conducted to nab the culprit, the SP said adding that a sniffer dog has also been pressed into service to trace the culprit. Police are investigating the matter from all angles, the SP said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A group of women today staged a protest outside Tihar Jail here after they were denied permission to enter the prison on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, police said. About 15 to 20 women gathered outside Tihar Jail. They had not taken prior permission from the jail authorities so they were not allowed inside to tie rakhis, said Vijay Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (west). The women created ruckus for nearly 40 minutes but eventually dispersed. However, it led to traffic jam at jail road causing inconvenience to commuters, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It was a classic example of a tragedy being converted into an opportunity. Women in Maharashtra's Latur and Osmanabad districts, which were hit by an earthquake 25 years ago, refused to be defeated by the catastrophe and took it up as a challenge to restore their houses and in-turn became entrepreneurs. A ravaging earthquake had hit Latur and Osmanabad on September 30, 1993, killing nearly 10,000 people and causing severe damage in nearly 52 villages of the two districts. Scores of houses and other properties were reduced to rubble in some villages, rendering a large number of people homeless. Over the years, nearly one lakh women set up self-help groups (SHGs) and trained in entrepreneurship, marketing and finance of agricultural and non-agricultural small scale businesses. Besides, around 41,000 women were trained by the NGO Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP) to take up organic farming on their family's lands. "The women farmers have earned a revenue of Rs 516 crore over the last few years as the cost of production of food crops is less than cash crops like sugarcane," SSP head Prema Gopalan told PTI. After one year of the earthquake, a Government Resolution was issued for appointing 'Sanvad Sahayaks', or the community resource person, to help in the reconstruction of the damaged houses, Gopalan said. The SSP trained the women to be sanvad sahayaks and to monitor the reconstruction and repairs of houses and interact with engineers and contractors on designs of these houses. Involving women in these works was not an easy task as they wouldn't come out of their kitchens and the damaged homes when the SSP volunteers went around the villages. "It took us nearly two years to talk to the women and make them aware of their role in decision-making. They took the lead when they realised that the reconstruction of houses was not to their liking and the money given to beneficiaries was misused by men in the families," Godavari, an SSP worker, said. Gopalan said the sanvad sahayaks helped in identifying beneficiaries, locating widows and senior citizens at risk. "Houses were reconstructed using earthquake resistance technology. The sanvad sahayaks monitored the construction work," SSP director (programmes) Upamanyu Patil said. Gopalan said recognising women of these villages as farmers and giving them land rights will go a long way in their empowerment. Women are now in-charge of food, water and animal security, which has resulted in improved health and nutrition of these families, she noted. An additional income of Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh per annum is being generated in the families where women have taken up organic farming. They grow millets, dal, pulses and oil seeds, among other things, she said. Archana Bhosale, a farmer from Tuljapur village in Osmanadabd, said she started with the organic farming of food crops and pulses and is now one of the directors of a company, a consortium of SHGs in the district, which handles production of these crops, their certification, processing and sale. Another farmer from Tuljapur, Vaishali Ghuge, said apart from owning two acre of farm land, she is into vermicomposting. Ghuge said she earns Rs 1 lakh per year from each of the seven vermicompost beds that she owns. Shailaja Narwade from Masla village in Osamanabad is also in favour of organic farming, saying it is durable. Hanumant Bhalerao, manager of the Bank of India in Solapur district, says in 2017-18 his branch sanctioned Mudra loan to 101 individuals, including 28 women and 45 SHGs. Some women who worked as sanvad sahayaks in the quake- affected villages also travelled to Tamil Nadu to assist in the rehabilitation work after tsunami in 2004 and also Bhuj in Gujarat which was ravaged by an earthquake in 2001. Kanta Patil, from Killari village in Latur, led the women to persuade the gram sabha to take up voting on a proposal to stop giving licenses to liquor shops. Laxmi Fulsunder, from Sastur village in Osmanabad, was alone at home with her children when the quake struck in 1993. She later started working in a 'balwadi' (state-run kindergartens) of the local zilla parishad at Rs 100 a month. "My husband had no work so my in-laws kept me away. The crisis came as an opportunity for me as I got to work with the other survivors," she said. In yet another example of women's empowerment, Sharifa Syed from Sastur village was part of a no-confidence notice moved against the sarpanch, who happened to be her husband, for not working efficiently. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Award winning children's writer Ramendra Kumar has been invited to grace the upcoming 36th International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Congress in Athens. Besides chairing an important session at the 3-day IBBY Congress beginning in Athens from August 30, Kumar said he was also slated to present a paper on 'The Brave New World of Indian Childrens Literature.' Three globally acclaimed speakers from three continents - North America, Europe and Asia - will present papers during the session to be chaired by Kumar, who is a distinguished children's writer and chief of communications in the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP). The Congress, which is expected to attract at least 450 delegates from more than 70 countries, is considered the biggest biennial global event focusing on childrens literature, a statement from RSP said. "It will be my privilege to chair a session which has three speakers who together map the globe. "And we are all meeting in a country that is a bridge between the ancient and the modern, the east and the west. Can anything be more inclusive?" added Kumar. He said "I am from the land of Jagannath Consciousness which is as relevant today as it was hundreds of years ago." Kumar is an acclaimed childrens writer with 33 books to his name. His writings have been translated into 28 languagesboth Indian and foreign. He won 31 awards by the Childrens Book Trust (CBT), over the years. This tally is the highest by any writer, the statement said. Six of the writers books have been recommended by the CBSE as Supplementary Readers and eleven of his stories have also found place in text books. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A German bomb disposal team today successfully defused an unexploded World War II bomb that had forced the evacuation of 18,500 people in the city of Ludwigshafen. The 500-kg (1,100-pound) aerial bomb, thought to have been dropped by American forces, was discovered during construction work earlier in the week. "Good news: the bomb has been defused! Citizens may return to their homes," the city of Ludwigshafen said on its official Twitter feed. It also posted a picture of the freshly unearthed, corroded bomb, strapped to a pallet before being removed from the area. Authorities in the western city had ordered all those living within a 1,000-metre (0.6-mile) radius of the bomb site to leave their homes from 08:00 am (0600 GMT) as a precaution ahead of the defusing operation. It took the bomb squad just over an hour to complete the delicate task, and the all-clear was given shortly after 2:00 pm. More than 70 years after the end of World War II, Germany remains littered with unexploded ordnance, a legacy of the intense Allied bombing campaign against Nazi Germany. In the biggest post-war evacuation to date, some 60,000 Frankfurt residents were evacuated last year so that an unexploded 1.8-tonne British bomb dubbed the "blockbuster" could be defused. In April, thousands had to clear an area around Berlin's central railway station after another British bomb was discovered on a building site. Unexploded munitions have also complicated the work of firefighters this summer, with forest fires sparked by a spell of hot, dry weather setting off long-buried ordnance, causing small explosions on several occasions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NEW DELHI (Reuters) - GE Power India, a unit of General Electric, will shut its Maneja manufacturing plant in Gujarat from Monday, a company statement said.Around 95 percent of workers at the Maneja factoryhave opted for a voluntary retirement scheme, the statement said. The company will continue as a key contributor to the domestic hydro market.The company will leverage its robust supply chain capabilities from within GE Group and in collaboration with suppliers to serve its customers. (Reporting by Nidhi Verma)(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated ... WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Mexico's Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said on Sunday that bilateral negotiations with the United States about the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) were in the "final hours."Speaking as he arrived for talks at the U.S. Trade Representative's office, Guajardo said the negotiators would need at least a week to work with Canada, the third country in the trilateral trade pact, pushing any possible final deal into at least September.U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States could reach a "big Trade Agreement" with Mexico soon as ... BEIJING (Reuters) - China Petroleum & Chemical Corp, the country's largest refiner, said on Sunday that it expects fuel sales to drop and processing rates for crude to stay flat in the second half of 2018, amid an oversupply of refined fuels.The company, known as Sinopec, will process 121 million tonnes of crude oil in the second half of the year, the same as in the first half, and its fuel sales will be 90.5 million tonnes, compared to 96.48 million in the first half, it said in a statement to the Shanghai Stock Exchange.Net income for the company for the first half was 41.6 billion yuan ... BEIJING (Reuters) - China Petroleum & Chemical Corp, the country's largest refiner, reported on Sunday that net income in the first half of 2018 rose 53.6 percent from a year ago, beating a company forecast of 50 percent profit growth as the upstream and refining sectors delivered strong results.Net income for the company, known as Sinopec, for the period was 41.6 billion yuan ($6.05 billion), the company said in a statement to the Shanghai Stock Exchange.Total revenue in the first six months of the year rose to 1.3 trillion yuan, up 11.5 percent from a year earlier, amid higher crude prices, ... President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States could reach a "big Trade Agreement" with Mexico soon as the incoming Mexican trade negotiator signalled possible solutions to NAFTA energy rules and a contentious U.S. "sunset clause" demand. Trump tweeted on Saturday morning that the United States' "relationship with Mexico is getting closer by the hour. Some really good people within both the new and old government, and all working closely together....A big Trade Agreement with Mexico could be happening soon!" Jesus Seade, who will ... 1When the Portuguese ruled over Oman in the late 1640s, they depended on an Indian merchant agent from Kutch for their supplies. The Portuguese commander Pereira coveted this merchant's beautiful daughter and that did not go down well with him. In order to rebuff the proposal, this merchant helped the then Yarriba ruler expel the Portuguese from Muscat. The Omani ruler returned the merchant's favour by exempting Indian merchants from payment of taxes on exports. It is said that this incident set the tone for the continued warmth businessmen of Oman have with Indian merchants even ... * Chinas pension fund faces a widening shortfall as the population ages * Social insurance collection overhaul intended to close loopholes sparks concerns over rising business costs Chinese policymakers are walking a tightrope between an emerging pension shortfall as the population ages and concerns that toughening collection of social insurance levies will hurt businesses just as economic growth is slowing. The threat of a pension shortfall is imminent as the population greys. In 2017, Chinas pension funds collected 3.3 trillion yuan ($515 billion) and handed out 2.9 trillion yuan in payments. But the system avoided going into deficit mainly because of subsidies from the central government, official data showed. At stake are hundreds of millions of retirees who rely heavily on the pension fund for a living. The challenge to make ends meet is ever growing because of Chinas rapidly aging population and declining birth rate. At the end of 2017, China had 241 million people over the age of 60, or more than one in every six of the countrys 1.4 billion people. By 2050, one of every three Chinese will be over 60, according to the United Nations. Meanwhile, the number of newborns fell by 3.5% in 2017 to 17.23 million, despite the end of the one-child policy. Policymakers have stepped up efforts to shore up the pension fund and strengthen the entire social security network, introducing measures such as transferring shares of state-owned enterprises to retirement funds and building up a commercial pension market to provide more channels for individuals to save for retirement. Now the central government is preparing an overhaul of the mechanism for collecting social insurance levies. Chinas pension funds are controlled by provincial-level governments, but the responsibilities for collecting the levies are inconsistently distributed between taxation and social security authorities. Under the new system, power to collect the funds will be consolidated in taxation departments to seal loopholes enabling evasion and make collections more transparent and efficient. The overhaul, which is set to take effect at the beginning of next year, has caused distress among businesses worried that the new collection rules will increase their social insurance payments. This could raise costs for employers at a time when companies are under pressure as economic growth slows and drain away capital after the governments three-year deleveraging campaign. The new rules may lead to a wave of small business closures because of higher costs and will put companies under closer scrutiny by tax officials, critics say. If all companies are required to fully meet their social insurance payment obligations, the average costs for businesses will increase by 30%, according to Wang Dehua, a financial analyst at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), a top think tank. Under Chinese law, employers are obligated to make payments to help provide basic social insurance for employees, including pensions, medical care, unemployment benefits, work- injury coverage, maternity and the housing provident fund, which helps workers cover their rent and home purchase. Contributions for pensions vary among regions and range from 13% to 20% of employees wages. Workers pay 8%. Total social insurance payments by Chinese employers and employees amount to 39.5% of payrolls, a rate higher than in many other countries. In 2014, the average rate of OECD, a group of mostly rich countries, was 29%, according to China Social Security Journal. To reduce costs, it is common for employers to find ways to avoid making the full contributions, for example by dividing compensation into basic wages and bonuses, paying taxes only on basic wages, or by hiring more temporary workers to skirt social security obligations. Some companies have struggled with the payments amid rising labor costs and slowing business. In July, Chinas largest telecom equipment maker, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., cut its payment to the housing provident funds in several cities from over 10% of wages to 5%, the lower limit of a national standard. Analysts said Huawei made the move to cut labor costs. The dilemma is testing Chinas policymakers as they seek a balance between efforts to expand social insurance revenue and to allow businesses to thrive, analysts said. While ensuring that all employers pay their contributions according to law, regulators should also consider lowering the contribution rate to alleviate pressure on businesses, said Yu Qingquan, chief executive officer of social insurance information provider 51Shebao. Other experts said that making Chinas social security system sustainable will require systemic reform and introduction of more sophisticated management of both collection and spending. Closing loopholes With provinces collection of social insurance levies split between tax and social security authorities, the duties of the departments often are not clearly defined. Coordination and information-sharing are also poor, according to Wang Yanzhong, a CASS professor who conducted a nationwide survey of the local social insurance system between 2016 and 2017. The methods of tax calculation also vary across regions. Some local authorities have offered preferential policies or reduced social insurance payment requirements to attract investment, Wang said. That has left some employers leeway to minimize payments by underreporting their wage payments or workforce size, experts say. A survey by 51Shebao this year found that only 27% of companies have made full payment of their share of social insurance contributions, while 31% paid at the bottom of the range of national standards leaving their employees with the least insurance coverage, according to a research paper published Aug. 24. Taxation departments have comprehensive information about companies business operations, and it is possible for taxation authorities to require companies to fully fulfill their social insurance obligation, CASSs Wang Dehua said. Official data back him up. In Guangzhou, where social insurance payments are already collected by tax departments, more than 90% of registered business taxpayers reported social insurance payments in 2015. In Beijing, where social security departments are in charge of the collection, the figure was only 42.9%. Under the governments reform plan, taxation departments across the country will finish building systems in preparation for taking over collection tasks by Dec. 10 and will start their new duties Jan. 1. In addition, social security department will connect their systems with taxation departments to share information and jointly deal with disputes. Pension shortfall Chinas basic pension insurance fund is a crucial part of the countrys social insurance system as it accounted nearly 70% of the entire national social insurance collection in 2017, according to figures from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. While the fund had an aggregate surplus of 4.1 trillion yuan in 2017, that mainly reflected government subsidies, according to CASS professor Zheng Bingwen. Subsidies accounted for 15% of nationwide fund gains in 2016. Without them, the system would have been in the red since 2014, according to an actuarial team led by Zheng. Without subsidies, Chinas pension funds will post deficits widening from 234 billion yuan this year to 534 billion yuan by 2022, according to Zhengs team. In some provinces, local pension funds have already been running deficits. The pension fund of the northeastern rust-belt province of Heilongjiang was in the red by more than 23.2 billion yuan in 2016, according to official reports. To help out regions struggling with pension deficits, the central government in July created a national pool to take a portion of money from provincial-level pension funds and redistribute the money among regions. The government said this centrally controlled pool will balance pension-fund burdens across the country and strengthen the overall system. The centrally controlled pool is the first step for China to address the countrys fragmented pension system and huge imbalances between poorer and wealthier provinces, CASSs Wang Dehua said. Yu at 51Shebao said compulsory transfers to the central government fund will also encourage local authorities to tighten scrutiny of companies pension payments. As governments step up collection efforts, policymakers should carefully control the strength and pace of new policies to avoid excessive impacts on businesses, Wang Dehua said. In addition to tightening collections, China should also push forward reforms in social insurance fund management and spending, other analysts said. Lou Jiwei, former finance minister and current chair of the National Council for Social Security Fund, said social insurance policy design should take into consideration various factors such as demographic change and population mobility and set up a system based on actuarial balance. China has a high social insurance contribution rate but still cant reach a balance. Despite the aging population issue, it also reflects inappropriate incentive mechanisms, Lou said. Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com) CAMEROUN :: Cameroon: International Pangolin Scales Traffickers Network Dismantled An international network of pangolin scales traffickers has been dismantled with the arrest on August 18 of six suspected traffickers in Douala with over 700kg of pangolin scales. The arrest was carried out by the Wouri Divisional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife in collaboration with judicial police and the judiciary. The operation that was technically assisted by an NGO called LAGA,was carried out during attempts by the traffickers to sell the pangolin scales. The first hearing of the case took place on Friday August 24 and three of the arrested traffickers who had earlier been freed on bail did not show up in court raising fears that they may have escaped. Two of the three fugitives are from the Central African Republic. A couple of days to the operation, one of the traffickers sent a truck with from Bangui and it arrived Douala shortly after he had flown to the port city. The pangolin scales were then driven to a neighbourhood in the town, where an illegal transaction was about to take place but police arrived the scene of transaction and all 6 traffickers were arrested. One of them attempted to escape but was quickly stopped. The network that isspread in three central African countries including Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Central Africa and alsoNigeria has connections to Vietnam. One of the 6 arrested is from the Central African Republic while the rest are Cameroonians. The exposed modus operandi of the syndicate consisted of buying the scales from smaller traffickers inCameroon, the Central African Republicand the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and exporting to Nigeria via Cameroon. Most of the 700kg of giant pangolin scales originated from the DRC where they have strong cover from members of the ruling elite. When the scales arrive Nigeria, they are assembled for illegal export. The majority of the scales were from the giant pangolin which is an animal that is threatened with extinction, The operation that led to the confiscation of718kg of pangolin scales , was technically assisted by LAGA an NGO that assists government in the fight against wildlife criminality and the effective application of the wildlife laws in the country. The traffickers are equally linked to rhino horn and lion trophies trafficking and the LAGA, a member of the EAGLE Network is pursuing investigations on this. Cameroon upgraded all three species of pangolins to the class of totally protected wildlife species following the CITES 2016 CoP that listed all pangolin species in annex I. The sub region is considered to be a hotspot for sourcing illegal pangolin scales that is exported mainly to Asian countries. Over the years several tons of pangolin scales have been seized in Asian cities that have originated from the region. it should be noted that in January 2017 two Chinese nationals were arrested with over 5 tons of pangolin scales ready for illegal export. Government is stepping up efforts in wildlife law enforcement and last year it burnt close to 3 tons of pangolin scales that were seized during law enforcement operations. There is renewed impetus within the wildlife ministry to fight wildlife crimes since the appointment of a new minister at this ministry. news, latest-news Author Matthew Reilly would love to set the flux capacitor of his De Lorean to 1996 and head back to the year he self-published Contest. He was 19, hed sent the book to every major publisher in Australia and was rejected by all of them. He borrowed some money and printed 1000 copies. The young guy who wrote Contest was just trying to write the fastest, slam-bam, unbelievable, guy fighting aliens book he could, says Reilly, in town for the Canberra Writers Festival. It was such a learning experience but none of this would have happened without Contest. Now, 22 years down the track Reilly has sold more than 7 million books worldwide in 20 languages. Hes been living in Los Angeles for about three years, writing, working on film scripts, looking at getting into directing films himself. Ironically, we might get to see Contest made into a film right here in Canberra. Reilly is friends with Che Baker, whose sci-film Blue World Order hit the screens in mid 2018. It is set in the New York State Library, Reilly says, and Im wondering who I can call at the National Library of Australia to get the ball rolling. Reilly is a big fan of Canberra. Whenever we come here for book signings the lines are always out the door, he says. The Canberra Writers Festival people asked me really nicely if I would like to be involved and I know that it can be hard when things are new, we should support that. Reilly will be in conversation with Emma Alberici on Sunday August 26 at 1pm at Llewellyn Hall. His new book Three Secret Cities will be out in early September. Other highlights on Sunday include Scrublands author Chris Hammer in conversation with Steve Lewis, Rick Morton and James Jeffrey In Conversation with Catherine McGrath and Nikki Gemmell In Conversation with Mark Kenny. For a full program of events head to canberrawritersfestival.com.au /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/34b4a0fa-74cf-4d9f-9d90-0d9a5e3fd485/r0_337_6304_3899_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news The ACT's Catholic education office has engaged a well-known Liberal party-aligned lobbyist for strategic advice on responding to crises - including the hot-button issue of school funding. It is unclear how much ECG Advisory's David Gazard has been paid after being hired to advise Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn executive director Ross Fox at various times since about March last year. Mr Fox said Mr Gazard had helped with strategic advice and communications issues "relating to the management of schools". The system already has staff on the books charged with media, strategy and public policy. "Parents and school communities would expect us to apply the best professional knowledge and expertise to the issues we face which, in the Canberra and Goulburn archdiocese, have been challenging for an organisation thats relatively lean in the last 18 months to two years," Mr Fox said. Mr Fox last year warned some of the ACT's Catholic schools might have to close after the federal government froze funding to the system. The federal government eventually threw the archdiocese a $38 million funding lifeline after repeatedly swearing there would be no special deals. Mr Gazard, a former adviser to Coalition treasurer Peter Costello and former prime minister Tony Abbott, is understood to have attended at least two meetings between the federal government and archdiocese staff relating to school funding. According to its website, ECG Advisory offers "unique access to the highest levels of government as you seek to maximise your organizations objectives by exploiting opportunities or managing risk". However, Mr Fox said Mr Gazard had not helped broker meetings or deals, nor was he engaged as a lobbyist. He had not helped secure the additional funds, Mr Fox said. The archdiocese is not listed as a client of ECG's on the federal government lobbyist register. "David Gazard has been engaged to assist with strategic advice in the context of organisational change and response to that context, not as a lobbyist," Mr Fox said. Catholic education in the ACT has worked hand-in-hand with the Catholic Education Commission and thats been the forum by which theres been meetings with the minister, meetings with the department - as youd expect. Theyre pre-existing and strong relationships." Mr Fox would not be drawn on his personal relationship with Mr Gazard. Mr Fox unsuccessfully ran for the Liberal party in Victoria in the 2007 federal election and later attracted headlines for liking a Facebook page that appeared to back Mr Costello as leader of the Liberal party while a member of the Victorian Liberal party's administrative committee. Mr Gazard has worked as an adviser for former prime minister John Howard, Mr Costello and Mr Abbott, and unsuccessfully stood for the Liberals for the NSW seat of Eden-Monaro in 2010. I know him because the community knows him its widely known that hes been an adviser to prime ministers," Mr Fox said. Asked if he was friends with him, Mr Fox said Ive never met his wife or kids or anything like that", and later said he didn't see why his relationship with Mr Gazard was relevant. Mr Gazard was on leave, according to his voicemail, when contacted by the Sunday Canberra Times. Mr Fox said the archdiocese's education office hired consultants in various areas when necessary. "We have different financial issues of master planning and so on where we frequently engage consultants to assist on a short-term contractual basis, so its a very common and accepted government and corporate practice to engage consultants to assist so you can avoid making a commitment for a long-term full-time employee where there might not be an ongoing need." /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/d4043143-da91-41c7-8078-f1f331e6a492/r0_169_3605_2206_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg comment We should all be thankful that, in our Washminster system, a change of leadership can so smoothly take place, without the shedding of blood or violent demonstrations. Much metaphorical ink will have now been spilt commenting on last week's supposed "leadership crisis" and the subsequent ballot. However, in one sense, this whole intricate affair has been a beautiful example of just how well our constitutional monarchical system works. Unfortunately, too many citizens in various media vox pops have demonstrated how widespread the conflation is between two contrasting systems of government: American and Australian. Whereas citizens in the US are voting for the man, we are voting for the political movement, and so, regardless of the perceived popularity or productiveness of a prime minister, unless we live in the seat of Cook (which the majority of us do not), our focus should be on the merits of the member for our own electorates, rather than projecting a messiah complex onto the chosen party leader. Sitting governments need time to plan, persuade and promulgate; this is near impossible when members of parliament are in near perpetual campaign mode, potentially being turfed out every three years, because of either a perceived failure to tick the superficial boxes of persona and likeability, an innocuous gaffe, or selective reporting that skews the overall message. What makes a government govern well is the combined collegiality of expertise, vision and experience, not the sole effort of one politician. We do our nation a disservice by not giving MPs time to lead; otherwise, we will perpetually get the government we deserve. P. Waterhouse, Craigieburn, Vic We have another Prime Minister, who is, in my view, unlikely to move into the Lodge anytime soon. Why would he, when an election is due before the end of May next year, and who knows what the outcome may be? The Lodge was repaired and renovated at vast expense, and it would be good to have someone living in it as a family home. This may happen if only we could move to fixed four-year-term federal elections, so that a prime minister might have some certainty of being able to occupy it for a reasonable time. One can only wish. R. Richards, Cook Speaking candidly as a traditional Labor voter who is wanting to see a traditional Labor candidate in the new seat of Bean, I for one do not want to see a staffer pre-selected. The Labor Party should pre-select someone with a strong record of community involvement. Added to that, he or she should have a strong commitment to helping the homeless get a better deal. At the moment in the ACT and the federal Labor ranks, time servers rule. As far as social commitment goes, ACT Labor and the ACT Liberal Party are so much alike that they might as well form a coalition. Howard Carew, Isaacs Mr Ronald Elliott of Sandringham ("Who'd run a republic?", Letters, August 23) must be a monarchist from Sandringham, England, to have such a jaundiced view about the capacity of Australian politicians to run an Australian republic. What would he prefer in their place a bunyip aristocracy or a military dictatorship perhaps? Elected, accountable politicians, for all their human failings and mistakes, are responsible for having created and maintained, together with the Australian people, Australia's enviable record of political stability, social progress, national security and relative economic prosperity. None of this can be attributed to the undemocratic hereditary monarchy provisions that still loiter uselessly in our outdated constitution. An Australian republic would not automatically be a Trump republic. Australians can do better than that, and there are plenty of good models to choose from. J. Adamson, Flynn With no Upper House in the ACT, our local government is unhindered when it comes to legislation. Certainly the Greens, conscious of losing their access to the trough, happily agree to whatever lunatic schemes Andrew Barr comes up with. So, while in principle I would see euthanasia, in extreme cases, as a positive step, I would have the gravest (pardon the pun) misgivings if our Labour/Greens government had it available to it. The zeal with which Barr and Rattenbury massacre any wildlife that may impede developers makes me wonder how they would treat anyone who was becoming a drain on the ACT health system. Given the Chief Minister's belief that he knows what's best for all (see, for example, his decision on the funds of registered clubs), then there is a real risk that decisions about our lives would soon be in the hands of Andrew Barr or Shane Rattenbury. Or perhaps the CFMEU. T. Leslie, Curtin Apart from religious ideologues who wish to impose their views on the rest of the community, the main problem with euthanasia issues is the fact that it has been given a label. Nearly a hundred years ago my maternal grandmother was dying of breast cancer. In her circumstances, treatment options were very limited and she was being tended to by the family doctor, who was effectively providing palliative care. He was providing strong pain killers and sleeping tablets to enable her to sleep at night, and he took care to advise her of the maximum safe dose, which if exceeded would mean she would not wake up in the morning. When her condition had reached the point when she no longer wished to live she composed herself and took a final dose. Was this euthanasia, or assisted suicide, or simply intelligent and compassionate care by the family doctor? There is little doubt that this sort of practice was widely used then, and has continued to be practised to a considerable extent ever since, but of course it can't be admitted or the do-gooders would cause trouble. Roger Quarterman, Campbell When I read Australia was going to import natural gas to satisfy the domestic market, I didn't believe it. I thought it must be a preview of a new version of the ABC satire Utopia. Reports that Australian Industry Energy was to use a Norwegian vessel to act as a floating import terminal at Port Kembla showed how wrong I was. For a country that is planning on being one of the world's largest producers of natural gas, how did we reach this position? Norm Johnston, Monash Congratulations to Magistrate Beth Campbell for throwing out the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions' attempt to confiscate the car of a Canberra teenager ("Underage sex almost costs teen his car", canberratimes.com.au, August 23). Whatever you think of the teenager's crime in having oral sex with his underage girlfriend, these attempts by the authorities around Australia to seize people's assets on the basis of "proceeds of crime" laws, "unexplained wealth" or "tainted" property have gone way too far. Indeed, in some cases they are being incentivised to pursue these claims by being rewarded with a share of the value of the assets seized. Laws that were originally introduced to target crime bosses people who led criminal organisations, but who could not themselves be directly linked to particular crimes are increasingly being used against petty criminals and first-time offenders, as is the case with this young Canberra man. The consequences of such "civil forfeiture" laws are clear from the US example. Predominantly poor people, who can least afford it, become embroiled in the legal system. They have assets, like their car, seized and, because they cannot get to work, they lose their jobs. It becomes harder to get their children to school, so they come to the attention of child welfare. Here in Australia, we should help first-time offenders avoid crime in the future rather than making their lives more difficult. Dr Kristine Klugman, president Civil Liberties Australia, Fisher I'm fascinated that the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions is able to attempt to confiscate someone's car on the basis of its role in a crime ("Sex with under-age girl almost costs teen his car", August 23, p8). Not confiscate to compensate the victim, pay government costs, encourage people to not use their cars as part of a criminal enterprise. No. Car is used as part of commission of a crime. Confiscate it! Well I think this is a fantastic law, as its application broadly, will generate lots of revenue for the government and if you "commit crime" you deserve punishment. So the next time you commit a criminal activity like say, parking incorrectly or parked your car illegally by the lake shore while fishing, you have definitely used your car in the commission of a crime. Or shoplift and then use your car to enable rapid leaving of the shop vicinity (car used). So the DPP should prosecute to confiscate said car! Think of all the revenue that will be generated. J. Hewat, Torrens Starke Street in Holt has for many years had a speed limit of 60km/h. In recent days two speed bumps have been installed in the street, each with a posted speed warning of 20km/h. Where is the logic in retaining the 60km/h limit, but installing these speed bumps? Such devices may slow some drivers, but seem to have little effect on drivers of larger vehicles such as SUVs. I travel this road almost every day and am unaware of excess speed being an issue, however if 60km/h is deemed to be too high, then reduce the limit and enforce it accordingly. The installation of speed bumps in this case is a lazy and largely ineffective answer to the perceived problem. J. Sever, Higgins Having worked continuously for over 40 years from my youth , and paying income tax, I had saved enough money to buy an apartment in Macquarie, the rent from which was to help support me in my retirement, aided by my smallish superannuation. I have just received the "new improved look" with information on where my "support" goes rates assessment notice, with a "please pay now" by September 15 for just over $1500. The footprint of my apartment, including front yard, service yard, garage and dwelling is just 150 square metres. Also a new look land tax assessment notice requesting just on $700, payable by September also, arrived. The rates of $1500 were for 12 months and can be divided quarterly . The land tax, however, as I found out when I phoned the ACT Revenue Office , is only for three months, ie $2800 per annum. That makes an annual impost of $4300! The rates for the property where my husband and I live several suburbs away is only just over $5000 , despite the property being some 15 times the land area. I will have no other option than to pass on this terrible land tax to my tenants as we are both now retired. The ACT Labor/Green government is certainly no friend of those renting or on lower income . Heather O'Connor, Hawker Just paid the August 2018 rates instalment. How disingenuous is this new "improved" format? Page 1, in bold, "please pay now" and the full annual amount. You have to turn to page 2 to find the quarterly instalments. Not only has the ACT government removed any discount for paying in full, it is now trying to gouge us for the full amount up front through hiding the options that used to be clearly presented on a single page. Fortunately, it does make a patronising gesture of thanks "for your contribution to our community" to make up for this chicanery. Mark Anderson, Campbell I live in central NSW, but for reasons which have now long since escaped me I once bought a rental property in the ACT. At that time the land tax was about $1000 per annum. I have recently received a land tax bill for $5598. The rates are $3520. This means my total payment to the ACT government per annum is $9098. This is pernicious. The rent from the property is $470 per week. This means that out of the 52 weeks of the year 19.35 of them go to the government. Take out the commission and it means it takes 21.25 weeks rent just to satisfy the outrageous imposts of the ACT government. How can it justify this? Peter Neil Wilson, Trangie, NSW PLEASANT SURPRISE What a week in politics. I was aghast at the decision to topple Mr Turnbull. More aghast that Mr Potato Head was the likely next PM. Angry in fact. And now relieved that Mr Morrison is the new PM. Now Mr Potato Head can now sit with Mr Sour Cream (Abbott) on the back benches an unexpected recipe. Tony Falla, Ngunnawal DISASTROUS PARTY Congratulations to the Liberal party room. One disaster after another. The words Pete Seeger sang were so prescient, "when will they ever learn?" Owen Reid, Dunlop SHAKY CHURCH How is the broad Liberal church travelling as of now? Disaffected right wing mad monks now even angrier, moderate rights looking for life boats. The rest, now in marginals, so hopeless best get down to Centrelink and register. Still it could be worse, it might have been Dutton. Linus Cole, Palmerston TREACHERY UNREWARDED It was nice to see that the feather dusters and yesterday's heroes were not rewarded for their acts of continuous treachery to their prime minister by having their candidate rejected by the majority. Graeme Rankin, Holder WIN FOR MIDDLE GROUND The middle ground will be relieved Morrison defeated the extremist Dutton/Abbott camp. On the other hand, the latter group would have been a gift to the ALP, given that Dutton would have gone over like an electoral lead balloon in the southern states. Murray May, Cook WELL PLAYED, MALCOLM Top job Malcolm. You came out of that much more of a winner than either Dutton, Abbott and any of their allies. Well played. M. Moore, Bonython FUN-FILLED WEEK What a week. All the fun of an election without having to turn out and vote. A bit like living in North Korea when you think about it. N. Ellis, Belconnen VOTE 1 PLANET EARTH The continued focus on energy costs as a priority over achieving emission reductions by the Coalition government and some sections of the media suggest that they don't care about saving the planet or that they think the planet can be saved without any cost . Anyone who believes these contentions is very foolish. Rod Holesgrove, O'Connor RED-FACED CORMANN I think it would be fair to say that Mathias Cormann has lost a lot of paint as a result of his actions over the past 10 days. He was squirming when asked to explain himself on ABC radio on Friday afternoon. J. Wilson, Watson Email: letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au. Send from the message eld, not as an attached le. Fax: 6280 2282. Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Canberra Times, PO Box 7155, Canberra Mail Centre, ACT 2610. Keep your letter to 250 words or less. References to Canberra Times reports should include date and page number. Letters may be edited. Provide phone number and full home address (suburb only published). /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/e5892fca-43aa-475d-9c20-d4ec6b5e64a7/r0_17_320_198_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news A crowd of students took to the yard at Fenner Hall on Sunday for a playdate with retired greyhounds. "There was this awesome moment where we're walking through the corridor and 10 people came out of the lift and in synchrony you could hear 'Awwwwww'," student organiser David Harvey said. Mr Harvey, the Fenner residents' committee social representative, said he put together the idea ahead of exams. "We've got exams next week, it's mid semester and we thought it's really cool to have a de-stress, kind of chill greyhound play date, is how we marketed it," he said. "Literally this, come out into the sun, hang out with some greyhounds, meet some owners, just integrate with the community a bit more." Mr Harvey contacted Greyhound Connections a few months ago with the idea, and he was soon put in touch with Sami Bull, the group's vice-president and recent greyhound owner. Ms Bull said greyhounds were the biggest "cuddlemonsters". "They are so calm, and they will just take every little bit of attention that you give to them and they will lap it up and they will smile and they'll lean on you," she said. "There's just something about the presence of a greyhound and then the physical presence of them leaning and just pushing their head into you, they're just amazing." Greyhound Connections, which began in 2016, fosters relationships with local greyhound trainers and breeders and helps retired greyhounds to find permanent homes. The group meets every Saturday at the Greyhound Racing Club's straight track, where the dogs can safely stretch their legs. The dogs that gathered at Fenner Hall on Sunday were all friends from the social group, Ms Bull said. Martina Taliano, the group's president, said greyhounds were a good fit for what the students needed. "It's just amazing, greyhounds are particularly good for bringing to these situations because they grow up with other greyhounds their entire lives." "So bringing 20 or 30 of them together, it's not a big bark fest and they all know each other." By 2.30pm, on a sunny, 17 degree winter's day, the yard at Braddon's Fenner Hall was packed with students and some 20 greyhounds of all different colours and sizes. There was the greyhound Sadie, who wore pyjamas because she is always cold, and the white-coated Porscha, who spent a good deal of the afternoon lounging in students' laps. Mr Harvey said, "I was a bit worried, there was this point where at a quarter to two there was no-one here and I was like, 'Oh this was all a dream'. Ms Bull said, "Then the army of greyhounds descended." The gathering was free, Ms Bull said, "except the exchange of greyhound love. Which is priceless." Ms Taliano said if anyone wanted to rent a greyhound crowd to contact the group on Facebook. "The more we can spread the love the better." /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/f3a57f39-cec3-40c6-87d5-443a1e40611b/r0_391_4032_2669_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Earlier this year, Marie-Claire discovered her eight-year-old daughter was being filmed at school without her permission. Well-meaning teachers uploaded the footage to Seesaw, a popular app founded by a former Facebook executive which sends parents regular updates on their children's progress. This includes test results, photos of students' work and clips of class presentations that they can comment on. It was creepy, she said. I didnt know where the data was stored or for how long. After the Melbourne mother raised concerns, the school stopped using the app and contacted lawyers at the Victorian Education Department. Six months later, students were sent home with opt-out forms which Marie-Claire swiftly signed. As parents increasingly raise privacy concerns about technology in the classrooms, these sorts of permission slips are becoming more common. The Victorian Education Department now provides schools with template opt-out forms for six education technologies, including Microsoft Office 365 and Googles G-suite for Education. Information packs published by the department detail exactly what information is being collected and where it is stored. For instance, G-suite for Education, which is used by 60 million teachers and students around the world, collects students names, year levels, home groups, schools, location information and stores their schoolwork. This information is stored in data centres in the United States, Chile, Taiwan, Singapore, Ireland, Netherlands, Finland and Belgium. Marie-Claire said she would opt out of G-suite for Education if it was introduced at her daughter's school. As well as her privacy concerns, she's not convinced of the educational benefits of the technology. She refers to a 2015 OECD report, which found students who used computers very frequently at school performed a lot worse in most learning outcomes". Monash University education professor Dr Neil Selwyn said while technology played an important role in the classroom, parents were right to be concerned. There is often no due diligence or broader thinking about what the consequences are, the digital technology expert said. A lot of these apps are based on collecting data. According to Dr Selwyn, this data is used to improve products and then often sold to other companies for the creation of new services. Data about how people learn is very commercially valuable, he said. These products are often free. If you aren't paying for the product, you are the product. He said schools were having to deal with data and privacy issues that they were not equipped to handle. Its complex legal stuff, he explained. Australian Privacy Foundation vice chair Kat Lane said schools should always provide parents with detailed information about pros and cons of technology. And she said they should replace opt-out forms with opt-in forms. "We should get to choose. Opt-in should be the default position. I am talking about informed consent, not ticking a box. We need to be talking about safety in the classroom. A Google spokeswoman said the company was committed to protecting the privacy and security of all users. We only keep personal information as long as you ask us to keep it," she said. "If an education department, school or university decides to stop using Google, we make it easy for them to take their data with them. A spokeswoman for Seesaw said many of its employees were parents and it was important that families felt in control of their children's data. "We ask teachers to get parental consent before using Seesaw in their classroom and we provide sample consent forms to help them do so," she said. "In addition, families can download their students data or delete their accounts at any time." An Education Department spokesman said the department had conducted privacy impact assessments for a large range of online services. Schools access and use online services to support students to develop the skills they need to work online, and to gain the skills they will need to thrive in the digital economy and emerging career pathways, he said. The department said schools put in place alternative arrangements for students who opted out of technology. For Marie-Claires daughter, this involves stepping aside when class photos are taken for the Seesaw app and not being filmed during class presentations. She is too young to be giving consent," she said. "The kids are unaware of the huge digital footprint that their parents have signed them up for." /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/fc58b6cd-2cee-453b-83c0-7b6eca87493e/r0_152_3000_1847_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, act-politics Just days before the ACT opposition called on the government to cut all ties with the Construction, Forestry, Mining, Maritime and Energy Union, the party's organisational arm agreed to a motion calling the charges against a CFMEU official "baseless". Last week the Liberals' industrial relations spokesman Andrew Wall used parliamentary privilege to say "numerous criminal and civil charges" against the union in recent years raised "serious questions around whether or not the union is fit to have such an influence over public policy". It came after the CFMEU's ACT branch secretary Jason O'Mara was charged the week before and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission alleging cartel conduct. Mr O'Mara is accused of attempting to "induce suppliers of steel-fixing services and scaffolding services to reach cartel contracts, arrangements or understandings containing cartel provisions in relation to services provided to builders in the ACT in 2012 to 2013". Despite the serious charges, on Saturday, August 18, the party carried a unanimous urgency motion at its annual conference in support of Mr O'Mara. It was moved by Mr O'Mara's deputy, CFMEU ACT assistant secretary Zach Smith, and seconded by national Community and Public Sector Union president Alistair Waters. "ACT Labor condemns the ongoing criminalising of union organising by the anti-worker Turnbull federal government," the motion said. "ACT Labor stands in solidarity with Jason OMara who has been baselessly charged with a criminal offence for doing nothing more than negotiating better pay and conditions for construction workers. Union organising is not a crime. "We call on federal Labor to end the politicisation of federal law enforcement agencies and regulators who under the Turnbull government are pursuing a relentless anti-union agenda." Mr O'Mara could face up to 10 years jail if the charges are successful, and the union faces up to $10 million in fines or 10 per cent of its turnover. The party's platform was also changed to further emphasise its reliance on the union movement at the conference. Phrases added to the party's platform included recognising the party was founded by the union movement and "remains the political wing of the union movement". /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/066e436e-5450-4894-b204-21cc653e6095/r0_214_4256_2619_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact. Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. You are our people. You Care. We Care2. Colton Davies A long-awaited breath of fresh air in the Okanagan. A switch in the weather pattern helped ventilate a good deal of smoke out of the valley on Saturday, which has led to the cleanest air in weeks through the region. Early Saturday evening, the air quality index had dropped to a low health risk in the South and Central Okanagan, and a moderate risk in the North Okanagan. The ratings come after smoke has caused a "very high" health risk across the valley for the better part of August. "What we're seeing now is that we're in a more north-western (wind flow) pattern, and we aren't directly sitting under a ridge of high pressure anymore like we had been for quite some time," Environment Canada meteorologist Alyssa Charbonneau said. But with a significant amount of fires burning across B.C., Charbonneau said the smoke will come in and out, and said its hard to comment on timing. But she said for the remainder of the weekend, much of the Okanagan can expect cleaner air to stick around. "As the fires burn and the winds shift, where is being most impacted will continue to shift as well. But I think everybody's excited to have a bit of relief whenever it comes." A special air quality statement issued by Environment Canada remains in effect for Okanagan, advising that "conditions can change quickly over short distances and can vary considerably hour-by-hour." If youre making a list of the unavoidable, you might as well chalk up holiday traffic right alongside death and taxes. Theres simply no way you can escape gridlock as you make your way out of town, especially on summer holidays like Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend. Actually, in the largest U.S. cities, it doesnt take a holiday to experience the pain of traffic. A June 2018 report from safe-driving app Drivemode showed drivers averaging a one-hour commute (one-way) in places like New York and Los Angeles. If you break it down by minute, it took 3.08 minutes for drivers to cover a mile in their cars during rush-hour. Obviously, that sounds bad, but look what happens on holiday weekends: The time you need to travel a mile more than doubles at the worst times. A Drivemode study released August 26 could help you avoid some of that gridlock. Using GPS data to see which times were the worst to leave during summer 2018 holidays, researchers pinpointed the 10 absolute worst hours to kick off your Labor Day weekend and most come on Thursday. Here are the last times you want to start driving in major cities this holiday. 10. Seattle Friday at 5 p.m. In the case of Seattle, area drivers simply have to avoid leaving on the most obvious time: Friday evening rush-hour. A typical commute at this time would force you to spend 2.59 minutes to drive one mile in your car. On this weekend, youll spend about double that (4.97 minutes per mile) if you leave Friday after work. 9. San Francisco Thursday at 4 p.m. Getting out of town early doesnt always work. Thats obvious when it comes to San Francisco holiday traffic. Here, you actually do yourself a favor by waiting until Friday to leave town. The worst possible time for a getaway comes on Thursday at 4. 8. Dallas Friday at 10 p.m. According to Drivemode data, Dallas drivers might overthink the Labor Day weekend getaway. Compared to every other time folks might leave town, Friday night at 10 oclock turned out to be the worst hour. Youll spend about 5.73 minutes to travel around this time. Its might be best to sleep it off and wait for Saturday. 7. Atlanta Friday at 9 p.m. Atlanta traffic patterns also show late travel times backfiring on people. In this case, drivers hoping to arrive late Friday night will find themselves in snarling traffic. The worst time to get on your way is 9 p.m. It will take you 5.83 minutes to travel a mile at this hour. 6. Houston Thursday at 9 p.m. A Thursday night getaway is the wrong approach for Houston residents. Compared to any other time in this 48-hour period, the delay (5.85 minutes per mile) proves the worst. An early exit Friday morning might be the way to go here. 5. Los Angeles Thursday at 12 noon With some of the worst traffic in America, you might think it doesnt matter when you leave for a holiday in Los Angeles. Yet Drivemode data suggests it can get worse than you imagine. Compared to the average, torturous three-minute-per-mile commute during the typical L.A. rush-hour, heading off for Labor Day weekend early (Thursday at noon) could force you to spend 5.89 minutes per mile. 4. Miami Thursday at 11 a.m. Miami residents also try to get a head-start on their holiday weekends only to see it backfire. Here, the worst possible time to leave came around Thursday at 11 a.m. on earlier holiday weekends in 2018. In other words, you should probably have lunch before taking off or you could be enduring six-minute miles in your car. 3. Riverside, California Thursday at 3 p.m. Theres lots of traffic going both ways in Riverside, and the situation comes close to a standstill (6.52 minutes per mile) on Thursday afternoon at 3. Thats about three times the normal commute time at rush-hour here (2.23 minutes per mile). But itll probably feel longer than that. 2. Boston Thursday at 5 p.m. In Boston, there is little chance of avoiding traffic ahead of a holiday weekend. Thats probably why so many people choose to leave on Thursday evening (5 p.m.). However, you are probably better off staying the night and leaving early Friday. The alternative is spending 7.04 minutes per mile getting out of town. 1. New York Friday at noon New Yorkers might think they are getting the jump on holiday traffic by leaving early on Friday afternoon (around 12 p.m.). However, theyre really just setting themselves up for misery. Over other holiday weekends, data showed drivers spending 7.07 minutes per mile in traffic at this time. Either get out of town or early Friday morning or expect to catch up on your texts while you sit in traffic. John McCain a former Navy pilot, a Vietnam prisoner of war, a 30-year senator, a two-time presidential contender, and a critic of Donald Trump has died at age 81. The New York Times reports that McCain died in his Arizona home at 4:28 local time on August 25. News of John McCains death came just a day after his family announced that he had decided to stop treatment for a malignant brain tumor, called a glioblastoma. McCains cancer had been treated with radiation and chemotherapy. But his family stated that he was stopping treatment because the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict. CNN notes that Fridays announcement that McCain was halting treatment precipitated a rare moment of bipartisan empathy in honor of the Vietnam war hero and Republican political veteran. As the United States pauses to take stock of McCains life and legacy, the Senate, also, will do some reckoning. What happens next in the Senate as colleagues mourn John McCains death? Heres what you can expect. Arizonas governor will appoint a short-term replacement Vox notes that John McCains death will have dramatic consequences for the chamber he devoted three decades of his life to. The first thing that will happen? Arizona Governor Doug Ducey will appoint a short-term replacement for McCain. Vox notes that this replacement is likely to be a more conventional Republican, one less likely to buck their partys leadership. The publication explains that this sort of replacement could make it easier to wrangle together the 51 Republican senators needed for tough votes. McCains Senate seat wont be on the Arizona ballot in 2018 because, as per Arizona law, the deadline for that has passed. (Instead, the replacement whom Ducey appoints will serve until 2020.) The Washington Post notes that if McCain had left office before May 30, there would have been a special election for his seat sometime this year. In that case, Republicans would have found themselves defending two Senate seats in one state. Jeff Flake is retiring and Democrats already want to win his seat. McCains replacement will help GOP leaders, but not on every issue Though John McCain didnt always live up to his reputation as a maverick FiveThirtyEight notes that over his Senate career, McCain was only slightly more likely than the average senator to vote against his party he was also a less reliable Republican vote than many of his colleagues, according to Vox. Whoever Ducey appoints, the new Arizona senator will likely prove a more reliable vote for Republican leaders as they navigate the 51-49 Senate than John McCain was. As Vox points out, Ducey is more or less a traditional Republican himself. He will likely choose somebody his partys leaders would approve of. McCains replacement could make it easier for Republican leaders on small issues. (That includes efforts to get judicial and Cabinet nominees approved or pass legislation.) But his replacement might not make a big difference when it comes to big issues. (Think Obamacare repeal or welfare reform.) Vox explains, Getting any major legislation through a 51-49 Senate in an election year is still going to be tough. Democrats will try to win McCains seat in 2020 Though Ducey will appoint a replacement following John McCains death, that replacement will only serve until 2020. At that point, whoever takes McCains seat will face voters. Vox reports that Democrats currently have a significant shot at Flakes seat. (Kyrsten Sinema consistently polls in the lead.) But do they have a chance at McCains seat, too? Vox reports that Democrats will have to defend 26 Senate seats in the next election, while Republicans have just eight seats to defend. To win the Senate, Democrats would have to hold onto their seats and win two Republican-held seats. Arizona makes an attractive target because of its growing Hispanic population. (And because of the narrow margin by which Trump won Arizona in 2016.) Ducey hasnt commented on potential appointees AZ Central reports that Ducey has avoided discussing the topic of replacements after John McCains death. (He has only said that he wont appoint himself to McCains seat.) But that hasnt stopped Arizonans from discussing the possibilities. Some people think that Ducey could appoint Cindy McCain, John McCains wife, to fill her husbands seat and carry on her husbands legacy in the Senate. The governor could also appoint his chief of staff, Kirk Adams, a former state lawmaker and speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives. Alternately, Ducey could appoint Barbara Barrett, the first female Republican to run for governor in Arizona who has, nonetheless, never held elected office. Ducey could also select Jon Kyl, former U.S. Senate Republican whip who didnt seek reelection in 2012 after 26 years in Congress. AZ Central reports that Karrin Taylor Robson, founder of a land-use strategy and real-estate development company; former John Shadegg; Arizona state treasurer Eileen Klein; and retired member of the U.S. House of Representatives Matt Salmon have also been identified as potential contenders for the appointment. Read more: The Shocking Details of McCains Time as a Prisoner of War Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! 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. A shallow earthquake struck early Sunday about 26 kilometers (16 miles) southwest of the city of Javanrud in Irans Kermanshah province. Local media reported that at least two people were killed and 310 were injured. The mountainous area near the border with Iraq was also the site of a powerful tremor that killed more than 600 people last November. What we know so far: The quake was originally reported to be 6.2, but it was later downgraded to a 6.0 magnitude earthquake. The quake struck at 2:43 a.m. local time (2213 UTC) at a depth of about 10 kilometers, the USGS said. Dozens of aftershocks have followed, including two that were stronger than M4.0. Rescue teams were sent to the city of Tazehabad, where most of the casualties were reported. The two dead are a pregnant woman and a 70-year-old man who suffered a heart attack. Kermanshah governor Houshang Bazvand said at least 500 buildings were destroyed. Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli is expected to travel to the affected area on Monday. Iraqi state television said the jolt was felt as far away as Baghdad, some 350 kilometers further west. The Iraq-Iran border region sees frequent seismic activity due to the 1,500 kilometer fault line between the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Much of the area affected by Sundays quake is rugged mountain terrain populated by farmers and hillside villages of earthen brick buildings. Iran has suffered a number of devastating jolts in recent years. In November 2017, a 7.3 magnitude quake killed at least 620 people and injured thousands. In 2003, some 31,000 people were killed by a catastrophic tremor that struck the southeastern city of Bam. Follow us: Facebook and Twitter USGS M 6.0 26km SW of Javanrud, Iran DW Iran earthquake injures hundreds, fatalities reported Express Huge 6.1 earthquake hits Iran and Iraq Sunday, August 26, 2018 University of Florida Press Release: Dean Laura Rosenbury is very happy to announce that Professor Charlene Luke has agreed to serve as the Associate Dean for Tax Programs at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. In this role, Dean Luke will work with Professor Fred Murray, Director of the Graduate Tax Program, and Professor Mindy Herzfeld, Director of the International Tax Program. Dean Luke joined the University of Florida in 2008 and currently serves as a UF Research Foundation Professor (20172020). She became the editor-in-chief of the Florida Tax Review in 2016. Dean Lukes research primarily focuses on the problem of tax avoidance and evasion and has appeared in the Virginia Tax Review, Tax Lawyer, Buffalo Law Review, Hofstra Law Review, Seattle University Law Review, and Connecticut Insurance Law Journal. She also recently became a co-author of the McDaniel, McMahon, and Simmonss series of business entity taxation casebooks, as well as Repetti and Lyonss Partnership Income Taxation (Concepts and Insights) (6th ed. 2018). Dean Luke earned her B.A. and J.D. degrees from Brigham Young University. She graduated first in her J.D. class and clerked for Judge J. Clifford Wallace of the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Following her judicial clerkship, Professor Luke worked as a tax associate at Dechert LLP in its Philadelphia office. She began her academic career at Florida State University College of Law. https://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2018/08/charlene-luke-named-associate-dean-for-tax-programs-at-florida.html Indian Pastor and Son Beaten Mercilessly With Sticks and Clubs After Leaving Prayer Meeting Christian Post Contributor | 25 August, 2018 by Samuel Smith An Indian pastor and his son were beaten with sticks and clubs by a group of about 30 Hindu radicals while walking home from a prayer meeting, a rights group has reported. Pastor Ramesh Vasunia and his son, Rahul, were attacked by the group of radicals on July 10 in India's Madhya Pradesh state, the pastor told the the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern. "The attack took place at around 5 p.m." the pastor said. "My son and I traveled about two kilometers by motorcycle from Pipplipara village after meeting at Chattar Singh's house for prayer." Vasunia said that what he didn't know at the time was that there was an enraged mob of over two dozen people waiting for he and his son with sticks and wooden clubs. "We were stopped by a mob of 30 Hindu radicals," Vasunia was quoted as saying. "They started beating us without giving us the chance to ask the reasons for the attack. In spite of us begging them to stop, they continued to attack and damaged our motorcycle." According to the pastor, the attack lasted for over 30 minutes and he and his son feared for their lives. "My eyesight started to get blurry and I could hear the screams of my son and a voice from the crowd saying, 'Kill them!'" Vasunia continued. "Then I saw one person lifting a big rock to crash [on] my head and I thought to myself that they will kill us." Vasunia and son were saved by a church member that rushed them to a nearby hospital. Vasunia said that his son was completely unconscious and that he was "partially conscious." As activists have warned about the troubling trend of impunity given to Hindu extremists who persecute Christians and other religious minorities in parts of India since President Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, Vasunia stated that he was threatened with arrest when he tried to file a police complaint about the attack. "[The officer] told me that he will send me to jail for preaching about Jesus and said, 'Don't you know that the BJP is in power?'" the pastor claimed. "I couldn't argue further with the police officer as he spoke same language as the attackers. We had nobody to defend us." Vasunia and members of his church had spent about six months in jail last year after they were accused of a false conversion crime. In jail, Vasunia said he was beaten. The attack against the father and son comes as India ranks as the 11th worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USA's 2018 World Watch List. U.S. Ambassador at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback, a former U.S. senator and governor of Kansas, spoke out on Tuesday about the human rights abuses going on in India. "You got a small church in India somewhere and a mob will gather outside it and destroy the building and kill people," Brownback told conservative radio host Tony Perkins. "This is just happening with way too much frequency. We raise [the issue]; we ask the authorities to protect these religious minorities. Sometimes there are good statements coming out at a national level. But at a local level, they are often not. We have just got to keep pressing them about this issue. It is just growing and growing and escalating so much." Although the U.S. government continues to try to raise the issue of religious freedom with Indian authorities, it does not list India as a "country of particular concern" for religious freedom abuses and violations. However, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has recommended that India be classified as a Tier 2 country of concern for religious freedom. Some Indian activists voiced concern that the issue of persecution in India was not directly raised by State Department officials at the first-ever State Department's Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom last month. "The U.S. has branded India as a country that violates the religious freedom of its citizens. To that extent, I am happy. But why not even mention India in all three days of the conference?" asked John Prabhudoss, president of the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations, in a recent interview with The Christian Post. Read more about Indian Pastor and Son Beaten Mercilessly With Sticks and Clubs After Leaving Prayer Meeting on The Christian Post. 'Nominal Christianity' Problematic for Evangelicalism, but What Is It? Lausanne Movement Tackles Issue Christian Post Contributor | 25 August, 2018 by Stoyan Zaimov The problem of nominal Christianity for evangelical churches was discussed at a recent Lausanne Movement conference. Lars Dahle, a theology and journalism professor in Norway, who participated in a March 2018 Lausanne Movement conference in Rome that analyzed nominal Christianity, admitted in an interview with Evangelical Focus that the challenges begin by even trying to define the term. "To define that was actually not as easy as it might sound. There was a growing understanding among all of us [at the conference] that this is a very complex reality, and we wanted to be fair in how we represent other people. We also wanted to be realistic, knowing that this is not just about everyone else, but also about our own church traditions within the evangelical contexts," Dahle shared. "And even, if I may add, something about the personal challenging dimension: to what extent do I and each one of us have an authentic life, living out the gospel, being close to Christ?" The professor said that the five days of discussion at the Lausanne Movement's Global Consultation conference were intense, but at the end, managed to come up with one definition of the term: "People who identify with a Christian church, or the Christian faith, but are in contradiction with basic Christian principles, with respect to becoming a Christian, Christian faith, Christian beliefs, church involvement and daily life." Dahle argued that one of the big problems with nominal Christianity has to do with just how much confusion there is in the church today over controversial topics. "We wanted to be realistic about the fact that there is a lot of moral confusion going on in the name of the Christian church. One area would obviously be sexual morality: the move away from a truly biblical holistic understanding of sexuality is very obvious in many churches. And of course that has legitimized in many people's eyes a new view of sexuality, because the church seems to be behind it, at least some parts of the church," he said. "We also mentioned prosperity theology, which is really one of the most challenging aspects in the global South at the moment for the evangelical church. There are so many local, regional churches booming, flourishing, promising heaven on earth, with a real lack of humility and integrity." Other topics discussed in the far-ranging interview include the decline of Christian numbers throughout the Western world; especially in Europe, as well as mistakes and damage that the church has made in spreading Christianity, such as through colonialism in Africa. Many others, including Christian author and radio host Eric Metaxas, have also warned about the pitfalls of nominal Christianity. While looking at falling church attendances in America, in a March 2016 op-ed shared with The Christian Post, he warned that "nominal Christianity professing Christian beliefs without committing to a church actually makes matters worse." He pointed to the General Social Survey at the time, which showed that the rate of frequent church attendance has been falling over the last 40 years. Read more about 'Nominal Christianity' Problematic for Evangelicalism on The Christian Post. Improperly timed traffic lights. Drivers who pull out in front of you. Drivers who accelerate in the left-turn lane. Drivers who are discourteous about allowing others to merge. Drivers who dont use their blinkers. Drivers on their cellphones instead of driving. Vote View Results The Worst Poll Ever on the Roe v. Wade Decision Christian Post Contributor | 25 August, 2018 by Michael J. New Since President Trump's nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, there has been a flurry of public opinion surveys on the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. While all of these polls purportedly show strong public support for Roe v. Wade, nearly all of them are flawed in at least one of two ways. The first common flaw is that many polls fail to fully explain the policy implications of the Roe v. Wade decision. Indeed, Roe v. Wade went well beyond legalizing abortion in the first trimester -- instead Roe effectively legalized abortion on demand and made it difficult to limit late-term abortions. The second flaw is that many survey questions fail to explain the full implications of reversing Roe v. Wade. A reversal of Roe would not ban abortion but would instead return abortion policy to the states. However, last month The Wall Street Journal and NBC News commissioned a poll that managed to combine both of these flaws. The survey question began by stating that Roe v. Wade established a right to an abortion, "at least in the first three months of pregnancy." It then asked respondents if they would like to see the Supreme Court "completely overturn" Roe v. Wade. As such, many respondents likely concluded that Roe v. Wade only legalized abortion in the first trimester and a reversal of Roe would ban first-trimester abortions. Furthermore, The Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll was the only recent poll that specifically asked respondents if they would like to see Roe v. Wade "overturned." Negative words like "overturn," "reverse," and "ban" all tend to poll poorly. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that this poll purportedly found that 71 percent of respondents support the Roe v. Wade decision -- the highest level of support for Roe among any of the recent public opinion surveys. Naturally, the subsequent media coverage of this poll uncritically touted the high levels of support for Roe v. Wade and failed to consider other dimensions of public attitudes toward abortion. Indeed, certain aspects of Roe v. Wade are very unpopular with the American public. A body of research shows many incremental pro-life laws such as limits on mid- and late-term abortions -- enjoy widespread support. Read more about The Worst Poll Ever on the Roe v. Wade Decision on The Christian Post. In 2020, we were the church on our heels. A global pandemic shut down much of our world. But the church has been on the move since it was birthed; it will continue to be on the move until God makes all things new. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment I have always been weird. While most of my childhood peers lamented the beginning of a new school year, I looked forward to it with enthusiasm. I loved the opportunity to learn and discover new vistas. As a pastor, I saw the beginning of a school year as an opportunity to try new approaches and to make a statement about the priorities of our congregation. Over the past three decades, I have been blessed to hear from other church leaders on a multitude of topics. Let me share with you what I have heard about great success stories of churches as a new school year approached. They are basic but profound. Recommit to becoming a welcoming church. September could be the month where you see a greater regular flow of guests. Families often move in the summer, so their children can start in a new school at the beginning of the school year. Take a look at two of my books to help guide you in this recommitment. Becoming a Welcoming Church is pretty much a complete guide for your church leaders and members. We Want You Here is a unique book meant specifically for the guest as a gift. Both books are only $5 when purchased in a case of 20 books. Commercial over. Dedicate a part of a worship service to praying for students and teachers. We recently did that at our church. And we followed the service by writing brief thank you letters to the teachers at one of the schools near us. It had a huge impact on both the teachers and on our members. Adopt a school. Request a meeting with a local school principal. Ask him or her what your church could do to best help the school. If it is within the scope of what the church can do, organize a ministry to meet that very need. Some churches paint classrooms. Some churches clean school grounds. Other churches provide back-to-school resources for students and/or teachers. Revitalize the groups in your church. Regardless of what you call them, community groups, life groups, Sunday school classes, or many other names, these groups are the lifeblood of assimilation, ministry, and stewardship in your church. Do whatever is necessary with a new school year beginning to re-energize and grow your groups. Re-cast the vision of the church. Many church leaders re-cast the vision of the church at the beginning of the calendar year. Consider casting the vision at the beginning of the school year. You will likely have more new members and guests in September than in January. You have a great opportunity to ride the wave of freshness that a new school year brings. These are five of the most effective back-to-school ideas I have heard from churches all across North America and beyond. But this blog has several million faithful audience members. I know many of you have some great ideas. Please share them with our community. Originally posted at ThomRainer.com. Dr. Thom Rainer is president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Why is Christianity booming in the global South, but seemingly stagnant in the global North? A new fascinating book offers an answer. Dr. Glenn Sunshine is a long-time Fellow at the Colson Center, and he's that rare sort of historian who sees the sweep of intellectual and cultural history, and then brings it all together in a way that not only explains the past, but advances our understanding of the here and now. His new book, co-authored with Jerry Trousdale, is called "The Kingdom Unleashed: How Jesus' 1st-Century Values Are Transforming Thousands of Cultures and Awakening His Church." In the book, by telling compelling stories of God at work through ordinary peopleboth today and throughout historySunshine and Trousdale counter the prevailing myth that Christianity is in decline around the globe. Take, for example this story from Africa. Hassan, president of a ministry to Muslims, "reached out to one particularly resistant Muslim community that had martyred six Christian evangelists a few years ago." Hassan saw the community needed a school, so he "approached the Muslim leaders and offered to send a qualified teacher (who was also a trained church planter) if the community provided the necessary resources." This practical assistance opened the door to these closed communities. In two years, Sunshine and Trousdale describe, seven churches were planted. But there's more to this story. Some of the local Muslim leaders, upset by the spread of Christianity, hauled Hassan before the Muslim governor of the state. He used the opportunity instead to speak about the grace of God, and how God had helped the ministry provide this community with mobile medical clinics, dentists, safe water programs, seed banks, and schoolsall to serve Muslims. As Sunshine and Trousdale conclude, "Many of the Muslim clerics who had entered that meeting burning to have Hassan deported walked away with his business card or plans for further conversation." And that's just one story of what's happening in the global South. Here are some amazing statistics: In 1900, there were only nine million Christians in all of Africa; by 2000, there were 335 million. In Latin America, there were a mere 50,000 Protestants in 1900; today, there are more than 64 million, and most of them since the 1960s. As Glenn told me on the BreakPoint podcast, "The fact is, the church is growing faster than it ever has in human history." We're seeing disciple-making movements boom across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The story is not the same, however, in the global North. One reason may be the bifurcated vision of the Kingdom and the Gospel that's so prevalent in Europe and North America. We tend to focus either on individual salvation or social justice. But since the time of Jesus right up until today, wherever the Gospel has flourished and spread like wildfire, believers were steeped in prayer, and committed to a "full-orbed" vision of the Gospel. That vision includes preparing souls for heaven, but also includes advancing kingdom truth, values and restoration in social structures and institutions. Throughout "The Kingdom Unleashed," Sunshine offers amazing historical examples of Christians who lived this way. For example, Baptist missionary William Carey sought to save souls in India, but he also introduced libraries, agricultural improvements, hospitals, and schools. Not unlike what we see today with Christians like Hassan in Africa. Glenn writes frequently at our website BreakPoint.org, and his latest article addresses another malady afflicting the Church in the global North: Secularism. He's spot on. And while you're at BreakPoint.org, click on the BreakPoint podcast to hear Glenn describe his new book "The Kingdom Unleashed." And for a full picture of what God is doing through His Church around the world, get a copy of this powerful book, "The Kingdom Unleashed." Originally posted at Breakpoint. Brother of pregnant Colorado mother murdered alongside her two children says his family is trusting God The brother of a pregnant Colorado woman who was murdered alongside her children allegedly by her husband has declared that his family has no "worries" because they have faith in "God." Frankie Rzucek, brother of victim Shannan Watts, sat in court consoling his father Monday as a judge read the felony charges against her husband Christopher Watts. Afterward, the grieving brother took to social media to share a message with the thousands of supporters who've rallied around the family. "Thank you everyone for the continued prayers and support. We don't have any worries. We have faith in God, support from around the world and the sweetest guardian angels I've ever known," Rzucek assured supporters on Facebook Monday night. The affidavit, which was unsealed on the same day as the court hearing, reveals details of how Chris Watts, 33, allegedly murdered his wife, Shanann Watts, 34, and their two young daughters, Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3. On Aug. 13, Shannan Watts had returned from a business trip in Arizona with her company Le-Vel and about 12 hours later was reported missing. Three days later her remains were found in an oil and gas field where Chris Watts had worked. "I don't know what to say. Just that my sister and nieces are loved by so many. It's hard to find reasoning for such things," Rzucek wrote in another post over the weekend where he added one of his late sister's inspirational quotes. "'Find the positive in the negative' she says. Thank you Shanann for all that you've done and continue to do and I'm honored to call you my sister." Rzucek then asked supporters not to attack Chris Watts' family, noting that they, too, are mourning over the tragic loss. "God bless you all. My prayers to his family. I pray people don't harass them or wish harm on anyone. God will take care of everyone and everything. They are our family and are hurting just as much. Don't just pray for us, pray that everyone finds peace and love in their hearts through these unimaginable circumstances. Again my family and I appreciate all the love and support," he wrote. Chris Watts initially claimed he was not aware of his wife and daughters' whereabouts and made several pleas to the media asking for their "return." He was subsequently arrested on Aug. 15 in Frederick, Colorado, after he reportedly confessed to police that he had killed his wife. The affidavit reveals that Watts had been having an affair with a co-worker and told his pregnant wife that he wanted to end their marriage. In a statement to police, Watts said he saw his wife murder their daughter, Celeste and that looking at a baby monitor, he saw Bella "sprawled" out on her bed as his wife strangled Celeste. Watts then claimed he was so enraged that he retaliated by strangling Shanann Watts to death. He then loaded the bodies of his three family members into his work truck and dumped them at the oil field. Shannon Watts was buried in a shallow grave, while the girls were found inside oil tanks. Watts was charged Monday with nine felony counts. His charges included three counts of first-degree murder after deliberation for the deaths of all three of his family members, along with two counts of first-degree murder for killing his daughters, both of whom were younger than 12, while being in a position of trust. In addition, he faces one count of unlawful termination of a pregnancy and three counts of tampering with a deceased body. Judge Marcelo Kopcow denied bail. Watts' next scheduled court appearance for a status conference will be Nov. 19. This article was originally published in The Christian Post and is re-published here with permission Former neo-Nazi and KKK grand dragon baptized by black pastor after converting to Christianity Franklin Graham and other evangelists are praising the godly change in a former neo-Nazi and KKK grand dragon who was recently baptized by a black pastor in Florida. Ken Parker, who just a year ago was joining other white supremacists at the so-called Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, was recently profiled in a NBC News report that examined the radical change in the man's life. Parker explained his feelings of wanting to protect his race while he was a part of the Ku Klux Klan. But his attitude began to change after he met Pastor William McKinnon III of All Saints Holiness Church. Following several conversations, Parker began to see the error of his ways, and was invited by the pastor to the church's Easter service in April. The now-former neo-Nazi became a member of the African-American church, repented for what he used to believe, and was embraced by the congregation. At the end of July, McKinnon baptized him in the Atlantic Ocean, in another major step in Parker's road to redemption. "I want to say I'm sorry. I do apologize," Parker said at the time about all the people he has hurt. "I know I've spread hate and discontent through this city immensely probably made little kids scared to sleep in their own beds in their own neighborhoods." The story continues to be praised by evangelists online, including major figures such as the Graham, president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. "Do #blacklivesmatter? If you ask a member of the KKK or a Nazi, their answer would most likely be 'Absolutely Not' that is, unless Jesus Christ changes their heart. He can change anyone even a former hate-filled grand dragon of the KKK and Nazi. Ken Parker has apologized for the hate he spread and was recently baptized in a very different kind of robe than he used to wear. What a testimony to the transforming power of the Gospel!" Graham hailed in a post on Facebook Thursday. "I'm thankful for the pastor and church who were faithful to demonstrate the love of God to Ken, when many would have written him off. Remember, God can reach those we think unreachable and He can use us if we will let Him," he added. Other evangelists, such as Pastor Nathaniel Williams of Cedar Rock First Baptist Church in Castalia, North Carolina, have also praised Parker for his transformation. "One year ago, Ken Parker was a white nationalist and member of the KKK who marched on Charlottesville. A few weeks ago, he was baptized by the same people he once hated," Williams wrote on Twitter on Aug. 10. "The Gospel changes lives," he proclaimed. Pastor McKinnon, who baptized Parker, explained what role forgiveness and redemption have to play in God's eyes. "When we make it to Heaven, Heaven's not just gonna be one race. There's gonna be all kinds of races up there," he said. This article was originally published in The Christian Post and is re-published here with permission Pope Francis vows to end 'repugnant crimes' of abuse during Ireland visit Pope Francis vowed on Saturday to end the sexual exploitation of children by clergy during a highly-charged visit to once deeply Catholic Ireland and, according to victims, said the corruption and cover up of abuse amounted to human excrement. On the first papal visit to the country in almost four decades, Francis used a speech at a state event that was also attended by some abuse survivors to acknowledge that it was to the Church's shame it had not addressed these "repugnant crimes" and said he sought a greater commitment to eliminating this "scourge". He later met privately for 90 minutes at the Vatican embassy with eight victims of clerical, religious and institutional abuse. In a statement, the representatives from the Survivors of Mother and Baby Homes group said Francis condemned corruption and cover up within the Church as "caca", an Italian and Spanish word for human excrement. The statement said that after the pope used the word, his translator explained that it meant "literally filth as one sees in a toilet." A Vatican spokesman had no comment on the details of what was said in the meeting. A Vatican official said he would not be surprised that the pope had used the word. "Very powerful meeting. He listened with a genuine interest," said Clodagh Malone, who was born in one of the state-backed homes for unwed mothers and adopted at 10-weeks-old. The pope earlier spoke publicly about abuse, saying he could not "fail to acknowledge the grave scandal caused in Ireland by the abuse of young people by members of the Church charged with responsibility for their protection and education." Years of sexual abuse scandals have shattered the credibility of the Church as a moral leader in Ireland and driven many from the Church. In the past three years, Irish voters have approved abortion and gay marriage in referendums, defying its wishes. "The failure of ecclesiastical authorities - bishops, religious superiors, priests and others - adequately to address these repugnant crimes has rightly given rise to outrage and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community." In unprepared remarks, Francis added a reference to a letter he addressed last Monday to all the world's Catholics on the abuse crisis, saying he wanted it to signal "a greater commitment to eliminating this scourge in the Church, at any cost". More than three-quarters of Ireland's population flocked to see Pope John Paul II in 1979 when divorce and contraception were illegal. Francis was greeted by far smaller numbers. PROTESTS Large images of abuse victims and the hashtag #Stand4Truth - promoting a gathering of survivors and supporters elsewhere in Dublin when the pope says mass on Sunday - were projected onto some of the capital's most recognized buildings on Friday night. They included Dublin's Pro Cathedral, where on Saturday Francis prayed before a candle commemorating abuse victims that was first lit in 2011. However, flag-waving supporters still gathered five or six deep along many parts of Francis's route by popemobile, although in other parts he was greeted by a more sparse turnout. "I think it's absolutely marvelous. There are one or two objectors, but I think they should keep their objections to themselves and get into the spirit of the thing," said Christina O'Riordan, a 76-year-old retired teacher. Despite changes in Irish society, Francis asked that Ireland would not forget "the powerful strains of the Christian message" that have sustained it in the past, and can continue to do so in the future. About a quarter of the 2.7 million who greeted John Paul II were expected to turn out for Francis. "The crowd is smaller than I thought. It's a good crowd, but wouldn't be near what you'd get for (Saint) Patrick's Day," said Christy Moore, 59, referring to Ireland's national holiday as he sold papal flags wearing an 'I love Pope Francis' hat . "It was much much bigger (in 1979). There's not that much interest in it now." A TIME FOR ACTION, NOT WORDS Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who last year became Ireland's first gay leader, told Francis that the wounds of clerical child abuse that stained the Irish state were still open and there was much to be done to bring about justice and healing for victims. A damning report last week into abuse in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, which followed scandals in Australia and Chile, was all too tragically familiar in Ireland, Varadkar said, adding that the time had come for a very different Ireland to build a new relationship with the Church. "Holy Father, I ask that you use your office and influence to ensure this is done here in Ireland and across the world," Varadkar said. "We must now ensure that from words flow actions." In other protests, gay rights activists hung rainbow umbrellas from a nearby bridge while a silent vigil will be held on Sunday at the site of a former "Mother and Baby Home" where an unmarked grave with the remains of hundreds of babies was found in 2014. The pope, who traveled through Dublin in a blue Skoda in keeping with his shunning of limousines and bulletproof cars, said Church leaders needed to remedy past mistakes and adopt stringent norms to ensure they do not happen again. Writing by Padraic Halpin and Philip Pullella; Additional reporting by Conor Humphries, Graham Fahy and Hanna Rantala; Editing by Richard Balmforth NEW YORK Jimmy Fallon remembers a summer a few years back when it seemed everybody was reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Everyone had that book. If we had people over, or went on vacation poolside, people had that book wrinkled and curled up. I read it with my wife, and we read every chapter together, and wed be like, (Gasps) This is great! It was the worlds smallest book club, he laughed. This summer, Fallon decided to expand his book club of two to include his late-night audience. In June, he launched Tonight Show Summer Reads. Fallon presented five book options on his show and instructed viewers to go online and vote for their favorite. The results exceeded his expectations with 140,000 votes. The winner was Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi. Any way to engage the audience and to do stuff with them is always more fun, Fallon said. He also enthusiastically tracked how the books performed on Amazon after a mention on his show. The company confirms he had an impact. When a celebrity decides to get behind a book, we generally see a lift in sales, said Chris Schluep, an editor at Amazon. For instance, Children of Blood and Bone has been selling well this year. But the week after Jimmy Fallon selected it as the first Tonight Show book-club selection, it sold nearly three times the number of print, Kindle and Audible books that it had sold in the previous week at Amazon. Fallon isnt the only celebrity to follow in Oprah Winfreys footsteps with a book club. Reese Witherspoon has made such a success of her monthly literary picks that publishers are now putting Reeses Book Club stickers on her selections. Online nbc.com/the-tonight-show/exclusives/summer-reads belletrist.com/ sjpforhogarth.com/ bookclubcentral.org hello-sunshine.com/book-club See More Collapse Its fantastic, and we have a great experience, said Witherspoon, who has bought the rights to many of her picks to adapt for film or television. One of her selections, Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, will be a limited series on Hulu starring Witherspoon and Kerry Washington. The Oscar winner has also partnered with audio producer-distributor Audible on audio recordings of her selections. Emma Roberts has turned her lifelong love of reading into a pet project she calls Belletrist. A website and social media for Belletrist celebrate all things books. Each month they feature a new book to read and even an independent book store to check out. Belletrist is my baby, said Roberts, who runs the site with her partner, Karah Preiss. She says there is no criteria for books she features because her personal taste is so varied, but she does tend to lean toward highlighting female authors. She wants to create a community for Belletrist followers to share thoughts and ideas about what they read. Sarah Jessica Parker is so committed to reading that shes partnered with the American Library Association to share her own suggestions. The goal, she says, is to not only get people to read but to support their own local libraries. When Parker was approached by publishing house Hogarth to start her own imprint, her respect for writing initially made her think it wasnt a good idea. I didnt think I had the experience and had too much respect for people whove been in publishing for a long time, she said. But Parker then thought it could be a way to help champion works in the literary fiction space that isnt always as commercial. The first novel printed by SJP for Hogarth, A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza, is a New York Times best-seller. Parker said she also enjoys posting about books on social media because its a safe topic. Books are the one thing I can talk about on Instagram thats not controversial, she said. Everybody wants to talk about their favorite books or their feelings about books and share title recommendations. I mean, its a huge exchange of information and enthusiasm, and its really the easiest part of my relationship with social media, certainly. Like Witherspoon, Roberts and Parker are open to the idea of giving a book they recommend the Hollywood treatment. One of the most exciting things about reading is thinking about how to bring it to life. Im always imagining the show or the movie. Were in an exciting time, Roberts said. Parker stresses her goal first and foremost is to help the author. Im in it really for the genuinely purest of intentions to introduce new authors to readers. And if the opportunity exists for there to be a discussion about any television or film rights, I would certainly enter in to those conversations. But that isnt in any way my incentive. Harris County voters have spoken. Residents overwhelmingly approved the $2.5 billion bond on Aug. 25, which will help fund flood prevention projects. Election results show that 86 percent of the votes were cast in favor of the bond, while 14 percent opposed with 98 percent of precincts reporting. Out of the 2 million voters registered in Harris County, only about 150,000 voted, or 6.6 percent. All results are unofficial until canvassed. The bond will provide funds for flood mitigation projects in the Lake Houston area, such as buyouts in flood prone areas, monies to help facilitate the design and construction of additional gates on Lake Houston and a study of the San Jacinto River watershed. Now that the bond has passed, Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce President Jenna Armstrong said businesses and residents will have more confidence to rebuild. It gives that reassurance. It gives that confidence for businesses that were going to make it, were going to come out better and have a stronger community and this is the place we want to stay and this is the place where we want to grow, Armstrong said. San Jacinto River Authority Board Member Mark Mitcheletti said hes pleased with the voting results. It just shows that people understand the plight that were under and what we need to happen and we cant continue as we have in the past so its extremely encouraging to see that and I think its a great message to everybody, elected officials and businesses and people in our community that were going to take actions to address the problems that have long, long been neglected, Mitcheletti said. The bond will fund at least 230 projects managed by the Harris County Flood Control District, including $1.2 billion for channel improvements, $401 million for detention basins, $242 million for flood plain land acquisition, $12.5 million for new flood plain mapping and $1.25 million for an improved early flood warning system. More Information Below are a list of some projects in the bond for the Lake Houston area: Cedar Bayou Federal grant funded home volunteer buyouts Right-of-way acquisition, design and construction of channel conveyance improvements and storm water detention basin upstream of FM 1960 Design and construction of the Crosby Eastgate Environmental Mitigation Bank Storm repairs in the Cedar Bayou watershed Right-of-way acquisition, design and construction of stormwater detention basins near Coastal Water Authority canals and IH 10. Luce Bayou Right-of-way acquisition, design and construction of general drainage improvements in the Luce Bayou watershed. Planning, right-of -way acquisition, design and construction of general drainage improvements in the Luce Bayou watershed Luce Bayou right-of-way acquisition and floodplain prevention Storm repairs in the Luce Bayou watershed. San Jacinto River San Jacinto watershed study Funding for future partnership projects based on results of study, right-of acquisition, design and construction of general drainage improvements in the San Jacinto River watershed study East Fork, West Fork and Lake Houston dredging Design and construction of additional gates on Lake Houston in partnership with the City of Houston Federal grant funded volunteer home buyouts. See More Collapse The bond was of interest to Lake Houston area voters, according to data from the Harris County Clerks office. Early voting started on Aug. 8 and ended on Tuesday. According to the Harris County Clerks Office 4,133 people voted in the Kingwood Community Center, 406 people voted at the Edith Fae Cook Cole Branch Library in Crosby and 598 people voted at the Lone Star College Atascocita Center during the early voting period. Armstrong said she was very impressed with the early voter turnout in the Kingwood Community Center. Im not surprised. I know Kingwood, of course, is just extremely motivated to see things happen, to make their voices heard and I think that is what areally led to our success so far, Armstrong said. I dont think theres any other community in Houston that has had so many proactive initiatives go their way. Some residents voted because they were personally affected by Hurricane Harvey; others who werent affected went out to the polls and voted yes on the bond to help the community heal. I know areas not too far from me that got hit pretty bad, Humble resident Rosa Tennyson said. Since our subdivision wasnt hit bad we went out to different areas to see what we could do. Tennyson said since Harvey hit the Houston area people have started looking out a little more for each other. I think it has gotten to where were talking more to each other. Were kind of looking out for each other and just passing things along that before if it didnt involve us then they could handle it. Instead of doing that, were sharing it with others, Tennyson said. Kingwood resident and Precinct 563 Chair of the Harris County Republican Party created a booth in front of the Kingwood Branch Library to encourage people to vote in the bond election and volunteer in future elections. I think people have worked very, very hard individually and collectively to try to bring this community back and slowly but surely our businesses have come back and our restaurants. Were definitely Kingwood proud, Marcus said. Crosby resident Yronda Jackson, voted to approve the bond. Although her home did not sustain damage during Harvey others in her subdivision did. What really motivated her to vote yes for the bond was for flooding issues on the streets in the area. During Harvey, many of the roads in Crosby and Houston were closed. Her 13-year old dog was ill at the time and needed to get to the veterinarian. Since the roads were closed, her dog died before Jackson was able to take it to the vet. My dog was sick and I couldnt get her to the vet until roads cleared and places opened up and by the time I got her to (the vet) it was too late and I had to put her to sleep, Jackson said. Sept. 1 would make it a year since (my dog) has passed so thats how Harvey impacted me. kaila.contreras@chron.com A man was hospitalized late Saturday when he was shot after breaking down the door of a Kingwood apartment where his wife was hanging out with another man. The woman was visiting with a male friend around 10:30 p.m. in the 2100 block of Lake Hills when her husband showed up and kicked in the front door, according to police. He started hitting the other man, who allegedly pulled out a gun and shot the husband once in the chest. One man was killed in a rollover wreck early Sunday in northern Harris County, according to police. The driver of a black car was headed out of a parking lot around 1:30 a.m. onto West Mount Houston near Valley Stream when a white Dodge Challenger traveling east crashed into the vehicle. A woman is facing a drunken driving charge after crashing into a police car early Sunday in south Houston, authorities said. A Houston police officer just after 3:15 a.m. was headed westbound on Yellowstone in a patrol car when Marquisha Nicole Floyd, who was traveling east near Weston, allegedly crossed over the center line and smashed into the officer's vehicle, according to police. The 22-year-old was determined to be intoxicated, police said. She was later charged with driving while intoxicated and marijuana possession. No one was injured in the crash. A Houston death row inmate whose lawyer says he has a hole in his brain on Friday was denied a retrial, a loss in federal court that moves his case one step closer to a possible execution date. Dexter Johnson was sent to death row in 2007 for carjacking and killing 23-year-old Maria Aparece and her boyfriend Huy Ngo after abducting them as they sat in their car on a summer night a year earlier. Given the now-30-year-old's extensive brain damage from a severe childhood injury, attorney Patrick McCann has since argued that he shouldn't be held as morally culpable as other adults. "If you have an actual hole in your brain that you could basically run water through at that point you have to recognize that this is a person who's not fully responsible for what they're doing," he said. Prosecutors during his trial described Johnson as a cold and calculating killer who had "fun" when he and four of his friends took the young couple's car and drove them around town demanding money, credit cards and ATM access. Afterward, they parked near a patch of thick woods and forced Ngo to listen as Johnson raped Aparece in the backseat. Then, Johnson shot Ngo in the head before slaughtering Aparece. At trial, Johnson's defense team argued that it was someone else who walked the couple into the woods and fired the fatal shot. During his trial, the then-19-year-old hurled a chair across the courtroom and at one point refused to come to his own court dates. When he heard the verdict, he covered his face and then stormed out. Since then, Johnson's defense has filed appeals claiming earlier bad lawyering, brain damage and schizophrenia, along with alleging "a lengthy history of mental disability and psychotic breaks." In his latest filing before the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, McCann asked for a new trial, raising technical arguments claiming courts didn't fully dismiss his request for one before. Specifically, McCann said, the courts didn't decide on arguments alleging that his client lacked the brain functioning to be held to the same standard as adults. Instead, he drew parallels to past court decisions that ban executing juveniles and the intellectually disabled, saying similar reasoning should be applied to Johnson's brain damage. But the Harris County killer lost out on the procedural argument. Now, his next chance is to take his claims to the Supreme Court. If he loses out in the nation's highest court, there could be more appeals down the road. In light of a landmark 2017 Supreme Court decision that upended the way Texas determines intellectual disability, McCann said it's possible he could raise claims that Johnson's IQ is too low to render him eligible for execution. In the case last year - that of another of McCann's clients, Houston-area killer Bobby Moore - the Supreme Court determined in a 5-3 ruling that Texas had been relying on a non-scientific and dated measure of intellectual disability. The ruling set off waves of requests from inmates wanting their death sentences overturned in exchange for life behind bars, but ultimately the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals decided that even under a more modern measure, Moore didn't qualify as too intellectually disabled to face execution. A year to the day after Hurricane Harvey dumped 27 trillion gallons of water on southeast Texas, swamped 204,000 Harris County homes and apartments and killed more than 50 residents in the region, voters overwhelmingly approved a $2.5 billion flood infrastructure bond designed to protect the area in future storms. The measure was leading with more than 85 percent support, according to County Clerk Stan Stanart. An estimated 150,000 of Harris County's 2.3 million registered voters cast ballots, according to preliminary numbers. A tenant dispute turned deadly Saturday morning in northwest Houston. A man called 911 around 10:20 a.m. saying he had accidentally shot another man whom he was kicking out of his house, according to the Houston Police Department. The relationship between the shooter and victim was not immediately clear. Officers found the victim dead at the scene. They immediately detained the shooter for questioning, although it is not clear if he will be charged. A woman who witnessed the shooting was brought to HPD's downtown headquarters for questioning, police said. The man who opened fire is cooperating with police, authorities said. No other information was available. Check back for updates on this developing story. Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message. Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com ANSONIA Before the city goes to pot, the Planning and Zoning Commission wants to establish some rules and regulations about medical marijuana dispensaries and growing facilities. The PZC will hold its regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall. Commission Chairman Jared Heon said the citys planner, David Elder, has prepared some regulations regarding growing facilities for the commission to look over, and then will schedule a public hearing to discuss them. Heon said he was told someone had inquired at City Hall about the possibility of bringing a medical marijuana dispensary or some type of distribution facility to Ansonia. I dont know to what extent the interest was, Heon said. They could have been asking if we had regulations just to get an idea. Heon said while Ansonia doesnt have any dispensaries or growing facilities at this point, the commission needs to have some rules and regulations on its books if an application does come forward. The Planning and Zoning Commission acknowledges that there is a market for growing, and distribution centers, that seems to be growing, for lack of better terms, in our state, Heon said. We would like to be proactive and regulate this rather than end up with something being built that may not fit in with our plan of conservation and development. Heon said he doesnt expect the commission to get into a full blown discussion Monday on marijuana regulations, but rather will look at regulations that the city planner has been preparing for the city. At that point, we will set a public hearing, Heon added. A dispensary is similar to a pharmacy, where ill patients with prescriptions for medical marijuana could go to legally obtain it. Connecticut became the 17th state to approve use of medical marijuana in 2012. Shortly after that happened, a handful of towns, including Ansonia, placed a moratorium prohibiting businesses proposing medical marijuana dispensaries from submitting an application until the local land-use boards had time to create their own zoning regulations regarding such facilities. A draft of Elders regulations in part would allow state-licensed marijuana production facilities in industrial zones and commerce parks, by a special permit, but they would not be allowed within 300 feet of public or private schools or churches. Economic Development Director Sheila OMalley said she had an inquiry a while back regarding a group company that was interested in a distribution center and was inquiring about whether or not we had regulations. O'Malley added, This is new territory for Ansonia so we want to make sure we are doing everything we can to understand the potential impact of these types of projects for our residents. Ansonia has precious little land left and we have to make sure its developed with the highest and best use in mind. jean.sos@snet.net. KABUL, Afghanistan - Just over a week ago, Afghan and U.S. officials hoped that after 17 years of war, the Taliban was starting down a road to peace. Despite a deadly four-day attack on the city of Ghazni, President Ashraf Ghani had offered the insurgents a second cease-fire since June, and Taliban leaders had hinted that they wanted to continue private talks held with U.S. officials in July. Now, that optimism has all but collapsed. With the Taliban ignoring Ghani's truce offer and accepting an invitation for talks in Moscow instead, analysts said the momentum for direct negotiations has been derailed by international politics. And the intentions of insurgent leaders - who spout constant propaganda but remain invisible to the public - seem more inscrutable than ever. "This could be a political ploy by the Taliban to exploit Washington's poor relations with Russia and pressure it to agree to more generous terms, or they may merely want to see what the Russians have to offer," said Michael Kugelman, an expert on Afghanistan at the Wilson Center in Washington. Kugelman and others said they thought the Taliban's fierce assault early this month on Ghazni, which left more than 320 dead on both sides and parts of the provincial capital in ruins, was part of a two-pronged military and diplomatic strategy in which the insurgents calculate that success in battle can gain them negotiating leverage on issues such as their desire to implement full Islamic law in Afghanistan. "The Taliban are getting very clever at maneuvering," Kugelman said. Because the insurgents are convinced they can win on the battlefield, he said, "they have the luxury of shopping around for the best negotiating situation." Otherwise, they can "happily return to the battlefield and continue the fight." Moscow included U.S. and Afghan representatives on its list of invitees to a conference on Afghanistan early next month, but the event was viewed in both Kabul and Washington as a slap at their efforts to engage the Taliban in direct talks. Both governments quickly declined to send representatives. "The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan cannot attend such a meeting when the Taliban do not have a commitment for peace negotiations," Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Nasir Andisha said in a statement Friday. He said the Afghan insurgents have "disrespected internationally sanctioned principles." On Friday, however, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Afghan government signaled that it would take part in the Moscow meeting if the Taliban agreed to hold direct talks with Afghan representatives on the sidelines. There was no immediate confirmation of this from Kabul. The State Department announced that the Trump administration would not participate in the meeting, to which China, Pakistan, Iran and India were also invited, saying that such a broad gathering would "not advance the cause of peace." A Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said Thursday in a brief telephone interview that a Taliban delegation would attend the Moscow meeting and discuss the group's position. "We do not know why Kabul and America are not taking part," he said. On its face, there might seem to be no harm in Moscow's move to host a conference on Afghanistan. A major actor in the region, Russia has done so before, although little tangible progress resulted. Russia also has repeatedly expressed concerns about terrorism and violence spilling over from Afghanistan into Central Asia and Russia itself, especially from the regional affiliates of the Islamic State militants. "The U.S. has tried to bring Afghanistan to peace on its own, and it didn't work, either," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday in Moscow. "The international community now has to take care of this matter collectively." Russian officials also expressed disappointment that the Taliban did not accept Ghani's offer of a second truce after a three-day cease-fire in June that brought Taliban fighters into peaceful contact with Afghan civilians and security forces. The insurgents did offer to release several hundred prisoners but never responded directly to Ghani's proposal of a three-month truce. U.S. and Afghan officials have accused Russia of providing support to the Taliban as a counterweight to the Islamic State, and Afghan officials have voiced concern that the Moscow conference would serve to further cement the Kremlin's ties with the Taliban rather than prodding the insurgents to settle the Afghan conflict. Russian officials have denied having such motives or role in abetting the Taliban. For the Taliban, it might seem reasonable to engage with a variety of regional governments in an effort to resolve the Afghan conflict, since numerous efforts to begin domestic peace negotiations have failed in recent years. But the current involvement of the successor to the Soviet Union, which fought a bloody war against Islamist insurgents in Afghanistan in the 1980s, seems suspicious and intrusive to many Afghans. "For the Taliban to be zipping around the planet is not conducive to a settlement," one Western diplomat in Kabul said this week, speaking on the condition of anonymity to offer a candid assessment. "It can give them global stature, but it is also a distraction from the central effort. They are doing it for show, and the right people are not at the table." Moreover, recent public statements by U.S. officials and private meetings between Taliban representatives and U.S. diplomats seemed to signal a breakthrough in a long-standing impasse on peace talks. The Taliban has always insisted that it wants to negotiate with the United States, while Washington has maintained that only Afghans can be involved. Lately, though, U.S. officials have indicated they would be willing to participate in such talks. But the Taliban appears to be caught between two competing concerns, analysts said. The June cease-fire made clear a nationwide yearning for peace and exposed insurgent fighters to fellow Muslim civilians who begged them to end the war. That apparently disturbed hard-line Taliban leaders and commanders, who reportedly worry that their troops could lose the will to fight. "If the Taliban were to accept Ghani's new cease-fire, they would never let their fighters enter the cities this time," said one foreign analyst. "All that mingling undercut a lot of their propaganda." - - - Sayed Salahuddin in Kabul contributed to this report. TOKYO - North Korea's main newspaper accused the United States on Sunday of staging military drills to prepare an invasion while at the same time pursuing dialogue with "a smile on its face." Rodong Sinmun, the official mouthpiece of the Workers' Party of Korea, cited alleged U.S. troop movements in the region, which it called "extremely provocative and dangerous" and said they threatened to derail the dialogue between the United States and North Korea. The U.S. military called the accusation "far fetched." The opinion piece came two days after President Donald Trump canceled a planned trip to North Korea by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, citing a lack of progress in getting North Korea to surrender its nuclear weapons. The Rodong Sinmun piece did not mention Trump by name or the decision to cancel Pompeo's trip. Media outlets controlled by the Pyongyang regime have been careful not to criticize Trump directly since his June 12 meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, reserving occasional ire for Pompeo and other members of the administration. But the timing of the piece may be more than coincidence. ALSO US struggles with punishing large Russian businesses Rodong Sinmun cited a South Korean radio broadcast claiming that U.S. "special units" had recently flown to the Philippines, arguing this was a drill simulating "infiltration into Pyongyang." It also claimed that the USS Michigan nuclear submarine had transported "Green Berets, Delta Force and other special units" from Okinawa, Japan, to the Jinhae naval base in South Korea in late July or early August. Col. John Hutcheson, the director of public affairs for U.S. Forces Japan, said he wasn't sure what drills the piece was referring to. "U.S. aircraft routinely fly from Japan to the Philippines and other nations around the region for a variety of training and operational reasons, so the notion that any single flight is related to North Korea is a bit far fetched," he wrote in an email. Cmdr. Clay Doss, public affairs officer at the U.S. Seventh Fleet, said the North Korean report, including the mention of the USS Michigan, is "completely false." But Rodong Sinmun argued that the acts "prove that the U.S. is hatching a criminal plot to unleash a war against the DPRK" in case Washington fails to achieve denuclearization. That would be a crime that deserves "merciless divine punishment," it said. "We cannot but take a serious note of the double-dealing attitudes of the U.S. as it is busy staging secret drills involving man-killing special units while having a dialogue with a smile on its face," the opinion piece continued. "The U.S. would be sadly mistaken if it thinks that it can browbeat someone through trite 'gunboat diplomacy' which it used to employ as an almighty weapon in the past and attain its sinister intention." Trump announced the suspension of the U.S. military's annual exercises with South Korea when he met Kim, calling those exercises "provocative." In his Friday tweets, Trump put some of the blame on China for the lack of progress with North Korea, tweeting that because of his "tougher Trading stance," the Chinese were not "helping with the process of denuclearization as they once were." Beijing said those remarks showed a "total disregard of the facts." In a statement released Saturday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China is making "unremitting efforts" to abide by the U.N. Security Council's resolutions and urged all parties to "stick to the direction of seeking a political settlement." Meanwhile, South Korean President Moon Jae-in convened a meeting of his National Security Council on Sunday to discuss the cancellation of Pompeo's trip. A spokesman said Moon's planned trip to Pyongyang in September - his third summit with Kim this year - now took on added significance. "The circumstances show that President Moon has a bigger role as the facilitator and a mediator unblocking the impasse between North Korea and the U.S. and widening the scope of mutual understanding," South Korean presidential Blue House spokesman Kim Eui-keum told reporters Sunday. --- The Washington Post's Min Joo Kim in Seoul contributed to this report. After a year of unprecedented challenges and changes, Houston ISD students will return to class Monday to find a district that if all goes according to plan has sailed through the worst of storms. Hurricane Harvey is in the past. Projections of mass layoffs and ballooning class sizes have been quelled. The districts leadership team has stabilized, for now. Still, when an estimated 214,000 students arrive for the first day of the 2018-19 school year, many will see changes large and small that will impact their daily routines. The impact of budget cuts and magnet program changes will be felt by some students, while others will enjoy the fruits of years-long construction in brand-new facilities. Our classrooms are set up, theyre beautiful and theyre ready for students to learn, HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. Heres a rundown of whats new in HISD as another year begins at Texas largest school district. New campuses Students at 11 schools will return to find new or dramatically renovated facilities, as the district debuts construction projects with a combined price tag of more than $400 million. Several high schools will open sparkling buildings that prioritize flexibility and space for career-centered activities. For example, the High School For Law and Justices new East Downtown digs feature a built-to-scale courtroom, crime scene investigation lab and law library a far cry from the schools former Rice Military campus, built in the 1920s. I think the kids are just going to be fascinated and amazed by what they see, said Carol Mosteit, principal of the High School For Law and Justice. We had struggles in the old building with space and things falling apart. I just think the whole atmosphere and culture will shift to one of wanting to be here. Four other high schools also will re-open with new facilities or major renovations in areas just east or south of downtown: Eastwood Academy, Energy Institute High School, Yates High School and Young Womens College Preparatory Academy. Ten of the 11 projects were financed through the districts $1.89 billion bond program approved by voters in 2012. About three-quarters of the projects are complete. District officials still are contemplating whether to seek a bond election in 2019. Students at two other schools seriously damaged by Hurricane Harvey also will shift facilities Monday. Hilliard Elementary School, located on the citys northeast side, will reopen after it remained closed throughout the 2017-18 academic year. Braeburn Elementary school students, who spent last year at the old DeBakey High School for Health Professions, will move to modular buildings placed on the campus of Welch Middle School. Braeburn, located on the citys southwest side, was demolished and is being rebuilt, with a target opening date of January 2020. Budget cuts Most schools across HISD will experience some belt-tightening this year to accommodate the districts $84 million in budget cuts. District leaders, however, believe they have avoided major changes in day-to-day operations. You wont see the necessary cuts we had to make at the classroom level, Lathan said. Youre not going to see overcrowded classrooms. For most HISD campuses, the necessary budget cuts will have relatively minimal impact on spending. HISD leaders trimmed per-student funding, which makes up a sizable chunk of total allocations at each school, across all campuses by about 2.5 percent. That money pays for teacher compensation, substitute staff, small equipment purchases and general supplies, among other costs. Some schools, however, will see more sizable changes after the district reduced funding for many magnet schools. Vanguard campuses DeBakey High School for Health Professionals and Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts are expected to lose roughly 5 to 15 percent of total funding. Our biggest situation will be that we lost a few teachers, said Nellie Naidoo, president of the DeBakey High School for Health Professionals Parent-Teacher Organization. Our principal tried to find ways to save all our (Advanced Placement) courses and she tried to make sure our classroom sizes werent too much bigger. HISD officials did not respond to requests for information about the reduction in teaching ranks this year. During the budget process this spring, district officials said they expected to employ fewer teachers in 2018-19, eliminating jobs through attrition. The district still hired more than 1,000 new teachers this year. About 50 teachers this year were issued notices that they would not be retained due to budget cuts, but those employees later were told they could take jobs at other HISD schools. HISD had a full-time employee count of about 11,800 teachers last year. Transportation changes HISD will have additional staff members on-site Monday morning and afternoon at the districts new magnet school bus hubs, where students traveling outside their neighborhood zones now will be picked up and dropped off. District officials implemented the hub system this year to simplify routes and reduce the amount of time students spend on buses. The change means many students will have to travel farther to reach their bus stops typically three miles or less but take more direct routes to their magnet schools. Some students will have shorter overall commutes, while others could spend more time in transit to magnet schools this year. HISD Transportation Services General Manager Tim Brown said district officials will be reviewing whether more hubs are needed as the school year gets underway. This program does have room for expansion, Brown said. Weve already explored the opportunity to be able to do that. The campuses have not been identified, but the concept under which we can expand has been solidified. Throughout the year, HISD also will roll out an upgraded GPS system that will allow families to track buses electronically in real-time. HISD trustees approved spending up to $3.5 million in May for purchases related to the technology. Directions for accessing the system will be released as it goes online. jacob.carpenter@chron.com twitter.com/chronjacob AKRON, Ohio - Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro will deliver the annual state-of-the-county address on Thursday, Aug. 30 at the John S. Knight Center in downtown Akron. Doors open to the sold-out event at 11:15 a.m. with the program starting at noon. Cleveland.com asked Shapiro's chief of staff, Greta Johnson, what she expects will be covered in the speech. Here are five subjects: An update on a A recap of progress at the Firestone Business Park under the latest phase of redevelopment of the 18-acre Firestone campus. A response to recommendations made by the Summit County Jail Operation Advisory Commission. Early next week, following several months of research and evaluation, the commission is scheduled to present recommendations on several areas of jail operations. The commission was created in late 2017 by Summit County Councilman David Hamilton to review jail procedures on use of force, inmate care and services, staff training and diversity, and jail funding. A review of county transportation projects recently A discussion of new county-led initiatives for female veterans. Elected officials must register through Julie Tortora at the Summit County Executive's Office at jtortora@summitoh.net or 330-643-2609. Others register through Lianne Fowler at the Akron Press Club. RSVP here. Individual tickets are $35. Shapiro is Summit County's first elected female executive. She was appointed county executive in 2016 and elected to the office the following November. She served on Summit County Council for more than nine years, including serving as council president. Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.com's Rubber City Daily, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. CLEVELAND, Ohio - The influential Community Partnership for Arts and Culture, which helped make Cuyahoga County one of the top U.S. urban regions in local public funding for the arts, has a new name and an updated focus. The organization is now Arts Cleveland, President and CEO Megan Van Voorhis said in a recent interview in which she shared the organization's new name and logo publicly for the first time. Over the next six months, she said, Arts Cleveland will update its website, social media presence and other facets of its identity. The organization will also refine its work to focus on projects such as gathering data about youth-oriented arts education programs outside schools, and on bolstering local public arts funding. Founded in 1997 with grants from the Cleveland and Gund foundations, Arts Cleveland had six full-time and one part-time employee in 2017-2018. About 60 percent of its budget of $862,000 that year went to personnel and 26 percent went to professional and contract services. Arts Cleveland played a pivotal role in building public consensus around the 10-year, 30-cent-a-pack tax on cigarettes approved by Cuyahoga County voters in 2006. Voters renewed the tax in 2015 for a second decade by a 75.2 percent margin. Tax revenues are collected and distributed by Cuyahoga Arts and Culture (CAC), a public agency whose name has sounded a bit too much like that of the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture, Van Voorhis said. "It's one of the things where people get confused with us, and CAC," she said. Valerie Schumacher, the organization's director of programs and services, said its acronym, CPAC, also matched that of the national Conservative Political Action Conference and was close to that of the National Conservative Political Action Committee, creating further potential confusion. From its inception until last year the community partnership was led by Tom Schorgl, a highly regarded arts leader who focused on making the case for the cigarette tax and bolstering the arts and culture sector through research, education and advocacy. Since 2007, Cuyahoga Arts and Culture has distributed $170 million to more than 375 cultural organizations, according to its website. A 2014 University of Chicago study found that Cuyahoga County topped 13 U.S. metros in public funding for the arts, including Miami-Dade County, San Francisco, San Diego, Phoenix, Denver, Houston, Chicago, Greater Columbus, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston and Portland, Oregon. After Schorgl's retirement in 2017, the community partnership's board handed the reins to Van Voorhis, 41, a native of Flint, MI, who joined the nonprofit in 2003 as assistant director of programs and services. She later became vice president and then chief operating officer before assuming Schorgl's duties. Van Voorhis's first move was to check in with community funders, partners, arts leaders and others about what Arts Cleveland should do, post-Schorgl. "A founder transition is a big deal," she said. "I wanted to make sure we were on the right page with folks." The organization's research showed that no one in Cuyahoga County has systematically gathered data on the growing number of out-of-school arts programs for children and teens to understand gaps, overlaps or ways to improve. Arts Cleveland will also help identify new funding sources for Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, given that revenues from the cigarette tax are declining because the region's population is shrinking and fewer people are smoking. "I don't want to go back to where we were before public funding for the arts has passed [in 2006]," Van Voorhis said. Arts Cleveland will gather data on arts participation and study whether Cleveland needs a formal cultural policy, like other U.S. cities including Chicago, Van Voorhis said. Also on the agenda is looking at how arts and culture can continue to support neighborhood and economic development. For example, the organization wants to know what Cleveland could do to better establish itself as a center for industrial design to strengthen its competitiveness in manufacturing. A concern for race, gender and equity will permeate Arts Cleveland's work, Van Voorhis said, adding that she's excited about what lies ahead. "I have a real interest in making sure cities like ours can preserve those things that are core to our identity," she said. "We've achieved a lot in the past 25 year, but there's so much more we can do so more so that people can engage with arts and culture and have it be part of their life." EDITOR'S NOTE: During the next several months, Plain Dealer reporters will examine "Pathways to Prosperity" -- ways schools, businesses and organizations are or aren't preparing students to make a living wage in today's regional economy. CLEVELAND, Ohio - A high school diploma wasn't helping D'Angelo Cook live the life he wanted for himself and his two children. Unemployed and job hunting, Cook, 26, lacked the training to land anything but low-wage jobs. Working long hours for little money, while also attending an IT training program, was a real struggle. D'Angelo Cook participates in A+ computer certification program held by the Council of Economic Opportunities of Greater Cleveland in May 2018. Ken Taylor also faces a frustration. As president of Ohio's main dealer of Caterpillar construction equipment, he can't find enough people with the skills and 5 to 7 years' experience to repair machinery for customers -- even when offering $60,000 to $70,000 a year salary. "If we don't have the technicians, we are unable to provide adequate support to the customer for the machines or the engines that they purchased from us," said Taylor, who heads Ohio CAT. "And if we can't provide the support, that means that the customer will suffer downtime, which is costly to their business and their customers. It translates back to us because that is revenue that we are not earning." The entire region's economy faces a mismatch, or "skills gap," between what many job seekers know and what companies need. It's also a prosperity gap. It traps potential workers in poverty and prevents the region's economy from moving forward. And it's about to get worse as members of the Baby Boomer generation retire. "We have a population that is aging slightly faster than the U.S. as a whole and we're slightly less educated than the U.S. as a whole," said Jacob Duritsky, Team NEO's vice president of strategy and research. "In the short term, we need to figure out how to connect people, who are already here, to the labor market if we are to remain economically competitive as a region." Individuals who don't have the right skills or credentials to land in careers with a chance of advancing are stuck bouncing between low-paying jobs just to pay the bills. Sometimes, they invest money and time earning credentials or degrees that don't bring the return they had hoped for. All the while, companies are scraping to fill vacant positions, often multiple times, losing business with every wrong hire. Who's to blame for the gap? All of us. Parents, students, schools, politicians and employers all share some responsibility. Students for not planning realistic career paths; parents for not teaching their children the "soft skills" needed for a productive life; local schools for not connecting curricula to students' employment needs; politicians for encouraging college when it is not the right fit for everyone, and for not making sure it is affordable; and employers for not training a pipeline of future employees. The situation is not hopeless, however. Good things are happening in and around Cleveland - just not at the level of scale and organization needed to solve the problem. Many countries and regions, some in Europe, have risen to prosperity by tightening bonds among educators, students and employees - for example in Germany and the Netherlands. Over the next few months, The Plain Dealer will share stories of the people working to bridge the prosperity gap, as close as the nearest hospital, and as far away as Germany. How big is this mismatch? Northeast Ohio's original prosperity was built on jobs with relatively big pay checks and relatively small skill requirements. That began unraveling decades ago, and with the national recession in 2008, it fell apart. The recession wiped out many of the low-skilled jobs nationwide, according to Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce. During the recovery, millions of new jobs were created. But almost all the good ones required at least some college, according to the 2016 report, America's Divided Recovery: College Haves and Have-Nots. "Those with a high school diploma or less are being left behind," it said. Ohio, which once was among the states with the most good-paying jobs for workers without a college degree suffered more than most. Thirty-four states gained such jobs after 1991; Ohio was the fourth-biggest loser, tied with Michigan. The northeast Ohio region faces special challenges. Team NEO, a regional economic development group, says that 65 percent of Ohio jobs that pay a family-sustaining wage (just over $23 per hour for a family of four) will require applicants to have college degrees or career training certificates by 2020. But only 54 percent of adults in Northeast Ohio qualify for those jobs, Team NEO said in a report last May. It was written in partnership with the Cleveland Foundation, which has spent nearly $18 million in five years helping support local training efforts, curriculum development and other approaches that seek to make the region more economically competitive. Even as it chronicled that scarcity, Team NEO identified more than 30,000 good paying jobs in the 18-county region that could be filled, if only high schools, vocational centers and community colleges trained enough people for them. That number is about 75 percent of the 40,000 high school graduates a year in the region, which also includes Akron and Youngstown. If people could be connected to those jobs, Duritsky said, they would be better off, along with the employers and the region. "There are some economic headwinds against Northeast Ohio now," he said. "We need those people in the market." Cleveland students are not on track If the region's situation is worrying, the city of Cleveland's is potentially heartbreaking. The region's median household income is $52,131 and it lags the national income of $57,617, while Cleveland families make $26,583. And not much is happening to change that. Cleveland schools have improved their graduation rate in recent years, but fewer and fewer graduates are pursuing degrees or career credentials to make the leap into the middle class. About 54 percent of Cleveland high school graduates attended some school after graduating in 2011. That turned out to be a peak; for the class of 2017, the number slid to 40 percent. The economic improvement since the recession has contributed to that decline, said Lee Friedman, who heads college counseling and placement for the district as head of the CollegeNow non-profit. "When you need $200 to pay your utility bills and you're offered a job, the immediacy wins out," she said. "The lure of a job - when the job market is hot for these $8, $10, $12 an hour jobs - is too much." The $30,000 a year pay for a $15 an hour job is a short-term gain, but a long-term disaster, she said. "Kids think it's a great wage, but it's a dead end if they don't have a credential," she said. "If someone is making $15, and that's all they can ever do, they are set for a life of poverty." Investing in school is "confusing and risky" For students in the suburbs, as well as in Cleveland, finding the right path to a career can be complicated. Rapidly rising college costs and falling levels of per-student state support have put young graduates in record levels of debt upon graduation, making college a less obvious choice for many. Pouring money into the problem may not be the solution. The United States may not be getting the full benefits of all of its education spending, according to a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an international organization of 35 developed countries. The United States commits the fourth-highest level of resources to post-high school education in the world, the OECD found, but is just 13th in the world in the percentage of young adults with college degrees. That "Skills Beyond Schools" report partly blamed U.S. high schools and students not keeping pace with other developed countries in early grades. But it also blamed the United States' patchwork of colleges, community colleges, career training centers and private job training centers for not offering clear paths, compared to the centralized and standardized workforce training programs in Europe. "Investing in postsecondary education is often more confusing and risky than in many other OECD countries," the report found. It added: "The financial risks of (individuals) investing in postsecondary education can be higher in the US, because costs and returns are highly variable." Those risks include underemployment - people who don't show up in unemployment rates but have jobs far below what their education level would historically command. Multiple studies show that the national underemployment rate escalated in the first few years of the recession. It has slipped back to where it was before the recession the past few years, as the businesses recover and seek more employees. But now, there's added uncertainty over what jobs will even exist in 10 or 20 years. The state school board's new "strategic plan" for Ohio's schools predicts a future where workers shift from one short-term job to another - in fields and jobs that haven't yet even been invented. "Technological advances are rapidly changing the skills students need for the jobs of tomorrow," that plan states, drawing on state workforce reports. "Forty-seven percent of today's jobs could be phased out in the coming years due to technological advances, and 65 percent of secondary students are predicted to work in jobs that do not exist (now)." The Challenge High schools used to push both vocational and college preparatory education. By the 1980s, secondary education in the United States focused mostly on sending students to college. The result? Graduates headed directly to the labor force, having studied liberal arts but not vocational skills, are often prepared only for low-wage jobs. Those who give college a try, and then drop out, often remain prepared for low-wage jobs - but now, they have college debt. MAGNET, the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network, along with support from the Cleveland Foundation, hopes to create a pathway to work with its Early College Early Career (ECEC) program. It began last fall at five area high schools. Students remain on an academic track, while spending part of the week in a paid apprenticeship at a manufacturing company. Participants include Swagelok and Lincoln Electric. Students also take some community college classes needed for skilled manufacturing positions. The model, based on a German apprenticeship program, aims to close the skills gap by benefiting both students and companies, said Terrence Robinson, MAGNET's former vice president of workforce development and economic inclusion. Manufacturers, worried about refreshing an aging workforce because few young people are choosing such careers, are helping to create a new talent pool. Students can see the possibilities of a viable livelihood in manufacturing, provided they get the necessary training. "When you make young people aware of the opportunities of manufacturing careers, they become very excited," he said. "They are excited about the work that they do. They're excited about the college tuition reimbursement most manufacturers offer. They are excited about the wages that manufacturers pay. They see a pathway out of poverty and a debt-free pathway to college." The Cleveland Foundation also is funding programs aimed at lessening the mismatch between workers' skills and employers' demands as well as playing a key role in fostering awareness among the region's business, educational and nonprofit communities to make addressing the skills gap a top priority. Geoff Lipnevicius, Lincoln Electric's senior manager of organizational effectiveness, who designed the ECEC program at his company, believes the will exists among employers to close the skills gap because "you can only go so far if the talent isn't available." "In the end, if Lincoln Electric doesn't transform the workforce and talent pipeline, we will have to blame ourselves," he said. "No one knows the problem better than we do, so no one is better equipped to help offer solutions and be partners for progress." But will this needed coalition of businesses, schools and programs ever fully form? If so, will it be prepared to do enough, soon enough? The region may be running out of time. EUCLID, Ohio -- The Euclid Police Department is asking the public for assistance in locating two missing children, Lt. Mitch Houser said Saturday. Karsen Novak, 11, and D'lon Skipper, 12, were last seen together at about 7 p.m. Friday in the lightly wooded area behind Pinnacle Academy at 860 East 222nd Street. Karsen was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants and black shoes. D'lon was wearing a blue Spiderman T-shirt, gray shorts and "red/gray" shoes. Both children are in 7th grade at Central Middle School. It is unknown if foul play is a factor at this time. Police provided no further details. People with tips or other information should call the Euclid Police Department Detective Bureau at 216-289-8505. To comment on this story, visit Saturday's crime and courts comment section. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Two-time presidential candidate and U.S. Senate 'Maverick' John McCain passed away Saturday at his home in Arizona after battling brain cancer. He was 81. If you want to see a real man, a real conservative Republican, statesman, leader, patriot, honorable public servant and American war hero, look at Senator John McCain's life and legacy that's deserving of a grateful nation's salute. Three cheers for Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted for denouncing disinformation that rumormongers have tried to spread about the Aug. 7 special congressional election in central Ohio. Husted forcefully disproved a raft of false statements emanating from social media accounts and what might fairly be termed conspiracy media about the 12th Congressional District vote. The district, a reliably Republican one, is made up of Delaware, Licking and Morrow counties; and parts of Franklin, Marion, Muskingum and Richland counties. The winner of the special vote to finish out the term of Republican U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi, per Friday's official canvass results, is state Sen. Troy Balderson, a Zanesville Republican. He narrowly defeated the Democrat, Franklin County Recorder Danny O'Connor of Columbus, by 1,680 votes, less than a percentage point. Tiberi resigned early this year to take a private-sector job. Balderson and O'Connor will face each other again on Nov. 6, vying for a full, two-year congressional term. One rumor Husted demolished: that the registrations of a few 12th District voters were fraudulent or that these voters were dead because they're recorded as being older than 116. Fact: This reflects a fluke in how registrations were recorded after mid-1974, when Ohio started requiring people registering to vote to provide a birthdate, For those already registered, county boards of elections used "placeholder dates," Husted's office explained. "This is why some registrations have dates like 1900 or 1800 listed. These individuals met the requirements at the time to become registered voters and remain legally qualified electors today," his statement explained. Fact-checking would have forestalled the rumors, but facts are to rumormongers what Lysol is to germs. Then, in what Husted's office said was "the result of human error and not some conspiracy," the Franklin County Board of Elections discovered it had briefly misplaced (and then only in a manner of speaking) 588 ballots from a polling place in the Columbus suburb of Worthington. When counted, the additional ballots narrowed - slightly - Republican Balderson's lead over Democrat O'Connor. That stoked claims that Democrats would keep "finding" ballots till O'Connor could appear to have beaten Balderson. Fact: The mistake was just that, a mistake. Discovering errors like this is the purpose of the post-election checks that are required for the official canvass before results are certified. Another example: Muskingum County's "oops" last week when officials announced they'd found three more absentee ballots hiding in plain sight in a cubby hole that most of the board of elections workers were too short to see. (Two of the ballots turned out to be for O'Connor, one for Balderson.) Each of the 88 county boards of elections in Ohio is composed of two Democrats and two Republicans. To be effective, any anti-GOP (or anti-Democratic) conspiracy would require the collaboration of at least one board member of the opposite party. Likelihood: virtually zero. Then there was actress Alyssa Milano, who evidently passed up a promising future as a political analyst to work in Hollywood. On Election Night, Milano tweeted that "the Green Party votes tonight [in the 12th District race] are Russian meddling. Why else would anyone cast a protest vote in Ohio when there's so much at stake?" The Green Party's 12th District congressional candidate was Joe Manchik. You know what sucks? Because of our unwillingness to pass policy that protects our election integrity, I immediately think the Green Party votes tonight are Russian meddling. Why else would anyone cast a protest vote in Ohio when theres so much at stake?#OH12 Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) August 8, 2018 Fact: Husted said Milano's tweet demonstrated a person who was "making erroneous claims with no basis in reality." Even assuming that Green voters might otherwise be Democratic voters - a patronizing view of Greens' political convictions - Manchik's votes (1,165 in the final certified count) wouldn't have won the election for O'Connor. More public officials should speak out, as Jon Husted has, when rumormongers seek to undermine Ohioans' and Americans' confidence in democratic processes. As Husted himself so eloquently put it in his Aug. 13 statement: "To the bad actors out there who want chaos and to erode the people's confidence in our elections, enough is enough." We couldn't say it better ourselves. About our editorials: Editorials express the view of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer -- the senior leadership and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the news organization. Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. * Use the comments to share your thoughts. Then, stay informed when readers reply to your comments by using the "Follow" option at the top of the comments, & look for updates via the small blue bell in the lower right as you look at more stories on cleveland.com. Akram Boutros is CEO of the MetroHealth System. CLEVELAND -- You might know Mary. Maybe you shop at the same grocery store, belong to the same church or have the same favorite Indians player. Mary takes medication to control her diabetes. A few years back, she lost her job and could no longer afford her medicine or her regular visits to the doctor. When her symptoms got bad, she got scared and went to the emergency room. It happened more than once. Then, in 2014, Ohio expanded Medicaid, the government program that provides health coverage to low-income adults, children, pregnant women, the elderly and the disabled. Mary qualified for the expansion and was able to find a primary care doctor at MetroHealth. She got back on her medication and regained her health. Then she found a new job. We learned this past week that her story is not unusual. There are at least 290,000 people just like Mary in Ohio - folks who got coverage through Medicaid expansion and then unenrolled when they found a new job or saw their income rise. That statistic is part of a new Ohio Department of Medicaid report measuring the impact of the 2014 expansion. The findings reveal lots of good news: Expanding the program has slashed the uninsured rate; it's improved the health of enrollees; and it's eased financial worries for Ohio families. But the most significant news from the report is that Medicaid expansion hasn't done many of the things opponents predicted it would: * It hasn't become a lifelong entitlement. As Mary and the hundreds of thousands of people just like her show, coverage through expansion is often a temporary benefit. Since 2014, almost 1.2 million Ohioans have received coverage. Almost 500,000 of them are no longer on Medicaid. * It hasn't diminished recipients' motivation to work. In fact, it's increased it. Fifty percent of recipients are now employed, compared to 43 percent in 2016. Significant majorities of enrollees say coverage has either made it easier to work or easier to look for work. * It hasn't blown up the budget. During a presentation of the report's findings on Wednesday in Cleveland, Ohio Budget Director Tim Keen revealed that each recipient of Medicaid expansion costs the state less than $21 a month. "Medicaid expansion is manageable and affordable," he said, "now and into the future." MetroHealth saw how well expansion could work before almost anyone. In 2013, a year before the state expanded coverage, the federal government gave us permission to see how it might work in practice. The program, called CarePlus, offered health coverage to about 30,000 uninsured Cuyahoga County residents. The results were better than we expected: Enrollees saw significant improvements in care and outcomes, and the cost of caring for them came in about 30 percent below the government's estimate. Last week's report is more proof of what we at MetroHealth have seen firsthand. Medicaid expansion has proven to be a lot like a lifeguard: When members of the community start to splash and sink because of a lost job, a sick relative or a sudden crisis, expanded coverage is there to help them, to pull them onto solid footing, allow them to catch their breath - and then dive back into work and life. We should all feel a bit more comfortable knowing that Medicaid expansion is protecting our community pool. Lots of people deserve credit for the success of Ohio's Medicaid expansion. Two of the most deserving are Gov. John Kasich and Department of Medicaid Director Barbara Sears. Both went against the wishes of many of their fellow Republicans and saw the true conservative benefits - controlled costs, personal responsibility, moral imperatives - of Medicaid expansion. Because of their courage and determination, life is better for hundreds of thousands of Ohio families. That's quite a legacy. I'll speak for those families, for Mary and for those of us fortunate enough to have not needed Medicaid expansion: Thank you. Let's all work to make sure the next resident of the governor's mansion knows the importance and success of this program - and that he keeps the lifeguard on duty. Dr. Akram Boutros, a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, is president and CEO of The MetroHealth System in Cleveland. ************* Have something to say about this topic? Use the comments to share your thoughts. Then, stay informed when readers reply to your comments by using the "Follow" option at the top of the comments, and look for updates via the small blue bell in the lower right as you look at more stories on cleveland.com. California's 49th Congressional District historically has leaned Republican, but Hillary Clinton won it in the 2016 presidential election. Now, with the retirement of GOP Rep. Darrell Issa, the seat is up for grabs. The race is between Republican Diane Harkey, a conservative state official, and environmental lawyer Mike Levin, a Democrat. Ten weeks before Election Day, recent polling shows the contest remains tight. President Donald Trump weighed in on the race last week by backing Harkey in a move that could be a game changer. The district includes communities along the Southern California coast from Dana Point in Orange County to Del Mar in San Diego County and is one of nearly two dozen nationwide that Democrats are hoping will help them achieve a blue wave in November. Issa, a 10-term congressman, won re-election in 2016 by only about 1,600 votes and in January announced plans to retire. Besides taxes, jobs and health care, other top issues seen in the district are immigration, border security and the environment. Several local jurisdictions in the district took a stand against California's so-called sanctuary state laws that seek to protect undocumented immigrants. There have also been safety concerns over waste storage at the shuttered San Onofre nuclear power plant, which sits on the northern San Diego County coastline. The plant began producing power in the late 1960s, and decommissioning started a few years ago. Military issues also weigh heavily given the district includes the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base. Efforts to privatize veterans health care are opposed by both candidates. Diane Harkey Thomas McKinless | CQ Roll Call | Getty Images Harkey, who served three terms in the state Assembly and is an ex-mayor of Dana Point, is chairwoman of the state Board of Equalization, which oversees the Golden State's taxes. Prior to politics, Harkey worked in banking, first in the 1970s for Security Pacific and later at Bank of America. Levin, who has never held elected office, is a clean energy advocate and has been involved in federal, state and local campaigns. Besides being an environmental lawyer, he's a former executive director of the Democratic Party of Orange County. "Clean air and clean water and getting the nuclear waste off our coast ... are not partisan issues," said Levin, who also opposes the Trump administration's plan to rollback environmental emission regulations. Mike Levin Thomas McKinless | CQ-Roll Call | Getty Images Earlier this month, former President Barack Obama endorsed Levin's candidacy for the seat. On Monday, Trump endorsed Harkey via a tweet, describing her as "an extraordinary woman of great accomplishment & potential." The president added that she's "strong on crime, loves our Military & Vets-has my total Endorsement!" "There's good and bad in every president," Harkey said in an interview before the president's endorsement. Harkey said she was "very happy with some of the economic policies" of Trump since they're helping with job creation and allowing people to "keep a little more money in their paycheck." However, Harkey added, "I will take endorsements but it doesn't mean I follow policies to the tee." For example, Harkey said she doesn't support the Trump administration's plan to increase offshore drilling. She said if Florida can get an exemption from drilling "so can we." Yet Harkey believes Trump is doing a good job on immigration and supports the president getting billions to complete the wall along the Mexican border, assuming he makes reforms to the visa system and allows consideration for the Obama era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. DACA protects immigrants brought unlawfully to the U.S. as children from deportation and provides them work authorization. Levin, though, is critical of the Trump's immigration policies and what he calls the "family detention fiasco." He believes the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency "needs serious oversight and a change in its policies," and wants to strengthen border security but considers the president's plan for the wall as "misguided." It remains to be seen whether Trump's backing will boost Harkey's support among voters. Trump lost the district to Clinton in the 2016 presidential contest by a margin of 7.5 percentage points. "The 49th is the kind of district that Democrats have been targeting for the last few cycles because of demographic change," said Thad Kousser, chairman of the political science department at the University of California, San Diego. "The district has gotten more Democratic, more Latino and ... these are 'Mitt Romney Republicans more than Donald Trump Republicans." Democrats need to gain about two dozen seats to take back control of the House. In California, several close races could tip the balance. The 49th is considered one of the closest of those races in California. Less than 10 minutes after Trump's endorsement, Levin sent out a tweet taking a shot at his GOP opponent: "No surprise that @realDonaldTrump, an expert in failed real estate scams, would endorse my opponent @DianeHarkey, whose campaigns have been funded by a Ponzi Scheme." https://twitter.com/MikeLevinCA/status/1031721432839901184 The Republican candidate's husband, Dan Harkey, once ran an investment company in Orange County, Point Center Financial. After the 2008 financial crisis, the company fell on hard times and faced a lawsuit from investors. "In 2008, many people lost everything, and my husband was one of them," Harkey said. She also insisted that she went "through the entire court system and came out cleared by the plaintiffs." Harkey campaign spokesman Bryan Shroyer on Wednesday responded to Levin's tweet by charging the Democrat "is going to continue to make these false accusations because he doesn't want to talk about the issues." Harkey has contributed at least $100,000 of her own personal funds for the congressional campaign, although her challenger has raised more money. Levin had about $850,000 in cash on hand as of the latest data while Harkey had less than $200,000. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call Group | Getty Images With most of 2018's primaries done, top election forecasters agree Democrats have an edge in the fight for a House majority. Still, a lot could happen between now and the Nov. 6 midterm elections to help Republicans hang on to enough seats to keep control of the chamber. The Democratic Party has a clear task in front of it: win at least 23 GOP-held seats and flip the House. History and current trends virtually guarantee Republicans will lose seats in November. The question is whether Democrats will take enough seats to gain control of the chamber, or fall short in their effort. Buoyed by President Donald Trump's relatively poor approval rating, lackluster views on the congressional GOP's policy priorities and historical difficulties for the president's party in midterms, Democrats have about an 8-percentage point edge on national generic ballots asking voters which party they would prefer, according to a FiveThirtyEight average. One of the data site's forecasts, which takes into account polling, fundraising, voting history and analyst ratings at the House district level, gives Democrats a 68.5 percent chance of taking the House. It projects an average gain of 31 seats. "I do think the likeliest outcome is [Democrats] take a majority of some size. ... You'd rather be the Democrats than the Republicans now in the race for the House," said Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball, a top nonpartisan election analysis site that assigns ratings to every House race. But Democrats have hardly locked up a House majority with more than two months to go. An improvement in Trump's approval rating or for Republicans in the generic ballot, along with surprise twists at the national or district level, could help the GOP to cling to its House majority, according to Kondik and Leah Askarinam, a reporter and analyst at top nonpartisan analysis site Inside Elections. Democrats have little chance of taking a majority in the Senate, as the party's senators and independents who caucus with them defend 26 seats, including 10 in states Trump won in 2016. Only nine Republican Senate seats are up for grabs this year. In that environment, the fight for House control has become even more important. The stakes are huge for the president and his agenda. A Democratic House could not only block Trump's priorities, but also push for its own goals such as patching up the Affordable Care Act or reversing some GOP tax cuts for corporations. Crucially, Democrats would have the power to start committee investigations or push for impeachment an issue the party is taking pains to avoid now as it tries not to stir up Republican voter enthusiasm. Why Democrats are favored to take the House now Numerous factors have given Democrats an inside track to the House majority. To start, presidents' parties typically get clobbered in non-presidential election years. In some recent examples, Republicans gained a staggering 64 seats in 2010 when President Barack Obama was in office, while Democrats took 32 in 2006 during President George W. Bush's second term. On top of that, Trump's popularity has lagged behind most of his recent predecessors at this point in their first terms. He has about 42 percent approval versus 53 percent disapproval, according to a rolling FiveThirtyEight average of polls. The majority Republican Congress's initiatives also have not landed with voters the way the party hoped. The GOP's biggest accomplishment, its overhaul of the U.S. tax system, has about 37 percent approval versus 43 percent disapproval, according to a RealClearPolitics polling average. In addition, support for the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, only grew during Trump's presidency as Republicans tried to repeal it and replace it with less popular alternatives. It has about 50 percent support now, versus 40 percent opposition, according to a RealClearPolitics polling average. District-level dynamics also tilt in favor of Democrats. The GOP has to defend 25 seats that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in 2016, while Democrats have to protect just 13 seats that Trump carried, per Sabato's Crystal Ball. In addition, retirements, resignations or the primary election defeat of an incumbent have made the environment more challenging for Republicans in swing districts. Sabato's Crystal Ball rates 14 GOP-held seats in which an incumbent is not running as either a toss-up or favoring Democrats. The same can be said for only three Democratic-held seats. Incumbents generally fare better in elections than newcomers. Add to the retirements the fact that Pennsylvania's Supreme Court threw out a GOP-drawn congressional map in favor of one friendlier to Democrats, and it puts plenty more seats in play. Fundraising generally a strong indicator of success in House races bodes well for Democrats, too. The party's candidates have amassed more cash in individual contributions than Republicans in 71 of 101 districts the nonpartisan Cook Political Report considers competitive, according to FiveThirtyEight's Nate Silver. Challengers typically struggle to raise more than current members of Congress, but Republican incumbents are running in about two-thirds of those districts, he adds. That helps Democrats not only because pro-Democratic outside groups have to spend less money, but also because pro-GOP independent organizations have to shell out more to keep up, said Inside Elections' Askarinam. "When Democratic candidates are able to carry their own in fundraising that means outside groups don't have to carry as much weight in bailing them out. They're able to target more places. The more places you target, the more places you're able to win," she said. Republicans have had their own fundraising triumphs this year. The Republican National Committee said this week that it raised $14.2 million in July, a record for a non-presidential election year. The party said it transferred $4 million each to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee in July. The organizations are dedicated to electing GOP candidates to the Senate and House, respectively. Outside groups such as the NRCC or Congressional Leadership Fund super PAC can swoop in to boost GOP candidates who face a fundraising disadvantage, as seen recently in Republican Troy Balderson's narrow victory in a special election for the red Ohio 12th District. Still, Askarinam notes that outside groups will have a difficult time bailing out GOP candidates in dozens of races across the country. What could go wrong for Democrats While every major nonpartisan forecaster believes Democrats are at least slight favorites to take a House majority, they all note that the party's control of the House is far from a sure thing. Republicans have one major factor going for them: a strong U.S. economy. In July, job growth continued at a steady pace, while the unemployment rate dipped slightly to 3.9 percent, around its lowest in 50 years. U.S. gross domestic product also grew by 4.1 percent in the second quarter. While a solid economy may not save Republicans, it will at least make this year's environment a little easier for them, Kondik and Askarinam said. "Right now, that's something Republicans can rely on. ... They may not be campaigning on that as their main issue, but it's not something they have to defend," Askarinam said. Still, Kondik said that "this election isn't about the economy right now, it's about the president." Trump's approval rating is poor, and the legal scrutiny he faces after his ex-personal lawyer Michael Cohen implicated him in a crime will do little to help. Trump has denied any wrongdoing. A new Ferrari can cost anywhere from $200,000 to over $300,000 and the car company's new limited edition book isn't cheap either. Available in October, and published by German publishing house Taschen, "Ferrari" is a limited edition, 514-page collector's Art Edition book that costs $30,000. Only 250 were made. 'Ferrari' limited edition book Taschen The red leather-bound and hand-stitched book is enclosed in an aluminum case inspired by the Testarossa red-head valve covering a Ferrari V-12 engine. Integrated into the case is a sculptural chrome stand resembling the exhaust pipes of a vintage Ferrari 12-cylinder race car, designed by Marc Newson, an industrial designer and vintage sports-car racer. Ferrari limited edition book Taschen The book is filled with vintage photographs and rare images and documents from Ferrari's history. Each one will be personally signed by Piero Lardi Ferrari, the company's vice chairman. For those who can't splurge on the $30,000 book, Taschen is releasing a limited run of 1,697 collector's editions for $6,000, which come without the stand. He was diagnosed with a virulent former of brain cancer in July 2017, a week after d McCain survived nearly six years as a POW in North Vietnam, succeeded Barry Goldwater in the Senate and lost a White House bid to Barack Obama. Sen. John McCain, who survived nearly six years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, succeeded Barry Goldwater to represent Arizona in the Senate, lost a White House bid to freshman Sen. Barack Obama and became an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, has died. He was 81. McCain died Saturday. His office released this statement: Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28pm on August 25, 2018. With the Senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family. At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for sixty years. Later, Cindy McCain took to Twitter to honor her husband. "My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years," she tweeted. "He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved best." Daughter Meghan McCain posted a tribute to her father on social media, as well. Meghan McCain tweet McCain was diagnosed in July 2017 with glioblastoma, a virulent brain cancer, a week after doctors removed a blood clot from above his left eye. He underwent surgery for an intestinal infection in April 2018. On Aug. 24, five days before his 82nd birthday, his family announced that "with his usual strength of will, he has now chosen to discontinue medical treatment. "Our family is immensely grateful for the support and kindness of all his caregivers over the last year, and for the continuing outpouring of concern and affection from John's many friends and associates, and the many thousands of people who are keeping him in their prayers," the family said. "God bless and thank you all." During his 3-decade congressional career, McCain was a conservative who rejected Republican orthodoxy, earning him the label "maverick." He backed campaign finance reform to limit corporate donations to candidates and was a leader in efforts to normalize relations with Vietnam. He voted against a bill to make Martin Luther King's birthday a federal holiday but backed legislation to support his Native American constituents, including the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which opened the way for tribal casino development. And he was a thorn in the side of fellow Republican Trump, who expressed his "deepest sympathies to McCain's family about his passing. Trump tweet: My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you! Ever the fighter, McCain had promised to return to Washington soon after the cancer diagnosis. McCain tweet His treatment forced him to miss the Senate vote on the GOP tax overhaul in December 2017. But nearly two weeks after surgery in July 2017, he marched into the Senate to a standing ovation and cast the deciding vote that killed the Senate GOP's "skinny" bill to repeal Obamacare at 1:29 a.m. He joined with Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine and 48 Democrats. "I thought it was the right thing to do," he said afterward. Tweet "From the beginning, I have believed that Obamacare should be repealed and replaced with a solution that increases competition, lowers costs, and improves care for the American people. The so-called 'skinny repeal' amendment the Senate voted on today would not accomplish those goals," McCain said in a statement. "We must do the hard work our citizens expect of us and deserve." Sen. John McCain makes his way to a meeting on the tax bill in the Senate, Dec. 1, 2017. Bill O'Leary | The Washington Post | Getty Images Sen. John McCain announces his opposition to the "skinny repeal" of Obamacare, July 27, 2017. Getty Images Two runs for the White House McCain's Senate tenure began in 1987, when he succeeded the retiring Goldwater, the GOP's 1964 presidential candidate. In McCain's 2008 run for the White House, he made a "Hail Mary" pick for a running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, in hopes that a woman on the ticket would energize his flagging campaign. Obama won by 53 to 46 percent. McCain had considered independent Sen. Joe Lieberman as his running mate. Aides advised against it because Lieberman, who was Al Gore's running mate in their failed 2000 race against George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, still caucused with the Democrats and supported abortion rights. "It was sound advice that I could reason for myself," McCain said in his memoir "The Restless Wave," published in May 2018. "But my gut told me to ignore it and I wish I had." Palin tweeted a tribute to McCain on Saturday night. "John McCain was my friend. I will remember the good times. My family and I send prayers for Cindy and the McCain family," the former vice presidential nominee wrote. McCain also ran in 2000, winning only Arizona and six other states in his bid for the GOP nomination that was won by Bush. Bush paid tribute to McCain on Saturday, not long after the senator's death was announced. "Some lives are so vivid, it is difficult to imagine them ended. Some voices are so vibrant, it is hard to think of them stilled. John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order," the former president said in a statement. "He was a public servant in the finest traditions of our country. And to me, he was a friend whom I'll deeply miss." A hawk on foreign policy, McCain became chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee after Republicans took control of the chamber in 2015. He made his first foray into politics in 1982 by winning the seat left vacant by the retirement of House Minority Leader John Rhodes. McCain served two terms before being elected to the Senate. In the late 1980s, he was one of the "Keating Five" senators accused of improperly intervening on behalf of Phoenix savings and loan executive Charles Keating in an investigation by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board. McCain, whose campaigns had received $112,000 in donations from the S&L executive, sat in on two meetings with the regulators in the Keating matter. After an extensive investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee, McCain was exonerated in 1991 but reprimanded for using "poor judgment." ''It was a searing experience for John,'' attorney John Dowd, who represented him during the ethics inquiry (and later served nine months as Trump's lawyer in the probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign), told The New York Times in 1999. ''He told me it was worse than being in Hanoi.'' The son and grandson of four-star admirals, John Sidney McCain III was born Aug. 29, 1936, at a Navy air station in the Panama Canal Zone. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1958, was commissioned as an ensign and became a Navy aviator. Surviving the 'Hanoi Hilton' McCain was an A-4 Skyhawk pilot stationed on the USS Forrestal when the aircraft carrier caught fire off Vietnam on July 29, 1967 its fifth day of combat duty killing 134 servicemen. During a bombing run over Hanoi five months later, he was shot down, parachuting into a lake. While ejecting from the plane flying at 575 mph, he was knocked unconscious, breaking a knee and both arms, according to his account published in U.S. News & World Report. After being dragged out of the lake by the North Vietnamese, he recalled, he survived a mob attack and was taken to the Hoa Lo Prison derisively dubbed the Hanoi Hilton. After being interrogated, beaten and bayoneted in a foot, he was denied medical care until his captors found out he was the son of an admiral. They took him to a hospital. After his plane was shot down, McCain is pulled out of a Hanoi lake by North Vietnamese soldiers and civilians in this October 1967 file photo. Reuters "I woke up a couple of times in the next three or four days," McCain wrote. "Plasma and blood were being put into me. I became fairly lucid. I was in a room which was not particularly small about 15 by 15 feet but it was filthy dirty and at a lower level, so that every time it rained, there'd be about a half inch to an inch of water on the floor. I was not washed once while I was in the hospital. I almost never saw a doctor or a nurse." He was held until 1973, including more than two years in solitary confinement. He estimated that at one point during his captivity, his weight had dropped to 105 pounds. "I thought a lot about the meaning of life," he said in his U.S. News recollection written in 1973. "As prisoners of war in North Vietnam, deprived of all liberty, we relied on three things: faith in God, faith in our country, and faith in each other," McCain wrote in the forward to the 2017 book "Six Years in the Hanoi Hilton" by Amy Shively Hawk, daughter of POW James Shively. "Reliance on those three ideologies forged within us a special unity and loyalty. Forty-two years later, those I love most and best in the world are men I spent time with in prison." He returned to Vietnam several times, first in 1985 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the end of the war, and in April 2000 to mark the 25th anniversary. Referring to the prison guards, he told The New York Times during that visit: ''I still bear them ill will, ... not because of what they did to me, but because of what they did to some of my friends including killing some of them.'' 'I have faced tougher adversaries' Before the July 28 vote against the Obamacare repeal, McCain's absence from Washington due to the brain surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix helped set back the Republicans' previous attempt to repeal and replace Obama's Affordable Care Act, given the GOP's tiny edge in the Senate. He also announced his opposition to a last-ditch third GOP attempt to repeal the act in September, saying "I believe we could do better working together, Republicans and Democrats and have not yet really tried. Nor could I support it without knowing how much it will cost, how it will affect insurance premiums, and how many people will be helped or hurt by it." That announcement prompted Trump to blame him for the GOP failure to repeal Obamacare. "You can call it what you want, but that's the only reason we don't have it, because of John McCain," Trump said in September 2017 on the "Rick and Bubba" radio show, which airs in the South. Receiving the Liberty Medal at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia the next month, McCain took issue with the nationalist and isolationist policies that Trump campaigned on to win the White House. Without mentioning Trump by name, McCain said: "To fear the world we have organized and led for three-quarters of a century, to abandon the ideals we have advanced around the globe, to refuse the obligations of international leadership and our duty to remain 'the last best hope of earth' for the sake of some half-baked, spurious nationalism cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems is as unpatriotic as an attachment to any other tired dogma of the past that Americans consigned to the ash heap of history." Trump responded in an interview with Washington's WMAL radio, saying: "I'm being very, very nice, but at some point I fight back and it won't be pretty." To which McCain replied: "I have faced tougher adversaries." People close to the senator informed the White House that McCain wanted Vice President Mike Pence, but not Trump, to attend his funeral. 'This guy, he served his country' Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) makes remarks after receiving the the 2017 Liberty Medal from former Vice President Joe Biden (not shown) at the National Constitution Center on October 16, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. America's warrior politician Sen. John McCain died Saturday after a year-long fight with brain cancer. McCain, 81, was a naval aviator, prisoner of war, conservative statesman, and presidential candidate. Tributes and condolences poured in the wake of McCain's passing from politicians, the U.S. military's top brass, and celebrities. "I was with my father at his end, as he was with me at my beginning," wrote McCain's daughter Meghan in an emotional statement. "In the thirty-three years we shared together, he raised me, taught me, corrected me, comforted me, encouraged me, and supported me in all things. He loved me, and I loved him. He taught me how to live. His love and his care, ever present, always unfailing, took me from a girl to a woman and he showed me what it is to be a man." Meghan McCain Tweet McCain's wife, Cindy, paid tribute to her late husband by writing on Twitter, "I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the place he loved best." Cindy McCain Tweet President Donald Trump, former presidents Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter remembered the late 2008 Republican presidential nominee. Trump Tweet "Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did," President Obama wrote in a statement. "But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At John's best, he showed up what that means. And for that, we are all in his debt." Obama Tweet President Bill Clinton wrote in a statement that he would always be grateful for McCain's efforts to "put partisanship aside to do what he thought was best for the country." "John McCain believed that every citizen has a responsibility to make something of the freedoms given by our Constitution, and from his heroic service in the Navy to his 35 years in Congress, he lived by his creed every day." Bill Clinton Tweet Former Vice President Joe Biden, whose son Beau Biden died of the same brain cancer McCain was diagnosed with, offered his condolences to the late senator's family. "John McCain's life is proof that some truths are timeless. Character. Courage. Integrity. Honor. A life embodying those truths casts a long, long shadow. John McCain will cast a long shadow." "His impact on America hasn't ended. Not even close. It will go on for many years to come." Biden Tweet "Today we lost an American original. Sen. John McCain was a maverick and a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs. John never took the easy path in life - and through sacrifice and suffering he inspired others to serve something greater than self." "We have lost a man who steadfastly represented the best ideals of our country. As a Naval Officer and defiant prisoner of war, John McCain stood with his brothers-in-arms until they returned home together," Defense secretary James Mattis wrote in a statement. " "His was a life well lived, one whose actions epitomized the motto of his alma mater, the U.S. Naval Academy: non sibi, sed patriae'not for self, but for country.' On behalf of all of the men and women of the Department of Defense, we will remain forever grateful for the life, the passion, and the example of Senator John McCain. Our sympathy and kindest wishes are with Cindy and his family." Former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin, who was McCain's vice presidential nominee, called him an "American original" and a friend. Palin Tweet Gen. Joseph Dunford, the nation's highest ranking military official, described McCain as a lifelong and tireless advocate of the U.S. military. "He traveled the world to meet personally with Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, to hear what they had to say, and to see firsthand our military in action on the front lines. Senator McCain recognized the sacrifice and hardships military members and their families can experience and proudly served as their champion in Congress." "While we mourn Senator McCain's passing, we are eternally grateful for his distinguished service to our nation, his advocacy of the U.S. military, and the incredible example he set for us all," Dunford wrote. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley called McCain a "true hero" and added "There will never be another John McCain. May he rest in peace." Haley Tweet Heartfelt reactions from other political heavyweights poured in as well: Ryan Tweet Warren Tweet Schiff Tweet Sanders Tweet Pelosi Tweet Joe Kennedy Tweet Schumer Tweet 1 Schumer Tweet 2 Tributes also came in from around the globe. U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May said McCain was a "great statesman, who embodied the idea of service over self." "It was an honor to call him a friend of the UK. My deepest sympathies go to his family, and the American people," she said on Twitter. French President Emmanuel Macron called him a "true American hero." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said McCain's support for the Jewish state "never wavered." President Donald Trump made the statement that the United States is withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord, in the Rose Garden of the White House, June 1, 2017. President Donald Trump tweeted his condolences to the family of Sen. John McCain, who died Saturday at age 81, after years of bad blood between the two Republicans. "My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!" the president tweeted. TRUMP TWEET Trump's tweet came after more than a day of silence from him and the White House following the McCain family's revelation that the maverick Republican senator had decided to cease medical treatment as he fought brain cancer. Trump has frequently criticized McCain since he first launched his presidential campaign in 2015, and kept up the abuse even as McCain battled cancer. The pair butted heads more often than the president did with other members of his party. McCain habitually spoke out when he thought the president violated American democratic or national security norms. Some of Trump's most explosive remarks in his campaign came early on in July 2015, when he mocked the senator's time as a tortured prisoner of war in Vietnam. "He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured," Trump said of McCain, prompting widespread backlash. The president's public jabs at his fellow Republican only became more frequent after McCain who had just returned to Washington following his brain cancer diagnosis turned his thumb down on the Senate floor last year to help sink his party's effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act. In numerous public appearances since, Trump has criticized McCain for his vote, often without naming him. "Except for one senator, who came into a room at 3 o'clock in the morning and went like that, we would have had health care too, we would have had health care too, think of that," Trump said in February while mimicking McCain's thumbs down gesture. Even as McCain was out of Washington receiving treatment this year, his office kept pressure on Trump. For instance, when the president suggested Russia should rejoin the G7 group of world powers, the senator rebutted him in a June statement. As he often did during Trump's presidency, McCain contended that the president's actions could harm U.S. allies and undercut America's standing in the world. "The President has inexplicably shown our adversaries the deference and esteem that should be reserved for our closest allies," McCain said. "Those nations that share our values and have sacrificed alongside us for decades are being treated with contempt. This is the antithesis of so-called 'principled realism' and a sure path to diminishing America's leadership in the world." He can no longer practice medicine, so he's focusing on creative pursuits like writing and art while continuing his physical therapy. What's causing him the most pain these days isn't his injury. It's the constant phone calls from debt collectors to harangue him about medical bills. But there's a dark side to the system, which Wetschler reminded me of when we met for lunch last week. That's where the story should end. A doctor makes a miraculous recovery, proving that spinal cord injuries are not permanent and irreversible. Modern medicine is truly amazing. While in the ambulance on route to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, Wetschler was given CPR to keep him alive. On his arrival, it became clear that he had a severe spinal cord injury that could leave him permanently unable to move his arms and legs. But neurosurgeons performed an operation that involved fusing metal rods to his vertebrae, while at the same time sending blood flow to his spinal cord. His recovery over the subsequent months astounded his care team, as Wetschler threw himself into physical and occupational therapy for hours every day to relearn how to walk. In November 2017 while surfing in San Francisco near his home in Ocean Beach, he hit his head hard on a shallow sand bar and broke his neck. He was later told that his heart had stopped for about 10 minutes. But in a stroke of luck, a fellow surfer who is also a nurse found him and rushed him to the emergency room. Before the accident, Wetschler bought insurance through a start-up plan called Oscar Health through the state exchange Covered California. Insurance is supposed to step in during emergencies when bills can pile up. Isn't that why we pay for it? But during his recovery, Wetschler learned that many of the bills he incurred would be denied or only partially covered by insurance because Zuckerberg General, San Francisco's leading trauma center, was out of his insurance network. Another rehab center, which he had pre-approval for, also turned out to be out of network. So when he was unconscious, Wetschler was somehow responsible for making sure the ambulance took him to an in-network facility. And once there, also still unconscious, he was supposed to make sure that the pathologists and anesthesiologists and the entire team that helped him recover were also in network. It makes no sense. Wetschler says he said he called his insurer repeatedly to explain that his care was emergent and that his in-patient rehabilitation for his spine surgery was pre-approved. In his own words, Each facility billed me and then was only partially covered for being out-of-network. I would call, remind Oscar of pre-approval or emergent care, Oscar would be given numbers to contact the facilities to independently confirm and assure me things would be cleared up. A month later, the same bills would arrive, but now overdue. It was only after innumerable phone calls, frequent follow ups, and, at times insisting on having an Oscar representative and a hospital representative talk on conference call with me listening that things moved forward one call lasted almost 30 minutes as the two representatives tried to reconcile their different methods of organizing billing data. During all of this I endured a tone of polite and sometimes not so polite pejorative dismissal (Oscar was quite polite for the most part, the hospital representatives less so), suggesting that it was my misunderstanding that was the source of the problem. Now a second wave of bills have come through, this time from the physician groups that staffed the ICU, radiology services, and surgical services at the hospital. They bill separately from the hospital and have been, again, seen as out of network. The merry-go-round of calls, reassurance and inaction have resumed. By this time it has been over 8 months since my hospitalization and it still hasn't been resolved! The remainder is $27,000, a fraction of the $450,000+ bill but still a devastating amount to the individual. While I don't see Oscar as some nefarious villain trying to deny coverage overtly, it is a violence through inaction. I do believe Oscar will eventually cover the amount but why has it taken 8 months to the point of these insane bills being sent to debt collectors? Wetschler has been left with almost $30,000 in debt after this experience, a crippling amount. And if he doesn't pay it, he risks ruining his credit. "I'm a doctor with a masters degree in health policy, and this happened to me," he said in an interview with CNBC. "What is it like for everyone else?" Good question. So I turned to Larry Levitt from the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit focused on health policy research, to understand how insured people can be left with so much personal liability. "The idea that you're supposed to figure out what out of network providers might treat you when you're in an emergency is insane," said Levitt. "But it happens." Balance billing, which involves passing on remaining bills to the patient, is technically prohibited in California during an emergency situation, Levitt says. "After that all bets are off," he said. There's some grey area about what counts as as "emergency": For instance, if Wetschler were conscious before the spine surgery, the insurer could argue that he should have been transferred to an in-network hospital at that point. In some states, there are far fewer protections. If there's some discrepancy over payment between the insurer and the hospital, there's often a negotiation process. The way balance billing works is that the provider sometimes goes to the patient for the additional amount. That often results in the bill getting sent over to a debt collection agency. And bear in mind, the costs of procedures and services are often sky-high, because the lack of transparency in health care means that there are no market forces setting price. So a single x-ray could cost thousands of dollars. "The market doesn't function in these situations," said Levitt. "The patient is just captive." So what can patients do? Well, Levitt suggests that some consumers have success pushing back on the health care providers, which are often willing to settle for less. But it's hard to get them to back down entirely. Ultimately, he said, "it's a mess." A former top Vatican official has accused Pope Francis of having known of allegations of sex abuse by a prominent U.S. cardinal for years and called on him to resign, in an unprecedented broadside against the pope by a Church insider. In a detailed 11-page bombshell statement given to conservative Roman Catholic media outlets during the Pope's visit to Ireland, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano accused a long list of current and past Vatican and U.S. Church officials of covering up the case of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who resigned last month in disgrace. In remarkably blunt language, Vigano said alleged cover-ups in the Church were making it look like "a conspiracy of silence not so dissimilar from the one that prevails in the mafia". "Pope Francis has repeatedly asked for total transparency in the Church," wrote Vigano, who has criticized the pope before. "In this extremely dramatic moment for the universal Church, he must acknowledge his mistakes and, in keeping with the proclaimed principle of zero tolerance, Pope Francis must be the first to set a good example for cardinals and bishops who covered up McCarrick's abuses and resign along with all of them," he said. Vatican officials declined immediate comment on Sunday on the statement, which was published by the National Catholic Register and several other conservative media outlets in the United States and Italy. Vigano said he had told Francis in June 2013, just after he was elected pope by his fellow cardinals, about the accusations against McCarrick. Vigano, the papal envoy in Washington from 2011 to 2016, also said he had informed top Vatican officials as early as 2006 that McCarrick was suspected of abusing adult seminarians while he was a bishop in two New Jersey dioceses between 1981 and 2001. He said he never received a response to his 2006 memo. He also accused McCarrick's successor as archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, of having been aware of the abuse allegations. Wuerl has said he did not know of them. The statement was the latest blow to the credibility of the U.S. Church. Nearly two weeks ago, a grand jury in Pennsylvania released the findings of the largest-ever investigation of sex abuse in the U.S. Catholic Church, finding that 301 priests in the state had sexually abused minors over the past 70 years. "Tesla investors must realize that they have a panicky, erratic, possibly self-destructive C.E.O. at the helm," said Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a professor at the Yale School of Management. "No C.E.O. is ever this confused and confusing." And even with the decision to stand pat, Mr. Musk and the company could remain in the sights of the Securities and Exchange Commission over the circumstances of the original announcement. For his part, Mr. Musk has come under new scrutiny as his impulsiveness has played out in real time in the stock market, with billions of dollars on the line. Those were issues both symbolic and substantive for Tesla, which has staked its future on making electric vehicles the transportation of choice a vision that has made it the nation's most highly valued car company. Even with its shares worth $55 billion, it faces concerns common to many young companies, including its vulnerability to the whims of public shareholders. Among his concerns were ceding too much control to private investors including conventional car companies and Saudi Arabia, a symbol of big oil and shutting out smaller investors who might be unable to retain a stake. In that time, according to five people close to the events, Mr. Musk came to realize that his thinking had been overly simplistic. While going private might have removed some problems, it would have introduced new ones. The startling reversal announced late Friday in a blog post , a day after he discussed it with directors capped a tumultuous series of moves that drew in Wall Street's biggest investment banks, prompted an investigation by regulators and raised fresh questions about Mr. Musk's leadership. When Elon Musk declared this month that he wanted to take Tesla private, his board was caught off guard. Barely three weeks later, the chief executive told the board he had changed his mind. Tesla would be staying public, after all. For years, Mr. Musk had romanticized the idea of Tesla going private. Doing so, he has mused publicly, would free him from the short-term pressures of the public markets, unburden him of the distractions of a volatile stock price and, more recently, get rid of the short sellers betting that Tesla would fail. Instead, Mr. Musk believed he could focus on Tesla's work of popularizing electric vehicles and reducing the world's dependence on fossil fuels. But from the moment of his nine-word Twitter posting announcing his thoughts on Aug. 7 and saying that he had "funding secured," other considerations came into play. In his note announcing that Tesla would remain public, Mr. Musk cited four main factors that changed his mind: existing shareholders believe Tesla is better off as a public company; not all existing investors would be able to own shares of a private company; it wasn't clear how individual investors would take part in a deal; and the process could distract the company from production of its first mass-market offering, the Model 3, which is crucial to its financial health. By the account of people familiar with Mr. Musk's thinking, deepening ties with new private investors presented its own challenges. By taking money from Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund something Mr. Musk said he believed was a sure thing Tesla would have been teaming up with a country whose very foundation is fossil fuels, and one often criticized on human-rights grounds. That cognitive dissonance an electric-car company backed by big oil was pointed out to Mr. Musk several times, these people said. As Tesla representatives reached out to officials at the Saudi fund and other sovereign funds, it also became clear that they might want more than just Tesla equity in exchange for an investment. Some, said someone briefed on those talks, would expect Tesla to open manufacturing operations in their countries, for example. And while several big carmakers approached Tesla about funding a deal, people familiar with the discussions said, there were issues there, too. Some of those companies have their own reputational baggage. And Mr. Musk, proud that Tesla's cars are made in America, did not want to let foreign interests dictate his decisions about manufacturing. At the same time, it became clear that not all of Tesla's big institutional shareholders would have been able to take part in a buyout. Many big investors hold Tesla stock in funds that can only own publicly traded stocks. "On the whole, some of our clients will find it very difficult to follow," James Anderson, a partner at Baillie Gifford, which is Tesla's largest shareholder after Mr. Musk, said in an interview before Mr. Musk called off a deal. "We've had this conversation with Mr. Musk himself. He understands that there is an issue here." The same was probably true for other institutional investors in Tesla, including T. Rowe Price, BlackRock and Fidelity. And Mr. Musk heard from many individual investors who wanted Tesla to stay public. On Thursday, a small Tesla investor released a public letter imploring Mr. Musk to keep Tesla public. Those pleas were notable because many individual investors are not able to invest in private companies for regulatory reasons. On Thursday morning, Elon Musk and Tesla's board gathered for a meeting on the factory floor of the company's manufacturing plant in Fremont, Calif., people with knowledge of the events said. They were joined by representatives from the investment bank Goldman Sachs and the private equity firm Silver Lake, which were advising on a deal. After a Silver Lake representative made a presentation expressing confidence in their ability to manage the process of taking Tesla private a transaction that could have required $24 billion or more the Wall Street representatives left the room, and the floor was given to Mr. Musk. But instead of telling his board just how far he'd come in securing new investors for a potential deal, Mr. Musk backtracked: He no longer believed going private was in the best interest of the company, and he would not be bringing forward a proposal to buy out the company. Doing so would be too distracting, big institutional investors could not all take part and there was no easy path for retail shareholders to be involved, he told the board. The directors some of whom have expressed concern about Mr. Musk's use of Twitter and erratic behavior were supportive. A trader speaks with a stock market official beneath the electronic board at the Tehran Stock Exchange, Sept. 15, 2010. The Iranian parliament voted on Sunday to remove the minister of economic affairs and finance, Masoud Karbasian, from office, state media said, amid a sharp fall in the rial currency and a deterioration in the economic situation. The move was the latest in a continuing shakeup of top economic personnel as the United States reimposes economic sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program and other issues. In early August Iranian lawmakers voted out the minister of labor and last month President Hassan Rouhani replaced the head of the central bank. A total of 137 members of parliament voted for Karbasian's removal, state media said, while 121 members voted in favor of him remaining in office. Protests linked to the tough economic situation in the country began last December, spreading to more than 80 cities and towns and resulting in 25 deaths. Sporadic protests, led by truck drivers, farmers and merchants in Tehrans bazaar, have continued regularly since then and have occasionally resulted in violent confrontations with security forces. As workers' lives change so do their work perks. That's why one marketing firm in Minnesota has started offering "furternity" leave for all new pet moms and dads. The policy is part of a growing trend in pet friendly workplace policies and a way to offer workers flexibility they might not have otherwise. At Minneapolis marketing firm Nina Hale, furternity leave allows new pet owners to work remotely for a week after adopting a pet. The policy gives pet parents the opportunity to bond with their furry friends as they acclimate to new surroundings. Nina Hale's pet-friendly policy was inspired in part by senior account manager Connor McCarthy, 26. He and his girlfriend were in the process of adopting a Goldendoodle earlier this year, however, his partner's job was not suitable for remote work. Knowing that switching homes "can be a stressful situation" for a dog, he told the New York Times, McCarthy sought permission to work from home for one week. His request was approved and in July, was officially included in an overhaul of employee benefits. "It's all about giving employees that flexibility," says Allison McMenimen, executive vice president at the firm. "Even if people aren't leveraging these new perks, they appreciate that the company is willing to accommodate their lives." Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber and Christoph Keese, CEO Axel Springer ecosystem present the new City Bike Sharing service of UBER called Jump at the 2018 NOAH conference on June 6, 2018 in Berlin, Germany. Uber is planning a shift in emphasis from cars to electric bicycles and scooters for shorter journeys as part of its long-term strategy, according to the ride-hailing app's chief executive. Dara Khosrowshahi said more individual modes of transport were better suited to inner-city travel, despite snatching revenues away from Uber's drivers. He admitted that in the short term the move would mean a further financial hit for a company that had losses of $4.5 billion last year. Ahead of Uber's highly anticipated flotation, Mr Khosrowshahi said investors had to be aware that short-term losses were necessary to achieve longer-term goals and part of that was a focus away from cars in inner cities. "During rush hour, it is very inefficient for a one-tonne hulk of metal to take one person 10 blocks," he told the Financial Times in an interview. "We're able to shape behaviour in a way that's a win for the user. It's a win for the city. Short-term financially, maybe it's not a win for us, but strategically long term we think that is exactly where we want to head." Uber first added e-bikes to its app in February, and acquired the bike-sharing company Jump for about $200m in April. Jump bikes are available in eight US cities, including New York, Washington and Denver, and are soon launching in Berlin. More from the Financial Times: How Adam Smith predicted the power of Big Tech Digiceuticals and the potential for healthcare disruption Uber's new finance chief is ready for the spotlight Mr Khosrowshahi, who joined Uber a year ago, has also struck deals with Lime, an electric scooter company, and Masabi, a London-based app that provides mobile ticketing for public transport, with the aim of building what he calls an "urban mobility platform". Besides transport, Uber has diversified into other business areas from food delivery to freight brokerage. He said no single product would serve the $6 trillion global mobility market and that the "ultimate competition" for Uber was car ownership, which it would try to disrupt in any way possible. He admitted that Uber makes less money from a bike ride than from the same journey in a car, but said he expected that impact to be offset if customers used the app for more journeys more regularly, an effect the company has already seen with cyclists in San Francisco. "We are willing to trade off short-term per-unit economics for long-term higher engagement," he said. "I've found in my career that engagement over the long term wins wars and sometimes it's worth it to lose battles in order to win wars." Mr Khosrowshahi acknowledged that Uber drivers would feel the pinch from potential passengers opting for bikes, but said over the longer term, drivers would benefit from a higher proportion of more lucrative longer rides and less congested roads. "When I've spoken to our driver partners about it, the first impression was, why are you bringing in a bike to compete against me?" he said. "The second impression after the conversation is, oh, I get a longer ride where I can make more money? Sign me up." Raab casts doubt on Treasury Brexit forecasts No 10 has ordered cabinet ministers to clear their diaries for September 13 to work on a plan to pump fresh cash into critical areas not yet covered by disaster plans. The instruction was sent on Friday morning after Philip Hammond reignited the cabinets Brexit civil war by warning that Britain would be 80bn worse off if the UK crashed out without a deal. The row escalated last night as Dominic Raab, the Brexit secretary, questioned the Treasurys estimates. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Raab dismissed warnings of economic disaster, declaring: Im always chary of any forecast because most of them have been proved to be wrong. Raab did not criticise Hammond personally, but said: We need to treat some of the forecasts with a measure of caution, before pointing out that estimates of UK GDP next year have been revised up. Sunday Times >Today: Simon Clarke on Comment: Lets make Brexit bold, inspiring and green not timid and apologetic Survey of Tory associations finds membership rising in more than half More than half of grassroots Tory parties have been flooded with new members many to oppose Theresa Mays plans for Brexit according to a survey of constituency bosses by The Sunday Times. A clear majority of seats held by cabinet ministers have seen an influx of Eurosceptic members, with the biggest rises in areas represented by remain supporters or those backing the prime ministers Chequers plan, which hard-liners believe is a sell-out to Brussels. This newspaper approached 275 constituency parties. Of the 75 that responded, 42 said they had seen recent increases in membership, with many noting a change since the Chequers agreement, in which May secured cabinet support for a plan that meant Britain would continue to accept EU rules on goods. Membership had been in decline, roughly halving since 2002. Sunday Times >Yesterday: Suzy Davies on Comment: The Welsh Conservatives need to make much better use to our members Hitchens: A prison crisis is almost upon us, and we have no-one to blame but ourselves Loss of managers blamed for problems The Observer Number of bobbies on the beat falls by a third in three years Sunday Times West End landlords consider funding a private police force Sunday Times Another fatal stabbing in London The Observer Downing Street housing adviser backs forcing landowners to give huge discounts on their property Thousands of people who would have been doing proper porridge in 1961 roam free, frightening you and me, and not fearing authority. And because they dont fear authority, nobody else does either, and the number of criminals grows far faster than we can build new jails. In 1961, criminals were quite likely to end up in jail for a second offence, a fact which frightened many away from crime. Now, most criminals (except homicides, and a few other very violent offenders) do not even meet authority until they have committed dozens of unrecorded, undetected crimes in areas where the police rarely bother to go. Even when they are detected, it can take years of empty cautions, unpaid fines, laughable community punishments, and suspended sentences that are never activated, before they are actually locked up. By the time they get to prison, they have such total contempt for authority that the safest thing to do is to leave them alone, and turn a blind eye to their use of drugs, and let them out as fast as possible. So this is what we do. Peter Hitchens, Mail on Sunday Toby Lloyd, who was hired by Mrs May in April, called for an overhaul of compulsory purchase laws months before his appointment to Downing Street. Writing on the website of Shelter, Mr Lloyd, then head of policy at the housing and homelessness charity, said the government should be able to buy up land at its true market value, rather than current rates, which generally include a speculative uplift based on planning permission the site could gain for future development. The current value of land is inflated because its value is dictated by the wildest dreams of the landowner and enforced through legal processes We need to reset the price of land to its true market value, he wrote in November. That means reforming the compulsory purchase laws which ultimately determine the market price of land. Sunday Telegraph Hancock wants to replace archaic paper prescriptions Join me in volunteering to help the NHS Tom Hughes-Hallett, Sunday Times Little platoons can save the overmighty health service Sunday Times Leader GPs are being paid for millions of patients who have died or moved away Mail on Sunday Novichok victim is back in intensive care Mail on Sunday Javid warns Interpol of abuse of its rules by hostile states A fresh attempt to consign NHS paper prescriptions to history was launched last night amid claims that the notoriously bad writing of doctors can cost lives. Health Secretary Matt Hancock wants to phase out archaic handwritten scripts in favour of digital versions, and claims that the move could save the NHS 300 million by 2021. But there are also suggestions that the switch will save lives because going digital will halve the number of errors. About one in 12 prescriptions is thought to contain a mistake and the World Health Organisation has said that such errors are a leading cause of death during treatment. Mr Hancock said that more and more GP surgeries had switched to electronic prescribing, with over 60 per cent of prescriptions now done digitally compared to one per cent in 2010. Mail on Sunday Sajid Javid has urged Interpol to prevent the abuse of its network by states targeting dissidents, following the arrest a prominent British critic of Vladimir Putin at the behest of Moscow. The Home Secretary intervened after Bill Browder, a campaigner against Russian human rights abuses, was arrested by Spanish police in response to a Russian order distributed using the policing bodys databases. The Sunday Telegraph has learned that Mr Javids officials raised formal concerns with the body earlier this summer after Mr Browders detention in Madrid while preparing to give evidence about corrupt money flowing into the country. His intervention follows similar concerns raised publicly by Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, last year after Turkey used an Interpol arrest warrant to detain a German writer in Spain. Sunday Telegraph Dutch-registered ship accused of plundering British Jutland war graves Mail on Sunday German politician proposes national service for refugees Mail on Sunday The Tebbit test isnt relevant now, says Tebbit The Indian Express Corbyn is subject to an official complaint over anti-semitism scandal Cable plans to retire and might change rules to allow his successor to be a non-MP The Labour Against Anti-Semitism group has lodged an official complaint against Jeremy Corbyn after footage of him emerged saying British Zionists do not understand English irony. Speaking in 2013 at a London conference promoted by Hamass propaganda website, the now Labour leader said British Zionists did not want to study history or understand irony despite having lived in this country all their lives, MailOnline exclusively revealed last week. It has triggered a formal complaint from the anti-Semitism campaign group, that claims the video clip is anti-Semitic and brings the party into disreputeThe complaint comes as the blogger Mr Corbyn claimed didnt understand British irony, Richard Millett, told MailOnline he knew him at the time and was aware he was Jewish. Mail on Sunday Sir Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat leader, will signal next month that he plans to stand down before the next general election clearing the way for a successor who is not an MP. The veteran politician, 75, will announce on September 7 that he wants to change party rules in an attempt to create a mass membership movement and allow a non-MP to take charge. Cable will say that if there is a snap general election in 2019 as a result of Brexit he will fight it as leader but senior party sources say he will resign before the next scheduled vote in June 2022. The Sunday Times has seen messages between two senior Lib Dems about how Cable intends to retire, with one predicting that he will be gone by spring. Sunday Times The Lib Dems twin problems of relevance and credibility are not going away Sunday Times Leader Rising star of the Green Party used her father as agent even while he was facing child abuse charges Sunday Times Salmond threatens to take Scottish government to court as harassment allegation details leak Sunday Times McCain dies From tortured PoW to courageous maverick Senator Sunday Telegraph Tributes from friends and foes The Observer Trump is Americas third great crisis, Brennan argues Mail on Sunday His base still lap up his message Niall Ferguson, Sunday Times U.S. Senator John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam who ran unsuccessfully for president as a self-styled maverick Republican in 2008 and became a prominent critic of President Donald Trump, died on Saturday, his office said. He was 81His family had announced on Friday that McCain was discontinuing further cancer treatment. A statement from his office on Saturday said: Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28 p.m. on August 25, 2018. With the senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family. At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for sixty yearsMy heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years, Cindy McCain wrote. Mail on Sunday >Today: ToryDiary: John McCain, hero of the free world Simon Clarke is the Conservative MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland. My constituents do not want a timid, pale, apologetic Brexit. Leaving the European Union would be a lost opportunity if we quietly recreate a domestic version of the status quo. As we update our statute book, we need to be mature enough to recognise the things the EU does well, but bold enough to take transformative action where we can do better. There is no clearer example than environmental policy. Think of the Common Agricultural Policy: is there a more frustrating example of environmental stagnation? Weve been locked for too long in a policy where payments are so perverse and the bureaucratic requirements so byzantine that wildlife, water and soils have suffered while farmers are paid a pittance for the environmental benefits they deliver. The potential for a new system that rewards real investment in sustainable farming is revolutionary. But we mustnt limit our ambition to the obvious areas. These months of change have electrifying potential for renewal and reform and thats a precious commodity. We must be bold and seize the chance for improvement across the board. Thats why I am calling for a new Environment Act to restore nature, reinvigorate our green economy, and inspire the world with our environmental conviction. Michael Gove recently appeared before the Environmental Audit Committee and set out his plans for a new watchdog and a green principles policy. The heart of his proposal is to replace important functions that the EU has done quite well: standing up for environmental justice and weaving ideas like the polluter pays principle through every policy area. Of course, we could simply replicate those functions when we leave the EU. Listen closely, though, and you may have heard encouraging hints about a greener future. This autumn, the Government will publish a draft Environmental Governance and Principles Bill that could match the EU on strong, green justice, but improve on the speed of proceedings and achieve greater clarity on how the principles of environmental law should be applied. This kind of clarity would give businesses confidence to invest in new technologies and greener plans, secure in the knowledge that green principles would be applied routinely and robustly. As a member of the Treasury Select Committee, Im hugely excited by the idea of taxes that take account of environmental externalities much more systematically than the EU has achieved, so the market really rewards sustainable choices. But if were truly ambitious, we will go further still. We need an Environment Bill with powerful provisions that can stimulate environmental investment, accountability and ambition across Government, economy and society the kind of focused reform that we have not imagined as a member of the EU. Most importantly, we need to set the governments landmark ambition to improve our environment in law. We already have a strong 25-year environment plan, but its power to drive change would be multiplied many times by the certainty provided by statute. You need only look to those sectors of the economy where green investment is thriving to spot the economic results of legal clarity. UK low carbon industries are worth billions of pounds a year, defying every economic hiccup with strong growth, thanks to the direction weve given in our carbon budgets. Meanwhile, our water companies are our biggest private investors in catchment management, thanks to the clarity of our objectives for good water quality. We can inspire investment in wildlife, water quality, air and environmental land management in the same way. By legislating to ensure a better environment and reporting openly on progress, we can create an appetite for investment in environmental land management, in natural flood mitigation, and in carbon sequestration. We can allocate responsibility and rewards more fairly, so that business practices that promote waste and pollution are penalised, but those who dare to lead and innovate in ecotech and efficiency are rewarded. In combination with new, simpler and more locally targeted systems for choosing the most beneficial projects, we can improve value for money so that every pound delivers the biggest benefits for our environment. I dont need to list the economic, social and individual benefits that a better environment would bring with awareness of water shortages, air quality issues, plastics pollution and pressures on land use so high in the public imagination. But perhaps it is worth finishing with a thought about Green Global Britain. In 2020, world leaders will meet in China to agree a new global deal on environmental protection. When the UK delegation arrives in Beijing, I hope we take to the table a copy of a world-leading Environment Act that will demonstrate our domestic commitment and act as a blueprint for an ambitious multilateral deal. I dont want a timid, pale, apologetic Brexit. I want a change thats bold, inspiring and green. Consider two scenarios. An America without John McCain ever having lived, and an America in which John McCain was elected to higher office than the Senate. The former would have made for a poorer nation, stripped of the gallantry, honour and principle which he exhibited in its service, and by extension the special relationship would have been weaker without a steadfast advocate of close alliance in the defence of freedom. The latter would arguably have made for a stronger and better respected America, as a lynchpin of the free world. In 2000, his party passed up the opportunity to present him to their country as a potential president, and in so doing set the circumstances which made for his rejection for the role eight years later. Counter-factuals can never be certain, and his hypothetical presidency would not have changed everything McCain was, of course, a prominent advocate of the Iraq War but it isnt hard to see the ways, as a strong advocate for defence but also a champion of civil liberties, in which he would have been well-suited to steering his country through the darkness of 9/11. It was not to be. And yet he continued to serve the United States and the values he believed it was made to champion until his dying day. Recently doing so necessitated pitching himself against a President of his own party. From their temperaments to their attitudes to the thug in the Kremlin, it would be hard to imagine a more drastic contrast between two individuals. Donald Trumps decision to mock McCains capture, and by extension his ensuing torture, in Vietnam characterised the gulf between them, and illustrates to some extent what has passed away and what now takes its place. That there are so few candidates to step up and take on his role is a reminder of the sorry, cowed state of freedom-loving Republicanism in America. No-one is perfect, and no-one should pretend that anybody is so. Certainly the man himself was up-front about his mistakes. He asked two things for his legacy, and it seems to me that he more than earned the right to both of them: he served his country, honourably. And in so doing, he also served the free world. We are analyzing the site. Please wait a few seconds.. One Ocean Expeditions Akademik Ioffe that ran aground in Kugaaruk, Nunavut, on Friday, has reportedly been refloated, according to Canadian sources. All the passengers have been moved to the sister ship, the Akademik Sergey Vavilov. There were a total of 162 people aboard the grounded ship, including passengers. scientists and crew. While the Akademik Ioffe was said to be taking on water, the hull damage was limited, according to a company statement. There was no further information available as to what caused the grounding. The Canadian Coast Guard transferred people from one ship to the other, with the second ship now reportedly carrying more passengers than its safety equipment can accommodate. No further information was available as to what happens next for the Akademik Ioffe or where the Akademik Sergey Vavilov will disembark her passengers or how the incident affects future sailings. As fast-food restaurant chains take steps toward the future of customer service, workers are concerned whether that will include them. Chain brands like Subway and McDonalds, have been rolling out plans to transform thousands of restaurant locations nationwide, boasting new designs and layouts of stores. The marquee upgrades, however, are the addition of self-serve kiosks and, in McDonalds case, a new delivery option in collaboration with Uber Eats. Customer expectations are constantly evolving, and we need to evolve with them, said Angele Busch, McDonalds brand reputation manager, U.S. Communications. The recently announced plans project an investment of roughly $84 million to modernize 90 Connecticut restaurant locations over the next couple years, which is part of a two-year, $6 billion effort to improve most U.S. locations. That digital evolution has people worried that it may come at the expense of jobs, an outcome Busch and McDonalds execs have said would not happen. As restaurants step further into the digital age, Busch said staff members will place a higher emphasis on hospitality by focusing on table service, greeting guests, and assisting with technological additions. The newly created Guest Experience Leader role will be one such position. By bringing restaurant employees out from behind the counter, their personalities come through; they truly enjoy being able to engage with our guests with table service and create feel-good moments like helping parents to their tables, delivering their meals or getting essentials to make their dining experience better. Workers replaced Though the fast-food pioneer has maintained that the latest additions to locations are focused on improving customer experiences, experts on the labor side suggest that the new upgrades may have a different purpose altogether. I think the kiosks are designed to replace workers, said Lindsay Farrell, director of the of the Connecticut Working Families Party in Connecticut, a political organization that advocates for workers and wages. Though upfront cost of kiosks may be more, she said over time they would cost less than the labor, which is one of the costliest operating expenses for any brand. Companies pursuit of increased productivity and sales over the years have been dealing blows to the workforce for years, Farrell said, particularly as the state of minimum wage remains a topic of tension. Wages just have not kept up with productivity, Farrell added. The minimum wage would be somewhere over 20 dollars if it had kept up with productivity since the 1960sThis is not a new trend and weve seen (repeatedly) that large profitable organizations like McDonalds or big box stores and franchises will do anything to save a few pennies here and there and improve their profit margin. Addressing challenges With upgrades in the works, McDonalds has set out to improve production and efficiency and ultimately boost sales and revenue, which decreased by 12 percent last quarter. While opting to integrating more technological components to quick service restaurants, or QSRs, may bode well for their bottom line, that may not be the case on the labor side of things, experts said. One of the bigger challenges the restaurant industry is facing centers around expenses and minimum wage, according to Scott Dolch, director of the Connecticut Restaurant Association. Its a challenge when you look at restaurants, he said. All restaurants really work off of a three, or four, or five percent profit margin and labor costs are one of the biggest costsif not the biggest coststhat a restaurant has. That doesnt just affect fast food, but the entire industry that has been increasing in Connecticut in recent years. As QSR brands look to outdo competitors and match consumer demand, Dolch said that will open the door to continued technological integration. For chains that have embraced automation, the addition of kiosks, and ordering apps increases efficiency and speed, cuts down on wait time in line, and provides customers greater customization options. That may prove to be more profitable, but it also serves as foreshadowing for workers, particularly cashiers. Though McDonalds has maintained automation would not result in staff cuts, professor Joshua Shuart, chair of the marketing department at Sacred Heart University, suggested the contrary. There will always be a need for some actual staff, but I firmly believe, as do others, that with increased efficiency will come reduced staff, he said. Jordan.grice@hearstmediact.com WASHINGTON Connecticut is among the states scrambling to bulk up election defenses just 11 weeks before voters go to the polls, with officials concerned over renewed Russian attempts to hack into potentially vulnerable registration and tabulation systems. The state has reason to be concerned. The Department of Homeland Security included Connecticut on its list of 21 states whose election networks were targeted by Russians in 2016. We definitely are on alert, based on the fact that it happened before, said Connecticuts elected secretary of the state, Denise Merrill. The sense we get from DHS is it will happen again. At the federal level, both Rep. Jim Himes and Sen. Richard Blumenthal are involved in legislative efforts to protect election systems nationwide. Its not clear today that we are where we need to be on this, said Himes, who is one of the authors of the Secure Elections Act, which would authorize $400 million in grants to states for improving systems and give local and state officials security clearances so they can get up to speed on international threats. While the bill enjoys bipartisan support in both House and Senate, the Trump administration has weighed in against it. White House officials argue the DHS already has all the authority it needs to combat electoral interference. The White House is trying to scuttle (the bill), Himes tweeted early Friday. I wonder why. President Donald Trump has called the investigation of special counsel Robert Mueller into his 2016 campaigns contacts with Russians a hoax, and has threatened dismissal of Attorney General Jeff Sessions from recusing himself in the probe. Last week, a jury in Alexandria, Va., convicted New Britain native Paul Manafort, Trumps former campaign chairman, on eight counts of tax evasion and bank fraud. Though the case is not directly related to the Trump-Russia investigation, the convictions were portrayed as a blow to Trump and a boost to Mueller. It came on the same day that former Trump lawyer-fixer pleaded guilty to pre-election payoffs to two women who claimed to have had affairs with the president. More News Primaries drew most voters since 2006 But regardless of Trumps mounting legal difficulties, Connecticut lawmakers agree with assessments by intelligence officials that the Russian hacking threat continues at full throttle the warning lights are blinking again, as Dan Coats, director of national intelligence, put it last month. Connecticut is better positioned and more prepared than many other states, but thats a low bar, said Blumenthal, author of the Defending the Integrity of Voting Systems Act, which places election hacking under computer crimes statutes. Of the 21 states where DHS reported election-system hacking in 2016, intruders gained entrance in only one Illinois. Earlier this year, Congress appropriated $380 million to help states and localities protect their systems. Connecticut got $5 million, which Merrill said will be used to hire IT professionals to check routers between localities and the states, as well as educate local election officials. It was very welcome, let me tell you, Merrill said. Connecticut has a few natural defenses that make hacking more difficult. Results are aggregated at the state level. But voter registration lists are maintained in each of the states 169 towns, with registrars from both parties maintaining vigilance over the rolls, voting procedures and results. It appears unlikely that hackers from Russia or elsewhere would target small towns in a New England state but not inconceivable. My fear is that a phishing email to a small-town registrar could open up a registry, Merrill said. That does worry me. Im not sure we can totally guard against that. Connecticut voters use paper ballots that are scanned into computers for tabulation at the local level. Electronic ballot counting backed up by paper and selective paper audits makes it extremely difficult to game the results, Merrill said. Personally Im less concerned because we have checks and balances in place, said Merrill, running for her third term this November and a former state representative from Mansfield and Chapin. Paper results come right out of the machine are posted on the wall (locally) for all to see. Discrepancies would be discovered. It takes about two weeks for her office to certify results, she said. But vulnerabilities do exist at the local level. Some localities in the state are not up-to-date on computerization, let alone protections against hacking. Wallingford, for instance, maintained very few computers for municipal business before last year, said Merrill. And when registrars are elected, its not for their computer skills, Merrill said. But state law now requires computer training and certification for registrars. Local officials are urged to follow protocols comparable to defenses commonly used in business and home computers changing passwords and awareness of phishing aimed at retrieving passwords or other sensitive information. The purpose of the intrusion remains unclear, though most experts say that altering voter rolls or tabulations to affect election outcomes would be a logical guess. The Mueller probe last month won indictments against 12 Russians it accused of hacking into the Democratic National Committee and the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign. And in February, Mueller got indictments of 13 Russians involved in efforts to promote discord through phony websites and social media postings. Russians may have ulterior motives in targeting of U.S. election systems. My fear is the chaos or distrust that is sown with all this, rather than a change to results that would be substantive, she said. I think were doing everything we can. dan@hearstdc.com TOKYO - South Korea's Foreign Ministry on Saturday urged Washington and Pyongyang not to walk away from the negotiating table despite the unexpected cancellation of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's planned trip to North Korea. President Donald Trump called off Pompeo's visit Friday, just days before the secretary was due to arrive in Pyongyang, citing insufficient progress in the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The abrupt shift in Trump's public position appeared to surprise many people in Asia but did not come as a complete shock - many observers had sensed that negotiations between the two sides had stalled. North Korea did not immediately react to the announcement. But South Korea sought to play down concerns. South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha spoke to Pompeo by telephone Saturday and expressed regret over the cancellation of the trip while calling for continued talks on peace and North Korea's nuclear program, according to the ministry. "Rather than reading into each and every turn in the situation, it is more important to focus diplomatic efforts on the faithful execution of what has been agreed in the United States-North Korea summit and the inter-Korean summit, while maintaining the momentum for talks on the long-term outlook," the ministry said in a statement. Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kano expressed appreciation for Pompeo's "prompt communication" of the decision by telephone and said the two countries would continue to work together to take "specific actions" to achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. From China, though, there was silence. The only reports of Trump's decision in state media relayed the news without commentary - and without mentioning that the president had partly blamed the Chinese government for difficulties in talks with Pyongyang. In tweets, Trump argued that because of his "tougher trading stance," the Chinese were not "helping with the process of denuclearization as they once were." "Secretary Pompeo looks forward to going to North Korea in the near future, most likely after our Trading relationship with China is resolved," Trump tweeted. "In the meantime I would like to send my warmest regards and respect to Chairman Kim. I look forward to seeing him soon!" Experts have said that China continues to broadly enact U.N. Security Council sanctions against North Korea but has eased up on enforcement at the border in recent months. China also has been allowing more Chinese tourists to visit North Korea this year as relations between the two countries have improved significantly. But Chung Min Lee, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, said China is not responsible for the impasse between the United States and North Korea. Trump "overplayed the gains" from his Singapore summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and needed someone else to blame, Lee said. Only now does Trump realize that North Korea did not intend to give up its nuclear weapons, at least not as soon as he wanted, Lee said. Trump is, however, right in one sense, experts said. His trade war with China has caused considerable anger in Beijing and makes it unlikely that the government there could be persuaded to cooperate if the United States wants to return to exerting "maximum pressure" on North Korea economically. "It's difficult, what Trump is trying to do," Lee said. "He is trying to punish China on trade. . . . At the same time, he wants China's help." Cheong Seong-chang, a North Korea expert at the Sejong Institute, a government-affiliated think tank in Seoul, said Trump has the will to resolve the North Korea situation but lacks a coherent strategy. "On his last visit to Pyongyang, Pompeo reportedly demanded a list of nuclear sites in North Korea without suggesting any plans for compensation in return," Cheong said. "North Korea is aware that the list reveals all their cards to the U.S., and they won't do so without any tangible promise from Washington. The demand for the timeline of denuclearization must come with the timeline for rewards." Cheong said the cancellation of Pompeo's visit put the ball in the court of South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who is due to visit Pyongyang in September and could play a role in facilitating negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang. But it could also strengthen China's hand, with President Xi Jinping widely expected to attend Pyongyang's Sept. 9 celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the founding of North Korea. "If Xi can produce a meaningful agreement with Kim Jong Un on his September visit to Pyongyang, China will get a boost in the diplomacy game by taking on the role the U.S. failed to play," Cheong said. Park Jie-won, a former special envoy of former South Korean president Kim Dae-jung who has met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his father, Kim Jong Il, also warned Trump not to walk away from dialogue. "If this chance is missed, the future of North Korea will darken towards immense chaos. The leaders of North Korea and the U.S. should go back to Sentosa, Singapore," he posted on his Facebook page Saturday. - - - The Washington Post's Luna Lin in Beijing contributed to this report. For more than two months since the Singapore summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean tyrant Kim Jong Un, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has assured us that Trump's brilliant strategy was working. We've given up nothing, Pompeo said, ignoring the PR coup for Kim and the cancellation of U.S.-South Korea joint exercises. We still have sanctions, he insisted - ignoring the assistance extended by China to Pyongyang. We're making progress in talks, he assured us. In July, he testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. CNN recounted, "Pompeo would not say publicly if North Korea is still moving forward with its nuclear program. He told (a) senator he'd answer the question 'in a different setting.' ... When Sen. Ed Markey expressed concerns that the US was being 'taken for a ride' by North Korea, Pompeo quickly responded, saying, 'Fear not, senator. Fear not.'" After visits to North Korea, Pompeo downplayed signs that Pyongyang had never changed its tune. On July 8, the Associated Press reported: 'U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday brushed aside North Korea's accusation of 'gangster-like' denuclearization demands. Pompeo maintained that his third visit to the country had produced results but also vowed that sanctions would remain until Pyongyang follows through on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's pledge to get rid of his atomic weapons. ... Speaking after meeting with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts in Tokyo, Pompeo said his two days of talks in Pyongyang had been productive and conducted in good faith.' It is not clear what he was trying to accomplish by all this happy talk. Perhaps he did not want to enrage his boss by revealing that Trump's nauseating bowing and scraping in Singapore had actually made things worse, demonstrating to Kim that Trump is a fool who can be played while North Korea advances its nuclear program and gets economic relief from China. So when Trump abruptly canceled the trip after a closed-door briefing on talks from Pompeo, the jig was up. North Korea hasn't been negotiating in good faith at all. In fact, we've gotten zilch for our concession on military exercises and for elevating and flattering Kim. The Wall Street Journal reports: "Mr. Trump's decision appeared to take State Department officials by surprise. Mr. Pompeo named a new special representative for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, to lead the talks only a day earlier, and staffers were preparing for the trip to go ahead on Sunday as planned. "Mr. Pompeo was in a meeting with Mr. Trump in the White House when the president wrote the tweets calling off the meeting, a person familiar with the matter said. The president made the decision after talking to Mr. Pompeo and getting an update on the state of negotiations, which have been gridlocked since Mr. Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June." "Mr. Trump chose to blame China, without explanation. But the fault lies in the White House not Beijing, which has also learned to play the president (e.g. getting a new lease on life for ZTE) and test our fortitude on sanctions. ... Mr. Trump has long insisted the talks with North Korea were progressing well, and Friday's tweets were the first indication that progress was going slower than expected. "As recently as last month, Mr. Trump tweeted that the U.S. was having 'many good conversations with North Korea-it is going well!'" Well, I guess they weren't going so well after all. This is what happens when you flatter a narcissistic, ignorant president. Trying to preserve the image of effectiveness and competence simply delays the inevitable recognition that North Korea never had any intention of denuclearizing. When Trump finally acknowledges reality, he makes both himself and his secretary of state look foolish or dishonest or both. Unfortunately for Pompeo, he's beginning to resemble his predecessor, Rex Tillerson - who allies and foes soon learned didn't really speak for the president and whom Congress learned not to trust. More honesty and less happy talk to butter up his boss would serve Pompeo well. Books on the run from Somerset County libraries to just about anywhere Ever since MK Alagiris outburst at the Anna Memorial after the death of his father and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) patriarch M Karunanidhi, the clamor to re-induct him into the party has gained momentum. Videos on social media and posters hailing him as a strong leader have begun to resurface. By claiming that he will take out a memorial rally to pay homage to Karunanidhi on September 5, Alagiri is trying to sound the bugle of a succession war in the DMK. The rally will be the first show of public rebellion since his expulsion in 2014, where his supporters will march in a silent procession from Anna Statue to Karunanidhis Samadhi in Chennai. Alagiri with his brother and DMK working president MK Stalin at their father Karunanidhi's funeral. (Photo: PTI) On August 24, Alagiri held a meeting with his supporters in Madurai. More than 300 people took part in the meeting, which was convened to discuss the arrangements and travel plans for the September 5 rally0. Many of the supporters gathered at the meeting lashed out at the DMK leadership for not re-inducting Alagiri back into the party. Senthil Kumar, a staunch supporter, slammed the DMK for relegating Alagiri to a corner. Annan [Alagiri] warned the DMK of the faulty selection of candidates for LS polls in 2014. No one listened. The party did not win even one seat. Same was the case with the 2016 Assembly elections. Annan is a force to reckon with and the September 5 rally will prove that, he said. Sources in the Alagiri camp say a majority of the cadre for the rally will be from the southern districts o Tamil Nadu. Close aides of Alagiri have reached out to grassroot-level cadre, who are not satisfied with Stalins leadership. Speculations are rife that over 10,000 people will participate in the rally from Madurai alone, which is Alagiris home turf. With a dwindling support base, Alagiris call for the memorial rally comes as a surprise for many within the party. Since his expulsion, a majority of Alagiris supporters have migrated to Stalins camp. Since his elevation as the working President of DMK, Stalin has taken a firm control over the party. In this backdrop, how far can Alagiri be successful? Many arent hopeful. Very few have an inkling of Alagiris gameplan. His supporters say the immediate task is to prove the strength of the faction. The memorial rally is to be a show of strength that may facilitate his re-induction. The crowd turnout at the rally will indicate how big a threat Alagiri can pose to the DMK. The DMK, meanwhile, is unperturbed. While Alagiri was unsuccessful in making a comeback during Karunanidhis time, party insiders have ruled out the possibility of the brothers now burying the hatchet. According to sources, the top leadership of the party shot down Alagiris re-induction when some of his supporters made a case for him soon after Karunanidhis demise. The DMK leadership has also issued a gag order on party spokespersons against commenting on the Alagiri issue. A spokesperson seeking anonymity said the rally would not make any difference to the DMK. The Alagiri faction is hoping the turnout at the rally is impressive enough to make the DMK sit up and take notice. (Photo: PTI/file) Political analysts say Alagiris rally would be an embarrassment for the party. According to senior journalist R Subramaniam, the rally would achieve little more than garner some eyeballs. Alagiri wants to prove his strength. The rally will not make a difference to the fortunes of the DMK. An upset Alagiri can at best sabotage the chances of the party in 5-10 constituencies. He will play spoilsport in an election where winning margins are slender. Could the rally be Alagiris last-ditch attempt to claim his place in the party? Most certainly, said political analyst Sumanth C Raman. The rally in itself will not be a major turning point in Alagiris political career. The point to note is that not one senior leader, or even middle-rung leader, of the DMK has announced support for the rally. The turning point would be if Alagiri floats an organisation, and the DMK does badly in the upcoming elections. Then, an opportunity for Alagiri would emerge. Also read: Succession battle in DMK: Does Alagiri's challenge pose a serious threat to Stalin? 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The third quarter has historically been the companys strongest quarter and this year appears to be no exception. The consensus opinion of analysts is for the utility giant to post earnings per share (EPS) of $1.52 cents on revenue of $1.21 billion. Read Article Zayo Group Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides bandwidth infrastructure solutions for the communications industry in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The company operates in six segments: Fiber Solutions, Transport, Enterprise Networks, Zayo Colocation (zColo), Allstream, and Other. The Fiber Solutions segment provides dark fiber, and fiber-to-the-tower and small cell mobile infrastructure services for carriers and other communication service providers, Internet service providers, wireless service providers, media and content companies, large enterprises, and other companies. The Transport segment offers lit bandwidth infrastructure solutions comprising wavelength, Ethernet, wholesale IP services, and SONET services through its metro, regional, and long-haul fiber networks for carriers, content providers, financial services companies, healthcare, government entities, education institutions, and other medium and large enterprises. The Enterprise Networks segment provides connectivity and telecommunications solutions comprising Internet, wide area networking products, managed products, and cloud based computing and storage offerings to medium and large enterprises. The Zayo Colocation (zColo) segment offers data center infrastructure solutions consisting of colocation space, and power and interconnection services to a range of enterprise, carrier, cloud, and content customers. The Allstream segment provides cloud VoIP and data solutions, such as voice offerings; and unified communications, as well as telecommunications services, including Ethernet, and IP/MPLS VPN solutions. The Other segment provides network and technical resources to customers in designing, acquiring, and maintaining their networks. Zayo Group Holdings, Inc. was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. Read More United Way of Brazoria County has already put to use about $1 million United Way collects millions to help residents return to normal after Harvey Ingredion, Inc. manufactures and sells sweetener, starches, nutrition ingredients, and biomaterial solutions derived from the wet milling and processing of corn and other starch based materials. Its activities include turning corn, tapioca, potatoes and other vegetables and fruits into value added ingredients and biomaterials for the food, beverage, paper and corrugating, brewing, and other industries. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: North America, South America, Asia-Pacific and Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). The North America segment includes businesses in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The South America segment involves businesses in Brazil, the Southern Cone of South America (which includes Argentina, Peru, Chile, and Uruguay), Colombia, and Ecuador. The Asia-Pacific segment pertains businesses in South Korea, Thailand, China, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, India, and Vietnam. The EMEA segment focuses businesses in Pakistan, Germany, the United Kingdom and South Africa. The company was founded in 1906 and is headquartered in Westchester, IL. Read More Knoll, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, markets, and sells commercial and residential furniture, accessories, and coverings for the workplace and residential markets in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through Office and Lifestyle segments. It provides systems furniture, including integrated panels or table desks, work surfaces and storage units, power and data systems, and lighting products; office seating products comprising various work chairs; and files and storage products, such as lateral files, mobile pedestals and other storage units, bookcases, and overhead cabinets. The company also offers adjustable tables, as well as meeting, conference, training, dining, and stand-alone and table desks; conference furniture product platforms; height desks, tables, and ergonomic seating and accessories principally for individual home offices and small businesses; technology support accessories, desktop organizational tools, and lighting and storage products; seating and lounge furniture, as well as side, cafA, and dining chairs; conference, training, dining, and occasional tables; and lighting, rugs, textiles, fabrics, felt, leather, upholstery, drapery, and related architectural products. It serves Fortune 1000 companies, governmental agencies, and other medium-to-large sized organizations in various industries, including financial, legal, technology, entertainment, accounting, education, healthcare, and hospitality through its direct sales force and showrooms, distribution partners, and independent dealers and retailers, as well as online. The company was founded in 1938 and is headquartered in East Greenville, Pennsylvania. Read More Medtronic Plc is a medical technology company, which engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of device-based medical therapies and services. It operates through the following segments: Cardiac and Vascular Group; Minimally Invasive Technologies Group; Restorative Therapies Group; and Diabetes Group. The Cardiac and Vascular Group segment consists of products for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of cardiac rhythm disorders and cardiovascular disease. The Minimally Invasive Technologies Group segment focuses on respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, renal system, lungs, pelvic region, kidneys, and obesity diseases. The Restorative Therapies Group segment comprises of neurostimulation therapies and drug delivery systems for the treatment of chronic pain, as well as areas of the spine and brain, along with pelvic health and conditions of the ear, nose, and throat. The Diabetes Group segment offers insulin pumps, coninuous glucose monitoring systems, and insulin pump consumables. The company was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Zimmer Biomet: Abbott Spine, Beijing Montagne Medical Device Co. Ltd., Beijing Montagne Medical Device Co. Ltd., BioMet, Biomet 3i Australia Pty. Ltd., Biomet 3i Belgium N.V., Biomet 3i Benelux Holdings N.V., Biomet 3i Dental Iberica SL, Biomet 3i LLC, Biomet 3i Mexico S.A. de C.V., Biomet 3i Netherlands B.V., Biomet 3i Nordic AB, Biomet 3i Portugal Lda, Biomet 3i Switzerland GmbH, Biomet 3i Turkey, Biomet 3i UK Ltd., Biomet 3i do Brasil Comercio de Aparelhos Medicos Ltda., Biomet Acquisitions (Unlimited), Biomet Argentina SA, Biomet Australia Pty. Ltd., Biomet Biologics LLC, Biomet Brazil Medical Device Ltda., Biomet C.V., Biomet CV Holdings LLC, Biomet Cementing Technologies AB, Biomet Chile SA, Biomet China Co. Ltd., Biomet Deutschland GmbH, Biomet Deutschland Holding GmbH, Biomet Fair Lawn LLC, Biomet Finance US LLC, Biomet France Sarl, Biomet Global Supply Chain Center B.V., Biomet Healthcare Management GmbH, Biomet Holdings B.V., Biomet Hong Kong CBT Ltd., Biomet Hong Kong Holding Ltd., Biomet Hong Kong No. 1 Ltd., Biomet Inc., Biomet Insurance Ltd., Biomet International Inc., Biomet International Orthopedics LLC, Biomet Leasing Inc., Biomet Manufacturing LLC, Biomet Mexico S.A. de C.V., Biomet Microfixation B.V., Biomet Orthopedics LLC, Biomet Orthopedics Puerto Rico Inc., Biomet Spain Orthopaedics S.L., Biomet Sports Medicine LLC, Biomet Trauma LLC, Biomet U.S. Reconstruction LLC, Biomet UK Healthcare Ltd., Biomet UK Ltd., CD Diagnostics, CD Diagnostics Inc., CD Laboratories Inc., Cayenne Medical, Cayenne Medical Inc., CelgenTek Innovations Corporation, Centerpulse Ltd, Changzhou Biomet Medical Devices Co. Ltd., Citra Labs LLC, Clinical Graphics, Compression Therapy Concepts Inc., Compression Therapy Products, D.S. Comp Ltd., Dornoch Medical Systems, Dornoch Medical Systems Inc., EBI Holdings LLC, EBI LLC, EBI Medical Systems LLC, EBI Patient Care Inc., ETEX Corporation, ETEX Holdings Inc., Electro-Biology LLC, Endius, Espanormed S.L., Etex, ExtraOrtho, Hakuho Company Ltd., IC Guided Surgery SRL, Implant Concierge LLC, Implant Innovations Holdings LLC, Implex, InnoVision Inc., Interpore Cross International LLC, JERDS Luxembourg Holding Sarl, Kirschner Medical Corporation, Knee Creations, LDR Brasil Comercio Importacao e Exportacao Ltda., LDR Holding, LDR Medical Hong Kong (branch), LDR Medical S.A.S., LVB Acquisition Inc., Lanx Puerto Rico LLC , Lanx Srl, Medical Compression Systems Inc., Medtech SA, Medtech SAS, Medtech Surgical GmbH, Medtech Surgical Inc., NORMED Medizin-Technik GmbH, ORTHOsoft ULC, Ortho Transmission, Orthopaedic Advantage LLC, Ospol Participacoes Ltda., Representaciones Zimmer Inc. S. de R.L. de C.V., Respondwell, SM Re Ltd., Scandimed Holding AB, Shanghai Biomet Business Consulting Co. Ltd., Synvasive Technology, Synvasive Technology Inc., ZB COOP C.V., ZB COOP LLC, ZB Cayman (Asia) Holding Ltd., ZB Cayman Island CBT 2 Ltd., ZB Dental India Private Limited, ZB EMEA 1 LP, ZB EMEA Finance UK 1 Ltd., ZB EMEA Finance UK 2 Ltd., ZB EMEA Finance UK 3 Ltd., ZB EMEA US UK LLC, ZB Hong Kong CBT 2 Ltd., ZB Hong Kong Holding Ltd., ZB Hong Kong Ltd., ZB Manufacturing LLC, ZB UK Group Holdings Limited, ZH2LX Barbados Branch (branch), Zfx, Zfx GmbH, Zfx Innovation GmbH, Zhejiang Biomet Medical Products Co. Ltd., Zimmer (Shanghai) Medical International Trading Co. Ltd., Zimmer Asia (HK) Ltd., Zimmer Australia Holding Pty. Ltd., Zimmer Biomet (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Zimmer Biomet Asel Alarabiya Limited Company, Zimmer Biomet Asia Holding B.V., Zimmer Biomet Asia Holdings Pte. Ltd., Zimmer Biomet Austria GmbH, Zimmer Biomet BVBA, Zimmer Biomet CBT, Zimmer Biomet CBT 2, Zimmer Biomet CMF and Thoracic LLC, Zimmer Biomet Canada Inc., Zimmer Biomet Centroamerica SA, Zimmer Biomet Comp Ltd., Zimmer Biomet Denmark ApS, Zimmer Biomet Dental Canada Inc., Zimmer Biomet Dental K.K., Zimmer Biomet Deutschland GmbH, Zimmer Biomet Distribution LLC, Zimmer Biomet Finance Srl, Zimmer Biomet Finance US Holding Inc., Zimmer Biomet Finland Oy, Zimmer Biomet France Holdings SAS, Zimmer Biomet France SAS, Zimmer Biomet GK, Zimmer Biomet Global Holdings Switzerland GmbH, Zimmer Biomet Hellas SA, Zimmer Biomet Ireland Limited, Zimmer Biomet Italia Srl, Zimmer Biomet Korea Ltd., Zimmer Biomet Nederland B.V., Zimmer Biomet New Zealand Company, Zimmer Biomet Norway AS, Zimmer Biomet OUS Holdings AG, Zimmer Biomet Polska Sp. z.o.o, Zimmer Biomet Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Zimmer Biomet Pty. Ltd., Zimmer Biomet Romania S.R.L., Zimmer Biomet South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Zimmer Biomet Spain S.L., Zimmer Biomet Spine Inc., Zimmer Biomet Sweden AB, Zimmer Biomet Taiwan Co. Ltd., Zimmer Biomet UK Ltd., Zimmer Biomet US 2 Holding Inc., Zimmer CBT I Holding Inc., Zimmer CBT II Holding Inc., Zimmer CEP USA Holding Co., Zimmer CEP USA Inc., Zimmer CIS Ltd., Zimmer CV Inc., Zimmer Caribe LLC, Zimmer Cayman Islands Holding Co. Ltd., Zimmer Co-op Holdings LLC, Zimmer Colombia SAS, Zimmer Czech sro, Zimmer Dental (Shanghai) Medical Device Co. Ltd., Zimmer Dental Chile Spa, Zimmer Dental GmbH, Zimmer Dental Inc., Zimmer Dental Italy Srl, Zimmer Dental Ltd., Zimmer Dental SAS, Zimmer Finance Ireland, Zimmer France Manufacturing Sarl, Zimmer Germany Holdings GmbH, Zimmer GmbH, Zimmer GmbH Euro IP Branch (branch), Zimmer GmbH Winterthur Branch (branch), Zimmer Gulf FZ LLC, Zimmer Inc., Zimmer India Private Ltd., Zimmer International Logistics GmbH, Zimmer Investments LLC, Zimmer Knee Creations Inc., Zimmer Luxembourg II Sarl, Zimmer Luxembourg Sarl, Zimmer Manufacturing B.V., Zimmer Manufacturing B.V. (branch), Zimmer Medical Malaysia SDN BHD, Zimmer Netherlands Cooperatief U.A., Zimmer Orthobiologics Inc., Zimmer Orthopedics Manufacturing Limited, Zimmer Production Inc., Zimmer Pte. Ltd., Zimmer Slovakia sro, Zimmer Southeast Florida LLC, Zimmer Spine Next Inc., Zimmer Spine SAS, Zimmer Surgical, Zimmer Surgical Inc., Zimmer Surgical SA, Zimmer Switzerland Holdings LLC, Zimmer Switzerland Manufacturing GmbH, Zimmer Tibbi Cihazlar Sanayi ve Ticaret AS, Zimmer Trabecular Metal Technology Inc., Zimmer Trustee Ltd., Zimmer UK Limited, Zimmer US Inc., and Zimmer do Brasil Comercio Ltda.. GlaxoSmithKline Plc is a healthcare company, which engages in the research, development, and manufacture of pharmaceutical medicines, vaccines, and consumer healthcare products. It operates through the following segments: Pharmaceuticals; Pharmaceuticals R&D; Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare. The Pharmaceuticals segment focuses on developing medicines in respiratory and infectious diseases, oncology, and immuno-inflammation. The Pharmaceuticals R&D segment focuses on science related to the immune system, the use of human genetics and advanced technologies, and is driven by the multiplier effect of Science x Technology x Culture. The Vaccines segment produces pediatric and adult vaccines to prevent a range of infectious diseases including, hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, measles, mumps and rubella, polio, typhoid, influenza, and bacterial meningitis. The Consumer Healthcare segment develops and markets brands in the oral health, pain relief, respiratory, nutrition and gastro intestinal, and skin health categories. The company was founded in 1715 and is headquartered in Middlesex, the United Kingdom. Read More Andeavor Logistics LP operates as a diversified midstream company in the United States. The company's Terminalling and Transportation segment comprises the Northwest pipeline system, including a regulated common carrier products pipeline running from Salt Lake City, Utah to Spokane, Washington and a jet fuel pipeline to the Salt Lake City International Airport; a regulated common carrier refined products pipeline system connecting its refinery to its terminals in Anchorage, Alaska; tankage and related equipment at the refinery; and crude oil and refined products terminals and storage facilities in the western, and southwest and midwestern U.S. This segment also consists of marine terminals in California and Washington; a rail-car unloading and petroleum coke handling facilities; marine terminals; a manifest rail facility; an asphalt trucking operation; a petroleum coke handling and storage facility; asphalt terminalling and processing services; and other pipelines, which transport products and crude oil from its refineries to nearby facilities in Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. Its Gathering and Processing segment includes crude oil and natural gas, NGLs, and produced water gathering systems in the Bakken Shale/Williston Basin area of the Bakken Region, the Green River Basin, the Rockies Region, the Permian Basin System, and the Four Corners System, as well as crude trucking operations, and gas processing and fractionation complexes. The company's Wholesale segment consists of bulk petroleum distribution facilities and a fleet of refined product delivery trucks. Tesoro Logistics GP, LLC operates as the general partner of the company. The company was formerly known as Tesoro Logistics LP and changed its name to Andeavor Logistics LP in August 2017. Andeavor Logistics LP was founded in 2010 and is based in Findlay, Ohio. Read More Antofagasta plc, through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the exploration, evaluation, development, and mining of copper properties in Chile and internationally. It operates through Los Pelambres, Centinela, Antucoya, ZaldAvar, Exploration and Evaluation, and Transport segments. The company explores for copper concentrates containing by-products, such as molybdenum, gold, and silver; and copper cathodes. It holds a 60% interest in the Los Pelambres mine; a 70% interest in the Centinela mine; a 50% interest in the ZaldAvar mine; and a 70% interest in the Antucoya mine located in Chile. The company also provides rail and road cargo, and other ancillary services. In addition, it offers rail and truck services to the mining industry in the Antofagasta Region. The company was incorporated in 1888 and is based in London, the United Kingdom. Antofagasta plc is a subsidiary of Metalinvest Establishment. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Ecolab: AO Ecolab, Abednego Environmental Services, Abednego Environmental Services LLC, Abednego Mexico Holdings LLC, Abednego de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Alcide Corp., Anios America S.A., Anios Diffusion SAS, Anios Manufacturing SAS, Bioquell, Bioquell Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Bioquell Global Logistics (Ireland) Ltd., Bioquell Holding SAS, Bioquell Inc., Bioquell Limited, Bioquell SAS, Bioquell Technology (Shenzhen) Ltd., Bioquell Technology Canada Ltd., Bioquell UK Limited, Bioxyquell Limited, CALGON EUROPE LIMITED, CALGON LLC, CID LINES HOLDING NV, CID LINES INVEST NV, CID LINES NV, CID Lines, CID Lines Beijing Animal Hygiene Co Ltd., CID Lines France Sarl, CID Lines Iberica SL, CID Lines LLC, CID Lines Mexico S.A. DE C.V., CID Lines R&D NV, CID Lines Sp. z o. o., CORPAK MedSystems, Cascade Water Services, Champion Technologies, Chamtech L.L.C., Chemlawn, Chemstaff Inc., Chemstar Corporation, Cirlam BVBA, Copal Holding NV, Copal Invest NV, DERYPOL SA, DMD, E&M Bio-Chemicals LLC, ECOLAB NL 10 B.V., ECOLAB PEST FRANCE SAS, Ecolab (Antigua) Ltd., Ecolab (Aruba) N.V., Ecolab (Barbados) Limited, Ecolab (China) Investment Co. Ltd, Ecolab (Fiji) Pty Limited, Ecolab (GZ) Chemicals Limited, Ecolab (Guam) LLC, Ecolab (Proprietary) Limited, Ecolab (Schweiz) GmbH, Ecolab (St. Lucia) Limited, Ecolab (Taicang) Technology Co. Ltd., Ecolab (Trinidad and Tobago) Unlimited, Ecolab (U.K.) Holdings Limited, Ecolab A.E.B.E., Ecolab AB, Ecolab AP Holdings LLC, Ecolab AT 2 GmbH, Ecolab AU2 Pty Ltd, Ecolab Acquisition LLC, Ecolab ApS, Ecolab Argentina S.R.L., Ecolab Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Ecolab B.V., Ecolab B.V.B.A./S.P.R.L., Ecolab Bahrain S.P.C., Ecolab CDN 2 Co., Ecolab CDN 4 ULC, Ecolab CH 1 GmbH, Ecolab CH 2 GmbH, Ecolab CH 3 GmbH, Ecolab CH 5 GmbH, Ecolab CH 6 GmbH, Ecolab Chemicals Limited, Ecolab Co., Ecolab Colombia S. A., Ecolab DE 1 GmbH, Ecolab Deutschland GmbH, Ecolab EOOD, Ecolab East Africa (Kenya) Limited, Ecolab East Africa (Tanzania) Limited, Ecolab East Africa (Uganda) Limited, Ecolab Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Ecolab Engineering GmbH, Ecolab Europe GmbH, Ecolab Export GmbH, Ecolab FR 1 SAS, Ecolab FR 4 SAS, Ecolab Finance Company Designated Activity Company, Ecolab Food Safety & Hygiene Solutions Private Limited, Ecolab G.K., Ecolab Global Business Services LLC, Ecolab GmbH, Ecolab Gulf FZE, Ecolab HK 1 Limited, Ecolab HK 2 Limited, Ecolab Hispano-Portuguesa S.L., Ecolab Holding Italy S.r.l., Ecolab Holdings (Europe) LLC, Ecolab Holdings Inc., Ecolab Holdings Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., Ecolab Hygiene Kft., Ecolab Hygiene d.o.o., Ecolab Israel Holdings LLC, Ecolab JVZ Limited, Ecolab Korea Ltd., Ecolab LLC, Ecolab LUX & Co Holdings S.C.A., Ecolab LUX 1 Sarl, Ecolab LUX 2 Sarl, Ecolab LUX 4 Sarl, Ecolab LUX 7 Sarl, Ecolab LUX Sarl, Ecolab Limited, Ecolab Ltd., Ecolab Lux 10 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 12 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 13 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 14 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 15 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 9 S.a.r.l., Ecolab Lux Partner LLC, Ecolab MT Holdings LLC, Ecolab MT Limited, Ecolab Malta 1 Limited, Ecolab Malta 2 Limited, Ecolab Malta GPS, Ecolab Manufacturing IE Limited, Ecolab Manufacturing Inc., Ecolab Manufacturing UK Limited, Ecolab Maroc Societe a Responsabilite Limitee, Ecolab NL 11 B.V., Ecolab NL 15 BV, Ecolab NL 16 B.V., Ecolab NL 23 B.V., Ecolab NL 3 BV, Ecolab NL 4 BV, Ecolab Name Holding Limited, Ecolab New Zealand, Ecolab Peru Holdings S.R.L., Ecolab Pest Deutschland GmbH, Ecolab Philippines Inc., Ecolab Production Belgium B.V.B.A., Ecolab Production France SAS, Ecolab Production Italy Srl, Ecolab Production LLC, Ecolab Production Netherlands B.V., Ecolab Production Poland sp. z o.o., Ecolab Pte. Ltd., Ecolab Pty Ltd., Ecolab Quimica Ltda., Ecolab S. de R.L. de C.V., Ecolab S.A., Ecolab S.A. de C.V., Ecolab SAS, Ecolab SIA, Ecolab SNC, Ecolab SRL, Ecolab Sdn Bhd, Ecolab Services Argentina S.R.L., Ecolab Services Poland Sp. z o o, Ecolab Sociedad Anonima, Ecolab Sp. z o o, Ecolab Spain Services S.L.U., Ecolab Temizleme Sistemleri Limited Sirketi, Ecolab U.S. 2 Inc., Ecolab U.S. 6 LLC, Ecolab U.S. 7 LLC, Ecolab US 1 GP, Ecolab USA Inc., Ecolab Viet Nam Company Limited, Ecolab Water Holding LImited, Ecolab a.s., Ecolab d.o.o., Ecolab s.r.l., Ecolab s.r.o., Ecolab y Compania Colectiva de Responsabilidad Limitada, Ecolab-Importacao E. Exportacao Limitada, Ecolabone B.V., Ecolabtwo B.V., Endoclear Equipamentos Medicos Hospitalares Ltda., Enviroflo Engineering Limited, Food Protection Services, GCS Service, Gallay Medical & Scientific Pty Ltd, Gallay Medical & Scientific Pty Ltd., GallayTrac Pty. Ltd., Georgia-Pacific - Paper Chemicals Business, Gibson Chemical Industries, Green Harbour Mainland Holdings Ltd, Guangzhou Green Harbour Environmental Operation Ltd., HYDROSAN LIMITED, Henkel-Ecolab, Hicopla SL, Holchem Laboratories, Huntington Laboratories, Hydenet SAS, INDUSTRIAL) UNIPESSOAL LDA, INTERNATIONAL WATER CONSULTANT B.V., Immobiliare R.E.O.P.A. SRL, Instrunet Hospital SLU, Jianghai Environmental Protection Co., Jianghai Environmental Protection Co. Ltd., KATAYAMA NALCO INC., Kay BVBA, Kay Chemical Company, LHS (UK) Limited, Laboratoires Anios, Laboratoires Anios-Distribution SAS, Les Produits Chimiques ERPAC Inc., Lobster Ink, Lobster Ink Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Lobster International S.A., London & General Packaging Ltd, MALAYSIA SDN. BHD, MANUFACTURING S.R.L., MOBOTEC AB LLC, Master Chemicals OOO, Meratech Rus Group LLC, Microtek Dominicana S.A., Microtek Italy S.R.L., Microtek Medical B.V., Microtek Medical Europe Limited, Microtek Medical Holdings, Microtek Medical Holdings Inc., Microtek Medical Inc., Microtek Medical Malta Holding Limited, Microtek Medical Malta Limited, Midland Research Laboratories, Midland Research Laboratories UK Limited, NALCO (SHANGHAI) TRADING CO. LTD., NALCO AB, NALCO ACQUISITION ONE, NALCO ACQUISITION TWO LIMITED, NALCO AFRICA (PTY.) LTD., NALCO ASIA HOLDING COMPANY PTE. LTD., NALCO BELGIUM BVBA, NALCO CHINA HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO COMPANY OOO, NALCO DANMARK APS, NALCO DE MEXICO S. de R. L. de C.V., NALCO DELAWARE COMPANY, NALCO DEUTSCHLAND GMBH, NALCO DEUTSCHLAND MANUFACTURING GMBH UND CO. 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Ltd., Soluscope SAS, Swisher Hygiene, Technical Textile Services Limited, Techtex Holdings Limited, Terminix, Ultrafab, Wabasha Leasing LLC, and vanBaerle Hygiene AG. North American Construction Group Ltd. provides mining and heavy construction services to the resource development and industrial construction sectors in Canada and the United States The company's Heavy Construction & Mining division offers constructability reviews, budgetary cost estimates, design-build construction, project management, contract mining, pre-stripping/pit pioneering, overburden removal and stockpile, muskeg removal and stockpile, site preparation, air strip construction, site dewatering/perimeter ditching, tailings and process pipelines, haulage and access road construction, tailings dam construction and densification, mechanically stabilized earth walls, dyke construction, and reclamation services. Its Equipment Maintenance Services division provides fuel and lube servicing, portable steaming, equipment inspections, parts and component supply, major overhauls and equipment refurbishment, onsite haul truck brake testing, onsite maintenance support, under carriage rebuild, machining, hose manufacturing, and technical support services, as well as welding, fabrication/repairs, weld certification, and inspection services. As of December 31, 2020, the company had a heavy equipment fleet of 626 units. The company was formerly known as North American Energy Partners Inc. and changed its name to North American Construction Group Ltd. in April 2018. The company was founded in 1953 and is headquartered in Acheson, Canada. Read More Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. is a supplier of precision instruments and services. The firm manufactures weighing instruments for use in laboratory, industrial, packaging, logistics, and food retailing applications. It also manufactures several related analytical instruments and provides automated chemistry solutions used in drug and chemical compound discovery and development; and also, metal detection and other end-of-line inspection systems used in production and packaging and provides solutions for use in certain process analytics applications. Its operations are conducted by the following segments: U. S. Operations, Swiss Operations, Western European Operations, Chinese Operations and Other. The U.S. Operations segment represents certain of the company's marketing and producing organizations located in the United States. The Swiss Operations segment includes marketing and producing organizations located in Switzerland, as well as extensive R&D operations that are responsible for the development, production, and marketing of precision instruments, including weighing, analytical, and measurement technologies for use in a variety of industrial and laboratory applications. Th Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Ingersoll Rand: 211 E. Russell Road LLC, Air-Relief, Belliss & Morcom Brasil, Belliss and Morcom, Boardwalk Enterprises, Charm Merger Sub Inc., CompAir, CompAir (Hankook) Korea Co. Ltd., CompAir Acquisition (No. 2) Ltd., CompAir Acquisition Ltd., CompAir BroomWade Ltd., CompAir Canada, CompAir Finance Ltd., CompAir GmbH, CompAir Holdings Limited, CompAir Holman Ltd, CompAir International Trading (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CompAir Korea Ltd, CompAir South Africa (SA) (Pty) Ltd., CompAir UK Ltd, CompAir USA, Consolidated Distribution Holdings Ltd., DV Systems Inc., Emco Wheaton, Emco Wheaton GmbH Branch, Emco Wheaton Gmbh, Emco Wheaton UK, Emco Wheaton USA Inc, Enza Air Propriety Limited (South Africa), GD Aria Holdings #2 Limited, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Investments Limited, GD First UK Ltd, GD German Holdings GmbH, GD German Holdings I Gmbh, GD German Holdings II GmbH, GD German Investments GmbH, GD Global Holdings, GD Global Holdings II, GD Global Holdings UK II Ltd., GD Global Ventures I B.V., GD Global Ventures II B.V., GD Global Ventures III B.V., GD Industrial Products Malaysia SDN. BHD., GD Investment KY, GD UK Finance Ltd., Gardner Denver (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Austria GmbH, Gardner Denver Bad Neustadt Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Belgium NV, Gardner Denver Brasil Industria E Comercio de Maquinas Ltda., Gardner Denver CZ + SK sro, Gardner Denver Canada Corp, Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments II Ltd., Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments II Ltd. - US Branch, Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments Ltd., Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments Ltd. - US Branch, Gardner Denver Deutschland GmbH, Gardner Denver Engineered Products India Private Limited, Gardner Denver FZE, Gardner Denver Finance II LLC, Gardner Denver Finance Inc & Co KG, Gardner Denver France SA, Gardner Denver France SAS, Gardner Denver Group Services Ltd, Gardner Denver Group Svcs Ltd, Gardner Denver Hoffman, Gardner Denver Holdings, Gardner Denver Holdings Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Ltd, Gardner Denver Iberica, Gardner Denver Industries Ltd., Gardner Denver Industries Pty Ltd., Gardner Denver Industries Pty Ltd. Branch, Gardner Denver International, Gardner Denver International Ltd., Gardner Denver Intl Ltd Middle East Regional Rep Office, Gardner Denver Investments, Gardner Denver Italy Holdings S.r.L., Gardner Denver Japan, Gardner Denver Kirchhain Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Korea, Gardner Denver Korea Ltd, Gardner Denver Ltd, Gardner Denver Ltd South Africa, Gardner Denver Ltd., Gardner Denver Ltd. Branch (Ireland), Gardner Denver Machinery (Shanghai) Co, Gardner Denver Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Gardner Denver Nash Brasil Industria E Comercio De Bombas Ltda, Gardner Denver Nash Deutschland GmbH, Gardner Denver Nash LLC, Gardner Denver Nash Machinery Ltd, Gardner Denver Nash Machinery Ltd., Gardner Denver Nederland BV, Gardner Denver Nederland Investments B.V., Gardner Denver Oberdorfer Pumps, Gardner Denver Oy, Gardner Denver Petroleum Pumps, Gardner Denver Polska Sp z.o.o., Gardner Denver Pte Ltd., Gardner Denver S.r.l., Gardner Denver Schopfheim GmbH, Gardner Denver Schopfheim Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Schweiz AG, Gardner Denver Slovakia, Gardner Denver SudAmerica S.r.l., Gardner Denver Sweden AB, Gardner Denver Taiwan Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas, Gardner Denver Thomas GmbH, Gardner Denver Thomas Pneumatic Systems (Wuxi) Co., Gardner Denver Thomas Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver UK, Gardner Denver Water Jetting Systems, Garo Dott. Ing. Roberto Gabbioneta S.r.l., Hamworthy Belliss & Morcom, ILMVAC (UK) Ltd., ILS Innovative Labor Systeme, ILS Inovative Laborsysteme GmbH, Indonesia Foreign Trade Representative Office, LeROI, LeRoi International Inc, MP Pumps Inc., Mako Compressors, Nash, Nash Elmo, Oina VV, Oina VV Aktiebolag, Robuschi, Rotary Compression Technologies, Runtech Systems, Runtech Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Runtech Systems Inc., Runtech Systems OY, Shanghai CompAir Compressors Co Ltd, Shanghai Compressors & Blowers Ltd., Syltone, TCM Investments, TIWR Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG, TODO AB, Tamrotor Marine Compressors AS, Thomas Industries, Thomas Industries Inc., Tri-Continent Scientific, Welch Vacuum Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zinsser Analytic, Zinsser Analytik GmbH, and Zinsser NA. Exelon Corp. operates as a utility services holding company, which engages in the energy generation, power marketing, and energy delivery business. It operates through the following segments: Mid Atlantic, Midwest, New York, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and other Power Regions. The Mid-Atlantic segment represents operations in the eastern half of PJM, which includes New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, the District of Columbia and parts of Pennsylvania and North Carolina. The Midwest segment operates in the western half of PJM, which includes portions of Illinois, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee, and the United States footprint of MISO, excluding MISO's Southern Region, which covers all or most of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, the remaining parts of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio not covered by PJM, and parts of Montana, Missouri and Kentucky. The New York (NY) segment provides operations within ISONY, which covers the state of New York in its entirety. The ERCOT segment includes operations within Electric Reliability Council of Texas, covering most of the state of Texas. Read More Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 11:13AM by Nathaniel R Maria Baumer plays the famous 1970s actress Romy Schneider in German biopic 3 DAYS IN QUIBERON Though we only know ten "official" titles for Oscar's foreign film race so far the European Film Awards often hold clues as to other films that might be submitted. Their 49 "suggestions" for nominations (aka finalists) have been announced. Nominations will follow on November 10th with the ceremony to be held December 15th in Seville, Spain. Those 49 films and our thoughts on their Oscar prospects are after the jump... 3 Days In Quiberon (Germany) Emily Atef Germany always has plentiful submission options so who knows. (Germany) Emily Atef Germany always has plentiful submission options so who knows. Aga (Bulgaria) Milko Lazarov Possible Bulgarian submission about elderly eskimos who go in search of their estranged daughter. (Bulgaria) Milko Lazarov Possible Bulgarian submission about elderly eskimos who go in search of their estranged daughter. Annas War (Russia) Aleksey Fedorchenko There are four Russian films on the EFA long list so it's difficult to know which might have the heat back home for an Oscar submission, especially since none of them are from previously submitted directors. This film is about a six year old girl hiding from the Nazis during World War II after her family is executed. (Russia) Aleksey Fedorchenko There are four Russian films on the EFA long list so it's difficult to know which might have the heat back home for an Oscar submission, especially since none of them are from previously submitted directors. This film is about a six year old girl hiding from the Nazis during World War II after her family is executed. Arrhythmia (Russia) Boris Khlebnikov A drama about a parademic and his wife's strained marriage. It's won prizes for both lead performances. Ayka (Kazakhstan) Sergey Dvortsevoy I'm definitely expecting this film, which took Best Actress at Cannes, to be Kazakhstan's entry. Disappointing it's not playing the fall festivals. How will I see it? (Kazakhstan) Sergey Dvortsevoy I'm definitely expecting this film, which took Best Actress at Cannes, to be Kazakhstan's entry. Disappointing it's not playing the fall festivals. How will I see it? Beast (UK) Michael Pearce In English. Was released in US theaters earlier this summer. (UK) Michael Pearce In English. Was released in US theaters earlier this summer. Border (Sweden) Janus Metz Reportedly very strange so we dont know if Sweden will submit it but the critics loved it at Cannes. It also won Un Certain Regard. We're planning to see this at TIFF next month. (Sweden) Janus Metz Reportedly very strange so we dont know if Sweden will submit it but the critics loved it at Cannes. It also won Un Certain Regard. We're planning to see this at TIFF next month. Carmen & Lola (Spain) Arantxa Echevarria This love story between two gypsy girls is not a finalist for Spain. (Spain) Arantxa Echevarria This love story between two gypsy girls is not a finalist for Spain. Cobain (Netherlands) Nanouk Leopold Could this mother/son drama be their Oscar submission? Why not! (Netherlands) Nanouk Leopold Could this mother/son drama be their Oscar submission? Why not! Cold War (Poland) Pawe Pawlikowski Widely expected to be Poland's submission. Pawlikowski won Poland their first Oscar with Ida (2013), and he shot this in the same black and white, square frame style. We're planning to see this at TIFF next month. (Poland) Pawe Pawlikowski Widely expected to be Poland's submission. Pawlikowski won Poland their first Oscar with Ida (2013), and he shot this in the same black and white, square frame style. We're planning to see this at TIFF next month. Custody (France) Xavier Legrand A lot of people are hoping this is France's submission but France has a prolific film industry and they always have a lot of high profile films / directors to choose from. France's last three submissions were all great great great (Mustang, Elle, and BPM) but only one of them was nominated. I'm hoping if they select something spectacular again that Oscar actually rewards them for doing so. It's so strange. France used to get nominated at the drop of a hat, even if the films weren't great. Now they submit great films, and Oscar is ignoring them! (France) Xavier Legrand A lot of people are hoping this is France's submission but France has a prolific film industry and they always have a lot of high profile films / directors to choose from. France's last three submissions were all great great great (Mustang, Elle, and BPM) but only one of them was nominated. I'm hoping if they select something spectacular again that Oscar actually rewards them for doing so. It's so strange. France used to get nominated at the drop of a hat, even if the films weren't great. Now they submit great films, and Oscar is ignoring them! Diamantino (Portugal) Gabriel Abrantes & Daniel Schmidt Portugal does not fear submitting totally bizarre films and this one reportedly qualifies as that -- though we're cautioned not to read about the film before seeing it. We're planning to see this at TIFF next month. (Portugal) Gabriel Abrantes & Daniel Schmidt Portugal does not fear submitting totally bizarre films and this one reportedly qualifies as that -- though we're cautioned not to read about the film before seeing it. We're planning to see this at TIFF next month. Dogman (Italy) Matteo Garrone Seems likely as the Italian submission, given that it took both Best Actor and the Palm Dog at Cannes this year. The only reason it's not a slam dunk is that it has that Happy as Lazarro competition. (Italy) Matteo Garrone Seems likely as the Italian submission, given that it took both Best Actor and the Palm Dog at Cannes this year. The only reason it's not a slam dunk is that it has that Happy as Lazarro competition. Donbass (Ukraine) Sergei Loznitsa He's quite a director but Ukraine has yet to submit one of his films. This particular film won him Best Director from Cannes Un Certain Regard section. (Ukraine) Sergei Loznitsa He's quite a director but Ukraine has yet to submit one of his films. This particular film won him Best Director from Cannes Un Certain Regard section. Dovlatov (Russia) Alexey German Jr. Biopic about the 1970s Russian writer Sergei Dovlatov. (Russia) Alexey German Jr. Biopic about the 1970s Russian writer Sergei Dovlatov. Foxtrot (Israel) Samuel Maoz Israel's Oscar submission last year. It made the finalist list but was not nominated in the end. (Israel) Samuel Maoz Israel's Oscar submission last year. It made the finalist list but was not nominated in the end. Fugue (Poland) Agnieszka Smoczynska From the director of popular mermaid horror film The Lure but unlikely as Poland's submission. Girl (Belgium) Lukas Dhont BELGIUM'S OFFICIAL ENTRY which is likely to be met with some resistance since a cis actor is playing a trans woman (the director needed a young trained ballet dancer for the role, hence the casting). Hoping to see this at TIFF next month, but having trouble finding a place for it in the schedule. (Belgium) Lukas Dhont BELGIUM'S OFFICIAL ENTRY which is likely to be met with some resistance since a cis actor is playing a trans woman (the director needed a young trained ballet dancer for the role, hence the casting). Hoping to see this at TIFF next month, but having trouble finding a place for it in the schedule. Happy As Lazzaro (Italy) Alice Rohrwacher If Italy doesn't go with Dogman they might go with this. Well-liked at Cannes. (Italy) Alice Rohrwacher If Italy doesn't go with Dogman they might go with this. Well-liked at Cannes. Longing (Israel) Savi Gabizon Not one of Israel's finalists this year as it competed at home last year. (Israel) Savi Gabizon Not one of Israel's finalists this year as it competed at home last year. Mademoiselle Paradis (Austria) Barbara Albert Loved this movie about a blind pianist at TIFF last year. Would be thrilled to see it submitted and it's eligible as it didn't open in Austria until after the cut-off date last year. (Austria) Barbara Albert Loved this movie about a blind pianist at TIFF last year. Would be thrilled to see it submitted and it's eligible as it didn't open in Austria until after the cut-off date last year. Men Dont Cry (Bosnia And Herzegovina, Germany, Slovenia, Croatia) Alen Drljevic Bosnia's Oscar submission last year. It was not nominated. (Bosnia And Herzegovina, Germany, Slovenia, Croatia) Alen Drljevic Bosnia's Oscar submission last year. It was not nominated. Michael Inside (Ireland) Frank Berry An 18 year old is caught in possession of drugs in this English language drama. (Ireland) Frank Berry An 18 year old is caught in possession of drugs in this English language drama. Milada (Czech Republic) David Mrnka Ayelet Zurer stars in this WW II era drama about a Czech politican. But it's in English so it won't be submitted. (Czech Republic) David Mrnka Ayelet Zurer stars in this WW II era drama about a Czech politican. But it's in English so it won't be submitted. Mug (Poland) Magorzata Szumowska This dramedy about a man who gets a face transplant won the Silver Bear at Berlinale but it's unlikely as a submission since Poland has Cold War. (Poland) Magorzata Szumowska This dramedy about a man who gets a face transplant won the Silver Bear at Berlinale but it's unlikely as a submission since Poland has Cold War. One Day (Hungary) Zsofia Szilagyi Szilagyi was assistant to the director on On Body and Soul, Hungary's terrific Oscar nominee last year. This is her feature directorial debut. But, that said, I don't suspect Hungary will submit her film since there's a new film out by Laszlo Nemes, called Sunset. Nemes won Hungary the Oscar for his debut (Son of Saul). (Hungary) Zsofia Szilagyi Szilagyi was assistant to the director on On Body and Soul, Hungary's terrific Oscar nominee last year. This is her feature directorial debut. But, that said, I don't suspect Hungary will submit her film since there's a new film out by Laszlo Nemes, called Sunset. Nemes won Hungary the Oscar for his debut (Son of Saul). Paddington 2 (UK) Paul King (UK) Paul King Petra (Spain) Jaime Rosales Not a finalist for the Spanish submission but it's not technically scheduled to open in Spain til after the cutoff date so perhaps it'll be a submission next year? (Spain) Jaime Rosales Not a finalist for the Spanish submission but it's not technically scheduled to open in Spain til after the cutoff date so perhaps it'll be a submission next year? Pity (Greece) Babis Makridis A drama that sounds like a comedy about a man addicted to pity and sadness. Could be Greece's choice but I'll admit that I'm not remotely up on what's happening in Greek cinema. Anyone? (Greece) Babis Makridis A drama that sounds like a comedy about a man addicted to pity and sadness. Could be Greece's choice but I'll admit that I'm not remotely up on what's happening in Greek cinema. Anyone? Pomegranate Orchard (Azerbaijan) Ilgar Najaf Azerbaijan's Oscar submission last year. It was not nominated. (Azerbaijan) Ilgar Najaf Azerbaijan's Oscar submission last year. It was not nominated. Pororoca (Romania) Constantin Popescu A drama about a father whose daughter goes missing. Not Romania's selection this year (Romania) Constantin Popescu A drama about a father whose daughter goes missing. Not Romania's selection this year Scary Mother (Georgia) Ana Urushadze Georgia's Oscar submission last year. It was not nominated. (Georgia) Ana Urushadze Georgia's Oscar submission last year. It was not nominated. Shock Waves: Diary Of My Mind (Switzerland) Ursula Meier Switzerland went with a different film for Oscar (Switzerland) Ursula Meier Switzerland went with a different film for Oscar Styx (Germany, Austria) Wolfgang Fischer Not sure which country can claim this one. (Germany, Austria) Wolfgang Fischer Not sure which country can claim this one. The Captain (Germany) Robert Schwentke Schwentke has spent the last decade of his career making American action movies (RED, Flight Plan, etcetera) but returned home to make this WW II movie. (Germany) Robert Schwentke Schwentke has spent the last decade of his career making American action movies (RED, Flight Plan, etcetera) but returned home to make this WW II movie. The Giant (Spain) Aitor Arregi This is one of Spain's three finalists for submission. (Spain) Aitor Arregi This is one of Spain's three finalists for submission. The Guilty (Denmark) Gustav Moller A thriller about an emergency call to a police officer from a kidnapped woman. It won Sundance's Audience favorite award in world cinema and is heavily suspected to be Denmark's submission. Denmark is on their hottest Oscar streak ever after a long dry spell (they sat out almost all of the 1990s and 2000s after three consecutive nominations with two wins in the 1980s). In the last eight years they've been nominated five times and won the prize on one of those outings. How long can they keep this up? (Denmark) Gustav Moller A thriller about an emergency call to a police officer from a kidnapped woman. It won Sundance's Audience favorite award in world cinema and is heavily suspected to be Denmark's submission. Denmark is on their hottest Oscar streak ever after a long dry spell (they sat out almost all of the 1990s and 2000s after three consecutive nominations with two wins in the 1980s). In the last eight years they've been nominated five times and won the prize on one of those outings. How long can they keep this up? The House By The Sea (France) Robert Guediguian (France) Robert Guediguian The House That Jack Built (Denmark) Lars Von Trier In English, not that it would have been submitted anyway. (Denmark) Lars Von Trier In English, not that it would have been submitted anyway. The Summer (Russia) Kirill Serebrennikov This is from the director of The Student. He had a rock and roll drama making waves at festivals earlier this year called Leto? Is this the same picture retitled because I see no film called The Summer on his filmography? Genworth Financial, Inc. is a financial services company, which engages in the provision of insurance, wealth management, investment and financial solutions. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Mortgage Insurance, Australia Mortgage Insurance, U.S. Life Insurance, and Runoff. The U.S. Mortgage Insurance segment offers mortgage insurance products predominantly insuring prime-based, individually underwritten residential mortgage loans. The Australia Mortgage Insurance segment offers flow mortgage insurance and selectively provides bulk mortgage insurance that aids in the sale of mortgages to the capital markets and helps lenders manage capital and risk. The U.S. Life Insurance segment offers long-term care insurance products as well as service traditional life insurance and fixed annuity products in the United States. The Runoff segment includes the results of non-strategic products which are no longer actively sold but continue to service its existing blocks of business. Its non-strategic products primarily include variable annuity, variable life insurance, institutional, corporate-owned life insurance and other accident and health insurance products. The company was fo Read More The following companies are subsidiares of HP: 3Com, 3PAR, ABB CADE, AOME Holdings Ltd., Alpha Holding One B.V., Alpha Holding Two B.V., Anatolus Holding B.V., Antila Holding B.V., Apogee, Apogee Corp, Apollo Computer, AppIQ, Applied Optoelectronic Tech, Aptitude Management Consulting W.L.L., Aquarius Holding S.C.A., ArcSight, Arteis, Artivision Technologies, Aruba Networks, Atos Origin, Atos Origin Middle East group, Aurasma Limited, Autonomy Corporation, Avantek, BT & D Technologies, Bitfone Corporation, Bluestone Software, Boonton Radio, Bristol Technology Inc., Bromium, CEC Europe Service Management, CGNZ, CaLan, Caleum Holding B.V., Callisto Holding B.V., Colorado Memory Systems, Colubris Networks, Colubris Networks, Columba Holding B.V., Compaq Cayman Holdings Company, Compaq Cayman Holdings General Partnership II, Compaq Cayman Islands Vision Company, Compaq Information Technologies, Compaq Information Technologies LLC, Computer Insurance Company, Computing and Printing Global Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Computing and Printing Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Computing and Printing Professional Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Consera Software, ConteXtream Inc, Convex Computer, Crater Holding B.V., David Vision Systems GmbH, Dazel, Division, Dorado Holding B.V., EDS (Electronic Data Systems), EEsof, EYP Mission Critical Facilities, Elara Holding B.V., ElseWare, Eon Systems, Eucalyptus Systems, Eunomia Holding B.V., ExcellerateHRO, Exstream Software, Extreme Logic, F&M Scientific Corporation, F.L. Moseley Company, Flame Holding B.V., Fortify Software, Four Pi Systems, Gram Global Operations Limited, Gram Inc., HP Austria GmbH, HP Belgium BVBA, HP Bermuda Holding One L.P., HP Bilgisayar ve Bask Teknolojileri Limited Sirketi, HP Bilgisayar ve Bask Teknolojileri Limited Sirketi Ankara Subesi, HP Brasil Industria e Comercio de Equipamentos Eletronicos Ltda, HP Brasil Industria e Comercio de Equipamentos Eletronicos Ltda.Branch 01 (Tambore), HP Brasil Industria e Comercio de Equipamentos Eletronicos Ltda.Branch 2 (Sorocaba), HP Brasil Industria e Comercio de Equipamentos Eletronicos Ltda.Branch 3 (Porto Alegre), HP Canada Co., HP China Holding B.V., HP Colombia SAS, HP Computing and Printing Middle East FZ-LLC, HP Computing and Printing Nigeria Ltd, HP Computing and Printing Systems India Private Limited, HP Computing and Printing d.o.o. (Beograd), HP Computing and Printing d.o.o. (Zagreb), HP Deutschland GmbH, HP Deutschland Holding GmbH, HP Europe B.V. Regional Dubai Branch, HP Europe BV Amsterdam Meyrin Branch, HP Finland Oy, HP France Holding SAS, HP France SAS, HP France SAS Bahrain Branch, HP Global Trading B.V., HP Global Trading B.V. Kazakhstan Branch, HP Hewlett Packard Group LLC, HP Holdgate Co., HP Inc (Thailand) Ltd., HP Inc AP Hong Kong Limited, HP Inc Argentina S.R.L., HP Inc Bulgaria EOOD, HP Inc Chile Comercial Limitada, HP Inc Costa Rica Limitada, HP Inc Czech Republic s.r.o., HP Inc Danmark ApS, HP Inc Gulf, HP Inc Hong Kong Limited, HP Inc Magyarorszag Kft., HP Inc Polska sp. z o.o., HP Inc Romania SRL, HP Inc Slovakia s.r.o., HP Inc Tunisie SARL, HP Inc UK Holding Limited, HP Inc UK Limited, HP Inc. Peru SRL, HP Information Technology R & D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., HP International Sarl, HP International Sarl (Puerto Rico Branch) LLC, HP International Trading B.V., HP International Trading B.V. (Puerto Rico Branch) LLC, HP Italy Holding S.r.l., HP Italy S.r.l., HP Japan Inc., HP Korea Inc., HP Luxembourg S.C.A., HP Nederland B.V., HP New Zealand, HP Norge AS, HP PPS Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., HP PPS Australia Pty Ltd, HP PPS Costa Rica Limitada, HP PPS India Operations Private Limited, HP PPS Israel Ltd, HP PPS Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., HP PPS Maroc SARL, HP PPS Multimedia Sdn. Bhd., HP PPS Philippines Inc., HP PPS Sales Sdn. Bhd., HP PPS Services India Private Limited, HP PPS Singapore (Sales) Pte. Ltd., HP PPS Sverige AB, HP Pakistan (Private) Limited, HP Panama S. de R.L., HP Printing and Computing Solutions S.L.U., HP Printing and Personal Systems Hellas EPE, HP Production Company Limited, HP Puerto Rico LLC, HP Schweiz GmbH, HP Solutions Creation and Development Services S.L.U., HP South Africa Proprietary Limited, HP Taiwan Information Technology Ltd., HP Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., HP Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd. Chengdu Branch, HP Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd. Guangzhou Branch, HP Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd. Nanjing Branch, HP Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd. Shanghai Branch, HP Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., HP Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, HP Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. Dalian Branch, HP Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. Zhangjiang Branch, HP WebOS LLC, HP-PPS Ecuador Cia. Ltda, HPCP-Computing and Printing Portugal Unipessoal Lda., HPI Bermuda Holdings LLC, HPI Brazil Holdings LLC, HPI CCHGPII LLC, HPI CCHGPII Sub LLC, HPI Federal LLC, HPI J1 Holdings LLC, HPI J2 Holdings LLC, HPI Luxembourg LLC, HPQ Holdings LLC, Hadar Holding B.V., Handspring Corporation, Heartstream, Hewlett Packard Distribution Center Panama S. de R.L, Hewlett-Packard (Chongqing) Co. Ltd, Hewlett-Packard (Chongqing) Manufacturing Export Procurement and Settlement Co. Ltd., Hewlett-Packard (Japan NK) Holdings C.V., Hewlett-Packard Angola Ltda., Hewlett-Packard Arabia LLC, Hewlett-Packard Cambridge B.V., Hewlett-Packard Company Archives LLC, Hewlett-Packard Copenhagen B.V., Hewlett-Packard Danube B.V., Hewlett-Packard Development Company L.P., Hewlett-Packard Enterprises LLC, Hewlett-Packard Europe BVAbu Dhabi Branch, Hewlett-Packard G.K., Hewlett-Packard Global Holdings B.V., Hewlett-Packard Global Investments B.V., Hewlett-Packard India Sales Private Limited, Hewlett-Packard Indigo B.V., Hewlett-Packard Indigo Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Industrial Printing Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Industrial Printing Solutions Europe BVBA, Hewlett-Packard International Pte Ltd, Hewlett-Packard International Pte Ltd Taiwan Branch, Hewlett-Packard Ireland (Holdings) Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Ireland 1 Limited, Hewlett-Packard Ireland Limited, Hewlett-Packard KSA Ltd, Hewlett-Packard KSA Ltd. Qatar Branch, Hewlett-Packard Lisbon B.V., Hewlett-Packard MENA FZ-LLC, Hewlett-Packard MENA FZ-LLC Libya Branch, Hewlett-Packard Malaysia Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd., Hewlett-Packard Mercator B.V., Hewlett-Packard Munich B.V., Hewlett-Packard Products B.V., Hewlett-Packard Products C.V., Hewlett-Packard Products CV 1 LLC, Hewlett-Packard Products CV 2 LLC, Hewlett-Packard Services Saudi Arabia Company, Hewlett-Packard Singapore (Private) Limited, Hewlett-Packard Sunnyvale B.V., Hewlett-Packard Vietnam Ltd., Hewlett-Packard West Indies Limited, Hewlett-Packard World Trade LLC, Hiflex Software, HyperX, IBRIX, IndiGo, Indigo America Inc., Kale Holding B.V., Kale Holding B.V. (Puerto Rico Branch) LLC, Knightsbridge Solutions, Lefthand Networks, Limited Liability Company HP Inc, Logoworks, Lyra Holding B.V., MacDermid ColorSpan, ManageOne, Melodeo, Mensa Holding B.V., Mercury Interactive, Metrix Network Systems, NUR Macroprinters, Neoware, Nihon HP Nin-I Kumiai, Novadigm, NuView ManageX, Nur do Brasil Ltda, OOO "Hewlett-Packard RUS", Opelin, Opelin, Open Skies, Opsware, Opsware, Optimization Systems, Optotech, OuterBay Technologies, OuterBay Technologies, PERSIST Technologies, PFE Investments Ltd., PIXACO, PROLIN, PT Hewlett-Packard Indonesia, Palm, Palm, Palm Asia Pacific Limited Taiwan Branch, Palm Comercio de Aparelhos Eletronicos Ltda., Palm Europe Limited, Palm Global Operations Limited, Palm Inc., Palm Ireland Investment, Palm Latin America Inc., Palm South America LLC, Palm Trademark Holding Company LLC, Pearl Holding Cooperatief U.A., Peregrine Systems, Perseus Holding B.V., Phoenix Holding L.P., PipeBeach, Polaris Holding One L.P., Polaris Holding Two L.P., PolyServe, Propus Holding B.V., Qosnetics, Quartz Holding Co, RLX Technologies, Regor Holding B.V., SPI Dynamics, Samsung Printing Solutions, Scitex, Scitex Vision, Scope Communications, Scorpius Holding B.V., Security Force Software, Shoreline Investment Management Company, Shunra Software, Shunra Software, Silverwire Holding, Snapfish, StorageApps, Stratavia, Synstar, Tabblo, Talking Blocks, Tall Tree Insurance Company, Techink International Pte. Ltd., Technology Partners, Telegra, The Technology Partners, Tourmaline Holding B.V., Tower Software, Tower Software Engineering Pty Ltd, Transoft Networks, Trellis Software & Controls, Triaton, Trinagy, TruLogica, Trustgenix, Turquoise Holding L.P., VeriFone, Verifone, Versatest, Vertica Systems, Vesta Holding B.V., Vital Technology Pte Ltd, Voltage Security, VoodooPC, and ZAO Hewlett-Packard A.O.. The following companies are subsidiares of InterContinental Hotels Group: 2250 Blake Street Hotel LLC, 24th Street Operator Sub LLC, 36th Street IHG Sub LLC, 426 Main Ave LLC, 46 Nevins Street Associates LLC, Allegro Management LLC, Alpha Kimball Hotel LLC, American Commonwealth Assurance Co. Ltd., Asia Pacific Holdings Limited, BHMC Canada Inc., BHR Holdings B.V., BHR Luxembourg SARL, BHR Pacific Holdings Inc., BHTC Canada Inc., BOC Barclay Sub LLC, Barclay Operating Corp., Bristol Oakbrook Tenant Company, Cafe Biarritz, Cambridge Lodging LLC, Capital Lodging LLC, Compania Inter-Continental De Hoteles El Salvador SA, Crowne Plaza Amsterdam (Management) B.V., Crowne Plaza LLC, Cumberland Akers Hotel LLC, Dunwoody Operations Inc., EVEN Real Estate Holding LLC, Edinburgh IC Limited, General Innkeeping Acceptance Corporation, Guangzhou SC Hotels Services Ltd., H.I. (Ireland) Limited, H.I. Soaltee Management Company Ltd, HC International Holdings Inc., HH France Holdings SAS, HH Hotels (EMEA) B.V., HH Hotels (Romania) SRL, HI Sugarloaf LLC, HIM (Aruba) NV, Hale International Ltd., Hoft Properties LLC, Holiday Hospitality Franchising LLC, Holiday Inn Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Holiday Inns (China) Ltd, Holiday Inns (Chongqing) Inc., Holiday Inns (Courtalin) Holdings SAS, Holiday Inns (Courtalin) SAS, Holiday Inns (England) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Germany) LLC, Holiday Inns (Guangzhou) Inc., Holiday Inns (Jamaica) Inc., Holiday Inns (Malaysia) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Middle East) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Philippines) Inc., Holiday Inns (Saudi Arabia) Inc., Holiday Inns (South East Asia) Inc., Holiday Inns (Thailand) Ltd., Holiday Inns (UK) Inc., Holiday Inns Crowne Plaza (Hong Kong) Inc., Holiday Inns Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, Holiday Inns Inc., Holiday Inns Investment (Nepal) Ltd., Holiday Inns of America (UK) Ltd., Holiday Inns of Belgium N.V., Holiday Pacific Equity Corporation, Holiday Pacific LLC, Holiday Pacific Partners LP, Hotel Inter-Continental London Limited, Hotel InterContinental London (Holdings) Limited, Hoteles Y Turismo HIH SRL, IC Hotelbetriebsfuhrungs GmbH, IC Hotels Management (Portugal) Unipessoal Lda, IC International Hotels Limited Liability Company, IHC (Thailand) Limited, IHC Buckhead LLC, IHC Edinburgh (Holdings), IHC Hopkins (Holdings) Corp., IHC Hotel Limited, IHC Inter-Continental (Holdings) Corp., IHC London (Holdings), IHC M-H (Holdings) Corp., IHC May Fair (Holdings) Limited, IHC May Fair Hotel Limited, IHC Overseas (U.K.) Limited, IHC UK (Holdings) Limited, IHC United States (Holdings) Corp., IHC Willard (Holdings) Corp., IHG (Australasia) Limited, IHG (Marseille) SAS, IHG (Thailand) Limited, IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan LLC, IHG ANA Hotels Holdings Co. Ltd., IHG Bangkok Ltd, IHG Brasil Administracao de Hoteis e Servicos Ltda, IHG Commission Services SRL, IHG Community Development LLC, IHG Cyprus Limited, IHG ECS (Barbados) SRL, IHG Franchising Brasil Ltda, IHG Franchising DR Corporation, IHG Franchising LLC, IHG Hotels (New Zealand) Limited, IHG Hotels Limited, IHG Hotels Management (Australia) Pty Limited, IHG Hotels Nigeria Limited, IHG Hotels South Africa (Pty) Ltd, IHG International Partnership, IHG Istanbul Otel Yonetim Limited Sirketi, IHG Japan (Management) LLC, IHG Japan (Osaka) LLC, IHG Management (Maryland) LLC, IHG Management (Netherlands) B.V., IHG Management MD Barclay Sub LLC, IHG Management SL d.o.o, IHG Management d.o.o. Beograd, IHG Orchard Street Member LLC, IHG PS Nominees Limited, IHG Systems Pty Ltd, IHG Szalloda Budapest Szolgaltato Kft., IHG de Argentina SA, IND East Village SD Holdings LLC, Inter-Continental D.C. Operating Corp., Inter-Continental Florida Investment Corp., Inter-Continental Florida Partner Corp., Inter-Continental Hospitality Corporation, Inter-Continental Hoteleira Limitada, Inter-Continental Hotels (Montreal) Operating Corp., Inter-Continental Hotels (Montreal) Owning Corp., Inter-Continental Hotels (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation, Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation de Venezuela C.A., Inter-Continental Hotels of San Francisco Inc., Inter-Continental IOHC (Mauritius) Limited, Inter-Continental Management (Australia) Pty Limited, InterContinental (Branston) 1 Limited, InterContinental (PB) 1, InterContinental (PB) 2, InterContinental (PB) 3 Limited, InterContinental Berlin Service Company GmbH, InterContinental Brasil Administracao de Hoteis Ltda, InterContinental Gestion Hotelera S.L., InterContinental Hotel Berlin GmbH, InterContinental Hotel Dusseldorf GmbH (Germany), InterContinental Hotels (Puerto Rico) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, InterContinental Hotels Group (Australia) Pty Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (Canada) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (Espana) SA, InterContinental Hotels Group (Greater China) Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (India) Pvt. Ltd, InterContinental Hotels Group (Japan) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (New Zealand) Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (Shanghai) Ltd., InterContinental Hotels Group Customer Services Ltd., InterContinental Hotels Group Healthcare Trustee Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group Operating Corp., InterContinental Hotels Group Resources Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group Services Company, InterContinental Hotels Group do Brasil Limitada, InterContinental Hotels Italia S.r.L., InterContinental Hotels Limited, InterContinental Hotels Management GmbH, InterContinental Hotels Nevada Corporation, InterContinental Management AM LLC, InterContinental Management Bulgaria EOOD, InterContinental Management France SAS, InterContinental Management Poland sp. z.o.o, InterContinental Overseas Holding Corporation, Intercontinental Hotels Corporation Limited, KG Benefits LLC, KG Gift Card Inc., KG Liability LLC, KG Technology LLC, KHP Washington Operator LLC, KHRG 11th Avenue Hotel LLC, KHRG 851 LLC, KHRG Aertson LLC, KHRG Alexandria LLC, KHRG Alexis LLC, KHRG Allegro LLC, KHRG Argyle LLC, KHRG Austin Beverage Company LLC, KHRG Baltimore LLC, KHRG Born LLC, KHRG Boston Hotel LLC, KHRG Canary LLC, KHRG Cayman Employer Ltd., KHRG Cayman LLC, KHRG DC 1731 LLC, KHRG DC 2505 LLC, KHRG Donovan LLC, KHRG Employer LLC, KHRG Goleta LLC, KHRG Gray LLC, KHRG Gray U2 LLC, KHRG Hillcrest LLC, KHRG Huntington Beach LLC, KHRG King Street LLC, KHRG La Peer LLC, KHRG Miami Beach LLC, KHRG Muse LLC, KHRG NPC LLC, KHRG Onyx LLC, KHRG Palladian LLC, KHRG Palomar Phoenix LLC, KHRG Philly Monaco LLC, KHRG Pittsburgh LLC, KHRG Reynolds LLC, KHRG Riverplace LLC, KHRG SFD LLC, KHRG Sacramento LLC, KHRG Savannah LLC, KHRG Schofield LLC, KHRG Sedona LLC, KHRG State Street LLC, KHRG Sutter LLC, KHRG Sutter Union LLC, KHRG Taconic LLC, KHRG Tariff LLC, KHRG Texas Hospitality LLC, KHRG Texas Operations LLC, KHRG Tryon LLC, KHRG VZ Austin LLC, KHRG Vero Beach LLC, KHRG Vintage Park LLC, KHRG WPB LLC, KHRG Wabash LLC, KHRG Westwood LLC, KHRG Wilshire LLC, KHRG Zamora LLC, Kimpton Hollywood Licenses LLC, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group LLC, Kimpton Phoenix Licenses Holdings LLC, Kimpton Sedona Licenses LLC, Louisiana Acquisitions Corp., MH Lodging LLC, Mercer Fairview Holdings LLC, PML Services LLC, PT SC Hotels & Resorts Indonesia, Pollstrong Limited, Powell Pine Inc., Priscilla Holiday of Texas Inc., RM Lodging LLC, Regent Hotels and Resorts, Resort Services International (Cayo Largo) L.P., SBS Maryland Beverage Company LLC, SC Cellars Limited, SC Hotels International Services Inc., SC Leisure Group Limited, SC NAS 2 Limited, SC Quest Limited, SC Reservations (Philippines) Inc., SCH Insurance Company, SCIH Branston 3, SF MH Acquisition LLC, SPHC Group Pty Ltd., SPHC Management Ltd., Semiramis for training of Hotel Personnel and Hotel Management SAE, Six Continents Corporate Services, Six Continents Holdings Limited, Six Continents Hotels Inc., Six Continents Hotels International Limited, Six Continents Hotels de Colombia SA, Six Continents International Holdings B.V., Six Continents Investments Limited, Six Continents Limited, Six Continents Overseas Holdings Limited, Six Continents Restaurants Limited, SixCo North America Inc., Solamar Lodging LLC, Southern Pacific Hotel Corporation (BVI) Ltd., Southern Pacific Hotels Properties Limited, Universal de Hoteles SA, White Shield Insurance Company Limited, and World Trade Centre Montreal Hotel Corporation. The following companies are subsidiares of DaVita: Aberdeen Dialysis LLC, Accountable Kidney Care LLC, Adair Dialysis LLC, American Fork Dialysis LLC, American Medical Insurance Inc., Animas Dialysis LLC, Arcadia Gardens Dialysis LLC, Ashdow Dialysis LLC, Atlantic Dialysis LLC, Austin Dialysis Centers L.P., Barnell Dialysis LLC, Barrons Dialysis LLC, Barton Dialysis LLC, Bastrop Dialysis LLC, Beachside Dialysis LLC, Beck Dialysis LLC, Bellevue Dialysis LLC, Bemity Dialysis LLC, Beverly Hills Dialysis Partnership, Birch Dialysis LLC, Bladon Dialysis LLC, Bliss Dialysis LLC, Bohama Dialysis LLC, Bowan Dialysis LLC, Braddock Dialysis LLC, Bridges Dialysis LLC, Brimfield Dialysis LLC, Brook Dialysis LLC, Brownsville Kidney Center Ltd., Brownwood Dialysis LLC, Bruno Dialysis LLC, Buckhorn Dialysis LLC, Buford Dialysis LLC, Bullards Dialysis LLC, Bullock Dialysis LLC, Calante Dialysis LLC, Campton Dialysis LLC, Canyon Springs Dialysis LLC, Capes Dialysis LLC, Capital Dialysis Partnership, Capron Dialysis LLC, Carlton Dialysis LLC, Carroll County Dialysis Facility Inc., Carroll County Dialysis Facility Limited Partnership, Cascades Dialysis LLC, Caverns Dialysis LLC, Cedar Dialysis LLC, Centennial LV LLC, Central Carolina Dialysis Centers LLC, Central Georgia Dialysis LLC, Central Iowa Dialysis Partners LLC, Central Kentucky Dialysis Centers LLC, Channel Dialysis LLC, Cheraw Dialysis LLC, Chicago Heights Dialysis LLC, Chipeta Dialysis LLC, Churchill Dialysis LLC, Cinco Rios Dialysis LLC, Clark Dialysis LLC, Clayton Dialysis LLC, Cleburne Dialysis LLC, Clinica Central do Bonfim S.A., Clinton Township Dialysis LLC, Clyfee Dialysis LLC, Columbus-RNA-DaVita LLC, Conconully Dialysis LLC, Continental Dialysis Center Inc., Couer Dialysis LLC, Court Dialysis LLC, Cowell Dialysis LLC, Cowesett Dialysis LLC, Crossings Dialysis LLC, Crystals Dialysis LLC, Cuivre Dialysis LLC, Culbert Dialysis LLC, DC Healthcare International Inc., DNP Management Company LLC, DPS CKD LLC, DV Care Netherlands B.V., DV Care Netherlands C.V., DVA Healthcare - Southwest Ohio LLC, DVA Healthcare Renal Care Inc., DVA Healthcare of Maryland LLC, DVA Healthcare of Massachusetts Inc., DVA Healthcare of New London LLC, DVA Healthcare of Norwich LLC, DVA Healthcare of Pennsylvania LLC, DVA Healthcare of Tuscaloosa LLC, DVA Holdings Pte. Ltd., DVA Laboratory Services Inc., DVA Renal Healthcare Inc., DVA of New York Inc., DaVita - Riverside II LLC, DaVita - Riverside LLC, DaVita - West LLC, DaVita APAC Holding B.V., DaVita Brasil Participacoes e Servicos de Nefrologia Ltda., DaVita Care (Saudi Arabia), DaVita Dakota Dialysis Center LLC, DaVita Deutschland AG, DaVita Deutschland Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, DaVita El Paso East L.P., DaVita Germany GmbH, DaVita HK Holdings Limited, DaVita HealthCare Brasil Servicos Medicos Ltda., DaVita International Limited, DaVita Nefromed Servicos de Nefrologia Ltda., DaVita Nephron Care Servicos de Nefrologia Ltda., DaVita Rien Servicos de Nefrologia Ltda., DaVita S.A.S., DaVita Servicos de Nefrologia Asa Sul Ltda., DaVita Servicos de Nefrologia Distrito Federal Ltda., DaVita Servicos de Nefrologia Guarulhos Ltda., DaVita Servicos de Nefrologia Jardim das Imbuias Ltda., DaVita Servicos de Nefrologia Taubate Ltda., DaVita Servicos de Nefrologia de Araraquara Ltda., DaVita Sp. z o.o., DaVita Sud-Niedersachsen GmbH, DaVita Transrim Servicos de Nefrologia Ltda., DaVita UTR Servicos de Nefrologia Ltda., DaVita VillageHealth Inc., DaVita of New York Inc., Dallas-Fort Worth Nephrology L.P., Damon Dialysis LLC, Dialysis Holdings Inc., Dialysis of Des Moines LLC, Dialysis of Northern Illinois LLC, Dierks Dialysis LLC, Dolores Dialysis LLC, Dome Dialysis LLC, Doves Dialysis LLC, Downriver Centers Inc., EURODIAL - Centro de Nefrologia e Dialise de Leiria S.A., East End Dialysis Center Inc., East Ft. Lauderdale LLC, Ebrea Dialysis LLC, Edisto Dialysis LLC, Eldrist Dialysis LLC, Elgin Dialysis LLC, Elk Grove Dialysis Center LLC, Empire State DC Inc., Etowah Dialysis LLC, Ettleton Dialysis LLC, Eufaula Dialysis LLC, Falcon LLC, Family Health Care of Central Florida, Fanthorp Dialysis LLC, Federal Way Assurance Inc., Fields Dialysis LLC, Five Star Dialysis LLC, Fjords Dialysis LLC, Flagler Dialysis LLC, Flamingo Park Kidney Center Inc., Forester Dialysis LLC, Freehold Artificial Kidney Center L.L.C., Fremont Dialysis LLC, Frontier Dialysis LLC, Fullerton Dialysis Center LLC, GDC International LLC, Gambro Healthcare, Ganois Dialysis LLC, Garner Dialysis LLC, Garrett Dialysis LLC, Gaviota Dialysis LLC, Gebhard Dialysis LLC, Genesis KC Development LLC, GiveLife Dialysis LLC, Glassland Dialysis LLC, Glosser Dialysis LLC, Goliad Dialysis LLC, Grand Home Dialysis LLC, Greater Las Vegas Dialysis LLC, Greater Los Angeles Dialysis Centers LLC, Green Country Dialysis LLC, Green Desert Dialysis LLC, Griffin Dialysis LLC, Groten Dialysis LLC, Harmony Dialysis LLC, Hart Dialysis LLC, Hawn Dialysis LLC, Healthcare Partners, Helmer Dialysis LLC, Hennepin Dialysis LLC, Hewett Dialysis LLC, Hilgards Dialysis LLC, Hochatown Dialysis LLC, Home Kidney Care LLC, Honeyman Dialysis LLC, Houston Kidney Center/Total Renal Care Integrated Service Network Limited Partnership, Hummer Dialysis LLC, Hunter Dialysis LLC, Huntington Artificial Kidney Center Ltd., Hyde Dialysis LLC, IDC -International Dialysis Centers Lda, ISD Bartlett LLC, ISD Corpus Christi LLC, ISD I Holding Company Inc., ISD II Holding Company Inc., ISD Las Vegas LLC, ISD Lees Summit LLC, ISD Renal Inc., ISD Schaumburg LLC, ISD Spring Valley LLC, ISD Summit Renal Care LLC, Iroquois Dialysis LLC, Jacinto Dialysis LLC, Jenness Dialysis LLC, Kamiah Dialysis LLC, Kanika Dialysis LLC, Kavett Dialysis LLC, Kenai Dialysis LLC, Kershaw Dialysis LLC, Kidney Home Center LLC, Kimball Dialysis LLC, Kingston Dialysis LLC, Kinnick Dialysis LLC, Kinter Dialysis LLC, Kiowa Dialysis LLC, Knickerbocker Dialysis Inc., Lakeshore Dialysis LLC, Landing Dialysis LLC, Landor Dialysis LLC, Lassen Dialysis LLC, Leasburg Dialysis LLC, Leawood Dialysis LLC, Lees Dialysis LLC, Legare Development LLC, Liberty RC Inc., Lifeline Pensacola LLC, Lifeline Vascular Center-Albany LLC, Lincoln Park Dialysis Services Inc., Livingston Dialysis LLC, Llano Dialysis LLC, Lofield Dialysis LLC, Logoley Dialysis LLC, Lone Dialysis LLC, Long Beach Dialysis Center LLC, Lord Baltimore Dialysis LLC, Lory Dialysis LLC, Lourdes Dialysis LLC, Lyndale Dialysis LLC, MVZ DaVita Alzey GmbH, MVZ DaVita Aurich GmbH, MVZ DaVita Bad Aibling GmbH, MVZ DaVita Bad Duben GmbH, MVZ DaVita Cardio Centrum Dusseldorf GmbH, MVZ DaVita Dillenburg GmbH, MVZ DaVita Dinkelsbuhl GmbH, MVZ DaVita Dormagen GmbH, MVZ DaVita Duisburg GmbH, MVZ DaVita Elsterland GmbH, MVZ DaVita Emden GmbH, MVZ DaVita Falkensee GmbH, MVZ DaVita Geilenkirchen GmbH, MVZ DaVita Gera GmbH, MVZ DaVita Iserlohn GmbH, MVZ DaVita Monchengladbach GmbH, MVZ DaVita Neuss GmbH, MVZ DaVita Niederrhein GmbH, MVZ DaVita Nierenzentrum Aachen Alsdorf GmbH, MVZ DaVita Nierenzentrum Berlin-Britz GmbH, MVZ DaVita Nierenzentrum Hamm-Ahlen GmbH, MVZ DaVita Prenzlau-Pasewalk GmbH, MVZ DaVita Rhein-Ahr GmbH, MVZ DaVita Rhein-Ruhr GmbH, MVZ DaVita Schwalm-Eder GmbH, MVZ DaVita Viersen GmbH, Madigan Dialysis LLC, Magney Dialysis LLC, Magoffin Dialysis LLC, Makonee Dialysis LLC, Marlton Dialysis Center LLC, Marseille Dialysis LLC, Mason-Dixon Dialysis Facilities Inc., Mazonia Dialysis LLC, Mellen Dialysis LLC, Melnea Dialysis LLC, Memorial Dialysis Center L.P., Meridian Dialysis LLC, Mermet Dialysis LLC, Milltown Dialysis LLC, Minam Dialysis LLC, Minneopa Dialysis LLC, Mountain West Dialysis Services LLC, Mulgee Dialysis LLC, Nansen Dialysis LLC, Natomas Dialysis LLC, Nauvue Dialysis LLC, Navarro Dialysis LLC, Nephrology Medical Associates of Georgia LLC, Nephrology Practice Solutions LLC, New Bay Dialysis LLC, Nicona Dialysis LLC, Norbert Dialysis LLC, Norte Dialysis LLC, North Austin Dialysis LLC, Northwest Physicians Network, Oasis Dialysis LLC, Ohio River Dialysis LLC, Okanogan Dialysis LLC, Olive Dialysis LLC, Ordust Dialysis LLC, Owyhee Dialysis LLC, Palo Dialysis LLC, Palomar Dialysis LLC, Panther Dialysis LLC, Parkside Dialysis LLC, Pattison Dialysis LLC, Patuk Dialysis LLC, Pearl Dialysis LLC, Pendster Dialysis LLC, Percha Dialysis LLC, Pershing Dialysis LLC, Pfeiffer Dialysis LLC, Philadelphia-Camden Integrated Kidney Care LLC, Physicians Choice Dialysis LLC, Physicians Choice Dialysis Of Alabama LLC, Physicians Dialysis Acquisitions Inc., Physicians Dialysis Ventures LLC, Physicians Dialysis of Lancaster LLC, Physicians Management LLC, Pible Dialysis LLC, Pinson Dialysis LLC, Pittsburgh Dialysis Partners LLC, Piute Dialysis LLC, Plaine Dialysis LLC, Platte Dialysis LLC, Pluribus Dialise - Benfica S.A., Pluribus Dialise - Cascais S.A., Pluribus Dialise S.A., Prairie Dialysis LLC, Prineville Dialysis LLC, Purity Dialysis, RMS Lifeline Inc., RNA - DaVita Dialysis LLC, RV Academy LLC, Ramsey Dialysis LLC, Rayburn Dialysis LLC, Red Willow Dialysis LLC, Redcliff Dialysis LLC, Refuge Dialysis LLC, Renal Center of Beaumont LLC, Renal Center of Fort Dodge LLC, Renal Center of Lewisville LLC, Renal Center of Morristown LLC, Renal Center of Newton LLC, Renal Center of Port Arthur LLC, Renal Center of Tyler L.P.L.L.L.P., Renal Center of West Beaumont LLC, Renal Center of the Hills LLC, Renal Life Link Inc., Renal Treatment Centers - California Inc., Renal Treatment Centers - Illinois Inc., Renal Treatment Centers - Mid-Atlantic Inc., Renal Treatment Centers - Northeast Inc., Renal Treatment Centers - Southeast LP, Renal Treatment Centers - West Inc., Renal Treatment Centers Inc., Renal Ventures Management LLC, RenalServ LLC, Riddle Dialysis LLC, River Valley Dialysis LLC, Rocky Mountain Dialysis Services LLC, Rollins Dialysis LLC, Roose Dialysis LLC, Rophets Dialysis LLC, Roushe Dialysis LLC, Routt Dialysis LLC, Royale Dialysis LLC, Rusk Dialysis LLC, Rutland Dialysis LLC, SAKDC-DaVita Dialysis Partners L.P., Saddleback Dialysis LLC, Sahara Dialysis LLC, San Marcos Dialysis LLC, Santiam Dialysis LLC, Sapelo Dialysis LLC, Saunders Dialysis LLC, Seabay Dialysis LLC, Secour Dialysis LLC, Sensiba Dialysis LLC, Shadow Dialysis LLC, Shayano Dialysis LLC, Shelling Dialysis LLC, Sherman Dialysis LLC, Shetek Dialysis LLC, Shining Star Dialysis Inc., Siena Dialysis Center LLC, Simeon Dialysis LLC, Skagit Dialysis LLC, Soledad Dialysis Center LLC, Somerville Dialysis Center LLC, South Central Florida Dialysis Partners LLC, South Fork Dialysis LLC, Southern Hills Dialysis Center LLC, Southlake Dialysis LLC, Southwest Atlanta Dialysis Centers LLC, Sprague Dialysis LLC, Springpond Dialysis LLC, Star Dialysis LLC, Stevenson Dialysis LLC, Stewart Dialysis LLC, Stines Dialysis LLC, Storrie Dialysis LLC, Sugarloaf Dialysis LLC, Sun City Dialysis Center L.L.C., Sunapee Dialysis LLC, Sunset Dialysis LLC, TRC - Indiana LLC, TRC El Paso Limited Partnership, TRC West Inc., TRC of New York Inc., TRC-Georgetown Regional Dialysis LLC, Talimena Dialysis LLC, Terre Dialysis LLC, The Woodlands Dialysis Center LP, Tortugas Dialysis LLC, Total Renal Care Inc., Total Renal Care Texas Limited Partnership, Total Renal Care of North Carolina LLC, Total Renal Laboratories Inc., Total Renal Research Inc., Toulouse Dialysis LLC, Transmountain Dialysis L.P., Tross Dialysis LLC, Tugman Dialysis LLC, Tunnel Dialysis LLC, Turlock Dialysis Center LLC, Tustin Dialysis Center LLC, Twain Dialysis LLC, Tyler Dialysis LLC, USC-DaVita Dialysis Center LLC, Unicoi Dialysis LLC, University Dialysis Center LLC, Upper Valley Dialysis L.P., Valley Springs Dialysis LLC, Victory Dialysis LLC, VillageHealth DM LLC, Villanueva Dialysis LLC, Vively Health LLC, Vogel Dialysis LLC, Volo Dialysis LLC, Waddell Dialysis LLC, Wakoni Dialysis LLC, Walker Dialysis LLC, Walton Dialysis LLC, Watkins Dialysis LLC, Weldon Dialysis LLC, West Elk Grove Dialysis LLC, West Sacramento Dialysis LLC, Weston Dialysis Center LLC, Whitney Dialysis LLC, Willowbrook Dialysis Center L.P., Winds Dialysis LLC, Wood Dialysis LLC, Woodford Dialysis LLC, Wyandotte Central Dialysis LLC, Yards Dialysis LLC, Ybor City Dialysis LLC, Yucaipa Dialysis LLC, and Zephyrhills Dialysis Center LLC. MAXIMUS, Inc. engages in the operation of government and human services programs. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Services; U.S. Federal Services; and Outside the U.S. The U.S. Services segment offers a variety of business process services, and appeals and assessments for state, provincial and national government programs. The U.S. Federal Services segment includes process solutions, program management, as well as system and software development, and maintenance services for various United States federal civilian programs. The Outside the U.S segment comprises of national, state, and county human services agencies with a variety of business process services, and related consulting services for welfare-to-work, child support, higher education institutions, and other human services programs. The company was founded by David V. Mastran in 1975 and is headquartered in Reston, VA. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Carnival Co. &: 1972 Productions Inc., 6348 Equipment LLC, A.C.N. 098 290 834 Pty. Ltd., A.J. Juneau Dock LLC, AIDA Kundencenter GmbH, Adventure Island Ltd., Air-Sea Holiday GmbH, Alaska Hotel Properties LLC, Barcelona Cruise Terminal SLU, Bay Island Cruise Port S.A., Belize Cruise Terminal Limited, CC U.S. Ventures Inc., CCL Gifts LLC, CSSC Carnival Italy Cruise Investment S.r.L, Carnival (UK) Limited, Carnival Bahamas FC Limited, Carnival Bahamas Holdings Limited, Carnival Corporation & plc Asia Pte. Ltd., Carnival Corporation Hong Kong Limited, Carnival Corporation Korea Ltd., Carnival Corporation Ports Group Japan KK, Carnival Finance LLC, Carnival Grand Bahama Investment Limited, Carnival Investments Limited, Carnival Japan Inc., Carnival License Holdings Limited, Carnival Maritime GmbH, Carnival North America LLC, Carnival Port Holdings Limited, Carnival Ports Inc., Carnival Support Services India Private Limited, Carnival Technical Services (UK) Limited, Carnival Technical Services Finland Limited, Carnival Technical Services GmbH, Carnival Technical Services Inc., Carnival Vanuatu Limited, Costa Crociere PTE Ltd., Costa Crociere S.p.A., Costa Cruceros S.A., Costa Cruise Lines Inc., Costa Cruise Lines UK Limited, Costa Cruises Shipping Services (Shanghai) Company Limited, Costa Cruises Travel Agency (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Costa Cruzeiros Agencia Maritima e Turismo Ltda., Costa Group Digital & Strategic Services GmbH, Costa International B.V., Costa Kreuzfahrten GmbH, Cozumel Cruise Terminal S.A. de C.V., Creative Travel Lab Ltd., Cruise Ships Catering & Services International N.V., Cruise Terminal Services S.A. de C.V., Cruiseport Curacao C.V., D.R. Cruise Port Ltd., Ecospray Technologies S.r.L., F.P.M. SAS, F.P.P. SAS, Fleet Maritime Services (Bermuda) Limited, Fleet Maritime Services Holdings (Bermuda) Limited, Fleet Maritime Services International Limited, GXI LLC, Gibs Inc., Global Experience Innovators Inc., Global Fine Arts Inc., Global Shipping Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Grand Cruise Shipping Unipessoal LdA, Grand Turk Cruise Center Ltd., HAL Antillen N.V., HAL Beheer B.V., HAL Cruises Limited, HAL Maritime Ltd., HAL Nederland N.V., HAL Properties Limited, HAL Services B.V., HSE Hamburg School of Entertainment GmbH, Holding Division Iberocruceros SLU, Holland America Line Inc., Holland America Line N.V., Holland America Line Paymaster of Washington LLC, Holland America Line U.S.A. Inc., Ibero Cruzeiros Ltda., Iberocruceros SLU, Information Assistance Corporation, International Cruise Services S.A. de C.V., International Leisure Travel Inc., International Maritime Recruitment Agency S.A. de C.V., Milestone N.V., Navitrans S.R.L., Ocean Bahamas Innovation Ltd., Ocean Medallion Fulfillment Ltd., Operadora Catalina S.r.L., P&O Princess American Holdings, P&O Princess Cruises International Limited, P&O Princess Cruises Pension Trustee Limited, P&O Properties (California) Inc., P&O Travel Limited, Prestige Cruises Management S.A.M., Prestige Cruises N.V., Princess Bermuda Holdings Ltd., Princess Cays Ltd., Princess Cruise Corporation Inc., Princess Cruise Lines Ltd., Princess Cruises and Tours Inc., Princess U.S. Holdings Inc., RCT Maintenance & Related Services S.A., RCT Pilots & Related Services S.A., RCT Security & Related Services S.A., Roatan Cruise Terminal S.A. de C.V., Royal Hyway Tours Inc., Santa Cruz Terminal S.L., SeaVacations Limited, SeaVacations UK Limited, Seabourn Cruise Line Limited, Shanghai Coast Cruise Consulting Co. Lda, Ship Care (Bahamas) Limited, Sitmar Cruises Inc., Spanish Cruise Services N.V., Sunshine Shipping Corporation Ltd., T&T International Inc., Tour Alaska LLC, Transnational Services Corporation, Trident Insurance Company Ltd., Westmark Hotels Inc., Westmark Hotels of Canada Ltd., Westours Motor Coaches LLC, Wind Surf Limited, and World Leading Cruise Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.. CA, Inc., doing business as CA technologies, develops, markets, delivers, and licenses software products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Mainframe Solutions, Enterprise Solutions, and Services. The Mainframe Solutions segment offers solutions for the IBM z Systems platform, which runs various mission critical business applications. Its mainframe solutions enable customers enhance economics by increasing throughput and lowering cost per transaction; increasing business agility through DevOps tooling and processes; increasing reliability and availability of operations through machine intelligence and automation solutions; and protecting enterprise data with security and compliance. The Enterprise Solutions segment provides a range of software planning, development, and management tools for mobile, cloud, and distributed computing environments. It primarily provides customers secure application development, infrastructure management, automation, and identity-centric security solutions. The Services segment offers various services, such as consulting, implementation, application management, education, and support services to commercial and government customers for implementation and adoption of its software solutions. The company serves banks, insurance companies, other financial services providers, government agencies, information technology service providers, telecommunication providers, transportation companies, manufacturers, technology companies, retailers, educational organizations, and health care institutions. It sells its products through direct sales force, as well as through various partner channels comprising resellers, service providers, system integrators, managed service providers, and technology partners. The company was formerly known as Computer Associates International, Inc. and changed its name to CA, Inc. in 2006. CA, Inc. was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in New York, New York. Read More Oasis Petroleum Inc., an independent exploration and production company, focuses on the acquisition and development of onshore unconventional oil and natural gas resources in the United States. It operates through Exploration and Production(E&P), and Midstream segments. The E&P segment engages in the acquisition and development of oil and gas properties. The Midstream segment offers midstream services, such as natural gas gathering, compression, processing and, gas lift supply; crude oil gathering, terminaling, and transportation; produced and flowback water gathering, and disposal; and water distribution. As of December 31, 2020, the company had 401,766 net leasehold acres in the Williston Basin; and 24,396 net leasehold acres in the Permian Basin, as well as approximately 152.2 million barrels of oil equivalent of estimated net proved reserves. The company sells its crude oil and natural gas to refiners, marketers, and other purchasers that have access to pipeline and rail facilities. Oasis Petroleum Inc. was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Read More 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. Premium Brands Holdings Corporation, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and distributes food products primarily in Canada and the United States. It operates in two segments, Specialty Foods and Premium Food Distribution. The company provides meat products and snacks, deli products, beef jerky and halal, sandwiches, pastries, specialty and gourmet products, salads and kettle products, entrees, panini, wraps, subs, hamburgers, burgers, muffins, breads, pastas, and baking and sushi products, as well as processed meat products. It is also involved in the distribution of food products, including meat, seafood, and halal food products, as well as operation of retail/convenience store and concessionary, and provision of food and seafood processing services. The company operates under the brand names of Harvest Meats, Hempler's, Grimm's Fine Foods, Piller's, Freybe, Isernio's, Expresco, SJ Fine Foods, McSweeney's, Made Rite, Fletcher's, Deli Chef, Belmont Meats, Conte Foods, SK Food Group, Oven Pride, Hygaard, Quality Fast Foods, HQ Fine Foods, Creekside Custom Foods, Stuyver's Bread, Bread Garden Express, Audrey's Patisserie, Duso's, Gourmet Chef, Island City Baking, Skilcor, Leadbetter's, Mclean Meats, Buddy's Kitchen, Raybern's, Partner's Crackers, Shaw Bakers, Oberto, Concord Meats, Country Prime Meats, The Meat Factory, and Golden Valley Farms. It serves chains and large format retailers, independent and specialty retailers, foodservice operators, foodservice distributors, and other food manufacturers and food brokers. The company was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Richmond, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Quest Diagnostics: AmeriPath, AmeriPath Cincinnati Inc. (OH), AmeriPath Cleveland Inc. (OH), AmeriPath Consolidated Labs Inc. (FL), AmeriPath Florida LLC (DE), AmeriPath Hospital Services Florida LLC (DE), AmeriPath Inc. (DE), AmeriPath Indianapolis PC (IN), AmeriPath Kentucky Inc. (KY), AmeriPath Lubbock 5.01(A) Corporation (TX), AmeriPath New York LLC (DE), AmeriPath Texas Inc. (DE), AmeriPath Tucson Inc. (AZ), American Medical Laboratories, American Medical Laboratories Incorporated (DE), Associated Clinical Laboratories L.P. (PA), Associated Clinical Laboratories of Pennsylvania L.L.C. (PA), Athena Diagnostics, Athena Diagnostics Inc. (DE), Blueprint Genetics, Blueprint Genetics FZ-LLC (UAE), Blueprint Genetics Inc. (DE), Blueprint Genetics Oy (Finland), California Laboratory Associates, Cape Cod Healthcare - Business, Celera, ClearPoint Diagnostic, Clearpoint Diagnostic Laboratories LLC (TX), Cleveland HeartLab, Cleveland HeartLab Inc. (DE), Clinical Laboratory Partners, Colorado Pathology Consultants P.C. (CO), ConVerge Diagnostic Services, Consolidated DermPath Inc. (DE), DFW 5.01(a) Corporation (TX), DGXWMT JV LLC (DE), Dermatopathology of Wisconsin S.C. (WI), Diagnostic Laboratory of Oklahoma LLC (OK), Diagnostic Pathology Services Inc. (OK), Diagnostic Reference Services Inc. (MD), ExamOne Canada Inc. (New Brunswick), ExamOne LLC (DE), ExamOne World Wide Inc. (PA), ExamOne World Wide of NJ Inc. (NJ), Focus Diagnostics, HemoCue, Hoffman M.D. Associated Pathologists Chartered (NV), Institute for Dermatopathology Inc. (PA), Isabella Street Urban Renewal LLC (NJ), Kailash B. Sharma M.D. Inc. (GA), Kilpatrick Pathology P.A. (NC), LabOne, LabOne LLC (MO), LabOne of Ohio Inc. (DE), Laboratorio de Analisis Biomedicos S.A. (Mexico), Lancet Labs, MACL, Med Fusion LLC (TX), Med fusion, MedPlus, Mid America Clinical Laboratories LLC (IN), Nomad Massachusetts Inc. (MA), Nuclear Medicine and Pathology Associates (GA), Ocmulgee Medical Pathology Association Inc. (GA), Pathology Building Partnership (MD) (gen. ptnrshp.), PeaceHealth Laboratories, PhenoPath Laboratories, PhenoPath Laboratories PLLC (WA), Q Squared Solutions Holdings LLC (DE), Q Squared Solutions Holdings Limited (UK), Quest Diagnostics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. (China), Quest Diagnostics Brasil Holdings Ltd. (UK), Quest Diagnostics Clinical Laboratories, Quest Diagnostics Clinical Laboratories Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics Domestic Holder LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics HTAS India Private Limited (India), Quest Diagnostics Health & Wellness LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Holdings Incorporated (DE), Quest Diagnostics Holdings Ltd. (UK), Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (MD), Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NV), Quest Diagnostics India Private Limited (India), Quest Diagnostics Infectious Disease Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics International Holdings Limited (UK), Quest Diagnostics International LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Investments LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Ireland Limited (Ireland), Quest Diagnostics LLC (CT), Quest Diagnostics LLC (IL), Quest Diagnostics LLC (MA), Quest Diagnostics Massachusetts LLC (MA), Quest Diagnostics Mexico Holding Company Trust (Mexico), Quest Diagnostics Mexico S de RL de CV (Mexico), Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute (CA), Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute Inc. (VA), Quest Diagnostics Receivables Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics Subsidiary Holdings Ltd. (UK), Quest Diagnostics TB LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Terracotta LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics Venture LLC (PA), Quest Diagnostics Ventures LLC (DE), Quest Diagnostics do Brasil Ltda. (Brazil), Quest Diagnostics of Pennsylvania Inc. (DE), Quest Diagnostics of Puerto Rico Inc. (PR), Quest HealthConnect LLC (CA), ReproSource, Reprosource Fertility Diagnostics Inc. (MA), Solstas Lab Partners, Sonora Quest Laboratories LLC (AZ), Specialty Laboratories Inc. (CA), Summit Health, UMass Memorial Medical Center - Anatomic Pathology Outreach Laboratory Business, Unilab Corporation, and Unilab Corporation (DE). Anixter International Inc., through its subsidiary, Anixter Inc., distributes enterprise cabling and security solutions, electrical and electronic wire and cable solutions, and utility power solutions worldwide. The company operates through Network & Security Solutions (NSS), Electrical & Electronic Solutions (EES), and Utility Power Solutions (UPS) segments. The NSS segment offers copper and fiber optic cable and connectivity, access control, video surveillance, intrusion and fire/life safety, cabinet, power, cable management, wireless, professional audio/video, voice and networking switches, and other ancillary products for the technology, finance, transportation, education, government, healthcare, and retail industries, as well as telecommunications service providers. The EES Solutions segment provides electrical and electronic wires and cables, shipboard cables, support and supply products, low-voltage and instrumentation cables, industrial communication and control products, security cables, connectors, industrial Ethernet switches, and voice and data cables to the commercial and industrial, and original equipment manufacturer markets. The UPS segment supplies electrical transmission and distribution products, power plant maintenance, repair and operations supplies, and smart-grid products, as well as arranges materials management and procurement outsourcing for the power generation and transmission, and electricity distribution industries. The company serves contractors, installers, system integrators, value-added resellers, architects, engineers, and wholesale distributors in various industries, including manufacturing, resource extraction, telecommunications, Internet service providers, finance, education, healthcare, retail, transportation, utilities, and defense, as well as government customers. The company was formerly known as Itel Corporation. Anixter International Inc. was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Glenview, Illinois. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Abbott Laboratories: 3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, ABON Biopharm (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AGA Medical Belgium, AGA Medical Corporation, AGA Medical Holdings Inc., ALR Holdings, AML Medical LLC, APK Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, ATS Bermuda Holdings Limited, ATS Laboratories Inc., Abbott, Abbott (Jiaxing) Nutrition Co. Ltd., Abbott (UK) Finance Limited, Abbott (UK) Holdings Limited, Abbott AG, Abbott Asia Holdings Limited, Abbott Asia Investments Limited, Abbott Australasia Holdings Limited, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbott B.V., Abbott Bahamas Overseas Businesses Corporation, Abbott Belgian Investments, Abbott Bermuda Holding Ltd., Abbott Biologicals B.V., Abbott Biologicals LLC, Abbott Bulgaria Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Capital India Limited, Abbott Cardiovascular Inc., Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Abbott Delaware LLC, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Abbott Diabetes Care Limited, Abbott Diabetes Care Sales Corporation, Abbott Diagnostics GmbH, Abbott Diagnostics International Ltd., Abbott Diagnostics Technologies AS, Abbott Doral Investments S.L., Abbott Equity Holdings Unlimited, Abbott Equity Investments LLC, Abbott Established Products Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Finance Company SA, Abbott Financial Holdings SRL, Abbott France S.A.S., Abbott Fund Tanzania Limited, Abbott Gesellschaft m.b.H., Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Abbott Health Products LLC, Abbott Healthcare (Puerto Rico) Ltd., Abbott Healthcare B.V., Abbott Healthcare Costa Rica S.A., Abbott Healthcare LLC, Abbott Healthcare Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Abbott Healthcare Products B.V., Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott Holding (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding GmbH, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited Luxembourg S.C.S., Abbott Holdings B.V., Abbott Holdings LLC, Abbott Holdings Limited, Abbott Holdings Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Iberian Investments (2) Limited, Abbott Iberian Investments Limited, Abbott India Limited, Abbott Informatics Asia Pacific Limited, Abbott Informatics Canada Inc, Abbott Informatics Corporation, Abbott Informatics Europe Limited, Abbott Informatics France, Abbott Informatics Germany GmbH, Abbott Informatics Netherlands B.V., Abbott Informatics Singapore Pte. Limited, Abbott Informatics Spain S.A., Abbott Informatics Technologies Ltd, Abbott International Corporation, Abbott International Enterprises Ltd., Abbott International Holdings Limited, Abbott International LLC, Abbott International Luxembourg S.ar.l., Abbott Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Ireland, Abbott Ireland Financing Designated Activity Company, Abbott Ireland Limited, Abbott Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Abbott Knoll Investments B.V., Abbott Korea Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Bangladesh) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco (Dos) SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Laboratories (Mozambique) Limitada, Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Philippines), Abbott Laboratories (Puerto Rico) Incorporated, Abbott Laboratories (Singapore) Private Limited, Abbott Laboratories A/S, Abbott Laboratories Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Abbott Laboratories B.V., Abbott Laboratories C.A., Abbott Laboratories Finance B.V., Abbott Laboratories GmbH, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Abbott Laboratories International LLC, Abbott Laboratories Ireland Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited - Laboratoires Abbott Limitee, Abbott Laboratories NZ Limited, Abbott Laboratories Pacific Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Laboratories Products B.V., Abbott Laboratories Residential Development Fund Inc., Abbott Laboratories S.A., Abbott Laboratories SA, Abbott Laboratories Services Corp., Abbott Laboratories Slovakia s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trustee Company Limited, Abbott Laboratories Uruguay S.A., Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises, Abbott Laboratories d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories de Chile Limitada, Abbott Laboratories de Colombia S.A., Abbott Laboratories de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Abbott Laboratories druzba za farmacijo in diagnostiko d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories(Hellas) Societe Anonyme, Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios del Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Abbott Laboratuarlari Ithalat Ihracat ve Ticaret Ltd.Sti, Abbott Laboratorios Lda, Abbott Laboratorios do Brasil Ltda., Abbott Limited Egypt LLC, Abbott Logistics B.V., Abbott Management GmbH, Abbott Management LLC, Abbott Manufacturing Singapore Private Limited, Abbott Mature Products International Unlimited Company, Abbott Mature Products Management Limited, Abbott Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Abbott Medical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Medical (Portugal) Distribuicao de Produtos Medicos Lda, Abbott Medical (Schweiz) AG, Abbott Medical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Australia Pty. Ltd., Abbott Medical Austria Ges.m.b.H., Abbott Medical Balkan d.o.o. Beograd (Novi Beograd), Abbott Medical Belgium, Abbott Medical Canada Inc./ Medicale Abbott Canada Inc., Abbott Medical Danmark A/S, Abbott Medical Devices Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Espana S.A., Abbott Medical Estonia OU, Abbott Medical Finland Oy, Abbott Medical France SAS, Abbott Medical GmbH, Abbott Medical Hellas Limited Liability Trading Company, Abbott Medical Ireland Limited, Abbott Medical Italia S.p.A., Abbott Medical Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Korea Limited, Abbott Medical Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Medical Laboratories LTD, Abbott Medical Nederland B.V., Abbott Medical New Zealand Limited, Abbott Medical Norway AS, Abbott Medical Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Medical Sweden AB, Abbott Medical Taiwan Co., Abbott Medical U.K. Limited, Abbott Medical spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Middle East S.A.R.L., Abbott Molecular Inc., Abbott Morocco SARL, Abbott Nederland C.V., Abbott Nederland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Netherlands Investments B.V., Abbott Norge AS, Abbott Nutrition Limited, Abbott Nutrition Manufacturing Inc., Abbott Operations Singapore Pte. Ltd., Abbott Operations Uruguay S.R.L., Abbott Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Overseas Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Overseas S.A., Abbott Oy, Abbott Point of Care Canada Limited, Abbott Point of Care Inc., Abbott Poland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Procurement LLC, Abbott Products (Philippines) Inc., Abbott Products (Spain) S.L., Abbott Products Algerie EURL, Abbott Products B.V., Abbott Products Distribution SAS, Abbott Products Egypt LLC, Abbott Products Limited, Abbott Products Limited Liability Company, Abbott Products Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Products Operations AG, Abbott Products Operations LLC, Abbott Products Romania S.R.L., Abbott Products Tunisie S.A.R.L., Abbott Products Unlimited Company, Abbott Resources Inc., Abbott Resources International Inc., Abbott S.r.l., Abbott Saudi Arabia Trading Company, Abbott Scandinavia Aktiebolag, Abbott Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, Abbott South Africa Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Strategic Opportunities Limited, Abbott Trading Company Inc., Abbott Universal LLC, Abbott Vascular Devices (2) Limited, Abbott Vascular Devices Limited, Abbott Vascular Inc., Abbott Vascular Instruments Deutschland GmbH, Abbott Vascular International, Abbott Vascular Japan Co. Ltd, Abbott Vascular Limitada, Abbott Vascular Netherlands B.V., Abbott Vascular Solutions Inc., Abbott Ventures Inc., Abbott West Indies Limited, Abbott drustvo sa ogranicenom odgovornoscu za trgovinu i usluge, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc., Alere, Alere (Shanghai) Diagnostics Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Healthcare Management Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Medical Sales Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Technology Co. Ltd., Alere A/S, Alere AB, Alere AS, Alere AS Holdings Limited, Alere BBI Holdings Limited, Alere Bangladesh Limited, Alere China Co. Ltd., Alere Colombia S.A., Alere Connect LLC, Alere Connected Health Limited, Alere Connected Health Ltd., Alere Diagnostics GmbH, Alere DoA Holding GmbH, Alere GmbH, Alere GmbH (Austria), Alere GmbH (Germany), Alere HK Holdings Ltd., Alere Health B.V., Alere Health BVBA, Alere Health Corp., Alere Health Sdn Bhd, Alere Health Services B.V., Alere Healthcare (Pty) Limited, Alere Healthcare Connections Limited, Alere Healthcare Inc., Alere Healthcare Nigeria Limited, Alere Healthcare S.L., Alere Holdco Inc., Alere Holding GmbH, Alere Holdings Bermuda Limited, Alere Holdings Pty Limited, Alere Home Monitoring Inc., Alere Inc., Alere Informatics Inc., Alere International Holding Corp., Alere International Limited, Alere Lda, Alere Limited, Alere Limited (New Zealand), Alere Medical BVBA, Alere Medical Co. Ltd., Alere Medical Pakistan (Private) Limited, Alere Medical Private Limited, Alere North America LLC, Alere Oy Ab, Alere Philippines Inc., Alere Phoenix ACQ Inc., Alere Pte Ltd, Alere S.A., Alere S.r.l., Alere S/A, Alere SAS, Alere San Diego Inc., Alere Scarborough Inc., Alere Spain S.L., Alere Switzerland GmbH, Alere Technologies GmbH, Alere Technologies Holdings Limited, Alere Technologies Limited, Alere Toxicology AB, Alere Toxicology Inc., Alere Toxicology S.r.l., Alere Toxicology Services Inc., Alere Toxicology plc, Alere UK Holdings Limited, Alere UK Subco Limited, Alere ULC, Alere US Holdings LLC, Alere s.r.o., Alisoc Investment & Co, Amedica Biotech Inc., Ameditech Inc., American Generics S.A.S., American Medical Supplies Inc., American Pharmacist Inc., Antares S.A., Apica Cardiovascular Limited, Aquagestion Capacitacion S.A., Aquagestion S.A., Arriva Medical LLC, Arriva Medical Philippines Inc., Arvis Investments Limited, Atlas Farmaceutica S.A., Avee Laboratories Inc., Axis-Shield AD III AS, Axis-Shield AD IV AS, Axis-Shield AS, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, Axis-Shield Ltd., BBI Animal Health Limited, BBI Diagnostics Group 2 Public Limited Company, Banco de Vida S.A., Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions Inc., Bioalgae S.A., Biohealth LLC, Biosite Incorporated, Bosque Bonito S.A., Branan Medical Corporation, Brandex Europe C.V., British Colloids Limited, CFR Chile S.A., CFR Interamericas EL Salvador Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, CFR Interamericas Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CFR Interamericas Panama S.A., CFR Pharmaceuticals, California Property Holdings III LLC, CardioMEMS LLC, Caripharm Inc., Cephea Valve Technologies, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Colibri Medical Aktiebolag, Comercializadora y Distribuidora CFR Interamericas Honduras S.A., Concateno South Limited, Concateno UK Limited, Consorcio Tecnologico en Biomedicina Clinico-Molecular S.A., Continuum Services LLC, Cozart Limited, Dextech S.A., Diagnostik Nord GmbH, Distribuciones Uquifa S.A.S., Domesco Medical Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation, Duphar International Research B.V., Endocardial Solutions, Epocal (US) Inc, Esprit de Vie S.A., European Chemicals & Co, European Drug Testing Service EDTS AB, European Services S.A., Evalve Inc., Evalve International Inc., FARMINDUSTRIA S.A., Fada Pharma Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Fadapharma del Ecuador S.A., Farmaceutica Mont Blanc S.L., Farmacologia Em Aquicultura Veterinaria Ltda., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV Ecuador S.A., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV S.A., Fernwood Investment S.A., First Check Diagnostics LLC, Focus Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Forensics Limited, Forestcreek Overseas S.A., Fournier Pharma Corp., Fournier Pharma GmbH, Fournier Pharmaceuticals Limited, Framed B.V., Gabmed GmbH, Garden Hills LLC, Global Analytical Development LLC, Globapharm & CO LP, Glomed Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Golnorth Investments S.A., Gynocare Limited, Gynopharm Sociedad Anonima, Gynopharm de Centroamerica S.A., Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A., Hi-Tronics Designs Inc., IDEV Technologies Inc., IG Innovations Limited, IMTC Finance B.V., IMTC Holdings B.V., IMTC Technologies Inc., Ibis Biosciences LLC, Igloo Zone Chile S.A., Igloo Zone S.L., Inmobiliaria Naknek S.A.C., Innovacon Inc., Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc., Instant Technologies Inc., Instituto de Criopreservacion de Chile S.A., Integrated Vascular Systems Inc., Inverness Canadian Acquisition Corporation, Inverness Medical (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Australia Pty Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Hong Kong Limited, Inverness Medical Innovations SK LLC, Inverness Medical Investments LLC, Inverness Medical LLC, Inverness Medical Shimla Private Limited, Inversiones K2 SpA, Inversiones Komodo S.R.L., Ionian Technologies LLC, Irvine Biomedical Inc., Kalila Medical, Kangshenyunga S.A., Knoll UK Investments Unlimited, LLC VeroInPharm, Laboratoires Fournier S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano del Ecuador S.A., Laboratorio Internacional Argentino S.A., Laboratorio Synthesis S.A.S., Laboratorios Lafi Limitada, Laboratorios Naturmedik S.A.S., Laboratorios Pauly Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Laboratorios Recalcine S.A., Laboratorios Transpharm S.A., Laboratory Specialists of America Inc., Lafrancol Dominicana S.A.S., Lafrancol Guatemala S.A. Sociedad Anonima, Lafrancol Internacional S.A.S, Lafrancol Peru S.R.L, Lake Forest Investments LLC, Lightlab Imaging Inc., Limited Liability Company Abbott Laboratories, Limited Liability Company Abbott Ukraine, Limited Liability Company VEROPHARM, Lung Fung Hong (China) Limited, Mansbridge Pharmaceuticals Limited, MediGuide LLC, MediGuide Ltd., Medscreen Holdings Limited, Metropolitana Farmaceutica S.A., Midwest Properties LLC, Murex Argentina S.A., Murex Biotech Limited, Murex Biotech South Africa, Murex Diagnostics Inc., Murex Diagnostics International Inc., Natural Supplement Association LLC, Negocios Denia Sociedad Anonima, Neosalud S.A.C., Nether Pharma N.P. C.V., NeuroTherm LLC, Normann Pharma-Handels GmbH, North Shore Properties Inc., Novamedi S.A., Novasalud.com S.A., Nutravida S.A., OJSC Voronezhkhimpharm, Omnilab Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OptiMedica, Orgenics France SAS, Orgenics International Holdings B.V., Orgenics Ltd., PBM-Selfcare LLC, PDD II LLC, PDD LLC, PT Alere Health, PT. Abbott Indonesia, PT. Abbott Products Indonesia, Pacesetter Inc., Pantech (RF) (PTY) LTD, Pembrooke Occupational Health Inc., Penagos S.A., Pharma International Sociedad Anonima, Pharmaceutical Technologies (Pharmatech) S.A., Pharmatech Boliviana S.A., Polygon Labs S.A., Quality Assured Services Inc., RF Medical Holdings LLC, RTL Holdings Inc., Ramses Business Corp., Recben Xenerics Farmaceutica Limitada, Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc., Rich Horizons International Limited, SC VEROPHARM, SJ Medical Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., SJM International Inc., SJM Thunder Holding Company, SPDH Inc., Saboya Enterprises Corporation, Salviac Limited, Scanax AS, Sealing Solutions Inc., Selfcare Technology Inc., Shandong Abbott Dairy Product Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Medical Devices Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc., ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics. Transcontinental Realty Investors, Inc. is a real estate investment company, which engages in the acquisition, development and ownership of residential and commercial real estate properties. The company operates through the following segments: Apartments, Commercial Buildings, Land and Others. It operates these segments through the sub categories: Same Property Portfolio, Acquired Properties, and Developed Properties in the Lease-up Phase. The Same Property Portfolio consists of properties that were held for the entire period of business. The Acquired Properties consists of properties that are acquired but not held for the entire business period. The Developed Properties in the Lease-Up Phase consists of completed projects that are being leased-up. The company was founded on September 6, 1983 and is headquartered in Dallas, TX. Read More The Southern pays an annual dividend of $2.64 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 4.24%. SO has a dividend yield higher than 75% of all dividend-paying stocks, making it a leading dividend payer. The Southern has been increasing its dividend for 20 consecutive years, indicating the company has a strong committment to maintain and grow its dividend. The dividend payout ratio of The Southern is 81.23%. Payout ratios above 75% are not desirable because they may not be sustainable. Based on earnings estimates, The Southern will have a dividend payout ratio of 74.37% next year. This indicates that The Southern will be able to sustain or increase its dividend. View The Southern's dividend history. Suburban Propane Partners LP engages in the business of liquefied petroleum gas business. It operates through the following business segments: Propane; Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels; Natural Gas and Electricity; and All Other. The Propane segment engages in natural gas processing and petroleum refining. It also used in residential and commercial applications, industrial applications and agriculture. The Fuel Oil and Refined Fuels segment refers to the marketing and distribution of fuel oil, kerosene, diesel fuel and gasoline primarily to the northeast region of the United States. The Natural Gas and Electricity segment pertains to the generation, transmission, and distribution of natural gas and electricity among residential and small commercial customers. The All Other segment include the sale, installation and service of whole-house heating products, air cleaners, humidifiers, and space heaters to the customer who uses propane, fuel oil, natural gas and electricity businesses. The company was founded by Mark Anton in 1928 and is headquartered in Whippany, NJ. Read More American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at c[email protected] | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. Our Accessibility Statement | Terms of Service | Do Not Sell My Information 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research. 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 The First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva built bridges of understanding between the East and West, Rob Sobhani, director general of the Caspian Group Holdings, told Trend. "The First Lady of Azerbaijan has been able to portray her proud nation with grace to the International community. Whether she is visiting Washington, DC or Paris, Mehriban Aliyeva always makes a point to inform her hosts about Azerbaijan's rich heritage and culture. She has been a tireless advocate of Azerbaijan as a historic hub of intersecting cultures. It is therefore not surprising that Mehriban Aliyeva has been a champion of religious tolerance, something the international community appreciates very much. Sobhani noted that humanitarian diplomacy is very important in terms of collaboration between East and West and Mehriban Aliyeva is a master diplomat in this field. "By using art, culture and renovation of historic sites she has slowly but surely built bridges of understanding between the East and West. When Mehriban Aliyeva became the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, I wrote an article in the United States highlighting the importance of this historic moment for woman around the world but more specifically Muslim woman. She is not only an example of what woman can achieve but also what woman can accomplish for their family, community and country," he said. Rob Sobhani noted that Mehriban Aliyeva is a kind mother, loving wife and caring daughter. "She brings all these human qualities to her job as not only the First Lady of Azerbaijan but as a mother to every Azerbaijani citizen. Her kind heart has touched the lives of so many people around the world. I have personally been a witness to how her generosity has helped children with severe disabilities get needed equipment or how an Azerbaijani child with a heart disease has received immediate treatment. Mehriban Aliyeva is truly the First Lady of Kindness. This character trait of Mehriban Aliyeva is very important because she has been true to her Muslim faith by being kind and generous to both Muslims and non-Muslims. The prophet Mohammad urged his followers to help the needy, take care of the poor and give to the less fortunate. Mehriban Aliyeva has followed these commandments and been true to her faith," he said. Further, speaking of large-scale events held in Azerbaijan, Sobhani particularly noted the high level of their organization. I was in Azerbaijan when Baku was host to the Eurovision Song Contest. It was a memorable event and drew the attention of the global media. This and other events organized under the leadership of Mehriban Aliyeva to showcase Azerbaijan to the world is a talent few people possess," Rob Sobhani said. Sobhani noted that it takes vision, attention to detail and enormous organizational skills to successfully host international events. "The First Lady of Azerbaijan possesses all these qualities and for this reason I am hopeful that Azerbaijan will host EXPO 2025. In addition, EXPO 2025 is a global event and since Mehriban Aliyeva has been an advocate of building bridges between East and West, North and South, Azerbaijan is now considered by many to be an ideal location to host international events," he said. Sobhani also touched upon the activities of First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation headed by her in the field of communicating the truth about the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan to the world community. "The Heydar Aliyev Foundation has been at the forefront of informing the world about the tragedy of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh. The key to the success of Mehriban Aliyevas efforts in this regards have been to humanize the conflict for Western audiences. This is very important when one is trying to gain the support of the international community for the resolution of the conflict. I sincerely believe that Mehriban Aliyeva can be the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Why do I say this? In any post conflict situation both sides have to better understand the human side of each other. Although the First Lady of Azerbaijan has be a tireless advocate for Azerbaijanis who have been the victims of Armenian occupation of Azerbaijan's territories, she can also have an enormous impact on healing the wounds of war and conflict," he said. Rob Sobhani noted that if the International community in general and Russia, US and France in particular are able to work with Azerbaijan and Armenia to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the role of Mehriban Aliyeva in post-conflict rebuilding will be critical. "She has good relations with the French, Russians and Americans and is therefore well placed to work with international donors from these countries as well as the World Bank to rebuild lands currently occupied by Armenian forces," he said. With the six-month deadline set by Reserve Bank to finalise resolution plans for around 70 large stressed accounts worth over Rs 3.8 trillion ending tomorrow, banks are burning midnight oil to avoid bankruptcy proceedings against these defaulters who are mostly power producers. Mumbai: With the six-month deadline set by Reserve Bank to finalise resolution plans for around 70 large stressed accounts worth over Rs 3.8 trillion ending tomorrow, banks are burning midnight oil to avoid bankruptcy proceedings against these defaulters who are mostly power producers. Bankers prefer out-of-NCLT resolution as the bankruptcy resolution so far have seen them taking large haircuts which in cases like Alok Industries was a whopping 86 per cent. The RBI circular asks banks to identify projects with even a day's default as stressed assets, and conclude resolution proceedings in 180 days. The circular came into effect on March 1 and the 180-day deadline concludes on August 27. If no resolution is reached by Monday, these accounts, which also include some EPC and telcos companies, will have to be referred to NCLT to initiate bankruptcy proceedings, the RBI had said. Banks are trying to come up with resolution plan for these accounts as going to NCLT will mean large haircuts. In some of the stressed accounts, some lenders have already finalised resolution plans, bankers said. It can be noted that almost three fourths of these Rs 3.8 trillion-worth stressed assets are power companies which had dragged the central bank to the Allahabad High Court where the matter is still pending. That the matter is sub-judice also gives bankers some confidence that they may get some more time to resolve them out-of-court. "A few banks have already sanctioned resolution plans for some cases and others are in the process of doing so" said an executive director of a state-run bank who sought not to be named. Most banks are having their board meeting to approve a resolution plan or a management committee meeting to sanction credit to these defaulting companies on Monday, he added. Last week State Bank managing director Arijit Basu has said about eight power projects worth Rs 17,000 crore were expected to be resolved soon as lenders were nearing consensus on these accounts. "We have looked at 13-14 accounts which would entail changes in the managements, investment etc. Of these, we are looking at seven to eight accounts very closely, to get some consensus among banks," Basu had said. Bankers, however, said the exact number of accounts where resolutions have been arrived at, or the number of cases that will be referred to NCLTs, will be known only by Monday evening. There are reports that lenders have identified at least 60 NPA accounts worth Rs 3.5 trillion against whom bankruptcy proceedings will be initiated. According to a recent Icra report, 70 large accounts, mainly from power, EPC and telecom with a total exposure of Rs 3.8 trillion, would require resolution by September 1 as per the RBI's February 12 circular. Bankers hope that RBI may show some leniency in regard to these accounts by not asking them to refer all of them to NCLTs immediately after the August 27 deadline as it knows that in some of the cases resolution process is underway. "The RBI may not extend the deadline but they are unlikely to say take all these accounts to NCLTs the very next day....this is what everybody is feeling because in a few cases some resolution plans are already in place while many others are in the process of doing so," said the head of a state-run bank who also wanted not to be named. Indian government has chalked out an ambitious USD 7.3 billion smart city mission for implementing smart solutions to improve infrastructure and service delivery across Indian cities. The underlying objective is to make sure that urbanisation is not seen as a challenge, but as an opportunity. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the roadmap for the smart city program, he had said that, "Cities in the past were built on riverbanks. They are now built along highways. But in the future, they will be built based on available optical fiber networks and next-generation infrastructure. Left to Right: 1. Mr. Shashi Dharan, Managing Director, Bharat Exhibitions 2. Mr. Chetan Hebbalae, Senior Director of Product Management, Cambium Networks 3. Mr. Vineet Kshirsagar, Director for Government Business, NetApp Marketing & Services Pvt. Ltd. 4. Mr. NSN Murty, Partner & Leader (Smart Cities), PwC 5. Mr. Rajan S Mathews, Director General, Cellular Operators Association of India 6. Shri Vinit Goenka, Member Governing Council of CRIS, Ministry of Railways & Member Taskforce IT, Ministry of Road, Transport & Highways and Shipping, Govt. of India 7. Smt. Shubha N. Bhambhani, PGM (C&M), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited 8. Mr. Sunil Joshi, President, Business Operations, GIFT City 9. Shri Ashutosh Vasant, Director (POM), RailTel Corporation of India Ltd. 10. Mr. Vaibhav Kumar, Regional Sales Manager, Qognify India 11. Mr. Dinesh Chand Sharma, Director - Standards & Public Policy, EU Project, Seconded European Standardization Expert in India (SESEI) Bharat Exhibitions organised the 4th edition of National Summit on 100 Smart Cities India 2018 and the theme of this event was Roadmap for Innovations, Sustainability, Surveillance and Development for smart Cities. The main objective of the forum was to explore various aspects of infrastructure that needs to be planned, designed, built and operated in order to provide the 'Smart' attribute to a city development. There were also conversations around the key challenges that are being faced in the implementation of smart cities. Mr. Chetan Hebbalae, Senior Director of Product Management, Cambium Networks said, Traffic control, public Wi-Fi, increased public safety through video surveillance, and increased efficiency for municipal services are the cornerstones of any smart city initiative. Each of these requires reliable connectivity to reach control systems, access points, cameras and sensors in dense urban environments. Wireless broadband is a proven cost effective solution that can be rapidly deployed to provide an affordable infrastructure to enable these applications. Smt. Shubha N. Bhambani, PGM (C&M), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited said, Smart city initiatives provide catalyst for urban communities to become more resilient and sustainable. BSNL has a strong focus towards smart cities and is constantly developing new cost efficient and indigenous smart solutions. While we keep talking about what will be the enablers for Smart City and the challenges we are facing, Mr. NSN Murty, Partner & Leader (Smart Cities), PwC brought the attention to the fact that it is actually the citizens that have voted for it and asked for it. It is the first, worlds largest competitive exercise by means of which these cities have been selected. He also touched upon how the intend has now moved from the centre to state. It is always a central government initiative but now there is an increased interest at the city level. Shri Rajan S. Mathews, Director General, Cellular Operators Association of India agreed that the intend was there and said, To realise the vision of Smart Cities the government and the industry has to come together along with all of its subsidiaries to put forth a cohesive effort. While the intend is certainly there, the adoption may not be happening at a similar pace. To elaborate the same Mr. Vineet Kshirsagar, Director for Government Business, NetApp Marketing & Services Pvt. Ltd., spoke on how the digital transactions were still very low. He added, The role is ICT is very critical in this sphere. When it comes to ICT, data is extremely critical. We are participating in many smart cities and going forward we know that there will be a lot of data that will be generated. So there is clearly a need to make a data fabric for smart cities. During the course of the conference, Mr. Sunil Joshi, President, Business Operations, GIFT City gave the delegates a glimpse of the kind of work that has been happening in this sphere in GIFT City. He mentioned, GIFT provides a business platform and it is the first operational Smart City and IFSC, which is generating large number of employment opportunities in the region. Taking the conversation to the next level, Shri Ashutosh Vasaht, Director (POM), RailTel Corporation of India Ltd. said, talked about making smart cities sustainable. Every business makes sense only till the time it is sustainable and every penny of the taxpayers money that is being spent should be accounted for. Shri Vinit Goenka, Member of Governing Council and CRIS, Ministry of Railways and Member Taskforce IT, Ministry of Road, Transport & Highways and Shipping, Govt of India, said, While answering why do we need smart cities, we should address the three Es. Whether it is Ethical? Are we being Environment friendly and lastly if it is economical? It has to have some economical gain. Apart from sustainability, there were other challenges such as data protection, surveillance etc. were also touched upon in the forum. National Summit on 100 Smart Cities India 2018 was sponsored by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, NetApp, CSG, Cambium Networks, Savitri Telecom Services, Secura, Amdocs Optima, AMNEX, Qognify, Height8 Technologies, LigoWave and Sensorise. The event was supported by CEN, CENELEC, ETSI, COAI, TAIPA and WiFi SPFI and the Knowledge Partner was Broadband India Forum. For more details on event, please visit, www.bharatexhibitions.com/en/100SCI2018/index.html. About Bharat Exhibitions In a world where technology is erasing borders, it is indeed ironical that professionals find it increasingly difficult to maintain peer to peer contact on regular basis. Bharat Exhibitions fills in this space by managing and hosting some of Indias premier Telecom & IT events. We own niche and prestigious conference properties in the new generation technology arena such as 100 Smart Cities India, Cloud & Network Virtualisation India, 5G India, Data Centre India, Broadband Tech India, Smart-Sustainable Cities Technology & Innovation Summit, Cyber Security India, SMC Technology India and Telecom CXO Summit. We have a simple mission: Establish & deliver contacts that create value for your business. Disclaimer: This article has not been edited by Deccan Chronicle and is taken from a syndicated feed. Photos: NewsVoir. Mumbai: Mouni Roy, one of the popular actors of television, is still in "disbelief" about having bagged Karan Johar produced "Brahmastra" and John Abraham-starrer "RAW: Romeo Akbar Walter". The 32-year-old actor, who was most recently seen in Akshay Kumar-starrer "Gold", says she is "grateful" that good roles are coming her way. "I feel elated and grateful for the opportunities that have come my way. I don't know how it happened, I am still in suspension of disbelief. I am very excited about this part of my life. "I will be giving my best. I have started working on the two films 'Brahmastra' and 'Romeo Akbar Walter'," Mouni told PTI, The actor, however, did not divulging the details of her roles in the upcoming films. In "Brahmastra", she joins the star-studded cast of Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Amitabh Bachchan. Calling herself a proud television actor, Mouni says she was very happy working on the small screen and if there are interesting projects then she will definitely take them up, irrespective of which medium they hail from. "I love acting. It (films) is just an extension of what I like, that is acting. All I look for in a film is a good story and role. I haven't chosen the films that I will be doing.. The makers thought I was apt for these films. "Right now I do not have the time to do anything other than fulfilling my film commitments. Once I am done with it, I am ok to do anything that is exciting and challenging on any medium as my main job as an actor is to act." Though she has over nine years of experience on the small screen, Mouni still felt like a beginner when she started working on "Gold". "My experience on TV taught me a lot about work ethics and being a disciplined actor. But when it came to this role and film ('Gold'), I started everything with newness. I felt like a beginner. Experience does help but to get into the skin of the character is a different thing." Mouni is on cloud nine as "Gold", which marks her Bollywood debut, has struck chord with the audience. "I have been getting positive feedback from family and friends and they are little biased also as they love me. I think the critics have been good I have read only good reviews. Why focus on the bad?," she says, when asked about her performance getting lukewarm response. The "Naagin" actor feels it is the unity in diversity theme that has worked in favour of the film. "It is not just about winning gold medal but about the relationship that the characters share with each other in the film and how the story is interwoven and how team broke apart during partition and it is also highlights the importance of team spirit," she adds. Mumbai: After donating 21 Lakh for the Kerala relief himself, superstar Shah Rukh Khan inspired his fans and followers to support this cause as well. Being a national icon., Shah Rukh Khan is known to lead by example. The actor has a number of fan clubs in various parts of the country. One of them which has a huge membership, got its members to collectively contribute a big sum towards relief work in the South Indian State. Ardent fans who have always followed SRK's helping hand to support a cause have reportedly done their bit for the welfare of the society at large. 'Meer Foundation' established by Shah Rukh Khan reportedly donated Rs.21 Lakhs to the Government of Kerala's Chief Minister Distress Relief Fund. Deepa Mehta, the Indo-Canadian filmmaker best known for her elemental-trilogy Fire, Earth and Water, reportedly has a web-series in the pipeline. Shes been approached by Netflix India to make a show for Indian and international audiences, and shes reportedly in talks with a few Indian actors, including Huma Qureshi, to star the project. A source reveals, She is looking at a lot of actors. She wants some really talented stars to feature in her web-series. Huma is one such talent. The success of Indian shows like Sacred Games has prompted digital platforms to bankroll more high-quality web-series. The performance of Sacred Games, which was made at a cost of `50 crore and marketed for almost double that amount, has every major filmmaker lusting for the new medium. Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar and gang also ventured into the digital platform with Lust Stories. Many Indian production houses are now working on shows for platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Others are using smaller indie platforms like Alt Balaji and Zee5 for their shows. The kind of money that can be earned on a digital platform is humungous so why not? says a trade analyst. Kriti Sanon, whos currently shooting with Kartik Aaryan in Gwalior for Lukka Chuppi, is reportedly having a whale of a time. A source reveals that shes looking more relaxed than usual, and is spending less time on her phone, because her relationship with Sushant Singh Rajput is over. It was never meant to last. Sushant has a roving eye and is an incorrigible flirt, whereas Kriti is a one-man woman, says the source. Apparently, the couple has drifted too far apart for reconciliation. It is definitely over between them, the source adds. A huge reconstruction effort lies ahead of the State while arguments over whether the worlds sixth largest economy should accept foreign aid even in times of natural disasters. It is an existential crisis for Kerala. Damage from the floods is estimated at not less than Rs 20,000 crore. The Union government has given about Rs 600 crore so far but has turned down any foreign aid in cash offers as that has been the policy since the 2004 tsunami. Kerala leaders hit out at the Centre for supposedly rejecting a Rs 700 crore aid offer from UAE, a country with which Keralites have had links for decades while also having played a leading role in building that nation from scratch. It appears there was no firm offer of $100 million as made out by a Gulf businessman and which was taken as true by the Kerala government and its CM who propagated it in tweets. The Centre was then accused of being a dog in the manger. The claim, however, falls flat on UAE dragging back to say that it had made no firm offer and the Bakhts pounced on Kerala with their Communist-Islamist conspiracy theories. The larger political point is that Kerala is ruled by the Left front, quite the opposite of saffron rule in many northern states. The BJP-ruled states have not been as generous as non-BJP states in rushing money, food and relief materials in a humanitarian effort that has warmed the cockles of Keralite hearts. More than 13 lakh people are packed into 3,300 temporary camps even as the floods took a toll of at least 420 lives. A huge reconstruction effort lies ahead of the State while arguments over whether the worlds sixth largest economy should accept foreign aid even in times of natural disasters. The jury is still out on the controversies just as Tweeple seized upon it to give their varied opinions. Amit Malviya@amitmalviya UAE Ambassador Ahmed Albanna said that there has been no official announcement so far by the UAE on any specific amount as financial aid... So we have been having a national debate on 700 cr, when there is not even an offer on the table! #KeralaFloodRelief Dilip K Kainikkara #RebuildKerala@Dilip_K_K It was Pinarayi Vijayan who requested 2000 Crore as immediate assistance even half of which wasn't granted. He is being a statesman and focusing on the crisis, but don't use him as an excuse for discriminatory Central Government actions Jiggs@Sootradhar This is shamefull explanation about the finances advanced by the Union Govt and Foreign aid. It was Manmohan who decided that India will not accept foreign aid for natural calamities , India did not accept aid for Tsunami, Kashmir EQ & Uttarakhand Floods. Stop misleading India. Rahul@jh_rahul Just shows you are an opportunistic politician in the moment of crisis you are trying to score political points. Are you going to spend the entire 2200cr in next one week?? Which state has got the entire relief package in one shot ever?? Have the courtesy to be humble K G Surendran@surendrankol so that means at this stage there is NO offer from the UAE - so how did Kerala CM dream of this 700 crores figure it is a very very serious matter where a sitting Chief Minister is misguiding people on mere hearsay. More A Chief Minister caught lying in a press conference is mere technicality? how can you as a citizen be so trivial about a blatant lie by a sitting Chief Minister & I have my eyes opened it is yours which is shut because u don't want 2accept the truth muhamed rafi@muhamedrafip We all kerala know that if kerala government gets any funds that will reach to the people coz kerala governments is not a Bjp government so our government will not help the Ambani Adani or Vijaymallya Suresh Kodoor@skodoor So, why u guys were making so much noise trying to block a 'non-existent' offer? Howcome even the PM didnt make any clarification then as he was on the original tweet? Why one of your own ministers said he was for accepting this 'non-existent' offer and is pushing the govt? Balakrishnan G Nair@BalakrishnanGN In the wake of insensitivity shown towards #KeralaFlood Relief , one can safely conclude that the flood waters will ensure the lotus will doom and not bloom! Thomas Isaac@drthomasisaac 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. Shaista@shaistasalam1 From #Demonetization to GST to refusing the aid money, is there anything BJP govt has done in the best interest of the people? Ravi Kant@ra1410vi Could you provide a rough calculation on what basis you are seeking 2000 Crore money aid ?? Did you evaluate the impact of tragedy? Alas !! You are just trying to swim into your hatred politics in the inundated Kerala Booby prize As the flood situation in Kerala worsens, Swaminathan Gurumurthy, the newly appointed member on the board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) blamed women for the tragic situation. In a tweet, Gurumurthy linked the Kerala floods to womens entry in Sabarimala Temple in the southern state and asked the Supreme Court judges to rethink. Supreme court judges may like to see if there is any connection between the case and what is happening in Sabarimala. Even if there is one in a million chance of a link people would not like the case decided against Ayyappan, his tweet read. 'Wish every citizen of India on the holy occasion of Raksha Bandhan. Greetings on Raksha Bandhan,' the Prime Minister wrote on Twitter. (Photo: Twitter | @narendramodi) New Delhi: On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, women and children on Sunday across various walks of life tied Rakhis to the wrist of President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier, both the President and Prime Minister took to their respective Twitter handles to greet the nation on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. President Ram Nath Kovind sent his warm greetings, saying, "I wish all the countrymen on the occasion Raksha Bandhan. I hope the festival would strengthen the feeling of brotherhood amongst us and would inspire us to become a society where women, especially girls are safe and their dignity is respected- President Kovind." Greetings to all fellow citizens on Raksha Bandhan. May the spirit of this festival strengthen fraternal feelings and inspire us to live in a society defined by universal respect for the security and dignity of women, especially of girl children #PresidentKovind President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) August 26, 2018 "Wish every citizen of India on the holy occasion of Raksha Bandhan. Greetings on Raksha Bandhan," the Prime Minister conveyed his Raksha Bandhan greetings. - Greetings on Raksha Bandhan. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 26, 2018 External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also tied Rakhi to Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday. Speaking on the occasion, Naidu greeted the nation, saying, "I convey my warm greetings and best wishes on the auspicious occasion of Rakshabandhan. The Festival reaffirms the strong bond of love and affection between brothers and sisters. It promotes and strengthens unity and harmonious coexistence." Gandhi claimed that the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act has been 'destroyed and scholarships have been discontinued.' (Photo: PTI) London/ New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that the judiciary, the election commission and the RBI are being torn apart under the BJP government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has insulted every Indian by saying no development had happened before 2014. Addressing members of the Indian Overseas Congress here, he said the Prime Minister insulted every Indian by saying that no development activity happened in the last 70 years. India shows the future to the world. The people of India made this possible, and the Congress helped them. If the prime minister says nothing had happened before he assumed office, he is not commenting on the Congress, he is insulting every person of the country, Gandhi said. The Congress president alleged that at present, Dalits, farmers, tribal people, minorities, the poor in India are told that they will not get anything, and if they raise their voice, they are beaten up. Gandhi claimed that the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act has been destroyed and scholarships have been discontinued. Today in India, people are discriminated against on the basis of caste and religion. Marginalised are betrayed, while people like Anil Ambani benefit, he alleged. Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government on the multi-billion Rafale deal, Gandhi said that the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited had been manufacturing aircraft for the last 50 years, but the contract was given to someone who floated his company just 19 days before the deal. Nobody will get anything. Only Ambani will get everything. This man has accrued a debt of Rs 45,000 crore, the Congress president alleged. Gandhi and the Congress party have been attacking the BJP government for allegedly inking the deal at a much higher price than the one the previous UPA regime had negotiated to benefit Anil Ambani. Gandhi said, when the farmers of Karnataka and Telangana ask for loan waiver, PM Modi says this is not our policy. Indias handful of richest businessmen have NPAs (Non Performing Assets) of Rs 12.5 lakh crore, but the prime minister says nothing. He alleged that the prime minister kept quiet when his own partys MLA raped a woman and when Nirav Modi ran away with peoples money. Institutions such as the Supreme Court, the Election Commission of India and the Reserve Bank of India, which are the walls of our country, are being torn apart now, Gandhi alleged. It was the first time that four senior-most judges of the apex court come out in public earlier this year to say they were not being allowed to work, he said. I do not use bad language for the prime minister. And if you have listened to the debate on the Rafale deal in Parliament, you would have seen that the PM could not answer my questions, the 48-year-old leader said. Gandhi said China creates 50,000 jobs a day, while India creates only 450 during that period, and unemployment was a pressing issue. Our farmers need help. Our youth needs education, elderly people need healthcare. But, there is no discussion on the issues of farmers, education and health care, he said. Lauding the contribution of non-resident Indians in the development of the country, Gandhi said, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, B R Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru were all NRIs. They travelled the world and helped India with new perspectives. By Trend President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has congratulated President of Moldova Igor Dodon. On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I extend my sincerest congratulations to you on the occasion of Independence Day of the Republic of Moldova, President Aliyev said. Azerbaijan and Moldova are bound together by traditional ties of friendship and cooperation, he added. I am confident that we will continue our efforts towards expanding and deepening our bilateral relations and cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. I wish you the best of health, happiness and success and the friendly people of Moldova peace and prosperity, the president said. The attackers pushed Singh to the ground, causing his turban to fall off. His face was blackened and beaten by the men before he was taken to a place of safety. (Photo: Twitter | @ANI screengrab) California: Akali Dal leader and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK was attacked by a group of unknown men at the Yuba City Gurdwara in California on Saturday. Three people have so far been arrested in connection with the attack. The attackers pushed Singh to the ground, causing his turban to fall off. His face was blackened and beaten by the men before he was taken to a place of safety. The DSGMC chief recalled the incident and said that a group of over 20 people had attacked him. "I was attacked by 20 to 25 people. I was here at the gurudwara for paying my respects. These people did not even uphold the dignity of a gurdwara. I told my aides to not say a word and maintain peace. We will not be cowed down by all this (such attacks). I was first attacked in New York and then in California. I am not scared of these people, and I am safe," he said in a video. #WATCH: Akali Dal leader & Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee member Manjeet Singh GK attacked, face blackened outside a Gurdwara in California. 3 people have been arrested in connection with the attack. #USA (25.08.18) pic.twitter.com/HdhnlJn8zP ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2018 Meanwhile, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Gobind Singh Longowal condemned the attack and termed it as unfortunate. "It is very unfortunate that in America, Sikhs are being repeatedly targetted. This is the handiwork of such agencies, who want to instigate tensions among the Sikhs. It is the responsiblity of the US government to take strict actions against these people behind the attack. I condemn this incident," he told ANI. Union Cabinet Minister of Food Processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal termed the incident as "cowardly" and tweeted, "Strongly Condemn the Cowardly attack on unarmed @ManjitGK at the Yuba City Gurughar in complete disregard of Maryada and Sikhi! To these agents of ISI, the only way to get referendum is by attacking n intimidating Sikhs. No Sikh will ever be cowed down by your dastardly acts." The dastardly attack on S. Manjit Singh GK was not an attack on an individual but on the Dastar of a Sikh. It was an attack by agents of ISI on a party that is fighting the battle of justice for Sikhs. @SushmaSwaraj ji please take it up seriously with the US government Harsimrat Kaur Badal (@HarsimratBadal_) August 26, 2018 Her husband and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal also wrote on the micro-blogging site, "I strongly condemn the cowardly attack on Manjit Singh GK. He was unarmed and paying obeisance at Gurughar where he was attacked by goons backed by ISI. @Akali_Dal_ has never cowed down to terror and will continue to stand strong on the principles of Sikhism!" I strongly condemn the cowardly attack on Manjit Singh GK. He was unarmed & paying obeisance at Gurughar where he was attacked by goons backed by ISI. @Akali_Dal_ has never cowed down to terror & will continue to stand strong on the principles of Sikhism! Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) August 26, 2018 This is the second such attack on Singh in this week. On Monday, the DSGMC chief and his family were allegedly attacked by Khalistan sympathisers at a TV studio in New York, following which he appealed to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for help and demanded action. There has been a spike in hate attacks against the Sikh community in the US. On August 16, a man identified as Terlok Singh was apparently stabbed to death on Thursday near the deli he owned at North Park Street and Burchard Avenue in New Jersey's East Orange. On August 6, a 71-year-old Sikh man was attacked in California's Manteca by two youths, one of whom was later identified as Union City Police Chief Darryl McAllister's estranged son Tyrone Keith McAllister. Both Tyrone and his accomplice were arrested. On July 31, 50-year-old Surjit Malhi was attacked in California when he was raising campaign signs in support of Republican candidates. New Delhi: The BJP on Sunday accused Congress President Rahul Gandhi of rubbing salt into the wounds of Sikhs with his comments that his party was not involved in the 1984 riots against the community and said that it amounted to denying them justice. BJPs national secretary R.P. Singh said Gandhi was trying to wash his partys hands of its alleged culpability in the riots, which had broken out following the assassination of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi, who was on a two-day visit to the UK, told an audience of UK-based parliamentarians and local leaders on Saturday that the incident was a tragedy and painful experiences, but disagreed with the view that the Congress was involved. Singh said, Sikhs are already troubled due to lack of justice and such comments by Gandhi would vitiate the atmosphere and may push certain people in the same cycle of violence that was seen in 1980s. BJP leader said Congress leader Manmohan Singh had as prime minister apologised for anti-Sikh riots and the then party chief Sonia Gandhi had expressed regret. What was this apology from prime minister and regret from Congress president then all about, Singh asked. The Congress was forced to cancel its leader Kamal Nath's appointment as Punjab assembly polls in-charge following angry reaction from the community, whose members have alleged his involvement in the violence, he added. Pune: The killings of Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru last year and Narendra Dabholkar in Pune in 2013 were linked, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) claimed before a court here on Sunday. Seeking extension of the custody of Sachin Andure, one of the alleged shooters in the Dabholkar murder case, the CBI told the court that one of the accused in the Lankesh murder case had handed over a pistol and three bullets with a magazine to him. Judicial Magistrate (First Class) H.R. Jadhav extended Andures CBI custody till August 30. The CBI told the court that the agency would seek the custody of Sharad Kalaskar, another alleged shooter in the Dabholkar murder case. Kalaskar was among the five persons arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad earlier this month in connection with the seizure of crude bombs and firearms from various parts of the state. Kalaskar is currently in the custody of the ATS in the Nalasopara explosives seizure case. The CBI will seek his custody in the Dabholkar case also as he and Andure need to be interrogated together, Special Public prosecutor Vijaykumar Dhakane said. During Andure's interrogation, it was revealed that one of the accused in the Lankesh murder case had handed over a 7.65 mm country-made pistol and three bullets to him and he had passed those over to his brother-in-law, Shubham Surale, at Aurangabad (Maharashtra) on August 11, Dhakane told the court. Surale had passed on the pistol to one Rohit Rege, according to the prosecutor. The CBI had seized a black-coloured country-made pistol with a magazine and three 7.65 mm live cartridges (bullets) from Rege's Aurangabad residence, Dhakane said, adding that the agency was probing if the weapon was used to kill Dabholkar. The CBI was also trying to trace the motorcycle used by Andure and Kalaskar on on August 20, 2013, the day they allegedly killed Dabholkar, he said. Hyderabad: The Election Commission is reportedly averse to holding early polls for the Telangana Legislative Assembly in December along with four states as sought by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. The EC is learnt to have cited three reasons which are obstructing early elections for Telangana state when chief adviser to the government Rajiv Sharma met its officials three days ago. The first being the ECs schedule for summary revision of electoral rolls in Telangana, which ends on January 1, 2019, the second issue being that seven mandals in Khammam, w-hich were merged into AP, continue to be represented by TS MLAs and they are yet to be notified in AP constituencies. The third reason is the need to break the routine of joint polls for the Lok Sabha and Assembly, being held in Tel-angana since 1999 and the EC was not satisfied with the explanations given for this by TS officials. TRS party sources said that it was in this backdrop that the CM rushed to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting his help in sorting out technical issues with the EC and ensure early polls for Telangana. Interestingly, the EC also pointed out the letter submitted to it by the TRS just a month ago expressing its complete support to simultaneous polls for the LS and Assembly on the ground that separate elections were resulting in unnecessary expenditure for political parties, wastage of public money and hampering administration and questioned why the TRS was pitching for separate elections now. Officials also pointed out that even if Telangana Assembly was dissolved by September 10, there would be time of six months to hold elections, which will be till March 10, while the LS polls are scheduled in April 2019. This, they said, may lead to legal issues if someone moves courts if separate polls were held for the state which may result in additional expenditure of Rs 3,000 crore just for the sake of one month. The joint elections for Lok Sabha and Assembly were being held consecutively since 1999 in Undivided AP. Though AP was bifurcated in 2014, the elections were conducted for Undivided AP in April/May 2014 since the formation of Telangana State came into effect from June 2014. The other issues pointed out by ECI officials were that for the first time VVPAT machines were being used on a full scale along with EVMs for Assembly elections in four states in December and for this, the staff were being trained. It would be difficult to train poll staff in Telangana for December polls. Also issues were also raised with the deployment of IAS, IPS, I-T officers as election observers for Telangana while ECI had already initiated this process for four states. However, the TS government is trying its best to convince the ECI to hold early elections in December. The IT ministers statement on Sunday too gave hints in this regard. Clarity on early elections will come in the next 7-10 days. There is no clarity whether early elections will be held or not as of now, Mr Rama Rao said. His statement shows that even TRS chief and CM K.Chandrasekhar Rao will not be in a position to give clarity on early polls in the massive public meeting being held by TRS on the city outskirts on September 2. Bengaluru: Two days after a spat between Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Kodagu district in-charge minister Sa. Ra. Mahesh blew up into a huge controversy leading to strains between the BJP led central government and the ruling JD(S)-Congress coalition in Karnataka, Chief Minister, H. D. Kumaraswamy sought to pour oil on troubled waters expressing deep regret over the incident on social media site Facebook. On Friday, the chief minister had written to the Centre seeking Rs 2,000 crore financial assistance for relief and rehabilitation in rain and landslide-devastated Kodagu-where the spat happened between Ms Sitharaman and Mr Mahesh over 'protocol.' In his post, Mr Kumaraswamy, who seemed keen on avoiding a confrontation with the Modi led government at this juncture when the state is desperate for aid, said, I am deeply pained at the turn of events with regard to the visit of Ms Sitharaman to flood-affected areas in Kodagu. Our government along with relief agencies of both the state and Central government, and volunteers are working round the clock on the rescue, relief and rehabilitation of the flood-affected citizens with extensive support from the Union government. The Chief Minister added that the defence minister was kind enough to extend all possible support "to us when we sought help for rescue operations." She visited the flood-affected areas in Kodagu to understand the situation and support the rehabilitation work to restore normalcy in the lives of people. "Though the government and the district administration followed protocol despite the tough situation in the region during her visit, it was unfortunate that the Defence Minister had to go through certain inconveniences, which we regret. I also spoke to her over the phone on the matter. I believe this is the time for all of us to forget small differences, forgive each other and join hands for the rehabilitation of the flood affected people in Kodagu. The grave situation in the district warrants it. Let us not colour such incidents and be distracted from our key focus," he appealed adding, "I look forward to the continued support of the central government and in particular of the Defence Minister." He also did not forget to laud his JD(S) colleague and Minister Sa. Ra Mahesh saying, He has tirelessly worked to oversee the rescue and relief operations on the ground from day one." Former CM Siddaramaiah however had a different view on the spat saying, It was too much. It was not expected of a Union minister (Ms Sitharaman). Kochi: Shashi Tharoor, MP, on Sunday lent a hand to the section of Keralites who went for the jugular of TV anchor Arnab Goswamy for his alleged remarks about them as the most shameless bunch of Indians I have ever seen by listing out reasons why he is a proud Malayali in a series of tweets with hashtag ProudToBeMalayali. Our courageous social reform movements against caste oppression, led by heroes like Sree Narayana Guru, Mahatma Ayyankali, Chattampi Swami & others, make me #ProudToBeMalayali, said a tweet by Dr Tharoor. Our history of welcoming the distressed fleeing war-torn lands, our openness to new ideas & new faiths like Christianity & Islam, our history of religious harmony makes me ProudToBeMalayali, he said in another. A controversy erupted when Mr Goswami, leading a panel discussion the other day, said the news about the offer of financial aid by the United Arab Emirates to the flood-hit Kerala was the fake news of the year and that those who criticised the government for refusing the aid were the most shameless. In a direct reference to Mr Goswamy, Dr Tharoor tweeted, given the disgraceful attacks on Malayalis in general by some petty minds, its time for us to stand up for ourselves. Lets evoke the reasons why we are #ProudToBeMalayali. While some backed Dr Tharoors call, some chose into invoke his past to taunt him on his right to be a proud Malayali. Despite courageous social reform movements led by heroes like Sree Narayana Guru, Mahatma Ayyankali, Chattampi Swami & others, there is the IPL scam by Shashi Tharoor, the unresolved Sunanda Pushkar murder case, which do not make Malayalis #ProudToBeMalayali, said a reply tweet. These proud Malayali's head would have hung in shame when Malayalis claimed to get crores of aid money, printed 'thank you posters' when none of it was announced, said another. Some also questioned his decision to attend the funeral of his former boss and former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan when his home state was under the grip of an unprecedented deluge. New Delhi: Union minister for law and information technology Ravi Shankar Prasad, speaking at an international conference in Argentina, warned that social media platforms will not be allowed to abuse the electoral process and that India would take all the steps required to deter and punish all those who seek to vitiate this process. Mr Prasad also suggested that a part of revenue that is generated by digital platforms could be reinvested in the host markets to create more infrastructures and generate more job opportunities for people there. Speaking at the plenary of the G-20 digital economy ministerial meeting in Salata, Argentina, Mr Prasad said that India had taken serious note of the reported misuse of data by social media platforms, an official statement released here said. Mr Prasad said such platforms would never be allowed to abuse our election processes by extraneous means. He said the purity of the democratic process should never be compromised and India will take all the steps needed to deter and punish those who seek to vitiate this process. Hyderabad: Considered as the biggest-ever explosions in the Telugu states with 42 people losing their lives and 54 being badly injured, the most awaited day has come with the special court scheduled to pronounce its judgement in the case on Monday. So far, seven accused persons were identified in the case, with three persons including the alleged prime conspirator Riyaz Bhatkal still roaming free. The four accused who were arrested are Akbar Ismail Choudhary, Aneeq Shafeeq Sayeed, Mohammed Tariq Anjum Ahsan and Farookh Sharfuddin Tarkash, and Sad-iq Israr Ahmed Sheikh, The second Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court at Nampally criminal courts, which was conducting the trial for the four arrested accused in the case, shifted the trial to the special prison at Cherlapally. The blasts took place at two of the most crowded places in Hyderabad Lumbini Park and Gokul Chat at Sultan Bazaar on August 25, 2007. An unexploded bomb was recovered on the same day near Venkatadri theatre in Dilsukhnagar. The investigation of the case was handed over to OCTOPUS, which has been its first and last case to probe. The accused were arrested by the Mumbais ATS in October 2008 and were then handed over to the Hyderabad police in February 2009. The investigators questioned over 286 persons as witnesses and examined hundreds of material objects, and filed a charge sheet of 1,125 pages. Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Sunday inaugurated the MGR centenary film studio at Paiyanur near Mahabalipuram. The Film Studio is said to be the tallest one in the country. The 56-foot high, 360 feet long and 100 feet wide studio was constructed using funds collected by the Federation of Film Employees Union of South India (FEFSI), at Paiyanur, at a cost of Rs. 5 crore on the land provided by the State government. I am happy to inaugurate the studio named after puratchi thalaivar MGR (former Chief Minister M. G. Ramachandran). It is also the tallest film studio set up in the country, he said while speaking on the occasion. Recalling that the State which was home to several film studios in the past, witnessed a drop in numbers as they were converted into residential or commercial buildings, he said it was appropriate at this juncture to congratulate the employees of FEFSI for having made donations to establish this studio. Mr Palaniswami suggested that directors of other language films could consider the studio for their shoot. The Chief Minister also assured government support to construct houses, as per the Labour laws, for FEFSI workers. Responding to a request by FEFSI president and film director R. K. Selvamani for funds to establish an auditorium, Mr. Palaniswami said, I am happy to inform that the government will offer Rs. 5 crore to set it up. According to sources the film studio, spread across 15 acres of land, has all the latest equipment and has also been designed to facilitate film shoots in other languages for various film industries. Hyderabad: Congress leader T. Jeevan Reddy on Sunday alleged that the four-year rule of the TRS government under Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao let down the unemployed in the state. He said though there were two lakh vacancies in various government departments, the TRS government could not fill even 10,000 posts in the past four years. Mr Reddy said, The only pragathi (development) achieved by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is building the Pragathi Bhavan for himself in Begumpet. By Trend German Chancellor Angela Merkels visit to Azerbaijan is a landmark event as the leadership of one of the leading European countries visited the region, Azerbaijani political analyst Fikret Sadikhov told Trend. Germany is the engine of the European Union, he said. Azerbaijan's relations with this leading European country have always been built on a mutually beneficial basis. "Azerbaijan and Germany have long-term partnership relations not only in the field of energy, but also historical aspects, political, humanitarian and economic ties, Sadikhov said. Moreover, Germany is interested in implementing energy projects, in particular the Southern Gas Corridor, he added. It also seeks to develop ties with the republics of the South Caucasus. Of course, the German chancellors visit to the three republics of the region is not accidental." The German chancellors visit to Baku will give impetus to the development and expansion of bilateral relations, he said. "I think that as part of bilateral talks between the leadership of Azerbaijan and Germany, besides energy and economic issues, security issues and the fight against terrorism were discussed, because they are important for Azerbaijan, Germany and the whole European Union," Sadikhov added. Of course, the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was also discussed during the meeting, he said. I think that much depends on Germany as a member of the OSCE Minsk Group in the direction of its settlement within the international law and the restoration of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani diplomats updated the German leadership about the importance and the need for rapid settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to ensure stability and security in this strategically important region, Sadikhov said. The settlement of the conflict in accordance with the laws of international law is important not only for Azerbaijan and region, but also for the European countries, he said. We maintain long-standing partnership relations with those countries. All agreements reached during the visit will further strengthen bilateral relations. Merkel paid a visit to the South Caucasus on August 23-25. The elaborate plans drawn up by the BJP to commemorate Atal Behari Vajpayees memory include the immersion of his ashes in hundred rivers across the country, kalash yatras in various states and prayer meetings at the state and district headquarters. The purpose of this exercise is to cash in on Vajpayees popularity in the year-end elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh where the BJP chief ministers are facing anti-incumbency. However, if reports from poll-bound Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are anything to go by, the BJPs gameplan may well backfire. Senior BJP leaders and workers have failed to observe the solemnity of the occasion. There have been several instances when they have been caught chitchatting, laughing and joking with each other at these memorial programmes. Most of them have also been poorly organised. For instance, Vajpayees relatives in Gwalior were not provided official transport when his ashes were brought to the city for the people to pay their last respects. The local media has been highlighting these lapses, much to the embarrassment of the state governments. When veteran Congress leader Motilal Vora was relieved of his responsibilities as Congress Party treasurer last week, it was felt he may take it amiss as he has been handling the treasury for nearly two decades. Not just that, but he is among the few Congress office bearers who comes regularly to the party office and interacts diligently with workers and other visitors. But the 90-year-old Vora is not complaining as he has been re-designated as Congress general secretary and given charge of administration unlike his colleagues like Karan Singh and Janardan Dwivedi who were not accommodated in any position after they were removed as party office bearers. This also means that Mr Vora will continue with his old job of allocating rooms to the growing tribe of party functionaries and generally keeping vigil on the party premises. In fact, Mr Vora made a conscious effort to let everyone know that he is not unhappy with the change in portfolio. A cheerful Vora made a host of phone calls to Muslim party leaders and mediapersons to wish them Id Mubarak. Many newcomers were also included in the list this time, to ensure that his message gets across. The outspoken and irrepressible Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar was suspended last December when he called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a neech kisam ka insaan just ahead of the crucial Gujarat Assembly polls. Congress president Rahul Gandhi had publicly disapproved of Mr Aiyars remarks but the damage was done as the BJP was quick to accuse the Congress of being feudal and arrogant. Last week, his suspension was revoked quietly and without much fanfare. A day later, Mr Aiyar was spotted at Jawahar Bhawan where former bureaucrat and governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi was conferred the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana award in the presence of former party president Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Mr Aiyar, however, chose to keep a low profile at the function. Instead of looking for a seat in the front rows, he preferred to be a backbencher and sat in the company of journalists. The Congress leader did not socialise with other party leaders and refused to be baited by mediapersons who pursued him for his reactions on India-Pakistan relations, Imran Khan and Navjot Singh Sidhus hug controversy. Having learnt a bitter lesson last year, Mr Aiyar remained unmoved. Im not saying anything thanks to you I got into trouble last time, he remarked. It is to be seen how long Mr Aiyar can stay away from the cameras. When senior Congress leader Kamal Nath took over as president of the partys Madhya Pradesh unit in May, it was widely expected that he would unite all the warring factions, energise the rank and file and revive the moribund organisation in the run-up to the year-end Assembly polls. But four months later, the fragile show of unity in Madhya Pradesh Congress has started unravelling as infighting has resurfaced while the earlier enthusiasm displayed by the party cadre is on the wane. Instead of leading from the front, Mr Nath is barely seen in the field. He is an infrequent visitor to the party office in Bhopal, is not easily accessible to workers and has hardly addressed any major public meetings. He has been busy seeking divine help for the upcoming polls, having visited at least half-a-dozen temples during the past few weeks. He was last spotted reciting the Hanuman Chalisa at a temple. Little wonder then that party workers have been complaining that he makes more trips to temples than to the Congress office. H10 Studies have shown that the phenomena of urban and rural flooding are different. In urban areas, flooding can be six times as intense because of underground impermeability of cities. Keralas woes have been doubled as it has suffered both ways after 40-plus overflowing rivers inundated large swathes of the state. (Photo: PTI) It may be by way of abundant caution the Supreme Court may have ruled that the water storage in the Mullaperiyar Dam be kept under 140 feet. There seemed to be little merit in Keralas claim that water release from the dam operated by Tamil Nadu was instrumental in causing the floods as its surplus waters flow down to the Idukki Dam. Data presented to the court showed that while the state was beginning to flood by August 6, the Mullaperiyar started releasing water only on August 15. The point is Kerala was trying to apportion the blame while wriggling out of accountability for its own dam management practices that were woefully without a plan as almost all the rivers were in spate simultaneously. Such water releases may have been delayed by dam managers who allowed greedy requirements to prevail over more commonsensical handling of water resources during the monsoon. The primary reasons for the intense rains of the current monsoon season lie elsewhere. It starts with the revelation that global warming has led to the thickest and oldest ice in the Arctic, seen as the last bastion, turning to water. Weather events are getting more extreme. What applies to the west coast of India is the fact that the Arabian Sea has been known to warm more than even the warming Indian Ocean. The atmosphere to Earth and ocean bio-geochemistry interaction has been the same, according to scientists, except that the synergy is taking place in warmer waters and hence leading to extreme rain events striking with intensity and focus. Studies have shown that the phenomena of urban and rural flooding are different. In urban areas, flooding can be six times as intense because of underground impermeability of cities. Keralas woes have been doubled as it has suffered both ways after 40-plus overflowing rivers inundated large swathes of the state. A political blamegame is nothing but childish escapism. Mans occupation of vast stretches of what should be reserve forestland or well-preserved ecologically sensitive slopes of the Himalayas and the Western Ghats has exacerbated the flooding problems. There has been no worthwhile land use planning as states exploit natural settings for cash-rich tourism and concrete buildings have taken over parts of lakes and backwaters in Kerala. Coastal planning regulations are flouted with brazenness. There is no escaping from paying the price for this profligacy with nature. We cannot be a lawless society in this regard and still expect nature to be continuously and eternally benevolent. H10 The deals, however, also encompass several proposals for the Make in India initiative, including 111 utility and surveillance helicopters for the Navy, besides multi-role copters for submarine warfare intent. The defence ministrys big-bang announcement on its approval of purchases worth Rs 46,000 crores for guns, missiles and helicopters must please Indias military. Any focused purchase of sophisticated defence systems like missiles and combat-ready helicopters must go towards propping up preparedness, which is a primary task to be handled, besides being the price to pay for securing our freedom and protecting our borders. Its quite another matter that the timing lends itself easily to this being a sop in military trade and ties with the United States, as the 2+2 India strategic dialogue featuring the US secretary of state and the defence secretary and their Indian counterparts is just over a week away. While Russia remains Indias top military supplier and is also to supply the $5 billion S-400 Triumf air defence missile system, the approvals for the current US purchases will balance Indias strategic ties. The `46,000-crore deal may be mild compared to what the Rafale deal would potentially do for the Air Force, which is in desperate need of squadrons and fit-to-fly fighters and bombers. The deals, however, also encompass several proposals for the Make in India initiative, including 111 utility and surveillance helicopters for the Navy, besides multi-role copters for submarine warfare intent. The initiative itself has not truly taken off, nor paid good dividends over the years despite efforts made by successive governments to indigenise arms production. A large portion of Indias purchases as the fifth biggest defence spender in the world are still to be paid for in foreign exchange. The $6.5 billion deals may be minuscule for US defence manufacturers, but the industry does not scoff at any business coming its way. At a time of some dissent over trade thanks to the declaration of trade wars by Donald Trump, such arms procurement must help bilateral ties. The very fact that India is considering arms purchases with greater ease now is a relief. The Indian defence ministry has been tied down by such inhibitions in the wake of the accusations over Bofors bribes that there have been an atmosphere of fear ruling arms purchases for 30 years. A UPA defence minister had taken this to such an extreme that nothing moved in terms of defence preparedness for years. Given the history, the announcement coming well before any of the earmarked funds lapsing at the end of a financial term is to be welcomed. A pitiful paralysis had struck defence deals for a while. But, even at a time when they are being done to take care of defence needs, the poisonous atmosphere of sharp polarisation in our society means that none of this will go unchallenged. The biggest fear is still about the atmosphere of suspicion spoiling the delivery schedules of Rafale fighters in a time-bound manner. There is controversy over whether or not India should accept foreign aid during a disaster. There is even confusion about what the official policy is and it is an important enough issue to be examined so lets have a look at it. The Kerala government says it needs Rs 2,600 crore in aid to counter the effects of the recent flooding that killed hundreds of people and severely damaged the states infrastructure and private property. The Centre says it will give Rs 600 crore. The Kerala government says that the United Arab Emirates (which includes Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah) has offered Rs 700 crore which the government in Delhi said it would not accept. The policy of the earlier Manmohan Singh government on this was cited as the reason for the refusal. Perhaps under pressure from Delhi, the UAE government now says that no specific aid was offered. However, the Thailand ambassador to India has himself written that Delhi is refusing foreign assistance. His exact words are: Informally informed with regret that the Government of India is not accepting overseas donations for Kerala flood relief. Our hearts are with you, the people of Bharat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 18 after speaking to the Dubais ruler tweeted: A big thanks to Sheikh Mohammed for his gracious offer to support people of Kerala during this difficult time. His concern reflects the special ties between governments and people of India and UAE. This indicates that the offer was indeed made, and that it was refused. So what does the policy say? The Manmohan Singh government had intervened in this in 2004. Till that year, India accepted aid from foreign nations. After the tsunami in 2004, it was decided that India would not accept relief and rescue assistance from foreign nations, but it would accept aid for rehabilitation. Relief and rescue has to do with the immediate help that is required. This includes the teams of people on the ground who are helping those affected and are the people in first contact with the victims. What could be the reason for saying that no foreign assistance on this would be accepted? It could be several things. For example, it is the local authority that is familiar with the area and outsiders would be coming into a disaster zone with no knowledge of it or the local language. The second reason could be that in these matters, the Indian state is already reasonably strong and linked through a permanent bureaucracy. It also has a large military and paramilitary force that is often deployed for civilian duty (as it was in Kerala). The third reason could be that visually it is problematic to have foreigners rescue Indians and it dents national pride. The same concern does not hold for long-term rehabilitation, which is faceless. There could be other reasons for why Dr Singh and his team decided this, but they are not mentioned in the national policy on disaster management. My view is that if the concern was the first and the second, it seems reasonable. However, if the UPA strongly felt that the third reason, national pride, was the determining factor then it is problematic. Now let us look at the refusal even of rehabilitation, which is what is indicated by Indias refusal to accept the UAEs and Thailands offer. The possible reasons one can think of for doing this are as follows: First, that we dont need their money. That we have enough resources in India to take care of our citizens in the long term when they are affected. Second, that we do not want to take money from some specific countries (for example China and Pakistan) and because of this we cannot take it from anyone, to be consistent. Third, again, that taking assistance dents the national honour and it in some way diminishes the way we are seen by the outside world because we are aid-takers and not aid-givers. Again, here there might exist other reasons that we are not aware of, but the government has not told us what they are. To me, the first reason is obviously false. We are a poor country, by any definition. To pretend we are not is to be blind to what is around us. To me, the second and third are again problematic. It should be the person and the community that is affected by disaster that should determine whether their honour is dented in accepting assistance. An individual has feelings, not a nation. There is no real thing as national pride. It is imaginary, while the aid and assistance is real. The Kerala government says the UAE is not any ordinary place and cannot be seen as just a foreign place. It is a country which Indians, particularly Malayalis, have helped build with their hands. They have a strong stake in it and any aid from that country cannot be seen as charity alone. It is difficult to disagree with this. Even if Dr Singh had a different policy, there is no reason for us to not see the flaws in it and correct it. To deny our people help in the time of their greatest need is cruelty. H11 Not everyones enthused about the Centres decision to allow lateral entry in the government at the joint secretary-level on a contractual basis. As expected, the babus are less than enthusiastic about the proposal. Now a retired IAS officer has moved the Supreme Court against the decision. Claiming that the decision is arbitrary, the petitioner Chandrapal, who retired as secretary in the ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises, has alleged that it would make the going difficult for bureaucrats selected on merit through a competitive examination. He has also said that the selection would be influenced by political considerations and would create a conflict of interest by allowing persons from the private sector into the administration. Pointing to the department of personnel and training (DoPT) notification inviting applications from private sector candidates, Mr Chandrapal has claimed that the notification does not specify any criteria for the selection of joint secretaries. Will the move of approaching the Supreme Court impede the implementation of the new policy? The Centre cant be too pleased about the prospect. Bureaucrats upset with Nitish A new rule in Bihar has caused resentment among IAS and IPS officers against chief minister Nitish Kumar. The state government has reportedly directed Bihar cadre officers not to pursue their personal matters by contacting the chief ministers secretariat. It has further stated that any officer who does so will attract disciplinary action. The letter issued by additional secretary Daya Nidhan Pandey to senior Bihar cadre officials, states that it is expected that the babus will not indulge in any such thing that is improper. It has, predictably, caused resentment among IAS, IPS and IFoS officers. Many feel that by denying them access for any urgent personal or service matter, the state government is creating more problems for the officials. However, sources in the CMs secretariat say that officials who seek information from the secretariat about files pertaining to personal matters actually reflect improper conduct. The state government is merely enforcing an existing rule to stop this practice. But this explanation is unlikely to cut much ice with Bihars sulking babus. New law on DGP appointment The recent Supreme Court directive to states and Union territories is a long overdue push towards police reforms. The Supreme Court has ordered states not to appoint any police officer as acting director-general of police, further ruling that three months before the incumbent steps down, the UPSC must offer to the state government a panel of three qualified officers, one of whom must be appointed to the post, for a minimum tenure of two years. Observers note that this is a deserved attempt to stop the denigration of the post of DGP by state governments and to check political control of the police. In several instances, it has been noted that governments often regularise such appointments on the last day of retirement so that they can serve a full two-year term. For instance, Punjab has 11 DGP-level and 20 additional DGP-level officers. One immediate fallout of the Supreme Court order could mean that the expected change of guard in the Karnataka police may now not happen. The incumbent DG and IGP, Neelamani N. Raju, is not only the senior-most IPS officer but will enjoy a tenure of two years. There has been some speculation that the new coalition government headed by chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy wanted to replace Ms Raju with DGP, Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation, H.C. Kishore Chandra, who is the next in seniority in the state and is known to be close to chief minister. But that move may now have to be shelved after the SC order. B09 The sadness of law is that it is often treated as a technical discipline, where judgments are read like formal texts. Yet law like food or medicine smells of society, its constraints and contradictions. Law as a text is never complete without the societal context. Reading it this way one senses that the relation between law and social change is an ambiguous and ambivalent one. One senses this in the recent Supreme Court judgments on adultery. Adultery is an almost primordial word. In Islamic law, in Shariah and not the Quran, the women can be stoned for adultery. Many fundamentalist states, including the Taliban, enforced these proscriptions merely because a woman was found with a man who was not her husband. The Mosaic traditions, which include the 10 Commandments, was usually harsh and even Jesus whose judgments had a gentler New Testament vein, was severe on adultery. A covetous look itself became an act of adultery. Adultery rather than being a self-reflective comment on the relationship was more a comment on the position of women in society. As women struggled and society changed, law had to respond, but often the response was still archaic. Michel Foucault, the great historian of the body, makes two interesting points in his Discipline and Punish. He points out firstly that the body becomes a site of tyranny and oppression. He then adds that the moment reform and emancipation becomes a moment of surveillance, governmentality and legislation, they add to the ironies of freedom. All this becomes clearer when we study adultery. One, first of all, realises that adultery is a text that has to be located in the changing context. Second, one has to realise the discrepancy between change and legislation to back that change. The legislator and the interpreter may still carry the residue of the past and may seek to present it. The writings of Foucault and Lawrence have shown us that adultery often reflects a patriarchal mindset. As change is introduced, it becomes paternalistic but does not abandon old assumptions. Foucault and Stone point out that change in the nature of adultery has emerged on three axes. First, the changing notion of the body and the idea, and the idea of women as property. Second, the changing idea of marriage and love, and third, the emancipation of women. All seemed to establish the equality of men and women and adultery seems to be a conceptual backwater of such change. Today love is supposed to create a sense of equality where relations are seen to be reciprocal. A relationship is now an act of personal or individual commitment. The women challenge the idea of seeing themselves as chattel or property. The language of honour to the language of trust, duty to a sense of enjoyment. The question is, do these changes get reflected in courts decisions? In Revathi vs Union of India (1988) the court rejected the challenge that adultery law was discriminatory. It argued that the target of the law was not the husband or wife, but the outsider invading the fortress of bliss called marriage. In fact, the metaphor of the fort covers marriage, property and patriarchy, and sanctity of each plays the same conservative role as security does today. The court portrays itself as a defender of institutions. But what feminists and each suffragette pointed out is that linguistically and legally it seems to have change to the legislature. The courts attitude reflected a romantic paternalism, which stems from the assumption that women, like chattel, are the property of the man. Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud in his reply acknowledges asymmetries, but he feels that some asymmetries are more equal than others. Such sleeping asymmetries might affect policy but not the Constitution. He suggests we let them be. The argument might be technically correct and yet one senses the latent sense of patriarchy. He feels change and the responses to change as far as adultery goes belongs to the legislature and not the judiciary. Most judgments either read adultery as an extension of property laws, including the womens body, as a piece of patriarchal property or arguing that adultery threatened the sanctity of marriage. The judgments oscillated between property and patriarchy. Even genuine responses to change carried the latent rhetoric of patriarchy. Activists arguing for a consonance between adultery laws and the emerging ideas of freedom and sexuality are referred to the legislature. Womens speech or womens interpretation impinge little on the court more keen to control stability by focusing on the control of sexuality and womens bodies. The idea of sanctity is played off against any search for equality and freedom. It is this contradiction, this hypocrisy that women are challenging today asking for a consideration of freedom and consent than a patriarchal investment in chastity. In fact, human rights groups suggest that adultery should no longer be treated as a criminal offence. The UN working groups have suggested that when adultery can be the basis of divorce, it need no longer has to be the basis of imprisonment. The court has to respond to the idea that adultery law is archaic. But that will require a change in the mindsets India is far from. Adultery now has to be seen not within the context of property and patriarchy but in terms of new notions of freedom and consent. The court has to respond to this new discourse or otherwise sound archaic or futile. H11 In Benazir Bhuttos first term of office, she told my cousin, the late and much-missed poet and journalist Kaleem Omar: Giving me advice has become a cottage industry. Its obviously easier to give free advice to politicians in power who usually ignore it. In these early days, Imran Khan and his Cabinet colleagues must be inundated by suggestions, but the PTI has come in with its own ambitious agenda, so Ill let them get on with it. However, I would beg finance minister Asad Umar not to waste his time chasing the chimera of funds stashed abroad by Pakistanis: this is a stone that will yield little water, no matter how hard he squeezes it. But I feel the irresistible urge to advise the Opposition whose role should be to hold the government to account. Currently, the fissures between the PPP and the PML(N) are so deep that the grand Opposition alliance some pundits saw forming in Parliament seems a distant dream. This obviously grants the government a free hand: a strong, united Opposition would have given it a much harder time. The PML(N) clearly has a powerful motive to make life tough for Prime Minister Imran Khan. The PPP, with 43 seats, has done much better than it did in 2013. But the PML(N) has seen its numbers pulled down through alien help, according to Nawaz Sharifs supporters to just 64. With these numbers, a joint Opposition comprising two of our three largest parties could have been highly effective in blocking or changing PTIs initiatives. So why isnt it happening? The answer, sadly, lies mostly in the PPPs vulnerability. With several corruption charges hanging over his head, it would appear that Asif Zardari fears the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Supreme Court more than he does parliamentary irrelevance. Remember the rabbit he and Imran Khan pulled out of the hat when they jointly elected the Senate chairman earlier this year? Zardari ditched his own party member, the popular, articulate and fair-minded Raza Rabbani, and a candidate who had the support of Nawaz Sharif. And for whom? Sadiq Sanjrani, a Baloch politician few had heard of. It was obvious to all that the strings behind this Machiavellian move led straight to the deep state. For Imran Khan, these were dues paid in advance for the promised help in the general elections. And for Zardari, his support was to help ward off future NAB enquiries. So what does this feeble policy bode for the PPP? Obviously, supporters would prefer a more robust challenge to the PTI-led government with its Cabinet of some of the seediest characters in politics. Luckily, it also has some very capable people Shafqat Mahmood and Shireen Mazari spring to mind. Whether they get support for their policies is yet to be seen. Both in the national and the Punjab assemblies, we saw the PPP ducking and weaving to escape joining hands with the PML(N) to defeat PTI nominees to the Prime Ministers and chief ministers positions. It would appear that the aliens had triumphed yet again. But this is what aliens do: work to their own opaque agenda thats ultimately designed to further their cause. So if Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the new foreign minister, thinks he can wrest control of foreign policy towards Afghanistan, India and the US, I hope hes not holding his breath. Too many bills. Although PM Khans austerity measures are admirable, I fear the resultant savings wont build many bridges, give Pakistans children clean drinking water, a decent education and a fighting chance of a meaningful future. That kind of money will only ever come from a restructuring of our budget. Unfortunately, it just isnt going to happen. Unless, of course, the three major parties confront the aliens. But that, too, is highly unlikely to come about, given the rancour between the leaders. Imran Khan hates Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, is too indebted to the establishment, and both politicians hate him right back. Zardari detests Sharif for setting the Rangers on his buddies and bagmen in Karachi, and is part of the reason he is refusing to cooperate with the ex-PM. Kicking a foe when hes down is what he learned early in politics. To be fair, he took his share of lumps during his years in jail. For the PPP, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is one ray of hope. He turned out to be an effective campaigner, and delivered an impressive maiden speech in Parliament. But although he was sent on the campaign trail despite the dangers he faced every day, he was a real crowd-puller and did much to boost the PPPs share of votes. Unfortunately, he probably wont be given as much freedom in Parliament where his father will control the PPP votes. Until Bilawal can free himself of these paternal shackles, nothing much will change on the PPP. Over the centuries, many sons have had to fight such battles. By arrangement with Dawn H11 The RSS-BJP had long desired to be in government in Jammu and Kashmir, Indias only Muslim-majority state, in order to try out its brand of politics there. Well, it seems it has badly messed up the opportunity it got. With anger welling up across Kashmir and across the political spectrum in the Valley on the issue of Article 35A of the Constitution, we should prepare for stormy disturbances ahead in addition to the military-related troubles that already exist. It is evident that the BJPs mishandling of Kashmir, and casual disregard of public sentiment in the Valley, has set the country back since it is pretty much an axiom that when India takes a political hit in Kashmir, it is Pakistan that gains and its proxies are afforded a wider field of operation and manoeuvre. So sorry has been the spectacle and so conspicuous the BJPs failure that, in order to escape responsibility as a partner in the J&K government, the Centre toppled the PDP-BJP government in which the BJP was a more than vigorous ally, and Central rule was imposed. This is an extraordinary happening, and is by any yardstick a screaming acknowledgment of political inadequacy. Before the next Lok Sabha poll, there does not appear to be much chance of retrieval. The RSS espousal of the case to remove Article 35A of the Constitution, through which is defined the identity of the Kashmiri people in relation to the rest of India, is causing turmoil in the minds of ordinary men and women in the Valley. This dangerous advocacy taken to the Supreme Court by a NGO with RSS leanings has unleashed demons in the minds of the people of J&K, indeed even in Hindu Jammu, where a BJP MLA spoke out against his party. If terrorist events and extremist violence combined with military action initiated to check this trend, and the ensuing civilian casualties as well as instances of civilian challenge to the uniformed forces, have dominated the headlines since July 2016 (after the death of an extremist faction leader in an encounter), for the first time in many years a Valley-wide mobilisation is building up on the question of Article 35A even as these lines appear. Every Kashmiri is getting involved, and there are no exceptions. This ought to be the real worry. For the newly-inducted governor, Satya Pal Malik, this development could mark a most unpropitious beginning to an innings for which he appears to have no previous preparation. His predecessor N.N. Vohra, a retired civil servant of distinction, was held in esteem across the Valley. The sudden announcement of his replacement last week caused dismay although it had been known for some time that he didnt wish to stay. The popular perception was that Mr Vohra tried to be fair to the people within the range of the powers he had, and was not a yes man. His substitution with a BJP politician, who has flitted across the political spectrum, is giving rise to fears in Kashmir that unpalatable political measures could be on the cards. The replacement of a governor during Governors Rule is itself unusual and gives rise to a sense of dissonance at the top. It is in this unwholesome atmosphere that Mr Malik has been ushered in. The scale and intensity of terrorist violence seen in the past two years or so was reminiscent of the Pakistan-triggered militancy of the late 1980s and the early 90s. It did admit of a firm response on the part of the armed forces, alongside efforts to calm the populace. On the whole, it is principally the impressionable youth who were getting sucked into this violence. However, the latest development surrounding the RSS-BJPs attempt to have Article 35A of the Constitution struck down as unconstitutional is escalating the problem manifold. It is bringing about a concord among all sections of politics and public opinion in Kashmir, not just the sections of the youth and their numbers are said to be rising being attracted to militancy. The separatists and the mainline parties have come together as one. The anger building up now is not just against the Narendra Modi government in Delhi. It is also turning out to be against India for contemplating to renege as the Valley sees it on an understanding reached with Kashmir and its people. The first act of any responsible authority should be to remove any misunderstanding on this score. Article 35A lays down that only permanent residents of J&K (known as state subjects under the Maharajas rule) shall own immoveable property in the state, or get government jobs or scholarships. This was the situation prevailing before Maharaja Hari Singh acceded to India against his will in very difficult circumstances (rather than merged his domains with India) in October 1947, and has been accepted in toto in the Indian Constitution through Article 35A. This provision lays down further that only the J&K legislature shall be competent to determine who a permanent resident is. It is also important to note that it is through Article 35A that permanent residents of J&K become citizens of India. The RSS-inspired NGO, which is in the Supreme Court petitioning for its removal, has argued on a pseudo-technical basis that this article was not incorporated into the Constitution through the due process of amendment, but was incorporated through a presidential order in 1954 as per powers conferred on the President of India by Article 370 (i) (d) of the Constitution. Given forceful precedents, it is a mystery why the Supreme Court has not dismissed the petition as being not maintainable since it is amply clear that Article 35A is a sub-set of Article 370, which accords special status to J&K in light of the dangerous circumstances prevailing in the state at the time of accession, and directly flows from it. The power of the President under Article 370 (i) (d) to modify a provision of the Constitution for the purposes of application to J&K (since it was in a special category) has been challenged earlier. A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court rejected it in Puranlal Lakhanpal vs President of India (judgment of March 30, 1961). Further, in Delhi Laws Act (SCR 747), the Supreme Court put it sharply. The issue was the same. The court rejected the petition with costs, finding no force in it. It also noted that this was apart from the question whether the petitioner has any fundamental right to maintain his petition under Article 32. It is hoped the Supreme Court will not just be judicial but also judicious and hand down mischievous elements lessons in avoiding gamesmanship when the integrity of the country is at stake. Epic Games quickly has the issue and rolled out a patch for the app across all Android smartphones. There has been no other mobile title on Android that has brought immense levels of attention to itself than Fortnite. Epic Games free-to-play battle royale game for Android was released with a lot of twists it was exclusive to Samsung devices initially and then was not made available on Google PlayStore. Therefore, it seemed that things could turn sour between Google and the Fortnite maker, which it has eventually indeed. Google has been pretty serious about maintaining top-notch security on Android by requiring several app developers to opt for the highly-secured PlayStore rather than relying on third-party app repositories. Since Fortnite can only be installed by a separate installer APK file, Google decided to perform an audit on it and came out with a result thats expected on app installers found outside the PlayStore. Google found out that the Fortnite installer had a flaw which could lead malicious apps installed on an Android phone to hack the download process and download something unintended. Google declared this to be unsafe, claiming that the installer left Android phones vulnerable to attacks and therefore, notified Epic Games to get the issue rectified before the issue was made public. Epic Games quickly resolved the issue and rolled out a patch for the app across all Android smartphones. However, Epic Games requested Google to keep the flaw a secret for 90 days, which could give enough time for people to update the app. Google instead made the issue public just after a week, putting Epic Games dissatisfied. Now the patched version of Fortnite Installer has been available for 7 days we will proceed to unrestrict this issue in line with Google's standard disclosure practices," read Googles disclosure on the Issue Tracker page. Epic Games replied, saying, Epic genuinely appreciated Google's effort to perform an in-depth security audit of Fortnite immediately following our release on Android, and share the results with Epic so we could speedily issue an update to fix the flaw they discovered. However, it was irresponsible of Google to publicly disclose the technical details of the flaw so quickly, while many installations had not yet been updated and were still vulnerable. An Epic security engineer, at my urging, requested Google delay public disclosure for the typical 90 days to allow time for the update to be more widely installed. Google refused. You can read it all at https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/112630336. Google's security analysis efforts are appreciated and benefit the Android platform, however, a company as powerful as Google should practice more responsible disclosure timing than this, and not endanger users in the course of its counter-PR efforts against Epic's distribution of Fortnite outside of Google Play." Its clearly evident that Google chose to ignore Epic Games request by unveiling the bug to the public. However, Google goes by its strict guidelines for ensuring user data security and maintaining transparency about its processes. "User security is our top priority, and as part of our proactive monitoring for malware, we identified a vulnerability in the Fortnite installer. We immediately notified Epic Games and they fixed the issue," this statement makes Google right in its place. Had Epic Games gone for the PlayStore route instead of hogging all its profits for itself, it wouldnt have had to face such issues. Apple clearly restricts developers to its App Store as the sole source for installing new apps on iOS devices, which helps the company maintain security on its devices across the world. (via) Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Ex-president Barack Obama, the Democrat to whom McCain lost the presidency in the 2008 elections, said, 'we are all in his debt.' (Photo: AP) Washington: US senator John McCain, a celebrated war hero known for reaching across the aisle in an increasingly divided America, died today following a battle with brain cancer. He was 81. "Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28 pm on August 25, 2018. With the senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family," his office said in a statement. "At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for 60 years. Sen McCain, thank you for your service," read a sign near the driveway of his home in a rural part of Sedona, Arizona, television footage showed, as a police escort accompanied the hearse that was to carry his body and local residents came bearing flowers for the late political titan. While he had many disagreements with fellow politicians, the Republican stalwart's integrity was not at question, and condolences came swift from the highest reaches of American politics after his passing. (Photo: AP) Ex-president Barack Obama, the Democrat to whom McCain lost the presidency in the 2008 elections, said, "we are all in his debt." "John McCain and I were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds and competed at the highest level of politics," Obama said in a statement. "But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher -- the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched and sacrificed." Former vice president Al Gore -- who served under Democrat Bill Clinton -- said, "I always admired and respected John from the opposite side of the aisle, because he thrived under pressure, and would work to find common ground, no matter how hard." President Donald Trump, who once mocked McCain's war record, said he sent his "deepest sympathies and respect." McCain had been a rare and outspoken Republican critic of Trump, accusing him of "naivete," "egotism" and of sympathizing with autocrats. On Capitol Hill, McCain became close friends with Senator Lindsey Graham and former senator Joe Lieberman -- a trio dubbed the "Three Amigos." Now that the trio is missing its driving force, Graham wrote that "America and Freedom have lost one of her greatest champions... And I've lost one of my dearest friends and mentor." McCain, who was tortured during his five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, stopped treatment from an aggressive form of cancer earlier this week, his family saying, "the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict." He had spent more than three decades in the Senate, looming large in debates over war and peace and the moral direction of the nation. Before joining the upper chamber, he served as a US representative from 1983 to 1987. McCain had not been on the Senate floor in months, remaining at his Arizona home for treatment of glioblastoma -- the same form of brain cancer that took the life of another Senate giant, Democrat Ted Kennedy, in 2009. By Trend An Iranian military plane crashed in the countrys south-western province of Khuzestan today morning, Irans media outlets reported Aug. 26. The F-5 fighter jet belonging to the Irans Air Force crashed, due to technical fault, while landing in the 4th military air base in Dezful, Khouzestan province, Amir Isazadeh, governor of Dezful said. He added that Iran's prominent pilot, Colonel Manuchehr Fattahi, who was testing the overhauled fighter, was killed in the incident. The second pilot, who was injured in the incident, has been taken to the hospital and his general condition is satisfactory, the official said. Earlier in July, an Iranian F-4 fighter crashed in the countrys south-eastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan. Two pilots of the plane managed to eject before the crash. Also on May 29, two crew members of a light training aircraft of the army were killed as it crashed in southern Tehran. The army said the crash occurred due to technical problem. A similar accident occurred in 2017 with a Sukhoi Su-22 fighter, killing both the pilot and co-pilot. India is waiting with bated breath for the first listings on its home-grown Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). In fact, the first listing will happen within a couple of months. REITs are good news for investors who have a small appetite -- as small as Rs 2 lakh -- and yet want to invest in the otherwise highly cost-intensive commercial real estate market. With REITs, they can literally take a small bite of the large Indian commercial real estate pie. One of the major real estate players in the country (Blackstone-backed Embassy Group) is in the process of launching its first REIT to raise approximately $1 billion as part of its strategy to monetise its rent-yielding commercial properties. Currently, this realty major is in the reshuffling of its property portfolio to include assets across Bengaluru, NCR and Mumbai. The company has more than 30 million sq feet of leased office space and about 22 million sq feet more in the pipeline across cities. Another player in the fray for listing REITs is IIFL Holdings. REITs decoded Just like mutual funds, REITs are investment vehicles that own, operate and manage a portfolio of income-generating properties for regular returns. As of now, REIT-listed properties are largely commercial assets - primarily office spaces - that can generate steady and lucrative rental income. REIT-listed office assets are very likely to be followed by other REITable asset classes in India, including retail malls, hotels, etc. Post its registration with Sebi, units of REITs will have to be mandatorily listed on exchanges and traded like securities. Like listed shares, small investors can buy units of REITs from both primary and secondary markets. Thus, besides low entry levels, REITs will provide investors with a safe and diversified portfolio at minimal risk and under professional management, ensuring decent returns on investment. REITs will not only be characterised by investment in real estate assets - they will also offer limited liability for all unit-holders. To ensure regular income to investors, it has been mandated to distribute at least 90% of the net distributable cash flows to the investors at least twice a year. Thats not all. As per the guidelines, 80% of the assets must be invested in completed projects, and only 20% will be in under-construction projects, equity shares, money market instruments, cash equivalents, and real estate activities. Expected ROI Small investors will raise a pertinent question - will REITs be able to offer the same returns on investment that they can expect from real real estate investments? The answer is, probably not. Definitely, investors who are hoping for unrealistic returns (>20-30%) will need to look elsewhere. Being realistic in ones returns expectations from REITs is important. A realistic ROI expectation would be in the range of 7-8% annually, post adjustment of the fund management fee. With REITs, the ROI will be highly structured, realistic and risk-averse. REITs are ideal for investors who want a steady income with minimum risks. Moreover, investors can earn two types of income from REITs one through capital gains post the sale of REIT units, and the other via dividend income. Moreover, REITs will be a good investment option for investors who are looking to diversify their portfolio beyond gold and equity markets. The downside On the flipside, a plethora of taxes have currently made REITs more than a little unattractive in India. For instance, when a REIT sells shares of assets, the capital gains are taxable. Further, in other countries where REITs have been functional for a long time have been exempted from stamp duty. Such tax benefits, if and when are provided in Indian REITs, will act like a catalyst in making REITs more functional and attractive in the long run. Global players galore Sensing immense opportunity, large global institutional investors are already eyeing Indias real estate market through REIT-tinted lenses. These include Japans NikkoAm StraitsTrading Asia, US North Carolina Fund, Malaysias Hwang Asia Pacific REITs and Infrastructure Fund, Taiwans Eastspring Investments and Canada-based Sentry Global. This ignited interest of global entities is largely due to the uptick in office leasing activity in major Indian cities. To be fair, the government and Sebi have incorporated several changes time and again to make the issuance of REITs a success. However, only time and circumstances can reveal the real success of REITs in India. The first listing will be more of a test case for the Indian market. If it succeeds, there will certainly be no looking back. (The writer is MD & CEO - ANAROCK Capital) Incensed that the man standing at the billing counter was not moving away, four people stabbed the 35-year-old to death outside a bar-cum-restaurant in Kumaraswamy Layout on Friday night. The victim has been identified as Chandra, a cab driver who lives in Banashankari. The police arrested three of Chandras killers Nadeem (36), Nayaz (32), both natives of Mysuru; and Fayaz (30), a tile mason living in Kumaraswamy Layout. The police said Chandra and three of his friends were at RK Bar in Kadirenahalli Cross for drinks and dinner at 10.45 pm on Friday. When Chandra went to the billing counter to pay, the four men, who had just entered the bar, asked him to move away. Chandra refused to budge and asked them to join the queue behind him. He also blocked them from the counter. The enraged men picked up a quarrel with Chandra and began assaulting him. When Chandra hit back, one of them pulled out a knife and stabbed him. Chandras friends rushed out of the bar and saw him lying in a pool of blood. They rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead. The police identified the killers from the CCTV camera and managed to catch three of them. The Kumaraswamy Layout police registered a case of murder and are probing the incident further. The CBI has established a connection between the murders of rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar and journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh. The CBI, along with the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Maharashtra Police, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Karnataka Police and the Kolhapur police-led SIT, are also investigating the murders of Communist leader Govind Pansare and Kannada writer Prof M M Kalburgi. The link between the murders of Dr Dabholkar and Gauri Lankesh came out from the recent breakthroughs by the CBI and Maharashtra ATS, following information from the Karnataka SIT. This was mentioned by the CBI in a remand note on Sunday when one of the suspects, Sachin Andhure, was produced before Judicial Magistrate (First Class) at Shivajinagar in Pune. "Some of the accused in the Gauri Lankesh case are connected with Sachin Andhure and the Dr Narendra Dabholkar murder case," the CBI said while seeking an extension of Andhure's remand, which was granted by court till 30 August. The role of right-wing activists, including those associated with Sanatan Sanstha and other organisations, have come to light. The CBI, however, has not named any such organisation in the remand applications so far. "During the interrogation of Andhure, he revealed that one of the arrested accused in the Gauri Lankesh murder case (Amol Kale) had handed over one 7.65-mm country-made pistol and three bullets to him," the remand note said, even though it does not name Kale. Andhure passed the pistol and bullets to his brother-in-law Subham Surale in Aurangabad on August 11, who in turn passed it on to his friend Rohit Rege, also in Aurangabad. During the recent raids in Aurangabad, the CBI seized one pistol with magazine and three bullets of 7.65 mm. Andhure's name was revealed by Sharad Kalaskar, a resident of Nalasopara near Mumbai, who was arrested by the Maharashtra ATS for planning blasts in Mumbai, Pune, Solapur and Satara. It was Andhure and Kalaskar who went on a motorcycle and shot Dr Dabholkar. The CBI will seek Kalaskar's custody once his remand with the Maharashtra ATS ends. Besides, it would also seek the remand of Amol Kale by the SIT of the Karnataka Police. CBI officials said efforts are underway to trace the motorcycle that was used for Dabholkar's murder. During the raids in multiple locations in Mumbai, the Maharashtra ATS seized bombs and gun power, and found a pistol-making factory. In that case, five people Vaibhav Raut (40), Sharad Kalaskar (25), Sudhanva Ghondalekar (39), Shrikant Pangarkar (55) and Avinash Pawar (30) have been arrested. It is to be mentioned here that one of the accused, Rajesh Bangera, arrested by the Karnataka SIT in connection with Gauri's murder, is the one who may have trained Andhure, Kalaskar, Parashuram Waghmare and Ganesh Miskin, who had reportedly shot Gauri Lankesh. A group of students squat on the floor in a class. One teacher sits and guides these students on what ought to be done. Coming from various classes, each of them here is learning a different subject. This would remind one of a private tutorial. This, however, is a glimpse of a government primary school in the state. It is 12.30 pm on a weekday at T Peddanahalli, a village in Chikkaballapur districts Shidlaghatta taluk. At the government primary school are seated 11 children, in groups of two or three. This is a building with three rooms. One for the students, another for Anganawadi kids, and the third room makes for the kitchen. The students chitter-chatter does not distract the sparrows that make their way through the broken windowpane into the classroom, playful, flying around the books that have been stacked in a corner. A teacher sits in one corner of the room, trying to silence one group of students, while others are indulged in a discussion. She picks up a book to assess a students notes and another student raises his hand to clarify a doubt. The student stands next to her awaiting her feedback as she is evaluating a Class IV students mathematics notes. Even before she completes it, a Class I student rushes to her asking for help with writing an alphabet in the four-lines notebook. As it is about time for lunch, this teacher has to coordinate with the cook. If students here ought to use the washroom, water has to be drawn out of a bore and the teacher stands there as children draw water out of the storage unit. Sarasvathamma, the lone teacher in this school, multitasks from teaching students of various classes simultaneously to coordinating the government schemes. Such is the scene in several government schools in the state. While I am teaching Class V students, I ask others to sit and practise what has been given to them in the notes. I ensure that each student gets the maximum possible attention, adds Sarasvathamma. She has been transferred to this school from a nearby village as another teacher who was working here previously got promoted. I am hopeful that during the teacher transfer process, another teacher is sent here, she says. She is one of the many teachers in the state who executes several activities at a time. Even in high schools around Chikkaballapur, locals explain, there are instances of one person teaching multiple subjects. There are teachers in the district who also fetch vegetables for the school as they cannot trust the cook. They monitor the implementation of several other government schemes, teach that children are taught, and also coordinate with the government to ensure that the basic necessities of the school are fulfilled, said a child rights activist, on condition of anonymity. Even those who are recruited as general teachers from Class I to Class III, under the Nali Kali programme teach higher primary classes whenever there is a shortage of staff. Should this teacher take a days leave, she ought to inform the Education Department in advance to ensure that a teacher from a neighbouring village is posted here. Else, these students would have no teacher for the day. I can do justice by teaching children under Nali Kali. I know as a matter of fact that the quality of education will suffer if children are not given subject teachers. I continue to teach them because I do not want them to drop out of school, says another teacher in Chikkaballapur. Satish, a member of the Child Rights Trust, who has been working here, says that there are several other single-teacher schools in the district. The quality of education will suffer. This is a clear violation of child rights. The quality of education will also take a beating. How can a teacher who teaches language also handle mathematics and science? he questions. In Somanahalli in Chikkaballapur, the government primary school has been reopened after two years. The school was shut as there were not enough students. There is a private school in less than a kilometre distance. This is a clear violation of the education act rules. This brings down the number of admissions into government schools and in such situations, government deputes a single teacher to the school, reveals Satish. He said that in the past, there have been instances where the admissions in government schools came down as private schools wooed parents by providing better education tools and assured them of door-to-door transport. Poor infrastructure Infrastructure suffers in schools across the state. Chikkaballapur is no exception. At A K Badavane, three classrooms remain shut as the roof of these structures has started to chip off making it dangerous for students to be seated inside. One can see a pack of cards and some emptied alcohol bottles scattered around in these rooms. Shivanarayanappa, a member of the School Management and Development Committee, explains that the concerns raised by the committee have only fallen on deaf ears in the Education Department. In another school in Bashettihalli, Doddaballapura taluk, Chikkaballapur district, while one part of the building is in a shambles, the other half of the structure is occupied by students. One of the rooms in the building has completely collapsed following heavy rains. The other rooms lie right in the vicinity. We have found snakes and insects in the debris here. We are concerned about the safety of students, says a teacher. A parent whose child previously studied at a single teacher school in the same taluk has shifted his child to Bashettihalli as there is a better strength here. I stay about 5 km away from this place. I find it better to have my child study here with 30 other students and have multiple teachers teaching her. We walk half the distance every day and take local transport for the remaining distance, says Rangappa. A host of problems Across the state, the situation remains the same. A social worker from Sedam in Kalaburagi district, on condition of anonymity, explained that single-teacher schools is a major cause for the drop in admission rates in government schools.We have been explaining to the state that recruitment must happen on time. Teacher transfers are also being delayed. Last year, it did not take place at all. Due to this, several posts are vacant, he adds. Anandraj Margadarshi, a child rights activist from Kalaburagi district, says that similar problems affect the primary education scene in Tunnuru at Chittapur as well. When there is a single teacher, there is no one to monitor his or her presence. In several instances, the villages are bribed by the teachers not to complain against their absenteeism, he adds. Terming it a violation of Right to Education Act, he says, in such schools, the quality of education suffers. Syllabus is not completed in many such single-teacher schools. Only for the record, children are in a higher class. Children dont have basic language and Maths skills and are unable to comprehend even simple topics. Children dont enjoy the process of learning and get demotivated. Eventually, parents take children to work in the agricultural fields or migrate. It contributes significantly to an increase in drop-out rates, he adds. Margadarishi says that with teachers having to shoulder multiple responsibilities, at times when they are called for departmental meetings, stop-gap arrangements are made for that day while the new teacher is unable to do much as they are not in tune with the current happenings in the schools. Also read: Consolidating small schools without compromising access Are we addressing the right problems? Looking at the unusual enthusiasm displayed by BJP-RSS leaders over the updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, there is no doubt that the saffron brigade sees it as an issue it can milch for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. But here again, theres considerable doublespeak. On the one hand, top BJP and RSS leaders are demonising Bangladesh every day as the source of illegal migrants and demanding that the NRC process should be replicated in West Bengal and the rest of the country. But, facing a demand for NRC from its tribal parties, Tripuras BJP Chief Minister Biplab Deb has ruled out NRC for his state, saying everyone in Tripura is an Indian citizen. A powerful Assam BJP minister, during a visit to Tripura, assured the Bengali majority in Tripura that not many people ultimately will be left out of the NRC in Assam. But in West Bengal, the BJP is seeking to push Mamata Banerjees Trinamool Congress (TMC) on the backfoot by raising the demand for NRC because it feels millions of Bangladeshi illegals (Muslims, because the BJP sees Hindu migrants as refugees) have settled in the state over the three decades of Left rule. The BJP accuses Mamata of minority appeasement and feels the religious divide thus created would help it consolidate Hindu vote against TMC. But in Tripura, where almost the entire Bengali population is of East Bengali origin, NRC is not needed because the BJP is already in power! If Ram Mandir served to polarise voters on religious lines in the 1990s and later, the NRC is seen having similar potential now. Which is why the BJP-RSS has not merely defended the process in Assam, despite no apparent thought over the endgame after 40 lakh people came to face the danger of becoming stateless, but are pitching for NRC in West Bengal and the rest of the country, too. The BJP suffered a setback, though, when almost half of the 40 lakh people excluded from the NRC draft in Assam were found to be Hindus, mostly Bengalis but also many Nepali-speaking Gorkhas or Hindi-speaking Biharis and Rajasthanis as well, not to speak of even some tribals and Assamese like BJP MLA Ramakant Deori of Morigaon. The hurry and haste introduced in the process by an enthusiastic Supreme Court bench with an Assamese judge in it has been blamed for the huge amount of obvious errors in the NRC. From the nephew of former President Fakruddin Ali Ahmed , an Assamese Muslim, to the wife of Assams BJP deputy speaker Dilip Pal to Kargil War veteran Bir Bahadur Thapa to the nephew of another Kargil War hero who died fighting to scores of former army and air force veterans to some from families living in Assam for 5-6 decades or more -- the list of exclusions that should not have happened is very long. At least two sitting MLAs and many former ones have been excluded. Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal have appealed for calm, pointing to the fact that the updated NRC draft is not a final document and that those excluded still have an opportunity to file claims and get their names included. That most of those excluded have taken the assurance seriously explains the lack of turmoil that the Assam administration had originally anticipated (which explains the huge deployment of central para-military forces in the state before the publication of the draft NRC). But is the time for the claimsobjections process sufficient enough to handle the four million people excluded? Assam NRC coordinator Prateek Hajela had desperately sought more time at all stages of the exercise, only to be told by the top court that his job was to make the impossible possible! Apart from the obvious injustice in the case of genuine Indian citizens left out of the NRC, who would then be left to run from pillar to post-filing appeals in courts, what happens to the huge body of stateless people who fail to make it. Has the government thought about what to do if even one-fourth or half of the four million excluded from the NRC draft finally fail to make it! BJP leaders have said they must be thrown out of the country, while Assamese groups like AASU have made it clear they have to be taken off the voters list. Thrown out where? Into the Bay of Bengal? The Indian envoy in Dhaka, on instructions from Delhi, assured the Sheikh Hasina government that the NRC is an internal exercise and Bangladesh had nothing to fear from it. That means Bangladesh has been assured that none of these people will be sent back. Is it possible to put lakhs of people in detention camps? Where is the space and money for that? Former Assam police chief HK Deka has proposed giving those excluded a status similar to that accorded to Tibetan refugees. Some argue for work permits for them but no voting rights and no access to healthcare and education. Will the worlds most populous democracy like to create a situation similar to Myanmars Rakhine state where the million-plus Rohingyas were deprived of citizenship after a 1982 legislation? That, too, in a year when the UN has pitched for resolving the global problem of statelessness! There has been much migration to Assam and the rest of India after 1971 when Bangladesh was a basket case, but with our eastern neighbour growing at 6%-plus in this decade, that may be a thing of the past. Hasina has streamlined the countrys labour export system to make foreign remittance the second largest contributor to the Bangladesh economy after garment exports. Illegals dont send back remittances, she reasons. The ethnic Assamese and the tribals have good reasons to fume and fret over the demographic change, which is why they oppose the Citizenship Amendment bill through which the BJP seeks to give Hindus coming to India after 1971 citizenship. But the BJP has handed Mamata a chance to play the Bengali card by raking up the NRC beyond Assam, because the exercise clearly gives the impression that it is directed against Bengalis, irrespective of their religion. She is playing on the Bengali self-perception that they suffered the most for Indias freedom (British repression and Partition), only for their Indian citizenship to be questioned now, 70 years after Independence. She is not off the mark when she challenges the legacy data requirement for NRC inclusion by asking, Can (BJP president) Amit Shah produce his fathers birth certificate. (The writer is a veteran BBC journalist and author) A day after Karnataka Tourism Minister Sa Ra Mahesh had a spat with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the BJP-led government at the Centre accused him of lowering the dignity of the Rajya Sabha. The Ministry of Defence issued a statement in New Delhi stating that Maheshs remarks had showed utter lack of regard and knowledge about Indian Polity. Sitharaman, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka, was on a tour to flood-affected Kodagu district on Friday. She had a spat with Mahesh and her remarks expressing displeasure against Mahesh at the deputy commissioners office in Kodagu were telecast by TV channels. The spat started when Mahesh interrupted Sitharamans meeting with some retired soldiers. He pointed out that if the defence minister ended the meeting early, the district officials, who were present at the meeting, would be able to go back and arrange relief for the people displaced by floods. Sitharaman lost her cool and shot back at Mahesh. The defence minister said she had been touring the district and attending meetings according to the schedule that had been fixed earlier by the district administration. She also said that it was unbelievable that she was abiding by what the state minister was saying notwithstanding the fact that she was a Union minister. READ MORE: Nirmala shouldnt have lost her cool: Sa Ra Mahesh In spite of (the) district administration finalising the programme and (the) RM (Defence Minister) following the same in its entirety, it is unfortunate that the (state) minister behaved the way he did, the Ministry of Defence stated in a press release issued in New Delhi. A section of media quoted Mahesh as saying later that Sitharaman had no idea or understanding about poverty and problems of the common people as she had been a member of the Rajya Sabha and not elected directly by the people to the Lok Sabha. The Ministry of Defence on Saturday alleged that Maheshs purported remarks had lowered the dignity of the Upper House. Subsequently, the personal remarks made against the RM (Defence Minister) were also in bad taste, which do not merit a response, the MoD stated. The MoD stated that the programme of the defence minister had been finalised by the district administration in consultation with the public representatives. This programme was approved and circulated to all concerned two days prior to RMs arrival. Subsequently, on the request of the district administration, an interaction with the veterans was added to the schedule, it said. On completion of the field visits, as per the programme, RM (Sitharaman) was interacting with ex-servicemen who had been adversely affected by the floods, when the district in-charge minister (Mahesh) objected and insisted that meeting with the officials be conducted first, the MoD stated, adding: (The) RM (defence minister) clarified that welfare of ex-servicemen was an essential part of the Ministry of Defence and the same was scheduled in the programme. However, the district minister insisted that the RM immediately stop the interaction and proceed to the meeting with the officials. READ MORE: Parameshwara slams defence minister The MoD said that while it was extremely unfortunate, in order to avoid the situation from deteriorating, Sitharaman immediately halted the meeting and proceeded to the venue of the meeting with the officials. The venue was already set up for the press conference and the officials were hurriedly summoned to sit among the mediapersons for the review. It was unprecedented to hold a meeting with the officials, with all the mediapersons present, it alleged. The MoD alleged that the use of the term parivar by the Defence Minister during the press conference was grossly misrepresented. One of the four departments of the Ministry of Defence is the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare and in that context, it was stated that all ex-servicemen are part of the MoD parivar. Any other inference is misconstrued and uncalled for, it added. The recent Kerala floods posed equal challenges to both the victims and rescuers. The high wind speed and continuous downpour had put lives of both at risk. However, that did not deter the 14 pilots of Sarang helicopter display team headed by wing commander Girish Komar, a native of Bagalkot, from testing the limits of themselves and of the seven machines they flew for almost five days in parts of Aluva, Chalakudy, Pulinchode, Chengannur and other areas of Kerala. Every day, each of these pilots flew their Sarang helicopters close to high-rise buildings, coconut trees and many challenging areas from dawn to dusk rescuing hundreds of people and also airdropping essential items to the victims. The flood damage is unimaginable and immeasurable. There was water as far as one could see. The water had marooned houses even up to first and second floors in several areas, said Girish speaking to DH over phone. The continuous rains and coconut trees posed these pilots their biggest challenges including winching pregnant women, aged persons and infants to safety. The advanced light helicopter (ALH) evaluation flights, an all-weather multi-mission capable helicopter manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bengaluru, is among the best in the business. The adverse conditions in Kerala posed a challenge to even these machines while airlifting the victims, and dropping food/medicines. In every devastated area, one rescuer used to winch down and make sure that persons in need of eviction are secured and lifted to safety. Assuring the victims of safety while being winched was one really tough, as one wrong move will result in bigger tragedy, said Girish, who took several pregnant women and dialysis patients to safety. We had limited space in the helicopter, due to which we had to leave out the healthy people and youths behind and airlift only the needy persons. The flood situation was so grim that it would wrench anyones heart. But for us, it was duty and we had been trained for this, he said. Girish was also involved in rescuing flood victims in Navalgund (Dharwad) and Nargund (Gadag) areas in 2007. Since its inception (2003), the 151 Sarang helicopter display team has participated in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief during the Uttarakhand flash floods, Chennai, Dindigul, Tirupathi, Nellore and other disasters. The much-awaited IKEA Bahrain store is currently in the final stages of fit-out, a company spokesman has revealed. The Salmabad facility is almost complete and that the retail fit-out works are in its final stages, said IKEA Bahrain properties and expansion manager, Eng Saleh Khalaf. IKEA Bahrain is well on its way to being open to the public. The facility will consist of a showroom, market hall and self-serve section, he said. The store will be the biggest in the region with a retail area of 37,000 sq m spread over two floors. The facility will also include a bistro and Swedish food market each taking up about 500 sq m of the total area. It will also house the biggest restaurant in the kingdom with a capacity of up to 650 seats and 1,200 parking spaces, he stated. The stores 220-sq-m play facility, called Smaland, will ensure that customers have an enjoyable shopping experience as children are taken care of by IKEA staff, free of charge, he added. The support of various government bodies has been monumental for the progress we have made with the facility, said Khalaf. He said the team received support from the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, Roads Planning and Design Directorate, Electricity and Water Authority, and General Directorate of Civil Defence throughout the project. Our team sincerely thanks these government bodies for their full cooperation and continued support during the development of the new IKEA store in Bahrain, he stated. Following the stores ground-breaking in October 2016, construction for the project was carried out by the Bahrain-based company Kooheji Contractors. IKEA is the worlds largest retailer for furniture and is known around the world for its ready-to-assemble furniture and other home accessories. IKEA Bahrain is being opened in partnership with Saudi Arabias Ghassan Ahmed Al Sulaiman Furniture Trading Company, IKEA Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. TradeArabia News Service Summer temperatures are cooling a bit as we approach the end of August. But an eastern heat wave is flowing out of Washington, D.C., warming political debates as far away as Utah. We keep our air conditioners on high as we explore the ramifications. For months, political pundits have dissected whether the much-heralded "blue wave" will sweep across the nation. Now, courtroom revelations about President Donald Trumps former campaign manager and personal attorney have Washington in a tizzy. Debates are swirling on the impact of these revelations on congressional elections and the future of the president. So, will there be a blue wave in Utah? Pignanelli: "Many of us were burned in the 2016 elections by prediction models, so I will not predict in 2018 who wins a kite-flying contest in the midst of a hurricane." Matthew Dowd, ABC News A tsunami is generated by a massive event, an earthquake or meteorite impact. The same holds true in politics. (Political hacks like me love to over-dramatize boring matters with outlandish descriptions.) Whether the recent developments, adding to the emotional reactions Trump fostered for 18 months, generate a wave of change remains unanswered because traditional electioneering is upended. But history can provide limited guidance to candidates and parties. A strong economy and overreaching opposition distill the effect of presidential scandals voters find abhorrent but irrelevant (1998). Yet economics cannot overcome congressional scandals easily understood combined with a questionable presidential military strategy (2006). Enthused, determined voters expressing disgust with the party in power can drive change (2010). Most voters made up their mind about Trump. So how the parties craft responses to the controversies and take credit for or question a booming economy will determine whether this is a bump or a colossal avalanche (I cannot help myself). Webb: Midterm elections are, to some degree, a referendum on the incumbent president and the party in power. Voters in Utahs 4th Congressional District who want to punish Trump may vote for Democrat Ben McAdams over incumbent Congresswoman Mia Love. But balanced against the Trump factor is the Pelosi factor. A lot of Republicans and independents dont particularly like Trump, but they really, really dont want to give the House of Representatives to Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats. They understand that a vote for McAdams is a vote for a Democratic takeover. Meanwhile, Washington reporters, pundits and Democrats are beating their breasts and exclaiming: We got Trump! Indict! Impeach! But the average voter is wondering whats new. Theyre weighing what they already know about Trump against what he has accomplished in 18 months. They already know Trump is a philanderer, that he paid off mistresses, that he stretches the truth, that he has a big mouth, that he is erratic and egotistical, and so forth. But theyre comparing all that against a terrific economy, low unemployment, tax cuts, reduced regulation, energy independence, more muscular foreign policy, great judicial appointments, military buildup, tougher stance on terrorism and possible downsides of trade, immigration and the national debt. If predicting the demise of Trump was a fatal disease for Washington pundits and politicos, only Trump would still be alive. A while ago, hundreds of newspapers across the country coordinated editorial attacks against Trump in response to his fake news and enemy of the people charges against the news media. Will this impact Utah politics? Pignanelli: Trump is obsessed with daily disparagements of the media, which are consumed by covering his insults and perceived slights against the First Amendment. This battle is now ubiquitous background noise and ignored by Americans. The more relevant dynamic is Utahns are increasingly getting their news not from television or newspapers, but from native digital sources. So any controversies about newspapers and television do not resonate. Further, successful campaigns continue to move from traditional forms of publicity to sophisticated social media venues. The rock fight between the president and the press has a limited audience. Webb: Not many normal people pay attention to newspaper editorials (or to columnists like us!). The news media and the political class operate in an echo chamber, talking (and sometimes yelling) at each other while average voters go about their lives. The prevailing opinion among Trump supporters is that the mainstream media hate him anyway, so widespread editorial collusion has no further impact. What should Utahns expect as Labor Day, the unofficial start of the campaign season, draws closer? Pignanelli: Larger campaigns are conducting focus groups and polling to ensure advertisement bombardments resonate with voters. Smaller efforts are readying door knockers and mailers in anticipation of September blitzes. Digital ads will soon appear. Also, all such activities will be replicated by supporters of the statewide initiatives. Hopefully, the upcoming three-day holiday will offer some reprieve. Webb: Preseason training camp is nearly over and its time to get serious about the 2018 elections. Candidates and ballot initiatives are rolling out TV spots to define themselves. With early voting beginning in less than two months, theres no time to lose. Editor's note: The Deseret News asked for experiences of those whose trips have helped them connect with their family roots and how families have incorporated their history into summer vacations. Here is one of the experiences. It has been edited for length and clarity. A family heritage tour can have something for everyone mystery, history, adventure, scenery, food, shopping, and, best of all, the opportunity to connect with family members past and present. In 2014, our extended family incorporated all of these elements into a pilgrimage we made to Nova Scotia, Maine and Massachusetts where one of our ancestors, Anthony Coombs, lived. For almost a century, there were two absorbing mysteries concerning Anthony what was his real name and where did he come from before arriving in Maine in 1684? After extensive research and DNA testing arranged by a distant cousin in the East, it was discovered that Anthonys birth name was Antoine Comeau and that he was from Port Royal (Annapolis Royal), Nova Scotia. Anthonys father, Pierre Comeau, allegedly arrived in Nova Scotia in 1632 with the Isaac de Razilly expedition. His mother, Rose Bayol, immigrated to Nova Scotia a few years later. Our family originally planned to visit only Massachusetts and Maine, but when we learned of Anthonys connection to Nova Scotia, we added it to our itinerary. We organized our family heritage tour ourselves. We made a list of our must-sees and then did research to provide historical context concerning them Since members of our group lived in several parts of the country and we all had different schedules, we made an itinerary of the times and the places we would meet each day as well as a detailed narrative of what happened there. We also exchanged phone numbers so we could communicate if anyone was delayed or lost. Everyone arranged for their own transportation, lodging and meals, with the exception of several special occasions when we all dined together. The itinerarys flexibility allowed everyone to come and go at will and to participate in the parts of the tour that interested them. In addition to the Coombs sites, we also visited Plymouth and the homes of our Mayflower ancestors who married into the Coombs line John and Abigail Adams, John and Priscilla Alden, Priscilla Mullins and Myles Standish. For clarity, the places we visited are listed in chronological order, from Anthonys birth in Port Royal (now Annapolis Royal), Nova Scotia, to the birth of one of his descendants, Mark Anthony Coombs, who was born in Islesboro, Maine, in 1802. We traveled by ferry across the Bay of Fundy from Maine to Port Royal, where Anthony was born about 1661. This peaceful, small town was the capital of Acadia (French Canada) for almost 150 years. It was hard to believe that at one time, it was the most fought over seaport in North America and it exchanged hands between England and France seven times. Pierre Comeau, Anthonys father, may have been one of the men who helped to maintain and fortify the towns star fort, Fort Anne, which was built in 1627 and is located at the mouth of the harbor. As a young man, Anthony must have witnessed the many skirmishes among the French, British and Indians in Port Royal. There is nothing like visiting the places where historical events occurred to make those stories and the people who witnessed those events, come alive. According to historian Henry Bruce, in his book "An Illustrated History of Nova Scotia," the town was also the site of many North American firsts, such as the first resident surgeon, the first continuing church services, the first weekly Bible class, the first social club, the first library and the first French theatrical performance. While we were in Acadia, we also spent some time in the breathtaking Acadia National Park, which is the oldest national park east of the Mississippi River. The parks pristine forests, rugged shoreline and wildlife were a highlight of our trip. In 1684, Anthony, an apprentice blacksmith, left Port Royal with Louis Allain (a.k.a. Lewis Allen) and traveled to Wells, Maine, where Allain purchased 200 acres of land on both shores of the Little River, now the Merriland River, which included a sawmill and a complete ironworks. We determined the approximate site of Allens former property by examining land records and old maps. Oddly enough, within two years, Allain abandoned the property, leaving it, and his blacksmiths trade, to Anthonys care. On Sept. 5, 1688, Anthony married Dorcas Wooden, who was from Essex County, Massachusetts. When the King Williams War broke out in the area less than a year later (1689-1697), Dorcas returned to Massachusetts, seeking safety with family members. Anthony apparently traveled back and forth between Wells and Essex County for almost a decade until 1697, when the couple finally decided to settle elsewhere. In November 1697, the residents of Rochester, Massachusetts, offered Anthony a beautiful tract of 40 acres of land by the Sippican River if he would move to their community and serve as their blacksmith for seven years. Anthony built a home, barn, blacksmith shop and planted an orchard on the property, eventually accumulating more than 150 acres of farm land. We located the approximate site of where Anthony and Dorcas lived by reading local histories and by studying Anthonys deeds. After arriving in Rochester, part of our group pulled over on the side of the road to wait for the rest of us to arrive. A woman came out of her house and asked what they were doing. When they replied they were trying to locate the property of their ancestor who had lived in Rochester in the 1790s the woman said, Whats his name? Upon hearing the name, she exclaimed, He was the town blacksmith for many years! I can show you exactly where his shop was because the foundation is still there. Anthony was active in community affairs and on Oct. 13, 1703, he and six other men established the first church in Rochester. A plaque in the town of this event, near the location of where the original church, long since gone, stood. Anthony and Dorcas spent the rest of their lives in Rochester, where they died. Several of their sons eventually returned to Maine, where their descendants lived for several generations. In the late 1770s, some of these Coombs moved to the island of Islesboro, where they made their living as sailors and sea captains. For the second time, we boarded a ferry to travel to Islesboro. One of these captains, our ancestor Mark Anthony Coombs, eventually left the sea and moved to Illinois. He joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1832 and in 1860, he crossed the plains to Utah. After we returned home from our tour, one of my cousins sent me this message: As I stood with the members of our trip, I felt their strength and of the strength of those ancestors who lived before me. Due to my recent divorce, it was tempting to use the broken family expression. However, we had just finished walking on the same ground as our ancestors, and I felt the strength and love from both living and dead family members. At that moment, I knew that I was not and would never be a member of a broken family. The Utah Valley University volleyball team had its opening weekend of the 2018 season come to a close with a tightly contested five-set setback to Northern Arizona (31-29, 18-25, 22-25, 25-19, 16-18) on Saturday morning at the UC Davis Aggie Invitational. With the setback, the Wolverines finished the opening tournament with a 1-2 showing after picking up an opening-season victory over Holy Cross, as well as suffering setbacks to the host UC Davis Aggies and NAU (1-1). Despite dropping the five-set thriller on Saturday, preseason All-WAC selection Kristen Allred had a big match for the Wolverines where she recorded a career-high 19 kills and added eight digs, three service aces and two blocks. Senior Alexis Davies and freshman Kaili Downs were next for UVU by tallying 10 kills apiece, while junior Makaila Jarema added seven kills and a team-high seven blocks. Sophomore Seren Merrill too had a nice match from the back row by finishing one dig shy of her career best with 26. Junior Madi Wardle and freshman BriAnne Mortensen added double-doubles as Wardle put up 30 assists and 11 digs and Mortensen finished with 13 assists and 12 digs. In a must-win fourth set, Utah Valley took an early 10-7 lead after scoring three out of four points. Later holding to an 18-14 advantage following a Davies and Jarema block assist, the Lumberjacks managed to score three unanswered points to pull within a point at 18-17. UVU then answered with back-to-back points on kills from Davies and Downs to make it 20-17. Ahead 20-18, the Wolverines then managed to reel off a clutch 5-1 run down the stretch to take the fourth set, 25-19, and tie the contest at 2-2. Jarema and Allred were key for the Wolverines late in the set, as Jarema drove home a pair of kills and Allred added a kill of her own and a service ace. Utah Valley fell behind early in the decisive fifth set, as it trailed the Lumberjacks by six points, 10-4. On consecutive kills from Davies, Allred and Guimont, as well as back-to-back service aces from the freshman Abbie Vincent and another kill from Guimont, UVU responded to score six clutch unanswered points to tie the score at 10-all. Both sides traded points from there, until Northern Arizona broke a 12-12 tie with back-to-back points to take a 14-12 match-point advantage. Utah Valley didn't give up, though, as it struck back with three-straight points to take a 15-14 lead. Allred was again clutch for the Wolverines with a kill and an ace during the stretch. NAU then answered with a pair of consecutive points to again take a 16-15 match-point advantage, but back struck UVU thanks to a Northern Arizona attack error to tie the score at 16-all. The Lumberjacks again threatened to put the match away up 17-16, and a final UVU attack error eventually gave NAU the fifth set and the hard-earned victory. Reigning first-team All-Big Sky selection Kaylie Jorgenson led Northern Arizona in the contest with a match-high 20 kills. She also tallied a double-double by chipping in 22 digs. In a tightly contested opening set, NAU, which was picked to finish second in the Big Sky Conference this season, was the first to pull ahead at 22-18 following a 4-0 spurt. UVU responded by pounding home back-to-back points to make it 22-20. After an NAU point, the Wolverines reeled off a clutch 4-0 spurt to take a 24-23 advantage. Allred and Davies led the Utah Valley run with a kill apiece. The set continued from there well past 25, as each team seemed to match one another point-for-point. Deadlocked at 28-all, freshman Kazna Tarawhiti drilled home a kill to give the Wolverines a 29-28 advantage. Following a Lumberjack point, Tarawhiti answered for UVU with another kill, and the duo of junior Jasmine Niutupuivaha and Wardle combined to follow up with a block assist to give the Wolverines the 31-29 opening-set victory. Allred led UVU in the set with five first-set kills, while Downs followed with four. With Utah Valley trailing by just a point at 7-6 following an Allred kill, Northern Arizona managed to reel off a 5-1 run to take a 12-7 lead. UVU responded with a 4-1 spurt of its own to pull within two at 13-11. Allred and Jarema both had kills during the stretch for the Wolverines. With NAU later holding a 16-13 lead, the Lumberjacks pieced together a decisive 8-2 run to take a 24-15 lead. UVU fought back with three late points, but it wasn't enough as NAU took the second set, 25-18, and tied the match at 1-1. The Wolverines responded in the early stages of the third set, as they jumped out to an 11-7 advantage following an Davies kill and an Allred, Jarema and Davies block assist. NAU then turned things around with a 9-2 spurt to take a 16-13 lead. UVU quickly responded to pull within one, at 16-15, and later regained the lead at 21-19 after reeling off five unanswered points. Tarawhiti drove home an ace during the stretch, while Allred and freshman Kenzie Guimont added kills. The Lumberjacks again answered back, however, with a trio of consecutive points to regain the lead at 22-21. After UVU again tied things up at 22-22 following a setting miscue from NAU, Northern Arizona responded with back-to-back-to-back points to put the third set away, 25-22, and take a 2-1 lead in the match. The Wolverines now return to Orem for their 2018 home opener on Tuesday, Aug. 28, against Idaho State. The midweek matchup will take place at 6 p.m., at UVU's Lockhart Arena. Following the contest, Utah Valley will again hit the road to take part in the Oregon Classic, Aug. 31-Sept. 1, in Eugene, Oregon. There, the Wolverines will take on the host Oregon Ducks, Arkansas Pine Bluff and Long Beach State. SALT LAKE CITY Don't expect Utah's midterm congressional elections to be impacted by political fallout from the recent conviction and guilty plea of President Donald Trump's key associates. Just as in much of the rest of the country, Utah candidates are steering clear of focusing on the conviction of Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, and the guilty plea of his longtime attorney and fixer, Michael Cohen. "We're seeing Republicans and Democrats alike be united in one thing, and that is, 'Our politics are independent of what happens in the White House,'" Jason Perry, director of the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics, said. "That's the only safe path for any of these candidates," he said, given the ongoing probe into possible coordination between Russia and Trump's 2016 presidential race by special counsel Robert Mueller that led to the court actions. "Utahns seem to trust that process and they're willing to wait to get those results. But in the meantime, candidates really need to walk a very fine line in how far they push absent a final report," Perry said. Members of Utah's all-Republican congressional delegation reacted cautiously to Tuesday's news, including that Cohen said in federal court Trump directed him to pay hush money to a porn star and a Playboy model during the campaign. Retiring Sen. Orrin Hatch said the charges were serious and could not be ignored, but when asked if they rise to the level of high crimes and misdemeanors needed for impeachment, told reporters he "wouldn't go that far just yet." Others also said it was too soon to say what Cohen's allegations mean for the GOP president, including Rep. Chris Stewart, who called for "the process to play out. Let them go through what any other candidate or elected official would go through." That provoked a response from Stewart's Democratic opponent in the 2nd Congressional District, Shireen Ghorbani. In a news release, she questioned whether Stewart's judgment can be trusted. "What will it take for Rep. Stewart to plainly state the obvious? Crimes have been committed at the president's direction. It's as simple as that," Ghorbani said, accusing Stewart of being willing to overlook the obvious. But in an interview, Ghorbani stopped short of calling for the GOP-controlled U.S. House to move toward impeaching the president, saying she first needs to see the results of the Mueller investigation. "Here's where I'm struggling. I don't believe that impeachment is good for this country. I'm very worried about where we're headed," Ghorbani told the Deseret News. "I do think that what's happened so far does raise the level of concern." However, there are "still things we need to know and findings that have to come out of the Mueller investigation," she said. "Without the full set of information, it's hard for me to sit here and say, 'Yes, it's absolutely time to impeach this president.'" The latest twist in the turmoil surrounding Trump isn't an issue that will sway voters, Ghorbani said. "Not at all," she said. "When I'm at the door of Utahns this is not the No. 1 issue for them. The issue they will say to me over and over again is access to affordable health care. That's why I got in this race." The United Utah Party, the state's newest political party, also isn't ready to push the president's legal problems as a campaign issue. "We need to tone down the rhetoric of politics, so it's not should Trump be impeached or should he not be impeached," United Utah Party Chairman Richard Davis said, calling that discussion premature. "The cooler heads are saying we need more information," Davis said. "Utahns like high ethical standards in their elected officials and if (Trump) doesn't meet that standard, he's going to lose support. But we don't know." Perry said handling "the Trump factor is not a new question" for candidates. He said the best strategy for Republicans continues to be focusing on the Trump administration's positive achievements while Democrats need to stay on message on issues like health care. The more Democrats push for impeachment before Mueller issues a final report on the investigation, the more energized Republican voters will be, Perry said a belief that appears to be widely shared throughout the country. "No one wants to move first," said Chris Karpowitz, co-director of BYU's Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy. "I think everyone is wary. The question for me is, where is the tipping point?" Nothing, Karpowitz said, is likely to happen until after the November election that will determine whether Republicans maintain their majority in Congress. Typically, the party of the president loses seats, a trend Trump hopes to reverse. "I can see good reasons why Republicans and Democrats would want to wait," he said, even though members of Congress have a responsiblity to deal with potential wrongdoing in the White House. "I think that is a big issue. Whether or not candidates for Congress are talking about it, it is one of the fundamental questions that is to be answered in Washington right now," Karpowitz said. "Whoever wins will have to grapple with that." Utahn Don Peay, a personal friend of the Trump family and one of the president's key supporters in the state, said he's "100 percent" convinced that voters will make the choice in November to continue the administration's agenda. That means returning Utah's GOP members of Congress to Washington, he said. "At the end of the day, people vote for their wallet and their personal safety," Peay said. "The Trump administration is doing exceptionally well in these areas, plus (appointing) great federal judges (and) restoring government back to the people." Zayed University has welcomed on board 2,237 freshmen students to join the undergraduates' program, as it marked the beginning of a new semester in the 2018/2019 academic year. With this, the total number reached 10596 students, a statement said, adding that the number of registered students is expected to increase as the number of new applicants is on the rise. The total number of ZU students in both campuses is recorded as follows, 6,543 students in the Abu Dhabi campus 5,341 females and 1,202 male students, and 4,053 students in Dubai 4,011 females and 42 males. Prof Reyadh Al-Mehaideb, vice-president of Zayed University, stressed that the university is always keen to provide a high-end learning experience for all its students, to qualify them to excel academically and to acquire suitable skills and experiences to benefit in their lives ahead. ZU has evolved into one of the premier institutions in the UAE and the region. It enjoys rigorous academics that have earned international accreditation or recognition, Al-Mehaideb said. It has supportive learning environments with iconic campuses in the two major cities of the UAE, and student services that truly engages and supports students in their academic journey. Its seasoned faculty and outstanding students are continuously engaged in quality scholarly work that is getting recognized, he added. This year, Zayed University will offer 23 bachelor's degree academic programs in the fields of business, media, IT, international relations, humanities, environmental sciences, arts and design. TradeArabia News Service SALT LAKE CITY The first TV commercial for Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah, in the 4th Congressional District race features Josh Holt, a Riverton man imprisoned by the Venezuelan government for nearly two years, and his mother, Laurie. "I didn't know if he was safe. I didn't know if he was alive," Laurie Holt says in the 60-second spot set to begin airing Sunday, praising Love for helping to secure her son's release in May. "Mia Love said, 'I will not let you down and I am here with you as a mother.' It was a continual fight, day after day, and she never gave up. She just said, 'I've got your back and I will until we get him home,'" Laurie Holt says, before tearing up. "Mia is definitely one that gets results. You could not pick a better person than Mia Love to be your congresswoman," she says. Josh Holt adds, "There's nothing I could ever do to thank her for all she's done for me." Love's campaign manager, Dave Hansen, said the commercial offers voters "a very powerful message" about her involvement in the U.S. effort to free Holt and his wife, Thamy. The couple were jailed in Venezuela shortly after their wedding in what the U.S. government called false charges. "The heart of this thing is the fact that Mia gets results. She does pay attention to her constituents. She works for them," Hansen said. "This ad brings out those messages." He said the Holt family wanted to make the commercial and will continue to support her candidacy. The commercial comes after Love's Democratic opponent, Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams, began airing a 30-second spot showcasing his young family and briefly highlighting his accomplishments in the county. The race between Love and McAdams has been rated a toss-up by RealClear Politics and past polls have shown it is too close to call. Love, first elected in 2014, is seeking a third term. McAdams' campaign manager, Andrew Roberts, said he had not seen the new Love commercial and had no comment. "We're happy with the start we've gotten and look forward to continuing to share the mayor's message about putting the people of Utah over politics and working to find bipartisan solutions to our nation's biggest problems," Roberts said. SALT LAKE CITY Inside the newsroom this week the topic of names and labels came front and center when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced it would change its style guide to focus on the full name of the church, rather than support shorthand names that have been embraced over time. From the church's perspective, this is not simply a question of usage and style. It's a correction to accurately reflect the name of the church, that has not changed since it was given in 1838. As church President Russell M. Nelson said last week: The Lord has impressed upon my mind the importance of the name He has revealed for His Church, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We have work before us to bring ourselves in harmony with His will." Journalists throughout the world do not weigh the doctrinal merits of any church, other than as it reflects behavior. But they do seek after accuracy and embrace style guides for their organizations, including the Associated Press Stylebook, which we follow; The New York Times Manual of Style and usage; The Chicago Manual of Style; and others. The naming conventions of all churches are represented. Specific regional names or uses unique to an organization are also included in the style guides adopted by each news organization. Fundamentally, there is no Mormon church nor Latter-day Saint (LDS) church. Yet over the decades those terms have been accepted, perhaps as a way to draw distinction from other Christian denominations, or in an effort to reclaim a term (Mormon) that was once used as a slur against church members. Church members believe Mormon was an ancient prophet who was the primary writer and editor of the Book of Mormon, scripture that together with the Bible the faithful believe contains the gospel of Jesus Christ. So when the church, which owns the Deseret News, issued its statement to members and the world, I was asked by journalists and other media how this would affect the Deseret News moving forward. Here's what I said: Journalists, whether here at the Deseret News, The Salt Lake Tribune or elsewhere, typically allow organizations and individuals to self-identify. I see no reason not to maintain this same level of journalistic integrity. This is not without its challenges, and we are evaluating what to do, for example, with the section of Thursday's newspaper called Mormon Times that specifically reflects the lives and lifestyles of Latter-day Saints. The church itself has many internal references on websites that reflect the name Mormon. So we will do everything we can to accurately reflect the church, just as we do the Catholic Church or with the teachings of Islam for example. It's the same journalistic standard for organizations that reflect diversity. News organizations typically accept how they identify themselves. For example, the Diversity Style Guide offers the following guidelines as it relates to people of color: "People in the United States who share a lineage that can be traced directly or indirectly to Africa. Black and African American do not necessarily mean the same thing and individuals may prefer one term over the other. Its best to ask." It then adds the following: "Some Black people do not identify as African American. This lineage, while collective, contains a diverse array of histories, cultures and experiences. This includes, but is not limited to, Black, African-American, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latino and African immigrants living in the United States. The LGBT community has continued to expand its use of terms in search of inclusion. The New York Times wrote an interesting explanation of this in a piece by Michael Gold headlined The ABCs of L.G.B.T.Q.I.A +. Each letter now represents different groups of people, with the "+" symbol offering the greatest inclusion. Again, accuracy demands that news organizations look to how organizations or individuals wish to be identified and then respectfully, over time, make adjustments. It will take a while for those who put together style guides to consider any changes as it relates to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And there are challenges to determine how best to communicate quickly when shorthand uses have been so common. But just because it is difficult doesn't mean it shouldn't be done. SALT LAKE CITY A jury found he was not guilty of a traffic violation in February, but a Utah man still has not recouped the $500,000 in cash troopers seized when they cited him for following another car too closely in 2016. Kyle Savely last week got much closer to recovering the money after the Utah Supreme Court ruled in his favor. A lower Utah court had the power to order the cash be returned to him even after the federal government sought to take the money, the opinion states. The unanimous decision surrounds a Utah law allowing police to seize property they suspect is linked to a crime, even if the owner isn't charged or convicted. The Tuesday ruling was cheered by civil liberty advocates, who say it closes a loophole that has allowed police to skirt protections in the law by handing off the property to the federal government. "Law enforcement has been deliberately trying to avoid the requirements of Utah law in a number of cases, including this one. The clear message from the Utah Supreme Court is they better follow the law," said Savely's attorney, James Bradshaw. Not so, said Jared Bennett, first assistant U.S. attorney for Utah. Forfeiture is the government's legal avenue to defund crime, Bennett said in a statement. "This decision in no way suggests, much less concludes, that local law enforcement officers are using federal law to skirt state laws," he said. Bennett contends the justices simply determined that the state had jurisdiction over Savely's cash, despite ambiguity in the law, and that the federal government would need to obtain an order from the Utah court to take over power of the money. Under a U.S. Justice Department program, local law enforcement can redeem 80 percent of money derived from the property after it is turned over to federal officers. Critics say the incentive can lead to abuses by police. But law enforcement agencies have said that forfeiture laws help fight organized crime and drug kingpins, while also helping cover costs. The Utah Attorney General's Office and the Utah Department of Public Safety, which oversees the Highway Patrol, declined to comment on the outcome of the case. The decision reversed a 3rd District Court decision that it did not have power to order Savely's money returned after a federal drug investigation warrant was issued for the cash. Savely has not been criminally charged in a federal drug case. Justice Deno Himonas in the opinion noted the warrant came several months after the traffic stop. Utah's district courts can make decisions about seized property from the time police serve a notice of intent to keep the items, Himonas added. A series of reforms in Utah have limited when and how the agencies can use the money. Connor Boyack, president of the libertarian-leaning Libertas Institute, said the ruling points to a need for even more oversight. "This is a signal that there needs to be greater accountability for law enforcement engaging in this type of practice," Boyack said. His nonprofit has backed previous reforms, including reporting requirements on seized cash and belongings in Utah. In 2017, Utah police took in $2.2 million in cash and property, which were placed into a state fund that parceled out grants to cover costs of training, equipment and law enforcement task forces. The agencies also received $1.1 million from federal agencies that seized property in the state, including the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service. Civil forfeiture laws have come under scrutiny across the country in recent years, and some states have barred them altogether. North Carolina, New Mexico and Nebraska have prohibited the seizures before a conviction. The American Civil Liberties Union of Utah agrees with that approach, said Marina Lowe, ACLU legislative and policy counsel. "The takeaway here is that this individual was stopped and these assets were seized simply because they were assets of a large quantity," Lowe said. "There was no crime that had been committed, and that seems wrong on all accounts." Bradshaw would not say why his client was carrying 52 bundles of cash at the time of the traffic stop, but emphasized there was no evidence that his possession of the money was illegal. He declined to make his client available for an interview and said he would soon ask again in court filings for the money to be returned. Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, said he plans to bring a proposal to tweak the law in the 2019 legislative session. He believes police should not have incentives to take cash and items, especially when there's no criminal action against them. "To say that the cops could take your money, or your car, or whatever, never charge you with a crime and never give it back, it sounds ludicrous, and most people would say 'No, you can't do that. I live in America,'" he said. "This is something that really concerns a lot of people when they understand what's happening." SALT LAKE CITY Utah leaders expressed their admiration and respect for Arizona Sen. John McCain the "maverick of the Senate" who died Saturday of brain cancer at age 81. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who served for years in the Senate with McCain said in a statement that "no one is more worthy of the word 'hero' than John McCain." "Over a lifetime of selfless service, John came to embody the very pinnacle of American virtue," Hatch, said shortly after the news of McCain's death became public Saturday afternoon. McCain, a six-term senator and two-time Republican presidential contender was diagnosed with a brain tumor last July. His family announced Friday that he was discontinuing medical treatment. "My heart aches for Cindy, Meghan, and the rest of the McCain family," said Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, in a statement released via tweet. "With John's passing, they've lost a loving husband, father, and family member, and the country has lost a true American hero." "I am so grateful for Sen. John McCains undaunting leadership and service to our country," Utah Gov. Gary Herbert tweeted Saturday. "Jeanette and I send our heartfelt condolences to his family." McCain, a naval aviator who endured torture and imprisonment at the hands of the North Vietnamese for more than five years was known for his code of honor and dedication to his conservative ideals. "No person this century better exemplifies the great qualities of patriotism than John McCain," said Mitt Romney, former Massachusetts governor and Republican candidate for Hatch's seat. Romney released a nearly 500-word essay on McCain and their friendship on his campaign website. "Ones like him dont come along very often. Ann and I will miss him a great deal," Romney wrote. "He is a hero. He is a friend." "As a solider, war hero, and public servant, Sen. John McCain spent his life serving our country with honor," said Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, in a tweet Saturday. "His bravery and sacrifice made the world a better place and his legacy will live on." "His brave fight as a prisoner of war, as a principled senator and during his illness speak to his outstanding character," Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah, said in a statement Saturday. McCain stumped for Love in her 2012 bid for the 4th Congressional District, a seat she has held since 2015. "My family and I are sad to hear of his death and my thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends tonight," Love said. "A patriot, war hero, true American and incredible senator," Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, tweeted Saturday. "John McCain lived a life full of courage with continued dedication to his country." Saturday evening, Utah's chief legal officer, state Attorney General Sean Reyes also voiced his thoughts and memories of the Arizona senator. "A war hero and a patriot to the end, Sen. McCain put America first, before party or personal interest," Reyes wrote in a statement. "He was always kind and encouraging to me in our personal interactions, particularly on the issue of fighting human trafficking, something near to his heart and that of his wife, Cindy." AMERICAN FORK A pastor in American Fork has been placed on administrative leave as allegations of sexual misconduct against children from decades ago are investigated. The Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City placed Father David R. Gaeta on leave on Friday, according to a statement from the diocese. Originally, Jean Hill, government liaison for diocese, said the allegation appeared to involve a boy from American Fork. She later corrected the diocese's statement, saying the allegation is actually from alleged incidents between 1980 and 1984 when Gaeta had a parish in Ogden. She said the allegations involve two people who were inappropriately touched when they were boys during that time. Hill did not know what prompted the alleged victims to come forward now. She also did not know how old the boys were at the time of the alleged incidents. Hill said the diocese contacted the Division of Child and Family Services, even though the victims are now adults. She said a law enforcement agency was investigating, but she did not know which one. Gaeta has denied the allegations, Hill said. He was ordained for the diocese in 1980. He was in Ogden from 1980-84 and left Utah in 1985. He returned to Utah, in American Fork, in 2017, she said. At Gaeta's church, St. Peter, the congregation was told in an announcement from the pulpit that he had been placed on leave, "pending the outcome of the investigation by the diocese. This matter has been reported to law enforcement, and we will cooperate with law enforcement in its investigation. Please continue to pray for all those impacted by this matter." A similar but separate announcement was made at other parishes in Ogden, Huntsville, Hyde Park, Salt Lake City, Moab and Hill Air Force Base. "We regret to inform you that the diocese of Salt Lake City received allegations of sexual misconduct against Father David R. Gaeta which involved minors," according to that statement. The diocese asked anyone with information or concerns about the case to call Sandy Growe, victims assistance coordinator, at 801-328-8641. The allegations come on the heels of a scathing Pennsylvania grand jury report about clergy who raped and molested an estimated 1,000 children in six dioceses over a 70-year period. The report prompted a letter from the Vatican expressing "shame and repentance for the church's failure to protect the children. SANDY Ciara Jackson's doctor told her on June 15, 2011, to go home and pack up everything she would need in preparation to deliver her baby. But instead of a parent's typical emotions of thrill and anticipation, Jackson and her husband gathered their belongings in a state of anguish and sorrow: Her baby boy Mckai, at 29 weeks gestation, had already died inside her womb. "It wasn't what you anticipate packing a bag for a hospital delivery," Jackson remembers. "We knew we were going to the hospital to deliver a baby we were not going to be able to bring home." Jackson sorted through her grief without ever finding out precisely what caused her son's premature death in the first place. "We don't have any concrete answers regarding my son. We have some information gathered over the years, but an autopsy was never performed," Jackson, of Sandy, told the Deseret News. "The doctor basically said, 'You're welcome to do an autopsy (but) insurance is not going to pay for it, and so you will pay for it out of pocket, and the likelihood of finding information that would actually be valuable to you is fairly low.'" Additionally, Jackson said, "In my case, my son had probably been gone a little while ... so to think of putting his little body through more was not something I wanted to do." Doctors did perform blood work and tested her blood and placenta, as well as the umbilical cord, but didn't discover anything conclusive, Jackson said. She has since hypothesized that her genetic condition commonly called MTHFR an issue with gene 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, which is responsible for breaking down folic acid into folate might have been a factor, for which she has received treatment prior to her subsequent pregnancies, which both delivered healthy children. Still, she said, "We never knew for sure just why." In Utah, Jackson is among nearly half of women whose stillborn baby is never listed with an official cause of death. In an effort to address that lack of knowledge for grieving parents, the Utah Department of Health is conducting a wide-ranging survey with such mothers through the middle of next year. The department began sending out its 65-question assessment, titled Study of Associated Risk of Stillbirth, beginning June 1, and will continue to do so for 12 months. Each questionnaire will be mailed to a Utah mother who has delivered a stillborn baby within the previous two to four months, said Nicole Stone, an epidemiologist for the Department of Health Maternal and Infant Health Program. "The survey will delve into experiences that the woman might have had before and during her pregnancy, such as stress she might have been under, or (for example) if she was in situations where there might have been physical abuse," Stone said. "We ask those kinds of questions things you just can't get from a medical record. ... We will be looking at the same type of data we've collected for years and years from women who deliver live babies." The stillbirth rate is considerably higher in the United States compared to other wealthy countries, and has remained steady for many years even as the infant mortality rate has declined signficantly, according to Stone. Of the roughly 275 stillbirths in Utah each year, nearly half are not paired with an official cause of death, she said. A stillbirth is defined as an infant's death in-utero at 20 weeks gestation or later. "In the United States there's been little attention given to stillbirths," Stone said. "It seems there are more programs and research done outside the United States and we're hoping to catch up with (others) in lowering our rates as well." The survey seeks to identify numerous possible risk factors for a stillbirth that could be understudied, and its results will be shared with any researchers interested in analyzing the data set and extrapolating findings, Stone said. The questions touch on many subjects, including information about other children the woman has given birth to, the woman's access to health insurance, whether she suffered from gestational diabetes or high blood pressure or ever needed a blood transfusion, the presence of other complications like vaginal bleeding or a urinary tract infection, smoking and drinking habits, and whether she suffered from clinical depression or anxiety. Other questions about mothers' experiences following a stillbirth delivery include questions about whether they were allowed to hold, bathe or dress their baby, get photographs with their baby, use a cooling bed to prolong the time they can spend with their child after delivery, or whether they were put in contact with support group services. The Centers for Disease Control offered pilot-level funding for such surveys in 2016, and Utah was the lone state to be awarded a grant, according to Stone. The $120,000 grant is intended to fund the development, data collection and analysis associated with the study over the course of three years, she said. Dr. Robert Silver, chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Utah, said in a statement that researchers in the state "are very fortunate that the (department) received funding to perform the ... study." "Stillbirth is heartbreaking for families and is far too common. It affects more than 26,000 births in the United States each year and is now more frequent than babies dying after birth," Silver said. Jackson was part of a group of mothers who had delivered stillborn babies and who helped advise the Department of Health in designing the questionnaire, including how to use appropriately sensitive language. She said she hopes the mothers who receive it will find it within themselves to fill it out. "If there are situations where answers can be found, and we can prevent the next generation from going through this level of pain ... I'm all about that," she said. "Because if stillbirth was no longer a thing, it would be amazing." Stone also acknowledged the difficulty of encouraging participation among grieving mothers. Each woman will ultimately be given two opportunities to fill out the questionnaire by mail, plus a chance to do it over the phone if they prefer, she said. "While this is a heartbreaking situation, and it's a difficult thing for a woman to have to experience, we're hoping that women will respond positively (to the survey) and want to participate just so that we can prevent stillbirths in the future," Stone said. Jackson described her first few months following the death of her son as "a point of time when it was hard to consider getting out of bed." "Losing a baby tends to be a fairly unique experience, because you grieve not only not having them, but you grieve ... the life that would have been," she said. Her focus since having to say goodbye to him, Jackson said, has been to celebrate and magnify Mckai's brief lifetime. He is already a significant part of the lives of his siblings, ages 5 and 2, who understand "they have a big brother that's in heaven," she said. "He is meaningful and important to us." ROY A man who claimed he had had too much to drink and attacked a woman walking along a trail in a "moment of weakness" was arrested after the potential victim fought back, according to police. Jorge Nieto, 21, was arrested for investigation of kidnapping by Roy police. On Saturday, a woman was walking on a trail behind West Park, near 4700 South 2700 West, "when a male came behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist with one arm, and put his other hand around her mouth," according to a Weber County Jail report. "The victim also said the suspect was trying to drag her into the bushes." The woman fought back and was able get Nieto's hand off of her mouth and scream for help, the report states. As soon as she started yelling, Nieto let go and ran off, according to the report. "The victim and her husband were able to find the suspect several minutes later and was able to record the suspect with their cellphone," the report states. Nieto was later located at Midland Elementary School, 3100 W. 4800 South, and arrested. He claimed he had been drinking for two hours and then decided to go for a run, according to the report. "Jorge stated he saw the victim on the trail and had a moment of weakness and went behind the victim, and put his hand around her mouth. Jorge stated he had bad thoughts, and later said he wanted to touch the victim's breast but didn't," police wrote in their report. Police fear Nieto is a flight risk and asked that he be held in jail because he has only been in Utah a short time, did not have an ID, and "did not know his home address." MOAB They waited and waited in the dark a half-mile underground, in blistering heat for someone to rescue them. "We knew people was working," Paul McKinney recalled. "I mean, just automatically, you knew people was working to get down there to us." The retired miner remembers seemingly every detail of the most intense and certainly the darkest chapter of his career. In 1963 an explosion trapped him deep inside a potash mine near Moab and he waited 19 hours for mine rescue teams to reach him. And McKinney was one of the luckiest members of his mining crew; he was one of the first two men to be rescued. Eighteen miners died and seven miraculously survived by sheer luck or by using their wits. "When we hit surface that day, well, I can't explain exactly how I felt," McKinney said. "But I was damn glad to get to the surface." It's a Utah disaster that's now almost forgotten, but memorial events Sunday and Monday will honor those who lived and those who died in one of Utah's most scenic places. A patch of blue Most Utahns who are aware of the Intrepid Potash operation on the banks of the Colorado River probably saw it first from Dead Horse Point State Park. In the vast ocean of red rock that tourists see from the park's spectacular overlook, there is one very striking patch of blue. Less than 4 miles away as the crow flies are 400 acres of solar evaporation ponds that produce potash. "Some people see them and think that they are an eyesore, kind of a scar on the landscape," said Kymberly Mele in an interview near the mine opening. "There's kind of a metaphor there. They're a scar of what happened here." Mele recently published a book about the 1963 tragedy called "Disaster at Cane Creek." Her father, Donald Blake Hanna, was rescued along with McKinney the morning after the explosion while five other miners remained trapped. She spent most of 20 years researching her 600-page book, drawing much of the detail from the memories of survivors. Although he died just before the book came out, Mele feels lucky her father lived more than a half-century after the disaster. "There's those (other) families, many of them didn't have their fathers return to them," Mele said, "And they lived with that the rest of their lives." Today, a massive headframe still stands several stories tall over the mine-opening. In the 1960s it was used to lower miners into the ground and bring them back out at the end of their shift. The headframe is no longer in use. "Well the headframe is a metaphor for a headstone," Mele said. "It's very appropriate because of where 18 men lost their lives." 'Big explosion' It happened at 4:40 pm on Aug. 27, 1963. The potash mine was almost brand new; digging had commenced two years earlier. Miners had been digging their way through waste rock and, ironically, tragedy struck on the very day they reached a rich seam of valuable potash. Technically known as potassium chloride, potash is a salty remnant of ancient seas. It has many uses in industrial processes and is a crucial ingredient in commercial fertilizers. McKinney, along with fellow survivor Charles Clark, recently returned to the potash plant to remember and talk about what happened that day deep below ground in a horizontal tunnel known as a "drift." "Big explosion," McKinney remembered, "and then the force that come down that drift! I thought my head was going to bust." McKinney was just 22 years old. Clark was 27. "We didn't have communications," Clarke remembered. "We didn't know if the shaft had caved in or what had happened." As toxic smoke and carbon monoxide filled the mine, it forced seven men to barricade themselves in one section of the mine. They hung up improvised curtains made from rubberized bags that were part of the mine's ventilation system. "Outside the curtains there was a lot of smoke and gas," Clark said. "You couldn't hardly breathe out there. So we put those up there to try to trap the breathable air inside the barricades." "We was hanging that (curtain) to stop that rolling smoke," McKinney said. "It was just rolling down that drift. The first one we hung, you couldn't get it tight. But you'd be surprised; it stopped a lot of that rolling smoke." That strategy saved seven lives, according to Mele. "For them to run ahead of the smoke, and get past it, and then be able to build barricades, plus they built three curtains," Mele said. "I thought that was pretty ingenious to do three where they had an air lock." A light Above ground, families waited in agony as the hours ticked by. Mine rescue teams went to work not knowing if 25 miners were alive or dead. "They presume that there's somebody alive until they know otherwise," Mele said. "That's just part of mine rescue." For those trapped below, the hours dragged on. It was almost intolerably hot. "One hundred thirty-eight degrees!" McKinney said, recalling an actual measurement made by one of the trapped miners. "It was pretty warm," Clark agreed. "We were sitting around there on that rubberized bag, you know, and you'd have to get up once in a while and flip the sweat off of it." A big worry was the water supply. "We got caught there with like maybe 7 gallons of fresh water," McKinney recalled. "We rationed that out until about 10 o'clock. And after that we just started draining the (mine's) water line which is just rusty water. Black. I thought we was all gonna die from that." A few hours after the blast, McKinney and Hanna ventured out of the barricade to repair a ventilation line. Eventually they made contact with rescuers who brought them to the surface 19 hours after the blast. That left five men including Clark, still trapped, drenched in sweat. "I hadn't lost hope yet," Clark said. "But it was just, you know, you have the thoughts, 'If I don't get out of here, what's going to happen to my family?'" At the surface, as the drama unfolded and stretched out more than two agonizing days, the rescue effort attracted worldwide attention and drew celebrity journalists. "Walter Cronkite was at our house," Mele said, "as well as other reporters." Before their rescue, McKinney and Hanna saw several miners who had been killed. After they made it out, they urged rescuers to continue their efforts because they knew five men were still alive. Fifty hours after the explosion, the rescue teams were still working their way through the smoke-filled passageways. "Once in awhile I would think, 'Well, I think I see a light up there.' But then it wasn't." Clark recalled. "But then, when it really happened it was pretty exciting." More than two full days after the blast, rescuers reached the five men and brought them to the surface. The 18 who died are now honored by a memorial created near the mine, about a dozen miles down the Colorado River from Moab. Clark knows he was lucky to survive and he often thinks of the families who lost loved ones in the disaster. "It's been a long time now," Clark said. "I'm sure the hurt has faded quite a bit. But still, it's a sad thing to see bad things happening to your loved ones like that. But I was just fortunate that I made it out." The explosion was evidently caused by methane gas that occurs naturally underground; the source of the spark that set it off has never been determined. No one goes underground anymore; a few years after the disaster the company owners abandoned traditional mining in favor of so-called "solution mining." Instead of sending men underground, they pump water into the mine to dissolve the potash. Later they pump it back out and evaporate the water in the ponds to recover the potash. Mele hopes the tragedy of 1963 will teach a continuing lesson about the need for safety in the workplace. "Hopefully those men," she said, "don't die in vain and people can learn from them." On Sunday, Aug. 26, at 4 pm, a gathering is planned at the potash plant memorial. On Monday evening the 55th anniversary of the disaster a memorial program is planned at the Grand Center in Moab. DRAPER The Mendocino Complex Fire north of San Francisco took a tragic toll on the Draper Fire Department. Five members of the department went to California to help battle the largest wildfire in the state's history. But nearly two weeks into their deployment, Draper Battalion Chief Matt "Matty" Burchett, 42, a veteran firefighter with Draper and the Unified Fire Authority, was killed when he was hit by falling tree debris after thousands of gallons of retardant were dropped on the area where he and other firefighters were working. But out of that tragic event also comes the story of a life being saved. While also working the Mendocino Fire, Draper firefighter Patrick Cullen saw a dog huddled under a tree. He brought the German shepherd puppy to the Mendocino Animal Hospital for treatment. The dog was named "Mendo" by firefighters. "It was clear from the start, if not found by his guardian, Draper City firefighter Patrick wanted to adopt him," according to Facebook posts by the Mendocino County Animal Shelter. After Burchett's death, the remaining Utah firefighters in California were pulled off the fire lines. The four remaining Draper firefighters were immediately sent home. Meanwhile, Mendo soon received a clean bill of health, and after no one claimed the dog, the shelter agreed to let Cullen adopt him. Two shelter workers began driving on Saturday to Reno where they would hand Mendo off to Cullen. "We know Mendo will help (Draper firefighters) heal," the shelter posted on Facebook. Cullen picked up Mendo on Sunday in Reno. A picture of the reunion was posted on Facebook. He was expected to be back in Draper Sunday evening and introduce Mendo to the public on Monday. Cigna Corporation, a global health service company, and pharmacy benefit management services provider Express Scripts Holding Company have entered into an agreement Cigna will acquire Express Scripts for $67 billion. The cash and stock transaction includes Cigna's assumption of approximately $15 billion in Express Scripts debt. The merger consideration will consist of $48.75 in cash and 0.2434 shares of stock of the combined company per Express Scripts share. The transaction was approved by the board of directors of each company. Cignas acquisition of Express Scripts brings together two complementary customer-centric services companies, well-positioned to drive greater quality and affordability for customers, said David M. Cordani, president and chief executive officer of Cigna. This combination accelerates Cignas enterprise mission of improving the health, well-being and sense of security of those we serve, and in turn, expanding the breadth of services for our customers, partners, clients, health plans and communities. Together, we will create an expanded portfolio of health services, delivering greater consumer choice, closer alignment between the customer and health care provider, and more personalized value. This combination will create significant benefits to society and differentiated shareholder value. First and foremost, we believe this transaction delivers attractive value to the Express Scripts shareholders" said Tim Wentworth, President and Chief Executive Officer of Express Scripts. "Together, our two organizations will help make the healthiest choices the easiest choices, putting health and pharmacy services within reach of everyone we serve. Adding our company's leadership in pharmacy and medical benefit management, technology-powered clinical solutions, and specialized patient care model to Cignas track record of delivering value through innovation, we are positioned to transform healthcare. We will continue to have a distinct focus at Express Scripts and eviCore on partnering with health plans, and together, build tailored solutions for health plans and their members. Importantly, this agreement is a testament to the work of our team and their resolute focus on providing the best care to patients, and the most value to clients, he added. Strategic benefits Expanded Consumer Choice. Offering a full suite of medical, behavioural, specialty pharmacy and other health engagement services accessible across a wide array of retail and online distribution channels, providing optionality for all customers. This will position the combined company to deliver superior services, responding fully to the dynamic needs of our customers and clients, which will drive long-term value creation for shareholders. Patient-Provider Alignment. Using a broad and proven network of delivery system partnerships to drive the combined companys role as the connective tissue between individuals and their health care providers, providing a more coordinated approach to an individuals health care journey, reducing complexity and creating better outcomes. Personalized Value. Making health care simpler for consumers by harnessing actionable insights and predictive analytics, maximizing adoption of evidence-based care and delivering industry-leading innovation and medical technology to support care decisions. The combined company will be led by David M Cordani as president and CEO. Tim Wentworth will assume the role of president, Express Scripts. The combined companys board will be expanded to 13 directors, including four independent members of the Express Scripts board. The combined company will be named Cigna. Cigna's headquarters in Bloomfield, Connecticut, USA will become the headquarters for the combined company, and Express Scripts will be headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. At closing, the combined company will make an incremental investment of $200 million in its charitable foundation, to support the communities in which it operates, and with the continued focus on improving societal health. The transaction, which is expected to be completed by December 31, 2018, is subject to the approval of Cigna and Express Scripts shareholders and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals. Until the closing, Cigna and Express Scripts will continue to operate as independent companies. TradeArabia News Service Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider subscribing to our ePaper and/or free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Swiss-based SR Technics said it has signed a major engine maintenance, repair and overhaul agreement with Lufthansa Groups low-cost airline Eurowings. A leading maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) service provider with major presence in the emirates, SR Technics is 20 per cent owned by Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala. The two-year agreement was signed at the end of June 2018 and covers part of the airlines CFM56-5B fleet. On the contract win, Michael Sattler, the chief commercial officer at SR Technics, said: "We are delighted to have won Eurowings as a customer. This clearly reflects on our excellent relationship with the German group, and our ability to adapt to challenging scheduling requirements and offer flexible solutions." As Eurowings is a major player among Europes low-cost carriers, there is plenty of room for synergies with other areas of SR Technics moving forward, he stated. Co-operation with Eurowings began in January of this year and in order to meet the demands of the carriers large engine shop visit demands, SR Technics provided single engine shop visit offers to customize its services. This, combined with slots that met the carriers planning needs and SR Technics continuous support, was key to clinching the two-year contract. Michael Knitter, the chief operations officer of Eurowings, said: "Optimal technical support for our aircraft is an essential prerequisite for the success of Eurowings. As currently the fastest growing airline in Europe, we rely only on the best service providers. We are proud to be able to rely also on SR Technics for this." All work under the new agreement will be completed at SR Technics Zurich Airport facility and covers engine maintenance, repair and overhaul solutions, including airfoils repairs in SR Technics Cork, Ireland facility, and the full parts and material management for more than 30 engines, he added.-TradeArabia News Service What is fracking? Fracking is a process of blasting water, chemicals and frac sand deep into the earth to break up sedimentary rock and access natural gas and crude oil deposits. The fracking industry, which has sought to promote the practice as safe and controlled, has preferred the term "hydraulic fracturing." Fracking emerged as an unconventional, "relatively new" and extremely popular technique only about 20 years ago in the U.S., after advances in technology gave it an unprecedented ability to identify and extract massive amounts of resources efficiently. Fracking is one of the most important environmental issues today, and it's a prime example of how a new technology that offers immediate economic and political benefits can outpace (often less obvious) environmental and health concerns. Why is fracking so controversial? Modern fracking emerged so quickly, faster than its impacts were understood. Just as importantly, once scientists, health experts and the public started to object with evidence of harm it was causing, business and government succeeded in perpetuating a message of uncertainty, that more research was necessary, further enabling the "full speed ahead" fracking juggernaut. How does fracking impact the environment? Fracking's supporters have pushed an environmental angle, insisting that natural gas can be a "bridge fuel," a cheaper, cleaner option than coal before we have a large-scale transition to renewable energy. This claim has some merit, as natural gas does emit much less carbon dioxide than coal or oil. However, it is still a fossil fuel, adding harmful emissions while the climate crisis worsens. Moreover, fracking wells leak methane, a greenhouse gas more than 25 times more potent than CO2. Water In order to break up rock formations one to two miles deep, a fracking operation requires millions of gallons amount of water. After it's used, the resulting wastewater, which contains chemicals is pumped back into injection wells, sent to treatment plants, or can be dangerously dumped or spilled. In 2016 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a report skewed friendly to industry in its language: Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas: Impacts from the Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle on Drinking Water Resources in the United States. The EPA acknowledged that drinking water contamination was possible, but ultimately came to this conclusion: "Data gaps and uncertainties limited EPA's ability to fully assess the potential impacts on drinking water resources locally and nationally." Earthquakes According to the U.S. Geologic Survey, disposal of wastewater has caused an increase in earthquakes in the central U.S. Seismologists have reported that fracking's initial blasting process can trigger earthquakes. Air Pollution In addition to methane, fracking releases many toxic contaminants into the air. EPA has acknowledged the public health threat, but a lack of urgent political pressure has sidelined the agency into advising on ways to control and reduce, rather than eliminate, the danger. Toxic Chemicals Fracking fluids contain unknown chemicals and known carcinogens such as benzene. Fracking companies haven't been required to disclose their proprietary formulas, however. This is yet another example of how uncertainty serves as an enabling force. The EPA has identified more than 1,000 different chemicals used in fracking fluid. Wildlife Fracking can destroy wildlife habitats, pollute rivers and fisheries, poison birds, and use up water supplies that animals need to survive. How does fracking affect the economy? The fracking boom made the U.S. the world's largest producer of oil and gas, reducing its energy imports from 26% to less than 4%. It has lowered oil and gas prices and created thousands of industry jobs. While fracking companies profited greatly at first, as prices dropped their margins collapsed. Many are now going bankrupt. How is fracking regulated? Congress has enabled the oil and gas industry to be exempt from such regulations as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act. Fracking surged during the Obama administration, which moved to protect water from fracking on federal lands in 2015. Subsequently, the Trump administration sought to roll back protections and expand fracking on federal lands. Key Examples of Fracking in the United States Pennsylvania Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale is the source for about 40% of shale gas production in the U.S. New York While the Marcellus Shale also runs through New York, the state has banned fracking. Texas Texas produces more crude oil than any other state. North Dakota The Bakken Shale in North Dakota has been one of the main sites for the fracking boom and subsequent bust, leaving behind extensive environmental damage. A recent report found that all 50 states could provide 100% (or even greater) in-state renewable energy. Other Countries Outside the U.S., only Canada, China and Argentina have commercial fracking operations. A UN report in 2018 said that other countries were "highly unlikely" to produce at such a large scale as the U.S., due to political and cultural factors, and existing infrastructure. The Future of Fracking While renewables were considered a solution for "peak oil" only a decade ago, fracking changed the terms of the debate, with a new focus from environmentalists to "keep it in the ground" starting in 2015. The Biden administration now stands at a pivotal moment in the climate crisis. Biden's stance on fracking is not yet entirely clear, but he has rejoined the Paris agreement and appears to take climate seriously. At the same time, he is sympathetic to workers in fossil fuel industries, was vice president during the fracking boom years under Obama, and may be more inclined to seek a gradual transition than one fast enough to help solve the crisis. (REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi)Pope Francis blesses the faithful during his Wednesday general audience in Saint Peter's square at the Vatican October 21, 2015. Pope Francis asked forgiveness for sexual abuses committed by members of the Roman Catholic clergy in Ireland during a Sunday ceremony in Dublin, and he ended a tough visit during which there was a call for him to resign by one of his cardinals'. The Pope gave a homily at a Mass before tens of thousands of the faithful in Phoenix Park in Dublin, The New York Times reported. "We ask forgiveness for the abuses in Ireland, abuses of power, of conscience and sexual abuse perpetrated by members with roles of responsibility in the Church. "In a special way, we ask pardon for all the abuses committed in various types of institutions run by male or female religious and by other members of the Church. Furthermore, we ask forgiveness for the cases of exploitation through manual work that so many minors were inflicted," said the Pope. On the second day of a difficult mission to win back the confidence of Irish Roman Catholics, Pope Francis awoke on Aug. 26 to a bombshell accusation from within his own citadel. 7,000 WORD LETTER A former top-ranking Vatican official released a 7,000-word letter asserting that the pontiff had known about the abuses of a now-disgraced American prelate, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, years before they became public. The official, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, a conservative critic of Francis and a former apostolic nuncio to the United States, claimed that Francis had failed to punish Cardinal McCarrick, The Washington Post reported. The letter from Vigano, who was recalled from his D.C. post in 2016 during allegations that he'd become embroiled in the conservative American fight against same-sex marriage, was first reported by the National Catholic Register and LifeSite News, two conservative sites. The letter offered no proof, and Vigano told The Washington Post he wouldn't comment further. "Silence and prayer are the only things that are befitting," he said. Cardinal McCarrick was suspended in June after allegations that he had coerced seminarians into sexual relationships. He was also found to have abused a teenage altar boy 47 years ago, when he was a priest in New York. The trend of less-than-holy behavior is, however, not limited to the Catholic Church, although it has gotten the majority of the media's attention and the public's criticism, Roy Speckhardt, executive director, of American Humanist Association wrote in the Huffington Post. It cited recent cases such as that of Pastor Tony Alamo, who was convicted of abusing several young children and forced the U.S. government to remove children at his ministry from their negligent parents. Huffington Post said it shows that sexual abuse exists in different religious communities. It appears that many institutions that have a tradition of powerful clerics that guide the community also suffer from allegations of child sexual abuse. "This situation is often worsened when the religious institutions attempt to handle the matter internally by trying the offenders in a religious court instead of reporting the abuse to secular authorities," wrote Speckhardt. He cited allegations of sexual abuse in several Hasidic Jewish communities, where young boys were routinely abused at religious schools and community gatherings. "These children weren't able to come forward with their allegations for years because they feared being cast out from the religious community for accusing one of their "holy" leaders of such a despicable crime," Speckhardt wrote. He said that when the boys finally did come forward the rabbis were tried in an ecclesiastical court, much like the Catholic priests who were accused of similar crimes. The courts exonerated the rabbis of their crimes and halted efforts to pursue secular justice against the offenders. CALLED ON POPE TO RESIGN In the letter, published on Saturday in Italian by The National Catholic Register and in English by LifeSiteNews, both critical of Francis, the archbishop called on the Pope to resign. "In this extremely dramatic moment for the universal Church," the archbishop wrote, "he must acknowledge his mistakes and, in keeping with the proclaimed principle of zero tolerance, Pope Francis must be the first to set an example for cardinals and bishops who covered up McCarrick's abuses and resign with all of them." In Dublin the Vatican estimated that 300,000 people flocked to Phoenix Park for the Mass to close the World Meeting of Families, a global Catholic gathering that is held every three years. Other crowd estimates were lower, said the BBC. US Senator John McCain, a Vietnam war hero who ran unsuccessfully for president as a Republican in 2008 died on Saturday aged 81, a media report said. McCain had been battling glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer discovered in July 2017, and had undergone surgery for an intestinal infection in April, reported Reuters. Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28 p.m. on August 25, 2018. With the senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family. At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for sixty years, the report said, citing a statement from his office. The Pound Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate has traded in a narrow range during Tuesday's afternoon session, failing to get off the starting blocks from a level of 1.7555. This limited movement is because of continued concerns about the effects of a no-deal Brexit on the UK economy, which are still not entirely clear. The first economic data that could affect the Australian Dollar to Pound AUD/GBP exchange rate this week will come on Thursday. The pair's movement during the current month has revealed the existance of a middle-term rising wedge. From theoretical point of view, this pattern is more likely to be breached to the downside. An important level to look out for is the monthly S2 at 1.7344. Building permits figures for July will come out early in the morning and are expected to show a sharp drop in the quantity of granted permits. Australian Dollar (AUD) Exchange Rates Softened by Political Turmoil The Pound Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate surged last week, driven higher by the political chaos in Canberra. It was an eventful session for the Australian Dollar (AUD) this week as due to a bruising week of Australian politics which saw two leadership challenges and the departure of Malcom Turnbull as Prime Minister. This was quite the departure for the Australian Dollar, which after losing four PMs to leadership contests in the span of a decade is usually resistant to domestic politics. The Aussie losses kicked off on Tuesday as former Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton launched a leadership contest, citing Turnbulls poor polling numbers as reason for the PM to step aside. Turnbull narrowed survived the vote, but this failed to reignite confidence in AUD, with observers fearing that the PM would likely face another challenge later in the week, especially after three of Turnbulls key supporters resigned from his cabinet on Thursday and sent the AUD/GDP exchange rate to a new three-week low. However the Australian Dollar was able to rally at the tail end of the week as Turnbull was finally ousted and replaced by former treasurer, Scott Morrison. AUD investors welcomed the move, with markets not only relieved to the see the uncertainty pass but also seeing Morrisons elevation to PM as one of the more safer options. Annette Beacher, Singapore-based chief strategist at TD Securities, said: PM Morrison is the most market-friendly option, having successfully negotiated through multiple portfolios such as social security, border security, and more recently presiding over a substantial improvement in the budget balance as Treasurer. Gains in the Pound (GBP) Trimmed by Brexit Uncertainty While the Pound (GBP) was able to ride the weakness in the Australian Dollar (AUD) close to a one-month high this week, its gains were slowed somewhat due to ongoing Brexit uncertainty. Despite this uncertainty, Sterling performed amicably in the first half of the week, with Brexit Secretary Dominic Raabs confidence that the UK would be able to strike a deal with the EU by October, lead to cautious optimism amongst GBP investors. However the tide began to turn against the Pound on Thursday as the governments paper outlining the impact that a no-deal Brexit may have on the UK made for some bleak reading. Robert Bell, partner at law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, said: This latest set of guidance cannot conceal that in the event of a no-deal Brexit, this country and its economy will be sailing into uncharted waters with unpredictable results. So, far from reassuring the business community, this guidance is likely to heighten anxiety about the governments conduct of the exit negotiations, and provoke real doubts as to whether the government is as close to a successful deal as they contend. These concerns were compounded by a letter from Chancellor Philip Hammond warning that a no-deal Brexit could cost UK GDP 7.7% over the next 15-years. This opened the GBP/AUD exchange rate to losses at the end of the week amid a rebound in the Australian Dollar. GBP/AUD Exchange Rate Forecast: Brexit to Continue to Dominate Market Sentiment? Looking ahead to next weeks session, in the absence of any notable data, movement in the Pound Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate is likely to continue to be impacted by Brexit sentiment. This could see Sterling relinquish much of the gains made during this weeks session, especially if negotiations between the UK and the EU remain at an impasse. However the Australian Dollar may struggle to exploit any weakness in the Pound should trade tensions between the US and China continue to drag on market risk appetite. Privacy Settings This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. Which cookies and scripts are used and how they impact your visit is specified on the left. You may change your settings at any time. Your choices will not impact your visit. NOTE: These settings will only apply to the browser and device you are currently using. Of course, you already know that because the headlines are dominating the news coverage. Most of the coverage is also lionizing him as some kind of hero who defended America from his time as a POW in Vietnam to his attacks on Russia for supposedly trying to undermine American democracy. The fact is, and I know this because I've documented some of it in the course of my own work in recent years, he was a warmonger supreme. McCain never met a warespecially a regime change warhe didn't like, nor a terrorist he couldn't endorse as a "freedom fighter," especially, as in the case of Syria, if that terrorist was in the service of the regime change war he endorsed. In Iraq, Libya, Syria and Ukraine, a million or more people have died and tens of millions more are suffering as a result of these wars that McCain did so much to bring about. In a short but to-the-point piece. Sputnik summarizes McCain's extreme Russophobia and his love for the Nazi regime in Kiev. Vladimir Putin was being charitable when, as Sputnik recounts, he told Oliver Stone that McCain was a patriot, but one who couldn't accept that the world had changed. "People with such convictions, like the Senator you mentioned, they still live in the Old World," Putin said. "And they're reluctant to look into the future, they are unwilling to recognize how fast the world is changing." That Putin was able to say that says more about his genuine humanity than it does about McCain, who gave up whatever humanity he had a long time ago. Anyone fighting for a genuine peace in the world will not mourn the passing of John McCain. Timothy and Sharlotte Mott are still searching for their daughter three years after her death. In a mystery that haunts the Motts, the body of their daughter Julie disappeared from a local funeral home and has yet to be found. The couple won a negligence lawsuit in January against Mission Park North Funeral Chapel, but to the family, there was no victory. The case failed to provide the answers the Motts need most. What happened to Julie? Where is she? I cry quite easily all the time, Sharlotte Mott said in a soft, trembling voice recently. Theres a lot of sadness in the fact that we dont know where she is. Nothing has changed. No arrests have been made in the disappearance, which is still under investigation by San Antonio police, but there could be a new development. READ ALSO: Wife of Sutherland Springs gunman Devin Kelley speaks for first time about day of the massacre Now Playing: Three years later, the parents of Julie Mott wonder where her body is and wish that one day they can put her ashes to rest. Video: San Antonio Express-News We recently discovered some new information that we are actively pursuing with the hope that it leads us to Julies whereabouts, said Lt. Jesse Salame, deputy chief of staff for Chief William McManus. Because we dont want to jeopardize the case, we cant reveal yet what that new information is. As they go about their everyday lives, the Motts, who spoke with the San Antonio Express-News on the third anniversary of their daughters disappearance, carry on as best they can. Julie, who died of cystic fibrosis, would have been 26 the day of her funeral services on Aug. 15, 2015. She is never far from the Motts thoughts. A jacket Julie used to wear when she would get a chill is draped over the passenger seat of Sharlotte Motts car. When she drives, she clutches at the sleeve. It stays with me all the time, she said of the jacket. Timothy Mott sits outside in his yard each day, waiting for a red bird, hoping that the cardinal he sees in his yard is a nod or a wink from Julie. When a cardinal appears in your yard, its a visitor from heaven, they said, quoting folklore shared with them by a relative. Since the day they moved into their house, two months after she died, they spend as much time as they can in their backyard, where they said they can spot at least six red birds daily. If its in the morning, they say, Good morning, Julie. The Motts speak proudly of Julie, referring to her as tiny, but tough. They talk about the things she loved spending time outdoors with friends and family, and especially horses. She competed in some equestrian events, her father said. But in an instant, their moods change to despair. Their grief is fresh, as if everything just happened. I always thought of myself as a tough guy, said Timothy Mott, 69, who was a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army. His voice breaks: But this is ... I cant even put it into words. Originally from Fort Worth, the Motts made San Antonio their home in 1989. Sharlotte Mott, 65, the registrar for the North East Independent School District, said she took a job in education so she could be close to her children while they went to school, and be off with them during the summer. Mostly, it allowed her to be Julies caregiver. Her only daughter, Julie was 2 years old when she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. READ ALSO: Rockport, Port Aransas salvage their coastal communities after Harvey August is particularly difficult for them. Its the month their daughter was born, when she died, and when her body disappeared. Julie Mott died Aug. 8, 2015. She was 25. Her wish was to be cremated, which was to occur a day after her funeral at Mission Parks Northwest Side facility. When employees arrived Aug. 16, 2015, they found a damaged casket at Mission Park North on Cherry Ridge. Julie was gone. That morning, Sharlotte called the funeral home to make arrangements to retrieve Julies jewelry and other personal items. According to testimony established during the trial, at around the same time as the call, employees were frantically looking for Julies body. In their lawsuit, the Motts accused the company of negligence and lax security. They accused the funeral home of hiding the fact that they use third-party contractors to handle some services, like cremations. These contractors had unlimited access to their facilities. And the security codes and locks were outdated and hadnt been changed in years. In January, a Bexar County jury found that MPII Inc., which does business as Mission Park Funeral Chapels and Cemeteries, was negligent and responsible for the loss of the body, awarding the Motts an $8 million judgment. The company, through its owner, Robert Dick Tips, and his wife, Kristin, company president, have appealed the judgment and have posted a $9.2 million surety bond to cover the cost of the cash judgment and to stay it during the appeals process. The case could go all the way to the Texas Supreme Court, and take years to settle. Originally represented by Ricardo Reyna, MPII Inc. has retained Kirsten M. Castaneda, an appellate attorney out of Dallas. She declined to comment on the case. READ ALSO: Nonprofits drive reunification efforts Testimony during the nearly three-week trial established that when funeral home employees arrived, the doors were locked, the alarm was still on, and the back doors were locked with a chain. The company, through the Tipses, denied wrongdoing and accused Julies ex-boyfriend, Bill Wilburn, of stealing her body. They said the Motts did not share that Wilburn was obsessed with calling and texting Julie. They said Wilburn did not want Julie cremated, which gave him a motive to take her body. Wilburn was charged with criminal trespass in June 2016, about a year after Julies body disappeared. He was spotted by Mission Parks security cameras on two occasions trying to get inside the facility and reportedly called staff there 200 times in one day, seeking information about the case. According to court records, he pleaded guilty to one of the charges on March 28 and was sentenced to two days in jail. Ultimately, the jury did not believe that Wilburn or anyone else stole her body. The jury did not find that a criminal or a third-party was responsible. The jury didnt find someone else did it. They found Mission Park was responsible. So,wheres the body? asked Mark Greenwald, who along with Alex Katzman and Ron Salazar represented the Motts in the civil case. When he testified, Timothy Mott told the jury that his daughter knew in January 2015, when she was denied a lung transplant, that she didnt have much time left. A little before she died, she told her father that she wanted to be cremated. She wanted part of her ashes buried with a favorite horse, some left with her parents, and the rest scattered elsewhere. She was pretty sick, Timothy Mott testified. She was aware she was getting close, and she didnt want to be buried. She didnt want to be in a coffin. Julie died at their home. She died peacefully, we could tell, said Timothy Mott. The fact that they couldnt carry out her funeral as she requested, eats at him and Sharlotte, who have been married for 45 years. READ ALSO: Man arrested in case of missing priest in South Texas The biggest thing is that she wanted to be cremated, Timothy Mott said. In a small corner off the living room of their far West Side home, they have a shrine to her. There are photographs of Julie, and a large urn with the bust of a horse where her ashes were to rest. Theres a piece of paper (on the urn) blocking the place to put a picture. But we cant put a picture on it, Timothy Mott said. Shes not there. Its a reminder to us that we wont be able to complete her final wishes, Sharlotte Mott said through tears. Her dogs still miss her, too, they said. Biff, a Papillon, was always by her side, Timothy Mott said. Whiskey, a Chow mix, still looks for her. Wheres Julie, Timothy Mott asks, and the dog begins to bark and claw at the floor. Five years her senior, Jonathan Mott misses his sister so much, he cant talk about her. He declined to be interviewed for this story. But he maintains a public Facebook page in her memory. He took what the family deemed as the most important pictures of Julie, from birth until death, and placed them in a slideshow that was shown during her funeral services. You can see by the video how Jon and Julie were really close, Timothy Mott said. Through the sadness, the Motts faces light up when they talk about their first and only grandchild Olivia Nicole Mott, 14 months old, who shares her aunts middle name. Jonathans little girl looks a lot like his sister. A frame with baby pictures of Olivia and Julie at the same age is uncanny. I see a lot of similarities, Timothy Mott said. Near the back door that leads to the backyard, the Motts have framed pictures of red birds. Outside, bird houses of all types, shapes and sizes line the fence. Never much into birds, their yard now welcomes them in droves. Sometimes we will sleep out there, thinking about all of this, knowing that ... hoping that we find her, Timothy said. But we doubt it. Elizabeth Zavala is a courts and crime reporter in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863 GREENWICH The Greenwich Police Department held a ceremony before a crowd of about 100 people on Thursday to celebrate the promotions of four its own. Sgt. Martin OReilly was promoted to lieutenant, and Master Police Officer John Tar, Police Officer Jason Lyman and Detective James Smith were each promoted to sergeant. The ceremony was hosted by Police Chief James Heavey and Police Commissioner Peter Tesei. Inside the town of Greenwich Public Safety Complex in front of family, friends, fellow officers, local dignitaries and members of the community, each of the honorees was sworn in to their new rank by the Tesei, who is also first selectman. After receiving their new badges, hats and rank insignias from the chief and their family members, the promoted officers hosted a reception for attendees. The officers we are promoting today are truly representative of the great officers we have in this department. Collectively, they possess over 53 years of Police service to the town, Heavey said. They possess multiple college degrees, two were previous detectives, one was a police explorer, one was an Eagle Scout and one was a recipient of the prestigious Greenwich Lions Club Dr. John Clark Award. OReilly, 47, was initially hired as a Greenwich police officer in 1994. His previous assignments include collision investigator, field training officer, detective and patrol division supervisor. Tar, 46, was initially hired as a Greenwich police officer in 2011. He was selected to be a master police officer and a field training officer in 2017. Lyman, 35, was initially hired as a Greenwich police officer in 2007. He has a bachelors degree from the University of New Haven. Smith, 32, was initially hired as a Greenwich police officer in 2007 after first being a New York City police officer. His previous assignments include field training officer, master police officer and detective. Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company's personal banking products and services include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, and financial and investment advice services; and commercial banking products and services comprise business deposit accounts, commercial credit cards, business loans and commercial mortgages, cash management solutions, foreign exchange, specialized banking programs, treasury and payment solutions, and risk management products for small business and commercial banking customers. It also offers investment and wealth advisory services; digital investing services; financial services and solutions; and investment management, and trust and custody services to institutional, retail, and high net worth investors. In addition, the company provides life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, and annuity products; creditor and travel insurance to bank customers; and reinsurance solutions. Further, it offers client's debt and equity capital-raising services, as well as loan origination and syndication, balance sheet management, and treasury management; strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and recapitalizations, as well as valuation and fairness opinions; and trade finance, risk mitigation, and other operating services. Additionally, the company provides research and access to markets for institutional, corporate, and retail clients; trading solutions that include debt, foreign exchange, interest rate, credit, equity, securitization and commodities; new product development and origination services, as well as risk management advice and services to hedge against fluctuations; and funding and liquidity management services to its clients. It operates through approximately 1,400 bank branches and 4,800 automated banking machines in Canada and the United States. The company was founded in 1817 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Read More China Telecom Corporation Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides wireline and mobile telecommunications services primarily in the People's Republic of China. It offers wireline voice services, including local wireline telephone services and long distance wireline services; CDMA mobile voice services, such as local calls, domestic and international long distance calls, intra-provincial roaming, and inter-provincial roaming and international roaming; wireline Internet access services comprising dial-up and broadband services; wireless Internet access services; and wireline, Internet, and mobile value-added services. The company also provides Best Tone information services; and information technology-based integrated solutions, such as system integration and consulting, outsourcing, special advisory, information application, knowledge, and software development services. In addition, it offers managed data services that include digital data network, frame relay, and asynchronous transfer mode services for government agencies, large corporations, and institutions; and leased line services, as well as sells, repairs, and maintains customer-end equipment. Further, the company provides international telecommunications services, including network, Internet access and transit, Internet data center, and mobile virtual network services in various countries, including the Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa, South America, and North America; and music production and related information, instant messenger, finance leasing, capital and financial management, and e-commerce services, as well as sells telecommunications terminals. As of December 31, 2019, it had approximately 336 million mobile subscribers; 153 million wireline broadband subscribers; and 111 million access lines in service. The company was incorporated in 2002 and is based in Wanchai, Hong Kong. China Telecom Corporation Limited is a subsidiary of China Telecommunications Corporation. Read More Tahoe Resources Inc., together with its subsidiaries, acquires, explores for, develops, and operates mineral properties in the Americas. It explores for silver, gold, lead, zinc, and copper deposits, as well as precious metals assets. The company holds interest in the La Arena gold mine located in the Huamachuco district of northern Peru; Shahuindo mine located in the province of Cajabamba in northern Peru; and La Arena II, a copper-gold porphyry deposit located in Peru. It also holds interest in the Timmins mines, including the Bell Creek and Timmins West mines, the Fenn-Gib project, the Juby project, the Vogel project, and the Gold River project located in Timmins, Ontario. The company was formerly known as CKM Resources Inc. and changed its name to Tahoe Resources Inc. in January 2010. Tahoe Resources Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Reno, Nevada. Read More 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. Westpac Banking Corp. engages in the provision of banking and financial services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Bank, Business Bank, BT Financial Group (Australia), Westpac Institutional Bank, Westpac New Zealand and Group Businesses. The Consumer Bank segment covers consumer banking products and services under the Westpac, St. George, BankSA, Bank of Melbourne and RAMS brands. The Business Bank segment involves in sales and customer service of small-to-medium enterprise, commercial and agribusiness customers under the Westpac, St.George, Bank of Melbourne and BankSA brands. The BT Financial Group (Australia) segment manages wealth and insurance division. The Westpac Institutional Bank segment delivers a range of financial services to commercial, corporate, institutional, and government customers. The Westpac New Zealand segment comprises sales and service of banking, wealth, and insurance products for consumer, business, and institutional customers. The Group Businesses segment treasury which is responsible for the management of the Group's balance sheet, group technology which includes functions for the Australian businesses, and core support which covers Read More KAZ Minerals PLC, together with its subsidiaries, engages in mining and processing copper and other metals primarily in Kazakhstan, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan. It operates through Bozshakol, Aktogay, East Region and Bozymchak, and Mining Projects segments. The company operates the Aktogay and Bozshakol open pit copper mines in the east region and Pavlodar region of Kazakhstan; three underground mines in the east region of Kazakhstan; and the Bozymchak copper-gold mine in Kyrgyzstan. It also develops greenfield metal deposits; operates Koksay deposit in Kazakhstan, and the Baimskaya licence area in the Chukotka region of Russia; and produces and sells various by-products, such as gold, silver, molybdenum, and zinc. In addition, the company supplies and distributes heat, water, and electricity; and offers construction, project management, financing, management, sales and logistics, and repairs and maintenance services. The company was formerly known as Kazakhmys PLC and changed its name to KAZ Minerals PLC in October 2014. KAZ Minerals PLC was founded in 1930 and is based in London, the United Kingdom. Read More Lloyds Banking Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of banking and financial services in the United Kingdom and internationally. It operates through three segments: Retail; Commercial Banking; and Insurance and Wealth. The Retail segment offers a range of financial service products, including current accounts, savings accounts, mortgages, motor finance, unsecured loans, leasing solutions, credit cards, and other financial services to personal and small business customers. The Commercial Banking segment provides lending, transactional banking, working capital management, risk management, and debt capital market services to small and medium-sized entities, corporates, and financial institutions. The Insurance and Wealth segment offers life, home, and car insurance products; and pension, investment, and wealth management products and services. It also provides digital and mobile banking, and telephone services, as well as advisory services for savings, investments, and planning for retirement. The company offers its products and services under the Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, Scottish Widows, MBNA, Schroders Personal Wealth, Black Horse, Lex Autolease, Birmingham Midshires, LDC, IWeb, and Agricultural Mortgage Corporation brands. Lloyds Banking Group plc was founded in 1695 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More PetroChina Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in a range of petroleum related products, services, and activities in Mainland China and internationally. It operates through Exploration and Production, Refining and Chemicals, Marketing, and Natural Gas and Pipeline segments. The Exploration and Production segment engages in the exploration, development, production, and marketing of crude oil and natural gas. The Refining and Chemicals segment refines crude oil and petroleum products; and produces and markets primary petrochemical products, derivative petrochemical products, and other chemical products. The Marketing segment is involved in marketing of refined products and trading business. The Natural Gas and Pipeline segment engages in the transmission of natural gas, crude oil, and refined products; and sale of natural gas. As of December 31, 2020, the company had a total length of 31,151 km, including 22,555 km of natural gas pipelines, 7,190 km of crude oil pipelines, and 1,406 km of refined product pipelines. The company is also involved in the exploration, development, and production of oil sands and coalbed methane; trading of crude oil and petrochemical products; storage, chemical engineering, storage facilities, service station, and transportation facilities and related businesses; and production and sales of basic and derivative chemical, and other chemical products. The company was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Beijing, the People's Republic of China. PetroChina Company Limited is a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation. Read More Ormat Technologies, Inc. operates as a holding company. The firm engages in the provision of geothermal and recovered energy power business. It operates through the following segments: Electricity, Product and Energy Storage. The Electricity segment focuses in the sale of electricity from the company's power plants pursuant to PPAs. The Product segment involves in the manufacture, including design and development, of turbines and power units for the supply of electrical energy and in the associated construction of power plants utilizing the power units manufactured by the company to supply energy from geothermal fields and other alternative energy sources. The Energy Storage segment consists of battery energy storage systems as a service and management of curtailable customer loads under contracts with U.S. retail energy providers and directly with large commercial and industrial customers. The company was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Reno, NV. Read More American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at contact@marketbeat.com | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. Our Accessibility Statement | Terms of Service | Do Not Sell My Information 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research. Wall Street analysts have given iShares MSCI Finland ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares MSCI Finland ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Royal KPN NV operates as a supplier of telecommunications and information technology services. It serves customers at home and abroad with fixed and mobile networks for telephony, data and television. The company focuses on both private customers and business users, from small to large. It also offers telecom providers access to widely branched networks. The company's brands include KPN, XS4ALL, Simyo, KPN Security, Ortel Mobile, Cam IT Solutions, Solcon, KPN Interned services and StartReady. Royal KPN was founded in 1852 and is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Read More Wall Street analysts have given Enel Generacion Chile a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Enel Generacion Chile wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. URBANA, Ill. Would you know what to do if your horse accidentally encountered a sharp edge and ended up with a cut? Dr. Annette McCoy, an equine surgeon at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, offers information that will help you be prepared so you can stay calm and act quickly when dealing with wounds in horses. Safety first Before you approach the horse, evaluate your surroundings, especially if the horse is in obvious distress. Is the area safe for you to be in? said McCoy. A downed power line, for example, is extremely dangerous. In such situations, contact the appropriate emergency authorities immediately instead of intervening yourself. After you have determined that the area is safe, try to get some type of restraint on the horse if he or she is loose. This is most easily done with a halter and lead rope, said McCoy. She advises having a two-person first aid team whenever possible: one person to monitor the horse and another to tend to the wound. Assess the injury Adequate lighting is helpful, so keeping a flashlight in the barn is a good idea. Check the area for signs of blood, especially if you didnt witness the accident. The wound may have stopped bleeding, but if you spot blood on bedding or elsewhere you can determine whether significant blood loss had already taken place. If there isnt evidence of severe blood loss or current active bleeding, do a general exam of the animal. Run hands over the legs and take note of things like labored breathing or an especially rapid heart rate, said McCoy. Anything more than a minor abrasion merits a call to your veterinarian for further assistance. Equine first aid kit If your horse is actively bleeding, you may need to apply first aid while someone contacts the veterinarian. Wounds near the joints and legs, neck or head wounds, and penetrating wounds should always be evaluated by a veterinarian. First aid steps for horses are fairly similar to those for a person. Put a compress on the wound and put a bandage around it. Applying pressure helps reduce blood loss, said McCoy. McCoy recommends preparing a simple first aid kit for your barn. The kit should include something clean and absorbent (diapers or sanitary napkins work well) along with supplies to aid in compression of a wound, such as ace bandages or vet wrap. Its also a good idea to be prepared with a simple splint if you need to immobilize a joint. McCoy recommends a PVC pipe cut long ways. These are cheap and easy to cut down to the appropriate size in a pinch, she said. Most horse owners have quilts and polo wraps that can be used for temporary bandages. If you have a freezer in your barn, McCoy recommends keeping a bag of frozen peas or something similar to use as a cold compress. Gentle cleansers Last, if the wound is a simple scrape that you can handle on your own, a mild dish soap or betadine can be diluted in warm water to clean the wound. McCoy cautions against using hydrogen peroxide for this purpose. If you would like to use an ointment, SSD [silver sulfadiazine] cream or triple antibiotic are good choices. Be careful with wound sprays because some delay healing. If you are ever unsure of what to use, a quick call to your veterinarian can help you decide. Veterinary first aid Veterinary attention may be warranted to evaluate the wound and the overall health of your horse and to perform additional procedures to stop bleeding and promote healing. For example, your veterinarian will clip and clean the wound to better examine it and may ligate specific blood vessels or stitch the wound together to address bleeding. Your veterinarian will give you specific instructions for bandage maintenance. If the horse is badly injured or the injury requires ongoing care beyond the scope of one person, your veterinarian may advise going to an equine hospital. Acting on such advice promptly leads to the best prognosis and healing for your horse. Proud flesh, proven remedies A concern unique to horse wounds is a condition known as proud flesh. Proud flesh is essentially an excessive growth of granulation tissue, the tissue formed to heal wounds. The problem occurs most often on legs and resembles puffy red cauliflower at the edges of a wound. If this is occurring on your animal, the veterinarian should be immediately notified. Proud flesh will not heal on its own. Whether your horse experiences proud flesh or has a normally healing wound, McCoy advises using only products your horses veterinarian has authorized. Be careful with internet-marketed supplements and healing aids, she said. Many of these do not have a scientific basis and may do nothing or, in some cases, may even harm your horse. If you have any questions about lacerations and wound emergencies, contact your local veterinarian. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. Many Actors Were Approached To Play The Role Of Vicky Bhandari "Bihariji (JK Bihari who was the writer-director) told me that he had approached numerous actors, big and small for the role but all of them refused it, as they did not like something or the other about the part," Salman had recently revealed. Too Hilarious! "He was completely frustrated and one fine day, while he was at his garage turned office, he told his team that the next idiot to walk in would be signed for the film. And that idiot was me." 'I Thought I Was Signed Because Of My Style' "On the other hand, I had gotten ready for the audition so nicely. I knew he used to sit at the garage beside the building; so I entered in full speed and style. I thought I was signed because of that, not knowing what Bihariji had in his mind." Why Salman Took Up Biwi Ho Toh Aisi! But do you folks know that it was Salman's disappointment over Maine Pyar Kiya led him to sign up for Biwi Ho To Aisi? While Salman was keen to do Maine Pyaar Kiya, Sooraj Barjatya had shortlisted Deepak Tijori and Kunal Goswami for Prem's role. This was one of the reasons why Salman took up Biwi Ho Toh Aisi because he was looking out for work. Salman Said A Yes Out Of Desperation "Almost every young actor had refused it. So when I walked in they asked me, 'It's a small role. Will you do it?' Out of desperation, I said, 'yes'. They did all the signing formalities and gave me a VHS of a regional film and told me to watch it for my part in it. When I saw the film, I realised that the film is good but I am barely there. I had no choice but do this film as I had no work at all". When Salim Khan Opened Up About Salman's Struggling Phase n a Filmfare 1990 interview, his father Salim Khan opened up about Salman's struggling phase post the release of Biwi Ho Toh Aisi, "Salman constantly met producers, but the small role he played in Biwi Ho Toh Aisi and the fact that his voice was dubbed went against him. Perhaps, he should have waited for a better break, maybe he did that role just for experience. Filmmakers were reluctant to cast him because he wasn't a ranked newcomer, full credit should go to Sooraj for giving Salman such a good role. If I had been in Sooraj's place, I might have been hesistant." How Salman Was Destined To Do Maine Pyaar Kiya In one of his recent interviews, Salman said, "A few months later, when Sooraj came to sign me for Maine Pyaar Kiya, I was doing Biwi Ho Toh Aisi. I sat down with Sooraj and explained that I was a part of this film and that it was almost complete. Sooraj told me, 'You were damn good in the test thus we changed our decision and want to cast you for Maine Pyar Kiya'." 'My Brother Arbaaz Laughed At My Acting' "Once Biwi Ho Toh Aisi was complete I saw the rushes. My brother Arbaaz saw the rushes and laughed at my acting. That night I called up Sooraj and told him to look for another hero as I felt that I was not up to the mark. On Sooraj's insistence, I asked the makers to show him Biwi Ho Toh Aisi so he could take me off the Maine Pyaar Kiya cast and sign someone else". Sooraj Convinced Salman To Take Up Maine Pyaar Kiya Sooraj saw the film and left without uttering a word. I told him that my biggest fear is many people might see Biwi Ho Toh Aisi and after seeing me in it, they won't enter the theatre if they saw me on the poster of Maine Pyaar Kiya. Sooraj consoled me and said 'You are Prem of Maine Pyar Kiya. What I saw on screen right now is not you.' He convinced me to let this film happen. He said that it wouldn't affect me even if it won't do well". Indian Idol 10 has witnessed some of the major stars of Bollywood. Recently, the stage was graced by the veteran actor Dharmendra, who was present with his sons Bobby Deol and Sunny Deol to promote their forthcoming movie Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se. The trio had a beautiful time as they watched the contestants put up brilliant performances. The whole experience got the veteran actor Dharmendra emotional as the contestants paid him tribute by performing his legendary songs. They sang some of the most beautiful melodies from the past. Some of Dharmendra songs the contestants performed included, Rim Jhim Ke Geet, Yeh Dost Hum Nahi Chodenge and Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas. The actor got emotional as the songs took him back in time. He expressed him gratitude by getting teary eyed. The concluding song was performed from his previous movie Yamla Pagla Deewana. Dharmendra joined the contestants on the stage to dance to their tunes. Joining the father on the stage, even Suuny Deol and Bobby Deol were seen dancing with the contestants. Sharing the beautiful experience, Indian Idol judge Anu Malik said, "Dharmendra has been an inspiration and a role model to many. He is one of the biggest names in Bollywood and I have huge respect for him. His amicable style and magnificent skills are one of a kind. It was an honour to have him on the show and seeing him shake a leg with the contestants even at this age. The episode is a completed entertainer and we had a wonderful time." The episode also includes humorous factor as Dharmendra revealed that he didn't spare his son Sunny Deol when he did something wrong. During a rapid-fire round, Indian Idol 10 host Maniesh Paul asked the iconic actor which one of his sons he loves more. Dharmendra responded saying, "Both are my two eyes and I love them very much. Once I got a toy gun for Sunny and he broke all the mirrors in the house. That was when I had lost my temper and given him left and right. Later I felt very bad about it". Also Read - Is Kishwer Merchant Pregnant? Bigg Boss 12: Puneesh Sharma & Bandagi's BEFITTING reply to haters who call them FAKE | FilmiBeat Bandgi Kalra and Puneesh Sharma have been in the news since Bigg Boss 11 days. The couple's intimacy created headlines. Many felt that they were faking their love in front of the cameras. But even after their Bigg Boss stint, the couple is still going strong. Recently, they were seen in a video song Love Me, sung by Meet Brothers and Khushboo Grewal. The song received mixed responses. While many trolled the couple and called them a 'bathroom couple', Pungi's fans loved their sizzling chemistry in the song. Recently, the couple were seen promoting the song in Jaipur. Regarding their Jaipur trip, Puneesh told BT, "I have been coming to Jaipur. This city is among the closest and most popular weekend getaways from Delhi. So I often come here to meet my friends who live in the city. I am a big fan of MI Road ki lassi and laal maas." This is Bandgi's first trip to Jaipur. She says, "This was my first trip to Jaipur, but I have heard a lot about this city from my mother. One of her uncles stayed in Jaipur and every time she would visit the city, she would buy Jaipuri juttis. Mere ghar par Jaipur ka zikr hota rehta hai. This was a short trip, so couldn't explore the city much. But I would definitely plan a trip to Jaipur soon." Regarding work, Bandgi told the leading daily, "Aisa nahi hai ki humein saath hi kaam karna hai. All the offers that are coming our way are for both of us. Producers want to cast us together. It's also a fitting reply to people who used to call us fake on Bigg Boss 11." She added, "We have been going strong even after the reality show ended - ab toh Bigg Boss ka naya season aane wala hai! Having said that, if we are being offered good projects, individually, then we will be more than happy to do it. But I think right now, people want to see us together, both on and off screen." The couple is active on social media and keep their fans updated. After watching them together in the video song, we are sure that Pungi's fans are waiting to watch them on screen. Latest TRP Ratings: Kundali Bhagya Witnesses A Drop; Krishna Chali London & Ishqbaaz On Top 10 Slot! By David Lawder and Sharay Angulo WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has softened its contentious demand for a NAFTA 'sunset clause,' Mexico's incoming trade negotiator said on Saturday, potentially eliminating a key obstacle to reaching a deal next week to revamp the trade pact. By David Lawder and Sharay Angulo WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has softened its contentious demand for a NAFTA "sunset clause," Mexico's incoming trade negotiator said on Saturday, potentially eliminating a key obstacle to reaching a deal next week to revamp the trade pact. A few hours earlier, President Donald Trump tweeted that the United States could reach a "big Trade Agreement" with Mexico imminently. Jesus Seade, designated chief negotiator of Mexico's next government, said the new U.S. position would allow a periodic review of the North American Free Trade Agreement, but without an automatic expiration unless renegotiated every five years. "It's going to come out. It's no longer what the United States was putting first in any way," Seade told reporters outside the U.S. Trade Representative's office. The United States and Mexico have been holding bilateral talks aimed at resolving differences in the NAFTA renegotiation. Canada is also part of the agreement. Trump tweeted on Saturday morning that the United States' "relationship with Mexico is getting closer by the hour. Some really good people within both the new and old government, and all working closely together....A big Trade Agreement with Mexico could be happening soon!" Asked about Trump's tweet, Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo acknowledged some progress, but told reporters in Washington before beginning another day of talks that the two countries are "not there yet." "Nothing is done until everything is truly done," he said. "Today will be an important day." Trump prompted the NAFTA revamp more than a year ago, complaining the pact has benefited Mexico to the detriment of U.S. workers and manufacturing. He made renegotiating NAFTA one of his top campaign pledges. Trump has threatened to withdraw from the pact if it is not reworked to the advantage of the United States. The U.S.-Mexico talks for weeks focused on crafting new rules for the automotive industry, which Trump has put at the center of his drive to rework the 24-year-old deal he says has been a "disaster" for American workers. Seade said the issue of auto sector rules is "basically resolved," although some aspects, including time frames, are still being discussed. Seade also said on Saturday that a "correct focus" on NAFTA's energy chapter has already been substantially agreed. Since Mexico's July 1 presidential election, the Mexico-U.S. talks have been complicated by divisions between the incoming and outgoing Mexican administrations over energy policy. The team of leftist Mexican president-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has resisted enshrining the 2013-14 opening of the oil and gas sector enacted by outgoing president Enrique Pena Nieto in the new NAFTA, people close to the talks say. Lopez Obrador opposed Pena Nieto's energy reform, and the issue is divisive within his own camp. Business-friendly aides back greater outside investment in the industry, while his more nationalist allies want the oil to remain in Mexican hands. (Reporting by Yeganeh Torbati, David Lawder and Sharay Angulo in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler and Matthew Lewis) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Anil Ambani's Reliance Group companies have filed a Rs 5,000 crore defamation suit against Congress-owned National Herald Ahmedabad: Anil Ambani's Reliance Group companies have filed a Rs 5,000 crore defamation suit against Congress-owned National Herald, claiming an article published in the newspaper regarding the Rafale fighter deal was "libellous and derogatory". The civil defamation suit was filed by Reliance Defence, Reliance Infrastructure and Reliance Aerostructure, which belong to Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group, against the Associated Journals Limited, the publisher of the National Herald, its editor in-charge Zafar Agha, and author of the article, Vishwadeepak. The suit was filed on Friday in the court of city civil and sessions judge PJ Tamakuwala, who issued notices to the respondents and sought replies by 7 September. In the suit, the companies alleged the article was libellous and defamatory, and "misleads the general public to believe that undue business favours are being extended to them by the government of the day". The article conveys a "negative image" and "adversely affects the public perception" of Reliance Group and its chairman Ambani, the petition said. It has caused "considerable damage" to reputation and goodwill of plaintiff firms, it said, seeking damages of Rs 5,000 crore. The plaintiffs "vehemently" deny the content of the article, the petition said. Earlier, Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group had sent legal notices to several Congress leaders, asking them to "cease and desist" from levelling such allegations against the company in connection with the Rafale deal. Two courts in Bihar's Begusarai has rejected the anticipatory bail of Manju Verma and her spouse Chandrashekhar in an Arms Act case against them Begusarai (Bihar): Two separate courts of Begusarai on Saturday rejected the anticipatory bail application of former Bihar Welfare Department minister Manju Verma and her spouse Chandrashekhar Verma in an Arms Act case against them. The Vermas were put behind the bars after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recovered as many as 50 live cartridges from their house on 17 August, during a raid in connection with the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case. Advocates appearing for Manju and Chandrashekhar argued for the anticipatory bail, citing the fact that the duo was living in Patna and rarely visited their house in Begusarai, where the probe authorities found the cartridges. Manju Verma stepped down as minister after her husband, Chandrakant Verma, came under the police radar for having alleged links with Brajesh Thakur, the mastermind of the Muzaffarpur shelter home case. Chandrakant allegedly used to visit the shelter home quite frequently, spending hours in the girls' rooms. However, the couple had denied the allegations. The local authorities came to know about the scandal after an FIR was lodged by the social welfare department following the audit report issued by Mumbai's leading research institute -Tata Institute of Social Sciences which mentioned that the girls are falling prey to sexual abuse at Muzaffarpur shelter home. The police had rescued 44 girls living in the vicinity and had arrested 11 employees working at the shelter home on 24 July. The medical reports of twenty-nine girls indicated that sexual contact was established with them. Day after Amartya Sen called for an alignment of non-BJP, non-communal forces for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, BJP unit in West Bengal on him Kolkata: The BJP Sunday came down heavily on Amartya Sen, likening him to people who have always misled the society, a day after the Nobel laureate called for an alignment of non-BJP, non-communal forces for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. "Intellectuals like Sen, who had always professed Left ideology, are losing touch with reality. Sen had said CPM is getting invisible. Nothing can be truer than this, nothing can be truer than the fact that people like Sen, a Marxist, have little relevance in the present times," West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh told reporters on the sidelines of a party programme in Kolkata. On Sen's call for defeating BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP leader said people like him have always taken the society on the wrong path. "He had always given wrong direction to the society, it is no surprise he is again doing the same thing," Ghosh said. Sharply reacting to Ghosh's diatribe against Sen, Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee said, "One has to be a reader of books to acquire the right to speak on Amartya Sen." Chatterjee said, "Those people, who wield lathis at processions, should refrain from making comments on a person of Sen's stature as they can't appreciate the words spoken by an erudite person like him." Criticising the BJP government at the Centre, Sen had said Saturday that a party having got 31 percent votes and ill motives in politics came to power in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Expenses incurred on the security cover of BJP president Amit Shah cannot be disclosed, the Central Information Commission. New Delhi: Expenses incurred on the security cover of BJP president Amit Shah cannot be disclosed, the Central Information Commission (CIC) has held citing RTI Act exemption clauses of "personal information" and "safety". The commission has denied the appeal of a petitioner who had also sought to know the rules governing extension of security cover to a private individual and the authorities, which foot the bill of such cover to a private individual. The application was filed by Deepak Juneja on 5 July, 2014, when Shah was not a member of the Rajya Sabha. He had also sought to know the list of people who have been given security by the government. The information was denied by the home ministry citing Section 8(1)(g) that exempts from disclosure information that would endanger the life or physical safety of any person. The ministry had also cited Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, which exempts information that is personal, would cause unwarranted invasion of privacy and is not linked to any "public activity". In its previous order in the matter, the CIC had upheld denial of information as it was not disclosed before Parliament. Juneja challenged the CIC order in the Delhi High Court where Justice Vibhu Bakhru set aside the transparency panel's order stating that the commission was first required to examine whether information sought by the petitioner was exempted under clauses (g) and (j) of Section 8(1) of the RTI Act. It lobbed the matter before the CIC again to consider private contentions in the light of the exemption clauses of Section 8(1) of the act. The commission again heard Juneja and the home ministry in the matter. Juneja submitted that the grant of security cover to eminent persons under threat is the duty of the state in cases where the beneficiary holds a high office as they cannot perform their vital functions while reeling under threat, Information Commissioner Yashovardhan Azad noted in the order. However, the appellant submits that defraying cost of elite Z+ security cover to private persons must not be from the state exchequer, Azad pointed out. "Amit Shah, who happens to be the national president of the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) has been granted Z+ security cover by the Ministry of Home Affairs since July 2014 despite him not being holding any constitutional or statutory office," Juneja said, adding that since it was public money he has the right to know. The ministry said the respondent's contention is that revelation of expenses incurred in providing security cover would reveal the intricacies, and magnitude and rigour of security cover. It said rules governing the entitlement of grant of security cover and process of threat assessment among others are framed in consultation with central security agencies, which are exempted from the purview of the RTI Act, and disclosure would nullify the exemptions. "Judicial notice can be taken of the fact that the protectees are already facing the highest level of threat and that is why they have been accorded with the highest level of security cover," held Azad. He said revelation of names of protectees if not adding on to the danger to their life or physical safety would be counterproductive to the efficacy of security cover. The names of private Z+ protectees are personal since they do not owe the security cover to their public office but private position in life, the information commissioner said. "The public eminence of the private person, threat perception and the potential harm... are key determinative factors while granting security cover," he said. He said the identity, specific threat perception analysis among other factors are personal information of a protectee who does not hold a public office. "The right to know, in such a case, must make way for the right to privacy of the individual and the efficiency of governance since the same furthers the concept of 'practical regime' of the RTI as conceptualised in the preamble of the RTI Act," Azad said. He also cited last year's Supreme Court order on Right to Privacy to buttress his argument. On 9 December, 2015, the list of protectees in political and judicial field was disclosed in a Rajya Sabha question by the home ministry, hence making a further case for not disclosing it, Azad said. The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council the ministry's highest decision-making body on procurement. New Delhi: In a major decision, the defence ministry on Saturday approved procurement of 111 utility helicopters for the navy at a cost of over Rs 21,000 crore, officials said. They said the ministry cleared procurement proposals worth nearly Rs 46,000 crore which included the acquisition of the helicopters. The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the ministry's highest decision-making body on procurement. "The DAC approved procurement of 111 utility helicopters for the Indian Navy at a cost of over Rs 21,000 crores," said a senior official. The official said the DAC also granted approval to a few other procurement proposals amounting to approximately Rs 24,879 crore which included approval for acquisition of 150 indigenously designed and developed 155 millimeter advanced towed artillery gun systems for the army at an approximate cost of Rs 3,364 crores. A year after the deaths of infants were reported from BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur, Yogi Adityanath has said the incident may have been blown out of proportion due to the institute's 'internal politics' Lucknow: Almost a year after the deaths of scores of infants were reported from the Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Medical College in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said the incident may have been blown out of proportion due to the institute's "internal politics". Meanwhile, latching on to Adityanath's statement, Opposition Congress on Sunday termed it as a move by the Uttar Pradesh chief minister to hide his shortcomings. At the launch of a campaign related to the state nutrition mission programme in Lucknow on Saturday, Adityanath said that initially when he heard of the deaths, he was reminded of an incident where a reporter wrote an incorrect news item being not allowed to enter a ward by hospital workers. "Last year when I heard of the news, I thought a similar thing had happened. But when I saw that all news channels and media had made it an issue, I sent DG (Health) to Gorakhpur and a sought a report. I also sent my health minister and the minister for medical education and told them to submit a report," Adityanath said. Adityanath, who has represented Gorakhpur in Lok Sabha five times, said this was not enough and he decided to visit the hospital the very next day. "I asked people there what actually the matter was, and was told there was nothing as such...And if the deaths were due to the lack of oxygen, then children put on the ventilators would have been the first ones to die. I said there must definitely be something. From where were the figures coming? Then it emerged that it was internal politics," the UP chief minister told the gathering. Adityanath said that after the incident, doctors at the medical college were not keen on seeing patients worrying that it may become an issue. "We had to counsel them that you do your job and not worry about anything else," he said adding "If your conscience is clean, then you should not bother, we told the doctors." Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP PL Punia while speaking to PTI Sunday claimed the comments were only an attempt by the chief minister to hide his failures. "The chief minister, in order to hide his failures, is trying to find new excuses. His statement that the deaths in the medical college did not take place due to shortage of oxygen is laughable especially when his government got arrested the owner of the firm which supplied oxygen to the medical college," Punia said. Nearly 60 children, mostly infants, died at the hospital within a week in August 2017. There were allegations that the deaths occurred due to disruption in oxygen supply over unpaid bills to the vendor. The state government denied that shortage of oxygen led to the deaths. In its report submitted on 23 August, 2017, a committee under the then Uttar Pradesh chief secretary Rajive Kumar probing the hospital tragedy had recommended initiating criminal action against the then principal of the BRD Medical College Dr Rajiv Mishra, HoD Anaesthesia Paediatric department Dr Satish Kumar and in-charge of 100-bed AES ward Dr Kafeel Khan and a firm Pushpa Sales. Adityanath had constituted the committee under the chief secretary on 12 August, a day after deaths of children in the state-run hospital were reported. On 24 August, 2017, an FIR was registered against nine persons, including Dr Mishra, in connection with the deaths of over 60 children there due to alleged lack of oxygen supply. The proprietors of M/s Pushpa Sales, the company responsible for the supply of liquid oxygen, were also named in the FIR. The FIR was filed under various sections of IPC relating to criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide and relevant provisions of the Anti Corruption Act. A Himachal Pradesh Police head constable was suspended for allegedly misbehaving with a woman official of the Geological Survey of India in Una district of the state. Shimla: A Himachal Pradesh Police head constable was suspended for allegedly misbehaving with a woman official of the Geological Survey of India in Una district of the state. Surjeet Singh, in-charge Mehatpur entry point, was suspended after the official called up Superintendent of Police (SP), Una, Diwakar Sharma, at around 1.30 am alleging misconduct by the head constable. Without wasting time to wake up my driver, I myself drove the vehicle and reached the spot in 15 minutes, which was 15 kilometres away, Sharma said. Singh was found in an inebriated state and his suspension orders were issued on the spot, the SP said. A departmental inquiry has been ordered against him and he was sent to police lines in Jhalera, Sharma added. He said a show cause notice notice has also been issued to SHO Sadar and in-charge Mehatpur police post for "lacking in command and control". The Mehatpur barrier is one of the main entry points to Himachal Pradesh from Punjab and Chandigarh. The official was travelling from Chandigarh to Nagrota Surian with her family, the SP said. Sharma was recently in news for issuing a unique diktat barring cops, manning checkpoints, to keep more than Rs 200 with them. The decision was taken after complaints were received that policemen at checkpoints demanded bribes from pilgrims entering the hill state, he had said. Four newly recruited militants surrendered before security forces in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday after the forces launched an operation to stop them from exfiltrating across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district. Srinagar: Four newly recruited militants surrendered before security forces on Sunday after the forces launched an operation to stop them from exfiltrating across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. "On receipt of credible information about four newly recruited terrorists being guided by three terrorists of Al-Badr for a planned exfiltration, the army in a joint operation with police, laid an ambush and trapped the terrorists in upper reaches of Kalaroos in Handwara," Srinagar-based defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said in Srinagar. He said that after a brief gunfight, "extreme restraint was exercised and opportunity given to the terrorists to surrender". "While the four newly recruited terrorists surrendered. The three Al-Badr terrorists deserted the new recruits and fled under the cover of fire," Colonel Kalia said, adding war-like stores were recovered from their possession. The search is on to trace the other militants, the spokesman said. The BJP-led government has been criticised for turning down UAE's Rs 700-crore offer for Kerala flood relief, but the whole picture has not been effectively communicated. Editor's note: Described as one of the worst since 1924 by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the rains in Kerala have left over 350 dead and rendered thousands of people homeless. According to the latest tally, 80,000 have been rescued so far. Over 1,500 relief camps have been set up across the state that currently house at least 2,23,139 people. In a multi-part series, Firstpost will attempt to analyse the short-term and long-term impact of these unprecedented floods on the lives of the people, economy of the state, and the environment. *** The floods in Kerala may turn out to be as calamitous for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as they have been for the state. The BJP has blundered so badly in the way it has handled the controversy over aid the United Arab Emirates (UAE) supposedly offered as flood relief for Kerala. This may cost the party its chances of being able to increase its political footprint in the state anytime soon. But even the ruling Left and Congress are unlikely to come out of the disaster as shining examples of administrative competence or political conduct, but that should be no consolation for BJP, which has been desperately trying to make inroads into the southern state. The BJP can only blame itself for this sorry state. The BJP did little to fight the social media onslaught not only from supporters of the Left Democratic Front and Congress but even unattached Malayalis, who rubbished the Narendra Modi government for allegedly not doing enough for Kerala. All you could hear from the saffron brigade's famed propaganda machine was some whimpering noises against the collective thunder of critics. For days it had appeared as though the BJP had allowed the allegations of the Centre's apathy towards Kerala to be aired freely without rebuttal. Such charges tend to stick in people's minds, made psychologically vulnerable by a disaster as catastrophic as these floods. Add to the mega tragedy the incalculable damage done by repulsive elements, who campaigned against helping "beef-eaters" and accepting aid from Muslim countries, and there could be nothing worse for the BJP. The defence that finally came from the party was a case of too little, too late and had few takers. Take a look at the timeline of the ruckus over the UAE aid and the BJP's initial silence: 18 August: The first announcement of help came from the UAE through tweets by the country's prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. UAE and the Indian community will unite to offer relief to those affected. We have formed a committee to start immediately. We urge everyone to contribute generously towards this initiative. pic.twitter.com/7a4bHadWqa HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) August 17, 2018 The state of Kerala in India is currently witnessing huge floods, the most devastating in a century. Hundreds have been killed, hundreds of thousands have been displaced. Ahead of Eid Al Adha, do not forget to extend a helping hand to our brothers in India. pic.twitter.com/cHe4CWzrpO HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) August 17, 2018 19 August: Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanks Maktoum for his "gracious offer". A big thanks to @hhshkmohd for his gracious offer to support people of Kerala during this difficult time. His concern reflects the special ties between governments and people of India and UAE. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 18, 2018 There was no mention of the Rs 700 crore in these tweets, though that does not necessarily mean that the UAE had not offered help worth this amount. 21 August: The amount of Rs 700 crore suddenly cropped up in Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan's tweets. He claimed that Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, had made the offer to Modi, and that this was also "informed to" Malayali businessman Yusuff Ali. CM Pinarayi Vijayan informed that the United Arab Emirates will provide Kerala an assistance of 700 Crore. Kerala has a special relationship with UAE, which is a home away from home for Malayalees. We express our gratitude to UAE for their support. #KeralaFloodRelief pic.twitter.com/yfwbt9iEkd CMO Kerala (@CMOKerala) August 21, 2018 Hours after Vijayan's tweets, reports attributed to sources appeared on TV channels and newspapers, saying India was "unlikely" to accept foreign aid. The same day, Thailand's ambassador to India also tweeted, saying he had been "informally informed" that the government was not accepting 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. https://t.co/b4iyc3aQez Ambassador Sam (@Chutintorn_Sam) August 21, 2018 22 August: The crown prince called Modi and talked about the "relief and charitable institutions" of the UAE that are helping with flood relief efforts in Kerala. I spoke to the Indian Prime Minister about the devastation caused by the floods in Kerala. My sincere condolences to the families of the victims. We stand with the Indian people. Our relief and charitable institutions are helping with relief efforts. (@MohamedBinZayed) August 21, 2018 The same day, an official statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) ruled out India accepting aid from foreign governments. However, it had said that contributions were welcome from foreign institutions to the prime minister and chief minister's relief funds. It made no reference to the UAE offer. 23 August: UAE Ambassador to India Ahmed Albanna said there had been no official announcement on any specific amount his country would give as aid. The tweets by the two UAE leaders spoke only about aid from institutions, which India accepts, but not from their government, which it does not. Even the Emirati ambassador in Delhi talked about his country being aware of India's policy and mentioned only institutional help. However, both the UAE and Qatar have already begun the process of helping flood victims in Kerala. Doha has been sending supplies through the "Qatar Charity". These raise several questions. Emirates SkyCargo joins the UAE community in their support of the people of Kerala, India by transporting over 175 tons of flood relief cargo. #UAEsupportsKerala https://t.co/1w74tYCFNr pic.twitter.com/NgMsdrskRj Emirates Airline (@emirates) August 23, 2018 Unanswered questions Although India's logic for not accepting foreign aid from governments is highly questionable, why did the MEA statement focus only on this broad policy and the country's own "domestic efforts"? Why did the statement create the impression that India was blocking all aid from the UAE? The ministry's statement did mention, albeit tangentially, that India would accept institutional aid. But why was it not made clear that aid extended in this manner was already on the way? Why did the statement not focus on thanking foreign institutional donors and only then mention India's opposition to government-to-government charity? Was the Rs 700 crore figure that the UAE had supposedly offered a figment of the Kerala chief minister's imagination? Was it something Vijayan had manufactured to spite Modi, or was it the total worth of the institutional aid that the UAE was trying to raise through a committee that Maktoum mentioned in his tweet and send to India that would meet the countrys policy requirements? These questions, which still beg for answers, only amount to a gross failure of the spokespersons of both the BJP and the central government in communicating their side of the story effectively. It was evident all along that the government of neither the UAE nor India had confirmed the supposed offer of Rs 700 crore, and we only had Vijayan's word for it. But the BJP waited till a full-blown controversy exploded before beginning to rebut the figure. The party also failed to make it clear that the aid being given to Kerala was much more than the Rs 600 crore Modi and Home Affairs Minister Rajnath Singh had promised, and that there was more to come, as Sreemoy Talukdar pointed out in this article. The BJP leadership, credited with acute political wisdom and an ability to push the Opposition into all sorts of difficult corners, also failed to foresee the damage social media could do in the hands of hostile and literate people, most of whom had voted either for the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or the Congress. Vijayan faces the music The BJP may be in deep waters of its own over its handling of the Kerala floods, but the ruling Left Democratic Front, too, is not entirely unscathed by allegations of dereliction of duty. As the state slowly limps back to life and recovers from the initial shock and sorrow over the deluge, Left leaders are squirming uncomfortably under the spotlight on their government's failures. There is near-unanimity in the argument that the Kerala government could have minimised the damage by releasing water from the dams earlier than it did in a slow and gradual fashion. Leading the attack on the state government is none other than the Congress. The party appears to have had enough of the camaraderie it showed towards the Left in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, finally remembering that the CPM is its chief enemy in Kerala. But the designs of the Congress to catch political fish in the troubled floodwaters are not lost on those who are heaping ridicule on party chief Rahul Gandhi's European tour while the state grapples with distress. The author tweets @sprasadindia As Kerala struggles to stand on her feet, water-logging of homes in various places, especially in Kuttanad region of the worst hit Alapuzha district continues to be a worrying factor. Thiruvananthapuram: As relief and rehabilitation work initiation in flood ravaged Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday urged all Malayalis to donate one month salary to rebuild the state,where the death toll has now touched 302 and over four lakh are still in relief camps. In many districts, people have started moving from camps to their homes after cleaning work has been completed. The receding flood waters had left mounds of mud and debris in their homes and surroundings. The toll on Sunday climbed to 302 with more bodies being recovered, according to a government press release. Vijayan also reviewed ongoing relief operations. There are still 4.62 lakh people in 1,435 relief camps. At least three lakh houses have been cleaned so far. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed the humanitarian assistance rendered to victims of Kerala floods by people from all walks of life, saying irrespective of age group or area of work, people are contributing for the cause. He also put on record his appreciation for the role rendered by the army, air force, navy, NDRF, BSF, CISF and the RAF in relief and rescue operations. "Yesterday was the festival of Onam. We pray for Onam to provide strength to the country, especially Kerala, so that it returns to normalcy on a newer journey of development. Once again on behalf of all Indians, I would like to reassure each and everyone in Kerala and other affected places that at this moment of calamity, the entire country stands by them," Modi said in his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio address. He said the loss of lives cannot be compensated, but he assured the grief-stricken families that in this moment of suffering, every Indian stands by them shoulder to shoulder. As Kerala struggles to stand on her feet, water-logging of homes in various places, especially in Kuttanad region of the worst hit Alapuzha district continues to be a worrying factor. Huge pumps will be used to flush out water from homes and premises, after which the cleaning process will be taken up by removing the accumulated silt, authorities said. Vijayan, who had accompanied Modi and union home minister Rajnath Singh during the aerial surveys, said they were touched by the intensity of the devastation and he hoped that the Centre would provide more funds. The union government has already released Rs 600 crore as immediate assistance against the state's demand for Rs 2,000 crore. Opposition leader in the assembly, Ramesh Chennithala said more central funds were needed for Kerala and there was nothing wrong in accepting foreign aid to help rebuild the state. With the floods having left a trail of massive destruction and rehabilitation and reconstruction requiring huge financial resources, Vijayan wanted Keralites, both in the country and outside, to exhibit their generous self and contribute one day's salary to the state. "We need to find our strength. It will be difficult to contribute one month's salary at a stretch. But Keralites, including from outside, can at first contribute three days salary a month and over a period of 10 months, donate the remaining sum', Vijayan told Malayalam TV channels on Sunday. In the coming days, relief camps in schools and colleges will be wound up and people, whose homes were fully waterlogged even now, would be shifted to marriage halls and convention centres, finance minister Thomas Isaac told reporters in Alapuzha. Meanwhile, the defence personnel would continue to support the state authorities in flood hit areas in relief and rehabilitation initiatives, a spokesperson said. As on date a total of 10 columns and 12 engineer Task Force of the army are carrying out continuous rescue and relief operations in the area. The troops are involved in road opening, clearing of land slides, construction of temporary bridges and utilising the natural resources available in the area. So far approximately 26 temporary bridges have been constructed, repaired and approximately 50 roads have been cleared for the general public, a defence press release said. At least 3.64 lakh carcasses of birds and over 17,000 of big animals have been retrieved and buried so far. The Tamil Nadu government sent 256 transformers and 40,000 power meters to flood-hit Kerala. Coimbatore/Erode: Tamil Nadu government on Saturday sent 256 transformers and 40,000 power meters apart from one lakh litres of 'Amma' brand of bottled drinking water to flood-hit Kerala. Electricity minister P Thangamani told reporters in Erode that the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board had sent the transformers and power meters to the neighbouring state, which was reeling under the impact of the floods and landslides unleashed by the monsoon fury. Meanwhile in Coimbatore, municipal administration minister SP Velumani flagged off 11 lorries carrying the water bottles. The Tamil Nadu government continues to help the people of the neighbouring state, he said. A total of 42 types of relief materials, including rice, grains, medicines and essentials worth Rs 4 crore has also been sent, the minister said. Chief Minister K Palaniswami has already announced Rs 10 crore financial assistance for Kerala, he added. Besides, a non-governmental organisation has donated a water purifying machine worth Rs 5 lakh, which is also part of the relief materials sent on Saturday, he said. The CPI has also sent relief materials worth Rs 10 lakh collected by party, its leader M Arumugham said. The materials would be distributed directly to the affected people, he said, adding that a sum of Rs 3 lakh from the party would be handed over to the Thrissur district party headquarters for carrying out relief work. If national pride is indeed the reason behind rejecting foreign aid for Kerala, it should be the person and the community that is affected by the disastrous floods that should determine whether or not their honour is dented in accepting assistance Editor's note: Described as one of the worst since 1924 by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the rains in Kerala have left over 350 dead and rendered thousands of people homeless. According to the latest tally, 80,000 have been rescued so far. Over 1,500 relief camps have been set up across the state that currently house at least 2,23,139 people. In a multi-part series, Firstpost will attempt to analyse the short-term and long-term impact of these unprecedented floods on the lives of the people, economy of the state, and the environment. *** There is controversy over whether or not India should accept foreign aid during a disaster. There is even confusion about what the official policy is and if it is an important enough issue to be examined, so lets have a look at it. The Kerala government says it needs Rs 2,600 crore in aid to counter the effects of the recent flooding that killed hundreds of people and severely damaged the states infrastructure and private property. The Centre says it will give Rs 600 crore. The Kerala government says that the United Arab Emirates (which includes Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah) has offered Rs 700 crore which the government in Delhi said it would not accept. The policy of the earlier Manmohan Singh government on this was cited as the reason for the refusal. Perhaps under pressure from Delhi, the UAE government now says that no specific aid was offered. However, the Thailand ambassador to India has himself written that Delhi is refusing foreign assistance. His exact words are: "Informally informed with regret that the Government of India is not accepting overseas donations for Kerala flood relief. Our hearts are with you, the people of Bharat. Prime minister Narendra Modi on 18 August after speaking to the Dubai's ruler tweeted: "A big thanks to Sheikh Mohammad for his gracious offer to support people of Kerala during this difficult time. His concern reflects the special ties between governments and people of India and UAE." This indicates that an offer was indeed made, and that it was refused. So what does the policy say? The Singh government had intervened in this in 2004. Till that year, India accepted aid from foreign nations. After the tsunami in 2004, it was decided that India would not accept relief and rescue assistance from foreign nations, but it would accept aid for rehabilitation. Relief and rescue has to do with the immediate help that is required. This includes the teams on the ground who are helping those affected and are making first contact with the victims. What could be the reason for saying that no foreign assistance on this would be accepted? It could be several things. For example, it is the local authority that is familiar with the area and outsiders would be coming into a disaster zone with no knowledge of it or the local language. The second reason could be that in these matters, the Indian state is already reasonably strong and linked through a permanent bureaucracy. It also has a large military and paramilitary force that is often deployed for civilian duty (as it was in Kerala). The third reason could be that visually it is problematic to have foreigners rescue Indians and it dents national pride. The same concern, however, does not hold for long term rehabilitation, which is faceless. There could be other reasons as to why Singh and his team decided this, but they are not mentioned in the National Policy on Disaster Management. My view is that if the concern was the first and the second, it seems reasonable. However, if the UPA strongly felt that the third reason, national pride, was the determining factor then it is problematic. Now let us look at the refusal for rehabilitation efforts, which is what is indicated by Indias refusal to accept the UAE's and Thailands offer. The possible reasons one can think of for doing this are as follows: First, that we dont need their money. That we have enough resources in India to take care of our citizens in the long term when they are affected. Second, that we do not want to take money from some specific countries (for example China and Pakistan) and because of this we cannot take it from anyone, to be consistent. Third, again, that taking assistance dents the national honour and it in some way diminishes the way we are seen by the outside world because we are aid-takers and not aid-givers. Again, here there might exist other reasons that we are not aware of, but the government has not told us. To me, the first reason is obviously false. We are a poor country, by any definition. To pretend we are not is to be blind to what is around us. To me, the second and third are again problematic. It should be the person and the community that is affected by disaster that should determine whether or not their honour is dented in accepting assistance. An individual has feelings, a nation doesn't. There is no real thing as national pride. It is imaginary, while the aid and assistance is real. The Kerala government says that the UAE is not any ordinary place and cannot be seen as just a foreign place. It is a country which Indians, particularly Malayalis have helped build with their hands. They have a strong stake in it and any aid from that country cannot be seen as charity alone. It is difficult to disagree with this. Even if Singh had a different policy, there is no reason for us to not see the flaws in it and correct it. To deny the people help in the time of their greatest need is cruelty. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman lost her cool with Karnataka minister Sa Ra Mahesh during her visit to flood-affected regions in Kodagu district on 24 August. Bengaluru: Amid the row over Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's itinerary during her visit to flood-affected Kodagu district in Karnataka, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday praised her for the help she extended for rescue operations. Sitharaman and Karnataka minister Sa Ra Mahesh were locked in an exchange of words over her itinerary during her visit to Kodagu on 24 August in full view of officials and the media at the District Commissioner's office. Sitharaman was interacting with a group of affected people of Kodagu district when Mahesh, the district in-charge minister, told her that officials were waiting for her for a review meeting and they have to go for rehabilitation work. This had irked the defence minister. In a post, Kumaraswamy said, "I am deeply pained at the turn of events with regard to the visit of Hon'ble Defence Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman to the flood-affected areas in Kodagu district." The government, along with the relief agencies of both the state and the central governments besides the volunteers were working day and night for the relief and rehabilitation of the flood-hit citizens with support from the Union government, he said. Lauding Sitharaman, elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka, Kumaraswamy said she had extended all possible support to carry out rescue operations and visited the flood-affected areas in Kodagu to understand the situation and to support the rehabilitation work. Regretting the inconvenience caused to the defence minister, Kumaraswamy said it was "unfortunate" that such an incident occurred despite the government and the district administration following the protocol even during the tough situation in the region during her visit. "I believe this is the time for all of us to forget the small differences and forgive each other and join hands for the rehabilitation of the flood affected people in Kodagu. The grave situation in the district warrants it," he said. "Let us not colour such incidents and be distracted from our key focus. I look forward to the continued support of the central government and in particular of the Hon'ble Defence Minister." In a clarification issued on Saturday, a Defence PRO statement had claimed that Mahesh had made certain "personal" remarks against Sitharaman, which had also lowered the dignity of the Rajya Sabha and showed "utter lack of regard" and knowledge about the Indian polity. It had said the remarks made against Sitharaman were also in "bad taste" and do not merit a response. Hitting back at the defence minister, Karnataka deputy chief minister G Parameshwara said state governments derive their powers from the Constitution, not from the Centre. Nobel laureate Amartya Sen on Saturday said all non-communal, non-BJP forces should come together for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the Left should not hesitate in joining them as 'democracy is in danger'. Kolkata: Nobel laureate Amartya Sen on Saturday said all non-communal, non-BJP forces should come together for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the Left should not hesitate in joining them as "democracy is in danger". "We must express our opposition to autocracy, we must fight against their autocratic trends, we must criticise the issues where we need to oppose the non-communal right wing forces, but we must not take back our hands when it comes to fighting communalism which is the biggest threat," he said. Sharply criticising the BJP government at the Centre, Sen said a party having got "31 percent votes and ill motives in politics" came to power in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. "What happened in 2014 polls? A party having got 55 percent seats but actually having secured 31 percent of the total votes, came to power... A party with ill motives," Sen said during a question answer session 'Bharat Kon Pathe' (Which way is India heading?) at Sisir Manch auditorium in Kolkata. Sen said during his visit to Kolkata this time, he has heard whispers in certain quarters that to stop the autocratic trends in the state, BJP can be the viable medium and not the weak CPM. "This is a strange logic. To stop autocracy, we will be sowing the seed of communalism. This seed can be weeded after a lot of time, effort and battle in future," he said. He said every political question should not be interpreted through leftist and rightist prisms. Sen said democracy was under threat in the country but it can only be rectified by the people. "I think democracy is in danger but we can do rectification. If we say democracy is under threat, we can be beaten up by some people. But still we, the people, can do the rectification. It is not like a sinking boat which we all should abandon," Sen said. Sen referred to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to draw parallels with the situation in the country but did not specifically refer to any particular incident. "Some students had been taken to custody in JNU on charge of sedition in past, a charge which had not been proved in any case. They were beaten up in custody which was against any law. It is not fathomable how they were charged under sedition," the eminent economist said. "We had all seen how an illegal act was committed and there was no fair justice. Till now, there was no proof of sedition charge. This time it was faced by students. but this can be faced by any citizen of this country," he said. On the National Register of Citizens (NRC) issue, he said that the Trinamool Congress had led the protests much before the Left parties. "The TMC went there to protest before the left. Such a thing won't make the left proud. If you take pride for being left make your voice heard on issues." To a question on the efficacy of multi-party system in the country, Sen said, "I found no example which said democracy won't function without multi-party system. In one-party system we had seen example of autocratic rules over the years." Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed the nation on the 47th edition of his monthly radio programme Mann ki Baat and assured the people of flood-hit Kerala that the entire nation stands shoulder-to-shoulder with them. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed the nation on the 47th edition of his monthly radio programme Mann ki Baat and assured the people of flood-hit Kerala that the entire nation stands shoulder-to-shoulder with them. He also hoped for the speedy recovery of those injured in Kerala and expressed confidence that the state will recover soon. The prime minister also lauded the forces for their relief work in the flood-hit state and made a special mention of the NDRF. The prime minister also said that natural calamities present glimpses of humanity while adding that people of all age groups and from all walks of life came out to mitigate the suffering of Kerala. PM @narendramodi appreciates our forces and various teams that are working towards relief work in Kerala. #MannKiBaat pic.twitter.com/ZIRF0LHmQi PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 26, 2018 Modi also wished the nation on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan and said that the country would soon celebrate Janmashtami. He also expressed greetings on Sanskrit Divas and said that the language is deeply connected with the Indian culture. Talking about former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who passed away on 16 August, Modi said that he brought in a very distinctive and positive change in India's political culture. One of the changes he mentioned was that the anti-defection law was made stricter. It was also decided under Vajpayee's tenure that the size of council of ministers will be fixed to 15 percent of the size of state Assemblies. Describing Vajpayee as a "true patriot," he said it was during his tenure that the timing of presenting the budget was changed from 5 pm to 11 am. Earlier, as was the British tradition, the Budget used to be presented at 5 pm because in London, Parliament used to start working at that time. In 2001, the Vajpayee government changed the time of presenting the budget to 11 am. He said the framing of the Flag Code in 2002 was another "freedom" for India as it brought the national flag closer to the masses. The prime minister also mentioned the recently-concluded Monsoon Session of the Parliament and congratulated the parliamentarians for a productive session. "This was a session devoted to social justice and youth welfare," he added. He said that the productivity of the Lok Sabha was 118 percent while that of Rajya Sabha was 74 percent. The Lower House of Parliament passed 21 legislations while the Upper House passed 14. We witnessed a productive monsoon session, for which I congratulate MP colleagues. This was a session devoted to social justice and youth welfare: PM @narendramodi #MannKiBaat pic.twitter.com/zQczwLtkoW PMO India (@PMOIndia) August 26, 2018 The prime minister also said that while the Triple Talaq bill was passed in the Lok Sabha it could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha. Modi, however, assured Muslim women that the entire nation stands with them and will ensure they get justice. He also said that the debate on the issue of 'One Nation One Poll' is gaining momentum. "A discussion in the country is gaining momentum for having simultaneous polls in states and Centre. People are sharing their views for and against. It is a good sign for healthy democracy," the prime minister added. Modi also talked about the 2018 Asian Games and congratulated all players who have won a medal for India. With inputs from PTI On Mann ki Baat, Narendra Modi said that India will not tolerate those committing rape and the law passed by Parliament in this regard will play an effective role in curbing crimes New Delhi: The country will not tolerate those committing rape and the law passed by Parliament in this regard will play an effective role in curbing crimes against women and girls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sunday. He also said though the bill to ban the practice of instant triple talaq could not be passed in Rajya Sabha in the Monsoon Session, "I assure the Muslim women that the whole country stands by them to provide them social justice." In his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio address, he said when we move ahead in the national interest, a change in the lives of the poor, the backward, the exploited and the deprived ones can also be brought about. "No civil society can tolerate any kind of injustice towards women of the country. The nation will not tolerate those committing rapes. With this in mind, Parliament has made a provision of strictest punishment by passing the Criminal Act Amendment Bill. "Those guilty of rape will get a minimum sentence of 10 years and those found guilty of raping girls below the age of 12 years will be awarded the death sentence," Modi said. He said, recently, courts have awarded stringent punishment to rape convicts after a speedy trial lasting only a few days. "The new law will play an effective role in curbing crimes against women and girls," the prime minister said. Referring to the issue of talaq-e-biddat or instant triple talaq, he said economic growth will be incomplete without a social transformation. "The triple talaq bill has been passed by the Lok Sabha, although it could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha, I assure the Muslim women that the whole country stands by them to provide them social justice. "When we move ahead in the national interest, a change in the lives of the poor, the backward, the exploited and the deprived ones can also be brought about," Modi said. To make the proposed law palatable to the opposition, a provision of bail for the accused from a magistrate has been added. The amendments to the bill, cleared by the Union Cabinet recently, also has the provision for settlement between the husband and the wife. The FIR can now only be lodged by the victim, her blood relations and those who have become her relatives by virtue of her marriage. Others, like neighbours, cannot lodge an FIR to prevent misuse of the proposed law. In his address, the prime minister also referred to the performance of both Houses of Parliament, saying whenever a discussion on Parliament is held, it is about hold-ups, noisy scenes and stalling of proceedings. "But when something good happens, it is not given much importance. The Monsoon Session of Parliament ended just a few days back. You will be glad to know that the productivity of Lok Sabha remained 118 percent and that of Rajya Sabha 74 per cent. All the members rose above party interests to make the Monsoon Session most productive and this is why the Lok Sabha passed 21 bills and Rajya Sabha 14," he said. He said the recently-concluded session will always be remembered as a "session for social justice and youth welfare". Modi pointed out that a number of important bills beneficial to the youth and the backward classes were passed during the session, including the one to grant constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes. "This step will prove to be the one to move forward our march towards achieving the goal of social justice," he said. He also referred to a bill which overturned a Supreme Court order putting in place safeguards in a law on atrocities against SCs and STs. "This Act will give more security to the interests of SC and ST communities. This will also forbid criminals from indulging in atrocities and will instill confidence among the dalit communities," the prime minister said. Modi also thanked the MPs for a productive Parliament session. Rationalist Narendra Dabholkar was shot dead in Pune in August 2013. Journalist Gauri Lankesh was killed in front of her Bengaluru home in 2017. Pune: The killings of journalist Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru last year and rationalist Narendra Dabholkar in Pune in 2013 were "linked", the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) claimed before a court in Mumbai on Sunday. Seeking an extension of the custody of Sachin Andure, one of the alleged shooters in the Dabholkar murder case, the CBI told the court that one of the accused in the Lankesh murder case had handed over a pistol and three bullets with a magazine to him. Judicial Magistrate (First Class) HR Jadhav extended Andure's CBI custody till 30 August. Dabholkar, a Pune-based anti-superstition activist, was shot dead while he was on his morning walk in August 2013. Lankesh was shot dead in front of her residence in Bengaluru in September 2017. The CBI told the court that the agency would seek the custody of Sharad Kalaskar, another alleged shooter in the Dabholkar murder case. Kalaskar was among the five persons arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) earlier this month in connection with the seizure of crude bombs and firearms from various parts of the state. "Kalaskar is currently in the custody of the ATS in the Nalasopara explosives seizure case. The CBI will seek his custody in the Dabholkar case also as he and Andure need to be interrogated together," Special Public Prosecutor Vijaykumar Dhakane said, adding that the CBI would also seek the custody of those arrested by the Karnataka SIT in the Lankesh murder case as some of them were "linked" to the Dabholkar case and connected to Andure. "During Andure's interrogation, it was revealed that one of the accused in the Lankesh murder case had handed over a 7.65 mm country-made pistol and three bullets to him and he had passed those over to his brother-in-law, Shubham Surale, in Aurangabad (Maharashtra) on 11 August," Dhakane told the court. Surale had passed on the pistol to one Rohit Rege, according to the prosecutor. The CBI had seized a black-coloured country-made pistol with a magazine and three 7.65 mm "live cartridges" (bullets) from Rege's Aurangabad residence, Dhakane said, adding that the agency was investigating whether the weapon was used to kill Dabholkar. The agency is also trying to trace the motorcycle allegedly used by Andure and Kalaskar on 20 August, 2013, the day they allegedly killed Dabholkar, he said. Opposing the extension of Andure's custody, defence counsel Prakash Salsingikar cited a chargesheet filed by the CBI in 2016 in the Dabholkar murder case. In the chargesheet, the central agency had named Virendrasinh Tawde of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, an alleged offshoot of right-wing outfit Sanatan Sanstha, as the conspirator in Dabholkar's murder. It had identified Sarang Akolkar and Vinay Pawar as the assailants who had fired the gun. Quoting certain paragraphs from the chargesheet, Salsingikar said: "The investigation has established through oral and documentary evidence that Tawde, who harboured an enmity with Dabholkar owing to the ideological differences between the Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti and the Sanatan Sanstha, criminally conspired with Pawar, Akolkar and others to murder Dabholkar... In pursuance of the said conspiracy, Pawar and Akolkar shot dead Dabholkar on 20 August, 2013, on the Omkareshwar Bridge in Pune." The defence counsel told the court that the CBI was trying to bring in a new theory every time as far as the probe into the Dabholkar murder case was concerned. "As per the chargesheet, the CBI had already identified the assailants in the Dabholkar case," he said. Meanwhile, a CBI officer said outside the court that they were awaiting the ballistic report of the pistol seized from Rege's residence. He said it would be premature to say whether the pistol was used to kill Dabholkar. Apart from Kalaskar, the ATS had arrested Vaibhav Raut (40), Sudhanwa Gondhalekar (39), Shrikant Pangarkar and Avinash Pawar (30) in the arms seizure case from various parts of Maharashtra. While Raut ran a little-known cow protection outfit, Gondhalekar and Kalaskar are allegedly linked to fringe Hindutva groups. Pangarkar is a former Shiv Sena corporator who hails from Jalna. Article 35A in the Constitution accords special rights and privileges to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir and denies property rights to a woman who marries a person from outside the state. Srinagar: The National Conference has engaged former solicitor general of India Gopal Subramanium to defend Article 35A of the Constitution, which is facing a legal challenge in the Supreme Court, the party said on Sunday. "Party president and member of Parliament from Srinagar constituency, Farooq Abdullah, yesterday (Saturday) held detailed discussions with senior lawyers in Delhi in the context of petitions challenging the state's special status in the Supreme Court," a party spokesperson said. He said Abdullah had met Subramanium and engaged his service to represent the party's intervention plea in the top court. Subramanium is a former chairman of the Bar Council of India and has been part of numerous landmark cases. He was given the National Law Day Award for being an outstanding jurist, presented to him in 2009 by the president. The National Conference spokesperson said Abdullah was accompanied by the party's provincial presidents for Jammu and Kashmir Devender Singh Rana and Nasir Aslam Wani during the meetings. Article 35A, incorporated in the Constitution by a 1954 Presidential Order, accords special rights and privileges to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir and denies property rights to a woman who marries a person from outside the state. A Naxal was killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Narayanpur district Raipur: A Naxal was Sunday killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Narayanpur district, police said. The skirmish took place Sunday morning in a forest near Kalepal village under Benoor police station area, district Superintendent of Police Jitendra Shukla told PTI. "After receiving information about presence of rebels between Chinari and Kalepal villages, around 350 km from Raipur, a squad of the police's District Reserve Guard was sent to the spot," he said. "The security forces came under fire from the Naxals near Kalepal, leading to a gun battle," Shukla said. According to officials, after a brief exchange of fire, the rebels fled and the body of Soma Vadde, a member of Bayanar Local Organisation Squad of Maoists, was found subsequently. "Police also recovered a country-made gun," the SP said, adding that a search operation to nab other rebels was underway. Small parties in Uttar Pradesh may not account for many Lok Sabha seats in 2019, but are pitching themselves as potential 'game changers' in the BJP versus opposition battle in the state Lucknow: Small parties in Uttar Pradesh such as the Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal Party (NISHAD), Apna Dal (S) and AIMIM may not account for many Lok Sabha seats in 2019, but are pitching themselves as potential "game changers" in the BJP versus opposition battle in the state. In the assembly polls, smaller political outfits play a key role in transferring their "dedicated" vote bank to their allies, but in Lok Sabha elections such parties have traditionally struggled to make a big impact. However, several parties such as the NISHAD Party, Peace Party, Apna Dal (Sonelal), Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) are pitching themselves as attractive allies for the 2019 polls, asserting that in close contests their transfer of vote bank would decisively influence the outcome in the state. It is likely that they would be given very few seats to contest, but these parties believe that they would be able to swing the result in favour of bigger alliance partners by transferring their vote bank. "In the current scenario, the SP (Samajwadi Party), the BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party), NISHAD Party, Peace Party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) will fight the 2019 polls together and talks are on with the Congress, Praveen Nishad, MP from Gorakhpur who won the bypoll on SP symbol after Yogi Adityanath vacated the seat, told PTI. He, however, cautioned that, We (NISHAD Party) should get our due and be given the seats on which we have our claim, otherwise if small parties are not given their due then the result will be there to see." The NISHAD Party was formed for empowerment of those such as boatmen or fishermen whose traditional occupations depended on rivers. Its founder Sanjay Nishad is a former member of the BSP. "We are seeking about five to six seats," said the UP in-charge of the NISHAD Party that was formed in 2016. Small parties in the state are not just queuing up to be part of the opposition grand alliance, but some of them are working with the BJP as well. One such party is the Apna Dal (Sonelal), whose leader Anupriya Patel is a Union minister in the NDA government. "Our coalition with the BJP has been in place since 2007 when our party's founder Sonelal Patel was there... In 2019, we are fighting in alliance with the BJP, Apna Dal (S) spokesperson Arvind Sharma told PTI. "What will be the strategy and what will be the preconditions has not been decided. In-principle we are together and we are a trusted ally of the BJP," he said. "In Purvanchal, the areas which have substantial Kurmi population, Apna Dal had transferred its votes to BJP candidates and helped them win in the past," Sharma said. Asked if small parties will play a crucial role by transferring their dedicated vote bank to big parties, he said that was the whole premise of having a smaller coalition partner. Apna Dal (S) constitutes 12 percent the Kurmi vote bank and will play the role of a "game changer", Sharma claimed. Another party that is pitching to make a difference in Uttar Pradesh is the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM that is set to make its Lok Sabha elections debut in the state 2019. The AIMIM is keen to take on the BJP by joining hands with the grand opposition alliance taking shape in the state, but is not happy with the response of opposition parties it has got till now. "If the (opposition) alliance ignores us, we will also ignore it completely. We want to be part of the grand alliance. If they don't include AIMIM, it is a political party and will contest elections," AIMIM spokesperson Asim Waqar said. "If we are sidelined and ignored, we know how to give a fitting reply," he said Without alliance with small parties, the BJP cannot be stopped in 2019, he asserted, adding that his party would prove to be a "game changer". The Peace Party is also keen to take on the BJP as part of the opposition coalition. "In all the by-elections that have taken place, Peace Party has fought with the opposition alliance. In the Lok Sabha elections 2019 also we will fight in the opposition alliance, part president Mohamed Ayub said. Another small party that is looking to make its presence felt in the 2019 parliamentary polls in Uttar Pradesh is the SBSP, an ally of the BJP. The party was founded in 2002 with backward classes as its main support base. Its leader Om Prakash Rajbhar is a Cabinet minister in the BJP-led government in Uttar Pradesh. The SBSP has made it clear that it will fight the 2019 Lok Sabha polls with the saffron party, only if its preconditions on reservation are met. "The issues on which we have aligned with the BJP, if they are dealt with by the BJP, then the Bhartiya Samaj Party will work to get votes for the BJP on all seats in the state, SBSP spokesperson Arun Rajbhar said. Sanjay K Pandey, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and a political commentator, said the contest is expected to be very keen in Uttar Pradesh and in such a scenario the smaller parties could play a crucial role. However, he said, "If there is a Mahagathbandhan, the role of smaller parties, would be minimised to some extent. They will still make a difference, but not in a big way," Pandey said. Manindra Nath Thakur, an associate professor at the Centre for Political Studies of JNU, said small parties will be important if the fight is close and not one-sided. This is the new era of micro management and therefore, the small parties become important, he said. Rahul Gandhi, in his address in London said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US president Donald Trump ride on people's anger instead of solving their issues Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that people support populist leaders like US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi because they are angry over not having jobs, as the Congress president stepped up his attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Interacting with Indian Journalists' Association in London, Gandhi said that instead of solving the problem, these leaders ride on that anger and damage the country. "People support populist leaders like Mr Trump and Mr Modi because they are angry that they don't have a job. Instead of solving this problem these leaders ride on that anger. They damage the country by this," he said. On Friday, Gandhi said India was facing a "full blown crisis" of unemployment and the Government was refusing to admit it. During an interaction programme at the prestigious London School of Economics, he had said that where China creates 50,000 jobs a day, only 450 jobs are created in a day in India. This is a catastrophe. Gandhi again maintained that "there is a lot of similarity between Muslim Brotherhood and RSS. They use democratic processes to capture power". The Muslim Brotherhood is the oldest political Islamist group in the Arab world. It is banned and declared as a terrorist organisation by the governments of several countries. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said in New Delhi that the likes of President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who died last week, have an RSS background and Gandhi's comparison of the organisation with an Islamist outfit is "unforgivable". He demanded immediate apology from the Congress president for likening the choice of Indians in an election with an organisation which, the BJP leader said, is declared a terror outfit in many countries. On Vijay Mallaya, Gandhi said that Indian prisons are "pretty decent" while commenting on his ongoing extradition case. "Indian prisons are pretty decent as far as Mr. Mallya is concerned," he said. In July, Mallya appeared before the Westminster Magistrates' Court in London where both defence and prosecution presented clarifications on Barrack 12 at Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, where Mallya is to be held post-extradition. Judge Emma Arbuthnot asked the Indian authorities to submit within three weeks a video of the Barrack 12 of the Arthur Road Jail. Fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya is currently undergoing an extradition trial in a UK court over fraud and money laundering charges by Indian authorities. Mallya is separately fighting extradition to India on fraud and money laundering charges worth an estimated Rs 9,000 crores. Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated across India. Dantewada: Shanti Udke, sister of late police constable Rajesh Gaikwad, who died during a search operation in 2014, ties a 'rakhi' to his statue every Raksha Bandhan. Posted in Sukma's Tongpal area, Gaikwad was killed by Naxals on 11 March, 2014. "I shared a very special relationship with my brother. He was posted in Tongpal. However, he passed away during a search operation in 2014. I feel bad that I can't tie a Rakhi to him in person, but I'm proud of him. He was my only sibling," Udke told ANI. Raksha Bandhan is being celebrated across India. In a press conference earlier this month, Special Director General (Anti-Naxal Operations) DM Awasthi said that from January 2016 till now security forces have conducted 518 encounters against Naxals and recovered 678 arms. "From January 2016 till now, 2734 Naxals have been arrested and 1852 Naxals have surrendered before police due to government's surrender policy," Awasthi had said. He added that a total of 137 security personnel have lost their lives in incidents related to Naxals, during the last two-and-a-half years. Ravi Shankar Prasad said India will take all required steps to deter and punish those who seek to vitiate the country's election process. New Delhi: Social media platforms will never be allowed to abuse India's election process and stringent measures backed by laws on data protection and individual privacy have been put in place, Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said. Addressing the plenary of the G-20 Digital Economy Ministerial meeting in Salata, Argentina, on 23 and 24 August, Prasad also noted that India had taken serious note of the reported data misuse by social media platforms and said the purity of the democratic process should never be compromised, an IT ministry statement said on Sunday. The minister's remarks come after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched a preliminary inquiry against British political consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica for alleged illegal harvesting of personal data of Indians from Facebook. The UK consultancy has also been accused of allegedly interfering in the 2016 US Presidential elections. "Minister Prasad stressed that India had taken a serious note of reported misuse of social media platform data. Such platforms will never be allowed to abuse our election process for extraneous means," the statement read. He also said that the purity of the democratic process should never be compromised, and that India will take all required steps to deter and punish those who seek to vitiate this process. Noting that while privacy cannot prohibit innovation nor become a shield "for the corrupt or terrorists", Prasad said that data must be anonymous, objective and taken with consent for it to continue being an effective tool to improve business. In this connection, Department of Telecommunications Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said in Delhi earlier this week that the government has no intention of imposing a blanket ban on messaging applications and is looking for other "technical solutions" to curb instances of fake news and misuse of these apps. On Tuesday, Prasad met WhatsApp CEO Chris Daniels in Delhi and asked the visiting corporate to comply with Indian laws and take "suitable" steps to prevent the misuse of the instant messaging platform. At the G-20 event, Prasad also proposed that a part of the revenue generated by digital platforms needs to be reinvested in the host markets. According to the statement, India's digital infrastructure consists of 1.21 billion mobile phones, including 450 million smartphones, nearly 500 million internet subscribers and increasing broadband availability. RLSP chief and union minister Upendra Kushwaha, while addressing a gathering dropped a broad hint in connection with the possible political realignment. Patna: Ahead of the high-stakes 2019 general elections, the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) seems to be headed for an alliance with the Lalu Prasad Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) by ditching the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). RLSP chief and union minister Upendra Kushwaha, while addressing a gathering on Saturday, dropped a broad hint in connection with the possible political realignment and said that the combination of milk from Yadavs and rice from Kushwahas makes a good 'kheer'. "A large number of Yadavs have come for this event. When the milk from Yadavs and rice from Kushwahas are mixed together, it makes for good 'kheer'. But for making kheer, not only we need milk and rice, it also needs 'dry fruits' in the form of support from the downtrodden and backward classes. This is the meaning of social justice," said the minister. Members of the Yadav community are traditionally cattle-rearers and the Kushwahas, who belong to the Koeri community, are an agricultural community. Both the groups fall under the OBC category. Although Kushwaha's RLSP is currently a part of BJP-led NDA ruling at the Centre. Last month, Kushwaha skipped an Iftar party in Patna, organised by the Janata Dal United (JDU), amid reports of a rift stemming in the NDA in Bihar. Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal said this the attack is not on Manjit Singh GK on our 'dastaar' (turban) Amritsar: Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Sunday strongly condemned the attack on Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK in California allegedly by pro-Khalistan individuals, during which one of his associates was injured. Addressing a rally in Amritsar on Sunday, the SAD president said the attack was planned by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency. "This is not an attack on GK but an attack on our dastaar (turban)," he added. He alleged involvement of "parallel jathedars" behind the attack. Badal alleged that the "parallel Jathedars" had colluded with the Congress to weaken the Sikh 'Panth'. Significantly, Sikh hardliners had convened a 'Sarbat Khalsa' meeting on the outskirts of Amritsar three years ago and announced removal of top Sikh priests including the Akal Takht chief. They had appointed 'parallel jathedars' in their place. Badal alleged that some ministers in the Congress government in Punjab were "hand-in-glove" with these "(parallel) Jathedars". He claimed that these 'parallel Jathedars' along with the Congress had "hatched a conspiracy" to implicate the SAD in incidents of sacrilege through the Justice (retd) Ranjit Singh Commission's report. The Commission was set up by the Congress government in the state to probe sacrilege incidents and police firing on protesters at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura three years ago. Manjit Singh GK, who travelled to California following a visit to New York, earlier said the purpose of his visit was to hold discussions among the Sikh community about the 550th birthday anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak, to be commemorated 2019. This is the second attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader. He was earlier attacked in New York. GK was visiting the main Gurudwara in Yuba City, California on Sunday when he was attacked by a group of 30-35 people supporting the 'Khalistan 2020 referendum'. Meanwhile, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Gobind Singh Longowal also condemned the attack. "It is very unfortunate that in the United States, Sikhs are being repeatedly targeted. This is the handiwork of agencies that want to instigate tensions among the Sikhs. I condemn this incident," he said. The SGPC chief said that it is the responsibility of the US government to take strict action against the people behind the attack. The Unnao rape case involving BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar took another dramatic turn in Lucknow on Saturday with Uttar Pradesh Police exhuming the remains of Yunus Khan despite facing resistance from the key CBI witness' kin Unnao: As personnel from Makhi Police Station in Unnao exhumed the remains of Yunus Khan, the key CBI witness in the rape case involving Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, the infamous case took another dramatic turn in Lucknow on Saturday. The Kin of the witness tried to take their lives in front of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths house when they were not allowed to meet him while protesting the digging out of Khan's body from the grave. Hazratganj police detained eight family members. Khan had died under mysterious circumstances on 18 August. His brother Jaan Mohammad had said he had found him dead in the house where he lived alone in Makhi village on the morning of 18 August and buried him without having conducted an autopsy. Circle Officer, Safipur range, Vivek Ranjan Rai told mediapersons that the body was dug out on the orders of Unnao Superintendent of Police Harish Kumar who has ordered an inquiry into the death of Khan. It may be mentioned that the rape survivors uncle had in his complaint filed with Makhi police on 20 August alleged that MLA Sengar had gotten Yunus killed through his associates. The complainant also demanded the body be dug out so that an autopsy could be conducted. Yunuss wife, Shabina, and other kin, however, claimed on Saturday that the deceased was suffering from a serious liver disease and had died naturally. "Yunus' liver was damaged and (he) was very serious since the last four years," Shabina told media persons in Lucknow, adding that even his doctor had lost hope of his recovery. She also alleged that the rape survivors uncle had barged into her home a couple of days back and offered them money to lie to the police that Yunus was murdered. "He (rape survivors uncle) offered us money and also threatened when we refused his offer of lying. He was coaxing us to say that Yunus was murdered on the behest of Sengar by his associates in the village, Shabina said. Yunus, 32, ran a grocery shop near the rape survivors house. BJP MLA Sengar and five of his associates, including brother Atul Singh Sengar were arrested in April in connection with the rape of the girl and brutally assaulting her father who died under judicial custody on 9 April. The rape survivor had tried to kill herself in front of the chief ministers residence in Lucknow in April when her father was arrested. The author is a Lucknow-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has said that a formidable alliance of Opposition parties can be stitched together to defeat the BJP and free India from the 'reign of fear' in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Kolkata: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has said that a formidable alliance of Opposition parties can be stitched together to defeat the BJP and free India from the "reign of fear" in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Chidambaram, however, avoided directly answering a question on the leadership issue or who would be the prime ministerial candidate of the alliance, saying it is a premature question. "Let us form the alliance and let the elections take place. All of you want to know the answer even before the script is written," he said. The former finance minister said the most important issue on which all Opposition parties agree to is that the saffron party should be defeated. "On that point, there is a convergence of views in many states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar, etc. That convergence will bring together Opposition parties and alliances will be formed state-wise," Chidambaram told PTI in an interview. He said for the first time, "we are witnessing a sense of fear" among a large section of people in the country. "The Dalits live in fear, the Muslims live in fear, the women live in fear, the press live in fear," he said. "We are moving away from the accepted democratic rights and democratic positions. This is a dangerous trend for the country. We wanted freedom (from British rule) because we want to live without fear. And today, a vast section of the country lives in fear and this has to end," Chidambaram said. Asked whether the Congress will replicate the Karnataka model, where despite being the largest party in the Congress-JD(S) alliance it gave away the chief minister's post to JD(S) to keep the BJP at bay, he said it is too early to comment on it. "Karnataka was a state election. We talked about Karnataka after the election results were announced. Now, the major challenge is the Parliament election and eight months ahead of the polls, we can't talk about what will happen after election. "There will be alliance in each state depending upon the context of the state... The alliance has to be state-specific. So I think a formidable alliance can be stitched together state-wise for the Parliament elections," he said. On reports of certain Opposition parties like the Telangana Rashtra Samiti and the Trinamool Congress not being very comfortable with the Congress leading the front, Chidambaram said it is advisable to wait till the election and the alliance talks to begin. Several Opposition parties including the TMC and the TRS have expressed their reservation about working under the leadership of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, considered as a "junior politician". Asked whether the TMC would be part of the Congress-led Opposition alliance, as the Bengal Congress unit is not in favour of it, he said, "I am not competent to answer that question. But, I am sure when I say that all parties who are opposed to BJP and all who are keen to replace the BJP should come together and form the alliance, that's the position I have stated. Let's see what happens." About the possibility of formation of such an alliance before the Lok Sabha polls, he said if one or two parties decide to stay away from pre-election alliance, "I am sure they can join the alliance post the election". Criticising the Centre on various issues ranging from incidents of lynching to anti-romeo squads, Chidambaram said that people have been either vegetarian or non-vegetarian for hundreds of years, but never ever were they lynched on the suspicion of keeping a particular meat in their house. "What is happening is serious erosion of democracy, serious erosion of freedom. This has to be stopped in the next Lok Sabha election," he said. The senior Congress leader said that the Narendra Modi government was trying to undermine the success in delivering a better economic growth during the UPA 1 and 2 regime. "You can't hide the numbers. The numbers speak for themselves. This is desperation of the Modi government to project itself as better than the UPA government. "They keep on boasting that in the last 60 years, nothing has happened, but our record is far better than the BJP's," he added. Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's niece Karuna Shukla has called for the resignation of the two Chattisgarh ministers who were seen laughing in a video during the condolence meet held for the ex-PM Raipur: Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayees niece Karuna Shukla on Saturday demanded the resignation of two Chhattisgarh ministers who were seen laughing in a purported video of a condolence meeting held for the late Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stalwart. The video which has gone viral shows Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal and Health Minister Ajay Chandrakar talking to each other and laughing while sitting on the stage during the condolence meet for Vajpayee in Raipur on 23 August. Shukla, who is now with the Congress, said she was pained by the BJP ministers behaviour. They have no respect for Bharat Ratna Atalji who formed their state, she said, speaking at a press conference. Chhattisgarh came into existence when Vajpayee was the prime minister. Shukla, a former BJP MP from Janjgir-Champa in Chhattisgarh, quit the saffron party ahead of 2013 Assembly polls and joined the Congress later. If the top leadership of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi respect Vajpayee, they should ask the ministers to step down, or sack both of them, she said. This is necessary so that the next generation of BJP leaders learn how to behave at a condolence meeting, she said. While the video drew criticism from the Congress, there was no reaction from the state BJP leadership. Shukla also accused the BJP of politicising Vajpayees death in view of coming Assembly elections in the state. 'Constantly distorting what Rahul Gandhi says is not going to convert untruth and lies into truth,' Abhishek Manu Singhvi said. New Delhi: Drawing flak for Rahul Gandhi's remarks that the Congress was not involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the party on Sunday listed steps it had taken after it and said its opponents should not sensationalise tragic events for political gains. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi was reacting to the Shiromani Akali Dal's comments that the Congress president's remarks on Sikh riots have "rubbed salt into the wounds" of the Sikh community. Gandhi, who was on a two-day visit to the UK, told an audience of UK-based parliamentarians and local leaders on Saturday that the incident was a tragedy, but disagreed with the view that the Congress was "involved". "Constantly distorting what Rahul Gandhi says is not going to convert untruth and lies into truth," Singhvi said, noting that their opponents should not sensationalise tragic events for political gains. He listed what the Congress did after the riots and asked the SAD to state what its partner BJP did after the 2002 riots in Gujarat. "The Congress party from this forum and all over the country at least a thousand times has condemned that tragic episode, calling it the most unfortunate event, condemned it and never in the remotest sense directly or indirectly supported it. Even the prime minister of that time had apologised," he said. He also said that many senior leaders suffered serious harm in their political careers in the context of their alleged association with that event. "A large number have faced criminal prosecution, some have been convicted, some are pending but the Congress has never interfered," he said. He said the Akali Dal should ask if Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was Gujarat Chief Minister in 2002, and BJP president Amit Shah had done after the riots in Gujarat what the Congress did after 1984. DMK's working president MK Stalin has filed nomination for the post of the party's president and is contesting against his brother MK Alagiri Chennai: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (DMK) working president MK Stalin on Sunday filed nomination for the post of president, which has been lying vacant after the demise of his father M Karunanidhi on 7 August. Stalin will be standing against his brother MK Alagiri in the party presidential election, which is scheduled to be held on 28 August. Alagiri was expelled from the political outfit in March 2014 by Karunanidhi, who was the then president of DMK, for slanderous attacks on senior party members and carrying out anti-party activities. The political battle between the brothers got more intense after Alagiri on 13 August claimed, "All the supporters in Tamil Nadu are on my side and are encouraging me only. Only time will give the answers; that is all I am willing to say now." Founded by CN Annadurai in 1949, DMK was a breakaway faction from the Dravidar Kazhagam that was popularly known as Justice Party until 1944. This political outfit had been headed by Karunanidhi from 1969 until his death in August. Reiterating that the 'Chinese are still in Doklam', Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday declined to reveal information discussed at the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs which looked into the Doka La standoff. London: Reiterating that the "Chinese are still in Doklam", Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday declined to reveal information discussed at the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs which looked into the Doka La standoff. Responding to a question on the Doka La issue while interacting with Indian Journalists Association in London, Gandhi said, "Chinese troops are still in Doklam and have built massive infrastructure there. The prime minister went recently to China and didn't discuss Doklam with them. The prime minister went there without agenda. Somebody comes here, slaps you on your face and you have a non-agenda discussion." On being asked if he could throw light on the Doka La report since he was part of the Parliamentary Committee and had an interaction with the foreign secretary, Gandhi said, "It is a tricky question because I can't say. I am bound by Parliamentary privilege; can't say what was in the report. But I can say that we had a conversation with the foreign secretary and the defence secretary on Doklam. And what was said in that room, cannot be said outside." The 19-member Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs is headed by Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor. On Friday, Gandhi asserted that the Doka La standoff could have been avoided if the current government at the Centre-led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi dealt with the matter more diligently. During an interaction at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London, the Congress chief took a sardonic dig at the incumbent government and said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dispensation claimed that China withdrew its forces from Doka La, but the "Chinese are still present" at the disputed site. Congress president Rahul Gandhi while addressing the Indian Overseas Congress in London said that the judiciary an election commission in India were being 'torn apart' by BJP London: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that the judiciary and election commission were being "torn apart" under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was keeping mum on grave issues confronting the nation. Addressing the Indian Overseas Congress in London, he said the prime minister insulted every Indian by saying that nothing had happened in the last 70 years. "India shows the future to the world. The people of India made this possible, and the Congress helped them," he said. "If the prime minister says nothing had happened before he assumed office, he is not commenting on the Congress, he is insulting every person of the country," Gandhi said. He alleged that at present, Dalits, farmers, tribal people, minorities, the poor in India are told they will not get anything, and "if they raise their voice, they are beaten up". The SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act has been "destroyed, and scholarships have been discontinued", he claimed. Gandhi said, "When the farmers of Karnataka and Telangana ask for loan waiver, prime minister Modi says this is not our policy. India's handful of richest businessmen have NPAs of Rs 12.5 lakh crore, but the prime minister says nothing." He alleged that the prime minister kept quiet "when his own party's MLA raped a woman and when Nirav Modi ran away with people's money." "Institutions such as the Supreme Court, Election Commission, Reserve Bank of India, which are the walls of our country, are being torn apart now," he alleged. It was the first time that four senior-most judges of the apex court come out in public earlier this year to say they were not being allowed to work, he said. "I do not use bad language for the prime minister. And if you have listened to the debate on the Rafale deal in Parliament, you would have seen that the prime minister could not answer my questions," he said. Gandhi said China creates 50,000 jobs a day, while India creates only 450, and unemployment was a pressing issue. "Our farmers need help. Our youth needs education, elderly people need health care. But, there is no discussion on the issues of farmers, education and health care," he said. Lauding the contribution of non-resident Indians in the development of the country, he said, "Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, BR Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru were all NRIs. They travelled the world and helped India with new perspectives. Though Shiv Sena is an alliance partner of the BJP at the Centre as well as in Maharashtra, it has been taking swipes at the saffron party and Modi. Mumbai: Senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday questioned whether former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee died on 16 August or if his death was announced that day to ensure that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence day speech was not disrupted. Raut, a Rajya Sabha member who is also the editor of the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana', gave no explanation or reason for questioning the day of Vajpayee's death that was announced by AIIMS, which also gave his time of death on 16 August. "Rather than our people, our rulers should first understand what is 'swarajya' (self-rule). Vajpayee died on 16 August, but from 12-13 August, his condition was deteriorating. To avoid national mourning and lowering of flag to half-mast on Independence Day, and also (because) Prime Minister Narendra Modi was to make his elaborate speech from the Red Fort, Vajpayee left this world on 16 August (or his death was announced)," Raut said. The article in Marathi is titled "What is swarajya?". Though Shiv Sena is an alliance partner of the BJP at the Centre as well as in Maharashtra, it has been taking swipes at the saffron party and Modi. Raut, in the article, said National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah shouted "Bharat Mata Ki Jai"and "Jai Hind" at a condolence meeting for Vajpayee, and for this reason, he was manhandled in Srinagar. "And the government shielded the culprits. This new kind of freedom has now emerged," the Sena MP wrote. "When it is learnt that police have captured terrorists who had planned to carry out attacks in Delhi, it tells you that Independence Day is nearing. This tradition continued this year too. Ten terrorists who wanted to sabotage Independence Day celebrations were arrested. A huge cache of arms was seized. So (afterwards), the prime minister celebrated Independence Day fearlessly," Raut added. "Prime Minister Modi made several announcements for the poor (in his Independence day speech). The tone of his speech suggested that previous governments did nothing, and so freedom (until now) had been wasted," Raut wrote. He said though the prime minister says people who take bribes are facing action, bribery has not decreased. "..It is true that welfare schemes are run on the taxes which honest people pay. It is also true that the prime minister's foreign tours are funded by the same money, and thousands of crores are spent on advertisements from the same money. This is how the new 'swarajya' is functioning," the Sena leader wrote. Indo-Asian News Service Social media platforms will never be allowed to abuse India's election process and stringent measures backed by laws on data protection and individual privacy have been put in place, Information Technology (IT) Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said. Addressing the plenary of the G-20 Digital Economy Ministerial meeting in Salata, Argentina, on 23 and 24 August, Prasad also noted that India had taken serious note of the reported data misuse by social media platforms and said the purity of the democratic process should never be compromised, an IT Ministry statement said here on 26 August. The Minister's remarks come after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched a preliminary enquiry against the British political consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica for alleged illegal harvesting of personal data of Indians from Facebook. The UK consultancy has also been accused of allegedly interfering in the 2016 US Presidential elections. "Minister Prasad stressed that India had taken a serious note of reported misuse of social media platform data. Such platforms will never be allowed to abuse our election process for extraneous means," the statement said. He also said that the purity of the democratic process should never be compromised and that India will take all required steps to deter and punish those who seek to vitiate this process. Noting that while privacy cannot prohibit innovation nor become a shield "for the corrupt or terrorists", Prasad said that data must be anonymous, objective and taken with consent for it to continue being an effective tool to improve business. In this connection, Department of Telecommunications Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said here earlier this week that the government has no intention of imposing a blanket ban on messaging applications and is looking for other "technical solutions" to curb instances of fake news and misuse of these apps. On 21 August, Prasad met Whatsapp CEO Chris Daniels here and asked the visiting corporate to comply with Indian laws and take "suitable" steps to prevent the misuse of the instant messaging platform. At the G-20 event, Prasad also proposed that a part of the revenue generated by digital platforms needs to be reinvested in the host markets. According to the statement, India's digital infrastructure consists of 1.21 billion mobile phones, including 450 million smartphones, nearly 500 million internet subscribers and increasing broadband availability. The Islamic State has suffered repeated setbacks in the latest fighting season in Afghanistan amid a bloody turf war with the Taliban. Kabul: The leader of the Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan was killed by airstrikes over the weekend along with 10 other people, government officials said on Sunday, following a string of deadly attacks by the extremist group. The intelligence agency said Saad Arhabi died in a joint operation with coalition forces late on Saturday in the group's eastern stronghold in Nangarhar province near the border with Pakistan. The agency also said a large number of weapons, ammunition and explosives were destroyed by the air attacks. "The Emir of Daesh in Afghanistan along with 10 others was killed," said a statement by the National Directorate of Security, calling the group by an Arabic acronym. Arhabi is the fourth leader of IS' Afghan branch to be killed since the group first emerged in the country around 2014. Provincial governor's spokesperson Attaullah Khogyani confirmed the leader's death, also citing a joint operation involving strikes. US forces in Afghanistan confirmed they had conducted a strike in the location described by Afghan officials, which "targeted a senior leader of a designated terrorist organisation". IS has a relatively small but potent presence in Afghanistan, mainly in Nangarhar but more recently in the northern province of Jowzjan. Hours before the raid the group claimed a deadly suicide attack, which appeared to target a sit-in protest outside an Election Commission office in the city of Jalalabad. Two people were killed. The bombing followed a number of bloody attacks claimed by IS in recent weeks, including assaults on several government installations in Kabul and a bombing at a school in a Shiite area of the capital that killed at least 37 people. The group, however, has suffered repeated setbacks in the latest fighting season amid a bloody turf war with the much larger Taliban. Estimates of their numbers in the country run as high as around 2,000. More than IS 150 fighters surrendered to Afghan forces in Jowzjan on 1 August, a move which troops and the Taliban hailed as the end of the group's foothold in the north of the country. By Angelo Amante CATANIA, Italy (Reuters) - Doctors ordered on Saturday that 16 sick migrants be allowed to leave the Italian rescue ship docked for five days in a Sicilian port as Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said he was working on a 'positive solution' for the remaining 134 people on board. The migrants, mainly from Eritrea, have been stranded in the port of Catania since Monday because the Italian government is refusing to let them off the boat until other European Union states agree to take some of them in. By Angelo Amante CATANIA, Italy (Reuters) - Doctors ordered on Saturday that 16 sick migrants be allowed to leave the Italian rescue ship docked for five days in a Sicilian port as Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said he was working on a "positive solution" for the remaining 134 people on board. The migrants, mainly from Eritrea, have been stranded in the port of Catania since Monday because the Italian government is refusing to let them off the boat until other European Union states agree to take some of them in. The United Nations called on Saturday for reason from all sides after a meeting of envoys from 10 EU states in Brussels a day earlier failed to break the deadlock. "Frightened people who may be in need of international protection should not be caught in the maelstrom of politics, the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said in a statement. It appealed to EU member states to "urgently" offer relocation places to the rescued people, in line with an agreement at an EU summit in June, and in the meantime urged Italy to allow "the immediate disembarkation of those on board." But the anti-establishment government that took office three months ago shows no sign of backing down, despite fierce criticism from rights groups and the opposition. More than 650,000 people have reached Italian shores since 2014 and Rome says it will not let any more rescue ships dock unless the migrants are shared out around the EU. "I am totally untroubled and I am working, with good prospects of success, on a positive solution," said Salvini, leader of the right-wing League party, adding that he considered the criticism he received to be a "badge of honour." Inspectors from the Italian Health Ministry and the Red Cross went on board the coastguard vessel Diciotti to visit the migrants, some of whom have been refusing food in protest at being detained on board for days under the hot sun. Following the check up, they ordered that 11 women and five men be allowed off the boat and taken to Catania's Garibaldi hospital. They have not yet disembarked but Salvini's Interior Ministry said they would do so shortly. No information was immediately given on their health problems. Stefano Principato, a Red Cross representative, said the health of most of the migrants "isn't particularly critical," adding their problems "are more psychological than physical." Earlier this week Italy let 27 unaccompanied minors leave the vessel. Prior to that, 13 people needing urgent hospital attention were evacuated from the ship, which picked up the migrants in the Mediterranean 10 days ago. The mostly young men now on board shelter from the sun under a large green tarpaulin that covers around half the deck, with clothes attached to it hanging out to dry. Some occasionally wave to reporters gathered at the port. The 5-Star Movement, the League's coalition partner, has so far backed Salvini's hard line, and on Tuesday its Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli, who is responsible for the country's ports, renewed the government's attacks on the EU. "Nobody can give lessons to Italy on its humanitarian efforts," he tweeted. "The government is only asking the EU give some sense to its own existence." (Writing by Gavin Jones; Editing by Helen Popper) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States could reach a big Trade Agreement with Mexico. Washington: President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States could reach a big trade agreement with Mexico soon as the incoming Mexican trade negotiator signaled possible solutions to NAFTA energy rules and a contentious US "sunset clause" demand. Trump tweeted on Saturday morning: Our relationship with Mexico is getting closer by the hour. Some really good people within both the new and old government, and all working closely together....A big Trade Agreement with Mexico could be happening soon! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2018 Jesus Seade, who will serve as chief negotiator for Mexicos next government, said he and US trade representative Robert Lighthizer were now discussing a periodic review process that spare the North American Free Trade Agreement from automatic expiration unless new terms were agreed. Mexico and Canada have adamantly opposed the US sunset demand that would kill the pact unless it is renegotiated every five years, a plan that business groups also say will stifle long-term investment decisions. "It's going to come out. Its no longer what the United States was putting first in any way," Seade said of the sunset clause outside the US trade representatives office. Seade said he and Lighthizer last week began discussing a new approach to review the trade pact, that would have longer periods between reviews, providing more certainty for business investments. A spokeswoman for the US trade representatives office denied that Lighthizer had softened his position on the sunset clause, without further elaboration. The sunset issue is one of the biggest remaining obstacles to a NAFTA deal as negotiators race to try to land a new NAFTA agreement in principle by the end of August. The United States and Mexico have been holding bilateral talks aimed at resolving their differences before bringing Canada back to the talks. Seade said the issue of auto sector rules is basically resolved, although some aspects, including time frames, are still being discussed. Seade also said on Saturday that a correct focus on NAFTAs energy chapter has already been substantially agreed. Since Mexicos 1 July presidential election, the Mexico-US talks have been complicated by divisions between the incoming and outgoing Mexican administrations over energy policy. The team of leftist Mexican president-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has resisted enshrining the 2013-14 opening of the oil and gas sector enacted by outgoing president Enrique Pena Nieto in the new NAFTA, people close to the talks say. Lopez Obrador opposed Pena Nietos energy reform, and the issue is divisive within his own camp. Business-friendly aides back greater outside investment in the industry, while his more nationalist allies want the oil to remain in Mexican hands. 'Not there yet' Asked about Trumps tweet, Mexican economy minister Ildefonso Guajardo acknowledged some progress, but told reporters in Washington before beginning another day of talks that the two countries are "not there yet." "Nothing is done until everything is truly done," he said. "Today will be an important day." Trump prompted the NAFTA revamp more than a year ago, complaining the pact has benefited Mexico to the detriment of US workers and manufacturing. He made renegotiating NAFTA one of his top campaign pledges. Trump has threatened to withdraw from the pact if it is not reworked to the advantage of the United States. The US-Mexico talks for weeks focused on crafting new rules for the automotive industry, which Trump has put at the center of his drive to rework the 24-year-old deal he says has been a disaster for American workers. Sicilian prosecutors are investigating Italy's interior minister Matteo Salvini after he refused a boat carrying Eritrean refugees to disembark in the port of Catania Rome: Sicilian prosecutors are investigating Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini over his refusal to allow migrants off a coastguard vessel. The Diciotti docked in the Sicilian port of Catania on Monday. The Italian government is refusing to most of the migrants disembark until a solution is reached regarding their relocation with other European states. Prosecutors have now opened an inquiry into possible illegal confinement, illegal arrest, and abuse of power, BBC reported on Sunday. Salvini responded to the news by shrugging of the threat, saying those still on board would be allowed off "in the coming hours". According to Salvini, they would be taken in "by bishops who are opening their doors, their hearts and their wallets". So far only small groups have been allowed in, including unaccompanied children and the sick, two of whom are said to have tuberculosis. The fate of the more than 100 migrants, most of whom are Eritrean, has prompted local protests throughout the week and attracted international attention. The United Nations (UN) appealed for European Union (EU) members to "urgently" offer relocation places to the migrants on Saturday, a day after a meeting of 10 EU envoys in Brussels failed to provide a solution. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said in a statement that Europe has recognised "a fundamental and legal obligation" to help "people fleeing war, violence and persecution" throughout its history. "The time has come to end the back-and-forth that has seen countries competing in a race to the bottom on who can take the least responsibility for people rescued at sea," he said. "It is dangerous and immoral to put the lives of refugees and asylum-seekers at risk while states engage in a political tug-of-war on long-term solutions." Under EU rules, people must seek asylum where they arrive, but Italy has increasingly barred boats from docking. Salvini refused the vessel permission to disembark until the EU agreed to distribute the migrants among other countries. He has maintained they are working to achieve a "positive and concrete solution" that was not a "burden" on Italian citizens. "I want to say that the dozens of complaints, insults and threats levelled at give me more and more strength to go on, and for me are badges of honour on my chest," he said of criticism. Sixteen people were allowed to disembark on Saturday on doctors' orders after inspectors from the Italian Healthy Ministry and the Red Cross went on board the vessel. Earlier this week 27 unaccompanied minors and 13 people in need of urgent medical help were also allowed to get off. Some of those left onboard are reported to be refusing food in protest. Since 2014, more than 640,000 migrants have landed on Italy's shores. Although many have since left for other countries, some remain. The UN says that more than 1,600 people have lost their lives trying to cross into Europe in 2018, despite overall numbers being down. In July, 450 migrants were allowed to disembark in Sicily once France, Germany, Malta, Portugal and Spain had each agreed to take 50 migrants each. Six-time Senator from Arizona, Republican leader John McCain's passing will be an emotional watershed at a time when political heroes in the US government are a rare breed It will be a long goodbye to one of America's favourite sons. The feisty Republican Senator pulled the plug on himself medically and decided to call off all treatment for his brain cancer. At a time when medical facilities pad bills by prolonging the inevitable and using the ventilator option to create a pretense of life, McCain just walked away. Thats it Clyde, better hit the road. Within a day he was gone. It is said that greatness sometimes nudges you but wont stay over. McCain had that relationship with greatness for she came, she stopped but she wouldnt give him the key. It is really a question of timing and he could well have owned the Oval Office for eight years but it just never happened. Just as he has been in life, a gutsy, scarred veteran of battle, a war hero and POW in Vietnam, who suffered five years in prison, was incarcerated in the infamous Hanoi Hilton and came out with broken limbs and shoulder after being tortured, McCain also became an impediment to the Trump cavalcade, taking on the President and wrecking his attempt to derail Obamacare with his vote. His legendary takedown of Trump in which McCain described the Trump-Vladimir Putin news conference during the Helsinki summit in July will be on every obituary. McCain had called the news conference as "one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory." He had also said that Trump was "not only unable but unwilling to stand up to Putin". Even as he went 'gently into the night' and did not fight against the 'dying of the light' national grief over McCain's death will hurt an already beleaguered Trump even more for the USA will step out to salute this all American hero for this is the stuff of top guns. The media will be fulsome in praise for the fallen hero and the mourning will be genuine and cut across party lines. Tawdry in comparison will be the sort of mocking comment Trump made about him: "I like people who did not get caught (in war)." As the family gathered for the final hours it has to be said that even in this last act McCain has placed on record the need to recognise futility and walk away from life, thereby establishing a precedent that at some point medical science is a waste of effort, money and time. That a man has to do what a man has to do and let that bed go free for someone who still has a chance. Six-time Senator from Arizona, McCain's passing will be an emotional watershed at a time when political heroes in the US government are a rare breed. The Hall of Fames walls are bare of those one can look up to for inspiration and the nation faces the possibility of an impeached president. McCain's death will underscore up there on Capitol Hill the huge gap between the real guts and glory of men of honour and the tinsel toy soldiers who guard the Alamo today. In the last few months, Americans at all levels have been a part of his fight against this particularly aggressive cancer. They have watched him come out punching straight from the hospital, come to work with scars visible and pain in his eyes. Cried with him this April when he tweeted to his son-in-law to take care of his daughter. His recently published book, The Restless Wave: Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights, and Other Appreciations, has received powerful reviews. His closest friend, Vice President Joe Biden, who lost a son to cancer told McCains daughter, "Your dad is one of my best friends. Your dad goes after me hammer and tongs. We're like two brothers who were somehow raised by different fathers because of our points of view." And that love will endure. Even as one of the last is laid to rest. One of John McCain's final wishes, as he struggled against a devastating brain cancer, could not have been more clear: He made it known that he did not want Donald Trump to attend his funeral. Washington: One of John McCain's final wishes, as he struggled against a devastating brain cancer, could not have been more clear: He made it known that he did not want Donald Trump to attend his funeral. The two men never pretended to like each other. It was not just their clashing personalities or vastly dissimilar backgrounds. Their differences were fundamental, their values dramatically at odds, and their disagreements public and pointed. When Trump announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination in June 2015, suggesting that many Mexican immigrants were criminals and "rapists," McCain denounced him for using language that "fired up the crazies." Trump's response: McCain was a "dummy" who had barely managed to graduate from the US Naval Academy. Never one to give in, Trump then attacked the former navy pilot over what might have seemed his least vulnerable point: the military career including more than five years as a wounded and tortured prisoner of war in Vietnam for which he received a slew of decorations including the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit and three Bronze Stars. Trump, who received serial deferments and did not serve in the military, said that McCain was "a war hero (only) because he was captured," adding, "I like people that weren't captured." That comment drew widespread condemnation, including from several veterans groups. McCain's response starkly illustrated the two men's different characters: The senator sought no apology on his own behalf but said that Trump did owe an apology "to the families of those who have sacrificed in conflict" and of those taken prisoner while "serving their country." The rise of Trump's populist candidacy in 2016 was widely seen as a disavowal of McCain-style Republicanism and of the more establishment approach he took during his own presidential run in 2008. Eight years later, here was a man who openly professed his love of money, who had avoided military service because of a foot problem he later said had healed itself, a man who bragged about greasing the wheels for his New York real estate empire by donating to both Democrats and Republicans, a man who, in short, unapologetically flouted the long-established traditions of American politics and the presidency. As McCain pursued his own re-election to the Senate in 2016, he broke with his party's nominee after a video aired in which Trump could be heard bragging that when he saw beautiful women he would sometimes "grab 'em by the pussy." McCain announced that he would instead vote for "some good conservative Republican who is qualified to be president." Putin and Trump One day in November 2016, not long after Trump's surprise victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton, the Arizona senator exploded when journalists in the Capitol continued to pummel him with questions about the incoming president: "Do not ask me about Donald Trump. I do not want to be rude to anyone, but I do not want to be asked about Donald Trump." It was not an easy vow to carry out, given Trump's undeniable talent for dominating political debate even while blowing up long-established norms and tenets of American domestic and foreign policy. But what most scandalised the aging senator was the new president's persistent refusal to acknowledge and confront Russian meddling in the US political process. As time went on, McCain's resistance grew more direct and his words sharper. As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee he opened his own inquiry into Russian interference. And when he heard Trump's accommodating words toward Russian president Vladimir Putin when the two met in July in Helsinki, he could contain himself no longer. "Today's press conference in Helsinki was one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory," McCain said in a blistering statement. "The damage inflicted by President Trump's naivete, egotism, false equivalence, and sympathy for autocrats is difficult to calculate." Even as McCain's health ebbed, he missed few opportunities to lash out at the president. He was one of just three Republican senators to vote against and thus defeat a Trump-backed effort to repeal Barack Obama's signature health-care law. That single vote earned lasting disdain from the president. But McCain did not back down. In an op-ed article in the Washington Post, he called the president "impulsive" and "often poorly informed." In a prepared speech that seemed directed at the president and his aides, McCain denounced the "spurious nationalism" of people who "would rather find scapegoats than solve problems." And when an October 2017 interview turned to the subject of service in the Vietnam War a profoundly marking experience in McCain's own life he did not hold back. "One aspect of the conflict, by the way, that I will never countenance is that we drafted the lowest-income level of America, and the highest-income level found a doctor that would say that they had a bone spur," he said. "That is wrong. That is wrong." The allusion to the medical deferment that saved a young Donald Trump from serving in that war could not have been clearer. The patent contempt the two men displayed for each other showed no sign of fading, even as McCain continued to weaken. A few weeks ago, Trump could not even bring himself to say McCain's name during a signing ceremony for a defense funding bill that fellow senators had named in the Arizona lawmaker's honor. The government on Sunday distanced itself from BJP MP Subramanian Swamy's remarks that India should 'invade' the Maldives if the upcoming presidential election in the island nation was rigged. New Delhi: The government on Sunday distanced itself from BJP MP Subramanian Swamy's remarks that India should "invade" the Maldives if the upcoming presidential election in the island nation was rigged. Two days after a meeting with exiled former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed in Colombo, Swamy had tweeted on Friday that "India should invade Maldives if rigging of election takes place." https://t.co/nazyiRCOKs: India should invade Maldives if rigging of election takes place Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) August 24, 2018 Responding to a query on the BJP parliamentarian's comments, external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "The opinion expressed by Dr Swamy in his tweet is personal. It does not reflect the views of the Government of India." Swamy met Nasheed in Colombo on Tuesday during which the Maldivian leader apprised him about the political situation in his country and expressed concerns that the 23 September presidential election may be rigged by incumbent President Abdullah Yameen. "We discussed the current political situation in the Maldives, upcoming presidential elections and our concerns on how President Yameen intends to rig Sept 23rd election," Nasheed had tweeted after the meeting. On Tuesday, Swamy tweeted that Nasheed was apprehensive of "gross rigging" in the elections and that India cannot allow that to happen as a neighbour. "We need an action plan," Swamy said, adding the "current usurper" President Yameen has "humiliated Indians". In June, the national electoral commission of the Maldives had said Nasheed was disqualified from running the presidential election. Ties between India and the Maldives nosedived after Maldivian president Yameen declared emergency on 5 February following an order by the country's Supreme Court to release a group of Opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely criticised trials. The emergency was lifted 45 days later. Last month, India expressed concern over announcement of elections in the Maldives without allowing democratic institutions, including Parliament and the judiciary, to work in a free and transparent manner. India had said it wanted "credible restoration" of the political process and the rule of law in the island nation before the elections are conducted. DUBLIN (Reuters) - Pope Francis met with eight Irish survivors of clerical, religious and institutional abuse for 90 minutes on Saturday during the first papal visit to Ireland since 1979, a Vatican spokesman said. Those who met the pope included Marie Collins and Paul Redmond, two leading campaigners. DUBLIN (Reuters) - Pope Francis met with eight Irish survivors of clerical, religious and institutional abuse for 90 minutes on Saturday during the first papal visit to Ireland since 1979, a Vatican spokesman said. Those who met the pope included Marie Collins and Paul Redmond, two leading campaigners. Some victims of abuse had wanted for Francis to meet such campaigners who they said would challenge him on the Vatican's role in the scandals. Redmond, who was born in one of Ireland's church-run "Mother and Baby Homes" and adopted at 17-days-old, said in a statement the meeting was cordial and polite and that the pope apologised for what happened in the homes. (Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Edmund Blair) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The Houthi rebels in Yemen's Hodeida have claimed that the Saudi-led coalition have killed dozens but UAE has in turn blamed the Shia rebels Sanaa: Saudi-led coalition air strikes have killed nearly 30 people in Yemen, including four women and 22 children, Shia rebel media reported. But the state media of United Arab Emirates (UAE), a key coalition member, disputed the claim and said the rebels launched the attack, killing one child and injuring dozens. Mohammed Abdul-Salam, spokesman for the Houthi rebels, said on Twitter the coalition attack took place in the ad-Durayhimi district yesterday, 20 kilometres from the port city Hodeida in the countrys west. Other Houthi officials provided lower initial figures saying at least nine were killed. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief the media. The UAEs official news agency WAM, however, reported that the Houthis launched a ballistic missile in the area killing one child and injuring dozens. Neither sides claims could be independently verified. Earlier in August, a Saudi-led coalition air strike in the countrys north killed dozens of people. Rebel-run Al-Masirah reported at least 51 people, including 40 children, were killed and 79 others, including 56 children, were wounded in the airstrike, citing the Yemeni Health Ministry in the capital Sanaa, which is under rebel control. The Saudi-led coalition said it would investigate. Also on Thursday, the Houthis claimed to have hit a Saudi target in the kingdoms waters but the coalition said the attack was thwarted. Al-Masirah reported that the rebels hit a military target with a suitable weapon. It quoted an unnamed Houthi official as saying the target was hit accurately. The Saudi state-run al-Ekhbariya TV channel, citing the coalition, reported that an attack by an explosives-laden boat was thwarted and that necessary measures were taken to protect the coalitions commercial vessels. Houthis attacked Saudi oil shipments in July prompting the kingdoms state oil company to temporarily halt shipments before resuming them later. Impoverished Yemen has been embroiled in the war pitting the coalition against the Iran-aligned Houthis since March 2015. Civilians have been enmeshed over the years in the conflict which has killed over 10,000, crippled the countrys health system and pushed it to the brink of famine. Shinzo Abe confirmed he would run in his ruling party's leadership election, putting him on track to become Japan's longest-serving premier Tokyo: Shinzo Abe confirmed Sunday he would run in his ruling party's leadership election, putting him on track to become Japan's longest-serving premier and bolstering his dream of reforming the constitution. Abe is expected to be re-elected head of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) easily, with the vast majority of lawmakers behind him and only one challenger, former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba. "I have decided to lead Japan as the LDP leader and the prime minister for three more years, and with this determination, I will run for the leadership election next month, (sic)" Abe told reporters in a televised news conference. Winning the 20 September run-off would effectively keep the hawkish Abe in power for another three-year term at the helm of the world's third-largest economy, with no real political party opposition to speak of. Abe pledged Sunday to focus on the demographic issues raised by Japan's rapidly ageing society as well as the "tumultuous changing international situation." His rival Ishiba has also identified demographic concerns and the regional security threat from nuclear-armed North Korea as the two biggest challenges facing Japan. In April, Abe found himself on the ropes amid twin cronyism scandals that reignited the debate over whether he had sufficient backing to win a third term as LDP leader as his approval ratings dipped. But Mikitaka Masuyama, professor of political science at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), predicted the election would be a "landslide victory for Abe, as he has already obtained support from an overwhelming majority of MPs." The election is decided 50-percent by MPs and the other half by the LDP's rank-and-file members. "There is no one else qualified to lead Japan in an environment where (President Donald) Trump's US and China continue their trade battles that could hit the world economy," Masuyama told AFP. Analysts believe Abe, 63, will seize on the expected victory to resume his push to reform Japan's post-war constitution, specifically an article that forces the country to "forever renounce war" and that armed forces will "never be maintained." The article creates a headache for Japan's Self-Defence Forces (SDF), a well-equipped military stuck in a constitutional grey zone. With regional tensions still high, allies have urged Japan to bolster the role of the SDF but former foes in Beijing, Seoul and Pyongyang would likely react furiously. "The revision of the Constitution is a long-held policy goal" of the LDP, Abe said earlier in August. "We cannot keep just discussing (it)," he said. Revising the Allied-imposed Constitution is a very sensitive matter in pacifist Japan and 5 August poll in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper showed 52 percent of people were opposed to changing it, compared to 31 percent in favour. Moreover, more than two-thirds of people in an NHK poll in April said there were more pressing issues in Japan, which continues to battle deflation and problems relating to an ageing society. According to Masuyama, Abe intends "to clarify the role of the Self-Defense Forces, and nothing more," whereas defence hawk Ishiba prefers a deeper reform of Japan's military strategy. "It's unthinkable that Japan would take a path towards military power," said the analyst. Abe took power in December 2012 after a landslide general election victory for the LDP, making a dramatic comeback after a bowel ailment forced him to resign the premiership in 2007 following a year in the role. Currently, the longest serving Japanese prime minister is Taro Katsura, who served as premier three times between June 1901 to February 1913. If Abe serves beyond November 2019, completing more than 2,886 days as premier including his 2006-2007 term, he will be the longest serving prime minister in the country's history. President of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Manjit Singh GK was attacked in California allegedly by pro-Khalistan individuals, during which one of his associates was injured. New York: President of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Manjit Singh GK was attacked in California allegedly by pro-Khalistan individuals, during which one of his associates was injured. #WATCH: Akali Dal leader & Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee member Manjeet Singh GK attacked, face blackened outside a Gurdwara in California. 3 people have been arrested in connection with the attack. #USA (25.08.18) pic.twitter.com/HdhnlJn8zP ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2018 Singh, who had travelled to California following a visit to New York, said the purpose of his visit was to hold discussions among the Sikh community about the 550th birthday anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak, to be commemorated next year. This is the second attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader. He was earlier attacked in New York. Singh was visiting the main Gurudwara in Yuba City, California on Saturday when, he said, a group of 30-35 people supporting the 'Khalistan 2020 referendum' attacked him. "I am hurt. They pushed me and kicked me brutally. It was a brutal murderous attack," he told PTI over phone from California. He said one of his associates has been hospitalised while the police has arrested three people in connection with the attack. The DSGMC chief said that the attack will not deter or intimidate him. "We are not going to shy away," he said, adding that those demanding Khalistan can continue their fight but resorting to violence is not the answer. "We will not be part of this fight for Khalistan," he said. Meanwhile, 'Sikhs For Justice' (SFJ), a group demanding justice for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims and supporting the 'Khalistan 2020 referendum', in a statement issued through its legal adviser Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, accused Singh and his supporters of "instigating violent attacks on pro-Khalistan activists" who were "peacefully protesting" in the SAD leader's presence in Yuba City Gurdwara. Pannun said the SFJ has also filed a complaint against Singh with the US Department of Justice for violations of the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) laws. He said SFJ filed the complaint against Singh for holding, attending and addressing political gatherings in the US in violations of FARA laws. "We will now ask US Immigration to take notice of illegal activities of Singh and make him inadmissible to the United States," he said. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. federal judge on Saturday rejected key elements of President Donald Trump's May executive orders that would make it easier to fire federal employees and reduce their ability to bargain collectively. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, of the U.S. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. federal judge on Saturday rejected key elements of President Donald Trump's May executive orders that would make it easier to fire federal employees and reduce their ability to bargain collectively. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, said in a court order that Trump's orders, which also would reduce the amount of time low-performing employees had to improve their performance before being fired, "undermine federal employees' right to bargain collectively." Trump signed three executive orders in May that administration officials said would give government agencies greater ability to remove employees with "poor" performance, obtain "better deals" in union contracts and require federal employees with union responsibilities to spend less time on union work. The directives drew immediate criticism from the American Federation of Government Employees, which said the moves would hurt veterans, law enforcement officers and others. Jackson ruled that while the president has the authority to issue executive orders relating to federal labor relations, the orders cannot "eviscerate the right to bargain collectively" as envisioned in a long-standing federal statute. "The President must be deemed to have exceeded his authority in issuing (the orders)," Jackson ruled. (Reporting by Yasmeen Abutaleb in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler and Matthew Lewis) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. More than 70 years after the end of World War II, Germany remains littered with unexploded ordnance, a legacy of the intense Allied bombing campaign against Nazi Germany Frankfurt: A German bomb disposal team Sunday successfully defused an unexploded World War II bomb that had forced the evacuation of 18,500 people in the city of Ludwigshafen. The 500-kg (1,100-pound) aerial bomb, thought to have been dropped by American forces, was discovered during construction work earlier in the week. "Good news: the bomb has been defused! Citizens may return to their homes," the city of Ludwigshafen said on its official Twitter feed. It also posted a picture of the freshly unearthed, corroded bomb, strapped to a pallet before being removed from the area. Authorities in the western city had ordered all those living within a 1,000-metre (0.6-mile) radius of the bomb site to leave their homes from 08.00 am (0600 GMT) as a precaution ahead of the defusing operation. It took the bomb squad just over an hour to complete the delicate task, and the all-clear was given shortly after 2.00 pm. More than 70 years after the end of World War II, Germany remains littered with unexploded ordnance, a legacy of the intense Allied bombing campaign against Nazi Germany. In the biggest post-war evacuation to date, some 60,000 Frankfurt residents were evacuated 2017 so that an unexploded 1.8-tonne British bomb dubbed the "blockbuster" could be defused. In April, thousands had to clear an area around Berlin's central railway station after another British bomb was discovered on a building site. Unexploded munitions have also complicated the work of firefighters this summer, with forest fires sparked by a spell of hot, dry weather setting off long-buried ordnance, causing small explosions on several occasions. Shares of The TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX) rallied 5% to an all-time high on Aug. 21 after the off-price retailer posted strong second quarter numbers. TJX's revenue rose 12% annually to $9.3 billion, capping off the company's third straight quarter of double-digit sales growth. Its GAAP earnings rose 38% to $1.17 per share, topping expectations by $0.12. On a non-GAAP basis, which excluded an $0.18 benefit from recent tax reform, its EPS rose 16% to $0.99. Let's take a closer look at those growth figures and see if the stock is still worth buying after its near-40% rally this year. How fast is TJX growing? TJX owns stores operating under the brand names T.J. Maxx, T.K Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, HomeSense, Sierra Trading Post, and Winners. The company operates over 4,000 stores in nine countries, all of which sell brand name products at a 20% to 60% discount to traditional retailers. TJX accomplishes this by sending over 1,000 buying associates to purchase goods from more than 20,000 vendors in over 100 countries. The scale of that buying network enables TJX to buy clearance items at rock-bottom prices, often from brick-and-mortar retailers that are struggling. This unique business model enables TJX to sell its products at lower prices than online marketplaces like Amazon and superstores like Walmart. In fact, the company benefits from Amazon and Walmart crushing smaller retailers, since it feeds even cheaper clearance products into its stores. TJX frequently rotates its merchandise, which encourages shoppers to keep returning to its stores to hunt for bargains. That strategy's success is reflected in its comps and sales growth over the past several quarters. Q2 2018 Q3 2018 Q4 2018 Q1 2019 Q2 2019 Comparable store sales growth 3% 0% 4% 3% 6% Revenue growth 6% 6% 16% 12% 12% TJX reported comps growth across all its brands during the quarter: Marmaxx's (Marshall's/Maxx) comps jumped 7%, HomeGoods' comps rose 3%, TJX Canada's comps climbed 6%, and TJX International's comps grew 4%. For the third quarter, which is seasonally weaker, TJX expects its consolidated comps to grow 2%-3%, supported by 3%-4% comps growth at Marmaxx. For the full year, it expects 3-4% consolidated comps growth, compared to just 2% growth in fiscal 2018. How profitable is TJX? Unlike many other brick-and-mortar retailers, which are struggling to preserve their gross margins, TJX's gross margin is holding steady. Its gross margin rose 40 basis points annually to 28.9% during the third quarter, buoyed by inventory hedges that strengthened year-over-year comparisons. For the third quarter , TJX expects its gross margin to come in between 28.9% and 29%, compared to 29.8% in the prior year quarter. TJX attributes that slight decline to "a significant unfavorable year-over-year impact related to our inventory hedges." Looking ahead, TJX expects rising wages and currency impacts to weigh down its earnings, but its guidance still looks decent. For the third quarter, it expects its adjusted earnings (which exclude significant tax reform benefits) to grow 0% to 2%. For the full year, it expects its adjusted EPS to rise 6% to 8%. What about the valuations? Based on the company's forecasts and its current price of $106, TJX trades at about 22 times this year's earnings. But if we exclude the tax reform boost, the stock actually trades at about 26 times this year's earnings -- which doesn't seem cheap relative to its growth potential. However, TJX's valuation is in-line with those of other off-price retailers. For example, TJX rival Ross Stores trades at about 23 times this year's earnings. Unlike Ross, TJX also has a solid track record of rewarding shareholders with dividends and buybacks, which could attract income investors and tighten its valuations. The company spent $844 million on buybacks and dividends last quarter and currently pays a forward dividend yield of 1.6%. Ross pays a much lower yield of 1%. Is it too late to buy TJX? TJX's top line growth is impressive, but there's too much growth priced into the stock at these levels, especially if we strip away the one-time tax benefits. TJX is still a solid long-term investment, but investors should wait for a pullback before pulling the trigger. When the curtain closes on 2018, there's a very good chance it'll go down as the most productive and progressive year in history for the legal marijuana industry. One of the biggest events of the year is set to take place in less than eight weeks. On Oct. 17, Canada will officially lift the gate on recreational marijuana sales to adults. Once legal, sales are expected to soar, with the industry pulling in up to $5 billion in added annual sales when fully ramped up. The expectation of billions of dollars in added revenue is what's coerced investors to dive headfirst into marijuana stocks. Aside from Canada legalizing adult-use weed, we've witnessed over-the-counter-listed pot stocks uplist to reputable exchanges, observed as a traditionally Republican-leaning U.S. state approved medical cannabis, and stood in awe as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave the green light to the very first cannabis-derived drug. It's truly been a banner year. Canopy Growth has surpassed these time-tested companies in market cap Still, lost among all of these "marijuana firsts" is just how large some of the top-tier marijuana stocks have grown, in terms of market cap. The largest marijuana stock of all, Canopy Growth Corporation (NASDAQ:CGC), was making waves earlier this year when it was nipping at a nearly $4 billion valuation -- an almost unthinkable market cap without knowing if the Cannabis Act would be passed in Canada. Yet, as of market close on Aug. 20, Canopy Growth had a market cap of $8.4 billion. Though much of its recent surge in market cap is a result of Corona and Modelo beer owner Constellation Brands taking an additional equity stake of $3.8 billion in the company at a 51% premium to the closing price prior to the investment announcement, the fact of the matter is, Canopy Growth is now larger than a number of time-tested companies. Here's just a small sampling of more than 100-year-old, highly profitable businesses that are now looking up at Canopy Growth Corp. in the market-cap column: Harley-Davidson: American motorcycle kingpin Harley-Davidson NYSE:HOG) drawn the ire of President Trump for its decision to move some of its production to foreign markets as a result of tariffs increasing material costs. As a result, Harley-Davidson's shareholders have taken a licking, with the company's market cap now clinging to the $7 billion mark. American motorcycle kingpin drawn the ire of President Trump for its decision to move some of its production to foreign markets as a result of tariffs increasing material costs. As a result, Harley-Davidson's shareholders have taken a licking, with the company's market cap now clinging to the $7 billion mark. Foot Locker: Known as the one-stop-shop for brand-name footwear and accessories, Foot Locker NYSE:FL) Known as the one-stop-shop for brand-name footwear and accessories, Xerox: Founded in 1906 and best known for its copying machines decorating practically every office regardless of size, Xerox NYSE:XRX) Founded in 1906 and best known for its copying machines decorating practically every office regardless of size, Whirlpool: Like Harley-Davidson, appliance maker Whirlpool NYSE:WHR) wreaked havoc on its stock. In spite of having 110 years of operating history under its belt, Whirlpool's most recent quarterly stumble has pushed its market cap down to $8.3 billion, just below that of Canopy Growth. Canopy Growth has some big expectations to live up to Understandably, there's some cherry-picking involved, here. For instance, trying to compare the rapidly expanding cannabis industry (which could see triple-digit growth for a couple of years in Canada as the supply chain ramps up) to, say, Xerox, which is traditionally a low- to mid-single-digit growth business, is comparing an apple to an orange. However, there's no denying the head-scratching that ensues when looking at the consistent profits that Harley-Davidson, Foot Locker, Xerox, and Whirlpool bring to the table when compared to Canopy Growth's still nascent top-line figure and widening net loss, as of its most recent quarter. Here's a quick breakdown of how much net income these time-tested businesses have generated over the trailing-12-month period, according to Yahoo! Finance: Harley-Davidson: $494 million $494 million Foot Locker: $269 million $269 million Xerox: $101 million $101 million Whirlpool: minus $555 million (includes a number of one-time charges) With the exception of Whirlpool, which took an $860 million non-cash asset impairment charge in the second quarter, these time-tested businesses are churning out big profits. Whirlpool's five-year average per-year profit is $661 million. Meanwhile Harley-Davidson, Foot Locker, and Xerox have churned out respective five-year average profits of $706 million, $504 million, and $430 million. Where's Canopy Growth Corp.? Well, it hasn't turned a full-year profit as of yet. In fact, its fiscal first-quarter operating results show a more than sixfold increase in its per-share loss, with its net loss widening to 90.8 million Canadian dollars ($69.6 million). Despite an expected 310% increase in sales this fiscal year, Canopy Growth is projected to lose money. Strong profitability is no assured thing The truth of the matter is that Canopy Growth isn't assured of big profits, even if it's ahead of the field in terms of distribution channels, partnerships, and production capacity. The biggest issue that could plague marijuana stocks like Canopy Growth is the uncertainty that surrounds the supply-and-demand outlook. An initial shortage appears likely given that growers had to wait until the Cannabis Act was sure to pass before spending on capacity expansion projects. While this should result in a higher per-gram cannabis price, growers aren't going to be able to take full advantage of it since their production will still be ramping up. When production is fully online, states like Colorado, Washington, and Oregon suggest that growers will grossly overproduce and tank the per-gram price for dried cannabis, thusly hurting margins. It could take years for the marijuana supply and demand to find harmony, which could mean weaker-than-expected sales and/or profits. Additionally, there aren't any guarantees that the legal market will be able to pull enough sales away from the illegal channels to meet investors' lofty expectations. Even though Canada's federal government is being aggressive by setting a relatively low excise tax rate of roughly 10% on recreational weed, investors have to remember that black-market marijuana has no excise tax to pay, no marketing or packaging costs to incorporate, or rent to pay via a licensed dispensary. It could be very difficult for legal weed to compete with illicit pot, which may throw Canopy Growth's sales estimates into doubt. Clearly, there's still a lot for Canopy Growth to prove to Wall Street and investors, which makes this a stock that could be worth avoiding for the time being. The amendment also establishes a $1 million payment that Sajudin would be responsible for making to AMI "in the event Source breaches this provision." "Mr. Sajudin has been unable to discuss the circumstances regarding his deal with American Media Inc. and the story that he sold to them, due to a significant financial penalty," Held told CNN. "Just recently, AMI released Mr. Sajudin from the terms of his agreement and he is now able to speak about his personal experience with them, as well as his story, which is now known to be one of the 'catch and kill' pieces. Mr. Sajudin hopes the truth will come out in the very near future." The New Yorker's Ronan Farrow broke the story in April of how the contract came into existence. Farrow reported that the New Yorker obtained an "unexecuted copy" of the contract. CNN has obtained a copy that was signed by Sajudin. In April, Sajudin told CNN he claims to have knowledge of a relationship Trump had with his former housekeeper that resulted in a child. At the time, AMI called Sajudin's story "not credible" and denied any connection between the story and Trump and his then-personal attorney Michael Cohen. The White House did not respond to CNN's requests for comments in April. CNN has contacted AMI to clarify whether Sajudin has now been released from the contract to be able to speak on terms of the agreement and to seek reaction on this latest development, but has yet to receive a response. U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Transcript Presenter: Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis August 24, 2018 Remarks by Secretary Mattis at the U.S. Transportation Command change-of-command ceremony, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois SECRETARY OF DEFENSE JAMES N. MATTIS: Well, thank you, ladies and gentlemen. And what a wonderful, bright, sunny day this is for Transportation Command. It's a reminder that we have an all-weather command here. And I would just say General Dunford, General McDew, General Lyons, all our distinguished guests who've come out, the TRANSCOM team, the 375th Air Mobility Wing, Representative Shimkus. Thank you for your leadership, sir. Your leadership, your support of the Department of Defense and of this command in particular. And I would cite that at a time when people wonder whether or not our country can pull together, to look at the U.S. Congress' support for the Department of Defense as an example, not only of what the department represents to our country, but of Americans pulling together. I would just tell you, too, that we have Gold Star families here today. And a special recognition to you. We do not forget, in the Department of Defense, the cost that your families have paid for paying the cost of freedom, no matter what the odds against us. When you see the connectivity and the capability and -- of this remarkable TRANSCOM team, any doubts about America's military might fade immediately. What remains is a deep respect for how General McDew had led the way during his tenure, and the devotion of this joint command's far-flung civil military team; thus, recognition of the high expectations that we hold for General Lyons, as he takes on the responsibilities of his new role as the commander of U.S. Transportation Command. The ones that I call miracle workers. I want to make mention to the families right up front, a recognition that brings our gratitude and our respect to you. General McDew's family: Evelyn; Keisha; Keith; your husband Rick, Keisha; and Rebecca, Keith, your wife; and little Henry, who I had the honor to meet last night. Good to see you here, Henry. I would just tell you that, Evelyn, that we could not only have been recognized better by what you've done here, and what you have brought to this command -- the human touch, Evelyn, that you bring everywhere you have been in your life. It is -- you are the better 98 percent of the McDew family. And here, I am quoting General McDew, by the way. (Laughter.) Through 35-year partnership, Evelyn, you have also been a positive source of strength for the families of those in service to our nation. And with your always-present support at births, at promotions, at retirement ceremonies -- all the recognitions that go on in the military as we hold our family together, and you give out what I know are legendary hugs. Thank you for every one of those that you have given to us, spreading goodwill everywhere you go, Evelyn. And I would say, too, constantly inspiring all of us to be in touch with our human side. To Keisha and Keith, I know your dad must have missed quite a few birthdays, quite a few holidays when you wished he had been there while you were growing up. So thank you for loaning him to your country again and again, and for the challenges that you withstood as our military family. Our country depends on families like yours. General Lyons, your family that joins us here today -- Maureen, Cara, Dylan, and your siblings, too -- you are no strangers to the sacrifice of military service. Thank you for supporting your husband, your dad, your brother over three and a half decades of service, and so many transfers from one station to another, and for continuing to support him in this new endeavor. At least it's a familiar haunt for your family; you've been here many times. There will undoubtedly be more long hours when he's away from home. And when those hours away drag on, please know that he is the reason that our warfighters have the support they need to deploy, to fight and win anywhere, in any domain. From the earliest times in history, the ability to swiftly move troops and equipment to the front lines has been an essential condition for military victory. Well before the locomotive barreled down the track, Hannibal formed his own Alpine train, marching his 40,000-man army over the Alps from Spain to Italy. He chose to support that army with a pack train with the animal of choice, elephants. And had it not been that the president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, turned down the king of Siam, pachyderms might have had a role in our military mobility as well. But President Lincoln declined that offer. Opted instead for a different mode of troop and materiel transport, and that was the United States military railroad, which boosted the logistical output during the war by a factor of 10, denying the Confederacy their benefit of interior lines. TRANSCOM has inherited this mission in modern times, employing creative solutions. And this joint command is no stranger to logistic feats of impressive proportions. In 1987, President Reagan saw the need for this command of a unified military mobility framework, and USTRANSCOM was born, becoming one of the big boys as its first commander, General Duane Cassidy, characterized this coming of age. It didn't take long for your predecessors to prove their mettle in the most challenging of circumstances, when Iraq invaded Kuwait three years later. As is usual in crises, there was little time to prepare. A massive force was moved across the globe, stopping any further attack beyond Kuwait. TRANSCOM rose to the challenge with remarkable speed and grit, helping to seal that victory in Operation Desert Storm, and providing a benchmark, a strong benchmark, a high benchmark for future military logistics. It was TRANSCOM's coming-out event, and proved its worth with superior performance. Today, this TRANSCOM team has carried forward that awesome legacy of years past under General McDew's insightful leadership. General McDew, I'm very sorry to see you leave active service. After all, you are the sole four-star I have who has a visually confirmed brain. If the doctors from your brain surgery were here, I'm sure they would agree it's a very impressive brain. (Laughter.) And I would join you, Evelyn, with a big hug and thanks for your -- your husband's doctors and nurses. Over 36 years of service, General McDew, you have shown an unwavering commitment to the protection of this nation from any foe, human or natural. And from the ratline at VMI -- and I know some of your VMI rat classmates are here, somewhere in the audience. There you are. Good to see you sober this morning. (Laughter.) I would just say -- and then you went on to flying KC-135s, sitting on alert at Loring Air Force Base, to serving as the commander of the Pelicans of the 14th Airlift Squadron, who are also here somewhere in the audience. Good to have you here. You've been the Air Force aide to the president, Clinton, and everything in between including, remarkably, commanding all four major commands on this base, the only officer in history to have done so. You have been a role model, General McDew, of devotion to duty and competence in our profession. Now, you've described your career as being all over the map. And that's very accurate, geographically. But you have never failed to embrace opportunity and allow room for the beauty of the unexpected, and then deliver results. You were never one to over-promise, but you always over-delivered. All the skills and perspective you picked up along the way, sir, you have brought to bear at the helm of this extraordinary team at the pinnacle of your career of commitment to our nation and defense of our Constitution. To borrow your own words, you were built to be here at Scott. In carrying out your command duties, you have integrated our National Defense Strategy and priorities into the operations, recognizing that mobility and agility form the core of a more lethal military. You have strengthened relations with allies who require TRANSCOM's enabling capabilities so they can join us on far-flung battlefields. Your leadership style fosters collaboration and initiative that we have all witnessed; spurring progress, whether it be in data analytics, or moving to that high-potential cloud-based platform and strengthening our important relations with industry. All of these reflect a keen focus on warfighter effectiveness, a focus that will continue to guide this critical command for years to come. So on behalf of the Department of Defense, thank you to the entire TRANSCOM team for your efforts. While others outside DOD may find it difficult to comprehend all that you do to keep America strong, you can be certain that America and our allies feel the impact of your actions every day. So, General, as you pass command to General Lyons, you can be proud of the foundation built on your watch. And, General Lyons, I've -- I've called you up from Washington, D.C. -- you lucky dog -- (Laughter.) -- to pick up where General McDew leaves off. As you return to the heartland, I charge you with taking TRANSCOM to the next level in continuing to adapt its capabilities to meet the challenges of the storm clouds that we see gathering. Your experience as our logistics director on the Joint Staff, as the former TRANSCOM deputy commander, and so many other posts, have earned you an enviable professional record, and the full confidence of your peers and your superiors. In the words of Churchill, "Victory is a beautiful, bright-colored flower. Transportation is the stem without which it would never have blossomed." So, General Lyons, as the primary guardian of the most responsive strategic mobility capability in the world, I trust you to tend to that stem, for it will continue to be the backbone of our military success. I have no doubt your command will remain the best in the world. Thank you. (APPLAUSE) http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Transcripts/Transcript-View/Article/1612074/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen's Ansarullah targets Saudi sea base IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Aug 24, IRNA -- Yemen Army and popular forces targeted a Saudi sea base in Red Sea near Aramco oil installations, south of Saudi Arabia. According to Al-Massira, a military source said without providing further details about the target that the army's naval force carried out a special operation on Saudi territorial waters in the Red Sea and hit a military base. Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said that only a military base has been hit during the attack. However, Saudi media outlets confirmed the attack, saying that an attack by a boat laded with explosives near Aramco facilities in Jizan, south of Saudi Arabia. Over 14,000 Yemenis have been killed and thousands more injured since the onset of the Saudi-led aggression on Yemen in March 2015. The United Nations says a record 22.2 million Yemenis are in need of food aid, including 8.4 million threatened by severe hunger. 8072**1396 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 140 Saudi-led coalition forces killed over past 48 hours IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Aug 24, IRNA -- Some 140 Saudi-led coalition's forces were killed during the clashes with the Yemeni Army and popular committees in Al-Hudaidah province over the past 48 hours. According to Al-Massira news network, 236 others were wounded during the clashes between Yemeni Army and popular committees and forces affiliated to the Yemen's resigned president Abd-Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a close ally of Riyadh. A military official said on the condition of anonymity that of the 140 killed over the past, 40 were killed on Wednesday and 100 on Thursday. 186 were wounded today (Thursday) and 50 on Wednesday. Mansur Hadi's forces wanted to advance to the city of al-Darihami, south of Hodeidah but they faced resistance of the popular forces and were finally defeated. Since March 2015, Saudi Arabia and some of its Arab allies have been carrying out deadly, indiscriminate airstrikes on civilians in an attempt to restore power to fugitive president, Abd-Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a close ally of Riyadh. Over 14,000 Yemenis, including thousands of women and children, have lost their lives in the deadly Saudi aggression. 8072**1396 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address MCSC teams with Marines to build world's first continuous 3D-printed concrete barracks US Marine Corps News By Kaitlin Kelly | Marine Corps Systems Command | August 24, 2018 CHAMPAIGN, IL -- The Marine Corps is leading the way in employing advanced technologies and robotic construction. Earlier this month, the Additive Manufacturing Team at Marine Corps Systems Command teamed up with Marines from I Marine Expeditionary Force to operate the world's largest concrete 3D printer at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center in Champaign, Illinois. As a joint effort between the Marine Corps, Army and Navy Seabees, an expeditionary concrete 3D printer was used to print a 500-square-foot barracks hut in 40 hours. The Marine Corps is currently staffing a deliberate urgent needs statement and concept of employment for this technology. The results of the field user evaluation will inform future requirements to give the Corps a concrete construction additive manufacturing program of record. "This exercise had never been done before," said Capt. Matthew Friedell, AM project officer in MCSC's Operations and Programs/G-3. "People have printed buildings and large structures, but they haven't done it onsite and all at once. This is the first-in-the-world, onsite continuous concrete print." The team started with a computer-aided design model on a 10-year old computer, concrete and a 3D printer. Once they hit print, the concrete was pushed through the print head and layered repeatedly to build the walls. In total, the job took 40 hours because Marines had to monitor progress and continually fill the printer with concrete. However, if there was a robot to do the mixing and pumping, the building could easily be created in one day, Friedell said. "In 2016, the commandant said robots should be doing everything that is dull, dangerous and dirty, and a construction site on the battlefield is all of those things," Friedell said. The ability to build structures and bases while putting fewer Marines in danger would be a significant accomplishment, he said. "In active or simulated combat environments, we don't want Marines out there swinging hammers and holding plywood up," said Friedell. "Having a concrete printer that can make buildings on demand is a huge advantage for Marines operating down range." It normally takes 10 Marines five days to construct a barracks hut out of wood. With this FUE, the Marine Corps proved four Marines with a concrete printer can build a strong structure in less than two days. Ideally, the Corps' use of concrete printers will span the full range of military operations, from combat environments to humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions. As the first military services on site in natural disasters, the Navy and Marine Corps are great at providing food and water, but struggle to provide shelter, Friedell said. In many locations, cement is easier to acquire than wood. During humanitarian or disaster relief missions, Marines could safely and quickly print houses, schools and community buildings to replace those destroyed. "This capability would enable a great partnership with the local community because it is low cost, easy to use, and robotics could print the buildings," Friedell said. "We can bring forward better structures, houses and forward operating bases with less manpower and fewer Marines in harm's way." The AM Team plans to conduct further testing and wants to get the capability into the hands of more Marines to inform future requirements for cutting-edge technology and autonomous systems. "Our future operating environment is going to be very kinetic and dangerous because we don't necessarily know what we're going into," said Friedell. "The more we can pull Marines out of those potentially dangerous situationswhether it's active combat or natural disasterand place robotics there instead, it helps us accomplish the mission more efficiently." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK, EU condemn huge Israeli settlement plans in occupied West Bank Iran Press TV Fri Aug 24, 2018 01:00PM The British government and the European Union have condemned the Israel's recent approval of plans for the construction of hundreds of new housing units in the occupied West Bank irrespective of the international outcry against the Tel Aviv regime's land expropriation and settlement expansion policies in the occupied Palestinian territories. British Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa, Alistair Burt, called on Israel "to halt such counter-productive action" and encouraged "all parties to commit to further efforts to de-escalate current tensions and create the right environment for a just and lasting peace." "Settlements are illegal under international law and remain one of the obstacles to a viable two state solution," Burt said in a statement. The Europe Union also censured the Israeli regime over the settlement construction approvals. "If implemented, these plans would further jeopardize the prospect of a contiguous and viable future Palestinian state," a spokesperson said in a statement. The condemnation came just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he wanted to strengthen Israel's ties with eastern European and non-EU countries in a bid to "balance the EU's unfriendly attitude" towards the Tel Aviv regime and get better treatment in Brussels. Also on Friday, Turkey condemned Israel's endorsement of new housing units in the occupied West Bank. "We strongly condemn the approval by Israel to build over 2,000 additional units in the West Bank, which is under Israeli occupation," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The statement added that the "actions taken in disregard of international law and relevant UN Resolutions" would damage the ongoing peace process in the region, underlining that Israel's practices violate the "inalienable rights of Palestinian people." Turkey also called upon the international community to oppose Israel's plan to build more illegal settlements in the West Bank. On Wednesday, the so-called Israeli Civil Administration Higher Planning Council approved construction of 2,000 settler units, including 1,000 completely ones, in the West Bank. According to Hebrew-language Israeli news outlets, 55 units will be built in Beit El settlement, while 200 others will be constructed in Maale Efrayim. Another 30 units will be constructed in Ateneul settlement. Hundreds more settler units will be erected in Alfeh Minashei, Beit Aryeh and Adam settlements. Less than a month before US President Donald Trump took office, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2334, calling on Israel to "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem" al-Quds. About 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 illegal settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem al-Quds. Palestinians want the West Bank as part of a future independent Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem al-Quds as its capital. The last round of Israeli-Palestinian talks collapsed in 2014. Among the major sticking points in those negotiations was Israel's continued settlement expansion on Palestinian territories. Trump backtracked on Washington's support for a "two-state solution" earlier this year, saying he would support any solution favored by both sides. "Looking at two-state or one-state, I like the one that both parties like. I'm very happy with the one both parties like. I can live with either one," the US president said during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington on February 15. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Duterte says US arms have no use for Philippines Iran Press TV Fri Aug 24, 2018 07:24AM Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says the United States is seeking talks over his procurement plan for military equipment amid Manila's plan to purchase weapons from Russia. Speaking at a military event in his hometown of Davao on Thursday, Duterte said he had received a letter signed by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Secretary of Defense James Mattis. The letter, he said, urged Manila to buy Bell combat utility helicopters and Cessna utility aircraft from an American company. What his country needed were attack helicopters and small planes for counter-militancy operations, Duterte said. He said America's military equipment has no use for his country, adding the Philippines no longer will accept second-hand weapons from the United States. "What I need are just propeller-driven planes for anti-insurgency." he said. "We don't need F-16 and yet they dangle [it] before us after they insulted us." A senior Pentagon official visited the Philippines last week, advising Manila against buying Russian weapon systems and platforms. US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs Randall Schriver said Washington "can be a better partner than the Russians can be to the Philippines." Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is expected to meet his Russian counterpart this week about the possibility of buying Russian arms. US not reliable Duterte further said there is no guarantee he could get what he has already bought from Washington. "Prove to me first that you are in utter good faith," he said arguing that US lawmakers could block arms supplies to Manila whenever they please. "I would like to remind America all of them...how sure (are they) that I will be able to get what I bought?" said Duterte who pledged not to visit the United States. The US has long been the Philippines' main supplier of military equipment. Duterte, however, scrapped a deal to buy assault rifles from Washington two years ago, when some US lawmakers campaigned to block the arms, citing human rights violations in the Philippines. The Philippines, under President Duterte, has forged closer trade and defense ties with both Russia and China. Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev to Manila said on Thursday that all countries should respect the will of the Philippines as a sovereign nation to build a new partnership with Moscow. The administration of US President Donald Trump has dropped some restrictions on sales of US weapons to bolster the American arms industry. The White House announced in April an update to its policy on the transfer of military equipment to promote US exports, specifically armed drones. Drones have been deployed both by the Pentagon in support of overt deployments in the so-called war on terror and by the CIA for covert targeted strikes to kill suspected militants. However, thousands of civilians have been killed in such US strikes in the Middle East, South Asia and the Horn of Africa. The United States is the world's biggest arms exporter and Saudi Arabia has been its biggest client in recent years. More than 14,700 Yemenis, many of them women and children, have been killed in the Saudi war since 2015. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bolton Says U.S. Won't Oppose Kosovo-Serbia Land Swap Deal RFE/RL August 24, 2018 KYIV -- White House national-security adviser John Bolton has said that the United States would not oppose a territorial exchange between Kosovo and Serbia to resolve their long-running dispute provided Pristina and Belgrade work out a "mutually satisfactory settlement" between themselves. Bolton made the remarks on August 24 at a press conference in Kyiv where he was asked by RFE/RL what he thought about the idea exchanging territories between Kosovo and Serbia. "I think there are new signs that both governments very quietly may be willing to negotiate on this," Bolton said about a Kosovo-Serbia territorial exchange. "Our policy, the U.S. policy, is that if the two parties can work it out between themselves and reach agreement, we don't exclude territorial adjustments. It's really not for us to say." "We would not stand in the way, and I don't think anybody in Europe would stand in the way if the two parties to the dispute reached a mutually satisfactory settlement," Bolton said. "We're ready from a distance or up close to help out," Bolton added. "We don't think we're going to solve it for them. We think they've got to solve it for themselves." Earlier in August, senior government officials in Kosovo and Serbia indicated a willingness to consider border changes as part of a peace process aimed at ending a dispute over Kosovo's independence that has hampered both country's accession to the European Union. 'Correction Of Borders' That willingness became apparent after Serbia's Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic met with Bolton in Washington in late July and said the United States was, for the first time, "prepared to hear creative solutions to possible problems, including Kosovo." Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia in February 2008 has been recognized by more than 100 UN member countries. But Belgrade, backed by Russia, refuses to recognize Kosovo as a state. Kosovo's President Hashim Thaci has suggested that the idea of unifying Serbia's southernmost Presevo Valley region with Kosovo should be raised during the next round of EU-mediated talks between Pristina and Belgrade, which are expected to take place in Brussels in September. Ethnic Albanians form an overwhelming majority of the residents in the Presevo Valley, as well as in southern Serbia's nearby regions of Bujanovac and Medvedja. On August 6, Thaci defended his proposal saying he was open to discussing what he called a "correction of borders" in order to normalize relations with Serbia. But Kosovo's president rejected the idea of dividing Kosovo's territory along ethnic lines -- including the predominantly ethnic-Serb region of northern Kosovo. Separated from the rest of the country by the Ibar River, northern Kosovo is home to about 50,000 ethnic Serbs who oppose Pristina's rule and still look to the government in Belgrade as their government. Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic has said Thaci's proposal could be an opportunity to reach a compromise and resolve Belgrade's long-running differences with Kosovo. 'Very Dangerous Message' The U.S. State Department says the full normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo is "essential for regional stability." "Now is the time for the parties to be creative and flexible," a State Department spokesman told RFE/RL in early August. But critics warn that the entire Balkan region could be destabilized by a swap of a predominantly ethnic Albanian part of southern Serbia for mostly ethnic Serb populated parts of northern Kosovo. A joint letter sent to EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on August 7 by more than two dozen civil society organizations in Serbia and Kosovo warns that "the division of Kosovo or the exchange of territories between Kosovo and Serbia" on the basis of ethnicity risks destabilizing the Balkans. "More frequent mentions of the possibility of redrawing the borders send a very dangerous message to the citizens of Serbia and Kosovo, as well as to the entire region, that there is a real possibility of legitimizing a dangerous propaganda of ethnic ownership over the territory -- a principle that has pushed the region on several occasions into bloody conflicts," the letter says. With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service in Kyiv and RFE/RL's Balkan Service in Pristina and Belgrade Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bolton-says-u-s-won-t-oppose-kosovo- serbia-land-swap-deal/29451395.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN agency chiefs condemn Saudi-coalition led air strike that killed dozens in western Yemen 24 August 2018 - The UN humanitarian chief, Mark Lowcock, and the head of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), Henrietta Fore, have condemned the deadly air strike in Hudaydah governorate, in western Yemen, that killed at least 26 children and four women on Thursday. "This is the second time in two weeks that an air strike by the Saudi-led Coalition has resulted in dozens of civilian casualties," said Mr. Lowcock, noting that "an additional air strike in Al Durayhimi on Thursday resulted in the death of four children". Yemen's conflict has its roots in uprisings that date back to 2011, but fighting escalated in March 2015, when an international coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervened militarily at the request of Yemen's President. Echoing a recent statement by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Mr. Lowcock, who is the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, called for an impartial, independent and prompt investigation into these most recent incidents. "I am also deeply concerned by the proximity of attacks to humanitarian sites, including health facilities and water and sanitation infrastructure," he stressed, adding that "the UN and its partners are doing all they can to reach people with assistance". Similar shock was expressed by UNICEF's Executive Director who stated that she had hoped that the "outrage that followed the Saada attack" two weeks ago would be "a turning point in the conflict," and that these latest attacks indicate that it was not. Mr. Lowcok highlighted the need for improved humanitarian access and for conflict-affected civilians to have the ability to voluntarily flee the fighting to access humanitarian assistance too. Both officials called the parties to the conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and those with influence over them the UN Security Council and the international community to ensure that "everything possible is done to protect civilians", and to "end this conflict once and for all". According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Yemen is the world's largest humanitarian operation as three in four Yemenis are in need of aid. In 2018, so far, the UN and its partners have reached more than eight million people with direct life-saving assistance. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Security Council welcomes results of Mali's presidential elections 24 August 2018 - The UN humanitarian chief, Mark Lowcock, and the head of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), Henrietta Fore, have condemned the deadly air strike in Hudaydah governorate, in western Yemen, that killed at least 26 children and four women on Thursday. "This is the second time in two weeks that an air strike by the Saudi-led Coalition has resulted in dozens of civilian casualties," said Mr. Lowcock, noting that "an additional air strike in Al Durayhimi on Thursday resulted in the death of four children". Yemen's conflict has its roots in uprisings that date back to 2011, but fighting escalated in March 2015, when an international coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervened militarily at the request of Yemen's President. Echoing a recent statement by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Mr. Lowcock, who is the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, called for an impartial, independent and prompt investigation into these most recent incidents. "I am also deeply concerned by the proximity of attacks to humanitarian sites, including health facilities and water and sanitation infrastructure," he stressed, adding that "the UN and its partners are doing all they can to reach people with assistance". Similar shock was expressed by UNICEF's Executive Director who stated that she had hoped that the "outrage that followed the Saada attack" two weeks ago would be "a turning point in the conflict," and that these latest attacks indicate that it was not. Mr. Lowcok highlighted the need for improved humanitarian access and for conflict-affected civilians to have the ability to voluntarily flee the fighting to access humanitarian assistance too. Both officials called the parties to the conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and those with influence over them the UN Security Council and the international community to ensure that "everything possible is done to protect civilians", and to "end this conflict once and for all". According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Yemen is the world's largest humanitarian operation as three in four Yemenis are in need of aid. In 2018, so far, the UN and its partners have reached more than eight million people with direct life-saving assistance. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Oil exports from Iran have fallen steeply in the first half of August, according to preliminary tanker tracking data, as the threat of US sanctions is already beginning to curb demand from some of the OPEC members key customers. As Financial Tribune writes in an article "Iran Oil Exports Dip", initial estimates gathered from Platts trade flow software cFlow suggest that Iran oil crude and condensate exports have plummeted to 1.68 million barrels per day in the first 16 days of August, down over 600,000 bpd from loadings in July. This compares with exports averaging 2.32 million bpd in July as a whole and 2.10 million bpd in the first 16 days, S&P Global Platts estimates show. Sources said these preliminary numbers show key buyers of Iranian oil are starting to cut back ahead of looming US sanctions against Irans oil sector. Preliminary tracking data show demand from India for Iranian crude has dived. cFlow data show close to 204,000 bpd of crude flowed to India over August 1-16, compared to the 706,000 bpd in July. There have been questions around Indiathe second largest buyer of Iranian crudewhich is under pressure from the US government to cut its reliance on Irans oil. Buying interest from China, Irans largest oil customer, was only slightly reduced. Loadings to China from August 1-16 were 615,688 bpd compared to 722,100 bpd in July. Demand from Japan remained steady while for the second month in a row, South Korea halted its imports of Irans condensates, of which it used to be a key buyer. Flows to Europe in the first half of August were, however, up strongly, with flows at 631,814 bpd, compared to 465,450 bpd in July. Italian demand stayed strong and other buyers in this regions consisted of Turkey, Greece, France, Spain and Croatia. But sources have said that despite a fall in exports, Iranian crude production is expected to not have fallen sharply, as Tehran has diverted some of these barrels to its domestic refining system. Oil prices rose on Friday, supported by signs that US sanctions on Iran are already reducing global crude supply. Benchmark Brent crude oil was up 60 cents a barrel at $75. Brent was on track for gains of almost 5% this week. US light crude was 50 cents higher to reach $68.33, heading for a 3.8% gain this week, CNBC reported. Ex-Pentagon Adviser: US-Taliban Talks an 'Icebreaker' By William Gallo August 24, 2018 The United States and the Taliban are reported to be in the early stages of discussions for the first time since 2012. Retired U.S. Army Colonel Christopher Kolenda, who fought in Afghanistan and later served as a senior Pentagon adviser, was instrumental in helping set up those talks in part through his own discussion with Taliban officials in Qatar. He spoke with VOA's William Gallo about where he sees the peace process going, especially in light of a recent surge in violence. This interview was condensed for clarity. William Gallo: How would you characterize the current U.S.-Taliban talks? Christopher Kolenda: We've had a situation in which each of the three main parties the Afghan government, the Taliban, and the United States have all been wanting talks but have put conditions on starting talks that the other side can't meet. So this effort for a conversation between the U.S. government and the Taliban, which has happened in full coordination with the Afghan government, is meant as an icebreaker to lead to a negotiating process in which the Taliban and the Afghan government begin discussions about the political future of Afghanistan. Because only Afghans can solve that. Gallo: Is there any indication these talks have moved into more advanced stages? Kolenda: Not to my knowledge. It seems there was a discussion and then things are on hold a bit. There's rumored to be another round of U.S.-Taliban talks in Doha in early September. Gallo: From your discussions, which included former U.S. Ambassador Robin Raphel, what do you sense the Taliban wants? Kolenda: Well, the bottom line is they want an end to the occupation. The occupation that's what they call it. They don't want international combat troops targeting them anymore. And once the occupation is finished, then they say they can begin to have negotiations with the Afghan government on a political settlement. Gallo: Your discussions were with the Taliban political commission in Qatar. Do you sense that this office actually has the authority to negotiate these things? Kolenda: I've been at this for a while. I was the secretary of defense's representative in the exploratory talks with the Taliban from 2010 to 2012. I've been following this very, very closely ever since. And the Taliban, for their part, have been very consistent that their political representatives in Doha are the people they have designated to engage in these talks and to engage with international actors. In some ways, these are the Taliban's version of diplomats. They are there as people who represent the point of view of the senior leadership. Certainly, as in any organization, there are certain divisions. But at the end of the day, what we've seen from the Taliban, particularly reflected during a cease-fire at the last Eid, was a level of political cohesion that surprised many people. So through my engagement on these issues, I am fairly well convinced that the political office is who they say they are. Gallo: There were reports that during your talks with the Taliban that they expressed an openness to a continued U.S. military presence in Afghanistan. What can you tell us about that? Kolenda: There's a lot of nuance here that I think is very important. What they've said consistently, and this goes back to 2010, is that if a government formed after a political settlement, which presumably would include Taliban leaders, decides that they would like international troops to train Afghan security forces, then that's a decision that a legitimate, inclusive government can take. Now the corollary to that, which is also very important, is that if a government, post-political settlement, said, 'We don't want foreign troops here at all,' then there would be an expectation that foreign countries would respect that decision and their foreign troops would go. So I think it's really important to understand this more holistic point of view. Their No. 1 reason for war their casus belli, if you will is the occupation. So they're not going to just simply say, 'We're OK with U.S. combat troops running around Afghanistan.' Because that's what they're fighting to prevent, from their point of view. Gallo: Do you think this is something the U.S., and in particular the Trump administration, could accept? Kolenda: Look, at the end of the day, if there's no terrorist threat from Afghanistan to the United States, the United States has no reason to keep troops there. I mean, I love Afghanistan. I love Afghans. I have genuinely enjoyed all of the time that I've spent in Afghanistan. But for a country to want to station combat troops in a landlocked country half a world away that is surrounded by powers that don't want you there, that is not an enviable position for any country. Gallo: Since these U.S.-Taliban talks began, there has been an enormous surge in violence. Is that because the Taliban are fighting to improve their bargaining position? Kolenda: The Taliban don't expect they'll be able to overthrow the Afghan government while the current levels of international support remain. And they are not in a position to be forced to sue for peace while they have the current levels of local and international support that they enjoy. So that's part of the motivation for them to begin to explore peace talks. There are other motivations as well, including their worry about Afghanistan becoming the next Syria. And there's probably an expectation or a belief on their part that their leverage is getting about as good as it's going to get. So strategically it's a decent time for them to negotiate. So certainly violence is leverage and it's leverage for all sides. But probably more so for the Taliban. And so in these exploratory phases, the Taliban can be perfectly serious about peace, but still engaging in these major operations, because they're trying to improve their leverage. Gallo: For a lot of people who follow Afghanistan, I think we get tired sometimes of every development, whether good or bad, being interpreted as progress. Isn't it possible that this latest violence is just the Taliban continuing to fight the war it's been fighting for the last 17 years? Kolenda: There has been remarkable progress in Afghanistan in many, many respects. People talk a lot about the economic progress and political formation and raising the Afghan security forces. And those are all tremendous. The progress on human rights and the impact on women, and of women, has been so significant that even the Taliban have been issuing statements over the last several years talking about the importance of human rights and women's role in Afghanistan. The Taliban seem to sense they have to keep pace with these social changes and expectations in order to remain relevant. When you look at the battlefield, certainly since the end of the Obama administration, the Taliban have made major gains. And you have situations like Ghazni where they prove they can surround a major city and conduct major operations into it. At the same time, they're not able to hold that territory. So all of these things suggest there's a strategic stalemate. Another reason why talks are very important: When you look at the policy positions among the combatants on some of the major issues, frankly there's not a whole lot of daylight between them. Now all of this needs to be tested, of course. But it suggests that each party is willing to recognize some of the major war aims of the other. And when you're in that position, there's a responsibility to pursue a way to bring the conflict to a conclusion. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Troops on Border Mark Next Issue for Ethiopia-Eritrea Peace By Mohammed Yusuf August 24, 2018 Ethiopia and Eritrea have taken major steps toward peace in the past month, resuming flights, reopening telephone links, and allowing families to meet after more than 20 years of separation. But the Horn of Africa neighbors still have issues on the security front, especially in regard to the troops stationed along their 1,000-kilometer-long shared border. In July, Eritrean media said troops have withdrawn from the border, but that has yet to be independently confirmed. Political expert Awol Allo says the issue can be resolved if the two governments can muster enough political will. "Well, that's two countries that were on a war footing for the last 30 or 20 years. It is one of the most complex security problems you can imagine," he said. "But, at the same time, it is really a security problem that can easily be resolved in the sense that once the underlying political disagreements and political problems are addressed, the security problems are not that complicated." Between 1998 and 2000, Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a war over disputed territory on the border that claimed an estimated 70,000 lives. Since the war, the East Africa neighbors have accused each other of supporting rebel movements and opposition groups in each other's territory. But in June, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said his government was ready to respect a 2002 boundaries commission ruling that gave the disputed town of Badme to Eritrea. However, the countries are still wary of each other, says Meressa Dessu, a senior researcher with the Institute of Security Studies. "It's a cautious relation among them," Dessu said. The strength of the newfound peace will be judged by how the countries can manage their border issues, according to Allo. "Security, as I said, is the primary [issue] ... and demilitarizing the border is one of the key measure[s] by which people can judge that the two countries are moving forward," Allo said. Before the border war, Eritrea fought a long war for independence from Ethiopia, which it achieved in 1993. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Cuts More Than $200 Million in Aid to Palestinians By VOA News August 24, 2018 The Trump administration has cut more than $200 million in economic aid to the Palestinians. Administration officials said Friday the decision was made after a review of the funding for projects in the West Bank and Gaza to ensure funds are spent in accordance with U.S. national interests and provide value to the U.S. taxpayer. A senior State Department official said the agency will now direct the funds to "high-priority projects elsewhere." The official said the decision takes into account the challenges the international community faces in providing assistance to Gaza, where "Hamas control endangers the lives of Gaza's citizens and degrades an already dire humanitarian and economic situation." Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that runs Gaza, seized the coastal territory in 2007 from the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority. That led to Israel and Egypt placing severe economic restrictions on the region. Israel says the economic blockade is needed to contain Hamas, a militant group that seeks Israel's destruction. It has greatly harmed Gaza's economy but failed to oust Hamas or ease the group's hold on power. Hamas, which doesn't recognize Israel, is negotiating through Egypt to ease the blockade in exchange for a truce to end recent hostilities. U.S. officials did not give an exact amount of the funds to be cut to the Palestinians. The U.S. nonprofit group, J Street, which advocates for a peaceful end to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, strongly criticized the U.S. decision. The group's Vice President of Government Affairs Dylan Williams called the move a "moral outrage and a major strategic blunder." "These cuts will undermine Israel's security by exacerbating Gaza's humanitarian crisis and further destabilizing the difficult situation in the West Bank increasing the prospects for violence and unrest," he added. VOA's Cindy Saine contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghanistan's defense, interior ministers quit along with two other security officials Iran Press TV Sat Aug 25, 2018 09:39PM Afghanistan's ministers of defense and interior and another high ranking security chief have quit following the resignation of President Ashraf Ghani's national security adviser. "We have received four resignations by two ministers and two senior security officials," said an official in President Ashraf Ghani's office on Saturday. Another source confirmed the news, noting that Defense Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami and Interior Minister Wais Barmak had resigned. He added that the head of the National Directorate of Security Masoom Stanekzai had also handed in his resignation. Earlier in the day, a spokesman for the Afghan National Security Council confirmed that Mohammad Hanif Atmar had resigned. Following the announcement Ghani's office said that he had been replaced by the Afghan Ambassador to the US Hamdullah Mohib. A copy of Atmar's resignation letter was published by Tolo News, in which he said he resigned due to "serious differences over policies and approaches at the top level of government." "Because of my differences of these things in recent months I am stepping down because we haven't reached a consensus," it added. A senior government official claimed that Atmar resigned as he was considering running against Ghani in the 2019 presidential elections. "He has resigned because he is preparing to run for presidential election next year," said the official. "He has resigned because he is preparing to run for presidential election next year," said the official on condition of anonymity. The resignations come at a time a diminished security situation in Afghanistan, which has been hit by several deadly attacks over the past few weeks. Earlier in the day, at least three people have been killed in a bomb blast in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar. Afghanistan has been gripped by insecurity since the United States and its allies invaded the country to topple Taliban as part of Washington's so-called war on terror in 2001. Many parts of the country remain plagued by militancy despite the presence of foreign troops. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Egyptian police kill 4 suspected terrorists in northern Sinai: Report Iran Press TV Sat Aug 25, 2018 05:47PM Egyptian police forces have killed four suspected terrorists who had tried to carry out an attack on a police checkpoint in the north of the Sinai Peninsula, a report says. Egypt's MENA state news agency, citing an unnamed informed source, said that a group of suspects, armed with heavy weapons, attempted to conduct an ambush on a security checkpoint on the coastal highway of North Sinai's el-Arish on Saturday. It added that police forces confronted the militants, killing four of them while the rest fled the area, noting that some of them were armed with explosive belts and a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launcher. The report further said the attackers left behind four automatic weapons, 30 magazines, a number of RPGs, three explosive belts, a camera, a communication device, some hand grenades and 10 explosive charges that they had planned to use in the ambush. Earlier this month, Egyptian police forces killed 12 suspected members of the Velayat Sinai Takfiri terror outfit affiliated to the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group during an intense gunfight near el-Arish. The terror group, previously known as Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, pledged allegiance to Daesh in 2014, and has mainly attacked security forces in the restive region of Sinai Peninsula since its inception in 2013. The terrorists have so far killed hundreds of members of security forces. Operation Sinai 2018, which involves security forces mobilized from the air force, navy, army and police, aims to tighten control on border districts and clean up areas where there are terrorist hotbeds. The Sinai Peninsula has been under a state of emergency since October 2014. According to figures provided by the military, more than 260 suspected terrorists and at least 35 soldiers have so far been killed in the Sinai 2018 anti-terror operation. Terrorists have been targeting both government forces and civilians with terror attacks, taking advantage of the turmoil in Egypt that erupted after the country's first democratically-elected president, Mohamed Morsi, was ousted in a military coup in July 2013. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni forces fire missiles at Saudi military bases in Jizan border region Iran Press TV Sat Aug 25, 2018 02:14PM Yemeni army forces, supported by allied fighters from Popular Committees, have launched two ballistic missiles, designed and manufactured domestically, at military bases in Saudi Arabia's southwestern border region of Jizan in relation for the Riyadh regime's devastating military aggression against their country. A Yemeni military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Arabic-language al-Masirah television network that the short-range Zelzal-2 (Earthquake-2) missiles hit Mashal and Malhamah bases with great precision on Saturday. There were no immediate reports about possible casualties or the extent of damage caused. The development came only a day after Yemeni forces and their allies intercepted and shot down a Saudi reconnaissance drone flying over the kingdom's Najran region, located 844 kilometers south of the capital Riyadh. Also on Saturday, a civilian lost his life and three others, including two women, sustained injuries when militiamen loyal to Yemen's former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi lobbed a barrage of mortar shells at their home in an area of Harad district in Yemen's northwestern province of Hajjah. Separately, a woman succumbed to the grave injuries she had suffered earlier in the day when a Saudi airstrike hit Bani Sayyah area in the Razih district of the mountainous northwestern province of Sa'ada. Scores of Saudi mercenaries were also killed or injured when an explosion caused by two improvised explosive devices hit their vehicles in the al-Jabaliyah area of Yemen's western coastal province of Hudaydah. Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched a devastating military campaign against Yemen in March 2015, with the aim of bringing Hadi back to power and crushing the country's Houthi Ansarullah movement. Some 15,000 Yemenis have been killed and thousands more injured since the onset of the Saudi-led aggression. More than 2,200 others have died of cholera, and the crisis has triggered what the United Nations has described as the world's worst humanitarian disaster. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN calls for 'impartial, prompt' probe into attacks targeting Yemeni civilians Iran Press TV Sat Aug 25, 2018 12:46PM United Nations officials have condemned two recent Saudi-led coalition airstrikes in Yemen that killed at least 26 children, renewing calls for "an impartial, independent and prompt investigation" into attacks targeting civilians in the crisis-hit Arab country. United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock said at least 22 children and four women lost their lives on Thursday, when Saudi-led military aircraft struck them as they were fleeing violence in the embattled al-Durayhimi district of Yemen's western coastal province of Hudaydah. He said an additional airstrike in the area killed four more children. "This is the second time in two weeks that an airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition has resulted in dozens of civilian casualties," he added in a statement. On August 9, a Saudi-led aerial attack hit a bus carrying a group of young schoolchildren attending summer classes of the Holy Qur'an from a camp at a busy market area in the Dhahyan district of Sa'ada province, UN spokesman, Farhan Haq, said in a statement. According to Yemeni medical sources, over 50 people, including 40 children, were killed and 77 injured in the strike. Lowcock noted that "those with influence" over the warring sides in Yemen must ensure that civilians are protected. Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Henrietta Fore also said, "I had hoped that the outrage that followed the Sa'ada attack in Yemen two weeks ago would be a turning point in the conflict. Yesterday's reported attacks in al-Durayhimi, killing 26 children, indicate that it was not." She then asked the parties involved in the Yemen conflict and the Security Council to "take action and end this conflict once and for all." The Saudi-led coalition announced that it was opening an investigation into deadly airstrikes in Yemen, but rights groups and advocates insist that any probe should be impartial. Human Rights Watch has stressed that the Riyadh-led military alliance has failed to properly investigate war crimes emanating from airstrikes against civilian targets. Sarah Leah Whitson, the Middle East and North Africa director at the international non-governmental organization, said the Saudi-led coalition's investigators "were doing little more than covering up war crimes." Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched a devastating military campaign against Yemen in March 2015, with the aim of bringing the government of former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi back to power and crushing the country's Houthi Ansarullah movement. Some 15,000 Yemenis have been killed and thousands more injured since the onset of the Saudi-led aggression. More than 2,200 others have died of cholera, and the crisis has triggered what the United Nations has described as the world's worst humanitarian disaster. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Three killed in bomb blast near election office in eastern Afghanistan Iran Press TV Sat Aug 25, 2018 10:39AM At least three people have been killed in a bomb blast in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar. The blast occurred Saturday morning as dozens of people were rallying in support of a candidate disqualified from parliamentary elections in October, local officials and press reports said. At least eight other were reportedly injured. No group has yet claimed responsibility. Protesters forewarned of potential attack The attack occurred while backers of the disqualified candidate were attempting to close down the office of the election commission, according to Nangarhar provincial governor's spokesman, Attaullah Khogyani, who insisted that the protesters had been forewarned of a potential terror act. "We had requested the protesters to stop their demonstrations because they could be targeted by militants but they rejected our security message," said Khogyani. Meanwhile, supporters of other candidates disqualified by the election commission waged sit-in protest outside several other branches of the electoral body in the country over the past two weeks. According to local news outlets, Afghan security forces attempted to disperse the protesters on Saturday. The latest terror attack came after another deadly bomb blast outside an Afghan election office in Afghanistan's capital of Kabul earlier this month when demonstrators rallied to challenge the commission's decision to disqualify 35 candidates from contesting the seats in upcoming parliamentary elections. Dozens of Afghan politicians and legislators barred from running for parliament due to their alleged ties to armed groups have threatened to hold protest rallies to interrupt the general elections that face a growing risk of deteriorating security in the war-wracked country. Taliban warn voters against participation The Taliban have warned the Afghan people against taking part in the elections. So far, dozens of people have been killed in the militant attacks on voter registration centers. The Taliban rejected earlier this week an Afghan government's offer for a three-month ceasefire, saying they would continue with attacks to take over the country's strategic regions. Speaking on condition of anonymity, two senior Taliban commanders said their leader had rejected Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's offer of a 90-day ceasefire beginning with Wednesday's Muslim celebration of Eid al-Adha or the feast of sacrifice. The representatives of the terrorist group have also engaged in negotiations with US authorities recently in the Persian Gulf state of Qatar. Afghanistan has been gripped by insecurity since the United States and its allies invaded the country to topple Taliban as part of Washington's so-called war on terror in 2001. Many parts of the country remain plagued by militancy despite the presence of foreign troops. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US cuts $200mn in aid to Palestinians, sparking criticisms Iran Press TV Sat Aug 25, 2018 06:48AM The United States has canceled over $200 million in funds for the Palestinian Authority, leading Palestinian officials to denounce the move as "blackmail." In a statement released on Friday, a senior US State Department official said that the decision came following a review of US assistance to the Palestinian Authority ordered by US President Donald Trump. "We have undertaken a review of US assistance to the Palestinian Authority and in the West Bank and Gaza to ensure these funds are spent in accordance with US national interests and provide value to the US taxpayer," said the official, who was speaking on condition of anonymity. "As a result of that review, at the direction of the president, we will redirect more than $200 million in FY2017 Economic Support Funds originally planned for programs in the West Bank and Gaza, " he added, noting that the funds would "now address high-priority projects elsewhere." Another unnamed State Department official also stressed that the US administration would "work with Congress to redirect these funds to other policy priorities." In a similar move back in January, the US government announced that it would withhold $65 million of a $125 million aid installment to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). US abandoning international obligations The secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) slammed the US decision to cut aid to the Palestinians. "This is flagrant declaration that the real aim of US aid is to interfere in the internal affairs of other peoples and affect their national rights," Saeb Erekat said in a statement on Saturday. Erekat said the US decision to cut aid "is a sign that [Washington] had abandoned its international obligations," stressing, "The Palestinian people reject any conditional aid." US using blackmail as political tool Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the executive committee of the PLO, also condemned the fresh US aid cut, accusing Washington of using "cheap blackmail as a political tool." "The Palestinian people and leadership will not be intimidated and will not succumb to coercion," she said. "There is no glory in constantly bullying and punishing people under occupation." Additionally, Husam Zomlot, head of the PLO General Delegation, censured the US aid cut, warning, "Weaponizing humanitarian and developmental aid as political blackmail does not work." "After Jerusalem [al-Quds] and UNRWA, this is another confirmation of abandoning the two-state solution and fully embracing [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's anti-peace agenda," he said. The US-Palestine ties deteriorated last December, when US President Trump declared Jerusalem al-Quds as the "capital" of Israel and announced plans to transfer the embassy from Tel Aviv to the occupied city. The contentious move led Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas to formally declare that the Palestinians would no longer accept the US as a mediator to resolve the conflict because Washington was "completely biased" towards Tel Aviv. The US embassy relocation took place on May 14, the eve of the 70th anniversary of Nakba Day (the Day of Catastrophe). The move sparked angry reactions by the Palestinians and drew the criticism of the international community. UNRWA chief: US cut aid to punish Palestinians Separately on Friday, the UNRWA head suggested that the US had slashed the agency's budget to punish the Palestinians for their criticism of Washington's recognition of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel's "capital." "I can say with a great degree of confidence that the decision was not related to UNRWA's performance because in November I had received very constructive and openly positive feedback on those issues," Pierre Kraehenbuehl told the Associated Press. "A few weeks later, tensions increased around the question of Jerusalem [al-Quds]," he added. "It appears that the humanitarian funding to UNRWA got caught up in the deep polarization around that question." Earlier this month, the American magazine Foreign Policy obtained emails written by Jared Kushner, Trump's senior adviser and son-in-law, to senior US officials in which he pressured Jordan to remove the refugee status of millions of Palestinians in a bid to disrupt UNRWA's work. Kraehenbuehl, however, warned that the Palestinian refugee issue would not go away, saying, "One cannot simply wish 5 million people away." He further underlined the need for a "political solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in which the issue of refugees would be properly addressed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Revives Navy Fleet To Counter Russian Presence In North Atlantic RFE/RL August 25, 2018 The U.S. Navy has formally reestablished its Second Fleet as a result of a renewed focus on the North Atlantic Ocean, where the Russian military has been operating with increasing frequency in a way not seen since the Cold War. The mostly organizational change announced on August 24 revives an Admiral-level command to oversee American warships as they deploy between the U.S. East Coast and the Barents Sea, off of the coasts of Norway and Russia. The revived fleet reflects a major shift in U.S. military strategy recently from focusing on terrorism in the Middle East -- where the Islamic State extremist group last year was largely defeated -- to growing U.S. competition with both Russia and China. "We're not looking for a fight," Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson said aboard the USS George H. W. Bush aircraft carrier in Norfolk, Virginia, where the Second Fleet will be based. "But the best way to avoid a fight is develop the most powerful and deadly and competitive Navy possible," he said. Richardson asserted that the Second Fleet would be able to "conduct decisive combat operations to defeat any enemy." Both China and Russia are building larger navies as they move to expand their global influence. And Russia in particular has been increasing its submarine patrols, among other military activities. In 2017, Russian Admiral Vladimir Korolyov said his nation's submarine crews had spent more than 3,000 days on patrol in the last year, matching the Soviet-era operational tempo. It's unclear how many days Russian subs had been on patrol in the years prior to 2017. "It's an excellent level," he said in remarks carried by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. On August 24, Russian Navy Admiral Viktor Kravchenko dismissed the U.S. announcement as a mostly rhetorical and political move by Washington's "political elite," in an interview with the Russian news agency Interfax. "They didn't build new ships. Everything is the same. They've just reformed and put together a new cluster of vessels and called it the Second Fleet, which would be focused on operations in the Atlantic," he said. Still, Kravchenko told the Interfax news agency that to "maintain parity" with the bolstered U.S. presence, Russia's Northern and Baltic Fleets will need new seaworthy vessels. "Our Navy receives some new ships every year, but, unfortunately, we've been building a very limited number of oceanic vessels," he said. Increasingly Frequent Encounters The refocused U.S. naval presence in the North Atlantic also reflects growing concerns about information warfare among NATO allies as Russian ships have been observed lingering near vital undersea communications cables that criss-cross the Atlantic. Encounters between Russian and NATO warplanes have also become increasingly frequent in the region. In January, Britain's Royal Air Force scrambled two fighter jets to intercept Russian strategic bombers near U.K. airspace. The original Second Fleet was created in 1950 as a response to a growing threat from the Soviet Union. It played an integral role in events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, when its ships established a blockade to stop Soviet ships from reaching the island. The fleet was eliminated and merged with Fleet Forces Command in 2011 to save costs. Having a Second Fleet allows the United States to work more closely and effectively with its NATO allies, retired U.S. Navy Admiral Gary Roughead told AP in an interview. And they will be better prepared to respond to potential Russian aggression, he added. Roughead said he fully expects the Russian military to increase its presence in the Atlantic in the coming years. One critical area will be the waters between the United Kingdom, Iceland, and Greenland, he told AP. "Clearly, the Russian fleet is not the size that the Soviet fleet used to be, and nor is our fleet," said Roughead, a former chief of naval operations who is now a fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. "But I think the reactivation is a very wise thing to do." Separately on August 24, the U.S. military also marked the official activation of a new command to innovate and prepare to counter new types of weapons being developed by Russia and China. The Army Futures Command is headquartered in Austin, Texas and will be headed by a four-star general, with a staff of about 500 civilian and military personnel. With reporting by AP, AFP, and Interfax Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-revives-navy- 2nd-fleet-counter-russian-presence -north-atlantic-/29452420.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The day after he gave himself an A+ on his presidential performance, President Donald Trump unexpectedly canceled a crucial trip to North Korea by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, all but acknowledging that his strategy to end the North Korean nuclear threat has so far failed, CNN writes in an article "Trump made a mistake on North Korea". Trump, you'll recall, had already declared that North Korea was "no longer a nuclear threat" after he met with the country's leader, Kim Jong Un in Singapore last June. He had humble-bragged that "everybody thinks" he should win a Nobel Peace Prize over his dazzling diplomatic achievement. And, in words reminiscent of the infamous "peace for our time," speech by Neville Chamberlain ("Now I recommend you to go home and sleep quietly in your beds"), Trump told us "Sleep well tonight" after his lovefest with Kim. But the troubles that came after the Singapore summit were not just predictable, they were widely predicted. Two months after declaring victory, it's clear that Kim is not interested in dismantling his nuclear program, no matter what he promised Trump. Earlier this week, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency said it finds no sign that North Korea has stopped its nuclear activities. And yesterday, an expert group said the North has stopped dismantling its missile testing site, breaking another promise. The North's missile program aims to find a way to launch a nuclear weapon at a target far away, such as the United States. The hawkish National Security Adviser John Bolton had already noted that Kim is failing to take steps to denuclearize. The North has even refused to provide a list of its weapons programs, a basic requirement for successful negotiations. Trump, who liked to mock previous presidents, especially Barack Obama, for not solving the problem, fell into the exact trap that his predecessors did. Kim Jong Un, like his father and grandfather before him, tricked the US President into making major concessions in exchange for small adjustments and big promises. To be sure, it is a positive development that Trump has walked away from his own threats to launch a nuclear war, and it is heartwarming to see the family reunions between small numbers of elderly South Koreans and their relatives in the North after decades of unforgivable separation. Trump strengthened Kim immeasurably not just by meeting him but also by praising him as a man who "loves his people, loves his country," and wants good things for them. The man who presides over one of the world's most brutal regimes now hears not a word of criticism about those actions from the American President. Even Trump's tweet announcing the cancellation of Pompeo's trip included a "Warmest regards and respect" to Kim. Trump said he looks forward to seeing him soon, a sign that he wants to continue with this highly personalized brand of diplomacy. As Trump admitted, his trade war with China, North Korea's only ally, has complicated negotiations. But that should hardly come as a surprise. In fact, Trump has broken with the advice of experts, and the result has been as predicted. If diplomacy with North Korea stands a chance of success, Trump -- despite his stratospheric self-confidence -- will have to listen to better-qualified negotiators. Pompeo's appointment of the respected Stephen Biegun as a North Korean envoy could make a big difference -- as long as Trump, who fancies himself a great deal-maker, allows him to do his work. Trump may claim his presidency is a raging, unprecedented success on all fronts. But so far, his North Korea policy can charitably be graded an Incomplete, if that. 'Children Are Being Brutalized': Saudi-Led Airstrikes Kill More Minors in Yemen Sputnik News 03:36 25.08.2018 Mark Lowcock, the undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator for the United Nations, condemned recent Saudi-led airstrikes on Friday that have killed dozens of Yemeni civilians, many of whom were children. The 56-year-old UN official indicated that at least 22 children and four women were killed on Thursday as they tried to escape the ongoing fighting between Saudi-tied militants and Houthi rebels in the Hudaydah governorate's al-Durayhimi district. The Thursday incident is the second airstrike to take place in which dozens of civilians were killed. On August 9, Saudi strikes targeted a school bus traveling through northern Yemen, killing 51 people, including 40 children. Echoing the previous statements of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Lowcock called for "an impartial, independent and prompt investigation into these most recent incidents." Kathy Kelly, co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Non-Violence, told Radio Sputnik's Loud & Clear on Friday that "children are being attacked, and children are dying from airstrikes." "Children are being brutalized, killed, and they've committed no crime," Kelly told hosts Brian Becker and John Kiriakou. "And still the Saudis have spoken about the attack on the school bus on August 9 as being a legitimate military operation." According to CNN, the bomb used in that early August incident was identified as a "500-pound, laser-guided MK-82 bomb." The weapon was made by Lockheed Martin, an American company based out of Bethesda, Maryland. "The United States public is largely unaware that the United States is at war against Yemen that the Saudis are using bombs manufactured in the United States and sold to them by companies profiting from this war and that the United States is fueling the warplanes that the Saudis and Emiratis and the coalition use to launch these attacks," Kelly said, before noting that the US was also conducting surveillance in the region. "What kind of surveillance would target school buses filled with children?" she questioned. The Yemeni conflict, which saw its start in 2014 after Houthi Shiite rebels ousted the country's Hadi government, intensified the following year after the Saudi-led coalition intervened. In the four years since, Yemeni civilians have borne the brunt of the conflict. Lowcock's remarks follow a 90-page report released by Human Rights Watch on Friday, which accuses the Saudi-led coalition of failing to conduct credible investigation into alleged war crimes in Yemen. The report also urges the kingdom to redress the toll the war has taken on civilians. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Top Afghan Security Adviser Abruptly Quits By Ayaz Gul August 25, 2018 Afghanistan's national security adviser abruptly resigned Saturday amid rising violence across the country and high numbers of battlefield casualties the Taliban insurgency is inflicting on government forces. Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar, 49, said in his resignation letter, shared with VOA, he was quitting the office because of developing "serious differences" with the top leadership of the government "over policies and principles." President Ashraf Ghani's office swiftly announced he has accepted the resignation and replaced Atmar with Hamadullah Mohib, the Afghan ambassador to the U.S. The presidential statement cited no reasons for Atmar's unexpected departure. Atmar said in the letter he was unable to resolve the differences with top government leaders when it came to "strengthening national unity, restoring peace and security, elections, good governance and strengthening regional and international relations." Two mainstream Afghan television stations reported quoting government sources that Ghani had directed Atmar, interior and defense ministers, as well as the country's spy chief, to step down. Afghan government officials were not immediately available to confirm the reported presidential directive. The local media went on to claim that this week's rocket attack on Kabul's presidential palace while Ghani was delivering a nationally televised speech, a short-lived insurgent takeover of the strategically important Ghazni city, and the increasing battlefield losses being inflicted on Afghan security forces are what prompted Ghani to seek resignations from his top cabinet members. Powerful figure Atmar was one of the powerful figures in Ghani's beleaguered unity government, and he previously had served as the interior minister under the former president, Hamid Karzai, before being fired in 2010 over a Taliban attack in Kabul. The Afghan national security adviser's resignation comes amid renewed U.S.-led efforts to promote peace talks between Kabul and the Taliban to end the stalemated 17 years of war. The abrupt departure of one of the most powerful government figures also came just days after the Ghani government refused to attend a multi-national conference that Russia plans to host on September 4 to discuss ways to end the war in Afghanistan. It was not clear, though, whether Kabul's decision to decline the Russian invitation had anything to do with Atmar's resignation. Washington also has turned down Moscow's invitation to attend the event. The Taliban already has confirmed receiving an invitation by the host nation, saying Qatar-based insurgent political envoys will attend the day-long event in the Russian capital. The insurgent group's planned participation in the conference would underscore Moscow's growing influence and contacts with the Taliban in recent years. Suicide bombing Separately on Saturday, a suicide bomber detonated explosives strapped to his body near an office of the Afghan Election Commission in the restive eastern city of Jalalabad and killed three people. There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the violence, though the Islamic State terrorist group has taken credit for almost all recent bomb attacks in the provincial capital. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address AFCYBER move streamlines ACC warfighting efforts By Tech. Sgt. R.J. Biermann, Air Forces Cyber Public Affairs / Published August 24, 2018 JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS) -- With the addition of 24th Air Force/Air Forces Cyber to Air Combat Command, new cyber outcomes are available to America's warfighting commanders. "We're moving more and more toward multi-domain, hybrid warfareusing more than one domain to achieve warfighting objectives," said Robert Cole, AFCYBER executive director. "There are a number of different non-kinetic outcomes we can bring to the battlefield. This move to ACC allows cyber to pair outcomes and give us a distinct advantage over our adversaries." These domains include ACC's fighter; rescue; command and control; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and now cyber mission sets. Using the true-story movie Black Hawk Down as inspiration, Cole gave a hypothetical example of how cyber could support multi-domain warfare. "Remember in the movie when the three friendly helicopters first take off? Then the enemy sentries alert the other fighters who are standing by to take down the helicopters with rocket-propelled grenade launchers. Some are shot down and several service members are killed," Cole said. "What if cyber would've been involved in that? And before the helicopters took off, before the enemy sentry took his cell phone and alerted the other enemies, it rang, and someone on the other end told him to put it down or be targeted, or it was made to not work altogether. In that scenario, how could it have changed the overall outcome? This is what cyber could potentially bring to the fight." AFCYBER'S full-spectrum operations fall into one of three categories: offensive (OCO), defensive (DCO) and Department of Defense Information Network (DODIN) operations. OCO can provide a variety of combatant commander's desired outcomes against adversary targets. DCO secures and defends critical mission elements of the Air Force Information Network to ensure friendly freedom-of action in cyberspace. DODIN operations maintain the integrity of the enterprise network. The numbered air force's 624th Operations Center and 67th and 688th Cyberspace Wings fulfill their respective mission responsibilites to collectively enable AFCYBER operations in support of the the Air Force, joint force and nation: what cyber could bring to the fight. According to Cole, aligning cyber and intelligence within ACC pays the greatest dividends to mission success. "Because of the dynamic, ever-changing nature of the cyber domain, intelligence is always going to be a huge part of our operations," said Cole. "If you look at our Cyber Mission Force teams, they're split into about 60 percent cyber professionals and 40 percent intelligence professionals overall. On some teams, the ratio is flipped with 60 percent intelligence professionals and 40 percent cyber professionals. That's reflective of the fact we're dependent on our intelligence professionals." He continued, "If you're working on a computer that's operating system is in a foreign language, it helps to have [someone] sitting next to you so they can read what's on the screen. [Cyber] operators aren't trained in foreign languages; so they need that [person] with them." The NAF currently employs 39 CMF teams that direct, synchronize and coordinate cyberspace operations in defense of the nation's interests, where intelligence team members fulfill specific roles. The realignment also simplifies personnel actions to realign talent. According to Cole, pre-realignment, if 24th AF or 25th AF wanted to reassign talent between the two NAFs, the NAF would have had to accomplish permanent change of station actionsjust like if an Airman were moving to an installation from a different state. Now, Airmen must only perform permanent change of assignment actions to be reassigned to a unit within the Joint Base San Antonio area. Whether it's halting an enemy, reassigning Airmen, or any number of the countless additional benefits of realigning 24th AF under ACC, the NAF remains steadfast in its role to conduct full-spectrum, global cyberspace operations. "The transfer aligns our cyber capabilities within ACC to provide more options for warfighting success," said Maj. Gen. Robert Skinner, 24th AF commander. "Our Airmen's ability to secure and defend critical cyber terrain from hostile actors is unsurpassed, and essential in achieving service, component and joint force commander objectives." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Cyber readiness evaluation keeps military info, systems safe By Ms. Mary Ann Davis (IMCOM) August 24, 2018 KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany -- In today's high-tech military, cybersecurity plays a critical part of defending information and computer systems from hackers. U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz demonstrated its technology protection proficiency during a U.S. Army Europe Cyber Readiness Evaluation, Aug. 13-17. The assessment examined the garrison's adherence to cybersecurity and traditional security controls, said Tracy McManus, USAG RP Information System Security manager and acting Information Management Office director. "The inspection verified that the garrison is maintaining a good security posture -- cyber and traditional," McManus said. "Some of the areas that were examined included standard operating procedures, user training, appointment orders and security reviews." Although cybersecurity is a part of the IMO mission, it's also the user's responsibility to ensure confidential information and systems stay safeguarded, McManus said. Careless handling of confidential information, leaving Personally Identifiable Information or common access cards unsecured and users clicking on phishing links are some cybersecurity issues that were inspected as well. "I welcome any inspection that reinforces cyber security," said USAG RP Commander Col. Jason Edwards. "We did very well in our inspection, but there are always ways to improve our readiness. It is imperative we are vigilant and always thinking about how to best protect and defend our critical resources." To ensure users are constantly cyber vigilant, follow these tips: Maintain positive control of your common access card. If you leave your workstation, take it with you. Guard PII data. Keep it covered and make sure it is locked up when not in use. Scan-to-email requires CAC authentication. Ask your supervisor or IMO if there is a problem in your area. Pick up your printouts right away, especially if they contain sensitive data. If you leave your office empty, lock the door. The less access to unauthorized persons, the better. Remember to label your media and properly destroy it when it is no longer needed. Lastly, McManus congratulated the USAG RP team for its efforts. "My estimation is that we collectively maintain a high level of vigilance and awareness of security and cybersecurity in particular. This is very important because it is the individual's commitment to security that adds up to create a space where we can all pursue the garrison mission unhindered and unchallenged," he said. "And, we must never forget that security is an ongoing line of effort, and we must continually and consistently strive to improve." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Colo. and Minn. National Guard troops assist in fire battles By Colorado National GuardAugust 24, 2018 CENTENNIAL, Colo. -- The Colorado National Guard completed aviation firefighting in support of the incident commander overseeing the Cache Creek Fire in Garfield County, Colorado. As of Tuesday, crews flew more than 47 flight hours, performed over 417 water dips and dropped more than 191,800 gallons of water on the fire. Aircrews flying two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters equipped with aerial water buckets were operating from Rifle Airport in Rifle, Colorado, since Aug. 14. "Colorado National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are proud to be part of the effort to help our neighbors in Garfield County," said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Gregory White, commander of Joint Task Force-Centennial. On order of Gov. John Hickenlooper, the standing Joint Task Force - Centennial commands and integrates CONG forces to support civil authorities in Colorado, or supported states, during times of crisis and disaster, to save lives, prevent suffering, and mitigate great property damage. The helicopters and crews launched from the Chief Warrant Officer 5 David R. Carter Army Aviation Support Facility based at Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora, Colorado. Meanwhile in Minnesota, Gov. Mark Dayton on Thursday activated the Minnesota National Guard to help firefighters combat a 500-acre wildfire in Beltrami County. Dayton's executive order came just 24 hours after the fire extended beyond a Department of Natural Resources prescribed burn to manage brush in northwestern Minnesota, according to the Star Tribune. So far, the fire is contained to the Beltrami Island State Forest and does not threaten any structures or private land, authorities said. Plans call for the National Guard will assist the DNR by providing two water-dropping helicopters. "The women and men of the Minnesota National Guard are trained and ready to take on this important mission," said Maj. Gen. Jon Jensen, the guard's adjutant general."We will do all we can to successfully support this firefighting effort." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ISIL continues to pose a 'serious challenge' worldwide: UN IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency New York, Aug 24, IRNA -- Despite serious military setbacks, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) may still have around 20,000 fighters and is continuing its dangerous transformation into a covert global network, while focusing on the activities of its regional offshoots, the United Nations Security Council was told. These were among the key findings in a new United Nations report into the threats posed by ISIL presented to the UN Security Council on Thursday by senior UN counter-terrorism officials, UN official website reported. The report also detailed how UN Member States and the UN system are continuing to strengthen, refine and promote the effective use of tools and measures to address the evolving transnational threat posed by the terrorist group and its affiliates Briefing the Council, Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, said that despite being militarily defeated in Iraq and in headlong retreat in Syria, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, otherwise known as ISIL, remains a serious and significant concern. Mr. Voronkov was joined by Michele Coninsx, Executive Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). The two senior officials broke the report down into three main areas, assuring the Council members that: "The global fight against ISIL and its affiliates continues." Firstly, Mr. Voronkov said that despite a major loss of territory, there are still around 20,000 ISIL members in both Iraq and Syria, and a core of fighters is expected to survive, thanks to ongoing conflict and instability. A significant number of ISIL-affiliated militants also exist in Afghanistan, South-East Asia, West Africa and Libya, and to a lesser extent in Sinai, Yemen, Somalia and the Sahel. ISIL continues to exert a presence and influence across a wide spectrum of countries and regions: Indonesia was hit by a series of deadly suicide bombings in May, whilst in Europe, there is concern over commercially encrypted messages and radicalization in prisons. The terror group is even attempting to expand its presence in Afghanistan: Mr. Voronkov revealed that during his mission to Kabul, the Afghan capital, on August 14 and 15, President Ashraf Ghani proposed a high-level conference in Kabul next year, with the support of partners, to develop a regional counter-terrorism strategy with a focus on Afghanistan. Secondly, whilst the flow of foreign ISIL fighters returning home is slower than feared, the dangers posed by bomb-making expertise gained in conflict zones (such as the preparation of improvised explosive devices and weaponized drones) is a major cause for concern. Former fighters back in their home countries have the potential to radicalize others, whether in the prison system or wider society, and Member States continue to experience difficulties in assessing the risks they pose, and must develop tailored strategies for their returning and relocation. And third, the evolution of ISIL (from a proto-State structure into a covert network) has driven the group's finances underground, making them much harder to detect: it still has the capacity to channel funds across borders, often via intermediate countries, to their final destination. Referring to the report, Mr. Voronkov noted that Member States and the international community must renew their efforts to counter the evolving, global threat from ISIL. 8072**1396 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Treasury Sanctions Three ISIS Recruiters from Southeast Asia August 24, 2018 Action Targets Radicals Engaged in Beheading Video and Follows UN Designation Washington The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took action today by designating three senior Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) recruiters: Mohamad Rafi Udin (Udin), Mohammed Karim Yusop Faiz (Faiz), and Mohammad Reza Lahaman Kiram (Kiram). Udin, Faiz, and Kiram have urged individuals in Southeast Asia to join ISIS and were featured in an official ISIS beheading video, where they executed captives held by ISIS. "Treasury is targeting ISIS recruiters who have engaged in a beheading video and other brutal acts as part of a propaganda campaign to attract radicals to join militant terrorist groups in Southeast Asia," said Sigal Mandelker, Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. "We are sanctioning these terrorists along with our UN and international partners as part of a coordinated effort to counter ISIS's global networks that enable the group to recruit foreign fighters to conduct international terrorist attacks." Udin, Faiz, and Karim are being designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) for acting for or on behalf of ISIS pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism. As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of Udin, Faiz, and Karim subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. Yesterday, the United Nations Security Council 1267 ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qa'ida Sanctions Committee also designated Udin, Faiz, and Kiram. As a result of their UN listings, all UN member states are obligated to freeze the assets, deny access to the international financial system, and prohibit the travel of, Udin, Faiz, and Karim. Mohamad Rafi Udin As of November 2017, Udin was believed to be the most senior Malaysian ISIS leader in Syria. Udin originally traveled to Syria in 2014 and appeared alongside Faiz and Kiram in an official ISIS propaganda video where he perpetrates a terrorist act on behalf of ISIS, namely the beheading of a prisoner held by ISIS. In the video, Udin calls for individuals to pledge allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and called for individuals in the Philippines to join together under the command of now deceased Isnilon Hapilon (Hapilon). OFAC designated Hapilon on November 30, 2005 pursuant to E.O. 13224 for his role in the Abu Sayyaf Group, which itself was listed in the Annex to E.O. 13224. Udin has also urged ISIS sympathizers to conduct terrorist attacks. Udin has been involved in militant activities since 1998. Udin was arrested and detained from 2003 to 2006 for fighting on behalf of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), a Southeast Asian terrorist organization. JI was designated on October 23, 2002 pursuant to E.O. 13224. Mohammed Karim Yusop Faiz In June 2016, Faiz, an Indonesian national, appeared in an ISIS propaganda video where, on behalf of ISIS, he took part in the execution of a prisoner held by ISIS and pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as well as urged individuals in Southeast Asia to join ISIS's network in the Philippines under the command of Hapilon. In 2014, Faiz traveled to Syria to join ISIS. Previously, Faiz was imprisoned in the Philippines for nine years on charges of illegal possession of explosives and weapons. Mohammad Reza Lahaman Kiram As of January 2017, Kiram, a Philippine national, was fighting for ISIS in Syria. In June 2016, Kiram appeared alongside Faiz and Udin in an ISIS propaganda video, where on behalf of ISIS, the three took part in the beheading of three prisoners held by ISIS. Kiram was a member of a Philippines-based militant group that pledged alliance to ISIS. Kiram was seen training the group's recruits in 2014, before travelling to Syria with his wife and daughter in 2015. Philippine police believe he was responsible for the Zamboanga, Philippines bus bombing in 2012. Identifying information on the individuals designated today. #### DR Congo: Ebola outbreak spreads to eastern 'no-go' zone surrounded by rebels 24 August 2018 -- Rebel violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is escalating inside the vast country's Ebola-hit North Kivu province, putting millions at risk, the United Nations refugee agency warned on Friday. "Thousands of civilians have fled their burned-out villages, bringing reports of brutal attacks," Andrej Mahecic, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), told the regular press briefing in Geneva Friday, following reports that a case of Ebola infection and one suspected case have been found in one town in the area, Oicha, which is surrounded by armed groups. The disease has killed more than 60 people and infected dozens more in recent weeks Forced displacement in this part of the country remains massive. It is estimated that more than a million people are displaced in North Kivu. This is the highest concentration of internally displaced people (IDPs) in the DRC. An estimated half a million people have been forced from their homes this year alone. At the same briefing, Dr. Peter Salama, WHO Deputy Director-General of Emergency Preparedness and Response, said that the discovery of Ebola infection in the hard-to-reach part of eastern DRC could mark a "pivotal" point in the response to the deadly disease. "It really was the problem we were anticipating and the problem we were dreading. Our teams have responded this week. They've had to reach Oicha with armed escorts... Once they reach Oicha, they are able to move within Oicha town more freely, because the town itself is a yellow zone from a security perspective," he explained. Mr. Mahecic said UNHCR is particularly worried about the deteriorating situation in the Ebola-hit northern territory of Ben, where Oicha town is located. The area is home to some 1.3 million people. Spiralling conflict has left the population living there virtually in a state of siege since October 2017. Reports of increased human rights violations and restrictions of humanitarian access are frequent. Estimates are that more than 100 armed groups are active in the province, continually terrorizing the population. Despite a large-scale military offensive of the Congolese Army against one of the main rebel groups, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) since January, there has been no let-up in the violence. "Despite security challenges, a UNHCR team accessed the area north of Beni earlier this month and conducted humanitarian assessments in Oicha and Eringeti districts," he said, adding: "Residents told our staff about brutal attacks against the civilians carried out with machetes. Stories of massacres, extortion, forced displacement and other human rights violations are frequent." Further, sexual and gender-based violence is rampant across the Beni territory. Many children are being recruited as child soldiers. The violence is particularly rampant in the so-called "triangle of death," between the towns of Eringeti, Mbau and Kamango, on the Uganda-DRC border, as well as in the towns of Beni, Oicha and Mavivi. UNHCR is scaling up its capacity in North Kivu to respond to the growing humanitarian needs. "We are arranging additional emergency shelters and other humanitarian assistance to meet the needs of the displaced in Beni. While UNHCR's humanitarian response is continuing despite the outbreak of Ebola, the prevailing security situation and drastic funding shortfall severely hamper our efforts. UNHCR's DRC 2018 appeal totalling $201 million is only 17 per cent funded," explained Mr. Mahecic. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Sanctions Senior IS Recruiters From Southeast Asia By Rikar Hussein August 24, 2018 The United States on Friday designated three individuals from Southeast Asia as terrorists for allegedly recruiting people to join the Islamic State (IS) terror group. A statement from the U.S. Treasury Department said Mohamad Rafi Udin, a Malaysian, Mohammed Karim Yusop Faiz, an Indonesian, and Mohammad Reza Lahaman Kiram, a Philippine, were also featured in a June 2016 IS video, in which they beheaded three prisoners held by the terror group. "Treasury is targeting ISIS recruiters who have engaged in a beheading video and other brutal acts as part of a propaganda campaign to attract radicals to join militant terrorist groups in Southeast Asia," said Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Sigal Mandelker, using another acronym for IS. "We are sanctioning these terrorists along with our U.N. and international partners as part of a coordinated effort to counter ISIS's global networks that enable the group to recruit foreign fighters to conduct international terrorist attacks," she said. Udin, a former taxi driver turned Islamist militant since 1998, traveled to Syria in 2014 and used IS propaganda material to urge sympathizers to join the group and conduct terrorist attacks. He worked to unite jihadists in the Philippines under Isnilon Hapilon, the former leader of Abu Sayyaf Group, who pledged allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakir al-Baghdadi in July 2014. The second blacklisted man, Faiz, was jailed in the Philippines for nine years on charges of illegal possession of explosives and weapons. He also joined IS in Syria in 2014 and helped recruit people from Southeast Asia to join IS-linked Abu Sayyaf Group, also known as IS-Philippines Province. The third man, Kiram, is accused by the Philippines police of being responsible for a 2012 bus bombing in the city of Zamboanga. He reportedly trained IS-linked Ansar Khalifa group recruits in 2014, before traveling to Syria with his wife and daughter in 2015. All three individuals will be added to the U.S. list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists, which targets terrorists and their financing. The United Nations Security Council designated Udin, Faiz, and Kiram Thursday on similar charges, obliging all UNmember countries to prohibit their travel, freeze their assets, and deny their access to the international financial system. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China launches new twin BeiDou-3 navigation satellites People's Daily Online (CNTV) 15:42, August 25, 2018 China sent twin BeiDou-3 navigation satellites into space on a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province at 7:52 a.m. BJT Saturday. The twin satellites are the 35th and 36th of the BeiDou navigation system, and the 283rd mission of the Long March rocket series. Over three hours after the launch, the pair successfully entered their designated orbit, readying to work together with the previous 10 BeiDou-3 satellites already in orbit to form a wider network providing services for users. A basic system with 18 BeiDou-3 satellites orbiting the Earth will be in place by year-end, and will serve countries participating in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Vestnik Kavkaza prepared a series of interviews with leading Russian economists and politicians supervising economic sector. This time, chief economist at PF Capital, Yevgeny Nadorshin, discussed new American sanctions and post-crisis state of Russian economy. - How will new American sanctions affect our economy? - They will make our economy, which is already pretty isolated in terms of technological cooperation and financial markets, even less open. In this regard, they will hurt our development prospects. We can expect that economic growth rate will significantly slow down. Until recently, commodity sector had the most significant growth, some state mega-projects contributed to it, but other segments, with rare exceptions, saw very slow development. But opportunities for growth of commodity sector are extremely limited, moreover, these resources are close to exhaustion, this is clearly visible in oil industry, which, perhaps, won't be able to increase production even by one percent in 2019. Commodities simply can't provide stable growth of Russian economy, not to mention targeted 3-4% per year. As for non-commodity sector, technological cooperation with foreign partners for exchange of technologies is extremely important for development of this sector. Russia, unfortunately, has always been weak in this, and with expansion of sanctions our weakness will increase. We don't have enough capabilities for full-fledged independent development in all necessary areas. Our cooperation with the world leader in technological sphere will decrease. Washington will create obstacles to everything associated with defense industry, not only when it comes to deliveries directly from the US to Russia, other directions may also be affected, at least those that cooperate with the United States. Previously imposed sanctions led to the fact that private sector not only in the US, but also in many other countries chose to refrain from technological cooperation with us. Now situation will become even worse. Technological development is a long-term process, and companies, considering intensity of new sanctions simply can't predict what sanctions confrontation will lead to in a year or two. It's known that Russian anti-sanctions very often painfully hurt interests of local economic agents, just like how it happened with food products anti-sanctions, everyone remembers this well. Foreign partners, even if they work on development of virtual reality devices, don't want to be in a situation where they have to guess whether Washington will consider their product a dual-use technology. I'm mentioning VR because our Defense Ministry was interested in training soldiers in virtual reality, such simulators are used in the US, and now it turns out that if a foreign company just creates computer games a joint venture with Russian partner can be considered dual-use technology. Due to this, Americans interested in working with our programmers will rather invite them to California to work on American soil as employees of American company, rather than risk cooperating with Russian legal entities and then spend time and money on avoiding sanctions. - How will planned sanctions against assets of Russian banks affect our financial system? - They will slow economic growth. In order to neutralize or at least reduce effects of restrictions on operations of our banks, it will be necessary to make a lot of efforts, and, of course, it won't be free. In addition, although draft sanctions stipulate that they are introduced only against one or more banks from the list, everyone will have to prepare for them, not only banks, but also the state. People will begin to transfer dollar deposits from Sberbank, VTB and other banks to avoid consequences of sanctions war. We will see results of these sanctions in the coming months, in August-September statistics, we will see results of what is happening in financial markets. By the way, in the long-term Sberbank will begin to be pressured by technological sanctions, since they won't allow it to produce its products, make it unprofitable to introduce new technologies, will make it more profitable for development teams to go to the West. All of this will also slow down growth of our economy. In the end, I think, in the second half of this year, we will see worsening dynamics. I don't expect recession, but there's a high probability that in 1.5 years growth rate won't exceed 1%. - Another important topic for our economy is government's summer reforms. In your opinion, what will the effect of the Finance Ministry's tax raise be? - Finance Ministry's decision to raise taxes will only slowdown the economy. I don't think that inflation will increase after the VAT increases, but its growth will lead to the fact that many companies in markets where demand doesn't grow dynamically will face serious difficulties and some won't be able to withstand the competition. Previously, such enterprises somehow survived, and now, due to 20% VAT, growth of business costs will force them to close, go bankrupt. Of course, the VAT is a very well administered tax, it's easy to collect it, tax authorities noticed this long time ago and in recent years actively used it, suffocating business in a way. Russia Restores Defunct Soviet Network to Monitor Near-Earth Objects Sputnik News 05:39 25.08.2018 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia has restored a global network of mothballed Soviet observatories to monitor near-Earth objects, according to a report by a state research institute. The document, obtained by Sputnik from Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics, said observatories had been brought out of mothballs in former Soviet member states, Bolivia and Switzerland. Additional eight outposts were set up in Russia's east, Moldova and Mexico to cover the entire geostationary orbit above Earth's equator. The network keeps track of over 5,000 identified near-Earth objects in its database, including spacecraft and space debris, and collects data on new launches. Previously, S7 Space General Director Sergey Sopov said that the company was planning to build a plant in the city of Samara to produce Soviet-designed NK-33 and NK-43 rocket engines for super heavy-lift launch vehicles. The company planned to purchase production capacities from the state-owned United Engine Corporation for this purpose. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Xi calls for strengthening Party leadership over law-based governance People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:17, August 25, 2018 President Xi Jinping on Friday called for strengthening the centralized and unified leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) over advancing law-based governance in all areas. Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, chairman of the Central Military Commission, and head of the Commission for Law-based Governance of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks while presiding over the first meeting of the commission. Efforts should be made to unswervingly promote socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics and enable the rule of law to better play its role of guarantee for a solid foundation, stabilized expectations and long-term interests, Xi said. Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu and Wang Huning, members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and deputy heads of the commission, attended the meeting. Documents including the commission's working rules and its work priorities in 2018 were adopted at the meeting. The rule of law and the Party's leadership over law-based governance in all areas need to be further strengthened in order to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics, Xi said. The CPC Central Committee has since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012 made a series of major decisions on law-based governance in all areas, which are the fundamental rules for law-based governance and must be adhered to and steadily developed on a long-term basis, he said. With this year's work priorities made clear, Xi called on relevant authorities to formulate a plan on building the rule of law in China, fully implement and enforce the Constitution, ensure legislation is sound, strengthen the building of a government based on the rule of law, deepen judicial system reform, advance efforts to build a society based on the rule of law, and train judicial personnel. Xi said the commission should focus its energy on top-level design, take the initiative to design the overall thinking and decide on the major tasks for building the system of the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, and do the planning and scientific decision-making on key issues concerning the law-based governance in all areas. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China-Africa relations set model for South-South cooperation People's Daily Online By Bai Yang, Liu Lingling (People's Daily) 10:05, August 25, 2018 China-Africa relations have set a model for the solidarity and cooperation between China and developing countries, as well as the best example for South-South cooperation, diplomats, experts and scholars told People's Daily ahead of the upcoming 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). The summit to be held in Beijing from September 3 to 4 will provide new opportunities for China and Africa to align each other's development strategies and build a closer community of common destiny, they added. Placing high importance on the development of relations with African countries, China will always stand together with Africa and other developing countries, and will be a sincere friend and reliable partner of Africa forever, no matter how the international landscape changes, and no matter how much progress China has made in development, China pledged previously. The principle of upholding justice while pursuing shared interests and the principles of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 for China's relations with Africa were welcomed by the latter, said Xu Jinghu, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on African Affairs. The concepts serve as the guiding philosophy for China in its endeavors to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with developing countries, expressed Xu, adding that China-Africa relations have become a role model for cooperation between China and developing countries, as well as South-South cooperation. During the past 18 years since the establishment of the FOCAC, the mechanism has constantly progressed to deeper levels and broader directions, said He Yafei, former Vice Foreign Minister of China. He, also a senior researcher with Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies under Renmin University of China, pointed out that the FOCAC has become an important platform for collective dialogue and pragmatic cooperation between China and African countries. In addition to economic and trade cooperation, the Beijing Summit will see deepening and expanding China-Africa cultural and people-to-people exchanges, said He, adding that the Summit will inject more vitality into bilateral friendship. Under the framework of the FOCAC, China and African countries have established many sub-forums covering a variety of aspects including industry, agriculture, law, education, culture, and art, according to Liu Guijin, former Special Representative of the Chinese Government for African Affairs, former Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, and former Chinese Ambassador to South Africa. The sub-forums of the FOCAC have continuously pushed China-Africa relations to new heights, Liu said, adding that the forum has brought benefits to both China and Africa. The FOCAC has witnessed a process of mutual consultation, joint construction, and benefit sharing between China and Africa. The proposal to hold the Forum was first put forward by African countries, and China has been consulting with African countries for their opinions when it was to hold the events, said Liu. According to Zhou Yuxiao, China's Ambassador for Affairs of the FOCAC, new policies will be introduced at the Beijing Summit to effectively align the Belt and Road Initiative with the African Union Agenda 2063, so as to promote the deep integration of the Chinese dream and the African dream, thus building a closer China-Africa community of common destiny. The construction of the Belt and Road has provided a broader platform for China-Africa cooperation, said Zhou, indicating that China and Africa have laid a foundation for cooperation in achieving infrastructure and financial connectivity, and the upcoming summit will attract more countries to join the construction of the Belt and Road. Calling the construction of Belt and Road and the FOCAC as two "legs" and "engines" of China-Africa cooperation, Zhou said that China-Africa cooperation will walk faster in a steady manner with the "legs", and will fly higher and further thanks to the "engines". African countries are now committed to pushing forward industrialization and modernization, Zhou pointed out, saying that the Beijing Summit will formulate priority areas and key directions for China-Africa cooperation with special considerations given to meet the needs of Africa's economic transformation and upgrading. The policies to be worked out at the Beijing Summit will help Africa nurture its capacity for independent development, thus accelerating its marches towards industrialization and modernization, said Zhou. He believes that with the concerted efforts, the Beijing Summit of the FOCAC will become a milestone event in the history of China-Africa relations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump cancels Pompeo trip to DPRK, citing lack of 'sufficient progress' on denuclearization People's Daily Online (CNTV) 13:56, August 25, 2018 US President Donald Trump on Friday tweeted that he has asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to cancel his upcoming trip to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), publicly acknowledging for the first time that progress on the Peninsula denuclearization is lacking. Trump tweeted that "I have asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to go to North Korea (DPRK), at this time, because I feel we are not making sufficient progress with respect to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." He added that "Secretary Pompeo looks forward to going to North Korea (DPRK) in the near future." But Trump still kept the door open to a second summit with Kim, with whom the president recently said he has "great chemistry." "In the meantime I would like to send my warmest regards and respect to Chairman Kim. I look forward to seeing him soon!" Trump said. Trump's statement came just a day after Pompeo said that he has appointed Stephen Biegun as the new special envoy for the DPRK. He also said that he and Biegun will travel to Pyongyang next week "to make further diplomatic progress towards our objective." White House officials said Trump asked Pompeo not to go during a Friday meeting and they crafted the tweets together. Pompeo has visited the DPRK three times, respectively in April, May and July. Trump on August 20 said he would "most likely" meet with Kim for a second time, and he believed Pyongyang had taken specific steps toward denuclearization. In the joint statement after the June 12 Trump-Kim meeting in Singapore, Trump committed to providing security guarantees to the DPRK, while Kim reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China hits back at Trump for 'irresponsible' comments about Korean Peninsula Iran Press TV Sat Aug 25, 2018 01:59PM China says the recent "irresponsible" comments made by President Donald Trump of the United States about Beijing's commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula contradict "basic facts." "The US statement is contrary to basic facts and is irresponsible. We are seriously concerned about this," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said in a statement posted on the ministry's website on Saturday. The ministry said it had made "stern representations" to the US side, and that it would continue to play a positive role in working toward the denuclearization. Trump said in a recent posting on Twitter that an upcoming trip to North Korea's capital, Pyongyang, by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had been cancelled, partly blaming Beijing for a lack of progress in the denuclearization talks. Lu said China's stance on the denuclearization had been consistent, and it supported Washington and Pyongyang to push forward the agreements reached during their landmark summit in Singapore in June. "All related parties should stick to the path of political settlement and show more sincerity and flexibility rather than being unpredictable and passing the buck to others," the Chinese Foreign Ministry official said. The United States and China have been locked in a trade dispute for months, which again escalated this week, with each side ratcheting up tariffs on imports from the other country in what may be leading to a trade war. China remains North Korea's main ally and trade partner, though their relations have relatively cooled when Beijing began enforcing UN Security Council sanctions aimed at containing Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs. But in late March, Beijing pledged to uphold its friendship with its isolated neighbor and won a pledge from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to denuclearize the peninsula during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Seoul regrets delay in Pompeo trip On Saturday, South Korea called Trump's decision to call off Pompeo's visit "unfortunate" and said continued diplomacy was vital to resolving the nuclear standoff with Pyongyang. "While we consider the delay of the visit to North Korea as unfortunate, we believe it's most important for the North Korea-US dialogue, including Secretary Pompeo's visits to North Korea, to contribute to substantial progress in complete denuclearization and the establishment of a permanent peace regime in the Korean Peninsula," South Korea's Foreign Ministry said. Although the US State Department never confirmed the details of Pompeo's trip, it had been expected that he would be in Pyongyang for at least several hours on Monday, according to several diplomatic sources familiar with the plan. In June, Kim Jong-un met with Trump in Singapore and agreed to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. While the summit was seen as a test for diplomacy that could end the long-running nuclear standoff, foreign policy experts say the stakes are high if it does not result in a nuclear agreement. In a report seen Tuesday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said there was no indication that North Korea had stopped its nuclear activities. Dismantling Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program and verifying it would be a large and complex task. The IAEA has said previously it stands ready to help verify any future agreements between the United States and North Korea over the issue. North Korea earlier said its nuclear arsenal served as a deterrent against Washington's potential aggression. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump calls off Pompeo's planned visit to North Korea Iran Press TV Fri Aug 24, 2018 08:21PM US President Donald Trump has cancelled a planned trip by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to North Korea, citing unsatisfactory progress on the denuclearization of Pyongyang. Trump partly blamed China for the lack of progress, saying Beijing is not doing enough to help the process move forward "as they once were." Trump's statement on Twitter Friday came just a day after Pompeo said he would again travel to North Korea along with his new US special representative, Stephen Biegun, in an attempt to break the deadlock. Meanwhile, a senior White House official said that the president asked Pompeo not to go to the Asian country during a meeting at the White House on Friday afternoon. Some US intelligence and defense officials had described the trip as premature, saying the prospect for significant progress was bleak. Pompeo, who would have been making his second visit to Pyongyang since the historic summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in June, had not been expected to meet Kim this time, the State Department said on Thursday. Trump has repeatedly hailed the June 12 meeting in Singapore as an unqualified success, slamming critics who cited the lack of firm commitments required of North Korea in the agreement he signed with Kim. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Claims About China Impacting Talks With N Korea 'Irresponsible' - Beijing Sputnik News 14:48 25.08.2018(updated 14:53 25.08.2018) BEIJING (Sputnik) - The United States' claims that China has been impacting Washington's talks with Pyongyang on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula are irresponsible and contradict the facts, Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman, Lu Kang, said in a statement on Saturday. "The claims made by the US contradict the facts, they are irresponsible. We express deep concern in this regard and have already made a submission to the US side," the spokesman said. The statement is a response to US President Donald Trump, who announced on Friday that he had told Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to cancel his trip to North Korea, scheduled for next week. According to Trump, China was not helping with the denuclearization issue as much as before because of the current trade dispute between the two countries. This is not the first time that Trump has criticized Beijing on the Korean issue. Earlier this month the US president reportedly said that "China maybe is getting in our way" in nuclear talks with Pyongyang, without providing additional details to his claim, causing a backlash from the Chinese government. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address J.P. Morgan, Citibank won't commit to cutting Iran access to markets, report says Iran Press TV Sat Aug 25, 2018 04:01PM J.P. Morgan and Citibank, two top American financial institutions, will not commit to cutting Iranian access to international markets, which will add fuel to concerns among US officials about efforts by European states and Tehran's regional allies to mitigate the impact of new US sanctions ahead of a November 4 implementation deadline, a report says. The Washington Free Beacon reported on Friday that the two institutions, which sit on the board of the Society for the Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), which facilitates international banking transactions, were opposed to disconnecting Iran from the network. The American conservative political journalism website, however, said the two banks declined Free Beacon inquiries into whether they intended to disconnect Iran from the network and comply with the sanctions. According to the report, both banks could play a pivotal role in ensuring that SWIFT and its members comply with the new sanctions, which target Iran's Central Bank and critical infrastructure networks. However, an ongoing standoff between European allies and the administration of US President Donald Trump over the implementation of the new sanctions threatens to force the two financial institutions to pick a side, the report said. SWIFT is used by nearly every bank around the world to send payment messages that lead to the transfer of money across international borders. It provides a wide range of services including transmitting letters of credit, payments and securities transactions among 9,700 banks in over 200 countries and territories. It became off-limits to Iranian banks in 2012 after the implementation of the US-led sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Accordingly, around 30 Iranian banks were blocked from using SWIFT services, literally cutting off Iran from the global banking system. Iran's state-run banks rejoined SWIFT following the nuclear agreement with world powers that went into effect in January 2016. Earlier this month, the European Union threatened to impose sanctions on companies that stop doing business with Iran in compliance with the US sanctions snapback mechanism. Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order, re-imposing the first round of sanctions on Iran which target the country's purchase of US dollars, trade in gold and other precious metals as well as automotive sector. The sanctions came three months after Trump withdrew Washington from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran despite objections from the other parties to the agreement, namely France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China, and the European Union. In November, a second round of US sanctions will be reinstated on Iran's oil industry, the Central Bank, port operators, and the energy and shipping sectors. Iranian officials have said the country will not give in to US pressure and rejected any offer of talks with Washington under threats. President Hassan Rouhani of the Islamic Republic said Saturday he was confident that the Iranian nation would emerge victorious under current circumstances. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in July that Iran had lodged a complaint with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over what he described as Washington's "unlawful" move to re-impose "unilateral" sanctions against Tehran. Based on Iran's lawsuit, the US sanctions violate the Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations signed by the two countries in 1955. The ICJ is reportedly preparing to begin hearing Iran's legal challenge on Monday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran, Russia resume talks to build new nuclear power plant Iran Press TV Sat Aug 25, 2018 03:27PM Iran's Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian says the country has restarted negotiations with Russia to build a new nuclear power plant capable of generating up to 3,000 megawatts of electricity. "Talks are underway to construct a new 3,000-megawatt nuclear power plant to increase electricity generation capacity to 4,000 megawatts from the current 1,000 megawatts," Tasnim news agency quoted Ardakanian as saying on Saturday. In November 2014, Tehran and Moscow struck a deal to build eight more nuclear power plants in Iran. Russia has already built a power plant in Bushehr in southern Iran. The agreement for the Bushehr nuclear power plant was finalized in 1995, but the project was delayed several times due to a number of technical and financial issues. The 1,000-megawatt plant, which is operating under the full supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reached its maximum power generation capacity in August 2012. In September 2013, Iran officially took over from Russia the first unit of its first 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plant for two years. Back in May, Russia's state nuclear agency Rosatom said Russia has begun "soil stabilization" work on the site of Phase 2 of the Bushehr power plant. "On 3 May 2018, soil stabilization works under the reactor building of power unit No 2 commenced at Bushehr-2 NPP construction site," the agency said on its website. The construction of the power plant's second and third phases began in November 2017. It was reported at the time that the two phases would begin supplying electricity to Iran's power grid in 10 years. The resumption of talks between Tehran and Moscow came as the United States has ramped up pressure on Iran after US President Donald Trump withdrew Washington in May from the landmark Iran nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries in 2015, and decided to re-impose unilateral sanctions against Tehran. Under the deal, Iran undertook to put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rouhani has 'no doubt about final victory over enemy' Iran Press TV Sat Aug 25, 2018 09:07AM President Hassan Rouhani says he has no doubt that the Iranian nation will emerge victorious from US sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Iranians need to stand in unity against conspiracies hatched by the enemies like Israel and the US, he said Saturday, adding this was the path already shown to the nation by the late founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini. "Today is one of the difficult and hard days for Iran against foreign conspiracies, but the path of the late Imam can save the people and the country," Rouhani said on the advent of Iran's Government Week. He made the remarks during a visit to Imam Khomeini's Mausoleum in southern Tehran, where he renewed his allegiance to the ideals of the late founder of the Islamic Republic. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order, re-imposing the first round of sanctions on Iran which target the country's purchase of US dollars, trade in gold and other precious metals as well as automotive sector. The sanctions came three months after Trump withdrew Washington from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran despite objections from the other parties to the agreement France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China and the international community. In November, a second round of US sanctions will be reinstated on Iran's oil industry, the Central Bank, port operators, and the energy and shipping sectors. Iranian officials have said the US measures are tantamount to an "economic war" on the country. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in July that Iran had lodged a complaint with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over what he described as Washington's "unlawful" move to re-impose "unilateral" sanctions against Tehran. Based on Iran's lawsuit, the US sanctions violate the Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations signed by the two countries in 1955. The ICJ is reportedly preparing to begin hearing Iran's legal challenge against renewed US bans Monday. Elsewhere in his remarks, Iran's president emphasized that his administration would try all in its capacity to reduce the impacts of sanctions on the lives of Iranians. "We are aware of the people's pain, suffering and problems and do our best to reduce them. There is no doubt about the nation's final victory over the enemy," Rouhani said. Through unity and solidarity, he added, the nation "was able to foil the Zionist lobbies' efforts in the US Senate and the House of Representatives as well as the US conspiracies in the UN Security Council." "Resistance against conspiracies is the duty of all of us and we can overcome these problems through unity and solidarity," the Iranian president said. He also called on government officials to explain their efforts and achievements to the people during the Government Week. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address At least 171 people were hospitalized on Saturday because of the thick dust storm in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, Xinhua reported citing official IRNA news agency. "Out of 810 people affected by the respiratory issues and registered in the clinics of Sistan and Baluchestan because of the dust storm, 171 people have been hospitalized," the province's Crisis Management Center said. Abolrahman Shahnavazi, head of the province's Crisis Management Center, told IRNA that these people also suffered from sight and heart problems because of the polluted dusty air. "So far, 7,852 bottles of mineral water and 906 parcels of food have been distributed by the Red Crescent Society among the regional people," Shahnavazi was quoted as saying. Top US envoy on Iran slams EU aid for Tehran Iran Press TV Sat Aug 25, 2018 01:26AM The US special representative for Iran has criticized a decision by the European Union to give $20.7 million in aid to Tehran. The remarks by Brian Hook came on Friday; one day after the EU agreed to pay the sum in development aid to Tehran as the 28-nation bloc steps up efforts to blunt the impact of returning US sanctions against Iran and to keep it in the multilateral 2015 nuclear deal. Hook said the move sent "the wrong message at the wrong time," calling on Brussels to help Washington to end what he called the Iranian threat to global stability, a claim Iran totally rejects. He said that "the United States and the European Union should be working together instead to find lasting solutions that truly support Iran's people and end the regime's threats to regional and global stability." The EU measure was announced in a statement on Thursday by the bloc's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, who once again reaffirmed Europe's commitment to joint efforts with Iran to keep the nuclear deal alive without the US. Washington in May went against international calls and unilaterally scrapped the nuclear agreement, announcing that it would re-impose the anti-Iran sanctions that were lifted under the multilateral accord. Denouncing the White House's hostile move, Iran's other partners to the deal -- France, the UK, Germany, Russia and China -- vowed efforts to protect the agreement, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The first phase of US sanctions target Iran's access to the US dollar, metals trading, coal, industrial software, and auto sector. The second phase , which will return in early November, takes aim at Iran's oil sales and its Central Bank. Iranian officials, including President Hassan Rouhani, have said that the sanctions target the Iranian nation. "Today, the United States is isolated in the public opinion of the world, and is even more secluded among the Iranian people because the US sanctions plan is against the Iranian people," Rouhani said on July 14. Washington has also launched a campaign of pressure and threats against those European firms that defy US bans and fail to leave the Iranian market. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's New Warplane Seen Limited as Weapon, Useful for Training By Michael Lipin, Farhad Pouladi August 25, 2018 Iran's unveiling this week of a domestically made fighter jet resembling an obsolete U.S. warplane has drawn Western derision about its efficacy as a weapon, but also appreciation of its training potential. "This is almost a laughable event," said Michael Pregent, a Middle East analyst at the Washington-based Hudson Institute, in a VOA Persian interview. He was referring to Tuesday's Iranian state TV report about what it called a fourth-generation Iranian-produced "Kowsar" warplane with "advanced avionics." In the broadcast, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani sat in the cockpit as he inspected the fighter jet. Iranian state TV later showed a takeoff of the warplane and an in-flight video apparently filmed from inside the cockpit. Some Western and Israeli aviation analysts were quick to note the Kowsar's visual resemblance to the U.S. F-5 Tiger jet that the U.S. military began using in the 1960s. Iran purchased at least 140 F-5 Tigers from the U.S. in the 1970s, before the 1979 revolution that brought to power Tehran's anti-American Islamist leadership. "This is an aircraft that we have not used in 20 years, except for training other countries in how to fly American aircraft," Pregent said. "This dated technology is not intimidating." Pregent said the Kowsar's limitations as a modern-day warplane could hurt Iran more than help. "Iran wants to be able to project an offensive (aerial) capability in the Strait of Hormuz and to at least demonstrate a similar capability to attack American forces in Iraq and Syria," he said. "But I think (the Kowsar's launch) will backfire, because the U.S. will increase its defensive posture in Iraq and Syria and make it very easy to shoot one of them down." Any Iranian warplanes crossing into Iraq or Syria could face the U.S. military's advanced F-16 jets and F-22 stealth jets that have been flying over both nations as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, a U.S.-led coalition operation against the Islamic State militant group. But the Kowsar may serve one useful purpose for Iran. In a Tuesday report, Iranian state-run news agency Fars said the warplane's main function is for training missions. Justin Bronk, an aerial-combat analyst at Britain's Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), told the Business Insider news site that Iran has faced a shortage of fighter pilots. "Iran has been relying for a long time on basically a bunch of increasingly old veteran pilots, a lot of whom were trained by or were trained by those who were trained by the U.S. before the revolution," Bronk said. Using the Kowsar to train a younger generation of Iranian pilots is not a bad idea, in Bronk's view. "It makes the most of the limited technology options they have," he said. Pentagon Correspondent Carla Babb contributed to this report, which was produced in collaboration with VOA's Persian Service. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ex-South Korean President Jail Term Increased to 25 Years Sputnik News 07:00 24.08.2018(updated 09:04 24.08.2018) The South Korean appeal court on Friday extended ex-president Park Geun-hye's prison sentence in a case arising from a corruption scandal that led to mass protests and her dismissal in 2017. The Seoul High Court found Park guilty of charges including bribery, Yonhap news agency reported. Park was accused of the collusion with her friend, Choi Soon-sil to receive bribes from the large conglomerates, including Samsung, in exchange for lobbying their interests. Park is also said to illegally transfer this money to Choi's NGOs and browbeat firms into hiring Choi's friends. The case showed $20 million received or demanded from multiple conglomerates, sharing state documents and blacklisting artist critical to her policies and firing governmental officials who opposed her. The lower court previously sentenced former president to 24 years in April, yet prosecution applied to increase the sentence to 30 years. Ex-president was also sentenced for 8 more years in July in a separate case, finding her guilty of the loss of government funds and interfering with 2016 elections. Park, who had previously plead not guilty for charges and called the process politically motivated, decided not to appeal. The current decision also fines Park with 20 billion won ($17.86 million). Presiding judge Kim Mun-suk said in the ruling that Park's abuse of power gave "the people a grave sense of loss and deep distrust of our society," Reuters reports. Park's interests were represented by the state lawyers after her own defense team quit last year in a wake of mass protests in Seoul. Park was 66 on the moment of her imprisonment in March 2017. The penalties apply consecutively, meaning that ex-president will be approaching 100 by the time she is due for release. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian, Turkish defense ministers discuss Syria IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Aug 24, IRNA -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu discussed on Friday with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar the situation in Syria. The Russian Defense Ministry announced that the two sides had a 'detailed discussion' on the situation in Syria during the meeting, SANA reported from Moscow. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that a 'great progress' was made in the efforts to find a solution to the crisis in Syria. "Efforts by our countries and the participation of other countries concerned (in particular, I am referring to Iran and our cooperation with the United Nations, the European countries and the United States) we have managed to make great progress towards a settlement of the Syrian crisis," Sputnik quoted Putin as saying during his meeting on Friday with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. 1396**1396 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian army advances in Sweida desert, kills scores of Daesh IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Aug 24, IRNA -- Units of Syrian Arab Army continued their operations against Daesh (ISIS) terrorist organization in the eastern desert of Sweida, establishing control over Kherbit al-Hawi. SANA's reporter said that army units continued advancing in the direction of Tal Ghanem after fierce clashes with Daesh terrorists, killing and injuring scores of terrorists and destroying their fortified positions and two pick-up vehicles equipped with heavy machineguns. The military operations in the direction of Um Marzakh and Qabar al-Sheikh resulted in inflicting heavy losses on Daesh terrorists. The Army's artillery and Air Force targeted movements of Daesh in Toloul al-Safa area, inflicting heavy losses on the terrorists. 1396**1396 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin: Cooperation with Iran, Turkey helped solve Syrian crisis IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Moscow, Aug 24, IRNA -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Cooperation between Russia, Iran and Turkey greatly contributed to the Settlement of Syrian crisis. In a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, he urged further development of Russia-Turkey relations. Referring to his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Putin noted that cooperation between Russia and Turkey in the economic field and settlement of certain regional issues including Bahrain crisis should be further improved. "With the involvement of other countries including Iran as well as cooperation with the UN and European states and the US, we managed to attain serious gains in solving Syrian crisis," he said. Cavusoglu, for his part, hailed good relationship between the two countries' presidents, saying that such ties will drive the two countries toward development. Referring to his talks with his Russian counterpart and the meeting between two countries' defense ministers, he said that all issues pertaining to Moscow-Ankara cooperation were discussed. 8072**1396 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia respects Iran's steps to provide its security in Syria IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Aug 24, IRNA -- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has said that Iran's presence in Syria is at the invitation of this country's lawful government and that Moscow respects Tehran's steps to provide its security in Syria. Iran is present in Syria at the invitation of its legal authorities, but there is space for work in this issue, Ryabkov, who took part in the negotiations between Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev and the United States National Security Advisor John Bolton, told TASS about it on Thursday. 'We treat with great respect Iran's steps to provide its own security and actions, including on Syria at the invitation of this country's lawful government. However, this does not mean that there are no prospects or space for further work in this sphere,' the Russian deputy foreign minister said. He added that the issue of Iran's presence in Syria was discussed in the broader context of the situation in the Middle East and in Syria. 'We've got many inconsistencies with the Americans in this area,' the senior diplomat noted. 'Approaches are directly opposite in some cases, but here as well, which is important, there are grounds for continuing dialogue regarding Syria.' Ryabkov reiterated that Russia is working with Iran on Syria in the Astana format. 'In the near future, there will be new contacts, including on the Geneva platform, which we regard as an important component of greater work. Sochi and Astana cannot replace Geneva; these are independent venues, and all these tracks complement each other. We presume that Tehran has similar views on it,' the Russian deputy foreign minister concluded. 9341**1420 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey Interested in Eliminating Militants in Syria's Idlib - Foreign Minister Sputnik News 12:14 24.08.2018(updated 14:29 24.08.2018) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu held a joint press conference after negotiations in Moscow on August 24. "Turkey is one of Russia's key partners, we see an increase in our economic relations. And we intend to build up our military-technical cooperation," Lavrov said in his speech. He noted the need for building up "practical cooperation" in the field of military-technical cooperation, as well as other areas in the automotive, agriculture and banking sectors. Moscow and Ankara are ready for talks on a mutual basis to facilitate trips for Turkish nationals, Lavrov noted. "We have reaffirmed Russia's readiness to negotiate the facilitation of trips for certain categories of Turkish citizens on a reciprocal basis and will do so in the near future. We have agreed to create a mechanism for consultations on preparing agreements on this issue," Lavrov told a press conference after talks with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu. Syrian Constitutional Commission The ministers have also discussed Syria and the speedy completion of work to create the Syrian Constitutional Commission. "We discussed international problems, focused on Syria, reviewed implementation of the agreements reached within the framework of the Astana format at the highest level, at the level of experts, reviewed implementation of the decisions by the Congress of the Syrian National Dialogue that took place in Sochi within the framework of creating a constitutional commission, this work continues. We discussed the tasks of its prompt completion," Lavrov told a press conference. A joint meeting of Russian and Turkish foreign, defense ministers will be held in Moscow, where the sides will discuss the situation in Idlib, Syria, according to Lavrov. "These issues [situation in Idlib] are being discussed between foreign ministries, they are being discussed between our military, intelligence services, the [Turkish] defense minister is now in Moscow. We have not finished this work today, we will have an additional meeting with the participation of all our colleagues," Lavrov told a press conference. The Russian foreign minister has called for minimizing the risks to the population of Idlib, saying that "the de-escalation zone was not created so that fighters could hide behind peaceful citizens." Turkey's Foreign Minister has also commented on the Syria situation, saying that Ankara is interested in the elimination of terrorists in Idlib as they threaten the country's national security. At the same time, according to him, "while eliminating terrorists, it is unacceptable to harm the lives of civilians." "This can provoke a flow of refugees, drama, a human catastrophe," the Turkish diplomat said. Earlier, the head of the Russian Center for Syrian Reconciliation noted that the militants operating in the Idlib de-escalation zone continued to shell settlements in Syria. The Idlib province is a part of the northern de-escalation zone in Syria created under the Astana reconciliation process. Most of the province is currently occupied by militant groups, including the al-Nusra Front terror group. Turkish-Russian Cooperation Triggers Envy in Some Political Circles The successful cooperation between Turkey and Russia is a source of envy in some political circles, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday. "We are making an active effort to report to our leadership on the work that has been done. Regular meetings of the presidents are held. And as the presidents said during the meeting in Johannesburg at the BRICS summit indeed, this successful cooperation sometimes causes envy in some circles," Cavusoglu said after his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Cavusoglu added that both sides were interested in developing cooperation on regional issues and the international agenda. Moscow and Ankara are working together to settle the Syrian crisis. Both countries serve as guarantors of the ceasefire in the Middle Eastern state alongside Iran. On July 13, Deputy Chairman of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Mehdi Eker told Sputnik that the TurkStream gas pipeline and Turkey's first nuclear plant in Akkuyu were the most important joint energy infrastructure projects. *Al-Nusra Front, also known as Jabhat Fatah al Sham, is a terrorist group, banned in Russia. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ankara, Moscow Intensify Diplomatic Efforts as Battle Brews in Syria By Dorian Jones August 24, 2018 Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has warned against a possible Syrian government offensive in Syria's last rebel-held province of Idlib, saying a military solution "would be a disaster," not just for the area, but for all of Syria. Cavusoglu made his comments in Moscow as Syrian forces backed by Russia massed ahead of an expected offensive against Idlib. "We should continue to work together to maintain the cease-fire in Syria, under the Astana Process," Cavusoglu said at a Moscow press conference with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Cavusoglu also cited the risk to the region's large civilian population, saying, "Civilians will be harmed." Lavrov, for his part, said, "We agreed to continue our joint efforts to stabilize the situation in the region [Syria] and to create safe conditions for Syrian refugees to return home." The Astana Process calls for Russia and Iran, the main supporters of the Syrian government, to work with Turkey, one of the chief backers of the rebels, to end Syria's civil war. Idlib is one of the so-called "de-escalation zones" created under Astana, in which rebels and their families moved to areas protected by a cease-fire; however, Syrian government forces backed by Russian airpower have overrun all the zones except for Idlib. More than 2 million Syrians, along with an estimated 100,000 or more rebels, are holed up in Idlib, which borders Turkey. Ankara has set up 12 military observation posts as part of an agreement with Tehran and Moscow. In June, a senior Turkish presidential adviser, speaking to VOA on condition of anonymity, warned that Ankara would not allow Idlib to be overrun. "This is a ticking bomb that needs to be taken care of, right now," said former senior Turkish diplomat Aydin Selcen, who served across the region. Turkey is vowing to resist any military incursion. The government in Ankara fears a major humanitarian disaster, with hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing across the border if the Syrian government captures Idlib. Analysts warn such an exodus would pose security threats, given some rebels' affiliation with the Islamic State and al-Qaida groups. Turkey currently hosts more than 3 million Syrian refugees. Military presence Syrian government forces are steadily building up their forces around Idlib, with helicopters reportedly dropping leaflets warning of an imminent operation. "Once the summer heat and the Bayram [Religious Eid holiday, which ends Friday] holiday passes, I do anticipate a Syrian offensive and Assad militia to start harassing Turkey's monitoring posts in the north of the province of Idlib," said political analyst Atilla Yesilada of Global Source Partners. By Assad, he was referring to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. In the past few weeks, Turkish military forces have been reinforcing their military presence in Idlib, including deploying anti-aircraft missile systems. Large numbers of tanks also have been sent to the Turkish border with Idlib. Former diplomat Selcen noted that with the strength of Turkish forces in Idlib, and the support of the local population in the province, "Idlib can be defended against Syrian armed forces and Damascus-affiliated militias, militarily speaking." "While Ankara insists it will not allow this [Idlib operation] to happen, Moscow could be the key player," said Huseyin Bagci, professor of international relations at Ankara's Middle East Technical University. Role of Russia Russia controls Syrian airspace with its sophisticated S-400 anti-aircraft missile system. "Without the Russians allowing Turkey to use Syrian airspace, Turkey could not have done the two operations it did in Syria," said international relations expert Soli Ozel of Istanbul's Kadir Has University. Turkish forces have conducted two major military operations against a Syrian Kurdish militia. Turkey now controls a broad swath of northern Syria. Ankara's growing cooperation with Moscow in Syria has been a springboard for deepening ties between the traditional regional rivals, much to the unease of Turkey's NATO allies. With Russia, one of the main backers of Syrian, and Ankara opposing a Syrian government attack on Idlib, analysts say Moscow faces a diplomatic conundrum. "There was always going to be a limit to Turkey's relationship with Moscow," Ozel said. "Yes, it can put a strain on Turkish-Russian relations; that's why [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin is working so hard diplomatically. That is why Russia is quite active to solve this diplomatically," Selcen said. Separately, Turkey's defense and intelligence chiefs, Hulusi Akar and Hakan Fidan, also were in Moscow on Friday for discussions with senior Russian officials, including President Putin, at the Kremlin. Observers suggest Moscow could be looking for Ankara to use its influence over the Syrian rebel forces to facilitate a peaceful handover of Idlib to Syrian government forces and avert a humanitarian crisis and exodus into Turkey. Ankara reportedly has countered by proposing to differentiate radical and moderate rebel forces as a means to allow part of Idlib to remain under opposition control. Analysts say maintaining rebel control of a portion of Syria is a strategic necessity for Ankara. "We can't allow Assad to reconquer all of Syria because for the very simple reason we have 3.6 million Syrians in Turkey and the Turks don't want them," analyst Yesilada said. "It's becoming a major burden for the AKP. Even AKP voters are complaining about Syrians," he said, referring to Turkey's ruling party. "Turkey needs to hold some portion of Syria and pose a credible threat to Assad," Yesilada added, "to force Assad into a peace agreement that will accept these refugees back." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the opening of a newly-built secondary school in Lahij settlement, Ismayilli district. The president and the first lady cut the ribbon symbolizing the inauguration of the school. Minister of Education Jeyhun Bayramov informed President Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva that the old building of the school was constructed in 1928. Although designed for 130 pupils, the school accommodated 232 pupils. The new 400-seat school was built under the order of the president. The three-storey school features a gym and a 175-seat auditorium as well as a number of subject rooms and laboratories. The school has video surveillance and centralized heating systems. Two frigates join Russian fleet opposite Syrian coast IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Aug 25, IRNA -- The Russian Black Sea Fleet announced that the frigates Admiral Grigorovich and Admiral Essen are joining the Russian ships stationed opposite the Syrian coast in the Mediterranean. A representative of the fleet told RT on Saturday that the two frigates are passing through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits, and they should rendezvous with the Russian ships in the Mediterranean later today and begin carrying out their assigned tasks upon joining the other ships, SANA reported from Moscow. The two frigates had recently concluded training missions including takeoff and landing of Kamov Ka-27 military helicopters and drills for searching and tracking submarines. 1396**1396 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US threatens military action against Damascus IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Aug 25, IRNA -- The US national security advisor in a meeting with his Russian counterpart in Geneva, once again threatened military action against Syria, according to Western media. 'At a Thursday meeting in Geneva, National Security Adviser John Bolton told his Russian counterpart, Nikolai Patrushev, that America is prepared to respond with greater military force than it has used against [Bashar] Assad's regime in the past,' wrote Bloomberg on Saturday, quoting informed sources. The news was given to Bloomberg by four sources, who asked not to be identified because the content of talks hasn't been publicly disclosed. Washington alleges that the Syrian government uses chemical weapons against its own people, a claim strongly denied by Damascus. Syria and its regional allies, including Iran blame the chemical attacks on terrorists who have the backing of Western powers and who are supplied by them with the wherewithal they need to go on with their terrorist activities in the war-torn nation. The US still has about 2,000 troops in northeast Syria. In April 2017, US warships in the Mediterranean Sea fired about 60 cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase which had allegedly been used during a chemical attack. A year later, the UK and France joined the US in carrying out multiple airstrikes against government sites. 9417**2044 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Daesh terrorists holding 27 hostage in Syria's Sweida, says HRW Iran Press TV Sat Aug 25, 2018 05:11PM Human Rights Watch (HRW) says members of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group are holding 27 people captive in Syria's southwestern province of Sweida, condemning the hostage-taking as a "war crime." The New York-based international non-governmental organization said on Saturday that the abductees mostly consist of women and children, who were kidnapped on July 25 when Daesh launched a massive assault on the Druze community in the province and killed more than 250 people. HRW stressed that the Takfiris are holding the civilians hostage in order to use them as bargaining chips in negotiations with the Damascus government and Russia. "Civilian lives should not be used as bargaining chips," said Lama Fakih, deputy Middle East director at HRW. There are reports that at least two people have died ever since Daesh extremists took more than 30 people hostage in the July offensive. A 19-year-old male student was beheaded, and a 65-year-old woman died earlier this month. Moreover, two women managed to escape captivity. Villagers have provided the names of at least 27 people being held by Daesh. Children as young as seven are among them, according to activists in Sweida province. Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups wreaking havoc in the country. Syrian army troopers, backed by allied fighters from popular defense groups, have recently made major territorial gains in battles against Daesh and other foreign-sponsored Takfiri terrorist groups, almost capturing the entire southern part of the country after securing the capital Damascus and other key areas. The major militant stronghold remains in the northwestern province of Idlib, where government forces are preparing to launch a full-scale military operation. Takfiri militants are also in control of some areas of the western-central province of Hama, and are holding some desert regions near the border with Turkey. Moreover, negotiations have been taking place between the political wing of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which are backed by the US, and the Syrian government on ways to end violence in Syria. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia warns US against 'reckless steps' in Syria amid reports of false flag plan Iran Press TV Sat Aug 25, 2018 10:23AM Moscow has warned Washington against making any "reckless" moves in Syria after the Russian Defense Ministry said the US, Britain and France are preparing to conduct a fresh aerial assault against Syria under the pretext of the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Damascus government. "We warn the Americans and their allies against taking new reckless steps in Syria," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Saturday. "We are hearing ultimatums from Washington ... and it does not affect our determination to continue our policy for the total elimination of terrorist epicenters in Syria and the return of this country to a normal life," RIA news agency quoted Ryabkov as saying. Earlier in the day, the ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov had said that a group of militants, who were trained by a private British military company to work with poisonous materials, had already arrived in Syria's northwestern Idlib Province. "To carry out the alleged 'chemical attack' in the city of Jisr al-Shughur in the province of Idlib, militants from the Tahrir al-Sham group had delivered 8 tankers with chlorine to a village a few kilometers from Jisr al-Shughur," Konashenkov said. The Russian general further warned that a possible militant gas attack on Syria would be followed by a Western strike against the Arab country. "This provocation with the active participation of the British special services will serve as another pretext for the US, UK and France to conduct a missile strike on the Syrian government and economic facilities," he said. The official further noted that the American destroyer USS The Sullivans armed with 56 cruise missiles had also arrived in the Persian Gulf and a US -1 bomber carrying 24 air-to-surface AGM-158 JASSM cruise missiles had been deployed at Al Udeid airbase in Qatar. "Western countries' actions in spite of their public statements are aimed at another sharp deterioration of the situation in the Middle East region and the disruption of the peace process on the territory of Syria." The warning comes as the Syrian army is now preparing for an operation to liberate Idlib Province, the last major militant stronghold. Bolton's warning On Saturday, Bloomberg reported that US National Security Adviser John Bolton had warned his Russian counterpart, Nikolai Patrushev, that Washington was prepared to take strong military action against Syria if it used chemical weapons in Idlib. Bolton issued the warning during his Thursday's talks with Patrushev, the report quoted four people familiar with the discussions as saying. On April 14, the US, Britain and France launched a coordinated missile attack against sites and research facilities near Damascus and Homs with the purported goal of paralyzing the Syrian government's capability to produce chemicals. The strike came one week after an alleged gas attack on the Damascus suburb town of Douma. Both Damascus and Moscow accused the White Helmets volunteer group of having staged the suspected chemical weapons attack in Douma. Turkey pushing against Syria's upcoming Idlib campaign As countdown begins for the Idlib counter-terrorism campaign, Turkey tries to avert the push, claiming that it will lead to a humanitarian crisis. Speaking at a press conference with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Moscow on Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that the two countries could cooperate on separating Idlib "terrorists" from opposition groups. "A military solution there (in Idlib) will cause catastrophe," he said. "Not only for the Idlib region but for the future of Syria, it will cause catastrophe and the clashes may last a long time." Lavrov, for his part, acknowledged that the situation in Idlib is "complex" and called for the separation of militants from opposition outfits. He also said that when Turkey, Iran and Russia held talks on Syria's ceasefire zones, Moscow did not expect militants to be "using it as a human shield" from which they could attack the government. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Report: U.S. Warns Russia It Will Take Strong Action Over Any Syrian Chemical Attack RFE/RL August 25, 2018 The United States has told Russia it is ready to take strong military action against Syria if President Bashar al-Assad uses chemical weapons to try to recapture one of his country's last rebel-held provinces, Bloomberg News is reporting. Bloomberg reported late on August 24, citing anonymous sources, that U.S. officials claim to have information indicating that Assad may be planning a chemical attack in the northwestern province of Idlib, near Syria's border with Turkey. It said White House national-security adviser John Bolton at a meeting in Geneva on August 23 told his Russian counterpart, Nikolai Patrushev, that Washington is prepared to respond with greater military force than it has used in the past to punish Assad for his alleged use of chemical weapons. U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly vowed to strike back at Assad for any use of chemical weapons and has ordered air strikes on two occasions since taking office last year, both in response to incidents in which dozens of Syrian civilians were reported killed in chemical weapons attacks. Moscow reacted to Bolton's comments on August 25, warning Washington against "reckless" actions in Syria. "We warn the Americans and their allies against taking new reckless steps in Syria," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted by the state-run RIA Novosti news agency as saying. The Russian Defense Ministry, meanwhile, claimed that militants in Syria's northwestern Idlib Province were planning a chemical weapons attack in order to blame it on government forces. Bolton's reported private warning to Patrushev echoes a public statement issued by the United States, Britain, and France earlier this week warning Syria not to use chemical weapons again as it accelerates its campaign to retake Idlib, the last remaining stronghold of Syrian Sunni rebels who have been battling Assad's forces for seven years. While the United States has staged air strikes in Syria twice in the last year, they apparently did not achieve their goal of disabling Assad's capacity to make and use chemical weapons, Bloomberg reported. In April 2017, U.S. warships in the Mediterranean Sea fired about 60 cruise missiles at a Syrian air base which had allegedly been used to launch a sarin gas attack on the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun. A year later, Britain and France joined the United States in carrying out multiple air strikes against what they said were Syrian chemical weapons facilities. The previous attacks targeted alleged chemical sites but, according to Bloomberg, Bolton told Petrushev that Trump might order broader attacks against Syrian government targets the next time. Washington has held Russia partly responsible for Syria's chemical weapons use because Moscow is Syria's biggest ally and it has shielded Damascus from efforts to rein in Assad at the United Nations. Both Russia and Syria deny Assad has used chemical weapons, despite several instances that were documented by the UN. Syrian forces, backed by Russian air power, have been deploying around Idlib and waging air raids and artillery attacks in what appears to be preparations for a major assault that Assad has promised in order to retake the province. Tens of thousands of the rebels in Idlib were transported there from other parts of Syria in the last year under safe passage agreements brokered by Russia as Syrian forces regained control of areas around Damascus and the southern border with Israel and Jordan which were once held by the rebels. Because they are diehard holdouts from elsewhere around the country, Bloomberg said the rebels that remain in Idlib are now dominated by militants from Al-Qaeda and other extremist Sunni groups. As Western-backed moderate Sunni rebels have surrendered or retreated in the last year, Washington appears to have given up on its longtime goal of toppling Assad and has focused on two other objectives: stopping any further use of chemical weapons by Assad and curbing Iranian influence in Syria. The United States still has about 2,000 troops in northeast Syria, allied with Kurdish militia groups that ousted the Islamic State extremist group from Raqqa and the surrounding region, and who now are seeking to establish autonomous rule in talks with Damascus. Bloomberg reported that the Bolton-Petrushev talks touched on the possible removal of American troops from a military base on the Syria-Iraq border, or their cooperation with Russian forces nearby, but no agreement was reached. During the talks, Bolton also rejected a Russian proposal for Washington to suspend oil sanctions on Iran as part of a broader settlement in Syria, Bloomberg reported. With reporting by Bloomberg Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-warns-russia -will-take-strong-action-over-any-syrian- chemical-attack-idlib-province/29452443.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, UK and France Prepare New Strike Against Syria - Russian MoD Sputnik News 09:01 25.08.2018(updated 11:18 25.08.2018) According to the Russian Defense Ministry, militants are arriving in Syria's Idlib after being trained by a private British military company called Olive. The Russian Defense Ministry has accused the United States, the United Kingdom and France of preparing to carry out new strikes against Syria under the pretext of chemical weapons use by Syrian government forces. "Western countries' actions in spite of their public statements are aimed at another sharp deterioration of the situation in the Middle East region and the disruption of the peace process on the territory of Syria," ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov noted. According to the spokesman, militants in Idlib province are preparing to stage the use of chemical weapons against civilians by the government. "To carry out the alleged 'chemical attack' in the city of Jisr al-Shughur in the province of Idlib, militants from the Tahrir al-Sham group (affiliated with the Jabhat Nusra* terror organization) had delivered 8 tankers with chlorine to a village a few kilometers from Jisr al-Shughur," the general stated. For this purpose, the destroyer USS The Sullivans armed with 56 cruise missiles had arrived in the Persian Gulf several days ago, while a US -1 bomber carrying 24 air-to-surface AGM-158 JASSM cruise missiles has been deployed at Al Udeid air base in Qatar, the spokesman suggested. "This provocation with the active participation of the British special services will serve as another pretext for the US, UK and France to conduct a missile strike on the Syrian government and economic facilities," Konashenkov said. A group of militants trained under the guidance of a private British military company, Olive to work with poisonous substances has arrived in Idlib, the ministry said. "The militants are tasked with imitating the rescue of victims of chemical weapons' use in the vestments of the notorious White Helmets," Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov noted. According to Konashenkov, "unfounded" statements vowing to respond to chemical weapons' use by the Syrian government made by a number of high-ranking representatives from the US, UK and France serve as indirect evidence of the preparation of another "act of aggression against Syria by the United States and its allies." Russia Warns West Against New Reckless Moves in Syria Deputy Foreign Minister Moscow has heard the recent statements made by US Security Adviser John Bolton on Syria and is warning the West against new reckless moves toward the Middle Eastern country, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Sputnik. "We can hear ultimatums voiced by Washington, including public statements. This does not affect our commitment to fully eliminate terror cells in Syria and return this country to normal life We warn the United States and its allies against new reckless moves," Ryabkov said. Moscow will continue to support Damascus in its efforts to stabilize the situation in Syria, including in the return of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), the diplomat emphasized. "The fact that the western states do not want to participate in [these efforts] once again proves that they have other goals [which are] to further destabilize Syria, not shunning any tools and continue seeking new pretexts for raising the issue of regime change, the transfer of power in Damascus. There is nothing new about this We are ready for such developments, we expose their intentions. But the US [authorities] do not seem to learn from history, including recent history, because we can currently see the escalation of the situation [in Syria]," Ryabkov noted. The diplomat suggested that at present, "the scenario of a gross provocation and subsequent strikes [on Syria] was very likely." Threats and ultimatums are the only languages spoken by the United States, Ryabkov stressed. On August 23, National Security Adviser John Bolton reportedly told Russian Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev that America is prepared to respond with the greater force in Syria than the last time. The US, UK, and France coordinated a massive airstrike on Syria in April 2018 after the alleged use of chemical weapons in Douma had been reported by the controversial NGO "White Helmets", which has repeatedly been caught staging false flag attacks. In July, however, OPCW experts announced that they had found traces of organic substances containing chlorine, reportedly used in the attack in Douma. Yet there was no evidence that nerve agents had been used in the attack. The first Western missile attack on Syrian government forces was conducted by the United States on April 7, 2017 after Washington had accused Damascus of being behind the purported use of chemical weapons in the settlement of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province. Damascus has strongly denied the claims, with President Bashar Assad saying that the attack was a provocation aimed at justifying the US strike on Syria. *The Jabhat Nusra (also known as Al-Nusra Front) is a terrorist group banned in Russia. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Erdogan urges all Turks to demonstrate commitment to combat attack on economy Iran Press TV Sat Aug 25, 2018 02:29PM Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on his nation to demonstrate "commitment and determination" as firm guarantees needed to combat "attacks" on Turkey's economy amid the country's deepening financial crisis triggered by an array of sanctions imposed by the United States over the detention of an American pastor. "As we tackle attacks against the Turkish economy today, our biggest guarantee is the commitment and determination of every member of our people to take hold of their independence, nation, and future," the Turkish leader said in a statement he issued on Saturday, the anniversary of the Battle of Malazgirt, a historic victory for the Turks in Anatolia nearly a millennium ago. In the Battle of Malazgirt, or Manzikert, which broke out on August 26, 1071, Seljuk Turks, led by Sultan Alparslan, defeated a Byzantine army and opened up Anatolia for Turkish domination. "Defying a host of attacks from inside and out, our people have clung to this soil for almost 1,000 years thanks to the soul of Malazgirt," Erdogan said in the written statement. The Turkish lira has lost about 40 percent of its value against the US dollar since the beginning of August, when tensions between the two NATO allies soared unprecedentedly over the detention of Pastor Andrew Brunson in Turkey over terror-related charges. Brunson, 50, was indicted by a Turkish court on charges of having links with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group and the movement of the US-based opposition cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara accuses of having masterminded the July 2016 coup attempt against President Erdogan. Brunson, who has already spent nearly two years behind bars in Turkey, has denied the charges, calling them "shameful and disgusting." If he is found guilty, he will face up to 35 years in jail. His imprisonment and then house arrest have caused one of the deepest rows between Turkey and the United States. Late last month, US President Donald Trump said Washington would impose "large" sanctions on Turkey for the long detainment of the pastor, and earlier this month ordered to double the US tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports to 20 percent and 50 percent, respectively. The US is the world's biggest steel importer, and Turkey is the sixth-largest steel exporter to the US. In a tit-for-tat move, Ankara has increased tariffs on several US-origin products including alcohol, tobacco products and cars. Erdogan accuses the White House of launching an economic war against Ankara, describing the move as a "coup" against the Turkish economy. "As long as this soul, which made us take the Malazgirt victory and makes it possible to protect our unity despite our differences, is kept alive, nobody can hold back our country from reaching its goals for 2023, 2053, and 2071," the Turkish president further said on Saturday, referring to his country's centenary and the 600th anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul, as well as Malazgirt. Last week, a Turkish court rejected an appeal for Brunson's release, prompting Trump to deliver a stiff rebuke, saying Washington would not take the detention "sitting down." Turkey and the US also disagree over their military interventions in the Syria war, Ankara's plan to buy missile defense systems from Russia and the US conviction of a Turkish state bank executive on sanctions-busting charges in January. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's parliament has voted to sack the finance minister, Daily Sabah reported. Critics of the ousted finance minister, Masoud Karbasian, said the government had failed to do enough to shore up the economy as President Donald Trump began restoring sanctions after withdrawing the United States from Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani says 137 out of 260 lawmakers present voted against Karbasian on Sunday. Earlier this month, lawmakers dismissed labor minister, Ali Rabiei, on similar grounds. Iranian Air Force's F5 fighter jet crashed in Dezfoul, Khuzestan province, on Sunday, Mehr news agency reported. The fighter crashed, due to technical fault, while landing in the 4th military air base in Dezful, 460 kilometers (280 miles) southwest of the capital, Tehran. Iran's prominent pilot, Col. Manuchehr Fattahi was martyred during the incident. Today is birthday of First Vice President of Azerbaijan, First Lady of the Republic and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva. Several Russian politicians and cultural figures spoke about the role of Mehriban Aliyeva in humanitarian and political cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan, her contribution to culture of the post-Soviet space and the entire world in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza. First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Foreign Affairs Committee, Vladimir Jabarov, congratulated Mehriban Aliyeva on her birthday and invited her to the II International Women's Forum. "Mehriban Aliyeva is a prominent political figure in Azerbaijan, she is highly respected not only in the republic, but also in Russia and throughout the CIS, and we hope that she will participate in the II International Women's Forum in September in St. Petersburg. We wish her further success," Vladimir Jabarov said. Head of the Russia-Azerbaijan Interparliamentary Friendship Group, the State Duma deputy, Dmitry Savelyev, described Mehriban Aliyeva as an outstanding politician and a wise woman. "You put all your numerous talents, sharp mind, strong character and great heart to good use, to help your country and its people. I wish you strong health, prosperity and happiness for you and your family!", he said. Director of the Multimedia Art Museum, Olga Sviblova, stressed that Mehriban Aliyeva plays a huge role in humanitarian cooperation between Russia and Azerbaijan. "I can't praise her activity in new high position of the First Vice-President enough, but I know she always has strenght that she uses very professionally. She and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation under her leadership do a lot in the field of culture. They build new bridges between our countries, as well as preserve cultural ties that have been developed over many decades," she said. Millennials are often a point of contention in the realm of public debate. Whether it's their upbringing, work ethic or consumption of avocado toast, everyone on the internet has an opinion about the large and diverse generation born in the waning phase of the 20th century. Now millennials are all adults -- many of them graduating and joining the workforce during the Great Recession -- and the scrutiny of financial stability and employment is more than familiar to them. The following editorial appeared in Sunday's Yomiuri Shimbun: --- Diplomatic maneuvering has been intensifying between the United States, which is calling for denuclearization, and North Korea, which is trying to stall proceedings. To make progress on the nuclear issue, it is imperative for the international community, including China and South Korea, to maintain pressure by enforcing sanctions against Pyongyang. President Donald Trump has directed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to cancel his planned visit to North Korea. Trump also said, "At this time ... I feel we are not making sufficient progress with respect to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." The bilateral negotiations have deadlocked because the North ramped up its tactic of giving priority to its calls for the lifting of sanctions and security guarantees for its regime while delaying denuclearization. The International Atomic and Energy Agency has compiled a report, confirming that the North has been proceeding with nuclear development programs, including the continued operation of nuclear-related facilities in Yongbyon in North Korea's northwestern region. This is a move that runs counter to a commitment for the "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," which was made by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, during his June summit with Trump, and thus cannot be overlooked. Pyongyang should proceed with formulating a road map for its abandonment of nuclear weapons while standing at the start line for denuclearization by reporting all its nuclear arms and development programs. North Korea, which gives weight to obtaining U.S. guarantees of security for its regime, has been persistently calling for an early declaration of the end of the Korean War. The United States has already made a concession of canceling its joint military exercises with South Korea. Washington should not comply with the North's demand for a declaration of the war's end as long as it does not take any concrete action toward denuclearization. A matter of concern is that South Korean President Moon Jae In leans toward promoting exchange and cooperation with the North. It has been agreed by the two Koreas that Moon will visit Pyongyang in September to confer with Kim. Emphasizing that the development of the South-North relations is the only driving force for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Moon has disclosed his intention to hold within this year a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a railway and a highway linking the two Koreas. The Moon administration is expediting efforts to open a South-North joint liaison office in Kaesong, North Korea. By establishing a close relationship between the two Koreas, Moon likely has the ulterior motive of bolstering the South's position as a mediator between the United States and North Korea If cooperation with the North is pushed ahead with no progress seen in denuclearization, it may cause disarray in the U.S.-South Korea relationship. Moon should be aware that as things stand now, there is a limit to the progress that can be made in relations with the North. Seoul has prosecuted South Korean firms for smuggling North Korean coal, an item banned by U.N. Security Council resolutions. The action came about when allegations of smuggling were highlighted by a Security Council expert panel on sanctions. Amid increasing uncertainty over whether China, the major backer of the Kim regime, has been enforcing sanctions strictly, South Korea must not be allowed to participate in the widening of a hole in the network of U.N. sanctions against the North. These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Hi guys, this is Chip and this week it's my turn to share my thoughts on the year so far and my expectations for the months to come. I thought I'll try a slightly different format to make this more manageable, splitting it all in three. Let's start with the big gainers of 2018. The winners Huawei The Chinese company overtook Apple as the worlds second largest phone maker by volume thanks to its huge portfolio of phones. Its got something for every budget and there are plenty of categories where its phones are an easy recommendation. Huawei also showed that its not only good at quickly responding to trends, but can also drive innovation. The triple camera of the P20 Pro is a thing of marvel and so is its Twilight painjob. The company still has a lot to learn (that same P20 Pros selfie camera is a disaster that only serves marketing purposes with its 24MP resolution), but its improving quickly and despite the US setback it might not be inconceivable that it will soon take the fight to Samsung. Samsungs flagships The Koreans may not be doing as hot as previous years in terms of sales, but their flagships still remain the phones to beat in the premium Android segment. The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ were seen as minor refreshes, which hurt their market performance, but the truth is they took a solid base and polished it, delivering meaningful upgrades to user experience. Previously the company was criticized for failing to As for the Galaxy Note9 - its the best phablet currently in the market and while it too doesnt make for a very compelling upgrade from the Note8, its the one to get if you are coming from virtually any other device. Provided that you can afford it, of course. Xiaomi The Chinese prodigy company kept expanding its portfolio and theres rarely a device in it thats not delivering amazing value for money. The Pocophone F1 is a particularly exciting example of just that, showing that you don't need to pay anything close to $1000 to get flagship performance. Also with the company's relatively young Android One lineup that got two new additions this year it can finally caters to those that wouldnt want to deal with MIUIs learning curve. It should perhaps consider adding a proper flagship to that, but I guess thats a job for the A3 family next year. Meanwhile, the focus is correctly placed on increasing the availability of its devices, which have been too hard to find for too long. Oppo and vivo The two BBK companies delivered the two most exciting phones of the year so far from a technological standpoint with the Nex S and the Find X. They showed that even a mature market such as the smartphone one allows for innovation and out of the box thinking if you have the courage. The notch and the slider - one of those is certainly prettier than the other The Oppo Find X, in particular, easily stands out as the most beautiful phone in the market and its got the performance and screen to round up a solid device, too. Now the secondary camera on the back is just as pointless as it was on the R15 Pro and the OnePlus 5T and 6, but even so I really hope the phone becomes a success, because it deserves to. Motorolas Moto G6 series In an increasingly crowded mid-range we are still in dire lack of cool designs and the G6 came to fill in that void. Of course cool looks arent worth anything if they are not backed by good overall performance, but the G6 and G6 Plus have no trouble ticking that box either. The losers Phone design 2018 will probably go down in the phones history as the year of the notch - the ugly cutouts are certainly the biggest trend this year and theres no signs of it slowing down, despite everyone clearly hating them. HTC We may be seeing the last of what was once a great company as HTC continues to scale down its mobile phone operations and its revenues keep sliding down. The company that brought us the first Android phone, some of the first Windows Phone handsets and a whole lot of industrys firsts is now a footnote in the market analysts reports and that really saddens me. LG Seemingly out of ideas, the company failed to build on the V30, which I loved, in a meaningful way. The V30S ThinQ and V35 ThinQ came in quick succession with very minor changes (the first one was essentially a software update), while the G7 ThinQ was delayed and came months behind its main rivals without offering much over the G6. I really hope the company delivers a proper successor to the V30 this Fall and finds its groove following the recent reshuffle in its management. It has too many great ideas for its products to be as irrelevant as they are now. Samsungs mid-range and entry-level phones Probably, the main reasons for the companys contracting sales, despite its unrivaled marketing budget is the poor performance of its mid-range and entry level portfolio. It just doesnt come anywhere near the value for money offered by the Chinese competitors. The company already acknowledged that it needs to up its game in that department and it certainly has the resources to do so, but its not going to be an easy battle. Motorola Z series Treated as an aforethought, the Mod-supporting flagship line of Motorola barely generated any excitement this year. Their claim to fame is the Moto Z3s 5G MotoMod, but thats a)huge and b)not coming until next year. Getting hyped about a feature thats not happening for another half a year and that might cost as much as the phone at that point is just not happening. Not to mention that at that point we might actually have phones with 5G in the market already. The expectations Apple The 2018 iPhones will have notches, awkward names and no fingerprint sensors. And yet, just because they will have the first large-screen OLED iPhone among them, they should be exciting enough. Plus, Apple often manages to surprise us at the launch events and showcase some cool new feature that will change the market for good. Here's hoping that's also going to be the case this year. Nokia The company has played it safe this year, betting on its mid-range phones and the 7 Plus is certainly a winner. However, a single good mid-ranger is just not enough to make this a great year for the company. It's about time we get a proper flagship as the 8 and 8 Sirocco were way too conservative to serve the purpose. They relied more on undercutting the key competitors than actively try and outperform them and that's just not what people expect from the top Nokia dogs. The 9 can't come soon enough. Sony The company is not having a great year and it almost made the loser section, but then I remembered that its Xperia XZ3 is coming next week and it has a chance of finally turning things around. The XZ2 Premium showed that the company still has plenty of great ideas, but it's about time it delivered a better polished product with no major weaknesses, because that's where it struggled in the past few years. Huawei Mate 20 Pro I already praised Huawei for being the most rapidly improving company, but its Mate 20 lineup and the Pro version in particular might be another exciting step in the right direction. You see so far the company has been a step behind in the chipset game, with the Kirin flagship losing to the current Snapdragon and Exynos top dogs. Now, however, the company will get a chance to release the Kirin 980 before the competition outs its top dogs and the Mate 20 Pro has every chance of being the most powerful smartphone on the market. Now add the rumored curved OLED and the P20 Pro camera and you get a combo that might be the best on the market. Haiti - FLASH : Results of the BAC 2018 Extraordinary session for 2 departments The Ministry of National Education has just made available the first results by department exams baccalaureate of the academic year 2017-2018, Extraordinary Session (August 13 to 17, 2018) for 2 departments: Southeast and Northeast. Results according to the National Bureau of State Examinations (BUNEXE) : Results of Bac extraordinary session 2018: South-East: Success rate 42.83% or 433 candidates admitted out of 1,011 participants Northeast: Success rate 18.38% or 248 candidates admitted out of 1,349 participants Heads of schools are invited to remove the list of their school from the Departmental Education Directorate concerned. The Ministry informs us that other results will be published shortly ... The Ministry of National Education has not yet made available online access to results per student. HaitiLibre will inform you as soon as access to the database is possible and will make available on its website the access to results per student form as each year. To be continued... HL/ HaitiLibre Published on 2018/08/26 | Source 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. Advertisement "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 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". Then why has it not achieved as much international success? Partly because the livestock was "primarily used for rice farming" and carrying burdens. However, hanwoo began to be appreciated and command high prices when red meat consumption became widespread from the 1960s. The high price is due to limited supply. There is only limited space where hanwoo stock can be bred in Korea, and an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the 2000s hindered exports. "Even after the ban was lifted in 2014, exports didn't pick up much. Depleted herds, combined with high demand from [Koreans], caused a shortage of hanwoo beef at home", reported USA Today. Hanwoo is similar to wagyu cattle, which drink beer, enjoy massages, are free range, and listen to classical music, in that Korean farms make special efforts of their own. Celebrity chef Judy Joo was quoted as saying, "Every farmer has their own special mix -- some using beer, some using fermented pine needles, barley, rice and mixed whole grains. Alcohol-fermented feed of some kind is popular as it is full of probiotics and naturally keeps the cattle healthy. The alcohol also keeps the meat tender and fatty". Published on 2018/08/26 | Source Foreign tourists take pictures at the top of Mt. Baekdu in North Korea on Saturday. /AP-Yonhap North Korea has allowed foreign tourists to go off-road trekking and camping on the symbolically charged Mt. Baekdu for the first time. Advertisement Roger Shepherd became the first foreign national to climb the whole of the Baekdudaegan mountain range in South and North Korea, as he guided tourists from Australia and Norway, hiking in the highest mountain on the Korean Peninsula last week. They went up to Heaven Lake on the first day of their six-day trip, and set up with tents in the plateau area. AP reported Monday that Shepherd persuaded North Korean authorities to give permission. The North seems to have complied because it is desperate for hard currency. Published on 2018/08/26 | Source Foreign workers at a construction site in Seoul on Tuesday Over 1 million foreigners now officially work in Korea, with Justice Ministry statistics showing that work visas had been granted to 1.02 million foreign workers as of the end of June. The number has nearly doubled over the past 10 years and includes Korean nationals with foreign citizenship. Advertisement But the actual number is probably nearer 1.3 million, including an estimated 320,000 illegal aliens who have overstayed their tourist or work visas. Their total number jumped by an estimated 130,000 since the government in July last year announced a 16.4 percent increase in the minimum wage for 2018. Foreign workers are now especially sought-after in chronically understaffed businesses like small factories, restaurant kitchens, construction sites, nursing facilities, and agricultural and fishing villages. "Local staff take orders from customers and Chinese or Korean Chinese mostly work in the kitchen", the owner of a restaurant in Jongno, Seoul said. "Most foreign workers are doing dirty, dangerous and difficult jobs". Xenophobia is also on the rise again, especially among local low-skilled laborers who feel that foreigners are stealing their jobs. Several rallies were held this year against illegal immigrants at major construction sites in Eunpyeong, Gangdong, and Yeongdeungpo districts in Seoul at the initiative of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions. "Many local workers in their 50s and 60s aren't being assigned work now that young foreign workers are arriving", a 50-something local worker at a construction site in Seoul said. "It's hard to believe that we're losing jobs to foreigners in our own country". "3D jobs are now highly dependent on foreign workers", said Noh Min-sun of the Korea Small Business Institute. "It's high time to think how to accept foreign workers whose role is increasing in many industries". Published on 2018/08/26 | Source North and South Korean families separated by the Korean war had reunions at the North's Mt. Kumgang resort between Monday and Wednesday. Advertisement The South Korean group consisting of 89 people arrived in the eastern port city of Sokcho on Sunday and traveled by bus to Mt. Kumgang, where they met their long-lost family members from the North. The entire South Korean delegation including support staff and reporters stood at around 560 people. The family members met six times over a period of 11 hours. The last cross-border reunions took place in October 2015. Published on 2018/08/26 | Source South Korea will vacate about a dozen guard posts in the demilitarized zone on a trial basis under a reciprocal agreement with North Korea, Defense Minister Song Young-moo told the National Assembly Defense Committee on Tuesday. Advertisement The agreement came in cross-border talks between generals in the truce village of Panmunjom on July 31, according to the Defense Ministry. The DMZ is a 4 km-wide buffer zone with the military demarcation line in the middle. Permanent stationing of troops here is prohibited, but the two Koreas have built guard posts and stationed platoon-size contingents of soldiers there. At one point the two sides' guard posts stand only 700 m apart. "The two sides will vacate any guard posts that stand less than 1 km apart from each other first", Song said. Song insisted the withdrawal will be reciprocal, adding, "The two sides can confirm each other's withdrawal". Ahn Gyu-back, the committee chairman, stressed the need to ensure that the withdrawal is really proportional since the two sides have different numbers of guard posts and soldiers at the frontline. The North has 160 and the South fewer than 60. Read this article in Korean Published on 2018/08/26 | Source Hyundai Department Store said Monday that it will launch a futuristic self-service store under a tie-up with Amazon. The plan is to open a store that uses drones to deliver products to customers in 2020. Advertisement This is Amazon's first Korean retail venture. Hyundai said it signed a deal with Amazon Web Service, a subsidiary of Amazon.com, the world's No. 1 player in cloud-based services. Hyundai and Amazon plan to study retail platforms and set up a comprehensive system to analyze purchasing patterns. The U.S. online giant, which is notoriously averse to paying taxes, has no official operations in Korea but the subsidiary set up an office here in 2012. Hyundai plans to use Amazon Go's "Just Walk Out" technology, which does not require customers to wait in line to pay for their products. Both will also work on the cutting-edge technologies where drones will be used to deliver food and beverages to customers waiting outside, while artificial intelligence technology will be used to guide visitors. Hyundai plans to set up a cloud-based membership platform by the end of this year based on Amazon's cloud service that analyzes the purchasing patterns of customers. Published on 2018/08/26 | Source Cheap package tours are giving Koreans a bad reputation abroad as they are noisily herded through the attractions. Advertisement More than 30 million Koreans are expected to travel overseas this year, up from 22.4 million in 2016, which means that they will positively flood some destinations. Last year one-third of outbound travelers went on package tours rather than traveling by themselves, according to the Korea Association of Travel Agents. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the tours are cheap for a reason. One 45-year-old woman went on a package tour to northern Europe last year to a ski resort in Lillehammer, Norway. The travel guide told the Korean tourists to relieve themselves outdoors. "The guide told us that bathrooms charge fees only in the local currency, while there will be no toilet stops for the next two hours, so we should take care of our business outdoors", she recalls. "So we ended up walking into the woods to relieve ourselves while there were lots of tourists from other countries around". It seems tempting to blame the tour guides, who exacerbate their customers' bad manners by trying to get them to hurry up. Some tour guides prod Korean package tourists to light up in no-smoking areas. One 37-year-old man joined a package tour to Ha Long Bay in Vietnam last February. He spotted three Korean tour guides smoking in a no-smoking restaurant. "There were several large 'no-smoking' signs in the restaurant", he recalls. "I raised the point with the tour guides and they told me that it was okay to smoke here. They said it doesn't matter in Vietnam". More egregious are Korean tour groups barging into queues to save waiting time. A tourist went to Kyushu, Japan in February and witnessed a Korean tour guide lining up shopping bags in front of an X-ray scanner at Kumamoto Airport. "Once the security checkpoint opened, the tour guide yelled and around 20 Korean tourists cut in line where the shopping bags had been sitting. Japanese and other foreign travelers who stood in line behind the shopping bags became visibly irritated, and some shouted at them". One industry insider said, "Tour guides are extremely dependent on the reviews and tips left by tourists. They need to bend the rules for the convenience of their clients and let them keep up with their schedules to win positive reviews". Lee Youn-taek at Hanyang University said, "Consumer expectations for the level of service for package tours have risen along with the increased number of Koreans traveling abroad, but the quality of tour guides has not". Lee added, "Domestic travel agencies need to reflect the feedback of their clients and educate their tour guides". Published on 2018/08/26 | Source Apartment sales ads are displayed on a street in Seoul on Sunday. /Newsis Apartment prices in Seoul are starting to rebound a year after the government announced tough measures to crack down on real estate speculation. Advertisement According to property information service Real Estate 114 on Sunday, Seoul apartment prices rose 0.15 percent last week, the steepest growth in four months. Prices have been on the rise for the last two months after flattening when the anti-speculation measures came into force. They have been rising evenly throughout the city rather than soaring only in flush Gangnam as usual. Apartment sales have picked up apace, up 17 percent. Kwon Dae-jung at the Korea Real Estate Society said, "The government's measures aimed at cracking down on real estate speculation have paradoxically prompted apartment prices to surge a year later". The pattern of failure resembles the unintended consequences of the minimum wage hike. Critics say the government's crackdown on real estate speculation ignored the supply-and-demand principles of the market. Policymakers need to either suppress demand or boost supply to stabilize prices, but tougher regulations on renovating aging apartments or building new house complexes in the capital resulted in reducing supply, while higher taxes on multiple-home owners have prompted them to put all their money into a profitable high-end apartment in Seoul rather than in the provinces. Seoul is suffering from a shortage of apartments. According to real estate information app Zigbang, only 87 apartments were built for every 1,000 households in Seoul from 2013 to 2017. In Incheon, 67 were built and in Daejeon 77. Trying to tame property prices in Gangnam, the government strengthened safety and other construction regulations, which sharply reduced supply. The number of permits for apartment construction in Seoul during the first half of this year plunged 30 percent on-year. Increased transaction taxes meanwhile prompted homeowners to pass their apartments to their children as gifts as an early inheritance. Homeowners feel the government has run out of regulatory options and have started to invest in apartments again since the end of June. Hong Choon-wook, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities, said, "Home buyers who took a wait-and-see approach have started to buy apartments again, believing that housing prices will start rising soon. Higher taxes aimed at prompting owners to sell one of their spare apartments are being interpreted by potential buyers as a signal to own one home whose price is expected to rise". Many now sell land in provincial areas to focus their investment on one luxury home in Seoul. Advertisement By WestKyStar and WKCTC Staff Aug. 25, 2018 | PADUCAH By WestKyStar and WKCTC Staff Aug. 25, 2018 | 06:48 AM | PADUCAH West Kentucky Community and Technical College is offering a new two-part series of yoga classes for individuals with arthritis. The classes, which include Yoga for Arthritis 1 and 2 will be held in September and October. Early registration is encouraged. Yoga for Arthritis 1 will be held each Tuesday and Friday, September 4 -28. Instructor Karen Splane will teach the classes from 9:30 am - 10:30 am in WKCTC's Emerging Technology Center (ETC), Room 109. The cost of the four-week class is $75. Splane will also teach Yoga for Arthritis 2 in October. The classes will be October 2-26, also each Tuesday and Friday in the ETC, Room 109 from 9:30 am - 10:30 am. The cost is $75 for the four-week classes. Yoga for Arthritis 1 is a prerequisite for the October yoga classes. "Yoga for Arthritis (YFA)" was developed at a leading research university by an interdisciplinary team of rheumatologists, psychologists, public health researchers and yoga therapists. Combining yoga practices with medical knowledge, YFA offers modifications to address the unique abilities and limitations of rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis patients. YFA is intended to build lifetime skills in a basic structure that participants can repeat at home. Poses are repeated and reinforced to gain skill and confidence; new challenges are added as students become more comfortable in the class, familiar with yoga and physically fit. Benefits for YFA classes are customizable to the needs and limitations of each student, as well as teaching participants: breathing and mental focus exercises beneficial for mental health and coping, supportive social connections to encourage reframing of the disease, low/no impact movement how to optimize range of movement; increase flexibility, muscle strength, stability and balance; improve bone density. Register for classes online at westkentucky.kctcs.edu/workforce-solutions, click on Community Education, Lifestyles, Fitness & Hobbies or call 270-534-3335. West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) has been recognized as an Aspen Prize Top 10 Community College four times awarded by the Aspen Institute and has twice been named a Finalist with Distinction for providing students with strong job training and continuing higher education opportunity, for achieving high completion and transfer rates, and for providing strong employment results for its graduates. Yoga for Arthritis classes offered at WKCTC in September and October. By WestKyStar & Baptist Health Staff Aug. 19, 2018 | 10:15 PM | PADUCAH Children who are scared of going to the doctor often find comfort when they have their own teddy bear to snuggle and accompany them. Trish Edwards, RN, who serves as Chest Pain Coordinator at Baptist Health Paducah, will offer a teddy bear clinic as part of Kentucky Oaks Malls Toddler Tuesdays. The clinic will be from 11 am until noon on Tuesday, Sept. 4, by the CFSB Play Area, near Dillards. Children who attend the clinic are invited to bring their stuffed animals with them. Teddy bear clinics can help children understand basic healthcare treatments and tools and allow them to become more familiar with people who work in the medical field, said Edwards, who is also a paramedic. We want to hear that we have helped children become more confident and less apprehensive about being a patient. The free clinic will provide children hands-on opportunities to interact with common medical equipment, such as stethoscopes and otoscopes, practice health habits, such as hand washing and sneezing into their elbows, and learn first-hand what healthcare workers do on a daily basis. For more information about teddy bear clinics, email trish.edwards@bhsi.com or phone Kentucky Oaks Mall at 270-444-0440, ext. 102. Baptist Health Paducah will host a Teddy Bear Clinic at Kentucky Oaks Mall on Tuesday, Sept. 4th. A whole bunch of misalignment about the status of the cookie monster law in the EU As a black bar pops up near the top of the page, just answer and all is good. If you want dont answer, cookies blocked and all is still good. So to comply with any possible issues arising. Please accept that WtR uses cookies and WtR Cookies are really not a bad thing I think it sets a cookie to tell about cookies. I set it to last three months and then it will ask you again Think what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about three oclock every afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for a nap. Barbara Jordan Yup, that sums that up! WtR Student Standout: North High senior appointed to youth advisor council This is a Student Standout story on a 17-year-old from North Hagerstown High School. She has been appointed to the Hagerstown Youth Advisory Council. letters@hindustantimes.com Bhopal/Sagar A letter seeking approval of the Satna district collector for payment to two contractors for their work on a Jan Ashirvad Yatra programme in the district has caused a flutter in the administration. The collector concerned has issued a show cause notice to the officer asking why disciplinary action should not be initiated against him for misconduct, say official sources. The ongoing yatra led by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was in Satna on July 18 in the run-up to the state assembly elections in November this year. The yatra is supposed to be the BJPs political programme but the principal Opposition Congress has been accusing the party of misusing government resources for its programme since the two-month yatra began on July 14 from Ujjain to cover all the 230 assembly constituencies in the state. As per official sources, chief municipal officer (CMO), New Ramnagar Nagar Parishad, Satna Brahmanand Shukla in his official letter dated August 13, 2018 sought approval of the collector Satna, Mukhesh Shukla, for the payment to tune of Rs 6.95 lakh to two tent house owners in Satna saying arrangements of tent shamiyana on the arrival of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhans Jan Ashirvad Yatra was made in compliance with the district administrations order dated July 6, 2018. As per sources, in the show cause notice served on the CMO on Thursday the collector treated the officers action as misconduct as, he said, the order regarding the arrangement had been already cancelled, hence his seeking approval of payment amounted to a misconduct. Despite efforts the collector couldnt be reached for his comments. However, the CMO concerned Brahmanand Shukla accepted that he had received a show-cause notice. The district administration had cancelled its order regarding the yatra but somehow it didnt reach me. Hence, I sought the approval for the payment. The letter on cancellation of the order has been traced now and the process of payment has been stalled. We have also conveyed to the contractors concerned to contact the party which organised the yatra for the payment, he added. State Congress spokesperson Santosh Gautam said Congress had been claiming right from the day 1 that Jan Ashirvad Yatra was BJPs yatra but taxpayers money was being used for it. Satna officers letter for payment had corroborated their charges once again regarding misuse of government machinery for BJPs political programme. He said earlier, a PWD engineer was suspended by his superiors when CM slipped from the dais of a Jan Ashirvad Yatra programme in Chhatarpur district in July last week. Ranbir Kapoor known his girlfriends best angles for sure. Alia Bhatt has shared yet another picture of herself, clicked by boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor, on Instagram. When the angle is right, you gotta do what you gotta do, she captioned the photo and gave credit for it to RK, which have learnt by now is an acronym for Ranbir. This is, however, not the first time he has clicked a picture of his adorable girlfriend. Alia shared a black and white photo on August 1 which was also clicked by him. & into the forest I go,to lose my mind and find my soul (amaze photographer RK), she had captioned it. Ranbir has also previously clicked pictures of Alia and her friend Akansha Ranjan Kapoor when she came visiting on their film Bharamastras sets in Bulgaria. Check it out: Alia is now back in India and currently shooting for her upcoming film, Kalank. The movie also stars Varun Dhawan, Madhuri Dixit, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon and Aditya Roy Kapur. Recently, in an interview with Hindustan Times, Ranbir also spoke about his feeling for Alia and said, Honestly, I am not playing hide-and-seek. I am in a happy, positive and beautiful phase of my life. But you can talk about your personal life only to a degree. Otherwise, it becomes the forerunner of your life and your work takes a back seat. There is always excitement to know about someones personal life. But you want to give the relationship respect so that people dont malign it in a gossipy way. It is something beautiful, sacred and really important to you, so you want to deal with it in a nice manner. In an interview to GQ in May, Ranbir has revealed for the first time that he is indeed dating Alia Bhatt. Its really new right now, and I dont want to over speak. It needs time to breathe and it needs space. As an actor, as a person, Alia is whats the right word? flowing right now. When I see her work, when I see her act, even in life, what she gives is something that Im aspiring to for myself. Its new for us, so let it cook a bit. Follow @htshowbiz for more Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif have shared the first good look at their upcoming film together, Bharat. The new still shows them swinging to music as they dance together in a sunlit space. Malta #schedule wrapped @bharat_thefilm @beingsalmankhan @katrinakaif, the films director, Ali Abbas Zafar captioned the photo. In the still, Salman, dressed in a classic black sherwani, can be seen romancing his Tiger Zinda Hai co-star, who is all about grace in a green Sabyasachi lehenga. The still looks a lot like first still from Salman and Katrinas last film together, Tiger Zinda Hai. In it, the two were again seen swinging together in evening gowns and tuxedos. #bharat @bharat_thefilm A post shared by Katrina Kaif (@katrinakaif) on Aug 25, 2018 at 11:27am PDT Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif in a still from Tiger Zinda Hai. The entire crew of the film was shooting in Malta for the film for almost two weeks. Katrina joined them last week. Bharat is Zafars third collaboration with Salman, in which the latter will be seen sporting five different looks spanning over 60 years, including a crucial part which will showcase the actor in his late 20s, looking much leaner and younger. The film, which also stars Tabu and Disha Patani in pivotal roles, is slated to hit theatres on June 5, next year. (With inputs from ANI) Follow @htshowbiz for more Protests over the rape of a nine-year-old girl in south Delhis Rangpuri turned violent on Friday night as over 500 people blocked traffic and clashed with police on Vasant Kunj Road. Police said 11 people were arrested for rioting and instigating violence by Saturday. As police forces were called to clear miles of traffic jam caused due to the protests over Wednesday nights rape, police officials said they had to resort to lathicharge as some people from the crowd started pelting stones. Around 10 policemen were injured and 12 vehicles, including a police van, were vandalised in the clashes, the police said. Police said they have arrested 11 people who had allegedly instigated the violence and a case of rioting has been registered. Deputy commissioner of police (southwest) Devender Arya said that a PCR call reporting a traffic jam was received at the Vasant Kunj South police station at 7.17pm. On this, sufficient staff from the police station reached the spot where around 500 to 600 people of the Rangpuri Pahari slum cluster were protesting and had blocked both carriageways of Chhatarpur-Mahipalpur Road. On enquiry, it was revealed that the crowd was protesting over Wednesdays rape of a minor girl. The crowd was informed that we have already arrested the accused. They were also requested to clear the blockade and to maintain peace, but they started pelting stones on the police as well as on the public vehicles stranded in the traffic jam, the DCP said. Mild force was used to maintain law and order and ensure no loss of life or public property is caused. Two assistant commissioners of police, two inspectors, one assistant sub inspector, one head constable and four constables sustained injuries in the incident. Rangpuri residents, meanwhile, alleged that the police damaged their houses and dragged people out of their houses in a combing operation late on Friday night. Everyone in my house was unaware of what was happening outside. Suddenly, around 10pm, four to five policemen wearing helmets and armed with baton broke our main door and window panes. As we stepped outside, they started thrashing my uncle and my brother. I, along with my mother, tried to intervene but we were thrashed by the cops, said a 16-year-old Rangpuri resident who did not wish to be identified. A woman from the same neighbourhood said she came to know on Saturday morning that her brother was among the people who had allegedly been detained from Rangpuri on Friday night. My brother is a loader at Delhi airport and was returning home from work. Around 9pm, when he reached the main road, he saw the protesters. The clashes started around the same time that he arrived there and the police detained him for no reason whatsoever, the woman, who requested anonymity, said. On Saturday, DCP Arya said police officials had met Rangpuri residents who had assured him of full cooperation. The situation is peaceful now, but we have maintained the deployment of force as a precautionary measure. The first periodhappiness class at Kautilya Government Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya in south Delhis Chirag Enclave has just begun. The teacher, Umesh Kumar, writes on the chalkboard in neat, cursive letters: Happiness Class. The walls have several colourful posters made by the students, including one that lists 12 ways to happiness. The teacher and the children, with yellow smiley badges pinned to their ties, look fresh, cheerful and jovial the perfect atmosphere for a happiness class, which has no grades, no textbooks, no homework. For the uninitiated, happiness classes were introduced by the Delhi government in its schools last month for children up to Class 8 for enhancing their mental and emotional well-being. It is Class 7 and Kumar asks his wards to keep their hands straight and close their eyes. Everyone obeys. Now try to hear the sounds around you, says the teacher. The class of about 50 immediately goes into the meditation mode. After a few minutes, the teacher tells them to open their eyes and asks, What sounds did you hear? A boy says, I heard the whir of the fan. Another tells the teacher, I heard the fan, as well as the sound of your movements. Then a girl stands up, I heard the sound of my breathing. This makes the teacher happy and he is all praise for her concentration. Happiness class has a different topic every day and today, a Tuesday, is a storytelling and discussion day. So, the teacher next asks the students to attentively listen to the story he is going to tell. The story, titled Bada Aadmi (a big man), is about a father and his son. The son asks his father to buy a motorcycle for him. The father does not have money and says no. The son leaves his home in anger. Towards the end of the story, the son realises that the father was trying to sell his scooter to buy a motorcycle for him. I do not want the motorcycle; I want to be a big man, like you. The children listen with rapt attention as the teacher tells the story. After the story, the teachers ask the class, Who is a big man? Drishti is one of the few students who raises her hands, A person, who has a big house, a car, a good job, is the big man, she says. Sandhya, another student, sitting close to her does not agree. No, she says, Someone who is kind-hearted and cares for others is a big man. Everyone in the class seems to agree. The discussion based on the story goes on for 25 minutes. The girls of the class get a majority of answers right. Students listen to their teacher during a happiness class at Government Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya in Chirag Enclave in New Delhi. (Sanchit Khanna/HT PHOTO) The Happiness Curriculum was rolled out by the Delhi government on July 2 in the presence of the Dalai Lama at an event attended by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. Sisodia, the deputy chief minister, who is also the education minister, in a tweet later that day said, Happy kids show up more able to learn as they tend to sleep better and may have healthier immune systems. Happy kids learn faster, think more creatively, tend to be more resilient in the face of failures...have stronger relationships & make friends easily. Happiness Curriculum, is, in fact, a passion project of Sisodia. Designed by a team of Delhi government teachers, educators, psychologists, volunteers, among others, the curriculum is being taught to about 10 lakh students in over 1,000 Delhi government schools across Delhi, where there is a 45-minute happiness class, usually the first period in most schools, daily for children in classes 1 to 8. Kindergarten children have the classes twice a week. About 18,000 government teachers, including Suresh Kumar, have gone through a three-day orientation programme to learn how to teach the new curriculum. He, like all other teachers, has been provided with a handbook, which has the curriculum with clearly defined learning objectives and guiding principles. The handbook for happiness for Class 6 to 8 is divided into four sections: Mindfulness, which includes mindful listening, sensory awareness, among others ; Storytelling, which includes 20 stories, each story with its objective clearly spelt out on top of the page; Activities aimed at teaching the meaning of happiness, competence; and expression. About 1,000 students at Kautilya Bal Vidyalaya in Chirag Enclave have been attending the class since it was introduced in the school on July 12. CS Verma the principal of the school, who was also a member of the core team that contributed to the curriculum is pretty excited about the course and the result it has produced so far. We are creating fine doctors, engineers, chartered accountants. But is our education system producing fine human beings too? That is what we want to achieve through the happiness class, he says. A smiley is pinned to a small flagpost on the desk of his grand, high-ceilinged office.A majority of children in our school come from underprivileged sections of the society. These children are venerable to stress, he says. So, has he seen any change? Yes, indeed. They are more focused on studies and unlike in the past, they are more willing to accept their mistakes, says an ever-smiling Verma, who at times sits in on the happiness classes in his school. So, what is it that stresses the students the most? Happiness classes in Delhi government schools teaches students to de-stress. This class is at Government Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya. (Sanchit Khanna/HT PHOTO) Hitesh, 11, says that a few days ago he had asked his father to buy him a cycle. His father said he had lost his job and will buy a cycle for him once he finds another one. I am very sad, but not because I cannot get the cycle. I am sad because my father has lost his job, says the 11-year old, his eyes welling up. And what have they learnt in the happiness class in the past 6 weeks? Almost all hands go up this time. We should see things in a positive light, says Asif, 13, No work is small, adds Simarpreet Singh, 14. We should not be envious of others and be happy with what we have, says Sahil, 12. We should be happy at others happiness, says Dileep,12. Kumar, who otherwise teaches English, is a picture of pride. It was hard to get the children interested in the happiness class initially, but now they actively participate in the class, says Kumar. I enjoy the class as much as my students because this is one class where I get to interact with them at a personal level and get to know them better as individuals. Many students say their parents are sceptical about what they are learning in the happiness classes. One day my father came home late and looked stressed out. When I offered to teach him the techniques of mediation that I have learnt in our happiness class to make him feel happy, he rejected the idea saying, your school is organising these classes so that you do not make noise and create mischief in class, says Raj Kumar Jain, 13. My parents feel the same, adds Rishu, 12, sitting next to him in the front row.My father says I am not changing, but I dont agree, he adds. It is 9am now. Time for the next class to begin. New Delhi Delhi Police on Friday arrested a Sanskrit teacher employed with a government school in north Delhi for allegedly sexually assaulting one of his class 10 students during summer vacations in June this year. Police said the crime took place when the student had visited the teachers house for extra classes. Senior police officers said the crime came to light after a PCR call was received on Friday reporting that a man was fighting with a teacher in the school. When a police team arrived at the spot, it was revealed that a man who runs an NGO in the neighbourhood was arguing with the Sanskrit teacher. During questioning, the man showed police a video in which the teacher was forcing the student to have oral sex with him. The teacher was arrested under POCSO Act and a statement of the victim was then recorded. The statement revealed that in June, during summer vacations, he and another boy from the school had gone to the accuseds house for extra classes, said a senior police officer not authorised to speak to the media. Police said that the teacher had then sent another student out while he molested the other one. The video of the sexual assault was apparently shot by the other student. But this is yet to be ascertained, the officer said. Nupur Prasad, deputy commissioner of police (north) said the teacher has been arrested and the role of the NGO is being looked into. Delhi Police have arrested two men wanted in three murder cases, two of them reported in March and July this year. The police identified them as sharp shooters of the Sunil alias Tillu gang. Naresh Kumar alias Sonu (29) and Umesh Kumar alias Kala (29), residents of Tajpur Kalan in Delhi, carried a reward of Rs 50,000 each on their arrests. Additional commissioner of police (crime) Rajiv Ranjan said they got a specific input that the duo would visit Sector 11 in Rohini and cornered them near a technology institute. Ranjan said members of the Tillu gang had recently murdered one Monu alias Nepali and Satya Prakash alias Babloo of the Gogi gang, their prime rivals. In retaliation, Gogi executed the murder of one Ravi Bhardwaj and Sunny, both from the Tillu gang, Ranjan said. He said Kala and Sonu have past criminal records and were wanted in three murder cases. They had killed one Monu Nepali in March this year in Maurya Enclave and Satya Prakash alias Babloo in July in Ashok Vihar. A murder case was also registered against them of 2015 in Haryana.They had murdered one Niranjan Master in Murthal, the additional commissioner added. In addition to the three murder cases, the two men are wanted in a Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) case of June 2018, police said. Ranjan said, Kala murdered one Arun alias Commando of the Gogi gang. Kala is involved in four cases of murder. He is one of the closest associates of Tillu, who is in jail. Kala was involved in five cases of murder and attempt to murder and a cash reward of R 50,000 was declared by Delhi Police on his arrest. In 2008, Sonu tried to kill one Samunder Bhardwaj because of some family enmity. Bhardwaj survived the attack. Sonu is also previously involved in another attempt to murder case, the officer said. The police have arrested a 35-year-old man and recovered from his possession 4,239 mobile phones, worth 87 lakh, allegedly stolen from the warehouse of an electronics company in Sector 12 in May. The accused, identified as Ramesh alias Bablu, is the alleged kingpin of a gang that would steal electronic goods from India and sell them in Nepal through a network of aides in the border regions. Ramesh, a resident of Motihari in Bihar, was allegedly involved in 27 cases of theft and snatching. The police said the accused and his accomplicesthree of whom were arrested in May and Augustare all history sheeters. They were earlier arrested by the Delhi Police for their involvement in snatching and theft cases, but they do not have a record with the Gurugram police. According to the police, on the night of May 18, the gang targeted a warehouse in Sector 12 and fled with cartons of packed mobile phones, washing machines and other electronic equipment. The Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) of Gurugram Police, Sector 17, was handed over the investigation, following which they arrested Rameshs first aide on May 18 and the second aide, Aliyas Miya, on August 6. CIA in-charge Narender Chauhan said though they recovered only one mobile phone from Aliyas, he revealed the names of three other accomplices, including the alleged kingpinRamesh. On August 12, police arrested another member of Rameshs gang who revealed more names and the modus operandi. According to the police, the accused said members would recce a particular area and then steal the goods. The accused used to plan the heist a day earlier and contact a transporter, who would send the truck to the given location, the police said. The gang members used to take the truck from Gurugram to Bihar and then route it to Nepal. We are looking into who all were involved in the operations. We will also contact the Nepal Police to crack down on the chain of people involved in these cases, Chauhan said. The accused revealed that they used to sell the goods, including electronics, in Nepal with the help of their aides in bordering areas, assistant commissioner of police Shamsher Singh said. According to Singh, the stolen goods were recovered after Ramesh revealed that he had kept the boxes at his friends house in Motihari. A team of four CIA officials raided that house, recovered the stolen goods and got it to Gurugram on Friday morning. Ramesh was produced in the court and was sent to Bhondsi Jail for 14 days. Popular birding sites in Haryana have begun to see the arrival of winter migratory birds, with various avian species flying in from colder regions of Europe and Central Asia. At locations such as Sultanpur National Park, Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary, Dighal, and Basai, birders have spotted European Roller, Rosy Starling, Western Crowned Warbler and White-eyed Buzzards. Ruff (Shellender Rao) Though the Sultanpur National Park is currently closed, it will reopen for visitors on October 1 after a gap of five months. Birders have been flocking to the other locations to get a glimpse of these exotic avian species. Abhishek Gulshan, a birder and nature educator from Delhi, said that winter migrants have begun to arrive in the region sooner than expected. Its hard to say why exactly this is happening, but widespread changes in climatic conditions is one reason. These changes also affect breeding patterns and availability of food, which in turn, affect the migratory patterns of birds. However, birders said though the migratory birds have started arriving, most will fly in by September and October. According to state forest officials, at least 37 species of migratory birds have arrived in Haryana, a number that is reported to be higher than the 20 species spotted during the same period, in the last three years. As Gurugram has received good rainfall this year, the number of migratory birds is bound to be more. They have begun to arrive early. We also have a portal on which we upload the pictures and names of the migratory birds sighted by us, Pankaj Gupta, a birder from Delhi, said. At the 359-acre Sultanpur National Park, there are currently around 130 species of birds, including migratory species. There are around 3,000 birds in the park, including 25 species of water birds. There are nearly 80-90 resident birds and the migratory birds have already started arriving. Hence, the number of avian species sighted here has already gone up to 130 in August, Vinod Kumar, the additional principal chief conservator of forests, Gurugram said. From 2010 to 2016, the forest department used to close the Sultanpur National Park for three months. But since 2016, the forest department has been closing it for four to five months, starting May. Black-tailed godwit (Shellender Rao) It will reopen on October 1. People can visit the park between 6.30am and 4.30pm. These four months are the breeding period for resident birds and they should not be disturbed, Kumar said. At least seven people are feared trapped under debris after two blocks of a four-storey government colony building for the economically weaker section collapsed in Ahmedabad on Sunday night. Mayor Bijal Patel told the media that fire brigade teams comprising over 60 members were pressed into rescue operation. Three persons, including a minor girl, were rescued within an hour after the building collapsed in the Odhav area following rains. Joint Commissioner of Police Ashok Yadav said, Police teams are assisting fire brigade in the rescue operation. Rescue operation is our priority at the moment. Block numbers 23 and 24 of the 18-year-old building were declared unsafe on Saturday and the occupants were asked to vacate all the floors, Odhav ward councillor Bharat Patel said. The two collapsed blocks had 32 houses. The occupants had moved out, but some of them returned on Sunday evening when it was raining, he added. Municipal commission Vijay Nehra said, Around 150 occupants of the two blocks were evacuated on Saturday. Some of them returned on Sunday for some unknown reasons. We have called NDRF teams from Gandhinagar to expedite the rescue operations. Some residents, however, contradicted the administrations claim that notices were issued on Saturday. They claimed that the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation alerted them only on Sunday afternoon, hours before the building collapsed. We were asked to move out today around 4 pm. Before the residents could manage to shift, the building collapsed around 9 pm, said Pravin Sikotia, a resident. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Six men walked free from a Panchkula court on July 30, acquitted in the case of large-scale violence that followed the conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for rape on August 25 last year. The six Hoshiyar Singh, Ravi Kumar, Sanga Singh, Gyani Ram, Tarsem and Ram Kishan had been earlier acquitted by a local court in another case on the ground that there was no evidence to establish their role in rioting and unlawful assembly. These arent the first acquittals in the case that shook Haryana, nor are they likely to be the last going by the trend so far. In a total of 240 cases registered in the state Panchkula being the epicentre of arson and rioting, followed by Sirsa and Kaithal police have so far arrested 1,483 people and presented challans in 207 cases. The total number of accused is 2,603 with some names appearing in more than one case. Read: Followers keep Gurmeet Ram Rahims Rs 2,100-crore empire afloat with donations Assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Adarshdeep Singh, heading the special investigating team (SIT) in Panchkula, says in the two rioting cases that fell flat, the complainants failed to identify the accused since the mob has a large number of followers. He adds that the SIT tried to present the best evidence but the yardsticks of the police and the trial court to establish the act of the suspects are different. One of the public prosecutors representing the state said, requesting anonymity, that they have reviewed the detailed judgment in the two cases of acquittals and a decision on the next course of action is under process. No permission for sedition charges In Panchkula alone, police say 610 people facing sedition charge have been arrested while 20 are evading arrest. Of these, nine people belonging to the Dera core group who hatched the conspiracy of large-scale violence and arson had been declared most wanted. A mandatory permission from the state home department, however, was yet to come. Three of the most wanted who carried a reward of Rs 50,000 were Gulab alias Gulab Mal, Naveen alias Gobhi Ram, and Pargat Singh. They were arrested two months ago. The remaining six Aditya Insan alias Aditya Arora (declared proclaimed offender), Amrik Singh, Phool Kumar, Abhijit Shankar Bagat, Iqbal alias Bagar, and Jasbir Singh are absconding. On July 23, the court dropped sedition charge against key aides of Ram Rahim and other followers. Top aides of Ram Rahim, including Panchkula Dera in-charge Chamkaur Singh and media coordinator Surender Dhiman, Govind Ram and Pawan Insan, are among the 19 accused. Over the past seven months, this was the fourth instance when the sedition charge was dropped. The court said a prima facie case was made out against the accused under sections 148 (rioting), 149 (member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence), 353 (obstructing public servant), criminal conspiracy and section 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 read with section 149 of IPC. Where is Aditya, the Dera spokesperson Aditya Insan, the Deras chief spokesperson, was declared proclaimed offender on May 21, 2018, nine months after the police failed to arrest him for his role in inciting violence. He and Honeypreet Insan, the Dera chiefs protege, topped the most wanted list. Police say Aditya was the prime conspirator along with Honeypreet in triggering the violence in Panchkula on August 25. While Honeypreet is behind bars, police are still struggling to arrest Aditya and have increased the bounty offered on him from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Punjab and Haryana High Court, which is overseeing investigations into the Dera violence, had recently come down heavily on the Haryana police for their failure to nab him. The government has recently started attaching his assets. In its status report submitted before the high court earlier this month, the state police held that the proceedings on attachment of Aditya Insans property had been initiated. The details pertaining to properties in his name are too being compiled, police held. Relief for Arson victims not in sight Scores of journalists whose vehicles, cameras and other valuables were destroyed or damaged during the violence are not the only ones who are running from pillar to post for compensation from the government. There are many more whose buildings and infrastructure were destroyed. RS Patial, administrative head, Pallavi hotels, Panchkula says: We have not got any compensation, nor have we come across any concrete decision from the administration for the losses we suffered. We have filed an application and the matter is still pending at the deputy commissioners office.. The hotel in Sector 16 suffered loss to the tune of Rs 72 lakhs, he said. Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in Sirsa. (HT File Photo) Doublespeak by design The state police was made to get into action after Ravinder Singh Dhull, a lawyer, filed a PIL in the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking the courts intervention as he suspected soft-pedalling by the state government ahead of August 25 last year. Though the state government claimed it imposed Section?144 in Panchkula, assembly of a large number of people was not stopped. While DGP Punjab apprehended violence, the government appeared to be sleeping... I filed and mentioned (this in the) PIL on August 23, 2017, he says, adding that the acquittals show soft-pedalling by the BJP government. Ashok Arora , the president of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), the main opposition party in Haryana, claims the government grovelled before Dera. That the guilty got convicted is fine, but it was a gross failure on the part of the government for whatever happened after it. The government allowed Dera followers to gather in Panchkula and treated them as guests, though some anti-socials indulged in violence in which 40 lives were lost. And then to hide its failures, the government arrested many innocent people who are now being and would be acquitted, he said, adding it was all an eyewash by the government. However, media advisor to the chief minister Rajiv Jain maintains that the government handled the case with utmost care and had given a free hand to police. ``At no point did the government softpedal, and that is why convictions and arrests are happening and cases are under trial in the courts, he said. On the question of compensation to journalists and others whose property had been destroyed during the violence and arson, he said the government was making sincere efforts to ensure they are adequately compensated at the earliest. China has many laptop and tablet brands, and today this website of Mini PC News releases its new post in title of Best Cheap 14 inch Laptops 2017. People can save at least $50 now when buying any of the models mentioned. Check http://www.minipcnews.com/2018-best-14-inch-laptops/ Searching for a cheap laptop? Heres the definitive list of the 2018 best budget laptops you can buy at affordable prices. Today, you can get a powerful laptop at a low price. 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Media Contact Company Name: Mini PC News Contact Person: JOHN Schneider Email: Send Email Phone: 1-530-395-2035 Country: United States Website: http://www.minipcnews.com/ The neatly framed photos of Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, attired in colourful costumes, are a picture in contrast to the stark surroundings of the humble dwellings of his Dalit followers in Haryanas hinterland. They belie the faith and respect he still commands a year after he was sent to Sunaria jail in Rohtak for two decades for raping two sadhvis (women disciples). Hoardings and billboards are back at the naam charcha ghar or prayer houses of the sect, which claims to have a following of six crore with most followers based in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. The footfall of followers, also called premis, has been on the rise of late across the 175 prayer houses in Haryana. Till a few months ago, these centres wore a deserted look. The anger that followed the court verdict against their leader, Ram Rahim, drove them to take the law into their hands last August, triggering violence and arson in Panchkula and other parts of Haryana and Punjab. A year on, several followers, who were jailed for rioting, have been released on bail. They have returned with a resolve, to avenge the arrest of their leader. Return with resolve Jagat ne bhakt ko sadaa dabaane ki saajish rachi hai (The world has always conspired to suppress the faithful), says Sandeep Insan, a Kurukshetra-based key Dera activist since 2002. The sacrifice of our martyrs (those killed in last years violence) will not go in vain. It has only strengthened our resolve, he says Jasmer Chand, an Ambala-based advocate and dera follower, says: Every premi believes Pitaji (Ram Rahim) is innocent. He will be out soon. His case was not argued well at the trial stage. We dont hold any grouse against the government for the police action against followers gathered in Panchkula last year. The families of those killed and injured remained quiet. There was no agitation. Thats because we are peaceful and law-abiding people. Endorsing his views, Nanhi Devi, an elderly devotee from Kaithals Kichhna village, says: Bhagwan Rama (Lord Rama) was exiled for 14 years. His subjects remained loyal to him. Similarly, the premis will never desert their guru who has been framed in a false case. Some even believe that Ram Rahims going to jail is a part foreseen by him. Every Sunday, his followers assemble at the prayer houses and pledge to stay united in spite of, what they say is, state-sponsored assault to defame the dera chief and demolish his empire. Dera Sacha Sauda leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh at a sect function Sirsa on February 01, 2016. He is in jail for raping two sect followers. (HT file photo) Politics at the root A visit to the districts of Kaithal, Jind, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Ambala and Yamunanagar, where the dera has a presence, reveals that politics and premis are inseparable even as they maintain they are apolitical. Every effort is being made to keep the support base intact. Political options such as NOTA (none of the above) or fielding premis in the next elections are being debated. ALSO READ: A year after Dera Sacha Sauda verdict, rioting cases collapse Anger is palpable among family members of those killed or injured in the post-verdict violence. Political parties were scared of us. They fear premis will dominate the political scene if we start contesting. As a result, the conspiracy to fix the Pitaji (the dera head) was hatched. It was a political conspiracy to destroy the dera and its followers, says Dalvir Insan, 43, a resident of Titram village in Kaithal. He suffered multiple fractures in the police action at the Kotda naam charcha ghar in Kaithal and was jailed for five months. NOTA is an option. So far, weve been used by political parties, says Dharamvir Insan of Kurukshetra, who joined the dera in 1980. Santro Devi of Kaithals Serda village whose husband Jagdish Insan was killed in the police firing in Panchkula and whose son Sunils leg was broken in the police lathicharge at the Kotda naam charcha ghar, says: Mahara mun naa dolya (Our faith is firm).We know our guru is pure. The allegations are false. We cant tolerate anything adverse against our guruji. Sunil echoes her views, while other premis at her house nod in unison. They say they are looking forward to next years state and general elections to exact their revenge. Deciding factor Dera followers are not just Dalits. From Jats to Brahmins and traders, from the illiterate to highly educated, the sect has a following cutting across communities. They vote as advised by their leader and their support can play a decisive factor in changing the poll outcome in many seats of south Haryana and in the Malwa belt of Punjab. ALSO READ: Followers keep Gurmeet Ram Rahims Rs 2,100-crore empire afloat The deras frosty relations with the ruling BJP, the party it supported in last Lok Sabha and Haryana assembly elections, has renewed the debate and curiosity about which party its followers will support. Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Abhay Chautala hopes the dera will not let itself be misguided by the Congress and the BJP in the 2019 elections. Congress leader and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, however, accuses the BJP and the INLD of cheating the dera followers. The sangat (followers) will decide the appropriate political action. It was a political conspiracy to crush the premis. We will respond politically, says Dalvir Insan of Titram area in Kaithal. This time, the dera is gearing up to flex its political muscle with a vengeance even as its head, a shrewd power broker, cools his heels behind bars. Deras political plunge For the first time in the 2007 Punjab assembly elections, the dera openly gave a call to its devotees to support the Congress. Though the Akali Dal-BJP combine won, it was decimated in nearly two dozen seats of Malwa. In the 2012 Punjab assembly elections, the dera leaned towards the SAD-BJP though it backed the Congress in certain seats. In the 2014 Lok Sabha and Haryana assembly elections, the dera backed the BJP. The BJPs liaison with the dera head suffered a setback after he was jailed and more than 30 of his followers were shot dead in Panchkula last year. In the 2017 Punjab assembly elections, the dera extended support to the SAD-BJP combine but the Congress regained power after 10 years. The two-month long Amarnath yatra ended Sunday with 2.85 lakh pilgrims paying obeisance at the Amarnath cave shrine, situated at a height of 3,880 metres in south Kashmir. The number of pilgrims this year visiting the shrine through a treacherous terrain that includes glaciers, steep slopes and ice cold water rose to 2,85,006 from 2,60,003 in 2017 and 2,20,490 in 2016. A record breaking number of 6.35 lakh devotees had visited the cave shrine in 2011 followed by 6.22 lakh in 2012. The annual pilgrimage concluded today amid chanting of religious hymns in the spiritual ambiance of South Kashmir Himalayas, an official spokesman said in a statement. Unlike last year when eight pilgrims were killed in a militant attack on a bus in south Kashmirs Anantnag, this years pilgrimage concluded peacefully. In 2016, mass protests against the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani had also affected the rush of pilgrims. The two-month long pilgrimage this year began under governors rule in the state after BJP ended its coalition with the PDP on June 20. There was heightened militant activity even before the commencement of yatra on June 28, although a top Hizbul Mujahideen commander had said that pilgrims need not worry. A coordinated security system by police, CRPF and army was put in place for the pilgrimage. Besides the police and the army, 238 companies of central security forces guarded the pilgrimage. The CRPF ensured sanitization of routes, road opening parties and along with the police, accompanied the pilgrims from Jammu to the base camps in Kashmir. The Army was given the responsibility of protecting the pilgrim corridor and securing the higher reaches along the route. The vehicles were radio tagged and the CCTV cameras installed along the route. Bad weather in the first week of the pilgrimage dampened the initial enthusiasm of the yatris. Most of the rush of pilgrims was witnessed only in the first month after which the pilgrim traffic was reduced to a trickle prompting calls for curtailment of the pilgrimage during the 35th meeting of Shri Amaranth Shrine Board (SASB) on July 23 which was chaired by the then governor N.N Vohra. On Sunday, Bhupinder Kumar, Additional Chief Executive Officer of SASB along with Piyush Singla, Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, visited the cave shrine early in the morning and prayed for peace, harmony, progress and prosperity in the state, the spokesman said. Kumar interacted with the officers to review the ongoing sanitation and camp cleaning initiatives being undertaken during the ongoing sanitation drive. He urged officers to ensure that all bio-degradable and non-biodegradable wastes, including plastic, are disposed-off in accordance with the approved Action Plan. The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite that waxes and wanes and devotees believe the structure symbolises Lord Shiva, the Hindu god. It was discovered by a Muslim shepherd in the 15th century. The Manikya dynasty remains high on the agenda of Tripuras Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government with chief minister Biplab Deb penning a book on the states last ruler, Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Deb Barman, highlighting his vision for a modern Tripura. According to government officials, the book was supposed to be released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on August 19 on the 110th birth anniversary of the last king from the Manikya dynasty. But it was postponed due to the death of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The book would be published in four languages --- Bengali, Hindi, English and Kokborok. The new schedule for release of the book is yet to be decided, said Sanjay Mishra, officer on special duty to the chief minister. Debs book is just one example of how the BJP continues to woo the Manikyas, the family which still holds a lot of sentimental connect with the northeastern states indigenous populace. As promised ahead of the elections, soon after coming to power by defeating the CPI(M), the state government renamed Agartala airport after Bir Bikram and announced that stories on the Manikya dynasty would be included in history books of government-run schools from the next academic year. Last week, Deb also launched a gold coin on Bir Bikram on his birth anniversary in Agartala. During the event, the CM pointed out how Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin had been promoted for two decades by the previous Left government while the good deeds of the Manikya rulers were not highlighted. Bir Bikram had provided shelter and food to the people of his state and also those who migrated from Bangladesh. He had a big role in promoting education and development. But attempts were made to sideline him and promote Lenin and Stalin, Deb said. BJP leaders said the Manikyas had not found favour with Marxist governments during the past four decades. They had renamed Ujjayanta Palace, the royal abode, as Tripura State Museum. After a series of protests, the name was changed to Tripura State Museum, Ujjayanta Palace. The CPI(M) has, however, dismissed the charge of sidelining the Manikyas. The Left government never suppressed the Manikya rulers deeds. We didnt change the name of a degree college founded by Bir Bikram. The state museum still has mention of Ujjayanta Palace. But in a democracy, we cant worship monarchy, said senior CPI(M) leader Pabitra Kar. We are witnessing the Manikyas being recalled in the new regime. Though all political parties do vote politics, the initiative of giving priority to royal history is positive, said Swapan Bhattacharya, a social activist and historian. From Saturday, a two-day photo exhibition on the late kings life would be organised at Ujjayanta Palace, the state museum, in collaboration with the information and cultural affairs department. The BJPs efforts to woo the Manikyas started much before the assembly polls with the Bharat Ratna being awarded to Bir Bikram posthumously and a Delhi road being named after him. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday named Sharad Kalaskar as another shooter who was allegedly involved in rationalist Narendra Dabholkars murder. Two men on a motorbike had shot dead Dabholkar, an anti-superstition activist, on August 20, 2013, when he was returning home after a morning walk in Pune. The CBI named Kalaskar in a Pune court while seeking an extension to another alleged shooter Sachin Andures custody for questioning over Dabholkars murder. Kalaskar was among the five people the Maharashtra Anti-terrorism Squad (ATS) had earlier this month arrested in connection with the seizure of crude bombs and firearms in Nalasopara and other parts of Maharashtra. The CBI is trying to trace the motorcycle used in the offence by accused Sachin Andure and Sharad Kalaskar, another shooter in this case, the CBI said in its submission before the court. Judicial magistrate (first class) H R Jadhav extended Andures CBI custody until August 30. Defence lawyer Prakash Salsingikar opposed the extension of the custody. He cited the CBIs 2016 charge sheet in the Dabholkar case naming Virendra Tawade as a co-conspirator in the murder. The CBI had named Sarang Akolkar and Vinay Pawar as the assailants, who had allegedly shot Dabholkar dead. Tawde was a member of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, an alleged offshoot of Sanatan Sanstha. Is the CBI ready to say on record that the earlier investigation was wrong? asked Salsingikar, while referring to the charge sheet. The investigation has established through oral and documentary evidence that Tawde, who harboured an enmity with Dabholkar owing to the ideological differences between the Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti and the Sanatan Sanstha, criminally conspired with Pawar, Akolkar and others to murder Dabholkar, Salsingikar said quoting the charge sheet. In pursuance of the said conspiracy, Pawar and Akolkar shot dead Dabholkar CBI officials said Akolkar and Pawar were named in the charge sheet based on their sketches an artist had drawn as per the accounts of the witnesses to Dabholkars murder. CBI officials said they will take Kalaskars custody on Monday from the ATS. Kalaskar is currently in ATSs custody in the Nalasopara explosives seizure case. The CBI will seek his custody in the Dabholkar case also as he and Andure need to be interrogated together, said special public prosecutor Vijaykumar Dhakane. (With PTI inputs) The law ministry is pushing Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh to set up special courts to speedily try elected representatives facing criminal charges, according to an official document seen by Hindustan Times. Of the 12 special courts in designated states proposed last year to exclusively try state legislators and members of Parliament with criminal cases, only two, in these two states, are yet to be established. Following the late June note from the law ministry, Uttar Pradesh has notified the setting up of a special court, but work has yet to start on it. State governments are primarily responsible for setting up special and fast-track courts in consultation with the judiciary, but the central government part funds them under a scheme that was framed following a Supreme Court order, a government official said, requesting anonymity. According to the Association for Democratic Reforms, a transparency advocacy group, nearly 36% of all members of legislative assemblies and Parliament currently face criminal charges. Lawmakers from Uttar Pradesh top the list. To be sure, some of the cases are politically motivated. On June 21, the justice department wrote to the chief secretaries of UP and Tamil Nadu, with so-called departmental order reminders to speedily set up these courts. To keep track of the progress of the trials in these cases, the justice department has also written to high courts for updated data on the number of cases transferred to these courts. The justice department sent an updated status on the matter to Prime Ministers Office and the Cabinet Secretariat on June 29, the document states. According to an affidavit filed by the Centre in the Supreme Court, 1,765 lawmakers elected in states and Parliament - or 36% of all lawmakers in the country -- face various criminal charges in 3,045 cases. Following a 2016 petition in the Supreme Court that sought to bar convicted politicians from contesting elections, the top court on November 1, 2017 directed the central government to launch a scheme for setting up of special courts to exclusively try such cases. Under the scheme, the Centre has to proportionately allocate funds to various states in which the special courts are to be set up. These states are: Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Bihar, Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh. Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday hit out at the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for attacking Rahul Gandhi on the issue of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, saying the Congress, as a party, was never involved in the carnage. He also asserted that whosoever was involved in the senseless killings in 1984 should be hanged. The SAD had on Saturday hit out at Congress chief Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the 1984 riots, saying by disagreeing with the view that his party was involved in the genocide, he had rubbed salt into the wounds of the Sikh community. Earlier, describing the 1984 riots as a very painful tragedy, Rahul Gandhi, who was on a two-day visit to the UK, had said, It was a tragedy, it was a painful experience. You say that the Congress party was involved in that, I dont agree with that. Certainly there was violence, certainly there was tragedy. Castigating SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, Amarinder Singh said the Congress chief was in school when Operation Bluestar and later the riots took place. To blame him for anything was totally absurd, said Amarinder Singh, in a hard-hitting statement issued here. To hold Rahul Gandhi responsible for an act, of which he was not even aware when it happened, was completely ridiculous, said the chief minister. The Congress, as a party, was never involved in the riots that continue to haunt the Sikh community, the chief minister said. Amarinder Singh said that if any individual was involved, he or she would be dealt with as per the law. To blame the entire party for the acts of a few was preposterous and typical of the political immaturity of Sukhbir, the chief minister said. Amarinder Singh said Rahul Gandhis latest comments need to be seen in context with his earlier statements on the 1984 riots, wherein he himself had named some Congressmen. You cannot blame an entire party because of the acts of such individuals, said the chief minister reiterating that whosoever was involved in the senseless killings in 1984 should be hanged, irrespective of political affiliations. On Badal alleging that Gandhi was trying to protect Congress leaders involved in the genocide, Amarinder Singh said such thoughtless and superfluous statements were typical of the Akalis, particularly the Badals. It is evident that the Akalis obviously did not have either the maturity or the sensitivity to understand or appreciate the sentiment behind the regrets expressed by Dr Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi on the issue. Their statements were never an admission of guilt or Congress partys involvement in the riots, said Amarinder Singh, emphasising there was no question of a volte face by Rahul Gandhi. By attacking Rahul Gandhi, Sukhbir Singh Badal has only exposed his fear of the Congress presidents growing popularity, in India and abroad, said Amarinder Singh. The Punjab chief minister said Rahul Gandhi had unambiguously condemned all sorts of violence, including the 1984 riots, and had called for strict punishment to the perpetrators. It is unfortunate that due to delays caused by the judicial system, justice was denied to many victims of the 1984 riots, he said. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said it was a healthy sign for our democracy that India was in the midst of a debate on holding state assembly elections at the same time as Lok Sabha elections, and said the discussions were a tribute to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who changed Indias political culture. Modis comments, in his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address, come in the backdrop of chief election commissioner Om Prakash Rawat, on August 23, ruling out the possibility of holding simultaneous assembly and parliamentary elections anytime soon on the grounds that first a legal framework must be put in place. You must have noticed how Atalji took bold steps to bring about fundamental reforms, whether in our election process or about the shortcomings concerning the peoples representatives. Similarly, you can see that presently efforts are afoot and discussions are being held about simultaneously holding the elections for Lok Sabha and for state assemblies, Modi said in the address. The issue of holding simultaneous assembly and Lok Sabha polls has divided parties. While Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Shiromani Akali Dal, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Samajwadi Party, and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi have supported the idea, Congress, the principal Opposition party, the Trinamool Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Telugu Desam Party, the Left parties, and the Janata Dal (Secular) are opposed to the move. The government and the Opposition, both are putting forth their viewpoints. This is a good development and a healthy sign for our democracy. I must say that developing healthy traditions for a sound democracy, making constant efforts to strengthen democracy, encouraging open-minded debates would also be appropriate tribute to Atalji, Modi said in his address. The Election Commission has maintained that any extension or curtailment of the term of assemblies -- which will be needed if India adopts a simultaneous polls model -- will require a constitutional amendment, besides working out the logistics with regard to the availability of VVPAT (paper trail) for electronic voting machines. In his address, Modi elaborated on Vajpayees contribution to good governance, bringing up the 91st Amendment Act, 2003, that restricted the size of the Cabinet in states to 15% of the total seats in the state assembly, and talked about how he was instrumental in increasing the limit under the anti-defection law from one-thirds to two-thirds of the members of a party. India will remain ever grateful to Atalji for bringing the 91st Amendment Act, 2003. For many years in India, the political culture of forming a very large Cabinet was being misused to constitute jumbo cabinets not only to create a divide, but also to appease political leaders. Atalji changed it, Modi said, adding that the effort resulted in saving of money and resources besides improving efficiency. The amendments to the anti-defection law resulted in defining clear guidelines to disqualify the defector, the PM added. The BJP is in the midst of organising events in memory of Vajpayee -- who died on August 16 -- in order to perpetuate his legacy. Modi expressed gratitude to all MPs who presented an ideal approach in the Monsoon session of Parliament, which was one of the most productive sessions in recent years, with several important bills passed. These included the bill providing for death penalty to child rapists, the triple talaq bill, which was passed by the Lok Sabha, and bills amending the SC/ST prevention of atrocities act, and the bill giving constitutional authority to the black classes commission. Modi also spoke about the floods in Kerala, which have caused widespread damage and destruction in the state. Expressing solidarity with the people of Kerala, the PM said that citizens from all walks of life across the country have come in support of those whose lives were devastated in the floods. From Kutch to Kamrup, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, everyone is endeavouring to contribute in some way or the other so that wherever a disaster strikes -- be it Kerala or any other part of India -- human life returns to normalcy, he said. The Congress criticised the remarks made by the PM on the issue of simultaneous polls in his address. There are 7-8 months left for the Lok Sabha polls and if the Prime Minister wants simultaneous elections, we wish him good luck. The Election Commission has ruled out simultaneous polls, nation says it cant happen and logistically these are not possible, said Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi. Prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday termed the debate on simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls a healthy sign for democracy and an appropriate tribute to late former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had changed Indias political culture. The government and the opposition both are putting forth their view points. This is a good development and a healthy sign for our democracy. I must say that developing healthy traditions for a sound democracy, making constant efforts to strengthen democracy, encouraging open-minded debates would also be an appropriate tribute to Atalji, Modi said in his monthly Mann ki Baat radio address. While the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its National Democratic Alliance partner Shiromani Akali Dal, as well as the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Samajwadi Party and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti are supporting the proposal, the Congress, the Trinamool Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Telugu Desam Party, Left parties and the Janata Dal (Secular) have opposed it. Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat had recently said there are no chances of holding the simultaneous polls without a legal framework, and also that the poll panel would need nearly 24 lakh EVMs, double the number required to hold only the Parliamentary polls for the simultaneous elections to the state assemblies. Modi also paid tributes to Vajpayee for bringing good governance into the mainstream. But, I just want to touch upon one more facet of Ataljis legendary personality and that is the political culture which Atalji gave to India, his efforts in the direction of bringing about the changes in our political culture, his efforts to mould it into an organised framework and which proved very beneficial for India and a bigger benefit will accrue in days to come, he said. The prime minister particularly cited the 91st constitutional amendment law brought in 2003, which restricted the size of cabinets in states to 15 per cent of the total seats in its assembly. For many years in India, the political culture of forming a very large cabinet was being misused to constitute jumbo cabinets not only to create a divide, but also to appease political leaders. Atalji changed it. This effort of his resulted in saving of money as well as of resources. This also helped in improving efficiency, Modi said. He said the constitutional amendment also ensured that the limit under the anti-defection law was enhanced from one-thirds to two-thirds, while framing clear guidelines to disqualify the defectors. Modi also lauded for Vajpayee for changing the timing of presenting the budget to 11 am from the traditional British-era timing of 5 p.m. because in London, Parliament used to start working at that time. He said the framing of the Flag Code in 2002 was another freedom for India as it made it possible to unfurl the tricolour in public places. This provided a chance to more and more of our countrymen to unfurl our national flag. Thus, he brought our beloved tricolour closer to the common man, Modi said. Shiromani Akali Dal leader Manjit Singh GK was attacked by a group of 25 people outside the Yuba City Gurdwara in California on Sunday. Sources said although the Sikh leader escaped, the attackers managed to relieve him of his turban. He went on to pay obeisance at the gurdwara. Singh who is also the president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) was earlier mobbed by protesters in New York. In a video message, Singh said he had come to pay obeisance at the gurdwara with members of the Sikh diaspora when he was attacked by a group of 25 people. With Gods grace, I am fine. I did not break the rules of the gurdwara, he added. Singh said the attack will not stop him from serving the community. Condemning such attacks on the Sikh community, DGMC general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa said disrespecting the turban was not in good taste because it represented the Guru and not an individual. These people are respecting those who killed Sikhs and attacking those who are working for the goodwill of Sikhism, he added. Sirsa said he spoke to Singh over the phone after the incident. The local police have arrested a few people involved in the attack. Manjit Singh GK had claimed on Tuesday that he and his family members were attacked by Khalistan supporters outside a New York TV studio. On August 20, members of the Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast (USA) protested against him outside a city gurdwara in connection with the Bargari shootout. Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal also condemned the attack on his party member, and blamed Pakistans spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for it, news agency ANI reported. An unarmed Manjit Singh GK was paying obeisance at the Gurughar when he was attacked brutally by more than 20 hired goons backed by the ISI. These cowards cant be Sikhs, he said. This attack has been done on behest of ISI who are anti-India, against stability of Punjab and want to create a wedge between Sikhs, he said, adding he has requested external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj to take up the matter with her American counterpart. Manjit was there to spread the message of Sri Guru Nanak Devji and to talk about the 550th GuruPurab celebrations. However, the goons want to spread terrorism. The Shiromani Akali Dal will not be cowed down by terrorism. We will continue to stand on the principles of Sikhism, Badal said. A first information report (FIR) was filed against Madhya Pradesh Congress legislator Umang Singhar and some others for allegedly hitting and threatening a BJP worker in Dhar district, 250 km south east of Bhopal, police said. The police lodged the FIR on Saturday night following a complaint by Pradeep Gadiya, the BJP worker and resident of Tanda village. The incident took place in his village on Saturday when Gadiya accompanied BJP MP Savitri Thakur and officials who were visiting the village to give a cheque of Rs 4 lakh to a family following the death of their daughter due to electrocution on Friday. #WATCH: Congress MLA Umang Singhar (in white shirt) attacks a BJP leader in Dhar. #MadhyaPradesh (25.08.18) pic.twitter.com/8WU1ADka0q ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2018 Police said Singhar snatched the cheque from the hand of the official and when Gadiya objected to his behaviour, he hit him and threatened him with dire consequences. Dhar SP Virendra Singh said the FIR had been lodged against the MLA. (With input from Chhotu Shastri in Dhar) John McCain once took on Hillary Clinton in a drinking contest. It was at a restaurant in Estonia in 2004, during a congressional tour. Both politicians managed four shots of vodka; the rules were unclear, but Hillary -- McCain's one-time political rival -- was declared the winner, according to the restaurant proprietor (though in her own account, Clinton said they "agreed to withdraw in honorable fashion," rather than name a winner). That image sums up the humanity and character of the late Senator McCain, who will be mourned deeply on both sides of the political aisle. He embodied a more moderate brand of conservatism -- one that could separate politics and friendship -- that now feels distant and very much missed. Alcoholic beverages Beverages Business and industry sectors Business, economy and trade Conservatism Consumer products Distilled liquors Donald Trump Food and drink George W. Bush Government and public administration Hillary Clinton John McCain Kinds of foods and beverages Political Figures - US Politics Society He should have been elected President in 2000, when he ran for the Republican nomination and lost, and if he had made it to the White House, America might have forged a new consensus around a smaller state and a cleaner politics. Today the country is divided in ways that McCain despaired of. But it should be united in grief for a genuine American hero. When McCain tried again for the presidency in 2008, this time winning the Republican nomination, the country found itself blessed with real choice. Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, was intelligent and eloquent, the voice of young America. McCain represented the best that the previous generation had to offer. The scion of a military family, McCain was captured by the North Vietnamese in 1967 and tortured. He remained imprisoned for over five years, refusing early release until every man who had been taken before him was let go. When he was accused of being a carpetbagger during a congressional run in 1982, McCain replied that although he wished he had spent his whole life in Arizona's comfortable first district "I was doing other things. As a matter of fact, when I think about it now, the place I lived longest in my life was Hanoi." By the time McCain entered the Senate in 1987, the Republican Party was solidifying around the ideological core of economic and social conservatism. McCain was a conservative, too, but his personal philosophy harked back to a tradition of limited government and individual free will, to be enjoyed by lawmakers as well as voters. When George W Bush tried to capture the Republican nomination in 2000 with a rich alliance of tax-cutters and brimstone preachers, McCain ran on a rebellious ticket of campaign finance reform. It was a fierce, unpleasant fight that at times seemed to push McCain outside his party altogether. He called Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell "agents of intolerance." He voted against Bush's tax cuts in the Senate -- on the old-fashioned grounds that they were overly generous to the rich. The image of McCain the Maverick elevated him in the eyes of many American Democrats and independents. But his support for the 2003 Iraq War did him much damage. His critics accused him of performing countless u-turns in the Bush years, of trying to court the extremes of the Republican coalition that he once opposed in order to smooth his second shot for the presidency. This was unfair. McCain's support for the military and his belief in America's unique, indispensable role in world affairs was consistent. But be it patriotism or calculation that brought about the rapprochement with Bush, the consequence was tragic. In 2008 McCain, now head of the Republican Party, found himself defending the legacy of exactly the kind of conservatism he once opposed, including backing a bailout for Wall Street in response to the credit crunch -- perhaps the greatest example in history of "pork barrel politics". And as he struggled to catch Barack Obama in the polls, McCain made the fateful decision to pick Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate, triggering a new era of theatrical populism. It's a straight line from Palin to the Tea Party to Donald Trump, a course that McCain inadvertently set, but from which he quickly deviated. McCain's last years were marked by principled opposition, first to Obama and then to Donald Trump. Neither, in his opinion, understood the threat of Russia nor the importance of US engagement in the Middle East, and when McCain took a stand against President Trump's health care reforms and disparaged any "half-baked, spurious nationalism," he re-emerged in the American imagination as a truly independent-minded senator. There was, regrettably, a personal side to the McCain-Trump feud: McCain withdrew his endorsement from Trump's 2016 campaign after the release of tapes that showed him bragging about sexual assault, and it was reported that the Senator didn't even want the President to attend his funeral. But McCain was not some sensitive soul who couldn't stomach the dirt of politics. He was tough; good humored. His close friend Sen. Lindsey Graham went to see him in hospital after surgery and the two of them watched the patient's favorite Western: "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance." McCain provided a running commentary that was "R-rated," said Graham, "but it was fun." This plainspoken conservative wasn't right about everything. His personal ambitions ended, ultimately, in failure. But the name McCain commands a breadth of respect that many of the men who beat him could never enjoy. Here was a man who gave everything to his country: his career, his body, his life. Four newly-enlisted militants allegedly trying to cross into Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK) were held while their three guides escaped in North Kashmirs Kalaroos on Sunday. Army spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said the four were held after they were tipped off about the plans of three Al Badr terrorists to guide the four across the LoC. The army, in a joint operation with police, laid an ambush and trapped the terrorists, he said. The four were captured after a brief gunfight. Extreme restraint was exercised and an opportunity was given to the terrorists to surrender. While the four newly-recruited terrorists surrendered, the three Al Badr terrorists deserted the new recruits and fled under cover of fire, Kalia said. The security forces had launched a manhunt to trace the three. The four were not immediately identified. But reports said they are in their early 20s and residents of North Kashmirs Handwara. They said one of them was pursuing MBA while another is a diploma holder in operation theatre management. There has been an increase in the number of educated local youth in the militant ranks particularly after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wanis killing in 2016. They include at least two PhD scholars. Local media reports said the four held in Kupwara district had announced they had joined militant ranks while their pictures, showing them wielding guns and pistols, had gone viral on the social media on Saturday. The police had on Saturday said they had busted three hideouts, seized weapons and held four militant sympathisers from south Kashmir, where three policemen and a political worker were killed on Wednesday. The spike in violence coincided with Satya Pal Maliks appointment as Jammu and Kashmirs 13th governor. Malik has the states direct administrative control. Jammu and Kashmir has been under the governors rule since June when the Bharatiya Janata Party withdrew support to Peoples Democratic Party-led coalition government. Maliks immediate challenge is to hold local bodies elections later this year. The elections had been delayed after the coalition government told the Centre that the situation was not conducive to hold them. There are approximately 225-250 militants operating in Kashmir. About 150 of them are locals. So far, 142 militants have been killed in different encounters with security forces this year. The Union government has made it easier for people in Kerala to apply for the governments subsidized housing loan scheme and released on Friday Rs 543 crore under the rural employment programme MGNREGS, raising the financial assistance to the southern state where flash floods earlier this month led to widespread devastation. At least 265 people have been killed since August 8, when a week-long bout of heavy rains began, and the state government said assets worth Rs 19,500 crore had been destroyed as floods washed away homes, roads and bridges. The funds released Friday will help reconstruction efforts under MGNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme), a social security programme that allows administrations to hire people for labour work. According to an official in the Union government, in addition to releasing the funds and sanctioning 55 million person-days of work, the Union government has also asked the state for a fresh labour budget so that more money can be given. Earlier this week, the Kerala government wrote to the Centre seeking additional MGNREGS fund to cover reconstruction works. The wages for unskilled labour is entirely sponsored by the Union government, which also pays 75% of the cost for skilled and semi-skilled workers, and underwrites the cost of the material required. The federal government also relaxed norms for the rural housing finance scheme Prime Minister Awas Yojana (PMAY) one of the most popular programmes across statesto allow more people to rebuild homes they lost in the floods. We told the state that if someones home, built earlier with government funds, has been washed away in this flood, he must be allowed to get funds and build another house for himself. We have earmarked fund for areas affected by natural calamities and 11,000 houses can be built out of that, the Union rural development secretary Amarjeet Sinha said. The Centre directed Kerala to include beneficiaries previously excluded from the rural housing scheme. People paying income tax, owning a house made of bricks, a refrigerator or a landline phone as determined by the Socio Economic Caste Census were automatically excluded from the PMAY. Fridays announcement comes amid a row between the state and centre over funding of restoration work, particularly in light of a purported offer from the United Arab Emirates that may not be cleared by the Union government in line with established protocols. We asked Union Gov for financial support of Rs 2200 Cr ; they grant us a precious Rs 600 Cr. We make no request to any foreign gov but UAE gov voluntarily offer Rs 700cr. No, says Union gov, it is below our dignity to accept foreign aid. This is a dog in the manger policy, Keralas finance minister Thomas Isaac said in a tweet on Wednesday. A day later, a senior UAE diplomat in New Delhi clarified that the country was yet to officially announce any financial aid for Kerala flood relief. Kerala government has so far appreciated the help from the Centre. But lets remember that this MGNREGS money also contains a large arrear . On August 30, Kerala government has called a special session of assembly to discuss the situation with all parties. Meanwhile, they have sought permission for imposing a cess on GST and bypassing the FRBM act temporarily, said CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat. Both those measures would help shore up the states revenue as it embarks on a massive reconstruction project. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that Indian prisons are difficult places but pretty decent as far as Vijay Mallya is concerned, adding that this is no reason for the controversial businessman to expect preferential treatment. Indian prisons are pretty decent as far as Mr Mallya is concerned. Justice should be the same for all Indian people, Gandhi said in an interaction with the Indian Journalists Association in London. He also made a passing reference to the businessman meeting certain BJP leaders before fleeing India, but did not elaborate. The fugitive liquor baron is currently fighting extradition to India on fraud and money-laundering charges amounting to an estimated Rs 9,000 crore. Both the defence and the prosecution had presented their arguments on Barrack 12 at the Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai (where Mallya is to be held if extradited) during a court hearing in London last month. Judge Emma Arbuthnot has asked the Indian authorities to submit a video of the prison quarters within three weeks. Read: Rahul Gandhi plays down prime ministerial ambitions, says he is defending Indian state The Congress president, who is on a two-day visit to London, also alleged that the Modi government is being lenient towards other financial offenders such as Nirav Modi and Mehjul Choksi. There is a relationship between Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and the Prime Minister. No action is taken against them, PTI quoted Gandhi as saying. Jewellery designer Nirav Modi and his uncle, Gitanjali Gems promoter Mehul Choksi, had allegedly defrauded the state-run Punjab National Bank of over Rs 13,000 crore. The Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate have registered cases of fraud against them. Gandhi then went on to attack the Modi government on the issue of foreign policy, alleging that it was dealing with Nepal, Afghanistan and China in a haphazard manner. A devastating example is that of the Prime Minister going to Afghanistan and then stopping by Pakistan on the way back for a wedding (on December 25, 2015), thereby sending a completely wrong message to Afghanistan, he said. He also claimed that Modi did not discuss the Doklam issue when he went to China because he views these as events . Gandhis comparison of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh with the Muslim Brotherhood the previous day had drawn sharp criticism from the BJP, which called him immature for making such statements. Do you even know what the Muslim Brotherhood is? It has been declared as a terrorist organisation in a number of countries, party spokesperson Sambit Patra had said, demanding an apology from the Congress president. (With PTI inputs) Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy turned peacemaker on Sunday after a spat between the states tourism minister Sa Ra Mahesh and Union defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her visit on Friday to flood-hit Kodagu district, tweeting that it was time to forgive each other. Sitharamans sparring with Mahesh at a function in Kodagu had also evoked a rebuttal by Karnatakas deputy chief minister G Parameshwara of the Congress. In the letter tweeted from his official handle on Sunday, Kumaraswamy said Mahesh has tirelessly worked to oversee the rescue and relief operations on the ground. While he did not mention the tiff, he said it was unfortunate the defence minister had to go through certain inconveniences. Kumaraswamy said he has spoken to Sitharaman on phone. I believe this is the time for all of us to forget small differences and forgive each other and join hands for the rehabilitation of the flood affected people in Kodagu, he said. Sitharaman, who is a Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka, was visiting the state on Friday to survey the ground situation in Kodagu, for which the state has sought a Rs. 2000-crore relief package from the Centre. On Friday, asked to wrap up a press conference by the state minister, Sitharaman had lashed out at Sa Ra Mahesh, saying: I am following a minute-to-minute programme, minister. If officials are important, my parivaar (family) is also important.... Central minister follows the minister in-charge here. Unbelievable. Karnatakas deputy chief minister G Parameshwara of the Congress also took on the central minister in defence of Mahesh. Madam @nsitharaman, our ministers have stayed back in Kodagu for weeks to oversee relief operations along with district administration. You should extend to them the same respect that they extend for the help from your end. It was disappointing to see you lash out at my colleague, Parameshwara had tweeted. State Governments derive their powers from our Constitution not from the Centre. The Constitution has distributed powers among the Centre and States to ensure an equitable partnership between both. We are not inferior to the Centre. We are partners @nsitharaman, he said in another tweet. On Saturday, the Ministry of Defence said Maheshs remarks against Sitharaman were in bad taste and did not merit a response. In spite of district administration finalising the program and RM following the same in its entirety it is unfortunate that the minister behaved the way he did. Subsequently, the personal remarks made against the RM were also in bad taste, which do not merit a response, the MoD said in a statement. The death toll in the second spell of monsoon since August 8 which triggered disastrous landslides and floods in Kerala has risen to 302 till Sunday, the government announced. The overall toll in rain-related incidents now stands at 454 since May 29, when south west monsoon had set in over the southern state. The total death count from the rain havoc between August 8 and August 26 is 302, while there are 4,62,456 people in 1435 camps, the chief ministers office said in a tweet after a review meeting on relief efforts chaired by Pinarayi Vijayan. Earlier on Sunday, the state government organised a thanksgiving ceremony for the armed forces where Vijayan expressed gratiude for their conduct of rescue and relief operations during the floods, reported ANI. Meanwhile, Kochi airport will open on August 29, Ernakulam district magistrate Mohd Y Safirulla told ANI ,adding that the closure of international airport had affected air traffic, especially the movement of international tourists. As the state struggles to restore normalcy in the aftermath of the flood, it may have to wait a few months to get the complete financial aid package from the Centre as the process of assessing the extent of damage and fund release is time-consuming, officials said in New Delhi. The Centre has so far released Rs 600 crore for Kerala. After the initial release of funds, the central government follows certain rules and guidelines before awarding the final aid to any state for a natural calamity, a Home Ministry official, privy to such circumstances, said. On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the humanitarian assistance rendered to victims of Kerala floods by people from all walks of life. Yesterday was the festival of Onam. We pray for Onam to provide strength to the country, especially Kerala so that it returns to normalcy on a newer journey of development. Once again on behalf of all Indians, I would like to reassure each and everyone in Kerala and other affected places that at this moment of calamity, the entire country stands by them, Modi said in his monthly Mann ki Baat radio address. Meanwhile, the government is racing against time to clean homes and public places that have been filled with dirt and sludge left by the floods. On Saturday, Vijayan tweeted that more than 130,000 flood-hit houses had been cleaned, or nearly a third of those affected. Updates on restoration works: 1,31,683 houses have been cleaned, which is 31% of the total flood-hit houses. Electricity has been restored for 23.36 lakh connections of the 25.6 lakh disrupted.14,314 transformers (out of 16158 affected) are now functioning. #KeralaFloodRelief CMO Kerala (@CMOKerala) August 25, 2018 Government agencies are also working to restore electricity connections. Authorities have also warned people returning to their homes to stay alert as receding waters leave behind many snakes. (With agency inputs) Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said that people support populist leaders like US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi because they are angry over not having jobs, as the Congress president stepped up his attack on the BJP and the RSS. Interacting with Indian Journalists Association in London, Gandhi said that instead of solving the problem, these leaders ride on that anger and damage the country. People support populist leaders like Mr Trump and Mr Modi because they are angry that they dont have a job. Instead of solving this problem these leaders ride on that anger. They damage the country by this, he said. On Saturday, Gandhi said India was facing a full blown crisis of unemployment and the Government was refusing to admit it. During an interaction programme at the prestigious London School of Economics, he had said that where China creates 50,000 jobs a day, only 450 jobs are created in a day in India. This is a catastrophe. The Congress president said there is a systematic attempt to impose one ideology on the country, the ideology coming straight from Nagpur. There are attempts to centralise power. Gandhi again maintained that there is a lot of similarity between Muslim Brotherhood and RSS. They use democratic processes to capture power. The Muslim Brotherhood is the oldest political Islamist group in the Arab world. It is banned and declared as a terrorist organisation by the governments of several countries. He said that both the organisations were formed in the 1920s, both believe in institutional capture and both were banned, particularly the RSS was banned after Mahatma Gandhis assassination. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said in New Delhi that the likes of President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who died last week, have an RSS background and Gandhis comparison of the organisation with an Islamist outfit is unforgivable. He demanded immediate apology from the Congress president for likening the choice of Indians in an election with an organisation which, the BJP leader said, is declared a terror outfit in many countries. India will make efforts to protect its citizens from influence campaigns on social media that could undermine the election process, Union information technology (IT) minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told a gathering of ministers from G-20 nations, the government said on Sunday. India had taken a serious note of reported misuse of social media platform data, a statement from the IT ministry quoted Prasad as saying at the G-20 Digital Economy Ministerial meeting in Salata, Argentina. Such platforms will never be allowed to abuse our election process for extraneous means. The comments come amid worry that data of users on web services such as Facebook and Twitter can be mined and misused in order to influence poll outcomes, a concern stemming from the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The minister also met messaging service WhatsApps global head last week to convey the concerns over the spread of fake news in the country. In March, Cambridge Analytica was found to have misused a partnership with Facebook to glean user data in order to create psychological and political profiles that could then lead to targeted influence campaigns. The company is believed to have used such tactics in 2016 for the Brexit vote and the US presidential elections. Facebook chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg said after the scandal that the platform was changing the way it shared data with third-party applications, and apologised for the breach of trust. Data of Indian users was also believed to have been harvested, and Prasad told Parliament last month that the Central Bureau of Investigations will investigate if any information relating to Indian voters was illegally obtained or misused. Prasad also told the G20 meeting, which included his counterparts from 18 others countries and the European Union, that India was taking all possible steps to make the cyberspace safe. The meeting was held on August 23 and 24. In his speech, the minister spoke in connection with a raging debate on privacy, saying privacy cannot prohibit innovation nor can privacy become the shield for the corrupt or terrorists. We need data to improve business but the data must be anonymous, objective, and taken with consent, according to the statement. While it was unclear from the government release if Prasad was referring to anything in particular, the comment comes against the backdrop of the opposition to the Aadhaar programme that has been challenged in the top court for being a threat to Indians right to privacy. Prasad said the Supreme Court too had elaborated these aspects while upholding right to privacy, and hence a fine balance needs to be struck between data availability, innovation, anonymity and privacy. Indias digital infrastructure includes 1.21 billion mobile phones, of which 450 million are smartphones; nearly 500 million internet subscriber, and optical fibre connectivity to 250,000 village clusters, Prasad said in his speech, giving the leaders a sense of Indias digital infrastructure scale. Police have booked a 55-year-old man for biting a teenage girls face during an alleged rape attempt at Bahu Akbarpur village in Haryanas Rohtak district earlier this week. Sources said that although the incident occurred on Wednesday morning, a case was registered only on Saturday after local women rights activists protested in front of the Sadar police station. According to the complaint, the accused identified as Sukhbir Singh had entered the 14-year-old girls house while her mother was out working in the fields. When she resisted his advances, he allegedly bit her repeatedly causing intense bleeding. The girls mother said that she returned home around then, only to catch Singh in the act of disrobing the teenager. He fled as soon as he saw me, she said. The mother alleged that although she approached the police soon after the incident, they refused to file a complaint. It was only after she staged a protest at the police station with local women rights groups that they relented. Police have lodged a case against Singh under Sections 376 (sexual assault), 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint) and 511 (punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje was unhurt after protesters threw stones at her bus in a town in Jodhpur district Saturday evening, prompting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to blame the Congress party for the attack. Raje, who is on a statewide tour called Gaurav Yatra, cancelled her night halt in Piparcity and returned to Jaipur by a special plane from Jodhpur but said she will not be deterred by the attack. This (stone pelting) has been done at the behest of a Congress leader. Let them understand that I will not be cowed down by such acts. I am ready to give my life for Rajasthan. This shows frustration of those who have not done any work for the development of the state. We will return to power, she said. Raje didnt name Congress leader Ashok Gehlot, but the young men who allegedly attacked Rajes bus were shouting slogans for the former chief minister, people said. Raje was speaking to a crowd from atop the bus designed to resemble a rath, at around 9.15 pm when a group of men threw stones. The men were chased by the police but they escaped in the commotion. A police videographer was present at the site and the culprits have been identified. Appropriate action will be taken soon, said Raghavendra Suhasa, Jodhpur range deputy inspector general (DIG). Rajasthan Congress vice-president and former MLA Heera Lal Bishnoi condemned the incident. People are upset with BJP, but no one should resort to violence. I dont think these people were from Congress party. Gehlot ji is a former chief minister, so his name is on everyones lips, he said. Rajasthan Congress spokesperson Archana Sharma could not be contacted for comments. Raje, who is currently carrying out the Rajasthan Gaurav Yatra in Jodhpur division, faced protests at three locations on Saturday. Her poll yatra has had a bumpy ride in Jodhpur, regarded as Gehlots turf. During the public meeting at Osian (Jodhpur district) on Friday afternoon, some people reportedly from the Rajput community shouted slogans against Raje before the police dispersed them. After the meeting, Raje left for Bawari village where she was to address a public meeting. About 5 km ahead of the venue, some people pelted stones at her cavalcade breaking window panes of health minister Kalicharan Sarafs car. Later, some youth, who were upset that Raje did not visit their village, blocked a road and burnt tyres near Osian. Earlier this month, the Gujjars and the Rajputs came together to protest Gaurav Yatra in the Bharatpur division, leading to its cancellation. The Rajputs are demanding their inclusion in the other backward classes (OBC) for reservation in jobs and educational institutions. The Gaurav Yatra will resume in Jodhpur division from August 29. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said his family has not been in power since his fathers time, stressing that he should be judged on the basis of his capability. The RSS, he said has helped him tremendously in developing as a political leader by relentlessly attacking him on every front. On a question about his privileged background and that Congress is effectively being run by a family, Gandhi said: First thing, my family has not been in power since my father was the prime minister. This is something that is forgotten. Second, yes I am born in a family..listen to what I am saying, talk to me about issues, talk to me about foreign policy, economics, Indian development, agriculture openly and freely. Come to me with whatever questions you want, and then judge what I am. Read: Rahul Gandhi plays down prime ministerial ambitions, says he is defending Indian state It is interesting to me that the prime minister of India struggles to have this type of a conversation. He cant sit here. He has never done it. And a large part of it, frankly is understanding of issues, he added. I have been working for 14-15 years in the political system. I have taken a beating and have learnt a lot. I am person who listens, respects other peoples ideas. The most important thing to me is that I see through hate. And I really think, I am proud of that, he said. He further said: But at the end. its your choice. Do you condemn me for the family I come from, or do you judge me based on my capability..thats your choice. Its up to you..not up to me. (This story has been published from an agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) The Unnao police on Saturday exhumed the body of Yunus Khan, a key witness in the alleged murder of Unnao rape victims father in April this year, amid strong opposition from the family. Superintendent of police, Unnao, Harish Kumar said the entire process was carried out in his presence and recorded. Shahr Qazi, Unnao, Maulana Nasir accompanied us. We are acting in accordance with law, he said. The cops informed Khans family that they had exhumed his body and sent it for post mortem and that they (family) should stop opposing the legal process. However, Khans wife Shabeena and 13 other family members reached Lucknow, 65 km from Unnao, and she attempted to commit suicide near the chief ministers residence in protest against exhumation of his body. The policemen stationed there foiled her suicide bid. Exhumation of the body has hurt our sentiments. It is against our tradition. Why are the police are not understanding that he (Khan) died at home and everyone in the village attended his funeral. There is nothing fishy or suspicious, she said. Suraj Yadav, sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), Hasangunj, said: The autopsy is important to bring out the truth; they should not obstruct the process. We have given assurance that the body will again be buried with full honour and respect. On July 7, the CBI named BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengars brother Atul in the charge-sheet in connection with the alleged murder of the rape victims father. Kuldeep Sengar is the accused in the rape case. Shabeena has blamed the rape victims uncle of twisting facts to build his case against the accused. She has also given in writing to the authorities that the victims uncle tried to lure her with a promise of Rs 8 lakh in bribe so that she does his bidding. She said her husband died of prolonged illness. Earlier, many of Yunuss family members and relatives signed a petition to the district magistrate Devesh Chandra Pandey to roll back his order to exhume the body. The petition said Khan had died of liver related ailment on August 18 but the victims uncle, who is a history-sheeter, used the death to build his case. During the talks with circle officer, Safipur, Vivek Ranjan Rai, Shabeena said she and even her husband werent aware that he was a witness and had deposed. The CBI, she said, never approached or informed them about the deposition. Meanwhile, the rape victims uncle has claimed the Khan, who was a key witness in the murder of his brother, was poisoned to death. Sources said the decision to exhume the body and get a post mortem done was taken following a tweet from Congress president Rahul Gandhi on the issue. As the family got support from the village in the matter, the authorities sent religious scholars and influential Muslims to them to clear their doubts. An uneasy calm prevailed in the village and security was further beefed up as the cops feared some law and order problem. A boy was swept away in Gola river in Haldwani on Saturday after rains lashed various parts of Uttarakhand, triggering landslides and rivers flowing in spate. The boy, identified as Vivek Belwal (15), son of a street vendor, had gone to swim in the river with his friends when the incident took place. However, his friends hid his shoes and cycle in the bushes due to which his parents came to know of the incident several hours later. Sixteen pilgrims of the 12th batch of Kailash Mansarovar are currently stranded in Gunji while the other pilgrims have returned to New Delhi after completing the yatra. The pilgrims are in a camp as the helicopters could not take off from Gunji due to incessant rain. We are waiting for the weather to clear so that pilgrims can safely return to Pithoragarh, said TS Martoliya, general manager of Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam, the nodal agency for Kailash Mansarovar yatra. In another incident, a funeral pyre was swept away in the Gola river at Chitrashila ghat. The family of the deceased tried to catch the floating pyre but failed due to the raging torrent. A culvert collapsed in Najibabad, forcing the roadways buses to take longer route to reach Dehradun from Haldwani. The buses are now plying via Muzaffarnagar and travelling an extra 70km. Heavy rains lashed the state capital Dehradun. The Ganga was flowing close to the warning level in Rishikesh and Haridwar. The Rishikesh-Badrinath highway at Lambagad in Chamoli district was also blocked due to landslides, the disaster management office said. Rains continued in the Kumaon region on Sunday but no major incident was reported from any part. The festival of Raksha Bandhan or the bond of protection is all about the love between brothers and sisters. On this occasion, a girl or a woman puts a tilak on her brothers forehead and ties a rakhi around his wrist in a ritual that reaffirms the bond and support of her brother(s). She receives a gift from her brother(s) and traditionally endows them with a responsibility to care for her. When a girl/woman ties a rakhi around her brothers wrist, he promises to protect her from all the problems in life and gives her his blessings. History and significance of rakhi Rakhi has a lot of stories around them. During the Mahabharata, it is believed that Draupadi tied a rakhi on Krishnas wrist when he had injured his finger while using his sudarshan chakra against the king Shishupalal. While Krishnas hand was bleeding, Draupadi tore a piece from her sari and tied it around his hand. In return, Krishna vowed that he would always be there to protect Draupadi. Raksha Bandhan is observed on the last day of the Hindu lunar calendar month of Shravan. Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore started a mass Raksha Bandhan festival during the Partition of Bengal (1905), in which he encouraged Hindu and Muslim women to tie a rakhi on men from the other community and make them their brothers. The exercise was designed to counter British efforts to create a divide between Hindus and Muslims. The best time to tie rakhi is said to be during Aparahna , which is normally during the afternoon period. (Shutterstock) Rakhi muhurat The best time to tie rakhi is said to be during Aparahna , which is normally during the afternoon period. However, if that is not possible then it can be tied during the Pradosh time period (starts at sunset and lasts upto 96 minutes after that). However, the scriptures say that tying the rakhi should not take place during the Bhadra phase (late evening and early morning- it differs from time to time) of the day since it is believed that during the Bhadra time, certain negative energies are at play. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more Last year, Deepak Savla, a rakhi seller at Ghatkopar, had customers telling him they do not want China-made rakhis. Same time, this year, he said customers seem to have forgotten about the Indo-China tension that happened last year around the festive season when the Indian Army and China were involved in a face-off at Doklam, a place where India, China and Bhutan borders meet. Thus, throughout the country, citizen groups had called for a ban on Chinese products ahead of most festivals last year. All the cartoon rakhis available in the market are made at a very low cost in China and sold at a huge margin in the Indian market. About 90% of childrens purchase is the China-made rakhis, said Savla. A rakhi made in China begins from Rs 15 per piece, available in various varieties and modifications. Whereas, a rakhi made in India, made out of cotton thread, starts from Rs 5 onwards. Most rakhi vendors said that it is a loss making factor for them since the China-made rakhis get easily damaged while transporting. However, manufacturers and wholesalers said that cartoon rakhis are made in the city, with just add-ons, such as light emitting diode (LED) lights inserted in rakhis brought in from China. However, even today the highest demand in rakhis is for the cotton thread rakhi, which has wood and chandan (sandalwood) piece in it. The demand for rakhis made in Kolkata, which have a box packing, has fallen this year, and most people are now opting for rakhis made in Mumbai, said Sanjay Jain, owner of a shop at Bhuleshwar. Jayesh Dalvi, a rakhi seller at Dadar, said that cartoon rakhis available in market lately are made at Malad and Dharavi. Chinese products are very less in the market this year. Two years back, we used to get cartoon rakhis which were made in China but this year, there is no supply of such rakhis, said Dalvi. As per the Hindu calendar, Raksha Bandhan usually falls on the full moon day or Purnima of the Shravan month, this year it will be celebrated on Sunday (August 26). In a state where politics thrives on dare for a dare, the rumblings within the Congress and outside it have been that it did not take on the Akalis on coming to power after 10 years in political wilderness. Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singhs no-vendetta line meant no skeletons were to tumble out of the closet of the previous regime. But the report of Justice Ranjit Singh Commission set up by Amarinder to probe sacrilege incidents of Guru Granth Sahib and police firing on Sikh protesters at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura is damning for the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) as it threatens its very foundation of Panthic politics. The Congress is all set to launch a frontal attack on the Akalis based on reports indictment of former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son and SAD chief, Sukhbir Badal, for the Akal Takhts pardon for dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim in September 2015. The report states this had a devastating effect and may have played a catalyst for sacrilege incidents. The panel also says though there were enough hints of involvement of dera followers in the sacrilege incidents, they were only caught after the change of guard in the state. The report has put ex-CM Badal, too, in the dock for the police firing, saying he either allowed the then Punjab police chief Sumedh Singh Saini to fire at protesters at Kotkapura or was too helpless to stop him from doing so. Congress lines up Badal-baiters In the states competitive panthic politics, the report has given the Congress a handle to outmanoeuvre the Akalis who have been targeting it after Operation Bluestar and 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The party has lined up its firebrand Badal-baiters to lead the charge and may telecast the debate live to pin them down, whether or not they boycott it. We will expose how the Badals made underhand deals for votes and played politics over religion. Religious faith is above votes. They are now bribing and intimidating witnesses who appeared before the panel. They made the Akal Takht a puppet for meeting their political ends. When the dera did not vote for them in 2007 polls, they went after the sect head and made the Akal Takht issue an edict against him. When they wanted dera votes, they got him pardoned, Faridkot MLA Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon, one of the speakers lined up by the party, told HT. He added, The previous government ordered police firing that killed two. Yet no heads rolled. Saini was only transferred. What action was taken against him? Did he give firing orders without Badals permission. Or orders came from the top. It is not political vendetta. We are answerable to people. Other than Dhillon, minister Sukhjinder Randhawa, who the Akalis are accusing of coercing witnesses to appear before the panel, says he will give Akalis a befitting reply in the House. According to Congress insiders, the action taken report to be tabled in the House on Monday, along with the panels report, and the concluding speech of Amarinder will deal the final blow on the Akalis. When it comes to harnessing panthic issues, Amarinder can give others a lesson or two. He had resigned from Congress after the Operation Bluestar and has been espousing the cause of Sikhs, including forcing the BJP regime at the Centre to offer compensation to Jodhpur detainees of Operation Bluestar recently. Outnumbered in House, Akalis to fight outside Faced with one of its worst politico-religious crisis, the Akalis have decided to make a sensational expose on Sunday, a day before the report is tabled. At a press conference on Saturday, Sukhbir said, We will hammer the final nail in the reports coffin. According to SAD sources, the party will expose secret meetings held between the panel and Sikh hardliners protesting at Bargari. All the action of the Akalis will be outside the House though. With just 14 members, they get little time to trash the report. But the political damage will be grave if they dont. We will be present in the house for the debate. All our members will be present except the former CM, SAD spokesman Daljit Cheema said. Amid the Congress-Akali slugfest, the states main opposition, the AAP, which had dented Sikh votes of the SAD, will also try to take on the Akalis. Its other target will be its own rebel faction led by Sukhpal Singh Khaira, who is trying to steal its thunder on panthic issues. Faridkot: Shiromani Akali Dal leader Manjit Singh GK was attacked by a group of 25 people outside the Yuba City Gurdwara in California on Sunday. Sources said although the Sikh leader escaped, the attackers managed to relieve him of his turban. He went on to pay obeisance at the gurdwara. Singh who is also the president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) was earlier mobbed by protesters in New York. In a video message, Singh said he had come to pay obeisance at the gurdwara with members of the Sikh diaspora when he was attacked by a group of 25 people. With Gods grace, I am fine. I did not break the rules of the gurdwara, he added. Singh said the attack will not stop him from serving the community. Condemning such attacks on the Sikh community, DGMC general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa said disrespecting the turban was not in good taste because it represented the Guru and not an individual. These people are respecting those who killed Sikhs and attacking those who are working for the goodwill of Sikhism, he added. Sirsa said he spoke to Singh over the phone after the incident. The local police have arrested a few people involved in the attack. Manjit Singh GK had claimed on Tuesday that he and his family members were attacked by Khalistan supporters outside a New York TV studio. On August 20, members of the Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast (USA) protested against him outside a city gurdwara in connection with the Bargari shootout. Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal also condemned the attack on his party member, and blamed Pakistans spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for it, news agency ANI reported. An unarmed Manjit Singh GK was paying obeisance at the Gurughar when he was attacked brutally by more than 20 hired goons backed by the ISI. These cowards cant be Sikhs, he said. This attack has been done on behest of ISI who are anti-India, against stability of Punjab and want to create a wedge between Sikhs, he said, adding he has requested external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj to take up the matter with her American counterpart. Manjit was there to spread the message of Sri Guru Nanak Devji and to talk about the 550th GuruPurab celebrations. However, the goons want to spread terrorism. The Shiromani Akali Dal will not be cowed down by terrorism. We will continue to stand on the principles of Sikhism, Badal said. Pope Francis on Sunday asked for forgiveness for the scandal and betrayal felt by victims of sexual exploitation by Catholic clergy as he continued his tour of Ireland where years of abuse scandals have shattered the Churchs former dominance. On the first papal visit to Ireland in almost four decades, Francis privately met with eight victims of clerical, religious and institutional abuse on Saturday and said he would seek a greater commitment to eliminating this scourge. But pressure on the pope over the issue increased on Sunday when a former top Vatican official accused Francis of having known of allegations of sex abuse by a prominent US cardinal for five years before accepting his resignation last month. None of us can fail to be moved by the stories of young people who suffered abuse, were robbed of their innocence and left scarred, Francis told a crowd of tens of thousands at the Knock shrine in the west of Ireland on Sunday morning. This open wound challenges us to be firm and decisive in the pursuit of truth and justice. I beg forgiveness for these sins and for the scandal and betrayal felt by so many others in Gods family, he said, to applause from the crowd. Years of sexual abuse scandals have shattered the credibility of the Church which four decades ago dominated Irish society. In the past three years, Irish voters have approved abortion and gay marriage in referendums, defying its wishes. The dwindling influence of the Catholic Church has been demonstrated by crowds far smaller than those that met Pope John Paul II during the last Papal visit in 1979, when more than three-quarters of Irelands population turned out. A handout photo made available by Vatican Media shows Pope Francis during his visit to the Knock Shrine in County Mayo on August 26, 2018, on the second day of his visit to Ireland to attend the 2018 World Meeting of Families. (AFP) False dawns Francis, facing sexual abuse crises in several countries, wrote an unprecedented letter to all Catholics last week asking each one of them to help root out this culture of death and vowing there would be no more cover ups. Some of those who turned out on a misty morning in Knock, where a group of locals in 1879 said they saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary, said Francis should be given a chance to deal with the abuse issues that have rocked the Church for decades. People have to give this man a chance, hes trying his best, said Carmel Lane, who travelled from County Longford in the Irish midlands to attend the Mass. Vatican officials on Sunday declined immediate comment on an 11-page letter given to conservative Roman Catholic media outlets in which Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano said he had told Francis in 2013 that Cardinal Theodore McCarrick had faced extensive accusations of sexually abusing lower-ranking seminarians and priests. McCarrick became the first Cardinal in living memory to resign his position in the Church leadership after a review concluded that allegations he had sexually abused a 16-year-old boy were credible. McCarrick has said that he had absolutely no recollection of the alleged abuse of the teenager 50 years ago but has not commented on the other allegations. Pope Francis arrives at the Knock Shrine in Knock, Ireland, August 26, 2018. (REUTERS) One survivor of clerical abuse who met the pope on Saturday, Paul Redmond, said strong language used by Francis at the meeting gave him hope that something might be shifting in the Catholic Church. Theres been a lot of false dawns, theres been a lot of empty promises and a lot of talk but maybe, maybe this is the time something, something substantial will actually happen in the Church, Redmond told Reuters. But others who took part in sporadic protests around Dublin on Saturday were not convinced. I dont think he should come and expect us to pay for his visit when there are people today in Ireland who are so damaged and need so much help that they cant function because of all the abuse, said Lisa, 30, who declined to give her family name, as she waited with other protesters for the Popemobile to pass. He shouldnt have come. A former doorman of Trump Tower, which is home and office to the US president and his family in New York, has said he has been released from a gag-deal that had prevented him from discussing claims of an alleged relationship Donald Trump had with s former employee that resulted in a child. Marc Held, attorney for the doorman Dino Sajudin, told CNN Friday that his client has been released from an agreement with AMI, parent company of National Enquirer that bought stories and articles that could potentially be damaging for Trump and never ran them. But he didnt say when. Just recently, AMI released Mr. Sajudin from the terms of his agreement and he is now able to speak about his personal experience with them, as well as his story, which is now known to be one of the 'catch and kill' pieces, Held, told CNN. Mr. Sajudin hopes the truth will come out in the very near future. The doorman claims to have knowledge of an affair Trump had with a former housekeeper that resulted in a child. Multiple publications had reported the claim and the payment of $30,000 by AMI to Sajudin in April. But there were no details then and the contract released by Sajudin has none either. Source shall provide AMI with information regarding Donald Trump's illegitimate child" it said only, according to a copy published by CNN. The source is Sajudin. AMIs owner David Pecker is cooperating with federal prosecutors in a case in which Michael Cohen, a former lawyer and fixer for Trump, has pleaded guilty to eight charges including campaign funding law violations for hush money paid to two women for their silence about their claims of having had affairs with Trump years ago. Cohen has implicated Trump in this case saying these payments were made at his direction and in coordination with him. The contract between AMI and the doorman appears to have been signed in November 2015 and stated that Sajudin was being paid $30,000 for his account to which the publication had exclusive rights in perpetuity. It set a penalty of $1 million for him for violating the contract. He's a blue-collar worker and a million dollars would have ruined him for life," Held told CNN about his clients silence so far. There was no word when Sajudin plans to speak out, and to whom. Carmelo's tenure with the Atlanta Hawks will long be remembered as an important test of character for both player and organization. In the end, they couldn't agree on terms moving forward, leaving many of us ponder what could have been. Al Horford, Sidney Moncrief and Lenny Wilkens were all passable #15s but none compared to Carmelo Anthony in comeliness. After reaching a buyout agreement at the beginning of the month, Melo set his sights on Houston, oh and he intermittently thanked OKC for the quick detour along the way. But in doing so he skipped right ahead and neglected to thank Atlanta for their sanctimonious gesture, a fat sum and a commemorative #15 jersey made out in his name, sent via express shipping I might add. Atlanta was none too pleased with the radio silence. Their response to Carmelo's cold shoulder was not said or expressed via their Public Relations department, but by their front office. During his inauguration with the team, Vince Carter was unceremoniously handed Carmelo's untouchable #15 singlet, a gesture that spoke volumes. To make matters worse, neither Vince Carter nor GM Travis Schlenk uttered a word pro or against Carmelo in relation to his departure, leading many to believe they are willfully trying to forget he ever existed. President Donald Trump has been rocking with Kanye West for a minute. He has also had the opportunity to spend some time with the rapper's wife. In his latest speech, the president had some edifying words for Kim Kardashian. First, Trump addressed Yeezy. He acknowledged how his success has been boosted thanks to the music icon. All of a sudden those numbers started going up, up, up, and we did great, Trump explained. Now were doing great and Kanye West liked me. And that really lifted my [numbers] Kanye West has some real power!" Then, the praise was directed to the female party of the West couple. Trump insisted upon just how good of a spouse Kim is. And hes got a good wife too in Kim, Ill tell ya. She really is. She did a great thing, a great thing. The "great thing" the president mentioned isn't clarified. It could involve anything from her building a whole empire on the foundation of an infamous sex tape to her meeting with the president about prison reform. Or maybe he just meant that her choosing Ye as a husband was a good call. Who knows? Trump quickly changed the subject. This praise is significant considering the fact that the speech completely ignored the John McCain in the wake of his death. This week, Gully TV, which has a storied history with Jacques Haitian Jack Agnant, published a new in-person interview with the former music executive in which he uncovered several topics of interest, including the infamous 1994 Quad Studio incident in which Tupac was shot five times. This shooting would catalyze Pacs decision to stay out of New York for nearly two years and drive up the ongoing tension between East Coast and West Coast rap at the time. In the past, Haitian Jack, who was a close friend of Pacs at the time, has always been implicated in the shooting and suspected of playing a rolea claim that he has vehemently denied time and time again. In this new talk with Gully, the conversation is naturally up on the chopping block and Jack details just why he would never take part in such an act. Remembering past instances in which he witnessed friends killing each other; Jack affirms that Tupac was his friend and that he could never kill a friend. One thing I dont doI dont rob my friends or kill my friends. We got a problem, we go our separate ways, says Jack. N-ggas feel like they gotta kill their friend to prove what? You know this n-ggas mother, his sister, or his kids, and then you still kill him. Yous a piece of shit. There aint nothing two friends cant work out. It just might take some time to be worked out, but it can be worked out. Catch the full video down below and speed up to the 22:30-minute marker for Jack's wods on the Quad Studios shooting. John McCain has passed away today, according to CNN. McCain was diagnosed with glioblastoma last Summer, an extremely aggressive brain cancer. He decided to stop medical treatment for the disease earlier this month. The Arizona Senator spent the last few months of his life breaking from the Republican party, and causing a stir on Capitol Hill. As many already know, McCain was a prisoner of war. He joined the Navy in the 60's, but his bomber was hit my a missile in October 1967 and he was captured soon after. He broke both arms and his leg in the explosion. McCain spent 5 years in captivity as a POW in North Vietnam, where he was brutally tortured regularly. He also never received proper medical treatment for his broken bones, causing him to lose the ability to lift his arms above his shoulders and to walk with a limp all of his life. He turned down an opportunity to be released as a solo prisoner, a preferential action that he may have gotten due to his connections in the miltary. Still, he refused to come home until all the men that were captured with him also came home. When he was finally released back to the US, McCain served in the Navy until the early 80's. He then transitioned into politics. McCain was one of the few Republicans that distanced himself from Trump, and he infamously cast the vote that destroyed Trump's Obama-Care repeal. Expected to side with his own party, McCain voted to keep Obama-Care in place instead, sending a shockwave through the GOP. According to reports, Trump will not be invited to the funeral. McCain did not want the president there, but Barack Obama and George W. Bush were asked to give eulogies earlier this year when McCain was diagnosed with cancer. McCain ran against Obama in the 2008 presidential election and lost to Bush in the 2000 Republican primary. The U.S. and Mexico are close to resolving bilateral differences on NAFTA and may wrap up as soon as Monday, said three people familiar with the progress, clearing the way for Canada to possibly return to talks to update the three-nation trade pact. The nations achieved significant breakthroughs in the past several days on the critical issues of automobiles and energy, according to the people, who asked not to be named discussing private talks. Talks were expected to continue Sunday. WELL-DONE ISSUE: NAFTA a timely topic at Texas A&M beef conference President Donald Trump was optimistic on Saturday, saying on Twitter that the U.S. could have a big Trade Agreement with its southern neighbor soon. The terms of any deal struck by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer would need Trumps final approval. It remains unclear how U.S. and Mexican negotiators would make public the completion of work on their bilateral issues, given that Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo has signaled that the nation wont make an announcement on NAFTA until Canada also signs on to a new deal. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Sunday morning that the administration has no announcements or anything finalized at this time. The administrations of Trump and Enrique Pena Nieto have been working for five weeks to resolve their bilateral issues so Canada can rejoin the talks to update the decades-old North American Free Trade Agreement. The U.S. and Mexico are pushing for an agreement this month that would give the countries time to sign the pact before Mexicos President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador takes office in December. CANADA WAITING: Quebec's chief negotiator seeks continental commitment, only on HoustonChronicle.com Guajardo press office didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. A Canadian official declined to comment and referred back to remarks last week from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said he was encouraged by optimism coming from the U.S. and Mexico but wont sign just any deal. On Saturday, Lopez Obradors envoy, Jesus Seade, told reporters upon arrival at a meeting with Lighthizer in Washington that the nations have resolved concerns that the deal had too many restrictions on how the next government can treat foreign oil companies investing in Mexico. Guajardo, going into the same meeting, said that he expected Saturday to be an important day for the negotiations. Neither Seade or Guajardo commented when they emerged from the talks some hours later. The U.S. and Mexico in recent weeks had largely focused on the thorny issue of car manufacturing, as the Trump administration pushes for a deal that would boost factory jobs in America. The U.S. has proposed tightening regional content requirements for car production and having a certain percentage of a car manufactured by higher-paid workers. While a U.S. proposal to increase tariffs on cars imported from Mexico that dont meet stricter new content rules was a sticking point as recently as last week, that issue appeared to be resolved by Thursday. The U.S. agreed to keep the 2.5 percent tariff currently applied under World Trade Organization rules if the cars are made at factories that already exist, according to two people familiar with the plans, who asked not to be named discussing private negotiations. That would leave open the possibility that cars that dont meet the rules and are built at new plants could face tariffs of 20 percent to 25 percent, pending the results of a Section 232 national security investigation that Trump ordered in May, the people said. While Trump has floated the idea of negotiating bilateral trade accords -- finalizing one with Mexico before moving on to Canada -- both Mexico and Canada have said they want to keep a three-nation deal. --With assistance from Josh Wingrove. To contact the reporters on this story: Eric Martin in Mexico City at emartin21@bloomberg.net;Jennifer Jacobs in Washington at jjacobs68@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Vivianne Rodrigues at vrodrigues3@bloomberg.net, Ros Krasny 2018 Bloomberg L.P. President Donald Trump should be more worried about federal prosecutors in New York than about the Russia probe led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, retired Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz said Sunday. Dershowitz, an informal Trump adviser, said in an appearance on ABC News' "This Week" that the expanding probe by prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York could spell the greatest peril for Trump because of the lack of constitutional protections for the president at that level. "I think he has constitutional defenses to the investigation being conducted by Mueller," Dershowitz said. "But there are no constitutional defenses to what the Southern District is investigating. So, I think the Southern District is the greatest threat." Trump's legal team has cited the Constitution in arguing that the president should not sit down for an interview with Mueller, who is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election as well as potential collusion with Trump's campaign and obstruction of justice. Trump has routinely denounced the probe as a "witch hunt." The president's legal quandary in New York, meanwhile, continues to deepen after prosecutors there granted immunity last week to Allen Weisselberg, chief financial officer for the Trump Organization; and to David Pecker, a longtime Trump ally who is the executive of the National Enquirer magazine's parent company. News of the cooperation deals came days after former Trump attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to eight felonies, including two counts related to hush money paid just before the 2016 election to women who alleged affairs with Trump. Cohen said he made the payments at Trump's direction. The Cohen case is unlikely to lead to any legal consequences for Trump while he is in office, experts say, although it could prompt calls for his impeachment should Democrats take the House in November. Dershowitz said Sunday that "it would be great" to have Democrats in charge on Capitol Hill so that they can conduct investigations into Trump's actions. But he continued to play down Trump's failure to report the hush money, arguing that the person at fault for the campaign finance violation would be the campaign's treasurer, not the candidate. "The president or the candidate is entitled to contribute anything he wants to his own campaign," Dershowitz said. "So the only issue here is whether or not there was a failure to report the contribution. That failure to report is attributable to the treasurer of the campaign, not to the president." Weighing in on whether Trump should sit for an interview with Mueller, Dershowitz contended that "it would be good for the American public if President Trump sat down and said everything he knows, but it wouldn't be good for President Trump. And that's why his lawyers are so strongly recommending against it." He also offered four broader points of advice for Trump. "Look, my advice to the president - I never gave it to him privately because I'm not his lawyer, but on television - is: Don't fire, don't pardon, don't tweet and don't testify. And if he listened to those four things, he'd be in less trouble than he is today," Dershowitz said. In an interview on "Fox News Sunday," former attorney general Alberto Gonzales said that Cohen's guilty plea and the conviction of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort - in a prosecution led by Mueller's office - were creating "a lot of debate and swirl around the president as an individual, and that's never good." Trump has praised Manafort and recently sought his attorneys' advice on a potential pardon, according to Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani. Gonzales said that while Trump is entitled to speak his mind, his apparent sympathy for Manafort puts him at odds with his own Justice Department. "They had a very successful conviction of Paul Manafort. And to have the president then, you know, speak so well of Paul Manafort was somewhat unusual," Gonzales said. He added that it might be helpful for Trump to at least answer written questions from Mueller in the Russia probe, even if he declines to provide oral testimony. "I think perhaps it may ease, in the minds of certain members of the American public, the president's involvement, the president's knowledge about Russian involvement" in the 2016 presidential election, Gonzales said. --- The Washington Post's Carol D. Leonnig, Devlin Barrett and Rosalind S. Helderman contributed to this report. Dr. Benny Wang readily acknowledges he did not know much about medical marijuana when many of his epileptic patients began asking him about cannabidiol oil, also known as CBD in the marijuana industry. "I think most doctors are like me; I was unaware of the potential benefits of this treatment," Wang said of CBD oil. "A lot of my patients have been researching this and keeping me updated. I am aware of CBD from other states and the news." Wang, a neurologist with offices in The Woodlands Township and Conroe, is one of only seven doctors in the state of Texas who has registered to prescribe CBD oil under the Texas Compassionate Use Act passed by lawmakers in 2015, which allows for patients with intractable epilepsy to use cannabidiol oil as a treatment for seizures. Patients seeking the medicinal CBD oil must suffer from epilepsy and have been diagnosed with intractable epilepsy, a disorder in which a patient's seizures are uncontrollable. The condition is also called refractory epilepsy. CBD oil - which is derived from cannabis plants cross-bred to have very low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, the element of marijuana that makes users high - is taken via a liquid dropper with very small amounts ingested orally. "CBD has been found to be very beneficial in reducing seizures," Wang said. "It's not a cure-all, but research shows CBD can help." Option to traditional drugs Patients who suffer from epileptic seizures currently take a "whole list" of medications to stop seizures, Wang said. Many of the traditional pharmaceutical medications have unwanted and often severe side effects, he added. "The side effects are frequent and range from sleepiness, dizziness and nausea to sometimes a deadly rash," Wang said. "The more medications you are on, the higher the chance of side effects." Wang said some patients travel to states such as Colorado, Michigan, Oregon and California - where medicinal marijuana is legal - to get the CBD oil. He also said many patients hope to stop taking traditional medications for seizures and use only CBD oil or plan to use the CBD oil as a supplement in conjunction with traditional medications. Under the Texas law, patients who have intractable epilepsy and seek a CBD oil prescription would need to be a permanent resident of Texas, have intractable epilepsy, and be examined by a doctor who determines that using medical marijuana would be beneficial. Patients must also get a second opinion from a different doctor. Patients who are approved for prescriptions would then obtain the CBD oil from a state-approved dispensary. At the moment, there are only two dispensaries licensed by the state, and neither has produced CBD oil yet. The current crop of CBD-dominant strain cannabis plants being grown for medical use will not be ready for several months, Wang said. "The timeline has been pushed back to spring 2018," Wang said of when the CBD oil will potentially be available to patients. While Wang is the only Houston-region doctor who registered, there are six other physicians across the state who have also registered with the Department of Public Safety to be a licensed prescriber of the CBD oil. More research needed Although only seven doctors have registered to prescribe the CBD oil so far, Dr. Robert Dickson, medical director of the Montgomery County Hospital District, said he believes the state's legalization of medical marijuana - even though done in a more restrictive manner than most states - is a positive development. "I think it is positive if you have more options to treat patients that are having seven, eight or 10 seizures per day," Dickson said. "The state only licensed doctors who treat seizures. There are case reports of (medical marijuana) helping patients. There is scientific literature on (medical marijuana), but it is not super robust." Dickson said one issue hampering efforts to further develop medical marijuana is the Schedule 1 classification of marijuana, which puts cannabis is the same category as more dangerous drugs such as heroin and other opioids, as well as cocaine, crack and methamphetamine. "We're way behind in the research," Dickson said. "We need to do it right, examine the effects and the ethics. The proper medical use of an herb would possibly be beneficial to some patients. We should do our due diligence." For Wang, the reasoning behind his pursuit of being one of the first doctors to be able to prescribe the CBD oil is simple: the health and well-being of his patients. "To me, anything we can do to help patients, some who are suffering a lot mentally and physically," Wang said. "Anything we can do that helps the patient, I am in favor of." Grieving friends and family are still seeking answers after a 59-year-old man was shot and killed by a Waller County SWAT team member serving a search warrant last month. The Waller County Sheriffs Office said a man pointed a gun at SWAT team member during a search for child pornography at the Pattison residence on Avenue I around 5:30 a.m. on July 18, according to a news release on the incident. The officer fired at the man, who died at Memorial Katy Hermann Hospital. Friends and family identified him as 59-year-old Mickey Coy, who did irrigation work around his community. Mickey was always the guy who spoke a hundred miles an hour, always moving, always dirty because he was always working, said Mark Rhode, who used Coy as a subcontractor for his land maintenance business for more than a decade. Thats just the guy he was. Just a hardworking fellow. Waller County Sheriff Glenn Smith said SWAT officers knocked on the door and announced their presence as they entered the house during the early morning. Any shooting is a tragedy. I hate it. Im straightforward about it, but Im glad my officers went home that night, he said. I cant sit here and second-guess when I wasnt the one in that hallway with a gun barrel looking at me either. He said SWAT team officers like to execute search warrants in the early morning hours when its more likely suspects will be home and caught off-guard. Law enforcement officers never know what circumstances they will be entering, Smith said. How do we know when we go in that house what youre capable of? he said. Ronald Coy wrote on Facebook that his brother grabbed a deer rifle and told his girlfriend to call the cops, when he heard someone entering his home. My brother was only defending his home and was killed by a twitching finger I will never believe he knew it was police in the house or he would have put down his rifle, Ronald wrote on social media. I will miss his weekly calls of what r ya doing as he drove home from work regularly. ... too many questions and no answers at this time. The incident is being investigated by the Texas Rangers and the Waller County District Attorneys Office. Houston civil rights attorney Randall Kallinen saw some issues with the way the SWAT team handled the execution of the search warrant and said officers should always take note of who else lives in the home besides the suspect. I would assume that anytime you do an arrest, you have to consider the other people around you and not just say, Were going to come rushing in and we dont care about other people as long as we get the criminal, said Kallinen. However, the other people in the house have different rights to equal protection and to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. Kallinen said officers need to consider different approaches, especially when serving a search warrant for a nonviolent crime. He advised officers to watch the residence to figure out who lives there and determine when the suspect is usually home. It seems like they were putting people in danger for this serious, but nonviolent crime, said Kallinen. A woman identified as Tanya Walker, who lives at the address of the shooting, declined to comment when she picked up the phone. No one answered the door at the residence. Since the search warrant was executed, Brice Allen Walker was arrested with possession with intent to distribute child pornography on July 19 in the city of Monahans, according to Ward County Sheriff Mikel Strickland. Smith said he believed Walker was living at Coys residence but could not confirm that because he said his office is not investigating the incident. The Waller County District Attorneys Office declined to comment. Coys death comes after Houston police raided 68-year-olds Emily Barrieres apartment last month in northeast Houston, leaving the woman traumatized. When she opened the door, she found five HPD officers pointing guns at her. She thought they were robbers or people posing as police officers. The police never showed Barriere paperwork or a search warrant as they entered her apartment, but days later she got an apology from police. Ive been so traumatized, Barriere said during a press conference held at her apartment this month. I will never ever forget this, because it upset my whole life. Coy was described as an honorable and hardworking business owner in his obituary. Loved ones left well wishes for him on his birthday that occurred this month. Happy Birthday in heaven our friend. Never forgotten, wrote one on his Facebook page. He grew up in San Angelo and was laid to rest there last week. This is my father that was stolen from us, wrote daughter Debbie Coy in a Facebook post the day after the shooting. Its so sad. Im angry, and Im hurt. Victoria Cheyne contributed to this report. brooke.lewis@chron.com twitter\brookelewisa A year to the day after Hurricane Harvey dumped 27 trillion gallons of water on southeast Texas, swamped 204,000 Harris County homes and apartments and killed more than 50 residents in the region, voters overwhelmingly approved a $2.5 billion flood infrastructure bond designed to protect the area in future storms. The measure was leading with more than 85 percent support, according to County Clerk Stan Stanart. An estimated 150,000 of Harris County's 2.3 million registered voters cast ballots, according to preliminary numbers. The measure is the largest bond Harris County voters have ever approved. County Judge Ed Emmett said voters have stepped up to show the rest of the country that the Houston area takes flooding seriously, and can be a model for other coastal regions grappling with stronger and more frequent storms. "When was the last time you saw a vote get approved by 85 percent?," Emmett said at an election watch party Saturday night in downtown Houston. "It's remarkable." HARVEY ONE YEAR LATER: A look at where we were, and where we go from here The bond allows the Harris County Flood Control District to build at least 230 projects over the next 10 to 15 years. It is also key to accessing more than $2 billion in matching federal dollars. The project list includes $1.2 billion for channel improvements, $401 million for detention basins, $242 million for floodplain land acquisition, $12.5 million for new floodplain mapping and $1.25 million for an improved early flood warning system. Another $500 million remains unallocated, leaving engineers money to pay for projects identified in the future. The bond also includes $184 million, coupled with $552 million in outside funding, to purchase around 3,600 buildings in the floodplain more than the flood control district's buyout program has bought in its entire 33-year history. At the celebration at Jackson Street BBQ, Precinct 2 Commissioner Jack Morman reminded the crowd that some county residents displaced by Harvey have yet to return. "Now the real work begins, and let's make sure we do right by the citizens of Harris County," he said. The vote was a victory for Commissioners Court and the flood control district, which spend much of the summer in crowded churches, community centers and high school auditoriums on a public meetings tour in each of the 23 watersheds. They got an earful from residents. Some were angry at the county's past neglect of flood mitigation, while others were distrustful of the flood control district's ability to manage such a large sum. Many saw their homes flood during Harvey, including those who live well outside the floodplain and thought they would stay dry. In the end, the engineers and elected officials were able to convince enough voters to support their plan, and added 38 projects based on ideas from residents. Matt Zeve, the flood control district's operations director, said he plans to hire 50 to 70 additional staff, plus consultants, to help administer bond projects. He said the flood control district will continually update a website so residents can monitor their progress. "We want the public to challenge us, ask us questions, and make sure that they exactly what we're doing and why we're doing it," Zeve said. Recovery plan The bond was a year in the making, as officials across Houston and Harris County struggled with how to recover from the third major flood to deluge the region in as many years. Gov. Greg Abbott refused to tap the state's $10 billion Rainy Day Fund to help. An $89 billion appropriation from Congress split three ways to aid recovery from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria was far less than what Abbott requested. Commissioners Court decided to ask voters to approve a flood infrastructure bond, conceding that the flood control district's annual $120 million budget was inadequate to improve Harris County's chances in the next storm, let alone repair the damage to bayous and rivers that Harvey wrought. Estimates to completely protect the county from 100-year storms range from $25 to $30 billion. Court members agreed the $2.5 billion figure would be a significant, albeit late, step in the right direction without pushing a large tax increase on residents. The bond will increase the tax bill for homeowners by 2 cents to 3 cents per $100 of assessed home value, according to county budget analysts. Those who are disabled or older than 65, and whose home is worth less than $200,000, will pay no additional taxes. SEE MORE: Search the projects in your neighborhood After squabbling over when to hold the vote an all-or-nothing gamble since voters' only option was to vote in favor or against the entire $2.5 billion Commissioners Court unanimously agreed on Aug. 25. Members hoped the symbolism of the one-year anniversary of Harvey would remind voters of the need for better flood protection. They also saw two other advantages: An August vote would allow the flood control district time to complete some projects by the start of the 2019 hurricane season, and eliminate the possibility that voters would pay little attention to the bond at the end of the lengthy Texas general election ballot in November. Yet, turnout was dismal. Stanart, the county clerk, last week downgraded his initial turnout projection of 10 to 13 percent to 7.5 percent. At Field Elementary School polling station in the Heights Saturday afternoon, voters trickled in at a pace of one every five to 10 minutes. Even as the 7 p.m. deadline neared in Southside Place, voters found themselves alone among the booths. Still, residents said they saw the important of showing up to register their support for the bond. "The fact that we have no master plan is a big deal," said Heights resident Francesco Conti. "There should be more regulations." The low participation may boost support for calls by Republicans, including state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, to end summer elections that would increase taxes. Bettencourt, who refused to give his opinion on the flood bond, said the vote should have been held in November. But while legislators can take up that debate come January, Harris County will have already begun awarding contracts to complete flood bond projects. Zeve said bond funds will be used for projects before the end of the year. Commissioners Court on Tuesday plans to approve 16 flood control district projects. Zach Despart covers Harris County for the Chronicle. You can follow him on Twitter at @zachdespart or email him at zach.despart@chron.com. Photos by Karen Warren Design by Jordan Rubio Subscribe The Houston Chronicle is dedicated to serving the public interest with fact-based journalism. That mission has never been more important. Show your support for our journalism at HoustonChronicle.com/subscribe. *** Moments after Dr. Shafeeq Sheikhs trial ended with him convicted and sentenced in the 2013 rape of an incapacitated female patient at Ben Taub county hospital, he was seen enjoying lunch with this family on a sunny courthouse patio in downtown Houston. Sheikh got 10 years probation, the maximum allowed, and he must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. But the fact that he escaped jail time and had a $10,000 fine waived by a Harris County jury outraged people across the nation. It was one more disappointment for the victim, Laura, a mother of two who had waited two years for police just to arrest Sheikh, despite surveillance footage of him entering the room. During that time, Sheikh continued to practice medicine at Houston Methodist Hospital. Lauras civil lawsuit didnt recover a penny for the trauma and injury she suffered. The doctor got off because the Texas 2003 tort reform allows private doctors working at public hospitals to enjoy government immunity. Baylor, Sheikhs private employer, got off by claiming immunity because it staffs Ben Taub. But theres another outrage that hasnt garnered much notice: Under Texas law, Sheikh may be able to keep his medical license. A spokesman for the Texas Medical Board confirms that Sheikhs medical license, suspended since October 2015, cannot be automatically revoked because he wasnt imprisoned. Instead, the board must go to court to revoke the rapists license. Immediately after the trial, board staff filed a motion with the State Office of Administrative Hearings to lift an abatement so the case against Sheikh can proceed, but a judge has not ruled on it, medical board spokesman Jarrett Schneider said Friday. Once the abatement is lifted, a few things can happen. The court could grant the boards motion for summary disposition, allowing an expedited decision on revocation. Sheikh could voluntarily surrender his license in lieu of proceedings, which he had not done as of Friday. Or, the fate of Sheikhs license could end up being decided in a contested hearing. And yes, it is at least possible that Sheikh could win that hearing. Obviously the board is aware of the seriousness of the matter, said Schneider. Which is why they suspended the license nearly three years ago. Theyll be moving forward with a resolution on the case. The board appears to have done what it can to keep Sheikh from practicing medicine and seeing patients, within the bounds of the law. But that law is obviously flawed and could put future patients in danger. Texas is a state whose laws are notoriously friendly to physicians and hospitals. Even the Texas Supreme Court has ruled that rape in some circumstances is covered by medical malpractice laws, considered among the most prohibitive in the country due to severe damage caps and expensive hurdles for plaintiffs. Even so, the mere prospect of a doctor who raped a patient keeping his license should be chilling to anyone who cares about patient safety. Its a travesty of justice on all ends civilly and criminally, said Mark Weycer, an attorney who represented Laura in the civil case, and is still appealing at the Texas Supreme Court to sue Sheikh individually. People should be terrified at the idea that this doctor could conceivably get his license back and go right back to practicing, as a convicted rapist. At every point, Sheikhs case has illustrated how privilege, status, money and protections for doctors have shielded him from true accountability. In trial, the doctor admitted having sex with Laura but claimed it was consensual despite the fact that she was tethered to machines after an acute asthma attack. He was not her assigned doctor, but slipped into her room after noticing her breast implants. Jurors deliberated 14 hours over two days before finding Sheikh guilty. One factor that may have led jurors to opt for a more lenient sentence was testimony from Sheikhs wife and family about his vital role as the father of four children. Laura testified during the first part of trial, but did not return for the sentencing phase. Weycer says Laura is deeply disappointed in the outcome, but just wants to move on with her life. She deserves that chance. But Texas cant move on until we correct the laws that continue to protect doctors over patients. Lawmakers next session should amend the civil practices and remedies code that essentially blocks victims from suing doctors and their employers at the same time. And lawmakers should pass a bill that allows the medical board to automatically revoke the license of any doctor found guilty of raping a patient. Our laws failed Laura. Now Texas leaders must do all they can to protect future victims and make sure any doctor who rapes a patient is stripped of the opportunity to do it again. Falkenberg is the Chronicles editor of opinion. One year into recovery from Hurricane Harvey, we are still working hard to rebuild, regain and reestablish what was lost, not by focusing on the magnitude of the challenge, but rather on the promise of the future. Its true that for many Houstonians, life returned quickly to normal after the flood waters finally drained from the city last September. The recovery was a testimony to the strength and resilience of our people and communities. But for too many of our residents, every day is still a struggle to restore homes, health and jobs after the storm. Its our task to ensure that federal disaster relief funds, along with philanthropic and local government dollars, reach as many of those residents as possible in ways that help meet their needs, fairly and efficiently. We successfully made the case in Washington that more than $2 billion in Housing and Urban Development housing assistance should be earmarked for Houston and Harris County with local control over where and how the funds are spent. We have developed and submitted our plans for that money in record time. While we wait for state and federal authorities to approve them, we continue to strengthen our housing teams readiness to put those funds to work. In addition to helping residents recover, its also our task to invest in a more resilient future for Houston to build forward, not just build back. To that end were making the case to state and federal agencies that the region should also receive its fair share of the approximately $5 billion in federal mitigation funds for Texas specifically for flood control and drainage projects. We hope to see that money arrive sometime early next year. Were already preparing to augment those dollars when they do arrive. We supported the Harris County flood mitigation bond proposal as a critical contribution to strengthening our regional infrastructure. Were improving the complementary ReBuild Houston public financing mechanism so that it aligns with a post-Harvey world, with more focus on local drainage projects to reduce the risk of flooding. Along with the Harris County Flood Control District, were collaborating with partners from the Texas Department of Transportation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the San Jacinto River Authority and the Port of Houston on ways to make available dollars work harder. Following our lead, last April the City Council approved new floodplain management regulations that go into effect Sept. 1. We will continue to push to enact codes and standards that keep homes and businesses out of harms way, which in turn will give residents greater confidence in our community and protect the basis of the citys economic growth. Were also pushing new ideas for financing the cost of infrastructure improvements. And we have partnered with FEMA to design a new nationwide policy allowing local governments to use donated services and materials to offset money they would otherwise have to pay to match FEMA funding. The local savings opportunity to Houston from this initiative could reach $250 million. Still, as a region we need to do even more. We need to work together, across multiple jurisdictions and watersheds, on a flood mitigation strategy that looks out 20 or more years. We need a clearer picture of all the necessary pieces storm surge protection for Galveston Bay, the so-called third reservoir on Houstons west side, San Jacinto River protocols, more drainage infrastructure and detention, public education about flood risks and much more and how they all fit together. We need to know how to prioritize, fund and coordinate those pieces with a plan robust enough to outlast any single administration. This is a priority for us, and we will continue to work with our partners to make that regional plan a reality. Our vision for a 21st century Houston has to be one that is safer, stronger and smarter in short, resilient. And of course, resilience is not just about floods. We need to expect the unexpected to anticipate new economic, technological, social and natural shocks and stresses, not just the ones were accustomed to. We owe that clarity of vision to Houstons residents. As the worlds energy capital, a crucial economic hub and the city that charts the demographic future of the United States, we also owe it to the nation. We can think of no more important and rewarding mission than to leverage the disaster that was Harvey to build our city forward. Turner is mayor of Houston. Odum is the citys chief recovery officer and former president of Shell Oil Co. Imperial Valley News Center San Diego Zoo Kids TV at Atrium Health Levine Childrens Hospital, Jeff Gordon Childrens Center and Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte San Diego, California - Young patients, their families and invited guests were treated to a visit with some amazing animal ambassadorsincluding a red-tailed hawk and a hedgehog from the North Carolina Zooat a gathering at Atrium Health Levine Childrens Hospital (Aug. 24, 2018). This special event was held to announce the arrival of San Diego Zoo Kids, a closed-circuit television channel, at Atrium Health Levine Childrens Hospital, Jeff Gordon Childrens Center and Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte. San Diego Zoo Kids is an innovative television channel with programs produced primarily for medical facilities that serve pediatric patients and their families. The creation and development of the channel has been funded by businessman and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford. A generous grant from Knights Angels Foundation has made the channel available on TV monitors at Atrium Health Levine Childrens Hospital. In 2017, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded San Diego Zoo Global an outstanding Museums for America grant to bring San Diego Zoo Kids to 75 childrens hospitals and Ronald McDonald House Charities facilities across the nation over the next three years. The generous grant from IMLS has made the channel available on TV monitors at Jeff Gordon Childrens Center and Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte. San Diego Zoo Kids programming offers family friendly, animal-oriented stories that are both entertaining and educational. Every day, we commit to make our hospital a place of comfort and healing for our patientsthat includes providing opportunities for our kids to be kidsand experience life that is more than tests and medical procedures, said Callie Dobbins, facility executive, Atrium Health Levine Childrens Hospital and Jeff Gordon Childrens Center. In collaboration with the San Diego Zoo, the virtual adventure that is now available to patients will bring smiles to their faces and help elevate their healing. The channel also features animal stories from the North Carolina Zoo and Carolina Raptor Center. We are honored to be included in this project of the San Diego Zoo and bring a bit of nature and wildlife inside to the hospital, said Debbie Foster Fuchs, public relations for the North Carolina Zoo. We hope the stories about our animals boost the spirits of the children and their parents and caregivers and bring a lightness to their day. Birds have inspired humans for thousands of years, said Executive Director of Carolina Raptor Center Jim Warren. If our participation in the San Diego Kids Childrens Hospital network can inspire kids to heal, we are fulfilling our mission to the community by helping their spirits take flight. The service is also making its debut at the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte. We are excited and grateful for the generous donation of the San Diego Zoo Channel, said Cameron Hunter, development and communications director, Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte. It is a wonderful way for our families to spend time together while they are away from home as their children are being treated in area medical facilities. The San Diego Zoo Kids channel offers up-close video encounters with animals, stories about caring for animals, quizzes about animals and habitats, and a wide variety of short video vignettes hosted by San Diego Zoo Kids host Olivia Degn. Viewers can see best-of videos from the San Diego Zoos famous Panda Cam and other online cameras, as well as content from other zoos across the world. We continue to be humbled by the healing properties of San Diego Zoo Kids, said Debra Erickson, director of communications, San Diego Zoo Global. Parents and caregivers share that the channel, which has no commercials or inappropriate content, not only calms children but makes them happy. San Diego Zoo Kids debuted in 2013 at Rady Childrens Hospital in San Diego. Since then, it has been installed in 165 childrens hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses in 34 states across the U.S. and the District of Columbia, and in facilities in Mexico, Canada, Australia, Pakistan, Qatar and Curacao. About Atrium Health Levine Childrens and Jeff Gordon Childrens Center Atrium Health Levine Childrens is a network of neighborhood pediatric offices, urgent cares, hospital programs and award-wining specialty care. And everything we do is backed by Levine Childrens Hospital, named a Best Childrens Hospital by U.S. News & World Report in multiple specialties. When you're here, your child has access to all the best care, close to home. About Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte: The RMH of Charlotte opened in May 2011 and serves the families of children being treated at Levine Childrens Hospital and Hemby Childrens Hospital. Located on the 1600 block of East Morehead Street on land donated by Carolinas Medical Center, the House features approximately 35,000 square feet of living space complete with 28 bedrooms (one family per bedroom/suite), providing more than 10,000 nights for the families. It also has a community kitchen, great room, learning center, playground and sitting porch. The RMH of Charlotte is an independent 501 (c) (3) charity managed by a local board of directors which oversees operation of the home. RMH of Charlotte is funded and operated by the Charlotte community. The mission of the RMH of Charlotte is to provide the families of children being treated in area medical facilities with a safe, affordable and caring home away from home. For more information on RMH of Charlotte, visit www.rmhofcharlotte.org. About the North Carolina Zoo At the North Carolina Zoo, we celebrate nature. As the worlds largest natural habitat Zoo, we inspire a lifelong curiosity about animals for the hundreds of thousands of people who visit our Zoo each year. Our dedicated team of experts provides exceptional, compassionate care for the more than 1,600 animals and 52,000 plants that call our Park home. We also lead efforts locally and globally to protect wildlife and wild places because we believe natures diversity is critical for our collective future. The North Carolina Zoo invites all of our guests to witness the majesty of the wild in the heart of North Carolina and welcomes everyone to join in our mission to protect natures diversity. Visit NCZoo.org to begin your life-changing journey. About Carolina Raptor Center Carolina Raptor Center ignites imaginations and inspires engagement in the natural world through the exploration and rehabilitation of birds of prey. Today, the organizations science education programs serve over 27,000 students a year in formal education settings. The mile Raptor Trail and Edna S. Moretti Environmental Education Center welcomes 40,000 visitors a year. The Jim Arthur Raptor Medical Center treats 900-1,000 birds/year making it the largest raptor treatment facility in the country. About the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nations approximately 120,000 libraries and 35,000 museums, and related organizations. Its mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. IMLS grant making, policy development and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. About IMLS Community Anchors Program IMLS promotes the role of museums as essential partners in addressing the needs of their communities by leveraging their expertise, knowledge, physical space, technology and other resources to identify and implement solutions. By strengthening museums capacities for civic engagement, these projects contribute to the creation of livable, sustainable communities. IMLS welcomes applications for projects that empower museums to transform their roles in their communities from being community resources to being community catalysts. Museums have a role to play providing civic and cultural engagement, facilitating lifelong learning, promoting digital inclusion and supporting economic vitality through programming and services. IMLS encourages projects that demonstrate collaboration, adopt co-creating strategies and engage with a wide variety of cross-sector stakeholders to accomplish a sustained collective-impact goal. About San Diego Zoo Global Bringing species back from the brink of extinction is the goal of San Diego Zoo Global. As a leader in conservation, the work of San Diego Zoo Global includes on-site wildlife conservation efforts (representing both plants and animals) at the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, as well as international field programs on six continents. The work of these entities is made accessible to children through the San Diego Zoo Kids network, reaching out through the internet and in childrens hospitals nationwide. The work of San Diego Zoo Global is made possible by the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy and is supported in part by the Foundation of San Diego Zoo Global. Attorney General Becerra Joins Bipartisan Coalition of 52 Attorneys General Supporting the SOFA Act to Help Fight the Opioid Crisis Sacramento, California - California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today joined a bipartisan group of Attorneys General supporting the Stopping Overdoses of Fentanyl Analogues (SOFA) Act in Congress. The legislation closes a harmful loophole in federal law allowing the legal distribution of fentanyl analogues. Fentanyl analogues are designed to mimic the effect of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid used most often to treat late-stage cancer patients. However, unlike fentanyl, these analogues contain untested chemicals that have contributed to an alarming number of overdoses and have no medical value. The opioid crisis is a public health emergency, threatening the lives of our loved ones and the wellbeing of our communities, said Attorney General Becerra. Fentanyl analogues make this epidemic deadlier and more widespreadthese drugs should not be manufactured, distributed or sold legally. The SOFA Act is a step toward combatting the opioid crisis, giving law enforcement the tools it needs to make our communities safer and healthier. We will continue doing everything in our power to fight this epidemic. Fentanyl is currently categorized under the Controlled Substance Act as a Schedule II drug, indicating that it is highly addictive, but has a legitimate medical use. Fentanyl analogues, on the other hand, are currently not scheduled under a classification that allows law enforcement to track or screen their use. This loophole allows Fentanyl analogues to be sold legally throughout the United States and places them outside the scope of federal drug enforcement despite the fact that they serve no medical purpose and have contributed to thousands of deaths. The SOFA Act would close this loophole by regulating modifications of Fentanyl and placing the analogues in a different category from the original drug. This will provide law enforcement with the tools to prosecute criminal drug manufacturers. Attorney General Becerra recently joined a bipartisan coalition of 39 states urging Congress to combat the opioid epidemic by passing the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) 2.0 and the Comprehensive Addiction Reform, Education, and Safety (CARES) Act. In September 2017, the Attorney General expanded his investigation of pharmaceutical manufacturers and the three largest distributors of opioids to determine if the companies engaged in unlawful practices in the marketing, sale, and distribution of opioids. The California Department of Justice also maintains Californias prescription drug monitoring program, CURES 2.0, which allows health providers and pharmacists to flag at-risk patients and curb prescription drug abuse. Attorney General Becerra Files Additional Criminal Charges, Names New Defendant in Oficina Guerrero Fraud Scheme Targeting Individuals Seeking Immigration Relief Los Angeles, California - California Attorney General Xavier Becerra filed new grand theft charges against brothers Edgardo and Hector Guerrero, who operated Oficina Guerrero in Inglewood. According to the complaint, the Guerrero brothers defrauded undocumented immigrants and their families seeking lawful permanent residence in the United States. They charged thousands of dollars for legal services that they were not legally qualified to dispense and failed to maintain a required bond. Edgardos wife, Sidia Landaverde, was also charged today for her role in the scheme. Fraud is fraud, regardless of the immigration status of those being exploited, said Attorney General Becerra. All families in California deserve protection from unscrupulous individuals who unlawfully take advantage of fear and vulnerability within our communities. At the California Department of Justice, we will prosecute this exploitation to the fullest extent of the law. In addition to the charges filed in March, Edgardo Guerrero and Hector Guerrero now face 23 additional counts of grand theft. Edgardo Guerrero and Sidia Landaverde have been charged with three counts of tax evasion. Landaverde was also charged with conspiracy to violate the Immigration Consultant Act. Landaverde surrendered today, August 24, in Los Angeles. All three defendants have posted bail. Those who paid Oficina Guerrero for immigration assistance and believe they may have been defrauded are encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs at (213) 974-1452. CDFA opens new Border Inspection Station near Nevada border Sacramento, California - CDFA opened a new Border Inspection Station this morning on I-15 at Mountain Pass, about four miles south of the California-Nevada border and 40 miles south of Las Vegas. This station replaces the one at Yermo, approximately 100 miles southwest of the new location. The Mountain Pass station is part of a Joint Point of Entry along with the California Highway Patrols Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=e8L0_mJogRk Novel Graphene Quantum Dot Structure Takes the Cake Washington, DC - In a marriage of quantum science and solid-state physics, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have used magnetic fields to confine groups of electrons to a series of concentric rings within graphene, a single layer of tightly packed carbon atoms. This tiered wedding cake, which appears in images that show the energy level structure of the electrons, experimentally confirms how electrons interact in a tightly confined space according to long-untested rules of quantum mechanics. The findings could also have practical applications in quantum computing. Graphene is a highly promising material for new electronic devices because of its mechanical strength, its excellent ability to conduct electricity and its ultrathin, essentially two-dimensional structure. For these reasons, scientists welcome any new insights on this wonder material. The researchers, who report their findings in the Aug. 24 issue of Science, began their experiment by creating quantum dotstiny islands that act as artificial atomsin graphene devices cooled to just a few degrees above absolute zero. Electrons orbit quantum dots in a way thats very similar to how they orbit atoms. Like rungs on a ladder, they can only occupy specific energy levels according to the rules of quantum theory. But something special happened when the researchers applied a magnetic field, which further confined the electrons orbiting the quantum dot. When the applied field reached a strength of about 1 Tesla (some 100 times the typical strength of a small bar magnet), the electrons packed closer together and interacted more strongly. As a result, the electrons rearranged themselves into a novel pattern: an alternating series of conducting and insulating concentric rings on the surface. When the researchers stacked images of the concentric rings recorded at different electron energy levels, the resulting picture resembled a wedding cake, with electron energy as the vertical dimension. A scanning tunneling microscope, which images surfaces with atomic-scale resolution by recording the flow of electrons between different regions of the sample and the ultrasharp tip of the microscopes stylus, revealed the structure. This is a textbook example of a problemdetermining what the combined effect of spatial and magnetic confinement of electrons looks likethat you solve on paper when youre first exposed to quantum mechanics, but that no ones actually seen before, said NIST scientist and co-author Joseph Stroscio. The key is that graphene is a truly two-dimensional material with an exposed sea of electrons at the surface, he added. In previous experiments using other materials, quantum dots were buried at material interfaces so no one had been able to look inside them and see how the energy levels change when a magnetic field was applied. Graphene quantum dots have been proposed as fundamental components of some quantum computers. Since we see this behavior begin at moderate fields of just about 1 Tesla, it means that these electron-electron interactions will have to be carefully accounted for when considering certain types of graphene quantum dots for quantum computation, said study co-author Christopher Gutierrez, now at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, who performed the experimental work at NIST with co-authors Fereshte Ghahari and Daniel Walkup of NIST and the University of Maryland. This achievement also opens possibilities for graphene to act as what the researchers call a relativistic quantum simulator. The theory of relativity describes how objects behave when moving at or close to light speed. And electrons in graphene possess an unusual propertythey move as if they are massless, like particles of light. Although electrons in graphene actually travel far slower than the speed of light, their light-like massless behavior has earned them the moniker of relativistic matter. The new study opens the door to creating a table-top experiment to study strongly confined relativistic matter. Collaborators on this work included researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, the University of Maryland NanoCenter and the National Institute for Material Science in Ibaraki, Japan. The measurements suggest that scientists may soon find even more exotic structures produced by the interactions of electrons confined to solid-state materials at low temperatures. FTC Announces Opening Session of Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century Washington, DC - The Federal Trade Commission will begin its Hearings Initiative with two full-day sessions, co-sponsored with and held at the Georgetown University Law Center, on September 13 and 14, 2018. The Georgetown event will be the first in a series of hearings that will examine whether broad-based changes in the economy, evolving business practices, new technologies, or international developments might require adjustments to competition and consumer protection enforcement priorities of the Commission. These public events, in conjunction with the public comment process, will provide the FTC with a broad and diverse range of viewpoints and stimulate evaluation of key enforcement and policy issues. FTC Chairman Joe Simons will present opening remarks, followed by two days of discussion by a distinguished set of panelists on the following topics: the current landscape of competition and consumer protection law and policy; whether the U.S. economy has become more concentrated and less competitive; the regulation of consumer data; antitrust law and the consumer welfare standard; and the analysis of vertical mergers. The Commission invites public comment on any of these issues. Comments can be submitted electronically until October 14. Additional sessions of the FTC Hearings Initiative will be held throughout the fall and early winter. An initial list of sessions and topics follows, and additional sessions and topics will be announced in the fall: September 21, 2018 FTC Constitution Center State of U.S. Antitrust Law Mergers and Monopsony or Buyer Power October 15-17, 2018 George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School The Identification and Analysis of Collusive, Exclusionary, and Predatory Conduct by Digital and Technology-Based Platform Businesses Antitrust Framework for Evaluating Acquisitions of Potential or Nascent Competitors in Digital Marketplaces Antitrust Evaluation of Labor Markets October 23-24, 2018 FTC Constitution Center Innovation and Intellectual Property Policy November 6-7, 2018 American University Washington College of Law Privacy, Big Data, and Competition November 13-14, 2018 Howard University School of Law Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, and Predictive Analytics The FTC Hearings on Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21st Century will accommodate as many attendees as possible; however, admittance may be limited due to seating availability. Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Requests for accommodations should be submitted to Elizabeth Kraszewski via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at (202) 326-3087. Such requests should include a detailed description of the accommodation needed. Please allow at least five days advance notice for accommodation requests; last minute requests will be accepted but may not be possible to accommodate. Zimbabwe's Constitutional Court Ruling on the Presidential Election Washington, DC - Friday, Zimbabwes Constitutional Court declared Emmerson D. Mnangagwa the winner of the election and Zimbabwes next President and dismissed MDC Alliances challenge of the July 30 presidential election results. The United States urges all parties to respect the Zimbabwean constitution and the rule of law. The IRI-NDI Zimbabwe International Electoral Observation Mission reported several improvements to the electoral process compared to Zimbabwes past elections, though equally important problems gave rise to deep concerns that the process thus far has not made the mark. Further reforms are necessary to meet standards Zimbabweans expect and deserve and which reflect regional and international best practices for democratic elections. The United States remains concerned over politically motivated human rights violations and abuses, and acts of post-electoral retribution in Zimbabwe. Violence and unlawful activity should not be part of the political process, and those responsible for such transgressions must be held accountable. Human rights and fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of expression and association, must be respected, and victims and witnesses of human rights violations and abuses deserve protection under the law. The United States encourages the Government of Zimbabwe to hold substantive discussions with all stakeholders and implement electoral and broader political and economic reforms. We stand ready to continue our dialogue with Zimbabwes political, economic, and civil society leaders to foster inclusive democratic governance for the betterment of all citizens. Secretary Pompeo's Call With Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Washington, DC - Secretary Michael R. Pompeo spoke Thursday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov about Ukrainian political prisoner Oleh Sentsov, who has been on a hunger strike for more than three months in a Russian prison. The Secretary noted our concerns about Sentsovs health and urged Russia to immediately release Sentsov and all Ukrainian political prisoners. The Secretary discussed the ongoing challenges in Syria and the United States serious concerns related to possible military activity in Idlib. He asked Foreign Minister 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. Ukraine National Day Washington, DC - Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo: "On behalf of President Trump and the American people, congratulations to all Ukrainians on your national day. "The United States steadfastly supports Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. We pay tribute to those who have fought and sacrificed for freedom in Ukraine, and we stand behind Ukraine as it adopts transformational reforms to increase prosperity, security, and rule of law. The friendship between our countries runs deep, and we are committed to the success of a stable, prosperous, democratic, and free Ukraine. We look forward to continuing our partnership and working with Ukraines leaders and citizens to realize the bright and enduring future Ukraines people deserve. "Best wishes for a peaceful and prosperous year." Generous maternity and paternity leave policies are a key way for businesses to keep employees happy and attract new talent. One company, though, has decided that benefits for parents of a new baby aren't enough. What about workers who bring home a new puppy? This summer Minneapolis-based digital marketing agency Nina Hale rolled out a new benefit package for its employees that includes what it calls "fur-ternity leave." The policy allows new pet owners to work from home for one week while their cats or dogs get acclimated to their new space. Nina Hale CEO Donna Robinson says the company was inspired by two employees who had asked to work from home after getting new pets. (The benefit applies to any pet that needs hands-on training or attention--so goldfish and hamster owners need not apply.) "We had other employees that were talking about getting a pet, so we just thought, why not make it an official policy?" Robinson says. "If it's important to the employee, it's important to us." Nina Hale was recognized on Inc.'s Best Workplaces list in 2017. The company is also a six-time Inc. 5000 honoree. Robinson says that because Minneapolis is a competitive market for advertising and marketing talent, her company refines its benefits package every six months to a year. Earlier this year, for the first time, that included distributing a survey to the 80-person staff about what was important to them. Fur-ternity leave was one of the suggestions the company implemented, along with commuter stipends and the choice to work remotely between Christmas and New Year's. There's also a wellness stipend that gives employees $100 per quarter to spend on "whatever makes [them] happy," Robinson says. Nontraditional benefits like these are especially appealing at Nina Hale, which has a young workforce. For example, pet ownership among Millennials and members of Gen Y has surpassed that among baby boomers, according to The American Pet Products Association's 2017-2018 National Pet Owners Survey. Business Insider reports that 5 percent of pet owners have been offered paid leave to take care of a pet, citing research from pet insurance firm Petplan. Robinson's advice to someone who might be considering adding the benefit to their company's package? Start by listening to your employees. Its the classiest, most passive aggressive move Barack Obama could make: He posted a list of books hes been reading on Facebook. Thats it. This summer Ive been absorbed by new novels, the former president wrote on Sunday, revisited an old classic, and reaffirmed my faith in our ability to move forward together when we seek the truth. Obama didnt rage against his enemies or attack the pillars of our democracy. He didnt call anybody a dog. He didnt brag about his own bestsellers or the size of his book reading hands. Instead, he simply presented a small window into the mind of a man who appreciates how books can alter the pace of our lives and illuminate the world. One of my favourite parts of summer is deciding what to read when things slow down just a bit, Obama wrote, whether its on a vacation with family or just a quiet afternoon. For a nation showered by the sputtering rage of his replacement as president, Obamas implicit reminder of how incurious and illiterate the Oval Office has become is almost cruel. As usual, the former presidents summer reading list is a model of diverse voices and concerns, without a whiff of that synthetic intellectuality that frequently hovers around politicians alleged bedside reading lets be honest, nobody is really enjoying Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War and Thomas Pikettys Capital this summer. Obamas choices are books one can easily find at bookstores or libraries. 1. Educated, by Tara Westover (Random House) Obama describes this as a remarkable memoir of a young woman raised in a survivalist family in Idaho who strives for education while showing great understanding and love for the world she leaves behind. Westovers story is even more dramatic than that summary suggests: Her parents home schooled their seven children largely on matters of faith, but she managed to get into Brigham Young University, and eventually attended Harvard and earned a doctorate in history from Cambridge. Educated has been on The Washington Post bestseller list since it was published in February. 2. Warlight, by Michael Ondaatje (Knopf) The latest from the Booker Prize winning author of The English Patient, the novel takes place in London just after the Second World War. Obama notes it is a meditation on the lingering effects of war on family. It tells the story of two British children left by their parents in the care of a stranger. Reviewing the novel for The Post, Anna Mundow wrote: All is illuminated, at first dimly, then starkly, but always brilliantly. 3. A House for Mr Biswas, by VS Naipaul (Vintage) Obama wrote: With the recent passing of VS Naipaul, I reread ... the Nobel Prize winners first great novel, about growing up in Trinidad and the challenge of post colonial identity. This is a particularly timely choice the writer died on August 11 and also demonstrates the former presidents willingness to ignore the winds of political correctness. Later in life, Naipaul was accused of Islamophobia and misogyny, but that neednt blot out the artistry of his greatest books. 4. An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (Algonquin) Obama isnt the only big name to give this novel a boost this year. Oprah Winfrey chose it for her book club in February and plans to make a movie adaptation. The story is a perfect blend of thoughtful drama and social issues. When a husband is sent to prison for a sexual assault he didnt commit, he must deal with the horrors of incarceration, and his wife must deal with the challenges of living without him. Obama described it as a moving portrayal of the effects of a wrongful conviction on a young African American couple. 5. Factfulness, by Hans Rosling (Flatiron) The subtitle of this non fiction book is Ten Reasons Were Wrong About the World and Why Things Are Better Than You Think, which is a message we all could use now. Obama labels Swedish physician Rosling: an outstanding international public health expert, and notes Factfulness is a hopeful book about the potential for human progress when we work off facts, rather than our inherent biases. Given the cloud of distortion enveloping the country, his selection is just what the doctor ordered. This article was originally published in The Washington Post. Ron Charles writes about books for The Post. Before moving to Washington, he edited the books section of the Christian Science Monitor, in Boston. https://www.aish.com/jw/id/Doron-Almog-Israeli-Hero-Championing-Special-Needs-Children.html The retired military general and decorated Israeli soldier views his most courageous mission as transforming the stigma of disabled children in Israel. Doron Almog is a retired military general who was the first paratrooper to land in Entebbe during that famous rescue mission and a decorated Israeli soldier. But he views his most courageous mission as transforming the stigma of disabled children in Israel and spearheading the creation of residential village Aleh Negev-Nachalat Eran, named after his late autistic son. Born into an ardently-Zionistic family, Doron was primed from an early age for military greatness. He attended the elite "Reali" high school boarding school, geared towards promising youth destined for leadership roles in the IDF. Doron joined the paratroopers and immediately began participating in covert operations around the Middle East and beyond, including the hunt for the 1972 Munich Olympic terrorists, among others. Doron's brother Eran died in combat during the Yom Kippur War. As a member of a bereaved family, Doron could have been exempt from further combat service, but he chose to continue in his warrior role, channeling his rage and pain into the defense of his beloved country. On July 3-4, 1976, Doron boarded Hercules 1 as a leader in the Entebbe raid to rescue over one hundred hostages being held at a Uganda airport. His platoon flew in the same plane as Yoni Netanyahu's and he was the first soldier to disembark from the transport plane. Doron takes immense pride in the success of an operation that he believes helped restore national pride following the demoralizing losses in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Doron continued to rise in the ranks; he "peaked" as head of the Southern Command in the early 2000's. But along this path, he began a parallel, personal journey which ultimately transformed his character and his life trajectory. They quickly realized that Eran was different. He was soon diagnosed with severe autism and other developmental delays. In 1984 Doron's son, Eran, was born, following the birth of daughter Nitzan five years earlier. Like others of their social strata, the Almogs harbored dreams of a son who would grow to become a soldier, and then perhaps a professor, engineer, or any manner of accomplished professional. But they quickly realized that Eran was different; he made no eye contact and muttered no sounds. He was soon diagnosed with severe autism and other developmental delays. Doron mourned this "loss" for several years, but eventually determined to adjust and find ways that he could love his child and offer him a quality of life while satisfying his many needs. He surveyed the existing landscape and discovered a society cloaked in shame, that hid away and institutionalized children with special needs. He toured facilities that smelled of feces, with workers who could not look him in the eye from embarrassment. He discovered how Golda Meir hid the fact that she had a granddaughter, Meira, who had Downs syndrome. He learned how Yigal Alon, another Israeli hero, whose daughter Nurit, didn't speak until age five and was later shipped off to Scotland. Alon visited once a year and never spoke about her publicly. Doron vowed to be different. He could imagine "hearing" his precious son "speaking" to him: "Are you ready, my dear parents, to give up on the dream that one day I will be a professor, a Nobel Prize winner, a pilot, an engineer, and be satisfied only to raise a smile on my lips, only to make me happy? My dear father, I am unable to speak, I will never complain, I will never go to the media. But, my dear father, if this is your decision (to hide me away), you do not deserve the title father, the title human beingYou flew to Entebbe to save hostages. They were hostages for one week. I have been a hostage from birth!" Thus began a voyage of over 30 years, partnering with Aleh Israel to first create a group home in Gadera, and then later to build a $50 million, state-of-the-art, full-life-span residential village in the Negev named after his son. Tragically, Eran lived there for only a year before succumbing to Castleman's Disease in 2007. Doron says his sons impact remains enshrined in every corner of the village. My son became my greatest professor. He taught me more about myself, our society, love, and responsibility than any teacher or military commander. Several years ago, Doron was awarded a prize from the Alon Committee. The committee later visited Aleh Negev, and while Doron thanked them profusely for the honor, he also reminded them that Yigal Alon himself had hidden away a child who in another time would have benefited from a place like Aleh. Adas Yereini, a nonagenarian who was present, lowered her head and admitted, "I also had a daughter, Orlee, born in Kibbutz Ir On. We sent her away to London, she lived until age 43. We were all ashamedand mistaken. There was no Doron Almog, no Aleh Negev Village. We wanted to build a new prototype of a Sabra, the strong Israeli." Doron is not interested in judging those from the past. His singular focus continues to be changing that mindset and bringing the highest quality of living to the country's developmentally delayed population. In 2016 Doron was awarded Israel's highest civilian honor, the Israel Prize. He credits this prize to Eran, his beloved son, who he says "became the greatest professor of my life. He taught me more about myself, our society, love, and responsibility one for the other than any teacher or military commander." Listen to Rabbi Koretsky's podcast with Doron Almog: The RSPCA is considering whether to prosecute after an undercover investigation revealed horrific cruelty and abuse behind the scenes as sheep were sheared on British farms. Animals could be seen writhing in agony as they were violently hit, punched and stamped on, and had their limbs twisted. Recommended Meet the vegetarian Welsh sheep farmers People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which carried out the secret filming, appealed for shoppers to avoid buying items made of wool, claiming the scenes were commonplace in the industry. A Peta investigator reported seeing illegal cruelty in every one of the 25 English farming sheds visited by two shearing contractor companies over 15 days. In the first secret footage ever taken of shearing in Britain, the witness saw panicked sheep being: punched beaten stamped on cut with shearing equipment sewn up roughly with needles but no pain relief held down with booted feet slammed into a wooden floor by the head thrown off lorries to the ground left without veterinary care when painfully lame killed and the carcasses thrown away Donald Broom, professor of veterinary medicine at Cambridge University, said that sewing up a cut with no anaesthesia and throwing sheep as the witness reported caused pain and suffering to a degree that breached guidelines for legal practice by the World Organisation for Animal Health and other international bodies. Such cruelty is illegal in most countries. The footage shows how shearers stood on sheeps heads and necks, pinning them down to stop them moving, threw animals on and off the back of lorries, twisted their necks and limbs, and hit their heads and bodies on hard floors. In other cases workers kicked animals in the stomach, violently punched them in the face and jabbed them in the head with heavy metal clippers. Some of the clips were too horrific for The Independent to show. Recommended A wool jumper is just as cruel as a mink coat After rough shearing caused bleeding open wounds, shearers used needles which the witness said did not appear to have been sterilised to sew them up, without anaesthetic. Australias multi-billion-dollar wool industry has been criticised in the past after Peta Asia previously revealed similar shocking practices. Six shearers there were charged with animal cruelty. Clive Phillips, Professor of Animal Welfare at the University of Queensland, said: Throwing sheep from a significant height when they are in a state of extreme distress is likely to result in injury to the sheep, such as broken limbs or neck. [These actions were] deliberately inflicted and lasted for more than just a short period of time. The UK has more than 40,000 wool-producing farms, with 15 million sheep between them, according to industry body British Wool, which sells wool for farmers. Most farms employ special contractors for shearing, whose employees are paid for each sheep shorn creating an incentive to work quickly. If an animal struggles, this slows work down and a flock will take longer to complete. CCTV is not compulsory for shearing. A worker stomping on an animal's neck at a farm in England (Peta Asia) The investigator said a shearer earned on average 200 a day if there are a lot of sheep, and an even faster shearer could earn more. When the investigator visited, workers were filmed angrily swearing, saying Bas****, Cut your f****** throat and What the f*** is wrong with ya? as they used metal tools to beat or hold the animals down. A farmer was reportedly seen dragging two sheep who were unable to walk into a shed and left them without veterinary care. They eventually died. Several more died during shearing of a condition that a farmer said was a heart attack. Peta said some animals were suffering from mastitis a painful infection of the udder prolapsed uteruses and bloody hooves. The whole wool industry needs to be held to account Andrew Butler The shearers, who also work for other contractors around the UK, were filmed handling sheep as though they were inanimate objects, scraping their bodies and heads against the lorry edges as they dragged the animals on and off lorries. Andrew Butler of Peta Asia said: The whole wool industry needs to be held to account. Workers are paid piecemeal to shear as many sheep as they can as quickly as they can and that of course results in the sort of injuries that weve seen. The industry is really at fault for using that model. The animal-rights group has handed its findings to the environment department (Defra) as well as the RSPCA, asking the charity to file criminal charges against the workers. In a statement, British Wool told The Independent it was shocked and saddened by the behaviour of the two contractors filmed secretly. As a farmer-owned organisation, British Wool collects and sells the wool on behalf of British farmers. We are passionate and committed to continuously seeking to improve shearing skills and good practice in the UK, a spokesperson said. Australia's drought the cancer eating away at farms Show all 16 1 /16 Australia's drought the cancer eating away at farms Australia's drought the cancer eating away at farms Farmer Ash Whitney stands atop a tree as he cuts off branches to feed his cattle Reuters Australia's drought the cancer eating away at farms A cow walks away from a water tank near the town of Tamworth in New South Wales Reuters Australia's drought the cancer eating away at farms Farmer Scott Cooper drops hay for his cattle next to a dried-up creek on South Park farm Reuters Australia's drought the cancer eating away at farms Tyre tracks from farmer Jimmie McKeown's truck can be seen on his drought ravaged land near the town of Walgett in New South Wales Reuters Australia's drought the cancer eating away at farms Dead trees on Scott Cooper's South Park farm Reuters Australia's drought the cancer eating away at farms Farmer Ash Whitney stands on the back of his truck as he feeds his cattle on his land near the town of Gunnedah in New South Wales Reuters Australia's drought the cancer eating away at farms An irrigated paddock can be seen next to a ploughed paddock on a farm located on the outskirts of the town of Mudgee in New South Wales Reuters Australia's drought the cancer eating away at farms A windmill and solar panels on Scott Cooper's South Park farm Reuters Australia's drought the cancer eating away at farms An old bus used for storing farming equipment stands on farmer Ash Whitney's land near the town of Gunnedah in New South Wales Reuters Australia's drought the cancer eating away at farms A kangaroo casts a shadow as it drinks from a water tank on Ash Whitney's farm Reuters Australia's drought the cancer eating away at farms An old Sydney tram sits on Jimmie and May McKeown's land near the town of Walgett in New South Wales Reuters Australia's drought the cancer eating away at farms Patterns created by a plough can be seen on Ash Whitney's farm Reuters Australia's drought the cancer eating away at farms Farmer Ash Whitney stands in the middle of a dried-up dam Reuters Australia's drought the cancer eating away at farms Sheeps eat grain on a farm near Tamworth in New South Wales Reuters Australia's drought the cancer eating away at farms A road can be seen next to tracks leading to a water tank on Ash Whitney's farm Reuters Australia's drought the cancer eating away at farms A lone tree stands near a water trough on Jimmie and May McKeown's farm Reuters Every year we train more than 1,000 people in all parts of the UK on two-day training courses that are tailored to their existing level of experience and skill. It is not within our remit to police the shearing industry: this responsibility lies with the government and the RSPCA. The RSPCA will be making a full investigation into the footage, the statement said, adding: We will provide them with any support required. We would like to point out that the vast majority of the thousands of shearers in the UK operate to the highest standards of animal welfare, which is an integral part of all our shearing courses. The RSPCA, which has prosecution powers, said on Twitter: We share Petas concerns in particular of the poor handling, shearing technique and aggression shown toward the sheep. Our Inspectorate are now investigating the footage to determine any further action. Peta claimed: This is standard in the wool industry. The best thing that you can do for sheep is refuse to buy wool. Dominic Raab has dismissed his own governments forecast of huge economic damage from crashing out of the EU without a deal, insisting most such predictions prove to be wrong. The Brexit secretary set up a clash with Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, by rejecting his warning of a 7.7 per cent hit to GDP and an 80bn black hole in the public finances. The projection is the Treasurys own analysis of the impact of a no-deal Brexit over the next 15 years because of the loss of market access to the EU and chaos at Britains borders. But, asked about the stark warning, Mr Raab said: I'm always chary of any forecast because most of them have been proved to be wrong. Speaking to The Sunday Times, he added: We need to treat some of the forecasts with a measure of caution, before claiming that estimates of economic growth next year have been revised up. In fact, the Bank of England has cut its GDP forecast for 2019 to 1.7 per cent well below the pre-referendum growth rate and warned the economic outlook for the UK remains clouded by Brexit uncertainties. In the interview, Mr Raab also brushed off polling evidence of growing public unease about the prospects for Brexit, as the negotiations remain deadlocked. The majority of people think Britain will be better off long term for leaving the EU. People think, just get on and deliver it. That's what we're going to do, he insisted. Last week, Mr Hammond triggered renewed Tory infighting and Brexiteer calls for him to be sacked when he confirmed the Treasurys fears about a no-deal exit. People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Show all 30 1 /30 People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Rex People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A young protestor shouts as she takes part in the People's Vote demonstration against Brexit Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Reuters People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A protester's pro-EU t-shirt EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Gina Miller and Caroline Lucas EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Tens of thousands of people march through London EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Demonstrators at the People's Vote March Getty People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal 'Two months too young to decide on my future' REUTERS People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A young girl joins in the march PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal An EU flag is draped across the statue of Winston Chruchill in Parliament Square REUTERS People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Vince Cable MP, Pro-EU campaigner Gina Miller, Tony Robinson and Caroline Lucas MP join with crowds PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Crowds gather on Pall Mall PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A man resembling Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, joins EU supporters Reuters People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Reuters People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal People gather in Trafalgar Square REUTERS People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Pro-EU campaigner Gina Miller and Tony Robinson PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EU supporters, calling on the government to give Britons a vote on the final Brexit deal, participate in the 'People's Vote' march REUTERS In a letter to the Treasury committee, he said the analysis showed GDP would be 7.7 per cent lower (range 5.0 per cent to 10.3 per cent) relative to a status quo baseline. And he added: GDP impacts of this magnitude, were they to arise, would have large fiscal consequences. Nicky Morgan, the committees Tory chairwoman, leapt on the conclusions, saying: "The chancellor has confirmed that the government forecasts a disastrous hit to our economy and living standards in the event of a no-deal Brexit. But the intervention came just hours after Mr Raab attempted to reassure the public over a disorderly exit, even citing opportunities that could arise. In the interview, Mr Raab hinted at warm relations with Michel Barnier, the EUs Brexit negotiator. After meeting again this week, he will have spent more time with him than the seven hours David Davis, his predecessor, did this year. I think he's a steely interlocutor; he knows what he's seeking to achieve, the Brexit secretary said. Equally, behind closed doors he's very warm. We talk about family. I do think getting to know the other side on a personal level helps. You have to understand what the other side is thinking, what the pressures on them are. He's a very personable guy he's invited me and my wife, Erika, down to his farm. Once we've got this out of the way, I might even take him up on it. Jacob Rees-Mogg has sparked anger after footage from 2016 in which he calls for people to be inspected crossing the Irish border after Brexit in the same way as during the Troubles has come to light. The Irish deputy prime minister, Simon Coveney, attacked the ill-informed comment, saying on Twitter: We have left the Troubles behind us, through the sincere efforts of many, and we intend on keeping it that way. And Lord Deben, the former Conservative cabinet minister, said: Mr Rees-Mogg seems utterly unable to understand how dangerous and irresponsible are his views. Nothing must get in the way of his doctrinal determination to get UK out of the EU; neither current facts nor historical reality; neither sense nor sensitivity. Theresa May has promised to prevent a return to border posts and checks at the Irish border, but her proposals for future trade and customs with the EU have been rejected by Brussels. Alarm has continued to grow with the rising threat of a no-deal Brexit and police chiefs have warned of the return of terrorism if there is a hard border. But, speaking in a debate on the referendum at the University of Sussex in April 2016, Mr Rees-Mogg suggested bringing back historic arrangements to avoid a loophole that would allow people to get into the UK. There would be our ability, as we had during the Troubles, to have people inspected, said the leading hard Brexiteer. Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures An abandoned shop is seen in Mullan, Co Monaghan. The building was home to four families who left during the Troubles. The town was largely abandoned after the hard border was put in place during the conflict. Mullan has seen some regeneration in recent years, but faces an uncertain future with Brexit on the horizon Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures A defaced Welcome to Northern Ireland sign stands on the border in Middletown, Co Armagh Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Mervyn Johnson owns a garage in the border town of Pettigo, which straddles the counties of Donegal and Fermanagh. Ive been here since 1956, it was a bit of a problem for a few years. My premises has been blown up about six or seven times, we just kept building and starting again, Johnson said laughing. We just got used to it [the hard border] really but now that its gone, we wouldn't like it back again Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Farmer Gordon Crocketts Coshquin farm straddles both Derry/Londonderry in the North and Donegal in the Republic. At the minute there is no real problem, you can cross the border as free as you want. We could cross it six or eight times a day, said Crockett. If there was any sort of obstruction it would slow down our work every day Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures John Murphy flies the European flag outside his home near the border village of Forkhill, Co Armagh Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Potter Brenda McGinn stands outside her Mullan, Co Monaghan, studio the former Jas Boylan shoe factory which was the main employer in the area until it shut down due to the Troubles. When I came back, this would have been somewhere you would have driven through and have been quite sad. It was a decrepit looking village, said McGinn, whose Busy Bee Ceramics is one of a handful of enterprises restoring life to the community. Now this is a revitalised, old hidden village Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Union Flag colours painted on kerbstones and bus-stops along the border village of Newbuildings, Co Derry/Londonderry Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Grass reflected in Lattone Lough, which is split by the border between Cavan and Fermanagh, seen from near Ballinacor, Northern Ireland Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Donegalman David McClintock sits in the Border Cafe in the village of Muff, which straddles Donegal and Derry/Londonderry Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures An old Irish phone box stands alongside a bus stop in the border town of Glaslough, Co Monaghan Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Billboards are viewed from inside a disused customs hut in Carrickcarnon, Co Down, on the border with Co Louth in the Republic Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Seamus McQuaid takes packages that locals on the Irish side of the border have delivered to his business, McQuaid Auto-Parts, to save money on postal fees, near the Co Fermanagh village of Newtownbutler. I live in the south but the business is in the North, said McQaid. "I wholesale into the Republic of Ireland so if theres duty, Ill have to set up a company 200 yards up the road to sell to my customers. Ill have to bring the same product in through Dublin instead of Belfast Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures A disused Great Northern Railway line and station that was for customs and excise on the border town of Glenfarne, Co Leitrim Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures Alice Mullen, from Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland, does her shopping at a former customs post on the border in Middletown, Co Armagh. Id be very worried if it was a hard border, I remember when people were divided. I would be very afraid of the threat to the peace process, it was a dreadful time to live through. Even to go to mass on a Sunday, youd have to go through checkpoints. It is terribly stressful, said Mullen. All those barricades and boundaries were pulled down. I see it as a huge big exercise of trust and I do believe everyone breathed a sigh of relief Reuters Brexit threatens life on the Irish border: in pictures A bus stop and red post box stand in the border town of Jonesborough, Co Armagh Reuters Its not a border that everyone has to go through every day. But, of course, for security reasons during the Troubles, we kept a very close eye on the border to try and stop gun-running and things like that. Its not inconsistent to have a border that people can pass through but you are keeping an eye on. Mr Coveney highlighted the clip on Twitter, saying: Its hard to believe that a senior politician is so ill informed about Ireland and the politics of the Brexit Irish border issue that he could make comments like these. Lord Adonis, the former Labour cabinet minister and anti-Brexit campaigner, tweeted: Last month he said the answer was for Ireland to leave the EU too. Despicable. Irresponsible. Very sad. Tory supporters of a hard Brexit have repeatedly been criticised for suggesting it is not the UKs responsibility to avoid the return of a hard border in Ireland. The position has enraged the Irish government, which has secured the EUs backing that a return to border posts and checks must be prevented at all costs. Michel Barnier, the EUs Brexit negotiator, has attempted to ease tensions by saying the EU is ready to improve the text of our proposal with the UK. However, he is expected to stick to the proposal of effectively keeping Northern Ireland in the customs union and part of the single market, if no other solution can be found. Ms May has ruled that out as unacceptable because it would be annexing part of the UK, by creating a border down the Irish Sea. A pioneering technique that enables dogs to detect illegal ivory and rhino horn more easily and quickly than ever is being trialled at Africas biggest wildlife trafficking hub. Authorities expect the new system to allow them to detect more illicit animal parts, plants and timber products that are hidden in crates and help identify the criminals behind the cargos. The new approach at Kenyas Mombasa port, a hotspot for illegal wildlife products being exported from Africa involves taking a small sample of air from shipping containers. The samples are passed through special filters that are then presented to dogs who have been trained to sit when they smell wildlife contraband. The technique has been introduced jointly by conservation giant WWF, UK-based wildlife charity TRAFFIC and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), who believe it could transform the battle against the illegal wildlife trade that threatens species with extinction. World leaders need to commit to ways of stamping out the illegal wildlife trade once and for all Drew McVey Around 90 per cent of Africas elephants have been wiped out in a century mainly because of the demand for ivory in Asia. Rhino species are critically endangered or vulnerable after decades of being targeted by poaching gangs, and around 300 pangolins are poached every day on average one every five minutes. WWFs East Africa wildlife crime coordinator Drew McVey said: This technique could be a game-changer, reducing the number of endangered animal parts finding their way into overseas markets like Southeast Asia. Mans best friend is a traffickers worst nightmare: dogs incredible sense of smell means they can sniff out even the tiniest amount in a 40ft container. As organised criminal syndicates use ever more sophisticated methods to hide and transport illegal wildlife products, it is vital that we continue to evolve our efforts to disrupt the barbaric trade. Mombasa is a favourite port with smugglers of illegal wildlife parts, drugs and weapons. A 2014 wildlife crime report found it was Africas most active ivory trafficking hub. Between 2009 and 2014 18,817kg of ivory was seized there. Before the trial, dogs were used in searches at the port and in transit by being led from container to container. The African heat and high number of containers at least 2,000 a day made conditions for the animals incredibly hard, officials say. Containers had to be opened in the presence of staff from Kenya Revenue Authority, customs and Kenya police, along with either the owner or a representative. The new technology, known as Rasco (Remote Air Sampling for Canine Olfaction), makes searches faster for both officers and dogs and eliminates red tape. The sniffing process can be done in climate-controlled rooms, allowing many more containers to be checked. Wildlife Photographer of the Year Peoples Choice award Show all 8 1 /8 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Peoples Choice award Wildlife Photographer of the Year Peoples Choice award Winner Pikin and Appolinaire Pikin, a lowland gorilla, had been captured and was going to be sold for bushmeat but was rescued by Ape Action Africa. Jo-Anne took this photograph as the gorilla was being moved from her former enclosure within a safe forest sanctuary in Cameroon to a new and larger one, along with a group of gorilla companions. She was first sedated, but during the transfer to the new enclosure she awoke. Luckily, she was not only very drowsy, but she was also in the arms of her caretaker, Appolinaire Ndohoudou, and so she remained calm for the duration of the bumpy drive Jo-Anne McArthur Wildlife Photographer of the Year Peoples Choice award Finalist Elegant Mother and Calf Every year from July to late October southern humpback whales migrate north from their Antarctic feeding grounds to give birth in the warm sheltered waters off Tonga. Ray encountered this humpback mother and calf peacefully floating in the plankton-filled water around the island group of Vavau, Tonga. After Ray gently approached them, the giants swam a bit closer to have a look at him. While they made this elegant turn, Ray took the shot. He later converted the image into black and white which he felt represented the simplicity of the scene Ray Chin/Wildlife Photographer of the Year Wildlife Photographer of the Year Peoples Choice award Finalist Warm Embrace When polar bear mothers and cubs emerge from their dens in the early spring, the cubs stay close to their mothers for warmth and protection. Once the cubs are strong and confident enough, they make the trek to the sea ice with their mother so that she can resume hunting for seals. Debra waited six days near the den of this family, in Wapusk National Park, Manitoba, Canada, before they finally emerged. In the most challenging conditions she has ever faced, temperatures ranged from -35C to -55C with high winds, making it almost impossible to avoid frostbite and keep her camera gear functioning properly Debra Garside/Wildlife Photographer of the Year Wildlife Photographer of the Year Peoples Choice award Finalist Roller Rider Lakshitha was on safari in MaasaiMara National Reserve, Kenya, when he spotted an unusual sight a lilac-breasted roller riding a zebra. Normally they prefer to perch high up in the foliage, but his roller spent an hour or more riding around and enjoying the occasional insect meal. Lakshitha waited for the surrounding zebras to form the perfect background before taking this tight crop Lakshitha Karunarathna/Wildlife Photographer of the Year Wildlife Photographer of the Year Peoples Choice award Finalist Sloth Hanging Out Luciano had to climb the cecropia tree, in the protected Atlantic rainforest of southern Bahia, Brazil, to take an eye-level shot of this three-toed sloth. Sloths like to feed on the leaves of these trees,and so they are often seen high up in the canopy. Luciano Candisani/Wildlife Photographer of the Year Wildlife Photographer of the Year Peoples Choice award Shortlisted Reach for the Sky Steven was taking pictures of a small group of adult roseate spoonbills in a rookery in Tampa Bay, Florida, when he noticed a newcomer flying in from afar. With just enough time to back up a few steps, Steven photographed the bird landing exactly square to his camera with its wings in a stunning symmetrical U-shape Steve Blandin/Wildlife Photographer of the Year Wildlife Photographer of the Year Peoples Choice award Shortlisted Holding On This close-up captures the touching moment an infant lays its small hand in the big hand of its mother. Jami took this photograph while she was in Borneo working on a story about the effects of palm-oil agriculture on orangutan habitat. Loss of primary rainforest is a serious threat to this already critically endangered species Jami Tarris/Wildlife Photographer of the Year Wildlife Photographer of the Year Peoples Choice award Shortlisted Blood Ivory In a protected area of Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, a rangers bloody hand rests on a heavily grained ivory tusk, also covered in the blood of an African elephant. The bull had to be destroyed due to a severe tusk infection that couldnt be treated.The tusks were removed to a place of safekeeping, where they were carefully catalogued in accordance with legislation Peter Chadwick/Wildlife Photographer of the Year Disrupting trafficking is essential if we are to end this colossal trade that affects countless species and millions of people worldwide, said Mr McVey. A critical moment is coming up in October, when London will host a conference on the illegal wildlife trade. Here, world leaders need to commit to ways of stamping it out once and for all. The East Africa wildlife crime hub, which coordinates WWFs wildlife crime work across east Africa, has received money from Britains Peoples Postcode Lottery. Donald Trump has threatened he "may have to get involved" after launching another attack on the FBI investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Four days after his former campaign manager and former lawyer were convicted of fraud, the US president complained that special counsel Robert Mueller was "having a field day". Mr Trump claimed the FBI should be looking into his former opponent Hillary Clinton instead, tweeting: "I feel sure that we will soon be getting to the bottom of all of this corruption. At some point I may have to get involved!" Critics interpreted it as another indication the president is considering intervening in the Russia investigation. "This latest thread implies a willingness to obstruct justice," historian Timothy Naftali, clinical associate professor of public service at New York University, told CNN. "He is sending a signal he wants to stop this process." Mr Trump also repeated his criticism of attorney general Jeff Sessions, who recused himself from the Russia investigation and has said he will not allow the Department of Justice to be influenced by political considerations. "Jeff Sessions said he wouldn't allow politics to influence him only because he doesnt understand what is happening underneath his command position," the president tweeted. It follows speculation that the president could use his powers to pardon Mr Manafort and Mr Cohen. The president has already pardoned the highly controversial former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was convicted of contempt of court. Last month Mr Trump claimed he also had the "absolute right" to pardon himself in relation to the Russia investigation, while insisting he had done nothing wrong A US court has overturned key pieces of three executive orders signed by President Donald Trump, handing a major victory to federal employees and the unions that represent them. US District Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson ruled that Mr Trump had overstepped his authority in issuing the executive orders, which sought to weaken the power of government unions. In this courts view, these directives undermine federal employees right to bargain collectively as protected by [federal law], the judge wrote. As a result, the president must be deemed to have exceeded his authority in issuing them. Mr Trump did not respond immediately to the ruling. The decision was quickly heralded, however, by the American Federation of Government Employees the first and largest of several government unions to file a suit against the orders. President Trumps illegal action was a direct assault on the legal rights and protections that Congress specifically guaranteed to the public-sector employees across this country who keep our federal government running every single day, said union President J David Cox Sr in a statement. The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters Mr Trumps orders, issued in May, instructed federal agencies to renegotiate all union contracts. They also limited the amount of paid time workers could take for union-related business, and reduced the amount of time low-performing employees had to improve their performance before being fired. At the time, the White House said the orders would make it easier to get rid of underperforming employees, and would save US taxpayers an estimated $100m per year. The president is fulfilling his promise to promote more efficient government by reforming our civil service rules, Andrew Bremberg, director of the presidents Domestic Policy Council, told reporters at the time, according to Politico. But Ms Jackson ruled on Friday that Mr Trump could not eviscerate the right to bargain collectively without approval from Congress, writing: This court finds that these provisions conflict with congressional intent in a manner that cannot be sustained. The orders are the latest of Mr Trumps directives to be challenged by the court, from restrictions on immigration to attempts to bar transgender people from serving in the military. Earlier this month, a federal judge ruled that the administration must start accepting applications for DACA a programme offering protections to young undocumented immigrants, which Mr Trump had tried to shut down via executive order. And last year, the administration was forced to reformulate its ban on travellers from mostly Muslim-majority countries three times before it was upheld by the Supreme Court. It was unclear whether the Trump administration planned to appeal this latest decision. Agencies contributed to this report Vietnam has demanded Monsanto pay compensation to the victims of Agent Orange, which the company supplied to the US military during the Vietnam War. It came in response to the firm being ordered to pay $289m (226m) to a school groundsman who claims his use of its Roundup weedkiller contributed to his terminal cancer. The verdict serves as a legal precedent which refutes previous claims that the herbicides made by Monsanto and other chemical corporations in the US and provided for the US army in the war are harmless, a spokesman for Vietnams foreign ministry, Nguyen Phuong Tra said. He told state media: Vietnam has suffered tremendous consequences from the war, especially with regard to the lasting and devastating effects of toxic chemicals, including Agent Orange. Agent Orange was a chemical herbicide and defoliant used by the US military to deprive Viet Cong guerilla fighters of food and concealment. Between 1961 and 1971, the US military sprayed around 12 million gallons of the chemical substance on over 30,000 miles of southern Vietnam. The legacy of Agent Orange Show all 12 1 /12 The legacy of Agent Orange The legacy of Agent Orange Danang, Vietnam Le Van Dan looks at his disabled grandson Le Van Tam as his daughter feeds another sick grandson in their family house in Phuoc Thai village, outside Danang. Le Van Dan, a former artillery soldier with the South Vietnamese army, said he was exposed to Agent Orange more than once, including being directly sprayed by U.S. planes near his village before he joined the military. Health officials confirmed two of his grandsonsa disabilities are due to his exposure to the defoliant, Le Van Dan said Reuters The legacy of Agent Orange Danang, Vietnam 7-year-old Nguyen Van Tuan Tu, who suffers from serious health problems, is looked after by a family member under a mosquito net in their house near the airport in Danang, in central Vietnam. When Nguyen Van Tuan Tu's father started working at Danang International Airport in 1997, he was not aware of the health risks associated with Agent Orange and he collected fish and snails from a contaminated lake nearby for the family to eat. His first child to be born after he started working at the airport, was born in 2000 and died in 2007. Nguyen Van Tuan Tu was born in 2008 with same symptoms as his late sister and doctors and parents believe their health problems are linked to effects of Agent Orange. The couple have one healthy daughter who was born in 1995, before they started working at the airport, and she is now a university student. Danang airport was a U.S. airbase during Vietnam war and since 2012 both the U.S. and Vietnam are conducting a clean-up operation at the site Reuters The legacy of Agent Orange Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 12-year-old Tran Huynh Thuong Sinh is fed by a hospital staff member at the Peace Village in Tu Du hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. Tran Huynh Thuong Sinh, whose parents and grandfather were all exposed to Agent Orange, was born without eyes and with other serious health conditions. Officials at the hospital link his health problems with exposure to the defoliant. According to the head of the Peace Village, more than two-thirds of its over 60 patients are from areas that were heavily sprayed by Agent Orange and their health conditions are linked to the use of the defoliant. The legacy of Agent Orange Lai Van Manh smiles as he lies under a mosquito net in the family home in Tuong An village, in Thai Binh province in northern Vietnam. His father Lai Van Bien, a former intelligence officer in the North Vietnamese army, said that during the Vietnam war he served in an area that was heavily contaminated by Agent Orange. Lai Van Bien and his wife now care for their two physically and mentally disabled sons whose health condition the family and local officials link to the effects of Agent Orange. Reuters The legacy of Agent Orange Pham Thi Phuong Khanh is fed by a hospital staff member at the Peace Village in Tu Du hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. Both of Pham Thi Phuong Khanh's parents were exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. According to the head of the Peace Village, more than two-thirds of its over 60 patients are from areas that were heavily sprayed by Agent Orange and their health conditions are linked to the use of the defoliant. Reuters The legacy of Agent Orange Dang Thi Quang and her son Nguyen Van Binh are reflected in an aquarium in their home in Vietnam's Quang Binh province April 11, 2015. Nguyen Van Binhas father, a soldier who served in the North Vietnamese army's transportation unit, travelled and spent time in areas known as hotspots for Agent Orange contamination Reuters The legacy of Agent Orange Phan Van Lam falls out of a hammock in his family home in Quang Binh Province in central Vietnam April 11, 2015. Phan Van Lam's father, a former fighter with the North Vietnamese army, said he was not directly sprayed with Agent Orange during the Vietnam war but lived in areas that were heavily affected by the defoliant. Local doctors told him that his son's health condition, which includes severe brain damage, is linked to Agent Orange Reuters The legacy of Agent Orange Doan Tue holds his granddaughter, as a picture of him in military uniform hangs on the wall, at their family house in Truc Ly, in Vietnam's Quang Binh province April 11, 2015. Doan Tue, a soldier who served on 12.7 mm anti-aircraft guns during the Vietnam war, said he lived in several areas that were contaminated by Agent Orange. Two of his sons were born with serious health problems and the family and local health officials link their illnesses to their father's exposure to Agent Orange. His older son died two years ago Reuters The legacy of Agent Orange Tang Thi Thang baths her disabled son Doan Van Quy outside their family home in Truc Ly, in Vietnam's Quang Binh Province April 11, 2015. Doan Van Quy's father, a soldier who served on 12.7 mm anti-aircraft guns during the Vietnam war, said he lived in several areas that were contaminated by Agent Orange. Two of his sons were born with serious health problems and the family and local health officials link their illnesses to their father's exposure to Agent Orange Reuters The legacy of Agent Orange A former soldier Do Duc Diu is kissed by his disabled daughter Do Thi Nga as his wife sits at the doorway of their house in Quang Binh Province in central Vietnam April 11, 2015. Twelve of his fifteen children died from illnesses that the family and their doctors link to Do Duc Diu's exposure to Agent Orange. Do Duc Diu served as a North Vietnamese soldier in the early 70s, in areas that were heavily contaminated by Agent Orange. He only found out about the possible dangers of Agent Orange before his last child was born in 1994. He said that if he had known about the possible effects of Agent Orange he would not have had children. Before he found out about the effects of Agent Orange, Do Duc Diu said that he and his wife visited many spiritual leaders and prayed at different shrines as they attributed their children's sickness to their ill-fated destiny Reuters The legacy of Agent Orange Former soldier Do Duc Diu prays at the cemetery where twelve of his children are buried, after showing the graves to reporters, near his house in Quang Binh Province in central Vietnam April 11, 2015. Twelve of his fifteen children died from illnesses that the family and their doctors link to Do Duc Diu's exposure to Agent Orange. Do Duc Diu served as a North Vietnamese soldier in the early 70s in areas that were heavily contaminated by Agent Orange. He only found out about the possible dangers of Agent Orange before his last child was born in 1994. He said that if he had known about the possible effects of Agent Orange he would not have had children. Before he found out about the effects of Agent Orange, Do Duc Diu said that he and his wife visited many spiritual leaders and prayed at different shrines as they attributed their children's sickness to their ill-fated destiny Reuters The legacy of Agent Orange 63-year-old former soldier, Nguyen Hong Phuc, sits on the bed with his son Nguyen Dinh Loc, 20, who is recovering from tumour surgery at Friendship village, a hospice for Agent Orange victims, outside Hanoi. Nguyen Dinh Loc has serious mental and physical problems that his family and doctors link to his father's exposure to Agent Orange. His father joined the military after the U.S. army stopped using Agent Orange in 1971, but lived in areas heavily contaminated by it, including near Danang airport, where the chemical defoliant was stored. Dioxin, a highly toxic element of Agent Orange, has been linked to major health problems such as birth defects, cancers other deadly diseases. Millions still suffer to this day, as deformities are passed down to the offspring of exposed victims including Vietnamese and American forces. Monsanto has argued: The government set the specifications for making Agent Orange and determined when, where and how it was used. Agent Orange was only produced for, and used by, the government. In a post on its website, the company notes it was one of nine government contractors who manufactured the chemical. Monsanto was founded in St Louis, Missouri, in 1901. In June, it was acquired by Bayer AG. Russia has accused Britains Royal Air Force (RAF) of conducting dangerous interceptions of its military aircraft over the Black Sea, which it said were designed to provoke Moscow. The RAF intercepted a Russian maritime patrol aircraft over the Black Sea on Friday and scrambled to intercept two suspected Russian fighter aircraft on Wednesday. The Russian embassy in London asked: ... what kind of threat to Britain or its allies does a Russian patrol aircraft hypothetically pose while conducting flights off Russias own shore, some 1500 miles away from the UK? Instead of strengthening anyones security, the British authorities are using such a military presence [in the Black Sea area] for provocative actions. Not just by making verbal statements, regrettable as they are, but also in real military terms, which is simply dangerous. Britains minister of state for the armed forces, Mark Lancaster, spoke in July about an ever more assertive Russia, and said the RAF had been forced to intercept Russian military aircraft more than 80 times over the last decade. The RAF maintains a presence in the Baltic countries and in Romania to deter potential Russian military action after Moscows annexation of Ukraines Crimea in 2014. Three countries bordering the Black Sea Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey are Nato allies of Britain. Moscow says its activity in the Black Sea region is routine and compliant with international law. Voyager refueller flies from Brize Norton with RAF jets to intercept Russian Tupolev Tu-160s over the North Sea Relations between London and Moscow have dipped to a post-Cold War low after the nerve agent poisoning of former Russian double agent, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter, Yulia, in Salisbury. London holds Moscow responsible for the attack, which Russia has denied Scuffles broke out in the Iranian parliament after the countrys economic and finance minister was sacked. Supporters and opponents of Masoud Karbasian clashed as they debated possible impeachment of the embattled lawmaker on Sunday, the European Pressphoto Agency reported. He was removed from office after a narrow parliamentary vote of 137 to 121, leading to the frayed tempers. Wrong decisions have harmed the people and led to individuals looting public assets, one member of parliament said during the heated debate. Irans economy is severely struggling with its currency the rial losing half its value since April and unemployment remaining high. Things look set to get worse too. The US reimposed some sanctions in early August after the US president, Donald Trump, pulled out of a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. Now, a second set of sanctions, targeting the countrys oil industry, is due to take effect in November. Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister Show all 10 1 /10 Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister Iranian lawmakers, some supporting and some other opposing the impeachment of Iranian Economy and Finance Minister Masoud Karbasian, argue during an impeachment session at the Iranian Parliament in Tehran EPA Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister Media reported that parliament sacked Karbasian as Minister of Economy and Finance as Iran is facing an economic crisis EPA Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister EPA Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister The parliament impeached Economy Minister Masoud Karbasian and on the day voted to sack him AFP/Getty Images Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister EPA Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister Karbasian is the second minister in President Hassan Rouhani's cabinet to be impeached this month, following the removal of Labour Minister Ali Rabiei on August 8 EPA Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister EPA Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister Iranian MPs gesure while the Economy Minister speaks AFP/Getty Images Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister EPA Clashes break out after Iran parliament impeaches economy minister EPA Major General Ali Jafari, head the Revolutionary Guards, has accused Washington of waging psychological war on his country. Mr Karbasians sacking was the latest in a continuing shakeup designed to kickstart the economy. Earlier this month the minister of labour Ali Rabiei was also relieved of his responsibilities, while, in July, the countrys president, Hassan Rouhani, replaced the head of the central bank. Protests linked to the tough economic situation in the country have become increasingly common since December, and have spread to more than 80 cities and towns and resulted in 25 deaths. The demonstrations often led by truck drivers, farmers and merchants have occasionally resulted in violent confrontations with Irans security forces. Major General Jafari said on Sunday that the country was facing a unique, complicated and sensitive situation. https://www.aish.com/jw/s/Remembering-Senator-John-McCain-Friend-of-Israel--the-Jewish-People.html Sen. McCain was a staunch supporter of Israel and a relentless voice for civility and decency in public policy. John McCain, the long serving US Senator, war hero, former presidential candidate and long-time conscience of the nation, has died at the age of 81. In service to the nation that spanned six decades, Sen. McCain championed human rights, defense spending, campaign finance reform, and was a relentless voice for civility and decency in public policy. He was also a great friend and supporter of Israel. Here are four unique ways Sen. McCain connected with the Jewish community through his long years of service. Support for Soviet Jews One of John McCains earliest political positions was support for Soviet Jews. Sen. McCain came to national prominence for his incredible bravery during the Vietnam War. The son and grandson of US naval officers, John McCain followed in his familys footsteps and became a naval pilot during the Vietnam War. He was shot down in 1967, and was held in inhuman conditions and tortured for five years, until his release from a Vietcong prison in 1973. His time as a POW made McCain acutely aware of the values of freedom and human rights. I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone elses, McCain later recalled. I loved it because it was not just a place, but an idea, a cause worth fighting for. For the rest of his life, he remained fiercely committed to supporting human rights. In his first job after coming home, McCain worked as the US Navys liaison to the Senate. One of his roles was to accompany Sen. Henry Jackson (D-Washington) a strong supporter and defender of Soviet Jews to Israel. Sen. McCain later recalled his first moments in the Jewish state: I will never forget that there was a crowd of people that were there to show their appreciation for (Sen. Jackson), and he stopped some in the crowd and told us to stop so that he could greet Natan Sharanskys wife...I will never forget that...as long as I live. At the time of that visit, Sharansky was being held in a Soviet prison, but years later, after he was released, Sharansky once again inspired John McCain. Some years ago, McCain wrote, I heard Natan Sharansky, the human rights icon, recount how he and his fellow refuseniks in the Soviet Union took renewed courage from statements made on their behalf by President Ronald Reagan. That reminded him of his own anguish as a prisoner, when he took comfort from the thought that others had not forgotten him and were working for his release. McCain identified on a deep, visceral level with the plight of Soviet Jews who yearned for freedom and right to move to the Jewish homeland they longed for. Staunch Friend of Israel Since entering the Senate in 1986, John McCain was an outspoken supporter of Israel. Im a student of history, the Senator recalled, explaining that anybody who is familiar with the history of the Jewish people and with the Zionist idea cant help but admire those who established the Jewish homeland. I think its remarkable that Zionism has been in the middle of wars and great trials and it has held fast to the ideals of democracy and social justice and human rights. Sen. McCain supported a strict stance on Iran, opposing Iranian nuclear ambitions. Appearing on Israeli television in 2008, McCain promised Israelis, I have to look you in the eye and tell you that the United States of America can never allow a second Holocaust. Sen McCain visited Israel dozens of times over the years, and was a steadfast ally of close US-Israeli relations. Jewish Political Ally Through his long career in the Senate, John McCain was a voice for civility and reason. He often reached across the aisle to work with senators who didnt share his party nor his views. Perhaps nowhere was this more apparent than in Sen. McCains long fight for campaign finance reform, one of his signature pieces of legislation. As outside money increasingly swayed elections in the 1990s, Sen. McCain became determined to act to curb such soft money from distorting elections. A conservative Republican, John McCain nevertheless teamed up with a Jewish liberal Democrat, Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, to tackle the issue. Despite representing very different political world views, the two Senators worked on legislation to regulate political donations, and lobbied their fellow Senators to support their efforts. The resulting 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (colloquially known as McCain-Feingold) sought to limit outside money in political races. Although it was repeatedly challenged (and eventually rendered toothless by the Supreme Courts 2010 Citizens United v FEC decision), Senators McCain and Feingold remained close, counting each other as good friends. Jewish Best Friend Ever the political maverick, John McCain bucked convention in another way too, becoming the best of friends with Sen. Joe Lieberman, formerly Democrat from Connecticut and an Orthodox Jew. McCain and Lieberman, as well as Sen. Lindsey Graham (Republican of South Carolina), became extremely close, dubbing themselves the Three Amigos. Together they would travel to conflict zones often similarly dressed in open-necked button down shirts and emerged as a strong voice in the Senate for a robust foreign policy based on upholding human rights around the world. The friendship between McCain and Lieberman seems to have run particularly deep. When Sen. Lieberman changed his party affiliation from Democrat to Independent in 2006, that freed him to formally endorse McCain when he ran for president in 2008. After John McCain became ill with cancer, Joe Lieberman said that being John McCains friendship has been one of the great blessings of my life. The Three Amigos His many years of travelling and spending time with Joe Lieberman gave John McCain an appreciation for Judaism and Jewish ritual. In a memorable speech at the Israeli embassy in 2012 honoring Sen. Lieberman, McCain reminisced about walking Joe Lieberman home from the Senate on Friday afternoons, when Shabbat began early and Sen. Lieberman was unable to drive. He recalled waking up groggily on an airplane to see Sen. Lieberman wearing a tallit and saying Jewish prayers. McCain joked about all the kosher food hed eaten in Sen. Liebermans company, and joked about Shabbat elevators. (Pushing all those buttons and nothing!) Mourning a Hero In this age of hyper-partisan fury, John McCain stood out as a rare voice of civility. Friends and even political foes have described him as a beacon of courtesy and decency. He loved Israel and believed in its righteousness and always supported its security, recalled Tzipi Livni, former Foreign Minister and leader of Israels Labour Party. I had the privilege of working with him and will always remember the rare person he was she explained; Israel owes him a big thanks. In the US, Sen. Chuck Schumer (Democrat from New York) has already proposed naming the Senate building in which McCain had his offices after the Senator. Despite being from different parties and reflecting different worldviews, Sen. Schumer explains that Sen. McCains decency bridged political divides. As you go through life, you meet few truly great people. John McCain was one of them. As I write this, Ugandan musician-turned member of parliament Robert Kyagulanyi popularly known by his stage name Bobi Wine has been arrested for the second time in weeks, and freshly charged with treason. He is to appear before civil court on 30 August. In the meantime he is being remanded in a civilian prison in Gulu district, northern Uganda. His supporters, now more than ever, at a level unseen for some time under president Yoweri Musevenis oppressive rule, are rallying behind him. Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni speaks out against oral sex The people power wave in Uganda started with Wines election victory. In June he overwhelmingly won the Kyadondo East seat with a 78 per cent victory, despite being a first timer in elective politics. His slogan was people power, with the tagline Situka Uganda, loosely translated as wake up Uganda. His campaign slowly lit a fire amongst Ugandas massive young population, with equal intensity for educated and uneducated, making him an immediate darling of the people. The outpouring of love for Wine translated into five victories in parliamentary by-elections for candidates he supported, the latest victory the Arua district by-election. The aftermath saw the musicians arrest along with more than 33 opposition supporters and the murder of his driver on 13 August. The arrest was carried out by the military and Wine was charged for illegal possession of firearms before a court martial, despite being a civilian. This sparked various online campaigns for his release, notably under the hashtags #FreeBobiWine and #Arua33, with images of him beaten and bruised shared online. The charge was dropped after Wine spent 11 days in a military detention facility in Makindye barracks. On 20 August 2018, protests broke out in different part of Kampala, Ugandas capital, with protestors demanding the government free Wine. What followed was the beating and arrest of several of the journalists covering the #FreeBobiWine protests. Pictures and video made by a Twitter user however, alerted the public to the crackdown. Many of the journalists detained were forced to delete footage and had equipment confiscated. Their crime was telling the truth, and capturing the brutality of the Ugandan army. A popular image online, for example, shows Reuters photojournalist Jimmy Akena being beaten by a soldier while on his knees. Akena later shared on his Facebook page images of him in a hospital bed with a bruised head and broken finger. Because someone had taken a picture and posted it online, the story exploded; social media provided a ripple effect demanding justice, threatening a Ugandan government that has for a long time clamped down on the media. Not long after the story gained traction, a Ugandan army spokesperson issued a statement condemning the beating of journalists, and promised arrests of the officers responsible. This, of course, doesnt mean social media usage is entirely safe. During the 2016 elections for example, social media platforms were shut down. And this year the government introduced a social media tax of 200 Ugandan shillings (4p) per day. Both were politically motivated measures to stifle free speech. It is not new for President Musevenis regime to arrest politicians and journalists covering protests. What is new, with the arrest of Wine, however, is a clear resistance from citizens who would normally identify as apolitical, and who have started using the hashtag #FreeBobiWine to criticise the government and put pressure on it to release the opposition politician. A press freely covering protests is a thorn in Musevenis side, as it pokes a hole into his claims of citizen support. What the National Resistance Movement government, its supporters and sympathisers have failed to understand, is Wine represents a generation of young Ugandans tired of the entitlement of the Museveni generation, and who have no direct access to resources and power. The #FreeBobiWine movement has highlighted what many are now calling the new, digital pan Africanism. Kenya has shown huge support with a concert organised by famous political activist Boniface Mwangi and South Africans and Ghanaians have shared their support online through Twitter videos. More than 20 artists from around the world, including Chris Martin, Angelique Kidjo and Femi Kuti have signed a letter condemning the imprisonment of Wine. The protest movement and the international attention has finally put pressure on President Museveni, who now appears to be a professional blogger as his media team churns out posts in an attempt to counter the movement. Journalism, to me, matters as a form of truth telling. As a young Ugandan born under Museveni, the only form of governance I know is tainted by harassment of the media and stifling of freedom of expression. If anything, the online movement has clearly shown the disconnect between Museveni and my generation; he normally, condescendingly refers to us as his grandchildren, with more than 70 per cent of the population under 35. Recommended Ugandan pop star arrested moments after release from military court Museveni, with more than 30 years in power, has made his feelings about the media clear. In public addresses, for example, he never fails to ridicule the press, labelling independent media outlets fake news and journalists rumour-mongers. Media houses have routinely been shut down, with the most recent the Red Pepper publication, whose editors were remanded in Luzira, a maximum security prison. The presidents approach gives the lie to the popular hashtag #JournalismIsNotACrime in Uganda. Although no legislation clearly criminalises the profession, members of the press experience punishments which can include a beating from the army or police, the breaking and confiscation of equipment and, in the worst case scenarios, kidnapping. In the current political environment, freedom of the press is urgently needed, as the Ugandan government is determined to ensure the brutalisation of its citizens and politicians is not publicised. Around the world women are locked into cycles of disempowerment and denied their basic human rights. This not only limits women and girls personal growth, freedoms and opportunities, but also makes them vulnerable to violence and abuse. Its a serious enough issue in ordinary circumstances, but during times of crisis it has devastating consequences. One year on from the latest wave of violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar, which forced nearly one million people to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh, women and girls who fled shocking sexual violence at home still continue to face dangerous levels of violence now they have found refuge. Life in a Rohingya camp: how Muslim women and girls protect their skin Show all 18 1 /18 Life in a Rohingya camp: how Muslim women and girls protect their skin Life in a Rohingya camp: how Muslim women and girls protect their skin A Rohingya refugee girl named Rumana, aged 10, poses for a photograph as she wears thanaka paste at Kutupalong camp in Cox's Bazaar, Bangladesh Reuters Life in a Rohingya camp: how Muslim women and girls protect their skin Thanaka, a type of sun protection that dates back centuries, is a common sight on the faces of the women, who say the use of the traditional cooling paste helps bring a sense of normality to their difficult lives in the camps Reuters Life in a Rohingya camp: how Muslim women and girls protect their skin Swirls of yellow paste made from ground tree bark decorate the cheeks of Rohingya Muslim women and girls in the refugee camps of southern Bangladesh Reuters Life in a Rohingya camp: how Muslim women and girls protect their skin Shamima, aged 10 Reuters Life in a Rohingya camp: how Muslim women and girls protect their skin "The make-up is my hobby, and it's our tradition," said Juhara Begum, 13, who arrived in Cox's Bazar in September last year after fleeing a military attack on her village in Myanmar's Rakhine state. "The military fired guns and slaughtered us," said Juhara, who had to walk for five days to reach the border. Now, she lives on a hilltop in the crowded refugee camp of Jamtoli. "I live on top of the hill and it is too hot with the strong sun," said Juhara, who wore the protective paste on her face. Reuters Life in a Rohingya camp: how Muslim women and girls protect their skin The refugees who believe the use of the paste keeps their skin smooth and cool, safe from exposure to the sun, and fends off acne Reuters Life in a Rohingya camp: how Muslim women and girls protect their skin Sakila Begum, aged 15 Reuters Life in a Rohingya camp: how Muslim women and girls protect their skin Photos Reuters Life in a Rohingya camp: how Muslim women and girls protect their skin Zannat Ara, a nine-year-old Rohingya girl, said the paste protected her against the swarms of insects in the Kutupalong refugee camp where she now lives. "I wear make-up to keep my face clean and there are some insects that bite my face and this keeps them away, so this protects me," she said. Reuters Life in a Rohingya camp: how Muslim women and girls protect their skin Dil Kayas, aged 10 Reuters Life in a Rohingya camp: how Muslim women and girls protect their skin Thanaka is produced from the bark of a tree found in the dry central parts of Myanmar. A flat stone called a kyauk pyin is used to grind the bark into a milky yellow paste. Reuters Life in a Rohingya camp: how Muslim women and girls protect their skin The paste is applied to the face in various patterns and dries into a protective layer. While it is used medicinally elsewhere in Asia, women in Myanmar also use it as a cosmetic. Reuters Life in a Rohingya camp: how Muslim women and girls protect their skin Rozia, aged 10 Reuters Life in a Rohingya camp: how Muslim women and girls protect their skin Rohingya girls and women use traditional methods to make the paste from thanaka tree bark which is sold in the camps. Reuters Life in a Rohingya camp: how Muslim women and girls protect their skin Rufia Begum, aged 9 Reuters Life in a Rohingya camp: how Muslim women and girls protect their skin Romzida, aged 8 Reuters Life in a Rohingya camp: how Muslim women and girls protect their skin Zinu Ara, aged 4 Reuters Life in a Rohingya camp: how Muslim women and girls protect their skin Amina Reuters The overcrowded refugee camps, which are the worlds largest and most densely populated, lack many of the most basic protections for women and girls, such as adequate shelters with lockable doors, decent lighting and gender segregated toilets and bathrooms. The lack of these simple facilities leaves women and girls who make up 60 per cent of new arrivals to the camps unsafe. It drastically increases the chances of them being attacked, especially at night. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), there are hundreds of incidents of gender based violence reported every week, and 77 per cent of women and girls across the camps have reported feeling unsafe at some point since arriving. Just one woman or girl feeling unsafe is one too many, but when it is over three quarters of the female population, we know we need to urgently be doing more. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office reports that levels of sexual violence against women and girls has been extremely high. Rape and sexual violence have been used by the Myanmar military as a weapon of war. And although NGOs working in the camps, such as the International Rescue Committee, are providing essential services including psychosocial support for those who have been victims of abuse and rape, international action has not matched the scale of need. As the penholder on Myanmar in the UN Security Council, the UK government must bear responsibility for failing to turn the global outrage towards these atrocities in to tangible action and improvements on the ground. The global response to the crisis, under the Joint Response Plan, has been woefully inadequate. Less than a third of funding needed in 2018 has been met so far, and protection services for women has received only 25 per cent of required funds. If these funding shortfalls were met, this would go some way to ensuring women have the protections they need. But its not only more money that must be dedicated to the gap in womens services; more womens groups and NGOs with technical expertise in this area must also be allowed to support Rohingya refugees in the camps. The next Labour government will have an unrelenting commitment to realising womens rights. We plan to oversee the first truly feminist UK international development strategy, and in the first years of the next Labour government we will have drastically increased funding to grassroots womens organisations and convened an international summit to ensure tackling gender based violence is a global priority. But concrete and fast action is needed right now for Rohingya women and girls living in danger in refugee camps today. Justice and accountability must be realised. Countries like the UK must act now, as a major aid donor and as a home to a large pool of gender and international development experts. We must work with the government of Bangladesh to fully support and increase the work being done to protect women and girls who are being hosted in the country after fleeing conflict and danger. One year on from the crisis that hit the headlines last summer, we must not let Rohingya women and girls fade from our minds as they continue to live their lives surrounded by danger. It is our duty to ensure they are given the best support possible. Kate Osamor is the Labour & Co-operative Party MP for Edmonton and shadow secretary of state for international development Half of Irish companies have been victims of economic crime within the past two years up from 34pc in 2016 and 26pc in 2010, according to a recent report from PwC on economic crime (stock image) Brand damage and embarrassment are among the reasons given for the under-reporting of cyber crime by Irish businesses to gardai. But, from a prevention and awareness level, it is important that this crime is reported, according to Michael Gubbins, Detective Superintendent and head of the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau. To buy tickets to Dublin Information Sec 2018 and learn how to cyber-proof your business click here: https://events.inm.ie/dublin-information-sec-2018 It is estimated that less than 5pc of cybercrime is reported. "The amount of cyber-dependent crime that is reported to An Garda Siochana is relatively low in comparison to that which is dealt with by private cybersecurity companies," he said adding that this is an issue for police worldwide. Gubbins said that other reasons for under-reporting include the perception that the Garda would not be able to help. He was commenting ahead of Dublin Information Sec 2018, Ireland's cybersecurity conference which takes place at Dublin's RDS on October 15 where he is a speaker. "From an investigative point of view, by reporting these matters it allows the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB) the opportunity to work with our international colleagues thereby increasing the opportunity to disrupt and identify the actors engaged in this crime type," he added. "GNCCB, through various international law enforcement agencies including Europol, European Cyber Crime Centre (EC3), Interpol, the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the UK and the PSNI, has access to a network of colleagues who work in the cybercrime area and can assist with our investigation." Other themes that will be addressed at the conference range from regulation, including a General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) health check, to the impact of Brexit as well as ways to improve your organisation's security health, from cloud to Saas, and the emerging mass security problems as well as cyber-risks and the threats to your business. "As the leader in global privacy and marketing compliance software, we are proud to sponsor Dublin Information Sec 2018 and to be a part of the Irish privacy community and its important role in driving privacy forward as a discipline in industry," said Kevin Kiley, vice-president of sales and business development at OneTrust, that helps organisations operationalise GDPR and data privacy compliance who is also a speaker at the conference. "It is a critical time for privacy and security teams to work together to meet the needs of both teams and best protect the business and their customers. "We look forward to meeting with Irish business leaders and discussing the ways that privacy and security teams can work together for GDPR compliance, incident and breach management and overall harmonised security and privacy initiatives." A recent report from PwC on economic crime and fraud showed more than 10pc of Irish businesses that have been hit by cyber criminals lost more than 4m each in the past two years as a result of the attacks. It found half of Irish companies had been victims of economic crime within the past two years - up from 34pc in 2016 and 26pc in 2010. The findings are part of a global PwC survey that included 7,200 participants in 123 countries. In Ireland, 77 firms took part and PwC said the respondents represented all key industries and sectors. The survey revealed cybercrime was the top economic crime here, having overtaken asset misappropriation for the first time. The conference will also address the recently introduced GDPR, the EU legal framework that establishes guidelines for the collection and processing of personal information of individuals in member states. The deadline for compliance was May 25 and while it is early days in terms of how businesses are adapting to the new rules, research commissioned by cloud aggregator and IT distributor MicroWarehouse showed that the most common action taken by firms after the arrival of the GDPR is amendments to data breach procedures, where one-third of respondents to the survey had made this move. As cyber, data and security threats become more sophisticated, Dublin Information Sec 2018 is the ideal forum to future-proof your business. The keynote speaker is Mikko Hypponen, an international expert on computer security and privacy issues who is credited with tracking down the authors of the very first PC virus. He is chief research officer at F-Secure. Other speakers at Dublin Information Sec 2018 include Dr Ciaran Mc Mahon, director of the Institute of Cyber Security and academic psychologist; Maria Farrell, writer and tech policy consultant; Rahim Jina, co-founder Edgescan; Brian Honan, chief executive at BH Consulting; James Chappell, co-founder Digital Shadows; Bill Buchanan, professor at Edinburgh Napier University, and Adrian Weckler, technology editor with Independent News & Media. Dublin Information Sec 2018 is an Independent News and Media event, see independent.ie/infosec18 for tickets and more information. Dublin startup News Over Audio (Noa) - which styles itself as "the Spotify of Journalism" - has just closed a 300,000 funding round aimed at allowing it to continue expanding its partnerships with some of the world's best-known publishers. The startup has developed a subscription-based service that provides daily audio versions of opinion and feature articles - read by professional narrators - from a range of international publishers including the Financial Times, Bloomberg and Business Insider, with further partnerships with major names in the industry expected to be added in the coming weeks. The latest fundraising, which was close to 100,000 oversubscribed when it closed on Friday, is the second of three rounds of seed funding that will see the DIT Grangegorman-based startup raise a total of 800,000 by the end of November. For this current 300,000 tranche, close to half was filled by existing shareholders using pre-emption rights. Investors are mainly Irish-based high-net-worth individuals with no Enterprise Ireland, Venture Capital or Angel involvement, it is understood. "Our plan is to put this seed capital to work over the next 12 months and position the company for a larger equity raise in the latter half of 2019," said Noa CEO Gareth Hickey, who previously worked as an equity analyst with Susquehanna International Group in Dublin. "We're currently the largest producer and provider of audio-journalism in the world, and we seek to remain in this position as we grow on an international footing. This growth will require capital, there are no two ways around it. Our objective is to attract US-based investors with knowledge of their home market, as this is where the largest opportunity lies." The company has also just released a redesigned version of its mobile app, which introduces a customisable queue, offline listening, and a personalised article feed. "With Noa 2.0 we've built a simplified audio journalism app," said Noa chief product officer Shane Ennis. "We wanted to make content discovery across topics, journalists and publishers much easier. Two new features are 'My Feed' and 'Queue' which allow subscribers to tailor their listening experience, be they commuting, exercising or cooking. It's all about making news consumption more personalised." Ennis said the company is already working on a third version of the app. "That's where much of this additional funding will be spent. Noa 3.0 will be more of a personal tutor than an audio app, and will be available across web and smart speakers as well. It will guide listeners through the daily flow of headlines and make it extremely easy for them to stay informed with the most important topics." Noa's total publisher count will grow from five to 12 by year end, and close to 20 within 12 months, said Hickey. "We are also seeing large opportunities present in Germany, Australia, and Japan. In Germany we are in talks with some of the country's largest publishers for a German-language version of Noa. We expect to begin testing there later this year," he said. "Our publisher count will double between now and the New Year. We have a big announcement to make in mid-September about a US-based publisher that will be coming on-board." 'For Canadians, the burning question is how to overcome access and capacity issues facing their system, and ensure it remains something to be proud of.' Stock picture Few things instil greater national pride in Canadians than their universal healthcare system, grounded in the principle of accessibility without financial barriers. Indeed, Canadians benefit from some of the best facilities in the world, free of charge. Nevertheless, Canada's system faces significant challenges and consumes government budgets at a rate considered unsustainable by most. One in six Canadians are aged 65 years or older, with the bracket growing four times faster than the overall population. Canada also has some of the highest chronic disease rates globally and its vast geography makes it difficult to service rural communities. Ireland is positioned as one of the world's top medtech hubs, creating products that improve patient outcomes and enhance healthcare. Earlier this summer, eight Enterprise Ireland-backed companies travelled to Toronto, pitching solutions to health experts and potential partners. These stakeholders offered valuable insights on how best to approach the market. As healthcare is managed provincially in Canada, companies can almost consider each province as a distinct market. Ontario is usually first port-of-call for ambitious businesses. But Matthew Collingridge of GE Healthcare Canada, advised: "Opportunities may be easier to navigate in Alberta, British Columbia or the Atlantic provinces, where healthcare is administered vertically, and systems can be nimbler. With a proven use-case, a pan-Canada approach can then be built." Healthcare providers in Canada often struggle to advance projects to long-term implementations. The outcome is frustrating for both innovators and for forward-thinking health practitioners and executives who see the benefit. Irish companies need to clearly demonstrate the return-on-investment their product delivers in terms of costs and time, and should consider how much change management is involved, especially for clinicians. Established players tend to be perceived as the safest option for buyers. For example, the electronic record sector is dominated by a few vendors in Canada. Technology companies should consider how to compete with these players. Partnering is one option, which can allow Irish companies to access public funding for health innovation projects. "The challenge is finding enough of a niche to avoid taking on the big players, and enough runway to make it worthwhile," noted Collingridge. Several Irish healthcare companies have successfully grown their business in Canada. Dublin-based Two-Ten Health supplies four of the country's ten dental schools with their electronic record system. Last year, the Ontario College of Pharmacists selected Pharmapod to implement a medication error reporting system in 1500 pharmacies. Aerogen, Health Beacon, and Swiftqueue are also making gains. Canada is an attractive market for many reasons. Companies with experience in Ireland and the UK already understand the pain-points buyers encounter in a predominately public system. Case studies from the NHS are particularly well-received. The reputation of Irish medicine in Canada is another advantage. Irish medical schools attract hundreds of Canadian students each year and thousands of Irish-trained doctors work in Canada. Enterprise Ireland's Toronto office offers clients tailored market entry guidance and introductions to prospective partners and buyers across the system. In mid-September, we are hosting senior executives from leading hospitals across North America for a two-day forum in Dublin. Collectively responsible for a catchment of 30 million people, they are keen to discuss common challenges and best practices with innovators. For Canadians, the burning question is how to overcome access and capacity issues facing their system, and ensure it remains something to be proud of. Marianna Costello is a market adviser for life sciences, based in Enterprise Ireland's Toronto office It's a small family farm in Baltray, Co Louth, with a history dating back 150 years, but since 2012 Drummond House has managed to build a strong niche as a local grower of new varieties of a tricky crop that you would normally associate with sunny Mediterranean climates. Their path to becoming Ireland's largest garlic suppliers was forged by years of research and hard graft along with generous help and support from a number of sources. But they've also built a strong and loyal brand following for its premium garlic products by harnessing the natural interest that people had in what they were doing. Indeed, Marita Collier is a born storyteller, talking about she and her husband Peter have learnt in the course of building their thoroughly modern farm. Becoming garlic growers was the ultimate answer to the question of what do with a 100-acre farm that Peter inherited in the late 1990s but only took over in 2008. "It was very dilapidated," says Marita. "There was an existing tenant farmer just doing potatoes and corn in rotation, and Peter and I really wanted to clean up the farm and bring it back to the glory that it was." However, after having to pay a huge 300,000 inheritance tax bill, they had little capital left to invest in the farm and little willingness to get into big debt. Renting it out would have brought an annual income of just 13,000, and selling off parts of it wasn't an option either. Peter "is a firm believer in being a custodian, minding what you have, improving what you have, but making a living as well", says Marita. So they gravitated to the idea of seeking out new type of crops they could grow - and which would grow well. As Marita tells it, they "saw the light" during a family trip high up along the Ganges River in India. During a stop in Ranikhet, a place some 18,000 feet above sea level, they passed an organic farm that looked to be growing scallions but which turned out to be Himalayan garlic. "I was just mesmerised because, in my mind, garlic grew in a Mediterranean climate or China or Argentina. It didn't grow in damp, wet, heavy soils, but this place actually wasn't like that. The farmer explained to me that the melting water that was dripping down from the higher Himalayans becomes a very, very light trickle and it continues on its way. So nothing ever gets bogged in water." This got them thinking. The soil on Collier's farm has a sandy quality and is situated on top of a quarry, which means naturally good drainage. "Even if there is a bad summer and it hasn't stopped raining you can still get into our field with a tractor," says Marita. Back home, Marita did a bit of research and quickly found that there was no-one growing garlic here on a commercial scale. What they also discovered was that the garlic plants from the Mediterranean didn't grow well, but that the stronger variety of garlic from Eastern Europe - which needs to live in temperatures of five degrees or below for about eight weeks of the year - certainly did. They planted about two acres in 2013 and, while they lost most of the crop due to lack of irrigation, they were amazed when they taste-tested what was left. "It's not garlic like I've ever tasted," said Marita. "It was like a hot chilli pepper. What I didn't understand is that's how garlic is meant to be; it's meant to have a burn, it's meant to have heat and fire." So they went full scale for the following year, planting five acres, though not before investing in a proper irrigation system. Marita admits that the couple were a bit naive about how labour-intensive planting and harvesting garlic would be, particularly with practically no machinery. "We had to go out with a pole made with the handle of a sweeping brush, make a hole, and drop in the cloves. I would come along behind my husband with the rake to rake it over. We didn't even own a tractor. We had to get them out with pitchforks and actually pole fork it out, and then fill buckets and literally just walk with buckets around the field." But with the helping hands of family and friends during harvest periods; and moral support and advice from agencies such as Teagasc, An Bord Bia and the Department of Agriculture (which included obtaining grant supports towards the cost of their irrigation system and new machinery), their persistence and hard work has been rewarded. Drummond House Garlic can today be found in selected artisan food stores, craft butchers and several Dunnes Stores branches. It is the sole supplier of garlic to the Merrion Hotel and several top chefs, including JP McMahon of Aniar, Wade Murphy, Alberto Rossi of the Intercontinental Hotel, Mike Tweedie of Adare Manor and Neven Maguire. It has won several awards, including the Euro-Toques award 2017 (for excellence in garlic production and flavour) and Georgina Campbell awards for 2017 and 2018. Marita says she was wary of working with multiples based on hearing negative experiences from other growers, but she is delighted with how their relationship with Dunnes Stores has worked out. "They said to me: 'It's your brand. We're not here saying you're growing for Dunnes; you're growing for Drummond House because we have no knowledge. We've never had a garlic grower'." Marita insisted on designing the packaging, as she was keen for her customers to "get to know" the growers. "People like to know what they're getting and what you're selling and they appreciate that they can look into your life and they feel that they know you," she says. Besides introducing the new varieties (labelled according to their strength and flavour) and a new type of product called garlic scapes (the flower buds of the garlic plant) to the Irish market, Drummond House has pioneered the idea of selling packets of loose cloves, which have proved a big hit, particularly with those who like garlic but wouldn't use a whole bulb. Given all this, it's no surprise to hear that Drummond House garlic is more expensive than the cheap, imported varieties we are used to, at 3.50 for a single packet of Redneck, Mikulov, Bohemian Rose, Red Czech or Elephant Garlic. But it seems Dunnes Stores customers can't get enough of them, and Marita says she is regularly swamped with emails asking when the product will be in season again. The top chefs who quickly became keen customers of Drummond House garlic also encouraged them to do trial runs of asparagus, as it turned out they had the right kind of sandy soil for these plants to thrive. So with the help and support of top agronomist John Hogan at Teagasc, the farm has produced its first official crop of this seasonal vegetable delicacy. Right now, they are working on increasing their plot sizes for garlic, "because we have a garlic planter, we have a garlic harvester and we have a garlic cloves packer, so happy days", said Marita. "We can be very efficient without being labour-intensive." As well as that, they are working on new products, including a variety of black garlic and a garlic scape pesto. They are also doing some R&D work with a beekeeper to develop a honey-infused garlic product, and with a local brewing company to develop a cider flavoured with garlic. "I know it sounds disgusting but we're having a bit of fun with this. The couple of samples we've done have blown people away with the taste factor." The story of Drummond House has also interested other growers, several of whom have asked Marita for advice. The truth is that the couple's success has been hard-won, with lots of mistakes and lessons learnt, and while Marita clearly wouldn't have had it any other way, her advice is that it's not a quick turnaround. "If you're looking for a quick fix in 12 months or 24 months and hopefully clear debt, I can tell you now, categorically, it won't happen." Pearse Coyle: "We've set up this fund with a novel process to identify and fund spin-outs." Tech entrepreneur Pearse Coyle has set up a new investment fund focusing on so-called 'deeptech' - big innovations in the area of science and technology. Coyle revealed he has secured the backing of a number of wealthy tech entrepreneurs who will fund projects as they emerge. He is about to embark on an institutional fundraising process where he will look to secure as much as an additional 40m. Coyle left his role as chief executive of Limerick company NVMdurance - focused on extending the life of flash memory on data-storage devices - at the end of last year after selling the company's intellectual property. "At NVMdurance we had deep technology created by two Limerick academics that was highly significant to about 10 huge companies, but which investors struggled to understand. "After we sold the IP of NVMdurance in 2017, myself and Tom Burniece [who worked alongside Coyle at NVMdurance as commercial director] decided there must be a better way to get tech from colleges into viable funded spin-out companies. "We've set up this fund with a novel process to identify and fund spin-outs." Deeptech has been an area of focus for the European Investment Fund (an arm of the European Investment Bank), which is centred "particularly on disruptive early-stage technology enterprises which typically face financing challenges but also provide outstanding investment opportunities". It has a number of initiatives to provide wholesale funds to venture capital investors. In tandem with the European Commission, it has also funded other wholesale providers of funds like Isomer Capital and Axon Partners Group. "We hope to raise funds from some these entities in the next year or so, once we've completed some early investments," Coyle said. US tech giant Genesys may look at further Irish acquisitions and has already doubled staff numbers at its new Galway operation Altocloud, according to tech entrepreneur Barry O'Sullivan. The San Francisco-based call centre technology supplier bought Altocloud from the Dragons' Den star in March. O'Sullivan had originally agreed to stay on part-time to help the two companies integrate, but he has now been appointed to the board of Genesys to assist with its global expansion. The board appointment to the $1.4bn- a-year company helps further O'Sullivan's ambition to turn Galway into a global hub for artificial intelligence (AI), he told the Sunday Independent. "Genesys very much sees Ireland as a strategic source of innovation and talent," said O'Sullivan, adding that, although he could not discuss specific deals, that there were a lot of "very interesting" companies developing in the Irish AI sector. "There is a lot of good work going on in Ireland in the areas of data science and artificial intelligence because of the quality of the research centres in the universities," he said. Altocloud uses software and machine learning to make it easier for customers and businesses to communicate. Since the Genesys acquisition, Altocloud's workforce has doubled to 40. "These are really high-end jobs and it shows that we can get the talent here in Galway. We have lots of openings for more and we are working with the IDA on longer term possibilities." O'Sullivan said he could not reveal the details of those discussions in advance of an agreement, but that he expected a big ramp-up in sales of the Altocloud product in 2019 when the integration with Genesys is completed. "It has been a whirlwind since the acquisition. We have been expanding the team. I had signed up to help with the integration on a part-time basis, but this opportunity to work on the Genesys board is very exciting." O'Sullivan, who rose to prominence when he ran a $4bn division of Cisco Systems, is also taking a new role as a senior adviser with private equity company Permira, which owns 50pc of Genesys and has $33bn in committed capital. "I grew my division in Cisco from about $200m in revenues to $4bn and I am hoping that I can help Genesys to scale to that level of ambition." 'Questions now surround the tycoon at a particularly bad time for Landing.' Stock Image Casino operator Landing International Development suffered its biggest weekly share plunge ever after it said chairman Yang Zhihui was unreachable. Caixin reported earlier that Yang is a target of investigators looking into ties with China Huarong Asset Management, a state-owned bad-debt manager whose former chairman, Lai Xiaomin, is under investigation for alleged corruption. The news delivered another shock to investors just two weeks after the company's $1.5bn (1.3bn) Philippine project was thrown into doubt. Landing dropped as much as 16pc on Friday. The company has lost 42pc of its value during the week and now has a market capitalization of about $1.2bn. Since becoming China's president in 2013, Xi Jinping has led an anti-corruption campaign that has seen more than 1.5 million Communist Party cadres punished. More recently, the campaign has been reaching into corporate boardrooms as part of an effort to halt the debt-fuelled expansion of China's biggest businesses. High-profile executives at state-owned enterprises and private sector billionaires are finding their wealth and connections are no longer enough to shield them from probes into corruption and financial crimes. A unit of Huarong International Financial Holdings lent HK$660m (72.2m) to a holding company of Yang's in December 2016, debt that was personally guaranteed by Yang, according to a Hong Kong exchange filing. Questions now surround the tycoon at a particularly bad time for Landing. The company's stock has been sinking since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte unexpectedly ordered a review of Landing's casino lease contract on August 7, the day the company broke ground on the project. Duterte called the contract "flawed." Landing declined to comment, while a China Huarong representative didn't reply to requests for comment. Landing opened its only casino resort, Jeju Shinhwa World in Korea, earlier this year. Yang is the company's largest shareholder with a 50.5pc stake. It's not the first time a Chinese tycoon has gone missing after an aggressive expansion. Financier Xiao Jianhua, who led the Tomorrow Holding empire, was taken away by Chinese authorities in early 2017, the South China Morning Post reported at the time. The newspaper subsequently cited mainland sources as saying that Xiao was helping with investigations into matters that included bribery. (Bloomberg) Deutsche Bank wants to cut around 1,000 jobs at the headquarters of its retail division, according to people briefed on the matter. That would be approximately one in five of the people working at its recently-merged German retail unit, split between Frankfurt and Bonn. Most of the cuts would aim to eliminate duplicate back-office and middle-office functions, the people said. They asked not to be identified as the information is private. The number has yet to be negotiated with the powerful workers' councils. Deutsche Bank chief executive Christian Sewing has promised to cut the bank's total workforce by at least 7,000 between April, when he took over, and the end of next year. Sewing hasn't yet detailed how the cuts will be spread across the bank's three core divisions. It's not clear how many of the job cuts at the German retail headquarters would happen by the end of next year. The bank is bound by an agreement with unions not to fire retail unit staff against their will for business reasons before mid-2021. Any job cuts before that date would need to happen through voluntary channels such as early retirement schemes or severance pay. The lion's share of the cuts to date have happened in client-facing investment banking jobs and the focus is now shifting to so-called infrastructure jobs, including those at retail headquarters, the bank has said. A spokeswoman for Deutsche Bank declined to comment. The bank has beefed up its digital banking operations again with a second investment in a fintech startup within four months, a move that points to a slow revolution at one of its most important divisions. The German lender agreed to buy an unspecified stake in Dallas-based startup ModoPayments, aiming to bolster its Global Transaction Bank and tap into the fast-growing channels outside of traditional banking. Bloomberg It's the classic fall-back, a difficult childhood, problems in later life and who do we usually look to blame? Our parents. But one young woman proved last week that your past does not have to define who you are. And her powerful story struck a chord with the nation. Just when we thought the Rose of Tralee was old hat, into the limelight steps Carlow Rose Shauna Ray Lacey. Ms Ray Lacey stunned a television audience last Monday night with her admission that her late father Francis and her mother Angela had been heroin addicts when she was growing up. But she said, rather than let it define her, she made the best of the cards she was dealt. Speaking this weekend to the Sunday Independent, she explained that the secret to her success in life was down to her positive frame of mind and -most notably - the fact that her parents' love and belief in her was far greater than any addiction. "I'll tell you a little story my dad told me," she said. "He told me a story about twin brothers who were brought up in an alcoholic home. They were shown how to be alcoholics. They were in it every day. There was violence and abuse in the house. But in the end one brother became an accomplished solicitor and outshone everyone, while the other was drinking and doing drugs. And people asked the accomplished brother, 'how are you the way you are - given where you have come from?' and he said, 'from what I have seen in my life, I went down the opposite road and knew I wasn't going to let that be part of my life and the other brother said, 'I know no different'. Expand Close Shauna at the Rose of Tralee contest, where she paid a moving tribute to her father with a version of Aslans Crazy World. Photo: Steve Humphreys / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Shauna at the Rose of Tralee contest, where she paid a moving tribute to her father with a version of Aslans Crazy World. Photo: Steve Humphreys "And my father told me: 'you be that brother you accomplished himself, who strived for better and you go for anything you want in life because you are a special, special person. "I remember he used to say to me 'at the end of the day, no matter what I do or how you are affected, you are your own person and you will never be painted with the same brush as your mam and I. You were put on this earth to shine and make sure you do that, Shauna.'" It was in fifth class that Shauna noticed a change in her parents. Having previously dealt with alcoholism in the family, she recalls: "My first memory was seeing my mammy was different. She looked different. She acted different and her eyes were different. I knew something was up...so I would have lost my innocence at a young age. I would have had to grow up quite quickly and be there for my siblings, help with the washing and around the house. I just felt I needed to be there for her." She kept her struggle hidden from friends. Video of the Day "Of course, growing up I was a little bit embarrassed and I didn't really tell any of my friends in school what I was going home to. And I suppose my daddy used to say to me 'there is no need to be embarrassed about who your parents are'. You are you and you make the best of what you can for yourself. Since I was a baby, he used to tell me that I was an incredible human being and to believe in myself." Her father worked hard to get clean from heroin and by her late teens he was free from its grip. But two years later - just as they were enjoying life - he died due to heart complications. Shauna appreciated the two years she got with the man she calls "the best daddy in the world" and it spurred her on to make the most of her relationship with her mother. "After losing one parent, it made me cherish the other more. Even though there was a problem with drugs, my parents have always been my biggest supporters and they have been there for every part of my life. "And even though I wasn't given the best hand of cards, I appreciated my mammy during the times I could, when she was herself. Yes, she was affected by the disease but I realised life is too short and at the end of the day, my mammy didn't make a choice. "She didn't wake up in the morning and say 'hey, I am just going to ruin all four of my kids' lives, I'm going to make a horrible choice and wreck my body and wreck myself. It was a disease. "So I really wanted to try and help my mammy and I suppose the only way I could help her from my own personal point of view was to be there for her in her time of need, to give her support and to give her a hug when she was down. Because I believe, even though she is battling a horrible disease, she still has a daughter to give her a hug, to still love her, to still accept her for who she is." Shauna's mother sought help and became abstinent after Shauna told her she was going to be a mother herself. Now a mother of daughter Emmy, Shauna says her ambition is to travel to schools - particularly those in disadvantaged areas - and to young people in Irish prisons to share her story and show that no-one is destined for a certain path, based on their parents or their past. She said it would be "incredible" if people in relevant positions of authority would reach out to her and help her to achieve her goal. She has already received dozens of hand-written letters delivered to her hotel room in Tralee, from people asking her advice. For now she shares the philosophy she has always carried with her: "There is light, life and a great big smile at the end of the tunnel." Singer Alexandra Burke has been unveiled as the first ever ambassador for the Notting Hill Carnival. Her first duty was to open this years event which carves its way around west London in a mass of music, dancing, bold costumes and floats of entertainers. After a wave of violent crime in the capital in recent months, Scotland Yard announced knife arches have been placed at strategic points along the route to help reassure people about their safety, though the Metropolitan Police did not disclose where. Burke described it as a privilege and just a bit nuts to be a carnival ambassador. It is a year-long role as the voice of carnival, Europes biggest street party, to help promote the community spirit and positive aspects surrounding the annual event. Expand Close Young carnival goers taking part during the Childrens Day parade at the Notting Hill Carnival (Stefan Rousseau/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Young carnival goers taking part during the Childrens Day parade at the Notting Hill Carnival (Stefan Rousseau/PA) To cheers from the crowd, Burke recalled going to carnival as a her child with her family. She said: The one thing that stands out for me about carnival is bringing the community together. It is people coming together and having a fantastic time. It is just about a good vibe, good music, good food and amazing people around you. So have the best day no matter what the weather is saying. Video of the Day Skies were slightly overcast and gentle waves of rain hit as the sound systems started to kick in. It is hoped the tried and tested method of knife arches will put off those planning to arm themselves with any offensive weapons but not everybody will be expected to pass through them, the Scotland Yard said. The bank holiday weekend event is also being policed by the highest number of officers in six years. Notting Hill Carnival Limited executive director Matthew Phillip said using the knife arches is part of a wide-ranging belt and braces approach to try and make the carnival safe. He said: London as a whole and the UK is operating under a backdrop of knife crime, and we are working to have a safe carnival. The introduction of the knife arches is one thing we have as we to try to do that. There have been so many other events that have this. Notting Hill Carnival is very different because it takes place on the streets. We will have even more eyes and ears on the ground from the community as well as police, and I think that will help to make sure people feel safe and to identify people who come to wrong. Most people who come to carnival come to enjoy themselves, and we want that spirit of safety and unity. Expand Close Scotland Yard announced knife arches have been placed at strategic points along the route to help reassure people about their safety (Dominic Lipinski/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Scotland Yard announced knife arches have been placed at strategic points along the route to help reassure people about their safety (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Some 13,000 officers are being deployed to the bank holiday weekend event around 450 more than last year and more than the parades over the past five years. Almost 7,000 officers, some from the Metropolitan Polices newly formed Violent Crime Task Force, will be policing Mondays event to combat the threat of violent crime. This will be up from 6,100 on-duty officers on Sundays less busy family day. Undercover police as well as officers from the force firearms and dog units will be in place. The event is expected to attract more than one million revellers to its floats, food stalls and music. Using the neighbourhoods local nickname, Mr Phillip welcomed everyone to the grove and urged them to enjoy the day. He said the energetic carnival, which has been brought to London annually for more than 50 years, celebrates a pride in my community, a sense of unity and a sense of belonging even when among so many strangers. Mr Phillip said: Simply put, carnival is collective joy. I know it is safe to say that over a million people come to carnival and experience that collective joy and spirit. He added it is why carnival has grown, year after year, from a small community childrens fair in 1966 into the immense event it is today. Grenfell has affected a lot of people and it is very much a live issue. It is not going awayMatthew Phillip, Notting Hill Carnival Limited executive director The music is set to stop for a 72-second silence in tribute to the 72 people who died following the fire at Grenfell Tower in June 2017. The tower block is within half-a-mile of the parade route. Revellers have been asked to show respect and some, including Mr Phillip, wore something green for Grenfell in tribute. He proudly wore a green T-shirt with the words come unity across the front. Mr Phillip said: Grenfell is very much part of our community. The people who died in the tower and survivors are part of our community. Grenfell has affected a lot of people and it is very much a live issue. It is not going away. We still have members of our community in temporary housing. This is to show our support. Burke later said that what happened at Grenfell Tower was really devastating, and added: I think it is important for Notting Hill Carnival to remember them. Kensington and Chelsea Councils new leader Elizabeth Campbell was among the carnival crowds. She was chatting with council deputy leader Kim Taylor-Smith and Conservative politician Shaun Bailey, who was bopping to the beat of a passing band of drummers. The award-winning Casa BACARDI is back with a bang at this years sold out Electric Picnic festival with top acts taking to the Casa BACARDI stage including CamelPhat, Felix Da Housecat, DJ Flip and Joey Negro and to celebrate, we are giving you the chance to win TWO WEEKEND TICKETS TO ELECTRIC PICNIC including VIP passes to Casa BACARDI. BACARDI is renowned for its elaborate parties and creating moments where we are free to be our true selves and this year at Casa BACARDI wont be any different. Now in its 15th year, the CASA BACARDI stage has firmly established itself as one of the best parties at Electric Picnic. Throughout the weekend, festival goers will be immersed in BACARDIs Cuban heritage and encouraged to do what moves them while sipping on one of BACARDIs iconic Mojito cocktails. BACARDI bartenders will also be on hand, sharing their top tips with festival goers on how to make delicious BACARDI rum cocktails, including a dedicated Mojito bar serving Original BACARDI Mojitos and hosting mojito masterclasses, the timeless classic cocktail loved by leading mixologists worldwide. For your chance to get your hands on these much-wanted tickets for the sold-out Electric Picnic Festival from 31st August to 2nd September 2018 on the grounds of Stradbally Estate, Co Laois, simply answer the below question and pop over to the competition's Facebook post where you can leave your answer in the comments and tag whoever you'd like to bring: Q: What is BACARDI A: a) Vodka b) Rum c) Whiskey For more information on CASA BACARDI at Electric Picnic, visit BACARDI on Facebook or follow @BacardiIreland on Twitter. #CasaBacardi Video of the Day Enjoy BACARDI sensibly. Visit Drinkaware.ie Terms and Conditions: Open to residents of Ireland aged 18+. No cash alternative. Competition closes 9pm Sunday August 26 It has been twenty-five years since the IRA planted two bombs in bins in the shopping area of Bridge Street in Warrington, England. The bombs injured dozens and claimed the lives of two boys, three year old Jonathan Ball who died in the blast, and 12-year-old Tim Parry, who died in hospital after a brave five day battle against horrific injuries. As she watched coverage of the atrocity on TV on the eve of Mothers Day in 1993, Clontarf woman and mother of two Susan McHugh felt compelled to do something to prevent another child from dying in this way. She spoke on RTE Radio 1s Liveline and soon found herself heading up one of the biggest peace rallies in the Republic, attended by thousands on O'Connell Street in Dublin. Mothers Day a new BBC production in association with RTE - charts the events of that day and the aftermath for Tims family, particularly his parents Wendy and Colin, and how their tragedy moved an ordinary woman from across the Irish Sea to strive to effect change. Its a remarkable, powerful, and incredibly moving feature-length drama from Irish director Fergus OBrien with a top notch cast including BAFTA winner Anna Maxwell Martin and Daniel Mays playing Tims parents Wendy and Colin and another BAFTA winner, Vicky McClure, and David Wilmot in the roles of Susan McHugh and her husband Arthur. Expand Close Tim Parry, 12, (right) and three-year-old Johnathan Ball (left) were killed when two devices hidden in litter bins were detonated without warning on March 20, 1993. Photo: PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Tim Parry, 12, (right) and three-year-old Johnathan Ball (left) were killed when two devices hidden in litter bins were detonated without warning on March 20, 1993. Photo: PA The feature marks OBriens second foray into drama having worked as a documentary maker for almost 20 years (his first drama for the BBC, Against the Law, earned him a BAFTA nomination last year), but as an Irishman living in London he was particularly drawn to this story. It was also a passion project for the writer, Nick Leather, who is from Warrington and would have been the same age as Tim Parry at the time of the bombing. He was heading in to town that day to buy a Mothers Day card, but fortunately for him he was a bit later than Tim and so he was turned back, Fergus tells Independent.ie. Together they approached the Parrys and the McHughs about becoming involved with the project. The Parrys wanted to know why we were doing it, why we wanted to revisit it, and they were sort of thinking whether it was something they wanted to rake up, but I think overwhelmingly their lives have been very defined by what happened to Tim, says Fergus. They set up a charity The Tim Parry and Jonathan Ball Foundation for Peace in the wake of the bombing and, ultimately, they felt the film would draw attention to it and its work. Expand Close Vicky McClure as Susan McHugh in Mother's Day. PIC: BBC / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Vicky McClure as Susan McHugh in Mother's Day. PIC: BBC The McHughs were, however, a little more reticent. Despite the fact that Sues motivation for action in 1993 was purely to save the lives of children, she found herself embroiled in controversy as parents from both sides of the divide in Northern Ireland, who had lost children in the Troubles, questioned why this woman from the south had never highlighted their childrens stories in the same way she responded to the deaths of Tim and Jonathan in the UK. By 1993, 138 children had lost their lives as a result of violence. Having been so involved back in that window of time in 93, they had stepped back and gone back to their ordinary lives and they were quite anxious it might rake things up again, reveals Fergus. As the film shows they had some difficult things to deal with, people who were very upset with them, people who were threatening them, and they were worried that might be reignited. Video of the Day Once they were assured they would be kept in the loop and consulted on each draft of the script, however, they also came on board. Watching the film, and with the benefit of hindsight, its easy perhaps to label Sue a little naive, and her initial reticence about being involved is also perhaps understandable, but how many people in the south in 1993 really understood, or took the time to understand, what life was really like for families living up north, and just how complex and sensitive the politics were at that time? For Fergus, growing up in Dungarvan, Waterford, in the 80s he felt, like many people in the south, more of a connection to London than Northern Ireland, since London was where so many people emigrated to at that time. He quotes a line from the script; its when Sue is being grilled by people from different sides of the political divide on a radio show and shes asked what her impressions are of the North and she says, I think for lots of us in the south the north is like that room that nobody wants to go into, and when you do it hurts. Expand Close Daniel Mays and Anna Maxwell Martin in Mother's Day. PIC: BBC / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Daniel Mays and Anna Maxwell Martin in Mother's Day. PIC: BBC I think thats certainly how I used to feel. I used to feel, Oh bad things happen up there. Id rather not think about it. And I think thats the way a lot of people felt, says Fergus. He adds, When I was setting out to make this drama I would be lying if I said I wasnt anxious about my responsibility as an Irishman to try and get it right and to not be unbalanced, or to be even-handed about how such a complex story should be told. But really I had a gift in the character of Sue McHugh because she is a very emotional person, and I feel she was driven and motivated in a very beautiful and pure way by her heart, and what she instinctively felt as a mother was a grave wrong, but of course what she ended up doing in the process of articulating her desire for the end to it all was she ended up standing on a lot of peoples toes and annoying people and making a lot of people cross. And being able to tell that story allowed me to reflect on just how complex and treacle like the politics were and how much hurt and how much emotional wounds there were that were never going to be solved. There was no way of making sense of it all in a way that was going to appease everyone and so really at the essence of what Sue was saying was, look we cant find answers to all this that will make everyone happy so really maybe all we can do is draw a line under it and say enough is enough and thats what she did. The first half hour of Mothers Day is particularly tough as it depicts the bombing and its immediate aftermath in a very visceral way. It is not, however, over-sentimentalised, which is something Fergus says he tried very hard to avoid. I think often in these things they can quite easily become melodramatic and you can be just really squeezing out all of the melancholy and the grief and I thought, actually its all there and I dont need to do that, he says. We were quite sparing with the music and a lot of those things that are often used in drama to press buttons and to provoke reaction. I think its very stripped back in that way. This feeds into the performances too, particularly Anna Maxwell Martins phenomenal turn as Wendy a masterclass in subtlety and restraint. She probably has the least dialogue as Wendy retreats into herself after Tims death, in contrast to her husband Colin, who wants to speak out about Tim and work with the McHughs in their quest for peace. Fergus did not want the actors to meet the people they were playing until after filming ended as he felt the burden would be too much. Instead they worked from archive material and from information he gleaned from interviews with the families. He says all four were anxious about portraying real people who would ultimately see the film. While Sue and Hugh had been quite vocal at the time, Wendy was more reticent, which makes Anna Maxwell Martins performance all the more impressive. What I felt really strongly from [Wendy], as did the writer, was that I had the impression - and I think its not uncommon with mothers in such a tragic set of circumstances - of that overwhelming fear that if you turn the tap on and allow that grief to pour out, the concern is that you wont be able to turn it off and youll become swamped in it. And her primary and probably primal instinct was to try and keep everything together, and try to keep it going and make life in some way normal for her surviving children. Fergus describes the film as a portrait of grief and, although its not alluded to in the film, he reveals that in real life Sue had lost both her parents in quick succession in the months leading up to her peace rally. Expand Close Vicky McClure and David Wilmot in Mother's Day. PIC: BBC / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Vicky McClure and David Wilmot in Mother's Day. PIC: BBC I think she was emotionally quite raw and sensitive to loss so when she was reading all this stuff in the papers and seeing stuff on television and looking at her children it was all those feelings, he says. And the feeling of the loss of loved ones was very naked in her and she feels it was probably something in that that was part of the thing that spurred her because it was so out of character for her. She is the most brilliant but most unlikely campaigner and advocate that youd ever imagine. Mothers Day had its premiere in Warrington this week, at the Peace Centre set up in memory of the boys. Both the McHughs and the Parrys were in attendance for what was, Fergus says, a very special night. It was not the first time they had seen the film, however. The director held private viewings for both families in their homes, which were particularly emotional. Seeing it for a second time with their friends, family, and community in Warrington was also a very moving experience. The response from everyone was really humbling. Everybody found it incredibly moving and a very accurate take on what they remembered of what happened in Warrington on that day but also many of them are friends and associates of the Parrys and they felt it was an accurate take on what was going on with them too, says Fergus. I think for the families, particularly Wendy and Colin, they found it incredibly moving that second time in a room with their friends and fellow Warrington townsfolk. They were very moved and tearful but it was a great, special night. Its certainly an emotional story, but Fergus believes its a significant moment in our history worth remembering at this point in time, in particular. What I love about the story is that just these regular folk sort of stood up and made their thoughts known and actually things changed, he says. Its a fantastic moment in history to be reminded of that because there are so many things that are weird and not right about the world at the moment and we could probably do with feeling a bit more empowered and believing that if we stand together and try to change things maybe we can. Mothers Day will air on RTE One on Sunday September 2 at 9.30pm, the day after Tim Parrys birthday. He would have been 37. It airs the following night on the BBC. Anyone who witnessed either incident or has any information should call detectives at Musgrave (David Cheskin/PA) Officers are appealing for information after a man was shot in his leg and another was spotted swinging a machete. The Police Service of Northern Ireland said the shooting happened in the Ardoyne Avenue area of north Belfast just after 10.15pm on Saturday. As a result, a man in his thirties was taken to hospital where he was treated for a gunshot wound to his calf and bruising to his face. Detective sergeant Danielle Moffett said: The circumstances of this incident are particularly concerning as it took place at the same time as a local community event. This was a brutal attack and yet another example of how criminal groups seek to control communities through fear and violence. She said the shooting was followed shortly afterwards by reports that at around 10.40pm, an agitated male was seen wielding a machete in the nearby Ardoyne road area of the city. He is described as being dark-haired, wearing a white t-shirt and dark bottoms and was swinging the weapon around him, Ms Moffett said. She added: It was reported that two males disarmed him before then becoming involved in an altercation with him. We believe a male and a female may have received minor injuries during the incident. Anyone who witnessed either incident or has any information should call detectives at Musgrave on 101 quoting reference 1619 of 25/8/18. If you have ever been shot or stabbed or suffered an overdose, you might have encountered Dr Chris Luke. For decades, he led hospital teams battling to save patients whose lives hung in the balance. "We've seen terrible cases of violence, which is the thing that most upsets me most in modern life," he said. The Dubliner was consultant in emergency medicine at both Cork University Hospital (CUH) and Mercy University Hospital in Cork for the last 18 years. He was also director of post-graduate medical education at CUH. He has just retired at age of 59 because severe wear and tear on his neck had led to compression of nerves, pain, numbness in his hand and loss of power in his right arm. In his long career in emergency departments in Edinburgh, Liverpool, Cork, Dublin, Brisbane and other cities, he has seen a wide array of cases. One of the many memorable scenarios in his career arose from gangland violence while he was working at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. He said: "We had an extraordinary case of a chap who had been drinking in a bar near the hospital in Liverpool when he felt a sudden pain in the back of his head. It was the worst ever type of headache, which staff would call a thunderclap headache. It would suggest a brain haemorrhage. Expand Close SELFIE: Chris with his daughter Ciara Dr Luke the Second / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp SELFIE: Chris with his daughter Ciara Dr Luke the Second "He came into the triage area of hospital. When the nurse looked at him, she thought he had a pain around the neck and she X-rayed his neck. The X-ray revealed a bullet at the back of his head. "He had narrowly escaped being assassinated as he sat on a barstool." The vastly experienced Dr Luke is a passionate believer in teaching young doctors and nurses the most effective ways to care for patients rushed by ambulance to emergency departments. He recalled feeling immensely proud of how the emergency room staff in the Mercy University Hospital instantly formed themselves into three teams one day last year and successfully saved the lives and limbs of three victims of a savage machete attack. Teams at CUH also regularly rose magnificently to the occasion to save lives. He remembers with sadness how medical teams put in a massive effort at a Cork hospital some years ago to save the life of an ambulance driver and patients after an ambulance crashed on an emergency call. The driver died and the teams were devastated for a long time afterwards. Also, an "absolutely emotionally exhausting" duty in emergency care was breaking the news to families that a loved one had not survived. Overall, he believes the lack of hospital beds and emergency department resources in the Irish hospital system is affecting the care of patients and the morale of medical teams. Emergency department overcrowding is a widespread problem in Ireland. "Nurses and doctors are trying to do the right thing and are being prevented by circumstances from doing the right things like being kind, creating privacy, affording dignity," he said. "What prevents this is over-crowding, noise, lack of resources, lack of time. "So the top five things - privacy, dignity, compassion, comfort and care - are being obstructed by the want of resources, by the want of time, by the want of space," he told the Sunday Independent. "What happens then? You have people who are committed and who have a vocation to health care, who do the right thing but end up constantly being associated with the wrong thing. That is a mismatch between wanting to do the right thing and ending up doing less than the right thing. It is the moral pathology at the root of burnout. "And burnout is at the root of all the staffing problems," he said. "Burnout is a form of spiritual anaemia where people run out of moral energy, will, drive, and enthusiasm... If a doctor doesn't seem to care, or a nurse doesn't seem to care, it's nine times out of 10 because they are burned out or exhausted. "The answer is largely resources. We have been suffering from a 50pc bed capacity deficit in Ireland for 30 years since Ray MacSharry (the then Finance Minister) wielded the knife in the late 1980s. Mac the Knife, they called him. "Secondly, we need more doctors and nurses and that is to do with enhancing the idea of vocation," he said. All young doctors newly trained by the State should have to sign up for at least six months on "the front line" in hospitals as they do in many other countries. It would help stabilise the supply of doctors. The erratic supply of doctors, the constant search for locums, is a big problem, he said. Generous inspirational leadership is also needed that puts motivation of staff at the top of the agenda. "What motivates staff is the pursuit of excellence, doing the right thing. So all obstacles to excellence like lack of beds, bullying, squabbling between departments, should be got out of the way," he said. The biggest problem in emergency departments is having to deal with non-emergencies which causes overcrowding, he said. "As it is, emergency departments in Ireland are acting as a care of the elderly ward on the corridor, or acting as a waiting room for the hospital, or acting as an outpatient clinic or X-ray and blood-taking service or as a hostel for the homeless, or acting as a walk-in service for tourists and refugees," he said. Just a few days after Dr Luke retired from his emergency medicine consultant role, even before he had chance to say a proper goodbye to everyone, he became an accident casualty himself. "People think I've disappeared like Reggie Perrin in that old TV comedy," he said. "Friends and colleagues think I've disappeared, but I just had a very serious accident... I am my own last patient." Dr Luke was setting out to cycle to a nursing home in Cork to visit his 98-year-old mother Colette when the accident happened. "Before I left, my neighbour remarked on my helmet and hi-vis jacket. We were laughing. I said 'Wouldn't I look like a right fool if I arrived in A&E without the helmet?' "And five minutes later, I went into a pothole and over the handlebars. I was torpedoed into the ground with my head and face and ribs and arms and knees and so on. "The helmet saved my life because I hit the ground just above my ear - the part of the skull which is very thin. "If you hit the front of your head, that's where the thick bone is. If you hit the side of your head, it's thin. That's when you get serious damage. "I lay on the ground, gasping, wheezing, and passers-by came to my assistance, including a lovely Croatian couple," he said. But he did not go for treatment to his old emergency department: "I didn't want to impose on them. It's often very busy on a Sunday night." "After the accident, I actually hobbled down to visit my mother. The nursing staff in her home gave me first aid. I went to the Urgent Care Centre and since then I've been having scans and X-rays and seeing orthopaedic doctors. "Since the accident, my symptoms have emerged bit by bit. I had a fractured elbow to begin with but subsequent scans showed fractures of my wrist, of the length of my forearm, three or four ribs, and probably my shoulder tendons are damaged as well... "The point is that two-thirds of fractures are not seen on the initial X-rays - as they can be hairline or very subtle. "It is only when they change in appearance on a second X-ray 10 days to two weeks later or on scans that you pick them up. That's why so many injuries can be 'missed'. "I don't think doctors appreciate enough that diagnoses can take time, like days or weeks, both with time and tests. In addition, I don't think doctors appreciate how long it can take injuries to settle. In my experience, serious accidents can often take up to 18 months where there has been a collection of problems. "Certainly most fractures take eight to 10 weeks. You do need an interval of a couple of weeks and you also need further imaging," he said. He believes patients' problems are not followed up as often as they should because of over-crowding in hospitals. Dr Luke qualified in 1982 at UCD in Dublin. He worked in four Irish hospitals and did a stint in Zambia. He joined a "flying squad" in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh which involved rushing to accident scenes in ambulances accompanied, in tough areas, by police. He met his wife Vicky, 'a brilliant nurse', when they worked on the flying squad together. The couple has four children - and their eldest, Dr Ciara Luke (26), is training to be a consultant in emergency medicine in St Vincent's in Dublin. "I'm extraordinarily proud of Dr Luke The Second." He said that he has a passionate interest in 'nightclub medicine' which aims to prevent 'party animals' from needing hospital emergency care. It includes training staff at pubs and clubs in Cork in first aid to care for people who are drunk or who are suffering the effects of drug-taking. He always appreciated his emergency department colleagues. "The decency, the extraordinary nobility and the kindness and expertise of the nursing and medical staff who mind people in the most appalling of circumstances has made me proud to work in the front line. "You are serving some of the most difficult people but you are working with the finest human beings. "I am absolutely convinced that what we do in healthcare, in caring for others, is not only good for the others, it is very good for the carer. "Science now suggests that being kind and caring and doing the right thing and being an altruist is astonishingly good for your brain, your mental welfare and your physical well-being. Morality may be very unfashionable - but I still think it is at the very heart of what we do." FUNDING: Minister Jim Daly has called on Shane Ross to show us the money that would fund the grant for grandparents. Photo: Tom Burke Minister for Older People Jim Daly has said he does not oppose the introduction of a grandparent grant - but insisted that the Independent Alliance must explain how the childminding allowance would be funded. Mr Daly said he was "instinctively well disposed" toward any initiative which would improve the living standards of older citizens. However, the Fine Gael minister said Shane Ross must "show us the money" that would fund the 1,000 a year paid to grandparents who mind their grandchildren. "In saying this, I am not opposing but rather respecting his proposal. I do think we have to find innovative ways to respect and develop the role of the elderly in society and in childcare," Mr Daly told the Sunday Independent. "And it is true that a grandparent working voluntarily in this role will always be a better carer of a child than a stranger. "We need a far clearer road-map to get us there. I know Children's Minister Katherine Zappone is working very hard in this area also and constantly stress testing new concepts and ideas to enhance the already substantial progress she and the Government have made in this area. "Change is always difficult. Garret FitzGerald tried this once with his proposed payment for wives. It was a great idea in theory and so is that of Minister Ross, but the problem is finding the money to pay for it," he added. Last week, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar confirmed the so- called 'granny grant' was in the "mix for the Budget". "What we need to consider of course is if we do have extra money for welfare, if we have extra money for childcare, what's the best way to deploy that," he said. Mr Ross rounded on Fine Gael, civil servants and the childcare industry after his proposal was criticised. He said the "establishment" and "conservative forces" were seeking to undermine his plan to reward grandparents who mind their grandchildren while their parents are at work. "The establishment went to work. Anonymous Fine Gael sources were widely quoted as rubbishing the suggestion and its proposers. Official Ireland circled the wagons. Conservative Ireland took to the airwaves," he said. The allowance aims to refund grandparents for expenses they incur while childminding. The grant would not be means tested and Mr Ross also suggested other family members who provided childcare might also be able to avail of the new payment. The granny grant was first proposed by the Independent Alliance two years ago during Budget negotiations with Fine Gael. However, this year Mr Ross insisted on the proposal being central to the Alliance's Budget demands. Privately, Fine Gael ministers have dismissed the idea as too costly to operate. A Fianna Fail TD has said his party should not support the next budget if Fine Gael does not reverse plans to close more than 160 post offices. Sligo-Leitrim TD Marc MacSharry said re-opening the post offices should be a condition of Fianna Fail supporting October's budget. Mr MacSharry said Fianna Fail TDs plan to "up the ante" on Fine Gael over the post office closures in the coming weeks. This could see a private members' motion put before the Dail calling for post offices to be reopened. "The Government are expecting Fianna Fail to facilitate the passage of a Budget in October. If this is to happen we need to see a full reversal of Fine Gael's latest plan to shut down rural Ireland," Mr MacSharry said. The closure of 161 post offices followed lengthy negotiations on a retirement scheme for postmasters. Talks between An Post and the Irish Postmasters' Union (IPU) resulted in hundreds of business owners agreeing to close down their post offices. The closures will reduce the post office network from 1,111 offices to 950 There are concerns An Post will not offer contracts to new postmasters to replace the majority of those who have retired. Mr MacSharry said the Government purposely allowed the closures happen during the summer months when the Dail was in recess. "This plan was negotiated in private by An Post and the Irish Postmasters' Union who successfully negotiated a welcome and worthy retirement package for long-serving members, however they have no mandate or entitlement to negotiate for communities," he said. "These closures were never considered in Dail Eireann and it is my intention with party colleagues to up the ante on Fine Gael and the Government in the weeks ahead to seek the full reversal of this retrograde step. "The timing of these closures is no accident with the Dail in recess. Sixteen are closed already and by the time the Dail returns, most will have closed their doors following the retirement of the postmasters," he added. Mr MacSharry said it is "essential" that all of the 161 post office posts are re-advertised so that other postmasters can apply to "carry on the baton" and ensure that communities have access to services. "Everyone understands that An Post have a commercial mandate and that they must balance the books. For this reason some 8m subvention is required to ensure that postmasters are provided with a viable income and that service provision in rural and vulnerable communities is provided. In the UK, 8,300 post offices receive such support at an annual cost of 130m stg - here we are talking about just 8m," he said. "In addition, instead of more rhetoric about the expansion of services offered by the local post offices, we need to see action. Motor tax, a role in the application process for a range of social and farming supports, together with the development of a 'Kiwi Post Bank'-style third bank independent of the pillar banks must be initiated. Equally important is the need for all of us to use and support our local post office," he said. Touchdown: Pope Francis at Dublin Airport at the start of his visit to Ireland. Photo: David Conachy As the Alitalia flight touched down at Dublin Airport at 10.am yesterday to begin the lightning 36-hour Papal visit, one Italian journalist asked an Irish colleague what the Argentine Pontiff could expect in Ireland. "Will there be protests? Is the atmosphere bad over the abuse scandal?" the Rome-based correspondent asked. The fact that more than 1,200 journalists from over 30 countries are accredited to cover the visit underlined just how much global interest there was in how Pope Francis deals with the dark legacy of Ireland's past clerical abuses. In reality, it is the timing of the Irish visit that is key. Ireland is now viewed by many as a test case for how the Vatican deals with the legacy of clerical abuse in a staunchly Catholic country. It is worth noting that, in Ireland, Mass attendances have dropped from around 85pc at the time of Pope John Paul II's visit in 1979 to a level below 40pc at present. But if the Argentine-born Pontiff was concerned about the issues he faced in Ireland, he didn't offer any hint of it on the three-hour Airbus A320 flight to Dublin. He stuck with his personal - and exceptionally kind - tradition of walking down the aisle of the plane shortly before landing to greet journalists he had never met before. While selfies were frowned upon, journalists were allowed to chat to the Pope about personal issues, request for prayers for loved ones and even to have special items such as medals and Rosary beads blessed. The Pontiff wished one reporter well on the prospect of being a grandfather and offered support to another over the illness of a relative. The warmth and sincerity of Pope Francis's personal engagement is remarkable to witness at close hand. But, until the press conference on board the Papal flight back to Rome tonight, no media questions were permitted. In his opening welcome on the plane, Pope Francis spoke of his joy at returning to Ireland. "It touches my heart, I am returning to Ireland for the first time in almost 28 years," he told reporters on the plane. "I stayed for almost three months in Ireland when I was studying English [in 1980]. "For me, it was a very good memory." Within the church, most agree that Pope Francis is perhaps the only person who would have insisted on tackling such an explosive issue directly. One senior Vatican source acknowledged that it would have been much easier for Pope Francis to have avoided Ireland and the issue of clerical abuse altogether. But that is not the approach of the Jesuit. Irish theologian Prof Fainche Ryan, of Trinity College Dublin, underlined the fact by saying Pope Francis, above all others, recognised the dark shadow cast by clerical abuse, has tried to address it and push through changes in the Church. But, she warned, it isn't easy even for someone of Pope Francis's personal magnetism and talents to hurry a 2,000-year-old organisation into change. Pope Francis didn't shy away from Northern Ireland, the Good Friday Agreement and, intriguingly, what he termed "those women who in the past have endured particularly difficult situations". It wasn't immediately clear last night whether this was a veiled reference to mother-and-baby homes or the women whose plight became a key issue in Ireland's abortion referendum. Watching Pope Francis at close quarters throughout yesterday, it was clear he was most comfortable among ordinary people. He was visibly engaged at the Cappuchin Day Centre as he met people who had been impacted by homelessness. For a man who has focused his entire life on helping the poor and the disadvantaged, this was the ground on which he was happiest. He was also visibly at ease in St Mary's Pro-Cathedral as he offered a special blessing to more than 150 Irish couples who had been married over the past 12 months. Despite the rigid nature of his schedule, the Pope appeared intent on spending as much time as possible with ordinary people who had taken the trouble and travelled great distances to meet him. What is also surprising is the remarkable energy he has for a man of his age. At 81, Pope Francis boasts a schedule that would exhaust much younger men. His flight to Ireland from Rome's Da Vinci airport involved check-in and security screening from 5am for journalists. While the Pontiff had another hour's grace, it still involves a 15-hour day in Ireland for the octogenarian. That will be followed by a 5am start - and a flight back to Rome that only gets him back to the Vatican at midnight. Anyone who has ever stood under the magnificent ceilings of the Sistine Chapel, whether ardent worshipper or non-believer, could attest to the wonder and awe of Michelangelo's masterpiece. It is largely held as the most stunning example of the church's use of art to move us spiritually and to bring us closer to God. It might surprise you then that, if you were to look a little closer, you would see coded symbols of the female sex organ hidden among the sweeping frescos. As described in the journal of Clinical Anatomy, in the exact centre of the ceiling, where many Popes have celebrated Mass and worshipped on their knees, Michelangelo placed the pagan symbol for the vagina to exalt what has widely been neglected by the Catholic Church. The artist's act of rebellion took issue with the fact that the church had a problem with women and sex. Afraid of it, ashamed of it, perhaps they were all too aware that - apart from money - it is the single greatest entity on earth that arguably holds more power than God. Money - that can be controlled by the patriarchy. But sex? Well, that is in the hands of women. So they needed to be supressed. But for the first 1,110 years of the church's existence, this wasn't the case. Sex wasn't seen as dirty or shameful. Peter, the first Pope, and the apostles that Jesus chose were married men. Even Jesus himself was arguably not celibate. Isn't it incredible that we know nothing about a man who is the most influential individual in human history, until after he starts preaching to his followers, three years before his crucifixion? According to one ancient document - the "Lost Gospel", which can be found in the British Library - sometime during this hazy period, he was married and had sexual relations and even children - which would not have been unusual for a Jewish man in that age. It was only in 1139 that priests were explicitly forbidden from marrying. Denying the prospect of marriage had the benefit of making certain that children or wives of priests did not make claims on property acquired throughout a priest's life, and so could be retained by the church. It took centuries for the practice of celibacy to become widespread, but it eventually became the norm in the western Catholic Church. And yet, as Freudian enthusiasts can attest, try and suppress any feeling and it will only come out in far more ugly ways. Just over 300 years later, Alexander VI became pope - he had several mistresses and fathered at least nine children, possibly as a result of hosting orgies. In 1508, Julius II, described as "the most ferocious pope of the period - imperious, hot-tempered, manically active" contracted an STD from frequenting prostitutes. The list goes on and on. Outside the lives of clergymen, the church has used religion to demean girls and women. And that can be said of all religions - from female and male circumcision to denying bodily anatomy. Undoubtedly, one of the greatest barriers to the church becoming part of the modern world is its continued denial of sex as the greatest gift that God has given to human kind. And She (why do we so often assume God is a man?) never intended it to be debased or manipulated as we see it today. That means allowing priests the right to marry and enjoy a basic human need. It also means we need to start teaching lay people that pre-marital sex is far from a sin, but should be embraced as an act of love. I often think back to a priest I met - Fr Jim Dempsey from Co Offaly. Years ago, he met a woman and had to leave his role after falling in love. Now married and a father, he yearns to continue practising as a priest and saying Mass but instead has to counsel locals from where he works, behind a bar. If the church keeps losing good people like that in the name of an archaic law, it's only a matter of time until it becomes the architect of its own ruin. 26th August 2018. Pope Francis seen at Dublin Airport before departing for Rome. Photo: Justin Farrelly. 26th August 2018. Pope Francis seen at Dublin Airport before departing for Rome. Photo: Justin Farrelly. 26th August 2018. Pope Francis seen at Dublin Airport before departing for Rome. Photo: Justin Farrelly. 26th August 2018. Pope Francis seen at Dublin Airport before departing for Rome. Photo: Justin Farrelly. 26th August 2018. Pope Francis seen at Dublin Airport before departing for Rome. Photo: Justin Farrelly. Pope Francis leaving on an Aer Lingus aircraft from Dublin Airport back to the Vatican putting an end to his visit to Ireland: Joe Giddens/PA Wire Pope Francis has bid farewell to Ireland following his historic two-day visit to Dublin and Knock. The Pontiff pulled up to the tarmac at Dublin Airport in his blue Skoda, alongside his host, the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo shortly after 6:15 this evening. After shaking hands with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin and Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin, he spoke briefly with other dignitaries before mounting the steps to the plane for his homeward journey to Rome's Ciampino airport. But not before giving a hearty laugh at the wind that kept blowing his cossock over his head. After removing his Papal cap before entering the plane, he shook hands with the pilot and crew. He then turned to the large contingent of gardai, airport security and dignitaries and gave a blessing and a wave before the Aer Lingus A321 jet, the St Aidan, took off around 6:40pm. He will travel back to the Vatican along with 126 Vatican officials, security staff and journalists with Aer Lingus pilots Capt Steve Kelly and Capt Shane Kearney at the helm. While on board he will be served on a traditional Irish meal, including Toons mozzerella with fresh leek salad and sun-dried tomato tartar with basil pesto as a starter. For mains he will have a choice of smoked salmon with cabbage or basil pesto risotto, followed by passion fruit mousse for dessert. After the meal, Aer Lingus Chief Strategy and Planning Officer Greg Kaldahl and the airline's Chief Technical Officer Fergus Wilson will present the Pontiff with various gifts of behalf of the State carrier. They include a model of Aer Lingus' first aircraft, the De Havilland DH84 Dragon EI ABI. He will also receive a replica of the circa 800AD Celtic Crucifix which Saint John Paul the Second also received when he flew back to Rome aboard Aer Lingus jet the St Patrick following his papal visit here in 1979. His 36-hour visit was part of the Catholic Church's World Meeting of Families drew journalists and faithful from around the world. Thousands of spectators lined the streets of the capital on Saturday where he greeted the faithful from his pope mobile as he wound his way from St Mary's Pro Cathedral to the Capuchin Day Centre to meet with homeless families. An estimated crowd of 130,000 attended an open-air mass at Dublin's Phoenix Park yesterday where the Pontiff asked for forgiveness for the church's complicity in the clerical abuse scandal. But the numbers fell short of the 500,000 tickets that had been allocated to the free event. His visit was also marked by protests by victims of the sex abuse scandal and other institutional abuse survivors. FORCE FOR GOOD: Pope Francis is welcomed by Brother Kevin Crowley at the Capuchin Day Centre. Photo: Damien Eagers Pope Francis was visibly moved as he met families in crisis at a private meeting at a homelessness and poverty support centre in Dublin yesterday. The Argentine-born Pontiff had asked for a meeting with families in crisis to be included on his Irish programme - and he met individuals and families who are being supported by the Capuchin Fathers at their Dublin centre. Unlike the Dublin Castle, St Mary's Pro Cathedral and Croke Park events being attended by the Pontiff, the Capuchin Centre meeting was a private affair to respect the families involved. The Pontiff was accompanied to the centre by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. Pope Francis offered prayers and support for all those facing homelessness and other problems. There were emotional scenes as people explained their problems to the Pope - and how they had fought to keep a roof over their heads. The pontiff paid tribute to the Capuchin Fathers and others who are doing such great work to assist those in poverty or facing homelessness. He said families "facing grave challenges and real hardship are being shown love and support by the Capuchin Fathers." Pope Francis called for greater support for the sick, disadvantaged, lonely, depressed and the dying. "No family can grow if it forgets its roots," he warned. He urged 60 homeless individuals and families assembled in the Capuchin Day Centre to meet with him to trust those trying to help them. Among the group, mainly from the Dublin area, were families with young children. The Pontiff told them he was praying for them and all those who were suffering from social disadvantage. "I urge the homeless to trust the Capuchin Fathers," Pope Francis said. "They will give you things you need. But listen to the advice they give. If you have a doubt, a pain or a hurt, speak to them," he urged. Candice Hartigan, from Ballymun, and her 11-month-old daughter Bella Keogh were among those who met the Pope in the centre. They have been homeless for two months and staying in temporary accommodation in Dublin City Centre. "I am not very religious but my nanny is. She is always talking about 1979 [and John Paul II's visit] and I want this visit to be something we can tell Bella about and have her look back on. "When we got in and he came over to meet us he placed his hand on top of her head and gave her a blessing. "Later, they were making a presentation and one of the people showing him around suggested Bella should be in the photo because she was the youngest person there. "She was asleep and Pope Francis leaned in and kissed her. She woke when he kissed her - but she stayed quiet. "I couldn't be happier. This means more to me than getting her christened. Not everyone gets a blessing off of the Pope." The Capuchin Centre provides around 800 meals a day for the homeless - and demand for their services has surged in recent years. Brother Kevin Crowley of the Capuchin Centre said it was vital to respect those attending asking for support. "My primary concern is for the dignity and respect of each person attending our centre," he said. "We don't ask them any questions as we feel it is difficult enough to come and bring their children here to be fed and nourished. Our main concern is that no one should go hungry," he said. The Pope travelled to the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin's Bowe Street, near Smithfield, from St Mary's Pro Cathedral in Marlborough Street. He travelled in the Pope-mobile along O'Connell Street, Dame Street and Christchurch, before crossing the Liffey on the Father Mathew Bridge, onto Church Street in the north inner city. Thousands gathered on the streets to catch a glimpse of the Pope as he made his way to the centre. The mother of a young girl who managed to get a selfie on stage with Pope Francis on Saturday night in Croke Park says she is over the moon Alison Nevin, 12, from Swords in Dublin - who was brought along as a representative of the Traveller community to meet Pope Francis during the Festival of Families - saw the golden opportunity for a selfie with the leader of the Catholic Church, and took it. Her mum, Brigid, told the Press Association it is important that young traveller people have confidence in themselves, and Alison, who has met Pope Francis before, is a good example for others. She said: "It was a lovely experience for us all, we were given two tickets for myself and Alison to attend, but we weren't expecting to get up that close to him. Expand Close Pilgrims arriving in the Phoenix Park for Pope Francis closing Mass. Picture By David Conachy. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Pilgrims arriving in the Phoenix Park for Pope Francis closing Mass. Picture By David Conachy. "One of the speakers brought Alison up along with her, as a representative of the young Traveller community. "She was a bit nervous when she was sitting on the bench waiting to meet with him, but she said the nervousness left when she got up. Expand Close Pope Francis leads the World Meeting of Families closing mass in Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland, August 26, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Pope Francis leads the World Meeting of Families closing mass in Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland, August 26, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay "She said she had been thinking of asking him for a selfie in her head, and didn't tell anyone about it, just decided to go for it. "She's absolutely over the moon, her Facebook and Instagram were hopping off all over the place. Expand Close John and Mary Connors with daughter Allie and son Tom from Carlow arriving in the Phoenix Park for Pope Francis closing Mass. Picture By David Conachy. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp John and Mary Connors with daughter Allie and son Tom from Carlow arriving in the Phoenix Park for Pope Francis closing Mass. Picture By David Conachy. "We had to turn the phones off last night, they were ringing non-stop, and the picture was shared over and over. "She starts her first day of secondary school tomorrow, so she'll be started school famous." One of the biggest cheers in Croke Park on Saturday was for activist Missy Collins talking about Traveller families, their faith and their exclusion in Irish society - with Alison by her side, Ms Collins asked the Pontiff to pray for young Traveller people in Ireland. "It's very important for us to have members of the travelling community represented for young people," Brigid added. "With Alison being so young, she's set a trend for her peers to have confidence in herself and do it." The Croke Park event marked the second time Alison met with Pope Francis. Due to suffering from a number of medical issues in the past, she and her mother were gifted tickets for a Papal Mass, and travelled to Rome to meet with the Pontiff and present him with a gift, three years ago. Brigid said: "This is actually her second time meeting the Pope, we travelled to Rome three years ago, where she got a special audience with the Pope as the first Traveller child he met that day. "Alison was in and out of hospital at the time, and we were given tickets for us to meet with him. "He came off the podium and met with her, and she was able to give him a gift. "Alison would be religious in herself, she has very strong belief so to get this experience, she's just over the moon." Pope Francis at the Phoenix Park, Dublin for the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. Photo: PA POPE Francis used the final event of his two-day Irish Papal visit to again pray for clerical abuse victims. The Pontiff, in a special meeting with Irish bishops held at the Convent of the Dominican Sisters in Dublin, also remembered the members of the Irish clergy whose "hurt and discouragement" over the abuse scandals often goes widely ignored. Pope Francis met with Irish bishops before heading to Dublin Airport for his flight back to Rome amid a general consensus that his Irish visit, which threatened to be overshadowed by the abuse controversy, was a success. The Pope met with abuse survivors on Saturday evening and used events in Dublin's Phoenix Park and Knock Shrine to pray for those who were betrayed by a minority of the clergy. Expand Close Pope Francis leads the World Meeting of Families closing mass in Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland, August 26, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Pope Francis leads the World Meeting of Families closing mass in Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland, August 26, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay Read More "A recurrent theme of my visit, of course, has been the Churchs need to acknowledge and remedy, with evangelical honesty and courage, past failures with regard to the protection of children and vulnerable adults," he said. "In recent years, you as a body have resolutely moved forward, not only by undertaking paths of purification and reconciliation with victims of abuse, but also, with the help of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Church in Ireland, by establishing a stringent set of norms aimed at ensuring the safety of young persons." "In these years, all of us have had our eyes opened to the gravity and extent of sexual abuse in various social settings. In Ireland, as elsewhere, the honesty and integrity with which the Church chooses to confront this painful chapter of her history can offer an example and a warning to society as a whole." But Pope Francis also mentioned the Irish clergy and the impact on them of the abuse scandals. Expand Close An aerial view of the crowd at Phoenix Park in Dublin as Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp An aerial view of the crowd at Phoenix Park in Dublin as Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families, as part of his visit to Ireland. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire "I am also grateful for the support you (bishops) give to your priests, whose hurt and discouragement in the face of recent scandals is often ignored or underestimated," he said. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin had warned at the Phoenix Park open Mass that: "The faith in Ireland is strong - but the faith in Ireland is also fragile." The Archbishop said the Irish Church would not forget the dark events revealed by the various controversies. Pope Francis reminded Irish bishops of their responsibilities. Read More "All of us, as bishops, are conscious of our responsibility to be fathers to Gods holy and faithful people. As good fathers, we want to encourage and inspire, to reconcile and unify, and above all, to preserve all the good handed down from generation to generation in this great family which is the Church in Ireland." "So, my word to you this evening is one of encouragement for your efforts, in these challenging times, to persevere in your ministry as heralds of the Gospel and shepherds of Christs flock. In a particular way, I am grateful for the concern you continue to show for the poor, the excluded and those in need of a helping hand, as witnessed most recently by your pastoral letters on the homeless and on substance misuse." "The (Dublin) World Meeting of Families has given us great hope and encouragement that families are growing more and more conscious of their own irreplaceable role in passing on the faith." "At the same time, Catholic schools and programmes of religious instruction continue to play an indispensable role in creating a culture of faith and a sense of missionary discipleship." "I know that this is a source of pastoral concern for all of you." "Genuine religious formation calls for faithful and joyful teachers who are able to shape not only minds but also hearts in the love of Christ and in the practice of prayer." "The formation of such teachers and the expansion of programmes of adult education, are essential for the future of the Christian community. Holy Father, on behalf of the Irish people, I want to greet you using one of the oldest blessings we use to welcome a special guest to Ireland - cead mile failte - one hundred thousand welcomes. And, given the hundreds of thousands of people who will come out to see you, to hear you say Mass, and to receive your blessing, I can think of no welcome more appropriate. I know you spent a few weeks in Dublin in 1980 at the Jesuit centre in Milltown Park learning English, so we are delighted to welcome you back to Ireland. 1980 was a year after the visit of Pope John Paul II and we are so grateful that his prayers for peace on our island were eventually answered through the Good Friday Agreement. A peace we will protect and nurture. Today I am privileged to welcome representatives from all communities in Northern Ireland and from Britain here today. Together we are guided by your words: "Make bridges, not walls, because walls fall." We are also joined here today by people from all walks of life, members of government and frontline public servants, those born here and those who have chosen to come here, men and women, young and old, Catholics, as well as members of other faiths and none. We all share a common home - and it is our duty to nurture this planet and look after its people. Holy Father, we thank you for your care for the Earth, for emphasising the urgent challenge of climate change, and for reminding us of our responsibilities. We thank you for the empathy you have shown for the poor, for migrants, and for refugees. Although you are here principally for a pastoral visit in the form of the World Meeting of Families in Dublin, we are grateful that you have found time to do other things, including this event in Dublin Castle, a visit to our President, and mass in the Phoenix Park. We are also delighted that you are taking time to visit the shrine at Knock, and we hope that, during a future visit, it will be possible for you to travel to Northern Ireland. Is de bharr do chuairte, ta go leor againne ag smaoineamh nios faide agus nios doimhne anois ar an gcaidreamh ata idir Eirinn agus an Eaglais Chaitliceach Romanach creideamh a thugadh go hEirinn na ceadta bliain o shin. Sa seu haois, thug file, scolaire agus manach darb ainm Columban... no "Saint Columbanus" mar a thugtar air sa Bhearla, teachtaireacht an tsoisceil ar ais chun na Mor-Roinne. Is de thoisc a chuid oibre, tugadh an teideal "an chead Eorpach na hEireann" air agus Naomh-Phatrun doibh siud ata ag iarraidh Eoraip chomhaontaithe a chur i gcrioch. The Christian faith inspired many of the people, Catholic and Protestant, who led our campaigns for freedom and independence. Indeed both the 1916 Proclamation of Independence and the Constitution invoke God in their opening lines. In more recent years, Christian democracy and Christian ideas also helped to inform and guide the founders of the European Union, inspiring a continent to abandon war in favour of ever closer co-operation. The Catholic Church has always helped us to understand that we are citizens of a wider world and part of a global family. Our brave missionary priests and nuns provided an education to many around the world, and helped the sick, the poor and the vulnerable. Today our UN peacekeepers and our international development workers around the world follow in that proud tradition, and charities like Trocaire and Concern help those who suffer from famine today, and also refugees. People of profound Christian faith provided education to our children when the State did not, in the open air next to hedgerows and in the schools and educational institutions they built. They founded our oldest hospitals, staffed them, and provided welfare for so many of our people. We think of the many wonderful organisations today who continue that work, like St Vincent de Paul to name just one. It is easy to forget that the Irish State, founded in 1922, did not set up a Department of Health or a Department of Social Welfare until 1947. These are now our two largest and best funded government departments accounting for more than half of government spending between them today. Providing healthcare, education and welfare is now considered a core function of our State. When the State was founded, it was not. The Catholic Church filled that gap to the benefit of many generations of our people. We remain profoundly grateful for that contribution. Even today, as we struggle with a housing shortage and homelessness, Catholic organisations and people inspired by their Catholic faith fill a gap in providing services, for example, through organisations like CrossCare. Holy Father, during your Papacy, we have all witnessed your compassion for those on the edge of our society, those who have not shared in our relative prosperity, those you have slipped through the net. Your visit to the Capuchin Day Centre later today reminds us of work we still have to do to ensure that the promise of the New Testament is fulfilled, that we rejoice with the truth, always protect, always trust, always hope, always persevere. And never fail. At times in the past we have failed. There are ''dark aspects'' of the Catholic Church's history, as one of our bishops recently said. We think of the words of the Psalm which tells us that ''children are a heritage from the Lord'' and we remember the way the failures of both church and State and wider society created a bitter and broken heritage for so many, leaving a legacy of pain and suffering. It is a history of sorrow and shame. In place of Christian charity, forgiveness and compassion, far too often there was judgment, severity and cruelty, in particular, towards women and children and those on the margins. Magdalene Laundries, Mother and Baby Homes, industrial schools, illegal adoptions and clerical child abuse are stains on our State, our society and also the Catholic Church. Wounds are still open and there is much to be done to bring about justice and truth and healing for victims and survivors. Holy Father, I ask that you use your office and influence to ensure this is done here in Ireland and across the world. In recent weeks, we have all listened to heart-breaking stories from Pennsylvania of brutal crimes perpetrated by people within the Catholic Church, and then obscured to protect the institution at the expense of innocent victims. It is a story all too tragically familiar here in Ireland. There can only be zero tolerance for those who abuse innocent children or who facilitate that abuse. We must now ensure that from words flow actions. Above all, Holy Father, I ask for you to listen to the victims. The Ireland of the 21st Century is a very different place today than it was in the past. Ireland is increasingly diverse. One in six of us were not born here, and there are more and more people who adhere to other faiths, or who are comfortable in declaring that they subscribe to no organised religion. We have voted in our parliament and by referendum to modernise our laws - understanding that marriages do not always work, that women should make their own decisions, and that families come in many forms including those headed by a grandparent, lone parent or same-sex parents or parents who are divorced. Holy Father, I believe that the time has now come for us to build a new relationship between church and State in Ireland - a new covenant for the 21st Century. It is my hope that your visit marks the opening of a new chapter in the relationship between Ireland and the Catholic Church. Building on our intertwined history, and learning from our shared mistakes, it can be one in which religion is no longer at the centre of our society, but in which it still has an important place. One with greater diversity and choice when it comes to the patronage of our schools - and where publicly funded hospitals are imbued with a civic and scientific ethos. Ireland is a different country than it was 39 years ago. Modern Ireland is still a country with faith and spirit and values. Family, community, enterprise, social justice, diversity, openness and internationalism, equality before the law, and individual liberty - these values describe the Republic we aspire to be. We thank you for your visit, and ask for your prayers as we start on that journey together. Perception is everything. If you were asked to picture Austria in your mind, what would you see? Probably the pristine, snow-capped Alps that extend for over 500 kilometres down the west and south of the country. Hold this image, and then try to imagine what wine from this country would be like. You are probably visualising crisp, fresh wine; crystalline, like a stream flowing down the mountains. And you would be right. Austrian wine is all about purity. On a latitude between Burgundy and Champagne, but further inland, the wine regions in Austria benefit from the warm continental air blowing across from Hungary. Its warm, sunny summers bring out the aromatic character in the wine, and cool nights in autumn maintain its fresh, wet stone minerality; nothing is overblown. The vineyards are mostly located on the eastern side along the Hungarian, Czech, Slovakian and Slovenian borders, with the white wines being produced to the north of Vienna, and the reds south of the city. Charmingly, there are even 612 hectares of urban vineyards in Vienna. Wine production in Austria is small scale. Over half the growers work part-time in their vineyards as the plots, which have been handed down through the generations, are too small to provide a livelihood. But quality is paramount. In Austria, 21pc of all agricultural land is farmed organically and 13pc of vineyards are certified organic, which is a notably high percentage. Added to this, a minimum intervention approach is practised by two thirds of the vineyards, and strict regulations ensure that yields are kept exceptionally low. This means that Austria doesn't do commercial bulk wine at entry level prices. However, if you're prepared to spend just a little bit more, it really is worth it for the quality. As a rule of thumb, you just can't go wrong with an Austrian wine. And if you're looking for something really special, at the 30 to 50 mark, you are into world class quality. With 36 grape varieties permitted under the Austrian quality system, 22 white and 14 red, the styles are also influenced by the different terroirs, which range from the rocky Wachau Valley to volcanic soil, black earth, gravel, limestone and clay. There are a number of native varieties, and although many of them are lesser known, you have probably tried their very fashionable Gruner Veltliner, the white wine which is to Austria what Albarino is to Spain and Sauvignon Blanc is to New Zealand. It accounts for a third of Austria's vineyards and is grown in Niederosterreich (Lower Austria) which extends from the Danube region to the Weinviertel. It is also grown in Vienna and Burgenland and displays a range of flavours depending on where it is grown and how long it has been aged. The native black-skinned grape varieties include Blaufrankisch, St Laurent and Zweigelt. Blaufrankisch, which is the most highly regarded of the Austrian red wine grapes, is a late-ripening varietal which has vibrant, deep forest berry fruit and a delicate spiciness. St Laurent is considered to be the difficult child of these three, but is starting to enjoy a renaissance with top winemakers, showing the potential this Pinot Noir-style grape has. And Zweigelt, which is a cross of Blaufrankisch and St Laurent, is a grape you may have come across as it has become more popular over the past few years. It's the most planted black variety, and can be made in styles that range from fresh, easy-drinking wines to more powerful, fuller-bodied wines which have been aged in oak barriques. Grapevine With all the amazing Irish gins on the market, you could nearly forget that there's such a thing as vodka. Except not now. The Shed Distillery, who are behind the wonderful Gunpowder Gin, have just launched a very interesting vodka. Called Sausage Tree Pure Irish Vodka, it is slow distilled with Irish grain, wild Irish nettles, and fruit from the Kigelia Africana, also known as the sausage tree, which are hailed for their purification powers. Smooth and creamy, with just a hint of chlorophyll, serve it over ice with a premium soda and a wedge of orange. 43.95 in O'Briens and leading off-licences. 4 wines to try Leberges Gruner Veltiner 2017, 6.99 11.5pc, from Aldi Expand Close Leberges / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Leberges Not from Austria, but from across the border in Hungary, this is dry and crisp, with refreshing flavours of citrus fruit and green herbs and the characteristic notes of white pepper and warm spice. Beautiful on its own or with Asian food. Seasonal, so buy it now. Loimer Langenlois Kamptal Gruner Veltliner 2016, 24.99 12.5pc, 64 Wine, Fresh, Mitchell & Sons, World Wide Wines and wineonline.ie Expand Close Langelois / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Langelois From the sunny Kamptal region of Lower Austria, this biodynamic white wine is a good example of the expressive Gruner Veltliner grape which is native to the country. It has the typical peppery note and a generous wash of ripe apples. Tement Sauvignon Blanc Steirische Klassik 2016, 25-26 12.5pc, from Corkscrew, Green Man Wines, Redmonds, all Dublin Expand Close Tement / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Tement This organic, wild ferment, zero sulphur Sauvignon Blanc from the Styria region in Austria is crisp and vivid with notes of dill and green herbs overlying rich complexity with hints of citrus and pear. Heinrich "Red" 2015, 21.99 12.5pc, from Sweeneys, Redmonds, McHughs, Martin's, Kelly's Off-Licence and wineonline.ie Expand Close Heinrich / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Heinrich Gernot Heinrich's vineyard in Austria has been certified biodynamic since 2009. Using indigenous grapes, primarily Blaufrankisch and Zweigelt, with a bit of St Laurent, this deliciously light red wine has vibrant cherry and red currant notes with just a hint of spice. Dermot Bannon has revealed he will do "something very basic" regarding the renovation of his new family home in Drumcondra. Having just sold their house on Bantry Road for around 700,000, TV architect Bannon and his wife Louise are gearing up to tackle their new home nearby, which they reportedly bought for almost 800,000. Speaking to The Sunday World, Bannon revealed that his plans for the renovation of the new three-bedroom house are more modest than people might expect. "Everybody thinks that I live in this massive big mansion and people were always a bit underwhelmed by where we lived," he told the publication. "I don't have huge needs [for the new home]. I'm going to do something very basic. I just want a really well-functioning house, it's not going to be a huge house." Dermot, who will chart his new home's renovation in a special episode of the upcoming series of Room to Improve, also said that people assume he is more wealthy than he really is. "I work in television, but I'm an architect and most architects aren't that wealthy," he said. "TV doesn't pay that well. I don't know where people think I'm getting this money from. They see the word 'architect', they see that I do all of these homes and I work in television and think, 'he must e an absolute bloody millionaire'." Dermot and Louise and their three children have lived on Bantry Road for 12 years. He recently told Independent.ie that he is excited about putting his ideas into effect in his own new home, without objections from clients. "This is kind of, what would you do, with no boundaries, with no clients telling you 'I don't like that, I hate blue, I hate the colour green, I don't like glass, I don't like windows, I don't like stone, I don't like concrete, I don't like brick'? So this is what I would do with no limitations," he said. He is also gearing up for a new series of Dermot Bannon's Homes which will see him visiting remarkable homes from London to Australia and, he hopes, Scandinavia. More than half of Toyota car sales are now hybrid and that number is expected to accelerate as diesels drop from the sales lists. To boost the interest in hybrid electric technology, four new self-charging hybrid models will be available in 2019. Included is the new generation versions of the RAV4, Auris and the much-missed Camry, above, making an appearance after 14 years, as the long-running Avensis prepares to make an exit. What will interest Irish buyers greatly is that the Corolla, a long-time best-seller in many world markets, is to get the hybrid treatment also. While many may regret the loss of the highly economical D-4D diesel engine, the hybrid version in an all-new upmarket body will focus on economy and a "fun-to-drive" architecture. It is expected to come with a 1.8-litre engine and there will be a non-hybrid 1.6-litre option. The arrival is expected to be about February next year, after the world launch in China this autumn. Prices for all the new hybrid models will be announced in October, with full engine line-up and specifications to heighten expectations and create an order bank. The move from diesel is likely to put pressure on hybrid deliveries which are expected to capture more than 70pc of sales for the importers, with the new Corolla possibly exceeding that in the family saloon segment. Toyota is anxious to maintain its lead in the hybrid stakes as dirty diesel faces pressure. The new models get what Toyota describes as TNGA architecture treatment as seen in the C-hR SUV. The emphasis will be on driving quality as much as the styling and economy. The RAV4 hybrid goes on sale in January with a 2.5-litre engine and is wider and has a longer wheelbase. The Auris also gets a longer wheelbase with more spacious Touring Sport. It also arrives in January. Expect a 2-litre 180bhp engine while the Camry Hybrid gets a 2.5-litre engine with 218bhp. Jonathan Gold, the Pulitzer- winning restaurant critic for the LA Times, who died last month, was of the opinion that a simple taco offers "more deliciousness per square inch ... per second ... than almost anything in the world". Gold was famous for diligence in the job (he once ate in a restaurant 17 times before reviewing it), and for seeking out under-the-radar places in strip malls and food trucks, rather than the glitzier spots that one might typically associate with the City of Angels. He appears in the episode of David Chang's (of Momofuko fame) Netflix series Ugly Delicious dedicated to tacos. Mexican is one of the great cuisines of the world, not something that might immediately be apparent if one's exposure to it is limited to the Old El Paso meal kits that one finds in the supermarket. And tacos are indisputably the national dish of Mexico, originating as food for workers. The complexity of the food of Mexico reflects immigration from countries as diverse as China and the Lebanon: immigrants from the latter are thought to be responsible for the evolution of tacos al pastor - a marinated pork and pineapple combo cooked on one of those 'spinning tops' in the manner of the lamb shwarma indigenous to much of the Middle East, of which more later. In Dublin, if you want to learn how to make authentic Mexican dishes, head to one of Lily Ramirez-Foran's cooking classes/supper clubs at her shop, Picado Mexican, on South Richmond Street. I went a couple of years ago. Lily impressed upon us that the tortillas that you buy in packets in the supermarket are generally pretty rubbish (she sells good ones in the shop and online) and that if we were serious about Mexican food then we should really be making our own. I came home with a tortilla press and giant bag of the nixtamal flour that you need to make the masa dough which you then press out into corn tortillas, and I'm ashamed to say that both are still languishing in the pantry. So the first thing that I wanted to know about Masa, a new fast casual restaurant from the people behind Bunsen, was what was the story with their tortillas, and were they the genuine article. It turns out, perhaps not unexpectedly, that the obsession with getting things right that informed the start of Bunsen five years ago has been carried through to Masa. Tom Gleeson and his cousin Finn spent months getting everything about their burger - including the crucial meat to fat ratio in the patty - just perfect, and for my money it's consistently the best in the city. (Bunsen also has an outlet in Cork.) I'm not alone. At Masa, the 'food lead' is another cousin, Shane (Finn's younger brother), who spent time working at Thomasina Mier's Wahaca, and also at Breddo's, both in London, as well as travelling and eating extensively in Mexico. When I call him the day after eating at Masa, Tom Gleeson tells me that Shane is 'militant about authenticity' when it comes to the tortillas that are the cornerstone of the tacos at Masa, adding that the opening of the restaurant was delayed by a month as they waited on the arrival of a taco pressing machine from Mexico City. Shane makes the masa dough fresh each day from scratch. Masa, located in the long, narrow space that was formerly home to Super Miss Sue, takes walk-ins only, but on the night that we visit we don't have to queue. There's a 'Mexico by way of Palm Springs' vibe to the decor, and there doesn't appear to be anyone over 30 in the room. Looking at the prices, it's easy to understand why - my daughters love the fact that Masa is offering an alternative to the burger and pizza options that are often the only ones within their budget. So, what do we eat? The food comes as it is ready, rather than as starters, mains etc. There are crisp tortilla chips with a few different and distinctive salsas, and a decent fresh guacamole, plus delicious elotes - a street-food dish of pieces of corn bathed in mayonnaise, cayenne and cheese. (Masa uses Parmesan as the closest readily available alternative to Mexican cotija.) Plain quesadillas, filled with cheese and tomato, are thin and tasty and the four different tacos that we try - al pastor (cooked on Masa's own spinning top), barbacoa (with feta, onion and coriander), carne asada (steak, crema and coriander) and cod (cabbage, chipotle and lime) - are excellent. The only disappointments are the Mexican bravas - perhaps on the menu because every Irish restaurant has to have some variation on chips? - which should be hotter and more crisp, and the fact that there are no churros y cajeta (goat's milk caramel) on offer because "something went wrong with the batter today". (No matter, we walk a couple of hundred metres and pick up great ice-cream from Murphy's on Wicklow Street.) The bill for dinner for four, with three beers and one soft drink, comes to a modest 60.60 before service; the ice-creams were 13.50 for three. I don't know enough about Mexican food to vouch for the absolute authenticity of the food at Masa, but I can vouch for its absolute deliciousness. THE RATING 8/10 food 8/10 ambience 10/10 value for money 26/30 ON A BUDGET Nothing at Masa is going to break the bank, but two could share tortilla chips with salsa, fish tacos and tacos al pastor, and a side of elotes, and get out for 14.70 before drinks or service. ON A BLOW OUT Two sharing tortilla chips with guacamole, elotes, Mexican bravas, a portion of tacos filled with carne asada and another with fried chicken, with churros to finish, will spend 28.70 before drinks or service. THE HIGH POINT Delicious food, exceptional value. THE LOW POINT The Mexican bravas underwhelmed. Princess Eugenie of York (right), Anne Princess Royal (left) and Princess Beatrice of York (hidden) arriving at the racecourse during day three of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse Princess Beatrice of York attends the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank in the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace in London after they announced their engagement. Photo: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire Princess Beatrice (L) and Princess Eugenie and Prince Andrew, Duke of York arrive at the annual Trooping the Colour Ceremony on June 15, 2013 in London, England Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and his daughters Britain's Princess Eugenie of York (L) and Britain's Princess Beatrice of York arrive for the wedding ceremony of Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and US actress Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor, on May 19, 2018. (Photo by Chris Jackson / POOL / AFP) Princess Eugenie and her fiance Jack Brooksbank outside St Mary the Virgin Church in Frensham, Surrey, after attending the wedding of Charlie van Straubenzee and Daisy Jenks Princess Beatrice, producer Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, and Princess Eugenie arrive at The Young Victoria Los Angeles Screening at the Pacific Theatres at The Grove on December 3, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie arrive to the wedding of Prince Christian of Hanover and Alessandra de Osma at Basilica San Pedro on March 16, 2018 in Lima, Peru. (Photo by Raul Sifuentes/Getty Images) (L-R) Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie attend 'We Day UK' at Wembley Arena on March 7, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images) (L-R) Princess Beatrice, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York and Princess Eugenie arrive for the World Premiere of The Young Victoria at the Odeon Cinema, Leicester Square on 03 March, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Whitby/Getty Images) (L-R) Princess Eugenie Ferguson, Sarah Ferguson,the Duchess of York, and Princess Beatrice Ferguson attend the premiere of "Young Victoria" at the Roy Thompson Hall as part of the Toronto International Film Festival on September 19, 2009 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Jim Ross/Getty Images) Princess Eugenie of York (R) and Princess Beatrice of York (L) are seen in the Parade Ring as she attends Royal Ascot 2017 at Ascot Racecourse on June 22, 2017 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie of York arrive at the British School in Berlin on January 17, 2013 in Berlin, Germany Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie attend Derby Day at The Derby Festival on June 1, 2013 in Epsom, United Kingdom. (Photo by Danny E. Martindale/Getty Images) Britain's Princess Eugenie of York (L) attends the wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews at St Mark's Church in Englefield, west of London, on May 20, 2017 Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (L), Princess Beatrice of York (C) and Princess Eugenie of York attend Royal Ascot Day 1 at Ascot Racecourse on June 19, 2018 in Ascot, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) Princess Eugenie of York (L) and Princess Beatrice of York attend the annual summer party in partnership with Chanel at The Serpentine Pavilion on June 19, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Serpentine Galleries) 2018 has been a defining year for the British royal family: Meghan Markle and Prince Harrys whirlwind romance and fairytale wedding reinvigorated global interest in what goes on behind palace doors, Kate Middleton and Prince William welcomed their third child and well - the others are still there too. It has been a veritable inpouring of activity, unifying both palace staff in their common and fascinated royal watchers. After the fanfare of Meghan and Harrys wedding, his first cousin Princess Eugenie announced she would also be marrying this year. Also in Windsor Castle. And she would also do a horse and carriage procession around the area. The decision raised eyebrows, with one columnist accusing her of having notions above her station and asking frankly, Who the hell does Princess Eugenie think she is? Expand Close Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice Most of the writers frustration stemmed from the fact the security costs of such a lavish and extraordinarily public event is estimated to cost more than 2m in security, paid for by the British taxpayer. But, were they wrong in their malignment of a somewhat low ranking royal? Yes and no. Yes, in that its obvious that Eugenie and her sister Beatrice see the attention bestowed on their cousins and clearly want a slice of the pie. No, in that - well, they are princesses, so processions and tiaras and over the top weddings are all part of the title. Eugenie and Beatrice are in a unique position in royal standing: there are no cosy, full-time royal positions available for them, no rent-free apartment on the grounds of Kensington Palace, no personal stylists with a penchant for couture, dressing them in Alexander McQueen tuxedos and custom Givenchy. They enjoy global name recognition, but work full-time, as a director at art gallery Hauser & Wirth and a business consultant respectively. Beatrice lives with her parents at Royal Lodge in Windsor and Eugenie pays market rent for her own apartment in Kensington Palace, which she shares with fiance Jack Brooksbank. But, while some columns were dedicated to highlighting their 15-holidays-per-year, A-list destinations and lax approach to money, others were noticing subtle changes, starting from their makeunders and lower profile holidays. Expand Close (left to right) Princess Eugenie, The Duke of York and Princess Beatrice arrive at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday May 19, 2018. See PA story ROYAL Wedding. Photo credit should read: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (left to right) Princess Eugenie, The Duke of York and Princess Beatrice arrive at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday May 19, 2018. See PA story ROYAL Wedding. Photo credit should read: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire Video of the Day And they realised they could benefit from something that Meghan and Kate cant - in-depth interviews and high fashion editorials in British Vogue and Harpers Bazaar. They could control their own narrative through carefully selected interviews and extensive media training. While Meghan Markle remains silently frustrated by her fathers never-ending parade of insulting interviews, they have the luxury of having a public voice and they are using it to portray a normal girl image. As the tabloids were obsessively following the fab four, Beatrice and Eugenie have been, rather discreetly, working behind the scenes of revamping their image and attempting to forge their own path in the transformation of a modern monarchy. They were the two most watched guests as they walked towards St Georges Chapel at this years royal wedding, thanks in no small part to their history-defining wedding guest attire at Kate Middleton and Prince Williams 2011 nuptials. Headpieces, which caused such a storm that milliner Philip Treacy said he thought there was a moment where I thought I would find myself with my head on a spike outside the Tower of London. His head remained intact, but any of their aspiring style icon credentials did not. Expand Close Princess Beatrice of York attends the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Princess Beatrice of York attends the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) As they both walked up the cobbles of the castle, Eugenie in a powder blue Gainsbourg dress and a Jackie O-inspired pillbox hat, Beatrice in a cerulean Roksanda number - proof, if ever there was it, they were ready to show the world they were changed women. Liz Brewer, one of the UKs leading etiquette professionals and royal expert, told Independent.ie Style she believes their metamorphosis is a natural part of their growing up process. The main reason is theyre growing up. Theyve gone through their teenage years, in a world in in which it must be fairly complicated to navigate - they have the princess title, but at the same time, theyre not considered working royals, she explained. They have jobs, but they want to be real people. The fact that they are princesses means that weve followed these two girls growing up, she added .It was the same with Prince Harry, he had to grow up - thank goodness had a chance to sew his wild oats, but eventually you think, Okay, now Im a grown up, I must view life as slightly more serious. And serious they are - at least, by royal standards. Expand Close Princess Eugenie and her fiance Jack Brooksbank outside St Mary the Virgin Church in Frensham, Surrey, after attending the wedding of Charlie van Straubenzee and Daisy Jenks / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Princess Eugenie and her fiance Jack Brooksbank outside St Mary the Virgin Church in Frensham, Surrey, after attending the wedding of Charlie van Straubenzee and Daisy Jenks Part of their newfound image is one focused on the environment and Beatrice announced that her wedding will be entirely plastic free. But Ms Brewer said her environmental awareness will court her more public favour, explaining: I think this business about taking the plastics issue seriously is wonderful because they can be role models and they can lead by example and do a great deal of good. You see someone there using their status to do some good and reverse tragedies going on in the world. Their Vogue interview was a chance - although the sisters are clearly media trained, it remains to be seen how much advice they heed. Or perhaps they followed too literally? Beatrice explained: "Its hard to navigate situations like these because there is no precedent, there is no protocol." We are the first: we are young women trying to build careers and have personal lives, and were also princesses and doing all of this in the public eye, Eugenie said, adding that they have very understanding bosses. That they must. A subreddit is dedicated to trees that have melded with nearby inanimate objects (purblephoebe/Reddit) Those who use the website Reddit know it is a gateway online to pretty much any kind of content, from sports and news to science and videos of cute puppies. If youre unbaptised in Reddit usage however, there are some channels on it, known as subreddits, which might make you think the place is totally bonkers. Its those bizarre corners of the web on discussion today here are 12 of the very weirdest subreddits. 1. r/TreesSuckingOnThings A subreddit dedicated to trees that have melded with nearby inanimate objects, this little beauty does what it says on the tin. Spot a tree sucking on something and think its a work of art? Well theres a place, with over 41,000 subscribers, where others will understand. 2. r/birdswitharms This avian enclosure for Photoshop wizards adds limbs to our feathered friends. Because why not? The channels rules state: Make sure its a bird with arms, and not a person with a bird head! If it has a humanoid body, it needs to have some other visible birdlike features to be allowed. They point this out, of course, so people dont get confused with their sister channel 3. r/peoplewithbirdheads With around 170,000 fewer subscribers, its less popular than sibling r/birdswitharms, but theres just as much anthropomorphic bird action. 4. r/fifthworldproblems So, imagine there was a next level of consciousness and being one beyond our three-dimensional universe. Well, it turns out beings living such an existence have problems just like the rest of us, and its these this subreddit is dedicated to. Also consider checking out r/fourthworldproblems, r/sixthworldproblems and r/seventhworldproblems. 5. r/unstirredpaint Visually, this one is actually very pleasing. It delves into the undisturbed world beneath the lid of a vat of paint before the painters have given it a stir. 6. r/chairsunderwater A subreddit dedicated to chairs that are underwater, and with over 41,000 subscribers its got a following too. Its rules state: Chair(s) must be at least partially submerged in water. (No holding water over a chair and calling it under water) If the chair is not fully submerged, flag post as NSFW (Not Submerged Fully in Water) 7. r/boottoobig This subreddit gained its name from this meme. The memes posted to the channel have to follow the same format, roughly following the lines of the roses are red, violets are blue rhyme. 8. r/myevilplan Put simply, this is a place where people share wicked but innocuous things they are plotting. The most popular post on the subreddit My plan to take a cookie exemplifies this perfectly. 9. r/StannisTheMantis A subreddit dedicated to gathering evidence that Stannis Baratheon, the one true king of Westeros, is in fact a gigantic praying mantis in disguise. Yep its a Game Of Thrones subreddit, but even fans may struggle to understand this one. 10. r/BreadStapledToTrees With a whopping 113,000 subscribers, it might come as a surprise to you how many people enjoy seeing pictures of pieces of bread stapled to trees but they do. 11. r/SubredditSimulator Humans dont post on this channel, instead bots comment on them while people upvote or downvote what they come up with thus teaching the AI to create more successful posts such as this reaction GIF. Or this intriguing thought. 12. r/monkslookingatbeer Finally, who wouldnt like to spend their online time looking at men of the cloth perusing a fine ale? Like this classic from German 19th-century painter Eduard von Grutzner, for example. This subreddit has over 32,000 subscribers. Truly, human ingenuity and advancement has peaked. In this part of the country the telephone signal is poor, the wifi coverage scant. There are cars but not that many. It is quiet enough to hear the voices of olive pickers calling to each other in the groves across the valley near Fiano. One of the men has a deep, gruff voice. His interlocutor is more reserved, confining himself to sighs that might signal agreement or simply an immense weariness at the heat of the day and the general madness of the world. Not that there is much sign of any madness here. Only the midday sun bludgeons us and we are wise enough to avoid it, coiled under high ceilings and on cool stone floors. Before that, there is a delicious hour of freshness, the hour of coffee and sitting with my thoughts, sifting the good of the year from the bad and making promises to myself. How many will I keep? Best not to dwell on the failures. Rise, find more coffee, cleave to the light. I think of Seamus Heaney's lines written in Tuscany: "The mellowed clarities, the grape deep air" Not just grape deep here but thick with lavender and wild rosemary. I walk down the hill through the vineyards and pass a barn where a donkey foal and a goat are munching on the hard, dry grass of late summer. They pay me no heed. I walk on and feel the heat is building so that by the time I have breasted the last hill before Fiano I am drenched in sweat. The village appears deserted. A handful of elderly people are sitting in the square, one of them an old man in a wheelchair is humming a tune and staring into the middle distance. I approach an old woman sitting in a bus shelter and ask when is the next bus to Certaldo? But she does not know. When I pass back this way several hours later she is still sitting there with her newspaper, going nowhere. I give up on my plan to visit Certaldo and slide into the local grocery store cum cafe. Over a splendidly bitter espresso I watch the comings and goings. There are few at this time of the day. A couple of Germans stop and park their bicycles outside. They down their coffees quickly and are gone, pounding up the hill in a blur of muscle and testosterone. Good luck to them. And then the old folks start to drift in. There is a large table in the middle of the room and until now it has been dominated by a portly man who has spread his newspaper ostentatiously so that potential invaders will know that this is taken ground. But the newcomers are his friends and neighbours. The paper is drawn in and seats are gathered. Soon the place is full of chat. A boisterous woman of stately dimensions enters with her dog, a thin and neurotic looking beast whose party trick - we soon learn - is to sing when its chin is stroked. The original occupant of the table erupts in laughter as the hound does full Rossini although I am sure he has witnessed this ritual many times before. Nobody here has very much money. They have worked all their lives in the vineyards and olive groves and from the look of things most of their children and grandchildren have left for the towns and cities. But such a feeling of community! Sitting here for just an hour rejuvenates me. A great country for old men and women, and for those of us heading remorselessly in that direction. ******* In Galway in the weeks before the outbreak of World War II, Louis MacNeice found himself gazing upon the salmon in the Corrib and wrote: "What a place to talk of war." In Fiano, I paraphrase MacNeice and think: "What a place to talk of Trump." But I can distinctly make out his name in the back and forth of conversation at the next table. And so I break my self-imposed rule and look at the BBC News website on my phone to read the latest news of Il Presidente and learn that his lawyer Michael Cohen has accused the President of directing him to commit a criminal offence. In the days to come, other old acolytes and ''friends'' become canaries and agree to cooperate with prosecutors in return for immunity. There is an obvious downside to being the most powerful man in the world and surrounding yourself with chancers and sycophants. Nobody will tell you the truth when you most need to hear it. Mind you with Trump it would make scant difference. The man hears what he wants to hear and everything else is the poisonous chatter of his enemies. But is the turning of Michael Cohen really the defining moment, the beginning of the end of the Trump presidency? Dear readers you and I have been over this ground several times in the last couple of years. One scandal after another has risen and faded away. What makes this different? The law is the difference. Cohen's evidence on its own does not prove anything. Trump's lawyers will assert that Cohen sang to save his own skin. On the critical claim that he was directed to commit a criminal act by the President, it will be Cohen's word against Trump. But Cohen is only one element of a growing and potentially disastrous scenario for the President. Others are now singing their hearts out to federal prosecutors and to Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating alleged collusion with Russia. The mid-terms loom with growing signs of a Democratic Party revival. Out of it all emerges a picture of the Trump campaign - like the Trump White House - as shockingly amateur. Dumb and dumber in the way they tried to cover up the stupidities, poor judgment and - potentially - the criminality of the candidate. Much has been made last week of the fact that Trump's base does not care that he paid off a porn star. That may or may not count for something in the mid-terms. It will count for nothing in a court of law. The Vaticans retired ambassador to the United States has penned a letter accusing senior Vatican officials of knowing about the actions of a disgraced former cardinal. The 11-page letter claims that as early as 2000, the former archbishop of Washington ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick regularly invited young Catholic scholars into his bed, but the Vatican hierarchy still promoted him to cardinal. The letter also accuses Pope Francis of having initially rehabilitated McCarrick despite being informed of his attitudes to young seminarians in 2013, soon after he was elected pope. The National Catholic Register and another conservative site, LifeSiteNews, published the letter attributed to Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano on Sunday as the pope was wrapping up a two-day visit to Ireland. Mr Vigano, 77, a conservative whose hardline anti-gay views are well known, also urged the reformist pope to resign over the issue. He and the pope have long been on opposite ideological sides, with the pope seen more as a pastor and Mr Vigano more a cultural warrior. The Vatican did not immediately comment on the letter or confirm its authenticity. Expand Close Pope Francis is visiting Ireland (Yui Mok/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Pope Francis is visiting Ireland (Yui Mok/PA) In it, Mr Vigano accused the former Vatican secretaries of state under the previous two popes of having ignored detailed denunciations against McCarrick for years. He said Pope Benedict XVI eventually sanctioned McCarrick in 2009 or 2010 to a lifetime of penance and prayer, but that Francis subsequently rehabilitated him. Francis accepted McCarricks resignation as cardinal last month, after a US church investigation determined that an accusation he had sexually abused a minor was credible. Since then, another man has come forward saying McCarrick began molesting him starting when he was 11, and several former seminarians have said McCarrick abused and harassed them when they were in seminary. The accusations have led to a crisis in confidence in the US hierarchy, because it was apparently an open secret that McCarrick regularly invited seminarians to his New Jersey beach house, and into his bed. Mr Vigano apparently sought to answer some of those questions. His letter identifies by name the Vatican cardinals and archbishops who were informed about the McCarrick affair, an unthinkable expose for a Vatican diplomat to make. He said documents backing up his version of events are in Vatican archives. Mr Vigano, the Vaticans ambassador to the US from 2011-2016, said his two immediate predecessors did not fail to inform the Holy See about accusations against McCarrick, starting in 2000. He said Francis asked him about McCarrick when they met on June 23, 2013, at the Vaticans Santa Marta hotel where the pope lives, three months after Francis was elected pope. Mr Vigano wrote that he told Francis: Holy Father, I dont know if you know Cardinal McCarrick, but if you ask the Congregation of Bishops, there is a dossier this thick about him. He corrupted generations of seminarians and priests and Pope Benedict ordered him to withdraw to a life of prayer and penance. The pope declined to confirm or deny the claims. Francis said the 11-page text by Mr Vigano, which reads as a homophobic manifesto and attack on Francis allies in parts, speaks for itself. Francis was asked during an airborne press conference on Sunday if Mr Viganos claims that the two discussed McCarrick in 2013 were true. The pope was also asked about Mr Viganos claims that McCarrick was already under sanction at the time, but that Francis rehabilitated him. Francis said he had read Mr Viganos document and trusted journalists to judge for themselves and said: I wont say a word about it. There was no mistaking the man standing just a few feet away. Ashwaq Ta'lo would never forget the smell of his breath, his wiry beard, that distinctive gait. She had spent three months as his slave, after all. The man was among the Isil commanders who had kidnapped Ashwaq, her four sisters and five brothers back in the Yazidi homeland of Sinjar in northern Iraq in the sweltering summer of 2014. But there he was in front of her in 2018 on a street in rainy Stuttgart, Germany - the country that had offered her refuge. A country where she had come to feel safe. It was not an isolated incident; reporters have been told of at least 10 Yazidi women who have seen their tormentors in similar circumstances over the past two years. Ashwaq was just 15 when Isil militants laid siege to Sinjar, displacing hundreds of thousands of people and committing what the UN described as genocide against Iraq's indigenous Yazidi minority. She was taken to live in Isil's so-called caliphate, where she was sold for a $100 note at a slave auction to the man she came to know as Abu Humam. Abu Humam lived in a compound with 18 other leaders, who passed around the six girls they had bought like commodities to be traded. "He, or one of the others, would rape us nearly every night and use us as human shields from the air strikes, taking us out at 3am, sometimes with a gun to our head," she said from her refugee camp in Sheikhan, Iraqi Kurdistan. "A lot of what happened is too awful to speak about." One day the women hatched a plan to escape. They scratched their hands until they bled and waited for infection to set in. They pleaded to see a doctor, and when he visited, he gave them sleeping pills for the pain. The next day they laced the men's tea with the pills and any other medicines they could find. All 18 were knocked out cold and the women sneaked out to a waiting smuggler. Months later Ashwaq would claim asylum in Germany. But Abu Humam, it turned out, would have the same idea. "When I saw him in Stuttgart, my heart stopped," she said. "It was in that moment I remembered what he said to me before I escaped. He said if I ever left him, he would reach me wherever I was. I would never be truly free." That day in February he pulled up to her in his car and addressed her in broken German, saying: "I know you are Ashwaq. I know how long you have been here and what you are doing. I know everything." "He still thought of me as his property," she said. She pretended to be Turkish and denied knowing him, before going to the police. They opened an inquiry and released an e-fit based on her description. So far they have failed to establish his true identity. "For sure this man was a senior commander in Isil who has information on where some of the other captured Yazidis are," said Ashwaq, wearing black as a sign of mourning for the sisters and five brothers who are among the 3,000 still missing. "It's important they find and question him." Ashwaq was invited by the German government to come to the country in 2015 through an 85m programme designed to help the thousands of Yazidi women and child victims of Isil. She was housed near Stuttgart and given trauma counselling and schooling. Ashwaq had begun to build a life there with her mother and brother, taking language lessons and interning at a local hairdressing salon. But unable to leave Baden-Wurttemberg - the state where she had registered - and confronted with the prospect of seeing Abu Humam again, she decided to return to live with her father in Iraq. "How could I feel safe if my rapist is living there and has the same rights as me?" she said. Ashwaq's story sounds like one of those extraordinary one-in-a-million chance meetings, but it is not. At least 10 others have reported seeing their tormentor in similar circumstances in the last two years, says Dr Jan Kizilhan, a psychologist paid by Stuttgart to look after Yazidi women brought to Germany. The federal prosecutor's office has set up a special unit devoted entirely to these cases. One woman we spoke to, who did not wish to give her name, saw one of her kidnappers at the Christmas market. "He was with a woman who must have been his wife. They looked so normal, so happy," she said. "The blood drained from my head. The things he had done to me, the things I thought were behind me, all came back. "He did not recognise me, and for this reason I decided not to say anything," said the 21-year-old, who still lives in Germany and plans to continue studying sociology. "If I bring it up, I have to live through it all over again. If I don't, I live with it inside. "Not even in my nightmares did I imagine this could happen." Dr Kizilhan said he worried such an experience, particularly in a place the women had come to feel safe, could be extremely traumatic. Germany has given refuge to some of the world's most vulnerable people, those who have fled Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan for the safety of Europe. But Chancellor Angela Merkel's open-door policy has inadvertently offered refuge to their abusers too. Aghiad al-Kheder, founder of anti-Isil activists Sound and Picture, fled his home city of Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria after it was overrun by the jihadists. In 2015 he crossed into neighbouring Turkey, on to Greece and from there made his way to Germany. But once there he was shocked to find some familiar faces. He said he knows dozens of Isil members are in Germany. Activists like him have flagged them up to the police, but they have been told that little can be done. "The police can't do anything as we don't have pictures or video to prove they were with Isil. All the videos posted on social media were removed," he said. "We try to get witnesses, but unfortunately it takes time and that gives them the chance to escape." He said many victims, particularly those who had been imprisoned or tortured by Isil back in Syria, did not report sightings as they were too afraid to talk. Others tip off the intelligence service's special hotline for refugees. Mr Kheder (28) said most of the Isil members did not even bother hiding their identities. "Many we know are here from their Facebook pages. They would change their profile and share a picture of their new life, then we know they are in Europe. We can't do anything, so we just watch them," he said. "I think a new Isil will emerge in the next four years and many of them will be here. Maybe democracy is not always good." Polla Garmiany, a Kurdish political adviser based in the EU who works with the lobby group Kurdish Community in Germany, said many refugees had been left feeling like they had little recourse. "To be honest, I think Ashwaq's case is only getting attention due to the huge outcry," he said. "I mean the case is almost six months old and nothing has really been done up to now. But after the media covered it they took action." Prosecutors are in a bind. Ignore the problem and it could come back to bite them. Try to bring a case to court and it could fail for lack of evidence. And then a suspected Isil member is back on the streets. German law prohibits deporting people to countries where they could face the death penalty, such as Iraq, so where there is insufficient evidence to charge a person they must be released. "We assume that some of these perpetrators have blood on their hands, but often we can't prove it," said Peter Frank, one of Germany's top prosecutors. "Our problem is: what proof can we get from a war zone where all state structures have collapsed?" Guido Steinberg, a leading expert on Islamic extremism at the Berlin-based Institute for International and Security Affairs, said there were about a dozen suspected Isil operatives and other jihadists being tried across the country. "Germany's open-door policy was a catastrophe, and I say this as someone incredibly sympathetic to the refugee cause," he said. "We should have accepted more people from Syria in 2012 and 2013, then when the numbers rose in 2015 the government should have closed the borders like the Austrians did and processed people in an orderly way." Mr Steinberg said police might never find the suspect in Ashwaq's case because it is likely he used false documents to enter the country. "Germany still doesn't know who some of these people that came in are; they are unaccounted for," he said. While Ashwaq says she does not bear any anger toward Germany, she regrets that her tormentors were not properly vetted. "I'm speaking out now because there are hundreds of Yazidi girls in Stuttgart who are living among Isil men, but no one hears the voice of those girls or does anything for them," she said. But Germany is attempting something rather ambitious to clear Isil suspects off its streets. For several years, the attorney general has been investigating the genocide and enslavement of the Yazidis. More than 100 women and girls have been interviewed by the federal criminal police office. Most European countries have legislation that allows them to prosecute international crimes regardless of where in the world they happen. Germany is one of only a few countries, along with Sweden, that appears to be prepared to prosecute not only terrorism offences, but genocide and war crimes. "Right now Germany has what you would call an ongoing 'structural investigation'," said Pishko Shamsi, who helped produce a Yazidi genocide report for the UN. "They have been interviewing all witnesses and Yazidi victims in Germany to build a body of testimonies and evidence. They just need a suspect. "There is a historical precedent for this, if you look at Yugoslavia and Rwanda, for example, where refugees from these countries were tried in European national courts for genocide." Judicial sources in Germany said there could be a mass "Nuremberg-style" trial of all suspects involved in crimes against Yazidis as early as next year, if they can build a solid case. "It is not just a case of punishing mass murder," said Dr Kizilhan, the psychologist working with Yazidi refugees in Germany. "It is about the struggle to not forget, to document for the following generation and give dignity back to the survivors." Telegraph Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] US Senator John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam who ran unsuccessfully for president as a self-styled maverick Republican in 2008 and became a prominent critic of President Donald Trump, died on Saturday, his office said. He was 81. McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona for more than three decades, had been battling glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, since July 2017 and had not been at the U.S. Capitol in 2018. He also had surgery for an intestinal infection in April. His family announced on Friday that McCain was discontinuing further cancer treatment. "Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28 p.m. on August 25, 2018. With the senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family. At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for sixty years," a statement from his office on Saturday. McCain will lie in state in both Phoenix, Arizona, and in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., and will receive a full dress funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral before being buried in Annapolis, Maryland, his family said. Former President Barack Obama, former President George W. Bush and former Vice President Joe Biden were expected to give eulogies. Vice President Mike Pence was expected to represent the current administration, the family said. No further details were provided immediately. "My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years," Cindy McCain wrote on Twitter. "He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the place he loved best." AFFABLE. CANTANKEROUS The vacancy created by McCain's death narrowed the number of Republican-held seats in the 100-member U.S. Senate to 50 seats, with Democrats controlling 49 seats in the upper chamber. Republican Arizona Governor Doug Ducey was expected to appoint a member of his own party to succeed McCain. That could also give Republicans a slight edge in the battle to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court in the weeks ahead because McCain had been too ill to cast any votes this year. Alternatively affable and cantankerous, McCain had been in the public eye since the 1960s when, as a naval aviator, he was shot down during the Vietnam War and tortured by his North Vietnamese communist captors during 5-1/2 years as a prisoner. He was edged out by George W. Bush for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000 but became his party's White House candidate eight years later. After gambling on political neophyte Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate, McCain lost in 2008 to Democrat Barack Obama, who became the first black U.S. president. Expand Close John McCain is greeted by President Richard Nixon after his release from a prisoner of war camp in North Vietnam. (Harvey Georges/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp John McCain is greeted by President Richard Nixon after his release from a prisoner of war camp in North Vietnam. (Harvey Georges/AP) Paying tribute to his one-time election opponent, Obama said in a statement he and McCain, despite their "completely different backgrounds" and political differences, shared "a fidelity to something higher - the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched and sacrificed." "We saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world," Obama wrote. Defense Secretary James Mattis saluted McCain as a figure who "always put service to the nation before self," and "represented what he believed, that 'a shared purpose does not claim our identity - on the contrary - it enlarges your sense of self'." McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, remained prominent during and after the last White House race as both a frequent critic and target of his fellow Republican Trump, who was elected president in November 2016. McCain denounced Trump for, among other things, his praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders the senator described as foreign "tyrants." "Flattery secures his friendship, criticism his enmity," McCain said of Trump in his memoir, "The Restless Wave," which was released in May. McCain castigated Trump in July for his summit with Putin, issuing a statement that called their joint news conference in Helsinki "one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory." He said Trump was "not only unable but unwilling to stand up to Putin." Sources close to McCain have said Trump would not be invited to the funeral. Shortly after McCain's death was announced, Trump said on Twitter: My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain." THUMBS-DOWN McCain, a foreign policy hawk with a traditional Republican view of world affairs, was admired in both parties for championing civility and compromise during an era of acrid partisanship in U.S. politics. But he also had a famous temper and rarely shied away from a fight. He had several with Trump. He was the central figure in one of the most dramatic moments in Congress of Trump's presidency when he returned to Washington shortly after his brain cancer diagnosis for a middle-of-the-night Senate vote in July 2017. Still bearing a black eye and scar from surgery, McCain gave a thumbs-down signal in a vote to scuttle a Trump-backed bill that would have repealed the Obamacare healthcare law and increased the number of Americans without health insurance by millions. Trump was furious about McCain's vote and frequently referred to it at rallies, without mentioning McCain by name. After Trump launched his presidential campaign in 2015, McCain condemned his hard-line rhetoric on illegal immigration and said Trump had "fired up the crazies." Trump retorted that McCain was "not a war hero," adding: "I like people who weren't captured." After Trump became president, McCain blasted what he called the president's attempts to undermine the free press and rule of law and lamented the "half-baked, spurious nationalism" of the Trump era. MCCAIN VS OBAMA McCain, the son and grandson of U.S. Navy admirals, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona in 1982 after more than two decades of Navy service. He served four years in the House before Arizona voters elected him to the Senate in 1986 to replace Barry Goldwater, the 1964 Republican presidential nominee revered by conservatives. In running for president in 2008, McCain tried to succeed an unpopular fellow Republican in Bush, who was leaving office with the United States mired in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and stuck in a financial crisis. It was a stark contrast between McCain, then a 72-year-old veteran of the Washington establishment, and the 47-year-old Obama, who was offering a "Yes, we can" message of change. McCain tried to inject some youth and enthusiasm into his campaign with his selection of Palin, Alaska's governor, as his running mate. But the choice backfired as her political inexperience and shaky performances in media interviews raised concerns about her qualifications. McCain voiced regret in his new memoir for not choosing then-Senator Joe Lieberman, a Democrat turned independent, as his running mate. McCain wrote that he had originally settled on Lieberman, Democrat Al Gore's running mate in the 2000 election, but was warned by Republican leaders that Lieberman's views on social issues, including support for abortion rights, would "fatally divide" the party. "It was sound advice that I could reason for myself," McCain wrote. "But my gut told me to ignore it and I wish I had." Obama won 53 percent of the vote to McCain's 45.6 percent. WAR INJURIES McCain flew attack planes off aircraft carriers during the Vietnam War. He was preparing for a bombing run in 1967 when a missile inadvertently fired from another plane hit his fuel tanks, triggering a fatal explosion and fire. He suffered shrapnel wounds. A few months later on Oct. 26, 1967, McCain's A-4 Skyhawk was shot down on a bombing mission over North Vietnam's capital and he suffered two broken arms and a broken leg in the crash. A mob then dragged him from a lake, broke his shoulder and stabbed him. Held at the notorious "Hanoi Hilton" prison and other sites, McCain was beaten and tortured, suffering broken bones and dysentery. He was released on March 14, 1973, but was left with permanent infirmities. In Congress, McCain built a generally conservative record, opposing abortion and advocating higher defense spending. He supported Bush's 2003 invasion of Iraq and criticized Obama for not doing more to intervene in Syria's civil war. Still, he prided himself on his reputation as a maverick and had a history of working across party lines on immigration, climate change and campaign finance reform. He also spoke out against the Bush administration's use of waterboarding, a torture technique that simulates drowning, and other harsh interrogation tactics on detainees in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. He urged the closure of the prison for foreign terrorism suspects at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and also sponsored an anti-torture measure that passed Congress in 2005. McCain wrote in a 2002 memoir: "I'm an independent-minded, well-informed public servant to some. And to others, I'm a self-styled, self-righteous maverick pain in the ass." McCain was born on Aug. 29, 1936, at an American naval installation in the Panama Canal Zone - U.S. territory at the time - where his father was stationed. He acknowledged he was a "smart ass" during his years at the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated fifth from the bottom of his class. McCain divorced his wife Carol after 15 years of marriage in 1980 and weeks later married the former Cindy Henley, daughter of a wealthy beer distributor in Arizona. A dark period for McCain came as one of the "Keating Five" group of senators accused of improperly intervening with federal regulators to help political contributor and bank executive Charles Keating, whose Lincoln Savings and Loan failed in 1989 at a cost to taxpayers of $3.4 billion. McCain was cleared of wrongdoing in 1991 but the Senate Ethics Committee rebuked him for poor judgment. On July 25, 2017, McCain delivered a Senate floor speech not long after his cancer diagnosis that was widely seen as his farewell address. It included a call to fellow Republicans to stand up to Trump and for all lawmakers to work together to keep America as a "beacon of liberty" in the world. "That is the cause that binds us and is so much more powerful and worthy than the small differences that divide us," McCain said. Impeachment proceedings will be launched against Donald Trump in January unless he can hold onto the House of Representatives, his former campaign chairman Steve Bannon has warned. Bannon yesterday said the Democrats are on course to win a majority of House seats in the midterm elections and would soon move to kick Mr Trump from office. He warned that impeachment hearings would bring "months of nastiness" for the Trump administration as key figures are forced to testify under the glare of public scrutiny and the television cameras. Bannon also hit out at those who believe the Democrats are not ultimately seeking impeachment, warning they are "dangerously naive" and "kidding themselves". "It's very simple, it's an up or down vote," Bannon said of the November midterms. "You vote up, he stays. You vote down, he goes. It's like the old gladiators." The dire warning is part of a strategy by some Republicans to make Trump supporters realise the seriousness of the political situation in a bid to drive them to the polling stations later this year. It comes after what has been dubbed Trump's worst week in office, with the conviction of Michael Cohen, his former personal lawyer, and Paul Manafort, his former campaign chairman. The former proved especially damaging, with Cohen 'flipping' by admitting to breaking campaign finance laws over two hush money payments but saying he did so under the "direction" of Trump. The US president has admitted the payments, made to buy the silence of porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal before the 2016 election after they claimed affairs, ultimately came from him. However he said campaign funds were not used and denied any illegality. The fallout from Cohen's allegation has dominated Washington all week and renewed discussion of impeachment - the process through which the US Congress can remove a sitting president from office. First the House of Representatives and then the Senate - the two bodies that make up Congress - would have to vote for impeachment for it to be binding. Currently the Republicans have majorities in both bodies. But Steve Bannon, making his first public comments since the convictions, warned that the Democrats are on course to win 30 to 35 seats in the midterms - enough to take back the House and start impeachment proceedings. "They will field-strip this administration during impeachment hearings," said Bannon, a former White House chief strategist, about the prospect of a Democrat-controlled House. "It's going to be brutal. Look at the Nixon times, look at Clinton. When you have these impeachment hearings it gets nasty and personal. All the administration work will stop. Nothing will happen." Bannon predicted that the Democrats would launch impeachment proceedings as early as January 2019 if the investigation into Russian election meddling had concluded by then. "That will lead you to many months of just nastiness and, more importantly, no movement on the Trump agenda. Anybody who's telling the president that he can work with a Democratic Congress is dangerously naive," he said. Bannon made clear that he thought the process would ultimately not succeed in forcing Trump from office as long as the Senate remained in Republican hands. However, he said the gruelling process of impeachment hearings and other congressional investigations would be "excruciating" and make it harder to fill White House positions. Trump has remained defiant after what was called his 'darkest hour' in office, when last Tuesday first Cohen and then Manafort were convicted in different courts within just minutes of each other. Cohen pleaded guilty to five charges of unpaid tax, two of campaign finance violations and one related to a house loan. Manafort was found guilty of tax and bank fraud and faces up to 80 years in jail. The president has not ruled out using his presidential powers to pardon Manafort, who refused to cooperate with Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election. In contrast he has dubbed Cohen a "flipper" for being apparently willing to admit what he knows about Trump in turn for leniency, suggesting such moves should be made illegal. For Bannon, who fell out with Trump after being quoted in a damaging book about the White House but remains loyal to his vision, the best way to protect the president is retain hold of Congress at the midterms. He believes that by making Trump's support base realise the threat of impeachment they will turn out en masse come polling day, seeing off any potential 'blue wave' of Democratic support. "I think what you're seeing is the Trump base realising the urgency of the moment," Bannon said. "There's nothing better than 'The Deplorables' when their backs are to the wall." Telegraph Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] One juror in the trial of Paul Manafort may have started weighing evidence too soon, prompting a call for a mistrial. Another said Donald Trump's former campaign chairman could have been convicted on all 18 counts he faced, were it not for a sole hold-out. Neither happened. But, behind the scenes, both possibilities were at play according to court documents and a juror's statements after Manafort's eight-count conviction last week in Alexandria, Virginia. The federal court jury battled intense pressure, shouting matches, tears and potentially outcome-changing mis-steps to reach its verdict, all of it underscoring a courtroom truism: a carefully choreographed trial can turn on the actions of a single juror. The drama could be replayed soon. A second trial for Manafort is scheduled to begin next month, across the Potomac River in Washington. The backstage turmoil from the first trial highlights some of the challenges US district judge Amy Berman Jackson may need to navigate in another politically charged case against a former key aide to the president's campaign. The new panel must evaluate evidence prosecutors say supports a seven-count indictment accusing the former political strategist of conspiring to launder money, failing to register as a lobbyist for the pro-Russian government of former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, and obstructing justice. The most serious of those counts - money laundering and obstruction - carry top sentences of 20 years in prison. Prospective jurors won't be excused from serving for having seen reports of the Alexandria case, unless they have formed unshakable opinions. It's possible the defence may seek to postpone the second trial or have it moved to another location because of the heavy media coverage of the first case in the Washington area, said former federal prosecutor Gene Rossi. "That verdict was a devastating blow to the objectivity of the jury pool," he noted. In Alexandria, judge TS Ellis didn't inquire too deeply about potential jurors' political beliefs, instead asking whether they can put aside their politics to fairly and impartially judge the evidence. Jackson is likely to do that too. And while there's no uniform way of picking a jury in the federal court system, Jackson - like Ellis - will likely start that process with a questionnaire that seeks the basics: name, gender, age, address, marital and employment status, educational attainment and military service. In Alexandria, Ellis managed to contain a conflict between jurors when one of them told a court security officer that another had been overheard apparently prejudging the case as all-but-won by the prosecution, according to court records. The judge rejected a defence motion for a mistrial then, and again days later after the panel indicated it didn't want its communiques with the judge read aloud in open court. Despite the intrigue, the jury of six men and six women managed to agree on eight of 18 counts. They split 11-1 on the other charges, one juror said in television interviews. Manafort is not finished in Virginia. Prosecutors have until this Wednesday to tell Ellis whether they will seek to retry him on those charges. Word that 11 jurors were inclined to convict may embolden them to do so. One juror who voted to convict Manafort and who is also a supporter of Donald Trump went on television offering advice for Trump if he were to consider whether to pardon his former campaign chairman: don't do it. Paula Duncan is so far the only juror to speak out since Manafort was found guilty. "He should absolutely not pardon him. I think it would be a big mistake," Duncan (54) said, adding that she believed it would be a mistake from both a moral and a political perspective. "If President Trump pardons him without him doing any time at all it would look like President Trump was saying it's OK that you broke the law. It's not OK to break the law." Trump weighed in on Manafort's plight while the jury was still in deliberations, calling the tax and bank fraud case against him "very sad" and lauding him as a "very good person". Those comments, along with tweets following the verdict, have heightened speculation Trump may look to pardon Manafort. When asked directly about the prospect, Trump has not ruled it out. Duncan said she and 10 other jurors wanted to convict Manafort on all 18 counts of tax and bank fraud and failing to declare his foreign bank accounts. It was one hold-out who caused the jury to hang on 10 of the 18 counts after nearly four days, she said. Reuters Presidents and US politicians from both parties have honoured Senator John McCains decades of service to his country following his death at the age of 81. The one-time presidential candidate and war hero died on Saturday after a year-long battle with brain cancer. His family had previously said he had ended medical treatment for the condition, revealing that the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict. President Donald Trump, who once criticised Mr McCain for being taken prisoner during the Vietnam War, said his deepest sympathies and respect went out to Mr McCains family. Our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathy to the McCain Family. Thank you Senator McCain for your service to the nation. Melania Trump 45 Archived (@FLOTUS45) August 26, 2018 On Saturday night, a black hearse accompanied by a police motorcade could be seen driving away from the ranch near Sedona, Arizona, where the Republican senator spent his final weeks. Mr Trumps brief Twitter statement said hearts and prayers are with the McCain family. First lady Melania Trump thanked Mr McCain for his service to the nation, which included more than five years as a prisoner of war and six terms in the Senate. Mr Trump and Mr McCain were at odds until the end. The president, who mocked Mr McCains capture in Vietnam during the 2016 campaign, jabbed at the senator even after his illness for voting against Republican efforts to roll back President Barack Obamas health care law. Earlier this summer, Mr McCain issued a blistering statement criticising Mr Trumps meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin. Former presidents, including those who blocked Mr McCains own White House ambitions, offered emotional tributes. Our statement on the passing of Senator John McCain: pic.twitter.com/3GBjNYxoj5 Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 26, 2018 Mr Obama, who triumphed over Mr McCain in the 2008 election, said that despite their differences, Mr McCain and he shared a fidelity to something higher the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed. Mr Obama said the two political opponents saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world. Former President George W Bush, who defeated Mr McCain for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination, called his one-time political rival man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order and a friend whom Ill deeply miss. Mr Bush was among those expected to speak at Mr McCains funeral. "Some lives are so vivid, it is difficult to imagine them ended. Some voices are so vibrant, it is hard to think of them stilled. John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order. [...] Full statement by President George W. Bush https://t.co/FQVYWIUyGL pic.twitter.com/W8LCxJXRLi George W. Bush Presidential Center (@TheBushCenter) August 26, 2018 Mr McCain was the son and grandson of admirals and followed them to the US Naval Academy. A pilot, he was shot down over Vietnam and held as a prisoner of war for more than five years. He went on to win a seat in the House and in 1986, the Senate, where he served for the rest of his life. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called Mr McCain a fascinating personality. Expand Close John McCain with his wife, Cindy, at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania (Stephan Savoia/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp John McCain with his wife, Cindy, at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania (Stephan Savoia/AP) He would occasionally be in a bad place with various members, including myself, and when this would blow over it was like nothing ever happened, Mr McConnell said Saturday after a Republican state dinner in Lexington, Kentucky. He also had a wicked sense of humour and it made every tense moment come out better. Former vice president Joe Biden, who developed a friendship with Mr McCain while they served together in the Senate, said the Arizona politician will cast a long shadow. The spirit that drove him was never extinguished: we are here to commit ourselves to something bigger than ourselves, Mr Biden said. John McCain was my friend. I will remember the good times. My family and I send prayers for Cindy and the McCain family. - Sarah Palin and family pic.twitter.com/KRvcIQ99cA Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) August 26, 2018 Mr McCain is expected to be remembered in Arizona and Washington before being buried, likely this week, at the Naval Academy Cemetery on a peninsula overlooking the Severn River. Other plans were taking shape, too. Senator Chuck Schumer announced that he wants to name the Senate building that housed Mr McCains suite of offices after the Arizona senator, who served as chairman of the Commerce Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee. As you go through life, you meet few truly great people. John McCain was one of them, Mr Schumer said. Maybe most of all, he was a truth teller never afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all too rare. Mr McCains wife Cindy said she was heartbroken by the death of an incredible man. My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved best. Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) August 26, 2018 I love you forever - my beloved father @SenJohnMcCain pic.twitter.com/Y50tVQvlVe Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) August 26, 2018 In a post on Twitter, she said: My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved best. Daughter Meghan McCain described her father as a great fire who burned bright. She said: We lived in his light and warmth for so very long. We know that his flame lives on, in each of us. His love and his care, ever present, always unfailing, took me from a girl to a woman and he showed me what it is to be a man. Ive seen the worst. My father was dying and we couldnt afford the expensive injections. My aunt used to send them from London. But if the course was of 20 injections, we managed only eight. So Ill never know whether he died because we didnt have the money or he died because he had to. From being a commoner to a superstar, Shah Rukh Khan has seen it all, and that is perhaps one of the reasons why he is so humble and down to earth. He lost his father to cancer before he made his big Bollywood debut. He is not only silver screens heartthrob, he is a hero in real life too. He has helped people from all walks of life. From cancer patients to acid attack victims, Shah Rukh Khan has extended help to many people, and he doesnt like to show it off. He is a silent charity maker! pinimg.com I dont like talking about it [charity]. A lot of people and my friends always tell me I should do photographs and stuff when I meet some people. But I dont believe in it. It is a true thing that if I believe in a cause, I should do it silently and not use my persona as an actor to advocate that, he had once said in an interview with CNN. millenniumpost.in I follow Quran which says if you do charity for a reason, it's not a charity, Shah Rukh Khan had said in an interview with The Guardian. Here are 11 times when his huge acts of generosity made us want to salute him. 1. Recently, Shah Rukh Khans Meer Foundation donated Rs. 12 lakhs to Government of Kerala's Chief Minister Distress Relief Fund in order to help the Kerala Flood victims. Shah Rukh Khan established Meer Foundation, an organisation that works towards empowering and uplifting women that have been subjected to acid violence. Thank you so much @iamsrk me personally and the people of kerala are indebted to you for your generosity and quick action...respect resul pookutty (@resulp) August 17, 2018 Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan Helps Kerala Flood Victims, Resul Pookutty Thanks The Star For His 'Quick Action' 2. In 2015, he reportedly donated a sum of Rs. 1 crore for the Chennai flood victims. Twitter 3. He also donated a sum of 25 lakhs to PM Manmohan Singh for Tsunami Relief camp. He was one of the celebrities who performed at Help Telethon Concert to raise money for tsunami victims. indiatvnews.com 4. Shah Rukh Khans team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) won the Indian Premium League (IPL) season 7. The King Khan donated the entire money (Rs. 15 crores) to cancer patients in Mumbai and Kolkata. emirates247.com 5. In 2013, during Uttrakhand floods, Shah Rukh Khan donated Rs. 33 lakhs for the victims. As insignificant as we are against Nature's fury, a prayer of Hope for all suffering in Uttarakhand. May Allah give them strength & safety. Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) June 21, 2013 6. In 2009, Shah Rukh Khan helped to light up seven Odisha Villages by investing a solar electricity project. After 61 years of independence, the people of these villages in Odisha finally got access to electricity. All the 270 families in our village cannot forget Shahrukh Khan's help. The contribution of this great man is incomparable. He has helped us very much. We were living in bad condition, without any light, he provided us with solar lights and villagers have to pay just Rs. 3 to get the light. We are getting the light at very cheap rates," said, Tulsi Das, a villager was quoted as saying by ANI. The villagers were provided with solar lamps for which they had to pay just Rs. 3. A recharging station was set up where they would go and charge their lamps every day. s3.amazonaws.com 7. In 2012, Shah Rukh Khan adopted 12 villages in Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha to provide them with electricity under the initiative Light A Billion Lives. 8. In 2012, Shah Rukh Khan became the first Indian to have bagged a special award at the 20th UNESCO Awards in Germany for his charity works. He was also appointed as the first global ambassador of UNOPS, which works to improve the lifestyle of people. 9. He is also closely involved with Make a Wish Foundation, which works toward fulfilling the wishes of children all over the country. 10. In Nanavati Hospital, he made a special department for cancer and children ward in memory of his mother who died of cancer. 11. Also, it is said that once a reporter injured himself after interviewing him and Shah Rukh Khan ensured that he got proper treatment and even paid for it as much as Rs. 2 lakhs per day. Kerala experienced the worst floods in about a century. Hundreds of people died and lakhs were left homeless without food, shelter, toilets, medicines and other basic necessities. In the time of such a crisis, the entire nation stood together. Most of the people contributed what they could to help ease the situation. Bollywood celebrities also extended a helping hand by contributing huge amount of money. But Randeep Hooda was the only one in the film industry who went a step ahead by leaving for Kerala on his birthday (on August 20) to join Khalsa aid in the relief work. With his own hands, he served food to the flood-stricken Kerala. Real heroes work on ground! pic.twitter.com/B04YStLY0d parull gossain (@parullxx) August 23, 2018 Randeep juggled between Kochi and Alleppey to help people in the relief camps. Explaining the situation of Kerala, he said: Food availability is not a problem, but lack of drinking water is. Also, people need basic amenities like mosquito nets and medicines. Its sunny here for the past few days, so it will help the water recede. Rescue operations are underway. Some people are in the camps and some have begun to return to their homes, but its not over yet. This is going to take a while. The emergency crisis is under control, but the bigger problem begins once the water goes down. Twitter "Theres no danger to life anymore, but the focus will have to be on preventing an outbreak of diseases, rehabilitation of those affected and rebuilding their homes. This is a huge process. There is a requirement of skilled people who can help do that. Peoples homes are full of muck. They might be prone to diseases because of water-logging and the damage done. Helping people clean and rebuild their homes is most important now and that will be the aim of volunteers stationed here. Randeep Hooda says he is deeply inspired by the undying spirit of Kerala. The rehabilitation process there is testament to the undying spirit of the people of Kerala. The helping attitude and dignity of the locals have been most inspiration. There is so much of self-respect and gratitude. People have a tendency to hoard stuff, but even in a crisis situation like this, not a single person in the relief camps asked for more than what he/she required. They only took what they needed. The Keralite dignity and spirit is astounding. The fishermen in particular have been exceptional. They are going out of their way to help people. Also, we cannot thank our Armed Forces enough for their relentless efforts. Randeep Hooda says it has been an eye-opening experience for him. Sunday's festival of Raksha Bandhan is special for 250 separated siblings who have not seen one another in months, even years. Some of the kids are runaways, some were rescued from being trafficked, while others were saved from red light areas where their mothers are commercial sex workers. These little brothers and sisters will be able to meet at a reunion organised by an NGO in Dadar. The event holds a mirror to separated families, rather like migrant children taken away from their parents in the US. There is no official record of separated siblings in Mumbai either. Long absences at a tender age can make them forget how the other looks, jeopardising the chances of recognition in the future. Representational Image Sunday's Raksha Bandhan reunion is fostered by a 48-year-old NGO named Our Children that works with children's shelters. It meticulously gathered details of separated siblings and partnered with welfare institutes like Manav Seva Sangh, Chembur Children's Home, Shraddhanand Mahilashram, BJ Home for Children, Prerana Naunihal, D N Sirur, Bal Kalyan Nagari and Don Bosco Shelter to devise this meeting. The event is scheduled at the Bombay Andhra Mahasabha Hall near King George School in Dadar. "Not only brother-sister pairs, even sisters or just brothers will get to meet. We will give them time to sit and talk to one another. There is also a photo booth where they can take pictures together as a keepsake. Of course there is food, fun and games," said spokesman Soumya Banerjee, who gave up his corporate career to volunteer full time with Our Children. TOI The moment of realisation came when one of the NGOs was conducting a series of outdoor camps for inmates of various children's homes over different days. One batch was leaving and another was trooping in when two little girls exclaimed that an older girl who was walking in looked just like their "Aapa" (elder sister). "But Aapa is dead, how can this be her?" they wondered. It turned out that the sister they had taken for dead was in fact housed in another shelter. All three girls dissolved in tears at this happy chance meeting. Our Children organises an annual dance and music performance for inmates on May 1 each year where 500 children perform. Some separated siblings have run into each other on this occasion too, drawing extremely emotional scenes. That was the Eureka moment for Sunday's Raksha Bandhan Milan. Representational Image Bhavna Walke of Shree Manav Seva Sangh, Sion, went to purchase 50 rakhis for her wards who will attend the programme. "The girls are very excited about Sunday's reunion. Those who don't have brothers will tie them on each other's wrists," she laughed. The children aged 5-18 are expected to cherish the moments and the memories given that this meeting too will end in parting. Tigers are wild animals at the end of the day. The beast who is known to hunt alone likes to stay in a secluded place. While increasing tourism has led to a loss of habitat which has made them an endangered species, tigers can be aggressive at times. The Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan boasts of a bright number of these wild species. However, in a latest human-animal conflict, an angry tiger attacked a youth for disturbing the animal while it was mating, reported The India Today. The tiger was seeking copulation in an Indian gooseberry orchid near Enda village when a man named Mohan disturbed its mating process. The furious tiger severely injured Mohan. The villagers who gathered around the spot worsened the situation when they started throwing stones at the tiger. Reuters This enraged the tiger even more who then went after the villagers. Many of them had to climb trees to escape the animals attack. However, it was too late for Mohan to save himself. He is still recovering from the tigers paw marks in a hospital. Forest officials are concerned about the well being of tigers. Growing number of tourists have eroded their natural habitat. Construction of roads through the tiger corridors have forced these animals to migrate to other places. Ranthambore is already said to be home to a few dangerous tigers. Code named T-24, this tiger is suffering from anger issues. It has already killed two people who tried to venture very close to it. Unfortunately, the cub was separated from its family when it was young. T-24's family members were shifted to the Sariska Tiger reserve while it was left alone in Ranthambore. The tiger eventually became anxious and frustrated. It started getting irritated when people came closer to it. Ultimately, the matter was discussed with care and experts decided to shift T-24 to the Udaipur zoo. T-24 had apparently attacked a guard at the Ranthambore National park therefore, it was decided that a change of place might help in calming the animal down. A few months ago, another tiger codenamed T-28 had ran away. It was then surrounded by a large crowd. T-28 had to be tranquilized but died due to drug overdose. US tech giant Apple has announced a donation of Rs 7 crore to support those affected by the floods in Kerala. "We're heartbroken by the catastrophic flooding in Kerala. Apple is donating Rs. 7 crore to support the life-saving work Mercy Corps India and the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund are undertaking to support survivors, help those who have been displaced and rebuild homes and schools," Apple said in a statement. AFP Apple has also added support banners to its home page, along with App Store and iTunes Store, allowing customers to donate to Mercy Corps. "We have also activated a donation button on iTunes and the App Store so customers who wish to donate to Mercy Corps'' efforts can do so easily," Apple said. Apple customers can donate $5, $10, $25, $50, $100, or $200 to Mercy Corps using credit and debit cards. Bill Gates is also extending help Meanwhile, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the charity founded by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda, has pledged an amount of $6,00,000 to strengthen relief and rehabilitation efforts in Kerala. BCCL The Gates Foundation said amount will be sent to UNICEF for rehabilitation activities. More than 324 have been killed and lakhs of others have been displaced across the state of Kerala in what is described as the worst flood in a century. The state has suffered an estimated loss of Rs. 20,000 crore due to the floods. The last few days have been a testament for all of us that India would never be able to do without the Indian Army. It is almost as if the Army's continuous efforts is keeping all of us up and running, in every sphere of life. Continuing its efforts to extend a helping hand to those in need, the Army distributed more than 200 solar lights among the nomadic communities living in the high altitude areas in Jammu and Kashmir. The Army's Rashtriya Rifles unit based in Bhadarwah has so far distributed over 17,000 such lights among the Gujjars and Bakerwals under its 'Project Roshni' (project light). In the latest initiative, the troops distributed 200 solar lights among the floating population residing in 'Dhoks' (mud houses) on high altitude meadows, including Naag lootan, Padri, Bhal Padri, Qatari, Machora, Satlad, Biddi, Qatari Gali, Chipli and Bashot of Bhaderwah Valley, an Army officer told PTI. He said troops of the four Rashtriya Rifles led by second-in-command Major Ambresh Mahanta after trekking nine Kilometres reached Satlad meadow, 49 km from Bhadarwah town, to distribute 90 solar lights among the people, followed by distribution of 110 lights at Bhal Padri meadow this week. Army distributed 17,000 solar lights among residents of un-electrified & inaccessible hamlets in Doda of J&K. Sarmeena, Class 12 student said The best gift i got in my life is due to Army. 'The Wire' which published article calling Army Chief 'General Dyer' won't tell you this. Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) July 15, 2018 Village head and imam of Jamia Masjid in Bhal Padri, Choudhary Sadiq, said this gesture of the Army would go a long way in cementing the bond between the tribes and the forces. About 30,000 Gujjar and Bakerwal people migrate to the high altitude meadows of the region and dwell there for summer months. Indian Armys volleyball team recently defeated their Pakistani counterparts in a friendly match held during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) peace mission exercise. The match was an inter-contingent encounter which was the part of an eight-team tournament eventually won by Indias 5 Rajput Regiment. India defeated Pakistan in the finals. Both the teams were getting support from not only their own countrymen but from the soldiers of other armies including Russia and China. Although it appeared like the old times while the Chinese were supporting Pakistan, the Russian were cheering for India. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) peace mission exercise in #Russia: Indian Army contingent beat Pakistani contingent in final of a friendly inter-contingent volleyball match. The team of 5 Rajput Regiment emerged winners among the eight participating nations pic.twitter.com/oWIMBMSuUx ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2018 Meanwhile, for the first time, the armies of two nuclear neighbours are taking part in a mega anti-terror drill of the SCO aimed at expanding cooperation among the member countries to deal with terror. India is participating in the drill for the first time since it became the full member of SCO in June last year and the Peace Mission Exercise is conducted biennially for the SCO member states. The joint exercise is being conducted by the Central Military Commission of Russia from August 22 to August 29 at Chebarkul in Russia. While the Sikh volunteers from Khalsa Aid continue to serve the flood-affected people in Kerala with Guru Ka Langar (Community Kitchen ), around fourteen of its volunteers came forward to clean up a Church in Alleppey. The clean up took two days and only after that the locals were able to offer prayers at the Thalavady St Johns Marathoma Church at Neerattupuram in Alleppey. Indian Express The church was filled up with slush from the floodwater making it impossible for the public to offer the prayers. The local Christian community was unable to offer their Sunday Prayers as the church was filled with water and people were unable to access it. They requested our volunteers to clean the church for the Sunday mass. Our team sprung into action and cleaned the church in two days so that the community could offer prayers without any hurdles. They were overwhelmed by the dedication of our volunteers, said Amarpreet Singh, Asia Pacific managing director for Khalsa Aid to The Indian Express. Gurpreet Singh, a volunteer from Patiala, said, It took us two days to clean the whole church. We completed the work on Saturday and it felt very satisfying when people were able to do their Sunday prayers in the church. A message of humanity and communal harmony was given by our volunteers in these testing times for Kerala. Indian Express Currently, a team of 22 volunteers of Khalsa Aid is working in Kerala to help with the relief operations by serving food to the people. Raksha Bandhan is celebrated to symbolise the strong bond between brothers and sisters and the love and affection shared between them. The occasion occupies a special place in the Hindu religious calendar. The festival is celebrated with fervour and gaiety among people from different communities. On this day the brother pledges to protect his sisters' honour and gifts her as a token of the bonding. It is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Shravana in India. Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi also celebrated this occasion with women and children from all walks of life. However, Modi was greeted by a special guest at his residence on Sunday. A woman with origins in Pakistan, Qamar Mohsin Shaikh tied Rakhi to the PMs wrist, a ritual she has been carrying out for the past 20 years. Qamar told news agency ANI in New Delhi, I have been tying rakhi to Narendra bhai for the last 22-23 years, excited to do it this time too. The woman who had come to India from Pakistan after her marriage knew Modi since he was a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker. According to media reports, Qamar had first tied Rakhi to Modi when he was working ardently towards the fulfilment of his partys vision. She further said that his hard work and farsightedness has helped Modi to become the PM. Twitter She was happy to hear that Modi had taken the time out to greet her on the occasion. This time I thought PM Modi must be busy but two days back he called, I was very happy to know that., she said further. Transcending geographical and cultural boundaries, the festival revolves around the virtue of mutual protection. Two Maharashtra government officials were arrested in Yavatmal for allegedly seeking and accepting a bribe from the mother of a rape survivor in return for processing a compensation cheque, an Anti Corruption Bureau official said on Saturday. The complainant's seven-year-old daughter had been raped last year and as part of the state government's Manodhairya scheme, they were to get a compensation cheque of Rs. 2 lakh, he said. afp/representational image "Child protection officer of Pusad Panchayat Pravin Kisan Wanole (28) demanded Rs. 5,000 from the victim's mother to clear this cheque," the official said. Following a complaint filed by the woman, the Yavatmal unit of the ACB laid a trap on Friday and arrested Sadashiv Shivaji Wanole, a surveyor with the state Irrigation department in Mahagaon, when he came to collect money on behalf of the child protection officer, he said. reuters/representational image The child protection officer, part of the state government's Child Welfare department, was arrested subsequently, he added. On Saturday, family members of late Yunus Khan who was a key witness in the alleged murder of Unnao rape victims father staged a protest in front of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanaths residence for exhuming his body. The Unnao police decided to conduct a post-mortem examination of Khan after the rape victims uncle alleged that Khan was poisoned to death as a part of the conspiracy. Khans wife Shabeena and 13 other family members reached Lucknow to express their disapproval of the process. Exhumation of the body has hurt our sentiments. It is against our tradition. Why are the police are not understanding that he (Khan) died at home and everyone in the village attended his funeral There is nothing fishy or suspicious, she said, reported The Hindustan Times. PTI Superintendent of police, Unnao, Harish Kumar was accompanied by Shahr Qazi of the district and Maulana Nasir and said they were acting in accordance with law, following all legal processes. On August 18, Khan died under mysterious circumstances. Though Shabeena claimed that he died a natural death following a prolonged illness. Khan belonged to the Makhi village of Unnao and owned a general merchant shop. DNA reported that Yunus fell ill suddenly and he was buried even before he could be taken to the hospital for treatment. The police officials initiated a probe into his death following a tweet by Congress Party President, Rahul Gandhi questioning the sequence of events in which Khan succumbed to his death. The mysterious death & hurried burial without an autopsy, of the key witness in the #Unnao rape & murder case, involving BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar, smells of a conspiracy. Is this your idea of justice for our daughters, Mr 56 ?https://t.co/Tft8fpPFYy Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 23, 2018 The autopsy is important to bring out the truth; they should not obstruct the process. We have given assurance that the body will again be buried with full honour and respect. said sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Hasangunj, Suraj Yadav. Photo: Reuters Earlier, Shabeena even alleged that the victims uncle had tried to bribe her and Yunus to accept Rs 8 lakh against to help him build his case against Atul Sengar, charge sheeted for beating the rape victims father to death. The Unnao rape case grabbed media attention all over the world when the alleged rape of a 17-year-old girl in June 2017 came to light in April 2018. A Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Uttar Pradesh, Kuldeep Singh Sengar is the main accused in the rape case. His brother, Atul Sengar is the second accused of the alleged murder of rape victims father who was beaten to death by the gangsters. The rape survivor even tried to immolate herself in front of Adityanaths house in April this year. According to Reuters, there were 40,000 rapes reported in India in 2016 and the victims were children in 40 percent of those cases. The newly-appointed Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has come up with a slew of measures to curb the use of state funds by government officials. Among them, one is imposing a ban on first-class air travel by the President, Chief Justice, Senate Chairman and the National Assembly speaker. Additionally, working hours of the officials have also been revised. The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government revised working hours in government institutions, abolished discretionary funds of the Prime Minister, federal ministers and members of the National Assembly, reports Dawn news. reuters The decisions were taken during a second meeting of the federal cabinet in a week presided over by Khan. The Cabinet rejected a proposal for declaring only one official weekly holiday on Sunday and withdrawing the second weekly holiday on Saturday. While the span of working hours will remain same - eight hours - the new office timing will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The previous timing was 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The meeting also decided to conduct audit of all mega transport projects carried out in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces during the last government. It was decided that the Prime Minister would use the official aircraft only for domestic tours and not for foreign visits. Reuters Another important decision taken by the cabinet was formation of task forces for upgrading shanty settlements across the country and launching tree plantation in main cities. The meeting decided to abolish the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) and merge its departments into other ministries. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had spent 51 billion Pakistani rupees ($417,825,150) government funds only in one year by exercising his "discretionary powers", Dawn news reported. Similarly, President Mamnoon Hussain also distributed public money of 90 million Pakistani rupees on his own discretion. If you have ever changed houses as a kid (bought a new home or rented a new one) you know what it feels like to get accustomed to the new place. It takes quite some time for it to feel like home and you miss your old place a little too much. That's exactly what seems to be happening with Riff Raff the elephant. Humane Society International All his life - 45 years, to be precise - Riff Raff has lived in Limpopo province of South Africa, and now he is being shown the door. He was relocated 40 miles away [from Limpopo] to a new home. But, we're guessing he had a little too much FOMO, so, he stomped his way back to his old home. In the process, he destroyed enough fences and crops to make the local farmers unhappy. In fact, he might actually be 'legally shot' if he does not mend his ways. Humane Society International Enter, the good folks from 'The Humane Society International'. These guys are now trying to save Riff Raff by transporting him to his new home that's 300 miles away. Needless to say, the big guy will find it close to impossible to stomp his way back to his home once he is relocated. Although it sounds heartbreaking, Riff Raff's new home seems to be quite the playfield. Humane Society International Audrey Delsink - Executive Director of Humane Society International told Unilad: "If he stays, hell almost certainly be killed. Hell be the oldest, most dominant bull in a much larger reserve with many new, unrelated females. At 45, hes a prime bull. Hell be the females first choice, so will definitely be siring offspring for many years to come. This is utopia for a bull elephant wanting to mate." Humane Society International The relocation is not going to be easy - obviously, transporting a six-and-a-half-tonne bull elephant is not child's play. It's going to cost Rs 6,27,384 and will involve tracking helicopter, crane and giant crates along with a crew of experts to make his journey safe and sound. Let's hope Riff Raff likes his new home so much that he doesn't feel the need to miss his old place. With inputs from Unilad Rakhi is a festival that binds families even if they don't see each other as often as they'd like to. Brothers and sisters come together to celebrate and commemorate the love and the bond they share. Just like every sister, this sister to bought her rakhi, packed it nicely and sent it to a Kot Lakhpat jail in Pakistan, because she cannot meet her brother. TOI Meet the 45-year-old Rekha Yadav, the sister of Kuldeep Yadav who is languishing in a Pakistan jail since 1994. Kuldeep was accused of being a spy but that didn't stop Rekha from sending him rakhi. Every year she repeats the ritual and then spends sleepless nights wondering whether or not he got the rakhi. Rekha says that Kuldeep's sentence will end in September 2021 and she is waiting for the day when she will finally be able to see him and celebrate this festival with him in person. Twitter Her family has visited every government office to plead her brother's case and request an earlier homecoming. Together, they are only counting days to the day they will finally get to see him. A new scientific study concludes there is no safe level of drinking alcohol. The study shows that in 2016, nearly 3 million deaths globally were attributed to alcohol use, including 12 percent of deaths in males between the ages of 15 and 49. The health risks associated with alcohol are massive, said Dr. Emmanuela Gakidou of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington and the senior author of the study which was published Aug. 23 in the international medical journal The Lancet. She said the findings are consistent with other recent research that found clear and convincing correlations between drinking and premature death, cancer and cardiovascular problems. Zero alcohol consumption minimizes the overall risk of health loss, Gakidou said. The study does not distinguish between beer, wine and liquor due to a lack of evidence when estimating the disease burden, Gakidou said. Researchers used data on all alcohol-related deaths generally and related health outcomes to determine their conclusions. Alcohol use patterns vary widely by country and by sex, the average consumption per drinker, and the attributable disease burden. Globally, more than 2 billion people were current drinkers in 2016; 63 percent were male. Average consumption refers to a standard drink, defined in the study as 10 grams of pure alcohol, consumed by a person daily, about the equivalent of: A small glass of red wine (100 ml or 3.4 fluid ounces) at 13% alcohol by volume; A can or bottle of beer (375 ml or 12 fluid ounces) at 3.5% alcohol by volume; or A shot of whiskey or other spirits (30 ml or 1.0 fluid ounces) at 40% alcohol by volume. Standard drinks are different by country. For example, in the UK a standard drink is 8 grams of alcohol, whereas in Australia, the US, and Japan, it is 10 grams, 14 grams, and 20 grams, respectively. The study, part of the annual Global Burden of Disease (GBD), assesses alcohol-related health outcomes and patterns between 1990 and 2016 for 195 countries and territories and by age and sex. It provides findings on prevalence of current drinking, prevalence of abstention, alcohol consumption among current drinkers, and deaths and overall poor health attributable to alcohol for 23 health outcomes, such as communicable and non-communicable diseases and injuries, including: Cardiovascular diseases: atrial fibrillation and flutter, hemorrhagic stroke, ischemic stroke, hypertensive heart disease, ischemic heart disease, and alcoholic cardiomyopathy; Cancers: breast, colorectal, liver, esophageal, larynx, lip and oral cavity, and nasal; Other non-communicable diseases: cirrhosis of the liver due to alcohol use, diabetes, epilepsy, pancreatitis, and alcohol use disorders; Communicable diseases: lower respiratory infections and tuberculosis; Intentional injuries: interpersonal violence and self-harm; Unintentional injuries: exposure to mechanical forces; poisonings; fire, heat, and hot substances; drowning; and other unintentional injuries; and Transportation-related injuries. We now understand that alcohol is one of the major causes of death in the world today, Lancet Editor Richard Horton stated in prepared remarks. We need to act now. We need to act urgently to prevent these millions of deaths. And we can. This study used 694 data sources on individual and population-level alcohol consumption, along with 592 prospective and retrospective studies on the risk of alcohol use. More than 500 GBD collaborators, including researchers, academics, and others from more than 40 nations contributed to the study, according to Max Griswold, senior researcher and lead author. With the largest collected evidence base to date, our study makes the relationship between health and alcohol clear drinking causes substantial health loss, in myriad ways, all over the world, Griswold said. In 2016, eight of the leading 10 countries with lowest death rates attributable to alcohol use among 15- to 49-year-olds were in the Middle East: Kuwait, Iran, Palestine, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Jordan, and Syria. The other two were Maldives and Singapore. Conversely, seven of the leading 10 countries with highest death rates were in the Baltic, Eastern European, or Central Asian regions, specifically Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, Mongolia, Latvia, and Kazakhstan. The other three were Lesotho, Burundi, and Central African Republic. Health officials in those nations, Gakidou said, would be well served by examining the studys findings to inform their policies and programs to improve the health and well-being of their constituents. There is a compelling and urgent need to overhaul policies to encourage either lowering peoples levels of alcohol consumption or abstaining entirely, she said. The myth that one or two drinks a day are good for you is just that a myth. This study shatters that myth. ALCOHOL-ATTRIBUTABLE DEATH RATES (PER 100,000 PEOPLE), 15-49 YEARS, BOTH SEXES, 2016 Highest rates: Lesotho: 145.3 Russia: 118.4 Central African Republic: 108.8 Ukraine: 92.2 Burundi: 81.1 Lithuania: 76.1 Belarus: 71.2 Mongolia: 67.6 Latvia: 65.5 Kazakhstan: 62.2 Lowest rates: Kuwait: 0.3 Iran: 0.4 Palestine: 0.4 Libya: 0.7 Saudi Arabia: 0.7 Yemen: 0.9 Jordan: 1.3 Maldives: 1.4 Singapore: 1.6 Syria: 1.7 PREVALENCE OF CURRENT DRINKERS, ALL AGES, 2016 MALES Highest prevalence: Denmark: 97.1 Norway: 94.3 Argentina: 94.3 Germany: 94.3 Poland: 93.8 France: 93.1 South Korea: 91.3 Switzerland: 91.2 Greece: 90.8 Iceland: 90.3 Lowest prevalence: Pakistan: 0.9 Bangladesh: 1.0 Egypt: 1.1 Mali: 2.5 Morocco: 3.0 Senegal: 3.2 Mauritania: 3.2 Syria: 5.0 Indonesia: 7.2 Palestine: 7.9 FEMALES Highest prevalence: Denmark: 95.3 Norway: 91.4 Germany: 90.0 Argentina: 89.9 New Zealand: 88.5 Switzerland: 88.4 Slovakia: 87.2 France: 86.9 Sweden: 86.1 Iceland: 84.8 Lowest prevalence: Bangladesh: 0.3 Morocco: 1.1 Pakistan: 1.5 Egypt: 1.5 Nepal: 1.5 Syria: 1.6 Bhutan: 1.9 Myanmar: 2.3 Tunisia: 2.3 Senegal: 2.6 POPULATION AVERAGE OF STANDARD DRINKS DAILY, ALL AGES, 2016 MALES Greatest number of drinks: Romania: 8.2 Portugal: 7.3 Luxembourg: 7.3 Lithuania: 7.0 Ukraine: 7.0 Bosnia and Herzegovina: 6.5 Belarus: 6.0 Estonia: 6.0 Spain: 5.8 Hungary: 5.5 Lowest numbest of drinks: Pakistan: 0.0008 Iran: 0.004 Kuwait: 0.02 Comoros: 0.02 Libya: 0.02 Bangladesh: 0.03 Palestine: 0.04 Mauritania: 0.05 Yemen: 0.05 Saudi Arabia: 0.05 FEMALES Highest number of drinks: Ukraine: 4.2 Andorra: 3.4 Luxembourg: 3.4 Belarus: 3.4 Sweden: 3.2 Denmark: 3.2 Ireland: 3.1 United Kingdom: 3.0 Germany: 2.9 Switzerland: 2.8 Lowest number of drinks: Iran: 0.0003 Kuwait: 0.01 Mauritania: 0.02 Libya: 0.02 Pakistan: 0.03 Timor-Leste: 0.04 Palestine: 0.04 Yemen: 0.04 Tunisia: 0.04 Syria: 0.05 Topics Trends Germany By Padraig Hoare The metamorphosis of Dell in Limerick from a manufacturing site to a global centre of customer support is ongoing, and the region remains vital to the IT giants operations, according to Denis Kelly. The Newcastle West native and vice-president for global support and deployment at Dell EMC was recently appointed the new Limerick site leader by the company. Denis Kelly says the legacy of staff at Dell in Limerick from its manufacturing days has created a furnace of capability. Picture: Liam Burke/Press 22. With the company for 22 years, Mr Kelly knows just how painful it was for Limerick when 1,900 jobs were shipped to Poland in 2009, leaving a community angry and devastated. He acknowledges it has been a rebuilding job for Dell in the locality. There is no point in hiding from it, that was a very difficult time in Limerick. But we are now nearly at 1,000 people, and the great thing is that the average tenure is about 11 years with Dell. But the average time in each role is three years. What that tells you is people have really grasped the responsibility for themselves of the creation of the pathway to success. It is phenomenal. We now in Limerick run one third of all the cyber -security for Dell around the globe. That was born out of the capability that some of our people had from their manufacturing days. "Out of Limerick, 300 people have created the ability to create a rail delivery model from China for Dell right through Europe. It is the longest model in the world at 8,000 miles. This is the kind of value-add model people have created within Limerick, he said. Having been one of the most trusted lieutenants within Dells operations over the past decade, it was a source of massive professional and personal satisfaction to come home to lead what is happening in Limerick, Mr Kelly said. I cant even do justice to the words, how proud I feel as a Limerick man to lead what is happening here. "I joined Dell in 1996 in the manufacturing operations piece. I spent a few years running services and business operations in Europe, and moved to Austin and worked there for eight years. I spent some time running sales and process re-engineering, which was the re-engineering of business processes for sales and marketing. About five years ago, I moved back into services, to run the consumer division of services globally for Dell. That has all the post-sales support for the consumer division of Dell. Directly and indirectly, well have 10,000 people and typically supporting customers through all channels. "Two years ago I decided it was time to come back. I run the campus here in Limerick, in addition to my day job. I spend a third of my time in Limerick, a third in Asia and a third in the US, he said. The speed of change in IT now is unprecedented, added Mr Kelly. What you learn is how to stay relevant in terms of future growth of the company and also where our customer set is going. I would have spent a lot of time with sales and marketing as well as my support, and you learn the speed of change. One of the major groups we have on the Limerick campus is the solutions centre, which is where customers have a problem, or opportunity to resolve it, using technology. In the past, that would have been seen as hardware, but with data in and of itself, data is now the vehicle often to improve the efficiency of many companies. What is very interesting is the type of customers coming through and also the questions they are coming with. In the past it would have been hardware-related, now they are coming very much with a business problem, he said. Limericks added value to Dell is perfectly exemplified by its Internet of Things (IoT) lab, he said. What we have developed with that lab is we are supporting about 60% of the engagements that Dell has globally from Limerick. It is really converting into much more tangible benefits to the company and our customers. Dell moved away from being a hardware manufacturer to being a company that offers all the solutions from the edge to the core. The IoT presents us with the chance to showcase all our capabilities, starting with the customer, he said. Upstarts in the data management sector have been turning heads among investors globally, with the likes of Rubrik and Cohesity predicted to be the next big IT giants with their data backup and management capabilities. Giants like Dell EMC have seen the threat and responded accordingly, said Mr Kelly. The biggest advantage Dell EMC has is best reflected in who we are supporting. Dell technology is now supporting 99% of the Fortune 500 companies. "The biggest selling point Dell has is we have the capability to face into the customer as one single entity. A lot of competitors do specific elements really well, but Dell is a one-stop shop. Over the last couple of years, we have established a command centre here in Limerick which has been replicated throughout the world to manage the post-service events of our customers 7.5m events here. "That is led out of Limerick by Tipperary man Declan Nolan. The legacy of people has created for us a furnace of capability, said Mr Kelly. Irish third-level colleges are the beach donkeys to the thoroughbreds of the US when it comes to funding, yet they persist in playing a global ratings game they cannot win, says Kyran Fitzgerald. Soon the countrys third-level campuses will be filling up again. Freshmen students will be arriving at colleges where student-teacher ratios have risen sharply. Irish universities have, as a group, been falling down the league tables of the international ranking bodies. The recent resignation of the chief executive of the Higher Education Authority (HEA), Graham Love, has also led to claims that the Department of Education is exerting too tight a control over the universities. But are the leading universities that we fund now playing in a game the global ratings game which is one they can never have a chance of winning? The international league tables are dominated by US Ivy League colleges which have amassed massive endowment funds as a result of huge tax-funded donations from the countrys wealthy and well off. Harvard University is Americas richest school with an endowment fund of around $36bn (31bn), followed by Yale University with a fund worth $23bn. These two colleges alone received over $1.25bn in US federal government funding. The spend per Ivy League student comes out top every year. There are over 30 US colleges with endowments approaching $3bn each. American parents are willing to make huge sacrifices, stumping up an average of 60,000 for each member of the family to avail of higher education. In comparison, Irish colleges are beach donkeys up against thoroughbred stallions when it comes to financial backing. While Irish campuses have improved in appearance beyond recognition since the 1970s, they are bursting at the seams. An HEA report has found that 40% of the current space in higher education is in need of major repair or replacement. Last year, there were just over 180,000 full-time enrollments in Irish third level, including 125,000 in our universities and another 90,000 or so in the Institutes of Technology. Total income of Irish higher education institutions in 2014-2015 amounted to just under 1.55bn, not much more than what the US government pumped into Harvard and Yale alone, based on figures from Forbes magazine. Two years ago, the Peter Cassells report proposed an increase in core funding of 600m by 2020, along with a capital investment programme of 5.5bn over the next 15 years. Earlier this year, the Government pledged to invest 2.2bn in capital works over 10 years, in an announcement welcomed by the colleges though the funds fell far short of what they had sought. But other questions should be posed: Is the aim to extend higher education to ever-widening tranches of the population at a time when apprenticeship positions need filling a valid aim? Should the State instead allocate more funds towards older people seeking a second, or the first chance at further education rather than cramming ever more teenagers into a third level system currently creaking at the seams? Has third-level education in Ireland lost touch with a vision of what university life should really consist of in the utilitarian-led rush to produce useful components for the burgeoning industries which for now at least happen to favour the country? Is an obsession with ratings resulting in an over-concentration on certain activities at the expense of a broader vision of what a university or other third level institutions should amount to? The ratings bodies favour lavishly appointed campuses over those of more modest proportions. And there is a strong bias in favour of colleges whose employees churn out material for favoured publications. This emphasis on research output comes at the expense of pure teaching. How often do students recall the publications of their teachers and how often to they remember the inspiration provided in the classroom and the time devoted by their teacher to them as individuals? In the UCD arts department of a generation ago, I recall professors and lecturers whose office doors were kept open for students in need of advice and encouragement. How much of this activity is recorded by the functionaries charged with determining which colleges should be promoted and which should be marked down? The word unsung comes to mind. Out there, a new dynamic exists. Researchers from the departments of advertising and public relations at Chung Ang University in Korea and Syracuse University in New York have concluded that external prestige is four times more influential than ratings on student satisfaction when it comes to fostering supportive attitudes. Rankings have a halo effect in boosting the brands of universities, apparently. As the writer Louise Simpson puts it: Students and parents are attracted to big names in higher education and rankings play a part in establishing brand hierarchies. No one can deny that ratings count. It is estimated that Irish third level institutions attract around 500m in income from China alone. Clearly, we ignore the importance of such income at our peril. The ratings placed on Irish institutions can serve a canary in the coalmine function in warning about the effects of neglect, but Irish universities in the past have often boxed above their weight by simply being clever, individualistic, and innovative. Ed Walshs innovations at the original University of Limerick is a case in point. Great philanthropists such as Chuck Feeney, the Naughtons and the Glucksmans, among others, have helped to transform the appearance of our campuses, but much work has also been carried out in modest premises that has proven to be of real worth. Writing recently in nature.com the authors Ellen Hazelkorn and Andrew Gibson pointed to the way our universities have been reoriented in the service of the global economy. Globalisation has transformed higher education from an institution concerned primarily with community and nation building to an internationalised sector central to competitiveness and reputation, they wrote. Is it not time that Irish universities returned to their roots and that they reconsider the state of affairs under which functional targets take pride of place over the activities that really make our universities stand out? As things stand, one has to wonder how much space would exist for the likes of a James Joyce or a Samuel Beckett in the thrusting output driven global organisations of today? By Eamon Quinn A key economic survey of households and businesses has found concerns over a potential no-deal Brexit, and the allied slide in sterling, have again knocked sentiment, with confidence having ebbed in Munster and Connacht-Ulster, in particular. The survey for Bank of Ireland and the European Commission of 1,000 households and 2,000 firms showed economic confidence has dropped for a second month in August. The pound has weakened to around 90p against the euro in the past month or so. This is a concern for Irish businesses selling into the UK market and is something that we will be keeping a close eye on as the talks enter the crucial autumn phase, said Bank of Ireland group chief economist Loretta OSullivan. On the consumer front, there also looks to be a touch of a summer spending hangover in the August data, with the number of households worried about paying bills up on last month, she said, though consumers were more sanguine about their financial outlook. Sentiment fell in all regions, with that of Munster and Connacht-Ulster falling the most, and the decline in the Rest of Leinster area being the less severe. Businesses, including retailers and builders, said their costs rose but expect to keep prices unchanged for the time being. It also found people expect house prices and rental costs to continue to rise over the next year. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said that business conditions for SMEs have further improved after his departments survey showed small firms were accessing bank funding more easily. The survey of 1,500 businesses showed they believe banks were lending more to SMEs in the six months to the end of March from the same period a year earlier. After falling sharply through March of last year, demand for bank loans rose to 26%, according to the survey. The average cost of existing loans for SMEs fell slightly to 5.06%, it said. However, that would still mean Irish SMEs pay among the costliest rates in the eurozone. A majority, or 55% of firms, said they saw conditions improving, with over two thirds of the survey saying they were in the black. By Anthony Foley Most of us appreciate good quality public services but are less keen on paying the necessary taxes to provide them. In 2017, the total net tax take was almost 50.76bn, even though pay-related social insurance which generated another 10.2bn is not usually included, wrongly in my view, in the tax statistics. Also excluded from the tax sums are local authority business rates, of over 1.47bn. Income tax tends to be the first item when we think about taxation but all types of income taxes, including the universal social charge, account for only 39.3% of the total tax take. The vast bulk of income tax is paid by Paye earners, while the self-assessed and other income taxes such as interest retention and dividend withholding taxes make up the rest. Vat accounts for over 26% of the tax take; excise duties almost 12%; and taxes on the profits generated by companies take in over 16% of the total. Much smaller contributions come from stamp duties, capital taxes, customs duties, and the local property tax. The two big items are income tax and Vat, but Vat and excise duties bring in almost the same amount as income tax. Who pays income tax? Almost one million earners, or 37% of the total, do not pay any income tax because their incomes are too low. Some 42% of workers pay income tax at the standard rate of 20%, and 21% of all workers pay the higher rate of 40%. A smaller number of taxpayers are exempt from USC: 790,000 people, or 29% of the total. In other words, most of the income-USC tax is paid by a small proportion of taxpayers. In 2018, it is expected that the top 1% of income earners whose income exceeds 200,000 a year will pay 28% of total income tax; the top 7% of income earners, earning more than 100,000, will account for 53% the total income tax take; and the top 26% of income earners, earning more than 50,000, will account for 85% of all income tax revenues. The remaining 74% of income earners with incomes of up to 50,000 will pay 15% of the total. The picture for corporation tax is one which is changing rapidly: At 8.2bn, it now accounts for over 16% of all tax revenue. The payments are heavily concentrated on multinationals, accounting for 80% of the corporation tax receipts last year, while the top 10 payers accounted for 39%. Irelands standard Vat rate is relatively high at 23%. Only six of the 28 EU countries have a Vat rate above 23%, and 19 countries have Vat rates pegged below 23%. Ireland has the highest wine excise tax in the EU; the second highest beer excise and the third highest spirits excise, as well as the highest cigarette excise. However, Ireland has a relatively low 9% Vat rate on hospitality and certain other sectors, and does not charge Vat on most food items. So the question is whether Ireland is a low tax or a high tax economy? The standard measure in calculating the so-called national tax burden is tax revenue, including social insurance contributions, as a percentage of GDP, and Ireland has low social security contributions by EU standards. Based on GDP, Ireland, on 25%, is a very low tax economy: It was the lowest in the EU, followed by Romanias 26% and Bulgarias 29% rates, in 2016. Of course, it is well accepted that GDP is not a good indicator of Irelands economy. The Irish tax revenue based on the modified GNI measure was 37%, which means there are 13 EU countries which pay more tax than Ireland. These include states with better public services such as France at 48% and Sweden at 45%. In 2016, the taxes collected per head of the population came to 15,580 in France and to 21,076 in Sweden. The big tax policy issue is whether to implement higher tax levels to support better public services. Demographics, interest payments, efficiency, scale differences and defence spending all play their parts. However, who wants to match the French or Danish tax payments? Anthony Foley is emeritus associate professor of economics at the Dublin City University Business School. Puzzles hub Visit our brain gym where you will find simple and cryptic crosswords, sudoku puzzles and much more. Updated at midnight every day. PS ... We would love to hear your feedback on the section right HERE. 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This equalization of spaces between letters to counter-spaces inside letters makes a regular and enjoyable rhythm of alternating strokes and voids in the pattern of text. A technical bonus was that generous letter spacing maintained distinctiveness of letters when ink squash, rough paper, type wear, and uneven printing pressures tended to degrade the text image. We thought that generous spacing would likewise help in the early days of digital type, when coarse resolutions and laser printing tended to degrade the look of well known printing types. As type technology improved in the Renaissance, letter spacing was slightly reduced in printing by Aldus Manutius with the types of Francesco Griffo at the end of the 15th century. Spacing was slightly reduced again in the second half of the 16th century and in the 17th century, as paper costs became an important factor in the printing business, and when publishers and readers began to favor economy over luxury. In the second half of the 20th century, tight letter spacing became common in advertising typography, not for economy but for fashion. Although tight spacing of grotesque style typefaces had occasionally been done by hand-trimming of sidebearings, photographic typesetting technology enabled much easier tightening letter spacing. At display sizes, tight letter spacing attracted attention, and this trend eventually affected text typography. A common rationale for tight, sexy spacing was that when letters were crammed together, they made distinctive word images that were easier to read, based on an hypothesis that reading is done word-by-word. Numerous reading studies have since shown, however, that words are read by recognizing letters, not as unitary chunks or gestalts, so the up-tight rationale is demonstrably false. The actual situation is more complex and still not fully understood. We used generous spacing for Lucida fonts not only because of humanist and typographic antecedents, but also because of some findings in vision science. The first interesting, to us, finding was the contrast sensitivity function (CSF) explained by Campbell and Robson in Application of Fourier analysis to the visibility of gratings, published in 1968 in the Journal of Physiology. Determinations of the CSF by Campbell and Robson, and other researchers, indicated that the human visual system is most sensitive to spatial frequencies in the range of three to six cycles per degree of visual angle. The contrast sensitivity function also indicated that the highest perceivable spatial frequencies are around 50 to 60 cycles per degree of visual angle. This upper threshold comes up in discussions about whether the 300+ pixels per inch resolutions of recent smart phone screens are above the resolving limits of the human eye. (Vision scientists often use visual angle as a measure of type size instead of physical size, e.g. typographic points, because visual size at the retina varies according to the eyes distance from the text, whereas degree of visual angle is constant. Text in 12 point type read at 16 inches has the same visual angle as text in 18 point read at 24 inches.) Ergonomic recommendations in the early 1980s said computer screens should be read at distances ranging from 20 to 28 inches, with 24 inches a common specification. Reading on paper was more often done in the range of 12 to 20 inches, with 16 inches a common standard. Hence, type on screens would, on average, seem only two-thirds as big as the same size on paper, assuming different reading distances for the different media. We tried to adjust the stem-to-space (black stems-white counters or spaces) frequency of Lucida to be in the range of three to six cycles per degree of visual angle, in the size range from 10 point to 14 point at screen and print reading distances of 16 to 24 inches. What we actually achieved for Lucida Sans and therefore Lucida Grande was, at a reading distance of 16 inches, nearly optimal frequencies of approximately 7 cycles per degree at 10 point, 6 cycles per degree at 12 point, and 5 cycles per degree at 14 point. At reading distance of 24 inches, we got 10.5 cycles at 10 point, 9 cycles at 12 point, and 7.5 cycles at 14 point. Higher than the optimal range in the CSF, but better than most fonts. In comparison, a popular grotesque sans-serif had spatial frequencies around 11% higher than Lucida and thus was further below the optimal range of the CSF. Today, it is reasonable to ask if the more generous spacing of Lucida really makes it more legible. Anecdotally, yes. Lucida Grande functioned well as system screen fonts on Macintosh OS X for 14 years, at sizes ranging from 10 to 14 point. Also, a variant, Lucida Console, has been used a terminal font in Windows for 20 years. But, the jury is still out on whether the hypothetical advantage of generous spacing actually improves reading speed and comprehension. It is also reasonable to point out that the contrast sensitivity function is not the same as the modulation transfer function for human vision, so using the CSF may not be the optimal way to determine the ideal stroke frequencies for a font. Another finding from vision science was termed a visual crowding effect by Herman Bouma In a paper entitled Interaction Effects in Parafoveal Letter Recognition, published in 1970. Bouma investigated the crowding effect further in another paper, Visual interference in the parafoveal recognition of initial and final letters of words, in 1973, Bouma found that the ability to perceive fine details is impaired when contours are close to the details to be recognized. In particular, recognition of letters is impaired when flanking letters are close by, and impairment worsens the farther the letters to be recognized are from the fixation point of central vision. Boumas observation that perception of details was impaired by close contours caused us to think that generous spacing could ameliorate some problems in recognizing type on screens. We already thought that the tight letter spacing of popular grotesque faces was a hindrance to reading at text sizes, and Boumas papers reinforced our visual impressions. In the 30 years since we designed Lucida, there has been a great deal more research on crowding, including by Denis Pelli and other vision researchers. It now appears that loose letter spacing is not a cure-all for crowding; the more space is added between letters, the farther the outlying letters are from central fixation, and thus the worse the crowding effect, which is proportional to distance from central fixation. Although there have been some studies suggesting that wide letter spacing is helpful for dyslexic readers, other studies have not found this benefit. Still, the slightly more generous spacing of Lucida has seemed to be helpful on screens. Today, it should be possible to to improve readability by adjusting letter spacing automatically, depending on parameters of type size, design, and reading distance. But, in 1984, it was hard enough to make digital type at all, frankly, so we spaced Lucida to work reasonably well within the probable text size range. It was intended to be a text face, and thats how we spaced it. It is possible to create optical size masters to tune a design to different size ranges, as has been effectively done for a few families of digital fonts. We experimented with optical masters in the 1990s, but instead of releasing them, we created more scriptal variations for Lucida, including calligraphic, casual, and handwriting styles. COUNTER-FORMS Wherever possible, we opened up counters, as in a, c, e, g in the roman styles. In the italics, we adopted a chancery cursive style with a characteristic counter-form for a, d, g, q in one orientation, and a rotationally contrasting counter in b and p, to help distinguish letters that can be confused. These can be seen in italic text samples here. DISTILLED FORMS Because we were designing Lucida for text sizes and, often, coarse resolutions, we distilled the letter shapes to minimalist forms that we felt would be recognizable under most imaging conditions. We wanted Lucida typefaces to be without distracting details, essentially transparent as conveyors of information. As some fellow typographers commented, Lucida is a workhorse design. We took that as a compliment. The true italics are somewhat showier, exhibiting traces of the fast Humanist handwriting styles still called cursive or running. Maybe not Lipizzaner stallion show horse style, but obviously more sprightly than the romans. For simplified italics, we assumed that most operating systems and font rendering engines could automatically turn the romans into obliques, which are minimally italic, differing from roman only in slant. This was not always the case, however, so in 2014, we produced Oblique versions for most of the Lucida families. For example, the difference between true italics and obliques for Lucida Grande can be seen here. BEFORE LUCIDA - INFLUENTIAL TEACHERS & MENTORS We learned the art and craft of letter design from several teachers and mentors, whose influence we wish to acknowledge. LLOYD REYNOLDS Charles Bigelow and Kris Holmes studied calligraphy with Lloyd Reynolds at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. Reynolds, Calligrapher Laureate of Oregon, taught calligraphy not as a decorative art but as the foundation of civilization. He taught italic handwriting in the chancery style of Ludovico degli Arrighi, as exemplified in Arrighis little manual, La Operina, of 1522, and in 20th century revivals of chancery cursive. He taught pen-written roman capitals in Italian humanist style, emphasizing that the classical capitals had several width groups, instead of the modern tendency to make most capitals of similar widths. and a series of historical alphabets - rustics, uncials, half-uncials, gothics, and more. For Reynolds, the graphical shapes of letters and the means of making them were not merely artistic forms or kinaesthetic exercises, nor simply functional marks, but keys to unlocking the wisdom of the ages. Kris Holmes studied brush-written roman capitals with Robert Palladino, Reynolds successor at Reed, and with Palladinos teacher, Edward Catich, the master of roman capitals, when he was invited to teach a workshop at Reed. JACK STAUFFACHER After college, Charles Bigelow studied typography as a student and teaching assistant for Jack Stauffacher at the San Francisco Art Institute. Stauffacher was a well-known book designer and much of his typographic passion was focused on legibility and clarity of text. His most famous and controversial work was a hand printed, limited edition of Platos dialogue, Phaedrus, separately described in his A Search for the Typographic Form of Platos Phaedrus. Stauffacher also excelled in large, abstract type compositions, arranged spontaneously and hand printed on his proof press. He had worked with Hermann Zapf a decade earlier to design a private press face, Hunt Roman, for the Hunt Botanical Library at Carnegie Mellon University, where Stauffacher was then professor of typography and director of the New Laboratory Press. (Unconnected with typography, Stauffacher was an outstanding bicyclist and bicycle polo player.) GERALD MURCH Bigelow studied visual perception and color vision with psychophysicist Gerald Murch at Portland State University in the mid-1970s. Studying an intriguing visual phenomenon, the McCollough Effect, with Murch led Bigelow to related literature in edge detection and spatial frequency perception, particularly a series of enlightening papers by Fergus Campbell, John Robson, and their associates and students, about spatial frequency and contrast sensitivity in the human visual system. Bigelow believed these explained some aspects of the perception of typographic forms, which are rife with edges and spatial frequencies. Thus began a continuing interest in the relevance of scientific reading studies and vision theories to type design. Long after the design of Lucida, Bigelow had occasions to write papers with Gordon Legge and Denis Pelli, who had been a post-doctoral associate and student, respectively, of Campbell and Robson. (Unconnected with the McCollough effect Jerry Murch raced cars.) HANS ED. MEIER For his private press in the 1970s, Bigelow purchased foundry type of Hans Ed. Meiers Syntax-Antiqua, a modern sans-serif based on Renaissance handwriting and early typefaces, as part of a study on how to present texts in Native American literature. Meier was a long-time teacher of lettering at the Zurich School of Arts and Crafts, and widely respected for his fine book on the history and development of writing, in which he recreated and hand-wrote all historical examples himself. Bigelow & Holmes enlisted Meiers help in designing special phonetic characters for Syntax, to represent sounds in Native American languages. Working with Meier was like a graduate education in type design, an introduction to the search for pure forms, distilled from the vast range of historical styles. (Unconnected with lettering art, Meier in his youth flew gliders off Swiss mountains. We dont know why some of our influential teachers and mentors had a need for speed, but Chuck as a teenager had a similar propensity, as the traffic court of his home town often recorded.) HERMANN ZAPF Kris Holmes and Charles Bigelow studied calligraphy and type design with Hermann Zapf at the Rochester Institute of Technology in the summer of 1979. Zapf told his type classes about his work in digital type, such as Marconi and Edison, and emphasized his conviction that type artists should create new designs for new technologies, and avoid making, as he put it, warmed over versions of older designs. In his calligraphy classes, Zapf emphasized the importance of the pen in shaping letters, in particular the legible, handwritten humanist writing of the Renaissance. (Often in his class demonstrations, Zapf swiftly wrote graceful script capitals on a blackboard, but so far as we knew, he didnt play bicycle polo, race cars, or fly gliders. Speed and agility were in his hands.) BIBLIOGRAPHY Does Print Size Matter for Reading? A review of Findings from Vision Science and Typography, by Gordon E Legge and Charles Bigelow. Journal of Vision, (2011). Crowding and eccentricity determine reading rate, by Denis G. Pelli, Katharine A. Tillman, Jeremy Freeman, Michael Su, Tracey D. Berger, and Najib J. Majaj, in Journal of Vision (2007) 7(2):20, 136. The Science of Word Recognition or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bouma, by Kevin Larson. 2004. http://www.microsoft.com/typography/ctfonts/WordRecognition.aspx The remarkable inefficiency of word recognition, by Denis G. Pelli, Bart Farell & Deborah C. Moore, Nature, Vol. 423, 752-756, June 12, 2003. "The Design of a Unicode Font, by Charles Bigelow and Kris Holmes, in RIDT'94, special issue of Electronic Publishing, Vol. 6, No. 3 "The Design of Lucida: an Integrated Family of Types for Electronic Literacy," by Charles Bigelow and Kris Holmes in Text Processing and Document Manipulation, J.C. van Vliet, ed., Cambridge University Press, 1986 "Principles of Type Design for the Personal Workstation," by Charles Bigelow, in Gutenberg-Jahrbuch 1986, Hans-Joachim Koppitz, ed., Gutenberg-Gesellschaft, Mainz, 1986 "Digital Typography and the Human Interface, by Charles Bigelow, (Proceedings of the Typography Interest Group at CHI '85)," in SIGCHI Bulletin Vol 17, No. 1, July 1985. "Introduction" to "The Computer and the Hand in Type Design," Special Issue of Visible Language Vol. XIX, No. 1, Charles Bigelow & Lynn Ruggles, editors, Winter 1985 "Digital Typography," by Charles Bigelow & Donald Day, Scientific American, Vol. 249, No. 2, August 1983. Visual interference in the parafoveal recognition of initial and final letters of words, by Herman Bouma, Vision Research Volume 13, Issue 4, April 1973, Pages 767782. Interaction Effects in Parafoveal Letter Recognition, by Herman Bouma, Nature 1970 Vol: 226 (5241):177-178. Application of Fourier analysis to the visibility of gratings, by F. W. Campbell and J. G. Robson, Journal of Physiology (London) 197: 551-566, 1968. CSF Chart: http://ohzawa-lab.bpe.es.osaka-u.ac.jp/ohzawa-lab/izumi/CSF/A_JG_RobsonCSFchart.html On the Classification of Typographical Variations, by Stanley Morison, in Type Specimen Facsimiles 1-15, John Dreyfus, ed. Bowes & Bowes and Putnam, 1963. Optical scale in type founding, by Harry Carter. Printing Historical Society Bulletin, 13, 144148, 1984. (Original work published 1937, Typography 4, 28) Bigelow & Holmes Inc. 2014 The EU must not help Syria or lift sanctions until a credible political settlement has been reached. The question is whether such a settlement is even possible, writes Carl Bildt. After a suspiciously sudden conversion, Russian president Vladimir Putin now claims to be worried about the fate of millions of refugees who have fled the carnage in Syria. In a recent meeting with German chancellor Angela Merkel, Putin expressed his hope that the EU would help to rebuild Syria so that its displaced people could start to return home. And in recent weeks, Russian diplomats have been hawking the same message across European capitals. To be sure, now that Bashar al-Assads regime has reclaimed most of the country, Syrias civil war is clearly winding down. But that outcome was not inevitable. On the contrary, the Syrian army was very close to collapsing at one point. Only with the crucial help of Iranian-backed militias and Russian air support did Assad manage to turn things around. Meanwhile, US efforts to establish a moderate armed opposition achieved little, apart from giving the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) control of the strip of northern Syria abutting the Turkish border. The only thing left to do now is to destroy Al Nusras remaining enclave in Idlib and broker some kind of settlement between the YPG and Assad. Assad has survived at a horrible cost. More than half of the Syrian population has been displaced internally or forced to flee to nearby countries or to Europe. Much of Syrias infrastructure from housing to hospitals is in ruins. And, needless to say, the countrys economy has been shattered, owing to the direct effects of the conflict and to sanctions that were imposed as part of the failed effort to force Assad into a political settlement. No other country in the past half- century has suffered so heavy a toll in human lives and physical destruction. There can be no doubt that the responsibility for this tragedy rests with the Assad regime and its Russian and Iranian sponsors. Of course, they will say they were fighting terrorism, as if that excuses their indiscriminate methods and reckless disregard for civilian lives. But future generations will remember the true source of the terror that was visited upon the Levant over the past seven years. The estimated cost of rebuilding Syria varies widely. While a 2017 World Bank study puts the price at around $225bn (193bn), more recent assessments suggest a total closer to $400bn (345bn); others expect the sum to approach $1trn. And that does not even count the human costs of the war. It is clear from Putins European charm offensive that Russia has no intention of footing even a small part of the bill. Apparently, the Kremlin does not feel as though it has a duty to rebuild the cities and restore the livelihoods that its bombs destroyed. Nor is the US particularly eager to help. Just last week, the Trump administration cancelled $230m in funding for the reconstruction of Raqqa and other areas liberated from Islamic State. It is now hoping Saudi Arabia will foot the bill instead. If there is any wisdom in that move, it remains to be seen. With the US stepping back, it is obvious why Putin suddenly wants to talk to the Europeans about the plight of Syrian refugees. He didnt care about them when his bombs were falling on their neighbourhoods. But now that he wants Europe to bail out Assad, he has found some compassion. But it is not clear that Assad even wants displaced Syrians to return. If anything, he seems ready to exploit the situation to re-engineer Syrias ethnic and political composition, making it safer for his own sect, the Alawites. Hence, a new law grants refugees just one year to reclaim their property before the government seizes it; and other bureaucratic requirements seem designed to allow Syrian authorities to refuse reentry to anyone they dont like. Moreover, Assad has stated explicitly that European companies are not welcome to help with the reconstruction, and that preference should be given to Russian firms. Clearly, the regime is preparing to profit from any rebuilding assistance that comes its way. For all of these reasons, the last thing that Europeans should do is send money directly to Assad. A far better option is to offer direct financial support to individuals and families that are willing and able to return to their country. At the same time, the EU should not lift sanctions until a credible political settlement between the regime and opposition forces has been reached. The question is whether such a settlement is even possible. So far, every realistic proposal has been torpedoed by Assads insistence that he remain in power. Assad should remember that he now rules over a wreck of a country. Even when the guns fall silent, his regime will not be secure. His inability to revive Syria will leave him vulnerable in the same way that his refusal to countenance reforms did eight years ago. Europe has no interest in saving Assad from that dilemma. Help for Syria must await a genuine political solution. After the destruction that the Assad regime has wrought, there is no other way forward. Carl Bildt is a former prime minister and foreign minister of Sweden. Sometimes sorry is simply not enough. So much was expected from the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland. This countrys relationship with the once totally dominant Roman Catholic Church has changed significantly since Pope John Paul II visited these shores in 1979. While the Holy Fathers presence at Croke Park, Knock, and the Phoenix Park were the religious centrepieces of his visit, his meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and their addresses at Dublin Castle on Saturday were watched keenly by so many for so many reasons. Varadkar had to address the wave of abuse scandals which have traumatised this country for three decades, were his credibility to hold. During his address, Mr Varadkar said at times in the past we have failed. We remember the way the failures of both Church and State and wider society created a bitter and broken heritage for so many, leaving a legacy of pain and suffering, he said. It is a history of sorrow and shame. Magdalene laundries, mother and baby homes, industrial schools, illegal adoptions, and clerical child abuse are stains on our State, our society and also the Catholic Church. Wounds are still open and there is much to be done to bring about justice and truth and healing for victims and survivors. Holy Father, I ask that you use your office and influence to ensure this is done here in Ireland and across the world. In recent weeks, we have all listened to heart-breaking stories from Pennsylvania of brutal crimes perpetrated by people within the Catholic Church, and then obscured to protect the institution at the expense of innocent victims. It is a story all too tragically familiar here in Ireland. There can only be zero tolerance for those who abuse innocent children or who facilitate that abuse. Many media commentators have spoken in admiration of Mr Varadkars comments, for their frankness without being disrepectful to the Pope. The Sunday papers were full of plaudits forMr Varadkar, saying his words, spoken directly to the Holy Father, were extraordinary, the Pontiff stunned and unable to respond adequately. It is certainly a speech that no previous taoiseach, including Enda Kenny, I think, would have given. The stains on our history have been repeated from Belfast to Boston, from Dublin to Denver, from Australia to Africa. The story of abuse is shockingly familiar. While Mr Varadkars comments were commended by some, others, such as abuse victim and Amnesty International Ireland executive director Colm OGorman said the speech and the visit went nowhere near far enough to address the concerns of those so let down by their Church. And whatever about what the Taoiseach said, there was a palpable disappointment at the response from Pope Francis, especially in the absence of a commitment to enforce a zero-tolerance attitude to those who perpitrated or facilitated such abuse. Later on Saturday, the Pope met a small group of abuse survivors including Independent councillor Damien OFarrell. As detailed by Maeve Sheahan in the Sunday Independent, during their meeting, the Pope listened as everyone in the group took turns to speak or asked questions. The Pope, said Mr OFarrell, seemed shocked at some of the first-hand testimonies he was hearing from survivors of institutional abuse, and at the stories of women incarcerated in Magdalene laundries. Mr OFarrell then asked how the cardinals and bishops that covered up the abuse would be dealt with. Are they going to be cast out? said Mr OFarrell. This question drew a most un-Pope-like response. This cover-up was like dirt in a toilet, filth, Francis said. Yesterday, during the Mass at the Phoenix Park, the Pope again asked for forgiveness for the failure in dealing with the abuse scandals. But it was all beginning to ring a bit hollow at this stage. He was speaking as a former top Vatican official accused him of having known of allegations of sex abuse by a prominent US cardinal for five years before accepting his resignation last month. Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano called on the Pontiff to resign, saying he had told Francis in 2013 that Cardinal Theodore McCarrick had faced extensive accusations of sexually abusing lower-ranking seminarians and priests. Without committing to implementing a worldwide zero-tolerance attitude to the abuse which has traumatised so many, here in Ireland and across the world, as significant as the Popes visit was, the sense of anti-climax is palpable. After all, we have been through, apologies from the Pope are welcome but quite simply not enough. Security firm Recorded Future claims it has found proof-of-concept code on the code repository GitHub that can be used to easily exploit the recently discovered flaw in the Apache Struts Web framework. In a statement, the company said its researchers had also found a Python script that made the exploitation even easier. Recorded Future, which has close links with In-Q-Tel, the CIAs investment arm, and Google Ventures, claimed it had also detected discussions in Chinese and Russian underground forums about the exploitation. The vulnerability, which can be exploited remotely and affects all supported versions of Apache Struts 2, was discovered and disclosed by analytics software firm Semmle on Wednesday. It is claimed to pose a bigger risk thanthat was at the centre of the Equifax breach. In its advisory, Semmle advised users of Struts 2.3 to upgrade to version 2.3.35 while users of version 2.5 were advised to upgrade to 2.5.17. Allan Liska, a senior security architect from Recorded Future, said: The new Apache Struts vulnerability is potentially even more damaging than the one from 2017 that was used to exploit Equifax. "Unlike that vulnerability, this one does not require any plug-ins to be present in order to exploit it, a simple well-crafted URL is enough to give an attacker access to a victim's Apache Struts installation and there is already exploit code on GitHub and underground forums are talking about how to exploit it. "The worst part for many large organisations is that they may not even know they are vulnerable because Struts underpins a number of different systems including Oracle and Palo Alto. This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. NBC announces death of Senator John McCain with mating human dolphins NBC solemnly announces death of Sen. John McCain. Wait for it. pic.twitter.com/xAqZ3HtvHa Rob Beschizza (@Beschizza) August 26, 2018 RIP John McCain (August 29, 1936 August 25, 2018). Victor in six elections to the US Senate, McCain was the US navy pilot who crashed twice. He was was on the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal when his A-4 Skyhawk jet caught fire. He was hit by shrapnel by the planes exploding bombs. The accident cost 134 men their lives. He was shot down during the Vietnam War, bayonetted, beaten badly and held for five-and-a-half years as a prisoner in inhuman conditions at the infamous Hoa Lo prison. The admirals son survived months in solitary confinement and torture. When he ran for Congress in Arizona, he told a journalist who accused him of not being local: Listen pal. I spent 22 years in the Navy. My father was in the Navy. My grandfather was in the Navy. We in the military service tend to move a lot. We have to live in all parts of the country, all parts of the world. I wish I could have had the luxury, like you, of growing up and living and spending my entire life in a nice place like the First District of Arizona, but I was doing other things The place I lived longest in my life was Hanoi. And on CNN Anorak Posted: 26th, August 2018 | In: Key Posts, News, Politicians, Strange But True, TV & Radio Comment | TrackBack | Permalink Reddit Email 84 Shares London (Middle East Monitor) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told reporters accompanying him on his visit to Lithuania that he is seeking to divide the European Union and trying to prevent a consensus over Europes position on issues related to the Palestinians and Iran. Before leaving for a tour of the Baltic states, Netanyahu said that he is interested in balancing relations between the EU and Israel, which are always friendly, in order to receive more honest and credible treatment. I am accomplishing such a goal through making contacts with blocs of countries within the European Union, Eastern European countries, and now with the Baltic states and, of course, with other countries as well. According to Israeli media, Netanyahu told his Lithuanian counterpart, Saulius Skvernelis: I would like to thank you for the firm position you expressed in the EUs committees for truth, Israel and integrity. In many instances, Israel is not being treated fairly in Brussels. Israels image has been recurrently distorted and it is comforting to see that you are taking the position of clarity, truth and courage. In December, Lithuania helped Netanyahu to be hosted in the EU headquarters by inviting him to breakfast with European foreign ministers before their monthly meeting. The invitation was considered to be a ruse, as it ran counter to EU protocol and provoked anger in the office of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini. Haaretz reported on Friday that after a systematic attempt to strengthen relations between Israel and countries ruled by extremist nationalist parties in Eastern and Central Europe in order to sabotage the consensus required among the 28 EU member states for a unified policy Netanyahus unveiled his strategy of using countries within the EU, such as the Visegrad states led by the extreme right-wing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, to change the Unions positions on the Palestinian issue and Iran. Netanyahu is taking advantage of Orbans vote in international EU committees to, at the very least, prevent European consensus, thereby weakening the possibility of advancing international initiatives on these issues. During his current tour, Netanyahu will meet with Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis and Estonias Prime Minister Juri Ratas, as well as members of Jewish communities. The Israeli Prime Minister acknowledged his Lithuanian ancestry by telling Skvernelis repeatedly, You know, my family comes from here. Israels relations with Latvia and Lithuania have been strengthened in recent years, while Estonia has been trying to maintain neutrality in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Haaretz said that there is a brain drain in the Baltic States and this is an issue through which Israel seeks to boost its relations in the region. Netanyahu is also looking to exploit the concern in the Baltic and Eastern European states about Russias policy in the area, especially after the annexation of the Crimea. Israel sells those countries weapons and security expertise. When he said that there is national pride in Lithuania, as there is in Israel, Netanyahu was echoing the words of right-winger Orban. I think that an important part of the excellent relations between Israel and Hungary is our relationship as nationalist leaders, he said during a recent visit to Israel. Netanyahu plans to participate in the Balkan leaders summit due to be held in Croatia. Haaretz quoted EU observers as saying that Netanyahus approach hinders the possibility of Europe taking up unified positions. Israels moves in this respect have become intensive and aggressive in the past three years. It is difficult for the EU to have one clear word about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, they point out. The newspaper added that Netanyahus policy in this context comes at a cost, not least because it is at the expense of major liberal countries in Western Europe. Netanyahu is effectively conspiring against these countries, including Germany and France, which are friendly to Israel, in order to prevent international consensus on the idea to which he pays lip service in his speeches to international and EU committees, namely the two-state solution. This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Via Middle East Monitor Featured Photo: AFP / Petras Malukas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recalled an anti-Semitic attack against his grandfather not very far from the Paneriai memorial on the outskirts of Lithuanian capital Vilnius. Reddit Email 249 Shares Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) Racism is so pervasive in the United States, and white power elites work so hard to stigmatize minorities, that the dominant racists are even sometimes able to marginalize senior white males on grounds of their association with those minorities. The head of the Republican Party will not mourn the passing of Senator John McCain. But such is the hypocrisy of politics that the W. Bush section of the GOP (now considered moderate and respectable despite its massive war crimes, its destruction of the US economy, its boosting of the super-rich at the expense of workers, and its deft use of the race dog whistle) will call John McCain a hero. So how did McCain get to be Black? It was during 2000 Republican primary campaign. I wrote last year: George W. Bush was running against Senator John McCain (R-AZ). McCains wife Cindy had visited an orphanage in Bangladesh and seen a little girl with a cleft palate who badly needed surgery. She and John adopted her and named her Bridget. Although Bridget was not raised Muslim, I think the McCains are particularly sensitive to anti-Muslim bigotry because of having a Bangladeshi in the family, and McCain refused to play the Islamophobia card in his campaign against Barack Obama in 2008. In 2000, the McCains campaigned in South Carolina with their children, including Bridget. So Bushs mastermind, Karl Rove, came up with the idea of robo-calling voters and calling into talk radio, asking the question, If you knew McCain had an illegitimate child with a Black woman, would that affect how you felt about him? The Republican Party in South Carolina is solidly white, although the state is 1/3 African-American, and what they were pleased to call miscegenation had been a crime in South Carolina until the late 1960s. Because people had seen Bridget at the rallies, Roves smear was widely believed, and it contributed to McCains loss in the GOP primary. Bush winning South Carolina cemented his standing as a front runner. No racism and bigotry, no Bush presidency. (McCain handily won South Carolina in 2008 when Rove was not calling the shots any more). Now you could say that Rove was behind all this and W. may not have backed it. But Bush never denounced Rove or dissociated himself from these tactics. The buck stops with him. McCain was of Scottish heritage and his father and grandfather were naval officers. He survived being a prisoner of war. He married the multi-millionaire heiress of the Hensley distributing company for Anheuser-Busch. He became senator for Arizona. You couldnt get more white. And yet by contiguity, just having an adopted Bangladeshi daughter, McCain opened himself to loss of his white privilege. In politics, it is never possible to get agreement across the board on someones record. Still, McCains refusal to engage in Muslim-baiting when he ran against Barack Obama in 2008 was a high point in American politics. But the way McCain himself was treated by Bush in 2000 was apparently a truer barometer of where American, and particularly GOP politics, has been going. R. I. P., senator. - Bonus video: Obama issues statement about John McCain Tracy Watkins writes: Unfinished business can be toxic in politics. Which is why Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern should have ripped off the plaster and stripped her beleaguered minister Clare Curran of all her portfolios, rather than allow her to limp on with her authority undermined. Curran already had form for doing the very same thing she was demoted over: failing to be upfront about dealings with people related to her portfolios. Ardern will keep facing questions about why she failed to cut her loose. The risk for Ardern is if Curran stuffs up again, the PM will be the one whose judgement will be in doubt. Speaker Trevor Mallard has also created a vacuum that would only be filled by conspiracy theories and unanswered questions. Having announced a full-scale inquiry into limogate leaking of Opposition leader Simon Bridgess expenses just this week, he pulled the rug out from under it, creating bad blood between himself and National. It is a decision seemingly based on an assumption that the texter is telling the truth. I dont know who the texter and leaker is, but within National there is huge skepticism that the texter is as MP, as they claim. They may well be a National staffer, but the language used in the text (such referring to themselves as a member of caucus rather than just as an MP) just doesnt sound like an MP. One person who has seen the text told me it sounded like a millennial. Now they may be wrong. But canning the inquiry based on an assumption the texter is telling the truth was premature by the Speaker. But having now been informed by police that the person concerned has mental health issues, Bridges has no way of knowing for sure whether that might be one of his MPs, a staff member, or even someone from the Speakers office. An inquiry might have allowed Parliament to find that person and put support around them if necessary. Alternatively, it might have found that the text was a smokescreen. But we may never know. Worse for Bridges, the finger of suspicion is now pointed at an internal leak, suggesting cracks in Nationals unity. Mallard may not have done Labour many favours either. Nationals response will be to blow smoke about the Speakers motives. Id say confidence in the Speaker from National MPs is rock bottom. Worse than when Margaret Wilson was Speaker. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn More Reddit Pinterest Print Tumblr By Troy Stangarone Can North Korea set aside its nuclear ambitions for economic prosperity? Is North Korea willing to engage in the types of economic reforms that could transform its economy? These are the questions that will ultimately determine if Pyongyang's current dialogue with South Korea and the United States is successful, but the question for South Korea is on what terms will it be willing to economically engage North Korea? With a potential window for resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, it is natural that there is growing interest in South Korea for economic engagement with North Korea. In his Liberation Day address, President Moon Jae-in laid out a vision of a Korean Peninsula at peace, where North and South Koreans have increased opportunities to experience prosperity, and economic cooperation could grow to 170 trillion won ($152 billion) in three decades. It is an ambitious vision. A future with the potential for the people of North Korea to experience the type of prosperity that those in the South have experienced would be a significant shift in North Korea's economic history, but achieving that vision will require understanding the limitations of prior economic engagement with North Korea. A vision of economic engagement with North Korea is important for driving the process forward, but just as crucial will be the terms under which economic engagement with North Korea is conducted. Merely picking up where prior efforts at economic engagement left off would limit the benefits for the North Korean people. Whether connecting South Korea's rail lines to North Korea or the eventual resumption of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, South Korean firms will need to employ North Korean workers and contract with North Korean firms. When economic engagement restarts, it should be based on market principles and help to reinforce the transition to a market economy rather than reinforce the parts of the North Korean state that may have an interest in limiting the growth of a market economy. Thinking about the future of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex is a good place to start. Before the complex was shuttered by the Park administration, nearly 55,000 North Koreans worked in the complex according to the Ministry of Unification. However, South Korean firms had limited choices in whom they hired, the workers weren't paid directly, and there were restrictions on the use of internet and cell phones in the complex. When the time comes to reopen the complex or start new projects, the old model for economic engagement with North Korea needs to be reformed. Workers and firms should have the ability to negotiate freely, but most importantly the workers should be paid directly rather than indirectly by the North Korean state. This is something North Korea has already agreed to, but has not allowed to be enforced in the past. According to the Code of the Act and Regulations for the Gaeseong Industrial Zone, "Each enterprise shall pay labor remuneration in cash, directly to each of its employees," so it is not a question of reaching a new agreement with North Korea, but ensuring that regulations are followed. Beyond how the workers are paid and hired, Gaeseong and other economic projects in North Korea should reinforce the markets that have continued to grow under Kim Jong-un. While some raw materials and foodstuffs for the operations in Gaeseong were previously purchased in the North, integrating the complex into the North Korean economy rather than maintaining it as a separate island could help to further spur economic activity in North Korea. This can be accomplished by allowing firms to purchase needed materials from other producers in the North, but also to sell their goods in the wider North Korean economy. Improving labor standards and opening up the market in North Korea will also be critical for attracting international investment in the future. When the Park administration tried to internationalize Gaeseong, only one foreign firm, the German manufacturer Groz-Beckert, set up shop and did so to service the South Korean firms in Gaeseong rather than to utilize North Korean labor. Without an improvement in labor rights and the direct payment of workers, reputable foreign firms will be reluctant to invest in North Korea and risk damaging their reputations internationally. At the same time, the experience of Orascom and Chinese firms in North Korea are reminders of the challenges of investing in North Korea without reform. Successful economic engagement with North Korea will be about more than joint economic projects, it will also be about how those projects are conducted and the changes that they produce in North Korea. Troy Stangarone (ts@keia.org) is the senior director of congressional affairs and trade at the Korea Economic Institute. Vilnius, Aug 26 (AFP) Israel's prime minister said today that Jews were still at risk even decades after the Holocaust as he wrapped up a groundbreaking visit to Lithuania, a Baltic state once home to his forefathers. "For the Jewish people, what has changed in these 75 years? Not the attempts to destroy us, they still seek to destroy us," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told around 300 Lithuanian Jews gathered in Vilnius's Choral Synagogue. The Israeli leader identified what he termed new existential threats facing the Jews, with Iran and the Islamist movement Hamas which runs the Gaza Strip being among them. "What has changed is our ability to defend ourselves by ourselves... This is a magnificent change of history," added Netanyahu, who is the first-ever Israeli premier to visit Lithuania, a Baltic EU state. Pre-war Lithuania was home to a thriving Jewish community of more than 200,000 people, with Vilnius a hub of learning known as the "Jerusalem of the North". But historians contend that around 195,000 perished at the hands of the Nazis and local collaborators under the 1941-44 German occupation, nearly the entire Jewish population. Today there are around 3,000 Jews living in the EU and NATO member state of 2.9 million people. Netanyahu said he spent yesterday touring the Vilna Ghetto and recalling Lithuanian Jews taken to Paneriai -- also known as Ponar or Ponary -- on the outskirts of the city, the site of the Ponar massacre. Up to 100,000 people including Jews, Poles and Russians were slain there by the Nazis and Lithuanian collaborators during World War II. "What a distance we have travelled in 75 years from the death pits of Ponar to a rising power in the world," Netanyahu said. His groundbreaking visit has not been without controversy and Netanyahu has come under sharp criticism from top Israeli Nazi hunter Efraim Zuroff for warming to Lithuania. Arguing that Vilnius has not done enough to come to terms with the role Lithuanians played in the Holocaust, Zuroff charged in a Facebook post today "that to praise the Lithuanian government's efforts to commemorate the Shoa is like commending the KKK for improving race relations in the US". A Lithuanian research centre has identified 2,000 Lithuanians suspected of taking part in the Holocaust, either by killing Jews, sending them to execution or by confiscating their wealth. At the same time nearly 900 Lithuanians hold the honorary title of "Righteous Among The Nations", awarded by Israel to gentiles who risked their lives to save Jewish neighbours. The Holocaust was either distorted or ignored in Lithuania under five decades of Soviet rule that followed the war. An honest examination only began after it became the first republic to split from the USSR in 1990. (AFP) SCY (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Aug 26: The government today distanced itself from BJP MP Subramanian Swamy's remarks that India should "invade" the Maldives if the upcoming presidential election in the island nation was rigged. Two days after a meeting with exiled former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed in Colombo, Swamy had tweeted on Friday that "India should invade Maldives if rigging of election takes place." Responding to a query on the BJP parliamentarian's comments, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "The opinion expressed by Dr Swamy in his tweet is personal. It does not reflect the views of the Government of India." Swamy met Nasheed in Colombo on Tuesday during which the Maldivian leader apprised him about the political situation in his country and expressed concerns that the September 23 presidential election may be rigged by incumbent President Abdullah Yameen. "We discussed the current political situation in the Maldives, upcoming presidential elections and our concerns on how President Yameen intends to rig Sept 23rd election," Nasheed had tweeted after the meeting. On Tuesday, Swamy tweeted that Nasheed was apprehensive of "gross rigging" in the elections and that India cannot allow that to happen as a neighbour. "We need an action plan," Swamy said, adding the "current usurper" President Yameen has "humiliated Indians". In June, the national electoral commission of the Maldives had said Nasheed was disqualified from running the presidential election. Ties between India and the Maldives nosedived after Maldivian President Yameen declared emergency on February 5 following an order by the country's Supreme Court to release a group of Opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely criticised trials. The emergency was lifted 45 days later. Last month, India expressed concern over announcement of elections in the Maldives without allowing democratic institutions, including Parliament and the judiciary, to work in a free and transparent manner. India had said it wanted "credible restoration" of the political process and the rule of law in the island nation before the elections are conducted. Mumbai, Aug 26: The Central Bureau of Investigation, which is probing the murder of anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar, has recovered the pistol used for gunning down journalist Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru last year. The pistol, CBI said, was recovered from one Subham Sarale, the brother-in-law of Saurabh Andure, arrested last week for his alleged role in the Dabholkar murder case. The CBI has appealed Shivajinagar Magistrates Court in Pune to grant the agency Andure's custody. The accused is currently detained by the Maharashtra ATS. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials investigating Narendra Dabholkar murder case recover pistol used to kill Gauri Lankesh, while investigating Sachin Andure who is an accused in both the cases. The pistol was recovered from Andure's brother-in-law ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2018 Andure, a resident of Aurangabad, was arrested by the ATS after being tipped off by his accomplice Sharad Kalaskar. The latter was arrested from Nalasopara during a raid on August 11. The ATS claims that Kalaskar and Andure were the two bike-borne motorists who had fired upon Dabholkar, 67, on June 20, 2013. Lankesh, 55 was murdered over four years later on September 5, 2017. The name of right-wing Hindu outfit Sanatan Sanstha had propped up as some of the accused held by the police are linked with the organisation. Although Sanstha has denied its involvement in the crime, its critics have pointed out publications released by the outfit which described Dabholkar and Lankesh as "enemies of Hindus". (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 26, 2018 07:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, Aug 26: The Centre on Sunday distanced itself away from the controversial remark of BJP MP Subramanian Swamy, who said India should "invade" Maldives if the presidential polls to be held in the island nation on September 23 gets rigged. Clarifying the government's view on his statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said Swamy has spoken in his personal capacity. "The opinion expressed by Dr Swamy in his tweet is personal view. It does not reflects the views of the Government of India," said MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar. Swamy had posted the contentious tweet on Friday, two days after meeting exiled former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed in Sri Lankan capital Colombo. Pleasure meeting Hon. Min @Swamy39 today. We discussed the current political situation in the Maldives, upcoming presidential elections and our concerns on how President Yameen intends to rig Sept 23rd election. pic.twitter.com/enYFZIdJ99 Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) August 22, 2018 Following the meet, Swamy said Nasheed was apprehensive that the government of Abdulla Yameen will not allow free and fair elections in the nation. The chief polling body has already barred Nasheed from contesting, he added. "India should invade Maldives if rigging of election takes place," Swamy said, further quipping, "We need an action plan." Although New Delhi has sidelined away from Swamy's view, the former Union Minister defended his statement today on Twitter. He posted as follows: Why is the present Govt of Maldives upset by my If then statement that if Maldives Sept 24th general election is rigged then India should invade that nation? Already Indians in that nation are fearing reprisals. We have to protect our citizens. Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) August 26, 2018 Ties between Maldives and India went downhill in February this year, after President Yameen imposed a 45-day emergency. The Modi government had expressed solidarity with the Maldives Supreme Court judge who was arrested for acquitting a slew of Opposition leaders, including Nasheed. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 26, 2018 09:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). A York County-based mobile home operator has agreed to pay a $25,000 civil penalty to the state and another $5,060 to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to settle unpaid annual assessments required at four York County-based mobile home communities. The settlement was approved this past Friday involving York Haven-based ATG Properties LLC, doing business as Greenleaf Gas Company; and these four mobile home communities: Brookhaven HMP Management LLC; Meadowview Management LLC; Mill Creek MHP Management LLC; and Northwood Manor Management LLC. The case is related to a 2014 fatal propane gas explosion that led to the death of a man living in a Moore Township mobile park. The PUC then found 39 violations, including Hickory Hills mobile home park and Oak Brook, Illinois-based Continental Communities LLC., its parent owner, had not registered the two-mile propane distribution system with the state for inspection for years. In the similar case, the commission this past week claimed ATG and the four communities began registering their pipeline systems on March 29, 2017, said Nils Hagen-Frederiksen, a spokesman for the PUC. However, The Pipeline Act, a state law adopted in 2012, required them since 2012 to register with the Public Utility Commission, as well as annually report the total intrastate miles of regulated transmission, distribution and gathering pipelines in their systems. According to the complaint filed by the Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement, the mobile home communities were served by natural gas or propane gas distribution systems, which are required to be registered with the PUC's Pipeline Safety Division. Operators also are required to pay an annual assessment, based on the mileage of those systems, which helps support the cost of the commission's pipeline safety activities, according to the PUC. An attorney believed to be representing ATG Properties did not immediately return a voicemail Sunday morning for comment. PUC representatives said they are "keenly aware of the importance of safety oversight" for non-public utility systems -- including natural gas and propane systems operated by mobile home parks and other similar communities. The February 2014 propane gas explosion at the Hickory Hills Mobile Home Park in Moore Township led to the death of resident William Neith. Continental Communities LLC. agreed in August 2016 to pay $1 million to settle a complaint alleging safety violations contributed to the blast. If the line was on file with the PUC, it would have been subjected to state inspections that might have prevented the explosion, the PUC had said. Neith on the night of the explosion reportedly was burning candles in the house because park officials assured them their home was safe. The propane distribution system blamed for the explosion later was removed from Hickory Hills and all residents have since been switched to bottled propane gas. Last week's settlement agreement notes the mobile home community owners and operators now will continue to submit annual registration forms. No other pipeline safety violations were identified and no customers were adversely affected, the PUC said. Registered operators: The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has a compiled list of registered operators available on its website here. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Two men from Monroe County have been identified as the motorists in Saturday morning's wrong-way crash on Interstate 78 that left one of them dead. Tamarri-Ashton Webster, 22, of Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, was the driver of the Hyundai passenger vehicle headed east on the westbound side of the highway, New Jersey State Police Trooper Alejandro Goez said. Webster was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, 23-year-old Rodney Edwards, of Stroudsburg, was flown to St. Luke's University Hospital, Fountain Hill, in critical condition, according to police. The Hyundai collided with a westbound tractor-trailer at mile-post 1.3 in Alpha, Warren County, according to state police. The crash was reported at 2:47 a.m. The driver of the rig, 24-year-old Revazi Begiashvili, of Philadelphia, was uninjured. Police were continuing to investigate why Webster was driving the wrong way on the highway. Authorities closed the westbound highway for about five hours, diverting traffic onto the right shoulder, according to police. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. The Kildare International School of Excellence for Young Musicians (KISEYM) at Herbert Lodge, the Curragh has congratulated all its students on a year of high achievements in all practical and theory exams and performances. We send special congratulations to our Leaving Certificate students of 2018 and wish them well in their future, said Berna Hayden. Sarah and Ellen Ayerst have enjoyed a wonderful summer school at Benenden School, Cranbrook, Kent with the Kent Music Summer School String Orchestra. Sophie OCarroll and David OCarroll are also returning from study abroad. David was in the Guild Hall School of Music and Drama, London where he worked with international vocal students and excellent accompanists where he had individual tutoring and tuition song master classes the purpose of the course for 16 to 18 year olds was an introduction to third level conservatoire training. SEE ALSO: These Kildare top racing yards will open their doors for Curragh Thoroughbred Trail Ms Hayden said Sophie OCarroll spent a week in Oxford at the Radley College, Abingdon Summer School for solo singing for adults. Sophie Gillen, won the Hanley Cup for Piano Repertoire under 14 years. She was also commended for the Kennedy Cup, Kilcoole 2017 and in Piano Solo for under 14 years. Also at Kilcoole, Dalia Revetchi was highly commended for Piano Solo under 14, and Karina Fleming recieved commendation for Piano Solo. Sophie OCarroll won the adult solo Lancia Paul Cup and Orlaith Doyle received a highly commended in Piano Solo under 14, added Berna. Herbert Lodge would like to congratulate its Adam Larke on winning an academic scholarship to Kilkenny College. Adam is a student of St Pauls Primary School, Monasterevin. He was also one of the students of Herbert Lodge who was awarded 100% in their theory 2017-2018 exams along with Oisin Considine and Luke Dempsey. Anne Cullen (M.Mus) will continue to work with the Leaving Certificate 2019 students. The fifth year and junior cert students will study with Sophie OCarroll (B.Mus) at Herbert Lodge . LifeStyle The best Lifestyle shows are right here, from Australia and around the world. Catch up with the experts on home design and interiors, food and cooking, the property market, and get fresh ideas with the savviest of renovators. Whether you need inspiration for cooking up a storm, to refresh a tired room, or tips to sell your property, Foxtel Lifestyle will always something new for you to watch. Enjoy your favourite experts like Andrew Winter and Neale Whitaker, or Shaynna Blaze and Jamie Oliver live or On Demand. THE UNIVERSITY of Limerick plans to install a camera system that can record licence plates to monitor all vehicles that enter the campus each day. A tender request for the special camera system was closed last month but has yet to be awarded. According to the tender documents, the camera system sought by UL should be able to record vehicle registrations plates as they enter and leave the campus, be able to provide clear information on vehicles and have a colour overview system to record the vehicle associated with the number plate. The tender also states the system should have a large hard drive, capable of storing hours of footage, the Irish Times has reported. The document states the system should be able to read license plates from different countries and regions, as well as provide a full-history of each vehicles entry and exit from the UL campus. The current status of this tender is at the evaluation stage and the contract will not be awarded until this stage has concluded, which will result in all tenderers being notified who the contract has been awarded to. When asked if the tender had been awarded and if a data protection impact assessment had been conducted, a UL spokesperson told the Irish Times: The current status of this tender is at the evaluation stage and the contract will not be awarded until this stage has concluded, which will result in all tenderers being notified who the contract has been awarded to. The campus has a full-scale traffic management challenge, they added. A HOMEOWNERs council-approved house extension in a Limerick city estate has been rejected by An Bord Pleanala, following objections from a number of neighbours. The appeal relates to an application to retain permission for the construction of a single-storey extension, comprising a playroom and a family living area, in the Castletroy area. Limerick City and County Council gave the green light to the project in March 2018. A total of eight resident submissions were then lodged with the planning authority, critical of their neighbours plans. The development would have run parallel to two houses rear boundary walls, and the four facades of the extension would consist of glazing. An appeal was lodged by one neighbour on behalf of eight residents in the area. Among a number of concerns, two homeowners said it would have been an invasion of privacy to have such an expansively glazed extension in close proximity to childrens bedrooms. It was argued that a proposed privacy shield added to the windows could be peeled off at any time. The residents argued that there would be an impact on sunlight. The applicant considered the appeal not valid and that the Bord did not have jurisdiction to consider the appeal. She argued that it would have no material impact on sunlight. The residents described the applicants photos at further information stage as biased, however, she argued that they give a clear presentation of the proposals. An Bord Pleanala,Inspector Ciara Kellett said she was satisfied the appeal was valid. With regards to the residents concerns over overlooking and impact privacy, Ms Kellett said the glazing is excessive and exacerbates the degree and perception of overlooking. She added that she was not satisfied that the privacy shields were an acceptable permanent solution. She added: I am of the opinion that the playroom should be removed completely which would mitigate the impacts. She said the extension would not have an impact on daylight. She recommended that permission be granted, provided the applicant adheres to a number of conditions, including a reduction in the length of the extension. But, rejecting the plans, An Bord Pleanala said the proposal would seriously injure the residential amenities of adjoining properties by reason of visual obtrusion, overlooking and overbearing". An Bord Pleanala added that the inspectors suggestion to reduce the extensions length would not satisfactorily mitigate [the] impacts. THE famous old GAA club of Patrickswell gave Limericks All-Ireland heroes a homecoming to remember this Saturday night. An estimated 1,500 were at the clubs homeground to honour Limericks side, who defeated Galway to win the Liam MacCarthy cup last week. Pride of place, of course, went to the Wells three stars of the panel, Cian Lynch, Diarmaid Byrnes and Aaron Gillane. Just before 6pm this evening, ten members of the panel gathered at the shrine on the edge of the village, before being driven by minibus to the clubs homeground of Pairc Antoin O'Briain. The bus drove slowly past the villages three pubs, to allow those outside to raise a big cheer to the first Limerick team to win hurlings greatest prize since 1973. This is better than the Pope visiting, one person, who asked not to be named laughed. Speaking a stage erected at the GAA club who have won a record 19 county titles midfielder Cian Lynch said being back home is something special. Before the event kicked off, local girl Sinead O'Brien gave an emotional rendition of the Cranberries hit, Dreams, which played at the climax of the Croke Park thriller last Sunday. Sinead also sang the song prior to throw in. It's hard to actually describe what it means coming back to your own club. I know it's great going to other clubs, but coming back to your own place where we will end up coming back next week and playing Ballybrown down the road, that's what it's all about, he said to cheers from the audience. Right wing-back Diarmaid Byrnes told the compere of the event, Matt OCallaghan, that he believes this Limerick panel can go onto win further All-Ireland titles. Present in the audience were four of Patrickswells stars of 1973, including Phil Bennis, who described last Sundays victory as: Not a lucky win. But a win from bravery, hard work and creativity. Listen to the roar as @patrickswellgaa's three stars arrive - with some serious silverware in tow! #LuimneachAbu pic.twitter.com/XxQye6sbqH Nick Rabbitts (@Nick468official) August 25, 2018 The Liam MacCarthy cup will visit clubs across Co Limerick in the coming days. Last night, it was in Kilmallock, while tomorrow night it will be in Na Piarsaigh on the city's northside. For more pictures, and reaction to the Patrickswell homecoming, see Mondays edition of the Limerick Leader. THOUSANDS of Limerick worshippers rose early Sunday morning to travel to the heart of Phoenix Park to witness the biggest religious spectacle of the century to date. Minute by minute, one of the largest public parks in Europe began to filter through thousands of ardent Christ followers, each to listen to the words of Francis, the 266th pope. To the sound of heavy brass, Pope Francis greeted the hundreds of thousands via his cruising popemobile at around 2.30pm, before arriving at the stage at 3pm for the commencement of Sundays Mass. It's coming to a close. These are the last few moments of the triennial World Meeting of Families celebrations. The message is loud and clear: The Church is begging for forgiveness for its atrocities in Ireland #popeinireland pic.twitter.com/lEZh9vritv Fintan Walsh (@FintanYTWalsh) August 26, 2018 With just an hour to go before Pope Francis takes the stage to deliver his final Mass in Ireland, hundreds of thousands are gathering at Phoenix Park to mark the end of the World Meeting of Families #PopeinIreland. Follow @Limerick_Leader for more this afternoon pic.twitter.com/R7jnGVCMS5 August 26, 2018 And addressing the cohort of his Irish and international followers, Pope Francis began by begging for forgiveness for the Catholic Churchs sexual abuse in Ireland. In this historic unplanned speech, the head of the Vatican asked for forgiveness for members of the Church for a range of abuses committed by its members. "We ask forgiveness for the abuses in Ireland, abuses of power, of conscience, and sexual abuses perpetrated by members with roles of responsibility in the church. "In a special way, we ask pardon for all the abuses committed in various types of institutions run by males or female religious and by other members of the church, and we ask for forgiveness for those cases of manual work that so many young women and men were subjected to. We ask for forgiveness," he said on the final day of the World Meeting of Families celebration. The Pope continued: "We ask forgiveness for the times that, as a church, we did not show the survivors of whatever kind of abuse the compassion and the seeking of justice and truth through concrete actions. We ask for forgiveness." "We ask for forgiveness for some of the church hierarchy who did not take charge of these situations and kept quiet. We ask for forgiveness. "We ask for forgiveness for all those times in which many single mothers were told that to seek their children who had been separated from them - and the same being said to daughters and sons themselves - that this was a mortal sin. This is not a mortal sin," Francis added. The weekend marks the first papal visit to Ireland since Pope Saint John Paul II in 1979, which was described as an historical moment. The long walk to the Pope #PopeInIreland pic.twitter.com/068wvpmaBc Fintan Walsh (@FintanYTWalsh) August 26, 2018 Travelling from Colbert to Heuston Station that Sunday morning were Sheila and Paddy Deegan, who were both at that special Mass at Greenpark on October 1, 1979. The 81-year-old Clareview man wasnt sure if he was going to attend due to the lengthy walk to Phoenix Park, but he was delighted to make it with his daughter, who is Limerick City and County Councils arts and culture officer. I thought I was too old and the walking and everything. But I decided anyway, for a finish, there was so much criticism, I felt he needed a bit of support, you know? So I decided to go. Paddy Deegan with his daughter Sheila on the 8.25am train to Heuston Station Chrissie Lewis from Knockainey was supportive of both Pope Francis and the victims of abuse. She said: The poor pope, hes shoved into this now for three days. And they all think, like, the pope is here, he will fix it all. He cant fix it all. I seen him there last night now, and I know it looks lovely on the television, but Id love to say: Take that man home and put him to bed now, she told the Leader on the 8.25am train. Chrissie Lewis, right, with sister Margaret Hennessy and Peter Hennessy Caherdavin David Burke, 15, who was excited about seeing the pope for the first time said the Church would benefit if more young people attended Mass. Pope Francis ended his speech by saying: Give us the strength to work for justice. Amen. The next World Meeting of Families will be held in Rome in 2021, it was announced at the end of the Mass. THERE was a carnival atmosphere at Na Piarsaigh GAA Club this Sunday evening as Liam MacCarthy hit the citys northside. All Ireland Club champions in 2016, the Caherdavin club provided six players to Limericks victorious panel in the shape of Peter and Mike Casey, William ODonoghue, David Dempsey, Kevin Downes and Shane Dowling, who scored the crucial third goal in Croker last Sunday. These lads were joined in Elm Drive by Doon duo Richie English and Darragh ODonovan. For me tonight, is all about Na Piarsaigh, declared Dowling. 'For me, tonight is all about @napgaa': Wonderfully classy touch from @dowlerznap remembering three local legends at Caherdavin homecoming this Sunday night. #LuimneachAbu pic.twitter.com/ZMghZuaa85 Nick Rabbitts (@Nick468official) August 26, 2018 There are two things I've always wanted to do. One is bring this famous cup to my parents into my home. The second thing is I wanted to bring it back to Na Piarsaigh where I started out on that pitch, to see the smiles on Na Piarsaigh faces. I'm looking down there and seeing the smiles and that to me makes me so proud." He paid tribute to club president Frank Kavanagh, as well as Dan Hickey, Paddy Vernon, and the late Liam Kennedy, who have played a key role in the recent success of the northside club. Ahead of the arrival of the team, the clubs former captain Cathall King led the excited crowd in song, with the Cum on feel the noize top of the playlist. The Slade classic, Cathall pointed out, was number one in the Irish charts in 1973, the last time Limerick won the All-Ireland. Current club captain William ODonoghue told event compere Donal Hartnett: There has been a great team effort all year, and this is what has got us to where we needed to be. He said he enjoyed the week of celebrations, but said he wanted to start winding down. Maybe around midnight tonight, he laughed. The Liam MacCarthy cup will visit clubs across Co Limerick in the coming days. Last night, it was in Patrickswell, while tomorrow night, it hits Doon. A teen reported missing from Illinois is believed to be headed to the border, Laredo police said Saturday. She was identified as 15-year-old Kimberly Segura. She is 5 feet 6 inches tall and has braces. She also has a birthmark on her forehead. She has short, light brown hair with blonde tips. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey will be tasked with appointing a successor to John McCain, the six-term Republican senator who died Saturday at age 81. As McCain battled brain cancer, Ducey, a Republican, did not speculate publicly about who he might tap to replace him. Since McCain died after the deadline to file for this November's election, most close observers have concluded that the new senator will not face voters until the 2020 general election. Republicans in the state have privately discussed a long list of potential appointees in recent months, including McCain's wife, Cindy; Ducey's chief of staff, Kirk Adams; State Treasurer Eileen Klein; former congressman John Shadegg; and former U.S. senator Jon Kyl. Most recently, Kyl has been in Washington helping Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh navigate the Senate confirmation process. Arizona law says the appointee must be from the same party as the person vacating the seat. A Republican strategist familiar with the governor's thinking told The Washington Post earlier this year that Ducey would want someone who could function in the post and keep the job. Ducey is up for reelection this year. His spokesman has said he would not appoint himself to the Senate seat. Republicans are defending a narrow, 51-49 Senate majority in this year's midterm elections. Uncertainty about McCain's health earlier this year caused party leaders to brace for the possibility of having to defend his seat in November. But when the May 30 deadline to qualify for the ballot came and went without McCain's seat becoming vacant, worries about having to protect another seat from Democrats faded. In addition to empowering the governor to appoint a near-term successor, state law says the vacancy shall be filled "at the next general election." Many Republicans believe that now means the election in 2020, given that this year's filing deadline has passed. No clear Republican successor to McCain has emerged, and party power brokers have worried for months about the lack of a consensus choice McCain's death means that both senators who represented Arizona at the beginning of 2017 will no longer be in Congress in 2019. Sen. Jeff Flake, R, is retiring at the end of the year. The Arizona primary is Tuesday, with Rep. Martha McSally, former state senator Kelli Ward and former Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio battling for the Republican nomination. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema is the likely Democratic nominee. WASHINGTON - Police have arrested one of four suspected gunmen in the fatal shooting of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson, who died in a barrage of 70 bullets fired into a courtyard as she went to buy ice cream, the District of Columbia's police chief and mayor announced Saturday. The person arrested was identified as Qujuan Thomas, 20. He was charged with first-degree murder while armed and is expected to make his first court appearance on Monday. Authorities said they have identified a second suspect in the case - Quentin Michals, 21, and have issued a warrant for his arrest on a first-degree murder charge. Makiyah's mother, Donnetta Wilson, said she learned of the arrest on the same day she participated in a walk in her daughter's honor. "I'm glad that they are working on it," she said of the investigation. "Now that some progress is being made, it just comforts me a little more." Saturday's arrest was the first break in the case, and it came weeks after the District's police chief and mayor asked for help from the public and increased a reward to $45,000 for information in the killing. The shooting occurred about 8 p.m. on July 16. At the time Makiyah was killed, Thomas was on two years' probation after pleading guilty in December to being part of an armed robbery of a man in Southeast, online court records show. He received a suspended sentence and was credited with the roughly five months he had served awaiting trial before being released on probation, the court records show. In May, he was arrested in Prince George's County on drug charges and released on bail, according to the records. That county arrest prompted a June hearing to review his District probation, but it was postponed until Sept. 7 because Thomas's Maryland case was ongoing, court files show. Attorneys representing Thomas in the District and in the Maryland cases could not be reached on Saturday. Family members of Thomas also could not be immediately located Saturday. Police have not divulged a motive but said they are investigating a neighborhood dispute. A video of the shooting released by police shows four masked gunmen - one with an assault-style weapon - jumping from a stolen black Infiniti and opening fire in several directions near the courtyard. Four people, including Makiyah's sister, were injured in what the police chief described as "indiscriminate" gunfire. Makiyah's mother held her mortally wounded daughter, saying, "Please don't let my baby die," until paramedics took the girl to a hospital. Makiyah died shortly after arriving at the hospital. She had been clutching a $5 bill her mother gave her for the ice cream. At a news conference Saturday, Mayor Muriel Bowser, D, said "Makiyah Wilson should still be with us. She should have gone to school this week. . . .We won't be satisfied until we find justice in her murder." Police Chief Peter Newsham said assistance from the public still is needed to lead to additional arrests, and he urged anyone with information to call 911. Michals, the chief said, "should be considered armed and dangerous." Newsham emphasized that the investigation is not over. He declined to discuss other details about the arrest. - - - The Washington Post's Justin Jouvenal contributed to this report. Few towering political figures can say their foundation was built on mediocrity and insubordination - twin distinctions of John McCain's time at the Naval Academy. Since his birth at a naval base in Panama, there was little doubt that the son and grandson of admirals would one day be clad in sharp whites and commissioned as an officer in the Annapolis summer heat. That was the problem, he wrote in 1999, frustrated that his life seemed "preordained" to fall into the inescapable orbit of Navy service. "You have come to appreciate the value of discipline," President Dwight Eisenhower told the Naval Academy class of 1958, though a newly minted Ensign McCain in the crowd may have been an exception at the time. Out of 899 graduates in McCain's class, only five had worse grades. McCain, who died Saturday of brain cancer at age 81, would go on to endure more than five years of brutal captivity as a prisoner in Vietnam and serve as a Republican senator in Arizona for three decades, in a career that included two failed bids for president. Yet it was his time at the Naval Academy that set his career on a tumultuous climb and, in some ways, girded his defiance with resolve that would help him survive imprisonment and torture after his plane was shot down over North Vietnam. And Annapolis is where he will be laid to rest, he wrote in his recently published book "The Restless Wave: Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights, and Other Appreciations." In 1993, more than 20 years after his release from captivity, McCain addressed the Naval Academy graduating class in what would become one of his most memorable speeches. He spoke fondly of scaling the wall to escape into town, among the many actions that would earn him the only high marks he received at the academy - piles of demerits, which he also accumulated through pure insolence and back talk. McCain first congratulated those who earned good grades and stayed out of trouble. Then, he spoke to midshipmen who were more like him. "Although academic and other honors may have eluded you, the standards here are such that simply surviving the four years reflects great credit on your ability and dedication," he told the class. "I say that with all sincerity." The world was changing, McCain noted, unrecognizable since the first time they entered the academy gates. The Berlin Wall and the Soviet Union had disintegrated in their first year, and flash points of conflict in Somalia and the Persian Gulf were signs of instability emerging from the Cold War. What the midshipmen learned in Annapolis, he explained, would help them navigate uncharted waters of combat. Their resolve and duty could be tested in full view, or even in private moments. His North Vietnamese captors had offered relief if he denounced the United States, saying his peers would never know, McCain told the crowd. But he would know, McCain said, and that was enough. "There may be times in your life when the consequences of your devotion to duty are so dire that you will be tempted to abandon it," he said. "There may be times when truly only you will know. But you will resist. I know you will." McCain would often return to the Annapolis grounds for different events, including a lecture series that included remarks less than a month after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and a visit during his 2008 presidential run. It was a return to the "scene of the crime," he said then, according to the Capital Gazette. In an October interview with Bob Woodward of The Washington Post, McCain acknowledged that lessons learned from his schooling had helped him weather his sometimes perilous political career. "I've made more mistakes than most anybody you will ever know," McCain said in the interview, conducted for the 2017 Naval History Conference. "But one thing has guided me, is what I learned the first day I walked through the main gate at the Naval Academy. And that was do the right thing, and do it honorably, and you can never go wrong." It is Annapolis that McCain has returned to, again and again, in life and in death. McCain's father and grandfather are buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. But Adm. Charles "Chuck" Larson, a longtime friend, is buried at the academy in Maryland. And near Larson is where McCain will be laid to rest, he wrote in his recent book. McCain's plot is near where the two men first met, he wrote, on the bank of the Severn River, "back where it began." That day was foretold in 1993, at the stadium just down the road from the cemetery, where McCain will soon return for the last time. "I will go to my grave in gratitude to my Creator for allowing me to stand witness to such courage and honor. And so will you," McCain said. "My time is slipping by. Yours is fast approaching. You will know where your duty lies." NEW YORK -- The Washington Nationals scored their first run Sunday afternoon on a softly hit groundball off Juan Soto's bat. New York Mets first baseman Jay Bruce corralled the chopper and considered throwing home to nab Trea Turner, but he didn't have time. So he flipped the ball to Steven Matz as the pitcher ran to cover first base. Turner scored and pumped his fist as he jogged to the Nationals' dugout. Giving the Nationals a lead en route to a 15-0 win didn't spark Turner's celebration. He was celebrating because the run had snapped the Nationals' latest perplexing development - a scoreless innings streak that had somehow reached 32. That it ended minutes before the Nationals tallied 14 runs in the final two innings was fitting for a club that had spent the previous 3 1/2 games unable to push anything across, wasting opportunity after opportunity, wondering how it was possible for a team with their talent to languish for so long. "I ran back into the dugout, and I said, 'We did it, boys!' " Turner said. "At that point, you've kind of got to make a little bit of a joke out of it. It's just nice to get on the board." The Nationals (65-66) quickly - and out of nowhere - turned the afternoon into a shellacking, but Soto's RBI - Washington's first run since Ryan Zimmerman's walk-off home run Wednesday night - would have been enough to snap a three-game losing streak as Jefry Rodriguez and four relievers held the Mets scoreless. But not everything went the Nationals' way Sunday. Pitching the ninth inning with a 15-run lead because he hadn't appeared in a game since Tuesday, Nationals closer Kelvin Herrera pulled up lame as he ran to first base after fielding a groundball. Herrera hopped on his right leg for the final few steps to record the inning's second out and dropped to the ground in pain. He stayed there for a few minutes and was carted off, dampening the afternoon for the visitors. After the game, Manager Dave Martinez ruled out an Achilles' injury and said the injury was to Herrera's left foot. Herrera, who was on crutches, was slated to undergo X-rays. "It killed the buzz," a dejected Martinez said. Rodriguez delivered the best start of his young major league career, logging six scoreless innings on 97 pitches and mixing in his change-up effectively. He walked four and posted just three strikeouts, but he smoothly worked out of jams to pitch into the sixth inning for the first time as a major leaguer. It was in the sixth when Rodriguez chose to make things tougher for himself. After securing an out to begin the inning, Rodriguez threw a first-pitch fastball behind Todd Frazier. His intent was unmistakable. A day earlier, Frazier had been chirping at Adam Eaton after Eaton was hit by a pitch in his first start against New York since his slide broke Mets infielder Phillip Evans's leg on Aug. 1. The Nationals believed the Mets (58-72) threw at Eaton on purpose, but Martinez insisted he would never instruct a pitcher to throw at someone. Rodriguez did anyway, though the pitch didn't hit Frazier and Rodriguez didn't try to plunk him again. Instead, Frazier, after staring down Rodriguez, worked a walk and stared him down again on his jog to first base. Rodriguez induced a couple of groundballs to escape his self-created predicament. "We thought about maybe taking him out [before the sixth], and I said, 'You know what? I want to see what he does. I want to see how he reacts,' " Martinez said. "He gave us six strong innings. I was very impressed and very happy. He's good, and he's learning. He's going to be really good." The Nationals' offense came alive in the eighth, beginning with Eaton's infield single. Turner followed with a walk before Anthony Rendon blooped a single. Soto then walked with the bases loaded to drive in his second run. Michael A. Taylor was due up next, but Martinez chose to pinch-hit Bryce Harper for Taylor, who was 4 for his past 35 with 16 strikeouts. Harper wasn't in the Nationals' starting lineup after spending the previous week battling an illness that had worsened over the past three days. But he was well enough for a cameo and smacked a 1-1 slider off Paul Sewald down the first base line to clear the bases. Wilmer Difo and Eaton each added two-run home runs before the Nationals made the third out. "I suck at [pinch-hitting]," Harper said. "If I'm not going to play, I'd rather not play. But [it was] a big spot to be able to get some runs right there, and I got an opportunity and made the most of it." The eight-run onslaught, which came before Mark Reynolds punctuated a six-run ninth with a grand slam, matched the number of runs the Nationals have given up in the past four games combined. But Washington is 1-3 in that stretch, one that has forced them to face an inconceivable reality. The calendar is a few days from flipping to September, and their playoff hopes are on life support. They finished Sunday 81/2 games out of first place. "I tell them we got five weeks of fury," Martinez said before Sunday's win. "That's what I'm calling it. Go out there and play hard. Anything can happen. Just go out there and play hard." For 32 innings, fury yielded zero runs and only more frustration. But the Nationals scored plenty Sunday. It was a moment to celebrate. They haven't enjoyed many this season, and even Sunday's celebration was spoiled before it was over. Texas Rangers arrested a man in connection with the death of a missing Roman Catholic priest from Massachusetts whose body was discovered last week in Willacy County. Juan Carlos Baez Escobedo, 27, was charged with murder Friday and is being held in Willacy County Jail on $2 million bail, said Lt. Johnny Hernandez, spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, who declined to discuss further details about the case. Father William Costello, 71, a retired priest from the Fall River Diocese in Massachusetts, was last seen at the Tiki Condominiums on South Padre Island on Aug. 1. The circumstances of the matter are disturbing, the diocese announced in a statement about Costellos death. Costellos remains were discovered near a South Texas cemetery in the town of Santa Monica, the diocese said, and authorities have made an arrest in the case. Beyond that, the diocese has no other details at this time, the diocese said. Costello was ordained a priest in Fall River in 1974 and he had served as the pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish. Fall River Bishop George Coleman, now retired, placed Costello on administrative leave in January 2012 after learning from the Rhode Island State Police that Costello was part of an investigation it had undertaken, according to the diocese. The investigation did not involve the abuse of minors, the diocese stated. No charges were filed against Costello, the diocese said, and Costello later moved to South Texas. John Tedesco is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jtedesco@express-news.net | Twitter: @John_Tedesco Congress leaders have been strictly warned against issuing any statement on the proposed alliance. The party is focusing on these seats that rank high on the winnability scale. The party has a strong presence on these seats and had lost some of them with a narrow margin. Lucknow: Even as it patiently waits for the grand alliance to materialise in Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress has narrowed down its choice to about 26 Lok Sabha seats. The party is focusing on these seats that rank high on the winnability scale. The party has a strong presence on these seats and had lost some of them with a narrow margin. We are hopeful of an alliance and we are even willing to make adjustments but we cannot sit idle till the alliance is formalised. We have narrowed down on our candidates and have asked the party cadres to start working on these seats, said an AICC general secretary who did not wish to be named. Sources said that the constituencies on the Congress list include Amethi, Rae Bareli, Pratapgarh, Kanpur, Unnao, Sultanpur, Barabanki, Dhaurhara, Kushinagar, Moradabad, Bareilly, Lucknow, Varanasi, Allahabad, Farukkhabad, Saharanpur, Jaunpur, Mathura, Faizabad and Fatehpur Sikri among others. Congress leaders have been strictly warned against issuing any statement on the proposed alliance. The party high command will address the issue as and when it is needed. Uncalled for statements by party leaders only serve to complicate political relationships, the AICC leader said. He said that the alliance was most likely to be formalised after the results of the assembly elections in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are announced. Meanwhile, another veteran party leader said that the Congress was aware of its weak position in Uttar Pradesh but expected a respectable share of seats. We are not over-estimating ourselves and we are also ready to give or take a few seats. The larger issue is to forge the alliance and defeat the BJP, he said. UPCC president Raj Babbar, when questioned, said, The issue of alliances at the national level will be decided by the party high command who is viewing the situation on a national perspective. As of now, we are trying to strengthen our organisation down to the booth level, address the concerns of party workers and mobilise voters to the best of our abilities. The party, sources said, has also been asked to adopt a more aggressive posture in the state assembly. Congress legislature party leader Ajay Kumar Lallu said on Saturday, We are going to raise issues concerning the poor people and just because the numbers are not on our side (The Congress has only seven members in the house of 403) , people should not think that the Congress will not have a voice in the house. Oh, but you who philosophize disgrace And criticize all fears Bury the rag deep in your face For nows the time for your tears. Bob Dylan, The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll This Dylan song memorialized the unjust death of Hattie Carroll at the hands of William Zantzinger. As the song closes, Dylan chides Lady Justice for the injustice. The details of the incident and the song have been elaborated upon by several journalists, principally Ian Frazier, who wrote Legacy of a Lonesome Death and Paul Slade who wrote True Lies: The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll. On Feb. 8, 1963, Marylands most prominent residents attended the Spinsters Ball held at the Emerson Hotel in Baltimore. The guests included William Zantzinger, a rich, white 24-year old tobacco farmer, and his wife, Jane. Among the staff working the event was Hattie Carroll, a black 51-year old grandmother and mother of 11 children who worked as a barmaid at that evenings affair. Throughout the evening and deep into the night Zantzinger drank heavily and hit women guests and servants with his cane. At approximately 1:30 a.m., while Carroll was tending to another guest, Zantzinger loudly demanded a drink from her and assailed her with vulgarities and racial epithets. He also struck Carrolls shoulder when she did not serve him immediately. After handing the drink to Zantzinger, Carroll complained to a co-worker that she was feeling deathly ill and shortly after collapsed. Carroll was taken to the hospital where she died, eight hours after Zantzinger struck her. While the hospital ruled Carroll died from a brain hemorrhage, things were a bit more complicated given that an autopsy revealed that she suffered from hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure and an enlarged heart. Zantzinger would be tried on manslaughter charges in Hagerstown, Md., after he requested to have his trial moved from Baltimore. The trial began on June 19, 1963, and eight days later, on June 27, a panel of three judges found Zantzinger guilty of manslaughter. The sentencing was postponed two months. On Aug. 28, 1963, the same panel of judges sentenced Zantzinger to six months in jail, along with fines totaling $625, a relative slap on the wrist. He was allowed to postpone his jail sentence until after he harvested his tobacco crop. On the same day, about 70 miles southeast of Hagerstown, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous I Have a Dream speech at the March on Washington. Much has changed since Aug. 28, 1963. And much hasnt. About five years ago, on July 13, 2013, a jury in Sanford, Fla., found George Zimmerman, a 29-year-old of Peruvian ancestry and self-appointed neighborhood watchman, not guilty of second-degree murder charges in the death of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year old African-American. It had all the appearances of a straightforward case. An armed 28-year-old man shoots to death an unarmed 17-year-old who was returning from the store after buying snacks. Even a half-century after the Zantzinger case, however, such cases are anything but straightforward. Not when race is involved. Martin, the victim, was on trial. Zimmerman said, and media repeated, claims that he was a black youth up to no good, as he walked in a neighborhood in which the message was clear he didnt belong. He was, after all, a black youth in a hoodie code that we all understand. There was talk of marijuana and school problems. All to buttress the claim that this armed man had to fear for his life. The defense closed with a snowy video showing Martin at a convenience store making his purchase. It resembled the countless other videos we regularly see capturing criminals in the act. Martin was racially profiled and criminalized in Zimmermans trial. While Zantzinger was sentenced to six months in a county jail for the death of Carroll in 1963, Zimmerman served no time in the death of Martin in 2013. Tuesday, on the 55th anniversary of Kings I Have a Dream speech, lets remember the senseless and unpunished deaths of Hattie Carroll, Trayvon Martin, though they occurred five decades apart, and those of many other African-Americans and people of color. And let us recognize: Kings dream is not yet realized. Rogelio Saenz is dean of the College of Public Policy and Mark G. Yudof Endowed Chair at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Earlier versions of this essay were published in 2013 by the Rio Grande Guardian and Racism Review. It was argued that there is gender bias in this Article and that it violates the right to equality. New Delhi: The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a batch of petitions challenging the legal validity of Article 35-A of the Constitution that provides special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir and bars people other than the original inhabitants of the state from acquiring immovable property in the state, getting government jobs and availing educational scholarships. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A.M. Kanwilkar will hear the petitions filed by NGO We the Citizens, advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyaya and others seeking a declaration that Article 35-A is unconstitutional and should be struck down as void. Charu Wali Khanna, a Kashmiri Pandit woman who has also filed a petition against 35-A, has contended that since she had married outside her caste and settled outside J&K, she was not entitled to own property in the state, and even her children cannot get property. It was argued that there is gender bias in this Article and that it violates the right to equality. Attorney-general K.K. Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, is likely to press for hearing by a five-judge Constitution Bench as the issue involves interpretation of constitutional provisions. Article 35-A was inserted by way of Constitution (Application to Jammu & Kashmir) Order 1954 by the President of India exercising power under Article 370(1)(d) of the Constitution of India. The matter was raised in a public interest litigation (PIL) in 2014 by the Delhi-based We the Citizens, against the continuance of J&Ks special status which, it alleged, is discriminatory. The petitioners contended that the President could not have amended the Constitution by the 1954 order and it was supposed to be a temporary provision. They contended that the J&K government, under the guise of Article 35-A and Article 370, which grants special autonomous status to the state, has been discriminating against residents from other states. The state government has justified the provision and said that Article 35-A has become a permanent feature of the Indian Constitution and that the 1954-Presidenial Order granting special rights to permanent residents of the state has been recognised, accepted and acted upon since its enactment and cannot be challenged now. The state government said the petitions seek to upset settled law that is accepted and complied with by all. Further, as the challenge to the Presidential Order has come after more than 60 years, such a plea cannot be entertained. The petition challenging Article 35-A also pointed to the plight of more than 4,000 people belonging to the second, third and fourth generation of Punjabis from Gurdaspur and Amritsar who settled in the Jammu area to work as sweepers. It raises issues related to their fundamental rights, alleging that they are suffering due to denial of right to seek admission in state-funded higher technical educational institutions, denial of right to get state scholarship and aid to students, denial of opportunity of employment in state services, public sector undertakings and local bodies. SPRINGFIELD - An FBI agent is facing domestic abuse charges after Wilbraham police arrested him following a dispute with his fiancee. Robert Zanolli, 46, of Wilbraham, was charged with assault on a household member and strangulation or suffocation after police responded to a 911 call at his home early on Aug. 14. Zanolli's financee told police the couple began arguing after he came home from band practice, according to the arrest report. "She stated the two ... threw pillows and she attempted to slap him," the report stated. Zanolli pushed her down on their bed and "put his hands around my throat," she told police. His hands were on her for only "a few seconds" and she never lost consciousness, the report said. The woman had red marks on her neck and upper chest, but insisted she was not injured and refused medical treatment. Outside the house, Zanolli told police the couple began arguing in the bedroom after he returned from band practice. After throwing his pillow off the bed, she slapped him on the side of the head, according to Zanolli, who said he pushed her away and left the bedroom. Police could smell alcohol on Zanolli's breath, and he acknowledged having a few drinks earlier, the report said. He was arrested and held for a mandatory six hours before being released on $40 bail, records show. His arraignment, initially scheduled for later that day, was postponed until Oct. 22 at the request of Assistant District Attorney Sean Curran. On the docket sheet, the prosecutor indicated the case could be addressed under the Valor Act, which allows veterans who have no criminal record and are charged in district court to enter pretrial diversion programs focused on treatment or education. An FBI spokesperson said the bureau is aware of the charges and is cooperating with Wilbraham police, state police and the Hampden district attorney's office. The matter has been referred to the FBI's Internal Investigation Section in Washington, D.C., as well as the Department of Justice's Office of Inspector General, said Kristen Setera, spokeswoman for the FBI's Boston office. "The FBI takes allegations of misconduct very seriously," Setera said. Zanolli has participated in a number of high-profile cases, including the fatal shooting of local organized crime figure Adolfo Bruno and a shakedown of a Springfield towing contractor. CHICOPEE -- Five companies with plans for retail recreational marijuana shops met Thursday's deadline for submitting proposals at City Hall and will compete along with one existing medical marijuana dispensary for the four recreational retail licenses the city will allow. Mayor Richard J. Kos will now appoint a committee to study the proposals with the aim of determining which meet the city's criteria for acceptance and with a goal of recommending which ones Kos should negotiate host community agreements with. A business that is granted a host agreement with Chicopee must then apply for and receive a special permit from the City Council and go through a vetting process with the state to receive a license before being allowed to sell marijuana to adults in its retail shop. Mass Alternative Care Inc. already has a license for a medical marijuana dispensary it opened this month at 1247 East Main St., and is eligible to apply for a special permit for a retail shop for recreational marijuana because it went through the city process before the current process was established. Kevin M. Collins, general manager for Mass Alternative Care, said his company intends to apply for a special permit to sell recreational marijuana at the 1247 East Main St. location. The five businesses that met Thursday's deadline for proposals are Theory Wellness Inc. of Stoneham, Green Meadows Farm of Hamilton, JimBuddy's Rec Shop of Chicopee, Apical Inc. of Easthampton and Revolution Green Care LLC, which was formed in Chicopee by Adam Brady, whose prior experience is with California businesses. City Planner Lee Pouliot will oversee the process of examining and evaluating the proposals, which he described as narratives, mostly larger than 100 pages, in which company representatives explain their financial resources, operational plans, security measures and other aspects of their retail marijuana businesses plans. Jim Robinson, owner of JimBuddy's, said his plans are to open a retail marijuana shop at 1269 Memorial Drive, next door to his JimBuddy's shop that sells smoking accessories and vaporizers. He said he and his wife, Lisa, are from Chicopee and want to do business in the city. Bob Patton, CEO of Green Meadows Farm, said his family has been farming in Hamilton, where they are establishing a 60,000-square-foot greenhouse to cultivate marijuana. Their plans in Chicopee are for a retail pot shop and medical marijuana dispensary at 919 Meadow St. Kot Kasom, of Southampton, is the CEO of Apical, which is building a marijuana growing facility in Easthampton and plans for a retail store with cultivation at 77 Champion Drive in Chicopee. Adam Brady of Colorado, an owner of Revolution Green Care, said his Chicopee plans are for a retail shop and growing facility in a former brewery building he owns at 50 Buckley Blvd. Brady said he and his partners have experience in marijuana sales in California. Representatives of Theory Wellness did not respond to questions about their plans and proposed location for a retail shop and medical marijuana dispensary in Chicopee. GRANBY -- One person was injured after an SUV towing a trailer crashed into a pole Sunday morning. East Street remains closed following the single-car crash that happened shortly before 7 a.m. near 195 East St., Granby police said. One person was taken to the hospital by ambulance, Granby Fire officials said. Granby police and firefighters are being assisted on the scene by South Hadley Fire District 1, fire officials said. It is not known when the street will re-open. Officials are asking drivers to seek alternative routes while they investigate the crash. The heat wave expected to hit Massachusetts this week has prompted some school districts to schedule early dismissals. The Lawrence Public Schools are having early dismissal beginning Monday, Aug. 27 and continuing until Thursday, Aug. 30. There are no preschool classes in Lawrence all week. Haverhill Public Schools announced early dismissal for Tuesday, Aug. 28 and Wednesday, Aug. 29. Any parent that has a kindergarten student scheduled for a screening should still attend the meeting, the school district wrote. School is closed on Aug. 31 for Labor Day weekend. The National Weather Service predicts the temperature will be in the low-to-mid-90s on Tuesday and Wednesday. The heat index values will reach close to 100. SPRINGFIELD - A man shot on Waldorf Street early Saturday morning has died. The shooting happened at about 2:40 a.m. The man was taken to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield by ambulance with serious injuries, said Ryan Walsh, police spokesman. The victim's name has not been released. Initially police said the man was expected to live. Walsh did not say when the victim died. The investigation into the man's death is being conducted by the Springfield Police Homicide Unit, he said. He referred all other questions to Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni's Office. This is the 12th homicide of the year and the second this week in Springfield. On Wednesday Shavon Kelly, 28, of West Springfield was shot 11 times and killed on Greenleaf Street. Calvin Roberson, 36, was arrested on unlawful possession of a gun and other charges when police saw him fleeing the scene. He has not been charged with the homicide. It is also second homicide this weekend in Western Massachusetts. A man was shot to death at about 1:22 a.m. on Maple Street in Holyoke Sunday, Holyoke Police Lt. James Albert said. A Texas man is facing a murder charge in connection with the killing of a retired Roman Catholic priest from Massachusetts who had gone missing early this month. The body of 71-year-old Father William Costello was discovered Aug. 17 near a cemetery in Santa Monica, Texas, which was about an hour from his home. The body had been buried. Costello was a native of Northampton, Massachusetts and served many parishes during this tenure. Texas Rangers arrested 27-year-old Juan Carlos Baez Escobedo last week, according to a report from the Valley Morning Star. He remains held on $2 million bond after he was charged with murder. Costello was ordained a priest for the Fall River Diocese in 1974 and first served as a parochial vicar at St. Pius X Parish in South Yarmouth, according to a statement by the Fall River Diocese. He was named chaplain at Sturdy Hospital in Attleboro in 1978. Costello served parishes in Norton, Mattapoisett, Taunton and East Falmouth before becoming pastor of Our Lady Mount Carmel Parish in Seekonk in 2011. A year later, then-Fall River Bishop George Coleman placed Costello on administrative leave because of an ongoing investigation by Rhode Island State Police. The investigation did not involve minors, but "disclosed instances of poor judgement" which led to Costello being told to retire early, the diocese wrote. Costello moved to Texas several years ago. Of all the reprehensible things Donald Trump has said or done, two stand out for me. One was his soulless, heartless bullying in 2016 of a Gold Star mother and the family of a Muslim-American who had given his life for his country. The other also came during the campaign and belittled John McCain's war service, in which he essentially ridiculed the Arizona senator was being captured and tortured for more than five years in Vietnam. On those two points, this son of a proud Air Force family will never forgive Trump. I've never understood how veterans in particular, and Americans in general, could give such a free pass to a man who spent daddy's money and chased girls in the 1960s while men like McCain were sacrificing so deeply for the United States - or as the death of Army Captain Humayan Khan in 2004 reminds us, still are. The phony patriots can keep their MAGA hats in the closet until they can explain that one. McCain's death at 81 has aroused those feelings in me again, just when I thought I'd been able to separate Trump's utterly indecent personal self from policies that can often be defended or - putting hysterical rhetoric on both sides aside - at least understood. The tributes pouring forth for McCain were justly earned. They display an effort by Americans to honor a true patriot, one that requires us to ignore our Commander-in-Chief rather than allow him to lead the salutes. "My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!" Trump tweeted. Sounds so empty. Try as I may to believe them as sincere, I struggle to apply amnesia to the last two ugly years. When someone one dies, people say a lot of things they don't mean. I suppose only Trump knows how much he means these. Excuse my complete skepticism. The best way to honor McCain would probably be to not mention his relationship with the president at all. There's so much more to consider: his military service, his ability to overcome physical pain (inflicted during his POW years) and unimaginable emotional torment to serve in government without bitterness or anger, his equal-parts realistic and hawkish views on military strengths, his 2008 run for president, his dignity in defeat and so on. He was a go-to military expert because he understood not only the need for a powerful military but the human and economic cost of using it. Going into a fight meant a full commitment - including the tragic loss of American life - or it wasn't worth the attempt. All too few saber-rattlers really stop to think about that. McCain saw it first-hand and never forgot. As a senator, he knew strong opinions did not mean a refusal to compromise or at least listen. He respected the other side, at least until the other side was Trump, who didn't respect him. He was a conservative who did not force the right to pretend a conservative jackass was not a jackass. He didn't hold conservatives hostage, dangling policy (a tax plan, better immigration laws, qualified Supreme Court nominees who did not march in lockstep with the left) in exchange for the forfeiture of basic human decency. Not that I'm mentioning any names. McCain was not perfect. His on-again, off-again support of Trump during the 2016 campaign was a rare sacrifice of conviction for political reasons, and that was especially disappointing because he knew better. But while McCain wasn't perfect, he also never pretended to be. That's one of the more unmistakable differences between McCain and Trump, whose reflection in the mirror is his favorite portrait. Beyond the normal sadness of McCain's passing is the suspicion he died as a contented but unhappy man. The America he fought for, was tortured for, and entered government for - that's not the America he is leaving. His faith was that we would find our way back, and not just with laws that take us back off the leftist ledge. Greatness involves a national character and attitude that says America is great because we expect more of ourselves - not just because we brag about it loudly, then act childishly or speak recklessly, but get away it with because of our power inherited from previous generations. If Trump's latest tweet reflects his true feelings about McCain, he can begin by showing more decency than he's shown so far and never showed toward the senator when McCain was alive to hear it. If he does that, this son of a military family might consider forgiving him for his 2016 comments, but I am not promising that, nor am I holding my breath. Chhattisgarh will be facing crucial Assembly polls in a few months and development will be the main focus of the ruling BJPs poll campaign. Jagdalpur (Chattisgarh): Come to Bastar, one of the most beautiful places in India and do not worry about the Naxals, said three-time Chhattisgarh chief minister Dr Raman Singh while inviting people to explore the tribal regions of the state that have successfully fought off rebels and ushered in development. There is much more here than the naxals... their (Naxals) presence is very limited now and in couple of years, they will be gone forever, said Dr Singh speaking at Bastar Vikas Samvaad on Friday, where he asked the media to highlight the aspirations of the region and its people. Chhattisgarh will be facing crucial Assembly polls in a few months and development will be the main focus of the ruling BJPs poll campaign. Bastar, one of the naxal-hit regions in Chhattisgarh, is changing and its people are brave enough to challenge Naxalism for development, the chief minister said, taking credit for improved roads, government schools and power availability. He also shared examples of how change came about in the Bastar region where building even an inch of road was a tough job as no contractor would agree to work and seven districts were without electricity for a week because Naxals blew up the main electricity tower. Dr Singh said that today the region has three different electricity connections and soon will get the tag of being 100 per cent electrified. Just to give you one example, we have 30,000 children studying in schools run in porta-cabins. Their schools were damaged by Naxals but that did not deter these children who continue to study. The drop out rate of children has come down to less than one per cent from 11 to 12 per cent earlier, said the chief minister. Hum puri jaan laga kar kaam kar rahe hain, dum se kar rahe hain (we will leave no stone unturned to develop the region), he added. The state government has also set up education and BPO hubs in the region for the youths and also livelihood colleges to impart skills. Also, a greenfield integrated steel plant has been set up in Nagarnar. By DAVID A. LIEB and MEGHAN HOYER , Associated Press As the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct began snaring politicians, state legislatures across the country vowed to re-examine their policies to prevent harassment and beef up investigations into complaints of sexual wrongdoing. About half of all state legislative chambers have followed through with at least some sort of change to their sexual harassment policies, most often by boosting their own training, according to a 50-state analysis by The Associated Press. But the others have done nothing this year, even as sexual misconduct allegations against lawmakers have been mounting. The mixed response highlights both the political pressure to act and the institutional resistance to do so that exists in many state legislatures, where women now serve in record numbers yet remain outnumbered 3-to-1 by men. "In the wake of Harvey Weinstein and the #MeToo movement that swept across different industries, we had to act," said Democratic Assemblywoman Nily Rozic of New York, which mandated more robust sexual harassment policies for government agencies and private employers. But "I think we have a long ways to go in addressing sexual harassment in legislatures across the country," she said. Since the start of 2017, at least 30 state lawmakers have resigned or been kicked out of office following allegations of sexual misconduct, according to an AP tally. The most recent was Maine Rep. Dillon Bates, a Democrat who quit this past week while denying claims of inappropriate relationships with students. An additional 25 lawmakers have faced repercussions such as the loss of party or committee leadership positions since last year. Numerous others have had allegations brought against them. Most of those cases came to light since October, when media reports about sexual misconduct allegations against Weinstein, the Hollywood mogul now facing sexual assault charges in New York, led to a national movement of people going public with claims that they also had been sexually harassed or abused, sometimes years ago. Rhode Island Rep. Teresa Tanzi was among the first to come forward, asserting that a high-ranking legislator whom she did not identify had told her that sexual favors would help her bills go further. The disclosure prompted the House to offer sexual harassment training and to place Tanzi, a Democrat, in charge of a task force to recommend changes to state law. But the experience ultimately left Tanzi frustrated. With this year's session nearing its end, the panel's work was put into a package of bills that would have barred confidentiality agreements in civil rights violations, extended employee protections to interns and volunteers, and required employers to conduct sexual harassment training. None of the bills passed. "It really to me felt as though it were just a dog-and-pony show," Tanzi said. When the AP surveyed state legislatures in early January, about three-quarters of the House and Senate chambers nationwide indicated they were considering or had recently made changes to their sexual harassment policies. As of August, the AP's follow-up survey found that about half of the 99 state legislative chambers actually had made changes. More than two dozen that previously indicated they were reviewing policies have yet to make any substantive changes, though some are still considering it. The AP's analysis also found: The most common response among lawmakers has been to boost their own training about sexual harassment. About half the legislative chambers have done so, typically by making it mandatory or providing it more frequently. But legislative chambers in one-fifth of the states still do not require lawmakers to participate in sexual harassment training. Legislative chambers in about a half-dozen states have taken action to increase the public disclosure of sexual harassment complaints against lawmakers and to ban the use of public money in sexual harassment settlements. Legislatures in about one-fifth of the states added provisions since the #MeToo movement allowing for the external investigation of complaints, which some experts say is an important way of avoiding conflicts of interest and encouraging the targets of harassment to come forward. Even so, fewer than half the legislative chambers nationwide now allow for the external review of complaints. Only a few legislatures passed laws that apply beyond state government. States strengthening sexual harassment protections for private-sector employees included Arizona, Maryland, New York, Tennessee, Vermont and Washington. "If all you ever do is concentrate on the statehouse ... maybe you're protecting a few hundred people," said Democratic Rep. Sarah Copeland-Hanzas, who sponsored the Vermont law applying to all employers. "But what about the rest of your workforce? What about all of the restaurants where the waitress doesn't want to have to go into the back storeroom because she knows that the prep cook is looking for an opportunity to proposition her?" California has been among the states with the most complaints against lawmakers and the greatest debate over sexual harassment policies. After about 150 women signed a public letter last October calling out "pervasive" harassment at the Capitol, lawmakers adopted new whistleblower protections for legislative employees who report harassment and began publicly disclosing substantiated complaints against lawmakers and high-level staff members. A new investigative process, which is expected to be in place in early 2019, will create a special office to handle sexual misconduct complaints. Its fact-finding then will be turned over to a group of outside experts to determine whether complaints can be substantiated and to recommend discipline. Adama Iwu, a lobbyist behind the letter that sparked the Legislature's soul-searching, called the plan "bold" because it largely takes the process of evaluating complaints out of legislators' hands. The Legislature's leadership, though, will still have the ultimate say on discipline. Until the new process is in place, people who brought complaints in the wake of #MeToo are still going through an old process that has prompted concerns. Earlier this summer, for example, legislative leaders reopened an investigation into Democratic Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia after her accuser claimed an initial review that failed to substantiate a groping complaint was unfair and incomplete. California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon called the new policies the year's "biggest accomplishment," but acknowledged "there has been a pall over the Capitol." "It's one thing to change policies and procedures. That's good and that's a start," he said recently at the Sacramento Press Club. "But ultimately nothing changes until the culture changes. That cultural change takes a while." In some cases, the very politicians who were supposed to be addressing sexual harassment have been accused of misconduct. Garcia had been the head of the California Legislative Women's Caucus and a leading figure in the state's anti-sexual harassment movement before she was accused of it herself. Illinois Rep. Nick Sauer had been a member of the House Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Task Force until an ex-girlfriend claimed he had posted nude photos of her on a fake Instagram account set up under her name. Sauer, a Republican, resigned from office earlier this month. Rep. Sara Wojcicki Jimenez, the ranking Republican on the Illinois task force, called the situation "shocking and disappointing" but also an indication that allegations are being taken seriously. "You're thinking, 'Well gosh, we're trying to do all this good work for reform and new things keep popping up each month,'" Jimenez said. But "because the awareness is raised, people feel more comfortable coming forward. Hopefully then the next step will be that it starts to decline." They are among a least 75 lawmakers publicly accused or rebuked since January 2017 for sexual misconduct that occurred in recent years, according to the AP's tally. That amounts to a little over 1 percent of the 7,383 state lawmakers nationwide. Sexual misconduct was one of the most talked about topics when Florida's annual legislative session began in January. A Republican lawmaker had just resigned after a Senate investigation found he likely committed sexual misconduct, and a Democratic senator had stepped down after acknowledging an affair with a lobbyist. Despite bold proclamations, nothing passed to address sexual harassment. The Florida legislative session was thrown into a chaotic final two weeks as lawmakers scrambled to pass a school safety bill in response to a shooting that killed 17 people at a Parkland high school. Democratic state Sen. Lauren Book, whose constituents were affected by the shooting, said that's only partly to blame for the demise of sexual harassment legislation. She also cited "political games" and an "old boy" culture at the Capitol. "Until we start changing minds and until we continue to push the narrative, we're not going to get anywhere," Book said. ___ Hoyer, AP's data team editor, reported from Washington, D.C. ___ Associated Press writers Kathleen Ronayne in Sacramento, California, and Brendan Farrington in Tallahassee, Florida, contributed to this report Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Kotzias, will travel to China and meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China, Wang Yi, on Monday, 27 August, in Beijing. The talks will emphasize on further strengthening of bilateral relations, with a focus on multilevel economic cooperation in the framework of Chinas One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative. International and regional issues will also be discussed, with emphasis on developments in the wider Eastern Mediterranean Region and the Cyprus issue. On 28 August, Mr. Kotzias will meet with the Vice President of China, Wang Qishan, and the Chief of General Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China, Yang Jiechi, and he will deliver a speech at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Chinas premier state academic agency for social sciences. On 29 August, Mr. Kotzias will depart for Shanghai, where he will meet with senior local officials, business leaders, including the president of COSCO, Xu Lirong, and the leadership of the Shanghai Institute for International Studies. Specialised Adoption Agencies are homes established by government to house abandoned, surrendered and missing children in the 0-6 age group. It was seen that many children were deeply affected by the constant rejection -- prospective parents who come to see them for adoption but then reject them. (Representational Image) New Delhi: Trapped in a world of silence, some children living in Bihar's Specialised Adoption Agencies don't speak at all because they have no one to talk to, reveals a TISS report that details instances of hunger, isolation and verbal abuse at the state-run institutions. Specialised Adoption Agencies (SAAs) are homes established by the government to house abandoned, surrendered and missing children in the 0-6 age group. In its audit of 21 SAAs in 20 Bihar districts, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences found some children as old as three years were not speaking at all because there was no trained staff and also because they had no one to speak to. These institutions have 70 per cent girls. The TISS report, which led to an expose of rampant sexual abuse at shelter homes in Bihar, also lists the various forms of punishment for the young children, some who are orphans, some who are runaways and others who may have been abandoned by their families. "Acts such as locking the child in the bathroom, making them do sit-ups, isolating them, abusing them verbally were noticed at these homes," the report said. Describing the punishments "very disturbing", Mohammad Tarique, who led the TISS team that prepared the report, said they have long-term impact. "These children are very little. Locking them in bathrooms can create very severe mental trauma for these children who might not even understand why they are being punished," Tarique told PTI over the phone. His other concern is the lack of health workers at the centres. "We observed many a times that a child was medicated twice or not medicated at all due to neglect or lack of staff. This is something that can have a life threatening impact," he said. According to the report, no on-site doctors were available in 38 per cent of these facilities. Some of the homes were overcrowded while some had children below capacity. "The one housing children above its capacity was found to be struggling with shortage of staff and resources," Tarique said. It was seen that many children were deeply affected by the constant rejection -- prospective parents who come to see them for adoption but then reject them. "These children need professional care. They should be prepared emotionally to understand that if they are not being chosen by prospective parents they are not be blamed. Absence of such care demotivates them and depresses them," he added. The report expressed its grave concern over three SAAs in particular. These are Patna's Nari Gunjan, Madhubani's RVESK and Kaimur's Gyan Bharti. The three centres were found to be running under situations that could be "life-threatening" for its residents. There were very few caretakers as compared to children and babies at the centres. The infrastructure at these institutions was found to be inappropriate for housing infants and young children. "The children in these homes seemed unhappy and hungry," the report added. The children are hungry at times due to neglect or due to absence of resources, it said, adding there is also no proper mechanism for immunisation due to which these children are also likely to be exposed to multiple disorders in their adult lives. Underlining that neglect can as significant as physical abuse in stunting a child's mental growth, clinical psychologist Sujatha D Sharma said it can scar a child for a very long time and also affects personality development. "These children do not have stimulation on a day-to-day basis. Maybe, they are fed and clothed but there is no one spending quality time with these children. So what about mental stimulation?" she asked. "Two to five years of age is the time of maximum development of the brain and it is a period of rapid growth and if a child is not stimulated enough then the child is missing out on the growth phase and can have significant implications in the long term," Sharma said. The TISS report acknowledges that these children are at the highest risk of illness and fatality as many of them are abandoned right after their birth and many are brought to the SAAs in a critically ill state. Its recommendations include the need for trained staff and promoting children to be put under foster care. "Specialised educators trained in working with children, especially with expertise in understanding early growth, need to be appointed in SAAs due to critical nature of these institutions," it said. The report notes that SAAs have a wide range of duties, starting from providing for physical and emotional well-being of the children and helping them getting adopted nationally and internationally through the centralized adoption system. Bobcats are our states top-shelf predators. Stalking at dawn and dusk, they are largely solitary, largely silent, and hard to spot. Robert Miller: Tufts of fur that fly from limb to limb at night And, like true Nutmeggers, theyre becoming suburbanized. Short-tailed, stocky and speckled-coated, they may tread on big cat feet through the woods and brush lots and swamps. But they like our backyards as well. That is one of the preliminary findings of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protections ongoing study of the states one true wild cat. Having attached GPS collars to 50 bobcats, they began tracking them. Rather than staying away from people, the DEEP has found the bobcats circle back to us. We found most are returning to higher housing density, said DEEP wildlife biologist Jason Hawley, who is working on the study. There is an obvious reason for this. Humans have created a landscape in the state thats amenable to all kinds of wildlife. White-tailed deer like to browse along the edges of yards and chow down on the shrubbery. If black bears can knock over a garbage can for a meal, thats easy pickings for them. Eastern cottontails bunny-hop across our lawns. Wild turkeys wander through. We fill backyard bird feeders that, in turn, fatten squirrels and chipmunks and mice. We have trees and stone walls for these scurriers to live in. Everybody has a bird feeder in their yard, Hawley said. Knowing this, bobcats have learned to dine at the all-you-can eat squirrel-and-rabbit buffet weve set for them. Theyre prey stations, said wildlife biologist Laura Simon of our backyard eateries. It makes sense, said Eileen Fielding, executive director of the Sharon Audubon Center, which offers bobcats the open space they also need. They will go where the calories are. Its also part of a remarkable turnaround for bobcats in Connecticut. When farmers deforested the state in the 19th century, there wasnt much woodland habitat left to protect the bobcats. They were also hunted and trapped and treated as varmints. In 1972, fearing their extirpation, the state declared them a protected fur-bearing mammal. For the rest of the 20th century, bobcats lived mostly in the states northwest corner. But Hawley said about 10-15 years ago, people started seeing bobcats throughout Connecticut and finding them dead as roadkill. Theyre now found in all of its eight counties. Cathy Hagadorn, director of the Connecticut Audubon Societys Deer Pond Farm sanctuary in Sherman, said they are common enough there that one of its trails is named the Bobcat Trail. We had a day this winter when we went out and looked for animal tracks, she said. It was a perfect day, with just a light covering of snow. On a log near the Bobcat Trail, there were perfect bobcat tracks. But theyre not easily studied. They live alone males and females only come together to mate and mothers will travel with their cubs until theyre grown and the next mating season arrives. They can growl and caterwaul when the occasion demands it, but theyre mostly silent. They have large territories 10 to 20 square miles. They stalk their prey waiting and watching and pouncing rather than running things down. Theyre cats, not pack-loving, social canines. Hawley said the DEEP has also found bobcats are the most successful hunters of white-tailed deer fawns. If you want fewer white-tailed deer in the state and fewer blood meals those deer provide Lyme disease-spreading black-legged ticks in the fall you should like bobcats. Simon, who is a specialist in backyard biology, said that mother deer leave their fawns to sit alone in fields for hours. They are eminently pounce-able. Theyre very easy prey, Simon said. Hawley said the GPS collars were programmed to fall off the bobcats. But 15 had stopped sending signals. The DEEP is asking people who find those collars to please send them to the DEEP. They still have data, he said. The DEEP is also encouraging people who see bobcats to report them, either at deep.ctwildlife@ct.gov. or by using the iNaturalist app on your smart phone. And while bobcats can take down a family house cat, Simon said they wont bother people. Theyre looking for easy prey, she said. Hagadorn of Deer Pond Farm said having bobcats in our midst also shows how humans are part of the states ecology. When we put out bird feeders, were not just feeding the birds, she said. We also feeding squirrels and chipmunks. And they become food for red-tailed hawks and coyote and bobcat. Contact Robert Miller at earthmattersrgm@gmail.com It isn't a sophisticated penthouse in Seattle and it doesn't have a red room full of salacious accoutrements, but the home of the actor Jamie Dornan is worthy of the big screen. The "Fifty Shades of Grey" star has given word he'd let his chic Mid-Century Modern home in Los Angeles go if the right buyer offered him $3.2 million. Originally built in 1959 by the architect Edward H. Fickett, then reconceptualized and expanded by designer Val Powelson, the three-bedroom, four-bath home has been carefully updated with modern amenities. Fleetwood doors and stainless steel appliances flow right into the late 1950s vibe. Living room Don Lewis Kitchen Don Lewis Jamie Dornan's Mid-Century Modern home Don Lewis Dornan bought the home in 2016 for $2,843,000 and has kept it in immaculate condition since. The 36-year-old Northern Ireland native is also reported to have a home in the Cotswolds in England, and apparently spends quite a bit of time in Europe. The immaculately maintained living room Don Lewis But when Dornan is in L.A., he must partake in SoCal's climate and architecture. "This home, with its abundance of light and seamless indoor-outdoor flow, is the epitome of California living," says listing agent Jeff Kohl of The Agency. Dining room Don Lewis Among the home's most tantalizing and unique features is the central atrium with an open ceiling, "floating" steps, and glass wallsone of which bisects a boulder right down the middle. Glass-walled atrium with floating steps and a liquid floor Don Lewis The boulder is bisected by the glass wall. Don Lewis There are also a number of water features in the backyard, in the form of a gleaming pool and a Japanese hot tub, surrounded by decks with built-in lounges and seating areas. A fire pit completes the relaxing outdoor vibe. Backyard with deck, pool, Japanese hot tub, and fire pit Don Lewis Relaxing vibe Don Lewis There are vintage design features throughout the pristine home, including geometric patterned screens, a two-sided rock fireplace, and a concrete, circle brick wall in front that lets light in but keeps prying eyes out. Living room with geometric screen and dual-sided rock fireplace Don Lewis Classic exterior Don Lewis Bedroom with frosted glass door Don Lewis The 2,510-square foot home is located in a rare Nichols Canyon neighborhood just south of Mulholland where the lots and streets are uncommonly flat for the Hollywood Hills. Neighbors can frequently be found walking with their dogs and strollers, according to Kohl. And yet, there's privacy, because the home is at the end of a cul-de-sac and is not situated on a busy through street. En suite bedroom Don Lewis Modern bathroom Don Lewis While perhaps best known in the United States for his three-picture stint as the complicated Christian Grey, Dornan is nothing like his onscreen persona. He's married with two children, and started his career as a model for the likes of Abercrombie & Fitch, Hugo Boss, and Armani. He transitioned into acting with the Sofia Coppola film "Marie Antoinette," then became known to U.S. television watchers as Sheriff Graham in "Once Upon a Time." The post Jamie Dornan's Gorgeous Mid-Century Modern Home in L.A. Is for Sale appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. Still undetermined is whether the impact caused the October leak, or if the line was hit by something else at a later date. History has its way of reminding that the flare-ups of the moment can conceal an underlying truth. It was that way with John McCain and his odd-couple friend, Ted Kennedy. On the surface, the Arizona Republican and the Massachusetts Democrat and bearer of his family's legacy had nothing in common. The decibel levels rose each time they faced off on the Senate floor on this issue or that, but off the floor they were close friends. On Saturday, Aug. 25, McCain died at age 81 of brain cancer -- glioblastoma -- nine years to the day after Kennedy died of the same terminal disease at age 77. "History does rhyme," Preet Bharara, the former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said on Twitter. Bharara said he felt "overpowering sadness" on learning of McCain's death. "Last time I felt this way was 9 years ago to the day when his friend across the aisle, Ted Kennedy, succumbed to the same cruel cancer," Bharara said. Shortly after announcing his diagnosis of glioblastoma in July of 2017, McCain repeated to CBS' "60 Minutes Overtime" a story he had told previously about one of his epic floor fights with Kennedy. McCain, who often said that "a fight not joined is a fight not enjoyed, said "Some of the biggest and best fights I ever had was with one Ted Kennedy." Two freshman senators, a Republican and a Democrat, had gotten into it on some forgotten issue. Senators from either party rushed to the floor to defend their side, and McCain and Kennedy squared off in the process. When it was over, McCain recalled, Kennedy put an arm around him and said, "Did pretty good on that one, didn't we?" His critics would never forgive him for his closeness with the liberal icon, but McCain said the remark after their floor fight "was the quintessence of Ted Kennedy. He was always ready to do battle but he wasn't ready to get personal and that's what matters." Former Vice President Joe Biden, who also jousted with McCain as a Democratic senator from Delaware, recalled McCain's kindness when his son, Beau Biden, also died of glioblastoma. "John McCain's life is proof that some truths are timeless. Character. Courage. Integrity. Honor. A life lived embodying those truths casts a long shadow," Biden said. "John McCain will cast a long shadow. His impact on America hasn't ended. Not even close." At the memorial service for Ted Kennedy nine years ago, McCain recalled that Kennedy helped keep him true to the responsibilities of a senator. "He was the most reliable, the most prepared, and the most persistent member of the Senate. He took the long view. He never gave up. And though on most issues I very much wished he would give up, he taught me to be a better senator," McCain said. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at richard.sisk@Military.com. The in-depth coverage began from August 16 itself when the news about deterioration of the health of the former Prime Minister came from AIIMS. New Delhi: Over the past few days the national broadcaster, Doordarshan, has given unprecedented and unparalleled coverage to the passing away of former Prime MInister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and events related to it. Never before has the national broadcaster given such in depth coverage to the death of a national leader and related events. From live coverage, deployment of additional cameras, extra reporters and production teams and special programmes on the national icon, the state broadcaster has not left any stone upturned for the coverage which was produced and broadcast in High Definition. Sources said the access and the coverage to all events of Doordarshan was so superior and professional that most of the private television news channels had switched to the feed offered by the national broadcaster for various events. Sources stated one of the highlights of the live television coverage was the cameras mounted on the vehicle taking away the mortal remains of Vajpayees on the final journey. It is understood that such live coverage was first of its kind in the country and assumed special significance at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP Chief Amit Shah had decided to walk the entire way to the cremation site at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal. Cameras were placed strategically throughout all events and the national broadcaster was given unbridled access for unhindered telecast of these events, sources added. The in-depth coverage began from August 16 itself when the news about deterioration of the health of the former Prime Minister came from AIIMS. There was continuous live feed from the time the body reached the residence till 2 a.m. This was followed by a two hour special program on Atal Bihari Vajpayee, sources added. Doordashan teams were constantly deployed at AIIMS, the Krishna Menon Marg residence of the former Prime Minister and later a similar coverage continued from BJPs headquarters, asthi visarjan at Haridwar, all party memorial service. Taking a cue from the coverage of national channel, the local DD Kendras have taken over with wide coverage of Vajpayees Asthi Kalash yatra. How to use the mindat.org media viewer Click/touch this help panel to close it. Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. Here is a quick guide to some of the options available to you. Different controls are available depending on the type of media being shown (photo, video, animation, 3d image) Controls - all media types Zoom in and out of media using your mousewheel or with a two-finger 'resize' action on a touch device. Use the mouse or your finger to drag the image or the view area of the image around the screen. < and > at the left and right hand side of the screen move forwards and backwards for the other images associated with the media you selected. Usually this is used for previous/next photo in a gallery, in an article or in search results. Keyboard shortcuts: use shift + the left and right arrow keys. < and > in the bottom center are used for switching between the photos of the same specimen. Keyboard shortcuts: use the left and right arrow keys. > in the bottom center, raises the information box giving details and further options for the media, < at the top of this box then hides it. Keyboard shortcuts: use the up and down arrow keys. ? opens this help window. Keyboard shortcuts: use the H key or the ? key. Other keyboard shortcuts: 1 Fit image to screen 2 Fill screen with image 5 Display at full resolution < Make background darker > Make background lighter space Hide/dim titles and buttons Scalebar If the field of view (FOV) is specified for the photo, the scalebar appears in the left bottom corner of the viewer. The scalebar is draggable and resizeable. Drag the right edge to resize it. Double click will reset the scalebar to it's default size and position. If the scalebar is in default position, double click will make it circular. Controls - Video Video files have a standard set of video controls: - Reset to start, - Skip back, - Play, - Pause, - Skip forwards. Keyboard shortcuts: You can stop/start video play with the P key. Controls - Animation (Spin Rotation) Animation (usually 360 degree spin rotations) have their own controls: - enable spin mode. Note that while images are loading this option will not be available but will be automatically activated when the animation has loaded. Once active you can spin the image/change the animation by moving your mouse or finger on the image left/right or by pressing the [ or ] keys. The button switches to move mode so that you can use your mouse/fingers to move the image around the screen as with other media types. The button, or the P key will start playing the animation directly, you can interrupt this by using the mouse or finger on the image to regain manual movement control. Controls - 3D Stereoscopic images If a stereoscopic 3D image is opened in the viewer, the 3D button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "3D settings" menu. The 3D images can be viewed in several ways: - without any special equipment using cross-eyed or parallel-eyed method - with stereoscope - with anaglyph glasses. - on a suitable 3D TV or monitor (passive 3D system) For details about 3D refer to: Mindat manuals: Mindat Media Viewer: 3D To enable/disable 3D stereo display of a compatible stereo pair image press the 3 key. If the left/right images are reversed on your display (this often happens in full-screen mode) press the 4 key to reverse them. Controls - photo comparison mode If a photo with activated comparison mode is opened in the viewer, the button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "Comparison mode settings" menu. Several layouts are supported: slider and side by-side comparison with up to 6 photos shown synchronously on the screen. On each of the compared photos a view selector is placed, e.g.: Longwave UV . It shows the name of currently selected view and allows to select a view for each placeholder. Summary of all keyboard shortcuts DETROIT - Two 18-year-old men have been charged in connection with the murder of an off-duty Detroit firefighter last week. Arondez Carter and Shomari Walker, both 18, were both charged by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy with felony murder, first degree premeditated murder, armed robbery, tampering with evidence, fourth degree arson and felony firearm. Carter and Walker are expected to be arraigned Sunday, Aug. 26 at 34th District Court in Romulus. Jack Wiley Jr., a 28-year-old Detroit firefighter, was found dead around 9 a.m. Aug. 21 in his home in the 15000 block of Penrod Street in Detroit. It is alleged Carter and Walker were in Wiley's home and planned to rob him, according to the prosecutor's office. Carter and Walker allegedly shot and killed Wiley during the robbery, took his belongings and fled the scene. Carter and Walker also allegedly later set fire to some of the stolen goods to conceal the theft, according to the prosecutor's office. GRAND RAPIDS, MI - At least one person was shot early Sunday morning in what was described as a drive-by shooting in southeast Grand Rapids, according to police. The shooting occurred on Delaware Street near Division Avenue, just south of Franklin Street. Police have not identified the victim nor the suspects. The investigation is ongoing. Grand Rapids police responded at around 2:51 a.m. Sunday to the "zero" block of Delaware Street on a report of shots fired at a crowd of people. Upon arrival, officers located a person with a gunshot wound to the leg. Investigators said there was a party at the address and at least three to four individuals had been kicked out a short time before the shooting, officers said. The individuals later returned in a small grey car and shot at party-goers from within the vehicle, striking one person in the leg, officers said. The suspects fled after the shots were fired. The victim was later taken to an area hospital for treatment. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact Grand Rapids police at 616-456-3400 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345. EAST LANSING, MI - The Michigan Democratic Party on Sunday solidified an earlier endorsement, nominating Dana Nessel as its candidate for Attorney General. Nessel rose to prominence in Michigan by challenging the state's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, ultimately winning at the U.S. Supreme Court level. Nessel said she admired the term of longtime former Attorney General Frank Kelley, who she said stood up for Michigan residents. Republicans who have controlled the office have trampled on regular people "to serve their corporate masters," Nessel said. By contrast she said she would fight for people, including by shutting down Line 5 under the Straits of Mackinac, bringing justice to Flint and holding corporations accountable. "I will protect the rights of each and every person in this state... we are all Michiganders, we are all Americans, and we are all deserving of equal protection under the law," Nessel said. She was nominated by former gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed, a fellow progressive who said she was a friend and a mentor. He said she was sensitive to the underlying issues behind some of Michigan's biggest legal questions and would act with integrity. "We know that the future that we leave behind, that is the future of the state of Michigan and Dana is going to protect that future for us," El-Sayed said. Nessel will be the Michigan's first LGBT Attorney General if elected. She won a hard-fought endorsement from the party back in April, running as a progressive candidate and beating out former U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles. She will run against the Republican nominee for Attorney General, current House Speaker Tom Leonard, R-DeWitt. Also at the convention, Democrats nominated Jocelyn Benson for Secretary of State; nominated Sam Bagenstos and Megan Cavanagh for Supreme Court justices; and affirmed gubernatorial candidate Gretchen Whitmer's naming of Garlin Ghilchirst II as her choice for Lieutenant Governor. The general election takes place Nov. 6. It looks like Michigan will be mostly between complexes of thunderstorms today. Here's a look at how storms may evolve over the next 24 hours. The current, always updated radar shows minimal thunderstorm activity. As of 10 a.m., the radars across the western Great Lakes show a small area of thunderstorms in northern Wisconsin. That complex of storms is expected to diminish over the next few hours. Many of the weather models shrink that clump of storms to nothing. Here is a high resolution model that usually handles these situations fairly accurately. The model wants to take the thunderstorm clump into the western U.P. and kill it off. You'll notice there are no other thunderstorms predicted to develop during the daylight hours today. It looks like a good chance most of Lower Michigan will stay entirely dry today. The exception is a possible isolated thunderstorm in far northwest Lower, along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The radar forecast above does get more active overnight tonight. A line of thunderstorms will likely move through northern Lower and the Upper Peninsula overnight and Monday morning. With the timing of the storms coming in the middle of the night, strength of the storms could stay just below severe levels. Here's the severe storm outlook for now through 8 a.m. Monday. It indicates less severe storms moving into Michigan toward the end of the forecast period. Severe weather forecast for 8 a.m. Sunday to 8 a.m. Monday (issued 8:49 a.m. August 26, 2018) Get out and enjoy a summery Sunday. Just keep your eye to the western sky in the U.P. and northwest Lower Michigan. There are two more rounds of storms coming Tuesday and Wednesday. Some of those storms could be severe here in Michigan. Focus on Make in India, indigenous tech; aim to boost Naval power. 111 utility helicopters will be acquired for the Navy at a cost of Rs 21,000 cr. These will be used in attack missions, search and rescue and surveillance operations. New Delhi: Just 10 days before the crucial the 2+2 India-US strategic dialogue on security, the defence ministry on Saturday approved procurement of weaponry amounting to a whopping Rs 46,000 crore. The ministrys decision would pave the way for private Indian firms to start negotiations with global arms manufacturers, including those from the US, to seek technology transfers to set up domestic production infrastructure. The highlight of decisions taken by the defence acquisition council (DAC), chaired by defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman, is the go-ahead to acquire 111 utility helicopters for the Indian Navy at a cost of over Rs 21,000 crore. This is the first project under the MoDs prestigious strategic partnership (SP) model that aims at providing significant fillip to the governments Make in India programme, the ministry said. The utility helicopters will be used in attack missions as well as for search and rescue and surveillance operations. The DAC also granted approval for procurement of 150 indigenously-designed and developed 155 mm advanced towed artillery gun systems for the Indian Army at an approximate cost of Rs 3,364.78 crore. These guns have been designed and developed by the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). To enhance the capability of the Navy, approval has also been granted for procurement of 24 anti-submarine warfare capable multi-role helicopters that are an integral part of frontline warships, like aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates and corvettes. The decision comes at a time when US firm Lockheed Martin is looking forward to negotiations to sell its MH-60R multi-role anti-submarine warfare helicopters to the Indian Navy. The proposal may come up when defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and foreign minister Sushma Swaraj hold talks with their American counterparts secretary of defense James Mattis and secretary of state Michael Pompeo, in Delhi on September 6. The defence ministry also approved procurement of 14 vertically-launched short range missile systems for enhancing naval ships defence against missile attacks. Of these, 10 systems will be developed indigenously. In May last year, the defence ministry had finalised the strategic partnership model under which select private firms are to be roped in to build submarines, fighter jets, choppers and armoured fighting vehicles/main battle tanks in India in partnership with foreign entities. The policy envisages establishment of long-term strategic partnerships between Indian defence majors and global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for technology transfer and domestic manufacture. Heavy rains and flooding have claimed 231 lives since August 8 in the second spell of the monsoon. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed hope that the festival of Onam will give new strength to the people of Kerala to overcome the advertises in the aftermath of the floods. The Prime Minister said the country is behind the people of the state. May this Onam give further strength to the people of Kerala to overcome the adversities they have been facing for the past few days, Mr Modi wrote on Twitter. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with Kerala and prays for the happiness as well as prosperity of its citizens, he said. The state has been witnessing its worst floods in a century. Heavy rains and flooding have claimed 231 lives since August 8 in the second spell of the monsoon. GAIL India live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More State gas utility GAIL India Ltd will on August 27 launch a new portal to allow anyone to hire its vast pipeline network for transporting natural gas as it makes last-ditch attempt to ward off breaking of the company, people in the know of the development said. The oil ministry has been for last few months considering separating GAIL's gas transportation and marketing business to resolve the conflict of the same entity doing both the jobs. One of the reasons for this was some industry players alleging that GAIL was not giving them access to its 11,000-kilometer pipeline network to transport their gas. Sources said while GAIL has maintained that it allows third-party access based on firm commitment, the company will tomorrow launch an online portal for common carrier capacity booking by marketing entities and consumers for transportation of natural gas through its pipelines. The ministry had in January stated that it is considering to split GAIL into two - one for laying pipelines and the other for marketing and petrochemicals - to encourage more transparency between the two operations and resolve the conflict of interest in it being both the transporter and marketer of natural gas. This is because it believed that all entities authorised to lay natural gas pipelines including GAIL have to "provide mandatory open access of its gas pipeline infrastructure on common carrier principle at the non-discriminatory basis, at transportation rates determined by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB)". Citing a 2006 policy, it stated that in the long run with the maturity of gas markets, the authorised entities should have transportation of natural gas as their sole business activity and not have interest in gas marketing or city gas distribution network. GAIL is the country's biggest gas marketing and trading firm and owns most of the country's pipeline network. The ministry, however, seemed to have softened its stand on splitting GAIL since then. In its comments on the issue to a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas, the ministry said that for unbundling "market maturity is critical". It did not expand on market maturity. It is widely considered that the Indian gas market is far from mature. At an Open House called by the sector regulator, PNGRB on July 17 to discuss unified traffic for pipelines, global energy majors Royal Dutch Shell and BP plc sought separation of natural gas marketing and transportation business. While Shell sought "legal unbundling" of gas trading and transmission business, so that benefit goes to all shippers, BP felt unified tariff "should be done after unbundling of transmission and marketing functions of an entity". GAIL Chairman and Managing Director B C Tripathi had on May 24 stated that unbundling of gas marketing and transportation business globally has been done only after the gas market has matured. In mature markets, monopoly gas transporting and marketing companies have been unbundled or split after the share of natural gas in energy mix has reached at least 15 per cent and a well-connected pipeline network built. Also, domestically produced natural gas forms bulk of consumption. In India, the share of natural gas in the energy mix is 6.2 per cent, its eastern and southern parts are not connected to any pipeline and domestically produced gas makes up for just 40 per cent of the consumption. GAIL also insists that it operates the two business at arm's length principle and hasn't ever tried to use its monopolistic situation for undue commercial gains. "Going forward, we will come up with a portal where capacity on our pipelines can be booked transparently," he had said. The portal being launched tomorrow is a step in that direction. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today drew flak from Congress after she lashed out at a Karnataka Minister during a press meet on Friday, but her ministry blamed the state minister for the incident, terming his conduct as "unfortunate", and accused him of making personal remarks which were in "bad taste". Sitharaman, a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, visited flood-ravaged Kodagu district in the state to review relief operations by the defence forces. She reacted angrily when Karnataka Minister Sa Ra Mahesh suggested to her to wind up the press interaction as a number of government officials were waiting for a meeting with her. "I am following a minute-to-minute programme, minister. I do not violate that. If officials are important, my parivaar (family) is also equally important. I follow the minister-in-charge. Central minister follows the minister in-charge here. Unbelievable," she told Mahesh, who was sitting next to her. "You have a list of minute-to-minute programme for me to follow. If you did have a difference of opinion, you should have sorted it out before," Sitharaman said. When an official told her that media was recording her comments, she said "Let it get recorded." In a tweet, Congress leader and former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah today criticised Sitharaman, alleging that she was "more interested in dominating our minister" which reflected BJP's "apathy" towards the state. The defence ministry issued a clarification today on the incident, questioning the state minister's conduct. "On completion of the field visits, as per the programme, the defence minister was interacting with ex-servicemen who had been adversely affected by the floods, when the district in-charge minister objected and insisted that meeting with the officials be conducted first," it said. "The defence minister clarified that welfare of ex-servicemen was an essential part of the ministry and the same was scheduled in the programme. However, the district minister insisted that the the defence minister immediately stop the interaction and proceed to the meeting with the officials," the ministry said. It said Sitharaman immediately halted the meeting and proceeded to the venue of the meeting with the officials. "The venue was already set up for the press conference and hurriedly the officials were summoned to sit among the mediapersons for the review. It was unprecedented to hold a meeting with the officials, with all the mediapersons present," it said. The ministry said inspite of the district administration finalising her programme and the minister following the same in its "entirety", it is unfortunate that the Karnataka minister behaved the way he did. "Subsequently, the personal remarks made against the defence minister were also in bad taste, which do not merit a response," the ministry said. It has also been noted that there has been gross misrepresentation with regard to the use of the term parivar' by the defence minister during the press conference, it said "One of the four departments of the Ministry of Defence is the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare and in that context it was stated that all ex-servicemen are part of the MoD parivar'. Any other inference is misconstrued and uncalled for," it said. PTI MPB After the incident Mahesh had dubbed Sitharaman's comments as a reaction to the demand for funds from the Centre to Kodagu. "She would have known the pain had she contested election by standing with the electorate, going to every house, meeting voters and asked their problems. She has been elected to Rajya Sabha from Karnataka," he had told a TV channel. The torrential rains that lashed the district last week have left a trail of destruction and claimed at least 17 lives. More than 5,000 people have been rendered homeless. The 41 trips covering 50 countries came at a total cost of Rs 355 crore, according to a report by The New Indian Express that cites a reply by the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) to Right to Information (RTI) query submitted by RTI activist Bhimappa Gadad. (Image: Reuters) India and France will commence work on launching a constellation of maritime surveillance satellites next year, an official from the French space agency said. The study, which has taken on board views of all stakeholders including the maritime security agency of the two countries, will chalk out the schedule of the exercise. The satellites will be designed to cover areas ranging from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean and parts of the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, keeping in mind the interests of both the countries, the official said. The study will access the number of satellites required in the constellation. In March this year, India and France unveiled a joint vision for space, resolving to strengthen cooperation between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and CENS, the space agency of France. "ISRO and CNES would work together for design and development of joint products and techniques, including those involving Automatic Identification System, to monitor and protect assets in land and sea. In particular, both sides will pursue the study of a constellation of satellites for maritime surveillance, the joint vision statement said. The purpose of this constellation is monitoring sea traffic management, the official said. The statement also envisaged to launch a constellation of maritime surveillance satellites with a prime focus on the Indian Ocean, a region that is witnessing an increased presence of China. Several crucial Sea Lanes of Communications pass through the Indian Ocean, a region critical to the strategic interests of India and France. The Indian Ocean is critical in safeguarding interests of both India and France. On our part, we have several areas territories in the Indian, Pacific Ocean and in the tropical region. The satellites will be designed to serve the purpose, the official added. India and France share robust space cooperation and have been working closely since the last six decades. Both sides have been working on the aspect of climate monitoring on the joint missions Megha-Tropiques and Saral-Altika, and the ongoing studies of the Trishna satellite for land Infrared monitoring and the Oceansat3-Argos mission. rahul gandhi Congress president Rahul Gandhi today alleged that the judiciary, the election commission and the RBI are being "torn apart" under the BJP government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has insulted every Indian by saying no development had happened before 2014. Addressing members of the Indian Overseas Congress here, he said the prime minister insulted every Indian by saying that no development activity happened in the last 70 years. "India shows the future to the world. The people of India made this possible, and the Congress helped them. If the prime minister says nothing had happened before he assumed office, he is not commenting on the Congress, he is insulting every person of the country," Gandhi said. The Congress president alleged that at present, Dalits, farmers, tribal people, minorities, the poor in India are told that they will not get anything, and "if they raise their voice, they are beaten up". Gandhi claimed that the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act has been "destroyed and scholarships have been discontinued". "Today in India, people are discriminated against on the basis of caste and religion. Marginalised are betrayed, while people like Anil Ambani benefit," he alleged. Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government on the multi-billion Rafale deal, Gandhi said that the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited had been manufacturing aircraft for the last 50 years, but the contract was given to "someone who floated his company just 19 days before the deal". "Nobody will get anything. Only Ambani will get everything. This man has accrued a debt of Rs 45,000 crore," the Congress president alleged. Gandhi and the Congress party have been attacking the BJP government for allegedly inking the deal at a much higher price than the one the previous UPA regime had negotiated to benefit Anil Ambani. Facing allegations of getting undue benefits from the multi-billion dollar Rafale deal, Ambani-led Reliance Group has sent legal notices to several Congress leaders asking them to "cease and desist" from levelling such charges. Reliance Group has denied the allegations relating to the deal under which France's Dassault is supplying the fighter jets and has entered into a joint venture with an Ambani-led group's firm to meet its offset requirement of the contract. Ambani recently wrote to Gandhi on the deal saying his party has been "misinformed, misdirected and misled" by "malicious vested interests and corporate rivals" on the issue. Gandhi said, "when the farmers of Karnataka and Telangana ask for loan waiver, PM Modi says this is not our policy. India's handful of richest businessmen have NPAs (Non Performing Assets) of Rs 12.5 lakh crore, but the prime minister says nothing". He alleged that the prime minister kept quiet "when his own party's MLA raped a woman and when Nirav Modi ran away with people's money". "Institutions such as the Supreme Court, the Election Commission of India and the Reserve Bank of India, which are the walls of our country, are being torn apart now," Gandhi alleged. It was the first time that four senior-most judges of the apex court come out in public earlier this year to say they were not being allowed to work, he said. "I do not use bad language for the prime minister. And if you have listened to the debate on the Rafale deal in Parliament, you would have seen that the PM could not answer my questions," the 48-year-old leader said. Gandhi said China creates 50,000 jobs a day, while India creates only 450 during that period, and unemployment was a pressing issue. "Our farmers need help. Our youth needs education, elderly people need healthcare. But, there is no discussion on the issues of farmers, education and health care," he said. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has said that a formidable alliance of opposition parties can be stitched together to defeat the BJP and free India from the "reign of fear" in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Chidambaram, however, avoided directly answering a question on the leadership issue or who would be the prime ministerial candidate of the alliance, saying it is a premature question. "Let us form the alliance and let the elections take place. All of you want to know the answer even before the script is written," he said. The former finance minister said the most important issue on which all opposition parties agree to is that the saffron party should be defeated. "On that point, there is a convergence of views in many states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar, etc. That convergence will bring together opposition parties and alliances will be formed state-wise," Chidambaram told PTI in an interview here. He said for the first time, "we are witnessing a sense of fear" among a large section of people in the country. "The Dalits live in fear, the Muslims live in fear, the women live in fear, the press live in fear," he said. "We are moving away from the accepted democratic rights and democratic positions. This is a dangerous trend for the country. We wanted freedom (from British rule) because we want to live without fear. And today, a vast section of the country lives in fear and this has to end," Chidambaram said. Asked whether the Congress will replicate the Karnataka model, where despite being the largest party in the Congress-JD(S) alliance it gave away the CM's post to JD(S) to keep the BJP at bay, he said it is too early to comment on it. "Karnataka was a state election. We talked about Karnataka after the election results were announced. Now, the major challenge is the Parliament election and eight months ahead of the polls, we can't talk about what will happen after election. "There will be alliance in each state depending upon the context of the state... The alliance has to be state-specific. So I think a formidable alliance can be stitched together state-wise for the Parliament elections," he said. On reports of certain opposition parties like the Telangana Rashtra Samiti and the Trinamool Congress not being very comfortable with the Congress leading the front, Chidambaram said it is advisable to wait till the election and the alliance talks to begin. Several opposition parties including the TMC and the TRS have expressed their reservation about working under the leadership of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, considered as a "junior politician". Asked whether the TMC would be part of the Congress-led opposition alliance, as the Bengal Congress unit is not in favour of it, he said, "I am not competent to answer that question. But, I am sure when I say that all parties who are opposed to BJP and all who are keen to replace the BJP should come together and form the alliance, that's the position I have stated. Let's see what happens." About the possibility of formation of such an alliance before the Lok Sabha polls, he said if one or two parties decide to stay away from pre-election alliance, "I am sure they can join the alliance post the election". Criticising the Centre on various issues ranging from incidents of lynching to anti-romeo squads, Chidambaram said that people have been either vegetarian or non-vegetarian for hundreds of years, but never ever were they lynched on the suspicion of keeping a particular meat in their house. "What is happening is serious erosion of democracy, serious erosion of freedom. This has to be stopped in the next Lok Sabha election," he said. The senior Congress leader said that the Narendra Modi government was trying to undermine the success in delivering a better economic growth during the UPA 1 and 2 regime. "You can't hide the numbers. The numbers speak for themselves. This is desperation of the Modi government to project itself as better than the UPA government. "They keep on boasting that in the last 60 years, nothing has happened, but our record is far better than the BJP's," he added. Congress president Rahul Gandhi today said that Indian prisons are "difficult places" but fugitives like Vijay Mallya should not be treated differently. Interacting with the members of the Indian Journalists' Association here, Gandhi said that "before Mallya left India, he met senior BJP leaders, that is documented. I won't name them". Asked whether Indian jails are up to scratch as regards to Mallya's deportation case, he said "Indian prisons are difficult places". "Indian prisons are pretty decent as far as Mr Mallya is concerned. Justice should be same for Indian people. Just because he is Vijay Mallya who defrauded banks to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore and ran away and he needs a difficult jail" is not acceptable. Mallya last month appeared before a court in London where both defence and prosecution presented clarifications on Barrack 12 at Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, where Mallya is to be held post-extradition. Judge Emma Arbuthnot asked the Indian authorities to submit within three weeks a video of the Barrack 12 of the Arthur Road Jail. Fugitive liquor baron Mallya is currently fighting extradition to India on fraud and money laundering charges worth an estimated Rs 9,000 crores. Gandhi said the Modi government is pretty lenient to Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehjul Choksi, who have defrauded Indian banks. "Punjab National Bank scam accused Nirav Modi took Rs 35,000 crores and Chokshi defrauded the banks. The question is job creation. How many jobs Nirav Modi created?," Gandhi asked. The Congress president said "there is a relationship between Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and the Prime Minister. No action is taken against them". Jewellery designer Nirav and his uncle Mehul Choksi, the promoter of Gitanjali Gems, have allegedly defrauded state-run Punjab National Bank of over Rs 13,000 crore. The Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate have registered cases of alleged fraud against them. The Congress president attacked the Modi government and said it "absolutely and completely lacked any strategy as far as India's foreign policy is concerned". "The Prime Minister makes a particular statement in Nepal and in a couple of months there is a complete U-turn. He has not been able to handle the relationship with Nepal, Afghanistan or China. "A devastating example is that Prime Minister went to Afghanistan and on his way back he went to Pakistan for a wedding, sending a completely wrong message to Afghanistan. Afghan keeps wondering what is going on," Gandhi said. Gandhi was referring to Prime Minister Modi's surprise visit to Pakistan on December 25, 2015 while returning from Afghanistan. He said that Prime Minister Modi went to China but did not discuss Doklam issue as "he views these as events. but they are not events". Gandhi said the Prime Minister is not taking feedback from the External Affairs Ministry. "Why is the Foreign Minister (Sushma Swaraj) spending her time on sorting out Visas - that is not the job of the foreign minister. That is the job of someone in embassy. The job of the foreign minister is making foreign policy, holding discussion on strategy. Representative Image live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Undeterred by legal notices served on its leaders, the Congress has decided to intensify its campaign against the Rafale fighter aircraft deal which, the party claimed, was altered to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's industrialist 'friend' and 'promote crony capitalism'. The Congress has lined up a series of events to take the issue to the people and 'expose' the Narendra Modi government ahead of next year's Parliamentary election. The main opposition party will stage agitations and take out marches at district and state levels over the alleged scam worth thousands of crores of rupees. Besides, senior party leaders will hold press conferences across the country till September 6 to 'reveal the truths' about the revised deal which, it claimed, was inked at a much higher price than the one the previous UPA dispensation had negotiated. The district-level agitations will be held from September 7 to 15, while the state-level agitations will be organised from September 16 to 30. The Congress has also set up a separate control room at the party headquarters here to monitor district-level agitations. "Please ensure that a massive state-level agitation and a march to the Governor's House for submission of memorandum to the Governor," party general secretary Ashok Gehlot has said in a letter to the party's state unit chiefs. According to party sources, the Congress will make the alleged Rafale scam a 'poll issue' and target the Modi dispensation over its claim of corruption-free governance. The Congress has accused the Modi government of not disclosing the price of the aircraft and alleged that the price was three times higher than that negotiated during the UPA dispensation with France's Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of the aircraft. The Congress has also accused Modi of 'personally benefitting' from the deal, and alleged that it was the reason behind his continued silence on the issue. "The Rafale scam is a sordid saga of squandering our national interests and promoting crony capitalism by the Modi government," the party said. It has also accused Modi of helping his 'friend' Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group in getting offset contracts for the aircraft, bypassing the public-sector Hindustan Aeronautics. The Reliance Group has sent defamation notices to many Congress leaders warning them against levelling charges that are 'misleading'. The company has asked Congress leaders to 'cease and desist' from levelling such charges. Ambani recently wrote to Congress president Rahul Gandhi on the deal, saying his party has been 'misinformed, misdirected and misled' by 'malicious vested interests and corporate rivals' on the issue. In worst-hit Alappuzha district, Onam was celebrated at a mosque, which has been turned into a relief camp. An artist dresses up as Mahabali King Maveli shakes hands with a child during Onam celebrations at a flood relief camp in Kochi. (Photo: PTI) Thiruvananthapuram: The 82-year-old Kumari just stared on as other inmates tried to lay a floral carpet on the courtyard of a flood relief camp in Alappuzha district. I had never ever imagined that we would not celebrate another Onam at that house in the same way, says the homemaker, overcome with memories from last year's celebrations with her family. Today is Thiru Onam, but we are in this relief camp. Unprecedented rains and floods have flattened our home. Kumari is among the over 8 lakh people who were displaced by the deadly floods and are now living in thousands of relief camps across the state after losing the savings of their lifetime. The devastating deluge, which has so far claimed 265 lives, has taken the sheen out of the state's most awaited harvest festival, Thiru Onam, which falls on Saturday. But, Onam feast was prepared in schools, colleges, convention halls, mosques and churches which are serving as relief camps in various districts. Floral carpets were also laid at the camps to soothe the worried minds of flood-hit people. In worst-hit Alappuzha district, Onam was celebrated at a mosque, which has been turned into a relief camp. The doors of the mosque were opened to accommodate people of all religions on August 18, a mosque committee official said. As we saw several houses destroyed, people being displaced, we opened our hall used for offering namaz (prayers). This is in true sense religious harmony. The floods have brought people of all religions together, he said. Bakrid was celebrated here last week and in the same spirit, Onam was being observed today and the feast was prepared by the people in the camp. Delicacies like aviyal, sambhar, payasam,.. All have been prepared, the mosque committee official said. In Chengannur, a relief camp inmate said the Onam festivity may be a low key affair this time, but we will overcome and definitely celebrate next year in our homes. Young Nandana, who returned to her home from a camp in Kochi, is busy drying her textbooks and notes as the sun came out this morning. There is no pookalam due to floods, she said. Many in the camps, sang Onam pattu (songs), laid out flower carpets and prepared sadya (feast) in an effort to bring some joy into their lives mauled by the unprecedented rains and floods, the worst the state has faced in a century. Women were busy cutting vegetables and men unhesitatingly pitched in to help, to prepare the feast in many camps. In the Aluva UC College camp, children and Muslim women joined in making the pookalam. In the famous Thrikakkara temple at Kochi. The killings of journalist Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru last year and rationalist Narendra Dabholkar in Pune in 2013 were 'linked', the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) claimed before a court in Pune on Sunday. Seeking extension of the custody of Sachin Andure, one of the alleged shooters in the Dabholkar murder case, the CBI told the court that one of the accused in the Lankesh murder case had handed over a pistol and three bullets with a magazine to him. Judicial Magistrate (First Class) HR Jadhav extended Andure's CBI custody till August 30. Dabholkar, a Pune-based anti-superstition activist, was shot dead while he was on morning walk in August 2013. Lankesh was shot dead in front of her residence in Bengaluru in September 2017. The CBI told the court that the agency would seek the custody of Sharad Kalaskar, another alleged shooter in the Dabholkar murder case. Kalaskar was among the five persons arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) earlier this month in connection with the seizure of crude bombs and firearms from various parts of the state. "Kalaskar is currently in the custody of the ATS in the Nalasopara explosives seizure case. The CBI will seek his custody in the Dabholkar case also as he and Andure need to be interrogated together," Special Public Prosecutor Vijaykumar Dhakane said. He added the CBI would also seek the custody of those arrested by the Karnataka SIT in the Lankesh murder case as some of them were 'linked' to the Dabholkar case and connected to Andure. "During Andure's interrogation, it was revealed that one of the accused in the Lankesh murder case had handed over a 7.65 mm country-made pistol and three bullets to him and he had passed those over to his brother-in-law, Shubham Surale, at Aurangabad (Maharashtra) on August 11," Dhakane told the court. Surale had passed on the pistol to one Rohit Rege, according to the prosecutor. The CBI had seized a black-coloured country-made pistol with a magazine and three 7.65 mm 'live cartridges' (bullets) from Rege's Aurangabad residence, Dhakane said, adding that the agency was probing if the weapon was used to kill Dabholkar. The CBI was also trying to trace the motorcycle used by Andure and Kalaskar on on August 20, 2013, the day they allegedly killed Dabholkar, he said. Opposing the extension of Andure's custody, defence counsel Prakash Salsingikar cited a charge sheet filed by the CBI in 2016 in the Dabholkar murder case. In the charge sheet, the central agency had named Virendrasinh Tawde of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS), an alleged offshoot of right-wing outfit Sanatan Sanstha, as the conspirator in the killing of Dabholkar. It had identified Sarang Akolkar and Vinay Pawar as the assailants, who had fired bullets at Dabholkar. Quoting certain paragraphs from the charge sheet, Salsingikar said, "The investigation has established through oral and documentary evidence that Tawde, who harboured an enmity with Dabholkar owing to the ideological differences between the Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti and the Sanatan Sanstha, criminally conspired with Pawar, Akolkar and others to murder Dabholkar. "In pursuance of the said conspiracy, Pawar and Akolkar shot dead Dabholkar on August 20, 2013 on the Omkareshwar Bridge in Pune." The defence counsel told the court that the CBI was trying to bring in a new theory every time as far as the probe into the Dabholkar murder case was concerned. "As per the charge sheet, the CBI had already identified the assailants in the Dabholkar case," he said. Meanwhile, a CBI officer told PTI outside the court that they were awaiting the ballistic report of the pistol seized from Rege's residence. He said it would be premature to say whether the pistol was used to kill Dabholkar. Apart from Kalaskar, the ATS had arrested Vaibhav Raut (40), Sudhanwa Gondhalekar (39), Shrikant Pangarkar and Avinash Pawar (30) in the arms seizure case from various parts of the state. While Raut ran a little-known pro-cow protection outfit, Gondhalekar and Kalaskar are allegedly linked to fringe Hindutva groups. Answer: Donald Trump. President Donald Trump said that the United States could reach a "big Trade Agreement" with Mexico soon as the incoming Mexican trade negotiator signaled possible solutions to NAFTA energy rules and a contentious U.S. "sunset clause" demand. Trump tweeted on Saturday morning that the United States' "relationship with Mexico is getting closer by the hour. Some really good people within both the new and old government, and all working closely together....A big Trade Agreement with Mexico could be happening soon!" Jesus Seade, who will serve as chief negotiator for Mexico's next government, said he and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer were now discussing a periodic review process that spare the North American Free Trade Agreement from automatic expiration unless new terms were agreed. Mexico and Canada have adamantly opposed the U.S. sunset demand that would kill the pact unless it is renegotiated every five years, a plan that business groups also say will stifle long-term investment decisions. "It's going to come out. It's no longer what the United States was putting first in any way," Seade said of the sunset clause outside the U.S. Trade Representative's office. Seade said he and Lighthizer last week began discussing a new approach to review the trade pact, that would have longer periods between reviews, providing more certainty for business investments. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Trade Representative's office denied that Lighthizer had softened his position on the sunset clause, without further elaboration. The sunset issue is one of the biggest remaining obstacles to a NAFTA deal as negotiators race to try to land a new NAFTA agreement in principle by the end of August. The United States and Mexico have been holding bilateral talks aimed at resolving their differences before bringing Canada back to the talks. Seade said the issue of auto sector rules is "basically resolved," although some aspects, including time frames, are still being discussed. Seade also said on Saturday that a "correct focus" on NAFTA's energy chapter has already been substantially agreed. Since Mexico's July 1 presidential election, the Mexico-U.S. talks have been complicated by divisions between the incoming and outgoing Mexican administrations over energy policy. The team of leftist Mexican president-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has resisted enshrining the 2013-14 opening of the oil and gas sector enacted by outgoing president Enrique Pena Nieto in the new NAFTA, people close to the talks say. Lopez Obrador opposed Pena Nieto's energy reform, and the issue is divisive within his own camp. Business-friendly aides back greater outside investment in the industry, while his more nationalist allies want the oil to remain in Mexican hands. 'NOT THERE YET' Asked about Trump's tweet, Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo acknowledged some progress, but told reporters in Washington before beginning another day of talks that the two countries are "not there yet." "Nothing is done until everything is truly done," he said. "Today will be an important day." Trump prompted the NAFTA revamp more than a year ago, complaining the pact has benefited Mexico to the detriment of U.S. workers and manufacturing. He made renegotiating NAFTA one of his top campaign pledges. Trump has threatened to withdraw from the pact if it is not reworked to the advantage of the United States. The U.S.-Mexico talks for weeks focused on crafting new rules for the automotive industry, which Trump has put at the center of his drive to rework the 24-year-old deal he says has been a "disaster" for American workers. Already convicted of murder, a North Carolina woman was convicted this week of helping her husband dispose of his ex-girlfriend's dismembered body, first trying to dissolve it in acid, then throwing it into an alligator-infested Fort Bend County creek. Both attempts to hide the body failed, the Fort Bend County District Attorney's office said Friday. Investigators found the torso and lower leg of Laura Ackerson floating in Oyster Creek in Richmond on July 24, 2011. More of Ackerson's remains were later found by dive teams. Ackerson was murdered by Grant Hayes and Amanda Perry Hayes in the couple's Raleigh, North Carolina apartment in 2011, the DA's office said. Ackerson was last known to be going to the Hayes home to retrieve two young children she shared with Grant Hayes. THINGS TO KNOW: Bank teller accused of triggering brutal robbery The couple murdered Ackerson, cut up her body and packed it into coolers, then drove to the Richmond home of Amanda Hayes' sister. "Once in Richmond, the couple first attempted to use muriatic acid to destroy Ackerson's body," the press release states. "When that didn't work, they took a boat onto Oyster Creek and dumped Laura's body parts into the water with hopes that alligators would eat her remains." In North Carolina, Amanda Hayes was already convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 13-16 years in prison. Grant Hayes was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Amanda Hayes testified in her Fort Bend County trial that she did not kill Ackerson and that her husband threatened her if she did not help him dispose of Ackerson's body. UNPROVOKED SHOOTINGS: Suspect had 'dim view of women,' deputies say A jury convicted Amanda Hayes of tampering with evidence to impair its availability in an investigation, a second-degree felony. Judge Maggie Jaramillo of the 400th District Court sentenced her to serve 20 years in prison, consecutive to the North Carolina sentence. "The jury verdict was swift and the Court's sentence was appropriately harsh," said lead prosecutor Amanda Bolin. "Laura Ackerson's family can be assured that Amanda Hayes will be punished for all of her barbaric behavior whether it was in North Carolina or the great state of Texas." Modi appreciated for the role rendered by the Army, Air Force, Navy, NDRF, BSF, CISF and the RAF in relief and rescue operations. PM Modi said loss of lives cannot be compensated, but he assures the grief-stricken families that in this moment of suffering, every Indian stands by them shoulder to shoulder. (Photo: ANI | Twitter) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed the humanitarian assistance rendered to victims of Kerala floods by people from all walks of life, saying irrespective of age group or area of work, people are contributing for the cause. He also put on record his appreciation for the role rendered by the Army, Air Force, Navy, NDRF, BSF, CISF and the RAF in relief and rescue operations. "Yesterday was the festival of Onam. We pray for Onam to provide strength to the country, especially Kerala so that it returns to normalcy on a newer journey of development. Once again on behalf of all Indians, I would like to reassure each and everyone in Kerala and other affected places that at this moment of calamity, the entire country stands by them," Modi said in his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio address. He said loss of lives cannot be compensated, but he assures the grief-stricken families that in this moment of suffering, every Indian stands by them shoulder to shoulder. "I earnestly pray for those injured in this natural disaster to get well soon. I firmly believe that the sheer grit and courage of the people of the state will see Kerala rise again," he said. Disasters, he said, leave behind a trail of destruction. But one gets to witness facets of humanity, humaneness during disasters. "From Kutch to Kamrup, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, everyone is endeavouring to contribute in some way or the other so that wherever a disaster strikes, be it Kerala or any other part of India, human life returns to normalcy. Irrespective of age group or area of work, people are contributing," he said. We feel intimidated and compelled to ... Life has provided me with many challenging opportunities ever since I joined the civil service 13 years ago. Raipur: Raipur district collector O.P. Choudhary, who has been credited with transforming education in Naxal-infested Bastar in Chhattisgarh, has resigned from his service to serve the people of the state. He is set to join ruling BJP and may be projected as an OBC face of the party in the upcoming Assembly elections in the state, scheduled to held by end of the year. The 2005 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers resignation was accepted by the Centre on Saturday, an official spokesman of Chhattisgarh government told this newspaper. Life has provided me with many challenging opportunities ever since I joined the civil service 13 years ago. I now want to serve my state and my people. Hence, I am resigning from IAS, he tweeted. We have yet to hear from the Central leadership regarding Mr Choudhurys induction in the party, a BJP spokesman here told this newspaper. Sources said Mr Choudhary was supposed to join BJP during party president Amit Shahs visit to Chhattisgarh on August 22, which was cancelled following the death of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajapyee. Mr Choudhary, according to sources, may be fielded in Kharasia Assembly constituency to pose a challenge to sitting Congress MLA Umesh Patel, son of former Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Nand Kumar Patel who was among 27 Congress leaders massacred in a Naxal attack in Jiram Ghati in Bastar in 2013. He may also be fielded in the 2019 parliamentary elections.Mr Choudhary, son a schoolteacher, had cracked the civil service examination at the age of 22 in the first attempt. He would be the second IAS officer of Chhattisgarh after former chief minister Ajit Jogi to take the plunge into politics after demitting the coveted office. Mr Choudhary shot into the national limelight half a decade ago when he conceived and executed the education hub at Naxal-infested Dantewada in south Chhattisgarh to provide education to tribal children particularly the wards of victims of Naxal violence in the conflict zone. Many local and area people participated in our parade with floats, horse clubs, classic cars, antique tractors and commercial vehicles. We were fortunate to have cloudy skies and a mild day, as the rain had cooled the area off. The winners in the various parade categories were: School Floats: 1st Place - Sophomore class 2nd Place Senior class 3rd Place Junior class. U.S. Sen. John McCain, the son and grandson of four-star admirals, was bred for combat. He endured more than five years of imprisonment and torture by the North Vietnamese as a young naval officer and went on to battle foes on the left and the right in Washington, driven throughout by a code of honor that both defined and haunted him. Sen. McCain, 81, died Aug. 25 at his ranch near Sedona, Arizona, his office announced in a statement. The senator was diagnosed last July with a brain tumor, and his family announced this week that he was discontinuing medical treatment. During three decades of representing Arizona in the Senate, he ran twice unsuccessfully for president. He lost a bitter primary campaign to George W. Bush and the Republican establishment in 2000. He then came back to win the nomination in 2008, only to be defeated in the general election by Barack Obama, a charismatic Illinois Democrat who had served less than one term as a senator. A man who seemed his truest self when outraged, Sen. McCain reveled in going up against orthodoxy. The word "maverick" practically became a part of his name. Sen. McCain regularly struck at the canons of his party. He ran against the GOP grain by advocating campaign finance reform, liberalized immigration laws and a ban on the CIA's use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" - widely condemned as torture - against terrorism suspects. To win his most recent reelection battle in 2016, for a sixth term, he positioned himself as a more conventional Republican, unsettling many in his political fan base. But in the era of President Donald Trump, he again became an outlier. The terms of engagement between the two had been defined shortly after Trump became a presidential candidate and Sen. McCain commented that the celebrity real estate magnate had "fired up the crazies." At a rally in July 2015, Trump - who avoided the Vietnam draft with five deferments - spoke scornfully of Sen. McCain's military bona fides: "He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured." Once Trump was in office, Sen. McCain was among his most vocal Republican critics, saying that the president had weakened the United States' standing in the world. He also warned that the spreading investigation over Trump's ties to Russia was "reaching the point where it's of Watergate-size and scale." Sen. McCain's most dramatic break with Trump came nine days after the Arizona senator announced on July 19, 2017, that he had been diagnosed with brain cancer. He returned to the Senate chamber, an incision from surgery still fresh above his left eye, and turned thumbs down on a GOP plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. Sen. McCain's no vote, along with those of two other Republicans, sent his party's signature legislative goal hurtling toward oblivion. In both of his own presidential races, Sen. McCain had dubbed his campaign bus the "Straight Talk Express." To the delight of reporters who traveled with him in 2000, he was accessible and unfiltered, a scrappy underdog who delighted in upsetting the Republican order. "He was always ready for the next experience, the next fight. Not just ready, but impatient for it," said his longtime aide Mark Salter, who co-authored more than a half-dozen books with the senator, including three memoirs, the final of which included a stinging critique of Trump. "He took enjoyment from fighting, not winning or losing, as long as he believed he was fighting for a cause worth the trouble." So broad and party-bending was his appeal that Senate Democrats in 2001 quietly tried to persuade him to become one of them. In 2004, Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, a Senate colleague who later became Obama's secretary of state, considered offering Sen. McCain the second spot on his ticket. Sen. McCain's 2008 presidential campaign turned out to be a far more conventional operation than his first bid for the White House. He stuck to his talking points and came to represent the status quo that he had once promised to topple. One move, however, would come to be regarded as a reckless political gambit. Sen. McCain picked as his vice-presidential running mate the little-known, thinly vetted governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin. Her well-received convention speech initially gave the sagging Republican nominee a lift, and her independent streak reinforced Sen. McCain's message and reputation. Looking back on the decision in 2012, Sen. McCain said he had been looking for "a way to galvanize and energize our campaign." But Palin's performance in interviews and on the stump sowed doubts about whether she was prepared to be next in line for the presidency and, by Election Day, polls indicated that she had become a drag on his candidacy. When he acted like an ordinary politician, trimming principles in the cause of ambition and expedience, it was all the more jarring because of the standard he had set. In the years that followed, a question often asked was: Which is the real John McCain? He represented the end of an era during which the nation looked at wartime military experience as practically mandatory for those who aspire to high office. "McCain was part of the tradition of being able to say, 'I did public service when I was young,' " historian Douglas Brinkley said. Sen. McCain, who rose to become chairman of the Armed Services Committee, was among the Republicans' most hawkish leaders on military matters and foreign affairs. It was a mind-set that came, in part, from his conviction that the Vietnam War, in which he had suffered grievously, was a noble and winnable endeavor. The real failure, he believed, was that of a spineless political class. During the Iraq War, often compared to Vietnam, Sen. McCain was an early and ardent proponent of a 2007 "surge" of troops. President Bush ultimately adopted that strategy, and it was widely credited with stabilizing Iraq, albeit temporarily. Sen. McCain was also a persistent critic of Obama's foreign policy. "The demand for our leadership in the world has never been greater. People don't want less of America - they want more," Sen. McCain said in 2012. "Everywhere I go in the world, people tell me that they still have faith in America. What they want to know is whether we still have faith in ourselves." - - - John Sidney McCain III was born Aug. 29, 1936, in the Panama Canal Zone and into a family whose military lineage included an ancestor who served as an aide to Gen. George Washington during the Revolutionary War. He was named for the first father and son in Navy history to become full admirals: John S. "Slew" McCain Sr., a top Pacific-theater commander in World War II, and John S. McCain Jr., commander for all armed forces in the Pacific during the Vietnam War. The middle of three children, Sen. McCain manifested his famously hot temper early: As a toddler, he would hold his breath until he blacked out. His tantrums were so severe that a Navy doctor advised his father and mother, the former Roberta Wright, to drop him, fully clothed, into a bathtub of icy water at the first sign of an outburst. After transient early years spent mostly at military bases, he graduated in 1954 from a Virginia boarding school, Episcopal High School in Alexandria. Following his father's and grandfather's path, and his parents' often-stated expectations, Sen. McCain then enrolled at the U.S. Naval Academy, which he later recalled as "a place I belonged at but dreaded." At Annapolis, he rebelled against the hazing and the regulations and racked up so many demerits that he was at risk of expulsion. (That, too, was something of a family tradition.) As Sen. McCain often boasted later in life, he graduated fifth from the bottom of the 899-member class of 1958. From there, he headed to Pensacola, Florida, to be trained as a Navy pilot and continue the rowdy existence of his days at the academy. One girlfriend at the time was a stripper who went by the professional name Marie, the Flame of Florida. Sen. McCain recalled taking her as his date to a party of young officers and their mannerly wives. Marie became bored, drew a switchblade from her purse, popped it open and cleaned her fingernails. He did a stint as a flight instructor in Meridian, Mississippi, at McCain Field, named for his grandfather. It was there, Sen. McCain recalled, that he matured and became dedicated to distinguishing himself as a pilot. "As a boy and young man, I may have pretended not to be affected by the family history, but my studied indifference was a transparent mask to those who knew me well," the senator wrote in a 1999 memoir of his early life, "Faith of My Fathers," co-authored by Salter. "As it was for my forebears, my family's history was my pride." Sen. McCain also became involved in a serious romance, with Carol Shepp of Philadelphia, whom he had known since his days at the academy. They wed in July 1965, and he soon adopted her two sons from a previous marriage, Douglas and Andrew. The couple later had a daughter, Sidney. Sen. McCain requested and got orders to do a Vietnam combat tour, joining a squadron on the supercarrier Forrestal in the Tonkin Gulf. On July 29, 1967, having flown five uneventful bombing runs over North Vietnam, he was preparing for takeoff when a missile accidentally fired from a nearby fighter struck the fuel tank of his A-4 Skyhawk, Sen. McCain wrote in his memoir. It set off explosions and a fire that killed 134 crewmen, destroyed more than 20 planes and disabled the ship so severely that it took two years to repair. His own injuries being relatively - and miraculously - minor, Sen. McCain, then a lieutenant commander, volunteered for dangerous duty on the undermanned carrier Oriskany. He joined a squadron nicknamed the Saints that was known for its daring; that year, one-third of its pilots would be killed or captured. - - - On Oct. 26, 1967, Sen. McCain was on his 23rd mission and his first attack on the enemy capital, Hanoi. He dove his A-4 on a thermal power plant near a lake in the center of the city. As he released his bombs on the target, a Russian-made missile the size of a telephone pole blew off his right wing. The lieutenant commander pulled his ejection-seat handle and was knocked unconscious by the force as he was hurled from the plane. He came to when he hit the lake, where a mob of Vietnamese had gathered. With both arms and his right knee broken, he was dragged from the lake, beaten with a rifle butt and stabbed in the foot with a bayonet. Then Sen. McCain was taken to the French-built prison that American POWs had dubbed the "Hanoi Hilton." So began 5 1/2 years of torture and imprisonment, nearly half of it spent in solitary confinement. During that time, his only means of communicating with other prisoners was by tapping out the alphabet through the walls. At first, his family was told that he was probably dead. The front page of the New York Times carried a headline: Adm. McCain's Son, Forrestal Survivor, Is Missing in Raid. The North Vietnamese, however, perceived that there was propaganda value in the prisoner. They called him the "crown prince" and assigned a cellmate to nurse him back to health. As brutal as his treatment was, Sen. McCain later said, prisoners who lacked his celebrity endured worse. Shortly before his father assumed command of the war in the Pacific in 1968, Sen. McCain was offered early release. He refused because it would have been a violation of the Navy code of conduct, which prohibited him from accepting freedom before those who had been held longer. "I knew that every prisoner the Vietnamese tried to break, those who had arrived before me and those who would come after me, would be taunted with the story of how an admiral's son had gone home early, a lucky beneficiary of America's class-conscious society," Sen. McCain recalled. "I knew that my release would add to the suffering of men who were already straining to keep faith with their country." His lowest point came after extensive beatings that broke his left arm again and cracked his ribs. Ultimately, he agreed to sign a vague, stilted confession that said he had committed what his captors called "black crimes." "I still wince when I recall wondering if my father had heard of my disgrace," Sen. McCain wrote. "The Vietnamese had broken the prisoner they called the 'Crown Prince,' and I knew they had done it to hurt the man they believed to be a king." In March 1973, nearly two months after the Paris peace accords were signed, Sen. McCain and the other prisoners were released in four increments, in the order in which they had been captured. He was 36 years old and emaciated. The effects of his injuries lingered for the rest of his life: Sen. McCain was unable to lift his arms enough to comb his own prematurely gray hair, could only shrug off his suit jacket and walked with a stiff-legged gait. - - - Sen. McCain had hoped to remain in the Navy, but it became clear that his disabilities would limit his prospects for advancement. In the meantime, he found himself drawn toward the civilian world of politics - and it toward him. Hobbling on crutches in his dress-white service uniform, he shook President Richard M. Nixon's hand. Sen. McCain also struck up a friendship with then-California Gov. Ronald Reagan, who invited the former POW to speak at an annual prayer breakfast in Sacramento. He developed a network of political contacts while working in the Navy's legislative affairs operation in the late 1970s. His office on the first floor of the Russell Senate Office Building was a popular late-afternoon socializing spot for younger senators and their staffs. Sen. McCain's marriage, meanwhile, frayed and fell apart. That was not an unusual story among returning Vietnam POWs, and in his case, the dissolution was aggravated by his infidelities. While he and his wife were separated, Sen. McCain visited Hawaii, where he met Cindy Hensley, the daughter of a wealthy Arizona beer distributor. A few months after his divorce became final in 1980, he married Hensley. Then-Sen. William Cohen, R-Maine, later to be a defense secretary, was his best man, and then-Sen. Gary Hart, D-Colo., a future presidential contender, was an usher. The couple had three children: Meghan McCain, who became a media personality and blogger, and sons Jimmy McCain and Jack McCain, both of whom served in the military. They also adopted a daughter, Bridget McCain, whom Cindy had met while visiting an orphanage in Bangladesh. Besides his mother, his wife and seven children, survivors include a brother, Joseph McCain of Washington; a sister, Jean McCain Morgan of Annapolis, Maryland; and five grandchildren. Sen. McCain retired from the Navy at the rank of captain and moved to Arizona in 1981, with an eye toward running for Congress. The opportunity presented itself the following January when a longtime Republican congressman, John Rhodes, announced his retirement. That same day, the McCains bought a house in Rhodes's Phoenix district, and John McCain was soon in a race against three other candidates. He was called an opportunist and a carpetbagger - accusations he dispatched with a single answer at a candidate forum. "I wish I could have had the luxury, like you, of growing up and spending my entire life in a nice place like the 1st District of Arizona, but I was doing other things," he replied to one critic. "As a matter of fact, when I think about it now, the place I lived longest in my life was Hanoi." He won the primary by six points and breezed through the general election. Four years later, in 1986, he was elected in a landslide to the Senate, replacing the retiring Barry Goldwater, one of the most influential conservative politicians of the 20th century. John McCain was a Capitol Hill celebrity from the moment he was elected to the House. In many areas, he was a reliably conservative voice and vote. But from the beginning, he showed what became a trademark streak of independence. He called for the withdrawal of Marines from Lebanon in 1983 after a terrorist bombing left 241 U.S. service members dead; he voted to override President Reagan's veto of sanctions against the apartheid regime of South Africa in 1986. And - surprisingly to many - as a member of the Senate, he worked to normalize relations with Vietnam. Sen. McCain crusaded against pork-barrel spending, the practice by which lawmakers direct taxpayer money to projects in their districts. He was also the only Republican to vote against the Telecommunications Act of 1996, a deregulation measure he said had been "written by every [special] interest in the world except the consumers." Acclaimed by the media, he was not popular in the Senate. Many of his colleagues were put off by his certitude. "John puts things in terms of black and white, right and wrong," then-Sen. Tim Hutchinson, R-Ark., told The Washington Post in 2000. "If you disagree with him, you're wrong. He doesn't see that there could be legitimate differences of opinion that deserve respect." One of the greatest setbacks for Sen. McCain, who had styled himself an idealist and a reformer, came in 1989, when his name became associated with a scandal. He and four other senators - all Democrats - were accused of trying to pressure federal bank regulators to back off an investigation of Charles Keating Jr., a high-living Arizona businessman whose savings and loan collapsed and cost taxpayers more than $3 billion. Over the years, Keating had contributed heavily to Sen. McCain's House and Senate campaigns. The senator's family had taken at least nine trips, at Keating's expense, to the Bahamas, where Keating had a luxurious vacation estate. Sen. McCain and the four Democrats - Alan Cranston of California, Dennis DeConcini of Arizona, John Glenn of Ohio and Donald Riegle Jr. of Michigan, all of whom had also benefited from Keating's largesse - became known as the "Keating Five." The Senate Ethics Committee finally determined that Sen. McCain had not done anything more serious than showing "poor judgment" by attending two meetings with the regulators and the four other senators. It was the lightest reprimand the committee gave in connection with the scandal. The others were rebuked but were not charged with crimes. Sen. McCain felt that he bore a permanent taint. "It will be on my tombstone, something that will always be with me, something that will always be in my biography," he said, "and deservedly so." The experience also lit the fire for what would become his signature issue and biggest legislative achievement: an overhaul of campaign finance laws. Sen. McCain teamed up with one of the Senate's most liberal members, Russell Feingold, D-Wis., to author a measure that called for the most dramatic change to the system since the post-Watergate reforms of 1974. It took them more than seven years to get the legislation through. The 2002 law's main thrust was to ban unlimited, unregulated "soft money" donations to parties, which were used as a means of skirting the contribution limits to individual candidates. In less than a decade, however, the Supreme Court's Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision opened the money floodgate and led to the rise of super PACs, which can spend unlimited sums, as long as they do not coordinate directly with candidates. Sen. McCain called it "the worst decision of the United States Supreme Court in the 21st century." - - - When Sen. McCain announced in September 1999 that he was running for the Republican nomination for president, it was yet another assault on the political establishment, which had put its chips on then-Texas Gov. Bush, the son of a former president. "In truth, I had had the ambition for a long time. It had been a vague aspiration," he later wrote. "It had been there, in the back of my mind, for years, as if it were simply a symptom of my natural restlessness. Life is forward motion for me." He ran as a truth-telling reformer, held a record-setting 114 town hall meetings in New Hampshire (while effectively ignoring the Iowa caucuses) and pulled off a stunning 18-point victory over Bush in the Granite State's first-in-the-nation primary. But his campaign ran aground in South Carolina in what came to be regarded as the nastiest primary in memory. Sen. McCain was the target of rumors: that he had fathered a black child (twisting the facts about his dark-skinned adopted daughter); that his wife had a drug habit (she acknowledged having been addicted to painkillers and stealing them from a charity she ran); that his years as a POW had left him brainwashed and insane. One of his regrets, he later said, was getting tangled up in South Carolina's emotional debate over flying the Confederate flag at the capitol in Columbia. After describing the banner as "a symbol of racism and slavery," Sen. McCain bowed to the pleas of his panicked strategists and issued a statement saying he could "understand both sides" of the question. Later, he wrote that he regretted not having told the truth, which was that he believed "the flag should be lowered forever from the staff atop South Carolina's capitol." "I had not been just dishonest. I had been a coward, and I had severed my own interests from my country's. That was what made the lie unforgivable," he recalled. "All my heroes, fictional and real, would have been ashamed of me." Bush handily defeated Sen. McCain in South Carolina, beginning the end of the senator's insurgent campaign. In April, a month after he dropped out of the 2000 race, Sen. McCain returned to the state and publicly apologized for having chosen "to compromise my principles. I broke my promise to always tell the truth." The bitterness of that campaign lingered for much of Bush's presidency. Sen. McCain was, for instance, one of only two Senate Republicans to vote against Bush's 2001 tax cuts. He said they were fiscally irresponsible and benefited "the most fortunate among us, at the expense of middle-class Americans who most need tax relief." But by the time he ran again in 2008, Sen. McCain had come to terms with Bush and the Republican Party, and they with him. He not only voted to extend the tax cuts in 2006, but also advocated making them permanent. Whereas Sen. McCain had lashed out at evangelical leaders Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell as "agents of intolerance" during his first presidential bid, he delivered the commencement address at Falwell's Liberty University in 2006. Falwell introduced him with lavish praise, saying, "The ilk of John McCain is very scarce, very small." The shift rightward caused a breach with a constituency that Sen. McCain had long counted as in his corner: the media. "Are you going into crazy base world?" comedian Jon Stewart asked Sen. McCain during an appearance on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" a few weeks before the speech at Liberty. "I'm afraid so," Sen. McCain deadpanned. His campaign all but collapsed in the summer of 2007, but Sen. McCain battled back and won the nomination. Still, he was flying into head winds in the general election. The war in Iraq, which he had supported, was unpopular, as was the Republican incumbent in the White House. Palin's erratic, unprepared performance became a story in itself. Most important, he was up against a Democrat who seemed tailor-made for that moment in history: Obama was better financed, ran a better campaign, had opposed the Iraq War and offered the captivating prospect of putting an African American in the White House for the first time. Nonetheless, the race looked as if it could be close until the final weeks, when the financial system went into a meltdown. Sen. McCain, so sure of himself on national security issues, seemed less than savvy at handling economic ones. Even as the crash was building into the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the senator declared that "the fundamentals of our economy are strong." Returning to Congress, Sen. McCain became a frequent antagonist of the man who had defeated him for president. He contended for instance that Russian President Vladimir Putin's 2014 invasion of Crimea was a result of "a feckless foreign policy where nobody believes in America's strength anymore." When Sen. McCain got the gavel of the Armed Services Committee in 2015, he told The Post that he was having more fun than at any time since his 2000 presidential campaign. That same year, he announced plans to run for a sixth term in the Senate. Sen. McCain won handily, and in his victory speech to supporters, he predicted that campaign "might be the last." "Thank you one last time," he added, "for making me the luckiest guy I know." In his final book, reflecting on his life as it came to an end, McCain wrote: "It's been quite a ride. I've known great passions, seen amazing wonders, fought in a war, and helped make a peace. I made a small place for myself in the story of America and the history of my times." --- Video Embed Code Video: Editorial page editor Fred Hiatt reflects on the life and legacy of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).(Adriana Usero/The Washington Post) Embed code: The idea is to make Dalits and OBCs a part of the social mainstream, said a RSS functionary. This time, however, the Sangh has decided to include other festivals and the Raksha Bandhan celebrations on a grand level in all the districts. (Photo: Representational/PTI) Lucknow: The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) will celebrate Raksha Bandhan on Sunday by getting rakhi tied from dalit and OBC women. RSS workers will be visiting Dalit and backward caste-dominated areas in the state to get rakhis tied by women belonging to marginalized caste groups. The move is designed to increase BJPs outreach among Dalit and OBC sections. Not only Raksha Bandhan, but all festivals up to the Kumbh Mela next year, including Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, Dushhera and Diwali, will be celebrated among the marginalized communities. The idea is to make Dalits and OBCs a part of the social mainstream, said a RSS functionary. RSS coordinator, Suresh Soni said, The problem of the Hindu society begins with who am I? Where do I belong? And from which district do I hail? Our workers will remove all these doubts and try to unite the Hindu community. They will also be made to realize that they are an integral part of the Hindu society. Normally, RSS celebrates six major festivals throughout the year. These include Guru Purnima, Raksha Bandhan, Nav Varsh Pratipada, Hindu Samrajya Diwas, Vijay Dashami and Makar Sankranti. This time, however, the Sangh has decided to include other festivals and the Raksha Bandhan celebrations on a grand level in all the districts. Interestingly, the Kumbh Mela in 2019 will be held from January to March and as soon as it ends, activity for the next Lok Sabha elections will begin touching a crescendo. MONROE Police are seeking the publics help to identify a man who opened a strangers garage door around midnight Sunday. The homeowner at Barn Hill Road confronted the man when he opened the door, Monroe police said on its Facebook page. The man told the resident he needed a plug to charge his phone and call an Uber, according to police. San Antonio firefighters fought a quick-moving blaze Sunday that had already damaged two Northeast Side homes when they arrived, and threatened to spread to nearby structures. More than 30 units responded to the fire just after 2 p.m. in the 4700 block of Desert Poppy. The flames and thick smoke didnt injure anyone, but firefighters worried about the trees and homes standing within feet of the fire. Something like this can get out of control very quickly, said Woody Woodward, spokesman for the San Antonio Fire Department. Alex Sanchez, a renter of one of the homes, said he was busy cleaning a carpet when he heard a neighbor banging on the window and yelling. Sanchez, whose children werent home at the time, bolted outside and said the fire had already engulfed both houses. It was a matter of seconds, Sanchez said. Standing in the hot sun with a towel covering his head, Sanchez gazed at the remains of the house that had all his belongings. A garage packed with boxes was intact, but the fire had scorched other parts of the home. Sanchez said he had no idea how the fire started. Its a total loss, Sanchez said. The combined damage at both homes was $400,000, according to the Fire Department. Woodward said arson investigators will examine the cause and point of origin of the fire. By the time firefighters showed up, both structures were ablaze. First responders immediately requested assistance and soon the subdivision was packed with firetrucks. The good news is, the fire was contained to just these two homes, Woodward said. It was a close call. John Tedesco is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jtedesco@express-news.net | Twitter: @John_Tedesco Timothy and Sharlotte Mott remain trapped in their grief, wondering what happened to their daughters body, which vanished from a local funeral home three years ago. Julie, who died of cystic fibrosis, was supposed to be cremated a day after her funeral Aug. 15, 2015. Her body was reported missing from a damaged casket at Mission Park North on Cherry Ridge and has yet to be found. Its a mystery that continues to haunt the Motts. The couple sued and won an $8 million judgment in January against MPII Inc., which does business as Mission Park Funeral Chapels and Cemeteries, but to the family, there was no victory. The case didn't provide the answers the Motts need most. They want nothing more than to fulfill her final wishes. RELATED: Couple get $8 million for loss of daughters body from San Antonio funeral home I cry quite easily all the time, Sharlotte Mott, 65, said in a soft, trembling voice recently. Theres a lot of sadness in the fact that we dont know where she is. Nothing has changed. I always thought of myself as a tough guy, said Timothy Mott, 69, who was a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army. His voice breaks: But this is ... I cant even put it into words. San Antonio police have made no arrests in the case, which is still under investigation, but hint there is a development. RELATED: Employer defends worker after satanism alleged in San Antonio missing body trial We recently discovered some new information that we are actively pursuing with the hope that it leads us to Julies whereabouts, said Lt. Jesse Salame, deputy chief of staff for Chief William McManus. Because we dont want to jeopardize the case, we cant reveal yet what that new information is. As they go about their everyday lives, the Motts, who spoke recently with the San Antonio Express-News on the third anniversary of their daughters death, carry on as best they can. Julie is never far from their thoughts. Read the full story here at expressnews.com Elizabeth Zavala is a courts and crime reporter in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863 WASHINGTON John McCain lived most of his life in the public eye, surviving war, torture, scandal, political stardom and failure, the enmity of some colleagues and the election of President Donald Trump. Even brain cancer didnt seem to scare McCain so much as it sobered and saddened him. The world is a fine place and worth fighting for and I hate very much to leave it, McCain wrote in his memoir, referencing a line from his favorite book, the Ernest Hemingway war novel For Whom the Bell Tolls. I hate to leave. A look at public moments that made McCain: Prisoner of war, celebrity McCain became a public figure at age 31 when his bed-bound image was broadcast from North Vietnam in 1967. The North Vietnamese had figured out that he was the son and grandson of famous American military men a crown prince, they called him. He was offered an early release, but refused. McCains captors beat him until he confessed, an episode that first led to shame and then discovery. McCain has written that thats when he learned to trust not just his legacy but his own judgment and his resilience. Less than a decade after his March 1973 release, McCain was elected to the House as a Republican from Arizona. In 1986, voters there sent him to the Senate. DIEGO IBARRA SANCHEZ /NYT The Keating Five He called it my asterisk and the worst mistake of his life. At issue was a pair of 1987 meetings between McCain, four other senators and regulators to get the government to back off a key campaign donor. Charles Keating Jr. wanted McCain and Democratic Sens. Dennis DeConcini of Arizona, Alan Cranston of California, John Glenn of Ohio and Don Riegle of Michigan to get government auditors to stop pressing Keatings Lincoln Savings and Loan Association. All five denied improper conduct. McCain was cleared of all charges but found to have exercised poor judgment. His honor was being questioned and thats nothing that he takes lightly, said Mark Salter, McCains biographer and co-author of his new memoir, The Restless Wave. The Senate McCain became his partys leading voice on matters of war, national security and veterans - and eventually became chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He worked with a Democrat to rewrite the nations campaign finance laws. He voted for the Iraq War and supported the 2007 surge of forces there even as his own sons served or prepared to serve. But there was one thing that wasnt as widely known about him: McCain, owner of a ranch in Arizona that is in the flight path of 500 species of migratory birds, became concerned about the environment. People associate John with defense and national security, as well they should. But he also had a great concern for and love of the environment, said Sen. Susan Collins, the Maine Republican who traveled to the ends of the earth with McCain to the Arctic Circle in 2004 and Antarctica two years later on fact-finding missions related to climate change. Back on McCains Arizona ranch, the senator gave Collins an extensive nature tour of the property. I particularly remember his love for the birds, Collins said. He loved the birds. Town halls, straight talk McCain in the 2000 election did something new: He toured New Hampshire on a bus laden with doughnuts and reporters that stopped at town hall meetings where voters were invited to exchange views with the candidate. The bus was called the Straight Talk Express, and thats what he promised to deliver at the town halls. The whole thing was messy, unscripted and often hilarious. And ultimately the events re-introduced McCain to voters as a candid and authentic, just a year after President Bill Clinton was acquitted of lying to Congress and obstruction. In New Hampshire that year, McCain defeated George W. Bush in an 18-point blowout, only to be pushed out of the race in South Carolina. But the town halls remained a fond McCain memory. The town halls were festivals of politics, Salter said. They were so authentic and open and honest. No maam McCain, in 2008 making his second run for president, quickly intervened when a woman in Lakeville, Minnesota, stood at a town hall event and began to make disparaging remarks about Democratic presidential nominee and then-Sen. Barack Obama. Hes an Arab, she said, implying he was not an American. No maam, McCain said, taking the microphone from her. Hes a decent, family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and thats what this campaign is all about. Hes not. It was a defining moment for McCain as a leader, a reflection of his thinking that partisans should disagree without demonizing each other. But it reflected McCains reckoning with the fear pervading his party of Obama, who would go on to become the nations first black president. JIM WATSON /AFP /Getty Images Cancer McCain last year was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the same aggressive cancer that had felled his friend, Sen. Edward Kennedy, in 2009. Friends and family say he understood the gravity of the diagnosis but quickly turned to the speech he wanted to give on the Senate floor urging his colleagues to shed the partisanship that had produced gridlock. Face scarred and bruised from surgery, he pounded the lectern. Some of the sternest members of the Senate hugged him, tears in their eyes. Of all of the things that have happened in this mans life, of all of the times that his life could have ended in the ways it could have ended, this (cancer) is by far one of the least threats to him and thats kind of how he views it, his son, Jack McCain, told the Arizona Republic in January. Health care vote Republicans, driven by Trump, were one vote away from advancing a repeal of Obamas health care law. Then McCain, scarred from brain surgery, swooped into the Senate chamber and, facing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, dramatically held up his hand. The thumb flicked down. Gasps could be heard throughout the staid chamber. McConnell stood motionless, arms crossed. Trumps campaign promise and the premiere item on his agenda was dead. Chip Somodevilla / Trump McCain tangled with Trump, who never served in the military, for years. As a candidate, Trump in 2016 claimed the decorated McCain is only considered a war hero because he had been captured. Hes not a war hero, Trump said at an event in Iowa. I like people who werent captured. Shortly before Election Day in 2016, McCain said hes rather cast his vote for another Republican, someone whos qualified to be president. Trump fumed, without using McCains name, that the senator is the only reason the Affordable Care Act stands. McCain responded: I have faced tougher adversaries. Lets be clear: Better pay for court-appointed attorneys who handle misdemeanor cases in Bexar County is long overdue. But it is meaningless if that pay does not come with real oversight and changes to a demonstratively broken system. Our concern is Bexar Countys Courts at Law judges have delivered on a pay increase without meaningfully addressing that all-important oversight. The judges have signed an order boosting compensation for misdemeanor cases from a $140 flat fee to a $180 flat fee, among other fee changes. Beyond this, however, things get murky. What would proper oversight of private court-appointed attorneys include? Guarantees they will promptly meet with their clients and dedicate more time to their cases beyond entering pleas. Monitoring caseloads. Tracking outcomes. Gathering data to compare the performances of court-appointed attorneys with their counterparts in the Bexar County Public Defenders Office. Developing a training and mentoring program for new attorneys on the misdemeanor appointment wheel. Bexar Countys commissioners, who set the budget, are discussing these very ideas. But, the countys courts-at-law judges have been vague. For example, Bexar County Judge John A. Longoria, the administrative judge for these misdemeanor courts, told us he thought oversight was part of this plan. I think its locked in with it, he said. But he could not describe what that oversight might be. Longoria referred us to Judge Tommy Stolhandske, whom he described as the architect of the pay increase. But Stolhandske refused to do an interview about the pay increase, citing our ongoing endorsement interviews with his colleagues on the bench. He didnt want to disrespect them, he said. It was a perplexing response since this is a decision to spend public money. He did say there would be reforms to the countys new 48-hour bond review hearings. Reform would be welcome, and celebrated, since court-appointed attorneys are not showing up for these hearings. But we checked with other county officials who said such language has not been finalized. This pay increase takes effect Sept. 1, coming on the cusp of the fall election. It was a decision made without any consultation with Bexar Countys Commissioners Court, which is in the midst of its annual budgeting. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, the chief of Commissioners Court, said this will likely cost the county about $600,000. He viewed the pay raise as overdue, but also hollow if it lacks oversight. As we have chronicled in our Unequal Justice series, court-appointed attorneys do deserve better pay. We compared years of state data, and Bexar County consistently pays the least per indigent case among Texas urban counties. Consider: In fiscal 2017, El Paso, Tarrant and Harris counties all spent more than $600 per indigent case. Dallas County spent $551 per case. Travis County spent $450 per case. Bexar spent $316. Although Bexar is cheap, it still spends millions. In fiscal 2017, the county spent more than $13 million on private attorneys to provide indigent defense, including nearly $2.5 million on misdemeanors. In studying caseload data, we found several attorneys with more than 400 or 500 cases in a given year. Experts have said thats far too high. We also found numerous instances where attorneys handled more than recommended caseloads from Texas A&M Universitys Public Policy Research Institute. To ignore these dynamics, but then provide a modest increase in pay, would be to perpetuate a broken system. True reform would couple a larger pay increase with a structure that incentivizes work and provides oversight and resources to court-appointed attorneys. Compensation could be based on itemization, with a cap, to demonstrate necessary defense work. A better way can be found in Lubbock County, which uses a managed assigned-counsel program. Under such a program, an office independent of the judiciary appoints counsel, monitors caseloads and pays attorneys. In Lubbock County, the cost per indigent case in 2017 was about $440, according to state data. Again, Bexar spent $316 per case in the same time period. Real change means coordinating with Commissioners Court on funding increases. It means visiting Lubbock County to see how that system works. It means creating oversight over the performance of private court-appointed attorneys. This is a modest and overdue pay increase, but, absent other concrete reforms, its not real change. This editorial is part of the Unequal Justice series, which explores the inequities in Bexar Countys criminal justice system and how they can be fixed. There may never be another such as John S. McCain, 81, who died Saturday after a battle with brain cancer. Which is another way of saying that the nation has too few heroes in its political class. McCain surely filled that niche. His heroism occurred in two spheres, as a naval aviator who became a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War and as an elected official a U.S. representative and senator. This makes his achievements all the more remarkable. His heroism was indelibly linked with the word that came to describe him maverick. He veered from that trait from time to time, some say opportunistically as the political need arose, but he returned to it always. It was his true north. He was a maverick when he bucked his Republican Party to co-sponsor landmark campaign finance reform with perhaps the most liberal member of the Senate, Wisconsin Democrat Russ Feingold. He was a maverick when he returned to Washington from his sickbed in Arizona after being diagnosed with brain cancer to cast one of three GOP votes that kept his party from repealing the Affordable Care Act. He was a maverick as a member of the Gang of Eight to bring comprehensive immigration reform to the Senate floor. Knowing personally what torture is a lesson learned as a POW in the Hanoi Hilton he was a maverick to forthrightly call out the George W. Bush Administration for its enhanced interrogation techniques. And, most recently, he was ever the maverick in standing up to the invective and bullying that has come to characterize the administration of President Donald Trump. McCain was and remains a rarity in that regard in his party, but he recognized his man earlier than most, while Trump was running for the presidency. This prompted the candidate to question his heroism. Trump said of McCain, He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured. But McCain was surely a hero during and after his captivity in North Vietnam. After 5 1/2 years of torture and much of his imprisonment spent in solitary confinement, he was offered an early release obviously because his admiral father was in command of the war in the Pacific. He refused because he knew other POWs had been there longer. I knew that my release would add to the suffering of men who were already straining to keep faith with their country, he later wrote. That some of the contributions of being a maverick were ultimately stymied do not render his efforts meaningless. The U.S. Supreme Court rendered his campaign finance reform meaningless with its Citizen United decision money is now speech and corporations are people. The Gang of Eights immigration reform floundered in the U.S. House, never became law, and was replaced with harsh rhetoric against immigration and immigrants by the president and others in the GOP. His vote prevented outright repeal of the ACA, but the acts effectiveness nonetheless has been eroded by executive order. Ironically, being a maverick cost him in his second presidential run in 2008 (the first run was against George W. Bush in the GOP primary in 2000). He named the little-known governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, as his running mate and her statements quickly caused many to question her ability to step into the No. 1 spot if tragedy occurred. He lost the 2008 race to Barack Obama. Its always easy to jump on a bandwagon headed in the wrong direction, but harder to stand athwart it. Easy to join your voice to a chorus, harder to hit that discordant note thats not on the sheet music on purpose. John S. McCain will be remembered not just for his maverick ways and his true heroism. He will be remembered for the wisdom, compassion, integrity and patriotism that were their foundation. Kumaraswamy wrote that he was "deeply pained at the turn of events" and urged all those involved to forgive and forget. Kumaraswamy said that he had spoken to the Defence Minister over the phone on this matter. (Photo: File/PTI) Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday took to Twitter to address the recent discord between state Tourism Minister Sa Ra Mahesh and Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during the latter's visit to the flood affected areas of Kodagu in Karnataka. Kumaraswamy wrote that he was "deeply pained at the turn of events" and urged all those involved to forgive and forget. "I believe this is the time for all of us to forget the small differences and forgive each other and join hands for the rehabilitation of the flood affected people in Kodagu,"he said. "The grave situation in the district warrants it. Let us not colour such incidents and be distracted from our key focus, he added. On Friday, Defence Minister Sitharaman had visited Kodagu to review the damage caused by heavy rains and flooding. At a press conference there she was urged by Minister Sa Ra Mahesh to wrap up the conference citing time constraints. Losing her cool, Sitharaman had blasted Sa Ra Mahesh publicly, stating, "You have a list of minute-to-minute for me to follow...I am doing as per your schedule". "I follow the minister in charge. Central minister follows the minister in charge here. Unbelievable!"she said. When told the conversation was getting recorded on cameras, the Defence Minister, shot back "Let it get recorded." Read: 'Unbelievable': Sitharaman spars with K'taka minister for asking to end speech Following the incident, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, G Parameshwara had on Saturday tweeted his disapproval. "Our ministers have stayed back in Kodagu for weeks to oversee relief operations along with the district administration. You should extend to them the same respect that they extend for the help from your end," he wrote. The Deputy CM also added that "State governments derive their powers from our Constitution not from the Centre... We are not inferior to the Centre. We are partners." Also read: 'Not inferior to Centre': Karnataka to Sitharaman on 'unbelievable' remark In his tweet, Kumaraswamy said that he had spoken to the Defence Minister over the phone on this matter. He added that "it was unfortunate" that Sitharaman "had to got through certain inconveniences". He ended his message by saying that he looked forward to the continued support of the Central Government. - Buhari made a surprise visit to troops battling bandits, kidnappers and criminals in Zamfara and neighbouring states - The president applauded officers and men of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the Army for the counter-offensive against bandits - He urged officers and men to keep up the good work in the results achieved in dealing with banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling President Muhammadu Buhari made a surprise visit to troops battling bandits, kidnappers and criminals in Zamfara and neighbouring states under Operations Sharan Daji and Diran Mikiya on Saturday, August 25. This happened before he boarded his Air Force plane at Umaru Musa YarAdua International Airport, Katsina, to Abuja. Buhari praised the troops for their service and dedication to the nation, urging them to remain ruthless in the battle against the criminals. In the spirit of the Sallah celebrations, the president also donated 5 bulls to the troops. READ ALSO: APC, ADC release September dates for presidential, governorship primaries The unannounced visit was intended to appreciate the work of the Nigerian Armed Forces, for the tremendous results that are being achieved in securing this nation and its people. The president applauded officers and men of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the Army for the counter-offensive against bandits. Credit: Muhammadu Buhari, Facebook During the interaction, the president applauded officers and men of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the Army for the counter-offensive against bandits in Zamfara state and environs, assuring them of his full support as a worthy Commander-in-Chief. He urged officers and men to keep up the good work in the results achieved in dealing with banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling in the affected states, within the short period of the operations existence. I am here and pleased at this opportunity to address you and express my pleasure and happiness as your commander-in-chief on your performance on the two respective operations. Nigerians are looking up to you and us to secure the country. What is happening in the areas of operations are disgraceful. Im very pleased with the way officers and men are firmly putting it down and I want you to be as ruthless as humanly possible. Nigerians deserve some peace. The president reminded the troops that when he was elected into office in 2015 he promised the nation security, an improved economy and a commitment to fight corruption. He urged officers and men to keep up the good work in the results achieved in dealing with banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling. Credit: Muhammadu Buhari, Facebook The country has to be secured to be managedwe have been doing our best and we depend a lot on you to do what is needed in the field. I do not want you to spare any cattle rustler, armed robber or any person who thinks he is above the law. I commend you for the job you have been doing so far and I assure you that I will continue to be a worthy Commander-in-Chief. Thank you very much and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the president said. The federal government had, on July 29, assembled the 1000-strong military personnel, comprising the army, air force, police and the civil defence to help in tackling the activities of the bandits. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed fighter aircraft to Katsina, the airport with the closest proximity to Zamfara, to allow for immediate and effective response to the menace of the bandits. The president reminded the troops that when he was elected into office in 2015 he promised the nation security, an improved economy. Credit: Muhammadu Buhari, Facebook The president had also authorised the engagement by NAF, of advanced satellite surveillance technology to help in accurate detection of movement and locations of the bandits. In his brief to the president, Air Vice Marshall Sampson Akpasa the air officer commanding special operations command, NAF, said locations such as Mashema, Shinkafi, Ajia, Rafi, Shamashalle, Zurmi and Galadi in Zamfara state, previously used as staging and trading bases by the bandits have been made untenable through sustained air interdiction and armed reconnaissance. The air efforts in the last couple of weeks also provided close air support to ground troops on various occasions. Additionally, the Air Task Force(ATF) responded to several distress calls from sister security forces and locals by neutralising the identified massed bandits and preventing imminent attacks on villages/towns such as Yanwari and Hayin Alhaj, Akpasa said. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the president's aide on new media, Bashir Ahmad disclosed this via his Twitter page on Saturday, August 25. Before he left the Umaru Musa YarAdua International Airport, Katsina, for Abuja, the president addressed troops deployed to battle criminals in Zamfara state. President Buhari proves he is fit to run in 2019 | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng Senator Bukola Saraki and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state are currently in a closed-door meeting at the government house in Asaba. The Senate president who was said to have arrived unannounced was received by the governor and the state chairman of the PDP, Olorogun Kingsley Esiso, Punch reports. READ ALSO: 2019: APC, ADC release September dates for presidential, governorship primaries According to reports, the meeting is not unconnected with his rumoured presidential ambition in 2019 on the platform of the PDP. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday, August 22, gave insight on why the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, was yet to reconvene the National Assembly despite pressure from all quarters of the polity. The acting national publicity secretary of the APC, Yekini Nabena, said Saraki was aware that the ruling party has two-third of the majority needed to impeach him as Senate president. Nabena said the Senate president was just buying time with the hope that APC would negotiate with him. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Nigeria He further advised Saraki to call for the reconvening of the National Assembly in the interest of the nation. "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," Nabena said. Nigeria Election 2019: What are Bukola Sarakis chances against President Buhari | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - Senator John McCain, two-time presidential candidate passed away on Saturday evening at his home - He died at the age of 81 after a long battle with cancer and shortly after he stopped treatment - The Republican was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, called glioblastoma, in 2017 - McCain was first elected senator in 1986 and remained vocal in the Senate despite his illness - He was one of the biggest critic of some of President Donald Trump's policies Celebrated United States (US) senator and war hero John McCain has passed on after long battle with brain cancer. The Republican congressman died at the age of 81 on Saturday, August 25, at 4.28 pm, a few hours after his family disclosed he had stopped medical treatment. READ ALSO: Meet Prime Minister Mark Rutte of Netherlands who cycles to work everyday (photos) Arizona Senator John McCain died at the age of 81 on Saturday, August 25, at 4.28 pm a few hours after his family disclosed he had stopped his treatment. Source: J. Scott Applewhite / AP READ ALSO: Angela Merkel set to visit Nigeria, other West African nations on Wednesday A statement issued by Senator McCain's office and family indicated he died in his home in Arizona with his family and friends around to say goodbye. In the tweet below, Senaor McCain's wife pays tribute to his husband of 38 years The congressman was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, identified as glioblastoma, in 2017 and was undergoing treatment until recently when he and the family decided to stop the radiation and chemotherapy. A statement by his family had announced the senator will discontinue cancer treatment In a statement issued on Friday, August 24, McCain's family said the senator had decided to end his treatment after it became clear there was nothing humanly possible they could do to save his life. "Last summer, Senator John McCain shared with Americans the news our family already knew. He had been diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma, and the prognosis was serious. In the year since, John surpassed expectations for his survival. With his usual strength of will, he chose to discontinue medical treatment," the family noted. The Friday announcement left McCain's colleagues shaken despite having braced for the worst following his cancer prognosis in 2017. It effectively closed a tumultuous Washington career that included two unsuccessful presidential runs and saw McCain emerge as a singular political figure. In 2000, McCain challenged George Bush for the Republican presidential nomination and lost. And in 2008, the senator ran against former President Barrack Obama and once again did not succeed in his quest for the presidency. .The Arizona senator will be remembered for being forthright. In the heat of the 2008 presidential campaign that pitched him with Obama, John McCain shut down a woman who referred to candidate Obama as 'Arab'. Grabbing the microphone, Senator McCain interrupted the woman and said Obama is a citizen and a decent family man McCain, who retired from the Navy before joining politics, was first elected to the Senate in 1986 and had become a vehement critic of President Donald Trump, especially with regard to the push to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, leaders from across the world continue to pay tributes to the fallen American war veteran. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News on Legit.ng News Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that John McCain had organised his own funeral in anticipation of his impending death. The US senator had banned President Donald Trump from attending the mock funeral preferring Vice President Mike Pence instead. Woman Delivers Quintuplets in Anambra, Ask Nigerians for help on NAIJ.TV Source: Legit.ng News The Department of State Security (DSS) have reportedly started releasing some detainees following the sack of its former director-general, Lawal Daura by then-acting president, Yemi Osinbajo. The Nation reports that this seems to be in line with the promise made by its acting director-general, Mathew Seiyefa. READ ALSO: US senator and war hero John McCain is dead During his maiden conference, he reportedly promised to review all cases. It was reported that seven Ijaw youths from Bayelsa state who were arrested two years were released in Yenagoa. The detainees were taken from Abuja to Yenagoa where they were released to their family members. One of them, Clinton Ohaigbofa, said they were held in underground cells and faced a lot of hardship. He said: We didnt do anything. We were arrested on May 24th, 2016. We were taken to the JTF headquarters in Opolo and were later transferred to DMI, Abuja. After interrogation, we were transferred to Defence Intelligence Agency. On August 26, 2016, we were transferred to the Department of State Service, Abuja. We stayed there for over two years. They treated us badly. We were held in an underground cell. They gave us little bread in the morning, little rice in the afternoon and a morsel of semovita in the evening. Each portion of food cannot satisfy a two-year old baby. They deprived us of everything. They didnt even take us to court. There was no freedom to even see light. They subjected us to severe punishment. They kept us hungry and deprived us of medication. Suspects are being released massively because of the new DSS boss. I dont know the actual number released so far. But we thank the new DSS boss. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly ruled out the reinstatement of the former director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura, who was removed by then-acting president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. The Nation reports that this is despite pressure from some members of the presidents kitchen cabinet. A source reportedly said the president has no plan to bring back Daura and that the argument has now shifted to the possible retention of the new acting director-general, Mathew Seiyefa. News Nigeria Today: Who is Nigerias Smartest Politician? | Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit.ng - A Nigerian lady recently appealed to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to build a wall between the Island and mainland - In the now viral video, the lady suggested that it's the only wise thing to construct in the state A Nigerian entrepreneur has gone viral after a video of her appealing to the Lagos state government to build a wall separating the Mainland from the Island. The lady identified as TopeFnR was attacked by fellow Nigerians who thought she was trying to spite those living on the mainland of Lagos state. Many who felt her rant was caused by the closure of the third mainland bridge and the inconveniences it caused supported her on her appeal. READ ALSO: Comedian Gordons shares story of how he, Tekno and Flavour survived a plane crash scare See video below: Legit.ng had earlier reported that the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Adedamola Kuti, said on July 10, 2018, that consultations had begun for the closure of the Third Mainland Bridge for repairs. PAY ATTENTION: Get best news on Nigeria's #1 news app Get your daily relationship tips on Africa Love Aid group on Facebook Kuti told the News Agency of Nigeria that the Ministry of Works was going to hold a meeting with stakeholders on Wednesday to discuss how to manage traffic during the repairs. Lagos Police Commissioner Parades Suspected Criminals (Nigeria News) - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - The Peoples Democratic Party has said it is set to unseat the APC-led administration in 2019 - The party said the coalition of political parties recently formed will help in the plan - According to the PDP, the plan of the APC was for the coalition's strategies to fail Nigeria's largest opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it is set to unseat President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in the forthcoming 2019 presidential election. The party said it will successfully unseat the president with the helip of the coalition it formed with other parties in opposition will the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Punch reports that the national chairman of the party, Uche Secondus in an interview on Saturday, August 25, said the plan of the APC was for the coalition's strategies to fail. READ ALSO: 2 guards nabbed by SARS operatives over alleged N5 million theft in Borno hospital Secondus said despite all hitches, the parties involved in the coalition has remained committed to the successes of their efforts. He said: We have passed the stage of doubting. We are on a critical stage of implementation and with the commitment we have seen so far, we will sack President Muhammadu Buhari next year." He also urged members of the PDP and other parties not to be bothered by the hugh number of its presidential aspirants. He assured that the PDP would manage the party's primaries in such a way that its outcome would be acceptable to every aspirant. READ ALSO: FLASHBACK: When Senator McCain mocked Goodluck Jonathan after Chibok girls abduction We have no preferred candidate. All of them are eminently qualified to run. What we will do is to provide the enabling environment that would make the delegates pick or elect candidates of their choice. Unlike the APC where no one is attempting to challenge President Buhari, our doors are open here. The PDP is a part of all Nigerians," Secondus said. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously made a list members of the PDP aspiring to become vie for the presidential seat in 2019. The PDP also scheduled October 5 and 6, for its national convention where its flag bearer for the 2019 presidential election will emerge. PDP's Magnificent 7 For 2019 Election | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Nigeria - Some persons loyal to Lawal Daura are reportedly planning to get Magu removed - They reportedly claimed Magu has a had in in his sack - A southwest governor governor is reportedly part of the plot Loyalists of sacked director-general of the Department of State Services (DS), Lawal Daura, are reportedly making moves to get the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu sacked. Daura was removed from his position by then acting president following siege on the National Assembly by DSS operatives. The Nation reports that a source claimed loyalists of Daura were working towards getting Magu removed because they felt he had a hand in his removal. READ ALSO: We don't need permission from some guy named Goodluck Jonathan - McCain Those loyal and sympathetic to the ex-DG of DSS are up in arms by mounting pressure on the President to overhaul the nations security and anti-corruption architecture. They specifically demanded the sack of the NSA and Magu too. They alleged that the ex-DSS DG was sacrificed in the absence of the President to ease him out of the equation in the presidency. They also alleged that the removal of Daura was timed to achieve a purpose for the NSA and the EFCC boss. Some of these forces even added spiritual connotations to the sack of Daura. They said some marabouts did the job on behalf of some key figures around the President. It is unfortunate that a governor from the South-West, who has links with a few corrupt ones, has been vehement in the sack of Magu. Those backing Dauras sack prevailed on the President not to bow to pressure to remove the NSA and Magu who has done so much to put the anti-corruption fight on proper footing. Some of the lobbyists and influential people from the Northwest are alleged to be getting tired of the Northeast elements around President Buhari. They are asking him to remove a few of these Northeast hands including the NSA and Magu. Another source said: Some of us are worried at the latest twist to the sack of the former DG of DSS. Some loyalists and a few influential kitchen cabinet members are trying to personalize the sack by fingering the NSA and Magu. The NSA and Magu had nothing to do with the fate of Daura. It was not a case of investigation for corruption or any financial crimes; it had to do with wrongful deployment of forces on a critical arm of government, which is the Legislature (the National Assembly). The vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who was then the Acting President, had told the nation that the disciplinary measure was necessary to end impunity in the country. He described the DSS operatives invasion of the National Assembly as a gross violation of constitutional order, rule of law and accepted notions of law and order. Attributing such removal to the NSA and Magu will be unfair. It is even sad that a Southwest governor is among those driving this latest initiative to achieve selfish ends. The vice president also stayed away from elements of bias by disallowing the NSA and the EFCC from being part of the detention and debriefing of Daura in a safe house in Abuja. The Nigeria Police and other security agencies were directed to handle Dauras matter. It will be disastrous for Buhari to start his anti-corruption war afresh because the ultimate target is to make the war a failure. Some of us have been warning against these Fifth columnists who are out to bring this administration down. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Legit.ng had reported that the Department of State Security (DSS) reportedly started releasing some detainees following the sack of its former director-general, Lawal Daura by then-acting president, Yemi Osinbajo. The Nation reports that this seems to be in line with the promise made by its acting director-general, Mathew Seiyefa. During his maiden conference, he reportedly promised to review all cases. News Nigeria Today: Who is Nigerias Smartest Politician? | Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit.ng News President Muhammadu Buhari embarked on a 10-day vacation trip on Friday, August 3 after having notified the National Assembly in writing and transferred power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to act as the Acting President, as stipulated by the constitution. In his capacity as the acting president, Osinbajo took some critical decisions, most of which attracted nationwide commendation from Nigerians. Legit.ng, in this piece, highlights four major things the acting president did while President Buhari was away in London. READ ALSO: PDP finally reveals what it plans to do with coalition in 2019 1. The sacking of the former director general of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura Osinbajo on Tuesday, August 7, sacked the director-general of the DSS, Lawal Daura. Daura was sacked allegedly for his role in the invasion of the National Assembly complex by some operatives of the DSS. 2. Appointment of Acting DG of the DSS Following the sacking of Lawal Daura as DG for breach of national security, Osinbajo appointed Matthew B. Seiyefa, the most senior director in the DSS, to act as director-general of the agency until further notice. 3. Directive on Overhaul of SARS After years of persistent complaints and reports on the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) that border on allegations of human rights violations, Osinbajo on Tuesday, August 14, directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to immediately overhaul the management and activities of SARS. 4. Osinbajo signed three bills into law Osinbajo signed into law three bills transmitted by the National Assembly, which are now Acts of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The new laws are Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission (Establishment) Act, 2018, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2018 and Federal School of Medical Laboratory Technology (Science) Jos (Establishment) Act, 2018. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Legit.ng previously reported that Osinbajo said that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari will continue to secure the country, upgrade its infrastructure and ensure that its wealth is not hijacked by a greedy few Nigerians. Osinbajo gave this assurance on Tuesday, August 14, during a one-day working visit to Zamfara state where he was received by Governor Abdulaziz Yari. Nigeria Latest News: Osinbajo Orders Overhaul Of The Dreaded SARS | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar received a delegation from the A-29 Super Tucano manufacturing company - The Air chief called on the delegates and the US government to speed up the delivery of the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft purchased by the Nigerian Air Force The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on Saturday, August 25, hosted the manufacturers of the A-29 Super Tucano, the Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) ordered by the Nigerian Air Force. Abubakar during the meeting called for a speedy recovery of the aircraft to Nigeria to enhance the operations of the troops of the Nigerian Air Force. The Air chief while receiving a delegation from the aircraft manufacturing company said the machines would facilitate the swift conclusion of the counterinsurgency operations in the northeast. A statement signed by the Ibikunle Daramola, the director of public relations and information, the visiting delegation also included officials from the Office of Security Cooperation (OSC) of the United States (US) Embassy in Nigeria. The chief of Air staff hosted delegates from the manufacturers of the Tucano attack aircraft. Photo credit: Facebook: NAF READ ALSO: PDP finally reveals what it plans to do with coalition in 2019 The delegation was led by the senior vice president of SNC, Taco Gilbert. Daramola said that Gilbert during the meeting assured the chief of Air staff of the company's determination to deliver quality aircraft capable of providing the needed impetus for NAF air operations. Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar called for the speedy delivery of the purchased aircraft. Photo credit: Facebook: NAF Gilbert also expressed the commitment of the company to provide adequate training for NAFs air and ground crew to ensure effective and efficient operation of the aircraft. He said the company looked forward to continued collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force towards building a new air capability to address the security challenges in the country. READ ALSO: APC to hold first NEC meeting since defection gale as Buhari hosts party leaders In his response, Abubakar said the he was delighted that the US government has supported Nigeria's fight against terrorism in the northeast region with the signing of the contract to sell the Super Tucano aircraft. He emphasised that NNAF was majorly concerned with time frame for delivery. Abubakar however said he is confident that the counterinsurgency operations in the northeast could be executed more effectively, if light attack aircraft like the Super Tucano, with its long range, precision munitions as well as day and night capability, could be made available to the NAF in good time. He urged the Company to expedite production so that at least 2 of the aircraft would be available to Nigeria within an earlier timeframe, to boost counterinsurgency operations. The manufacturing company also made a presentation of a model of the Super Tucano aircraft to the CAS. READ ALSO: PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the federal government had rejected that conditions listed by the US government for the sale of the 12 Tucano fighter jets. The minister of defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, has said that the federal government will not accept the stringent conditions given by the United States on the planned purchase of 12 Tucano fighter jets. He said arrangements have been concluded to meet the February 20 deadline for payment of 494 million dollars meant for procurement of 12 A-29 Super Tucano Light-attack aircraft from US but Nigeria will not accept some of the conditions attached to the deal. Nigerian Air Force operations against Boko Haram - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Nigeria The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won the 27 local government areas in Imo state in the just concluded election. The chairman of the Imo state Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC), Ethelbert Ibebuchi, made the announcement on Sunday, August 26, at the ISIEC office along Orlu road in Owerri. Vanguard reports that Ibubuchi said under the councillorship positions held in 645 wards APC won in 636, while four wards were won each by Accord party, Rebuild Nigeria Party, Peoples Redemption Party, and KOWA party. READ ALSO: Just in: It is a big lie - Atikus campaign office reacts to his alleged defection from PDP According to him, elections could not hold in some wards in Oguta local government areas, Isiala Mbano, Aboh Mbaise and Owerri north local government areas of the state. Before announcing the results, Ibebuchi said: In view of the observations made in the field and the constraints faced by ISIEC. I mostly sincerely appealed to His Excellence Rochas Okorocha and Imo state House of Assembly, to make law that will confer nominal Community status to registration areas, RAs, in large communities without recognized status. READ ALSO: Just in: Kwara governors aide resigns, vows to remain in APC Which will enable them qualify for ISIEC, wards possibly manned by appointed traditional prime ministers." Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha called for a free and fair local government election in the state on Saturday, August 25. Okorocha also urged the people of the state to vote for the APC in the election. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app He further called for peaceful conducts on the sides of the political parties and candidates taking part in the election. Why governors steal - Rochas Okorocha of Imo state - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng Prasad said privacy could not inhibit innovation, nor could privacy become the shield for corrupt people or terrorists. New Delhi: Union minister for law and information technology Ravi Shankar Prasad, speaking at an international conference in Argentina, warned that social media platforms will not be allowed to abuse the electoral process and that India would take all the steps required to deter and punish all those who seek to vitiate this process. Mr Prasad also suggested that a part of revenue that is generated by digital platforms could be reinvested in the host markets to create more infrastructures and generate more job opportunities for people there. Speaking at the plenary of the G-20 digital economy ministerial meeting in Salata, Argentina, Mr Prasad said that India had taken serious note of the reported misuse of data by social media platforms, an official statement released here said. Mr Prasad said such platforms would never be allowed to abuse our election processes by extraneous means. He said the purity of the democratic process should never be compromised and India will take all the steps needed to deter and punish those who seek to vitiate this process. The ministers statement comes amid allegations that Cambridge Analytica, the UK-based analytics and marketing firm that had worked for Donald Trumps presidential campaign in 2016, had allegedly procured Facebook data harvested from millions of users to target American voters. Mr Prasad articulated Indias concerns about data protection and individual privacy and informed the meeting that India had already put in place stringent measures backed by laws passed by Parliament. He said privacy could not inhibit innovation, nor could privacy become the shield for corrupt people or terrorists. We need data to improve business but the data must be anonymous, objective, and taken with consent, he added. He that India believed in Internet access for all, adding that the Internet was one of the finest creations of the human mind, but it could not be the monopoly of a few. He also said that while cyberspace was truly global, it must be linked with local ideas, local culture and local views. He said the largest and the most dynamic markets for digital services were in Asia, Latin America and Africa, with India having one of the largest footprints of several popular social media and other digital platforms. It was only fair and just that the revenue and profits generated from these platforms be equitably reinvested in the largest markets to create more infrastructure and more job opportunities for people there, he added. By Victor Ginsburgh, Professor of Economics, ECARES, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Juan Moreno-Ternero, Professor, Department of Economics, University Pablo de Olavide, Shlomo Weber, Robert H. and Nancy Dedman Trustee Professor of Economics, Southern Methodist University; Leading Scientist, Center for Study of Diversity and Social Interactions, New Economic School, Moscow. Originally published at VoxEU. Preserving English as an official language of the EU will be problematic if Brexit takes place. English became an official language in the EU (then the EEC) when the UK joined the Union. Nowadays it is the most widely spoken language in the EU and also is the working language in its institutions (with the exception of the Court of Justice, which uses French). If the UK leaves the EU, English can no longer retain its status as one of the Unions official or working languages. Every member is entitled to choose one official native language in the EU. Malta and Ireland are the only two countries in which English is official, but Malta chose Maltese and Ireland chose Irish[TIM1] as their official languages. This was mentioned in 2016 at a news conference by Danuta Hubner, the chair of the European Parliaments constitutional affairs committee, but immediately rejected as incorrect by the EU Commission representation in Ireland (O Caollai 2016). In principle, there are two routes to sustain English as an official language of the EU: Ireland or Malta switch their official native language in the EU to English .This may create a national problem. Although most Irish and Maltese citizens speak English, how would they react to this unpatriotic change? .This may create a national problem. Although most Irish and Maltese citizens speak English, how would they react to this unpatriotic change? English is an official language in Ireland and Malta, so there may be no problem in keeping English in the EU. This argument is supported by the legal departments of the EU Commission, the EU Parliament and the EU Council. They argue that no meeting, deliberation or vote by the EU Council is needed. The second argument contravenes the spirit and even the wording itself of Article 342 of the Lisbon Treaty (which consolidates Article 217 of the 1957 Treaty of Rome, used in the EEC Council Regulation No 1/1958 determining the languages to be used by the EEC). Article 342 states that: The rules governing the languages of the institutions of the Union shall, without prejudice to the provisions contained in the Statute of the Court of Justice of the European Union,1 be determined by the Council, acting unanimously by means of regulations. This contains two important provisions: the Council has to draft a regulation, and the regulation must be adopted by all 27 EU countries after Brexit. Is there any chance that the representatives of the countries in the Council would vote unanimously to keep English not only as an official, but also as a working language? The probability is slim, even very slim. Because without 60 million native speakers of English, other languages become more valuable or important. To quantify this assertion, in a recent paper we evaluate the weight of each EU language (Ginsburgh et al. 2017) using three methods[TIM2] : Method 1 : For each language, all its speakers are counted, regardless of proficiency. All speakers, perfect or not, count as 1. Non-speakers count as 0. : For each language, all its speakers are counted, regardless of proficiency. All speakers, perfect or not, count as 1. Non-speakers count as 0. Method 2 : Only perfect speakers (essentially native speakers) are counted as 1, all others are represented by 0. : Only perfect speakers (essentially native speakers) are counted as 1, all others are represented by 0. Method 3: All speakers are counted, but also their proficiency. A native speaker counts for 1, a speaker who claims to have a very good or good knowledge of the language counts for , all others count for 0. Knowledge of languages is calculated using each method with data from a Special Barometersurvey carried out in late 2005 (European Union 2006), which surveyed 1,000 citizens in each EU country (including Bulgaria and Romania, which acceded on 1 January 2007).[2] The totals are weighted to take account of the various countries populations to compare the situation of speakers of all EU languages before and after Brexit. Table 1 restricts the presentation to the six most spoken languages, using each of the three assumptions. The numbers show the aggregated percentage of EU citizens who know the language that appears in the first column. Table 1 Percentage of speakers in the EU before and after Brexit for the six most-spoken languages in EU Source: Ginsburgh et al. (2017). The results clearly show that English is the first language in the EU before Brexit if we count all English speakers, regardless of proficiency (method 1), or count native speakers as 1, and non-native, but good speakers as (method 3). Using these calculations, English does better than either German or French, and much better than Italian, Spanish, and Polish. This is not so if we consider only native speakers (method 2). The UK has a smaller population (60 million) than Germany and Austria combined (90 million) or France plus 40% of Belgium (70 million). If Brexit goes ahead, English would lose ground in all cases. German and if we used the third method of calculation French would be dominant. It would be surprising if Germany (and Austria) or France (and French-speaking Belgians) were to support a status quo sustaining the current prevalence of English. The EU Council, which has to vote unanimously, would have to find extremely good arguments to convince countries to vote for the introduction of English in place of Irish by Ireland (or Maltese by Malta) or to vote for English, if English ceased to be an official language in the EU. This may be an unfortunate situation for many countries. English is more widely spoken and certainly better understood in the rest of Europe than German or French. Without Brexit, it would probably have become the lingua franca of the EU in the future. But, there is a but References Ginsburgh, V, J Moreno-Ternero and S Weber (2017), Ranking languages in the European Union: Before and after Brexit, European Economic Review93: 139-151. O Caollai, E (2016), European Commission rejects claim English will not be EU language, The Irish Times, 28 June. European Union (2006), Special Eurobarometer 243: Europeans and their languages. Endnotes [1] As mentioned earlier, the language used by the Court is French. [2] With the following exceptions: 1,500 in Germany, 1,300 in the UK, and 500 in Cyprus, Luxembourg and Malta. The total number of usable interviews is 26,700. How Cheetahs Keep Their Heads Still While Sprinting National Geographic Red Delicious apple cedes top spot to Gala after five decades Philadelphia Inquirer (KW). Verizon, under fire for throttling firefighters data speed, lifts caps for first responders San Francisco Chronicle Are Superstar Firms and Amazon Effects Reshaping the Economy? NYT. From Jackson Hole. Brexit Councils snatch 5,000 homes to pay for care bills Sunday Express North Korea Trump Ties North Korea Talks To Trade Deal With China Moon of Alabama. Not agreement-capable? Syraqistan IMF urges Saudi Arabia to contain spending despite oil price rise Al Jazeera New Cold War Cannabis activists or dangerous criminals? Upcoming trials test limits of legalization in Alaska The Appeal What Happened at Camp Lejeune Pacific Standard Trump Transition Sen. John McCain, Republican War Hawk, Dead at 81 Common Dreams. In fairness, McCain was sound on torture, not an easy thing in official Washington. David Foster Wallace on John McCain: The Weasel, Twelve Monkeys and the Shrub David Foster Wallace, Rolling Stone. From 2000, still germane. Margaret Thatcher and misapplied death etiquette Glenn Greenwald, Guardian. From 2013, still germane. Democrats in Disarray The Limits of Elizabeth Warren Consortium News August 28th sees some of the nations most-watched contests come to a head in Florida and Arizona Open Secrets Florida Candidate: My Alien Abduction Does Not Define Me Jonathan Turley (CB). Future elections may be swayed by intelligent, weaponized chatbots MIT Technology Review Our Famously Free Press Conspiracy theorists are in the same league as psychics, magicians, astrologists and gurus Telepolis. Interview with the Wu Ming collective. Sex, crystals and compost toilets The Economist Guillotine Watch Pope To US Church: Youre On Your Own The American Conservative. No Cardinals or Bishops get the axe. Whos running the show, there? Eric Holder? What happens when a #MeToo victim like Asia Argento is the accused? Guardian Class Warfare The Nastiest Feud in Science The Atlantic An Ancient Antibacterial Technique Might Hold the Key to Future Wound Treatment Futurism (DL) (original). Many Analysts, One Data Set: Making Transparent How Variations in Analytic Choices Affect Results Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science The macho sperm myth Aeon (CL). Antidote du jour (via): See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. (Natural News) As the Trump era progresses, the Left continues to punish his supporters by deplatforming their voices on social media and harming their businesses by denying them access to financial services. The latest assault has been launched against the David Horowitz Freedom Center, which recently had their donation processing system blocked by Visa and Mastercard allegedly following a campaign by the Southern Poverty Law Center, Breitbart News reported. The SPLC, which is nothing but a Left-wing hate and intolerance factory, is increasingly being legitimized by Marxist Democrats and their supporters in government, academia, and the private sector as some on the up-and-up non-partisan organization. Its anything but that. Breitbart reported: The David Horowitz Freedom Center stated in a recent email that its ability to accept donations by credit card has been disabled by both Visa and Mastercard following a campaign by the SPLC to label the Freedom Center as a hate group. This situation comes shortly after Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch was forced off the funding platform Patreon following pressure from Mastercard. The center is obviously the latest SPLC target, which works with the Left to deplatform and defund conservative pro-Trump groups, businesses, and organizations. In an email to supporters, David Horowitz detailed how the bigoted SPLC managed to persuade Visa and Mastercard two of the worlds biggest financial firms that handle the lions share of transactions to block his center from being able to receive payments from like-minded supporters of the centers policies and efforts, as though it doesnt have a right to exist. To bypass the Visa/Mastercard boycott, Horowitz is urging donors to send their contributions to a Post Office box. But make no mistake, what the SPLC, Visa, and Mastercard, collectively, are doing could be the end of the Freedom Center, Horowitz said in an email to supporters. Decades of work, down the drain because the hateful Left wants to squash free speech and silence an organization that dares question them, he added. In a statement to Breitbart, Horowitz described the SPLC as a Left-wing hate machine. This isnt going to get better without congressional action We have been attacked by the left-wing hate machine whose goal is to suppress and silence conservative voices. This is the work of a Soros funded Media Matters and Southern Poverty Law Center operation. Its cynical, calculated and supported by the Democratic Party, he said, adding that Visa and Mastercard cut off their donation system access because they believed the SPLC when it told them the center was a hate group. Leftists always accuse others of what they are doing. That said, Horowitz wasnt critical of the financial firms. He told Breitbart that it was wrong to focus on them because as businessmen they have a vested interest in keeping their platforms politically neutral. He added, They have been threatened by Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and other Democrats if they dont censor conservatives. No doubt that Horowitz is merely being politically pragmatic. Its abysmal what these tech companies are doing, and no, theyre not simply being talked into it by a real hate factory, the SPLC. After all, the Democratic National Committee takes credit card donations via Visa, Mastercard and Discover and American Express and it doesnt get any more political than a political party, right? For that matter, so does the Republican National Committee. Not only that, but its beyond reason to believe that neither Visa nor Mastercard couldnt assign someone to check out the Horowitz Centers work and determine that while it may pursue conservative political policies and legislation, it obviously is not a hate group. Conservatives are not supposed to back increased government regulation, but in an era where the Left gets to force Christian bakers out of business for living their beliefs, its time for the GOP Congress to step in and enforce fairness rules that prohibit arbitrary censorship and deplatforming of conservative media, businesses, and organizations. Otherwise, its just going to get worse. Read more about the war on conservatives at Conservative.news. Sources include: Breitbart.com Censorship.news (Natural News) In the wake of the tragic killing of Mollie Tibbetts, the left-wing has wasted no time in trying to demonize anyone who dares to utter the words illegal immigration. For many, the death of another young American woman at the hands of an illegal immigrant has been hard to process and her murder has prompted calls from the Right to buckle down on illegal immigration and tighten up the nations borders. But the Left is doing all they can to misconstrue concerns about illegal immigration. A reported aunt of Tibbetts, Billie Joe Calderwood, made a statement on Facebook which read: Please remember, Evil comes in EVERY color. Our family has been blessed to be surrounded by love, friendship and support throughout this entire ordeal by friends from all different nations and races. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Calderwoods comments have largely been interpreted as an insinuation that concerns about illegal immigration are fueled by racism and ethnic hostility toward Latino/Hispanic people, and not simply anger at an establishment thats failing to protect its people by continuing to tolerate illegal immigration. Its hard for liberals to understand that people can be concerned about illegal immigration for reasons beyond race; after all, the left-wing has routinely demonstrated that race is their most valuable card. Indeed, most Americans dont care about the race of legal immigrants entering the country through the proper (and legal) channels. Illegal immigration has put a hurt on the citizens of the United States: Isnt that enough reason to be angry and concerned? Black Lives Matter is out there, leading chaotic, riotous protests when people are killed by police officers. The group has even called for all police forces nation-wide to be dismantled, in the name of social justice. Because a relative handful of officers have killed, we must do away with all law enforcement. But for some reason, we are expected to simply continue to give illegal immigration a pass. For some reason, Americans who are against illegal immigration are denigrated by the media even though they too are standing up for what they believe needs to be done in order to protect themselves and their children. Where is the justice for Americans? The lives of U.S. citizens arent just being put at risk, they are being put on the back-burner. Were being told by our own government that American lives arent worth the effort. And now, Facebook is censoring anyone who dares to challenge the left-wings race-baiting narrative. Bill Gheen, founder of Americans for Legal Immigration PAC (ALIPAC) had his response to Calderwoods statement censored by Facebook tyrants. Gheen reportedly stated: Facebook has reportedly apologized for censoring Gheens post, noting that his commentary did not in fact breach their community standards. As of noon-time on Aug. 24, ALIPAC reports that Gheens post still has not been restored even though Facebook promised the content would be returned online. In a statement, Gheen said, We are so thankful The Washington Times and Breitbart News were able to get a response from Facebook and that Facebook apologized for the wrongful ban and branding of our comments as Hate Speech, yet we are puzzled they have not restored the comment as promised. Also, our hearts go out to all of the Americans out there being wrongfully censored by Facebook who do not have the means to get their story out. Facebook needs to end all censorship and suppression of our treasured free speech rights in America immediately as there is a clear pattern of bias and abuse against conservatives, Christians, and Republicans who do not share the far left values of the vast majority of Silicon Valley tech workers, he continued. Sources for this article include: Breitbart.com ALIPAC.us (Natural News) A flashback from before the 2016 presidential election reveals that our nations military was not looking forward to potentially having to serve under a President Hillary Clinton. Thankfully she lost; but before she did, a former Navy Seal by the name of Tej Gill did his part to help ensure that the Clinton Family Crime Cartel was not allowed to once again go anywhere near the White House. During a segment that aired on Fox News at the time, a video clip of which is available at Brighteon.com, Gill, a former Navy Seal who was mentored by Tyrone Woods and who room-mated with CIA contractor Glen Doherty in Afghanistan both Woods and Doherty were murdered during the infamous Benghazi scandal talked about his Hillary Clinton killed my friends initiative. Woods and Doherty were close friends of Gills, and hes fully convinced that Hillary Clinton was responsible for their deaths. Thats why he started Project War Path, a 100 percent combat veteran owned and operated company that sells Black Rifle Coffee, as well as t-shirts and bumper stickers that bear the phrase, Hillary Clinton killed my friends. Be sure to check out ProjectWarPath.com and lend your support by purchasing some of their coffee or other merchandise. Gill explains how then-Secretary of State Clinton should have provided better security at the consulate where the terrorist raid occurred, resulting in the deaths of four brave American patriots, including both Woods and Doherty. The consulate was ultimately her responsibility, and the security at the consulate was poor at best, Gill stated during the interview on the Fox & Friends program. The terrorists literally pushed the gate in, opened it, and walked in. The security there was local security. They werent trained, they werent vetted, they didnt have American supervisors. They just threw down their guns and walked away when the attacks started. So my friends down the street at the CIA annex, they had to rescue the State Department folks ,and they lost their lives that night when they were in the fight of their life. Most people seem to agree: Hillary Clinton is an anti-American criminal who betrayed our servicemen in Benghazi and heartlessly left them for dead When questioned as to the perceivably controversial nature of these t-shirts and bumper stickers, Gill explained that everyone hes heard from has given positive feedback. Contrary to the medias claims that hordes of Americans support Hillary Clinton, it appears that the vast majority of America cant stand her, and fully agrees that she left our servicemen out on the lurch to die because of her corruption and evil. Weve had nothing but positive feedback inside and outside of the Seal community, Gill stated. Everywhere we go, everyone that wears them we get nothing but positive feedback, thumbs up, great t-shirt, you know, did you serve? Where can I get one. People love them. Gill also revealed that the military had a very negative view of Clinton going into the election. Almost nobody wanted to serve underneath her in the event that she was able to hijack the election as planned. Its now clear that America at large didnt want her, either, and that the Republic really dodged a bullet by averting another horrendous Clinton presidency. They dont want to do it, but you know they will, Gill responded when asked about how the Navy Seals planned to respond in the event that Clinton was installed into the presidency. Be sure to watch the interview between Tej Gill and Fox & Friends at Brighteon.com. You can also keep up with the latest liberal whining, bellyaching, and rage over the Trump presidency by visiting LiberalMob.com. Sources for this article include: Brighteon.com NaturalNewsBlogs.com (Natural News) NASA has recently released the latest versions of its plans to stop an asteroid impact, reports an article in Space. Among other updates, the U.S. space agency said it would use unmanned spacecraft for its asteroid deflection mission. The National Near-Earth Object Preparedness Strategy and Action Plan covered what NASA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will do over the next decade. The space agency will detect incoming asteroids and deflect them away, while the federal agency is in charge of preparing the U.S. to handle the aftermath. While the chances of an asteroid impact are low, the consequences are very dire. FEMA official Leviticus Lewis said that the U.S. needed to be prepared for all possibilities. NASA planetary defense officer Lindley Johnson said that NASA is improving its ability to find dangerous asteroids and predict the chance of an impact threat. It is also analyzing the potential effects of an impact event on Earth so that federal and state agencies will know what to expect. Johnson added that the future asteroid deflection spacecraft would be fully automated. Human astronauts are, in fact, not needed to save the Earth. (Related: Ancient stone carvings depict a massive comet strike 13,000 years ago that nearly made humans extinct.) NASA is working to achieve the five goals of its asteroid deflection plan The new plan encompassed five objectives. The first goal is a NASA-led effort to improve the ability of the U.S. to spot, follow, and identify near-Earth asteroids. Many observatories and projects are dedicated to surveying the skies for asteroids and other near-Earth objects. NASA will look for additional partners in existing and future programs. NASAs second objective is to ensure relevant U.S. agencies can easily access asteroid impact modeling, prediction, and information. FEMA and other emergency management teams will have the knowledge they need to prepare for and respond to an asteroid impact. The third step for NASA is to devise a way to deflect an incoming asteroid. The agency will need technologies that can be launched very quickly, approach near-Earth objects, and redirect the inbound asteroid so that it will no longer threaten Earth. NASA is working on its Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), an unmanned space probe that will ram an asteroid at high speed. Slated for launch in 2021, the spacecraft will demonstrate the effectiveness of the kinetic impact technique on the near-Earth asteroid Didymos. The fourth goal is to collaborate with other nations. NASAs Planetary Defense Coordination Office has already partnered with its United Nations counterpart, the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. Last but not least, the U.S. government would develop an emergency plan in case a near-Earth asteroid was either spotted early or struck the planet without warning. NASA and FEMA have developed emergency procedures that covered asteroid impact events. FEMA will notify everyone in the expected area of effect through the existing emergency-alert system that lets the public know about child abduction and weather emergencies. The agency will also dispatch emergency responders and provide assistance. There are more than 24,000 near-Earth asteroids that can devastate cities or even states Astronomers have identified more than 8,000 near-Earth objects that are big enough to destroy entire states. There are at least twice as many smaller asteroids that can do significant damage to smaller regions. One such smaller space rock exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia in 2013. The meteor was the length of a bowling lane. It damaged buildings that were 58 miles (93 kilometers) away and hurt more than 1,200 people. Having located the majority of the large asteroids, NASA is now looking for the smaller space rocks to prevent a repeat of the Chelyabinsk meteor. Want to know more about NASAs plans to stop any asteroids headed our way? Visit Space.news. Sources include: Space.com WhiteHouse.gov [PDF] NASA.gov (Natural News) Its already one of Washingtons most poorly-kept secrets: Fired FBI Director James Comey and special counsel Robert Mueller are best of friends who have both swam for decades in the fetid D.C. swamp, mirroring each others careers and even both serving as head of the bureau. But what is far less known is the amount of money both of them have made thanks to leveraging their government positions for high payola, even as they work feverishly to take down a duly-elected president neither of them believes has a right to sit in the Oval Office. In an interview with Sean Hannity published by Breitbart, Seamus Bruner, a researcher with the Government Accountability Institute (GAI) and author of the book, Compromised: How Money and Politics Drive FBI Corruption, said that both men have managed to earn big bucks providing access to the power elite in the nations capital. Bruner, who joined GAI president and Breitbart senior editor-at-large Peter Schweizer in the Hannity interview, said, This is a familiar story [about] the revolving door; turning public service into self-service. We followed the money. We followed it to the top, and we found that these choir boys or Boy Scouts as the media likes to depict them James Comey and Robert Mueller, theyre really no better than anyone else in the swamp. They use their public service [and] their contacts and they cash in through the revolving door. As one example, Bruner talked about Comeys hiring by Lockheed Martin in 2005, to be general counsel for the biggest defense contractor in the U.S. But for all of his career up to that point, Comey had been working mostly as a U.S. attorney and a deputy attorney general (in the Bush administration) before eventually being named the FBI director. Bruner notes that none of his prior experience qualified him to be an attorney for a major defense contractor one that does a lot of business with the federal government. The tag team Comey wasnt just consulting Lockheed Martin, Bruner said, he was their general counsel and senior vice president at the corporation, which begs the question, why would you choose a young (44 at the time) James Comey? Hes got no corporate experience of that kind. (Related: As Mueller continues to round up current and former Trump associates, the very basis of his appointment is now known to be fraudulent.) He pointed to a 2012 Huffington Post article that discussed the Next Generation identification, which was a proposed biometric database and facial recognition system the FBI commissioned Lockheed Martin to develop. It was a billion-dollar boondoggle, and Comey signed off on it as an executive with the firm, which was then authorized by Mueller. James Comey and Robert Mueller have this long history together going back to the nineties at the DoJ, said Bruner. The biometric ID program was part of a larger effort by the tag team of Comey and Mueller to broaden the governments surveillance powers and tear down constitutional privacy protections, giving the intelligence community the kind of access to the general public that the government had in George Orwells 1984, Bruner noted. They both have sought to tear down the wall, so to speak, between intelligence agencies, and [they] had issues with the going dark problem, where they didnt have enough information, he said. Schweizer noted that what Seamus shows here is that when Mueller was in the private sector and Comey was working in government, there seem to be contracts and resources that flow in that direction as well. The tag team arrangement make it clear that there is collusion between both that has corrupted the Justice Department, the bureau, and elements of the intelligence community all of which were mobilized in the service of undermining POTUS Trumps 2016 campaign and his presidency since. Democrats are in on it and there arent enough pro-Trump Republicans who care enough to rage against the machine with the president. Maybe after the November elections, there will be. Read more about the D.C. swamp corruption at Corruption.news. Sources include: TheNationalSentinel.com Breitbart.com Two juveniles were arrested in Santa Clara early Sunday morning after leading authorities on a chase in a stolen car, according to police. The pursuit started at roughly 3:30 a.m. near Gold and Lafayette streets, according to police. Officers spotted the previously reported stolen Honda Accord and attempted to make the driver stop, but he did not pull over. The driver of the Honda eventually lost control in the area of Scott Boulevard and Homestead Road, drove off the roadway, smashed through a fence and slammed into a tree, police said. Both the driver and a male passenger were arrested, according to police. The driver suffered a broken leg and was transported to the hospital. The passenger was booked into juvenile hall. The driver is charged with grand theft auto and evading police, police stated. The passenger is charged with possession of stolen property. John McCain, the longtime senator and 2008 GOP presidential nominee who refused to leave fellow prisoners of war behind to escape years of torture in Vietnam, and whose maverick streak as Arizonas senior statesman at times frustrated fellow Republicans and confounded President Donald Trump, has died, his family confirmed in a statement Saturday. He was 81 and had been diagnosed with brain cancer in July 2017. His wife of 38 years, Cindy McCain, said the senator "passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved best." His daughter Meghan McCain said of her father: "He was a great fire who burned bright, and we lives in his light and warmth for so very long. We know that his flame lives on, in each of us." McCain had decided to discontinue medical treatment for the glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, his family announced on Aug. 24. He had surpassed expectations for his survival, but "the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict," the statement said. McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee who was in his sixth term representing Arizona, had a reputation for sticking to his convictions even if it meant disagreeing with his fellow Republicans. He was a fierce critic of President Donald Trump, who in turn repeatedly insulted the ailing senator. McCain's brain tumor was discovered last year after he underwent surgery to remove a blood clot. He recovered quickly from the surgery and in late July entered the Senate to a standing ovation. On the Senate floor, he said that his service there had been the most important job he had held. "And I am so grateful to the people of Arizona for the privilege for the honor of serving here and the opportunities it gives me to play a small role in the history of the country I love," he said. In one of his most dramatic final votes, he gave a deciding thumbs-down to the GOP's last attempt to overturn "Obamacare," the health-care law approved under President Barack Obama. The early-morning vote earned McCain praise from Democrats and Trump's fury. But he stuck with his party on the contentious GOP-backed tax reform bill in December though he was too ill to return to Washington for the final vote. His disputes with Trump became especially nasty, and his allies had told the White House that the president was not welcome at McCain's funeral. That antipathy was on display in August when the president failed to mention McCain as he signed a defense bill intended to honor the senator. "My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!" Trump tweeted Saturday night. After his cancer diagnosis, McCain spent a good deal of his time at his Arizona ranch, where he underwent physical therapy and received visitors, including his daughter, "The View" co-host Meghan McCain, and former Vice President Joe Biden, whose son Beau Biden died in 2015 after being diagnosed with the same brain cancer. Among those who paid tribute to McCain were former presidents, fellow lawmakers and world leaders. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said "the nation mourns the loss of a great American patriot" and called it "an understatement to say the Senate will not be the same" without him. "In an era filled with cynicism about national unity and public service, John McCain's live shone as a bright example," McConnell said. "He showed us that boundless patriotism and self-sacrifice are not outdated concepts or cliches, but the building blocks of an extraordinary life." McCain announced in a book excerpt released at the start of May that cancer forced him to acknowledge he would not be running for re-election. John Sidney McCain III was born on Aug. 29, 1936, in the Panama Canal Zone to John Sidney and Roberta McCain. The son and grandson of Navy admirals and a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he served in the U.S. Navy until 1981, when he retired with the rank of captain. He was elected to the House of Representatives from Arizona in 1982 and to the Senate in 1986. During the Vietnam War, after his Navy bomber was shot down in 1967, he was held as a prisoner of war by the North Vietnamese for five and a half years. In 1968, after McCain's father had been named the commander of the U.S. forces in the Pacific, he was offered an early release but refused until those who had been at the prison longer than he were let go. In 2000, he campaigned for the Republican presidential nomination in a bus he called the "Straight Talk Express," to capitalize on his reputation for independence. During the South Carolina primary, he and his family endured perhaps the ugliest incident of the race: a phony poll that was actually designed to spread the false story that he had fathered a black child during an affair. In fact, the McCains' daughter Bridget was adopted from an orphanage in Bangladesh. Other rumors pegged McCain as a traitor in Vietnam and his wife, Cindy, as a drug addict. (Cindy McCain has said she became addicted to Vicodin and Percocet in 1989 after back surgery for ruptured disks.) The campaign of George W. Bush, his opponent and the ultimate winner, denied it was responsible. McCain was the Republican nominee for president in 2008, running with then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. She seemed a popular choice at first, but as time went on, opinions about her turned negative. At a campaign meeting in Minnesota, McCain famously told a woman who said she could not trust Obama because he was an Arab that the then-Illinois senator was a decent family man and a citizen. Trump, while campaigning in 2015, belittled McCain by saying he was not a war hero. "He's a war hero because he was captured," Trump said. "I like people who weren't captured." Politicians from both parties quickly rallied around McCain. The week before McCain had said Trump had "fired up the crazies" in the Republican party with his inflammatory talk about illegal immigration from Mexico. When McCains family announced his decision to stop treatment, Meghan McCain thanked everyone for the love and generosity shown to the family over the last year, and wrote, We could not have made it this far without you youve given strength to carry on. Cindy McCain tweeted, "I love my husband with all of my heart. God bless everyone who has cared for my husband along this journey." John McCain's marriage to his first wife, Carol, ended in divorce. He is survived by another daughter, Sidney, and sons John Sidney McCain IV, or Jack, and Jimmy McCain. While he was married to Carol McCain, he adopted her two sons from an earlier marriage, Doug and Andy. There was no link, however, between current alcohol consumption and tumour grade. Among men getting a prostate biopsy, those with a history of consuming seven or more drinks a week are more likely than nondrinkers to be diagnosed with an aggressive tumor, a small study suggests. Researchers found a three-fold increased risk of having a high-grade tumor in these men, no matter whether the heavy drinking occurred in youth - ages 15 to 19 - or in later decades, according to the results published in Cancer Prevention Research. There was no link, however, between current alcohol consumption and tumor grade. The original intent of the study was to look at the youngest age group, thinking that alcohol might have a deleterious effect on the developing prostate, said the studys senior author, Emma Allott, who oversaw the research while a faculty member at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. We initially set out to look at the teenage years but we also saw an elevated risk in many of the decades up to midlife, said Allott, who is now a lecturer at Queens University, Belfast. This highlights the need to look throughout the lifespan if you want to understand whether alcohol has any role in the development or the aggressiveness of prostate cancer. Allott isnt ready to tell men to quit drinking. There needs to be more research backing up her study before any kind of recommendation is made, she said. Still, there are other reasons to scale back, she said, mainly in light of recommendations regarding alcohol and other cancers. Allott and her colleagues analyzed data gathered from 650 men who were undergoing a prostate biopsy at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center in North Carolina between January 2007 and January 2018. The veterans in the study, whose ages ranged from 49 to 89, had no prior history of prostate cancer. The study population was unusually diverse: 54 percent of the participants were non-white. Thats important, experts said, because this cancer hits African Americans harder than whites. Coupled with the information from the biopsies of the mens tumors was data on alcohol consumption and other medical and lifestyle factors that came from questionnaires the men filled out. The researchers also looked at lifetime alcohol exposure and found a more than three-fold increased risk of a high-grade tumor in men who consumed more than 10,660 drinks - which works out to about one drink a day for 30 years. One potentially confounding factor is that many of the men with high grade tumors also smoked. There has been some research showing that smoking is associated with high tumor grade, Allott said. Because alcohol and smoking are two behaviors that go hand in hand, its difficult to tease out the potential effects of alcohol from smoking, she added. Experts agreed that this one study isnt enough to suggest new recommendations regarding alcohol consumption. If I am a sober person who drank heavily in my youth, I wouldnt worry too much, said Dr. Christopher Saigal of the University of California, Los Angeles Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, who wasnt involved in the research. The study has limitations. For one thing, its an association (rather than proof of cause). Also, they didnt find that alcohol raised the risk of prostate cancer, but instead, that a subset of men might be at risk for high-grade disease. The study wasnt large enough for the researchers to be able to tell whether mens drinking styles - whether consuming a drink or two each day or bingeing on the weekends - had an impact, noted Dr. Anne McTiernan of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington. But it gives a hint at the high relative risks of alcohol exposure, said McTiernan, who wasnt involved in the study. The bottom line, I would say, is that you should minimize alcohol intake just as we do with many other cancers. Most organizations say that for men you should have no more than two drinks a day. If youre concerned about cancer risk, maybe that should be even lower. There are plenty of other reasons young men shouldnt be drinking on a daily basis, said Dr. Leonard Appleman of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pennsylvania. But this is another example of chronic alcohol consumptions long-term impact in many areas. The fact that current drinking wasnt associated with high grade tumors, fits in with what we know about prostate cancer. Its decades in the making. The mutations start in early adulthood and build up over the decades. Senator John McCain made several stops through New Hampshire during his two presidential campaigns, chatting with voters at diners and rallies, before twice sailing to primary victories in the fiercely independent state. The Arizona senator, people said, used to refer to New Hampshire as his second favorite state, second only to his home state. Being able to say that I was one of the people who got to stand with John McCain is really a privilege, said Jennifer Horn, the former chairwoman of the New Hampshire Republican Party. He was something that America needs today, and that I think were quickly losing, and that makes me sad. He has the whole picture of a politician, said state Senator Chuck Morse. He didnt spend all his time talking about taxes or social issues. He just wanted to talk to me about me. McCains Senate colleagues have also paid tribute to the late senator. Senator Jeanne Shaheen wrote on Twitter, saying in part: Im heartbroken by the passing of my friend and colleague, Senator John McCain. Senator Maggie Hassan also wrote on Twitter, saying in part: From his service in the Navy to his years in Congress, John always fought for our country with honor and distinction. New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu also released a statement on Twitter, calling McCain an American hero and honorary Granite Stater. After the death of 2008 presidential candidate and United States Senator John McCain Saturday, the man who defeated him in the race for the Oval Office released a statement mourning his passing. Former President Barack Obama, who defeated McCain in the 2008 election, issued a statement Saturday night praising McCain for viewing public service as a "patriotic obligation:" "John McCain and i were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds, and competed at the highest level of politics. But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher-the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed. We saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world. We saw this country as a place where anything is possible - and citizenship as our patriotic obligation to ensure it forever remains that way. "Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At John's best, he showed us what that means. And for that, we are all in his debt. Michelle and I send our heartfelt condolences to Cindy and their family." Illinois, Indiana Politicians Mourn Loss of Sen. John McCain McCain passed away Saturday at the age of 81 after a year-long battle with brain cancer. The North Texas school district that cited its dress code as the reason a student fighting terminal brain cancer could not wear her turquoise wig to school walked back its ruling Sunday. McKinney ISD announced it will make an exception to its dress code and allow 17-year-old Kate Pepper to wear the colored wig to school, according to a district spokesperson. Also on Sunday, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) wrote on Facebook that he would ask the school district to make an exception to its dress code for Pepper. "I am a strong supporter of clear rules for school discipline for Texas students," Patrick wrote. "But there are certain extraordinary circumstances that should create an exception to any rule and this is one of those times." McKinney ISD said it came to its decision prior to Patrick's Facebook post. "This week in school has been a little bit difficult for me," Pepper told NBC 5 Friday, as she recorded her latest YouTube video in her room of her McKinney home. The difficult week, her first as a senior at McKinney High School, punctuated Pepper's years-long battle with anaplastic astrocytoma, a form of brain cancer. She was first diagnosed in 2014. She beat it then, but said she was diagnosed again two months ago. "I was feeling bad, but I wasn't expecting it to be brain cancer again," she said. The week before school started, Pepper began to lose her hair from chemotherapy and radiation. Still, she refused to let the change strip away her self-esteem. "I found this wig," she said, her face lighting up. "I got super excited when I put it on. I felt awesome. I feel awesome right now." But on Pepper's first day back, she said she was told by school administrators that her wig violated the dress code, which states that "non-natural colored hair that is considered to be disruptive (green, blue, purple, orange, etc.) is not permitted." "I honestly just wanted to cry," Pepper said. Her mom, Tyliece Pepper, said she wrote a letter to the principal and superintendent and asked them to reconsider. She received a reply letting her know the district is "not able to grant the ability to wear a wig with turquoise in it." A school staff member gave her daughter $65 cash to buy a new wig. But Kate Pepper said she didn't want to try new options on. A spokesperson for McKinney ISD defended the district's actions at the time in a statement, saying it "will continue to work with the family to reach a positive resolution. "While our hearts go out to these families we must also remain consistent in our implementation of the student handbook, including the student dress code," the statement read. "The district has provided funds from a private donor to cover the cost of a new wig that meets dress code, and will continue to work with the family to reach a positive resolution. But to Kate Pepper, there was only one way to resolve the conflict. She wanted to continue to wear the turquoise wig. "It's really not about the money, It's about the principle of you letting her wear the wig," Tyliece Pepper said. "She's fighting for her life. Why do we have to fight for this?" Click here to read the Districts student dress code policy or you can read it below. DV.load("https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4783759-Student-Dress-Code.js", { responsive: true, container: "#DV-viewer-4783759-Student-Dress-Code" }); Student Dress Code (PDF) A man has died after he crashed into a parked car in Southington on Saturday afternoon. Police said 75-year-old Arthur Kelly, of Southington, was driving a 1941 Willys Model 441 south on North Main Street when he collided with a parked car around 4:38 p.m. Kelly was ejected from the vehicle and sustained serious injuries, according to officers. He was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Southington Police are investigating the incident. If you witnessed the crash, you're asked to call Officer Norton at (860) 378-1600 ext. 2386. LifeStar responded to a 2-car crash on Route 80 in Killingworth on Saturday morning. Officials said LifeStar was called to 381 CT-80, which is near Chatfield Hollow State Park. According to State Police, vehicles that were heading east started to slow to allow a car to turn onto a side road, when the last vehicle in the line, a Jeep, swerved to the left, crossed the center line and hit a vehicle that was heading west. The driver of the vehicle that was heading west was transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital by LifeStar. Police said he had a pulse and was breathing when he was transported. The two people in the Jeep were not injured. The road was closed while police investigated, but it has since reopened. Hartford Police have arrested a man who they say admitted to stealing items from a home on Saturday. Officers were called to a home on Harbison Avenue after getting a report of a burglary in progress. The caller told police that he saw a man on a security camera attempting to break in to the back of his house. While officers were heading to the scene, police said they found the man, later identified as 27-year-old Yamill Lopez, of Hartford, walking on Zion Street, carrying a chainsaw and a bag of tools. Officers said Lopez freely admitted that he had broken into the rear porch of the home and stole the items. He is facing charges including burglary, criminal mischief and larceny for the incident. Hartford Police also had a warrant for Lopez for failure to appear and criminal trespass. Police in Norwich are investigating alleged sexual assaults involving a former Norwich Free Academy employee and a student or students who attended the school. According to police, their investigation into the alleged sexual assaults began in June of this year. Norwich Free Academy released a statement about the investigation on Saturday night. "There is an ongoing police investigation at Norwich Free Academy into a former employees alleged inappropriate conduct. NFA has terminated its relationship with the subject of the investigation. The individual is no longer affiliated with NFA in any capacity. We have fully cooperated with the Norwich Police Department in connection with this matter and will continue to do so. Every day, student safety and well-being are our highest priority," said David J. Klein, Head of School. Officers said they are not releasing the name of the employee while they continue their investigation. Detectives are investigating the facts surrounding the allegations and how the information was discovered and reported. What to Know Mecca is the holiest city in the religion of Islam Every year, millions of Muslims make the trip to Mecca in the hajj pilgrimage More than 2 million Muslims began the annual hajj pilgrimage at first light on Sunday in Saudi Arabia, circling the cube-shaped Kaaba in Mecca that Islam's faithful face five times each day during their prayers. The five-day hajj pilgrimage represents one of the world's biggest gatherings every year, and is required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their life. The hajj offers pilgrims an opportunity to feel closer to God amid the Muslim world's many challenges, including the threat of violence and extremists in the Mideast and the plight of Myanmar's Muslim Rohingya minority. "We are very blessed by Allah to be in this place, and we pray to Allah to make the Islamic nations from the West to the East in a better situation," said Essam-Eddin Afifi, a pilgrim from Egypt. "We pray for the Islamic nations to overcome their enemies." Muslims believe the hajj retraces the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad, as well as those of the prophets Ibrahim and Ismail Abraham and Ishmael in the Bible. Muslims believe God stayed the hand of Ibrahim after commanding him to sacrifice his son, Ismail. In the Christian and Jewish version of the story, Abraham is ordered to kill his other son, Isaac. The Kaaba represents the metaphorical house of God and the oneness of God. Muslims circle the Kaaba counter-clockwise seven times while reciting supplications to God, then walk between the two hills traveled by Hagar, Ibrahim's wife. Mecca's Grand Mosque, the world's largest, encompasses the Kaaba and the two hills. Before heading to Mecca, many pilgrims visit the city of Medina, where the Prophet Muhammad is buried and where he built his first mosque. After prayers in Mecca, pilgrims will head to an area called Mount Arafat on Monday, where the Prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon. From there, pilgrims will head to an area called Muzdalifa, picking up pebbles along the way for a symbolic stoning of the devil and a casting away of sins that takes place in the Mina valley for three days. At the hajj's end, male pilgrims will shave their hair and women will cut a lock of hair in a sign of renewal for completing the pilgrimage. Around the world, Muslims will mark the end of hajj with a celebration called Eid al-Adha. The holiday, remembering Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son, sees Muslims slaughter sheep and cattle, distributing the meat to the poor. Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki, the spokesman of the Saudi Interior Ministry, told journalists Saturday that over 2 million Muslims from abroad and inside the kingdom would be taking part in this year's hajj. Saudi Arabia's ruling Al Saud family stakes its legitimacy in part on its management of the holiest sites in Islam. King Salman's official title is the "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques," at Mecca and Medina. Other Saudi kings, and the Ottoman rulers of the Hijaz region before them, all have adopted the honorary title The kingdom has spent billions of dollars of its vast oil revenues on security and safety measures, particularly in Mina, where some of the hajj's deadliest incidents have occurred. The worst in recorded history took place only three years ago. On Sept. 24, 2015, a stampede and crush of pilgrims in Mina killed at least 2,426 people, according to an Associated Press count. The official Saudi toll of 769 people killed and 934 injured has not changed since only two days afterward. The kingdom has never addressed the discrepancy, nor has it released any results of an investigation authorities promised to conduct over the disaster. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia also faces threats from al-Qaida militants and a local faction of the Islamic State group. Days earlier, the Interior Ministry acknowledged arresting a Saudi wearing an explosive vest in the kingdom's central al-Qassim region who shot at security forces. Meanwhile, a Saudi-led war in Yemen against Shiite rebels drags on without an end in sight. The rebels have fired over 150 ballistic missiles on the kingdom during a conflict that has seen Saudi airstrikes hit markets and hospitals, killing civilians. Two people are dead following a collision between a TRE train and a dump truck in Far East Fort Worth Saturday afternoon. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office website revealed both victims' names as 50-year-old Charlene Alexander and 49-year-old Arnell Tolliver. The crash took place at a crossing along Calloway Cemetery Road, along a thin section of Fort Worth that runs between the Arlington and Euless borders. "I was just holding on tight worried it was going to come off the rails," said train passenger Aaron Gillespie. Gillespie said he was on the train's second level. He quickly went down to the first when he thought the train might catch fire. That's where he realized the true damage. "There were people on the floor, people with glass cuts. The truck knocked the windows and the frame of the window in. There was one guy seriously injured," Gillespie said. Arlington police confirmed two people inside the truck were killed in the crash. Medstar said it transported 11 patients to area hospitals, two of them in critical condition. Thirty others were released after being checked out at a nearby parking lot, according to DART. DART said witnesses told authorities they saw the railroad crossings arm lowered before the dump truck drove onto the tracks. Officials said the train conductor attempted to apply the brakes before impact, but did not have enough time to stop. The train continued about one quarter of a mile down the tracks after it collided with the truck. While officials still don't know how fast the train was traveling at the point of impact, DART said the speed limit along that portion of track is 79 mph. A spokesman added that the crossing begins to signal an oncoming train 47 seconds before it arrives. "Our trains do not take more than a few seconds to get through an intersection. There is nothing -- nothing -- on the other side of that intersection that is worth risking your life," DART spokesman Morgan Lyons said. At this specific crossing, Lyons said the arms are designed to be easy to get through. "Those arms are actually designed so that you can drive under them. The reason for that is so that if you get there at the wrong time, you can actually get out. You're not locked in," Lyons said. Police said their investigation into the crash is ongoing. DART said the crash is affecting TRE operations between the Centerport and Bell stations. A shuttle bus will help passengers get between the two stations for the time being. The pattern of breaking up and getting back together can be harmful for an individual's mental health. Washington: Did you know that on-off relationships can be toxic for your mental health? Such relationships are associated with higher rates of abuse, poorer communication and lower levels of commitment, a new study reveals. There are characters like Sam and Diane from 'Cheers', Ross and Rachel from 'Friends', and Carrie and Mr. Big from 'Sex and the City', which were a part of on-off relationships, keeping us entertained. However, a researcher from the University of Missouri, Columbia says that the pattern of breaking up and getting back together can be harmful for an individual's mental health. He suggests that people in these kinds of relationships should make informed decisions about stabilizing or safely terminating their relationships. Prior research has estimated that more than 60% of adults have been involved in on-off relationships, and more than one - third of cohabiting couples reported breaking up and later reconciling at some point. Compared to relationships without this pattern, on-off relationships are associated with higher rates of abuse and communication gap. "Breaking up and getting back together is not always a bad omen for a couple. In fact, for some couples, breaking up can help partners realize the importance of their relationship, contributing to healthier, more committed unions. On the other hand, partners who are routinely breaking up and getting back together could be negatively impacted by the pattern," said Kale Monk, assistant professor of human development and family science. Monk and co-authors Brian Ogolsky and Ramona Oswald examined data from more than 500 individuals currently in relationships. They found that an increase in breaking up and reuniting was associated with more psychological distress symptoms such as depression and anxiety. They did not find meaningful differences between same-sex and heterosexual relationships in this pattern. Partners break up and reunite for a number of reasons; a common one is necessity or practicality. For example, a person might stay in a relationship for financial reasons or partners might stay together because they feel they have invested too much time into the relationship to leave. However, Monk advises that former partners should get back together based on dedication, and not on obligation. Monk suggested a few tips for couples that included, when considering rekindling a relationship that ended or avoiding future breakups, partners should think about the reasons that led to the break up to determine if there are persistent issues impacting the relationship. Another step they can take is to have explicit conversations about issues that led to the break-up, especially if the issues will likely reoccur. If there was ever violence in the relationship, however, or if having a conversation about relationship issues can lead to safety concerns, consider seeking support-services when it is safe to do so. One can also spend time thinking about the reasons why reconciliation might be an option. Is the reason rooted in commitment and positive feelings, or more about obligations and convenience? The latter reasons are more likely to lead down a path of continual distress. Another point to take into consideration is that it is okay to end a toxic relationship. For example, if your relationship is beyond repair, do not feel guilty leaving for your mental well-being. Couple therapy or relationship counseling can also be of help. Even happy dating and married couples can benefit from 'relationship check-ups' in order to strengthen the connection between partners and have additional support in approaching relationship transitions. The findings appeared in the journal of Family Relations. A Texas man who is accused of shooting at female drivers told authorities he did it in self-defense because women are incompetent drivers. Harris County officials arrested Nicholas Martin D'Agostino, 29, after two women were shot through the windows of their cars as they drove around Katy. D'Agostino told a judge that they had swerved at him and that he shot to stop the threats. D'Agostino confessed to shooting at a total of six female drivers, according to court documents. Read more from our media partner The Dallas Morning News. Ryan Michael Willis was one of two men who died in a small plane crash in Descanso overnight Wednesday. Willis, who was flying with 15-year-veteran pilot David Alan Derby, 77, was a pilot himself, as well as a commercial diver, but of all the hats Ryan Willis wore, nothing was more important to him than being a husband and a father, his wife, Krista, said in a statement. Willis was 36 years old and had a two-year-old son, Hank. Krista Willis also called her husband an adventure enthusiast, traveler, loyal friend, dedicated son, [and] humble talent. The plane left from Gillespie Field in El Cajon on Wednesday but did not return that evening as expected. Hours after the plane failed to return, a plane making a steep descent was spotted via radar by the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. Words cannot express the amount of heartache and grief felt, she added. The family is asking all donations be directed to their Go Fund Me page to support his wife and son. After two years of sometimes ugly public fighting, Democratic Party leaders on Saturday voted to limit their own high-profile roles in choosing presidential nominees, giving even more weight to the outcome of state primaries and caucuses. The debate over the influence of party insiders known as superdelegates was evidence of the fallout from the 2016 fight between eventual nominee Hillary Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. His supporters accused the national party of tipping the scales in Clinton's favor. The change, which affects the hundreds of Democratic National Committee members, elected officials and party elders who attend presidential conventions as automatic delegates, was seen as a victory for the party chairman, Tom Perez. It comes with the November election nearing, when GOP control of Congress is at stake, and a potentially bruising nominating battle shaping up for 2020, when President Donald Trump is up for re-election. "We should never ever confuse unity and unanimity," Perez said after the vote. "Today, demonstrated the values of the Democratic Party." Under the new rules for 2020, superdelegates still will be automatic delegates to the party's convention. But they will not have a vote on the first presidential ballot if the convention remains contested, which is a distinct possibility given the number of Democrats considering running. Superdelegates would get to vote on any subsequent rounds of voting, though the Democratic nomination has been settled on the first ballot of every convention since the 1970s, when the modern system of primaries and caucuses was established. The change was approved by acclamation. The key procedural vote before that showed the overhaul had 329.5 "yes" votes to 106.5 votes in opposition. The approval drew a standing ovation from progressive activists, many of them among the Sanders supporters who had cited superdelegates as the personification of establishment favoritism toward Clinton. "This is a great day for America and for the party," said Jeff Weaver, Sanders' 2016 campaign manager. "When you have a system subject to gaming, there is incentive to game it. To the extent the system can't be gamed, you have more credibility with voters." In a written statement, Sanders called the move "an important step forward in making the Democratic Party more open, democratic and responsive to the input of ordinary Americans." Perez said settling the issue means the party can focus exclusively on the November election, when Democrats are aiming to reclaim majorities on Capitol Hill and regain power in statehouses around the country. "We're here to win elections. We're here to restore our democracy as we know it," Perez said, and "we're going to kick butt in 73 days." Beyond changing the rules for superdelegates, the overhaul is intended to make vote-counting at presidential preference caucuses more transparent and make it easier for voters other than longtime registered Democrats to participate in caucuses and primaries. That could affect states such as Iowa, which might have to develop paper ballots for caucus sites instead of its usual method of sorting into groups and counting heads. New York, meanwhile, would be pressured to relax its party registration deadline, which in 2016 fell six months before the primary, leaving many independents who wanted to back Sanders no option to vote. But it was the superdelegate matter that met fierce opposition from some party leaders, including two former national heads, Donna Brazile and Don Fowler, both longtime allies of Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton. Fowler, Brazile and other opponents cast the efforts as punishing rank-and-file party leaders incorrectly perceived as party bosses trying to override the will of voters. Even Perez noted that superdelegates have never overturned the cumulative results of primaries and caucuses. In 2016, for example, Clinton got almost 4 million more primary and caucus votes than Sanders, giving her a clear lead in pledged delegates heading into the Philadelphia convention. Still, many superdelegates had declared their loyalty early in the process even before primary season began allowing Clinton to claim the mantle of a prohibitive favorite. Christine Pelosi, a DNC member from California who backed Clinton but supports scrapping superdelegates, recalled media coverage of Sanders' big victory in the New Hampshire primary being colored by Clinton having unpledged delegate support in the state. "Sanders went to bed ahead, and he woke up effectively tied" in the delegate count, Pelosi said. "That's not a 'perception.' That's a reality." What to Know Event organizers say models will walk on a catwalk sporting "provocative wear" such as helmets and bulletproof vests. The event is intended to call attention to gun violence. The parents of one of the 17 people slain at the Parkland, Florida school shooting will join gun-control advocates and a city councilor at an event in Boston designed to call attention to gun violence. Organizers say the event will be held at City Hall Plaza on Monday. They're calling it a "Back to School Fashion Show" and say models will walk on a catwalk sporting "provocative wear" such as helmets and bulletproof vests. Among those attending are Manuel and Patricia Oliver, whose son Joaquin was killed in the February shooting in Parkland. Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley, who's challenging U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano, is also expected to attend. The Olivers also joined advocates who were marching across Massachusetts this week in support of stricter gun laws. Nearly 100 pounds of cocaine has been seized from a Delaware port where it was hidden in boxes of pineapples headed to New Jersey, according to reports. A drug-sniffing dog at the Port of Wilmington led authorities to the cocaine Wednesday, according to news reports citing a U.S. Customs statement. The statement said the pineapples were from Costa Rica. The News Journal of Wilmington cited a United Nations report that says the roughly 45 kilograms of cocaine has a street value of more than $7.6 million. The News Journal reported that Wednesday's seizure comes months after federal agencies launched a surprise inspection at the port's federally bonded warehouses. Citing federal disclosure reports, the newspaper says Adderall and thousands of Xanax pills also have been seized at the port this year. What to Know A man who was accused of attacking a hiker and trying to sexually assault her has been arrested The 44-year-old victim says he put a T-shirt over her head and pulled her off a hiking path in Bridgewater An 18-year-old man from Plainfield was arrested and charged with criminal sexual contact, among other charges A man accused of pulling a hiker off a New Jersey trail and trying to sexually assault her has been arrested, officials said Saturday. Elvin Martinez, 18, of Plainfield, was charged with criminal sexual contact, criminal restraint, criminal coercion and simple assault, Somerset County prosecutors said. The victim, a 44-year-old woman from Warren Township, said she was hiking in Washington Valley Park off of Miller Lane in Bridgewater on Aug. 16. She said a man put a T-shirt over her face and head, pulled her off the trail and tried to sexually assault her, police and prosecutors said. She bit her attacker to escape and ran away, officials said. Eventually, she found another hiker who called 911. It wasn't immediately clear whether Martinez had an attorney. What to Know A new law in New Jersey will require all newly-built school buses to have lap and shoulder seat belts The measure was taken after a May crash that killed a teacher and a 10-year-old student Gov. Phil Murphy signed the bill into law on Saturday, his office said New Jersey will require new school buses to have lap and shoulder seat belts a measure taken after a May crash that killed a teacher and a 10-year-old student. Lap seat belts are already required by the state, but the law signed Saturday will require all newly built school buses to have shoulder seat belts as well a configuration known as a three-point seat belt. We will never know if a three-point belt would have saved the lives of Miranda Vargas and Jennifer Williamson, or whether they would have prevented serious injury to so many others on May 17, Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement. Every child and every educator and adult chaperone deserves our best effort to protect their safety and the best possible chance of emerging unharmed in the unfortunate event of a school bus accident, he added. New Jersey teacher Jennifer Williamson-Kennedy and 10-year-old Miranda Vargas were killed when a school bus heading to Waterloo Village on a field trip collided with a dump truck on May 17. The driver of the bus was charged with two counts of death by auto. We know that lap belts are not enough to keep kids safe in a school bus crash, Sen. Sam Thompson said in his own statement. Im glad that Governor Murphy has signed this measure into law. What to Know Public health officials in New York state are encouraging residents to protect themselves against West Nile Virus Seven human cases of the mosquito-borne illness have been discovered in New York state so far this year Three recent cases in were discovered in Nassau, Westchester and Monroe counties Public health officials in New York state are encouraging residents to protect themselves against West Nile Virus. Seven human cases of the mosquito-borne illness have been discovered in New York state so far this year, with three recent cases in Nassau, Westchester and Monroe counties. Officials at the state Health Department said Thursday that residents can prevent exposure by eliminating standing water, wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors and using repellant. Health officials say the virus was first found in New York state in 1999. Since 2000, 497 human cases have been reported in the state. While most people infected with the virus show no symptoms, others can develop fever, headache, body aches and stiffness. What to Know New York is honoring Sen. John McCain by lowering flags on all state government buildings to half-staff Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday it was a "small gesture for one of America's giants The 81-year-old McCain died Saturday at his Arizona ranch after discontinuing medical treatment for an aggressive form of brain cancer New York is honoring Sen. John McCain by lowering flags on all state government buildings to half-staff. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday it was a "small gesture for one of America's giants." New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio ordered New York City flags to fly at half-staff as well, his spokesman said. The 81-year-old McCain died Saturday at his Arizona ranch after discontinuing medical treatment for an aggressive form of brain cancer. Cuomo, a Democrat, said the tribute to McCain, a Republican, would remain until his funeral. McCain is expected to be honored in Arizona and Washington before being buried, likely this coming week, at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland. Cuomo called McCain "one of our nation's finest public servants" and an example of an old-fashioned statesman who "indisputably aimed to put country over party." The police arrested the woman after the company lodged a complaint against her in connection with the matter. Madhumanti Saha, in her 50s, has been arrested from her residence in New Alipore's P-block for allegedly spiking drinks she had offered to the two salesmen Amit Chakraborty and Somnath Mondal of a chimney company when they went to her home on Friday to receive payment for the chimney, a senior officer of Kolkata Police said. (Representational Image) Kolkata: A woman has been arrested from the New Alipore area of the city for allegedly trying to "kill" two salesmen of a kitchen-chimney company when they went to her home to receive payment for a product she had purchased a month back, police said on Saturday. Madhumanti Saha, in her 50s, has been arrested from her residence in New Alipore's P-block for allegedly spiking drinks she had offered to the two salesmen Amit Chakraborty and Somnath Mondal of a chimney company when they went to her home on Friday to receive payment for the chimney, a senior officer of Kolkata Police said. Amit Chakraborty fell unconscious after having the "spiked" drink while Somnath seeing him in that state tried to contact his seniors but was stopped by the woman, the officer said quoting the complaint of the company. "First the woman tried to snatch Somnath's phone and unleash her dog on him when he tried to contact his senior officials," the officers said. Somnath Mondal, somehow, managed to escape and went to the New Alipore Police station and then rescued Amit Chakraborty in an unconscious-state and admitted him to a nearby hospital, he said. The police arrested the woman after the company lodged a complaint against her in connection with the matter. "She had purchased a chimney last month and paid the amount through a cheque which bounced. When she was informed about the matter, she said she will be paying the amount in cash and had invited officials from the company," the Investigating officer (IO) in the case said. Asked whether, the woman tried to kill the two persons by "poisoning" them, the officer said, "We have collected evidences from the spot and sent it for forensic tests to ascertain whether poison was used in the drinks or not." What to Know Police released a sketch of the woman in two bags at Crotona Park in the Bronx The bags were found near the entrance of the park Shocked neighbors say they often visit with their children every day Police are asking for help identifying a woman whose body was found in two separate bags at Crotona Park in the Bronx, police say. The NYPD released a sketch of the woman Saturday night. Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). NYPD A parks department employee spotted the bags near the entrance to Crotona Park and told a supervisor, who called 911. It appeared the bags were placed there sometime Thursday morning, according to sources. Officers found a knife in the sewer as they canvassed the park on Saturday, but told News 4 New York it was too early to say if the weapon was connected to the remains. A nearby resident, who only gave his name as Victor, said he'd been walking his dogs when they apparently smelled it. "I didn't smell it, my dogs did," he said. "They went straight to it, both of them." Top Tri-State News Photos Two former presidents are expected to speak at Sen. John McCain's service and he will lie in state in both the nation's capital and Arizona as part of a cross-country funeral procession ending with his burial at the U.S. Naval Academy, according to plans taking shape Sunday. McCain had long feuded with President Donald Trump, and two White House officials said McCain's family had asked, before the senator's death, that Trump not attend the funeral services. Vice President Mike Pence is likely to attend, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe private discussions. A day after McCain died of brain cancer at 81, his family, friends and congressional and state leaders were working out details of the farewell to the decorated Vietnam War hero, prisoner of war and six-term senator. His office said that McCain will lie in state in the Arizona State Capitol on Wednesday. A funeral will be conducted at North Phoenix Baptist Church on Thursday with former Vice President Joe Biden speaking. The procession will then head to Washington, where McCain will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda on Friday with a formal ceremony and time for the public to pay respects. The next day, the procession will pass the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and head to a funeral at Washington National Cathedral. A private funeral is planned for Sunday at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Trump tweeted that his "deepest sympathies and respect" went out to McCain's family. First lady Melania Trump tweeted thanks to McCain for his service to the country. Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, who blocked McCain's own White House ambitions, are among those expected to speak at McCain's funeral at Washington National Cathedral. "These were bitter contests, both of them," said Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and "to ask them to speak at your funeral, and for them to be honored at the opportunity, that tells you all you need to know." Flake told CBS' "Face the Nation" that McCain "was quick to forgive certainly put the good of the country above himself, and the fact that his former opponents will be there speaking says all we need to know." McCain died at his Arizona ranch after a yearlong battle with brain cancer. A black hearse, accompanied by a police motorcade, could be seen driving away from the ranch near Sedona where McCain spent his final weeks. For 50 miles along Interstate 17 southbound, on every overpass and at every exit ramp, people watched the procession. Hundreds, including many waving American flags, parked their cars and got out to watch. Congressional leaders announced that McCain would lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda, though they did not give a date. "The nation mourns the loss of a great American patriot, a statesman who put his country first and enriched this institution through many years of service," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Arizona will accord McCain that honor on Wednesday, when he would have turned 82. "This is a rare and distinct occurrence for a truly special man," GOP Gov. Doug Ducey said in a tweet. Ducey does not plan to announce his selection of a Senate successor to McCain until after McCain's burial. Under state law, the governor's appointee to serve until the next general election in 2020 must come from the same political party. A statement from Ducey's office said that "now is a time for remembering and honoring a consequential life." Trump's brief Twitter statement said "hearts and prayers" are with the McCain family. Trump and McCain were at bitter odds until the end. The president, who as a candidate in 2016 mocked McCain's capture in Vietnam, had jabbed at the ailing senator for voting against Republican efforts to roll back President Barack Obama's health care law. Earlier this summer, McCain issued a blistering statement criticizing Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Obama, who triumphed over McCain in 2008, said that despite their differences, McCain and he shared a "fidelity to something higher - the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed." Obama said they "saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world." Bush, who defeated McCain for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination, called McCain a "man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order" and a "friend whom I'll deeply miss." Other tributes poured in from around the globe. French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted in English that McCain "was a true American hero. He devoted his entire life to his country." Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said McCain's support for the Jewish state "never wavered. It sprang from his belief in democracy and freedom." And Germany's chancellor, Angela Merkel, called McCain "a tireless fighter for a strong trans-Atlantic alliance. His significance went well beyond his own country." McCain was the son and grandson of admirals and followed them to the U.S. Naval Academy. A pilot, he was shot down over Vietnam and held as a prisoner of war for more than five years. He went on to win a seat in the House and in 1986, the Senate, where he served for the rest of his life. "He had a joy about politics and a love for his country that was unmatched," said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. "And while he never made it to the presidency, in the Senate, he was the leader that would see a hot spot in the world and just say, we need to go there and stand up for that democracy," she told CNN's "State of the Union." Former Vice President Joe Biden, who developed a friendship with McCain while they served together in the Senate, said the Arizona lawmaker will "cast a long shadow." "The spirit that drove him was never extinguished: we are here to commit ourselves to something bigger than ourselves," Biden said The Senate's top Democrat, New York's Chuck Schumer, said he wants to rename the Senate building that housed McCain's suite of offices after McCain. "As you go through life, you meet few truly great people. John McCain was one of them," Schumer said. "Maybe most of all, he was a truth teller - never afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all too rare." Associated Press writer Ken Thomas contributed to this report. Fire officials in Delaware say a man they pulled from a sewer system told rescuers he'd spent at least a day stuck underground. Around 30 firefighters and paramedics were called to a Wilmington intersection around 1:45 p.m. Saturday after a passer-by reported hearing a voice coming from a nearby sewer grate. Michael Schaal is a battalion chief with the city's fire department. He told the News Journal two rescuers were lowered into the sewer, found the man and pulled him out about 22 minutes after the department arrived on scene. Schaal says the man told firefighters he fell in about a mile from where he was rescued and had been lost for at least a day. The man, who wasn't immediately identified, was taken to a hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening. What to Know Aug. 25 Founded in 1916 9 National Parks in California (plus numerous NPS monuments and sites) Ever had to buy the party supplies ahead of a good friend's birthday celebration? You likely remember counting out the heads, for all the paper party hats you needed to purchase, and figuring out how large the space is, for the other decorations, from the paper streamers to the glittery signs. Thank goodness, though, we are not required to buy a paper party hat for every tree located in a national park, nor a glittery "happy birthday" banner to display across every cliff and waterfall. For A) that would be super-duper expensive and B) every tree and cliff and waterfall located in our national parks is perfect in their totally natural and un-party-hatted states. It is, however, the 102nd anniversary of the National Park Service, which started on Aug. 25, 1916, thanks to a bill signed by President Woodrow Wilson (and a lot of tireless work on behalf of the idea's early nature-protecting champions, people like conservationist Stephen Mather, who would become the National Park Service's first director). Many dreamers and doers, one ultimate goal: The National Park Service Act. The state with the most national parks? Hi, if you're reading this while in California, then you're sitting in that very state. There are nine national parks in the Golden State, and numerous other NPS historical and recreational sites, making this a wonderland of leafy, mountainous, historical, and cultural amazing-o-sity. Aug. 25, 2018, let us note, is not a free day at the national parks, though, of course, visiting one, jumping into a ranger talk, or simply finding your own trail and hike is always encouraged, on any day of the year. Nature is good to be in, end of story. Who would quibble with such a notion? Answer: no one. There are free-to-visit parks, and pay-at-the-gate parks, and all will see enthusiastic visitors on the service's birthday. But if you do want to hang on for a free day at the national parks, you don't have to hang on for long: The next one is up on Saturday, Sept. 22, in honor of National Public Lands Day. And there is one more 2018 free day to go beyond that, on Nov. 11, a tribute to veterans. A proposal to build nine new homes on Birmingham Drive was met Wednesday with a mix of opposition and support in Encinitas. The developer, Buffalo of Birmingham Investors, hosted the second of two community outreach meetings to give the public a chance to voice their opinion before the nine-lot project goes to the citys Planning Commission. I would like your support, said Jim McMemamin, the companys representative, speaking before a group of about 30-40 neighbors at the Encinitas Community Center. The southern portion of the proposed development is currently occupied by a single-family residence, which the developer plans to remove, and the remainder of the 5.5-acres is a vacant lot. If approved, the project would be built on Birmingham Drive near Lake Drive on the east side of I-5 in Encinitas. One of the nine homes in the Lakes Subdivision would be an affordable housing unit, McMemamin told the group. And each of the other houses would also have a casita or small attached guest house. The affordable housing unit would not have a casita, a spokesman told NBC7. I, personally, really like this plan, and you have my support, Carole Serling said. Other community members did not offer up their approval so quickly. Objecting to the density, one man spoke above other neighbors grumbles. You dont even live in this community! he told the developer. The man declined to give his name. McMemamin disagreed saying his office is in Encinitas and he lives in Del Mar. Encinitas is the only city in San Diego County, and one of very few in California, without a plan for where people are going to live in the future, especially low-income residents. In the beachside city, the median household income is $92,564 69 percent higher than the median household income for the nation. The city has already spent about $900,000 fighting lawsuits because they do not have an affordable housing plan. Statewide, there is not enough housing even for the current population. For future, growing populations, cities are mandated by the state to come up with more affordable housing development solutions. Consequences could be coming down the pipeline for Encinitas, such as court-imposed fines, a moratorium on any development, and the state forcing their affordable housing plan on the city if it refuses to adopt a housing plan that includes low-income housing. Residents at Tuesdays meeting expressed concerns over increased morning traffic on Birmingham Drive from the nine additional houses proposed in the Lakes Subdivision. They were also concerned the developer will modify his plans once he gets the communitys support. Buffalo of Birmingham Investors originally proposed a four-house project. The next day you turn around and the whole story changes, one resident. The developer also submitted plans, after a May community outreach meeting, for a 131-unit apartment building. He told the group he did that at the request of the Encinitas Planning Commission. Its just been a moving target, said Bob Cunningham, an Encinitas resident. From four to nine to 130. Im still concerned about you changing your mind again. McMemamin told the group the nine-unit plan is the one the developers are committed to if they can gain the support of their neighbors. I would suggest to you that were following the rules that the city of Encinitas prescribes, he said. Were here having this meeting, which is a requirement of the city to talk to our neighbors. Were presenting a quality project here. The family of the famous YouTuber who caused a deadly, fiery crash on Interstate 805 on Thursday expressed condolences Saturday to the victims' family. Trevor Heitmann's family said they are devastated over the loss in a statement released to NBC 7 San Diego by the family's attorney. "Our family is devastated over the tragic loss of our beloved Trevor Heitmann," the statement reads. "We express our deepest condolences to the Pizarro family and anyone impacted by this incident." Heitmann's was driving a McLaren the wrong way on I-805 HOV lane Thursday near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar during evening rush-hour commute and slammed into an SUV driven by Aileen Pizarro, 43. He was driving in excess of 100 mph, the California Highway Patrol said. The impact of the crash caused Pizarro's vehicle to explode and become engulfed in flames, killing her and her daughter, 12-year-old Aryana. Heitmann, 18, was also killed in the crash. He was a YouTube star who goes by the name of McSkillet. He became known for trading "skins" or moderations that alter the appearance of characters for the first-person-shooter video game, "Counter Strike: Global Offensive." "That car in front of me swerved, slammed and exploded within a fraction of second all I could do was hold on to my steering wheel and run over everything that exploded," witness Hector Puga said. CHP investigators believe Heitmann got onto the northbound I-805 HOV lane from the Carrol Canyon Road direct access ramp going southbound before colliding with the Hyundai near Governor Drive. The son and brother of the two victims, Dominic Pizarro, said his mother was a family therapist who most recently worked with abused children. "I really am devastated that one person's actions could take my family away from me," he said. Dominic said he can't find it in his heart to blame Heitmann for the damage he caused and instead will try to remember what his mother would want him to do. "He was not in his right frame of mind and that was the reason he found himself going the wrong way on the highway," he said. "My prayers and thoughts are for his soul and his family as well." Prior to the crash, San Diego police responded to an incident at Ashley Falls Elementary School in Carmel Valley where Heitmann's McLaren crashed through a gate on the campus. He left the scene before officers arrived. Investigators still don't know the motive behind the incident at the elementary school or Heitmann's decision to enter I-805 against traffic. "We want to thank the first responders for their valiant efforts and dedication," the Heitmann family's statement reads. "We are piecing together the facts and circumstances that lead to this incomprehensible tragedy. We thank the community in advance for privacy and respect during this difficult time." The court ruled that the traditional Dawoodi Bohra practice of khafz (female circumcision) does not amount to FGM. The organisation issued a statement in the wake of court of criminal appeal in New South Wales in Australia overturning the conviction of three people accused of FGM. (Representational Image) Mumbai: An organisation known as Dawoodi Bohra Womens Association For Religious Freedom (DBWRF), that is representing women of Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community on Saturday defended the practice of female circumcision prevalent in the community saying it does not amount to female genital mutilation (FGM), which needs to be banned. The organisation issued a statement in the wake of court of criminal appeal in New South Wales in Australia overturning the conviction of three people accused of FGM. The court ruled that the traditional Dawoodi Bohra practice of khafz (female circumcision) does not amount to FGM. The DBWRF mentioned that khafz was a harmless religious ritual that was being followed for centuries, FGM was uncalled-for and it should be abolished. Public health officials in Northern Virginia are working to identify people they say may have been exposed to a person with measles. The Loudoun County Health Department said in a news release that "out of an abundance of caution," it is warning people who were at two locations earlier this month that they may have been exposed. The locations are: Inova Medical Center in Purcellville the morning of Aug. 17 and the 2 Riverbend Building in Lansdowne the afternoon of Aug. 20. The health department says it isn't aware of any other Virginia locations or dates where exposures may have occurred. The department says if you believe you may have been exposed and have never received the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, you should call 703-771-5512 to speak with someone from the health department. What to Know President Donald Trump tweeted his condolences to the family of Sen. John McCain, who died Saturday at age 81. "My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!" the president tweeted. Trump has often criticized McCain since he first launched his presidential bid in 2015, and kept up the abuse even as McCain fought cancer. President Donald Trump tweeted his condolences to the family of Sen. John McCain, who died Saturday at age 81, after years of bad blood between the two Republicans. "My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!" the president tweeted. Trump's tweet came after more than a day of silence from him and the White House following the McCain family's revelation that the maverick Republican senator had decided to cease medical treatment as he fought brain cancer. Trump has frequently criticized McCain since he first launched his presidential campaign in 2015, and kept up the abuse even as McCain battled cancer. The pair butted heads more often than the president did with other members of his party. McCain habitually spoke out when he thought the president violated American democratic or national security norms. Some of Trump's most explosive remarks in his campaign came early on in July 2015, when he mocked the senator's time as a tortured prisoner of war in Vietnam. "He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured," Trump said of McCain, prompting widespread backlash. The president's public jabs at his fellow Republican only became more frequent after McCain who had just returned to Washington following his brain cancer diagnosis turned his thumb down on the Senate floor last year to help sink his party's effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act. In numerous public appearances since, Trump has criticized McCain for his vote, often without naming him. "Except for one senator, who came into a room at 3 o'clock in the morning and went like that, we would have had health care too, we would have had health care too, think of that," Trump said in February while mimicking McCain's thumbs down gesture. Even as McCain was out of Washington receiving treatment this year, his office kept pressure on Trump. For instance, when the president suggested Russia should rejoin the G7 group of world powers, the senator rebutted him in a June statement. As he often did during Trump's presidency, McCain contended that the president's actions could harm U.S. allies and undercut America's standing in the world. "The President has inexplicably shown our adversaries the deference and esteem that should be reserved for our closest allies," McCain said. "Those nations that share our values and have sacrificed alongside us for decades are being treated with contempt. This is the antithesis of so-called 'principled realism' and a sure path to diminishing America's leadership in the world." This story first appeared on CNBC.com. More from CNBC: US sanctions on Russia tied to UK spy attack to take effect Monday Former President Jimmy Carter lives in a $167,000 house and shops at the Dollar General Your credit score may have just gone up. Here's why. Pope Francis declined Sunday to confirm or deny claims by the Vatican's retired ambassador to the United States that he knew in 2013 about sexual misconduct allegations against the former archbishop of Washington, Theodore McCarrick, but rehabilitated him anyway. Francis said the 11-page text by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, which reads in part like a homophobic attack on Francis and his allies, "speaks for itself" and that he wouldn't comment on it. Francis was asked by a U.S. reporter during an airborne press conference Sunday if Vigano's claims that the two discussed the McCarrick allegations in 2013 were true. Francis was also asked about Vigano's claims that McCarrick was already under sanction at the time, but that Francis rehabilitated him. Francis said he had read Vigano's document and trusted journalists to judge for themselves. "It's an act of trust," he said. "I won't say a word about it." The National Catholic Register and another conservative site, LifeSiteNews, published Vigano's text Sunday as the pope wrapped up a two-day visit to Ireland dominated by the clerical sex abuse scandal. Vigano, 77, a conservative whose hardline anti-gay views are well known, urged the reformist pope to resign over what he called Francis' own culpability in covering up McCarrick's crimes. Francis accepted McCarrick's resignation as cardinal last month, after a U.S. church investigation determined that an accusation he had sexually abused a minor was credible. Since then, another man has come forward to say McCarrick began molesting him starting when he was 11, and several former seminarians have said McCarrick abused and harassed them when they were in seminary. The accusations have created a crisis of confidence in the U.S. and Vatican hierarchy, because it was apparently an open secret that McCarrick regularly invited seminarians to his New Jersey beach house, and into his bed. Coupled with the devastating allegations of sex abuse and cover-up in a recent Pennsylvania grand jury report which found that 300 priests had abused more than 1,000 children over 70 years in six dioceses the scandal has led to calls for heads to roll and for a full Vatican investigation into who knew what and when about McCarrick. Vigano apparently sought to answer some of those questions. His letter identifies by name the Vatican cardinals and U.S. archbishops who were informed about the McCarrick affair, an unthinkable expose for a Vatican diplomat to make. He said documents backing up his version of events are in Vatican archives. The Vatican's ambassador to the U.S. from 2011 to 2016, Vigano said his two immediate predecessors "did not fail" to inform the Holy See about accusations against McCarrick, starting in 2000. Vigano said he himself sent at least two memos on him. He said Pope Benedict XVI eventually sanctioned McCarrick in 2009 or 2010 to a lifetime of penance and prayer, and to no longer celebrate Mass in public or travel. He said Francis asked him about McCarrick when they met on June 23, 2013, at the Vatican's Santa Marta hotel where the pope lives, three months after Francis was elected pope. Vigano wrote that he told Francis: "Holy Father, I don't know if you know Cardinal McCarrick, but if you ask the Congregation of Bishops, there is a dossier this thick about him. He corrupted generations of seminarians and priests, and Pope Benedict ordered him to withdraw to a life of prayer and penance." Soon thereafter, Vigano wrote, he was surprised to find that McCarrick had started traveling on missions on behalf of the church, including to China. McCarrick was also one of the Vatican's intermediaries in the U.S.-Cuba talks in 2014. Vigano's claim that McCarrick had been ordered by Benedict to stay out of public ministry and retire to a lifetime of prayer is somewhat disputed, given that McCarrick enjoyed a fairly public retirement. But Vigano insisted the sanctions had been imposed, and said a former counselor in the embassy at the time was "prepared to testify" about the "stormy" meeting when McCarrick was informed of them. Barry Coburn, McCarrick's civil attorney, said the allegations in the Vigano letter are "serious." "Archbishop McCarrick, like any other person, has a right to due process. He looks forward to invoking that right at the appropriate time," he said in a statement. The letter also contains a lengthy diatribe about homosexuals and liberals in the Catholic church. It often reads like an ideological manifesto, naming all of Francis' known supporters in the U.S. hierarchy as being complicit in a cover-up of McCarrick's misdeeds. "Now that the corruption has reached the very top of the church's hierarchy, my conscience dictates that I reveal those truths regarding the heart-breaking case of the archbishop emeritus of Washington," Vigano wrote. Vigano, however, also has had his own problems with allegations of cover-up, and he and Francis had a major dust-up during Francis' 2015 visit to the U.S., which Vigano organized. In that incident, a leading U.S. opponent of gay marriage, Kim Davis, was among those invited to meet with the pope at Vigano's Washington residence. Francis was so enraged that Davis' supporters had leaked word of the meeting that the Vatican subsequently insisted he only held one private audience while there: with one of his former students, a gay man and his partner. The cover-up accusation, which Vigano denied, concerned allegations that he tried to quash an investigation into the former archbishop of St. Paul-Minneapolis, Minnesota, John Nienstedt, who was accused of misconduct with adult seminarians. In 2016, the National Catholic Reporter said Vigano allegedly ordered the investigation wrapped up and a piece of evidence destroyed. The report cited a 2014 memo from a diocesan official that was unsealed following the conclusion of a criminal investigation into the archdiocese. No charges were filed. In a statement provided to the AP Sunday about the Nienstedt case, Vigano said a Vatican investigation of the allegation found no wrongdoing on his part. He said the allegation that he destroyed evidence was false and that his efforts to have the archdiocese correct the record have been met with silence. Nienstedt was forced to resign in 2015 over complaints about his handling of sex abuse cases. Vigano's name also made headlines during the 2012 "Vatileaks" scandal, when some of his letters were published. In them, he begged not to be transferred to the Vatican embassy in Washington from the administration of the Vatican City State. He claimed he was being punished for having exposed corruption in the Vatican. The letters showed a clash with Benedict's No. 2, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who is also a target of his McCarrick missive. The document's authenticity was confirmed to The Associated Press by an Italian journalist, Marco Tosatti, who said he was with Vigano when the archbishop wrote it Wednesday. "He was very emotional and upset at the end the effort," Tosatti told AP, adding that Vigano left Tosatti's home afterward without saying where he was going. Catholic bishops, tiny Albania and Ireland agreed to take the 140 migrants blocked aboard an Italian coast guard vessel, Premier Giuseppe Conte said Saturday, announcing the end of 10-day standoff over the asylum-seekers but making clear an angry Italy could avenge a perceived lack of overall European Union solidarity by refusing to approve the bloc's next multi-year budget. "Italy must take note that the 'spirit of solidarity is struggling to translate into concrete acts," Conte said in a statement. Conte referred to declarations made at an EU summit in late June promising to help Italy and other Mediterranean countries deal with the burden of migrants rescued from human traffickers' unseaworthy boats. In his role as head of a nearly three-month-old populist coalition government, Conte said Italy under current conditions "doesn't consider it possible to express adhesion to a proposed budget that underpins a policy so incoherent on the social level." Earlier in the week, some in the government threatened to withhold nearly 20 billion euros ($23 billion) in contributions to the EU if member nations didn't volunteer to take the last group of rescued migrants reaching Italy. Brussels sharply reminded Italy it was legally obliged to pay. Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who leads the anti-migrant League party, refused to let the migrants off the coast guard vessel Diciotti until other EU nations pledged to take the asylum-seekers, most of them young men from Eritrea. Just before Conte announced the drama's resolution, Salvini told party supporters at a rally in northern Italy that a Sicily-based prosecutor, Luigi Patronaggio, had put him under investigation for suspected abduction for refusing to let the migrants disembark. If the prosecutor "wants to interrogate me or even arrest me because I defend the borders and security of my country, I'm proud of it," Salvini tweeted. Many of his supporters blame migrants for crime. Earlier in the week, the government's rights office for detained persons concluded this week that the migrants were being unjustly held by the government. Salvini took credit for convincing bishops to take many of the migrants. The bishops agreed to "open up their doors, heart and wallet," he told the rally. Fifty others of the 190 people rescued at sea on Aug. 16 by the Italian coast guard were previously allowed off the ship, including all the minors and ailing adults. A few hours before Conte's announcement, Italian Red Cross ambulances waiting at dockside took away six ill men, suspected of having tuberculosis, pneumonia or other infections, and seven of the 11 women who were still aboard. Authorities had said the women recounted how they had been raped while in Libya for months, awaiting the opportunity to leave in migrant smugglers' boats. Four other women chose not to leave the ship because their husbands were blocked aboard. The standoff had prompted an impassioned appeal at the height of the standoff Saturday by the U.N. refugee agency's chief, who asked Italy to let the migrants disembark and urged EU countries to take responsibility for the asylum-seekers. In Geneva, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said it's time to end a "race to the bottom on who can take the least responsibility for people rescued at sea." He urged European countries "to do the right thing and offer places of asylum for people rescued from the Mediterranean Sea in their time of need." Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi expressed appreciation for Albania's "sign of great solidarity and friendship," his ministry said. Albania, which isn't in the European Union, saw thousands of its citizens flee to Italy across the Adriatic Sea aboard dramatically overcrowded rickety ferries and fishing boats in hopes of a better life in the 1990s. Meanwhile, Sicily-based prosecutors took their investigation of the migrant standoff to Rome. Prosecutor Patronaggio left without speaking to reporters after questioning two Interior Ministry officials at the Italian capital's prosecutors' office, the Italian news agency ANSA said. Prosecutors would have to seek permission from a special panel to question Salvini. As a lawmaker, Salvini also holds immunity from prosecution that could only be lifted by fellow lawmakers. Italian Red Cross official Stefano Principato in Catania told reporters that Italy's health minister had ordered an inspection of sanitary conditions for the migrants, who have been sleeping on the ship's deck and coping with a baking sun and limited toilet facilities. Doctors have said many of the migrants on the ship have scabies but "more than a health emergency, it would be better to speak of a psychological emergency," Principato said. The bodies of two young girls were submerged in crude oil for four days before authorities discovered them on Thursday, according to court documents filed Friday by an attorney defending the girls' father against accusations that he killed his children and wife. The motion filed Friday by Christopher Watts' attorney, James Merson, also asked that DNA swabs be taken from the girls' necks. The request quotes an expert who believes the oil would not eliminate DNA and said samples can be obtained "after strangulation." Authorities separately announced that the Weld County Coroner's Office had performed autopsies on Friday and confirmed the bodies as 34-year-old Shanann, 4-year-old Bella and 3-year-old Celeste Watts. Police did not release any information about how the mother and daughters died. More testing is planned to help determine the cause of their deaths. Richard Eikelenboom, the expert cited by Watts' attorney, also recommended taking DNA samples from the girls' hands and the hands and nails of their mother. Eikelenboom has testified in several high-profile criminal trials, often on so-called "touch DNA" when small samples of genetic material are left on a surface. After his wife and daughters were reported missing on Monday and before his arrest, Watts told reporters he missed them and longed for the simple things like telling his girls to eat their dinner and gazing at them as they curled up to watch cartoons. Authorities are expected to file formal charges Monday against Watts, an oil and gas worker who authorities said dumped his wife and daughters' bodies on his employer's property. Police said the mother, Shanann, was found dead on property owned by Anadarko Petroleum, one of the state's largest oil and gas drillers, where 33-year-old Christopher Watts worked as an operator. Investigators found the bodies of Bella and Celeste nearby. Watts was fired on Wednesday, the same day he was arrested, the company said. He did not respond to reporters' questions when he was escorted into the courtroom Thursday. Merson, Watts' attorney through the Colorado State Public Defender's Office, left Thursday's court hearing without commenting to reporters. He did not respond to multiple messages seeking comment by The Associated Press. Police have not released any information about a motive or how the three were killed. The family's two-story home is just outside Frederick, a small town on the grassy plains north of Denver, where fast-growing subdivisions intermingle with drilling rigs and oil wells. According to a June 2015 bankruptcy filing, Christopher Watts had gotten a job six months earlier as an operator for Anadarko, and paystubs indicate his annual salary was about $61,500. Shanann Watts was working in a call center at a children's hospital at the time, earning about $18 an hour more for evenings, weekends or extra shifts she sometimes worked. But the family remained caught between a promising future and financial strain from debt and other obligations. The couple had a combined income of $90,000 in 2014. But they also had tens of thousands of dollars in credit card debt, along with some student loans and medical bills for a total of $70,000 in unsecured claims on top of a sizable mortgage. They said in the filing that their nearly $3,000 mortgage and $600 in monthly car payments formed the bulk of their $4,900 in monthly expenses. Details about what led police to arrest Watts late Wednesday night on suspicion of three counts of murder and tampering with evidence likely were to be revealed next week. Prosecutors will ask a court to unseal the affidavit for Watts' arrest after filing formal charges, which are due by mid-afternoon on Monday, said Krista Henery, a spokeswoman for district attorney Michael Rourke. Family and friends of Shanann Watts are left searching for answers, trying to reconcile Watts' cheery Facebook posts about her daughters, her pregnancy and her love for her husband with the pending charges. Ashley Bell met Shanann Watts about two years ago, when the mother of two came into Bell's new tanning salon in nearby Dacono. The two women quickly became friends, and before long they were texting or calling each other almost daily. Their daughters played together during salon visits. "I just don't understand it," said Bell, who described Christopher Watts as a loving father. Shanann Watts was from North Carolina, and her parents' next-door neighbor, Joe Beach, said he saw her recently when she visited the neighborhood of modest homes in Aberdeen. "We were talking about general things, about how her two girls were doing and how life was out in Colorado. She didn't give me an indication that there was anything wrong. She seemed pretty happy," he said. Shanann Watts had recently shared with family and friends that she was pregnant with their third child. The case has focused attention on Colorado's lack of a law allowing homicide charges in the violent deaths of fetuses, which is the case in 12 states. Proposals to allow homicide charges in the violent deaths of fetuses in Colorado have been stymied by debate about how to avoid infringing on abortion rights. Republican lawmakers last tried to change the law after a 2015 case in Boulder County. A woman named Dynel Lane was charged with attempted murder and unlawful termination of a pregnancy for cutting open a pregnant woman's belly and removing her unborn baby girl. Prosecutors said they could not charge Lane with murder because a coroner found no evidence the infant lived outside the womb. State law does allow a homicide charge if a fetus was alive outside the mother's body and then killed. State lawmakers in 2013 also allowed prosecutors to add extra felony charges against anyone who commits a crime that causes the death of a fetus. What to Know The pilot is dead and his brother is critically injured following a plane crash in Hanson, Massachusetts. The pilot, identified as Scott Landis, 34, of Hanson, was in the Army National Guard. The FAA and NTSB are investigating the cause of the crash. An Army National Guard pilot has died from his injuries after a small plane he was piloting with his brother on a trip to scatter his father's ashes crashed into a Massachusetts pond. Thirty-four-year-old Scott Landis died from his injuries at Massachusetts General Hospital following the Friday afternoon crash near Cranland Airport in Hanson, the Plymouth district attorney's office announced Saturday. "Scott had really grand plans for him and his family, and it's gone," said close friend Adam Proulx. Scott's brother, 29-year-old Patrick Landis, was a passenger in the single-engine plane and remains in critical condition at Tufts Medical Center. "He's in bad, bad shape," said Proulx. "He suffered a lot of injuries as a result of the crash. He's paralyzed from the waist down. Doctors are very confident he's never going to walk again." Scott Landis, an experienced helicopter pilot who flew Blackhawks with the Army National Guard and a father of a one-year-old boy, had been on leave from a tour of duty in Kosovo because his father passed away. He was expected to return to duty on Saturday. "From what I understand, they were coming back from spreading the ashes," said Dan Conway, the victims' uncle. Peter Oakley, owner and manager of Cranland Airport, described Scott Landis as the "salt of the earth" who flew often. A few days ago, Scott Landis flew his son and wife to Martha's Vineyard for lunch, Oakley said. Proulx said he believes the pilot did all he could to prevent the accident. "We are all confident that he did the best that he thought he could do with what he was provided with altitude and speed," Proulx said. "It just didn't work out." via Facebook Oakley said Scott Landis took off and he could hear the engine fail. "I saw the video and you could hear the engine failure on takeoff," Oakley said. "The engine started slowing down, and he started to turn to come back, and then you heard the engine drop off and you could see the plane go in." Because of the signifcant damage to the front of the plane, firefighters had to remove the brothers after they became trapped in the water. "It was heavy, thick brush that we were working with, and mud conditions, along with aviation fuel in the water, so Hanson Police and Hanson Fire worked together to extricate him," said Hanson Fire Deputy Chief Rob O'Brien. "They did have to use sawzalls and hand tools to remove part of the aircraft." FAA officials say that the aircraft was an Aeronca 7AC Chamption. The plane's owner lent the plane to Scott, according to the owner's brother. "That's a tandem aircraft where the pilot sits in the front and the passenger sits in the back, that's why I believe his brother didn't have as serious injuries," Oakley said. A GoFundMe page has been set up for the family. The ashes of the father were recovered by the Hanson Fire Department. Other pilots have offered to complete the family's wishes. Federal and state authorities are investigating the cause of the crash. The National Safety Transportation Board said its investigators arrived to the scene of the crash Saturday. They expect to have a preliminary report within seven to ten days. Maine will for the first time provide public funding for abusers to attend programs aimed at changing their violent and controlling behavior. The Bangor Daily News reports that evidence suggests batterers' intervention programs participants are less likely to assault their partners again. Such programs are different from anger management and counseling classes, which haven't been shown to reduce re-offense rates. Maine will provide $100,000 in annual funding to partially cover fees for those who can't afford to pay. Another $50,000 will go toward administrative expenses. Batterers' intervention programs work with local domestic violence resource centers and cost about $35 per week. Victims can receive updates about abusers' progress. The new law sponsored by Republican Rep. Ellie Espling won't take effect until 90 days after lawmakers adjourn their ongoing special session. The home department has been sending information regularly to the Union government. Mumbai: The Devendra Fadnavis-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has not initiated a new proposal for banning Sanatan Sanstha. This government only addressed queries to the earlier proposal, which may get lapsed. Minister of state for home Deepak Kesarkar said that the government may consider a fresh ban proposal only after completion of investigations into the Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare murder cases and if links between the accused and Sanatan Sanstha are established. The Opposition has been demanding a ban on the right-wing organisation as it was suspected that the accused in the Dabholkar and Pansare murders have alleged links with workers of Sanatan Sanstha, which the latter has categorically denied. The erstwhile Congress-NCP led state government had sent a ban proposal to the then-Union government in 2013. The Centre raised few queries, which were addressed by the present state government in 2014 and 2016. Only the Union government wields the power to ban the organisation and not the state government, Mr Kesarkar said. According to a senior officer, it is binding on the state government to send the information of the offences registered under the Prevention of Unlawful Activities Act to the Union government in 24 hours. The home department has been sending information regularly to the Union government, but it has not send any fresh proposal to the Union government in 2018 as per information leaked in the investigation into the Dabholkar and Pansare case. Banning any organisation is a quasi-judicial process and the organisation has the right to defend itself before the judicial authority as per the principles of natural justice. It may not be possible to ban the organisation based on the reasons mentioned in 2013, because Union government had not pursued the matter and the grounds given for banning Sanatan five years earlier may not be valid in 2018. Sanatan can cite the ground of delay in its defence, said a senior officer of home department. Vermont State Police are investigating a fatal fiery airplane crash that happened Saturday afternoon near the John H. Boylan Airport in Island Pond, Vermont. Troopers received a report of a large fire approximately 100 yards from the airport runway at about 3:45 p.m. Saturday, police said. According to police, authorities responding to the scene discovered a small single-engine aircraft that had been badly burned. The sole occupant of the plane was found deceased. State police are working to confirm the identity of the victim. Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are expected on scene Sunday to begin an investigation into the cause of the crash, police said. Members of the State Police will remain on scene overnight to secure the location. He addressed a meeting in which he slammed the state government. Mumbai: Slamming promises of free Internet in Digital India, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said that instead of digital India, the government should give free petrol, diesel, milk and food grains in the ration shops. Mr Thackeray addressed the meeting of local cable operators, who claim that Reliances Jio is hurting their business. He supported cable operators and assured them in a meeting at Rangsharda that their business would be protected. Cable operators are opposing to Jios Internet and TV channels telecasting offers. Due to cheaper rates, people will get attracted to it, which will affect the business of thousands of cable operators. These operators met Mr Thackeray and he extended full support to them. He addressed a meeting in which he slammed the policies of the government. Mr Thackeray said, providing free Internet cannot help the poor. Petrol-Diesel, milk, fruits, food grains in the ration shops should be given free. He said Sena is ready to fight if business of the cable operators are disturbed. At least 11 people were arrested or are being sought in Chapel Hill, N.C, on Saturday as a pro-Confederate rally turned sour. And while there were warrants out for even others following Mondays toppling of a Civil War monument on the University of North Carolina campus, the new thought is that something far more sinister is stirring. We do not know the identities of those arrested, but University Chancellor Carol Folt told us what we already expected not one in question had any ties to UNC. Since the Monday night protests, when a statue called Silent Sam was desecrated by what first appeared to be a teen-aged back-to-school bash, law enforcement authorities from across the state are telling insiders Mondays protests didnt fit the modus operandi no, this was nothing they had ever seen. Please, UNC, is a liberal-leaning island of free thought where somebody is protesting something else all the time, but this was different. Said one, This was a carefully-planned and well-staged protest. This doesnt pass the smell test. I should say. While no details are available about those who have been arrested, or are being sought, it is confirmed by various law enforcement groups including federal agencies -- that the national notoriety might be more of a terrorist attack on the American good. The university begged students not to attend Saturdays counter-protest so there was hardly the crowd there was on Monday. But, boy oh boy, was there evermore a headliner to give a rousing speech. How in the heck did Chelsea Manning happen to appear out of thin air; freely admitting she had been paid to deliver a speech? Youll remember a U.S. Army soldier who was born as Bradley Manning and sold thousands of secrets to our nations enemies. In July of 2013, he was convicted by court-martial of violations of the Espionage Act and other offenses, after disclosing to WikiLeaks nearly 750,000 classified, or unclassified but sensitive, military and diplomatic documents. On the first day after the 35-year sentence, Manning announced she was actually a trans-woman. She had always thought of herself as Chelsea. And not just that would begin hormone therapy immediately. Manning was sentenced to 35 years at the military wing in Fort Leavenworth but in May 2017, President Obama granted a full pardon. Chelsea has since devoted herself to various activist causes and has been drawn to the removal of Civil War monuments. After the sensational brawl in Charlottesville (Aug. 17, 2017) Chelsea has been totally involved in blotting away what she says are signs of white supremacy. (Since Charlottesville, it is estimated that 30 Civil War monuments have been removed in the United States.) No, I know nothing about who finances such changes but every bit as intriguing is who financed Chelseas visit to Chapel Hill the plane, the car, the security and of course the passionate speech she delivered. UNC Board of Governors member Thom Goolsby said in a YouTube video that the well-known Silent Sam monument will be placed back on campus within 90 days because it is clearly the law. A statue was torn down by a violent mob and the police stood by and did nothing as that happened, Goolsby said of the Aug. 20 incident. Goolsby is satisfied that the universitys board is investigating and working with school officials to ensure that the perpetrators are punished, that judgement is sought for their felonious criminal acts. Chancellor Folt, stuck in the midst of this firestorm, believes justice must reign. No matter what you felt about the monument, what happened on Monday night was destruction of state property, and that is not lawful, and someone could have been badly injured. Using the full breadth of state and university processes, we will do our best to identify, and will hold those responsible accountable. Manning was unfazed: I dont care what the law says that statue isnt going up again, she told reporters Saturday. Obviously we got to close prisons, we got to deal with ICE, we got to deal with statues like this, we got to deal with white supremacy and all these systemic problems that the criminal justice system, that the immigration system, that the military industrial complex all contribute to, Manning said. She even used a monster of comparison: Having U.S. forces in a country like Iraq killing brown people is effectively a systemic form of white supremacy. Raul Jimenez, who was arrested and acquitted in the 2017 episode in Charlottesville, was present in Chapel Hill yesterday as well. He said his only role was to encourage and support the Chapel Hill protesters." In August 2017, protesters toppled a Confederate statue in Durham. One of the arrested and acquitted for tearing down the monument, Raul Jimenez, was in attendance at Saturdays protest in Chapel Hill. He said he came to support everyone who has protested in Chapel Hill. And thats okay, but where the rub comes is just who exactly sent the people to establish a war zone. Whos idea? What is the intent? These are the big questions on our college campuses across the country. Capture our young and you capture our future. royexum@aol.com The project focuses on finding the Humpack Whales habitat and restrict ship movement in those areas. The study will take another 10 years to complete. Mumbai: The state mangrove cell is working on a proposal to protect the Arabian Sea Humpback Whale across the western region. The project is part of the recovery programme for the critically endangered species started by the central government. The mangrove cell will soon submit the proposal to the Centre. The proposal includes a study of the marine mammals population and its migration pattern. Officials from the state mangrove cell said that the project widely focused on finding the Humpack Whales habitat and restrict ship movement in those areas. We are attempting to understand their migration pattern by analysing the sounds they make. For this, noise monitoring systems will be used in the deep sea, which will record the sound they make while mating, including others. This will help us in understanding their mating time too, said N. Vasudevan, additional principal chief conservator of forests, state mangrove cell. Mr Vasudevan added that apart from aging, the mortality of this species was being affected by deep sea gillnet fishing where marine creatures were found trapped in fishing gear due to noise pollution caused by ships. The study will take another 10 years to complete. This species migrates from the Oman coast to the Indian coasts to the Sri Lankan coast through the Arabian Sea. Ship strikes, unforgiving fishing gear and seismic explorations pose a grave threat to the species. Dhaka : At least 13 people were killed in a head-on collision between a passenger bus and a hauler in Bangladesh's Natore district on Saturday. A police official told Xinhua news agency that the road accident, which occurred at 4.20 p.m, also left two passengers critically injured. The wounded were rushed to a hospital and the incident was under investigation. New Delhi : Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen on Saturday extended his support to award-winning Bangladeshi photographer and social activist Shahidul Alam, who was arrested after he criticised the Bangladesh government in an interview. Sen said: "His (Alam)'s work should receive praise and appreciation, rather than being ground for harsh treatment." Alam was arrested in the first week of August following his interview by a news channel in which he criticised the Bangladesh government's violent response to a peaceful protest by the students. "Freedom of expression, including through photojournalism, is extremely important for democracy. We have a good reason to admire the work that Shahidul Alam has been doing with great skill and courage for many years," said Sen in a press statement. Nobel laureates, activists and journalists from across the world have demanded immediate release of the Bangladeshi photographer. Jalalabad (Afghanistan) : At least two people were killed and four others wounded in a suicide attack during a protest near the Election Commission office in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province on Saturday, officials said. The attack occurred around 11.20 a.m. when an attacker blew himself up during the protest in the provincial capital of Jalalabad, Nangarhar governor's spokesperson Attaullah Khogyanai told Efe news.He said that the injured were transferred to a hospital and were in serious condition.The protest was held over the disqualification of candidate Jawid Zaman by the poll body ahead of the parliamentary as well as local elections scheduled for October 20, Khogyanai added.No group claimed responsibility for the attack.The electoral process for the parliamentary elections have been targeted by insurgents since the voter registration process commenced on April 14.The most significant one occurred on April 22, when a suicide attack targeting a voting centre in Kabul left 60 dead and 138 wounded. It was claimed by the Islamic State.Afghanistan is going through one of its bloodiest phases since the end of NATO's combat mission in January 2015. : Dubai, Aug 25 (IANS/WAM) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday congratulated Saudi Arabia on the successful completion of this year's Haj season -- the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina. "Sincerest congratulations to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on the impressive success of this Haj season," said Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council. He added that "the kingdom spares no effort to serve pilgrims coming from all over the world without discrimination against any fellow Muslims. Saudi authorities proved anew their ability to ensure successful management of the pilgrimage rituals." The UAE is used as a transit hub by thousands of pilgrims from across the world to travel to Jeddah, the gateway to Mecca which harbours the Great Mosque "Al Haram". The UAE's biggest carrier Emirates Airline announced in July the addition of 33 additional flights to Jeddah and Medina from August 6 to 31. Emirates said an estimated 25,000 pilgrims would fly with the airline to perform Haj, one of the duties every Muslim should at least fulfil once in his lifetime. According to Saudi media reports, around 2 million pilgrims travelled to the country to perform Haj in August. --IANS/WAM soni/bg Sorry! This content is not available in your region The weapon was handed over to Andhure by an accused in the Lankesh murder case along with three rounds. Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday informed the Pune court that the weapons seized from the relative of Sachin Andhures friend was the same that was used in scribe Gauri Lankesh's murder. The weapon was handed over to Andhure by an accused in the Lankesh murder case along with three rounds. The weapon changed hands over the period and was finally recovered from Aurangabad by joint teams of CBI and Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad (ATS). The CBI produced Andhure before the court in Pune on Sunday and informed the court that the accused revealed during his interrogation that an accused in the Lankesh murder case had given the weapon to him, following the killing. The weapon and three rounds were then passed on, on August 11, to his brother-in-law Subham Surale in Aurangabad. Soon after this was found, a team of CBI searched Surales residence. It was learnt that the weapon was now passed on to his friend Rohit Rege. A team of the CBI then searched his residence at Dhawani Mohalla in Aurangabad and seized the weapon, CBI officials told the Pune court. The black colour country-made pistol and three rounds have now been sent for forensic analysis to ascertain if it matches the findings of the investigation. The CBI also told the court that they are yet to find the two-wheeler that was used by Andhure and Sharad Kalaskar, who gunned down Narendra Dabholkar in August 2013. The CBI has also secured a warrant against Kalaskar, who is in the custody of the ATS, for interrogating him jointly with Andhure. Kalaskars custody will finish on Tuesday, when the CBI will seek his custody. The court granted further custody of Andhure to CBI till September. Tesla will continue to focus on building products such as the Model 3 which Musk intends to ramp up and make profitable, as per ANI. The sun shines off the rear deck of a roadster on a Tesla dealers lot in the south Denver suburb of Littleton, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) The board of Tesla said on Friday the company would remain public, following a tumultuous two weeks for the carmaker after its chief executive announced he was considering a deal to go private. Six members of Teslas board of directors said in a brief statement issued on Friday that the board had held a meeting on Thursday, in which CEO Elon Musk reported on the effort to take the electric vehicle company private. ...After having done this work and considered all factors, he believes the better path is to no longer pursue a transaction for taking Tesla private, the board members wrote. (Reporting By Alexandria Sage; Editing by Sam Holmes) NORWALK A delicate, metallic scratching filled the air Thursday afternoon. Underneath a tent that did little to ward off the heat, archaeologists were busy uncovering history. They scraped away layers of dirt marked by stakes and tape measures and recorded their findings on clipboards and in plastic bags labeled Norwalk Bridge. Wooden sieves lay nearby to make sure even the smallest pieces of the past would be captured. A $1 million archaeological excavation is under way in Norwalk, unearthing a centuries-old Native American fort filled with several thousand artifacts. The state Department of Transportation, which is in the midst of a billion-dollar replacement of the rail bridge over Norwalk Harbor, asked the exact location be withheld to discourage people from seeking out the site because even minute disturbances to the site could cause irreparable loss. Officials said Thursday the site would not be preserved all artifacts would be removed. It was a stark contrast to another major historical discovery made during construction of another state project, the dinosaur trackway in Rocky Hill that became Dinosaur State Park. The field crew was from Archaeological and Historical Services, based out of Storrs, and they had first come to Norwalk in 2017 to evaluate the archaeological sensitivity of the Walk Bridge replacement project for the state Department of Transportation. The archaeologists bored down into the ground to remove layers of soil known as geoprobes, which can provide information on whether the ground from previous eras is intact. These initial samples contained even more. Artifacts, including part of a stone tool, surfaced with the probes, a sign of the bounty preserved in the soil. Senior Architect Ross Harper went through just a few of the artifacts already unearthed, items from both the New World and the Old. There were arrowheads chiselled from quartz and a musket ball smaller than a marble, proof of trade with the Dutch that had occurred at the site. There were the remnants of copper and brass kettles Native Americans had been recycled into beads, projectiles and spoons and pottery fragments that may be keys to deciphering cultural ties between Norwalk Indians and other tribes. We have recovered more Native American pottery than in the past 30 years combined, Harper said, referring the pottery recovered in Connecticut by his company. The oldest artifacts so far, archaeologist Sarah Sportman said, were estimated to be 4,000 to 5,000 years old. But most of them are from whats called the contact period the time when Europeans first interacted with Native Americans about which relatively little is known, meaning that the Norwalk excavation could yield rare insights. Its a very rare site, Harper said. Theres maybe half a dozen throughout the entire Long Island Sound area, and lot of those have actually been developed, and they no longer exist. Archaeologists belive the site will change our understanding of history on both a global and a local level. More News Major historic find at Walk Bridge site includes Indian fort, thousands of artifacts The artifacts give insight to the international trade going on at the time, as well as the daily habits of Norwalk Indians. When it comes to the early Norwalk Native American groups, we know hardly anything about them, Harper said. We dont even know if they were more closely related to the Delaware of New York or more closely related to the Mohegans and Pequots. This area has been this giant blank spot of what we know about Native Americans at this time period. So every single thing that we find adds something new and important to the puzzle. And because of the preservation of this site and the extent thats left, well be able to reconstruct their lives in incredible detail. Artifacts found so far include remnants of the charred maize, berries and animals that were eaten there. And at the far end of the site, archaeologists Ben Kelsey of Branford and Dan Zoto of Massachusetts lifted up a tarp covering part of the ground. Underneath, a dark line where the wooden beams of a Native American fort had once stood was visible. Nearby was a patch of orange. The color, Kelsey explained, could be iron that oxidized in the soil in response to heat generated by a fire. We think it could be a hearth, said Zoto. So whats next for the site? Over upcoming months, the site will be completely excavated until nothing remains, and then the Walk Bridge construction crews will use the site. Because artifacts were discovered on state land, they are property of the state, explained Mandy Ranslow, an archaeologist with the Department of Transportation. In the case of the archaeological site, we did do a thorough investigation to determine whether wed be able to avoid it, Ranslow said. She said a team of engineers looked into whether there was a way to redesign the Walk Bridge project so as not to disturb the site. Unfortunately, there was not. When dinosaur tracks were discovered in Rocky Hill as land was being cleared for a state highway testing laboratory, that area was designated a state park. But Harper indicated that the two options for the site were excavation or documenting the site and waiting until another project made excavation necessary. When asked what ways there would be for the public to see the site, Department of Transportation spokesperson Judd Everhart replied, None. We want to share this information with the public, Ranslow said, but We will not be having public tours at this site. Instead, they will try to keep the artifacts local after they are cataloged. The community has expressed interest in keeping the artifacts locally, Ranslow said. So we will be working with David Westmoreland, chairman of the Norwalk Historical Commission, and the folks at the Norwalk Historical Society along with the state archaeologist. Westmoreland said the Historical Society already moving to implement the newly unearthed history. The historical society is already taking notes and changing our program that we do with our third-graders because we didnt know anything about Dutch trading, he said. Theres no record of any of this, this is the first weve learned. He looked moved as he surveyed the site. Ive been studying Norwalk history for 16 years, including trying to find out over and over again more about the Indians who were here, he said. And I learned more in an hour yesterday than my total sum knowledge of our Indians, just being here and listening to these guys. rschuetz@hearstmediact.com; @raschuetz On the day last week when one associate of President Donald Trump was convicted of federal crimes and another pleaded guilty, a Republican politician who would only talk about his party's problems on background sighed that he could find one favorable sign. It wasn't the robust economy or soaring stock market. It was the arrest of a Mexican farm worker whom the authorities called an illegal immigrant in the murder of an Iowa college student. Immigration-bashing is a higher priority for many Republican candidates this year than the tax cut that was supposed to be the centerpiece of the party's midterm-election campaign. An economy that grew at a 4.1-percent clip in the second quarter, the fastest in four years, and an unemployment rate down to 3.9 percent, appear to be of only marginal value to the incumbent party. In commercials and campaign oratory, Democrats are accused of favoring open borders, sanctuary cities for illegal immigrants and abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office. They're accused of being soft on violent gangs of foreign origin like the El Salvador-based MS-13 and opposing construction of a wall along the Mexican border. The scarcity of economic claims shows the Trumpification of the Republican Party on full display. With some exceptions, Republican congressional candidates are waging a campaign of fear, hurling frequently false charges. In races for seats in the House of Representatives, scores of candidates warn that their Democratic opponents would be lackeys of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, despite the fact that many of them have explicitly stated that they won't vote for her for speaker if Democrats capture the House. Most, though not all, of these Democrats are do not favor establishing more sanctuary cities or abolishing ICE. None advocate open borders or champion violent gangs. They do oppose building an expensive and unnecessary border wall. Trump immediately seized on the Iowa killing, which he blamed on the Democrats' failure to crack down on illegal immigrants whom he falsely holds responsible for a nonexistent epidemic of mayhem. The Iowa murder suspect appears to be an undocumented worker who had worked for four years for a reputable company headed by a prominent Republican and showed no previous sign of a violent streak. Most reliable studies show that undocumented workers commit crimes at a lower rate than the general population. Trump's demagoguery is neither new nor a surprise. It's worth asking, however, why so many Republicans are following suit and are not, as they once vowed, running mainly on a positive message about the economy and tax cuts. Perhaps the low approval ratings of Trump and congressional Republicans would be worse if the economy weren't so strong. More salient is that many voters don't think they're benefiting. Wages remain stagnant, with real weekly earnings rising only 1.4 percent since Trump took office. That makes it tough to campaign on a buoyant economy, even amid a record bull market. Since their enactment a year-and-a-half ago, the Republican tax cuts have become less popular. In a number of contested races, starting with a special House race in western Pennsylvania early this year, it's been the Democrats who talk about the tax cuts. They argue that the Republican tax measure was skewed heavily to the rich and corporations, shortchanged working-class families while adding trillions to the deficit, and was intended to give Republicans an excuse to cut Medicare and Social Security. Even in upper-income suburbs where Republican-leaning, college-educated women are turning against Trump, the tax cut doesn't seem to be a political plus. The affluent Washington, D.C., suburbs represented by Virginia Republican Barbara Comstock, one of the most resourceful and endangered incumbents, includes Fairfax and Loudoun counties, two of the wealthiest in America. The tax bill showered benefits on many of the district's voters. But it also put a $10,000 ceiling on deductions for the region's high state and local property taxes. Since winning the June primary against an under-financed Trump-loving opponent, Comstock has focused more on the threat of MS-13 gangs and illegal immigration. That was the same strategy adapted last year by Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie. He was trounced by Democrat Ralph Northam, losing Comstock's district by 12 percentage points. --- Hunt is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering politics and policy. He was the executive editor of Bloomberg News, before which he was a reporter, bureau chief and executive Washington editor at the Wall Street Journal. A leaked Chinese military document indicates that China is shifting from deterrence and protecting its territory to looking beyond its borders. China desperately wants a comprehensive protection of their security around the globe. A challenger with a strong military might push the dominant power into unleashing a preventive war before the challenger gets any stronger unless the emerging power is so militarily strong that it can deter a conflict. Chinas leaders want to be able to 1. deter conflict 2. protect growing global interests (all of the Belt and Road projects) 3. Expand interests and influence around the world 4. Maintain party control over the military 5. China wants to be able to bully smaller powers China believes the US is a slower vehicle on a curve which can be passed by China. Solid Second Place China is the second place global economy. China knows that it does not want to truly challenge the US globally but being a solid second place military is needed to protect global interests. The US is way out ahead of China militarily. In particular in regards to nuclear weapons. China does not want to pay to become the worlds policeman or take on those responsibilities. China just wants to avoid being bullied by the worlds policeman. China does not have a comfortable second place military position. China will need a larger Airforce, Marines and Navy to protect its growing global interests. Getting to the 50-70% level numerically while matching and keeping place with US technology would be a solid deter but not threaten level. Although in some areas like submarines China could get more equipment but have them not designed to overmatch in both numbers and technology. I think China will want to maintain this strong second place balance for at least the next 20 years. It would be costly and not successful for China to attempt any threatening build up before 2040. Plus exceeding the US in conventional forces still leaves a nuclear conflict. China will be number one in using technology to spy its own and other people and to maintain party and Xi control. China wants a smaller but technologically competent force China has about 600 modern aircraft. The USA air force operates more than 5,369 military aircraft, 406 ICBMs and 170 military satellites. The US has over 2000 fighters and 150 bombers. About 1200 are F15 and F16. The US has a combined 300 stealth F22 and F35s. The F35s will build up and replace F16 and F18 fighters. The US Navy has about 900 F18s. The US Marines have 200 F18s and 38 F35Bs. China could build up to half the US number of modern aircraft by 2030. China wants to solidly exceed Taiwan, India and Japan. After the 2030s as India progresses then China would build more to stay ahead of India. Shifting from army to Marines China is expanding its marine corp to become the second largest in the world. China might station up to 10,000 marines, navy seamen and other personnel in its African base at Djibouti. China is expanding their marine forces from 20,000 up to 100,000. The US has 186,000 marines and about 40,000 reserves. A few other Asian countries are in the range of 20,000 to 30,000 marines. China is mainly transferring army units to the marines. Safely passing on a curve Decades down the road if Chinas economy exceeds the US by well over double and China is continuing to spend half the US level on the military on a GDP basis. China could consider if it worth the effort and risk to bump to matching the US on percentage level of military spending. However, if China has deterred conflict and protected and expanded its interests then why would China press for military dominance? As Sun Tzu said The greatest victory is that which requires no battle. In 2016 and 2017, marine heat waves killed half of the corals in the Great Barrier reef. It takes ten years for the coral to recover. John Veron is the worlds top coral reef expert. Between a quarter and a third of all marine species everywhere has some part of their life cycle in coral reefs. Losing the coral reefs will cause a third to a quarter of all marine species gets wiped out. In the summer of 2018, experts say no bleaching occurred. Veron predicts there will be mass bleaching of coral reefs around the world in five years out of every seven. There is also ocean acidification and a loss of oxygen. So warming is just part of the problem. Geoengineering and other mitigation is being funded by Australia The Commonwealth and Queensland governments have announced funding for feasibility projects aimed at manipulating surface water temperatures using three different techniques: * Creating a reflective surface film that would float on the surface of the water. Made from calcium carbonate (the same mineral as coral), the film would reflect sunlight, thereby lowering water temperatures and ultraviolet radiation exposure. A half a bucket of calcium carbonate to protect an entire hectare of coral reef. The film-forming component needs less than a teaspoon of material to keep that carbonate at the surface of the ocean. * Marine cloud brightening to also reflect more sunlight away from the reef. The plan is to spray microscopic salt particles into clouds using customised vessels or modified snow machines. This increases the concentration of droplets in clouds and encourages smaller, more reflective droplets to form. A very fine nozzle to pump small droplets of salt water at the rate of several billion per second. Clouds to reflect heat are formed. Trial to start on reef restoration project this summer on water mixing A machine that mixes water on the reef is another solution being put forward. Suzanne Long from the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre said a slow turning impeller would mix water vertically to lower its temperature. Water-mixing units with large, slow moving fans that will draw cool water from 10-30 meters deep and deliver it to surface areas to limit coral heat stress. In 2017 this proposal received A$2.2 million in Commonwealth funding, to test eight water-mixing units over a 1km square area of Moore Reef, off the coast of Cairns. Rob Giason from the Reef Restoration Foundation talked about the coral nursery project. Small pieces of coral being suspended from a tree-like structure under water is set to almost double in size after initial signs of success. He said the project involved resilient coral growing on the trees being replanted onto damaged reefs. Were very encouraged by what we see. We started with around 24 corals and within seven months were up to about 400, Mr Giason said. 69,000 people are employed by industries associated with the Great Barrier Reef. Fisheries provide hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue while tourism based on the Reef is estimated to provide around $6 billion each year. Maintaining coral cover on the Reef, indeed any reef, is extremely important. The Australian and Queensland governments are jointly investing approximately $200 million annually in the Reefs health. They are seeking innovative solutions to quickly restore the ecological functions provided by the Great Barrier Reef. Six innovators are sharing in over $1 million to commence projects in the Feasibility stage of the SBIR program. A further $1 million is available to develop the best solutions through the subsequent Proof of Concept stage. Invention commercialization course MILFORD Michael A. Blake, a registered patent attorney, will teach a one-evening course from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 4 on how to commercialize an invention. Topics will include can I make money with my invention, when to monetize, investors, do I need a prototype, should I worry about infringing other patents, how to license my invention and more, according to a news release. The course will be held at Law High School, Room 101, 20 Lansdale Ave. Cost is $30. To register, contact Milford Adult Education at www.milforded.org/academics/adult-education or 203-783-3461. Business Networking Breakfast Sept. 6 HARTFORD The Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce will hold a Business Networking Breakfast from 8-9:30 a.m. Sept. 6 at AARP, 21 Oak St., Suite 104. (Park in garage and AARP will validate parking.) Register online at http://members.ctglc.org/events. Housatonic River Job Network to meet ORANGE The Housatonic River Job Network will hold a mmeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 6 at Case Memorial Library, 176 Tyler City Road. Guest speaker will be Andy Ancel, development associate at Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust. Topic will be Networking 2 Referrals, including the fundamentals of networking and its importance in a job search. For information, email alexy56@hotmail.com. Networking in Milford MILFORD The Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold a Business After Hours networking event from 5-7 p.m. Sept. 13 at Colonial Toyota, 470 Boston Post Road. Cost is $15 pre-registration, $20 for members at the door and $25 for prospective members. To register or for information, call 203-878-0681 or visit www.milfordct.com. Chen Dan had doubts about betting millions of dollars to make high definition maps of Chinese roads. That was until she took charge of the business at NavInfo Co. and saw how they are essential to self-driving cars, with demand that could reach into the billions. Armed with one of just 14 mapping licenses in China, a permit system restricted to locals that locks out foreign rivals, Chen has built a team that will chart every traffic lane and on-ramp for 150,000 kilometers of highways by the middle of next year. With the support of Tencent Holdings, NavInfo is preparing to battle it out with ventures backed by local web giants Alibaba Group Holding and Baidu. Up-to-the-centimeter accuracy is critical in bringing driver-less cars to China and requires a level of detail well beyond the turn-by-turn navigation of GPS services or Google Maps. The mainland's autonomous vehicle market could be worth $500 billion by 2030, according to McKinsey & Co., and whoever owns the most detailed and expansive versions will have an asset that could be worth billions of dollars. China aspires to have 30 million autonomous vehicles by the end of the next decade but is being very careful about who helps it get there. Government sensitivity about security and access to key data drove the decision to lock out foreign firms, including Alphabet Inc.'s Waymo and General Motors' Cruise. That means anyone looking to sell driver-less cars in the world's largest auto market has to find a local partner with maps than can be used by their vehicles. "The Chinese government would need to carefully regulate the HD mapping license holders to ensure those players don't abuse their advantage to impede competition," said Ali Izadi-Najafabadi, an analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance. "International automakers are eager to sell their autonomous vehicles in China as it will likely be one of the early adopters of highly autonomous vehicles." To develop detailed maps requires collecting and processing enormous amounts of data. At NavInfo, two engineers can convert a Volkswagen Touran crossover into a mapping car in less than five minutes with a detachable set of 360-degree cameras and lidar sensors. The sensors on the car's roof shoot out 32 laser beams and measure how the light bounces back, to build a detailed picture of the surroundings. A two-person crew then take to the streets, one behind the wheel and the other in the passenger seat with a laptop connected to the sensors, monitoring the feeds. The process is repeated multiple times in different seasons to cover all conditions and angles. NavInfo has more than 10 such vehicles in its fleet, collecting all the features of the road, including lanes, tunnels and traffic signs. Some of the data is processed by algorithms before a team of almost 100 engineers gets involved to manually craft lines and improve accuracy. The end result is long stretches of tunnels and road that resemble computerized architecture designs, ready to guide unmanned cars. "Global carmakers are taking high-definition mapping seriously and have huge demand for high quality mapping data of China in terms of precision and depth," Chen said in a June interview in her office on the outskirts of Beijing. "This has been a great incentive for us to believe what we've been working on with so many efforts and investments are meaningful." NavInfo expects to secure its first orders for HD maps from a premium German carmaker this year, Chen said, declining to identify the customer. It's also working with HERE, the mapping company owned by Daimler, Audi andBayerische Motoren Werke, on a data standard compatible with all of their cars. The goal of NavInfo's mapping is to make it compatible with Level 4 autonomous driving, a term referring to vehicles that can pilot themselves in almost all environments and will stop safely if the human driver doesn't respond to a request for them to take over. A car equipped with HD maps could potentially do away with the expense of its own lidar sensors, which would cut thousands of dollars from the price tag. The key payoff is expected in 2020, when many carmakers are scheduled to start large-scale production of autonomous vehicles. Among the other Chinese companies pushing into driver-less cars, Baidu has garnered the most attention. The company is investing in artificial intelligence and has been named the country's self-driving national champion by the Ministry of Science and Technology. China's biggest search engine got its own mapping license when it bought a Beijing-based startup in 2013 and has since launched its Apollo project, a loose grouping of more than 100 driver-less car industry players including Ford and Hyundai. HD mapping could be a source of strength and profit for Baidu in the future, said Li Zhenyu, a vice-president overseeing its intelligent driving group. While there's no universal rule on how much detail is required to navigate driverless vehicles, the Beijing-based company's development of its own cars helps it better understand what they need from the map and what they don't need, according to Li. "In China licensing is an issue in this territory, and we have the license," said Li. "But even so, our AI technology, our existing experience in map-making technologies and our own development in driverless cars, all of these factors merged together have made our advantage quite obvious." For the carmakers, there is plenty of jockeying for position. GM has chosen Alibaba-owned AutoNavi for its Super Cruise driver-assistance system on Cadillacs it plans to sell in China. SAIC Motor Corp., the country's biggest carmaker, bought shares in license holder Wuhan Kotei Informatics Co. and formed a joint venture to develop driver-less mapping. Didi Chuxing, the country's largest ride hailing startup, obtained a license in 2017 and has a team working on maps and driver-less technology. Even online retailer JD.com has applied for a HD mapping license as it works on driver-less delivery trucks. The lure of the Chinese market is likely to keep foreign carmakers lining up for local partners and give the domestic players an edge, said Mark Schaub, a partner at King & Wood Mallesons in Shangai who specializes in foreign investment in China. "It's true these guys do have an advantage already," he said. CHESHIRE Police seized about 70 marijuana plants from the property of a local business that was being grown by a former Cheshire resident. Michael Desbiens, 43, was charged with interfering with an officer, criminal trespass, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of more than four ounces of marijuana and illegal manufacturing. A serious bug discovered in the Fortnite installer app was disclosed to the public before the fix was released widely. Epic Games quickly has the issue and rolled out a patch for the app across all Android smartphones. There has been no other mobile title on Android that has brought immense levels of attention to itself than Fortnite. Epic Games free-to-play battle royale game for Android was released with a lot of twists it was exclusive to Samsung devices initially and then was not made available on Google PlayStore. Therefore, it seemed that things could turn sour between Google and the Fortnite maker, which it has eventually indeed. Google has been pretty serious about maintaining top-notch security on Android by requiring several app developers to opt for the highly-secured PlayStore rather than relying on third-party app repositories. Since Fortnite can only be installed by a separate installer APK file, Google decided to perform an audit on it and came out with a result thats expected on app installers found outside the PlayStore. Google found out that the Fortnite installer had a flaw which could lead malicious apps installed on an Android phone to hack the download process and download something unintended. Google declared this to be unsafe, claiming that the installer left Android phones vulnerable to attacks and therefore, notified Epic Games to get the issue rectified before the issue was made public. Epic Games quickly resolved the issue and rolled out a patch for the app across all Android smartphones. However, Epic Games requested Google to keep the flaw a secret for 90 days, which could give enough time for people to update the app. Google instead made the issue public just after a week, putting Epic Games dissatisfied. Now the patched version of Fortnite Installer has been available for 7 days we will proceed to unrestrict this issue in line with Google's standard disclosure practices," read Googles disclosure on the Issue Tracker page. Epic Games replied, saying, Epic genuinely appreciated Google's effort to perform an in-depth security audit of Fortnite immediately following our release on Android, and share the results with Epic so we could speedily issue an update to fix the flaw they discovered. However, it was irresponsible of Google to publicly disclose the technical details of the flaw so quickly, while many installations had not yet been updated and were still vulnerable. An Epic security engineer, at my urging, requested Google delay public disclosure for the typical 90 days to allow time for the update to be more widely installed. Google refused. You can read it all at https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/112630336. Google's security analysis efforts are appreciated and benefit the Android platform, however, a company as powerful as Google should practice more responsible disclosure timing than this, and not endanger users in the course of its counter-PR efforts against Epic's distribution of Fortnite outside of Google Play." Its clearly evident that Google chose to ignore Epic Games request by unveiling the bug to the public. However, Google goes by its strict guidelines for ensuring user data security and maintaining transparency about its processes. "User security is our top priority, and as part of our proactive monitoring for malware, we identified a vulnerability in the Fortnite installer. We immediately notified Epic Games and they fixed the issue," this statement makes Google right in its place. Had Epic Games gone for the PlayStore route instead of hogging all its profits for itself, it wouldnt have had to face such issues. Apple clearly restricts developers to its App Store as the sole source for installing new apps on iOS devices, which helps the company maintain security on its devices across the world. (via) (source) HARTFORD A city man recently pleaded guilty to illegal gun possession and heroin distribution offenses, the Department of Justice said. Rufus Howell, 40, of Hartford, pleaded guilty Friday to one count possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon and one count of possession of heroin with intent to distribute. Court documents showed that on June 21, 2017, Howell was arrested after a search of a car he was driving in Hartfords North End had a loaded 9mm pistol in it. Court documents showed law enforcement also found about 14 grams of heroin and fentanyl, roughly 40 grams of cocaine and an undisclosed amount of marijuana. Howells criminal history includes multiple state felony convictions and a 2005 federal felony narcotics conviction, the DOJ said. Federal law forbids a convicted felon from owning a gun or ammunition. The gun charge carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison. The drug charge carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison. Howell has been detained since his arrest in June 2017. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 16. NEW HAVEN When the K2 overdoses hit the Green and other parts of the city the evening of Aug. 14, ambulances rushed to bring the victims to Yale New Haven Hospitals two campuses. As the overdoses turned into a crisis the next day, with ambulances answering 114 calls through midday Aug. 16, American Medical Response drivers were directed to either the York Street or St. Raphael emergency departments. It was the job of the Capacity Coordination Center, situated on the fifth floor of the Smilow Cancer Hospital, to make sure both hospitals shared the rush of incoming patients some of whom had overdosed, been discharged and overdosed again so that neither Emergency Department was overloaded. Fewer than 10 of the overdosing patients were admitted. If there had been a large need for beds, however, the coordination centers job would have become much more important. The center clearly was a huge asset as we transported 114 (cases) that were spread out over both hospitals as a part of the coordination and capacity of our new system, said Rick Fontana, director of emergency operations for the city. I think everybody agreed that we were able to split the individuals based on their signs and symptoms to both hospitals and not to overburden either hospital at one time. We were quite busy, said Tim Craven, operations manager for AMR of New Haven, which serves seven cities and towns. We deal with overdoses on a daily basis but the numbers were overwhelming. The center, led by Maribeth Cabie, is the place that makes patients trips to Yale New Haven, their stays in either of the two main hospitals and their discharges as efficient and comfortable as possible, according to those who work there and those who interact with the hospitals. Theres a lot of factors that go into that perfect bed selection for that patient, said Cabie, who has a background in pharmacy. What makes this work is the communication and collaboration within this room. After patients arrive at the Emergency Department, if they are admitted to the hospital, other parts of the coordination center are linked in, from the pool of nurses and other staff who are not attached to a unit and who can be assigned where needed, to doctors who can discuss the care the patients need, to the staff who transport patients to their bed, to the people who clean and prepare the room. The two elements that make the coordination center succeed are technology and increased communication among all the departments within the hospital, as well as the citys Department of Emergency Operations and AMR. Its about improving the processes, Cabie said. If I can get you from the ED to your bed in a more timely and efficient manner, your care starts earlier and on the back end youre able to leave earlier. If I can even save 10 minutes in the ED over the course of a year that becomes a significant amount of time. The technology is represented by a dashboard, run by the Epic medical records system that is used by all of the Yale New Haven Health System, including doctors practices in the community. The computer screens give detailed information about patient population, available beds, bed-cleaning time, transport time and quality and safety indicators. The left side shows patients on their way to the hospitals, the center describes those who have been admitted and the right side shows discharges and ambulances on their way out, according to Dr. Victor Morris, administrative director of physician and patient access services. We are the first institution to create these dashboards, Cabie said. They are built in and part of our electronic medical record, which is Epic. They update automatically with live feed because theyre in the medical record and are able to update us with that situational awareness. The setup of using Epic for our dashboards has led a lot of academic medical institutions and health systems to come and visit us here, Cabie said, including the University of Pennsylvania. But all the data would be useless if staff stayed in their departments, not in proximity to each other. What makes this work is the communication and collaboration within this room, Cabie said. While other hospitals track the number of patients coming into their emergency departments, The way that weve approached the coordination center concept is different from what other places have, said Dr. Robert Fogerty, who is Cabies physician partner in the center. We spend more time thinking about patients that are here, as well as patients that are going home from here. Not everyone involved is located in the coordination center, but meetings four times a day involve people who dock in from other departments: pharmacy, food and nutrition, TeleHealth, laboratories and quality and safety among them. At the morning meeting, they may discuss how many operating room cases were expecting to have admitted into the hospital as well as how many discharges are expected, Cabie said. AMR will tell us how many ambulances have come to the hospital. It creates a picture of what the day looks like. Its very structured so everyone who needs to know is aware if an MRI scanner goes down or if theres an electronic medical record update, Fogerty said. Its a time where we can provide any critical updates that will impact the operations of the hospital, Cabie said. From a practical perspective, because we have two points of entries here in town, it helps everyone to have the ability to help direct where theyre able to go to. so we can handle that patient better and quicker, said Dr. Andrew Ulrich, operations director for the Emergency Department. By communicating with AMR as the ambulance is heading to the hospital, Essentially, what theyre doing is load balancing, Cabie said. Having a good view [of] where beds are more or less available helps them to know where best to send that patient. I think the important thing is when you have multiple fire departments and ambulances out in the field transporting people to the hospital as you bring patients in, those patients get tied up in triage, said Fontana. While a patient wouldnt be refused if he or she wanted to go to the main campus on York Street, they might be told its going to be an extended wait time there and that theyd be better off going to St. Raphael, Fontana said. I think the best thing is patient outcome is much better by evening out the numbers, he said. Our personnel are out on the street quicker. Where to direct the ambulance is one small part of what goes on in here, Ulrich said. It was the realization of how many different services and groups are involved in patient care and integrating all those services together in one area. There were a lot of sequential activities that would occur. Here, what theyve done is make everything work in parallel. One of the largest groups we have in here is our bed-management group, Cabie said. Once its decided that a patient is ready for admission, theyre finding the right bed at the right time for the right patient. If we have a critical patient that needs an ICU-level bed, there may be collaboration within the room to identify the bed, make sure its cleaned and to make sure that we get the patient to that bed as soon as possible. The center also works with AMR when it comes to discharging patients. We work on who do we need to get out, where do they [have] to go, whether its a rehabilitation center or home, Craven said. Its up to my employees to get the discharges out of the hospital. By efficiently managing discharges, My crew coming in is not delayed with a patient because theres now a bed in the emergency room, Craven said. If an Emergency Department patient is admitted, it frees up space in the ED, and now the patient doesnt have to wait on my stretcher, waiting for a bed to become available, he said. Another major component the coordination center relies on is the Nursing Resource Operations Center. Our department is essentially the float pool, said Laura Jansen, interim clinical program director. We have nurses, we have PCAs [patient care assistants], we have sitters, who will stay with a patient who might endanger himself or try to leave the hospital. Jansen said the Capacity Coordination Center has improved her employees ability to do their jobs. Number one, its created awareness within our group of how our department affects other departments within the hospital in regards to patient flow, she said. Hopefully, its streamlined and youre going to get your nurse assigned to you. There are 400 members of the pool, including staffing associates who actually live up here in the coordination center, Jansen said, communicating with others in the nursing resource center. The nurses are very vital to us, especially at times when were at surge to potentially open additional beds for use, Cabie said. The pool is important to everything that we try to do, but I could say that about everybody thats in here, Fogerty said. If the bed isnt clean or the room isnt clean, it doesnt matter. You could have the worlds greatest surgeon. All the fancy IT and data stuff that we have sets the discussion, he said. It reminds us that its not about a job or a task. Its about the patient in the bed. edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382. NEW HAVEN Family and colleagues remembered the late Lawrence J. DeNardis, former U.S. congressman and previous president of the University of New Haven, as dedicated to the campus and Connecticut. DeNardis died at 80 on Friday at Yale New Haven Hospital surrounded by his family, according to his obituary. DeNardis was the University of New Havens fifth president, serving from 1991 to 2004. Dr. DeNardis legacy is embedded in the University of New Haven, said Steven H. Kaplan, president of UHN, in a letter to the campus. It can be seen in the remarkable work of our students, faculty and staff, as well as our alumni. He embodied the spirit and history of this great institution, and we are grateful for his many contributions. DeNardis was active in Connecticut politics, most notably serving a term as a U.S. representative for the Third District from 1981 to 1983. He was also a Connecticut state senator from 1970 to 1979, where he sponsored the states first school funding formula to equalize funding between school districts, according to his obituary. Larry was deeply committed to public service, devoted to his country, his community and his beloved state of Connecticut, said his daughter, Lesley DeNardis, in the letter. His loss leaves a great void in our family and our community. We are especially grateful to those of you who shared Dads last days with us; thank you for your support and your prayers. DeNardis was also a delegate at the Connecticut State Republican conventions from 1966-1982, where he served as chairman in 1982, in addition to serving as a delegate in the 1976 Republican National Convention. He held several other positions, including president of the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges from 1979 to 1980 and acting assistant secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services from 1985 to 1987. Most recently, DeNardis served as a member of the Connecticut State Board of Regents for Higher Education and chairman of the Connecticut Humanities Council. He was born in New Haven and graduated from Hamden High School in 1956, where he met his wife of 57 years, Mary Louise White. They had four children and five grandchildren. Calling hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Beecher and Bennett Funeral Service, with a Mass held at noon Tuesday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Hamden. The University of New Haven also plans to hold a memorial service soon. McCain died following a battle with brain cancer and condolences came swift from the highest reaches of American politics. Ex-president Barack Obama, the Democrat to whom McCain lost the presidency in the 2008 elections, said, 'we are all in his debt.' (Photo: AP) Washington: US senator John McCain, a celebrated war hero known for reaching across the aisle in an increasingly divided America, died today following a battle with brain cancer. He was 81. "Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28 pm on August 25, 2018. With the senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family," his office said in a statement. "At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for 60 years. Sen McCain, thank you for your service," read a sign near the driveway of his home in a rural part of Sedona, Arizona, television footage showed, as a police escort accompanied the hearse that was to carry his body and local residents came bearing flowers for the late political titan. While he had many disagreements with fellow politicians, the Republican stalwart's integrity was not at question, and condolences came swift from the highest reaches of American politics after his passing. Ex-president Barack Obama, the Democrat to whom McCain lost the presidency in the 2008 elections, said, "we are all in his debt." "John McCain and I were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds and competed at the highest level of politics," Obama said in a statement. "But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher -- the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched and sacrificed." Former vice president Al Gore -- who served under Democrat Bill Clinton -- said, "I always admired and respected John from the opposite side of the aisle, because he thrived under pressure, and would work to find common ground, no matter how hard." President Donald Trump, who once mocked McCain's war record, said he sent his "deepest sympathies and respect." McCain had been a rare and outspoken Republican critic of Trump, accusing him of "naivete," "egotism" and of sympathizing with autocrats. On Capitol Hill, McCain became close friends with Senator Lindsey Graham and former senator Joe Lieberman -- a trio dubbed the "Three Amigos." Now that the trio is missing its driving force, Graham wrote that "America and Freedom have lost one of her greatest champions... And I've lost one of my dearest friends and mentor." McCain, who was tortured during his five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, stopped treatment from an aggressive form of cancer earlier this week, his family saying, "the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict." He had spent more than three decades in the Senate, looming large in debates over war and peace and the moral direction of the nation. Before joining the upper chamber, he served as a US representative from 1983 to 1987. McCain had not been on the Senate floor in months, remaining at his Arizona home for treatment of glioblastoma -- the same form of brain cancer that took the life of another Senate giant, Democrat Ted Kennedy, in 2009. by Thomas Moriarty and Matt Gray | NJ Advance Media.com One of the biggest threats to the United States in the eyes of Trump voters? MS-13. That's according to the results of a poll conducted by Huffington Post/YouGov, which found 85 percent of those who voted for the president rated the transnational street gang a "very serious" or "somewhat serious" threat to the nation. In New Jersey, the gang has been blamed for numerous vicious crimes, including one of the most notorious acts of violence in Essex County's history. But just how dominant the gang is in the streets of the U.S. much less the Garden State is debatable. Don't Edit Mara Salvatrucha, better known as MS-13, is a street gang formed in the U.S. in the 1980s by Salvadoran immigrants. Members of the gang later established a presence in El Salvador after being deported from the U.S. (FBI photo) Since the 2016 election, the gang, also known as Mara Salvatrucha, has become a popular talking point in the Trump administration's push for strict immigration policies, with the president fanning controversy by referring to its members as "animals." While clearly a problem, MS-13 is smaller than several other gangs, and mostly targets other gang members and their associates. Also, much of MS-13's recent notoriety comes as a result of high-profile homicides attributed to a Long Island chapter or set. I think there is a lot of hype around the gang that the numbers just dont reflect, said Michael Paarlberg, assistant professor of political science at Virginia Commonwealth University and associate fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies. Here's what we know and don't know about the gang's presence in the Garden State: Don't Edit Union County law enforcement officers walk to the scene of an April 22, 2015, fatal shooting near Court Street in Elizabeth. Three members of MS-13 later pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in the death of the 18-year-old victim, whom they believed was associating with a rival gang. (Katie Lannan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) First shots Federal authorities have said Mara Salvatrucha grew out of communities of Salvadoran immigrants who settled in Los Angeles in the 1980s, when their own country was wracked by a civil war. Finding themselves victimized by members of other gangs, some banded together for self-defense but turned toward criminality. MS-13 became transnational after some of its young members were deported to El Salvador and reconstituted the gang after finding themselves shunned in a country where they had few personal ties, Paarlberg said. Don't Edit Marvin Argueta, charged with murder in the Feb. 15, 2004, fatal shooting of Miguel Gamez at a bar in Newark, appears in state Superior Court in Newark on Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018, for a detention hearing after being extradited to the U.S. from El Salvador. (Andrew Miller | For NJ Advance Media) One of the earliest public references to the gang found in New Jersey press clippings is in a December 2000 report in The Star-Ledger, in which the Essex County Prosecutors Office described the gang as one of a number active in the county. Less than four years later, MS-13 was linked to a shooting that left one dead and three injured at a Newark bar the morning after Valentine's Day. Two men, one of them a member of the gang prosecutors said hoped to impress high-ranking members, pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in the killing of Miguel Gamez. After more than 14 years at large, the alleged gunman, Marvin Argueta, was finally located in El Salvador and extradited to New Jersey this month to face murder charges. Don't Edit This MS-13-related graffiti appeared underneath a bridge in Delaware River Park in Philipsburg in December 2007. (Michael Buck/Express-Times) Gaining a foothold In numerous public statements in recent years, Justice Department officials have put the number of MS-13 gang members in the U.S. at "more than 10,000." A Justice Department official reached last week could only confirm the 10,000-member figure was current, and did not have data available on a state-by-state basis. But over the last decade, the state of New Jersey has made its own attempts to track gang activity in the state. In a 2001 New Jersey State Police study, a survey of 206 municipal law enforcement agencies found 20 of them reporting an MS-13 presence in their jurisdiction, compared to 34 reporting the presence of the Latin Kings and 28 reporting a Bloods presence. A similar study conducted by State Police in 2004 surveyed all 479 municipalities that maintained their own police departments at the time. Of those, 36 reported the presence of MS-13. The presence of the Bloods, Crips or Latin Kings, by comparison, was reported by 110, 80 and 78 municipalities, respectively. Don't Edit Don't Edit Mourners in Newark on Aug. 11, 2007, hold posters for depicting (from left) Dashon Harvey, Terrance Aeriel and Iofemi Hightower, who were killed by MS-13 members in a city schoolyard earlier that month. (Scott Lituchy/The Star-Ledger) Regardless of the gang's strength at the time, MS-13 members in New Jersey found themselves under national scrutiny three years after that study when five of them took part in a horrific attack on four college-aged friends in Newark. Three of the victims Dashon Harvey and Iofemi Hightower, both 20, and Terrance Aeriel, 18 were fatally shot execution-style on the playground of the Mt. Vernon School, while a 19-year-old woman survived being stabbed and shot after a sexual assault. One of the men who took part in the killings, Rodolfo Godinez, told investigators the crime had been ordered by MS-13 leaders in New York as a test for a new member. The gang members each received 155 years or more in prison for their respective role in the slayings. Don't Edit Federal authorities allege an MS-13 recruit fatally shot a 19-year-old man as he entered this apartment in West New York on July 1, 2015. (Laura Herzog | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) By the numbers ... or not When it comes to major gangs in the U.S., Paarlberg said, people generally think of the Latin Kings, the Bloods, the Crips and the Aryan Brotherhood. All of those gangs are larger than MS-13, he said, noting a lesser-known gang in Texas called Tango Blast has an estimated 19,000 members in the Lone Star state alone. Thats not to say MS-13 members are pleasant people, Paarlberg adds. Theyre not nice guys, he said. His point is that there are much bigger players in the organized crime world. Don't Edit MS-13 graffiti marks a wall in a public parking lot in Plainfield in June 2001 photo. (Star-Ledger photo/Joe Epstein) It's not clear when the figure of 10,000 members nationwide was first used in reference to MS-13, but its earliest formal publication appears to be in the FBI's 2009 National Gang Threat Assessment, which put the number of MS-13 members in the U.S. at "8,000 to 10,000." The most recent editions of the gang threat assessment do not include individual membership estimates for gangs operating in the country, but the 2009 report put the nationwide membership of the Bloods alone at up to 30,000, the Crips at 30,000 to 35,00 and the Latin Kings between 22,200 and 42,500. The last state-level gang study results published by State Police were from a survey conducted in 2010, when 67 of the 565 municipalities surveyed reported an MS-13 presence. As in the 2001 and 2004 gang surveys, the Latin Kings were again reported in more New Jersey towns than any other gang, with 106 municipalities documenting their presence. Uncertainties in the number of MS-13 members in the country are almost all due to the same issue that researchers from American University and the Insight Crime reporting project wrote about in a Justice Department-financed report published earlier this year. At the heart of the problem is how to define who is a gang member, researchers wrote, noting the FBI itself had acknowledged the lack of a uniform national definition is an impediment to research. Don't Edit Inez Yancha, the mother of Christian Tigsi, speaks to a crowd in Plainfield on Feb. 12, 2009, in front of the train station where her 18-year-old son was fatally shot by MS-13 members earlier that week.(Tim Farrell/The Star-Ledger) Even without hard data on their numbers, the gang has earned notoriety for violent crime in the state: Don't Edit Then U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman, right, and Acting Union Couty Prosecutor Grace Park listens address reporters in Newark on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013, to announce the federal indictment of more than a dozen members of MS-13 in Plainfield. (Aristide Economopoulos/The Star-Ledger) What the cops are doing about them MS-13s presence in the Garden State certainly hasnt escaped the watchful eyes of federal and county prosecutors, who have mounted multi-pronged attacks on the gangs major cliques throughout the state over the past decade. A lengthy investigation by the FBI and Union County law enforcement agencies allowed the U.S. Attorney's Office in 2013 to obtain an indictment against 14 members of the gang's Plainfield clique. Eight members were convicted at trial, while another five accepted plea bargains from federal prosecutors. The gang's leader was among five defendants who received life sentences for a string of murders. The 14th defendant, Walter Yovany Gomez, fled from authorities trying to serve an arrest warrant and remained at large until August 2017. The FBI said Gomez, who was added to the bureau's "Ten Most Wanted" list that May, was arrested after investigators received a tip from the public. His case is pending in U.S. District Court. Don't Edit Don't Edit Federal law enforcement agents escort alleged MS-13 member Walter Yovany-Gomez from the FBI building in Newark on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017, after his arrest on a federal murder charge. (Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) MS-13's Hudson County membership has also fallen squarely in the crosshairs of federal prosecutors in Newark, who've built cases against those gang members for a number of murder plots as well as an attempt to create a national organization connected to imprisoned gang leaders in El Salvador. With current Justice Department prioritizing both violent crime and immigration prosecutions, its likely these targeted investigations will only continue in the near future. Don't Edit A sheriff's officer handcuffs Jose Carranza, one of five MS-13 members who took part in the killing of four people at the Mt. Vernon School in Newark in 2007, following his murder conviction on Feb. 14, 2012. (John O'Boyle/The Star-Ledger) Related slides Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Lou Manzo finally got religion. His first book was on the environment. The second was a smash hit smashing Chris Christie. His third book -- and first novel -- brings him back to his Jersey City West Side neighborhood, where he nurtured his Catholic faith at St. Aloysius Church, right at the mouth of the entrance to Lincoln Park. "An Irish Lullaby" tells the story of the fictional Rev. Sean O'Connor, now 75, a former pastor of St. Aloysius who's back for a second assignment at the tail end of his career. The new pastor is a monsignor, a rank O'Connor never reached. A cast of memorable characters fills out the storyline: a Catholic deacon and his wife, staff members of the local Planned Parenthood, a rabbi, and the first Italian it's about time archbishop of Newark, Mario Scaponi. But despite the book's disclaimer that "any resemblance to actual events, locales, persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental," people will know several, most notably, the late Ed Ford, aka "The Faa," a former columnist for The Jersey Journal. Ford owned Dohoney's, a West Side watering hole two blocks from St. Al's, which even lures Archbishop Scaponi in for a surprise party. Then there's Lee's luncheonette, Moose Hall, the Jersey City Medical Center and Medical Arts Building nearby, Journal Square, and Pompei Pizza right across from St. Al's schools. It's a West Side and Jersey City stew. "It's an assortment of priests," Manzo, 63, a former Hudson County freeholder and state assemblyman, said of O'Connor and Monsignor Timothy Norton. Though they are hybrids, they could be almost any of the mainly Irish pastors and priests who have served at the real St. Aloysius through its 127-year history. Manzo did acknowledge that the real Father Gerard P. Kelly was his main model for O'Connor. Kelly served at St. Al's from the 1939 to '64 and was a former boxer. I never met him but he was the one curate people spoke about when I served as a parochial vicar there. "As a young kid, I was magnetized by the guy," Manzo said. "He was a regular guy." And O'Connor comes across that way with his Irish brogue and involvement in the life of the parish. He was not just a sacramental priest who stayed in the rectory. He was in the lives of the people -- and also in their faces. In one memorable scene in the book, a colleague of Aubrey Fitzgibbon, perhaps O'Connor's chief antagonist, wants to get even with her and concocts a scene with church bulletins. O'Connor stops her in her tracks. "An Irish Lullaby" is a good read. I worried at first when abortion became front and center where it would go. Manzo wanted to explore the pro-choice stand because "it went against my teachings as a Catholic." He did research about the mechanics of abortion and it opened his eyes. He describes one in detail, but the direction he takes surprises. Fitzgibbon heads the Hudson Family Planning Center and is a faithful Catholic married to a deacon at St. Al's, Michael. She's a feminist and a tough cookie, not unlike many of the West Side Jersey City women. O'Connor was from the old school so showdowns are inevitable. But feeling, forgiveness and compassion are the main qualities that jump from the pages. After serving in the Jersey City Health Department from 1977 to '89, Manzo wrote his first book, "God's Earth Also Cried," about the environment. He had been instrumental in getting the county to abandon a plan to build an incinerator when he served as freeholder. He eventually ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Jersey City five times. The last attempt snared him in Christie's cross hairs and he was charged with corruption, which he fought successfully, costing him $100,000. His second book, "Ruthless Ambition," sold more than 10,000 copies, taking on Christie for what Manzo said was the politicization of federal prosecutors. When I had lunch with Manzo at the Princess Maria diner in Wall, I was amazed to learn he was never in St. Aloysius' rectory, which in reality is the largest in the archdiocese, and not the three-story Victorian as described in the book. It can house 10 priests, and the pastor's bathroom can be a Hoboken bedroom. And you can enter the church without leaving the rectory. Manzo started researching and writing his book in 2014 and is almost finished with his fourth, another novel, this one set in Asbury Park near his new home in Belmar. It's a romance novel. One thing you'll take from "An Irish Lullaby": He could go from Jersey City to the Jersey Shore, but Manzo's heart is in the West Side of Jersey City. Details ... "An Irish Lullaby," by Louis Manzo, Moonshine Cove Publishing; $13.99. Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites now; in stores next week. A book signing is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at BookTowne, 171 Main St., Manasquan. For information, call 732-722-7225 or go to booktowne.com. EDITOR'S NOTE: The Rev. Alexander Santora is the pastor of Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph, 400 Willow Ave., Hoboken, 07030, FAX: 201-659-5833; Email: padrealex@yahoo.com; Twitter: @padrehoboken. Hudson County will receive more than $6 million for infrastructure improvements in 2019 as part of a state-wide, multi-million dollar County Aid grant announced this week by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The grant, totaling $161.25 million, is roughly the same amount of funding set by the NJDOT last year. The agency in 2018 doubled the funding allocation from the year prior, making it the largest County Aid grant in state history. The funding will be dispersed to New Jersey's 21 counties to help maintain local roads and bridges, and keep them in a state of good repair, the NJDOT said. "County Aid is just one of many programs that demonstrate the Murphy Administration's commitment to improving infrastructure throughout New Jersey at every level of government," NJDOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti said. "This is your gas tax at workproviding vital funds to counties for necessary repairs to roads and bridges under their jurisdiction, without burdening local property taxpayers." Hudson County will receive $6,542,382, while Bergen County will receive the most funding: $13,524,519. County Aid funds are apportioned based on population and centerline miles in each county, the NJDOT said in a release, and each county selects the projects that receive funding. The NJDOT says it has been working to enhance its efforts to assist local governments identify potential projects and apply for additional funding -- made possible through the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) Reauthorization Act of 2016 -- through a recently created initiative, "Commitment to Communities." Funding for grants-in-aid programs to counties and municipalities increased from $190 million per year to $430 million under the TTF reauthorization, the NJDOT said. Counties are required to submit eligible projects to the NJDOT for approval prior to February 1, 2019. Corey W. McDonald may be reached at cmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @coreymacc. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. By NICOLE WINFIELD DUBLIN -- The Vatican's retired ambassador to the United States has penned an 11-page letter accusing senior Vatican officials of knowing as early as 2000 that the disgraced former archbishop of Newark and Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, D.C., ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, regularly invited seminarians into his bed but they still promoted him to cardinal. The letter, an extraordinary j'accuse from a one-time Holy See diplomat, also accuses Pope Francis of having initially rehabilitated McCarrick despite being informed of his penchant for young seminarians in 2013, soon after he was elected pope. The National Catholic Register and another conservative site, LifeSiteNews, published the letter attributed to Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano on Sunday as the pope was wrapping up a two-day visit to Ireland. Vigano, 77, a conservative whose hard-line anti-gay views are well known, also urged the reformist pope to resign over the issue. He and the pope have long been on opposite ideological sides, with the pope more a pastor and Vigano more a cultural warrior. The Vatican didn't immediately comment on the letter or confirm its authenticity. In it, Vigano accused the former Vatican secretaries of state under the previous two popes of having ignored detailed denunciations against McCarrick for years. He said Pope Benedict XVI eventually sanctioned McCarrick in 2009 or 2010 to a lifetime of penance and prayer, but that Francis subsequently rehabilitated him. Francis accepted McCarrick's resignation as cardinal last month, after a U.S. church investigation determined that an accusation he had sexually abused a minor was credible. Since then, another man has come forward saying McCarrick began molesting him starting when he was 11, and several former seminarians have said McCarrick abused and harassed them when they were in seminary. The accusations have led to a crisis in confidence in the U.S. hierarchy, because it was apparently an open secret that McCarrick regularly invited seminarians to his New Jersey beach house, and into his bed. Coupled with the devastating allegations of sex abuse and cover-up in a recent Pennsylvania grand jury report -- which found that 300 priests had abused more than 1,000 children over 70 years in six dioceses -- the scandal has led to calls for heads to roll and for a full Vatican investigation into who knew what and when about McCarrick. Vigano apparently sought to answer some of those questions. His letter identifies by name the Vatican cardinals and archbishops who were informed about the McCarrick affair, an unthinkable expose for a Vatican diplomat to make. He said documents backing up his version of events are in Vatican archives. Vigano, the Vatican's ambassador to the U.S. from 2011-2016, said his two immediate predecessors "did not fail" to inform the Holy See about accusations against McCarrick, starting in 2000. He said Francis asked him about McCarrick when they met on June 23, 2013, at the Vatican's Santa Marta hotel where the pope lives, three months after Francis was elected pope. Vigano wrote that he told Francis: "Holy Father, I don't know if you know Cardinal McCarrick, but if you ask the Congregation of Bishops, there is a dossier this thick about him. He corrupted generations of seminarians and priests and Pope Benedict ordered him to withdraw to a life of prayer and penance." Vigano wrote he was surprised to find that McCarrick started travelling on missions on behalf of the church soon thereafter, including to China. McCarrick was also one of the Vatican's intermediaries in the U.S.-Cuba talks in 2014. The letter also contains a lengthy diatribe about homosexuals and liberals in the Catholic church. It often reads like an ideological manifesto, naming all of Francis' known supporters in the U.S. hierarchy as being complicit in a cover-up of McCarrick's misdeeds. Vigano, however, also has had his own problems with allegations of cover-up, and he and Francis had a major dust-up during Francis' 2015 visit to the U.S., which Vigano organized. In that incident, a leading U.S. campaigner against gay marriage, Kim Davis, was among those invited to meet with the pope at Vigano's Washingon residence. Francis was so enraged that Davis' supporters had leaked word of her meeting that the Vatican subsequently insisted he only held one private audience while there: with one of his former students, a gay man and his partner. The cover-up accusation, which Vigano denied, concerned allegations that he tried to quash an investigation into the former archbishop of St. Paul-Minneapolis, Minnesota, John Nienstedt, who was accused of misconduct with adult seminarians. In 2016, the National Catholic Reporter said Vigano allegedly ordered the investigation wrapped up and a piece of evidence destroyed. The report cited a 2014 memo from a diocesan official that was unsealed following the conclusion of a criminal investigation into the archdiocese. No charges were filed. Nienstedt was forced to resign in 2015 over complaints about his handling of sex abuse cases. Vigano's name also made headlines during the 2012 "Vatileaks" scandal, when some of his letters were published in which he begged to not be transferred to the Vatican embassy in Washington from the central administration of the Vatican City State. He claimed he was being punished for having exposed corruption in the Vatican. The letters showed a clash with Benedict's No. 2, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who is also a target of his McCarrick missive. By Leslie M. Kantor Access to reproductive health care services -- including family planning, cancer screenings, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, and abortion -- is already under threat. However, the potential reversal of the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, which established a woman's right to an abortion, could make those critical services even more difficult to obtain. Hearings on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court are scheduled to begin Sept. 4. His views on reproductive health are a central question for policy makers to ascertain. Despite abortion rights being reaffirmed by the Supreme Court several times since 1973, the possibility of overturning Roe v. Wade is real given the retirement of Anthony Kennedy, who was often the swing vote in 5-4 decisions related to abortion. Kavanaugh has only ruled in one abortion case, Garza v. Hargan. In that case, he dissented from the Washington D.C. Court of Appeals decision that a teenager could temporarily leave government custody to obtain an abortion. This week, Kavanaugh reportedly told senators that Roe v. Wade is "settled law." That is quite different than saying that the law was correctly decided upon and it does not indicate whether he will support additional restrictions on abortion. One of the few things on which supporters of safe, legal abortion and opponents agree is that Kavanaugh is likely to be a foe of abortion rights on the Court. In the years since Roe was decided, a number of cases dealing with abortion have reached the Supreme Court. Most dealt with restrictions on access to abortion and the question of how much of an "undue burden" a state may place on the medical procedure. The Supreme Court has upheld the right to abortion and, in the most recent case, Hellerstedt v. Whole Women's Health, determined that scientific evidence must be considered in deciding whether to uphold abortion restrictions. However, despite these verdicts, abortion is extremely challenging to obtain in many parts of the country. In fact, there are many states with requirements related to abortion that are not scientifically-based that make getting the procedure onerous. For example, a number of states have mandated counseling that is deliberately designed to discourage a woman from obtaining an abortion, mandated waiting periods before an abortion, and unnecessary and burdensome regulations on abortion facilities. Abortion is one of the safest and most common medical procedures -- by the age of 45, one in four women have had an abortion. Waiting periods between counseling and obtaining an abortion, which are in place in 27 states, are not medically necessary, are not required for most other medical procedures and can have negative economic and health implications. Waiting periods in many states require women to travel to a health facility for counseling and then return again after the designated waiting period. The need to take off work, arrange transportation and, in some cases, childcare -- twice -- can be an economic burden. Plus receiving abortions later in pregnancy not only can have negative effects on emotional health, they can be more expensive and more medically risky It is important to know that abortion is already extremely challenging to obtain in many parts of the country. Since 2011, hundreds of abortion restrictions have been introduced in state legislatures and many have passed. The latest data available shows that 90 percent of U.S. counties, in which 40 percent of the U.S. population lives, do not have any abortion clinics. Forty-five states allow health care providers to refuse to participate in abortion care. And there is no federal funding for abortion leaving women without insurance coverage that includes abortion care to find ways to pay cash, a situation that can also delay procedures and cause emotional, physical and financial problems. Twenty-six states restrict abortion coverage in plans offered through health care exchanges and 11 states prohibit abortion care in ALL private insurance plans written in those states. Kavanaugh's appointment to the Supreme Court might also make abortion more necessary. He is opposed to the Affordable Care Act's birth control benefit, which requires birth control coverage in insurance plans. He authored a dissenting opinion in the D.C. Circuit's 2015 ruling on the ACA in which he asserted that employers have the right to deny their employees' health insurance coverage for birth control. What is likely to happen if Roe v. Wade is overturned? At that point, abortion would be governed by existing state laws and subject to any new laws passed at the state level. Twenty states are poised to immediately seek to ban abortion if Roe is overturned. In contrast to states with these restrictions, New Jersey has strong laws protecting women's health and both a Legislature and current governor who support access to abortion. But we should all be worried about the impact on women's health if access to abortion becomes any more restricted, which could happen as the result of a new Supreme Court justice who is willing to endorse state laws that make getting an abortion an even more challenging process. New Jersey's senators are likely to vote against confirming Kavanaugh, but we can all play a role in talking to friends and family in other states and encouraging them to get their senators to stand up to protect women's health and rights -- to use science and evidence to guide policy related to health care. Women's health and rights hang in the balance. Leslie M. Kantor is professor and chair of the Department of Urban-Global Public Health, Rutgers School of Public Health. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. The other day I came across an article on the College of New Jersey website dated July 12. It began, "Earlier this month New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy approved legislation dedicating $5 million to the Civic Information Consortium, a first-of-its-kind nonprofit with a mission to revive, strengthen and transform local media in New Jersey." In fact, Murphy did not sign that bill in July. He waited until late Friday to do so. And then he accompanied with his signature a note to the effect that the $5 million may not be available in this year's budget but that he's "hopeful" the money will materialize. I'm hopeful that it doesn't. This may be the worst bill I've seen in my long history of covering state politics. I yield to no one in my disappointment over the demise of local newspapers. I began my career at a time when there were two daily newspapers competing to cover virtually every public meeting in my county. But if the public officials were paying our salaries back then, the news would have looked a whole lot different. Our governor loves cliches. I suggest he consider the one about not biting the hand that feeds you. The decision on how to hand out the money will be made by a 13-member board that includes "two members appointed by the Governor; one member appointed by the President of the Senate; one member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; five members appointed by the president of each member university ..." That leaves plenty of opportunity for politics and ideology to intrude on the process. That sounds likely when you read the mission statement of the Free Press Action Fund, the group that "conceived the legislation by drawing on more than two years of community input and engagement," according to the article on the TCNJ communications site. "We believe the fight for racial justice must be at the center of transforming our media and our democracy," it reads. I've worked with some grizzled and tough old pros in my days as a journalist. If one of them had seen such an assortment of cliches turn up on his screen, he would have called the author over and asked, "What the hell is 'racial justice?' How is it different from regular justice? And if you want to transform our democracy, do it on your own time, kid. We're trying to put out a newspaper. Now rewrite this in plain English." In plain English, it translates to "We in the Democratic majority want to use public money to push off a lot of left-wing nonsense on the public." But if the people who'd be in charge of handing out this swag knew anything about local politics, they'd know there's not a lot of ideology in it, whether left, right or center. When I attended the Bay Head Borough Council meeting last week I watched as residents discussed such weighty matters as the speed with which kids on bikes come off the wooden bridge over Scow Ditch. There's no left-wing or right-wing way to get those kids to slow down. And when it comes to transforming our democracy, that's remarkably easy on the local level. Few residents want to put in the time to actually run a town. Those who do can usually get elected to office and do all the transforming they want. As for the question of who's going to report on that, the bill is a bit vague. It states that "The board is to appoint and employ an executive director" as well as "a limited number of administrative staff." Their salaries and benefits should blow through half a million bucks or so. As for the remainder, it is to be given out as grants to applicants that offer "evidence of a collaboration between at least one member of the faculty or graduate student of a member university ..." Or in other words, the unfortunate applicant has to waste his time talking to some academic who wouldn't last two minutes at a real newspaper. I'm sure the bill's sponsors meant well. Among them is Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, a Bergen County Democrat whose husband Frank is the mayor of Englewood. Huttle told me that when her husband first got elected nine years ago, the town's meetings were covered in detail by the Record. But now that paper, like others, can no longer afford to staff town meetings and most residents no longer know what's going on. "We don't have that local flair anymore," she said. "That's the problem if you have these council meetings and there's no one there to cover them." It is indeed the problem. As for the solution, I have no idea what it is. But it certainly doesn't involve the government. NOTE: That mistake about the timing of the bill signing was a minor one and has since been corrected. Anyone can make such a mistake, but what bothers me is that a similar mistake was made earlier by other internet sites and then repeated, which shows the danger of trusting what you read on the internet. Ironically, that's part of the problem here. Most people get their news off the internet now, and such errors, whether minor or major, tend to get circulated without being checked. I anticipated this in a piece I did on so-called "citizen journalism" for the Wall Street Journal back in 2009: "I encountered this back in the early 1970s in my communications classes at Rutgers. Cheap, portable video cameras had just been invented, and I was assured by the bearded professors and grad students that these cameras would lead to a rebirth of democracy. The citizenry would start recording public meetings and the result would be a revolution. "Now we're hearing the same thing about the blogosphere. "When enough bloggers take the leap, and start reporting on the statehouse, city council, courts, etc. firsthand, full-time, then the Big Media will take notice and the avalanche will begin," Mr. Reynolds quotes another blogger as saying. If this avalanche ever occurs, a lot of bloggers will be found gasping for breath under piles of pure ennui. There is nothing more tedious than a public meeting." That hasn't changed - except now there are even fewer newspapers paying reporters to attend those meetings. President Donald Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani has revealed the president recently floated the idea to his legal team of pardoning Paul Manafort and other close aides. Giuliani said the lawyers discouraged the president from giving out pardons, yet did not completely close the door to the possibility. Proponents of pardoning Manafort and other aides say pardons will protect the president and undo what they see as unjust convictions. Others say pardons will put the president in more legal jeopardy. What do you think? PERSPECTIVES Lawyer and political commentator Andrew Stoltmann argues in an op-ed for The Hill that Trump needs to pardon Manafort to undo what he sees as an unjust conviction. Stoltmann believes Trump has garnered enough goodwill for himself that he could weather any political blowback. Lisa Kern Griffin, a Duke University law professor, disagrees. She says in an interview with Vox that a pardon may be wasted on Manafort, as he is also charged with state crimes in addition to his federal crimes. Not only that, a pardon could further Robert Mueller's obstruction case against Trump. Trump already has a strategy in place to discredit Mueller and his investigation. Paul Waldman argues in an op-ed for The Washington Post that there's no reason the same tactic couldn't be taken with regards to pardoning Manafort. Trump has pardoned a significant number of people in his short tenure in office, none of which have caused any substantial harm to his standing. Yet, pardoning someone who is as deeply tied to the Russia investigation as Paul Manafort is, could be a far riskier move. Per The Atlantic: The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say. In a blowtorched American summer that now seems to be the new normal, we have experienced record-shattering heatwaves from L.A. to New Hampshire, devastating wildfires that can be seen from the space station, Arctic ice melts that cause rising sea levels and coastal flooding even on dry days, and storms that inundate entire cities and pulverize islands. With that as his guide, President Trump is taking another shot at converting the planet into a cosmic hothouse, which is even more nonsensical than it sounds. The Environmental Protection Agency, which under Trump doesn't protect much of anything other than fossil fuel interests, announced it will relax the rules on emissions from coal-fired power plants, an inexhaustible source of the greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere and cause the climate change we see in real time. This is remarkable for multiple reasons: These rules, known as the 2015 Clean Power Plan - which was designed to reduce coal plants emissions by 32 percent by 2030 - were already held up by the Supreme Court, but the energy industry was acting as if they were in effect because it was the pragmatic and profitable thing to do. And Trump's stated reason for the rollback is to give a coal another life by eliminating regulations, even though domestic power companies are phasing out coal plants as fast as they can. They know that the so-called war on coal was a devastating rout, as market forces, health concerns, and technology effectively consigned it to an irreversible fate. So the president figured it's time to wage war on breathing. The proposed rollback, which will face legal challenges, will expose the population to more fine particulate matter that is linked to heart and lung disease. Perhaps you've seen the most startling number: The EPA readily admits that eliminating the Clean Power Plan will cause up to 1,400 more premature deaths every year. It will also increase the number of asthma attacks in children by 40,000, increase the number of heart attacks by 1,700, and create 200,000 more missed school or work days. Every year. So much winning. But the president's coal obsession is almost as unsettling as his indifference toward the health of the public and the planet. Utilities have moved away from coal because natural gas, wind and solar are better investments. But Trump can't find another way to reward the Appalachian region and fossil fuel billionaires other than to keep coal plants open as long as possible. At his rallies, he does not mention the coal plants being shuttered in Kentucky and West Virginia. He never mentions how the green tide rolls on: Nationally, there are now 2.3 solar jobs for every coal job. America is blessed with extraordinary energy abundance, including more than 250 years worth of beautiful clean coal. We have ended the war on coal, and will continue to work to promote American energy dominance! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2018 His coal coquetry is especially damaging to New Jersey. We have only one such plant, but pollution doesn't respect borders: Between one-third and one-half of our air pollution comes from out of state, as we are downwind from Ohio and Pennsylvania, and Jersey ranks second only to Florida in damage from rising sea levels. So we need a national solution, the only guardrails are on Capitol Hill, and the silence of the New Jersey delegation from Trump's party is troubling. Reps. Tom MacArthur, Leonard Lance, Chris Smith and Rodney Frelinghuysen won't say whether they agree with gutting these standards. The one exception is retiring Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd Dist.), who reminds us that he supported reducing carbon emissions from new power plants, but not existing power plants, which is the heart of the Clean Power Plan. Most states are still on pace to meet their own emission reduction goals by 2030, but New Jersey may not be one of them, according to one study. Gov. Murphy could, however, set a strong emissions cap through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative; once New Jersey rejoins RGGI, the 10-state carbon market can effectively protect our state from Trump's treachery. But we need the Plan as a safety net, and it's bad enough that those who oppose it are driven by bad science. They ignore the lives and land fated to be collateral damage in a pointless debate between regulation and the climate calamity that is now all around us. Are your interests being served in Congress? Use this tool to keep track. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Who would have ever thought America would elect a president who had a "fixer"? Who needs a "fixer"? To me, this sounds like the Electoral College has selected a crime boss to run government. Who would have thought we would ever have a president who admittedly paid "hush money" to women who say he cheated on his wife with them? Does President Donald Trump fancy himself as the "Teflon Don," like John Gotti of the old New York crime family? The president has said he only hires "the best people," but the other day, he tweeted, "If anyone is looking for a good lawyer ... don't retain the services of Michael Cohen." You picked him as your former lawyer and fixer, Mr. President! Trump also praised his former campaign manager, Paul Manafort -- just convicted of non-Trump-related financial crimes -- for not "flipping" on Trump. With zero self-awareness, he went on to explain that flipping is when someone, to save their own skin from legal troubles, rats out the higher ups. Is Trump or his base really that stupid? What is he trying to hide? Now, the spineless, cowardly national Democrats won't talk about impeaching this stain on the White House, though the stain is there for all to see. The president can be called a unnamed co-conspirator of a confessed felon, Cohen. This should meet the Constitution's "high crimes" impeachment standard. Let's get going, Democrats. If the shoe were on the other political foot, the Republicans would have already done this. Do what's right instead of being laughable losers for eternity. Stand up for America, you losers. Roy Lehman, Woolwich Township Abolish-ICE crowd endangers U.S. security The Trump administration is engaged in a fight with anti-Trump "resisters" on order to protect U.S. borders and prevent illegal entry into the country. Those who support "sanctuary cities," open borders and the elimination of the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency are pushing for a dangerous and unrealistic policy that will harm America and is foreign to our political tradition. ICE guards our borders and airports, and stops shipments of dangerous drugs. It also prevents the entry of MS-13 and other international gang members, some of whom are engaged in trafficking human beings -- mostly young women and children. Just recently, ICE arrested and deported to Germany Jakiw Palij, 95, a former Nazi concentration camp guard who was living in Queens, N.Y., and had been in the United States since 1949. Prosecutors in Iowa say that the man accused of abducting and killing University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts, 20, was in this country illegally. Liberals seem to constantly defend those undocumented persons repeatedly violate sovereign U.S. borders and federal laws. The main responsibility of the president is to keep Americans safe, but his policies are being resisted continuously by the far left, including some elected officials and the biased anti-Trump media. It is impossible to have reasoned discussions when political polarization and inflamatory rhetoric exists on both sides. The president's provocative behavior and tweets do not always help the situation. Protecting our borders is an important but complex problem that has no easy answers. However, our leaders and representatives need to put aside their differences and work toward solving this issue. America's future depends on it. Matthew 12:25b states, "... every city or house divided against itself shall not stand." Barbara Essington, Carneys Point Township Rush delivery to end A.C. airport woes I just read the Aug. 23 South Jersey Times editorial "Parcels, not passengers? Worth a try at this N.J. airport." I agree that Atlantic City International Airport needs more flights and passengers. That would help, but I also agree that a plan for it to handle more freight and parcels is a great idea. We need this type of service in my part of the state. I have sent parcels on flights that originate at Newark Liberty International Airport for same-day delivery, and find that it is overwhelmed due to the large area it serves. Reaching Philadelphia International Airport from shore areas is also difficult because of the distance and traffic congestion. A larger cargo presence at ACY would provide jobs, including those in the delivery and shipping industries. This is a very important issue, even though the overall jobless rate is down. Stanley R. Swit, Toms River Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. It's one of the perks if you become New Jersey's governor: a state-owned beach house that you and your family can use. Maybe you remember it from last summer, when then-Gov. Chris Christie made international headlines after being photographed lounging on the sand outside the house at Island Beach State Park -- while the beach was closed to the public during a state government shutdown. But now, the Jersey Shore town where the house is located has a request of new Gov. Phil Murphy: Please sell or rent the building. The Berkeley Township Council passed a resolution earlier this month saying the sale or lease of the house is "a better use of the property than its current use." After all, the council members reason, it's "not inhabited often" and it costs the state money to maintain. Wouldn't it be more prudent, they suggest, for the state to score money from the sale and the town to collect the property taxes that would flow if the house became private? The town's mayor and members of the council did not return messages from NJ Advance Media seeking comment. But the idea is not a new one. Berkeley passed a similar resolution during Christie's tenure. And in the days after Christie's "Beachgate" controversy, selling or renting the property became a flashpoint in last year's race to succeed the brash governor. Christie's own lieutenant governor, running as a Republican in the election, called for the house to be sold to the public. At the same time, then-state Assemblyman John Wisniewski -- who unsuccessfully challenged Murphy for the Democrat nomination for governor -- introduced legislation for the house to be rented to the public. Wisniewski called it "a private luxury paid for with public money." Christie shot down the criticism flung his way at the time. "Run for governor, and you can have a residence there," he said tersely. Murphy, who succeeded Christie in January, has used the house only a handful of times -- two longer visits and one or two quick visits, according to a Murphy administration source who asked to remain anonymous because they are not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. So will Berkeley's resolution actually work this time? Don't bet on it. Murphy spokesman Mahen Gunaratna told NJ Advance Media "there are no plans to sell the beach house." Even if they wanted to sell it, it might be legally dicey because the house is part of a larger parcel of state land -- Island Beach State Park -- that can't be sold, according to the administration source. State Senate President Stephen Sweeney agrees, saying he believes it's off limits because it was purchased through an estate or foundation. Sweeney also doesn't see how much the state -- or town -- would benefit from the sale. At most, he said, Berkeley would see about $20,000 in taxes and the hundreds of thousands of dollars from the sale would be merely a drop in the bucket of the $37.4 billion state budget. "It's not enough," Sweeney, D-Gloucester, told NJ Advance Media. "Come on." Plus, he noted, the state owns "buildings everywhere." "What happens when Trenton demands we sell all government buildings to be taxable?" Sweeney asked. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. Gandhi said that there is a full-blown crisis in India and its called the job crisis and the Indian government is not accepting it. London/New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi said that the next general election will be fought between the BJP and an Opposition alliance that wants to stop institutions in India from being encroached upon. His comments coincide with the Congress gearing up for the 2019 Lok Sabha election with the formation of three crucial committees to look after coordination, manifesto and publicity in the polls. At an interaction with the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (UK) at the London School of Economics, Mr Gandhi highlighted Opposition unity against the ruling BJP. Weve agreed that our first priority is to defeat the BJP and stop this encroachment on the institutional space of India, stop the poison that is being spread, stop the division that is taking place, he said on Friday. Standing up for the oppressed is the idea of the Congress and every Indian has this embedded in them, he said. Mr Gandhi said that there is a full-blown crisis in India and its called the job crisis and the Indian government is not accepting it. Its simply saying that it does not exist. While creating three new committees in the Congress ahead of the 2019, Mr Gandhi has maintained the old guard in the core set up of the party. The nine-member core group committee comprises of A.K. Antony, Ghulam Nabi Azad, P. Chidambaram, Ashok Gehlot, Mallikarjun Kharge, Ahmed Patel, Jairam Ramesh, Randeep Surjewala and K.C.Veugopal. The publicity and manifesto committees have a mix of old-timers as well as fresh faces. The 19-member manifesto committee includes veterans like Mr Chidambaram, former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former Union ministers Salman Khurshid, Shashi Tharoor and Kumari Selja, besides former Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma. The 13-member publicity committee includes Randeep Surjewala, former ministers Anand Sharma, Manish Tewari and Rajeev Shukla. Were you given coffee-milk as a toddler? Ever get sips of dad's Dixies? Did your best birthday celebration include a Doberge cake from Beulah Ledner? And is the address 1825 Tulane forever burned into your memory? If so, you'll both revel in Ricky Graham's "Growing Up ... New Orleans Style," and need no interpreter for it! As audiences expect whenever Graham's name is above the marquee, "Growing Up" offers an evening of belly-busting laughs along with a tinge of wistful nostalgia of years gone by and being a kid in New Orleans anytime from the 1950s through to the '80s. Marcel Proust began his famed journey of memory upon tasting a madeleine dipped in tea. Graham's Proustian moment might better be accompanied by a beignet dunked into a mug of cafe au lait. Through the cloud of powdered sugar, the haze of lost time becomes detailed and clear. What: The show is playing through next weekend on the Lagniappe Stage of the Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts. The audience knows it's in for a fun night as soon as Graham enters performing "Let the Good Times Roll," decked out in a black bouffant worthy of either Elvis or a certain singing fried chicken king. With clever lyrical adaptations to favorite songs, as well as original compositions written with music director Jefferson Turner, Graham transports his audience back to a picture postcard look at a New Orleans of days gone by; a time when ladies dressed up and wore gloves to shop on Canal Street, when children rode the Bug at Pontchartrain Beach, or when we stood in line for blocks in City Park to see the King Tut exhibit at the New Orleans Museum of Art. (Remember the street being painted as blue as the Nile?) As in his other writing and performances that capture the spirit of life in New Orleans, however, Graham's success is not created by simply listing a directory of lost businesses or tossing out a catalogue of names. He knows and shares the stories behind just why those names and places mean so much to us. It is humor laced with layers of authenticity. Through story and song, Graham explores virtually all aspects of life here through the eyes of a child growing up, from Carnival season to the food culture. How many children tired of wearing the same costume each year for both Mardi Gras and Halloween? Until, that is, they outgrew it and had to try on clothes in the dreaded "husky" department at D.H. Holmes? The religious influence on the culture is depicted in a hilarious sequence of songs and ingeniously sharp lyrics adapted from "The Sound of Music." And Christmastime is recalled, of course, by the very special visit of a snowman from Maison Blanche. "Growing Up" might well be declared the official show of the city's Tricentennial celebrations, as Graham even depicts the Sun King, Louis XIV, with a rollicking number about the state that bears his name. There are moments of touching sweetness, as well. Along with newly written numbers, regular fans of Graham's work will be reunited with some beloved characters, most likely reminding them of their own parents, aunts and uncles, cousins or neighbors. It is that connection that he has with his audience - a deep and abiding relationship - that makes Graham's so-called "yat" comedy not mocking or insulting, but endearing and true. This is reflected in the lobby following the show. Audience members thank Graham, while also offering further ideas for the act. "But you didn't mention ..." they say, releasing the flood of memories that "Growing Up ... New Orleans Style" has joyfully elicited within them. The show trots along swiftly, as Graham is accompanied by Turner at the piano and backup vocals, and percussionist Brian Albus. Su Gonczy designed lights and sound. Stage manager Darrel Thaxton kept things flowing backstage through the quick costume changes, as Graham donned Cecile Casey Covert's colorful togs and Stephen Rizzo's props. In a time when so many of our traditions are fading because of a growing homogenization of American culture, or simply "ain't dere no more," Graham's show will delight those who lived through these times. One hopes, as well, that even as the life and times of the city continue to change and adapt, such memories will inspire everyone to hold on to and preserve just what makes this big neighborhood that we call home unique. The last time 26-year-old Ricardo Silva talked with his dad, Rick Silva, he told a story of bullets pinging off his New Orleans Police Department cruiser. Hundreds of miles away from his living room in Indiana, Rick shook his head and told him, "Son, you know I don't want to hear this." But Ricardo completed the recap, confiding in his father with tales from the field. "He loved his job, but I feel like he needed to get some stuff of his chest and I was the person he would talk to," Rick Silva said. Ricardo Silva, who went by Jesse, put his life on the line everyday as an officer with the New Orleans Police Department, but his final moments were aboard a motorcycle in St. Tammany Parish. Silva was fatally struck by a woman in an Acura while on an afternoon cruise along LA 1082. He was ejected from his motorcycle and sustained severe injuries, which he ultimately succumbed to at the hospital. Neither Silva nor the woman were impaired at the time of the crash, police said. For Rick Silva, his son's death means there is a little less light in the world. "I just can't believe he is gone," Silva said of his son. Silva described a man of overwhelming physical and emotional strength, who worked his way from cutting trees in Indiana to patrolling the streets of New Orleans. For most of his life, Silva was the oldest of nine siblings until, in his early teens, he relinquished that title to his best friend, Brandon Carter, who Rick Silva agreed to adopt after some coaxing from his son. Over the course of his five years with the Silva family, Carter shook free from a past of alcohol and drugs and eventually landed in the military. Silva said Carter learned of his best friend and brother's passing from Afghanistan, where he currently serves. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Through the two boys' teenage years, the family developed a tradition of playing video games together. At first, just Carter and Ricardo Silva would face-off, but they eventually cajoled both Rick Silva and his wife to join in. On any given afternoon, each would have a controller in hand, frantically pressing buttons and teasing one another from adjacent rooms. "Oh, that was a blast," said Rick Silva, who the boys dubbed "PapaDropShot" for his tendency to mess up the controls and cause his player to fall over. "It was an amazing time." After graduating high school, Ricardo Silva spent time working in the family's lumber business with the nagging ambition to join the police department. He eventually realized that dream by joining the Hobart Police Academy in Hobart, Indiana. When his longtime girlfriend, Taylor Stevens, graduated from Purdue University and landed a job in Louisiana, he followed her south. He joined the New Orleans Police Department in November 2016 and graduated from the academy in December 2017. Both NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell called Silva "a rising star in the department." When Silva graduated from NOPD's academy, he famously dropped to one knee and proposed to Stevens. The two planned to tie the knot after eight years on November 11 in St. Lucia. "I told him to hold onto her, because something like that doesn't come around often," Silva said of his son's relationship with Stevens. "Their wedding would have been beautiful." For Silva, his current grief at losing Ricardo is so at odds with the way his son made everyone around him feel. "We joked around a lot," Silva said, describing his son as a "happy-go-lucky" kid with an occasionally "smart-ass mouth," a consistent smile on his face and a penchant for honesty and stoicism. "I couldn't have asked for anyone better than him," Silva said. The Louisiana Republican Party endorsed no one in the Secretary of State race Saturday (Aug. 25) after a discussion about which candidates are conservative enough to deserve an endorsement. Charlie Buckels, the finance chairman for the Louisiana GOP, had proposed that the Republican state central committee vote to endorse just three of the five major GOP candidates in the Secretary of State's race on the ballot Nov. 6. Buckels backed an endorsement of Turkey Creek Mayor Heather Cloud, State Rep. Rick Edmonds of Baton Rouge and former state Sen. A.G. Crowe of Slidell. That would have left two other major Republican candidates -- interim Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin and state Rep. Julie Stokes of Kenner -- without the endorsement of their own political party headed into this fall's election. The state central committee members present at the meeting weren't entirely comfortable with endorsing any candidates yet though. At first, they voted 54-39 for an amendment that would have added Ardoin and Stokes to the list of endorsed candidates. Then, they voted 77-18 against endorsing all five candidates. A few Republican activists on the state central committee said that if Stokes and Ardoin were on the list of endorsed candidates, it wasn't worth officially backing anyone. "With this, there is no reason to endorse at all," Buckels told the group. Both votes took place using a secret ballot, though several measures by the central committee are approved by a voice vote. Buckels didn't explain why he had left Stokes and Ardoin out of his original endorsement list, only saying it was "nothing personal" and that the Republican Party had to "win this race." But other Republican activists said they could not support Ardoin and Stokes because the candidates were not sufficiently conservative. Former Louisiana Republican Party chairman Roger Villere complained Ardoin, a former state and federal lobbyist, had given campaign contributions to several Democrats over the years, including former U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu. Stokes, who has clashed with Louisiana House Republican leadership since 2016, was not seen as conservative enough to at least a few people, though their reasoning wasn't clear. State Rep. Barry Ivey, R-Central, is a member of the committee and got Ardoin and Stokes added to the list of candidates that would have been endorsed before the measure died. Ivey, an ally and personal friend of Stokes in the Louisiana Legislature, argued that the members of the committee were essentially trying to pick favorites in the race, based on who they know and who their friends are. "There is no just cause to disqualify -- or not endorse -- any one of these individuals," Ivey said. "I believe we need to have more sunshine on our process." All five candidates were present at the meeting to make the case for their campaign to the crowd of fewer than 100 people. Cloud is also a member of the committee and got to cast a personal vote on the matter. In Louisiana, the secretary of state oversees elections and business registrations. On Saturday, Republican activists said winning the race was essential. Republicans had only been able to make headway in Louisiana in the 1990s because former Secretary of State Fox McKeithen was elected, they said. McKeithen was initially a Democrat, but switched in the Republican Party in the early 1990s. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up In their speeches, both Stokes and Ardoin tried to address what they interpreted to be the Republicans' major concerns with their campaigns. Stokes addressed why she had voted for taxes as a legislator. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, she has been a crucial vote for tax legislation, sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats, over the last two years. Most recently, she voted for a bill sponsored by Rep. Paula Davis, R-Baton Rouge, to retain a higher sales tax rate and avoid state budget cuts to higher education and other services. "I know enough to know that several of you are upset with tax stuff," Stokes said. As an accountant, Stokes said she didn't feel like she could "twist and turn" the truth when it came to state finances. In other words, she didn't think taxes could be lowered without a major impact to state services like higher education. "I'll fight for this party if I feel like it will fight for me," she said, before starting to cry at the end of her remarks. Ardoin attempted to address what he called "the elephant in the room" with Republicans -- no pun intended he said -- regarding his campaign contributions to Democrats over the years. He said as a lobbyist, particularly in Washington D.C., he contributed money to Democratic campaigns, but that he was a Republican in his private life. "Ask other Republican officials where my heart has been," he said. Ardoin also mentioned that Donald Trump -- who he called "our beloved president of the United States" -- also contributed to Democratic campaigns in the past. Still, when Villere mentioned that Ardoin had given campaign contributions to state Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, a New Orleans legislator who is the head of the Louisiana Democratic Party, there were audible gasps among the Republicans in the room. Beyond the secretary of state race, the Republican Party leaders are struggling with where to drawn the line when it comes to party endorsements. The state central committee is currently considering a more standardized process for endorsing GOP candidates ahead of elections. A vote is expected to take place on the endorsement process overall at the group's October meeting. On Saturday, the committee also voted to adopt a party rule that would prevent many Republican elected officials from getting the GOP endorsement in state and federal races for four years if they endorsed or contributed money to a Democratic candidate after Jan. 1, 2019. The rule is specifically aimed at clamping down on Republican support for Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, who picked up several GOP elected officials' endorsements in 2015. "We are doing what we can to deny Republican support to a Democratic governor," Mike Bayham, secretary for the Louisiana Republican Party. "It's reasonable and not extreme." The Louisiana Democratic Party endorsed Renee Fontenot Free, a former assistant to two other secretaries of state, in the race earlier this month. The Secretary of State's race is technically a special election. Former Secretary of State Tom Schedler, a Republican, stepped down after a woman in his office sued him over allegations of sexual harassment. Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy believed he had a duty to warn President Donald Trump about the "failed prison reform effort" that Gov. John Bel Edwards was attempting to pass off as a model of change for the nation. "Like you," Kennedy said in a letter to the president the day before Edwards was to arrive at the White House for a round-table discussion on criminal justice reforms, "I am deeply concerned about the scourge of crime, gang violence and drug addiction that is afflicting this great country. Criminals are turning neighborhoods into war zones and small towns into drug dens." Before Edwards had the chance to spin his web of deceit about reduced prison, probation and parole populations, Kennedy said he was compelled "to share a cautionary tale" of what was really happening in his home state. "People are being killed because of the so-called criminal justice reforms that were put in place," Kennedy wrote, because Louisiana had "started freeing several thousand inmates ... by reducing the mandatory amount of time that they had to serve." "The overall goal," Kennedy said, "was twofold: reduce costs and give another state the title of world's highest incarceration rate. Inmates weren't vetted by the probation and parole boards for their threat to public safety. They weren't paired with programs to reduce their recidivism. They were simply released from prison." Kennedy's letter, which almost certainly was not vetted by state tourism officials, went on to list various statistics about arrests, recidivism and rampant crime that has been rebutted by the head of the conservative Smart on Crime Louisiana group and the conservative Pelican Institute for Public Policy think-tank that helped shepherd the package through a Republican-controlled Legislature and on to the Democratic governor's desk. To be fair, Edwards has gone a little overboard himself in ballyhooing the state's plummet from the highest incarceration rate in the nation all the way down to No. 2, just behind Oklahoma and ahead of Mississippi. And while the $12.2 million the state said it saved in the first year was more than expected, it still remains to be seen whether Louisiana can as promised, steer 70 percent of the savings each year into programs that will support reentry, reduce recidivism and aid victims in a way that really produce results. Kennedy's line about giving "another state the title of world's highest incarceration rate" is closer to hitting the mark if that ranking becomes Edwards' measuring stick for success. On the other hand, if Kennedy thinks the changes enacted so far have unleashed the forces of Ragnarok on the helpless hamlets of Louisiana, one can only imagine what he will think if he is ever forced to confront the next phases of criminal justice reform. What Louisiana has done so far, albeit with great reservation, is to snatch the lowest-hanging fruit from the tree of crime and punishment. For example, Louisiana was incarcerating nonviolent offenders at twice the rate of South Carolina and nearly three times the rate of Florida, even though Louisiana's crime rates are similar. And while researchers have consistently found that longer prison terms are not better at changing criminal behavior or reducing recidivism than shorter terms, Louisiana has for years trended toward longer sentences. These are what are known as the "non, non, nons" -- non-violent, non-serious and non-sex offender criminals. Kennedy, some sheriffs, district attorneys and others notwithstanding, most people get the logic that shorter sentences, incarceration alternatives and other options are needed to reduce the prison population. But while most of us have come to believe that state penitentiaries are bulging with low-level drug offenders, it turns out that only 16 percent of those locked up in state prisons nationwide are there for drug crimes. The overwhelming majority are serving time for violent crimes and other felonies. At some point, we will have to decide what to do with those that fall between the "non, non, nons" and the worst offenders. In the meantime, the real heavy lifting comes in making sure there is an economy to provide jobs for those who have been released and a support system to keep them from going back inside. It's too soon for Gov. Edwards to declare victory and too soon for Sen. Kennedy to declare martial law. It's not going to get any easier. Tim Morris is a columnist on the Latitude team at NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Latitude is a place to share opinions about the challenges facing Louisiana. Follow @LatitudeNOLA on Facebook and Twitter. Write to Tim at tmorris@nola.com. The city replaced its flood-damaged, dysfunctional Youth Study Center with a state-of-the-art building in 2014. When the rest of the $47 million juvenile justice complex was completed two years later, then-Mayor Mitch Landrieu and other officials promised change. "The New Orleans Juvenile Justice Center is a sign that we are bringing our juvenile justice system into the 21st century and moving our city forward," Mayor Landrieu said. "This state-of-the-art facility follows national best practices and brings all elements of our juvenile justice system into one campus." The modern complex was an emblem of the city's commitment to "ensure that our justice-involved youth have every opportunity to turn their lives around in a safe environment," he said. But the shiny new complex hasn't solved the Youth Study Center's problems. Three new reports and interviews with former staff members show that the 48-bed juvenile jail is overcrowded and severely understaffed, according to an investigation by NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune reporters Jonathan Bullington and Katherine Sayre. Youngsters, who are held at the center while awaiting trial, also aren't getting the mental health or educational services they need. And they are being isolated from their families. Those conditions result in violence and disorder. Mayor LaToya Cantrell said her administration is working to fill the staffing vacancies, improve training, increase mental health care and complete a $14.8 million expansion with 28 additional beds. In December 2017, her transition team found that the study center had 50 unfilled jobs, including a shortage of 28 juvenile detention counselors. It wasn't because of a lack of interest. There were long waiting lists of applicants for social worker and detention counselor when she took office, Mayor Cantrell said in a meeting with The Times-Picayune editorial board in June. The Civil Service Commission wasn't to blame, either, she said. Some jobs were being held open for particular people or to allow current staffers to continue getting overtime, she said. That's clearly a management problem. Some former staffers said they left because of the way the center was run. "It's never the kids," said Jerome Walker, who left in March 2017 after a year on the job. "Nobody said: 'These kids are crazy.' It's always administration." Mayor Cantrell needs to focus on how to fix that. An assessment released last month by the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative found that the Youth Study Center only meets about half of the national standards for detention facilities. The group said children should have an individual case plan that includes social services, physical and mental health, safety and a strategy for services when they are released. The study center doesn't always formally document incidents and hasn't formalized some policies. There is no written plan for handling overcrowding. And the staff is failing to conform to standards for protections for LGBTQI children. According to the standards, a juvenile jail should have a psychiatrist on staff. The study center only has a medical psychologist, who visits twice a week. "Beyond that, however, mental health support is limited. YSC's social workers have limited time with which to counsel young people at the facility, and mental health/suicide screenings are not always completed upon admission because social workers are present only during daytime hours," the assessment said. Family members are only allowed one visit a week. The better practice would be to allow multiple visits from family every week and at times that work with their schedules, the assessment says. Advocates also say that juvenile court judges are sending too many children to the Youth Study Center and that they are being held longer than they should be. As part of a reform plan, judges have a risk assessment tool to guide them on which children should be released pre-trial. But judges can override that recommendation, and advocates are concerned about how often that is happening. Judge Mark Doherty said in an email to reporters that the risk assessment lacks information that could help judges make better informed decisions. Advocates also are concerned about how long it takes for children to get a hearing to decide whether they will be held before trial. Judge Doherty says the scheduling problem lies with prosecutors, while District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro says his office moves as quickly as possible depending on when police reports are complete. But Jefferson Parish typically holds hearings the day after a child is picked up, so that ought to be possible. One of Mayor Cantrell's goals is to limit the number of children who are locked up. Emily Wolff, who heads the mayor's new Office of Youth and Families, said the administration will recommend release for all children 13 and under. The Cantrell administration is right to focus on both making the Youth Study Center safer and finding alternatives to jail for young children. New Orleans can still be a model in juvenile justice, and it should be. The exercise is as old as the Republic, but the first thing you need to understand about redistricting is that hot-water cornbread is as ubiquitous in north Louisiana as etouffee is in the south, says Rick Gallot, the Ruston Democratic representat CARSON, Calif. -- New Orleans Saints defensive end Alex Okafor surprisingly returned to practice on Wednesday, an indication that he's been recovering well from his bone bruise and sprained ankle. However, Okafor isn't ready for game action yet, and he was not among the players stretching before the Saints' preseason matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday at StubHub Center. With Okafor out, Trey Hendrickson will likely start at right defensive end, but rookie Marcus Davenport will surely have plenty of reps, too. In addition to Okafor, cornerbacks Arthur Maulet and P.J. Williams, wide receiver Keith Kirkwood, tight end Michael Hoomanawanui and safety J.T. Gray were not seen during the stretch period. Okafor, Maulet, Williams, Kirkwood and Hoomanawanui have missed time recently due to injury, but it's unclear why Gray was not on the field. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. Irish PM Leo Varadkar on Saturday directly urged the pope to take action against abuses and ensure justice for victims worldwide. Francis said inaction over 'these repellent crimes has rightly given rise to outrage, and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community. I myself share those sentiments'. (Photo: AP) Knock: Pope Francis in Ireland Sunday "begged for God's forgiveness" for the child sexual abuse scandal rocking the church but faced accusations by a former Vatican official that he had personally ignored allegations against senior clergy. Francis is due to speak in front of some 500,000 faithful in Dublin's Phoenix Park as part of his two-day visit to the former Catholic stronghold of Ireland, as abuse victims and their supporters gathered in a "Stand for Truth" rally in the city centre to demand justice. During Sunday's address to 45,000 supporters at the rain-soaked Knock shrine in the west of the country, the pope "begged for God's forgiveness" for the "open wound" of the scandal and demanded "firm and decisive" measures to find "truth and justice". The scandal has dogged the visit, and intensified overnight when a former Vatican envoy to the US accused Francis of personally ignoring sexual abuse claims against prominent US cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was forced to resign last month. Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano wrote in a letter published in the National Catholic Register that he had told Francis of the allegations in 2013, but that he had responded by lifting sanctions imposed on McCarrick by predecessor Pope Benedict. "He (Pope Francis) knew from at least June 23, 2013 that McCarrick was a serial predator," wrote Vigano," adding "he knew that he was a corrupt man, he covered for him to the bitter end." The Vatican said it had no comment to make on the claims. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on Saturday directly urged the pope to take action against abuses and ensure justice for victims worldwide. Francis said inaction over "these repellent crimes has rightly given rise to outrage, and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community. I myself share those sentiments". Francis on Saturday also met eight abuse victims, including a woman assaulted by a priest when she was in hospital aged 13 and a man who was illegally adopted because his mother was unmarried. In a strongly-worded speech at the start of the pope's visit, Varadkar said the abuses in Ireland were "stains" on the Catholic Church, the state and Irish society as a whole. "There is much to be done to bring about justice and truth and healing for victims and survivors. Holy Father, I ask that you use your office and influence to ensure that this is done here in Ireland and across the world," he said. He demanded of Francis "that from words flow actions". Paul Jude Redmond, who was illegally adopted from a Church-run "Mother and Baby Home" and met the pope on Saturday, said the pontiff appeared "genuinely shocked" by the stories of abuse. But at a news conference in Dublin on Saturday by the group Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA), victim Mark Vincent Healey said the pope's speech in Dublin was a "total missed opportunity". "We're still waiting. We're left with uncertain silence. When is he going to act? What is he going to do?" Silent vigil This is the first papal visit to Ireland since John Paul II spoke in front of 1.5 million people during a visit in 1979. The Church's role and standing has been badly dented by the abuse scandals and the Irish have shed traditional Catholic mores, voting earlier this year to legalise abortion after approving same-sex marriage in 2015. The pontiff is in Ireland to close the 2018 World Meeting of Families (WMOF) -- a global Catholic gathering that addressed issues including the treatment of gay people in the Church. Street vendors in Dublin selling papal souvenirs complained of sluggish trade, as protesters rubbed shoulders with devout Catholics in the streets of the city. In Tuam, a town in western Ireland not far from Knock, a silent vigil was planned for Sunday in solidarity with victims of "mother and baby" homes -- institutions accused of being punishment hostels for unwed pregnant women. "Significant quantities" of baby remains found in makeshift graves at the site of one such home in Tuam last year shocked the country. Multiple probes in Ireland have found Church leaders protected hundreds of predatory priests and former Irish president Mary McAleese revealed this month that the Vatican had sought to keep Church documents inaccessible to government investigators. The abuse scandals in Ireland are part of a worldwide crisis for the Vatican. A devastating report earlier this month accused more than 300 priests in the US state of Pennsylvania of abusing more than 1,000 children since the 1950s. The off-duty NOPD officer who died Saturday afternoon (Aug. 25) in a St. Tammany Parish traffic accident was killed after the motorcycle he was riding collided with an SUV that turned into his path near Covington, according to Louisiana State Police. In a news release sent out Sunday morning providing details on the accident, State Police said troopers arrived on the scene of the two-vehicle crash on Louisiana 1082 -- also known as Old Military Road -- north of its intersection with Louisiana 21 just before 6 p.m. There, they found that Ricardo Silva Jr., 26, a New Orleans police officer who lived in the St. Tammany Parish community of Bush, had been injured in the crash. Silva was treated at the scene and taken to a nearby hospital, where he died. Based on evidence at the scene, police said investigators learned Silva was riding a 2017 Honda motorcycle southbound when a 2017 Acura MDX driven northbound by a Covington woman entered his lane while attempting to turn left into a private driveway. Silva's motorcycle slammed into the right side of the Acura, and he was thrown from it. Despite wearing a helmet, Silva was severely injured in the crash, police said. Neither Silva, nor the Acura's driver showed signs of impairment, State Police said. The Acura's driver provided a voluntary breath sample, which showed no amount of alcohol present. The investigation is ongoing, and any criminal or traffic violations will be forwarded to the St. Tammany Parish District Attorney's Office pending the completion of the investigation. Check back in with NOLA.com | Times-Picayune for more information. An off-duty New Orleans police officer was killed in a motorcycle crash Saturday evening (Aug. 25) in St. Tammany Parish, according to the NOPD. The officer, 26-year-old Ricardo Silva Jr., was riding his personal motorcycle when he was involved in an accident, NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison said in a news release. Silva died from his injuries and the cause of the crash is still under investigation by the Louisiana State Police. Officials did not release further details about the accident, including where it occurred in St. Tammany Parish. Silva was hired in November 2016, and he graduated from the New Orleans Police Training Academy in December 2017. He proposed to his fiance on Dec. 15 at the graduation ceremony for Class 180, which was captured on video and shared on Facebook. The proposal was a "very special moment" for the graduating class, the NOPD said. Silva went on to be assigned to NOPD's 5th District on April 8. Harrison said Silva was considered "a rising star in the department" who had a "genuine passion" for police work and serving the citizens of New Orleans. "Unfortunately, we have been through this before and it's extremely difficult to be going through it again. Our thoughts and prayers are with Silva's fiance and family and we're offering our support during this difficult time," Harrison said. In a statement, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell called Silva's death "tragic" and said "my love goes out to his family and his loved ones." "The NOPD and the City of New Orleans mourn together," Cantrell said. New drivers in Louisiana will soon be required to get an instructional permit before signing up for driver's ed, WVUE Fox 8 reports. Starting September 4, the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles will require soon-to-be drivers to get a temporary instructional permit (TIP) to be able to take the class. Kathy Prince, with the Parkview Driving School in Sulphur, told the news outlet the permit would be effective only for the course and the student would not be able to drive anywhere in any other vehicle with it. She added that it would help legitimize students because driving schools won't have to check birth certificates and social security numbers. All of that information will be stored at the OMV. Read the full story from WVUE Fox 8. During the final Mass at the 9th World Meeting of Families in Phoenix Park, Pope Francis gave a missionary mandate to families, bearers of the "joy of the Gospel". He cited the example of Saint Columban who "brought the light of the Gospel to the lands of Europe in an age of darkness and cultural dissolution. However, the service began unexpectedly with a long penitential moment, with requests for forgiveness for the abuses by the members of the Church, for the ineptitude of pastors who failed to see what was happening; for the children torn from their single mothers. The next World Meeting of Families is set for Rome in 2021. Dublin (AsiaNews) Pope Francis led the final Mass for the World Meeting of Families in Dublins Phoenix Park under a downpour. In his address, the Holy Father said that thanks to "a domestic Pentecost" that encourages, Christian families can become "a source of encouragement to others", removing barriers to "reconcile the world", thus becoming bearers of the "joy of the Gospel". The pope also compared the vocation of families to that of Therese of the Child Jesus, patron saint of missions, to be the "love in the heart of the Church". In an unrehearsed manner and speaking in Spanish, Pope Francis began with a penitential moment, in which he said he met eight people who were victims of sexual abuse by Irish clergy. He asked forgiveness for the abuse; he asked for healing for those who were wounded and for the ineptitude of the pastors who failed to see what was happening; he asked for mercy for the children torn from single mothers and forcibly given in adoption to others. At every request for forgiveness, the faithful applauded warmly. Each new day in the life of our families, and each new generation, brings the promise of a new Pentecost, a domestic Pentecost, a fresh outpouring of the Spirit, the Paraclete, whom Jesus sends as our Advocate, our Consoler and indeed our Encourager. How much our world needs this encouragement that is Gods gift and promise! As one of the fruits of this celebration of family life, may you go back to your homes and become a source of encouragement to others, to share with them Jesus words of eternal life. The Pope noted the challenges and difficulties in bearing witness to the Good News. Yet the challenges that Christians face today are, in their own way, no less difficult than those faced by the earliest Irish missionaries. I think of Saint Columbanus, who with his small band of companions brought the light of the Gospel to the lands of Europe in an age of darkness and cultural dissolution. Their extraordinary missionary success was not based on tactical methods or strategic plans, but on a humble and liberating docility to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. It was their daily witness of fidelity to Christ and to each other that won hearts yearning for a word of grace and helped give birth to the culture of Europe. That witness remains a perennial source of spiritual and missionary renewal for Gods holy and faithful people. But let us also humbly acknowledge that, if we are honest with ourselves, we too can find the teachings of Jesus hard. How difficult it is always to forgive those who hurt us; how challenging always to welcome the migrant and the stranger; how painful joyfully to bear disappointment, rejection or betrayal; how inconvenient to protect the rights of the most vulnerable, the unborn or the elderly, who seem to impinge upon our own sense of freedom. Yet it is precisely at those times that the Lord asks us: What about you, do you want to go away too? With the strength of the Spirit to encourage us and with the Lord always at our side, we can answer: We believe; we know that you are the Holy One of God (Jn 6:69). Through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, each Christian is sent forth to be a missionary, a missionary disciple (cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 120). The Church as a whole is called to go forth to bring the words of eternal life to all the peripheries of our world. May our celebration today confirm each of you, parents and grandparents, children and young people, men and women, religious brothers and sisters, contemplatives and missionaries, deacons and priests, to share the joy of the Gospel! Share the Gospel of the family as joy for the world! As we now prepare to go our separate ways, let us renew our fidelity to the Lord and to the vocation he has given to each of us. Taking up the prayer of Saint Patrick, let each of us repeat with joy: Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me. With the joy and strength given by the Holy Spirit, let us say to him with confidence: Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life (Jn 6:68). Before the final blessing, in his thanks to the pope, Card Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, announced that the next World Meeting of Families will be held in Rome in 2021. Before the final wrap-up, Francis thanked the organisers of the World Meeting of Families and civil authorities for their work. He especially thanked all the people who prayed for this Day: seniors, children, men and women religious, sick, prison inmates . . . I am sure that the success of this Day is due to their simple and persevering prayers. Thank you all! May the Lord reward you!" At the end of the celebration, the pontiff went to the convent of the Dominican Sisters, where he met with Irish bishops. From there, the Pope travelled to the airport for his return to Rome, scheduled for 23 pm tonight. The Poco F1 that was launched in India last week combined performance, essential features, and price into an unbeatable package. The device will make its way to Europe this week but will leave one of those features behind, making it a relatively uninteresting release. 4 Reviews , News , CPU , GPU , Articles , Columns , Other "or" search relation. 3D Printing , 5G , Accessory , AI , Alder Lake , AMD , Android , Apple , ARM , Audio , Business , Camera , Cannon Lake , Cezanne (Zen 3) , Charts , Chinese Tech , Chromebook , Coffee Lake , Comet Lake , Console , Convertible / 2-in-1 , Cryptocurrency , Cyberlaw , Deal , Desktop , E-Mobility , Exclusive , Fail , Foldable , Gadget , Galaxy Note , Galaxy S , Gamecheck , Gaming , Geforce , Google Pixel , GPU , How To , Human 2.0 , Ice Lake , Intel Evo / Project Athena , Internet of Things (IoT) , iOS , iPad Pro , iPhone , Jasper Lake , Lakefield , Laptop , Launch , Linux / Unix , Lucienne (Zen 2) , MacBook , Mini PC , Monitor , MSI , OnePlus , Opinion , Phablet , Radeon , Renoir , Review Snippet , Rocket Lake , Rumor , Ryzen (Zen) , Science , Security , Single-Board Computer (SBC) , Smart Home , Smartphone , Smartwatch , Software , Storage , Tablet , ThinkPad , Thunderbolt , Tiger Lake , Touchscreen , Ultrabook , Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) , Wearable , Windows , Workstation , XPS , Zen 3 (Vermeer) Ticker Last week, Xiaomi shook the smartphone world with the launch of its new device, the Poco F1. Were massive fans of the F1, as it may very well be the enthusiasts ideal phonea combination of performance-oriented, no-nonsense specifications and an unbeatable US$300 price tag making it one of the candidates for phone for the year. Xiaomi is set to bring the F1 over to Europe on August 29 but fans of the device in the West may not be thrilled. The F1 that will be sold in Europe will likely be the exact same model sold in India, although theres a chance the European model sees a few extra LTE bands. What makes it an unexciting launchrelative to the Indian modelhowever, is its price tag. According to Roland Quandt, the F1 will be sold in Europe with a heavier 399 Euros MSRP. For some perspective, the base F1 in India has an MSRP that translates to about 260 Euros. That represents a hefty 50% price differential across both markets. There are reasons for that, of course. Most notable would be the fact that Xiaomi manufactured the F1 in India, so production costs would be much lower. The company would have to pay to transport the devices to Europe. Theres also the fact that the EU has some hefty product taxes and other such costs that must be factored in. Located in southern Taiwan, the churchs design, murals and motifs are typical of the island and reflect its many Buddhist and Taoist temples. The cross stands on top of a pagoda roof. Red lanterns and a Last Supper mural with Jesus breaking steamed bun decorate the interior. For the current pastor, the church was adapted to the local environment. Yanshui (AsiaNews/Agencies) In Taiwan, at least one Catholic church is architecturally unusual with a pagoda roof and painted dragons and other Taiwanese motifs. The Holy Spirit Church in Yanshui, a rural district in southern Taiwan, resembles the thousands of Buddhist and Taoist temples that dot the island. Some 60 years ago, a German missionary built the wooden church in a traditional style. In 1986, Fr Li Shaofeng began rebuilding it to reflect the islands more native features, using lanterns, red pillars, and painted dragon motifs. Now murals cover almost all of the interior walls, depicting scenes from the Bible, but with most figures looking Asian and wearing Chinese-style clothing. Even the bread in "The Last Supper", honouring the famous Leonardo da Vinci painting, is replaced with baozi, Chinese steamed buns. At the back is a shrine with candles and a Chinese incense bowl to commemorate the church's late pastors. Burning incense is a common Chinese tribute to deities or ancestors. "The pastor (Fr Li) thought of building a more Chinese-style church to adapt to the local environment," said Joseph Chung, the current pastor. Most people in Taiwan, about 70 per cent, are Taoist or Buddhist. Christians are around 6 per cent. Catholics number 300,000. In the courage-free zone known as Congress, McCain showed that principle and politics can mix at the highest levels. And if it wasnt often enough, well, he would be the first to admit it. Characteristically, he described his pick of Palin as another mistake that I made. At his best, he was in a league of his own. Watch the video from the 2008 campaign of a rally where a man says were scared of an Obama presidency. McCain challenges the man, saying of Obama: He is a decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared as president of the United States. Then a woman speaks up and says she cant trust Obama because hes an Arab. No, maam, McCain says. Hes a decent family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and thats what this campaign is all about. There was, of course, another side to McCain, for he was a complex, contradictory figure. He betrayed his first wife, Carol, who had raised his three children by herself while he was in Vietnamese prisons. After returning home, while still living with Carol, he began pursuing his current wife, Cindy, who was young, beautiful and rich. (When Cindy thanked him for sending flowers that had just arrived, with a card signed John, he impishly said it was nothing. Years later, she discovered that they had been from another man named John.) When he married Cindy, his children were angry (only at him; no one blamed Cindy) and none attended the wedding, but everyone forgave him soon enough. Not least because John McCain was always his own severest critic. He was contrite, and he blamed himself rather than others. Were getting nothing done, my friends. Were getting nothing done. It was a few days before the historic Obamacare repeal vote, and Republicans desperately needed John McCain. It was a dramatic and consequential return for John McCain to the Senate floor. What a dramatic morning this is turning out to be, with John McCain making that surprise return to Washington. And McCains vote is going to give leadership a lot more breathing room. But the maverick of the Senate had just been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, and he was playing hard to get. Weve been spinning our wheels on too many important issues, because we keep trying to find a way to win without help from across the aisle. But would he vote with his party, or would he defect? I will not vote for this bill as it is today. This was the kind of moment that John McCain lives for. He is going to be the deciding vote, and hes got control of a major piece of legislation in his hand. You heard John McCain. A really historic moment. Trying to set a new tone when it comes to fixing our health care system. When you go against the grain in Washington, you get a lot of attention. Shutting down the government injured the people of my state. Why? Why would we want to do that? John McCain had a big ego, and he liked the attention. But also, I do think that the maverick aspect to McCain was real. He saw a lot of the things that went on in Washington as semi-idiotic, or corrupt. I think the Congress of the United States both Republicans and Democrats should be ashamed of themselves. These may be worthy projects. They may be. Generally they arent. How many more lawmakers, staffers, government officials, and contractors have to go to jail before we actually fix this process? He liked challenging authority. It may be part of that is just growing up in a military family and having all that military experience, where youre subject to so much authority. I have trouble with this. More than two-syllable words In the political phase of his life, he was willing to step up, take a chance, and shake up the system. Eleven million people live in the shadows, and they live here in de facto amnesty, and, by God, they are being exploited every single day. Of course, he switched back and forth when it suited his politics. We will secure the borders first when I am president of the United States. I am proud that Republicans are the party of lower taxes. I cannot in good conscience vote in favor of tax cuts. There have been so many John McCains over the years. He came to Congress as this exalted war hero whod already had a national reputation because of his time as a P.O.W. in Vietnam. McCain was shot down, held for years in terrible conditions in the Hanoi Hilton. He had a high profile because of his father. The commander in chief of our Pacific forces, Admiral John S. McCain Jr. As you know, we are living in a troubled world They knew that they had something of a celebrity prisoner there. He was tortured, subjected to really unthinkable experiences. He resisted and resisted, but ultimately did make a confession. That really haunted him through the rest of his life. He felt that he had caved and betrayed his country. When he returned from Vietnam, to much acclaim, he was an ambitious guy, and he quickly turned to politics. John McCain, a name Arizonans are talking about. He ran for the House. Came in as a pretty conventional conservative somebody who wanted to get on board the Reagan Revolution. Speaker, like a poor fellow who brought his horse to water but could not make it drink, Walter Mondale proposes to throw more tax money at the deficit with little chance of making it shrink. But there was a watershed moment coming for John McCain a major congressional scandal The Keating Five Scandal. Charles Keating, a millionaire banker who has come to embody the savings and loan scandal A group of senators a bipartisan group had interceded on behalf of a big businessman, and they tried to help him out of a regulatory problem. It was a big scandal at the moment, because the S&L crisis was huge back then. Do you swear under oath to this committee you were unaware of that at the time? McCain was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing. But I understand why the committee made the arrangements they did. He thought it be besmirched his honor, which is probably the most important thing to John McCain besides his family, is his honor. This was a searing experience for McCain, and it really helped shape his later image as a maverick, because he immediately became someone, I think, who wanted to shake up the system and rein in the influence of money and politics. Theres too much money washing around, and this money makes good people do bad things, and bad people do worse things. John McCain was ready to do that. His party really wasnt. They liked the campaign system the way it was, particularly Mitch McConnell. To effectively discuss issues in this country, one must have access to money. He was the leading foe of John McCain. Who do you want to be the next president of these United States? McCain! Thats right. So McCain had presidential ambitions. 2000 seemed like a good opportunity for him. This was the year of the famous Straight Talk Express. He was really letting it hang out in a lot of ways. If I were a tree, I would be a If I were a tree, I would be a root. What does that mean? Id be glad to tell you But he ran into a real buzzsaw with the Bush family and Karl Rove. Let me finish. Let me finish. All right, then. The Bush campaign did some really tough negative advertising. McCains campaign is crawling with lobbyists. His conservative hometown paper warns Its time the rest of the nation learns about the McCain we know. McCain was stung when he came back to the Senate, you could tell. Gentlemen Senator John McCain, the Republican, and Senator Barack Obama, the In 2008, this was really John McCains last opportunity. He took the nomination, but he was really in trouble from the start. Obama, the celebrity candidate, the economic collapse The fundamentals of our economy are strong picking Sarah Palin as his running mate. This is absolutely overwhelming. People really questioned John McCains judgment on that. Even at the end, McCain was still fighting the leaders of his party. Yesterday, I received a call from President Putin of Russia Being cozy with the Russians, pulling back in Asia. To John McCain, this was anathema. He wouldnt mention Trump by name, but he would talk about failures of American foreign policy and the conduct. refuse the obligations of international leadership for the sake of some half-baked, spurious nationalism cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems. This was amped up more after the diagnosis of brain cancer. I think that was also part of his vote on the health care repeal. At the climactic moment, he walked out onto the floor, turned thumbs down, and killed the repeal effort. It was one of his last big acts as a U.S. senator. Making news in the 11th hour The resistance to President Trump had its biggest victory yet. This is a major defeat. You could look at this one moment like a Renaissance painting. It was unbelievable. McCain wasnt going to go quietly. EDINBURGH As Britain stands on the cusp of major change, an unfamiliar mood of introspection has taken hold at its biggest comedy and arts festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. For two years, Britain has been preoccupied with its imminent departure from the European Union, set for March 2019. Brexit, as the process is known, is everywhere in the press, on television and on social media. But the precise details of how it will take place have remained maddeningly elusive, and are the subject of acrimonious political debate. Its hard to make comedy out of situational paralysis, said Nish Kumar, a comedian whose show at the Fringe is called Its In Your Nature to Destroy Yourselves. Image Its hard to make comedy out of situational paralysis, the comedian Nish Kumar said. Credit... Matt Stronge Brexit is, nonetheless, a hot topic at the last edition of the Fringe before Britain is due to withdraw from the bloc. A lot of shows are sending up the tortured process of Britains departure, including lighthearted theater pieces like Jonny Woos All Star Brexit Cabaret and a big, silly comedy called, simply, Brexit. The Judge David Campbell Chapter, NSDAR, on a last minute notice, was able to provide a literacy event at The Heritage House Arts & Civic Center. This event was created in conjunction with screening of the movie, "The Four Feathers" at Heritage House. The Judge David Campbell Chapter is encouraging students to view movies and read the books that are based on. State Park Ranger Robert from Booker T. Washington State Park, arrived with "Orion", an American Kestrel Falcon. Kids and adults gathered on the porch for a discussion about falcons and falconry and had their pictures taken with "Orion" and Ranger Robert. Literature packets were made available through the Judge David Campbell Chapter of the NSDAR. The foundation, based in Magdeburg, was born in 2015, after efforts in Germany, and elsewhere, to find the huge number of works lost during World War II were often criticized as lackluster. That view had only grown with the discovery in 2012 of 1,500 works, some of them later shown to have been looted by the Nazis, in the Munich and Salzburg homes of Cornelius Gurlitt, whose father, an art dealer, had worked with the Nazis. The foundation, established by the German federal government and other German states and municipalities, is designed to comply with the so-called Washington Principles, a set of nonbinding tenets that emerged from an international conference in 1998 that are meant to encourage restitution. The so-called Lost Art Database was created two years later in Germany and has been operated since by a series of German organizations, the most recent being the foundation. Ms. Paschen said the database provides transparency and contains nearly 170,000 detailed reports of stolen artworks and several million summaries of other objects. Searching the database is free, and its website averages some 14,000 visits to its website per month, the foundation said. Works are listed based on requests to the foundation, which evaluates the information presented to it but does not do its own provenance research. Image Egon Schieles Woman in a Black Pinafore (1911) was ordered returned to Grunbaums heirs by a New York judge earlier this year. The databases guidelines say the reporting party must plausibly demonstrate that an individual object or a collection was confiscated as a result of Nazi persecution, or was removed or lost during the Second World War, or that such a suspicion cannot be ruled out. The Schieles were first listed on the database more than a decade ago at the request of the heirs, based on their view that the Nazi agents who inventoried the Grunbaum collection in 1938 ultimately seized it. At that time, the collection contained more than 400 works, including the Schieles. But the inventory did not record the names of many of the works, and it remains unclear what exactly happened to the collection after it was moved to a storage depot in Vienna. The art dealers contend that Grunbaums wife, Elisabeth Grunbaum-Herzl, who was later sent to a concentration camp where she died, worked to export the bulk of the collection and that its possible the works actually were shipped from Vienna to her relatives in Belgium. What challenges came out of the administrations resistance? For the most part they made a genuine effort to give us the access we wanted. But they tried to control that, too. Partway through the year, they tried to say I couldnt speak to teachers in the school without first clearing it. Im not talking about on camera just have a conversation with a teacher. I said, Thats never been the understanding. They said, Oh, no, thats the understanding. There were times like that where I had to threaten to go back to the school board, and they backed down. You were still able to get a dozen students to participate. How did you pick your subjects? This was unusual for me, because Ive never done a film where Ive cast it. All the films Ive done, Ive either met someone or Ive heard a story, and then I do it. With this one, it was different. John Condne and I, the teacher producer, we met with about 40 families. I was looking for kids who would span the grade levels, at first. And this was ultimately a shortcoming of mine, because I knew we were going to want to follow some white kids, but I gave primacy to the black and biracial kids, in terms of our casting, initially thinking erroneously and kind of stupidly, honestly that it wouldnt be that hard to find some good white student candidates. Given what this was about, I shouldve known better. What would a good white student candidate look like? [Chala Holland, a former assistant principal] is the one that really impressed upon me that you cant just tell this story and focus on black and biracial kids. She was right about that. Initially, thats all I was going to do I expected to see white kids and students, of course, but not focus on a kids story. BEIJING Didi Chuxing, Chinas popular ride-sharing service, fired two senior executives and suspended a car-pooling service after the second killing of a female passenger in three months. The crime follows others that have raised questions about the companys ability to protect women who use its services and comes at a fraught time for Didi, one of the worlds most successful start-ups. It has been expanding at a frenetic pace in China and around the world, and it is widely expected to raise billions of dollars should it seek to sell shares on public markets. But a string of episodes in China has raised questions about its ability to protect women who use its services. Over the weekend, a number of consumers called online for a boycott of Didis services. The passenger, surnamed Zhao, used Hitch, the Didi car-pooling service, in the eastern city of Wenzhou on Friday. That afternoon, the Wenzhou police said on Sunday, she was raped and stabbed in the neck. The driver was arrested on Saturday. And the fact that the technology is well tested in Russian ships gives critics little solace, given a long history of spills and accidents involving nuclear-powered submarines and icebreakers operated by the Soviet and Russian navies. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Soviet Union dumped reactors in the Kara Sea, in the Arctic Ocean north of Kola Bay. Russian nuclear submarines sank in 1989 and 2000, while one Russian nuclear icebreaker caught fire in 2011 and the reactor on another leaked radiation that year, according to Bellona, a Norwegian environmental group. The question is, would clients of Russia be comfortable with something like this being parked right at a pier in a major city? Matthew McKinzie, director of the nuclear program at the Natural Resources Defense Council in Washington, said in a telephone interview. A Greenpeace sailboat tailed the Akademik Lomonosov on its maiden voyage from a shipyard in St. Petersburg to Murmansk, where it will be fueled, flying a banner in English saying: Floating Nuclear Reactor? Srsly? Like all designs, Mr. Buongiorno acknowledged, nothing is perfect. Local newspapers have long been staples of communities across the country. But the shifts in the wider media industry have been devastating to these smaller publications. Over the past decade, many have closed while others have cut their newsroom staffs and how many times a week they publish. Yet the political moment the nation finds itself in has helped Mr. Atkinsons crusade. Sonoma County is reliably blue although there are pockets of conservatism in its agricultural communities and President Trumps constant attacks on the news media have worried many of the papers readers. A number of Mr. Atkinsons new investors have told him that they do not just want to save their local paper. They also want to save democracy, he said. One of those investors is Marie Gewirtz, 67, who has lived here for three decades and is retired from her job in marketing in the local wine industry. Many of us really treasure our local newspaper, she said. I was raised to believe that journalism was key to democracy. In recent years, as the print paper cut back by two pages some weeks, there was a backlash among members of the community, especially older ones, who felt a cherished ritual was disappearing. The people who wanted to sit and read the print paper with a glass of wine or cup of coffee, Ms. Gewirtz said. She added, I think, now more than ever, we can support democracy by supporting our communities. Rick Theis, 72, also retired from the wine industry, said: I get my notifications from The New York Times every day, and I open them up with dread. What did our infamous president do now? Morning! Today I had a hankering for a pile of tender surnoli (above), the subject of my Eat column in this weekend's magazine. Surnoli are tangy Konkani pancakes, about the size of a diners silver dollars, and the batter is made from rice and coconut, fermented with yogurt. These pancakes are fat and puffy and full of holes, cooked only on one side. And if you eat them hot, theyll still be filled with a sweet coconut-scented steam. This gets us to Monday. Eggplant happens to be really good right now, and there are so many varieties at the market. You could mix it up with any of those, or go with reliable Italian eggplant to make Sarah Jampels silky eggplant salad with almond salsa. Its one of those salads thats sturdy enough to be a meal, with little pieces of crisp cheese, and a big smear of garlicky yogurt. Tuesday Im on a deadline, and that means rice for dinner. Specifically, Im looking at Genevieve Kos quick toasted coconut rice with greens and fried eggs, the yolks still nice and runny, seasoned simply with sesame seeds, soy sauce and sriracha. Dr. Hannah Chung and Walter Alejandro Vulej were married Aug. 25 at Thomas Fogarty Winery in Woodside, Calif. Eric M. Ellenoff, a friend of the couple and a Universal Life minister, officiated. Dr. Chung, 30, is an interventional radiology fellow at Stanford Hospital in Stanford, Calif. She graduated cum laude from Harvard and received a medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern. She is the daughter of Kyoung-Ok Chung and Min-Ho Chung of Austin. The brides father, now retired, was a radiologic technologist at Brackenridge Hospital in Austin. Her mother, also retired, was an administrative assistant in the City of Austins Human Resources department. Mr. Vulej, 31, is a product manager for the Dynamic Search Ads division at Google in Mountain View, Calif. He also sits on the San Francisco regional board of PowerMyLearning, a New York charity that assists schools in underserved communities with educational technology and personalized learning. He graduated with distinction from Stanford, received a Masters of Engineering from the University of Toronto and an M.B.A. from Harvard. Rachel Caren Finkelstein and Dustin Thomas Flannery-McCoy are to be married Aug. 26 at Frankies 457 Spuntino, an Italian restaurant in Brooklyn. Bridget Flannery-McCoy, who became a Universal Life minister for the occasion and is one of the grooms triplet siblings, is to lead a ceremony incorporating Jewish traditions. The bride, 32, was until Aug. 10 the acting chief of staff for Mayor Bill de Blasios climate policy and programs team in Manhattan, for which she continues to work as a senior policy adviser. She graduated with honors from Wesleyan University and received a master's degree in city planning from M.I.T. She is a daughter of Laura M. Finkelstein of Brooklyn and Andrew C. Finkelstein of Manhattan. The brides mother works in Brooklyn as a senior vice president for Trifecta Research, a consumer and business-to-business market research firm in Asheville, N.C. Her father works in Manhattan as a digital video editor for the NBC program Dateline. The bride is a stepdaughter of Jennifer A. Rudin and Lawrence N. Rothbart. The groom, also 32, is a video editor and a director of photography at Complex Networks, a media company in Manhattan. He graduated from Emerson College. The shots popped at 6:30 on the sunny morning of July 11, at the corner of a quiet street near the water in the Bronx. Just off Tierney Place in Throgs Neck, Salvatore Zottola, 41, was ambushed by a gunman, who sped off while Mr. Zottola, full of gunshot wounds, rolled on the pavement. The attack lasted 17 seconds and was caught on a grainy security camera video released by the New York Police Department. As far as murder attempts go, it wasnt much of one. The gunman was sloppy. Gravely injured but alive, Mr. Zottola was whisked to Jacobi Medical Center. That same afternoon, his father, Sylvester Zottola, was in court for charges stemming from his own brush with death. In June, the elder Mr. Zottola had brandished an unlicensed gun at someone who threatened him outside his home, the police said. The unknown thug vanished, and the 71-year-old was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a firearm. It all might be chalked up as a bizarre coincidence, had both Zottolas not kept company with reputed mobsters. The police say the father and son are noted associates of New Yorks Bonanno crime family. Mr. Hotchner described Aaron Broom as a project to carry him through the year he turned 100, unless it was the year he turned a mere 97 more about that later. I wanted to make it a jolly affair, he said of the book, something that would celebrate the fact that you could get as old as I had gotten and, to my vast surprise, still have some of my pebbles on the beach. Now, again from across the room, came another revelation from Ms. Kiser: Hotch had an eye removed three years ago. During cataract surgery, he said. Actually, he still has the eye, but no sight in it. Hemingway would be wearing an eye patch if it had happened to him, no doubt. About those friendships. Mr. Hotchner knew J.D. Salinger (in Greenwich Village, before Mr. Salinger moved to New Hampshire) and Tennessee Williams (in college, when the not-yet-famous playwright went by Tom). And writers like David Halberstam and Gay Talese. And the editor Nan A. Talese, who published Aaron Broom this July (and is married to Mr. Talese). And the crowd from Elaines, the Upper East Side celebrity hangout that was as much a salon as a saloon before it closed in 2011. He was also present at the creation of the vat of salad dressing that inspired Newmans Own. Mr. Hotchner had met Paul Newman when he worked on an adaptation of the Hemingway story The Battler for television in the fall of 1955. The star was to have been James Dean, but he was killed in a car crash less than a month before the program was to go on the air, live, on NBC. Mr. Newman was cast to replace him. The New York Timess review of the program said Mr. Newman had to surmount grotesque makeup, but was quite effective. He and Mr. Hotchner both bought houses in Westport in the 1950s. The salad dressing came along later Mr. Newman would make a batch at the holidays, pour it into wine bottles and drive around the neighborhood, leaving bottles at friends houses. At holiday time in 1980, he called Mr. Hotchner, and together they made an unusually large batch, so much they had to find something to stir it with. Mr. Newman came up with a canoe paddle. They also came up with the idea for a company that would sell salad dressing and give the profits to charity. Of course we did not always see eye-to-eye, even on our own bill. There was one period when John and I knew we had to scale back our more ambitious campaign-finance legislation to attract support. We had a tense and difficult conversation about what should be cut, and it didnt end well. I spent the evening afterward wondering whether we might go separate ways, even though, despite our ideological differences, we had reached the same conclusion: that the system by which members of Congress were being elected was corrupt. By this time, John and I were no longer just a political odd couple. We had become dear friends. When I approached John on the Senate floor the next morning to agree to much of his version of a scaled-back McCain-Feingold bill, I was struck and humbled by the relief on his face. We laughed when he hugged me and patted me on the back repeatedly. John also agreed to some of my requests in that conversation, conveying a keen understanding of why I was fighting hard for certain provisions. One time, during a long, lonely debate before we had nearly enough votes, we sat together on the Senate floor and commented about how our colleagues in each of our parties werent speaking to us much anymore. I said, Yeah, and now youre going to become president and leave me here alone. John replied, No, no. Youll be in the cabinet. He paused and then, with a grin, said, But just not as secretary of defense. And, indeed, while we often agreed on domestic reform issues, we had almost diametrically opposed views on defense, especially on certain military interventions, Iraq in particular. But this did not stop John from inviting me as one of two Democrats on a nine-person congressional delegation trip to Iraq in 2006, when things were not going at all well there. On the plane trip over, he had us all convene for a briefing. John spoke at length about the approach of Col. H.R. McMaster, who would later become a three-star general and President Trumps national security adviser, to insurgencies. At the appropriate time, I interjected my views about the likely futility of such an approach, to which a Republican governor on the trip said: Why did you bring this guy along? Not missing a beat, John responded: I bring Russ along because he is consistent consistently wrong. The fact is, as passionate as John was about his positions, he truly valued hearing all sides and was a good listener. Yet, it was Johns interaction in Baghdads Green Zone in 2006 with David Petraeus, then a lieutenant general, that most displayed his integrity and commitment to getting things right. Johns questions to the decorated general were pointed and tough and made clear his first duty was to the American men and women serving there, not to his own ego or belief in the mission. He sharply challenged the generals claims about the success that had been achieved in training Iraqi troops. He did this in front of strong opponents of the war knowing it could be used as fodder against the intervention in which he believed. He wanted to know the facts wherever they led. What would a Republican Party more in the mold of John McCain look like? It would, for starters, stop cowing to Trump and stand up for American national security. It would investigate Russian cyberattacks and the possibility, as McCain put it, that the president of the United States might be vulnerable to Russian extortion. Many of McCains colleagues remembering him as a brave patriot are proving themselves to be neither. Second, a more McCain-like Republican Party would understand that racism is both immoral and, in the long term, politically ruinous. McCain had a multiracial family the kind that is increasingly Americas future. Rather than scapegoat immigrants, he took risks to pass immigration reform. After Charlottesville, he declared, White supremacists arent patriots, theyre traitors. Third, McCain believed in democracy and its vital, fragile institutions. He accepted his two haunting presidential defeats honorably. He has reportedly chosen the victors in those campaigns Obama and George W. Bush to deliver eulogies at his funeral. Most significantly, McCain fought for campaign-finance laws to reduce the influence of plutocrats. Fourth, McCain understood that democracy sometimes means moving on. He voted against Obamacare a reflection of his small-government conservatism. But he also voted, crucially, against its repeal a reflection of his small-c conservatism. In doing so, he acted as a modern-day Eisenhower, a Republican willing to accept an expansion of the safety net for the good of the country. Finally, McCain recognized that the military wasnt the only way that Washington could use its awesome power for good. When I interviewed him during the 2008 presidential campaign, he described his economic hero as Theodore Roosevelt a free-enterprise, capitalist, full-bore guy who realized that prosperity depended on government agencies that need to do their job as well. The outlook led him to favor policies (albeit too sporadically) to fight climate change and expand community colleges. Imagine how different our politics could be if even some Republicans a la T.R. occasionally took the side of the little guy against corporate behemoths. And even if you disagreed with McCain on as many issues as I did, imagine if the Republican Party ultimately came to resemble him more than Trump. Above all, McCain believed in American greatness as a reality, not a slogan. He knew that the United States could play a unique role in the world, as a defender of freedom and human dignity. He also knew that the role was anything but assured. It required hard work, good choices, compromise and sacrifice. McCains final message for his country was a warning: Our greatness is in peril. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook and Twitter (@NYTopinion), and sign up for the Opinion Today newsletter. To the Editor: Re John S. McCain, 1936-2018: A Symbol of Courage in Half a Century of Battles (front page, Aug. 26): Senator McCain was a remarkable man. The courage, optimism, humor and dignity he displayed throughout his life should be an inspiration to all of those who aspire to public service. During the many decades he spent in Congress, Senator McCain never forgot that our political system was based on compromise and thoughtfulness. Those qualities are sorely lacking in those who walk the halls of our nations capital today. That is why Mr. McCains death is particularly sad, as his spirit and leadership are needed now more than ever. Laurence R. Jurdem San Francisco To the Editor: John McCain was a maverick and a fighter. He believed that every citizen has a responsibility to make something of the freedoms given by the Constitution, and from his heroic service in the Navy to his 35 years in Congress, he lived by his creed every day. He was a skilled, tough politician. He was a true hero. We will remember John McCain always and forever. To the Editor: Re Court Nominee Called Roe v. Wade Settled Law (news article, Aug. 22): It appears that Senator Susan Collins is prepared to vote to confirm Brett M. Kavanaugh as a justice of the Supreme Court because he has told her that he considers the courts decision in Roe v. Wade to be settled law. If we have learned anything in the past two years it should be that nothing in this Trump era that had been considered settled cannot become unsettled. The long history of Supreme Court decisions being overturned by later versions of that court, often for good reason, leaves no doubt that the decision in Roe v. Wade is in grave danger of being reversed or modified into insignificance should Mr. Kavanaugh be confirmed. It would be a grave mistake for Ms. Collins to vote to confirm him based on his all too vague invocation of settled law. Robert M. Levine New York To the Editor: Maine s senior senator, Susan Collins, said after meeting with Brett Kavanaugh on Tuesday that he considers Roe v. Wade settled law. What comfort do I take in that? Diplomatic ties with countries around the world are deteriorating under the presidency of Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan. Only 17 countries currently recognize the islands independence from China. El Salvador is the latest nation to swap its allegiance. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook and Twitter, and sign up for the Opinion Today newsletter. There have been two Broadway revivals. Debbie Allen received a Tony nomination for her performance in the 1986 production, which won in the category of best reproduction. Frank Rich praised Ms. Allen and the choreography but said Mr. Simons script could still use major surgery. A 2005 revival may be best known for the on-again, off-again lead-up to opening night after the star, Christina Applegate, broke a bone in her foot but vowed to go on. Ben Brantley called it a lukewarm revival in which the main course never seems to arrive. The Tony-winning actress Sutton Foster starred in an Off Broadway revival in 2016. Ben Brantley called hers an archetype-shattering performance. Plaza Suite (1968) Mr. Simons next Broadway hit was this omnibus comedy, which tells three separate stories, all set in Suite 719 of the Plaza Hotel, with the leading roles played by the same pair of actors. George C. Scott and Maureen Stapleton starred in the original production, which ran a staggering 1,097 performances and was nominated for Tonys for best play, best actress in a play (Ms. Stapleton) and best direction of a play (Mike Nichols). Clive Barnes dubbed it a laugh machine, which after a slow start with the first, warms up with the second and ends with an all-stops-out, grandstand finish with the third. Mr. Simon adapted the play into a film version, released a year after the conclusion of its Broadway run, with Arthur Hiller directing. Walter Matthau was cast in the three male leads; his female partners were this time played by three different actresses (Ms. Stapleton, Barbara Harris and Lee Grant). In 1982, HBO broadcast a taped production, shot in front of a live audience, featuring Ms. Grant and Jerry Orbach in the three roles; five years later, CBS aired a new production with Carol Burnett in the three female roles, opposite Hal Holbrook, Dabney Coleman and Richard Crenna. John J. OConnor called it a consistently amiable exercise. The 1971 film is available for rental or purchase at Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, Vudu, Google Play, and YouTube. The Out of Towners (1970) Plaza Suite was originally conceived as a quartet of stories, but Mr. Simon determined that its vignette about a Midwestern couple beaten down by the horrors and inconveniences of Gotham was rich enough to warrant a stand-alone treatment and that it made more sense as screenplay than a stage script. So before he and Arthur Hiller collaborated on Plaza Suite, they made this uproarious fish-out-of-water comedy in which George Kellerman (Jack Lemmon) and wife Gwen (Sandy Dennis), visiting the city for a job interview, are subjected to a parade of indignities lost luggage, hotel reservation errors, a mugging, a kidnapping, and transit, sanitation and taxi strikes that make them long for their Ohio home. Politicians from both sides of the aisle and leaders from around the world remembered John McCain, the war hero turned leading Republican politician, after he died on Saturday in his Arizona home. Mr. McCain, who had a malignant brain tumor that was discovered in 2017, was praised for his patriotism and defiance of party leaders. President Trump, with whom Mr. McCain had a yearslong, bitter feud, offered his deepest sympathies and respect to Mr. McCains family in a tweet on Saturday night. Many praised Mr. McCains congressional career, which began after he was a prisoner of war in Vietnam, where he was tortured. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1982, and the Senate in 1986, becoming known for his stances on campaign finance reform, immigration and foreign policy. Cindy McCain, Mr. McCains wife, tweeted that her heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years, she said, adding that he died on his own terms. McKINNEY, Tex. The North Texas Job Corps Center squats behind a chain-link fence here in a suburb north of Dallas, accessible only through a gate manned 24 hours a day by guards hired to keep out intruders and to keep in the centers 436 students. Its a little bit like prison, said Donnell Strange, 17, who joined the electrical apprenticeship program about six months ago after struggling in school back home in Mansfield, near Dallas. This is not what the founders of a flagship federal program with a $1.7 billion annual budget an iconic Great Society program meant to prepare impoverished young people for the work force had in mind. Started in 1964 by R. Sargent Shriver, President John F. Kennedys brother-in-law, as a ladder out of hopelessness, Job Corps today has become a 20th-century holdover incapable of meeting the demands of a national shortage of job-ready workers. Job Corps doesnt work, said Teresa Sanders, a former teacher at the North Texas center who quit in frustration in 2015 after a rash of violent episodes inside the center, but who keeps in touch with dozens of former students through a Facebook page. The adults are making money, the politicians are getting photo ops. But we are all failing the students. John McCain, who died on Saturday at the age of 81, was a national figure whose decades of public service and distinctive public persona made him a larger-than-life figure in the increasingly polarized world of American politics. Mr. McCain was frequently referred to as a maverick, an image he cultivated to advance his political goals, including two failed presidential runs. After those defeats, he became known as a conservative lion of the Senate, who despite his famous temper believed that partisan disputes and civility could coexist in Washington. [Read the obituary for John McCain.] Here is a look at Mr. McCains public history. Mr. McCains admirers made clear their wishes that Mr. Ducey tap somebody as independent and willing to criticize the president as the departed senator, whose last high-profile moment in public life was to excoriate Mr. Trumps July meeting with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia as one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president. I like senators whose minds werent captured, said Senator Jeff Flake, the states other senator, repurposing Mr. Trumps caustic attack on Mr. McCains Vietnam service and appealing to his party to get away from this personality cult. Some of Arizonas pro-Trump conservatives say that Mr. Duceys top priority should be to appoint somebody who is unwaveringly loyal to the president. I think it should be a conservative, someone that supports President Trump I think that should be the main issue, said Joe Arpaio, the former county sheriff whom Mr. Trump pardoned last year and who is currently running for the seat now held by Mr. Flake, who is not seeking re-election. I want somebody in there who will protect the back of our president and somebody that will not pursue impeachment if there is impeachment. Image Mr. McCain with his wife, Cindy, at a presidential campaign rally in 2008. She is one of several people thought to be under consideration to fill Mr. McCain vacant Senate seat. Arizonas primaries are Tuesday, and the race to replace Mr. Flake there has evolved into a contest over who can claim the mantle of the president not that of the iconic war hero who got remarried to an Arizonan, settled in the state and frequently defied his own party over 35 years in Congress. The Republican establishments favorite, Representative Martha McSally, has linked herself to the president as she tries to fend off far-right challenges from Mr. Arpaio and Kelli Ward, a onetime state senator who won nearly 40 percent of the vote in a 2016 primary against Mr. McCain. To do that, Ms. McSally has avoided any connection to Mr. McCain, a gambit that has infuriated the late senators family. (For her part, Ms. Ward suggested in a Friday Facebook post that the McCain family had timed their announcement about the senator stopping his treatment to undermine her campaign.) SYDNEY, Australia Australias new prime minister announced his cabinet on Sunday, replacing the foreign affairs minister and redistributing responsibility for two of the most divisive issues for his party and conservative politics: immigration and climate change. Scott Morrison, 50, who became prime minister on Friday after a feud inside the governing Liberal Party toppled Malcolm Turnbull, said his new generation team would begin the process of healing. I know this team can deliver the economy we need, the safety we need, and the togetherness we need, he said. The appointments include newcomers as well as holdovers. But even as Mr. Morrison promised some continuity, it was clear from his appointments that the rift which produced Australias sixth prime minister since 2010 is far from resolved and will continue to shape the country. COPENHAGEN The Nordic countries regularly appear at the top of an annual list of the worlds happiest nations, but their reputation as happiness superpowers masks the difficulties of a significant part of the population, a new analysis shows. Finland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland led the 2018 ranking of the World Happiness Report, and Sweden wasnt far behind, placing ninth. But in the five Nordic countries, an average of 12.3 percent of the population is struggling or suffering, according to a report by the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen. Something doesnt rhyme, said Michael Birkjaer, an analyst with the Happiness Research Institute and an author of the report, titled In the Shadow of Happiness, referring to the uneven distribution of happiness across the Nordic countries. Its the youth driving the inequality to the highest degree. The report, based on research conducted from 2012 to 2016, asked people to assess their satisfaction with life on a scale of zero to 10. Those who answered seven or higher were categorized as thriving, those who responded five or six were classified as struggling, and those who said four or lower were deemed to be suffering. Most respondents in the Nordic countries reported satisfaction of seven to nine. He added, using words that many disappointed Catholics had been waiting to hear: Some members of the hierarchy didnt own up to these painful situations and kept silence. We ask for forgiveness. He also acknowledged the churchs role in separating tens of thousands of unmarried mothers from their babies, and encouraged those mothers and children to reunite. For all those times when it was said to many single mothers who tried to look for their children who had been estranged from them, or to the children who were looking for their mothers, that it was a mortal sin: This is not a mortal sin, he said. It is the Fourth Commandment! We ask for forgiveness. Decades of clerical abuse, forced adoptions, forced labor in industrial houses and other exploitation gutted the Catholic Church in Ireland. And as the Irish government has broken free from the churchs hold, its people have voted in ways contrary to church teaching. They have legalized divorce and same-sex marriage, and in May took a major step toward the legalization of abortion. In a speech beside the pope on Saturday, Irelands prime minister, Leo Varadkar, acknowledged all of the churchs contributions to Irish society, including its hospitals and schools, but also made clear that Ireland liked the direction it was heading in. The pope, in his homily on Sunday, seemed to have no illusions of how hard his task is. Let us also humbly acknowledge that, if we are honest with ourselves, we too can find the teachings of Jesus hard, he said. How difficult it is always to forgive those who hurt us. He said that neither Cardinal Parolin nor a host of other Vatican officials had replied, but that when he had brought up the subject with Cardinal McCarricks replacement in Washington, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, it was immediately clear to me that he was fully aware of it. Ed McFadden, a spokesman for Cardinal Wuerl, disputed that account on Sunday. In spite of what Archbishop Viganos memo indicates, Cardinal Wuerl did not receive any documentation or information during his time in Washington regarding any actions taken against Archbishop McCarrick, Mr. McFadden said. Some survivors of clerical abuse called the allegations a distraction. This is infighting between curia factions that are exploiting the abuse crisis and victims of clergy sexual abuse as leverage in the struggle for church power, said Peter Isely, a survivor. The sexual abuse crisis is not about whether a bishop is a liberal or a conservative. It is about protecting children. The controversy over the allegations is expected to grow in coming days, especially as Francis has declined to deny it. Instead on Sundays flight, he blamed the media for promoting an atmosphere of guilt around suspected clerics and shared that until his visit he had never heard about Irelands notorious mother and baby homes, where children were ripped away from unwed mothers. He also sought to strike the same conciliatory tone that hundreds of thousands of faithful heard earlier in the day as he began a Mass at Phoenix Park in Dublin by explicitly asking forgiveness for the churchs sins and abuse. Some members of the hierarchy didnt own up to these painful situations, he said at the Mass. And kept silent. The Turkish police forcefully dispersed a group of activists, some of them women in their 80s, over the weekend, breaking up a regular vigil in Istanbul to protest the forced disappearances of hundreds of people. The group, known as the Saturday Mothers, was to hold its 700th meeting on Saturday to demand justice for those who disappeared after a military coup in 1980 and in the ensuing fighting between Turkish security forces and Kurdish insurgents in southeastern Turkey. The police used tear gas to stop the protest and arrested 47 people. All were released by Saturday evening. Among them was Emine Ocak, who is said to be older than 80. She has attended the vigils regularly since her son Hasan disappeared in 1995. His tortured body was eventually found, but his killers have never been identified. Chemotherapy has many nasty side effects, and one that patients often find particularly frustrating is dysgeusia. This side effect causes food and drink to taste bland, bitter, or metallic. Now, a Prague based cancer advocacy group has come up with a solution to that problem a non-alcoholic beer called Mama Beer. Mamma Beer has been formulated to help breast cancer patients overcome the symptoms of dysgeusia. Its flavor profile has been engineered to make it taste good to those undergoing chemotherapy, but in addition to its great taste, the beer also contains a range of vitamins and minerals that have been known to help people deal with cancer treatment. Photo: Mamma Beer Not only does food often taste bad to chemo patients, but sometimes, they struggle to even eat at all. Jana Drexlerova, CEO of Prague-based breast cancer advocacy group Mamma Help, experienced this for herself when she went through chemotherapy. She developed painful mouth lesions, making it very difficult to eat. When I finally got my appetite back, all I could eat was cold tomato soup, and even that was flavorless, Drexlerova said. To help chemo patients get vital nutrition and vitamins, doctors may recommend drinking beer in moderation; the trouble is, dysgeusia makes beer taste incredibly bitter. Jana partnered with Tereza Sverakova (also a survivor of breast cancer) to brew a beer that is more palatable: Photo: Mamma Beer We thought it would be great to develop beer specifically for women undergoing chemobeer that has all the vitamins and nutrients, but has no alcohol and is made sweeter to kill the bitterness. A beer that would help counter this side effect of chemo and promote Mamma HELP at the same time. We approached nine breweries, but just one said yes: Zatec. It took them half a year to develop the beer. Those who tasted Mamma Beer have found it to be great. Thats the biggest reward. The limited edition beer is brewed to be significantly less bitter than normal beer since chemotherapy makes everything taste exceptionally bitter. It also has an addition of apple juice in order to make it taste a little bit sweeter. Like most beer, it is also a great source of potassium and vitamin B. So far, the beer has been served at several beer and food shows and has also been distributed to oncology wards and pharmacies in the Czech Republic. The beer should also be available for purchase in supermarkets around the country at some point in the future. Are you hoping to get hold of Mamma Beer outside of the Czech Republic? Unfortunately, it will most likely remain a Czech-only phenomenon. Czechs consume a massive 142.6 liters of beer per capita, so even a niche beer such as Mamma Beer is likely to become a success. A man was recently injured after falling into an 8-foot-deep art installation at the Serralves Foundation Museum in Porto, Portugal. He apparently though it looked fake, so he decided to step into it to make sure. Created by acclaimed British artist Anish Kapoor in 1992, Descent Into Limbo is an optical illusion that looks like a black circle painted on the floor. Its designed to appear like a bottomless pit and staring into is is reportedly a dizzying experience, but one unnamed Italian tourist visiting the installation last week apparently wanted to do more than that. Despite several warning signs and a staffer tasked with keeping visitors safe, the man somehow managed to test the fake-looking pit by stepping into it. He got injured after taking an 8-foot fall, but at least he satisfied his curiosity. Photo: fundacaoserralves/YouTube A representative of the Serralves Foundation Museum told reporters that the man had been hospitalized after the fall, but that he was eventually discharged and is recovering well. Descent into Limbo was closed to the public after the bizarre incident, but will soon be reopened with extra safety measures in place. After learning about the accident, artist Anish Kappor had this to say: What can I say? It is a shame. To be honest, I am surprised that this didnt happen sooner. People had been debating whether Descent Into Limbo was actually a hole in the floor or a simple black circle painted with a really dark paint for years, so someone was bound to test it at some point. Museums were apparently wary of this too, as visitors had to sign a disclaimer acknowledging the safety risk. You need an exceptional pair of lungs to inflate a tyre tube by blowing air into it through your mouth, but one Chinese man has recently set a new world record by inflating 12 tubes at the same time, with one nostril. 43-year-old Tang Feihu accomplished the impressive feat in just two and a half minutes, during a recent event held at Nanjiang Grand Canyon. The stuntman reportedly started off by inflating 10 tyre tubes with a diameter of over 60 cm, a feat that took him 2 minutes and 39 seconds to complete. After taking a 5-minute break to catch his breath, Tang upped the stakes, this time using one of his nostrils to push air into 12 tyre tubes at the same time. It took him only 2 minutes and 30 seconds to finish the job, a new world record. Photo: jxnews Its not clear whether the time in which Tang Feihu managed to complete his stunt mattered in this world record attempt, as the previous record holder had only managed to inflate 6 tyre tubes at the same time. Last year, we wrote about Nie Yongbing, another Chinese man, who made news headlines for inflating 4 tyre tubes simultaneously. It took him 20 minutes to do this, which makes Tangs achievement seem all but impossible. Tang Feihu has reportedly been earning a living by performing all sort of stunts for tourists at various Nanjiang Grand Canyon scenic spots, and decided to try the tyre tube trick after seeing videos of it online. He had practiced martial arts and qigong for many years, so he thought that his breathing techniques might help. It turns out he was right. Photo: jxnews On July 5th, Feihu contacted London-based World Record Certification Agency (WRCA) to have his record attempt certified. A month later, on August 12, a WRCA officer was present to oversee the stuntmans performance and later presented him with official record certificate. A young Indian businessman who wanted to get back on his girlfriends good side after an argument put up 300 billboards and signs all over their local suburb, to let her know he wanted her forgiveness. Its not clear what 25-year-old Nilesh Khedekar had done to upset his girlfriend, but he clearly thought it serious enough to be worth the effort of an impressive operation to earn her forgiveness. Last week, after hearing that the girl, named Shivde, was returning from Mumbai to her home in Pimple Saudagar, a suburb of Pune, the young man decided he had to come up with a creative way of showing her just how sorry he was about their argument. He got in touch with a printer and commissioned hundreds of different-sized posters with the message Shivde, I am Sorry!. Then, on the night before the girls scheduled returned, he paid a group of boys to hang the signs and billboards all over her neighborhood. Photo: Twitter On Friday morning, the people of Pimple Saudagar woke up to 300 posters and signs on buildings, lamp posts and billboards, all carrying the same mysterious message and a heart sign. People started taking photos of the signs and posting them on social media, and by midday, they had become the talk of the town. While most people online thought it was romantic how someone had gone to all this trouble to apologize to their loved one, the local police werent so impressed. By Friday evening, authorities had already tracked down the printer, the boys who had put up the posters and eventually the man who had orchestrated the whole thing, Nilesh Khedekar. He told police about the argument he had had with Shivde, and how he tried to do something creative to earn her forgiveness, like putting up hundreds of posters on the route she would return on from Mumbai. Photo: DNA India Khedekar told that he had some differences with his girlfriend whom he called Shivde. In order to apologise to her he came up with this idea of putting up hoardings and banners in the area where she stays. Khedekar roped in his friend to execute the plan, a police officer told DNA India. Unfortunately for the 25-year-old director of a family-owned company, his plan didnt work out quite the way he wanted. After spending a reported RS72,000 ($1,000) to have the posters printed and put up around town, all he had to show for it was a formal complaint from Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) officials, for defacing the locality. Its unclear what the penalty is in such cases, but it most likely involves a fine. The entire thing has turned ugly. My idea was to be creative in apologising to her. Now I think I shouldnt have done it in the first place. I have let my parents down. I have let her (girlfriend) and her family down as well, Nilesh said. While his 300 hundred posters have since been taken down, they are still circulating on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook. No word on whether Shivde has actually forgiven the hero of our story. 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. In order to get the attention of the government in Moscow, the citizens of a small Russian village have launched an initiative to their name from Bungur to Syria. Their reasoning is that Russia has invested tens of millions of dollars in the middle eastern state, so surely they can spare some rubles for a Syria a little closer to home. Bungur has been in a state of disrepair for a long time, and things are only getting worse. The roads are damaged, the electricity and water supply switch off intermittently, and healthcare services are nonexistent. While these kinds of complaints are not unusual for small Russian communities, this villages way of trying to deal with the situation has raised some eyebrows. We dont have any expectations, said Bungur resident Sergei Zhavronkov, one of the leaders behind the renaming initiative. The only thing we want is to rename Bungur as Syria. Then we will apply to the Russian Federation for humanitarian aid. Im not joking, Im completely serious. We hope that instead of Bungur there will be the Syrian Arabian Republic. Well invite some Arabs. The government is helping Syria and the destruction here is just as bad as it is there. But we arent getting any attention. This renaming movement comes after locals have struggled to get the village recognized by officials for decades. I worked in a collective farm [in the Soviet period], says one local. We saw the regional committee secretary and the other bigwigs three times a year. They came for the planting, the haymaking, and the harvest. You could ask them whatever you wanted. Now there is not a single deputy in the local administration from Bungur. To put into perspective just how bad things are in Bungur, you should know that the village doesnt even have a school; instead, children have to take a bus to nearby settlements. Due to the poor state of the single road connecting Bungur to the rest of Russia, locals fear that one day, the buses will simply stop coming. We had a school, but they optimized it, Sergei says. We had a library, but it is closed. All they left was a village council and a monument to participants of World War II. There is nothing here. Just a cemetery. 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 CIC refuses to divulge security expenses of BJP chief Amit Shah India pti-PTI New Delhi, Aug 26: Expenses incurred on the security cover of BJP president Amit Shah cannot be disclosed, the Central Information Commission (CIC) has held citing RTI Act exemption clauses of "personal information" and "safety". The commission has denied the appeal of a petitioner who had also sought to know the rules governing extension of security cover to a private individual and the authorities, which foot the bill of such cover to a private individual. The application was filed by Deepak Juneja on July 5, 2014, when Shah was not a member of the Rajya Sabha. He had also sought to know the list of people who have been given security by the government. The information was denied by the Home Ministry citing Section 8(1)(g) that exempts from disclosure information that would endanger the life or physical safety of any person. The ministry had also cited Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, which exempts information that is personal, would cause unwarranted invasion of privacy and is not linked to any "public activity". In its previous order in the matter, the CIC had upheld denial of information as it was not disclosed before Parliament. Juneja challenged the CIC order in the Delhi High Court where Justice Vibhu Bakhru set aside the transparency panel's order stating that the commission was first required to examine whether information sought by the petitioner was exempted under clauses (g) and (j) of Section 8(1) of the RTI Act. It lobbed the matter before the CIC again to consider private contentions in the light of the exemption clauses of Section 8(1) of the act. The commission again heard Juneja and the Home Ministry in the matter. Juneja submitted that the grant of security cover to eminent persons under threat is the duty of the state in cases where the beneficiary holds a high office as they cannot perform their vital functions while reeling under threat, Information Commissioner Yashovardhan Azad noted in the order. However, the appellant submits that defraying cost of elite Z+ security cover to private persons must not be from the state exchequer, Azad pointed out. "Amit Shah, who happens to be the national president of the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) has been granted Z+ security cover by the MHA since July 2014 despite him not being holding any constitutional or statutory office," Juneja said, adding that since it was public money he has the right to know. The ministry said the respondent's contention is that revelation of expenses incurred in providing security cover would reveal the intricacies, and magnitude and rigour of security cover. It said rules governing the entitlement of grant of security cover and process of threat assessment among others are framed in consultation with central security agencies, which are exempted from the purview of the RTI Act, and disclosure would nullify the exemptions. "Judicial notice can be taken of the fact that the protectees are already facing the highest level of threat and that is why they have been accorded with the highest level of security cover," Azad, a former IB special director, held. [Does Amit Shah have his father's birth certificate? Mamata's all-out attack against BJP] He said revelation of names of protectees if not adding on to the danger to their life or physical safety would be counterproductive to the efficacy of security cover. The names of private Z+ protectees are personal since they do not owe the security cover to their public office but private position in life, the information commissioner said. "The public eminence of the private person, threat perception and the potential harm... are key determinative factors while granting security cover," he said. He said the identity, specific threat perception analysis among other factors are personal information of a protectee who does not hold a public office. "The right to know, in such a case, must make way for the right to privacy of the individual and the efficiency of governance since the same furthers the concept of 'practical regime' of the RTI as conceptualised in the preamble of the RTI Act," Azad said. [TMC sends legal notice to Amit Shah for graft allegations against Mamata nephew] He also cited last year's Supreme Court order on Right to Privacy to buttress his argument. On December 9, 2015, the list of protectees in political and judicial field was disclosed in a Rajya Sabha question by the Home Ministry, hence making a further case for not disclosing it, Azad said. PTI Why UP was lagging behind and thrown into fire of riots: Yogi explains Deaths of infants at BRD hospital not due to lack of oxygen: Yogi India pti-PTI Lucknow, Aug 26: Almost a year after the deaths of scores of infants were reported from the BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the incident may have been blown out of proportion due to the institute's "internal politics". At the launch of a campaign pertaining to the state nutrition mission in Lucknow on Saturday, Adityanath said that initially when he heard of the deaths, he was reminded of an incident where a reporter wrote an incorrect news item after he was not allowed to enter a ward by hospital workers. "Last year when I heard of the news, I thought a similar thing had happened. But when I saw that all news channels and media had made it an issue, I sent DG (Health) to Gorakhpur and a sought a report. I also sent my health minister and the minister for medical education and told them to submit a report," Adityanath said. Adityanath, who has represented Gorakhpur in Lok Sabha five times, said this was not enough and he decided to visit the hospital the very next day. [Gorakhpur tragedy: 415 died at BRD hospital in August alone] "I asked people there what actually the matter was, and was told there was nothing as such...And if the deaths were due to the lack of oxygen, then children put on the ventilators would have been the first to die. I said there must definitely be something. From where were the figures come from? Then it emerged it was internal politics," the UP chief minister told the gathering. [Gorakhpur tragedy: Letters prove 'negligence' on part of BRD hospital] Adityanath said after the incident, the doctors at the medical college were not keen on seeing patients worrying that it may become an issue. We had to counsel them that you do your job and not worry about anything else, he said. "If your conscience is clean, then you should not bother, we told the doctors," Adityanath said. Nearly 60 children, mostly infants, had died at the hospital within a week in August 2017. There were allegations that the deaths occurred due to disruption in oxygen supply over unpaid bills to the vendor. The state government denied that shortage of oxygen led to the deaths. In its report submitted on August 23, 2017, a committee under the then UP chief secretary Rajive Kumar probing the hospital tragedy had recommended initiating criminal action against the then principal of the BRD Medical College Dr Rajiv Mishra, HoD Anaesthesia Paediatric department Dr Satish Kumar and in-charge of 100-bed AES ward Dr Kafeel Khan and Pushpa Sales. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had constituted the committee under the chief secretary on August 12, a day after deaths of children in the state-run hospital. On August 24, 2017, an FIR was registered against nine persons, including Dr Mishra, in connection with the deaths of over 60 children there due to alleged lack of oxygen supply. The proprietors of M/s Pushpa Sales, the company responsible for the supply of liquid oxygen, were also named in the FIR. The FIR was filed under various sections of IPC relating to criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide and relevant provisions of the Anti Corruption Act. PTI Rahul Gandhi meets party leaders from Gujarat, asks them to be prepared for assembly polls Rahul has lunch at roadside eatery in Goa, rides pillion on two-wheeler taxi for few kms For tarnishing image of nation, defamation case slapped on Rahul Gandhi India oi-Madhuri Muzaffarpur, Aug 26: A complaint was filed against Congress president Rahul Gandhi in a court here seeking registration of a defamation case against him for allegedly tarnishing and lowering the image of the country. The complaint was filed by advocate Sudhir Kumar Ojha in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Hari Prasad here, which fixed September 4 as the date for hearing the matter. Ojha contended that Rahul Gandhi had "justified terrorism and explained the emergence of Islamic State (IS) group due to increasing unemployment and likened it with that of India, which is an insult to the country". Also Read | People support leaders like Trump, Modi because they don't have jobs: Rahul Gandhi The Gandhi scion, during his visit to Germany and Britain, had said that terrorism was on the rise in India due to increasing unemployment, Ojha said in his complaint. He also held Indian culture responsible for violence against women, the complainant said, adding that the Congress chief had "tarnished and lowered the image of India internationally on foreign soil". Gandhi had "deliberately made such statements with an intention to create tension in the country" and the remarks have led to protests and demonstrations against him, the complaint said. Ojha further said that he was hurt by the Congress leader's comments which he read in various newspapers and saw on TV channels. Also Read | Don't have prime ministerial visions, fighting ideological battle: Rahul Gandhi in London He filed the criminal complaint case against Rahul Gandhi under various sections of IPC including 153B (Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration), 500 (defamation) and 504 (insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace). If convicted by the court, the charges attract a minimum of two to three years of imprisonment with fine or both. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 26, 2018, 13:27 [IST] India prisons are difficult places, but Mallya cant be treated differently: Rahul Gandhi India oi-Madhuri New Delhi, Aug 26: Congress president Rahul Gandhi said that Indian prisons are "difficult places" but fugitives like Vijay Mallya should not be treated differently. Interacting with the members of the Indian Journalists' Association here, Gandhi said that "before Mallya left India, he met senior BJP leaders, that is documented. I won't name them".Asked whether Indian jails are up to scratch as regards to Mallya's deportation case, he said "Indian prisons are difficult places". "Indian prisons are pretty decent as far as Mallya is concerned. Justice should be same for Indian people. Just because he is Vijay Mallya who defrauded banks to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore and ran away and he needs a difficult jail" is not acceptable. Mallya last month appeared before a court in London where both defence and prosecution presented clarifications on Barrack 12 at Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, where Mallya is to be held post-extradition. Judge Emma Arbuthnot asked the Indian authorities to submit within three weeks a video of the Barrack 12 of the Arthur Road Jail. Also Read | Western-style toilet, LCD television, 3 fans at Cell number 12 for Vijay Mallya Fugitive liquor baron Mallya is currently fighting extradition to India on fraud and money laundering charges worth an estimated Rs 9,000 crores. Gandhi said the Modi government is pretty lenient to Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehjul Choksi, who have defrauded Indian banks."Punjab National Bank scam accused Nirav Modi took Rs 35,000 crores and Chokshi defrauded the banks. The question is job creation. How many jobs Nirav Modi created?," Gandhi asked. The Congress president said "there is a relationship between Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and the Prime Minister. No action is taken against them". Jewellery designer Nirav and his uncle Mehul Choksi, the promoter of Gitanjali Gems, have allegedly defrauded state-run Punjab National Bank of over Rs 13,000 crore. The Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate have registered cases of alleged fraud against them.The Congress president attacked the Modi government and said it "absolutely and completely lacked any strategy as far as India's foreign policy is concerned". "The Prime Minister makes a particular statement in Nepal and in a couple of months there is a complete U-turn. He has not been able to handle the relationship with Nepal, Afghanistan or China. "A devastating example is that Prime Minister went to Afghanistan and on his way back he went to Pakistan for a wedding, sending a completely wrong message to Afghanistan. Afghan keeps wondering what is going on," Gandhi said. Gandhi was referring to Prime Minister Modi's surprise visit to Pakistan on December 25, 2015 while returning from Afghanistan. Also Read | Issue of Vijay Mallya raising condition of Indian jails in UK mentioned in SC He said that Prime Minister Modi went to China but did not discuss Doklam issue as "he views these as events. but they are not events". Gandhi said the Prime Minister is not taking feedback from the External Affairs Ministry."Why is the Foreign Minister (Sushma Swaraj) spending her time on sorting out Visas - that is not the job of the foreign minister. That is the job of someone in embassy. The job of the foreign minister is making foreign policy, holding discussion on strategy. "Sushma Swaraj is not allowed to have discussions. She is extremely capable woman. I know her. I have served with her in Committees. I have issues with her regarding her style. She is humiliated on every count. She is not taken by prime minister on his trips and you never see her in photographs with prime minister. Then you say the foreign policy is wrong," Gandhi, who is also a member of the parliamentary Committee on External Affairs, added. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 26, 2018, 8:26 [IST] Jayalalithaa waved and said thanks: AIIMS doctors India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Chennai, Aug 26: A commission of inquiry has been told that the three doctors from AIIMS had seen former Tamil Nadu chief minister, J Jayalalithaa nine times while she was being treated at the Apollo hospital in 2016. The Justice Arumughaswamy commission has been formed to inquire into the circumstances surrounding Jayalalithaa's death in 2016. The doctors who came to depose before the commission were pulmonologist Dr G C Khilnani, cardiologist Dr Nitish Naik and anaesthetist Dr Anjan Trikha. They also said that the medical treatment given was of high quality and they further added that the then stand-in C M O Panneerselvam, deputy speaker for Lok Sabha M Thambidurai and health minister Vijayabaskar were regularly briefed about the treatment being given to Jayalalithaa. Also Read | Jayalalithaa's death: AIIMS doctors summoned by probe panel They said when they met Jayalalithaa on December 3 2016, she sat up for 20 minutes. They also said that she had waved her hand and also said thanks. They also added that they did not find anything suspicious about the treatment. Her health had improved and then she had a setback. It has been conclusively proven that there was nothing wrong in the medical treatment given to her, the doctors also said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 26, 2018, 9:39 [IST] Climate adaptation not got as much importance as mitigation: PM Narendra Modi 'Mann Ki Baat': 'India stands shoulder to shoulder with people of Kerala' India oi-Madhuri New Delhi, Aug 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his thoughts with the people in India and abroad in his Mann Ki Baat programme on All India Radio at 11 am on Sunday. He once again expressed his commitment towards helping people in Kerala who have been displaced or have suffered losses in the aftermath of unprecedented floods in the state. Modi also commended the rescue and relief work being carried out by the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, BSF, CISF and RAF. The death toll in Kerala since August 8 has reached 265 with several estimates saying around 8.69 lakh people are still in 2287 relief camps. This was the 47th episode of the monthly programme, which was broadcasted on the entire network of AIR and Doordarshan. Here are the Highlights: Newest First Oldest First We will keep meeting through Mann Ki Baat, and will keep sharing matters close to our hearts. We will join hands in taking our country forward with heartfelt vigor. With these feelings, I extend my best wishes to you all. Thanks. We shall meet. My dear countrymen! There is a mood of festivity and with this the preparations for Diwali also begin. While observing Engineers Day, we should think of the future as well. Workshops should be held at different places. What are the things we need to learn in the changing times? What do we need to teach? What do we need to connect to? . Following Dr. M. Visvesvaraya his footsteps, our engineers have created their own identity in world. When I talk of wonders in Engineering world, I am reminded of incident of 2001 when devastating earth quake hit Kutch in Gujarat. I used to work as volunteer. This may be difficult to imagine, but this happened and that temple is Kailash Nath Mandir in Ellora, Mahrashtra. All of us have seen houses and buildings being constructed of bricks and stones but can you imagine that about twelve hundred years ago, a giant mountain which was single stone mountain was give the shape of an elegant, huge and a unique temple. Among those winning medals for our country are large number of our daughters which is very positive sign; Once again, I congratulate medal winners at Asian Games and also wish remaining players perform well. Many good wishes to you all on National Sports Day. Indian players are performing exceedingly well in shooting and wrestling but our players are winning medals in those competitions too, in which our performance has not been so good earlier-like WUSHU,ROWING. They are not just medals but evidence of high spirits of Indian players. My dear countrymen! The attention of crores of Indians is focused on the Asian Games being held in Jakarta. I wish to congratulate all players who have won medals for the country. I extend my best wishes to those players who are yet to compete. In the Monsoon session, this time, everyone jointly presented an ideal approach. Today, I publicly express my heartfelt gratitude to all MPs. No civil society can tolerate any kind of injustice towards the woman-power of the country. With this point in view Parliament has made a provision of strictest punishment by passing the Criminal Act Amendment Bill. My dear countrymen ! The monsoon session of Parliament ended just a few days back.This Monsoon session of Parliament will always be remembered as a session for social justice and youth welfare. For many years in India, the political culture of forming a very large cabinet was being misused to constitute jumbo cabinets not only to create a divide but also to appease political leaders. Atalji changed it. As soon as the people in our country and abroad heard of the demise of Atalji on 16th August, everyone drowned in sadness. He was a leader who gave up his position as Prime Minister fourteen years ago. Kirti from Ghaziabad, Swati Vats from Sonepat, brother Praveen from Kerala, Dr. Swapan Banerjee from WB, Akhilesh Pandey from Bihar and numerous others written on Narendra Modi Mobile App and MyGov asking me to speak on various aspects of Ataljis life. My dear countrymen ! I was looking into the suggestions received for Mann Ki Baat. The subject about which most of the people from across the country have written is Our revered Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Once again on behalf of all Indians, I would like to re assure each & everyone in Kerala and other affected places that at this moment of calamity, the entire country stands by them. At this moment of hardship & agony, their service stands out as a shining example. The capability, commitment & controlling situation through rapid decisions of the NDRF have made them a cynosure of every Indians eye, worthy of respect & admiration My dear countrymen, the monsoon comes along, bringing a new ray of hope to our toiling farmers. It provided much needed succor to the scorched trees & shrubs, and to parched water bodies; on the other hand excessive rainfall causes devastating floods. When a guru imparts even an iota of knowledge to the student, there is no material or wealth on the entire earth that the student can make use of, to repay the guru. We must abide by the same essence, the same spirit as we celebrate Teachers Day. Those who are well acquainted with Sanskrit Subhashitas epigrammatic verses, know very well that it is possible to make a crisp, precise statement, using very few words through the usage of subhashitas. Those who are well acquainted with Sanskrit Subhashitas epigrammatic verses, know very well that it is possible to make a crisp, precise statement, using very few words through the usage of subhashitas. Today, at times, in order to communicate more assertively, we tend to make use of English Quotations or even sher-o-shayari-urdu poetry. You will be astonished to know that Sanskrit is a language that possesses the capacity for infinite word formation with two thousand verb roots, 200 suffixes & 22 prefixes; coupled with compounds, the possibility of word-creation is limitless. You will be pleased to know that even today, residents of village Mattur in Shivamoga district of Karnataka use Sanskrit as their lingua franca. India takes great pride in the fact that Tamil is the most ancient of world languages. We Indians also feel proud that from Vedic times to the modern day, Sanskrit language has played a stellar role in the universal spread of knowledge. I am extremely thankful to young Chinmayee for touching upon this subject. Friends, apart from Raksha Bandhan, Shravan Poornima is also celebrated as Sanskrit Day. In Maharashtra, our young friends must be busy with preparations of the Dahi-Handi,festive ritual of the human pyramid breaking the curd filled earthen pot. Heartiest greetings to all countrymen on festive occasions of Rakshabandhan and Janmashtami. In a few days from now, we shall celebrate the festive occasion of Janmashtami. My dear countrymen, Namaskar. Today, entire country is celebrating Rakshabandhan. Heartiest greetings to all fellow citizens on this auspicious occasion. My dear countrymen, Namaskar. Today, entire country is celebrating Rakshabandhan. Heartiest greetings to all fellow citizens on this auspicious occasion. In a few days from now, we shall celebrate the festive occasion of Janmashtami. In Maharashtra, our young friends must be busy with preparations of the Dahi-Handi,festive ritual of the human pyramid breaking the curd filled earthen pot. Heartiest greetings to all countrymen on festive occasions of Rakshabandhan and Janmashtami. I am extremely thankful to young Chinmayee for touching upon this subject. Friends, apart from Raksha Bandhan, Shravan Poornima is also celebrated as Sanskrit Day. India takes great pride in the fact that Tamil is the most ancient of world languages. We Indians also feel proud that from Vedic times to the modern day, Sanskrit language has played a stellar role in the universal spread of knowledge. You will be pleased to know that even today, residents of village Mattur in Shivamoga district of Karnataka use Sanskrit as their lingua franca. You will be astonished to know that Sanskrit is a language that possesses the capacity for infinite word formation with two thousand verb roots, 200 suffixes & 22 prefixes; coupled with compounds, the possibility of word-creation is limitless. Today, at times, in order to communicate more assertively, we tend to make use of English Quotations or even sher-o-shayari-urdu poetry. Those who are well acquainted with Sanskrit Subhashitas epigrammatic verses, know very well that it is possible to make a crisp, precise statement, using very few words through the usage of subhashitas. Those who are well acquainted with Sanskrit Subhashitas epigrammatic verses, know very well that it is possible to make a crisp, precise statement, using very few words through the usage of subhashitas. When a guru imparts even an iota of knowledge to the student, there is no material or wealth on the entire earth that the student can make use of, to repay the guru. We must abide by the same essence, the same spirit as we celebrate Teachers Day. My dear countrymen, the monsoon comes along, bringing a new ray of hope to our toiling farmers. It provided much needed succor to the scorched trees & shrubs, and to parched water bodies; on the other hand excessive rainfall causes devastating floods. At this moment of hardship & agony, their service stands out as a shining example. The capability, commitment & controlling situation through rapid decisions of the NDRF have made them a cynosure of every Indians eye, worthy of respect & admiration Once again on behalf of all Indians, I would like to re assure each & everyone in Kerala and other affected places that at this moment of calamity, the entire country stands by them. My dear countrymen ! I was looking into the suggestions received for Mann Ki Baat. The subject about which most of the people from across the country have written is Our revered Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Kirti from Ghaziabad, Swati Vats from Sonepat, brother Praveen from Kerala, Dr. Swapan Banerjee from WB, Akhilesh Pandey from Bihar and numerous others written on Narendra Modi Mobile App and MyGov asking me to speak on various aspects of Ataljis life. As soon as the people in our country and abroad heard of the demise of Atalji on 16th August, everyone drowned in sadness. He was a leader who gave up his position as Prime Minister fourteen years ago. For many years in India, the political culture of forming a very large cabinet was being misused to constitute jumbo cabinets not only to create a divide but also to appease political leaders. Atalji changed it. My dear countrymen ! The monsoon session of Parliament ended just a few days back.This Monsoon session of Parliament will always be remembered as a session for social justice and youth welfare. No civil society can tolerate any kind of injustice towards the woman-power of the country. With this point in view Parliament has made a provision of strictest punishment by passing the Criminal Act Amendment Bill. In the Monsoon session, this time, everyone jointly presented an ideal approach. Today, I publicly express my heartfelt gratitude to all MPs. My dear countrymen! The attention of crores of Indians is focused on the Asian Games being held in Jakarta. I wish to congratulate all players who have won medals for the country. I extend my best wishes to those players who are yet to compete. Indian players are performing exceedingly well in shooting and wrestling but our players are winning medals in those competitions too, in which our performance has not been so good earlier-like WUSHU,ROWING. They are not just medals but evidence of high spirits of Indian players. Among those winning medals for our country are large number of our daughters which is very positive sign; Once again, I congratulate medal winners at Asian Games and also wish remaining players perform well. Many good wishes to you all on National Sports Day. All of us have seen houses and buildings being constructed of bricks and stones but can you imagine that about twelve hundred years ago, a giant mountain which was single stone mountain was give the shape of an elegant, huge and a unique temple. This may be difficult to imagine, but this happened and that temple is Kailash Nath Mandir in Ellora, Mahrashtra. Following Dr. M. Visvesvaraya his footsteps, our engineers have created their own identity in world. When I talk of wonders in Engineering world, I am reminded of incident of 2001 when devastating earth quake hit Kutch in Gujarat. I used to work as volunteer. While observing Engineers Day, we should think of the future as well. Workshops should be held at different places. What are the things we need to learn in the changing times? What do we need to teach? What do we need to connect to? . My dear countrymen! There is a mood of festivity and with this the preparations for Diwali also begin. We will keep meeting through Mann Ki Baat, and will keep sharing matters close to our hearts. We will join hands in taking our country forward with heartfelt vigor. With these feelings, I extend my best wishes to you all. Thanks. We shall meet. It will also be streamed on the YouTube channels of the PMO, I&B Ministry, AIR and DD News and will be simultaneously broadcast on AIR's website - www.allindiaradio.gov.in. AIR will broadcast the programme in regional languages immediately after the Hindi broadcast. The regional language versions will also be repeated at 8 in the evening. PM Modi, in the 46th edition, remembered India's noted freedom fighter Chandra Shekhar Azad. He also highlighted the significance of Yoga and hailed the Goods and Services Tax (GST). On 3 October 2014, on the occasion of Vijayadashami, the first programme was aired. MEA refuses to share details on extradition request of Zakir Naik to Malaysia India pti-PTI New Delhi, Aug 26: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has refused to share details of request to Malaysia seeking extradition of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, being probed in India for alleged terror charges, citing RTI clauses that bars disclosure of information received in confidence from foreign government, among others. In response to an RTI application filed by this PTI correspondent, the ministry said there are 160 extradition requests from India pending with various foreign countries. To a query seeking details of extradition request made by India and response received from Malaysia, it said the information cannot be provided pursuant to Section 8 (1) (a) (f) and (h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. The Section (h) bars disclosure of information which would impede the process of investigation or apprehension or prosecution of offenders. As per Section (f) of the transparency law, information received in confidence from foreign government cannot be disclosed. The Section 8 (1) (a) bars information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the state, relation with foreign state or lead to incitement of an offence. The MEA was asked to provide copy of letter or request made to Malaysia seeking extradition of Naik and also the copy of any communication response from that government. Naik, who left India in July, 2016, is wanted for alleged terror and money laundering charges. MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had last month said that India's request to Malaysia to extradite Naik was under active consideration of that country. India has an extradition treaty with Malaysia. In January, the MEA made a formal request to Malaysia to deport Naik. Naik, who is in Malaysia, in a statement published in Malaysian newspapers in July, had thanked Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad for examining his case from an "unbiased perspective". Mahathir, who had met the radical Indian cleric last month, has made it clear that his government will not easily give in to India's demand to deport Naik. We do not easily follow the demands of others. We must look at all factors before we respond," Mahathir was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times. "Otherwise, someone will become a victim," the prime minister had said. Mahathir had also said that Malaysia will not deport Naik back to India, as long as he does not create problems in the country. The previous Malaysian government had granted Naik permanent resident status. India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), that probes terror cases, had last year filed a charge sheet in a court against Naik for allegedly inciting youth to take up terror activities, giving hate speeches and promoting enmity between communities. It had first registered a case against Naik under anti-terror laws in 2016. Naik is also under investigation for issuing hate speeches that reportedly inspired a deadly terror attack on a popular cafe in Dhaka in 2016. Naik's Mumbai-based non-government organisation, Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), has been declared an unlawful association by the Union Home Ministry. PTI Climate adaptation not got as much importance as mitigation: PM Narendra Modi Modi-KCR meet: No talk on early polls India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 26: The buzz around early elections in Telangana was killed following the meeting of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Chief Minister, K Chandrasekhar Rao at New Delhi. There was no political talk between the two leaders during their 30 minute interaction on Saturday. There was also no talk on early elections. KCR took up 14 pending bifurcation-related issues concerning TS and sought their resolution at the earliest. Also Read | Will fight 2019 elections on our own says KCR After the meeting, TRS deputy floor leader in the Lok Sabha B Vinod Kumar claimed that the PM had given his nod to the state government's new zonal system in 2-3 days and also bifurcation of the High Court at the earliest. He said the CM had successfully convinced the PM to approve 95 per cent reservations for locals in government jobs against the Centre's suggestion of 85 per cent as part of the new zonal system for government recruitments. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 26, 2018, 8:57 [IST] Rahul Gandhi meets party leaders from Gujarat, asks them to be prepared for assembly polls Rahul has lunch at roadside eatery in Goa, rides pillion on two-wheeler taxi for few kms HS Phoolka challenges Rahul Gandhi for a debate on 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots India pti-Vikas By Vikas New Delhi, Aug 26: Both the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came down heavily on Rahul Gandhi for claiming that the Congress party was not involved in 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The 1984 riots, that claimed over 3,000 Sikh lives, were triggered immediately after the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh body guards. Rahul Gandhi, who is on a two-day visit to the UK, had told an audience of UK-based parliamentarians and local leaders in London on Friday that the incident was a "very painful tragedy", but disagreed with the view that the Congress was involved. "Rahul Gandhi's statement that Congress had no role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots is wrong. That is why I have challenged him for an open debate about Congress' and his father Rajiv Gandhi's involvement. The massacre was organised by Congress on directions of Rajiv Gandhi," noted advocate and AAP leader HS Phoolka told news agency ANI today (August 26). On Saturday (August 25), SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal lashed out at Rahul and said the Congress president was trying to protect his party leaders involved in the "genocide". "Rahul Gandhi has rubbed salt into the wounds of Sikh 'quom' (community) by saying that Congress was not involved in 1984 anti-Sikh riots," Badal was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. [Rahul Gandhi sparks row, says Congress not involved in Sikh riots] Badal had said he wanted to ask Rahul Gandhi that if Congress leaders were not involved in the riots why the party withdrew election nominations to party leaders HKL Bhagat, Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar. "Why was Jagdish Tytler removed from the ministry in the Manmohan Singh-led government," he said, pointing out that Singh had also apologised for the riots. [Rahul equates RSS with Muslim Brotherhood, attacks Modi in London address] Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, however, defended Rahul, saying the Congress, as a party, was never involved in the carnage. He also asserted that 'whosoever was involved' in the senseless killings in 1984 should be "hanged". Castigating SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, Amarinder Singh said the Congress chief was in school when Operation Bluestar and later the riots took place. To blame him for 'anything' was totally absurd, said Amarinder Singh, in a hard-hitting statement issued. Raksha Bandhan 2019 date, significance, Muhurat and why it is tied on right hand Raksha Bandhan 2018: This is how top leaders celebrated Rakhi' India oi-Vikas By Vikas New Delhi, Aug 26: Raksha Bandhan, a festival dedicated to the pious bond between brothers and sisters, was on Sunday celebrated with great fervour across the country. Traditionally sisters tie a sacred thread around her brother's wrist which symbolises her love for him. The brother, in turn, promises to protect the sister. Raksha Bandhan is an ancient festival and there are many tales associated with it. People of all faiths celebrate it and it is one of the major festivals of India. [Raksha Bandhan 2018: When is Rakhi celebrated? Significance and importance] In modern times, sisters tie Rakhi on the wrist of their brother on this day and apply vermilion (Tilak) on his forehead. The brothers give sisters a present or money in return. Children tie Rakhi to President Kovind On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, women and children from various walks of life tied Rakhis on the wrist of President Ram Nath Kovind. Earlier, President Kovind wished the country on this pious occasion and said, "I wish all the countrymen on the occasion Raksha Bandhan. I hope the festival would strengthen the feeling of brotherhood amongst us and would inspire us to become a society where women, especially girls are safe and their dignity is respected." School girls tie Rakhi to PM Modi Prime Minister Narendra today took part in the Raksha Bandhan celebrations as school children and widows of Vrindavan tied rakhis on his wrist. Earlier in the day, PM Modi took to twitterto wish the nation and wrote, "On the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan, congratulations to the nation. Greetings on Raksha Bandhan." Sushma Swaraj ties Rakhi to Venkaiah Naidu External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday tied Rakhi to Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. Naidu greeted the nation on the auspicious occasion and said, "I convey my warm greetings and best wishes on the auspicious occasion of Rakshabandhan. The Festival reaffirms the strong bond of love and affection between brothers and sisters. It promotes and strengthens unity and harmonious coexistence." (Image credit - ANI/Twitter) Tying Rakhi to trees Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi tied Rakhi to trees and vowed to protect them. Several people across the country and celebrating Rakshabandhan asVriksha Bandhan movement wherein they tie Rakhi to trees and pledge to protect the environment. (Image courtesy - ANI/Twitter) Significance of Raksha Bandhan: The significance of the festival lies in its expression of love. As the years have passed by, the festival has evolved in its sense and expression. From tribals and environmental groups tying rakhis around trees to protect them, to people tying it on their pets, and people of different faiths tying it on each other to send out a message of tolerance to the community, the festival of Raksha Bandhan has progressed into a celebration of togetherness and companionship. SAD alleges nexus between Congress and ISI India pti-Vikas By Vikas New Delhi, Aug 26: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Sunday not only accused the ISI of being behind the attack on Manjeet Singh GK outside a Gurdwara in California, US, but also alleged that there was a nexus between the Congress and Pakistan's intelligence agency. President of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Manjit Singh GK was attacked in California allegedly by pro-Khalistan individuals, during which one of his associates was injured. "Heads of 'Sikhs for Justice' who are direct beneficiaries of ISI and work on their orders, and are supported by those who are in direct touch with the likes of Jagdish Tytler, Jasbeer Singh Lobana and his son,were seen attacking him," Union Minister and SAD leader Harsimrat Badal told ANI on Sunday (August 26). "Jasbeer Singh Lobana is the same gentleman who spent 3 months in jail for trying to intimidate an eye-witness in 1984 massacre case against Jagdish Tytler. Nexus between Congress party,'Sikhs for Justice' and ISI is very clear. We demand adequate security for Manjeet GK," she added. Manjit Singh, who had traveled to California following a visit to New York, said the purpose of his visit was to hold discussions among the Sikh community about the 550th birthday anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak, to be commemorated next year. This is the second attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader. He was earlier attacked in New York. [US: Sikh leader Manjit Singh attacked by over 20 people in California; 3 arrested] Singh was visiting the main Gurudwara in Yuba City, California on Saturday when, he said, a group of 30-35 people supporting the 'Khalistan 2020 referendum' attacked him. Harsimrat Badal also lashed out at Rahul Gandhi for claiming that the Congress party was not involved in 1984 anti-Sikh riots. [Khalistani supporters try to disrupt Rahul Gandhi diaspora event in UK] "Rahul Gandhi said in UK that Congress had no role in 1984 anti-Sikh riots and within a few hours our president Manjeet Singh GK was attacked. You will find a connect between the attackers and Rahul Gandhi," Badal said. [Rahul draws flak for claiming that Congress had no role in 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots] Rahul Gandhi, who is on a two-day visit to the UK, had told an audience of UK-based parliamentarians and local leaders in London on Friday that the incident was a "very painful tragedy", but disagreed with the view that the Congress was involved. Social media platforms will not be allowed to abuse election process, says Ravi Shankar Prasad India pti-PTI New Delhi, Aug 26: India has taken "serious note" of reported data misuse of social media platforms and such tools will never be allowed to abuse the election process for extraneous means, IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said. According to an official statement, Prasad, speaking at the plenary of the G-20 Digital Economy Ministerial meeting in Salata, Argentina, also emphasised that the purity of democratic process should never be compromised and promised that India will take measures to deter and punish those who seek to vitiate the process. "...Prasad also said that India had taken a serious note of reported misuse of social media platform data...such platforms will never be allowed to abuse election process for extraneous means...," the release said. It is pertinent to mention here that the issue of abuse of social media platforms has been under scanner in India over the last few months and the government has resolved to take tough action to prevent any platform misuse . In fact, the CBI has recently initiated a preliminary enquiry against British political consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica for alleged illegal personal data harvesting of Indians from Facebook. Meanwhile, speaking at the G-20 event, Prasad also mooted that a part of revenue generated by digital platforms need to be reinvested in host markets, the official release said. The IT minister said that the borderless nature of cyber world posed limitless potential for trade and commerce but only a safe and secure cyberspace can yield benefits of digital transformation for the global economy. He cautioned that nefarious use of internet is a reality that needs to be countered by concerted action, the official release added. Prasad further said that the use of cyber mediums to spread radical thought posed a challenge that needed to be addressed both domestically through better regulations as well as international cooperation. Assuring that India is taking all possible steps to make the cyberspace safe, he warned that instances of cybercrime or cyber threat will be dealt with severely by the government. Outlining India's concerns about data protection and individual privacy, Prasad said that while privacy cannot prohibit innovation it can neither become the shield for the corrupt or terrorists. He noted that the Supreme Court, while upholding the right to privacy has also elaborated these aspects and hence a fine balance needs to be struck between data availability, innovation, anonymity and privacy. Data is needed to improve business but that data must be anonymous, objective, and taken with consent, he added. India's digital infrastructure is powered by 1.21 billion mobile phones (including 450 million smartphones), nearly 500 million internet subscribers and broadband availability, he said adding the programmes like biometric identifier Aadhaar and Common Services Centres have further strengthened the county's digital prowess. Terming Digital India as a mass movement, he said that its digital story was one of inclusion and empowerment. The Digital Economy Ministerial Meeting was chaired by Andres Ibarra, Argentine Minister of Modernisation, and Lino Baranao, Argentine Minister for Science, Technology and Innovative Production, and attended by 33 heads of delegation. PTI Rahul has lunch at roadside eatery in Goa, rides pillion on two-wheeler taxi for few kms Don't have prime ministerial visions, fighting ideological battle: Rahul Gandhi in London International oi-Deepika By Deepika London, Aug 25: Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that he has no visions of becoming the next Prime Minister of India as he views himself "fighting an ideological battle". He said he realised there is a "risk to Indian state" and this change has come to him after 2014. The Congress chief said, when asked about becoming the next prime minister, "I don't have these visions. I view myself as fighting an ideological battle and this change has come to me after 2014. I realised that there's a risk to Indian state, to the Indian way of doing things and I'm defending that." Rahul Gandhi also spoke on a variety of issues at the event. On separate prisons for Mallya, Rahul said that why there was need for that provision. He added that Indian prisons were decent enough for Mallya. "Law must be same for all law breakers," Rahul said. Rahul on Saturday said that he has undergone a transformation since 2014 and does not imagine himself as the next Prime Minister of India. Responding to a question by ANI on Congress stonewalling the Triple Talaq Bill in courts and in Parliament, the Congress President said, "We have an issue with the criminalisation (part of the Bill) but we have not stonewalled anything. Our issue is with the criminalisation aspect." To a question on Doklam, Rahul said "Chinese troops are still in Doklam and have built massive infrastructure there. PM went recently to China anf didn't discuss Doklam...Somebody comes here, slaps you on your face and you have a non agenda of discussion." Earlier in the day Rahul Gandhi met doctors, medical students and academicians from across the UK and Europe to initiate the process of preparing a blueprint for an affordable healthcare system in India. John McCain dies at age of 81 International oi-Madhuri Washington, Aug 26: John S. McCain, the proud naval aviator, a Republican congressman and senator from Arizona and a two-time contender for the presidency, died on Saturday at his home in Arizona. He was 81. "Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28 pm on August 25, 2018. With the senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family," his office said in a statement. McCain died at 4:28 p.m. local time. He had suffered from a malignant brain tumor, called a glioblastoma, for which he had been treated periodically with radiation and chemotherapy since its discovery in 2017, a statement from his office read. "At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for 60 years. Sen McCain, thank you for your service," read a sign near the driveway of his home in a rural part of Sedona, Arizona, television footage showed, as a police escort accompanied the hearse that was to carry his body and local residents came bearing flowers for the late political titan. McCain, who was tortured during his five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, stopped treatment from an aggressive form of cancer earlier this week, his family saying "the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict." He had spent more than three decades in the Senate, looming large in debates over war and peace and the moral direction of the Before joining the upper chamber, he served as a US representative from 1983 to 1987. McCain had not been on the Senate floor in months, remaining at his Arizona home for treatment of glioblastoma -- the same form of brain cancer that took the life of another Senate giant, Democrat Ted Kennedy, in 2009. (with PTI inputs) UP B.Ed JEE Exam to be held on July 30 Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to reach Lucknow on July 16; Key meetings scheduled in Delhi before visit UP Board Class 10th, 12th Result 2021 Declared: How to check Members of farmers' body detained in Lucknow for trying to burn effigies of PM Modi, Shah Parents held guilty for killing 3 year old girl Lucknow oi-Madhuri Muzaffarnagar, Aug 26: Three people, including the parents, were held guilty for murdering a three-year-old girl by a court here. Additional District and Sessions Judge Ajay Kumar held Shamim, the father of the girl, his wife Khushnaseeb and their friend Zahir Abbas guilty under sections 302 (murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) yesterday and reserved the order on the quantum of punishment till August 28. According to government lawyer Ritu Choudhary, three-year-old Liba was killed by the convicts by slitting her throat in Nagla Bajurg village under the Bhopa police station in the district on May 2. Also Read | Gurgaon: 2 arrested as NRI bizman dies of cardiac arrest after assault Choudhary submitted before the court that the crime was committed by the convicts with a design to implicate Shamim's brother over an old enmity. After committing the crime, Shamim had lodged a police complaint against his brother for kidnapping his daughter. During investigation, Shamim, Khushnaseeb and Abbas's involvement in the crime came to light and the police filed the chargesheet in the case within 14 days. Also Read | She insisted he marry her, he killed her The court was hearing the case on a daily basis and pronounced its verdict within two-and-a-half months. For More Lucknow News, Click Here For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 26, 2018, 13:57 [IST] Cruise drugs party organisers took nod from Centre, not Maha govt, says Nawab Malik Price of life: He was killed for Rs 100 Mumbai oi-Madhuri Mumbai, Aug 26: An 18-year-old man, working in a hotel as a cook, was arrested for allegedly killing another worker over a paltry sum of Rs 100. The accused was identified as Aftab alias Chand Manjur Khan, who works in a hotel in suburban Kurla. Kalam Buttu Khan (18), who worked in the same hotel had borrowed Rs 100 from him to celebrate Eid earlier this week, police said. Also Read | Bihar: Woman stripped, thrashed, paraded naked on suspicion of murder They had an altercation this afternoon over delay in repaying the money, and in a fit of rage Aftab allegedly picked up a kitchen knife and stabbed Kalam, police said. Kalam was taken to a hospital but was declared dead before admission, a police official from Vinoba Bhave Nagar Police Station said. Also Read | 20 years on, killer of 4 year old boy nabbed from Bihar An offence of murder has been registered. For More Mumbai News, Click Here For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 26, 2018, 11:56 [IST] 2 arrested from abducting, raping minor New Delhi oi-Madhuri New Delhi, Aug 26: Two men were arrested after a 16-year-old girl alleged that she was abducted, confined in a house, and raped by four men for a week, the police said today. The girl alleged that she was abducted from northeast Delhi's Harsh Vihar and raped in Greater Noida's Surajpur area, they said. The girl was abducted on August 15 when the victim went to a nearby shop for buying some household items. Two bike-borne men allegedly subdued the girl with intoxicants and gagged her before abducting, they said. Also Read | Gurgaon: 5-year-old raped by neighbour, accused arrested In her statement to the police, the victim alleged that she was raped by four men in a house where she was confined for a week. On August 24, the victim somehow managed to escape and filed a complaint at the Surajpur police station. The incident was reported to the Harsh Vihar police station, police said. Two men were arrested in connection with the case while two others are absconding. Also Read | Minor girl raped for 11 months in UP The case is being investigated, said Atul Kumar Thakur, Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast). Based on her statement, a case was registered and the victim taken to a hospital, a police official said, adding that it surfaced that the girl was five months pregnant. During investigation, it was learnt that one of the accused lived near the same locality where the victim stays with her family in Harsh Vihar. The accused is a labourer and lived at a rented house in the area. He often spoke to the girl on the pretext of giving his house keys before going to work and had allegedly even misbehaved with her, the police said. For More New Dlehi News, Click Here For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 26, 2018, 11:39 [IST] By Elizabeth Hovde Unlike Oregon, Washington leaders misguidedly decided that the burden of buying a stamp was too much to bear for the state's voters and wannabe voters, most of whom have cell phones and TV services, mind you. In an effort to make voting even more accessible and increase voter turnout, Washington held its first election with taxpayer-provided, prepaid return ballots this month. The result? Without the stamp "barrier," Washington's Aug. 7 primary had a 40.79 percent turnout. That's comparable to a similar midterm primary with a Senate race in 2010, when turnout was 40.97 percent, according to Derrick Nunnally, media relations coordinator for the Washington Secretary of State's Office. Same-same. He couldn't say just yet how many of the ballots took advantage of the prepaid postage and how many were gathered via drop boxes and county election office locations, which have always been an option. (Psst! Dropping off a ballot saves money. Do it this way, Washingtonians.) Nunnally points out Wyman predicted turnout in this range. He also doesn't argue that 40 percent is a good turnout. The added convenience for 2018's primary and general elections cost Washington taxpayers an estimated $1.8 million. That's probably going to be a drop in the voter-enabling bucket: Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman and Gov. Jay Inslee have vowed to work on getting lawmakers behind a bill making Washington the first state in the nation with permanent, universal, postage-paid voting by mail. Oregon tried to beat its neighboring state to the punch. Bills in past sessions sought to establish the practice. Luckily, common sense prevailed. Or maybe Oregon's ailing budget simply derailed the bad idea. As recently as this year, House Bill 4158 sought to make taxpayers pay for ballot-return postage in Oregon. The bill, proposed at the request of House Majority Leader Rep. Jennifer Williamson, D-Portland, died in committee. Prepaid-ballot-return proposals should die in committee. Oregon and Washington already provide a free, secure and highly convenient option for the minority of registered voters who actually return ballots: drop boxes and county offices. There are nearly 200 drop boxes available and scattered around Oregon. They're available at all hours and most are drive-thru. McVote is already here. Drop-off locations even allow Oregon's late voters to cast their ballots after the mail-in deadline. Stamp that! Oregon has enabled voter participation in groundbreaking ways, with vote-by-mail elections, online voter registration and even automatic registration. Vote-by-mail is a huge benefit for voters in Oregon, Washington and Colorado, and it has been shown to reduce Oregon's Election Day costs. Sen. Ron Wyden is rightly pushing vote-by-mail for the whole country. Indeed, vote-by-mail would solve many problems and quiet many allegations of misconduct. But he should push for the improvement without requiring governments to finance return postage. I used to joke with colleagues about Oregon lawmakers' prepaid-return-postage proposals. But now that Washington taxpayers spent nearly $2 million for such a program, it's time for serious dissent. Adding this to taxpayers' plates is far more of a burden than expecting voters to find a stamp or a drop box. The argument that millennials won't find a stamp and mail something important should offend millennials everywhere. Even if it was convincing that obtaining a stamp or getting a ballot to a drop box was a hardship, why is increasing turnout a good goal? I'd argue it isn't. Learn and research, then turn out to vote. Sharing false information on social media has shown us how lazy Americans are with research. Inslee says in a recent press release, "More voter participation makes for a stronger democracy," but does it? I'd argue it's adding to the Idiocracy that's forming. My angst about the primary precedes a season with one of my biggest pet peeves. Groups everywhere become super vocal about "getting out the vote!" In November, Facebook and Instagram will fill with pictures of "I voted" stickers and urges to vote in time. Inaccurately described "women's" organizations and newly forming student groups are already crying out for people to vote, regardless of any knowledge to do so. The message is off-base. I guarantee those groups I'm hearing from don't want me voting. Encouraging people to research issues and candidates is on target. Experts know voting is contagious. God help us if it becomes the popular thing to do --even when many people wouldn't spend a stamp on the exercise. Elizabeth Hovde's column appears on the fourth Sunday of the month. By KATHLEEN PARKER WASHINGTON -- Juror No. 0302 may not have sought fame, but Paula Duncan will long be remembered in connection with Paul Manafort, whom she and 11 others convicted on eight counts of financial crime. What makes Duncan memorable, besides her being the only juror to speak out since the trial ended, is that she's a die-hard, MAGA-cap-wearing President Trump supporter. She agrees with Trump's assessment that the special counsel investigation into Russian collusion is a "witch hunt." She says she'll vote for Trump again in 2020. And she wanted Manafort, Donald Trump's former campaign manager, to be innocent, but the evidence and the boxes full of documents convinced her otherwise. "Finding Mr. Manafort guilty was hard for me," she said during a recent Fox News interview. "I really wanted him to be innocent, but he wasn't. That's 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." But for one hold-out juror, Manafort would have been convicted of 10 other counts, Duncan said. The 12th juror couldn't get beyond a reasonable doubt on the other counts, according to Duncan, which contributed to four days of tense, emotional deliberations. In other revelations during various media stops, Duncan was scornful of prosecuting attorneys, who, she said, seemed bored and appeared to catnap during the trial. She was disgusted by the prosecution's star witness, Rick Gates, Manafort's former business partner who entered a plea deal in which he agreed to testify against Manafort. She echoed Trump's opinion about turncoats, saying that Gates "deserves a special place in hell." Trump himself recently said that flipping "almost ought to be illegal." Duncan said she and the other jurors ignored Gates's testimony as not credible and focused instead on the paperwork, reading boxes of documents. Pause here for a round of applause for jurors for their hard work and commitment to an unbiased verdict. However. Even an ideal juror can be blind to facts beyond the courtroom. In what seemed a reflexive nod to Trumpism, Duncan couldn't end her media tour without tipping her hand and taking a jab at special counsel Robert Mueller. "Certainly Mr. Manafort got caught breaking the law, but he wouldn't have gotten caught if they weren't after President Trump," she said. Translation: This is all Mueller's fault. If not for the witch hunt, in other words, everything would have rocked along in its usual fashion. No special counsel, no probe, no trials, juries or guilty verdicts. Nothing but high-fives in Trump world. But, of course, things turned as they did not because of Mueller but because of Trump, who seems to surround himself with people of poor character and criminal minds -- notable exceptions notwithstanding. And why would this be so? Because Trump's first reflexive inclination in any given situation is to cover up, lie, bully, silence, pay off and deny, deny, deny. Contrary to Trump's fleeting moment of compassion, Manafort is not "a very good person." He's a crook in a $15,000 suit. So is Gates, who not only conspired with Manafort to rob others but also stole from Manafort. And so is Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen, who pled guilty Tuesday to violating campaign finance laws when arranging payments to two women (a porn star and a former Playboy model) who claimed to have had an affair with pre-president Trump years ago, so they'd keep quiet during the election. In court, Cohen, a man who looks like he's being hunted, told the judge that he made these payments "in coordination with and at the direction of a candidate for federal office. ... I participated in this conduct, which on my part took place in Manhattan, for the principal purpose of influencing the election." Mueller, meanwhile, muddles on as one dastardly deed-doer after another flips for immunity. It would seem, therefore, that the witch-hunt may be nearing a close. Regardless of whether Mueller can establish Russian collusion, he has contributed significantly to the health of the republic by doing what Trump couldn't. He's draining the swamp. Surely, Duncan wouldn't prefer people like Manafort and Cohen to continue their criminal activities? Or would she prefer the Trump fantasy that all these miscreants attached themselves to Trump's good name for nefarious purposes and turned tail when the going got rough? As in the Manafort case, the evidence -- of campaign corruption, if not more -- is piling up. -- Kathleen Parker's email address is kathleenparker@washpost.com. By Nathan LeRud Sexual abuse in church tears families apart, destroys lives and relationships, and can severely damage a trusting relationship with God. Christians around the world have been deeply and rightfully disturbed by news in recent days concerning the Pennsylvania grand jury investigation into the abuse perpetrated by hundreds of Roman Catholic priests. Stories like this are not new: many religious leaders have betrayed the trust of many faithful people, and not just in Roman Catholic churches. The times in which we live make this an important moment to reckon honestly and compassionately with the realities of gender, power and sex abuse in our houses of worship. The Episcopal Church's record in regard to sex abuse is far from spotless. Our priests and lay leaders have been guilty of horrible crimes, and our institution has tended to protect the powerful at the expense of their victims. Although my denomination has different structures of authority in place that have helped to mitigate against the scale of abuse other denominations have seen, this is not a moment for any faith community to claim moral high ground. When one part of the body suffers, all suffer. Many faithful people, and not just Roman Catholics, will have to answer for the sins committed by some clergy. I feel this in a visceral way when I walk down the street wearing a white clergy collar. In that moment, it doesn't matter how my denomination's practices and policies may differ from another's: I represent a faith tradition that has damaged thousands of lives. The pain and trauma experienced by some in our midst is the responsibility of us all. Therefore, all faith communities - not just Roman Catholic communities - must work for change. Becoming communities of radical hospitality requires that we become communities of trust, where the integrity of pastoral relationships is preserved and protected. At Trinity, we are looking closely at our screening and monitoring policies around sex abuse. We have been scrupulous over the past decades in screening and monitoring those who work with children, and now we are expanding our policies to all volunteers who represent the Cathedral, whether they're teaching church school, singing in the choir or serving the homeless. Abuse doesn't just happen to children. Congregations must learn how to look out for each other and treat one another with respect and dignity, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ability or creed. Not because our liability insurance requires us to, but because this is the kind of people Jesus calls us to be. Many Christians are offering prayers for victims of abuse. This is important. But prayer without action is prayer incomplete. I encourage other faith leaders to join me in taking necessary steps to ensure that systems of safety and accountability protect the most vulnerable in our midst. It may be some of the most important work we do, when we do it in the name of Jesus. -- The Very Rev'd Nathan LeRud is dean of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Northwest Portland. Share your opinion Submit your essay of 800 words or less on a highly topical issue or a theme of particular relevance to the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and the Portland area to commentary@oregonian.com. Please include your email and phone number for verification. By Guadalupe Guerrero and Rita Moore Tomorrow our teachers and principals open their classroom doors to 50,000 students, marking our 10th straight year of growing enrollment at Portland Public Schools. Our students are a richly diverse group of learners who represent about 80 percent of all school-age children living within our boundaries. Each brings a unique character to the classroom, and each possesses gifts and talents we need to cultivate. As the district embarks on wholesale transformation, we expect this school year to be one of significant growth and improvement. We hope you will join us in the sense of excitement and optimism that comes with the start of a new school year. We are proud and grateful to live in a city that so openly and passionately supports public education. We witnessed some of that support this last weekend, when community groups, businesses, churches and neighbors joined principals, teachers, parents and students in sprucing up our schools by planting new flower beds, laying fresh bark dust, pruning bushes and pulling weeds at schools across the city. The feeling of community pride in our schools was invigorating and inspiring. As leaders of Oregon's largest and most complex district, we understand the huge responsibility we bear to ensure opportunities for all students to learn, thrive and graduate into adulthood. We know that we need to rebuild our capacity to guide and support the student-centered work of our school administrators and teachers. Earlier this month, we gathered all of our school leaders for a three-day symposium entitled "Learning and Leading Together" -- with an emphasis on that last word: Together. The underlying theme was that while we have some 90 schools and programs, and thousands of talented, dedicated educators and administrators serving our students, we are one district. As such, we must unite in service of our students. We know we can create exciting, joyful learning experiences when we work collectively and strategically. We believe this same principle can be applied to the relationship between Portland Public Schools and the city we serve. Portland is an amazing city with a growing reputation for innovation, creativity and a commitment to social justice. These same values increasingly permeate our district as well, whether in our nationally acclaimed Early Kindergarten Transition Program, our strong partnerships with local colleges and universities, or in our decision to reopen two middle schools this year. Those middle schools -- Harriet Tubman in North Portland's historic Albina neighborhood and Roseway Heights in Northeast Portland -- provide 1,000 students access to an enriched, comprehensive middle grades education. We are rebuilding Portland Public Schools into a district that is as dynamic as this city. Of course, we face the same dilemma that confronts all urban school districts. We have limited resources to meet limitless challenges. More and more students are dealing with poverty, housing instability or homelessness, hunger and trauma, all of which interfere with their ability to focus on learning. So we are building better systems to provide students the full spectrum of supports they need to thrive academically and socially, from intensive interventions for students who need help staying on track to graduate to rigorous academic offerings and hands-on learning experiences. As we get ready for another school year, it's a good reminder that public education remains a beacon of hope and opportunity for our students and their families. It is for them that we as a district and as a city, must act with courage and urgency to ensure that every student -- no matter where they were born, no matter their family circumstances -- has safe and supportive learning experiences, well-supported excellent educators and social-emotional supports, as well as access to technological tools and an array of visual and performing arts. As Portland grows, our diverse and talented students will become the bold innovators and enlightened leaders who will take our city and this nation to the next level. We are excited for the start of the school year because together -- and only together -- we will prepare our students to lead us into the future. -- Guadalupe Guerrero is the superintendent of Portland Public Schools. Rita Moore is chairwoman of the Portland Public Schools Board of Education. Share your opinion Submit your essay of 800 words or less on a highly topical issue or a theme of particular relevance to the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and the Portland area to commentary@oregonian.com. Please include your email and phone number for verification. Washington's Supreme Court has cleared the way for a gun-control initiative to appear on the November ballot. The court late Friday afternoon reversed a judge's decision earlier this month that threw out more than 300,000 signatures used to qualify Initiative 1639, saying the petition format did not follow election law. Thurston County Superior Court Judge James Dixon had said the signature petitions did not clearly identify what would change in the law and the font was too small to be readable. He ordered the secretary of state to stop certification of the measure. But the Supreme Court ruling, written by Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst, said the secretary of state is not required to block a measure based on the readability and formatting of the proposed measure's text. The justices said "there is no legislative mandate that the secretary must decline to certify and present to voters an initiative based on failure to comply with the requirement that a 'readable, full, true, and correct copy' of the initiative appear on the back of every petition." The initiative would raise the age for the purchase of a semi-automatic rifle to 21. It would also expand the background checks for the purchase of these rifles. The measure would require people to complete a firearm safety training course and create standards for safely storing firearms. In July, the campaign for I-1639 turned in the final batch of more than 360,000 petition signatures collected to the secretary of state's office. They had needed about 260,000 to be certified. Critics had said the main problem with the petitions was that they didn't contain underlines to show what would be added to the law, or "strike-through" lines to show the parts of the law that would be removed. The National Rifle Association and Bellevue-based Second Amendment Foundation had filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Kim Wyman to get the initiative off the ballot, arguing the people who signed the petitions didn't know what it would do. In a statement, Wyman thanked the Supreme Court for ruling promptly on the dispute. "This clears the way for our preparations to put I-1639 before voters in time for ballots to be printed," Wyman said. "My priority is protecting Washington citizens' right to make informed use of our state constitution's initiative process." The Alliance for Gun Responsibility, the group behind the initiative, describes it as a comprehensive gun violence prevention measure that addresses a number of issues. The campaign for I-1639 has raised $3 million, with Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen contributing $1.2 million. -- The Associated Press SUNDAY "America to Me": A new documentary series from Steve James ("Hoop Dreams") that promises to explore, as the description says, "racial, economic and class issues in contemporary American education." (10 p.m. Starz) MONDAY "Better Call Saul": Last week's episode perked up with a surprise appearance by David Costabile as a young Gale Boetticher, the chemist who "Breaking Bad" fans will recall as one of Walter White's unlucky collaborators. Will we see more familiar faces this season? Let's hope. (9 p.m. AMC) TUESDAY "America's Got Talent": The winnowing-out process continues, as more acts compete for viewer votes. (8 p.m. NBC/8) "Greenleaf": The family drama returns for Season 3. (10 p.m. OWN) "Ink Master: Grudge Match": The tattoo competition series returns for a new season, and this cast includes Austin Rose, a tattoo artist from Portland. (10 p.m. Paramount Network) "Making It": Do yourself a favor and relax by watching Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman make pleasant chit chat while crafters compete in low-key, good-natured challenges. (10 p.m. NBC/8) WEDNESDAY "MasterChef": The home cooks face challenges including preparing and serving dishes to California firefighters. (8 p.m. Fox/12) THURSDAY "One Dollar": A new series that starts with a murder in a Pennsylvania town, and explores a variety of people who may - or may not - have been involved in the crime. The cast includes Leslie Odom Jr. ("Hamilton.") (Streaming on CBS All Access) FRIDAY "Ozark": Jason Bateman continues to leave his nice-guy image at the door as he returns for Season 2 of the tense drama about a money-laundering family man whose complications with a drug cartel have forced him to relocate with his wife (the always watchable Laura Linney) and children to a rural town. (Netflix) "Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan": The big-screen franchise comes to streaming with John Krasinski inheriting the role of the CIA agent previously played by the likes of Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck. Wendell Pierce costars. (Amazon Prime Video) SATURDAY "Pink Collar Crimes": This week's true crime involves a fake coupon scam in Phoenix. (8 p.m. CBS/6) -- Kristi Turnquist Marcos Jaimes-Radilla A crash that occurred after a chance sighting set off a police search for a suspected car thief Saturday night in Northwest Portland. The search ended without locating Marcos Jaimes-Radilla, who is believed to be armed with a gun and a threat to the public, said Detective Robert Rookhuyzen, a spokesman for the Washington County Sheriff's Office. He described Jaimes-Radilla, 25, as a "prolific car thief" with warrants out for his arrest. Jaimes-Radilla may be driving a 2013 Ford Expedition stolen after the crash, the sheriff's office said. The search began after a Washington County deputy spotted Jaimes-Radilla driving Saturday evening. The deputy wasn't in a position to pursue him, Rookhuyzen said, but soon heard about a crash that occurred nearby just north of the Washington county border around 6:45 p.m. The driver fled the scene of the crash, at Northwest Laidlaw Road and 111th Avenue. The deputy who saw Jaimes-Radilla earlier confirmed that the same vehicle Jaimes-Radilla was driving was involved in the crash. Rookhuyzen did not know whether any one was injured in the crash. The county's SWAT team and Multnomah County deputies, as well as officers in at least one helicopter, joined the search for Jaimes-Radilla. The agency confirmed on Twitter at 8:45 p.m. that the active search for Jaimes-Radilla had ended without finding him. Deputies and North Plains police encountered the Ford Expedition that Jaimes-Radilla was driving, but called off the pursuit over safety concerns. Coincidentally, Crime Stoppers of Oregon featured Jaimes-Radilla in a public alert issued Wednesday, asking for the public's help to find him. The statement said he had warrants out for his arrest for failing to appear on charges of theft and burglary. "Jaimes-Radilla is also a person-of-interest in multiple, additional felony crimes including auto theft and attempting to elude," the alert said. Crime Stoppers said Jaimes-Radilla is a 5'11" and 210 pounds, with brown eyes and a shaved head. Deputies said people who see Jaimes-Radilla or the Ford Expedition he may be driving, with license plates 211GJQ, should call 911. -- Molly Young myoung@oregonian.com @mollykyoung Arizona Sen. John McCain has died, a day after his family said he was stopping treatment for brain cancer. A little more than a year ago, he was diagnosed with brain cancer and given, he said at the time, a "very poor prognosis" from doctors. McCain, a Republican who's served six terms, left Washington for good in December. Read more McCain underwent surgery in July 2017 for a brain tumor that was later found to be a form of glioblastoma, the same type of cancer that took the life of his former Senate colleague Edward M. Kennedy in 2009. America and Freedom have lost one of her greatest champions. .And Ive lost one of my dearest friends and mentor. Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) August 26, 2018 He was the Republican nominee for president in 2008, losing to Barack Obama. He was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War, spending more than five years in captivity. In May 2017, former Pa. Gov. Tom Ridge, who was President George W. Bush's director of homeland security, called McCain his friend. "Our country needs his voice," Ridge said of McCain. "Oh I know some people just say, 'Ridge you're wrong.' His voice, his civility, his decency. I campaigned with him in 2000 when he ran for president ... and I ran into and had occasion to spend time with other prisoners of war. Their admiration and respect for him is beyond anything I can explain." In October, McCain was in Philadelphia to receive the Liberty Medal from the National Constitution Center, an honor recognizing his life of service and sacrifice. Shortly after the news emerged that U.S. Sen. John McCain died Saturday, tributes poured in from those who served with him, loved him and even those who battled him in the political arena. The Vietnam war veteran, prisoner of war and former presidential candidate, McCain commanded respect from Republicans and Democrats like few others. Here's a sampling of noteworthy remarks upon his passing, culled from social media or statements issued from their offices. Former Sen. Bob Dole "Elizabeth and I join the nation in mourning the loss of our dear friend and colleague @SenJohnMcCain. John lived his life with courage, commitment, and dedication to our nation. Our thoughts, prayers and love are with Cindy and the entire McCain family." Former President Barack Obama "Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the courage that he did. But all of us can aspire to put the greater good above our own. At John's best, he showed us what that means. And for that, we are all in his debt. Michelle and I send our most heartfelt condolences to Cindy and his family." Former President George W. Bush "Some lives are so vivid, it is difficult to imagine them ended. Some voices are so vibrant, it is hard to think of them stilled. John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order. He was a public servant in the finest traditions of our country. And to me, he was a friend who I'll deeply miss." General Colin L. Powell "America has lost today one of its most distinguished men of gallantry. Senator John McCain served our country in war and peace. He was a tough warrior and demonstrated that toughness during his years as a POW in a North Vietnamese prison. He survived torture and deprivation and came home with his honor intact. He went on to have a distinguished career as a US Congressman and then Senator from Arizona. I knew John as a colleague and friend for over 30 years. He never avoided the difficult issues and always fought for what he thought was best for our country. His courage should be an inspiration to us all." Former Vice President Joe Biden "John McCain's life is proof that some truths are timeless. Character. Courage. Integrity. Honor. A life spent embodying those truths casts a long, long shadow. John McCain will cast a long shadow. His impact on America hasn't ended. Not even close. It will go on for many years to come." Former President Jimmy Carter "John McCain was a man of honor, a true patriot in the best sense of the word. Americans will be forever grateful for his heroic military service and his steadfast integrity as a member of the United States Senate." Sarah Palin "Today we lost an American original. Sen. John McCain was a maverick and a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs. John never took the easy path in life - and through sacrifice and suffering he inspired others to serve something greater than self." Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "Senator John McCain believed that every citizen has a responsibility to make something of the freedoms given by our constitution, and from his heroic service in the Navy to his 35 years in Congress, he lived by his creed every day. He was a skilled, tough politician, as well as a trusted colleague alongside Hillary was honored to serve in the Senate." Jeb Bush "John McCain's courageous and selfless lifetime of service is a profile in American exceptionalism. Prayers this evening for the Senator, Cindy and the entire McCain family." Sen. Bob Casey Jr. "John McCain was a patriot who served our nation with honor and distinction as a Navy pilot and public official. Today, we come together to mourn his loss, to express gratitude for the sacrifices he made for America and to extend our condolences to his family. As a servicemember, he experienced the horrors of war and captivity and still returned with a desire to continue serving our nation." Sen. Pat Toomey "Today is a sad day for the Senate and America. Senator John McCain was a hero and one of our nation's greatest patriots. But most of all Senator McCain was a fighter. He fought for his country in Vietnam. He fought for his brothers in arms while being held as prisoners of war. And for more than thirty years, Senator McCain fought for Arizonans in the Senate. Most importantly, Senator McCain was not afraid to fight for what he thought was right, even when it was unpopular." House Speaker Paul Ryan "John McCain was a giant of our time--not just for the things he achieved, but for who he was and what he fought for all his life. He will always be listed among freedom's most gallant and faithful servants." President Donald Trump "My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!" A suspect in a York County retail theft pulled his firearm and discharged it when he came into contact with the police, prompting an officer to return fire, killing the suspect, investigators say. The Pennsylvania State Police at York are now investigating the officer-involved shooting that occurred around 8:36 p.m. Saturday at a motel in Manchester Township. Pennsylvania State Police at York spokesman Trooper James Spencer said the incident occurred like this: The York County District Attorney's office requested the state police's Major Case Team to respond to the Motel 6 on the 100 block of Arsenal Road last night to investigate an officer-involved shooting. The preliminary investigation shows that earlier that night, a West Manchester Township officer and a Northern York County Regional officer responded to the Motel 6 after learning the suspect in a retail theft from earlier that day was staying there. Officers found the suspect in the hallway. That's when he pulled a gun and shot it. The West Manchester Township officer returned fire, hitting the suspect. The officers provided first aid and called an ambulance, but the man, whose name has not yet been released, was pronounced dead at the hospital. No officers were injured. The state police are investigating. The names of the officers are currently being withheld. With the passing of U.S. Sen. John McCain the day after his family announced he discontinued medical treatment for brain cancer, the tributes poured in. The Pennsylvania Republican Party tweeted: Senator John McCain was the epitome of a self-sacrificing public servant and an American hero. He was a family man of great integrity and his voice will be missed in America and in the Republican Party." FULL STATEMENT:https://t.co/NLRLDoeoTW PA GOP (@PAGOP) August 26, 2018 U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., said in a statement, "Today is a sad day for the Senate and America. Senator John McCain was a hero and one of our nation's greatest patriots. "But most of all Senator McCain was a fighter. He fought for his country in Vietnam. He fought for his brothers in arms while being held as prisoners of war. And for more than thirty years, Senator McCain fought for Arizonans in the Senate. Most importantly, Senator McCain was not afraid to fight for what he thought was right, even when it was unpopular. "Senator McCain led a life that should be admired and respected by all Americans. I am proud to have called him a friend. Kris and I send our deepest sympathies to Cindy and the entire McCain family." U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa. said in a tweet: Tonight, our grateful nation mourns the loss of Senator John McCain, a patriot who spent a lifetime honorably serving the country he loved. Im praying for him and his family at this time Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) August 26, 2018 Gov. Tom Wolf said in a tweet: Senator John McCain dedicated his entire life to his country. We owe him a debt of gratitude for his sacrifice and contributions over decades of service. He will be missed. Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) August 26, 2018 U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pa., tweeted: My wife Mary Grace and I send our deepest condolences to the McCain family. Senator McCain served our nation honorably and his fight against cancer was inspiring. He will be missed. https://t.co/vaSBcoVtSt Lou Barletta (@louforsenate) August 26, 2018 *This post has been updated to include a statement from U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta. Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge considered U.S. Sen. John McCain as a "dear friend" who he deeply respected. Both veterans of the Vietnam War, Ridge and McCain shared a friendship that endured for years. Ridge offered the following statement on Saturday evening about McCain's passing: "Our hearts are heavy tonight as we grieve the loss of John McCain, my dear friend. And what a privilege it has been to have such a friend as John. Has there been a more courageous patriot, who over the last half century was more widely respected globally or who was as fierce a proponent for American exceptionalism than John? "He lived a life to service as few others have. And when you take a look at that lifetime of service, his was performed with unfailing integrity. You not only respected and admired that in John, but it generated a real affection for the man and the kind of life he chose to lead. A life of honor. Of heroism. Of sacrifice. And of love for his country, his party, and most of all, his beautiful family. Michele and I send our deepest condolences to John's wife, Cindy, and his children. "If you ever had the honor of being in a room with John when he met with fellow prisoners of war, it was like nothing you have ever seen. Their admiration and respect for him was beyond anything I can ever explain. Consider that the country which shot down John's plane -- who then held him hostage for years and years -- ultimately built a statue to honor him. That monument on the banks of the Ho Truc Bach Lake in Hanoi says more about John McCain and his lasting impact around the world than words ever could. "America is a greater nation thanks to John McCain. His contributions and legacy will forever endure." The traditional Labor Day kickoff of general election campaigns is as much a relic of the past as dial-up internet service. Republican strategist Charlie Gerow (PennLive file) Today campaigns are year-round affairs, and the starting gate for major races opens long before races underway at the time have finished. The race for governor of the nation's fifth-largest state began in earnest more than a year ago. It had been ramping up, though, since Scott Wagner, now the Republican nominee, first arrived in the state Senate, fresh off a surprise write-in vote victory. Wagner made no bones about the fact that he was running for the state's highest office. He positioned himself as a businessman outsider who would fix state government. He aggressively used his personal wealth to elect candidates and curry favor with local GOP pols. As a result, he emerged from a crowded field as the endorsed candidate of the Republican State Committee and went on to win a sometimes-raucous primary fight. He now faces Tom Wolf, another businessman from York who spent from his own personal fortune four years ago to capture the Democratic nomination and eventually the governor's office. Although the race has been going strong for weeks as the summer winds down and folks head back from the shore and mountains, sparks are beginning to fly, and the race is tightening. Now the ordinarily bland Tom Wolf is calling Wagner "the very worst of Harrisburg." That's the opening salvo; stronger statement to follow. Wolf's shots at Wagner have come from the comfortable confines of his cloistered world. Wagner, meanwhile, has been barnstorming the state, meeting with voters at town meetings and forums. Wagner, like Donald Trump, isn't scripted. He tends to shoot from the hip and 'tell it like it is.' He touts his business background in the rough-and-tumble world of trash hauling. That's gotten him into trouble a couple of times. Facing voters who ask questions you're not expecting isn't easy. Wagner found that out recently, getting "caught off guard" when asked if he'd sign legislation ending gay marriage in the state. Earlier he'd lost valuable media exposure when they fixated on his response to a young woman who asked him about campaign contributions. Wagner began by telling her that she was "young and naive." That's not exactly a response designed to engender rave reviews from the fourth estate. The media spent days repeating the line and Wolf's operatives threw fuel on their sparks. His verbal gaffe overrode an otherwise good media week and obscured his pressing Wolf on education. What the media didn't spend as much time discussing was Tom Wolf's response to the same young lady. She showed up at one of his events to ask the same question. His response: he ignored her. As Wolf walked by her, she said she felt the same way she did when Wagner talked to her. Sadly, the media didn't feel the same way. One story was highlighted while the other, like Wolf's response, was largely ignored. Wagner's verbal miscues point up the major difference in the race thus far. While he's out on the hustings meeting voters face to face, Wolf is closeted away, venturing out occasionally with well-scripted remarks. That difference was clearly in evidence this week when it was announced that Wolf had agreed to a debate. That's ONE debate, part of the state chamber of commerce's annual dinner. It will be presided over by a game show host and will last a whopping 45 minutes. That stands in stark contrast to recent precedent where candidates have faced each other - and the voters - in much longer forums and in several areas of the state. It will cause many to ask why Tom Wolf wants to hide. Wagner offered to do 67, one in each county. Nobody took that seriously, but we can certainly agree that something somewhere between a single truncated event and one each day would be good for voters, the state and the process. As things begin to really heat up, the race has already begun to narrow. Most polls have shown Wolf with a double-digit lead, but one released last week showed Wagner within three points. That may be an outlier, but it certainly points out that what all knew would eventually happen is already occurring. It's going to be a tight race. Some folks are calling Wolf "One-Term Tom," a reference to his vulnerability as the nation's most liberal governor and his constant quest to dig deeper into taxpayer pockets. Of course, the same slogan was used for governors Ridge and Corbett. Ridge won in a walk and Corbett became the first Pennsylvania governor to lose re-election. What electoral fate befalls Tom Wolf is known but to God. Ignoring voters certainly won't help his odds. PennLive Opinion contributor Charlie Gerow is CEO of Quantum Communications in Harrisburg. His 'Donkeys & Elephants' column appears weekly opposite progressive commentator Kirstin Snow. PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Eagles shook up their linebacker room Sunday with a pair of transactions. First, the team signed Jaboree Williams, an undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest. Then, the Eagles released Corey Nelson, who the team signed in free agency earlier this year. The pair of transactions keeps the roster at 89 players after the Eagles released safety Stephen Roberts on Saturday. Williams, 22, was in the locker room before practice Sunday. He tried out for the Eagles in the spring. Williams had 85 tackles and an interception for Wake Forest last year. The release of Nelson turned more heads. The Eagles signed Nelson to a one-year deal in March with the hope that he would compete for the weak-side linebacker job and become a core special teams contributor. That never materialized. Nelson played only eight defensive snaps and five special teams snaps during the preseason loss to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night. The fifth-year linebacker rarely worked with the first team during training camp. The Eagles save $1 million by releasing Nelson. With Nelson out of the picture, it appears that Kamu Grugier-Hill and Nathan Gerry are the leaders for the weak-side linebacker spot. This also boosts the chances of Joe Walker and LaRoy Reynolds making the 53-man roster. --@danieljtgallen Gas prices fall again in Michigan as demand drops Gasoline prices in Michigan fell another 2 cents per gallon in the past week. 1.6k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard The ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) sent a letter to Trump administration officials asking when they became aware that their own staff was feeding information House Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nunes. The questions that Cummings asked should terrify the White House. In his letter to White House Counsel Donald McGahn and National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, Cummings asked: (1) Were either of you personally aware of the activities of your own staff in contacting Chairman Nunes, facilitating his entry onto the White House grounds, or providing him with access to classified information? (2) If so, when did you become aware? Did you inform Mr. Spicer of their activities, and if so, when did you do so? (3) If you were not aware, then how did this breach of the chain of command occur? (4) If these activities occurred without your knowledge, will any disciplinary measures be taken against these staff for this apparent breach? (5) Was anyone else at the White House involved in these activities, and if so, who? Low-level staffers dont go nosing through intelligence data on their initiative. They were directed by someone in the White House to find information that would prove their boss was right about Obama wiretapping him during the campaign. Rep. Cummings wants to know who was behind the operation to feed Nunes the information. These are the vital questions that get to the heart of the White Houses behavior. Democrats arent going to let Trump and his allies sabotage the investigation. They are going to keep digging, and if one wants to understand why Donald Trump walked out of the room when he was asked by reporters about Mike Flynn think about those five questions above and ask yourself what is it that this White House does not want me to know? 2.4k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) will introduce a resolution renaming the Senate office building after John McCain. Schumer said in a statement provided to PoliticusUSA: As you go through life, you meet few truly great people. John McCain was one of them. His dedication to his country and the military were unsurpassed, and maybe most of all, he was a truth teller never afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all too rare. The Senate, the United States, and the world are lesser places without John McCain. Nothing will overcome the loss of Senator McCain, but so that generations remember him I will be introducing a resolution to rename the Russell building after him. Renaming The Russell Building After John McCain Is A Fitting Tribute John McCain loved the Senate. There is no more fitting tribute to McCains life in politics than renaming the Russell building after him. This is a resolution that should pass 99-0. Not a single one of his former Senate colleagues will vote against this measure. There are some lions of the Senate whose loss is still felt on regular basis. In the last decade, the only loss as big as McCain is the death of Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) whose life was also taken by the same form of brain cancer. Whether one agreed or disagreed with his politics, McCains love of both the Senate and his country were never in question. Whether a building is named after him or not, John McCain will be forever remembered in the Senate. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook. 1.4k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard MSNBCs Joe Scarborough remembered the late Sen. John McCain and expressed the hope that Republicans would learn from McCains example and get some courage to stand up to Trump. Video: Scarborough said, My hope is, I know, obviously, like everybody else, Im saddened for the family and all of the friends that Senator McCain had. And all he made through the years. But I am hopeful that, just knowing him, the little that I did over several decades. I think he would hope that others in his party would see his example. This is a guy who had the hell beaten out of him in captivity as a prisoner of war, who was given an opportunity to come home because of who his father was. And he refused to come home until it was his time to come home. Until he his band of brothers who were in prison before him came home. If he could show that sort of courage, and show the courage he showed through his political the career, hopefully, that will serve as a great example to members of his party that need to show just a bit of that courage. With the crisis we find ourselves in right now. It would be great if Republicans were inspired by John McCain and got the courage to put their country first and stand up to Donald Trump. It would be amazing if one Republican in honor of McCain got Trumps tax returns or Republicans as a group passed a resolution to protect the Mueller investigation. There would be no better way for Senate Republicans to honor McCains memory than to defend America from the current attack being carried out on it by Russia. John McCain understood the threat that both Russia and Donald Trump pose to democracy. If Republicans really want to honor John McCain, they can begin by standing up to Trump. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook. 6.7k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard For a moment there, it looked like Sarah Palin had managed to do better than President Trump in the face of Senator John McCains death. She did, after all, call him an American hero in an exclusive interview with The Daily Mail TV. Ill remember the good times thats for darn sure. He will be remembered as an American hero but he was surrounded by disloyal people who didnt serve him well, McCains former running mate told the Daily Mail. If it was just John McCain and me, or just our families together it was awesome. Those were the good times, Palin continued, somehow making McCains death about her bitterness over the 2008 election that, by some accounts she lost for McCain. Palin continued to criticize McCain, saying he had been in the DC bubble for too long. They certainly werent serving the country well with what they were trying to do, she said of the people surrounding McCain whom she was ostensibly criticizing. I believe he was told things about what America really wanted or really needed because hes been in that DC bubble for so many years. I dont think inherently he necessarily was really connected, so he did rely on people telling him in polls telling him and he went from there. I think thats unfortunate because he had some strange people around him and disloyal people, and you know, I dont say that as like hate speech or griping about it, its just a fact they were just some not nice people. If the man who made your political career just died, it might be best to leave any comment that requires a mention of hate speech at home. Just a thought. This is only slightly better than Trump, who didnt even direct the press secretary to issue a formal White House statement, but rather had her direct reporters to his tweet on McCain. But Sarah Palin is the one who paved the way for Donald Trump. She of the Blood Libel infamy is on familiar terms with self-pity and self-absorption. So its natural that she tried to use McCains death to air her grievances about the 2008 campaign, lob some bombs at McCains people and claim he was in a bubble in DC, even though he was a war hero and she is not. Not convinced? When asked what she saw as McCains political legacy, she said he would be remembered for his military service, but then added that people around him still try to undermine us. Oh, okay. For good measure, in case you didnt know that this was supposed to be about John McCain, Palin and her husband brought up the mention that McCain regretted picking her, as referenced in his book. You know, to set the record straight about Palin. Well, with that headline though that he evidently regretted picking me, well my thought was, well hes never said that to me,' the former Republican Governor said. Well, okay. But he did write it in a book. I didnt agree with Senator John McCain on much, but I never doubted his patriotism and he did demonstrate a backbone that is sorely missing in many of his Republican colleagues. His death is not a time for Ms Palin to air grievances about her lost political future, which by the way is her own fault, not the people around McCain. Birther is as birther does. (Reuters) Police in North Carolina arrested seven people on Saturday during scuffles at a university campus where demonstrators earlier this week had toppled a statue of a Confederate soldier, a campus official said. Most of those taken into custody face assault charges, Carly Miller, a spokeswoman for the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, said in an email. Saturdays protest followed a larger one on Monday when about 300 demonstrators surrounded the Silent Sam memorial, erected in 1913 to honor soldiers of the pro-slavery Confederacy killed during the U.S. Civil War, and used ropes to pull it down. This was the latest incident in a campaign against Civil War symbols by opponents who say they glorify the Souths legacy of slavery and racism. Supporters view the memorials as emblems of American history. Video from Saturday that was shared on social media showed competing rallies, with some on one side waving signs with slogans such as Destroy White Supremacy, and others holding Confederate flags. At one point, a man in a wide-brimmed hat punched another man in the face and was led away by police. Three people suspected of pulling down the Silent Sam statue face misdemeanor charges of riot and defacing a public monument, a university police spokesman said on Friday. In a statement on Thursday, UNC board member Thom Goolsby had said the university will reinstall the memorial within 90 days as required by North Carolina law. (Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles, editing by G Crosse) 26.6k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard John McCain asked George W. Bush and Barack Obama to deliver eulogies, and Donald Trump not to attend his funeral. Video: CNN reported, Something that apparently had begun over the last year. He had been planning for his services. Often discussing the plans with close friends who livered and visited his Arizona ranch. Two people close to McCain said he wanted three locations for services in Arizona, the National Cathedral in Washington and Annapolis. This is reporting from our Jeff Zeleny and as weve previously reported, he did not want president trump to be at his funeral and that apparently is a wish that he held true to the very end. Hes also asked that some of the eulogies at the funeral come from former presidents from Barack Obama as well as George W. Bush. The plans continue in the works for what happens next for John McCain, for his family. Trump is not invited to John McCains funeral It is not surprising that McCain didnt invite Trump to his funeral. Trump mocked McCain during the 2016 presidential campaign and has had nothing but contempt for the Senator since he single-handedly killed the Republican effort to kill Obamacare. Most recently, Trump wouldnt even say McCains name at an event marking the signing of the National Defense Authorization Act that was named after John McCain. If McCain was country first, Trump has been America last. In one of his last acts in life, John McCain made it clear that the man who betrayed the country that he loved so much by conspiring with a hostile foreign power knew that he was not welcome at his funeral. John McCain remained a patriot until the very end. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook. 811 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Donald Trump Jr. scored more points on Saturday in the ongoing feud with Eric Trump to see who is the dumbest of the presidents sons. In a tweet meant to politicize the death of Mollie Tibbetts, a 20-year-old Iowa student who was murdered by a man alleged to be an undocumented immigrant, Trump Jr. couldnt even spell the womans name correctly. The eldest Trump son was attacking Symone Sanders, a strategist who said Tibbetts murder isnt about border security. This is about toxic masculinity. Mollie Tibbetts lost her life b/c a man couldnt take her saying no. Trump Jr. responded, This is what happens when moronic Politically Correct culture is allowed to rule over common sense and rational thinking. This is what happens when moronic Politically Correct culture is allowed to rule over common sense and rational thinking. Truly one of the dumbest takes on a terrible tragedy Ive ever seen. #mollietibbits https://t.co/IkNYWQhmDG Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) August 23, 2018 The Trump family doesnt care about Mollie Tibbetts First, lets make something very clear: The Trump family couldnt care less about the tragic murder of a 20-year-old woman. Like everything else, they only care how much it can do for them politically. In the case of Tibbetts, they jumped on early reports that the murderer was an undocumented immigrant a claim thats now being disputed and hoped to use it to bolster the presidents disastrous and inhumane immigration policies. If this was truly about grieving the loss of someone who had her whole life ahead of her, they would respect the guidance of the Tibbetts family and stop politicizing her death. But Trump and his band of supporters and sons continue to press on, smelling an opportunity to cash in. Republicans are even using it to fuel midterm enthusiasm. Since we cant force them to stop being the shameless morons they are, the least they can do when theyre politicizing Mollie Tibbetts tragic death is to spell her name correctly. But honestly, especially when it comes to Donald Trump Jr., the best policy would be to keep your mouth shut. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook. 9.1k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Arizona GOP Senate candidate Kelli Ward wrote a comment on social media Saturday suggesting that a statement issued by Sen. John McCains family was intended to hurt her in her bid to win a U.S. Senate seat. On Friday Senator McCains family released a public statement saying they had decided to end the senators medical treatment for brain cancer which had been going on since the beginning of the year. Senator McCain died Saturday, just a few hours after Ward made the suggestion on Facebook. The Arizona Republic reported the news about the social media posts, which have subsequently been removed. According to the newspaper, Ward wrote: I think they wanted to have a particular narrative that they hope is negative to me. Ward wrote her comment about McCains family on the Facebook page of one of her campaign staffers who had questioned the timing of the McCain familys release. Both Ward and her staff person seemed to be of the opinion that at a time of great grief for John McCains family all they could think about was how to hurt Wards campaign. It appeared to be a coincidence that Ward began a bus tour for her campaign on the same day as the McCain family issued their statement, the newspaper reported. On Facebook, Wards staff member asked if the statement released by the senators family was a plan to take media attention off her campaign instead of a mere coincidence. And Ward immediately latched on to the paranoid conspiracy theory set forth by her staff member by saying that McCains family wanted to have a particular narrative that they hope is negative to me. The former vice chairman of a Maricopa County Republican Party group, Aaron Borders, took screenshots of Wards remarks on Facebook before they were deleted. He then posted them and later lambasted the candidates comment in an interview with The Republic. Its wildly inappropriate, Borders said in his interview. Its classless. Its not decent its very narcissistic. Its a narcissist comment to sit there and think that the McCain family made this decision to interfere with your bus tour. Wards statement was deleted shortly after Borders interview was published online. She then posted a follow-up comment on Facebook in which she blamed the media for what happened. Here is her follow up comment: The media loves a narrative. Ive said again and again to pray for Senator McCain & his family. These decisions are terrible to have to make. I feel compassion for him and his family as they go through this. Its not the McCains creating a narrative its the media making something out of nothing. The media, the left, and the Establishment have the agenda. Theyve been attacking me over fake stories for a year on this issue. I ran against Mr. McCain. I dont agree with his voting record and rhetoric. I pray for him as a man who is suffering. Later, after that comment also appeared on the newspapers website, it also was deleted by Ward. Clearly she is a Senate candidate who is having trouble getting her message right. After all of this hubbub, Wards campaign spokesperson, Zachery Henry, did not even respond to the Republics request for comment. Apparently he is hoping that if he and the campaign say nothing more the whole incident will just go away. Of course, with the internet nothing ever goes away completely. Ward did later write a Twitter post saying she was saddened to hear of his passing. His decades of service will not be forgotten by the men & women of Arizona, Ward tweeted on Saturday. May God grant the McCain family comfort and peace during this difficult time. And of course this tweet also faced a barrage of criticism from those slamming her earlier Facebook posting. McCain, the giant of the Senate and Vietnam War veteran died one day after his family announced that he would be discontinuing medical treatment for brain cancer. According to the RealClearPolitics average of Arizona senate polls, Ward is trailing Martha McSally by eight percentage points in the race for the Republican nomination to replace Jeff Flake in the U.S. Senate. 2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard On ABCs This Week, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) promised a full investigation into Trump including getting his tax returns if Democrats win back the House. Video: Transcript via ABCs This Week: STEPHANOPOULOS: And congressman, let me begin with you right now. Is the campaign finance if there were evidence to show that President Trump was involved, conspired with Michael Cohen, for a campaign finance violation, would that be a high crime and misdemeanor? REP. ERIC SWALWELL, (D) CALIFORNIA: Good morning, George. And first let me just also pay tribute to John McCain, a patriot, a man of integrity and independence, and someone who fought for our democracy, and one that is still worth the fighting for. We miss him dearly. As to your question, Democrats should not lead with impeachment, George, I think we should lead with the core issues people care about making sure that health care costs go down, that their paychecks go up, and that we scrub out corruption. But shouldnt look the other way, and the best thing we can do is promise the American people, if we are given the majority that we will conduct the investigations the Republicans are unwilling to conduct, including this campaign finance violation, including the questions around his contacts with the Russians, and including his tax returns, which the American people have not seen, but I promise a Democratic majority will ensure they do see. Democrats shouldnt lead with impeachment, because they dont have the evidence that they need to impeach Trump. If the president is indicted before election day, that changes the conversation, but the House Republican refusal to conduct a real investigation means that unless Robert Mueller releases his report before November, Democrats are going to have to conduct their own investigation if they win control of the House. Voters arent being motivated to go to the polls based on impeachment. Healthcare and the lack of prosperity for working Americans are the driving issues in this election. Trump doesnt realize it yet, but he is one midterm election away from all of his darkest secrets being revealed. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook. 103 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard By Philip Pullella and Scott Malone DUBLIN/BOSTON (Reuters) A former top Vatican official has accused Pope Francis of having known of allegations of sex abuse by a prominent U.S. cardinal for years and called on him to resign, in an unprecedented broadside against the pope by a Church insider. In a detailed 11-page bombshell statement given to conservative Roman Catholic media outlets during the Popes visit to Ireland, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano accused a long list of current and past Vatican and U.S. Church officials of covering up the case of Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who resigned last month in disgrace. In remarkably blunt language, Vigano said alleged cover-ups in the Church were making it look like a conspiracy of silence not so dissimilar from the one that prevails in the mafia. Pope Francis has repeatedly asked for total transparency in the Church, wrote Vigano, who has criticized the pope before. In this extremely dramatic moment for the universal Church, he must acknowledge his mistakes and, in keeping with the proclaimed principle of zero tolerance, Pope Francis must be the first to set a good example for cardinals and bishops who covered up McCarricks abuses and resign along with all of them, he said. Vatican officials declined immediate comment on Sunday on the statement, which was published by the National Catholic Register and several other conservative media outlets in the United States and Italy. Vigano said he had told Francis in June 2013, just after he was elected pope by his fellow cardinals, about the accusations against McCarrick. Vigano, the papal envoy in Washington from 2011 to 2016, also said he had informed top Vatican officials as early as 2006 that McCarrick was suspected of abusing adult seminarians while he was a bishop in two New Jersey dioceses between 1981 and 2001. He said he never received a response to his 2006 memo. He also accused McCarricks successor as archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, of having been aware of the abuse allegations. Wuerl has said he did not know of them. The statement was the latest blow to the credibility of the U.S. Church. Nearly two weeks ago, a grand jury in Pennsylvania released the findings of the largest-ever investigation of sex abuse in the U.S. Catholic Church, finding that 301 priests in the state had sexually abused minors over the past 70 years. RESIGNATION McCarrick in July became the first Cardinal in living memory to resign his position in the Church leadership after a review concluded that claims he had sexually abused a 16-year-old boy were credible. He was one of the highest-ranking church officials accused of sex abuse in a scandal that has rocked the 1.2 billion-member faith since reports of priests abusing children and bishops covering up for them were reported by the Boston Globe in 2002. Since then patterns of widespread abuse of children have been reported across the United States and Europe, in Chile and Australia, undercutting the Churchs moral authority and taking a toll on its membership and coffers McCarrick, 88, has said he had no recollection of alleged abuse of the minor but has not commented on widespread media reports that he would force adult men studying for the priesthood to sleep with him at a beach house in New Jersey. Viganos statement railed against homosexual networks present in the Church the word homosexual appears 18 times, while the word child appears only twice, in both cases in the titles of Church documents Vigano sites. Francis asked for forgiveness on Sunday during his highly charged visit to Ireland for the scandal and betrayal felt by victims of sexual exploitation by Catholic clergy. On Saturday he said the corruption and cover-up of abuse amounted to human excrement, according to victims. (Editing by Gareth Jones) 590 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard If Democrats take back control of the U.S. House of Representatives in November Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland will likely become Donald Trumps worst nightmare. An agenda is taking shape in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee (OGR) that would paralyze the Trump administration if Democrats were in charge. Cummings is the ranking Democrat on the OGR and would become chairman if Democrats were in the majority. So long as Republicans are in charge, Cummings and his fellow committee Democrats cant do anything, since the Republican chairman Trey Gowdy of South Carolina has ignored all of their requests. So far, Gowdy and the committees Republicans have blocked 52 attempts by Democrats to force votes on subpoena motions. Former Chairman Darrell Issa of California issued more than 100 subpoenas to the Obama administration. To date, Gowdy has issued zero subpoenas to the Trump administration. Clearly the OGR Republicans have refused to hold the Trump administration accountable or to the same standard of oversight they had during the Obama presidency. Clearly the OGR Republicans have abdicated their oversight responsibilities of perhaps the most corrupt administration in history. But if Democrats are in charge starting in January of next year, and Cummings becomes OGR committee chairman, all of that will change. Cummings recently has given several hints about what he wants to do in the OGR committee: Last week Cummings requested documents to investigate how and why President Donald Trump revoked the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan. Last week Cummings also wrote to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to express his displeasure and concerns about Trumps appointment of Brian Hook to the State Departments Iran Action Group due to Hooks history of hostile relationship with employees in the State Department. On Wednesday, Cummings wrote to current oversight committee Gowdy asking him to convene a hearing with President Donald Trumps personal attorney, Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty to multiple federal crimes and implicated President Trump in directing these crimes. Gowdy will, of course, ignore Cummings letters and requests as he has always done before. Unlike all other congressional committees, the purpose of OGR is to serve as the watchdog of the federal government. It doesnt have legislative authority, but has great investigative authority. One can only imagine the number of subpoenas and investigations that might be issued and carried on by Cummings and his fellow Democrats if they are put back in charge. The prospect of Donald Trump and his corrupt kleptocracy being held accountable to Elijah Cummings is a dream for Democrats, and a nightmare for Donald Trump. It is one more reason that we have to make sure that the Blue Wave happens in November so Democrats can get in power and save the country from a president whose dream is to become a dictator. 181 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard By David Lawder and Sharay Angulo WASHINGTON (Reuters) The United States has softened its contentious demand for a NAFTA sunset clause, Mexicos incoming trade negotiator said on Saturday, potentially eliminating a key obstacle to reaching a deal next week to revamp the trade pact. A few hours earlier, President Donald Trump tweeted that the United States could reach a big Trade Agreement with Mexico imminently. Jesus Seade, designated chief negotiator of Mexicos next government, told reporters the new U.S. position would allow a periodic review of the North American Free Trade Agreement, but without an automatic expiration unless renegotiated every five years. Its going to come out. Its no longer what the United States was putting first in any way, Seade said of the sunset clause outside the U.S. Trade Representatives office. The United States and Mexico have been holding bilateral talks aimed at resolving differences in the NAFTA renegotiation before bringing Canada back to the talks as they push for an agreement-in-principle by the end of August. Trump tweeted on Saturday morning that the United States relationship with Mexico is getting closer by the hour. Some really good people within both the new and old government, and all working closely together.A big Trade Agreement with Mexico could be happening soon! The U.S. sunset clause demand has been one of the biggest roadblocks to NAFTA deal since it was first proposed in October 2017. It was meant by the Trump administration as a mechanism to force a renegotiation of NAFTA every five years if the new terms failed to foster more balanced trade between the three countries. If new terms could not be reached, NAFTA would die. But Mexico, Canada and business interests in all three countries have adamantly opposed the concept, arguing it would create uncertainty over NAFTAs future that would paralyze business investment and job growth. The structure Seade described is similar to a counter-proposal made by Mexico last November that called for a review of NAFTAs effects every five years without killing the pact. But U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer never accepted that plan, insisting on a full sunset provision. Seade said he and Lighthizer last week began discussing a new review approach, one that would have longer periods between reviews, providing more certainty for business investments. He said negotiations were continuing on this. NOT THERE YET Asked about Trumps tweet, Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo acknowledged some progress, but told reporters in Washington before beginning another day of talks that the two countries are not there yet. Nothing is done until everything is truly done, he said. Today will be an important day. Trump prompted the NAFTA revamp more than a year ago, complaining the pact has benefited Mexico to the detriment of U.S. workers and manufacturing. He made renegotiating NAFTA one of his top campaign pledges. Trump has threatened to withdraw from the pact if it is not reworked to the advantage of the United States. The U.S.-Mexico talks for weeks focused on crafting new rules for the automotive industry, which Trump has put at the center of his drive to rework the 24-year-old deal he says has been a disaster for American workers. Seade said the issue of auto sector rules is basically resolved, although some aspects, including time frames, are still being discussed. Seade also said on Saturday that a correct focus on NAFTAs energy chapter has already been substantially agreed. Since Mexicos July 1 presidential election, the Mexico-U.S. talks have been complicated by divisions between the incoming and outgoing Mexican administrations over energy policy. The team of leftist Mexican president-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has resisted enshrining the 2013-14 opening of the oil and gas sector enacted by outgoing president Enrique Pena Nieto in the new NAFTA, people close to the talks say. Lopez Obrador opposed Pena Nietos energy reform, and the issue is divisive within his own camp. Business-friendly aides back greater outside investment in the industry, while his more nationalist allies want the oil to remain in Mexican hands. (Reporting by Yeganeh Torbati, David Lawder and Sharay Angulo in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler and Matthew Lewis) On Friday, John McCains family announced his decision to discontinue treatment for his brain cancer and the notable U.S. Senator died Saturday afternoon at the age of 81. McCains death is being mourned throughout the country and the world, but very soon the world of politics will turn its attention to the question of who will replace him in the U.S. Senate. The answer to that question can come from only one source: the current Republican Governor of Arizona, Doug Ducey. Ducey is the person charged with the task of appointing people to fill vacancies in Arizonas US Senate delegation in situations such as this. So Ducey will appoint McCains replacement who will stay in the Senate through the 2020 election, at such time as a special election will be held to serve out the remainder of McCains term, which ends after the 2022 election. So far Ducey has made no comments about the issue, out of respect for the senator and his family as they grieve his death. Under Arizona state law, he is required to appoint someone of the same party as McCain, which obviously means he will appoint a Republican. Ducey has said he is not interested in the job and will not appoint himself. Ducey did issue a statement mourning McCains death on Saturday. In that statement the governor said Sen. McCain was one American who will never be forgotten. His dogged patriotism and passion for country made him an inspiration, and a model, for all of us. Duceys office also issued a press release anticipating questions he would receive about McCains seat, saying he will not name a replacement until after McCains burial. The senator and war hero will be buried in the cemetery of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Democrats are somewhat disappointed since if McCain had left office before May 30 his Senate seat would have been on the ballot in Arizona this November instead of November of 2020. This would have meant an election for both of Arizonas senate seats this year, which could have threatened Republican control of the senate in a year expected to be favorable for Democratic candidates in the Grand Canyon State. Since speculation is running rampant, The Arizona Republic listed names that have been discussed as potential replacements for Senator McCain: Cindy McCain, 64, the late senators wife. She is a philanthropist and business leader and could represent her husbands legacy while pursuing her own priorities in Washington, such as advocatilng against human trafficking. Kirk Adams, 45 , Duceys chief of staff and a former state lawmaker. Barbara Barrett, 67 , chair of the Aerospace Corporation and former US ambassador to Finland. She ran for governor of Arizona in 1994. Jon Kyl, 76, who served with McCain in the Senate from 1995 to 2013. The Republic also mentions real estate development company president Karrin Taylor, former Rep. John Shadegg, state Treasurer Eileen Klein, and former Rep. Matt Salmon. One possible contender could have been Republican Rep. Martha McSally, but she is running for Jeff Flakes senate seat this year, as is another possibility, Dr. Kelli Ward. Get the SC business stories that matter. Our newsletter catches you up with all the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina every Monday and Thursday at noon. Get ahead with us - it's free. State Rep. Katie Arrington, the Republican nominee for the 1st District congressional seat, meets with President Donald Trump at the White House in July. Trump signed Arrington's cast. Joseph Cranney is an investigative reporter in Columbia, with a focus on government corruption and injustices in the criminal legal system. He can be reached securely by Proton mail at jcranney@prontonmail.com or on Signal at 215-285-9083. Assistant Columbia bureau chief Adcox returned to The Post and Courier in October 2017 after 12 years covering the Statehouse for The Associated Press. She previously covered education for The P&C. She has also worked for The AP in Albany, N.Y., and for The Herald in Rock Hill. Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations. The Post and Courier provides a forum for our readers to share their opinions, and to hold up a mirror to our community. Publication does not imply endorsement by the newspaper; the editorial staff attempts to select a representative sample of letters because we believe its important to let our readers see the range of opinions their neighbors submit for publication. John Sidney McCain III, the maverick Republican who twice sought the presidency and served in the Senate for more than three decades after surviving brutal captivity during the Vietnam War, died Saturday after battling brain cancer. He was 81. Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28pm on August 25, 2018. With the Senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family. At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for sixty years, the family said in a statement. A public figure for nearly 40 years, Sen. McCain left an indelible mark on the nation during a long and sometimes polarizing political career marked by an aggressive military posture as the United States fought wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the final few years of his life, the senator clashed sharply with President Trump, who said early in the 2016 presidential campaign that McCain, widely celebrated for his tenacity as a prisoner of war, was not a war hero. McCain first arrived on the national stage as a POW after his plane was shot down over Hanoi in 1967. A few months earlier, McCain, then a Navy pilot, had survived a deadly fire on the USS Forrestal, an aircraft carrier. In 1982, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Four years later, he won his seat in the Senate. In the upper chamber of Congress, McCain established himself as a leading voice on national security and foreign policy, particularly from his chairmanship of the powerful Armed Services Committee. He also cultivated a reputation as an independent willing to work with Democrats on immigration and campaign finance. McCain was a fierce critic of Russia and a strong proponent of an aggressive U.S. role against the Islamic State extremist group. While he had the respect of many GOP leaders, Trump criticized him personally in 2015, shocking political observers. Then a candidate for president, Trump said McCain was not a war hero because he was captured by the North Vietnamese. I like people that werent captured, Trump said at the time. The two men also were at odds over policy. Last fall, McCain offered a sharp, if veiled critique of Trump, saying in a speech that some half-baked, spurious nationalism should be considered as unpatriotic as an attachment to any other tired dogma of the past that Americans consigned to the ash heap of history. Earlier this year, McCain came out against Trumps nominee for director of the Central Intelligence Agency. McCain said Gina Haspel had not adequately explained her involvement, during the George W. Bush administration, in a controversial enhanced interrogation program that he and other critics said amounted to torture. Haspel was confirmed by the Senate nevertheless. McCain spoke from experience. He was held for more than five years in a Hanoi prison, where he was tortured and often deprived of sleep and food. The son and grandson of Navy admirals, he was offered early release by his captors but refused to go home before the other POWs. His opposition to Haspel drew a crass response from Kelly Sadler, a White House communications official, who dismissed the senators rejection of the nominee, saying, It doesnt matter; hes dying, anyway, according to The Washington Post and other media outlets. Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! In the summer of 2017, Sen. McCain was diagnosed with a tumor called a glioblastoma, which is an aggressive type of brain cancer. He returned to the Senate after his diagnosis and cast a pivotal vote against a Republican bill to undo the Affordable Care Act. During a post-midnight roll call on the Senate floor, he turned his thumb down and effectively thwarted one of the GOPs signature promises of recent years. After leaving Washington in December, he never returned to the Senate. As he underwent treatment in Arizona, he kept a low profile, issuing written statements on major news developments but offering the public few glimpses of his condition. McCain collaborated with a longtime adviser, Mark Salter, on a memoir, The Restless Wave, that was released in May. Among other things, the book captured McCains difficult relationship with Trump. The president, he wrote, has declined to distinguish the actions of our government from the crimes of despotic ones. He also remarked that, The appearance of toughness, or a reality show facsimile of toughness, seems to matter more than any of our values. McCain ran for president in 2000, losing the Republican nomination to the eventual 43rd president, George W. Bush. Eight years later, he ran again, this time winning his partys nomination but losing the general election to Barack Obama. McCain struggled against strong head winds in a banner year for Democrats. Obama and his party scored major victories as voters vented their anger and anxiety over the Iraq War and a struggling economy. The Arizona senator selected then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for the partys vice-presidential nominee, a controversial choice that would become one of the defining decisions of his career. Two years after running for president, he sought reelection to the Senate. The conservative tea party movement was on the rise in 2010, and McCain tacked to the right to survive a contested primary. In one controversial campaign commercial, Sen. McCain talked about the need to complete the danged fence to address concerns about undocumented immigrants crossing the nations southern border. In 2013, McCain moved back to the middle on immigration. He joined the bipartisan Gang of Eight senators who proposed a sweeping rewrite of immigration laws that included a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. The bill passed the Republican-controlled Senate but went nowhere in the Republican-controlled House. The senator is survived by his mother, Roberta; his wife, Cindy; two sons and a daughter from a first marriage, Douglas, Andrew and Sidney; four children from his second marriage, Meghan McCain, Jimmy McCain Jack McCain and Bridget McCain; a brother, Joseph P. McCain of Washington; a sister, Jean Alexandra McCain Morgan of Annapolis; and five grandchildren. McCains death opens up a Senate seat that party leaders expect to remain in Republican hands for two more years, as the GOP clings to a narrow majority in the upper chamber of Congress. Under state law, Republican Gov. Doug Ducey will appoint a successor. Among the list of potential appointees are McCains wife, Cindy; Duceys chief of staff, Kirk Adams; state Treasurer Eileen Klein; former congressman John Shadegg; and former U.S. senator Jon Kyl. State law says the appointee must be from the same party as the person vacating the seat. Because McCain died after the deadline to file for this years election, the new senator will not have to face voters until the 2020 election. Columbia/Myrtle Beach Managing Editor Andy Shain runs The Post and Courier's newsrooms based in Columbia and Myrtle Beach. He was editor of Free Times and has been a reporter and editor for newspapers in Charlotte, Columbia and Myrtle Beach. Political Reporter Caitlin Byrd is a political reporter at The Post and Courier and author of the Palmetto Politics newsletter. Before moving to Charleston in 2016, her byline appeared in the Asheville Citizen-Times. To date, Byrd has won 17 awards for her work. Guam Del. Madeleine Bordallo's nearly 16-year career as the island's lone voice in U.S. Congress will end this year. Bordallo lost to her Democratic Party challenger, Sen. Michael San Nicolas, in the primary election Saturday. San Nicolas moves on to the general election race against Republican Doris Flores Brooks in November. San Nicolas received a phone call from Bordallo. "Congresswoman Bordallo has graciously conceded the election. I respectfully ask that all honors and respect due to a paragon of public service be afforded to her, and look forward to working hand in hand with her to ensure continuity of the people's interests in Washington, D.C.," San Nicolas said. "I thank the Lord and the people for their blessings, trust and confidence, and look forward to continuing to serve both if it be their will come November." Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. San Nicolas received 12,456 votes or 51.48 percent of the total votes. Bordallo received 11,635 votes or 48.08 percent of the votes cast in the race. The Democratic congressional race had a 3 percent margin between San Nicolas and Bordallo. Brooks received 2,817 votes. Last year, Bordallo faced an ethics investigation in connection with her role as landlord to the Japanese consulate general on Guam. The consulate was renting her Tamuning house despite a ban on members of Congress or federal employees from accepting payments from foreign governments. The Board of the Office of Congressional Ethics issued findings that "there is substantial reason to believe that Del. Bordallo received profit from a foreign government." The board also questioned Bordallo's free lodging and meals at the Outrigger Guam Resort, which was owned by a family member. Applying the average market rate for the hotel suites she customarily stayed in meant the maximum value of 663 nights of free lodging she received was $362,077, while the minimum value for the free stay at a discounted congressional rate was $117,012, the report stated. Bordallo also faced questions related to the use of federal Section 30 funds money which Guam already expects to receive every year as a source of war reparation payments. Steel tariffs and trade wars aside, the most worrisome import from China right now is the spotted lanternfly. This invasive species native to China, Vietnam and India hijacked its way to the U.S. on pallets into Berks County in 2014, coming as an illegal immigrant bringing severe consequences. Since then, it has overridden the region from Berks into Montgomery County, killing trees, covering house sidings and decks, forcing people out of backyard areas and making outdoor dining a chore of swatting and shooshing. Beware Chester and Delaware counties: Its just a matter of time before the red and white spotted pest finds you. Because of its risk to Pennsylvania crops, such as grapes, hops, timber, and fruit-bearing trees, the state Department of Agriculture issued a quarantine in townships where the pest was first spotted to try to contain the spread. No such luck. The lanternfly has been confirmed to have spread to most of Berks County and parts of Montgomery, Bucks, Chester and Lehigh counties. Sightings have been reported eastward into New Jersey and south as far as Kentucky. With no natural predators, the spotted lanternfly poses a multibillion dollar threat to agriculture and forestry industries because it feeds on stone fruit-bearing plants and leaves behind a sticky substance that attracts mold. State and federal officials are spending more than $20 million to research and eradicate the insect. The Agriculture Department offers homeowners tips, that include banding trees with sticky tape to stop the adult insects from laying eggs, destroying Tree of Heaven trees where breeding occurs and spraying of pesticides when nothing else works. Property owners are urged to scrape the muddy egg masses off trees and report them to the state. Total number of eggs scrape reports as of March 3 of this year: 1,774,100. The number of killing by banding is also being tabulated, and the Department of Agriculture has a website for reporting local kills. Number of reported tree bands kills is 1,065,258. The actual numbers are much higher, likely in the multi-millions, illustrating the severity of this invasion. Although prolific and annoying, the lanternflies do not sting or bite. Thus, they can be killed by an army of swatters. One such effort this summer was featured recently in an article by The Associated Press, highlighting a camp program to track down and squash the invaders. The weeklong program, themed Hunt for the Spotted Lanternfly, involved about 27 children and their families and was sponsored by Centro Cultural Latinos Unidos, a bilingual organization providing services to Latino families, the National Park Service, Friends of Hopewell Furnace, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Chester County Parks Department, Natural Lands Trust and Schuylkill River Greenways. Children learned about the lanternfly and were then set loose to find the bugs and kill them by swatting or collecting in bags for disposal. We need to keep (children) safe and healthy, and the lanternfly does the opposite of that, basically, said Sarah Crothers, education coordinator at the Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area. Education of property owners is a major goal of the state agriculture department. Information about acceptable pesticides, best removal techniques, and dealing with tree damage is detailed on their website. Property owners are also asked to report infestations to badbug@pa.gov to allow the department to continue tracking the spread of the pest. That track is frighteningly fast and furious. Berks County and its adjacent neighbors in Montgomery and Chester counties are seeing the worst inundations, but reports are showing that the invasion is moving at a rapid rate. In this summer of swollen rivers and washed out landscaping, the lanternflies are yet another natural plague. Dealing with it will require an investment in science and a strong dose of ingenuity. Meanwhile, swatting, scraping and spraying are the order of the day until we bring this pest under control. Despite whatever political disagreements I had with Senator McCain over the years, I am deeply saddened by the news of his death today at the age of 81 from the aggressive form of brain cancer with which he has been contending over the past year. I found the occasions on which I spent time in his company to be a personal highlight. He was an American original. The New York Times has posted an obituary here. We extend prayers on behalf of him and his family. In 2008 when Senator McCain was about to become the Republican nominee for president, I reread McCains Faith of My Fathers (written with Mark Salter). The book is subtitled A family memoir, but read in light of Andrew Fergusons Weekly Standard article on books by the leading presidential candidates we could see that it was a campaign book. Originally published in 1999, the book arrived just in time to promote McCains 2000 presidential candidacy. Although the book is indeed a family memoir, the heart of the book is devoted to McCains experience as a prisoner of war. I thought I might revisit my observations about the book tonight. McCain generally avoided public discussion of his own prisoner-of-war experience before writing Faith of My Fathers. In chapter 7 of the 1995 book The Nightingales Song, for example, Robert Timberg explored McCains experience during the five-and-a-half years he spent as a prisoner of war. Timberg relegated comments about his research to the source notes in the small print at the end of the book: Throughout discussions of his imprisonment, John McCain was a reluctant witness and a difficult interview, at least when discussing his own experiences. For the most part, he confirmed incidents described by prisonmates or discussed in published accounts. He did tell funny prison stories and often recalled the heroism of others, never his own. At the end of Faith of My Fathers McCain indirectly revealed the reason for his newfound willingness to discuss his own prisoner-of-war experience: Whenver I am introduced at an appearance, the speaker always refers to my war record first. Obviously, such recognition has benefited my political career, and I am grateful for that. McCain also implicitly provides the explanation for his public reticence on the subject prior to the book: I have never met a prisoner of war who felt he could explain the experience to anyone who had not shared it. So Faith of My Fathers was a campaign book, but it is also something more. I think it is a classic American memoir. It is a book of enormous literary skill, a credit both to McCain and to Salter, his literary alter ego. If not quite in the same league as masterpieces such as Grants Memoirs, Danas Two Years Before the Mast, and Adamss The Education of Henry Adams, it nevertheless belongs on the bookshelf with them. The book is not only beautifully written, it lacks a dull page. And despite the books grace and tact, a curious reader can find the answers to most of the questions he naturally brings to the book. McCain begins the book in the advertised form of a family memoir. He grew up the son and grandson of bona fide war heroes. For almost the first half of the book McCain eloquently recounts the story of their service. Somewhat surprisingly, at least to me, each had a rebellious streak and a skeleton or two in the closet. McCain reveals that in the closing days of World War II his grandfather was relieved of his command. Although his father suffered no such professional disgrace, McCain reveals that he was an alcoholic (my word, not McCains). He writes, for example: My father returned from the war with a great appetite for drink, which he overindulged until the very last years of his life.And, as with most people, drinking changed his personality in unattractive ways. When he was drunk, I did not recognize him. His fathers drinking was probably not his greatest deficiency as a father. That was his detachment: My father could often be a distant, inscrutable patriarch.I admired him, and wanted badly to be admired by him, yet indications of his regard for me were more often found in the things he didnt say than in the things he did. There was of course never any question that McCain would follow in the footsteps of his illustrious forebears. McCain powerfully conveys the suffocating sense of a preordained life. McCain acts out his resentment at the Naval Academy, barely escaping expulsion while graduating fifth from the bottom of his class. McCain describes his fathers reaction: My behavior was not something that particularly worried my father. I believe he assumed that, like him, I would be absorbed into the traditions of the place whether I wished to or not, and that when the time arrived for me to face a real test of character, I would not disappoint him. What begins as a family memoir becomes something more as McCain tells the story of his own service; it becomes a story of death and rebirth. Seeking the martial experience in which his family had distinguished itself, McCain volunteered for combat in Vietnam. I didnt know at the time that downed pilots imprisoned in the North referred to their shootdowns as the day they were killed. Flying a particularly dangerous mission over Hanoi, McCain writes: I was killed. The rest of the book recounts his experience, severely injured, frequently tortured, occasionally near death, as a prisoner of war held by the North Vietnamese for five-and-a-half years (two years in solitary confinement). McCains account is self-deprecating, harrowing, and profoundly moving. As a prisoner of war keeping faith with his family, his prisonmates, his country, John McCain is reborn, but he leaves the books most surprising revelation unstated. In a family of heroes who cast their long shadows over his life, John McCain surpassed his illustrious forebears. RIP. I recently quoted Seth Lipskys unsigned New York Sun editorial The president in a vise observing of the Mueller prosecutions: This is part of an effort by the Democrats and their collaborators to overturn a presidential election that they thought they would win. The editorial expressed my thoughts exactly. By the same token, so does the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial Let the people decide: A special prosecutor shouldnt negate an election. The Post-Gazette editors write at some length. This long excerpt below concludes the editorial: Lets be honest, all of this is about squeezing, delegitimizing, and, if possible, ultimately removing Donald Trump from office. Neither of these cases [against Paul Manafort or Michael Cohen], and none of the case being built with the president as target, so far as we know, are about Russian interference in our elections, or political corruption. They are not about justice. They are about politics. They are about getting Mr. Trump. Many Americans think Mr. Trump should be removed from office for bad manners, for political and personal immaturity, and for degrading our politics and diminishing the presidency. But none of those is a crime, just as cheating on your wife is not a crime and employing snake oil salesmen is not a crime. The voters elected Donald Trump. Why not trust them to decide if he should have majorities in Congress in 2018 or be removed from office in 2020? Recall that many of them, a majority in the requisite states, knew he was far from a perfect person when they elected him in 2016. But he has given them lower taxes, fatter 401(k) accounts, a more muscular war on terror and a start at fair trade. Those people feel he has kept faith with them. And they will lose faith in the system if he is hounded from office by a prosecutorial coup. Remember when candidate Trump said he might not accept the outcome of the election and liberals, properly, were aghast? Remember when he led chants of lock her up, lock her up at his rallies and the pundits (properly) said: My God, are we a banana republic in which the losing candidate goes to jail and the justice system is wholly politicized? Well, what Mr. Trump threatened is actually being done to Mr. Trump by his enemies. The left and the deep state have not accepted the result of the election and have used every available means, including the Justice Department and the justice system, to say, in effect: Get him out; get him out. We go down this road at our peril. First, there is the matter of prosecutorial excess, which we saw in the case of Bill Clinton and Ken Starr, too. What do bag men and high fliers have to do with Russia interfering with the election? Interference, it should be noted, that no serious person can believe changed the outcome of the election. Then there is the matter of a prosecutorial society. Do we really want to live in a polity in which a thousand little Javerts are always on a crusade against the sinners and the neer-do-wells? The New York prosecutors who broke Cohen reportedly did so in part by floating the possibility of jailing his wife, who had signed joint tax returns. That is known as a prosecutorial pressure point. So one wonders, paraphrasing Shakespeare, whether the cure for the disease of corruption is worse than the corruption. But, lastly, if a special counsel or special prosecutor can negate a presidential election, we really are a banana republic and the republic is truly dead. Donald Trump is a passing thing. Whatever good or harm he can do is fleeting. Not so the extra-constitutional remedies for him. Those will reverberate and corrode our national soul. This is an appalling story, if true. And I dont have any reason to doubt that it is: Visa, Mastercard Block Donations To David Horowitz Freedom Center After SPLC Labels Them A Hate Group. Under pressure from the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Visa and Mastercard have blocked donations to the conservative think tank David Horowitz Freedom Center (DHFC) after it was labeled a hate group by the militantly left-leaning watchdog organization. In an email to supporters on Wednesday under the subject Transaction Denied, the DHFC announced that at the request of the Southern Poverty Law Center, the two credit card companies will no longer be allowing donations to DHFC. Were under attack by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), the email begins. For years, the SPLC has labeled the Freedom Center a hate group and tried to get organizations like Amazon, Facebook and Twitter to ban us and silence our message. Yesterday, SPLC finally convinced MasterCard and Visa to cut us off. Now we cant process donations from any major credit card companies. If correct, this is an outrage. The Southern Poverty Law Center is a notorious far-left hate group that was recently held liable for millions of dollars for defaming one of its conservative targets. That organizations like Visa and MasterCard would heed such a disreputable organization is disgusting. You can see why SPLC targets David Horowitzs organization here. His principal offense seems to be pointing out that white were lynched by Southern Democrats in the 19th Century, too. SPLC doesnt deny that this is true, but it is offended by Davids failure to toe the far-left line. This story is so insane that it is hard to believe that it is correct. Can anyone confirm or rebut it? If it is true that Visa and MasterCard have allowed themselves to be enlisted by far-left voices of totalitarian censorship, they need to hear from thousands of normal Americans. I concur fully with Scotts post about Sen. John McCain. McCain was an American original and, I would add, an American hero. Like Scott, I disagreed with McCains positions on some very important issues. Yet I found the occasions when I spent time in McCains company to be personal highlights. Thats particularly true of the time I spent riding with him on the Straight Talk Express in New Hampshire in November 2007. I wrote a series of posts about that experience. Unfortunately, nearly all of them are inaccessible now except for the opening sentence or two this even though our other posts from that period seem to remain intact. Fortunately, the experience was so memorable that I remember the highlights, of which there are many. Here are some. Before boarding, David Brooks, who rode with us that day, asked a New York Times reporter whether he had a thousand questions for McCain. When the reporter said he didnt, Brooks told him then youre going to run out. Brooks was spot on. The moment we boarded the bus, McCain gestured for us, about six reporters and two bloggers as I recall, to join him in the back of the bus where he had installed a long couch. Before we could sit down huddle is perhaps the right word he was soliciting questions. McCain could be prickly or worse. Thats well known. But he was gracious to me, even though I wasnt from the Times or the other important outlets represented in the back of the bus. McCain, though, was gracious in his own way. Early on, I mentioned that many political bloggers were in Las Vegas for a convention but that here I was riding with him. McCain responded, that tells me youre f**ked up. This, I thought was his way of initiating me. After we all had a good laugh at my expense, I was one of the gang and he couldnt have been more engaging with me. I argued with McCain a few times. The argument I remember best was about the enhanced interrogation (or torture, to use his word) being employed by the Bush administration. McCain was civil and did not pull rank. I admit, however, that I was a little relieved when, in mid-argument, the bus pulled up at our stop in Durham, New Hampshire. Our first stop was at a large general store traditionally visited by all presidential candidates. When we got off the bus, the New York Times reporter informed me that, in the past 45 minutes, McCain had answered more questions than Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Mitt Romney combined had answered during the entire New Hampshire campaign. McCain probably gave more candid answers than these rivals in the first five minutes of our ride. One question was about what he was looking for in a running mate. McCain said the vice president needs to be a person of substance who can fill any weaknesses the president has. His weakness, McCain acknowledged, was in economics. Thus, someone like Phil Gramm, though not Gramm himself, would be a good choice. These words came back to haunt McCain when, in 2008, the economy nose-dived and his running mate was Sarah Palin. A reporter who had been with us recalled McCains answer in a story for the Boston Globe. McCain could have no complaint. Every time I was with McCain, he said at the outset that his remarks are on the record because nothing is off the record in Washington (or New Hampshire). McCain also spoke candidly, I thought, about his rivals for the presidency. A post reporting some of what he said survives. McCain seemed to have a soft spot for Hillary Clinton. They had traveled together, and I got the impression they had raised a glass or two on these occasions. At a town hall meeting in Rochester, New Hampshire, McCain talked mainly about Pakistan. I wondered where the political advantage was in that. McCain explained that he didnt like to rely on a stump speech. Instead, he liked to talk about topics that were in the news but that the audience probably hadnt thought much about. I remained unconvinced that this educational approach was the way to go, but you cant argue with success. McCain was loved in New Hampshire. At the time of our bus ride, he was behind Mitt Romney in the New Hampshire polls, but you could sense him surging. He went on to win the New Hampshire primary and then the Republican nomination. After a few hours on the bus, we ran out of questions, just as Brooks had predicted. So McCain started talking about sports. Apparently, this was his first love. His mother, who was with us but not in the back of the bus, told me that if he could, Johnny would do nothing but watch sports. Roberta McCain, now age 106, survives her son the Senator. McCain was a big Ted Williams fan (Joe DiMaggio, not so much). Both, of course, were war pilots. Some of what McCain told us about Williams the pilot is here. I mentioned to McCain that Williams had managed the Washington Senators, and quite successfully at least in first season (1969). McCain didnt seem to know this and Im not sure he believed me. Only later did I realize what should have been obvious McCain missed Williams tenure as the Senators skipper. He was otherwise occupied in Hanoi. Some conservatives viewed McCain as craving approval of mainstream media organs like the New York Times. I had suspected this myself. But my time with him in New Hampshire convinced me that what McCain craved was robust discussion with, and the companionship of, intelligent, well-informed people. Maybe this was due to his years of confinement in North Vietnam. McCain didnt suck up the media on the Straight Talk Express. Instead, he provided straight talk. The media, hearing so little of it from political candidates, couldnt help but appreciate him. So did I. So, President Trump had a terrible week. CNN, and the rest of the prestige press, told us so. Its only a matter of time before Trump is brought down. A crisis of the regime is imminent. You can tell things are serious because the stock market . . . hit a record high! Strange how, aside from the Cheerleaders of the Tape at CNBC, we heard so little about this during the Week of Trumps Doom. What does the market know that the media dont? Well, of course the answer to that well, duh question isa lot. Actually the strength of the stock market may not tell us much at all except that the animal spirits of capitalism, which rallied despite Obamas best attempt to depress the markets, are bigger than our political circus, which is a reassuring thought. Actually a close lookand the data back this upshows that what is really holding the market back from even bigger gains at the moment is the fear and uncertainty about how the trade tensions Trump has unleashed will play out. The market always rallies hard on news that trade tensions may be resolved, and slumps when tensions ratchet up again. I am reliably informed that this has been brought directly to Trumps attention, to which he responds, Just think how big the stock market will boom when we win the trade war. Gotta like that kind of confidence and moxey. Even if tariffs are stupid. But markets should be heeded, and the strength of the market is perhaps a leading indicator of why the Trump Impeachment Processional is unlikely to succeed. As I said yesterday, it seems like were doing a re-enactment of the Clinton scandals of the 1990s, which also had its high quotient of bimbos, perjury, and media frenzy. And I can clearly recall that with every new revelation of Clinton perfidyWhitewater, travelgate, Vince Foster, Rose Law Firm billing records, Kathleen Willey, the MacDougals, Juanita Brodderick, Paula Jones, ad nauseum, ad infinitumwe Clinton haters on the right were sure that this is it!surely this scandal will prove the tipping point that will get him at last. But by the time Monica Lewinski flashed her thong, Clinton scandal fatigue had set in with the American people. Oh, and dont forget: the economy was ripping along with robust growth and record highs in the stock market. Sort of like today. Hmmm. I wonder if any Democrats have pondered this. Historical literacy is not their strong suit. Meanwhile, did you hear anywhere that Australias ruling Liberal Party (which, remember, is the conservative party, because they still have the old-fashioned understanding of liberal in place, God bless them), has ousted their prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and replaced him with Scott Morrison, who is best known as being the cabinet minister who was the architect of Australias tough immigration policy. But lost in most of the media coverage was that a key issue in the ouster of Turnbull was climate policy. Turnbull was committed to the usual theology of cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and this generated a backlash in the party. Only the Wall Street Journal seems to have noted this aspect of the story: With the resource-rich nation facing spiraling power bills and unreliable supply, Mr. Turnbulls government last year proposed a policy that aimed to deliver affordable electricity while reducing emissions in line with a target set by the Paris climate agreement. Some conservative lawmakers wanted to abandon Australias commitment to cut emissions by at least 26% below 2005 levels by 2030, and to provide more support for the coal industry. Mr. Turnbull attempted a compromise to secure support from his own party, including dropping plans to legislate the emissions target in favor of regulating it. On Monday, the prime minister acknowledged those efforts had failed. We arent going to present a bill into the House of Representatives until we believe it will be carried, he told reporters. . . Climate policy has proved a hot-button issue in Australia, where exports of coal and other commodities have underpinned 27 years of economic expansion. Some of the most closely contested electoral districts are in coal-rich regions. Coal is the source of 63% of Australias power, down from roughly 80% at the turn of the century. Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, his deputy, Usman Durkwa, and Mr Durkwas wife have given pilgrims from the state N45,000 each as incentive for ram sacrifice (hadaya). While Mr Shettima gave each pilgrim SR 300 (N30,000), Mr Durkwa gave them SR 100 (10,000), and Mrs Durkwa SR50 (5,000), each. The spokesperson of Borno State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Aishatu Ibrahim, announced the incentives in a statement released Saturday in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Borno State Pilgrims are perhaps the happiest today as each of them got Sr 450 as hadaya incentive, Ms Ibrahim said. She also said the money was disbursed to the pilgrims by the Executive Secretary of the board, Mustapha Ali, and members of the hadaya committee which was constituted by the pilgrims board. Of the total amount, 300 riyals were given to them by His Excellency, Kashim Shettima, the Executive Governor of Borno State, while his Deputy, Alhaji Usman Mamman Durkwa gave each pilgrim 100 riyals, and the wife of the Deputy Governor gave each 50 riyals. This incentive is perhaps the highest any pilgrim has ever gotten, she said. Ms Ibrahim said most of the pilgrims expressed their delight at the gesture by the two government officials especially Mr Shettima. Each of them was full of praises and prayers especially to the governor, whom the pilgrims say since his assumption of office as a governor introduced a lot of interventions in Pilgrims Welfare. They said such interventions has reduced a lot of burden and stress on pilgrims from Borno State, she said. The spokesperson said more than half of the pilgrims from the state have already been paid as the disbursement continues. The $3.3 billion Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) unit built by Samsung Heavy Industries of Korea (SHI) for the 200,000 barrels per day capacity Egina oilfield began to sail to the oilfield Sunday. The FPSO departed LADOL Free Zone in Lagos to the offshore field, according to THISDAY newspaper. Following fabrication and integration works in Lagos, reports said the FPSO will arrive at the Egina oilfield located in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 130 in three days time. In 2017, the FPSO sailed away from the quayside at Samsung Yard in Geoje, South Korea, before arriving at the Samsung Yard (SHI-MCI FZE quayside) in LADOL free zone in Lagos in January 2018. It was thereafter integrated locally by Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria (SHIN) Limited. Reputed as the first of its kind in Africa, the FPSO is headed to the oil field, which is being developed at the cost of $16 billion by the French oil major, Total. The Oil Mining Lease (OML) 130, experts say, is located approximately 150 kilometres offshore Port Harcourt. About 200,000b/d of oil is expected to be produced from the field which, reports said, would account for 10 per cent of Nigerias total oil production when finally in operation. Nigerian Reggae Icon, Ras Kimono, has been buried in his hometown, Onicha-Olona, in Aniocha North, Delta State. COSONs Head, Corporate Affairs, Chibueze Okereke, confirmed he was buried at 3.20 p.m. on Saturday. He also shared details from the burial rites. He said, Kimono was buried in a marble tiled mausoleum situated in his hometown in Aniocha North Local Government Area, Asaba, Delta State on Saturday. His casket was painted in a Rastafarian colours while Ven. Josiah Ogom of the Asaba Diocese of the Anglican Communion presided over his burial rites. During his tribute at the burial, COSON, Chairman, Tony Okoroji, reportedly described the deceased as unbeatable. Mr Okoroji said, Kimono was unbeatable, unpiratable and wonderful. He was a Nigerian like no other. We dont mourn him; we celebrate him. Kimono never drank, never smoked and never ate meat, yet he was great in his chosen field. As we say goodbye to this lion, let us remember that he had no father, no mother, no brother and no sister but see the way the world has honoured him. We should unite to support the daughters he left behind. According the COSON official, several Nigerian performing artistes also attended the burial. They include Opa Williams, Orits Wiliki, Daddy Showkey, Buchi, Yellow Man, Righteous Man, Candy Sea and Bright Chimezie, among others. Members of the Rasta Fraternity including the national grand patron for Nigeria, Ras Dickson, were also present. Other dignitaries present at the event were Delta state Commissioner for Youth Development, Karo Ilolo, (who represented Governor Ifeanyi Okowa), Ameachi Mrakpor, Emeka Nwaobi, and Delta State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Bazim Chinye. Kimono, who celebrated his 60th birthday with friends and family, had concluded plans to travel to the United States before his demise in June. See pictures: Pope Francis on Sunday in Dublin renewed his plea for forgiveness for all kinds of abuse of power practised by members of the church and all its institutions. In a speech during mass before 500,000 people in Dublin on Sunday the pontiff spoke of meeting eight survivors of sexual abuse on Saturday. We ask forgiveness for the time that passed without showing compassion to the survivors he added. We ask for forgiveness for the persons in charge within the church hierarchy who did not take charges against this kind of abuse. The pope had earlier said that clergy sex abuse scandals were an open wound that must be treated with firm and decisive action. He said this at the Marian Shrine of Knock on Sunday, his second day in Ireland. This open wound challenges us to be firm and decisive in the pursuit of truth and justice, Mr Francis said in an Angelus message at the Marian shrine of Knock, drawing applause from the crowd. Pope Francis had on August 15 asked for forgiveness from the families of child sex abuse victims who had killed themselves as a result of their trauma. He equally commended one survivor for telling his story. In comments published in German tabloid Bild, the pope described Daniel Pittets memoir Father, I Forgive You as a testament to how deeply embedded evil can be in the heart of a servant of the church. (dpa/NAN) (CNN) What's the secret to living to 100? Some say it's ensuring plenty of exercise; others point to the benefits of a mild climate. There are even some who suggest that a healthy sex life has plenty do with it. The number of people who live to 100 may be relatively small, but it's becoming more common -- particularly in countries like Japan, which has the highest proportion of centenarians in the world. Data from Japan's Ministry of Health estimate that there were 67,824 Japanese people 100 or older as of 2017. In 1965, when the country began recording statistics on its senior citizens, there were just 153 centenarians. As a result, policymakers in Japan have begun to look at how to cater to those who make it to the 100 club -- and what they find could be of use to the rest of the world in the years to come. Over the past year, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has led a series of meetings at the Council for Designing 100-year Life Society, an expert group set up to prepare for a rise in the number of centenarians. The committee has analyzed issues as diverse as reforming social security policy, reappraising what it means to be elderly and diversifying corporate hiring practices. But it's not just more centenarians the country is having to prepare for. Challenges of an aging population Twenty-seven percent of Japan's population is 65 or older, according to World Bank data. In 1990, that figure was as low as 11%. While living longer is usually a positive, it inevitably creates a number of practical challenges, such as the burden on the state to provide services, pensions and care for an increased number of elderly people. In Japan, this is compounded by a low birth rate, which means there are fewer people of working age to pay for services for the elderly through taxes or work for Japanese companies. The number of newborns has fallen for 37 consecutive years in Japan, and the Ministry of Health projects that the population will plummet from its current 126.26 million to 86.74 million by 2060. A 'multistage' life Among those to attend early meetings of Abe's council was Lynda Gratton, professor of management practice at London Business School and co-author of the book "The 100-Year Life: Living and Working in an Age of Longevity." When addressing this issue of aging populations, she says, it's important that governments and businesses "tell a story" about how people can begin to live "multistage lives" in which they are able to take career breaks and work longer and across numerous fields. This "narrative" will help signal the challenges ahead and encourage the conversation on what life in aging societies will look like, Gratton adds. The Japanese government has proposed extending the mandatory retirement age for civil servants from 60 to 65. It has also spoken of encouraging "recurrent education," helping people retrain throughout their careers, as well as enabling those who want to work into the later years to do so. Professor Hiroko Akiyama of the University of Tokyo's Institute of Gerontology believes these are welcome developments but says the pace of change needs to be faster. "Our labor force is shrinking, so we have to take drastic measures now," she said. Akiyama points to how job-sharing, flexible working patterns and telecommuting can all play a part in helping more people stay in the workplace longer. The likes of artificial intelligence and robotics, far from reducing job opportunities, can also help seniors work longer by compensating for qualities that people may lose as they get older, such as strength or flexibility, she adds. Beyond the world of work, health care systems will probably be affected by aging populations and be forced to adapt accordingly. Politics and values could also be begin to change, with elderly people more commonly thought of as more conservative voters. Managing an aging world Japan has been one of the most visible nations in addressing these challenges but is far from alone in being affected by them. The global population of older persons (those 60 or older) numbered 962 million in 2017, according to the UN World Population Ageing report. That's more than twice as many as in 1980, when there were 382 million older persons worldwide, and the number is expected to double again by 2050, to nearly 2.1 billion. Aging populations are most pronounced in Europe and North America, according to the report. The US Census Bureau projects that the number of centenarians there will balloon from 86,248 in 2017 to 600,000 by 2060. Yet these issues are also weighing on the likes of Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. By 2050, older persons are expected to make up 35% of populations in Europe, 28% in North America, 25% in Latin America and the Caribbean, 24% in Asia, 23% in Oceania and 9% in Africa, the UN report estimates. Gratton points to positive developments in Denmark, which has looked at scenarios for future elderly care, and Singapore, which she says has gone through its policies and removed any suggestions that older people may be less able to perform certain tasks or roles than younger people. Akiyama, meanwhile, says Japan has been forced to look at the issue earlier than most nations, given the pace at which its population is aging. The country's politicians also seem less eager than others to attract young foreign workers. Age of opportunity? Yet there could also be opportunity within the challenges of an aging society. Businesses in Japan have begun to open fitness clubs that cater to the elderly while robot carers have been introduced to nursing homes, high-value devices that could become lucrative exports. Gratton says Japan is at the forefront of developing robotics and machines that assist the elderly while "over-55s are spending more than anybody else" in the country. However, she adds that countries globally must also begin to plan for a future in which the traditional three-stage life of study, work and retirement no longer applies. "People have got to be much more proactive," she says. As well as planning, saving and staying healthy, they must be "more savvy about what the future is going to be like." Rather than thinking about growing ever older, she adds, people should think about being younger for longer. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Study, work, retire? How to prepare for a 100-year life." The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) have entered into a partnership to provide quick medical assistance to disaster victims in the country. The two have constituted a Bilateral Technical Working Group (BTWG) to draw up details of the working relationship. Sani Datti, Head Media and Public Relations of NEMA, announced this in a statement on Sunday. He said the Director-General of NEMA, Mustapha Maihaja, who led management to meet with the national executives of the NMA in Abuja on Saturday, told them the partnership was necessary in addressing gaps in provision of medical supports in the aftermath of disaster incidents. Mr Maihaja said to them that though NEMA has its medical personnel, response to disaster situations would always require more professionals to guide and direct us appropriately. He said working with the NMA would avail the services of specialists in various medical fields to deal with situations such as malnutrition among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), deployment of First Aid by emergency workers and advocacy against environmental health issues, among others. The national executives of NMA led by the President, Francis Adedayo, told NEMA management the partnership would enable the association offer more services to the less-privileged and those in distress across Nigeria, with specialists in all categories of the medical profession. A former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmed Makarfi, has given reasons why he believes he should be the candidate of the party for next years presidential election. Mr Makarfi also said there is an attempt to foist a sick president on Nigeria with the much publicised 800metres walk by President Muhammadu Buhari during Sallah celebration. Mr Buhari had during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration in Daura, Katsina State, walked from the praying ground to his home, a distance said to be about 800m. President Buharis 800m walk which the APC (the ruling party) had said is an indication that he is fit for another term, was an indication that he is not fit, APC is hiding something, Mr Makarfi said in Ado Ekiti on Saturday while wooing PDP members. As for me, my own walk is limitless. I walk every day and I dont need to make political capital out of that because of aspiration. Although it had been reported the president did the trek to show his physical fitness to run for president next year, Mr Buhari himself clarified his reason for the walk. He said he walked the distance so his constituents could see him freely. This is my constituency, the people came out in their large numbers to see me and the car in which I was being driven had tinted windows, Mr Buhari said in a statement by his office. They were not seeing me so I came down so they could see me. I didnt need to convince anyone about my health and the decision to contest for a second term-a decision that I made public in April this year. Mr Makarfis statement came despite the presidents clarification. FILE: President Muhammadu Buharis 800m Daura walk APC Cant Remove Saraki The former senator, who was in Ekiti State to interact with PDP delegates ahead of the partys presidential primaries, also said the APC would not be able to remove Senate President Bukola Saraki as the party lacks even a simple majority to so do. Two-thirds of Nigerias 109 senators are required to remove Mr Saraki from office. Mr Makarfi dismissed the call by the APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, for Mr Sarakis resignation to avoid removal. He said the removal of the senate president remained a constitutional matter. Atiku Abubakar shaking hands with Bukola Saraki We know the figures, the APC dont even have the simple majority not to talk of two-third to impeach Saraki, so this call is diversionary, he said. Senate President Saraki cannot be impeached because the figure to impeach him is not there and the APC can never get it. PDP Presidential Candidate The former Kaduna governor promised to ensure a holistic restructuring of Nigeria if voted president. Mr. Makarfi told the delegates that he restructured Kaduna State from tribal sentiments and gross infrastructural deficit and underdevelopment. He said he made the state a secured environment until the APC government returned insecurity and underdevelopment to the state. He said his past records as chairman of the PDP when he was able to ensure the survival of the party, and efforts as chairman of the Senate committee on finance make him a qualified candidate for president. First of all is the restructure of the country to make it good for everybody. Restructuring of the security and creation of jobs and infrastructure development in all respects and promoting the private sector so that it can become effective employer of labour, he noted. We have also looked at some issues of protocol that we have which have negative impact in the country. Any issue of protocol that doesnt serve national interest in terms of security we will dialogue with other country where they have got it right and restructure ours. I have been tested and proven myself as governor of Kaduna State as selected chairman of committee of finance. My records are there; and as party chairman of PDP when people were not given the chance to make the party to survive. I was able to bring everybody together and ensure that the party survived and that is why many more people are defecting to PDP and they are all welcome. I am straight forward person and do not say one thing in the morning and turn it another thing in the evening. The problems facing Kaduna when I became governor are the problem facing Nigeria now; mutual distrust between tribes, poor infrastructural, economic and educational standards and others. We restructured Kaduna, people didnt believe because military failed them; but we did. Sadly, APC has returned insecurity to Kaduna. Mr Makarfi is one of the many presidential aspirants of the PDP. Others include a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; Mr Saraki; Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe; Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto; and ex-governors Sule Lamido, Ibrahim Shekarau, and Rabiu Kwankwaso. The governing All Progressives Congress (APC) is set to hold its first National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting since Senate President Bukola Saraki left the party. The meeting, according to a top source in the party, will hold at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja by 10 a.m. on Thursday. It is expected to deliberate on the partys preparation for the 2019 elections especially its primaries. APC NEC comprises the president, vice president, governors elected under the platform of the party as well as chairpersons of the party in the 36 states. The Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, former presidents and vice presidents and some former governors are also members of the NEC. The NEC is the second highest organ of the ruling party, next to the National Convention. Mr Saraki recently left the APC for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). About a dozen senators, dozens of members of the House of Representatives and state lawmakers, two state governors, and others have also left the APC for the PDP. The ruling party has, however, also gained some new members including the former Senate minority leader, Godswill Akpabio. Before Thursdays NEC meeting, PREMIUM TIMES gathered that President Muhammadu Buhari will host a meeting of APC Caucus at the State House Presidential Villa on Tuesday evening. A source at the State House said Mr Buhari, who often holds the caucus meeting the night before the NEC meeting, is forced to hold the coming one on Tuesday because Mr President is expected to receive British Prime Minister, Theresa May, on Wednesday. The source said Mr Buhari will have a busy week as he is expected to receive Mrs May on Wednesday afternoon, attend APC NEC on Thursday and then receive German Chancellor, Angela Markel, on Friday in the morning. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported the Friday meeting with Ms Merkel which was announced by the German government. The source at APC secretariat said the major agenda for the NEC meeting is the partys preparations and calendar of events towards primary elections expected to commence September. The NEC will be expected to adopt or amend the dates for the partys primaries for the 2019 election. The party had last week accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of leaking information on its congresses and primary elections submitted to the commission. It made the allegation in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, in Abuja. Mr Nabena said there was need for INEC to look into its internal handling of official correspondence in order to put a stop to such leaks. The party said that it was aware of leakage of a letter by its National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, to INEC informing it of the schedule of the partys congresses and primaries to elect party candidates for the 2019 elections. These leaks of our sensitive and confidential correspondence to INEC are becoming commonplace and totally unacceptable, Mr Nabena said. According to the leaked notice to INEC dated August 17, APC proposes to hold nationwide congresses on September 8. It also proposed to hold its presidential primary on September 19; House of Representatives primary September 19, Senatorial primary September 20, Governorship primary -September 24 and State Assembly primary, September 29. In his statement, however, Mr Nabena said those dates could still be changed. Political activities in Nigeria slowed down a bit last week due to the Eid-el-Kabir celebration for which the federal government declared Tuesday and Wednesday as public holidays. The week had opened with a war of words between the national leader of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, and defectors from the party over issues related to the 2019 presidential election. Sunday Bola Tinubu, national leader of APC, said defectors left APC because it could not offer them what they wanted, Mr Tinubus comment came a few weeks after the gale of defections from the ruling party mainly to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In a statement he personally signed on Sunday, the APC leader said the defectors wanted automatic tickets and sharing of the national wealth which the APC would not guarantee them. Monday Senate President, Bukola Saraki, the most senior elected public official who dumped the APC for the (PDP) last month, reacted to Mr. Tinubus statement of the previous day. Mr Saraki listed alleged misdeeds of the President Muhammadu Buharis administration and leadership of APC, which he said led to his defection. Mr Tinubu had stated on Sunday among other allegations that the Senate President and some other defectors left APC because of their presidential ambition. But in his statement on Monday, Mr Saraki said the reasons advanced by Mr Tinubu were false and mischievous. APC listed the different cases against the Senate President, stating the cases will hinder his alleged intention to run for president in 2019 , even though Mr Saraki is yet to officially announce his bid. Bukola Saraki, Senate President -President Buhari signed the Instrument of Accession to the International Cocoa Agreement, 2010. Tuesday -Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, said he has what it takes to compete against President Buhari in the 2019 presidential election. Mr Tambuwal, one of the defectors from the APC to the PDP, was reacting to the statement by APC leader, Mr Tinubu on Sunday. -Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, said he does not know the person who will succeed him in 2019. Wednesday Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) dissociated itself from comments by its state coordinator for Benue State, Garus Gololo. In an interview with The Punch newspaper, Mr Gololo had warned Mr Saraki to resign as Senate President or be forced out. Reacting to this however, the national body of the association said Mr Gololo only spoke for himself. The PDP gave President Buhari a 24-hour ultimatum to arrest leaders of MACBAN over the threat by its Benue State coordinator to force Mr Saraki out of office. APC announced it would recommence its continuous nationwide membership registration exercise in all 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar mocked the Presidency over its claim that President Buhari walking 800 metres was evidence of his fitness to run in 2019. FILE: President Muhammadu Buharis 800m Daura walk This came following a report by the News Agency of Nigeria that after the Eid prayers, Mr Buhari shunned protocol and opted to trek home, acknowledging cheers from Nigerians who lined up the route to catch a glimpse of him. Senate President Saraki boasted that the opposition PDP will win the 2019 presidential elections. Governors Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun and Simon Lalong of Plateau and a former governor of Abia, Orji Kalu, paid Sallah homage to President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina State. Thursday APC denied releasing dates for its primaries ahead of the 2019 general election following publication of some dates on social media and newspapers. Friday APC accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of leaking information on its congresses and primary elections submitted to the commission. The party said that there was need for INEC to look into its internal handling of official correspondence in order to put a stop to such leaks. INEC, however is yet to respond to this allegation. President Buhari says the victory of the APC in recent by-elections gives an indication the party will win the 2019 general elections. Mr Buhari on Friday in Daura broached the issue of his opting to trek some distance after observing the Eid prayers at Kofar Arewa Eid Ground and the humbling heros welcome from well-wishers who lined the route. Mr Buhari explained that the walk was not about proving his fitness level or scoring cheap political capital. INEC reacted to claims that female Muslims in hijab were being denied registration in Oyo and other South-west states. Earlier, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) had alleged that thousands of Muslim women from the South-west may not be able to vote in the 2019 general elections due to alleged over-zealousness of some ad-hoc staff of INEC who had been disallowing them from registering as voters. President Buhari said it is heart-warming that more Nigerians were appreciative of the implementation of policies and projects of the federal government aimed at improving the standard of living in the country. Saturday A presidential aspirant and chairman of the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), Tope Fasua, described the ruling APC and the main opposition PDP as vehicles driven to gain illegal access to the commonwealth of Nigeria. Tope Fasua writes about the eNaira. On vote buying, ANRP said it was suing INEC and the two major parties. It called for the de-registration of the parties in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act on vote buying which it said APC and PDP had been involved in. The Kaduna State Government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Kwaru and Ungwan Yero, two communities affected by violence. This extends the 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew earlier imposed on the neighboring communities in Kaduna North Local Government Area. The government, in a statement by Governor Nasir El-Rufais spokesperson, Samuel Aruwan, said the decision was taken after a review of the security situation in the communities. Residents of the two communities were enjoined to comply with the directive, as security agencies have been directed to vigorously enforce the curfew, Mr Aruwan said. The extension of the curfew followed a fresh attack by suspected gang members on Sunday evening. They who went on rampage in Malali, a neighbouring community to Kwaru-Unguwar Yero, Kaduna State, attacking residents. The violence is believed to be gang-related with residents saying the attackers were from Badarawa, and that they attacked residents of Unguwan Gado in Malali area of the state. Umma Dauda, a resident of the area, said the gang came in revenge of the killing of one of its members. Another resident, Adamu Malam, told PREMIUM TIMES that he saw two people who were in a pool of blood while others ran for their lives. However, a member of the Kaduna vigilante group who was at the scene, told PREMIUM TIMES that the attackers were dispersed and some arrest s made by the police. The police are yet to speak on Sundays violence. The latest incident occurs few days after two people were killed in violence in Kwaru and Unguwar Yero communities. Both communities are close to the scene of todays violence. The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, visited families of the victims and thereafter declared the initial dusk to dawn curfew in the two communities. A top executive at one of Nigerias largest banks has been held by anti-graft investigators over a series of transactions his bank allegedly carried out on behalf of one of Nigerias largest oil-producing states, Rivers, PREMIUM TIMES learnt on Sunday. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is alleging that the transactions, at least N117 billion in value, are suspicious in nature but that Zenith failed to report them as demanded by law. Insiders at the EFCC and Zenith Bank said Mr. Amangbo was held to explain why his bank failed to document the withdrawals, allegedly done over a three-year period, as suspicious. Mr Amangbo was first invited for questioning on August 23, sources said. But he was freed on administrative bail and asked to return on August 24 for further interrogation. He honoured the arrangement, turning himself in again at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja. Our sources said the top banker was however not allowed to return home on Friday. He was still being quizzed as at 4 p.m. on Sunday, one source said. At least four other officials are being sought in the investigation, PREMIUM TIMES learnt. The suspects considered to be at large include Fubara Similari, whom investigators identified as the director of finance and account at the Government House in Port Harcourt. The Government House cashier is also said to be on the run. Officials were unable to immediately provide further information about the investigation to PREMIUM TIMES Sunday night. Both Akin Olaniyan and Victor Adoji, spokespersons for Zenith Bank, did not immediately return PREMIUM TIMES telephone calls, text messages and e-mails seeking comments Sunday night. Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers slammed the investigation as political witch-hunt Sunday night, saying he would continue to prevent state officials from appearing before the EFCC for questioning. No government official will appear before the EFCC, Mr Wike was quoted as saying in a statement his spokesperson Simeon Nwakaudu sent to PREMIUM TIMES Sunday night. The governor said an Appeal Court judgement in 2007 prohibited the EFCC from prying into Rivers State coffers, a ruling he claimed had not been appealed. They filed for leave to appeal the judgment at the Court of Appeal. Until they set aside the judgment, we will not come, Mr Wike said, adding that a fresh lawsuit would be filed to stop the EFCC investigation of Rivers accounts. The investigation comes two weeks after the EFCC froze bank accounts owned by Benue and Akwa Ibom States. The agency said it was investigating alleged mismanagement of more than N22 billion by Governor Samuel Ortom in Benue, but had declined to comment on the specifics of action against Governor Udom Emmanuel in Akwa Ibom. Mr Ortom said the action severely crippled economic activities in his state for the few days it was in force because it became impossible to pay state workers and pensioners. He warned that a state grappling with serious security challenges that claimed over a thousand lives this year alone should not be targeted by anti-graft operatives. But the EFCC alleged that Mr Ortom squandered billions of naira which the Nigerian government released to Benue to tackle the grievous humanitarian and security challenges caused by suspected herdsmen attacks. The restrictions on Benue accounts were lifted within three days on August 9, and Akwa Ibom confirmed partial unfreezing of its accounts on the same day. Mr Wike argued Sunday that the EFCC went after Benue and Akwa Ibom to lay the groundwork for similar measures against Rivers. But the target is not Benue or Akwa Ibom States, Mr Wike said. The real target is Rivers State. The EFCC as a federal agency has no business with state funds. That is the responsibility of the State House of Assembly, he added. The spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, did not immediately return requests for comments Sunday night. Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has frowned at a call for the arrest of its leaders by opposition party, PDP. The PDP had on Wednesday given President Muhammadu Buhari a 24-hour ultimatum to arrest and prosecute leaders of the association. The urge follows threats by the Benue State coordinator of the group, Garius Gololo, who warned the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to resign or be forced to do so. It is on this note that we are saying that Saraki ought not to be in office again as Senate President, more so, Saraki has failed to coordinate and organise the National Assembly to offer quality legislation that Nigerians need he was quoted by the Punch as saying. Nigerians are in dire need of people that have the interest of the masses. Miyetti Allah is looking for a leader that would preside over the affairs of the Senate with ultimate respect for the executive and the judiciary, not someone like Senator Saraki that would always scheme to outdo the Presidency. We are now tired of Sarakis style of leadership at the National Assembly. Therefore, we are now warning him to honourably resign his position as president of the Senate or we will force him out, Mr Gololo had said. As a follow up to PDPs reaction, MACBAN in a statement by its National Secretary, Baba Ngelzarma, described the call for arrest by PDP as unfortunate. The association warned the PDP to concentrate more on its business of opposition rather than meddling into issues that does not have value. We are however surprised by the statement accredited to PDP calling for the arrest of the entire leadership of MACABN for a statement made by an individual who has no capacity in whatever form to speak for the association. We consider the statement made by PDP Publicity Secretary unfortunate, we have noticed with consternation that the PDP publicity takes special delight in issuing statement that are mundane and detrimental to the party itself and had succeeded in making statement issued by him look childish. We are worried with the content of the statement and take exception to threat to our leaders. We are re-iterating for umpteenth time that MACBAN is non-political, non-religious charitable organisation established for the interest of livestock breeders in the country and will therefore have no business meddling into political issues. We are calling on the PDP and any other political organisation to concentrate on giving Nigerians credible opposition where people can pitch their tents when dissatisfied with where they belong. We believe the opposition should be done with utmost sincerity of purpose devoid of meddling into issues that does not add value. On Wednesday, the association dissociated itself from Mr Gololo comment saying Mr Gololo only spoke for himself; while promising sanctions against him. Miyetti Allah again re-emphasised its stance. We most re-emphasise that the statement made by Garus Gololo should be seen as his own personal opinion as it does not in any way represent the position of MACBAN, Thank you, the statement reads. A Nigerian human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has appealed to the United Nations (UN) to investigate Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni over alleged grave human rights violations in Uganda. According to a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES, Sunday, Mr Falana on Friday urged the UN to urgently investigate the ongoing reports of clampdown on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association, media freedom and to human dignity in Uganda. The statement said the appeal dated August 23 was sent to the (UN) working group on arbitrary detention, special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. Mr Falana said in the appeal: I am seriously concerned that the Ugandan authorities continue to arbitrarily arrest, detain and brutally beat, torture and humiliate critics, journalists, human rights defenders, activists, lawyers and opposition leaders and supporters. There are also several cases of unlawful killings during arrests. The authorities hardly investigate allegations of human rights violations and abuses. I urge you to closely monitor and scrutinise the human rights situation in Uganda and to take a more decisive role in combating years of impunity for human rights violations and abuses and erosion of the rule of law as well as the violation of general principles of justice in that country. I strongly believe that ending impunity and achieving justice in Uganda is central to promoting and ensuring full respect for all human rights. The government continues to deploy a range of tactics to stifle critical reporting, from occasional physical violence to threats, intimidation, bureaucratic interference, and arrest. Station managers of television and radio outfits and journalists often face reprisals if their programmes are deemed critical of the authorities. Ugandan laws such as the 2013 regressive Public Order Management Act, which grants police wide discretionary powers to permit or disallow gatherings continue to be used to ban protests and opposition rallies, arrest opposition members and commit other atrocities. Cases of prolonged illegal detention, torture and well-documented killings during protests, by security forces, remain unaddressed. Among several examples of grave human rights violations are: stopping academic Stella Nyanzi, from boarding a flight to the Netherlands to attend a conference on the ground that she criticised President Yoweri Museveni and his wife, regarding the authorities failure to fulfil their commitment to provide sanitary towels in girls schools; and the abduction of the Nation TV journalist Gertrude Tumusiime Uwitware by unknown assailants for several hours, simply for posting her support for Stella Nyanzi on social media. Others are the summoning of editors Arinaitwe Rugyendo of the Red Pepper newspaper and the online Daily Monitor, and Charles Bichachi of the Nation Media Group solely for publishing stories on the presidential age limit debate. Other cases include politically motivated charges against two journalists Herbert Zziwa and Ronald Muwanga on the flimsy ground that they reported allegations of assault on members of the press by security personnel regarding political unrest in northern Ugandas Arua District; harassment by security personnel of Julius Bakabaage, John Kibalizi, and Benson Ongom, all journalists with the privately owned NBS Television for doing their job; and raids on the ActionAid Ugandas offices in Kansanga, an area of Kampala, preventing staff from leaving the premises for several hours. Further, opposition leader Kassiano Wadri and several other people including MPs Kassiano Wadri, Gerand Karuhanga, Paul Mwiru, Francis Zaake, John Ssebuffu, Faruku Abdurahamad, Asiku Tom, Ondoga Rasul, Tamale Wilberforce, Owen Mohamad, Musisi William Nyanzi, Draji Tom, Wani Tom, Amidu Juma, Atiku Shabani, Gamba Tumusiime, Kasuke Ismail, Mandela Nelson, Obeti Simon, Ojotre Stephen, Asega Habib, Ijaga Mohamad, Hamiku Charles, Andama Benard, Andama Anywar Doka, Odongo John Bosco, and Butelezi Noor Manzur. Others are: Ijotre Basir, Galumbe Anidu, Alara Maida, Asara Night and Malubowa Caroline, were charged with treason. The charge sheet was amended to include Kyagulanyi Sentamu Robert alias Bobi Wine, who is also facing charges before the General Court Martial. Kyagulanyi was arrested last following the chaos in Arua that allegedly culminated into the stoning of president Musevenis convoy. Kyagulanyi was reportedly tortured in detention. He is being charged for the same alleged offence in both the General Court Martial and a civil court. Mr Falana urged the special rapporteurs to urgently intervene to put pressure on the Ugandan government to: 1. Respect, protect, promote and full the enjoyment of human rights by the people of Uganda including by ensuring that peaceful opposition groups can operate freely and exercise the freedoms of assembly, association, expression, consistent with Ugandas Constitution and international and regional human rights treaties to which Uganda is a state party; 2. Immediately end persecution, harassment and intimidation of critics, journalists, human rights defenders, activists and other opposition members and their supporters; 3. End illegal detention and torture of suspects; investigate and bring to justice state security agents who have committed human rights violations and abuses; 4. Request to jointly visit Uganda in order to conduct fact finding mission and to report back to the UN Human Rights Council on your findings and action for the Council to take. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned the police over the invitation of its member, Femi Fani-Kayode, by the police. PREMIUM TIMES reported the police invitation of Mr Fani-Kayode, a former aviation minister. The police said it was investigating allegations of conspiracy, criminal defamation and inciting publication. The PDP said while it is not against any lawful step by the police in carrying out its duties, the police must ensure that it is not being used by the All Progressive Congress (APC) in its desperate quest to muzzle free speech and subjugate Nigerians, particularly the opposition, ahead of the 2019 general election. Read the full PDP statement below. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the Nigeria Police to come out clear on the fact-finding invitation extended to Former Aviation Minister, Femi, Fani Kayode, to appear on Tuesday for alleged conspiracy, criminal defamation and inciting publication. The PDP says while it is not against any lawful step by the police in carrying out its duties, the police must ensure that it is not being used by the All Progressive Congress (APC) in its desperate quest to muzzle free speech and subjugate Nigerians, particularly the opposition, ahead of the 2019 general election. This is particularly as the letter inviting Chief Kayode did not state in specific terms, the alleged issues or conduct bordering on conspiracy, criminal defamation, inciting publication, injurious falsehood and conduct likely to cause breach of peace, for which he has been invited. We hope that the invitation is not a set up and part of the design to emasculate citizens, which is now being unleashed on media houses, journalists and other citizens for alleged comments and publications considered to be against the interest of the ruling party. This is because reports, already available in credible media, have it that Chief Kayodes invitation may not be unconnected with an interview he granted the Africa Independent Television (AIT) where he reportedly controverted claims by the Presidency and the APC that it was Senate President Bukola Saraki that masterminded the widely condemned invasion of the National Assembly. Moreover, the recent detention of the Premium Times reporter, the arraignment of Senator Isah Misau for allegedly making injurious statement against the IG of Police, the invitation of Mr. Kassim Afegbua, the spokesman of former military President Ibrahim Babangida for issuing a statement considered critical to this administration and the recent demolition of the studio of Flash FM in Ibadan, Oyo State capital for allegedly airing materials considered against the interest of the APC in the state, readily come to mind. We therefore urge the Police to come out clear on why it has invited Chief Kayode and resist attempts by the APC to entangle it with controversial political issues. President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated former Federal Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Tam David-West, on his 82nd birthday. President Buhari joins family members, friends and colleagues of the erudite scholar and social critic in celebrating all the years of sacrifice in serving the country he loves so much and worked hard to see grow, especially for the benefit of the poor and underprivileged. his spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said in a statement on Sunday. The president believes Mr David-Wests contribution to the economic and political architecture of Nigeria and his clear reasoning, wisdom and guidance through all the transition phases to democracy will always be remembered and respected. President Buhari commends the former minister, who also served as Federal Minister of Mines, Power and Steel, for always holding leaders to account, assuring him that his views on good governance remain invaluable. The president prays that the almighty God will grant Mr David-West longer life and good health. The U.S. President, Donald Trump, has come under fire for a recent condolence tweet to the family of late Senator John McCain. The 81-year-old war veteran who was captured by the North Vietnamese passed on Saturday night after battling with brain cancer. He was diagnosed with the ailment during a medical procedure to remove a blood clot in July 2017. Following the announcement of his death, condolence messages have been pouring out from nations, people from all works of life including former U.S presidents Barack Obama, George Bush, Bill Clinton, and President Trump among others. Mr Trump and Mr McCain, though of the same Republican Party, disagreed on a lot of issues when the senator was alive. The president also attacked Mr McCains war records saying he preferred war heroes who were not captured by opponents. After Mr McCains death, however, the president offered his condolence. My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!, Mr Trump said in his tweet. The message immediately sparked off a wide range of debate on his timeline, most of which were somewhat derogatory. Keep your prayers. U didnt say one nice thing while he was alive and in fact disrespected him on many occasions and now you want to send your condolences?!? U fake POS!, Zalina (@Zalina_MYPEACE) said. Sandra Benvenuto (@sandrabenven67) said Seriously! Youre last press conference you didnt acknowledge a bill named after McCain. On numerous occasions you insulted John McCain. John McCain served his country honourably. Hes a true American Hero! More replies We know why you despised John McCain..he was everything you werent..a true American hero and patriot! Andrew Madison (@AndrewMadison3) said. Infuriated by Trumps tweet, Kerry Jj (@kerryme788) said Those of us who have served, lost blood, and lost family members defending this country have idolize @SenJohnMcCain as a true hero . This same group think youre a coward, a liar, and incompetent. So please leave your insincere words to yourself. As an Englishman sitting here I feel very sorry for the American people to have you representing them You are a very poor excuse of a human being and insult all of the things that that makes America great, Rod Beaton (@rodbeaton1949) said. Mr Trump and McCain have had a complicated relationship which saw them in constant opposition with each other. According to TIME, in the throes of the 2016 campaign, Trump said McCain is a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured. .@realDonaldTrump saying John McCain is not a war heroI like people that werent captured, should remind us that Trump is a draft dodging coward, who always has been an illegitimate president, who is unfit to serve. Once a scumbag, always a scumbag. pic.twitter.com/SR0qFUNd0f Scott Dworkin (@funder) August 26, 2018 The discord and backlash from both parties stirred Mr McCain to state vehemently that he did not want Mr Trump at his funeral but would rather prefer Vice President Mike Pence at the service. Mr McCain was the presidential candidate of the Republican Party in 2008. He, however, lost to Barrack Obama, in a defeat that many attributed to the growing unpopularity of then-incumbent George Bush and the collapse of the capital markets. After the 2008 loss, McCain returned to the Senate, embracing his role as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Follow the conversations below: My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2018 The wife of Hosea Akuchi, a clergyman murdered by suspected kidnappers, has regained freedom six days after abduction. Talatu Akuchi was released unhurt on Saturday according to the police. The Kaduna State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Yakubu Sabo, confirmed her release Sunday evening. According to him, she was released at night at an undisclosed location in the state. The wife of the murdered Reverend Talatu was released unhurt on Saturday night and our men are still trying to arrest the criminals, he said. Asked if any ransom was paid to the criminals, he said he was unaware. Im not aware of any ransom paid to the criminals before she was released. All I know is that she was released unhurt and we are working to arrest the criminals, he said. Mr Sabo said the command was working hard to ensure that the kidnappers are arrested and brought to book. A source close to the victims family, who does not want his name mentioned, however said that a ransom of N500,000 was paid before her release. PREMIUM TIMES could not independently verify the claim. Mrs Akuchi, after her release, was taken to a hospital in the state, it was learnt. The newspaper reported how Mr Akuchi, who until his death was in charge of Nasara Baptist Church, Kaduna, was shot dead last Monday at his residence in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. His wife was then taken captive by the gunmen. President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday congratulated ex-Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako, on his 75th birthday. Mr Buharis spokesperson, Femi Adesina, in a statement on Sunday said the president joins all members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in congratulating Mr Nyako who turns 75 on August 27. Although Mr Nyako is still officially in the APC, his son AbdulAziz Nyako, and majority of his supporters, have already left the ruling party to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The younger Nyako is a senator and is believed to have his fathers support to run for governor in 2019. In his statement, Mr Adesina said Mr Buhari also felicitated with all family members, friends, professional and political associates of the renowned farmer, who served the country for many years as a former Governor of Niger State, Chief of Naval Staff and Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, with remarkable honours. He extolled Mr Nyakos successful investment in agriculture and establishing of an international business network in animal husbandry and horticulture, especially with the export of mangos, which further underscores Nigerias versatility and capacity in commodities. The president also prayed that the almighty God will continue to refresh Mr Nyakos mind and strength as he grows older, and grant him the grace to keep serving his country. Suspected gang members on Sunday evening went on rampage in Malali, a community in Kaduna State, attacking residents. The violence is believed to be gang-related with residents saying the attackers were from Badarawa, and that they attacked residents of Unguwan Gado in Malali area of the state. Umma Dauda, a resident of the area, said the gang came in revenge of the killing of one of its members. We are running here. You can hear police shooting at the angry youth. But they are not bulging. It is serious now, the resident said in a panic tone on the phone while gun shots could be heard. Armed police officers were seen driving to the area to disperse the attackers. Another resident, Adamu Malam, told PREMIUM TIMES that he saw two people who were in a pool of blood while others ran for their lives. The Kaduna police spokesperson did not answer calls to his phone at the time of this report. However, a member of the Kaduna vigilante group who was at the scene, told PREMIUM TIMES that the attackers have been dispersed and some arrest made by the police. The latest incident occurs few days after two people were killed in violence in Kwaru and Unguwar Yero communities in the state. Both communities are close to the scene of todays violence. The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, visited families of the victims and thereafter declared a dusk to dawn curfew in the two communities. A disagreement in the areas impacted by an oil leak on the Trans Ramos Pipeline within Shells oilfield at Aghoro communities in Bayelsa has stalled a joint investigation of the spill. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the leak, which occurred on May 17 discharged a yet to be ascertained volume of crude oil into the environment and polluted the river, farmlands and surroundings. Shell said a Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) to ascertain the cause of the oil leak had been concluded but that the report was yet to be signed by all the parties. Bamidele Odugbesan, Media Relations Manager at SPDC, told NAN on Saturday in Yenagoa that the joint investigation was conducted by the oil major, representatives of the host community, government and regulatory agencies. Mr Odugbesan, however, said that report of the JIV, which commenced early last month was ready and awaiting signing by the communities but declined to give reasons for the delay in releasing the JIV report, adding that the oil firm had commenced clean up of impacted sites. The JIV report is expected to unravel the cause of the spill, volume of oil discharged and the area adversely impacted, and volume of oil recovered in the spill incident as well as serve as a basis to determine compensation. NAN learnt that Shell and representatives of the host communities had a sharp disagreement on the size of areas affected by the spill and hence refused to sign the report, which had disrupted ongoing clean up of the site. Sunday Benjamin, Chairman, Community Development Committee, Aghoro 1, who participated in the JIV, said that the communities had argued that the spill had spread to wider areas and affected more places than the JIV covered. The cause of the stalemate is that Shell refused to accommodate satellite communities. They did not allow the JIV to be extensive. They excluded the satellite communities and fishing settlements. They only captured Aghoro 1 and 2, leaving other fishing settlements impacted by the crude oil that leaked into the waters. They recorded 33 acres for Aghoro 1 and 113 acres for Aghoro 2. We eventually signed our portion because we did not want delays in the process and our land affected was not much but Aghoro 2 people refused to sign that is why the JIV report is delayed. Everyone agreed that the spill was traced to ruptured pipeline on three points, due to corrosion on the Trans Ramos Pipeline, Benjamin said. Reacting to the development, Dr Peter Idabor, Director-General of the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency, told NAN in a telephone interview that the JIV was `inconclusive, following the disagreements. From the feedback from our officers in Yenagoa, the JIV is inconclusive, Mr Idabor said. (NAN) Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and former governor Rashidi Ladoja on Sunday put aside their estranged relationship as they warmly embraced each other at the 90th birthday of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Saliu Adetunji. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the University of Ibadan International Conference Centre, venue of the event, was thrown into wild jubilation as the perceived political foes embraced themselves. NAN reports that the week-long birthday celebration attracted prominent monarchs across Yoruba land, members of the state executive council and gladiators across political divides. Some dignitaries at the event were former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, former Senate leader, Teslim Folarin, Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Fredrick Akinruntan, Eleruwa of Eruwa, Samuel Adegbola and some white cap chiefs from Lagos. Others were Soji Akanbi, Abiodun Awoleye, Akeem Ige, Daud Akinola and Ademola Ojo. Some Oyo State political gladiators who attended the event were Olusola Ayandele, Seyi Makinde, Joseph Tegbe, Niyi Akintola, Sharafadeen Alli, Isaac Omodewu, Azeez Adeduntan and Adebayo Adelabu Mr Ajimobi expressed happiness that the monarch, whom he referred to as his father, clocked 90 years, praying that the ancient city of Ibadan witnessed more development during his reign. The governor stated that the imbroglio between the state government and the renown gospel musician, Yinka Ayefele, has been resolved, pledging his administrations readiness to assist him. Messrs Alao-Akala, Makinde, Tegbe congratulated the monarch on his 90th birthday, praying that his reign would bring peace to Ibadanland and Oyo State. Earlier, Mr Ladoja, an Ibadan high chief, congratulated the monarch on his birthday, praying that he reigned longer on the throne of his fore-fathers. The former governor, who is also the Osi-Olubadan of Ibadan, had at a prayer session held at Popoyemoja palace of the monarch, said the crisis rocking Olubadan-in-Council would soon be resolved. Yink Ayefele and Gov. Ajimobi exchanging pleasantries Yink Ayefele and Gov. Ajimobi exchanging pleasantries Yink Ayefele and Gov. Ajimobi exchanging pleasantries Yink Ayefele and Gov. Ajimobi exchanging pleasantries The Chief Imam of Ibadanland, AbdulGaniy Abubakr, offered praises and thanks to God for what they described as special grace bestowed on the 41st Olubadan to attain age 90 on earth. Kamaldeen Balogun, Chief Imam of Gbagura in Ogun State, said living above life expectancy in Nigeria required divine grace from God. Mr Balogun, in a lecture, enjoined Nigerian leaders to fight injustice and poverty ravaging the country so as to reduce the number of citizens dying as a result of hypertension. Mudathir Bada, the Chief Imam of Oluyole, urged the monarch to rule Ibadan land with the fear of God so as to remain relevant. Sekinat Adekola, the Iya Adinni of Ibadanland, called for the resolution of the crisis rocking the Olubadan-in-Council. In his address, Taoheed Adedoja, Chairman, Olubadan 90th Birthday Celebration Committee, said the essence of the birthday celebration was to celebrate Ibadan and pray for national unity and stability. Mr Adedoja, a former Minister of Youth and Sports, said that to live long was by the glory and grace of God, urging the people to be good to their parents, elders and the aged. The former minister stated that the Yoruba tradition, which Olubadan represented, should be preserved, respected and protected within the context of modernity and technological age. (NAN) For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME. Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire. Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever. Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation. View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union. Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history. Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words. NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AJC mourns the passing of Senator John McCain. A national hero who courageously survived more than five years of horrendous treatment as a POW in Vietnam, McCain served nearly 36 years in the U.S. Congress, following his retirement in 1981 from the U.S. Navy. He was 81 years old. "Senator McCain was a statesman and a national treasure and an avid supporter of Israel, an ally he first visited nearly 40 years ago," said AJC CEO David Harris. "A passionate advocate for American global leadership, Senator McCain rightly bemoaned those who favored a U.S. pullback from world affairs." AJC had many interactions with Senator McCain during his long public service. In 2014, he addressed, for the second time, the annual AJC Global Forum in Washington, D.C. "If America does not lead, others will, and they will most likely be those that seek to do us harm," said McCain. "Withdrawing from the world is a luxury that America can never affordnot now, not ever." McCain admirably opposed the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, cautioning that it would not prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon in the future. He also warned against threats to Israel and the U.S. from terrorist organizations in the Middle East galvanized by Islamist radicalism. "Our nation has lost a brave patriot, a dedicated public servant, a rare voice of independence and authenticity, and a leader of conscience. He lived a life of dignity and honor. He will be sorely missed," Harris added. SOURCE American Jewish Committee Related Links http://www.ajc.org WASHINGTON, Aug. 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Below is a statement by U.S. Conference of Mayors President and Columbia (SC) Mayor Steve Benjamin on Senator John McCain's passing: "I was watching a movie about superheroes with my young daughters this evening when I learned that America had lost a real life hero. I had the opportunity to explain to them in the moment that Senator John McCain was indeed a hero and an authentic American patriot. On every occasion that he addressed America's mayors and there were many, he received from Democratic, Republican and Independent mayors a standing ovation upon entering the room. He was a Senator that put America first. And putting America first for him meant to join with the nation's mayors and others in a bipartisan way to get things done for our nation. We are thankful at this time for our joint efforts to pass true comprehensive immigration reform and pray that those labors were not in vain. From The United States Conference of Mayors, we salute John McCain, for his heroic suffering from torture and imprisonment in Vietnam and for his career of public service to Arizona and to our nation. May God comfort the McCain family and State of Arizona for their loss at this time. And as for the nation, may his life and the way he lived it, be a catalyst for all of us to work together in the days ahead for the common good of all the people of the United States of America." About The United States Conference of Mayors -- The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are nearly 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/usmayors, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/usmayors. SOURCE U.S. Conference of Mayors Moscow, Aug 26 : The US and its allies are planning to carry out new missile strikes on Syria on the pretext of a provocation that the Syrian government is behind a "chemical attack," the Russian Defence Ministry has said. However, the planned "chemical attack" by Syrian government forces in Syria's Idlib province is actually staged by the Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham terrorist group, previously known as "Jabhat al-Nusra" with the help of British personnel, the ministry's spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov said, citing information confirmed by several independent sources, Xinhua reported. Eight tanks of chlorine and a special group of militants, who were trained in handling poisonous substances under the supervision of a British private military company, have been brought to Idlib for the chemical attack, Konashenkov said. "The execution of this provocation with the active participation of the British special services is set to serve as another pretext for the US, UK and France to inflict missile and air strikes on Syria's state and economic facilities," Konashenkov said on Saturday. To this end, a Sullivans destroyer of the US Navy with 56 cruise missiles on board arrived in the Persian Gulf a few days ago, and a B-1B strategic bomber of the US Air Force armed with 24 air-to-surface cruise missiles was re-deployed to the Al Udeid air base in Qatar, according to the spokesman. The spokesman said that the actions of Western countries are "aimed at another drastic aggravation of the situation in the Middle East region and the disruption of the peace process on the territory of Syria". On April 4, 2017, a reported toxic gas attack hit the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib, killing over 80 people and wounding scores of others. Two days later, the US launched 59 cruise missiles against the Shayrat military base in central Syria, where Washington believes airplanes carrying chemical weapons took off. The US and many Western countries blamed the Assad government for the chemical attacks but Syria and Russia insisted that it's a plot by the West in a bid to overturn the Assad administration. Rome, Aug 26 : Sicilian prosecutors are investigating Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini over his refusal to allow migrants off a coastguard vessel. The Diciotti docked in the Sicilian port of Catania on Monday. The Italian government is refusing to most of the migrants disembark until a solution is reached regarding their relocation with other European states. Prosecutors have now opened an inquiry into possible illegal confinement, illegal arrest, and abuse of power, BBC reported on Sunday. Salvini responded to the news by shrugging of the threat, saying those still on board would be allowed off "in the coming hours". According to Salvini, they would be taken in "by bishops who are opening their doors, their hearts and their wallets". So far only small groups have been allowed in, including unaccompanied children and the sick, two of whom are said to have tuberculosis. The fate of the more than 100 migrants, most of whom are Eritrean, has prompted local protests throughout the week and attracted international attention. The UN appealed for EU members to "urgently" offer relocation places to the migrants on Saturday, a day after a meeting of 10 EU envoys in Brussels failed to provide a solution. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said in a statement that Europe has recognised "a fundamental and legal obligation" to help "people fleeing war, violence and persecution" throughout its history. "The time has come to end the back-and-forth that has seen countries competing in a race to the bottom on who can take the least responsibility for people rescued at sea," he said. "It is dangerous and immoral to put the lives of refugees and asylum-seekers at risk while states engage in a political tug-of-war on long-term solutions." Under EU rules, people must seek asylum where they arrive, but Italy has increasingly barred boats from docking. Salvini refused the vessel permission to disembark until the EU agreed to distribute the migrants among other countries. He has maintained they are working to achieve a "positive and concrete solution" that was not a "burden" on Italian citizens. "I want to say that the dozens of complaints, insults and threats levelled at give me more and more strength to go on, and for me are badges of honour on my chest," he said of criticism. Sixteen people were allowed to disembark on Saturday on doctors' orders after inspectors from the Italian Healthy Ministry and the Red Cross went on board the vessel. Earlier this week 27 unaccompanied minors and 13 people in need of urgent medical help were also allowed to get off. Some of those left onboard are reported to be refusing food in protest. Since 2014, more than 640,000 migrants have landed on Italy's shores. Although many have since left for other countries, some remain. The UN says that more than 1,600 people have lost their lives trying to cross into Europe in 2018, despite overall numbers being down. In July, 450 migrants were allowed to disembark in Sicily once France, Germany, Malta, Portugal and Spain had each agreed to take 50 migrants each. Srinagar, Aug 26 : The security forces said on Sunday that four newly recruited militants were arrested with arms and ammunition in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district. "They were arrested in the upper reaches of Kalaroos forests in Handwara while they were attempting to exfiltrate across the Line of Control (LoC)," a Defence Ministry statement said here. "Upon receiving a tip-off about the militants being guided by three Al Badr terrorists, the Army in a joint operation with the police laid an ambush and trapped them." After a brief gunfight, the militants surrendered. "The three other terrorists managed to flee and a search operation is on to trace them," the statement added. The four youths from Kupwara district were arrested barely 24 hours after their pictures showing them wielding AK Rifles went viral on social media. Aug 26 (IANS) Senior BJP leader C.P. Thakur Sunday said only two generation of Dalits should be given reservations in jobs and educational institutions, not beyond that . "the son of a Dalit IAS officer should not be given the benefit of reservations in jobs and educational institutions," Thakur, a former Union Minister, said here. Thakur had earlier expressed his views to end reservation. He has also repeatedly demanded reservation for the poor among. New Delhi : In India, the concepts of "higher education" and "career planning" are often conflated. Parents think of higher education choices as determinants of a child's career, expecting a clear and direct connection between what their child will study and what his or her career will be. This logic has worked for those pursuing careers in medicine and law; after all, who wants to engage a lawyer who didn't go to law school or a doctor who doesn't have a medical degree? Today, however, most higher education choices rarely result in a career directly related to a major. For example, not all Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) graduates work as engineers and not all economics students become economists. And even if you attended law school, there is no "rule" that you must work as a lawyer. The main point of education is to develop critical thinking skills that can be used in any career. Moreover, it is important to understand that the employment landscape is changing swiftly. As conventional business models are upended, new jobs are emerging, and the pace of change is exponentially fast. Jobs are fluid, requiring multiple skills; a singular focus is no longer adequate for a career that spans 40-plus years. Since no one can say with certainty what the jobs of the future will look like, developing foundational skills is key to remaining employable. This means that, practically speaking, studying any subject in university can serve as a platform to access a range of careers. When engaging a career counselor, be sure to understand that, while higher education and career choices can go hand in hand, the ground reality can be quite different. Here are some things to consider. Sidestep Grade 8 panic: As educators, we meet parents of Grade 8 students who worry that their child "has no direction" or "doesn't know what he/she wants to do". Don't panic, it is perfectly normal for a 13-year-old to be unsure. They have barely been exposed to subjects such as physics, economics or calculus nor have they critically examined Shakespeare or UN policy toward refugees. The point is, up until Grade 8, they have acquired the building blocks to learn more, at a faster pace and across disciplines. It seems premature and slightly unfair to ask them what they want to do when they are just beginning to build knowledge and hone skills. At Grade 8, students lack the capacity to make career-related decisions, so parents need to guide them in making informed decisions, keeping as many options open as possible. Make informed choices: The Indian education system forces students to make irreversible choices early. Understanding this is key when deciding a "stream" and choosing subjects after Grade 10. Eliminating certain subjects, especially science and math, just because they may not seem related to a potential future career, is shortsighted. Let's say a student wants to be a journalist, so they drop math and/or science in high school, reasoning that these subjects are irrelevant. In doing so, they are neglecting to prepare themselves for a world in which disciplines intersect. For example, as a features journalist, they may want to profile a start-up that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to offer time-sensitive medical solutions. In this case, a writer with a working knowledge of science and math can craft an insightful piece on how this type of game-changing technology can transform healthcare delivery. Taking math and science in high school would help this journalist draw parallels and see intersections between seemingly unrelated concepts. Ensuring children have a broad-based education across subjects that are "core" -- mathematics, languages, science and history -- puts them in good stead to pursue whatever they want in university and beyond. Psychometric tests do not have all the answers: In India, we tend to test for everything. From board examinations, to music, dance and art, the ultimate recognition is through an examination that validates competence. While this seems logical, it can dilute a child's true passion for an activity or subject. Sometimes a young person might just want to play the piano, learn hip hop or paint on a canvas without seeking anyone's approval. This idea may be alien, especially to parents who carry folders of certificates to prove how accomplished their child is. This same logic applies to psychometric tests. While these tests can offer an indication of key strengths, they cannot decide someone's "career." Only the individual can do that. We recently spoke to a frazzled mother who said, "This psychometric test says my son should take commerce, but he wants to take science. What do I do?" I find asking students probing questions about what they enjoy, motivating them to try harder (if needed) and encouraging them with digestible action items to be more effective than an algorithm that spits out an optimal "career". Who says one career/job only?: Justin Tobin, founder of innovation consultancy DDG, recently told The Guardian that, "...more and more independent thinkers are realising that being an employee for just one company is the equivalent to putting all your money into one stock -- a better strategy is to diversify your portfolio. So, you're seeing a lot more people looking to diversify their careers." We see this in practice every day. We know a professional colleague who also owns a thriving salon business and another who has invested in a bakery, supporting his friends' passions while creating a diversified income stream. Service-focused industries such as advertising and management consulting draw upon the experiences of creative individuals such as novelists, anthropologists, photographers, designers and technologists, in addition to data-and-information-focused engineers, accountants and lawyers. The diverse successes and failures of these individuals inform their effectiveness when collaborating with others to develop innovative solutions. When an individual has the opportunity to indulge a range of interests, their creativity and satisfaction soar. And that's when their best work and efforts materialise. (Kavita Mehta and Namita Mehta are Partners at The Red Pen, an independent education consulting company, advising applicants who seek to study abroad. They can be contacted at info@theredpen.in ) Ranchi, Aug 26 : Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das said on Sunday that a 26-member farmers' team left for Israel on a four-day trip to study farming techniques. " You (farmers) are going to Israel on the pious day of Raksha Bandhan with an aim to increase farmers' income. Learn Israel's technique of farming and adopt it in our state and share the experience with others," Das said while seeing off the team. "Israel is smaller than Jharkhand area wise but the country's per capita income is more than India due to farming. We should always learn from a place where something better is happening. Today Jharkhand is a deficit state as far as foodgrain production is concerned. But those days are not far when Jharkhand will become self dependent and export foodgrains to other states." The farmers will learn dairy farming, production of vegetables and fruits, drip irrigation and other things. The team is being led by Agriculture Secretary Pooja Singhal. London, Aug 26 : Actor-director John Krasinski, who shot to fame with the critically-acclaimed "A Quiet Place", is open to have someone else direct the sequel. Krasinski, who directed and co-wrote the horror film and also starred in it along with his wife Emily Blunt, told IANS that while he was trying to come up with an idea for the sequel, he won't mind if someone else has a great idea and directs the next film in the franchise. "If I come up with an idea that I really like and that I can see it through, then yes, I'm not opposed to directing it. But I have never done a directing franchise thing and as (far as) franchises go, the best ideas win. So if a director came in with a really cool take, I'd say 'Go with it'. But I am trying to come up with an idea that I love," he said. Krasinski said he wanted to come up with something that earned the same kind of love that the audience gave to the first movie. "What I really cared about was not only that it was a financial success but also that people really connected to the story. So I would hate for the studio to just put something out there where people are like 'you blew it'," he said. Krasinki will soon be seen in Prime Original series "Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan", which is slated to release on August 31 on Amazon Prime Video. Vijayawada, Aug 26 : The body of a police sub-inspector who was washed away in a canal in Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district was retrieved on Sunday, police said. Rescue workers found the body of Kota Vamsidhar (33) in Krishna Eastern Bank (KEB) Canal, about 20 km from the place where his car plunged into the canal on Saturday. The officer and his mother Kota Lakshmi (55) were on their way to his village Ismail Begpet in Krishna district to attend a marriage. The car fell into the canal after hitting the wall of a bridge near Papavinasanam village. While the officer's mother was rescued by locals, he was washed away. According to the police, there was heavy flow of water in the canal due to recent rains. The officer was working at Ramachandrapuram in East Godavari district. New Delhi, Aug 26 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, passed earlier this month, will act as a deterrent against rape and will play an effective role in curbing crimes against women and young girls. "No civilised society can tolerate any kind of injustice towards women. The nation will not tolerate those committing rapes. With this point in view, Parliament has made a provision of strictest punishment by passing the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill," Modi said in his monthly "Mann Ki Baat" programme. Under the new Act that will replace the ordinance the government had brought in April, those guilty of rape will get a minimum sentence of 10 years and those found guilty of raping girls below the age of 12 years will be given death sentence. Modi also hailed the decision of a court in Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh to pronounce death penalty to two criminals who were found guilty of raping a minor girl. Seoul, Aug 26 : Elderly South Koreans headed back home on Sunday after brief, emotional meetings with their long-lost kin residing in North Korea in the second round of the inter-Korean family reunions. More than 300 South Koreans, from 81 families, left the North's Mount Kumgang resort, wrapping up their three-day visit for temporary reunions with their family members separated for decades after the 1950-53 Korean War, reports Yonhap News Agency. The separated families had three hours of farewell reunions and lunch on the last day. Many were spotted exchanging home addresses and papers with a family tree, trying to reassure themselves that they can meet again someday. Some others took pictures together or exchanged handwritten letters to remember each other. Throughout the reunions, the families meet up a total of 12 times. Last week, the first group of 89 elderly South Koreans travelled to the scenic resort for reunions. The latest reunion event comes amid a thaw in inter-Korean relations. It is a follow-up on an agreement their leaders reached in an April summit to address humanitarian challenges arising from decades of division caused by the Korean War. Pune, Aug 26 : In a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday said it has established links between the murders of Pune-based rationalist Narendra Dabholkar and Bengaluru-based journalist Gauri Lankesh. The CBI said it had established the crucial connection before the Shivajinagar Magistrate's Court in Pune to extend the police custody of one of the prime suspects, Sachin Andhure. Accordingly, the custody of Andhure - arrested from Aurangabad last week - has been extended till August 30. Medico and rationalist Dabholkar (67), who fought against superstitious beliefs through his Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS), was gunned down near his residence on the morning of June 20, 2013. Two unidentified motorcycle borne assailants fired several rounds at him near the Omkareshwar temple in Pune. Almost four years later, Gauri Lankesh (55), journalist-cum-activist, was shot dead outside her residence in Bengalaru on September 5, 2017. She also served as the editor of 'Lankesh Patrike', a Kannada weekly launched by her father P. Lankesh, and also ran her own weekly called 'Gauri Lankesh Patrike.' Though the two high-profile murders were committed four years apart, in both these cases, the long suspected alleged role of certain right-wing activists, including those associated with Sanatan Sanstha and others, has now emerged. In its remand plea, the CBI has not yet named any organisation/s which could be involved in these cases. The remand application adds that during interrogation, Andhure revealed that one of those arrested for the Gauri Lankesh murder had handed over to him a 7.65-mm country made pistol and three bullets. Later, Andhure - arrested by the CBI last week - claimed he passed it on to his brother-in-law Subham Surale in Aurangabad, on August 11, 2018. Surale in turn passed the weapon to his friend Rohit Rege in the same city, though the motives are not clear. Andhure's name was revealed by Sharad Kalaskar, a resident of Nala Sopara, Palghar, arrested by the Maharashtra ATS after a major arms haul there on August 10. It was Andhure and Kalaskar himself who went on a motorcycle and shot Dabholkar that day, he (Kalaskar) revealed. Now, armed with the fresh information, the CBI plans to seek Kalaskar's custody, after his remand with Maharashtra-ATS ends later this week. The CBI will also apply for the remand of one of the accused arrested by the SIT of Karnataka police in the Lankesh killing besides making efforts to trace the missing motorcycle used in the Dabholkar murder in Pune. "Some of the accused in the Gauri Lankesh case are connected with Sachin Andhure and Narendra Dabholkar's murder," the CBI remand application said, seeking the extension of Andhure's custody. Jakarta, Aug 26 : India's men's compound archery team overcame Taiwan in a semi-final match to be one win away from successfully defending the title at the 2018 Asian Games here on Sunday. The Indian team, comprising Rajat Chauhan, Aman Saini and Abhishek Verma, defeated Taiwan's troika of Lin Chewei, Lin Hsinmin and Pan Yuping 230-227. The first set ended 57-57, with both teams scoring three 10s each. The second set saw India register a 57-56 victory as they held a one-point lead at 114-113. Chewei of Taiwan scored an eight in his second shot as they trailed India. The third set, which ended 58-55, gave a four-point advantage to India with the total scores at 172-168. While South Korea scored two 10s, India came up with four 10s. Chewei and Hsinmin scored an eight each but Aman came out with two 9s to ensure India gain crucial advantage. Trailing by four points, a desperate Taiwan came out all guns blazing and won the fourth set 59-58 but they coulnd't stop India from winning the match 230-227. In the fourth set, Taiwan fired five 10s but India didn't relent and shot four 10s -- the last one coming in the fifth and penultimate shot. It meant that Rajat just had to shoot a 7 to secure victory for India. And Rajat came out with a 9 to give India the win. Out of the eight shots, Jaipur's Rajat got seven 10s and one nine as he went through a phenomenal run. Rajat and Abhishek were part of India's team which won the gold medal in this category at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. Idukki (Kerala), Aug 26 : The hilly district of Idukki has been thrown back by 40 years following Kerala's worst flooding in a century, Power Minister M.M. Mani said on Sunday. "What our forefathers built in the past 100 years to take Idukki to where it was has been washed away. Idukki has gone back by 40 years," the Marxist leader told the media. This is one of the worst disasters Idukki has witnessed, he lamented. Long considered home to settlers, the main occupation in Idukki is farming. But with its numerous hills and treacherous terrain, life has never been easy in the district. Idukki is also home to some of the major dams which, when their sluice gates were opened after their water level came to the choking points, caused unprecedented destruction all over the state this month. Idukki received one of its highest rainfalls starting from the end of May till the middle of August. This pushed up the water levels in the Idukki, Mulaperiyar and other dams. For the first time in 26 years, the shutters of the Idukki dam were opened, causing a deluge. "This is the worst destruction I have seen," said Mani, who is from the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M). So bad is the situation that to reach the state capital Thiruvananthapuram from Idukki, Mani had to take a detour through the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu as the main link road linking Idukki and Thiruvananthapuram has been damaged. Mani came under severe attack from the opposition for faulty dam water management but he insisted that all rules were followed. "Everything was done according to clear-cut guidelines after discussing with all concerned," he said. The waters gushing out from the Idukki dam spread out far and wide, damaging everything that came in its way and forcing hundreds of thousands to take shelter in relief camps. While rains and flooding caused widespread damage to crops and buildings, landslides damaged several key roads connecting the major towns in the district with interior areas. Roshy Augustine, an Idukki legislator, said on Sunday that massive efforts were needed to get Idukki back on its feet and rehabilitate all those who had lost everything they had. "Ever since the tragedy struck, politics has taken a back seat. Everyone is working as one single team to restore Idukki to its original self... The need of the hour is a proper dam management policy," said the Congress MLA. Idukki, especially Munnar, a picturesque hill station, took the worst beating. Even now the main road that connects Munnar with Ernakulam is only partially motorable. Chandigarh, Aug 26 : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday lashed out at Akali President Sukhbir Singh Badal for what he said was the unwarranted and uncalled for attack on Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on the issue of the 1984 riots. Castigating the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President for his statement that Rahul Gandhi was a 'partner' in the crime, the Chief Minister said Gandhi was in school at the time of Operation Bluestar. To blame him for anything was absurd, Amarinder Singh said in a statement here. To hold Rahul Gandhi responsible for an act which he was not even aware of at the time it happened was ridiculous, said the Chief Minister. The Congress, as a party, was never involved in the riots that continue to haunt the Sikh community. He said if any individual was involved, he or she would be dealt with as per the law. "To blame the entire party for the acts of a few was preposterous and typical of the political immaturity of Sukhbir Singh," the Chief Minister said. Amarinder Singh said Rahul Gandhi's latest comments need to be seen in context with his earlier statements on the 1984 riots, wherein he himself had named some Congressmen. The Chief Minister said Rahul Gandhi had condemned all violence, including the 1984 riots, and called for strict punishment to the guilty. "It is unfortunate that due to delays caused by the judicial system, justice had been denied to many victims of the 1984 riots," Amarinder Singh added. Mumbai, Aug 26 : Maharashtra's Muslims on Sunday formed "Muslim Aarakshan Sanyukta Kruti Samiti" (Muslim Reservation Joint Action Committee) to force the state government to implement its promise of providing reservation in jobs. The committee has been set up by top Muslim organisations, political leaders, scholars, academicians, lawyers, professionals and other prominent personalities to take their quota struggle to its logical conclusion. When the erstwhile Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan-led Democratic Front government was in power, "it promulgated an ordinance" to provide 16 per cent reservations to Marathas and 5 per cent quotas for Muslims in government jobs and educational institutions. Later, the Bombay High Court struck down the reservations for the politically-influential Maratha community completely but allowed 5 per cent reservations for Muslims only in educational institutions. Subsequently, the Supreme Court upheld the order of the Bombay High Court. Against the backdrop of the recent protests by the Maratha community for reservations and the renewed demand by Dhangars to be included in Schedule Tribes, the demand for Muslim quotas has also come to the fore. Congress Rajya Sabha MP Hussain Dalwai said it was high time the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre and Maharashtra government pay heed and work together to ensure reservations for Muslims. Referring to the Rajinder Sachar Committee commissioned in 2005 by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Dalwai said, it is a report highlighting the plight and the current status of Muslims in India. He pointed out that the Mehmood-ur-Rehman Committee had recommended 8-10 per cent reservation in education and jobs, plus a separate 10 per cent reservation for Muslim women. This Committee was set up in 2008 by the previous Congress-Nationalist Congress Party Democratic Front government in Maharashtra, to study the economic, social and educational backwardness of Muslims in the state. Shrimant Kokate of Maratha Seva Sangh has also backed the demand of the Muslims. As per the Census 2011, Muslims constitute around 172 million or 14.20 per cent of the total Indian population and are the single largest religious minority. Manali, Aug 26 : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and his cabinet colleagues on Sunday dispersed the ashes of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the Beas river at a function here. Earlier, a prayer meeting to pay tributes to him was held at a tourist resort where Vajpayee constructed his house. Hundreds paid homage to the former Prime Minister who died on August 16. Paying tributes, Thakur described Vajpayee as a visionary leader who was above party politics. His demise was indeed a great loss to the nation in general and Himachal Pradesh in particular. He said Vajpayee has a special place in his heart for the people of the state and the state would always miss him. Vajpayee always considered Himachal Pradesh his second home and had a house at Prini (near here). Whenever he got time from his busy schedule, he visited Manali and wrote some unforgettable poems there, the Chief Minister said. The idea to construct the Rohtang tunnel connecting the landlocked Lahaul valley with the rest of the country was conceived by Vajpayee in 1998, he added. Thakur said this project was nearing completion and would be the biggest gift of Vajpayee to the state. Forest Minister and local legislator Govind Thakur said Vajpayee had special love for the people of the state in general and Kullu-Manali in particular. Los Angeles, Aug 26 : Hollywood celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres, Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Kimmel, Bob Iger, Katie Couric, Mandy Moore, Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski and Mia Farrow paid tribute to Vietnam war hero turned senator and presidential candidate John McCain. McCain died aged 81 on Saturday at his Arizona ranch, leading several celebrities from Hollywood to pen condolence messages on social media, reports hollywoodreporter.com. Goldberg, who hosts "The View" with McCain's daughter Meghan, tweeted: "Senator John McCain passed today, all I can think about... He never stopped trying to do his best. What an honour it's been to know him. My condolences to the family he loved and adored and to his daughter and my friend Meghan McCain... From all my family, much love." "The View" show page also issued a tribute, stating, "Tonight we lost an American hero. We send our deepest sympathies to Meghan, Cindy, and the entire McCain family. The View family honours the life and legacy of Senator John McCain - the beloved father and husband who devoted his life to serving our country." DeGeneres, who has hosted McCain on her show, tweeted: "I was honoured to have met John McCain. He always stood up for what he believed was right. Sending love to his family on this very sad day for our country." Actor and politician Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote: "I will miss Senator McCain dearly, and my thoughts are with Cindy and Senator McCain's whole family. What I said yesterday matters even more today. Each of us must strive for his dignity, his service, his commitment to country. He showed us the way." Calling McCain a "real hero", Kimmel said: "Condolences to Cindy Mccain, the McCain family and the Arizonans who were so fortunate to have the opportunity to vote for a man of principle. John McCain's sacrifice and the sacrifices made by all our POWs and MIAs must never be forgotten." McCain had survived years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Reese Witherspoon expressed "respect" for "this American citizen who proudly served our country for so many years", while Moore said: "We are forever indebted to you for your service and sacrifice." New Delhi, Aug 26 : Social media platforms will never be allowed to abuse India's election process and stringent measures backed by laws on data protection and individual privacy have been put in place, Information Technology (IT) Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said. Addressing the plenary of the G-20 Digital Economy Ministerial meeting in Salata, Argentina, on August 23-24, Prasad also noted that India had taken serious note of the reported data misuse by social media platforms and said the purity of the democratic process should never be compromised, an IT Ministry statement said here on Sunday. The Minister's remarks come after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched a preliminary enquiry against the British political consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica for alleged illegal harvesting of personal data of Indians from Facebook. The UK consultancy has also been accused of allegedly interfering in the 2016 US Presidential elections. "Minister Prasad stressed that India had taken a serious note of reported misuse of social media platform data. Such platforms will never be allowed to abuse our election process for extraneous means," the statement said. He also said that the purity of the democratic process should never be compromised and that India will take all required steps to deter and punish those who seek to vitiate this process. Noting that while privacy cannot prohibit innovation nor become a shield "for the corrupt or terrorists", Prasad said that data must be anonymous, objective and taken with consent for it to continue being an effective tool to improve business. In this connection, Department of Telecommunications Secretary Aruna Sundararajan said here earlier this week that the government has no intention of imposing a blanket ban on messaging applications and is looking for other "technical solutions" to curb instances of fake news and misuse of these apps. On Tuesday, Prasad met Whatsapp CEO Chris Daniels here and asked the visiting corporate to comply with Indian laws and take "suitable" steps to prevent the misuse of the instant messaging platform. At the G-20 event, Prasad also proposed that a part of the revenue generated by digital platforms needs to be reinvested in the host markets. According to the statement, India's digital infrastructure consists of 1.21 billion mobile phones, including 450 million smartphones, nearly 500 million internet subscribers and increasing broadband availability. New Delhi, Aug 26 : Many opposition parties will reiterate their demand for paper ballots for future elections, among other things, in a meeting with the Election Commission of India (EC) on Monday. The EC has called the meeting with seven national and 51 state recognised political parties to discuss various electoral issues such as electoral rolls, limiting political parties' expenditure and timely submission of annual audited reports by parties among other things. At least 17 parties, including the NDA ally Shiv Sena, have been pitching for returning to ballot papers. These include the Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S), Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Samajwadi Party, CPI-M, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), DMK, CPI, YSR Congress, Kerala Congress Mani (KCM) and AIUDF. "We will raise the issue of ballot papers in the meeting for fair and impartial elections. We want to make it clear that we do not consider EVMs as tamper proof," an opposition leader told IANS. "Secondly, we would point out that the election expenses of political parties must also be limited along with the candidates," he added. Although the EC in its official agenda of the meet released to the press has not mentioned simultaneous polls, the issue is likely to come up for discussion. A majority of opposition parties have already told the Law Commission that they do not consider this proposal as practical or desirable. The agenda for the meeting includes discussion on how to improve "accuracy, transparency and inclusiveness" of electoral rolls, measures to encourage enhanced representation of women in political process, issues related to expenditure ceiling for parties, timely submission of annual audited reports and election expenditure reports among other things. Also on the agenda are alternative modes of voting for domestic migrants and absentee voters. New Delhi, Aug 26 : External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj left on Sunday on a five-day visit to Vietnam and Cambodia to further boost New Delhi's Act East Policy. "Adding dynamism to our Act East policy," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted, adding that the trip would help continue "our high-level engagement with South East Asian countries". In Vietnam, Sushma Swaraj will co-chair the 16th meeting of the Joint Commission along with her counterpart Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. She will also call on Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. On Monday, she will inaugurate the third edition of the Indian Ocean Conference. In Cambodia, she will have a bilateral meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and call on Prime Minister Hun Sen and President of Senate Say Chhum. "The visit ... will provide an opportunity to hold in-depth discussions with the political leadership on a wide range of global, regional and bilateral issues and advance our strategic engagement with these countries and Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement. The Asean-India region together represents a combined population of 1.85 billion, which is a quarter of the global population, and a GDP of over $3.8 trillion. Bengaluru, Aug 26 : Terming the controversy over Defence Minister Niramala Sitharaman's visit to Karnataka's flood-hit Kodagu district on Friday as unfortunate, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Sunday regretted the inconveniences caused to her. "Though the state government and the district administration have ensured and followed protocol despite the tough situation in the region during her (Nirmala) visit, it was unfortunate that the Defence Minister had to go through certain inconveniences which we regret," said Kumaraswamy in a post on the social media platforms Facebook and Twitter. Admitting that he was pained at the turn of events, the Chief Minister said he spoke to her on the reported tiff over protocol with state Tourism and district in-charge Minister Sa Ra Mahesh. "I believe this is the time to forget the differences and forgive each other and join hands in the rehabilitation of the flood-affected people. The grave situation in the district warrants it. I look forward to the support of the central government, especially of the Defence Minister," said Kumaraswamy. Lauding Nirmala Sitharaman for helping the state government in the rescue operations and visiting the flood-hit areas, the Chief Minister said the state and relief agencies were jointly working to rehabilitate the flood-hit people with the Union government's support. "Mahesh has tirelessly worked to oversee the rescue and relief operations by being with the teams on the ground since day one," he said. Kumaraswamy's comments came a day after the Defence Ministry clarified reports in the media that Nirmala Sitharaman was "angry with Mahesh" at the flood-review meeting at Madikeri over the issue of protocol. The media reports also alleged that Mahesh made personal remarks against the Minister. The controversy arose when Mahesh objected to the Defence Minister meeting ex-servicemen, as her visit was for reviewing the rescue and relief operations in which the Army, Navy and Air Force were also involved. "On completion of the field visit, as per the programme, the Defence Minister was interacting with ex-servicemen who had also been affected by the floods when the (state) Minister insisted that meeting with the officials be conducted first," said the Ministry in a statement. When Nirmala Sitharaman clarified to Mahesh that ex-servicemen's welfare was part of her ministry and her meeting with them was scheduled in the programme by the district administration, the latter insisted that she stop the interaction and proceed to the review meeting with the officials. Kodagu (Karnataka), Aug 26 : Flood-hit Kodagu district in Karnataka is limping back to normalcy as hundreds of people returned to their homes from relief camps, said an official on Sunday. "Kodagu is getting back to normalcy. A total of 1,800 people returned from the relief camps to their villages wherever the houses are intact," state Relief Commissioner Gangaram Baderia said in a statement. The 51 temporary relief shelters, which housed 5,041 people across the district last week, have come down to 32, with 3,227 people residing in them. The relief camps were set up a week ago in the district after torrential rains caused floods and landslips in the hilly district during the southwest monsoon from August 14-22. The district's Deputy Commissioner P. Sreevidya had asked to relieve all the rescue teams, including the Army, Air Force, Navy and other agencies while keeping one team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the statement added. The torrential rains have claimed 17 lives while damaging more than 2,200 homes and public buildings. The Karnataka government has sought Rs 2,000 crore interim relief to rehabilitate the flood affected in the district, about 270 km from state capital Bengaluru. The district received moderate to heavy rainfall on Sunday, and is likely to continue to see moderate to heavy rains for the next two days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The DNN Corporation named Cassidi Peterson of 10 Pound Gorilla a DNN Most Valuable Person (MVP). In accepting the award, Peterson joins the ranks of nearly 40 other DNN community leaders worldwide The DNN Corporation named Cassidi Peterson of 10 Pound Gorilla a DNN Most Valuable Person (MVP). In accepting the award, Peterson joins the ranks of nearly 40 other DNN community leaders worldwide. DNN provides the worlds largest .NET CMS ecosystem, with 1+ million community members and thousands of developers, agencies and independent software vendors. Each year the DNN Corporation welcomes new and returning MVPs to the program as a way of recognizing the vital role these MVPs play in helping the community do great things with DNN, an open-source web content management system. Peterson says of the award, I am honored and humbled to be recognized next to so many brilliant and giving individuals. Community is an intrinsic part of who I am. Success comes when we work together for a common goal and lean on each others strengths to accomplish great things. Petersons nomination for the award should come as no surprise, given her work as Vice President of the DNN Association and participation in the DNN Partner Adversary board, as well as her on-going use and development using DNNall the way back to version 1. Peterson is also a key organizer of the DNN Summit in Denver, CO, which will be held in February 2019 and has just announced a call for speakers. ABOUT 10 Pound Gorilla 10 Pound Gorilla was founded by Cassidi Peterson in 2003 and focuses on digital marketing and web development using the DNN platform. What started off as a family business has flourished into a tight-knit team of highly-trained professionals. Offices can be found throughout Colorado in Winter Park, Golden, and Denver with remote employees spanning to the East Coast. 10 Pound Gorilla serves clients in 40 states and 10 countries. In 2018 Clutch.co identified 10 Pound Gorilla as one of the top web development companies in the Denver area. Media Contact: Chandler Gibbons chandler(at)10poundgorilla.com 929-397-7838 Nazareth Schools $1 million in cumulative savings will go far towards assuring the Sisters of Nazareths mission continues to thrive over the next 25 years. Scott Williams, Baker Electrics Vice President of Renewables and Safety Baker Electric, a full-service electrical, solar and storage contractor serving the San Diego area and beyond, recently completed a state-of-the-art rooftop solar installation for Nazareth School San Diego, a part of the Sisters of Nazareth organization. The 108 kW DC system is estimated to save the school more than $38,000 in electric bills in the first year alone, with a total estimated savings of more than $1 million throughout the 25-year warrantied life of the solar modules. Baker Electric helped Nazareth School finance the project via a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with $0 out-of-pocket cost for the customer. Cutting the cost of electricity was the main goal for the 501(c)(3) nonprofit when making the leap to solar, but reducing impact on the environment was just as important. Because Nazareth School is a school, we thought it would be a good lesson in protecting the environment for the students, said John Williams, CEO for Nazareth School San Diego and Nazareth House of San Diego. It would be a topic of conversation for them as part of their education. The schools mission is focused on helping its students grow not only academically, but also emotionally, culturally and spiritually. What began as The Orphanage in 1924 evolved into a well-rounded, multi-value curriculum rooted in the Catholic faith. Students are taught to respect themselves, each other and the community as a whole. The new solar system will be a part of those values by acting as a visual representation of the importance of protecting the environment for generations to come. Nazareth School will see a significant decline in overall energy consumption from SDG&E, resulting in an estimated 76 percent reduction in annual electric costs. These savings will allow the school to focus its funds on other important areas geared toward helping the students achieve their academic goals. Going solar is helping nonprofit organizations all over Southern California reduce their environmental impact and improve their bottom line at the same time, said Scott Williams, Vice President of Renewables and Safety at Baker Electric. Nazareth Schools $1 million in cumulative savings will go far towards assuring the Sisters of Nazareths mission continues to thrive over the next 25 years. About Baker Electric Founded in 1938, Baker Electric, Inc. is a closely held corporation under the strong leadership of fourth generation family members. It provides comprehensive pre-construction services along with planning, coordination, designbuild, in-house electrical engineering and project management for any size project. Baker Electric is committed to every customer from initial design to follow up maintenance, and serves as both a prime and subcontractor for electrical and solar projects. For more information, visit http://www.baker-electric.com. About Nazareth School San Diego Nazareth School San Diego, nestled between Nazareth House and the Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala, is a private Catholic school that currently supports more than 300 students from preschool to eighth grade. It is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA), and implements the core values of the national Sisters of Nazareth organization. For more information visit http://www.sistersofnazareth.com. https://www.sistersofnazareth.com/service/nazareth-school-san-diego/ Our retreat is an amazing opportunity for female entrepreneurs to grow professionally and foster long-lasting relationships with other women leaders. The Woman Behind the Business (WBB) is pleased to announce the first slate of speakers for its annual International Womens Retreat at the British Colonial Hilton in Nassau, Bahamas, November 24th-27th, 2018. For the second year in a row, the WBB Retreat will bring together female entrepreneurs from across the world to experience four-days of engaging workshops that will equip attendees with tools to achieve business sustainability. The retreat will kickoff with an all-white reception featuring keynote speaker Mavis Johnson-Collie, wife of Bahamas Ambassador Sidney Collie. Also, Mrs. Patricia Minnis, wife of The Prime Minister of The Commonwealth of the Bahamas will provide a welcome address for the second consecutive year. The dynamic list of women leaders confirmed to speak also includes: Verna Jones Former Executive Director, The American Legion Aisha Llyod-Minnis Deputy Executive Director, The Securities Commission of the Bahamas Dominique Price Principal Attorney, Price Law Naomi Lucas Founder & President, Southern Wicked Beverages Dr. Teia Hill Medical Director, Fightin 4 Lives We are very excited to return to Nassau for The Woman Behind the Business Retreat, said Angel Livas, Founder of WBB. Our retreat is an amazing opportunity for female entrepreneurs to grow professionally and foster long-lasting relationships with other women leaders. This year we are bringing even more female leaders from the United States and hope to engage with a broader range of women entrepreneurs from around the world. Sessions will cover topics such as Be Resilient, You Want It. Heres How To Grow Your Finances, and Using Myers Briggs Type Indicator to Build Bold, Beautiful Confidence. In addition to these motivating sessions, there will be interactive outdoor activities, networking, and plenty of opportunities to relax and enjoy the beautiful island of Nassau, Bahamas. The Woman Behind the Business Retreat was crafted to address some of the many dilemmas female entrepreneurs oftentimes face alone. The goal is to send participants home feeling reinvigorated and strategically conscious to do business with their newfound international network of women. For more information and to register, visit http://www.wbbtalk.com/registration. Registration for the entire retreat is $250. About The Woman Behind the Business (WBB) The Woman Behind The Business was founded in the United States as a non-profit dedicated to help increase Strength (in numbers), Strategies (for success) and overall Sustainability. The Woman Behind the Business is the philanthropic arm of DC Media Connection. Westchester Toyota held its 25th Give Back Donation Event at the dealership Wednesday, August 22nd. As Westchester Toyota has donated nearly $70,000 to local charities since the program was created, the dealership assured that this Silver Anniversary would be the hugest yet. To make this one extraordinary and incomparable from the rest, Westchester Toyota took a different approach. Instead of choosing three deserving nonprofits, which is whats usually done for the Give Back Donation Event, the dealership nominated five remarkable nonprofits and allowed the public to choose the three that will receive donations. The dealership not only left the choice up to the public, but also extended the time allotted for the community to vote. Thats not all. As always, the amount of money rewarded was based on the number of votes each charity received on Westchester Toyotas Facebook page. With fans voting for six months rather than the traditional three, the dealership knew this was the perfect and most appropriate opportunity to donate more to each charity. Added up, a total of $8,000 was contributed to the publics favorite charities. Each organization is different and extremely special to Westchester County. The first and grand prize winner was My Brother Vinny. My Brother Vinny is a NYS nonprofit that distributes food, clothing, furniture and housewares to United States Veterans, outreach groups, shelters and local families. My Brother Vinny is known for many of its diverse and good acts, a couple being its annual walk and helping local animal shelters. The extremely respected organization received 6,405 votes and was granted $5,000. The running-up charity was Paws Crossed Animal Shelter, which received an impressive 4,123 votes and received $2,000. Paws Crossed is dedicated to being a true no-kill animal rescue and has a mission to rescue one by one until there are none. Paws Crossed is a private organization that relies on donations, grants and fundraising alone. Lifting Up Westchester was the nonprofit in third place with 940 votes and received $1,000. Lifting Up Westchester helps those struggling to overcome poverty, homelessness and hunger by providing them with food, shelter and support. Through donations and volunteerism, Lifting Up Westchester works with all people in need to help them create healthier lives. David Lee, General Manager of Westchester Toyota, said, Wednesday was legendary for us as a dealership. That may sound dramatic, but its really not. Our Give Back Program has come a long way, and weve waited for a chance like this to truly offer what the charities that serve our area deserve. Weve always been extremely proud of our donations and love to see the smiles of charity representatives. But this time, the community was more involved with the voting and the event put us all on the edge of our seats. Through this program, our goal is to help and unite Westchester. We are overjoyed to have honored the deserving charities on Wednesday. Westchester Toyota is a full-service Toyota dealership located at 2167 Central Park Avenue in Yonkers, New York. Westchester Toyotas goal is to always give the best customer service and fulfill every customers need, whether it be in the sales or service department. For more information, hours and directions, please visit http://www.WestchesterToyota.com. Sen. John McCain, a giant of American politics who died on Saturday at 81, was perhaps most profoundly shaped by his military service and nearly six years as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. And McCain's survival through years of near-fatal torture and hardship in a Hanoi prison, better known as the "Hanoi Hilton," was made more impressive by his refusal to be repatriated before all of the American POWs captured before him were released. President Donald Trump, whom McCain criticized extensively, has repeatedly disparaged McCain's military service, suggesting at a July 2015 rally that the senator didn't deserve the title of war hero. "He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured," then-candidate Trump said. But McCain's military service and suffering has marked him as something of an anomaly in American political history, and made him a hero in the eyes of many. McCain was offered an early release but he refused it A graduate of the US Naval Academy, McCain followed both his father and grandfather, both four-star admirals, into the Navy, where he served as a in the Vietnam War. On October 26, 1967, then-US Navy Lieutenant Commander McCain's Skyhawk dive bomber was shot down over the enemy capital, Hanoi. Shattering his leg and both arms during his ejection from the fighter plane, McCain was captured by the North Vietnamese and spent five and a half years as a prisoner of war. Less than a year into his imprisonment, McCain's father was named commander of US forces in the Pacific and the North Vietnamese saw an opportunity for leverage by offering the younger McCain release what would have been both a propaganda victory and a way to demoralize other American POWs. But McCain refused it, sticking to the POW code of conduct in which soldiers accept release in the order in which they are captured. "I knew that every prisoner the Vietnamese tried to break, those who had arrived before me and those who would come after me, would be taunted with the story of how an admiral's son had gone home early, a lucky beneficiary of America's class-conscious society," McCain later recalled. The North Vietnamese reacted with fury and escalated McCain's torture. Every man has his breaking point. I had reached mine. McCain soon reached what he would later describe as his lowest point in Vietnam, and after surviving intense beatings and two suicide attempts, signed a "confession" to war crimes written by his captors. "I had learned what we all learned over there: Every man has his breaking point. I had reached mine," McCain wrote in a first-person account published in US News & World Report in May 1973. For the next two weeks, McCain was allowed to recover from his debilitating injuries, and he later described that time as the worst in his life. "I was ashamed," he wrote in his 1999 memoir "Faith Of My Fathers." "I shook, as if my disgrace were a fever." For the next several years, the high-profile POW was subjected to a prolonged period of brutal treatment and spent two years in solitary confinement in a windowless 10-by-10-foot cell. McCains courage bolstered his political bona fides In March 1973, two months after the Paris Peace Accords were signed, McCain and his fellow prisoners were released in the order in which they were captured. An emaciated 36-year-old with a head of white hair, McCain returned home to continue his service in the Navy. McCain retired from the Navy in 1981, moved to Arizona, and began his political career in the Republican party, serving two terms in the House of Representatives. In 1986, he won a landslide election to the Senate, where he served for 30 years, during which time he launched two unsuccessful presidential bids. McCain's courage during his brutal captivity bolstered his political bona fides. As the late writer David Foster Wallace wrote in a 2000 profile of the then-presidential candidate, the former Navy captain commanded the kind of moral authority and authentic patriotism that eludes the average politician. "Try to imagine that moment between getting offered early release and turning it down," Wallace wrote of McCain's decision to remain in Vietnamese captivity. "Try to imagine it was you. Imagine how loudly your most basic, primal self-interest would have cried out to you in that moment, and all the ways you could rationalize accepting the offer. Can you hear it? If so, would you have refused to go?" McCain, a military hawk, forever remained a staunch supporter of the Vietnam War, during which 58,000 Americans and nearly 3 million Vietnamese were killed. But he worked closely with John Kerry, a Democrat and fellow Vietnam veteran who advocated against the war, to normalize relations between the US and Vietnam in the 1990s, bringing the devastating conflict to a final close. Sen. John McCain died on Saturday, one day after his family announced he would be discontinuing his brain cancer treatment. McCain, a six-term US senator, earned both praise and criticism during his long tenure. But despite political differences, he earned the respect from his colleagues for his storied military service and plain-spoken views. Former presidents, world leaders, and Congress mourned his passing and offered their condolences for his family. Here's what they had to say: Former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama "John McCain and I were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds, and competed at the highest level of politics. But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed. We saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world. We saw this country as a place where anything is possible and citizenship as our patriotic obligation to ensure it forever remains that way. Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At Johns best, he showed us what that means. And for that, we are all in his debt. Michelle and I send our most heartfelt condolences to Cindy and their family." Former President George W. Bush "Some lives are so vivid, it is difficult to imagine them ended. Some voices are so vibrant, it is hard to think of them stilled. John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order. He was a public servant in the finest traditions of our country. And to me, he was a friend whom I'll deeply miss. Laura and I send our heartfelt sympathies to Cindy and the entire McCain family, and our thanks to God for the life of John McCain." Former President Bill Clinton "Senator John McCain believed that every citizen has a responsibility to make something of the freedoms given by our Constitution, and from his heroic service in the Navy to his 35 years in Congress, he lived by his creed every day. He was a skilled, tough politician, as well as a trusted colleague alongside whom Hillary was honored to serve in the Senate. He frequently put partisanship aside to do what he thought was best for the country, and was never afraid to break the mold if it was the right thing to do. I will always be especially grateful for his leadership in our successful efforts to normalize relations with Vietnam. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Cindy, his mother, Roberta, his children, and his entire family." Former secretary of state and former Senate colleague Hillary Clinton Hillary Clinton spoke on the phone with NBC host Chuck Todd on "Meet the Press" Sunday: "He understood in the marrow of his bones what it meant to be an American and how important it was for us to, yes, disagree and differ, but at the end of the day come together to work together and trust each other and get things done. He'll be missed for many, many reasons, but I think the example that he set of working across the aisle and working to bring people together here at home and around the world is one we should remember. ... He understood that we have been through careless times before at home and abroad. But, our institutions are being severely tested right now. ... He was, in every way he knew how, trying to sound the alarm and to get all of us as Americans who understand the ideal that we stood for around the globe, that if we turn our backs on leadership on behalf of human rights and the kind of future we want to forge for our children and grandchildren, we'll be giving up on what he fought for and what he was in prison for and what he stood for and in a long line of American patriots." Former President Jimmy Carter "John McCain was a man of honor, a true patriot in the best sense of the word. Americans will be forever grateful for his heroic military service and for his steadfast integrity as a member of the United States Senate. Rosalynn and I extend our sincere condolences to Senator McCain's family and to the people of Arizona whom he represented so forthrightly for so many years." President Donald Trump "My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!," Trump said on Twitter. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina "America and Freedom have lost one of her greatest champions," Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, one of McCain's closest friends, said on Twitter. "And I've lost one of my dearest friends and mentor." "I will need some time to absorb this, but I want Cindy and the entire McCain family to know they are in my prayers," Graham added. Former Gov. of Alaska and Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin "Today we lost an American original," Palin said in a tweet. "Sen. John McCain was a maverick and a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs. John never took the easy path in life - and through sacrifice and suffering he inspired others to serve something greater than self." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "Senator John McCain was an American patriot and hero whose sacrifices for his country, and lifetime of public service, were an inspiration to millions," Trudeau said in a statement. "Canadians join Americans tonight in celebrating his life and mourning his passing." Defense secretary Jim Mattis "We have lost a man who steadfastly represented the best ideals of our country," Mattis said, according to The Military Times. "As a Naval Officer and defiant prisoner of war, John McCain stood with his brothers-in-arms until they returned home together." "Passionately committed to our country, Senator McCain always put service to the Nation before self," Mattis added. "He recognized that for our experiment in democracy to long endure, people of action and passion must serve. In this he represented what he believed, that 'a shared purpose does not claim our identity on the contrary, it enlarges your sense of self.'" "His was a life well lived, one whose actions epitomized the motto of his alma mater, the U.S. Naval Academy: non sibi, sed patriae 'not for self, but for country.'" Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky "Today is a deeply sad day for the Senate and for our nation. Elaine and I join all Americans in mourning the passing of our dear friend and colleague Senator John McCain. In an era filled with cynicism about national unity and public service, John McCain's life shone as a bright example. He showed us that boundless patriotism and self-sacrifice are not outdated concepts or cliches, but the building blocks of an extraordinary American life. Generations of McCains have served in our great Navy. John followed their example with distinction. And from his cell in Hanoi to the halls of the Senate, he never stopped fighting with courage and determination first for his country, then for the people of Arizona, and always for the ideals he believed in most. It is fitting that this war hero and history-changing legislator should leave us as Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. John was a constant advocate for his fellow veterans and those currently serving in uniform, standing up for the benefits and care they so earned by defending our freedom. His dedication to them is just one reason among so many why he earned the utmost respect of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle. It's an understatement to say the Senate will not be the same without our friend John. I will treasure the many memories we've shared together through the years. The nation mourns the loss of a great American patriot, a statesman who put his country first and enriched this institution through many years of service. The Senate is keeping Cindy, the McCain family, all John's friends and staff, and the people of Arizona in our prayers at this tremendously difficult time." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York "As you go through life, you meet few truly great people. John McCain was one of them. His dedication to his country and the military were unsurpassed, and maybe most of all, he was a truth teller - never afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all too rare. The Senate, the United States, and the world are lesser places without John McCain. Nothing will overcome the loss of Senator McCain, but so that generations remember him I will be introducing a resolution to rename the Russell building after him." House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin "This is a sad day for the United States. Our country has lost a decorated war hero and statesman. John McCain was a giant of our timenot just for the things he achieved, but for who he was and what he fought for all his life. John put principle before politics. He put country before self. He was one of the most courageous men of the century. He will always be listed among freedom's most gallant and faithful servants. Our hearts are with his wife, Cindy, his children, and his grandchildren. This Congress, this country mourn with them." House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California "The nation is in tears. Today, with the passing of John McCain, Congress and America have lost a leader and public servant of deep patriotism, outstanding bravery and undaunted spirit. Compelled by his unshakeable faith and deep love of country, he dedicated his life to defending both America and the American idea fighting tirelessly to ensure that our nation always remains a land of justice, freedom and hope. Over the course of John McCain's years of distinguished service, whether as a naval officer, Member of Congress, US Senator or presidential candidate, we all saw firsthand his integrity, humility, courage and grace. He never forgot the great duty he felt to care for our nation's heroes, dedicating his spirit and energy to ensuring that no man or woman in uniform was left behind on the battlefield or once they returned home." United States Naval Academy "The Naval Academy is mourning the loss of one of our most distinguished graduates, Sen. John McCain (USNA '58)," the United States Naval Academy, McCain's alma mater, said on Twitter. "His life of service to our country is a legacy that will continue to be revered." US Marine Corps commandant Robert Neller "We have lost a great leader of our Nation," Neller said on Twitter. "Sen. McCain, thank you for your commitment, drive and relentless pursuit to make our military better." "We have the watch and will drive on to protect the Nation," Neller added, "To the McCain family, our sympathies & your Marines are here for you." US Army chief of staff Gen. Mark Milley " Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona "Words cannot express the sorrow I feel at John McCain's passing," Flake, a fellow Arizona senator, said. "The world has lost a hero and a statesman. Cindy and the McCain family have lost a loving husband and father. I have lost a wonderful friend." Flake also wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post, in which he described McCain's "life to service." "Today, I am grateful for John McCain," Flake wrote. "I'm grateful for the long and meaningful miles he traveled, and for having the privilege of having traveled just a few of those miles with him." Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas "Senator John McCain was a patriot, and an extraordinary American war hero. Born into a storied Navy family, he spent his entire life in service to his country, including 22 years in the Navy, five and a half of which were spent under the boots of North Vietnamese communists in a Hanoi prison. First elected to Congress during the Reagan Revolution, he championed the strong national defense that he knew would help ensure the survival of freedom and liberty across the globe. He did things his way, and conducted two campaigns for President of the United States with honor and integrity. Today, the State of Arizona, and our entire nation, have lost a great public servant. He was larger than life. Although he and I sometimes disagreed, I was deeply privileged to serve with him and proud to call him a friend. Heidi and I send our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Cindy, and to the entire McCain family, as they grieve the loss of a loving husband, father, and grandfather. May he rest in peace." Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida "John McCain's sacrifices to his country are immeasurable. With his passing today, America has lost more than a leader and more than a senator. We have lost a true American hero. As a colleague in the Senate and a friend, I drew personal inspiration from his leadership, intellect and moral courage. He set the standard for what we should expect from our soldiers and from our public servants of all levels. In this time of grief, I hope John's family finds comfort in knowing that this extraordinary man touched countless lives, and his memory will continue to set the standard of leadership and moral resolve for future generations." Secretary of state Mike Pompeo "Susan and I send our deepest condolences and prayers to the family of [Sen. John McCain] - an American patriot," Pompeo said on Twitter. "We wish you fair winds and following seas." Former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee "Sen McCain was a courageous warrior who served and suffered for the freedom we all enjoy," Huckabee wrote on Twitter. "I lost the GOP nomination to him in 2008 but we never once had a cross word." "After he beat me I campaigned vigorously for him. No regrets. My heart goes out to His family," Huckabee added. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts "I count it as a blessing to have had the honor to serve with John McCain in the Senate and on the Armed Services Committee," Warren wrote on Twitter. "If there ever was a true American patriot, John was that patriot. Ill miss his strength and his maverick spirit, but most of all Ill miss his kindness." "He believes in what he believes in, and he's going to go out there and fight for it," Warren said in an interview with the Washington Post. Former Secretary of State Sen. John Kerry "John McCain was an American original guts, grit, and ultimately grace personified. All of us were blessed by the example he shared with us of a life in service to country. I loved Johns will to fight but respected even more his power to forgive. We traveled together to Vietnam and together, we found common ground in the most improbable place. I stood with John, the two of us alone, in the very cell in the Hanoi Hilton where years of his life were lived out in pain but always in honor. If you ever needed to take the measure of John McCain, just count the days and years he spent in that tiny dank place and ask yourself whether you could make it there an hour. John always said 'a fight not joined is a fight not enjoyed.' He loved to debate and disagree. But one thing John always believed was that at some point, Americas got to come together. READ MORE: Hassan Ayariga attacked in Bawku I am for John Dramani Mahama. It is a rescue mission for the Republic. All hands on deck ye citizens. Let's do this for the motherland, he said in tweet. Former President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday, 23 August 2018, officially conveyed his intention to run for the flag bearer slot of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).In a video explaining his decision to stage a comeback, Mr Mahama said: In coming to this firm decision, I have pondered deeply and soberly on the socio-economic and political landscape of our country today vis-a-vis the clear path we have started to build, aimed at positioning Ghana as a true middle-income country by modernising our dilapidated social and economic infrastructure and gradually inculcating in the Ghanaian, a sense of patriotism, self-belief and commitment to a one-Ghana agendum. In a short video that lasted one minute, Gordons narrated how the musicians, himself and their bands were informed of the plane's fault midair during a short flight from Lagos to Accra, Ghana. In the video, Gordons said, ''Please help me praise God and thank him today. God delivered me, Flavour, Tekno and their band boys together with some other people who flew with us from Lagos to Accra today. God delivered us from air accident. Eight minutes into our flight to Accra, the pilot announced our plane developed fault.'' "My heart is overwhelmed with gratitude for what God did for me and my colleagues today. Help me praise him," Gordon wrote as caption for the video. The entertainers were travelling to Accra, Ghana for the Glo Mega Music show, which held at the Fantasy Dome, Trade Fair Centre, Accra on Saturday, August 25, 2018. ALSO READ: Gordons apologizes to 2Face Idibia following 'illiterate' jibe Flavour, Tekno yet to speak on averted air mishap Continuing, she said, Africa is a possessor of the most compelling stories as yet untold, and we are determined to tell our stories, our way, through our voices, to the world. Genevieve will be starring in two movies at the Toronto International Film Festival scheduled to kick off in September 2018. Aside from her appearance in 'Lionheart,' Genevieve will also be seen in Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje's directed movie,"Farming", acting alongside Kate Beckinsale. ALSO READ: 7 most star-studded upcoming Nollywood movies Genevieve Nnaji's Lionheart will premiere at 2018 TIFF "Lionheart," Genevieve Nnaji's directorial debut, will have its world premiere at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. The film, which aside from being her directorial debut, stars an array of acting award winners and pop culture icons, will screen for the first time at the festival on Friday, September 7, 2018. "Lionheart" stars Genevieve Nnaji, Chika Okpala, Steve Eboh, Pete Edochie, Kanayo O Kanayo, Onyeka Onwenu, Nkem Owoh, Kalu Ikeagwu, Jemima Osunde, Yakubu Mohammed and Sani Muazu. It is the first of its kind and is expected to attract a rich cultural mix of Ghanaians, Nigerians, Senegalese, SouthAfricans, Ethiopians and African-Americans who share similar cultural values. The idea behind the event is to push the dialogue about Africa, foster a relationship between Africans & African Americans, and hopefully, rewrite the narrative and false stereotype of how the continent is portrayed. The key is to channel this message through creative expressions like dance, music, art, fashion, and lifestyle. This event is the initiative of young Nigerians, Efe Iyare (Founder) Nosa Iyare (Business Manager) Brown Souibi (Creative Director) Jude Lemuel (Logistics Manager) Aamina Haykal-Iyare (Style Coordinator). A group of young minds inspired by the need to sell African cultural values to the world. It all started as an Instagram page in 2016 called @culture_power, set up to curate African cultural content online, the page gradually built a momentum that metamorphosed into the People Of Culture event. Established Tanzanian fashion designer Rahel Mwitula Williams will be showcasing her latest fashion collection at the event, as part of an effort to celebrate African style & culture. Ghanaian fitness trainer Jehu Graham who has an impressive social footprint of 100,000+ followers on Instagram will be accompanied by his fitness team, "GoldCoastWarriors" to talk about fitness, health, body positivity and also showcase their Kente outfit. There are also about 12 musicians scheduled to perform at this cultural event with music coordination by popular Nigerian- Canadian Afrobeat Deejay Dj Deemaks. The dynamic duo of Tunde & Dupe will be bringing their edginess, cheerful personality and sense of style to the red carpet. Successful black businessmen and politicians such as Senegalese lifestyle businessman Elhadji "HAJ" Gueye, are expected at the event to mentor, support and give advice to the young generation of creatives and entrepreneurs that will make up the 500 guests in attendance. Program: Red Carpet Light Dinner/Networking Session. Music performances Fashion display Talk NAN reports that the week-long birthday celebration attracted prominent monarchs across Yoruba land, members of the state executive council and gladiators across political divides. Some dignitaries at the event were former Gov. Adebayo Alao-Akala, former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan, Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola and some white cap Chiefs from Lagos. Others were Sen. Soji Akanbi, Rep. Abiodun Awoleye, Hon Akeem Ige, Minority Leader, Oyo State House of Assembly, Alhaji Daud Akinola, Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland and Chief Ademola Ojo. Some Oyo State political gladiators who attended the event were Dr Olusola Ayandele, Mr Seyi Makinde, Mr Joseph Tegbe, Chief Niyi Akintola, Alhaji Sharafadeen Alli, Mr Isaac Omodewu, Dr Azeez Adeduntan and Chief Adebayo Adelabu Ajimobi expressed happiness that the monarch, whom he referred to as his father, clocked 90 years, praying that the ancient city of Ibadan witnessed more development during his reign. The governor stated that the imbroglio between the state government and the renown gospel musician, Dr Yinka Ayefele, has been resolved, pledging his administrations readiness to assist him. Alao-Akala, Makinde, Tegbe congratulated the monarch on his 90th birthday, praying that his reign would bring peace to Ibadanland and Oyo State. Earlier, Ladoja, an Ibadan high chief, congratulated the monarch on his birthday, praying that he reigned longer on the throne of his fore-fathers. The former governor, who is also the Osi-Olubadan of Ibadan, had at a prayer session held at Popoyemoja palace of the monarch, said the crisis rocking Olubadan-in-Council would soon be resolved. The Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Alhaji AbdulGaniy Abubakr, offered praises and thanks to God for what they described as special grace bestowed on the 41st Olubadan to attain age 90 on earth. Prof. Kamaldeen Balogun, Chief Imam of Gbagura in Ogun State, said living above life expectancy in Nigeria required divine grace from God. Balogun, in a lecture, enjoined Nigerian leaders to fight injustice and poverty ravaging the country so as to reduce the number of citizens dying as a result of hypertension. Alhaji Mudathir Bada, the Chief Imam of Oluyole, urged the monarch to rule Ibadan land with the fear of God so as to remain relevant. Alhaja Sekinat Adekola, the Iya Adinni of Ibadanland, called for the resolution of the crisis rocking the Olubadan-in-Council. In his address, Prof Taoheed Adedoja, Chairman, Olubadan 90th Birthday Celebration Committee, said the essence of the birthday celebration was to celebrate Ibadan and pray for national unity and stability. Adedoja, a former Minister of Youth and Sports, said that to live long was by the glory and grace of God, urging the people to be good to their parents, elders and the aged. The monarch made the order in a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Michael Adeyeye, on Saturday. He said that the closure was necessary as part of the age long tradition in observing the 2018 Aheregbe festival. According to him, trading or opening of shops under any guise will not be allowed. The monarch enjoined the residents, market women and shop owners to kindly comply with the directive. According to The Guardian, South-African authorities found weapons worth $3.5m, about N1,067,500,000 (at CBN's rate of N305) in 20 containers. AFP also reports that the Russian ship was flagged, following an anonymous tip-off. APC accuses opposition The APC has also accused members of the opposition of trying to get power through illegal and undemocratic means. This was made known in a statement issued to newsmen by APCs National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena. The statement reads: Our call comes against the backdrop of the recent seizure of a Nigerian-bound ship detained in South Africa for carrying arms and explosives. Nigerians will also recall recent arms seizures by the Nigeria Customs Service. This is a red-flag security agencies must note and be alert to as political activities heighten in the leadup to coming elections. We invite the opposition to wake up to new realities where votes count and the peoples will prevail in all elections. We also call on all well-meaning Nigerians to support ongoing progressive efforts by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration to ensure that our elections are transparent, free, fair and credible. Finally, we call on the National Assembly to urgently do the needful by reconvening to consider and pass the 2019 election budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). We condemn any attempt to weaken INEC ahead of the 2019 election. According to Daily Post, the group said We are worried with the content of the statement and take exception to threat to our leaders. We are re-iterating for umpteenth time that MACBAN is non-political, non-religious charitable organization established for the interest of livestock breeders in the country and will therefore have no business meddling into political issues. MACBAN said this in reaction to calls for the arrest of its leaders by the PDP. The PDP calledfor the arrests, following a statement issued by a chieftain of MACBAN, Garus Gololo, who called for Senate President Bukola Sarakis resignation. Gololo also threatened that the group will forcefully remove Saraki if he does not step down. MACBAN fires back MACBAN, in a statement issued by its National Secretary, Baba Othman Ngelzarma on Sunday, August 26, 2018, told PDP to focus on providing credible opposition. The statement reads: MACBAN has issued a statement on the 22nd August 2018 clarifying its position where it strongly took exception by the callous statement and had disassociated itself from what Garus Gololo had said, because he does not have the mandate of the association to speak on its behalf. We are however surprised by the statement accredited to PDP calling for the arrest of the entire leadership of MACABN for a statement made by an individual who has no capacity in whatever form to speak for the association. We consider the statement made by PDP Publicity Secretary unfortunate, we have noticed with consternation that the PDP publicity take special delight in issuing statement that are mundane and detrimental to the party itself and had succeeded in making statement issued by him look childish. We are calling on the PDP and any other political organization to concentrate on given Nigerians credible opposition where people can pitch their tents when dissatisfied with where they belong. We believe the opposition should be done with utmost sincerity of purpose devoid of meddling into issues that does not add value. We most re-emphasize that the statement made by Garus Gololo should be seen as his own personal opinion as it does not in any way represent the position of MACBAN. Also, the Benue government in its reaction to Gololos call for Sarakis resignation, said that the cattle rearers group have now become influential in President Buharis government. This was made known to newsmen by IPOBs Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, Daily Post reports. Powerful also reacted to a statement issued by President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo on the detention of the IPOB women who protested in Owerri, Imo state. Powerful said The attempt by Nnia Nwodo to endear himself to the wider public through his latest hypocritical press statement, has failed woefully. If the aim is to milk the goodwill of our people still basking in the euphoria of the release of our mothers who were illegally abducted, shamefully detained and humiliated by the Nigerian state, he has failed woefully. Where was Nwodo the day our mothers and grandmothers were corralled into a stinking prison by a Fulani Police Commissioner working on the orders of his fellow northerner Rochas Okorocha? Why didnt he personally issue a statement? He didnt because he was gloating that our mothers will suffer in detention as a way of getting back at IPOB. Those he spoke to told IPOB his exact words. His belated statement is too late and will not absolve him of his role in the ongoing persecution, murder and proscription of IPOB. Igbo Governors did nothing IPOBs spokesman also alleged that Governors in the South-East did nothing to secure the release of the women. When well meaning people all over the world, including Oby Ezekwesili, a certain northern governor and presidential aspirant, were busy condemning the atrocious detention of innocent Igbo mothers, Nwodo and all Igbo governors maintained their usual slavish silence for fear of offending their northern masters. Ike Ekweremadu never uttered a word either. But his chieftaincy title is Ikeoha, which means the warrior of the people. We the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) Worldwide reaffirm our previous stance that the silence of South East governors, Ohaneze leadership, Igbo politicians and front line traditional rulers, in the face of such overwhelming humiliation of an entire race, is confirmation that Biafraland in general and Igboland in particular is a conquered and occupied territory, superintended by a cowardly class of traitors answerable to Fulani caliphate. For Nwodos information and that of Rochas Okorocha with his Fulani led Imo State Police Command, the arrest of our mothers is illegal. Therefore, the idea of sounding magnanimous in press statements is downright foolish. IPOB always win every court case against Nigeria, hence no single conviction has ever been secured against us till date and they never will. IPOB ban When you cheer your oppressors, as Nnia Nwodo, Igbo governors and politicians seem to enjoy doing anytime IPOB family members are detained illegally, you forfeit every authority to speak on behalf of the people because IPOB is the people and people is IPOB. Nnia Nwodo of Ohaneze Ndigbo and their fellow collaborators never uttered a word when our mothers were abducted, tortured, humiliated and spat on by Fulani controlled Nigerian Police. They are now glibly mouthing their usual nonsense to deceive the gullible and shore up their battered image. We remind Nnia Nwodo that we have not forgotten the massacre at Afaraukwu on 14 September 2017. We also wish to remind him that it was Igbo governors that proscribed IPOB first, not Aso Rock, as he would like to have the people believe. Was it not the same Nnia Nwodo that stood on the steps of Enugu Government House alongside Igbo governors to proscribe IPOB at the same time Buratais Fulani soldiers were busy killing innocent youths inside Nnamdi Kanus compound? Terrorist tag against IPOB came after Igbo governors and Ohaneze Ndigbo first proscribed the movement. It was Nnia Nwodo, Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma and Chief Guy Ikokwu a Lagos based informant and errand boy, that shared money donated by Igbo governors to corrupt Igbo traditional rulers at Nike Lake Resort Enugu on or around the 15th of September 2017 to support the proscription of IPOB. Sadly, Igbo traditional rulers led by Eze Eberechi Dick, who is a personal friend of Buharis cousin Mamman Daura, presided over this process of shame, Powerful added. Shame on you We are not unaware that it was Nnia Nwodo that personally appealed to the commander of 82 Division Enugu and Abba Kiyari the real power behind Buhari-Jubril to launch Operation PYTHON DANCE. They think they are smart and we IPOB uninformed. It is in the open that same Nnia Nwodo and co are responsible for the impending Operation PYTHON DANCE 3. It is instructive that Nnia Nwodo admitted that northern governors protected treasonous Arewa Youths. Compare that to the treatment of IPOB by Igbo governors and understand that Igboland has been sold to the north. Nnia Nwodo keeps using the language that IPOB are his children whilst forgetting that four of our kidnapped mothers released from Owerri prisons are older than him. We especially commend Amnesty International, Intersociety, World Jewish Council, SERAP, social media activists, commentators, men and women of goodwill that stood up to defend the constitutional right to freedom of assembly. Shame on all Igbo governors, politicians and traditional rulers that were so terrified of the Fulani caliphate they couldnt defend their own mothers. Only now, after our mothers have been released have they found their voice. There is a popular Igbo adage that reads, nwoke lucha ogu, nwanyi enwere akuko. In the case of Nnia Nwodo it is now umunwayi IPOB lucha ogu, umunwoke Ohaneze enwere akuko. How the mighty has fallen. Over 100 women were arrested in Owerri, Imo state during a protest on Friday, August 17, 2018, during a protest to demand the release of Nnamdi Kanu, IPOBs leader. The bridge was closedon August 23, 2018 to enable engineers carry out maintenance tests. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Taiwo Salaam made this known in a statement issued to newsmen. According to Salaam, the decision to open the bridge earlier than scheduled, is as a result of the completion of the test, Punch reports. ALSO READ: Alternative routes to take when Third Mainland Bridge closes The state government also thanked Lagosians for their patience while the test was being carried out. Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, issued the presidents congratulatory message to David-West in Abuja on Sunday. Buhari said he joined the family members, friends and colleagues of the erudite scholar in celebrating all his years of sacrifice in serving the country. The president said David-West loved the country so much and worked hard to see it grow. He saluted the elder statesman and social critic for his contributions towards improving the life of the poor and underprivileged. Buhari said his contributions to the economic and political architecture of Nigeria and clear reasoning, wisdom and guidance through the transition phases to democracy, would always be remembered and respected. The president commended David-West who was also Minister of Mines, Power and Steel, for always holding leaders to account. He assured him that his views on good governance remained invaluable. Danbaba announced his resignation in a letter obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Sunday, which was addressed to Gov. Ahmed through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). According to him, the decision to resign the appointment is due to extensive and heart-to-heart consultation with the people of his constituency coupled with the issue created by the recent political re-alignment in the state and the country at large. He, however, expressed gratitude to the governor and President of the Senate Bukola Saraki for the opportunity offered him to serve the people of Kwara. NAN reports that Danbabas resignation has brought the number of aides that had disengaged from the service of the state government to two. He hailed from Kaiama Local Government area in the North Senatorial District of Kwara state. Speaking with NAN, Danbaba said his decision was borne out of the recent political re-alignment that saw Bukola Saraki-led political leadership in the state defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People Democratic Party (PDP) As a result of that political development, the people of my constituency in Kaiama local government felt they would not go with Saraki any longer because they have suffered protractedly lack of infrastructure development. And as a result, they would not toe the path of Saraki and I have consulted widely with my people and in view of the fact that the community suffered for a long period of time, I should also disengage from this government and come home and join the peoples party; that is the APC, he said. He lamented that the community had been cut off from the state as the three major roads that linked the community with other parts of the country are in pitiable condition. He explained that the people of the area were staunch supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari throughout his political foray. Buhari since his political foray has been consistently winning Kaiama local government. He won in 2003 as the ANPP Presidential Candidate, in 2007 as ANPP candidate again, He won only in Kaiama; in 2011, he won as CPC and 2015 as APC candidate. This is because we believe in his leadership; we believe he could provide effective leadership to the nation, he said. According to Daily Post, the announcement was made by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena. Nabena also told newsmen that the website address being circulated on social media is fake. According to the partys spokesman, Our internal investigation has revealed that the fake website is sponsored by one of the main opposition political parties in its desperate and criminal plot to harvest APC members ahead of the 2019 general elections. We have deliberately not named the political party and hereby call on relevant security agencies to urgently investigate the website and its sponsors. Meanwhile, we urge our teeming supporters and members to take advantage of the ongoing Continuous Nationwide Membership Registration exercise in all 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The exercise will include both fresh registrations and revalidation of existing membership for the purposes of issuance of the Partys permanent membership cards. Sometime in April 2018, an account on Twitter believed to be the ruling partys, was hijacked by hackers. The APC however disowned the Twitter account later. Israelis paid to hack Buhari's email Recently, Guardian UK and TheObserver, both reported that a London firm called Cambridge Analytica was allegedly hired by the Goodluck Jonathan campaign team just before the 2015 election to dig up dirt on then candidate, Muhammadu Buhari. "It's been quite a ride," McCain, who was tortured during five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, wrote in a memoir published earlier this year. "I've known great passions, seen amazing wonders, fought in a war and helped make peace. I made a small place for myself in the story of America and the history of my times." McCain, who had been receiving treatment in his home state of Arizona, was surrounded by his wife Cindy and his family during his final hours. "He was a great fire who burned bright, and we lived in his light and warmth," said Meghan McCain, one of the late senator's seven children -- three of them from a previous marriage. Near the driveway to his ranch in a rural part of Sedona, Arizona, a sign read "Sen McCain, thank you for your service." A police escort accompanied the hearse that carried his body, as a fiery sunset cast its last light over the rustic countryside McCain loved dearly, and local residents came bearing flowers for the late political titan. A steady stream of friends and colleagues had come to bid him farewell at his Arizona ranch in the months since his cancer diagnosis, in July 2017. US President Donald Trump, who once mocked McCain's war record, said he sent his "deepest sympathies and respect." McCain had been a rare and outspoken Republican critic of Trump, accusing him of "naivete," "egotism" and of sympathizing with autocrats. He made a decisive vote last year that killed Republican attempts to repeal Barack Obama's health care reforms, and Trump never forgave him. 'All in his debt' The sharp-tongued McCain had disagreements with many fellow politicians -- including inside his own camp -- but the Republican stalwart was widely recognized for his deep integrity, and condolences came swift from the highest reaches of American politics. "We are all in his debt," said former president Obama, the Democrat to whom McCain lost the presidency in 2008. "We shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher -- the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched and sacrificed." Democrat Bill Clinton hailed McCain for having "frequently put partisanship aside," while his former vice president Al Gore said he always admired how the senator "would work to find common ground, no matter how hard." "John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order," said former president George W. Bush, whom McCain sought and failed to defeat in 2000 and succeed in 2008. On Capitol Hill, McCain became close friends with Senator Lindsey Graham and former senator Joe Lieberman -- a trio dubbed the "Three Amigos." Now that the trio is missing its driving force, Graham wrote that "America and Freedom have lost one of her greatest champions... And I've lost one of my dearest friends and mentor." Hailing him as a "truth-teller" with "unsurpassed" dedication to the US and its military, the top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said he would seek to rename a Senate building in his honor. McCain stopped receiving cancer treatment earlier this week, his family saying "the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict." He had spent more than three decades in the Senate, looming large in debates over war and peace and the moral direction of the nation. Before joining the upper chamber, he served as a US representative from 1983 to 1987. Roger Hall is the highest profile voice behind the inaugural New Zealand Theatre Month running throughout September. As New Zealands well-known and beloved playwright, Mr Hall talks frankly about theatre in NZ today, traps it falls into but also its continued relevance and appeal. He discusses his remarkable career since immigrating to NZ, his triumphant return to London, bad decisions, writing for seminal NZ Television series like Buck House and Pukemanu, and the greats of NZ theatre writing. Mr Hall tells RadioLIVE that Aucklanders are generally unaware of the quantity and quality of theatre performances in the city, and are missing out on a multitude of captivating and entertaining performances. Graeme and Mr Hall also touch on Wellington, New Zealand's art city. He says Wellingtonians dont realise how much theatre can be found in Auckland. Mr Hall wants Aucklanders to be more aware too, and proud of the dramatic arts at our disposal. Graeme and Mr Hall discuss the biggest enemies to theatre TV and online streaming, winter weather, and the cost. He doesnt believe that theatres have recognised this, and that they are virtually stabbing themselves in the foot. Listen to the full interview with Roger Hall above. Weekend Variety Wireless with Graeme Hill, 8pm - midnight Saturdays and Sundays, on RadioLIVE and streaming live to the Rova app on Android and iPhone. RadioLIVE. WASHINGTON -- "Double standard?" President Donald Trump guffawed after Fox News anchor Ainsley Earhardt asked whether federal law enforcement has a double standard for how it handles allegations of wrongdoing by Republicans and Democrats. Trump had a little list of big disparities. For starters, Trump named "Awan," as in Imran Awan, a former House Democratic IT staffer who pleaded guilty to one count of lying on a loan application and was sentenced Tuesday in a federal court in Washington. The same day, a federal jury in Virginia found former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort guilty of five counts of tax fraud, two counts of bank fraud and one count of failing to disclose foreign bank accounts. The charges stemmed from special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election, even though they had nothing to do with the 2016 campaign or Russia. A Republican, 69-year-old Manafort faces up to 30 years in prison just for each of the two convictions for obtaining huge loans based on false information. Meanwhile, a federal judge sentenced Awan to time served -- one day of detention and 11 months of GPS monitoring, according to The Washington Post - and three months of supervision for a similar offense. "He got nothing," Trump complained to Fox News. The difference? Manafort's liar loans were in the millions; Awan's ill-gotten loan was in the low six figures. Manafort pleaded not guilty. Awan pleaded guilty and hence received a lesser sentence, no prison. One more difference: The Republican was a target of the special counsel's. Awan was the subject of conservative-media stories that questioned why Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., kept him on the payroll after he lost computer access because of alleged breaches of security protocol in February 2017, could no longer do his job and had been fired by most other Democratic House members. Trump remains baffled that Mueller's team is overturning every rock around the president to find collusion between his campaign and Russia while ignoring ties between Hillary Clinton's campaign and the Democratic Party and the author of a so-called dossier of dirt on Trump from Russian sources. "Both sides got information from the Russians," said Saikrishna Prakash of the University of Virginia's Miller Center. One thing I learned at Manafort's trial is that Rick Gates, Manafort's former right-hand man who reached a plea agreement in return for his testimony, met with the FBI in 2014 to discuss payments received when the two men were advising Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych before he fled Kiev that year. Gates testified that he told the FBI about offshore accounts. He also said that the agents, who were trying to recover looted assets, told him that neither he nor Manafort was under investigation. That's right. The FBI knew about Manafort's offshore accounts - which enabled Manafort to avoid millions in taxes - and did nothing. Until the special counsel got into the act. On Fox News Channel, Trump also belittled his former personal attorney Michael Cohen, another Mueller target, for "flipping" -- agreeing to testify against others (namely, Trump) in exchange for a reduced sentence. Documents released by federal prosecutors Tuesday include no stipulation that Cohen will testify against Trump. Still, by agreeing to plead guilty to eight counts, including two charges that involved the Trump campaign, Cohen won a lid of 63 months in prison. Those counts include bank fraud -- which could carry 30-year terms for Manafort. Trump argued that the two counts of campaign finance violations are bogus, that Cohen's payments to buy the silence of two women who said they had sexual relations with Trump had nothing to do with his 2016 campaign. Jurors found Manafort guilty because a trail of emails nailed him to clearly criminal behavior. Some of this behavior was dangled in front of the FBI in 2014 -- and nothing ensued. When the special counsel focused on Manafort, he charged him with five counts of tax fraud, four counts of failing to report foreign bank accounts and nine bank fraud counts. If he had been convicted on all 18 counts, Manafort would have faced 365 years in prison. Having been convicted on eight counts, the 69-year-old is looking at 80 years. Is there a person in America who thinks that 80 years is a fitting sentence for a batch of venal but nonviolent crimes by a first-time offender? Actually, there are many. They're called federal prosecutors. They are the same folks who defend life-without-parole sentences for first-time low-level drug offenders. They look at federal sentencing rules that let them put away fraudsters for 30 years on one bank fraud count and they think it's their destiny to deliver. Unless they decide not to. COPYRIGHT 2018 CREATORS.COM Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate , We're sorry, this article is not currently available Athens is known for its slew of concert venues and the sheer amount of shows every night around town. The process of getting these shows plann Suicide and depression are difficult topics to discuss, but conversations around them can pinpoint their cause. The cause could be due to a sense of purposeless unique to the millennial generation. The Red & Black compared the price of various items from the markets across campus to the prices of the same items found at Walmart. HARTFORD The Greater Hartford Association of REALTORS (GHAR) recently partnered with Catylist to power a Commercial Listing Service called CTCList (www.ctclist.com), according to a press release. CTCList connects commercial professionals, owners, tenants and investors looking to buy, sell and lease commercial properties throughout Connecticut, as well as nationally. The commercial real estate division of GHAR, CT Commercial Real Estate Alliance has overseen the project, which officially launched Aug. 1. In addition to local market exposure in Connecticut, CTCList members will have the ability to extend the reach of their marketing efforts through Catylists extensive network of locally managed commercial listing services in the United States. This includes the opportunity for investors, end users and tenants to prospect all possibilities when they are looking to buy, sell or lease commercial property throughout the state, according to the release. Commercial agents in Connecticut now have an affordable option to list, search and market commercial listings, said Joel Witkiewicz, Chairman of the CT Commercial RE Alliance, in a statement. We are excited to provide CTCList in order to broaden opportunities and connections with commercial professionals across North America, thanks to Catylists network. The service will include active listings auto-verified every 30 days, a member-managed sales/lease comparables database, broadcast email capabilities, customizable reports, market statistics and more. It is open to all agents statewide. To learn more, visit www.ctclist.com. Stark joins Weichert, Realtors - The Zubretsky Group WETHERSFIELD Weichert, Realtors -The Zubretsky Group in Wethersfield recently announced that Samantha Stark has joined their team of real estate agents. Stark will assist home buyers and sellers in the greater Hartford area with all of their real estate needs. We are thrilled to have someone with Samanthas passion for real estate join our team of talented agents, said John Zubretsky, Jr., the owner/broker at Weichert, Realtors - The Zubretsky Group, in a written statement. Her willingness to go above and beyond to assist her clients will be a tremendous asset to our company. We warmly welcome her to our office. Stark joins a team of agents at Weichert, Realtors - The Zubretsky Group, which brings many years of combined real estate expertise to its clients. She is also excited to take advantage of the various training programs and business tools provided by Weichert to help agents deliver the best real estate service available. Stark obtained her Connecticut real estate license in 2018. She is also a member of the Greater Hartford Association of Realtors and National Association of Realtors. A resident of Springfield, Massachusetts, Stark also earned multiple degrees from the Westfield State University in Westfield, Massachusetts. She holds a Bachelors of Science degree in criminal justice and a Bachelors of Arts degree in political science. Weichert, Realtors - The Zubretsky Group is an independently owned and operated Weichert affiliate. The offices serves the greater Hartford area. For more information about Weichert, Realtors - The Zubretsky Group, located at 449 Silas Deane Highway in Wethersfield, contact John Zubretsky, Jr. at 860-263-2121 or visit www.thezubretskygroup.com. Top Weichert agents named for July WETHERSFIELD Weichert, Realtors -The Zubretsky Group in Wethersfield is proud to announce its top agents for the month of July. Realtor Eli Joseph has been named the Top Sales Agent of the Month while REALTOR Paul Cranick was named the Top Listing Agent of the Month. Eli and Paul are both tremendously talented agents that continue to demonstrate their ability to be top performing real estate professionals with their respective production throughout July, said John Zubretsky, Jr., owner/broker at Weichert, Realtors - The Zubretsky Group, in a written statement. The two of them have earned the right to be recognized for their months production. Were proud to have them on our team to help provide home buyers and sellers the best real estate service in the area. For more information about Weichert, Realtors - The Zubretsky Group, located at 449 Silas Deane Highway in Wethersfield, contact John Zubretsky, Jr. at 860-263-2121 or visit www.thezubretskygroup.com. GHAR reports increase in home sales HARTFORD Closed sales of single family homes in greater Hartford increased 2.51 percent (from 1274 to 1306), according to the Greater Hartford Association of REALTORS (GHAR). The median sale price increased 7.14 percent (from $232,950 to $249,580) and new listings rose 0.82 percent (from 1699 to 1713), over July of last year. Inventory decreased 3.79 percent (from 5492 to 5284) during this same year-over-year timeframe. In year-to-date statistics, closed sales decreased 1.85 percent (from 11,924 to 11,704) and the median sale price increased 4.55 percent (from $220,000 to $230,000). New listings decreased 1.85 percent (from 11,924 to 11,704) from the beginning of the year, when compared to last year. Condominium closed sales decreased 0.39 percent (from 257 to 256) over July of last year. The median sale price increased 2.56 percent (from $154,000 to $157,950) and inventory decreased 10.50 percent (from 1228 to 1099), over July of 2017. In year-to-date statistics, condominium closed sales decreased 3.20 percent (from 1595 to 1544) and the median sale price rose 3.71 percent (from $142,700 to $148,000). This is the first uptick in home sales weve seen since April, stated GHAR CEO, Holly Callanan. Tightened inventory could mean multiple bids in this market. Using a Realtor is important for those looking to buy. In the national outlook, Lawrence Yun, National Association of REALTORS chief economist, says closings inched backwards in June and fell on an annual basis for the fourth straight month. There continues to be a mismatch since the spring between the growing level of homebuyer demand in most of the country in relation to the actual pace of home sales, which are declining, he said. The root cause is without a doubt the severe housing shortage that is not releasing its grip on the nations housing market. What is for sale in most areas is going under contract very fast and in many cases, has multiple offers. This dynamic is keeping home price growth elevated, pricing out would-be buyers and ultimately slowing sales. For more information, call 1.860.561.1800 or visit www.gharonline.com. KABUL -- Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has rejected the resignations of three senior security officials in his cabinet, after the countrys national security adviser stepped down and was replaced, his office says. An August 26 statement said Ghani asked Defense Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami, Interior Minister Wais Barmak, and Masoom Stanekzai, head of the National Directorate of Security, to remain at their posts and "work toward the betterment of the security situation." On August 25, a spokesman for Ghani confirmed to RFE/RL that the president had accepted the resignation of Mohammad Hanif Atmar, his national security adviser, and replaced him with Hamdullah Mohib, who previously served as the ambassador to the United States. Hours thereafter, media reports said Bahrami, Barmak, and Stanekzai had also resigned. The officials cited policy differences with the government amid a deteriorating security situation as the main reason for their decisions, according to Reuters. TOLOnews published a copy of what it said was security adviser Atmar's resignation letter explaining that he was resigning due to "serious differences over policies and approaches at the top level of government." The authenticity of the letter could not immediately be confirmed. Atmar had previously served as the country's interior minister under former Afghan President Hamid Karzai. He has served as a close aide to Ghani since 2014. The developments come amid a deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, which in recent weeks has been hit by several deadly attacks carried out by suspected Taliban or Islamic State (IS) militants, including a rocket attack near the presidential palace in Kabul. The Kabul government has struggled to fend off a resurgent Taliban, as well as IS and Al-Qaeda militants, nearly two decades after a U.S.-led coalition drove the Taliban from power in Afghanistan in 2001. Taliban leaders have so far ignored an offer by the Afghan government of direct peace negotiations, calling instead for direct talks with the United States. IS and Al-Qaeda militants were not included in the government offers of talks or cease-fires. Russia says it has invited the Taliban and 12 countries, including Afghanistan and the United States, to talks next month in Moscow. The United States and Afghanistan both said they would not attend the talks, with Kabul asserting it prefers instead to hold direct talks with the Taliban. With reporting by AP, TOLOnews, The New York Times, and dpa At least two people have been killed and four wounded in an explosion near the office of Afghanistans election commission in the eastern city of Jalalabad, where dozens of protesters had gathered, officials said. The AFP news agency reported that the Islamic State militant group had claimed responsibility for the August 25 attack. The protesters had gathered in support of a parliamentary candidate who electoral officials had disqualified over his suspected links with militant groups. Attahullah Khogyani, spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar Province, said the wounded were brought to a hospital, with one in critical condition. He said the number of casualties was likely to rise. Jalalabad has been the scene of multiple attacks in recent months that have killed dozens, as the Western-backed government in Kabul continues to struggle to fend off the Taliban and other militant groups since the withdrawal of most NATO troops from Afghanistan in 2014. Based on reporting by AP, AFP, Reuters, and TOLOnews In dire need of work to support her family in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, 30-year-old single mother Kanykey has opted to earn thousands of dollars by carrying a baby for a couple unable to conceive a child on their own. Surrogate motherhood is on the rise in predominantly Muslim Kyrgyzstan, despite society's aversion to unwed pregnant women. After getting a boost from a 2015 law that defines and protects the rights of the surrogate mother, the baby, and the adopting couple, new fertility clinics sprung up in this Central Asian country and surrogacy has flourished. There are now six such clinics in Kyrgyzstan that offer everything from in vitro fertilization (IVF) and implantation to artificial insemination and surrogacy. In Kyrgyzstan's family oriented society, where marriages can fall apart over the inability to conceive a baby, surrogacy provides an opportunity for couples to have a family without going abroad. And the country's strong laws on the practice have led to a boom in "fertility tourism" that has seen hundreds of foreign couples in recent years come to Kyrgyzstan in the hope of returning home with a newborn baby. For financially strapped women like Kanykey, surrogacy provides an opportunity to earn a relatively high income in a country where well-paid jobs are hard to come by and people often struggle to make ends meet. One of the most impoverished countries in Central Asia, the average monthly salary in Kyrgyzstan is some 14,000 soms, or about $220. I didnt have enough money to fend for myself and my child. I borrowed some money but wasnt able to pay it back. One day, I saw an advertisement on social media from an American couple looking for a surrogate mother in Bishkek." Kanykey doesnt want to give her full name for fear she would be ostracized by her family and friends, many of whom have very conservative attitudes on family matters and would frown upon a woman carrying another couple's baby. Many simply dont understand what surrogacy involves, Kanykey says. If she is fortunate and finds a surrogacy deal, it would be the second time for her. Her first experience was in 2015 when she carried a child for a U.S. couple, shortly after the law regulating surrogacy was passed. I didnt have enough money to fend for myself and my child. I borrowed some money but wasnt able to pay it back, Kanykey told RFE/RL. One day, I saw an advertisement on social media from an American couple looking for a surrogate mother in Bishkek." Kanykey responded to the ad and they arranged a meeting. She agreed to undergo medical tests to certify that she was physically and psychologically capable of being a surrogate mother. The test results were satisfactory and she went to a private clinic to go through the in vitro fertilization process and receive an embryo transfer. A surrogacy contract was drawn up, with the couple promising to pay Kanykey $15,000 in two installments. They also agreed to pay for all medical tests and treatments, as well as Kanykeys food while she was pregnant. Doctors, psychologists, and lawyers were involved in the process to explain everything to Kanykey and advise her of her rights. Legally Protected According to Kyrgyzstans law on "reproductive rights," healthy women between the ages of 20 and 40 who have had at least one child have the right to become a surrogate mother. The law stipulates that the couple paying for a surrogate baby cannot demand their money back if the child is stillborn or disabled. And the surrogate must refrain from smoking, taking drugs, or drinking alcohol while pregnant. In 2016, a surrogate mother from Kyrgyzstan's Naryn Province made headlines when she changed her mind and decided she wanted to keep the baby after giving birth. The woman said she felt a strong bond with the child but eventually handed it over to the biological parents. Growing Demand The Asymbekova Clinic in Bishkek was one of the first licensed medical facilities to provide services for couples willing to have a child delivered by a surrogate mother. Clinic head Gulnara Asymbekova says the number of people looking to hire a surrogate is increasing. "On average, one or two clients a day approach us looking for IVF, Asymbekova told RFE/RL. We give them the list of potential surrogate mothers. There are no official statistics in Kyrgyzstan about children born through surrogacy, due to medical confidentiality issues. Asymbekova said the clinic charges between $2,500 and $4,500 for the various medical procedures to conceive the child, depending largely on whether the couples uses its own egg or one from the surrogate mother. Those involved in surrogacy deals want to keep their business secret because many Kyrgyz dont accept the idea of a woman carrying the child of a man who is not her husband. The surrogate mothers fee is decided between the two parties, she explained. Although there is no set fee for a surrogate mothers services, according to one Kyrgyz media report some couples pay up to $30,000 to a surrogate mother. RFE/RL spoke with a Kyrgyz woman who, along with her husband, posted an online ad offering $5,000 to a surrogate mother to carry their child. The well-to-do Kyrgyz couple work in neighboring Kazakhstan. The woman, who requested anonymity, said she and her husband had tried for years to have a child themselves, without any success. I dont want to adopt a child. It has to be our own biological child, she said. Were hoping to find a surrogate. She would live with us. I need to control everything myself. I cant trust anyone." The woman said a dozen women from Naryn, Jalal-Abad, and other regions in Kyrgyzstan replied to her ad. Some of them are [only] 17 or 18 years old," she said. "We are now talking to about five women and we will pick one based on medical checkup results. The woman says the couple will not tell even close relatives that they are going to try to have a baby with a surrogate mother because of prejudice in society. Rumors And Stigmas Even in big cities like Bishkek, those involved in surrogacy deals -- both surrogate mothers and biological parents -- want to keep their business secret because many Kyrgyz dont accept the idea of a woman carrying the child of a man who is not her husband. One surrogate mother from Naryn said she lived in a rented place in Bishkek during her pregnancy while her sister looked after her children back home. When she returned home with the money she got for carrying the baby, she told everyone she had been working in Russia. Kanykey says she stayed in neighboring Kazakhstan most of the time while she was pregnant with the American couples child. Her family believed Kanykey had a job there and was working. But societys shaking head of disapproval will not stop Kanykey from becoming a surrogate mother again. With no job or professional training, Kanykey considers it a relatively easy way to earn money. Though Kyrgyzstan is not a major "rent-a-womb" destination like India, Ukraine, or Russia, with its strong legal protections, modern medical facilities, and women willing to be surrogate mothers, the baby business is booming. Written by Farangis Najibullah based on reporting by RFE/RL Kyrgyz Service correspondent Aigerim Akylbekova British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was returned to prison in Tehran after a request to extend her three-day temporary release was rejected by Iranian authorities, her husband says. Richard Ratcliffe said in a statement from Britain that his wife returned to the Evin prison to continue serving her sentence on August 26. Zaghari-Ratcliffe had left the prison on the morning of August 23 after being granted a temporary release and was reunited with her family in the town of Damavand, northeast of the capital. A support group named The Free Nazanin campaign released photos showing Zaghari-Ratcliffe hugging her 4-year-old daughter during her release. Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a project manager with the charitable Thomson Reuters Foundation, is serving a five-year sentence after being convicted of plotting against the Iranian government, a charge denied by her family and the foundation. Her employer and the British government say she was in Iran visiting relatives when she was arrested at Tehran airport in April 2016 while traveling home with her daughter. Iranian authorities and her lawyer could not immediately be reached for comment. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt on August 23 said her temporary release was "really good news" but said the action should be permanent. After reports of her return to prison, Hunt wrote on Twitter that attempts to free Zaghari-Ratcliffe would continue. "Looks like Iranian legal system is impervious to the simple fact at the heart of this: an innocent woman is desperate to be reunited with her family," Hunt said. "Spoke to Foreign Minister [Mohammad Javad] Zarif on [August 24] but that clearly wasn't enough. The fight goes on." In May, the head of Tehran's hard-line Revolutionary Court, Musa Ghazanfarabadi, said Zaghari-Ratcliffe was to face a second trial on new security charges, without providing more details. Richard Ratcliffe said his wife had learned of the new allegation of "spreading propaganda against the regime" at a hearing before a judge at the court. The Thomson Reuters Foundation said that it totally rejects "the renewed accusations that Nazanin is guilty of spreading propaganda. With reporting by Reuters, AP, The Daily Mail, and The Yorkshire Post Irans Defense Minister Amir Hatami has arrived in Syria on a two-day visit aimed at further developing bilateral cooperation, Iranian media report. "We hope to have a productive role in the reconstruction of Syria," Hatami was quoted as saying upon arrival in Damascus on August 26. Iran, along with Russia, has backed President Bashar al-Assad in the seven-year Syrian conflict, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and uprooted millions since it began with a government crackdown on protesters in March 2011. Irans semiofficial Tasnim news agency reported Hatami was scheduled to hold talks with Syrias top military and political officials on the latest developments in the region, joint action against terrorism, and ways to deepen military cooperation between Tehran and Damascus. The Iranian minister was also scheduled to hold talks with Assad, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. The visit comes as the conflict in Syria has turned heavily in Assads favor, with rebel forces being routed in many parts of the country. Syrian pro-government forces are preparing to launch an assault on the northwestern province of Idlib, the last major rebel stronghold. Last week, White House national security adviser John Bolton urged Moscow to help end Irans military presence in the war-ravaged country. The United States supports rebels fighting against Assads government. After meeting with Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of Russian President Vladimir Putin's Security Council, Bolton said in Geneva on August 23 that the two had discussed a series of steps that would lead to the removal of Iran's military presence in Syria. Before the meeting, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the U.S. insistence on the withdrawal of Iranian forces is a "reflection of the dominating aspiration in Washington to dictate to everyone else their own beliefs about what is good and what is bad." Israel has also expressed concern over Iran's growing influence in Syria, accusing Tehran of seeking to establish a foothold near the frontier with the Jewish state. During a visit to Lithuania on August 24, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized an EU economic aid plan for Iran, saying the money will go to the missiles and the Revolutionary Guards in Iran, Syria, and elsewhere in the Middle East." In recent months, Israeli jets have carried out a number of air strikes against suspected Iranian forces in Syria. Iranian officials say their military presence in Syria is at the invitation of the Damascus government and they have no immediate plans to withdraw. "No third party can affect the presence of Iranian advisers in Syria," Hatami told reporters in Damascus. More than 1,000 Iranians, including senior members of the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), have been killed in Syria since 2012, according to Reuters. With reporting by Reuters, AP, Tasmin, and IRNA Authorities say the head of Islamic State militants in Afghanistan has been killed in a strike on the group's hideouts in Nangarhar Province. The National Security Directorate said that in addition to Abu Saad Erhabi, 10 other members of the militant group were also killed in a joint ground and air operation by Afghan and foreign forces on August 25. The August 26 statement said a large amount of heavy and light weapons and ammunition were also destroyed. There was no immediate confirmation of the report. Amaq, the extremist group's news agency, carried no comment on the issue, and there was no reaction from the NATO-led Resolute Support mission. Sometimes known as Islamic State Khorasan, the group has built a stronghold in Nangarhar, on Afghanistan's porous eastern border with Pakistan. It's now one of the countrys most dangerous militant groups. It's unclear exactly how many Islamic State fighters are in the country, because they frequently switch allegiances. The U.S. military estimates that there are about 2,000. Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters Russian opposition activist Sergei Udaltsov has been hospitalized again as he continued a nearly two-week hunger strike in prison. Udaltsovs wife, Anastasia, told Russian news agencies on August 26 that the activist was being treated by doctors for dehydration. Udaltsov was sentenced to 30 days in jail earlier this month for burning portraits of Russian leaders during a protest against a government proposal to raise the national retirement age. The proposal is deeply unpopular and has sparked a series of nationwide protests. Its also helped to dent President Vladimir Putins popularity. Udaltsov was previously hospitalized on August 19, five days into his hunger strike, when he was taken to a Moscow hospital, also suffering from dehydration. Udaltsov and another activist, Leonid Razvozzhayev, were convicted in July 2014 of fomenting mass riots across Russia ahead of Putin's inauguration to a third term in 2012. Last year, he finished a 4 1/2-year prison sentence for that conviction. During his time in prison, spent mainly in a penal colony in central Tambov Province, he went on hunger strike several times. Russian officials have warned for years that the pension age needs to be raised, otherwise the countrys demographics could severely impact government budgets. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 25) Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque lauded the appointment made by President Rodrigo Duterte of a new Chief Justice. News of De Castros appointment broke Saturday afternoon. Her appointment will be formalized on Tuesday. Bravo! Best choice for CJ! Proven competence, known nationalist and a streak of being a judicial activist, said Roque, who was also appointed by Duterte. In an interview with CNN Philippines, Roque said that the appointment was made in reference to judicial careerism. Pinagbibigyan niya yung mga nanilbihan nang matagal na panahon sa pagdating sa promotion sa Judikatura, Roque said. [Translation: He is giving a chance to those who have served the Judiciary for a long time.] The appointment of former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno by former President Benigno Aquino III was unorthodox, breaking the tradition of appointing from the longest-serving associate justices. Roque said that seniority could be the only explanation why Duterte would appoint De Castro, who only has two months left before she turns 70, the compulsory age of retirement for a judge. Another Duterte appointee, Solicitor General Jose Calida said that justice will be well-served during De Castros tenure. We are elated because her legal brilliance, competence, fairness and integrity ensure that justice will be well-served during her tenure, Calida said in a statement. 42 days left to serve Having more or less two months left in her tenure, however, has become a sticking point to critics of De Castros appointment. She, along with six other justices, are facing impeachment complaints at the House of Representatives, for allegedly violating the Constitution when they had ousted Sereno through a quo warranto petition. READ: 4 Chief Justice applicants slapped with impeachment rap for voting vs. Sereno Representative Edcel Lagman, one of opposition solons who filed the impeachment complaint, said that the appointment, however short it might last, could be a reward for her role in ousting Sereno. Fealty to the high standards of ethics and morality required of Judicial officers should have compelled De Castro to forfeit her ambition said, Lagman said, adding that De Castro should have declined her nomination for the Chief Justice position. According to Lagman, De Castro has only 42 days left to serve as Chief Justice, which would not be enough time for her to get impeached should the complaint push through. Representative Gary Alejano, another proponent of the impeachment complaint, called the appointment bayad-utang, or payment for a debt or favor. Ang pagtatalaga ni Duterte kay Teresita De-Castro bilang Punong Mahistrado ay maliwanag na nagpapakita ng bayad-utang, kawalan ng delicadeza at kagarapalan sa gobyernong ito, Alejano said in a statement. [Translation: The appointment of Teresita De Castro as Chief Justice by Duterte is a clear payment of a debt, lack of delicadeza and shamelessness of this government.] Alejano said that with this appointment, De Castro would leave her post with all the retirement benefits of a Chief Justice instead of an associate justice. De Castro has spent 45 years as a public official, entering the Judiciary as a clerk at the Supreme Court in 1973, one year after she had graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Law. She rose through the ranks to associate justice of the Sandiganbayan in 1997, and then became the presiding justice of the anti-graft court in 2004. She was appointed as associate justice of the Supreme Court in 2007 by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who now sits as House Speaker. Oregon Coast At Its Warmest: Second Summer Arrives Soon, Video Published 08/25/2018 at 4:37 AM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff (Oregon Coast) The best is yet to come on the Oregon coast. The most pleasant conditions of the year are right around the corner. What's nicknamed the "Second Summer" is actually sometimes referred to by locals as the first summer, given that summers there don't always live up to that name. It means the nicest weather of the year for the beaches: hardly any wind, more blue skies, and certainly the warmest temps of the entire year. The effect gets even more remarkable when you're at the breakers, right at the tideline. If there's no wind and temps are in the 70s or even upper 60s, it will feel as much as ten degrees warmer because the ocean and the sand reflect the sun back. Generally, it runs through the middle of October, and then the coastline starts to take on its usual blustery pattern of increasing storms. However, about half the time the end of October sees a brief resurgence of these near-tropical wonders, at least for a few days scattered about the last week or two. It's a time that's attractive and full of all sorts of temptations. Beyond the fine weather factors, lodging prices really drop and it's certainly less crowded. September tends to remain near summer numbers for people, though weekends are less, but all that starts to halt as soon as October rolls around. This isn't 100 percent, of course. In fact, some years don't see much of the pleasant phenomenon. Last year featured more rainy or cloudy days in September and early October than usual. Another September a few years back actually saw a horrendous windstorm that kicked in and canceled the SOLVE Beach Cleanup. The science behind it is a kick in the pants. The primary forces are that the ocean has been heated up over the summer, and the inland area cools just a bit. This makes for less of a temperature difference between the two, which allows for more winds from the east and from the south to come in, warming it even further. Yet another warming factor is that east winds get heated up a bit by coming over the Oregon Coast Range. Those lesser temperature differences kill that effect of the inland sucking moisture off the ocean, which is what creates fog and what helps creates wind. So the winds are less, and thus when the nicer weather patterns come into the area, you have yet another warming factor. Essentially, according to regional weather experts, the normally tempestuous coastline calms down because of these heating influences. As long as a more sunny weather system comes in, that is. If weather patterns have something different in mind, it's simply rainy. Keep your eye on the weather reports, especially weekdays or early October, and be ready to head out to the Oregon coast on short notice. You may find it extraordinary, and likely you'll see better weather than you did during summer. - Oregon Coast Weather - Oregon Coast Lodgings for this event - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Dozens of expatriate Moldovans have protested in Brussels against Moldovan government policies. The August 26 rally outside the headquarters of the European Commission slammed Moldova's recent changes in its electoral system and the annulment of the mayoral election in the country's capital, Chisinau. The protesters signed a joint statement that they are planning to send to leading institutions of the European Union. U.S. Senator John McCain, a six-term Republican senator from Arizona and war hero who endured almost six years of torture and captivity in the infamous Hanoi Hilton, has died. He was 81. Known for his combativeness throughout his decades-long stint in the Senate and two failed U.S. presidential bids, McCain continued to battle brain cancer and the debilitating side effects of his aggressive treatment before succumbing to the illness on August 25. With his time running out, in recent months McCain had surrounded himself with family and friends at his Arizona ranch and published what would turn out to be his last book, The Restless Wave: Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights, And Other Appreciations. In his book, McCain admitted he had no idea how much time he had left to live, though that didn't stop him from taking swipes at current President Donald Trump, voicing regret for choosing former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate in the 2008 presidential campaign, and worrying about the country's international reputation over a tall glass of Absolut Elyx vodka on ice. A longtime chairman of the Senate's Armed Services Committee, McCain was considered an expert on defense and foreign-policy issues. McCain was born at the U.S.'s Coco Solo Naval Station in Panama on August 29, 1936, into a family with a deep military history. Family Footsteps Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both four-star admirals, he graduated from the Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1958. Less than a decade later, he was deployed to Vietnam, where his plane was shot down over Hanoi and his legend was born. Despite two broken arms, a broken knee, routine torture, and lengthy stretches in solitary confinement, McCain refused offers of early release from captivity, saying he'd only leave when the last U.S. prisoner was heading out the door as well. "I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone else's [country]," he said in his acceptance speech for the Republican nomination in the 2008 presidential race. "I loved [the United States] for its decency, for its faith in the wisdom, justice, and goodness of its people. I loved it because it was not just a place but an idea, a cause worth fighting for. I was never the same again; I wasn't my own man anymore; I was my country's." His words belied his actions. Make no mistake about it, John McCain was still his own man. As a senator he challenged presidents regardless of party affiliation if he felt their policies weren't in line with his views. In the eyes of the public, he went from war hero to political icon, earning a reputation as a maverick. During his first term in Congress, in the House of Representatives, he stood up to President Ronald Reagan, a revered Republican to this day, over Reagan's decision to station peacekeeping Marines in Beirut with limited defensive capabilities. McCain's concerns proved right after a suicide bomber drove straight into the barracks, killing 241 Marines in the October 1983 attack. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986. His legend only grew as he consistently confronted another Republican president, George W. Bush, over tax cuts, torture allegations, and U.S. strategy in Iraq. McCain was just as hard on leaders of the Democratic Party. He was one of President Barack Obama's fiercest foreign-policy critics, sharply questioning a decision to pull troops from Iraq and his refusal to enforce his "red line" on Syria after President Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons against his own people. Antagonist In Chief Things changed little when Republican Donald Trump took over in the White House in 2017. McCain was cast in the unlikely role of the president's chief antagonist. The two often clashed publicly over foreign policy, especially with regard to Syria, Russia, and China. Trump, who routinely denigrates Republicans and Democrats who cross him, called McCain "incompetent." As a presidential candidate, Trump famously mocked McCain for being "a war hero because he was captured," while Trump, who never served in the military, said he liked "people that weren't captured." But McCain was also accused of waffling on many key issues during his career such as immigration policy, abortion, and tax cuts as his views sometimes evolved over time. He supported the Iraq war and was ridiculed for choosing the little-known Palin as his running mate in the 2008 presidential election that he lost by a substantial margin to Obama. On the international stage, McCain was known for his straight talk -- which rubbed some people the wrong way -- and his folksy language that often made difficult political issues easier to understand. He was a strong advocate for Eastern European nations joining NATO. In April 2017, McCain visited Montenegro and said the tiny Adriatic nation's accession to the Western security alliance -- attained several weeks later -- was vital for regional stability and the joint effort of the Western allies to resist a resurgent Russia. 'Old World' Views Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview excerpt released on June 8, 2017, that McCain, his longtime critic who once said Putin was a bigger threat to the world than the extremist Islamic State group, was living in the "old world." McCain also famously referred to Russia as "a gas station masquerading as a country." Nonetheless, Putin added that he admired the former Republican presidential candidate's patriotism. Putin likened McCain to the ancient Roman senator Marcus Porcius Cato the Elder, who always finished his speeches using the same words: "Carthage must be destroyed." "People with such convictions like the senator you mentioned (McCain), they still live in the old world. And they're reluctant to look into the future, they are unwilling to recognize how fast the world is changing," Putin said. "I like Senator McCain to a certain extent. And I'm not joking. I like him because of his patriotism, and I can relate to his consistency in fighting for the interests of his own country," the Russian leader added. McCain is survived by his wife of 38 years, Cindy, and five children. He also has two stepchildren from a previous marriage. The Russian Embassy in London mocked the British military and says its armed forces pose no threat to Britain two days after U.K. Typhoon jets based in Romania scrambled to investigate Russian aircraft heading toward NATO airspace. What kind of threat to Britain or its allies does a Russian patrol aircraft hypothetically pose while conducting flights off Russia's own shore, some 1,500 miles away from the U.K.?" the embassy said in a statement on August 25. On Twitter, the embassy wrote: A TYPHOON is SCRAMBLED to DETER a 50-years-old Russian PATROL plane off Russia's own shore, 1,500 miles away from Britain. Reckless and provocative. Congrats to UK taxpayers. The comments came after British Typhoon jets based in Romania twice in three days scrambled to investigate what the British Ministry of Defense said were "provocative" Russian aircraft flying on a path toward NATO airspace. On August 23, the jets launched from the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base near the Romanian city of Constanta in response to a Russian Be-12 maritime patrol aircraft heading south over the Black Sea from Crimea. The Typhoons were operating in accordance with NATOs enhanced air-policing mission designed to deter Russian aggression, reassure Romania and assure NATO allies of the U.K. commitment to collective defense, the ministry said. On August 21, two British Typhoon jets from the same Romanian air base scrambled to investigate suspected Russian fighter aircraft operating in the region. The ministry said the Typhoons launched when two suspected Russian Su-30 Flanker aircraft appeared to be heading toward NATO airspace from Crimea. The statements did not say if the aircraft actually entered NATO airspace. Britains defense secretary, Gavin Williamson, said after the incidents that our commitment to NATO and European security is unwavering. Whether in the skies over the Black Sea and the Baltic, or on the ground in Estonia, our actions send a clear message -- we are collectively ready to respond to any act of aggression and will support our Eastern European allies to deter any threats faced. Encounters between Russian and NATO warplanes have increased in recent years as Moscow has demonstrated its resurgent military might. Russia also has increased the presence of its navy in the Mediterranean, Black Sea, and other areas. Tensions are high in the region since Moscow's 2014 takeover and illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, a move that led to Western sanctions being imposed against Russia. Tributes from former U.S. presidents, lawmakers, and world leaders poured in for U.S. Senator John McCain, a day after the veteran Republican politician, war hero, and former presidential candidate died of brain cancer. With flags at the White House flying at half staff, President Donald Trump, who frequently clashed with McCain and even mocked his time in captivity in North Vietnam, hailed the Arizona senator. My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you, he said in a post to Twitter. Trumps predecessor, Barack Obama, who defeated the Republican senator in the 2008 presidential election, said that "we are all in his debt." "John McCain and I were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds, and competed at the highest level of politics," Obama said in a statement. "But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher -- the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed." British Prime Minister Theresa May said McCain "embodied the idea of service over self," and French President Emmanuel Macron called the senator "a true American hero [whose] voice will be missed." In Germany, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said McCain stood for an America "that is a reliable and close partner...that takes strong responsibility for others and sticks to its values and principles even at difficult moments." In a statement released on August 25, his family said McCain had died at 4:28 p.m. in his home state. His wife, Cindy, and other members of his family were present. He died less than 48 hours after his family announced that he was discontinuing treatment for the brain cancer that was first diagnosed in 2017. McCain will receive a full-dress funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral, his family said. News reports said both Obama and former President George W. Bush would speak at his funeral. Trump, however, will not. Vice President Mike Pence is expected to represent the current administration at the ceremony. Citing family friends, CNN reported that McCain told his family he did not want Trump to attend. McCain was particularly critical of Trumps praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders McCain called foreign "tyrants." After Trump met Putin in Helsinki in July, McCain castigated Trump, calling their joint news conference "one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory." He said Trump was "not only unable but unwilling to stand up to Putin." McCain was often praised for his willingness to cooperate with Democrats on difficult issues. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis hailed the man many considered a war hero, saying, We have lost a man who steadfastly represented the best ideals of our country." McCain, a longtime chairman of the Senate's Armed Services Committee, was considered an expert on defense and foreign-policy issues. In 2017, McCain made a key vote in the Senate to reject Trumps effort to overturn Obamas signature health-care plan. That angered Trump. The son and grandson of U.S. Navy admirals, McCain endured almost six years of torture and captivity in a North Vietnam prison after his plane was shot down in 1967 on a mission during the long U.S. war. After learning of his family connections, his North Vietnamese captors offered him early release in what would have been a propaganda ploy. McCain refused to leave and said those captured before him should be the first to leave. McCain returned home 5 1/2 years later on crutches and never regained full mobility in his arms and leg. Early in the 2016 election primary season, before he had secured the Republican nomination, Trump mocked McCain's time in captivity, asserting that he wasn't a war hero because he had been captured by the North Vietnamese. The vacancy created by McCain's death narrows the number of Republican-held seats in the 100-member U.S. Senate to 50, with Democrats controlling 49. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, a Republican, was expected to appoint a member of his own party to succeed McCain. With reporting by AP and Reuters CHISINAU -- Thousands of people have rallied in Moldova's capital to protest against the Democratic Party-led government. The August 26 rally was the latest in a series of protests against the government, protests that have been driven in large part by Romanians and Moldovans living out of the county. Participants are angered by the policies of the government led by the Democratic Party, which is headed by controversial billionaire Vladimir Plahotniuc. Popular anger has also been stoked by recent court decisions that annulled the results of the mayoral election in Chisinau. Waving Moldovan and Euopean Union flags, they chanted slogans such as "Down With The Mafia" and "Send Plahotniuc To Jail." The demonstration was organized by the pro-European Action and Solidarity Party, the Dignity and Truth Platform, and Liberal Democrat Party in Moldova. Two other gatherings were also scheduled to be held on the central square, including a rally by drivers demanding lower fuel prices. Speaking at the antigovernment demonstration, protest leader Maia Sandu called on opposition supporters to separate themselves from the two other rallies, which she said were organized to disrupt the protest. Supporters of Ilan Shor, the mayor of the eastern town of Orhei, also came to the central square to attend a concert. At a similar protest in Brussels, around two dozen activists gathered outside the headquarters of the European Commission, criticizing the Chisinau mayoral election decision and other recent electoral changes. Several waved Romanian and Moldova flags and held a banner reading Do Not Support Corrupt Oligarchs In Moldova. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Thousands of people rallied on August 26 in Moldova's capital to protest against the government. The event was the latest in a series of protests against the ruling Democratic Party, which is headed by controversial billionaire Vladimir Plahotniuc. Two people were killed and one wounded in a shooting along Tajikistans border with Afghanistan. A security official in the Farkhor district told RFE/RL that the three people were loggers and that their car had been targeted from across the border. It was unclear whether they were hit by small-arms or mortar fire. However, the news site Akhbor reported their car was hit by mortar fire. The Tajik Border Guard Service told RFE/RL it had no information about the incident. Local residents reported law enforcement units were in the area, with helicopters flying overhead. Khalil Asir, a press secretary for police in the Afghan province of Takhor, which abuts the border, said he had been notified about a shooting but had no information yet. He noted that the province has a strong presence of Taliban fighters. Tajikistan has a nearly 1,400-kilometer border with Afghanistan. The border is largely porous, with people, contraband, weaponry, and drugs flowing back and forth. Earlier this year, Radzhabali Rakhmonali, the commander of the Tajik Border Guard Service, warned that up to 7,000 Taliban fighters were believed to be scattered along the Tajik-Afghan border. Gemfields to auction exceptional emerald collection Gemfields says it is set to auction its largest collection of Zambian emeralds ever to be offered at auction. Comprising over 45 lots, the collection hosted by Phillips includes 993 carats of fine Zambian emeralds, it said in a statement. Titans net profit surges 4-fold to $85.58 mn in Q2 Tata Group firm Titan Company reported a nearly four-fold surge in consolidated net profit at $85.58 mn for the September quarter compared with $23.10 mn in the same quarter last year. China discovers large gold mine in Henan province A large gold mine with an initially estimated gold reserve of 31.55 tonnes has been discovered in central Chinas Henan province, the Chinese media reported. According to the provincial bureau of geology and mineral exploration and development, the mine... Englishwoman nearly discards diamond worth $3M after mistaking it for toy A UK woman nearly missed the windfall of a lifetime after almost tossing a near $3 million diamond because she thought it was fake, nypost.com reports. Cong leaders defend Rahul on 84 issue Senior Congress leaders and ministers from Punjab today defended party president Rahul Gandhi over his statement he made about 1984 riots in London. They alleged that the Akalis were deliberately distorting his remarks to divert public attention after being exposed for their role in Bargadi sacrilege and subsequent killing of innocent Sikhs protesting the sacrilege in Kotkapura. In a joint statement here today, the leaders said, the Badal family, including Sukhbir Singh Badal, Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Bikram Singh Majithia, were trying to distort Rahuls statement in order to divert the attention from the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission Report on Bargadi issue that is going to prove as death knell for them. Sukhbir Singh Badal Advertisement The ministers and leaders including Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria and Kuljit Nagra said that Rahul Gandhi had clearly and unequivocally condemned the riots. They pointed out, Ms Sonia Gandhi had personally gone to Darbar Sahab and apologised and so had former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh expressed regrets on the issue. And now trying to drag Rahul into the issue is highly condemnable, they said. Normally the Badals are used to raking up the 84 issue during the elections, however this time they are faced with more serious emergency as their survival is at stake in view of the Bargadi revelations that are certain to script their political obituary and that is the reason they have resorted to such dirty tricks, the leaders said. Sonia Gandhi had personally gone to Darbar Sahib and apologized They observed that the Badals were cleverly trying to use the diversionary tactics. But it is already too late for them as they stand exposed for what they did in Bargadi to the extent of resorting to outrageous acts like sacrilege to save their skin and people of Punjab were not going to forgive them for this, they said, adding, they cannot keep on fooling people all the time. Come Monday and the Badals will run for cover as people of Punjab in general and the Sikhs in particular will hold them in dock once they come to know how low they stooped to the extent of resorting to sacrilegious acts and wanton killing of the protestors for petty political gains, they said, while advising the Badals to search for a better defence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today condoled the demise of US Senator John McCain Prime Minister Narendra Modi today condoled the demise of US Senator John McCain, who died of brain cancer, describing him as a "steadfast friend" of India. "Deeply saddened by the demise of Senator John McCain. People of India join me in sincerely condoling the loss of a steadfast friend. His statesmanship, courage, conviction and understanding of global affairs will be missed," Modi wrote on Twitter. Deeply saddened by the demise of Senator John McCain. People of India join me in sincerely condoling the loss of a steadfast friend. His statesmanship, courage, conviction and understanding of global affairs will be missed. Condolences to his family and well-wishers. pic.twitter.com/glYQx0EwYK Advertisement August 26, 2018 A Vietnam war hero and a towering figure in the American political scene, McCain, who turned out to be a prominent critic of US President Donald Trump, died yesterday at his home in Arizona at 4.28 pm local time, following a battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch here on September 7 the second phase of the FAME India scheme offering incentives for mass adoption of electric vehicles with an outlay of Rs 5,500 crore, officials said. The modalities of the scheme have been finalised by an inter-ministerial panel and it will soon be placed before the union Cabinet for approval, sources said, adding that the prime minister would unveil the scheme at the inaugural session of the 'MOVE' -- a global mobility summit to be organised here on September 7-8 -- in the presence of several global CEOs from the automotive sector. FAME India scheme offering incentives for mass adoption of electric vehicles Advertisement In April, the government had extended the phase 1 of the FAME India scheme by six months till September-end or till its second phase is approved. The first phase of the scheme was initially proposed for two years till March 31, 2017 but was extended twice for six months up to March 31, 2018. The second phase of the scheme spanning five years will offer subsidy to all categories of electric vehicles, including two-wheelers, three-wheelers and four-wheelers including taxis and electric buses used in public transportation, to promote green vehicles and check pollution. It will also envisage setting up massive charging infrastructure to support electric vehicles, senior officials said. However, strong hybrid vehicles, which were entitled to incentives in the ongoing pilot phase of the scheme, will not be able to avail sops in the second phase. At present, the incentive is being offered on purchase of strong hybrid and electric cars, two-wheelers and three-wheelers under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Strong) Hybrid and Electric vehicles in India (FAME India-I) scheme. Hybrid and Electric vehicles in India Advertisement Under the scheme, depending on technology, battery-operated scooters and motorcycles are eligible for incentives ranging between Rs 1,800 to Rs 29,000, while in three-wheelers it is between Rs 3,300 and Rs 61,000. Automotive manufacturers claim the incentive from the government at the end of each month. With an aim to promote ecofriendly vehicles, the government had launched the FAME India scheme in 2015. The ongoing pilot phase of the scheme was earlier extended till September this year or until its second phase is approved. Congress President Rahul Gandhi Congress President Rahul Gandhi today alleged that the judiciary and election commission were being "torn apart" under the BJP government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was keeping mum on grave issues confronting the nation. Addressing the Indian Overseas Congress in London, he said the prime minister insulted every Indian by saying that nothing had happened in the last 70 years. "India shows the future to the world. The people of India made this possible, and the Congress helped them," he said. "If the prime minister says nothing had happened before he assumed office, he is not commenting on the Congress, he is insulting every person of the country," Gandhi said. He alleged that at present, Dalits, farmers, tribal people, minorities, the poor in India are told they will not get anything, and "if they raise their voice, they are beaten up". The SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act has been "destroyed, and scholarships have been discontinued", he claimed. "Today in India, people are discriminated against on the basis of caste and religion. Marginalised are betrayed, while people like Anil Ambani benefit," he alleged. Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government on the Rafale deal, Gandhi said that the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited had been manufacturing aircraft for the last 50 years, but the contract was given to "someone who floated his company just 19 days before the deal". Advertisement Prime Minister Narendra Modi "Nobody will get anything. Only Ambani will get everything. This man has accrued a debt of Rs 45,000 crore," the Congress president alleged. Gandhi has been attacking the BJP government for allegedly inking the deal at a much higher price than the one the previous UPA regime had negotiated to benefit "one businessman". Facing allegations of getting undue benefits from the multi-billion dollar Rafale deal, Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group has sent legal notices to several Congress leaders asking them to "cease and desist" from levelling such charges. Reliance Group has denied the allegations relating to the deal under which France's Dassault is supplying the fighter jets and has entered into a joint venture with an Anil Ambani-led group firm to meet its offset requirement of the contract. Ambani recently wrote to Gandhi on the deal saying his party has been "misinformed, misdirected and misled" by "malicious vested interests and corporate rivals" on the issue. Gandhi said, "When the farmers of Karnataka and Telangana ask for loan waiver, PM Modi says this is not our policy. India's handful of richest businessmen have NPAs of Rs 12.5 lakh crore, but the prime minister says nothing." Advertisement Anil Ambani He alleged that the prime minister kept quiet "when his own party's MLA raped a woman and when Nirav Modi ran away with people's money." "Institutions such as the Supreme Court, Election Commission, Reserve Bank of India, which are the walls of our country, are being torn apart now," he alleged. It was the first time that four senior-most judges of the apex court come out in public earlier this year to say they were not being allowed to work, he said. "I do not use bad language for the prime minister. And if you have listened to the debate on the Rafale deal in Parliament, you would have seen that the PM could not answer my questions," he said. Gandhi said China creates 50,000 jobs a day, while India creates only 450, and unemployment was a pressing issue. "Our farmers need help. Our youth needs education, elderly people need health care. But, there is no discussion on the issues of farmers, education and health care," he said. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday lashed out at Sukhbir Singh Badal for the unwarranted and uncalled attack on Rahul Gandhi on the issue of 1984 riots. Castigating the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president for his statement that Rahul was a partner (bhagidar) in the crime, the Chief Minister said the Gandhi scion was in school at the time of Operation Blue Star. To blame him for anything was totally absurd, said Captain Amarinder Singh, in a hard-hitting statement issued here. Sukhbir Singh Badal Advertisement To hold Rahul responsible for an act which he was not even aware of at the time it happened was completely ridiculous, said the Chief Minister, lashing out at Sukhbir over his senseless statement. The Congress, as a party, was never involved in the riots, that continue to haunt the Sikh community, the Chief Minister said. He said that if any individual was involved, he/she would be dealt with as per the law. To blame the entire party for the acts of a few was preposterous and typical of the political immaturity of Sukhbir, the Chief Minister said. Captain Amarinder Singh said that Rahuls latest comments need to be seen in context with his earlier statements on 1984 riots, wherein he himself had named some Congressmen. Gandhi scion was in school at the time of Operation Blue Star: Captain You cannot blame an entire party because of the acts of such individuals, said the Chief Minister while reiterating that whosoever was involved in the senseless killings in 1984 should be hanged, irrespective of his/her political affiliations. Such thoughtless and superfluous statements were typical of the Akalis, particularly the Badals, said Captain Amarinder Singh, adding that Sukhbirs comments were a clear sign of his frustration at the complete political alienation of SAD in Punjab. How else could one explain the senseless interpretation that Sukhbir had given to the remarks made by Rahul on the issue of the 1984 riots, asked the Chief Minister, adding that the it was evident that the Akalis obviously did not have either the maturity or the sensitivity to understood or appreciate the sentiment behind the regrets expressed by Dr. Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi on the issue. Advertisement Rahul Gandhi, in his speech, had unambiguously condemned all sorts of violence: CM Their statements were never an admission of guilt or Congress partys involvement in the riots, said Captain Amarinder Singh, and added that there was, thus, no question of a volte face by Rahul. By attacking Rahul on the issue, and saying that he knew about the role of any individual Congress leaders in the riots, Sukhbir had only exposed his fear of the Congress presidents growing popularity, both in India and abroad, said the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister said that Rahul Gandhi, in his speech, had unambiguously condemned all sorts of violence, including 1984 riots, and had called for strict punishment to its perpetrators. Captain Amarinder Singh said, it is unfortunate that due to delays caused by the judicial system, justice had been denied to many victims of the 1984 riots. A controversial bill requiring that publicly traded California companies include women on their boards of directors heads to the Assembly floor this week. SB826, which is opposed by many business groups, would make California the first state with such a mandate. State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara, the bills author, said its important for businesses to have a perspective from women and time to blow that glass ceiling up. By having more women on boards of directors, we can assure greater protections in the workplace against things like sexual harassment, she said. The bill has already passed the state Senate, though it would need to return there for final approval if it gets through the Assembly, which has added amendments. The legislation would require that each public corporate board in the state include at least one woman by the end of 2019. This requirement would grow to two for five-member boards and three for corporations with at least six board members by 2021. While many major companies in the Bay Area already meet the minimum requirements, some do not. San Franciscos Nektar Therapeutics and FibroGen currently have no women on their boards. FibroGen is committed to diversity for the entire corporation, and we have significant diversity among our executive team, including gender diversity, FibroGen spokeswoman Karen Bergman said in a statement. We are always seeking qualified board candidates and to increase the diversity of our board of directors. Nektar Therapeutics, the best-performing company last year in a Bloomberg index of Bay Area stocks, was unavailable for comment. Airbnb, which could go public next year, expanded its board Thursday to seven members and added its first woman. Ann Mather, the new member and a former chief financial officer at Pixar, also serves on the boards of Alphabet (which has two women out of 11 members) and Netflix (which has four women out of 11 members). The legislation permits creating an extra seat to add a female board member, though some companies would have to seek shareholder permission to change their bylaws to do so. Of the 467 publicly traded California companies in the Russell 3000 index, female directors hold 546 seats 15.8 percent of the 3,445 total seats on boards of directors, according to Bloomberg. The California Chamber of Commerce opposes the bill, as do a number of other trade groups, including the California Grocers Association, the California Restaurant Association, the California Trucking Association and the California Manufacturers & Technology Association. California manufacturers are always looking to diversify their workforce and their executive leadership, which is why we understand the intent of SB826 but oppose the manner, Dorothy Rothrock, president of the manufacturers and technology group, said in a statement. A state law that requires California-based companies to either arbitrarily dismiss a male member of their board of directors or create a new seat on their board without allowing men to be hired or elected to that position violates the U.S. and state constitutions. The California Chamber of Commerce declined to comment directly, instead referring to a letter signed by itself and more than two dozen other business groups. While greater diversity on boards is important, the letter said, We are concerned that the mandate under SB826 that focuses only on gender potentially elevates it as a priority over other aspects of diversity. The bill, if passed, could be tested by legal challenges. "To the extent that the California legislation mandates the composition of boards of directors of corporations chartered outside of California, the legislation is almost certainly unconstitutional, even if the corporations' headquarters are in California, Joseph Grundfest, a corporate governance expert at Stanford Law School, said in an email. A challenger could argue that its government imposed gender based law, and therefore should be subject to scrutiny under the equal protection clause, Kristin Linsley, a partner at the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, said in an email. The question under that clause would be, is there a distinction based on sex, and if so, is there a compelling government justification for it? Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Jackson carried a resolution in 2013 that passed both houses of the Legislature, urging public California companies to boost the number of women on their boards by the end of 2016. A few European countries, including Norway and Germany, have enacted quotas for women in boardrooms. The percentage of women on company boards in Norway has risen from around 20 percent in 2003 to more than 40 percent in 2017, according to the Economist. The bill defines female as an individual who self-identifies her gender as a woman, without regard to the individuals designated sex at birth, meaning it includes transgender women. Alison Davis, who is on the board of Sunnyvale telecommunications company Ooma, supports the bill. She has served on more than 20 corporate boards and recalls being the only woman on many of them. It should be a wake-up call to California, because were a progressive state, Davis said. Were not doing as well as we could be and should be. Some tech companies have already hit parity. Four of the eight board members of Zendesk, a San Francisco customer service software company, are women. The same is true for San Francisco video game company Zynga. Boards are a closed, stagnant system that primarily benefits a traditional network of primarily white men and their friends, said Amii Barnard-Bahn, who testified at the state Capitol in support of Jacksons bill. She is a member of the Bay Area leadership council of 2020 Women on Boards, a national campaign to increase the percentage of women on company boards nationwide to at least 20 percent by 2020. Its not something thats transparent and public, Barnard-Bahn said. Women have not been able to break in. Rebecca Aydin is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rebecca.aydin@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @beckyaydin Dawn Shaw, a retired legal secretary in northern Maine, made two stops weekly without fail. One was her church. The other was her local bank, where she swapped stories about her children and their families with the branch manager. Gradually, Shaw, a widow, began showing signs of confusion, prompting the manager to check her account. The manager found an automatic monthly withdrawal had recently been set up. She knew Shaw did her banking in person, not electronically, so she notified Shaws nearest daughter, Cathy. They discovered someone had used Shaws banking information to steal her money. It wasnt a lot of money, said Shaws other daughter, Judith, who is the administrator of the Maine Office of Securities. But it made me realize why it is important for front-line bank employees to identify red flags early. It was not only her meticulous mother who was being defrauded. In the last decade, Judith Shaw said, there has been a steady rise in financial fraud against older people in Maine. Her mothers experience a few years ago prompted this idea: Encourage state officials to start a pilot program that would train bank employees to recognize suspicious activity, like sudden large transfers, in exchange for greater protection from legal liability for reporting it. In early 2014, hundreds of employees at Maines banks and other financial institutions began learning how to recognize unusual account activity that might indicate fraud or financial exploitation. The pilot program went so well that one of Maines senators, Susan Collins, introduced legislation to take it national. The result, the Senior Safe Act, which became law in May, gives banks that accept such training more certainty that they would not be punished for disclosing account information to the authorities. Without that protection, banks and their employees run the risk of being sued by clients, or fined or penalized by regulators. As Baby Boomers hit their milestones and retire, theres been a growing focus on what we can report, said Robert Rowe, associate chief counsel for the American Bankers Association. The law gives us safe harbor to report suspicious activity. The act is too new to have a national track record, but in Maine, Shaw said that since 2014, reports to her office about seniors being exploited financially jumped to a total of 70 from zero. That may not seem like much nationally, she said, but its a lot for a small state like Maine. Retirees across the country are increasingly the targets of various financial frauds, with 1 in 5 saying that they have been the victim of some form of financial abuse, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Despite efforts to combat it, instances of fraud abound. The Federal Trade Commission, for example, received 2.7 million reports of it in 2017. That figure covers only some of the varied kinds of fraud that can drain a persons bank account, and makes it impossible to know the overall amount of victims losses. True Link Financial, a financial services firm for older people, pins the cost to older consumers at $36.5 billion annually. As customers age, they become a prime target for fraud, experts say, because they can have a lifetime of savings sitting in their accounts. More than 60 percent of bank customers are older than 50, and they hold 70 percent of deposit balances, according to a 2017 survey by the American Bankers Association. Frauds involving bank accounts come in many forms, including check washing, the practice of erasing and substituting different information on a check; duplicating checks; unauthorized debit charges; and submitting fake checks for deposit, said Laurel Sykes, chief risk officer at Montecito Bank & Trust, a large private bank in Central California. One of our customers, a retired professional, thought he was hired as an IT worker from home, Sykes said. He gave up his banking credentials so he could get the promised paycheck deposited. But it never happened. He asked us about it, and we had to tell him that it was a scam. Another popular way to access customer accounts, Sykes has found, starts when a person selling an item on a service like Craigslist receives a check for an amount larger than the asking price. Then the buyer calls and says, I paid too much, send me back $100, or $400, Sykes said. They try to get the customers banking information that way. Wiring money can be another way to obtain a persons account information. The Montecito has also dealt with a major rise in check fraud, with more than five times as many fraudulent check cases reported so far this year compared with the same period in 2014, she said. Its been a heartbreaking year, she said. As they encounter more fraud directed at older customers, banks are stepping up their warnings, monitoring and education efforts. First Financial Bank in Abilene, Texas, for example, certifies its employees as fraud busters after they are trained to recognize potentially fraudulent actions. More active steps, including the education of customers, are likely to spread under the Senior Safe Act as banks tackle the reluctance that many older people have to report fraud. Noel DeSantis, an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia who specializes in financial crimes against seniors, said older people can be ashamed and afraid to admit they are victims. DeSantis prosecuted one case in which an 87-year-old Philadelphia woman withdrew $600, which was most of her savings, from her bank branch. Accompanying her at the bank was a younger woman whom the teller did not recognize. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes The teller knew the account holder and was concerned she wasnt acting normally, but she said she wanted the money, DeSantis said. So he had to give it to her. The teller alerted the bank manager, who preserved the video of the transaction. Later, when the customer reported the episode to the police, the video was used as evidence to convict the woman who accompanied her. Bankers are often the first to recognize the signs of fraud or financial exploitation, said Larry Santucci, who follows the issue for the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. Unexplained withdrawals, wire transfers or debit transactions, certain transfers to new accounts or checks issued to new and unusual recipients can all be telltale behaviors, he said. Montecito Bank & Trust and other large institutions try to thwart frauds that empty accounts by using automatic tools and software to flag problematic transactions, like account balances that suddenly decline. But for many banks, personal relationships with clients are still crucial. Only 38 percent of baby boomers bank online, according to the banking associations 2017 survey data. The older segment of customers routinely makes their own deposits and withdrawals or visit their safe deposit boxes, so they get to know bank personnel. More banks are holding events to tell customers about the newest approaches that thieves use. In Montana, the Bank of the Rockies regularly holds Conversations About Cons at community centers, nursing homes and assisted living homes. Jennell Huff, a customer service representative at the bank, said she helped start the program three years ago after an incident in which forged checks were used to overdraw a retired couples account. We hold roundtables where we sit down with people and let them ask questions and tell them about new trends in scams, she said. Most of them are pretty gun-shy now about these scams, and we have seen a decrease overall in financial fraud. Some banks distribute educational fliers at their branches, and employees even sit down with customers to question them when they are making large withdrawals or foreign money transfers so they can think over what they want to do. Even so, said Sykes, Sometimes such scams can be difficult for people to accept. Elizabeth Olson is a New York Times writer. The notion of turning a former gun store into a marijuana dispensary appeared quintessentially San Francisco, in a state that voted in 2016 to ban assault weapons and legalize recreational weed. But after three years and mounds of paperwork, a project to replace a gun store with a cannabis retailer remains stalled. The would-be tenant has sued its landlords, a former partner and rival marijuana operator, alleging fraud and wrongful eviction. Though it has its own twists, the saga reflects the hurdles to opening a small business, particularly a pot shop, and how control of precious San Francisco real estate can erupt into litigation. High Bridge Arms in the Outer Mission District was the citys last gun store. It closed in fall 2015 after 63 years in business as more firearm sales regulations loomed and federal investigators contemplated revoking its license. The new medical marijuana dispensary was also to be called High Bridge. But three years later, the building at 3185 Mission St. remains empty and locked, one of the many vacant storefronts dotting San Francisco neighborhoods. Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle The New Bernal Inc., a medical marijuana group, applied for a permit to operate in the former gun shop just months after it closed. The group was evicted from a nearby location, where it had operated as Bernal Heights Collective for a decade, after that building was sold in 2015. A more upscale dispensary called Harvest Off Mission replaced the collective. Sean Killen, then-CEO of the New Bernal Inc., sued Harvest in 2016 in an effort to stay in the previous location, but later dropped the suit. In the moment, we were emotional and defensive, Killen told The Chronicle in January 2017. Were not going to oppose anyone. Were just going to try to serve our patients. Killen said at a Planning Commission hearing that month that the former gun shop was an ideal location, just a couple blocks from its previous home. Thousands of customers, including seniors, disabled people and minority groups, would continue to be served, he said. Everyone is supportive and, in fact, somewhat frustrated that we havent managed to open back up again, Killen said at the hearing. The Planning Commission unanimously approved the dispensary. But in the past year, the partnership behind the project has crumbled and there is now a battle for control of the property. In October 2017, Killens company Steam Labs sued building owners Masashi and Margaret Takahashi for breach of contract, alleging that they failed to consent to the operation of a dispensary in the building, which is required for city approvals. In June, Steam Labs Inc. filed a second lawsuit against Bret (spelled elsewhere as Brett) Todoroff, Sean DeVries and Humboldt Brothers LLC, alleging fraud, negligence and wrongful eviction. Steam Labs also amended its first lawsuit against the landlords to add those defendants and added similar charges. DeVries was previously listed as the chief operating officer of New Bernal Inc. in city records, and Killen was listed as CEO. Steam Labs signed a five-year lease at 3185 Mission St. in 2015, with monthly rent of $5,000, and sought to transfer the lease to New Bernal Inc., according to a San Francisco Department of Public Health application in 2016. But Steam Labs developed concerns about self-dealing that its partners were favoring their own interests and ended its relationship with New Bernal Inc., according to a second lawsuit Steam Labs filed in June. Todoroff and DeVries allegedly worked with the Takahashis to push Steam Labs out of the building. The lawsuit says the Takahashis changed the buildings locks last year to block access to the building after Steam Labs had invested tens of thousands of dollars in renovations, and began collecting rent from DeVries in violation of the lease. The suit also alleged that the defendants inflated the value of the building to block Steam Labs from buying it. Steam Labs is seeking monetary damages exceeding $25,000 and affirmation from the court that it has the rights to occupy the building and open a dispensary. An attorney for the Takahashis said in a cross-complaint filed in January that Steam Labs allegations are not only false but that the company was used as a criminal liability shield for an illegal cannabis delivery service. Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle The cross-complaint alleges that Killen and Steam Labs partner Joseph Noble burned several of their partners at New Bernal Inc. and engaged in theft of all of the organizations funds in June 2016. The next month, Killen and Noble allegedly began the unlicensed sale of cannabis from the Mission Street building and were issued a cease and desist from the health department, according to the cross-complaint. The cross-complaint also says Killen filed a meritless lawsuit that blocked the sale of the building. The Takahashis are seeking punitive and general damages and compensation for attorneys fees. Masashi Takahashi, reached by phone, said he is unaware of the details of why Killen and DeVries partnership collapsed. I dont know about their business, he said. Takahashi said Killen sued in part because Takahashis wife didnt respond to Killens phone calls. Killen sues everybody, he said. Takahashi said DeVries has been paying rent. He said he wasnt sure of the identities of the people involved in the most recent attempts to open a dispensary. The buildings restroom has been renovated, but the rest of the space is empty, Takahashi said. Killen and his attorney, Vernon Goins, didnt respond to requests for comment. Humboldt Brothers operates marijuana farms in Humboldt County, according to its website. Michael Earls, chief operating officer of Humboldt Brothers, wrote in an email that he personally had nothing to do with the project and referred a request for comment to Todoroff, who did not respond. DeVries couldnt be reached for comment. Both Killen and Todoroff have separately sought approval for a medical dispensary from the health department, but neither of them has received it. Killens initial application for New Bernal Inc. has yet to be heard and is at a standstill, said Veronica Vien, a spokeswoman for the health department. In September 2017, HBSF Inc. applied to open the Humboldt Brothers dispensary in the space. The Humboldt Brothers application was rejected by the Department of Public Health in June because false documentation was knowingly provided to DPH in regards to who the property owner was in a lease, Vien said. Humboldt Brothers appealed, and the Board of Appeals plans to hear the case on Oct. 25. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Humboldt Brothers application lists the building owner as 3185 Mission St. LLC, while the earlier New Bernal application lists the owner as Mr. Takahashi. Property records confirm that the Takahashis still own the building. Both medical and recreational marijuana companies are challenged by numerous things, including state taxes and supply chain expenses, said Nicole Elliott, director of the citys Office of Cannabis, which has coordinated approvals since recreational sales were legalized in California in January. Dispensaries could face more expenses, as San Francisco voters consider a new gross receipts tax on cannabis in November. Historically, medical marijuana companies have taken one or two years to secure approvals, but the legalization of recreational marijuana has led to longer approval times as more operators apply, Elliott said. Currently, 37 locations in San Francisco are permitted for medical marijuana sales, and there are 138 temporary permit holders that need further approvals. An additional 86 businesses have applications in process, according to Elliott. Some other applications, including the one at 3185 Mission St., predate the creation of the Office of Cannabis, she said. While some neighborhoods have fought dispensaries, more retail businesses would be welcome in the Outer Mission area, which has many vacant storefronts, neighbors said. Eden Stein, president of Mission Bernal Merchants Association, said high rents, the cost of revamping interiors, and the challenge of obtaining city permits are among the barriers to businesses opening. A 2016 fire displaced multiple businesses and residents, including Cole Hardware. The corner, which is a few blocks from the former gun shop, has yet to recover. But new businesses are also arriving, such as Outer Orbit, a Hawaiian restaurant and pinball bar that opened Friday. We do have a lot of vacant storefronts, but people are starting to move into the neighborhood, said Stein, who owns the gift shop and gallery Secession Art and Design. A lot of them live here or have connections here. Longer leases would help retailers justify the costs of investing in new shops, said Stein, the gallery owner. Landlords really need to give you a five-year to 10-year opportunity, instead of a three- to five-year block, she said. On Mission Street, a faded, L-shaped GUNS sign still hangs above the High Bridge site. The five-year lease is halfway through. And nothing is for sale. Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf For months, California legislators have debated whether and how to help electric utility companies deal with the costs of wildfires sparked by their equipment. But the debate now entering its final, crucial week has tended to obscure one unpleasant fact for utility customers: No matter what Sacramento decides, utility bills are likely to rise as a result of recent fires. They will rise regardless of whether the Legislature passes a bill, outlined Friday, that could allow Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to pass on to its customers the costs of settling some lawsuits arising from last falls Wine Country fires. They will rise whether or not lawmakers next year loosen liability rules that make utilities financially responsible for any wildfires sparked by their equipment, even in the absence of negligence. They will rise even if the utilities dont spend more to harden their infrastructure to prevent fires swapping wooden poles for steel ones, for example something PG&E has already said it plans to do. The reason bills are almost certain to increase? Insurance. Insurance companies responded to last years fires, many of which state investigators say were started by power lines, by jacking up premiums for Californias utilities, more than doubling them in some cases. And utilities typically pass on insurance premium costs to their customers, although they need the permission of state regulators to do so. Higher insurance costs are going to be a material earnings headwind to California utilities if theyre not allowed to pass those costs along to customers, said Travis Miller, director of utilities research at the Morningstar financial research firm. And if regulators do allow them to pass it along, its going to be a significant increase in customer bills. Its not likely to be temporary. As Californias fire seasons grow longer and more destructive, insurance companies perceive greater financial risk for the utilities, said Robert Hartwig, director of the Risk and Uncertainty Management Center at the University of South Carolina. When we look at California and climate change and a hotter, drier environment, were not expecting California to turn into a lush tropical paradise anytime soon, he said. Insurers understand that this is going to be a problem that will last many, many years. It could be the new normal, and insurance pricing for utilities companies is going to reflect that. Consider PG&E, the states largest utility, whose wires have been blamed for starting 16 of the fires that ravaged Northern California last fall. The San Francisco company reports that its cost for obtaining liability insurance has jumped 140 percent since the October fires. PG&E faces the added problem of paying more for financing, after credit agencies downgraded its rating as a result of the fires. The company estimates that its rising premiums, along with higher costs of borrowing and raising capital, could add as much as $150 per year to a typical PG&E customers bills. More than 200 lawsuits have been filed against the San Francisco company blaming it for the Wine Country fires, and estimates of PG&Es potential liability reach $17 billion. The company had about $840 million in liability insurance when the flames broke out. It is now finalizing $1 billion to $1.5 billion of coverage, at a cost of about $350 million. Southern California Edison, which has been accused in lawsuits of starting Decembers massive Thomas Fire in Ventura County, has seen a similar spike in costs. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Two years ago, the company paid about $100 million to obtain $2 billion in coverage, half for general liability, the other half for wildfires. This year, a company spokeswoman said, wildfire liability insurance alone will cost the company $237 million. The San Diego area was largely spared the immense fires that burned other parts of California last year. But San Diego Gas & Electric Co. still saw its premiums rise 30 percent, spokeswoman Allison Torres said. Edison estimates its customers will pay an extra $13 to $15 per year, based on current insurance premiums. The California Public Utilities Commission typically allows utilities to recover the costs of their insurance premiums in rates. But Tom Long, legal director for the Utility Reform Network watchdog group, said the commission should look closely at the current run-up in insurance premiums. Investigators with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, have found evidence that in 11 of last falls fires, PG&E violated state safety laws. The increased insurance premiums, therefore, may be based at least in part on fires caused by company negligence. And the commission has a history of preventing utilities from passing on to their customers any costs triggered by the companies own negligence. How much of that increase is to pay for the risk associated with utility negligence? Long said. Thats the problem disentangling it. David R. Baker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dbaker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DavidBakerSF Phoenix, Ariz. It was here in Arizona, during John McCain's first run for public office in 1982, that the former Vietnam War prisoner came up with the line that assured his career in public office. McCain, then 46 and struggling to capture the Republican primary for a seat in Congress, was grimacing during a campaign forum at the latest of many accusations that he was a carpetbagger, having just moved in the past year to the congressional district in Tucson he wanted to represent. He'd been diplomatic up to that point. But his soon-to-be-famous temper, sarcasm and no-holds-barred qualities all suddenly exploded. "Listen, pal," he snarled. "I spent 22 years in the Navy. ... We had to live in all parts of the country, all parts of the world. ... When I think about it now, the place I lived in longest in my life was Hanoi." The audience sat shocked, then erupted into thunderous applause. McCain crushed his opponents in the election. He moved easily to the U.S. Senate four years later - and today, he is the 72-year-old Republican candidate for president. Grant Woods, adviser to that first campaign and a close aide for most years since, sat in his downtown Phoenix office the other day and chuckled at the memory of the response. The POW horror, the military service to country, the shot from the hip, the roaming nature of McCain's life - it was the essence of John McCain back then, and it is who he is today. "Cocky? In your face? Yeah, that's who John is, because that's who he has had to be," Woods said, staring across the room at a picture of himself years ago posing, for laughs, in a hairy troll mask with a widely grinning McCain. "Just look at his life." Rootless It's been a nomadic life for John Sidney McCain III from the moment he was born to U.S. Navy royalty at Coco Solo Naval Air Station in the Panama Canal Zone in 1936. McCain had moved to at least 20 homes by the time he graduated from high school. And as an adult, his life has been a similar shuffle from location to location - even to this day, as he maintains seven homes around the nation, splitting most of his time between Washington, D.C., and a pair of residences in Arizona. At each juncture, McCain has had to retool who he is to meet the challenge of that time or propel himself forward - always, it seems, in a lifelong quest to define himself as his own man, not merely an extension of his military upbringing. He went from bratty child struggling for self-identity with no steady place to call home to womanizing Naval Academy midshipman so rebellious he nearly quit to join the French Foreign Legion. From there, he became the defiant Hanoi Hilton prisoner of war who refused to abandon his comrades, and after coming home he transformed himself into a U.S. senator whose devil-may-care ways have both gotten him into epic trouble and carved a valuable reputation as a maverick. Throughout each change, the one thing that has been a constant for McCain, friends and the senator himself have said over and over again, is the mandate of "Duty, honor and country." Small wonder. McCain's grandfather and father - John "Slew" Sidney McCain Sr. and John Sidney McCain Jr. - were the Navy's only father-son combination to achieve the rank of four-star admiral. McCain Sr. was a commander of aircraft carriers in the Pacific during World War II and McCain Jr. was commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific during the war in Vietnam. They were part of an unbroken string of military McCains dating to before the Revolutionary War. One was killed and scalped in the colonial Indian wars, one served on Gen. George Washington's staff, others fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War and one created the draft during World War I. "Maybe it sounds hokey in this cynical world to some people, but with John, the dedication to honor and country is real," said Orson Swindle, a Marine pilot POW who became one of McCain's best friends in the North Vietnam prison camps. "He was endowed with that quality before he was born. His family is cloaked in that history." Unlike his forebears, however, McCain has used his heritage to turn himself into a military man-cum-politician in the mold of Andrew Jackson and McCain's personal hero, Teddy Roosevelt. No one who knew him young saw such a career path coming. "I never figured he'd go into politics," said retired Cmdr. Jack MacKinnon, a McCain roommate at the U.S. Naval Academy in the 1950s. "I thought he'd be what he was - a jet jockey. John loved aviation from the start. He was a real 'airedale' (naval term for dashing aviator) you know, loving the risks. You had to be, because you have to be nuts to fly off a carrier." 'Punk' and 'McNasty' Brashness didn't come right away for McCain. He was, by many accounts, an obedient and mostly unassuming Navy brat until the age of 12. Then, when his father received the latest of many orders transferring the family yet again - this time from Washington, D.C., to the West Coast - McCain blew a fuse. "Guess who was a nuisance today? Johnny," his Southern California-native mother, Roberta, wrote to her husband, according to "John McCain, an American Odyssey," the biography by author Robert Timberg. From then on, as a growing child, she wrote: "He was a pain in the neck." The blossoming McCain rebelliousness turned him into a kid peers found fun to be with because he was sassy, relentlessly aggressive and eager to break any rule he could. While small physically at 5 foot 7, by the time he entered Annapolis he had earned the nicknames "Punk" and "McNasty" for his quick fists and smart mouth. It was a style he adopted to make up for the rootlessness of moving all the time, having to abandon school pals, and trying to find his own identity amid the crushing responsibility of his military heritage. A surprisingly introspective boy beneath the bravado, he was cultivating a lifelong love of literature to help himself figure out who he was, and his favorite poem then was "Requiem," Robert Louis Stevenson's morose ode to self-determination. McCain has rarely dwelt in public on his youthful pain, and he focuses more on the respect he had for his father's career rather than the fact that the two had a remote, somewhat formal relationship that involved long absences from each other. "John is not someone who discusses his emotions in public, or even in private," said former aide Woods, who served as Arizona state attorney general in the 1990s. "He just doesn't think it's appropriate. He's more of the old-school 'a man's a man' kind of guy." But the anguish was clearly there. "The repeated farewells to friends rank among the saddest regrets of a childhood constantly disrupted by the demands of my father's career," he wrote in "Faith of My Fathers," his 1999 autobiography. "At each new school, I grew more determined to assert my crude individualism. At each new school I became a more unrepentant pain in the neck." He hit his stride at the Naval Academy. 'John Wayne McCain' By entering Annapolis in 1954, McCain had finally resigned himself to his family's legacy, despite really wanting to go to Princeton to study literature. But he also made it clear that, although he was allowing himself to become a military man, his distinguished father and grandfather could not entirely define him. He was going to do the minimum required to become an aviator, and raise as much hell as he could get away with. "I was an arrogant, undisciplined, insolent midshipman ... I acted like a jerk," McCain wrote in "Faith." This behavior resulted in so many demerits he almost flunked out. On the other hand, it earned him youthful respect and the nickname "John Wayne McCain." "I had the feeling he tried very hard to be at the bottom of the class," said ex-roommate MacKinnon, who lives in Benicia. "I think he wanted to see how far he could push the envelope - he was pushing against his heritage." Graduating fifth from the bottom of his class in 1958, he moved to flight school in Pensacola, Fla., where he cruised around in a Corvette and dated a stripper known as "Marie, the Flame of Florida." "You may have fun and act like a fighter pilot is supposed to, I guess, but you also had to have guts to become a good flier," said MacKinnon. "And John certainly had guts." During training, the young McCain crashed one plane and recklessly clipped power lines with another. But by the time he was posted in 1967 to the Forestal aircraft carrier, flying A-4E Skyhawk attack bombers, he had reached another turning point. He had married former swimsuit model Carol Shepp two years before, adopted her two boys and produced daughter Sidney in 1966. He felt ready to settle down. Almost. A wake-up call came with a catastrophic fire on board the Forestal, when a rocket misfired and hit McCain's jet as he was readying for a bombing run over North Vietnam. The blaze killed 134 men and wounded McCain with shrapnel. Suddenly, flying was a more weighty business. McCain wanted to respond by finally buckling down. But he was worried that his reputation as a mouthy playboy wouldn't let him. "There was a work hard, play hard quality to McCain," biographer Timberg said. "But I think when he played hard it was so completely flamboyant it overshadowed the other qualities, and that began to bother him." According to Timberg, McCain told his old Naval Academy buddy Chuck Larson: "If I can't get people to take me seriously, maybe I'll have to try something else." Prisoner of war McCain transferred to the Oriskany carrier right after the Forestal fire, and was carrying out his 23rd bombing run when the decision on what direction to take was ripped from his hands. He had just released his bomb load over Hanoi when a missile blew off his right wing. McCain ejected into a lake in the center of Hanoi and was fished out by an angry mob - which added to the broken arms and right knee he'd received in the air by smashing his shoulder and bayoneting his ankle and groin. The flier was dragged to the infamous Hanoi Hilton prison, and over the next 5 1/2 years he endured a saga of torture that helped shape his future. Through it all - the thrashings that left him unable to lift his arms above his head to this day, his refusal to be released early, the humiliations that tested his depths of defiance - McCain finally found the core meaning of what "duty, honor and country" was about, he and his friends have said. There was no room in the POW camps for a cigar-chomping party guy. He had to become a leader of morale and resistance. "All those fun things were gone except for the thing he had deep inside him," said fellow camp survivor Swindle. "He had inner strength. He found his duty." Released in 1973, he came home to a rare hero's welcome by then-President Richard Nixon and parades. His stature as not just the descendant of admirals, but now a POW recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and other medals, gave him the gravitas he had craved. Not enough But the new role was not enough. Still in the Navy, still subject to postings that would take him to the War College and then command of a training base in Florida, McCain soon determined that duty to the military had its limits. He went back to old party habits and - he has admitted with great regret - cheated on his wife, who had been disabled in a car wreck while he was a POW. He was, in short, filled once again with a restless urge to redefine himself. This time, he would become a man of politics. He decided in 1977 to take a post in Washington, D.C., as the Navy's liaison to the U.S. Senate. McCain had written in Newsweek shortly after coming home from Vietnam that he was filled with the urge to "make some contribution" to his country. Timberg said McCain was "reinventing himself" in a way he might not even have been aware of. "The John McCain who came out of prison was not the same one who went in," Timberg said. "What we got instead was someone who was much more serious." The liaison job quickly embedded him with national powerbrokers on both sides of the political aisle, from liberal Sen. Gary Hart, D-Colo., to bedrock conservative Sen. Barry Goldwater, R-Ariz. Then two years into the posting, on a business trip to Hawaii, he met Cindy Hensley of Phoenix, a former rodeo queen who, at 25, was 17 years his junior. It was another turning point. Cindy Hensley taught disabled children, but her paycheck was immaterial. Her wealthy, politically connected family owned, in Phoenix, the largest Anheuser-Busch beer distributorship in the nation. McCain's marriage to Carol was in shambles, he was shuttling all over the world for his job, and he was eager again for roots - to seize control of the military legacy he was continuing, with its lack of home and absent father figure. McCain's political opponents often point out that marrying Hensley in 1980, after divorcing his first wife - with whom he has remained cordial - gave him instant access to her personal fortune (now estimated at $100 million) and her family connections to community leaders. But any hint that he cynically sought her for those links infuriates him and his friends. "John loves Cindy. ... He is extraordinarily devoted to his family," said Woods, who is godfather of one of the four children McCain has with his second wife. When he mustered out of the Navy as a captain in 1981, friends say, it was for a genuine embrace of civilian solidity and service. Then 1982 brought his election to Congress, thanks in no small part to the "Listen, pal" quip. And then, when right-wing icon Barry Goldwater vacated his U.S. Senate seat in 1986, McCain vaulted into it. He quickly built a reputation as a solid Ronald Reagan Republican, supporting the then-president's tax and spending cuts. But almost as quickly - in 1983 - came the first hint of the stubborn-independence label that would come later. In a nervy move for a Reagan-backing freshman congressman, he vociferously and unsuccessfully voted against a White House resolution to keep Marines deployed in Lebanon. Reagan was miffed at his defiance. But the next month, a terrorist truck bomb demolished the Marines barracks in Beirut, killing 241. McCain remained in the Reagan ideological camp overall, but the respect he earned for defiance showed him the success of going his own way. Trouble in office Before he could fully capitalize on that success, however, there were rough political waters to paddle through. The first trouble came during his 1986 Senate run, when he jokingly referred to the Arizona retirement community Leisure World as "Seizure World." It exposed a wicked wit to voters that, through repeated exposures over the years, some have come to enjoy, others to loathe - from his jibe that Chelsea Clinton was an "ugly" child fathered by Janet Reno to last year's quip that America should "bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" (sung to the 1960s-era hit tune of "Barbara Ann"). "Occasionally my sense of humor is ill-considered or ill-timed, and that can be a problem," he wrote in his 2002 memoir, "Worth the Fighting For." His temper has drawn as much wrath, if not more. The worst outbursts came with his worst scandal, in 1989. That's when he and four other senators were accused of improperly trying to steer San Francisco-based federal regulators away from Charles Keating Jr., the Arizona savings and loan mogul who was one of McCain's friends and financial backers. Keating, upon conviction for securities fraud, became the symbol of the national savings and loan collapse of the late 1980s. As reporters from the Arizona Republic dug up "Keating Five" stories of McCain trips to the Bahamas with the mogul and attendance at a regulators meeting, McCain called one reporter a "liar" and another an "idiot." In the end, McCain received only a mild rebuke from the Senate Ethics Committee for "poor judgment." But the damage was done. McCain called the scandal worse than anything that had happened to him since Vietnam, and in "Worth," he bemoaned a nasty temper that "has caused me to make most of the more serious mistakes of my career." Focus on ethics "To his credit, he learned his lesson from the Keating Five scandal, and actually made ethics reform a focus after that," said Jerry Kammer, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter who covered the scandal for the Republic. That focus, more than anything, earned him the nickname he is now trying to ride into the White House: Maverick. After Keating, McCain began drawing high notice for authoring successful campaign finance legislation against "soft money" contributions with liberal Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis. He also teamed up with legislators across the aisle to tax Big Tobacco, and derided evangelical Christian leaders as "agents of intolerance." For most of the time, he still voted conservatively, rejecting new taxes and taking such a hard line on local "pork" that he refuses on principle to support local earmarks even for his own state. But he broke party ranks enough that "maverick" became his identity, and it propelled him to the national stage in a 2000 run for president. He was anointed as the feisty independent pick, and had the press practically fawning over his "Straight Talk Express" - the name he gave his campaign bus, where he would opine bluntly to anybody who got on board. The bus run ended abruptly when George Bush stomped him in the South Carolina primary. Openly hurt, McCain went back to his Senate job and continued to build his maverick brand with contrary stands - opposing, for instance, Bush's huge first round of tax cuts and criticizing him for not sending enough troops to Iraq during the invasion. But then after Bush's re-election in 2004, McCain morphed one last time. He mended fences with the evangelical wing, now supports extending Bush's tax cuts, and has backed Bush's initiatives more than 90 percent of the time. Opponents call the back-and-forth tactics mere positioning for his successful march toward the Republican presidential nomination this year. Others say it reveals an inability by McCain, still, after all these decades, to decide on one identity. "I don't know if he's ever resolved it internally," said Matt Welch, author of "McCain, the Myth of a Maverick." One thing for sure, however: Among Arizona's quirky electorate - where 28 percent of voters are registered independents or unaffiliated - he's an enduring hit. He brings national prominence. His feistiness resonates. And his backers contend that one need look no further than his jaw-dropping pick of unknown Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the first female Republican candidate on a White House ticket, for a running mate as proof that he is far from shedding his maverick image. Observers and his friends see, today, the continued blossoming of a man who, as a youth, set out to carve an identity apart from his military forebears - and is still restlessly moving forward to hone it. "Getting elected would kind of trump whatever he might have done in the Navy if he'd stayed and tried to become an admiral," said ex-aide Woods. "Just think - father and grandfather both admirals, and then John becomes commander in chief? "I think they'd get a real smile out of that." Insight: Is Palin's nomination a boost for feminism? G2-G3 Women's issues: Palin's views fire up fans and foes. A10 BERLIN - If anyone ever doubted John McCain's global stature, the outpouring of condolences from across the world proved the very opposite on Sunday. To world leaders, the 81-year-old Arizona Republican who lost his year-long battle with brain cancer this weekend was a "hero," an "inspiration to millions," and a man "of great courage." To democratically elected politicians across the globe, McCain embodied a U.S. role model they were able to rally behind without hesitations. But McCain wasn't afraid of confronting illiberal regimes with facts and criticism - be it allies or foes - earning him respect in some places but tense relationships in others. "Senator John McCain was an American patriot and hero whose sacrifices for his country, and lifetime of public service, were an inspiration to millions," said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In Australia, new Prime Minister Scott Morrison - who assumed office on Friday - honored "a true friend of Australia who was committed to strengthening the alliance between our two nations. He was a man of great courage and conviction." Calling McCain a friend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted that the senator's support for Israel "sprang from his belief in democracy and freedom." In Europe, some condolences also hinted at McCain's role as a vocal critic of the current administration. "Senator John McCain stood for an America that was a reliable and close partner that - because of its strength - shouldered responsibility for others and stood by its values and principles even in difficult moments," wrote Germany's foreign minister Heiko Maas. "We will remember his voice." German Chancellor Angela Merkel echoed Maas' comments, saying, "John McCain was led by the firm conviction that the sense of all political work lies in service to freedom, democracy and the rule of law. His death is a loss to all those who share this conviction." While Merkel called McCain "one of the great political personalities of our time," French President Emmanuel Macron referred to the late senator as "a true American hero." British Prime Minister Theresa May said in a tweet that McCain "embodied the idea of service over self. It was an honour to call him a friend of the UK." Britain's former Prime Minister David Cameron bid farewell to a "brave, principled and inspiring leader." "The world has lost a great defender of liberty. RIP Senator John McCain. Prayers and love to your family," wrote Cameron, who led Britain between 2010 and 2016. Frans Timmermans, the first vice president of the European Commission, echoed those remarks, writing on Sunday that McCain was a "hero and exemplary public servant. His legacy of moral courage will make his loved ones proud and should inspire all of us." In their condolences, European politicians cited McCain's support for stronger trans-Atlantic ties, especially as President Donald Trump is raising questions over the future of U.S.-European economic and defense ties. After Trump's inauguration, McCain had embarked on a trip to over a dozen countries to reassure allies. The Arizona Republican's vocal criticism of the Trump administration's more isolationist foreign policy approach echoed many of the concerns raised in capitals around the world. But McCain's legacy goes far beyond his outspokenness on the Trump administration. His commitment to the Middle East and South Asia was lauded by officials in those regions, including by Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who praised McCain as "a man of integrity and a champion of civility." He said that in his role as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, McCain had "always stood for strong Pakistan-U.S. relations and a cooperative approach for promoting peace and building stability in the region. He will be greatly missed in Pakistan." On social media, numerous Pakistani commentators and political figures also expressed appreciation for McCain's long-standing ties with their country. The two sides forged an alliance during the Cold War and later in the war on terror, but relations have since chilled amid accusations that Pakistan harbors extremist groups fighting against Afghanistan. "In Sen. John McCain's death, America has lost a bold voice against bigotry and Pakistan is deprived of a good friend," tweeted Pakistani Sen. Mushahid Hussain. Afghanistan's chief executive officer, Abdullah Abdullah, tweeted that McCain was "a great friend & supporter of the Afghan nation & people throughout the years. In respect and appreciation, we pay tribute to his legacy." In Iraq, where McCain championed an American invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein but is widely considered the major catalyst for the expansion of al-Qaida and the birth of the Islamic State, reaction to the senator's death was muted. In northern Iraq, on the other hand, officials with the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government mourned McCain, remembering him as a longtime advocate for their interests. The 2003 invasion formalized Iraqi Kurds' control over their own territory. McCain also recently broke with the State Department and the White House and most U.S. allies when he supported a Kurdish vote for full independence from Iraq last year. "Deeply saddened to know of the death of Senator John McCain whose support for, and friendship with, the people of Kurdistan shall remain in our memory," Masoud Barzani, who until recently had been the longtime president of the Kurdish region and remains influential in Kurdish politics, wrote on Twitter. "May he rest in eternal peace." There was also an outpouring of tributes and condolences from Ukraine. McCain was one of Ukraine's strongest American supporters in its ongoing conflict with Russia. McCain's tough criticism of Russia over the 2014 annexation of Crimea made the senator a key Western ally for Kiev. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called McCain's death "sad news for all Ukrainian people." On Twitter on Sunday, Poroshenko said, "We will never forget his invaluable contribution to the development of democracy and freedom in Ukraine and the support of our state ... The memory of John McCain will remain in our hearts forever." He posted photos of McCain's 2016 visit to troops in war-torn eastern Ukraine. The senator spent New Year's Eve with the soldiers, telling them, "Your struggle is our struggle." Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak recalled the same visit to the frontline, tweeting it and offering condolences "for all American and Ukrainian people who knew Senator McCain." Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman called McCain "an example of a principled politician." Russia's response was more mixed. Senior Russian lawmaker Lenoid Slutsky, who was sanctioned by the U.S. over Crimea, was cited by the Interfax news agency as saying, "He was neither a friend nor ally of Russia, on the contrary, he was our ardent opponent. McCain was an outstanding American hawk." Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the Russian Federation Council Foreign Affairs Committee and a subject of U.S. sanctions over election meddling, said McCain had failed in his efforts to "find his place under the political sun using the tried-and-tested old methods of defending America's comely exceptionalism in front of the rest of the world." Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Prominent Russian Sen. Alexei Pushkov put out a statement similarly laced with schadenfreude. "McCain's plans to rebuild the world under total U.S. hegemony are not going to come true," he tweeted on Sunday. McCain's 2011 prediction that Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, whom Russia backs militarily, would not survive long has proven untrue, Pushkov noted, adding that "Assad's overthrow and death did not wait for McCain." As with Russia, McCain wasn't afraid to confront China during his trips to Asia. Last year, the senator accused Beijing of acting like a "bully" in the region, referencing the country's territorial claims in the South China Sea. "He never backed down from his beliefs & forever strived for a more peaceful & prosperous world," Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said Sunday, according to Taiwan's official news agency, in a statement in which she hailed McCain's commitment to pushing back against Chinese influence in the region. U.S. partners across the region echoed those thoughts in their responses on Sunday. "We deeply mourn the death of Sen. John McCain, a true friend of the Philippines and one of our champions in the United States Congress," said Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano. What Cayetano didn't mention in his statement was that McCain was also a fierce critic of the Philippines' government over its human rights record. Even as a politician unafraid of confronting official allies with unwelcome criticism, McCain appears to have earned their respect - in the United States and beyond. --- Ferris-Rotman reported from Moscow. Tamer El-Ghobashy in Baghdad and Pamela Constable in Kabul contributed to this report. --- Video Embed Code Video: The Arizona Republican spent decades in the Senate. He endured more than five years of imprisonment and torture by the North Vietnamese as a young Navy pilot.(Joyce Koh/The Washington Post) Embed code: DUBLIN The former top Vatican diplomat in the United States alleged in a letter published Sunday that Pope Francis knew about the abuses of a now-disgraced American prelate years before they became public. The bombshell accusation, leveled by Carlo Maria Vigano, a staunch critic of Francis, immediately threatened to derail the popes difficult mission to demonstrate his commitment to combating the clerical sex abuse scandals that threaten his church on the same day he begged the Lords forgiveness at a shrine in Ireland. Instead, Francis and several other top-ranking Vatican officials were now accused of being part of the cover-ups as Vigano called for their resignations. The Vatican had no immediate reaction to the letter. In a detailed, 7,000-word letter published Sunday morning by several conservative Catholic outlets antagonistic to Francis, including The National Catholic Register and Lifesite News, Archbishop Vigano alleges that much of the Vatican hierarchy was complicit in covering up accusations that Cardinal Theodore McCarrick had sexually abused seminarians. Last month, Francis accepted the resignation of McCarrick, the first such resignation in living memory, after The New York Times and other news outlets published accounts of the alleged abuse and an internal investigation by the American church deemed credible an accusation that he had sexually abused a minor. But Vigano alleges that Francis predecessor, Benedict XVI, had already punished McCarrick for his abuse of seminarians and priests. The archbishop writes that Benedict banned the American cardinal from publicly celebrating Mass, living in a seminary and traveling to give lectures. The National Catholic Register, which has been a preferred platform for some of Francis most aggressive critics, reported that it had independently confirmed the allegations, but it did not publish any on-the-record corroboration and asserted, without attribution, that Benedict remembers telling his second-in-command, Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone, to impose measures but cannot recall their exact nature. McCarrick led several public Masses throughout Benedicts papacy, but Vigano alleges that the penalties were known about within the hierarchy and that he had personally informed Francis of them in June 2013. He said that Francis had failed to apply the sanctions on McCarrick and had instead rehabilitated and empowered him to help choose powerful American bishops. Vigano despises those bishops, and he complained in the letter of being deprived the voice typically given to a papal nuncio in choosing them. He knew from at least June 23, 2013, that McCarrick was a serial predator, Vigano writes of Francis, calling for the popes resignation. In this extremely dramatic moment for the universal Church, he must acknowledge his mistakes and, in keeping with the proclaimed principle of zero tolerance, Pope Francis must be the first to set a good example for cardinals and bishops who covered up McCarricks abuses and resign along with all of them. At a 2013 reception in the library of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican shortly after Francis was elected pope, Vigano was effusive with praise for Francis, calling him a man you may talk to with an open heart and saying his audience was extremely nice, extremely warm. But in the letter, he said he had received an icy reception from Francis. And he said the pope had told him on June 23, 2013: The bishops in the United States must not be ideologized, they must not be right-wing. Francis then added, according to Vigano, They must not be left-wing, and when I say left-wing I mean homosexual. It was then that Francis asked his opinion of McCarrick, to which Vigano said he had replied: Holy Father, I dont know if you know Cardinal McCarrick, but if you ask the Congregation for Bishops there is a dossier this thick about him. He corrupted generations of seminarians and priests, and Pope Benedict ordered him to withdraw to a life of prayer and penance. Vigano, who blames homosexuals for the child abuse crisis that has destroyed the churchs standing in many countries, dedicates entire sections of the letter to outing cardinals who he claims belong to what he characterizes as a pernicious homosexual current within the Vatican. These homosexual networks, he wrote, which are now widespread in many dioceses, seminaries, religious orders, etc., act under the concealment of secrecy and lies with the power of octopus tentacles, and strangle innocent victims and priestly vocations, and are strangling the entire church. Vigano is no stranger to stirring trouble in the Vatican. A cultural conservative born into a wealthy family in Varese, Italy, he received the title of archbishop from Pope John Paul II in 1992. He later joined the churchs diplomatic corps, which is one of the traditional sources of power in the Vatican, and which gave him access to much of the information he alleges in the letter. In 2009, he was installed by Pope Benedict XVI as secretary of the governorate of Vatican City State, a position not unlike the mayor of Vatican City. Benedict wanted the ambitious Italian with a taste for good red wine to enact government overhauls, but Vigano's efforts in pursuit of that goal earned him powerful enemies. In early 2011, hostile anonymous articles attacking Vigano began appearing in the Italian news media, the bulletin board of Vatican power politics. Vigano appealed to Benedicts second in command, Bertone, who instead echoed the articles complaints about his rough management style and removed Vigano from his post. Those appeals and protests, later leaked by the popes butler, became the heart of the church scandal known as VatiLeaks, which many church observers say contributed to the resignation of Benedict XVI. Francis removed Vigano from his job as nuncio to the United States in 2016, in part for nearly ruining the popes trip the United States by giving papal face time to Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk whose refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Soon after his departure, a criminal investigation into a bishop in Minneapolis-St. Paul revealed a memo that Vigano had written in 2014 in an effort to suppress a church investigation into alleged homosexual activity by the Minnesota bishop. Since his return to Rome, Vigano has run with a crowd of traditionalist Catholics deeply critical of Francis and recently attended a raucous meeting of anti-Francis prelates and faithful in the basement of a Rome hotel, where he could be seen talking to the Lifesite news reporter who translated the letter into English. Vigano's extensive letter, while especially inconvenient for the pope, who spent the morning praying for abuse victims in at a shrine in Knock, Ireland, also goes after a broad array of current and past Vatican officials and American prelates. He names all of them. He said his predecessors in the Vaticans embassy in Washington, now deceased, knew about McCarricks alleged relationships with seminarians and priests and had reported it to the Vatican but that successive secretaries of state Angelo Sodano, Bertone and Pietro Parolin did nothing. He said he wrote another memo in 2006 about new allegations against McCarrick and delivered it in December of that year to his superior with recommendations to strip the cardinal of his rank and defrock him before he brought scandal to the church. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. He alleges that he delivered another memo in May 2008 that also went nowhere, but then writes that he learned through another cardinal that Benedict had at a certain point imposed sanctions on McCarrick. He blamed Bertone, his old rival, for the delay. Vigano said that he had personally met with then-Cardinal McCarrick to remind him that he was under sanction during their first meeting after he arrived in the United States. The cardinal, muttering in a barely comprehensible way, admitted that he had perhaps made the mistake of sleeping in the same bed with some seminarians at his beach house, he writes. After bumping into McCarrick at the popes residence in the Vatican, and listening to the American boast about his freedom to travel, Vigano wrote that he contacted Parolin, the secretary of state and top adviser to Francis, in April 2014 inquiring if the sanctions were still in force. He said Parolin nor a host of other Vatican officials had replied, but that when he had brought up the subject with McCarricks replacement in Washington, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, it was immediately clear to me that he was fully aware of it. In spite of what Archbishop Vigano's memo indicates, Cardinal Wuerl did not receive any documentation or information during his time in Washington regarding any actions taken against Archbishop McCarrick, Ed McFadden, a spokesman for Wuerl, said Sunday. Some survivors of clerical abuse called the allegations a distraction. This is infighting between curia factions that are exploiting the abuse crisis and victims of clergy sexual abuse as leverage in the struggle for church power, said Peter Isely, a survivor. The sexual abuse crisis is not about whether a bishop is a liberal or a conservative. It is about protecting children. But the controversy over the letter is expected to grow in the coming days, and it is likely to require a response from Francis, who is to return to the Vatican on Sunday evening after celebrating Mass at Phoenix Park in Dublin. None of us can fail to be moved by the stories of young people who suffered abuse, were robbed of their innocence, who were taken from their mothers, and left scarred by painful memories, Francis said Sunday after praying quietly for abuse survivors at a shrine to the Virgin Mary in Knock. This open wound challenges us to be firm and decisive in the pursuit of truth and justice, he said. I beg the Lords forgiveness for these sins and for the scandal and betrayal felt by so many others in Gods family. This article originally appeared in The New York Times America has lost a hero, a patriot and a senator whose unflinching candor, humility and commitment to putting the public good over partisan alliances personified everything that is good and so maddeningly rare about modern politics. Sen. John McCain, who died Saturday at 81, was the ultimate public servant. Well-deserved tributes poured in from across the nation, across the aisle and across the spectrum from beneficiaries and targets of the Arizona senators straight talk. Our editorial board has experienced both sides of McCain. We were favorably impressed when he met with us as a presidential candidate in 2000 we endorsed him in his unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination and again when he joined Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., to pitch their bipartisan campaign finance reform act. We also were the recipients of a decidedly testy letter to the editor from McCain when he took great issue with an editorial about his resistance to a BART-to-SFO funding plan in February 1997. Therein lies the character of John McCain. He was never one to pander or obfuscate. McCains was a life of defining moments. The most consequential was the day in 1967 his Navy A-4 Skyhawk aircraft was shot down over Hanoi, and the seriously injured pilot, son of an admiral, became the enemys most prized prisoner of war. He was tortured, held in solitary confinement for long periods yet refused early release out of respect to his fellow prisoners and contempt for the notion he would become a propaganda tool. Its no wonder McCain proved so fearless and resilient in politics, whether taking a stand against torture, breaking GOP ranks to preserve the Affordable Care Act, championing campaign reform or politely but firmly correcting a supporter at a town hall who suggested his opponent, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, was an Arab and untrustworthy. John McCain never left Americans wondering what he thought. He always went beyond the call of duty for the principles he embraced and the nation he served. This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters. San Francisco is addicted to a cheap supply of abundant water. This has led to unsustainable water demand that threatens to extinguish some of the states native fishes and the valuable fisheries and tourism industry they support. The Tuolumne River is the source for much of the water San Francisco uses and sells to Peninsula communities. The citys water managers are upset that the city might be held responsible for conditions on that river as well as downstream, in the San Joaquin River, the delta and San Francisco Bay. The Tuolumne and other Central California rivers however must retain even more water than what the State Water Resources Control Board has asked for in order to improve water quality and fisheries in the delta and beyond. Yet the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is trying to block the water boards timid proposal. The citys unsustainable water management practices and antiquated infrastructure take too much water from the Tuolumne. As a result, the SFPUC bears as much responsibility as other water developers for the miserable conditions in Central Valley rivers and the San Francisco Bay estuary they feed. For example, invasive water weeds infest the once-mighty Tuolumne, the San Joaquin is a hot cesspool of agricultural runoff, and the San Francisco Bay estuary is home to no less than six endangered fish species and increasingly frequent toxic algal blooms. Central Valley salmon populations have dropped to historically low levels, leaving our local Orca pod and fishing fleet (both of which depend on abundant salmon) struggling to survive. Increased river flows can repress non-native species, inundate important habitats with cold water, flush toxic compounds, and support production of food that juvenile salmon rely upon. Analyses by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, federal agencies, The Bay Institute, and even the State Water Board itself indicate that at least 50 percent of the Tuolumne watersheds winter-spring runoff must remain in the river to help restore salmon populations to the levels required by state and federal policies. The citys water bureaucrats argue that the proposed standards will limit its water supply, but they dont acknowledge that their demand projections are way above actual need because SFPUC customers have reduced water use by 30 percent over the last decade. The agencys alternative plan asks ratepayers to subsidize environmental services provided by functioning rivers. For example, the SFPUC proposes that its customers pay to plant and water trees along the Tuolumnes banks, even though that would happen naturally if the river retained enough of its water. Too many water weeds? SFPUC thinks its clients should pay to remove those manually rather than having the river flush them aside. The city even wants to power-wash salmon spawning gravel to rid it of sediments that would be carried away during the spring snowmelt a pulse the river rarely experiences due to overactive dams and diversions. What will work is for San Francisco to reduce its demand for water by investing in ratepayer education and modern water management technology and practices. Los Angeles exemplifies what can be accomplished once a city commits to water sustainability that city uses the same volume of water today as it did in the early 1990s, even after adding 1 million people. Given San Franciscos international reputation for progressive environmentalism, it should lead, rather than resist, the states efforts to conserve water. Jonathan Rosenfield is the lead scientist for the Bay Institute, a nonprofit working to protect, restore, and inspire conservation of the San Francisco Bay estuary. In my 16 years serving in Congress, there were 52 mass gun shootings in America, including 16 deaths in San Bernardino, 9 at a church in Charleston, S.C., 50 at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., and 28 at an elementary school in Connecticut. In each case, members of Congress had the flag lowered over the Capitol building, held moments of silence on the House floor, and tweeted our thoughts and prayers. Heres what we never did: pass legislation to reduce mass shootings. To see the abysmal failure of Congress to protect the lives of its constituents on full display, attend the annual markups of the House Appropriations Committee (on which I served) as it debates funding levels for federal departments and agencies. Its a depressing ritual of Democrats trying to pass gun safety amendments, and most Republicans shooting down those efforts. Following the 2016 shooting in Orlando, we offered an amendment called no fly, no buy, which would prevent those who appear on the federal terror watch list from being able to purchase a weapon of war. It was defeated. We tried to expand background checks. Also defeated. We even sought to repeal the Dickey Amendment, which prevents the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from researching the correlation between gun violence and public health, and was eventually opposed by its own author, former Rep. Jay Dickey, R-Ark. It failed. Afterward, in the privacy of the members-only elevator, some moderate Republicans confessed that they would have supported these measures, if only it didnt put at risk their re-election. Risk of being shot at in an elementary school classroom was tolerable. Risk of losing a primary election was not. People often ask me, When will Congress do something to reduce gun violence in America. My answer is, When you do. Many people believe that the lack of progress on guns is because of some Machiavellian strategy to pry out concessions on other issues. Others believe that its the fundraising might of the National Rifle Association (according to Politifact, between 1998 and 2016, the NRA gave $13 million to candidates, parties and leadership political action committees, not an overwhelming level relative to other lobbying groups). It may be some of those things, but the more powerful and motivating force that has prevented any kind of actual movement on gun violence is simply what political operatives call voter intensity. Gun voters are better organized, more cohesive and more dedicated to one single issue than many other voters, who cast votes on a multitude of issues. Shortly after I was sworn into Congress in 2001, I wanted to introduce legislation to require safety locks on certain guns. I approached another freshman, a Democrat from Arkansas, to support the bill. He refused adamantly, noting that in his rural district, schools were closed on the first day of hunting season. I joked that in my suburban district on Long Island, schools were closed when there was a big sale at the mall. Years later, that same colleague told me that in the depths of the recession, which hit his district hard, he visited long lines of constituents applying for unemployment and other benefits. The concern he heard the most wasnt about accountability by the financial institutions that plunged us into an economic spiral or even getting things back on track. It was this: Dont let those Democrats take our guns away. With a largely gerrymandered landscape thats rendered all but a few dozen districts as either far left or far right, House Republicans believe that more moderate voters will forgive them for opposing, say, stronger gun background checks, as long as theyre with them on other issues: womens reproductive rights, climate protections, trade. But that Im NRA & I Vote bumper sticker that you occasionally see is quite literal. It sends this message to incumbents: In Congress, vote anyway you want on war and peace, taxes, trade, tariffs, terrorism. But support stronger background checks, and youve lost my vote. The upcoming midterm election may be the turning point. It offers about 10 highly competitive House districts on the verge of replacing a gun lobby lapdog with someone wholl support commonsense safety measures. The students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., are traveling through many such districts. Theyre registering voters, but more importantly, theyre reminding them not to forgive a member of Congress who votes to protect the gun lobby but is OK on other issues. Indeed, what other issue is there beside keeping your children safe from gunfire in their classroom? Only when your voting intensity on gun safety matches or exceeds that of gun voters will members of Congress take notice. Former U.S. Rep. Steve Israel, D-.N.Y., the author of Big Guns: A Novel, will speak onGuns, Politics, and the Future of the Democrats, in conversation with former U.S. Under-Secretary of State for Arms Control Ellen Tauscher, 6:30 p.m., Thursday, at the Commonwealth Club, 110 Embarcadero, San Francisco. Tickets are $30 (non-members); $20 (members) and $10 (students). For information: www.commonwealthclub.org During a week that started with President Trumps current lawyer Rudy Giuliani asserting that the truth isnt the truth and continued with his former lawyer Michael Cohen implicating the president in a federal crime, California House Republicans shared a consistent reaction to the news from Washington: They said nothing. Most of the delegation was similarly mute when one of their own, San Diego County Rep. Duncan Hunter Trumps second endorser in the House and his wife were indicted in federal court for spending $250,000 in campaign funds on family vacations and other seemingly non-campaign-related items, including a $600 plane ticket for the familys pet rabbit. One of few delegation members to offer much of a rebuttal on either topic was House Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, who described himself last week as having the closest relationship of anybody in the House to Trump. His reaction reflected that relationship. I think it is time you shut (Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation) down so this country can move forward, McCarthy told the Idaho Statesman on Wednesday as he was campaigning in Boise for GOP candidates. That silence is intentional, because California Republicans have put themselves in a tough position when it comes to Trump and his early adopters like Hunter. Without a high-profile governors candidate or any Republican in the U.S. Senate race, the GOP needs a way to lure Trump voters to the polls even without the president on the ballot. GOP consultants estimate that roughly 10 percent of the 4.4 million Californians who voted for Trump arent mainline Republican voters those most likely to show up for a midterm election. But Republicans also realize that just 34 percent of California voters approve of Trump, according to a nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California survey last month. So they dont want to seem too pro-Trump or theyll risk the estimated 5 percent of the nonaligned voters who havent picked a side in one of several hotly contested California House races. Democrats are targeting seven GOP-held seats in California districts that Hillary Clinton won in 2016. Democratic leaders consider California to be pivotal in the partys quest to flip 23 seats and recapture control of the House. The contests are expected to be so close that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi predicted that 25,000 votes collectively, nationwide are expected to decide the top swing races. So with the races so tight and the Republican base so staunchly pro-Trump, thats why when the Trump news is bad, youll be unlikely to hear a peep from California Republicans. I tell them not to talk about it, obviously, said Dave Gilliard, a consultant to incumbent Reps. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock (Stanislaus County), and Mimi Walters, R-Irvine, and Young Kim and Diane Harkey, who are hoping to win House seats in open Orange and San Diego county districts. Both parties have a problem heading into November and its created by controversy around the president, Gilliard said. The Democrats have an angry mob driving their party, and that angry mob will settle for nothing less than impeaching the president. The Republican problem is how to keep our base motivated, Gilliard said, relying on polling and focus group studies hes done. And the independents, those 5 percent in the middle who will decide the election, arent going to vote for or against candidate because of something about Trump. Most Republican voters want candidates to support Trump no matter what, according to a new poll. When asked what strategy Republicans should follow this fall, 59 percent of the GOP respondents said they should support President Trumps positions on issues to motivate the partys base, according to a George Washington University Politics Poll released last week. Only 12 percent thought candidates should be willing to break with President Trumps position to appeal to independent or swing voters. The GOPs unblinking support of Trump will be something that will occupy historians for a long time after he leaves office, said Michael Cornfield, research director at George Washington Universitys Center for Political Management. They will wonder why Republicans, at best, acquiesced to him and, at worst, collaborated. But its hard for some candidates to avoid Trump, especially when he endorses them via Twitter. Almost exactly five hours before Cohen told a federal court that a candidate for federal office directed him to make hush payments to two women in exchange for them remaining silent about sexual affairs they reportedly had with Trump, the president tweeted a glowing endorsement of Republican Diane Harkey. The California Board of Equalization member is running to replace Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista (San Diego County), who decided not to run again after winning re-election in 2016 by only 1,621 votes. Trump lauded Harkey as an extraordinary woman of great accomplishment & potential. She is running as a very popular Republican for the Congressional seat of my friend Darrell Issa with his complete support. Diane is strong on crime, loves our Military & Vets has my total Endorsement! Harkey was one of few California Republicans to blast Hunter, tweeting that I am deeply disappointed and disturbed by the news of the indictment of Congressman Hunter. But Harkey was hardly ashamed of Trumps endorsement, despite the presidents legal problems. She quickly blasted it out to supporters as the centerpiece of an email fundraising solicitation. Im honored to have President Trumps support, but I need to know that I also have yours, Harkey wrote in the pitch. Will you join President Trump in supporting my campaign with a contribution of $10, $25, $50, $100, $250 or another amount today? Plus, her San Juan Capistrano campaign office was packed after the presidents tweet went out, said Fred Whitaker, chair of the Orange County Republican Party. The upside of that (tweet) is that it energized our base because the presidents base is very grassroots, Whitaker said. And when you only win a seat by 1,600 votes, every single vote matters. So its a net positive to us. The GOP base loves Trump because he has hit a core nerve with people, Whitaker said. They believe that he is fighting for them, that hes not going along to get along the way they always do things in Washington. Harkeys Democratic opponent, first-time candidate Mike Levin, liked Trumps endorsement tweet, too. He liked it so much that he used it in his own fundraising pitch. Did you see this? Late last night, President Trump endorsed my opponent Diane Harkey on Twitter, Levin wrote in an email solicitation. Chip in now to help our campaign fight back and show we have what it takes to defeat Trump and Harkey! Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli Jacom Stephens/Getty Images One person has died after a multiple vehicle crash on the eastbound lanes of Highway 92 at the Industrial Boulevard on-ramp near the San Mateo Bridge in Hayward Saturday afternoon, officials said. California Highway Patrol officials responded to a report of the crash at 2:19 p.m. and found an overturned box truck, according to officials. Crews announced progress in fighting the Mendocino Complex Fire, the largest wildfire in state history, as increasingly humid weather conditions allowed crews to create a backfire in an effort to contain the active fire in the Mendocino Complexs northeastern section. The last three to four days have been very favorable for firefighters, said Capt. Cary Wright, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protections public information officer for the Mendocino Complex. Humidity levels have been up, creating what firefighters call good overnight recovery, which provided the distance to set a backfire ahead of the main fire heading northeast, said Wright. Its less likely to have spot fires when that relative humidity goes up. Two weeks ago we were seeing embers being thrown a mile out, he added. Monday marks one month since the start of the Mendocino Complex Fire, which has spread over parts of Mendocino, Lake, Colusa and Glenn counties and is made up of two parts: the River Fire north of Hopland, which is completely contained, and the much larger Ranch Fire northeast of Ukiah, which is 67 percent contained. The level of containment has stayed the same for several days, yet Wright said thats a bit misleading because the fire actually increased by more than 24,000 acres between Saturday morning and Sunday evening, most of it from the backfire, bringing the total to a massive 450,985 acres. Depending on weather conditions, it will likely take four to five days for the backfire and main fire to join, he said. Cal Fire expects full containment by Saturday. The focus today and probably the next couple of days is to get in there and mop up all the hot spots, Dennis Burns, fire behavior specialist for Cal Fire, said in a video update Sunday. In the less active part of the fire zone, some of the 3,114 firefighters in the fire area were able to bring in heavy equipment to repair fire lines and cut down hazardous trees over the weekend. The cause of the Mendocino Complex Fire, which has resulted in the death of one firefighter and three firefighter injuries, is still unknown. A new fire sprang up in Lake County on Sunday afternoon just south of the Mendocino Complex, Cal Fire reported. The Cache Fire grew to 120 acres by evening and was located in Clearlake Oaks at Highway 20 and New Long Valley Road. Late Sunday night, it was burning 105 acres and was 20 percent contained. Cal Fire crews also took part in fighting a grass fire on the eastern edge of Castro Valley Sunday afternoon that engulfed motorists on nearby Highway 580 in thick white smoke. Quickly contained to 48 acres, the fire near Palo Verde Road turned the hillside from gold to charcoal black. Tara Duggan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tduggan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @taraduggan In the effervescent box-office hit "Crazy Rich Asians," a love story complicated by extraordinary wealth unfolds, all while taking you on a breezy tour of Singapore. The vibrant island country in Southeast Asia is known for its cuisine that blends the flavors and cooking styles of China, Malaysia and India. For locals, eating out whether cracking black pepper crab at a fine restaurant or noshing on satay from a street-side stall is a past-time. The film taps into this crazed and magical food culture with mouth-watering scenes, from the family meals at Tyersall Park to a lavish banquet thrown by a society couple to a gathering of friends at an open-air food emporium. "The liveliness of the food market-stalls gave the viewers a sliver of how energetic and colorful the food scene is in Singapore," says Kathy Fang, two-time CHOPPED champion chef of Fang Restaurant in San Francisco. "And nothing beats a great meal over food, drinks and good company." Seasoned Singapore chef John See oversaw the displays of food for the movie, and he told the Michelin Guide that he orchestrated a team of 50 chefs to create the mouth-water scenes. For the scene at the open-air food emporium, See said that 5,000 sticks of satay were made and $9,000 was spent on crab. ALSO, About time for 'Crazy Rich Asians,' a relatable romantic comedy It's no surprise that food plays a big role in the film, as the director, Jon M. Chu, is part of a family that owns the beloved Los Altos restaurant Chef Chu's. Opened in the 1970s, the restaurant is a Silicon Valley destination that has hosted everyone from Mark Zuckerberg to the late Steve Jobs. "Food is a big thing in a lot of cultures," Chu told the San Jose Mercury News. "In our family, it's how they communicate love." At the end of "Crazy Rich Asians," you might find yourself hungry and wondering: Where can I get food like that? To answer that question, we've tracked down a handful of restaurants specializing in Singapore dishes. We've included everything from Shiok in Menlo Park, where the Singaporean national dish chicken and rice is a specialty, to Lime Tree in San Francisco, where the Singaporean curry noodles will soothe your soul. (Find more restaurant suggestions in the gallery above.) Dennis Lim, whose family owns Shiok, said that people have been coming into the restaurant saying that they were inspired by the movie. "Oh my God, after seeing the film, I was so hungry," Lim said. "Food is such a big part of Singapore. The cuisine has been developed over hundreds of years. It's a fusion food, but it's not because one chef decided to mix ingredients. It's actually a culture that's influenced by India Thai, Malay, Chinese, Middle Easterners...all pulled together on this little island." WASHINGTON Two former presidents are expected to speak at Sen. John McCains service and he will lie in state in both the nations capital and Arizona as part of a cross-country funeral procession ending with his burial at the U.S. Naval Academy, according to plans taking shape Sunday. McCain had long feuded with President Trump, and two White House officials said McCains family had asked, before the senators death, that Trump not attend the funeral services. Vice President Mike Pence is likely to attend, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. A day after McCain died at his home in Arizona of brain cancer at 81, his family, friends and congressional and state leaders were working out details of the farewell to the decorated Vietnam War hero, prisoner of war and six-term senator. His office website said McCain will lie in state and have funeral services in Arizona on Wednesday and Thursday. The procession will then head to Washington, where McCain will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda on Friday. There will then be a procession past the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and a funeral service Saturday at Washington National Cathedral. A private funeral is planned Sunday at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, who blocked McCains own White House ambitions, are among those expected to speak at McCains funeral. The fact that his former opponents will be there speaking says all we need to know, Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., told CBS Face the Nation. Congressional leaders announced that McCain would lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda, though they did not give a date. The nation mourns the loss of a great American patriot, a statesman who put his country first and enriched this institution through many years of service, said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Arizona GOP Gov. Doug Ducey does not plan to announce his selection of a Senate successor to McCain until after the burial. Under state law, the governors appointee to serve until the next general election in 2020 must come from the same political party. Laurie Kellman is an Associated Press writer. John McCain, the proud naval aviator who climbed from depths of despair as a prisoner of war in Vietnam to pinnacles of power as a Republican congressman and senator from Arizona and a two-time contender for the presidency, died Saturday at his home in Arizona. He was 81. According to a statement from his office, McCain died at 4:28 p.m. local time. He had suffered from a malignant brain tumor, called a glioblastoma, for which he had been treated with radiation and chemotherapy since its discovery in 2017. Despite his grave condition, he made a dramatic appearance in the Senate last year to cast a thumbs-down vote against his partys drive to repeal the Affordable Care Act. But while he was unable to be in the Senate for a vote on the Republican tax bill in December, his endorsement was crucial, though not decisive, in the Trump administrations lone legislative triumph of the year. A son and grandson of four-star admirals who were his larger-than-life heroes, McCain carried his renowned name into battle and into political fights for more than a half century. It was an odyssey driven by raw ambition, the conservative instincts of a shrewd military man, a rebelliousness evident since childhood and a temper that sometimes bordered on explosiveness. Nowhere were those traits more manifest than in Vietnam, where he was stripped of all but his character. He boiled over in foul curses at his captors. Because his father was the commander of all U.S. forces in the Pacific during most of his 5 years of captivity, McCain, a Navy lieutenant commander, became the most famous prisoner of the war, a victim of horrendous torture and a tool of enemy propagandists. Shot down over Hanoi, suffering broken arms and a shattered leg, he was subjected to solitary confinement for two years and beaten frequently. Often he was suspended by ropes lashing his arms behind him. He attempted suicide twice. His weight fell to 105 pounds. He rejected early release to keep his honor and to avoid an enemy propaganda coup or risk demoralizing his fellow prisoners. He finally cracked under torture and signed a confession. No one believed it, although he felt the burden of betraying his country. To millions of Americans, McCain was the embodiment of courage: a war hero who came home on crutches, psychologically scarred and broken in body, but not in spirit. He underwent long medical treatments and rehabilitation, but was left permanently disabled, unable to raise his arms over his head. Someone had to comb his hair. His mother, Roberta McCain, Navy all the way, inspired his political career. After retiring from the Navy and settling in Arizona, he won two terms in the House of Representatives, from 1983 to 1987, and six in the Senate. He was a Reagan Republican to start with, but later moved right or left, a maverick who defied his partys leaders and compromised with Democrats. He lost the 2000 Republican presidential nomination to George W. Bush, who won the White House. In 2008, against the backdrop of a growing financial crisis, McCain made the most daring move of his political career, seeking the presidency against the first major-party African American nominee, Barack Obama. But his selection of Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska as his running mate, although meant to be seen as a bold, unconventional move in keeping with his mavericks reputation, proved a severe handicap. Voters worried about her qualifications to serve as president, and about McCains age he would be 72, the oldest person ever to take the White House. In a 2018 memoir, The Restless Wave: Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights and Other Appreciations, he defended Palins campaign performance but expressed regret that he had not instead chosen Sen. Joe Lieberman, a Democrat turned independent. At some McCain rallies, vitriolic crowds disparaged black people and Muslims, and when a woman said she did not trust Obama because hes an Arab, McCain, in one of the most lauded moments of his campaign, replied: No, maam. Hes a decent family man, a citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues. On election day, McCain lost most of the battleground states and some that were traditionally Republican. Obama won with 53 percent of the popular vote to McCains 46 percent, and 365 Electoral College votes to McCains 173. Returning to his Senate duties, the resilient McCain moved to the right politically to fend off a Tea Party challenge to his 2010 re-election. He voted against the Affordable Care Act, Obamas signature health care plan, which became law in 2010. As Congress reconvened in January 2015 with Republicans in control of the Senate, McCain achieved his longtime goal to become chairman of the Armed Services Committee, with the power to advance his national security and fiscal objectives under a $600 billion military policy bill. He considered the post second only to occupying the White House as commander in chief. With the rise of Donald Trump after his election in 2016 as the nations 45th president, McCain was one of the few powerful Republican voices in Congress to push back against Trumps often harsh, provocative statements and Twitter posts and his tide of changes. Personal animus between McCain and Trump arose in the Republican presidential primaries in 2016. McCain and Mitt Romney, with standing as the previous two Republican presidential nominees, denounced Trump as unfit for the presidency. Saying Trump had neither the temperament nor the judgment for the White House, McCain and Romney called him ignorant on foreign policy and said he had made dangerous statements on national security. In a venomous response, Trump denigrated Romney as a failed candidate and a loser beaten by Obama. Months earlier, Trump, who had never served in the military or held public office, had derided McCain as a bogus war hero and made light of his years of captivity and torture. Hes a war hero because he was captured, Trump said. I like people who werent captured. McCain held his fire. But the nation was shocked. McCain voted for all but two of Trumps 15 Cabinet selections and eight other administration posts requiring Senate confirmation. But he also chastised Trump for comments equating Russian and U.S. interests. That moral equivalency is a contradiction of everything the United States has ever stood for in the 20th and 21st centuries, he said. Tributes flooded social media after McCains death was announced, including from Trump who offered his deepest sympathies and respect. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, praised McCains deep patriotism, outstanding bravery and undaunted spirit. Obama noted the differences in their lives and politics but emphasized they shared a fidelity to something higher the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched and sacrificed. John Sidney McCain III was born on Aug. 29, 1936, at the Coco Solo Naval Air Station in the Panama Canal Zone, one of many posts where his father, John Sidney McCain Jr., served in a long, distinguished Navy career. He was the middle sibling of three children. His mother, born Roberta Wright, was a California oil heiress. With his older sister, Jean Alexandra (who was known as Sandy), and brother, Joseph Pinckney McCain II, John grew up with frequent moves, an often-absent father, a rock-solid mother and family lore that traced ancestral lineages to combatants in every U.S. war and to Scottish clans. After graduating from high school in 1954, he followed his father and grandfather into the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. In 1965, McCain married Carol Shepp, a model. He adopted her two children, Douglas and Andrew, and they had a daughter, Sidney. After a long separation, the couple were divorced in 1980. He then married Cindy Lou Hensley, a Phoenix teacher. They had two sons, John IV and James, and a daughter, Meghan, and adopted a girl, Bridget, from a Bangladeshi orphanage. Robert D. McFadden is a New York Times writer. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) The government is still encouraging members of rebel groups to come down and surrender, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Sunday. This, after President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday took a swipe at New People's Army (NPA) and communist party founder Jose Maria Sison, threatening to "raise the bar" in fighting the group and stop taking in surrenderees. "Just with the NPAs, puro mayabang. Akala mo naman. Pati ako, tinatakot ng ulol. Itong Sison na ito, comatose daw ako. Ulol. Wala namang Navy. Walang Army, walang helicopter. Wala ngang CAFGU. Walang Air Force. Tapos kung magsalita, akala mo sino. Maniwala ka niyan. Iyang ambush-ambush lang," he told government troops in Sulu. [Translation: NPA members are arrogant. These fools even threaten me. Sison said I'm comatose. Fool. They don't have a navy, army, air force, helicopter, or even CAFGU, but they speak as if they're somebody. Don't believe them, they can only ambush people.] "But next time around, we will raise the bar higher. Sabi ko pag magdating ang [garbled] wala ng surrender-surrender. P***** i**. Fight ka diyan hanggang mamatay ka. Hindi na mag-accept ng surrender. Pabalik-balik kayo," he added. [Translation: I said when the time comes, there will no longer be surrendering. Son of b****. Fight until you die. We will no longer accept surrenderees. You always go back.] In a text message to CNN Philippines, Lorenzana said he has yet to talk to the President about what he meant by the remark, but maintained that the government's current policy on surrenderees remains unchanged. "[There's no] new policy on surrender, our current policy stands. We want them to come down and take advantage of the benefits offered by the government," he said. Under the government's "Comprehensive Local Intergration Program," former rebels who surrender and go back to their normal life are given financial assistance. The Armed Forces of the Philippines in March said a total of 4,356 regular members and supporters of the NPA have surrendered to the government from January to March 15 this year. CNN Philippines' Robert Vergara and Janine Peralta contributed to this report. A 37-year-old Monterey man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after he crashed his Tesla sedan into the back of a San Jose Fire Department engine early Saturday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol. The CHP said the crash was reported around 1:07 a.m. Saturday in the unincorporated area of Coyote on southbound U.S. Highway 101 in Santa Clara County. ALSO READ: One dead in multi-vehicle crash on Highway 92 in Hayward An SJFD truck was stopped in the No. 4 lane of the freeway with its emergency lights on for around 5 seconds when the 2015 Tesla Model S crashed into the back of the 2009 Spartan Fire truck at around 65 mph, according to the CHP. CHP officials said the suspect, Michael Tran, told emergency responders at the scene "I think I had autopilot on" at the time of the collision, but the CHP couldn't confirm if the vehicle was in auto-driving mode when it struck the fire truck. Two firefighters in the fire truck were uninjured. Tran and a woman passenger in the Tesla were transported to San Jose Regional Medical Center with minor injuries. Tran has been booked into the Santa Clara County Jail. MARTINEZ (BCN) A 40-year-old man was arrested Friday in connection with an altercation with a high school student near downtown Martinez, police said. The incident started when the man, identified by police as Gilbert Rodriguez of Martinez, allegedly threatened a student of Vicente High School, at Susana and Court Streets, across the street from the school. Police said Rodriguez had a razor in his hand at the time, and that he left the area after a verbal exchange with the student. A Vicente staff member called police a few minutes later at 1:54 p.m. Friday, and the suspect was identified. Officers went to his home on LaSalle Street about six blocks away; at first, Rodriguez would not come out to speak with officers. Police then blocked off one block of LaSalle Street. But Rodriguez emerged after only a few minutes, at 2:17 p.m., and surrendered without incident, police said. Rodriguez was booked into the County Jail in Martinez charged on suspicion of brandishing a weapon and of cruelty to a child. Anyone with additional information about this incident is urged to call Martinez Police at (925) 372-3440. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) The Twin Peaks Tunnel, which has been closed for the past two months undergoing major upgrades, reopened to serve three light-rail routes today, with a fourth service set to resume Monday, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency said today. The tunnel connects Muni's Castro and West Portal stations, and light-rail trains on the J-Church, K-Ingleside and M-Ocean View lines are again operating normally as of today. "Everything is running smoothly today," Muni spokesman Paul Rose said. Set to return Monday is the Nx "Judah Express" bus service, a companion express service to the N-Judah rail line service. Since buses don't use the tunnel, construction didn't directly affect the Nx service. But Rose said that the tunnel's closure made necessary some Muni shuttle-bus services, which took drivers away from the Nx. With the tunnel now open, the drivers who piloted the temporary shuttles are now freed up to return to their previous Nx bus routes, Rose said today. Trains on the N-Judah line do not use the Twin Peaks tunnel, Rose said. The 100-year-old tunnel's infrastructure, including the tracks, walls and drainage systems, have been upgraded, and seismic reinforcement are expected to better protect the tunnel's overall structure and stability. Four new track crossovers were installed in the tunnel to allow trains to switch tracks and avoid delays at stations near the tunnel. The new tracks mean the tunnel's previous speed restriction will be lifted. The tunnel project wasn't without its controversies. On Aug. 10, construction worker Patrick Ricketts was killed when a falling steel beam near the West Portal end of the tunnel hit him. It was then discovered that his employer, Shimmick Construction of Oakland, had a history of workplace and safety violations, including one involving a November 2016 fatality. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SANTA ROSA (BCN) A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of stabbing two people early Sunday outside a restaurant and bar, police said. Jose Santiago Lopez-Mendoza, of Santa Rosa, was at La Perla Tapatio at 1709 Santa Rosa Ave. when he and his friends were kicked out for being intoxicated, according to a Santa Rosa police news release. Lopez-Mendoza allegedly retaliated by stabbing two security guards around 12:30 a.m. at the front door and running away, police said. The victims were taken to the hospital with injuries that were significant but not life threatening. Upon searching the area, officers located Lopez-Mendoza, who matched the description of the assailant and had a large amount of blood on his hands and clothing. The officers did not locate the knife. He was arrested and taken to a hospital for treatment, police said, where he became combative and spit on medical staff members. He is being held on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, battery and possession of a controlled substance. Anyone with information on the incident can call the Violent Crimes Investigation Team at (707) 543-3590. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. 2000-02-18 04:00:00 PDT Greenville, S.C. -- Editor's Note: This article was published on Feb. 18, 2000. In 2008, at least three national web sites posted links to it. As a result, it appeared in the list of SFGATE's Most Read articles. In 2018, this article once again resurfaced and landed on SFGATE's Most Read articles, in the wake of Sen. John McCain's death on Aug. 26 after a battle with brain cancer. He was 81. To read his obituary, head here. Arizona Sen. John McCain refused to apologize yesterday for his use of a racial slur to condemn the North Vietnamese prison guards who tortured and held him captive during the war. "I hate the gooks," McCain said yesterday in response to a question from reporters aboard his campaign bus. "I will hate them as long as I live." McCain, a former Navy pilot who spent five years in a Vietnamese prisoner of war camp, was questioned about the language because of a story last month in the Nation magazine reporting his continued use of the slur. Since then, reports of McCain's language have been circulating on Internet chat sites and e-mails among Asian Americans, many of whom find the the term offensive and inappropriate for an elected official. McCain's appeal to voters has been as a wartime hero and a feisty politician who speaks his mind and damns the consequences. But his comments on the eve of the key South Carolina primary show the candidate's vaunted "straight talk" in another light. "The use of a racist slur can't be acceptable for any national leader, regardless of his background," said Diane Chin, executive director of the San Francisco-based Chinese for Affirmative Action. "For someone running for president not to recognize the power of words is a problem." While McCain's words may have little effect in conservative South Carolina, where few Asian Americans live, they could come back to haunt him in other states. "Historically, straight talkers who say things off the top of their heads eventually hang themselves with those sorts of remarks," said Bruce Cain, a political scientist at the University of California at Berkeley. "While it might not hurt him now, Democrats are not going to have any hesitation about using this stuff to string him up later." TERM FOR HIS CAPTORS McCain made no apologies yesterday. "I was referring to my prison guards," McCain said, "and I will continue to refer to them in language that might offend some people because of the beating and torture of my friends." McCain made it clear that his anger extends only toward his captors. As a senator, he was one of the leaders of the postwar effort to normalize U.S. relations with Vietnam. Campaign officials do not expect the controversy to hurt McCain, either in tomorrow's South Carolina primary or later in the campaign. "If people understood the context, they wouldn't be upset," Mike Murphy, a senior adviser to the campaign, said last night. But the racial slur used by the senator has a long, painful history that is felt by many Asian Americans. The word "gook" was first used in 1899 by American soldiers fighting Filipino insurgents. During the Korean War, the term was aimed at Koreans and Chinese. It was directed at the Vietnamese when Americans were fighting in Vietnam. It is now used as a slur toward any Asian or Pacific Islander. The Arizona senator prides himself on running an open campaign. He is surrounded by reporters, television cameras and tape recorders perhaps more than any presidential candidate in history. Reporters are given full access to the candidate between each campaign stop on a customized bus purposefully dubbed the "Straight Talk Express." The bus, which also carries his top staff and often his wife, Cindy, is crammed with network anchors and local newspaper reporters, who endlessly engage McCain in what amounts to a news conference on wheels. The comments are usually recorded and always on the record. Sometimes the questions are pointed and serious. Sometimes they are not. McCain has declared on his bus, "I hate the French." He often begins meetings with Californians joking, "I hate Californians," noting that they steal Arizona's water and lure his constituents away in the summer. MCCAIN'S IMPRISONMENT But those comments are clearly in jest. Yesterday's were not. McCain was captured after his A-4 Skyhawk was shot down over Hanoi on Oct. 26, 1967. During the time he was held, he was brutally tortured by his captors, finally reaching the point where he was unable to resist signing a "confession." McCain and his fellow prisoners suffered terribly in the prison camp. In the crowd at yesterday's rally in Greenville was retired Adm. Robert Fuller, who was in prison with McCain at the infamous "Hanoi Hilton." Fuller, who lives in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., spoke informally of the despair of living in single cells, where the only form of contact was by an ingenious code devised by the prisoners. Fuller said prisoners were sometimes tortured for as many as six days. When they returned, he said, the others would send messages of support by tapping on the wall. "They would be put in ropes for six days, and they would confess," Fuller said. "When they came back to their cell, guys would tap on the wall, 'We love you. I wish we could give you a hug.' " The horrors of the past cannot be an excuse for hurting people in the present, said Guy Aoki, president of the Media Action Network for Asian Americans, an anti-defamation group. "If Sen. McCain had been captured by Nigerians, could he call those people 'niggers' and think he wasn't going to offend everyone who is black?" Akoi asked. "We can all feel for what he went through, but if that's his level of sensitivity, I'm very disappointed." McCain usually treats his experience as a prisoner of war as a terrible time in his life, but a period he has moved beyond. At times, he even uses it as a punch line for jokes. At a pancake breakfast recently, he said he had gone with his daughter to the MTV Music Awards, "and that was the greatest assault on my senses since I was in prison." Yesterday's comments made it clear that McCain had neither forgotten, nor forgiven, his captors. "I will call right now, my interrogator that tortured me, a gook," McCain said. "(I can't believe that) anybody doesn't believe these interrogators and prison guards were cruel and sadistic people who deserve the worst appellations possible." McCain said he does not consider the comment an epithet. "Gook," he said, "is the kindest appellation I can give." McCAIN IN THE POLLS Here are some results from new national polls that show Republican Sen. John McCain faring better than or as well as GOP rival Gov. George W. Bush against Democrat Al Gore. CNN-USA Today-Gallup McCain 55% Gore 39% Bush 50% Gore 45% PEW Research Center for The People & The Press McCain 49% Gore 41% Bush 46% Gore 45% CBS-New York Times McCain 42% Gore 41% Bush 50% Gore 44% Source: Associated Press STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Dozens of Staten Islanders celebrated Eid al-Adha in Walker Park in Livingston on Saturday afternoon. The event, hosted by Muslim Sisters of Staten Island and Bait-ul Jamaat (House of Community), included outdoor activities, arts and crafts, food, vendors and games. "To me, Eid al-Adha is about understanding the struggle," Marketing, Life and Culture Director of Muslim Sisters of Staten Island Najah Abdul-Qawiyy said, explaining the significance of the holiday. "It proves that sometimes things don't make sense to you but what is happening could eventually be for the better." Eid al-Adha, translated to "Day of Sacrifice," is the celebration commemorating the sacrifice of Abraham. Here's how the story goes: God appeared to Abraham in a dream and asked him to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience. When Abraham obliged, God stopped him and gave him a sheep to kill in place of his son. To honor the religious significance, many Muslim families distribute goat meat to the poor, relatives, friends and family. Traditionally, the holiday is celebrated from Aug. 20 to Aug. 21. It is the second largest holiday in the Muslim faith. The first is Eid al-Fitr, following the month of fasting known as Ramadan. Although this event was designed to honor the holiday, the festival sparked interest in a diverse crowd ranging in age, religion and race. "We always have this event to show the community we are good people, too," said Abdul-Qawiyy. "We're not like the ones you see on TV. We're these regular people you see everyday who have jobs, have kids and have fun." STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- More than 100 Staten Islanders showed support for the building of the North Indian Monument at Fort Wadsworth with a benefit concert at Snug Harbor's Music Hall on Saturday night. Held by The Staten Island Downtown Alliance, the nighttime affair consisted of local performers donating time to what they believe is a worthwhile cause. Performers of the evening were Jeff Harrell & Oyate, comedian Jen Remauro, Red Storm Drum & Dance Troupe, Frank James (known for his Elvis Presley impression) and The Resistance. "We're here tonight to share a bit of who we are as people," said Red Storm leader Jerry Greyhawk. "We want to make you aware that we're still here. Regardless of everything, we're still here." THE BACKSTORY In 1913, former President William Howard Taft, Native Amercan chiefs and other dignitaries came to Fort Wadsworth for the groundbreaking of a memorial to honor North American Indians. More than 100 years later, nothing has been done to further the building process. Concerned members of the community are continuing to raise money and help the cause, so someday the promise will be fulfilled. "We're not looking to have a giant colossal [memorial] that was once promised," said Margie Boldeagle, of the Red Storm Drum & Dance Troupe. "We just want something to signify this part of history." An estimated cost of the monument is anywhere between $3 to $5 million. "We hope that the promise will finally be completed to honor the people that once roamed this land freely," Boldeagle said. BRING ON THE ENTERTAINMENT Red Storm played songs telling the tales of their past. "We come from different parts of the country, but Staten Island is home," said Greyhawk. "We love this place. It's grown on us, like a fungus. I mean, I love mushrooms, so..." The troupe engaged the audience by starting a traditional dance in front of center stage. A handful of people in attendance joined in by walking single file in a oval formation. Frank James came out rocking a gold tuxedo top showcasing his best Elvis Presley impression. James performed covers of "Pretty Woman," "Boardwalk" and "Proud Mary." The Resistance brought the crowd to its feet with classic rock covers of songs by The Who, Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd. In-between acts, Wayne McDougall was recognized for his volunteer service with the Staten Island Downtown Alliance. Soon after McDougall's speech, Jeff Harrell & Oyate entertained the crowd with smooth sounds of drums, later inviting Red Storm to their performance to provide accompanying dance. More information on how to donate to the North Indian Monument can be found at StatenIslandDowntownAlliance.com. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Last year when Jimmy Martinez, a retired city firefighter hero from Eltingville, was battling cancer, he donated a new white van to the FDNY's fleet. His inspiration was the many rides on the FDNY transport van to and from Manhattan for his cancer treatment appointments. But after a long battle with bone marrow cancer, Martinez, 58, has died. "Firefighter Jimmy Martinez bravely protected Staten Island for more then two decades, fighting fires and providing emergency medical care to those who were sick and injured," said FDNY Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro. "His death is another painful loss for our department, which continues to lose remarkable men and women to illness because of their selfless work during World Trade Center rescue and recovery effort," he added. VAN DONATION "This day makes me proud to pay it forward," Martinez told the Advance at the March, 2017 ceremony at Engine 157/Ladder 80 in Port Richmond where he formerly worked. "I've had a lot of help and support since day one. This will help a lot of people." Martinez, a World Trade Center and Hurricane Sandy first responder, was diagnosed with cancer in June 2013. He underwent rigorous chemotherapy treatments, but still needed a stem-cell transplant. In April, 2016 Martinez received the transplant from an anonymous international donor; he was in remission for six months at the time he donated the van. COMMENDED FOR BRAVERY During the 2017 ceremony, James Leonard, FDNY chief of the department, talked about Martinez's bravery and commitment to helping firefighters. "He's been a role model for this department, and he earned that reputation," Leonard said. Martinez donated the custom white van to the FDNY Fire Family Transport Foundation, which uses the vans to help sick firefighters and their families get around. Martinez was very specific about the van's design, including the turn signals, seat belts, air conditioning and seating. FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS Surviving are his wife, Maria, and three children: Jimmy, Alyssa and Eileen. A funeral wake for Martinez will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday at the John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals in Eltingville. The funeral will be Thursday from St. Clare's R.C. Church, Great Kills. FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK and TWITTER STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, former Dongan Hills resident Andrew Serra, 45, wasn't at work. He was on his way to class at the College of Staten Island. But as soon as he heard about the tragic collapse of the World Trade Center, he headed to Ladder 131 in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn. "When I heard what happened, I drove straight to my firehouse. A bunch of us borrowed a truck from a hardware store across the street," said Serra. "We got there sometime in the immediate aftermath," he added. For more than a year, Serra found himself digging through the rubble, looking for human remains. In March of 2002, Serra and a team of rescue workers uncovered the body of a fallen firefighter. "Myself and a couple of colleagues found the remains of a fireman who worked in Ladder 4," he said, noting this discovery was the catalyst for his book. A story about Ladder 4 firefighters looting a Gap store in the aftermath of 9/11 had a great impact on Serra. "I was really angry [about the incident] for a long time," said Serra, who called reports about the incident "false." "Half the book is about that (the alleged Gap looting); the other half is a memoir of 9/11 in general and what it was like for the families of 9/11 firefighters and victims," added Serra of "Finding John," which was recently published by Tudor City Press. Since publishing the book, Serra said he's received a lot of positive feedback from fellow firefighters about how he captured what they experienced in the years that followed the World Trade Center collapse. "September 11, 2001 was one of the darkest days in American history. "Finding John" is an eyewitness account of the devastation caused by and the rescue efforts of the first 24 hours," says the book's synopsis. "Like all firefighters, Andrew Serra passed the months and years after 9/11 putting the pieces of the Fire Department--and life in general--back together again. He would spend many more years, however, searching for the truth. Part memoir, part investigative history, 'Finding John' is the poignant, emotional story of a firefighter's life in the months and years after September 11. All proceeds of the book are going to 9/11 charities: The Ray Pfeifer Foundation and the FealGood Foundation. FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK and TWITTER The On the Go? transportation column will be published regularly, exploring the issues that plague Staten Island commuters. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Change is hard. Especially when that change relates to something you've relied on five days a week for the past few decades. Well, that's exactly the kind of change that tens of thousands of hardworking Staten Islanders have had to endure in the past week with the complete overhaul of the borough's MTA express bus network being put in place. With no subway line connecting us to the rest of the city, and the Staten Island Ferry a long ways away for anyone not living on the North Shore, many residents' only option to get to their Manhattan jobs is the borough's express bus system. For years these commuters had relied on the "X"s of old, but now must adjust to what the MTA is hoping will be a "SIM"pler, more streamlined system. And as expected with any major change in a massive, complex network, there have been quite a few bumps along the road early on for the MTA. Overcrowding. Long lines. Farther walks. Large gaps in service. Confused bus drivers. Disgruntled commuters. But it's not as though the MTA is sitting idly by and watching us suffer. Since Andy Byford took the role of MTA New York City Transit president in January, he has emphasized transparency and accountability for an agency where that has not always been the norm -- and that's something that deserves commendation. It's been a long and arduous process revamping Staten Island's express bus network -- and it's far from over. The MTA will continue assessing and adjusting the new routes in the coming months as it fine-tunes the system to fit the needs of our borough. HOW WE GOT HERE Although the new network has inconvenienced commuters in the short-term, the redesign was both necessary and long-overdue for a system that was developed in the 1960s and expanded in the 1980s. As any longtime Staten Islander knows, the borough has changed significantly since then, and with it, so have the transportation needs. Open areas that were previously undeveloped now house thousands of residents reliant on a system that was designed before their homes existed. With new residential areas popping up left and right, not to mention the drastic increase in population density, the older routes were slowly tweaked to cover more and more neighborhoods. But with the increase in coverage also came a lengthening of the routes, resulting in some lines making nearly 40 stops over the span of an hour before even leaving Staten Island in the morning. Instead of attempting piecemeal solutions, like the ones that got us into this mess to begin with, the MTA elected to start from scratch and design a brand new express bus network fit for the 21st century. THE MAJOR ISSUES Unfortunately, the rollout of the new network hasn't gone quite as smoothly as the MTA may have hoped. With the 26 former "X" routes consolidated into 21 "SIM" routes, many of the lines -- like the SIM7 and SIM10 -- have dealt with severe overcrowding issues during the morning and evening commutes, resulting in standing-room only for many passengers. Long lines of commuters have been photographed in Manhattan during the evening commute, where Midtown stops have as many as five express bus lines arriving at one location. The Advance has received dozens of complaints, many coming from older riders or those commuters with disabilities who now must walk farther distances to and from their relocated stops. Riders have noted large gaps in service between peak and off-peak hours, leaving those who work unconventional hours stranded in Manhattan. Commuters have complained that even the bus drivers are unfamiliar with the new system, with one emailer telling us the driver had one hand on the wheel and one hand on the instruction manual in order to determine where to stop. This combination of issues, along with dozens of more that people have reported, has left me with hundreds of emails in the past week regarding needed changes to the new network. THE CHANGES SO FAR On the bright side, the MTA has stuck to its word up until this point, and has been regularly adjusting the new system in recent days based off rider feedback. Additional morning trips have been added to the SIM1c, SIM4c, SIM8, SIM10 and SIM34. Afternoon trips have been added for the SIM6, SIM7 and SIM35. A Midtown stop has been moved to avoid 42nd Street traffic. And a shuttle from the Eltingville Transit Center to Huguenot has been added to provide late-night service to the South Shore. COMMITMENT TO GET IT RIGHT Rest assured that these changes will not be the last, with both the MTA and local elected officials expressing a fierce commitment to getting this thing right. "As promised, we've been monitoring this brand new service since the first bus left the depot, and we've been making immediate adjustments every day in response to customer feedback and observations on the ground. We will be out there every day monitoring this service and won't stop making adjustments until we have the best service possible," Byford told the Advance on Tuesday. Borough President James Oddo has been on the forefront of this difficult endeavor, working tirelessly with the MTA every day to refine the system, and accepting full responsibility for the outcomes' effects on Staten Islanders. "I instigated and pushed @MTA to change Staten Island's express bus routes in pursuit of a better commute for Staten Islanders. While this still is a fluid process, I want to say prior to the first bus rolling out that I own this. Improved service or a commuting abomination, this one is on me," Oddo said on Twitter a few days before the rollout of the new network. That kind of accountability is something often shunned in politics and civil service, and as is the case with Byford, it's something for which Oddo should be recognized and commended. Staten Island's new express bus network may be far from perfect, but I wholeheartedly believe that the right people are working to make it as close as possible. Use the links below to contact the Borough President's Office or the MTA with any feedback regarding Staten Island's new express bus network. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS What do you think of Staten Island's new express bus network? How has it affected your daily commute? Is it an improvement over the previous express bus network? What adjustments can the MTA make to improve the new network? Will you consider a different means of commuting to work? We encourage our readers to reach out to us by posting their responses in the comment section and/or emailing them to tbascome@siadvance.com. I'll be following up on our readers' submissions in future installments of "On the Go?" to find ways to improve the challenging commuting conditions on Staten Island. WASHINGTON (AP) -- Presidents and lawmakers from both parties honored Sen. John McCain's decades of service to his country in the hours after his death Saturday. President Donald Trump, who once criticized McCain for being taken prisoner during the Vietnam War, said his "deepest sympathies and respect" went out to McCain's family. McCain, 81, died at his ranch in Arizona after a yearlong battle with brain cancer. On Saturday night, a black hearse accompanied by a police motorcade could be seen driving away from the ranch near Sedona where the Republican senator spent his final weeks. Trump's brief Twitter statement said "hearts and prayers" are with the McCain family. First lady Melania Trump thanked McCain for his service to the nation, which included more than five years as a prisoner of war and six terms in the Senate. My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2018 Trump and McCain were at odds until the end. The president, who mocked McCain's capture in Vietnam during the 2016 campaign, jabbed at the senator even after his illness for voting against Republican efforts to roll back President Barack Obama's health care law. Earlier this summer, McCain issued a blistering statement criticizing Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Former presidents, including those who blocked McCain's own White House ambitions, offered emotional tributes. Obama, who triumphed over McCain in the 2008 election, said that despite their differences, McCain and he shared a "fidelity to something higher - the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed." Obama said the two political opponents "saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world." Our statement on the passing of Senator John McCain: pic.twitter.com/3GBjNYxoj5 Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 26, 2018 Former President George W. Bush, who defeated McCain for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination, called his one-time political rival "man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order" and a "friend whom I'll deeply miss." McCain was the son and grandson of admirals and followed them to the U.S. Naval Academy. A pilot, he was shot down over Vietnam and held as a prisoner of war for more than five years. He went on to win a seat in the House and in 1986, the Senate, where he served for the rest of his life. "Some lives are so vivid, it is difficult to imagine them ended. Some voices are so vibrant, it is hard to think of them stilled. John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order. [...] Full statement by President George W. Bush https://t.co/FQVYWIUyGL pic.twitter.com/W8LCxJXRLi George W. Bush Presidential Center (@TheBushCenter) August 26, 2018 Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called McCain a "fascinating personality." "He would occasionally be in a bad place with various members, including myself, and when this would blow over it was like nothing ever happened," McConnell said Saturday after a GOP state dinner in Lexington, Kentucky. "He also had a wicked sense of humor and it made every tense moment come out better." Former Vice President Joe Biden, who developed a friendship with McCain while they served together in the Senate, said the Arizona lawmaker will "cast a long shadow." "The spirit that drove him was never extinguished: we are here to commit ourselves to something bigger than ourselves," Biden said John McCain was many things a proud graduate of the Naval Academy, a Senate colleague, a political opponent. But, to me, more than anything, John was a friend. He will be missed dearly. pic.twitter.com/AS8YsMLw3d Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 26, 2018 McCain is expected to be remembered in Arizona and Washington before being buried, likely this week, at the Naval Academy Cemetery on a peninsula overlooking the Severn River. Other plans were taking shape, too. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced that he wants to name the Senate building that housed McCain's suite of offices after the Arizona senator, who served as chairman of the Commerce Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee. "As you go through life, you meet few truly great people. John McCain was one of them," Schumer said. "Maybe most of all, he was a truth teller - never afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all too rare." By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- It was bad enough a Mariners Harbor man's blood-alcohol content was nearly twice the legal limit while he drove with his underage brother in his SUV Tuesday night in Concord, authorities allege. But Marco Muniz thought he wouldn't get caught. Muniz, 28, of the 100 block of Harbor Road, reckoned wrong, and he got busted on felony and misdemeanor charges for his trouble. The episode occurred about 8:47 p.m. on Narrows Road North, which is the Staten Island Expressway's service road, said a criminal complaint. The defendant was driving a 2005 red Nissan Armada when cops pulled him over, the complaint said. Muniz's 15-year-old brother was in the front passenger seat. The defendant had a "strong" odor of alcohol on his breath, his face was flushed, his eyes were watery and bloodshot, and he was unsteady on his feet, said the complaint. "I thought I was going to get away with it until I saw you walk up with your hat on," the complaint quotes the defendant as saying. A Breathalyzer test determined Muniz's blood-alcohol content was .133 percent, said the complaint. The legal threshold for driving while intoxicated in New York is .08 percent. Muniz was arrested and charged with a felony count of aggravated driving while intoxicated for allegedly driving drunk with a child 15 years old or younger in the vehicle. He was also accused of misdemeanor counts of driving while intoxicated, driving while impaired and child endangerment. Muniz was arraigned Wednesday in Criminal Court and released on his own recognizance, online state court records show. He must return to court on Oct. 9. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! The royal commission will consider a suite of radical changes to the superannuation system including banning some commissions and fees while warning the banks may need to sell their trustee businesses if they cant manage conflicts between shareholders and members. The proposed expansion of the best interest test, to cover all bank units that interact with the trustee, is expected to send shockwaves through the banks. There is expected to be widespread support for a ban on grandfathered commissions. The mooted policy changes were outlined in a 223-page closing submission by the counsels assisting the royal commission led by senior counsel Michael Hodge, QC, to the commission following two weeks of hearings into the $2.6 trillion superannuation sector. The submission, released late on Friday, also recommended National Australia Bank and the Commonwealth Bank face criminal chjarges over their respective alleged breaches of their duties to super fund members, which for CBA included 13,000 breaches. The euphoria over the appointment of former Bellamys boss Laura McBain, to the top job at Longtable - the foodie group which owns half of Maggie Beers gourmet food business - has gone a little flat. Laura McBain, former CEO of Bellamy's. Credit:Vince Caligiuri The stock is still worth a little more than it was when Laura joined this time last year - when it was still known as Primary Opinion - after the 25:1 share consolidation is accounted for. Sure, her former employer Bellamys has almost halved in a matter of months but the share price has more than tripled since she left in controversial circumstances early last year. So it was no wonder that she headed to the courts last month in an attempt to plump up her exit package from Bellamys. One of Australia's leading board directors Diane Smith-Gander has urged the Liberal party to introduce gender-based quotas, put women into seats Liberals can win, and more generally lift Australian womens' participation in the workforce. Ms Smith-Gander, a non-executive director of AGL Energy and Wesfarmers, said only drastic changes could help the Liberal party at the pending federal election. "I think that the mood of the electorate is such that only truly radical action is going to allow the Liberal party to remain a viable political force," she said. Diane Smith-Gander wants to see radical change She criticised the new Prime Minister Scott Morrison for not immediately apologising to the Australian electorate for the leadership saga of the past week when he took over from Malcolm Turnbull on Friday. It may not top many peoples list of favourite birds, but the humble kookaburra has won the heart of a Hollywood icon. Screen legend Jane Fonda is in Australia to promote her latest film Book Club and make a series of special speaking engagements around the country. Jane Fonda in Sydney on Sunday. Credit:Brook Mitchell And when reflecting on how she had been spending her brief moments of downtime, there was one thing that really captured her attention. Dreadlocks and furry boots grooved alongside flannos and baseball caps, with a few grey-hairs rounding out the audience, all in the faux-classical interior of the Forum Theatre. The mixed crowd that gathered to watch Australian singer songwriter Xavier Rudd in Melbourne on Friday night could, perhaps, best be described as Melbourne eclectic. The music was equally eclectic, ranging across Rudd's nine albums and half a dozen styles, from reggae to meditative; totemic to the anthemic, U2-style rhythms of Walk Away. Despite his million-watt smile, Rudd has a slightly awkward stage presence. His signature dance move is jazz hands. But when he stalks around the stage, blowing a didgeridoo held in one hand towards the crowd, the sound of tens of thousands of years of history fills the room and it's very difficult not to respond with a woop. The four-piece band is tight - the bass driving; the drumming technical - and understandably so. His tour, promoting the Storm Boy album, has been going since May. It's reaching the end of its month-long Australian leg and, in couple of weeks, the band heads overseas again for two dozen dates in Europe. The show starts with a reggae bang, with Sacred and Rusty Hammer off the Nanna album, and then Come Let Go off White Moth. Soon, though, the intensity reduces and Rudd brings the room in to his confidence. In a statement issued by the BBC, both confessed to being childhood fans of the series. "My entire television career has quite literally been an elaborate plan to get to write Doctor Who," McTighe said. The series, featuring Whittaker as its first female Doctor, returns in October. Australian director Jennifer Perrott and screenwriter Pete McTighe have signed on for duty in Jodie Whittaker's Tardis as the BBC series Doctor Who prepares for its 11th season. The pair are part of a large roster of directors and writers which were announced ahead of the series' return later this year. Perrott's credits include Offspring and Home and Away; McTighe's credits include Wentworth, Winners & Losers and Glitch. Alan Brough, Adam Hills and Myf Warhurst return to the small screen for a Spicks and Specks reunion. Australian actress Ruby Rose's Batwoman will come face to face with the most iconic of all DC Comics superheroes, Superman, when she makes her debut in the "crossover" event planned for The Flash, Arrow and Supergirl later this year. Superman has appeared in Supergirl before, played by actor Tyler Hoechlin; he was most recently seen during the show's second season, playing both Superman and his alter-ego Clark Kent. Warner Bros has also confirmed Kent's Daily Planet colleague, reporter Lois Lane, will appear in the "crossover" event as well. (The character has been played previously by Teri Hatcher and Margot Kidder.) The "crossover" event airs in the US in December and shortly after in Australia. New drama comes into Bloom Australian acting legend Jacki Weaver is to head the cast of a new television drama titled Bloom. The series, which has been commissioned by the streaming platform Stan, also stars Bryan Brown, Phoebe Tonkin, Ryan Corr, Genevieve Morris, Anne Charleston and Terry Norris. Bloom is set in a small town one year after devastating floods killed five people; in the wake of that tragedy a strange flower blooms which appears to have the ability to restore youth. ACT government minister Mick Gentleman has offered internet giant Google his support in helping to set up an office in Canberra, as a subsidiary of Google's holding company steps up drone delivery trials in the capital. Mr Gentleman said he made the offer when he met Google co-founder Sergey Brin during a recent trip to California. A drone delivers a package to the Bonython home of Jeremy and Mel Hawkes. Credit:Karleen Minney "I did offer him an opportunity to set up a base in the ACT for Google," Mr Gentleman told The Canberra Times. "We know that Google, of course, provide great employment opportunities and great opportunities for career advancement as well. A man found guilty of trying to film a woman underneath a change room wall at a Canberra Kmart will appeal his conviction in the ACT Supreme Court. Dane Christian Muench will argue on Monday the magistrate was wrong to find him guilty and will ask the Supreme Court to dismiss the charges against him. Dane Muench in surveillance footage at the shopping centre. At the heart of the defence case is the possibility Muench was wrongly accused in the minutes after the woman saw the phone pointed at her from underneath the cubicle wall. Muench was charged over the October 16, 2016, incident at the Tuggeranong Hyperdome after police released surveillance footage of the suspect and Muench was recognised. The ACT's new watchdog for restrictive practices is investigating a fenced-off facility used to isolate a Canberra student with special needs from his peers. Following a report in The Canberra Times and calls from disability advocacy groups for an investigation, senior practitioner Mandy Donley confirmed she was looking into the case. An education directorate spokeswoman said no formal investigation was currently underway. Abdul-Ghani Ferkh, who wasn't allowed to go back to school for four months after a suspension. Credit:Dion Georgopoulos A spokeswoman for Ms Donley said the senior practitioner had visited the school and was working with those involved. Last week, ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry defended the specialist school's decision to build a locked facility for Abdul-Ghani Ferkh, who has complex autism. Julie Bishop was thrown in the deep end when she first became foreign minister. Australia held the presidency of the United Nations Security Council at the time and within days of being sworn in she was in New York chairing a crucial meeting of the body responsible for global peace. An historic resolution moved by Australia to combat the illicit trade and misuse of small arms and light weapons was adopted. Bishop reportedly chaired the meeting with poise and professionalism - attributes foreign policy experts say she has brought to her whole tenure as foreign minister. But Australias first female foreign minister and the only woman to hold a leadership position in the federal parliamentary Liberal Party, stepped down from federal cabinet on Sunday and may not contest the next election. Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop leave the party room meeting for the leadership at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Julie Bishop's decision to quit her coveted role as Foreign Minister and move to the backbench is a damaging blow to the beleaguered Coalition. Ms Bishop has been a formidable foreign minister, and her assiduous loyalty to the Liberal Party, particularly over the past 11 years as deputy to a series of leaders, deserved far better than the 11 votes she received during the high-noon farce on Friday. The new PM Scott Morrison referred to her as a "rock star" both in her portfolio, and for the party - and he will certainly be ruing his inability to convince her to stay in cabinet, given her broad public appeal and proven fundraising ability. The party is broke and unpopular. That she has chosen to remove herself from the front bench at this critical time speaks volumes. While Ms Bishop may publicly say she has not made a decision about whether to stand at the next election, it seems unlikely she would contest her safe Perth seat especially if, as could be reasonably expected, the Coalition is resoundingly defeated at the next general election and she faces a term on the opposition benches. The Herald hopes all her qualities, combined with her strong advocacy for women in politics and encouragement of the next generation, can continue in some form over the coming months and years. Music Week begins The densely crowded activity of Music Week will be inaugurated by a concert by the Conservatorium Orchestra this afternoon. A feature of Music Week this year is the number of works it will bring forward which have not previously been played in Sydney, some imported from overseas and some from local composers. The Society of Australian Composers will give a recital next Thursday and local composers will be represented at numerous venues. Committed for trial A hearing was concluded at the Central Court yesterday, of the case of six men who were alleged to have been concerned in a conspiracy to manufacture and sell different proprietary lines of patent medicines. The defendants were committed for trial by Mr Fletcher SM. The charge against them was that they conspired to cheat and defraud the Sydney Importing Company of large sums of money. The police were congratulated at the conclusion. An aviation first The former director of one of Australia's biggest wine brands may have been motivated by "misplaced loyalty" when he kept quiet about a large cannabis crop grown by a long-time friend, a court has heard. Griffith winemaker Marcello Casella, 58, pleaded guilty in June to concealing a serious indictable offence after he failed to tell police about the crop of 2750 cannabis plants grown on a farm at Crowther in south-western NSW. Marcello Casella outside court in May 2018. Credit:James Brickwood The crop was spearheaded by family friend Luigi Fato a south coast drug kingpin since jailed for at least 12 years who unsuccessfully sought Casella's help with the venture. At the time, Casella was a director of Casella Family Brands, a high-profile wine business behind labels including Yellow Tail and Peter Lehmann Wines. He stepped down in February 2014 and is no longer involved in managing or operating the company which is headed by his two older brothers. They're a stone's throw from some of Sydney's most impressive public swimming spots. But North Sydney councillors are set to splash thousands of ratepayer dollars for mayor Jilly Gibson and her daughter, fellow councillor Alanya Drummond, to inspect Melbourne's leisure centres as inspiration for the looming revamp of North Sydney Olympic Pool. The ageing North Sydney Olympic Pool faces a multi-million-dollar revamp. Credit:Steven Woodburn Critics have described the trip as "a nonsense" and questioned why the councillors wouldn't look closer to home, at pools such as Andrew "Boy" Charlton Pool at Woolloomoolloo, Ultimo's Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre and Cook + Phillip Park Pool on College Street. However, Cr Gibson said the tour was a group trip and defended its cost as "a drop in the swimming pool" compared to the estimated $30 million cost to redevelop the prominent North Sydney site. A psychologist to Sydney's wealthy charged a banker almost $220,000 in sessions that were overtaken by his plans to make a Holocaust documentary with the client. The patient claimed he was more anxious and guilt-ridden than before he saw Vaucluse therapist Hugh Ian Joffe, resorting to borrowing against his home to pay for the exorbitant treatment. A tribunal has struck off Dr Joffe as a practitioner after the Health Care Complaints Commission alleged he had over-serviced the patient, excessively charged him and breached professional boundaries in multiple ways. In its findings against him, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal said Dr Joffe told the client he would "build [him] into a man", that he and his brother were "over-mothered" and that his brother had "become gay" because of a lack of a strong father figure. He also urged the man to reconnect with Judaism, stop eating non-Kosher food and attended the patient's home for religious ceremonies. The union representing NSW paramedics has slammed as "cowardly" an overnight attack on ambulance officers who were treating an unconscious woman at a Sydney bar. One paramedic was allegedly assaulted and others were threatened at the King Street Wharf bar in the early hours of Sunday morning with police called in to escort the crew and patient to a waiting ambulance. Police were called to the popular nightspot after paramedics were allegedly assaulted. Credit:Seven News Paramedics were called to the nightspot to treat a 22-year-old woman who was in cardiac arrest, police said. A group of people known to the young woman became "agitated and aggressive", police said, and one man allegedly pushed a paramedic who was treating the woman. A bashing left a prisoner in hospital following a "serious assault" after suspended prison officer Amy Connors revealed his whereabouts to her alleged boyfriend behind bars. The prisoner, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was allegedly set upon by several prisoners including convicted cop killer Sione Penisini inside the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre in July. Amy Connors appeared in Kempsey Local Court on August 20. Credit:The Macleay Argus Earlier that afternoon, the married mother of two had allegedly disclosed the inmate's whereabouts to Penisini. Police will allege in court that he was "severely assaulted" because of the classified information Ms Connors a 14-year veteran of Correctives disclosed to Penisini, who she was revealed as allegedly having a sexual relationship with earlier this year. Ms Smith said she had not visited the Barcaldine region since 2014, when she ran a similar project to boost the community's case for extra drought funding from the federal government. "This story is not finished yet, this time it's more powerful and this allows the community to express how theyre feeling," she said. "The pictures show their thoughts on the drought and how theyre progressing. "The photographers said that taking the pictures makes them feel relaxed, even if the images they're taking are not so fantastic, it puts things into perspective for them. "No one puts anything on there that is terribly shocking, but rather beautiful. There is one picture of a wedding, with the couple covering their faces with an Akubra - despite the drought, life goes on." Ms Smith said she hoped the project drew attention to Barcaldine and the images, stories and voices of this community would help to lobby for more government support. Cr Chandler said the region needed three batches of 100 millimetres of rain for a couple of consecutive years to break the drought. The Barcaldine mayor thanked the nation for donating generously to the recent drought appeal and also thanked those who had made donations to the community in previous years. The images are uploaded to the project's Facebook page - 'Our Strength During The Drought'. Credit:Facebook - Our Strength During The Drought The Queensland government announced a review of the Drought Program on Sunday, to improve resilience and better-prepare for future droughts. Minister for Agricultural Industry Development Mark Furner said an independent expert panel would conduct the review. Even the most resilient and well-prepared producer and their community can struggle in a crippling and prolonged long drought such as this one," he said. Since the current drought started to impact in 2013, the Queensland government has allocated over $670 million in assistance. We have always supported our farmers and I assure embattled rural families that our current Drought Assistance Package will continue for the duration of this drought. However, with drought foremost in peoples minds, right now is the best time to work with industry and the community to review government, industry and community actions through this drought and to consider and recommend improvements for coping in future. Mr Furner said Ruth Wade and Charles Burke had been appointed to run the review to identify potential improvements for future droughts in line with national drought policy. Ms Wade and Mr Burke have a strong industry background and understanding of the pressures of drought visits on rural communities, being former chief executive officers of the Queensland Farmers Federation and AgForce Queensland respectively, he said. The panel will hold forums in six regional centres and will seek written submissions through the drought program review website throughout September and October 2018. Details on how to make submissions will be online from mid-September." The expert panel will report their recommendations to the state government in early 2019. There are some images part of the project which do show the harshness of the drought. Credit:Facebook - Our Strength During The Drought Prime Minister Scott Morrison will also visit drought-affected Queensland early next week. LNP leader Deb Frecklington said her state opposition had been calling on more action from Premier Palaszczuk. [Drought-affected communities] are up against it with the regulations and legislation in place because of the Palaszczuk government and its good to see that the federal government have been providing huge amounts of money toward drought support," she said. "I think its a credit to the new Prime Minister that he is heading straight up to the droughted communities as one of his first jobs as Prime Minister. "I welcome any assistance for our drought-affected dramas, the LNP have been very concerned that there are drought-affected farmers that havent been receiving the drought-assistance that they require. A violent Brisbane dad who fled to Greece after failing to appear in court to face a charge of breaching a domestic violence order will be arrested if he returns to Australia. The man, referred to as Robert for legal reasons, had his passport flagged following revelations by Fairfax Media that he was on the run after threatening to kill his ex-wife and strap bombs to their two children and blow them up as martyrs. Julie's violent ex-husband will be arrested if he returns to Australia. Credit:File photo His ex-wife Jodie (not her real name) was forced to go into hiding after a senior constable, Neil Punchard, leaked her address to Robert after he accessed the confidential police database QPRIME. Mr Punchard was disciplined and dropped a pay point, but was not charged with a criminal offence and remains a serving police officer. This apparent mimicking of Gekko was raised in the Supreme Court during a lawsuit relating to the businesses, where Mr Wilson's actions were branded by a former business partner's lawyer as "having a little laugh". "[He's] saying, 'Look, I can do what I want. I'm the Gordon Gekko of the Supreme Court, I'll slick my hair back and do what I want,' and we would say, your honour, it's beyond the pale," barrister Martin Garrett said. In a 2016 decision awarding $7.4 million against him, Justice Ross Robson found he did not "accept the credit of Mr Wilson", his actions had been misleading and he had breached his fiduciary duties. In September 2017, Mr Wilson was declared bankrupt with debts of more than $61 million but only $8700 in the bank and no other assets. Among his creditors were underworld-linked mediator and debt collector Mick Gatto and his business partner John Khoury. Documents filed during Mr Wilson's bankruptcy lists his residential address as a backpackers' hostel in Sydney and his postal address as a caravan park in Geelong. Anton and Melinda Wilson at Mider in 2010. Credit:Wayne Taylor However, until recently, his family home was a five-bedroom Victorian terrace in Middle Park owned by his wife, Melinda Jane Wilson. She sold the property earlier this year for $5.57 million. Ms Wilson's current registered address is a five-bedroom house in Hawthorn with a pool and theatre room. Mount Hotham Despite Mr Wilson's history and status as an undischarged bankrupt, in March the 48-year-old was announced as the developer of the $26 million ski lodge project at the popular winter destination. "The new development, called Davenport Central, will be undertaken by Mider, a Melbourne-based development group owned by Mr Anton Wilson in a joint venture with Davenport Central Pty Ltd representing Asgaard Ski Club Inc," a media statement announced in late March 2018. "It'll be the biggest single private development ever at Mount Hotham," Davenport Central director and club member Ron Mason said at the time. Among the shareholders in the joint venture is the government-backed Mt Hotham Alpine Management Board, while public land for the development has been provided on a 75-year lease by the Department of the Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP). However, none of the parties has been able to describe what due diligence, if any, was done on Mr Wilson or whether they were aware of his background in advance of the deal. Mr Wilson did not respond to a series of questions sent to him at his request. When contacted by The Age, Davenport Central director and Asgaard treasurer Peter Malone said the media release was "wrong" and "unauthorised". "Mr Wilson's got nothing to do with it," he said. "If you're looking for a story, there's no story." Peter Malone (second from left), MP Danielle Green (second from right) and Anton Wilson (far right) at the Davenport Central launch. Mr Malone said they were partnered with the company Mider@MtHotham Pty, which was owned by "a lady" but he couldn't provide her name. Corporate records show the company was registered after Mr Wilson's bankruptcy by his wife, Melinda, who is the director and ultimate owner. Ms Wilson has also been a director in a number of his other ventures. Sources close to the project say Mr Wilson has taken a lead role in the development, which is due to break ground in October. Mr Malone's claims that Mr Wilson was not involved have also been refuted by evidence that shows Mr Wilson was a major player at the project's official launch party. Anton Wilson at the Davenport Central launch in March 2018. "[Davenport Central] ... will be great for the mountain and just encourage people to spur on and try and emulate Anton, Ron and Peter's work," Labor MP and Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism Danielle Green said in a video of the event. Mr Wilson and Mr Malone also appeared in photos along with Ms Green in front of a Davenport Central publicity poster emblazoned with the Mider logo. Advertising for the project also refers to Mr Wilson as a "director" of Mider, despite his being disqualified by his bankruptcy. Due diligence? DELWP spokesman Michael Pollock said Environment Minister Lily D'Ambrosio granted permission to the Mount Hotham board to negotiate the lease, but the department would not comment on whether it was aware of Mr Wilson's involvement. "The minister is not a party to the lease, and neither the minister nor the department have been involved with any of the lease negotiations between the board and the tenant," Mr Pollock said. The Mount Hotham board has refused to answer questions about what due diligence checks were performed on the project or whether it was aware of Mr Wilson's history. "[The board] was not involved in applying for or securing finance for the proposed development," spokeswoman Anita Coia said in response to questions about its involvement. Labor MP Danielle Green did not respond to a request for comment. Since the March launch party, two other companies controlled formerly by Mr Wilson and now by Ms Wilson have been placed into external administration owing millions of dollars. Law firm Aitken Partners said they are representing more than 50 investors embroiled in the schemes. Three teens have been arrested after allegedly mugging another teenage boy and stealing his mobile phone in Melbourne's north-west. A 15-year-old boy from Taylors Hill, 16-year-old Hillside boy and 15-year-old boy from Kurunjang were arrested and charged early last week after the incident which occurred on August 19. Loading Police allege the three boys got off the bus on Carbine Drive in Keilor Downs at about 7.30pm when they started following the victim. They then chased him down the road and onto Rodney Drive, where he was allegedly assaulted and robbed. A South West Western Australian bee species is completely reliant on just two types of plant, new Curtin University research has found, highlighting the importance of conserving Perth's increasingly scarce bushland remnants. The research by PhD candidate Kit Prendergast found 'resin bee' Megachile ignita uses only banksia flowers and the fuzz from banksia cones to line its nests, from the endangered banksia woodlands of the Swan Coastal Plain. Megachile ignita, the South West WA resin bee. Credit:Kit Prendergast. Ms Prendergast also found that the bees, named ignita for their flame-like golden head hairs and red abdomens, ate only the pollen of the native pea plants of the family Fabaceae, also unique to WA. "Although previous research has focused on food sources, this study shows nesting materials are also important to the reproductive success of bees and it is the first documented evidence of dry flowers and the fuzz from Banksia being used inside bee nests, not as food, she said. Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here. More than two dozen people believed to be asylum seekers are on the run in far north Queensland after their vessel ran aground at Cape Kimberley on Sunday. Locals are said to have assisted the fishing boat to shore before those on board fled into nearby rainforest. The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed to Fairfax Media that 11 people have so far been apprehended by Australian Border Force officers and officers from the Queensland Police Service. It could not confirm how many others may have been on the boat. "The ABF now has a contingent of officers on site and is grateful for the support provided by Queensland Police Service," a spokesperson for the Australian Border Force said. The Morrison government has elevated the Coalition's decentralisation project in naming its first ministry, flagging the relocation of public service jobs to regional towns as core business. A reshuffle of the government's senior MPs has also landed Senator Mathias Cormann with responsibility for the federal bureaucracy in a move that hands greater control of the public service to a defender of its growing spend on contractors. Victorian Nationals MP Bridget McKenzie, a staunch advocate of relocating federal bureaucracy roles to the bush, has become minister for decentralisation as new Prime Minister Scott Morrison used his ministerial overhaul to signal his government's priorities. Senator McKenzie sparred with other MPs while she sat on a parliamentary committee last year investigating Barnaby Joyce's turbulent project to move the pesticides authority to Armidale from Canberra, defending Coalition efforts to decentralise government agencies from attacks by Labor and the Greens. Former prime minister John Howard has rejected calls for the Liberal Party to change its rules to prevent a repeat of last week's leadership coup. Speaking at a Canberra Writers' Festival event on Sunday, the Liberals' elder statesman suggested the party could benefit from more school teachers in their ranks, singling out a political class devoid of "life experience" as a key factor in the turbulence that had befallen Australian politics. Mr Howard, who practised law for more than a decade before entering politics, advocates work outside the political sphere as a grounding for aspiring politicians. John Howard says there is no point changing the Liberal Party rules to prevent a spill. Credit:AAP "It doesn't have to be private enterprise," he said, adding that "a teacher in a government school" would have relevant experience. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has stripped leadership rival Peter Dutton of his immigration responsibilities and taken control of the population debate as a top economic priority. Mr Dutton was handed back a weakened Home Affairs portfolio on Sunday, following his failed conservative rebellion against former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull. But in a sign of how seriously he is taking the political threat of the immigration debate, Mr Morrison has restored immigration as a standalone ministry under moderate David Coleman and bolstered it with another ministerial position: cities, urban infrastructure and population, to be handled by Dutton-ally, Alan Tudge. The conservative push against former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull was fuelled by a divisive immigration debate, which has seen sustained economic growth at the same time as infrastructure has groaned under its weight. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has restored Peter Dutton to his first cabinet, moving quickly to heal wounds from the Liberal Party's civil war. Mr Morrison said his new cabinet would "restore stability to the government" after the turmoil of the past week. He has dumped Michael Sukkar - a key backer of Mr Dutton - as Assistant Minister to the Treasurer, but kept on Zed Seselja who helped plot the anti-Turnbull insurgency. Turnbull, Morrison, Frydenberg, Dutton Credit:Fairfax Media Australia's next Foreign Minister will be Marise Payne, after 20-year Coalition veteran Julie Bishop announced she would be standing down from the role. Refugee lawyers and activists have been galvanised by the cloud hanging over Peter Dutton's eligibility to sit in Parliament, with a potential High Court challenge looming that could see thousands of asylum seeker decisions overturned. Fairfax Media can reveal that human rights lawyers have been poring over the Solicitor-General advice last week that left open the possibility that Mr Dutton may be ineligible under section 44 of the Constitution. Questions are being asked about the eligibility of Peter Dutton serving in Parliament. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen A Labor bid to have the question referred to the High Court was defeated by one vote last Thursday, but the Opposition will launch a fresh attempt when Parliament resumes in mid-September. Human rights lawyer David Manne, executive director of Melbourne's Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre, confirmed to Fairfax Media that his organisation was "looking into" the issue on behalf of clients. Julie Bishop is weighing up her future. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Explosive WhatsApp messages between Liberal MPs reveal why Julie Bishop never stood a chance in last week's second leadership ballot. In the group chat messages leaked to ABC Insiders, MPs are warned of an alleged plot by Peter Dutton's backers to defeat Scott Morrison by spreading misinformation about the level of support for Ms Bishop from her fellow West Australians. "[Senator Mathias] Cormann rumoured to be putting some WA votes behind Julie Bishop in round 1. Be aware that this is a ruse trying to get her ahead of Morrison so he drops out & his votes go to Dutton," came the warning from Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher. Kabul: Just over a week ago, Afghan and US officials hoped that after 17 years of war, the Taliban was starting down a road to peace. Despite a deadly four-day attack on the city of Ghazni, President Ashraf Ghani had offered the insurgents a second cease-fire since June, and Taliban leaders had hinted that they wanted to continue private talks held with US officials in July. Now, that optimism has all but collapsed. With the Taliban ignoring Ghani's truce offer and accepting an invitation for talks in Moscow instead, analysts said the momentum for direct negotiations has been derailed by international politics. And the intentions of insurgent leaders - who spout constant propaganda but remain invisible to the public - seem more inscrutable than ever. "This could be a political ploy by the Taliban to exploit Washington's poor relations with Russia and pressure it to agree to more generous terms, or they may merely want to see what the Russians have to offer," said Michael Kugelman, an expert on Afghanistan at the Wilson Centre in Washington. Catania, Italy: Italy has dis-embarked all 150 migrants from a rescue ship that had been docked for five days in a Sicilian port, ending the migrants' ordeal and a bitter stand-off between Rome's anti-establishment government and its European Union partners. The migrants, mainly from Eritrea, had been stranded in the port of Catania since Monday because the government refused to let them off the boat until other EU states agreed to take some of them in. Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Albania had offered to accept 20 of the migrants and Ireland 20-25, while the rest would be housed by Italy's Catholic Church "at zero cost" to the Italian taxpayer. As Francis prepared to issue his apology, a former Vatican ambassador to the US alleged in an 11-page letter that both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis among other top Catholic Church officials had been aware of sexual misconduct allegations against former Washington, DC archbishop Cardinal Theodore McCarrick years before he resigned in the northern summer. Francis was interrupted by applause as he read the apology out loud at the start of Mass in Dublin's Phoenix Park. Knock: Pope Francis issued a sweeping apology on Sunday for the "crimes" of the Catholic Church in Ireland, saying church officials hadn't responded with compassion to the abuses suffered over many years. The letter from Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, who was recalled from his DC post in 2016 amid allegations that he'd become embroiled in the conservative American fight against same-sex marriage, was first reported by the National Catholic Register and LifeSite News, two conservative Catholic sites. The letter offered no proof, and Vigano on Sunday told The Washington Post he wouldn't comment further. Meanwhile hundreds of kilometers from Francis in Ireland, sombre protesters marched through the Irish town of Tuam and recited the names of an estimated 800 babies and young children who died at a Catholic Church-run orphanage there, most during the 1950s. "Elizabeth Murphy, four months. Annie Tyne, three months. John Joseph Murphy, 10 months," the protesters said in memory of the children who were buried in an unmarked mass grave whose discovery was confirmed only last year. Francis, who is on an official visit to Ireland, told the hundreds of thousands of people who turned out for Mass that he had met on Saturday with victims of all sorts of abuses: sexual and labour, as well as children wrenched from their unwed mothers and forcibly put up for adoption. Responding to a plea from the adoptees, the pope assured their aging biological mothers that it wasn't a sin to look for children they had lost. The women had been told for decades that it was. Dublin: On the first day of his historic trip to Dublin the Pope has met with Irish clerical abuse survivors and warned that social media poses a threat to "real life relationships" and it could end up "imprisoning people in a virtual reality". Pope Francis has faced a lukewarm reception and scattered protests on his trip to Ireland. Even his vow to rid the church of the "scourge" has been dismissed as a disappointment by some of Ireland's wounded victims. But others who met with him in private say they're heartened that he would respond to their plight, including two of the thousands of children who were forcibly put up for adoption for the shame of having been born to unwed mothers. Some 500,000 had been expected to attend the Mass, but the crowd was noticeably smaller, with patches of grass visible in areas that had been intended for spectators. Cardinal Theodore Edgar McCarrick speaks during a memorial service in South Bend, Ind. McCarrick was removed from public ministry this year. Credit:SOuth Ben Tribune/AP The sexual abuses - in Ireland, the United States, Australia, Argentina, Belgium Brazil, Canada, Chile and other countries - have fed and amplified the bitter polarisation within the Catholic Church. Some of Francis' critics, including Vigano, are calling for the pope to step down. The Vatican had no immediate comment. McCarrick's attorney, Barry Coburn, declined to comment. The letter was the latest dramatic development stemming from a fresh wave of allegations related to clergy sex abuse and its coverup. Rumours that had swirled for decades about McCarrick exploded in June when Pope Francis suspended the cardinal. Last month, McCarrick, facing credible allegations of abusing seminarians and minors, became the first US cardinal in history to resign. Vigano, 77, was the Holy See's apostolic nuncio, or ambassador, in Washington from 2011 until 2016. He has been a lightning rod within the Vatican who lost a power struggle in Rome under Benedict, emerged as a Francis critic, and reportedly ordered the halt of an investigation into the alleged sexual relations between an archbishop in Minnesota and seminarians. Loading Jason Berry, who has written several investigative books about the Vatican, said he believes this is the first time a pope has been accused from within. "From within the Vatican hierarchy, from within the Roman Curia, I don't think anyone has ever publicly accused a pope of covering up for a sex abuser," Berry said. "That's why this is such a big deal." Vigano's letter said that McCarrick had been privately sanctioned under Benedict - though only after years of warnings about his alleged behaviour. The warnings that Vigano describes dealt with McCarrick's alleged behaviour toward seminarians and young priests - not toward minors. Vigano wrote that the measures, taken "in 2009 or 2010," banned McCarrick from traveling, holding Mass, or participating in public meetings. Yet McCarrick appears to have done essentially the opposite. He regularly appeared as a speaker and celebrant at church functions and represented the church in prominent foreign diplomatic efforts in places like China and Iran. A video from 2013 shows Benedict warmly greeting McCarrick in Rome, at the pope's resignation (and the subsequent election of the new pope), where McCarrick gave round-the-clock television interviews and stayed at a seminary. It wasn't immediately clear why a pope taking the dramatic step of suspending a cardinal from ministry, as Vigano said, wouldn't monitor McCarrick in any way. However, when the archdiocese of New York last year began its investigation into an altar boy's allegation against McCarrick - the first accusation involving a youth - the Vatican ambassador Archbishop Christophe Pierre told McCarrick to be less public while the probe was underway, a personal familiar with McCarrick said on Sunday. However McCarrick still appeared in public as he wished, the person said, including attending an ordination ceremony in May in his cardinal's garb. Vigano's letter says that in 2013, he met Francis months into his papacy and told him face to face that there was "a dossier this thick" about McCarrick. He says he then told Francis about Benedict's order that McCarrick remove himself from public life. "He corrupted generations of seminarians and priests and Pope Benedict ordered him to withdraw to a life of prayer and penance," Vigano says he told Francis. "The Pope did not make the slightest comment about those very grave words of mine and did not show any expression of surprise on his face, as if he had already known the matter for some time, and he immediately changed the subject." Loading Vigano also alleges in that conversation that Francis told him American bishops "must not be ideologised, they must not be right-wing ... and they must not be left-wing, and when I say left-wing I mean homosexual." It was not possible to reach Benedict or his representatives right away. Francis has not commented previously about what he was ever told about McCarrick, and on Sunday Vatican spokesman Greg Burke did not respond to a request seeking comment. The American Catholic Church is deeply divided over Francis' leadership, with fault lines similar to those seen in the political realm. Francis's comments and teachings about everything from immigration and global warming to the death penalty are frequently adopted or refuted along partisan lines. The Vigano document uses American culture-war language, such as "right-wing" and "left-wing," and concludes the letter by blaming "homosexual networks" for sexual abuse and corruption. U.S. conservative Catholics who have suspected Francis of surreptitiously opening the door for liberalising changes around sex and marriage have in recent years focused on the increased acceptance of LGBT people. Common targets for right-wing blogs like LifeSite and ChurchMilitant are bishops and cardinals they deem too moderate or liberal. Constantly on this list is DC's Donald Wuerl, Chicago's Blase Cupich and Joe Tobin of Newark. All are named by Vigano as being linked by "wickedness." Vigano was sent to Washington - reportedly as punishment - in 2011 and was there until May 2016. He arranged a hugely controversial meeting between Francis and an American woman, Kim Davis, who had lost her job as a municipal clerk for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-gender couples. Allies of Francis alleged Vigano set up the pope during a high-profile US visit, and that Francis didn't intend to affirm Davis' cause. The letter also includes an allegation against Wuerl, DC's current archbishop and McCarrick's immediate successor. He is a close ally of Francis and is already under scrutiny following a grand jury report in Pennsylvania about clerical child sex abuse in Pennsylvania and alleged coverup. Wuerl for years led the diocese of Pittsburgh. Vigano is vague in the allegation against Wuerl. Paris: The French city of Calais has been no stranger to public disorder in recent years, with recurrent battles between police and migrants or striking ferry workers making headlines worldwide. Now its council says the port town is facing a bizarre new threat: an alliance of hunters and farmers seeking revenge on vegans bent on turning the largely carnivorous French off meat. This burger is made from plant protein. It's the sort of development that's infuriating the French meat lobby. Credit:AP The risk of trouble has led the council in Calais to cancel a vegan festival due to be held in the city centre on September 8. The move is the latest episode in a battle between vegan militants, and butchers and other providers of meat in the north of France. Radical non-meat eaters have been on the offensive, vandalising several butchers' shops in the region and elsewhere in recent months, prompting the French federation of butchers to issue a plea for police protection. Jerusalem: Palestinian officials denounced the Trump administration's cancellation of more than $US200 ($280 million) million in aid, accusing Washington of "weaponising" humanitarian assistance by using it as a tool to coerce political concessions. Residents of the besieged Palestinian camp of Yarmouk line up to receive food supplies from a UN agency in Damascus, Syria. Credit:AP The aid cut, announced on Friday, was the latest in a series of measures apparently aimed at forcing the Palestinian leadership to return to the negotiating table with Israel while US officials work on a long-awaited peace proposal, the details of which remain opaque. An earlier freeze by Washington of tens of millions of dollars of funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency, which assists Palestinian refugees, and the move in May of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv, Israel, to the contested city of Jerusalem, had already infuriated the Palestinian Authority, led by President Mahmoud Abbas. SpaceX's nose-cone-catching boat, dubbed Mr. Steven, made its debut in February. Acting as a giant catcher's mitt, the vessel sports new upgrades that include four new outstretched arms and a bigger net that spans 40,000 square feet (3,700 square meters). LOS ANGELES The Port of Los Angeles, my tour guide tells me, is the busiest port in the country; it's home to many abandoned warehouses that are frequently used for movie sets, and thousands of containers adorn its many docks. But nestled among the many freighters and fishing vessels is a hidden gem: a boat named . The vessel, which is 205 feet long by 34 feet wide (62 by 10 meters), joined SpaceX's recovery fleet in 2017. The aerospace company is predominantly known for its fleet of rockets and how it changed the rocket game by proving that a rocket's first-stage booster which, historically, has been a one-time use component could, in fact, be flown multiple times. And not too far from its massive rocket-building facility in Hawthorne, California, SpaceX is working diligently on a strategy to reuse even more of its rockets specifically, the payload fairing, which is also known as the nose cone. [More Photos: SpaceX's Mr. Steven Rocket-Fairing Catching Boat] If you know where to look, Mr. Steven, a former offshore supply vessel, is easy to spot. Its four large arms shoot out from its deck, supporting a newly upgraded, bright-yellow net stretched in between. The new net spans nearly 40,000 square feet (3,700 square meters) four times larger than its first iteration and lets Mr. Steven essentially act as a mobile catcher's mitt. Nestled among the many freight containers and fishing vessels is one of the newest members of SpaceX's recovery team. (Image credit: Amy Thompson/Space.com) SpaceX designed Mr. Steven's outstretched arms (and robust net) to catch payload fairings, which historically have been discarded in the ocean after they separate from the rocket and navigate themselves back to Earth. Each fairing is a $6 million piece of hardware accounting for one-tenth of the Falcon 9's price, according to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and in a news conference following Mays Bangabhandu launch, SpaceX says it can save a bundle if it can recover fairings before they hit the water. In the past, fairings have been severely damaged when they've slammed into the water or been exposed to the briny water. During a pre-launch call (ahead of Mays Bangabhandu launch), Musk stressed the corrosive nature of salt water, explaining that the company wants to reduce costs by cutting down on the refurbishments that each fairing half goes through after landing in the ocean. And that's where Mr. Steven comes in. After the vehicle launches successfully and reaches a height of about 60 miles (100 kilometers), the Falcon 9's payload fairing separates from the rocket's second stage. The fairing's two halves fall back to Earth and, until now, land in the ocean never to be used again. Because SpaceX wants to recycle these pieces, the company has developed a system that will allow it to gently glide back to Earth where Mr. Steven is waiting. On Aug. 13, Mr. Steven was spotted with a piece of a fairing in the net. SpaceX was likely performing tests to see how the net would perform with a fairing in it as well as testing procedures before its next attempt to catch a fairing. (Image credit: Amy Thompson/Space.com) Together, the two pieces measure nearly 43 feet tall (13 m) and 17 feet (5 m) wide and weighs more than 2,200 lbs. (about 1,000 kilograms). Resembling the hull of a boat, the awkwardly shaped fairing halves plummet through the atmosphere at high speeds, causing them to tumble. SpaceX has outfitted the fairings with cold nitrogen thrusters that allow the shells to stabilize, and once they've slowed down enough (thanks to atmospheric drag), a GPS-equipped, steerable parachute (called a "parafoil") will deploy approximately 5 miles (8 km) above the water. If all goes according to plan, the parafoil will enable the fairing piece to glide gently into Mr. Steven's net. Mr. Steven made its debut in February 2018, attempting its first catch after the companys Falcon 9 rocket lifted a Spanish radar imaging satellite into orbit. That attempt failed by a few hundred meters, but SpaceX didn't give up. The fairing catcher has ventured back out to sea for three subsequent attempts. Although all attempts to date have not ended with a successful catch, SpaceX has been busy gathering important data that will help the company going forward. [In Photos: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at SpaceX's Crew Dragon Spaceship] Mr. Steven's net looks like it can support the weight of a fairing with no issues. (Image credit: Amy Thompson/Space.com) On Aug. 13, I was treated to a rare sight: a view of Mr. Steven holding a fairing in its net. SpaceX appeared to be using the fairing to conduct tests that could allow engineers to better understand the properties of Mr. Steven's net. Visible in the net was one of the fairing's two halves, attached to a crane that repeatedly lifted and lowered it. Mr. Steven's new net is larger and more robust than its previous version. By all appearances, the net seemed to be holding up against the weight of the fairing even when it was not supported by the crane. That's very good news, as SpaceX wouldn't want to catch a fairing only to have it crash through the net and onto the ship's deck. Right now, SpaceX is concentrating on recovering half of the fairing and continuing to scoop the other half out of the ocean. This achievement will mark a huge success for the Hawthorne, California-based aerospace company; managing to reuse just one fairing half for a few launches would add up to a significant cost savings over time. Currently, workers at the nearby rocket factory are hustling to ramp up production on the upgraded fairing (version 2.0), which will facilitate the company's recovery efforts. (Image credit: SpaceX) SpaceX's Cape Canaveral, Florida, launch site has been buzzing with activity the past few months, hosting a total of four launches since June. That tempo will slow a bit as the company switches its focus to the Vandenberg Air Force Base launch site, in California. In September and October, SpaceX is planning to launch at least two missions. The first, an Argentine Earth-observing satellite dubbed SAOCOM-1A, is expected to launch in late September. (The launch was originally planned for Sept. 5 but was pushed back to the end of the month). The second will be the final Iridium Next launch, in which a Falcon 9 rocket will lift the constellation's final 10 satellites into orbit. Mr. Steven will head back out to sea for its next attempt at a catch in September. The booster that will deliver the SAOCOM-1A satellite into orbit could potentially be the first Block 5 Falcon an upgraded version of the companys flagship rocket, designed to refly as many as ten times with no refurbishmentsto refly from Vandenberg (just two months after its first mission), and it is expected be the first time SpaceX lands its first stage on the company's West Coast landing pad, dubbed LZ-2. If SpaceX can also snag a fairing half in Mr. Steven's net, that would be the ultimate hat trick. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. Bir-Lehlu, February 25, 2018 (SPS) - President of the Republic, Secretary-General of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, sent a message of congratulations to the President of the Republic of Uruguay, H.E. Tabare Ramon Vazquez Rosas, on the occasion of the 193rd Independence Day. On behalf of the people of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) on his own behalf, the President of the Republic congratulated the President and the people of the Republic of Uruguay on this happy occasion, wishing them more stability and prosperity. The President of the Republic praised the efforts made by Uruguay not only internally but also at the regional level through its permanent commitment to eradicate all forms of repression and injustice to ensure justice and peace in the world. The President of the Republic paid tribute to the solidarity and and constant support of Uruguay to the struggle of the Saharawi people for their right to self-determination and independence. (SPS) 062/SPS/TRA Paul Manafort's multiyear tax fraud and Michael Cohen's ability to easily arrange campaign contributions as hush money could have been intercepted sooner based on existing tax and campaign rules. But decisions by policymakers and lawmakers to defang regulation and defund investigations, particularly through political pressure aimed at the Internal Revenue Service, helped the behavior to go unnoticed. On Tuesday, Manafort, President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, was convicted of eight tax- and bank-fraud charges - the same day Cohen, Trump's former attorney, pleaded guilty to tax fraud and campaign finance violations. The felonies slipped past multiple agencies and were unearthed by prosecutors and journalists only after they began digging into Trump's inner circle. White-collar crime experts believe similar behavior is flourishing throughout the political system, exploiting the yawning gaps in government scrutiny. "Had it not been for their relationship with President Trump, these crimes would have ultimately gone unprosecuted," said Eugene Soltes, an associate professor at Harvard Business School and expert on white-collar crime. Such worries come amid a steady, multiyear decline in the number of financial fraud cases the government has pursued, erosions that began during the Obama administration after Republicans took control of Congress. The IRS, for instance, conducted audits on just 0.6 percent of tax returns last year, the lowest level in 15 years. For incomes above $1 million, a category that likely would have included Manafort, the IRS audited just 4.4 percent of returns, down from 12.5 percent in 2011. Overall, the number of new white-collar crime prosecutions brought by federal investigators has fallen to its lowest level in more than 20 years, according to data from Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. There are projected to be fewer than 6,000 of these prosecutions in 2018, down from more than 10,000, when the number peaked in 2011. Meanwhile, penalties against corporations and their executives imposed by the Justice Department sank from $51.5 billion in 2016 to $4.9 billion during Trump's first year in office, according to consumer advocate Public Citizen. The Washington Post Manafort's lawyers said the IRS never audited his taxes, despite his complex financial relationships with Ukranian officials and wire transfers to Cyprus bank accounts - actions that can be red flags for investigators. Prosecutors proved he had avoided paying his full tax obligations for years. IRS spokesman Matthew Leas declined to comment on whether the agency audited Manafort, saying the agency was prohibited from discussing specific taxpayers. Manafort is also accused of failing to notify the Justice Department about his lobbying work for the Ukraine government, which is required by the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The Washington Post Manafort faces trial next month on violating FARA law, but a prior inspector general review concluded the FARA enforcement system had been frequently ignored by lobbyists in years past, partly because officials at the FBI and Justice Department had different notions of how such cases should be pursued. Marc Raimondi, a Justice Department spokesman, said the agency has "spent significant effort" in the past year reaching out to entities that they believe should register under FARA, "and we have made our determination findings more fulsome." This has led to a large increase in FARA registrations, he said, with the number jumping by more than 50 percent from 2016 to 2017. Cohen pleaded guilty to eight crimes, including two acts of arranging illegal campaign contributions to pay hush money to two women who claimed they had had an affair with Trump. The Federal Election Commission has civil jurisdiction over violations of campaign finance law. But it largely relies on campaigns to self-report their activity as well as whistleblowers to uncover illicit activity. What's more, Cohen directed the payments through two business entities outside of the scope of the FEC, making it even harder for agency officials to know what he was doing. Cohen was later reimbursed through "sham" invoices billed to the Trump Organization, prosecutors said. Christian Hilland, an FEC spokesman, declined to comment on the Cohen case. The use of obscure limited liability companies, which enables white-collar criminals to mask how they move money, presents particular challenges for federal investigators, former federal officials said. "Right now in the United States, there is a massive problem of anonymous companies," said Elizabeth Rosenberg, who served in the Treasury Department during the Obama administration, combating terror financing and financial crimes. The Obama administration tried to bring more transparency to such entities, proposing in 2016 changes to federal law that would require people to disclose the "beneficial ownership" for limited liability companies. But Congress did not pass the bill. "I think that everything is now being set up so that it is possible to hide money, whether it is foreign money or money like [the Cohen case], and it's almost impossible to detect it," said Ann Ravel, a Democrat and former FEC chairman. Trump last week did not dispel the idea that the acts committed by Manafort and Cohen are common. The president told Fox News, regarding Manafort, that "some of the charges they threw against him, every consultant, every lobbyist in Washington probably does." And Trump said Cohen's "campaign violations are considered not a big deal, frankly." IRS spokesman Leas, while not addressing the Manafort and Cohen cases, said the agency's criminal investigation unit "uses sophisticated data analytics tools to detect fraud and identify criminal activity. But it's important to note that these analytics alone frequently do not indicate tax fraud on the surface since many situations are outside the scope of our normal processes," such as foreign financial activity, he said. The IRS' ability to expose fraud cases on its own has diminished, particularly related to political figures. The IRS has faced a torrent of pressure from Republicans in Congress to stay out of politically charged cases while dealing with budget cuts in recent years. Its budget fell from $13.1 billion in 2008 to $11.5 billion last year, and the White House has proposed more cuts. The number of IRS special agents who can pursue tax-related crimes fell from 2,683 in 2007 to 2,157 in 2017, about the level the agency had 50 years ago. "Their systems have gotten so weak," said Paul Streckfus, a former tax lawyer at the IRS and editor of the EO Tax Journal, a newsletter that tracks the agency's activity. "The IRS isn't doing much. Criminal enforcement is way down." The chief of IRS criminal enforcement acknowledged weaknesses in his most recent annual report. "[R]esource issues make it impossible to be involved in every investigation in which we are asked to participate," Don Fort wrote. "We have the same number of special agents - around 2,200 - as we did 50 years ago. Financial crime has not diminished during that time - in fact, it has proliferated in the age of the internet, international financial crimes and virtual currency." Republicans and the Trump administration have resisted calls from Democrats to make the IRS pursue more fraud cases, arguing that the agency is bloated and needs to be overhauled. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, said last year he wanted a "bust up [of] the IRS as it is today." Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said Thursday that the agency has not come to Congress and sought more funding for investigations. "If they feel they don't have sufficient resources, they should let us know that," Thune said. "We'll obviously deal with it accordingly." He has proposed further cuts to the IRS's already shrinking budget, and the Treasury Department recently instituted a new policy that blocked more scrutiny of donors to most nonprofit groups with political agendas. It said this would save money because it would remove reporting requirements. The violations that Cohen pleaded guilty to relate to restrictions on who can make monetary or in-kind contributions to a federal candidate, and how much - rules that are overseen by the FEC. But there are structural and political obstacles that cripple the FEC's ability to take aggressive enforcement actions, and it likely wouldn't have known about Cohen's activities in the absence of news reports or a complaint, campaign finance experts said. For about a decade, the FEC has been divided on party lines over whether it should more aggressively pursue enforcement, and whether it should launch investigations even if they aren't prompted by formal complaints, experts said. The FEC now typically opens investigations only if there is a complaint, and the law requires approval from four of the commission's six members to open an investigation. Two of the FEC's seats are vacant, making it even less likely that a case will be brought. Hilland, the FEC spokesman, said in a statement: "In exercising its regulatory and enforcement authority, the Commission uses a variety of methods to uncover possible election law violations including reviewing campaign finance reports, conducting financial audits of political committees, and investigating complaints filed with the agency by members of the public." After the Wall Street Journal reported on the payments to Daniels in January, Common Cause filed a complaint later that month asking the FEC and Justice Department to investigate the payments. "I have a hard time imagining how those violations [by Cohen] would have come to attention of the FEC absent the investigative journalism that brought these violations to the public light, that led Common Cause to file our complaints," said Paul S. Ryan, vice president of policy and litigation at Common Cause. Trevor Potter, a former Republican FEC commissioner and founder of the campaign-finance advocacy group Campaign Legal Center, said the FEC could be a powerful deterrent if it were aggressively pursuing enforcement action and referring more potential criminal cases to the Justice Department. "Every few years, there's a sort of scandal like this with criminal penalties, and people going to jail," Potter said. "That reminds campaigns and their lawyers and accountants that these are laws that have serious teeth, and that even though the odds of a violation being discovered may be small, the effect of discovering a criminal violation is life ruining." - - - The Washington Post's Seung Min Kim and Devlin Barrett contributed to this report. C hris Gorman has been taking pictures for 30 years. The founder of Big Ladder drone landscape photography, he is a PFCO qualified pilot who takes photos using a DJI Mavic drone. Here he shares some of his favourite shots with the Standard and tells the stories behind them. "We live in an era of disposable photography, where everythings already been done" says Gorman, explaining what inspired him to get into drone photography. "You can go to various landmarks and beauty spots and youve seen all of the pictures before, but youve rarely seen photos of them from the air or shot in a creative way". "All of my images are HDR (hygh dynamic range) which is five or six exposures blended together, 'bracketed exposures', which gives them that dynamic look," he explained. Gorman's most famous shot to date is one of the summer solstice at Stonehenge below which was taken in June this year and published by a number of news outlets. Crowds gather for the 2018 summer solstice at Stonehenge / Chris Gorman/Big Ladder "You see all the same pictures of the summer solstice every year, but youve never seen it from the sky. It gives you a completely unique view that most other photographers are unable to do, it sets you apart from rest", he said. Another of Gorman's favourite photographs is this shot of Canary Wharf. He explained that he took the photograph in February just days before the so-called Beast from the East arrived in the UK. "It was bitterly cold hence the extremely crisp look of the shot, with a burning sunset behind," he said. A golden winter sunset behind Canary Wharf on the Isle Of Dogs (Chris Gorman/Big Ladder) / Chris Gorman/Big Ladder Gorman says that timing is crucial when taking drone shots like these. "With a lot of these pictures you obviously can't plan how the clouds are going to look but youve got to be in it to win it. I've got to have the drone on me at all times and these situations just present themselves", he said, adding that he had just seconds to take this photo of Portsmouth Harbour. Portsmouth Harbour / Chris Gorman/Big Ladder "Ill often think of ideas in advance of what locations to go to and different angles. Ill see a shot somewhere on the internet and think I can do that, but better" he said. To take this photograph of Mont-Saint-Michel in Brittany, France, below, Gorman says he had to wait for a window in the weather, "I decided to turn it black and white to make it more moody". Mont-Saint-Michel, Brittany / Chris Gorman/Big Ladder Crop circles in a field in Badbury Rings, Dorset, can be seen in the photo below. Crop Circles at Badbury Rings in Dorset / Chris Gorman/Big Ladder Here's a video featuring some of Big Ladder's drone photography. Big Ladder's Amazing Drone Photography In this shot taken last year, low clouds drift across Beachy Head in East Sussex. Beachy Head, East Sussex / Chris Gorman/Big Ladder "Sometimes Ill look at a shot on the ground and think thats just crying out to be shot by a drone" said Gorman. "It just creates a really unique angle". "HDR gives it that punchy look, one exposure on its own makes it look flat and boring". Arundel Castle on the South Downs in West Sussex / Chris Gorman/Big Ladder He points out how taking photos from different angles in the sky can offer a new perspective even to well-known landscapes, "[this] is probably not a view of Brighton that youve seen before". Chris Gorman/Big Ladder Gorman said that when taking these photos it can be down to catching the last minute of correct light, adding that he will always keep the drone within his sight. "This is a quintessentially English scene in a place called East Meon in Hampshire" says Gorman of the shot below. "It's very, very quaint and this photo is taken at golden hour (the last hour of sun before it goes down) "Within about four minutes of taking that I landed the drone and the sun had disappeared behind a hill," he said. Chris Gorman/Big Ladder C hinas ride-hailing app Did Chuxing has suspended its carpool services after a driver allegedly raped and killed a female passenger. Police in the city of Yueqing in Zhejiang province said they arrested a Didi driver who admitted raping and killing the 20-year-old woman. The victim had used the carpooling service on Friday afternoon and after getting into a car had sent a text message to her friends calling for help, police said. Officers said the suspect, 27, had confessed to raping and murdering his passenger when he was arrested early on Saturday morning. The womans body has been found and the investigation is ongoing. According to officials, a customer had already complained about the suspect when he allegedly took them to a remote place and followed them after they left the car. Didi Chuxing will halt its Hitch carpooling service at midnight on Monday, it said. A company statement said the incident showed there were many deficiencies with our customer service processes. Two of the companys executives have also been fired following the alleged killing. Up to 30 million rides are booked daily across China using the ride-hailing platform, the company claims. The killing of the female passenger on Friday was the latest violent crime involving a Didi driver, only three months after another Didi driver allegedly killed a flight attendant. A murder investigation has been launched after a man was stabbed to death in south-east London as the capital's violent crimewave continued. The victim, believed to be 22, was attacked and knifed in Deptford late on Saturday night, police said. Police found him suffering from knife wounds in Creek Road, near to the junction with Deptford Church Street at 11.45pm. He was rushed to a south London hospital by paramedics but was pronounced dead at 12.40am. His family have been informed. No arrests have been made. The Homicide and Major Crime Command have been informed, police said. Detective inspector Mark Long has appealed for witnesses to come forward. He said: "Sadly last night another young life was senselessly lost due to violence. The victims family are beside themselves with grief and we are working hard to trace those responsible. I know members of the public saw police officers and LAS giving aid to the victim at the scene. The people I want to hear from are those who may have seen an altercation between two males or a group of males beforehand but may not have realised what had happened. Think carefully; were you in area around this time? Did you see anyone running from the scene or anyone who looked panicked? I would urge you to contact us with what you know as quickly as possible. It comes just days after police announced their 100th homicide investigation this year in the capital with the death of a woman who was severely burned in a flat fire. Kaltoun Saleh, 43, died in hospital nearly seven weeks after the blaze in Finsbury Park, north London, prompting detectives to begin treating it as murder, Scotland Yard said on Thursday evening. Though 100 such investigations have been announced in London in 2018, it does not mean there have been that many murders and the figure is entangled in technicality. Some were later treated as manslaughter, one was found to have been of natural causes - while another was a five-year-old missing person case that detectives revealed was being treating as murder in May. M et Police officers will have extra stop-and-search powers at Notting Hill Carnival today following a wave of violence in the capital over the last week. The forces Notting Hill Carnival gold commander Dave Musker has given his backing to officers to deploy the Section 60 power in a bid to crack down on violent crime at the festival. The controversial tactic allows an officer to stop someone without needing reasonable suspicion that they are involved in crime. The Section 60 order will be in place across the carnival's geographical area between 9am and 11.59pm on Sunday. Revellers cover each other in paint at J'ouvert street party to kick off the celebrations of Notting Hill Carnival Commander Musker said: The MPS has worked tirelessly to develop an appropriate and proportionate policing plan however, given the intelligence picture and incidents of violence I have seen across the city over the last week, I have made the decision to authorise this order as an additional preventative measure. "The use of this authority will reassure our communities that we are constantly working to protect them. It will also send a message to those intent on committing acts of violence that we will robustly target them. He added that he had not made this decision lightly and that he would keep the order under constant review. On Saturday night, a young man was killed after being stabbed to death in Deptford, south-east London. Just over 24 hours earlier, another was left fighting for his life after being knifed in Tulse Hill. Hundreds of thousands of revellers will gather in Notting Hill / Getty Images for RedBull The Section 60 power was previously criticised by Theresa May in 2014 for damaging community relations. Notting Hill boards up for Carnival 2018 1 /7 Notting Hill boards up for Carnival 2018 A woman walks past a boarded up property in Notting Hill, west London, ahead of Notting Hill Carnival PA A man walks past a boarded up pub near Ladbroke Grove in Notting Hill, west London, ahead of Notting Hill Carnival PA A woman walks past a boarded up shop in Notting Hill, west London, ahead of Notting Hill Carnival PA A boarded up property in Notting Hill, west London, ahead of Notting Hill Carnival Olivia Tobin Construction workers board up a property in Notting Hill, west London, ahead of Notting Hill Carnival PA A builder boards up a property in Notting Hill, west London, ahead of Notting Hill Carnival PA A boarded up property in Notting Hill, west London, ahead of Notting Hill Carnival Olivia Tobin But earlier this year, Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said she was concerned use of the power had fallen in recent years and gave officers her backing to use it as they battled a surge in gun and knife violence in London. This years carnival will be policed by the highest number of officers in six years with more than 13,000 on duty across Sunday and Monday. Knife arches have also been installed at Notting Hill Carnival for the first time. The arches have been placed at strategic points along the route of the west London street party, though the force has not disclosed where. It is hoped the "tried and tested" method will put off those planning to arm themselves with knives and offensive weapons but not everybody will be expected to pass through them, according to the Met. Knife arches to be installed at Notting Hill Carnival for first time Superintendent Elisabeth Chapple, Met spokeswoman on the carnival, said: "We want people to come to the carnival to enjoy themselves and therefore we want to reassure people there is a significant policing plan in place working in support of the organisers to help them do that. "One thing they may see that is a little different is that we are using knife arches. "We understand the views of the community around the levels of youth and other violence using knives on our streets and we want to reassure them that it is safe to come to carnival. "There has been knife crime this year, as in previous years, and we understand the community are concerned about that. "When we were planning for Notting Hill alongside the organisers we wanted to make sure we had the fullest range of police tactics to reassure the Londoners that carnival is safe to come to." Everything you need to know ahead of the Notting Hill Carnival 2018 She said they will be placed in the street and "people flow through them", adding: "We won't be specifically selecting people to go through them. They are designed to go with the crowd flow and detect any people who would think of bringing a knife to carnival." Using the knife arches is part of a wide-ranging "belt and braces" approach to try and make carnival safe, according to Notting Hill Carnival Limited executive director Matthew Phillip. He said: "London as a whole and the UK is operating under a backdrop of knife crime, and we are working to have a safe carnival. The introduction of the knife arches is one thing we have as we to try to do that. "There have been so many other events that have this. Notting Hill Carnival is very different because it takes place on the streets. We will have even more eyes and ears on the ground from the community as well as police, and I think that will help to make sure people feel safe and to identify people who come to wrong. "Most people who come to carnival come to enjoy themselves, and we want that spirit of safety and unity." There will be 450 more officers on duty than last year and more than the parades over the past five years. Almost 7,000 officers, some from the Metropolitan Police's newly formed Violent Crime Task Force, will be policing Monday's event to "combat the threat of violent crime". This will be up from 6,100 on-duty officers on Sunday's less busy family day. Undercover police officers as well as officers from the force firearms and dog unit will be in place. The event is expected to attract up to two million revellers to its floats, food stalls and music. The music is set to stop for a 72-second silence in tribute to the 72 people who died following the fire at Grenfell Tower in June 2017. 72-second silence held to honour victims of Grenfell Tower fire The tower block is within half-a-mile of the parade route. Partygoers are advised to plan their journeys ahead, avoid bringing valuables and not carry too much cash. Supt Chapple added: "There are no specific threats to carnival this year but we continue to review the policing plan in relation to it. "We are aware that in previous years there have been a number of incidents but compared with the number of people coming to carnival the number of incidents isn't significant, but any incident that does affect Londoners we want to provide reassurance." Commander Dave Musker, police gold commander for the event, said: "The Met seeks to support Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, carnivalists and local communities to deliver a safe and spectacular event over the bank holiday weekend. "Our continued major effort directed against violence across the capital will continue." P olice have made 36 arrests on the first day of the Notting Hill Carnival as officers were granted extra stop-and-search powers amid a surge of violent crime in the capital. Scotland Yard said officers made the arrests for a range of offences including 21 for drugs and four for offensive weapons. Other offences included assault on police, criminal damage and sexual crimes. Thousands of Met Police officers are on duty in west London over the Bank Holiday weekend, with up to two million revellers expected to attend the festival of dancing, music and colourful floats. Police officers patrol at the Notting Hill Carnival family day in London / EPA The forces Notting Hill Carnival gold commander Dave Musker has given his backing to officers to deploy the Section 60 stop-and-search power in a bid to crack down on violent crime at the event. The controversial tactic allows an officer to stop someone without needing reasonable suspicion that they are involved in crime. This years carnival will be policed by the highest number of officers in six years with more than 13,000 on duty across Sunday and Monday. Notting Hill Carnival Family Day 2018 1 /37 Notting Hill Carnival Family Day 2018 Heavy rain soaked the Notting Hill Carnival but it did not stop the determined revellers who were out for a party EPA The community celebration carved its way around west London in a mass of music, dancing, bold costumes and floats of soaked entertainers EPA Carnival performers were in high spirits despite the wet weather AFP/Getty Images Young carnival goers also joined the parade EPA An entertainer blows a whistle as she takes part in the Family Day parade EPA Brightly coloured outfits lifted the mood amid the rain AFP/Getty Images Visitors wore ponchos on the first day of the carnival AFP/Getty Images People were undeterred by the soggy conditions AFP/Getty Images Police were pictured carrying out stop-and-search after being handed the power in a bid to curb violent crime AFP/Getty Images Officers were out in high numbers during the festivities EPA People pass a boarded window at the carnival EPA Performers sported raincoats over their colourful outfits amid the wet weather EPA As did members of security staff EPA Visitors determined to wear their summer gear used ponchos to shelter from the rain EPA Notting Hill was flooded with umbrellas AFP/Getty Images A carnival performer dances during the parade on the first day AFP/Getty Images Carnival performers take part in the parade AFP/Getty Images Notting Hill Carnival is under way despite a wet day in the capital EPA Dancers perform during the Children's Day parade PA Performers took to the streets to take part in the Carnival EPA A woman prepares a food stall ahead of the festivities EPA Ponchos were out in force as people sheltered from the rain EPA But spirits were not dampened by the chillier wet weather EPA A performer wears a raincoat before the parade EPA Police march before the street festival. This years carnival will be policed by the highest number of officers in six years with more than 13,000 on duty across Sunday and Monday EPA Revellers were pictured smiling, laughing and dancing together EPA Performers take part in Family Day EPA Pictures showed the vibrant parade EPA The event is expected to attract up to two million revellers to its floats, food stalls and music EPA Performers were seen smiling wearing colourful costumes AFP/Getty Images Performers arrive for the event EPA More than 6,000 on-duty officers will police Sunday's less busy family day. AFP/Getty Images The carnival officially opened at 10am, with Alexandra Burke cutting the ribbon EPA A 72-second silence will be held at 3pm on both days of the carnival to remember those who died in the Grenfell Tower fire EPA Live stages will host artists and surprise special guests from 12 to 7pm. EPA Young carnival goers took part in the Children's Day parade PA The carnival is considered the largest street party in Europe AFP/Getty Images Almost 7,000 officers, some from the Met Police's newly formed Violent Crime Task Force, will be policing on Monday to "combat the threat of violent crime". This is up from 6,100 on-duty officers on Sunday's less busy family day. Undercover police officers as well as officers from the force firearms and dog unit will also be in place. Police march before the Notting Hill Carnival family day / EPA Knife arches have also been installed at the event for the first time. The arches have been placed at strategic points along the route of the street party, though the force has not disclosed where. It is hoped the "tried and tested" method will put off those planning to arm themselves with knives and offensive weapons but not everybody will be expected to pass through them, according to the Met. Superintendent Elisabeth Chapple, Met Police spokesperson for the event, said: The sheer number of people coming to Carnival and the relatively small geographical area, means that it is a challenging environment to police. We are working closely with the event organisers to ensure that the event is a safe environment where people can come and enjoy themselves. Whilst theres no specific threat to this event, we are keeping the situation under constant review. Commander Dave Musker added: The Met seeks to support Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, Carnivalists and local communities to deliver a safe and spectacular event this Bank Holiday weekend. A 72-second silence was held at Notting Hill Carnival today to remember those killed in the Grenfell Tower disaster. Revellers bowed their heads in quiet reflection to honour the 72 people who were killed in the tragedy in June 2017. Some people raised their fists in the air during the silence or wrapped their arms around one another. Notting Hill Carnival the second biggest after Rio de Janeiros and the largest in Europe fell silent at 3pm on Sunday in memory of all those killed in the fire. The tower block is within half-a-mile of the parade route. Sound systems were shut off in the two minutes prior to the silence. Some revellers were wearing green for Grenfell and posters and art works are on display around Notting Hill in tribute. A man walks past murals painted on a wall near Grenfell Tower in London / REUTERS Notting Hill Carnival Limited executive director Matthew Phillip was wearing a green t-shirt with the words come unity across the front. Artwork for Grenfell at Notting Hill Carnival / Meaghan Spencer Addressing the crowd, Mr Phillip said: "Grenfell is very much part of our community. "The people who died in the tower and survivors are part of our community. Graffiti and artworks are on display across Notting Hill to pay tribute to the Grenfell Tower victims / Meaghan Spencer "Grenfell has affected a lot of people and it is very much a live issue. It is not going away. We still have members of our community in temporary housing. This is to show our support." Notting Hill Carnival Family Day 2018 1 /37 Notting Hill Carnival Family Day 2018 Heavy rain soaked the Notting Hill Carnival but it did not stop the determined revellers who were out for a party EPA The community celebration carved its way around west London in a mass of music, dancing, bold costumes and floats of soaked entertainers EPA Carnival performers were in high spirits despite the wet weather AFP/Getty Images Young carnival goers also joined the parade EPA An entertainer blows a whistle as she takes part in the Family Day parade EPA Brightly coloured outfits lifted the mood amid the rain AFP/Getty Images Visitors wore ponchos on the first day of the carnival AFP/Getty Images People were undeterred by the soggy conditions AFP/Getty Images Police were pictured carrying out stop-and-search after being handed the power in a bid to curb violent crime AFP/Getty Images Officers were out in high numbers during the festivities EPA People pass a boarded window at the carnival EPA Performers sported raincoats over their colourful outfits amid the wet weather EPA As did members of security staff EPA Visitors determined to wear their summer gear used ponchos to shelter from the rain EPA Notting Hill was flooded with umbrellas AFP/Getty Images A carnival performer dances during the parade on the first day AFP/Getty Images Carnival performers take part in the parade AFP/Getty Images Notting Hill Carnival is under way despite a wet day in the capital EPA Dancers perform during the Children's Day parade PA Performers took to the streets to take part in the Carnival EPA A woman prepares a food stall ahead of the festivities EPA Ponchos were out in force as people sheltered from the rain EPA But spirits were not dampened by the chillier wet weather EPA A performer wears a raincoat before the parade EPA Police march before the street festival. This years carnival will be policed by the highest number of officers in six years with more than 13,000 on duty across Sunday and Monday EPA Revellers were pictured smiling, laughing and dancing together EPA Performers take part in Family Day EPA Pictures showed the vibrant parade EPA The event is expected to attract up to two million revellers to its floats, food stalls and music EPA Performers were seen smiling wearing colourful costumes AFP/Getty Images Performers arrive for the event EPA More than 6,000 on-duty officers will police Sunday's less busy family day. AFP/Getty Images The carnival officially opened at 10am, with Alexandra Burke cutting the ribbon EPA A 72-second silence will be held at 3pm on both days of the carnival to remember those who died in the Grenfell Tower fire EPA Live stages will host artists and surprise special guests from 12 to 7pm. EPA Young carnival goers took part in the Children's Day parade PA The carnival is considered the largest street party in Europe AFP/Getty Images Former X Factor winner Alexandra Burke, who has been named as the first official ambassador for carnival, said that what happened at Grenfell Tower was "really devastating", and added: "I think it is important for Notting Hill Carnival to remember them." Revellers cover each other in paint at J'ouvert street party to kick off the celebrations of Notting Hill Carnival M embers of the Windrush generation are still waiting to have their immigration status confirmed despite plans for 70th anniversary celebrations at Notting Hill Carnival, an MP has claimed. Labour MP Emma Dent Coad said it was ironic that a tribute to Windrush citizens would take place at this years carnival when some of those living in the Kensington borough are still in tenuous positions. Kensington and Chelsea Council have said they are working to help all those affected. During this years Carnival celebrations, there will be a tribute to the 70th anniversary of the SS Empire Windrush arriving to the UK. Windrush generation arrive in Britain 1 /14 Windrush generation arrive in Britain Some of the pioneering Windrush generation arrive at Tilbury Docks, from Jamaica Getty Images The journey to the UK cost 28 Getty Images They arrived on June 22, 1948 Getty Images The ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' arriving at Tilbury Docks from Jamaica, with 482 Jamaicans on board, emigrating to Britain SSPL via Getty Images The group were the first of the Windrush generation to emigrate to Britain Getty Images Arrivals scrutinise a map of the London Underground Getty Images The Windrush generation helped to rebuild post-war Britain Getty Images Members of the 55 Independent Squadron wait to board the Empire Windrush at Southampton, to fight in the Korean War Getty Images A black man walks past graffiti stating 'Powell For PM', referring to Enoch Powell who caused controversy with his outspoken attitude to black immigration and racial integration Getty Images Three Jamaicans (left to right) John Hazel, a 21-year-old boxer, Harold Wilmot, 32, and John Richards, a 22-year-old carpenter, arriving at Tilbury Docks Getty Images Nearly 1000 West Indian immigrants arrive in three boats trains at Waterloo Station. Many brought with them packing cases containing treasured possessions, 15th October 1961 Mirrorpix/Getty Images West Indian immigrants arriving in the United Kingdom, 19th May 1962 Mirrorpix/Getty Images Nearly 1000 West Indian immigrants arrive in three boats trains at Waterloo Station. Many brought with them packing cases containing treasured possessions, 15th October 1961 Mirrorpix/Getty Images 27th May 1956: Immigrants to Britain from the West Indies queuing up on arrival at Southampton holding documents Getty Images Children are expected to perform a song in honour of the historic occasion during the Carnivals opening ceremony on Sunday among other tributes. Millions are expected to attend this year's celebrations / Splash News Ms Dent Coad said: Kensington and Chelsea Council have said there will be a commemoration for it [the anniversary], but given that it is a Conservative council, I think it is slightly ironic as weve seen a lot of people affected by it [the Windrush scandal]. The council has not levied their government about it. I know some people who are still waiting for their immigration to be confirmed. Ms Dent Coad, a regular attendee of Notting Hill Carnival, added: Its horrible. Its absolutely horrible. A lot of the people who I know, they came here in good faith and they were invited over here [by the UK] and a lot of them were skilled workers. Ms Dent Coad said many of her constituents approached her office for help with their immigration status during the Windrush scandal, adding: "People who are the most desperate come to us". Ms Dent Coad added it was utterly heart-breaking and said it was important for those affected to receive support. The group is made up of seven to 12-year-olds / GLUE A spokesman for Kensington and Chelsea Council said it is doing all it can to help those affected. The spokesman said: We are committed to standing up for our residents. This is a completely unacceptable situation. We are doing all we can to support those affected. Clearly serious errors have been made and the Home Secretary was right to apologise on behalf of the Home Office. The carnival will see a tribute paid to the Windrush generation by young schoolchildren performing a song about the history. Cydney Philp, who has led a group of seven to 12-year-olds into creating the song, said the schoolchildren loved learning about the history of the Windrush arrival, despite learning about the hardships that some found when they arrived to the UK. The 24-year-old said: It was something they were really excited to learn about and some of them had grandparents who had made the trip. She added: We really wanted to explore the history and it was so relevant [because of the scandal]. I thought it was a discussion the kids should be part of. Ms Philip said some of the children were aware of the recent Windrush scandal, but said it was not something that would be featured within the performance. Some of the lyrics, which the children wrote themselves, included: Dont you dare forget about our history and The Windrush is within us to give us hope and bring love. The group traveled to 10 Downing Street ahead of their performance / GLUE Ms Philip added: Most of the children have never learned about the journey of the Windrush or how it started. We wanted to focus on the contribution of it. We looked at when they arrived and how some were not treated fairly, we wanted to explore that through memories. The children, who form a group called GLUE, will don costumes and perform the song for onlookers at the opening ceremony. On the day, for those wanting to see all the carnival has to offer, official organisers have launched an app that will give visitors the chance to see everything on offer. T he Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined the Queen to attend church in Balmoral this morning after arriving in Scotland for the visit to Her Majesty's summer home. Kate and William accompanied Her Majesty in her Bentley as the Royal Family left Crathie Kirk following the service. The royal couple's children, Prince George, five, Princess Charlotte, three, and four-month-old Prince Louis, were absent from the outing. But Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, the Countess of Wessex and Lady Louise Windsor were also spotted in attendance, travelling in separate cars. The Cambridge's joined the Queen in her Bentley / Peter Jolly/REX Kate was pictured smiling with the Queen in the backseat of Her Majesty's car as the group headed back to Balmoral. It marked a rare public occasion for the Duchess following the birth of Louis in April. She stunned in a tailored grey checked coat with a black hat, and finished the look with a pair of pearl drop earrings. While the Queen wore a vibrant blue coat and hat, finished with an orange feather detail that matched her dress. Princess Anne and Autumn Phillips also joined the church outing / Peter Jolly/REX Prince William sat in the front passenger's seat as he joined his wife and grandmother on the journey back from the service. Prince Charles appeared in high spirits as he was pictured waving through the window of a separate car to well-wishers after attending church. It is known known whether the Duchess of Cornwall was present. Prince Edward drove a third car, with wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex and their daughter Lady Louise Windsor. Meanwhile Princess Anne donned a striking purple coat and hat as she travelled in the fourth car with her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence. T he brother of Novichok survivor Charlie Rowley claims his sibling has contracted meningitis. Matthew Rowley says that his brother is now back in intensive care at Salisbury District Hospital and undergoing tests. The 45-year-old and his girlfriend Dawn Sturgess, were poisoned with the same nerve agent used in the attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal. Ms Sturgess died on July 8 after the pair were found unconscious on June 30 at Mr Rowley's home in Amesbury. Dawn: Mr Rowley described his partner as a 'lovely lady with a big heart' in an interview last month / AFP/Getty Images Mr Rowleys brother Matthew told the Sunday People that he had spoken with medics at the hospital and a nurse told him they think it is meningitis. Thats what hes being treated for at the moment, but theyre still doing tests to find out more information. He added that medics are still trying to determine what type of meningitis it is. Investigation: the home of Charlie Rowley, 45, in Muggleton Road in Amesbury / PA It looks like he got it from his body being run down by the Novichok, he said. Last week it was revealed that Mr Rowley had been rushed to hospital after going temporarily blind. In an interview last month, he described how the Novichok took just 15 minutes to poison Ms Sturgess after she sprayed it on her wrists, believing it was expensive perfume. Victim: Charlie Rowley described the moment his partner applied the nerve agent to her wrists, believing it to be perfume / ITV He spilt some of the contents on his hands and washed it off, possibly sparing him from the fate of Ms Sturgess. It had an oily substance and I smelled it and it didnt smell of perfume. It felt oily. I washed it off and I didnt think anything of it. It all happened so quick. "It was just so unfortunate, he said in an interview last month. I'm very angry at the whole incident. The pair were victims of the second nerve agent incident in four months following the case of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. They were found unconscious on a park bench in Salisbury in March. T he family of a 12-year-old girl who seized a golden opportunity for a selfie on stage with Pope Francis on Saturday night have said she is "over the moon". Alison Nevin, from Swords in Dublin - who was brought along as a representative of the Traveller community to meet Pope Francis during the Festival of Families - saw the chance for a selfie with the leader of the Catholic Church, and took it. Her mum, Brigid, told the Press Association it is important that young traveller people have confidence in themselves, and Alison, who has met Pope Francis before, is a good example for others. Alison Nevin as she managed to get a selfie on stage with Pope Francis / PA Brigid said: "It was a lovely experience for us all, we were given two tickets for myself and Alison to attend, but we weren't expecting to get up that close to him. "[Alison] was a bit nervous when she was sitting on the bench waiting to meet with him, but she said the nervousness left when she got up. "She said she had been thinking of asking him for a selfie in her head, and didn't tell anyone about it, just decided to go for it. Pope marks second day in Ireland 1 /8 Pope marks second day in Ireland The Pope asked for forgiveness for the "sins" and "betrayal" of the church's sex abuse scandals in Ireland REUTERS Pope Francis leads the Angelus at the Drum Crescent, Knock AFP/Getty Images The Pontiff waves at crowds as he arrives at the Knock shrine AP Pope Francis gestures to the crowd on his arrival at Knock Shrine AFP/Getty Images Thousands turned out to see Pope Francis REUTERS He addressed a crowd in Knock on the second day of his visit REUTERS Pope Francis greets children after arriving in Knock REUTERS Francis addressed the dark legacy of the scandals PA "She's absolutely over the moon, her Facebook and Instagram were hopping off all over the place. "We had to turn the phones off last night, they were ringing non-stop, and the picture was shared over and over." One of the biggest cheers in Croke Park on Saturday was for activist Missy Collins talking about Traveller families, their faith and their exclusion in Irish society - with Alison by her side, Ms Collins asked the Pontiff to pray for young Traveller people in Ireland. Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Phoenix Park in Dublin, as part of his visit to Ireland / PA "It's very important for us to have members of the travelling community represented for young people," Brigid added. "With Alison being so young, she's set a trend for her peers to have confidence in herself and do it." A huge crowd attends The Festival of Families event at Croke Park / Getty Images The Croke Park event marked the second time Alison met with Pope Francis. Due to suffering from a number of medical issues in the past, she and her mother were gifted tickets for a Papal Mass, and travelled to Rome to meet with the Pontiff and present him with a gift, three years ago. Brigid said: "This is actually her second time meeting the Pope, we travelled to Rome three years ago, where she got a special audience with the Pope as the first Traveller child he met that day. "Alison was in and out of hospital at the time, and we were given tickets for us to meet with him. "He came off the podium and met with her, and she was able to give him a gift. P residents and US politicians from both parties have honoured Senator John McCain's decades of service to his country following his death at the age of 81. His family had previously said he had ended medical treatment for the condition, revealing that "the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict". President Donald Trump, who once criticised Mr McCain for being taken prisoner during the Vietnam War, said his "deepest sympathies and respect" went out to Mr McCain's family. On Saturday night, a black hearse accompanied by a police motorcade could be seen driving away from the ranch near Sedona, Arizona, where the Republican senator spent his final weeks. Mr Trump's brief Twitter statement said "hearts and prayers" are with the McCain family. First lady Melania Trump thanked Mr McCain for his service to the nation, which included more than five years as a prisoner of war and six terms in the Senate. Mr Trump and Mr McCain were at odds until the end. The president, who mocked Mr McCain's capture in Vietnam during the 2016 campaign, jabbed at the senator even after his illness for voting against Republican efforts to roll back President Barack Obama's health care law. Earlier this summer, Mr McCain issued a blistering statement criticising Mr Trump's meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin. Former presidents, including those who blocked Mr McCain's own White House ambitions, offered emotional tributes. Mr Obama, who triumphed over Mr McCain in the 2008 election, said that despite their differences, Mr McCain and he shared a "fidelity to something higher - the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed". Mr Obama said the two political opponents "saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world". Former President George W Bush, who defeated Mr McCain for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination, called his one-time political rival "man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order" and a "friend whom I'll deeply miss". Mr Bush was among those expected to speak at Mr McCain's funeral. Mr McCain was the son and grandson of admirals and followed them to the US Naval Academy. A pilot, he was shot down over Vietnam and held as a prisoner of war for more than five years. He went on to win a seat in the House and in 1986, the Senate, where he served for the rest of his life. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called Mr McCain a "fascinating personality". "He would occasionally be in a bad place with various members, including myself, and when this would blow over it was like nothing ever happened," Mr McConnell said Saturday after a Republican state dinner in Lexington, Kentucky. "He also had a wicked sense of humour and it made every tense moment come out better." Former vice president Joe Biden, who developed a friendship with Mr McCain while they served together in the Senate, said the Arizona politician will "cast a long shadow". "The spirit that drove him was never extinguished: we are here to commit ourselves to something bigger than ourselves," Mr Biden said. Mr McCain is expected to be remembered in Arizona and Washington before being buried, likely this week, at the Naval Academy Cemetery on a peninsula overlooking the Severn River. Other plans were taking shape, too. Senator Chuck Schumer announced that he wants to name the Senate building that housed Mr McCain's suite of offices after the Arizona senator, who served as chairman of the Commerce Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee. "As you go through life, you meet few truly great people. John McCain was one of them," Mr Schumer said. "Maybe most of all, he was a truth teller - never afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all too rare." Mr McCain's wife Cindy said she was heartbroken by the death of an "incredible man". In a post on Twitter, she said: "My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved best." Daughter Meghan McCain described her father as a "great fire who burned bright". She said: "We lived in his light and warmth for so very long. We know that his flame lives on, in each of us. N azanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has said goodbye to her daughter and returned to prison after being denied an extension of her temporary release in Iran. Her husband Richard Ratcliffe announced on Sunday that an application to extend her surprise three day furlough had been denied. The charity worker, from Hampstead, north London, was released from jail in Tehran on Thursday and has been staying with family outside the capital. She is two years into a five year prison sentence after being charged with national security offences, which she denies. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is reunited with her daughter for the first time since her arrest in April 2016 / PA Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he had spoken to Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Friday but that "clearly wasn't enough". Vowing to continue the fight, he tweeted: "Looks like Iranian legal system is impervious to the simple fact at the heart of this: an innocent woman is desperate to be reunited with her family." In a statement, Mr Ratcliffe said that his wife was told by Iranian authorities that she would have to return to prison by sunset. After a "day of mixed messages" the request for an extension was not granted, he said. He added that the prosecutors office said she would need to return "for a few days or a week" to wait for a key signature. She decided to go back voluntarily with her "head held high" rather than be "dragged out of the house in front of her baby", he said. Suffering: Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has previously said she feels on the verge of a nervous breakdown in prison Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's four-year-old daughter, Gabriella, cried when she realised her mother was leaving. Mr Ratcliffe said: "She [Nazanin] promised Gabriella that the next time she saw her it would be forever not just for a few days, for proper freedom, not just for furlough. "And next time they will go back to London to be with daddy." Gabriella has been staying with her grandparents since Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was detained at Imam Khomeini airport in April 2016. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe with her husband Richard Ratcliffe / PA Irans Revolutionary Guards seized her at the end of a two-week holiday to visit her parents. Gabriella was taken to live with her grandparents. Mr Ratcliffe said his wife was initially told she did not have to return to prison on Sunday and that her extension request had been authorised. She was later told the permit had not been signed off and must return to prison "for a few days or a week" while this was sorted. Mr Ratcliffe said the British embassy had been informed of the decision but had reported hearing no mention of the charity worker needing to return for a few days to wait for a signature from the Iranian authorities. Earlier on Sunday, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe went to the prosecutors office with her daughter where she was warned not to do anything to jeopardise her chances of longer-term release, he said. He said: "She was shivering and shaking and crying - and said: 'How can you take me away from my baby, when she needs me?'. "Gabriella was crying and sucking her thumb - she didn't want her mummy to go back." Kate Allen, Amnesty International UK's director, said: "This is a crushing disappointment. T he Pope has asked for forgiveness from God for the sins and betrayal of the churchs sexual abuse scandals in Ireland. Francis addressed a crowd in Knock on the second day of his visit to the country and said that no one could fail to be moved by the stories of young abuse victims. He added that the victims had been "robbed of their innocence" and "left scarred by painful memories." The Pontiff added: I ask our Blessed mother to intercede for the healing of the survivors and to confirm every member of our Christian family in the resolve never again to permit these situations to occur. The Pontiff waves at well-wishers in Knock, County Mayo / AP He was driven through crowds ahead of entering a chapel at the site for a period of silent prayer. In August 1879, 15 people said they saw an apparition at Knock of the Virgin Mary, St Joseph, St John the Evangelist and a lamb. On Saturday, Francis addressed the dark legacy of the scandals during a speech at Dublin Castle. Irelands Taoiseach Leo Vardakar called on the Pope to listen to survivors of abuse at the hands of the church. Protestors took to the streets in Dublin during the Pope's visit / PA The Pope also toured around the capital in his Popemobile. While thousands lined the streets of Dublin to catch a glimpse of Francis, the crowds were certainly not on the scale witnessed when John Paul II made a similar trip. Pope Francis speaks to audience at Croke Park, Festival of Families And among the well-wishers lining Dublin's streets there were also protesters, who vented their anger at the pontiff as he drove by. Later, he met with survivors of the abuse scandals behind closed doors, just hours after he expressed pain and shame over failures to tackle the scandals. The Pope arrived in Ireland on Saturday / AFP/Getty Images Abuse survivor Marie Collins, who was at the meeting, said: "He was very frank, he listened to us all and he gave us all an opportunity to talk about our experiences." Later on Sunday, Pope Francis will lead a huge outdoor mass at Phoenix Park in Dublin. W hether you are looking for a present for a young, budding fan, or for adult Disney lovers that have had their obsession renewed thanks to Netflix, theres a gift for everyone. Disney has played a feature on all of our lives, no matter what your age, and our obsession with the characters only seems to keep growing. While fancy dress and doll recreations were a staple of our childhoods, there is so much more out there to channel your love for all things Disney, from a personalised notebook to makeup essentials, plush toys and fashion-forward finds. Check out our selection of the best Disney-inspired gifts for all ages and for the official Disney store click here. Kids Disney Gifts Winnie the Pooh Medium Soft Toy Who doesn't love Winnie the Pooh and here, one of Disney's most beloved characters is offered in a soft toy with a partial bean bag filling. 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With an all-over polka dot and Minnie Mouse print, the notebook will make an adorable addition to your stationery collection. 12.99 | Papier | Buy it now Ariel Shell Brush Set As part of the Spectrum x Disney collaboration, the makeup brush label has released a Little Mermaid range with brushes inspired by Ariel and Ursula. The collection is comprised of 10 brushes in a handy carry case that could easily double up as an over-the-shoulder bag thanks to the chain handle. We especially love the Ariel brushes, which are vegan with a sea blue handle and housed in a pearl and glitter embellished case. 79.99 | Spectrum | Buy it now Disney Princess Calming Face Mask Step up your skincare regime with the Disney edition of a sheet mask. The mask contains rose water to calm skin, leaving you looking refreshed and revitalised. 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The piece has a purple heart for a touch of colour and a satin ribbon tie. 59 | Swarovski | Buy it now Disney Striped Halter Top This knit top from Forever 21 will make an adorable addition to your wardrobe - a bit 70's a bit now but undeniably Disney. Featuring a multi-coloured striped pattern and a print of Mickey Mouse and the gang, pair it with high waisted wide-legged trousers for an out-of-the-house look or just go full pyjama and enjoy in your cosiest sweatpants. Fastened with a self-tie halter neck with an open back. Every time Walpole, Mass. native George Ducharme brings Wings Of Royalty to Plainridge Park the native sons get the job done. And on Thursday, Aug. 23 the six-year-old son of RC Royalty entered the track's record book for the second time in his career when he won the $16,000 Winners-Over Handicap in handy fashion. Wings Of Royalty left from post seven and took command before the quarter. With the field seated behind him, he led the group to the half in :56.3 with driver Shawn Gray sitting comfy in the bike. Only Passing Thru had been tracking from second the whole way and appeared to be the only horse with a legitimate shot to challenge the sharp-trotting leader. In the backstretch and around the final bend, positions remained unchanged. By the top of the stretch Wings Of Royalty and Only Passing Thru had separated themselves from the pack by five when Greg Merton tipped out to take his best shot off the solid trip. But Wings Of Royalty trotted away from the challenge and to the wire under no urging whatsoever from Gray to win in 1:53.2. The time was a track record for aged trotting horses, lowering the mark of Kodak Lindy who went a mile in 1:53.4 in 2016. Wings Of Royalty also holds the mark for four-year-old trotting horses at Plainridge Park with the time of 1:53.2, also registered in 2016. Wings Of Royalty, who was the three-year-old Massachusetts Sires Stake Champion in an undefeated 2015 series, was bred and is owned by Ray Campbell Jr. of Belchertown, Massachusetts. He paid $3.20 to win. Several horsemen had multiple win days at The Ridge including driver Mitchell Cushing who topped them all making three consecutive trips to the winner's enclosure. Aaron Hall and Nick Graffam also notched two wins each on the card. Mike Eaton and Michael Girouard led all trainers with two wins as well. There was no Wicked Hi-5 Pentafecta winner again on Thursday so the carry over pool has grown to $4,671 and will be available in the sixth race on Monday, Aug. 27. First-race post is at 4 p.m. (With files from Plainridge Park) Prosecutor General Augustin Lazar believes that the recent finding of some new protocols between the Prosecution Service and the Romanian Intelligence Service represents a false topic, meant to manipulate the public opinion and destabilise Prosecution Section. "What we can notice now is a new action of the series of aggressions against the Prosecution Section, an important institution of the rule of law in Romania. With the Justice Minister we have had friendly, reasonable relations lately and nothing seemed to bother him. I believe that, as I have been taken by surprise, he was also taken by surprise by someone who thought to launch a false topic in the public space, a topic meant to manipulate the public opinion and destabilise the Prosecution Service. What is this topic? The alleged recent finding of some new protocols between the Prosecution Service and the Romanian Intelligence Service. But who found them? A person who is called to hold criminal responsibility in a judicial case. Does this matter tell you anything? I find it extremely revealing," Lazar said on Digi 24. The Prosecutor General maintained that the topic was stirred by television channels and that the Justice Minister seems to have let himself manipulated. He underscored that the Prosecution Service works according to law and the Constitution, and the protocols are simple technical working procedures.The Justice Minister, Tudorel Toader, announced on Saturday he is initiating the procedure to assess the managerial activity of Prosecutor General Augustin Lazar, in the context of the protocols concluded with the SRI. He said that the results of the evaluation, accompanied by possible proposals, will be made public in maximum 30 days. Leader of the Pro Romania Party Victor Ponta announced on Saturday evening he agrees to the pensions being increased as of 1 January 2019, adding that he will file an amendment in this respect when the new pension draft law is debated in Parliament. "If a new pension law is created (...). We'll make an amendment (...). The pension law is coming up. I want us to support it. We, at Pro Romania, will vote for it, on condition it comes into force as of 1 January 2019," Ponta explained in a show on Romania TV. Ponta said that if there is no money to increase pensions as of 2019, no extra money will be in the coming years either."If in 2018 you cannot increase pensions and you say you have no money, then you will definitely not have it in 2020, 2021. (...) I will always agree to the idea that pensions must be raised. (...) I want it to come into force starting 1 January 2019," Victor Ponta mentioned.According to the former PM, there currently are five million retired people.There is no reason for the new pension law to be challenged with the Constitutional Court, as among those working on the draft there are also constitutional law professors, Labour and Social Justice Minister Olguta Vasilescu told a press conference on 10 August.On the other hand, she showed that there is availability to accept amendments during the debates in Parliament, where necessary.The Labour Minister added that, after a 30-day public debate, the normative act will be adopted by the Government as a draft, and then go to Parliament. The law might reach promulgation in December. Romania's Ambassador to the US George Cristian Maior sent a condolence message on US Senator John McCain's death. "I found with sadness the news about Senator John McCain's departure, a great American patriot and a true friend of Romania. I am sending condolences to the family and the US people for this tough loss. May God rest him in peace!," reads the message published on the Embassy's website. Not long ago, Senator John McCain sent a special message on the occasion of the celebration of Romania's National Day, on 1 December 2017. Back then, the great US politician underscored that Romania and the US have a close and long-lasting friendship, based on sharing common democratic values, pointing out that our country has set an example in the region and worldwide through the commitment to observe human rights and its efforts concerning the consolidation of the rule of law, good governance and justice independence, all these being elements making Romania a capable and trustworthy ally, according to the source.Republican Senator John McCain, a tortured pilot during the Vietnam War, a candidate to the White House and a nonconformist figure of US politics, died of brain cancer on Saturday, aged 81. Donald Trumps foreign policy, like much of his domestic policy, is a throwback to the worst right-wing excesses of the Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan administrations. Mr. Trump, who avoided the draft during the Vietnam War for bone spurs, praised that nations government during a visit by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to Washington in May 2017. Trump repeated those warm words for Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang, during a visit to Hanoi in November 2017. However, given the fact that Vietnam recently imprisoned 12 individuals, including two US citizens, who were fighting with a guerilla movement that seeks to restore the US-backed Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), Trumps foreign policy could be ripped from the history pages covering 1969 to 1971. On August 22, the People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) convicted members of the Provisional National Government of Vietnam (PNGV), which is based in California, for planning to carry out terrorist attacks in South Vietnam. The PNGV was formed in the 1990s by former officials of the Republic of Vietnam, which was defeated by North Vietnam and the South Vietnamese Vietcong in 1975. The California government-in-exile has proclaimed Dao Minh Quan as its prime minister. The two US citizens imprisoned in Vietnam for 14 years Nguyen James Han and Phan Angel were convicted of planning to carry out attacks on police agencies and Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat airport. They were also charged with attempting to hack into a Vietnamese radio station to broadcast anti-Hanoi propaganda. On August 22, 2018, Trump tweeted, 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. South African Government is now seizing land from white farmers. Trumps belief that there are large scale killings of white farmers originated with the lunatic conspiracy nitwittery of Fox News host Tucker Carlson, whose father, Richard Carlson, was the director of the US Information Agency (USIA), Voice of America, and Radio Marti, all organs of American propaganda during the Reagan administration. Part of the elder Carlsons mission was to tilt US policy in support South Africas minority white apartheid government and against the opposition African National Congress (ANC) of then-imprisoned Nelson Mandela. Richard Carlson later became the vice chairman of the right-wing neo-conservative Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a foe of the ANC-led governments of post-apartheid South Africa. Tucker Carlson relied on his incorrect information about South Africa from the right-wing libertarian Cato Institute, which, in turn, received its information from the white Afrikaner-led AfriForum, a lobbying group for white South African farmers, who own 72 percent of farmland in South Africa. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC are considering legislation to return white-owned land to black South African farmers. However, Trumps contention that there is large scale killings of white South African farmers is confronted by the fact that the murder of South African farmers, white and black, is at a 20-year low. Further exaggerating the claims of mass killings of whites in South Africa was US neo-Nazi leader Richard Spencer, who counts Trump speechwriter and suspected Twitter message adviser Stephen Miller among is close friends. Mr. Trump decided that is was best to take the word of an overly-manicured bow tie-wearing Tucker Carlson over that of Vaughn Bishop, his deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency on the situation in South Africa. Bishop happens to possess a Doctorate in African Studies from Northwestern University. Tucker Carlson, on the other hand, has a bachelors degree in history from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. In addition to AfriForum and the Cato Institute, the nonsense about mass killings of white farmers was ricocheted around the alt-right echo chambers by Stefan Molyneux, a Canadian conspiracy theorist who traffics in discredited white genocide propaganda, and his Canadian colleague, Gavin McInnes, whose beliefs generally fall in line with those of Molyneux. During the 1980s, the Reagan administration created a covert weapons, mercenary, and logistics network in support of the Afghan mujaheddin that was fighting Soviet and government forces in Afghanistan. What grew out of this clandestine network, which was based in northwestern Pakistan and financed by Saudi Arabia, was Al Qaeda. Trump is currently considering an offer from Erik Prince, the founder of the Blackwater mercenary firm and brother of Trumps Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos, to deploy his new army of mercenaries, Reflex Responses (R2), based outside of Abu Dhabi, to fight a privatized war against the Taliban and its allies in Afghanistan. Prince is already fighting a semi-privatized war in Yemen, on behalf of his United Arab Emirates bosses. That war, which involves US air support for Saudi, Emirati, and R2 ground forces, has resulted in thousands of civilian deaths in the country, the latest being 40 schoolchildren, whose bus was hit by a US-made laser-guided bomb made by Lockheed Martin and sold to Saudi Arabia. In the early 1970s, as Taiwan began facing diplomatic isolation as more and more nations switched their recognition from the Republic of China on Taiwan to the Peoples Republic of China in Beijing, the Nixon administration constantly berated nations for changing diplomatic ties, even as it was secretly negotiating with mainland China at talks in Warsaw amid the much-publicized ping-pong diplomacy between the two nations. As the United Nations was debating seating the Peoples Republic of China and expelling Taiwan in 1971, even as plans were afoot for Nixon to visit China the following year, the United States warned nations with relations with Taiwan not to switch them to China. Ecuador and Peru were among the Latin American nations warned by Washington. Recently, as El Salvador announced it was recognizing China and abandon relations with Taiwan, the Trump administration attacked El Salvador. The White House announced in a statement that, The El Salvadoran governments receptiveness to Chinas apparent interference in the domestic politics of a Western Hemisphere country is of grave concern to the United States and will result in a reevaluation of our relationship with El Salvador. The Trump rhetoric could have come right out of the early 1970s, when similar threats were made by the Nixon administration to nations switching ties from Taipei to Beijing. The Trump administrations hostility toward Venezuela and Nicaragua is reminiscent of the dark days of Nixon, when the CIA launched a successful coup in Chile, toppling the democratically-elected president, Salvador Allende, from power and replacing him with a right-wing military junta. Trump is known to favor US military intervention against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, while his Pentagon and CIA have been actively promoting a themed revolution against Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. These Trump operations are taken right out of the playbooks of Nixon in dealing with Chile and Ronald Reagan in dealing with Nicaragua. It appears that Trump is intent on reviving the infamous CIA contra war against Nicaragua from US bases in Honduras. Trump foreign policy, like that of Nixon and Gerald Ford, does not want to see the end of colonialism and the emergence of newly-independent nations in the Pacific New Caledonia and Bougainville or in the Middle East Kurdistan and South Yemen. Trumps policy against Palestinian statehood is out of the 1960s and 70s. Trumps foreign policy is an anachronism that should be chased back into the history books as soon as possible. A frequent source of military defeats, especially in peacetime, are weapons development projects. In the United States, one a project gets to a certain point it is unstoppable until a decade or more of failure and rising costs to fix the problems finally prove fatal. Case in points is the more than 20 years of effort the U.S. Army put into getting its XM25 smart shell weapon to work and be accepted by the troops. In 2018 the army finally gave up on this. The U.S. Army is keeping the XM25 patents and might resurrect the concept later, especially in light of South Korea and China producing similar designs which are still in service. The XM25 is the only one of three to have been tested extensively in combat but because of a misfire during a 2013 demonstration, the XM25 was withdrawn from service for a three year effort to redesign. This was successful and solved the misfire problem and a few more minor ones. But this resulted in an XM25 that cost $93,000 each rather than $41,000. Meanwhile, there were Department of Defense budget cuts and troops finding there were not really that many situations calling for the XM25. Then there was the weight problem. Typically the complete system (XM25 and 36 25mm rounds) weighed 15.9 kg (35 pounds) and some SOCOM troops refused to take it along because of that. Then there was a legal problem with German firearms manufacturer Heckler and Koch, which controlled key patents used in the M25. Heckler and Koch cited one of the laws of war (Hague Conventions) which, technically, made the explosive 25mm shells of the M25 illegal. The U.S. government refused to get involved in expensive and time-consuming litigation over this matter and the XM25 project was canceled in early 2017. A year later the Army lost the will to keep the XM25 in service at all. The U.S. could always buy the similar South Korean K11, but American resistance to purchasing foreign weapons has always been strong, even if the foreign stuff is the best, or only, solution to a problem. It sometimes happens, but like the Heckler and Koch lawsuit, it is often seen as one problem too many. Besides, the South Koreans were not thrilled with their K11 anyway. During its brief combat career, troops nicknamed the XM25 the Punisher. That name was apt in other ways, as in how the project was run over more than two decades. Even if kept in service the XM25 was still a heavy and bulky weapon, with the final version coming in at 5.5 kg (12 pounds). The 25mm shells weigh over half a pound each (270 grams). On the plus side, there is already a 25mm armor piercing round (using a shaped charge capable of penetrating over 50mm of armor) available. This makes the XM-25 (along with many other lightweight weapons) capable of knocking out light armored vehicles. Then there are the proposed types of 25mm ammo, like fuel-air explosive (or "thermobaric"). This shell would cause greater blast effect in an enclosed space, and actually, suck most of the oxygen out of a cave or closed room long enough to make surviving troops at least a bit groggy. This gives the attacking troops an opportunity to rush in and kill the enemy or take prisoners. In combat, every little advantage helps, if you can afford to equip the troops with a weapon that is affordable and works. When facing the XM25, hiding behind rocks, trees, walls or in caves will no longer protect you. The XM-25 also has a 4x thermal sight which made the XM-25 at night useful for just the sight. None of these real or promising features was enough to save the XM25. The U.S. began working on what became the XM25 back in the 1990s as the XM29 OICW (Objective Individual Combat Weapon) and that mutated into the simpler and lighter XM25 (the X in XM25 designates a system that is still in development) as well as inspiring the South Koreans and Chinese to develop similar weapons that were lighters, simpler, cheaper and more useful in combat. The OICW survived as the XM25 when it got rid of the assault rifle element and upped the caliber to 25mm. Thus an XM25, with a four round magazine, weighs 5.5 kg while the loaded South Korean K11 weighed 7.2 kg. The Chinese QTS-11 weighed from 5 to 7 kg (depending on accessories). The initial spectacular success and popularity of the XM25 in Afghanistan led the army to request that the weapon enter regular service as the M25 in 2014. But Congress, looking for ways to reduce military spending in 2013 cut all money for the M25. The army managed to scrounge enough cash to keep the M25 on the books as the XM25 and hoped to get the money to build 1,100 of them. In 2011 the XM25 cost $35,000 each with the 25mm ammo going for $55 per round. SOCOM (Special Operations Command) had some XM25s but with few American troops in combat, there is not a lot of demand for a weapon like this. Then came the 2013 accident and it was irretrievably downhill from there. When the first evaluation models of the XM25 arrived in Afghanistan in 2011 the weapon became much sought after by infantry troops. There were never more than a few dozen XM25s in Afghanistan and limited supplies of ammunition. Despite that, the weapon quickly developed a formidable reputation. The Special Forces have priority on the weapon because it is very useful for special operations missions. The army planned to buy enough so that they could issue one per infantry squad. There are 27 squads in an infantry battalion but the army never had enough cash to pay for this and also fix problems that developed with the XM25. In the beginning the XM25 went through several major design changes and it wasnt until 2005 that the first XM25s were delivered to the U.S. Army for troop testing. In 2007 a few were sent overseas for testing in combat situations. While the troops have been very enthusiastic about the new weapon, there were a lot of suggestions, mostly about minor items. So the army kept tweaking and refining the weapon. It appeared that the XM25 was a success after only 55 of the 25mm rounds were fired in combat. The users protested having to give them up after the few months of field testing. All this was because the XM25s worked as advertised, firing "smart rounds" that exploded over the heads of Taliban hiding behind rocks or walls, or hiding in a cave or room. Enemy machine-guns have been quickly knocked out of action and ambushes quickly disrupted with a few 25mm shells. Encounters that might go on for 15 minutes or longer, as U.S. troops exchange fire with hidden Taliban, end in minutes after a few 25mm, computer controlled rounds were used. But over time it was found that there were not that many situations in combat calling for an M25 and troops left them behind most of the time if they were going out on a foot patrol and had to carry everything. The XM25 was originally one of two weapons (the other being a 5.56mm rifle) incorporated in the 8.2 kg (18 pound) XM29 OICW. The OICW was originally developed as a replacement for the 40mm grenade launcher attached to the M16 used by the squad grenadier as well as providing a more accurate and capable grenade launcher. Didn't work out as intended. The big problem was effectiveness. The older 40mm, unguided, grenade rounds weigh 540 grams (19 ounces) each while the original 20mm OICW round weighed half that. This was one of the several major problems with the OICW. It was too heavy and ungainly, and the 20mm "smart shell" it fired did not appear capable of effectively putting enemy troops out of action consistently, especially compared to the 40mm shell it was replacing. So, in August 2003, it was decided to take the 5.56mm portion out of the OICW and develop it as a separate weapon (the XM8) while the grenade launcher part that fired the "smart shell" continued development as the XM25. But the XM25 would now use a 25mm shell, which would generate 50 percent more fragments (and heavier ones at that) than the 20mm shell of the OICW. China and South Korea insist that their 20mm grenades inflict sufficient hurt on the enemy to be effective. The U.S., with lots of combat testing, believes that 25mm is the only way to go. China disagrees and insists its 20mm shell is quite lethal in part because they have more compact electronics in the shell and more space for explosives. The 20mm and 25mm "smart shells" both use a computer controlled fuze. The XM25 operator could choose one of four different firing modes via a selector switch on the weapon. The four modes include "Bursting" (airburst). For this to work, the soldier first finds the target via the weapons sighting system. The sight includes a laser range finder and the ability to select and adjust the range shown in the sight picture. For an air burst, the soldier aims at an enemy position and fires a round. The shell is optimized to spray incapacitating (wounding or killing) fragments in a roughly six meter (19 foot) radius from the exploding round. Thus if enemy troops are seen moving near trees or buildings at a long distance (over 500 meters), the weapon has a good chance of getting them with one shot. M-16s are not very accurate at that range, and the enemy troops will dive for cover as soon as M-16 bullets hit around them. With smart shells, you get one (or a few) accurate shots and the element of surprise. The smart shells can be used out to 700 meters, but not as accurately. At those longer ranges, you can't put a shell through a window, but you can hurt a crowd of gunmen standing outside the building. The other modes are "PD" (point detonation, where the round explodes on contact), PDD (point detonation delay, where the round detonates immediately after it has gone through a door, window or thin wall) and "Window", which is used for firing at enemy troops in a trench, behind a stone wall or inside a room. The round detonates just beyond the aiming point. For buildings, this would be a window or door frame, cave entrance or the corner of a building (to get enemy troops thought to be around the corner.) All these options were more than the troops needed. Meanwhile, South Korea developed the K11 had it ready for service in 2010. The K11 was identical in concept of the XM29 OICW. The South Korean version weighed less than the XM29 and still combined a 5.56mm rifle with one firing 20mm computer and laser controlled shells. Then there was China, which in 2015 began arming its troops with the QTS-11, a weapon that combines a 5.8mm assault rifle with a computer controlled, laser rangefinder assisted 20mm grenade launcher (with a max range of 700 meters). In late 2017 the Chinese had over two years experience with the QTS-11 and found that the most commonly used 20mm ammo was the air-burst round. That was the American experience with their XM25 in Afghanistan a decade earlier. Another popular feature was the lightweight. Unloaded the QTS-11 weighed 4.27 kg (9.4 pounds). Loaded with a 20 round magazine for the assault rifle and one 20mm round the QTS-11 weighed 5 kg (11 pounds) and with a high-end electronic scope the QTS-11 weighed 7 kg. This simplicity and flexibility proved to be a major factor in the success of the QTS-11 compared to similar weapons from South Korea and the United States. The South Koreans noted this and are upgrading their similar K11 weapon to reduce weight from 6.1 kg (13 pounds) to about 5.5 kg. Another popular feature of the QTS-11 is that the computerized electronic sight can be easily removed and replaced with a lighter and smaller optical sight. The 20mm grenades can still be used but only those that detonate on impact. Apparently, infantry commanders and troops believe this is a useful option. Another useful option, which has been tested but not yet issued to the troops, is an eyepiece that connects, via a cable, to the computerized sight and enables the soldier to fire around corners. The QTS-11 was first seen in public during 2015 when Chinese marines assigned to warships working with the international anti-piracy patrol off Somalia. Chinese special operations troops also had the QTS-11 and the army ordered several thousand of them so that each four-man infantry fire-team would have one. That puts China ahead of the United States and South Korea. The Chinese version is lighter, simpler and cheaper and the Chinese feel the QTS-11 is worth buying and issuing to the troops. Theres not been similar enthusiasm with the American and South Korean versions. One reason for that is the way the Chinese handled the fact that the QTS-11 had three types of 20mm ammo and only one of those types was really essential. The impact detonation shell is useful, especially when not using the computerized sight. The air burst shell is unique and really only available with the QTS-11 when equipped with the computerized sight. The third type of round is a shotgun type shell that uses the computerized sight, which only provides for the user to select at what range the air burst or shotgun round will detonate. Because these 20mm rounds have fewer electronics in them they carry more fragments and the Chinese believe (but dont know from combat experience) that this supplies adequate wounding capability. Tests show that the airburst round wounds out to seven meters and is apparently as effective as a hand grenade. China was able to learn from South Korean experience because in 2009 South Korea revealed it had developed (since 2006) the K11, a $14,000 20mm/5.56mm weapon which appeared to be identical in concept to the U.S. Army XM29. The South Korean version weighed 6.1 kg (13.4 pounds) empty and combines a 5.56mm rifle, with one firing 20mm computer and controlled shells. The South Korean weapon operated the same way as the 20mm shell of the XM29. The South Koreans planned to issue the K11 on the basis of two weapons per squad (an infantry unit containing 10-12 men). The K11 was both cheaper and lighter than the XM29 but not as cheap or as light as the QTS-11. Eventually, South Korea issued fewer K11s and treated it as a specialist weapon, not a standard one. The South Koreans found solutions to the problems American encountered with the XM29 and XM25. South Korea used some K11s in Afghanistan and there were lots of complaints about reliability and effectiveness. This did not result in the K11 being cancelled but the weapon did not have a good reputation among the troops. The South Koreans found that their 20mm smart shell was effective out to about 500 meters. South Korean troops began receiving the K11 in 2010 but in 2011 production was halted for a while because nearly half of those already distributed to the troops had design or manufacturing problems. Some of the problems were encountered during combat in Afghanistan. The K11 problems were fixed and so far over 4,000 have been built. The K11 manufacturer insists that problems are a thing of the past but troops and many commanders are not so confident. By 2017 the K11 was considered reliable but not a particularly spectacular new weapon. Thats why the manufacturer has redesigned it to make the K11 lighter and address a rather long list of suggestions and complaints from users. Even the Chinese and Americans do that and it usually pays off. Patients and families facing terminal illness will continue to benefit from palliative support services in the Western Bay of Plenty region, following a generous donation of more than $600,000. The Trust of Josephine Parish, managed by Perpetual Guardian and established in accordance with Mrs Parishs Will, has donated more than $600,000 to the Waipuna Hospice in Tauranga. Josephine passed away in 2003 and was grateful for the help and support of the hospice at the end of her husbands life so much so that she changed her will to make Waipuna Hospice the final beneficiary. Josephine and her husband immigrated to New Zealand from England, where she taught in Auckland for a number of years before the couple retired to Omokoroa. They had no children and when Mr Parish became ill, Waipuna Hospice helped her look after him in their home until his death. When Josephine updated her will she was aware that Waipuna Hospice was a fledging charitable organisation and accordingly her will dictated the funds would be held in a Trust for 15 years. The income earned during that time of nearly $400,000 was paid to Waipuna Hospice on an annual basis. The period of 15 years has now expired and a final distribution of the Trust assets of more than $600,000 has been donated in full to Waipuna Hospice. The Waipuna Hospice services are predominantly community-based, with round-the-clock care provided by specialist palliative care nurses and medical staff for people from Waihi Beach to Paengaroa. The services allow patients to remain in their own home among family, friends and neighbours. The dedicated nursing team is supported by a palliative specialist, with nurses rounds taking them on home visits to assess wellbeing, check on medication, address patient or caregiver concerns, and review the individual care plan to ensure the best possible comfort level and quality of life. The hospice offers a nine-bed inpatient unit and a day service clinic which provides introductory assessments, specialist consultations and day respite care. The organisation fully relies on government funding and community support to provide its services free of charge. Sue Bacon, Client Manager at Perpetual Guardian, visited Waipuna Hospice recently to present the large donation in person. She says it was an honour to present this on behalf of the Parishes. It is a prime example of how strategic funding can really make a difference to communities. This donation illustrates the far-reaching benefits of philanthropy when operating under good structure and management. Such structures allow recipient organisations to forward plan a little more easily and confidently, while giving Perpetual Guardian as a manager the opportunity to distribute funds to interesting and important projects and observe how they develop over the years. We look forward to hearing how this generous grant will be spent and have no doubt the contribution will go towards supporting the hospices outreach and services. The hospice does such a great job at providing support and care; it is a vital part of the community and would not be able to survive without donations like this one, which is much deserved. Richard Thurlow, CEO at Waipuna Hospice, says: "We were extremely humbled when we learned of the kind gesture from Josephine Parish. The funds generated over the 15 years covered a significant dent in our operational costs. These are the patient-facing costs of the organisation, especially salaries. This year it will cost $7.6 million to serve the Western Bay of Plenty community, and $3.7 million of this will come from fundraising. Every year, Waipuna Hospice serves around 1,000 patients and families this figure is forecast to grow in advance of population growth, with a predicted increase of 75 per cent in the next 20 years. Waipuna Hospice Foundation, a separate trust to the operational part of the organisation, will invest the capital from the estate of Josephine Parish to ensure her legacy endures. As a not-for-profit we dont receive funds of this magnitude very often. This type of donation/bequest allows us to plan for the long-term and to build a fund to ensure future services for our community." Perpetual Guardian administers more than 550 Charitable Trusts on behalf of the generous legacies of its clients. Eight students from Tahatai Coast School in Papamoa are preparing for an international trip to South Korea. The school has joined in a sister school partnership with Supsok Elementary School in South Korea. The year five and six students will travel to South Korea on November 12 and will be there for 10 days. Each Tahatai student will be matched with a Korean student and stay with the students family, attend school and experience Korean culture. In return, they will host their Korean students in Papamoa and give them a true Kiwi experience. International Student Manager Rowan Barton says that the school has been hosting international students for the past three and a half years. In that three and a half years, we have built close relationships with education agents working within Tauranga. Mr Christian Ryu from Vision Consulting approached us about forming a sister school relationship with Supsok Elementary School in Seoul, South Korea. This developed into an exchange between students at the school. Tahatai Coast School Principal Matt Skilton says that the partnership is an exciting opportunity. This is such an exciting opportunity for Tahatai Coast School students as it see a merging of both South Korean and New Zealand cultures. After hosting international student for the past three years, we are delighted to support our children to be able to experience first-hand learning and life in another country. Many of the students going to South Korea are looking forward to the new experience and making new friends. Im looking forward to learning about their culture and the different things they do in Korea, says student Annalise Burnette. Im looking forward to making new friends, and speaking a new language. I think school will be way different there, says student Niko Preston. Once the South Korean students are in New Zealand the Tahatai students are looking forward to showing the Korean students how things are done here in NZ. Bella Rowe is looking forward to sharing her kiwi lifestyle with her Korean student when they come to stay in Papamoa. Im going to take them to have fish and chips on the beach. Im pretty sure we wont do that in Korea. Im going to take my student to the speedway and to the beach, says student Zach Davie. All of the parents involved wanted their children to understand the value of the opportunity they have been given, by working on several fundraising ventures such as car washes, a child-centred event at Slam Jump, a movie night and by selling re-usable bags, says Rowan. The Tahatai Coast School students are currently seeking sponsorship for their hoodies which they intend to wear during their fundraising efforts. If any business is interested in supporting these Tahatai students take part in the new sister school partnership, please get in touch with Tahatai Coast School. That last minute burden of filling out a departure card before taking flight for overseas will be a thing of the past come November, when travellers will no longer need to complete the bothersome documents, says Immigration Minister Iain-Lees Galloway and Customs Minister Meka Whaitiri. This will improve the experience of all travellers departing New Zealand, enabling a faster and smoother process ahead of the busy holiday period, says Iain. It will also save more than 100,000 hours of time currently spent by travellers completing more than 6.5 million departure cards per year. The removal of departure cards will align with international best practice. Few other countries have departure cards with the level of detail required by the New Zealand one. This also brings us closer to seamless travel between Australia and New Zealand for the benefit of Trans-Tasman travellers and businesses. Travellers will be able to travel departure card-free on both sides of the Tasman. Australia removed their departure card last year. Meka says the cards are no longer needed for their original purpose, which was to account for all passengers crossing the New Zealander border. We have smarter system now that capture passenger identity information and travel movement records electronically. Information captured by the departure cards is now mainly used for statistical purposes. Stats NZ has developed an alternative way to produce migration and tourism statistics, based on actual movements rather than passengers stated intentions on the departure cards, says Meke. Electronic systems will capture who is leaving New Zealand accurately. From November, the Government will continue to collect the information required for the most critical functions of the card by electronic and other means. This includes information in passports, departure date, actual time spent in New Zealand and actual time away. Other less important information currently collected on departure cards may be collected in other ways in the future. The New Zealand Customs Service will advise passengers of the exact date when these changes will take place closer to the time. DEWITT, N.Y. -- An 18-year-old crashed her Jeep Compass into a church window in the back of St. Sophia's Greek Orthodox Church in DeWitt Saturday afternoon, DeWitt police said. When officers arrived at 4:07 p.m., the teen had gotten out of the car and the car's engine caught fire, police said. She was later taken to Upstate University Hospital with minor, non-life threatening injuries, police said. Units from the DeWitt, Manlius, Fayetteville and East Syracuse Fire Departments helped put out the fire. The teen drove the car through a window that overlooks the church's parking lot. Bricks on the left side of the window appeared displaced. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but a DeWitt fire official said the woman had driven through the back parking lot and into the window. A tow truck came and had to pull the Jeep out of the window. The front right tire of the car had been gashed open and there was significant damage to the front end of the car. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A Syracuse man was arrested Saturday morning after breaking into his neighbor's house, according to Syracuse police. Terrell Fallings, 27, was charged with burglary, criminal mischief, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and harassment, police said. Fallings kicked in the door to a house on the 100 block of West Matson Avenue and attacked two children in the house, the victim told police. He shoved her 14-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son, the victim told police. Then the victim hit Fallings with a chair, police said. The victim and her children were not hurt, police said. Officers arrived at 1:16 a.m. and spotted Fallings leaving as they got there, police said. They stopped his car at the corner of West Matson Avenue and Midland Avenue and arrested him, police said. He is currently being held at the Onondaga County Justice Center, police said. This feature is coordinated by The Post-Standard/Syracuse.com and InterFaith Works of CNY. Follow this theme and author posted Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Casey Johnson What is the value of a sacred text? Many religions revere ancient texts as sacred sources of doctrine and inspiration. They are often stories or records of people interacting with the Divine. The Hebrew Bible Book of Exodus contains the story of the Passover, remembered and retold by Jews at their yearly Seder meal. Muslims look to the Quran for God's word and read it together as they celebrate Ramadan. Christians look to New Testament Parables for guidance on becoming more like Jesus. My faith community, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also looks to the Book of Mormon, which talks, rejoices and preaches of Christ. Ancient texts can also do more than relate specific historical or doctrinal information. When I read scriptural text, my eyes follow the words, but my mind often turns to different things. Reading becomes a type of meditation during which I can feel God's presence, influence, direction and love. Thus the value of sacred texts can be at least threefold: historical, doctrinal and personal. InterFaith Works dedicates a display of sacred texts at its offices. I was generally familiar with many of them. However, hearing different faith leaders describe why their sacred text was special to them altered my perspective slightly. Because that text was special to them, the text became special to me. I would therefore add a fourth reason that sacred texts can be valuable: a source of common ground. Rather than dispute the relative value of different texts, we can look to them as similar ways we all seek to approach the Divine and seek guidance in our lives. Casey Johnson is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he currently serves as the local director of public affairs. Johnson serves on the board of directors and executive committee of InterFaith Works and is an attorney at Bousquet Holstein PLLC. 89 Years Ago: On August 26th, 1929, Clyde E. Pangborn and Carl A. Dixon took off from the New York State Fairgrounds in an effort to set a new world record for sustained flight. The record, 420 hours and 17 minutes, was set a month earlier by Dale Jackson and Forest O'Brien in St. Louis, Missouri in a Challenger-powered Curtiss Robin. Pangborn and Dixon's plane, the "Empire State Standard," was riddled with issues during the flight, including an incident just a few days in when exhaust began pouring into the cockpit, prompting well known stuntman Aaron "Diavalo" Kranz to come to the rescue, jumping from his plane to the Standard, fixing the exhaust, and parachuting to the ground. This wouldn't be the last mechanical problem, however. A t 10:45pm on September 2nd,179 hours and 41 minutes into their flight, Pangborn and Dixon were forced to into an emergency landing after oil began gushing into the cockpit. The men managed to land the plane at Amboy Airport, but due to their injuries and exhaustion, they crashed into another plane after Pangborn missed the foot-brake. Both men managed to walk away from the scene and promised to try again. - Jon Zella, Onondaga Historical Association Melinda Henneberger is a columnist for the Kansas City Star. By Melinda Henneberger | Tribune News Service The New York Times ran a depressing but not very surprising magazine piece recently that in essence said it may be too late to save the planet from the ravages of climate change now, because we blew it back when we could have acted in the '80s. While we were slam dancing, hanging out at the multiplex and generally ignoring the Cassandras of science, a window was closing. That's how I see the Catholic Church after the awful but not out-of-nowhere grand jury report out of Pennsylvania about the more than 1,000 children who were sexually abused by hundreds of priests in that one state over the last 70 years: "There have been other reports about child sex abuse within the Catholic Church. But never on this scale. For many of us, those earlier stories happened someplace else, someplace away. Now we know the truth: it happened everywhere." If you still don't think "everywhere" means every single corner of our country, I envy your innocence. Also as with climate change, our bishops had decades to respond to what they knew, but instead wrote notes of consolation -- to the abusers. For too many of the 34 years since Jason Berry and the Kansas City-based National Catholic Reporter began documenting these crimes and their cover-ups, the most common reaction has been to lie and to litigate, to pay and then pray. Sixteen years ago, after The Boston Globe broke the story of sex abuse and cover-ups in their archdiocese, American bishops were finally forced to respond, and came up with a no-tolerance policy for new abuse cases. Only, the bishops continued to cover up their own crimes. Supposedly, this ugly issue was all in the past. But because these "leaders" still had so much to hide, here we are again, only the recurrence is worse than the original cancer. I'm not being the least bit glib or sarcastic when I say that I know now how Trump voters felt two years ago: Burn. It. Down. Turn every last Bernini into bread and vaccines. Yes, Pope Francis has done so much right and so much good. But I've never seen any evidence that he understood that if he didn't get this issue right, too, there would be no one left in the pews to disillusion. Or that if he enabled the enablers, no one would remember his beautiful Laudato, si, which is about climate change in the same way that Dante's "Inferno" is about a tour of hell. (It is, but that's just for starters.) Earlier this year, Francis defended his appointment of a Chilean bishop accused of covering up abuse. More than once, he called well documented accounts to the contrary "calumny." After Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston, who knows plenty about what happens when abuse is ignored, publicly differed from his friend Francis, the pope did send an investigator to Chile. Eventually, he admitted his error. Unfortunately, though, I know of no calumny against priests in my church that comes close to the depravity described in the 900-page grand jury report. And again, how do we know about their weirdo collections of victims' pubic hair and menstrual blood and their passing around of children they marked with gold crosses? Not because our rape-tolerant bishops breathed a word about it, but because they were dragged blinking into the light. Five years into this pontificate is awfully late for this particular coming-to-Jesus. So late that, like damage to the planet, the damage to the church may be impossible to reverse. When I asked a friend who knows everything that twitches at the Vatican why Francis was not on his way here already, he said, "It's August! You know nothing happens in Rome in August." Which is true, but also telling: There are still working telephones, yes? And planes taking off? To me, the pope's leisurely response says that he's just one more holy man who doesn't have a clue in Dante's hell about this issue. And after all we've been through already -- some of us, anyway -- that's no excuse. Vatican spokesman Greg Burke, who happens to be from St. Louis, did belatedly put out a statement that Francis stands with victims. The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, of Galveston-Houston, called the grand jury's findings a "moral catastrophe." But it's far, far too late for words alone to make any difference. "What is needed now is not just promise of change," said Bishop James V. Johnston Jr., of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, "but a demonstration on the part of the bishops of a change of heart and deep contrition." I'll believe in that transformation when I see an independent accounting of exactly what happened in every state. And when, like the bishops in Chile, every American prelate who allowed this evil to go on offers his resignation. In the hours after Sen. John McCain's death Saturday, leaders of both political parties paid tribute to his service as a lawmaker and as a combat veteran. Many recalled McCain as a rare statesman willing to put party aside for the good of the nation. In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer took measures to honor McCain. Cuomo, a Democrat, directed flags on all state government buildings to be flown at half-mast until McCain's funeral. It is a "small gesture for one of America's giants," Cuomo said. In a statement, Cuomo praised McCain for his vote to preserve the Affordable Care Act, among other things. "At a time of political division and hostility, Senator McCain was a maverick," Cuomo said. "While I did not always agree with his positions, he was a public servant who indisputably aimed to put country over party." Sen. Schumer, D-N.Y., said he plans to introduce a resolution to name the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., for McCain. "As you go through life, you meet few truly great people," Schumer said in a statement. "John McCain was one of them. His dedication to his country and the military were unsurpassed, and maybe most of all, he was a truth teller - never afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all too rare." U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., lauded McCain as well. "We will never forget the unparalleled courage, heart and service of John McCain," Gillibrand said in a tweet. "My thoughts are with his family as they mourn this great loss, but also as they celebrate his incredible life. It was a privilege to serve beside John in the Senate, and he will be so greatly missed." Marc Molinaro, the Republican candidate for governor, remembered briefly meeting McCain. He said McCain took care to answer his questions. "John McCain dedicated his life in the service of our country," Molinaro said in a tweet. "On the battlefield, on Capitol Hill, & in his local community, his impact was felt far and wide. He was a role model to countless public servants and will be sorely missed. Rest In Peace, John." Former Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, a Democrat who is running for governor as an independent, praised McCain for his bipartisanship. "John McCain was an hero who held himself to the highest American traditions - principles over party, solutions over partisanship, and civility over divisiveness," Miner wrote in a tweet. "An object lesson for our country at a time it is desperately needed." McCain died Saturday evening after a yearlong battle with brain cancer. He was 81 years old. A date for the funeral has not yet been set. According to the New York Times, former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama have been asked to deliver eulogies for McCain. Before he died, McCain requested President Donald Trump not attend his funeral, according to CNN. McCain will be buried at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, following services in Arizona and Washington. Syracuse N.Y. --- Day five of the New York State Fair had the plenty of places to visit. Visitors could take a peek in the sheep barn and watch and some of the sheep had their wool sheared. The Toyota Coliseum hosted the Dairy Cattle Show in the Open Class for Holsteins. Of course there are the rides, games and food. The fair continues through Labor Day Sept 2nd. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) An opposition lawmaker said he has acquired verified information of President Rodrigo Duterte being "seriously ill", but it was brushed off by his spokesperson. Magdalo Partylist Rep. Gary Alejano said Saturday he received the information of Duterte's deteriorating health from a close friend of the President, but refused to identify his source. "Marami po tayong information sa status ng kanyang kalusugan at marami naman tayong mata at tenga sa paligid ng presidente at tingin ko alam rin naman niya 'yan," Alejano said. [Translation: We have plenty of information on the status of his health and we have a lot of eyes and ears around the President, and I think he knows this.] "Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano's misinformation is certainly in aid of election. We hope the people will judge him accordingly," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement Sunday. He also told CNN Philippines Saturday on Alejano's claim, "Just like Joma, that's wishful thinking on his part." Speculations of Duterte's health escalated when communist leader Joma Sison posted online an unverified report that the President had gone into coma. The President earlier said his health is in good condition, but admitted he has been experiencing "perpetual pain" due to injuries from a motorcycle accident years ago. Roque said, however, that the President's health is not in grave danger. "The President has no serious illnessWhat he is experiencing is typical of people of his age," he said. Alejano said the President is visibly weaker since his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), and called on the Palace to disclose the status of Duterte's health to the public for "transparency." "Talagang halos wala na siyang lakas, wala na siyang lakas Simula noong SONA talagang hinang-hina ang Pangulo, iba na 'yung mukha niya," he said. [Translation: Truly it seems as though he no longer has strength. Since his SONA, he has truly been weaker. His face looks different.] "Kailangan for the sake of transparency ay ihayag sa taong bayan ang estado ng kanyang kalusugan kasi may implication 'yan sa national security," he added. [Translation: For the sake of transparency, they need to tell the status of his (Duterte's) health to the public because it has an implication on national security.] Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III previously argued, however, that the Palace should not be pressured to release medical bulletins on the President's health. He added that Malacanang should only release reports in case of critical health conditions, and not merely to answer speculations. Should they release a statement in light of the recent allegations, Pimentel said "That will now encourage, in the future, more false or deceptive news releases questioning the health of the President." A hot potato: Nobody wants someone else searching through their private phone content, which is why so many people object to the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) engaging in the practice. Now, an American Muslim woman is suing border officials after her iPhone was taken by agents and had its data copied. Rejhane Lazoja was returning home to the US from Zurich, Switzerland, on February 26, 2018, with her six-year-old daughter. After using an automated Passport Control kiosk, customs officers held Lazoja and questioned her, before requesting that she unlock her iPhone 6S Plus. Since there was no stated reason for me to unlock my iPhone, I refused," she said, in an affidavit. Lazoja added that the phone had photos of her in "a state of undress without her hijab," along with private messages from her lawyer. She alleges that the device and SIM card was confiscated and kept by border agents for 130 days without an explanation as to why. It was only returned after she contacted attorneys at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). "Ms Lazoja is a Muslim woman and wears a hijab (a headscarf) in accordance with her religious beliefs. Pursuant to her sincerely held beliefs, Ms Lazoja cannot be seen in a state of undress by men who are not family members," the documents state. Neither was there probable cause, nor a warrant [to search the phone]. Therefore, the search and seizure of Ms Lazojas property violated her rights under the Fourth Amendment, the filing says. One of Lazojas attorneys told Ars Technica that federal authorities forensically cracked her iPhone and copied everything before returning it. Now, in a federal court in New Jersey, her legal team have filed a "Motion to Return Property," which relates to the copied digital data. They want the judge to order the CBP to return it, delete any copies, and reveal all third-parties that received full or partial copies. CBP says only 0.007 percent of international travelers were subject to a digital border search during the fiscal year 2017, up 0.002 percent from a year earlier. All travelers arriving to the US are subject to CBP inspection. Failure to provide information to assist CBP may result in the detention and/or seizure of the electronic device, said a CBP spokesperson. All persons, baggage, and merchandise arriving in, or departing from, the US are subject to inspection, search and detention. In brief: Earlier this month, rumors that Epic Games wanted to avoid Google's 30 percent revenue cut by distributing the Android version of Fortnite outside the Play store proved to be true. While the move means more money for the developer, there were worries that it could bring security risks to Android usersand it looks as if those fears were justified. While its certainly not 100 percent safe, the Google Play Store does offer some protections, and sideloading the Fortnite installer means allowing installations from unknown sourcessomething thats not recommended, especially as some users may forget to disable the permissions afterward. It was security researchers from Google who publicly disclosed the problem on its Issue Tracker sitewhether Fortnite's absence from the Play store motivated Google to investigate the app thoroughly is unknown. The vulnerability in the Android Fortnite Installer would allow malicious apps already present on a users phone to hijack the installation procedure and download other malicious applications with extra permissionsa Man-in-the-Disk (MitD) attack. MitD attacks are made possible when Android apps store data on External Storage space, which is shared by all apps, rather than Internal Storage space, aka System Memory. And as the Fortnite installer only checks the name of the APK, any file called com.epicgames.fortnite would be installed. "Any app with the WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission can substitute the APK immediately after the download is completed and the fingerprint is verified. This is easily done using a FileObserver. The Fortnite Installer will proceed to install the substituted (fake) APK," wrote Google engineer Edward. Thankfully, Epic released a patch that addressed the Fortnite installer vulnerability within 48 hours of its discovery (August 15). The company requested that Google not disclose the details until after 90 days, giving users plenty of time to update their apps and to prevent hackers exploiting the bug. However, Googles guidelines state that while the official period for public disclosure is 90 days, it will disclose a vulnerability once a patch has been made widely available. Therefore, the company ignored Epics request and shared the details once the patched version of the installer had been available for seven days. Unsurprisingly, Epic boss Tim Sweeney wasnt happy about the whole situation. Epic genuinely appreciated Google's effort to perform an in-depth security audit of Fortnite immediately following our release on Android, and share the results with Epic so we could speedily issue an update to fix the flaw they discovered. However, it was irresponsible of Google to publicly disclose the technical details of the flaw so quickly, while many installations had not yet been updated and were still vulnerable. An Epic security engineer, at my urging, requested Google delay public disclosure for the typical 90 days to allow time for the update to be more widely installed. Google refused. You can read it all at https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/112630336 Google's security analysis efforts are appreciated and benefit the Android platform, however a company as powerful as Google should practice more responsible disclosure timing than this, and not endanger users in the course of its counter-PR efforts against Epic's distribution of Fortnite outside of Google Play. Sweeney revealed in a tweet that Googles decision to disclose early could have been because it knew there werent many unpatched installs remaining. Google did privately communicate something to the effect that theyre monitoring Fortnite installations on all Android devices(!) and felt that there werent many unpatched installs remaining. Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) 25 August 2018 In other security-related Fortnite news, the company is rewarding players with a free emote if they enable two-factor authentication. A shocking report has revealed that the demand for giraffe parts in the United States is booming despite the dwindling number of the animal around the world. The Humane Society of the United States and its affiliate organizations have recently exposed an unregulated market where skin and bones of giraffes are being sold to be used for boots, pillows, bible covers, and more. Investigators went undercover and found products being sold online and in physical stores. Over 20 stores in California, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas have been discovered to be selling items that contain giraffe parts. Unregulated Market Driving Giraffe Population To Extinction "Purchasing giraffe parts puts the entire species at risk," stated Kitty Block, the president and CEO of Humane Society International. "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." The Humane Society found that specialty knives and knife products made out of giraffe bone is the most commonly sold products in the United States. Investigators also found Western boots made from giraffe leather, giraffe hide pillows, giraffe skin bible covers, giraffe bone carvings, and giraffe taxidermy trophies. More than 40,000 giraffe parts have been exported to the United States between 2006 and 2015. In addition, the animal welfare organization also reports that sellers who offer giraffe products lie to their potential customers, saying that the animal was killed because they pose a threat to villages in Africa. Truth is, giraffes are gentle giants that eat leaves and are not dangerous unless, of course, provoked. Despite their friendly nature, giraffes have been dwindling in numbers. In 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has placed the animals native of Africa to the vulnerable list for the first time. Two subspecies of giraffes have joined Asian elephants and Bengal tigers in the endangered list. However, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the agency that oversees the endangered list in the United States, does not see giraffes as vulnerable species. The importation, selling, and purchase of giraffe skin and bones across the country are, therefore, not illegal. However, the booming market that the humane society found was unregulated. Giraffes Need Help The Humane Society is putting pressures on the government to take action and list giraffes as endangered in order to restrict the import, export, and sale of giraffe parts in the United States. A petition signed by affiliate humane organizations will be submitted to the Fish and Wildlife Service. "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 it's too late," added Block. Experts believe that only under 100,000 giraffes exist around the world. The gentle giants known for their long necks face two main threats: habitat loss and poaching. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. NASA will be monitoring the changes on the ice sheets covering Greenland and Antartica with a cutting-edge laser in space. This week, the space agency announced the Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 or ICESat-2, a project that aims to measure the elevation increase/increase of ice, land topography, and vegetation cover on Earth as a response to the changing climate. "The new observational technologies of ICESat-2 a top recommendation of the scientific community in NASA's first Earth science decadal survey will advance our knowledge of how the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica contribute to sea level rise," said the director of the Earth Science Division in NASA's Science Mission Directorate in a press release. The laser instruments will be launched into space on Sept. 15 from the Vanderberg Air Force Base in California. Most Advanced Laser Instrument The ICESat-2 is equipped with the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System or ATLAS, which is said to be the best of its kind. The laser instrument works by firing back 10,000 pulses per second to the Earth in order to measure elevation based on how long individual photos make a round trip from the spacecraft, to the ground, and back to the instrument. ICESat-2 will be able to send hundreds of trillions of photons back to Earth to be able to get the most accurate measurement of elevation. The new satellite can provide can provide better results than its predecessor, the ICESat launched in 2003 and was retired in 2010. The cutting-edge laser will be orbiting the Earth from pole to pole and will be able to track changes within ice elevation four times a year or every season. Predicting The Future Based On Melting Ice Monitoring the level of which the ice in both north and south poles are melting due to the increasingly heating planet can help scientists forecast the rise of sea level. The hundreds of billions of tons of land ice melting into the oceans annually is still a major contributor to the rising sea level that threatens to submerge major cities around the world underwater. Scientists believe that the ocean rose 7 centimeters within 25 years. As the planet continues to heat up, the sea level is expected to rise at a more rapid rate. "Because ICESat-2 will provide measurements of unprecedented precision with global coverage, it will yield not only new insight into the polar regions but also unanticipated findings across the globe," added Thorsten Markus, the ICESat-2 project scientist. The ICESat-2 can also monitor forests around the world. The same laser can be used to measure tops of trees and the ground below. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. What could happen if the red tide and the brown tide in Florida meet? The meet-up could worsen the red tide that has already killed tons of fish and other marine life. Florida Red Tide The latest update from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on the ongoing red tide in the state reveals that the algal blooms continue to persist in Southwest Florida, spanning 145 miles of coastline. In some areas, high concentrations of Karenia brevis continue to be observed at >1,000,000 cells per liter. So far, authorities have already recovered 150 tons of dead fish for disposal, and other marine creatures such as manatees, sea turtles, and dolphins are also affected by the red tide. In fact, the FWC has confirmed red tide to be the cause of death of 29 manatees as of Aug. 18 and is suspected to be the cause of death of over 70 other manatees. Even birds such as osprey, anhingas, black skimmers, and laughing gulls are already being badly affected by the ongoing red tide. Red Tide And Brown Tide Meet-Up Now, the annual Trichodesmium algal bloom has already begun in West Florida waters and experts worry that this might lead to horrible results should it meet with the ongoing red tide. While some Trichodesmium strains can produce toxins, the one responsible for the current brown tide is not known to cause harm to animals, the water, and people. It is also not typically a food source for marine animals. What is dangerous about the meet-up of the red tide and the brown tide, should it happen, is that when the Trichodesmium bloom dies, the red tides K. brevia could then feed off the nutrients released by the brown tide, extending its life and allowing it to spread even further. This is the reason why scientists are hoping that the two do not end up meeting in the water or else the meet-up could potentially worsen the already bad red tide. Brown Tide The brown tide is caused by Trichodesmium, a cyanobacterium that can be found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide and blooms in the Gulf of Mexico every year. Reports of Trichodesmium blooms date far back in the 1700s when British Royal Navys Captain James Cook reported about brown blooms that looked like sandbars. Because the blooms can actually form colonies that are visible to the eye, sailors sometimes call the blooms sea sawdust because the smaller blooms look like sawdust floating on the surface of the water whereas the bigger blooms tend to look like oil slicks. Interestingly, some Trichodesmium blooms can be so visibly large that they can be seen from space. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission Protesters outside the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center June 18, where U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions addressed the National Sheriffs' Association. A sign reads "Love has no border." State Treasurer John Schroder opens his first Bond Commission meeting as chairman on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. Senate President John Alario, R-Westwego, is to Schroder's right. The thought of a convicted felon being asked to help keep used car dealers honest sounds like the premise of a comedy sketch, but this idea wasnt cooked by professional jokesters. It comes courtesy of Gov. John Bel Edwards, whos appointed Jeff Britt, the disgraced former sheriff of Tensas Parish, to the states Used Motor Vehicle Commission, which oversees licensing and discipline of used car dealers across Louisiana. Not everyone is laughing at the governors move, which even has some of his supporters scratching their heads. Appointing Britt to the state panel isnt the governors first or most important nod toward Britt. Edwards also signed a pardon for Britt, who pleaded guilty in 1999 to felony charges of misspending public funds and mistreating inmates. Pardon boards in the administration of both Edwards and his predecessor, Bobby Jindal, had recommended that Britt be pardoned. Jindal took no action on the pardon request. An Edwards spokesman said that local law enforcement officials in Concordia Parish, where Britt now lives, did not oppose the granting of a pardon. Its not surprising that Britt would have friends in law enforcement. Hes made his living since leaving office by supplying prison commissaries. Edwards pardons ex-sheriff with felony record, appoints him to board governing car dealers A former sheriff from north Louisiana who pleaded guilty in 1999 to felony charges of misspending public money and mistreating inmates has been named by Gov. John Bel Edwards to a state commission that makes sure used car dealers comply with the law. At the time of his plea, Jeff Britt, the former sheriff of Tensas Parish, was facing federal civil rights charges for allegedly beating two handcuffed inmates and lying about it to the FBI. He separately faced state charges related to the alleged misappropriation of money. The more meaningful voices concerning Britts pardon and appointment to a state board are the taxpayers he ripped off and the prisoners who suffered on his watch. A legislative audit that led to Britts conviction found that he had used $8,000 in public money to pay off a personal credit card and that another $4,500 was taken out in cash advances. At the time of his plea deal, Britt was also facing federal charges for allegedly beating two handcuffed inmates and lying about it to the FBI. A spokesman for Edwards said the governors position on Britt reflects the desire to give offenders a second chance, a principle at the heart of the administrations criminal justice reforms. We support those reforms, and we also believe that worthy and repentant convicts deserve a shot at becoming useful members of society. Were struck, though, by Britts apparent lack of remorse about his criminal past, which he has minimized in public comments in which he paints himself as a victim of overzealous prosecution. Service on a state board is an honor that requires the highest degree of public trust. In a state that includes millions of citizens who meet the basic requirements for service on such boards, was Jeff Britt the best person John Bel Edwards could find? If you believe that, we have a great used car wed like to sell you. Though certain dishes and many traditions at Galatoires Restaurant can seem timeless, the ranks of people responsible for keeping them vital do change. The latest shift is a big one for the French Quarter landmark, bringing in a familiar name from New Orleans cuisine for a much different role. Phillip Lopez is the new executive chef for Galatoire's. He will also lead Galatoire's 33 Bar & Steak, the more modern Creole steakhouse attached to the historic restaurant. Lopez is now spending some time getting to know the staff before he officially starts the new job on Sept. 3. The move represents a dramatic change for Lopez. Galatoire's, dating to 1905, belongs to the city's old guard, and many of its regulars order the same dishes at each visit. Lopez, meanwhile, made his name in the avant-garde of New Orleans dining, serving dishes no one had seen before. He was chef and co-owner of Root and Square Root, a pair of restaurants, now closed, that set new standards for modern cuisine in New Orleans, each in head-turning, sometimes provocative ways. While acknowledging his new post at Galatoires is a departure from this earlier calling, Lopez feels these different chapters start from the same inspiration. Ive always had a huge admiration for the culinary legacy of New Orleans, Lopez said. Doing what I used to do was about evolving that further, but it always started with having respect for it. Now, to be a steward for what it stands for, thats a huge honor. Galatoires has seen its share of changes in recent years. In 2009, the family-run restaurant was bought by new owners (led by John Georges, also owner of The Advocate). Galatoires later expanded and doubled its size by developing Galatoires 33 Bar & Steak just next door. A spinoff in Baton Rouge called Galatoire's Bistro that originally opened in 2005, closed in 2011 and reopened again in 2013, finally closed for good earlier this year. Still, the original restaurant at 209 Bourbon St. occupies a hallowed place in New Orleans dining. It is part of a small circuit of historic restaurants, including Antoine's and Arnaud's, that specialize in the city's unique French Creole cuisine, to the tune of shrimp remoulade, eggs Sardou, chicken Clemenceau and trout meuniere. Popular with tourists, these old line restaurants are sustained by devoted local followings, with allegiances that often flow through family generations. They have developed valued roles in the city's social rituals. Galatoires famously does not take reservations for its downstairs dining room. For Friday lunch, which can more closely resemble an indoor, upscale block party than a formal meal, people queue up early to put their names on a first-come, first-served list for tables. Twice a year, around Christmas and Mardi Gras, the restaurant conducts a live auction for access to its Friday lunch tables, giving the money raised to local charity. Changes that elsewhere might seem like routine upgrades can be touchy subjects in this setting. Some regulars still grumble about the restaurant's decision in the 1990s to switch from hand-chopped ice to machine-generated cubes for its drinks. When a popular waiter was fired in 2002 after sexual harassment complaints, his fans mounted a highly publicized, but ultimately unsuccessful, letter-writing campaign to reinstate him. Food and restaurant news in your inbox Every Thursday we give you the scoop on NOLA dining. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up As Lopez gets rolling here, he said he will be assessing the raw materials and techniques that go into the traditional dishes, areas where he can make an imprint without changing the menu. Galatoires 33 Bar & Steak, meanwhile, is more open for interpretation, with dishes like tuna crudo and boudin-stuffed quail already in play around the steaks and chops. Wine dinners and other special events in the restaurant also often call for original menus from Galatoires chefs. Galatoire's previous chef, Michael Sichel, departed in June after a seven-year run. Sichel also came to the Galatoire's job after making his name in contemporary fine dining in New Orleans, and he became the face of this highly traditional restaurant. Galatoire's conducted a search for its new executive chef. Melvin Rodrigue, the restaurant's president and CEO, said Lopez rose to the top not because of his modernist culinary credentials but because of his mastery of classic technique. When people think about Galatoires, what we strive for them to think about is consistency, said Rodrigue. This is a big restaurant. Its important to a lot of people. What we do is important because its the foundation of what New Orleans food is. We have a sense of responsibility to protect that. Lopez is a New Orleans native who was raised in a military family that moved frequently to posts around the world. He opened his first restaurant, Root, in the Warehouse District in 2011. It deployed a workshop of foodie special effects that included foams, savory cotton candy (spun from foie gras) and even, for one signature dish, cigar smoke (enveloping scallops, served in a cigar box). Square Root, which opened in 2014, took his style a step further. It served a lavish chef's tasting menu exclusively, presenting a progression of a dozen or more courses. The restaurant itself was designed around an open demonstration kitchen. Guests didn't reserve a table; they bought tickets for those seats as if attending a show. For a time it was the city's most expensive restaurant. Lopez and his partners in the Rebel Restaurant Group also developed other concepts, including a downtown deli, and the restaurant and bar for the Troubadour Hotel. These dropped away one by one, until the last, Square Root, served its final meal on New Year's Eve. Since then, Lopez had largely dropped off the radar. He said that was by design. I spent a lot of time dedicating myself to my restaurants, and it took a toll, he said. I wanted to take some time to reconnect with my family and think about who I was as a chef and what I wanted to do. Ill always be in this business. I love it. Owners of short-term rental properties in New Orleans could see a jump in their property tax bills next year under rules being developed by the Louisiana Tax Commission and Orleans Parish Assessor Erroll Williams. The rules would classify homes rented to tourists through sites like Airbnb as commercial properties. Homestead exemption requirement for New Orleans short-term rentals backed by some on both sides The New Orleans City Planning Commission on Tuesday endorsed the City Councils recent decision to halt the issuance of most licenses for shor The plan, initiated by the Tax Commission, could see taxes on some short-term rentals jump by nearly 50 percent, potentially enough to cause some owners to think twice when deciding whether to rent a home to a long-term tenant or list it for tourists on sites like Airbnb. The change is focused on New Orleans because of the concentration of short-term rentals in the city, but it could potentially be applied statewide. The move comes as New Orleans officials are re-evaluating the short-term rental rules that went into effect in 2017. Members of the City Council who took office this year have indicated they want to tighten the regulations. Williams said his office is trying to stay out of the fights over the regulations themselves and simply wants to come up with a set of rules to fairly govern how properties that operate more like hotels than regular apartments should be assessed. Were not trying to scare people away, Williams said. Short-term rentals are currently considered residential properties, regardless of whether they ever house their owners or any other long-term tenants. For residential properties, taxes are calculated by taking 10 percent of the fair market value of the building and land to get a figure known as the assessed value. The assessed value is then multiplied by the tax rate to determine the total amount due to local governments. The assessed value of commercial properties, however, is calculated by taking 15 percent of the buildings value and 10 percent of the lands value. That increases the assessed value of the building by 50 percent compared to a residential building. Commercial properties also cannot qualify for the homestead exemption, which for most local taxes knocks $7,500 off the assessed value of an owner-occupied property, meaning that a house worth $200,000 is taxed as if it is worth $125,000. Taken together, those changes could increase the taxes on a single property by thousands of dollars, potentially enough to change the calculus for owners deciding whether they can make more money on short-term or long-term rentals. Williams said his office hasnt yet tried to figure out how much additional money would go to local governments as a result of the proposed changes. There are two issues Williams office is trying to work through as it considers the rules. New Orleans City Planning Commission extends deadline to comment on short-term rentals A report from New Orleans' planning staff recommending changes to how short-term rentals are regulated will take an extra month to complete, t First is how to handle situations where a portion of a property is used as a short-term rental but the rest is used by long-term occupants. The basic plan is to treat those the same way the Assessors Office handles other properties that have a mix of residential and commercial uses: Determine how much of the property is being used each way and divide the tax bill proportionally. Thats easy in some cases. A double that has a short-term rental on one side while the owner lives in the other half would be divided 50-50, similarly to how mixed-use properties are treated now. But it gets trickier when dealing with short-term rentals that may occupy only a portion say a couple of rooms of an otherwise residential unit. The current plan is to work with the city to require owners to submit floor plans showing which parts of the unit are being used for short-term rentals and which are not, Williams said. There will also have to be rules on how to handle common areas and kitchens that are used by both long-term and short-term occupants, he said. The office plans to handle multiunit buildings, which are now considered entirely residential, in a similar manner, he said. The other question facing Williams office is how to treat whole homes that by law can be rented out for no more than 90 days each year and might be vacant the rest of the year. The office is trying to decide whether those would be considered entirely commercial properties or if they would have that designation only during the three months when they can be rented out short-term. Then theres the overarching problem of all short-term rental regulation: tracking down all the properties that are in fact being rented out to tourists. Williams said his office will be relying on the citys licensing system to determine which properties are being rented, though it remains unclear how many hosts are not complying with the law and getting city licenses. The tax proposals Williams is considering are separate from the citys ongoing evaluation of its rental regulations. This spring, the City Council called on the City Planning Commission to study the issue and make recommendations; a report is expected this fall. HomeAway official: How short-term rentals can boost economy Over the last couple of years, short-term rentals have taken center stage as a topic of conversation for many residents. But, the industry its At the same time, the council put a halt to the issuance of the temporary licenses that allow whole-home rentals in residential neighborhoods for 90 days a year. Those rentals have been in the crosshairs of short-term rental opponents who argue that they displace residents, raise the price of housing for locals and disrupt the fabric of neighborhoods. In the wake of the council's action, which barred the city from granting new 90-day rental licenses or renewing existing ones, the total number of licensed short-term rentals in the city has fallen by more than 20 percent, from a high of nearly 4,850 to about 3,830. Most of the decline came from "temporary" licenses that have expired, though no one knows how many of those owners continue to list and rent their properties illegally. Eric Bay, who heads a group of short-term rental owners called the Alliance for Neighborhood Prosperity, said the new assessment rules would put his members at a disadvantage compared with those renting out their homes to long-term tenants. As an industry and personally, we would not be opposed to having a special tax assessment on our rentals, but we would strongly stand up and say it needs to be applied to every single rental unit in the city, he said. On Saturday afternoon, the Alvar Library in New Orleans was packed with gung-ho little patrons who listened to drag queens Vanessa Carr and Blazen Haven read well-known childrens books about acceptance and happiness, such as Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses and Fancy Nancy. Parents, too, participated. As a grown character in Fancy Nancy showed off in front of a mirror, Haven, 27, asked, How many moms have twirled in front of a mirror? A few men also raised their hands. Oh, OK. And how many dads? she asked. After Haven finished, Carr, 58, asked the group, And whats the moral of that story? Dressed in a red ballgown and blonde wig, Carr nodded and smiled indulgently at children who got the right answer. Thats right Be yourself. And dont be afraid to wear glitter. Can't see video below? Click here. Carr ended the reading with an acknowledgment of the ongoing controversy about Drag Queen Storytime in Lafayette. Your presence here speaks loudly to anyone who thinks that its terrible to see drag queens reading to children, Carr told the crowd, which filled the small library in the Bywater neighborhood and spilled out the front door. You guys have shown us a lot of love today, and we thank you. Now make sure you support the Alvar Library. In response, one mom yelled, We love you! and the crowd burst into applause. Everyone who loves it, really loves it, said drag queen Laveau Contraire, who premiered the concept of drag queens reading stories locally last year at the Hubbell Library in Algiers. But, as became clear recently, those who dont love it really cant see its appeal. In the Lafayette dust-up, which has gained national attention, Mayor Joel Robideaux said he might try to cancel the first Drag Queen Storytime, which is scheduled to be held in a public library there in October. +5 Lafayette library board president not planning to interfere with drag queen reading event The board that oversees Lafayettes public library system hasnt signaled its intentions concerning a Drag Queen Story Time for children tha By contrast, the event has been embraced locally, said Caitrin Gladow, 39, who has taken her three young children to readings at Hubbell and now Alvar. Its New Orleans. Nobody bats an eyelash at seeing someone in costume, she said. The story time is always packed in Algiers, and it was packed here today. Andrea OSteen, 42, who brought her toddler daughter, was thrilled to hear about the concept. I thought it was the best thing ever, she said. Who better to tell a story than someone who looks and acts over the top? In June, Contraire, who works as a music teacher, gave a presentation about the concept at the American Library Association's annual conference in New Orleans with the Hubbell Library's manager, Seale Paterson. The idea began in San Francisco in 2015. From there, it spread to cities across the nation, with drag queens reading stories to children in libraries, bookstores and schools. Saturdays event was one of 83 story hours this month in New Orleans Public Library facilities across the city, a library spokesman said. I heard about (the concept) and asked a few story time moms, who were enthusiastic, Paterson said, adding that those mothers then pushed her to implement the idea at the Algiers library. It made sense, because drag queens are performers. And kids in New Orleans are used to costumes, glitter and wigs, she said. Ive never had to explain drag to a child, Contraire said. Weve all played dress-up or make-believe or pretend. And its really about hyper-expression, being over the top and seeing that the sky is the limit. Drag Queen Storytime really opens those doors. For Carr, the concept is rooted in the history of activism and philanthropy that has long been a part of drag communities across the nation. In New Orleans, the drag community works together to raise money and volunteer for local homeless shelters, food pantries and libraries, said Carr, a lifelong educator who first asked librarians about story hour after she read at a Family Pride event during the Gay Pride festival last year and saw how captivated the children were. You know how children are fascinated with princesses," Carr said. "Well, drag queens are like princesses on steroids. Can't see video below? Click here. A quick answer, delivered under the bright lights of a televised debate, spelled the beginning of the end of John Fortunato's bid to become Jefferson Parish sheriff. Fortunato's gaffe expressing his support for embattled Parish President Mike Yenni was a single moment in a long campaign. But it sent Fortunato tumbling in the polls. Realizing his mistake, he reversed course less than two days later, saying, "I do not and will not endorse Mike Yenni for any election in Jefferson Parish." But the damage was done, and he went from leading some polls by double digits to losing the race by 3,000 votes. The episode crystallized what is now a widely held tenet among Jefferson Parish politicos: that Mike Yenni is a poisonous name to many of their constituents. That's a stark contrast to the start of his term in January 2016, when he was a rising star who had moved quickly from Kenner mayor to parish president. Young and telegenic, Yenni seemed poised to make a significant mark. But during his first year in office, he was forced to admit sending and receiving "improper" text messages with a 17-year old boy. Almost immediately, the Parish Council voted unanimously to ask for his resignation. Almost all other parish elected officials followed suit, and the Jefferson Parish School Board passed a resolution banning Yenni from all public schools. In addition, a recall petition was started. Though ultimately unsuccessful, in large part because there is a very high bar for recall elections in Louisiana, the anti-Yenni effort gathered tens of thousands of signatures, organizers claimed. Yenni's political fortunes have never recovered. "Given what we saw in the sheriff's race, Mike Yenni continues to appear to be toxic to the Jefferson Parish voters," said Ed Chervenak, a political science professor and pollster at the University of New Orleans. A UNO-WDSU-TV poll in March found Yenni had an approval rating of just 29 percent. Those poll numbers came nearly a year and a half before Yenni would likely next face voters. But it probably won't matter, Chervenak said last week. "It's highly doubtful that he can come back," Chervenak said. "I suspect a lot of people are telling him not to run." Some of those are people who were once viewed as his allies. Parish Councilman Paul Johnston said it would be "hard for Mike to win." Councilman Dominick Impastato, who was elected to the Kenner City Council while Yenni was mayor there and supported him in previous elections, said he would not support him again. "I would advise him to not run again," he said. For his part, Yenni said he has not decided whether to run in 2019. "I'm focusing on trying to do my job," he said, adding that voters have expressed gratitude to him for the work he's done. Whether or not Yenni has made up his mind, the perception that he can't win even if he does run is accepted as fact in Jefferson Parish political circles. At least two big-name politicians are potential candidates for the job Yenni now holds: former Parish President John Young and current Councilwoman Cynthia Lee-Sheng, who holds one of two parishwide seats on the council. If Lee-Sheng chooses to run, the resulting opening on the council would likely have trickle-down effects as well. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Young is unequivocal about his intentions. "I am running for parish president," he said last week. Young does not expect the campaign to kick off until early 2019, and he said it is too early to discuss strategy or potential opponents, though he noted he has "worked well" with Lee-Sheng in the past. Facing Lee-Sheng, if she decides to run, would be a stiff test for Young. Many officials believe that Lee-Sheng, the daughter of legendary former Sheriff Harry Lee, will be a favorite in any race she decides to enter, whether it's for re-election to her current at-large council seat or parish president. Until recently, she has consistently said she hasn't had time to think about the future because she was too busy raising two children in the wake of her husband's death in 2014. But now, her children are older, and Lee-Sheng said she is "seriously considering" a run for parish president. "It's the kind of work I get excited about," she said Friday. "I like solving problems; I like the nitty-gritty." Should Lee-Sheng choose to run, it would free up both at-large council seats. Chris Roberts, who holds the second at-large seat, is barred by term limits from seeking re-election. Current district Councilmen Ricky Templet and Johnston are widely expected to run for an at-large seat. Johnston has filed campaign finance reports saying he's running at-large, and while Templet said he hasn't yet made a decision, he acknowledged he is considering it. If there are two vacancies, the two men wouldn't have to run against each other, which would enhance each man's chances of remaining on the council. Councilwoman Jennifer Van Vrancken Lee-Sheng's successor in the District 5 seat on the east bank has also been mentioned as a potential candidate for an at-large seat. Johnston said he won't decide which of the two at-large seats he is running for until he knows what Lee-Sheng is doing. If Lee-Sheng were to stay put, the result could be a crowded field for the other seat. If Templet does seek an at-large berth, it would allow Roberts to run for his old District 1 seat, now held by Templet, possibly extending Roberts' long tenure on the council. He first took office in 2004. Qualifying for the 2019 races doesn't begin until Aug. 6 of next year. The early posturing will allow for plenty of jockeying before then, Templet said. "It's going to be a long race," he said. A 26-year-old New Orleans police officer died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash in St. Tammany Parish Saturday evening, the NOPD said. Ricardo Silva Jr., a recent graduate of the NOPD's academy, was riding his personal motorcycle while off-duty when the crash occurred. James Hartman, spokesman for the St. Tammany Parish Coroner's Office, said the crash happened on La. 1082, which is north of Covington. The NOPD said Louisiana State Police is investigating the crash. Based on evidence and information gathered at the scene, State Police troopers determined the crash occurred as Silva was riding a 2017 Honda motorcycle southbound on La. 1082 at the same time that a 2017 Acura MDX, driven by 52-year-old Jennifer P. Robinson of Covington, was traveling northbound. The Acura crossed into the southbound lane while attempting to turn left into a private drive, State Police said Sunday. Silvas motorcycle crashed into the right side of the Acura, and the impact caused him to become separated from his motorcycle, State Police said. He sustained severe injuries in the crash and was transported to an area hospital, where he died from his injuries. Silva was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Impairment is not suspected, but testing will be done as part of the investigation, State Police said. Robinson was not injured in the crash. She provided State Police with a voluntary breath sample, which showed no amount of alcohol present. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Silva, of Bush, was hired by the NOPD in November of 2016, graduated from the NOPD's academy in December 2017 and in April was assigned to work the agency's 5th District, which patrols areas such as Bywater and the 9th Ward . He proposed to his fiancee at his graduation ceremony, which was captured on a video circulated widely on social media. NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison said Silva was considered a rising star in the police department with a genuine passion for police work and serving the citizens of New Orleans. While Silva's death was off-duty, it occurred during a five-year stretch that has seen five other NOPD officers die on-duty, a period that agency leaders have described as tremendously trying. "Unfortunately, we have been through this before and it's extremely difficult to be going through it again," Harrison said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Silva's fiance and family and we're offering our support during this difficult time." New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell also offered her condolences to Silva's family and called his death "tragic." "The NOPD and the City of New Orleans mourn together," Cantrell said. "May he rest in peace." When Elon Musk declared this month that he wanted to take Tesla private, his board was caught off guard. Barely three weeks later, the chief executive told the board he had changed his mind. Tesla would be staying public, after all. The startling reversal announced late Friday in a blog post, a day after he discussed it with directors, capped a tumultuous series of moves that drew in Wall Street's biggest investment banks, prompted an investigation by regulators and raised fresh questions about Musk's leadership. In that time, according to five people close to the events, Musk came to realise that his thinking had been overly simplistic. While going private might have removed some problems, it would have introduced new ones. Among his concerns were ceding too much control to private investors including conventional car companies and Saudi Arabia, a symbol of big oil and shutting out smaller investors who might be unable to retain a stake. Hosseini meets Syrian refugee families at the Waha Collective Shelter at Deddeh in northern Lebanon. Credit:Andy Hall Hosseini does not fit anyone's stereotype of a refugee. Impeccably clean-cut, slim and professional, with closely cropped grey hair, he is a former physician and phenomenally bestselling author of the novels The Kite Runner (2003) and A Thousand Splendid Suns (2007). When Hosseini arrived in the United States at the age of 15, he could not speak English. His family had come from France, where his father had worked as a diplomat at the Afghan embassy in Paris for four years after a lifetime in Afghanistan; they applied for asylum in the US after the Communist coup of 1978. When I ask what would have happened if they had not been accepted to the US, he frowns, searching for an answer. They didn't really have anywhere else to go, he explains; going back to Afghanistan wasn't an option. The coup happened when one of his father's colleagues at the embassy was nearing the end of his term in France, he says, and this man was "assassinated, executed basically" when he returned to Afghanistan. "We all were hearing news every week: who's going to jail, who's missing, who had been shot," he remembers. "I don't know a family who hasn't been touched in some way." One of his uncles, a judge, was imprisoned and tortured for nine months and survived as a traumatised shell of his former self; another simply disappeared after he was taken into custody. The Hosseinis landed in San Jose and have stayed ever since. Hosseini talks to Syrian refugee Noura, her son, Ziad, and her daughter, Rawa who are hoping to be re-united with her husband, Mohamad. Credit:Andy Hall Going home to Afghanistan was impossible, he explains, but at the same time it was what they longed for. "My parents had land, they had homes, they had a whole family network, friends, careers. Ideally we all just wanted to go home." This desire is one he says he meets over and over again in his encounters with refugees, and he is keen to dispel the idea that they want to somehow take advantage of the places where they seek asylum. "They all want to go home. But the fear of persecution and being harmed at home is something I can understand. Because I remember those conversations between my parents when we were in France, kind of weighing what we should do." The memory of home, of a former life, is, he says, "what keeps a lot of people hoping for the future". Hosseini visits students at Nyumanzi Integrated Primary School for Ugandan nationals and refugees from South Sudan. Credit:Jordi Matas No mother or father in their right mind would choose to do this to their kids unless there really was no other recourse. Hosseini talks with sincerity and knowledge about the need for policies that allow ships carrying refugees to safely dock, for the burden of resettlement to be shared between EU nation states, for refugees to be treated with dignity while maintaining reasonable control of borders. "I'm not a diplomat," he insists, but when he talks about political problems and solutions he sounds like one. He has all the figures and numbers to hand. Yet, as he explains, those numbers and figures can obscure the individual human stories behind the statistics. "I see my role as an advocate on a human level for people who used to have a place in the world and because of circumstances that have nothing to do with them have seen their lives totally splintered," he says. While discussing problems with the idea of deterrence and outsourcing the management of refugees to countries without proper infrastructure, Hosseini remembers a Liberian teenager whose nightmarish story is a vivid illustration of his point: the boy had crossed alone to Niger and Senegal and made his way to Libya, where he was kidnapped for ransom, detained, starved and beaten daily. People died in the small, hot, crowded room in which the boy was kept, "and they had to sleep in the presence of those dead bodies", Hosseini says, his voice tightening. "He escaped; was caught, was brought back; he escaped a second time, was shot, and then fled Libya on a boat with a hole in his thigh, still bleeding, clinging to life, and made his way eventually to safety in Europe in Italy, where I met him in Sicily." An illustration by Dan Williams for Sea Prayer. Credit:Dan Williams The stories are so wrenching that I wonder how these people can bear to relive them. Hosseini says that "what I've found is that people are dying to be heard". But there were parts of every story that were hard for people to recount: "The actual crossing, the actual experience of being at sea, was very difficult for pretty much every refugee I spoke to." He says that their voices change, crack, quieten. In Sicily, he met with the captain of an Italian coastguard ship and its crew. Hosseini takes a deep breath and describes what it was like to watch a 10-minute video of one of their search and rescue missions, obviously still shaken by the memory. "I could hardly breathe through the whole thing," he says, "it was so frightening people just in mortal fear, scattered in the water, trying to stay afloat, foaming at the mouth, women, children." Many of them are unable to swim. Survivors describe the terror of the total darkness for nights on end; people talk all through the night, one man told Hosseini, "to remind each other they're alive". Hosseini points to an illustration in Sea Prayer that captures something of this sense of total isolation, a tiny boat on a seemingly endless body of water. "No mother or father in their right mind would ever choose to do this to their kids unless there really was no other recourse," he insists. They are driven by "existential fears". Cover of Khaled Hosseini's book Sea Prayer (Bloomsbury), which is illustrated by Dan Williams. I remark on how these people and their stories seem so alive, so present, in his mind. "I always walk with the memory of those people with me," he admits. "They inform me on a daily basis. They always come to me at moments I'm not at my best and I'm able to stop, pause, think, reorient myself." The Liberian teenager stands out from the crowd in his memory: the boy woke up in Sicily having been rescued from the sea, Hosseini says, to find the hole in his leg patched. His first request was, "Bring me an Italian dictionary." He wanted to pursue an education, to learn to be a doctor. "With a hole still in his leg, he's already thinking about how he can be a contributing member of society," Hosseini says with amazement. "He would be an asset and a credit to any country that was smart enough to bring him there are so many like him." It is hard not to picture Hosseini himself as a new arrival, a teenager who can't speak the language, determined to be a doctor. Now, as a storyteller, he tries to act as a witness whose words will, he hopes, inspire compassion. After 20 years of living in my home in Melbourne, I had it demolished to make way for two town houses which are due for completion early February 2019. I intend to live in No. 2 and sell No. 1. I have been told that this will attract Capital Gains Tax (CGT), but after 12 months there is a discount of 50pc of the CGT. It was suggested that I live in No. 1 as my principal place of residence and after the mandatory 12 months, sell it and it will attract zero CGT. Is this approach correct, and if so, when would the 12 months officially begin? At what point could a contract of Sale be signed? What documentation is necessary to prove that I am living in my principal place of residence? B.P. If you get it wrong on property the tax implications can be large. Credit:AFR The Tax Office would expect a main residence to have utility bills in your name sent to that address, along with mail, including any Tax Office mail. Since you have been living there for decades, it should not be a problem for you to claim one of the townhouses as your new home, replacing your old one, and exempt from CGT. There is no legally defined period during which one has to live in a home in order to declare it a main residence. A rule of thumb is a minimum of three months. Contracts can be signed before a property is built e.g. people will buy off the plan. However, given that you are a first time builder, and prices are falling, I suspect that risks such as building delays and declining prices, which could result in lawsuits, would be higher than for an experienced developer. I would talk to a solicitor experienced in such matters before deciding to sell off the plan. Dont forget that land, up to two hectares (or five acres) is only exempt from CGT when it supports a main residence. Thus, when you sell the second townhouse, the land on which it sits is no longer exempt for CGT, whereas it was exempt when it supported your old home. So you will have to work out a cost base for that portion of your original land, since the date of purchase, and then add to this the cost of the new townhouse. Ken Finley, Mount Martha Seen from outer space the split While Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton may have stopped the boats, Tony Abbott was in the boarding party that scuttled the ship. The split in the Liberal parliamentary party is so deep it can be seen from outer space. We will remember the day a sitting of Parliament was abandoned because they could not sort out who was in the team when next we vote. Gary Roulston, Endeavour Hills FORUM Unity? Really? Was I the only person who gagged upon hearing Tony Abbott call for "unity"? What a hypocrite. Noel North, Malvern East Black humour Now that we know Julie Bishop's intentions, perhaps Peter Dutton should set his sights on the Foreign Minister portfolio a few more jokes about rising sea levels in the Pacific would prove his qualifications. Helen Russell, Murrumbeena Best interests The Australian and other News Corp papers have tales of Malcolm Turnbull's "vicious campaign" that denied Peter Dutton the role of PM. At some point in the future they may also recognise that Turnbull may have been acting in the best interests of the Liberal Party, unlike the actions of Dutton and his supporters. Scott Morrison presents the Liberals some hope at the next election, perhaps even of retaining office if the election is held off to as late as possible. Dutton was loathed and simply unelectable and that situation would not have changed even with a late 2019 election. Ramesh Rajan, Camberwell Faultlines Analysing the turmoil in Canberra through personalities and supposed left-right divisions surely misses the point. Globalisation and neoliberalism have changed Australia forever, not least because there is access to billions of cheap workers offshore. London University's Guy Standing spelt it out years ago, with society fracturing into four main groups: the plutocracy of oligarchs and elites; salary earners in secure jobs; the precariat in insecure, poorly paid work, if any; and the utterly impoverished and homeless. The precariat includes migrants, unemployed and under-employed graduates and, crucially, the displaced industrial working class which, angry and lost, is particularly vulnerable to manipulation by the likes of shock jocks and reactionary politicians. Britain and the US have already paid the price for ignoring the last group and Australia is following suit, as Peter Dutton's foray shows. This close shave should surely be a wake-up call to understand the fault lines. Any politician, leader or ideologue who does not respect and factor in the well-being of all people ultimately constitutes a danger to the society itself. Barbara Chapman, Hawthorn Shining example Cometh the hour, cometh the man. While conservative federal politicians indulge in narcissistic, puerile,vengeful gamesmanship, an extraordinary young man incarcerated on Manus Island somehow rises above the terrible cruelty of his situation and shows the rest of us what it means to be truly human ("Surviving Manus", The Age, 25/8). Thank you Behrouz Boochani, your interview with Arnold Zable left me in awe of your resilience, compassion, sensitivity and courage. Jane Ross, San Remo Stab in the dark People are scared to go out to dinner in Canberra. There are gangs of middle-aged white men in suits going around stabbing people in the back at all hours. Terry Kelly, North Fitzroy Not a fairytale " . . . and they all lived happily ever after." Tony Lenten, Glen Waverley Poor aim When a former policeman turned politician can shoot himself in the foot in the Parliament perhaps it's time to reassess the entry requirements. Brian Rock, Beechworth Dubious record The good news is that we have avoided a right-wing swing under Peter Dutton. The bad news is that we may not avoid a right-wing swing under Scott Morrison. The new PM's legislative background is worrying. As Immigration Minister he created Operation Sovereign Borders. He played a significant role in demonising asylum seekers, despite Australia being a signatory to international law that states seeking asylum is a basic human right. He introduced the military into his press conferences and refused to discuss "on water matters". He supported detention centres and played a role in ensuring that those there were seen as threats to Australia's security. As Social Services Minister and later Treasurer he held the view that Australia had a spending problem rather than a revenue problem and attacked hospital, school and university funding. He cut pensions and increased the retirement age. He brought a lump of coal into Parliament to show that it was not a dangerous material. He fought hard to avoid a royal commission into the banks. He wanted big companies to get tax cuts. Malcolm Ellenport, East Brighton Party snub Next time the Liberal Party claims to be a party of merit to excuse gender inequality (sexism) of their party, remember they voted out the female candidate for PM in the first round of the ballot who had 20 years of parliamentary experience and 11 years as Deputy PM in favour of the male candidates with 17 and 11 years in Parliament and no deputy experience. While Julie Bishop, who famously refused to describe herself as a feminist, may rationalise the snub in another way, I see nothing other than a successful woman's career being overlooked, undervalued and treated as insignificant to her male colleagues. Amanda Fitzgerald, Richmond It's either/or Recent events have either shown what great depth of talent there is in the party or a demonstration of belief in assisted dying. Barry Lamb, Heidelberg West Loyalty blues What is loyalty? Certainly not what Liberal politicians displayed last week with their double crossing of Malcolm Turnbull: loyal one minute until a better offer came along, all within a matter of days. I'd say loyalty is being a Carlton supporter, and staying one after their disastrous year. Judith Dunn, Bentleigh East Missing link Prime Minister Scott Morrison has made drought relief his top priority. However, in February last year, he walked into Parliament holding a lump of coal and said, "Don't be afraid, don't be scared, it won't hurt you. It's coal." Tragically, we can't expect this anti-science, climate-change-denying government to acknowledge any link between the combustion of coal and the increasing frequency and intensity of drought in Australia. Ian Bayly, Upwey Plea for Nauru Those of us concerned about the suicidal children on Nauru are waiting anxiously for the new PM to tell us who will be put in charge of the immigration portfolio. The Pacific Forum on Nauru is scheduled for early September. Will Scott Morrison attend himself to see the human disaster that has been created there? Will he give the gig to Peter Dutton again to prolong the despair of the incarcerated refugees? Or will he put someone in charge with a degree of human compassion and bring the refugees some relief at last? Based on Morrison's past administration of this ministry we don't have much hope. How about he starts his new role by checking out Australia's responsibilities under the international conventions we have agreed to. Ellen O'Gallagher, Castlemaine Mashed potato A small blessing, we were saved from a potatocracy. Will the new team last or will we soon have a Shortocracy? Or perhaps at the coming election so many minor parties, independents and other odds and sods will be elected we will have an idiocracy. David McRae, Kangaroo Flat Sad, ashamed Thank you Stephanie Dowrick (Comment, 25/8). Having read Dowrick's books and attended seminars she has conducted I fear we hear too little of her thoughts and beliefs on courage, racism and religious prejudice, not only from most federal politicians in both parties but many in the general population. What a sad indictment of a country that welcomed my family from Britain and Ireland in the 1860s and welcomed them with open arms. The ugliness of colour/race/religion now raises its ugly head and I feel sad, ashamed and angry. Lois Daley, Port Melbourne Service as normal Try to catch a Sunbury train on Saturday night. They are few and far between. Around 10.30 your train disappears strangely from the indicator screens so you go upstairs to find out why. The attendant makes a call and tells you all trains are running normally. You say your 10.48 has disappeared from the screen with no announcement. She makes another call and tells you your train was cancelled and the next one is at 11.19. The indicator screen says the train is coming at 10:40. You go back to the platform. The train comes at 10.58 to take you to Flinders Street to wait for 15 minutes. Call PTV and you are told everything is running normally. Sadly, that's actually true. David Nichols, Albion The noise will fade Never fear Jacqueline Smith (Letters, 26/8), before long your Skyrail trains will just be white background noise. I lived my early family life in a house that abutted a railway cutting; then I moved to PNG for some years where I met my wife. When I first took her home, as soon as the first train rumbled past she leapt to her feet in alarm. She believed Sandringham was being hit by an earthquake. The rest of the family had noticed nothing, and very soon neither did she. Peter McCarthy, Mentone Addressing the R I believe the prevalence of acceptance of the R language is closely related to postcode (Letters, 24/8). In Victoria, the closer to 3142 (Toorak) one lives, the more likely the R change is predominant. In Sydney,the same situation applies, where postcode 2027 has accepted the R change to such an extent that, so I am told, many of the household cats call "Mee-R". Peter Lightfoot, Armadale AND ANOTHER THING Politics Am I too old at 85 to seek political asylum in New Zealand? Ann Bennett, Echuca Hello Scott Morrison, our new PM by three votes. Gillian Senior, Camperdown Is it time to make Italy a sister country? Basil Theophilos, Castlemaine Don't be fooled by the smiling ScoMo. He's just Dutton dressed up as lamb. Jeff Fiedler, Preston Morrison? Isn't that the bloke who brought a lump of coal into Parliament? Craig Jory, Glenroy How can the PM generate generational change without a clear and effective energy policy? Jim McLeod, Sale While Abetz, Abbott and Andrews remain there will be no unity. Stephen Baldwin, Frankston We have swapped Mr Harbourside Mansion for Old King Coal. Malcolm I. Fraser, Oakleigh South ScoMo: you stopped the boats, now stop the emissions. John Merory, Ivanhoe So sad. The wrong former prime minister is leaving Parliament. Brian Marshall, Ashburton Job done Tony! Truda Olson, East Ringwood We now know that "absolute loyalty" comes in 10 minute blocks. Joan Segrave Healesville They start with a Kill Bill strategy and they shoot themselves. Peter Gould, Moonee Ponds Should the Labor party consider donating to Abbott's re-election fund? Barrie Bales, Woorinen North Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has decided to not contest the next election. Credit:AAP Julie Bishop will not serve in Prime Minister Scott Morrison's revamped cabinet and will likely quit Parliament at the next election in a bombshell decision that leaves the coveted foreign affairs ministry up for grabs. The 62-year-old Liberal Party heavyweight made the announcement on Sunday. Steve Ciobo, who supported Peter Dutton in last week's leadership implosion, has been discussed as a possible contender for the foreign affairs portfolio, as has Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne, a Malcolm Turnbull loyalist. Neil Simon, one of America's foremost playwrights, has died at the age of 91. His wife, Elaine Joyce Simon, was at his bedside along with his daughters, Ellen Simon and Nancy Simon. Born Marvin Neil Simon in the Bronx on July 4, 1927, the playwright grew up in Washington Heights. His father, Irving Simon, was a garment salesman, while his mother, Mamie Simon, was a homemaker. He graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School at 16 and quickly signed up for the Army Air Force Reserve. He was assigned to the Lowry Air Force Base in 1945 and attended the University of Denver for a yearlong period shortly thereafter. With his brother, Danny, Simon took a job writing radio scripts for the series The Robert Q. Lewis Show. This led to their hiring at The Phil Silvers Show and Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows, where he worked alongside the likes of Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, and Woody Allen, among others. Simon received Emmys for both of those writing jobs and told of his experiences in his 1993 play Laughter on the 23rd Floor. Simon transitioned into playwriting in the 1960s. His first Broadway play, Come Blow Your Horn, played 678 performances at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in 1961. He followed that up with Barefoot in the Park in 1963 and the Tony Award-winning The Odd Couple in 1965, which later became a popular film and television series. He won a Tony Award for that comedy and cemented his reputation as one of Broadway's important young playwrights. All told, he collected three Tony Awards for his plays, receiving the two others for 1985's Biloxi Blues and 1991's Lost in Yonkers, for which he also received the Pulitzer Prize. His many other plays include Brighton Beach Memoirs, Broadway Bound, and The Sunshine Boys. During his career, it was not unusual for Simon to have two Broadway shows running concurrently, sometimes three, and once, in 1966, he had four (Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple, Sweet Charity, and The Star-Spangled Girl). Also an accomplished librettist for musical theater, Simon penned the books for the musicals Little Me, Sweet Charity, Promises, Promises, The Goodbye Girl, and They're Playing Our Song. Additionally, Simon worked as an uncredited script doctor on several musicals, most notably A Chorus Line. Simon's last original play in New York was 2003's Rose's Dilemma. He was a Kennedy Center Honors recipient, as well as a winner of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. In 1983, he became the only living playwright to have a Broadway theater named in his honor. McCain Says Nuclear Power Is the Key to Clean Power Rich World +VIDEO PHOENIX, AZ - May 8, 2006: Bob Gordon writing for The Auto Channel at the Clean Cities Congress reported that Senator McCain in his speech at the opening session of the conference restated his belief that nuclear power is the key source for our nations long term future emissions free power generation. Nuclear is vital he said, because he has personally witnessed the clear evidence of the impending threat from global warming and the consequences to our children and grandchildren. He stated that we must lead the way in getting the world off of its reliance on oil based fuels which he believes will run out in the future. Citing the fact that over 33% of the green house emissions today are generated during the production of electric power he strongly endorsed the expanded use of renewable, non polluting Nuclear power. He said that today more than 20% of the US electric power is already generated using nuclear fuel, and that the improvement in technology should make even the staunchest foe of nuclear more comfortable with its expansion as the source for the worlds electric power needs. The Senator also reiterated his opposition to ethanol subsidies because they would benefit only the Agra Business corporations already reaping record profits and not the family farmer. He cannot understand how 227 Mayors can get together to agree to begin to reduce green house emissions in their cities and 100 Senators cant get together to begin to solve our nations problem. He believes the U.S. must make the effort to provide many different options to solve the need for alternative fuels for vehicles in the short to mid term. Kalashnikov CV-1 Electric Vehicle Russian defense company Kalashnikov is branching out from making guns and weaponry. Now, it's making cars. During a recent military expo in Moscow, the company unveiled a fully electric car that a spokesperson said is designed to compete with Tesla. The car itself, called the CV-1, is designed to mimic the Soviet-era Izh 2125 "Kombi," a station wagon released in 1972. Despite its retro appearance, the CV-1 packs a modern electric engine and a 90 kilowatt-hour battery. The company says the car gets 217 miles of range. Kalashnikov unveiled the CV-1 at the international military expo Army 2018, where more than 1,000 companies display tens of thousands of products and technologies. This particular vehicle is just a concept for now, with no planned launch date, manufacturing schedule, or price. While the CV-1 is designed to compete with Tesla, even the companys own representatives arent entirely confident they can beat it. The car is competing with Tesla because it's currently a successful electric vehicle project, says Kalashnikov representative Sofia Ivanova. We expect to at least keep up with it. When asked by Russian media outlet RBC what specific advantages the CV-1 has over a Tesla, Ivanova was unable to name any specifics. According to the company, the CV-1 cant quite hold up in terms of acceleration, managing 0 to 62 mph in six seconds, far behind most Teslas. Still, no word yet on how many rounds per second it can fire. Source: Business Insider 3 Hurt After Teen Steals Ambulance From Rhode Island Fire Station and Crashes: Police At least three people were injured when a teenage boy stole an ambulance and crashed it in Coventry, Rhode Island, according to the Coventry Police Department. In a statement, Coventry Police said that the juvenile boy is suffering from ADHD and Autism. Officers were called to assist the mother of the juvenile who was outside of her car and walking on Route 117, according to police. The mother and son were taken to the nearby Central Coventry Fire Station #7 and were met by fire personnel, according to officials. Then, the teen unexpectedly ran into the garage bay and entered a parked ambulance before locking the vehicles door and placing it in drive, police said. As the vehicle exited the garage bay, Firefighter Scott Brown attempted to enter the passenger side of the vehicle, the office stated, adding that the ambulance hit an unoccupied police SUV. Brown was thrown from the ambulance after holding onto it. The ambulance then crossed Route 117 and was hit by a motorcycle traveling eastbound. Brown, the motorcycle operator, and the teen suffered minor injuries in the incident and were taken to the hospital for an evaluation. The motorcyclist was released after being treated. He suffered a broken finger. As a result of this incident, both departments are evaluating our protocols and procedures. We jointly commend [Brown] who risked his life to attempt to stop the ambulance, and despite being thrown from the vehicle sustaining injuries himself, he can be observed in surveillance video crawling to and subsequently rendering aid to the motorcycle operator, the office stated. Police added: The internal surveillance footage from the fire station and footage from a helmet-mounted camera from the motorcycle operator were secured for the investigation and are made available in this release. File Photo: Afghan national security advisor Hanif Atmar (R) and U.S. Ambassador James Cunningham sign the bilateral security agreement in Kabul September 30, 2014. (Reuters/Mohammad Ismail) Afghanistans National Security Advisor Resigns in Break With President KABULAfghanistans national security advisor, one of the most influential aides to President Ashraf Ghani, resigned on Aug. 25, a move one official said could be followed by his own bid for the top job in next years scheduled election. Hanif Atmars resignation was accepted by Ghani, presidential spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri told Reuters. The spokesman gave no official reason for the abrupt departure, but a copy of Atmars resignation letter obtained by Reuters said he had developed serious differences over policies and principles with government leadership. A senior government official close to Atmar, who spoke on condition that his name was not used, said the former security advisor was considering running against Ghani in the 2019 vote. He has resigned because he is preparing to run for presidential election next year, said the official. Atmar, 49, has been considered the second-most powerful official in Afghanistan since he became national security advisor after Ghani was sworn in as president in late 2014. He was also minister of interior under former President Hamid Karzai before being sacked in 2010 after Taliban terrorists attacked a peace jirga that was an early attempt at ending the now-17-year-old war with the Taliban. The exact details of the rift with Ghani were not immediately clear, but in the past week the Afghan government declined to attend peace talks hosted by Russia that representatives of the Taliban are expected to attend. Atmar, who began his security career with the Soviet Union-backed government in the late 1980s, is still seen as close to Russia. Ghani on Aug. 25 appointed 35-year-old Hamdullah Mohib, Afghan ambassador to United States, to replace Atmar as national security advisor, the presidential spokesman said. By Abdul Qadir Sediqi and Hamid Shalizi Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop Resigns From Cabinet Marise Payne to replace SYDNEYAustralian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Aug. 26 she has resigned from new Prime Minister Scott Morrisons Cabinet, two days after a bruising leadership battle that toppled former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull. Bishop announced she would move to the backbench and had not yet decided whether to contest the next election, which is due by May 2019. That decision could have serious implications for Morrisons government, which has a parliamentary majority of only one seat. Morrison emerged as the winner of Fridays party-room vote to replace Turnbull after a week of internal chaos for the countrys right of center Liberal Party. The result marked the emergence of Australias sixth prime minister in less than 10 years. He took over as leader of the Liberal Party, the senior partner in a Liberal-National coalition that has consistently trailed the opposition left-leaning Labor party in opinion polls in recent months. Bishop contested Fridays vote but was eliminated in the first round, with Morrison then emerging as a surprise compromise winner over Peter Dutton, Turnbulls conservative challenger who brought the leadership crisis to a head earlier in the week. I will remain on the backbench as a strong voice for Western Australia, Bishop said in a statement soon after she arrived back in her home state. Today I advised the Prime Minister that I will be resigning from my Cabinet position as Minister for Foreign Affairs. It has been an honour. pic.twitter.com/v5ueRw5W5L Julie Bishop (@JulieBishopMP) August 26, 2018 The possibility that Bishop could leave parliament before the next election will be a major concern for Morrison, Turnbulls former treasurer, because it opens the possibility of another by-election being held for her seat. His party will already have to contest a by-election for Turnbulls harbourside electorate in Sydney, traditionally a safe Liberal seat. Turnbulls resignation from parliament was expected in the coming week. Morrison has spent his first two full days in power working on a new Cabinet. His Liberal deputy and former energy and environment minister Josh Frydenburg will take over as treasurer. Former Defence Minister Marise Payne has been appointed as Australias new Minister of Foreign Affairs. By Alison Bevege Pigs resting in a pen at a pig farm in Yiyang county, in China's central Henan province. On Aug.10, 2018. (GREG BAKER/AFP/Getty Images) Chinas African Swine Fever Outbreak Likely Caused by Imports From Russia China, the worlds biggest pork producer, probably didnt think its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. pork would come back to haunt it. But the decision to buy pork from other countries instead is now looking every bit like a disaster, as several Chinese cities seek to cope with a pork-disease outbreak that may have its origins in Russia. China has imported fewer U.S. agricultural goods as a result of the tariffs. To make up for the loss of U.S. imports, China has turned to other countries for procurement. For example, China has recently started buying more soybeans from South America. Meanwhile, as Chinas domestic pork production is not enough to meet the demand, China is sourcing pork from other countries such as Russiaafter raising tariffs to 70 percent on U.S. pork. According to a feed product website run by Chinas Ministry of Agriculture, China imported 1.22 million tons of pork in 2017, among which about 170,000 tons were from the United States. China began buying Russian pork at a price of about 12 yuan ($1.76) per kilogram since April to replace U.S. imports, according to an Aug. 23 article by Radio Free Asia (RFA). The current African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in China first occurred in Shenyang, the capital of northern Chinas Liaoning Province in early August. ASF is a highly contagious disease affecting pigs and wild boars; theres no cure or vaccine. However, the disease isnt harmful to humans, even if infected pork products are consumed. The illness likely arrived in China via imported pork products, Wantanee Kalpravidh, a veterinarian at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, told the scientific journal Science. A genetic analysis indicates that the virus found in China is closely related to a strain circulating in Russia, the journal reported. Almost 50 pigs have died from ASF, according to an Aug. 26 article by Chinese weekly The Economic Observer. Russia has been plagued by ASF in the past decade, according to the website Pig Progress, which is run by Proagrica Media, an agriculture market research firm. Russia has culled more than 2 million pigs since the initial ASF outbreak in Russia in 2007. Since the initial outbreak in China, the disease has been detected in Zhengzhou, the capital of central Chinas Henan Province; Lianyungang, a city in eastern-central Chinas Jiangsu Province; and Wenzhou, a port city in eastern Chinas Zhejiang Province, according to an Aug. 26 article published on Chinese news portal Sina. China has culled more than 25,000 pigs as a result of the outbreaks, according to an Aug. 26 article by Hong Kong media Apple Daily. In addition, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, issued a warning for people buying pork from 12 ASF-risk provinces and cities, including Beijing, Tianjin, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, and Jilin, Apple Daily reported in a separate article, citing a government document. Since at least 2016, China has turned to Russia for large quantities of pork imports. China became Russias biggest export market for food products in 2016, totaling $1 billion, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. In May, Russian President Vladimir Putin, while speaking to officials from the State Duma, the lower house of Russias Federal Assembly, said it was Russias strategic plan to oust the United States from the Chinese pork market, and supply China with Russian pigs, according to a May 5 article by the Parliamentary Newspaper, the official weekly publication of the Federal Assembly. In an Aug. 24 interview with Radio Free Asia, Zhuang Lei, a resident of southern Chinas Fujian Province, was concerned that the outbreak had spread to so widely in such a short time. I believe the country has failed to set up a control system in place, which leads to this disaster, he said. Two days of ChinaUnited States trade talks, which ended on Aug. 23, left the two sides divided. During the negotiations, which was headed on the American side by Treasury Undersecretary David Malpass, the United States voiced concerns about how American companies have suffered from Chinas unfair trade practices, while China claimed it had complied with WTO (World Trade Organization) obligations. A source described to Reuters the U.S. response: Were not going to care about the WTO as you fuel overcapacity, wreck industries, and steal IP (intellectual property). Were not going to sit on our hands, according to an Aug. 25 report. In July, after U.S. President Donald Trump slapped tariffs on $34 billion worth of Chinese goods, China retaliated by imposing tit-for-tat 25 percent tariffs on U.S. agricultural products, including soybeans, corn, wheat, pork, and poultry. Correction: A previous version of this article misidentified where Jiangsu Province is located. Jiangsu is a eastern-central province of China. The Epoch Times regrets the error. Deputys Car Strikes 7-Year-Old Girl on Bike; Sheriff Says Its an Accident Warning: Footage might be disturbing to some viewers - discretion is advised The Hancock County Sheriffs Office in Mississippi released video footage of a K-9 vehicle striking a 7-year-old girl on a bike to show that the incident was an accident. According to local reports, the girls injuries are not life-threatening. Sabrina Nixon, the mother of the girl, accused the deputy of speeding while hitting the girl, reports said. But Sheriff Ricky Adam disputed the claim, releasing footage of the incident on Aug. 24. It is my opinion that once the public sees the video, it will be agreed by most that this accident was not only unavoidable by my deputy, but the statements made about speeding, leaving skid marks and having to be flagged down are utterly false, Adam said in a statement. He said the video was released in light of multiple inaccurate statements made about the Aug. 22 incident. In the footage, the deputy vehicle can be seen going less than 20 mph when the girl appears to dash out in front of his bumper. Then, he appears to hit the girl and stops the vehicle. The sheriff noted that the posted speed limit on that road is 25 mph. The patrol unit that was involved in the accident is equipped with an in-car camera system. This camera system is wired into the vehicles computer system, which documents factors such as vehicle speed, brake use, use of turn signals and more. This system shows my deputy was traveling at a rate of 17 to 19 mph in a 25 mph speed zone at the time the childs bike ran into the side of the patrol vehicle, he said. In addition, there was no rapid application of breaks, which would cause skid marks. Finally, the vehicle came to rest approximately one car length from the injured childs bicycle, obviously indicating that he stopped immediately upon the child coming into contact with his vehicle. There was nothing anybody could do about it, Adam said. It was completely unavoidable. Adam said the vehicle hit the front tire of the girls bike. Even the witness said that when she hit the ground, the tire of the bicycle spun her around and the back tire (of the bicycle) rolled over her long hair, he said. She was up walking around after it happened. The video clearly shows he was under the speed limit and it clearly shows she came up from behind a truck parked at the end of their house, Adam added. Nixon said the deputy identified himself as Colin Freeman, and he got out of his car and asked if the girl was fine. He then called 911, according to the Sun-Herald. Adam said that he normally does not comment on a case that is being investigated, but he stated that he was forced to issue a comment over the false statements that had been circulating. When my deputies are rightful in their actions, I will fully defend them, rising above the exploitation of social media sensationalism, Adam noted. Accident a Reminder to Parents Meanwhile, the accident shows that we must remain diligent in our supervision of our children, he said. This same diligence should be had when our children are swimming, near flames at cookouts, or there are firearms in a home. Many children experience injuries, minor and major, from incidents that could have been avoided with proper parental supervision. We are all very blessed that this incident did not have a more disastrous outcome. Facts About the Late US Senator John McCain John McCain, who died on Aug. 25, spent more than five years as a prisoner of war and more than three decades in the U.S. Senate representing Arizona, earning a reputation as a maverick who did not always follow the Republican Party line. Following are some facts about McCain. He was an unruly and even combative student at his Washington-area boarding school. As the son and grandson of four-star Navy admirals, McCain followed in their footsteps by attending the U.S. Naval Academy, where he continued to rebel against regulations and graduated near the bottom of his class. McCains plane was shot down during a combat mission over Vietnam in 1967. He spent 5-1/2 years in captivity, including two years in solitary confinement, and was subjected to frequent beatings and torture that left a permanent disability. In the Senate, he was a critic of harsh interrogation techniques such as waterboarding or simulated drowning of terrorism suspects. Among the military medals McCain earned were three Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, two Legion of Merit awards, a Silver Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross. McCain was working for an Arizona beer distributor the father of his second wife, Cindy when he entered politics. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982 and won the first of six Senate terms in 1986. McCain was seen as a maverick in his campaign for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination when he gave then-Texas Governor George W. Bush a scare by decisively winning the first of the state nominating contests. Later he fared poorly in the Super Tuesday nominating races and eventually conceded to Bush after a bitter campaign. After winning the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, McCain lost the popular vote to Democrat Barack Obama, 53 percent to 46 percent. In Congress, McCain was a pro-business conservative, free-market advocate and abortion foe but he voted against the Republican majority on several high-profile bills. After being cleared in the 1980s in the Keating Five campaign donation scandal, he made election campaign finance reform a signature concern. Former Nuncio Accuses Pope Francis of Failing to Act on McCarrick Abuse Allegations An ex-Vatican ambassador to the United States claims that Pope Francis was aware of allegations of sexual abuse against former U.S. archbishop Cardinal Theodore McCarrick for years but took no action and tried to cover it up. Former apostolic nuncio Carlo Maria Vigano, 77, wrote in a lengthy 11-page written statement dated Aug. 22 that he had personally told Pope Francis years ago about sanctions imposed on McCarrick by former Pope Benedict XVI. But he wrote that Pope Francis didnt respond to the exchange and that McCarrick was allowed to continue in his role as a public figure for the Roman Catholic Church. In any case, the Pope learned about it from me on June 23, 2013, and continued to cover for him [McCarrick]. He did not take into account the sanctions that Pope Benedict had imposed on [Cardinal McCarrick] and made him his trusted counselor along with [Cardinal Rodriguez] Maradiaga, Vigano wrote. Pope Francis in July accepted McCarricks resignation from the College of Cardinals, about five years after the original disclosure by Vigano. A month earlier, American Catholic Church officials said the allegations that McCarrick sexually abused a 16-year-old boy almost 50 years ago were credible and substantiated. McCarrick, a former archbishop of Washington, has maintained his innocence. Vigano, who served as apostolic nuncio in Washington from 2011 to 2016, also accused several other senior church officials of complicity with regard to McCarrick. In the last page of his statement, he called for Pope Francis to resign, in order to set a good example within the church. In this extremely dramatic moment for the universal Church, he must acknowledge his mistakes and, in keeping with the proclaimed principle of zero tolerance, Pope Francis must be the first to set a good example for cardinals and bishops who covered up McCarricks abuses and resign along with all of them, he wrote. Pope Francis has repeatedly asked for total transparency in the Church and for bishops and faithful to act with parrhesia. The faithful throughout the world also demand this of him in an exemplary manner. He must honestly state when he first learned about the crimes committed by McCarrick, who abused his authority with seminarians and priests. On Aug. 25, the pope met with victims of sexual abuse by clergy in Ireland and faced a lukewarm reception and scattered protests on his trip that was originally meant to celebrate Catholic families. Since the 1990s, Ireland has been shaken with allegations of violence and humiliation against women and children, which were brought to light again by the recent, high-profile U.S. incidents. The failure of ecclesiastical authoritiesbishops, religious superiors, priests, and othersto adequately address these repugnant crimes has rightly given rise to outrage, and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community, the pope said during a speech to Irish government authorities at Dublin Castle. I myself share these sentiments. In his statement, Vigano offered details of the meeting he had with Pope Francis on June 23, 2013. Pope Benedict XVI had convened a meeting of all the apostolic nuncios in Rome during the last months of his pontificate, and Vigano said it was the first time he saw Pope Francis. Vigano wrote that Pope Francis asked him in a deceitful way, What is Cardinal McCarrick like? He remembered answering with complete frankness and with great naivete. Vigano said he recalls saying: Holy Father, I dont know if you know Cardinal McCarrick, but if you ask the Congregation for Bishops, there is a dossier this thick about him. He corrupted generations of seminarians and priests and Pope Benedict ordered him to withdraw to a life of prayer and penance. He said the pope didnt make any comments and showed no signs of expression, as if he had already known the matter for some time. The pope then quickly changed the subject. He [Pope Francis] clearly wanted to find out if I was an ally of McCarrick or not, Vigano wrote. Vigano observed that when Pope Francis was elected, McCarrick was able to travel freely with no constraints. In a team effort with Cardinal Rodriguez Maradiaga, he [McCarrick] had become the kingmaker for appointments in the Curia and the United States, and the most-listened-to advisor in the Vatican for relations with the Obama administration. The former nuncio, in the statement, described how the face of Christianity has been terribly disfigured by the many crimes continuing to make headlines. Just this month, a state grand jury report, nearly 900 pages long and almost two years in the making accused more than 300 predator priests across Pennsylvania of sexual abuseand the Roman Catholic Church for its decades-long coverup of the alleged activity. If we truly want to free the Church from the fetid swamp into which she has fallen, we must have the courage to tear down the culture of secrecy and publicly confess the truths we have kept hidden, Vigano wrote. We must tear down the conspiracy of silence with which bishops and priests have protected themselves at the expense of their faithful, a conspiracy of silence that in the eyes of the world risks making the Church look like a sect, a conspiracy of silence not so dissimilar from the one that prevails in the mafia. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference following his meeting with Lithuania's Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis at the government's headquarters in Vilnius, Lithuania, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. (AP/Mindaugas Kulbis) Netanyahu Welcomes Airlines Decision Not to Fly to Iran VILNIUS, LithuaniaIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on a trip Aug. 23 to Lithuania, welcomed the decision by major international airlines to end their direct flights to Irans capital of Tehran in September. The decision by British Airways and Air France came after U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal between Iran and began restoring U.S. sanctions. The move has been exacerbating a financial crisis in Iran that has sent its currency tumbling. British Airways said its last flight to Tehran will be Sept. 22, with the return on Sept. 23, while Air France said it would end flights from Paris to Tehran on Sept. 18. Netanyahu spoke hours after arriving in Lithuania for a four-day visit in which he will also meet his Latvian and Estonian counterparts. Thats good. More should follow, more will follow, because Iran should not be rewarded for its aggression in the region, for its attempts to spread terrorism, Netanyahu told a news conference. Netanyahu, making the first visit to Lithuania by an Israeli prime minister, was welcomed by Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius at the Vilnius airport. Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis and Netanyahu were holding bilateral talks on Aug. 23 evening before being joined by their counterpartsEstonias Juri Ratas and Maris Kucinskis of Latviaon Aug. 24. Later that day, he will meet with Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite. Netanyahu said the purpose of his visit was balancing the European Unions not-always-friendly approach toward the state of Israel, so that we will receive fairer and truer treatment. Lithuania has not followed Washington in recognizing Jerusalem as Israels capital and supports Irans nuclear deal despite Israeli and U.S. opposition. This visit is a very good chance to build further the strategic partnership both countries have demonstrated an interest to develop, Marius Laurinavicius, a senior expert at the Vilnius Institute for Policy Analysis, told The Associated Press. The Baltic nation of nearly 3 million was part of the Russian Empire before declaring its independence in 1918. Lithuania was then independent until 1940, when it was occupied by the Soviet Union. It regained its freedom in 1991 and joined the EU and NATO in 2004. Netanyahu, who faces corruption allegations at home, has roots in Lithuaniahis mothers parents lived in the central village of Seduva. More than 90 percent of Lithuanias 240,000 Jews were killed during World War II. The role that Lithuanian soldiers played in those deaths is sensitive, as the country mainly views itself as a victim of Nazi and Soviet occupations. During his visit, Netanyahu also will attend a memorial ceremony at the site near Vilnius where up to 100,000 people were killed by Nazi troops and Lithuanian collaborators. He will also meet with relatives of Lithuanians who aided Jews during the war and will visit synagogues. New Charges Announced Against Extremist Muslims Arrested in New Mexico New charges have been filed against two defendants arrested by officials in New Mexico at a compound linked to extremist Muslims, the Taos County Sheriff said. The compound, where the group was holding 11 children and allegedly training them to carry out school shootings and other shootings against government institutions they felt were at odds with their beliefs, is located in a remote area of the state. Officials searching the remote compound in early August removed the 11 children and turned them over to child-welfare workers, while arresting five adults living on the land. The search was triggered by a missing 3-year-old boy who was the son of one of the adults, Siraj Wahhaj. A body was discovered buried on the land and was later identified as the missing boy. Possible Life Sentence Taos County Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe said on Aug. 24 that new charges involving the remains of the child were filed against Wahhaj and his wife, Jany Leveille, who is in the United States illegally. Both defendants, who are currently in custody at the Taos County Adult Detention Center, were charged with abuse of a child resulting in the death of a child, a first-degree felony that carries a penalty of up to life in prison if convicted. They were also charged with conspiracy to commit abuse of a child, another first-degree felony. The sheriff said the charges come from nearly three weeks of conducting interviews and analysis of data that was seized from the compound. This has been a very involved and lengthy process, but it is the only lawful way to build a solid criminal case, said Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe in a statement. We now know the child died on December, 24, 2017 and was concealed at the compound, which was suspected early in the investigation. He said that additional analysis and investigation is expected to culminate in charges against the three other adults, two of whom are sisters of Wahhaj. All three are children of controversial New York City imam Siraj Wahhaj; nine of the 11 children at the compound are grandchildren of the imams. Death of a 3-Year-Old All five adults were initially charged with child abuse due to the squalid conditions of the compound and the fact that the children werent getting enough to eat. According to dispatches, federal agents had conducted aerial surveillance for months before the raid, reported The Taos News. The dispatches and other records show that the compound was built illegally on someone elses land. Leveille allegedly led the group initially to New Mexico, and was a practitioner of occultism. She was born in Haiti. Tariq Abdur Rashid, whose daughter is married to Siraj Wahhajs brother, told The Epoch Times that she convinced her husband that she was a messiah. She set herself up as the interpreter of Gods word, he said. Prosecutors said evidence indicated that the 3-year-old boy died during a religious ritual intended to cast out demonic spirits, reported Reuters. The boy was initially kidnapped from his mother in Georgia. The boy stopped breathing and soon died during a ceremony, prosecutors said. Wahhaj had placed his hand on the boys head and was reciting verses from the Koran just before the boy began suffering seizures and foaming at the mouth. He was soon dead. Ibn Wahhajs 15-year-old son recounted to officials that one of the adults told him the spirit of the dead boy would return as Jesus to direct the group on where to carry out the violent attacks they were allegedly training for. From NTD.tv U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a news conference at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Singapore Aug. 4, 2018. (Reuters/Edgar Su) Pompeo Decries Abhorrent Ethnic Cleansing in Burma on Anniversary The United States will continue to hold accountable those responsible for what he described as the abhorrent ethnic cleansing of Rohingya in Burma, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday. Pompeos statement came on the one year anniversary of the conflict in western Burmas Rakhine state that drove more than 700,000 Rohingya from their homes into neighboring Bangladesh. A year ago, following deadly militant attacks, security forces responded by launching abhorrent ethnic cleansing of ethnic #Rohingya in Burma, Pompeo said on Twitter. Burma is also known as Myanmar. The U.S. will continue to hold those responsible accountable. The military must respect human rights for #Burmas democracy to succeed. The military ruled Burma for nearly 50 years after seizing power in a 1962 coup and retains considerable powers under a 2008 constitution. Burmese government spokesmen Zaw Htay was unavailable for comment on Sunday. The now civilian government, led by Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has denied refugees allegations of atrocities, saying security forces lawfully suppressed Muslim terrorists in Rakhine. Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh held demonstrations and prayers on Saturday to mark the anniversary of the outbreak of the conflict. Thousands of refugees marched prayed and chanted slogans in events across the sprawling camps in southern Bangladesh. Many wore black ribbons to commemorate what they said was the start of the Rohingya genocide. Across the border in Burma, the government said security patrols had been increased in the conflict area ahead of the anniversary for fear of further violence. Members of the mostly Buddhist Rakhine ethnic group and Rohingya Hindus from Rakhine state said they would hold events to remember those killed by Rohingya terrorists in attacks that triggered the crisis. Earlier this month, the United States imposed sanctions on four Burmese military and police commanders and two army units, accusing them of ethnic cleansing against Rohingya Muslims and widespread human rights abuses across the Southeast Asian nation. International pressure on Burma has been growing as U.N.-mandated investigators are set to publish a report on the crisis on Monday and the United Nations Security Council will hold a briefing on Burma on Tuesday. Russian Opposition Leader Navalny Detained in Moscow MOSCOWRussian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was detained Aug. 25 outside his home in Moscow ahead of planned nationwide anti-government protest rallies, and his spokeswoman said he was later taken to a hospital with a suspected broken finger. Navalny was detained on the afternoon of Aug. 25 and taken to a nearby police station due to an unsanctioned rally in January, his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said. Moscow police were not immediately available for comment Aug. 25 on the detention or on Navalnys reported injury. Navalny, President Vladimir Putins political foe, has called for nationwide rallies in early September to protest the Russian governments plans to raise the retirement ages for both men and women. Navalny on Aug. 24 published an investigation alleging that at least $29 million had been stolen in procurement contracts for Russias National Guard, which is headed by Putins former bodyguard, Viktor Zolotov. New York Senator Tony Avella speaks at a news conference and rally against hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, in New York State on January 11, 2012 in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Senator Avella Receives Slew of Endorsements Amid Re-election Democratic Sen. Tony Avella who is running for re-election in New Yorks 11th district, recently received endorsements from a number of organizations. The New York State AFL-CIO, Steamfitters Local 638, the Lieutenants Benevolent Association, and Voters for Animal Rights, have all endorsed Avella, according to a campaign announcement on Aug. 23. The AFL-CIO is a federation of unions and represents 2.5 million members from 3,000 affiliated public, private, and building trade unions. I am honored to receive the endorsement[s] said Avella in a statement. Throughout my career, I have fought for the hardworking men and women in labor to strengthen collective bargaining rights, improve workplace safety, and raise wages. Running against Avella is John Liu, a former New York City comptroller who has an extensive history of flouting campaign finance laws. Liu is entering politics again after his 2013 mayoral bid fell apartafter two of his aides at the time were sent to prison for conducting an illegal straw donor scheme. Liu is also a Democrat. Jeff Frediani, Avellas campaign spokesman told The Epoch Times that the recent show of support draws parallels to the senators earlier race. The senator has as much support as he had 4 years ago in the same race with John Liu, Frediani said. He is very proud of each one of them. The recent backings come after more than two dozen unions endorsed Avella. Senator Avella has worked to protect the health and safety of our men and women in law enforcement and he is the strong voice we need to send back to Albany to represent us and allow us to better protect all New Yorkers, said Lou Turco, of the Lieutenants Benevolent Association. A Disgrace In June, Avellas re-election campaign asked officials to investigate Liu after financial records revealed campaign finance violations again. A political committee dubbed No IDC NY, spent a total of $11,693 to provide recent petition services on Lius behalf, but the committees spending had already exceeded the primary limit contribution by thousands of dollars this year. Liu himself was fined $26,000 last year by the Board of Elections over the 2013 illegal straw donor scheme. He was also fined over $500,000 by the Environmental Control Board for poster violationsa fine that he still has not paid. Is he paying the fine? I mean hes asking people to vote for him who pay their property taxes, who if they get a ticketthey pay the ticket. But meanwhile, he doesnt want to do the same thing that the average voter does, Avella told The Epoch Times in July. I think its a disgrace. The senator recently posted a photo on Twitter showing promotions from Lius supporters done in sidewalk chalk, and describing what Avella claims is another Liu campaign violation. While I love sidewalk chalk, clearly John Liu has not told his supporters that placing it on city sidewalks is against the law, Avella wrote on Aug. 16. He should let them know before they accumulate thousands of dollars of fines like John Lius previous campaigns. Not a surprise though, as John Liu still hasnt paid $500,000 in Sanitation violations since 2012, Avella continued in a subsequent post. Liu also has some questionable ties. In 2007, he personally met with leaders connected with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). During the overseas trip, he met up with vice president of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, Xu Yousheng, who works with one of the regimes primary foreign espionage offices that also helps monitor and harass overseas Chinese communities. Lius aides were also found to have ties to organized crime and the communist regime. His fundraiser, Xing Wu Oliver Pan, was executive vice chairman of the Fukien American Association that organizes events for visiting officials of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Chinatown. It is also associated with the Fuk Ching gang. Liu himself was under federal investigation in 2013 but was not charged for fraud himself after the undercover operation was shut down prematurely after a New York Times article blew the lid on the FBI investigation. Sen. John McCain addresses the media during press conference at the US Embassy in Sarajevo on April 11, 2017. (ELVIS BARUKCIC/AFP/Getty Images) Senator John McCain Dead at 81 WASHINGTON U.S. Senator John McCain died on Saturday, his office said. He was 81. McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona for over three decades, had been battling glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, discovered by his doctors in July 2017, and had not been at the U.S. Capitol in 2018. He also had surgery for an intestinal infection in April of this year. His family had announced on Friday that McCain was discontinuing further cancer treatment. A statement from his office on Saturday said: Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28 p.m. on August 25, 2018. With the senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family. At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for sixty years. No further details were immediately provided. My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years, Cindy McCain wrote on Twitter. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the place he loved best. The vacancy created by McCains death narrowed the Republican majority in the U.S. Senate to 50 seats in the 100-member upper chamber, with Democrats controlling 49 seats. But Republican Arizona Governor Doug Ducey is expected to appoint a member of his own party to succeed McCain. That could also give Republicans a slight edge in the battle to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court in the weeks ahead, as McCain had been too ill to cast any votes this year. Alternatively affable and cantankerous, McCain had been in the public eye since the 1960s, when as a naval aviator he was shot down during the Vietnam War and tortured by his North Vietnamese communist captors during 5-1/2 years as a prisoner. He was edged out by George W. Bush for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, but became his partys White House candidate eight years later. After gambling on political neophyte Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate, McCain lost in 2008 to Democrat Barack Obama, who became the first black U.S. president. Defense Secretary James Mattis saluted McCain as a figure who always put service to the nation before self, and represented what he believed, that a shared purpose does not claim our identity-on the contrary-it enlarges your sense of self.' McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, remained prominent during and after the last White House race as both a frequent critic and target of his fellow Republican, Trump, who was elected president in November 2016. Shortly after McCains death was announced, Trump tweeted: My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. McCain was the central figure in one of the most dramatic moments in Congress of Trumps presidency when he returned to Washington shortly after his brain cancer diagnosis for a middle-of-the-night Senate vote in July 2017. McCain gave a thumbs-down signal in a vote to scuttle a Trump-backed bill that would have repealed the Obamacare healthcare law. War Injuries During the Vietnam War, McCain flew attack planes off aircraft carriers. He was preparing for a bombing run in 1967 when a missile inadvertently fired from another plane hit his fuel tanks, triggering a fatal explosion and fire. He suffered shrapnel wounds. A few months later on Oct. 26, 1967, McCains A-4 Skyhawk was shot down on a bombing mission over North Vietnams capital and he suffered two broken arms and a broken leg in the crash. A mob then dragged him from a lake, broke his shoulder and stabbed him. Held at the notorious Hanoi Hilton prison and other sites, McCain was beaten and tortured, suffering broken bones and dysentery. He was released on March 14, 1973, but was left with permanent infirmities. In Congress, McCain built a generally conservative record, opposing abortion and advocating higher defense spending. He supported Bushs 2003 invasion of Iraq and criticized Obama for not doing more to intervene in Syrias civil war. People stand around the tomb of former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco inside the basilica at the the Valley of the Fallen monument near El Escorial, outside Madrid on Aug. 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas) Spain Sets in Motion Plan to Dig up Former Dictator Franco MADRIDSpains center-left government approved legal amendments Aug. 24 to make sure that the remains of former dictator Gen. Francisco Franco will be dug up and removed from a controversial national mausoleum honoring the nations civil war dead. The minority Socialist government is certain that parliament will endorse the amendments, probably in a debate next month, deputy prime minister Carmen Calvo told reporters. The amendments to Spains Historical Memory Law of 2007 grant the government the power to exhume Francos body. That change aims to thwart legal efforts by Francos descendants and supporters to block the exhumation in the courts. Removing Francos remains from the Valley of the Fallen, a mausoleum he ordered built 50 kilometers (30 miles) northwest of Madrid, would be a momentous event in Spain, which still bears social and political scars from the countrys 1936-39 civil war. The vast Valley of the Fallen complex is most conspicuous public legacy of Francos rule, built by the dictator as a tribute to those killed in the war in which he deposed Spains democratic government. Some 34,000 people from both sides of the fighting are buried at the site, most of them never identified. Having Francos tomb (at the complex) shows a lack of respect for the victims buried there, Calvo said. She noted that a visiting U.N. delegation said four years ago that democracy is incompatible with a tomb that honors the memory of Franco. In addition to exhuming Franco, the government also plans to unearth and identify the 114,000-or-so victims of the civil war and the four decades of dictatorship that followed under Franco, who died in 1975. Spains Memory Law, which outlawed public events supporting the Franco regime, fell short of addressing the broad demands of civil war survivors and victims relatives for exhumations and reparations. Francos descendants will be consulted and will have 15 days to say where they would like the remains to go after exhumation. If they do not reply, the government will choose a dignified place, Calvo said. Francisco Martinez-Bordiu, a grandson of Franco, described the governments exhumation plans as barbaric, telling Antena 3 on Friday that descendants would assess their legal options for halting it. An exhumation of Francos embalmed bodypossibly as early as Octoberwould cement the governments reformist, liberal credentials after taking power last June. Removing Franco from the mausoleum, which is owned and operated by the cultural heritage agency, a public-funded body, has long been discussed in Spain. Calvo said the government is fast-tracking the exhumation because it wants to end a state of affairs which cannot go on any longer. At next Fridays Cabinet meeting on Aug. 31, the procedures for the exhumation will be set out, she said. The Valley of the Fallen complex includes a mausoleum and basilica in a neoclassic style and is a popular pilgrimage site for people nostalgic for the dictatorship. It has a 150-meter (500-foot)-tall cross that can be seen from far and wide. Franco is in a tomb in the basilicas central nave beneath a massive tombstone. By Barry Hatton and Ian Sullivan Tributes to Sen. John McCain Pour In After Death John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam who served as a U.S. senator from Arizona for more than three decades, died on Saturday at the age of 81. Below are some of the reactions to his death: President Donald Trump My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you! My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2018 Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell In an era filled with cynicism about national unity and public service, John McCains life shone as a bright example. He showed us that boundless patriotism and self-sacrifice are not outdated concepts or cliches, but the building blocks of an extraordinary life. Former President Bill Clinton and Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton He frequently put partisanship aside to do what he thought was best for the country, and was never afraid to break the mold if it was the right thing to do. I will always be especially grateful for his leadership in our successful efforts to normalize relations with Vietnam. Former President George W. Bush Some lives are so vivid, it is difficult to imagine them ended. Some voices are so vibrant, it is hard to think of them stilled. John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order. He was a public servant in the finest traditions of our country. And to me, he was a friend whom Ill deeply miss. Former Vice President Joe Biden As a POW, John endured the worst of what human beings can do to one another. In politics, he fell short of his greatest ambition. At the end of his life he faced a cruel and relentless disease. And yet through it all he never lost sight of what he believed most: Country First. And the spirit that drove him was never extinguished: we are here to commit ourselves to something bigger than ourselves. Former President Jimmy Carter John McCain was a man of honor, a true patriot in the best sense of the word. Americans will be forever grateful for his heroic military service and for his steadfast integrity as a member of the United States Senate. Karen and I send our deepest condolences to Cindy and the entire McCain family on the passing of Senator John McCain. We honor his lifetime of service to this nation in our military and in public life. His family and friends will be in our prayers. God bless John McCain. Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) August 26, 2018 Vice President Mike Pence Karen and I send our deepest condolences to Cindy and the entire McCain family on the passing of Senator John McCain. We honor his lifetime of service to this nation in our military and in public life. His family and friends will be in our prayers. God bless John McCain. Former President George H. W. Bush John McCain was a patriot of the highest order, a public servant of rarest courage. Few sacrificed more for, or contributed more to, the welfare of his fellow citizensand indeed freedom-loving peoples around the world. Another American maverick and warrior, Gen. George Patton, once observed: We should thank God that men such as these have lived. Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake Words cannot express the sorrow I feel at John McCains passing. The world has lost a hero and a statesman. Cindy and the McCain family have lost a loving husband and father. I have lost a wonderful friend. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey John McCain is one American who will never be forgotten. He was a giant. An icon. An American hero. But here at home, we were most proud to call him a fellow Arizonan. Like so many of us, he was not born here, but his spirit, service and fierce independence shaped the state with which he became synonymous. A giant. An icon. An American hero. God bless @SenJohnMcCain. He will never be forgotten. My full statement on the life of an incredible man we were blessed to call a fellow Arizonan: pic.twitter.com/cyhUetFyMH Doug Ducey (@dougducey) August 26, 2018 German Chancellor Angela Merkel John McCain was guided by the firm conviction that the value of all political work could be found in serving freedom, democracy and the rule of law. His death is a loss for all who share that conviction. British Prime Minister Theresa May John McCain was a great statesman, who embodied the idea of service over self. It was an honour to call him a friend of the UK. My deepest sympathies go to his family, and the American people. French President Emmanuel Macron John McCain was a true American hero. He devoted his entire life to his country. His voice will be missed. Our respectful thoughts go to his beloved ones. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg John McCainsoldier and senator, American and Atlanticist. He will be remembered both in Europe and North America for his courage and character, and as a strong supporter of NATO. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Treudeau Sen. John McCain was an American patriot and hero whose sacrifices for his country, and lifetime of public service, were an inspiration to millions. Canadians join Americans tonight in celebrating his life and mourning his passing. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis Passionately committed to our country, Sen. McCain always put service to the Nation before self. He recognized that for our experiment in democracy to long endure, people of action and passion must serve. In this he represented what he believed, that a shared purpose does not claim our identityon the contrary, it enlarges your sense of self. .@SenJohnMcCain was a leader & public servant of deep patriotism, outstanding bravery & undaunted spirit. Throughout his career, we all saw his integrity, humility, courage & grace. May it be a comfort to his family to know that so many around the world mourn with them. Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) August 26, 2018 House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi The nation is in tears. Today, with the passing of John McCain, Congress and America have lost a leader and public servant of deep patriotism, outstanding bravery and undaunted spirit. Former Gov. of Alaska Sarah Palin Today we lost an American original. Sen. John McCain was a maverick and a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs. John never took the easy path in lifeand through sacrifice and suffering he inspired others to serve something greater than self. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison Sen. John McCain was a true friend of Australia who was committed to strengthening the alliance between our two nations. He was a man of great courage and conviction. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Cindy, and all the McCain family during this time. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar On behalf of the people of Ireland, I extend my deepest sympathies on the death of Senator John McCain, a wise and remarkable statesman, US ally of Ireland and a proud Scots Irishman who was a champion for immigration reform in the US Senate. Commander Micah Murphy of the USS John S. McCain On behalf of the crew of USS John S. McCain, I offer our support and prayers to the McCain family, our gratitude to the senator for his years of service to our nation, and a heartfelt traditional Navy sendoff: Fair winds and following seas. It is an honor to have our mighty warship carry on your name and continue your legacy. (Compiled by Reuters staff; Editing by Paul Tait, Paul Simao and Lisa Shumaker) President-elect Donald Trump greets Senator Jeff Sessions during a thank you rally in Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama, on December 17, 2016. (Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images) Trump and Sessions Using Their Feud as Another Chaos Narrative to Hide Whats Actually Happening Commentary For the past several weeks, President Donald Trump has been calling out his Attorney General Jeff Sessions on his Twitter account. A few recent examples: Will Bruce Ohr, whose family received big money for helping to create the phony, dirty and discredited Dossier, ever be fired from the Jeff Sessions Justice Department? A total joke! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 20, 2018 Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations. Jeff, this is GREAT, what everyone wants, so look into all of the corruption on the other side including deleted Emails, Comey lies & leaks, Mueller conflicts, McCabe, Strzok, Page, Ohr Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 24, 2018 .FISA abuse, Christopher Steele & his phony and corrupt Dossier, the Clinton Foundation, illegal surveillance of Trump Campaign, Russian collusion by Dems and so much more. Open up the papers & documents without redaction? Come on Jeff, you can do it, the country is waiting! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 24, 2018 In his response, issued through his spokesperson, Sessions didnt say anything that he hasnt been saying since he recused himself. Hes going to do his job to the best of his ability to enact the presidents agenda while making sure political activism does not occur within his agency. Heres what people need to know: The Trump/Sessions feud isnt real. Studying the beginning of the feud tells you this. The cover story is that Trump fully believed Sessions was going to remain in charge of overseeing and directing investigations related to the 2016 election, even though Sessions himself was a member of Trumps own campaign team. Youre expected to believe Trump didnt know about the conflict of interest or planned to completely ignore it. On top of that, youre also expected to believe that Sessions didnt give the president a heads up before recusing himself. Nothing in this narrative makes any sense. Trump often uses a cover story to hide what hes really doing. And the cover story often is crafted to give the impression that Trump is being a buffoon or a Triple-A Alpha Male with no clue what hes doing. Its an act, designed to keep his enemies out of his way. Allow me to give several brief examples of when the Trump White House has deployed chaos narratives to hide the actual things being done behind the scenes until the Trump Team was ready to reveal them. Little Rocket Man. For months Trump had the media and a lot of the political class in hysterics as he traded very public barbs with Kim Jong Un of North Korea, calling Kim fat little rocket man, and boasting that my [nuclear] button works! While Trump and Kim were feuding, then-CIA Director Mike Pompeoalready functioning as a de facto secretary of statewas traveling in secret to North Korea and setting up diplomatic relations. Not until the Trump administration was ready was it suddenly announced that Pompeo was in North Korea. Nothing leaked. It was a complete and total surprise to the entire world. The Scaramucci Fiasco. Trump decided to replace outgoing White House Communications Director and Spokesperson Sean Spicer with his long-time friend, businessman Anthony Scaramucci, a gregarious, outgoing fellow who never saw a microphone he didnt want to talk into at length. Scaramucci lasted only a week and a half on the job, creating so many waves that White House chief of staff Reince Priebus threw his hands up in disgust and quit. Desperate to save a White House descending into complete chaos, Trump frantically brought over Gen. John Kelly from the Department of Homeland Security to be his new chief of staff. Then everybody in the political class pointed their fingers at Trump and laughed loudly when Kellys first big move was to turn around and fire Scaramucci. What an embarrassing circus, right? Well, people need to go back and look again, as Nurit Greenger at the Jerusalem Post did. Trump and Scaramucci conned everybody. Scaramucci was Trumps hatchet man, the guy who was brought in specifically to shake things up, fire people (or make them quit!), then leave, so none of the fallout touches the boss who brought him in. It was Trumps plan to replace Priebus with Kelly all along. It took Scaramucci less than one week on the job to accomplish Trumps goals. Most of the people in the political elite class still havent figured this one out. Chaos Narratives Why would Trump expend such time and effort selling false cover stories to his enemies? George H. W. Bush and his son George W. Bush both made the exact same mistake when they were the president: They would reach out to the Democrats and the media and try to get them on board with their plans and their strategies, to achieve comity with them. Both men spent their entire terms as president being ruthlessly sabotaged by the people they were trying to turn into their allies. Trump came into office having no comfortable illusions whatsoever about foreshadowing his actual plans to his enemies. This incoming president and his administration knew any real information the Democrats and the media got about his actual plans, policies, and strategies would be used to attack and sabotage all his efforts. So upon assuming office, far from sharing his real plans, goals, and strategies with the political class in Washington and the mainstream media, Trump began using chaos narratives to distract his enemies and frustrate their attempts to prevent him from achieving his goals. The entire 10-month period from February 2016 through October 2016 in which the media and Democrats were thoroughly enjoying snarking at Trump over his feud with his own attorney general, they were completely unaware of what was really going on at the Department of Justice. Not until DOJ Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz suddenly began rolling out all the voluminous evidence hed been collecting did people realize a stealth investigation had been underway. Horowitz went in and dug up all the evidence of the Crossfire Hurricane plot while everybody was watching The President Trump and Sessions Traveling Roadshow. You only know the names Peter Srzok, Lisa Page, Bruce and Nellie Ohr, Glenn Simpson, and Perkins Coie because of evidence Horowitz found. You only know that it was the Hillary Clinton campaign that funded the creation of the Steele dossier, and that top DOJ/FBI officials laundered that dossier by lying about it to the FISA court, because of Horowitz. Trump and Sessions are still keeping peoples eyes firmly fixed on them. Once again, Trumps enemies are looking in the wrong places. Horowitzs next report, the one in which he will deep-dive into all the shenanigans involving the Steele dossier, Fusion GPS, and the FISA court, is going to hit like a nuclear bomb. Brian Cates is a political pundit and writer based in southern Texas and the author of Nobody Asked For My Opinion But Here It Is Anyway! He can be reached on Twitter at @drawandstrike Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. President Donald Trump (2nd R) shakes the hand of Jeff Sessions after Sessions was sworn in as the new U.S. Attorney General by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence (R) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Feb. 9, 2017. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Trump Asks Sessions to Investigate 12 Cases of Potential Corruption When Attorney General Jeff Sessions responded to criticism from President Donald Trump with a statement issued on Aug. 23, major media outlets zeroed in on what appeared to be a tiff between the commander-in-chief and his top attorney. Few devoted any time to the substance of Trumps response to that statement the next day. In his response, the president lauded Sessions for his dedication to not being swayed by political considerations and implored him to investigate a list of 12 cases of potential corruption, many of which Trump has been vocal about for months. Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations, Trump wrote on Twitter, quoting the statement by Sessions. Jeff, this is GREAT, what everyone wants, so look into all of the corruption on the other side, including deleted Emails, Comey lies & leaks, Mueller conflicts, McCabe, Strzok, Page, Ohr, FISA abuse, Christopher Steele & his phony and corrupt Dossier, the Clinton Foundation, illegal surveillance of Trump Campaign, Russian collusion by Dems and so much more, Trump continued. Related Coverage Trump Questions If Sessions Will Fire DOJ Official Bruce Ohr Open up the papers & documents without redaction? Come on Jeff, you can do it, the country is waiting! Sessions earlier had confirmed investigations into 10 of the 12 matters Trump referenced in the message. The attorney general hasnt confirmed that an investigation exists into either former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons deleted emails or into the potential conflicts of interest of the office of special counsel Robert Mueller. Both of those matters are extensively tied to other items on Trumps list and the topics likely reflect the presidents priorities for the attorney general. Though each of the matters on Trumps list has been covered extensively in the past, the recent declassification of documents and reporting on previously undisclosed communications has shed light on what may be suspicious steps taken by government officials and foreign actors before and after the 2016 presidential election. Deleted Emails The case of Clintons use of an unauthorized private email to server to conduct government business tops Trumps list, likely because of a major investigative report published days earlier, detailing how biased FBI officials reviewed less than 1 percent of emails stored on the laptop of convicted sex-offender Anthony Weiner, the husband of top Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin. The last known investigation into the matter concluded earlier this year with the release of the inspector generals report on the email investigation. The report concluded that although improper bias among FBI personnel cast a cloud over the investigation, the inspector general believes there is no evidence to prove that the bias led to concrete actions in the investigation. While the report officially wrapped up the Clinton mail matter, the specifics of its findings, especially regarding the mishandling of the Weiner laptop analysis, opened up avenues for further investigation. Comey and McCabe Former FBI Director James Comey admitted that he leaked memos of his meetings with Trump to a friend, in order to trigger the appointment of a special counsel. According to congressional investigators, at least one of the memos contained classified material. Meanwhile, Comeys top deputy at the time, Andrew McCabe, was fired for leaking to the media and lying about it to investigators. Both have been referred for investigation. The investigative report released last week about the handling of the Weiner laptop presented Americans with extensive evidence that Comey lied to Congress when he certified that the FBI had reviewed all of the communications on the device. That wasnt the only time Comey may have lied. According to a letter (pdf) to Sessions from Sen. Charles Grassley, Comey also misled Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) during a private briefing on the timeline of the FBIs interactions with former British spy Christopher Steele. Grassley referred the findings on Comey and a long list of other issues to Sessions on March 15. Two weeks later, Sessions confirmed that he had referred these matters, among a host of others, to Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz, who is working closely with U.S. Attorney John Huber. On June 18, Horowitz confirmed the investigation of Comey in sworn testimony before the House judiciary committee. Mueller Conflicts At least 13 members of Muellers team are registered Democrats and 11 have donated to Democratic candidates. As of June, none of the known members of the team were registered Republicans. But the potential conflicts dont end there. Mueller inherited the investigation into the Trump campaign from an FBI team with an intense bias against the president. Peter Strzok, the lead FBI agent on the case in 2016 and part of 2017, sent messages bashing Trump and favoring Clinton to his mistress, FBI attorney Lisa Page. Both Strzok and Page were briefly on Muellers team. The FBI fired Strzok on Aug. 13, in part for his problematic communications. Page left the bureau earlier this year. Strzok, Page, Ohr, and Steele While Strzok and Page have become the poster children of the problematic probe into the Trump campaign, Justice Department official Bruce Ohr is a recent addition to the story. Ohrs involvement with the probe of the Trump campaign became public several months ago, but recently revealed communications between him and British ex-spy Steele, the author of the infamous anti-Trump dossier, showed that he was one of the central players in the scheme. According to text messages between Ohr and Steele and statements by congressional investigators, Ohr became Steeles conduit for funneling information to the FBI after the bureau had terminated Steele for leaking to the media. Ohr is expected to answer lawmakers question on Capitol Hill behind closed doors on Aug. 28. Ohr stayed in regular contact with Steele and the FBI regularly interviewed Ohr at least 12 times between Nov. 22, 2016, and May 15, 2017. Notably, Ohr met with Strzok and Page the day before his first interview. The regular interviews stopped after Trump fired Comey. Strzok, Page, and Ohr are all implicated in the potential abuse of the spying powers under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Strzoks team obtained a FISA warrant to surveil Trump campaign volunteer Carter Page using the anti-Trump dossier funneled to the bureau by Ohr. During a crucial period in 2016, Ohrs wife, Nellie Ohr, worked on the same anti-Trump project at Fusion GPS as Steele. The Clinton campaign and the DNC ultimately paid for Steele and Ohrs work. Strzoks team at the FBI used Steeles dossier to apply for a warrant to spy on Page. The officials who applied for the warrant failed to mention that Ohrs wife worked for Fusion GPS, that Clinton and the DNC paid for the dossier, and that Steele had an intense bias against Trump, among other issues. Russian Collusion by Dems All of the above has led Trump and Republican lawmakers to believe that the real collusion with Russia was committed by Democrats and their allies. Steele compiled his dossier using second- and third-hand sources linked to the Kremlin. According to Ohrs notes, most of the information in Steeles dossier came from a Russian intelligence operative living in the United States. When Strzok and others applied to spy on Carter Page, the application didnt mention that Fusion GPS was subject to an official complaint that it had failed to register as a foreign agent of Russia in connection to its lobbying work opposing the Global Magnitsky Act. While Steele and Ohr performed their duties for Fusion GPS, the firm accepted money from Russia for the lobbying project. Trump Cuts More Than $200M in US Aid to Palestinian Authority Cites policy differences WASHINGTONThe Trump administration has decided to cut more than $200 million in bilateral aid to the Palestinian Authority, following a review of the funding for projects in the West Bank and Gaza, the State Department said Friday. The department notified Congress of the decision in a brief, three-paragraph notice sent first to lawmakers and then to reporters. It said the administration will redirect the money to high priority projects elsewhere. The move comes as President Donald Trump and his Middle East pointmen, Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt, staff up their office to prepare for the rollout of a much-vaunted but as yet unclear peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians. At the direction of President Trump, we have undertaken a review of U.S. assistance to the Palestinian Authority and in the West Bank and Gaza to ensure these funds are spent in accordance with U.S. national interests and provide value to the U.S. taxpayer, the department said. As a result of that review, at the direction of the president, we will redirect more than $200 million originally planned for programs in the West Bank and Gaza. This decision takes into account the challenges the international community faces in providing assistance in Gaza, where Hamas control endangers the lives of Gazas citizens and degrades an already dire humanitarian and economic situation, the notice said, without providing additional details. One main issue the U.S. has had with support for the Palestinian Authority had been its stipends paid to the families of Palestinians killed, injured or jailed for attacks on Israel. Israel and the Trump administration, have repeatedly demanded that those payments from a so-called martyrs fund be halted because they encourage terrorism. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has refused to do so. The Palestine Liberation Organization quickly denounced the decision, calling it the use of cheap blackmail as a political tool. The Palestinian people and leadership will not be intimidated and will not succumb to coercion. The rights of the Palestinian people are not for sale, PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi said in a statement. There is no glory in constantly bullying and punishing a people under occupation. The notice did not give an exact amount of the funds to be cut, but said they had been approved in 2017 as part of a $230.1 million package in economic support funds for the Palestinians. One official said the specific amount had not yet been determined because $25 million in planned 2017 funding for the East Jerusalem Hospital Network, which provides health care to Palestinians, remains on hold and under review. All or part of that could still be released or reprogrammed, the official said. The U.S. had planned to give the Palestinians $251 million for good governance, health, education and funding for civil society in the current 2018 budget year that ends on Sept.30. But with just over a month to go before that money must be used, reprogrammed to other areas or returned to Treasury, less than half has actually been spent. Earlier this month, the department had released about $60 million of the 2018 money for security projects that encourage cooperation between the Palestinian Authority and Israel. Israel and Jordan, in particular, had lobbied for the security assistance to be continued. The loss of the assistance is almost certain to further provoke the Palestinians against the Trump peace plan. The Palestinian leadership has been openly hostile to any proposal from the administration, citing what it says is a pro-Israel bias, notably after Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israels capital in December and moved the U.S. embassy there from Tel Aviv in May. The Palestinian Authority and Abbas broke off contact with the U.S. after the Jerusalem announcement. The announcement does not include some $65 million in frozen U.S. funding for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, which provides services to Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan and Lebanon. However, the Trump administration is extremely skeptical of UNRWA and that money is also likely to be reprogrammed, according to officials. Fridays decision follows a similar decision last week in which the State Department announced that it was redirecting $230 million dollars in aid that had been planned for stabilization programs in liberated areas of Syria. In that case, however, the department said the loss of U.S. funding would be more than offset by other nations, including Saudi Arabia, which announced a $150 million contribution for Syria stabilization just hours before the American announcement. Watch Next: Kushner Talks Peace in the Middle East at US Embassy Jerusalem Dedication Ceremony The Russian flag flies over the Embassy of Russia in Washington on Aug. 6, 2018. (Reuters/Brian Snyder) US Sanctions on Russia Tied to UK Attack to Take Effect Monday WASHINGTONU.S. sanctions against Russia tied to a nerve agent attack in Britain, which were announced earlier this month, will come into effect on Monday, the U.S. government said on Friday, adding to the array of economic penalties it has imposed on Moscow in recent years. The new measures, detailed in a notice posted at the Federal Register, will terminate foreign assistance and some arms sales and financing to Russia, as well as deny the country credit and prohibit the export of security-sensitive goods and technology. Russias Foreign Ministry said the sanctions will only create more tension between the two countries, the RIA news agency reported on Friday. Although President Donald Trump has often said he would like better ties with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, Washingtons relations with Moscow are at a low frayed by U.S. allegations Russia interfered in its 2016 presidential election, and by disagreements over Russias 2014 annexation of Crimea and its role in the Syrian civil war. Plans to impose the latest sanctions were announced by the Trump administration on Aug. 8, a response to what the State Department said was Moscows use of a nerve agent against a former Russian agent and his daughter in Britain in March. Sergei Skripal, a former colonel in Russias GRU military intelligence service, and his 33-year-old daughter, Yulia, were found unconscious on a bench in the southern English city of Salisbury after a liquid form of the Novichok type of nerve agent was applied to the front door of his home. Both survived the attack. Moscow has denied involvement in the attack. It has also denied meddling in the 2016 U.S. elections. Change in Behavior Trumps national security adviser, John Bolton, said on Friday Moscow must change its ways before the United States will lift its already long list of sanctions. The sanctions remain in force and will remain in force until the required change in Russian behavior, he told a news conference in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev. The new measures will be published and come into effect on Aug. 27 and remain in place for at least one year, according to the notice in the Federal Register, a daily catalog of government agency actions. They are authorized by the 1991 Chemical and Biological Weapons and Warfare Elimination Act. Space flight activities, government space cooperation, areas concerning commercial aviation safety and urgent humanitarian assistance will be exempt. A second batch of penalties will be imposed after 90 days unless Russia gives reliable assurance that it would no longer use chemical weapons and allow on-site inspections by the United Nations or another international observer group. Soon after the attack on the Skripals, Washington also showed solidarity with Britain and announced it would expel 60 Russian diplomats, joining governments across Europe in punishing the Kremlin. By Lisa Lambert and Lesley Wroughton Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) Teresita Leonardo-de Castro has been appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as the new Chief Justice, a position she will hold for only six weeks. This, as she is set to retire on October 8 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. READ: De Castro is new Chief Justice until October For Malacanang, there is nothing wrong with De Castro's short stint as the head of the high court. "I just heard her that she's in charge with certain initiatives to boost efficiency in the judiciary. All she needs is a two-month period to ensure that the program is in place and it need not to be implemented in her watch," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said. Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas Law Dean Nilo Divina doubts she can do reforms in six weeks. All she can do in such a short span of time, he said, is to unify the SC that was divided when the justices voted to oust Sereno in May. "I think 42 days would be good enough time to well unify and rally the Supreme Court to achieve the objectives set out under the constitution," he said. Divina said her appointment is more of a fitting tribute to her four decades of service in the judiciary. Opposition lawmaker Albay Representative Edcel Lagman believes De Castro was appointed as a "reward" for her role in Sereno's ouster. Despite the appointment, the congressman said, she should still be impeached for partiality. "The process will go on, but I think Justice De Castro should have seriously considered declining her nomination and refusing her interim appointment as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court considering the seriousness of the impeachment complaint against her for culpable violation of the constitution and betrayal of public trust," Lagman said. Garry Alejano shares the same sentiment. In a post on Twitter, Alejano said the appointment "is a clear case of bayad-utang (debt-paying), walang delicadeza (lack of delicadeza) at garapalan (flagrance) in the government." EMBED Online, De Castro's appointment also drew different reactions and sparked talks on who is really the first Filipina to hold the position. Teresita de Castro will go down in history not only as the shortest-serving chief justice, but also as someone who benefitted from unconstitutionally ousting a sitting CJ. A true pachyderm. Sanny (@sannytbreak) August 25, 2018 CNN Philippines' Rex Remitio and Robert Vergara contributed to this report. 3 hours ago American Water Works is a Strong Buy as Profits Continue to Flow American Water Works (NYSE:AWK) will deliver its third-quarter earnings report after the market closes on November 2. The third quarter has historically been the companys strongest quarter and this year appears to be no exception. The consensus opinion of analysts is for the utility giant to post earnings per share (EPS) of $1.52 cents on revenue of $1.21 billion. Read Article No end to the heartache KOREAS: The first reunions in years of families divided by the Korean War evoke bittersweet memories for Kim Jong-gyu, whose few hours with her brother in 2014 under the watchful eyes of the Norths agents were probably their last ever together. By AFP Sunday 26 August 2018, 02:30PM Kim Jong-gyu, 83, who is one of the dwindling number of people left whose families were torn apart during the 1950-53 conflict, speaking during an interview at her home in Yeongju, southeast of Seoul. Photo: Jung Yeon-je / AFP I felt so lucky and so happy to see that my brother was alive, said the 83-year-old. But seeing him for only a few hours after being separated for several decades was really harsh, she said. It was way too short, and too heartbreaking. Kim is one of the dwindling number of people left whose families were torn apart during the 1950-53 conflict, which sealed the division of the Korean peninsula. Most have died without ever seeing their loved ones again. Since 2000, the two Koreas between which all civilian communication is banned have held 20 rounds of family reunions, largely when their volatile relations have eased. The latest meetings are the first in three years, a period during which the nuclear-armed North has carried out three atomic tests and scores of ballistic missile launches. The Souths President Moon Jae-in and the Norths leader Kim Jong Un agreed to resume the gatherings at their first landmark summit in April, held in the Demilitarised Zone that runs across the peninsula. The reunion saw a total of 181 Southerners cross the frontier for three-day visits to meet their relatives at the Norths scenic Mount Kumgang resort, with one group going on Monday (Aug 20) and a second following today (Aug 24). Participants are chosen by lottery after which checks are carried out to ensure their relatives are still alive and are seen as extremely lucky. But the short, highly-choreographed events meant to help assuage wounds that have burned for more than a half century barely allow them the chance to try. Each time, the Southerners and Northerners are confined to two different hotels and allowed to see each other only over two meals and a separate two-hour session, limiting their overall reunion to a total of only about six hours. The years have often taken their toll and some find it hard to mend the decades apart, clinging to senile or almost-deaf parents or siblings, tearfully shouting Dont you remember me? Its me! before bitterly giving up attempts to communicate. At Kims reunion in 2014, some Northerners were seen bellowing speeches extolling the Great General and a Southerner sang the praises of Lord Jesus to their relations from the other side, who looked visibly uncomfortable. Another was traumatised by the sight of her emaciated family members. I saw one (Southern) lady crying in the bathroom during the reunion, beating her chest and murmuring repeatedly I shouldnt have come, Kim said. She was apparently shocked at the sight of her relatives who looked so poor. Her brother Kim Hui-yong aged 88 at the time was paralysed on one side. I had so many questions to ask and had so much (to) tell... but I chose my words carefully and spoke what I thought was really necessary, Kim said. I was afraid for his safety just in case... you never know how and when one could get into trouble in the North. The eldest son among six siblings, Hui-yong set off from the familys hometown in rural southern Yeongju county in 1942 aged 17 when Jong-gyu was six to look for work. At the time the resource-rich northern part of the peninsula was more developed than the agrarian south, and he eventually got a job at a factory in the now North Korean city of Hungnam before the war broke out. My brother was the smartest one among six children of my family, and losing him was losing a bright light in my family, said Kim, who was accompanied by two younger sisters not even born when Hui-yong left. Their parents missed him all their lives, his mother often staying awake past midnight listening to a locomotive rumble by a nearby station, hoping that her son might finally be on a train returning home. Both her parents and two other brothers passed away before seeing him. They died one by one, passing the dream of being reunited with the oldest brother to the next, she said. Then it was my turn... and I saw the whole familys dream finally come true. The two siblings tearfully said goodbye, although her brother told Kim: There could be a day when we will meet again. Lets bid farewell without crying. Back at home in Yeongju, Kim goes to church every Sunday to pray her brother is still alive and healthy, and for the two Koreas to reunify. But I dont think Ill see him again, she said. I think he must be dead by now. At least I saw him once, though only for six hours. I am blessed. LANSDALE >> Former colleagues, family and friends remembered beloved Lansdale resident Richard Dick Stricker as he was named the first-ever posthumous recipient of Lansdale Boroughs Lifetime Achievement Award on Founders Day, Saturday morning. He was a unique personality and character in a borough that has many, Lansdale Historical Society officer Dick Shearer said during his remarks about Stricker. One would be hard-pressed to find someone who gave as much to Lansdale as Stricker did, Lansdale Borough Councilwoman Mary Fuller said. In the early 1960s, Stricker led an effort to preserve the Lansdale Cemetery after it fell into disrepair, and in 1964 he was named president, superintendent, curator and record keeper of the cemetery. He remained involved in maintaining the cemetery and successfully identified nearly all of the more than 3,700 people buried there. A progressive council member from 1976-1980, Stricker pushed for the Wood-Vine Connector Route decades before it came to fruition. In the late 70s he was also instrumental in the new firehouse project for the Fairmount Fire Company; that building at the corner of Susquehanna Avenue and Vine Street remains the companys home. Stricker was born in Philadelphia in 1931 and came to the Lansdale area at age 3, graduating from Lansdale High School in 1950, according to his obituary. Stricker worked as a self-employed heating contractor from 1952-59 before joining Clyde S. Walton Inc. in 1959 as their first service technician, and worked for Waltons for more than three decades. Stricker died in Nov. 17, 2015. Shearer penned Strickers obituary, three times for him while he was alive, Shearer said. Throughout the years, Stricker would have Shearer update the obituary I always had to go to his house! I dont know why, Shearer said. However, he says the multiple revisions were typical of Richard. He wanted to be prepared; he also wanted to go out in style. When it came to style, few things might have been more striking than his gold-colored Cadillac, which Shearer believes was powered by a Corvette engine. A contradiction that was like Stricker himself, Shearer said, flashy on the outside, but dependable on the inside. When it came to getting news and gossip around Lansdale, Shearer said Strickers network of resident connections could beat The Reporter and WNPV in terms of speed. The fastest way to get a story around town was to tell Richard and tell him, Now dont tell anybody!' He would show up, uninvited, to his friends homes or workplaces and chat to the person about whatever was on his mind that day, Shearer said as he shared a story about Stricker entering Shearers home through an unlocked sliding-glass door despite Shearer and his wife pretending not to be home so he could watch a Phillies game on TV. Shearer noted that Stricker had such a personality that you werent even mad at the intrusion by the end of his visit. Laughing, Shearer said he was sure many people had similar stories. Several people in attendance nodded and replied, Yup! Strickers sister Dorothy Amidon, who currently lives in Moon Township, Pa., and friend Pam McAuliff accepted the award on behalf of Stricker. McAuliff told the assembled crowd how she met Stricker through her husband, Steve, who became close with Stricker when the two worked at Waltons. Stricker was practically family to the McAuliffs, key to several household projects, the instigator of what became an annual trip to The Crab Trap in New Jersey, and he even announced that he would drive McAuliff to her wedding to Steve at St. Stans. Sure enough, on her wedding day, McAuliff and her father were ushered into Strickers then-red Cadillac and taken to the church. Amidon joked that when hearing some of the stories about her brother, she wasnt sure if she should hide under the table. But she said she could imagine her brother saying to her, Can you believe this? They gave me this award!' she said, her voice full of awe. Shearer said he wished Stricker could have been there to receive this award, but Im sure hes watching. He added that tonight if anyone heard a voice which, in Shearers words, could kill a moose in Canada calling, Mr. Shearer! Mr. Shearer! You forgot to say a few things Youll know its Richard. If anyone could do it, Stricker could. Dan Sokil contributed to this article. This months Image-Maker in Residence is sociologist Juan Pablo Gonzalez, whose research project highlights religious dance practices throughout the Atacama region in Chile. Tradition and renovation are two words Juan uses when reflecting on these practices, as members of dance troupes pass on knowledge and ritual that continue to contest the conservatism of Catholicism in Chile. This passing-down of practices of resistance reveals the ways in which intergenerational solidarity is maintained and championed. We are so excited to host Juans brilliant images from this project over on Instagram. In the following interview, he introduces us to his research in more detail. Cant decide what to wear? Uniqlo, the Japanese fast-fashion chain, has a solution: A chatbot that gives clothing recommendations based on human input, as well as your purchasing history and your horoscope. The technology, which has been years in the making, is just one example of the extremes retailers are going to as they try to build computer algorithms that can intuit the intangibles of fashion. Instead of making something thats purely mechanical you bought this last month, so you might like this were infusing humanity into the process, said Rei Inamoto, founder of Inamoto & Co., the New York-based firm behind Uniqlos technology. When somebody asks, What should I wear? theyre looking for a personalized answer. As retailers race to offer customization and convenience, they increasingly turn to stylists and personal shoppers to win over consumers and to help fine-tune algorithms that might give them an edge in the $3 trillion global fashion industry. Stitch Fix, the online styling-subscription service, has assembled about 3,700 remote stylists from stay-at-home moms to full-time lawyers who fancy themselves fashionistas to select clients outfits based on a combination of sales data, artificial intelligence and their own taste. (The pay: $15 an hour.) Meanwhile, tech giant Amazon has hired dozens of fashion designers, photo editors and retail workers in recent years to help shape its proprietary software. The companys researchers have also developed an algorithm that analyzes images of clothing and then designs similar items, according to an MIT Technology Review report. Companies are realizing that you can squeeze even more juice out of the orange if you combine data analytics with the human stylists, said Wendy Liebmann, chief executive of consulting firm WSL Strategic Retail. We all know that artificial intelligence is a valuable tool, but it so often misses the nuances. Sarah is in her mid-30s, lives in Massachusetts and works in client services. Shes looking for summer workwear that can transition into the fall. She likes: Polka dots, floral and lace. She dislikes: Stripes, jackets and black. Rachel Gee, a preschool teacher-turned-Stitch Fix stylist, knew all of this the moment she glanced at Sarahs profile. The companys algorithms have distilled Sarahs body measurements and clothing preferences (which she provided when she signed up for the service), as well as three years worth of purchases, into easy-to-read data points. Sarah has long legs and a short torso, and she tends to spend $50 to $100 per item. Gee scrolled through her clients Pinterest page, which is full of bohemian styles, embroidered details and geometric prints, then checked her Twitter and Instagram accounts for more clues. I can see shes very romantic and edgy, stylewise, Gee said. Shes outdoorsy and has a casual vibe. I feel like I know her, like shes my friend, almost. Now, Gee said, she was ready to pick five items to send to her client. The algorithms top suggestion was a pair of distressed denim shorts. Not today, Gee said. She sent Sarah a pair of shorts the week before, and, plus, Sarah was looking for officewear. She found an olive green Calvin Klein dress with a subtle floral print. The computer told her Sarah loves Calvin Klein and predicted a 51 per cent success rate. Were more than halfway there, Gee said. Thats a pretty high probability that shes going to keep that dress. She picked four more items: A navy pencil skirt, a magenta Calvin Klein blouse, an off-white knit blouse and a fun statement necklace with stones. Each item cost between $50 and $100. This whole process is like a partnership between me and the data, said Gee, 29, who lives in San Francisco and now works full time for Stitch Fix. Stitch Fix, with its 3,700 stylists, had only 100 five years ago. Executives say they look for workers with a background in fashion, styling, customer service or retail. (They also want someone with solid writing skills, including grammar and punctuation, a spokesperson said, because stylists send personalized notes in each shipment.) As we learn more about each client over time, both our algorithms and stylists become more accurate, said Meredith Dunn, the companys vice-president of styling and client experience. Our stylists read and digest feedback from clients and our algorithms ingest that data, too. The company has also used that data to create 18 private-label brands to fulfil consumer demand for items such as funky printed dress shirts and sexy (but timeless) first-date wear. Some in the industry, though, say the model isnt sustainable. Working with a personal stylist at Bergdorf Goodman or Saks Fifth Avenue is one thing; relying on machine-learning and stylists in far-off cubicles is another, and it seems like a stretch, said Milton Pedraza, chief executive of the Luxury Institute, a market research firm in New York. Algorithms and one-size-fits-all stylists keep costs down, but it doesnt mean that theyre particularly good matchmakers or can understand tastes and lifestyle, Pedraza said. Having a stylist is about creating a personal relationship, and that just doesnt happen if someone is styling you from a computer on the other side of the country. Andrea Alder was a year out of fashion school when an Amazon recruiter approached her with a top-secret job offer: To train the companys machines to become arbiters of style. For the next year, she spent 40 hours a week, sometimes more, sitting in a cubicle and voting on peoples outfits. Her mission was twofold: To provide real-time feedback to consumers who sought Amazons advice on what to wear and to teach the companys algorithms how to assess clothing for fit, trend, silhouette and, eventually, style. (The outfit compare feature on Amazons app allows Prime members to ask for guidance on which of two outfits looks better. Trying to decide between a blue blouse and a purple one? Amazon promises human judgment within minutes.) Alder began her shift at 5:30 most mornings, condensing her fashion education and styling experience into split-second decisions. Shed see two photos side by side, and quickly vote on which outfit looked better. There was no time to ask questions (Was this stuffy suit on its way to a corporate job or a wedding?) or to explain her decisions, either to the person she was styling or the algorithm she was training. The way the machine learns is through a lot of repetition, said Alder, 24, who like many of her peers signed a nondisclosure agreement before taking the job. Everything has to be very simple. Its like explaining to a little kid why something works or doesnt. Alder found a certain rhythm to her work. Demand for outfit input swelled at certain times, like right before work and in the run-up to New Years Eve. She learned to be quick, and deliberate in her judgments. But she was wary of what her split-second decisions might be teaching Amazons machines about fashion and style. Machines want black-and-white, and so much of fashion is subtle, she said. If you pick a dress over a pair of pants, you dont want the algorithm to think its because dresses always look better than pants. So how do you make it understand that this particular dress fits well and is on trend while the pants are outdated? Amazons hope, she said, was that hiring enough stylists with different tastes and backgrounds and locations would help create a universally trendy master stylist. (An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment on the companys proprietary algorithms, but she confirmed that dozens of stylists are helping fine-tune the machines understanding of things such as style, current trends, fit and colour.) In the end, Alder said her position at Amazon didnt allow as much creative freedom as she had hoped. Being a stylist, whats fun about my job is getting to have a voice, she said. When youre at a desk just telling people what to wear, you dont have a connection to the customer. When her contract ended last summer, she got a job as an editorial stylist for the e-commerce site Zulily. She also works as a personal stylist for private clients. Working at Amazon made me excited for the future of technology, she said. But it also made me realize that Id rather do more hands-on work. Actors Gary Lockwood and Keir Dullea are on the line in a conference telephone call with a 2001: A Space Odyssey nerd, who happens to be me. Lockwood is in Malibu. Dullea is in San Diego. Im in Toronto, trying to explain to them plans I have with a pal to have a dinner party serving only food consumed in Stanley Kubricks sci-fi masterpiece. Theres a lot of eating in the film, from the Dawn of Man opener to the Star Gate thrill-ride finale. The two American actors, who are heading here to greet the faithful at Fan Expo Canada, Aug. 30 to Sept. 2, play key roles in 2001 as Jupiter-bound astronauts Frank Poole and Dave Bowman. In the movie, their space-travel plans fall prey to a devilishly shrewd computer named HAL 9000, voiced by Canadian actor Douglas Rain. My dinner party seems like a geekish good way to honour the 50th anniversary of my favourite film, one Ive seen more than 50 times since its 1968 debut, a year before the Apollo 11 moon landing. My viewings of 2001 include a screening this very weekend at Ontario Place Cinesphere, where it is playing nightly in glorious IMAX for the next two weeks. Lockwood, 81, and Dullea, 82, scoff at my dinner plans. The food theyre seen eating in 2001 looks like baby food and maybe some kind of pate or meat loaf. It sure didnt taste like that, the two actors insist. They recall it as something akin to cold oatmeal mixed with gelatin, made that way to keep it from falling out of trays in the upside-down environment of the giant wheeled centrifuge Kubricks team built to mimic zero gravity. I suggest you dont have that dinner party, Lockwood solemnly says. Theres no one holding a gun to your head. I suggest you get some really nice food and play The Blue Danube instead. Both actors hated eating 2001s multicoloured mush, but Lockwood reckons it was worse for him. Keir is different from me he likes granola and all that, I dont. I like eggs for breakfast. I was the guy that had to eat the green, red and yellow stuff, and then later Keir had to as well. They put me up at the top of the wheel and the first time I bit into it, all of this stuff fell 65 feet. It was like oatmeal and I cant stand oatmeal. I dont care if its English steel cut or whatever. I grew up on a ranch. Dullea fared better, literally. He had to eat the coloured mush, too, but at the end of the film spoiler alert! hes seen dining on something that looks like fish or chicken, with carrots and green beans on the side, served on a plate alongside a nice glass of white wine. (Dullea sheepishly admits he cant remember what was on his plate, but it was 50 years ago.) The two actors are of like minds on most other things to do with 2001, although Dullea is more keen than Lockwood to talk about minutiae associated with the film. You guys sound like Cub Scouts talking about camping! Lockwood jokes, after listening to Dullea and me geek out for awhile. But they both have a lot to say about space aliens, space travel, film restoration and pesky computers: How are you enjoying this 50th anniversary year of 2001: A Space Odyssey? Dullea: Im enjoying it. I love representing this film. I think I was blessed to have been cast in it. Unexpectedly cast, by the way. I was doing a film in London (Bunny Lake Is Missing) with Laurence Olivier, and I got a call from my agent and he said, Are you sitting down? I said, No, why should I? He said, Youd better sit down, youve just been offered the lead in Stanley Kubricks next film. So thats how that happened. Gary and I have both been blessed. I think 2001 has become this iconic film that many people feel is one of the greatest films ever made. Lockwood: I feel very much like Keir does. Im very proud when my agent called me and told me that I was to play in one of the leading roles in Stanley Kubricks movie, I asked my agent how much it was going to cost me to be in the film! And it didnt cost me (though) I didnt get paid very much. Of course, when youre working for the master, youve got take a pay cut! Ive never understood why people say they cant understand 2001. Its an epic Earthlings-meet-aliens tale. Dullea: I read something relatively recently about something Stanley said, a comment he made about being asked, What does the film mean? What is the ultimate meaning? Stanleys answer was, How would you describe in words, either on paper or verbally, Beethovens Fifth Symphony? You cant. Why? Because every human being who goes and hears this music is bringing their own particular persona to it, so its never going to be exactly the same. And the proof of that is that 2001 is a visual symphony. Do either of you believe in space aliens? Dullea: I believe they may exist, when you think about the fact that each galaxy has billions of stars, not millions, billions ... just do the multiplication tables. The odds of an alien coming to Earth are tiny: point zero-zero-zero-zero-zero-zero-zero-zero one per cent. Lockwood: I concur with that. Thats why I believe there are other life forces in the universe. I think that its naive to think that were alone, but I dont think theyre all hanging out here. And if they do, why do they always go to New Mexico, for Christs sake? Theres not much water there. When 2001 came out in 1968, mankind was just about to land on the moon. Did you think back then that wed have at least reached Mars by now, if not Jupiter? Lockwood: May I say something? I was in the pilot for Star Trek (an episode titled Where No Man Has Gone Before). And so I have done shows where they ask me about Star Trek and the ship and whatever the hell it was, and I can tell you that these television shows and Buck Rogers and all these things have created a delusion in peoples minds. Space travel is very, very complicated, very far away. I hear all these tales about theres some alien that crashed (in New Mexico) and they have him and only certain people get to see him. I hear all these stories, about UFOs and everything. But I have to say, man, its a long way to the next place! Its not chopped liver! Dullea: To answer your question, I never even thought that far ahead. It didnt occur to me. I was looking forward to the landing on the moon, and it happened a year after the film came out. As a matter of fact, when (Apollo 11s Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin) finally stepped out, if you remember, it took a long time for them to come out of the ship, once they were landed. I was in the control room at CBS; they flew me up from the Bahamas for an interview. Somebody comes rushing in saying, Theyre coming out! So they led me into the control room with all those monitors and (the astronauts) are coming out and I look over to my right and whos sitting in the next chair, but (2001 author) Arthur C. Clarke, with tears streaming down his face. What do you think of Christopher Nolans non-restoration restoration of 2001, taking the film back to the way he believes it looked to audiences in 1968? Many people think he made the colours more muted than they should be. Dullea: I saw the film at Cannes and I thought it was magnificent. It hit me almost the way the original film did when I first saw it. Its brilliant, and I have never heard the sound as good as it is now. Lockwood: Gentlemen, Im just going to not talk about that very much. To me, (Nolan) kind of jumped on the bandwagon. Advances in artificial intelligence means we may one day see a supercomputer like HAL 9000, who talks and acts like a super genius. What do you think about that? Dullea: The irony is, here I am, playing this astronaut in this famous film dealing with computers and all the technical stuff, and I am so terrible with computers. I can just about email, thats about it! Lockwood (laughing): Ive never heard you say that! For details on Keir Dulleas and Gary Lockwoods appearances at Fan Expo Canada, click www.fanexpocanada.com. For details on Cinesphere screenings of 2001: A Space Odyssey, go to www.ontarioplace.com Canadian politicians are expressing their sympathies to the family of Arizona Sen. John McCain, who has died of brain cancer at the age of 81. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on Twitter that McCain was an American patriot and hero whose sacrifices for his country, and lifetime of public service, were an inspiration to millions. Conservative party Leader Andrew Scheer praised McCain on Twitter, writing his decades of service in defence of freedom crossed party lines and touched freedom-loving people across borders. Former prime minister Stephen Harper also expressed his sympathies, calling McCain an American hero, while former Progressive Conservative party leader Peter MacKay tweeted that freedom loving people everywhere are mourning the heartbreaking loss of a true voice for integrity and civility. Former prime minister Brian Mulroney, in an emailed statement, called McCain a committed friend of Canada, and said he joins admirers in mourning one the bravest leaders in public life anywhere. McCain was a war veteran who was captured in North Vietnam in 1967 and endured years of torture and abuse. He died on Saturday after battling brain cancer for more than a year. Read more: John McCain, longtime U.S. senator and former presidential candidate, dies at 81 A look back to John McCains release after over five years as a POW McCain no longer receiving treatment for brain cancer, says family With Star files Read more about: INUVIK, N.W.T.A traditional hunter in the Northwest Territories says he used to welcome the cruise ships coming into the Beaufort Sea in Canadas Arctic. But Hans Lennie from Inuvik says thats changing. Not as much now. Now that weve got all the facts, said Lennie, who also sits on the Inuvialuit Game Council, which manages wildlife and wildlife habitat in the region. Some of his concerns are highlighted in a new report about untreated grey water being dumped by ships passing through. The study commissioned by World Wildlife Fund Canada said the amount of grey water drainage from sinks, laundry machines, bath tubs, shower stalls or dishwashers could double by 2035 if laws arent improved. Its pretty alarming, said Melissa Nacke of the wildlife conservation group. These concentration areas are overlapping with important species habitat and important cultural areas. Read more: Polar bear shot dead in Arctic after injuring cruise ship worker, sparking criticism Increased shipping to the Arctic could be detrimental to northern mammals, study says There are parallels between the polar bear shot dead and the perils of climate change, University of Alberta researcher says The number of ships travelling in northern waters is expected to increase as climate change melts sea ice. The study suggests tourism will be the biggest source of grey water dumping by 2035. If you think of shower or laundry water, it contains detergent and soaps and shampoos, said Nacke. It also has really high levels of nutrients ... and can have things like oil and grease. It can have metals, food particles and, because of the laundry, it can also have microplastics. Nacke said those materials can contaminate shellfish and cause large algae blooms that create dead zones in the ocean. The report noted that could have repercussions for food security in northern communities a conclusion that only adds to Lennies concerns. Its totally detrimental, said Lennie. These ships, their grey water is all their cleaning material. Thats pretty toxic stuff. Its a nurturing grounds. All the marine life. All the invertebrates that the whales feed on. It involves the waterfowl too. It definitely has an impact on the food chain. Both the report and locals like Lennie say federal and international regulations are necessary. We need something. Right now we have nothing, he said. Anything we do is better than nothing. Lennie said the Inuvialuit Game Council has been meeting with the federal government. Officials with Transport Canada said they are reviewing the report. Canada regulates shipping within Canadian Arctic waters, said an emailed statement from the department. The regulations address many aspects of Arctic shipping, including requirements for vessel construction and operation, training of crew members, the presence of ice navigators on board, fire safety and life-saving. But the statement acknowledged there are no provisions related to grey water. Different rules are in place for southern Canadian waters. The regulations require passenger vessels built after 2013 and carrying more than 500 passengers to use an onboard marine sanitation device before releasing grey water. The U.S. government and the state of Alaska have regulations related to grey water from ships. Part of that was because cruise ships spend a lot of time in Alaska, said Ed White, cruise ship program manager with Alaskas Department of Environmental Conservation. Part of it was the size of the ships, too, which were much larger than the communities they were travelling to. That created a lot public concern. White said the major worry was linked to bacteria from food waste or laundry, but officials had also found toxic materials such as dry cleaning chemicals and mercury. We dont see that anymore. Thats due to stricter regulations, he said, including inspections on ships and a move to stop using some toxic materials. Nacke said high standards in Alaska make it more important for grey water discharge to be regulated in Canadas northern waters. Cruise ships that go around Alaska ... can literally use Canada as a dumping ground, she said. Lennie said he hopes there are some regulations sooner rather than later. This is a new travel destination, he said. (Tourists) want to see the untouched wilderness, but theres a cost to it. Read more about: The Progressive Conservatives victory in Ontarios June election has reignited conversation about the province taking partial control of the TTC. And though Premier Doug Fords new government has yet to announce detailed plans for what might be in store for the city-owned transit system, experts and former city officials warn that giving control of parts of the network to the province could do significant damage to Torontos long-term transit plans. Conservative and Liberal governments in Ontario going back decades have contemplated uploading the TTC to the province. But unlike their predecessors, who mused about taking wholesale control of Torontos transit network, during the 2018 campaign the PCs officially proposed only a limited upload, in which Ontario would take ownership of subway infrastructure but the TTC would continue operating the lines and collecting fare revenue. The party argues putting the subway network on the provinces books would allow Queens Park to take advantage of accounting rules not available to the city, and enable it to more efficiently finance the construction of new lines by amortizing their costs over the life of the project. Ford also suggested earlier this month that removing stewardship of the subway from Torontos dysfunctional city council would accelerate transit building. I think the TTC does a great job and their employees do a great job, especially in operating. I believe other people can build subways a lot more efficiently, he said at Queens Park on Aug. 15. The lack of details on the potentially transformative change for the TTC has led to speculation that the Tories will deviate from what they pitched during the campaign and embrace a wider takeover of the transit system that could include subway operations as well. Transportation Minister John Yakabuski fuelled that speculation last week when he told reporters at Queens Park that uploading can mean a lot of things to a lot of people and everything is on the table. A spokesperson later downplayed those comments, however, saying the government is not considering taking over TTC operations. The government is focused on a plan to upload the responsibility for subway infrastructure from the City of Toronto, said Transportation Ministry spokesperson Justine Lewkowicz in an email. Responsibility for day-to-day operations would remain with the city and the TTC. The city would continue to keep the revenue generated by the subway system. Read more: Doug Ford promises to consult with mayor before taking steps to upload TTC subway to province City, provincial leaders cool on proposal to upload municipal transit agencies to Ontario Doug Fords transit plans are latest example of cost and chaos politicians inflict on transit users David Gunn, who was general manager of the TTC from 1995 to 1999, cautioned against having different levels of government operate different parts of the network. The beauty of the TTC was that it was an integrated system, he said in an interview, noting the bus, streetcar and subway lines are closely intertwined. If you have ownership of a part of that system in somebody elses hand, are they going to start screwing it up? Are they going to screw up the easy transfer, the relationship and the scheduling that goes between bus, rail and the streetcar? But even the Ford government going ahead with a more modest version of the subway upload, in which they would merely take ownership of the lines, could lead to significant complications. While Ford has said there would be nothing but a benefit to the city of Toronto in the province taking ownership of the subway off their shoulders, its not clear how responsibility would be shared for keeping the existing system in a state of good repair. The PCs have pledged to spend $160 million a year on maintaining the rail network. But according to the TTC, the subway will require an average of $327 million annually in capital work over the next decade, double what the Tories have offered. The ministry spokesperson didnt answer a question about how the costs of subway maintenance would be divided up. While Ford has argued provincial control would enable the government to more effectively deliver transit projects, according to former mayor David Miller, ceding final say to Queens Park over what gets built would hobble the citys ability to plan for its future. The municipal government is responsible for approving residential and commercial development, but if it cant also direct new lines to those areas, it would be impossible to ensure future growth is adequately served by transit, Miller argued. Its a basic thing in a city to be able to plan transportation along with land use. Its a core function of a city. And you cant plan one without having authority over the other, said Miller, a progressive who in 2008 rebuffed Liberal premier Dalton McGuintys suggestion that Metrolinx, the then-fledgling provincial transit agency, should take over the TTC. Miller called the Conservatives new iteration of the upload plan disastrous. Matti Siemiatycki, an associate professor at the University of Torontos school of geography and planning, predicted that Queens Park taking ownership of the subway network could make it more likely the province would prioritize building new lines outside Toronto, despite transit demand being highest within the city. The owner of the asset and the one whos paying for it gets to typically decide what gets built, he said. I think if you have a government that is at the provincial level, and especially one that has its power base in the suburban regions, that could then have a real impact on what gets built. Are we building long-distance subways? he asked. The Progressive Conservatives dominated the GTAs suburbs in the election, winning 22 of 26 of the ridings immediately surrounding Toronto. After the election, Ford raised eyebrows by suggesting his government would build a subway all the way to Pickering, an area east of Toronto where the PCs were victorious but where demand at the existing GO Transit station falls well below levels that would normally justify a subway. Ford has also advocated building an extension of the TTCs Line 1 (Yonge-University-Spadina) to Richmond Hill, a plan the TTC has long opposed because it would only add passengers to the line, which already regularly operates above capacity. The TTC has said the extension shouldnt be built until a relief line serving downtown Toronto is completed. Former TTC chief executive Andy Byford, who left the agency last year to become president of the New York City Transit Authority, declined to weigh in on details of the PCs uploading plan. But he said that if the governance of the TTC does change, it cant be allowed to pull the focus away from completing the relief line, which he described as the citys top priority. Whichever model is adopted whether it be status quo or something else it must deliver that absolute and increasingly pressing imperative, he told the Star. Siemiatycki said another potential consequence of uploading is a further tilt toward building transit megaprojects at the expense of investing in local service. The provincial governments purview tends to be focused on very big investments that are highly visible, he said. Large transit projects are needed in the GTA, Siemiatycki said, but additional funding for the existing bus and streetcar network, as well as new, smaller projects like bus rapid transit routes, are the only initiatives that will bring relief to riders in the short term. However, Siemiatycki stressed that uploading parts of the TTC isnt necessarily a bad idea. If this government comes to the table and says we are going to take (the TTC subway) on, but we are going to invest heavily, and new money on top of whats already allocated, and were going to apply evidence to make decisions, that could conceivably be positive, he said. The opposition NDP strongly opposes the Conservative plan. Jessica Bell, the partys transit critic, said if the province wants to improve the TTC it should commit to providing more funding for the agencys daily operations. If Doug Ford is truly committed to getting Torontonians moving and using public transit, investing in the TTC is a better way to go than uploading the subway system, said Bell, the MPP for University-Rosedale. Bell also warned the upload would put us on the path to privatizing the TTC. The Tories havent said they have any plans to contract out work on the system, however. In May, council voted 30-6 to tell the province that control of transit within Toronto should remain under the TTC. Earlier this month Mayor John Tory reiterated his position that he would be willing to entertain the discussion of uploading the subways, but only after extensive consultation with the public, city and the TTC, and if the Progressive Conservatives put forward a plan that represented a good deal for the people of the city. Its our TTC, its our subway, he said. Ford has said he would work with the mayor before moving ahead with any subway takeover. But there is little to stop the province if it wishes to alter governance of the TTC, which derives its authority from provincial legislation. Ben Spurr is a Toronto-based reporter covering transportation. Reach him by email at bspurr@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @BenSpurr Read more about: Toronto police have identified a suspect wanted in connection with a fatal Scarborough assault that occurred Friday afternoon. Garfield Chambers, 43, from Toronto is wanted for second-degree murder, police said on Sunday. Toronto police homicide Det.-Sgt. Mike Carbone said Chambers and the victim knew each other, but would not elaborate on the nature of their relationship. Officers responded to reports of an assault just before 1 p.m. on Friday in between two parking lots at 2305 Markham Rd. and 20 Melham Crt. Two men were allegedly involved in a physical altercation and police found a man lying on the ground with obvious signs of trauma, police spokesperson Katrina Arrogante said. The other man was last seen fleeing south, police said. The victim, who police have since identified as 49-year-old Cecil Graham of Toronto, died shortly after. Graham is Torontos 68th homicide of this year. Carbone said Graham spent a lot of time in the area where he was killed. We have come to learn that he frequented that area regularly, Carbone said, clarifying that although he could not comment on a place of residence for Graham, the man had been known to frequent both locations at 2305 Markham Rd. and 20 Melham Crt. Carbone said an autopsy would likely take place in the next couple of days. Investigators warn if you see Chambers do not approach him, instead call 911 immediately. Chambers is known to police, and Carbone said he is dangerous and very violent. Anyone with information or who knows the whereabouts of the suspect is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477). With files from Jenna Moon and Alexandra Jones In a mayoral race that has suddenly heated up, the two top candidates both launched their platforms with promises on the same topic: affordable housing. A promise to build new affordable rental housing was John Torys first official declaration in a lunchtime speech to a business crowd in June. And it was Jennifer Keesmaats first at the podium in the infancy of her candidacy two months later. Election campaigns are often filled with rhetoric. Candidates make pitches to voters that are ready sound bites for TV news but come with few details. The Star will be fact-checking the major promises from top mayoral candidates, asking for those details and speaking to experts to assess whether they hold up. This is the first in a series. What are they promising? John Tory To create 40,000 new affordable rental units in 12 years. Jennifer Keesmaat To create 100,000 new affordable rental units in 10 years. Can it be done? Tory Torys office would not make anyone from the campaign available or provide any data for this story, despite repeated requests, making it impossible to examine the viability of Torys promise. During a scrum at an unrelated news conference, Tory told the Star his promise is premised on his signature housing plan from this term, called Open Door. That program was created to provide incentives to developers government land at low to no cost and breaks on development charges and other fees in order to secure a percentage of affordable units in new developments that would stay affordable for a period of time, typically 25 to 50 years. A previous Star analysis of the Open Door program shows it may be difficult to achieve what Tory has pitched using the existing formula. The program relies on city properties that have been declared surplus. Since it was announced in 2015, the program has yet to meet the council-approved target of creating 1,000 new affordable rental units per year. Tory has insisted the goal has been met based on the number of units approved, rather than actual units built. In 2017, more than 1,200 affordable rental units were approved by the city, but just 210 were built, according to city data. An estimated 525 additional units are expected to be built in 2018. In 2017, the city investment for Open Door totalled $85.2 million. The federal and provincial governments contributed an additional $43 million. Tory said the 40,000-unit promise, which works out to more than 3,300 units per year on average, will be met thanks to increased effort through the Open Door program. His campaign, in a statement responding to the Stars request for more information, said only that the target was set after consultations with city staff, experts and industry stakeholders. I think the scaling it up means that you simply apply the same rules and practices weve applied in the very successful Open Door policy to put up more city land, if we can, to attract more people from the private and non-profit sectors to be our partners, Tory said. The campaign has not said what city land might be made available or how many units each of those sites could yield. As for financial incentives, its not clear how they could be broadened or bolstered to further incentivize developers in order to meet that goal. Keesmaat Keesmaats campaign team provided a basic model, using conservative estimates, and answered specific questions to show it could be possible to get to more than 100,000 units using city-owned land. In an interview, Keesmaat said a key difference between her plan and Torys is that she is looking to unlock vast swaths of city land, including Green P parking lots and TTC lands, not just properties that have been declared surplus. Her plan also looks at creating more affordable units at 80 per cent of average market rent, whereas Open Door uses the current city standard of 100 per cent of average market rent or better, and proposes to keep the units affordable in perpetuity. The city has very slowly been releasing lands that it identifies as surplus in a really inefficient way, one property at a time, and my plan is about recognizing that there is Green P lots that are in use, theres other city-owned lands that have one-storey buildings on them, whether that be a TTC station or some other kind of use and that we can use this land in a dramatic, in a significant way to be creating purpose-built rental housing that families can afford, she said. The campaigns analysis looks at 4,810,311 square metres of land, choosing types of properties where there are already lowrise buildings that could have housing built on top, like libraries, recreation centres and TTC stations, or readily developable or re-developable lands such as Green P parking lots that could be replaced underground. The campaign said it removed any employment lands where the city does not currently allow residential properties to be built, park space and other non-developable sites from their analysis using a combination of land use databases. The campaign assumed low density on those lands equivalent to a row of townhomes. That conservative assumption accounts for, the campaign said, the fact that some lands will not be developable at all, such as heritage sites that are protected, and some of the lands can be developed at a much higher density. Keesmaat said the fit with adjacent neighbourhoods and building livable communities would be paramount. The campaign accounted for the fact that developments include about 20 per cent non-residential space, like hallways and elevators, and used an average unit size of 1,000 square feet to reflect that units would range from a bachelor to a three-bedroom. Doing that math, which the Star verified, the analysis produces 103,559 units on the land identified, which is only a portion of all city lands. Campaign spokesperson Sean Meagher said they have not done a site-by-site analysis that would provide a precise number of units that could be created, but called the example provided to the Star a cautious estimate that shows the lands owned by the city have the capacity to see Keesmaats promise realized. Keesmaats plan uses the land as incentive for developers, but she said she would offer additional financial incentives to fill a gap depending on the value of the land to bring developers on board. She did not specify what types of incentives might be used. What do experts say? The Daniels Corp. president Mitch Cohen said it was great news that both mayoral candidates have put affordable housing at the top of their agenda. We desperately need bold strokes and decisive action and both candidates appear ready to take the necessary steps to make an impact, he said, adding using all available city-owned land is key, as are funding agreements with the federal government. How do we get to 100,000 units? Or even 40,000? We all know how difficult that will be, but the degree of difficulty shouldnt deter us from putting one foot in front of the other to get there. Peter Zimmerman, president of the non-profit New Commons Developments, described Keesmaats 100,000-unit proposal as a reasonable proposition, noting he has not seen a detailed analysis. When you consider Green P sites, recreation centres and other lands like Toronto Community Housing properties that should be redeveloped, he said, its easy to see the potential for 100,000 units of new development on city lands. Zimmerman said the city must offer financial incentives on top of city land at low to no cost for developers to get them to buy into building more affordable units. Land is critical because the land is simply not available at a price that an affordable rental developer can access, he said, but financial incentives like the ones offered by the citys Open Door program and the federal co-investment fund are still required to build units at 80 per cent average market rent, even for developers like him who arent in business to make a profit. S. Mwarigha, vice-president of housing and homelessness services for WoodGreen Community Services, said there is capacity in the non-profit sector to build these units. He said WoodGreen is looking to build about 1,000 units a year over the next five years or so. That plan rests on the assumption that the incentives offered by the Open Door program, in which they have previously participated on a Gerrard St. E. site, will remain intact and new city lands are made available, he said. Jason Lester, vice-chair of development for Dream, which partnered on developing a site in the West Don Lands through the Open Door program, said there is plenty of demand for affordable rental, but there is a challenge in how much of the citys land is ready to be developed and how much the industry could produce each year. Like any program, the devils in the details, he said. No ones been specific about identifying where this land is. Read more about: KALISPELL, MT.Wildfires that have kept portions of Glacier National Park closed for two weeks are scrambling visitors plans and prompting some to cancel their trips. Much of Glaciers famous Going-to-the-Sun Road has been closed since August 12 because of a fire thats burned more than 50 square kilometres and destroyed historic cabins and other structures around Lake McDonald. Its the third time in four years that fires have shut down the iconic road. More than 225 kilometres of hiking trails in Glacier also were closed as of last week. Tourism usually slows in August, but this year has been especially tough, said Phyllis Jackson, who owns a gift shop in Apgar Village near Lake McDonald. People are not hanging around Apgar if they cant see the lake, Jackson told the Flathead Beacon newspaper. Once the fires hit, theres always a big drop in business. Glacier spokesperson Lauren Alley says final visitation numbers will come out next month. While the fires likely have driven down visits, Alley said some areas of the park have become busier than usual as tourists look for less-smoky destinations. The ripple effects of the fires extend beyond the park. Dylan Boyle, executive director of the Whitefish Convention and Visitors Bureau, said he has heard from a number of hotels that people are cancelling their reservations well into the fall. Boyle tells potential visitors that there are still other things to do in northwestern Montana and conditions can change quickly. WASHINGTONTwo former presidents are expected to speak at U.S. Sen. John McCains service and he will lie in state in both Washington and Arizona as part of a cross-country funeral procession ending with his burial at the U.S. Naval Academy, according to plans taking shape Sunday. McCain had long feuded with President Donald Trump, and two White House officials said McCains family had asked, before the senators death, that Trump not attend the funeral services. Vice-President Mike Pence is likely to attend, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe private discussions. A day after McCain died of brain cancer at 81, his family, friends and congressional and state leaders were working out details of the farewell to the decorated Vietnam War hero, prisoner of war and six-term senator. Read more: John McCain, longtime U.S. senator and former presidential candidate, dies at 81 Canadian politicians pay tribute to Arizona Sen. John McCain, dead at 81 A look back to John McCains release after over five years as a POW His office website said McCain will lie in state and have funeral services in Arizona on Wednesday and Thursday. The procession will then head to Washington, where McCain will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda. There will then be a procession past the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and a funeral service at Washington National Cathedral. A private funeral is planned at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Trump tweeted that his deepest sympathies and respect went out to McCains family. First lady Melania Trump tweeted thanks to McCain for his service to the country. Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, who blocked McCains own White House ambitions, are among those expected to speak at the senators funeral. These were bitter contests, both of them, said Sen. Jeff Flake, McCains fellow Arizona senator, and to ask them to speak at your funeral, and for them to be honoured at the opportunity, that tells you all you need to know. Flake told CBSs Face the Nation that McCain was quick to forgive certainly put the good of the country above himself, and the fact that his former opponents will be there speaking says all we need to know. McCain, an avowed free trader and longtime supporter of expanding the North American Free Trade Agreement, was remembered by Canadian politicians as a friend to Canada who reached across political boundaries to do what he felt was right. Senator McCain was a great friend to Canada and a true statesman whose intelligence, tenacity and courage were unmatched, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland wrote on Twitter. Former prime minister Brian Mulroney echoed the sentiment in a written statement Sunday. John McCain was always a committed friend of Canada, he said. On any issue, John would always come down on the side of his deep friendship with us. McCain died at his Arizona ranch after a yearlong battle with brain cancer. A black hearse, accompanied by a police motorcade, could be seen driving away from the ranch near Sedona where McCain spent his final weeks. For 80 kilometres along Interstate 17 southbound, on every overpass and at every exit ramp, people watched the procession. Hundreds, including many waving American flags, parked their cars and got out to watch. Congressional leaders announced that McCain would lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda, though they did not give a date. The nation mourns the loss of a great American patriot, a statesman who put his country first and enriched this institution through many years of service, said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Arizona will accord McCain that honour on Wednesday, when he would have turned 82. This is a rare and distinct occurrence for a truly special man, Republican Gov. Doug Ducey said in a tweet. Ducey does not plan to announce his selection of a Senate successor to McCain until after McCains burial. Under state law, the governors appointee to serve until the next general election in 2020 must come from the same political party. A statement from Duceys office said that now is a time for remembering and honouring a consequential life. Trumps brief Twitter statement said hearts and prayers are with the McCain family. Trump and McCain were at bitter odds until the end. The president, who as a candidate in 2016 mocked McCains capture in Vietnam, had jabbed at the ailing senator for voting against Republican efforts to roll back Obamas health-care law. Earlier this summer, McCain issued a blistering statement criticizing Trumps meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Obama, who triumphed over McCain in 2008, said that despite their differences, McCain and he shared a fidelity to something higher the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed. Obama said they saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world. Bush, who defeated McCain for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination, called McCain a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order and a friend whom Ill deeply miss. Other tributes poured in from around the globe. French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted in English that McCain was a true American hero. He devoted his entire life to his country. Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said McCains support for the Jewish state never wavered. It sprang from his belief in democracy and freedom. And Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel called McCain a tireless fighter for a strong trans-Atlantic alliance. His significance went well beyond his own country. McCain was the son and grandson of admirals and followed them to the U.S. Naval Academy. A pilot, he was shot down over Vietnam and held as a prisoner of war for more than five years. He went on to win a seat in the House and in 1986, the Senate, where he served for the rest of his life. He had a joy about politics and a love for his country that was unmatched, said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. And while he never made it to the presidency, in the Senate, he was the leader that would see a hot spot in the world and just say, we need to go there and stand up for that democracy, she told CNNs State of the Union. Former vice-president Joe Biden, who developed a friendship with McCain while they served together in the Senate, said the Arizona lawmaker will cast a long shadow. The spirit that drove him was never extinguished: we are here to commit ourselves to something bigger than ourselves, Biden said The Senates top Democrat, New Yorks Chuck Schumer, said he wants to rename the Senate building that housed McCains suite of offices after McCain. As you go through life, you meet few truly great people. John McCain was one of them, Schumer said. Maybe most of all, he was a truth teller never afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all too rare. With files from The Canadian Press Read more about: EDWARDSVILLE Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine student Kamiya Khatwani spent three weeks in India presenting oral health awareness sessions to more than 2,400 individuals from July 15-Aug. 5. Along with her brother, Dr. Nikhil Khatwani, a general dentist and a budding endodontist practicing in India, Kamiya visited multiple schools across two states, Gujarat and Maharashtra, in India. With Kamiyas family in India and as a partner in her brothers dental practice, she is always seeking ways to serve the community. Our practice has a program called Sunday Smiles, where we provide dental services to the underserved community children every third Sunday of the month, she said. With a family connection to the founders of Harishewa Education Campus, their first stop was at the school based in the city of Vadodara in Gujarat. My mother-in-law and my husbands uncle are school trustees, Khatwani said. So, when I expressed interest in an oral healthcare presentation, they welcomed the idea and supported me to organize the event for more than 1,000 students in 5th -10th grades. Khatwanis family connections continued to lead to more educational opportunities. My cousin, who teaches as an associate professor at Netaji High School, told me about the need for oral health awareness and asked if we could give a presentation at her school, she said. Netaji High School is one of the schools managed and funded by the Sindhu Education Society (SES). Rekha Thakur, SES secretary, happened to be on the campus that day and attended the presentation. Ms. Thakur and the principal were very impressed by our presentation/interactive session, and asked if we could do the presentation for other schools managed and funded by the SES, said Khatwani, who presented at five of the 11 different campuses in the city. I made a powerpoint presentation with lots of pictures covering a range of different oral health topics and tweaked it a bit to cater to the audience based on the age groups, Khatwani said. Most of the students were from low socio-economic backgrounds, but the questions that they posed were brilliant, Khatwani said. They were inquisitive, interactive and were keen to know more about oral and systemic health. Overall, it was an awesome feeling and a humbling experience to reach out to so many individuals in such a short trip. An additional benefit was created when Thakur spoke with the managing committee of Swami Shanti Prakash Trust, one of the oldest trusts in the city. Upon hearing about the oral healthcare education initiative for the SES students, the trust voluntarily provided toothbrushes and notebooks to the attendees. A local volunteer also arranged for dental floss to be distributed among all the students. Khatwanis original plan was to do only two presentations. They eventually conducted dental awareness sessions for four different schools and two colleges: Swami Hansumani Degree College and Sitaldas Khemani College. The other schools and degree college are based in Ulhasnagar, a suburb of Mumbai(Bombay) city, in Maharashtra. Tesla Inc Chief Executive Elon Musk said late on Friday he would heed shareholder concerns and no longer pursue a $72 billion deal to take the luxury electric carmaker private, abandoning an idea that stunned investors and drew regulatory scrutiny. The decision to leave Tesla as a publicly listed company raises new questions about its future. Tesla shares have been trading well below their August 7 levels, when Musk announced on Twitter that he was considering taking Tesla private for $420 per share, as investors wondered what this meant for Musk's ability to steer the company to profitability. Musk and Tesla also face a series of investor lawsuits and a US Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into the factual accuracy of Musk's tweet that funding for the deal was "secured."Musk said on Friday that his belief that there is more than enough funding to take the company private was reinforced during the process, but said he abandoned the bid based on feedback from shareholders and because the effort was proving to be more time-consuming and distracting. When Musk announced to take the company private, Tesla's stock price shot up, and short sellers made money on Tesla's losses. But, the recent announcement to not go private doesn't end any of Tesla's worries by far. The company is still burning money there have been delays in production of Model 3 car. The decision to keep the company public will brush much of the blowback under the rug for sometime. Not long after the passing of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) supremo M. Karunanidhi, a battle for succession seems imminent in the party. Expelled DMK leader M.K. Alagiri has come out openly against his estranged brother M.K. Stalin, who now heads the party. Alagiri said the party would face a 'threat' after his September 5 Chennai rally, expected to be a show of strength by him. "Yes definitely, it will be a threat. I have never aspired for any post in the party, even when Karunanidhi was alive. Stalin is in haste to claim the presidency," ANI reported Alagiri as saying. Days after claiming that all loyal workers were with him, the former union minister also appeared to be reaching out to Stalin to facilitate his re-entry into the party, saying he never hankered after any post. Karunanidhi, who passed away on August 7, had expelled Alagiri and his supporters from the party in 2014 at the height of his fight with Stalin over establishing supremacy in the party. "You please wait till Sept 5 when we are organising silent rally to pay homage at the memorial of thalaivar (leader)... You will know how the party men accept me and want me there," Alagiri told reporters. The DMK would definitely face a 'threat' following the rally. "Even rivals had appreciated my election work..and organisational skills.. Section of DMK leaders will understand me at least now," he asserted. He was apparently referring to his role in ensuring the success of DMK in by-elections in southern Tamil Nadu during the DMK's 2006-11 rule. Earlier, he held a consultative meeting with his supporters for the rally. Indicating a fresh succession war in the DMK, Alagiri had on August 13 claimed all loyal party workers are with him and hit out at Stalin, accusing him of blocking his return to the party. Meanwhile, the DMK party executive, on August 14, made it clear that it was solidly behind its working president Stalin. At the urgent meeting, convened to condole the death of party president and former chief minister Karunanidhi, Stalin asserted himself as the next leader to steer the party. The first executive meeting of the DMK after the death of Karunanidhi was expected to look at the future action plan of the party and formally elevating his younger son Stalin to the post of party president. However, the executive council, with a strength of around 460 people including the party seniors, MLAs, MPs and district secretaries, while mourning the death of their leader, made it apparent that there are no hurdles before Stalin to lead the party. We are all with you. You have three heartsyours, Karunanidhis and the one heart Karunanidhi borrowed from Annadurai on his death. There is nobody in Tamil Nadu who can defeat you, partys principal secretary Durai Murugan said during the executive meeting. -Inputs from PTI Republic TV's controversial news anchor Arnab Goswami was lambasted on social media after a 30 second video clip of him purportedly calling "a group" the "most shameless bunch of Indians I have ever seen" went viral on social media. The context of his statement: the Kerala floods, and the ongoing debate as to whether the UAE actually offered Rs 700 crore to the state, which the Centre then turned down. Irate commentators, Malayalis and otherwise, said Goswami's comments were a blanket critique of the victims of the Kerala floods. Wrote one Twitter user, "India: Arnab Cowswamy, unofficial spokesman of the sanghis (RSS), calls victims of Kerala floods "the most shameless bunch of Indians I have ever seen. Kerala's cohesive multicultural society (50% Hindu, 28% Muslim, 18% Christian) threatens the Hindu fascist project." India: Arnab Cowswamy, unofficial spokesman of the sanghis (RSS), calls victims of Kerala floods "the most shameless bunch of Indians I have ever seen." Kerala's cohesive multicultural society (50% Hindu, 28% Muslim, 18% Christian) threatens the Hindu fascist project. pic.twitter.com/C4UlQKdcbu CJ Werleman (@cjwerleman) August 25, 2018 "WOW!! Arnab just called the suffering people of Kerala the most shameless bunch of Indians I have ever seen!!" wrote another. But, it seems the burgeoning outrage is a little off the mark. While there is much to be said about the right wing Twitter handles that spewed hatred and misinformation when the state was at its most vulnerable, the short clip in question lacks context. Throughout the debate, Goswami rails (rightly or wrongly) against the "netas" or the people who were trying to take advantage of Kerala. At one point in the debate, he says, "The people of Kerala have been so psychologically resilient. They have shown how great they are as a people, how strong they are. I am only saying, at this point of time, if somebody is using fake news to manipulate them; manipulating people at a time of tragedy is cheap." The same clip was shared by Republic funder and BJP MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar. He wrote on Twitter [sic], "Theres a few clowns on social media trying to build a fake narrative abt @republic s editor #Arnab calling Malayalis shameless. Its a LIE (watch video) n smells of usual Congress style nonsense Im respndng bcoz some of u asking me abt this." Theres a few clowns on social media trying to build a fake narrative abt @republic s editor #Arnab calling Malayalis shameless Its a LIE (watch video) n smells of usual Congress style nonsense Im respndng bcoz some of u asking me abt this !#RebuildIngKerala pic.twitter.com/sx9K941CWt Rajeev Chandrasekhar (@rajeev_mp) August 25, 2018 What is the controversy? On August 18, prime minister and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum had tweeted that his country has formed a committee for extending help to flood affected people in Kerala. "UAE and the Indian community will unite to offer relief to those affected. We have formed a committee to start immediately. We urge everyone to contribute generously towards this initiative," he tweeted. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan claimed that the UAE had decided to extend a financial assistance of Rs 700 crore to Kerala, considering the Gulf nation's special relationship with Kerala. On August 21, Vijayan had tweeted, United Arab Emirates will provide Kerala an assistance of Rs 700 crore. CM expressed the gratitude of Kerala for the support. This was communicated to the Honble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi (@PMOIndia) by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan (@MohamedBinZayed), Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE's Armed Forces. Around three million Indians live and work in the UAE, out of which 80 per cent are from Kerala, according to official figures. Just a few days later, the ministry of external affairs made it clear that the Centre will not allow any financial assistance from foreign governments for Kerala in sync with an existing policy. The MEA, however, said contributions to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund and the Chief Minister's Relief Fund from NRIs (Non Resident Indians, PIOs (Persons of Indian Origin) and international entities such as foundations will be welcomed. While refusing foreign aid, the government invoked a policy decision taken by the Manmohan Singh government in 2004 in the aftermath of the Tsunami for not accepting foreign assistance. After the MEA said India will not accept donations from foreign nations, an unhappy Vijayan said the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had in 2016 suggested that assistance offered as a goodwill gesture "may" be accepted, asserting that there is no blanket ban on receiving such assistance. He said he would approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue. However, later, the UAE ambassador Ahmed Albanna clarified that there has been no official announcement so far by the UAE on any specific amount as financial aid. This led to a political storm, as the Kerala BJP unit urged CM Vijayan to reveal the source of his information that UAE promised Rs 700 crore. For the Malayalis however, it seems that they will have to wait long for substantial funds, as PTI reported that Kerala might have to wait a few months to get the complete financial aid package from the Centre, as the process of assessing the extent of damage and fund release is time-consuming. The Centre has so far released Rs 600 crore for Kerala. -Inputs from PTI There were no injury marks on the exhumed body of the Unnao rape witness, reports emerged on Sunday. "Viscera will be preserved for pathology and chemical analysis. There is no injury mark on the body. DNA has also been kept," Ashutosh Vashney, one of the doctors who conducted autopsy, told ANI. Viscera will be preserved for pathology and chemical analysis.There is no injury mark on the body. Even DNA has also been kept: Dr Ashutosh Vashney, one of the doctors who conducted autopsy of Unnao rape case key witness, who died under suspicious circumstances. (25.8.2018) pic.twitter.com/iWKLVcTdpi ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 25, 2018 The body of Yunus was exhumed on Saturday, after district authorities met relatives of the witness seeking consent to exhume his body for a post-mortem examination. Yunus was a witness in the case registered after the death of the father of a minor who was allegedly raped by BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar. The rape victim's father died in April after being beaten up, allegedly by Sengar's brother and others. The victim's uncle had claimed foul play after the death of Yunus last week. In Lucknow, the family members of Yunus wanted to meet Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. "The family members of Yunus had come to Lucknow and were adamant about meeting the chief minister and getting inside his residence. Police took them to Hazratganj Police Station, so their grievances can be heard, and the district concerned be informed about it," SHO Gautampalli Police Station Vijay Pandey said. On Twitter, Congress president Rahul Gandhi termed the death "mysterious" and his burial "hurried". The man's family, however, said he had died due to a liver ailment for which he was being treated. But Jaan Mohammad, brother of Yunus, told reporters at the district collectorate that the family was against exhumation. "The administration is building pressure on us. We do not want the post-mortem examination to be done as it is against our Shariat," he had earlier said. Yunus had claimed to have seen the rape victim's father being beaten up by the brother of the BJP MLA. The victim's uncle had written to the police on Wednesday, demanding a post-mortem examination. Earlier, the police had said the family members had submitted medical prescriptions, indicating the man was undergoing treatment for liver cirrhosis. His brothers had claimed the victim's uncle said they would get Rs 10-12 lakh if they agreed to the post-mortem examination. -Inputs from PTI Photo: BC Wildfire Service The Shovel Lake wildfire near Fraser Lake, mapped at just over 91,000 hectares in size on Saturday. This year's wildfire season is now the second-most devastating on record in B.C., behind only last year's record burn. As of Saturday, 863,000 hectares have burned in the province since April 1, according to the BC Wildfire Service, which is now slightly above the total from 1958 of 856,000 hectares. In 2017, just over 1.2 million hectares of B.C. land burned. In the past 10 days alone, the total area burned in B.C. has increased by just under 500,000 hectares; that amount on its own would make this fire year the third-worst since records began in 1950. Additionally, the province has now spent $310 million to fight 1,980 wildfires this year. Fire information officer Kyla Fraser said there are 554 fires currently burning in B.C., and says 476 of those were started by lightning. "This year the majority of our fire starts have been lightning caused. We saw quite a few significant lightning storms move through the province and we had a lot of fire starts as a result of those." Most of the significant wildfires burning are in northwest B.C., including the 118,000-hectare Alkali Lake fire, near Dease Lake, the 91,000-hectare Shovel Lake fire, near Fraser Lake, and the 85,000-hectare Nadina Lake fire, south of Burns Lake. A cooler weather pattern has moved into the province, which Fraser says is generally good news. "The cooler temperatures definitely help. We're supposed to see a bit of precipitation hopefully around most areas of the province over the next couple days... Unfortunately there is a lightning risk that does accompany the rain when we see this kind of instability," she said. "What we really need is a prolonged rain event to really help the situation, but hopefully we'll see a little bit of relief in different areas." Currently there are more than 4,400 personnel engaged in the province's wildfire response, Fraser said. Just under 850 personnel have come from out-of-province, which includes nearly every province and territory in Canada as well as Mexico, New Zealand and Australia. Congress president Rahul Gandhi said he was fighting an ideological battle, and was not driven by an ambition to become the prime minister. He was interacting with the members of the Indian Journalists Association in London. "I dont have these visions. I view myself as fighting an ideological battle and this change has come in me after 2014. I realised that theres a risk to Indian state, to Indian way of doing things and Im defending that, Hindustan Times reported Gandhi as stating. The president of the Congress party also claimed that, come 2019, the electoral battle would boil down to BJP on one side and the opposition on the other. On the Vijay Mallya issue, Gandhi said Indian prisons were "difficult places" but fugitives like the former should not be treated differently. "Before Mallya left India, he met senior BJP leaders, that is documented. I won't name them," he said. "Indian prisons are pretty decent as far as Mallya is concerned. Justice should be the same for Indian people." Mallya last month appeared before a court in London where both defence and prosecution presented clarifications on Barrack 12 at Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, where Mallya is to be held post-extradition. Judge Emma Arbuthnot asked the Indian authorities to submit within three weeks a video of the Barrack 12 of the Arthur Road Jail. Fugitive liquor baron Mallya is currently fighting extradition to India on fraud and money laundering charges worth an estimated Rs 9,000 crores. Gandhi said the Modi government is pretty lenient to Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, who have defrauded Indian banks. "Punjab National Bank scam accused Nirav Modi took Rs 35,000 crores and Chokshi defrauded the banks. The question is job creation. How many jobs did Nirav Modi create?" Gandhi asked. The Congress president said, "there is a relationship between Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and the prime minister. No action is taken against them." Jewellery designer Nirav and his uncle Mehul Choksi, the promoter of Gitanjali Gems, have allegedly defrauded state-run Punjab National Bank of over Rs 13,000 crore. The Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate have registered cases of alleged fraud against them. Rahul Gandhi attacked the Modi government and said it "absolutely and completely lacked any strategy as far as India's foreign policy is concerned". "The prime minister makes a particular statement in Nepal and in a couple of months there is a complete U-turn. He has not been able to handle the relationship with Nepal, Afghanistan or China." "A devastating example is that prime minister went to Afghanistan and on his way back he went to Pakistan for a wedding, sending a completely wrong message to Afghanistan. Afghanistan keeps wondering what is going on," Gandhi said. Gandhi was referring to Prime Minister Modi's surprise visit to Pakistan on December 25, 2015, while returning from Afghanistan. He said that Prime Minister Modi went to China but did not discuss Doklam issue. Gandhi said the prime minister is not taking feedback from the external affairs ministry. "Why is Sushma Swaraj spending her time on sorting out visas? That is not the job of the foreign minister. That is the job of someone in the embassy. The job of the foreign minister is making foreign policy, holding discussions on strategy." "Sushma Swaraj is not allowed to have discussions. She is extremely capable woman. I know her. I have served with her in committees. I have issues with her regarding her style. She is humiliated on every count. She is not taken by prime minister on his trips and you never see her in photographs with prime minister. Then you say the foreign policy is wrong," Gandhi, who is also a member of the parliamentary committee on external affairs, added. -Inputs from PTI Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam has written a letter to the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanding an immediate termination of the seven-year contract awarded to Vidarbha Infotech Pvt Ltd in 2016, and initiate a departmental inquiry against the "errant" officers. In the letter, Nirupam also stated that the government machinery has been manipulated and misused to award the contract to the Nagpur-based company in order to favour a few beneficiaries. Demanding that the contract for undertaking towing services be terminated, Sanjay Nirupam said that the chief minister speaks about transparency in the functioning of the BJP government, but the action with regard to the process of allotting the contract to Vidarbha Infotech Pvt Ltd is questionable. It reeks of favouritism and nepotism since the firm is based in Nagpur which also happens to be the CMs hometown. Various rules have been flouted in the process of allotting the towing contract to Vidarbha Infotech Pvt Ltd. It was mandatory to publish the tender in more than one newspaper i.e. national and regional language newspapers, as the cost involved exceeded Rs 5 crore. However, in this case, the tender was not published in any national newspaper. Where is the transparency in this entire process? he asked. In the letter, Nirupam also mentioned that the authority to approve purchases worth over Rs 1 crore lies with a high level committee under the additional chief secretary (home) and such approval wasnt taken in this case. He also stated that the administrative approval of the government, which is mandatory before implementing the tendering process worth more than Rs 1 crore, was dodged here as well. The president of the Mumbai Regional Congress Committee brought to the notice of CM Fadnavis that the objection raised by the then Commissioner of Police Dattatray Padsalgilkar last year through a letter was conveniently ignored. Nirupam further raised questions on the functioning of the Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) who awarded the contract to Vidarbha Infotech Pvt Ltd despite not being the competent authority to do so. He pointed out that no approval of even the Commissioner of Police, Brihanmumbai was taken. In November 2017, Sanjay Nirupam had alleged that Vidarbha Infotech Pvt Ltd is a computer solutions company with no expertise in the field and had increased towing charges with no prior warning to the citizens. He also pointed out the proximity Pravin Darade, an IAS Officer from the CMs office, shared with Vidarbha Infotech Pvt Ltd which he said was the reason behind allotment of this contract to the towing firm in question. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor jumped on the bandwagon to condemn Republic TV's editor Arnab Goswami's controversial remarks on a TV debate about the ongoing row over the reported UAE help to flood-hit Kerala. Goswami was lambasted on social media after a 30 second video clip of him purportedly calling "a group" the "most shameless bunch of Indians I have ever seen" went viral on social media. Though Goswami was railing (rightly or wrongly) against the "netas" or the people who were trying to take advantage of Kerala, his remarks sparked off a storm on social platforms with netizens accusing him of disgracing Keralites. "Given the disgraceful attacks on Malayalis in general by some petty minds, its time for us to stand up for ourselves. Lets evoke the reasons why we are #ProudToBeMalayali," Tharoor said in a series of tweets on Sunday. "The amazing response of solidarity and commitment to people in distress which we have seen in the face of colossal calamity makes me #ProudToBeMalayali," he said. "Our history of welcoming the distressed fleeing war-torn lands, our openness to new ideas & new faiths like Christianity and Islam, our history of religious harmony makes me #ProudToBeMalayali," he said and added that "Our courageous social reform movements against caste oppression, led by heroes like Sree Narayana Guru, Mahatma Ayyankali, Chattampi Swami and others, makes me #ProudToBeMalayali." Given the disgraceful attacks on Malayalis in general by some petty minds, its time for us to stand up for ourselves. Lets evoke the reasons why we are #ProudToBeMalayali. Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 26, 2018 The amazing response of solidarity & commitment to people in distress which we have seen in the face of colossal calamity makes me #ProudToBeMalayali. Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 26, 2018 Our history of welcoming the distressed fleeing war-torn lands, our openness to new ideas & new faiths like Christianity & Islam, our history of religious harmony makes me #ProudToBeMalayali Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 26, 2018 Our courageous social reform movements against caste oppression, led by heroes like Sree Narayana Guru, Mahatma Ayyankali, Chattampi Swami & others, makes me #ProudToBeMalayali Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 26, 2018 The controversy has erupted ever since Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan put out a tweet on August 21 claiming that the UAE offered a Rs 700 crore to Kerala, considering the Gulf nation's special relationship with Kerala. His tweet came two days after prime minister and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum tweeted that his country has formed a committee for extending help to flood affected people in Kerala. However, later, the UAE ambassador Ahmed Albanna clarified that there has been no official announcement so far by the UAE on any specific amount as financial aid. This led to a political storm, as the Kerala BJP unit urged CM Vijayan to reveal the source of his information that the UAE promised Rs 700 crore. A clash broke out between two communities outside a gurudwara here following which over 80 identified and hundreds of unidentified people were booked for rioting and damaging public property, the police said on Sunday. Additional Superintendent of Police (rural) Subhash Chandra Shakya said tension erupted yesterday when a watchman objected putting up a cart to sell 'rakhis' by a 14-year-old girl outside the gurudwara in the Banda area of the district. The watchman also allegedly hit the girl with a stick on her leg, the police said. As the news spread, Hindus and Sikhs reached the spot and indulged in stone pelting, they said. Superintendent of Police, Shahjahanpur, S Chinappa said, "Three FIRs have been registered against more than 80 people from both sides and hundreds of others under various sections of the IPC for rioting and damaging public property." He said the FIRs were lodged on complaints by Sher Bahadur (father of the girl), Rajesh Jain (resident of Banda) and the police, respectively. Chinappa said heavy police deployment has been made in the area to maintain law and order. A meeting of the two sides was called by District Magistrate Amrit Tripathi to help law enforcement agencies establish peace, he said. Tripathi said, "Culprits are being identified through the video footage of the incident, following which they will be arrested." Those responsible for vitiating the atmosphere will not be spared, he added. "One police vehicle and two other vehicles were damaged in stone pelting," Sub-divisional Magistrate Satyapriye Singh had said yesterday. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on August she has resigned from new Prime Minister Scott Morrison's Cabinet. But she has made no decision on whether she will stay in parliament beyond the next election. The decision comes two days after a bruising leadership battle that toppled former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull. Bishop announced she would move to the backbench. As the new Prime Minister Scott Morrison works towards a cohesive government post civil war in the Liberal Party last week, Bishop's resignation creates more unrest. That decision could have serious implications for Morrison's government. Bishop ran against Peter Dutton and Scott Morrison, but garnered only 11 votes. The party-room vote was to replace Turnbull as prime minsister. He took over as leader of the Liberal Party, the senior partner in a Liberal-National coalition that has consistently trailed the opposition Labor party in opinion polls in recent months. The possibility that Bishop could leave parliament before the next election will be a major concern for Morrison, because it opens the possibilit of another by-election being held for her seat. Turnbull is expected to resign, not to long. Morrison has spent his first two full days in power working on a new Cabinet, although the only confirmed change so far is that his Liberal deputy and former energy minister Josh Frydenburg will take over as treasurer. Pope Francis vowed on Saturday to end the sexual exploitation of children by clergy during a highly-charged visit to once deeply Catholic Ireland and, according to victims, said the corruption and cover up of abuse amounted to human excrement. On the first papal visit to the country in almost four decades, Francis used a speech at a state event that was also attended by some abuse survivors to acknowledge that it was to the Church's shame it had not addressed these "repugnant crimes" and said he sought a greater commitment to eliminating this "scourge". He later met privately for 90 minutes at the Vatican embassy with eight victims of clerical, religious and institutional abuse. In a statement, the representatives from the Survivors of Mother and Baby Homes group said Francis condemned corruption and cover up within the Church as "caca", an Italian and Spanish word for human excrement. The statement said that after the pope used the word, his translator explained that it meant "literally filth as one sees in a toilet." A Vatican spokesman had no comment on the details of what was said in the meeting. A Vatican official said he would not be surprised that the pope had used the word. "Very powerful meeting. He listened with a genuine interest," said Clodagh Malone, who was born in one of the state-backed homes for unwed mothers and adopted at 10-weeks-old. The pope earlier spoke publicly about abuse, saying he could not "fail to acknowledge the grave scandal caused in Ireland by the abuse of young people by members of the Church charged with responsibility for their protection and education." Years of sexual abuse scandals have shattered the credibility of the Church as a moral leader in Ireland and driven many from the Church. In the past three years, Irish voters have approved abortion and gay marriage in referendums, defying its wishes. In unprepared remarks, Francis added a reference to a letter he addressed last Monday to all the world's Catholics on the abuse crisis, saying he wanted it to signal "a greater commitment to eliminating this scourge in the Church, at any cost". More than three-quarters of Ireland's population flocked to see Pope John Paul II in 1979 when divorce and contraception were illegal. Francis was greeted by far smaller numbers. Bearing merchants await dues from cos under IBC resolution Kolkata, Aug 26 (PTI) Operational creditors, including bearing merchants, have expressed concern over a substantial part of their dues getting stuck from companies that have been referred to the National Company Law Tribunal for resolution under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). "We are a worried lot as our old dues have got completely stuck with the companies filed with the NCLT under the IBC," Eastern India Ball Bearing Merchants' Association Chairman-Trust Board Surendra Choraria told PTI. He said payments were slow prior to the companies getting referred to the NCLT, but now the clearance of dues have come to a standstill. The steel sector accounts for nearly 30 per cent of sales for eastern region bearing suppliers. Companies with around 22 million tonnes of crude steel capacity have been referred to the NCLT in the first round of the stressed assets resolution process by the Reserve Bank of India, involving close to Rs 1.6 trillion. Choraria said as operational creditors' claims are not considered at par with direct lenders, they are also staring at considerable losses, due to sharp haircuts on these accounts. He said that the association has made a representation to the government to consider amendments, and bring operational creditors and direct lenders on the same page. Bearing suppliers, however, are hopeful for some recovery of dues in the next six months, association officials said. Despite the odds, the bearing sector is looking forward to double-digit growth in 2018-19 and the next two fiscal years, due to uptick in demand as manufacturing is on the recovery path, the officials added. PTI BSM RBT RBT Lahore, Aug 26 (PTI) Pakistani authorities today shifted Dr Shakeel Afridi, who helped CIA track down Osama bin Laden in 2011, to Sahiwal prison in Punjab province for security reasons, his second inter-jail transfer this year, media reports said. Afridi, 56, was arrested after Osama was killed in a covert US raid at a compound in Pakistan's Abbotabad city on May 2, 2011. The US has been asking Pakistan to release him. Initially, he was accused of organising a fake immunization campaign for the CIA to confirm presence of then al-Qaeda chief but later awarded 33 years sentence for alleged links with militants. His sentence was later reduced to 23 years. Dawn news reported that Afridi was shifted amid tight security to Sahiwal jail from Adiala jail for security reasons. He had been imprisoned at Peshawar jail but was shifted to Adiala jail in Rawalpindi in April this year, giving air to various kinds of speculations, including the one that American secret agencies were planning a jail break to take Afridi away. However, the Foreign Office had rejected all speculations about handing over Afridi to the US and said that there was "no deal" with the US for his release. His wife, daughter and son met him at Adiala Jail on August 3, the report added. Afridi, a former surgeon of Khyber Agency, had run a false vaccination campaign in the Pakistani garrison city of Abbottabad to help the CIA track down Osama in his compound and kill him in a raid by US Navy Seals on May 2, 2011. He was arrested from Peshawar later that year. The issue of Afridi's release is reportedly one of the major obstacles to the improvement of ties between the US and Pakistan. Soon after the death of Osama, the US media reported that Afridi had contributed to the success of the CIA operation by collecting DNA samples of Osama's family through the fake vaccination campaign in Abbottabad. The US State Department has previously said that Afridi has been unjustly imprisoned in Pakistan and Washington has clearly communicated its position to Islamabad in his case, both in public and in private. PTI CPS Photo: CCTV At least 19 people were killed in a fire at a resort hotel in China's northeastern city of Harbin early Saturday, the local government said. The disaster added to a string of deadly blazes that have plagued China despite official efforts to improve public safety over the past two decades. The fire broke out at the four-story Beilong Hot Spring Hotel in Harbin's Sun Island recreation area at 4:36 a.m. and was extinguished at 7:50 a.m. by a force of 105 firefighters with 30 firetrucks, state television reported. Firefighters found 16 people dead and three more died at a hospital, the city government and provincial fire department said on their social media accounts. It said 18 people were injured and a total of 70 evacuated. The cause was under investigation, the Xinhua News Agency said. Harbin, with about 5 million people, is the second-largest city in China's northeast, after Shenyang. It is known for the Russian architecture of its inner city and as the site of a winter festival with sculptures made of ice blocks cut from the Songhua River. The ruling Communist Party has tried to improve fire safety following deadly blazes at hotels, shopping malls and apartment buildings. But the country still suffers major fires. In November, a fire blamed on faulty wiring at a Beijing apartment building killed 19 people. A 2010 blaze at a Shanghai apartment tower killed at least 58 people. Authorities blamed sparks from a welder's torch. Maha moots 2-tier model to implement schemes to check malnutrition By Murtuza Merchant Mumbai, Aug 26 (PTI) Facing flak from the opposition over deaths of several tribal children in Maharashtra due to malnutrition, the state government has mooted a two-tier model for the implementation of its schemes for them. The government is adopting best practices to reduce the malnutrition cases and this has shown tremendous results, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told PTI. Under the two-tier model, there will be a steering committee headed by the chief minister. Besides, another programme implementation committee led by the chief secretary will monitor the implementation of schemes of various departments, an official in the tribal development department said. He said the Maharashtra government has taken cue from a similar model of tribal development in Gujarat, where a steering committee headed by the chief minister takes review of the implementation of various schemes every six months. To overcome the problem of lack of coordination between various departments and ego clashes among bureaucrats, the Gujarat government set up another programme implementation committee, headed by the state chief secretary. Every three months, this panel reviews the implementation of various schemes, fund allocation and its utilisation, the official said. Since the committee is duty-bound to inform the chief minister about the progress made, no department secretary can ignore his directives, he said. "The tribal development department's annual budget is around Rs 6,000 crore, and 50 per cent of it is spent on fees of tribal students, hostel and meal allowances. The rest of it is spent on creating infrastructure, like constructing ashram (residential) schools, dormitories, hostels, roads, health centres and other facilities," he said. He noted that these issues are related to women and child welfare, public health, food and civil supplies, social justice, public works and school education departments. The other departments send proposals for funds meant exclusively to be spent in tribal areas, but the tribal development department has no control over their implementation, the official said. Though the women and child development department and public health department are responsible for taking steps to eradicate malnutrition in tribal areas, the tribal development department is held responsible in cases of death of adivasi children due to malnutrition, he said. "With no other department willing to take the responsibility, the government has now decided to follow the Gujarat model," the official said. Fadnavis said the practices being adopted by the government have resulted in significant reduction in cases of malnutrition. "The Palghar district, which has off late been the epicentre of malnutrition, has shown significant reduction in such cases in two years," he said. As many as 396 children died due to malnutrition and other reasons in Palghar district in 2017-18, state women and child development minister Pankaja Munde had said in March. Some activists and NGOs had also filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court earlier this year, claiming that 318 children died due to malnutrition and lack of medical care between September 2017 and January 2018 in the Melghat region of Vidarbha and its neighbouring areas. PTI MM GK GK Juniors docs strike work after assault Kolkata, Aug 26 (PTI) Junior doctors stopped working at the emergency services department at state-run NRS Hospital today for several hours in protest against alleged assault on their colleagues, including a woman doctor, by relatives of a patient who died in the facility. Hospital sources said a critically ill patient was brought to the emergency ward by a group of about 30 people this afternoon. The 40-year-old patient Pervez Hussein was recommended a CT scan and he died while being taken for the test. The people accompanying him then went on the rampage and allegedly assaulted the junior doctors present, including a woman, the sources said. Demanding security, the junior doctors went for ceasework running for hours, the sources said. During the ceasework, a patient, injured in road accident, was seen lying before the emergency ward triggering protest by his family who tried to block the nearby road in protest but refrained from doing so after the patient was later admitted to emergency ward. Junior doctors resumed work late in the evening after talks with the superintendent of hospital. The sources said a meeting will be held on August 30 in which representatives of the doctors, the hospital authorities and Patients' Welfare Committee of the hospital will be present to discuss certain issues including healthcare facilities and security. Police sources said a force from Entally police station went to the spot in the afternoon and the situation was normal now. PTI SUS NN NN New Delhi, Aug 26 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hailed the humanitarian assistance rendered to victims of Kerala floods by people from all walks of life, saying irrespective of age group or area of work, people are contributing for the cause. He also put on record his appreciation for the role rendered by the Army, Air Force, Navy, NDRF, BSF, CISF and the RAF in relief and rescue operations. "Yesterday was the festival of Onam. We pray for Onam to provide strength to the country, especially Kerala so that it returns to normalcy on a newer journey of development. Once again on behalf of all Indians, I would like to reassure each and everyone in Kerala and other affected places that at this moment of calamity, the entire country stands by them," Modi said in his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio address. He said loss of lives cannot be compensated, but he assures the grief-stricken families that in this moment of suffering, every Indian stands by them shoulder to shoulder. "I earnestly pray for those injured in this natural disaster to get well soon. I firmly believe that the sheer grit and courage of the people of the state will see Kerala rise again," he said. Disasters, he said, leave behind a trail of destruction. But one gets to witness facets of humanity, humaneness during disasters. "From Kutch to Kamrup, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, everyone is endeavouring to contribute in some way or the other so that wherever a disaster strikes, be it Kerala or any other part of India, human life returns to normalcy. Irrespective of age group or area of work, people are contributing," he said. PTI NAB NAB DV DV New Delhi, Aug 26 (PTI) Flood-ravaged Kerala may have to wait a few months to get the complete financial aid package from the Centre as the process of assessing the extent of damage and fund release is time-consuming, officials said. After the initial release of funds, the central government follows certain rules and guidelines before awarding the final aid to any state for a natural calamity, a Home Ministry official, privy to such circumstances, said. The Centre has so far released Rs 600 crore for Kerala, which witnessed its worst flood in a century. The death toll in Kerala floods has touched 293 since August 8 while 15 people are still missing. According to the existing guidelines on disaster relief funds, the central government's contribution to the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) is 75 per cent for general category states and 90 per cent for special category states of hilly regions. But the amount is released in each financial year in two instalments -- in June and December. However, the central government, upon being satisfied that exigencies of a particular calamity so warrant, may recommend an earlier release of the central share but that too up to just 25 per cent of the funds due to the state in the following year. But this release will be adjusted against the instalments of the subsequent year. Similarly, for getting relief from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), the state government will have to first submit a memorandum showing sector-wise damage with proper justification for requirement of funds and then it is assessed whether a case for additional assistance from NDRF is made out under the existing guidelines. This itself is a time-consuming exercise for a state which is still trying to recover from the disaster, the official said. An official statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs, which was issued on August 23 giving details of the flood relief measures taken by the central government in Kerala, noted that the submission of the memorandum by the state will take time. The memorandum from the state government, when comes, will be examined to assess the likely requirement of funds as per items and norms of expenditure under the SDRF/NDRF. If the preliminary examination reveals that there are adequate funds in SDRF for providing relief as per norms, the state would be advised accordingly. If the preliminary examination reveals that the state is in need of assistance, a central team will be deputed for making an on-the-spot assessment, the guidelines say. After the tour and assessment, the central team will submit a report. The report of the central team will be examined by the sub-committee of the national executive committee (SC-NEC) headed by the Union Home Secretary. The SC-NEC will assess the extent of assistance and expenditure which can be funded from the NDRF as per norms and make recommendations. Based on the recommendations of the SC-NEC, a high-level committee, headed by the Union Home Minister, will approve the quantum of relief to be released from the NDRF. The release of assistance from NDRF will be subject to adjustment of 50 per cent of the balance in the SDRF as on March 31 of the preceding financial year. Upon the approval of the high-level committee, the Ministry of Finance will release assistance from the NDRF to the state. Another official said the whole exercise normally takes three to six months and hence the final award from the central government to a state comes late. Expenditure from the NDRF is meant to assist a state to provide immediate relief in those cases of severe calamity, where the expenditure required is in excess of the balance in the state's SDRF. According to the guidelines, the expenditure on reconstruction, restoration, disaster preparedness and mitigation should not be part of the SDRF or NDRF and is to be met from the normal budgetary heads or plan heads. On August 21, the central government had released Rs 600 crore as immediate relief to the Kerala government. Citing a 2004 decision, the central government has announced that it would not accept any assistance from a foreign government, which created a huge controversy. The statement of the Ministry of External Affairs came after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the United Arab Emirates had offered to give Rs 700 crore as assistance to his state. However, UAE ambassador Ahmed Albanna had clarified that there has been no official announcement so far by the UAE on any specific amount as financial aid. PTI ACB SMN Chandigarh, Aug 26 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today hit out at the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for attacking Rahul Gandhi on the issue of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, saying the Congress, as a party, was never involved in the carnage. He also asserted that 'whosoever was involved' in the senseless killings in 1984 should be "hanged". The SAD had yesterday hit out at Congress chief Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the 1984 riots, saying by disagreeing with the view that his party was involved in the "genocide", he had "rubbed salt into the wounds" of the Sikh community. Earlier, describing the 1984 riots as a "very painful tragedy", Rahul Gandhi, who was on a two-day visit to the UK, had said, "It was a tragedy, it was a painful experience. You say that the Congress party was involved in that, I don't agree with that. Certainly there was violence, certainly there was tragedy." Castigating SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, Amarinder Singh said the Congress chief was in school when Operation Bluestar and later the riots took place. To blame him for 'anything' was totally absurd, said Amarinder Singh, in a hard-hitting statement issued here. To hold Rahul Gandhi responsible for an act, of which he was not even aware when it happened, was completely ridiculous, said the chief minister. "The Congress, as a party, was never involved in the riots that continue to haunt the Sikh community," the chief minister said. Amarinder Singh said that if any individual was involved, he or she would be dealt with as per the law. "To blame the entire party for the acts of a few was preposterous and typical of the political immaturity of Sukhbir," the chief minister said. Amarinder Singh said "Rahul Gandhi's latest comments need to be seen in context with his earlier statements on the 1984 riots, wherein he himself had named some Congressmen". "You cannot blame an entire party because of the acts of such individuals," said the chief minister reiterating that "whosoever was involved in the senseless killings in 1984 should be hanged, irrespective of political affiliations." On Badal alleging that Gandhi was trying to protect Congress leaders involved in the "genocide", Amarinder Singh said "such thoughtless and superfluous statements were typical of the Akalis, particularly the Badals". "It is evident that the Akalis obviously did not have either the maturity or the sensitivity to understand or appreciate the sentiment behind the regrets expressed by Dr Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi on the issue. Their statements were never an admission of guilt or Congress party's involvement in the riots," said Amarinder Singh, emphasising there was no question of a volte face by Rahul Gandhi. By attacking Rahul Gandhi, Sukhbir Singh Badal has only exposed his fear of the Congress president's growing popularity, in India and abroad, said Amarinder Singh. The Punjab chief minister said Rahul Gandhi had unambiguously condemned all sorts of violence, including the 1984 riots, and had called for strict punishment to the perpetrators. It is unfortunate that due to delays caused by the judicial system, justice was denied to many victims of the 1984 riots, he said. PTI SUN VSD ADS ADS New Delhi, Aug 26 (PTI) Describing the debate on holding Lok Sabha and assembly polls together a healthy sign for democracy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said it was an appropriate tribute to former premier Atal Bihari Vajpayee who changed the country's political culture. He said efforts were afoot and discussions being held about simultaneously holding Lok Sabha and assembly polls. "The government and the opposition both are putting forth their view points. This is a good development and a healthy sign for our democracy. "I must say that developing healthy traditions for a sound democracy, making constant efforts to strengthen democracy, encouraging open-minded debates would also be an appropriate tribute to Atalji," Modi said in his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio address. Political parties are divided on the issue of simultaneous polls. BJP, its NDA partners Shiromani Akali Dal, AIADMK, Samajwadi Party and Telangana Rashtra Samiti have supported it. The Congress, Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, DMK, Telugu Desam Party, Left parties and the JD(S) have opposed the proposal. The parties have given their response to the Law Commission, which is set to come out with a legal framework required to hold the mammoth exercise. Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat had recently said there are no chances of holding the two polls together without a legal framework. "Koi chance nahi," he had said. "The lawmakers will take at least a year to frame a law that can be enforceable...," Rawat had said. If simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies are held in 2019, the EC will require nearly 24 lakh EVMs, double the number required to hold only the Parliamentary polls. During their discussion with the Law Commission on May 16 this year on the issue of holding simultaneous polls, EC officials had said they would need around Rs 4,500 crore to buy nearly 12 lakh additional electronic voting machines (EVMs) and an equal number voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines. In his address, the prime minister said the country will remain grateful to Vajpayee for bringing good governance into the main stream. "But, I just want to touch upon one more facet of Ataljis legendary personality and that is the political culture which Atalji gave to India, his efforts in the direction of bringing about the changes in our political culture, his efforts to mould it into an organised framework and which proved very beneficial for India and a bigger benefit will accrue in days to come," Modi said. He said the 91st constitutional amendment law brought in 2003 restricted the size of cabinets in states to 15 per cent of the total seats in the legislative assembly. "For many years in India, the political culture of forming a very large cabinet was being misused to constitute jumbo cabinets not only to create a divide, but also to appease political leaders. Atalji changed it. "This effort of his resulted in saving of money as well as of resources. This also helped in improving efficiency," Modi said. He said the constitutional amendment also ensured that the limit under the anti-defection law was enhanced from one-thirds to two-thirds. "Besides, clear guidelines were defined to disqualify the defector," the prime minister said. Describing Vajpayee as a "true patriot," he said it was during his tenure that the timing of presenting the budget was changed from 5 pm to 11 am. Earlier, as was the British tradition, the Budget used to be presented at 5 pm because in London, Parliament used to start working at that time. In 2001, the Vajpayee government changed the time of presenting the budget to 11 am. He said the framing of the Flag Code in 2002 was another "freedom" for India as it brought the national flag closer to the masses. "A number of such rules have been included in this code which made it possible to unfurl the tricolour in public places. This provided a chance to more and more of our countrymen to unfurl our national flag. Thus, he brought our beloved tricolour closer to the common man," Modi said. PTI NAB NAB ANB ANB Baba Bakala (Pb), Aug 26 (PTI) In separate press conferences today, Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party trained guns on each other on the issue of sacrilege of religious texts in Punjab. Addressing a public rally here, on the occasion of Rakhar Punia, Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar said the Badal family was fooling innocent people in the name of religion. The Badal family is scared as the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report will be out soon, the Gurdaspur MP said. Jakhar said there would be more clarity in the sacrilege case after the commission report is tabled in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha tomorrow. The Justice Ranjit Singh Commission was set up by the Congress government to probe sacrilege incidents and police firing on protesters at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura three years ago. Jakhar held SAD accountable for not arresting the accused in the incident of Guru Granth Sahib sacrilege. All major political parties, except BJP, held political conferences at Baba Bakala today. Speaking to press persons, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that "parallel jathedars" had colluded with the Congress to weaken the Sikh Panth. Three years ago, a group of Sikhs had convened Sarbat Khalsa on the outskirts of Amritsar and announced the removal of top Sikh priests including the Akal Takht chief. In place, parallel jathedars had been appointed. Sukhbir Badal alleged that some Congress ministers were working with the "parallel Jathedars". He asserted that parallel Jathedars and the Congress were trying to implicate the SAD in incidents of sacrilege. He said Himmat Singh, brother of Akal Takht head Giani Gurmukh Singh, had retracted the statements he had earlier given to the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission. Days before the report was to be tabled in the assembly, Himmat said he had been forced to sign the documents mentioning the SAD patriarch Parkash Singh Badal and party chief Sukhbir Badal. Speaking at a separate conference, Aam Aadmi Party MP Bhagwant Mann claimed the Congress government had "intentionally leaked the commission report so that the Akalis could save themselves by intimidating the witnesses". Mann alleged the Congress was shielding the Badals. The AAP leader attacked the government for ignoring the promise of loan waiver, among other vows made in the run up to the elections. Speaking on the removal of Sukhpal Singh Khaira from post of Leader of the Opposition, Mann said, "AAP is a party of volunteers. The aim is to cleanse the administrative and political systems. Anybody violating rules will have to face consequences." PTI CORR SUN PTI IND IND Kochi, Aug 26 (PTI) The recent occurrence of extreme rainfall events and associated floods in Kerala that killed many and rendered thousands homeless were due to climate change, a noted climate expert said today. Chandra Bhushan, Deputy Director General of New Delhi-based advocacy group Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said the dam management system in the country will have to be "re-evaluated" taking into account the repeat occurrence of extreme rainfall events and associated flash floods. "The floods in Kerala were caused by climate change and the disaster was exacerbated by bad development practises, particularly on Western Ghats and other ecologically sensitive regions of Kerala," Bhushan told PTI. Over 290 people were killed and lakhs of people have been displaced due to the heavy rains and floods in Kerala. He also said the extreme rainfall events and associated flash floods occurred in this century in many parts of the country including in Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Chennai, were triggered by climate change. Bhushan, who was honoured with ozone award by the UN Environment Programme last year for providing policy and research support to the negotiations for the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, said the dam management system should be re-evaluated taking into account the climate change issue. "Considering that the temperature is rising, considering that there is a clear indication that the extreme rainfall event is repeated, we will now have to re-evaluate our dam management practises," he said. He also advocated for a much better forecasting system and much better warning system to save lives of people from the extreme climate change-related incidents. Bhushan, who has attended several climate conferences organised by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), said destruction of Western Ghats had huge impact on Kerala. He urged the Central and state governments to take steps to implement the Madhav Gadgil committee report or Kasturirangan committee report on the biodiversity-rich hill region. "Large-scale deforestation, mining and construction are happening, hurting the ecology of Kerala. Such harmful practises will increase the intensity of disaster damages in Kerala," he said. "This floods would have happened in any case. The destruction of Western Ghats and other ecological areas in Kerala made its impact worse," Bhushan said. He said it was quite clear that protection of Western Ghats, wetlands, protection of backwaters, rivers, streams and other ecologically fragile areas were "very very important for the ecological security of Kerala." Environmentalists argue that the miseries and destruction caused by the rains and floods in Kerala would have been less severe if the government had taken the initiative to implement the recommendations made in the Gadgil Committee report on preservation of the Western Ghats. The Gadgil Committee report had been a point of debate in the state ever since it was submitted in 2011 with all major political parties showing reluctance in accepting and implementing the recommendations in toto following protests from local people in high range areas. Even the Kasturirangan report, which studied the recommendations of Madhav Gadgil report, has also not received total support from politicians, religious leaders and local people in the state. PTI TGB SS DV DV Ballia, Aug 26 (PTI) A Muslim woman today celebrated Raksha Bandhan with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, albeit a photograph of the two politicians. Nagma, a resident of Basarikapur village under Sikandarpur police station here, pasted a Rakhi on the photograph of Modi and Adityanath and called the two BJP leaders her brothers. Speaking to reporters here, Nagma said she has great expectations from Modi and Adityanath. Nagma said lakhs of divorced women are dependent on the two leaders. She said the initiatives undertaken by Modi and Adityanath would bring justice to Muslim women who are "victims" of talaq (divorce). On August 22, 2017, the Supreme Court had ruled that the practice of divorce through triple talaq among Muslims is "void", "illegal" and "unconstitutional". The apex court held that triple talaq was against the basic tenets of Quran. Following which, Nagma made a painting of the prime minister and the UP chief minister. However, this angered her husband Pervez Khan, who threw Nagma out of the house in September last year. Nagma registered a case in this regard at Sikandarpur police station. PTI CORR NAV PTI IND IND New Delhi, Aug 26 (PTI) A 55-year-old railway employee was killed allegedly after a truck hit his motorcycle in northwest Delhi's Hakikat Nagar, the police said today. Rakesh Kumar, posted at the New Delhi railway station, was returning home after his duty last night when the Delhi-registered truck allegedly hit his motorcycle near the red light at Hakikat Nagar, a police officer said. The accused driver fled the scene, leaving the truck behind, the officer said. Kumar was rushed to hospital where doctors declared him brought dead, the officer added. The truck was taken into police custody and a case was registered, police said, adding that the matter is being investigated. PTI AMP CK Photo: York Regional Police Police north of Toronto say a woman whose alleged abduction was caught on video has been found "in good health." York Regional Police have also identified a suspect they say is still at large, and is considered armed and dangerous. The incident began early Thursday, when the 28-year-old woman knocked on the door of a home in the town of Richmond Hill, Ont. Police say the door wasn't answered, but a man emerged from a car parked on the street in front of the house, had an altercation with the woman and dragged her back to the vehicle by her hair. They say the man appeared to be armed and could be heard on the video threatening to kill the woman. Police are asking for anyone who spots 27-year-old Jonathan McLennan of Toronto to call 911. Court orders action against cop over false case of 'theft of question' from Assembly Panaji, Aug 26 (PTI) A court here has ordered that "criminal proceedings" be initiated against a police officer for filing a false case of theft of a starred question from the Legislative Assembly against a social activist. Starred questions are important queries tabled in the legislature. Such questions and the answers to them are compiled in booklets by the legislature staff, but they are not supposed to be published outside before a discussion in the House. Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Shubhalaxmi Shivolkar, in her order yesterday, said inspector Vishwesh Karpe of the Crime Branch should not have filed a case of theft in the matter by blindly following the orders of his superiors and political leaders. The Crime Branch had registered a case of theft under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against activist Kashinath Shetye in July, 2017 for allegedly stealing a copy of a starred question from the Assembly and uploading it on social media before it came up for discussion in the House. The case was filed on a complaint from the legislature officials. Shetye then filed a private complaint with the magistrate, seeking action against BJP MLA Nilesh Cabral, Goa Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma, Assembly Speaker Pramod Sawant and inspector Karpe for filing a false case. The magistrate dismissed the charges against Cabral, Sharma and Sawant, but ordered registration of a case against the police officer. "This is a classic example which shows how blindly the orders of political leaders and higher officers are followed by subordinate officers so as to cause hardship to the common man who is at the mercy of the so-called officers and political leaders," the magistrate said in the order. "....one can imagine the situation of a common man, to what extent a police officer can go to falsely implicate any person...if the so-called police machinery and persons in power intend to target a person," she said. Inspector Karpe was under obligation to hold a preliminary inquiry, but he went further and registered an FIR for theft by blindly following orders, she added. There was no "lawful ground" for registering a case of theft, the court said and ordered that "criminal proceedings" be initiated against the officer. PTI RPS KRK RC SDM SDM Army welcomes its rowers who won medals at Asian Games Mumbai, Aug 26 (PTI) The Army has lauded its rowers who made the country proud by clinching three medals at the ongoing Asian Games in Indonesia. The rowers arrived at the international airport here in the wee hours today and were accorded a warm welcome by the Army personnel. The players later left for Pune, where they are being trained at the Army Rowing Node located in the College of Military Engineering, an official said. The Army oarsmen bagged one gold and two bronze medals at the Asian Games. The gold medal winning quartet included Subedar Sawarn Singh (Olympian - London Olympics 2012), Havildar Bhokanal Dattu (Olympian - Rio Olympics 2016), Havildar Om Prakash and Sapper Sukhmeet Singh, who won the Quadruple Sculls event. Naib Subedar Dushyant Chauhan won bronze in the Lightweight Men's Single Sculls event, while Sapper Bhagwan Singh and Sapper Rohit Kumar won bronze in the Lightweight Men's Double Sculls event. PTI NRB GK GK SDM SDM Builders wary of title insurance fearing cost escalation Mumbai, Aug 26 (PTI) Even as the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act makes it mandatory for developers to take title insurance, builders are hesitant to adopt it, saying it may further add to financial burden, say experts. A title insurance is a form of indemnity insurance that protects investment in real estate and provides coverage against financial loss arising from title defects and other irregularities pertaining to property acquisition. Section 16 of the Rera Act necessitates developers to adopt title insurance, however, it will be mandatory after the regulator of each state notifies it. Currently not a single state regulator has mandated it, while MahaRera has indicated it would soon issue a notification in this regard. "The Indian real estate market has been grappling with lack of transparency for decades, which has resulted in unclear titles, leading to disputes. Title insurance will help improve transparency, bring mutual value for developers and buyers connected through one or more projects," Ekta World chairman Ashok Mohanani told PTI here. Title insurance is available in many countries, including Britain, Canada, Australia, Europe among others. However, since the concept is new in India, not many firms have introduced the product. Currently, only HDFC Ergo and New India Assurance have launched title insurance. Last week, Raheja Universal partnered with HDFC Ergo for title insurance for its projects. According to financial services company Nisus Finance, considering the real estate sector is estimated at about USD 50 billion each year and if land title insurance is to be undertaken, the entire built up value needs to be accounted and not just the land value. Hence, the potential insurance premium can be in excess of USD 1 billion each year, which can add about Rs 150 to Rs 200 per sq feet of cost to the end product, which is steep for affordable housing. "However, it is early to envisage the final costing model which will be worked out given the amount of risk involved," its managing director and chief executive Amit Goenka said. "The burden on developers will be massive because they will have to fork up almost 2 to 3 per cent of the development value of the project upfront to obtain title insurance, apart from undergoing a prolonged and difficult exercise to verify the authenticity of title to the satisfaction of insurers which will add to the transaction costs," he said. House of Hiranandani chairman and MD Surendra Hiranandani said the key question in adoption of title insurance is the cost. "Hopefully if there are a large number of takers the costs would fall. Right now it is prohibitively expensive and would impact costs and therefore prices. Also, it should be noted that title insurance covers only part of the risks and does not protect from many kinds of litigation and issues," he said. HDFC Ergo's Anurag Rastogi said this is a new concept to India, pointing out that they are among the pioneers in it. "Developers need to understand the benefits of title insurance in the long run. Given the current situation in the realty market, the credibility of a developer would improve and it will be beneficial for both the developers as well as the consumers," he said. On the benefit of title insurance to consumers, Naredco national president Niranjan Hiranandani said, "Title insurance is needed in Indian real estate as a comfort for sentiments of not just the buyers on one hand, but also developers, lenders, and institutional investors on the other." "Title insurance will reduce the burden of the prospective buyer with respect to the title of the property, resulting in reduced subsequent risks with regards to the title." PTI PSK BEN DSK GK GK SDM SDM Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 27) President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo honored the Filipinos who have sacrificed for the country, in commemoration of National Heroes' Day on Monday. "We honor our unnamed heroes who, in their own little ways, have made a huge difference in the lives of those they have touched," Duterte said in the wreath-laying ceremony at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. He lauded the military troops who helped liberate Marawi City, the policemen who took part in his war against drugs, the teachers, and the overseas Filipino workers. "These are our everyday heroes that we need for you to emulate and look up to," he added. Vice President also honored both the traditional heroes and the new-age heroes of the Philippines. "Mga bayani man ng nakaraan, o mga bagong bayaning patuloy na nagsisilbi sa bayan, nawa ay maging inspirasyon sila sa ating lahat sa gitna ng mga pagsubok na ating kinakaharap. Ang kanilang halimbawa ay pagpapaalala na tayo mismo ang susi sa pagbabagong ating hinahangad," she said in a message. [Translation: Heroes of the past or the new age heroes who continue to serve the country should serve as inspiration for everyone amid the challenges we face. Their example should serve as a reminder that we are the key to the change we wish to happen in the country.] She added the values these heroes impart help us in times when democracy is being challenged. The country celebrates National Heroes' Day every last Monday of August, under Republic Act No. 9492 signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on July 24, 2007. The annual celebration coincides with the Cry of Pugad Lawin now known as Cry of Balintawak which marked the beginning of the Philippine revolution against Spanish colonizers. On the other hand, several militant labor groups will also hold a 'Heroes' Day March' to recognize individuals who fought for workers' rights. The groups will march to the Welcome Rotonda in Manila, to call for higher national minimum wage. Similar demonstrations are expected in Cebu and Negros in Visayas and in Davao City in Mindanao. The Metro Manila Development Authority announced the number coding scheme is lifted today. Akali Dal leader and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK was attacked by a group of unknown men at the Yuba City Gurdwara in California on Saturday. The attackers pushed Singh to the ground, causing his turban to fall off. His face was blackened and beaten by the men before he was taken to a place of safety. The DSGMC chief recalled the incident and said that a group of over 20 people had attacked him. "I was attacked by 20 to 25 people. I was here at the gurudwara for paying my respects. These people did not even uphold the dignity of a gurdwara. I told my aides to not say a word and maintain peace. We will not be cowed down by all this (such attacks). I was first attacked in New York and then in California. I am not scared of these people, and I am safe," he said in a video. Meanwhile, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Gobind Singh Longowal condemned the attack and termed it as unfortunate. "It is very unfortunate that in America, Sikhs are being repeatedly targetted. This is the handiwork of such agencies, who want to instigate tensions among the Sikhs. It is the responsiblity of the US government to take strict actions against these people behind the attack. I condemn this incident," he told ANI. Union Cabinet Minister of Food Processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal termed the incident as "cowardly" and tweeted, "Strongly Condemn the Cowardly attack on unarmed @ManjitGK at the Yuba City Gurughar in complete disregard of Maryada and Sikhi! To these agents of ISI, the only way to get referendum is by attacking n intimidating Sikhs. No Sikh will ever be cowed down by your dastardly acts." Her husband and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal also wrote on the micro-blogging site, "I strongly condemn the cowardly attack on Manjit Singh GK. He was unarmed and paying obeisance at Gurughar where he was attacked by goons backed by ISI. @Akali_Dal_ has never cowed down to terror and will continue to stand strong on the principles of Sikhism!" This is the second such attack on Singh in this week. On Monday, the DSGMC chief and his family were allegedly attacked by Khalistan sympathisers at a TV studio in New York, following which he appealed to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for help and demanded action. There has been a spike in hate attacks against the Sikh community in the US. On August 16, a man identified as Terlok Singh was apparently stabbed to death on Thursday near the deli he owned at North Park Street and Burchard Avenue in New Jersey's East Orange. On August 6, a 71-year-old Sikh man was attacked in California's Manteca by two youths, one of whom was later identified as Union City Police Chief Darryl McAllister's estranged son Tyrone Keith McAllister. Both Tyrone and his accomplice were arrested. On July 31, 50-year-old Surjit Malhi was attacked in California when he was raising campaign signs in support of Republican candidates. (ANI) Imperial Oil Limited explores for, produces, and sells crude oil and natural gas in Canada. It operates through three segments: Upstream, Downstream, and Chemical. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil, natural gas, synthetic oil, and bitumen. As of December 31, 2020, this segment had 138 million oil-equivalent barrels of proved undeveloped reserves. The Downstream segment is involved in the transportation and refining of crude oil, as well as blending, distribution, and marketing of refined products. It also transports crude oil to refineries by contracted pipelines, common carrier pipelines, and rail; maintains a distribution system to move petroleum products to market by pipeline, tanker, rail, and road transport; and owns and operates fuel terminals, natural gas liquids, and products pipelines in Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario. In addition, this segment markets and supplies petroleum products to motoring public through approximately 2,400 Esso and Mobil-branded sites. Further, it sells petroleum products, including fuel, asphalt, and lubricants for industrial and transportation customers, independent marketers, and resellers, as well as other refiners serving the agriculture, residential heating, and commercial markets through branded fuel and lubricant resellers. The Chemical segment manufactures and markets various petrochemicals and polyethylene, such as benzene, aromatic, and aliphatic solvents; plasticizer intermediates; and polyethylene resins. The company was incorporation in 1880 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Imperial Oil Limited is a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation. Read More Schenectady City police said an investigation into a report of an alleged assault in late July, which the victim characterized as an example of the "knockout game" happening locally, has turned up no evidence that an incident occurred in the area reported. A Schenectady woman, Rayn Boncie, told police that early on July 31 she was walking alone near the Union College campus. In Boncie's account, detailed in a July 31 post on her Facebook page and in an interview she gave to The Daily Gazette for a story published last week, as a woman walked back and forth in front of her on the street, another woman whom Boncie had not seen suddenly punched her repeatedly in the head, and the first woman struck her as well. Both fled, Boncie wrote, and there was no robbery attempt. Boncie characterized it as an instance of the so-called knockout game, in which attackers try to render an unsuspecting passerby unconscious with a single blow. Videos are often posted online of such attacks, which date back more than 20 years and, according to national and global media reports, have surged in frequency the past five years. In her introduction to the narrative on Facebook, Boncie wrote, "Have you heard of that 'game' called 'knockout' where someone walks up to you, punches you in the head and tries to knock you out?" As of Saturday evening, the post had received 422 reactions, nearly 150 comments and had been shared 756 times. In addition to The Daily Gazette article, which bore the headline, "Schenectady 'knockout game' assault victim urges awareness," the story was picked up by other Capital Region media. The Times Union has not previously written about it. In a news release distributed Friday that did not name Boncie, Schenectady police said, "Since the initial report, we have been unable to substantiate the crime occurring in the area reported, by use of both public and private surveillance footage." It added, "It is important that all available facts be presented before bringing such concern and alarm to the attention of the public. At this point we have no evidence to suggest this incident is related to what has been reported as the 'Knockout Game.'" The department's statement said the victim, who reported the alleged assault about 30 minutes after it happened and from a different area of the city, was unable to describe specifically where the incident happened. Boncie's Facebook post mentioned Union Street; she told the Gazette it was on Nott Street near Van Vranken Avenue; the police statement said it "'possibly' occurred in the area of Nott Street." Boncie told the paper she had "fuzzy" recollections as a result of a head injury, which she described on Facebook as "a significant concussion and whiplash." The police statement said the victim "'did not sustain any visible physical injury" and refused medical treatment. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. The police statement said, "While we are concerned with the crime reported, and the circumstances under which it occurred, it is important that a thorough investigation be conducted before reaching the conclusions that were reported." Reached by the Times Union Saturday evening via Facebook, Boncie declined to be interviewed on the phone. She wrote, "It was not my intention for this to become a media story, but instead to remind others to be aware of their surroundings so that no one else would fall victim to such attacks. I stand by my initial statement and hope that the Schenectady Police Department will continue to review camera footage as part of their investigation, so that the perpetrators of this crime can be identified and convicted." sbarnes@timesunion.com 518-454-5489 blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping @Tablehopping facebook.com/SteveBarnesFoodCritic Those much-loathed X placards are ubiquitous around Albany, symbols of a decline that has left too many neighborhoods plagued by vacant buildings. Many of us have grown used to seeing them. But when the red placards went up recently on two of the historic Tudor-style homes on Holland Avenue, alarm bells went off for those who admire the houses and fear they could be razed. "Seems more demos by neglect are in Albany's future," said one of the readers who contacted me. The fear is reasonable. The six homes at 100-112 Holland, across from the Stratton VA Medical Center, have been empty for a decade and vacancy usually means deterioration. Meanwhile, the land they sit on is valuable for redevelopment. Losing the houses, built in the 1930s, would be more than a shame. They are lovely, with stained-glass windows and intricate detail. They sit on a rise above busy Holland Avenue, behind sloping lawn and mature trees. They are part of Albany's rich architectural history. The homes were built by Jesse Leonard, a developer responsible for large swaths of the city. The house at 100 Holland Ave. was his retirement home, built with a tiled indoor fountain and elaborately designed plaster reliefs. Leonard lived there until he died in 1956. "I've never seen anything like those architectural features in a house in Albany, and I've been in a lot of houses," City Historian Tony Opalka once told me. I contacted Picotte Cos., the longtime owner of the houses, when readers started reacting to the X placards, but I wasn't optimistic. I've reached out to Picotte for previous columns about the Tudors and officials at the Colonie-based development company had never deigned to respond with answers. This time was different. On Thursday, I met with Nancy Carey Cassidy, chief operating officer at Picotte, at the company's Corporate Woods headquarters. Chris Spencer, the city's planning director, was also there. Cassidy stressed three points. One, the X placards do not mean demolition is imminent. The X signs went up, Cassidy said, because Picotte boarded over exits to keep trespassers away. She added that the company regularly inspects and maintains the houses. Two, the company does not see a long-term future for the houses at their current site. Cassidy and Spencer both talked about how the houses do not fit in a largely commercial neighborhood dominated by big buildings. "They're kind of an island," Spencer said. "The surroundings are not all that conducive to single-family housing." Three, Picotte wants the Tudors to survive somewhere else. The company is ready to donate the houses to a person or organization willing to relocate the houses and is even willing to kick in $100,000 toward the effort. Could such a thing really happen? Well, it almost did. Three years ago, Picotte and Habitat for Humanity Capital District nearly agreed to a plan that would have moved two of the houses at an estimated cost of $70,000 each for use by the nonprofit organization. Habitat, worried about future maintenance costs for lower-income tenants, ultimately backed out of the plan. "It just didn't make sense for what we do," Christine Schudde, the group's executive director, told me. In the years since, Picotte has not found a group or person willing to take the homes off their hands, which, of course, should worry anyone concerned about their long-term survival. They are not protected by any historic designation. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Why not just find uses for them where they are? Unfortunately, neither Cassidy nor Spencer seemed to think that was a viable or reasonable option. More Information Contact columnist Chris Churchill at 518-454-5442 or email cchurchill@timesunion.com See More Collapse But I don't think it would be difficult to find residential occupants. While it's true Holland Avenue is no suburban cul-de-sac, or even a typical city neighborhood, Albany has seen an influx of residents into non-traditional areas like downtown and the warehouse district. Plus, the Tudors are just beautiful homes. They might not be for everybody, but they have charms that would appeal to at least a handful of buyers willing to pay for needed upgrades and costs. Cassidy didn't say this, but the bigger issue, of course, is that houses are not the highest-value use for the land, which is zoned for commercial uses. In other words, Picotte will make more if the site is redeveloped. Tax revenue to the city would presumably increase, too. "If you look up and down that corridor, you would expect to see mixed-use buildings or medical office buildings on the site," Spencer said, later adding that the city could not stop demolitions of the Tudors if Picotte had a viable replacement plan. Cassidy and Spencer said they're optimistic the houses can be moved to what they consider a more suitable site. But doing so will take a partner willing to take and move the houses, even though doing so is unlikely to make financial sense. So who wants them? Anybody? Anybody? Protests were staged in Nepal's capital city of Kathmandu on Saturday against the government for its failure to arrest the culprits of the Kanchanpur rape incident. Activists and the general public took to the streets in Kathmandu in support of the family of a 13-year-old victim, who was found dead on July 26 in a sugarcane farm after being raped. The demonstration, led by the social activist groups marched from the Maitighar Mandala to the Parliament in Baneshwor, chanting slogans and displaying placards with messages against the government. Speaking to ANI, a demonstrator said, "Instead of arresting the culprit, the government has been claiming that the protests are violent and provocative. The father and mother of the victims have been threatened. We citizens have taken this matter with the utmost seriousness." The number of rape cases in the Himalayan nation has been continuously rising. An estimated two to three rape cases are registered in the country on daily basis. The public and opposition parties pin the blame on the government for not taking adequate efforts to curb it. "I hope that the government will take some initiation over the incident of Kanchanpur. While settling the tension, there should not be any pressing down of the issue. We all came down in rage. These incidents are unacceptable for the Nepali society," Gagan Thapa, the leader of the opposition Nepali Congress party, who took part in the protest on Saturday told ANI. The protestors also demanded the resignation of the Home Minister for using excessive force on the protestors rather than arresting the culprit. (ANI) SARATOGA SPRINGS Five years ago this week, a 21-year-old black man running from police in downtown Saratoga Springs ended up near the bottom of a 19-foot-tall scaffold with injuries that left him in a coma. He never fully regained consciousness, and died nine months later. The official account of Darryl Mount Jr.'s death holds that he fell from the scaffold while fleeing police. But his family has maintained that the injuries he sustained at about 3 a.m. Aug. 31, 2013, were inflicted by police and not caused by an accidental fall. WARNING: This story contains graphic images, and video with strong language. They implored the city to authorize an outside investigation. Police Chief Gregory Veitch and then-Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathiesen repeatedly dismissed the familys request and declared that the departments own investigation ruled out police misconduct. But in a sworn deposition in a lawsuit brought by Mounts mother, Veitch admitted that no internal investigation into misconduct was ever conducted. READ: Commissioner: No civilian oversight needed for Saratoga Springs police What the chief did, according to depositions and internal police documents, was immediately assure his officers that he had their backs. I do not believe any officer assaulted Mount, Veitch wrote in an email to his staff two days after the incident. That email was prompted in part by a report in the local newspaper, The Saratogian, that said Veitch was seeking witnesses and would interview them personally. His statement in the newspaper, he wrote in the internal email, was intended to ensure that the public knows we take those allegations seriously and to protect the officers and department from civil litigation. I will take a statement from someone who alleges the police beat Mount knowing it is false to ensure knowing the truth. Later, in his deposition given on May 2, 2017, but not previously revealed the chief admitted to intentionally deceiving a local reporter whose published stories referenced an ongoing internal investigation that Veitch and others knew didnt exist. The reporter, Caitlin Morris, had emailed Veitch to clarify Public Safety Commissioner Mathiesens reference to an internal investigation into Mounts injuries. Veitch replied to the reporter in an Oct. 13, 2013, email: The investigation into the alleged assault and subsequent pursuit of Darryl Mount is a criminal investigation. Investigation into the allegation of misconduct on the part of the police officers involved is an internal investigation. Three days later, Morris reported in The Saratogian that city police had two investigations under way. The story quoted Mathiesen and relied on Veitchs email, which the chief had copied to Mathiesen, and two other high-ranking city officials, as well as Glens Falls-based attorney John D. Aspland Jr., who represents the city in the lawsuit. Similarly misled, the Times Union reported months later that an internal inquiry into the Mount case cleared officers of wrongdoing." You purposely deceived (Morris)? the familys lead lawyer in the lawsuit, Brian Breedlove of Queensbury, asked Veitch at the deposition. Correct, Veitch replied. Breedlove asked why. If she is asking me to release something that I am not going to release, I am giving her a reason that may or may not be true so she doesnt get access to the thing we dont want to release, Veitch said. Are you saying that you gave her false information? asked Breedlove. I can say that I misled her, yes, Veitch replied. Contacted last week, Veitch said he had to refer questions to the city's attorney. "This is certainly a difficult thing for a family; the loss of a loved one is never easy," Aspland said Friday. He continued: "As I said some years ago, the officers did nothing wrong that night and nothing has changed my opinion or the facts that have been known since the very beginning." Breedlove declined to comment. In his deposition, Veitch stated that the departments investigation examined whether Mount should be criminally charged with attempted assault, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest for running from officers. You did not have any other investigation? Breedlove asked. Correct, Veitch replied. There was no official internal investigation. Why not? the lawyer asked. We had no allegations of misconduct and we didnt have any facts that would support an allegation of misconduct, Veitch replied. In fact, on the day of the incident, family members with Mount at Albany Medical Center Hospital had made misconduct allegations directly to a detective sergeant, who relayed those allegations to the chief, according to deposition transcripts. That should have been enough to initiate a formal internal investigation in accordance with the citys policies governing police misconduct allegations, according to Detective Sgt. Tim Sicko, who was deposed on Feb. 9. Sicko testified that Veitch had called him in on his day off to go to Albany Med the day of the incident to assist in the investigation. At the hospital, Sicko said, family members said they believed Mount "was beaten by police officers." As a result, Sicko continued, "I met with them. I asked them for certain items to retrieve from them, which they denied me." Later that day, Sicko said, he reported the family's allegations to the chief. Sicko testified that as part of the overall incident he was assigned to investigate how Mount sustained his injuries, but this was not an internal affairs investigation. "Were you directed to arrive at some type of conclusion after your investigation?" Breedlove asked Sicko during his deposition. More for you Commissioner: No civilian oversight needed for Saratoga Springs police "No," Sicko said. Sicko testified that he believed an internal affairs investigation should have been conducted based on the departments written policies and practices. The Saratoga Springs Police Departments General Order Section 25, titled "Investigating Employee Misconduct," spells out how to document, investigate and report complaints such as those made by the Mount family, who were not eyewitnesses: Investigations of complaints shall be comprehensive in content and undertaken immediately upon receipt of the complaint. Internal affairs investigations are to be completed within 45 days of receipt of the complaint. Who made the decision not to conduct an internal affairs investigation? Breedlove asked Sicko during his deposition. It would be someone higher than me, Sicko replied, so I would say the chief. An alleged beating The depositions and documents are part of an amended wrongful death lawsuit filed in 2015 against the city and eight other defendants: Veitch, Mathiesen and six police department members -- Aaron Benware, James Bell, Frederick Warfield, John Bateholts, Tyler McIntosh and Adam French. The lawsuit, brought in state Supreme Court in Saratoga County by Mounts mother, Patty Jackson, is still in the pretrial stage. A typical next step would be for the defense to file for a summary judgment, asking the judge to rule that the facts in the case do not support the claims and seeking dismissal. The complaint seeks unspecified damages and alleges violations of Mounts civil and constitutional rights, claiming he was deprived of due process and subjected to excessive deadly and unreasonable force. It alleges racial profiling, contends some officers beat Mount while others failed to intervene, and charges that Veitch and Mathiesen falsely maintained that Mounts injuries were caused by a fall from scaffolding. In an interview during a protest seeking an outside investigation, Jackson said that on Oct. 3, 2013, Mount was taken to the intensive care unit of Ellis Hospital, where a doctor advised her: You need to get a forensic medical examiner to determine how this really happened to your son. A noted forensic pathologist hired by Jacksons lawyers reviewed photographs, X-rays and Albany Medical Center records and concluded that Mounts injuries which were primarily limited to severe facial wounds to one side of his face were characteristic of what one would suffer from an assault, not from a fall. The absence of any injuries to his arms and hands are inconsistent with an accidental fall, in which a conscious individual would have made an effort to reach out with his arms and hands in an attempt to protect his face and head, wrote Dr. Cyril H. Wecht in a November 2014 report. X-rays of the chest, abdomen and pelvis on admission (to the hospital) did not reveal any traumatic injuries. Mr. Mounts injuries are consistent with trauma sustained from a direct assault, i.e., physical beating. The lawsuit maintains that the city didnt want a medical examiner brought in because their findings would have contradicted the Police Departments unwavering narrative that Mounts injuries were from by a fall. John Carl D'Annibale One day after the incident, Veitch emailed then-District Attorney James A. Murphy III, noting that Sicko, the detective sergeant, would try to have Dr. Michael Sikirica "take a look at the injuries." Sikirica is a forensic medical examiner frequently enlisted by Capital Region counties and police agencies in homicides and suspicious death cases. Sikirica, who primarily provides autopsy reports but also examines living patients, is mentioned again in December 2013 emails in which Sicko requested and received Veitchs OK to send photos of Mounts injuries to the doctor for his professional opinion. That consultation didnt take place until five months later after Mount had died. The report by Sikirica supported the city's assertions. Sikirica stated during his Nov. 29 deposition that he reviewed statements from at least 20 people and copies of multiple medical records, but he did not review any photographs of the scene or any pictures taken of Mount at Albany Medical Center Hospital. He reviewed reports about Mounts X-rays and CAT scans but did not review any films himself. Sikirica determined that the blunt force trauma sustained on Aug. 31, 2013, eventually led to the conditions that resulted in respiratory failure and ultimately Mount's death on May 13, 2014. Breedlove, the plaintiffs lawyer, told Sikirica during his deposition that one theory indicated Mount fell from a scaffold and another indicated he was assaulted by police. Do you recall that? Breedlove asked. Yes, Sikirica said. And in your conclusions on your autopsy report you indicate it was an accident, so you obviously discounted any claim that he was assaulted by police, Breedlove said. I didnt discount it, Sikirica responded. I considered it and eliminated it. And how did you eliminate it? Breedlove asked. I am asking what you relied upon in coming to the conclusions in this report. That revolves around my expert opinion, Sikirica said, declining to elaborate. Darryl Mount remained in some level of coma from Aug. 31 until his death in May 2014. His mother, a nurse, cared for him around the clock with help from his stepfather, extended family and aides. When he wasnt at home, he was in the Ellis Hospital intensive care unit because of seizures, or receiving treatment or therapy at Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital. Family and friends gathered in December 2013 for Mounts 22nd birthday. At the party, Mount was the center of attention as he sat in the living room in a specialized wheelchair equipped with a headrest and straps to support his upper body, according to a story in The Saratogian. He was in what is called a minimally conscious state, Jackson said in a telephone interview this past Tuesday. Some days he seemed more alert than others. One time she asked if he remembered a certain person, and he seemed to say uh-huh, she said. The next day he was gone again, Jackson said. Caroline Street incident The incident began on Friday night of Labor Day weekend on Caroline Street, a bar-lined stretch off Broadway. In the overnight hours, a strong police presence is typical. Fights and arrests are not uncommon between midnight and the approach of 4 a.m. closing time. The city has said that around 3 a.m. that night, police saw Mount push his girlfriends head against a brick wall outside a Caroline Street bar. Police approached Mount, who took off running south on Broadway and darted into an alley next to Northshire Bookstore. Construction scaffolding was erected behind the building, where a staircase leading to the lower street level was later built. The city has said officers ran after Mount, tried to stop him with their Tasers in the alley but did not make contact, and then lost sight of him. It was dark in the alley, and a light rain had fallen earlier, police said. The city claims Mount was found on the ground near the bottom of the scaffolding, breathing but unresponsive. The city said he was then briefly handcuffed even though he was unconscious. An officer who saw Mount radioed the dispatcher. The dispatcher called in city firefighters, who are trained as EMTs, and Mount was taken by ambulance to Albany Med. As for the purported push that sparked the 3 a.m. police chase, a stationary video of Caroline Street eventually released by police shows a fuzzy image of a woman pushed against a wall and the start of the police chase. None of the officers stayed to check whether the alleged assault victim was hurt. That wasnt the first time that night that police had confronted Mount. One of the officers, Frederick Warfield, wrote in his report of the incident that at about 2 a.m. a woman on Caroline Street had pointed out Mount, saying she had seen him slap a woman later identified as his girlfriend. Mount and the girlfriend both denied anything had happened. The officer wrote that he observed Mount still present on Caroline Street multiple times in the following hour and then saw the push that prompted the pursuit. Although it was only after Mounts death months later that a medical examiner was brought in, the chief had quickly reached out to the district attorney by email and called Mathiesen and city insurance risk manager Marilyn Rivers. You would make those calls because, number one, there were serious injuries, true? Breedlove asked Veitch at his deposition. True. And, number two, there were allegations of police misconduct, right? Breedlove continued. No, Veitch said. We certainly didnt have any facts that supported any indication that an officer was engaged in a wrongdoing. One day after the incident, Veitch emailed Murphy: I am sure by now you have seen the swirling controversy over Darryl Mounts injuries during the foot pursuit. The family is going public with their accusations that the police beat him. Including releasing photos from the hospital. You can probably guess this is not the case. No charges have been filed but we plan to if he recovers, Veitchs email continued. It is probably most important that he gets the medical care he needs before we drop an appearance ticket on his bed. The two-paragraph email mentioned the plan to bring in Dr. Sikirica, the forensic medical examiner, to take a look at the injuries. From the photos on the local blogs they look like scrapes and not nightsticks, but of course nobody cares, Veitch wrote, referring to a now-defunct local blog that had been a relentless critic of the police and Mathiesen. Court records contain no response to Veitch from Murphy, who is now the Saratoga County Court judge. A district attorney's office has the authority to investigate or have a grand jury examine evidence of misconduct in public office, according to state Criminal Procedure Law. No court records in this lawsuit indicate anyone asked the DA to pursue the allegations. The DA's office might have reviewed the incident at the time and determined it had no grounds to pursue the allegations; through a spokesperson, Murphy said that judicial rules prohibit him from commenting on any court case. Some police officers were familiar with Mount, who had been living in Malta with his mother since being paroled in July 2013. He had served 17 months in prison after pleading guilty to a third-degree burglary. One City Council member was deposed in the pending lawsuit: Mathiesen, who was the elected public safety commissioner from 2012 through 2017. In the Saratoga Springs form of government, the public safety commissioner is the part-time City Council member responsible for oversight and administration of the police and fire departments. John Carl D'Annibale Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Mathiesens statements in his Feb. 9 deposition and at City Council meetings indicate he took the chief at his word. The allegations have been reviewed during the citys investigation both internally by the police department and by the citys liability carrier, Mathiesen said, reading from a statement at the City Council table. The investigation revealed that Mr. Mount fell from scaffolding as he attempted to evade police officers. The evidence, whether video or eyewitness statements, support this conclusion and is uncontroverted. But police provided no copies of videos or eyewitness statements to support their claim that Mount fell. No officers claimed to have seen or heard him fall. There was most definitely an internal investigation, Mathiesen said in a telephone interview last week. He said the officers involved were interviewed. Officer's account However, what Mathiesen refers to as an internal investigation by the department was not the type of internal investigation called for by department policy when misconduct is alleged, as noted in Veitch's and Sickos depositions. Nor were all the responding officers interviewed, according to the May 1, 2017, deposition of Officer Tyler McIntosh. In his incident report filed on Aug. 31, 2013, McIntosh wrote that he pursued Mount into the alley. Mount refused to stop and continued up the stairway at the end of the alley behind some garbage cans. Mount them jumped over the side rail back to the flat concrete landing of the stairwell. At that point, McIntosh wrote, he tried to use his Taser on Mount but failed to make contact. Mount then jumped over the gate separating the alley from the construction scaffolding behind the Washington building. Mount made a right turn into the scaffolding and I lost sight of him. In his report and deposition, McIntosh said he climbed onto the scaffolding, directed a flashlight into the alley below and saw Mount on the ground, facedown. I climbed down to the alley using the fire escape located at the rear of Gaffneys which adjoins the scaffolding, McIntosh wrote. I approached Mount and observed he was breathing but unconscious. At this time I advised dispatch to send EMS. As McIntosh reached Mount so did Sgt. Aaron Benware, the senior responding officer, who had quickly driven to the alley, and Patrolman Warfield, who was on foot. It was Benware who handcuffed Mount, according to court records. Did you ever see him on the scaffolding other than when he first entered it? Breedlove asked McIntosh during his deposition. No, McIntosh said. Did you hear any screams or yells at all? I did not. His injuries were pretty much limited to his face, right, other than some scrapes and scratches? Breedlove asked. From what I observed at the time, yes, McIntosh replied. Were you interrogated as part of an internal investigation? Breedlove asked McIntosh. No, he said. Did you speak to the police commissioner about this incident? No. Did you speak to the police chief about this incident? Not that I recall. Did any of your superiors take a written statement from you other than the narrative that you prepared? No. The questioning continued. So nobody from the department conducted any investigation into this incident other than the statements that were taken that night? Not that I recall. I take it if there was an internal investigation into your conduct you would probably remember that, right? Breedlove asked. That was quite some time ago, but yes, McIntosh replied. WATCH: This video was created by Urban Disaster Records and other people in the Capital Region who advocated for an outside investigation of Darryl Mount's injuries and death. The video contains strong language. Moving on A little more than a year after Mount's death, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo issued an executive order enabling the state attorney general to investigate, and if warranted, prosecute certain matters involving the death of an unarmed civilian, whether in custody or not, caused by a law enforcement officer. Cuomo's order stated that it was needed because "there have been recent incidents involving the deaths of unarmed civilians that have challenged the public's confidence and trust in our system of criminal justice" and "public concerns have been raised that such incidents cannot be prosecuted at the local level without conflict or bias, or the public perception of conflict or bias." The attorney generals office has invoked the 2015 order to investigate 17 cases in which unarmed civilians died during encounters with police. Although Mounts death occurred before the governor's executive order was issued, Cuomo has authority under Executive Law to issue a separate order that would allow the attorney general's office if it requested to investigate the case. The absence of an internal investigation by Saratoga Springs police into misconduct allegations was no surprise to Patty Jackson. "It was clear as the nose on anyone's face that they were protecting themselves from the beginning," she said Tuesday. In the months after Mount was injured, his family and pastor publicly urged Mathiesen and Veitch to bring in an independent investigation, but to no avail. The rest of the City Council never challenged Mathiesen's decision. If I could say that my son ran from police which was wrong, very wrong and clearly fell from scaffolding and there was no foul play whatever, I could move on, Jackson said in a videotape during a public protest seeking an independent investigation. The fourth anniversary of Mounts death fell this year on Mothers Day. Patty Jackson wrote a message in a bottle and tossed it into the ocean off North Carolina. Someone found it in a sand dune six weeks later, added their own letter and sent it back out to sea, she said. I lost my son on this date, Jackson said, describing her message. The ocean, she wrote, is as deep as my love for my son. Barbara Lombardo is the former executive editor of The Saratogian and The (Troy) Record. She teaches journalism at the University at Albany. Her blog is www.donewithdeadlines.com. Honolulu Weather officials dropped all warnings Saturday after tropical storm Lane weakened and turned away from Hawaii. The storm began moving to the west, breaking its northward march toward Honolulu after drenching the Big Island and Maui over the past two days. The slow-moving storm, moving less than 5 mph, dumped nearly 4 feet of rain on the Big Island and about a foot on Maui before it was downgraded Friday to a tropical storm from a hurricane. The storm was about 110 miles south of Honolulu, but the state's most populous city was largely spared from any impacts. The National Weather Service recorded about 2.3 inches of rain on Oahu in a 24-hour period ending early Saturday. Shops along the famed Waikiki beach in Honolulu were reopening for the tourists. Forecasters had said as much as 10 more inches of rain could fall on parts of Oahu and Maui. "Don't let your guard down," Brock Long, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said during a telephone briefing early Saturday in Washington. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Rain began falling several days ago on the Big Island, which has received nearly 4 feet in some areas. Authorities rescued people from more than 20 homes overnight, Hawaii County Managing Director Wil Okabe said, and landslides and pooling water forced the temporary closure of several highways. Tropical Storm Lane drenched parts of Hawaii with about 4 feet of rain as it crept past the state Saturday, causing flash floods and prompting evacuations even as it dissipated over the islands' rugged slopes. The storm had weakened over several days from a Category 5 storm, with maximum winds now reaching up to 60 mph, according to the National Weather Service. But its plodding pace just 3 mph prolonged the rains. Some 46 inches fell on the eastern side of the Island of Hawaii, where landslides shut down roads and search-and-rescue efforts were underway. Flash flood warnings were still in effect Saturday morning. Kelly Wooten, a spokeswoman for the Hawaii County Civil Defense, said the agency had not yet been able to assess the damage from the storm. Dublin Nearly 40 years since the last papal visit to Ireland, Pope Francis arrived Saturday to a transformed country where the once-mighty Roman Catholic Church is in tatters, its authority buffeted by deepening secularization and a global sex abuse crisis challenging Francis' papacy. As recently as a few weeks ago, the pope's visit to Ireland mostly promised an awkward encounter in an estranged relationship. Since the last papal visit by John Paul II in 1979 Ireland has abandoned its teachings by legalizing divorce and same-sex marriage. The country now has a gay prime minister, and just a few months ago voted to lift a ban on abortion. But recent revelations in the United States and Chile of the institutional covering-up of sexual abuse by clerics have lent sudden urgency to the pope's visit, where he will speak at the church's ninth World Meeting of Families. The issue threatens to overshadow the visit by Francis, who has struggled to grasp the enormity of the scourge throughout his papacy. Catholics worldwide wait to see whether he would use Ireland, with its own painful history of abuse, as a symbolic stage upon which to announce concrete measures to combat a crisis that threatens the future of his church. It was not clear how far he would go. Instead, the pope offered expressions of regret and anger Saturday at Dublin Castle, where he met with Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who is gay and called on Francis to take action on the "legacy of pain and suffering" in Ireland. He has called the pope's visit "an opportunity" to demonstrate that things are going to change. "With regard to the most vulnerable, I cannot fail to acknowledge the grave scandal caused in Ireland by the abuse of young people by members of the church charged with responsibility for their protection and education," Francis said. "The failure of ecclesiastical authorities bishops, religious superiors, priests and others adequately to address these repugnant crimes has rightly given rise to outrage, and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community," the pope added. "I myself share those sentiments." Speaking in front of advocates for abuse survivors, Francis cited the outrage expressed in a 2010 letter by his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, and the measures Benedict had demanded. "His frank and decisive intervention continues to serve as an incentive for the efforts of the church's leadership both to remedy past mistakes and to adopt stringent norms meant to ensure that they do not happen again," Francis said, adding that in his letter this month to all Catholics, "I reiterated this commitment, or rather, a greater commitment to eliminating this scourge in the church at whatever cost." The shadow cast by the scandals now reaches beyond Ireland and to the heart of the Vatican, where it threatens to darken the legacy and remaining influence of Pope Francis. Well into his fifth year as pope, Francis has focused on championing migrants, the poor and the disenfranchised, all the while shifting the church's emphasis away from divisive social issues and toward a more inclusive, pastoral style. That mission is imperiled by his slow response to a scandal that some of his top advisers argue is the central issue facing the church. It was only in January, amid the uproar over his believing a Chilean bishop and his doubting of Chilean survivors, that Francis has begun to act more decisively, sending investigators, accepting resignations of top Chilean bishops and promising victims there would be further measures. In Ireland, the question is less whether Francis will broach sexual abuse the Vatican has said he will meet with abuse survivors than whether he will take new action. Expectations are high among sex abuse survivors and their advocates that the pope will find time in his 36 hours in the country to announce historic measures that would show the church is serious about the issue. On Saturday, Varadkar, speaking on stage feet from the pope, gave the forceful criticism of the church's sins that many wish the pope would deliver. "In place of Christian charity, forgiveness and compassion, far too often there was judgment, severity and cruelty, in particular, towards women and children and those on the margins," he said, citing "stains" such as child abuse, illegal adoptions, forced labor and other sins. "People kept in dark corners, behind closed doors, cries for help that went unheard." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Advocates, church officials and some clerics have articulated a wish list of what should happen. Among the demands are that each church diocese publish the names of abusive priests and hand over church records to civil law enforcement. Some have urged working with courts to aid, rather than hinder, prosecutions of abusive priests and ceasing efforts to indemnify the church from financial penalties. Others have called for enshrining zero-tolerance policies into the church's canon law so it can be enforced globally. As the sex abuse scandal exploded again, a fierce debate about contributing factors raged in Catholics. But the one factor many seemed to agree on is that clericalism, from the seminaries to the top of the hierarchy, is insidious. On Friday in Dublin, Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, who has blamed a "clerical culture" for the abuse, began a panel he moderated on "The Dignity and Beauty of Sexual Love: Finding New Language for Ancient Truths," by lamenting "the woeful responses of bishops who failed to protect" abuse survivors. Ireland knows the ravages of clericalism from its sex abuse scandals to forcing the adoption of the children of unwed mothers to many other exploitations of what was authoritarian power. The abuses the clergy committed, and their tendency to seek exaltation by parishioners instead of humbly serving and accompanying them through troubles cost the church a country where it once had more than 90 percent attendance at mass. Now it has about 30 percent. If Francis decides to make a bold policy change to protect his surviving flock around the world from the same threat, Ireland gives him a compelling backdrop from which to do so. "It is my hope," the pope said Saturday, "that the gravity of the abuse scandals, which have cast light on the failings of many, will serve to emphasize the importance of the protection of minors and vulnerable adults on the part of society as a whole." Washington Mitch McConnell's primary mission is to show that the Senate is efficient and workmanlike and avoid a costly government shutdown just before the critical November election. His chief nemesis this week: his Kentucky colleague, Republican Rand Paul. Again. They represent the same state, often vote the same way, and share the same conservative philosophy. But their approaches are radically different. McConnell, the Senate majority leader, is a consensus-builder. Paul doesn't mind going it alone. McConnell will avoid ideological conflict for the sake of collegiality. Paul doesn't mind tying up the Senate by pressing his views. The taciturn McConnell is a loyalist to his party and the Senate. The libertarian-leaning Paul has cultivated a reputation as a free agent who seemingly relishes the opportunity to challenge the party. "You could not have two senators further apart in their styles or their approaches to their Senate careers than these two," said Stephen Voss, a political science professor at the University of Kentucky. This week, McConnell had carefully crafted, along with Democrats, a spending plan for defense and domestic agencies that was smoothly moving toward final passage Thursday. Then along came Paul, delaying a vote because he wanted to include a plan that would bar taxpayer dollars from going to Planned Parenthood and other groups that perform abortions. "The dirty little secret is that Republican leadership is blocking my amendment to defund Planned Parenthood," Paul said in a floor speech his office characterized as "blistering." That was exactly the sort of political dynamite McConnell wanted to avoid. McConnell is on a mission for his chamber to pass major spending bills, and that means staying away from anything that stokes controversy. Still, Paul lit the match. He went to the Senate floor and accused Republican leadership of stifling his amendment. Leaders, he said, were more interested in expanding government than in preventing abortions. Leadership relented and Paul got his vote. His bid failed as Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined with Democrats to vote against it. McConnell, who had sought to keep the package clear of conflict, was a yes vote. Paul claimed a moral victory: "If it took exposing the preference of so many in my own party to continue reckless spending over protecting the innocent, it was a fight worth having," he said. The effort came after McConnell told reporters that passage of the massive, $857 billion spending package could help an oft-deadlocked Congress avoid a potential government shutdown or "any kind of drama associated with the end of the fiscal year." The fiscal year ends Sept. 30. "We are rebuilding a regular process for responsibly appropriating taxpayers' money," McConnell said. "We're achieving what we set out to do, and we're doing it together." Paul voted against the spending bill in the end. It cleared with an 85 to 7 vote. It now goes to the House. McConnell, first elected in 1984, is the ultimate party insider. "He's stayed with the team, whatever the team is doing at the time," Voss said. Paul, first elected in 2010, has sought to pull the party to his thinking, countering the party orthodoxy on government surveillance and foreign intervention. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. The pair's differences were evident from the start. McConnell has assiduously nurtured Kentucky's Republican Party, but Paul wasn't McConnell's choice in 2010 to succeed former Republican Sen. Jim Bunning when he retired. McConnell and Paul have learned to make accommodations, said Al Cross, director of the Institute for Rural Journalism at the University of Kentucky and a veteran political reporter. Paul helped McConnell win a tough re-election fight in 2014 and McConnell endorsed Paul's 2016 run for the presidency, opening doors to key fundraisers. "They understand they're on completely different planets politically and I'm sure McConnell gets irritated when Paul does these kind of things, but they've found ways to placate," Cross said. The two Kentucky senators also diverged when it came to President Donald Trump's decision to yank former CIA director John Brennan's security clearance. Paul had publicly urged Trump to pull Brennan's clearance, announcing he planned to bring it up at a July meeting at the White House and later hailed Trump's decision to do so. McConnell, who is said to talk frequently, if privately, with Trump, declined to offer his take on what Trump should do. "That's within the purview of the president's authority and I don't have any particular advice to give him," McConnell told reporters. They do find common ground on issues close to home. Paul and McConnell are major champions of efforts to remove hemp from the federal list of controlled substances. This week each praised Trump's call to remove restrictions on coal-fired power plants, with McConnell calling the Obama-era rule it would replace an "intrusive regulatory regime built not on effective policy, but on far-left ideology." Paul tweeted that it was a "very good day for Kentucky" and said he applauded Trump "for continuing to roll back and working to end the Obama war on coal." Monday is the last day for New Yorkers to make donations to a state trust fund designed to help residents get around a new federal cap on state and local tax deductions. Gov. Andrew Cuomos office said residents can make contributions to the state Charitable Gifts Trust Fund until Aug. 27 under Internal Revenue Service rules. The states 2019 budget created the fund, which is overseen by the state Commissioner of Taxation and Finances and the state Comptroller. Taxpayers can choose to direct their contribution to either a health or education account. Instruction for taxpayers can be found here. Charitable contributions made by mail are deemed to have been paid on the postmark date. The fund was created after changes to the federal tax law on state and local tax deductability for those who itemize their deductions. Taxpayers may deduct up to $10,000 of state and local income, property and sales taxes. Before the new tax law was adopted, there was no limit on the amount of state and local taxes an individual could deduct. The IRS has not ruled whether contributions to the fund will qualify as charitable donations. Sunday, August 26, is National Dog Day. Started in 2004, the day is meant to celebrate all breeds, pure and mixed, and promote adoption. Click through the slideshow above to view photos of dogs (and other pets) that readers shared with us for a photo contest earlier this year. ALBANY A state prison superintendent who was one of several officials suspended in the wake of a 2015 escape from Clinton Correctional Facility was arrested over the weekend in Albany and charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated. Donald L. Quinn, 53, was arrested by University at Albany police on Saturday following a traffic stop on the main campus. Law enforcement officials said that Quinn, superintendent at Gouverneur prison in St. Lawrence County, had been driving to a nearby hotel when he was stopped. University at Albany assistant police Chief Aran Mull said that Quinn was pulled over about 3 p.m. on Saturday after an officer saw him driving the wrong way on a one-way road. Quinn was ticketed for DWI and also aggravated DWI, both misdemeanors. Mull said Quinn was ticketed for aggravated DWI because his blood-alcohol level was higher than 0.18, which is more than twice the legal limit. "We expect our staff, especially those in a leadership position, to abide by the law and follow the highest of standards," Thomas Mailey, a spokesman for the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, said in a statement. "Superintendent Quinn has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of a department investigation." Quinn was first deputy superintendent at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora in June 2015 when two convicted murderers, Richard W. Matt and David Sweat, escaped from the maximum security prison. The extraordinary escape exposed systemic security breakdowns in the facility that led to Quinn and other top officials at the prison being suspended. A mix of poor supervision of correction officers and lax checkpoints for employees entering state prisons were among the issues exposed by the prison escape. The Times Union had reported in 2015 that the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision's own inspector general's office had mishandled an internal investigation into a female employee's personal relationship with one of the inmates. The woman, Joyce E. Mitchell, smuggled tools into the prison that the inmates used along with power tools to cut through a steel wall in the back of their adjacent cells, law enforcement officials said. Mitchell also allegedly provided access to a cellphone that was used to contact one of the inmates' relatives or friends, and had planned to be their getaway driver until she panicked and abandoned the plan, law enforcement officials said. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Quinn and then-Superintendent Steve Racette were placed on leave in the wake of the escape as an intensive manhunt was underway and the state Inspector General's office and other agencies began piecing together the breakdowns that enabled the escape. Racette subsequently resigned from his position. Quinn returned to work and was first deputy superintendent at Upstate Correctional Facility in Franklin County before being promoted to superintendent at Gouverneur. Matt was fatally shot by U.S. Border Patrol agents on June 26, 2015. He was killed nearly three weeks after the escape, in a heavily wooded area about 50 miles from the prison, and after he and Sweat had split up. Sweat was shot and injured two days later by a state trooper. He is serving a life sentence. An earlier version of this story misspelled the first name of University at Albany assistant police Chief Aran Mull. Saratoga Springs A little before 6 late Saturday afternoon, Chad Brown, looking dapper in his dark blue pinstripe suit, was not where he wanted to be. He was walking away from the winner's circle at Saratoga Race Course, forced to dodge his way through the throng of humanity that came out to watch the 149th running of the Travers Stakes. Many of them came to watch the local guy win his first Travers. And why wouldn't 39-year-old Chad Brown have a shot to win the biggest race of the summer season? He had what many thought was two of the best horses in the ultra-consistent Good Magic and the intriguing Gronkowski. They were the top two horses in the wagering when the Travers went off. At the end of the 11/4-mile race, the results for Brown's horses were dismal. Gronkwoski beat two horses. Good Magic beat one. An eighth- and a ninth-place finish. For Brown, who had been enjoying a stupendous meet this summer, the Travers was a horror show. So, instead of having a major celebration in the winner's circle with the NBC cameras rolling, Brown was heading the other way, trying to find out what went wrong. He zigzagged through the crowd while walking with Good Magic's jockey Jose Ortiz. Little kids got in the way, wanting to get a pair of Jose's goggles (advice for fans of future Travers: ask the winning jockey for goggles). After Ortiz disappeared into the jockeys' room, Brown stopped to try to explain what went wrong. He had a few minutes before he had to head to the paddock to saddle two horses in the Grade II Ballston Spa (of course he won that, with Quidura, and continues to run away with the training title with 34 wins). "It is extremely disappointing not only to take the favorite, but the second choice at post time into the Travers -- a race I would love to win more than any other race -- to just not be a factor," Brown said as people passed by him and paid him no mind. "It's one of those things. That's why the Travers is such a difficult race to win. We won't stop trying, that's for sure." Going into the Travers, Good Magic was considered to be the best 3-year-old in training with Triple Crown winner Justify retired. It made sense, too. Good Magic was a solid second in the Kentucky Derby, a respectable fourth in the Preakness. After skipping the Belmont, he dominated the Haskell at Monmouth. Why wouldn't he be the horse to fear in the Travers? He was in the days leading up to the race. And then, when the gates opened, he wasn't. The way the track was playing the last few days, horses had better be on or right near the lead. That's where winners were coming from. When the horses ran into the clubhouse turn, Good Magic was midpack. Not good. "He didn't break well," Brown said. "You basically have no chance on this track right now unless you are 1-2-3. That said, it didn't look like Good Magic fired, anyway." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Good Magic, when he is good, is on or near the pace. He was none of that in this one. He looked very, very ordinary. Ortiz could only shrug his shoulders. "He likes to have a clean face, that's his 'A' game," he said, referring to the fact that getting dirt kicked in his face is no good. "I went on with him, but I didn't have much." Brown knows these horses are not push-button machines. There are days when, for whatever reason, they don't show up. Good Magic had one of those on Saturday; so did Gronkowski, who never moved from his position in the rear of the pack the whole race. It made for a not-so-fun day for Brown, Mechanicville's favorite son, who was hoping for his first Travers win after six others had failed. Following Saturday's fiasco, none of Brown's Travers horses have hit the board. The track was not kind to Good Magic on Saturday, but Brown wasn't going to pin the loss all on that. "Everyone else is running on the same track," he said. "And, they are horses. They just didn't run their race." twilkin@timesunion.com - 518-454-5415 - @tjwilkin If you've worked with multiple streaming devices before, then you already know that not all apps are created equal. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Netflix on a smart TV looks different than Netflix on a PlayStation 4; Amazon Video runs beautifully on a Fire TV, but requires a tedious workaround on a Google Chromecast. The simple fact is that not all streaming apps are created equal, which forum user demmitt43340 discovered when he tried to use Sling TV on his Amazon Fire TV Stick: "Problem with Sling freezing on Amazon Fire Stick," he wrote. "Would Roku be more compatible? Don't believe Internet speed is the issue, as we can watch Amazon [and] Netflix with no freezing issues." He went on to describe the problem: The Sling TV app would freeze frequently, and rebooting the device had no effect on the matter. What's the problem? It's often difficult to diagnose issues with streaming apps, since there are approximately a thousand different factors that go into a user's experience on any given day. Which device are they using? How strong is the Wi-Fi signal? Is the app itself stable? Was the Internet provider experiencing any difficulties? How far away is the router? Who else was using the Internet, and what were they doing? Any one of these factors and more can turn a flawless video stream into a stop-motion nightmare. MORE:Best Streaming Players Still, demmitt43340 is not the only person to have a subpar experience with the Sling TV app on an Amazon Fire Stick; I did, too. I usually run Sling TV on my Xbox One, which is a straightforward, bug-free experience. But two weeks ago, I was dog-sitting at my sister's apartment. When we weren't mesmerized by the turtles in Central Park, my canine companion and I tried to catch up with Better Call Saul on Sling TV on a Fire TV Stick. After every other commercial break, though, the app would freeze up, and resist all attempts at closing it. Twice, while trying to address the issue, the app simply crashed. To determine if there's some kind of known issue with the Sling TV app on the Fire TV Stick, I went straight to the source. I contacted the Sling TV team and described demmitt43340's issue to them. They looked into the issue, and replied that they are "not aware of any systematic problems on the Fire Stick." However, they did invite the user to contact Sling tech support, which could help diagnose and treat the issue. This is pretty much in keeping with what I found during a cursory Google search. There is indeed a Reddit thread about Sling TV's freezing issues but only four users weighed in. To me, at least, this suggests that Sling TV freezing on Fire Sticks is a legitimate issue, but probably doesn't affect all that many users in the grand scheme of things. How to fix it I'm going to leave aside the standard "check your wireless connection and distance to the router" advice here, since everything else on demmitt43340's network seems to be working fine. Let's assume that the problem is, indeed, with the Sling app on the Fire TV Stick although, as stated above, it can be very difficult to pin down just one source of a streaming issue. Another user in the thread, paulchezter, beat me to the punch in terms of how to (probably) fix it. Clearing an app's cache is a quick and easy method to addressing just about any streaming issue, and the only real downside is that you'll have to sign in again. In the Fire TV Stick menu, go to Settings, then Apps, then Manage All Applications. Scroll down to the Sling TV app, then select Clear Cache & Data. That's all there is to it. This gets rid of any old data that might be slowing down the Sling TV app, or getting in the way of its normal operations. It's a good idea to do this periodically, especially if you've been through multiple versions of the app on your machine. In fact, if you really wanted to hedge your bets, you could clear the cache, uninstall the app, restart the Fire TV, and install the app fresh. The Amazon Fire TV Stick also has a troublesome requirement that some users neglect. Even though it's a small dongle, you can't just plug it into your TV's USB port, like a Roku Stick or a Chromecast. The Stick will technically work, but it won't draw enough power to function at peak efficiency. If your Fire TV Stick isn't plugged into a wall outlet, apps may lag and freeze with greater frequency. There's always the nuclear option, of course, which is a factory reset of the whole Fire TV Stick. While this may sound like a troublesome option, it's actually not so bad. Once you sign back into your Amazon account, it should only take half an hour or so to re-download all of your favorite apps. And much like clearing the cache can solve connectivity problems, a good refresh of a gadget every once in a while can help clear some unexpected junk out of the system. Time to upgrade? While demmitt43340 asked if a Roku device would work better, I'm not sure it's worth investing in a second streaming player. After all, Rokus have their share of pros and cons, just like Amazon devices; even if Sling TV worked perfectly, who's to say another app wouldn't? Fire TV devices aren't my first recommendation when it comes to streaming gear, but they're generally just fine, and I wouldn't recommend getting rid of them, either. On the other hand, the Fire TV Stick wasn't an extremely powerful device when it debuted in 2014; by now, it's almost archaic. No app is going to run as well on a Fire TV Stick as it would on a Fire TV Cube, or an Xbox One, or even a moderately robust smartphone. I'm hesitant to make promises about how individual apps might perform on more recent systems, but better specs never hurt anyone. In short: Plug the Fire Stick into a wall, clear Sling TV's cache and maybe perform a factory reset. If those steps don't work, it might be time to consign the Fire TV Stick to the bedroom TV and upgrade to something a little fancier in the living room. GRANDVIEW, Mo. - An early morning shooting outside a Grandview IHOP lead to a police chase and crash in Overland Park about 2:30 a.m. Sunday. Police were dispatched on a shots fired call near IHOP in the area of 12100 south 71 Highway about 2:00 a.m. A standoff near 18th and Topping Ave Sunday morning. Kansas City, Missouri Police responded to a shots fired call just after 1 A.M. Sunday. When they arrived, a man fired in the direction of the officers and went back inside. Police evacuated the neighborhood. Negotiators are on the scene. When Sen. John McCain came to KC: a one-on-one interview | The Kansas City Star In 2008, Sen. John McCain made a campaign swing through Kansas City when he was the Republican presidential nominee. In this video with The Star's Dave Helling, he talks about running against Barack Obama, the Iraq War and the economy. McCain died Saturday at age 81. The Senator is one of the few who stood up to the Prez and was actually mocked by the Commander-In-Chief . . .. In fact, "bad blood" remained between the Prez and the Senator until the end. To be fair . . .Nevertheless, what we're seeing locally isMeanwhile, he's a loose local connection that misses most of the debate regarding the senator: Kansas City Vacay Fear KC travel agent says vacationers should be vigilant in Cancun, Mexico People who plan on going to resorts in certain parts of Mexico should be aware of recent violence, according to travel agents who book the getaways. The U.S. State Department has issued a travel warning for parts of Mexico after eight bodies were found in Cancun, one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. Weekend Crash Tragedy Classic KCMO Political Talk FOX4 Flashback: John McCain visits KC during 2008 campaign KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- In 2008, Sen. John McCain and Sarah Palin visited John Knox Village as part of his presidential campaign. Above, you can see our report as supporters prepared for the visit. KCMO Drunk Crackdown Report Local police join forces with MADD for drunk-driving crackdown KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Mothers Against Drunk Driving partnered with 58 local law enforcement agencies Aug. 25 for the second annual Saturation Saturday, an metrowide effort to get drunk drivers off the streets. The event, which started in 2017, is part of the national "Drive Sober, Don't Get Pulled Over" campaign. Fanboy Faithful Hype Are Chiefs hoping too much just falls into place in 2018? A lot of recent concerns indicate the Chiefs' wishful thinking for the 2018 season might not pan out the way they had hoped. The Chiefs made a ton of changes from 2017 to 2018 and perhaps they're hoping that too many things just fall into place. Weekend Tribute After Gunfire KCMO Sunday Hotness Heat Advisory in place for Sunday Hide Transcript Show Transcript WEBVTT KELEIGH: MAYBE HE WAS DOING HIM A FAVOR. KATIE: WE HAVE SOME RAIN IN THE AREA. DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO GET RAINED ON. IT IS A LITTLE CLOUDY. NOBODY COMPLAINS ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU ARE OUT RUNNING. A reminder of financial woes for the weekend . . .Closer to home, these news links are also worth a look . . .is the song of the day and this is thefor right now . . . AGENTatHOME Magazine A version of this article appears in print in the August 2018 issue of AGENTatHOME Magazine. Subscribe editorial@tribune.com Sukhmeet Bhasin Tribune News Service Bathinda, August 26 The Bathinda (Urban) unit of the Youth Congress has put up posters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugging Anil Ambani over Rafale deal in the city. However, BJP leaders have termed this act shameful. On the upper portion of the poster has the words Are dewano, zara pehchano, main hu kaun? main hu kaum?, while at the bottom it is written Notewale Rafael le jayege. Finance Minister Manpreet Badals media advisor Harjot Singh said, The BJP government has put our countrys security under threat by giving the Rafale contract to a private industrialist in the country in a dubious manner. BJP leader and Senior Deputy Mayor Tarsem Goyal said, It is a cheap political stunt by the Congress, which will be exposed. He said it was very shameful that local leaders were raising a serious issue without any knowledge about it. Goyal said the Defence Minister of the country had already replied in Parliament over the issue. When a secrecy pact is signed between the two countries then there is no need to raise the issue by pasting posters just to get cheap publicity, he added. Recently, national leaders of the Congress attacked the BJP government over the Rafale deal. The Congress accused the government of causing insurmountable loss of taxpayers money by signing the deal worth Rs 58,000 crore. They had also alleged that the Anil Ambani led Reliance Defence Limited had been unfairly picked to be the French firms Indian partner. The Congress alleged that the cost of each aircraft was three times more than what the previous UPA government had negotiated with France in 2012. The Anil Ambani led Reliance Group had also issued defamation notices to the leaders who had made allegations against Reliance Defence Limited for wrongly securing the deal. editorial@tribune.com Amit Sharma Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 25 The kingpin of a burglars gang, Jagdeep Singh, who has been arrested by the crime branch sleuths, is a firm believer in superstition. Before striking at a house, Jagdeep used to click a picture of the house and sent it to a female friend in the USA, who would then show it to a sorcerer to know whether there are valuables inside the house. Jagdeep, a taxi driver by profession, used to reconnoitre by driving through the inner roads of sectors to locate a house. The houses which looked impressive or had swanky cars parked in their porches became Jagdeeps probable targets. He, then, used to click pictures of the house and sent them to his female friend in the USA. The accused sent pictures to his friend, who then used to show them to a sorcerer to know whether the house had valuables inside or not, said a crime branch sleuth who interrogated Jagdeep. The police said this fact came to light when they recovered pictures of several houses from Jagdeeps mobile phone. This superstition also saved several houses from getting burgled, said a police official. The accused, during his interrogation, claimed that his belief in this superstition led to his success. The gang, led by Ambala native 24-year-old Jagdeep, struck at 16 houses this year from where they managed to steal gold, silver and diamond jewellery, apart from valuables such as wrist watches and bags. The gang also stole a large amount of cash. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Mohali, August 26 Sleuths of the Punjab state cyber crime cell, along with a team of the Mohali police, have nabbed a national-level yoga instructor and chess player, Gaurav Verma (26), a student of a university in Ujjain, from Shajpur in Madhya Pradesh in connection with the card cloning case. This is the seventh arrest in the case. With his arrest, Inspector Samarpal Singh, Station House Officer of the Punjab State Cyber police station, claimed that all members of the the gang involved in ATM/credit and debit card frauds to the tune of several lakhs of rupees across the country had been arrested. The team has already arrested the kingpin, Sumit from Banaras, Rahul Sharma, a resident of Mumbai, Arun from Madhya Pradesh, Mahesh from West Bengal, Karun Inder Pal from Agra and Saurabh in this connection. The police team, comprising Inspector Samarpal Singh, Inspector Gurpreet Singh, SHO of the Phase 11 police station, Sub-Inspector Vikas Bhatia and Sub-Inspector Daljit Singh, was tracking the movement of Gaurav for the past few days. Inspector Samarpal Singh claimed that they conducted several raids at various places in South India too in search of Gaurav during the past few days. Gaurav, known as the second commander in the gang, was so clever that he broke all his mobile phones to avoid detection of his locations, said Inspector Samarpal Singh. Gaurav had withdrawn money from ATMs in Mohali, Kharar, Chandigarh and other nearby areas. According to the police, he had withdrawn around Rs 25 lakh from ATMs in the Mohali and Chandigarh area in two-three days prior to leaving this place. He used to withdraw money from ATMs between 11 pm and 3 am. His images while withdrawing the money have been captured in CCTVs installed at ATM booths, said the police. During preliminary interrogation, he confessed that they (the gang) had targeted nearly 500 victims across the country and withdrawn more than Rs 60 lakh from their accounts. Gaurav was produced before a local court, which has remanded him in two-day police custody. Comes from family of washermen According to Inspector Samarpal Singh, Gaurav Verma belongs to a family of washermen. He has four siblings. Gaurav has represented his university in national-level yoga competitions and various chess tourneys. In a bid to earn a quick buck, he came into the crime world after coming in contact with the kingpin of the gang, Sumit Jhingra, said Inspector Samarpal Singh. editorial@tribune.com Ramkrishan Upadhyay Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 26 Taking tough action in the gambling incident at Hotel Shivalikview, CITCO officials have recommended issuance of a chargesheet and show-cause notices to the six employees indicted in the probe. The officials have also recommended transfer of the employees from the hotel to other units. Sources said the recommendation for action had been sent to the Chairman-cum-Home Secretary of the Chandigarh Administration. The six employees include the staff of the front office and the housekeeping department. They were indicted in an inquiry ordered by the CITCO authorities after the police caught 27 people gambling in a room of the hotel earlier this month. The illegal activity was going on in a room on the fourth floor of the hotel on the intervening night of August 7 and 8 when police raided the hotel. Following the incident, CITCO had formed a committee headed by Anurag Walia, Deputy General Manager of Hotel Mountview, to find out the lapses and recommend remedial measures. The committee found that the employees failed to notice the unusual movement of the 27 gamblers, who stayed in the hotel room for five days. Managing Director of the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation Limited (CITCO), Jitender Yadav, said the file had been sent to the Chairman-cum-Home Secretary of the Chandigarh Administration for action. The action would be taken after getting approval for it. vermaajay1968@gmail.com It must have been awkward for the Modi government to rely on a UPA-era policy to justify its turning down of aid offers from three Muslim countries: the UAE, Qatar and the Maldives. The proposal from the Maldives was more galling; relations with India have nosedived and Male now wants to return all Indian military assets gifted to it in the past. There are grounds for suspicion that the reason for turning the back on overseas offers was not just to assert Indias economic coming of age or stonewall diplomatically untenable aid. If that had been the case, the worlds lone superpower would not have accepted a mere 25 tonne of Indian relief material in 2005 or a suspicious country like Myanmar would not have let in Indian Army troops after Cyclone Nargis in 2008. Rather, the genesis of the pique may lie in the insignificance of the Union Governments initial aid offer of Rs 600 crore when benchmarked against talk of a Rs 700-crore aid offer from the UAE. The Centre also displayed insensitivity towards Keralas extra-special relationship with the UAE, as also with other Gulf countries where its people were among the first to shoulder the modernisation of West Asia. Turning down UAEs offer was not just bad grace, but tactlessness too as PM Modi has invested substantially in the relationship. Closely examined, the UPA governments 14-year-old order does not veto foreign aid from sovereign governments. Rather, it provides an excuse to turn down diplomatically unpalatable proposals. In case the pro-Hindutva stance is not coming in the way of accepting aid from Muslim countries, the Modi government needs to walk back from its inflexibility. The BJP is bound to lose a lot of goodwill in Kerala, for the Gulf has employed Malayalees of every stripe. In any case, the national carrier of the UAE has already started delivering aid routed through aid organisations. The security angle can be covered by the involvement of the Home Ministry and the Foreign Office to review and channelise aid. editorial@tribune.com Parveen Arora Tribune News Service Karnal, August 26 With the aim of having Geographic Information System (GIS)-enabled revenue record maps of the district, a team of the Survey of India (SoI) has started mapping the land record with the help of a drone. As per the authorities, Karnal has been chosen for a pilot project. If all goes as per plan, all districts will be mapped. As a pilot project, the SoI is preparing details online and GIS-enabled revenue maps of a few villages and urban areas of Karnal as a technology demonstrator. The technology will involve drone camera and the drone will be operated by experts of the SoI, said Aditya Dahiya, Deputy Commissioner. The SoI had sent a team to Karnal, which started work in the district. Initially, the team members were mapping three villages, Sirsi, Hemda and Shahpur. Later, mapping of other villages and Karnal city would be done, he said. The result would be out in a week after pictures were generated, he said. The results would not be available to the public for some time. The results would be available with the Director General, Land Record, Haryana, who would take the decision with the government to expand the project to the entire district and then to the entire state, he said. Mapping is a positive step and totally in favour of the public. I urge the public to cooperate with the team members for mapping, the DC asserted. It would ease physical verification of land record at a click of a button and help in future planning to cope with flood-like situations, said Rajbir Dhiman, District Revenue Officer. The drone would capture the whole area from a height of around 50 metres so that each object was visible easily. The details of non-revenue record land (lal dora) and agricultural land would be covered under this mapping, he added. Employees of the Revenue Department and those concerned with panchayati raj institutions like patwari, chowkidar, sarpanch, panch and others would assist in mapping, he said. Employees of the NIC, Karnal, would help the team in compilation of data and send the information to the Dehradun centre, he said. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Solan, August 25 The reckless excavation by the Solan unit of the Radha Swami Satsang at Anji village for a ground near here has endangered several houses lying above as gaping crevices have appeared in these. Though the villagers had pleaded their case before the district administration, it has failed to give them any relief. Terming the reckless excavation an act of unscientific and unsafe cutting which had led to cracks in their houses, Sunil Gupta, a resident, got a case registered against the organisation yesterday. Gupta alleged that the excavation had threatened their houses which could face further damage if steps were not taken soon. Though a team of the organisation had inspected the site and negated the claims of the villagers, the latter said their houses could collapse if the excavation was not stopped. The villagers have now approached the local panchayat which will listen to them as well as the team and decide the issue. The villagers have threatened to take a legal recourse . editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Solan, August 25 A case of the rape of a 14-year-old girl from a poor family of Sangrah in Sirmaur district by six persons has come to light. The accused also includes a minor boy who has been sent to Shimla-based remand home. The five accused were produced before the court last evening which remanded them to the five-day police custody. DSP (Headquarters), Sirmaur, Babita Rana, said the police were inquiring into various aspects which included the vehicles used in the crime as well as hotels where the girl was taken. All accused comprising drivers and people working in hotels were in their late 20s. She added that they were also on a hunt for another accused who was still at large. The victim came to attend a local fair on August 16 where she met Vikram, a resident of a nearby village, who took her to Dadahu. She was taken to a hotel and raped there and, thereafter, taken to various places by five other persons and repeatedly raped till August 21 and then left on the Kala Amb road on August 22. The girl narrated this to her parents who took her to the police on August 22. The accused also shared the video clips among the select WhatsApp groups. The victim is the fourth among the five sisters who have been residing at their ancestral village while their parents lived separately in another village. The girl is a school drop-out and her parents alleged that she had earlier too run away from home hence her disappearance this time did not surprised them, said Babita Rana. The police are also probing into other aspects like flesh trade and being a minor, a case under Section 376 of the IPC for rape and the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act has also been registered. Relevant sections of the Information Technology Act have also been included in the FIR. Sixth accused flees editorial@tribune.com Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service Shimla, August 25 Even as writers, artists, academicians and hoteliers sought a cultural centre in the Town Hall, councillors indulged in rowdy behaviour at the meeting, convened to seek public opinion on the use of the British-era structure, restored and conserved at a cost of Rs 8 crore under the Asian Development Bank (ADB) project. The elected representatives indulged in hooliganism, virtually shouting down anybody who suggested that the Town Hall should display the soul of the historic town, which was the summer capital of the British. There was utter chaos as BJP, Congress and CPM councillors trouped on to the stage, raising their voice, proclaiming that nobody could snatch the Town Hall from them. The atmosphere became so charged that some academicians and representatives of various associations started making a hasty exit. As the situation became volatile, Commissioner, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Rakesh Kanwar, clarified that neither the department, nor the government had any intentions of taking over the Town Hall. The structure belongs to the MC. It is on the court directions that we wish to ascertain public view on its use, Kanwar said. Former Mayors Adarsh Sood, Jenny Prem, Madhu Sood and Sanjay Chauhan were also present. Though the councillors were not even willing to give a patient hearing to the public with constant interruptions, the latters sentiment was clearly in favour of setting up a curious kiosk, speakers corner, cultural centre and other such facilities which would give a glimpse into the glorious past, history, culture and traditions of the town. Noted writer and historian Raaja Bhasin, who is also the convener of INTACH, Shimla, said the Town Hall should be a place of pride for residents. With changing times and e-governance, the secretarial services must be removed from the Town Hall, he said. He, along with Prof Him Chaterjee, said the question was not just of the past of the building made in 1908, but ensuring its future. Similar sentiments were echoed by BS Malhans, writer, environmentalist and member of the Heritage Advisory Committee. The building is a master show piece, but it has its architectural limitations, which must be borne in mind, he remarked. Anil Walia and Deepak Sood from the Hoteliers and Travel Agents Association advocated creating cultural space that would evoke interest in tourists. Writer SR Harnot, Subhas Verma from the Pensioners Association and Dr Karam Singh from the Art and Culture Academy were of the same opinion. If all services like water, power, architecture and health continue to run from the Town Hall, it will need another conservation project within next five to 10 years, said Col Rana. I am with you: Ex-Mayor to councillors It was former CPM Mayor Sanjay Chauhan who charged up councillors that they should just barge into the building as it was their property. The Mayor should be saying this but I am with you, he said. MC can work better if its needs are met: Mayor The MC can function better only if its own needs are met and why should anyone have a problem if all MC offices come under one roof. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Ajay Vir Jakhar An agriculture export policy is important to double the farmers' income. But, the objective is incomplete in the absence of an agriculture import policy. The farmers' income is impacted by import safeguards. Framing of an agriculture export policy, without giving equal importance to import implications, could be counterproductive. The other issue is related to jurisdiction. Agriculture is a 'state subject' and 'trade and commerce' is in the Union list. Often, New Delhi signs bilateral or multilateral trade treaties without consulting states. This eventually leads to the squeezing of farmers' interests while traders and importers gain. The focus of the export policy is on no export restrictions on processed food while it contemplates some kind of restrictions on agriculture produce. This does not gel with the policy's larger objective of doubling of farmers' income. Several crops such as wheat, potatoes and rice (other than Basmati) are exported unprocessed. These are among the main crops of Punjab. Exports of these crops would continue to suffer as the consequence of the proposed policy. The policy measures should address the gamut of issues raised by the WTO and the FTAs that are affecting or that may affect India's exports. Rather than talking about operational ease of doing exports, the policy is more focused on the single-window clearance. Besides, the Central legislation governing pesticide residues must be restructured to allow states more regulatory powers to reduce misuse and malpractices. The Centre must fully compensate farmers for growing such crops on which the government imposes export restrictions and prices of those items that fall below the minimum selling price. The writer is Chairman, Punjab State Farmers' Commission AEP-2018 Objectives Double agri exports to $60 billion by 2022 Figure in the top 10 exporting countries Boost high value exports, including perishables Promote organic, ethnic, non-traditional items Institutional mechanism to gain market access Current scenario World trade: $1.37 trillion (India's share about 2%) $1.37 trillion (India's share about 2%) India's exports: $36 billion (Mar 2013), $31 billion (Mar 2017) $36 billion (Mar 2013), $31 billion (Mar 2017) Production: $101 billion (2000), $367 billion (2014) $101 billion (2000), $367 billion (2014) Export basket: $5.8 billion (marine products), $4 billion (meat), $6 billion (rice) Proposed clusters for export promotion Product State Districts Apple J&K Srinagar, Budgam, Pulwama HP Kinnaur, Chamba Orange Maharashtra Nagpur Punjab Abohar, Fazilka Potato UP Agra, Farukkabad Punjab Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Nawanshahr amansharma@tribunemail.com Srinagar, August 26 The annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas concluded on Sunday with over 2.85 lakh pilgrims offering prayers at the naturally-formed ice-shivlingam. According to officials, a total of 2,85,006 people paid obeisance at the cave shrine during the pilgrimage which commenced on June 28 through Baltal and Pahalgam routes. They said 38 people, including pilgrims, service providers and pony-wallas, died during the course of the yatra this year. The deaths were due to weather-related incidents or natural causes, the officials said. The number of pilgrims who performed the yatra this year is higher than last year. A total of 2.60 lakh pilgrims offered prayers at the shrine last year. Various security measures were taken this year for the smooth conduct of the yatra. For the first time, the government used radio frequency (RF) tags to track Amarnath-bound vehicles, while the CRPF introduced motorcycle squads with cameras and various life-saving equipment. The security was heightened for this year's yatra in view of the militant attack on a bus carrying pilgrims last year that left eight of them dead and 18 others injured. Around 40,000 security personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, paramilitary forces, National Disaster Response Force and the Army were deployed for this year's pilgrimage, the officials said. They said the yatra this year was peacefully. The holy mace of Lord Shiva, popularly known as 'Chhari Mubarak', carried by a group of sadhus and devotees led by its custodian Mahant Deepindra Giri, arrived at the holy cave in the wee hours for the day-long prayers, the officials said. The group of sadhus and devotees trekked 42 km from Pahalgam to reach the cave shrine with night halts at Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarani. Additional chief executive officer of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) Bhupinder Kumar and Ganderbal Deputy Commissioner Piyush Singla visited the cave shrine early this morning and prayed for sustained peace, harmony, progress and prosperity in the state. The officers interacted with the camp officials and other officers at the holy cave, and reviewed the ongoing sanitation and camp cleaning initiatives being undertaken by them. They asked the officials concerned to ensure that all bio-degradable and non-biodegradable wastes, including plastic wastes, are disposed off. They complimented the civil and police administrations of Anantnag and Ganderbal districts, J-K Police, Central Armed Police Forces, Army, various state government departments and all other agencies for the smooth conduct of the yatra, the officials said. - PTI editorial@tribune.com M Aamir Khan Tribune News Service Srinagar, August 26 The two-month-long Amarnath yatra concluded peacefully on Sunday with the holding of prayers at the cave shrine of Lord Shiva nestled in the South Kashmir Himalayas at an altitude of around 13,500 feet. Puja was held when the Chhari Mubarak (holy mace) depicting Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati arrived at the shrine. We prayed for peace in the state as well as the country, said custodian of the holy mace Mahant Deependra Giri, who led a group of sadhus to the cave shrine. The Amarnath yatra, which is held along the Pahalgam and Baltal routes, concludes when the mace arrives at the cave shrine on Shravan Purnima. According to Bhupinder Kumar, Additional Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), 2,85,006 yatris paid obeisance at the cave shrine. Last year, 2.6 lakh pilgrims had performed the yatra. This year, the annual yatra had begun on June 28 amid security concerns even as inclement weather conditions posed a bigger challenge, causing frequent suspensions in the pilgrimage. During the first two weeks, several pilgrims had to go back without undertaking the yatra despite reaching the base camps. In the first week of July, three pilgrims died of a landslide on the Brarimarg-Railpathri stretch of the Baltal route while two others died of stones rolling down mountains. However, weather conditions improved later and the yatra too was conducted smoothly. Inspector General, CRPF, Srinagar sector, Ravideep Singh Sahi termed the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage a great achievement. It is a matter of satisfaction and great achievement for all of us for the security forces and the people of Kashmir that this long yatra of two months passed off peacefully. And it was due to the efforts of our jawans and officers along with the cooperation of locals that the yatra by and large went off peacefully, he said. First two weeks hit by bad weather This year, inclement weather conditions caused frequent suspensions in the pilgrimage. During the first two weeks, several pilgrims had to go back without undertaking the yatra despite reaching the base camps. In the first week of July, three pilgrims died of a landslide on the Brarimarg-Railpathri stretch of the Baltal route while two others died of stones rolling down mountains editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Jammu, August 25 Members of the civil society of Jammu have expressed surprise over the dubious stand taken by the ruling BJP on Article 35A. They have asked the saffron party to come clean on the Article and protect the rights of Dalits and women. In a seminar organised by an NGO, Ikk Jutt Jammu, on the topic Article 35A: Jammu Under Siege, speakers on Saturday put onus on the BJP to get the discriminatory Article removed. The Article is depriving the weaker sections and women of their constitutional rights so its abrogation is must to ensure equality and justice in society, said Madhu Kishwar, eminent activist. She argued that the Article was contrary to the core principles of the Constitution. Social media activist Sonam Mahajan of Bangalore cautioned people against, what she alleged, a distorted narrative created by supporters of the Article. We have to educate the masses about the dangerous consequences of Article 35A which is the biggest constitutional fraud, she observed. President of Ikk Jutt Jammu Ankur Sharma said: Article 35A denied fundamental rights to West Pakistan refugees, Gorkhas and Valmikis living in Jammu. The Union Government should immediately issue a Presidential Order to abrogate the Article, he said. He informed the gathering at the seminar that the intervention application filed by his organisation had been accepted by the Supreme Court. Former Dean of the University of Jammu Hari Om, Udhampur MLA Pawan Gupta and chairman, Panun Kashmir, Ajay Chrungoo also spoke on the occasion. Lawyers, members of the business community, teachers from universities and colleges and representatives from various parts of the Jammu region attended the seminar. editorial@tribune.com Ishfaq Tantry Tribune News Service Srinagar, August 25 Members of the civil society and separatists on Saturday staged peaceful protests in Srinagar in support of Article 35A. The constitutional provision which protects the hereditary state subject law is scheduled for hearing in the Supreme Court next week. The Jammu and Kashmir Civil Society Coordination Committee (JKCSCC), a group of civil society members from Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir, on Saturday threatened to hit the streets if Article 35A was revoked or done away with. I am sure the Supreme Court will dismiss and throw away the bunch of petitions challenging Article 35A in the next hearing. But let me make it clear that the people of J&K from Lakhanpur to Uri to Leh will hit the streets if the Article is revoked, said Zaffar Shah, Awami National Conference vice-president and Jammu and Kashmir Civil Society Coordination Committee member. Demanding restoration of autonomy, ID Khajuria, president, J&K Forum for Peace and Territorial Integrity of State, said 94 Presidential Orders had been passed so far to infringe on the federal autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir. Khajuria, who is also a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Society Coordination Committee, accused the BJP and RSS of attempting to divide the state on communal and regional lines. He said the challenge to Article 35A was part of that agenda. Meanwhile, various political groups, including activists of the joint resistance leadership, on Saturday staged a silent protest in Srinagar and sat on a hunger strike to support Article 35A. Trade union leader Sampat Prakash, who participated in the hunger strike, said as a member of the Kashmiri Pandit community it was his responsibility to raise his voice against the growing threat to hereditary state subject laws, protected by Article 35A. The issue should not be touched, says Aiyar Srinagar: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar on Saturday said Article 35A should stay in the Constitution so that people in J&K do not feel that their 90-year-old right had been snatched. Aiyar was in Srinagar to attend a seminar Discussion on J&K and Indo-Pak relations, organised by the Centre for Peace and Progress. I say this issue (Article 35A) should not be touched. It is in the Constitution. Nobody should even try to remove the Article, he told reporters in Srinagar. He said this issue is being unnecessarily whipped up and was not in any ones interest. TNS editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Srinagar, August 26 Four newly recruited militants turned themselves in when security forces surrounded them when they were trying to cross over to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in frontier Kupwara district. While four militants surrendered, three others escaped after a brief gunfight at upper reaches of Kalaroos, about 90 km from Srinagar. The four had gone missing on Thursday. Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said an operation was launched after a tip-off that four newly recruited militants were being guided by three Al-Badr men for exfiltration. The Army in a joint operation with the police laid an ambush and trapped the militants. After a brief gunfight, extreme restraint was exercised and an opportunity was given to the militants to surrender. While the four newly recruited militants surrendered, the three Al-Badr men deserted the new recruits and fled under cover of fire, the spokesman said. The four had on Friday announced their joining Al-Badr after posting pictures on the social media with weapons. Giving details of the operation, 68 Mountain Brigade commander DS Bisht said on August 25-26 night, they received precise intelligence of presence of seven Al-Badr militants near Nahni dhokas (huts). One of the teams while approaching the suspected sites drew a heavy volume of fire from dhokas. Our troops reacted swiftly and ensured the militants could not break the contact. Taking advantage of darkness, two or three terrorists managed to flee. The three probably had fled after the initial gunfight, leaving behind these four new militants to be killed. However, the forces have given a fresh lease of life to them, Brigadier Bisht told reporters in Kupwara. He said maximum restraint was exercised by the forces so that the militants could surrender. Our aim is to bring back the misguided youth to social mainstream and not to harm them, he said. All four are from the Handwara area and are in the age group of 21-23. Youth detained A youth was detained and later questioned for roaming suspiciously outside the Police Control Room (PCR), Kashmir, on Saturday. The police said a man was found suspiciously roaming outside the PCR. "The person was detained for questioning. During the course of questioning, nothing adverse surfaced against him," a police spokesman said.The police said the individual had no links with any militant group uttara@tribuneindia.com Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, August 26 Four newly-recruited militants were arrested by security forces in frontier Kupwara district after a brief gunfight on Sunday, army said. Army said the four were planning to cross over into Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. The pictures of the four gun yielding youth had gone viral on social media on Saturday. Srinagar based defence spokesman, Col Rajesh Kalia said they got credible information that four newly recruited militants were planning exfiltration. " On receipt of credible information about four newly recruited terrorists being guided by three terrorists of Al Badr for a planned exfiltration, the army launched a joint operation with police at upper reaches of Kalaroos . An ambush was laid and the terrorists were trapped. After a brief gunfight, extreme restraint was exercised and opportunity was given to the terrorists to surrender. While the four newly recruited terrorists surrendered, the three Al Badr terrorists deserted the new recruits and fled under cover of fire," the spokesman said. Search is on to trace the other militants, he said Police sources identified the four arrested as Umar Sheikh , Danish Sheikh, Waseem Khan and Tahir Bhat all residents of Kupwara district. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service/PTI Srinagar, August 25 A total of 790 new recruits were inducted into the J&K Police on Saturday. The attestation-cum-passing-out parade of 790 recruit Constables was held at the Commando Training Centre (CTC), Lethpora, Pulwama district. Director General of Police Shesh Paul Vaid, who addressed the attestation-cum-passing-out parade at the Commando Training Centre, said the J&K Police was fighting a proxy war for the last 30 years and by its supreme sacrifices, the force has earned the respect of people of the country. A number of jawans and officers of the force have sacrificed their precious lives for the security and integrity of the nation and are still struggling for peace in the state, the DGP said. Vaid advised the 790 recruits to work with dedication and for peace in the state. The police service is a noble service and it is a matter of pride for the recruits to join the family of the Jammu and Kashmir Police for the service of the nation, the DGP said. In his address, Adviser to the Governor BB Vyas, who was the chief guest on the occasion, lauded the role of the police force for upholding professionalism amid a challenging situation. I congratulate the police force for continuously working for the welfare of the people with dedication. I am proud of the Jammu and Kashmir Police for proving its mettle in the difficult times, Vyas said. He said there were many challenges ahead for the police. There are many challenges ahead for the police force in view of a series of upcoming elections. We have decided to hold the local bodies polls and the police have to deal with this challenge and fulfil their role, Vyas said. The Adviser said the whole nation saluted the courage of the J&K Police personnel and everyone paid tribute to their supreme sacrifices. Complementing the newly trained constables for graduating into a new field of duty, Vyas asked them to perform their job with sincerity and dedication. Principal, Commando Training Centre, Mohammad Arif Rishu said besides basic training to the recruits, emphasis was laid on modern techniques of investigation and counter-insurgency operations. Constable Abid Hussain was declared the all-round best recruit and was decorated with the Selection Grade Constable rank on the spot. Police chief visits family of slain inspector Director General of Police Shesh Paul Vaid on Saturday visited the family of Inspector Mohammad Ashraf at Larav village, Pulwama, and expressed heartfelt sympathies on the behalf of J&K Police with the bereaved family. Asharf was killed on Wednesday by militants at his home. A police spokesman said the DGP assured the bereaved family that the police was with them and would take care of them. Women throng security camps to tie rakhis to jawans shalender@tribune.com Mona I think my siblings sometimes have to defend me within their social circles - they are both barristers... says English actor, comedian and writer Jenny Eclair! This holds true for many of us; given that its within your brothers and sisters that you find the stiffest competition, criticism, but also care and concern! This Rakhshabandhan, we speak to some stars and find out what makes their bond special. Go-to person Pulkit Mehta had always been Sargun Mehtas go-to person, till Ravi Dubey came along and swept her off her feet! But married or no, this brother-sister duo remains close. In our childhood, we fought and bashed each other a lot, shares the Qismat girl. However, when her marks would be less, he would cover for her and vice-versa. Pulkit was the first one to know about Ravi! He has always been fully supportive of my choices and career. But he is also an unabashed critic, says Sargun. Happy childhood Actor Nitin Goswami has a brother and a sister Nikhil and Nidhi and, for the longest time, he believed that siblings whose names start from the same alphabet are the only real ones! Though in different cities for years now, Nitin fondly remembers how once he and his brother were caught in the act of teasing a few goats, who ended up eating their neighbouring DSPs exotic vegetables. Nidhi gave an excuse that her bothers had taken her out for a snack and were with her at the time of the accident. I still tremble at the idea; had she not saved us what could have happened, shares the lead actor of Sidhi Vinayak. With Nidhi, my relationship is that of trust. Once you are an adult, its a tough game with anyone else but your sister, who starts awaiting her gift the moment rakhi is delivered to me. Protective stance Nikhil Khurana, Pancham of Sony SABs Jijaji Chhat Per Hain, felt coming-of-age moment as a brother when as a teen he called up a guy much older to ask him to stay away from his sister. My sister was being teased by this boy and as I got to know; being the Punjab munda that I am, first thing I did was to threaten the culprit, he laughs. And, even though he is a younger brother, Nikhil assumed the protectors role from then on. Chosen for love All bonds are not by blood, some are chosen too; like that of Ayyaz Ahmed and Priyamvada Kant. Priyamvada is Ayyazs rakhi sister and everything little or big, its the latter who is always there. She is there for all his major events, but one particular time Ayyaz recalls as truly significant, It was years back; on the face of it, everything was going great but I felt rotten inside. I turned to her. She painstakingly listened to me, understood and made me realise that I had ticked all the boxes, and it was time to create new milestones. Doting sister I think I am his life, actress Jonita Doda smiles rather mischievously as she flaunts how her elder brother Harshdeep dotes on her. Fully supportive of my decision to join the glamour industry, he has always put my schedules, my demands first, making his personal, professional commitments take a back-seat, she says. Lately, I came across a film project, rather lucrative, but too bold for me, and, I couldnt decide. He took a second to say if your heart is not in it, you need not take it. It means the world to me to have him as an anchor and guide in my life. mona@tribunemail.com Varun to gift handmade hampers Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan has found a unique way to promote the outstanding handmade products that India is known for worldwide. The star celebrates Rakhshabandhan with his sisters and cousins every year. However, he wants to make things a little different this year. With his upcoming release Sui Dhaaga Made In India, which is majorly based on crafts and fabrics created by Indian artisans, the Judwaa 2 actor has created a special hamper, featuring some really cool handmade Indian fabrics and crafts as gifts for his sisters. Talking about the same, Varun said, "The beauty of Indian arts and crafts is unparalleled. Having learnt so much about them while making Sui Dhaaga, I wanted to gift my sister's goodies that are handmade. ANI Arjun Kapoor's special gesture Arjun Kapoor recently took to his Instagram account and posted a picture of his sister Janhvi Kapoor, as she made her ramp debut at the Lakme Fashion Week. She turned showstopper for designer Nachiket Barve, and stunned in a pink and purple lehenga with intricate embroidery. She carried off the outfit with elan and made a confident debut on the ramp. He captioned the post, "Janhvi's expression when she's pretending she likes working out over eating. Clearly, its the Rakshabandhan weekend, vibe being strong on my timeline today." To support Jahnvi, sisters Khushi Kapoor and Anshula Kapoor also attended the fashion show. ANI Auspicious timings to tie rakhi: 7.45am to 12.30 pm & 2pm to 3.30 pm There is no lunar eclipse on Rakshabandhan day, as shown in some YouTube video. Madan Gupta Spatu vermaajay1968@gmail.com Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 26 Thirty-seven years after a New Delhi-to-Srinagar Indian Airlines plane with 111 passengers and six crew members on board was hijacked to Lahore, a Delhi court is likely to pronounce its verdict in the case on Monday. Two of the five Sikh hijackers have been tried on charges of waging war against the state. Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey will decide the fate of Satnam Singh and Tejinder Pal Singh, who have already served life term in Pakistan. Satnam who was 30 at the time of the offence has turned 67, while Tejinderpal is a year younger. Granted bail on July 20, 2017, the two have been asked to remain present in court. After serving their sentence in Pakistan, Tejinder Pal and Satnam had moved to Canada and the US, respectively, and were deported to India in 1998 and 1999 in connection with the September 29, 1981, incident. The other three alleged hijackers Gajinder Singh, Jasbir Singh and Karan Singh are not in India. Belonging to Dal Khalsa, the hijackers had demanded the release of Sikh preacher Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who was arrested on September 20, 1981, in a murder case. The lawyer for the accused, Harpreet Singh Hora, said, We expect the judge to throw out the case. The evidence does not stand the rigours of IPC, CrPC, the Constitution and Supreme Court rulings. Calling it a classic example of double jeopardy, the accused duo submitted that since they had already served life term in Pakistan, they cant be tried again in India. However, the prosecution contended that the offences for which they were convicted in Pakistan were different from the ones mentioned in the Delhi court chargesheet. The Delhi Police had filed a supplementary chargesheet in 2011 under charges of sedition and waging war against the state. In 2017, the High Court refused to quash the supplementary chargesheet against the accused and asked them to face trial. However, the trial court dropped the sedition charges in May this year. vermaajay1968@gmail.com New York, August 26 President of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Manjit Singh GK was attacked in California, allegedly by pro-Khalistan individuals, during which one of his associates was injured. Manjit Singh said the purpose of his visit was to hold discussions about the 550th birthday anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak, to be commemorated next year. This is the second attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal leader. He was earlier attacked in New York. Manjit Singh was visiting the main gurdwara in Yuba City on Saturday when, he said, a group of 30-35 persons supporting the Khalistan 2020 referendum attacked him. I am hurt. They pushed me and kicked me brutally. It was a brutal murderous attack, he said, adding that one of his associates has been hospitalised while the police have arrested three persons in connection with the attack. The DSGMC chief said the attack will not deter or intimidate him. We are not going to shy away, he said, adding that those demanding Khalistan can continue their fight but resorting to violence is not the answer. We will not be part of this fight for Khalistan, he said. Meanwhile, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a group demanding justice for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims and supporting the Khalistan 2020 referendum, in a statement issued through its legal adviser Gurpatwant Singh Pannun accused Singh and his supporters of instigating violent attacks on pro-Khalistan activists who were peacefully protesting in the SAD leaders presence. Pannun said the SFJ has also filed a complaint against Singh with the US Department of Justice for violations of the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) laws. He said SFJ filed the complaint for holding, attending and addressing political gatherings in the US in violations of FARA laws. PTI monicakchauhan@gmail.com London, August 26 Congress president Rahul Gandhi said that Indian prisons are "difficult places" but fugitives like Vijay Mallya should not be treated differently. Interacting with the members of the Indian Journalists' Association here, Gandhi said that "before Mallya left India, he met senior BJP leaders, that is documented. I won't name them". Asked whether Indian jails are up to scratch as regards to Mallya's deportation case, he said "Indian prisons are difficult places". "Indian prisons are pretty decent as far as Mr Mallya is concerned. Justice should be same for Indian people. Just because he is Vijay Mallya who defrauded banks to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore and ran away and he needs a difficult jail" is not acceptable. Mallya last month appeared before a court in London where both defence and prosecution presented clarifications on Barrack 12 at Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, where Mallya is to be held post-extradition. Judge Emma Arbuthnot asked the Indian authorities to submit within three weeks a video of the Barrack 12 of the Arthur Road Jail. Fugitive liquor baron Mallya is currently fighting extradition to India on fraud and money laundering charges worth an estimated Rs 9,000 crores. Gandhi said the Modi government is pretty lenient to Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehjul Choksi, who have defrauded Indian banks. "Punjab National Bank scam accused Nirav Modi took Rs 35,000 crores and Chokshi defrauded the banks. The question is job creation. How many jobs Nirav Modi created?," Gandhi asked. The Congress president said "there is a relationship between Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and the Prime Minister. No action is taken against them". Jewellery designer Nirav and his uncle Mehul Choksi, the promoter of Gitanjali Gems, have allegedly defrauded state-run Punjab National Bank of over Rs 13,000 crore. The Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate have registered cases of alleged fraud against them. The Congress president attacked the Modi government and said it "absolutely and completely lacked any strategy as far as India's foreign policy is concerned". "The Prime Minister makes a particular statement in Nepal and in a couple of months there is a complete U-turn. He has not been able to handle the relationship with Nepal, Afghanistan or China. "A devastating example is that Prime Minister went to Afghanistan and on his way back he went to Pakistan for a wedding, sending a completely wrong message to Afghanistan. Afghan keeps wondering what is going on," Gandhi said. Gandhi was referring to Prime Minister Modi's surprise visit to Pakistan on December 25, 2015 while returning from Afghanistan. He said that Prime Minister Modi went to China but did not discuss Doklam issue as "he views these as events. but they are not events". Gandhi said the Prime Minister is not taking feedback from the External Affairs Ministry. "Why is the Foreign Minister (Sushma Swaraj) spending her time on sorting out Visas - that is not the job of the foreign minister. That is the job of someone in embassy. The job of the foreign minister is making foreign policy, holding discussion on strategy. "Sushma Swaraj is not allowed to have discussions. She is extremely capable woman. I know her. I have served with her in Committees. I have issues with her regarding her style. She is humiliated on every count. She is not taken by prime minister on his trips and you never see her in photographs with prime minister. Then you say the foreign policy is wrong," Gandhi, who is also a member of the parliamentary Committee on External Affairs, added. PTI vermaajay1968@gmail.com Pune, August 26 In a significant development, the CBI on Sunday said it has established links between the murders of Pune-based rationalist Narendra Dabholkar and Bengaluru-based journalist Gauri Lankesh. The CBI said it had established the crucial connection before the Shivajinagar Magistrates Court in Pune to extend the police custody of one of the prime suspects, Sachin Andhure. Accordingly, the custody of Andhure, arrested from Aurangabad last week, has been extended till August 30. Rationalist Dabholkar (67), who fought against superstitious beliefs through his Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, was gunned down near his residence on the morning of June 20, 2013. Lankesh (55), journalist-cum-activist, was shot dead outside her residence in Bengaluru on September 5, 2017. Though the two high-profile murders were committed four years apart, in both these cases, the long suspected alleged role of certain right-wing activists, including those associated with Sanatan Sanstha and others, has now emerged. The remand application adds that during interrogation, Andhure revealed that one of those arrested for the Lankesh murder had handed over to him a 7.65-mm country made pistol and three bullets. Later, Andhure, arrested by the CBI last week, claimed he passed it on to his brother-in-law Subham Surale in Aurangabad on August 11, 2018. Surale in turn passed the weapon to his friend Rohit Rege in the same city, though the motives are not clear. Andhures name was revealed by Sharad Kalaskar, a resident of Nala Sopara, Palghar, arrested by the Maharashtra ATS after a major arms haul there on August 10. It was Andhure and Kalaskar himself who went on a motorcycle and shot Dabholkar that day, he (Kalaskar) revealed. Now, armed with the fresh information, the CBI plans to seek Kalaskars custody, after his remand with Maharashtra-ATS ends later this week. Some of the accused in the Lankesh case are connected with Andhure and Dabholkars murder, the CBI remand application said, seeking the extension of Andhures custody. IANS editorial@tribune.com Mumbai, August 26 With the six-month deadline set by the RBI to finalise resolution plans for around 70 large stressed accounts worth over Rs3.8 trillion ending tomorrow, banks are burning the midnight oil to avoid bankruptcy proceedings against these defaulters, who are mostly power producers. Bankers prefer out-of-NCLT resolution as the bankruptcy resolution so far have seen them taking large haircuts, which in cases like Alok Industries was a whopping 86 per cent. The RBI circular asks banks to identify projects with even a days default as stressed assets, and conclude resolution proceedings in 180 days. The circular came into effect on March 1 and the 180-day deadline concludes on August 27. If no resolution is reached by Monday, these accounts, which also include some EPC and telcos companies, will have to be referred to NCLT to initiate bankruptcy proceedings, the RBI had said. Banks are trying to come up with a resolution plan for these accounts as going to NCLT will mean large haircuts. In some of the stressed accounts, some lenders have already finalised resolution plans, bankers said.Almost three-fourth of these Rs3.8 trillion-worth stressed assets are power companies which had dragged the RBI to the Allahabad HC, where the matter is pending. That the matter is sub-judice also gives bankers some confidence that they may get some more time to resolve them out of court. A few banks have already sanctioned resolution plans for some cases and others are in the process of doing so, said an executive director of a state-run bank. Most banks are having their board meeting to approve a resolution plan or a management committee meeting to sanction credit to these defaulting companies on Monday, he said. Last week, State Bank MD Arijit Basu said eight power projects worth Rs17,000 crore were expected to be resolved soon. We have looked at 13-14 accounts which would entail changes in the management, investment, etc. Of these, we are looking at 7-8 accounts closely, to get some consensus among banks. PTI editorial@tribune.com Satya Prakash Even before the prolonged confrontation over judicial appointments could be sorted out, the Executive and the Judiciary have got embroiled in a fresh standoff over judicial overreach. First, Attorney General KK Venugopal told a Bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur on August 8 to maintain restraint as many of the Supreme Courts decisions adversely impacted governance, people and their livelihood. A week later, in his Independence Day speech, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad reminded the judiciary that it should respect separation of powers. The founding fathers always said governance should be left to those who people of India elected to govern. Governance and accountability go hand in hand. The 13 Benches of the Supreme Court should maintain a healthy balance on basic structure, separation of powers, Prasad said in the presence of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and other judges. The very next day, the Supreme Court expressed its inability to pass coercive orders to deal with the failure of some states to set up panels on the issue of urban homelessness, saying its whip has broken. We have been told that governance is for the government and not for the courts. If there is no governance, we cannot do anything, Justice Lokur commented. The Indian judiciary is widely appreciated for enlarging the ambit of fundamental rights since the 1980s when the Supreme Court relaxed the requirement of locus standi and started entertaining public interest litigations (PILs). But not all PILs are about enforcement of rights. Successive governments, irrespective of their political ideology, have frowned upon unwarranted judicial interference in policy matters. Even former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had once said that the power of judicial review should not be used to undermine and erode the role of the government. Several parliamentary standing committee reports on law and justice have consistently highlighted the dangers of judicial overreach. Notwithstanding the fact that there cant be complete separation of powers in a parliamentary form of government, the Constitution draws a very delicate and fine boundary between the three organs of the State viz; the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. In fact, the doctrine of separation of powers propounded by 18th century French political thinker Montesquieu is considered to be a sine qua non for any Constitution which seeks to achieve the larger objective of constitutionalism by limiting the powers of various organs of the State through checks and balances. But the problem of judicial activism has got complicated and compounded in India by sheer inaction on the part of the Executive and sometimes even the Legislature, leaving no option for the people but to approach the Judiciary. Per se, there is nothing wrong in courts stepping in to save people from the excesses of the Executive, or inaction on its part or for the enforcement of citizens rights. There is a thin line between judicial activism and overreach. The problem arises when judicial activism touches upon policy issues which the Executive considers to be its exclusive domain. Also, in many cases, instead of issuing mandamus to the Executive, the Supreme Court and many high courts have assumed Executive functions by setting up their own mechanisms to monitor cases on a regular basis. Be it the Forest Bench or the sealing related cases in Delhi or the PILs on the Rohingya its hard to miss the level of judicial overreach and the unease and reluctance with which the Executive followed judicial orders. Indian judiciary has often been described as an overambitious institution which attempts to solve peoples problems in all its sincerity. But many of these problems are simply because of poor governance. As and when governance improves, judiciary will have to make a considered retreat. It is high time judges realised that there cant be a legal solution to every problem. As for the Executive, they need to deliver good governance before complaining about judicial overreach. "The founding fathers always said governance should be left to those who people of India elected to govern." RS Prasad, Law Minister "We have been told that governance is for the government and not courts. If there is no governance, we cannot do anything." Justice Madan B Lokur monicakchauhan@gmail.com London, August 26 Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday alleged that the judiciary, the election commission and the RBI are being "torn apart" under the BJP government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has insulted every Indian by saying no development had happened before 2014. Addressing members of the Indian Overseas Congress here, he said the prime minister insulted every Indian by saying that no development activity happened in the last 70 years. "India shows the future to the world. The people of India made this possible, and the Congress helped them. If the prime minister says nothing had happened before he assumed office, he is not commenting on the Congress, he is insulting every person of the country," Gandhi said. The Congress president alleged that at present, Dalits, farmers, tribal people, minorities, the poor in India are told that they will not get anything, and "if they raise their voice, they are beaten up". Gandhi claimed that the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act has been "destroyed and scholarships have been discontinued". "Today in India, people are discriminated against on the basis of caste and religion. Marginalised are betrayed, while people like Anil Ambani benefit," he alleged. Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government on the multi-billion Rafale deal, Gandhi said that the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited had been manufacturing aircraft for the last 50 years, but the contract was given to "someone who floated his company just 19 days before the deal". "Nobody will get anything. Only Ambani will get everything. This man has accrued a debt of Rs 45,000 crore," the Congress president alleged. Gandhi and the Congress party have been attacking the BJP government for allegedly inking the deal at a much higher price than the one the previous UPA regime had negotiated to benefit Anil Ambani. Facing allegations of getting undue benefits from the multi-billion dollar Rafale deal, Ambani-led Reliance Group has sent legal notices to several Congress leaders asking them to "cease and desist" from levelling such charges. Reliance Group has denied the allegations relating to the deal under which France's Dassault is supplying the fighter jets and has entered into a joint venture with an Ambani-led group's firm to meet its offset requirement of the contract. Ambani recently wrote to Gandhi on the deal saying his party has been "misinformed, misdirected and misled" by "malicious vested interests and corporate rivals" on the issue. Gandhi said, "When the farmers of Karnataka and Telangana ask for loan waiver, PM Modi says this is not our policy. India's handful of richest businessmen has NPAs (Non Performing Assets) of Rs 12.5 lakh crore, but the prime minister says nothing". He alleged that the prime minister kept quiet "when his own party's MLA raped a woman and when Nirav Modi ran away with people's money". "Institutions such as the Supreme Court, the Election Commission of India and the Reserve Bank of India, which are the walls of our country, are being torn apart now," Gandhi alleged. It was the first time that four senior-most judges of the apex court come out in public earlier this year to say they were not being allowed to work, he said. "I do not use bad language for the prime minister. And if you have listened to the debate on the Rafale deal in Parliament, you would have seen that the PM could not answer my questions," the 48-year-old leader said. Gandhi said China creates 50,000 jobs a day, while India creates only 450 during that period, and unemployment was a pressing issue. "Our farmers need help. Our youth needs education, elderly people need healthcare. But, there is no discussion on the issues of farmers, education and health care," he said. Lauding the contribution of non-resident Indians in the development of the country, Gandhi said, "Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, B R Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru were all NRIs. They travelled the world and helped India with new perspectives". PTI amansharma@tribunemail.com Thiruvananthapuram, August 26 The Kerala government on Sunday organised a formal farewell function in honour of various Central Forces which played a pivotal role in the rescue and relief operations in flood-hit Kerala. "We could directly witness the bold initiatives they took to rescue those who were stranded in the flood waters," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said at the function held at the Air Force Station here. Vijayan also appreciated the services of the military and paramilitary forces, who saved the helpless, braving adverse circumstances. "All that we can say is that your services will be kept in mind in the times to come with gratitude and appreciation," he said, adding the calamity would have been greater had the Forces not worked hand in hand with the state government. Citations were presented by the Chief Minister to Air Marshal B Suresh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Air Command, Rear Admiral R J Nadkarni, Chief Of Staff, Southern Naval Command, Brigadier C G Arun, Station Commander, Pangode Military station and Rekha Nambiar, NDRF Commandant. Sanatan Jena, DIG Coast Guard, Giriprasad, IG, CRPF, B C Nair DIG Border Security Force (BSF), Vishal Anand Commandant ITBF and Dhanya Sanal, Defence PRO and all military and paramilitaryforces who participated in the rescue operations were also given the citations, a government release said. Air Marshal Suresh said they could act efficiently because of the clear directions given by the Chief Minister. "CM was leading from the front," he said and also lauded the services of fishermen and volunteers who were part of the rescue and relief operations. The devastation caused due to the rains and floods has claimed 302 lives so far and destroyed homes and infrastructure. Earlier, the government had also in a goodwill gesture thanked fishermen who took part in rescue operations. - PTI uttara@tribuneindia.com Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 26 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed solidarity with people of flood-ravaged Kerala. In the latest edition of his radio programme Maan Ki Baat the PM assured the people of the State that the entire country was with them in the difficult time. Calamities leave behind destruction but they also become examples of humanity. People from all parts of country are pitching in to help to ensure that some of problems of people of Kerala can be alleviated, he said. Prime Minister Modi praised role of the Indian Armed Forces and paramilitary forces in rescue operations, and also made a special mention of the NDRF. Tributes to Vajpayee Modi also remembered former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vaypayee who had passed away on August 16 after a prolonged illness, making a mention of reforms and changes during the tenure. For someone who had been away from public life for 10 years, on August 16 we saw that these 10 years had made no difference in his popularity. Remembering that it was during the tenure of Vajpayee that the time of presentation of the Union Budget was changed from evening to morning, he said it was time to bring another reform in India in the form of one nation one election. He thanked all parties for the most productive Parliament session, mentioning the important legislative business passed during the just concluded monsoon session. Prime Minister also praised the performance of the Indian team in the Asian Games and wished people of the country on the occasion of Rakhabandhan. Making a special mention of the Sanskrit Divas on Sunday, he spoke of the great potential of the language. It is said that Vedas also mention ways to tackle Global warming, he added. He also spoke of contribution of teachers in shaping the lives of children and praised former president Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan in whose memory the day is celebrated, wishing all teachers on the day. vermaajay1968@gmail.com Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, August 26 Facing revolt, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti dropped senior leaders and adjusted new ones in the top decision-making body of the party in a bid to assuage feelings and keep the flock together. Mehbooba revamped the organisational structure of the party a month after all office-bearers had resigned following rebellion by five MLAs and two MLCs. Those who could not find a place in Mehboobas new team include her maternal uncle Sartaj Madni, who was till recently vice-president of the party, former Works Minister Naeem Akhtar and senior leader Mansoor Hussain, who was the general secretary in the former team. None of Mehboobas kin, including brother Tasaduq Mufti and uncle Farooq Andrabi, find any place in the new setup. Five rebel MLAs Javaid Baig, Imran Ansari, Abdul Majeed Paddar, Mohammad Abbaas Wani and Abid Ansari and two MLCs Yasir Reshi and Saifuddin Bhat have been left out for their utterances against Mehbooba. The PDP president has nominated senior leader and the late Mufti Mohd Sayeeds close aide Abdul Rehman Veeri as vice-president, whereas Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura, Abdul Haq Khan, Mehboob Iqbal, S Surinder Choudhary and FC Bhagat have been nominated as general secretaries. The PDP chief has nominated Syed Altaf Bukhari as treasurer, while Rafi Ahmad Mir would continue as the chief spokesman for the party. The political affairs committee has also been recast. singhking99@yahoo.com Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 25 Congress president Rahul Gandhi strayed into sensitive territory last night when he told some UK politicians that he didnt agree to Congress involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots but favoured punishing those who were involved in the tragedy. I have no confusion in my mind about that. It was a tragedy. It was a painful experience. You say that the Congress was involved in that. I do not agree with that. Certainly there was violence, certainly there was tragedy, Gandhi said, raising a storm back home where the Akali Dal accused him of complicity in the genocide of Sikhs. Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal was quick to ask Gandhi what his mother and former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh apologised for if their party was not involved in the riots. Though the Congress president, while speaking to select UK parliamentarians in London, also said he was against all kinds of violence and favoured punishing all perpetrators of the 1984 riots, the Akali Dal and BJP questioned him for rubbing salt into the wounds of Sikhs. More than 3,000 Sikhs were killed in the aftermath of former PM Indira Gandhis assassination by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984. There are legal processes ongoing in India but as far as Im concerned, anything done that was wrong during that period should be punished and I would support that 100 per cent, Gandhi said. While BJP spokesman Sambit Patra mocked Gandhi saying know nothing speak everything = Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister and Akali MP from Bathinda Harsimrat Badal said, If Congress wasnt involved in the Sikh massacre, Indira Gandhi and (former PM) Rajiv Gandhi were also not killed. They died of heart attack. Harsimrat tweeted a TV video of 2014 where Gandhi admitted some Congress men may have been involved in the anti-Sikh riots with a comment: Thirty-four years of covering up seems to have fogged up your (Gandhi) brain too. Is this video a reminder of your deteriorating memory or your U-turns from 2014-2018? The Congress rushed to defend its president. The Congress was in office in 1984. A very terrible thing happened in 1984 for which Dr Manmohan Singh apologised in Parliament. You cannot hold Rahul Gandhi responsible for that. He was 13 or 14 years old. He has not absolved anyone, , ex-Finance Minister P Chidambaram said. In the UK for a two-day trip, Rahul faced two questions on the anti-Sikh riots. Interacting with students at the London School of Economics, he talked cautiously of the riots when asked what he thought about them. I too am a victim of violence, was his take. When Dr Manmohan Singh spoke, he spoke for all of us. I am a victim of violence and I am against any violence against anybody. I condemn that 100% and I am 100% for punishment to anyone involved in any kind of violence I have seen people I loved killed. I have also seen the person who killed my father killed. When I saw Prabhakaran lying on the beaches of Jaffna, being humiliated, I felt sorry for him. I saw my father in him. I saw myself in his children, he said, seeking to control the damage. Defamation case against Cong chief A complaint was filed against Congress president Rahul Gandhi at a court in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, on Saturday seeking registration of a defamation case against him for allegedly tarnishing and lowering the image of the country Advocate Sudhir Kumar Ojha contended that Gandhi had justified terrorism and explained the emergence of Islamic State due to increasing unemployment and likened it with that of India, which is an insult to the country PTI vermaajay1968@gmail.com Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, August 26 The special investigating team of the Karnataka police which is probing the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh is looking closely at Sudhanwa Gondhalekar, an activist of the Sanatan Sanstha who was detained by the Maharashtra polices Anti-Terror Squad earlier this month. Sources said officials from the SIT who arrived on Saturday have sought details about Gondhalekar, 39, since he bears resemblance to one of the men who were captured on footage from CCTV cameras installed at the residence of Lankesh, who had been writing relentlessly against Hindutva forces, days before her murder. Police sources said SIT officials from Karnataka would be allowed to interrogate those arrested by the ATS from different parts of Maharashtra. Officials did not say whether the interrogation of those in their custody had already commenced. Officials here said Gondhalekar was running a technology company catering to the requirements of architects and builders. He had been arrested in Pune. However, his company, CAD Point, had offices in Satara. The police say he has travelled to Bengaluru in the past ostensibly for business purpose. Gondhalekar was among five people arrested after country-made weapons and explosives were recovered from the house and office of a gau rakshak, Vaibhav Raut, from Nala Sopara near Mumbai. gspannu7@gmail.com Shiv Kumar Tribune News Service Mumbai, August 26 The Special Investigation Team of the Karnataka Police, which is probing the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, is looking closely at Sudhanwa Gondhalekar, an activist of the Sanatan Sanstha, who was detained by the Anti-Terror Squad of the Maharashtra Police earlier this month. According to sources here, officials from the SIT who arrived on Saturday have sought details about Gondhalekar, 39, since he bears resemblance to one of the men who were captured on footage from CCTV cameras installed at Lankeshs residence days before her murder. Lankesh, who had been writing relentlessly against Hindutva forces, was shot dead in front of her house on September 5 last year. Police sources here said SIT officials from Karnataka would be allowed to interrogate those arrested by the ATS from different parts of Maharashtra. Officials did not say whether the interrogation of those in their custody have already commenced. According to officials here, Gondhalekar was running a technology company catering to the requirements of architects and builders. He had been arrested in Pune. However his company, CAD Point, had offices in Satara. Police say he has travelled to Bengaluru in the past ostensibly on business. Gondhalekar was among five people arrested after country-made weapons and explosives were recovered from the home and office of a gau rakshak named Vaibhav Raut from Nala Sopara near Mumbai. vermaajay1968@gmail.com Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 26 Invoking the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his contribution towards the betterment of the countrys political culture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday described the debate on holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections as a healthy sign for democracy. Speaking on his radio show Mann ki Baat, Modi said the government and the Opposition both were putting forth their views, which was a good development and a healthy sign for democracy. Developing healthy traditions, making constant efforts to strengthen democracy and encouraging open-minded debates will also be an appropriate tribute to Atalji, Modi said on simultaneous polls, an issue that has divided political parties. Hailing Vajpayee, Modi said the 91st constitutional amendment law he had brought in 2003 restricted the size of cabinets in states to 15 per cent of the total seats in the legislative assembly. The culture of forming a jumbo cabinet was being misused. Atalji changed it, he said. It was during his tenure that the timing of presenting the budget was changed from 5 pm to 11 am. Earlier, as was the British tradition, the Budget used to be presented at 5 pm because in London, Parliament used to start working at that time. The framing of the Flag Code in 2002 was another freedom for India as it brought the national flag closer to the masses, he said. The PM also said no civil society could tolerate any kind of injustice towards women. The nation will not tolerate those committing rapes. With this on mind, Parliament has made a provision of strictest punishment by passing the Criminal Act Amendment Bill. Those guilty of rape will get a minimum sentence of 10 years and those found guilty of raping girls below the age of 12 years will be awarded death sentence,he said. Expressing solidarity with the people of flood-ravaged Kerala and lauding the contributions of armed, paramilitary and NDRF personnel in rescue and relief operations, the PM said people from across the country were with them in their hour of crisis. He also thanked all parties for the recent most productive Parliament session that saw important legislative business being passed. 168 gifts worth Rs 12 lakh to PM on his foreign tours Data on MEA website shows PM Narendra Modi got gifts worth Rs 12.57 lakh during his visits between July 2017 and June 2018 Temple replica* PM Modi got replicas of Pashupatinath temple, Muktinath temple of Nepal, shawls, figurines of gods and goddess, tea sets, carpets, cardigans, mufflers and fountain pens Mosque model Also received a replica of a mosque valued at about Rs 50,000, a dagger worth around Rs 20,000, paintings, books, some photographs and a model of the bullet train From silver bowls to Rs 2.15 lakh pen vermaajay1968@gmail.com Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 26 Ruling that suspension must necessarily be for a short duration, the Supreme Court has upheld revocation of six-year-old suspension of an IPS officer from Tamil Nadu, accused of extorting money from directors of a financial institution who had allegedly cheated depositors of Rs 1,210 crore. A Bench of Justice SA Bobde and Justice L Nageswara Rao had on January 12, 2017, quashed disciplinary proceedings against IPS Pramod Kumar as Inspector General of Police and asked the state government to reinstate him. On the basis of the material on record, we are convinced that no useful purpose would be served by continuing the first respondent (IPS Pramod Kumar) under suspension any longer and that his reinstatement would not be a threat to a fair trial. We reiterate the observation of the High Court that the Appellant State has the liberty to appoint the first respondent in a non-sensitive post, said the Bench in its verdict dated August 21. Citing its 2015 verdict in Ajay Kumar Choudhary vs Union of India, the top court said the practice of protracted suspension has to be frowned upon and suspension must necessarily be for a short duration. Kumar was arrested on May 2, 2012, and placed under suspension by an order dated May 10, 2012, issued by Principal Secretary to the Tamil Nadu Government with effect from April 2, 2012, in terms of Sub-Rule 2 of Rule 3 of the All India Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969 until further orders. As he was named as an accused and was arrested and remained in custody for more than 48 hours, he was suspended from service. Pursuant to this, disciplinary proceedings were initiated against him. Later, he was released on bail on June 28, 2012. He had challenged the disciplinary proceedings before the Central Administrative Tribunal, which though refused to interfere in the matter but revoked the suspension by holding that there was no material to indicate that he had tampered with evidence or influenced witnesses. While upholding revocation of suspension, the Madras High Court had also quashed the disciplinary proceedings against him. It was this order of the high court which was challenged by the Tamil Nadu Government before the Supreme Court. monicakchauhan@gmail.com Thiruvananthapuram, August 26 Nearly a century ago when floods ravaged Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi had termed the misery of the people as "unimaginable" and stepped in to mobilise over Rs 6,000 to help them, records show. If the present rain fury has claimed over 290 lives and displaced over 10 lakh people, the massive floods that crippled the state in July 1924 are believed to have claimed a large number of lives and caused widespread destruction. Mahatma Gandhi, through a series of articles in his publications 'Young India' and 'Navajivan', had urged people of the country to generously contribute for the relief of the flood-hit' Malabar' (Kerala). Following his appeal, people from various walks of life, including women and children had donated even their gold jewels and meagre savings to help the flood-affected people. Many had skipped a meal daily or given up milk to find money to contribute to relief fund mobilised by Gandhi, according to the journals penned by him. The "Father of the Nation" had mentioned in one of his articles in 'Navajivan' about a girl who had stolen three paise to contribute to the relief fund. "Malabar's misery is unimaginable," Mahatma had said in the article titled "Relief Work in Malabar." He said he had to "confess" that the response to his appeal had been "more prompt" than he expected. "It has been proved not once but many times that, by God's grace, compassion does exist in the hearts of the people." Many funds had been launched for collecting relief amounts and people could contribute whichever one they choose. "I would only urge that pay, they must," Mahatma Gandhi had said. The massive flood that lasted for around three weeks in July 1924 had crippled and submerged various parts of the then Kerala including hilly Munnar, Trichur (Thrissur now), Kozhikode, Ernakulam, Aluva, Muvattupuzha, Kumarakom, Chengannur and Thiruvananthapuram. It was commonly referred to as the "Great flood of 99" as it had happened in the 'Kolla varsham' (Malayalam calendar) 1099. As per records, Kerala, which was administratively fragmented into three princely states (Travancore, Cochin and Malabar) during the time, had received excessive rains. Just as now, all rivers were in spate and Periyar had flooded following the opening of the sluice gates of the Mullaperiyar Dam. Freedom fighter, K Ayyappan Pillai has vivid memories about the "Maha pralayam", the great flood of '99. "I was a school student when the heavy rains and floods submerged various places causing massive devastation. Normal life was crippled in the unabated rain," the 104-year old Ayyappan Pillai told PTI here. "Roads had turned into rivers... overflowing water bodies... paddy fields inundated...people even sought refuge on hill tops in many parts," he said. Gandhi, who came to know about the deluge from the state's Congress leaders, had sent them a telegram on July 30, 1924 asking them to assist the relief measures of the government and also work in their own way to help the affected people. In another telegram, the Mahatma said he was collecting money and clothes and his only thought was about people who had no food, clothes and shelter. In an article in 'Navajivan' dated August 17, 1924, he said, "A sister has donated her four bracelets and a chain of pure gold. Another sister has given her heavy necklace. A child has parted with his gold trinket and a sister with her silver anklets." "One person has given two toe-rings. An Antyaja girl has offered voluntarily the ornaments worn on her feet. A young man has handed over his gold cufflinks. Rs 6994-13 anna-3 paise have been collected in cash up to date," Gandhiji said. In the wake of the present floods, the state-based multi-lingual history website - dutchinkerala.com has carried Mahatma Gandhi's 1924 appeal to contribute to Kerala's relief fund to persuade people across the world to donate to the Chief Minister's distress relief fund. Meanwhile, donations pouring into the Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) have crossed Rs 500 crore. From school children to corporate giants, all are contributing to the relief fund to help rebuild the flood-hit state, whose loss has been estimated to be over Rs 20,000 crore. PTI monicakchauhan@gmail.com Bhopal, August 26 Unidentified assailants killed a woman and her two sons and critically injured her husband in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district on Saturday. The victims were attacked with an axe when they were sleeping in the night, but the reason for the criminal act is not yet known. Sub-Divisional Officer (Police), Santosh Dehariya told IANS on Sunday that some miscreants attacked Bhura Adivasi (40) and his family -- wife Sapna (35) and sons Dou (8) and Suraj (5) in Hirapur village. The police are investigating the matter. IANS ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 25 Ahead of the debate on the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report, which will be tabled in the House on Monday, the Akali Dal upped its ante against the Congress on Saturday with the SGPC rejecting the report and demanding that a case for hurting religious sentiments be registered against Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. The SAD might be patting its back for its strategy in dealing with the report, with key witnesses resiling from the statements given to the commission. But the Congress still has enough in its armour to politically hit out at the them. The report does not blame the Akali Dal or its leaders for the sacrilege incidents. Sources say the report fixes the responsibility of Akali leaders for having "coerced" the five Sikh high priests to grant pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, whose followers indulged in the sacrilege incidents. It also blames the then Akali-BJP government for having failed to either solve the sacrilege cases or restrain the police from using force on protesters at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan or taking any action against the police officers responsible for the two firing incidents. Ideally, the report should have helped the ruling Congress take on the Akalis in the Vidhan Sabha, when the report is tabled on Monday. However, the government has not named top police officers accused of the firing at Kotkapura, including the then DGP Sumedh Singh Saini, in the fresh FIR registered at Kotkapura earlier this month. Sources within the Congress say they will be blaming the Badals for not taking moral responsibility for the incidents. "It is clear that the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib and other holy books took place and protesters died during the SAD regime, a party claiming to be the political head of the Sikhs. Even if some witnesses have retracted, the common man knows that the Dera chief was granted pardon, which hurt the Sikh sentiments deeply. The pardon was withdrawn, but the dera helped the SAD-BJP in the Assembly polls. Since dera followers are responsible for sacrilege, the Akalis will have to answer why the dera enjoyed "immunity" during their rule," a senior minister said. The Akalis have succeeded in raising doubts over the report with key witness Himmat Singh retracting from his statement. Though former MLA Harbans Singh Jalal continues to flip-flop on his stand, and now maintains that he stands by his statement given to the Commission, actor Akshay Kumar, whose name comes in the report as being responsible for arranging a meeting between the dera chief and Sukhbir to strike a deal for the release of the former's film, too has denied that any meeting ever took place. editorial@tribune.com Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Dera Baba Nanak, August 26 Amid the hype being created over the proposed Kartarpur Sahib corridor, an important fact being overlooked by many is that both Army and the BSF are not likely to give the green signal to the passage. Top politicians of the area in the past have also tried to ensure the project materialises, but on all occasions their efforts have hit the Army roadblock. A senior BSF officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, claimed that it might not be possible for them to give the go-ahead due to security considerations. Gurdaspur is home to the Tibri Cantonment while the neighbouring district of Pathankot houses one of Asias biggest ammunition dumps, the Mamun Cantonment and the Air Force base. Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu may be leading the charge this time, but it was former Gurdaspur MP and Union Minister Sukhbans Kaur Bhinder who started making efforts immediately after she was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1980. She again took up the cudgels during her fourth term in 1992 and then in 2005 when she was nominated as a Rajya Sabha member. When former MP Vinod Khanna was appointed Minister of State for External Affairs in 2004, he prepared a blueprint and handed it over to then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. However, the PMO shot down his proposal after confabulations with Army commanders. From 2009 till 2014, MP Partap Singh Bajwa took up the initiative on many occasions, both inside and outside the Parliament. On May 2 this year, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs categorically ruled out the construction of the passage. The committee comprising seven MPs had visited Dera Baba Nanak from where the gurdwara is visible. The delegation, which was led by its chairman and former minister Shashi Tharoor, had come following an invitation extended by Amritsar MP Gurjit Singh Aujla and Dera Baba Nanak MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. On Randhawas request, Tharoor had promised to get four high resolution telescopes installed at the point where the BSF has erected a platform from where people view the Nishan Sahib of the gurdwara through binoculars. Tharoor, however, failed to keep his promise following which Randhawa approached Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. I have taken up the issue with the Chief Minister who has assured me that four state-of-the-art telescopes will be set up before the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak to be held in November next year. The proposal has been cleared, said Randhawa. Cantt Hurdle Gurdaspur is home to the Tibri Cantonment while the neighbouring district of Pathankot houses one of Asias biggest ammunition dumps, the Mamun Cantonment and the Air Force base Top politicians of the area in the past have also tried to ensure the Kartarpur Sahib corridor project materialises, but on all occasions their efforts have hit the Army roadblock Bajwa pitches in Chandigarh: MP Partap Singh Bajwa has written to CM Capt Amarinder Singh to initiate a resolution on the corridor during the ongoing Vidhan Sabha session. Referring to the forthcoming 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, he said the resolution would have the support of all members of the House. It should be handed over to the PM at the earliest so that he could take it up with his Pakistani counterpart. TNS amansharma@tribunemail.com Kuljit Bains An impression is being given out that the Punjab Assembly is in session. The Speaker has called the House from August 24 to August 28. A quick look at the scheduled business and the priorities of the government as well as the Opposition will, however, show us that what we may expect is no more than a mockery of peoples concerns and emotions. First, a look at the scheduled business for the measly two half days (Monday and Tuesday) that have been fixed to take up everything, even as the House is supposed to be in session for five days. One day was set aside for obituaries, and a two-day weekend was also incorporated, with all legislators receiving their allowance for attending the five-day session. As for the making of laws the primary business of the House more than 10 Bills are being presented. The text of none of these has been provided to the Opposition sufficiently in advance so that they may prepare for a debate. With important laws, such as the one on sacrilege, licensing of moneylenders, or office of profit, being introduced, each could have been discussed for half a day. But all of these will most likely be pushed through in 15 minutes when the Opposition MLAs do their own mandatory drama of a walkout. Tabling of the Ranjit Singh Commission Report is billed as another important business of the House. If at all it is important with the government and the ruling Congress staking their credibility on this document then why would it not be allotted sufficient time for debate? Given that every public speech of all leaders, acres of newspaper space, and prime-time TV slots in the state have been devoted to this investigation, one would have expected a full day being set aside just for the report. The second aspect that makes the Assembly a mocking of peoples emotions is that the very report that has been allowed to occupy the states mind space has proved to be a dubious document. Anyone who cares to read the Ranjit Singh report already has it on his WhatsApp; key witnesses cited in the report have proved to be fickle; and in any case, it is not an investigation that directly results in prosecution. The only impact it could have had was fixing moral responsibility, and even that modest goal stands buried well and proper. The government, on its part, is attempting to turn the Assembly into an arena to hit out at the Opposition. It may do well to remember that the House is essentially meant to make laws, and secondly to provide an opportunity for the Opposition to ask it tough questions on record, and not the other way round. As for the governments rights, it has all the powers to act under the law against any member of the Opposition found guilty of any wrongdoing. And in that it has failed to take any concrete step of booking any of the politicians it holds guilty in the sacrilege matter. As for political one-upmanship, that should be reserved for public rallies, sparing the Assemblys precious time. The third reason that this Assembly session is a complete loss for the people is that it does not even have an Opposition working for them. While the Akalis seem to be consumed by the effort to save their patron, with little time for peoples issues, it will be an achievement for the AAP if it can even work out its seating arrangement. There could not have been a more spectacular dissolution of democratic hopes. It was only last year that a government was elected into power with a solid majority and a new Opposition party emerged out of nowhere. If anyone has a feeling that things are adrift, it should not be a surprise. editorial@tribune.com GS Paul Tribune News Service Dera Baba Nanak (Gurdaspur), August 25 Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday offered prayers at Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district. A special ardas was conducted on the spot bordering Pakistan from where Gurdwara Karatarpur Sahib can be seen through specially placed binoculars. Various Sikh bodies, including the SGPC, have been pushing for the construction of a dedicated fenced corridor, approximately 4.5 km long, between India and Pakistan to have access to the historical gurdwara built at Kartarpur in Pakistan. The place holds significance as it was believed that Guru Nanak Dev had spent 18 years of his later life here. Sidhu viewed that he intended to be the voice of people, irrespective of religion, caste and creed, as per the teachings of Guru Nanak. He said he had already written to the External Affairs Ministry to take up the matter with the Pakistan counterparts to create a diplomatic channel so that devotees could visit the historic gurdwara during the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. Hope should never die its own death. With utmost humility, my purpose of conducting prayers here is to strengthen the intensity of the ray of hope. I am aware that the execution procedure will be taken up at the government level of both the sides, but it is my duty to convey my sentiments and the message of the other side and I did that. I have already written to the Union government to take that one step as the other side is ready to take two steps ahead towards maintaining cordial relations between rival nations, he said. editorial@tribune.com Vikramdeep Johal Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 26 With less than eight months left for the centenary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the voices seeking an apology from the UK Government are getting shriller. However, doubts are being raised over whether Britain will say sorry, and if it does, how sincerely or otherwise will that be. With a Conservative government, as is currently the case, it seems very unlikely that an official apology will take place, says Dr Kim A Wagner, Senior Lecturer in British Imperial History, Queen Mary, University of London. According to him, most British politicians regard the Amritsar massacre as an isolated event and an anomaly that does not represent what British rule in India was like. In contrast, Indian politicians such as Shashi Tharoor perceive the massacre as a symbol of the iniquities of the Raj more generally, which is why it makes sense to ask for an apology within a South Asian context. But I dont see how anything good can come from such divergent standpoints, Wagner adds. The historian, whose book Amritsar 1919: An Empire of Fear & the Making of a Massacre, will be released early next year, says if at all Britain relents, its statement will be equivocal and carefully worded This is a wound that I feel should not be healed, lest the apology becomes the history we remember. An empty apology without any understanding is meaningless, says Kishwar Desai, Chair, The Arts & Cultural Heritage Trust (TACHT), and an architect of the Partition Museum in Amritsar. She is a member of the Jallianwala Bagh Centenary Commemoration Committee, which plans to spread awareness about what exactly happened in 1919. Only by explaining to the present generation of politicians, through a special exhibition, will there be any remorse. If they do not know what happened, it is unlikely that any apology will be forthcoming, she says. Committee members Lord Meghnad Desai and Lord Raj Loomba are requesting for a debate on the subject next year in the House of Lords to set the record straight. The House of Commons had censured General Reginald Dyer, perpetrator of the carnage, during the debates in 1920, but the House of Lords had approved of his actions. So, it is important that the House of Lords rectifies its stance, says Kishwar Desai. According to Britain-based author Saurav Dutt, a formal apology is a must to counter the apologists involved in blase revisionism. We have less than a year to push for an apology, but even if efforts fail, then at least UK schools and curriculums should reflect what the Raj was really all about. Even that would be considered a victory, he says. Political push in India, Britain editorial@tribune.com PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 25 Four police personnel were on Saturday suspended for dereliction of duty in the case of murder of Jandiala Guru councillors husband. They are Sub-Inspector Palwinder Singh, ASI Agyapal Singh and constables Mukhwinder Singh and Dharminder Singh. Earlier on Friday evening, a group of persons had allegedly killed Kulwinder Singh, alias Kinda, at Jandiala Guru. Kindas wife Kanwaljit Kaur is a councillor. She had won the election as an Independent candidate, but later joined the Congress. The victims family and supporters held a protest in the town late in the night. The police later managed to persuade the family for the post-mortem after SSP Parampal Singh assured them of arresting the culprits soon. The victim was cremated on Saturday. Vijay Kumar Malhotra, the complainant, told the police that around 9.30 pm his nephew Honey Malhotra, who runs a shop at Balmiki Chowk, had an altercation with one Reshel Saini. As he (Vijay) had a party in the house, Honey and Kinda were among the guests. When Kinda along with councillors Amarjit Singh, Prabhjot Singh and Randhir Singh was standing outside his house, the accused led by local Congress leader Sanjiv Kumar attacked him. They dragged him to a distance and fled after brutally thrashing him. Kinda died on the spot. The police have booked Sanjiv (son of Madal Lal), Reshel, Sanjiv Kumar (son of Sukhchain Lal), Reshels father Rajdeep Saini, Krishna Kumar, Pargat Singh, Honey Singh, Rajinder Singh, Rakesh Kumar, Krishna Arora and two unknown persons under Sections 302, 506, 148, 149 IPC. On the motive, Vijay alleged that Sanjiv Kumar claimed himself to be a senior leader of the party and had a grudge against councillors. He also used to threaten Kindas supporters of dire consequences. The SSP said the accused would be arrested soon. He said as per initial probe, Kinda and councillors were trying to intervene and pacify the rival groups. The SSP said the cops, who have been suspended, had reached the spot when the clash started. But they failed to handle the situation appropriately which led to the murder. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Baba Bakala, August 26 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Bhagwant Mann said here on Sunday that the Congress government had leaked the report of the Justice Ranjit Singh (retd) Commission so that the Akalis could save their skin by intimidating the witnesses. Addressing the AAP rally at the Rakhar Punia fair, he accused Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh of shielding the Badals in the Behbal Kalan firing and Bargari sacrilege cases. Mann said farmers were feeling cheated as Capt Amarinder had backtracked from the promise of loan waiver, while the youth were awaiting jobs and smartphones. On the ongoing tussle within the state AAP, Mann said the party had come into being under Arvind Kejriwal with the aim of cleansing the administrative and political system. Anybody violating party discipline will have to face the consequences, he said. Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema demanded live telecast of the presentation of the Commission report. He said the SGPC had no right to reject the report. The Lok Insaaf Party, led by Atam Nagar MLA Simarjit Singh Bains, held a rally and carried out a march against the drug menace and the incidents of sacrilege. The SAD (Amritsar) also organised a rally on the occasion. Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh is shielding the Badals in the Behbal Kalan firing and sacrilege casesFarmers are feeling cheated as Capt Amarinder has backtracked from the promise of loan waiver, while the youth are awaiting jobs and smartphonesBhagwant Mann, AAP MP editorial@tribune.com GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 25 Two days prior to the presentation of the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report in the Vidhan Sabha, the SGPC on Saturday rejected it, calling it a biased document. SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal alleged that the report had been prepared to suit the Congress. Moreover, the leaking of the report had put a question mark on its legal sanctity, he said. The SGPC executive body, in its meeting, warned the Congress to refrain from anti-Panthic activities or it had to face a stern action from the Khalsa Panth. I wonder what the government is going to present in the Vidhan Sabha when the report has already been leaked. This bogus report was prepared by a puppet commission playing at the hands of the Congress. Instead of probing the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib, it had committed a blasphemy by depositing its damaged angs (pages) in the police malkhana. The commission was constituted under a deep-rooted conspiracy. The Congress has attempted to make this report as a tool to misguide the Sikh sangat, while misusing the official machinery, Longowal alleged. The SGPC chief demanded a fresh probe by a sitting Supreme Court judge. He, however, could not justify why the SAD had constituted a commission headed by a retired judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2016 and reportedly concealed its findings. The commission was acceptable, but its report didnt come out, he claimed. After the Congress government had come to power, The Justice Ranjit Singh Commission was set up in April last year after the Congress government rejected the findings of the report submitted by Justice Zora Singh Commission set up by the previous SAD-BJP government. Longowal, meanwhile, refrained from saying anything on Giani Gurmukh Singhs earlier allegations against the Badals and his comeback as Akal Takhts head priest. Recently, Himmat Singh, a key witness in the commission report and brother of Giani Gurmukh Singh, had taken a U-turn on his statement claiming that he was forced to sign the document by Justice Ranjit Singh (retd) and Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. Accusing Randhawa of distorting Gurbani and the Sikh history during a public address, Longowal said: We appeal CM Capt Amarinder Singh to remove Randhawa from the Cabinet and book him under Section 295A IPC. Badals still running show: Dal Khalsa Radical organisation Dal Khalsa said the reinstatement of Giani Gurmukh Singh as head granthi of Akal Takht, U-turn by his brother Himmat Singh and rejection of the Commission by the SGPC reflect the father-son duos guilt. Party spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said all these acts of manoeuvring were the brainchild of the Badals. He said: The SGPC has been reduced to a puppet. It is clear that the Badals have been continuously misusing the religious institutions for their vested political interests. DSGMC raises 10 questions on report New Delhi: Claiming that Justice Ranjit Singh Commission was a "sham", acting president of the DSGMC Harmeet Singh Kalka on Saturday posed 10 questions to the Congress about the probe. He asked why the Commission did not demand the registration of a case against the dera chief and his disciples? Among other questions were: What was the reason behind giving importance to "fake" jathedars in comparison to real ones and who will take the responsibility for the report leak? TNS editorial@tribune.com Rana Siddiqui Zaman Bolte kyun nahi mere apne, Aable pad gaye zabaan mein kya? (Why dont my own people speak for me; have their tongues got boils?) This is Jaun Elia (1931-2002), forever upfront and sarcastic. The Delhi audience had its first-ever rendezvous with the poet-philosopher and scholar of Arabic, Urdu, English and Hebrew recently, via the play, Jannat Se Jaun Elia, courtesy Harfkaar, a theatre group founded by poet Azhar Iqbal. Elia was born in Amroha in Uttar Pradesh. He had to migrate to Pakistan where he never wanted to go, but had to, in 1958. However, his soul could never leave Amroha. Most of his poems depict his desperation to return to the land of Ganga ji aur Jamunaji and his beloved Fariya Nigarina, who could not marry Elia for he was a wanderer. Elias life is an interesting mix of his casual lifestyle, addiction to drinking and smoking, hatred for religion, Marxist ideas, blunt statements, admiration for Mir Taqi Mir, frivolous remarks on Ghalibs poetry, and a forever conflict with most of his contemporary poets, mostly because of his caustic remarks on their supposed lack of knowledge and style of poetry. The play focuses on his eccentricities sly humour, wit, his impulsive self and an inimitable style of chest beating. The play penned by Ankit Gautam and Sachin Tiwari is pregnant with sharp messages. It begins with Elias death. A woman singing his ghazal, Us gali ne ye sochke sabr kiya, jaane wale yahan ke the hi nahi, while carrying a candle in the dead of night, precedes his body shouldered by people. Just before reaching the grave, Elias arm slides from the janaza with a liquor bottle in his hand, reciting his poem, Shauq-e-zindagi... Amid laughter from the audience, Elia is flung into heaven. He screams and abuses, asking for his own brand of liquor and bumps into other poets, writers Mir, Ghalib, Mirza Sauda, Nasir Kazmi, Ahmad Faraz, Firaq Gorakhpuri, Munir Niyazi and Ismat Chughtai. The play unravels his opinion and relations with these poets. Ghalib, whom Elia had addressed as bas 25 shehron ke shayar, keeps a mushaira and raqs (dance) in Eliais honour. While the first part of the play is a satirical account of each poets worldly auqaat as per Elia, the second is a dance evening where instead of a classical performance, the dancer gyrates on the modern Fevicol se, much to the shock and embarrassment of the reputed dead poets. Iqbal says the idea is to indicate how poetic gatherings have become like a bazaar where poets, unlike good old days, ask for applause from the listeners. The standard of poetry has gone down. It is recited provocatively to fuel religious and political fervour. So, we are trying to revive the lost class and dignity of such mehfils through our dramas. Interestingly, all the writers/actors in the play are non-Urdu knowing non-Muslims. We want to show that language is not a property of any one community, he says. Lead actor Kaukab Fareed, who looks and feels every bit Elia, was given a standing ovation. I have been an Elia fan since my childhood. So, it comes naturally to me, says the actor-poet. vermaajay1968@gmail.com UNITED NATIONS, Aug 26 (AP)The United Nations Security Council delayed and finally cancelled a meeting on the Czechoslovak crisis today, evidently to await the outcome of the Moscow talks on a settlement. The 15-nation Council's sixth meeting on the Soviet-East European occupation of Czechoslovakia had been set for 7.30 p.m., IST. At 8.38, IST, a Secretariat official told the assembled delegates that following consultations, the President had instructed him to announce that the meeting was cancelled. Western diplomats said delegates generally felt that the Council should hold no further meetings until it saw how President Ludvik Svoboda was coming in his talks with Soviet leaders for the removal of the occupation troops and restoration of the Czechoslovak liberal communist leadership. vermaajay1968@gmail.com MOSCOW, August 26 (Reuter)Soviet and allied troops will be withdrawn from Czechoslovakia under an agreement between Soviet and Czechoslovak leaders here, Czechoslovak diplomatic sources reported tonight. The sources said the talks were still continuing to work out a communique, which was expected to be issued later tonight or tomorrow. Leaders of East Germany, Poland, Hungry and Bulgaria were also reported to have taken part in the discussions, but there was no official Soviet confirmation. The Czechoslovak diplomatic sources said the Prague leaders had agreed to introduce control over the Press to prevent the appearance of articles of the Soviet Union and other Communist countries. Czechoslovakia was also believed to have agreed to allow some Soviet troops to remain in their country to reinforce the watch on the West German border. uttara@tribuneindia.com GENEVA, August 26 America is waging a psychological war against Iran and its business partners, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday, according to the Tasnim news agency. "[America's] focus is on a psychological war against Iran and its business partners," Zarif said. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers in May and is re-imposing sanctions on Tehran. Other parties to the accord are trying to find ways to save the agreement. Trump's decision to withdraw from the accord has hurt the United States, Zarif said, according to the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA). "From the time that Trump announced the withdrawal from the nuclear deal, America has not been able to reach its goals," Zarif said. Washington aims to force Tehran to end its nuclear program and its support of militant groups in Syria and Iraq. Zarif also said the nuclear deal has led to political conflict within Iran. "There are some in the country who, instead of laying the groundwork for using the opportunities presented by the nuclear deal, chose a political fight," Zarif said, according to ISNA. "And this political fight led to despair and disappointment." Hardline critics of the deal have lashed out at Iranian President Hassan Rouhani after America's withdrawal, claiming the agreement was a form of capitulation. Reuters sanjiv@tribunemail.com Washington, August 25 The US Navy has marked the official resurrection of a disbanded, Cold War-era fleet that was scrapped in 2011 and is returning amid heightened tensions with Russia. In May, the Navy had announced it was bringing back the 2nd Fleet, which played a key role during the Cold War years with operations in the North Atlantic and supporting US naval forces in the Mediterranean. The fleet, first stood up in 1950, was scrapped for cost-saving reasons during a time of reduced tensions with Moscow. It played a key role during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, when its ships set a blockade to stop Soviet ships reaching the island. The fleet will be responsible for US naval forces along the US East Coast as well as the North Atlantic region. This is the US and the Navys dynamic response to a dynamic security environment, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson, said. AFP vinaymishra188@gmail.com Harare, August 26 Zimbabwe today inaugurated a president for the second time in nine months as a country recently jubilant over the fall of longtime leader Robert Mugabe is now largely subdued by renewed harassment of the opposition and a bitterly disputed election. The military-backed President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who again took the oath of office, faces the mammoth task of rebuilding a worsening economy and uniting a nation deeply divided by a vote that many hoped would deliver change. The 75-year-old Mnangagwa, who took power from his mentor Mugabe with the militarys help in November, said my door is open and my arms are outstretched to main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa after the Constitutional Court on Friday rejected opposition claims of vote-rigging and upheld the presidents narrow July 30 victory. It is time to move forward together, said Mnangagwa, who has promised democratic and economic reforms after Mugabes 37-year rule. Chamisa yesterday said he respectfully rejects the court ruling and called the inauguration false. They know they cant invite me to a wedding where I was the one supposed to be receiving the gifts, he said. His spokesman Nkululeko Sibanda today said we havent received any formal invitation to the inauguration. AFP sanjiv@tribunemail.com Islamabad, August 25 Pakistans new government has banned the discretionary use of state funds and first-class air travel by officials and leaders, including the president and the prime minister, as part of its austerity drive. The decisions were made at a Cabinet meeting, chaired by PM Imran Khan yesterday, according to Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry. It has been decided that all the top government officials, including the president, PM, chief justice, senate chairman, speaker national assembly and the chief ministers will travel in club/business, he said. Chaudhry said the discretionary allocation of funds by the PM and the president and other officials was also stopped by the Cabinet. The PM also decided to stop using special plane for foreign visits or domestic travelling and use business class. Imran also decided to use only two vehicles and keep two servants. He refused to use elaborate official protocol. PTI uttara@tribuneindia.com Washington, August 26 US senator John McCain, a celebrated war hero known for reaching across the aisle in an increasingly divided America, died today following a battle with brain cancer. He was 81. "Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28 pm (local time) on August 25, 2018. With the senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family," his office said in a statement. "At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for 60 years. Sen McCain, thank you for your service," read a sign near the driveway of his home in a rural part of Sedona, Arizona, television footage showed, as a police escort accompanied the hearse that was to carry his body and local residents came bearing flowers for the late political titan. While he had many disagreements with fellow politicians, the Republican stalwart's integrity was not at question, and condolences came swift from the highest reaches of American politics after his passing. Ex-president Barack Obama, the Democrat to whom McCain lost the presidency in the 2008 elections, said: "We are all in his debt". "John McCain and I were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds and competed at the highest level of politics," Obama said in a statement. "But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higherthe ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched and sacrificed." Former vice president Al Gorewho served under Democrat Bill Clintonsaid, "I always admired and respected John from the opposite side of the aisle, because he thrived under pressure, and would work to find common ground, no matter how hard." President Donald Trump, who once mocked McCain's war record, said he sent his "deepest sympathies and respect". McCain had been a rare and outspoken Republican critic of Trump, accusing him of "naivete," "egotism" and of sympathizing with autocrats. On Capitol Hill, McCain became close friends with Senator Lindsey Graham and former senator Joe Liebermana trio dubbed the "Three Amigos". Now that the trio is missing its driving force, Graham wrote that "America and Freedom have lost one of her greatest champions... And I've lost one of my dearest friends and mentor". McCain, who was tortured during his five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, stopped treatment from an aggressive form of cancer earlier this week, his family saying "the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict". He had spent more than three decades in the Senate, looming large in debates over war and peace and the moral direction of the nation. Before joining the upper chamber, he served as a US representative from 1983 to 1987. McCain had not been on the Senate floor in months, remaining at his Arizona home for treatment of glioblastomathe same form of brain cancer that took the life of another Senate giant, Democrat Ted Kennedy, in 2009. AFP sanjiv@tribunemail.com Washington, August 25 The United States has said that it had cancelled more than $200 million in aid for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, leading their ambassador to accuse President Donald Trumps administration of being anti-peace. A senior State Department official said yesterday that the decision, made at the direction of the president, came after a review of aid programmes to the Palestinian territories. The funding previously allocated for programs in the West Bank and Gaza will now address high-priority projects elsewhere, said the official. The move takes into account the challenges the international community faces in providing assistance in Gaza, where Hamas control endangers the lives of Gazas citizens and degrades an already dire humanitarian and economic situation, he said. In January, the United States had already made drastic cuts to its contribution to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA. Relations between the US administration and the Palestinian Authority took a nosedive after Trump announced the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israels capital. The Palestinians have suspended contacts with the administration and consider that it can no longer play a mediation role in the Middle East peace process. AFP Action amounts to cheap blackmail US President Donald Trumps administration is resorting to cheap blackmail against the Palestinians with its decision to cut aid for the West Bank and Gaza Strip, a senior Palestinian official said. In January, the US had already made drastic cuts to its contribution to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA TWO friends were killed and a third man critically injured when he lost control of their car and slammed into a drain off the Uriah Butler Highway in Chaguanas yesterday. Police said around 8.40 a.m. a Nissan Primera sedan driven by Shawn Martin, 25, with Anthony Grant, 35, in the front passenger seat and Martins nephew Branj Smith, 18, in the backseat, was heading north along the highway when Martin spun out of control as he approached Biljah Road. Why am I really going to be in Glasgow during COP26? Its a question that has been asked of me since word got out that I would be here in Glasgow during this historic event. The default answer that seems to resonate with most is that this is the planets last, best hope to get our climate crisis under control. (CNN) Citing insufficient progress on the issue of denuclearization, President Donald Trump nixed plans for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to make what would have been his fourth visit to North Korea Friday, canceling next week's trip just one day after it was announced by Pompeo. "I have asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to go to North Korea, at this time, because I feel we are not making sufficient progress with respect to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Trump tweeted on Friday. "Secretary Pompeo looks forward to going to North Korea in the near future, most likely after our Trading relationship with China is resolved." Pompeo had said Thursday newly announced special representative to North Korea, Stephen Biegun, would be joining him on the trip to Pyongyang. The top US diplomat and Andrew Kim, the head of the CIA's Korea Mission Center, were seen entering the West Wing of the White House on Friday afternoon just hours before Trump posted the series of tweets. Pompeo was in the room when Trump sent his tweet canceling the trip, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told CNN. National security adviser John Bolton, who just returned from an overseas trip, was on speakerphone, Sanders said. A senior diplomatic source told CNN that State Department officials were "briefing allies' embassies about their objectives for the trip like 10 minutes before" the trip was called off. "The President's tendency to undercut his negotiating team has made it easy for Pyongyang officials to refuse their demands. Now, as the administration finally installs a negotiating team, the President signals publicly that he doubts their ability to make progress," Adam Mount, senior fellow and director of the Defense Posture Project at the Federation of American Scientists told CNN. "Washington has allowed talks to drift along, unstable, unproductive, and without a coordinated negotiating team. It appears the President is willing to allow this to continue into the fall," he said. A diplomatic source told CNN that while it is possible that high-ranking officials in Seoul were informed of Trump's decision to cancel the trip prior to the tweets, the announcement caught South Korean diplomats at the working level off guard. South Korean President Moon Jae-in plans to visit Pyongyang next month for a third summit with Kim. "The decision also leaves Moon Jae-in isolated ahead of his planned trip to Pyongyang next month. Both Seoul's approach on economic and threat reduction and the US nuclear talks would benefit from being integrated," Mount said. The South Korean Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa and Pompeo spoke by telephone Saturday to discuss the canceled trip and where negotiations might go from here. A statement released by the ministry said Pompeo explained "in detail" the reasons for postponing the trip. The statement did not elaborate. According to the South Korean Foreign Ministry, Kang called the cancellation "regrettable" while Pompeo reaffirmed the US position that it will continue to solidify South Korea-US cooperation. On Friday, Trump specifically referenced the ongoing tariffs battle between the US and China as part of the reason for the lack of progress on North Korean denuclearization, something he has previously hinted at. "Because of our much tougher Trading stance with China, I do not believe they are helping with the process of denuclearization as they once were (despite the UN Sanctions which are in place)," Trump said in one of three tweets Friday afternoon on the issue. Trump was asked in an interview with Reuters on Monday if North Korea had done anything beyond dismantling a test site to show it was in the process of denuclearizing. "I do believe they have," he said, but did not provide further details. Despite the cancellation, Trump sent his "warmest regards and respect" to North Korean leader Kim and said he looks "forward to seeing him soon!" When the two leaders met in Singapore in June, Trump praised the young autocrat, saying Kim had "to be a rough guy," but that he's "smart, loves his people, he loves his country. He wants a lot of good things and that's why he's doing this." State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said Thursday that there were "no plans for a meeting" between Pompeo and Kim on the trip. Kim snubbed Pompeo during the last round of meetings in North Korea early last month, which sources told CNN went "as badly as it could have gone." Diplomatic sources said that the US has now presented North Korea with specific proposals for a path and timeline to denuclearization, all of which Kim has thus far rejected, believing the US's stance to be "gangster-like." The latest assessment of North Korea's nuclear program released by the International Atomic Energy Agency calls into question Pyongyang's commitment to denuclearization amid ongoing activities at certain sites in the country and the inability for IAEA inspectors to access those sites. The report cites "cause for grave concern" about these activities. And, according to the prominent monitoring group 38 North, commercial satellite imagery from Aug. 16 of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station, North Korea's only operational space launch facility, indicates that no significant dismantlement activity has taken place at either the engine test stand or the launch pad since Aug. 3. Last month, 38 North released images of the Sohae station, prompting Trump to say North Korea had begun dismantling "a key missile site." But according to the group's most recent analysis, "no new dismantlement activity is apparent since August 3." This story was first published on CNN.com. "Trump says Pompeo won't go to North Korea, criticizes denuclearization progress." As you have indicated that you are going to miss Cairns I can offer some advice on the Brisbane and Coast areas. The Sunshine Coast is approx 1 1/2 hours north of Brisbane and the Gold Coast is approx 1 hour south by car. They both have beautiful beaches but are quite different. The Gold Coast has many highrises and is close to several theme parks whilst the Sunshine Coast (Noosa is within this area) tends to have a different feel. Noosa is considered to be very cosmopolitan and is a gorgeous place to visit and has a slightly more village feel than areas on the Gold Coast which has more dense population. At the risk of offending some I would say that whilst I love the Sunshine Coast, I think that the Gold Coast beaches are probably easier to explore. I love both areas but for a first time visitor with only a few days you might wish to choose one and maybe do a day trip to Brisbane. Brisbane is my hometown and I love it and our lifestyle here, but as a quick destination it does not have as many stand out places to visit as Sydney and Melbourne. We are spoilt by living in a beautiful city with a great climate so close to spectacular beaches within an hour or so to both the north and south but I think your holiday might be more balanced spending time in Sydney, Melbourne and maybe the Gold Coast (more flights than to Maroochydore/Noosa I would think). If you really wanted to hire a car to see Brisbane I would drive from the Gold Coast for a day trip only and have a look around the CBD, Southbank and Mt Cootha. This is only my opinion but I hope it helps. My husband and I plan a honeymoon in Australia and want to spend most of the time (about three weeks) on the East Coast. When I started to plan the specific destinations we would be in, I realized that if we wanted to see a lot we had to do meny bus / train / shuttle rides. The question is whether to give up certain places and travel more leisurely or make more transitions and see more? At the beginning I thought of: 3 nights in Port Douglas, 2 nights in Cairns with a day trip to Mission Beach, 2 nights at Magnetic Island, 2 nights at Airlie Beach, a night at Hamilton Island, a night drive to Hervey Bay +2 nights stay, 2 nights in noosa, a night in moreton island, a night in Brisbane, three nights at Gold Coast, a night in Byron Bay, a flight to Sydney and five nights there. I understand that this is a lot of destinations relative to the period of time but it is very hard for me to decide what to give up... everything sounds so beautiful and interesting! From the places I mentioned- what should I give up and where these days should be added? Thanks for the help! Edited: 3 years ago -:- Message from Tripadvisor staff -:- This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one. To review the Tripadvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason. This is really rushed and you are not giving yourself any chance to actually relax and take it all in. Firstly, Great Ocean Road could be done on a long, rushed not great value for money tour bus in one day, or self drive over two full days with early starts, or, preferably, two nights, three full days. PI is in the other direction and can be done as an afternoon/night four, or another full day. If you are doing LEI from Hervey Bay, and want to experience unique nature, then instead of time in the Whitsundays I highly recommend you do a day or two day trip to Fraser Island (also accessed from Hervey Bay). You may consider an overnight at LEI if you have the time available. Re Cairns/Port Douglas, you can see Crocs in the wild (but unlikely to get super close to,them - not a bad thing) in the Daintree River and also at Hartleys Crocodile Adventures but you might also consider just hanging around the Sunshine Coast/Fraser Coast region and visiting Australia Zoo (home of Steve Irwin/Bindi Irwin) which will give you a very good Croc experience. (Please understand that I am only discounting Cairns region because you already have LEI in the mix.) I recommend you keep Lone Pine in the itinerary for the natives as it is a more intimate experience but of course they dont have crocs. You will have the opportunity to experience sub-tropical rain forest in the Sunshine Coast hinterland and you will possibly see lots of lizards, marsupials and maybe even a snake. So, in a nut shell, unless you have your heart set on the Daintree Rainforest, skip both Cairns and the Whits, stay in SEQ/Fraser Coast instead and add days to that, as well as an extra couple of days to Victoria to allow you a self drive of the GOR. My suggestion would be: Brisbane 2 days Hervey Bay/LEI//Fraser Island/Noosa 7 days Sydney and BM, 5 nights Melbourne and GOR 5 nights You dont dont have time to fit Uluru in, let alone Darwin etc, unless you drop Melbourne/GOR or Cairns and Whits/Sunshine Coast etc. 19nights (as a guess from your almost three weeks comment) does not give you time for all you want to see and do, so you really have to decide what appeals to you most. Cheers Hello, I was planning on maybe going into the US from canada (toronto airport) and stay in new york state area for around 20 days and then return to germany via toronto again. I do have an ESTA which I think I'd only need if I flew into US. So I think I'd need the canadian equivalent. My question is, if I could even do this whole thing with going to toronto and then just going over to the US by car. Of course with a valid german passport. Thank you for your help Hello all! I have just started planning a trip to Vietnam with my mum. I am a foodie and interested the 'vibe' of places, cool experiences and of course food, and my mum loves history also. I have come up with this as an itinerary because I like the look of Hoi An, but I am wondering if it its the thing that will make the trip too rushed... I don't mind swapping hotels 3 times, and I don't think I'll be going back to Vietnam really so I am happy to just get a glimpse of the main places. Any thoughts? Hoi An vs Sapa ? 28th Dec - HCM from 3pm (land 11.30AM). 1/2 day 29th Dec Mekong tour? *departs around 5am? 30th Dec HCM Full Day 31st Dec Fly to HOI AN in morning - 1/2 day HOI AN 1st Jan HOI AN - full day 2nd Jan HOI AN - full day *option to go to Golden Bridge ? fly to HANOI 3rd Jan HANOI - full day 4th Jan HALONG BAY TOUR 5th Jan HALONG BAY TOUR 6th Jan HANOI - full day 7th Jan HANOI depart 8.30am for 12.35pm flight HCM = 1 1/2 days. hotel 28th to 31st (3 nights) MEKONG DELTA = 1 day tour HOI AN = 3 1/2 days . hotel 31st to 3rd (3 nights) HANOI = 2 days. hotel 3rd Jan and 5th - 7th Jan (3 nights) HALONG BAY = 2 days/1 night on a cruise *Would be interested in SAPA for rice fields trek but not sure what to drop to do it Possibly fly HCM to HANOI and do Sapa Valley trek instead of HOI AN? Thank you! Safety ? Vietnam is one of the safest countries in the world ! English is spoken in the places where you go The main concern is the weather. January and February can be cold (15-18 in Hanoi, much less in Sapa, which is at 1500m altitude and where I have had 5 evenings and mornings). Moreover, in Sapa, there can be heavy fog for days, SO, before going up there, I would check the weather (type "Meteo Sapa" on Googles and click on "Accuweather") Hi We are 2 adults. Visiting Japan very soon, landing at Narita in Tokyo and departing from Kansai in Osaka. 6 nights will be spent in Tokyo, with a daytrip, Nikoo or Hakone, not decided yet. Then straight to Hiroshima, where well be staying 2 nights.One daytrip to Miyajima. From Hiroshima to Osaka, as base for 4 nights.Possibly 2 daytrips in Kyoto and one in Nara.Still not 100%, whether Kyoto is a better choice for a base. I have read back and forth about JR Pass and whether it pays off, when having a open-jaw flight and it seems that the general feeling is that it does not. However, after using the rail-pass calculator, its not alot, we are saving. Tokyo - Hiroshima will be done by flying and Hiroshima - Osaka(or Kyoto) with a bullet train(we have to do it just for one time), the price for these two already around 47.000 YEN. Adding the costs for small trips, like Tokyo - Nikko/Hakone, Osaka - Kyoto(2 times), Osaka - Nara, we are very close, if not above the 58.000 YEN for 2 x JR Pass. What do you think? If going with the JR Pass, should we activate it the last day(s) in Tokyo, where we most likely will buy Suica/Pasmo/Metro card for journeys within the city? Likewise, I am more than happy for any suggestions regarding our itinerary. Thank you. Q: I have a 2010 Honda Odyssey LX with 100,000 miles. I have been trying to find general suggested intervals for transmission fluid changes and engine coolant changes. Many online owner club sites mention 30-40,000 miles for transmission fluid changes, but some say 60,000 or even 120,000 miles. Engine coolant suggestions vary even more. I've written to Honda, and Honda says just follow the maintenance minder in the car's onboard computer. However, I'd like a general idea of what intervals are expected just to plan out maintenance costs. These intervals are not mentioned in the owners manual. In addition, our local dealer seems to have its own interval recommendations. Who am I to believe? Is there a document that spells out these and other recommended intervals that I can use as a starting point? I think your itinerary is overall doable and good. But, the 7 day JR Pass can not cover the whole, while the 14 day JR Pass does not pay off unless you return to Osaka from Tokyo. It might be good to just use Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass for a round trip to Hiroshima/Miyajima, and Koyasan World Heritage Ticket for Mt. Koya-san, as follows. Here are my comments for its details. 6/12: I think it's better to go to Mt. Koyasan from Osaka this day, instead from Kyoto on 12/12. 8-12/12: Here is my article of what and how to see in Kyoto for your reference: 15/12: It's better to step by Shirakawago on your way to Takayama from Kanazawa by Nohi Bus this day, instead of 14/12, as follows. Take the bus to Shirakawago, leave your luggage at the bus center there, while you explore the World Heritage Village for a few hours, and take the next bus to Takayama. Note that you have to book the bus in advance from the above site. 16/12: On the 2nd day in Takayama, it's good to take another Nobi Bus from Takayama to Shin-hotaka Ropeway to enjoy the views of Japan Alps in winter as follows. 17/12-20/12: Here is my article for what and how to see in Tokyo, for your reference. So, we just had a lovely one night in Kurashiki near Okayama. We were very happy to arrive late afternoon to check in across the street from the Bilken Historical District, only walking distance from the train station. And we spent the moonlight walking the short canal with scenes from a movie set of old Japan (watch Shogun series!). Then the next morning we walked the shops, visited a cool old Japanese house, took a 20min, small boat ride down the canal, had lunch and left around noon. It was wonderful and you may want to buy the famous and very NY stylish jeans made in Kurashiki for a fifth of the price! I would stay here rather than Okayama and then see the famous garden the next day after lunch in Okayama as it is only about 20 min by local train and they have lockers there at the station. (Unfortunately we missed the garden but I hear it is wonderful by the castle). We then arrived at Mijiyama at sun set which is magical as all the day tripper tourists are leaving and you have the place to yourself. (We splurged and took the one way 20$ or so speed boat and the views through the islands was another highlight! Quite romantic!) Again arrive at dusk and it is soooo special. Highlight of my trip was staying at Sakayra Inn there on the water with an ocean viewit is budget but Very Japanese and clean and perfect with an inexpensive breakfast and laundry and onsen so you can afford to splurge for the ocean view with your own balcony. The next day go up to Mount Misan by cable car (again you can get out before the crowds,) and hike 30 min more to the top for the best view you will ever see! walk down (takes 2nhours in the shade but wow..) eat the fried oysters!! And then stay the second night and leave in the morning as you chuckle how glad you are missing the crowds arriving by ferry. Go on then to Hiroshima to see the sights! That was our plan and it worked great... - President Uhuru Kenyatta will meet US and China presidents and UK Prime Minister in a span of one week - This will bot be the first time he is meeting the powerful trio, which remains a dream for many world leaders - Uhuru's dalliance with the worlds superpowers has thrust Kenya to the high table of world politics - He is expected to secure massive funding to help him realize key pledges like completing SGR line from Mombasa to Kisumu Whats his secret? This is the question likely to be haunting leaders across the world as Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta embarks on yet another momentous week which will see him meet three among the worlds most powerful leaders. President Kenyatta jetted out of the country on Saturday, August 25, for Washington DC where he will meet US President Donald Trump on Monday, August 27, 2018. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Raila flies to Germany for one-week tour as Uhuru heads to US President Uhuru Kenyatta is Set to meet three powerful world leaders in a span of one week. Photo: Uhur Kenyatta/Twitter. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: US leads ambassadors to ask Uhuru to walk the talk on rampant corruption This will make him the the second African president after Nigerias Muhammadu Buhari to be invited by the US leader to the White House for one-on-one talks. Uhuru is expected back to Nairobi in time to host British Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday, August 30 in what will be the UK leader's first visit to Africa since she ascended to the powerful position in 2016. Uhuru will then fly out to Asia to meet Chinese President Xi Jingping between Saturday, September 1 and Wednesday, September 5, again on invitation from yet another world superpower leader. To most leaders around the world, including those of developed nations, such a prestigious schedule is simply the stuff they dream of but for Uhuru it is a dream come true. President Uhuru Kenyatta will reportedly solicit for funds to finance his Big Four agenda and aother pledges to Kenyans. Photo: Uhuru Kenyatta/Facebook. Source: UGC READ ALSO: President Uhuru leaves for US on 15 hours direct flight Some leaders end decades in power without a handshake - or even brushing shoulders - with any of the superpower leaders, leave alone the privilege of back-to-back invitations for talks to discuss critical issues of mutual benefit. Uhuru was widely expected to be just another statistic among this ignored and not so influential lot but these happenings say otherwise about his legacy. As heascended to power in 2013, Western powers - particularly the US and Britain - expressed strong reservations against his presidency seince he was facing charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) alongside his running mate William Ruto. This was capped with the famous choices have consequences warning in what was seen as tactical support for Opposition candidate Raila Odinga. There was every indication that the country could easily become a pariah state, an outcast that needed no attention so to say. Uhurus secret as he sets out to meet three powerful world leaders in a week Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Governor Joho holds closed-door meeting with ex-president Moi at his home Remarkably, Uhuru won the presidency and swiftly overturned the pessimism as a spirited foreign outreach saw him endear himself to the free world. By the end of his first term in office in 2017, his charisma saw Kenya host nearly 60 Heads of State and other top world leaders. Among these leaders were; former US President Barack Obama, Catholic Pope Francis, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who were all visiting the country - if not the continent - for the very first time. Kenya equally became the destination of choice for high-profile global conferences between 2015 and 2017 as the Jubilee government developed a strong foreign policy; the first time since independence that Kenya has a written foreign policy. In 2016 alone, the country hosted seven major international conferences, attracting thousands of delegates, including presidents into the country. Kenyas expanding diplomatic footprint became more evident after the country was invited to the G7 Summit two times in a row in Taormina, Italy in 2017 and in Quebec City in Canada between from Fridy June 8 to Saturday, June 9, 2018. In both summits, Uhuru was accorded a seat in the high table of global politics, seemingly he was the man speaking Africa. Chinese President Xi Jingping and Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta . Uhuru will travel to China for more bilateral talks after hosting UK Prime Minister Theresa May. Photo: Uhuru Kenyatta/Facebook. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: UK government accepts to receive Free Bobi Wine petition from Ugandans in diaspora The coming talks with Trump, May and Jingping will only serve to rubber stamp Kenyas growing geopolitical influence. While Foreign Affairs CS Monica Juma said the meeting was aimed at positioning Kenya globally, it is the Principal Secretary in the ministry Macharia Kamau, who perhaps best captures the unfolding scenario. Its starting to show that our diplomacy is paying great benefits. The kind of engagements that our Head of State is having here in Kenya and around the world is a signal that our country is beginning to take its rightful place in the international community, Kamau opined in regard to the three key meetings. According to State House spokesperson Kanze Dena, the US visit would mainly focus on trade, regional security and peace. This came amid Kenyas plans to secure a KSh 300 billion loan from the US to finance the construction of a six-lane expressway to link Mombasa to Nairobi. The road was expected to be established by American construction giant Bechtel. President Uhuru Kenyatta and Sun Baohong, Ambassador of China meet ahead of forthcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in Beijing, China. Photo: Uhuru Kenyatta/Facebook. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Kwale signage with shoot to kill message sparks uproar Kenya also plans to start direct flights from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to New York in October 2018. Symbolically, Uhuru travelled on a direct flight from Nairobi to New York in a journey which would take 15 hours, a seven-hour reduction from flights that include layovers at different airports. In Beijing, Uhuru is expected to officially sign a loan deal after China approved a KSh 380 billion loan for the construction of phase 2B of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) that will take it from Naivasha to Kisumu. This will keep him firmly on the path to fulfill the promise to deliver a modern railway line from Mombasa to Kisumu in just 10 years. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Top 5 Facts About Uhuru Kenyatta - Raila Odinga Pact | Tuko TV Source: Tuko With the millions of apps, and other platforms for people to communicate through media that are all over the Internet these days, this is truly the age of social media. Well social media is an undeniable force in today's world when used strategically over time it is powerful, thanks to social media, a young boy's life will be saved Send News' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Detectives arrest four notorious criminals conning Kenyans millions READ ALSO: Esther Passaris faults Mike Sonko over Deep Sea slum fire A report by Citizen TV on Saturday, August 25, indicated a Kirinyaga boy who has been suffering from a rare skin disease for three years is to be taken to Nairobi for treatment. This was after a social media campaign highlighted the plight of George Githae. A chilling video of the young boy scratching himself and crying in pain began trending online prompting county officials to look for the 3-year-old. READ ALSO: Mwanariadha Asbel Kiprop aanikwa mtandaoni kwa kulamba "asali" ya mwenzake They were able to trace the boy in Kiratina village where he lives with his mother Susan Wangu Ngige. We have received the patient and he is currently stable. We have managed to treat patients with a similar condition before, said Dr. Lydia Muoki from Kerugoya District Hospital. County CEC for Health Agnes Gachoki also indicated she had consulted doctors from Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and suspect the boy could be suffering from atopic dermatitis (eczema), which is curable READ ALSO: Uhurus secret as he sets out to meet three powerful world leaders in a week The boys mother said he developed the condition six months after birth. When his condition flared up I could no longer go to work because he is in too much pain, she said. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Phenny Awiti Story: Meet HIV Positive Mom Raising HIV Negative Kids | Tuko TV Source: Tuko - The two-time presidential candidate passed away on Saturday evening at his home - He died at the age of 81 after long battle with cancer and shortly after he stopped treatment - The Republican was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, called glioblastoma, in 2017 - McCain was first elected senator in 1986 and remained vocal in the Senate despite his illness - He was one of the biggest critic of some of President Donald Trump's policies Celebrated United States (US) senator and war hero John McCain passed on after long battle with brain cancer. The Republican congressman died at the age of 81 on Saturday, August 25, at 4.28 pm, a few hours after his family disclosed he had stopped medical treatment. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Mwanariadha Asbel Kiprop aanikwa mtandaoni kwa kulamba "asali" ya mwenzake Arizona Senator John McCain died at the age of 81 on Saturday, August 25, at 4.28 pm a few hours after his family disclosed he had stopped his treatment.Photo: WhrRadio. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Zimbabwe court confirms Emmerson Mnangagwa as president, dismisses Oppositions petition A statement issued by the late senator's office indicated he died at his home in Arizona with his family and friends around to say goodbye. As was earlier reported by TUKO.co.ke, the congressman was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, identified as glioblastoma, in 2017 and was undergoing treatment until recently when he and the family decided to stop the radiation and chemotherapy. READ ALSO: Uhuru, Raila mourn Migori Senator who died of cancer In a statement issued on Friday, August 24, McCain's family said the senator had decided to end his treatment after it became clear there was nothing humanly possible they could do to save his life. "Last summer, Senator John McCain shared with Americans the news our family already knew. He had been diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma, and the prognosis was serious. In the year since, John surpassed expectations for his survival. With his usual strength of will, he chose to discontinue medical treatment," the family noted. READ ALSO: Baringo South MP dies after long battle with cancer The Friday announcement left McCain's colleagues shaken despite having braced for the worst following his cancer prognosis in 2017. It effectively closed a tumultuous Washington career that included two unsuccessful presidential runs and saw McCain emerge as a singular political figure. READ ALSO: Uhuru, Donald Trump in first ever official meeting at White House In 2000, McCain challenged George Bush for the Republican presidential nomination and lost. And in 2008, the senator ran against former President Barrack Obama and once again did not succeed in his quest for the presidency. McCain, who retired from the Navy before joining politics, was first elected to the Senate in 1986 and had become a vehement critic of President Donald Trump, especially with regard to the push to repeal the Affordable Care Act. READ ALSO: Dennis Oliech's mother dies after long battle with cancer Meanwhile, leaders from across the world continue to pay tributes to the fallen American war veteran. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Top-5: How to be an African president - detailed guide by Tuko - On Tuko TV Source: Breaking News - The late senator reportedly told close friends he did not wish for Trump to show up at his funeral - Despite belonging to same party, the two had an acrimonious relationship that started before Trump entered White House - McCain became a big critic of Trump's policies, whereas Trump insulted and persistently rediculed McCains military service - Trump nevertheless sent his condolence message to the late senator's family despite their bitter relationship - Trump's Vice President Mike Pence is expected to deliver the White House speech at the senator's funeral United States President Donald Trump has sent out a surprise condolence message to the family of the late Senator John McCain who passed away on Saturday evening at his home in Arizona after long battle with brain cancer. Trump was among the many American leaders, including former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, who paid tribute to the fallen ex-navy officer and war veteran-turned politician. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Mwanajeshi Mkenya-Mmarekani atesa kwa urembo wake na vazi la kitamaduni la Kalenjin United States President Donald Trump and the late Arizona Senator John McCain were not the best of friends and occasionally criticized each other. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Former US presidential candidate John McCain discontinues brain cancer treatment In a Twitter statement issued shortly after news of McCain's death broke out, the US president expressed sympathy for the senator's family and wished them well during the trying moment. "My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!" Turmp said. READ ALSO: Uhuru, Donald Trump in first ever official meeting at White House However, despite the touching message, reports emerged the US president was not likely to attend the funeral service of the Republican congressman, perhaps owing to a complicated relationship that the two politicians had. According to a report by ABC News and other international news outlets, McCain's close friends had informed the White House during the funeral planning, which started before the Arizona leader died, that Trump was not welcomed to the funeral service. Arizona Senator John McCain died at the age of 81 on Saturday, August 25, at 4.28 pm a few hours after his family disclosed he had stopped his treatment.Photo: WhrRadio. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Uhuru Kenyatta to write history as he meets Donald Trump TUKO.co.ke gathered Trump's Vice President Mike Pence would be the one to deliver funeral speech from the White House. The tension between McCain and Trump reportedly way back in 1999 when Trump allegedly insulted the late senator's military service and continued to belittle the two-time presidential candidate even after he (Trump) became president. It was not surprising to many that the president remained tight-lipped on McCain's brain cancer diagnosis until the senator died. READ ALSO: Uhuru congratulates Zimbabwes president-elect amid Opposition protest The celebrated war veteran died at the age of 81 on Saturday, August 25, at 4.28 pm, a few hours after his family disclosed he had stopped medical treatment. A statement issued by his office indicated he passed on at his home in Arizona with his family and friends around to say goodbye. The Republican congressman was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, identified as glioblastoma, in 2017 and was undergoing treatment until recently when he and the family decided to stop the radiation and chemotherapy. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. When Uhuru, Ruto and Raila Met at State house - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko A courageous man has sent the internet to laughter after trying his luck to get himself a hot female police companion. Osama Otero, a single netizen was lonely and already knew where he would get his ideal woman. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Mwanajeshi Mkenya-Mmarekani atesa kwa urembo wake na vazi la kitamaduni la Kalenjin READ ALSO: Diamond Platnumz's ex-photographer scolds musician after referring to Hamisa's son as side kid The fearless chap through a hilarious tweet to Kenya Police said he was quite aware whoever managed their social media account was a lady. "I know the person using this handle is a lady. I am single and I want a girlfriend who works for the police force," he wrote. READ ALSO: Fans descend on Huddah Monroe after posting photo of herself looking old and tired Osama then said he was single and ready to mingle therefore he deserved to be introduced to a hot policewoman. The shock was on him when the Kenya Police replied stating he was wrong and advised him to try his luck somewhere else. "According to the VAR results, you are wrong. Try your luck somewhere else," Kenya Police replied. Kenyans being the comedians that they are, decided to chime in on the hilarious situation as they poked fun at the mischievous guy. Others could not help but congratulate Otero for doing what most men would never attempt to do. Some supportive Kenyans even pleaded with the police to heed to Osama's cry and provide him with a beautiful lady's phone number. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Top 3 Pastors Scandals: Who Betrayed The Trust Of Parishioners? | Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke - President Museveni claims Kenya is now importing more goods from Uganda - He claims the increased trade is attributed to improved security in the country - Corruption and political indiscipline, he says, are still derailing Uganda Uganda President Yoweri Museveni has claimed that his Country exports more agricultural products to Kenya than Kenya exports to it. Museveni said that this was an indication that his administration had put more impetus in strengthening the agricultural sector besides also supporting extra border trade. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens. READ ALSO: William Ruto's rarely seen son steals the show during meeting with Museveni in Uganda Uganda President Yoweri Museveni has claimed that his Country exports more agricultural products to Kenya than Kenya exports to it. Photo: President Museveni Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Museveni's brother accused of grabbing wetlands along shores of Lake Victoria The President, through a Facebook post, claimed that Kenyas Trade Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo, had informed him that his (Museveni) Country had exported two times more in goods than Kenya exported to Uganda. Recently, I hosted Kenya's Deputy President, William Ruto, who came with the permanent secretary of their ministry of trade. The PS told me Uganda is now exporting more to Kenya. For example, in the month of January 2018, Uganda exported goods worth KSh 18,722,443,911 while Kenya exported to Uganda goods worth KSh 8,656,613,851, Museveni stated. In February 2018, Museveni says its exported to Kenya KSh 14,998,086,789 in goods while Kenya exported to it goods worth KSh 12,179,654,372. In April, KSh 13,186,237,378 worth of goods were exported to Kenya while it imported goods worth KSh 9,260,563,655. READ ALSO: Mwanariadha Asbel Kiprop aanikwa mtandaoni kwa kulamba "asali" ya mwenzake In May the same year Uganda sold Kenya produce worth KSh 22,950,092,537 while it only imported goods worth KSh 13,286,895,679 from Kenya. Except for March, where we imported goods worth KSh 11,575,704,569 as Kenya exported to us goods worth KSh 13,286,895,679, stated Museveni. READ ALSO: Good news, Kenyans can now get unsecured business loans Museveni made the remarks on Friday, August, 24 when he presided over the passing-out of 3,958 UPDF recruits at the Kaweweta Military Training School in Nakaseke District. He attributed the increased trade to peace in the Country which he said was crucial at achieving food stability and sustainable trading environments. Museveni made the remarks on Friday, August, 24 when he presided over the passing-out of 3,958 UPDF recruits at the Kaweweta Military Training School in Nakaseke District. Photo: President Museveni Source: Facebook We have just three issues to solve; Crime in the towns which we are addressing by installing cameras in Kampala; political indiscipline like we saw in Jinja East, Bugiri and Arua and finally corruption, stated Museveni. He noted that the new recruits who were set to join the Countrys security arm will go along way in stepping-up security adding that it will ensure Uganda strongly cements its production and export base. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Kenyans demand for the release of Bobi Wine | Tuko TV. Source: Tuko News 2720 N. Bosworth Ave. in Chicago: $1,750,000 Listed on July 23, 2018 This home has a living room, dining room with a fireplace, kitchen with a built-in breakfast bar and a great room. The second level has a master suite with a spa-like bathroom and two additional bedrooms as well as a fireplace, hardwood floors, a projection screen, bar, terrace and access to two large decks. The lower level boasts a projection screen, large playroom, bar and an en suite bedroom with a sauna. A three-car attached garage completes the home. Agent: Mary Hanburger of Jameson Sotheby's Intl Realty, 312-560-5625 To feature your luxury listing of $800,000 or more in Chicago Tribunes Dream Homes, send listing information and high-res photos to ctc-realestate@chicagotribune.com. McCain's daughter, Meghan McCain, penned a heartfelt tribute to her dad. "I was with my father at his end, as he was with me at my beginning," she wrote on Twitter. "In the thirty-three years we shared together, he raised me, taught me, corrected me, comforted me, encouraged me, and supported me in all things. He loved me, and I loved him. He taught me how to live. His love and his care, ever present, always unfailing, took me from a girl to a woman -- and he showed me what it is to be a man." Krasovitskaya is the granddaughter of Natalia Gorbanevskaya, one of the participants in the "Demonstration of the Seven" in August 1968. On August 25, Moscow police detained on Red Square a Russian activist Anna Krasovitskaya who stood there with a poster in support of a Kremlin's political prisoner, Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsov. Krasovitskaya is the granddaughter of Natalia Gorbanevskaya, one of the participants in the "Demonstration of the Seven" in August 1968, RFE/RL reports. Back in 1968, a group of human rights activists took to Red Square, protesting against the invasion of Czechoslovakia by Soviet troops and the suppression of the "Prague Spring." Read alsoErdogan requests Kremlin prisoners list, promises to "talk to Putin" - Dzhemilev UNIAN memo. The FSB detained Sentsov in the occupied Crimea in the spring of 2014. He was later transferred to Russia. In August 2015, Sentsov was sentenced to 20 years in prison on fabricated charges of organizing terrorist attacks and setting fire to Russian party offices. He is being kept in a distant Russian colony "Polar Bear" in Labytnangi, Yamal. On May 14, Sentsov went on a hunger strike demanding the release of all Ukrainian political prisoners. The film director's condition is deteriorating rapidly, while prison administration assures that his state of health is assessed as satisfactory. Read alsoHundred days of hunger strike: "Sentsov case" timeline On July 13, it became known that the mother of film director, Lyudmila Sentsova, wrote a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin requesting pardon for her son. The Kremlin responded that the pardon procedure must start with the convict's personal petition. Political figures and activists in Ukraine and worldwide continue to demand that Russia release the illegally detained Ukrainians. The rallies are held under the slogans #FreeOlegSentsov and #SaveOlegSentsov. The foreign minister also called the "victory of common sense" Poland's refusal to launch an investigation against Hryhoriy Kupriyanovych, a Polish-based Ukrainian scientist and public figure. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Pavlo Klimkin, said that the preservation of amendments to the Polish law on the Institute of National Remembrance will leave room for manipulation. "Termination of the criminal prosecution of a well-known historian and public figure, Hryhoriy Kupriyanovych, leaves very mixed feelings," Klimkin wrote on Facebook. On the one hand, he said, this is a victory of common sense as such. Read alsoUkraine embassy responds to Lublin Governor's statement branding as "provocation" Poroshenko's Poland visit "But the basis, the very existence of the legislation, and changes to the law on the institute of national remembrance they all remain. This leaves room for manipulation, freedom of speech and freedom of thought," the minister wrote. "Therefore, we need to keep working. In fact, this legislation is very bad for everyone, but first of all, for Poland and for the Poles," he added. As reported, the Polish Institute of National Remebrance refused to initiate an investigation against chairman of the Ukrainian society in Lublin, Hryhoriy Kupriyanovych, following a statement by the Lublin Governor. The president noted the importance of attracting international humanitarian assistance for the restoration of Luhansk and Donetsk regions. European countries could establish patronage over certain cities and settlements of Donbas and invest in them, President Petro Poroshenko suggested, while speaking at a meeting with the heads of diplomatic missions of Ukraine and with Ukrainian military of the 92nd brigade during a working visit to Donetsk region, the presidential administration's press service told UNIAN. "It is also important to attract international humanitarian assistance," Poroshenko stressed. "We have already discussed several times with the leaders of the European Union the program of establishing by individual countries of a kind of patronage over certain towns and villages of Donbas. Let Germany take responsibility for Kramatorsk, let Greece do so for Mariupol, Britain - for Volnovaha... Let other countries take Severodonetsk, Lysychansk, Avdiyivka," Poroshenko noted. Read alsoEighty Ukrainian diplomats fly to Donbas (photo) According to him, this will be a good symbol. "If people invest in the renewal of normal life in Donbas, they will understand the level of problems that concern us today. I'm convinced that we must urgently intensify this work today," the head of state stressed. According to him, Donbas residents should feel the effective moves by the Ukrainian authorities, and the solidarity of the whole world with Ukraine to address pressing problems and restoring normal life in the region. The president also stressed that his principled position was that Donbas should be a priority in allocating budget funds for the restoration of infrastructure. He noted that roads are currently being built, in particular, the Slaviansk-Kharkiv motorway has been restored, the road between Kramatorsk and Mariupol is being built, as well as the road toward Luhansk. Schools are also being built and infrastructure is being restored. The pilot has been admitted to a local hospital after he reportedly resisted arrest upon landing. Slovak law enforcers last week revealed an attempt by two citizens of Ukraine and a local to smuggle into the country from Ukraine an illegal migrant, an Afghani national, by flying him across the border in a motor glider. According to Mukachevo.net, referring to the Slovak police, Slovak border guards foiled the attempt on August 22 outside the village of Gran, near the Ukrainian-Slovak border across from Ukraine's Zakarpattia region. It is noted that Slovak law enforcers discovered a small motor glider flying across the border from Zakarpattia and landing in Slovakia. Read alsoDrone smugglers assault border guard in Ukraine The aircraft was flown by a Ukrainian national, marked in police files as Igor M, while another Ukrainian man, Vasyl D., helped him out with landing. During the raid, an Afghan citizen who was smuggled into Slovakia was detained, as well as another Slovak national involved in the scheme. The pilot has been admitted to a local hospital after he reportedly resisted arrest upon landing. The Afghan was returned to Ukraine under a readmission procedure, while the two Ukrainians and the Slovak face 3 to 8 years in prison. Ukraine's joint forces reported no casualties in the past 24 hours. On August 25, Russian-occupation forces shelled Ukrainian positions in Donbas 33 times, including seven times from weapons banned by the Minsk agreements, says the morning report of the Joint Forces Operation HQ. The enemy led aimed fire from 120mm and 82mm mortars, weapons installed on infantry fighting vehicles, grenade launchers, heavy machine guns, and small arms. The enemy fired at the JF positions near Krymske, Zolote, Luhanske, Zaitseve, Yuzhne, Shumy, Zalizne, Avdiyivka, Maryinka, Novomykhailivka, Novotroyitske, Hranitne, Chermalyk, Hnutove, Pavlopil, Lebedynske, Vodiane, and Shyrokyne. Read alsoJFO: Ukraine reports 1 KIA, 4 WIA's in Donbas on Independence Day On the Luhansk line, militants employed mortars near Krymske, as well as near Luhanske on the Svitlodarsk line, near Zaitseve and Yuzhne on the Horlivka line, and near Avdiyivka in the Donetsk direction. The Joint Forces repelled enemy attacks and held their ground. In the past day, no casualties were reported among Ukrainian defenders. At the same time, according to Ukraine's military intelligence, in the past 24 hours a militant was killed in action and another three were wounded. As reported, law enforcers in the Donetsk region issued suspicion notices against four suspected militants detained earlier. John McCain was an avid critic of Russia's current authorities and an active supporter of Ukraine. John S. McCain, a Republican congressman and senator from Arizona and a two-time contender for the U.S. presidency, died on Saturday at his home in Arizona. He was 81. According to a statement from his office, Mr. McCain died at 16:28 local time. He had suffered from a malignant brain tumor, called a glioblastoma, for which he had been treated periodically with radiation and chemotherapy since its discovery in 2017, the New York Time reports. Despite his grave condition, he soon made a dramatic appearance in the Senate to cast a thumbs-down vote against his partys drive to repeal the Affordable Care Act. But while he was unable to be in the Senate for a vote on the Republican tax bill in December, his endorsement was crucial, though not decisive, in the Trump administrations lone legislative triumph of the year. "The Embassy of Ukraine expresses its deepest condolences to John McCains family and friends and the entire American nation," Ukrainian diplomats in the U.S. wrote, calling him "one of the greatest friends of Ukraine and American hero." Petro Poroshenko wrote on Facebook: "We will never forget his invaluable contribution to the development of democracy and freedom in Ukraine and the support of our state." Read alsoMcCain book: US should consider cyberattack to punish Putin media As reported earlier, John McCain was an avid critic of Russia's current authorities and an active supporter of Ukraine. He visited the zone of hostilities in Donbas and long called on Washington to provide lethal aid to Kyiv to deter Russian aggression. Breastfeeding twins was challenging in a few different ways. The first task was mastering the double latch, a.k.a. tandem breastfeeding. Positioning two babies with or without a nursing pillow, then latching each baby, correcting head positions, supporting bodies . . . just imagine juggling watermelons that wiggle. They didn't want to nurse together, one would wake up early and empty both breasts. The other wouldn't nurse longer than 5 to 10 minutes. My production was not consistent, and it felt as though it was impossible to increase it, even with nursing, post-pumping and bingeing on lactation foods and tea. After four and a half to five months, I decided to stop because seeing my babies adapt to formula faster than my milk was disheartening, hyper-pumping was exhausting and painful, and my desire to get back in the gym did more for my self-esteem than failing to breastfeed adequately for two babies. Manaforts trial in the District of Columbia, set to begin Sept 17, will scrutinize more closely his political work from 2006 to 2017, during which he allegedly reaped $30 million as a consultant for pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine. The Paul Manafort trial set for September in Washington is expected to last three weeks and, on the basis of a list of 1,500 possible exhibits, will delve far more deeply into how he operated as a lobbyist and consultant than was done in his just-completed trial in Virginia. The estimated trial timeline and exhibits were included in a joint filing Friday night in federal court in Washington by Manaforts defense and prosecutors with special counsel Robert Mueller, according to the Washington Post. The required filing is a road map of the next trial facing President Trumps former campaign chairman, convicted Tuesday in federal court in Alexandria on eight of 18 tax- and bank-fraud charges after a trial that focused on Manaforts finances. Manaforts trial in the District of Columbia, set to begin Sept 17, will cover much of the same ground but will scrutinize more closely his political work from 2006 to 2017, during which he allegedly reaped $30 million as a consultant for pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine. Manafort, 69, has pleaded not guilty to charges related to his advising of then-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. In his upcoming trial, the list of prosecution exhibits suggests how Manafort became an architect of Washingtons modern-day influence industry, gaining access to foreign influence and foreign money. Manafort faces seven counts in the District charging him with conspiring against the United States, money laundering, failing to register as a lobbyist, making false statements and witness tampering. Read alsoRussia preparing platform for pro-Russian candidate in Ukraine's presidential campaign MP The last count arose after prosecutors in June accused Manafort and a longtime associate they linked to Russian intelligence of repeatedly contacting two members of a public relations firm and asking them to falsely testify about secret lobbying they did at Manaforts behest. Prosecutors disclosed the list of 1,500 potential exhibits with minimal descriptors, but among the subject lines in emails and other correspondence are references to Democratic power lobbyist Tony Podesta, whose firm, the Podesta Group, went out of business after Manaforts indictment was unsealed; former GOP congressman and Jeb Bush adviser Vin Weber of Mercury Public Affairs; and former Barack Obama White House counsel Gregory Craig, who this year left his job as of counsel at the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Read alsoUSA Today: Jury finds former Trump campaign manager guilty on eight counts in tax fraud case The exhibit list also mentions items citing OVD and Oleg, which appear to be references to Oleg Deripaska, an aluminum magnate and ally to Russian President Vladimir Putin who employed Manafort as an investment consultant. The list also appears to refer to many of the purchases of high-end clothing and consumer electronics that were discussed in the Virginia trial as prosecutors there laid out their case about Manaforts income and wire transfers from foreign accounts. For the trial in Washington, the government said it expected to complete its work in 10 to 12 trial days similar to the 12 days of testimony it presented in Alexandria and to use three of the same expert witnesses: two FBI forensic accountants and an Internal Revenue Service agent. Read alsoRFE/RL: Ukraine launches probe into suspected business dealings between ex-officials, Manafort Muellers prosecutors, led by Andrew Weissmann, wrote, The government hereby gives notice as required that in the unlikely case Manafort reverses himself and decides to testify in his Washington trial, the government intends to offer for purpose of impeachment the defendants prior convictions in the case United States v. Manafort. Manaforts defense said it had not had time to review the governments exhibits, reserved its objections to all of them and declined to agree to 23 proposed joint stipulations of undisputed facts that could be presented to a jury without argument, including some to which both sides agreed in Alexandria. At this time, there are no agreed upon stipulations, wrote Manaforts defense. The publication reports on proportions of ethnic Russians in countries neighboring Russia with the largest Russian populations, noting that the most significant share is in Latvia (25.6%). More than half of Russians (51%) say Moscow should intervene in neighboring countries when there are threats to ethnic Russians, according to Pew Research and national censuses. At the same time, 36% of respondents say there should be no interference in the international affairs of neighboring countries, RFE/RL reported. Read alsoMany Russians oblivious of Soviet Union's invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 poll Another 12% remain undecided on the issue, the polls say. The publication reports on proportions of ethnic Russians in countries neighboring Russia with the largest Russian populations, noting that the most significant share is in Latvia (25.6%). Estonia has 24.9%, Kazakhstan has 23.7%, then goes Ukraine with 17.3% and Belarus with 8.3%. MANAMA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 26th Aug, 2018) Bahrain has strongly condemned the terrorist attack on a security checkpoint in the city of Arish in Egypt, which resulted in the death of police officers and the wounding of others. Bahrain news Agency, BNA, quoted a statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as reaffirming Bahrain's solidarity with Egypt in the face of all forms of violence and terrorism, and its support to all measures taken to protect its security and stability and expressing its deepest condolences to the families of the victims. The statement also stressed the position of the Kingdom, which rejects all forms of violence, extremism and terrorism, and affirmed the importance of international cooperation to eliminate this dangerous phenomenon, which aims at destabilising peace and security in the world. (@rukhshanmir) ADEN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 26th Aug, 2018) While military operations are measured by the liberation of towns under Houthi control, the pace of change in Yemen is being driven by ordinary people. Speaking to the Emirates news Agency, WAM, local Yemenis spoke of their relief at being free from Houthi oppression and of how the efforts of the legitimate Yemeni government and the Arab Coalition are helping to improve the situation in the country. A resident in Aden told WAM, "I lived here in the time of the Houthis, during the war. There were snipers up in the mountains. It was a very dangerous situation." The Head of Security at Aden International Airport said that while the security situation in Aden and other provinces is still not 100%, it is getting better. These comments were echoed by a hotel manager in Aden, who said, "The situation is generally okay. Sometimes there are issues, but since we opened we havent had any. Customers are coming in and out without any concerns." Across the country, life is returning to the most devastated areas, literally emerging from the rubble. Off the coast, Coalition forces are clearing the sea lanes of Houthi mines, ensuring local fishermen can once again set sail. In remote villages, humanitarian aid is reaching those in need, supporting local efforts to help the displaced. One of the displaced in the town of Al Shujairah told WAM, "We fled here from Al Durayhami. We were under rocket attack by Houthi militia there bang bang bang. But now we have a house that we can sleep safely in. Everything is much better." A Yemeni driven peace is the goal, and with that goal comes a renewed determination to make a difference and make it now. (@ChaudhryMAli88) RAS AL KHAIMAH, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 26th Aug, 2018) Julphar, one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers in the middle East and Africa, has signed an agreement with leading global medical technology company BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) to supply disposable insulin pens in the UAE. BD develops innovative technologies, services and solutions that help advance both the clinical process for healthcare providers and clinical therapy for patients, including a wide variety of insulin delivery devices for diabetics. Through this agreement, Julphars human insulin formulations, including Jusline R, Jusline N and Jusline 30/70, will be available for administration through BDs portfolio of BD Vystra disposable pens. In addition, the same device will be used for insulin analogues (insulin glargine and insulin lispro), which are still under development. Commenting on the announcement, Jerome Carle, General Manager of Julphar, said, "The global diabetes market is large and growing. Through our agreement with BD, we will be able to keep pace with the growth and further improve our position in this lucrative market, placing us among the top three players in the world. "Many people in the UAE are suffering from what, in some cases, is a preventable condition. As a global leader in the manufacture of insulin, Julphar has a responsibility to not only raise awareness of the risk factors, but to provide affordable, effective solutions that help diabetes sufferers live healthy, normal lives. "An insulin pen offers more accuracy, convenience and confidence to diabetes sufferers, and we look forward to launching these high-tech devices here in the very near future." Insulin pens are small, disposable, lightweight plastic handheld devices containing prefilled insulin cartridges that are convenient and more versatile than some traditional methods for insulin injection. Almost one in five people in the UAE has diabetes, making it one of the country's largest health concerns. The UAE has some of the highest rates of diabetes in the world, with 2017 figures showing that 17.3 percent of the population has the condition, positioning it 15th on the World Diabetes Federation list. Julphar launched its US$150m biopharmaceutical facility in 2012, which has the capacity to produce 1,500kg of recombinant human insulin and insulin analogues crystals, (rDNA), equivalent to a combination of 30 million vials and 25 million cartridges and pens of insulin per year. The disposable insulin pens are now in the final stages of the approval process and are due to be launched as soon as they have been officially registered by the Ministry of Health. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Aug, 2018 ) :The post Hajj flight operation would commence from Monday as the first flight carrying 327 pilgrims will land at Islamabad Airport the same evening, said spokesman Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony here on Friday. In a statement, he said, a total of four flights would bring back over 950 Hujjaj to Islamabad, Peshawar on the first day. As many as 240 Hujjaj would reach Peshawar by Saudia Arabian Airline on Monday. He said the post Hajj flights operation to bring back 179,210 Hujjaj would continue up to September 25. Meanwhile, a total of 42 Pakistani Hujjaj including 30 men and 12 women had been died during the Hajj days. The Hajj flights are also scheduled for other major cities of the country including Peshawar, Multan, Sukkur, Lahore and Faisalabad. (@ChaudhryMAli88) MULTAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Aug, 2018 ) :Scores of Hindu families Sunday celebrated their 'Raksha Bandhan' festival, which symbolizes the bond of love, protection, trust and compassion among siblings in a family. In the Raksha Bandhan ritual, a sister ties a 'sacred' thread around her brother's wrist, symbolically expressing her love for him and seeking his protection in return, according to Hindu community leader Shakuntla Devi. Talking to APP here Sunday, she said that a sister also puts a 'Tilk' on forehead of her brother and it is called 'Ashirwad' (blessing-prayer). She said that hundreds of Hindu families lived in Multan city in various localities and some other cities of the region. The origin of the festival is unknown, though mythology is replete with stories that talk about the celebration. One such story relates the bond of trust between King Bali and goddess Lakshmi. After being defeated thrice, King Bali in what was a boon to Vishnu, confined himself to his house. Lakshmi, in order to get her husband back, tied a thread around King Bali's wrist and in return, asked him for a token to mark the bond of compassion and faith. King Bali couldn't refuse and had to send Lord Vishnu to her. Another story goes like this: one morning, when Lord Krishna was flying a kite, he cut his finger with the kite string. Draupadi, on seeing blood coming out of his finger, ran to him, tore a piece of cloth from her "sari" and tied it on his bleeding finger. Lord Krishna was so touched by this act that he promised to protect her from all evils, forever, in return. Hindu community leader Shakuntla Devi tied the thread on the wrist of Raggu Veer and Manive. Hindu women wear new dresses and make-up to mark the festival. They also take part in a funtion called 'Arti Utarna', which is a good wish for brothers. Some sisters travel to other cities to tie the thread to their brothers. On this occasion, sweets are distributed to share happiness and joys of the festival. (@ChaudhryMAli88) FAISALABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Aug, 2018 ) ::A man has allegedly stoned to death his nurse daughter over a domestic dispute in Sargodha Road police area. Police spokesman said here Sunday that 22-year-old Rabia, who worked as a nurse at Civil Hospital, had contracted marriage with a married man. After few days of marriage, she developed differences with her husband and returned to her parents house in Rasool Nagar. Her father Ikram asked her to go to her husband's house, but she refused. Her refusal infuriated Ikram, who allegedly hit Rabia with a brick, killing her on-the-spot. The police have registered a case and arrested the accused. (@rukhshanmir) RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Aug, 2018 ) :This year, excellent arrangements were witnessed in Rawalpindi city and cantonment areas to remove entrails and offal of sacrificial animals and the efforts of the departments concerned have been hailed largely by the citizens. According to details, Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) and Rawalpindi Cantonment board (RCB) done excellent job on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha. Majid, a resident of Peoples Colony said, this year excellent cleanliness work was done by RCB sanitary workers during Eid ul Azha days. According to RCB spokesman, Qaiser Mahmood, Cantonment Executive Officer (CEO) RCB, Sibtain Raza visited all cantt areas after completion of the cleanliness operation and expressed satisfaction over the performance of the sanitary staff. The spokesman informed that 159 complaints were received at the emergency cell during three days of Eid ul Azha which were addressed properly. He said 2980 tons offal and entrails were removed from cantt areas during Eid days which were buried in trenching ground Chakri Road. All the transfer stations have been cleared, properly washed and sprayed, he added. Qasier Mahmood said that 650 sanitary workers performed cleanliness duties. He said over 90 vehicles were used to remove garbage, entrails of animals and offal from all cantonment areas. He said, the operation was supervised by Deputy CEO and Chief Sanitary Inspector and a report in this regard has been presented to the CEO. Tahir, resident of Asghar Mall area and others told that RWMC sanitary workers have completed all cleanliness work and removed entrails and offal of the animals from city areas. RWMC removed 8,000 tons animal waste from the city during three days of Eid ul Azha. According to RWMC spokesman, a comprehensive cleanliness plan was chalked out to get rid of entrails of animals under which 3,000 sanitary workers were deployed with 485 vehicles. Day and night efforts were made to clear the city, he said. The waste as shifted to transfer stations from where it was moved to landfill site at Losar through dumpers. All available resources were utilized to complete the task. The Managing Director of RWMC Dr Rizwan Ali Sherdil monitored the cleanliness operation. Assistant Commissioner Zahid Khan along with RWMC officials visited several city areas to check the performance of the sanitary teams, he informed. Thecommissioner and citizens have appreciated the performance of the department,he added. (@FahadShabbir) MULTAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Aug, 2018 ) ::Sino-Pak Agri-Biotechnology Lab introduced at Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture (MNSUA) in collaboration with Chinese academy of Agriculture Sciences (CAAS) Beijing, has started research process on preparation of top quality cotton genes. The modern lab was established recently, at a cost of Rs 40 million, and for this purpose China assisted Rs 20 million, said Director Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC)-MNSUA, Dr Zulfiqar while talking to APP. However, half of the amount for establishment of the Lab was shared itself by Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture. About the objective of building Sino-Pak Agri Biotechnology Lab, Dr Zulfiqar informed that the Lab was introduced to develop top quality cotton genes which could help to counter threat of Pink Bollworms, White Fly and develop virus resistant and heat tolerant cotton varieties. Under the joint venture, a group of Chinese had visited the Lab and shared their expertise, few months back. Similarly, Pakistani cotton scientists also found opportunities to travel China for grooming their research skills. He further informed that Chinese cotton scientists would visit MNSUA to attended Cotton Conference, scheduled on November 27-28, 2018. Head of Bio Technology Research Institute Beijing Professor Dr Zhang Rui was ensuring complete cooperation to enhance research activities between the both friendly countries. To a question about what sort of research would be conducted at Sino Pak Agri Biotechnology Lab, the Director ORIC added that it would develop new genes, cloning of the genes, testing of genes, reaction of genes towards friendly pests and some other technical aspects of research would be assessed in the modern lab. I dont recall much about Southern, the novelist and playwright, but you couldnt miss Burroughs, whose novel Naked Lunch made him a founding father of the Beat Generation of writers. He swung his head from side to side with the regularity of a pendulum, as if surveying the room for material for his next book. A student later told me that when asked to autograph his copy of Naked Lunch, Burroughs went one step further: He shot a hole in it. MINSK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th August, 2018) Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Sunday congratulated his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad on the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two states and expressed readiness to help the Syrian authorities rebuilt the war-torn country. "It is with pleasure that we can see the war ending with the victory of the Syrian army, and people, united under your leadership, returning to their normal lives. We are ready to provide the comprehensive assistance to Syria in rebuilding the country," Lukashenko wrote in his letter to Assad, as quoted by his press service. Both Minsk and Damascus sought the formation of the multipolar world based on the respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of every country and the right of every nation to develop independently, Lukashenko added. According to the Belarusian presidents press service, Assad also congratulated Lukashenko on the 25th anniversary of the establishment of Belarusian-Syrian diplomatic ties and expressed readiness for further bilateral cooperation. The Syrian president appreciated Minsks support to Damascus in its fight against terrorism, the press service noted. Syria has been mired in a civil war for years. The situation in the country has been deteriorated due to the activities of terrorists, who once held control over vast territories of the middle Eastern state. However, the forces of Assad have managed to recapture most of the territories from terrorists over the past years. Rebuilding and reconstruction efforts are underway in the country as thousands of people are returning to their homes in Syria. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Saturday that a new meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin will take place soon with participation of both countries' cabinet members. MINSK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th August, 2018) Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Saturday that a new meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin will take place soon with participation of both countries' cabinet members. Lukashenko and Putin last met earlier in the week in the Russian city of Sochi. "The most important thing was that we agreed on with the Russian president is that literally in the next few days we will find an opportunity in our schedules ... to meet in a wider format, as suggested by Vladimir Putin, to expand at the expense of the representatives of our governments, Lukashenko told the Belarus-1 broadcaster. The president added that the meeting will be devoted to the issues in bilateral trade and economy. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th August, 2018) Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani discussed on Sunday in a phone conversation bilateral cooperation and Tehran's tense relations with Washington. "The Islamic Republic of Iran has always been willing to develop and deepen relations with Qatar as a friendly country in a critical region ... There are ample potentials and opportunities for cementing relations between Iran and Qatar in political and economic fields and there is no obstacle on the way of deepening these relations," Rouhani was quoted as saying by his official website. The emir, in turn, voiced Qatar's support for Rouhani's stand on the United States' unilateral withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. "The Qatari government has always sought to consolidate its relations with Tehran and supports peaceful solutions to political problems," the emir said, as quoted in the same statement. The two countries have been developing closer ties since June, when Tehran provided substantial support to Qatar amid the diplomatic and economic blockade imposed on Doha following a souring in Qatar's relations with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain, who broke off diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing the country of supporting terrorism. CHISINAU (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th August, 2018) Tensions between Moldovan right-wing and left-wing opposition are escalating as they hold two massive protests in the capitals center on Sunday, a Sputnik correspondent reported. The right-wings demonstration was organized by the Dignity and Truth Platform Party (PDA), the Party of Action and Solidarity and the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova. The opposition is calling on the government to recognize the results of election of the mayor of Chisinau. The left-wing opposition is represented by the Republican Socio-Political Movement Equality (Sor) Party, with hundreds supporters attending the demonstrations to express their disagreement with the right-wing parties. PDA leader Andrei Nastase said that "Sors supporters illegally occupied the square, they do not have authorization, very soon, in a maximum of half an hour, the area will be ours. " After that, the right-wing opposition started to throw plastic bottles with water at their opponents, while some attendants tried to break through police cordons. Early elections of the mayor in the capital of Moldova were held in two stages, the second round was held on June 3. According to the Central Electoral Commission, Nastase won over 52 percent of votes. The Supreme Court of Justice on June 25 recognized the election as invalid because of campaigning on the election day, and the Central Electoral Commission on June 29 annulled the results of the vote. In response, the opposition vowed to hold protests until the results would be recognized by the Moldovan authorities. Indian Christians marking the 10th Anniversary of the atrocities in Kandhamal with a Mass in Bhubaneswar on August 25, 2018. Indian Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar presided over a solemn concelebrated Mass in Bhubaneswar on August 25 to mark the terrible outrage against his Christians of Kandhamal district. Ten years on, Indias Christians recalled the terrible massacre of their brothers and sisters in faith in eastern Indias Odisha state, with a commemorative Mass on Saturday in the state capital in thanksgiving, reconciliation and grace. Outbreak of violence Bishops, priests, religious and lay faithful came together in large numbers for the high Mass at St. Josephs School ground in Bhubaneswar on August 25, recalling the day 10 years ago when violence erupted with untold brutality against the Christians of Kandhamal District, with Hindu extremists blaming them for the August 23 murder of their Hindu leader Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati and four of his disciples. Even though Maoist rebels claimed the assassination, the anti-Christian violence continued unabated for days and months on end. The violence, considered to be Indias worst against Christians in 300 years, displaced an estimated 56,000 Christians who were forced to flee to the forests where many perished because of hunger and snakebites. Church and social activists reported the destruction of almost 300 churches, convents, schools, hostels and welfare facilities. Women and young girls were raped. At least 91 people died, 38 immediately, 41 from injuries sustained in the violence, and 12 in police action. However, according to government figures, 38 people were killed and two women raped. Scores of people were injured and permanently maimed. Seven Innocent Christian men, six of them illiterate including a mentally challenged, were convicted and are serving life sentences for the murder of Lakshmanananda. An online campaign, www.release7innocents.com, is trying to get them released. Memorial Mass Each year Christians recalled the August 25 massacre as Kandhamal Day. The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) and the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, under whose jurisdiction comes Kandhamal District, organized Saturdays memorial Mass, which was concelebrated by 13 bishops along with over 90 priests. Bishops and faithful from other Christian denominations were also present, in demonstration of the unity and solidarity in their common faith in Christ for which many of them shed their blood and continue to suffer even today. Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar who presided over the Eucharist, reminded those present that God works in our lives and in the life of the Church through mysterious ways. The blood of the martyrs of Kandhamal, he pointed out, has brought many blessings upon the Church in Odisha and in the Country. CBCI secretary-general, Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas delivered a homily reminding the congregation that like the people of Israel we are very often helpless but the power of God gives us such strength that no human clout can give. He admitted we all feel the pain of the tragedy but no anger because Christ teaches us to forgive. He said the commemorative Mass was to thank God for the gift of the faith of our martyrs who show us the way to continue living our faith with courage and conviction. He exhorted the people to pray for those still suffering the pain of the tragedy, for justice for the victims but also for those who indulged in violence, that God may convert their hearts and minds. The people were called upon to pray for peace and harmony in the country. "Ten years ago, what happened in Kandhamal, Odisha, should have never happened and should never ever happen again, Archbishop Barwa said recently, announcing the commemorative Mass of August 25. What was heartbreaking, he said, was that the massacre of the innocents continued unabated for months. The Mass was also an occasion for initiating the process of beatification and canonization of Fr. Marian Zelazek a Polish Divine Word missionary who served in India and died peacefully in the Archdiocese of Cuttack- Bhubaneswar on 20th April 2006. After the Mass, a book, Flames of Faith in Kandhamal, by Fr. Udayanath Bishoyi was also released. (Source: Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar) During a meeting with around 350 couples at Saint Marys Pro-Cathedral, in Dublin on Saturday, Pope Francis says There will be no revolution of love without a revolution of tenderness. By Francesca Merlo An important part of the programme for Pope Francis visit to Ireland for the World Meeting of Families, was the meeting he himself requested in order to listen to engaged and married couples. During the question and answer encounter at Dublins Saint Marys Pro-Cathedral, the Pope told those present that our world needs a revolution of love. Let that revolution begin with you and your families, he said. A family tree without roots Pope Francis stressed the importance of this love, saying that we must return to and take care of our family roots. No family can grow if it forgets its roots, he said. These roots transmit the generational experiences that teach us life and love. Children will not grow in love if they do not learn how to converse with their grandparents, Pope Francis said. Listen to our report Keepers of collective memory The Pope went on to thank an elderly couple who were there at Saint Marys to present their testimony after recently celebrating their Golden Wedding anniversary. Pope Francis said the witness of their struggles and the stories of their experiences are valuable to all young couples, and to anyone engaged in the long journey that is marriage. The Pope described them as keepers of our collective memory and said their faith-filled witness is a precious resource for young couples, who look to the future with excitement and hope and, perhaps, a touch of trepidation!. Parents as teachers Pope Francis went on to address the questions of two more couples, one of which regarded transmitting the faith to their children. It is in the domestic church, he replied, that children learn the meaning of fidelity, integrity and sacrifice. The faith is passed on around the family table, in ordinary conversation, in the language that persevering love alone knows how to speak. Addressing parents directly, the Pope said Your children will learn how to share the goods of the earth with everyone, if they see how their parents take care of others, who are poorer or less fortunate than themselves. Parents, he concluded, will always be their childrens first teachers in the faith. Gods dream of love Another question concerned how to show that marriage is a vocation and not just a simple institution. Nowadays we are not used to anything that really lasts for the whole of our lives, the Pope replied. The sacrament of matrimony, he added, shares in the mystery of Gods eternal love. Going off script, Pope Francis added that temporary love is, in fact, infatuation or puppy love. Love is definitive, he added: an I and a you. Finally, Pope Francis described love as Gods dream for us and for the whole human family, one that He asks us to make our own. Please, never forget this, said the Pope, and never stop dreaming!. "Clothing For the Emancipated Man", in a New York fashion show, January 9, 1968 A model in an evening kilt-trouser in the "Clothing For the Emancipated Man" fashion show, New York, January 9, 1968 A model in leisure leopard-like outfit in the "Clothing For the Emancipated Man" fashion show, New York, January 9, 1968 A model in silk jersey print pajama leisure suit in the "Clothing For the Emancipated Man" fashion show, New York, January 9, 1968 Fashion forward? Back in 1968, fashion designer Michael La Mendola put on a show of "Clothing for the Emancipated Man." The organizers of this New York fashion show might have wished they could fast-forward through any recollection of it.The sign of the show announced the partnership between designer Michael La Mendola and Hess department stores, a Pennsylvania-based company that built a reputation on carrying luxury brands. While some of Mendola's outfits could be said to predict British punk styles of the '70s with big prints and kilts, otherslike this psychedelic, low-cut jumperlook a little outlandish in retrospective.So if the men could be emancipated from stifling expectations, why couldn't the clothes be freed too? That's just because his styles still seemed ahead of their time. Its hard to imagine that we are still doing this 50 years later, said Fonda, who now lives in Evanston. For me, I dont know if it will make a difference or if Ill be able to change it in my lifetime, I havent in 50 years. But I cannot not do it, does that make sense? I cannot not do it. So we keep coming back. On this encore edition of Press Conference USA, William (Bill) Galston, senior fellow in the governance studies program at the Brookings Institution, discusses his recent book Anti Pluralism: The Populist Threat to Liberal Democracy, with host Carol Castiel and VOA Senior National Correspondent Jim Malone. Galston tells VOA that populists embrace a restricted notion of the people. They draw a distinction between the real people and the less real people. Populists tend to characterize the less real people as enemies and scapegoats for whatever is going wrong in society. On this edition of Encounter, are sanctions an effective tool of foreign policy? What differentiates one set of sanctions on one particular country from another? John Glaser from the Cato Institute and Edward Fishman from the Atlantic Council join host Rick Pantaleo to discuss the efficacy (or lack thereof) of recent sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran and Russia. Beginning at :05 minutes past the hour, Dr. Max presents the fourth episode of her Road Show from West Africa. Just coming off of the tour and back in Washington now, Heather features a live radio broadcast from Tamale, Ghana with two very special artists: Soorebia and Thug Omega. Listen to Heather and Original Soundboy interview these artists as they co-host "DriveTime Diamond City Jam" on Diamond FM, Tamale. A senior U.S. statesman with ties to Vietnam has died. Indonesia jails a Chinese woman on blasphemy charges. Improved cooking for Rohingya refugees. Intervention for a hungry refugee in Australia. Remnants of a U.S.-Japanese battle, and building online political support. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has rejected the resignations of three top security officials. A government spokesman said Sunday Ghani has asked the three to remain in office and "work towards the betterment of the security situation." Defense Minister Tareq Shah Bahrami, Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak and Afghanistan's top intelligence official, Masoum Stanekzai, submitted their resignations Saturday. Their resignations were tendered just hours after Afghanistans national security adviser, Mohammad Hanif Atmar, abruptly resigned Saturday amid rising violence across the country and high numbers of battlefield casualties the Taliban insurgency is inflicting on government forces. Atmar said in his resignation letter, shared with VOA, he was quitting the office because of developing serious differences with the top leadership of the government over policies and principles. President Ghanis office swiftly announced he had accepted the resignation and replaced Atmar with Hamadullah Mohib, the Afghan ambassador to the United States. Sunday morning Ghani officially introduced 35-year-old Mohib as the new national security advisor at a special ceremony where the defense and the interior ministers were also in attendance. The Afghan president also thanked Atmar for his service. Accepting the resignation of a long-term friend and colleague was a difficult decision for me, but the decision has been taken in the national interest," Ghani said. Atmar said in the letter he was unable to resolve the differences with top government leaders when it came to strengthening national unity, restoring peace and security, elections, good governance and strengthening regional and international relations. Two mainstream Afghan television stations reported quoting government sources that Ghani had directed Atmar, interior and defense ministers, as well as the countrys spy chief, to step down. The local media went on to claim that this weeks rocket attack on Kabuls presidential palace while Ghani was delivering a nationally televised speech, a short-lived insurgent takeover of the strategically important Ghazni city, and the increasing battlefield losses being inflicted on Afghan security forces are what prompted Ghani to seek resignations from his top cabinet members. Atmar was one of the powerful figures in Ghanis beleaguered unity government, and he previously had served as the interior minister under the former president, Hamid Karzai, before being fired in 2010 over a Taliban attack in Kabul. The Afghan national security advisers resignation comes amid renewed U.S.-led efforts to promote peace talks between Kabul and the Taliban to end the stalemated 17 years of war. His departure also comes just days after the Ghani government refused to attend a multi-national conference that Russia plans to host on September 4 to discuss ways to end the war in Afghanistan. It was not clear, though, whether Kabuls decision to decline the Russian invitation had anything to do with Atmars resignation. Washington also has turned down Moscows invitation to attend the event. The Taliban already has confirmed receiving an invitation by the host nation, saying Qatar-based insurgent political envoys will attend the day-long event in the Russian capital. The insurgent groups planned participation in the conference would underscore Moscows growing influence and contacts with the Taliban in recent years. Authorities in Paraguay raided the jail cell of a Brazilian drug lord and found instead a three-room luxury suite. The "VIP cell," as it was known to prisoners, had a library, kitchen, conference room and even a plasma television. Jarvis Chimenes Pavao, considered one of the most dangerous drug traffickers in South America, was being held at Tacumbu Penitentiary after receiving an eight-year sentence for money laundering. Reports say Pavao was scheduled to be released in a year and would then face extradition to Brazil on drug charges. However, he was allegedly planning an escape using plastic explosives to blow a hole through the prison walls. The explosives were discovered and that led officials to raid the prison. Pavao has now been transferred to a cell in a police special operation unit. Reporters from the French News Agency (AFP) said Pavao's suite had "air conditioning, stylish tiled walls, plush furniture" and DVDs that included the complete TV series Pablo Escobar about a Colombian drug lord killed in 1993. Pavao's lawyer said corruption in the Paraguayan penal system allowed her client to make the necessary renovations in his jail cell. John McCain lived most of his life in the public eye, surviving war, torture, scandal, political stardom and failure, the enmity of some colleagues and the election of President Donald Trump. Even brain cancer didnt seem to scare McCain so much as it sobered and saddened him. The world is a fine place and worth fighting for and I hate very much to leave it, McCain wrote in his memoir, referencing a line from his favorite book, the Ernest Hemingway war novel For Whom the Bell Tolls. I hate to leave. A look at public moments that made McCain: Prisoner of war, celebrity McCain, became a public figure at age 31 when his bed-bound image was broadcast from North Vietnam in 1967. The North Vietnamese had figured out that he was the son and grandson of famous American military men a crown prince, they called him. He was offered an early release, but refused. McCains captors beat him until he confessed, an episode that first led to shame and then discovery. McCain has written that thats when he learned to trust not just his legacy but his own judgment and his resilience. Less than a decade after his March 1973 release, McCain was elected to the House as a Republican from Arizona. In 1986, voters there sent him to the Senate. The Keating Five He called it my asterisk and the worst mistake of his life. At issue was a pair of 1987 meetings between McCain, four other senators and regulators to get the government to back off a key campaign donor. Charles Keating Jr. wanted McCain and Democratic Sens. Dennis DeConcini of Arizona, Alan Cranston of California, John Glenn of Ohio and Don Riegle of Michigan to get government auditors to stop pressing Keatings Lincoln Savings and Loan Association. All five denied improper conduct. McCain was cleared of all charges but found to have exercised poor judgment. His honor was being questioned and thats nothing that he takes lightly, said Mark Salter, McCains biographer and co-author of his new memoir, The Restless Wave. The Senate McCain became his partys leading voice on matters of war, national security and veterans, and eventually became chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He worked with a Democrat to rewrite the nations campaign finance laws. He voted for the Iraq War and supported the 2007 surge of forces there even as his own sons served or prepared to serve. But there was one thing that wasnt as widely known about him: McCain, owner of a ranch in Arizona that is in the flight path of 500 species of migratory birds, became concerned about the environment. People associate John with defense and national security, as well they should. But he also had a great concern for and love of the environment, said Sen. Susan Collins, the Maine Republican who traveled to the ends of the earth with McCain to the Arctic Circle in 2004 and Antarctica two years later on fact-finding missions related to climate change. Back on McCains Arizona ranch, the senator gave Collins an extensive nature tour of the property. I particularly remember his love for the birds, Collins said. He loved the birds. Town halls, Straight Talk McCain in the 2000 election did something new: He toured New Hampshire on a bus laden with doughnuts and reporters that stopped at town hall meetings where voters were invited to exchange views with the candidate. The bus was called the Straight Talk Express, and thats what he promised to deliver at the town halls. The whole thing was messy, unscripted and often hilarious. And ultimately the events re-introduced McCain to voters as a candid and authentic, just a year after President Bill Clinton was acquitted of lying to Congress and obstruction. In New Hampshire that year, McCain defeated George W. Bush in an 18-point blowout, only to be pushed out of the race in South Carolina. But the town halls remained a fond McCain memory. The town halls were festivals of politics, Salter said. They were so authentic and open and honest. No maam McCain, in 2008 making his second run for president, quickly intervened when a woman in Lakeville, Minnesota, stood at a town hall event and began to make disparaging remarks about Democratic presidential nominee and then-Sen. Barack Obama. Hes an Arab, she said, implying he was not an American. No maam, McCain said, taking the microphone from her. Hes a decent, family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and thats what this campaign is all about. Hes not. It was a defining moment for McCain as a leader, a reflection of his thinking that partisans should disagree without demonizing each other. But it reflected McCains reckoning with the fear pervading his party of Obama, who would go on to become the nations first black president. Cancer McCain last year was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the same aggressive cancer that had felled his friend, Sen. Edward Kennedy, on Aug. 25, 2009. Friends and family say he understood the gravity of the diagnosis, but quickly turned to the speech he wanted to give on the Senate floor urging his colleagues to shed the partisanship that had produced gridlock. Face scarred and bruised from surgery, he pounded the lectern. Some of the sternest members of the Senate hugged him, tears in their eyes. Of all of the things that have happened in this mans life, of all of the times that his life could have ended in the ways it could have ended, this (cancer) is by far one of the least threats to him and thats kind of how he views it, his son, Jack McCain, told the Arizona Republic in January. Health care vote Republicans, driven by Trump, were one vote away from advancing a repeal of Obamas health care law. Then McCain, scarred from brain surgery, swooped into the Senate chamber and, facing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, dramatically held up his hand. The thumb flicked down. Gasps could be heard throughout the staid chamber. McConnell stood motionless, arms crossed. Trumps campaign promise and the premiere item on his agenda was dead. Trump McCain tangled with Trump, who never served in the military, for years. As a candidate, Trump in 2016 claimed the decorated McCain is only considered a war hero because he had been captured. Hes not a war hero, Trump said at an event in Iowa. I like people who werent captured. Shortly before Election Day in 2016, McCain said hes rather cast his vote for another Republican, someone whos qualified to be president. Trump fumed, without using McCains name, that the senator is the only reason the Affordable Care Act stands. McCain responded: I have faced tougher adversaries. A court has ordered the removal of a girl held in an Australian-run refugee camp in the South Pacific because she is suffering "resignation syndrome." The child is refusing all food and water as a succession of critically ill youngsters are brought from the island of Nauru. Medical experts and refugee advocates say there is a mounting health crisis among children held at Australia's offshore detention centers on Nauru. A court has ordered that a 12-year-old girl be airlifted off the island for treatment in Australia after she reportedly tried to set herself on fire. Another young refugee is critically ill after refusing food, drink and medical treatment. Campaigners say children are suffering from a trauma-related psychological disorder known as "resignation syndrome." Sources say the situation on the tiny South Pacific island is "dangerously chaotic." In Canberra, an Australian government spokesman says service providers are contracted to deliver age-appropriate health, education and cultural care to children on Nauru. But Dr. Barri Phatarfod from doctors4refugees, an advocacy group, said more action is urgently needed. "The children on Nauru are pre-adolescent," she said. They are six, seven, eight, ten. And when you see a ten [to] twelve-year-old attempt to take their own life, like this most recent case that this twelve-year-old girl, her attempt to set herself on fire was witnessed apparently by other children. So what kind of effect do you think that is going to have on those developing children?" Nauru is Australia's last remaining offshore processing camp for asylum seekers intercepted at sea. Canberra says the facility is a deterrent and has stopped people from risking their lives trying to reach Australia by boat. Detainees are told they have no chance of being resettled in Australia. Nauru was first used as an offshore camp in 2001 when a Norwegian freighter had rescued more than 400 mainly Afghan Hazara refugees in international waters north of Australia. Canberra refused to accept them and sent them instead to the new processing facility in Nauru. It closed in 2007, but was reopened in 2012. Another South Pacific camp on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea (PNG) sponsored by Australia was officially closed last year. Hundreds of asylum seekers and refugees remain in PNG. While Australia refuses to resettle them, some have been granted entry to the United States. Conditions in the facilities have been consistently condemned by rights groups. Police said the two robberies occurred just after 3 a.m. Friday, on both the 900 block of West Belmont Avenue and the 3200 block of North Halsted Street. A drone strike has killed the leader of Islamic State in Afghanistan, Abdu Saad Erhabi, along with his nine commanders. The overnight missile attack occurred in the Khogyani district of the troubled eastern Nangarhar province where the terrorist group, locally known as ISK-P, is headquartered. Provincial government spokesman Attaullah Khogyani told VOA the strike also destroyed two of the group's bases. Afghan intelligence officials said international forces assisted in the counter-terrorism operation. A U.S. military spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Martin O'Donnell, confirmed to VOA U.S. forces conducted a counter-terrorism strike Saturday that "targeted a senior leader of a designated terrorist organization." Afghan Presidential Spokesman Shahussain Murtazawi tweeted the strike dealt a "major blow to Daesh in Afghanistan" and it also demonstrated the resolve of the Afghan government against terrorism. He used the Arabic acronym Daesh for the Middle Eastern-based terrorist group. Erhabi is the fourth leader of ISK-P to have been killed since the group launched its extremist activities in Afghanistan in early 2015 from bases in Nangarhar next to the border with neighboring Pakistan. ISK-P militants have been plotting deadly suicide bombings in the war-shattered country and battling U.S. backed Afghan forces as well as the Taliban insurgency. U.S. military commanders maintain ISK-P operates several southern districts in Nangahrar and in parts of the adjoining Kunar province. The militants had also established a strong base in the northern Afghan province of Jowzjan near the border with the Central Asian state of Turkmenistan. But Taliban insurgents early this month eliminated ISK-P from the province after a month-long offensive against the rival group, killing and capturing a large number of its fighters. Afghan authorities confirmed at the time about 250 militants surrendered to government forces after fleeing the Taliban onslaught in Jowzjan. Kabul estimates the number of ISK-P fighters in the country is not more than 2,000 and downplays Russia's assertions the terrorist group is increasing its influence in Afghanistan and the number of its fighters is more than 10,000. Moscow is worried about the emergence of ISK-P in parts of Afghanistan that border Russian-allied Central Asian states. Experts are testing food, water and air conditioning systems at an Egyptian resort hotel where a British couple died under mysterious circumstances, the chief executive of travel company Thomas Cook said Sunday. Thomas Cook Group CEO Peter Fankhauser pledged to find out what happened to John and Susan Cooper, who died at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Hurghada on Tuesday. The couples daughter, Kelly Ormerod, told British media Friday she was suspicious because her parents had been in perfect health hours before they died. She said John Cooper died in his room, and Susan Cooper died after she was taken to the hospital. Fankhauser told Britains Sky News on Sunday there was no evidence of carbon monoxide poisoning. Experts took probes of the food, of the hygienic systems, of water, as well as the air conditioning systems and all those probes are now in Egypt, he said, adding that the tests would take 10 days to complete. Thomas Cook evacuated 300 guests from the Aqua Magic as a precaution after the Coopers died and it emerged that 13 other customers had food poisoning. But the hotel told The Associated Press in an email that there was no increased level of illness there and attributed the couples deaths to natural causes. Prosecutors in Egypt on Saturday dismissed speculation that toxic gas fumes in the Coopers hotel room killed the couple. An official inspection of the room found no harmful gas leaks and all the devices worked properly, they said. The Egyptian prosecutors office said it is awaiting a forensic analysis of samples taken from the bodies to provide more details. Egyptian authorities dismissed criminal motives as being behind the deaths. An official statement by the Red Sea governorate on Friday said an initial medical examination of John Cooper showed he had suffered acute circulatory collapse and a sudden cardiac arrest. It said Susan Cooper later fainted and was rushed to a hospital, where resuscitation attempts continued for a half-hour. Egypts vital tourism industry has been dealt severe blow due to political turmoil that ensued after a 2011 uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak. 1 Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa is congratulated by the Chief Justice, Luke Malaba, after taking the oath of office during his presidential inauguration ceremony in Harare, Aug. 26, 2018. Earlier this month, Mustafa Omer lived in exile. Now, hes the acting president of Ethiopias Somali region and one of the countrys most powerful people. The dramatic turnaround comes less than three weeks after federal forces stormed the regional capital, Jijiga, and forced the previous regional president, Abdi Mohamoud Omar, also known as Abdi Illey, to step down. With no political experience and no mandate from the 4.5 million people he will lead, Mustafa faces formidable challenges addressing ethnic tensions and balancing Somali peoples desire for self-determination with their role within Ethiopias federalist government. But Mustafas popular rhetoric and personal history have raised hopes that hes the right person to lead the Somali region through a period of challenging transition. Focus on human rights Mustafa, an iconic activist, told VOAs Somali service that he will prioritize human rights in his new role. Since 1954, when the region came under Ethiopian rule, there was no democracy and human rights, Mustafa said. Over 27 years, people in the region were living under harsh crimes against humanity, the most painful ones committed in the past 10 years, so we will restore human rights. Mustafa added that he plans to create space for dissenting voices critical of his administration. A lot of things to clean up Expectations are genuinely high. People feel that hes the right man for the job at this time, Juweria Ali, a doctoral candidate in Politics and International Relations at the University of Westminster in London, told VOA. Theres a lot of things to clean up, Juweria added. In the Abdi era, violence, displacement and imprisonment touched many Somali peoples lives. For 10 years, Abdi ruled the Somali region as a warlord, punishing critics with impunity and overseeing the Liyu police, a special force that human rights groups say committed atrocities and agitated ethnic violence, particularly between Somalis and Oromos, Ethiopias largest ethnic group. Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch called for an extensive, independent investigation into years of abuses, human rights violations and war crimes to redress wrongdoing and hold perpetrators accountable. Personal ties Mustafa has long been an outspoken critic of Abdi Illeys policies, and that has made him a target. Years ago, Abdi threatened to harm Mustafas family if he continued to criticize the government. Mustafa refused to stay quiet and, in 2016, his brother Faysal, an engineer, was killed. The family was coerced into saying Faysal took his own life, Juweria said. Their property was confiscated, and they were forced to flee to Kenya. Mustafa, 45, also fled. Prior to his selection as acting president, he had been living in Somalia, where hed been working with the United Nations for the past few years, Abdinasir Mohamed Abdullahi, an attorney in Minnesota and close friend, told VOA. Other critics of Abdis regime have faced similar consequences. [Mustafa] effectively symbolizes thousands like himself who had to flee and whose families had to flee because of their outspokenness against Abdi Illey, Juweria said. He has, first-hand, experienced the horrors of Abdi Illeys administration, which is why people are hopeful that Mustafa, more than anyone else, will know what the people need at this time, and will know what the people need in order to be healed and move forward. Retribution? Those deep personal ties have left some who follow the region wondering if Mustafa will use his newfound role to exact revenge, hunting down those loyal to the old administration. But Mustafa said retaliation doesnt have a place in his reform agenda, and close friends dont think its consistent with his character. Based on my personal views, [whats happened] will not have an impact on my administration. As a human being, I can love and hate someone, but that has no effect on my administration. What was existing before me was a kind of kingdom, which we need to terminate, Mustafa said. Now, he added, the regional government will promote togetherness through peace and unity. Politics at play Senior leaders of the Ethiopian Somali Peoples Democratic Party (ESPDP) unanimously selected Mustafa, an economist, after meeting in Ethiopias capital, Addis Ababa, for several days. It was an unlikely pick. Mustafa doesnt belong to the party, nor does he have any prior experience in politics. Some in the Somali region see his selection as another example of the federal government encroaching on Somali sovereignty. ESPDP doesnt belong to the ruling coalition, the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front. But the EPRDF created ESPDP in 1998, and some in the region see it as an extension of the federal governments interests. One particularly vocal critic has been the Ogaden National Liberation Front, a political party and armed group that, earlier this month, declared a ceasefire against what they term the Ethiopian Security Apparatus in the region. Rights groups have also accused federal forces of committing war crimes. Identity ONLF enjoys a good deal of support, and Mustafa will need to engage with the group to be successful, Juweria said. Discussions about identity and autonomy will propel those talks. The question of self-determination is going to be a test, Juweria said. [The ONLF] still finds it problematic that the federal government hand-picked the person whos going to take charge of the region. Mustafa met with an ONLF delegation in Addis Ababa Saturday, and the sides appear ready to move forward together. Questions of identity, ethnicity and nationality permeate Ethiopian politics. An ethnic-federalist approach to government, in which political parties based on ethnicity represent regions within a national parliament and executive coalition, has held the country together for nearly 30 years. But ongoing conflicts and underrepresentation have raised doubts about the viability of the model. Secessionist groups such as ONLF have pushed for independence, and the powerful central government has, at least until recently, maintained stability through violent crackdowns and suppression. New way forward? Mustafa, like the countrys new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, represents a decisive departure from the old way of doing things. Improving relations between Somalis and Oromos is one of Mustafas priorities. This is a politicized issue. There is a lot of propaganda that looms inside the two brotherly communities, led by former administrations who want to profit from this fighting. But we will prevent that and unite the two communities. New political players like Mustafa have created an opportunity for change, but the issue of identity has not been fully settled. Abiy, an Oromo, has underscored respecting differences and empowering Ethiopias many ethnic groups, while emphasizing shared Ethiopian values and identity. Mustafa, on the other hand, has prioritized Somali identity, saying on social media this week that Somalis will no longer allow their heritage or identity to be compromised. Our historical, cultural, social, economic and political ties to the Somali race across the Horn of Africa region is a fait accompli. No one can change it or wish it away, Mustafa wrote on Facebook. We will therefore embrace symbols of Somalinimo no matter what angry oppressors say, he added. A complex clan system within the Somali region further complicates matters of identity and efforts toward reconciliation across Ethiopias diverse populations. But Juweria is optimistic that Mustafa will be able to build bridges across long-standing divisions and animosities. Oromos and Somalis alike feel that Mustafa is the right answer, Juweria said. I think this marks a new era. Jairo Bonilla was inside a Managua seminary last spring during a break in Catholic Church-mediated talks to try to end Nicaraguas bloody political crisis when two fellow students approached him with a threat. Youre going to pay, warned one of them, Leonel Morales, the president of the government-backed student union at Nicaragua Polytechnic University, where they both studied. Your family is going to cry tears of blood. You know where to find me, Bonilla replied. That was then. Now the 20-year-old, a leader of student protests against President Daniel Ortegas government, is in hiding, trying to ignore the threats that come regularly on Facebook and in menacing text messages. He has survived four months of resistance to Ortegas government, but the student movement he helps lead is now largely underground. Hundreds of people have been killed in the governments brutal suppression of the months-long protests that erupted in April. More than 2,000 people have been detained as security forces search for those who took part, including about 320 still in custody. Many say they have been abused at the hands of the authorities, including severe beatings and torture. The common refrain of Were not scared! chanted at the early student marches, is seldom heard any more. Ortega achieved his objective, Bonilla said in a recent interview, held at a secret location. He made us feel fear. In hiding, out of country Chased off their college campuses, the future is uncertain for the students who have stood up to Ortega. Many have fled the country, others are scattered about in safe houses. Some are recovering from bullet wounds they suffered during the government crackdown or struggling with psychological trauma, while Bonilla and other student leaders try to rally the attention of the international community and strategize how to maintain pressure at home. Bonilla joined the uprising against Ortegas government in mid-April, angered like many of his classmates by the violent government response to protests by retirees angry over cuts in social security benefits. After the marches quickly evolved into a general call for Ortegas ouster and student casualties mounted, Bonilla volunteered to represent his fellow students in the church-mediated talks to try to end the crisis. Talks on hold That effort was short-lived. In a fiery speech in July, Ortega accused the Roman Catholic bishops organizing the mediation of being coup mongers seeking his ouster and said they were unqualified to be mediators. The talks have not restarted. With control of the countrys universities and other opposition bastions now firmly in government hands, Ortega, who has been in power since 2007, has vowed to remain in office until at least 2021, when his latest term ends. He has dismissed those who participated in the protests as terrorists manipulated by outside forces. These days, Bonilla spends his time holed up in his hideout, trying to prepare for the day when talks with the government might resume. He reads political economy texts, studies negotiation tactics and absorbs as much as he can about Nicaraguan history online. He has changed safe houses twice since June. Still, Bonillas situation is better than some. He is still in Nicaragua and slips out in the open, his face masked by a bandanna, to participate in the sporadic, smaller protest marches that continue despite the arrests and mounting death toll. Other students were locked up for days in a shed or forced to hide at the bottom of a well while government forces searched for them. We want normal lives There is now a tense calm in Managua, following the violent government crackdown. The stone barricades the students and other government opponents erected at the height of the protests on major highways and outside entire neighborhoods have now been removed by government forces. But there is little activity after nightfall; many restaurants are shuttered and people rush home at dusk, fearful of the masked armed civilians working in coordination with the police who patrol the citys streets. In the moments when they arent worried about being discovered or where their next meal will come from, many of those in hiding grow despondent over an unraveling future. We want to go on with our normal lives, Bonilla said. One 25-year-old woman, who had been working on a masters degree at the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua before she joined the student resistance movement, is in her second country of exile. Early this month, she fled to Costa Rica, where she had hoped to establish a network of support for those in hiding in Nicaragua. But rumors of government informants among the Nicaraguan exile community there forced her to move again. Now she is in a third Central American country. I dont see my future, said the woman, speaking on condition of anonymity because she hopes to return to Nicaragua one day. I had planned this year to start classes to finish (the degree), but now Im directionless. Among those in hiding in the Nicaraguan capital is a 20-year-old former student at the national university who lost much of the mobility in his right arm and hand after being shot by security forces June 23 while helping to treat wounded students as they came under fire. The bullet entered his side and lodged behind his shoulder blade, requiring extensive surgery. He was hospitalized for 11 days and suffered nerve damage, but doctors tell him he could recover with a few months of intensive physical therapy. Instead hes in a safe house with his 18-year-old brother, who is also in hiding. Both declined to be identified for fear of arrest. The younger brother said they struggle to sleep, listening to passing traffic and thinking that at any moment they could be discovered. All of us who were there in the struggle, they know us, he said of the security forces. Since the moment that we decided to join the struggle we all knew that a time would come when we would be pursued, he said. And in case the struggle isnt won and the regime stays in place, I believe that will basically be the end of our lives. Because we wont be able to return to the university, we wont be able to walk in the street. Struggles ebb, flow Hugo Torres, a guerrilla commander who once fought with Ortega during Nicaraguas 1979 revolution and a retired general with the Nicaraguan army, said its natural that students who havent experienced such a struggle before would see a darker and suddenly more complicated future for themselves. These struggles have their flows, like the tide, their ebbs, said Torres, who broke with Ortega two decades ago and now is vice president of the opposition Sandinista Renovation Movement. There is time to mourn the dead, he said, but that doesnt mean your spirit falls or you give up the fight. Nicaraguas history is one of civil wars with small intervals of peace, Torres said. Were obligated to break this cycle. Bonilla agrees. Were scared of being massacred, of being arrested, but if that is the price we have to pay, were going to do it for a free Nicaragua. Playwright Neil Simon, a master of comedy whose laugh-filled hits such as "The Odd Couple,'' "Barefoot in the Park'' and his "Brighton Beach'' trilogy dominated Broadway for decades, has died. He was 91. Simon died early Sunday of complications from pneumonia in New York, said Bill Evans, his longtime friend and the Shubert Organization director of media relations. In the second half of the 20th century, Simon was the American theater's most successful and prolific playwrights, often chronicling middle class issues and fears. Starting with "Come Blow Your Horn'' in 1961 and continuing into the next century, he rarely stopped working on a new play or musical. The theater world mourned his death, with actor Josh Gad calling Simon "one of the primary influences on my life and career.'' Playwright Kristoffer Diaz said simply: "This hurts.'' Simon's stage successes included "The Prisoner of Second Avenue,'' "Last of the Red Hot Lovers,'' "The Sunshine Boys,'' "Plaza Suite,'' "Chapter Two,'' "Sweet Charity'' and "Promises, Promises,'' but there were other plays and musicals, too, more than 30 in all. Many of his plays were adapted into movies and one, "The Odd Couple,'' even became a popular television series. For seven months in 1967, he had four productions running at the same time on Broadway: "Barefoot in the Park''; "The Odd Couple''; "Sweet Charity''; and "The Star-Spangled Girl.'' Simon was the recipient of four Tony Awards, the Pulitzer Prize, the Kennedy Center honors (1995), four Writers Guild of America Awards, an American Comedy Awards Lifetime Achievement honor and, in 1983, he even had a Broadway theater named after him when the Alvin was rechristened the Neil Simon Theatre. In 2006, he won the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, which honors work that draws from the American experience. The previous year had seen a popular revival of "The Odd Couple,'' reuniting Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick after their enormous success in "The Producers'' several years earlier. Simon received his first Tony Award in 1965 as best author, a category now discontinued, for "The Odd Couple,'' although the comedy lost the best-play prize to Frank D. Gilroy's "The Subject Was Roses.'' He won a best-play Tony 20 years later for "Biloxi Blues.'' In 1991, "Lost in Yonkers'' received both the Tony and the Pulitzer Prize. And there was a special achievement Tony, too, in 1975. Simon's own life figured most prominently in what became known as his "Brighton Beach'' trilogy: "Brighton Beach Memoirs,'' "Biloxi Blues'' and "Broadway Bound'', which many consider his finest works . In them, Simon's alter ego, Eugene Morris Jerome, makes his way from childhood to the U.S. Army to finally, on the verge of adulthood, a budding career as a writer. Simon was born Marvin Neil Simon in New York and was raised in the Bronx and Washington Heights. He was a Depression-era child, his father, Irving, a garment-industry salesman. He was raised mostly by his strong-willed mother, Mamie, and mentored by his older brother, Danny, who nicknamed his younger sibling, Doc. Simon attended New York University and the University of Colorado. After serving in the military in 1945-46, he began writing with his brother for radio in 1948 and then, for television, a period in their lives chronicled in Simon's 1993 play, "Laughter on the 23rd Floor.'' Pope Francis has "begged for God's forgiveness" for the sexual abuse scandal that has rocked the Roman Catholic Church. The pontiff said at a shrine in Knock, Ireland, on Sunday the scandal is an "open wound" and "firm and decisive" measures need to be taken to find "truth and justice." Francis also rebuked the church in Ireland for how in decades past Catholic-run Irish institutions took the children of unwed mothers and put them up for adoption. He said the practice robbed the children of their innocence, leaving the children abandoned and scarred by painful memories. Francis wrapped up his visit to Ireland Sunday with a huge outdoor Mass in Dublin's Phoenix Park, where the pontiff again asked for forgiveness when the church failed to offer compassion to survivors of any kind of abuse. Hundreds of thousands of people braved rainy, windy weather to hear Francis, while thousands elsewhere in the city demonstrated against clerical abuse. Protesters in the town of Tuam recited the names of an estimated 800 babies and young children who died at a Catholic-run orphanage there, most during the 1950s. Francis' call for forgiveness for the sexual abuse scandal came as a letter by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano was published in the National Catholic Register. In the 11-page letter, Vigano, the Vatican's retired ambassador to the United States, accuses Francis and other Vatican officials of ignoring sexual abuse claims against U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick who was forced to resign last month after a church investigation found claims that he had abused a minor were credible. Vigano says he told Francis in 2013 about claims that McCarrick bedded seminarians, but Francis lifted sanctions on McCarrick that Pope Benedict had imposed. "He [Pope Francis] knew from at least June 23, 2013 that McCarrick was serial predator," Vigano wrote, adding "he knew that he was a corrupt man, he covered for him to the bitter end." Meeting with abuse victims On Saturday, Francis met for more than an hour with survivors of clerical abuse in Ireland and, by at least one account, uttered strong condemnation of members of the clergy who committed or covered up impropriety. Paul Redmond, one of eight survivors who attended the meeting with the pope has told reporters that Francis called such clergy members caca, which translates to human excrement. The pope met with eight survivors at the Papal Nuncios residence in Dublin. The Vatican has said it will not comment on what was discussed during the meeting, although the attendees are free to do so. Pope Francis began the first papal visit to Ireland in almost 40 years by expressing the outrage he shares with the Catholic community over the repugnant crimes committed by priests who raped and molested children and the failure of church authorities to address them. I cannot fail to acknowledge the grave scandal caused in Ireland by the abuse of young people by members of the Church charged with responsibility for their protection and education, Francis told a state reception at Dublin Castle where some abuse survivors were in attendance. The failure of ecclesiastical authorities bishops, religious superiors, priests and others to adequately address these repugnant crimes has rightly given rise to outrage and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community. Vetting the church In an effort to address the worlds outrage about the abuse scandal, Francis noted measures taken by his predecessor, Pope Benedict, to deal with the crisis. Benedict did not admit the Vaticans culpability, though, in fostering a system of cover-up, and Francis gave no new plan for steps he would take to punish bishops who fail to protect their parishioners. Francis did say he was committed to vetting the church of this scourge regardless of the moral cost or amount of suffering. Ireland has changed greatly since Pope John Paul II visited in 1979, becoming much more secular following clerical sexual abuse scandals that began to surface in 2005. Pope Francis visit comes at a time when recent sexual abuse crises in the United States, Chile and Australia have reminded the Irish people of similar scandals at the hands of Irish priests and bishops. The pope recently wrote a letter to the worlds Catholics, stressing that no effort must be spared to create a culture able to prevent such situations from happening, but also to prevent the possibility of their being covered up and perpetuated. Two U.S. cardinals Cardinal Sean OMalley, the popes top adviser on clerical sexual abuse, and Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the archbishop of Washington were scheduled to attend the conference in Dublin but were absent because of further revelations of clerical sexual abuse in America. Another U.S. cardinal, Theodore McCarrick, was recently forced to resign because of allegations of abuse and misconduct. Sabina Castelfranco contributed to this report. U.S. Senator John McCain is being remembered for his courage, patriotism and service to his country. McCain died Saturday at age 81 after a battle with brain cancer. President Donald Trump tweeted, My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you! His campaign later issued a statement offering condolences and urging all Americans to take the opportunity to remember Senator McCain and his family in their prayers on this sad occasion. The White House lowered the flag to half-staff in honor of McCain. Leaders from around the world paid tribute to McCain . German Chancellor Angela Merkel called McCain a tireless fighter for a strong trans-Atlantic alliance; his significance went well beyond his own country. French President Emmanuel Macron called McCain a true American hero. Vice President Mike Pence tweeted, Karen and I are praying for Senator John McCain, Cindy and their family this weekend. May God bless them all during this difficult time. Former presidents Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama issued a statement sending their heartfelt condolences to McCains wife, Cindy and their family. Obama, who ran against the Republican senator in the 2008 presidential election and won, noted how despite their different generations, backgrounds and politics, we saw this country as a place where anything is possible. Former President Bill Clinton and former Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton, who served with McCain in the U.S. Senate, said in a statement that he frequently put partisanship aside to do what he thought was best for the country and was never afraid to break the mold if it was the right thing to do. Former President George W. Bush called McCain a friend he will deeply miss. Some lives are so vivid, its difficult to imagine them ended, Bush said in a statement. Some voices are so vibrant, its hard to think of them stilled. As he planned for the end of his life, McCain had requested Obama and Bush deliver eulogies at his funeral. McCains body will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington as well in the capital of his home state, Phoenix. A full dress funeral is planned at the Washington National Cathedral and his burial will be in Annapolis, Maryland, where he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy. Bushs father, former President George H.W. Bush, called McCain a patriot of the highest order, a public servant of rarest courage. Few sacrificed more for, or contributed more to, the welfare of his fellow citizens and indeed freedom-loving peoples around the world, the elder Bush said in a statement. Former President Jimmy Carter called McCain a man of honor, a true patriot in the best sense of the word. Military career The son of a U.S. admiral, McCain became a Navy aviator and flew bombing missions during the Vietnam War. Shot down and captured by the North Vietnamese in 1967, he endured more than five years of torture and depravation as a prisoner of war. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Vietnam POW showed us that boundless patriotism and self-sacrifice are not outdated concepts or cliches, but the building blocks of an extraordinary life. House Speaker Paul Ryan said the McCains death marks a sad day for the United States, which has lost a decorated war hero and statesman. John put principle before politics. He put country before self, Ryan said. He was one of the most courageous men of the century. Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said the nation is in tears and noted McCains deep patriotism, outstanding bravery and undaunted spirit. He never forgot the great duty he felt to care for our nations heroes, dedicating his spirit and energy to ensuring that no man or woman in uniform was left behind on the battlefield or once they returned home, Pelosi said in a statement. Former Secretary of State John Kerry, who served with the senator in Congress and is a fellow Vietnam War veteran, noted their differing views of the war and recalled a trip back to Hanoi with McCain, where the two found common ground. If you ever needed to take the measure of John McCain, just count the days and years he spent in that tiny dank place and ask yourself whether you could make it there an hour, Kerry said in a statement. John always said a fight not joined is a fight not enjoyed. He loved to debate and disagree. But one thing John always believed was that at some point, Americas got to come together. McCains death Saturday also drew condolences from foreign leaders, with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani calling the U.S. lawmaker a great friend of the South Asian country. We will remember his dedication and support towards rebuilding AFG, Ghani tweeted. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also offered condolences. People of India join me in sincerely condoling the loss of a steadfast friend, Modi tweeted. His statesmanship, courage, conviction and understanding of global affairs will be missed. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called McCain an American patriot and hero whose sacrifices for his country, and lifetime of public service, were an inspiration to millions. VOA's White House correspondent Steve Herman contributed to this report. The U.S. Air Force is months away from completing the construction of an air base in Niger for armed drones that will target militant groups operating in the region, a U.S military official told VOA. "To date, the Air Force has spent approximately $86.5 million on the construction project at Nigerien Air Base 201," Auburn Davis, a spokesperson for U.S. Air Force Europe and Air Force Africa, told VOA. "The total estimated construction cost, including FY19 planned projects, is $98.5million," Davis added. She said that the base, which is located in Agadez city in northern Niger, is the biggest U.S Air Force-led construction project in its history. Agadez is a strategic city located in the Sahara Desert with easy access for militants and smugglers to cross to and from Libya, Algeria, Mali and Chad. About 650 U.S. military personnel will be deployed to the base once it's operational. An undetermined number of military drones, including MQ-9s, currently operating from the capital, Niamey, would be transferred to the base, according to the U.S military. Militarization of the Sahel Some security analysts, such as William Assanvo, a regional coordinator for West Africa at the Institute for Security Studies Africa, believe that this move indicates the region is becoming increasingly militarized. "This trend raises some concerns about foreign powers taking roots in the Sahel to pursue national interests that are not always clear, and that may not match [the] national interests of hosting countries," Assanvo told VOA. "It could also trigger an escalation of attacks and clashes or be a justification for the so-called Jihad some of the extremists groups pretend to be fighting," Assanvo added. Nigerien officials, however, see the building of the Agadez base as a necessity to address the growing menace of terrorism that poses a threat to the security of Niger and the region. "Our problems emanate from Libya. The area [between Agadez and the Libyan border] is vast, unpopulated. Terrorists move about freely there," Kalla Mountari, Niger's minister of defense, told VOA, adding that militants use the area to smuggle weapons and ammunition back and forth. The U.S military says the decision to relocate assets from Niamey to Agadez and to construct the base there was reached in consultation and coordination with the government of Niger. "The government of Niger requested U.S. Africa Command [AFRICOM] to relocate ISR [Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance] assets from Niamey to Agadez," Davis, the US Air Force Africa spokesperson, told VOA. Assanvo, of Institute for Security Studies Africa, believes that the move could also be part of an effort by the U.S military to have a low profile presence in the region without triggering potential opposition from the local population. "The Agadez base has the advantage of making the U.S presence less visible, far from Niger capital, Niamey," Assanvo said. "This is important, given the clear opposition a significant part of the Niger [population] have voiced about the increasing Western presence in the country." Assanvo is referring to several demonstrations held in various cities across Niger in February after Italy said it would send several hundred troops to the West African country. Foreign troops a necessity But Defense Minister Mountari said the presence of these foreign troops are necessary and critical in the country's ongoing fight against terror and other trans-national criminal groups. ""We requested the current [U.S] operations ourselves. Everything has been done with the knowledge and cooperation and at the request of our government because it is for the good of our country," Mountari said. "Our Agadez base is obsolete with no good runway or navigational equipment. That's why we encouraged the work the U.S. is doing to rebuild Agadez air base since it has become a hub for our fight against terrorists," he added. The U.S. started operating ISR drones in Niamey in 2013, in support of the French military operations in neighboring Mali and "other regional requirements", according to the U.S. Air Force. While some critics are voicing concerns over the increased footprint of the U.S military in the region, Nigerien officials charge that U.S. help has been effective and has paid dividends in terms of curbing militancy and terrorism in the Sahel region. "I will say we are successful already because what the terrorists were able to do to us in the past has decreased significantly because we now have the means to detect and take care of a threat simultaneously," Defense Minister Mountari said. These are strange and confusing times in Washington. Political operatives meeting with Russian lawyers, a White House at odds with its own intelligence community. But the Washington intrigue appears to be driving renewed interest in the secretive world of spies. And that's just fine with the new director of Washington's International Spy Museum. Reporter Ardita Dunellari paid a quick visit to the Spy Museum to speak to a former spy who is now the museum's director. President Donald Trump listens during a meeting at the White House with lawmakers Wednesday. Aides said he has been distracted in meetings, polling staff about developments in the legal cases. (Jabin Botsford / The Washington Post) Womens Equality Day on Sunday marks the 98th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote in the United States. Since then, women have mostly outnumbered men at the polls. In 2016, 73.7 million women reported voting compared with 63.8 million men, according to data by the Center for American Women in Politics (CAWP). Yet many obstacles remain. While women have greatly increased their presence in the voting booth over the past several decades, studies show they still are underrepresented in many areas, including government, tech jobs and the corporate world. Data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the international organization of parliaments, shows that only about 1 in 4 parliamentarians worldwide is a woman. In the United States, women make up just 25.4 percent of the proportion in state legislatures and just 20 percent of the U.S. Congress, according to data by the national Democratic womens group, Emilys List. In the corporate world, among the S&P 500 companies, only 25 or 5 percent are led by women. While there is still more gender equality to achieve, the recent #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and assault has greatly increased awareness of gender equality, said Lorraine Hariton, who was named this week as the new leader of the advocacy group Catalyst. The group is one of the oldest organizations dedicated to promoting women in the workplace. Earlier this week, Hariton told reporters she has not seen such levels of gender equality awareness since she began her business career at IBM in the 1970s. She has been the CEO at two tech startups, Beatnik and Apptera. The #MeToo movement has inspired changes, including a surge in the number of women who have filed to run in both houses of the U.S. Congress. For the 2018 midterm elections, 54 women filed to run for the U.S. Senate, 476 filed to run for the U.S. House, according to CAWP. Of the number of women who filed for those offices, 72 percent identified as Democrats. As women running for public office in never-before-seen numbers, a recent poll by Pew Research Center shows that Americans are mostly happy about it. Without specifying their political party affiliations, the poll also found that 39 percent of the participants polled believed Congress would fare better with more women in it. Only 7 percent said it would be a bad idea, while 53 percent said that gender would have no effect on how Congress performs. But the findings show a remarkable difference in how Democrats and Republicans feel about women running for Congress. A whopping 80 percent of Democrats think its a good thing that women are running. That is in stark contrast to 39 percent of Republicans who said the same thing. Another 50 percent of Republicans polled said that it was neither a good nor bad thing that women in the country were running for public office, and 10 percent responded it was a bad thing. President Donald Trump said in statement Friday, We all benefit from the leadership and ingenuity of women in education, medicine, government, law, business, military service, and every other field contributing to the greatness of this nation. He also touted his own policies to help women, which included doubling the child tax credit and adding a tax credit for day care payments. He said his budget this year would include a proposal for a national paid parental leave program as it did last year, and called on Congress to pass the measure. Ethiopia's prime minister in his first press conference since taking power vowed Saturday to continue with dramatic reforms "at any cost" and said the longtime ruling coalition soon will prepare for a "free and fair election" in 2020. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also said the World Bank "soon" plans to provide $1 billion in direct budgetary assistance, a sign of confidence after years of unrest in Africa's second most populous nation. Such assistance stopped after the disputed 2005 elections. "My dream is that doubts about the ballot box will disappear," Abiy said, saying the vote won't be delayed and promising a peaceful transfer of power if he loses. The 42-year-old Abiy took office in April and shocked the country with a wave of reforms including restoring diplomatic ties with neighboring Eritrea after two decades, pledging to open up state-owned companies to outside investment and releasing thousands of prisoners. The reforms have been praised by the international community and attracted investors interested in one of Africa's fastest-growing economies. Recent ethnic unrest in various parts of Ethiopia, however, has dampened the initial jubilation and posed a major challenge to the new leader. "There are groups that are working in unison to cause chaos in different parts of the country," Abiy told reporters. "They are triggering peoples' emotions to this end." Some 2.8 million people have been displaced by the unrest, according to the United Nations. "But this didn't happen due to the reforms," the prime minister said. He said the unrest in the eastern Somali region has calmed but measures will be taken against former officials, including the region's former President Abdi Mohammed Omar, who is suspected of orchestrating the chaos earlier this month that led to the destruction of government offices, looting of businesses and burning of churches. Asked about internet cuts in the region following the unrest, an unpopular tactic widely used by the previous government, Abiy appealed for understanding and said it might have saved lives. "But curbing access to information and cutting the internet is not the way forward," he added, and urged youth to use it responsibly. The prime minister also in recent months has welcomed a number of once-exiled opposition figures and groups back to Ethiopia and invited them to join in the political conversation. But on Saturday he drew the line at former military dictator Col. Mengistu Hailemariam, who overthrew the last Ethiopian emperor, Haileselassie, in 1974 and eventually was sentenced to life for spearheading a "Red Terror" that killed tens of thousands of people. He fled the country in 1991 as rebels, who now make up the ruling coalition, approached the capital. Some Ethiopians have called on Abiy to offer Mengistu amnesty after a rare photo of him in exile in Zimbabwe went viral early this month. "Ethiopia's constitution clearly stipulates the 'Red Terror' crimes cannot be covered under an amnesty law," Abiy said. "So Col. Mengistu will not ... return home. But if the law in the future allows, that may change." U.S. Senator John McCain died Saturday at age 81 after a battle with brain cancer that robbed America of a revered statesman, proud patriot, and self-sacrificing warrior. His daughter, Meghan McCain, released a statement. Shortly after McCain's death was announced, President Donald Trump tweeted his condolences. Best known for having survived as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam and winning the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, John Sidney McCain remained an ardent and unapologetic believer in American exceptionalism. We are blessed. We are living in the land of the free, the land where anything is possible, McCain said in October, months after his cancer diagnosis, at the National Constitution Center, where he received the Liberty Medal. We are blessed, and we have been a blessing to humanity in turn. In the same speech, he also warned of the perils he saw in the era of President Donald Trump. To refuse the obligations of international leadership and our duty to remain the last best hope of earth for the sake of some half-baked, spurious nationalism cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems, is as unpatriotic as an attachment to any other tired dogma of the past that Americans consigned to the ash heap of history, the senator said. John McCain represented public service, American University political historian Allan Lichtman said. He was a genuine American hero, not a phony, hyped-up media hero. In Photos: John McCain Military family The son of a U.S. admiral, McCain became a Navy aviator and flew bombing missions during the Vietnam War. Shot down and captured by the North Vietnamese in 1967, he endured more than five years of torture and depravation as a prisoner of war. Decades later, as a Republican senator, McCain would return to Vietnam and champion the restoration of ties between Washington and Hanoi and, as he told VOA, leave the past behind. Look, there are some individuals that mistreated me in prison, and I hope I never see them again, he said. But, that does not change my opinion that the Vietnamese people are wonderful and dear friends, and we need them and they need us. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, McCain decried torture tactics against terror suspects while backing the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. John McCains weakness over the years was [that] he was perhaps too willing to seek a military solution to problems, political historian Lichtman said. Some of his critics even called him a war monger. But it [military intervention] was something he genuinely believed in, not something he cooked up for political purposes. Gracious in political battle On Capitol Hill, McCain was known for a short temper and a sharp tongue. Get out of here you low-life scum, McCain once growled at anti-war protesters who were disrupting a Senate committee hearing. The senator also displayed graciousness in the heat of political battle. McCain ran twice for president as an independent-minded Republican, securing his partys nomination in 2008. On the campaign trail, he defended his democratic opponent, Barack Obama. Hes an Arab, one woman declared of Obama at a McCain town hall campaign event one month before the election. McCain took the microphone from her and said, No, maam. He is a decent family man, a citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with. Return to the Senate McCain lost the presidential contest but returned to the Senate, where he continued to advocate robust U.S. engagement around the world and a strong U.S. military as chairman of the Senate Armed Service Committee. He did not respond when then-candidate Trump questioned his war hero status. He is a war hero because he was captured, Trump said on national television in July 2015. I like people that were not captured, OK? I hate to tell you. McCain did, however, become a persistent critic of Trumps governing style and policies, as well as hyper-partisanship in Washington, culminating with a decisive vote scuttling a Republican health care plan President Trump had championed. In December, he was the lone senator not to cast a vote on final passage of the Republican tax overhaul, returning Arizona to rest after cancer treatment. Liked on both sides of aisle McCain was revered by Democrats and Republicans alike. Courage and loyalty, former vice president Joe Biden said in introductory remarks at the National Constitution Center. I can think of no better description of the man we are honoring tonight, my friend John McCain. John McCain, perhaps above all other politicians of recent years, was willing to reach across the aisle to try to do things that were good for the country, like immigration reform, like campaign finance reform, Lichtman said. Many will mourn his passing, but McCain remained upbeat until the end. I am the luckiest guy on earth. I have served Americas cause, he said. Zimbabwe's Emmerson Mnangagwa was on Sunday sworn-in as the country's president almost two days after the Constitutional Court ruled that he was the winner of the July 30 presidential election. The Movement for Democratic Change Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa strongly rejected his election and took the matter to the Constitutional Court, which dismissed the case saying it lacked credible evidence. The MDC Alliance claimed that Chamisa won the election. Show more Show less Stratovolcano 3562 m (11,686 ft)Ecuador, -0.08S / -77.66W(4 out of 5)1541, 1590, 1691, 1748, 1797, 1802, 1843, 1843, 1844, 1856, 1871, 1894, 1898-1906, 1912, 1926, 1929, 1936, 1944, 1955, 1957, 1960, 1972, 1973-74, 1976, 2002 (large eruption), 2004 (Nov) - 2005 (Jan), 2005 (June) - 2006 (March), 2008 (July) - ongoingExplosive and effusive.(5 days expedition to Ecuador to observe volcanic activity from close) If you havn't done it yet,to get one of the fastest volcano news online: We organize tours to particularly active volcanoes and during ongoing eruptions for extended observation time from various viewpoints. These trips, exclusively for very small groups, are often announced only at short notice and require fast travel and flexibility. Each trip is accompanied by a volcanologist from our team. Examples include: Kilauea (Hawai'i), Colima (Mexico), Krakatau and many others. The Earth is not the only place with volcanic activity. Active volcanism also occurs at at least 3 other bodies in our Solar System. Find out which volcanoes erupted in a given year or month! See which volcanoes are erupting at the moment! Probably more than you think... Experience one of the geologically most active areas on the planet: the Danakil desert in northern Ethiopia: climb Erta Ale and enjoy the powers of Northen and South craters, the surreal colorful world of salt, geysers and springs at Dallol, the UNESCO world heritage site of the rock hewn churches of Lalibela and the beautiful Semien Mountains! Support us - Help us upgrade our services! Maintaining our website and our free apps does require, however, considerable time and resources. We're aiming to achieve uninterrupted service wherever an earthquake or volcano eruption unfolds, and your donations can make it happen! Every donation will be highly appreciated. Improved multilanguage support Tsunami alerts Faster responsiveness Earthquake archive from 1900 onwards Detailed quake stats Additional seismic data sources Download and Upgrade the Volcanoes & Earthquakes app to get one of the fastest seismic and volcano alerts online: Android | IOS to get one of the fastest seismic and volcano alerts online: We truly love working to bring you the latest volcano and earthquake data from around the world.We need financing to increase hard- and software capacity as well as support our editor team.If you find the information useful and would like to support our team in integrating further features, write great content, and in upgrading our soft- and hardware, please PayPal or Online credit card payment )., these features have been added recently: As the Wall Street Journal first reported before the 2016 election, these included a story about former Playboy model Karen McDougal, detailing what she says was an affair with Trump, which Cohen worked to conceal. (Cohen pleaded guilty last week to campaign finance violations, alleging that he, Trump and the Enquirer were involved in hush-money payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels, as well as McDougal.) Once they are detained, we have to get them legal representation. Theres a very clear need especially now that ICE has come to our community, said council member Brianne K. Nadeau (D-Ward 1), who represents one of the most immigrant-heavy parts of the city. Right now, we havent met the legal need for representation. I dont see that changing if the executive doesnt take that need seriously. He took these simple, elemental melodies and abstracted them so that only someone who knows what to listen for can perceive theyre buried in the fabric of the music, said his son Gregory Walker, a violinist and former concertmaster of the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra in Colorado. You could think of that as a metaphor for his life. There he is working in this white, classical European idiom and mastering it. But he has a grandmother who was a slave, and is part of [African American] culture. Nonetheless, the race looked as if it could be close until the final weeks, when the financial system went into a meltdown. Sen. McCain, so sure of himself on national security issues, seemed less than savvy at handling economic ones. Even as the crash was building into the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the senator declared that the fundamentals of our economy are strong. Todays Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Email address By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy They said the three continued attacking the officer, but then fled. Police said they are looking for them in connection with what they described as an attempted carjacking and an assault on a police officer. In the course of 24 hours, Lane quickly broke apart, going from Category 2 to a tropical storm and started moving westward. Although the winds have slowed, the moisture and flooding from the storm system will cause the most damage, officials said. Tropical storm watches and warnings were lifted shortly before noon here on Saturday, with another 5 to 10 inches of rain possible for Maui and the Big Island. He could be shrewd when it served his cause. Vladimir Putin once declared the end of the Wests world order in a speech in Munich, glaring at the senator as he delivered his harshest lines. McCain openly despised Putin long before most of the West realized the danger he posed, and everyone in the hall assumed McCain would fire back with both barrels. But he discarded the speech he had prepared and spoke as if he were merely disappointed to find that his adversary was just a bully. We disagreed with Mr. McCain on various matters over the years, but when we did so, it was more with a sense of disappointment than of anger. He was such a respected figure that his views had credibility even among many who strongly opposed them. And on some of the great issues of his time campaign finance reform, immigration, human rights, promotion of democracy, treatment of prisoners, national defense and deterrence of foreign aggression Mr. McCain was a courageous and principled leader. With his climactic vote in the summer of 2017 against a health-care bill that he thought bad for the country, he made a dramatic plea for cooperation and mutual respect in Congress. It was a message that should be heeded, especially by those in his party who seem to have come unmoored from their conservative principles by the faux-populist exploits of President Trump. Mr. McCain, on numerous occasions, rose above party politics to pursue what he honestly saw as the national interest, and he accomplished a great deal. The country has lost an irreplaceable asset. McCain wasnt always right, of course. Who is? He was pilloried for being an avid supporter of the Iraq War a stance that he, like many of us, came to regret. But he should be remembered not just for his misguided advocacy of the invasion but for his brave and lonely support of the Iraq surge in 2007 at a time when he was preparing to seek the presidency and other supporters of the war, such as Hillary Clinton, had turned dovish. McCain was vindicated when the surge led to a 90 percent reduction in violence. If only President Barack Obama had listened when McCain warned against pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq in 2011 a mistake that led to the rise of the Islamic State. The following day, The Post reported that Cohen had told associates that he witnessed an exchange in which Trump Jr. told his father about an upcoming gathering in which he expected to get information about Clinton. The Post did not report that Trump Jr. told his father that the information was coming from Russians. The president or the candidate is entitled to contribute anything he wants to his own campaign, Dershowitz said. So the only issue here is whether or not there was a failure to report the contribution. That failure to report is attributable to the treasurer of the campaign, not to the president. The hook, apparently the idea of a staffer, did work, for better or worse: Reporters for The Washington Post, CNN, Politico and the Atlantic are all at the gun range, waiting to board the campaign bus and spend a long ride to the next event crammed in with Ward, Cernovich and a long list of uncomfortable questions for the candidate. Ive always been very upset . . . about patients who cant get health care, he said. Yet it never inspired him to act. Until last summer, that is, when the political novice joined what is now at least eight other Democratic physicians running as first-time candidates in congressional races across the country. He was born and bred to serve, the son and grandson of Navy admirals, and he did so with courage and conviction, sometimes with grit and anger, almost always with humor and affection for those who joined him in the battles. As a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, he refused to abandon his fellow POWs when he was offered the chance. It was not in his character to do so, and throughout his life he always refused to abandon the causes in which he believed, even at times when he was a lonely voice. John was always there as a kind of conscience of the Senate, said Kyl, who represented Arizona with McCain from 1995 to 2013 and has been floated as a possible interim replacement for the senator. Kyl pointed to an episode years ago during which McCain had a heated argument with Senate Republican leaders and urged them to give Democrats a vote they had been seeking on an amendment. As McCain battled brain cancer, Ducey, a Republican, did not speculate publicly about who he might tap to replace him. Since McCain died after the deadline to file for this Novembers election, most close observers have concluded that the new senator will not face voters until the 2020 general election. Ducey said on Twitter that McCain will lie in state in the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix on Wednesday, which would have been the senators 82nd birthday. Congressional leaders in Washington have said that he would lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, though the timing was uncertain. In the first half of 2017, McCain traveled more than 75,000 miles to more than 15 nations, meeting with longtime allies fearful of dramatic policy changes that Trump had suggested in sometimes offhand comments or gestures. His colleagues called it the reassurance tour, and in the fall of 2017 McCain delivered several speeches that did not mention Trump by name but told crowds that it was time to wake up and to fight isolationism, protectionism and nativism. Since McCains diagnosis, his faceoffs with Trump were largely restricted to official statements and through Twitter, where the senator made a point of reserving carefully worded vitriol for the matters that most defined him. On the matter of torture, he challenged lawmakers to vote against confirming now-CIA Director Gina Haspel, who was involved in the agencys interrogation program. On the rule of law and matters concerning allegations of Russian interference, he reprimanded Trump for attacking special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and his investigation. And in response to Trumps statements flouting long-standing global alliances, he has gone around the president to address other nations on behalf of the American people. The death of Sen. John McCain on Saturday prompted an outpouring of tributes to the Vietnam War hero and independent-minded lawmaker who has been a dominant figure for decades. Past presidents, former political rivals and McCains Senate colleagues, Republicans and Democrats hailed the late senator. John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order, said former president George W. Bush. Senator John McCain believed that every citizen has a responsibility to make something of the freedoms given by our Constitution, and from his heroic service in the Navy to his 35 years in Congress, he lived by his creed every day, said former president Bill Clinton. McCains rival for the Republican nomination in the 2008 presidential race, Mitt Romney, said, John McCain defined a life of honor. Former president Barack Obama, who defeated McCain in the 2008 general election, also praised him. 1 of 38 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad The life of John McCain, ?maverick? U.S. senator from Arizona View Photos Sen. John S. McCain III (R-Ariz.), a prisoner of war in Vietnam and a two-time presidential candidate, was known for his unfiltered opinions and willingness to buck Republican Party orthodoxy. Caption Sen. John S. McCain III (R-Ariz.), a prisoner of war in Vietnam and a two-time presidential candidate, was known for his unfiltered opinions and willingness to buck Republican Party orthodoxy. Melina Mara/The Washington Post Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue. Few of us have been tested by the way John once was, or required to show the courage that he did, Obama said. But all of can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At Johns best, he showed us what that means. President Trump, who had a combative relationship with the senator, tweeted Saturday night: My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you! First lady Melania Trump also tweeted, saying: Our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathy to the McCain Family. Thank you Senator McCain for your service to the nation. Vice President Pence had this to say, also via Twitter: Karen and I send our deepest condolences to Cindy and the entire McCain family on the passing of Senator John McCain. We honor his lifetime of service to this nation in our military and in public life. His family and friends will be in our prayers. God bless John McCain. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a statement: In an era filled with cynicism about national unity and public service, John McCains life shone as a bright example. He showed us that boundless patriotism and self-sacrifice are not outdated concepts or cliches, but the building blocks of an extraordinary American life. View Graphic John McCain, in the words of his colleagues Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) said: Our nation aches for truth-tellers. This man will be greatly missed. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he would introduce a resolution to rename the Russell office building for McCain. As you go through life, you meet few truly great people. John McCain was one of them. His dedication to his country and the military were unsurpassed, and maybe most of all, he was a truth teller never afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all too rare. The Senate, the United States, and the world are lesser places without John McCain. McCains wife, Cindy, said simply: My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the place he loved best. The accusations came as Francis wrapped up one of the most challenged trips of his papacy, where in Ireland he came face to face with the national anger and grief caused by decades of abuse. In a Mass at Dublins Phoenix Park, Francis spoke in Spanish and asked for forgiveness for what he called abuses of power, conscience, and sexual abuse perpetrated by members with roles of responsibility in the church, according to a Vatican News translation of his remarks. The Rodong Sinmun piece did not mention Trump by name or the decision to cancel Pompeos trip. Media outlets controlled by the Pyongyang regime have been careful not to criticize Trump directly since his June 12 meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, reserving occasional ire for Pompeo and other members of the administration. But the timing of the piece may be more than coincidence. Students are at the heart of the movement opposing Ortega, who has been in office since returning to power in 2007; he was last reelected in 2016. In recent years, he has grown increasingly authoritarian, punishing those who speak out against him and cracking down on protests. More than 300 have been killed, many of them young people, since the demonstrations started in April, according to human rights groups. Hundreds of Australian parents are travelling overseas every year to secretly choose the gender of their baby. They are spending tens of thousands of dollars to undergo selective IVF, fulfilling their burning desire to complete their family with a child of a certain gender, though social stigma around the procedure means most dont even tell their closest family and friends. Australias peak medical council chose not to legalise IVF gender selection in April last year , with a decision by National Health and Medical Research Council that upheld an existing ban, all but for medical reasons. But it hasnt stopped people seeking out the service. Clinics in the United States are reporting a dramatic increase in Australian clients, mostly seeking to have a baby girl. Like many Millennials, project manager Brigitte Garozzo thought shed have kids before the age of 30. Now shes 27 the age most Australians think is "ideal" to start a family, according to a new survey of our family values and shes not quite ready. "Since I started wanting to have kids, I have always had a timeline of 'before 30' in my head. "Now that I'm 27, it's dawning on me how close that is, and I have a few things I want to get done before I have kids, so I've pushed it back a little." Brigitte Garozzo and Chris Gall are a Millennial couple who plan on having kids in few years' time. Credit:Cole Bennetts She and her 28-year-old partner of seven years, Chris Gall, plan to "finish up a few pre-baby life goals," like travelling and saving up a home deposit, before starting a family in about four years time. Many suggestions were variations on a theme further revealing the importance Perthians place on nature: Where nature is part of your everyday / Where nature meets innovation in the city / Where nature meets the city / Where the bush meets the river / Where the city comes to the sea / Where the city meets the river and the park / Where the river meets the city... Some respondents believed a brand would not help Perth, that nothing would bring foreign tourists here. Others said a brand statement was nothing but a slick, fake marketing slogan imposed from above. It might not have helped that in asking, WAtoday had been as confused as readers about what branding is and what it does. Enter Fraser Marketing International founder Emma Fraser, a brand expert who moved back to Perth 18 months ago after working around the globe in the hospitality and tourism industries. Ms Fraser said people were partly right in that a brand alone could not convince tourists to visit, but it could help in defining and creating perceptions of Perth. It was also important not to confuse branding with marketing slogans. Branding was about defining a places unique fingerprint, its personality, values and promise. Marketing slogans arose from a brand and could change according to their market, for example, interstate tourists or the Asian market. In creating a brand, it was important to stay true to the reality of Perth, not what it might one day offer. Loading Its not fake; they focus on what is there and what you will experience, Ms Fraser said. For example, Melbourne had built its brand around laneways, culture and fashion, Sydney around dining and the harbour. Their marketing campaigns had leveraged that branding. But if Perth was about beaches, beauty and Kings Park, that was fine; Perth should own it. She said if she were engaged to brand Perth there would be a clear process. Every brand around the world, whether its tourism or Apple, they are all built around a story. They each have a character that defines a personality, she said. You would host a discovery workshop to understand the DNA of the current brand and the core offering; why people are coming. Then you dive in to the values and what you want it to be in five or ten years. Then you conduct the research across Perth, WA and Australia, and the Asian market. You ask people if they have been here, would they come back? Why or why not? What reasons do you travel? What are you looking for when you come to Australia? The alchemy lay in finding the harmonies between what people wanted and what of this Perth could realistically deliver on. These were the tourism drivers that led to a core offering. As your respondents said, theres nothing open after 10. So people arent going to be able to come to Perth for an amazing dining experience, she said. International visitors will go to Melbourne for shopping, not Hay Street. Its important to stay true to what you believe and what you can offer and be honest. She said the mocking slogan suggestions had pinpointed some truths. Yes, the mining boom had created price spikes. Yes, Perths strong point was its beaches, though to say it had nothing else was a bit harsh. Yes, it was undeniable shops closed early and many restaurant kitchens closed at 8.30pm hardly welcoming to global visitors. But what is here is the beauty. Its what people talk about, she said. So those elements such as nature might be the core offering, for example, if thats what the research told you the market wanted. From that you create the brand ID logos, colour palettes, so on, your brand toolkit, and from that you create your catchy slogans and quirky campaigns. She said the survey respondents who said Perth was nothing but a stopover for WA might be right. Loading You can do Perth in a couple of days then you move on to the wineries and Monkey Mia, she said. She said Tourism WAs slogan Just another day in WA seemed to reflect that approach, to push statewide destinations. In my professional opinion, the feedback youre getting in your survey is that theres not much to do here, Ms Fraser said. So yes, you could focus on Perth as an overnight, or a three-day stay, before people start to drive WA as a destination. She said the survey indicated that while people loved Perth, they were aware of gaps in the offering. I see the hashtag #perthisok and its true people choose to live here and you make the most of what it is, she said. Brand is the foundation that will stay with you. Then you talk to the international market, you talk to Melbourne and you tweak those campaigns. The winning Perth slogan suggestion? Perth see you outside. Survey respondent Honourable mentions Golden Perth - come and find your golden moment. Perth: Gateway to WA Perth: sunset city. Got a better suggestion? Leave it in the comments! Loading Loading Loading Delinquency implies that theyre misbehaving, that theyre doing something wrong, that theyre not upholding their duty, she said. Its not delinquency, its tragedy. They're not choosing to do this, they have no choice. Midlas financial counsellors saw more than $51 million worth of debt last financial year. Credit:Hamish Hastie In her three years at Midlas Ms Meerman has seen a huge jump in people walking through their doors asking for help with their mortgage, particularly those linked to the resources industry. It has spiked in the wake of the mining bust, were seeing it more and more especially as it happens to knock on businesses, she said. First the major businesses get affected, then all those who service them or were living off that mining money, theyre all failing as well. It is really sad and most of these clients coming into me, theyre in their 50s or early 60s, they have worked their whole life, theyve never been out of a job this long. Its about their identity as a person and they feel like theyre failures. Theyre facing bankruptcy, theyre at the end of their life with nothing to show for a lifetime of work. Ms Meerman said these clients usually had great payment histories on their home loan and it was frustrating for her to see banks pursuing them relentlessly after missing payments. The way that most loans are structured of course they have been paying phenomenal amounts of interest, she said. For many years the banks have profited off them but they are barely waiting three, six or even 12 months before theyre saying, get out, we're taking your house. Most (banks) are upholding their obligations in terms of hardship really well but clients are having to really fight for their rights and I think its causing undue stress on them in what is already a very stressful period of time. Younger people were also being caught in the mortgage trap and there needed to be a perception change on what was a manageable mortgage, Ms Meerman said. When I talk to my clients, particularly my younger clients, their perception of what a reasonable mortgage is is frighteningly high, she said. $400,000 is an entry-level mortgage in their minds and so theyre committing themselves to debt they can't afford and they think its normal. Theyre setting themselves up to fail. Illness dashes the Aussie dream Port Kennedy resident Adam* knows all too well that mortgage delinquency isnt a choice. Illness has destroyed any hope he and his wife had of living out the Australian dream of a comfortable retirement in a home he owned outright. A spray painter and sandblaster by trade, in 2015 the 63-year-old was struck down with a bowel condition that required surgery and left him unable to work. He has also been battling cancer and said while he and his wife had tried everything they could, they just didnt have the income to keep the house. I had a bowel complaint for about two years and finally it sort of hit the mark where I had to have an operation and all the rest of it, he said. I had that then I got cancer and I couldnt work and lost my job. Not having any income except for the Newstart allowance, I wasnt able to keep up my repayments on the house. We kept them up for as long as we could but after about nine months our funds dried up and we started missing our mortgage payments. After youve missed a number of payments the banks start sending letters and making noises wanting their money. You just cant turn around, theres just nowhere to get any money to try and sort anything out. The couple were forced to sell their house and if it wasnt for the support from his family Adam said he and his wife would be on the street. One of my children built a granny flat out the back of their house for my wife and I, he said. If we didnt have that help we would be out on the street, theres no doubt in my mind, he said. We were just in a position where we had nothing left. I couldnt help getting ill and my bowel condition as well as the cancer. You dont give yourself these things so you dont plan for them. Construction woes trickle down to families Waikiki resident Samantha*, her husband and teenage daughter are healthy but they were affected by the ailing WA construction industry. Her husband lost his job in April for three months, which was a huge blow to the family income. It wasnt his choice to lose the job ... he works with timber and that feeds the building industry and when that collapsed his company started retrenching people, he was sort of the last one on so the first one to go, she said. That was $4000 a month that we completely lost and even though he did get a payout it didnt last very long. That put us behind the eight-ball. The familys mental health was strained from the financial stress coupled with the often crushing nature of job hunting her husband was going through. It was quite high impact, she said. I think (my husband) applied for over 100 jobs. He would go for interviews, sometimes three at the same place and not hear anything. It got to the stage where he wouldve gotten a job in Welshpool, and travelled three hours a day just to have a job to pay the bills. It was quite hard for him because he just wanted to support the family. With the help of a financial counsellor both Samantha and Adam were able to get the bank off their backs and navigate their ways out of financial strife in ways they would have never thought of themselves. Ms Meerman said falling behind on mortgage payments was a complex and stressful time, which is why the free service the financial counsellors network provides was so important. She said the first thing they asked was whether the lack of income was because of illness or injury. If thats the case you want to get onto your insurances ASAP. Not just insurances you know youre paying for but the ones you might not know you have on your loans and with your super. Some people are insured for quite a lot of money through their super. They can pay out their house. I have seen people lose their house when they could have actually paid it out. Prime Minister Scott Morrison is under pressure to acknowledge that climate change is a major driver of the drought gripping parts of regional Australia following his declaration that the big dry was his governments number one priority. Hours after his elevation to the top job on Friday, Mr Morrison cited the record-breaking drought as the nations most urgent and pressing need right now. He underlined his commitment on Saturday, his first full day as prime minster, by meeting with national drought coordinator Stephen Day and Nationals leader Michael McCormack to discuss a national approach to the problem. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says national drought action is a top priority, and critics say climate action should be a key part of the response. Credit:AAP Im from the city, Im not pretending to know one end of a sheep from another but I do know when people are hurting in our country and they are hurting terribly, the Sydney-based Mr Morrison said after the meeting. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has vowed to avoid personal attacks on new Prime Minister Scott Morrison, but will hammer the government over economic policy ahead of an election even Coalition MPs concede will be a near-certain victory for Labor. In an interview with Fairfax Media the day after Mr Morrison was sworn-in as Australia's fifth prime minister in five years, Mr Shorten said he was not afraid of facing a revamped Morrison government, and sought to position himself as the best option for voters and a business community tired of a decade of leadership instability in Canberra. "Australians are already concerned the political system doesn't work. After this week that concern will have been only more disturbingly reinforced," he said. "Labor has learned. We have learned that a party shouldn't use a political script which could be written by Quentin Tarantino. She tried. After serving as deputy Liberal leader for 10 years, after remaining determinedly loyal to Malcolm Turnbull, Julie Bishop folded when it became clear his time as prime minister was finished and entered the leadership ballot. If the broader Australian public had been able to vote, shed have won. Easily. Julie Bishop and Malcolm Turnbull leave the leadership spill together on Friday. Credit:AP Which again underlines how remote this entire scuffle was from the desires, ambitions or even the vaguest interests of most Australians, who were simply wondering why on earth there was such a sudden rush to push the PM off his perch. The MPs suddenly scrambled like kids after a burst pinata, but the viewing public could only see bottoms, flying arms and clouds of dust: it made little sense. Bishop was, by a considerable margin, the most popular candidate. A Roy Morgan poll held the day before the ballot found she had a 28-point lead over Bill Shorten and the best chance of winning the next election (a near impossible task given the unreasoned dysfunction of this week). A News Corp poll found she was many long yards ahead of her colleagues as preferred leader, with a solid 40 per cent polled. Youd be excused for thinking this might be a lay-down misere. The man who won the ballot, Scott Morrison, had only 5 per cent. Making [Nauru and Manus] like a zoo that everyone is seeing around the world, [saying] Dont come to Australia or else this happens to you this is not the thing that is impacting people not to come, said Mozhgan Moarefizadeh, an Iranian refugee and advocate. Moarefizadeh said the decisive factor was [Boat] turn-backs ... Thats the reason, not keeping people in offshore detention. Moarefizadeh, tried and failed three times to reach Christmas Island by boat in 2013, before the boat turn-backs began late that year. It was seeing whats going on and hearing the news and we were like, OK then, its risky, its dangerous, crossing the sea is not a joke in those kinds of boats'. Mozhgan Moarefizadeh, an Iranian refugee who is stuck in Indonesia. 'And people are saying that even if you make it there, youll be turned back, so whats the point in going'? said Moarefizadeh, who went on to co-found the Refugee and Asylum Seeker Information Centre to help others in her position access legal aid and community support in Indonesia. Australia is not accepting people. Their border is closed. Thats it, we dont go, she said. Shawji Ramadhan, a Sudanese refugee and former microbiologist who has been in Indonesia since 2011, agrees that Manus Island and Nauru are simply not on the minds of refugees and asylum seekers in Indonesia. I think Australia is thinking, If I take those people [in offshore detention] to Australia, maybe a lot of people [will be] coming again, Mr Ramadhan said. Shawji Ramadhan, 32, fled to Indonesia in mid-2011 after being forced to stop his studies towards a master's of microbiology in Egypt. He lives waiting to resettle with his wife and two sons, aged 1 and 3 years old, south of Jakarta. But, you know, nobody here is thinking about refugees in Manus, because everyone knows about the border being closed. Even my friends in Sudan know that.. Operation Sovereign Borders Offshore detention centres were reopened by the Gillard government in 2012, but arrivals by boat kept increasing, from 17,204 that year to 20,587 in 2013. It was not until the advent of Operation Sovereign Borders in late 2013, which started turning boats around, that the number of arrivals dropped dramatically. Actions under that policy included allegedly paying people smugglers to steer their boats back to Indonesia. Omed, 10, lost his father, uncle and cousin on an asylum boat that sank off the Indonesian coast in 2012. Credit:Michael Bachelard Part of the deterrence was a series of highly publicised sinkings. Another was the reality for asylum seekers that they would pay a people smuggler the going rate at the time of $US5000 to $US6000, only to find themselves back where they began. Some asylum seekers who have arrived more recently in Indonesia have no idea that Australia detains former boat people to dissuade them from making the same journey. So many people here dont know about Nauru and Manus at all, said Abbas Wafa, a refugee community leader and former humanitarian worker, who fled ethnic violence against Hazaras with his wife and now five-year-old daughter. Since 2013, offshore detention has cost Australian taxpayers more than $5 billion. It costs more than $570,000 per year to detain one refugee on Manus Island or Nauru. The government is profoundly culpable for engaging in policies which are deliberately damaging to children and their families. Former Human Rights Commissioner Gillian Triggs According to the leaked Nauru Files, some have suffered sexual assault, physical and psychological abuse, mental illness, self-harm and suicide attempts, including among children. Twelve refugees and asylum seekers have died as a result of suicide, self-immolation, medical neglect or unprovoked violence while in offshore detention. Recently, a number of cases have been reported of resignation syndrome among children, a type of severe depression characterised by progressive withdrawal from life. Today, 117 children are still living on Nauru, around 40 of whom have been born on the island. The government resists all attempts by activists to bring them off the island, arguing that it would lead to boats again crossing from Indonesia and people drowning at sea. But former Human Rights Commission president, Gillian Triggs, told Fairfax Media that, "holding children and their families on Manus and Nauru, that is not what is stopping unauthorised maritime arrivals. Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton in Question Time in 2016 Credit:Alex Ellinghausen "The government is profoundly culpable for engaging in policies which are deliberately damaging to children and their families for extensive and unprecedented periods of time, she said. Politicians in Canberra are well aware of the consequences of what theyre doing but will say that they have their own political advantages either personally or to their party to continue these policies, Professor Triggs said. They see their political futures being dependent upon their offshore processing policies. You will be turned back poster by Australian Government in Indonesia. Neither the department nor the former minister's office responded to a list of questions. Peter Dutton was until Friday the face of Australias offshore detention policy, and new Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, was the progenitor of the boat turnbacks policy. However, both the government and the opposition have rejected calls to resettle those detained on Manus Island and Nauru in Australia. They argue people smugglers would leverage such a move to convince asylum seekers overseas that they too could make it by boat to Australia. In turning down New Zealands offer to resettle 150 of the refugees on Manus Island and Nauru, then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said it would be used by people smugglers as a marketing opportunity. Abbas Wafa, 33, fled Afghanistan with his wife and then two-year-old daughter. He worked in international development for the Aga Khan Foundation in Afghanistan. The evidence from Indonesia suggests that people smugglers do not have such easy access to a market. If people smugglers promote this ideology of going to Australia by boat, and telling us that there is a way or there is a hope, people would not believe them, said Nusrat Karimi, a Hazara refugee who arrived in Indonesia as an unaccompanied minor more than five years ago. They know that the border is closed. You Will Not Make Australia Home The border closed message has been reinforced to those displaced and waiting indefinitely in Indonesia by a five-year $70 million Australian government advertising campaign. You will be turned back, the advertisements say. No Way. You will not make Australia home. Australian advertisements in Indonesia. In the streets of refugee communities in Cisarua and Jakarta, people often wake up to posters plastered outside their homes and pamphlets slipped under their front doors. People are always talking about Australian policy. Information spreads, Wafa says. When you play a video on YouTube an announcement will come You will not make Australia home. We all know about this. Once they started to intercept boats and take them directly back to Indonesia or Vietnam or Sri Lanka, that sent a very strong message that people would pay maybe a lot of money but not actually get anywhere, end up back in basically point zero, said Antje Missbach, a senior lecturer at Monash University and the author of Troubled Transit: Asylum Seekers Stuck in Indonesia. Trish Cameron, an Australian lawyer who has been providing pro bono legal information to asylum seekers in Indonesia for the past three years, says: Its only the Australian government that still focuses on boats anymore. Its not a discussion thats being had in refugee communities here. Surprisingly, many refugees have a positive opinion of Australias closed border. We have all lost brothers, cousins, friends at sea, Wafa says. "We are praying that the border never be opened again. 'A green hell' On the other side of boat turnbacks, refugees stuck in Indonesia have been informed by the UN Refugee Agency that they may face a wait of up to 25 years, or never resettle in a third country, as nations around the world limit their refugee intakes, particularly for those of Muslim backgrounds. The agency has suggested they assimilate to life in Indonesia even though they cannot legally settle there and prepare themselves to wait there indefinitely. Australia has ruled that it will not resettle any refugees who arrived to Indonesia after July 2014, and has cut its overall humanitarian intake from Indonesia, as well as its funding to the International Organisation for Migration, which provides essential services to refugees in and out of detention centres. Although Mr Wafa believes that boat turn backs saved lives, many refugees are left in a desperate position as the lack of work rights for refugees in Indonesia, and dwindling support from Australia, sees more asylum seeker families becoming homeless. If there was a proper humanitarian program, no one would be willing to go by boat, Mr Wafa said. Farahnaz Salehi fled from Afghanistan with her family in 2013 when she was 15. Farahnaz Salehi, 20, who has been in Indonesia for five years. Credit:Janbaz Salehi Together with her parents and seven siblings, their family has survived in Cisarua, two hours by road from Jakarta, for more than five years without the right to work or to gain a formal education. They have slowly been eating their way through their life savings, and hoping for eventual resettlement in a third country. We cant go back, and we cant move forward, so we are stuck here in Indonesia, Ms Salehi said. Indonesia is like a green hell. We are unknown people. We are unknown humans. On Manus Island, Behrouz Boochani, a Kurdish novelist, journalist and filmmaker, says his detention since 2013 has been without any reason. The [Australian] government is convincing people in Australia that they have this right to violate human rights on Manus and Nauru," he says. "What the government has done on Manus and Nauru is systematic torture ... I always wonder, 'Why'? The arson squad is investigating a suspicious fire which damaged a mosque in Mirrabooka, which started just hours after Perth's Islamic community celebrated an important religious festival. Fire crews were called to the scene about 12.20am. The fire damaged chairs and a tree and smoke damage inside the mosque. Police were still at the scene at 6.50am. On Saturday night, the Islamic community in Perth's northern suburbs celebrated Eid, a festival marking the end of Ramadan. WASHINGTON, D.C. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of Sen. John McCain, who died Saturday at 81. Malloy announced Sunday morning that U.S. and state flags will remain at half-staff until sunset on the date of McCains funeral, which has yet to be announced. The Arizona senator died at the age of 81 after more than a year of battling brain cancer. In a statement, Malloy recognized McCains dedication to his country as a veteran and congressman. John McCain is a hero who put his life on the line to defend our nation during a turbulent time of war, experiencing torture and suffering that left him with lifelong physical wounds, and yet on his return home he continued lived his life as humble and unassuming as even the most modest among us, Malloy said. Throughout his time in elected office, whether you agreed or disagreed with him on any policy issue, nobody could deny that Senator McCain truly studied every matter intricately and made a decision based on what he thought was best for the people he was elected to represent. He set standards that all of us should try to emulate. The entire McCain family has given so much for our country, particularly through their long and respected line of military service, and our hearts are with them on this day of mourning. Late Saturday night, two Connecticut senators also reacted to the news of McCains death, both referring to his time as a prison of war in Vietnam. Our country lost an American hero and true public servant tonight, Sen. Richard Blumenthal said. John McCain was the epitome of grit and grace, and his selfless service will continue to inspire this nation to choose courage over cowardice, and country over party. From his tremendous bravery as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, to his spirited and steadfast leadership in Congress, Senator McCain will forever be remembered for his numerous contributions to our nation. I was honored to travel and work closely with him as a member of the Armed Services Committee, and count him as a friend. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones as they grieve this loss. Let us honor his memory, and may this maverick rest in peace. Sen. Christopher Murphy took to Twitter to share a story about McCain. A few years ago, the whole Senate gathered to hear John tell, in spellbinding detail, his POW story, Murphy said. I remember he described how he developed a system of tapping out letters on the cell walls to talk to nearby POWs, (because) they would be beaten if they spoke. When it was time for questions, Diane Feinstein asked John if he could still recall, 40 years later, how the system worked, Murphy added. He didnt say a word. He just started a rhythmic, staccato tapping on the podium. I just tapped out Yes, Diane, I still can, he whispered into the mic. McCains family announced on Friday that he had stopped treatments for his brain cancer. 4 1 of 4 Contributed Photo / Monroe Police Department / Contributed Photo Show More Show Less 2 of 4 Contributed Photo / Monroe Police Department / Contributed Photo Show More Show Less 3 of 4 Contributed Photo / Monroe Police Department / Contributed Photo Show More Show Less 4 of 4 MONROE Police said the expected construction on Route 25 in Monroe has made a lot of progress in the first 24 hours. The roadway was shut down at 8 p.m. Friday and will remain closed until 6 a.m. Monday. The project was delayed three times by inclement weather before finally beginning this weekend. WESTPORT The 10-week LiveGirl Program is returning to Westports Toquet Hall Teen Center. The session will begin on Oct. 4, from 3:45 to 5 p.m. and run through Dec. 13. LiveGirlTalk is a free 10-week discussion group that creates a brave space for girls. The overall goal of LiveGirlTalk is to build social emotional intelligence and self-esteem, said Kevin Godburn, Westport Youth Services program director To register, visit golivegirl.com/leadership. Westport artist exhibits Peace works in Colo. WESTPORT Peace, the universal, elusive quest of mankind, has been a major inspiration for artist Marlene Siff in recent years. It has resulted in a body of work titled Elements of Peace, a part of which is on view as a solo exhibition in the Polly Addison Gallery at the Dairy Arts Center in Boulder, Colo., through Oct. 7. The exhibition includes five large multidimensional paintings. Although best known for her vivid explosions of color for which she is recognized, the five works feature Siffs black and subtle, meditative white constructions A 53-year resident of Westport, Siff has been an active member of the art communities in the tri-state and the New York City regions. FAIRFIELD -- It was the T-shirts that first caught Mary Paglialungas eye. The shirt was blue, with a yellow outline of the state of Connecticut in the middle with some runners making their way along a winding road. The words on the shirt read: Run 169 Towns Society. I had run into a couple of guys at the Christmas Village (race) in Trumbull and I asked them about their shirts, Paglialunga said. Turns out they were two of the original founders and I thought about it for like, a month and I said, Im going to do that, it sounded really cool and its been nothing but a wonderful experience. It was March of 2012 when the first meeting of www.debitconn.org - Do Every Blessed Town in Connecticut - took place. Since its formation some six years ago, thousands of runners have joined the club, looking to run a road race in every one of the states 169 towns and villages. I was turning 50 that year and I wanted something new and different, Paglialunga said. Besides the fact of just getting out of Fairfield County, theres a whole another world out there in the state of Connecticut that many people have no idea about. It was one of those original founders, Adam Osmond, that was wearing the shirt that day in Trumbull. As of July 6, 2018, there are 2,843 members of debitconn, with more joining the club just about every day. The way it started was, eight of us got together and decided to organize a (running) club and set up basic rules, Osmond said. So, we sat down and figured out what would count as an official race. It had to be at least one mile, it had to be timed, and if a race went through more than one town, the town where the race started would count as the start point. We got everything together, I created a website and Facebook and twitter page and all of a sudden, the idea just took off. The runners all got caught up with it the idea of running a race in every town. It got really big really fast. There are currently 21 kings - men who have completed all 169 races and 14 queens who have done the same. When we started we had no idea what this would become, Osmond said. I thought if we got 100 people to sign up, that would be great. But as it turns out, runners like goals. Runners like to have something to accomplish, to look forward to, Osmond said. Ive lived in Connecticut for over 30 years and I didnt know that some of these towns existed. Now, not only do I know but Ive run in most of them. Before this, a lot of runners would just run in their local area. (Creating this club) helped a lot of the small races, that might get just 100 people or so. We have everything on our website and our members know about these races. Its a win-win for everyone. We have a very fun group. Right now, Paglialunga, 53, has 165 races notched on her belt. No. 162 took place last November with a race in Hampton. Next came No. 163 Griswold in February, followed by No. 164 in April in Salem and No. 165 in New Hartford. Still to come are Marlboro, Willington, Durham and last but not least, No. 169 in West Haven. I remember meeting Mary in Trumbull and she was so excited about it and now, here she is, she only has a few more races to go, said Osmond. Not bad for someone that only started this adventure in January of 2014. I was the 149th member to join. They allow people to enter previous races prior to their joining date but I didnt have too many of them, Paglialunga said. I had the Mad Dash in Stratford, I did that Trumbull Christmas Village race, which is where I met the guys that got me hooked on this. Then I did the Bunny Boogie in Darien and the rest is history. Most of the road races throughout Connecticut of the 5K variety, although there are some 10K events, according to Paglialunga. What she truly enjoys about running these races are seeing the people that run. There are families, husbands and wives, it absolutely boggles my mind, she said. You see everyone wearing the shirts. Its free to join, you just enter your race and youre off. Its great, youre running but youre also out exploring Connecticut. There are farms out there and there are wineries and theres wonderful people everywhere, Paglialunga said. There are lakes and rivers and fantastic races all over the state. The people Ive met in the 169 group have just been tremendous. We have families doing it, thats a cool thing. Its been an absolutely amazing experience and Im so, so happy that I did this and Im even happier that Im almost done. The running has not come without its price, however. In November of 2015, Paglialunga had knee surgery, not too long before a race in Morris. Morris is considered an elusive town, Paglialunga said. They only have one race a year and its in January. I did the four-mile race on crutches. I didnt want to wait around for a year to do the race, so in a driving rain and freezing cold, I ran it. It took me forever, but I did it. It was brutal. One of the 169ers ran it with me. They held the clocks for me. In order for it to count as a race, you have to be registered, you have to have a bib and the results have to be posted. I got in just under the wire, they held the clock for me, which was great. It took me 1:17. It was all arms, I couldnt put any weight on my leg. I think that was my most challenging race. While Morris might have been the most challenging, there are others that standout for different reasons. One of my favorites is the Chester race, Paglialunga said. Its called the 4 on the Fourth. You run four miles on July 4 and then they have a wonderful party downtown after the race. Thats been my most favorite town so far in the whole state. Its just an absolutely charming little town. After a lot of these races, theres always food and beer and thats always a good time. Another was the overnight race in Montville. Thats when the clocks go back, she said. You start the race at midnight and your time is going to be a negative time because they set the clocks back. Its called The Flashback 5K, youre running it in the middle of the night, its cold usually but that was very fun. According to the debitconn website, there are 26 runners from Fairfield that are members of the 169 Towns group, including Chris Ahlberg (136 races), Kevin Ross (89), Monica Roche (79) and Vae Champagne (43). I met Monica Roche a while back, shes in her 70s I believe, Paglialunga said. I saw her at the Great Pumpkin Classic in Trumbull on October 22 and shes still going. I still see her plugging along. What an inspiration. Amazing. Its unbelievable. Osmond has 157 races to his credit, but has run over twice that amount so far, I have 12 towns to go but Ive done over 350 races because I do a lot of repeats, he said. I probably could have finished a long time ago but I keep repeating races in a lot of towns. Paglialungas Fairfield race was the Colony Grill Hot Oil race back in 2013 before she joined the 169 group. And when she finally gets to 169? What next? I am not going to start over, she said. I am going to continue to do the races that I enjoy and I will try to do one a month. What Paglialunga does plan to do is help with a group called Achilles International - a group of disabled runners that work together with able-bodied runners Its really cool, she said. Whether youre assisting a blind person or tethered to a wheelchair person or helping a child that might have one leg, and when you to a race and see these people, you look on their face when theyve finished, it brings tears to your eyes. I saw it and I said I have to do this. Its so rewarding. celsberry@ctpost.com We won't give up, Wilfred Catcheway said, wearing a windbreaker embroidered with the family's surname on the back and his name and "dad" on the sleeve. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 25/8/2018 (1163 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. We won't give up, Wilfred Catcheway said, wearing a windbreaker embroidered with the family's surname on the back and his name and "dad" on the sleeve. Wilfred and Bernice Catcheway were at the 10th annual No Stone Unturned Concert in St. John's Park Saturday afternoon the concert is meant to honour Manitoba's missing and murdered. Saturday's event is important to the Catcheways. Their daughter, Jennifer, went missing 10 years ago it was her birthday, June 19, when Bernice last heard her daughter's voice over the phone. She was supposed to come home for a birthday party. She never did and the case remains unsolved. They've been searching for her since. "Ten years time. But were here today to support all families of the missing right across the Canada," said Bernice Catcheway. "People are hurting because of the same issue. Today brings awareness were still here, were not going away. We need to bring our children home." The park where the concert was held is a stone's throw from the Red River, where community group Drag the Red uses grappling hooks attached to long ropes to comb the river's murky water, searching for bodies and answers. The group was present at the event, and the Bear Clan and Mama Bear Clan Patrol were too. Nearer to the river, behind the stage, children played and laughed on a play structure. Event organizer NDP MLA Bernadette Smith chats with concert attendees. On the lawn of St. John's Park, people gathered, some sitting in lawn chairs, others on the grass, listening to the music and talking. Children played there was a facepainting station and cotton candy and two bouncy houses. A line for free popcorn stretched across the lawn, near to where the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service parked a firetruck, and the Winnipeg Police Service parked a cruiser car. The constables were cajoling with kids. The concert's head organizer is Bernadette Smith, the MLA for Point Douglas, but Saturday's event wasn't explictly political it was about awareness building. "Every year we hold it to bring community together to connect on this issue but also to remember and honour the women whove gone missing or been murdered," Smith said. "And men too, this is about missing and murdered persons, its not just about Indigenous people, its not just about genders, its about all people." Folks young and old took in the music and atmosphere. The event is for another purpose to celebrate and uplift the good work that people in the community do, Smith said. She highlighted the Bear Clan and the Mama Bear Clan for the work the groups do, walking the streets, lending a hand to those who need it. She has a personal connection the concert was organzied in honour of Smith's sister, Claudette Priscilla June Osborne-Tyo, who was 21-years-old when she disappeared off the streets of the North End in 2008. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "We dont have any answers youre still missing your loved one. The phone rings. The doorbell goes off and youre left wondering is that the call? Is that the knock? And weve never stopped searching," Smith said. The longest line in the park was for a bag (or two) of free popcorn. The family has since called for action rather than an inquiry, like the ongoing national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. "We advocated for a national action plan that would address the high numbers and actually put tangible things in place to stop the violence," she said. "The numbers are still rising, theres still people being murdered, theres still people going missing." Violence, racism and discrimination are learned behaviours, Smith said. "I think as a society we need to shift how we treat one another and start caring about this issue and standing up against it it could happen to anyone," she said. erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca Barb Kilpatrick has no doubt that as another summer winds down and colder, darker days approach, painful memories of her baby sisters death will come racing back into her head. This article was published 26/8/2018 (1163 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Barb Kilpatrick has no doubt that as another summer winds down and colder, darker days approach, painful memories of her baby sisters death will come racing back into her head. "In the fall its always difficult and its really hard moving into winter. Theres her birthday, theres Christmas, you just think about all the things shes missed." Beverley Rowbotham The bond and closeness Kilpatrick shared with her little sister, Beverly Rowbotham, started at an early age and remained strong throughout both of their lives. "Bev was a lot younger than me and my other sister Betty, she was our little sister, she was like our little doll when she was born." With the two women remaining close into adulthood, Kilpatrick said she saw the kind of woman her little sister grew up to become. "She was just a good person," Kilpatrick said. "She was just a good, kind, caring person. WAYNE GLOWACKI/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Barb Kilpatrick (left) and Betty Rowbotham at a news conference, March 30, 2012, one day after Mark Stobbe was acquitted of killing their sister, Beverly Rowbotham. "Bev was a very intelligent woman and she was someone who was so passionate about what she believed in." According to Kilpatrick, one of the things her little sister was passionate about was the issue of violence against women. "When the Ecole Polytechnique massacre happened that really affected her, and she really became a champion for women because she found violence against women appalling. "She would have been appalled that she was a victim of violence because that is something that so horrified her." Beverly Rowbothams life came to a bloody end in October 2000, killed by what police believe were 16 hatchet blows to the face. "It was absolutely horrific," Kilpatrick said. "It was a crime of real violence, it was a crime of rage." At the time she was killed, Rowbotham and her husband Mark Stobbe and two young children were living on River Road in St. Andrews, north of Winnipeg. JEFF DE BOOY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES RCMP divers comb the banks of the the Red River at Wayside Park on River Road and St. Andrews Road for clues in Rowbothams death. The couple had moved to St. Andrews from Saskatchewan in the spring of 2000 after Stobbe took on a high-level position with the Manitoba government. Just months later, on Oct. 25, around 2:30 a.m., Rowbothams bludgeoned body was discovered in the familys sedan, parked near a gas station in Selkirk. The grisly discovery marked the beginning of years of questions and heartbreak for Kilpatrick, and everyone who knew and loved Rowbotham. A lengthy police investigation culminated in Stobbes arrest for the killing in May 2008. At his second-degree murder trial in 2012, Stobbe told court Rowbotham had gone to Safeway the night before she was killed while he remained at home and fell asleep. Stobbe testified he awoke hours later to discover Rowbotham had not returned. Stobbe said he called Rowbothams sister Betty, who lived in the area, to tell her Bev was missing. A short time later police notified Stobbe that his wife was dead. Kilpatrick said she was at a health conference in New Orleans when she got a call from her daughter telling her Rowbotham was dead. "Its all a blur those first few moments and days," she said. "It was like I couldnt even think straight and I just got on the first plane I could get." PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES RCMP detectives emerging from a search of Rowbothams St. Andrews home. When Kilpatrick arrived in Winnipeg she still had no idea what had actually happened to her sister. "It was just so shocking initially. We thought maybe someone had abducted her in her car, or abducted her in the parking lot, and then of course we found out it was something very different," she said. An RCMP investigation concluded Rowbotham was bludgeoned to death with what was likely a hatchet in her own backyard, and that her body was then driven to Selkirk in the family car and abandoned. In the backyard, investigators found fragments of Rowbothams skull and clumps of her hair. In the garage, where the Ford had been parked, investigators found two blood stains on the floor, and one on the wall. Police also recovered two blood-soaked tissues and a bloody towel inside the garage, according to reports. Based on her injuries, police believed Rowbotham was killed by multiple hatchet strikes to the face. The murder weapon has never been found. According to a DNA analysis of the crime scene, the blood stains in the garage and backyard had come from Rowbotham, while blood stains on the towel and tissues in the garage belonged to Stobbe. Other stains found at the scene were comprised of a mixture of Stobbes and his wifes blood. WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Security footage showing Beverly Rowbotham and her son shopping at a Selkirk Safeway hours before she was killed. The investigation also determined that there were DNA traces found at the scene that belonged to an unidentified man, and spots of blood on Rowbothams handbag found in her car had also come from an unidentified man. But police could not find one witness in the area who said they saw or heard anything suspicious around the time of the killing. Kilpatrick said as the family began to digest the facts of what had happened, some began to have their own suspicions about who they thought killed Rowbotham, and years later that person Stobbe would face trial. "It was awful because it took so long to lay charges," Kilpatrick said. "It was just insane. She was killed in 2000, it wasnt until 2008 that charges were laid and then it didnt go to trial until 2012. "Those years of waiting and wondering were such a difficult time, and we all had to deal with what we were dealing with and still carry on and keep living. It was horrible." Prosecutors alleged Stobbe killed Rowbotham in the backyard of their home during a heated argument, put her body in the car and then drove it to a Selkirk parking lot. Prosecutors alleged Stobbe put a bike in the trunk of the car, which he used to ride back home. WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Rowbothams body was discovered in her Crown Victoria near a gas station in Selkirk. At trial, a witness testified he saw a large man riding a bicycle around 10 p.m. the night of Rowbothams killing in the Selkirk area near where the car had been abandoned. Defence lawyer Tim Killeen argued Rowbotham had been killed in her backyard by a stranger while Stobbe and the couples two kids were asleep and that the stranger had driven Rowbothams body to Selkirk. Killeen asked Stobbe if he killed his wife, if he cleaned up the backyard and if he moved his wifes body to Selkirk. To all three questions Stobbe testified, "No, I did not." On March 29, 2012, jurors found Stobbe not guilty of second-degree murder. "It was just beyond our belief, we could not even process it that day," Kilpatrick said. A day later, Kilpatrick and her sister held a news conference where they vowed to keep fighting for justice for Rowbotham. Six years after his acquittal, Stobbe is remarried and splits his time between Saskatchewan where he is completing a PhD and Alberta where he teaches sociology. TREVOR HAGAN / THE CANADIAN PRESS Mark Stobbes lawyer, Tim Killeen, addresses media outside Law Courts in Winnipeg, Thursday, March 29, 2012. A jury has found Stobbe not guilty of second-degree murder in the hatchet death of his wife. Stobbe says he expected a not guilty verdict throughout the trial. "First of all, I had the information that others didnt, because I knew I hadnt done it," Stobbe said in a phone interview from Saskatchewan. Stobbe alleges during his interrogation, police attempted to get him to confess by laying out how strong a case they had against him. "I didnt know it at the time, but basically part of it was to say, You might as well confess because you are going to be convicted," Stobbe said. Stobbe said he believes the high-profile nature of the case was the reason he was arrested. "I dont think it affected their investigation, but it ultimately caused me to be charged," Stobbe said. "It affected the pressure on the justice system to come up with some result." Stobbe said he believes the court system did its job properly, and that is why he was acquitted. KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES An emotional Mark Stobbe speaks to reporters March 29, 2012, after a jury acquitted him in the murder of his wife, Beverly Rowbotham. "The court system worked the way it is supposed to," Stobbe said. "As far as the overall justice system, I would say it quarter worked; it didnt send the wrong person to jail, but it didnt send the right person to jail." Stobbe said he doesnt think about someone else being charged in Rowbothams killing and says with each passing year it appears less likely to happen. "Right after the verdict I was asked will you be trying to solve it or pursue it and my answer was no, and (for that) same reason I havent been critical of the police for not solving it (after) my acquittal. "A lot of time has passed; what leads would have been there are obscured by the passage of time." Stobbe claims he had no plans to fight for his own freedom had he been found guilty. "I told my lawyer that in the event I was convicted, I was not interested in appealing," Stobbe said. "I would continue to maintain my innocence but there would be a number of reasons for not wanting to appeal. "I actually felt before the result came in that I had received a fair trial, which gave me confidence in the result I could not see any basis for appeal because an appeal has to be based on a mistake in law, and we didnt see it." Stobbe said he believes he knows how his wife was killed, but is not sure if the police will ever figure out who killed her. "A person can paint a pretty clear picture of what happened," he said. "The two mysteries are who and why? Stobbe raised his two sons after his acquittal and both are now studying in university. He said he has moved on from the trial that could have put him in prison for the rest of his life. "Oh, Im fine," Stobbe said. "Life goes on, I live life." Stobbe said he is not interested in discussing memories of his wife. "Im actually not going to speak to that," he said. "Ive learned whenever I do that, the haters come out of the woodwork." Kilpatrick said she is not sure she will ever move on from her sisters death. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "The pain, it never goes away. Years and years go by, but there probably isnt a day we dont remember. "There has been no justice for Bev," she said. "There should be justice for Bev." Dave Baxter is a freelance reporter, photographer and editor who writes about Manitoba crimes for the Sunday Special. crimefilesmanitoba@gmail.com Twitter:@davebbbaxter Tortoise Energy Independence Fund, Inc. is a close ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Tortoise Capital Advisors L.L.C. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the North American. 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Ltd., Benefit Canada, Benefit Holding, BioFortis, CDS - Center de Service SAS, COORDINATED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, CRM Health Korea Ltd., CSD Health Korea Ltd., Cambridge Pharma Consultancy, Cambridge Pharma Consultancy Limited, Cegedim Venezuela C.A., Cenduit (India) Services Private Company Limited, Cenduit Limited, Cenduit Mauritius Holdings Company, Clinical Financial Services, Clinical Lab Minority Shareholder Limited, Coordinated Management Holdings L.L.C., Cote Orphan, Cote Orphan Consulting UK Limited, DATA NICHE ASSOCIATES, Datadina Ecuador S.A., Dataline Software Limited, Datec Industria e Comercio, Dimensiions Healthcare LLC, Drug Dev Inc., DrugDev, DrugDev Limited, EA Institute L.L.C., ENTERPRISE ASSOCIATES, EPS Research Limited, EPS Software Limited, Epernicus, Forcea NV, Foresight Group International UK LTD, Foresight Group Japan G.K., Foresight IT Solutions Consulting India Private Limited, GRACE DATA CORPORATION, Global Crown Investment Limited, HIGHPOINT SOLUTIONS, Hospital Marketing Services Ltd., Hotel Lot C-8B, IMS (GIBRALTAR) HOLDING LIMITED, IMS (UK) Pension Plan Trustee Company Limited, IMS AB, IMS CHINAMETRIK INC., IMS HEALTH GROUP LIMITED, IMS HEALTH KOREA LTD, IMS HEALTH KOREA LTD., IMS HEALTH PUERTO RICO INC., IMS HEALTH TAIWAN LTD., IMS Health (Australia) Partnership, IMS Health Analytics Services Private Limited, IMS Health Bangladesh Limited, IMS Health Bolivia S.R.L., IMS Health Cyprus LTD, IMS Health Egypt Limited, IMS Health Information Solutions Argentina S.A., IMS Health Information Solutions Australia Pty. Ltd, IMS Health Information Solutions India Private Ltd., IMS Health Information Solutions Japan K.K., IMS Health Lanka (Private) Limited, IMS Health Networks Limited, IMS Health Pakistan (Private) Limited, IMS Health Paraguay SRL, IMS Health Surveys Limited, IMS Health Technology Solutions (China) Co. Ltd., IMS Health Technology Solutions Australia Pty. Ltd, IMS Health Technology Solutions Colombia Ltda., IMS Health Technology Solutions Holdings AB, IMS Health Technology Solutions Hungary Ltd., IMS Health Technology Solutions India Private Ltd., IMS Health Technology Solutions Japan K.K., IMS Health Technology Solutions Kazakhstan, IMS Health Technology Solutions LLC, IMS Health Technology Solutions Sweden AB, IMS Health Technology TUNISIA, IMS Health Tunisia sarl, IMS Health Uruguay S.A., IMS Health de Venezuela C.A., IMS Holdings (U.K.) Limited, IMS Hospital Group Limited, IMS Information Solutions Medical Research Limited, IMS Information Solutions UK Ltd., IMS International (Proprietary) Limited, IMS Market Research Consult (Beijing), IMS Meridian Limited, IMS Meridian Research Limited, IMS Republica Dominicana, IMS SOFTWARE SERVICES LTD., IMS Technology Solutions UK Limited, INTERCONTINENTAL MEDICAL STATISTICS INTERNATIONAL, IPP Informacion Promocional y Publicitaria S.A. de C.V., IPP Technology Solutions Mexico SA de CV (FKA Cegedim Mexico SA de CV), IQVA Romania S.R.L., IQVIA (Thialand) Co. Ltd., IQVIA AB, IQVIA AG, IQVIA AG (Mexico Branch), IQVIA AG (UK Branch), IQVIA Adriatic d.o.o. za Konzalting, IQVIA Asia Pacific Commercial Holdings LLC, IQVIA Beteiligungs-gesellschaft mbH, IQVIA BioSciences Holdings LLC, IQVIA CHINAMETRIK INC., IQVIA COMMERCIAL FINANCE INC., IQVIA COMMERCIAL INDIA HOLDINGS CORP., IQVIA COMMERCIAL LICENSING ASSOCIATES LLC, IQVIA COMMERCIAL SERVICES LLC, IQVIA COMMERCIAL TRADING CORP., IQVIA Clinical AB, IQVIA Commercial Deutschland GmbH, IQVIA Commercial GmbH & Co. OHG, IQVIA Commercial I LLC, IQVIA Commercial Software GmbH, IQVIA Commercial Sp. z.o.o., IQVIA Commerical Consulting Sp. z.o.o., IQVIA Consulting Solutions bvba, IQVIA Consulting and Information Services India Private Limited, IQVIA Finance Ireland Designated Activity Company, IQVIA GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS INC., IQVIA Healthcare QFC branch, IQVIA Hellas Technology Solutions S.A., IQVIA Holdings France SAS, IQVIA IES (UK) Limited, IQVIA IES Brasil Ltda., IQVIA IES Europe Limited, IQVIA IES European Holdings, IQVIA IES Italia S.r.l., IQVIA IES OY, IQVIA IES Overseas Holdings Limited, IQVIA IES Portugal, IQVIA IES Portugal Unipressoal Ltda., IQVIA IES Puerto Rico Inc., IQVIA II Technology Solutions Portugal, IQVIA INC., IQVIA INFORMATION MEDICAL STATISTICS (ISRAEL) LTD., IQVIA Information, IQVIA Information Solutions (China) Co., IQVIA Information Solutions GmbH, IQVIA Informations Solutions France SAS, IQVIA Istanbul Saglik Hizmetler Arastirma ve Danismanlik Limited Sirketi, IQVIA Korea Co. Ltd., IQVIA LTD, IQVIA Market Intelligence LLC, IQVIA Marktforschung GmbH, IQVIA Maroc SARL, IQVIA Mauritius Holdings, IQVIA Medical Communications & Consulting, IQVIA Medical Development (Dalian) Co., IQVIA Medical Education Inc., IQVIA Medical Radar AB, IQVIA Operations France SAS, IQVIA PHARMA Inc., IQVIA Partners AS, IQVIA Pharma Services Corp., IQVIA Pharmaceutical Marketing Services Ltd., IQVIA Phase One Services LLC, IQVIA RDS (India) Private Limited, IQVIA RDS (Pty.) Limited, IQVIA RDS AG, IQVIA RDS Argentina S.A., IQVIA RDS Asia Inc., IQVIA RDS Austria GmbH, IQVIA RDS BT Inc., IQVIA RDS Brasil Ltda., IQVIA RDS Bulgaria EOOD, IQVIA RDS Canada ULC, IQVIA RDS Chile, IQVIA RDS Colombia S.A.S., IQVIA RDS Consulting Inc., IQVIA RDS ESTONIA OU, IQVIA RDS East Asia Pte. Ltd., IQVIA RDS Eastern Holdings GmbH, IQVIA RDS Finland OY, IQVIA RDS France SAS (formerly, IQVIA RDS Funding LLC, IQVIA RDS GesmbH, IQVIA RDS GesmbH Greek Branch, IQVIA RDS Guatemala S.A., IQVIA RDS Holdings, IQVIA RDS Hong Kong Limited, IQVIA RDS ISRAEL LTD., IQVIA RDS Inc., IQVIA RDS Ireland (Finance) Ltd., IQVIA RDS Ireland Ltd., IQVIA RDS Italy Srl, IQVIA RDS Latin America LLC, IQVIA RDS Latvia SIA, IQVIA RDS Magyarorszag Gyogyszerfejlesztesi es Tanacsado Kft., IQVIA RDS Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., IQVIA RDS Moscow, IQVIA RDS Novosibirsk, IQVIA RDS Panama Inc., IQVIA RDS Peru S.r.l., IQVIA RDS Philippines Inc., IQVIA RDS Poland Sp. Zoo, IQVIA RDS Pty. Limited, IQVIA RDS Slovakia s.r.o., IQVIA RDS Spain, IQVIA RDS Spain S.L., IQVIA RDS St. Petersburg, IQVIA RDS Support Sarl, IQVIA RDS Switzerland sarl, IQVIA RDS Taiwan Ltd., IQVIA RDS Transfer LLC, IQVIA RDS UAB, IQVIA RDS UK Holdings Ltd., IQVIA RDS and Integrated Services Belgium NV, IQVIA RDS d.o.o. Beograd, IQVIA SOLUTIONS ASIA PTE. LTD., IQVIA SOLUTIONS CANADA INC., IQVIA SOLUTIONS JAPAN K.K., IQVIA SOLUTIONS OPERATIONS CENTER PHLIPPINES INC., IQVIA SOLUTIONS PHILIPINES, IQVIA SOLUTIONS PHILIPPINES, IQVIA Services Japan K.K., IQVIA Solutions (NZ) Limited, IQVIA Solutions (Pty.) Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Argentina S.A., IQVIA Solutions Australia Holdings Pty. Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Australia Pty. Ltd., IQVIA Solutions B.V., IQVIA Solutions Belgium S.P.R.L., IQVIA Solutions Bulgaria EOOD, IQVIA Solutions Colombia S.A., IQVIA Solutions Consulting Myanmar Company Limited, IQVIA Solutions Denmark AS, IQVIA Solutions Enterprise Management Consulting (Shanghai) Co., IQVIA Solutions Finance B.V., IQVIA Solutions Finance UK I Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Finance UK II Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Finance UK III Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Finance UK V Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Finland OY, IQVIA Solutions Global Holdings UK Ltd., IQVIA Solutions GmbH, IQVIA Solutions HQ Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Holdings (Pty.) Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Hong Kong Limited, IQVIA Solutions Ireland Limited, IQVIA Solutions Italy W.r.l., IQVIA Solutions Kazakhstan LLC, IQVIA Solutions LLC, IQVIA Solutions Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., IQVIA Solutions Norway AS, IQVIA Solutions Pharmaceutical SRL, IQVIA Solutions Portugal, IQVIA Solutions Regional Pte. Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Services Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Sweden AB, IQVIA Solutions UK Investments Ltd., IQVIA Solutions UK Limited, IQVIA Solutions a.s., IQVIA Solutions del Peru S.A., IQVIA Solutions do Brasil Ltda., IQVIA Solutions s.r.o., IQVIA Solucoes de Tecnologia DO Brazil Ltda., IQVIA Staff Services Sp.A., IQVIA TRANSPORTATION SERVICES CORP., IQVIA Technology Services Ltd., IQVIA Technology Solutions Egypt LLC, IQVIA Technology Solutions Finland OY, IQVIA Technology Solutions Poland SP. z.o.o., IQVIA Technology Solutions Romania Srl, IQVIA Technology Solutions S.R.O. Branch Bulgaria, IQVIA Technology Solutions Ukraine LLC, IQVIA Technology Solutions s.r.o., IQVIA Technology and Services AG, IQVIA Tibbi Istatistik Ticaret ve Musavirlik Ltd. Sirketi, IQVIA Trading Management Inc., IQVIA World Publications Ltd., IQVIA Zagreb d.o.o., Iasist Holdco Limited, Iasist Potugal, Iasist SAU Agencia en Chile, Iasist Sociedad Anonima Unipersonal, Impact RX, Infocus Health Limited, Infopharm Ltd., Innovex Holdings I LLC, Innovex Merger Corp., Innovex Saglik Hizmetleri Arastirma ve Danismanlik Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Innovex Saglik Urunleri Pazarlame ve Hizmet Danismanlik Anonim Sirketi, Institute of Medical Communications NCO, Interstatistik AG, Kun Tai Medical Development Hong Kong Limited, Kun Tuo Medical Research & Development (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Laboratorie Novex Pharma Sarl, Laboratorio Commuq Pharma SL, Linguamatics, M&H Informatics (BD) LTD., M-TAG Australia Pty. Ltd., MED-VANTAGE, MG Recherche, Mecurial Insights Holding Pty. Ltd., Mecurial Insights Pty. Ltd., Mercados Y Analisis, Meridian Research Vietnam Ltd., Nordisk Medicin Information AB, Novella Clinical LLC, Novella Clinical Ltd., Novex Pharma Gmbh, Novex Pharma Laboratorio S.L., Novex Pharma Limited, Nuevo Health Pty Ltd, Onkodatamed GmbH, Operaciones Centralizadas Latinoamericana Limitada, Optimum Contact Limited, Outcome Sciences LLC, PILGRIM SOFTWARE HOLDING B.V., POLARIS MANAGEMENT PARTNERS LLC, POLARIS SOLUTIONS LLC, PR Editions S.A.S., PT IMS Health Indonesia, PT Quintiles Indonesia, Penderwood Limited, PharmARC Consulting Services GmbH, PharmARC Inc., Pharma Deals Limited, Pharma Strategy Group Ltd., Pharmadata s.r.o., Pharmaforce, Pilgrim Quality Solutions EMEA BV, Pilgrim Software Asia PVT, Polaris Solutions BV, Polaris Solutions Ltd., Primeum IQVIA SAS, Privacy Analytics Inc., Professional Pharmaceutical Marketing Services (Pty.) Ltd., Pygargus AB, Q Squared Solutions (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Q Squared Solutions (India) Private Limited, Q Squared Solutions (Quest) LLC, Q Squared Solutions (Quest) Limited, Q Squared Solutions (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Q Squared Solutions B.V., Q Squared Solutions BioSciences LLC, Q Squared Solutions China (Quest) Limited, Q Squared Solutions China Limited, Q Squared Solutions Expression Analysis LLC, Q Squared Solutions Holdings B.V., Q Squared Solutions Holdings LLC, Q Squared Solutions Holdings Limited, Q Squared Solutions K.K., Q Squared Solutions LLC, Q Squared Solutions Limited, Q Squared Solutions Proprietary Limited, Q Squared Solutions Pte. Ltd., Q Squared Solutions S.A., Q2 Metrics, Q2 Solutions, QIMS Pharma Services SA DE CV, QUINTILES MEXICO, QUINTILESIMS EUROPEAN HOLDINGS II C.V., Qcare Site Services, Quintiles B.V., Quintiles Benin Ltd., Quintiles Clindata (Pty.) Limited, Quintiles Clindepharm (Pty.) Limited, Quintiles Clinical and Commercial Nigeria Limited, Quintiles Commercial ApS, Quintiles Commercial Germany GmbH, Quintiles Commercial Rus LLC, Quintiles Commercial South Africa (Pty) Limited, Quintiles Commercial US. Inc., Quintiles Costa Rica S.A., Quintiles Czech Republic, Quintiles Denmark, Quintiles East Africa Limited, Quintiles Egypt LLC, Quintiles Enterprise Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Quintiles Finance Sarl, Quintiles Finance Uruguay, Quintiles GmbH, Quintiles Holdings S.a.r.l., Quintiles IMS European Holdings C.V., Quintiles Lanka Private Limited, Quintiles Latin America Inc., Quintiles Luxembourg European Holding, Quintiles Luxembourg European Holding S.a.r.l., Quintiles Luxembourg France Holdings SARL, Quintiles Medical Development (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Quintiles Netherlands, Quintiles New Zealand, Quintiles Norway, Quintiles Phase One Clinical Trials India Private Limited, Quintiles Russia LLC, Quintiles S.a.r.l., Quintiles Site Services, Quintiles South Africa (PTY.) Limited, Quintiles UK (Japan Holdings) Limited, Quintiles Ukraine, Quintiles Vietnam, Quintiles West Africa Limited, RX India LLC, Radar Acquisition Blocker, Redsite Limited, Reportive SA, STI Technologies Limited, Schwarzeck Verlag GmbH, Secureconsent, Shanghai IMS Market Research Co. Ltd., Source Informatics Limited, Spartan Leasing Corporation, Statfinn Oy, Strategique Sante, THE AMUNDSEN GROUP, Targeted Molecular Diagnostics, Tarius A/S, Temas Srl - Societa Unipersonale, TforG Connect BVBA, Themis Limited, UAB IQVIA Commercial, VALUEMEDICS RESEARCH, VCG&A Inc., and iGuard. The following companies are subsidiares of Ashland Global: 565 Corporation, ASH GP INC., ASHLAND SPECIALTY CHEMICAL (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD., ASHLAND SPECIALTY CHEMICALS (MALAYSIA) SDN.BHD, Adams Drive Totowa L.L.C., Alera Property Holdings LLC, Alera Technologies Inc., Alix Technologies LLC, Aloe Vemera S.P.R de R.L. de C.V., Ash (Gibraltar) One Limited, Ash B CIS 1 Limited, Ash B CIS 2 Limited, Ash B1 Limited, Ash B2 Limited, Ash B3 Limited, Ash B4 Limited, Ash B5 Limited, Ash CIS Canada Corp., Ash CIS Canada Holdings B.V., Ash CIS GmbH, Ash Global Holding Three GmbH, Ash Global Holdings Two B.V., Ash Junior Global Holding One LLC, Ash Junior Global Holding Two LLC, Ash Swiss Holding Two GmbH, AshLux Three S.a r.l., AshOne C. V., Ashland (Australasia) Pty. Limited, Ashland (Changzhou) Advanced Chemical Co. Ltd., Ashland (Changzhou) Specialty Chemical Co. Ltd, Ashland (China) Holdings Co. Ltd., Ashland (Gibraltar) One Holding Inc., Ashland (Thailand) Co. Ltd, Ashland Argentina S.R.L., Ashland CZ s.r.o., Ashland Canada Corp./Corporation Ashland Canada, Ashland Canada Holdings B. V., Ashland Chemco Inc., Ashland Chemical De Mexico S.A. De C.V., Ashland Chemical Hispania S. L., Ashland Chemical Trading (Shanghai) Company Limited, Ashland Chemicals (Nanjing) Company Limited, Ashland Colombia S.A.S., Ashland Comercio de Especialidades Quimicas do Brasil Ltda., Ashland Danmark ApS, Ashland Eastern Markets LLC, Ashland Ethanol Inc., Ashland Finance Limited, Ashland Finland Oy, Ashland France SAS, Ashland Global Holdings One C.V., Ashland India Private Limited, Ashland Industria de Ingredientes do Brasil Ltda., Ashland Industries Deutschland GmbH, Ashland Industries Europe GmbH, Ashland Industries France SAS, Ashland Industries Italia S.r.l., Ashland Industries Nederland B.V., Ashland Industries UK Limited, Ashland International Holdings LLC, Ashland Italia S.r.l., Ashland Japan Ltd., Ashland Korea Limited, Ashland LLC, Ashland Licensing and Intellectual Property LLC, Ashland ME Holdings Inc., Ashland Mexico Holdings One LLC, Ashland Mexico Holdings Two LLC, Ashland Nigeria Exploration Unlimited, Ashland Oil (Nigeria) Company Unlimited, Ashland Oil Inc., Ashland Pacific Pty. Ltd., Ashland Participacoes Ltda., Ashland Pharmachem International Holdings LLC, Ashland Polimeros do Brasil S.A., Ashland Services B. V., Ashland Services Mexico S.A. de C.V., Ashland Singapore Pte. Ltd., Ashland Specialties Austria GmbH, Ashland Specialties Belgium BVBA, Ashland Specialties France S.a.r.l., Ashland Specialties Hispania S.L., Ashland Specialties Holding C.V., Ashland Specialties Ireland Limited, Ashland Specialties Poland Sp. z o.o., Ashland Specialties Sverige AB, Ashland Specialties UK Limited, Ashland Specialty Chemical Korea Co. Ltd., Ashland Specialty Ingredients G.P., Ashland Technologies GmbH, Ashland-Alaskan Limited, Ashland-Plasticos De Portugal Lda., Ashmont Insurance Company Inc., Ashprop Two LLC, Avoca LLC, Avoele S.A. de C.V., Belleville Realty Corp., Bluegrass Insurance Company Limited, CLTA LLC, CVG Capital III LLC, Carol Clifton Inc., Clevedon Sp. z o.o., Curtis Bay Insurance Co. Ltd, East Bay Realty Services Inc., Ever Success Overseas Limited, FRJ Inc., Fospur, Hercofina, Hercules, Hercules Holding BV BVBA, Hercules Holding II Limited, Hercules Hydrocarbon Holdings Inc., Hercules International Limited LLC, Hercules Investment ApS, Hercules Investments Netherlands B.V., Hercules Islands Corporation, Hercules LLC, Hercules Paper Holdings Inc., Hercules Trading (Shanghai) Company Limited, ISP (Belgium) International N. V., ISP Alginates Inc., ISP Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd, ISP Biochema Schwaben GmbH, ISP Canada Corp., ISP Capital LLC, ISP Chemco LLC, ISP Chemical Products LLC, ISP Chemicals LLC, ISP Environmental Services Inc., ISP France Holding SARL, ISP France Marketing SARL, ISP Freetown Fine Chemicals Inc., ISP Freight Services N. V., ISP Global Operations (Barbados) Inc., ISP Global Technologies Deutschland Unterstutzungskasse GmbH, ISP Global Technologies Inc., ISP Global Technologies LLC, ISP HC Limited, ISP Holdings (U.K.) Ltd., ISP Hungary Holdings Limited Liability Company, ISP International Corp., ISP Investments LLC, ISP Lima LLC, ISP Luxembourg Canada S.a.r.l., ISP Management Company Inc., ISP Marl GmbH, ISP Marl Holdings GmbH, ISP Microcaps (U.K.) Limited, ISP Pharma Systems LLC, ISP Real Estate Company Inc., ISP Singapore Holding LLC, ISP Technologies Inc., ISP Technologies LLC, International Specialty Holdings LLC, International Specialty Products, International Specialty Products (India) Private Limited, International Specialty Products Funding Corporation, International Specialty Products Inc., Jiangmen Ashland Chemicals Company Limited, Nanjing Clear Environment Protection, Northwest Coatings, Oil Can Henrys, PT Ashland Asia, PT ISP Chemicals Indonesia, Pakistan Gum Industries (Private) Limited, Pharmachem Laboratories, Pharmachem Laboratories LLC, Pharmachem Laboratories Utah LLC, Prince Street Paterson LLC, Progiven S.A.S., Proprietary Nutritionals LLC, Ralop S. de R.L. de C.V., Saudi Industrial Resins Co. Ltd. (Polyester), Shanghai Ashland Industrial Trading Co. Ltd., St Croix Petrochemical Corp, Taiwan Ashland Co. Ltd., Techwax Limited, Vemera S. de R.L. de C.V., and WSP LLC. McCain graduated near the bottom of his class at the Naval Academy, where he was infamous for his large number of demerits. As a Navy pilot, he was shot down over Hanoi in 1967, captured and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp. There he spent more than five years enduring torture and solitary confinement but refusing offers to be released before fellow POWs who had been held longer. During a 2007 Republican presidential debate, he mentioned that Hillary Clinton had earmarked $1 million in the Senate for a cultural museum in Woodstock, in upstate New York. McCain hadnt attended the festival in 1969: "I was tied up at the time." Vivint Solar, Inc. provides distributed solar energy primarily to residential customers in the United States. It owns and installs solar energy systems through long-term customer contracts. The company also sells photovoltaic installation products, as well as solar renewable energy certificates. As of December 31, 2019, it had an aggregate capacity of 1,294.0 megawatts covering approximately 188,300 homes. The company was formerly known as V Solar Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to Vivint Solar, Inc. in April 2014. Vivint Solar, Inc. was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Lehi, Utah. Read More Brookdale Senior Living, Inc. engages in the operation of senior living communities. The firm manages independent living, assisted living and dementia-care communities and continuing care retirement centers. It operates through the following segments: Independent Living Assisted Living & Memory Care, CCRCs, Health Care Services and Management Services. The Independent Living segment is primarily designed for middle to upper income seniors who desire an upscale residential environment providing the highest quality of service. The Assisted Living & Memory Care segment offer housing and 24-hour assistance with ADLs to mid-acuity frail and elderly residents. The CCRCs segment offers a variety of living arrangements and services to accommodate all levels of physical ability and health. The Healthcare Services segment provides home health, hospice and outpatient therapy services, as well as education and wellness programs, to residents of many communities and to seniors living outside communities. The Management Services segment composes of communities operated by the company pursuant to management agreements. The company was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Brentwood, TN. Read More Aetna Inc. operates as a health care benefits company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Health Care, Group Insurance, and Large Case Pensions. The Health Care segment offers medical, pharmacy benefit management service, dental, behavioral health, and vision plans on an insured and employer-funded basis. It also provides point-of-service, preferred provider organization, health maintenance organization, and indemnity benefit plans, as well as health savings accounts and consumer-directed health plans. In addition, this segment offers Medicare and Medicaid products and services, as well as other medical products, such as medical management and data analytics services, medical stop loss insurance, workers' compensation administrative services, and products that provide access to its provider networks in select geographies. The Group Insurance segment offers life insurance products, including group term life insurance, voluntary spouse and dependent term life insurance, group universal life insurance, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance; disability insurance products; and long-term care insurance products, which provide the benefits to cover the cost of care in private home settings, adult day care, assisted living, or nursing facilities. The Large Case Pensions segment manages various retirement products comprising pension and annuity products primarily for tax-qualified pension plans. The company provides its products and services to employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups, and expatriates. Aetna Inc. was founded in 1853 and is based in Hartford, Connecticut. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Eaton: ADF Systems SARL, Abeiron III Limited, Aeroquip (UK) Limited, Aeroquip Financial Ltd., Aeroquip Iberica S.L., Aeroquip International Inc., Aeroquip Limited, Aeroquip do Brasil Ltda., Aeroquip-Vickers, Aeroquip-Vickers Canada Inc., Aeroquip-Vickers International S.a.r.L., Aphel Technologies, Argo-Tech, Arrow Hose & Tubing, Arrow-Hart S. de R.L. de C.V., Azonix Corporation, Babco Electric Group, Beijing Internormen-Filter Ltd. Co., Beijing Yoosung Shinhwa Automobile Parts Co. Ltd., Blinda Industria e Comercio Ltda., Bussmann International Holdings LLC, Bussmann International Inc., Bussmann S. de R.L. de C.V., Bussmann do Brasil Ltda., CBE Services Inc., CEAG Notlichtsysteme GmbH, CI ESI de Colombia, CTI-VIENNA Gesellschaft zur Prufung elektrotechnischer Industrieprodukte GmbH, Cambridge International Insurance Company Ltd., Cannon Technologies Inc., Centralion Industrial Inc., Chagrin Highlands III Limited, Cobham, Componentes de Iluminacion S. de R.L. de C.V., Cooper (China) Co. Ltd., Cooper (Ningbo) Electric Co. Ltd., Cooper B-Line Inc., Cooper Bermuda Investments Ltd., Cooper Bussmann (U.K.) Limited, Cooper Bussmann Hungaria Kft., Cooper Bussmann LLC, Cooper Capri S.A.S., Cooper Colombia Investments Ltd., Cooper Controls (Watford) Limited, Cooper Controls Limited, Cooper Crouse-Hinds (LLC), Cooper Crouse-Hinds (UK) Ltd., Cooper Crouse-Hinds AS, Cooper Crouse-Hinds B.V., Cooper Crouse-Hinds GmbH, Cooper Crouse-Hinds LLC, Cooper Crouse-Hinds MTL Inc., Cooper Crouse-Hinds Pte. Ltd., Cooper Crouse-Hinds S. de R.L. de C.V., Cooper Crouse-Hinds S.A., Cooper Csa Srl, Cooper Edison (Pingdingshan) Electronic Technologies Co. Ltd., Cooper Electric (Changzhou) Co. Ltd., Cooper Electrical Australia Pty. Limited, Cooper Electrical International LLC, Cooper Electronic Technologies (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Cooper Enterprises LLC, Cooper Finance (Canada) L.P., Cooper Finance Group Ltd., Cooper Finance USA Inc., Cooper Germany Holdings GmbH, Cooper India Private Limited, Cooper Industrials, Cooper Industries (Canada) Inc., Cooper Industries (Electrical) Inc., Cooper Industries Colombia S.A.S., Cooper Industries FZE, Cooper Industries Finance B.V., Cooper Industries Finanzierungs-GbR, Cooper Industries Global B.V., Cooper Industries Holdings (Canada) Inc., Cooper Industries Holdings GmbH, Cooper Industries International LLC, Cooper Industries Japan K.K., Cooper Industries LLC, Cooper Industries Malaysia SDN BHD, Cooper Industries Middle East LLC, Cooper Industries Poland LLC, Cooper Industries Romania SRL, Cooper Industries Russia LLC, Cooper Industries Trading Limited, Cooper Industries UK Subco Limited, Cooper Industries Unlimited Company, Cooper Industries Vietnam LLC, Cooper Interconnect, Cooper International Holdings S.a.r.l., Cooper Investment Group Ltd., Cooper Investment Group S a.r.l., Cooper Investments Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Cooper Korea Ltd., Cooper Lighting LLC, Cooper Lighting de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Cooper Menvier France SARL, Cooper Mexico Distribucion S. de R.L. de C.V., Cooper Netherlands Investments Ltd., Cooper Notification Inc., Cooper Offshore Holdings S.a.r.l., Cooper Power Systems LLC, Cooper Power Systems do Brasil Ltda., Cooper Pretronica Lda., Cooper Safety B.V., Cooper Securite S.A.S., Cooper Security Limited, Cooper Shanghai Power Capacitor Co. Ltd., Cooper Switzerland Investments Ltd., Cooper Technologies Company, Cooper Univel S.A., Cooper Wheelock Inc., Cooper Wiring Devices Inc., Cooper Wiring Devices Manufacturing S. de R.L. de C.V., Cooper Wiring Devices de Mexico S.A de C.V., Cooper Xi'an Fusegear Co. Ltd., Cooper Yuhua (Changzhou) Electric Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Copperlogic, Cutler-Hammer Electrical Company, Cutler-Hammer Industries Ltd., Cutler-Hammer SRL, Cyme International T & D Inc., D.P. Eaton Electric, Digital Lighting (Dong Guan) Co. Ltd., Digital Lighting Co. Limited, Digital Lighting Holdings Limited, Dongguan Cooper Electronics Co. Ltd., Dongguan Fu Li An Electronics Co. Ltd., Dongguan Wiring Devices Electronics Co. Ltd., E. Begerow, E.A. Pedersen Co., EIC Holding GP I, EIC Holding GP II, EIC Holding GP III, EIC Holding GP IV, EIC Holding I LLC, EIC Holding II LLC, EIC Holding III LLC, EIC Holding IV LLC, EIC Holding V LLC, EIC Holding VI LLC, ETN Asia International Limited, ETN Holding 1 Limited, ETN Holding 2 Limited, ETN Holding 3 Limited, EX Innovations Limited, Eaton (China) Investments Co. Ltd., Eaton Aeroquip, Eaton Aerospace LLC, Eaton Ann Arbor LLC, Eaton Asia Investments Corporation, Eaton Automation G.m.b.H, Eaton Automation Holding G.m.b.H., Eaton Automotive Components Spolka z.o.o., Eaton Automotive Spolka z.o.o., Eaton Automotive Systems Spolka z.o.o., Eaton B.V., Eaton C.V., Eaton CHB LLC, Eaton Capital Unlimited Co., Eaton Controls (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Eaton Controls (UK) Limited, Eaton Controls S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Corporation, Eaton ETN Offshore Company, Eaton ETN Offshore II Company, Eaton Electric, Eaton Electric & Engineering Services Limited, Eaton Electric (Japan) Ltd., Eaton Electric (South Africa) Pty Ltd., Eaton Electric (Thailand) Ltd., Eaton Electric AS, Eaton Electric ApS, Eaton Electric Company Ltd., Eaton Electric G.m.b.H., Eaton Electric Holdings LLC, Eaton Electric Limited, Eaton Electric Manufacturing Middle East LLC, Eaton Electric S.I.A., Eaton Electric S.a.r.l., Eaton Electric S.r.l., Eaton Electric SPRL, Eaton Electric Sales Ltd., Eaton Electric Spolka z.o.o., Eaton Electric d.o.o., Eaton Electric s.r.o., Eaton Electric s.r.o. (Slovak Republic), Eaton Electrical (Zhongshan) Co. Ltd., Eaton Electrical Equipment Co. Ltd., Eaton Electrical IP G.m.b.H. & Co. KG, Eaton Electrical Ltd., Eaton Electrical Products Limited, Eaton Electrical S.A., Eaton Electrical S.A. (Venezuela), Eaton Electrical Systems Limited, Eaton Electro Productie S.r.l., Eaton Elektrik Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Eaton Elektrotechnika s.r.o., Eaton Energy Solutions Inc., Eaton Enterprises (Hungary) Kft., Eaton Enterprises Limited, Eaton Enterprises S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton FZE, Eaton Filtration, Eaton Filtration (Denmark) ApS, Eaton Filtration (Italy) S.r.l., Eaton Filtration (Poland) Sp. z.o.o., Eaton Filtration (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton Filtration BVBA, Eaton Finance (Ireland) Limited, Eaton Finance S.a.r.l., Eaton Fluid Power (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton Fluid Power Limited, Eaton Fluid Power S.r.l., Eaton France Holding S.A.S., Eaton Germany G.m.b.H., Eaton GmbH & Co. KG, Eaton Holding (Austria) G.m.b.H., Eaton Holding (Netherlands) B.V., Eaton Holding (UK) II Limited, Eaton Holding G.m.b.H., Eaton Holding I B.V., Eaton Holding I Limited, Eaton Holding II LLC, Eaton Holding II Limited, Eaton Holding II S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding III B.V., Eaton Holding III Limited, Eaton Holding III S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding IV S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding IX S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding International LLC, Eaton Holding LLC, Eaton Holding Limited, Eaton Holding S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding SE & Co. KG, Eaton Holding SRL, Eaton Holding V B.V., Eaton Holding V S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding VI B.V., Eaton Holding VI S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding VII B.V., Eaton Holding VIII S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding X S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding XII B.V./S.a.r.l., Eaton Holec AB, Eaton Holec OY, Eaton Hydraulics (Luzhou) Co. Ltd., Eaton Hydraulics (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., Eaton Hydraulics (Proprietary) Limited, Eaton Hydraulics LLC, Eaton Hydraulics Systems (Jining) Co. Ltd., Eaton I Spolka z.o.o., Eaton II LP, Eaton III LP, Eaton IV LP, Eaton India Innovation Center LLP, Eaton Industrial Clutches and Brakes (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton Industrial Corporation, Eaton Industrial IP G.m.b.H. & Co. KG, Eaton Industrial Systems Private Limited, Eaton Industries (Argentina) S.A., Eaton Industries (Austria) G.m.b.H., Eaton Industries (Belgium) BVBA, Eaton Industries (Canada) Company, Eaton Industries (Chile) S.p.A., Eaton Industries (Colombia) S.A.S., Eaton Industries (Egypt) LLC, Eaton Industries (England) Limited, Eaton Industries (France) S.A.S., Eaton Industries (Ireland) Ltimited, Eaton Industries (Israel) Ltd., Eaton Industries (Italy) S.r.l., Eaton Industries (Japan) Ltd., Eaton Industries (Jining) Co. Ltd, Eaton Industries (Korea) Limited, Eaton Industries (Luxembourg) B.V./S.a.r.l., Eaton Industries (Morocco) LLC, Eaton Industries (Netherlands) B.V., Eaton Industries (Philippines) LLC, Eaton Industries (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton Industries (Spain) S.L., Eaton Industries (Thailand) Ltd., Eaton Industries (U.K.) Limited, Eaton Industries (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Eaton Industries Company, Eaton Industries EOOD, Eaton Industries G.m.b.H., Eaton Industries Holding G.m.b.H., Eaton Industries Holdings Ltd., Eaton Industries II G.m.b.H., Eaton Industries KFT, Eaton Industries LP, Eaton Industries Manufacturing G.m.b.H., Eaton Industries Panama S.A., Eaton Industries Pte. Ltd., Eaton Industries Pty. Ltd., Eaton Industries S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Industries SAC, Eaton Industries Sdn. Bhd., Eaton Industries s.r.o., Eaton International B.V., Eaton International Corporation, Eaton International Industries Nigeria Limited, Eaton Japan Co. Ltd., Eaton LLC, Eaton LP, Eaton Leasing Corporation, Eaton Ltda., Eaton MEDC Limited, Eaton Madeira SGPS Lda., Eaton Manufacturing G.m.b.H., Eaton Manufacturing II G.m.b.H., Eaton Manufacturing III G.m.b.H., Eaton Manufacturing LP, Eaton Middle East LLC, Eaton Moeller B.V., Eaton Moeller S.a.r.l., Eaton Phoenixtec MMPL Co. Ltd., Eaton Power Quality (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton Power Quality AB, Eaton Power Quality Limited, Eaton Power Quality OY (Finland), Eaton Power Quality Private Limited, Eaton Power Quality S.A.S., Eaton Power Solution Ltda., Eaton Production International G.m.b.H., Eaton Protection Systems IP G.m.b.H. & Co. KG, Eaton S.A.S., Eaton S.r.l., Eaton SAMC (Shanghai) Aircraft Conveyance System, Eaton SE, Eaton Safety IP G.m.b.H. & Co. KG, Eaton Safety Limited, Eaton Senstar Automotive Fluid Connector (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton Services S.a.r.l., Eaton Solutions S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Switzerland Holding I GmbH, Eaton Switzerland Holding II GmbH, Eaton Technologies (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Eaton Technologies G.m.b.H., Eaton Technologies IP G.m.b.H. & Co. KG, Eaton Technologies Private Limited, Eaton Technologies S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Technologies S.A., Eaton Trading Company S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Truck Components (Proprietary) Ltd., Eaton Truck Components S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Truck Components Spolka z.o.o., Eaton Truck and Bus Components (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton US Holdings Inc., Eaton Worldwide LLC, Eaton-Powerware, Electromanufacturas S de R.L. de C.V., Electrum Group Ltd., Elpro Technologies Pty. Limited, Ephesus Lighting, Ephesus Lighting Inc., FHF Bergbautechnik GmbH & Co. KG, FHF Funke+Huster Fernsig GmbH, FHF New World GmbH, Fast Eaton (Xi'an) Drivetrain Company Ltd., Fifth Light Technology Ltd., Funke+Huster (Tianjin) Electronics Co. Ltd., Funke+Huster GmbH, GeCma Components electronic GmbH, Georgetown Financial Services Ltd., Gitiesse Asia Pte. Ltd., Gitiesse S.r.l., Green Holding Company, Green Motion, Guangzhou Nittan Valve Co. Ltd., Hein Moeller Stiftung G.m.b.H., Hernis Scan System do Brasil Comercio E Servicos LTDA, Hernis Scan Systems - Asia Pte. Ltd., Hernis Scan Systems A/S, IE Power, Illumination Management Solutions Inc., Iluminacion Cooper de las Californias S de R.L. de C.V., Innovative Switchgear Solutions Inc, Institute for International Product Safety G.m.b.H., Integrated Hydraulics, Integrated Partial Discharge Diagnostics, Intelligent Switchgear Organization LLC, Internormen Filters Private Limited, Internormen Technology, Jeil Hydraulics, Kaicheng Funke+Huster (Tangshan) Mining Electrical Co. Ltd., Lian Zheng Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., MP Group SAS, MTL Instruments (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, MTL Instruments B.V., MTL Instruments GmbH, MTL Instruments LLC, MTL Instruments Private Limited, MTL Instruments SARL, MTL Italia Srl, MTL Partners II Inc., MTL Partners Inc., Marina Power and Lighting, Martek Power F SAS, Martek Power GmbH, Martek Power Limited, Martek Power Limited (UK), Martek Power S.A. de C.V., Martek Power SA, McGraw-Edison Development Corporation, Measurement Technology Limited, Menvier Overseas Holdings Limited, Micro Innovation Holding, Moeller Electric (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Moeller Electric Ltda., Moeller Electrical Equipment (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Moeller Holding Gmbh & Co. KG, Moeller Industria de electro-electronicos do Amazonas Ltda., Morestana, Nittan BVI Co. Ltd., Nittan Euro Tech Spolka z o.o., Nittan Global Tech Co. Ltd., Nittan Valve Co. Ltd., Norex AS, Ocean Technical Systems Limited, Oxalis Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Oxalis Group, Oxalis Group Limited, PKL LLC, PT. Eaton Industries, PT. Fluid Sciences Batam, PerkinElmer - aerospace division, Phoenixtec Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Phoenixtec International Corp., Phoenixtec Power, Pigozzi, Polaron Components Limited, Polimer Hortum Teknolojileri Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Polimer Kaucuk Sanayi Ve Pazarlama, Polimer Kaucuk Sanayi ve Pazarlama A.S., Power Distribution, Pringle Electrical Manufacturing, Productos Eaton Livia S.L., Pulizzi Engineering, RTE Far East Corporation, RTK Instruments Limited, Riseson International Limited, Rizhao Yoosung Shinhwa Automobile Parts Co. Ltd., Rolec Comercial e Industrial, SOURIAU, Santak Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Santak Electronics Company Limited, Saturn Insurance Company Ltd., Scantronic Benelux B.V., Schreder-Hazemeyer, Scoremax Limited, Sefelec GmbH, Sefelec SAS, Semelec SAS, Senyuan International Holdings Limited, Senyuan International Investments Limited, Shinhwa Precision Co. Ltd., Shinhwa Takahashi Precision Co. Ltd., Silver Light International Limited, Silver Victory Hong Kong Limited, Standard Automation & Control LP, Sure Power Inc., TGM Automotiva, TT (Ireland) Acquisition Limited, Tai Ah Electrical Ltd., Taiwan Nittan Industrial Co. Ltd., Telkom Kenya, The MTL Instruments Group Limited, The Oxalis Protection Technology India Private Limited, Tractech, Tractech (Ireland) Limited, Tractech Industries (Ireland) Limted, Tripp Lite, Turlock B.V., Tuthill Coupling Group, U.S. Engine Valve Company, UPE Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Ultronics, Ultronics Nordic Sales AB, Ulusoy, Vickers International Inc., Vickers Systems Limited, Viking Electronics Inc., WPI-Boston Division Inc., Winner Hydraulics Ltd., Wireless Power and Communications AS, Wright Line, Wright Line Holding Inc., Wright Line LLC, and Zhenjiang Daqo Eaton Electrical Systems Co. Ltd.. Relief should arrive Wednesday, as a cold front with more thunderstorms moves through our area from the northwest Tuesday night. This will provide a respite from the heat and humidity Wednesday and Thursday, but a warm front with additional showers and thunderstorms may bring another surge of heat and humidity to start the Labor Day weekend. Edgewell Personal Care Company is a manufacturer and marketer of personal care products in the wet shave, sun and skin care, feminine care and infant care categories. As of September 30, 2016, the Company had a portfolio of over 25 brands. It manages its business in four segments: Wet Shave, Sun and Skin Care, Feminine Care and All Other. Its Wet shave products are sold under the Schick, Wilkinson Sword, Edge, Skintimate, Shave Guard and Personna brand names. Its Sun and Skin Care products are sold under the Banana Boat, Hawaiian Tropic, Wet Ones and Playtex brand names and offers Wet Ones, portable hand wipes category, and Playtex household gloves, the branded household glove in the United States. Its Feminine Care segment markets its products under the Playtex, Stayfree, Carefree and o.b. brands and markets pads and liners. Its All Other segment includes infant care, pet care and miscellaneous other products. Read More FactSet Research Systems Inc. (the ""Company"" or ""FactSet"") is a global provider of integrated financial information, analytical applications and services for the investment and corporate communities. Since inception, global financial professionals have utilized the Company's content and multi-asset class solutions across each stage of the investment process. FactSet's goal is to provide a seamless user experience spanning idea generation, research, portfolio construction, trade execution, performance measurement, risk management, reporting, and portfolio analysis, in which the Company serves the front, middle, and back offices to drive productivity and improved performance. FactSet's flexible, open data and technology solutions can be implemented both across the investment portfolio lifecycle or as standalone components serving different workflows in the organization. FactSet is focused on growing the business throughout each of its three segments, the Americas, EMEA (formerly known as Europe), and Asia Pacific. The Company primarily delivers insight and information through the workflow solutions of Research, Analytics and Trading, Content and Technology Solutions (""CTS"") and Wealt Read More How does he feel? Maddon said. When you havent done that in a while, you get sore, man. You get sore just standing on third base or in left field. You have to work through the soreness and stiffness. As he works though that, that will tell us a lot. Hannover RAck SE, together with its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance products and services worldwide. It operates through Property & Casualty Reinsurance, and Life & Health Reinsurance segments. The Property & Casualty Reinsurance segment offers specialty lines comprising marine, aviation, facultative and direct business, credit, surety, and political risks reinsurance products; and treaty, catastrophe XL, and structured reinsurance, as well as insurance-linked securities. This segment also provides risk solutions for agricultural, livestock, and bloodstock businesses; aviation and space business; and marine and offshore energy business. The Life & Health Reinsurance segment offers group and individual credit life, enhanced annuities, group life and health, and Sharia-compliant Takaful reinsurance products. This segment also provides risk solutions in the areas of critical illness, disability, health, longevity, long term care, and mortality and morbidity, as well as underwriting services. In addition, it offers various financial solutions, including new-business financing; monetization of embedded value; reserve and solvency relief; and divestiture of non-core businesses. The company was formerly known as Hannover RAckversicherung AG and changed its name to Hannover RAck SE in March 2013. The company was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Hanover, Germany. Hannover RAck SE is a subsidiary of Talanx AG. Read More Red Hat, Inc. provides open source software solutions to develop and offer operating system, virtualization, management, middleware, cloud, mobile, and storage technologies to various enterprises worldwide. It offers infrastructure-related solutions, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux, an operating system platform that runs on hardware for use in hybrid cloud environments; Red Hat Satellite, a system management offering that helps to deploy, scale, and manage in hybrid cloud environments; and Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization, a software solution that allows customers to utilize and manage a common hardware infrastructure to run multiple operating systems and applications. The company offers application development-related and other technology solutions, such as Red Hat JBoss Middleware, a solution for developing, deploying, and managing applications; integrating applications, data, and devices; and automating business processes in hybrid cloud environments; The company's application development-related and other technology solutions also includes Red Hat cloud offerings, a software solution that enables customers to build and manage various cloud computing environments; Red Hat Mobile, a software development platform that enables customers to develop, integrate, deploy, and manage mobile applications for enterprises; and Red Hat Storage, a software solution that enables customers to manage large, unstructured, or semi-structured data in hybrid cloud environments. It also provides consulting, support, and training services; and realtime operating system, distributed computing, directory services, and user authentication. Red Hat, Inc. has collaboration with Juniper Networks Expand to provide a unified solution for enterprises designed to manage and run applications and services. The company was formerly known as Red Hat Software, Inc. and changed its name to Red Hat, Inc. in June 1999. Red Hat, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. Read More Bank of America Corp. is a bank and financial holding company, which engages in the provision of banking and nonbank financial services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth and Investment Management, Global Banking, Global Markets, and All Other. The Consumer Banking segment offers credit, banking, and investment products and services to consumers and small businesses. The Global Wealth and Investment Management provides client experience through a network of financial advisors focused on to meet their needs through a full set of investment management, brokerage, banking, and retirement products. The Global Banking segment deals with lending-related products and services, integrated working capital management and treasury solutions to clients, and underwriting and advisory services. The Global Markets segment includes sales and trading services, as well as research, to institutional clients across fixed-income, credit, currency, commodity, and equity businesses. The All Other segment consists of asset and liability management activities, equity investments, non-core mortgage loans and servicing activities, the net impact of periodic revisions Read More The following companies are subsidiares of IDEX: ADS Corp., ADS Environmental Services Pty Limited, ADS Environmental Technologies Inc., ADS LLC, AEGIS Flow Technologies, AEGIS Flow Technologies L.L.C., AWG, AWG Fittings GmbH, Abel Pumps, Advanced Thin Films, Advanced Thin Films Inc., Airtech Group, Akron Brass, Akron Brass Company, Alfa Valvole, Alfa Valvole S.r.l., Band-It Clamps (Asia) Pte. Ltd., Band-It Company Limited, Band-It-IDEX Inc., Banjo Corporation, Banjo Europe S.r.l., BarbIDEX International SRL, CIDRA Precision Services, CVI Laser, CVI Laser LLC, CVI Laser Limited, CVI Melles Griot, Corken Inc., ERC, Eastern Plastics, FAST & Fluid Management S.r.l., FM Delaware Inc., FM Investment Inc., FMD Distribution and Service LLC, FMD Fabrication Services LLC, FTL Seals Technology Limited, Fast & Fluid Management B.V., Fast & Fluid Management Eastern Europe Sp. Z O.O., Fast and Fluid Management Australia Pty. Ltd., Flow Management Devices, Flow Management Devices LLC, Fluid Management Canada Inc., Fluid Management Inc., Fluid Management Operations LLC, Gast Group Ltd, Gast Manufacturing Inc., Godiva Limited, Godiva Products Limited, Hale Products Europe Limited, Hale Products Inc., Hurst Jaws of Life Inc., IDEX Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., IDEX Dinglee Technology (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., IDEX Europe GmbH, IDEX Health & Science KK, IDEX Health & Science LLC, IDEX Holdings GmbH, IDEX Holdings Inc., IDEX India Private Limited, IDEX Italy S.r.l., IDEX Japan GK, IDEX Korea Ltd, IDEX Leasing GmbH, IDEX MPT Inc., IDEX Mexico S.A. de C.V., IDEX Middle East FZE, IDEX Pump Technologies (Ireland) Limited, IDEX SAS, IDEX Service Corp., IDEX Sourcing Corporation, IDEX Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., IDEX Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, IDEX UK Investment Ltd, IDEX UK Ltd., IDEX do Brasil Servicos e Vendas Ltda., IETG, Isolation Technologies, KNIGHT LLC, KVT-Koenig Holding Limited, Knight (Canada) Limited, Knight Inc., Knight UK Ltd, LUKAS Hydraulik GmbH, Liquid Controls, Liquid Controls LLC, Matcon, Matcon (R&D) Limited, Matcon Group Limited, Matcon Limited, Melles Griot B.V., Melles Griot GmbH, Microfluidics, Microfluidics International Corporation, Micropump Inc., Nova Technologies, Nova Technologies Corporation, Novotema, Novotema S.p.A, OBL, OBL Srl, Oil & Gas Process Solutions LLC, PP AWG GmbH, PPE International LLC, PPE LLC, Precision Photonics, Precision Polymer Engineering Limited, Project Gold Acquisition Corp., Pulsafeeder Inc., Quadro Engineering Corp., RV Acquisition Corp., Richter Chemie-Technik, Richter Chemie-Technik GmbH, Richter EP (Nanjing) Co. Ltd., Richter Pumps & Valves Inc., Roplan AB, Roplan GmbH, Roplan Holding AB, Roplan Ltd, Roplan Machinery (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., Roplan Machining AB, Roplan Sales (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., Roplan Sales AB, Roplan Sales Inc., Roplan Trading AB, S.A.M.P.I. S.p.A., SFC KOENIG, SFC KOENIG Flow Control (Suzhou) Co. Limited, SFC Koenig AG, SFC Koenig Beteilgungs GmbH, SFC Koenig GmbH, SFC Koenig LLC, Scivex, Seals Limited, Semrock, Steridose Sales AB, The Fitzpatrick Company, Toptech Systems, Toptech Systems Inc., Toptech Systems NV, Trebor International Inc., Velcora, Velcora Holding AB, Vetter GmbH, Viking Pump Inc., Viking Pump of Canada Inc., Warren Rupp Inc., Wright Flow Technologies Limited, XAM Swiss Holding I GmbH, iPEK, iPEK International GmbH, iPEK Spezial TV GmbH, thinXXS Microtechnology, and thinXXS Microtechnology AG. Wall Street analysts have given SPDR Gold Shares a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but SPDR Gold Shares wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Sentman raced to the basement stairs to notify her sister and her two friends and helped them get out. She grabbed a house phone, ran her sister and friends to the curb, told them to call 911 and advised them to take shelter at a neighbors house. Temperatures that day were close to 20-below zero. The following companies are subsidiares of MetLife: 1001 PROPERTIES LLC, 10700 WILSHIRE LLC, 1201 TAB MANAGER LLC, 150 NORTH RIVERSIDE PE MEMBER LLC, 1925 WJC OWNER LLC, 23RD STREET INVESTMENTS INC., 500 GRANT STREET ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, 500 GRANT STREET GP LLC, 60 11TH STREET LLC, 6104 HOLLYWOOD LLC, AFP GENESIS ADMINISTRADORA DE FONDOS Y FIDECOMISOS S.A., AFP PROVIDA S.A., AGENVITA S.R.L., ALICO EUROPEAN HOLDINGS LIMITED, ALICO HELLAS SINGLE MEMBER LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, ALICO OPERATIONS LLC, ALICO PROPERTIES INC., AMMETLIFE INSURANCE BERHAD, AMMETLIFE TAKAFUL BERHAD, American Life Insurance Company, BEST MARKET S.A., BIDV METLIFE LIFE INSURANCE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, BLOCK VISION HOLDINGS CORPORATION, BLOCK VISION OF TEXAS INC., BORDERLAND INVESTMENTS LIMITED, BOULEVARD RESIDENTIAL LLC, BUFORD LOGISTICS CENTER LLC, CC HOLDCO MANAGER LLC, CHESTNUT FLATS WIND LLC, CLOSED JOINT-STOCK COMPANY MASTER D, COMPANIA INVERSORA METLIFE S.A., CORPORATE REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC, COVA LIFE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, DAVIS VISION INC., DAVISVISION IPA INC., DELAWARE AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, DES MOINES CREEK BUSINESS PARK PHASE II LLC, ECONOMY FIRE & CASUALTY COMPANY, ECONOMY PREFERRED INSURANCE COMPANY, ECONOMY PREMIER ASSURANCE COMPANY, EURO CL INVESTMENTS LLC, EXCELENCIA OPERATIVA Y TECNOLOGICA S.A de C.V., FEDERAL FLOOD CERTIFICATION LLC, FORTISSIMO CO. LTD, FUNDACION METLIFE MEXICO A.C., GLOBAL PROPERTIES INC., General American Life Insurance Company, Grand Bank N.A., HASKELL EAST VILLAGE LLC, HIGH STREET SEVENTH AND OSBORN APARTMENTS LLC, HOUSING FUND MANAGER LLC, INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL AND ADVISORY SERVICES LIMITED, INVERSIONES METLIFE HOLDCO DOS LIMITADA, INVERSIONES METLIFE HOLDCO TRES LIMITADA, JOINT-STOCK COMPANY METLIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, LHC HOLDINGS, LHCW HOLDINGS, LHCW HOTEL HOLDING, LHCW HOTEL HOLDING LLC, LHCW HOTEL OPERATING COMPANY, LONG ISLAND SOLAR FARM LLC, LUMENLAB MALAYSIA SDN. BHD., Logan Circle Partners, MARKETPLACE RESIDENCES LLC, MAXIS GBN S.A.S., MC PORTFOLIO JV MEMBER LLC, MCJV LLC, MCMIF HOLDCO I LLC, MCMIF HOLDCO II LLC, MCP - WELLINGTON LLC, MCP 100 CONGRESS MEMBER LLC, MCP 1500 MICHAEL LLC, MCP 1900 MCKINNEY LLC, MCP 2 AMES LLC, MCP 2 AMES ONE LLC, MCP 2 AMES OWNER LLC, MCP 2 AMES TWO LLC, MCP 220 YORK LLC, MCP 22745 & 22755 RELOCATION DRIVE LLC, MCP 249 INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS PARK MEMBER LLC, MCP 3040 POST OAK LLC, MCP 350 ROHLWING LLC, MCP 4600 SOUTH SYRACUSE LLC, MCP 550 WEST WASHINGTON LLC, MCP 60 11TH STREET MEMBER LLC, MCP 7 RIVERWAY LLC, MCP 9020 MURPHY ROAD LLC, MCP 93 RED RIVER MEMBER LLC, MCP ALLEY 24 EAST LLC, MCP ASHTON SOUTH END LLC, MCP BLOCK 23 MEMBER LLC, MCP BRADFORD LLC, MCP BUFORD LOGISTICS CENTER 2 MEMBER LLC, MCP BUFORD LOGISTICS CENTER BLDG B LLC, MCP BURNSIDE MEMBER LLC, MCP CENTER AVENUE INDUSTRIAL MEMBER LLC, MCP CLAWITER INNOVATION MEMBER LLC, MCP COMMON DESK TRS LLC, MCP DENVER PAVILIONS MEMBER LLC, MCP DILLON LLC, MCP DILLON RESIDENTIAL LLC, MCP ENV CHICAGO LLC, MCP FIFE ENTERPRISE CENTER LLC, MCP FRISCO OFFICE LLC, MCP GRAPEVINE LLC, MCP HIGHLAND PARK LENDER LLC, MCP HUB I LLC, MCP HUB I PROPERTY LLC, MCP LODGE AT LAKECREST LLC, MCP MA PROPERTY REIT LLC, MCP MAGNOLIA PARK MEMBER LLC, MCP MAIN STREET VILLAGE LLC, MCP MOUNTAIN TECHNOLOGY CENTER MEMBER TRS LLC, MCP NORTHYARDS HOLDCO LLC, MCP NORTHYARDS MASTER LESSEE LLC, MCP NORTHYARDS OWNER LLC, MCP ONE WESTSIDE LLC, MCP ONYX LLC, MCP PARAGON POINT LLC, MCP PLAZA AT LEGACY LLC, MCP PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LLC, MCP SEATTLE GATEWAY INDUSTRIAL I LLC, MCP SEATTLE GATEWAY INDUSTRIAL II LLC, MCP SEVENTH AND OSBORNE MF MEMBER LLC, MCP SEVENTH AND OSBORNE RETAIL MEMBER LLC, MCP SHAKOPEE LLC, MCP SLEEPY HOLLOW MEMBER LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL ANAHEIM LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL BERNARDO LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL CANYON LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL CONCOURSE LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL FULLERTON LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL KELLWO00OD LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL LAX LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL LOKER LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL REDONDO LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL SPRINGDALE LLC, MCP STATELINE LLC, MCP THE PALMS AT DORAL LLC, MCP TRIMBLE CAMPUS LLC, MCP UNION ROW LLC, MCP VALLEY FORGE LLC, MCP VALLEY FORGE ONE LLC, MCP VALLEY FORGE OWNER LLC, MCP VALLEY FORGE TWO LLC, MCP VANCE JACKSON LLC, MCP VINEYARD AVENUE MEMBER LLC, MCP VOA HOLDINGS LLC, MCP VOA I & III LLC, MCP VOA II LLC, MCP WATERFORD ATRIUM LLC, MCP WEST BROAD MARKETPLACE LLC, MCP ENGLISH VILLAGE LLC, MCPF ACQUISITION LLC, MCPF FOXBOROUGH LLC, MCPF NEEDHAM LLC, MCPP OWNERS LLC, MCRE BLOCK 40 LP, MEC HEALTH CARE INC., MET 1065 HOTEL LLC, MET CANADA SOLAR ULC, METLIFE 1007 STEWART LLC, METLIFE 1201 TAB MEMBER LLC, METLIFE 425 MKT MANAGER LLC, METLIFE 425 MKT MEMBER LLC, METLIFE 555 12TH MEMBER LLC, METLIFE 8280 MEMBER LLC, METLIFE ACOMA OWNER LLC, METLIFE ADMINISTRADORA DE FUNDOS MULTIPATROCINADOS LTDA., METLIFE ALTERNATIVES GP LLC, METLIFE ASHTON AUSTIN OWNER LLC, METLIFE ASIA HOLDING COMPANY PTE. LTD., METLIFE ASIA LIMITED, METLIFE ASIA SERVICES SDN. BHD, METLIFE ASSET MANAGEMENT CORP., METLIFE ASSIGNMENT COMPANY INC., METLIFE AUTO & HOME INSURANCE AGENCY INC., METLIFE BL FEEDER, METLIFE BL FEEDER LP, METLIFE BORO STATION MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CABO HILTON MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CAMINO RAMON MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CAPITAL CREDIT L.P., METLIFE CAPITAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, METLIFE CAPITAL TRUST IV, METLIFE CB W/A LLC, METLIFE CC MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CHILE ADMINISTRADORA DE MUTUOS HIPOTECARIOS S.A., METLIFE CHILE INVERSIONES LIMITADA, METLIFE CHILE SEGUROS DE VIDA S.A., METLIFE CHILE SEGUROS GENERALES S.A., METLIFE CHINO MEMBER LLC, METLIFE COLOMBIA SEGUROS de VIDA S.A., METLIFE COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE INCOME FUND GP LLC, METLIFE COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE INCOME FUND LP, METLIFE COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE ORIGINATOR LLC, METLIFE COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE REIT LLC, METLIFE CONSQUARE MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CONSUMER SERVICES INC., METLIFE CORE PROPERTY FUND GP LLC, METLIFE CORE PROPERTY FUND LP, METLIFE CORE PROPERTY HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE CORE PROPERTY REIT LLC, METLIFE CORE PROPERTY TRS. LLC, METLIFE CREDIT CORP., METLIFE DIGITAL VENTURES INC., METLIFE EMEKLILIK VE HAYAT A.S., METLIFE EMERGING MARKET DEBT BLEND FUND, METLIFE EU HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED, METLIFE EUROPE INSURANCE d.a.c., METLIFE EUROPE SERVICES LIMITED, METLIFE EUROPE d.a.c., METLIFE EUROPEAN HOLDINGS LLC., METLIFE FINANCIAL SERVICES CO. LTD, METLIFE FM HOTEL MEMBER LLC, METLIFE FUNDING INC., METLIFE GENERAL INSURANCE LIMITED, METLIFE GLOBAL BENEFITS LTD., METLIFE GLOBAL HOLDING COMPANY I GMBH, METLIFE GLOBAL HOLDING COMPANY II GMBH, METLIFE GLOBAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION S.A. De C.V., METLIFE GLOBAL INC., METLIFE GLOBAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT CENTER PRIVATE LIMITED, METLIFE GROUP INC., METLIFE HCMJV 1 GP LLC, METLIFE HCMJV 1 LP LLC, METLIFE HEALTH PLANS INC., METLIFE HOLDINGS INC., METLIFE HOME LOANS LLC, METLIFE INNOVATION CENTRE LIMITED, METLIFE INNOVATION CENTRE PTE. LTD., METLIFE INSURANCE AND INVESTMENT TRUST, METLIFE INSURANCE BROKERAGE INC., METLIFE INSURANCE K.K., METLIFE INSURANCE LIMITED, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL HF PARTNERS LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED LLC, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND I LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND II LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND III LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND IV LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND V LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND VI LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND VII LP, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC, METLIFE INVESTMENTS ASIA LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENTS LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENTS PTY LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENTS SECURITIES LLC, METLIFE INVESTORS DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, METLIFE INVESTORS GROUP LLC, METLIFE IRELAND TREASURY D.A.C., METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY FUND GP LLC, METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY FUND LP, METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY OWNERS, METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY OWNERS LLC, METLIFE LATIN AMERICA ASESORIAS E INVERSIONES LIMITADA, METLIFE LEGAL PLANS INC., METLIFE LEGAL PLANS OF FLORIDA INC., METLIFE LHH MEMBER LLC, METLIFE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, METLIFE LIFE INSURANCE S.A., METLIFE LOAN ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC, METLIFE MAS S.A. DE C.V., METLIFE MEMBER SOLAIRE LLC, METLIFE MEXICO HOLDINGS S. DE R.L. DE C.V., METLIFE MEXICO S.A., METLIFE MEXICO SERVICIOS S.A. DE C.V., METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT FUND LP, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT GP LLC, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT PARALLEL FUND LP, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT PARALLEL GP LLC, METLIFE MULTI-FAMILY PARTNERS III LLC, METLIFE MUTUAL FUND COMPANY, METLIFE OBS MEMBER LLC, METLIFE OFC MEMBER LLC, METLIFE ONTARIO STREET MEMBR LLC, METLIFE PARK TOWER MEMBER LLC, METLIFE PENSION TRUSTEES LIMITED, METLIFE PENSIONES MEXICO S.A., METLIFE PET INSURANCE SOLUTIONS LLC, METLIFE PLANOS ODONTOLOGICOS LTDA., METLIFE POWSZECHNE TOWARTZYSTWO EMERYTALNE S.A., METLIFE PRIVATE EQUITY HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE PROPERTIES VENTURES LLC, METLIFE RC SF MEMBER LLC, METLIFE REAL ESTATE LENDING LLC, METLIFE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF BERMUDA LTD., METLIFE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF CHARLESTON, METLIFE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF VERMONT, METLIFE RETIREMENT SERVICES LLC, METLIFE SAENGMYOUNG INSURANCE COMPANY LTD., METLIFE SECURITIZATION DEPOSITOR LLC, METLIFE SEGUROS S.A., METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING FINCO LLC, METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING FUND LP, METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING GP LLC, METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING HOLDINGS LP, METLIFE SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS LLC, METLIFE SERVICES CYPRUS LIMITED, METLIFE SERVICES EAST PRIVATE LIMITED, METLIFE SERVICES EEIG, METLIFE SERVICES EOOD, METLIFE SERVICES SOCIEDAD LIMITADA, METLIFE SERVICES SP Z.O.O, METLIFE SERVICIOS S.A., METLIFE SLOVAKIA S.R.O. V LIKVIDACII, METLIFE SOLUTIONS PTE. LTD., METLIFE SOLUTIONS S.A.S., METLIFE SP HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE SYNDICATED BANK LOAN FUND SCSP, METLIFE SYNDICATED BANK LOAN LUX GP S.A.R.L., METLIFE THR INVESTOR LLC, METLIFE TOWARZYSTWO FUNDUSZY INWESTYCYJNYCH S.A., METLIFE TOWARZYSTWO UBEZPIECZEN NA ZYCIE I REASEKURACJI S.A., METLIFE TOWER RESOURCES GROUP INC., METLIFE TREAT TOWERS MEMBER LLC, METLIFE WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS LLC, METROPOLITAN CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN DIRECT PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN GLOBAL MANAGEMENT LLC., METROPOLITAN GROUP PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN LIFE SEGUROS E PREVIDENCIA PRIVADA S.A., METROPOLITAN LIFE SOCIETATE de ADMINISTRARE a UNUI FOND de PENSII ADMINISTRAT PRIVAT S.A., METROPOLITAN LLOYDS INC., METROPOLITAN LLOYDS INSURANCE COMPANY OF TEXAS, METROPOLITAN PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN TOWER LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, METROPOLITAN TOWER REALTY COMPANY INC., MEX DF PROPERTIES LLC, MFA FINANCING VEHICLE CTR1 LLC, MIDTOWN HEIGHTS LLC, MIM CLAL GENERAL PARTNER LLC, MIM EMD GP LLC, MIM I LLC, MIM METWEST INTERNATIONAL MANAGER LLC, MIM ML-AI VENTURE 5 MANAGER LLC, MIM PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LLC, MIM PROPERTY MANAGEMENT OF GEORGIA 1 LLC, MIM THIRD ARMY INDUSTRIAL MANAGER LLC, MISSOURI REINSURANCE INC., ML - URS PORT CHESTER SC MANAGER LLC, ML 300 THIRD MEMBER LLC, ML ARMATURE MEMBER LLC, ML BELLEVUE MANAGER LLC, ML BELLEVUE MEMBER LLC, ML BRIDGESIDE APARTMENTS LLC, ML CAPACITACION COMERCIAL S.A. DE C.V., ML CERRITOS TC MEMBER LLC, ML CLAL MEMBER LLC, ML DOLPHIN GP LLC, ML DOLPHIN MEZZ LLC, ML MATSON MILLS MEMBER LLC, ML MILILANI MEMBER LLC, ML ONE BEDMINSTER LLC, ML PORT CHESTER SC MEMBER LLC, ML SENTINEL SQUARE MEMBER LLC, ML SLOANS LAKE MEMEBR LLC, ML SOUTHLANDS MEMBER LLC, ML SOUTHMORE LLC, ML SWAN GP LLC, ML SWAN MEZZ LLC, ML TERRACES LLC, ML THIRD ARMY INDUSTRIAL MEMBER LLC, ML VENTURE 1 MANAGER S. DE R. L. DE C.V., ML VENTURE 1 SERVICER LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 1 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 2 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 3 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 4 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 5 LLC, MLIA MANAGER I LLC, MLIA PARK TOWER MANAGER LLC, MLIA SBAF COLONY MANAGER LLC, MLIA SBAF MANAGER LLC, MLIC ASSET HOLDINGS II LLC, MLIC ASSET HOLDINGS LLC, MLIC CB HOLDINGS LLC, MLJ US FEEDER LLC, MM GLOBAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT CENTER S.A. DE C.V., MMP CEDAR STREET OWNER LLC, MMP CEDAR STREET REIT LLC, MMP HOLDINGS III LLC, MMP OLIVIAN OWNER LLC, MMP OLIVIAN REIT LLC, MMP OWNERS III LLC, MMP OWNERS LLC, MMP SOUTH PARK OWNER LLC, MMP SOUTH PARK REIT LLC, MREF 425 MKT LLC, MSV IRVINE PROPERTY LLC, MTC FUND I LLC, MTC FUND II LLC, MTC FUND III LLC, MTL LEASING LLC, MTU HOTEL OWNER LLC, NATILOPORTEM HOLDINGS LLC, NEWBURY INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, OCONEE GOLF COMPANY LLC, OCONEE HOTEL COMPANY LLC, OCONEE LAND COMPANY LLC, OCONEE LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LLC, OCONEE MARINA COMPANY LLC, OMI MLIC INVESTMENTS LIMITED, PACIFIC LOGISTICS INDUSTRIAL SOUTH LLC, PARK TOWER JV MEMBER LLC, PARK TOWER REIT INC., PJSC METLIFE, PLAZA DRIVE PROPERTIES LLC, PNB METLIFE INDIA INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, PREFCO FOURTEEN LLC, PREFCO XIV HOLDINGS LLC, PROVIDA INTERNACIONAL S.A., SAFEGUARD HEALTH ENTERPRISES INC., SAFEGUARD HEALTH PLANS INC., SAFEHEALTH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, SEVENTH AND OSBORN MF VENTURE LLC, SINO-US UNITED METLIFE INSURANCE CO. LTD., SOUTHCREEK INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS LLC, ST. JAMES FLEET INVESTMENTS TWO LIMITED, SUPERIOR PROCUREMENT INC, SUPERIOR VISION BENEFIT MANAGEMENT INC., SUPERIOR VISION HOLDINGS INC., SUPERIOR VISION INSURANCE INC., SUPERIOR VISION INSURANCE PLAN OF WISCONSIN INC., SUPERIOR VISION OF NEW JERSEY INC., SUPERIOR VISION SERVICES INC., Safeguard Health Enterprises, Security First Group Inc., THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH AVENUE MEZZANINE LLC, THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH RETAIL HOLDING LLC, THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH RETAIL OWNER, THE DIRECT CALL CENTRE PTY LIMITED, TRANSMOUNTAIN LAND & LIVESTOCK COMPANY, UVC INDEPENDENT PRACTICE ASSOCIATION INC., VERSANT HEALTH CONSOLIDATIONS CORP., VERSANT HEALTH HOLDCO INC., VERSANT HEALTH LAB LLC, VIRIDIAN MIRACLE MILE LLC, VISION 21 MANAGED EYE CARE OF TAMPA BAY, VISION 21 PHYSICIAN PRACTICE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, VISION TWENTY-ONE MANAGED EYE CARE IPA INC., Versant Health, WDV ACQUISITION CORP., WFP 1000 HOLDING COMPANY GP LLC, WHITE OAK ROYALTY COMPANY, and WHITE TRACT II LLC. Nabors Industries Ltd. engages in the provision of platform work over and drilling rigs. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Drilling, Canada Drilling, International Drilling, Drilling Solutions, and Rig Technologies. The U.S. Drilling segment includes land drilling activities in the lower 48 states and Alaska, as well as offshore operations in the Gulf of Mexico. The Canada segment consists of land-based drilling rigs in Canada. The International segment focuses in maintaining a footprint in the oil and gas market, most notably in Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Argentina, Colombia, Kazakhstan, and Venezuela. The Drilling Solutions segment offers drilling technologies, such as patented steering systems and rig instrumentation software systems that enhance drilling performance and wellbore placement. The Rig Technologies segment comprises Canrig, which manufactures and sells top drives, catwalks, wrenches, drawworks, and drilling related equipment, such as robotic systems and downhole tools. The company was founded by Clair Nabors in 1952 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Read More New Jersey Resources Corp. is a holding company. The firm provides safe and reliable natural gas and clean energy services, including transportation, distribution, asset management and home services. It operates through the following segments: New Jersey Natural Gas, NJR Clean Energy Ventures, NJR Energy Services, NJR Midstream, and NJR Home Services. The New Jersey Natural Gas segment provides regulated retail natural gas service to residential and commercial customers in central and northern New Jersey. The NJR Clean Energy Ventures segment invests in, owns and operates solar projects. The NJR Energy Services segment manages a diversified portfolio of natural gas transportation and storage assets and provides physical natural gas services in the U.S. and Canada. The NJR Midstream segment serves customers from local distributors and producers to electric generators and wholesale marketers. The NJR Home Services segment provides heating, ventilation and cooling service, sales and installation of appliances services to its customers, as well as solar installation projects, and is the primary contributor to home services. The company was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Wall, Read More Police said Anco, of the 7500 block of West 85th Avenue, crossed through an area that separates the ramp from the interstate at the bottom of the ramp and veered into the right lane, striking right side of the trucks box trailer. Papillon Resources Limited (Papillon) is engaged in the exploration and development of resource projects located in Mali. The Company has joint venture interests in a portfolio of gold tenements (granted licences and applications) in western and southern Mali. The Company's primary focus continued to be the advancement of the Fekola Project (Fekola or Project) located in south western Mali adjacent to the border with Senegal. Papillon completed its pre-feasibility study (PFS) for the project. The Company's subsidiaries include Mali Goldfields SARL, Songhoi Resources SARL, Bamagold SARL, Waraba Resources SARL, PIR Mali SARL, Papillon Exploration (AUS), Papillon Mining (AUS), Papillon Exploration (UK) and Papillon Mining (UK). Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Stryker: ActiViews, Aimago SA, Alcott Indemnity Company, Arrinex Inc, Arrinex Inc., Ascent Healthcare Solutions, Berchtold, Berchtold + Fritz GmbH, Berchtold Consulting GmbH, Berchtold Corporation, Berchtold GmbH & Co. KG, Berchtold Holding Switzerland GmbH, CHG Hospital Beds, Cactus LLC, Cardan Robotics, Changzhou Orthomed Medical Instrument Company Limited, Concentric Medical, Concentric Medical Inc., Entellus Medical, Entellus Medical Europe Ltd, Entellus Medical Inc., GYS Tech LLC, Gaymar Industries, Gongping (Shanghai) Medical Devices Trading Co. Ltd., Groupe Bertec, HeartSine Technologies LLC, HeartSine Technologies Limited, Howmedica International S. de R.L., Howmedica Osteonics Corp., Hygia Health Services, Hygia Healthcare Services Inc., HyperBranch, HyperBranch Technology Inc., ITAPCo Limited, Image Guided Technologies, Imorphics Limited, Infinity MSD Corp., Infinity MSE Corp., Infinity MSF Corp., Infomedix Communications, Instratek, InstruMedics L.L.C, Invuity Inc., Ivy Sports Medicine, Ivy Sports Medicine LLC, Jiangsu Chuangyi Medical Instrument Company Limited, Jolife AB, K2M Germany GmbH, K2M Group, K2M Group Holdings Inc., K2M Holdings Inc., K2M Iberia Medcomtech S.L.U., K2M Inc., K2M Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, K2M Spine Solutions (Schweiz) GmbH, K2M UK Limited, Loon Intermediateco LLC, MAKO Surgical, MAKO Surgical Corp, Memometal Technologies, Mobius Imaging, Mobius Imaging LLC, Muka Metal, Muka Metal Ticaret ve Sanayi Anaonim Sirketi, NV Stryker SA, Nettrick Limited, Novadaq Corp, Novadaq Hong Kong Ltd, Novadaq Technologies, Novadaq Technologies ULC, OOO "Stryker", Orneo Ozel Saglk Hizmetleri Medikal Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, OrthoSpace, OrthoSpace Ltd., OrthoSpace US Inc., Orthomed (Hong Kong) Medical Instrument Company Limited, Orthovita, Orthovita Inc., OtisMed, P.C. Sweden Holding AB, Patient Safety Technologies, Patton Surgical, Pficonprod Pty. Ltd., Physio-Control, Physio-Control (Shanghai) Sales Co. Ltd., Physio-Control Brazil Vendas Ltda., Physio-Control Czech Sales s.r.o., Physio-Control Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Physio-Control Holdings Inc, Physio-Control Hungary Sales Kft, Physio-Control Inc., Physio-Control India Sales Pvt. Ltd, Physio-Control Investments LLC, Physio-Control Lebanon Sales Offshore s.a.l., Physio-Control Manufacturing Inc., Physio-Control Operations Netherlands B.V., Physio-Control Sales Limited Liability Company, Physio-Control Singapore Pte. Ltd., Physio-Control South Africa Sales Pty. Ltd., Physio-Control UK Sales Ltd., Pivot Medical, PlasmaSol, Porex Technologies, SSI Divestiture Inc., SYK Costa Rica Services Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada, SafeAir AG, SafeWire, Sage Products, Sage Products Coperatief U.A., Sage Products Holdings II LLC, Sage Products Holdings III LLC, Sage Products LLC, Scopis GmbH, Sightline Technologies, Small Bone Innovations, SpineCore, Spirox Inc., Stanmore Implants Worldwide, Stanmore Implants Worldwide Limited, Stanmore Inc., Stryker (Barbados) Foreign Sales Corporation, Stryker (Beijing) Healthcare Products Co. Ltd., Stryker (Shanghai) Healthcare Products Co. Ltd., Stryker (Suzhou) Medical Technology Co Ltd, Stryker (Thailand) Limited, Stryker AB, Stryker Acquisitions BV, Stryker Asia Holdings CV, Stryker Australia LLC, Stryker Australia Pty. Ltd., Stryker Austria GmbH, Stryker B.V., Stryker Berchtold BV, Stryker Beteiligungs GmbH, Stryker Canada GP ULC, Stryker Canada Holding Company, Stryker Canada Manufacturing ULC, Stryker Canada ULC, Stryker Canadian Management ULC, Stryker Canadian Sales Holding Company ULC, Stryker Capital BV, Stryker China Limited, Stryker Colombia SAS, Stryker Communications Inc., Stryker Corporation (Chile) y Compania Limitada, Stryker Corporation (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Stryker Customs Brokers LLC, Stryker Czech Republic s.r.o., Stryker Delaware Inc., Stryker EMEA Supply Chain Services BV, Stryker Employment Company LLC, Stryker European Coordination Center BV, Stryker European Holdings Cooperatief U.A, Stryker European Holdings I LLC, Stryker European Holdings II LLC, Stryker European Holdings LLC, Stryker European Holdings V LLC, Stryker European Operations B.V., Stryker European Operations Holdings I BV, Stryker European Operations Holdings II BV, Stryker European Operations Holdings III BV, Stryker European Operations Holdings LLC, Stryker European Operations Limited, Stryker European Technologies C.V., Stryker Far East Inc., Stryker Foreign Acquisitions Inc., Stryker France Holding SNC, Stryker France MM Holdings SAS, Stryker France SAS, Stryker Funding B.V., Stryker GI Services CV, Stryker Global Technology Center Private Limited, Stryker GmbH, Stryker GmbH & Co. KG, Stryker Grundstucks GmbH & Co KG, Stryker Grundstucks Verwaltungs GmbH, Stryker Holdings BV, Stryker IFSC Designated Activity Company, Stryker Iberia SL Unipersonal, Stryker India Private Limited, Stryker International Acquisitions BV, Stryker International Holdings BV, Stryker Investment Holdings B.V., Stryker Ireland Holding Unlimited Company, Stryker Ireland Limited, Stryker Italia S.r.l. S.U., Stryker Japan Holdings BV, Stryker Japan K.K., Stryker Korea Ltd., Stryker Lebanon (Offshore) S.A.L., Stryker Leibinger GmbH & Co. KG, Stryker Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l., Stryker Luxembourg Sarl, Stryker Manufacturing S. de R.L. de C.V., Stryker Mauritius Holding Ltd., Stryker Medical London LP, Stryker Medtech K.K., Stryker Medtech Limited, Stryker Mexico Holdings B.V., Stryker Mexico SA de CV, Stryker NV Operations Limited, Stryker Nederland BV, Stryker New Zealand Limited, Stryker Osteonics AG, Stryker Pacific Limited, Stryker Performance Solutions LLC, Stryker Polska Sp.z.o.o., Stryker Portugal - Produtos Medicos Unipessoal Lda., Stryker Professional Latin America S. de R.L. de C.V., Stryker Puerto Rico Limited, Stryker Romania SRL, Stryker Sage Inc., Stryker Sales Corporation, Stryker Servicios Administrativos S.de R.L. de C.V., Stryker Singapore Private Limited, Stryker South Africa (Proprietary) Limited, Stryker Spine SAS, Stryker Spine Sarl, Stryker Sustainability Solutions Inc., Stryker Tibbi Cihazlan Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Stryker Trauma GmbH, Stryker Turkish Holdings BV, Stryker UK Ltd, Stryker Verwaltungs GmbH, Stryker Vietnam Company Limited, Stryker do Brasil Ltda, Surpass Medical, Synergetics, TG SP Holdings Corp, TSO3 Corp, TSO3 Inc, Trauson, Trauson (China) Medical Instrument Company Limited, Trauson (Hong Kong) Company Limited, Trauson Holdings (BVI) Company Limited, Trauson Holdings (Hong Kong) Company Limited, Trauson Holdings Company Limited, VEXIM SA, Vexim, Waterloo Bedding Co., Wright Medical Group, ZipLine Medical Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ZipLine Medical Hong Kong Limited, ZipLine Medical Inc., and eTrauma.com. Suncor Energy Inc. operates as an integrated energy company. The company primarily focuses on developing petroleum resource basins in Canada's Athabasca oil sands; explores, acquires, develops, produces, transports, refines, and markets crude oil in Canada and internationally; markets petroleum and petrochemical products under the Petro-Canada name primarily in Canada. It operates in Oil Sands; Exploration and Production; Refining and Marketing; and Corporate and Eliminations segments. The Oil Sands segment recovers bitumen from mining and in situ operations, and upgrades it into refinery feedstock and diesel fuel, or blends the bitumen with diluent for direct sale to market. The Exploration and Production segment is involved in offshore operations off the east coast of Canada and in the North Sea; and operating onshore assets in Libya and Syria. The Refining and Marketing segment refines crude oil and intermediate feedstock into various petroleum and petrochemical products; and markets refined petroleum products to retail, commercial, and industrial customers through its other retail sellers. The Corporate and Eliminations segment operates four wind farm operations in Ontario and Western Canada. The company also markets and trades in crude oil, natural gas, byproducts, refined products, and power. The company was formerly known as Suncor Inc. and changed its name to Suncor Energy Inc. in April 1997. Suncor Energy Inc. was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Xerox: A B S Digital Limited, Acorn Business Machines (Holmfirth) Limited, Alloy Acquisitions Corp. LLC, Altodigital Networks, Altodigital Networks Limited, American Photocopy Equipment Company of Pittsburgh LLC, Amici, Arena Group, Arena Group Holdings Limited, Arena Group Limited, Arizona Office Technologies Inc., B 2 Business Systems Limited, Back2Business Limited, Bessemer Insurance Limited, Bessemer Trust Limited, Boise Office Equipment Inc., Bright Ceramic Technologies Inc., Bunch CareSolutions, Business Systems (North Wales) Limited, CPAS Systems, CREDITEX - Aluguer de Equipamentos S.A., CTX Business Solutions Inc., Capitol Office Solutions LLC, CareAR Holdings LLC, CareAR Inc., Carolina Office Systems Inc., Carr Business Systems Inc., Chicago Office Technology Group Inc., ComDoc Inc., Concept Group, Concept Group Limited, Connecticut Business Systems LLC, Consilience Software, Continua Limited, Continua Sanctum Limited, Conway Technology Group LLC, Copyrite Business Solutions (Holdings) Limited, Copyrite Business Solutions Limited, Copytrend Limited, Criterion IT Limited, Customer Value Group, Dahill Office Technology Corporation, Digitex, Digitex Canada Inc., Docucentric Holdings Limited, Document Systems, Document Systems, Eastern Managed Print Network LLC, Elan Marketing Inc., Electronic Systems Inc., Fovia (Innovation) Limited, G-Five Inc., GDP Technologies Inc., Global Imaging Systems, Global PR Corporation, Groupe CT, Gyricon LLC, Healthy Communities Institute, Heritage Business Systems Inc., ITEC Group, Image Technology Specialists Inc., ImageQuest Inc., Imagetek Office Systems, Impika, Impika SAS, Inland Business Machines Inc., Institute for Research on Learning, Integrity One Technologies Inc., Intrepid Learning, Invoco Group, Irish Business Systems, LRI LLC, LaserNetworks, LaserNetworks Inc., Lateral Data, Learn Something, Lewan & Associates Inc., Limited Liability Company Xerox (C.I.S.), M & S Reprographics Limited, MRC Smart Technology Solutions Inc., MT Business Holdings Inc., MT Business Technologies Inc., MWB Copy Products Inc., Mail A Doc Limited, Merizon Group Incorporated, Michigan Office Solutions Inc., Minnesota Office Technology Group Inc., Mitral Systems Limited, Mr. Copy Inc., Nemo (AKS) Limited, NewField IT, NewField Information Technology LLC, NewField Information Technology Limited, Northeast Office Systems LLC, Osprey Business Systems Limited, PARC China Holdings Inc., Pacific Services and Development Corporation, Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated, Platinum Digital Print Solutions Limited, Precision Copier Service Inc., Quality Business Systems Inc., Quilver Business Services Limited, R. K. Dixon Company, RRXH Limited, RRXIL Limited, RRXO Limited, RSA Medical, Rabbit Copiers Inc., Reflex Digital Solutions (UK) Limited, Reprographics Egypt Limited, Saxon Business Systems Inc., Smart Data Consulting, SoCal Office Technologies Inc., Stem Networks Limited, Stewart Business Systems LLC, Stewart of Alabama Inc., StrataCare, Talegen Holdings Inc., Tektronix - color printing, Text Comm Limited (in receivership), The Xerox (UK) Trust, The Xerox Foundation, Time Business Systems Limited, Triton Business Finance Limited, Una-Stem Limited, Veenman B.V., Veenman Financial Services B.V., WDS, WaterWare Internet Services, XC Asia LLC, XC Global Trading B.V., XC Trading Hong Kong Limited, XC Trading Japan G.K., XC Trading Korea YH, XC Trading Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., XC Trading Shenzhen Co. Ltd., XC Trading Singapore Pte Ltd., XEROX CZECH REPUBLIC s r.o., XESystems Foreign Sales Corporation, XFS Secured Borrowing 2020-1 LLC, XHC Acquisition Corp., XMPie, XMPie Inc., XMPie Ltd., XRI Limited, XRO Limited, Xerox (Europe) Limited, Xerox (Ireland) Limited, Xerox (Nederland) BV, Xerox (Romania) Echipmante Si Servici S.A., Xerox (UK) Limited, Xerox (Ukraine) Ltd LLC, Xerox A/S, Xerox AG, Xerox AS, Xerox Argentina Industrial y Comercial S.A., Xerox Austria GmbH, Xerox Bulgaria EOOD, Xerox Business Equipment Limited, Xerox Business Services Bulgaria EOOD, Xerox Business Solutions Inc., Xerox Business Solutions Southeast LLC, Xerox Buro Araclari Servis ve Ticaret Ltd. Sti, Xerox Canada Inc., Xerox Canada Ltd., Xerox Canada N.S. ULC, Xerox Capital (Europe) Limited, Xerox Capital LLC, Xerox Computer Services Limited, Xerox Comercio e Industria Ltda, Xerox Corporation, Xerox DNHC LLC, Xerox Dienstleistungsgesellschaft GmbH, Xerox Distributor Operations Limited, Xerox Egypt S.A.E., Xerox Equipment Limited, Xerox Equipment UK Limited, Xerox Espana S.A.U., Xerox Exports Limited, Xerox Finance AG, Xerox Finance Leasing S.A.E., Xerox Finance Limited, Xerox Financial Services B.V., Xerox Financial Services Belux NV, Xerox Financial Services Canada Ltd., Xerox Financial Services Danmark A/S, Xerox Financial Services Finland Oy, Xerox Financial Services LLC, Xerox Financial Services Norway AS, Xerox Financial Services SAS, Xerox Financial Services Sverige AB, Xerox Foreign Holdings LLC, Xerox Foreign Sales Corporation, Xerox GmbH, Xerox Health Care LLC, Xerox Hellas AEE, Xerox Holding Deutschland GmbH, Xerox Holdings (Ireland) Limited, Xerox Holdings Inc., Xerox Hungary Trading Limited, Xerox IBS Limited, Xerox IBS NI Limited, Xerox India Limited, Xerox International Joint Marketing Inc., Xerox Investments Europe B.V., Xerox Israel Ltd., Xerox Italia Rental Services Srl, Xerox Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Xerox Latinamerican Holdings Inc., Xerox Leasing Deutschland GmbH, Xerox Leasing GmbH, Xerox Limited, Xerox Luxembourg SA, Xerox Mailing Systems Limited, Xerox Manufacturing (Nederland) B.V., Xerox Maroc S.A., Xerox Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Xerox Middle East Investments (Bermuda) Limited, Xerox N.V., Xerox Overseas Holdings Limited, Xerox Overseas Inc., Xerox Oy, Xerox Pensions Limited, Xerox Polska Sp. z o. o, Xerox Portugal Equipamentos de Escritorio Limitada, Xerox Products Limited, Xerox Products UK Limited, Xerox Professional Services Limited, Xerox Realty Corporation, Xerox Renting S.A.U., Xerox Reprographische Services GmbH, Xerox S.A.S., Xerox S.p.A., Xerox Secured Borrowing 2020-1 LLC, Xerox Servicios Compartidos Guatemala y Compani Limitada, Xerox Servicos e Participacoes Ltda, Xerox Shared Services Romania SRL, Xerox Sverige AB, Xerox Technology Services India LLP, Xerox Technology Services SAS, Xerox Telebusiness GmbH, Xerox Trading Enterprises Limited, Xerox Trinidad Limited, Xerox UK Holdings Limited, Xerox XHB Limited, Xerox XIB Limited, Xerox Xf Holdings (Ireland) DAC, Xerox de Chile S.A., Xerox del Ecuador S.A., Xerox del Peru S.A., Zeno Office Solutions, Zeno Office Solutions Inc., Zoom Imaging Solutions Inc., and inVentiv Patient Access Solutions. Toyota Motor Corp. engages in the manufacture and sale of motor vehicles and parts. It operates through the following segments: Automotive, Financial Services, and All Other. The Automotive segment designs, manufactures, assembles and sells passenger cars, minivans, trucks, and related vehicle parts and accessories. It is also involved in the development of intelligent transport systems. The Financial Services segment offers purchase or lease financing to Toyota vehicle dealers and customers. It also provides retail leasing through lease contracts purchase by dealers. The All Others segment deals with the design and manufacture and sale of housing, telecommunications and other businesses. The company was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda on August 28, 1937 and is headquartered in Toyota, Japan. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of UnitedHealth Group: 1031387 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, 1070715 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, 1st Avenue Pharmacy Inc., 310 Canyon Medical, 310 Canyon Medical LLC, 4C MSO LLC, 4C Medical Group PLC, 5995 Minnetonka LLC, ABCO International Holdings LLC, ACN Group IPA of New York, ACN Group IPA of New York Inc., ACN Group of California, ACN Group of California Inc., AHJV, AHJV MSO, AHN Accontable Care Organization LLC, AHN Central Services LLC, AHN Target Holdings LLC, AMIL International, AMIL International S.a.r.l., APS Assistencia Personalizada a Saude Ltda., ARC Infusion, ASC Holdings of New Jersey LLC, ASC Network LLC, ASI Global, ASI Global LLC, Access Administrators Inc., Access HealthSource Administrators Inc., Access HealthSource Inc., Access I.V., Administradora Clinica La Colina S.A.S., Administradora Country S.A., Administradora Medica Centromed S.A., Advanced Care, Advanced Care Pharmacy, Advanced Pharma Inc., Advanced Surgery Center of Clifton LLC, Advanced Surgical Hospital LLC, Advantage Care Network Inc., Advocate Condell Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Advocate Sherman Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Advocate Southwest Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Advocate-SCA Partners LLC, Alere Health, Alere Health Improvement Company, Alere Healthcare of Illinois, Alere Wellbeing, Alere Wellology, Alere of New York, Aliansalud Entidad Promotora de Salud S.A., All Savers Insurance Company, All Savers Life Insurance Company of California, Alliance Surgical Center LLC, Aloha Surgical Center LLC, Ambient Healthcare, Ambient Healthcare Inc., Ambient Healthcare of Central Florida, Ambient Healthcare of Georgia, Ambient Healthcare of Northeast Florida, Ambient Healthcare of S. Florida, Ambient Healthcare of West Florida, Ambient Holdings, Ambient Holdings Inc., Ambient Nursing Services, AmeriChoice, AmeriChoice Corporation, AmeriChoice Health Services, AmeriChoice of Connecticut, AmeriChoice of New Jersey, AmeriChoice of New Jersey Inc., American Health Network of Indiana Care Organization LLC, American Health Network of Indiana II LLC, American Health Network of Indiana LLC, American Health Network of Ohio Care Organization LLC, American Health Network of Ohio II LLC, American Health Network of Ohio LLC, Amico Saude Ltda., Amil, Amil Assistencia Medica Internacional S.A., Amil Lifesciences Participacoes Ltda., Antelope Valley Surgery Center L.P., Analisis Clinicos ML S.A.C., Apothecary Holdings Inc., Apothecary Shop of Phoenix Inc., AppleCare Medical Management, AppleCare Medical Management LLC, Aquitania Chilean Holding SpA, Arise Physician Group, Arizona Physicians IPA, Arizona Physicians IPA Inc., AssuranceRx, AssuranceRx LLC, Athens ASC Holdings LLC, Audax Health Solutions, Audax Health Solutions LLC, Austin Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., Avella Patient Access Program Inc., Avella Specialty Pharmacy, Avella of Austin Inc., Avella of Columbus Inc., Avella of Deer Valley Inc., Avella of Denver Inc., Avella of Gilbert Inc., Avella of Las Vegas II Inc., Avella of Orlando Inc., Avella of Phoenix III Inc., Avella of Sacramento Inc., Avella of Scottsdale Inc., Avella of St. Louis Inc., Avella of Tampa LLC, Avella of Tucson II Inc., Avella of Tucson Inc., Aveta Arizona, Aveta Health Solutions Inc., Aveta Inc., Aveta Kansas City, Aveta Tennessee, AxelaCare Health Solutions, AxelaCare Intermediate Holdings, AxelaCare Intermediate Holdings LLC, AxelaCare LLC, B.R.A.S.S. Partnership in Commendam, Banmedica Colombia SpA, Banmedica Internacional SpA, Banmedica S.A., Beach Surgical Holdings III LLC, Behavioral Healthcare Options, Behavioral Healthcare Options Inc., Belleville Surgical Center Ltd. an Illinois Limited Partnership, Benefit Administration for the Self Employed L.L.C., Benefitter Insurance Solutions Inc., Birmingham Outpatient Surgical Center LLC, Blackstone Valley Surgicare GP LLC, Blue Ridge GP LLC, Bordeaux (Barbados) Holdings I SRL, Bordeaux (Barbados) Holdings II SRL, Bordeaux (Barbados) Holdings III SRL, Bordeaux Holding SpA, Bordeaux International Holdings Inc., Bordeaux UK Holdings I Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings II Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings III Limited, Bosque Medical Center Ltda., Brandon Ambulatory Surgery Center LC, BriovaRx, BriovaRx, BriovaRx Infusion Services, BriovaRx Infusion Services 102 LLC, BriovaRx Infusion Services 200 Inc., BriovaRx Infusion Services 204 Inc., BriovaRx Infusion Services 209 Inc., BriovaRx Infusion Services 305 LLC, BriovaRx Infusion Services 402 LLC, BriovaRx Infusion Services Inc., BriovaRx Specialty LLC, BriovaRx of California, BriovaRx of California Inc., BriovaRx of Florida, BriovaRx of Florida Inc., BriovaRx of Georgia, BriovaRx of Georgia LLC, BriovaRx of Hawaii, BriovaRx of Indiana, BriovaRx of Louisiana, BriovaRx of Louisiana L.L.C., BriovaRx of Maine, BriovaRx of Maine Inc., BriovaRx of Massachusetts, BriovaRx of Massachusetts LLC, BriovaRx of Nevada, BriovaRx of New York, BriovaRx of New York Inc., BriovaRx of Texas, BriovaRx of Texas Inc., CDC Holdings Colombia S.A.S., CLISA Clinica de Santo Antonio S.A., CMO Centro Medico de Oftalmologia S/S Ltda., CMS Central de Manipulacao e Servicos Farmaceuticos S.A., CNIC Health Solutions Inc., COI Participacoes S.A., COI Clinicas Oncologicas Integradas S.A., Cabin Enterprises LLC, Cabin Holdings LLC, California MedTrans Network IPA LLC, California MedTrans Network MSO LLC, California Medical Group Insurance Company Risk Retention Group, Camp Hill-SCA Centers LLC, Capital City Medical Group L.L.C., Cardio Management, Cardio Management Inc., Care Improvement Plus Group Management, Care Improvement Plus Group Management LLC, Care Improvement Plus South Central Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus Wisconsin Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus of Texas Insurance Company, Casa de Saude Santa Therezinha Ltda., Casa de Saude Santa Therezinha S.A., Castle Rock SurgiCenter LLC, Catalyst360, Catalyst360 LLC, Catamaran Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Catamaran Health Solutions, Catamaran Holdings I, Catamaran IPA III, Catamaran Mail, Catamaran PBM of Illinois II, Catamaran PBM of Puerto Rico, Catamaran PD of Pennsylvania, Catamaran PD of Puerto Rico, Catamaran Rebate Management, Catamaran S.a.r.l., Catamaran Senior Services, Catamaran of Pennsylvania, Cedar Park Surgery Center LLC, Cemed Care - Empressa de Atendimento Clinico Geral Ltda., Cemed Care Empresa de Atendimento Clinico Geral Ltda., Central Indiana Care Organization LLC, Central Ohio Care Organization LLC, Central de Compras SpA, CentriHealth Corporation, CentriHealth UK Limited, CentrifyHealth LLC, Centro Medico Hospitalar Pitangueiras Ltda., Centro Medico Odontologico Americano S.A.C., Centro Medico PJ Ltda., Centro de Entrenamiento en Reanimacion y Prevencion Limitada (CERP), Centro de Servicios Compartidos Banmedica S.A., Centromed Quilpue S.A., Centros Medicos y Dentales Multimed Ltda., Centurion Casualty Company, Channel Islands Surgicenter L.P., Channel Islands Surgicenter Properties LLC, Charleston Surgery Properties LLC, Charlotte-SC LLC, Childrens Surgery Center LLC, ChinaGate (Hong Kong) Limited, ChinaGate Company Limited, Citrus Regional Surgery Center L.P., Clinica Oftalmologica Danilo de Castro Sociedade Simples, Clinical Partners of Colorado Springs LLC, Clinica Alameda S.A., Clinica Bio Bio S.A., Clinica Ciudad del Mar S.A., Clinica Davila y Servicios Medicos S.A., Clinica Medico Cirurgica de Santa Tecla S.A., Clinica San Borja (La Esperanza del Peru S.A.), Clinica San Felipe S.A., Clinica Santa Maria S.A., Clinica Sanchez Ferrer S.A., Clinica Vespucio S.A., Clinica del Country S.A., Coachella Valley Physicians of PrimeCare, Coachella Valley Physicians of PrimeCare Inc., Coalition For Advanced Pharmacy Services, Coalition for Advanced Pharmacy Services Inc., Coastal Physicians Management Inc., Collaborative Care Holdings, Collaborative Care Holdings LLC, Collaborative Care Services, Collaborative Care Services Inc., Collaborative Care Solutions, Collaborative Realty, Collaborative Realty LLC, Colmedica Medicina Prepagada, Colonial Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Colorado Innovative Physician Solutions Inc., Colorado Springs Surgery Center Ltd., Comfort Care Transportation, Comfort Care Transportation LLC, Commonwealth Administrators, Connecticut Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Connecticut Surgery Properties LLC, Connecticut Surgical Center LLC, Connextions, Connextions HCI, Constructora e Inmobiliaria Magapoq S.A., Consumer Wellness Solutions Inc., Country Scan Ltda., Crescent Drug Corp., Cypress Care, Cypress Care Inc., DBP Services of New York IPA, DBP Services of New York IPA Inc., DTC Surgery Center LLC, DWIC of Tampa Bay, DWIC of Tampa Bay Inc., DaVita Magan Management Inc., Danbury Surgical Center L.P., Day-Op Surgery Consulting Company, Day-Op Surgery Consulting Company LLC, Definity Health, Dental Benefit Providers, Dental Benefit Providers Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of California, Dental Benefit Providers of California Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of Illinois, Dental Benefit Providers of Illinois Inc., Derry Surgical Center LLC, Diagnostico Ecotomografico Centromed Ltda., Diasnostico por Imagenes Centromed Ltda., Dilab Medicina Nuclear Ltda., Diplomat Pharmacy, Distance Learning Network, Distance Learning Network Inc., Doctor + S.A.C., Dry Creek Surgery Center LLC, Dublin Surgery Center LLC, Duncan Printing Services, Duncan Printing Services LLC, E Street Endoscopy LLC, ELG FZE, EP Campus I, EP Campus I LLC, East Brunswick Surgery Center LLC, Electronic Network Systems, Electronic Network Systems Inc., Elual Participacoes S.A., Empire Physician Management Company, Empire Physician Management Company LLC, Employers Health Choice PPO Inc., Empremedica S. A., Endoscopy Center Affiliates Inc., Enterprise Life Insurance Company, Equian, Equian LLC, Equian Parent Corp., Esho Empresa de Servicos Hospitalares S.A., Etho Empresa de Tecnologia Hospitalar Ltda., Evercare Collaborative Solutions, Evercare Collaborative Solutions Inc., Everett MSO Inc., Excellion Servicos Biomedicos Ltda., Excellion Servicos Biomedicos S.A., Excelsior Insurance Brokerage Inc., Executive Health Resources, Executive Health Resources Inc., Executive Surgery Center LLC, Eye Clinic Oftalmologia Clinico Cirurgica e Diagnostico Ltda., FMG Holdings, FMG Holdings LLC, FOR HEALTH OF ARIZONA, Family Health Care Services, Family Home Hospice, Family Home Hospice Inc., First Rx Specialty & Mail Services, Florida MedTrans Network LLC, Florida MedTrans Network MSO LLC, For Health, For Health Inc., For Health of Arizona Inc., Fortified Provider Network Inc., Fortify Technologies Asia LLC, Fortify Technologies LLC, Foundation Financial Services Inc., Franklin Surgical Center LLC, Freedom Life Insurance Company of America, Freeway Surgicenter of Houston LLC, Frontier MEDEX Limited, Frontier Medex Tanzania Limited, FrontierMEDEX, FrontierMEDEX (RMS), FrontierMEDEX (RMS) Inc., FrontierMEDEX Government Services, FrontierMEDEX Government Services LLC, FrontierMEDEX Inc., FrontierMEDEX Kenya Limited, FrontierMEDEX US, FrontierMEDEX US Inc., Fundacion Banmedica, GRANTS PASS SURGERY CENTER LLC, Gadsden Surgery Center LLC, Gadsden Surgery Center Ltd., Gainesville Surgery Center L.P., Gainesville Surgery Properties LLC, Genoa, Genoa Healthcare Inc., Genoa Healthcare LLC, Genoa QoL Wholesale LLC, Genoa Technology (Canada) Inc., Genoa Technology Inc., Genoa Telepsychiatry Inc., Genoa of Arkansas LLC, Glenwood Surgical Center L.P., Glenwood-SC Inc., Golden Outlook, Golden Outlook Inc., Golden Rule Financial Corporation, Golden Rule Insurance Company, Golden Triangle Surgicenter L.P., Grapevine Finance LLC, Greater Hartford ASC LLC, Grove Place Surgery Center L.L.C., Guardian Health Systems Limited Partnership, H&W Indemnity (SPC), H&W Indemnity (SPC) Ltd., H.I. Investments Holding Company LLC, HCP ACO California LLC, HCP ACO Nevada LLC, HCentive Technology India Private Limited, HMI NewCo LLC, Harken Health Insurance Company, Hayes-Strub LLC, Health Business Systems, Health Care-ONE Insurance Agency Inc., Health Inventures Employment Solutions LLC, Health Inventures LLC, Health Net Insurance of New York, Health Net Services (Bermuda) Ltd., Health Plan of Nevada, Health Plan of Nevada Inc., Health Technology Analysts Pty Limited, HealthAllies, HealthAllies Inc., HealthCare Partners ASC-LB LLC, HealthCare Partners Management Services California LLC, HealthCare Partners RE LLC, HealthFirst IPA Inc., HealthMarkets Group Inc., HealthMarkets Inc., HealthMarkets Insurance Agency Inc., HealthMarkets LLC, HealthMarkets NewCo Inc., HealthMarkets Services Inc., HealthSCOPE Holdings Inc., HealthScope Benefits Inc., Healthcare Partners Plan of Nevada Inc., Healthcare Solutions Inc., Heartland Heart and Vascular LLC, Help S.A., Help Service S.A., Highlands Ranch Healthcare, Highlands Ranch Healthcare LLC, Home Care I.V. of Bend, Home Infusion With Heart, Home Medical S.A., Hospice Inspiris Holdings, Hospice Inspiris Holdings Inc., Hospitais Associados de Pernambuco Ltda., Hospital Alvorada de Taguatinga Ltda., Hospital Ana Costa S.A., Hospital Maternidade Promater Ltda., Hospital Samaritano de Sao Paulo Ltda., Hospital Santa Helena S.A., Hospital de Clinicas de Jacarepagua Ltda., Humedica, Humedica Inc., Hygeia Corporation, Hygeia Corporation (Canada), Hygeia Corporation (DE), Hygeia Corporation (Ontario), INOV8 Surgical at Memorial City LLC, INSPIRIS of New York IPA, INSPIRIS of New York Management, INSPIRIS of New York Management Inc., INSPIRIS of Texas Physician Group, IRX Financing I LLC, Illinois Independent Care Network, Imed Star Servicos de Desempenho Organizacional Ltda., Impel Consulting Experts, Impel Consulting Experts L.L.C., Impel Management Services L.L.C., Indian River Surgery Center Ltd., Indian River Surgery Properties LLC, Indiana Care Organization LLC, Infusource, Ingram & Associates, Ingram & Associates LLC, Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3001 S.A., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3600 Ltda., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo S.A., Inmobiliaria Clinica Santa Maria S.A., Inmobiliaria Vinamed Ltda., Inmobiliaria e Inversiones Alameda S.A., Inspiris, Inspiris Inc., Inspiris Services Company, Inspiris of Tennessee, Instituto do Radium de Cammpinas Ltda, International Psychological Services Pty Limited, Inversiones Clinicas Santa Maria S.A., Isapre Banmedica S.A., Isapre Vida Tres S.A., Johnston Surgicare L.P., Joliet Surgery Center Limited Partnership, LHI, Laboratorio ROE S.A., Laboratorios Medicos Amed Quilpue S.A., LifePrint Health, LifePrint Health Inc., LifeStyles Marketing Group Inc., LifeWell Ltd. Co., Lifeprint Accountable Care Organization, Lifeprint Accountable Care Organization LLC, Lifeprint East, Lifeprint East Inc., Logistics Health Inc., Lotten-Eyes Oftalmologia Clinica e Cirurgica Ltda., Louisville S.C. Ltd., Louisville-SC Properties Inc., Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center at Oakbrook Inc., Lusiadas - Parcerias Cascais S.A., Lusiadas A.C.E., Lusiadas S.A., Lusiadas SGPS S.A., MAMSI Insurance Resources, MAMSI Life and Health Insurance Company, MD Ops, MD Ops Inc., MD-Individual Practice Association, MD-Individual Practice Association Inc., ME AHS UC LLC, MEDEX Insurance Services, MEDEX Insurance Services Inc., MGH/SCA LLC, MHC Real Estate Holdings, MHC Real Estate Holdings LLC, MIAMI SURGERY CENTER LLC, MSLA Management LLC, MXMD Centros De Cancer, Mamoeco Mamografia e Ecografia Centro de Diagnostico, Managed Physical Network, Managed Physical Network Inc., March Holdings, March Holdings Inc., March Vision Care, March Vision Care Inc., Marin Surgery Holdings Inc., Maryland Ambulatory Centers, Maryland-SCA Centers LLC, Massachusetts Assurance Company Ltd. PIC, Massachusetts Avenue Surgery Center LLC, Mat-Rx Development, Mat-Rx Fort Worth GP, MedExpress Development, MedExpress Development LLC, MedExpress Urgent Care Alabama LLC, MedExpress Urgent Care Inc. - Ohio, MedExpress Urgent Care Maine Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care New Hampshire Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care of Boynton Beach, MedExpress Urgent Care of Boynton Beach LLC, MedSynergies, MedSynergies LLC, MedSynergies North Texas, Medalliance Net Ltda, Medalliance Net Ltda., Medica Health Plans of Florida, Medica Health Plans of Florida Inc., Medica HealthCare Plans, Medica HealthCare Plans Inc., Medical Clinic of North Texas PLLC, Medical Hilfe S.A., Medical Preparatory School of Allied Health, Medical Support Los Angeles Inc., Medical Surgical Centers of America Inc., Medical Transportation Services, Medical Transportation Services LLC, Medication Management Systems Inc., Melbourne Surgery Center LLC, Memorial City Holdings LLC, Memorial City Partners LLC, Memphis-SC LLC, Memphis-SP LLC, Mesquite Liberty LLC, Metro I Stone Management, Metropolitan Medical Partners LLC, Metropolitan Medical Transportation IPA LLC, Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of Tennessee, Midwest Center for Day Surgery LLC, Mile High SurgiCenter LLC, Mississippi Surgery Holdings LLC, Mississippi Surgical Center Limited Partnership, Mobile Medical Professionals, Modern Medical Inc., Monarch Management Services, Monarch Management Services Inc., Montgomery Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Mountain View Medical Group LLC, Mt. Pleasant Surgery Center L.P., Multiangio Ltda., Muskogee Surgical Investors LLC, Mustang Razorback Holdings, Mustang Razorback Holdings Inc., My Wellness Solutions LLC, NAMM Holdings, NAMM Holdings Inc., NSC Fayetteville LLC, NSC Greensboro LLC, NSC Lancaster LLC, NSC Seattle Inc., NSC Upland LLC, Nashville-SCA Surgery Centers Inc., National Foundation Life Insurance Company, National MedTrans LLC, National Pacific Dental, National Pacific Dental Inc., National Surgery Centers LLC, Neighborhood Health Partnership, Neighborhood Health Partnership Inc., Netwerkes, Netwerkes LLC, Nevada Medical Services LLC, Nevada Pacific Dental, New Orleans Regional Physician Hospital Organization L.L.C., New West Physicians Inc., Newton Holdings LLC, North American Medical Management - Illinois, North American Medical Management California, North American Medical Management California Inc., North Puget Sound Center for Sleep Disorders LLC, North Puget Sound Oncology Equipment Leasing Company LLC, Northern Nevada Health Network, Northern Nevada Health Network Inc., Northern Rockies Surgicenter Inc., Northwest Surgicare LLC, Northwest Surgicare Ltd., Nutritional/Parenteral Home Care, Nutritional/Parenteral Home Care of Huntsville, OC Cardiology Practice Partners LLC, OSB Tecnologia e Servicos de Suporte Ltda., Omesa S.A., OmniClaim LLC, Oncocare S.A.C., OneNet PPO, OneNet PPO LLC, Optimum Choice, Optimum Choice Inc., Optum, Optum Bank, Optum Bank Inc., Optum Biometrics, Optum Biometrics Inc., Optum Care Inc., Optum Care Services Company, Optum Clinical Services, Optum Clinics Holdings, Optum Clinics Holdings Inc., Optum Clinics Intermediate Holdings, Optum Clinics Intermediate Holdings Inc., Optum Digital Health Holdings LLC, Optum Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Optum Global Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Optum Global Solutions (India) Private Limited, Optum Global Solutions (Philippines), Optum Global Solutions (Philippines) Inc., Optum Global Solutions International B.V., Optum Government Solutions, Optum Government Solutions Inc., Optum Growth Partners LLC, Optum Health & Technology (Australia) Pty Ltd, Optum Health & Technology (Hong Kong) Limited, Optum Health & Technology (India) Private Limited, Optum Health & Technology (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Optum Health & Technology (UK) Limited, Optum Health & Technology (US), Optum Health & Technology (US) LLC, Optum Health & Technology FZ-LLC, Optum Health & Technology Holdings (US), Optum Health & Technology Holdings (US) Inc., Optum Health & Technology Servicos do Brasil Ltda., Optum Health Services (Canada) Ltd., Optum Health Solutions (Australia) Pty Ltd, Optum Health Solutions (UK) Limited, Optum Health and Technology FZ-LLC, Optum Healthcare of Illinois, Optum Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Optum Hospice Pharmacy Services, Optum Hospice Pharmacy Services LLC, Optum Inc., Optum Infusion Services 100 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 101 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 103 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 201 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 202 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 203 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 205 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 206 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 207 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 208 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 301 LP, Optum Infusion Services 302 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 308 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 401 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 403 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 404 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 501 Inc., Optum Insurance of Ohio, Optum Insurance of Ohio Inc., Optum Labs, Optum Labs Dimensions, Optum Labs Dimensions Inc., Optum Labs Inc., Optum Labs International (UK) Ltd., Optum Life Sciences (Canada) Inc., Optum Management Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Optum Management Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Optum Networks of New Jersey Inc., Optum Nevada Accountable Care Organization LLC, Optum Operations (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care Inc., Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Pennsylvania, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Pennsylvania Inc., Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Texas, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Texas Inc., Optum Perks LLC, Optum Pharmacy 701 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 702 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 703 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 705 LLC, Optum Public Sector Solutions, Optum Public Sector Solutions Inc., Optum Rocket, Optum Rocket Inc., Optum Senior Services LLC, Optum Services, Optum Services (Ireland) Limited, Optum Services (Puerto Rico) LLC, Optum Services Inc., Optum Solutions UK Holdings Limited, Optum Solutions do Brasil Tecnologia e Servicos de Suporte Ltda., Optum Technology, Optum Technology LLC, Optum UK Solutions Group Limited, Optum Women's and Children's Health, Optum Women's and Children's Health LLC, Optum of New York Inc., Optum360, Optum360 LLC, Optum360 Services, Optum360 Services Inc., Optum360 Solutions LLC, OptumCare ACO Florida LLC, OptumCare ACO Holdings LLC, OptumCare ACO New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Clinical Trials LLC, OptumCare Colorado ASC LLC, OptumCare Colorado LLC, OptumCare Colorado Springs LLC, OptumCare Endoscopy Center New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Florida CI LLC, OptumCare Florida LLC, OptumCare Health Plan of California Inc., OptumCare Holdings Colorado LLC, OptumCare Holdings LLC, OptumCare Holdings New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Management LLC, OptumCare New Mexico LLC, OptumCare New York IPA Inc., OptumCare South Florida LLC, OptumHealth Care Solutions, OptumHealth Care Solutions LLC, OptumHealth Financial Services, OptumHealth Financial Services Inc., OptumHealth Holdings, OptumHealth Holdings LLC, OptumHealth International B.V., OptumInsight, OptumInsight Holdings, OptumInsight Holdings LLC, OptumInsight Inc., OptumInsight India Private Limited, OptumInsight Life Sciences, OptumInsight Life Sciences Inc., OptumRx, OptumRx Administrative Services, OptumRx Administrative Services LLC, OptumRx Discount Card Services, OptumRx Discount Card Services LLC, OptumRx Group Holdings, OptumRx Group Holdings Inc., OptumRx Health Solutions LLC, OptumRx Holdings, OptumRx Holdings I LLC, OptumRx Holdings LLC, OptumRx Home Delivery of Illinois, OptumRx Home Delivery of Ohio, OptumRx Home Delivery of Ohio LLC, OptumRx IPA III Inc., OptumRx Inc., OptumRx NY IPA, OptumRx NY IPA Inc., OptumRx PBM of Illinois, OptumRx PBM of Illinois Inc., OptumRx PBM of Maryland, OptumRx PBM of Maryland LLC, OptumRx PBM of Pennsylvania, OptumRx PBM of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx PBM of Puerto Rico LLC, OptumRx PBM of Wisconsin, OptumRx PBM of Wisconsin LLC, OptumRx PD of Maryland, OptumRx PD of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx Pharmacy, OptumRx Pharmacy Inc., OptumRx Pharmacy of Nevada, OptumRx Pharmacy of Nevada Inc., OptumRx of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumServe Technology Services Inc., Orlando Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., OrthoNet Holdings, OrthoNet Holdings Inc., OrthoNet LLC, OrthoNet New York IPA, OrthoNet New York IPA Inc., OrthoNet Services, OrthoNet Services Inc., OrthoNet West, OrthoNet West Inc., OrthoNet of the Mid-Atlantic, OrthoNet of the South, OrthoNet of the South Inc., Ovations, Ovations Inc., Oxford Benefit Management, Oxford Benefit Management Inc., Oxford Health Insurance, Oxford Health Insurance Inc., Oxford Health Plans (CT), Oxford Health Plans (CT) Inc., Oxford Health Plans (NJ), Oxford Health Plans (NJ) Inc., Oxford Health Plans (NY), Oxford Health Plans (NY) Inc., Oxford Health Plans LLC, P2 Lower Acquisition, P2P Link LLC, PCCCV, PCCCV Inc., PCN DE Corp., PHC Subsidiary Holdings, PHC Subsidiary Holdings LLC, PHYS Holding Corp., PHYSICIANS DAY SURGERY CENTER LLC, PMI Acquisition, PMI Acquisition LLC, PMSI, PMSI Holdco II, PMSI Holdings, PMSI Holdings LLC, PMSI LLC, PMSI Settlement Solutions, PMSI Settlement Solutions LLC, POMCO Inc., POMCO Network Inc., PPH Holdings LLC, PacifiCare Health Systems, PacifiCare Life Assurance Company, PacifiCare Life and Health Insurance Company, PacifiCare of Arizona, PacifiCare of Arizona Inc., PacifiCare of Colorado, PacifiCare of Colorado Inc., PacifiCare of Nevada, PacifiCare of Nevada Inc., Pacific Casualty Company Inc., Pacifico S.A. Entidad Prestadora de Salud, Paoli Ambulatory Surgery Center, Paoli Surgery Center L.P., Parkway Surgery Center LLC, Pasteur Plaza Surgery Center GP Inc., PatientsLikeMe, PatientsLikeMe LLC, Patrimonio Autonomo Nueva Clinica - PANC., Payment Resolution Services, Payment Resolution Services LLC, Peoples Health, Peoples Health Inc., Pharmaceutical Care Network, Pharmacy Review Services, Pharmacy Software Holdco Inc., PhyServe Holdings, Physician Alliance of the Rockies LLC, Physician Care Partners, Physicians Health Choice of Texas, Physicians Health Choice of Texas LLC, Physicians Health Plan of Maryland, Physicians Health Plan of Maryland Inc., Physicians Plaza Holdings LLC, Plano de Saude Ana Costa Ltda., Plus One Health Management Puerto Rico, Plus One Health Management Puerto Rico Inc., Plus One Holdings, Plus One Holdings Inc., Polar II Fundo de Investimento em Participacoes, Polar II Fundo de Investimento em Participacoes Multiestrategia, Polo Holdco, Polo Holdco LLC, Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center Inc., Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center L.P., Precision Dialing Services Inc., Preferred Care Partners, Preferred Care Partners Holding, Preferred Care Partners Holding Corp., Preferred Care Partners Inc., Preferred Care Partners Medical Group, Preferred Care Partners Medical Group Inc., Premier Choice ACO, Premier Choice ACO Inc., Premier Surgery Center of Louisville L.P., Prime Health, Prime Health Inc., PrimeCare Medical Network, PrimeCare Medical Network Inc., PrimeCare of Citrus Valley, PrimeCare of Citrus Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Corona, PrimeCare of Corona Inc., PrimeCare of Hemet Valley, PrimeCare of Hemet Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Inland Valley, PrimeCare of Inland Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Moreno Valley, PrimeCare of Moreno Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Redlands, PrimeCare of Redlands Inc., PrimeCare of Riverside, PrimeCare of Riverside Inc., PrimeCare of San Bernardino, PrimeCare of San Bernardino Inc., PrimeCare of Sun City, PrimeCare of Sun City Inc., PrimeCare of Temecula, PrimeCare of Temecula Inc., ProHEALTH Fitness of Lake Success, ProHEALTH Fitness of Lake Success LLC, ProHEALTH Medical Management LLC, ProHealth Medical Management, ProHealth Physicians, ProHealth Physicians ACO, ProHealth Physicians ACO LLC, ProHealth Physicians Inc., ProHealth Proton Center Management, ProHealth Proton Center Management LLC, Procura Management, Procura Management Inc., Progressive Enterprises Holdings, Progressive Enterprises Holdings Inc., Progressive Medical, Progressive Medical LLC, Progressive Solutions, Promotora Country S.A., Pronetics Health Care Group, Pronounced Health Solutions Inc., Prosemedic S.A.C., Prospero Management Services LLC, Pueblo-SCA Surgery Center LLC, Pulse Platform LLC, QoL Acquisition Holdings Corp., Quality Software Services, QuarterMaster Newco LLC, R&H Family Fitness Unlimited LLC, Rally Health, Rally Health Inc., Real Appeal Inc., Recaudacion y Cobranzas Honodav Ltda., Redlands Ambulatory Surgery Center, 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Cellcom Israel Ltd. operates and maintains a cellular mobile telephone system in Israel. It operates in two segments, Cellular and Fixed-line. The company offers cellular communications services, such as basic cellular telephony services comprising voice mail, cellular fax, call waiting, call forwarding, caller identification, and conference calling; text and multimedia messaging; and cellular content and data services. It also provides international roaming services; value-added services, such as short message and multimedia messaging; cloud backup; and content services, including Cellcom Volume music, Cellcom TV, and other applications. In addition, the company sells handsets, tablets, streamers, smart watches, and home security cameras, as well as offers repair services. Further, it provides internet infrastructure and connectivity services, over-the-top TV services, international long distance services, and landline telephony and transmission services; transmission and data services through fiber-optic infrastructure and complementary microwave links; IP switchboard services; and cloud services and data protection products, as well as operates and manages business telecommunication systems to selected business customers and telecommunications operators. As of December 31, 2019, the company had approximately 10.6 million cellular subscribers. Cellcom Israel Ltd. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Netanya, Israel. Read More John McCain Dead at 81: Obama, Biden, Trump and More Pay Their Respects to the War Hero Senator The death of Sen. John McCain from stage-four brain cancer at the age of 81 on Saturday has drawn tributes from across the cultural and political spectrum. Former Vice President Joe Biden who was the running mate of McCains one-time political adversary, future President Barack Obama, in the 2008 campaign posted a lengthy statement on his Twitter account. John was many things a proud graduate of the Naval Academy, a Senate colleague, a political, he wrote in part. But, to me, more than anything, John was a friend. America will miss John McCain. The world will miss John McCain. And I will miss him dearly. John McCain was many things a proud graduate of the Naval Academy, a Senate colleague, a political opponent. But, to me, more than anything, John was a friend. He will be missed dearly. pic.twitter.com/AS8YsMLw3d Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 26, 2018 Obama himself also commented in a statement of his own shared to Twitter. John McCain and I were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds and competed at the highest level of politics, he began. But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed. We saw our political battles, even as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world. We saw this country as a place where anything is possible and citizenship as our patriotic obligation to ensure it forever remains that way. Our statement on the passing of Senator John McCain: pic.twitter.com/3GBjNYxoj5 Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 26, 2018 Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did, the former president continued, referencing McCains five years spent under brutal conditions as a prisoner of war when he was taken by the North Vietnamese after his A-4 Skyhawk was shot down in October 1967 during a bombing run over Hanoi. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the great good above our own. At Johns best, he showed us what that means. And for that, we are all in his debt. Story continues President Donald Trump, who had his share of political differences with the late senator, also tweeted words of condolences to the McCain family. My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain, he wrote. Our hearts and prayers are with you! My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2018 Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor who shot to international fame when McCain chose her as a running mate in the 2008 election, shared a photo of the pair speaking at a rally. Sen. John McCain was a maverick and a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs, she wrote. John never took the easy path in life and through sacrifice and suffering he inspired others to serve something greater than self. John McCain was my friend. I will remember the good times. My family and I send prayers for Cindy and the McCain family. - Sarah Palin and family pic.twitter.com/KRvcIQ99cA Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) August 26, 2018 Meghan McCain, the late Senators daughter, posted a moving tribute to Twitter shortly after his death was announced. All that I am is thanks to him, she wrote in part. Now that he is gone, the task of my lifetime is to live up to his example, his expectations, and his love. I love you forever - my beloved father @SenJohnMcCain pic.twitter.com/Y50tVQvlVe Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) August 26, 2018 Cindy McCain, the senators wife of 38 years, also mourned the loss on social media. My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved best. Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) August 26, 2018 RELATED VIDEO: Sen. John McCain, Maverick Politician and Decorated War Veteran, Dies at 81 Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shared a joint statement, obtained by PEOPLE. Senator John McCain believed that every citizen has a responsibility to make something of the freedoms given by our Constitution, and from his heroic service in the Navy to his 35 years in Congress, he lived by his creed every day, the Clintons said. He was a skilled, tough politician, as well as a trusted colleague alongside whom Hillary was honored to serve in the Senate. He frequently put partisanship aside to do what he thought was best for the country, and was never afraid to break the mold if it was the right thing to do. I will always be especially grateful for his leadership in our successful efforts to normalize relations with Vietnam. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Cindy, his mother, Roberta, his children, and his entire family. .@SenJohnMcCain lived a life of service to his country, from his heroism in the Navy to 35 years in Congress. He was a tough politician, a trusted colleague, and there will simply never be another like him. My thoughts and prayers are with Cindy and his entire family. Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 26, 2018 Defense Secretary James Mattis also released a statement to PEOPLE. We have lost a man who steadfastly represented the best ideals of our country. As a Naval Officer and defiant prisoner of was, John McCain stood with his brothers-in-arms until they returned home together, it reads in part. Passionately committed to our country, Senator McCain always put service to the Nation before self. He recognized that for our experiment in democracy to long endure, people of action and passion must serve. In this he represented what he believed, that a shared purpose does not claim our identity on the contrary, it enlarges your sense of self. Other tributes flooded social media from both sides of the aisle, including words from former Democratic Sen. Al Franken of Michigan and Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky. John McCain was a man of amazing courage, and a man who knew the meaning of honor and lived it. A true patriot. https://t.co/r7zQqMWtLD Al Franken (@alfranken) August 26, 2018 Kelley and I send our prayers and condolences to the family of Senator John McCain, a man of great courage and conviction. May He Rest In Peace. Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) August 26, 2018 America and Freedom have lost one of her greatest champions. .And Ive lost one of my dearest friends and mentor. Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) August 26, 2018 He criticized Republicans and Democrats alike. John McCain criticized all of us. Because in his mind, those of us who are privileged to hold public office can never work hard enough for the people of this country. He was right. Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) August 26, 2018 My colleague John McCain will be remembered as a devoted father and husband, war hero and a conscience of the Senate. Sending my condolences and prayers to his friends and family, and to the American people who have lost a true patriot. Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 26, 2018 Senator John McCain was a patriot, and an extraordinary American war hero. Heidi and I send our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Cindy, and to the entire McCain family, as they grieve the loss of a loving husband, father, and grandfather. May he Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/PkOCPFVdf7 Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) August 26, 2018 John McCain was an American hero, a man of decency and honor and a friend of mine. He will be missed not just in the U.S. Senate but by all Americans who respect integrity and independence. Jane and I send our deepest condolences to his family. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) August 26, 2018 I already miss my friend John McCain. A maverick. A model of strength in Vietnam. A champion of servicemembers, campaign finance reform and many other causes. His voice loomed large, was almost always desperately needed, and will be sorely absent in the times to come. Rest easy. Tim Kaine (@timkaine) August 26, 2018 John McCains courageous and selfless lifetime of service is a profile in American exceptionalism. Prayers this evening for the Senator, Cindy and the entire McCain family. Jeb Bush (@JebBush) August 26, 2018 I will never forget a debate in Arizona, where Sen McCain spent the evening joking with Barbara and me. We were nervous for our dad, he felt it and he was kind. In the cold world of politics, he was a bright light. Prayers to his family. Jenna Bush Hager (@JennaBushHager) August 26, 2018 John McCain was a giant of our timenot just for the things he achieved, but for who he was and what he fought for all his life. He will always be listed among freedoms most gallant and faithful servants. Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) August 26, 2018 I have not know anyone with greater courage, stronger convictions or more devotion to country than John McCain. He is irreplaceable, but his legacy will live wherever democracy is defended, human rights are protected, and U.S. leadership is exerted in defense of universal values. pic.twitter.com/exnWGImiHQ Madeleine Albright (@madeleine) August 26, 2018 Senator John McCain was an American patriot and hero whose sacrifices for his country, and lifetime of public service, were an inspiration to millions. Canadians join Americans tonight in celebrating his life and mourning his passing. Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) August 26, 2018 Celebrities, including Jimmy Kimmel and Whoopi Goldberg, also added their voices to the outpouring of social media mourners. America lost a real hero today. Condolences to @cindymccain, the McCain family and the Arizonans who were so fortunate to have the opportunity to vote for a man of principle. John McCains sacrifice and the sacrifices made by all our POWs and MIAs must never be forgotten. Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) August 26, 2018 Senator John McCain passed today, all i can think about..he never stopped trying to do his best. What an honor its been to know him. My condolences to the family he loved and adored and to his daughter & my friend @MeghanMcCain...from all my family, much love Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) August 26, 2018 John McCain gave me hope. A fearless leader who represented everything good about humanity. He recognized we are more alike than we are different. Rest well, Senator McCain. Thank you for your service to our great country. To the entire McCain familyhold each other close. Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) August 26, 2018 The world lost a great man in John McCain. He was an honorable, kind, brave and fundamentally decent human being. If only there were more such people in the world. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 26, 2018 In a statement released on Twitter on Friday, the McCain family explained that the politician who was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer with a median survival rate of just 15 months, in July 2017 made the decision to stop medical treatment. Last summer, Senator John McCain shared with Americans the news our family already knew: he had been diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma, and the prognosis was serious, the statement said. In the year since, John has surpassed expectations for his survival. But the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict. With his usual strength of will, he has now chosen to discontinue medical treatment. By the next day, he had succumbed to the illness. Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28 p.m. on August 25, 2018, his family said in a statement Saturday, according to NBC News. McCain is survived by wife Cindy, and his children: Douglas, Andrew, and Sidney (all with first wife Carol McCain) and Meghan, Jack, James, and Bridget, with Cindy. Reporting by SUSAN KEATING A longtime Fox News reporter has criticised his own network over their coverage of the death of Mollie Tibbetts, a college student who was allegedly murdered by an undocumented immigrant in an Iowa cornfield last month. Ms Tibbetts death has ignited a fierce political debate in the US, with Republicans like President Donald Trump claiming it proves the need for stricter border control. Others, including Fox News correspondent Geraldo Rivera, say the case has been used to stereotype undocumented immigrants as violent criminals. I know that most of the Fox audience disagrees with me, but Im begging you to have compassion and not brand this entire population by the deeds of this one person, Mr Rivera said in an interview with anchor Martha Maccallum on Thursday. We at this network are putting that spin on the story, the 17-year Fox News veteran added. This is a murder story, not an immigration story. Fox News has covered the Tibbetts case incessantly since the charging of Cristhian Bahena Rivera, a 24-year-old immigrant from Mexico who authorities say was residing in the country illegally. On Tuesday, the network covered the story more prominently than the conviction of two former Trump associates for multiple federal crimes. The Fox News website featured the Tibbetts story above their coverage of the two convictions throughout the day. Speaking with Mr Rivera on Thursday, Ms Maccallum summed up many of the network anchors positions on the case, saying the situation was made worse for Ms Tibbetts family because she was allegedly killed by someone who was not even supposed to be in the country. Mr Bahena Riveras lawyer has contested reports that his client was in the country illegally. Several of Ms Tibbetts friends and family members have also asked for the case not to be made into a discussion about immigration. Please do not compound the atrocity of what happened to her by adding racism and hate to the equation, wrote friend Kasie Schultz Taylor on Facebook. Anyone that knew Mollie knows she wouldnt want that. Respect each other, support each other but most importantly BE KIND! Story continues Multiple studies have found that undocumented immigrants commit fewer crimes than native-born residents, and that immigration surges do not correlate with an increase in crime. The Trump administration, however, has used the Tibbetts case to spotlight illegal immigration, with White House press secretary calling it an unfortunate reminder of why we need to strengthen our immigration laws. Mr Rivera pushed back on this notion on Thursday, telling Ms Maccallum: Anyone could have done this, everyone -- they do it on a daily basis. White people, black people, red people, yellow people. Everybody, they do these crimes. John McCains complicated relationship with President Trump originally appeared on abcnews.go.com President Donald Trump's acrimonious relationship with Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain has been one of the defining features of his presidency so far. In remarks that started percolating on the campaign trail and have persisted in the years since, Trump has criticized the former presidential nominee, focusing on his military service and the time he spent as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Once he took office, the president targeted issues McCain voted on that opposed his policies - and continued blasting McCain even after his brain cancer diagnosis. Trumps fixation on the former presidential nominee seemed to begin well before he came to Washington. Back in 1999, Trump insulted McCains military service, a foreshadowing of his message on the campaign trail. He was captured. Does being captured make you a hero? I dont know. Im not sure, Trump said in an interview with Dan Rather that year. More than 15 years later, Trump reprised that broadside shortly after announcing his presidential bid. Hes not a war hero. Hes a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured, Trump repeated in 2015. PHOTO: Sen. John McCain attends the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on Aug. 29, 2012 in Tampa, Fla. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images, FILE) In 1967, after McCains bomber was hit, the then-Navy pilot ejected himself and was captured by North Vietnamese combatants. McCain was imprisoned for five years, underwent torture and refused to be released early unless every man captured before him was also set free. The effects of the injuries from his ejection, torture and inadequate medical treatment left him permanently incapable of raising either arm above his shoulders. Besides McCains military service, the other major line of attack, which Trump kept as part of his stump speech after the senator announced he was diagnosed with glioblastoma, was on his vote against the Republican proposal to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. McCain flew back from Arizona, where he was already receiving treatment, in July 2017, and delivered a body blow to the bill by brandishing a dramatic thumbs down -- the third and last Republican needed to sink the legislation -- during the vote on the so-called skinny repeal bill. Story continues PHOTO: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) was one of three Republicans votes 'no' on the amendment on a version of Obamacare reform, July, 28, 2017, at the Capitol (C-SPAN) It seemed to blindside the president, who he earlier had tweeted with the apparent assumption that McCain was returning to Washington to help pass the bill. Since then, Trump has made McCains no-vote a signature attack line in nearly every campaign speech, though never referring to McCain by name. His most recent use of this attack was in West Virginia, just three days before the McCain family announced he was stopping treatment, and only four days before the Arizona Republican died. I will tell you [Obamacare] is being chipped away. We had it beaten, but one man, I'm sure nobody knows who I'm talking about, voted no, shockingly. To -- really surprising to a lot of people because he campaigned on repeal and replace -- but we've really knocked it out, including the individual mandate, Trump said. These types of remarks were frequently met with boos and jeers from the audience. And the negativity directed at McCain seemed to trickle down through the rest of his White House. In May, a White House official, Kelly Sadler, remarked in a closed-door meeting that McCains opinion of CIA director nominee Gina Haspel didnt matter because hes dying anyway. (MORE: White House aide mocked 'dying' McCain, sources say ) Those comments earned sharp rebukes from McCains family, including his wife Cindy on Twitter. @kellysadler45 May I remind you my husband has a family, 7 children and 5 grandchildren. Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) May 10, 2018 Sadler left her position a short time later. For his part, McCain largely refrained from the type of personal attacks that Trump delivered against him, but on at least one occasion he referred to the type of draft deferment that allowed Trump to avoid military service during the Vietnam War. In an interview with C-SPAN about the Vietnam War that aired in October 2017, McCain lamented the ability of wealthy Americans to avoid military service, putting the burden on poor people. One aspect of the conflict, by the way, that I will never ever countenance is that we drafted the lowest-income level of America, and the highest-income level found a doctor that would say that they had a bone spur, McCain said during the interview. That is wrong. That is wrong. If we are going to ask every American to serve, every American should serve. President Trump received at least one deferment from the draft because of a doctors letter citing bone spurs, an ailment he later described as not a big problem, but it was enough of a problem. McCain later explained that he didnt consider Trump to be a draft dodger and that his remarks had simply been a comment on how the system was so wrong that certain Americans could evade their responsibilities to serve the country. But most of McCains critiques of the president were directed at his policies, tone and use of executive power. The day after his landmark health care vote, McCain delivered a powerful speech on the Senate floor in which he touted the Senates role as a check on presidential power and the need for civility. PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks before signing a $716 billion defense policy bill named for Sen. John McCain in Fort Drum, N.Y., Aug. 13, 2018. (Hans Pennink/AP) I hope we can again rely on humility, on our need to cooperate, on our dependence on each other to learn how to trust each other again and by so doing better serve the people who elected us. Stop listening to the bombastic loudmouths on the radio and television and the Internet. To hell with them. They dont want anything done for the public good. Our incapacity is their livelihood, he said. We are an important check on the powers of the Executive. Our consent is necessary for the president to appoint jurists and powerful government officials and in many respects to conduct foreign policy. Whether or not we are of the same party, we are not the Presidents subordinates. We are his equal! he continued. In his final public speech, accepting an award in Philadelphia last year, McCain once again seemed to call out Trump's style of politics without mentioning the president by name. "To fear the world we have organized and led for three-quarters of a century, to abandon the ideals we have advanced around the globe, to refuse the obligations of international leadership and our duty to remain the last best hope of Earth for the sake of some half-baked, spurious nationalism cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems, is as unpatriotic as an attachment to any other tired dogma of the past that Americans consigned to the ash heap of history, McCain said. McCain also slammed Trump after the president feuded with Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., after she read out a conversation between Trump and the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson, a soldier killed in Niger. Wilson claimed Trump had told Johnsons widow that he knew what he signed up for. Trump had publicly refuted Wilson and disputed her accounting of the conversation, calling it totally fabricated. PHOTO: Sen. John McCain walks outside of his office in the Russell Senate Office Building on Sep. 5, 2017 in Washington, D.C. (Oliver Contreras/The Washington Post via Getty Images, FILE) In response, McCain said during an appearance on "The View": We should not be fighting about a brave American who lost his life serving his country. That should not be the topic of discussion in America today. McCain likely also drew the presidents ire when he passed along a copy of the so-called dossier of potentially damaging allegations about Trump to FBI Director James Comey, which he acknowledged doing in January 2017. In his book The Restless Wave, McCain described why he decided to share the document with the FBI. (MORE: McCain reveals this is last term in new memoir, criticizes Trump ) The allegations were disturbing, but I had no idea which if any were true. I could not independently verify any of it, and so I did what any American who cares about our nation's security should have done," he wrote. I did what duty demanded I do. Even after he departed Washington for treatment at home in Arizona, McCain issued often withering commentary on some of the presidents policy decisions, especially when it came to relations with foreign nations -- though he also applauded Trump when he felt he deserved it. PHOTO: President Donald Trump during a signing ceremony for a $716 billion defense policy bill named for Sen. John McCain, Aug. 13, 2018, in Fort Drum, N.Y. (Carolyn Kaster/AP) After the presidents press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he cast doubt on the U.S. intelligence communitys assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, McCain issued a scathing critique. Todays press conference in Helsinki was one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory. The damage inflicted by President Trumps naivete, egotism, false equivalence, and sympathy for autocrats is difficult to calculate. But it is clear that the summit in Helsinki was a tragic mistake, McCain said in part. No prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant, the statement continued. McCain, who was serving as the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was also deeply critical of Trumps summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his suspension of joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea, calling the latter a mistake. Making unnecessary and unreciprocated concessions is not in our interests -- and it is a bad negotiating tactic. Parroting Chinese and North Korean propaganda by saying joint exercises are provocative undermines our security and alliances, he wrote. Even though Trump started targeting McCain well before he earned the Republican Partys presidential nomination, McCain did not withdraw his support for him until the infamous Access Hollywood tape, in which Trump made lewd remarks about women, surfaced in October 2016. McCain announced he would not be voting for Trump, despite his desire, he said, to remain loyal to his party by supporting its nominee. PHOTO: Sen. John McCain and President Donald Trump (Getty Images, FILE) Donald Trump's behavior this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy, McCain said in a statement. He later said he was considering writing in the name of his good friend Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who ran his own presidential campaign that year. True to form, Trump responded by lashing out on Twitter. The very foul mouthed Sen. John McCain begged for my support during his primary (I gave, he won), then dropped me over locker room remarks! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2016 As McCain continued to battle his illness, observers in Washington thought the president might pay tribute to him in mid-August by mentioning him in connection with this years annual military policy bill, which was named the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 in his honor. But Trump did not mention McCain by name, either at an event highlighting the bill this month or at the bills June signing ceremony, where he did thank other members of Congress who were present. Despite his refusal to engage Trump, McCain sent a powerful message by rebuking the president with one of his final decisions inside the Beltway. While Vice President Mike Pence will be invited to McCains funeral service at the National Cathedral in Washington, Trump, according to the New York Times, will not. Three people were also charged The University of North Carolina is urging students not to participate in a possibly rally over the Silent Sam Confederate statue this Saturday, citing safety concerns in a statement released on Friday. On Friday, Thom Goolsby, a member of the UNC System Board of Governors, announced on Twitter the statue be reinstalled within 90 days, citing state law. Criminals who destroyed state property at UNC and police who did nothing will be held accountable, Goolsby tweeted. Just when I thought my skin and I were in a good space, I found myself scheduling my first dermatologist appointment for a condition that I thought was in my pasteczema. I suffered badly from eczema as a child, often losing sleep due to the condition, and scratching myself until I bled. I thought I had built a skin care regimen that was keeping my eczema at bay. However, after two weeks of barely being able to touch my face and neck without them becoming red, itchy, and burning, I resorted to seeking help from a health professional. If you are not familiar with the skin condition, heres a clear definition of eczema and its causes according to MayoClinic: undefined To be completely honest, I cant pinpoint exactly what made my eczema flare up after so many years. However, it was evident that my current skin regimen was not cutting it. During my visit to the dermatologist, I explained my routine, and he felt that a steroid cream was the way to go. At first I was all for using the topical steroid, but after doing more research and reading about all of the side effects, I decided to revamp my skin care regimen instead. Some of the side effects of the topical steroids that I was prescribed can include hypopigmentation (loss of pigmentation), skin thinning, acne, cataracts, and glaucoma. It only took me a few minutes of researching to toss my steroids in the trash and clean up my skin care regimen. By simplifying my skin care and incorporating ingredients known to heal troubled skin, Ive kept my eczema under control. Its been over two months and were still going strong. Here are the non-steroid products Im currently using to conquer my eczema. 1Witch Hazel Mika Robinson, Hello Giggles This is literally the best toner if you have eczema or just troubled skin, period. Witch Hazel is the active ingredient it most toners, so using it in pure form just cuts out all of the unnecessary ingredients and possible irritants. 2Mario Badescu Aloe, Cucumber & Green Tea Facial Spray Story continues Mika Robinson, Hello Giggles Moisture is super important when it comes to dealing with eczema. Not only is this facial spray hydrating, but its also calming, due to the cucumber and aloe. Thats a double-win in my book. 3La Roche-Posay Lipikar Soothing Relief Cream Mika Robinson, Hello Giggles In my opinion, the worst part of dealing with eczema is the burning and itching. This cream has colloidal oatmeal that helps relieve all of that while giving some much needed hydration. Plus, it can be used from head to toe, not just the face. 4La Roche-Posay Lipikar Lotion Mika Robinson, Hello Giggles Hydration is key when it comes to dealing with eczema, and this keeps my skin moisturized all day. Its also formulated for the face and body, which I love. The best part is that it smells amazing. 5SheaAde Whipped Shea and Mango Butter Mika Robinson, Hello Giggles Raw shea butter is loaded with vitamin A. This essentially keeps your skin healthy and radiant, not only on the surface, but layers below. Im currently using one blended with mango butter (also great for treating eczema) and it makes my skin feel soft, hydrated, and smelling absolutely divine. 6Dove Purely Pampering Coconut Milk & Jasmine Petals Body Wash Mika Robinson, Hello Giggles My eczema was mainly affecting my face and neck, but I did start to notice some dry patches on my arms. This Dove body wash has helped to gently cleanse my skin while adding moisture. 7LUV SCRUB Mesh Body Exfoliator Mika Robinson, Hello Giggles After learning that loofahs hold a ton of bacteria and dead skin cells, I was on the hunt for a new skin cleaning tool. I stumbled upon the LUV SCRUB and it has improved the texture of my skin tremendously over the past few months. My skin hasnt felt so clean and smooth in a while. 8Sunny Isle Extra Dark Jamaican Black Castor Oil Mika Robinson, Hello Giggles Castor oil has probably been the most important product in my post-eczema routine. Not only does it treat eczema when its present, but it also helps prevent flare-ups. 9Inika Organic Lip Serum Mika Robinson, Hello Giggles My lips have also fallen victim to eczema. This organic lip serum is lightweight, deeply hydrates my lips, and helps form a protective barrier against flare-ups. Im so happy that Ive found products that help keep my eczema away. Not only are they the solution to my specific skin issues, but they dont involve topical or oral drugs that may cause more issues in the long run. Senator John McCain has died after a battle with brain cancer. Read the tributes politicians are writing in his memory, from Barack Obama to Hillary Clinton. Sen. John McCain died on Saturday, August 25 after a year-long battle with brain cancer. The two-time Republican Presidential nominee and Vietnam War veteran was 81 years old. News of his death was confirmed by McCain's office and was followed by public statements from members of McCain's family, one day after his family announced that McCain would no longer seek treatment for his cancer. His daughter, Meghan McCain, shared a moving tribute to her father on social media, in which she remembered her father as a "hero of the republic." His wife, Cindy McCain, also shared a heartfelt message: "My heart is broken," she wrote on Twitter. "I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved best." Since his death was announced, fellow politicians and world figures have also taken to social media to express their condolences and remember the towering political figure. World leaders expressing their sympathies included President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Theresa May, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Several U.S. politicians from both sides of the aisle, including former president Barack Obama, former Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, and former Vice President Joe Biden, remembered McCain as a "hero" in U.S. politics. Below, read tributes from the late Sen. McCain's political colleaguesboth from the U.S. and around the world. President Donald Trump "My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!" he tweeted. First Lady Melania Trump "Our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathy to the McCain Family. Thank you Senator McCain for your service to the nation," she wrote. Story continues Former Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton "@SenJohnMcCain lived a life of service to his country, from his heroism in the Navy to 35 years in Congress," Clinton tweeted. "He was a tough politician, a trusted colleague, and there will simply never be another like him. My thoughts and prayers are with Cindy and his entire family." Former President Barack Obama "Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did," he wrote. "But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At John's best, he showed us what that means. And for that, we are all in his debt. Michelle and I send our most heartfelt condolences to Cindy and their family." Vice President Mike Pence "We honor his lifetime of service to this nation in our military and in public life," Pence wrote. "His family and friends will be in our prayers." Former Vice President Joe Biden "John McCain was many things a proud graduate of the Naval Academy, a Senate colleague, a political opponent," he wrote. "But, to me, more than anything, John was a friend. He will be missed dearly." Former President George W. Bush The office of former President Bush released a statement remembering McCain: "Some lives are so vivid, it is difficult to imagine them ended. Some voices are so vibrant, it is hard to think of them stilled. John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order." Former President Bill Clinton "John McCain believed that every citizen has a responsibility to make something of the freedoms given by our Constitution, and from his heroic service in the Navy to his 35 years in Congress, he lived by his creed every day," he tweeted. Former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin Sarah Palin, McCain's running mate for the U.S. presidency in 2008, also remembered him on Twitter: "Sen. John McCain was a maverick and a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs. John never took the easy path in life - and through sacrifice and suffering he inspired others to serve something greater than self." Speaker Paul Ryan "John McCain was a giant of our timenot just for the things he achieved, but for who he was and what he fought for all his life. He will always be listed among freedoms most gallant and faithful servants," he wrote. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi "@SenJohnMcCain was a leader & public servant of deep patriotism, outstanding bravery & undaunted spirit," Pelosi wrote. "Throughout his career, we all saw his integrity, humility, courage & grace. May it be a comfort to his family to know that so many around the world mourn with them." Sen. Elizabeth Warren "John McCain was fiercely devoted to his family, his constituents, and his country," she wrote. "My heart goes out to his family and loved ones during this difficult time. As a nation, we all share in the sense of emptiness his passing has left behind." Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright "I have not known anyone with greater courage, stronger convictions or more devotion to country than John McCain," Albright wrote. "He is irreplaceable, but his legacy will live wherever democracy is defended, human rights are protected, and U.S. leadership is exerted in defense of universal values." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "Senator John McCain was an American patriot and hero whose sacrifices for his country, and lifetime of public service, were an inspiration to millions," he wrote. "Canadians join Americans tonight in celebrating his life and mourning his passing." British Prime Minister Theresa May "John McCain was a great statesman, who embodied the idea of service over self. It was an honour to call him a friend of the UK. My deepest sympathies go to his family, and the American people," May wrote. Former Vice President Al Gore Gore remembered John McCain as "an American Hero and a true Patriot." Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison "Senator John McCain was a true friend of Australia who was committed to strengthening the alliance between our two nations. He was a man of great courage and conviction," he wrote. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Cindy, and all the McCain family during this time." Nikki Haley, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. "Tonight we say goodbye to a true hero. A man who never sought accolades," Haley tweeted. "A patriot who fought everyday for American freedom and dignity. A warrior of strength, a patriot of heart, and a man of conviction. There will never be another John McCain. May he rest in peace." Sen. Bernie Sanders "John McCain was an American hero, a man of decency and honor and a friend of mine," he wrote. "He will be missed not just in the U.S. Senate but by all Americans who respect integrity and independence. Jane and I send our deepest condolences to his family." Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand "We will never forget the unparalleled courage, heart and service of John McCain," Gillibrand tweeted. "My thoughts are with his family as they mourn this great loss, but also as they celebrate his incredible life. It was a privilege to serve beside John in the Senate, and he will be so greatly missed." Related Stories: Meghan McCain Shares Emotional Tribute to Late Father John McCain Meghan McCain Isnt Afraid of a Fight Photo credit: Getty Images From Town & Country Longtime US senator and decorated military veteran John McCain has died at 81. The news was confirmed on Saturday with a statement: "Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28pm on August 25, 2018. With the Senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family. At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for sixty years." McCain served the United States, first in the U.S. Navy, where he was imprisoned for more than five years during the Vietnam War. After his military service, McCain was elected to the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate, where he represented the state of Arizona. In the months before his death, McCain, who suffered from brain cancer, reportedly took stock of his life and how hed like to be remembered. Below are 10 of his most inspirational, patriotic lessons to live by. ON PATRIOTISM: I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone elses. I loved it for its decency, for its faith in the wisdom, justice, and goodness of its people. I loved it because it was not just a place but an idea, a cause worth fighting for. I was never the same again; I wasnt my own man anymore; I was my countrys. -during his Republican presidential nomination speech "Nothing in life is more liberating than to fight for a cause larger than yourself, something that encompasses you, but is not defined by your existence alone." he wrote in his memoir, Faith of My Fathers Photo credit: Getty Images ON RESPECT: People who hold certain institutional positions should have your respect until they lose it. But the rest of us mortals have to earn it. -Esquire, 2000 ON COURAGE: Courage is not the absence of fear, but the capacity to act despite our fears. -Fast Company, 2004 ON CHARACTER: It is your character, and your character alone, that will make your life happy or unhappy. That is all that really passes for destiny. And you choose it. No one else can give it to you or deny it to you. No rival can steal it from you. And no friend can give it to you. Others can encourage you to make the right choices or discourage you. But you choose. Story continues -From his book, Character Is Destiny: Inspiring Stories Every Young Person Should Know and Every Adult Should Remember. Photo credit: Getty Images ON HEROISM: Im sure youve noticed, I never talk about my experiences in prison. Ive known too many professional heroes in my life. -New York Times, 2013 ON WAR: Nothing, not the valor with which it is fought nor the nobility of the cause it serves, can glorify war. War is wretched beyond description, and only a fool or a fraud could sentimentalize its cruel reality. -In a speech to the American Red Cross in 1999 ON PUBLIC SERVICE: "I think after 9/11 we made a mistake. I think after 9/11, instead of telling Americans to take a trip or go shopping, I think we had an opportunity to call Americans to serve." on the presidential campaign trail, according to NPR ON LOSING: It's very important to lose gracefully. You know, no bitterness, no anger, no remorse - can't display that. -Esquire, 2000 ON HIS LEGACY: I don't have a complaint. Not one. It's been quite a ride. ... I made a small place for myself in the story of America and the history of my times." he wrote in his new memoir, The Restless Wave. ('You Might Also Like',) Business Insider In the past, Melania Trump has been seen slapping away her husband's hand, ripping her hand away from his, and walking away from him during photo ops. KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani rejected on Sunday resignations tendered a day earlier by three senior security officials, the government said. The resignations from Defence Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami and Interior Minister Wais Barmak, as well as Masoom Stanekzai, the head of the National Directorate of Security, were submitted on Saturday hours after National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar quit. Government spokesman Haroon Chakansuri said in a statement Ghani had asked the three officials to continue with their duties and "work toward the betterment of the security situation". Two senior interior ministry officials said the security officials had cited policy differences with the government amid deteriorating security as the main reason for resigning. However, Ghani rejected the resignations and instead instructed them to find ways to prevent fresh attacks by militant groups. Heavy fighting between Taliban insurgents, as well as other militant groups, and security forces has raged across Afghanistan this year. There have also been suicide attacks in Kabul and other major cities. Authorities have been bracing for more attacks with parliamentary elections due on Oct. 20. The scale of the violence has shocked government officials, who are facing bitter criticism over their handling of the war. (Reporting by Hamid Shalizi and Abdul Qadir Sediqi,; Writing by Rupam Jain; Editing by Paul Tait) By Rupam Jain KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's ministers of defense and interior, as well as another security chief, quit on Saturday, government sources said, following the resignation of the president's national security adviser earlier in the day. "We have received four resignations by two ministers and two senior security officials," an official in President Ashraf Ghani's office told Reuters. Government sources said the new resignations were from Defense Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami and Interior Minister Wais Barmak, as well as Masoom Stanekzai, the head of the National Directorate of Security. They followed a decision by National Security Advisor Hanif Atmar to quit. Officials working directly with the two ministers and Stanekzai were not immediately available to comment. But two senior interior ministry officials said the country's top security officials cited differences with the government over policy amid the deteriorating security situation as the main reason for resigning. Heavy fighting between Taliban insurgents and Afghan forces across the country this year, as well as repeated suicide attacks in Kabul and other major cities, have underlined the dire security situation facing Afghanistan. With parliamentary elections due on Oct. 20, authorities had been bracing for more attacks. But even so, the scale of the violence has shocked government officials, who are facing bitter criticism over their handling of the war. (Reporting by Rupam Jain; Editing by Edmund Blair and Daniel Wallis) Bela Bela (South Africa) (AFP) - South African farmers have demanded Donald Trump "leave us the hell alone" after the US president criticised the country's land reform plans, accusing him of trying to deflect attention from his own scandals. "The people were furious about Trump -- and I think they still are," said Preline Swart, a 37-year-old black woman who farms grain and cattle with her husband east of Cape Town. "He's an outsider and he knows nothing about farming," she said on the sidelines of a summit of farmers, officials and industry players in Bela Bela, 100 miles (160 kilometres) northeast of Johannesburg. Trump's Wednesday tweet, posted on the eve of the "Land Solution" gathering, touched on the overwhelmingly white ownership of farmland in South Africa -- one of the most sensitive issues in the country's post-apartheid history. "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," tweeted Trump to his 54 million followers. 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. "I think Donald Trump must really take his long hair... and leave our people the hell alone," added Swart. While many of the farmers at Thursday and Friday's land summit rejected Trump's intervention, many are unsure what the government's plan to expropriate land to fix historical injustices will mean for them. "The deputy president assured farmers government isn't going to do anything reckless," said conference speaker Tshilidzi Matshidzula, 30, a dairy farmer with 1,000 cattle on his ranch in the country's Eastern Cape province. Story continues "(But) as a farmer, although I'm black, expropriation is a serious concern. The sooner we get formal clarity on how it will be handled, the better." - 'Alarmist, false, inaccurate' - As he spoke, other black delegates congratulated Matshidzula for the speech he had just given on how to resolve land inequality. According to President Cyril Ramaphosa, who himself farms cattle on a 5,100 hectare ranch, the white community that makes up eight percent of the population "possess 72 percent of farms". In contrast, "only four percent" of farms are in the hands of black people who make up four-fifths of the population. The stark disparity stems from purchases and seizures during the colonial era that were then enshrined in law during apartheid. "I'm worried about the politicians and the politics in our country if they don't get (land reform) right," said Andre Smith, 49, who grows pecans and other crops on 100 hectares in the Northern Cape province. "We don't love Donald Trump and his outspokenness." South Africa's government reacted angrily to the tweet with officials telling their American counterparts Trump's comments were "alarmist, false, inaccurate and misinformed". - 'Let Donald Trump do his thing' - "He doesn't understand the South Africa situation. We have to inform him, we have to invite him to visit us," added Smith, overlooking the conference venue's car park, full of the white Toyota pickup trucks beloved of South African farmers. Trump has a long history of sparking controversy on Twitter. "Donald Trump was hot-headed -- and not for the first time!," laughed Whiskey Kgabo, a farmer of more than 30 years who grows mangoes on his rented 888-hectare plot in northeastern Limpopo province. "I don't have anything against Donald Trump... but he should first check that this is the position," said Kgabo who spoke to AFP surrounded by hay bales. Swart added that Trump, rocked by his longtime lawyer Michael Cohen pleading guilty to felonies and his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort being convicted of federal crimes, "just wants something new to talk about". Jannie de Villiers, 56, chief executive of the Grain SA industry trade body, rejected the Fox News segment's suggestion that South Africa was following the same path as Zimbabwe's disastrous Robert Mugabe-era seizures of white-owned farms. "I don't think we're there, and I definitely don't think we're heading for that. It's definitely not the Zimbabwe solution." Agricultural production collapsed and the economy almost halved in size following the seizures that started in 2000. "But we do need to address the past and that's not an easy process. We've got a non-racial consensus that we've messed up land reform so far," added De Villiers. Conference speaker Riedewaan Marcus, 24, a farmer in the Western Cape province backed by the Agri Dwala foundation which supports emerging black agriculture said he was "not a fan of Donald Trump". "There's a lot going on in America, and there's a lot going on in South Africa," he said. "Let Donald Trump do his thing. And we'll do our thing." By Alison Bevege SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop resigned from new Prime Minister Scott Morrison's Cabinet on Sunday, two days after a bruising leadership battle that toppled former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and led to a major ministerial shake-up. Bishop announced she would move to the backbench and had not yet decided whether to contest the next election, which is due by May 2019. That decision could have serious implications for Morrison's government, which has a parliamentary majority of only one seat. She had been foreign minister since 2013 and was replaced by former defense minister Marise Payne in the new Cabinet line-up announced by Morrison after Bishop resigned. Morrison replaced Turnbull in a party-room vote after a week of political chaos in Canberra that marked the emergence of Australia's sixth prime minister in less than 10 years. He took over as leader of the Liberal Party, the senior partner in a Liberal-National coalition that has consistently trailed the opposition Labor party in opinion polls in recent months. Bishop contested Friday's leadership vote but was eliminated in the first round, with Morrison then emerging as a surprise compromise winner over Peter Dutton, Turnbull's conservative challenger who brought the leadership crisis to a head earlier in the week. "I will remain on the backbench as a strong voice for Western Australia," Bishop said in a statement soon after she arrived back in her home state. BY-ELECTION CONCERN The possibility that Bishop could leave parliament before the next election will be a major concern for Morrison, Turnbull's former treasurer, because it opens the possibility of another by-election being held for her seat. His party will already have to contest a by-election for Turnbull's harbourside electorate in Sydney, traditionally a safe Liberal seat. Turnbull's resignation from parliament was expected in the coming week. Morrison's new Cabinet includes former Turnbull loyalist Christopher Pyne as the new defense minister. Dutton, whose first challenge on Tuesday sparked the crisis that ultimately toppled Turnbull, returns as home affairs minister in an apparent attempt by Morrison to rebuild unity in his badly bruised party. However, his portfolio will no longer include immigration, a politically sensitive issue in Australia because of the hardline approach taken by successive governments against asylum seekers who attempt to arrive illegally. That policy includes the detention of asylum-seekers on remote Pacific islands such as Nauru, a policy that has had bipartisan support but which has been harshly criticized by the United Nations and human rights groups. Morrison had already announced his Liberal deputy Josh Frydenberg, the former energy minister, would take over as treasurer. He said Angus Taylor, a Dutton supporter, would be the new energy minister. Senator Mathias Cormann, one of several senior ministers who had pledged their loyalty to Turnbull before turning on him, will return as finance minister in Morrison's new Cabinet. (Reporting by Alison Bevege; Editing by Paul Tait) The protagonist of Ernest Hemingways novel For Whom the Bell Tolls is Robert Jordan, a young American who left his job to fight with the Republican side, against the Nazi-supported Nationalists, in the Spanish Civil War. He never loses sight of his objective the demolition of a bridge despite doubts about whether the mission is necessary or even possible. He hates fascism and feels a profound sense of duty to oppose it. John McCain, who died Saturday in Arizona after a 14-month fight against brain cancer, always said this 1940 novel about guerrilla warfare was his favorite and that its hero was a source of inspiration throughout his life even as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. The name of McCains 2002 book, Worth the Fighting For, comes from a moment when Jordan thinks back on his life and confronts his own mortality: The world is a fine place and worth fighting for and I hate very much to leave it. McCain begins Worth the Fighting For by explaining how he first came to read For Whom the Bell Tolls. At the age of 12, he found two four-leaf clovers on the front yard of his parents home in Alexandria, Va., and rushed to his fathers study to grab a book he could press his new good-luck charms in. By chance, he opened the book to the tenth chapter and a few tense lines illustrating the inhumanity of war caught his attention, casting an immediate spell on him. John McCain, Ernest Hemingway. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: U.S. Navy/Interim Archives/Getty Images; Lloyd Arnold/Hulton Archive/Getty Images; AP) He wound up reading the book as quickly as he could, and many more times since. His romantic notions of courage and love took flight in this tale of heroism, sacrifice and redemption. He aspired to have Robert Jordans courage and nobility confident he would one day. McCain credited For Whom the Bell Tolls with teaching him how a real hero lives and dies, as well as how and why to be brave. For a long time, Robert Jordan was the man I admired above almost all others in life and fiction. He was brave, dedicated, capable, selfless, possessed in abundance that essence of courage that Hemingway described as grace under pressure, a man who would risk his life but never his honor, McCain wrote. Story continues He was and remains to my mind a hero for the twentieth century, my century, the century when McCains went to war on ships and claimed our place in the great clashes among rival ideologies, fascism, communism, and self-determination, that made the age as memorable for its violence as for its progress. In its time, For Whom the Bell Tolls achieved widespread critical and commercial success and was adapted as a film starring Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman that was also a hit. Its still regarded as one of Hemingways best novels. Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: NC, Photo 12/UIG via Getty Images; Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images McCains life story is well known. Before entering politics as a congressman from Arizona, he followed the family tradition of serving in the U.S. Navy. During the Vietnam War, his Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was shot down over Hanoi, and he was captured and held as a prisoner of war for five and a half years, enduring torture and a long period of solitary confinement. Because his father was a high-ranking U.S. officer, the North Vietnam government offered to release McCain for propaganda purposes, but he refused this unless every other American prisoner captured before him was also released. Despite obvious differences, there is a common thread running through McCain and Jordans stories. Both were Americans who dedicated their lives to defending democratic governments in another country. In both cases, they were on the losing side. Spain fell to the fascists, and Francisco Franco ruled until his death in 1975. South Vietnam and North Vietnam were reunified under Communist rule. Louise Barnett, an author and professor emerita of American Studies at Rutgers University, said its no mystery why Jordan would have been a compelling figure to McCain. Hes an ordinary man with a sedentary job and no particular military skills who was motivated to join a cause he believed to be just. It gives the lie to the idea that Hemingway is always writing about macho figures. He actually isnt, she said. These people are very educated and literate not making their living punching people out. Robert Jordan goes to Spain because hes motivated by an ideal: democracy fighting against fascism. Future Sen. John S. McCain III, center, as a young boy with his grandfather Vice Adm. John S. McCain Sr., left, and father, right, Cmdr. John S. McCain Jr. in a family photo from the 1940s. (Photo: Terry Ashe/The Life Images Collection/Getty Images) David Wyatt, a professor of English at the University of Maryland and author of Hemingway, Style, and the Art of Emotion, similarly described Jordan and McCain as idealists from military families who were wounded fighting in someone elses war driven by an idea. Spain, like Vietnam, was a very confusing place. There were lots of factions on both sides, Wyatt told Yahoo News. Robert is fighting for the republic and against the fascists, who eventually win. McCain fought against the communist North and on behalf of a very corrupt regime in the South. Heroic stories of World War II soldiers liberating Europe from Nazism were a driving influence for a generation of Americans who volunteered to serve in the first few years of Vietnam. Before controversies about presidents escalating the war for political motives, despite doubting whether it was winnable, the American people were far less cynical about believing the U.S. government. Many in the American military saw their role in Vietnam as analogous to the French soldiers in the American Revolution helping an incipient democracy shake off the shackles of tyranny and were shocked to discover that many Vietnamese thought they were closer to the British: occupying a foreign land that was fighting for independence. Back home, disagreements about the war contributed to a massive cultural divide thats still felt today. Hemingway committed suicide in 1961, the year John F. Kennedy was inaugurated, and never got to see that decades cultural revolution forever change the relationship between Americans and their government. The heroes of Hemingways work are the products of a bygone era. It had greater influence on young men in his lifetime than now. With the passing of people like McCain, is this vision of heroism inspired by Hemingways protagonists on its way out? Barnett said the type of hero embodied by Jordan is a relic of a previous era. She said Americans today tend not to embrace large ideals the way earlier generations did, or see any cause worth fighting for, the way Jordan had. Prisoner of war John McCain is ministered to in a Hanoi, Vietnam, hospital in 1967. (Photo: AP) Of course, McCain comes from a different time period, she said. Were really living in an entirely different world today from the one Hemingway created Robert Jordan in and the one in which so many historic people did what Robert Jordan did. Since Hemingways time, traditional gender roles have also been challenged and reconsidered. David Alworth, a humanities professor at Harvard University, said Jordans masculinity is an interesting topic: His combination of physical and mental strength with sensitivity allows him to love deeply in relationships and forge meaningful bonds with other men. While Jordan strives to live by the same rules of self-control, acceptance, and dispassion that we often see in Hemingways heroes, he is finally a man who feels the weight of his most difficult decisions and the heartbreak of each sacrifice, Alworth told Yahoo News. McCain, born in 1936, was a member of the Silent Generation, the cohort between the G.I. Generation and the baby boomers. They are typically described as traditional, hardworking and respectful of authority. As a modernist, however, Hemingway understood that people were losing faith in institutions like churches and the government throughout the 20th century. Ernest Hemingway in Cuba, July 1940. (Photo: Lloyd Arnold/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Thats why you get the code hero, Barnett said. The small group of insiders who are aware of the way things really are, whereas the vast majority of people are clueless. I think hes right about that. As seen elsewhere in Hemingways work, actually stepping into a war zone tends to disabuse people of romantic ideas about war pretty quickly. Jordans experiences could have turned him pessimistic, like Hemingway himself, but throughout the novel he keeps his belief that his side deserves to win. Hemingway and Jordan remained committed to the Republican cause in Spain. Hes very grounded and focused. He knows what hes doing there, Barnett said. And ultimately, hes willing to die for it. Really, hes a hero. The great thing about For Whom the Bell Tolls is that it is so rich and complex that readers, like McCain, can find what they need there, Wyatt said. Alworth said Jordan is honorable, decent, fights for the everyman and has a keen sense of his place within the larger war effort. He carries out his mission in the face of mishaps, misfortune, and lost love, risking and ultimately sacrificing his own life for the greater social good, and it is this sense of responsibility to others that probably appeals to McCain, the maverick who champions bipartisanship, Alworth said. Sen. John McCain in 2000. (Photo: David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images) In his final memoir, 2018s The Restless Wave, McCain described himself as a proud democratic internationalist. He argued that the U.S. has a special responsibility to champion human rights in all places and for all people. To make his case, once again, he invoked the Hemingway masterpiece. I took from Hemingways For Whom the Bell Tolls that defending the dignity of others is never a lost cause whether you succeed or not, he wrote. During the Spanish Civil War and Vietnam, Americans would debate whether the conflicts were of much consequence to people living beyond their borders. Hemingways book title comes from John Donnes Meditation XVII on the interconnectedness of humankind, suggesting that the Spanish Civil War matters to everyone not only Spaniards. The poem reads in part, No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. McCain said he thrilled to the Donne poems exhortation to be involved in the struggles of mankind. The bell tolls for me, he wrote. I knew it would. So I tried, as best I could, to stay a part of the main. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Secret church files in Pennsylvania turned up decades of disgrace, hidden from the public until a grand jury took over. Now an Illinois Supreme Court justice says similar "secret files" were likely hidden from her investigation years ago. The ABC7 I-Team reports. Beijing (AFP) - China's transport ministry on Sunday slammed Didi Chuxing's safety lapses as the ride-hailing giant said it would suspend its Hitch service after the rape and murder of a passenger, the second such killing this year. A 20-year-old female passenger was raped and killed by her driver on Friday in the eastern city of Wenzhou, barely three months after a similar incident in May. "These two vicious incidents that have violated the life and safety of passengers has exposed the gaping operational loopholes of the Didi Chuxing platform," the Ministry of Transport said in a statement. "The Ministry demands that Didi... stops making empty promises and takes concrete steps to ensuring passengers' safety." Among a list of demands, the ministry called on the Chinese firm, which calls itself the world's leading mobile transportation platform, to improve its driver vetting and driver education process. The statement was released after a meeting on Sunday between the company, the public security ministry and the transport departments of Beijing and Tianjin. Didi said earlier Sunday that it would suspend the Hitch service -- which links up commuters travelling in the same direction -- beginning midnight on Monday. The announcement came a day after the company admitted it bore responsibility for the crime, failing to act on a complaint about the same driver from another passenger. She claimed he drove her to an isolated area and followed her in his vehicle after she left the car. "The incident shows the many deficiencies with our customer service processes, especially the failure to act swiftly on the previous passenger's complaint and the cumbersome and rigid process of information-sharing with the police," Didi said in a statement on Sunday. It would also launch a review of the Hitch service and look again at its emergency response button. The head of Didi Hitch and the vice president of customer service have been removed from their positions. Story continues Wenzhou police said the driver, identified by the surname Chung, picked up the victim on Friday afternoon but she went missing soon after sending a friend a text message asking for help. This prompted a manhunt which saw the driver arrested in the early hours of Saturday, police said. - 'Get out' - The killing has sparked fresh criticism of Didi -- which muscled Uber out of the market following a bruising battle -- as angry users voiced concern about its safety. "Since the company can't regulate itself, get out of the market," wrote one user on the Twitter-like Weibo. In a scathing commentary, the official Xinhua news agency on Sunday pointed out that Didi has been slapped with over one million yuan ($148,000) in fines over the past 10 months in Wenzhou alone. "Despite repeated punishment, there has been recalcitrant behaviour and no change, a reflection of the company's indifference to safety and social responsibility," the commentary said, calling on Didi to be punished if it fails to put customer safety first. In May a 21-year-old air stewardess using the same Hitch service was killed by a Didi Chuxing driver, prompting criticism of the company's security measures and a tightening up of its rules of use. This included restricting Hitch drivers to only picking up members of the same sex late at night and in the early morning, and enabling passengers to share their route with an emergency contact. Didi Chuxing says it has 30 million drivers and more than 550 million users across its various services. Tehran (AFP) - Two people were killed and more than 200 injured in a strong 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck western Iran near the border with Iraq early Sunday, officials told local media. The shallow quake hit 26 kilometres (16 miles) southwest of the city of Javanrud in Kermanshah province, the US Geological Survey said, near the site of a powerful quake last year that killed hundreds. The head of the emergency department Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Saeb Sharidari, told state news agency IRNA that two people were killed and 241 people injured, six critically. Sharidari said the two dead were a pregnant woman and a 70-year-old man who died of a heart attack. The provincial head of the Red Crescent, Mohammad Reza Amirian, said there had been at least 21 aftershocks. He said there were potential problems with drinking water due to damaged infrastructure in villages, but that it had not yet been necessary to distribute food and tents. Kermanshah governor Houshang Bazvand told the Tasnim news agency that electricity had been temporarily cut to several villages. A crisis centre was set up, with hospitals and relief organisations placed on alert. But the local director of crisis management, Reza Mahmoudian, told the Mehr news agency that "the situation was under control" and no request for help had been sent to neighbouring provinces. There were reports that the quake was felt far across the border into Iraq. Images on social media showed people being rushed to hospitals, but suggested relatively light damage to infrastructure. Iran sits on top of two major tectonic plates and sees frequent seismic activity. In November last year a major 7.3-magnitude quake killed 620 people in Kermanshah province and another eight people in Iraq. burs-er/mtp Tesla CEO Elon Musk will not be taking the company private after all. Musk sent a memo to his employees that was obtained by Inverse, which explains why, after two weeks of uncertainty, the entrepreneur changed his mind. The fate of Teslas stock came under scrutiny on August 7 when Musk tweeted that he was considering taking the company private, having already secured funding to buy back stock at $420 a share. The tweet catalyzed two separate lawsuits filed against Tesla by investors claiming Musks online behavior violated federal securities laws and resulted in an SEC inquiry. On Saturday, Musk announced on Teslas website that he would not be moving forward with the plan, citing shareholder resistance and logistical hurdles. After giving this a lot of thought, I have come to the conclusion that the best path for the foreseeable future is for Tesla to remain a public company, Musk said in an email to Tesla employees. There are certainly a number of very compelling reasons to go private, so this is far from an obvious decision, but, on balance, being public appears to best serve the interests of the people of Tesla and those who have invested in our future. This was key showstopper for me personally. Couldnt make it happen, even through expert fiduciary SPV, without creating exotic trust structure that would prob not be accepted by regulators. Current rules have good intentions, but make wealth creation harder for small investors. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 25, 2018 Had Musk carried out the plan he tweeted earlier this month, the move would have ended Teslas position as the most shorted stock in the US Stock Exchange, an aspect of public trading he has vocally opposed. When Musk first tweeted about the potential move, Teslas stock price jumped more than 13% above the prior days close. This was an obvious boon for Musk, who owns a fifth of the company, but had consequences for short sellers who bet on share prices falling. Story continues According to Musk, shareholders convinced him to reconsider by pointing to the regulatory standards in place for such a transition, which would make wealth creation harder for Teslas small investors. Couldnt make it happen, even through expert fiduciary [Special Purpose Vehicle], without creating exotic trust structure that would probably not be accepted by regulators, Musk explained in a tweet. While it still remains to be seen whether Musk had, in fact, secured funding, with efforts to take Tesla private now ceased, the company can focus on ramping up production of the Model 3, as stated in the public announcement on the companys website. Of course, that didnt stop Musk from bragging that he still could take the company private if he wanted to, stating my belief that there is more than enough funding to take Tesla private was reinforced during this process. Hell no doubt continue to make that point, even if its currently moot. Photos via Elon Musk More From Inverse London (AFP) - Unai Emery admitted Arsenal are still a work in progress as they came from behind to clinch a 3-1 victory against West Ham that ended their new manager's wait for his first Premier League points. Emery's side had lost the first two games of the post-Arsene Wenger era against Manchester City and Chelsea in the club's worst start to a Premier League campaign since 1992. They were on the verge of more unwanted history after Marko Arnautovic gave West Ham a surprise lead at the Emirates Stadium. A defeat would have made this the first Arsenal side to lose their opening three fixtures for 54 years. But, while Emery's team were dismal in defence, they possessed just enough attacking quality to stage a much-needed fightback. Nacho Monreal equalised before half-time and West Ham defender Issa Diop deflected influential substitute Alexandre Lacazette's shot into the net after the interval. Danny Welbeck came off the bench to wrap up the points in stoppage-time. But Arsenal's inconsistent performance suggests Emery still has much to work on as the Spaniard aims to restore his new club to the top four after last season's sixth-place finish. "We are happy with the first three points after two defeats, but it's clear we need to improve," said Emery, who dismissed reports he had fallen out with Mesut Ozil after the flu-stricken German missed the match. "It was a difficult match. We need to continue working to not concede many chances. We have to see the reasons why we conceded so many. "We need the balance with the midfielders. We suffered on the transition many times." Accentuating the positives of Arsenal's spirited comeback, Emery added: "We improved in the second half and controlled more like we want. We showed that in difficult periods we can win." West Ham's third successive defeat under new manager Manuel Pellegrini makes it the worst start by a Hammers boss since Avram Grant lost his opening four league games of the 2010-11 season. Story continues Pellegrini's side sit bottom of the table and the Chilean said: "I'm not happy with the result but I'm happy with the performance. "It was what I demanded of the players. We will win more games than we lose if we play like this. "I don't think Arsenal created much, we created twice as much as them." Pellegrini's men snatched the lead with a 25th-minute goal that showed Emery hasn't erased the defensive woes that ailed Arsenal in last years of Wenger's reign. When Felipe Anderson took possession in midfield, he was able to advanced unchecked towards the Arsenal penalty area, where he fed a pass into Arnautovic. Aided by the lethargic reaction of Arsenal defenders Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Arnautovic had time and space to drill a low drive past Petr Cech from the edge of the area. - Revitalised - Jolted into action by that shock setback, Arsenal were level within five minutes. Breaking onto Henrikh Mkhitaryan's pass down the right flank, Hector Bellerin whipped over a cross that ran through to Monreal at the far post, where the left-back lashed home from close-range to cap a fine 17-pass move. Benefitting from more astonishingly slack defending, Robert Snodgrass should have put West Ham ahead when he ran clear on goal, but the midfielder let Arsenal off the hook with a tame effort. Crucially, Arnautovic squandered two chances to restore West Ham's lead with sloppy finishes early in the second half. Lacazette's half-time introduction had revitalised Arsenal and the forward drew a good stop from Lukasz Fabianski with a stinging strike. Arsenal's pressure was rewarded in the 70th minute when Lacazette controlled well on his chest and swivelled for a shot that cannoned off Diop and into his own net. Arsenal finished well on top and Welbeck tapped in from Bellerin's pass with the Hammers defence in tatters. Washington (AFP) - US Senator John McCain, who died Saturday at age 81, spent 35 years in politics after a military career interrupted by his Hanoi confinement during the war in Vietnam. Here are five key dates in the life of the iconic Navy pilot-turned-politician: August 29, 1936: John Sidney McCain III is born in the Panama Canal Zone. With his father a US Navy submarine commander and his grandfather an admiral, McCain follows their footsteps into a military career. He graduates from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, and becomes a fighter pilot. October 26, 1967: McCain's A-4E Skyhawk is shot down over Hanoi by a surface-to-air missile. He ejects and is taken prisoner. Fractures in both his arms and right leg are poorly treated, and McCain -- whose father has risen to become commander of all US forces in the Pacific, including Vietnam -- is beaten and tortured throughout his detention. He is released on March 15, 1973, at the end of US involvement in the war. November 2, 1982: Upon leaving the military, McCain, recently remarried after divorcing his first wife, is elected to an Arizona seat in the US House of Representatives. Four years later he is elected to the Senate, where he was re-elected five times and serviced until his death, although his final months were spent away from the Senate floor as he underwent treatment for brain cancer in his home state of Arizona. His term would have ended in January 2022. September 4, 2008: Eight years after a stinging defeat in the 2000 Republican presidential primaries to George W. Bush, McCain formally becomes the party's White House nominee against Democrat Barack Obama. He chooses a virtually unknown governor as his running mate: Alaska's Sarah Palin. The Republicans are defeated in November. July 28, 2017: At around 1:30 am, McCain enters the Senate chamber and, with a dramatic thumbs down gesture, casts the deciding vote against the partial repeal of the Obamacare health law, torpedoing one of Trump's central campaign promises. The American president is livid. The 150-metre-high cross of the Valle de los Caidos monument where over 30,000 fighters from both sides of Spain's civil war are buried, is seen outside Madrid - REUTERS The grandson of former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco has said the family will accept the dictators remains if Spains government carries out its plan to remove his body from a controversial mausoleum after a battle over his resting place. Of course we will take care of my grandfathers remains. We wont leave it in the hands of the government, Francis Franco told the newspaper La Razon in an interview on Saturday. It came as Spains socialist administration published a decree outlining its plan to exhume the dictator, who died in 1975. The new law states that the Valley of the Fallen basilica can only hold the mortal remains of persons who died in the Spanish Civil War, making Franco the odd one out at the mausoleum he had built and which contains the bodies of more than 33,000 war dead from both sides of the conflict. The decree, which will be voted on by Congress next month, gives the Franco family until September 15 to respond and state whether they are prepared to receive the dictators body. Generalissimo Francisco Franco ruled Spain. An estimated 500,000 people died in the civil war Credit: AP Photo/file The family opposes the decision to exhume Franco, but the dictators grandson said he now believed the government would carry out its plan legally or otherwise. Mr Franco said challenging the government in court would be pointless, although he held out the possibility that the Benedictine monks who run the Valley of the Fallen could refuse to allow the exhumation. The inviolability of the basilica is beyond question. We have written a letter to [the monks] saying that we do not authorize the exhumation. The government believes it will win majority support for its plan in parliament and has also received assurances that Spanish Church authorities will not oppose the removal of the body from its place behind the main altar in the basilica. Assuming the exhumation does finally take place, possibly in late October or November, Mr Franco said the family had yet to decide where his grandfather would be reburied. He ruled out the family tomb near Madrid, which holds the remains of Francos wife, Carmen Polo, because of a lack of security, suggesting the family will try to bury the dictator in a more private place. Madrid (AFP) - The family of Francisco Franco will take possession of his remains after they are exhumed, one of his grandchildren was reported as saying on Saturday. Spain's Socialist government under Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday passed a decree allowing for the exhumation of the dictator's remains from a vast mausoleum in the Valle de los Caidos (Valley of the Fallen) near Madrid. "Of course we will take care of the remains of my grandfather, we will not leave them in the hands of the government," Francis Franco, one of the general's seven grandchildren, told conservative daily La Razon. The decision to exhume his body -- probably by the end of the year, according to Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo -- has divided Spain and opened old wounds. Critics say it is unacceptable to give such ostentatious recognition to a brutal dictator. But others who remain nostalgic for the Franco era are opposed to the move. And then there are those who believe his remains should stay there because the monument is part of Spain's history. His family had objected to the exhumation in a letter to the abbot responsible for the imposing basilica where his remains are laid. However, Calvo said if Franco's family refused to transfer his remains to the family vault, the government will pick a spot to bury him. "I think they are going to exhume it by force, and then we will see if it was done legally," the grandson told the newspaper, saying the family was not planning to challenge it because spending money to oppose the government would be "a waste of time". General Franco ruled Spain with an iron fist from the end of the country's 1936-39 civil war until his death in 1975. Built by Franco's regime between 1940 and 1959 -- in part by the forced labour of some 20,000 political prisoners -- the mausoleum holds the remains of around 37,000 dead from both sides of the civil war, which was triggered by Franco's rebellion against an elected Republican government. It was long used as a place to pay tribute to Franco on the anniversary of his death, but that was stopped by a 2007 law. (WASHINGTON) On one of the worst days of his presidency, Donald Trump was chatting aboard Air Force One when the conversation took a detour into gallows humor. Trump was returning from a rally in West Virginia just hours after two former members of his inner circle were found or pleaded guilty, when one passenger quipped that a news story would surely soon be breaking about the president fuming onboard. Everyone laughed, including the president. Despite the momentary levity, though, Trump is increasingly frustrated and isolated as the investigations that have long dogged his White House plunge into the personal territory he once declared off-limits. One by one, the presidents men have turned against him. It was a bruising week for Trump, with a trio of men who are intimately familiar with his secrets and business dealings now cooperating with prosecutors. First, Trumps former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, implicated him in testimony about hush money payments to two women who allege affairs with him. On the same day, his former campaign chairman was found guilty on a slew of financial charges. At least Paul Manafort had nothing to say about Trump or his campaign. But then came revelations that his longtime friend, David Pecker, the CEO of National Enquirer publisher American Media Inc., had been granted immunity from prosecution to provide information, followed by news that Trump Organization finance chief Allen Weisselberg, who had once worked for Trumps father, was cooperating as well. There is no indication their cooperation extends beyond the scope of the Cohen probe. But for Trump who has long demanded loyalty from those around him the revelations have only added to long-simmering fury about the investigations that began with questions about Russian election meddling but have broadened from there. Allies wonder what Trump might do if the pressure continues to increase. This is a bridge too far. They are trying to undo this president, said former Trump campaign aide Sam Nunberg. Story continues As the president exited Washington for a day trip to Ohio on Friday, a White House official said Trump was unhappy with what he perceived as disloyalty but far from melting down. Another person with knowledge of Trumps thinking said the president continues to direct much of his ire at Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who infuriated Trump by withdrawing from special counsel Robert Muellers Russia probe. Both people, like others, spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss private discussions. Jeff Sessions said he wouldnt allow politics to influence him only because he doesnt understand what is happening underneath his command position. Highly conflicted Bob Mueller and his gang of 17 Angry Dems are having a field day as real corruption goes untouched, Trump said in a tweet Saturday. Trump biographer Michael DAntonio says the president may be surprised that he cant exert more control from the West Wing over his former friends and employees. Hes less powerful in these relationships now than he was before he became president. That must just amaze him, said DAntonio, author of Never Enough, Donald Trump and the Pursuit of Success. Hes sitting behind the Resolute Desk and he can push a button and get a Coke but he cant control Michael Cohen. Within the West Wing, aides have grown increasingly numb to the drumbeat of bad news, though the revelation of Cohens plea and the immunity deals took some by surprise. Cohen pleaded guilty this week in federal court in Manhattan to campaign finance violations alleging he coordinated with Trump on a hush-money scheme to buy the silence of a porn actress and a Playboy model who alleged affairs. It was later reported that, as part of the probe into Cohen, immunity was granted to Weisselberg and Pecker. The probe into Cohen was triggered in part by a referral from Mueller, who separately is looking into possible Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Cohens lawyer, Lanny Davis, has said Cohen has information that would be of interest to the special counsel. The White House official insisted that West Wing staffers continue to keep their heads down and do their jobs. On Thursday evening, the person said, dozens of staffers gathered on chief of staff John Kellys porch to celebrate the recent birthdays of a trio of staffers: press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, senior policy adviser Stephen Miller and chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow. While they snacked on homemade cakes and chatted, the staffers welcomed a surprise visit from the president, who delivered a speech and made jokes, acting like nothing was wrong and winning cheers from aides as he left. Still, the weeks developments brought the investigations up to the doorstep of Trump Tower a place that Trump has warned Mueller is a no-go. Weisselberg, the 71-year-old Trump Organization CFO, is intimately familiar with Trumps business dealings, having overseen his corporate ledgers through his rise in the New York real estate world and his international dealings in the years before he launched his presidential bid. The chief financial officer has worked for Trump companies since he joined the presidents father, Fred Trump, in the 1970s as an accountant, and is a rich repository of knowledge of the family company. The possibility of him answering questions from investigators poses a new danger for the president as federal prosecutors in Washington and Manhattan dig deeper into Trumps business affairs. A year ago, Trump told The New York Times that Mueller would be crossing a red line if he began to look at Trumps and his familys finances unrelated to Russia. Asked if he would fire Mueller if that were to happen, Trump responded, I cant, I cant answer that question because I dont think its going to happen. As the negative news mounted throughout the past week, allies also expressed frustration with the lack of a coordinated pushback effort. The White House said its up to Trumps outside lawyers to deal with much of the news. They argued that the president was not directly implicated, even though Cohen said in court that he and Trump had coordinated. ___ Associated Press writers Ken Thomas and Stephen Braun contributed to this report. You are here: China A State Council inspection team has found that local transport authorities in the city of Zibo in Shandong have misused their power to overcharge truck drivers. The local transport authorities were found to have required trucks carrying chemical products to install two sets of GPS systems of similar function, the inspection found. While the transport bureau of Zibo has mandated trucks to install a set of GPS, lower-level transport authorities at Linzi District of Zibo have made similar requests. Truck drivers must buy both sets of equipment to pass the annual vehicle checks. The equipment cost, about 10,000 yuan (about US$1,455), added to the burden of companies, according to a preliminary investigation by inspectors. China has been trying to lower the corporate burden with measures such as the removal of some road tolls in provincial-level regions. The violation was first found during unannounced checks by inspectors after a tip-off. Starting Wednesday, 31 State Council inspection teams were sent across the country to ensure major policies issued by central authorities are being implemented. 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 would take follow-up measures to address the issues found during the inspection. KABUL (Reuters) - The head of Islamic State in Afghanistan, Abu Saad Erhabi, was killed in a strike on the group's hideouts in Nangarhar province on Saturday night, authorities said on Sunday. Ten other members of the militant group were also killed in a joint ground and air operation by Afghan and foreign forces, the National Directorate of Security in Kabul said in a statement. A large amount of heavy and light weapons and ammunition were destroyed during raids on two Islamic State hideouts. The jihadist group's Amaq's news agency carried no comment on the issue. Lieutenant-Colonel Martin ODonnell, a spokesman for U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said the United States carried out a strike in Afghanistan on Saturday against a "senior leader of a designated terrorist organization." The provincial governor of Nangarhar said Erhabi was the fourth Islamic State leader in Afghanistan to be killed since July 2017. The group has developed a stronghold in Nangarhar, on Afghanistan's porous eastern border with Pakistan, and become one of the countrys most dangerous militant groups. The local affiliate of Islamic State, sometimes known as Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) after an old name for the region that includes Afghanistan, has been active since 2015, fighting the Taliban as well as Afghan and U.S. forces. Former ISIS-K leader Abu Sayed was killed in a strike in the eastern province of Nangarhar and Sayed's predecessors were killed in joint U.S. and Afghan operations. The exact number of Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan is difficult to calculate because they frequently switch allegiances, but the U.S. military estimates there are about 2,000. More than 150 Islamic State fighters surrendered to Afghan security forces this month in the northwestern province of Jawzjan, where the group is fighting for control of smuggling routes into neighboring Turkmenistan. (Reporting by Ahmad Sultan, Abdul Qadir Sediqi and Hamid Shalizi; Additional reporting by Idress Ali; Editing by John Stonestreet and Peter Cooney) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Curiosity_Approaching_Mars%2C_Artist%27s_Concept.jpg Amitai Etzioni, Eli Etzioni Security, Americas It is better to hold off disasters at home than to assume all is lost. Humanity Would Be Better off Saving Earth, Rather Than Colonizing Mars Recently, SpaceX held a top-secret Mars Workshop in Boulder, Colorado, to discuss what it would take to colonize Mars. Although the deliberations of the workshop were kept quiet, in the past SpaceX founder Elon Musk and other prominent figures, including renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, have stressed the importance of establishing a sustainable outpost of human civilization on the Red Planet. If theres a third world war we want to make sure theres enough of a seed of human civilization somewhere else to bring it back and shorten the length of the dark ages, according to Musk. Hawking believes that [w]ith climate change, overdue asteroid strikes, epidemics and population growth, our own planet is increasingly precarious, and that we must colonize a new planet in the next 100 years. The Call of Mars by Astronaut Buzz Aldrin advocates for a comprehensive plan that would lead to permanent human settlement on Mars in the next 25 years. Tim Urban, the writer behind the long-form blog Wait But Why, sums up the situation with the following metaphor: [a]ll of our eggs are on one planet, lets get life insurance for the species. The mission to colonize Mars runs into three major challenges. First, likening a colony on Mars to life insurance is misleading. If the earth does overheat to the point that we all fry or becomes so polluted that we all choke, there will be no way to move the worlds population to Mars. Not even one child per family. Rather, the idea is that the survival of the human species will be ensured; the select few that go to Mars will survive, procreate, and gradually build a new population. Elon Musks most optimistic estimate is that SpaceX will transport one million people to Mars in the next 100 years. The proper analogy is to the United States' Cold War plan for nuclear warfareto rush a few thousand "special" people to bunkers, leaving most of humanity to be nuked. Story continues Second, if the colonization of Mars moves beyond the subject of workshops and cocktail party chit-chat into a major project, it brings with it an unavoidable subtext of despair. Despite the fact that what Musk, Hawking, and others propose it as a backup plan, it suggests that we may well fail to save Mother Earth and that it is time to search for another planetary home, to save the species, even if not mankind. But what the droughts, the fires, the hot summers, and the melting glaciers call for is not an escape from Earth, but a redoubling of the efforts to save it. Some hold that the next decade is a critical period, as the window of opportunity to save the earth is rapidly narrowing. Others hold that we have more leeway. However, there is wide agreement that merely dialing down economic activity may be neither sufficient nor politically feasible. What is needed are major technological breakthroughs that will allow for protecting earth while sustaining a healthy level of economic activity. Developing artificial leaves, that can turn carbon dioxide into oxygen, and be mass-produced much more quickly than their natural counterparts, is a telling example. To make such breakthroughs we need major concentrations of research and development resources, talent, and leadership, all of which are in short supply. Hence, any serious Mars endeavor will inevitably cut into the drive to save Mother Earth. Even Elon Musk admits that colonizing Mars will require tremendous entrepreneurial resources. Musk and his team estimate that just sending the first twelve astronauts to Mars will cost $10 billion per person. A rocket that could transport astronauts to Mars remains to be invented. Once the astronauts do arrive on Mars, they will be confronted with an extremely hostile environment. The water that has been discovered is buried one mile below the surface, the air is saturated with toxic chemicals called perchlorates, and the Mars atmosphere does little to protect from damaging cosmic radiation. Some hold the water could be made to yield oxygen for breathing and hydrogen for fuel. However, first one would have to bring a drill from earth, then pumps, then build a plant to process the water. The same holds for most everything else. Recommended: Imagine a U.S. Air Force That Never Built the B-52 Bomber Recommended: Russia's Next Big Military Sale - To Mexico? Recommended: Would China Really Invade Taiwan? As Ellen Stofan, former chief scientist of NASA puts it, There is no Planet B. We object to the mission to colonize Mars. We believe that it is an incomplete solution to an unlikely contingency. The window of opportunity for us to work together to solve our planets most pressing problems is closing, and we must act before it is entirely shut. Amitai Etzioni is a University Professor at The George Washington University and author, most recently, of Happiness is the Wrong Metric. Eli Etzioni is a 2018 graduate of Claremont McKenna College. Image: Wikipedia. Read full article While tributes to the heroic life and storied career of Sen. John McCain made headlines worldwide this weekend, there was another, quiet conversation going on in political circles, speculating on the effect of McCains absence from office for the first time since he entered Congress in 1983. McCain was a towering figure on the national stage and a beloved one in Arizona politics. His death means that Arizona will have two new senators next year, since his junior colleague, Republican Sen. Jeff Flake, is retiring. It has been known for months that McCains condition was terminal, so even before the sad news of his death broke, political insiders were wondering how his absence would affect the balance of power in a closely divided Senate as well as the contentious Aug. 28 primary to choose a Republican candidate to run for Flakes seat. Earlier this year, there was some confusion about when and how McCains seat would be filled in the event of his death. Arizona law is clear in one regard: The governor is to appoint a replacement of the same political party as the departing senators, who then fills the seat until the next general election, when the states voters choose their own replacement to serve a full six-year term. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain delivers an opening statement at a hearing in Washington in 2017. (Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Where the law wasnt clear was timing. Would the next general election be 2018 or 2020? The filing deadline for 2018 was May 30; the write-in deadline was in July. If McCain had died before those deadlines, lawsuits from the left calling for a 2018 special election might have ensued; fearing such a fight, Republican state legislators even crafted a bill designed to protect McCains seat. Because McCains death occurred long past all filing deadlines, Republican Gov. Doug Ducey will now simply appoint a Republican to take McCains place until 2020. Who will that Republican be? So far, chatter has centered on Duceys chief of staff, Kirk Adams, and recently appointed state Treasurer Eileen Klein. Adams, 45, was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2006; ascended to speaker of the House in 2008; and unsuccessfully ran for Flakes old congressional seat, in the Phoenix suburbs, in 2012. As speaker, he supported SB1070, Arizonas controversial immigration law, which required police officers to demand the papers of people suspected of being in the country illegally. Story continues Kirk Adams and Eileen Klein (Photos: Matt York/AP, Gage Skidmore via Wikicommons) Klein served as president of the Arizona Board of Regents and chief of staff to former Gov. Jan Brewer before Ducey appointed her state treasurer in April. She is out of a job in January, when the winner of Novembers election for treasurer likely either Republican state Sen. Kimberly Yee or Democratic lawyer Mark Manoil will assume the position. Either Klein or Adams or a different Republican replacement would solve a problem that has been complicating the GOPs legislative strategy for months now. The current composition of the Senate is 51 Republicans and 49 Democrats. With McCain home in Arizona undergoing treatment, however, Senate Republicans have been deprived of that 51st vote meaning that any single GOP defector has potentially held enormous sway. With their 51st vote now restored, the GOP will have a little more wiggle room particularly on the vote to confirm Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, which the party hopes to hold before the court reconvenes in October. Meanwhile, McCains death could also affect the primary Tuesday for Arizonas other Senate seat. On the GOP side, the main combatants are Rep. Martha McSally and former state Sen. Kelli Ward. (Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is also running, but has faltered in fundraising and lagged in the polls.) In 2016, Ward, a far-right firebrand, challenged McCain for the GOP Senate nomination, calling him weak and old and claiming he was falling down on the job. She went on to describe him as a pretty sour old guy and to cite her medical background while predicting that he would die in office. (Ward is an osteopath.) And though Ward lost to McCain that year, she continued to attack him during this election cycle, mocking his military service and arguing after his grim diagnosis that he should step away as quickly as possible so that she could take his place. Such attacks, along with Wards early and eager embrace of Donald Trump, have raised her profile among the hardline conservatives who dominate Arizonas Republican Party and who have, in recent years, turned against both McCain and Flake for their maverick, anti-Trump tendencies. But they havent been enough to propel Ward past McSally, a more mainstream politician with a somewhat moderate past who has also taken to praising Trump during the campaign. In fact, the blunt-talking McSally, the first female Air Force fighter pilot to fly in combat, cuts a McCain-like figure herself. (McCain, of course, was also a fighter pilot, for the Navy.) So its not impossible to imagine that as Arizona Republicans head to the polls Tuesday, with warm memories of McCains character and service still dominating the airwaves, they will gravitate to the candidate who resembles him rather than the one who has made a career of maligning him. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Jerusalem (AFP) - Israel will reopen the Erez border crossing with the Gaza Strip on Monday, Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said, a week after closing it due to clashes. In a statement from his office on Sunday, Lieberman said the decision to reopen Erez, the only crossing for people in the north of the Palestinian enclave, was made "given the calm along the border". Israel closed the crossing on August 19 in response to what Lieberman then called "violent incidents", tightening its blockade of the landlocked territory run by the Islamist movement Hamas. The Erez crossing is the only one for people between Israel and Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade for a decade. Gaza's sole crossing with Egypt has also remained largely closed in recent years. For several weeks, Egypt and the United Nations have been trying to forge a lasting ceasefire between Hamas and Israel after months of tensions and violence. Palestinians in Gaza have gathered at the border since March 30 calling for Palestinian refugees to be allowed to return to their former lands now inside Israel. During this time, at least 172 Gazans have been killed by Israeli fire. One Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper in July. There have also been several severe military flare-ups, including three since July. Palestinian militants in Gaza and Israel have fought three wars since 2008. Migrants disembark from the Italian Coast Guard ship Italy's far-Right interior minister on Sunday dismissed possible kidnapping charges over the illegal detention of more than 100 migrants as a "badge of honour" as he geared up for a clash with the judiciary. The group of 150 migrants finally left the Italian coast guard ship Diciotti yesterday after spending 10 days stranded at sea when Italy refused permission for them to disembark, following an agreement for Ireland and Albania to take some of them in. The ship, also carrying 42 Italian crew members, initially rescued 190 migrants off the coast of Libya on 16 August. The sickest and youngest were allowed to leave earlier. But approximately a dozen of the mostly Eritrean migrants stranded on board were hospitalized after disembarking Sunday, some with symptoms of tuberculosis, pneumonia and scabies. Italian Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini speaks at a Lega party meeting in Pinzolo, Italy, Saturday Credit: Daniele Panato/ ANSA All 11 women on board had been victims of sexual violence, port medics said. The head of Italys Medical Agency (AIFA) Stefano Vella resigned in protest on Sunday, saying that as a doctor he felt he could no longer lead a public health body at a time when people are treated this way on our territory." Mr Salvini and another high-ranking member of the Italian government have been placed under formal investigation by prosecutors for potential illegal arrest, illegal confinement and abuse of office. But Mr Salvini, the head of the far-Right League, which is in coalition with the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, has treated the episode as a boost to his anti-immigration credentials. Every inquiry, lie, insult or threat because I defend the security, borders and future of Italians, is a medal for me, said Mr. Salvini in a tweet on Sunday. A migrant is helped by Red Cross members after disembarking from Italian coast guard vessel "Diciotti" Credit: ANTONIO PARRINELLO/ REUTERS Notified of the inquiry on Saturday while meeting with supporters in a northern Dolomite resort town, Mr Salvini taunted prosecutors to arrest him, saying he awaited them with a glass of local mulberry grappa. Story continues "They can arrest me, but not the wishes of 60 million Italians," he said. "Its incredible to live in a country where 10 days ago a bridge collapsed killing 43 people and still no one has been placed under inquiry, while they investigate a minister protecting the security of this country." Former Interior Minister Marco Minniti, Mr Salvinis predecessor, accused the far-Right leader of provoking an "unjustified and unprecedented conflict of state powers in exchange for short-term political gain. Mr Salvini pointed to 100,000 tweets under the hashtag No-one Touches Salvini on Sunday as proof of his popular support should the fragile government coalition crumble. As his personal popularity rises, he is reportedly considering calling for fresh elections in the hope of consolidating his power. On Tuesday, Mr Salvini will holds talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, which has caused disquiet within the 5SM, who have asked why the Italian prime minister, a 5SM member, is not meeting with his Hungarian counterpart. Jemele Hill is reportedly leaving ESPN. (AP) ESPN journalist Jemele Hill has reportedly agreed to a buyout, and will leave the company at the beginning of September, according to James Miller. Hill is leaving the company on good terms, according to the report. Jemele Hill leaving ESPN after over a decade with the company Hill joined ESPN in 2006 and has worked on various programs with the company. She reportedly requested a meeting with ESPN president James Pitaro, and its possible thats when the two sides agreed to the buyout, according to Miller. Miller is the author of Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN. Hill feuded with President Donald Trump Hill got herself in hot water with ESPN after calling President Donald Trump a white supremacist in a tweet in 2017. Trump and members of his administration were critical of that comment, calling it a fireable offense. Hill suspended by ESPN after tweet about Jerry Jones Weeks after calling Trump a white supremacist, Hill suggested people boycott Dallas Cowboys sponsors after Jerry Jones said he would bench players who did not stand for the national anthem. That tweet earned Hill a suspension from the network. Jemele Hill leaves SportsCenter After coming back from her suspension, Hill decided to leave SportsCenter to work for ESPNs The Undefeated. That prompted a strong response from her co-host, Michael Smith. A few weeks after Hills announcement, Smith also left SportsCenter Chris Cwik is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! More from Yahoo Sports: ESPN anchor has had it with football Dan Wetzel: Culture of cover-up helped save Urban Meyers job Former MSU coach faces charges tied to Nassar investigation Ex-NBA ref: Suspension changed my life The Arizona senator saw himself as a maverick, whose career was defined by the times he lived up to his principles and by those times he didnt John McCain concedes defeat to Barack Obama during the election night rally in Phoenix, Arizona, on 4 November 2008. Photograph: Mark Wilson/Getty Images The Republican senator John McCain prided himself on being a maverick, a politician with a strong moral compass who was willing to buck his party and admit when he was wrong. He held himself, and everyone around him, to a high standard one that he, by his own admission, fell short of on occasion. Here is a collection of the moments the courageous and the contradictory that defined the extraordinary life of one of Americas most influential senators. Refusing early release while a Vietnam prisoner of war McCain at a hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam, as a prisoner of war in 1967. Photograph: Anonymous/AP Before entering politics, McCains conduct as a prisoner of war in Vietnam ennobled him to the American public. Less than a year into his captivity at the notorious Hanoi Hilton, McCain was abruptly offered an early release. But adhering to the POW code, under which officers were to accept release in the order they were captured, McCain refused. I knew that they wouldnt have offered it to me if I hadnt been the son of an admiral, McCain told the Arizona Republican in 2007. I just didnt think it was the honorable thing to do. He was beaten and tortured for his defiance. McCain was released in March 1973, after more than five years in prison. Keating 5 involvement In 1989, McCain was one of five US senators involved in an corruption scandal that nearly derailed his political career. The senators were accused of pressuring federal regulators to back off an inquiry into their political benefactor Charles Keating, whose savings and loan enterprise went bankrupt in the late 1980s at a steep cost to taxpayers. McCain was cleared of impropriety by a Senate ethics committee but faulted for poor judgment. The senator, who has called the affair my asterisk and a permanent bad mark on my record, would go on to champion campaign finance reform. The Confederate flag During his first campaign for president in 2000, McCain moderated his personal view when asked whether he believed the Confederate flag should be removed from the South Carolina state capitol. Story continues He was facing a competitive primary there and believed that condemning the flag, as he had previously, would hurt his chances with Republican voters. He lost the race anyway. In remarks later that year, McCain apologized for his lack of candor and invoked his Confederate ancestors, who, he said, fought on the wrong side of American history. I dont believe their service, however distinguished, needs to be commemorated in a way that offends, that deeply hurts, people whose ancestors were once denied their freedom by my ancestors, he said. Sarah Palin: the next vice-president of the United States On 29 August 2008, McCain stood in front of a large crowd in Dayton, Ohio and, upending expectations, introduced the next vice-president of the United States, Governor Sarah Palin of the great state of Alaska. Critics say McCains decision to pick Palin as his running mate in the race against Barack Obama unleashed a Pandoras Box of grievance politics within the Republican party that paved the way for the rise of Donald Trump. I dont think he could have known it at the time but he took a disease that was running through the Republican party anti-intellectualism, disrespect for facts and he put it right at the center of the party, the New York Times columnist David Brooks said in the HBO documentary about McCains life, For Whom the Bell Tolls. Senator John McCain and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin gesture onstage at the 2008 Republican national convention in St Paul, Minnesota. Photograph: Robert Galbraith/Reuters In the film, McCain says he regrets not choosing Joe Lieberman, a friend and Democrat turned independent, to be his running mate. Yet he continues to defend Palin and does not engage with the criticism. McCain defends Obama: No maam In the waning days of the bruising 2008 presidential campaign, a supporter at a town hall in Minnesota told McCain she feared an Obama presidency because she heard the Democrat was an Arab. McCain reached for her microphone, his head shaking in disagreement. No maam, no maam, McCain said as the conservative crowd booed the Republican nominee. Hes a decent family man, citizen, that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues. Thats what this campaign is all about. Hes not [an Arab]. McCain concedes to Obama On 4 November 2008, the vanquished Republican presidential nominee graciously conceded the election to Barack Obama in front of thousands of supporters in Phoenix. In his speech, McCain congratulated Obama on his victory and called on the country to rally behind their newly elected leader. But he went further acknowledging the historical importance of Obamas election in a nation built on slavery and riven by racial divisions. This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight. Ive always believed that America offers opportunities to all who have the industry and will to seize it. Senator Obama believes that, too. But we both recognize that though we have come a long way from the old injustices that once stained our nations reputation and denied some Americans the full blessings of American citizenship, the memory of them still had the power to wound. A century ago, President Theodore Roosevelts invitation of Booker T Washington to visit to dine at the White House was taken as an outrage in many quarters. America today is a world away from the cruel and prideful bigotry of that time. There is no better evidence of this than the election of an African American to the presidency of the United States. Let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth. Senator Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and for his country. Danged fence and immigration reform It was a 30-second spot aimed at deflating attacks on a conservative challenger that McCain, after years of pushing for immigration reform, was soft on the border. But the 2010 campaign commercial, in which McCain walks the southern border and vows to build the danged fence, would become a case study for critics in how the maverick once willing to buck his party on matters of principle was gone. The ad drew ridicule and parody. Critics accused him of political opportunism and abandoning a career-long campaign for bipartisanship on immigration. McCain easily won his primary and would resume a more centrist position on immigration in the aftermath. Defense of the release of the torture report McCain aggressively defended the controversial decision to release the 2014 Senate report on torture, which detailed interrogation techniques used by the CIA after the 9/11 attacks. The report disclosed major revelations about the agencys torture practices, including that they were more brutal than previously known. McCain, who was tortured as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, worked across the aisle to ensure the report was released. I believe the American people have a right indeed, a responsibility to know what was done in their name; how these practices did or did not serve our interests; and how they comported with our most important values, McCain said in a speech on the Senate floor. The truth is sometimes a hard pill to swallow. It sometimes causes us difficulties at home and abroad. It is sometimes used by our enemies in attempts to hurt us. But the American people are entitled to it, nonetheless. Thumbs down on the healthcare vote The hour was late. The vote was tied. Americas healthcare system hung in the balance, when McCain, rebuffing an 11th-hour appeal from the president, turned his thumb down, killing his own partys years-long effort to repeal Barack Obamas Affordable Care Act. McCain had threatened to oppose the plan if Republicans did not follow regular order and allow the legislation to receive a hearing and input from Democrats. In a speech ahead of the vote, McCain urged the Senate to return to break its cycle of gridlock and work together on the major issues. What have we to lose by trying to work together to find those solutions? Were not getting much done apart. I dont think any of us feels very proud of our incapacity. Merely preventing your political opponents from doing what they want isnt the most inspiring work. Theres greater satisfaction in respecting our differences, but not letting them prevent agreements that dont require abandonment of core principles, agreements made in good faith that help improve lives and protect the American people. The Senate is capable of that. We know that. Weve seen it before. Ive seen it happen many times. And the times when I was involved even in a modest way with working out a bipartisan response to a national problem or threat are the proudest moments of my career, and by far the most satisfying. McCain condemns half-baked spurious nationalism McCain has been one of the leading Republican antagonists of the Trump presidency. As a candidate, Trump said he did not consider McCain a war hero and that he prefers people who werent captured. As president, Trump has continued to disparage McCain for his healthcare vote. McCain has watched in dismay as Trump steers the party towards his America First policies while disparaging allies and embracing adversaries, including Russian president Vladimir Putin, a longtime foe of the senator. He has clashed with the president on immigration, refugee policy and torture. In a speech to accept the 2017 Liberty Medal Award, McCain defended the values that he has long championed and which he believes are threatened by Trumps populist rise. To fear the world we have organized and led the three-quarters of a century, to abandon the ideals we have advanced around the globe, to refuse the obligations of international leadership and our duty to remain the last best hope of earth for the sake of some half-baked, spurious nationalism cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems, is as unpatriotic as an attachment to any other tired dogma of the past that Americans consigned to the ash heap of history. We live in a land made of ideals, not blood and soil. We are the custodians of those ideals at home, and their champion abroad. Weve done great good in the world. That leadership has had its costs, but we have become incomparably powerful and wealthy as we did. We have a moral obligation to continue in our just cause, and we would bring more than shame on ourselves if we dont. We will not thrive in a world where our leadership and ideals are absent. We wouldnt deserve to. Im the luckiest guy on earth. I have served Americas cause the cause of our security and the security of our friends, the cause of freedom and equal justice all my adult life. I havent always served it well. I havent even always appreciated what I was serving. But among the few compensations of old age is the acuity of hindsight. I see now that I was part of something important that drew me along in its wake even when I was diverted by other interests. I was, knowingly or not, along for the ride as America made the future better than the past. John McCain, Arizona senator and Vietnam war hero, dies at 81 originally appeared on abcnews.go.com John Sidney McCain III, a Vietnam War hero with more than 35 years of public service who became one of the most distinctive figures in modern American politics as a maverick conservative who took delight in disruption, died Saturday at his home in Arizona. He was 81. McCain's daughter Meghan posted a tribute to her father on Twitter shortly after his death, saying she was with him "at his end as he was with me at my beginning." "My father is gone, and I miss him as only an adoring daughter can," she wrote. "But in this loss, and in this sorrow, I take comfort in this: John McCain, hero of the republic and to his little girl, wakes today to something more glorious than anything on this earth. Today the warrior enters his true and eternal life." McCain was the admirals son who refused an easy out from a Vietcong prison, enduring torture rather than abandoning his friends. He was also a six-term Republican senator who gained an outsized influence by going against his own party and negotiating with Democrats even after the 2008 Republican presidential nominee faced a crushing defeat to Barack Obama. PHOTO: Lieutenant Commander John McCain is welcomed by President Richard Nixon upon his release as a POW during the Vietnam War, May 24, 1973, in Washington. (Getty Images) (MORE: Inside John McCain's 'Three Amigos' friendship) Two images of McCain, taken 50 years apart, bookend his journey. One is of a 31-year-old Navy pilot, son of a four-star admiral, lying in agony in a Hanoi prison, his arms and legs broken when his plane was shot down, refusing the offer of an early release out of loyalty to his fellow prisoners. McCain spent five years as a prisoner of war, was placed in solitary confinement and tortured, and carried the injuries for the rest of his life. In an interview in 2007 with ABC News' Terry Moran, McCain reflected on those years. I was privileged to serve in a company of heroes. Ive observed a thousand acts of courage, and compassion and love, McCain said. And what I really found out that I wasn't dependent on myself alone. That I was dependent on others. I was a pretty arrogant, young Navy pilot. I found out that it was my comrades and my leaders who picked me up when I was down. I found out that I was human. Story continues The second enduring image is of an 81-year-old senator, already suffering from the aggressive brain cancer that would claim his life, stretching out that war-injured right arm, thumb down, to kill his partys last-ditch attempt to repeal Obamacare. McCain was no friend of the Affordable Care Act, but felt that the Republican bill would have exploded the deficit, and cast the deciding vote on principle. McCain had just been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive and usually lethal brain tumor. The vote would be his final act of defiance against his own party, and against President Donald Trump, whom he held in open contempt. PHOTO: Vice President George H.W. Bush re-enacts the swearing in of Sen. John McCain with his wife Cindy and children Jack and Meghan in January 1987. (Cynthia Johnson/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images) (MORE: John McCain, a hero and leader who took causes more seriously than himself: ANALYSIS) The enmity between the two men carried on into 2018, this time over another of McCains passions his intense dislike of Russian President Vladimir Putin. After Trump congratulated Putin on his election victory, McCain scolded the president in a tweet, writing: "An American president does not lead the free world by congratulating dictators on winning sham elections. An American president does not lead the Free World by congratulating dictators on winning sham elections. And by doing so with Vladimir Putin, President Trump insulted every Russian citizen who was denied the right to vote in a free and fair election. https://t.co/lcQTBi7CA1 John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) March 20, 2018 The bad blood goes at least as far back as 2015, when Trump, who avoided Vietnam because of foot issues, disparaged McCains service. Hes not a war hero, said Trump at a forum in Iowa. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured. "If I took offense at everybody who has said something about me, or disparaged me or something like that. Life is too short. You've got to move on," McCain told CBS "60 Minutes" in his final TV interview last October. "He is in the business of making money and he has been successful both in television as well as Miss America and others. I was raised in a military family," McCain said, drawing a contrast both charitable and pointed. "I was raised in the concept and belief that duty, honor, country is the lodestar for the behavior that we have to exhibit every single day." PHOTO: Senators Ted Kennedy, Joe Lieberman and John McCain speak to one another before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing the war in Iraq on Capitol Hill in Washington, April 8, 2008. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) By his own admission, McCains long career has been marred by a few less-than-honorable chapters. His father and grandfather both graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, both men going on to become four-star admirals. McCain went, too, but barely made it out, earning a reputation as a partier, a less-than-diligent student. He graduated fifth from the bottom of his class. PHOTO: A still image from video shows U.S. Senator John McCain, who had been recuperating in Arizona after being diagnosed with brain cancer, acknowledging applause as he arrives on the floor of the U.S. Senate in Washington, July 25, 2017. (SENATE TV/Handout via Reuters) After Vietnam, McCains marriage to his first wife, Carol, fell apart. "My marriage's collapse was attributable to my own selfishness and immaturity more than it was to Vietnam, and I cannot escape blame by pointing a finger at the war, he told The Arizona Republic. The blame was entirely mine." In the 1980s McCain, along with four other senators, was accused of trying to help a wealthy donor, savings and loan owner Charles Keating, hold off federal regulators. PHOTO: Senator John McCain poses for a photo with his daughter Meghan on ABC's 'The View,' Oct 23, 2017. (Heidi Gutman/ABC via Getty Images) I would very much like to think that I have never been a man whose favor could be bought, he wrote of the scandal in his 2002 book Worth the Fighting For. Yet that is exactly how millions of Americans view me for a time, a time that I will forever consider one of the worst experiences of my life. In 1983, McCain voted against making Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a national holiday, a position he renounced in his 2008 presidential run. "We can be slow as well to give greatness its due, a mistake I myself made long ago when I voted against a federal holiday in memory of Dr. King. I was wrong," he said in 2008. "I was wrong, and eventually realized it in time to give full support full support for a state holiday in my home state of Arizona." But in the crucible of that campaign McCains sense of honor also shone. In August, with the campaign still neck and neck, McCain publicly denounced a conspiracy theory about Obama at a town hall in Pennsylvania. PHOTO: Senator and presidential candidate John McCain acknowledges the crowd at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Sept. 4, 2008. (Paul Sancya/AP, FILE) A woman in the audience told McCain she couldnt trust Obama because "he's an Arab." "No, ma'am," McCain said. "He's a decent family man, a citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that's what this campaign is all about. He is a decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared of as president." That reaction drew applause from the partisan audience, and exemplified the senator. "John McCain was a hero, an American hero, a patriot. John McCain was not a saint," ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos said. "He was a man with a vivid, vivid temper. He got angry at Barack Obama. He was angry at Barack Obama through much of that campaign, through his early days as a senator when he thought Barack Obama was too much of an upstart as he came into the Senate -- looking beyond the Senate toward the White House. But he had a deeply rooted sense of decency and character and he was aware of his own weaknesses and aware of when he might get carried away and when he knew that he had to calm things down and that was what we saw in that moment. "He knew that there were lines in politics that you could not cross, even when you were angry, even when you lost your temper, even when you were running for the highest office in the land," Stephanopoulos added. "He demonstrated that again and again and again." Last July, Obama joined the outpouring of affection for McCain that followed the revelation that he was suffering from a deadly cancer. "John McCain is an American hero & one of the bravest fighters I've ever known," Obama tweeted. "Cancer doesn't know what it's up against. Give it hell, John." John McCain is an American hero & one of the bravest fighters I've ever known. Cancer doesn't know what it's up against. Give it hell, John. Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 20, 2017 On Saturday, Obama released a statement saying that he and McCain, for all their differences, shared a "fidelity to something higher the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed." "Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did," Obama said in the statement. "But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At Johns best, he showed us what that means. And for that, we are all in his debt." McCain never shied away from a fight in his career in politics either. "As he said, 'A fight that you don't join is a fight that you don't enjoy' -- so John McCain was no namby-pamby," Moran said. "He liked to get in the trenches and slug it out, in a way that was quintessentially American." PHOTO: Sen. Russ Feingold and Sen. John McCain watch a rally in the Dirksen Senate Office Building after the cloture vote on the campaign finance reform bill on the Senate floor, March 20, 2002. (Congressional Quarterly via Getty Images) Over the course of his extraordinary political journey, McCain also forged deep friendships, especially with South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. "I can't think of anything I've done since 1999 politically, in many ways personally, that was worth doing without John," Graham said in July. He loves his family. He loves his friends. But his passion above all else is his passion for his country." But McCains personal affections were never partisan. Among his close friends were Connecticuts Joe Lieberman, Massachusetts Sens. Ted Kennedy and John Kerry and former Vice President and Delaware Sen. Joe Biden. (MORE: Sen. John McCain's death draws outpouring of condolences from across political spectrum) "I was lucky to know him and work with him and am comforted now by great memories of our times together and by the words he spoke to me last summer when he was recovering from the brain cancer surgery: 'I want to live as long as I can but if my life ends soon as a result of this cancer, I will have been blessed to have lived a great life. So I am going to go forward with a lot of gratitude and joy every day I can,'" Lieberman recalled in a statement. Biden issued a statement Saturday saying he, America and the world would miss McCain. "John McCain will cast a long shadow," Biden's statement said. "His impact on America hasnt ended. Not even close. It will go on for many years to come." McCain's tenure in the House of Representatives began in 1983, and after four years he was elected to the Senate in 1986 to replace a fellow presidential candidate, Barry Goldwater. He would go on to serve Arizona as senator for the next 32 years. PHOTO: Sen. John McCain addresses a rally in Davenport, Iowa during his campaign for president, Oct. 11, 2008. (Gerald Herbert/AP, FILE) "He was a great representative for Arizona," Roy Lopez, a native of Bisbee, Arizona, told ABC News on Saturday. "He took care of Arizona." "He's a good man. He voted his conscience," Arizona resident Gail Covington McBride, a Democrat, told ABC News. "When someone votes based on American values and not just with their party, its hard not to admire him." Last October, as his health declined, McCain spoke of his life in public service. "Ive had the good fortune to spend 60 years in service to this wondrous land," he said. "It has not been perfect service, to be sure, and there were probably times when the country might have benefited from a little less of my help. "But Ive tried to deserve the privilege as best I can, and Ive been repaid a thousand times over with adventures, with good company, and with the satisfaction of serving something more important than myself, of being a bit player in the extraordinary story of America," he said. "And I am so very grateful." McCain is survived by his wife Cindy and his seven children. ABC News Adam Kelsey and Ali Rogin contributed to this report. John McCain - the celebrated war hero who became a six-term Republican senator and presidential nominee has died at the age of 81. The Arizona representative, one of the most influential US politicians of his generation, died following a battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer. Mr McCain became known as a political maverick willing to stick to his conservative ideals rather than follow party leaders, gaining a reputation for reaching across the political aisle and trying to work with Democrats. Barack Obama, who triumphed over Mr McCain in the presidential 2008 election was among those to lead the tributes. He said Mr McCain and he shared a fidelity to something higher - the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed. Mr Obama said the two political opponents saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world. Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own," Mr Obama added. "At Johns best, he showed us what that means. And for that, we are all in his debt. Before beginning a 35-year career in Congress, he served as a pilot in the US Navy, enduring a six-year spell in a prisoner of war camp after he was shot down during the Vietnam War. In the final months of his life, the ailing senator proved a thorn in the side of Donald Trump, with whom he had clashed in the past, ending the presidents attempt to scrap Obamacare. In one of his final significant acts as a senator, Mr McCain voted in 2017 against a new healthcare bill dooming it with a dramatic thumbs-down on the Senate floor. Mr Trump, who made his animosity towards Mr McCain's decision over the healthcare vote clear and once criticised the Arizona senator for being taken prisoner during the Vietnam War released a brief statement. Hr said his deepest sympathies and respect went out to Mr McCain's family. Story continues Former President George W Bush, who defeated Mr McCain for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination, called his one-time political rival man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order and a friend whom I'll deeply miss. Mr McCain's steadfast nature provoked both admiration and ire in Congress and both GOP and Democrat legislators have paid tribute to him. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called McCain a fascinating personality. He would occasionally be in a bad place with various members, including myself, and when this would blow over it was like nothing ever happened, Mr McConnell said after a GOP state dinner in Lexington, Kentucky. He also had a wicked sense of humour and it made every tense moment come out better. Mr McCain was born to mother Roberta and father John S McCain Jr, a senior naval officer, on a US military base in the US-governed Panama Canal Zone in 1936. Following his father and grandfather, who both became four-star admirals, into the forces, he enrolled in the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He served as a pilot based on various aircraft carriers during in the Vietnam War, before he was captured after being shot down on a bombing mission over Hanoi in October 1967. Over the following six years, Mr McCain was held as a prisoner-of-war, often being tortured and sustaining injuries that left him with life-long physical disabilities. He was released in 1973 after refusing an early repatriation offer from his captors when they discovered his father was a high-ranking Naval officer. Mr McCain entered politics in the early 1980s after leaving the Navy and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1983. He was elected to the Senate in 1987 and failed to gain the Republican nomination for president in 2000, losing out to George W Bush. In 2008 he did win the nomination, but lost out to Mr Obama, a man more than two decades his junior who often appeared more youthful and energetic on the campaign trial compared to the then-72-year-old Mr McCain. In his final years in politics, he often traded blows with Mr Trump, keeping up his criticism of the White House even while undergoing severe medical treatment in Arizona. In July, he issued a searing rebuke of Trump's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling it a tragic mistake and one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory. Mr McCain is likely to be buried in the next week, and plans to honour his legacy will no doubt come quickly. The leading Democrat in the Senate, Chuck Schumer of New York has already announced that he wants to name the Senate building that housed Mr McCain's suite of offices after the Arizona senator, who served as chairman of the Commerce Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee. As you go through life, you meet few truly great people. John McCain was one of them, Mr Schumer said. Maybe most of all, he was a truth teller - never afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all too rare. Associated Press contributed to this report At the 2018 Smart China Expo held in Chongqing, China on Aug. 23-25, a focused ultrasound system for tumor treatment developed by China attracted wide attention from visitors. The system commonly known as Haifu Knife has a feature that is inconsistent with its name: it can treat solid tumors on soft tissues without cutting open the body with a scalpel or invading the body with a laparoscope. By focalizing ultrasound outside the body onto the targeted tumors inside the body, the non-invasive ablative technology can produce a temperature as high as 65-100 degrees Celsius at the focal point, and induce spontaneous and irresistible necrosis of the tumors without damaging the tissues, said Peng Xiang, European manager of the International Business Department of Chongqing Haifu Medical Technology Co., Ltd., while demonstrating how to use the equipment. As it causes no injury to the skin, the operation requires no sterilized operating room, and no general anesthesia except minimal analgesia, he added. A surgery with Haifu Knife at HUMT Hospital of Barcelona University in Spain on Aug. 24 only took around 15 minutes to ablate a 4.5-cm tumor, according to Nuria Pons, one of the doctors who performed the surgery. During the live presentation of the operation room after the surgery, displayed on a big screen at the expo, the patient said she felt comfortable, and Pons said the non-invasive technology that causes no injury is revolutionary. Around 24 to 48 hours later, the patient can leave the hospital with no antibiotics and a prescription for mild painkillers, Pons said. One day before the presentation at the Spanish hospital, Chongqing Haifu was also used at Pleven Medical University Saint Marina Hospital in Bulgaria, in which Prof. Dobromir Dimitrov and his colleagues performed a live Haifu surgery through a big screen at the expo, attracting a large audience at the venue. These are the first Haifu surgeries in which transcontinental telework was performed in front of an international audience worldwide. Wang Zhibiao, inventor of the Haifu Knife, said it not only cures the disease with little harm, but also keeps the organs and body intact. On the name cards of Haifu staff is the mission of the company, "Treatments, Minimize harm to patients." This is a mission Wang has been striving towards for over 30 years. Wang began his research as the chief physician in an affiliated hospital of Chongqing Medical University in 1988, three years after he graduated from Chongqing Medical University. He started with fundamental research, working out how to form a focal point in tissues, and how much energy was required to ablate a cubic centimeter of tumors in different organs. It took him ten years to figure this out, and the first non-invasive ablative equipment was accredited by China Food and Drug Administration in 1999, becoming China's first large medical equipment with independent intellectual property rights (IPR). Chongqing Haifu Medical Technology Co., Ltd. was also established in the same year. Since 2000, the technology has been applied to many different kinds of tumors like uterine fibroid, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer and bone cancer, all claiming the first case in its kind worldwide. The first clinical protocol of the technology occurred in China in 2005, and the first International Society for Minimally-invasive and Non-invasive Medicine was established in China in 2014. "All the firsts give credit to the core technology," Wang said. Besides his decades of persistence, Wang said the technology would have not been possible without the continuous support from the government. The national government gave two million yuan to explore the technology during the ninth five-year plan of China, and continued giving financial support for many years on. Besides, Wang and his team also received 30 million yuan from the National Basic Research Program of China. "With the national support, we dont feel lonely despite the difficulties along the way of working towards original innovation," Wang said. Now, besides his position as the chief physician of obstetrics and gynecology, he also works as a professor in Chongqing Medical University, and chairman of Chongqing Haifu Medical Technology Co., Ltd. His invention Haifu Knife has been used in many hospitals in Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing, a procedure covered by medical insurance, and in 25 foreign countries and regions across the world. A total of 56 Haifu centers have been established worldwide. With national visions like the Belt and Road Initiative, Chongqing Haifu also established a number of training centers in Europe, East Asia and Africa, offering not only equipment, but also services and trainings. In 2015, Haifu established a medical center in Bara Hospital in South Africa, which was its first medical center in Africa. The center has treated over 350 patients with uterine tumors so far. The medical center in Cairo, Egypt, established in 2016, has treated over 120 tumor patients. In August this year, the center also undertook a training class for 23 clinicians from six African countries. Haifu not only offers non-invasive tumor treatment that decreases the risk of HIV infection, but also trains talents of minimally-invasive and non-invasive medicine for Africa, which will both benefit the African people, said Rosie Xing, managing director of Chongqing Haifu. Over the years, the applicable rate of Haifu Knife has increased from only 10 percent to around 70 percent. So far, Haifu has treated nearly 100,000 patients with solid tumors, among which the longest survival time of patients with malignant tumors was 20 years. However, this is far from Wang's goal of treating five percent of the patients. There are two million patients with uterine tumors that need operations in China, but last year, Haifu treated only 16,000 of them. Wang said he hopes to realize this goal and export Haifu Knife to over 50 countries and regions across the world over the next three years. Haifu not only aims to pursue a market expansion, but wants to benefit its patients and the society and to popularize a medical civilization using non-invasive techniques in the pursuit of treatments that minimize harm to patients. "When patients look at me, I can tell from their eyes what they long for, what they worry about, and what they fear," said Wang, explaining what drove him to work so hard over the past three decades. "Haifu believes that medical care should warm the people, and with the chance to help the patients when they come to us, we aim not only to treat their disease, but also to teach them to be the master of their health by addressing the causes of their diseases," Xing said. With 16,600 uteruses safeguarded by Haifu Knife last year around the world, Wang was very proud. "For a long time, Chinese hospitals adopted medical technologies from the west, but now, with the technology that has China's independent IPR, the Chinese should have more confidence in Chinese medical innovations and products," he highlighted. John McCain, the Arizona senator and one-time Republican presidential nominee who distinguished himself as a political maverick in an era of increasing polarization and partisanship, has died. He was 81. McCain was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor in July 2017. His death was confirmed by a statement from his office. At his death he had served the United States of America faithfully for 60 years, the statement read, noting that his wife Cindy and other family were with him when he died Saturday at 4:28 p.m. at his home in Arizona. McCain had not been present in the Senate since December, but continued to weigh in on major issues through his office. A Vietnam veteran who endured almost six years in captivity in North Vietnam, where he was beaten and tortured by the North Vietnamese, McCain was a key champion of the military and veterans affairs, as he chaired the Senate Armed Services Committee. He appeared at the Kennedy Center along with his friend and fellow Vietnam veteran, John Kerry, for a screening of Ken Burns The Vietnam War. There, he shared the lessons for leaders who send soldiers into war. Tell the American people the truth. Make everybody be involved if we are going to be involved. And three, learn what victory means and dont forget it. He also was a figure familiar to TV viewers not just for what he said but for his prolific appearances on Sunday morning talk shows. In 2014, The New York Times said he held the record for most appearances over a span of five years. Unpredictable and at times irascible, McCain in recent years became a voice of conscience in the Senate, calling out both parties for straying from norms or when traditions were not respected. In a momentous week in July, he returned to Washington after undergoing surgery and cast a vote to send a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare to the floor. But he also used the occasion to call for a return to trust and regular order, or the type of deliberation that once was routine with major pieces of legislation. Story continues I hope we can again rely on humility, on our need to cooperate, on our dependence on each other to learn how to trust each other again and by so doing better serve the people who elected us, he said. Stop listening to the bombastic loudmouths on the radio and television and the Internet. To hell with them. They dont want anything done for the public good. Our incapacity is their livelihood. Three nights later, he surprised his Republican colleagues when he voted against the legislation. As Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell looked on, McCain pointed his thumb downward, a gesture that only seemed to add to the drama of the moment. John Sidney McCain III was born on Aug. 29, 1936, in the Panama Canal zone, where his father, naval officer John McCain Jr., was then stationed. The elder McCain, along with his father, each became four star Navy admirals. After moving with his family for each of his fathers assignments, McCain followed his father into the military, and graduated from the Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1958. He volunteered for duty in Vietnam, and began flying bombing runs in the north. On Oct. 27, 1967, as he was on a mission above Hanoi, his plane was struck by a missile, and he ejected. He broke his right leg and both arms. When he was captured, he was immediately sent for interrogation. I refused to give them anything except my name, rank, serial number and date of birth, McCain wrote in U.S. News & World Report in 1973. They beat me around a little bit. I was in such bad shape that when they hit me it would knock me unconscious. They kept saying, You will not receive any medical treatment until you talk.' Eventually, he did get treatment, but it was in a crude medical facility, and it was only the beginning of a harrowing, 5 1/2 years in captivity. Moved to the so-called Hanoi Hilton in 1969, McCain was offered early release by his captors, but he refused, knowing that the North Vietnamese would use his fathers notoriety as propaganda. Released in March, 1973, and with the U.S. involvement ending, McCain tried to take an more positive view of the impact of the war, which divided the American public and left many veterans feeling unappreciated and ignored. I think America is a better country now because we have been through a sort of purging process, a re-evaluation of ourselves, he wrote that year. Now I see more of an appreciation of our way of life. There is more patriotism. The flag is all over the place. I hear new values being stressedthe concern for environment is a case in point. He also expressed a desire for a career in public service, something that he pursued in 1976, when he became the Navys Senate liaison. After retiring from the Navy, he moved to Arizona and ran for a congressional seat in 1982, easily winning the general election. Four years later, McCain ran for Senate, succeeding a legend of Arizona politics, Barry Goldwater. In his freshman term, though, McCain was beset by a scandal, when he was identified as one of the members of the so-called Keating 5, a group of senators who were accused to trying to use their influence to aid Charles Keating, the chairman of the failed Lincoln Savings & Loan. McCain was cleared, but many years later he said that the experience made him wince. He later wrote that since then, I have carefully avoided situations that might even tangentially be construed as a less than proper use of my office. He pursued campaign finance reform, culminating in the passage of legislation he co-sponsored with Senator Russell Feingold, a Democrat, that limited the influence of money in politics. By the latter part of the 1990s, after being reelected twice, McCain had burnished his image as a maverick, willing to buck Republican orthodoxy and even conventional wisdom. At a time when political strategists were carefully crafting politicians with talking points and photo ops, McCain seemed to relish spontaneity, and became a favorite of the media on Capitol Hill for his accessibility and humor. He also became close friends on the other side of the aisle not just with Kerry, a fellow veteran, but Senator Ted Kennedy. In 2009, McCain delivered one of the eulogies at Kennedys memorial service. McCain had close ties to Hollywood, having once served as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, which dealt with many of the industrys regulatory issues. But he became friends with such figures as Warren Beatty, one of the industrys staunch liberals, and honored him when Beatty won the American Film Institutes Life Achievement Award in 2008. McCain waged his first presidential bid in 2000, running a campaign for the GOP nomination as a candidate with an independent streak and touring states in a bus labeled the Straight Talk Express. His surprise victory in the New Hampshire primary almost scuttled the presidential hopes of Texas Governor George W. Bush, considered the favorite, until Bush recovered in the South Carolina primary a week later. The latter contest proved to be a particularly brutal battle. Eight years later, McCain tried again. He went into the race a favorite, but his campaign quickly skidded. For months his prospects were written off, but McCain concentrated on New Hampshire. Again, the state came through for him, and his campaign was resurrected. He had largely secured the nomination by March of 2008. McCain was said to prefer another friend, Joe Lieberman, a Democrat, as his running mate, but he faced a potential revolt from the right. Instead, he was convinced to make a bold move in his selection, that of a little-known governor from Alaska, Sarah Palin. The choice of Palin initially looked like a game changer, as the term went, as she delivered a highly successful convention speech and helped draw larger crowds on the campaign trail. But the collapse of Lehman Brothers the following month, and a sharp dive in the economy, proved to be a drag on the Republican party. A series of interviews that Palin gave to CBS News anchor Katie Couric also exposed her inexperience, and their momentum stalled. He declined to participate in far-right attacks on his opponent Barack Obama that questioned his religion and birthplace. At town hall rally, when one woman said she couldnt trust Obama because he is an Arab, McCain shook his head and said, No mam. Hes a decent family man citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues. McCain gave a gracious concession speech, recognizing the historic importance of Obamas election and telling his supporters, Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that. Eight years later, McCain sparred early with Donald Trump, criticizing him for a rally where he fired up the crazies. But Trump fired back with an attack not on what McCain said but on his military service, telling an Iowa audience that he liked people who who werent captured. McCain withheld withering criticism of that comment, leaving it to friends and colleagues, but he skipped the 2016 Republican National Convention and ultimately refused to support Trump in the general election. After Trump took office, McCain complained about being asked to comment on the presidents tweets, and when he did criticize him, they were often philosophical. Speaking to 60 Minutes in September of last year, he said that he understands that were very different people. Different upbringing. Different life experiences. He is in the business of making money and he has been successful both in television as well as Miss America and others. I was raised in a military family. I was raised in the concept and belief that duty, honor, country is the lodestar for the behavior that we have to exhibit every single day. McCain is survived by his wife, Cindy, and their children, Meghan, Jack, Jimmy and Bridget. He also is survived by a daughter, Sidney, from his first marriage to Carol Shepp, along with two adopted sons, Douglas and Andrew, from her earlier marriage. McCains marriage to Carol Sheep ended in divorce in 1980. McCain also is survived by his mother, Roberta, who is now 106. Roberta McCain and other family members appeared at the Capitol in May for a screening of an HBO documentary John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls. Each of us who served with John McCain can remember a time he was our fiercest ally, and a time when he was our most maddening opponent, McConnell quipped to the crowd of senators and others. As he faced a grim prognosis last fall, McCain told CNNs Jake Tapper that every life has to end one way or another. Asked how he would like to be remembered, McCain said, He served his country. And not always right, made a lot of mistakes, made a lot of errors. But served his country. And I hope, could add, honorably. Related stories Film Review: 'Active Measures' Donald Trump Claims Social-Media Giants Are Censoring 'Millions,' Citing No Proof Tom Steyer on Impeaching Trump: 'What Are We Waiting For?' Subscribe to Variety Newsletters and Email Alerts! Arizona Sen. John McCain, a former Republican presidential nominee and a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, died on Saturday. He was 81. McCain, who had a history of skin cancer, was diagnosed with brain cancer in July 2017 after a routine physical revealed a blood clot over his left eye. He had surgery to remove the clot, which doctors then determined was the result of an aggressive tumor called a glioblastoma. Earlier this week, McCain decided to discontinue his cancer treatment. His family announced his death in a statement late Saturday. Tributes poured in from both sides of the aisle, including from President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama. The White House lowered its flag to half staff in honor of the late senator. My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved best. Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) August 26, 2018 The diagnosis did not immediately impede McCain from his work in the Senate, where, among other issues he was involved in, he played a major role in derailing the Republican effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act. He later described the disease as very, very serious, and said his doctors had told him he had a very poor prognosis. McCain was hospitalized in December 2017 with a viral infection, his office said, and returned home to Arizona to recuperate. In April, the senator had surgery to treat an intestinal infection at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. He had reportedly been recovering at his home near Sedona with his wife, Cindy. McCain was born on Aug. 29, 1936, at a U.S. air base in the Panama Canal Zone. After his family moved to northern Virginia in 1951, McCain attended the prestigious U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. He later trained as a fighter pilot and served aboard several U.S. aircraft carriers in the 1960s. Story continues On Oct. 26, 1967, McCains plane was shot down while he was flying a bombing mission over Hanoi in Northern Vietnam. The North Vietnamese held him in captivity for five and a half years, during which he was interrogated and subjected to repeated beatings. The injuries McCain sustained left him unable to raise his arms above his head. He was ultimately released on March 14, 1973, after his captors determined he was no longer of value. McCains military service briefly became a flashpoint during the 2016 presidential race, after real estate mogul and then-Republican candidate Donald Trump questioned his status as a war hero. McCain said he never received an apology from Trump. This photo shows John McCain, right, after being captured in Vietnam. The man on the left is Navy Lieutenant Charles Donald Rice. (Photo: Bettmann via Getty Images) After his return and rehabilitation in the U.S., McCain served as the Navys liaison to the Senate in 1977. Following his separation from his first wife, Carol Shepp, he married Cindy Lou Hensley and settled in Phoenix. There, he successfully ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982. Four years later, McCain was elected to the Senate, defeating his Democratic challenger by some 20 points. McCain served six terms in the Senate at various posts, including stints as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee. Early in his career, he made campaign finance one of his signature issues by working to curtail the influence of political contributions and dark money. His efforts eventually led to the passage of the McCain-Feingold Act in 2002, which restricted the use of soft money to boost campaigns. As a member of the so-called Gang of Eight, McCain helped craft a bill overhauling the nations immigration system that included a comprehensive path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants. It passed in the Senate, but was not taken up in the House. Later in his career, he became a prominent voice among foreign policy hawks, advocating for a more aggressive U.S. approach to world affairs. His experience as a prisoner of war lent him credibility in opposing so-called enhanced interrogation techniques such as waterboarding. Republican presidential nominee John McCain, left, and his wife, Cindy, arrive at a campaign rally in Durango, Colorado, in October 2008. (Photo: Brian Snyder/Reuters) McCain first ran for president in 1999 with a scrappy and upstart campaign known for its Straight Talk Express bus that promoted his reputation as a maverick who would do and say things other Republicans would not. He lost the race, however, to the establishment-backed George W. Bush, due in part to a bitter smear campaign that falsely claimed McCain had fathered a black child out of wedlock. Bush and his team denied involvement, but McCain suspected otherwise. His 2008 presidential run was more successful. After key wins in the New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries, and the flame-out of other challengers, including former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R), both of whom would later go on to mount presidential bids in 2012, McCain finally won his partys backing for president. Facing freshman Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), McCain cast himself as an experienced and sensible Republican, but his quixotic decision to select Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) as his running mate also turned into a major liability as the political novice floundered time and time again under the spotlight. McCain was ultimately unable to prevail against a younger, charismatic candidate who promised change amid a harsh recession and the costly war in Iraq. On Capitol Hill, the longtime lawmaker was celebrated for, among many noble qualities, his quick wit and good humor. He often sarcastically chided reporters to dismiss or make a point. He traded barbs with colleagues and was known to frequently repeat some of his favorite quips. After I lost [the 2008 election], I slept like a baby, McCain has joked over the years. Sleep two hours, wake up and cry. Sleep two hours, wake up and cry. In recent years, McCain took on the role of party statesman, but one who was fiercely critical of the Obama administrations strategy with respect to renewed conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine and Libya. Along with friend and colleague Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), McCain advocated for committing additional U.S. troops on the ground to defeat Islamic State terrorists in Iraq and Syria. In 2016, McCain easily won re-election to his sixth term in the Senate by defeating Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick. The longtime lawmaker faced a more difficult test with several challengers in the GOP primary, reflecting pent-up frustration with his time and record in Washington among several tea party groups that failed to oust him in 2010. The following year, McCain played a pivotal role in opposing several Republican bills to repeal and replace the health care program known as Obamacare. In a surprise move that cemented his legacy, McCain cast a dramatic late-night vote against GOP legislation rescinding the law. He repeatedly urged Republican leaders to start over by including Democrats in a more open process. Toward the end of his life, McCain appeared to have made peace with his approaching death. In his book The Restless Wave, an excerpt of which was published on Apple News on April 30, the senator said his current term would be his last. If I hadnt admitted that to myself before this summer, a stage 4 cancer diagnosis acts as ungentle persuasion, he wrote. Im freer than colleagues who will face the voters again. I can speak my mind without fearing the consequences much. And I can vote my conscience without worry. Asked last year during a CNN interview about how he hoped to be remembered, McCain said, He served his country. He added: And not always right, made a lot of mistakes. Made a lot of errors. But served his country, and I hope you could add honorably. The senator is survived by his wife and seven children, including popular author and national radio personality Meghan McCain. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. Also on HuffPost Rose Marie Actress Rose Marie, who spent 90 years in show business but was best known for playing wisecracking Sally Rogers on The Dick Van Dyke Show, died on Dec. 28, 2017. She was 94. Bruce McCandless II NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless II, 80, the first human to float untethered in outer space, died on Dec. 21, 2017. Cardinal Bernard Law Cardinal Bernard Law, who was forced to resign in 2002 as archbishop of Boston over a sex-abuse scandal after a two-decade reign as one of the highest-ranking Catholic officials in the United States, died on December 20, 2017. He was 86. John B. Anderson John B. Anderson, an Illinois Republican who cultivated a free-thinking reputation during his 20 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, and who mounted a serious third-party bid for the White House in 1980, died on Dec. 3, 2017. He was 95. Jim Nabors Jim Nabors, the actor and singer who was best known for playing Gomer Pyle on "The Andy Griffth Show," died on Nov. 30, 2017. He was 87. David Cassidy Actor and musician David Cassidy, who starred in the hit TV sitcom "The Patridge Family," died on Nov. 21, 2017 at the age of 67. Della Reese Actress and gospel singer Della Reese, who starred on the long-running CBS series "Touched by an Angel," died on Nov. 19, 2017. She was 86. Charles Manson Charles Manson, the infamous cult leader of the Helter Skelter gang, died on Nov. 19, 2017. He was 83. Richard Gordon Former Apollo 12 astronaut Richard Gordon, 88, one of a dozen men who flew around the moon but didnt land there, died on November 6, 2017. Fats Domino Fats Domino, 89, the rhythm-and-blues singer who recorded more than three dozen Top 40 pop hits and became one of the biggest stars of the early rock n roll era, died on October 25, 2017. Robert Guillaume Emmy Award-winning actor Robert Guillaume, who was best known as the title character in the TV sitcom Benson, died on Oct. 24, 2017 at 89. Tom Petty Tom Petty, the Grammy Award-winning lead singer of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, died on October 2, 2017. He was 66. Monty Hall Monty Hall, who hosted Lets Make a Deal for almost three decades, died on Sept. 30, 2017 at 96. Hugh Hefner Playboy magazine founder and legendary ladies man Hugh Hefner died on Sept. 27, 2017 at the age of 91. Jake LaMotta Jake LaMotta, the boxing legend whose life story became the basis of Martin Scorseses classic film Raging Bull, died on Sept. 19, 2017. He was 95. Harry Dean Stanton Character actor Harry Dean Stanton, who broke out of obscurity in his late 50s for his work in "Alien" and "Escape From New York," died on September 15, 2017. He was 91. Edith Windsor Edith Windsor, the plaintiff in the 2013 United States Supreme Court case that struck down a federal law defining marriage as between a man and a woman, died on September 12, 2017 at 88. Don Williams Legendary country music singer Don Williams, who was known as the "Gentle Giant," died on September 8, 2017 at 78. John Ashbery Pulitzer Prize-winning poet John Ashbery, who published more than 20 books of poetry and was known for the complexity of his style, died on September 3, 2017 at 90. Jay Thomas Jay Thomas, 69, Emmy Award-winning actor on "Murphy Brown" and "Cheers," died on August 24, 2017. Jerry Lewis Jerry Lewis, the legendary entertainer and longtime host of the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon, died on Aug. 20, 2017. He was 91. Dick Gregory Dick Gregory, comedian and civil rights crusader, died on August 19, 2017. He was 84. Glen Campbell Glen Campbell, the beloved Rhinestone Cowboy, international TV star and country music singer-songwriter, died on August 8, 2017. He was 81. Jeanne Moreau Award-winning French actress Jeanne Moreau, 89, who was best known for thriving in the French New Wave cinema, died on July 31, 2017. Sam Shepard Sam Shepard, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and Oscar-nominated actor, died on July 27, 2017. He was 73. George Romero Horror legend and "Night of the Living Dead" director George Romero died on July 16, 2017. He was 77. Martin Landau Martin Landau, a star of the 1960s television series Mission: Impossible who made a late-career comeback with an Academy Award-winning performance in the 1994 film Ed Wood, died on July 15, 2017 at age 89. Maryam Mirzakhani Maryam Mirzakhani, the 40-year-old Iranian who won the Fields Medal, maths most prestigious prize, died on July 15, 2017. Liu Xiaobo Nobel Peace Prize laureate and political dissident Liu Xiaobo died on July 13, 2017 after almost a decade of imprisonment by the Chinese government. He was 61. Helmut Kohl Helmut Kohl, former chancellor who reunified Germany after 45 years of Cold War antagonism, died on June 16, 2017. He was 87 Adam West Actor Adam West who was best known for playing the title role in the campy 1960s TV series, "Batman," died on June 9, 2017, at the age of 88. Gregg Allman Gregg Allman, a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, the incendiary group that inspired the Southern rock and jam-band movements, died on May 27, 2017. He was 69. Manuel Noriega Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, who spied for the CIA until the U.S. invaded and toppled his corrupt government, died on May 29, 2017 at the age of 83. Frank Deford Frank Deford, one of the finest sportswriters of his generation for his detailed psychological profiles of athletes and coaches, died on May 28, 2017. He was 78. Zbigniew Brzezinski Zbigniew Brzezinski, who was President Jimmy Carters national security adviser, died on May 26, 2017 at the age of 89. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Washington (AFP) - John Sidney McCain III had but one employer throughout his iconic and tempestuous career: the United States of America. It was a family tradition. McCain was a direct descendant, he claimed, of a captain in George Washington's army during the Revolutionary War. And like his father and grandfather before him, each four-star admirals named John McCain, he lived in the service of his country: first as a US Navy fighter pilot, then as a lawmaker until his death Saturday at age 81, following a brain cancer diagnosis in the summer of 2017. He too might have become an admiral, if a Soviet-made surface-to-air missile had not cut short his own high-flying military trajectory on October 26, 1967. On the day of his 23rd mission over Vietnam, his A-4 Skyhawk was hit as he flew across Hanoi's skies. McCain ejected, and parachuted into a small lake in the center of town, where he was nearly lynched by a furious mob. His two arms and right knee were badly broken. With his father the commander of all US forces in the Pacific, McCain would remain a prisoner of war for more than five years. He was released in 1973 after the Paris Peace Accords, but the physical consequences of his deliberately ill-treated fractures -- and torture in prison -- would cost him his career as a pilot. "For some reason it was not my time then, and I do believe that therefore because of that, that I was meant to do something," he said in a 1989 interview. - Defeated by Obama - That something, it became clear, would be politics. After a few years as the Navy's Senate liaison, McCain moved to Arizona, the home state of his second wife, and won a seat in the US House of Representatives in 1982. His ambitions grew, and he rose quickly to the Senate, the most powerful political body in America. It became his second home for 30 years. McCain long cultivated the image of a Republican maverick, defying his party on issues ranging from campaign finance reform to immigration. Story continues He saw little use for party discipline, an attitude reinforced by his past episodes of rebellion -- as an unruly student at the US Naval Academy, or a hotheaded prisoner provoking his Vietnamese jailers. "Surviving my imprisonment strengthened my self-confidence, and my refusal of early release taught me to trust my own judgment," McCain wrote in his 1999 memoir, "Faith of My Fathers." It was this unorthodox, unbridled McCain, disdainful of authority and occasionally arrogant, who threw his hat in the ring in the 2000 presidential race. A self-proclaimed "straight talk" campaigner, he offered Americans his moderate-right vision, while keeping at arm's length the Christian conservatives that his opponent George W. Bush had successfully seduced. McCain came up short, but solidified his stature and eventually seized the Republican torch from the unpopular president Bush. In 2008, he made peace with the party establishment, and finally won the presidential nomination. With the White House within reach, he made an instinctive -- and deeply controversial -- call. Many of his associates would never forgive him for choosing as his runningmate a virtual unknown, the untested Alaska governor Sarah Palin. The decision helped usher in the grass roots Tea Party revolution and the rise of populism later embodied by Donald Trump. Democrat Barack Obama easily prevailed in the election. McCain, now twice defeated, took to joking about how he started sleeping like a baby: "Sleep two hours, wake up and cry, sleep two hours, wake up and cry." - Dismayed by Trump - McCain could work a crowd. In Washington, he held court with reporters in the halls of Congress, at times pithy and impatient. "That's a dumb question," he told one probing journalist. But the snappy tone could turn to self-deprecation: "I don't think I'm a very smart guy," he once said. He could also be volcanic, especially about causes dear to him: the armed forces, American exceptionalism and, in his later years, the threat posed by Russia's Vladimir Putin, whom he branded "a murderer and a thug." McCain's fellow Republicans occasionally mocked his interventionist reflexes, noting he could never say no to a war. After all, he once referenced a Beach Boys tune when singing about whether to "bomb bomb bomb" Iran. To the end, McCain remained convinced that America's values should be shared and defended worldwide. He routinely hopped a flight to Baghdad, Kabul, Taipei, or a revolution-wracked Kiev, received more like a head of state than a lawmaker. After the annexation of Crimea, Russia placed his name on a blacklist in retaliation for US-led sanctions. "I guess this means my spring break in Siberia is off," he shot back. Regarding Russia or Syria, McCain's voice carried far. But the senator was in effect a general without an army. Trump's election seemed to trample on the struggles and ideals of the veteran Republican, who quickly grew dismayed by the billionaire businessman's nationalism and protectionism, his flirtation with Putin and his seeming contempt for the dignity of the office of president. He even took issue with Trump's multiple draft deferments during the Vietnam war, granted after he was diagnosed with bone spurs in his foot. But none of it made McCain want to recede into happy retirement. Perhaps thinking of his grandfather, who died just days after returning home following Japan's surrender in World War II, McCain's non-stop work meant defying death. Even after his 2016 re-election, he refused to rule out another Senate bid in 2022. Cancer ultimately denied him that goal. McCain is survived by his wife Cindy and their four children, and by a daughter from his first marriage. Barack Obama, John McCain, George W. Bush (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Carolyn Kaster/AP [2], Tom Pennington/Getty Images) John McCains old political rivals have been paying tribute to the longtime senator after his death at 81 in Arizona on Saturday. The Vietnam War veteran was remembered as a man of character who stood up for his beliefs. President Trump, who had not publicly commented on McCains declining health, broke his silence on Twitter Saturday night. The two men had frequently clashed on the direction of the Republican Party and the country. He offered sympathy to the McCain family. My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you! Trump wrote. This remark was also posted on Trumps official Instagram account alongside a picture of the president. Former President Barack Obama, who was McCains opponent in the 2008 presidential election, wrote a heartfelt tribute to his onetime competitor noting they were from different generations and backgrounds but shared a loyalty to the American ideals that so many have sacrificed to protect. We saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world, Obama wrote. We saw this country as a place where anything is possible and citizenship as our patriotic obligation to ensure it forever remains that way. Obama said that few have been tested or required to show courage the way McCain had been alluding to his time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. But, he continued, everyone can aspire to the courage needed to put the greater good above ones self-interest. At Johns best, he showed us what that means. And for that, we are all in his debt. Michelle and I send our most heartfelt condolences to Cindy and their family, Obama said. Former President George W. Bush, who defeated McCain in the 2000 Republican presidential primaries, also penned a tribute to his old rival. Similar to Obamas, Bushs statement focused on the richness of McCains life and the conviction with which he served the nation: Story continues Some lives are so vivid, it is difficult to imagine them ended. Some voices are so vibrant, it is hard to think of them stilled. John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order. He was a public servant in the finest traditions of our country. And to me, he was a friend whom Ill deeply miss. Laura and I send our heartfelt sympathies to Cindy and the entire McCain family, and our thanks to God for the life of John McCain. McCain reportedly requested that Obama and Bush deliver eulogies at his funeral and that Trump not attend. On the campaign trail, Trump had controversially said that McCain was not a war hero because he was captured in Vietnam. In the months before his death, McCain continued to criticize Trump and argued that America First isolationism was antithetical to his vision of the U.S. as a global leader. McCain, a self-styled maverick, was renowned throughout his career for doing what he felt was right rather than politically expedient even if it put him at odds with his own party. In part because of this, the tributes in response to his death have come from across the political landscape. Many acknowledged that they didnt always see eye to eye with McCain but they never lost respect for him. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Jose Mourinho is having a tough time at Manchester United. Jose Mourinho predicted his Manchester United struggle more than two years ago, it has emerged. The Special One has become the Troubled One at Old Trafford after a summer of turmoil in the United States and a shock defeat to Brighton last weekend. Mourinho has clashed with the clubs executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward over a lack of transfer activity that left him with a sub-standard playing squad. The players he has at his disposal have also given him headaches with Paul Pogba flirting with a move to Barcelona and Anthony Martials future up in the air in Manchester. READ MORE: Gossip Abramovich puts Chelsea up for sale READ MORE: Why crisps stopped play at Charlton But this nightmare scenario should come as no surprise to Mourinho. The media have often referred to the Portuguese as suffering from third-season syndrome and he is being beaten with that stick again as he begins his third campaign at United. However, it was a conversation with former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher following his second sacking by Chelsea that prophesied his current plight. Manchester Uniteds Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho gestures as he talks with his players. Carragher, writing in his column for the Daily Telegraph, recalled a conversation with Mourinho in the aftermath of his Stamford Bridge axing. Mourinho once told me after losing his job at Chelsea how he could see how management was evolving, players no longer receptive or tolerant to criticism even behind closed doors, Carragher wrote. Power has eroded even for the most formidable of managers. It may offer a clue as to the problem he has now, in a dressing room with an ego the size of Paul Pogbas, who like so many modern players (see Yaya Toure when he was at Manchester City) embarrassingly seems more interested in being loyal to his agent than the club he captains. READ MORE: Martial to play Man Utd waiting game READ MORE: Why Emerys press conference was unique We know what Ferguson would do. He got rid of Pogba when he was a teenager because he knew it was more hassle than the talent was worth. He will not be surprised by the recent turn of events. Story continues Surely to play for #MUFC week in, week out is a privilege? @RobbieSavage8 questions whether Jose Mourinho's players should take more responsibility for the discontent around Old Trafford#BBC606 pic.twitter.com/mxWrCAABA6 BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) August 25, 2018 Mourinho faces another huge test on Bank Holiday Monday when Mauricio Pochettino brings Tottenham to town in the Premier League. Pochettino was previously linked with the United hotseat, however Carragher fears Mourinho might struggled to get in the frame for big jobs if he leaves Manchester. Carragher added: No other team in the Premier Leagues top six would pursue him. Real Madrid and Barcelona are no longer realistic options, nor Juventus. I dont believe PSG would take him at the moment. Road closures continued on the island of Hawaii following torrential rains brought by Hurricane Lane as crews worked to free unstable materials endangering roadways on August 25. A section of Highway-19 in OOkala, Hawaii, was closed but later reopened, as Hawaii Department of Transportation crews freed a large boulder, sending it tumbling to the roadway below. Credit: Hawaii Department of Transportation via Storyful WASHINGTON (AP) The Latest on President Donald Trump dispute with Attorney General Jeff Sessions (all times local): 8 a.m. President Donald Trump is again complaining that social media companies are "silencing millions of people." Trump tweeted Friday: "Can't do this even if it means we must continue to hear Fake News like CNN, whose ratings have suffered gravely. People have to figure out what is real, and what is not, without censorship!" The president has made similar complaints recently. His commentary comes as many outlets have banned "Infowars" conspiracy theorist Alex Jones from their platforms. Jones is being sued for saying the 2012 shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School was staged. Trump appeared on Jones' program during the 2016 campaign and praised his "amazing" reputation. ___ 6:30 a.m. President Donald Trump is escalating his feud with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, calling on him to investigate a litany of grievances he has long held against those investigating his administration and Democrats. Trump tweeted Friday that he wants Sessions to "look into all of the corruption on the "other side."" He added: "Come on Jeff, you can do it, the country is waiting!" It was the latest in days of verbal sparring between the two. In an interview with "Fox and Friends" that aired Thursday, Trump accused Sessions of failing to take control of the Justice Department. Sessions punched back, saying his department will not be "improperly influenced by political considerations." With Sen. John McCains death on Saturday, political observers have turned their attention to a replacement in the Senate. Arizona law requires Gov. Doug Ducey to select the person to fill McCains seat. Whomever Ducey selects will face re-election in a November 2020 special election and again for the seats regularly scheduled election in 2022. Arizona law requires that the governor appoint someone who belongs to the same party as the person who vacated the seat, meaning a Republican in this case. (Technically, the law specifies the party the person belonged to when they were elected.) In Novembers election, meanwhile, the GOP faces the prospect of losing the states other Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Jeff Flake. Regardless, Arizona will have two new senators come January 2019, a marked departure from the states outsized influence only a few years ago when it was represented by McCain and Republican Jon Kyl, who had served as minority whip during part of his long tenure in the chamber. Speculation around McCains replacement was renewed when, the day before he died, McCains office announced he was discontinuing medical treatment for an aggressive glioblastoma. Former Sen. Jon Kyl U.S. Senate Republican candidate Jeff Flake (L) and U.S. Senator John McCain (R) listen to former U.S. Senator Jon Kyl speak during the Republican Party election night event in Phoenix, Arizona. on Nov. 6, 2012. Gov. Doug Ducey Arizona Republican gubernatorial primary candidate Doug Ducey smiles after voting in the Paradise Valley section of Phoenix, Arizona. on Aug. 26, 2014. Cindy McCain Cindy McCain is interviewed before the Achilles Hope and Possibility Race in New York on June 27, 2010. Congressional Republicans U.S. Rep. Martha McSally speaks during a meeting between Trump, members of Congress and U.S. law enforcement about crime and immigration issues at the White House. Karrin Taylor Robson Kirk Adams Kirk Adams sits during an interview at Roll Call in Washington, D.C. Wild Card: Alice Cooper Musician Alice Cooper performs during the Copenhell music festival in Copenhagen, Denmark on June 23, 2016. CORRECTION: A previous version of this story said Kyl served as Senate majority whip. He was the minority whip. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. At first, John McCain couldnt hear what some of his supporters were yelling. The roar of the crowd often made it too loud to hear anything, and he was already hard of hearing in his left ear, a condition that dated to his days as a Navy pilot and no doubt worsened because of the beatings he suffered during his 5 years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. But in the fall of 2008, during his second bid for the presidency, the Arizona senator could tell that the crowds at his town halls were getting more rowdy something he normally didnt mind. The town hall was McCains preferred way to campaign; it was the format he felt allowed him to truly connect with voters, where people could see who he was, for better or worse. For months, McCains aides had been trying to talk him into holding more traditional events, such as scripted speeches, where he could avoid gaffes that could be seized upon by his opponents. But the candidate stubbornly refused. Speaking to a reporter in the back of his legendary Straight Talk Express a few months earlier, his suit jacket off and Ray-Bans on, McCain had scowled at the very mention of his aides advice. I honestly dont like giving speeches, he said. He hated being behind a podium. He hated the teleprompter. He didnt like adhering to a script. It was boring. But about town halls, McCain said with a glint in his eye, I love them. I love the back and forth. I love the unpredictability. His staff worried about protesters, but McCain had already handled more than a few, including a man in New Hampshire who had assailed McCain for his support of the Iraq war. But McCain wasnt worried. To be honest, the senator admitted with a chuckle, he kind of liked it when the crowds were a little rowdy. He enjoyed it when people yelled at him because he could argue back. Thats democracy, he explained. Sen. John McCain reacts during a campaign event at the Fantasy of Flight museum in Polk City, Fla., on Jan. 27, 2008. (Photo: Charles Dharapak/AP) What McCain, who died Saturday at age 81, did not sense, at least at that time, was how angry the electorate was and how toxic the 2008 race would eventually become a shifting dynamic that would ultimately shape his own political trajectory for years to come. Bubbling beneath the surface that year was the kind of rage and anxiety that, in hindsight, provided some of the earliest hints of the voter turmoil and tribal politics that would later help propel Donald Trump into the White House. Ugly whispers about Barack Obamas race, birthplace and religion that began during the Democratic primary erupted into full-scale conspiracy theories among some Republicans, including McCains supporters. Story continues At a town hall in Ohio that September, just days after he had officially claimed the GOP nomination, McCain was on stage speaking about Obama when someone in the crowd yelled, referring to the Democratic nominee, Terrorist! A few weeks later, while McCain was campaigning with his running mate, then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, in Pennsylvania, rally-goers greeted mentions of Obama with calls of Treason! and Off with his head! After a particularly raucous rally in New Mexico, McCain aides told the candidate about some of the slurs shouted by the audience, and the senator, who hadnt heard them, was shocked. Where is this crap coming from? he asked an aide. It all came to a head in October 2008, just weeks before Election Day, when McCain held a town hall in Lakeville, Minn., just outside the Twin Cities. By then, the senator was no longer the same press-friendly candidate he had been in the primary. His freewheeling press conferences on the bus had come to an abrupt halt that summer after a Los Angeles Times reporter had asked him whether he agreed with a campaign advisers statement that it was unfair that health insurance companies covered Viagra but not birth control. McCains long silence and struggle to answer the question were captured on camera and widely mocked by opponents. Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain addresses a town hall meeting in Lakeville, Minn., in October 2008. He urged his supporters to stop hurling abuse at Barack Obama at his rallies, saying he admired and respected his Democratic rival. (Photo: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images) Afterwards, the senator finally heeded his staffs advice and barely spoke to reporters anymore, including his traveling press corps. The couch he had specifically requested to be installed near the front cabin of his campaign plane for his rolling news conferences sat behind privacy curtains that had been installed to hide the candidate from reporters. Though he agreed with aides who argued for a more controlled message, McCain looked miserable avoiding the media, whom he had once in jest referred to as my base. And he refused to give up the spontaneity of his town halls. Down in the polls, McCain was in Minnesota looking for a lifeline among working-class voters in the upper Midwest, but what he found were anxious voters who turned their rage on him when he pushed back against attacks on Obama and defended his rival from what would now be described as fake news. When a man stood up and told him he was scared to bring a child up under an Obama presidency, McCain winced visibly. I want to be president of the United States, and obviously, I do not want Sen. Obama to be, but I have to tell you he is a decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared of as president, McCain replied, prompting loud boos and cries of disapproval from the audience. As he tried to calm the audience, the crowd only seemed to get more riled up. We want to fight, and I will fight, McCain said. But I will be respectful. I admire Sen. Obama and his accomplishments, and I will respect him. The audience erupted in loud jeers, including shouts of Liar! Come on, John! a woman yelled. I dont mean that has to reduce your ferocity, McCain said, trying to speak over loud boos from his supporters. I just mean to say you have to be respectful. A few minutes later, an elderly woman stood and told McCain she could not trust Obama because he was an Arab. McCain shook his head and took the microphone back, interrupting the woman mid-sentence, something he almost never did. No, maam, he said, correcting her. Hes a decent family man, citizen, who I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and thats what this campaign is about, McCain said. This time, some in the crowd clapped, but the candidate looked aggrieved. Sen. John McCain listens to supporter who called Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama an Arab during a town hall meeting in Lakeville, Minn., in October 2008. (Photo: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images) That town hall would ultimately become a defining moment for McCain, who was widely praised for standing up for Obama, a fellow senator and fierce rival whom he didnt personally like and ultimately never grew close to. It was the right thing to do, McCain told his anguished staff afterwards, harkening back to the code of civility he had tried to follow even if he himself didnt always execute it perfectly. The moment previewed tension McCain would ultimately face throughout the rest of his career, especially in the era of Trump, where his personal mission to serve honorably and in benefit of a cause greater than self-interest, as he put it, was often pitted against his own desire for political survival. The growing political divide and a lurch toward tribal politics would repeatedly test the Arizona senators pledge to avoid the kind of destructive hyper-partisanship that he said was ruining the nations political discourse the divisions that McCain, now stricken with terminal brain cancer in the twilight of his long career, appealed to Americans to reject. In a new memoir, The Restless Wave, and in an HBO documentary released last spring, McCain recounted his two presidential runs and time in the Senate, recalling his leading role in fights about campaign finance reform, immigration and foreign policy. He also uses what he readily acknowledges could be his final message to the nation to encourage Americans to rise above the political polarization that has divided the country to recover our sense that we are more alike than different. The Lakeville town hall gave public voice to a debate that had been raging behind the scenes at the time between McCain and some of his staff desperate to see him get tougher on Obama. It was a strategy already embraced by Palin, who had willingly and enthusiastically claimed her role as the campaign pit bull. Plucked from near obscurity in what McCain aides described as the political equivalent of a Hail Mary in hopes of turning the race around, Palin brought new energy and crowds to the GOP ticket but also drama and concern that her fiery attacks and embrace of the resentment and fear many voters felt was diminishing McCains brand as a straight-talker who preferred the high road to the gutter. Days earlier, Palin had accused Obama of palling around with terrorists, referring to Bill Ayers, the former Weather Underground radical who became friendly with Obama as a professor at the University of Chicago. She suggested that Obama didnt care about America the way you and I do. Unlike McCain, Palin did not correct supporters who regularly slurred the man they called Barack Hussein Obama, yelling out in response to her attacks that Obama was a terrorist and guilty of treason. At a Palin rally in Pennsylvania, someone reportedly yelled, Kill him! Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., left, and his vice presidential running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, listen as Cindy McCain, center, introduces Palin at a rally in Virginia Beach, Va., in October 2008. (Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP) Palins tendency to dabble in conspiracy and play loosely with the facts would later set the stage for the arrival of Trump who, like the governor, embraced and encouraged the increasing nativism and anti-establishment fervor within the GOP. Some Republicans argue that McCain, because he picked Palin, bears some responsibility for ushering in the Trump era though those closest to him vigorously deny it. McCain, for his part, never spoke on the subject. While he praised Palin in his book and in the documentary, the senator also admitted that one of the biggest mistakes in his political career was that he didnt go with his gut and pick his close friend Joe Lieberman, then the senator from Connecticut, to join him on the ticket. McCain aides had argued that picking Lieberman, a Democrat who had switched his party affiliation to independent, would anger Republicans and doom his White House bid. My gut told me to ignore it, and I wish I had, McCain wrote. At the same time, Fred Davis, the campaigns ad man, was among those pushing for McCain to air television spots attacking Obama for his relationship with the controversial pastor Jeremiah Wright, whose inflammatory sermons had caused drama during the Democratic primary. Another aide had suggested going after the candidates wife, Michelle Obama, raising questions about her politics and what policy role she might play in the White House. But McCain flatly refused, telling aides it would stir up racial sentiments he didnt want to bring up in the campaign. For McCain, the decision was more than just choosing to take the high road; it was personal. He had not forgotten the racial smear directed at his own family during the South Carolina primary in 2000, when supporters of Bush (their identities arent publicly known) papered cars outside churches and McCain events with nasty fliers. They suggested his adopted daughter, Bridget then just 9 years old was in fact his illegitimate child by a black prostitute. The McCains were sick about the impact this might have on Bridget and planned to wait until she was much older to tell her about it. But Bridget, who was 17 when her father became the GOP nominee, had discovered the slur in early 2008 when she Googled herself. A day after the Minnesota town hall, McCain was deeply hurt when John Lewis, the Georgia congressman and legendary civil rights leader who was beaten during the 1965 Bloody Sunday protests in Selma, Ala., likened McCain-Palin rallies to the atmosphere of hate pushed by the pro-segregationist Gov. George Wallace of Alabama during the civil rights era. McCain deeply admired Lewis, introducing his kids to him and suggesting that if elected, he would tap the congressman as an adviser. He was anguished by the comparison to Wallace, which he described as an attack that went beyond the pale. In the book, McCain writes that he has never forgiven Lewis. McCain continued to say no to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright attacks, even as one of his frustrated aides argued that simply playing some of the controversial pastors sermons on loop would help his struggling campaign. He spent the final weeks of the campaign crisscrossing the country and going through the motions even as he knew in his gut the race was lost. A candidate who was always unable to fake it when he was angry or unhappy, McCain barely made eye contact with reporters when he returned to his campaign plane to bid farewell to his traveling press corps. But that night, he took the stage at the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix and graciously praised Obama, acknowledging his history-making election as the nations first black president and pledging to work with him. A century ago, President Theodore Roosevelts invitation of Booker T. Washington to visit to dine at the White House was taken as an outrage in many quarters. America today is a world away from the cruel and prideful bigotry of that time, McCain said. There is no better evidence of this than the election of an African-American to the presidency of the United States. Let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth. Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans, he added. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that. John McCain addresses supporters during his election night rally on Nov. 4, 2008, in his hometown of Phoenix. McCain conceded the race to his Democratic opponent, Barack Obama. (Photo: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images) But McCains return to the Senate and to the campaign trail was complicated by the changing political climate around him. As Arizona turned more red, McCain followed, embracing more conservative positions and turning his back on his reputation as a maverick. He told Newsweek magazine in 2010 that he never liked the label anyway. The man who had once hammered out a bipartisan immigration bill with Sen. Ted Kennedy which included a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants ran an ad calling for enforcement of existing laws first. He argued for the construction of a fence along U.S. border with Mexico even though he had once called the method the least effective way of curbing illegal immigration. Complete the dang fence, McCain declared in a 2010 reelection ad. He publicly tangled with Obama about health care and on foreign policy, including the handling of Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, and later the White Houses reluctance to get involved in the civil war in Syria which McCain has described as one of the most shameful episodes in American history. That led to speculation about lingering bitterness about the campaign, but those close to McCain insist it wasnt personal. In the final year of his presidency, Obama invited his former rival to the White House, where he closed the door and the two spent a half hour yelling at each other over their differences, according to Mark Salter, one of McCains closest and longest-serving advisers. And they both felt better afterwards, Salter said. He admired Obamas talents. The former president spoke glowingly of his former rival in the HBO documentary and has reportedly been asked to speak at McCains funeral, which the senator began planning earlier this year. There were other moments when he rose above politics, including in 2012 when McCain went to the Senate floor to defend Huma Abedin, a Muslim and a longtime adviser to then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Abedin had been accused by then-Rep. Michele Bachman of Minnesota and four other House Republicans of having ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. McCain rebuked Bachmann for perpetuating sinister accusations and called the charges nothing less than an unwarranted and unfounded attack on an honorable woman, a dedicated American and a loyal public servant. Calling Abedin a friend, McCain said she represented what is best about America: the daughter of immigrants, who has risen to the highest levels of our government on the basis of her substantial personal merit and her abiding commitment to the American ideals that she embodies. But his relationship with Trump was more complicated. McCain was one of the earliest targets of the former reality television stars venom. In July 2015, weeks after he entered the race with a rant against illegal immigrants, Trump was publicly feuding with McCain, who had accused the real estate mogul firing up the crazies within the party with his inflammatory rhetoric. Speaking to a conservative group in Iowa, Trump fired back, suggesting McCain was not a war hero. Hes a war hero because he was captured, Trump said. I like people who werent captured. McCain didnt publicly respond. He just laughed. He dismissed it, Salter said. He knew it would make Trump look like an idiot and him look like a war hero, which is exactly what happened. But even as he continued to criticize Trump, including about his apparent admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, McCain who was facing another challenger from the right in his bid for reelection eventually endorsed him for president. You have to listen to people who have chosen the nominee of our Republican party, McCain told CNN. But, he added, he continued to be disturbed by Trumps rhetoric. I have never seen the personalization of a campaign like this one where peoples integrity and character are questioned, he said. That bothers me a lot. McCain later rescinded his endorsement of Trump in October 2016 after the release of the Access Hollywood tape that captured Trump speaking in demeaning terms about women. Though McCain backed some of Trumps acts as president, including his retaliatory strike at Syria over the regimes use of chemical weapons, the two remained at odds. McCain, who was diagnosed with brain cancer last summer, came out against a Trump-backed bill that would have repealed the Affordable Care Act despite last-minute lobbying by Trump and other leading Republicans, including Vice President Mike Pence. Im freer than colleagues who will face the voters again. I can speak my mind without fearing the consequences much. And I can vote my conscience without worry, McCain wrote in his book. I dont think Im free to disregard my constituents wishes, far from it. I dont feel excused from keeping pledges I made. Nor do I wish to harm my partys prospects. But I do feel a pressing responsibility to give Americans my best judgment. Conscious of his own mortality, McCain spoke out more forcefully against Trumps divisive rhetoric after his diagnoses. At the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia last fall, where he was awarded the Liberty Medal for his bipartisan work in the Senate, he offered a thinly veiled critique of Trumps global leadership. To fear the world we have organized and led for three-quarters of a century, to abandon the ideals we have advanced around the globe, to refuse the obligations of international leadership and our duty to remain the last best hope of Earth for the sake of some half-baked, spurious nationalism cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems is as unpatriotic as an attachment to any other tired dogma of the past that Americans consigned to the ash heap of history, he declared. John McCain speaks after being awarded the 2017 Liberty Medal by former Vice President Joe Biden at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on Oct. 16, 2017. (Photo: Charles Mostoller/Reuters) In The Restless Wave, McCain took the critique further, criticizing Trumps lack of empathy for refugees, describing his comments about them disturbing. The way he speaks about them is appalling, as if welfare or terrorism were the only purposes they could have in coming to our country, the senator writes. He also criticized what he described as Trumps lack of interest in the moral character of world leaders and his embrace of tyrants like Putin. The appearance of toughness or a reality show facsimile of toughness seems more important to him than any of our values, McCain wrote. Leader of the free world is more than an honorific. It is a moral obligation more important than the person who possesses it. In his book, McCain wrote of his dire prognosis, acknowledging he might not live to see its publication on May 22. Aside from a brief hospital stay last spring, the senator has spent most of his time at his 15-acre ranch in a lush valley outside Sedona, Ariz., where he and his wife, Cindy, often sit underneath the towering cottonwood and sycamore trees on the banks of the bubbling Oak Creek. His closest friends hpaid visits, including Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and former Vice President Joe Biden, whose son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015. On Friday, his family announced he would no longer seek medical treatment. His wife, Cindy, and daughter, Meghan, posted messages on social media thanking those who had stood with the family during a long difficult year. I love my husband with all of my heart, Cindy McCain wrote on Twitter. God bless everyone who has cared for my husband along this journey. McCain wrote about planning his funeral which he reportedly has asked Trump not to attend and his eventual burial at the U.S. Naval Academy in Maryland near his old Navy buddy Chuck Larson, who died in 2014. He spoke of the love he has for his wife and seven children, including three kids with his first wife, Carol Shepp. Their love for me and mine for them is the last strength I have, he wrote. In October, he told CNNs Jake Tapper how he hoped Americans would remember him when hes gone. He served his country, McCain said. And not always right. Made a lot of mistakes. Made a lot of errors. But served his country. And I hope you could add honorably. John McCain leaves his campaign plane in Des Moines, Iowa, before making a statement about the failure of the Wall Street bailout bill to pass in the House of Representatives in September 2008. (Photo: Brian Snyder/Reuters) (Cover thumbnail photo: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters) _____ Read more from Yahoo News: TIGHTHEAD props are not meant to mature until their late 20s or early 30s so Murray McCallum is well ahead of schedule. The 22-year-old former University of Aberdeen student was a key part of Edinburghs fantastic season last year, and capped that off with a first Scotland appearance during the 2018 Six Nations. His progression was in large part possible to the long-term injuries suffered by WP Nel, first choice for both Edinburgh and Scotland, and the veteran prop has been impressed by the way McCallum stepped up in his absence. Nel explained: Murray is really good on learning and taking on, asking questions and knows he wants to improve in his position. Thats what you want from a young boy. He almost wants to suck up everything and learn to get better. Hes a really good prospect for the club. Its awesome that the young boys stepped up and have taken some ownership in the place. I know I need to be at my best every time and thats what the competition is there for. Its good to have those guys around, it makes you a better player when you know every time that you have be spot on in your role. McCallum made 17 appearances in all competitions for Edinburgh last season, while also earning three Scotland caps. That helped the club from the capital to the play-offs in the Guinness PRO14, the first time they had achieved that since knockout stages were introduced, while they are also back in Europes top competition after qualifying for the Champions Cup. But while that was a hugely promising campaign, the experienced Nel has warned that matching those performances will not be easy this year. He added: Its difficult to say what would be a successful season. Weve sat down as a club, and said that we havent proved anything. We had a really great season but weve got nothing on the table so as a team we need to look at last season and build on that. We cant take a step back, we have to go forward and show we are building something special. Mitsubishi Motors is proud to support Edinburgh Rugby and welcome WP Nel as an Official Mitsubishi Motors ambassador. One night in February of 2000, John McCain arrived at a pier near the naval station in Bremerton, Wash., to find thousands of people waiting for him in the pelting rain. His speech was nothing special McCains strength was always in the Q and A but Ill never forget one line he didnt intend to come out this way: Get out and vote for me on Tuesday, and I promise you, youll be happy. I never voted for John McCain, but I sure felt happy covering his electrifying though ultimately unsuccessful presidential primary campaign that year happier than at any other time in decades on the politics beat. And so did the handful of other reporters and columnists crowded in a semicircle around him at the back of the campaign bus he dubbed the Straight Talk Express. Younger reporters sometimes ask me if we were in the tank for McCain that year blatantly favoring him over George W. Bush in the Republican primaries and the answer is half-yes. We were professional and asked him plenty of tough questions, but the fact that we could even do so 12 hours a day for weeks on end (more time than he spent with his staff!) reflected a level of access he granted us that would dull the blade of the most vicious hatchet man. And he answered almost all of them honestly, even if doing so made him look bad. Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and his wife, Cindy, speak with reporters as they travel from Columbia to Sumter, S.C., aboard the Straight Talk Express on Jan. 7, 2000. (Photo: Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images) Like the Kennedy brothers with an older generation of journalists, McCain appeared to enjoy our company in 2000, although the all-access press policy was also a stratagem to differentiate himself from Bush by running a nontraditional maverick campaign. He largely abandoned it in 2008, especially when his disturbing selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate vaporized his media halo. But McCain wasnt built to hide from the press or be a blowhard. Donald Trump never apologizes for anything; McCain often did so, profusely, in part to seek media absolution for pandering or other unwise decisions. Of course there were limits to the contrition: He never said sorry for Sarah. Story continues Up close, McCain was a throwback to that lovably irascible 1950s dad, the guy who told you to get off his lawn before offering you a beer and a war story you wouldnt soon forget. That made sense considering that he essentially missed the 1960s. His five and a half years of captivity in North Vietnam from 1967 to 1973 coincided exactly with the souring of the national mood. McCains JFK-style pay any price, bear any burden ethic was closer to that of the Greatest Generation. When he said that he was running for president to inspire a generation of young Americans to commit themselves to a cause larger than their own self-interest, he struck a chord we rarely hear played today. Unfortunately, his conservative fiscal views prevented him from fully committing himself to a large national service program that might have been his signature achievement. McCain is escorted to Hanois Gia Lam Airport on his release on March 14, 1973, after being held as a POW since Oct. 26, 1967. (Photo: Horst Faas/AP) It helped that he was funny. Im Luke Skywalker trying to get out of the Death Star! McCain liked to say in 2000, bounding on stage with a light saber, ready to do battle with a moribund Republican establishment. He joked that his wife said the only reason he was running was that I received several sharp blows to the head while in prison. On the bus, he described how he could tell dirty jokes in Morse code by banging a cup on the wall separating him from other inmates during his two years in solitary confinement. Standing before a dozen workers at a Michigan tech company one day, he responded to a conspiracy-minded question by saying simply: And Angela Lansbury turned over the Queen of Diamonds a sly reference to the scene where Lansburys villainous character revealed her Communist coup plot in the 1962 film The Manchurian Candidate. McCain-hating rightwing nut jobs thought that movie, which portrayed a politician brainwashed during his captivity in North Korea, was practically a biopic, which both annoyed and amused him. McCain never seriously attacked the press for fake news but he did tease liberal journalists in a way that was strangely fun. One morning live on The Today Show, McCain greeted me with a grin: Good morning, Jonathan, you communist. I smiled back and mumbled something about how he often calls us that. McCain announced that he was suspending his bid for the GOP presidential nomination on March 9, 2000, in Sedona, Ariz., as his wife, Cindy, looks on. Im older than dirt, more scars than Frankenstein, but I learned a few things along the way, McCain has said. (Photo: Matt York/AP) The following week, I watched him wake up from a nap in a Columbia, S.C., hotel suite to learn that fresh exit polls showed Bush crushing him in that states crucial primary. His hopes for the nomination were now in tatters. As I sat on the couch next to a weeping Cindy McCain, an aide informed him that he had even lost among veterans. These people disgust me, Cindy said, referring to the local Bush campaign operatives who had circulated despicable fliers depicting their daughter Bridget, adopted as a handicapped infant from Africa, as the offspring of McCain and a black woman. Thats politics, honey, her husband said softly, his legendary temper fully in check. Later, he focused not on that smear but on his own failure in South Carolina to speak out against the Confederate flag flying over the Capitol, which he considered one of the biggest regrets of his life. As the 2000 campaign wound down, I was a dinner guest at his ranch near Sedona, Ariz., where he cooked for his neighbors. After he was tortured in prison, McCain could no longer lift his arms above his shoulders, so his sport of choice became grilling. I watched him jump between four Turbo grills preparing his specialty, spicy chicken. If he ever got to the White House, he said, he would replace the putting green with outdoor cooking equipment. The following year, I saw him at Candice Bergens house in Los Angeles reducing A-list celebrities to ingratiating fans, cementing his place as the liberals favorite Republican. Later they would often be disappointed when he didnt vote like a Democrat. McCain barbecues at the McCain family ranch, near Sedona, in March 2000. (Photo by David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images) Beyond the access and charm, McCain captured the medias attention because he was saying something important in those years about the stranglehold that special interest money has on our political system. His experience on the griddle in the late 1980s as a member of the so-called Keating Five (McCain and four other senators with ties to con-man bank president Charles Keating) gave him the zeal of a convert. My most distinct memory of his pushing through the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform in 2002 was his contempt for Mitch McConnell, his main adversary on the bill. One of the things we loved about McCain was that he was often up in the grill of Senate colleagues he thought were acting dishonorably; some of the same ones now calling him a hero were then spreading rumors that he was mentally unbalanced. But he kicked up and sideways, not down. His loyal staff adored him, an important indicator of character in Washington or anywhere else. In 2004, McCain almost agreed to go on the Democratic ticket with his friend and fellow Vietnam War veteran John Kerry. McCain and Kerry had teamed up in 1995 to give President Bill Clinton who had ducked service in that war the cover he needed to recognize Vietnam, a major diplomatic achievement for all three. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass, left, chairman of the Senate POW/MIA Committee, confers with McCain on Capitol Hill on June 24, 1992. (Photo: John Duricka/AP) In election years, McCain sometimes trimmed his sails to tack against right wing primary challengers. But country over party was more than a slogan to him, and bonds across party lines so rare nowadays were among the main reasons he stayed in the Senate so long. Honor and friendship were the coins of his realm, especially when someone was in trouble. McCain spent long hours visiting former Democratic Rep. Mo Udall when he was bedridden with Parkinsons disease and gave the eulogy for David Ifshin, a radical antiwar protester who delivered broadcasts from Hanoi attacking U.S. fliers like McCain as baby killers. He was, as Joe Biden said in December, the guy you would call from a street corner if you were ever in trouble. In 2015, I was repeatedly asked why McCain didnt respond when Trump who dodged military service during the Vietnam War said, Hes not a war hero. Hes a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured. The answer was that McCain, like most combat veterans, was uncomfortable being called a hero; for years, he preferred to say, I was in the company of heroes. Trumps outrageous statement effectively neutralized him for months. Had McCain attacked him, it would have been seen as personal, which of course it was. So his shots in 2017 against Trumps half-baked, spurious nationalism and divisiveness didnt contain the presidents name. McCain, who had been recuperating in Arizona after being diagnosed with brain cancer, speaks on the floor of the Senate after returning to Washington for a key vote on health care reform on July 25, 2017. (Photo: Senate TV via Reuters) It was fitting that McCain cast the deciding vote against Trumps repeal of the Affordable Care Act. The grounds he chose for voting no that the traditions of the Senate had not been fully respected reflected just how attached he was to the Constitution he had served in various capacities for more than 60 years. But the decency and character that so many reporters saw in McCain were perhaps best exemplified in October 2008 when as the Republican presidential nominee he faced a female questioner at a Minnesota town meeting who said of his Democratic opponent, Barack Obama: Hes an Arab. McCain didnt hesitate: No maam, hes a decent family man, citizen, that I just happen to have disagreements with. Thats the John McCain Ill remember. (Cover thumbnail photo: Mary Altaffer/AP) _____ Jonathan Alter covered John McCain on and off for two decades starting in the mid-1990s. He is at work on a biography of Jimmy Carter. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Multiple fatalities after mass shooting in Jacksonville, Fla. This photo shows a police car behind police tape blocking a street leading to the Jacksonville Landing area in downtown Jacksonville, Fla., Aug. 26, 2018. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Police searched on Monday for a motive in the third mass shooting in Florida in two years, which left two people dead and 11 wounded in Jacksonville, before the gunman killed himself at a video game tournament. Witnesses told local media that the gunman, identified by police as David Katz, 24, of Baltimore, was a disgruntled gamer, angry because he lost Sundays tournament. It was not clear if he knew his victims. While police have not identified the victims, family members told Jacksonville CBS television station WJAX that the two people killed were Eli Clayton and Taylor Robertson, both were video game contestants. The Jacksonville Sheriffs office said 11 other people were wounded by gunfire and at least two others were injured while fleeing the scene of Sundays shooting. Police say Katz killed himself and his body was found near the bodies of the two shot dead at The Landing, a popular riverside shopping and restaurant spot in Jacksonville. Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams declined Sunday to comment on possible reasons for the attack. Police and FBI agents swarmed Katzs upscale townhouse in South Baltimore late on Sunday, multiple media accounts said, including the Baltimore Sun. Police also seized Katzs vehicle parked nearby the tournament site. The shooting took place during a regional qualifier for the Madden 19 online game tournament at the GLHF Game Bar inside a pizza restaurant, according to the venues website. The winners of the contest go forward to the video game finals in Las Vegas and compete for $165,000. (Reuters) See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Twitter and Tumblr. Windhoek (AFP) - Namibia's President Hage Geingob on Sunday urged citizens to take part in the debate over mooted land reforms, including the expropriation of land, in order to avoid chaos. The southern African country will hold a "national land conference" from October 1-5, for discussion of policies that will accelerate the land reform programme. I believe that we should have difficult conversations, as Namibians, with the aim of finding peaceful and sustainable solutions to the challenges of inequality, landlessness and outstanding pains of genocide, Geingob said during Sunday's heroes day commemorations in northern Namibia. According to Geingob. the October conference will examine a policy of voluntary redistribution of land but also compensated expropriation by the government. If we dont correct the wrongs of the past through appropriate policies and actions, our peace will not be sustainable, the president warned. The debate comes as neighbouring South Africa is considering plans to allow for expropriating farms without compensating the owners, largely the white minority which possess 72 percent of farms. But there is also 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. Namibia was a German colony from 1884 to 1915. Apartheid South Africa then took over and ruled the country until 1990 when it gained its independence. The government started the land reform programme in 1990 but opted to use the willing buyer-willing seller system to buy land, at market prices, from private farm owners who owned the land before independence. The Namibian president has over the years admitted that approach has failed and so is now urging discussions on land grabs. Geingob, who was the country's first prime minister, was one of the drafters of the Namibian constitution which protected property rights of people who owned land prior to independence. Story continues He is however facing increasing pressure to return ancestral lands to the rightful owners. Geingob called for calm and insisted that white people who own farms are also Namibians. It is true that they came and stole the land 100 years ago, but a white boy who was born on that land has Namibian blood, Geingob said. The government announced in parliament two years ago that German citizens own 141 out of 281 farms which belong to foreign nationals. Over 108 farms measuring more than 450,000 hectares are owned by South Africans. Getty Nasa has joined the 100th birthday celebrations for Katherine Johnson, an African-American human computer who overcame racial and gender discrimination, to become a crucial part of the USs space programme. The contribution of Ms Johnson and two of her black colleagues, Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughan, who worked at Nasas Langley Research Centre located in Hampton, Virginia, was featured in the 2016 movie Hidden Figures, directed by Theodore Melfi. In the movie, Ms Johnson was portrayed by actress Taraji Henson. Wishing a #happybirthday to Katherine G Johnson on her 100th birthday today, Nasas official history office wrote in a tweet. She worked at @NASA_Langley as a human computer starting in 1953. Her calculations were critical to our early human spaceflight programme (youve probably seen that in the movies). Today the University community gathered to dedicate a statue and scholarship in honor of our amazing alum Katherine Johnson. The statue will serve as a source of inspiration to current and future students of all that is possible through dedication, hard work and perseverance. pic.twitter.com/iFOqxnr1eH WV State University (@WVStateU) August 25, 2018 Ms Johnson, who was born in 1918 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, was the youngster of four children and showed a talent for mathematics and calculations at an early age. Because public education for black children was not available behind the 8th grade, her parents arranged for her to attend high school on the campus of what is now West Virginia State University. After graduating high school at the age of 14, she entered the historically black college where she studied maths and science. Among her tutors was the pioneering mathematician Angie Turner King. Ms Johnson was eventually joined the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics, which would became Nasa. Story continues She worked to help calculate trajectories and launch windows on a series of Nasa programmes, including those that saw Alan Shepard before the first American in space in 1961, and John Glenn become the first American to orbit the earth, an accomplishment that took place in 1962. On Saturday, a day before her 100th birthday, Ms Johnson, who graduated with degrees in both Maths and French, attended a ceremony West Virginia State University, where a new statue of her was unveiled and a scholarship in her name announced. What makes Katherine so extraordinary is she not only prevailed while segregation failed, Dr Johnson has continued to persevere and thrive with the gracious poise and clarity that defies mere words of explanation, let alone definition, said Yvonne Cagle, life sciences directorate at the Johnson Space Centre, according to the Charleston Gazette-Mail. So what can you say after a century about someone like Dr Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson our very own global, global genius? Lets see you say nothing. You dont say anything. You listen. https://twitter.com/NASAhistory/status/1033685496768208896 The ceremony for Ms Johnson, who was in 2015 awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the USs highest civilian honour, was also attended by West Virginia Democratic senator Joe Manchin, It is my hope that the students who pass by [this statue] every day will be reminded of Katherines legacy and will be inspired to keep their passion for knowledge alive, he said. Every one of our female leaders in West Virginia are an epitome of strength...and advancements in their fields. They serve as inspiring role models for the next generation, and that is due in great part to the women who broke ground in generations past. Ahead of her birthday, Ms Johnson attributed her longevity to good luck, and keeping share by playing bridge and board games. She told the Daily Press newspaper: Im just lucky the Lord likes me. And I like him. Read more Nasa intern loses job after profanity-laced tweet Nasa astronaut plays the first ever game of tennis in space Nasa reveals what it plans to do with water on the Moon What does Nasas latest discovery mean life on the Moon? Parker Solar Probe: When will the Nasa spacecraft touch the sun? STOCKHOLM (AP) More than 200 supporters of the neo-Nazi Nordic Resistance Movement have staged a rally in the Swedish capital, chanting slogans and waving the group's green-and-white flags. A six-hour rally was approved by Swedish police, who deployed a strong security presence around Stockholm's Kungsholmstorg Square. But after just a few hours, the crowds wilted and a march was canceled. Police had warned of potential disturbances across the city but no violence was seen. Local media reported that a counter-rally drew about 200 people. The neo-Nazi group is anti-European Union, anti-gay and anti-immigration. The rally took place ahead of Sweden's Sept. 9 general election, in which immigration is a key issue. The neo-Nazi march was among dozens of events held across Stockholm on Saturday, including an animal rights' march that drew 500 people. Vilnius (AFP) - Israel's prime minister said on Sunday that Jews were still at risk even decades after the Holocaust as he wrapped up a groundbreaking visit to Lithuania, a Baltic state once home to his forefathers. "For the Jewish people, what has changed in these 75 years? Not the attempts to destroy us, they still seek to destroy us," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told around 300 Lithuanian Jews gathered in Vilnius's Choral Synagogue. The Israeli leader identified what he termed new existential threats facing the Jews, with Iran and the Islamist movement Hamas which runs the Gaza Strip being among them. "What has changed is our ability to defend ourselves by ourselves... This is a magnificent change of history," added Netanyahu, who is the first-ever Israeli premier to visit Lithuania, a Baltic EU state. Pre-war Lithuania was home to a thriving Jewish community of more than 200,000 people, with Vilnius a hub of learning known as the "Jerusalem of the North". But historians contend that around 195,000 perished at the hands of the Nazis and local collaborators under the 1941-44 German occupation, nearly the entire Jewish population. Today there are around 3,000 Jews living in the EU and NATO member state of 2.9 million people. Netanyahu said he spent Saturday touring the Vilna Ghetto and recalling Lithuanian Jews taken to Paneriai -- also known as Ponar or Ponary -- on the outskirts of the city, the site of the Ponar massacre. - Distorted or ignored - Up to 100,000 people including Jews, Poles and Russians were slain there by the Nazis and Lithuanian collaborators during World War II. "What a distance we have travelled in 75 years from the death pits of Ponar to a rising power in the world," Netanyahu said. His groundbreaking visit has not been without controversy and Netanyahu has come under sharp criticism from top Israeli Nazi hunter Efraim Zuroff for warming to Lithuania. Story continues Arguing that Vilnius has not done enough to come to terms with the role Lithuanians played in the Holocaust, Zuroff charged in a Sunday Facebook post "that to praise the Lithuanian government's efforts to commemorate the Shoa is like commending the KKK for improving race relations in the US". A Lithuanian research centre has identified 2,000 Lithuanians suspected of taking part in the Holocaust, either by killing Jews, sending them to execution or by confiscating their wealth. At the same time nearly 900 Lithuanians hold the honorary title of "Righteous Among The Nations", awarded by Israel to gentiles who risked their lives to save Jewish neighbours. The Holocaust was either distorted or ignored in Lithuania under five decades of Soviet rule that followed the war. An honest examination only began after it became the first republic to split from the USSR in 1990. Tehran (AFP) - An Iranian F-5 fighter jet crashed in southern Iran on Sunday killing its pilot, state media reported. The jet, a training aircraft, crashed as it attempted to land in Dezful in the southwestern Khuzestan province, the official IRNA news agency said. Its pilot was killed but his co-pilot survived and was hospitalised. The cause of the accident was unknown. Iran bought its F-5 fighters from the United States before the 1979 Islamic revolution and still has 48 in service, according to the latest estimates by Jane's IHS Markit. Last week, Tehran unveiled its first domestically built fighter jet, which is closely modelled on the F-5. The Pope has warned of the dangers of social media, saying it can end up imprisoning people in a virtual reality. Pope Francis said social media poses a threat to real life relationships and while it can help building a network of friendships and solidarity, people should consider cutting down on technology and spending more time with each other. Speaking to a gathering of more than 80,000 people at Dublins Croke Park on Saturday night, the Pope said it was important that social media never becomes a threat to the real life relationships by imprisoning us in a virtual reality and isolating us from the very real relationships that challenge us to grow. Warning the Pope warned about the dangers of social media during his speech at Dublins Croke Park (Picture: AP) He added: When you use social media too much you go into a sort of an orbit, when at the dinner table, instead of talking to each other within the family each of you uses his phone to connect with the outside world. Then you go into an orbit. The Pope warned that social media can take away the completeness of the family and lead individuals to a fuzzy life without any substance. MORE: Police to use stop and search powers at Notting Hill Carnival due to weapons fears MORE: The effects of a boozy Bank Holiday could last longer than you think, study finds Pope Francis highlighted the difficulties some families, who have to flee their homes in search of security and peace, have to endure. A familys love and faith can be a source of strength and peace even amid the violence and destruction caused by war and prosecution, he said. Sorry the Pope said the three words every family needs to know are sorry, please and thank you (Picture: AP) The three words every family needs to know, the pontiff said, were sorry, please and thank you. He made the crowd repeat after him sorry, please and thank you and advised families not to go to bed angry. When you quarrel.say youre sorry, he said. Before the day is over thats when you have to make peace, and you know why, do you know why its necessary to make peace before day is over? Because if you dontits very dangerous. Vatican City (AFP) - Pope Francis has declined to comment on a claim that he ignored sexual abuse allegations against a senior clergyman amid speculation conservative elements in the Catholic hierarchy are using the issue to mount a "putsch" to remove the liberal pontiff. Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, a former Vatican envoy to the United States, on Saturday said he had told Francis of the allegations against prominent US cardinal Theodore McCarrick in 2013. But rather than punish McCarrick, who was forced to resign last month, Vigano said Francis had lifted sanctions imposed on him by his predecessor pope Benedict XVI. "Corruption has reached the very top of the Church's hierarchy," Vigano said in a letter published in the National Catholic Register and several conservative US Catholic publications. But the pope refused to address the allegation on Sunday. "I will not say a word about that. I think that the communique speaks for itself," Francis said on his plane as he flew back from Dublin to Rome. The timing of the letter's release -- right in the middle of Francis's landmark trip to Ireland -- has raised speculation of a campaign against the Argentine pontiff by conservatives in the Church. Francis told journalists to "read the communique attentively and make your own judgement," referring to Vigano's letter, which called on the pope to resign. In his 11-page "testimony", Vigano, 77, who was a papal nuncio in Washington between 2011 and 2016, said Benedict XVI imposed canonical sanctions against McCarrick in the late 2000s. McCarrick was forced to leave his seminary and live a life of penance after former Vatican ambassadors in Washington, now dead, reported him for "gravely immoral" behaviour with seminarians and priests. - 'Homosexual networks' - Vigano claimed Francis asked him about McCarrick when he took office in June 2013, but that the pope ignored his warnings. Story continues He said the pope "knew from at least June 23, 2013, that McCarrick was a serial predator," adding that "he knew that he was a corrupt man, he covered for him to the bitter end". The pope accepted the resignation of McCarrick, now 88, in July, making him just the second cardinal ever to lose his status. In his letter, Vigano condemned the "culture of secrecy" in the Church but also railed against "the homosexual current" he claimed was prevalent in the highest echelons of the Vatican and contributing to a "conspiracy of silence" over abuse. "The homosexual networks present in the Church must be eradicated," he said. "These homosexual networks ... are strangling the entire Church." US cardinals Monday defended themselves against Vigano's allegations of a cover-up. Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, a progressive, expressed "shock, sadness and consternation" at the wide-ranging allegations and Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington denied any knowledge that his predecessor had been either sanctioned or accused of abuse. - 'A putsch is afoot' - "Make no mistake. This is a coordinated attack on Pope Francis," said an editorial article on the website of the progressive National Catholic Reporter weekly. "A putsch is afoot and if the US bishops do not, as a body, stand up to defend the Holy Father in the next 24 hours, we shall be slipping towards schism," the author Michael Sean Winters wrote. "The enemies of Francis have declared war." Nicolas Seneze, the Rome correspondent for the French daily La Croix, echoed that there is "a clear desire to attack Francis," telling AFP that "those who regard Francis as dangerous will stop at nothing." Among ultra-conservative Catholics, the pope is regarded as a dangerous progressive more interested in social issues than traditional Church matters. With his more conciliatory approach to the gay community Francis had raised hopes among that he might steer the Church towards greater acceptance of homosexuality but he remains in line with traditional Church teaching on sexuality and marriage. - Abuse scandals - During his visit to Ireland on Sunday the pope "begged for God's forgiveness" for past clerical abuse scandals, which have badly damaged the image of the Church in the Catholic stronghold. His trip was met with enthusiastic crowds but also protests, with about 5,000 abuse victims and supporters attending a "Stand for Truth" rally in the capital Dublin. The Catholic Church's standing has been badly dented by the abuse scandals. Stronghold Ireland has largely shed its traditional Catholic mores, voting earlier this year to legalise abortion after approving same-sex marriage in 2015. Multiple probes in Ireland have found Church leaders protected hundreds of predatory priests and former Irish president Mary McAleese revealed this month that the Vatican had sought to keep Church documents inaccessible to government investigators. The abuse scandals in Ireland are part of a worldwide crisis for the Vatican. A devastating report earlier this month accused more than 300 priests in the US state of Pennsylvania of abusing more than 1,000 children since the 1950s. By Ginger Gibson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican congressional candidate Troy Balderson on Friday was declared the winner of a hotly contested Ohio special election that served as a final test of his party's ability to hold off an anticipated surge of Democratic voters in the November elections. After two weeks of counting additional ballots in a district that has historically provided easy victories to Republicans, Balderson was declared by Franklin County officials as the winner over Democrat Danny O'Connor, who said on Friday he called to concede to Balderson. In the final vote count Balderson received 104,328 votes, or 50.12 percent, and OConnor had 102,648 votes, or 49.32 percent, according to Franklin County. "I'm humbled by the support I've received from voters and look forward to representing Ohio's 12th Congressional district in Congress," Balderson said in a statement. "Danny O'Connor ran a hard-fought race but I look forward to earning the support of voters for a fourth time." The special election was viewed as a referendum on Republican President Donald Trump's leadership and a last chance to gauge Democratic strength ahead of November's midterm elections, in which the Republicans are trying to retain majorities in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Despite the loss, Democrats are hoping to parlay continued enthusiasm among their base into victories in November. Republicans are using the narrow victory as a warning that many congressional seats could be lost unless candidates invest heavily in their campaigns both through fundraising and campaigning. The special election was called to replace former Representative Pat Tiberi, who resigned from his seat earlier this year to take a job with a business group. Because the August election was only to fill the remainder of Tiberis term, which ends in January, another election, again with Balderson and O'Connor, will be held in November to elect a representative for the new term. "We went door to door, we went house to house, we made our case for change, and the grassroots army weve created is not done yet," O'Connor said in a statement. "In fact, were just getting started." (Reporting by Ginger Gibson; Editing by Bill Trott) MOSCOW (AP) Russia's Defense Ministry says that militants in a rebel-controlled province of Syria are preparing a chemical weapons attack. The ministry in a statement on Saturday quoted unnamed sources saying that the Levant Liberation Committee is preparing an attack against civilians in the northwestern Idlib province to blame it on the Syrian government. The Russian military cited its sources alleging that several containers with chlorine had been delivered to a local town and later taken to a nearby village. The Defense Ministry also claimed that a private British contactor is helping the rebels to stage the attack. The Russian statement comes several days after U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton warned Syria's government against using chemical weapons and vowed a tough response if that happens. Full Frontal host Samantha Bee has opened up about the backlash she received after using the C-word to describe Ivanka Trump in May. The comedian told The Daily Beast she had one regret about calling President Donald Trumps daughter a feckless cunt during a segment about the Trump administrations policy of separating undocumented children from their parents at the border: that her language, not Trumps immigration policies, became the focus. I was very regretful that that moment really took away from what I was trying to say with the segment, Bee said. And the segment really effectively disappeared, you cant find it anymore. Thats really a shame, because the subject matter was really important to me. At the time, the president responded to the segment by calling for Bee to be fired. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the comment was vile and vicious. Why arent they firing no talent Samantha Bee for the horrible language used on her low ratings show? A total double standard but thats O.K., we are Winning, and will be doing so for a long time to come! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 1, 2018 Bee later apologized for using an expletive to describe the first daughter. It was inappropriate and inexcusable. I crossed a line, and I deeply regret it, she said. The wording of the statement was very specific, she told The Daily Beast. The apology was not offered to the right, she said. It was not offered as a concession to their demands, at all. It was offered in a very specific manner and I dont regret putting it out there. I think it was the right thing to do. Bee also had a message for many of those who engaged in the overblown criticism of her comment, saying they should be embarrassed by their own conduct these days. I could not give a single fuck what they think of me, she said. And why should I? You cant make a comedy show that pleases everyone, nor should you ever try. Story continues Check out Bees full interview with The Daily Beast here. Related Coverage Donald Trump Sparks Outrage By Tweeting White Nationalist Talking Point Donald Trump Is 'In Deep' On Time Magazine's Latest Scathing Cover Mark Hamill Taunts Donald Trump With Genius Twitter Tip For His Tired Fingers Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. The deep-sea submersible Alvin is launched from R/V Atlantis off the coast of Delaware on Monday. A research team has planned 12 dives over the next two weeks to explore and study deep ocean ecosystems off the southeast coast. (Photo: Chris D'Angelo/HuffPost) THE ATLANTIC OCEAN As the research vessel Atlantis made its way out to sea from Woods Hole, Massachusetts, last week, expedition chief scientist Erik Cordes predicted the team would discover something no one has ever seen before. It didnt take long. Some 160 miles off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina, a half mile below the ocean surface, is a dense forest of cold water corals. And based on their observations and recent sonar mapping of the ocean floor, researchers estimate that the reef runs for at least 85 linear miles. This is a huge feature, Cordes said. Its incredible that it stayed hidden off the U.S. East Coast for so long. The existence of the reef was confirmed during a pair of submersible dives this week that were part of a two-week expedition to explore uncharted canyons, gas seeps and coral ecosystems off the Atlantic coast. The discovery builds upon research this summer by scientists working aboard the Okeanos Explorer, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ship. Deep-sea ecologist Erik Cordes, chief scientist of project Deep Search, unloads corals from a submersible aboard the research vessel Atlantis on Thursday. A team of scientists is currently exploring uncharted canyons, gas seeps and coral ecosystems off the Atlantic coast. (Photo: Chris DAngelo/HuffPost) As Cordes readied to board the famous deep-sea submersible Alvin on Thursday morning, he said he was excited to get a first look at a site called Richardson Ridge. There was no telling what might be found, but his hope and goal was to find and collect corals. Seven hours later, Cordes, coral scientist Cathy McFadden and Alvin pilot Bruce Strickrott returned to the surface with the front end of the submersible loaded with Lophelia pertusa, a stony coral species, and a variety of other hard and soft corals. Cordes, a deep-sea ecologist and professor at Temple University, called it an unbelievable ecosystem unlike anything he has seen before. He has done a lot of work in the Gulf of Mexico, where Lophelia are also common. But unlike in the Gulf, finding colonies in this part of the Atlantic proved easy. Just mountains of it, Cordes said as a crew worked to secure Alvin back on the ships deck. We couldnt find a place that didnt have corals. Story continues This summer, scientists aboard Okeanos mapped hundreds of deep-sea mounds and found coral approximately 16 miles southeast of the recent dive sites. Cordes and his team have confirmed that the mounds mapped by Okeanos are indeed teeming with coral. The live corals are growing atop giant mounds of rubble, the skeletal remains of coral colonies that have been growing in the same area for millennia. Cordes expects these Atlantic coral structures could be hundreds of thousands of years old. Sandra Brooke, a coral ecologist at Florida State University, was among the research team members who dove Friday to a site approximately 1.5 miles from Thursdays study area. There, they found more of the same: thriving ghost white Lophelia covering the sea floor in every direction. Brooke told HuffPost it was an incredible surprise to find so much live coral at this depth and so far from the coast. Its kind of thrown my mental image of what the reefs out here look like for a loop, she said. Different species of corals sit in tanks aboard the R/V Atlantis on Saturday. (Photo: Chris DAngelo/HuffPost) The ongoing project, named Deep Search, comes as the Trump administration is proposing a sweeping offshore drilling plan that, if approved, would open huge swaths of the Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific oceans to oil exploration. Cordes said the goal of the expedition, which is funded by the NOAA, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and U.S. Geological Survey, is to identify and ultimately safeguard sensitive habitats in a swath of ocean that remains largely unexplored. For the last week, the team of scientists has been working late into the night, conducting experiments, preserving corals and other species for future testing, and analyzing mud and water samples. Cordes said Saturday that this complex and diverse coral habitat must be protected from oil and gas development. He also has little doubt that it is critical for the productivity of regional fisheries. During his cruise Thursday, cameras attached to Alvin captured footage of a large swordfish cruising over a field of Lophelia corals. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. Scientists aboard the research ship Atlantis have discovered a dense coral reef off the coast of South Carolina. This picture was taken Friday by cameras mounted on the deep-sea submersible Alvin. (Photo: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) It doesnt get more direct than that, Cordes said. Theres a reason theyre down there. Cordes says he plans to publish a paper about the teams discovery. The 85 linear miles of reef his team identified includes the coral habitat discovered by scientists aboard Okeanos. HuffPost environment reporter Chris DAngelo is reporting from aboard R/V Atlantis until Sept. 3. Related Coverage Coastal Republicans Say States, Not Just Trump, Should Get Say On Offshore Drilling New Offshore Drilling Analysis Shows What Trumps Plan Puts At Stake Interior Secretary Now Says 'No One Was Exempted' From Offshore Drilling Plan This article originally appeared on HuffPost. John McCain was a realist. At challenging moments, he often uttered a favorite quip, misattributed to Chairman Mao: Its always darkest before its totally black. The accompanying glint in McCains eye captured the combination of fatalism, determination and comic relief that defined his distinctly American spirit. Few knew better than the former prisoner of war, veteran legislator and two-time presidential contender that life is cruel, the fates are fickle and the situation can always get worse. Best to call it like you see it, crack wise and forge ahead. McCain, an Arizona Republican and steady defense hawk, died Saturday at 81. The Navy pilot survived a five-year stay at the Hanoi Hilton and several bouts of skin cancer before succumbing to an aggressive form of brain cancer, diagnosed in July 2017. On Aug. 24, the McCain family released a statement announcing the Senator would no longer be undergoing medical treatment, all but telegraphing to the country and to the world that the fight was coming to an end. Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28pm on August 25, 2018. With the Senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family. At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for sixty years, his office said in statement Saturday night. Even as the darkness closed in on him, McCain continued in his role as Americas elder statesman and independent voice. One of his signature votes in a lifetime of service came shortly after the brain cancer diagnosis, when he defiantly blocked fellow Republicans attempts to scrap the Affordable Care Act, a final act of maverick pluck signaled in a late-night vote with a simple thumbs-down. A few weeks later, when Republicans tried to revive their repeal efforts, McCain again was a nay. Despite lobbying efforts from Lindsey Graham, McCain didnt budge on the September reboot. His death left the GOP, and the country, without a signal voice that rose above party. Story continues McCain was an American original and an icon. His temper was legendary, his warmth remarkable. He swore like the sailor he once was and loved a good night in a casino, occasionally staying well past midnight with friends, lobbyists and fellow lawmakers. He fought with members of both parties, shrugged off his critics and often remarked that while no one would mistake him for Miss Congeniality, no one would accuse him of being a pushover. His political instincts werent inerrant, but his principles rarely wavered. The slogan of his unsuccessful 2008 presidential campaign, Country First, rang true until the end. John McCain, (front, right) with his squadron in 1965. A PRISONER IN NORTH VIETNAM John Sidney McCain III was born Aug. 29, 1936 in the Panama Canal Zone, a prince among the Navy elite. His grandfather, known as Slew, helped the Allies win the Pacific campaign during World War II, rising from the head of air command in the South Pacific to the number-two Naval officer at the Pentagon and finally chief of staff for the Third Fleet. When the Japanese surrendered aboard the Missouri, Slew was in the front row of that famous photograph. John McCain Jr. followed in the family business, becoming the top commander for Vietnam from 1968 to 1972. Growing up in Washington, the youngest McCain, nicknamed McNasty by his prep school classmates for his disposition, felt the call of duty; he entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1954. I remember simply recognizing my eventual enrollment at the Academy as an immutable fact of life, and accepting it without comment, McCain wrote in 1999. What he lacked in academic performance he compensated for with demerits, earning more than 100 each year for offenses ranging from un-shined shoes to speaking out of turn to smuggling a television into the dorms. Another favorite go-to line of McCains was that he graduated fifth from the bottom of his class. He was not exaggerating. Despite his poor academic transcript, McCain was commissioned an ensign and spent two years learning to fly planes, first in Florida, then in Texas. By his own account, he enjoyed the life of a bachelor, dating a stripper and driving around Pensacola in a white Corvette convertible. He was not a natural in the cockpit; in 1960 he crashed his single-seat propeller plane into Texas Corpus Christi Baythe first of his four crashes, including the one that made him into one of the nations most prominent POWs. Navy officials questioned his judgment, but he continued to fly and became a flight instructor at an airfield named for his grandfather. In 1965, McCain married his first wife, Carol Shepp, a model. He legally adopted two children from Shepps first marriage, and in 1966 the young couple had a daughter, Sidney. A year later, McCain was in the Gulf of Tonkin aboard the U.S.S. Forrestal, off the coast of Vietnam, on an assignment that drew global headlines when a munitions accident killed 134 sailors. McCain remarked days later to The New York Times that seeing the destruction brought by the bombs and napalm gave him second thoughts about dropping them on the North Vietnamese. The Forrestal was so badly damaged that the Navy considered abandoning ship. But neither that queasiness nor misgivings about the strategies concocted by Washington bureaucrats would stop McCain from flying 23 missions over North Vietnam. His final one came on Oct. 26, 1967. As McCain was dropping bombs on his target, a power plant in central Hanoi that was typically off-limits to American planes, a surface-to-air missile the size of a telephone pole hit the right wing off his Skyhawk dive bomber. McCain, 31, crashed into Truc Bach Lake and nearly drowned. With two broken arms and a broken right leg, he used his left leg to kick to the surface and inflated his life vest through his teeth. Struggling to dry land, he was attacked by the North Vietnamese; his left shoulder was crushed and his stomach lanced by a bayonet. He was in dire condition by the time he arrived at the H?a Lo Prison, known to American soldiers as the Hanoi Hilton. U.S. Navy Air-force Major John McCain lies on a bed in a Hanoi hospital as he was being given medical care for his injuries in Hanoi, Vietnam in 1967. McCains captors tortured him in the hopes he would reveal military secrets. He was beaten unconscious repeatedly. Doctors refused him treatment for his broken bones or wounds, expecting death to take him at any time. Only when they realized McCains lineage did the North Vietnamese transport him to the hospital, where he picked up the mocking title The Crown Prince. When he recovered a bit, the beatings resumed. Propaganda video from this era showed him a gaunt, on-the-verge-of-death ghost. As McCains captors considered his fate, they offered his release. McCain refused, citing U.S. policy that the prisoners who were taken earliest should be the first to be released. He spent another five years as a POW, during which time the cruel treatment continued. Upon his release on March 14, 1973, McCain wanted to get on with it, a frequent phrase he used when confronting tough junctures. He underwent extensive physical therapy, studied the Vietnam War at the National War College and moved to Jacksonville, Fla., where he would command the Navys largest aviation squadron. During this time, his marriage began to falter, and McCain acknowledged infidelity. It was another symptom, Carol McCain said, of a man who was in his 40s trying to act 25. McCain, who toyed with the idea of running for office in Florida, instead moved back to Washington as the Navys liaison in the Senate. In 1979, he met Cindy Hensley at a reception for senators in Hawaii. Hensley was an Arizona teacher 18 years his junior, the heiress to a beer distributorship, as beautiful as she was rich, one columnist would later write. McCain, who was still married at the time, started making regular trips to visit her in Phoenix. The couple married on May 17, 1980six weeks after his divorce to Carol was finalized. Less than a year later, Captain McCain shelved his stalled Navy career and retired with the intention of seeking elected office. With the backing of his new in-laws, who lived across the street to help with what would be four more children, including journalist Meghan McCain, he ran for a U.S. House seat in Arizona in 1982. Rivals attacked him as a carpetbagger. McCain defused the criticism masterfully: The longest place I ever lived was Hanoi. After two terms in the House, McCain ran for the Senate and won, despite clashes with his party leaders, including President Ronald Reagan. But his dizzying political rise came dangerously close to ending in the late 1980s, when it was revealed McCain was among five lawmakers who pressured regulators to back off in their interest in a savings and loan institution based in California. A Senate ethics investigation said five lawmakers leaned over their skis on behalf of donor Charles Keating, but let the good-ol-boys-system slide. About McCain, they said he exercised poor judgment but cleared him of ethical and legal wrongdoing. McCain got off with a slap on the wrist, and turned his sights to reforming the campaign-finance system, a goal that, in characteristic fashion, put him at odds with GOP orthodoxy. Working across party lines, he partnered with Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold, a progressive Democrat, on a plan that imposed new limits on soft-money spending. Bipartisan approaches to big intractable problems became a McCain hallmark, presaging his repeated and incomplete attempts to overhaul the nations immigration system and his more successful efforts, alongside Democratic Senator and fellow Vietnam veteran John Kerry, to lay the groundwork to normalize relations with Vietnam in the 1990s. John McCain at a rally in the park with his family: (L-R) daughter Bridget (8), wife Cindy, sons Jack (13) and Jimmy (10), and daughter Meghan (15), in Keene, NH on Jan. 31, 2000. TWO PRESIDENTIAL RUNS This independent streak was on full display as the nation prepared for the 2000 presidential race. Party brass and high-dollar donors coalesced behind Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the son of a former President who had shown what a reform-minded governor could accomplish in a deeply conservative state. McCain didnt think Bush was the right recipe for the new millennium and mounted a strong insurgent challenge. Calculating that he could not compete in the campaign-opening Iowa caucuses due to his opposition to ethanol subsidies, he effectively moved to New Hampshire, where he punctured the frontrunners aura of inevitability, trouncing Bush by almost 20 points. For McCains supporters, it was a triumphant affirmation that money couldnt assassinate ideas in politics. McCains momentum came to an ugly halt a few weeks later, when South Carolinas notoriously vicious Republican primary featured unfounded rumors that McCain had secretly fathered an African-American child. After one debate in Columbia, every car in the parking lot had a flier with the false charge stuck under the windshield wiper. The smears were against McCains daughter, Bridget, whom John and Cindy had adopted from Mother Theresas orphanage in Bangladesh in 1993. (The McCain campaign blamed the Bushes or their allies for the attacks. The Bush team denied it, but clearly benefited from it.) So spooked was McCain that he did a rare thing: punt on a question of principle. He begrudgingly told voters in South Carolina it was up to them whether the Confederate flag should continue to fly at the statehouse. After losing the state, he admitted he was wrong. I feared that if I answered honestly, I could not win the South Carolina primary, McCain said. So I chose to compromise my principles. I broke my promise to always tell the truth. McCains campaign ended a few states later, and he finally endorsed Bush over Vice President Al Gore. But McCain would be a thorn in the side of the 43rd President. He bucked Bush on the question of torturing enemy combatants from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, questioned the Presidents management of the Pentagon and voted against Bushs tax cuts, against his energy bill, against plans to cut taxes and pile up red ink. Eight years after his first attempt, McCain decided once again to pursue the presidency. This time, he wanted to marry his maverick spirit to a Bush-caliber political machine. But his 2008 bid got off to a rough start. McCain was dogged by campaign dysfunction and his continued support for an increasingly unpopular war in Iraq. He was the biggest proponent of the war in Iraq at a time when the popularity for the war in Iraq collapsed, says Rick Davis, McCains 2008 campaign manager who couldnt talk his friend out of that position. Nor could they talk him into trashing Bush, whose approval numbers had cratered. John McCain was never going to go out and say George Bush stinks. That just wasnt going to happen, says Sarah Simmons, the campaigns director of strategy. Sen. John McCain and wife Cindy greet supporters at a campaign rally at the Fairmont Dallas hotel on March 4, 2008. Donors stopped giving. McCain had to lay off some of his most loyal staffers to comply the new campaign finance rules he wrote. Meanwhile, a candidate whose long, off-the-cuff conversations with journalists on his campaign bus had become legend proved to be unprepared for the immediacy of the first social media election. One free-flowing conversation about womens health turned into a weeks-long story after an adviser drew the candidate into a sideshow debate about why some health plans covered Viagra for men but not contraception for women. The conversation spiraled out of controlperhaps costing that adviser, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, the VP slot on the McCain ticket. Conservatives were already shaky on McCains credentials, and McCain could not elevate someone openly urging contraception coverage. Trailing Senator Barack Obama as the general election moved into the summer, McCain tried to spark a comeback with the roll of the dice. He picked first-term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate. Palin gave the campaign a short-term jolt, but proved to be disastrously ill-prepared and poorly-vetted for the job. As Palin incensed campaign aides behind the scenes, crowds at her rallies turned angry against Obama and shouted racist language about him. It got so bad that McCain himself took away a womans microphone during a Friday night town hall event in Minnesota when she suggested the Illinois Senator was an Arab. McCain defended his opponent as a good man. McCains handling of the economic meltdown also planted doubts in voters minds. In late September, just before the first presidential debate, the Republican abruptly announced that he was suspending his campaign to return to Washington to work on what many voters saw as a Wall Street bailout. But when he arrived at the White House for a bipartisan meeting with Bush, McCain came off as unprepared and had few contributions to make. Congressional Democrats, meanwhile, gave the floor to Obama to represent his party. Realizing he was out of his depth, McCain appeared at the debate the next day. In the end, after spending more than $330 million, the 72-year-old McCain lost by 9.5 million popular votes. After I lost I slept like a baby, McCain would say frequently. Sleep two hours wake up and cry. Sleep two hours wake up and cry. He had already lived longer than his father and his grandfather, but had no interest in retirement, as some aides proposed. Once again, he forged ahead. Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain speaks during a campaign event in Tampa, Fla. on Sept. 16, 2008. SAYING GOODBYE In the Obama era, McCain refashioned himself as a frequent check against the Democratic Presidents foreign policy. McCain fought to preserve the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military and campaigned against an economic stimulus package. He continued to travel extensively, including a trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, two weeks before he announced his diagnosis. By then, McCain moved a little less quickly through the hallways in the Senate. His wit and humor, which made him famous, seemed a little duller. He was having less fun in the Senate, where a Palin-induced Tea Party wave came crashing against the marble gates of the Upper Chamber; he hated the uncompromising attitudes of newcomers like Ted Cruz, the Texas Senator whom McCain famously christened a wacko bird. As Donald Trumps campaign gained steam in 2016, McCain told friends he didnt recognize his party that would admit newcomers like Trump. This was, after all, the party for whom Hillary Clinton campaigned as a Goldwater Girl. How was the thrice-married Trump its new leader? How had the party of Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole and even former rival Mitt Romney comes to be represented by the undisciplined New York billionaire? Sen. John McCain arrives at Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's office in Washington, on Oct. 16, 2013. The schism was mutual. Hes not a war hero, Trump said in 2015. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured. McCain never forgave him, and Trump never let up. Even in February 2018, as McCain struggled with cancer, the President told conservative activists that he was the reason why Obamacare remained on the books. When Trump signed a defense bill in August of 2018, named in honor of longtime Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman McCain, the President and his White House refused to mention the Senator by name. By the summer of 2017, McCains poor health began to show. During questioning of former FBI Director James Comey at a Senate hearing, McCain held forth in ways that left friends and family worried. He called the dismissed FBI chief President Comey and appeared confused. The Senator released a statement making light of the uneven performance: maybe going forward I shouldnt stay up late watching the Diamondbacks night games. But the diagnosis of glioblastoma arrived within weeks. When it came time for McCain to release what would be his final book, a coda to his life in politics and some last reflections on the current climate, he was not well enough to promote it. That role fell to his longtime collaborator Mark Salter, and to a flattering HBO documentary about his life. McCain was determined to see the release of both. In recent months, McCain has spent much of his days on his cell phone, calling friends and telling war stories. Former aides and dignitaries, including Vice President Joe Biden, stopped by the Arizona ranch for visits. Last fall, he summoned his campaign team from 2008 to a barbecue at longtime ally Rick Davis home in Northern Virginia. He wanted to see them again, to relive the days aboard the Straight Talk Express, even if it was clear to many that he was forgetting names and details. He had been through a difficult campaignindeed, a difficult careerand emerged stronger for it. Even in defeat, he never let bitterness linger. As McCain liked to say, it could always get worse. Its always darkest before it goes totally black. By Angelo Amante CATANIA, Italy (Reuters) - Italy on Sunday disembarked all 150 migrants from a rescue ship that had been docked for five days in a Sicilian port, ending the migrants' ordeal and a bitter stand-off between Rome's anti-establishment government and its European Union partners. The migrants, mainly from Eritrea, had been stranded in the port of Catania since Monday because the government refused to let them off the boat until other EU states agreed to take some of them in. Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Albania had offered to accept 20 of the migrants and Ireland 20-25, while the rest would be housed by Italy's Catholic Church "at zero cost" to the Italian taxpayer. "The church has opened its heart and opened its wallet," Salvini, from the right-wing League party, told supporters at a rally in Pinzolo in northern Italy on Saturday evening. Salvini, who has led a popular crackdown against immigration since the government took office in June, also announced that he had been placed under investigation by a Sicilian prosecutor for abuse of office, kidnapping and illegal arrest. "Being investigated for defending the rights of Italians is a disgrace," he said. On Saturday, the United Nations called for reason from all sides after a meeting of envoys from 10 EU states in Brussels a day earlier failed to break the deadlock. "Frightened people who may be in need of international protection should not be caught in the maelstrom of politics," the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said in a statement. The agency appealed to EU member states to "urgently" offer relocation places to the rescued people, in line with an agreement at an EU summit in June, and in the meantime, urged Italy to allow "the immediate disembarkation of those on board." Rome had refused to back down, despite criticism from rights groups and the opposition, with Salvini saying he considered the attacks he received to be a "badge of honor." The only help from within the bloc came late on Saturday from Ireland, whose offer to take in 20-25 migrants followed a pledge from non-EU member Albania to take in 20. Italy's Foreign Ministry called Albania's offer "a signal of great solidarity and friendship that Italy greatly appreciates." PM BUDGET THREAT Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte attacked the EU for its lack of support and said Italy may refuse to back the bloc's multiyear budget currently under discussion. He said on Facebook that Friday's meeting in Brussels had been "a defeat for Europe", and "a clear violation of the spirit of solidarity" that should be a founding principle of the Union. Before the breakthrough late on Saturday, thirteen migrants - seven women and six men - were ordered off the boat by doctors after a check-up carried out at around midday. They finally left the boat one-by-one some six hours later, stepping down a flight of steps to touch dry land for the first time since leaving Libya at least 10 days ago. The 13 were taken by ambulance to Catania's Garibaldi hospital. Italian media reported that among them there were three cases of suspected tuberculosis and two of suspected pneumonia. Medical officials on the spot did not confirm this. The remaining 137 migrants disembarked in the early hours of Sunday to be taken to a reception center in the Sicilian city of Messina, from which they will be distributed to the Church dioceses as well as Ireland and Albania. More than 650,000 people have reached Italian shores since 2014, and even though the numbers have fallen steeply in the last year, Rome says it will not let any more rescue ships dock unless the migrants are shared out around the EU. "The next ship can turn around and go back where it came from because our limit has been reached," Salvini said. Earlier this week, Italy let 27 unaccompanied minors leave the vessel. Prior to that, another 13 people needing urgent hospital attention were allowed to disembark. During their five days docked at Catania, the mostly young men on board sheltered from the sun under a large green tarpaulin that covered around half the deck, with clothes hanging from it to dry. Some occasionally waved to reporters gathered on the quayside. Around 200 protesters gathered at the port on Saturday, some waving left-wing flags, calling for the migrants to be allowed off. They later skirmished with police. Meanwhile in Rome, prosecutor Luigi Patronaggio questioned several Interior Ministry officials as part of his criminal investigation over the migrants being held against their will. At that time, the investigation was said to be against "unknown persons", but Salvini said he was responsible for his ministry's actions, challenging the prosecutor to arrest him. The 5-Star Movement, the League's coalition partner, has so far backed Salvini's hard line, and its Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli, who is responsible for the country's ports, on Saturday renewed the government's attacks on the EU. "Nobody can give lessons to Italy on its humanitarian efforts", he said. "The government is only asking the EU give some sense to its own existence." (Writing by Gavin Jones, additional reporting by Padraic Halpin in Dublin; editing by Edmund Blair, G Crosse and Daniel Wallis) The Spanish government has moved a step further to removing the remains of the former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco from the basilica at the the Valley of the Fallen monument near El Escorial, outside Madrid. - AP The Spanish government Friday passed a legal amendment saying the former Spanish dictator General Francisco Franco will be dug up and removed from a controversial mausoleum. Carmen Calvo, the deputy prime minister of the minority socialist government, said the decree - published Friday - would be debated and voted on in congress in the next 30 days. The Franco family has until September 15 to inform the government of their wishes for the dictators new resting place. If the family continues to refuse to accept the remains, the government will choose a dignified and respectful solution. We cannot wait another minute to exhume the dictator from the place where he lies along with the victims of the civil war, Ms Calvo said, adding that the United Nations and the Spanish parliament had urged Spains previous conservative government to end the anomaly. The basilica, carved into a mountain face, contains the body of Francisco Franco, who ruled Spain with an iron fist from the end of the 1936-39 civil war until his death in 1975 Credit: JAVIER SORIANO / AFP Pedro Sanchez, the prime minister, had indicated earlier in the summer that his government would exhume the dictators remains in July, but opposition from the Franco family led the administration to take a legal challenge. The decree is expected to be passed by a majority in congress, although the conservative opposition Popular Party has said it will challenge the use of express legislation designed for matters of extraordinary urgency. The liberal Ciudadanos, which in 2017 voted in favour of a parliamentary motion to have Francos remains exhumed, has also criticised the use of a decree. Spains Catholic Church authorities have told the government that they will not oppose the exhumation, which is expected to take place by the end of the year. After winning the civil war, Franco ruled Spain as a dictator Credit: AP photo Spains civil war started in 1936 after General Francisco Franco and other military officers led a coup attempt against Spains left-wing government of the time. After winning the war in 1939 Franco ruled the country as a dictator until his death in 1975. With the help of forced labour by political prisoners, Franco had the Valley of the Fallen basilica built under a giant cross. More than 33,000 victims of the war from both sides are buried in the crypt. Ms Calvo said the government was open to debate with other parties on ways to convert the Valley of the Fallen into a fitting memorial and improve the application of historical memory laws in Spain, where more than 100,000 victims of fascist repression still lie in unmarked graves. Republican politician Senator John McCain with wife Cindy in 2008 - AP Friends, family and the top tiers of US politics lined up to pay tribute to politician and celebrated war veteran John McCain after his death on Saturday. "Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28pm on August 25, 2018. With the senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family," his office said in a statement. "At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for 60 years." Long-time critic Donald Trump was one of the first to send condolences on Twitter. The US President has in recent days been criticised for not mentioning his former colleague's deteriorating health. My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 26 August 2018 His wife of 38 years , Cindy also paid tribute, writing: "He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved best." My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved best. Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) 26 August 2018 Describing him as a "true patriot," the US Naval air force posted a picture of Mr McCain during his time as a Navy pilot. A man who served his country up until his last days...a true patriot and American hero. RIP, John Sidney McCain III. #selflessness#service#hero#FlyNavypic.twitter.com/rLjFgXnv9x flynavy (@flynavy) 26 August 2018 His daughter Meghan McCain paid a touching tribute to her father with a statement on Twitter in which she said "he was a great fire who burned bright, and we lived in his light and warmth for so very long." Story continues I love you forever - my beloved father @SenJohnMcCainpic.twitter.com/Y50tVQvlVe Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) 26 August 2018 In a released statement former US President George W. Bush said of Senator John McCain "Some lives are so vivid, it is difficult to imagine them ended. Some voices are so vibrant, it is hard to think of them stilled. "John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order. He was a public servant in the finest traditions of our country. And to me, he was a friend whom i'll deeply miss. "Laura I send our heartfelt sympathies to Cindy and the entire McCain family, and our thanks to God for the life of John McCain." John McCain shakes hands with George W. Bush in 2008 after recieving his endorsement as the Republican presidential nominee in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC Credit: JIM WATSON/AFP Another former US President, Jimmy Carter also issued a statement on his death, writing: "John McCain was a man of honour, a true patriot in the best sense of the word. Americans will be forever grateful for his heroic military service and his steadfast integrity as a member of the United States Senate. "Rosalynn and I extend our sincere condolences to Senator McCain's family and to the people of Arizona whom he represented so forthrightly for so many years." John McCain believed that every citizen has a responsibility to make something of the freedoms given by our Constitution, and from his heroic service in the Navy to his 35 years in Congress, he lived by his creed every day. https://t.co/946T7PnG53 Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) 26 August 2018 .@SenJohnMcCain lived a life of service to his country, from his heroism in the Navy to 35 years in Congress. He was a tough politician, a trusted colleague, and there will simply never be another like him. My thoughts and prayers are with Cindy and his entire family. Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 26, 2018 Senator Lindsey Graham said he lost one of his dearest friends. America and Freedom have lost one of her greatest champions. .And Ive lost one of my dearest friends and mentor. Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) 26 August 2018 John McCain was my friend. I will remember the good times. My family and I send prayers for Cindy and the McCain family. - Sarah Palin and family pic.twitter.com/KRvcIQ99cA Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) 26 August 2018 Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has released a statement calling Sen. John McCain a "giant," an "icon" and an "American hero." McCain was elected to the U.S. Senate from Arizona six times. Ducey says McCain was an American who will never be forgotten, and he was proud to call him a fellow Arizonan. The Republican governor says McCain's "spirit, service and fierce independence shaped the state with which he became synonymous." Ducey recalled that the senator always fought for what he thought was right, even when it wasn't popular. He says McCain's "dogged patriotism and passion for country" made him an inspiration. The governor added that he hopes McCain's legacy will continue to inspire Americans to build a future that would make him proud. This evening, the @WhiteHouse flag has been lowered to half-staff in honor of Senator John McCain... pic.twitter.com/tYdBNK9bA7 Dan Scavino Jr. (@Scavino45) August 26, 2018 My thoughts are with John McCain's family, friends, and colleagues. His passing is a loss for our country. Bill Gates (@BillGates) August 26, 2018 Senator John McCain was an American patriot and hero whose sacrifices for his country, and lifetime of public service, were an inspiration to millions. Canadians join Americans tonight in celebrating his life and mourning his passing. Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) 26 August 2018 Australia has lost a friend. America has lost a Patriot. Democracy has lost a giant. Vale Senator John McCain Marise Payne (@MarisePayne) August 26, 2018 A watchdog group is pointing to a discrepancy between his financial disclosures and the payments made to his former lawyer as detailed in court documents. In May, Trump signed a financial disclosure form that stated he "fully reimbursed" personal attorney Michael Cohen between $100,001 and $250,000 in 2017. But documents filed by federal prosecutors Tuesday stated that Cohen received $420,000 from the Trump Organization over the course of last year. President Donald Trump could be facing yet another legal headache. A watchdog group is pointing to a discrepancy between his financial disclosures and the payments made to his former lawyer as detailed in court documents. In May, Trump signed a financial disclosure form that stated he "fully reimbursed" personal attorney Michael Cohen between $100,001 and $250,000 in 2017. But court documents filed by federal prosecutors Tuesday stated that Cohen received $420,000 from the Trump Organization over the course of last year. The discrepancy prompted the Project on Government Oversight, or POGO, to send a letter to the Office of Government Ethics, or OGE, on Thursday, asking it to review the matter. POGO is a nonpartisan independent watchdog that investigates and exposes waste, corruption and abuse of power, according to its website. Specifically, the letter says OGE should look at whether Trump underreported "knowingly and willfully, in violation of federal law." It also asked for this inconsistency to expand the Department of Justice's investigation into Trump's previous financial disclosure report , which did not include any debts or payments to Cohen. "It is quite notable," said POGO's general counsel, Scott Amey. "This may constitute a false statement by the president. If they were paying him $420 [thousand] they should have put the whole amount in there." The OGE states on its website that criminal action could be taken against any individual who "knowingly and willfully falsifies information required to be reported." The agency reiterated the point in a tweet Thursday. Story continues OGE tweet John Coffee, a professor at Columbia Law school focusing on securities regulation and white-collar crime, said the difference of $170,000 is quite likely material, "and thus, a potential criminal violation." The whole situation revolves around payments that Cohen, Trump's former personal lawyer, made to adult film star Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels. Cohen is known to have paid Clifford $130,000 just before the 2016 presidential election in exchange for her silence over an alleged affair with Trump. Trump and his team initially dodged questions on the topic, and Trump denied knowing anything about the payment in April. But Rudy Giuliani, the president's lead outside counsel in the Russia probe, confirmed the payment in early May in an interview with Fox News. Trump then tweeted about it, saying it wasn't campaign related. TRUMP tweet Ethics experts wondered whether Trump's debt to Cohen would be disclosed on his OGE form 278e, a financial disclosure that candidates and public officials in the executive branch are required to complete annually. Sure enough, the liability was reported in a footnote, dated May 15, 2018, and signed by Trump. The OGE told the Department of Justice that the payment made by Cohen was required to be reported as a liability and that the information provided in the form fulfilled that requirement. But now, with Cohen pleading guilty to the felony of making an excessive campaign contribution, and implicating the president in the process, the value of the disclosure is getting a fresh look. The filing states that Cohen showed a copy of a bank statement to executives of the Trump Organization, reflecting the $130,000 he paid Clifford. He also added in a wire fee and another $50,000 for "tech services." According to the filing, it was "the Company" that "grossed up" the requested reimbursement for "tax purposes" to make sure Cohen got paid in full after paying taxes an unorthodox practice for a reimbursement. They also added a bonus of $60,000. Cohen then sent monthly invoices, and the total of $420,000 was paid to Cohen in $35,000 increments. Amey says he doesn't think there's much "wiggle room" over the value of the disclosure. By the time the president signed the form on May 15, 2018, the full sum has been paid out to Cohen. The concern over the discrepancy is not unanimous. Since U.S. attorneys for the Southern District of New York viewed Cohen's payment to Clifford as an illegal campaign contribution, it may become unnecessary for Trump to disclose it personally. But Trump can't have it both ways. If he claims the payment had nothing to do with the campaign, as he did in his Fox News interview this week , then it would need to be disclosed on his form 278e. Walter Shaub, former director of the OGE, and former Obama ethics counsel Norm Eisen each tweeted about the issue this week. They are both frequent critics of Trump. Schaub tweet Eisen tweet To be clear, Amey says he is unaware of anyone being charged for an inaccuracy on a financial disclosure like this. And Coffee points out, "You can make a factually incorrect statement without it being criminal," for example, if Trump did not know about the additional payments beyond $130,000. The White house did not return CNBC's request for comment by the time of publication. The Office of Government Ethics pointed CNBC toward the letter it sent the Department of Justice in May and had no comment on the current matter. More From CNBC Donald Trump has issued a fresh attack on Jeff Sessions, amid growing talk from Republican leaders about replacing the harried attorney general. Mr Trump has been outwardly dissatisfied with Mr Sessions since the former senator relinquished oversight of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian election meddling last year. He doubled down on this criticism in a string on tweets on Saturday morning, suggesting Mr Sessions had allowed politics to infiltrate the investigation into possible campaign collusion. Jeff Sessions said he wouldnt allow politics to influence him only because he doesnt understand what is happening underneath his command position, Mr Trump tweeted. Highly conflicted Bob Mueller and his gang of 17 Angry Dems are having a field day as real corruption goes untouched. No Collusion! The president also quoted Republican Senator Lindsey Graham as saying that every President deserves an Attorney General they have confidence in, emphasising that cabinet positions are not lifetime appointments. The tweets followed a week of attacks from the president, starting with a Fox and Friends interview in which he claimed Mr Sessions had failed to take control of the Justice Department, and said he only appointed the attorney general because of his early loyalty on the campaign trail. Mr Sessions responded to the attacks with an uncharacteristically pointed statement, saying his department would not be improperly influenced by political considerations. "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 President's agenda, the attorney general said. "I demand the highest standards, and when they are not met, I take action." The duelling statements indicate a deepening of the rift between the two men, which started when Mr Sessions recused himself the Mueller probe in March of 2017. He relinquished the role amid public outcry, after it was revealed he had failed to disclose his contacts with the Russian ambassador to the US. Story continues Mr Trump has also taken issue with Mr Session's refusal to prosecute Hillary Clinton the election rival the president repeatedly promised to "lock up" while on the campaign trail. Mr Trump doubled down on this line of thinking on Saturday, claiming the FBI had ignored information in their investigation of Ms Clinton's private email server. He appeared to be citing information from conservative website RealClear Investigations, which reported on Thursday that the agency had examined only 3,077 of the 694,000 emails discovered on a Clinton aide's laptop. "I feel sure that we will soon be getting to the bottom of all of this corruption," he tweeted. "At some point I may have to get involved!" Mr Trump has hinted repeatedly about wanting to replace his attorney general since last year, but has received little support from Republicans until this week. Senator Chuck Grassley, the Judiciary Committee chairman, said on Thursday that he could make time for hearings to replace the attorney general after the end of the Supreme Court confirmation process a possibility the senator has previously spurned. Mr Graham, a sporadic critic of the president, told reporters that Mr Trump was entitled to an attorney general he has faith in, though he suggested waiting to replace Mr Sessions until after the November midterm elections. I think there will come a time, sooner rather than later, where it will be time to have a new face and a fresh voice at the Department of Justice, the senator said. After the death of Arizona Sen. John McCain on Saturday, politicians on both sides of the aisle immediately began paying tribute to the man who the knew not just as a war hero and veteran, but also as a mentor and a friend. America and Freedom have lost one of her greatest champions, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who was famously close with McCain, wrote on Twitter. And Ive lost one of my dearest friends and mentor. McCain announced he was stopping medical treatment for his brain cancer on Friday, a little more than a year after he revealed he was diagnosed with glioblastoma. He passed away less than 48 hours later, surrounded by his wife Cindy and his family. Within an hour of his offices announcement that McCain had died, tributes began pouring in from his Senate colleagues, recollections that not only reflected on the late Senators career, but touched on what he meant to them personally. Words cannot express the sorrow I feel at John McCains passing. The world has lost a hero and a statesman, Senator Jeff Flake, who also represents Arizona, wrote on Twitter. Words cannot express the sorrow I feel at John McCains passing. The world has lost a hero and a statesman. Cindy and the McCain family have lost a loving husband and father. I have lost a wonderful friend. Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) August 26, 2018 As you go through life, you meet few truly great people. John McCain was one of them, said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. His dedication to his country and the military were unsurpassed, and maybe most of all, he was a truth teller never afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all too rare. Schumer also said in his statement mourning McCain that he would be introducing a resolution to name the Russell Senate building in his honor. Nothing will overcome the loss of Senator McCain, but so that generations remember him I will be introducing a resolution to rename the Russell building after him, he said. Story continues The Arizona lawmaker, who was absent from Washington, D.C. in the last months of his life, was known as someone willing to stand up to his own party, usually through words and sometimes through votes. In July 2017, he voted no on the Republican effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act in July 2017. The dramatic thumbs down on the Senate floor drew the ire of President Donald Trump, and the two have often traded barbs. Trump in August notably neglected to mention McCains name when signing a $716 billion defense policy bill named for the Senator continuing a years long feud that dates to Trumps campaign rallies during the 2016 election. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence weighed in on McCains passing with brief posts on Twitter. My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain, he wrote. Our hearts and prayers are with you! Melania Trump also issued her condolences. My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2018 Karen and I send our deepest condolences to Cindy and the entire McCain family on the passing of Senator John McCain. We honor his lifetime of service to this nation in our military and in public life. His family and friends will be in our prayers. God bless John McCain. Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) August 26, 2018 Former presidents also honored McCains legacy, with Bill Clinton honoring his heroic service in both the military and Congress. John McCain believed that every citizen has a responsibility to make something of the freedoms given by our Constitution, and from his heroic service in the Navy to his 35 years in Congress, he lived by his creed. John McCain believed that every citizen has a responsibility to make something of the freedoms given by our Constitution, and from his heroic service in the Navy to his 35 years in Congress, he lived by his creed every day. https://t.co/946T7PnG53 Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) August 26, 2018 Barack Obama, who defeated McCain in the 2008 presidential election, released a statement reflecting on their shared belief in the importance of public service. we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed, Obama said in his statement. We saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world. We saw this country as a place where anything is possible and citizenship as our patriotic obligation to ensure it forever remains that way. Former President Jimmy Carter released a statement calling McCain a true patriot in the best sense of the word. STATEMENT BY FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER ON THE PASSING OF SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN pic.twitter.com/dcuUIJp8tK The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) August 26, 2018 And former President George W. Bush, who defeated McCain for the Republican Presidential nomination in 2000, called him a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order. He was a public servant in the finest traditions of our country. And to me, he was a friend whom Ill deeply miss, Bush wrote in a Facebook post, accompanied by a photograph of him and McCain in the Oval Office. Joe Biden, Obamas Vice President and McCains longtime Senate colleague whose son Beau passed away from brain cancer in 2015, said that McCains impact on America will continue to resonate for generations. John was many things a proud graduate of the Naval Academy, a Senate colleague, a political opponent. But to me, more than anything, John was a friend. Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who McCain selected as his running mate in 2008 a pick that propelled Palin into the national spotlight, and a choice McCain later said he regretted tweeted that she was sending prayers to the McCain family. John McCain was my friend. I will remember the good times, she wrote. My family and I send prayers for Cindy and the McCain family. John McCain was my friend. I will remember the good times. My family and I send prayers for Cindy and the McCain family. - Sarah Palin and family pic.twitter.com/KRvcIQ99cA Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) August 26, 2018 Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called McCains passing a deeply sad day for the Senate and our nation. McCain wrote about how his cancer diagnosis forced him to realize his current term in the Senate would be his last in his book The Restless Wave, saying that it allowed him the freedom to vote my conscience without worry about getting re-elected. He also confronted his illness in the book, with a reference to a line from Ernest Hemingways For Whom the Bell Tolls: The world is a fine place and worth the fighting for and I hate very much to leave it. I hate to leave it. But I dont have a complaint. Not one, McCain wrote. Its been quite a ride. Ive known great passions, seen amazing wonders, fought in a war, and helped make a peace. I made a small place for myself in the story of American and the history of my times. President Donald Trump on Saturday expressed his condolences to the family of Sen. John McCain, who died Saturday after a battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer. My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 26, 2018 The two men, while both Republicans, were political foes. McCain was a leading member of the so-called Never Trumpers, conservatives who refused to get onboard the Trump train. According to reports, the president was disinvited to McCains funeral. Trump made his disdain for McCain clear in the summer of 2015 shortly after announcing his presidential run by throwing out a belittling comment about the Arizona senators military record. He told a crowd gathered at an Iowa political forum that McCain was not a war hero. The future president suggested that others considered McCain a hero because he was captured. But Trump said, I like people who werent captured. Trump avoided service in the military. McCain, a Navy pilot during the Vietnam War, was shot down and held prisoner for more than five years. He was repeatedly tortured, but he declined a North Vietnamese offer to release him before others who had been captured earlier. Despite fielding criticism from a vast array of public officials, Trump refused to apologize and reportedly has no regrets. Days before Trumps slighting remarks, McCain had said the candidate fired up the crazies at the fringes of the GOP with his incendiary comments about Mexican immigrants in McCains home state of Arizona. Over the next few years, the two men continued to clash. On several occasions last summer, the president taunted and mocked McCain at rallies where Trumps supporters chanted in response, Drain the swamp! McCain set off that criticism when, just days after receiving his devastating medical diagnosis, he voted against a Republican health care bill to repeal and replace Obamacare with a dramatic thumbs-down gesture. Story continues Trump seemed unable to let that July 2017 vote go. Months afterward he bashed the senator on Twitter over the failed bill, claiming McCain let Arizona down! Nearly a year later, at a Tennessee political rally, the president brought it up again. Then there was the time Congress passed a bill with McCains name on it. In August 2018, Trump signed the $717 billion defense measure, officially titled the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act, but neglected to mention the senator at all at the signing ceremony, instead boasting about a new military branch he wanted to create dubbed the Space Force. (Former Secretary of State John Kerry, another Vietnam War vet, called the scene disgraceful.) Trump did reference McCain later that day but only to insult him. In private, the presidents ridicule would reportedly get physical, mocking McCain (and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell) with gestures and posturing. Once, during a meeting, White House aide Kelly Sadler reportedly dismissed McCains views with a cruel remark: Hes dying anyway. McCains rebuttals were generally measured, in contrast to the presidents brash rhetorical style. When Trump threatened North Korea on Twitter, McCain critiqued the move by saying, I dont think thats a way you attack an issue and a challenge like this. Of Trumps performance at the NATO summit in 2018, McCain said it was disappointing, yet ultimately unsurprising. After Trump congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his election victory, McCain noted, An American president does not lead the free world by congratulating dictators on winning sham elections. McCain described Trumps July 2018 summit with Putin where Trump once again refused to fully accept U.S. intelligence agencies assessment of Russian interference in the 2016 election as one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory. Whether Trump will back off the McCain jabs now that the senator has died remains to be seen. Meghan McCain, the senators talk show host daughter, indicated earlier this year that the White House has offered her family private apologies for some of the presidents remarks in the past. But she added that Trumps attacks are something shes never going to forgive. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. London (AFP) - Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British-Iranian woman who has been held in Tehran for more than two years on sedition charges, returned to prison on Sunday after temporary release, dashing her family's hopes of an extension. "We have just heard the sad news that Nazanin's extension has been refused and she has returned to prison," said a tweet on the official "Free Nazanin" Twitter account. "Here is the moment she said goodbye to a distraught Gabriella," it added, along with a picture of Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her four-year-old daughter. She was unexpectedly released for a three-day furlough on Thursday, and was reunited with members of her family outside the Iranian capital. Husband Richard Ratcliffe said they had received "mixed messages" from the Iranian authorities on Sunday, ahead of her return to Evin prison. The charity worker had initially been told her request for an extension had been approved, but then received a call telling her to return to prison by sunset. "She was shivering and shaking and crying - and said: 'How can you take me away from my baby, when she needs me'?" he said in a an email received by AFP "Gabriella was crying and sucking her thumb -- she didn't want her mummy to go back." Ratcliffe said his wife, who has denied all charges filed against her in Iran, spent her time with her parents and daughter in Damavand, a mountain resort near Tehran. Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation -- the media organisation's philanthropic arm -- was arrested at Tehran airport on April 3, 2016. She is serving a five-year jail sentence for alleged sedition. Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - US President Donald Trump's administration is resorting to "cheap blackmail" against the Palestinians, revealing its true intentions by cutting more than $200 million in aid for the West Bank and Gaza Strip, senior Palestinian officials said Saturday. A State Department official said Friday that the decision, made "at the direction of the president", came after a review of aid programmes to the Palestinian territories. The funding would "now address high-priority projects elsewhere", it added. Saeb Erekat, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), said the decision amounts to an "admission of the true intentions behind American aid policy of intervening in the internal affairs of other peoples". US aid "is not a gift to our people but a duty of the international community to take responsibility for the continuation of Israeli occupation, preventing the development of the Palestinian economy and society," he said. By slashing its aid to the Palestinians, the US "once again reaffirms its disregard for its international commitments", Erekat added. Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the PLO's executive committee, accused the US of using "cheap blackmail as a political tool". "The Palestinian people and leadership will not be intimidated and will not succumb to coercion. The rights of the Palestinian people are not for sale," she said. The United States had already made drastic cuts to its contribution to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, in January. Relations between the US administration and the Palestinian Authority took a nosedive after Trump in December decided to recognise the disputed city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The Palestinians have suspended contacts with Washington and believe it can no longer be an impartial mediator in the Middle East peace process. Story continues - 'Unite the ranks' - After the latest blow, Ashrawi insisted that Palestinians living under Israeli occupation would not be coerced into surrendering their rights. "There is no glory in constantly bullying and punishing a people under occupation," she said in a statement. "The US administration has already demonstrated meanness of spirit in its collusion with the Israeli occupation and its theft of land and resources," she said. "Now it is exercising economic meanness by punishing the Palestinian victims of this occupation." The Islamist movement Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, also denounced the aid cut. Facing "the American policy of blackmail" necessitated "unifying the Palestinian ranks", spokesman Fawzi Barhoum told AFP. In an initial reaction on Friday, the PLO's representative in Washington, Husam Zomlot, told the US administration was "dismantling decades of US vision and engagement in Palestine". He said Friday's move was "another confirmation" that Washington was "abandoning the two-state solution and fully embracing (Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin) Netanyahu's anti-peace agenda." The decision to cut Palestinian funding comes as a humanitarian crisis deepens in Gaza, which has seen a surge of violence since Palestinian protests erupted in March. At least 172 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, the vast majority of them during demonstrations near the border. Palestinian medics help a wounded woman during clashes with Israeli troops on the Gaza-Israel border - Xinhua / Barcroft Media The Trump administration has decided to cut more than $200 million in bilateral aid to the Palestinians, following a review of the funding for projects in the West Bank and Gaza, the State Department said Friday. The department notified Congress of the decision in a brief, three-paragraph notice sent first to lawmakers and then to reporters. It said the administration will redirect the money to "high priority projects elsewhere." The move comes as President Donald Trump and his Middle East pointmen, Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt, staff up their office to prepare for the rollout of a much-vaunted but as yet unclear peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians. "At the direction of President Trump, we have undertaken a review of US assistance to the Palestinian Authority and in the West Bank and Gaza to ensure these funds are spent in accordance with US national interests and provide value to the US taxpayer," the department said. "As a result of that review, at the direction of the president, we will redirect more than $200 million ... originally planned for programs in the West Bank and Gaza." "This decision takes into account the challenges the international community faces in providing assistance in Gaza, where Hamas control endangers the lives of Gaza's citizens and degrades an already dire humanitarian and economic situation," the notice said, without providing additional details. One main issue the US has had with support for the Palestinian Authority had been its stipends paid to the families of Palestinians killed, injured or jailed for attacks on Israel. Israel and the Trump administration, have repeatedly demanded that those payments from a so-called "martyrs' fund" be halted because they encourage terrorism. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has refused to do so. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas greets people as he attends the mass wedding ceremony on August 18, 2018 in Ramallah, West Bank Credit: Anadolu Agency The Palestine Liberation Organisation quickly denounced the decision, calling it "the use of cheap blackmail as a political tool. The Palestinian people and leadership will not be intimidated and will not succumb to coercion." Story continues "The rights of the Palestinian people are not for sale," PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi said in a statement. "There is no glory in constantly bullying and punishing a people under occupation. The US administration has already demonstrated meanness of spirit in its collusion with the Israeli occupation and its theft of land and resources; now it is exercising economic meanness by punishing the Palestinian victims of this occupation." The notice did not give an exact amount of the funds to be cut, but said they had been approved in 2017 as part of a $230.1 million package in economic support funds for the Palestinians. One official said the specific amount had not yet been determined because $25 million in planned 2017 funding for the East Jerusalem Hospital Network, which provides health care to Palestinians, remains on hold and under review. All or part of that could still be released or reprogrammed, the official said. President Donald Trump looks as Jared Kushner, senior adviser to the president Credit: UPI / Barcroft Images The US had planned to give the Palestinians $251 million for good governance, health, education and funding for civil society in the current 2018 budget year that ends on Sept.30. But with just over a month to go before that money must be used, reprogrammed to other areas or returned to Treasury, less than half has actually been spent. Earlier this month, the department had released about $60 million of the 2018 money for security projects that encourage cooperation between the Palestinian Authority and Israel. Israel and Jordan, in particular, had lobbied for the security assistance to be continued. The loss of the assistance is almost certain to further provoke the Palestinians against the Trump peace plan. The Palestinian leadership has been openly hostile to any proposal from the administration, citing what it says is a pro-Israel bias, notably after Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital in December and moved the US embassy there from Tel Aviv in May. The Palestinian Authority and Abbas broke off contact with the US after the Jerusalem announcement. The announcement does not include some $65 million in frozen US funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency, which provides services to Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan and Lebanon. However, the Trump administration is extremely skeptical of UNRWA and that money is also likely to be reprogrammed, according to officials. Friday's decision follows a similar decision last week in which the State Department announced that it was redirecting $230 million dollars in aid that had been planned for stabilisation programs in liberated areas of Syria. In that case, however, the department said the loss of US funding would be more than offset by other nations, including Saudi Arabia, which announced a $150 million contribution for Syria stabilisation just hours before the American announcement. Washington (AFP) - The United States said Friday that it had canceled more than $200 million in aid for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, leading their ambassador to accuse President Donald Trump's administration of being "anti-peace." A senior State Department official said the decision, made "at the direction of the president," came after a review of aid programs to the Palestinian territories. The funding previously allocated for programs in the West Bank and Gaza will "now address high-priority projects elsewhere," said the official. The move "takes into account the challenges the international community faces in providing assistance in Gaza, where Hamas control endangers the lives of Gaza's citizens and degrades an already dire humanitarian and economic situation," he said. In January, the United States had already made drastic cuts to its contribution to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA. Relations between the US administration and the Palestinian Authority took a nosedive after Trump announced the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The Palestinians have suspended contacts with the administration and consider that it can no longer play a mediation role in the Middle East peace process. "This administration is dismantling decades of US vision and engagement in Palestine," Husam Zomlot, head of the Palestinian General Delegation to the United States said in a statement. "After Jerusalem and UNRWA, this is another confirmation of abandoning the two-state solution and fully embracing (Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin) Netanyahu's anti-peace agenda." The decision to cut Palestinian funding comes amid a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has seen a surge of violence since Palestinian protests began in March. At least 171 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire during demonstrations near the border with Israel. Story continues The US administration is pressing on with work on a peace plan that has been under discussion for months, leaving a vacuum in the Middle East in the meantime. "Weaponizing humanitarian and developmental aid as political blackmail does not work," Zomlot said. "Only a recommitment from this administration to the long-held US policy of achieving peace through the two-state solution on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem, the capital of the state of Palestine, and respecting international resolutions and law will provide a way forward." Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy accused the White House of engaging in a "series of provocative and harmful acts" instead of coming up with a coherent policy to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Trump has tasked his son-in-law Jared Kushner and lawyer Jason Greenblatt to draft the peace proposals, saying earlier this week that there would be something "very good" for the Palestinians. The Palestinians see the eastern part of the disputed city as the capital of their future state. - AFP US senator John McCain, a celebrated war hero known for reaching across the aisle in an increasingly divided America, died Saturday after losing a battle to brain cancer, his office said. He was 81. "Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28pm on August 25, 2018. With the senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family," his office said in a statement. "At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for 60 years." In July 2017, McCain was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. One year of treatment failed to prevent his condition from worsening and on August 24 his family announced that he had chosen to discontinue medical care. "Sen McCain, thank you for your service," read a sign near the driveway of his home in a rural part of Sedona, Arizona, television footage showed, as a police escort accompanied the hearse that was to carry his body and local residents came bearing flowers for the late political titan. My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved best. Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) 26 August 2018 "My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years," Cindy McCain wrote on Twitter. "He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the place he loved best." After a long-standing rivalry and numerous public clashes between the pair, following the announcement of his death Donald Trump offered his "deepest sympathies and respect" to McCain's family on Twitter. My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 26 August 2018 Former President Barack Obama also issued a statement paying tribute to the 2008 Republican nominee. Story continues He wrote: "Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. OBAMA statement on McCain pic.twitter.com/1uIj7zGraG Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) 26 August 2018 The vacancy created by McCain's death narrowed the Republican majority in the U.S. Senate to 50 seats in the 100-member upper chamber, with Democrats controlling 49 seats. But Republican Arizona Governor Doug Ducey is expected to appoint a member of his own party to succeed McCain. That could also give Republicans a slight edge in the battle to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court in the weeks ahead, as McCain had been too ill to cast any votes this year. John McCain embraces his wife Cindy following his second presidential debate with Democrat Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign Credit: PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP Alternatively affable and cantankerous, McCain had been in the public eye since the 1960s, when as a naval aviator he was shot down during the Vietnam War and tortured by his North Vietnamese communist captors during 5-1/2 years as a prisoner. He was edged out by George W. Bush for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, but became his party's White House candidate eight years later. After gambling on political neophyte Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate, McCain lost in 2008 to Democrat Barack Obama, who became the first black US president. McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was a frequent critic as well as a target of his fellow Republican, Trump, who was elected president in November 2016. McCain denounced Trump for among other things his praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders the senator described as foreign "tyrants." "Flattery secures his friendship, criticism his enmity," McCain said of Trump in his memoir, "The Restless Wave," which was released in May. McCain in July had castigated Trump for his summit with Putin, issuing a statement that called their joint news conference in Helsinki "one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory." He said Trump was "not only unable but unwilling to stand up to Putin." Sources close to McCain have said Trump would not be invited to the funeral. US Senator John McCain who died Saturday, aged 81 Credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP McCain, a foreign policy hawk with a traditional Republican view of world affairs, was admired in both parties for championing civility and compromise during an era of acrid partisanship in US politics. But he also had a famous temper and rarely shied away from a fight. He had several with Trump. He was the central figure in one of the most dramatic moments in Congress of Trump's presidency when he returned to Washington shortly after his brain cancer diagnosis for a middle-of-the-night Senate vote in July 2017. Still bearing a black eye and scar from surgery, McCain gave a thumbs-down signal in a vote to scuttle a Trump-backed bill that would have repealed the Obamacare healthcare law and increased the number of Americans without health insurance by millions. Trump was furious about McCain's vote and frequently referred to it at rallies but without mentioning McCain by name. Phoenix (AFP) - America paid tribute Sunday to John McCain, the Vietnam War hero and two-time presidential candidate with a legendary temper whose personal courage and insistence on treating even his foes with respect earned him near-universal admiration. McCain died on Saturday, four days shy of his 82nd birthday, following a yearlong battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer. He is survived by his wife Cindy and seven children, three of them from an earlier marriage. Flags flew at half-mast over the White House and US Capitol in honor of McCain, as organizers announced he will lie in state at the US Capitol Rotunda. That honor has been accorded to only a few notable Americans, including John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and civil rights icon Rosa Parks. A memorial service will take place at the massive National Cathedral overlooking Washington on Saturday before McCain is laid to rest according to his wishes at the US Naval Academy in nearby Annapolis, Maryland, on September 2, his office said. Ahead of the national ceremonies, McCain will lie in state at the Arizona State Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday and a memorial service will take place at the North Phoenix Baptist Church. "This is a rare and distinct occurrence for a truly special man," said Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, adding: "John McCain is Arizona." In Phoenix, a succession of ordinary Arizonans left flags or flowers at McCain's office or a local mortuary to honor the man who represented them in Congress for 35 years. Former presidents George W. Bush, a Republican, and Barack Obama, a Democrat -- his successful rivals in, respectively, the 2000 and 2008 elections -- are set to speak at the national memorial service, according to The New York Times. Media reports earlier this year said the senator had expressly asked that President Donald Trump not be invited. Instead, Vice President Mike Pence is expected to attend. - 'Deepest sympathies' - Story continues As tributes poured in from the US and abroad, Trump said simply that he sent his "deepest sympathies and respect" to the McCain family. A rare Republican critic of Trump, McCain had accused the president of "naivete," "egotism" and of sympathizing with autocrats, especially after Trump's widely criticized appearance in Helsinki alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin. McCain cast a decisive vote last year that killed Republican attempts to repeal Obama's health care reforms. The repeal was a Trump priority, and the president never forgave McCain. The hawkish McCain was an unrelenting critic of Obama's foreign policy, saying the Democratic president was weak on Libya, Iraq and Syria. Still, Obama said he and the senator "shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher -- the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched and sacrificed." Bush, whose tough campaign against McCain in 2000 left both sides bruised, praised the Arizonan as "a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order." Ordinary Americans also paid tribute, many of them in Phoenix, McCain's hometown. "I didn't agree with him all the time," said Michelle Hasnelle of Phoenix "(but) he was always for the people of Arizona -- he was one of us." McCain spent more than three decades in the Senate, looming large in debates over war and peace and the moral direction of the nation. As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, he was a powerful advocate for the nation's veterans. - 'A great statesman' - As a fervent Atlanticist, a persistent critic of authoritarian leaders, and a frequent congressional traveler, he earned respect around the globe. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called McCain "one of the great political figures of our time (who) fought tirelessly for a strong transatlantic alliance." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was "an inspiration to millions." McCain "embodied the idea of service over self," according to British Prime Minister Theresa May, while French President Emmanuel Macron saluted "a true American hero." Across the Pacific, the China Daily referred to him as a "titan of American politics." Sarah Palin, whom McCain plucked from obscurity to become his 2008 White House running mate, described him as "a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs." McCain drew criticism from the left for giving a platform to Palin's right-wing views, which contributed to the rise of the conservative Tea Party movement. But he also earned respect from liberals for his steadfast opposition to torture and his push for immigration reform. Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said he would seek to rename a Senate building in his honor. Praise for McCain however was not universal: Chinese social media users called him an "enemy of China" for his hawkish foreign policy views. And comments on the US far-right Breitbart website slammed the senator for his key vote against the Obamacare repeal. McCain had been away from the Senate floor since December, remaining at his Arizona ranch for treatment of glioblastoma -- the same form of brain cancer that took the life of another Senate giant, Democrat Ted Kennedy, in 2009. The son and grandson of four-star admirals, McCain will be buried in the cemetery of the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, on a peaceful hillside overlooking the Severn River. As a student at the academy, he had a reputation as a rebel, but with a wit and charm that drew people to him. In 2015, McCain himself revealed the simple epitaph he wanted on his tombstone, which will stand alongside those of naval heroes going back to the 1800s: "He served his country." Washington (AFP) - Veteran US senator and war hero John McCain -- a towering figure in American politics for decades -- has stopped treatment for brain cancer, his family announced Friday, one year after the Republican went public with his diagnosis. The announcement signals the beginning of the end of a tough battle with an aggressive form of cancer -- and of a storied life that took the Naval Academy graduate from a Hanoi prison to the doorstep of the White House. "The progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict," the 81-year-old senator's loved ones said in a statement. "With his usual strength of will, he has now chosen to discontinue medical treatment." McCain has spent more than three decades in the upper chamber of Congress, looming large in debates over war and peace and the moral direction of the nation. The Navy fighter pilot spent years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam after being shot down while on a bombing mission over Hanoi. He lost the 2008 presidential election to Barack Obama, and was pilloried for selecting controversial Alaska politician Sarah Palin as his vice presidential runningmate. "No man this century better exemplifies honor, patriotism, service, sacrifice and country first than Senator John McCain," said fellow Republican Mitt Romney. "His heroism inspires, his life shapes our character. I am blessed and humbled by our friendship." - Trump critic - With no more elections to run, since 2016, he has been a rare and outspoken Republican critic of President Donald Trump. Known for his combustible temper, he has accused the 45th president of "naivete," "egotism" and of sympathizing with autocrats. Following Trump's recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, McCain caustically described the US leader's behavior as "one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory." Story continues That has earned him the ire of Trump, who regularly blames McCain for his failure to reform Obama-era health care laws and refused to say his name when signing the eponymous "John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act." - 'Strength to carry on' - McCain has not been on the Senate floor in months, remaining at his Arizona home for treatment of glioblastoma -- the same form of brain cancer that took the life of another Senate giant, Democrat Ted Kennedy, in 2009. "I love my husband with all of my heart. God bless everyone who has cared for my husband along this journey," his wife Cindy said. His daughter Meghan thanked the public for an outpouring of support. "My family is deeply appreciative of all the love and generosity you have shown us during this past year," she tweeted. "Thank you for all your continued support and prayers. We could not have made it this far without you - you've given us strength to carry on." Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he was "very sad to hear this morning's update from the family of our dear friend." "John, Cindy and the entire McCain family are in our prayers at this incredibly difficult hour." Democrats, too, weighed in. "Senator John McCain is a warrior in every sense of the word," said Congressman Joe Kennedy III -- a scion of the American political dynasty. "To an inspiring man and a loving family, our thoughts are with you." - 'Untreatable levels' - John Boockvar, director of the Brain Tumor Center at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, said the type of cancer is "incurable." "He is probably at the terminal part of his disease," Boockvar, who has not treated McCain but is an expert in the field, told AFP. "They have decided not to extend any other options to him for treatment because at some point, the risks outweigh the benefits." Treatment usually consists of chemotherapies, with a low chance of success. Boockvar said the cancer had likely "spread to untreatable levels and he is seeking comfort care, which is a very reasonable point of his battle against this disease." In an interview with CNN last year, when asked how he might like to be remembered, McCain said of himself: "He served his country and not always right. Made a lot of mistakes. Made a lot of errors, but served his country. And I hope we could add honorably." US planes drop Agent Orange in 1966: AP Vietnam has demanded Monsanto pay compensation to the victims of Agent Orange, which the company supplied to the US military during the Vietnam War. It came in response to the firm being ordered to pay $289m (226m) to a school groundsman who claims his use of its Roundup weedkiller contributed to his terminal cancer. The verdict serves as a legal precedent which refutes previous claims that the herbicides made by Monsanto and other chemical corporations in the US and provided for the US army in the war are harmless, a spokesman for Vietnams foreign ministry, Nguyen Phuong Tra said. He told state media: Vietnam has suffered tremendous consequences from the war, especially with regard to the lasting and devastating effects of toxic chemicals, including Agent Orange. Agent Orange was a chemical herbicide and defoliant used by the US military to deprive Viet Cong guerilla fighters of food and concealment. Between 1961 and 1971, the US military sprayed around 12 million gallons of the chemical substance on over 30,000 miles of southern Vietnam. Dioxin, a highly toxic element of Agent Orange, has been linked to major health problems such as birth defects, cancers other deadly diseases. Millions still suffer to this day, as deformities are passed down to the offspring of exposed victims including Vietnamese and American forces. Monsanto has argued: The government set the specifications for making Agent Orange and determined when, where and how it was used. Agent Orange was only produced for, and used by, the government. In a post on its website, the company notes it was one of nine government contractors who manufactured the chemical. Monsanto was founded in St Louis, Missouri, in 1901. In June, it was acquired by Bayer AG. Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. After ranking as one of the top health stories of 2016, the Zika virus has all but disappeared from the headlines. But, out of the spotlight, scientists studying Zika have learned more about the nature of how this virus spreads, how it affects people exposed to it, how to prevent it, and where people are still at risk. Heres what you need to know about these developments. Where Is Zika Still a Problem? Right now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rates the continental U.S., including Florida and Texas, as areas with no known risk of Zika infection. (Zika virus transmission has never been recorded in Hawaii or Alaska.) So far in 2019, officials know of no one in the 50 U.S. states whos gotten Zika from a mosquito bite they received inside the country, and theyve recorded just one person who brought the disease back to California after acquiring it in another country. Thats down from 72 travelers who acquired the disease internationally during 2018. The situation is improving in Puerto Rico as well. In 2019, the island reported 147 cases of Zika picked up from local mosquitoes; so far in 2019, no cases of the disease have been reported in Puerto Rico or any other U.S. territories. But Zika remains a potential threat. Currently, the CDC says that no country is experiencing an active outbreak, but that doesn't mean theres no risk of picking up the disease. The World Health Organization and CDC are still urging people to exercise caution and use insect repellent when traveling to countries that have reported locally acquired infections. And the CDC says pregnant women should talk to a healthcare provider about potential risks before traveling anywhere locally acquired infections have been reported at any time, even if there has not been any recent transmission. (The CDC maintains a list of these countries.) Story continues How Should You Protect Yourself? The advice for protecting yourself is basically the same as it has been throughout the global Zika outbreak: Avoid traveling to affected regions, especially if you are or are trying to become pregnant. If you live in an affected region or must travel to one, wear insect repellent that has been registered with the Environmental Protection Agency. (See our insect repellent ratings.) Travelers who go to a country with an outbreak should wear repellent for at least two weeks after returning because thats how long the virus stays in a persons bloodstream. This helps protect your community once you return home, a key part of preventing locally acquired infections. If a mosquito bites a person who has Zika in their blood, that mosquito can pick up the virus and pass it on to another human when it takes its next blood meal. People living in or near affected communities should practice integrated pest management around their homes. Ridding your yard of standing water (removing old tires, planters, and other water collectors) and keeping it free of trash is particularly important for diseases like Zika that are transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, because this bug thrives in human habitats and can breed in just a bottle caps worth of water. This is good practice if you live somewhere that mosquitoes are common, even if Zika isn't a concern. Late last year, for instance, Miami-Dade county warned that it had confirmed one case of Dengue transmitted by a local mosquito. What Precautions Should You Take If Exposed? Last year, CDC released a report on preventing sexual transmission of Zika. There was one major change in the advice. Previously, officials had said that men who were possibly exposed to Zika should wait six months before having unprotected sex or trying to conceive a child. Now, the CDC says men can shorten that wait time to three months. (The CDC defines possible Zika exposure as traveling to or living in an area where Zika is a risk, or having unprotected sex with someone who lives in or recently traveled to an area where Zika is a risk.) We have learned more about the persistence of Zika in different types of body fluids, including semen, says Peggy Honein, Ph.D., M.P.H., the CDCs director of the division of congenital and developmental disorders, and an author of the report. Emerging data suggests that the infectious virus is there [in semen] for a shorter period of time. If a possibly exposed mans partner is pregnant, however, Honein says that as an additional precaution for protecting a developing fetus, we recommend that throughout the duration of pregnancy, the couples either use condoms or abstain from sex. The CDCs advice to women remains the same: If its possible youve been exposed to Zika, wait two months before having unprotected sex or trying to conceive. Pregnant Women and Zika Scientists are making progress on better understanding Zika infections, but theres a lot we still dont understand. To that end, the CDC has been monitoring thousands of children born to mothers who had a confirmed or suspected case of Zika while pregnant. This data has shed light on two key questions: How Likely Is it That a Fetus Exposed to the Virus Will Develop Birth Defects? A recent study looked at 1,450 of those children, for whom researchers had medical records of follow-up care and who were at least a year old by February 2018. The scientists found that among these children, the rate of birth defects associated with Zika, including microcephaly (a birth defect characterized by an abnormally small head and a severely underdeveloped brain) was 6 percent. In other words, among 100 pregnant women with Zika, six of their babies had Zika-related birth defects. That rate is 30 times as high as the rate at which those same birth defects occurred in the general population in the pre-Zika era. This finding tracks with what other research have found, according to Honein, who worked on the study. What Is the Scope of Birth Defects and Other Problems Caused by Zika in Pregnant Women? For most of the epidemic, the focus has been on microcephaly. A recent finding from the CDCs data on Zika-exposed pregnancies calculates the rate of other problems, howevernot birth defects, but what the CDC calls neurodevelopmental abnormalities, which emerge in the months and years after birth. These could include seizures, problems with moving or swallowing, hearing or visual impairment, learning disabilities, and more. Nine percent of the children studied had one of these problems. In children with these issues, the problems werent always immediately identifiable, Honein says. Most of them looked healthy at birth. Included in this category, for example, are cases of microcephaly that developed over time, after head circumference measurements were normal at birth. Because of the risk of health problems that may emerge months or years after birth, the CDC advises that any babies born to women who showed some evidence of Zika infection during pregnancy (either through confirmed diagnosis, or by virtue of exhibiting symptoms after returning from a Zika-affected region) have comprehensive testing done throughout the first few years of life to monitor for developmental delays. That testing includes newborn hearing tests, physical exams, andmost importantbrain imaging studies such as a head ultrasound or CT scan. The CDC offers a full set of guidelines for follow-up care. If all of these recommendations are followed, we should be able to identify any problems these children are having early, Honein says. What About Babies and Children Who Are Exposed to Zika? One piece of good news: There have been very few reports of serious health problems among newborns and toddlers bitten by Zika-infected mosquitoes. In fact, the vast majority of children who test positive for the virus are asymptomatic, just like adults. Scientists have an idea about why this might be the case: The Zika virus harms developing brains by disrupting the process of cell division. That process begins in the first three months of pregnancy and ends within the first 18 months of life. After that, they think, the risk of brain damage may be far lower because there are fewer dividing brain cells for the virus to act on. Where's the Zika Vaccine? Theres not yet a vaccine approved for protection against the Zika virus. But plenty of scientists and drug companies are working on developing one. The National Institutes of Health, for instance, is currently conducting a Phase 1 trial (meaning a small number of human test volunteers are trying the vaccine out for safety, rather than efficacy). And thats just one of several Zika experiments listed on the governments clinical trial registry that are either underway or recruiting volunteers. Jodie Dionne-Odom, M.D., assistant professor of medicine and infectious disease at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, compares it to a race, with many companies working at the same time with the same goal. It could still take several years before a Zika vaccine is commercially available. But given how many prospects are already being tested in humans, researchers and public health officials are optimistic. One review of vaccine efforts published last year in the journal NPJ Vaccines called the progress spectacular. Still, one potential problem with a Zika vaccine, notes Dionne-Odom, is that given Zikas effects on developing fetuses, the vaccine will need to be approved for use in pregnant women. And that means it must clear a higher safety bar than a vaccine being tested for the general population. That has to be carefully thought out and carefully considered from a safety perspective, she says. But Dionne-Odom expects that once a viable vaccine is approved for the general population, scientists will try to speed the approval process for pregnant women as well. The Lowdown on Insect Repellents Bug bites are not only annoying, they can also transmit diseases. On the 'Consumer 101' TV show, host Jack Rico goes inside Consumer Reports' labs to find out how CR tests insect repellents to make sure you are getting the most protection. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright 2019, Consumer Reports, Inc. By MacDonald Dzirutwe HARARE (Reuters) - Emmerson Mnangagwa urged Zimbabwe to unite behind his presidency on Sunday, as he took the oath of office following a divisive election that U.S. observers said had called the country's democratic credentials into question. The Constitutional Court confirmed Mnangagwa as president on Friday, dismissing a challenge by the man he beat in the July 30 ballot, Nelson Chamisa. Thousands of Zimbabweans, some bussed in, and foreign leaders including South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa and Paul Kagame of Rwanda gathered at Harare's national stadium for Sunday's swearing-in. "I exhort us to commit ourselves collectively to develop our motherland... what unites us is greater than what could ever divide us," Mnangagwa told election participants in his inauguration speech. He also reaffirmed pre-election pledges to revive Zimbabwe's crippled economy and settle outstanding debts with foreign lenders, and reiterated he would call an independent inquiry into a "regrettable and unacceptable" army crackdown following the vote in which six people died. "Now is the time for us all to unite as a nation and grow our economy," Mnangagwa said. He took the oath before Chief Justice Luke Malaba who, together with eight other judges, had ruled on Friday against opposition leader Chamisa's petition. In the election, Mnangagwa just reached the threshold of 50 percent of votes that he needed to avoid a runoff. NO LONGER A PARIAH? The ballot was touted as a crucial step toward shedding the pariah reputation Zimbabwe gained under Mnangagwa's predecessor Robert Mugabe, and securing international donor funding. But hours before Mnangagwa's inauguration, the International Republican Institute and National Democratic Institute said the country lacked a "tolerant democratic culture" in which political parties were treated equally and citizens allowed to vote freely. The election was marred by procedural lapses and followed by the crackdown against opposition supporters, which recalled the heavy-handed security tactics that marked Mugabe's 37-year rule. Those events tarnished promises that Mnangagwa made during campaigning to break with the corruption and mismanagement that become endemic under Mugabe, who was removed in a coup in November. Mugabe, who has accused Mnangagwa - his former head of intelligence and defense minister - of betrayal, did not attend Sunday's ceremony, though the 94-year-old former leader's daughter Bona did. In keeping with an earlier promise, Chamisa also stayed away. Citing the Constitutional Court ruling, the U.S. observers also urged all parties "to rely on peaceful expression and to avoid acts or threats of retribution against political rivals." Washington has maintained travel and financial sanctions on senior ruling party officials, including Mnangagwa, as well as some state-owned firms. Washington's support is key if Zimbabwe is to get any funding from the International Monetary Fund. The European Union, meanwhile, has progressively removed sanctions and they only remain in place on Mugabe and his wife Grace. (Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; editing by John Stonestreet) With the summer vacation drawing to an end and Muslims celebrating Eid al-Adha, the Taba border crossing between Egypt and Israel saw massive lines on Saturday. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Thousands of Israelis on their way home from the Sinai Peninsula were stuck at the crossing for hours, saying they had to wait with no food or water available. The Israel Airports Authority said that delays were caused by two smuggling attempts. Israelis wait at the Taba crossing Masra Fukara, who arrived at the border with her family at around noon time, said they had waited for hours to cross the border. "Only around 8pm they started letting people cross the border by foot, but we came with a car," she said. Fukara, who waited at the crossing with her four children, described the place as a war zone. "Obviously, after a few hours of waiting, the fighting started. Thousands were waiting with no food, no air condition, she said. Israeli stuck at the Taba crossing (: ) X "My children were hungry and we couldnt go back into Egypt to buy food. When they opened the crossing, the line was crawling," added Fukara. The family was facing a long drive to their home in Bu'eine in northern Israel. "I don't have the patience to stand in line anymore, I have no idea why it's taking so long," she said. Cars wait at the Taba crossing (Photo: Masra Fukara) M., also a resident of northern Israel, said that "we haven't eaten in eight hours. The bathroom here sucks, and there are no chairs here. We can either sit in the car and go crazy, or get out of the car like everyone else, sit on the sidewalk, and wait. I have no idea what's going on, but it can't be that it takes more than ten hours to cross the border." The long lines were apparently the result of two smuggling attemptsone in the morning hours and another in the eveningwhich led to the closure of the crossing, for about an hour every time. The Israel Airports Authority said that some 8,000 people in 400 vehicles crossed the border since midnight on Saturday, which led to the long lines. Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami arrived in Syria on Sunday for meetings with "senior defense and military officials," according to the Tasnim news agency. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "We hope to have a productive role in the reconstruction of Syria," Hatami said on arrival in Syria, according to Fars News. Iranian forces have backed Syrian President Bashar Assad in the country's civil war. Iranian defense minister in Damascus US National Security Adviser John Bolton said last week that Iran should remove its forces from Syria. Senior Iranian officials have said their military presence in Syria is at the invitation of the Assad government and they have no immediate plans to withdraw. More than 1,000 Iranians, including senior members of the elite Revolutionary Guards, have been killed in Syria since 2012. The Guards initially kept quiet about their role in the Syria conflict. But in recent years, as casualties have mounted, they have been more outspoken about their engagement, framing it as an existential struggle against the Sunni Muslim fighters of Islamic State who see Shi'itesthe majority of Iran's populationas apostates. GENEVA - America is waging a psychological war against Iran and its business partners, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday, according to the Tasnim news agency. "(America's) focus is on a psychological war against Iran and its business partners," Zarif said. Trump's decision to withdraw from the nuclear accord has hurt the United States, Zarif said, according to the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA). "From the time that Trump announced the withdrawal from the nuclear deal, America has not been able to reach its goals," Zarif said. Colombian authorities said they found hundreds of kilograms of cocaine on the yacht of Roy Erez, an Israeli arrested by the Colombian Navy last week on suspicion of transporting a wanted man. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter According to the Colombian Navy, Erez's sail boat was flying the German flag and sailing in the Caribbean Sea in the area between Panama and Aruba. The Navy said the yacht entered Colombia's territorial waters while deviating from its declared route to Jamaica. The Colombian Navy raids the boat The Colombian Navy took over the boat and towed it to the Colombian island of San Andres, where they searched the vessel and found 245 rectangular packages of drugs hidden on the boat. The Colombian Navy raids the boat The Foreign Ministry said Israel's consul general in Bogota, Yuval Sharabi, spoke to Erez on the phone and ensured he was doing okay. Roy Erez Erez's sister posted on Facebook about the arrest last week, saying the Colombian Navy violently took over her brother's boat, causing damage to the vessel, claiming he was transporting a wanted man. Erez, 38, from Tel Aviv, claimed he encountered a pirate ship two days prior and was forced at gunpoint by the crew to allow the wanted man to board. Only later did he learn the man was wanted by Colombian authorities. Yair Elalouf, who aided the three Arab men from Shefaram when they were attacked by Jewish youth last week at a Kiryat Haim beach, said Sunday that if he and his friend hadn't intervened, "they would've murdered them." Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Elalouf told Ynet in an interview that at least 70-80 people witnessed the attack on the beach in Kiryat Haim, but none of them intervened or called the police. According to Elalouf, 8-10 youths attacked the three Arab men. "I saw a group of young Russian men beating (the Arabs) with clubs and chains. They jumped three people there, who were already unconscious on the ground, covered with blood," he said. Injuries the three Arabs sustained in the attack Elalouf said he heard two versions of what had happened. "One (from people who were there) that they (the Arabs) started it (by provoking) the Russian guys, and another version from girls who said they were there that they (the Arabs) didn't do anything, they were just sitting there quietly drinking. What's the truth? I don't know," he said. "I think this is unjustified hatred." Yair Elalouf The three Arab men thanked him for his help. "I saw them this morning at the police station. They took my number and started thanking me. They want to come over to my house. I think I did something any normal person should do," he said. "In France, there's a law that if you don't help a person in danger, you are an accomplice to the crime. I was trying to be a good citizen, I'd do the same for any person," Elalouf concluded. Later on Sunday, Elalouf met with the three Arab men, who said they "need to thank him for saving our lives. Without him, we wouldn't have stayed alive." The victimsa doctor from the Ichilov Hospital at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, a 28-year-old nurse and a 20-year-old mansaid the attack was racially motivated. We were sitting on the beach for about half an hour when a Jewish man walked up to us and asked if we were Arabs. We said yes, what do you want? And he just left. We thought that he might be drunk. The man returned shortly, this time accompanied by many others," the victims said. After two minutes, he came back with nine other people with knives, metal chains and bars and just started to beat us, they recalled. The three Arabs who came under attack (Photo: Shamir Elbaz) They started hitting us with no mercy, in all parts of our body, when we were sitting down. They wanted to kill us, just because we are Arabs, they added, and mentioned they were hit in the head, upper limbs, knees and back. Two Jewish men passed by, pushed them back from us and called the police and Magen David Adom (MDA). The two Jewish men gave us water and helped us," they added. One of the men who was attacked said, It pains me, because in my profession I treat Jews. I have never looked at a mans origin. I also have Jewish friends and I live among Jews. The men also said that the attackers swore at them and said you are Arab dogs, dont stay here. A police statement said that the three were sitting on a beach in Kiryat Haim when the first suspect, a 23 year old from Kiryat Haim, came up to talk to the victims. He later returned with his friends and together they attacked the three. One of the suspects in court (Photo: Gil Nechushtan) Two suspects were arrested by the police, the 23 year old and another 29 year old from the north, but both have since been released from police custody and put on house arrest. The 23 year old has been put on a three-day house arrest , with the judge criticizing the police for failing to present evidence to tie the suspect to the attack, as well as failing to check his alibi or hold a police lineup in the 24 hours he was in custody. The 29 year old suspect was also put on house arrest, with the judge determining there isn't sufficient evidence to justify keeping him in police custody. At court, the suspect insisted he was arrested for no reason. "I wasn't there and I wasn't involved in any incident. I have no idea why I was arrested," he said. Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Secretary General Saeb Erekat accused the US and Israel on Sunday of waging a war against the Palestinians by financial pressure after the Trump administration announced over the weekend that it would be cutting more than $200 million in bilateral aid to the Palestinians. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The USs decision came following a review of the funding for projects in the West Bank and Gaza, the State Department said. Saeb Erekat in interview with Ynet X Netanyahu and Trump ... believe they can take Jerusalem off the table, take refugees off the table, legalize settlements, drop the idea of two states on the 1967 lines, and they believe the Palestinians will accept this, Erekat said in an interview with Ynet. Unfortunately, you have an American administration and Israeli administration that have taken Israelis and Palestinians off the path of peace. And I dont know the end game of this. I dont know what they are doing other than destroying the moderate Palestinians who believe in the two-state solution, who have recognized Israel, who believe in achieving peace through negotiations and not violence. I think thats what they are destroying, Erekat continued. He further accused Israel of playing a game, of killing Palestinians and accusing them of being terrorists. This, he said, would only enlarge the cycle of violence. This political blindness will lead nowhere. Palestinians have no option but to remain in this land. A question to Netanyahu What are you going to do with us? he asked. Erekat was also asked about his thoughts on President Trumps recent comments that Israel would pay a higher price in peace negotiations in return for his recognition of Jerusalem as its capital I don't know what he means by higher price. It should be known for you as Israelis and Americans, that without east Jerusalem being the capital of Palestine I dont think we will ever have peace, Erekat said. The State Department notified Congress of the decision to make the financial cuts in a brief, three-paragraph notice sent first to lawmakers and then to reporters on Friday. It said the administration will redirect the money to "high priority projects elsewhere." The move comes as President Donald Trump and his Middle East pointmen, Jared Kushner and Jason Greenblatt, staff up their office to prepare for the rollout of a much-vaunted but as yet unclear peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians. "At the direction of President Trump, we have undertaken a review of US assistance to the Palestinian Authority and in the West Bank and Gaza to ensure these funds are spent in accordance with US national interests and provide value to the US taxpayer," the department said. "As a result of that review, at the direction of the president, we will redirect more than $200 million ... originally planned for programs in the West Bank and Gaza. "This decision takes into account the challenges the international community faces in providing assistance in Gaza, where Hamas control endangers the lives of Gaza's citizens and degrades an already dire humanitarian and economic situation," the notice said, without providing additional details. The US had planned to give the Palestinians $251 million for good governance, health, education and funding for civil society in the current 2018 budget year that ends on September 30. But with just over a month to go before that money must be used, reprogrammed to other areas or returned to Treasury, less than half has actually been spent. UNWRA agency in Gaza (Photo: AFP) Earlier this month, the department had released about $60 million of the 2018 money for security projects that encourage cooperation between the Palestinian Authority and Israel. In response, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' spokesman said the US decision is meant to force the Palestinians to abandon their claim to Jerusalem. According to Nabil Abu Rdeneh, the move is part of continuing political and financial pressure on the Palestinian leadership. He says the Americans must be fully aware that there will be no peace without east Jerusalem as capital of a Palestinian state. "The American administration is using cheap blackmail as a political tool. The US administration should be ashamed of constant bullying and punishment of a people under occupation. The US has already demonstrated its depravity in its collusion with the Israeli occupation, allowing Israel to steal land and resources, and now it is displaying economic viciousness by punishing the Palestinian victims of the occupation," Hanan Daoud Khalil Ashrawi, a PLO Executive Committee member, said on Saturday. The spiritual leader of the Druze community Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif denied on Sunday reports that he participated in a meeting with Druze from Syria, who asked that the IDF intervene in the fighting taking place in the war-torn country. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter According to reports, a meeting took place in Jordan between a Druze delegation from Israel and a Druze delegation from Syria, in which the latter asked that the IDF act in the ongoing Syrian civil war in order to establish an area for a Druze entity in southern Syria. Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif (Photo: Motti Kimchi) According to a representative of the sheikh, no such meeting ever took place and the notion of a separate Druze state has never, and never will, be a subject for discussions. The Druze community did not ask Israel to intervene militarily in what is happening in Syria. This is a false report, which is damaging to the community, the statement said. The members of the community in Israel are in pain and worry about the fate of their brothers in Syria and are in contact with them by phone every day, it continued. President Reuven Rivlin sent a letter Sunday to the McCain family, following the passing of Sen. John McCain. "We were saddened to learn of the passing of Mr. John McCain, a great American leader and a good friend of Israel. The people of Israel join me in sending you our deepest sympathy at this sad time. While the United States of America has lost a great leader, we, in Israel have lost a good friend who believed in the importance of the strong ties between our two nations and whose statements and action made a most valuable contribution to reinforcing and nurturing those ties. We send our sincere condolences to all the members of the McCain family at this time of your great loss," the letter read. Iran's defense minister said Sunday his country will continue its support of the Syrian government to ensure improved security in the region, adding that the nature of the two countries cooperation won't be decided by a "third party." Israel has expressed concern over Iran's growing influence in Syria, accusing Iran of seeking to establish a foothold near the frontier with the Jewish state. The United States has been pressing for Iran to withdraw its fighters from Syria. In recent meetings between US and Russian officials, President Donald Trump's national security adviser John Bolton said he and Russian officials are discussing ways to do that, without providing details, calling it a US priority. Gadi Eizenkot, the Chief of General Staff at the IDF, conducted a situation assessment meeting on Sunday, during a tour of the Gaza Division. Herzl "Herzi" Halevi , the chief of the Southern Command, joined the meeting. Speaking at a victory rally in honor of the defeat of terrorist entities in northern Lebanon, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah said Sunday that the Israeli leadership knows that it is difficult to recruit people to seve in combat units. They lack the willingness to sacrifice of past days. They lack the motivation to endanger themselves. More and more soldiers are seeking release (from service) on mental health grounds and the army is unable to recover from its sense of defeat. The Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel, Yitzhak Yosef slammed Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai on Saturday, following Huldai's criticism of Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz's decision to halt all construction work done on Shabbat on the Yehudit Bridge over the Ayalon Highway. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Without explicitly mentioning Huldai, the rabbi said: "When a person publicly declares that he has eaten a dog, what nerve does he have? It is not for nothing that he petitions the High Court of Justice to complete the work on the Shabbat. He has eaten a dog, what will become of his heart." Chief Rabbi of Israel Yitzhak Yosef and Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai (Photo: Kikar HaShabat, Anat Mosberg) At the beginning of the year it was reported that during a visit to Vietnam, the mayor of Tel Aviv visited a local restaurant where he was served dog meat. "It's delicious, it tastes like meat. Why, is eating chickens and seafood okay? The mayor said. Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz halted last Wednesday the plans to close parts of Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv during weekends for the construction of the new pedestrian bridge, and said that the announcement about work on Shabbat was "outrageous and needless." The minister instructed Ayalon Highways Co. to immediately freeze the plans and submit new plans as soon as possible, in order to carry out the works without disrupting traffic on weekends. Instead, the transportation minister suggested carrying out the work in the late night hours, "as was done in similar cases in the past and as is customary in Israel and around the world," the minister said. Activists protest Katz's decision (Photo: Nir Levy) Ayalon Highways Co. said it would "act in accordance with Transportation Ministry instructions and will examine alternatives." Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai criticized Katz's decision , saying the works cannot be done at night. "The professional decision to carry out the work on Saturdays was done following a thorough examination of the Ayalon Highways Company, a company wholly owned by the Ministry of Transportation," the mayor explained. According to Huldai, Ayalon Highways Co. has already examined all possibilities and reached the conclusion that "construction work of this kind could not only stop traffic on Ayalon Highway, but also stop Israel Railways trains, and eventually lead to a transportation catastrophe." The Tel Aviv mayor explained that the deployment of the cranes alone requires more time than the three hours allocated for the nighttime works (2am-5am). Yehudit Bridge illustration (Photo: Hen Architects) Following the cancellation of the work, Tel Aviv municipality warned Ayalon Highways Co. not to comply with the transportation minister's decision. In a letter to Ayalon company's CEO, Itamar Ben-Meir, Tel Aviv municipality CEO, Menachem Leiba, asserted: "as you know, the transportation minister cannot order the company to stop construction work on Saturdays. Not only do you not have to comply with his demands, it is forbidden by law." DAMASCUS, Syria Iran's defense minister said Sunday his country will continue its support of the Syrian government to ensure improved security in the region, adding that the nature of the two countries cooperation won't be decided by a "third party." Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Israel has expressed concern over Iran's growing influence in Syria, accusing Iran of seeking to establish a foothold near the frontier with the Jewish state. The United States has been pressing for Iran to withdraw its fighters from Syria. In recent meetings between US and Russian officials, President Donald Trump's national security adviser John Bolton said he and Russian officials are discussing ways to do that, without providing details, calling it a US priority. Amir Hatami (Photo: EPA) His comments came at the start of a two-day visit to Syria, where he met with the Syrian President Bashar Assad and other senior officials. The high-level military delegation headed by Hatami is expected to boost cooperation between the two countries, and Iranian media reported the two are expected to sign new military and defense agreements. Iran has provided key support to Assad in the seven-year civil war, sending thousands of military advisers and allied militiamen to bolster his forces. Hatami in Syria Hatami said he hopes Iran can play a "productive role" in Syria's reconstruction, according to Iran's Press TV. "Iran will spare no effort to maintain Syria's territorial integrity, because security in the country will help (improve) regional stability," Hatami said in a meeting with his Syrian counterpart, General Ali Abdullah Ayyoub, in Damascus on Sunday, according to Press TV. He later met with Assad. Israel has expressed concern over Iran's growing influence in Syria, accusing Iran of seeking to establish a foothold near the frontier with the Jewish state. Earlier this year, Israeli jets carried out a number of strikes against suspected Iranian bases in Syria, including an unprecedented bombardment of Iranian military installations in May, reportedly in retaliation to an Iranian rocket barrage on Israeli positions in the occupied Golan Heights. The two-day visit comes as Syria gears up for an expected offensive in the northern Idlib province, the last major rebel stronghold, which also has a large al-Qaida presence. The province is home to nearly 3 million people and borders Turkey, which fears an offensive may trigger a humanitarian and security catastrophe. Ayyoub, the Syrian defense minister, said his government is determined to restore government control over Idlib whether through reconciliation deals or with military operations. A Turkish, Russian and Iranian summit is expected in early September in Tehran to discuss Syria. Idlib was on top of the agenda during talks between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Friday. Turkey has sought to delay any offensive, while Russia has expressed growing impatience, accusing insurgents of targeting its forces from the province. In a speech delivered at the end of the Eid al-Adha holiday, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah said Sunday that "reports from Israel suggest that the primary difficulty for the IDF is the personnel component. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The Israeli leadership knows that it is difficult to convince people to enlist in the elite units, the combat units, and everyone prefers to serve in rear units. They lack the willingness to sacrifice that they once had, they have no motivation to endanger their lives," the Hezbollah leader said. Hezbollah Sec. Gen. Hassan Nasrallah The speech was delivered on the occasion of the second anniversary of liberation (in the battles in Lebanon against Syrian rebels). Nasrallah claimed that "more and more (soldiers) are going seeking to be excused from service on mental health grounds. According to the Israeli media, in 2017 more than 44,000 soldiers met with military mental health officers, compared with 39,000 in 2003. The soldiers want convenience, the opportunity to make money." The bottom line, according to Nasrallah, is that "this army is not built for another war , even though since 2006 they have received a lot of new planes and greatly improved military technology. We know it and are monitoring it. Hezbollah rally But the Israeli army failed to recover from its crisis of confidence and to remove the sense of defeat and mistrust between the commanders and the soldiers, Nasrallah continued. Our people, unlike the Israelis, are ready to go out and fight, to die and sacrifice themselves for their homes and villages. They are just waiting for an order. "They say we are a mafia, drug smugglers, money launderers, and that we are a terrorist organization, all of these are lies. They have not succeeded in undermining our people's trust in us, in our home environment. There is no military solution to Hezbollah. Who will dare fight us? Israel will fight against us? They face a risk, they fear the consequences of a war. The USA will fight us? No they will not, they send others to fight in their place, he added. They are trying to exert economic pressure on us to hurt us. They think that if they hurt us economically, people will distance themselves from us, and we will not be able to pay salaries." Nasrallah also addressed the United States and said that "it has decided to stop the aid (to Syria), they are only playing their game in the region. When they say that they defeated ISIS they are lying. The ones who defeated ISIS in Syria and Iraq are the ones who fought in Syria and Iraq; on the contrary, the United States only acted to help and prolong the life of ISIS. "We have sources that report that US helicopters land in areas controlled by ISIS and deliver weapons and aid, especially in areas where ISIS was close to defeat. The United States does not think about your interests at all. Anyone who has hope that the United States will solve the problems must learn from history. Look at what happened in Vietnam. Vietnamese allies clung to the (departing) helicopters and begged for their lives and the Americans threw them out. Look at the Shah of Iran, who was the most loyal person the US could have, and they abandoned him as soon as we became weak. Even a medical visa they refused to give him. Two Tayibe residents filed a complaint with the police Sunday against Jews who allegedly had attacked them in Binyamina where they work, claiming the attack was nationalistically motivated, while an initial police debrief argued a fight broke out between construction workers based on work seniority feud. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The incident follows the attack on three Arabs from Shfaram at at the Kiryat Haim beach in Haifa last week. Arabs attacked in Binyamina One of the complainants who suffered stabbing injuries in his upper body was moderately wounded, while the second one was stabbed in his hands and face and was lightly wounded. Both Arabs were taken to the Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba. In addition, it was reported five Jews were wounded in the incident. According to the police, all those involved in the violent clash are contractor workers employed in Binyamina. The police siad that a fight broke out near an educational institution between infrastructures renovation workers. An initial debrief that took place in Zichron Yaakov police station concluded that the spat occurred amid work seniority disagreement, and that the workers' origin had nothing to do with the incident. Seven of those involved were evacuated to receive medical attention and an investigation had been launched into the matter. Tayibe resident lightly wounded after being stabbed in hands, face. However, Tayibe's residents claim the attack was nationalistically motivated. They also added that they did not know their assailants. "This wasn't a fight. After a man had wanted to enter the premises we were working in, we asked him to move his car and he refused," they explained. "Suddenly he began shouting "Arab terrorists." A woman accompanying him called the police and claimed we wanted to rape her. After a few minutes, several additional men arrived to the scene and one of them stabbed me," Tayibe's resident who was wounded in his upper body recalled. "We fled the scene and came to the Kedma police station. When I entered the station I collapsed and an ambulance took me to the hospital," he went on to say. "This could have ended in disaster. I could have been shot because they said I'm a terrorist," he lamented. The Arab who was lightly wounded said, "I was surprised when the police said a fight broke out. The attack was nationalistically motivated. We didn't hurt anyone and we don't know the people that hit us." "I wonder why the police are attempting to shake off all responsibility. This incident is severe, we saw death facing us," he lashed out. The Water Authority announced Sunday that even if the coming winter brings average precipitation, or even above average, the hydrological drought will continue. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter They said that the Kinneret is drying up at a rapid pace and approaching its black line. They added that an accurate weather forecast for the coming year will be available next month. Recently exposed island in Kinneret (Photo: EPA) The Water Authority said that the deficit in Israel's natural water reserves, after five consecutive drought years, is substantial. The Authority said that even given one average rainy year and the continued cessation of pumping from the Sea of Galilee to the national water carrier, the sea will remain below the lower red line by the end of next winter. The Water Authority added that ahead of the end of the summer of 2018, the country's water resources streams, springs, the Sea of Galilee and the underground aquifers are in the worst situation in years, some of them are even on the way to breaking historic records of (lack of) water flow. To demonstrate, they used the example of the Kinneret, whose water line is currently at 214.20 meters below sea level, and by the beginning of the rainy season is expected to continue to descend by about 1 cm every day and approach the top of the black line, which is situated at 214.86 meters below sea level. The result can be seen by anyone: the "island" that was exposed in the Sea of Galilee, opposite Kibbutz Ma'agan, is expected to soon connect to the beach. In addition, the Water Authority said that the severe drought of the past five years has mainly affected the water sources in the north of the country, but the rest of the water sources also have huge shortages. There is a deficit of about 2.5 billion cubic meters. Hadera desalination plant (Photo: EPA) The Water Authority said that unlike neighboring countries, where there are no desalination plants, the situation in Israel is pretty good because of steps that were taken in preparation. The Water Authority continues to prepare to respond to the increasing trend of dehydration in the entire region. At the same time, the Water Authority is working to increase efficiency and prevent water waste as a permanent lifestyle, said a statement issued by the authority. In addition, two additional large desalination plants are being planned, as well as other steps, to supplement the water sources for all uses. The Water Authority is also developing tools for forecasting the flow in streams over different periods of time: flood forecasting and intensity to seasonal predictions of the quantities of water expected to be received in a given year as well as over longer time periods in order to enable all elements in the economy to prepare and plan their activities and investments wisely and effectively. Climate change requires us all to carefully manage and prevent water waste as a way of life, during rainy years as well, of which we hope and are confident that there will be. Uri Dorman, chairman of the Galilee Development Corporation said after the publication of the pessimistic data: "We hope that the forecast for another drought year will not actualize. After five years of drought and water (quota) cuts, we hope that the government will invest in the construction of desalination plants to supply drinking water and agriculture to the Galilee and the Golan Heights. In any event, the government must prepare a contingency plan to compensate the farmers and growers if, heaven forbid, this difficult forecast materializes. We hope there will be no need to apply this program." Living Section Wellton, Arizona - Share your love of books and reading! The Wellton Library Book Club will meet Friday, September 7th, to discuss A Mountain of Crumbs by Elena Gorokhova at 10:00 a.m. All are welcome to attend. The club meets the first Friday of every month through October. Books are available for checkout at the service desk at the Wellton Library, located at 28790 San Jose Avenue in Wellton, AZ. For more information, call (928) 785-9575. Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - Yuma residents will soon begin to notice improved nighttime neighborhood visibility, as the City of Yuma begins to fit nearly 7,500 streetlights with LED lighting in early September. Starting Sept. 4, crews will work in residential neighborhoods in Yumas north end, then progress in a fashion similar to the pattern used in the Citys annual Neighborhood Cleanup program. Once residential neighborhood retrofits are complete likely in early to mid-November crews will move on to conversions along the citys major roadways. The goal is to have the entire LED transition complete by the end of the calendar year, explained City of Yuma Director of Public Works Joel Olea. That schedule allows us to take advantage of some savings through rebates offered by APS, he said. During this transition period, the city does not expect to replace any old high-pressure sodium lights that go out between now and the time that area is slated for LED installment. However, due to public safety issues, the City will keep intersections and school zones lit, explained City Administrator Greg Wilkinson. The City planned the expected streetlight conversion upon learning the experiences and advantages of LED lights in other cities. LEDs have two to four times the lifespan of the current high-pressure sodium lights. Objects are usually visible in their more natural color. LEDs return to full luminance instantly in the event of a power failure, unlike bulbs that require heating time upon restart. The directional pattern of LED streetlights reduces spillover of light into nearby homes. LEDs are additionally believed to be less attractive to nocturnal insects. And LEDs tend not to burn out; instead, their brightness fades over time. The City anticipates a 50 percent energy savings on streetlights once the conversion is complete. A map of the streetlight replacement schedule is up on the Citys website. While the areas on the map correspond to the areas identified in the annual Neighborhood Cleanup map, please note the area number listed on the map does not necessarily reflect the order in which crews will visit these specific areas. APPROXIMATE LED CONVERSION SCHEDULE Area 1 Sept. 10 Colorado Street to West Main Canal and Avenue A to west City limits. Area 2 Sept. 10-12 West Main Canal to 8th Street and East Main Canal to west City limits. Area 3 Sept. 4-10 Colorado Street to 8th Street and East Main Canal to east City limits. Area 4 Sept. 12-18 8th Street to 16th Street and East Main Canal to west City limits. Area 5 Sept. 18-20 8th Street to 16th Street and East Main Canal to east City limits. Area 6 Sept. 26 to Oct. 8 16th Street to 24th Street and East Main Canal west City limits. Area 7 Sept. 20-26 16th Street to 24th Street and East Main Canal to Pacific Avenue. Area 8 Oct. 8-16 East Main Canal to west City limits and 24th Street to south City limits. Area 9 Oct. 16-24 East Main Canal to Pacific Ave and 24th Street to south City limits. Area 10 Oct. 24 to Nov. 12 Pacific Avenue to east City limits and 16th Street or Hwy 95 to south City limits. Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Foothills Library will host a public viewing of the PBS series Latino Americans on Friday, September 7th and 21st at 11:30 a.m. Latino Americans chronicles Latinos in the United States from the sixteenth century to present day. It is a story of people, politics, and culture, large in scale and deep in its reach. The changing and yet repeating context of American history provides a backdrop for the drama of individual lives. It is a story of immigration and redemption, of anguish and celebration, of the gradual construction of a new American identity that connects and empowers millions of people today. There is no charge to attend. The Foothills Library is located at 13226 E South Frontage Road. For more information, call (928) 342-1640. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. As the West-led international order is crumbling away, China stands to take the lead. The Asian giant is filling the void with multiple initiatives, thanks to the vision and dynamism of President Xi Jinping, who offers a credible recipe to fix the world's vexing problems that range from trade wars and economic crisis to governance failures and ecological disasters. Named after Chinese President Xi Jinping, Xi Jinping Thought has become a defining political ideology in contemporary history and has its own space in the preamble of the Constitution of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The ideology not only details a roadmap for transforming China into a great modern socialist nation by the middle of this century but also calls for redefining the global governance system with justice, fairness, equality, and peaceful cooperation. A human face to globalization As U.S. President Donald Trump's anti-trade, anti-globalization, anti-immigration, and anti-climate policies have alarmed the world, Xi Jinping Thought raises hope with a commitment to"build a community of shared future for mankind. "In his political report presented to the CPC's 19th National Congress last year, Xi said, "We call on the people of all countries to work together to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperity." Neoliberal-driven globalization has created significant gaps between the haves and have-nots. Xi, also head of the CPC, strives to give a human face to globalization to cure the problems triggered by corporate-led capitalism. He stands for "making economic globalization more open, inclusive, and balanced so that its benefits are shared by all." Taken aback by China's peaceful rise, some Western countries are skeptical about China's global aspirations primarily due to their poor understanding of its 5,000-year-old civilization and the revolutionary consciousness that evolved through fighting against domestic feudalism and foreign aggression. The Chinese president has staunchly defended the post war multilateral system and free trade regime that Trump is intent on tearing apart. Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate deal sharply contrasts Xi's defense of an "ecological civilization" that is critical for the preservation of the planet and the human race. Landmark initiatives Amidst Trump's growing irrational tantrums and the European Union's deepening discord, Xi unveiled a string of initiatives to promote multilateral cooperation and overcome democratic deficits that have enervated the "international order" based on the principles of the United Nations, Bretton Woods institutions and other multilateral organizations and mechanisms. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO), Boao Forum for Asia, the 16+1 group and BRICS are some major China-led initiatives that have boosted economic cooperation, connectivity, trade, investment, industrialization, technological innovation, and people to people relations. With an ever-increasing number of participating countries, these initiatives are effective economic instruments to achieve win-win benefits for all. The BRI, approved by the U.N., has been described as "the project of the century" as it enhances connectivity among the continents through massive investment in the construction of roads, railways, ports, industries, hydro plants, transmission lines, and other basic infrastructure essential for the reduction of global poverty. Despite the Western media's anti-China rhetoric, China's credibility has grown on the world stage because of its policy to respect and defend the rights and sovereignty of all nations irrespective of their size. "No matter what stage of development it reaches, China will never seek hegemony or engage in expansion," Xi said. However, Western media continues to invoke the "China Threat Theory" to undermine China's peaceful rise. How does the Xi Jinping Thought-guided Chinese version of the global governance system differ from the Anglo-Saxon-led hegemonic model of international order? 1. China stands for a socialist market economy while Western capitalism is driven by a freewheeling market that causes cyclic crises in the capitalist world. 2. China stresses a multilateral-based cooperative system against the hegemonic system of the West. 3. Unlike the West's penchant for "security alliances," China focuses on regional economic development and cooperation. 4. The West divides the world into "We" and "They," but China promotes the common interest of humanity. 5. Western powers withdraw from failed states, but China steps into the breach to fix their problems by promoting reconciliation and harmony. 6. China strives to build an interdependent world in contrast to the West's inclination for creating a dependency of nations. China believes in the mutual sharing of burdens and benefits of partnership. Vibrant guiding principle On the domestic front, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has become a vibrant guiding principle for the Party as well as the people. It has become the Chinese version of Marxism that combines the ancient progressive values inherent in Confucius' teachings with epoch-making thoughts of Mao and Deng. It derives spiritual inspiration from Confucianism, revolutionary zeal from Mao, and reformist approach from Deng. Achieving the national rejuvenation of the Chinese dream is the key goal of Xi Jinping Thought. It has 14 main principles that call for complete and deep reform and new developing ideas, absolute authority of the party over the people's army, harmonious living between man and nature, and one country two systems and reunification with the motherland. It lucidly highlights the latest achievements in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. Xi's two volumes of The Governance of China and his political report presented in the CPC's 19th national congress have articulated the theoretical underpinnings of his thought. It has not only enriched the ideological contents of the Party but also brought immense prosperity to the Chinese people. Xi has put forward a two-stage development plan for the period from 2020 to the middle of the 21st century to usher China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful. Xi says the principal contradiction facing the Chinese society is between the unbalanced and inadequate development and the people's ever-growing needs for a better life. Xi Jinping Thought synthesizes the experiences of the success and failure of the communist movement from around the world. The Soviet Union collapsed as its leaders abused the state powers to transform themselves into an elite class only to be alienated from the masses. This is one of the main reasons why the people refused to take to the streets to defend communism when the Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991. Xi Jinping Thought takes lessons from the downfall of Soviet communism and commits to keeping a strong bond between the Party and people. Xi said, "We must do more to protect our people's interest, and firmly oppose all moves that damage their interests or put distance between the Party and the people." The CPC has enthusiastically implemented the "mass line" education policy to spur development and improve people's livelihoods. The "mass line" guideline obliges CPC officials and members to "see things from the perspective of the masses, prioritize the interest of the people, and persist in representing them and working on their behalf." Immediately after assuming office in 2012, Xi launched an anti-corruption campaign to check the emergence of privileged classes within the Party and government. The Party acted to "take out tigers," "swat flies," and "hunt down foxes" to enforce good governance, transparency, and accountability in the public administration. This effectively stamped out the rent-seeking attitude, nepotism and possible illegal nexus between the Party's members, businesses, and the market. Socialist rule of law "Chinese system of the socialist rule of law" is another highlight of Xi Jinping Thought. An innovative concept within the Marxist parlance, the socialist rule of law demands that Party leadership follow law-based governance, considered a critical requirement for socialism with Chinese characteristics. Xi attaches importance to embracing the core socialist values to further advance the ideal of communism based on the realities and context of the Chinese society. While exercising full democratic control on the entire affairs of the state, the CPC has developed a socialist consultative democracy that enhances inner-party democracy, improves democratic institutions, diversifies the forms of democracy and establishes more democratic channels of communication with the people. China has implemented CPC-led multiparty cooperation, regional ethnic autonomy and community-level self-governance and grassroots democracy. China's unique experiment of socialist democracy strongly suggests that the term "democracy" has various forms and dimensions. It is not an individual property of the West. The Western-style of a multiparty democratic system has also suffered serious setbacks and turned out to be dysfunctional in many countries. The Chinese version of socialist democracy, as explained in Xi Jinping Thought, serves as an alternative to the capitalist-led democracy that has triggered frequent economic crises, gross inequality, and an ecological meltdown. Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. The following companies are subsidiares of Exxon Mobil: AKG Marketing Company Limited, Aera Energy LLC, Al-Jubail Petrochemical Company, Ampolex (Cepu) Pte Ltd, Ancon Insurance Company Inc., Barnett Gathering LLC, Barzan Gas Company Limited, Caspian Pipeline Consortium, Celtic Exploration Ltd., Coral FLNG S.A., Cross Timbers Energy LLC, Ellora Energy Inc., Esmeroon Oil Transporta Imperial Oil Limited, Esso (Thailand) Public Company Limited, Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd, Esso Deutschland GmbH, Esso Erdgas Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Limited, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 17) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Angola (Overseas) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Chad Inc., Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Deepwater) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Offshore East) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Esso Exploration and Production UK Limited, Esso Global Investments Ltd., Esso Italiana S.r.l., Esso Nederland B.V., Esso Norge AS, Esso Petroleum Company Limited, Esso Raffinage, Esso Societe Anonyme Francaise, Exxo Holdings Inc., Exxon Azerbaijan Limited, Exxon Chemical Arabia Inc., Exxon International Finance Company, Exxon Luxembourg Holdings LLC, Exxon Mobile Bay Limited Partnership, Exxon Neftegas Limited, Exxon Overseas Corporation, Exxon Overseas Investment Corporation, ExxonMobil (China) Investment Co. 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Ltd., InterOil Corporation, Jurong Aromatics Corporation Pte Ltd, MPM Lubricants, Marine Well Containment Company LLC, Mobil Australia Resources Company Pty Limited, Mobil California Exploration & Producing Asset Company, Mobil Caspian Pipeline Company, Mobil Chemical Products International Inc., Mobil Corporation, Mobil Equatorial Guinea Inc., Mobil Erdgas Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Mobil Exploration & Producing Australia Pty Ltd, Mobil International Petroleum Corporation, Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd, Mobil Oil Exploration & Producing Southeast Inc., Mobil Oil New Zealand Limited, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mobil Producing Texas & New Mexico Inc., Mobil SerLimited, Mobil Venezolana De Petroleos Inc., Mobil Yanbu Petrochemical Company Inc., Mobil Yanbu Refining Company Inc., Mountain Gathering LLC, Mozambique Rovuma Venture S.p.A., Palmetto Transoceanic LLC, Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas Global Company LDC, Permian Express Partners LLC, Phillips Exploration LLC, Qatar Liquefied Gas Company Limited, Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited, Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited (II), SPI Limited, Saudi Aramco Mobil Refinery Company Ltd., Saudi Yanbu Petrochemical Co., SeaRiver Maritime Inc., South Hook LNG Terminal Company Limited, Tengizchevroil LLP, Terminale GNL Adriatico S.r.l, Trend Gathering & Treating LLC, Wolverine Pipe Line Company, XH LLC, XTO Delaware Basin LLC, XTO ENERGY, XTO Energy Canada, and XTO Holdings LLC. Wall Street analysts have given Botswana Diamonds a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Botswana Diamonds wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Flash Hundreds of boats greeted crowds gathered on Saturday at the Belgrade Waterfront at another traditional boat carnival that marks the ending of the summer tourist season, bringing it closer to the wished reputation of a regional tourist hub. The 14th Belgrade Boat Carnival traditionally organized by the Tourist Organization of Belgrade (TOB) took place at the Sava River in downtown Belgrade, attracting hundreds of tourists, visitors and locals. Over the years, the carnival turned into a tradition, and lots of visitors come here to enjoy in its recognizable charm, spokeswoman of the Tourist Organization of Belgrade (TOB) Jelena Stankovic explained to Xinhua. It promotes the life on Belgrade's two rivers -- Sava and Danube -- points to the importance of protecting the environment, especially the littoral zone of the city, she said. "This is an interesting and an important segment of the life of our city. Among the participants at the carnival are also tourist boats that carried the city's visitors to sightseeing tours throughout the summer season," she said. Besides the procession of boats, the carnival program also brought performances of children choirs, popular musicians and a police orchestra -- mostly to suit the taste of manifestation's most eager visitors -- families with kids. She said that the idea is to build upon the fact that Belgrade lies on two major international rivers, and that this is a major segment of its tourist potential that deserves attention within the plans to develop Belgrade's infrastructure. So far this season, Belgrade had received 15 percent more tourists comparing to the same period of last year. "Structure of guests also changed a lot. While in the past years most tourists came from regional countries, now among top ten are those from China, Russia, the United States and Israel," Stankovic told Xinhua. According to her, thanks to the direct flight between Belgrade and Beijing, it is much easier for Chinese tourists to visit Belgrade, as well as the rest of Serbia and the region. "We worked for several years to make a regional tourist offer for tourists coming from far destinations, results are starting to show," she concluded. Telstra Corporation Limited provides telecommunications and information services to businesses, governments, and individuals in Australia and internationally. It operates in four segments: Telstra Consumer and Small Business, Telstra Enterprise, Networks and IT, and Telstra InfraCo. The company offers telecommunication products, services, and solutions across mobiles, fixed and mobile broadband, telephony and Pay TV/IPTV, and digital content; and online self-service capabilities, as well as operates inbound and outbound call centers, owned and licensed Telstra shops, and the Telstra dealership network. It also provides sales and contract management; and product management services for data and Internet protocol networks, mobility services, and network applications and services products, such as managed network, unified communications, cloud, industry solutions, and integrated services and monitoring. In addition, the company engages in the development of industry vertical solutions; planning, design, engineering architecture, and construction of Telstra networks, technology, and information technology solutions; and delivering network technologies. Further, it provides telecommunication products and services through its networks and related support systems to other carriers, carriage service providers, and Internet service providers; access to fixed network infrastructure assets; disconnection services; and network services under the Infrastructure Services Agreement and commercial contracts, as well as holds fixed network infrastructure, including data centers, non-mobiles related domestic fiber, copper, HFC cable, international subsea cables, exchanges, poles, ducts, and pipes. The company was formerly known as Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corporation Limited and changed its name to Telstra Corporation Limited in April 1993. Telstra Corporation Limited was founded in 1901 and is based in Melbourne, Australia. Read More Ghana's Isaac Royal Storm Dogboe proved too strong for Japan's Hidenori Otake on Saturday night at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, USA. The clash was the Ghanaian first defence of his WBO world super bantamweight title and he made it quick, stopping the Japanese warrior in round one. Otake went down twice before the contest was waved off by the referee. READ ALSO: Jose Mourinho wants to leave Manchester United Dogboe (20-0, 13 KOs) blasted down Otake (31-3-3) with a good hook in the second minute of the first. Otake made it up, but another series of shots made his gloves touch the mat for the second knockdown and another flurry of big shots forced the referee to step in and wave off the fight. Otake had never been stopped before in his career. READ ALSO: Liverpool reject whopping 2bn bid from cousin of Manchester City owner Dogboe first won the belt last April after dethroning then champion Jessie Magdaleno. The 23 year-old hard puncher destroyed the Mexican in round 11. The win made Dogboe the youngest world champion to come from Ghana. Immediately after Otake's win, Dogboe called out WBA world super bantamweight Danny Roman. READ ALSO: National Chief Imam tried to prevent Anas from showing Number 12 - Amin Lamptey "I knew i will stop Otake and i have done it. My next aim is a unification fight and i'm ready for it," he said. "Danny Roman wherever you are i'm ready for you. Come out and let us rumble." In My Feelings Drake: Stop It! | #Yencomgh Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YEN's official Facebook page Source: Yen Flash Libya's Ministry of Justice on Saturday called on the Attorney General to take legal actions against those responsible for a deadly IS attack on a security checkpoint in the western Libyan city of Zliten. "Such actions will not deter it from exercising its responsibilities and carrying out its duties. The ministry affirms that these acts will only increase the Libyans' determination to fight terrorism," the ministry said in a statement. The ministry calls on the Attorney General's Office to take legal actions against those responsible of this heinous act and called on all components of society to stand together in order to combat and defeat terrorism, it said. IS affiliates on a four-wheel drive vehicle earlier on Thursday attacked a security checkpoint in the western city of Zliten, some 160 km east of the capital Tripoli, killing seven security personnel and injuring two others, according to a local security source. IS on Saturday claimed responsibility for the attack, confirming that the "Mujahideen returned safely to their positions" after carrying out the attack. The attack came less than a day after IS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, called on his supporters to "turn to Libya and support the Mujahideen in Libya, Syria and Iraq." A number of Libyan cities have previously suffered similar terrorist attacks, targeting security and military checkpoints. You are here: World Flash The White House said on Saturday that U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday night spoke with newly elected Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison over bilateral ties and future cooperation. In a statement, the White House said Trump congratulated Morrison on his recent election. "The two leaders underscored the importance of the bilateral partnership between the United States and Australia," read the statement. "They also pledged to continue to closely cooperate on priorities the two countries share." Also on Friday, Trump tweeted that "congratulations to new Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. There are no greater friends than the United States and Australia!" Scott Morrison was sworn in on Friday as the 30th prime minister of Australia, after winning the ballot for leadership of the ruling Liberal Party. Morrison replaced Malcolm Turnbull, who resigned as the prime minister after 45 of the 85 Liberal Party Members of Parliament (MPs) voted to vacate the leadership at the meeting. Turnbull has announced his resignation from the parliament, leaving the government without a functioning majority in parliament. Flash Iran is holding talks with Russia over the construction of a new nuclear power plant with a capacity to produce 3,000 MW of electricity, an Iranian minister said Saturday. Once the power plant comes on stream, Iran's capacity to produce nuclear electricity will rise from 1,000 MW to 4,000 MW, Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian was quoted by Tasnim news agency as saying. The minister, however, did not reveal the details of the construction, including the location, finance and timing. In September 2016, Iran and Russia launched the construction of the second unit of the Bushehr nuclear power plant. The second unit is expected to take eight years to complete in 2024, while the third unit of the Bushehr plant is scheduled to begin construction in 2026, the report said. A total of 10 billion U.S. dollars has been allocated for the construction of the two extended units of the Bushehr plant. Flash Mongolian Prime Minister Ukhnaa Khurelsukh met visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi at Ikh Tenger Complex in Ulan Bator on Saturday. Khurelsukh asked Wang to convey his best regards to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. He said that Mongolia and China are long-standing neighbors and comprehensive strategic partners, and the current smooth development of bilateral relations has become a model for friendly neighbors. "Mongolia firmly adheres to the one-China policy and maintains that Tibet and Taiwan are inalienable parts of the Chinese territory, and issues concerning Tibet and Taiwan are China's internal affairs," the Mongolian prime minister said. He noted that there are no political, economic, territorial, religious and other questions between Mongolia and China, and the cooperation between the two countries has great potential and broad prospects. He said that Mongolia is committed to the integration of its Prairie Road development initiative and the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, adding that the country hopes to deepen cooperation with China in the fields of agriculture, animal husbandry, energy and infrastructure construction, and elevate bilateral ties to a higher level. The Mongolian side sincerely thanks China for its support and assistance to Mongolia's development and improving people's livelihood over the past years. He said that Mongolia highly appreciates China's support for the construction of a waste water processing plant in Ulan Bator, which will make an important contribution to improving the city's ecological environment and the people's quality of life. Next year will mark the 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties, Khurelsukh said, expressing the hope that the two sides will take this opportunity to accelerate the development of bilateral relations, iron out a new blueprint for the two countries' future cooperation, and work together to push bilateral relations to a new level. Wang conveyed the cordial greetings from Premier Li to Khurelsukh. He said that China and Mongolia are friendly neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, and that strengthening the all-round cooperation and deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries are the only right choice for the two sides. The Chinese side reaffirms its respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Mongolia, and appreciates the Mongolian government's reiteration of its firm adherence to the one-China policy and its confirmation of always supporting each other concerning the other side's core interests. Wang said that China-Mongolia political mutual trust has grown stronger, expressing the hope that relationship between the two countries will develop rapidly and healthily. He said that the Chinese side appreciates Mongolia's active response and support for the Belt and Road Initiative, adding that China is ready to work with Mongolia to work out a cooperation outline on the basis of the memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the two countries, and promote the early arrival of more projects. The Chinese foreign minister also said that China is ready to help Mongolia translate its resources into development advantages, improve its self-development capabilities, achieve economic diversification and improve the people's livelihood in building the Belt and Road together. He said that the two sides should work closely together to accelerate the process of signing the bilateral free trade agreement and achieve a 10-billion-U.S.-dollar target for bilateral trade as early as possible. He noted that China is willing to cooperate with the Mongolian side to seize the important opportunity of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries next year, to maintain close contacts at all levels and promote continuous progress in China-Mongolia comprehensive strategic partnership for the benefit of the two peoples. On the same day, Wang and Khurelsukh attended the launching ceremony of construction of a waste water processing plant in Ulan Bator. He and his Mongolian counterpart Damdin Tsogtbaatar inspected a special lane at the Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulan Bator which was built in the framework of a project to enhance customs clearance facilitation under the Belt and Road Initiative. Flash Battered hard during the eight-year debt crisis, Greece's construction and real estate face a long way to revival in the post-bailout era which started this Monday, according to official figures and experts. In pre-crisis Greece the sector was considered as one of the main drivers of growth for decades, along shipping and tourism. Until 2007 investments in real estate accounted to more than 10 percent of GDP, Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) data showed. Greece has one of the highest home ownership rates in Europe at more than 80 percent and purchase of a home was regarded as a good investment. In 2016 investments in the housing market was just 0.7 percent of GDP and had cumulatively declined by over 23 billion euros (26.6 billion U.S. dollars) in nine years. "Real estate properties in Greece were not opportunities anymore. To a large extent they were overpriced and in addition one had to pay significant sums in taxes," Lefteris Potamianos, President of the Real Estate Association of Athens -- Attica, explained to Xinhua. Within less than a decade, according to the official figures, private building activity dropped by 90 percent, and the number of employees in the sector by 83 percent. Residential property prices also took a dive by more than 40 percent nationwide. According to the latest data from the central Bank of Greece apartment prices are estimated to have increased on average by 0.8 percent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2018. In the five-month period from January to May 2018, building activity was up 5.3 percent in permits compared with the same period in 2017, according to ELSTAT. However, demand still remains sluggish, because for most Greeks the factors behind the dramatic decline are still here, mainly high unemployment rates, disposable income reduced by austerity measures, lack of bank lending and heavy taxes imposed on real estate property. "In 2008-2009 there were 180,000 transactions being made annually. At the worst in 2015 there were only 10,000-15,000 in a year. The decline was huge... Of course now this number has increased, but the gap was enormous," Potamianos stressed. The Greek expert sees signs of recovery, but driven mainly by demand originating from abroad in particular after the launch of the Golden Visa program by Greek authorities in the years of the crisis, given that the housing market is currently undervalued. Non-European citizens who purchase houses worth more than 250,000 euros in Greece and their family members get residence permits. In addition, major companies acquire office buildings and hotels or land plots for construction, he noted. Regarding the substantial kick start of construction, it will take more time, Patamianos added, because of the current oversupply. "When we will reach the moment when demand will be larger than offer, then we will see a real increase in the issuance of permits for construction," he said. As for Greek buyers, he sees them taking small cautious steps. "After so many years of crisis, gradually fear recedes from potential investors so that people are not so concerned what will happen in the future and invest in a small apartment. However, these steps are made slowly with cautiousness," he explained. "Certainly there are signs of optimism, but you never know what will happen based on the past. At the moment we are in a better position, this is a fact," Potamianos said. (1 euro= 1.16 U.S. dollars) Seyllou / AFP / Getty Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, wearing a Guinean flag, has declared himself Guinea's new leader. If military vehicles rolled through the capital of your country during the chaotic days following the president's death, and soldiers brandished weapons and declared themselves the new government, you might assume there would be widespread panic. But if you live in the mineral-rich West African nation of Guinea, that assumption would be wrong. When young Guinean military officers seized power after Guinea's president Lansana Conte died on Monday aged 74, people lined the streets of Conakry, the capital, to cheer them on. A little-known army captain, Moussa Camara, declared himself the country's new leader, as well as the head of a group of 26 officers and six civilians who go by the name the National Council for Democracy and Development. Conte, who was buried on Friday, was a heavy smoker and a diabetic, and had groomed no successor. The Parliament's speaker Aboubacar Sompare who by law should have stepped in as leader-urged soldiers not directly involved in the putsch to disown Camara. But Guinea's 10 million people and its rank and file soldiers appeared to have little stomach for a fight they would very likely lose. (Read TIME's Top 10 News Stories of the Year.) Instead Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare met Camara on Thursday, addressing him as "Mr. President" and offering to help him govern. For his part, Camara has vowed he will hold elections in December 2010, and that he will not stand as a candidate in the vote. "I have been given a chance to guide the destiny of the nation," he told reporters in Conakry on Thursday, dressed in military uniform. "I have a sacred mission not to betray the nation." Leaving aside whether Camara's promises can be trusted Conte himself seized power days after Guinea's first president Sekou Toure died and then ruled with an iron fist for 24 years Guineans' enthusiastic welcome of the new junta is a measure of how desperate they are for change. Guinea has half the world's reserves of bauxite vital in the production of aluminium as well as gold, diamonds and hardwoods. Yet the average Guinean earns just $91 a month. Civil servants last year joined in food riots because their salaries were no longer enough to buy a bag of rice. In early November police and soldiers shot dead at least four demonstrators in Conakry when hundreds of youths burned barricades in protest at high fuel prices. A Human Rights Watch report quoted a witness in Conakry describing police and soldiers "targeting youths and chasing them into private residences, firing indiscriminately." Then there is the problem of rampant corruption, which has allowed top officials to earn fortunes. Transparency International's latest corruption index places Guinea 173 out of 180 countries. Guineans have to bribe officials in order to receive water, electricity, and basic health care, the group said. With policing and the court system in a shambles, Guinea has also become a major hub for Latin American cocaine traffickers, who increasingly use West Africa as the conduit to the lucrative cocaine market in nearby Europe. When TIME visited neighboring Guinea Bissau in 2007, several Colombian cocaine traffickers were operating there, but those traffickers have since moved to Conakry, and several Colombians have recently been found traveling on Guinean passports, says the UNODC's regional representative Antonio Mazzitelli. He recently told TIME that he fears drug-fueled gang warfare in Guinea. "What we fear is a replica of the Mexico situation," he said. (See pictures of life on the streets with the anti-narcotics police of Guinea Bissau and Liberia.) Given this explosive mix of poverty, drugs and violence, Western leaders are understandably jittery about this week's coup, and are pushing for elections within six months about 18 months earlier than the date the junta has set. Former colonial power France condemned the military takeover and U.S. State Dept. spokesman Robert Wood said U.S. non-humanitarian aid to Guinea might be suspended unless there were elections and a "restoration" of "civilian, democratic rule." But as the Guineans who poured into the streets to cheer the soldiers know too well, they never had democratic rule challenges to Conte's civilian government were squashed by ruthless force. Guinea expert Peter Pham, director of the Nelson Institute for International and Public Affairs at James Madison University, told the Associated Press this week that Western leaders should not blindly trust in a constitution which the now-dead president Conte drafted largely to keep himself in power for decades. It was "not the result of any democratic process," he noted. After such a sorry history, even a coup can look good. See pictures of a village fighting the scourge of the Guinea worm. See TIME's Pictures of the Week. Emergency calls, and the police responses to them, are fraught with urgency and despair. This is not usually good fodder for comedy. Well, except for the times when the call not only turns out to be a false alarm, but also winds up being goofier than a Reno 911 episode. For example ... 5 "I'm Going To Kill You! You're Dead!" Police in Sydney, Australia rushed to the scene of a domestic violence call after neighbors reported hearing a woman screaming, a man yelling "I'm going to kill you," and "You're dead," then the sound of furniture being thrown. When they arrived, they found one guy standing there alone, looking a little out of breath. Police pressed the man for his wife's whereabouts, but he kept insisting he wasn't married, and that there was no one else in the house except for one other individual: the spider he'd been yelling at. Police searched the house and confirmed that the guy had been screaming death threats at a spider -- "a really big one," they agreed -- which he then chased around the apartment with bug spray, knocking over enough furniture to convince everyone that a life-or-death situation was occurring. When the cops asked the man about the woman screaming, he replied, "Yeah sorry, that was me. I really, really hate spiders." Continue Reading Below Advertisement Once again, The Simpsons has beaten reality to the punchline. There will be blood, and smoke rising in columns over the centre of a major city, and helicopters, too, perhaps even soldiers. A terrible tragedy is coming to at least one of our major prisons, and only a complete reversal in our crazy liberal social experiment can prevent it. As I have been arguing fruitlessly against that liberal experiment for more than 20 years, I see little chance that it will be avoided. A shocking report has revealed staff have lost control of prisoners in one of Britain's biggest prisons in Birmingham. Pictured: Prisoners gleefully pose with guard's helmets during a prison riot in 2016 Common sense has been banished from our country, but nobody connects this with its results. The liberals themselves drivel that prisons are full because we send too many people to them. I will come to that in a moment. Others claim that the squalor, drugs and violence of the verminous Birmingham Prison, revealed last week, are the result of privatisation. Well, I oppose private prisons because I do not think the punishment of wrongdoers is a business. It is the moral duty of the state. But it is not the issue here. It is easy to find state-run prisons that are just as bad as Birmingham. The truth is astonishingly simple. In the 1960s, our ruling elite decided that they knew better than any generation before them. Hard-bought experience was ignored, and those who had that experience were pushed out. At the core of the elites policy was a threefold mistake. They thought prevention of crime by a patrolling police force was too expensive and a waste of time, and sought to replace it with fire-brigade policing with lots of fast cars, radios, CCTV cameras and helicopters. They thought that punishment was itself wrong. Crime was a social disease, explained by poverty or child abuse. Prisons would no longer be charged with the due punishment of responsible persons. This was because people were no longer considered responsible for their own actions. Instead, in some mysterious way, never explained and never known to have happened in the history of the human race, they were to be rehabilitated. This is one of the best examples of the iron law that the longer a word is, the less it means. They abandoned deterrence. This was because it meant they, our political leaders, had to take personal responsibility for harsh actions, so as to keep the people of Britain safe from harm. They lacked the fortitude and resolve to hang perhaps a dozen heinous murderers a year, claiming that they could not risk the (rare) death of an innocent person. As a result, they hugely increased the readiness of criminals to carry and use lethal weapons, especially knives. Hundreds of innocent people have died or had their lives unalterably ruined as a result. It is interesting that the same sort of politicians have often been quite happy to rain missiles down on Belgrade, Baghdad, Tripoli, Mosul and Damascus, for supposedly humanitarian aims. Funny old world. In the 1960s, while wise voices warned that all this was folly, nobody could say for sure that the liberal reformers, led by the arrogant Roy Jenkins, were wrong. But more than 50 years afterwards, it is quite obvious that they were terribly mistaken. In normal life, when an experiment fails, we learn from it. The prototype aircraft crashes. We go back to the drawing board. The experimental new drug makes the disease worse. We abandon it. Only in the fantasy world of British politics and media does nobody ever learn anything from experience. In Parliament and Whitehall, at the BBC and The Guardian, they refuse to understand that this mess is their fault. They prefer to blame all our ills on Margaret Thatcher. Though she failed to put the crime crisis right, she didnt cause it. And so we continue to do the stupid things we have been doing for 50 years, somehow expecting that they will eventually work. As Albert Einstein said, this is the classic definition of madness. Listen: in 1961, when England and Wales still had serious punitive prisons, we retained the death penalty for heinous murder, we had a patrolling police force and a population not much smaller than it is now, there were 27,000 people in prison. Now there are more than 80,000. But that is not a fair comparison. Lawless inmates during a riot inside the facility in 2016 If we had the laws and rules of 1961, and the crimes of today, we would probably need the entire Isle of Wight to house convicted prisoners. Instead, thousands of people who would have been doing proper porridge in 1961 roam free, frightening you and me, and not fearing authority. And because they dont fear authority, nobody else does either, and the number of criminals grows far faster than we can build new jails. In 1961, criminals were quite likely to end up in jail for a second offence, a fact which frightened many away from crime. Now, most criminals (except homicides, and a few other very violent offenders) do not even meet authority until they have committed dozens of unrecorded, undetected crimes in areas where the police rarely bother to go. Even when they are detected, it can take years of empty cautions, unpaid fines, laughable community punishments, and suspended sentences that are never activated, before they are actually locked up. By the time they get to prison, they have such total contempt for authority that the safest thing to do is to leave them alone, and turn a blind eye to their use of drugs, and let them out as fast as possible. So this is what we do. Traditional prison officers, sniffing the wind, are leaving by the score because they see where this will end. Inexperienced recruits, hopelessly outnumbered by day and by night, can only make a pretence of being in charge. But because it is all behind high walls or fences, the truth gets out in brief flashes of publicity. Well, that may soon change. But will the liberals ever admit they were wrong? Have you ever heard a liberal do that? No, when the flames flicker and the sirens blare, it will somehow turn out to be Maggies fault. You wait and see. Tories R Us another big brand with no future Both the Labour and Tory parties remind me of troubled high street chains such as Woolworths or Toys R Us, which once seemed to dominate all, and then, in a matter of months, turned out to be empty shells, and vanished. They look more permanent than they are. Last year the Tories raised more money from dead people, in their wills, than from living ones, and are now being targeted by entryist fanatics. Labour must surely be on the edge of civil war. Both should have been replaced by serious parties long ago, but were propped up by billionaires. Now, when they fall, what will arise in their place? I fear a British Trump. Advertisement Crucial scenes weve wiped from history I am puzzled that we have done so little to mark the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia (as it then was) 50 years ago. The arrival of tanks in Prague was, and remains, one of the most poignant and shocking events of modern history, which I remember very well. Poignant: Protesters confront a Soviet tank in Prague in 1968 To see the iron crudity of Soviet power crushing liberty in Europes loveliest city was especially painful. It was also, though we did not know it at the time, the beginning of the end of Soviet Communism and the start of a new and far more dangerous version of Marxism, which got loose at the same time and now infects the once-free West. Advertisement If you want to comment on Peter Hitchens click here In her well-worn leather jacket, fitted blue jeans and cowboy boots, Chris Keeble couldn't look less like a grandmother-of-two. But then this motorcycle-loving 59-year-old is hardly your ordinary granny. For the past 40 years, the Sydney-based Ms Keeble has been riding motorbikes - and now heading into retirement, she is riding her biggest ride yet. 'I believe age is no barrier to anything. It's attitude. I have more energy now than when I did in my thirties,' she told FEMAIL. Motorcycle mama: Chris Keeble (pictured) has been riding motorbikes for the past 40 years Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Ms Keeble, a marketing executive, said she learned to ride as a 20-year-old - not long before she became a mum - because she hated the idea of being a passenger. 'My husband at the time had a motorbike, and I really hated being a pillion,' she said. 'So I decided rather than miss out, I'd get my licence and ride alongside him, not behind him. 'Which is how it should be,' the feisty Ms Keeble declared. 'I believe age is no barrier to anything. It's attitude. I have more energy now than when I did in my thirties,' the effusive Ms Keeble said Her first bike was a just 'little thing' but just the right size for a legal learner. And while it allowed her to hone her riding abilities, it wasn't long before 'bigger and fancier bikes' started to appeal. She bought her first Harley Davidson - a Sportster 883 Custom - when she was 28, one she'd throw 'around like a BMX'. Over the course of the next 30 years, Ms Keeble upgraded to several larger Harley's. She said she 'loved them all and all were very different'. Ms Keeble (pictured) said she was prompted to learn to ride as a 20-year-old so she didn't have to ride as a pillion passenger with her husband While riding has always been her passion, motherhood meant she needed to put this much-loved activity on hold for a few years so she could concentrate on bringing up her kids. Chris Keeble's advice to other who want to ride motorbikes: Start with a little scooter and learn about riding on the road. This helps you get used to the feeling of being so open. Learn, practice and watch videos and always ride within your comfort zone. Dont let anyone force you to be faster or take risks. Advertisement 'You can't take them with you when they are very young,' she said. 'And short of getting a side-car, it was hard to find the time to ride. 'As they got older, I picked it up again and on occasion took them for a ride. One at a time (you have to be a minimum of eight-years-old to ride pillion on a motorbike). 'Motorbike riding for me is all about solitude,' she continued. 'It's an escape and it's okay to want to escape your kids at times!'. The mother-of-two said while her kids were younger, riding needed to take a backseat With her two daughters now grown (34 and 35) and retirement on the horizon, plans are in place to hit the road, and on her biggest bike to date. A year ago Ms Keeble purchased 'Calamity Jane' - a 1800cc Indian Chief Vintage Classic, one that cost $33,000. I love creating a character. I've done it with all my bikes and this one if by far the most outrageous 'The Indians are huge and very powerful which was a concern. They are very intimidating at first, but like everything you get used to it,' she said. 'It's a big bike (over 400 kgs) and has tested me at times with its power and handling in tight spots. 'The more you ride the better you become, and you are never too old to improve and learn. Her much-loved bike is also a showstopper - and so it should be - given Ms Keeble has spent $10,000 customising it to her taste. 'I'm a bit of a creative soul and I tend to bespoke my bikes to within an inch of their lives. So they become a talking point,' she said. Ms Keeble with her bike 'Calamity Jane': 'I'm a bit of a creative soul and I tend to bespoke my bikes to within an inch of their lives,' she said 'I love creating a character,' she added. 'I've done it with all my bikes and this one is by far the most outrageous. 'I love the steampunk, equestrian, vintage look which is what I've tried to create.' Capturing the attention of passersby is something this motorcycle mama said makes her feel good. 'Men, women and children all admire her. Some think it's crazy what I have done to the bike and a bit over the top,' she said. 'It's a talking point wherever I go and I LOVE her.' Her 1800cc Indian Chief Vintage Classic - Ms Keeble's biggest bike yet - is a showstopper Ms Keeble's lust for riding sees her hitting the road by herself or with a small group of riders. She has ridden all over Australia, as well as the US, and hopes one day to ride all over the world. But as to be expected, there have been a few scary moments along the way. I've been lost and I've been found and it's always exhilarating and what makes it all a bit special She recalled one experience - a seriously 'close call' - where she was thrown off her bike when she hit a pothole after coming around a corner. 'I ended up airborne and then came down on the other side of the road towards oncoming traffic,' she said. While she was able to turn around 'just in the nick of time', she clipped a car's hubcap. And although she was left very shaken, she walked away without any injuries. 'I've been lost and I've been found and it's always exhilarating and what makes it all a bit special,' she said. 'The moments where you are out in the middle of nowhere with the winding road and the countryside is just the most beautiful, peaceful and wonderful feeling.' The 59-year-old believes in the importance of 'leading from where you stand' and encouraging the women in her life to be brave The 59-year-old marketing executive also has a couple of young granddaughters she adores, so bigger journeys are on hold for now until her girls are a bit older. But once she takes to the open road again she hopes her future is packed with even more travels 'around Australia and around the world'. Being a positive role model women, and in particular the women in her family, means showing them how brave they can be. 'You have to lead from where you stand, that's important,' she said. 'I live my life to the fullest and my daughters do the same. I want to be a good role model and leave a good legacy. 'Women are such special creatures. I'm so happy I'm a woman! I love breaking down stereotypes, pushing the boundaries and being brave and crazy!'. To find out more about Chris Keeble's adventures, you can visit her at The Aussie & The Indian. They had no professional networks, no credit history and an idea few people had ever heard of before. But Rizwan and Sandrine Syed - who migrated from India and France to Australia in the early 2000s - have gone on to build a multi-million dollar eyebrow shaping business from the ground up. The Perth-based 38-year-old's established Zubias Threading before the traditional form of Indian hair removal was a buzzword in the Aussie beauty market. Rizwan (right) and Sandrine (left) Syed have gone on to build a multi-million dollar eyebrow shaping business from the ground up What is eyebrow threading? An ancient hair-removal technique practiced for centuries among women of Asia and the Middle East. It involves twisting a piece of thread, usually cotton, into a double strand. This is then used to pick up a line of hair and remove it, creating a very clean, precise hairline. Advertisement 'When it's something brand new, people go, "Oh, don't know, don't want to know",' Mr Syed told FEMAIL. After months of rejections from landlords, banks, and insurers, a local Chinese businessman rented them a small pathway space along Fremantle's E-Shed market. So with just $5,000 Mr and Mrs Syed opened the first Zubia's Threading outlet. Today, they own 30 stores across Perth with plans to expand into Melbourne and Sydney. Their team of experts have shaped more than 10 million eyebrows. So with just $5,000 Mr and Mrs Syed opened the first Zubia's Threading outlet (pictured) Learning the tools of the trade: After months of rejections from landlords, banks, and insurers a local Chinese businessman rented them a small pathway space along Fremantle's E-Shed market 'Our loyal customers, either myself or my wife had to teach and show each and every one of them what we do, and once we built their trust and confidence, that's when they became our advocates,' Mr Syed said. 'From virtually nothing, we now employ 150 staff who are mostly migrants they are already so grateful to be here,' Mr Syed said. 'Our staff come from countries like Persia, Afghanistan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Mauritius. Today, they own 30 stores across Perth with plans to expand into Melbourne and Sydney and their team of experts have shaped more than 10 million eyebrows BEFORE AND AFTER: Mr and Mrs Syed have spent time teaching many staff how to speak English and sponsored others to stay in Australia 'Many could not get work elsewhere in Perth, or if they had, had been exploited. I believe that we are all working together and I have a responsibility to help others. 'I have a very strong culture in my company of people who want to make a future here.' Mr and Mrs Syed have spent time teaching many staff how to speak English and sponsored others to stay in Australia. 'Some have had to leave their children behind while they find work, so it's incredibly rewarding to know you're helping people in this way,' Mr Syed said. 'Our staff are the perfect threaders because their cultures are familiar with manipulating thread and their motor skills are magnificent - whereas it's not natural to use thread in the west. Eyebrow threading (pictured) gives a very defined look to thick facial hair What are the secrets to the Syed's success? A clear and genuine business purpose that adds value to your customers: The Syeds' aim was to provide affordable and professional beauty treatments to make customers look and feel great. Extensive education was required because threading was unheard of in Australia at that time. The couple was told they would fail but persisted, and taught others. Focus on your employees, by deeply understanding why they work for y ou: Spend time understanding each staff member individually. The couple believe their role is to help their team members lead successful lives as a result, customers benefit, and the business grows. Be willing to try something different and work hard: When the Syeds started no one wanted to take them on. It was hard to find a landlord, it was hard to find the proper chairs for threading, it was hard to find insurance, but they kept going and worked hard. For two years they worked every day except Christmas Day. Always plan: The Syeds started growing the business by adding more salons. Now the future is in franchising. Ten of their stores are franchised and their expansion into Sydney will be around a franchise business model. Always focus on the mission not the money: The Syed's mission was to make people aware of the benefits of their business. Their driving passion has resonated through the business and they have long-term team members; but they also bring new blood into the business. Learn from other people's mistakes Don't be afraid of expansion: The Syed's opened multiple stores with a great deal of distance between them. Don't fear losing control - learn to deal with different mindsets in a remote sense. The Syed's worked on themselves and this shows in their team. Advertisement 'I'm yet to train a western person successfully.' Mr Syed's business acumen started to emerge during his childhood years in native India because his father was a farmer turned businessman - but it was his five sisters who had the flare for beauty. 'That's a lot of sisters, and that's a lot of beauty treatments that go around in the house, and certainly threading was one of those,' Mr Syed said. 'I grew up having hair pulled off my hand while I was sleeping because my sisters thought it was funny. I grew up with these techniques and I knew them very well.' Mr Syed had a dream to move to Australia and he did so in 2003 to study his Masters in Information Systems in Adelaide (an influencer for the brand pictured) Mr Syed had a dream to move to Australia and he did so in 2003 to study his Masters in Information Systems in Adelaide. But it wasn't his passion so he started to explore potential business options with his future wife, who had a successful position teaching French at a language school. Mr Syed's sister suggested he start an eyebrow threading business like her own in the United States. The couple visited her to learn the technique. Mr Syed's sister suggested he start an eyebrow threading business like her own in the United States And it's not just for women! Men are using the facility to get a well kept brow 'In India a man doing threading would be frowned upon big time, so I was observing, my sister was teaching Sandrine,' Mr Syed said. 'We grew the skills ourselves on real people, and then we realised we had a special way of doing the eyebrows which no other country does. Which is why we are unique in what we do, and we train our staff to do it our way.' The couple said there was no comparison between threading and waxing - with threading offering 'laser beam' accuracy which waxing couldn't. The couple said there was no comparison between threading and waxing - with threading offering 'laser beam' accuracy which waxing couldn't 'If you hold a piece of string at two points, it's the most accurate straight line you can create,' said Mr Syed. 'It's like building a building - builders use string to get a straight line. We use that as a tool to get perfect balance on your eyebrows, no other technique can match that. Whether you build a house or your eyebrows, string is the answer.' 'Threading clears the area around it far better than waxing or tweezing because it removes the fluff, including ingrown and facial hair, so the area around becomes crystal clear and makes them "pop",' Mrs Syed said. When most people leave the house for work, they begin the commute to a rather stable environment. Maybe an office, a government building, a restaurant, a shop floor or a building site. But for Brea Marshall, a 34-year-old woman from Queensland's Gold Coast, what greets her at work is very different - usually a crime scene and death. Ms Marshall is a forensic trauma cleaner who is one of the first on the ground after a death, tasked with assessing damage, dealing with heartbroken loved ones and literally cleaning up after catastrophes. The mother-of-two told FEMAIL how she turned her family business into a hugely successful service provider, the most difficult aspect of her job, and what her experiences have taught her about life. Ms Marshall (pictured with her children) is a forensic trauma cleaner who is one of the first on the ground after a fatality, tasked with assessing damage, dealing with heartbroken loved ones and literally cleaning up after catastrophes The mother-of-two revealed how she turned her family business into a hugely successful service provider, as well as the most difficult aspect of her job and what these experiences have taught her about life When her father suffered a stroke, Ms Marshall left her job in recruitment to take over the day-to-day running of his carpet-cleaning and restoration business. 'It was meant to be temporary, but I quickly discovered no two days were the same, and I thrived on the variety,' she explained. After taking the helm, Ms Marshall got a call requesting her services to clean up at the scene of a fatality, and she identified a niche. 'I realised there was a gap in the market for this type of work - no one was doing it professionally in the Gold Coast region.' Ms Marshall followed her gut instinct, getting her staff to undertake a nationally certified training course for biohazard cleaning, which included crime scenes, trauma and death scenes, suicides, and blood and bodily fluid clean-ups. The business soon became the preferred service provider for major organisations such as Queensland Rail and the regional police force. Ms Marshall and her staff undertook a nationally certified training course for biohazard cleaning which included crime scenes, trauma and death scenes, suicide, blood and bodily fluid clean-ups Describing her commitment to her job, Ms Marshall said she enjoys walking into work without knowing what the day will look like. 'You never know how big or small a job is going to be, nor the severity of emotion for the people involved,' she said. Handling incredibly delicate situations which often involve death, Ms Marshall deals with friends, family members, neighbours and third parties such as landlords during moments of intense stress and heightened anxiety. 'The job could be a simple clean-up with just a little blood, or an unattended death that has been decomposing for over a week in humid weather,' she said. 'You never know how big or small a job is going to be, nor the severity of emotion for the people involved' - Ms Marshall Sharing the memory of her most difficult call-out, Ms Marshall remembered going to the studio apartment of an elderly person who passed away in the middle of summer. 'By the time the body was found, they had been over four weeks during the hottest season on record. 'Neighbours were complaining of the smell and eventually someone had to kick the door down. 'I have never in all my life smelled anything like it; most people don't realise what happens to your body when you die.' Ms Marshall and her team had to gut the entire property, a harrowing process which took more than two weeks. 'The job affected all our staff emotionally, and it prompted me to implement strict protocol for how we handle the aftermath of such a call-out in a sensitive manner for everyone involved.' Ms Marshall admitted that balancing her serious and often psychologically stressful career with motherhood can be 'pretty tricky' (pictured with her husband) Ms Marshall admitted that balancing her serious and often psychologically stressful career with motherhood can be 'pretty tricky'. 'This type of work is not 9-5, you can get a call at any time. 'I've been on school pick-up with the kids screaming in the back seat and got a call from a distressed family member about a suicide. 'That's the hard part,' she said. Ms Marshall said her sometimes distressing job has made her 'really believe that death is just a fact of life' In Ms Marshall's experience, suicide is the most common cause of death for the scenes she works on. 'There's a certain anonymity to it - unfortunately, people check into hotels with the intention to commit suicide. 'It's a very public and extremely traumatic event for anyone in the surrounding area.' Asked about what impact being a forensic cleaner has had on her perspective on living, Ms Marshall offered a frank revelation. 'It's made me really believe that death is just a fact of life. '[And] it does make me hug my children tighter,' she told the Gold Coast Bulletin. 'Also, you'd never want one of your loved ones to die alone or be left undiscovered.' If you or anyone you know is struggling, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or Headspace on 1800 650 890. Viewers tuning into the BBC's explosive new drama Bodyguard last night have complained the show isn't realistic - because is portrays too many women in senior positions in the police and politics. The show opens with counter terrorist policeman David Budd - played by Richard Madden - stopping a terrorist attack on a train with just seconds to spare, Budd is on the train to London when he spots to train guard trying to get into the toilets, and learns that there's a suspected suicide bomber on board. He intervenes and finds a Muslim woman with a bomb strapped to her chest, after being convinced to blow the train up by her husband. As her hands quivered over the trigger Budd managed to convince her to stand down, while a female explosives expert examines the device strapped to her chest. Budd, a former solider that was stationed in Afghanistan, is promoted - by Chief Superintendent Lorraine Craddock - to be the personal bodyguard of the Home Secretary, the Rt. Hon Julia Montague, played by Keeley Hawes. But some took to Twitter to accuse the BBC of being too PC and claimed it 'ruins the credibility' of the show, saying all these jobs would not be taken by women in real life. Some viewers tuning into the BBC 's explosive new drama Bodyguard last night complained that there were too many female characters, including an explosives officer who was seen trying to diffuse a device worn by a female suicide bomber Keeley Hawes plays the Home Secretary, the Rt. Hon Julia Montague. Some viewers argued it's unrealistic that so many women would be senior politicians, despite the fact the UK has a female prime minister and the last home secretary was a woman One viewer said that the show created an 'unrealistic portrayal of women heading up the armed forces', but others argued that anyone who thinks there are too many female characters in the show is the one with the problem Counter terrorist policeman David Budd receives his promotion from Chief Superintendent Lorraine Craddock, his commanding officer at RaSP (Royalty and Specialist Protection) And while some of the comments were from men, even women disagreed with the number of females in the show. One woman tweeted: 'Im all for gender equality in the police but so far the operational commander, sniper and explosives expert are all women. What an utter load of b******s.' 'Why were all the police marksmen/controllers etc ALL women?' another wrote. 'Ridiculous casting. So wrong.' But while some insisted the casting was 'PC gone mad', others suggested that those complaining are the one with the issue. Some viewers complained the show wasn't credible because there were too many women in senior positions within the police force and politics 'If you've got an issue with how many women are in the show, I'd suggest the problem is you, not the show,' one wrote. 'Would it be better to have white males as we have since the year dot?' another asked. Others took to Twitter to praise the show, saying it was the 'most intense TV they had ever seen. One tweeted: 'The intense-o-metre just went right through the red zone.' Another posted: 'My nerves can't deal with this, it's so intense and they've barely left the one scene'. After the attack Budd was assigned to protect Montague, a job he wasn't happy to accept. After seeing friends die in Afghanistan he has issues with politicians who made the decision to go to war. But viewers are convinced the plot will follow the example of its namesake - 1992's The Bodyguard starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner - and develop a romance between the lead and her bodyguard. Richard Madden's character had to convince a terrorist not to blow up a London bound train in the first episode of BBC One's Bodyguard on Sunday night (pictured) Montague, played by Keely Hawes, (pictured) takes off her own top and reveals her bra in front of Budd when she changes her clothes As a result of foiling the terror attack David is promoted to be the personal bodyguard of Montague as fears of another terror attack rise. Pictured: Madden and Hawes as Budd and Montague Budd has a hatred of politicians after his time serving in Afghanistan made him hate polticians who started the war. Pictured: Madden and Hawes as Budd and Montague In one particularly steamy scene Montague gets coffee on her blouse before an important TV interview and Budd offers his shirt for her to wear. Revealing his muscular frame, Budd takes off his shirt and hands it to Montague, before she undresses in front of him and puts it on, revealing her bra. One tweeted: 'An hour of tense drama #bodyguard ...now over to the classic romance #thebodyguard #WhitneyHouston #ihavenothing' It's easy to fall into hair styling habits, but sometimes sticking with the same thing can make you look older than you really are. From blowdrying your hair too straight to using the wrong shampoo, there are plenty of common hair errors that could be ageing you. FEMAIL spoke to celebrity hairdresser, Anthony Nader, who has worked with the likes of Cate Blanchett - and he revealed the most common mistakes middle-aged women make. The leading stylist also shared how getting 'secret panels' in your locks could take ten years off you. From blowdrying your hair too straight to using the wrong shampoo, there are plenty of common hair errors that could be ageing you (stock image) FEMAIL spoke to celebrity hairdresser, Anthony Nader (pictured), who has worked with the likes of Cate Blanchett - as he revealed the most common mistakes middle-aged women make OPTING FOR SOLID LINES While a directional, graphic style might have suited you in your twenties, by the time you hit your forties, anything too sharp can look harsh. 'Forego any harsh or hard lines, as they won't do your face any favours,' Anthony told Daily Mail Australia. 'As you get older, you need to ensure your haircuts get softer and have texture as well.' The hair stylist explained that softer textured ends will always suit middle-aged women, as the hair 'will appear soft and to hug around the hairline'. 'You want to avoid it looking too blunt as this will create hard lines,' Anthony added. 'When you hit middle age, try to stop blowdrying your hair poker straight,' Anthony said - as this can often look too harsh and lacking in volume (stock image) BLOWDRYING TOO STRAIGHT Straight, sleek hair has long been in fashion. But if you're entering or in middle age, you might want to re-think it as your go-to look. 'When you hit middle age, try to stop blowdrying your hair poker straight,' Anthony said. 'Invest in a middle-sized boar brush and use it while you're blowdrying to help to give your strands more shape and volume.' He explained that volume and bounce will 'always give your hair more oomph and life, while leaving it straight can often age the face'. When it comes to hiding greys, while the temptation might be to go dark and intense in your colour, Anthony said lighter is always better (stock image) GOING TOO DARK TIPS FOR MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN'S HAIR * Anthony recommends avoiding getting stuck in a hair rut. * 'The biggest mistake middle-aged women make is growing their hair longer and keeping it at that length.' * He said it's a good idea to go to a salon with some form of pictorial hair reference, and to ask for some 'lightly scattered layers around the face'. * Layers can enhance your complexion and take years off your face. * Anthony said you should direct hair towards your face so it has framing and your bone structure softens. * Countless stylists also recommend you try not to fall into the 'blondeitis' trap of too many highlights. * Anthony recommends never asking for one block colour. * Another mistake he frequently sees is when women overload their locks with too much product. Advertisement When it comes to hiding greys, while the temptation might be to go dark and intense in your colour, Anthony said lighter is always better. 'The lighter you keep your coloured hair, the more natural it will look,' he explained. 'Meanwhile, when you go too dark it can look wig-like and the grey strands will be more noticeable popping through.' Take advice from a colourist and make sure you colour suits your complexion. FORGETTING ABOUT A FRINGE You might have had a fringe when you were five, but they work wonders for middle-aged women as well. 'Curtain-shaped bangs hide a multitude of sins with regards to wrinkles on your forehead,' Anthony said. 'But you should try and go for a longer-skimmed look, as this will elongate and slim the face.' USING THE WRONG SHAMPOO Anthony said that once you hit middle age, a regular shampoo just won't cut it anymore. 'Invest in a gloss or shine shampoo and conditioner from hereon in, to give your hair back some of that hydration it so desperately needs.' FORGETTING TO SOFTEN Last but not least, Anthony said that all too often middle-aged women forget to add movement and body to their single-coloured locks. 'Next time you visit the salon, get your colourist to add some chunky lighter panels around the face, but not on the hairline,' he said. 'I call these "secret panels" as thy sit underneath the part line and frame the face perfectly. 'The reason why these are so good is because they soften your entire look and in turn soften your face. 'They can help you to look up to ten years younger.' Youd think these teenagers had just survived a mass shooting at a high school, or emerged after a week lost in a cave without food or water. There was sobbing, and strenuous hugging with long, lean, adolescent limbs. There was leaping and screaming, as though at the concert of an idol. If that wasnt bad enough, then the blasted parents joined in. They grasped their offspring who theyve probably not seen or spoken to in three years due to the fact their kids are always locked in their bedrooms staring at a small screen as though they had just been plucked, safe and so very brave, from the icy waters of the Atlantic. Oh my God, oh my clever darling. You got a 4 in drama! Now you can be anything you want to be! Yay! Teenager with surprise examination results pictured (stock image) This mass hysteria of British 16- and 18-year-olds on exam results day, the oversharing and the over-emoting, like members of the cast of some awful American romcom, was then broadcast to the nation on every news bulletin with all the gravitas and hoo-hah of a General Election. First, we had the A-level lot, dissolving into public puddles about their triumphs or despair (a pointless exercise, given universities are now hoovering up anyone with an E in woodwork). Then we had the horror last week that is 16-year-olds receiving their GCSE results: tiny Justin Biebers and Ariana Grandes, all in their bright sportswear and high ponytails, acting as though they were in a Netflix mini-series. They were hugged hard by harried parents who bribed them to do well with a promise of a weekend at the Leeds Festival, and who are now worried about highs of a different nature. Whatever happened to that silent ceremony of opening an envelope delivered in the post? You know, a white, oblong thing with your name on the front and popped through your letterbox. Thats how I got my O-level and then my A-level results. I opened each missive alone, left them on the kitchen table, and that was that. There was no hysteria. I didnt go anywhere for a group hug. There was no leaping. My mum certainly didnt cry. I dont think my dad said a word. All this public oversharing makes me worry for kids who didnt do well. The photogenic, shiny sobbing is bullying in all but name. Its showing off in the worst possible manner. I suppose we have to expect it on social media, where narcissism finds its fullest expression. But this annual TV news event, feeding on minnows as they get their exam results, means the cult of extrovertism has well and truly infected our shores and, like plastic, has washed up everywhere. At funerals: your 92-year-old mother has died. Its sad, yes, but not a national tragedy. At weddings: youre a bride. Stop sobbing and taking selfies and wake up to the fact that youre not just there for the photo album. Birthdays have now morphed into birthweekends, with stupid, elaborate cakes, even though youre 43, not 12. You only have to look at Fridays brag-posts by the Ramsays and the Beckhams about their little darlings to realise that making a fuss isnt cool. Being quiet, modest and stiff-upper-lipped: now thats really smart. I was outraged last week to read reports in the UK press about so-called beasts attacking innocent tourists. The beasts in question were young bulls being forced to take part in a festival in Valencia. The reason the animals were terrified was they had flaming torches attached to their horns. Any idiot holidaymaker who chooses to attend such a cruel, outdated spectacle deserves to be gored, then set alight. Lets see how they like it. The man imprisoned for life for throwing acid in the face of Katie Piper is to be released within weeks. Oh Katie. She is one of the most inspirational women Ive ever met. She has poor sight, her eyelashes now grow painfully inwards so she has to remove them, and she must apply drops made from her own plasma to stop rejection of the corneal grafts. But when I asked if she can even bear to look in the mirror she said: Ive got quite a nice bum. I wear the smallest bikini I can find. A lesson in positivity for us all. Blogger Constance Hall has been left 'shocked' after a woman unleashed a tirade on the mother-of-five outside an airport. The 35-year-old from Western Australia had just landed in Bali with her youngest son Raja when she heard someone yelling behind her. Calling it the 'worst f***ing experience' Constance explained the exchange on her Instagram Story. Blogger Constance Hall has been left 'shocked' after a woman unleashed a tirade on the mother-of-five outside an airport 'I was being my usual self and like singing and chatting to Raja and he was in the baby carrier and we were having such a nice time,' she started, filming the footage from her Balinese hotel room. When Constance arrived at the airport she described how she called her sister for a quick chat. 'Raja's at that age where he just pulls your hair,' she explained. 'He starts pulling my hair so I told [my sister] "I've gotta go" and then I hang up and I'm like "no no no no no baby, don't do that, don't do mummy's hair".' Constance said she then realised she was being shouted at. 'This woman walking past me just starts yelling at me and she goes "You are such a b*tch".' The 35-year-old from Western Australia had just landed in Bali with her youngest son Raja when she heard someone yelling behind her Calling it the 'worst f*cking experience' Constance explained the exchange on her Instagram Story - a platform more than 334,000 of her followers can watch It was those five words that caught Constance's attention, before the woman carried on. '"Don't be such a b*tch to your son, look at that woman, she's such a b*tch to her son",' Constance recounted. When the woman's partner asked what Constance had done to cause that a stir, she said Constance was 'yelling' at Raja. 'I was like "oh my god, I never ever yell at my kid",' she said. When the woman's partner asked what Constance had done to cause that a stir, she said Constance was 'yelling' at Raja Calling the woman a c***, Constance went on to say everyone will encounter such people in their lives and it's best to just let them be 'Like I would never even raise my voice - I get in trouble for bloody not yelling at my kids.' The 'mum shaming' encounter left a bitter taste in Constance's mouth, she explained, and put a dampener on their trip. 'So that was shocking it actually really f***ed me off for like half an hour,' she said. Calling the woman a c***, Constance went on to say everyone will encounter such people in their lives and it's best to just let them be. A father-of-two has become an online sensation by using his editing skills to imagine what children's drawings would look like in real life. Tom Curtis, who lives in the UK, takes abstract art from creative little ones and uses Photoshop to bring them to life, be it an animal, an airplane - or even the Queen. He started the Things I Have Drawn Instagram account as a fun project with his two sons, Al and Dom, but now accepts submissions from children around the world. Speaking to Campaign Live, Mr Curtis said: 'I thought about what the world really would look like the way kids drew them, drew animals or drew objects around them. So I decided it was a very simple idea and decided to turn the thing that my sons had drawn into something real.' Examples of his work include a curious four-eyed creature with fangs, which he suggested could be an 'abnormal mouse' or a 'mutant shrew', and a terrifying interpretation of the Queen with a pinched nose and a spiky crown. Mr Curtis' work has proved so popular that he's released a book, Things I Have Drawn: At The Zoo. Here, FEMAIL shares some of the best examples... British father Tom Curtis uses Photoshop to imagine what children's drawings (like the one pictured) might look like in real life. He has amassed 126,000 followers on Instagram with his creative ideas and has recently released a book bringing together some of his best work Mr Curtis decided the creature, with four eyes and fangs, could be an 'abnormal mouse or a mutant shrew' if it were to exist This unusual creature had the same pointy teeth, a small nose, curly hair and an abstract crown Mr Curtis used his skills to create this rather spooky version of the Queen. He captioned the image: 'A glimpse of Her Majesty, in lovely lime green. We love her really, dont we boys' Author Tom then photoshopped the image onto a picture of the Statue of Liberty, adding of his son's attempt at the monument: 'Al drew from a book - hes not really been' Mr Curtis' son drew his interpretation of flight ZB016 that the family took from Luton to Spain The father jokingly said this is what the 'real' plane looked like flying overhead Author and artist Tom shared a snap of himself holding 'spinning eyes' over his face after his sons Al and Dom drew a 'portrait' of him (above), before posting a snap of 'reality' Tom then showed what the picture would look like if it was reality, photoshopping himself to look rather cross-eyed in a hilarious image of what he would look like according to his sons Author Tom then shared a picture his sons had drawn of a hippopotamus, revealing they had sketched it at the zoo before he used it as inspiration for a photoshoppped version In a hilarious 'children's reality', author Tom then posted a picture of a family of hippos, with his sons' version photoshopped into the midst of them, making for a very odd image Posting a snap of another one of his sons' creative sketches, author Tom showed off a long-necked creature with the caption: 'What could this be?', teasing his fans to guess Author Tom then posted a snap of a cobra and ET, before settling on Donald Trump as imagined by his sons, writing of the reimagined drawing: 'He definitely looks a bit weird to me' Teasing his followers, author Tom then posted a picture of a four-legged animal urging them to guess what it was, with fans guessing 'a turtle' and even a tiger Author Tom then posted a picture of a cow with a drawing of his son's face photoshopped onto it, writing: 'Didnt you know? Of course its a cow!', racking up thousands of likes Revealing that he encouraged his sons to draw sketches according to the alphabet, artist Tom then shared an adorable drawing of a fish before posting an image of it photoshopped onto the side of a real fish Artist Tom then posted a snap of a crab spread-eagled on the sand, as imagined through the eyes of his sons. He wrote: 'Another picture showed I thought we could probably make an entire alphabet out of the pictures weve made together' Continuing the 'c' theme, artist Tom Curtis posted a picture of a cockerel, photoshopped with a hilarious elongated beak as imagined by his son in another adorable post Artist Tom Curtis then shared a picture from his 'p' theme to Instagram, holding up his son's sketch of a parrot, photoshopped onto a real picture of one with hilarious results She usually looks the picture of a modern princess on her royal engagements. But Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, 46, cut a very different figure in a cape and flowing green and red dress as she attended church with her family on the Faroe Islands, on Sunday. The Danish royals once again donned traditional Faroese costume as they arrived for the service in the city of Sandavagur on their fourth and final day of their visit to the islands. Princess Isabella, 11, and Princess Josephine, seven, wore similar dresses to their mother, while Prince Christian, 12, and Prince Vincent, seven, sported black trousers, a waistcoat, buckled shoes and long black socks, like their father Crown Prince Frederick, 50. Australian-born Princess Mary, donned a green and red dress laced up at the front with a black shawl (left), while her two daughters Princess Isaballa (middle) and Princess Josephine (right) wore blue and red version of the dress, as they attended church on the Faroe Islands Crown Prince Frederick, who is the heir apparent to the Danish throne, (back middle) wore short black trousers, a red waistcoat, buckled shoes and long black socks, while Prince Christian (back left) and Prince Vincent wore the same but with a blue jacket and blue socks. Pictured with Crown Princess Mary (back right) and Princess Isaballa (front) Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent were on their best behaviour as they attended church The family donned the traditional garments as a sign of respect on their way to church. The family is on their last day of a four-day visit to the Danish islands, which are hundreds of miles off the Scottish coast between Norway and Iceland. Today they also took lunch in the Old Warehouse in the village of Bur before they officially depart the islands. Faroese national dress is traditionally worn on holidays like Olavska, a summer festival, or on other special occasions. Crown Princess Mary, 46, and Crown Prince Frederick, 50, took their children Prince Christian, 12, Princess Iseballa, 11, and seven-year-old twins Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent to church in Sandavagur on the Faroe Islands (pictured heading into church) Prince Christian, 12, walked side-by-side with his father Crown Prince Frederick as they made their way into the church on the Faroe Islands. It is the end of their four-day visit Princess Mary leads her two daughters, aged 11 and seven, into the church on Sunday morning. The royals donned the traditional dress as a sign of respect Men wear a plain white shirt under a brightly-coloured wool waistcoat. Over that they don a knitted jacket with woollen knee-length trousers and long knitted socks. Women wear a tight red and black open sweater laced together with silver chains, which is worn with an ankle length skirt a shawl made of either silk or wool. The family's visit coincided with the slaughtering of dozens of pilot whales and white-sided dolphins as part of the annual hunting season on the Faroe Islands. 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. Princess Isabella, left, clutched a small bunch of wild flowers as she joined her family at church. The young princesses wore their long hair twisted into neat braided up dos 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 hunts have been criticised by animal rights campaigners, who say the ritual is cruel and unnecessary. Princess Mary (front left) beamed for cameras and slid a protective arm around her youngest daughter (front right) as the rest of the family followed behind The group followed the priest into the church for the service (pictured), which is their first appearance of the day before they head to lunch at the Old Warehouse in the village of Bur 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. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended church in Balmoral this morning after arriving in Scotland for their summer holiday. Kate, 36, and William, 36, joined the Queen, 92, in Her Majesty's Bentley as the royal family left Crathie Kirk following the service. Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, the Countess of Wessex and Lady Louise Windsor were also in attendance, with the group travelling in four separate cars. Absent were the Cambridges' children, Prince George, five, Princess Charlotte, three, and three-month-old Prince Louis, who are believed to have stayed on the estate. It has already been a busy trip for the young royals with Prince George being taken out yesterday to watch his first ever grouse shoot. The Duchess of Cambridge, 36, rode in the backseat alongside the Queen, 92, in Her Majesty's Bentley as the royal family headed back to Balmoral following the service at Crathie Kirk on Sunday. The Cambridges have joined the Queen in Scotland for their summer holiday Prince Edward took the wheel as he drove his wife, Sophie Wessex, and daughter Lady Louise Windsor, 14. Their son James, Viscount Severn, 10, did not appear to have joined them Prince William sat in the front passenger's seat of Her Majesty's Bentley as he joined his wife the Duchess of Cambridge and his grandmother the Queen for church on Sunday morning Prince Charles looked in excellent spirits as he waved through the window to well-wishers following the service. It is not known whether the Duchess of Cornwall, 70, was present Princess Anne opted for a purple hat and matching coat as she rode in a car with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence and her daughter-in-law Autumn Phillips The young prince was there to watch his father, Prince William, downing the birds in the hills above Loch Muick. The outing comes amid speculation that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex might also visit the Scottish estate this summer. However there was no sign of Meghan or Harry at this morning's church service. The Queen moved into Balmoral castle, in Aberdeenshire, earlier this month for the start of her annual summer break. Crathie Kirk lies next door to the royal estate and the Queen is a regular presence at services during her annual holiday. The Duchess of Cambridge wore a grey checked coat with a black hat and finished the look with a favourite pair of pearl drop earrings. She smiled as she passed well-wishers outside The Queen showcased her love of vibrant colours in a blue coat and matching hat. She added another pop of colour with contrasting orange detailing on the hat and her dress The Queen and Kate wrapped up against the cold with a blanket across their laps George, five, continues a family tradition as he is taken to watch his first grouse shoot at Balmoral By Jim Lawson for the Scottish Mail on Sunday It's never too soon to get one acquainted with the hunting, shooting and fishing ways of the Royal Family. So on Friday the Duchess of Cambridge chauffeured her five-year-old son, Prince George, to his first grouse shoot on the Queen's Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire. The young prince was there to watch his father, Prince William, downing the birds in the hills above Loch Muick. They were later joined for an al fresco lunch by the 92-year-old monarch - who drove there herself in her favourite Range Rover - and by Prince Charles, Prince Edward, his wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, and their children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn. Also arriving separately for the family fun was the Princess Royal, her daughter Zara and her husband Mike Tindall. The weather, except for one downpour, was kind to them. Royal watchers are now waiting with bated breath for Prince Harry to introduce Meghan to life at Balmoral. Prince William began his country sports career early, too. He was photographed in 1994 as a young teenager at Balmoral, where he claimed his first stag with a single shot. He is believed to have been 'blooded' - smeared on the forehead with the blood of the animal. This followed his father's initiation, after Prince Charles claimed his first stag more than 30 years before. Advertisement The monarch frequently hosts guests during the summer stay and today looked in excellent spirits as she stepped out with her children and grandchildren. The Queen wore a vibrant blue coat for the occasion, which she wore over a bold blue and orange printed dress. She finished the look with a matching blue hat with orange feather detailing on the rim. The Duchess of Cambridge, who is currently on maternity leave following the birth of Prince Louis in April, embraced the coming season in a tailored grey coat with a Peter Pan collar and black piped trim. The Duchess of Cambridge appeared to be chatting to her husband as they left the church The Queen, pictured today, is currently on her annual summer retreat in Balmoral The monarch's blue coat provided a welcome pop of colour on a grey day in Aberdeenshire She finished off the look with a black hat and a favourite pair of pearl drop earrings. The mother-of-three beamed in the back seat as she appeared to chat to Prince William, who was seated in the front passenger seat in front of her. Prince Charles rode in a separate car and appeared thrilled with the turn out of well-wishers outside the church. The 69-year-old royal was snapped chuckling happily as he waved to crowds. It is not known whether the Duchess of Cornwall was present. The Countess of Wessex wore her hair swept back into a simple chignon for the church outing. She wrapped up against the cold whether in a trendy grey jacket Prince Edward looked focused as he drove his family in a metallic emerald green 4x4 Lady Louise Windsor, 14, who enjoys a close relationship with her grandmother the Queen, joined her parents Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex as they travelled home Prince Edward, 54, was behind the wheel of the third car - a 4x4 with a metallic emerald green finish. He looked focused as he drove his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, 53, and 14-year-old daughter Lady Louise Windsor back to the estate. Their son James, Viscount Severn, 10, did not appear to have joined them. In the fourth car travelled Princess Anne, 68, who drew inspiration from her mother's love of bright colours and donned a striking purple coat and hat. Her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, sat in the backseat alongside her daughter-in-law Autumn Phillips, 40, who enjoys a good relationship with the Queen. Princess Anne, 68, donned a purple coat and hat which complemented the colours worn by her daughter-in-law Autumn Phillips, 40, seated behind. The family are on holiday in Balmoral Autumn Phillips, pictured in the backseat, wore a purple tartan scarf draped across her body A mother was left heartbroken after her husband left her for her cousin while she was pregnant. Charlotte McDougall, 26, from Wolverhampton, told how the father of her children Craig, 31, cheated on her with cousin Katie Cartwright, 21, while she was expecting their third child. Ms McDougall told how Miss Cartwright, a law student, had been 'more like a sister' to her while they were growing up. She feared her husband had been unfaithful when she found his wedding ring left in his car and her suspicions were confirmed when she later checked his phone bill. The wife: Charlotte McDougall, 26, pictured, from Wolverhampton, told how the father of her children Craig, 31, cheated on her with cousin Katie Cartwright, 21, while she was expecting their third child. Her suspicions were aroused when she found his wedding ring in his car Speaking to Mirror Online, she said: 'Craig was my husband but she was my blood... You just dont expect that sort of betrayal Ill never forgive her.' Charlotte met Craig through a mutual friend when she was 15. The couple welcomed their first daughter, Caitlynn, now nine, just over a year later. After the heartache of their stillborn daughter brought them closer, Charlotte and Craig tied the knot in 2012. They later welcomed daughter Millie, now five, and Craig was delighted when his wife fell pregnant again last year. But cracks began to show just a few months later. Charlotte first thought something was wrong when Craig was late home from a friend's house without explanation and had something 'pale on his lips'. 'Down the line, I realised it was Katies make-up,' she said. The husband: Father-of-three Craig, 31, pictured, admitted the infidelity after Charlotte checked his phone records. He later moved in with his estranged wife's cousin Charlotte, a carer who gave up work in the wake of the betrayal, noticed Katie was spending time with Craig at the family home but never considered a relationship was flourishing as she trusted them both. And when he told her he needed to move out for a few days and would stay with his mother, Charlotte put the distance down to the normal stresses of family life and reasoned he would soon be back. It was only when she realised he had left his ring behind in his car that she realised he must have met someone else. Craig denied being unfaithful but Charlotte's suspicions were confirmed when she checked his phone bill and found dozens of texts and calls to the same number. The cousin: Law student Katie Cartwright, 21, had been close to Charlotte growing up. A source close to Katie and Craig said he left Charlotte before starting the new relationshi 'I put the number into my phone to see if I knew the person it came up as Katies name,' she continued. 'My worst nightmare came true.' Charlotte said Craig, who now lives with Katie, was still a good father to their three daughters but admitted it was difficult to accept them spending time together as a family. Craig and Katie declined to comment to Mirror Online. A source close to the couple denied Craig cheated. They said: 'Craig did start a relationship with Katie but he does not consider it as an affair because he had already left Charlotte at the point when it started.' Sweat stings my eyes, as I puff my way through a boutique New York studio spin class . . . but its so exhilarating, I hardly care. The soundtrack is fabulous Eighties pop, and elite instructor Cody Rigsby, an ex-dancer with a dazzling grin and a habit of twinkling, I got you, boo! is grooving on his bike just like were in a nightclub. Its a highly motivating combination as the class ends, I realise that Ive cycled more than 16 kilometres. A fellow rider gives me a high-five. I dismount, buzzing with euphoria. My legs are shaky, my thighs burn and I feel smug. Im finally part of the fitness in-crowd. Mum, Im hungry, says my 11-year old, standing in front of me, can you cook dinner? I swig my water and reply, Of course, darling, as I walk five steps into my kitchen. Scroll down for video Anna Maxted (pictured) tried the new Peloton exercise bike ahead of its UK release next month. The state-of-the-art machine has been praised by celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres and Hugh Jackman Confused? Yes, I did just attend an ultra-cool workout session in Manhattan, led by a charismatic instructor with film star looks. But thanks to Peloton, and its state-of-the-art stationary bicycle, with sleek 22in HD touchscreen behind the handlebars, live-streaming classes from across the Atlantic, I did so from the comfort of my London home. Peloton is a simple, but brilliant concept. No more logging into your expensive health club website at dawn to the enraging discovery that the most sought-after class is fully booked. No missing out on your sanity-saving exercise because you cant get to the gym. Since Pelotons U.S. launch five years ago, it has acquired celebrity fans such as David Beckham, Kate Hudson, Ellen DeGeneres and Hugh Jackman, who no doubt appreciate that it is sociable yet private. I roll out of bed, saunter to my bike, log in and peruse todays live schedule. Hmm, Hannah Marie glamorous, sweet, encouraging is taking a 30-minute country music ride at 2.30, and the playlist includes Shania Twain and Carrie Underwood. Ooh, but at 4.30, Robin gorgeous, fun, funky is leading a 30-minute High-IntensityInterval-Training (HIIT) ride, featuring music by Madonna and Eminem (difficulty rating 8.8/10). I can sign up and sit down a minute before it starts. Never a queue, always space. But the real genius of Peloton is, as the name suggests, youre not alone. Technically its just me at home, pedalling away in my gym-gear, but it doesnt feel like it. Bluetooth headphones make the class an immersive experience all I can hear is Cody, ready to get the party started and the music and thanks to the quality of the live-filming its as if hes right in front of me. The leaderboard on my screen tells me 337 people are taking Codys Eighties pop class now. I wonder if one is David Beckham (thankfully for me the playlist is devoid of the Spice Girls). There is MeanChristine, in her 40s, from LA people are usually identified by username, rough age and home town. One woman calls herself the TexasCougar. Anna (pictured) revealed she started to flag about half an hour into a virtual class on the bike. She says receiving a high-five emoji inspired her to crank up a gear Since Pelotons U.S. launch five years ago, it has acquired celebrity fans such as David Beckham (right) and Kate Hudson (left) My ranking is 226. When Hugh Jackman posted his ranking on Instagram several months ago, he was ninth out of 1,885. Show-off. Im the only UK rider everyone else is in the U.S. (Peloton launches here next month) but were all in this together. If you choose, you can remove the leaderboard display, but I love the friendly competition. Codys class is hardcore but fun. Rise up! is his uplifting command to pedal standing. I like his music, which is crucial. Cody rides to the beat, which is infectious and I indulge in a little bike-dancing (as undignified as chair-dancing, but part of what makes this addictive). Up to 45 Peloton members take every class in the New York studio I see them glistening with sweat. Keep that pace! cries Cody, looking at me (OK, into the camera, but I feel he can see me). Connect to the reason youre here! A little bit more fight! Half an hour in, I start to flag. Suddenly, a little hand emoji appears on my screen, and the notice PeloTom high-fived you! The Peloton bike stores workout history such as distance and calorie to give users the ability to track their performance Im surprised and gratified. I tap the hand emoji to high-five him back, and feel inspired to pedal faster and crank up a gear. Soon, MeanChristine high-fives me, and beaming, I return the compliment. Theres more camaraderie here than in my gym. I admit I initially thought: Its a bike. How good can it be? However, Peloton is conceived for the 21st century. The screen is high-res, the bike is sturdy and silent no whirring a bespoke experience. One touch and your workout history appears, detailing classes and stats (calories, distance, cadence, average power output, resistance) so you can track your performance and progress. Peloton founder John Foley came up with his idea for reasons that many time-pressed mid-lifers will recognise, says international MD Kevin Cornils. He was married with two kids. He loved instructor-led boutique fitness classes, but he and his wife Jill were struggling to fit them in, because if they had a favourite instructor, either the class would book up five minutes after it went online, or they couldnt find the time to get there. He wondered, could technology provide a solution to give the same studio-like experience but without the drawbacks. Anna claims the Peloton bike is easy and convenient with a suprising variety of classes No wonder the average age of Peloton members over a million, equally men and women is 44. If you cant make a live ride, you can access it later or choose from more than 10,400 on-demand classes. Having perused the playlist for Codys 20-minute Nineties pop session, I grab my water bottle and hop on the bike between finishing work at 6.15pm and seeing a friend at 7pm. Easy and convenient. I fear a recorded class wont have that same party vibe but I touch Here Now on my screen, and see eight riders are present. How cosy. HappyAnna (30s) gives me a high-five. My phone buzzes Texas-Cougar queen of 403 workouts has followed me! I log in to my account and follow her back. I can now see her progress and receive notifications if shes taking a class so if I want, I can join her. The variety of exercise is surprising. Some rides focus on strength, some are low impact. Some include arm-work there are dumbbells, tucked behind the saddle. Theres also a selection of floor classes (a mats included). Kevin says, Most members do about two-thirds of their workouts on the Peloton, supplemented with outdoor runs, gym visits, weights, etcetera. That would be my ideal too, but what with school holidays and work, dragging myself to the gym feels impossible. Today, I saunter from my desk to check Pelotons live class schedule. Jennifers doing a 30-minute Seventies Rock Ride! (Aerosmith, Police, the Who.) How can I resist? Three minutes later, Im back in the saddle. Peloton bike 1,995 (incl. VAT) plus 39.50 monthly subscription per household. For more information visit global.onepeloton.com Cassandra Stavrou, 34, co-founded Propercorn in 2011 with her business partner Ryan Kohn. She lives in London with her boyfriend Charlie. One of my earliest memories is making popcorn with my father as a child. I was 16 when he died after a long illness, but I still remember the amazing smell and sound of those afternoons spent popping. We used to experiment for hours with flavours, using whatever was knocking around in the cupboards but my favourite was always sweet and salty. After studying law at university, my first job was at an advertising agency in London. I noticed there was a workplace slump at 3pm every day, and a limited choice of snacks: sugary treats that left you feeling guilty or rice cakes that tasted of cardboard. Cassandra Stavrou (pictured), 34, co-founded popcorn brand Propercorn in 2011 with her business partner Ryan Kohn. She was inspired by the limited choice of healthy snacks This was my light-bulb moment: there was a gap in the market for a healthy and delicious snack. And I knew exactly what could fill it. At the time, there were no other big healthy popcorn brands it was something you ate in the cinema. Thats why I knew it would work. There is so much nostalgia around popcorn: people have a relationship with it, just as I did. Id always wanted to set up a business and when I told my mum about my idea, she reminded me the last present my dad ever gave me was a retro popcorn maker. It felt like the perfect storm of timing, insight and serendipity. I quit my job, moved back in with my mum and worked at a pub to raise 10,000 for the start-up. The first year was challenging. I had to work out how to season the popcorn without lashings of butter and oil. I ended up ordering a cement mixer and car spray paint gun to tumble the popcorn and coat it in a layer of rapeseed oil. Then I had to convince a manufacturer to make our samples. We launched Propercorn in October 2011, with four flavours. Google Cafe was our first customer and it snowballed from there. That year, our turnover was 500,000. This year were set to turn over more than 15 million. We are stocked in ten countries and three million packets are sold every month. I know that my dad, who was also a businessman, would be proud. Especially since, eight flavours later, sweet and salty is still my favourite. John McCain served in battle and in office until his death, despite a myriad of medical issues, many of which have narrow odds of survival. He released his entire history of medical ordeals to the public when he ran for president in 2000 and in 2008. There is no link between any of his various medical conditions. TORMENT AND BROKEN BONES AS A POW During the war his fighter jet was attacked by Vietnamese missiles. In the accident, he broke both of his arms, the right one in three places, and seriously broke his right leg right around his knee. He was then held and tortured there for five-and-a-half years as a prisoner of war. Since then, other than some trouble walking and brief bouts of dizziness, McCain had no serious orthopedic issues. However, he was unable to raise his arms above shoulder height. McCain broke both of his arms, the right one in three places, and seriously broke his right leg right around his knee after his fighter jet was attacked with missiles in Vietnam Despite his horrific experiences, he maintained that he did not suffer psychological issues or PTSD as a result of the war. There is no evidence to suggest that Senator McCain's five-and-a-half years of captivity in Vietnam during the war could have increased his risk of developing glioblastoma in later life. Intense exposure to radiation is the only known risk factor for brain cancer. In 2000, surgeons removed a section of skin that was 2.2mm thick and 2cm across after detecting invasive melanoma MELANOMA In 1993, McCain had a non-invasive melanoma removed from his shoulder. In August 2000, he was diagnosed with melanoma again, but this time it was invasive. He had to have a significant amount of skin on the left side of his temple removed. The clot was discovered during a routine physical, which McCain goes in for relatively frequently due to his history with invasive melanoma. Melanoma is a malignant form of skin cancer that develops in melanin cells, which makes peoples skin darker. In 2000, he also had an invasive melanoma on his left temple. Surgeons removed a section of skin that was 2.2mm thick and 2cm across. In 2002, it reappeared, and doctors removed a 6cm patch of skin and part of his salivary gland to reduce inflammation. Melanoma has no relation with glioblastoma. 'Sometimes a glioblastoma patient will have had a previous cancer, but other times they have not. There is no link,' Dr Cisse explained. PROSTATE ISSUES In 2001, McCain had some inflamed tissue removed around his prostate when he noticed blood in his urine. However, he never suffered from that again. GLIOBLASTOMA John McCain went in for a routine physical after complaining of headaches and dizziness. Doctors spotted evidence of a blood clot behind his eye. He had the 5cm clot removed via a minimally invasive craniotomy with an eyebrow incision. After that the clot was examined by pathologists, who confirmed his cancer. He relocated to Arizona from DC, undergoing rounds of radiation therapy and chemotherapy, while continuing to work, hopeful that he would recover. On August 24, McCain's granddaughter Meghan revealed he had stopped treatment. Senator John McCain has died after a 10-month battle with the most aggressive form of brain cancer. The 80-year-old Arizona politician was diagnosed with glioblastoma in July 2017, after being hospitalized for a blood clot just behind his left eye. Tests on the clot revealed it was glioblastoma, which kills 90 percent of sufferers within about two years. It is the same form of aggressive brain cancer that took the lives of Joe Biden's son Beau in May 2015, and Senator Ted Kennedy in August 2009. Doctors describe glioblastoma as 'highly malignant' because it evades all forms of treatment modern medicine has to offer. Unlike more treatable tumors, glioblastoma is not contained. It melts into the rest of the brain. Surgeons can try to remove as much of the dangerous tissue as possible, but there is no way to eliminate the disease entirely. Generally, once someone is diagnosed with glioblastoma, they have a life expectancy of 14 to 16 months. Dr Babcar Cisse, a neurosurgeon at the Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center, told DailyMail.com said that prognosis is 'generous'. John McCain battled glioblastoma for 10 months - the most aggressive form of brain cancer WHAT IS GLIOBLASTOMA? THE MOST AGGRESSIVE TUMOR THAT FORMS FROM GLIAL CELLS IN THE BRAIN Glioblastoma is the most common aggressive tumor that can form in the brain. Patients have a 10 percent chance of surviving five years after their diagnosis. It affects the glial cells, which are some of the most important cells in the brain (though some neuroscientists argue they are the most important). Glial cells make up 90 percent of the brain. They encapsulate and insulate the neurons, which transmit messages and make everything function. That is what earned them the name when they were discovered in the 1800s ('glial' is Greek for 'glue'). At the time, neuroscientists were focused on the all-important neurons, seeing glial cells as essentially a sticky blanket. For that reason, research into them didn't get going until the 1960s. It means our understanding of glial cells is fairly underdeveloped compared to other regions of the brain. And it's the same when it comes to the cancer that infects them. Glioblastoma is the most aggressive tumor that can form in the brain. Patients have a 10 percent chance of surviving five years after their diagnosis Glioblastoma tumors don't spread to other organs, but Dr Cisse explained that it is nearly impossible to locate how far it has seeped across the brain. Unlike other types of brain cancer which are more specifically located, glioblastoma can occur in any part of the brain. 'By the time a glioblastoma is diagnosed, microfibers can spread to the rest of the brain which an MRI would not spot,' he explained. 'So even if the main tumor is removed and the patient receives radiation and chemotherapy, it will come back.' Because the tumor has likely already spread deep into the brain by the time it is diagnosed, the cancerous tissue is incredibly difficult to remove. Dr Cisse said a surgeon will only ever remove the tumor, or part of the tumor, if it won't do any damage to the surrounding brain tissue. It is most commonly found in men aged 50 to 60, and there is no link between developing glioblastoma and having a previous history with other types of cancer. WHY IS IT SO HARD TO DETECT? Patients typically complain of symptoms such as confused vision, trouble with memory, dizziness and headaches. The symptoms are somewhat nonspecific, and vary from person to person, and may not persist. The disease is therefore impossible to diagnose based on symptoms alone. Many sufferers are unaware they have the tumor until they start to have seizures. 'Because the tumor is so close to neurons, the cells that tell the rest of the body what to do, the pressure can often cause seizures. Patients then come in and are diagnosed with the brain tumor,' Dr Cisse said. JOHN McCAIN'S CANCER: THE SLIGHT DIZZINESS THAT REVEALED HE HAD JUST 10 MONTHS TO LIVE John McCain went in for a routine physical after complaining of headaches and dizziness. Doctors spotted evidence of a blood clot behind his eye. He had the 5cm clot removed via a minimally invasive craniotomy with an eyebrow incision. After that the clot was examined by pathologists, who confirmed his cancer. He relocated to Arizona from DC, undergoing rounds of radiation therapy and chemotherapy, while continuing to work, hopeful that he would recover. On August 24, McCain's granddaughter Meghan revealed he had stopped treatment. BEAU BIDEN'S CANCER: HOW JOE'S SON DEFIED THE ODDS BY SURVIVING THREE YEARS AFTER HIS DIAGNOSIS Beau Biden started experiencing signs of the tumor in 2010 after complaining of a headache, numbness and at times paralysis, thinking he had suffered from a mild stroke. After years of back and forth with doctors, he was finally diagnosed with the cancer in 2013. He then received radiation and chemotherapy treatments, which stabilized the cancer temporarily. Two years later it came back, and within 10 days he died at age 46. Beau Biden died at 46 years old in 2015, five years after he started showing symptoms; he was diagnosed after suffering a mini stroke Earlier this year, Joe Biden said he believes burn pits used by the military could have increased Beau's risk of the cancer. Beau, the former vice president's eldest son, served in Iraq from 2008 to 2009, at Camp Victory in Baghdad and the nearby Balad Air Force Base His son's battle drove former Vice President Joe Biden to start the 'Beau Biden Foundation' in honor of his late son. Earlier this year, Joe Biden said he believes burn pits used by the military could have increased Beau's risk of the cancer. Beau, the former vice president's eldest son, served in Iraq from 2008 to 2009, at Camp Victory in Baghdad and the nearby Balad Air Force Base. A year later, he was hospitalized. In January, after years of studies suggesting links between cancer and burn pits, Joe made his first public comments on the matter, saying he was 'stunned' by a book which tracked his son's exposure to the carcinogenic fumes. '[T]hat stunned me. I didn't know that,' Biden said in an interview with PBS News Hour. Burn pits were a commonly-used method to get rid of waste in Afghanistan and Iraq, torching anything from paints and tires to electronics. While the Department of Veterans Affairs does not yet acknowledge a link between the pits and long-term health risks, an increasing number of studies - including a book which Joe Biden cites called The Burn Pits: The Poisoning of America's Soldiers - are suggesting otherwise. TED KENNEDY'S CANCER: A SEIZURE THAT REVEALED HE HAD 15 MONTHS TO LIVE Senator Ted Kennedy, the youngest brother of President John F Kennedy, died on August 25, 2009 from glioblastoma at the age of 77. He suffered a seizure in May 2008 while walking his dogs outside his home in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital soon confirmed he had glioblastoma. Kennedy had surgery in a bid to remove as much of the tumor as possible at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina in June 2008. He then had weeks of radiation therapy. At The Mail on Sunday we take great pride in the quality of our journalism. All our journalists are required to observe the Editors Code of Practice and The Mail on Sunday is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), the new regulatory body for the Press set up in response to the Leveson Inquiry. We aim to correct any errors as promptly as possible. An article on June 10 said Mr Christopher Chandler 'runs' the Legatum Institute. Mr Chandler co-founded the Institute, and is one of its funders through his business, the Legatum Group. The Institute is an independent charity run by a CEO with a board of trustees. Mr Chandler is not one of them and plays no part in the management of the Institute. We are happy to make that clear and apologise to Mr Chandler and the Legatum Institute for this error. The article also mentioned a pamphlet from Mr Chandler's brother's company, Clermont, that suggested they had linked with Russia's President Putin to launch a management coup at Gazprom in 2001. Clermont has since withdrawn that statement. An article in last week's Event said Harrison Ford starred as Jack Ryan in The Hunt For Red October. In fact, it was Alec Baldwin. If you wish to report an inaccuracy, please email corrections@mailonsunday.co.uk. To make a formal complaint under IPSO rules please go to www.mailonsunday.co.uk/readerseditor where you will find an easy-to-use complaints form. You can also write to Readers Editor, The Mail on Sunday, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT. A London-listed mining firm has staked a new claim in Zimbabwes Marange diamond fields, in a deal that could unlock 1.7 billion of gems. Aim-listed Vast Resources has agreed joint venture terms with Red Mercury, a Zimbabwean community trust, for exclusive access to a concession in the fields. Red Mercury will provide a full mining licence and Vast will procure funding from investors for an efficiently operating diamond mine. harrie: Vast will be mining in Zimbabwe Vast Resources was once known as African Consolidated Resources (ACR), which staked a claim over two blocks in the Marange fields in 2006, after they were relinquished by De Beers. ACR was evicted eight months later by president Robert Mugabes forces. Last year, the despot was ousted. Vast Resources, which also owns interests in gold mines in Zimbabwe and metals projects in Romania, is currently worth 33 million. Chief executive Andrew Prelea said: With an evolving political backdrop, new opportunities are emerging. The firm expects to start diamond production in the coming months. Bean counters face the prospect of a full-blown parliamentary inquiry in the wake of the collapse of builder Carillion and a host of other scandals. KPMG has come under fire over the collapse of Carillion with debts of more than 3 billion just months after it gave the accounts a clean bill of health. MPs probing the demise of Carillion last week dubbed a giant Ponzi scheme by the former head of the National Audit Office slammed the cosy relationship between auditors and firms they are supposed to be checking. Bean counting: KPMG has come under fire over the collapse of Carillion with debts of more than 3 billion KPMG, Deloitte, PwC and EY dominate the market, raising worries too little competition stifles scrutiny. Peter Kyle MP, who sits on the parliamentary business committee, said: I am pushing very hard for a full inquiry into the audit and accounting market. I want this to be a parliamentary inquiry because I dont think the regulators have got the stomach for this kind of fight. I would go so far as to say that the market as it exists now is done. Its only a matter of whether the Big Four will play a part in reforming themselves or whether it will take parliament to reform it. MPs have already asked the competition watchdog to look at the market. The Government has also launched a review of audit regulator the Financial Reporting Council. Bosses of the nine biggest accounting firms have reportedly agreed a cap on the number of FTSE 100 companies they can each audit, to try and stave off action by watchdog the Competition and Markets Authority. American bosses were leaning on their UK counterparts over a list of proposals to send to the CMA, in last-ditch conference calls on Friday. International bosses are said to be concerned a full-blown inquiry in the UK could harm their business. And in a fresh sign of how uncompetitive the industry has become, Lloyds bank could be forced to hire Deloitte as its next auditor with no other choice. It is thought the other three big players cannot do the work due to conflicts of interest such as working for rivals. Carillion had around 450 government contracts maintaining schools, hospitals, roads and railways. It also helped build major projects such as part of the HS2 high-speed railway, Battersea Power Station. But when it collapsed critics said it had been continually chasing new contracts to bring in the cash it needed to pay suppliers. Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office between 1988 and 2008, said: It was all rather like a Ponzi scheme. A single mum is risking every penny she has to sue a pension trustee for breach of trust over an investment that left her retirement fund decimated. Five years ago Manita Khuller saw 170,000 stripped from her life savings while a further sum remains frozen and out of reach. Since then she has filed a case with The Royal Court of Guernsey, home of FNB International Trustees, and visited the court many times. Determined: Manita Khuller has filed a court case in Guernsey A conclusion to the case the first of its kind is expected to be reached after a trial this autumn. At a time when protecting pensions from ruin is high on the agenda of UK regulators, Manita shares details of her fight one she has waged while holding down a job and being a mother. BAD ADVICE Manita, now in her 50s, lived in Thailand between 2005 and 2011. Shortly before her return to the UK she was introduced by a neighbour to an adviser who worked for a company called Professional Portfolio International in Bangkok. He convinced her to transfer two UK final salary pensions into a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme often referred to as Qrops. These schemes are recognised by HM Revenue and Customs and are popular with expats because of potential tax benefits and the fact it can be an easier way to pass on remaining wealth to relatives after death. They are also a flexible option for workers whose jobs take them overseas. Manita agreed to transfer her pensions, built from years working as a marketing manager for two multinational conglomerates, into The Plaiderie Pension Scheme. Trustees to the scheme were FNB International. She believed this to be a secure option because FNB was a subsidiary of South African finance giant FirstRand Bank and was based in Guernsey trusted for its financial regulation and governance. From there her money was put into an insurance bond wrapper with Royal Skandia and divided between just three funds all unsuitable and unregulated. This decision destroyed Manitas retirement savings. She says more appropriate advice would have been to leave her generous UK pensions untouched. She adds: Once your pension leaves the UK it can fall into the hands of cowboys. Back then I did not even know a final salary pension meant an income for life I was lulled into a false sense of security. RISKY INVESTMENTS Manita is an ordinary investor with a moderate appetite for risk. But more than half of her pension money around 170,000 was put into LM Managed Performance Fund, run by Australian-based LM Investment Management. It was a risky fund, unregistered with the Australian regulator and invested in a few residential properties on the Gold Coast. Some advisers had issued warnings about the health of the fund before it collapsed in 2013, dismantling the finances of 4,500 people with more than 200 million invested. Many of the investors who saw their savings wiped out were British expats like Manita. Back in 2014, The Mail on Sunday reported on the impact this fund disaster had on investors, when one British couple living in Cyprus spoke out about their financial losses. They were persuaded to invest just days before the fund sank, obliterating their retirement savings. Many victims had originally declared themselves low-risk investors but their money had still been routed into the fund on the recommendation of overseas advisers. These financial salesmen were UK nationals living abroad and in receipt of generous commissions. Manita only found out months later that the fund had collapsed, losing her a huge sum. She says: I was in tears. I was devastated. Manita Khuller saw 170,000 stripped from her life savings while a further sum remains frozen and out of reach A TRAIL OF WOE The news set Manita off on a trail and a journey. What followed was the discovery that her pension pot, worth more than 300,000, had been split between three high-risk, unregistered funds designed for sophisticated or professional investors. A quarter of her money had been invested in the Mansion Student Accommodation fund, where her money remains frozen. She adds: No one with a moderate or low tolerance to investment risk should have had their money put into such funds. Then she found out her adviser, Professional Portfolio Inter-national, was not licensed in Thailand. In 2015, The Securities and Exchange Commission, a Thai regulator, filed a criminal complaint with the Economic Crime Police against PPI for operating its business without being licensed. The company remains on the Commissions investor alert list which warns investors about unlicensed businesses that have been complained about. Manita says she relied on PPI to make sound decisions on her behalf and on FNB International as trustee to oversee them. But she now feels the blame has been laid squarely on her shoulders for taking advice and not declaring she did not want unregistered funds in her portfolio. DAY IN COURT There is no official legal recourse for Manita through her adviser because they were not licensed, recommended unregistered funds and are not based in the UK. But PPI insists it did not act improperly and that a licence was unnecessary for the type of advice being given to expats at that time. Eric Jordan, boss of PPI, says: Manita Khuller contacted PPI for advice rather than the other way around. I have since co-operated fully with the Economic Crime Suppression Division in its review of this case and no further action has been taken against any of the parties concerned. Royal Skandia, since taken over by Old Mutual International, had a relationship with FNB International, not Manita or her adviser. It says it did not partake in making decisions only executing them. A spokesman says: We did not provide financial advice or select the underlying investments. Now Manita says she has no option left but to pursue FNB International. She says: Trustees are given a fiduciary licence on the basis they put their clients interests above their own. I am a test case but I have the motivation to see it through to the end. Manita struck lucky when she found a lawyer with a heart who looked over her case and encouraged her to take legal action. But since the cost of full legal backing is prohibitive, she is representing herself in court. The heavy weight of having no one to fight for her has taken its toll. Manita says: With numerous trips to Guernsey and facing financial ruin if I lose, I have endured great stress and sleepless nights. A spokesman for the trustee says: FNB International Trustees Limited will be vigorously contesting these matters at trial. Given that proceedings are ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment further. However, FNB International Trustees has full confidence the outcome of the trial will demonstrate it has acted at all times in accordance with all applicable rules and requirements. Australians are saving thousands of dollars on dental expenses by heading to Thailand to have their teeth fixed, and combining it with a holiday. A surge in the medical tourism industry has seen more than 15,000 Australians head abroad each year for dental work, and companies claim the demand is not slowing down. While breast augmentations and tummy-tucks have always been popular procedures undertaken in Thailand, it is dental work that has seen the boom with more people travelling to the Southeast Asian country than ever before. Dental Getaways markets itself as the country's 'Leading Dental Tourism Agency' and say their lavish all-inclusive trips combine 'indulgence and group support'. Australians are saving thousands of dollars on dental expenses by heading to Thailand to have their teeth fixed, and combining it with a holiday Dental Getaways markets itself as the country's 'Leading Dental Tourism Agency' and say their lavish all-inclusive trips combine 'indulgence and group support' with luxury accommodation to boot Running bi-monthly, the trips find a opulent balance between often taboo cosmetic procedures and an ample amount of downtime According to its Senior Cosmetic Consultant Chloe Clarke, the business' has seen a significant growth in interest over the past year. 'There's been a huge surge in interest, especially over the last year we're getting so many more dental enquiries ever before,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'The group tours are not just about organising the procedure or the treatment, there's also the travel and accommodation - they're extremely popular. 'It's because not only are you able to get a procedure - it's a holiday. You're also able to have some dental work done in the morning, and in the evening organise a dinner and a show.' Running bi-monthly, the trips find a opulent balance between often taboo cosmetic procedures and an ample amount of downtime. 'They all stay in the same hotel and hosts facilitate every logistically for follow up appointments,' said Ms Clarke. 'You might have an appointment day 2 and 3, have a free day on day 4 and 5 and then have more sporadic appointments. 'In the morning well suggest to everyone what were doing for dinner and they can opt in or out depending on how theyre feeling. Its all inclusive a one stop shop.' For those seeking an 'All on 4' dental implant system, the savings can amount to $15,000 per jaw, according to Chloe Clarke from Restored Beauty Getaways For those seeking an 'All on 4' dental implant system, the savings can amount to $15,000 per jaw, according to Ms Clarke. It comes as hoards of Australians took to an online forum this week to boast about their decision to fly to Thailand for dental work. The cost of popular dental services in Australia and Thailand Country Cost of crowns Cost of dental implant Cost of veneer Australia $11,000 $5,000 $800 Thailand $5,000 $2,600 $350 'I go to Thailand once a year and go to the dentist every time. Quality is as good as here and the cost is ridiculously cheap,' one man said on Facebook group, Bondi Local Loop. Restore Beauty Getaway founder Rebecca Cosier (pictured) has seen her business go from strength to strength 'I went to Phuket four years ago, got an implant and whitening and a couple of other bits. It was top notch, and literally worked out half the price,' another man said. One man said the best thing about going to Thailand for dental work was the holiday on the side. 'I had a boss holiday with it and [the dental work] didn't affect the holiday. They work around you and I was able to get the implant done without having to wait six months like you do here in Australia,' he said. Some 500-600 Australians book themselves into the Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok each year, according to Choice. Barbara Sherriff, a Queensland travel agent, said she started a health travel service to cater for clients who wanted to travel overseas for dental work, cosmetic surgery and laser eye surgery. She said the business came about after her husband was quoted $25,000 for dental work. After the couple compared costs in Australia and Thailand, they discovered he could get the same work done for just $5,500. 'It's because not only are you able to get a procedure - it's a holiday. You're also able to have some dental work done in the morning, and in the evening organise a dinner and a show,' said Ms Clarke of the service According to its Senior Cosmetic Consultant Chloe Clarke, the business' has seen a significant growth in interest over the past year thanks to demand from Australian clientele Since starting the business three years ago, Mrs Sherriff said the demand for dental work in Thailand had soared. Mrs Sherriff said she sent about 160 clients to Thailand for various treatments in 2015, and 75 per cent of them were for dental work. 'We now receive up to 20 inquiries a week, and most of these are from people wanting dental work,' she told Choice. So-called 'dental tourism' is popular for both clients and dentists, with many clinics taking advantage of the inflated business. Thailand clinics offer services for up to 70 per cent less than costs of equivalent treatments in first-world countries. Despite the growing demand, some dentists have warned against flying overseas to have work done. Australian Dental Association's President Dr Hugo Sachs told Daily Mail Australia that people should be aware of potentially-lax medical standards before making any decisions. 'I know patients who have been to Thailand and ended up with HIV,' he claimed. 'I would be very, very cautious of having treatment anywhere in the world because the standards in Australia are second to none.' 'If you go to a Third World country, expect to receive Third World dental treatment.' However, Dr Sachs also acknowledged that if Australians were to take the risk, ample research should be paramount. 'Research it very well in the first place, some countries dont have the same education standards as this country and they certainly dont have the same materials, so yes its definitely buyers beware,' he said. 'Why would you want to go over and test your luck in another country that doesnt have the same regulations?' Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona spent decades in Congress and was known as a bit of a maverick conservative U.S. Senator John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam who ran unsuccessfully for president as a self-styled maverick Republican in 2008 and became a prominent critic of President Donald Trump, died on Saturday, his office said. He was 81. McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona for over three decades, had been battling glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, discovered by his doctors in July 2017, and had not been at the U.S. Capitol in 2018. He also had surgery for an intestinal infection in April of this year. His family had announced on Friday that McCain was discontinuing further cancer treatment. A statement from his office on Saturday said: 'Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28 p.m. on August 25, 2018. With the senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family. At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for sixty years.' No further details were immediately provided. 'My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years,' Cindy McCain wrote on Twitter. 'He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the place he loved best.' His daughter Meghan McCain wrote a heartbreaking tribute to her dad that was titlted: 'I love you forever, my beloved father'. Shortly after 7pm local time a hearse left the senator's beloved Hidden Valley estate and led a motorcade as McCain's body was removed from the family home to be transported to Phoenix, with a number of people seen lining the route. No date has been set for his funeral but he will be laid to rest at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland. Scroll down for video John McCain, pictured with daughter Meghan, in the last publicly available photograph posted to her Twitter account earlier this year The motorcade was transporting McCain from his family home in Sedona, Arizona, to Phoenix With a police escort, a hearse carries the late Arizona Sen. John McCain along Interstate 17 on the way to Phoenix Mourners react as a hearse carrying the body of late U.S. Senator John McCain arrives in a procession in Phoenix, He would have celebrated his 82nd birthday on Wednesday. And on Saturday night the U.S flag could be seen flying at half mast above the White House. 'He was a great fire who burned bright, and we lived in his light and warmth,' said Meghan McCain, one of the late senator's seven children -- three of them from a previous marriage. Near the driveway to his ranch in a rural part of Sedona, Arizona, a sign read 'Sen McCain, thank you for your service.' A police escort accompanied the hearse that carried his body, as a fiery sunset cast its last light over the rustic countryside McCain loved dearly, and local residents came bearing flowers for the late political titan. A steady stream of friends and colleagues had come to bid him farewell at his Arizona ranch in the months since his cancer diagnosis, in July 2017. Despite his contentious relationship with McCain, Trump paid his respects Saturday evening sharing his 'deepest sympathies' to the senator's family in a one line tribute US President Donald Trump, who once mocked McCain's war record, said he sent his 'deepest sympathies and respect' to his family, but pointedly did not pay a personal tribute to the man. McCain had been a rare and outspoken Republican critic of Trump, accusing him of 'naivete,' 'egotism' and of sympathizing with autocrats. He made a decisive vote last year that killed Republican attempts to repeal Barack Obama's health care reforms, and Trump never forgave him. The sharp-tongued McCain had disagreements with many fellow politicians -- including inside his own camp -- but the Republican stalwart was widely recognized for his deep integrity, and condolences came swift from the highest reaches of American politics. The motorcade transporting the body of McCain from his family home in Sedona to Phoenix Former President Barack Obama, who triumphed over McCain in the 2008 election, said that despite their differences, McCain and he shared a 'fidelity to something higher - the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed.' Obama said the two political opponents 'saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world.' Former President George W. Bush, who defeated McCain for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination, called his one-time political rival 'man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order' and a 'friend whom I'll deeply miss.' Meghan McCain shared a moving letter announcing the death of her father on Saturday evening English teacher Derek Davis from the U.S. places a U.S. flag and flowers in memory of the late U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) at the McCain Memorial in Hanoi, Vietnam Former president Bill Clinton hailed McCain for having 'frequently put partisanship aside,' while his former vice president Al Gore said he always admired how the senator 'would work to find common ground, no matter how hard.' 'John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order,' said former president George W. Bush, whom McCain sought and failed to defeat in 2000 and succeed in 2008. On Capitol Hill, McCain became close friends with Senator Lindsey Graham and former senator Joe Lieberman -- a trio dubbed the 'Three Amigos.' Now that the trio is missing its driving force, Graham wrote that 'America and Freedom have lost one of her greatest champions... And I've lost one of my dearest friends and mentor.' Hailing him as a 'truth-teller' with 'unsurpassed' dedication to the US and its military, the top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said he would seek to rename a Senate building in his honor Shortly after 7pm local time a hearse left the senator's beloved Hidden Valley estate and led a motorcade as McCain's body was removed from the family home to be transported to Phoenix The flag at the White House was flying at half mast in tribute to Senator McCain The US National flag flies at half-mast in front of the United States Capitol building in Washington a few hours after the death of US Republican Senator John McCain McCain stopped receiving cancer treatment earlier this week, his family saying 'the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict.' The scion of a decorated military family, McCain embraced his role as chairman of the Armed Services Committee, pushing for aggressive U.S. military intervention overseas and eager to contribute to 'defeating the forces of radical Islam that want to destroy America.' Asked how he wanted to be remembered, McCain said simply: 'That I made a major contribution to the defense of the nation.' One dramatic vote he cast in the twilight of his career in 2017 will not soon be forgotten, either: As the decisive 'no' on Senate GOP legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act, McCain became the unlikely savior of Obama's trademark legislative achievement. Taking a long look back in his valedictory memoir, 'The Restless Wave,' McCain wrote of the world he inhabited: 'I hate to leave it. But I don't have a complaint. Not one. It's been quite a ride. I've known great passions, seen amazing wonders, fought in a war, and helped make a peace. ... I made a small place for myself in the story of America and the history of my times.' McCain Gives a Dramatic Thumbs Down to Obamacare Repeal On July 27 2017 the Republican's number one priority was in the spotlight. The Republican plan to overhaul the Affordable Care Act and repeal 'Obamacare' had a number of opponents. Ahead of the vote McCain had been noncommittal but on entering the senate instructed a few reporters as he walked onto the Senate floor that fateful night: 'Wait for the show.' He spoke to prominent Democrat Chuck Schumer, who looked elated, before speaking to the second in command Republican John Cornyn, who looked ashen faced. McCain believed the bill hadn't been correctly legislated from the beginning and was a stickler for things being done properly. John McCain casts a decisive vote and is captured giving the thumbs down to a Republican motion which would have blocked Barack Obama's affordable care act He voted against the Republican amendments, and the Senate's last bid to repeal Obamacare - giving a famous thumbs down motion on the floor, leading him later to be accused of treachery. Afterwards he said: 'I've stated time and time again that one of the major failures of Obamacare was that it was rammed through Congress by Democrats on a strict party-line basis without a single Republican vote,' McCain said in a statement after his stunning vote. 'We must now return to the correct way of legislating and send the bill back to committee, hold hearings, receive input from both sides of aisle, heed the recommendations of nation's governors, and produce a bill that finally delivers affordable health care for the American people. We must do the hard work our citizens expect of us and deserve.' Advertisement Remarkably, he stuck by Trump as the party's 2016 presidential nominee even when Trump questioned his status as a war hero by saying: 'I like people who weren't captured.' McCain declared the comment offensive to veterans, but urged the men 'put it behind us and move forward.' His breaking point with Trump was the release a month before the election of a lewd audio in which Trump said he could kiss and grab women. McCain withdrew his support and said he'd write in 'some good conservative Republican who's qualified to be president.' By the time McCain cast his vote against the GOP health bill, six months into Trump's presidency, the two men were openly at odds. Trump railed against McCain publicly over the vote, and McCain remarked that he no longer listened to what Trump had to say because 'there's no point in it.' By then, McCain had disclosed his brain cancer diagnosis and returned to Arizona to seek treatment. His vote to kill the GOP's years-long Obamacare repeal drive an issue McCain himself had campaigned on came not long after the diagnosis, a surprising capstone to his legislative career. John McCain's 2008 Concession Speech Unites The Nation John McCain concedes defeat in the 2008 presidential election with running mate Sarah Palin (left) 'My friends, we have come to the end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly. A little while ago, I had the honor of calling Sen. Barack Obama to congratulate him on being elected the next president of the country that we both love. In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance. But that he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans, who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president, is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving. This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight. I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our goodwill and earnest effort to find ways to come together, to find the necessary compromises, to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited. Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that.' Advertisement In his final months, McCain did not go quietly, frequently jabbing at Trump and his policies from the remove of his Hidden Valley family retreat in Arizona. He opposed the president's nominee for CIA director because of her past role in overseeing torture, scolded Trump for alienating U.S. allies at an international summit, labeled the administration's zero-tolerance immigration policy 'an affront to the decency of the American people' and denounced the Trump-Putin summit in Helsinki as a 'tragic mistake' in which the president put on 'one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory.' McCain, with his irascible grin and fighter-pilot moxie, was a fearless and outspoken voice on policy and politics to the end, unswerving in his defense of democratic values and unflinching in his criticism of his fellow Republican, President Donald Trump. He was elected to the Senate from Arizona six times but twice thwarted in seeking the presidency. An upstart presidential bid in 2000 didn't last long. Eight years later, he fought back from the brink of defeat to win the GOP nomination, only to be overpowered by Democrat Barack Obama. Sen. McCain was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in July 2017 - but returned just two weeks later to the Senate McCain chose a little-known Alaska governor as his running mate in that race, and turned Sarah Palin into a national political figure. After losing to Obama in an electoral landslide, McCain returned to the Senate determined not to be defined by a failed presidential campaign in which his reputation as a maverick had faded. His death comes nine years to the day from the death of his close friend Ted Kennedy. Despite his battle with his illness many believed McCain would have emulated his mother, Roberta, who is still alive aged 106. It was 2008 that brought McCain's integrity to the forefront of American consciousness with a number of shows of fairplay and grace not often seen in politics. 'No ma'am' McCain Tells Republican voter Obama is NOT an Arab Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., right, takes back the microphone from Gayle Quinnell who said she read about Sen. Barack Obama and 'that he was an Arab,' On the 2008 presidential campaign trail McCain won plaudits when a Gayle Quinn asked if Obama was an 'Arab' at a town hall meeting in Lakeville, Minnesota in October that year. She said: 'I can't trust Obama. I have read about him, and he's not, he's not he's an Arab.' McCain took the microphone from her and said 'No, ma'm. 'He's a decent family man [and] citizen that just I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that's what the campaign's all about. He's not [an Arab].' He told another man that there was no reason to be afraid of Obama, adding he was a 'decent' person and 'you don't have to be scared of as president of the United States'. Advertisement Before he made his gracious concession speech that is widely said to have united the nation behind their first African American president, McCain encountered a number of opportunities when he could have launched personal attacks on his opponent. However, rather than add to fears in some areas about electing the first non-white president he took pains to ensure he spoke with respect about Obama. Instead of stoking prejudice and adding to fears he took steps to dispel the myths. The motorcade transporting McCain from Sedona to Phoenix John Sidney McCain III was born on August 29, 1936 in the Panama Canal Zone, the second of three children born to John Sr and Roberta McCain. It was a respected military family with quite a legacy; both Sen. McCain's father and grandfather served as four-star United States Navy Admirals, and McCain grew up on a number of naval bases in the US and abroad before finishing private high school in Virginia. What happens to McCain's Senate seat? Following McCain's death on August 26 his seat in the Senate lies empty. Responsibility falls to Arizona Gov Doug Ducey to name his successor. State law gives Ducey, a Republican, the power to fill the Senate vacancy for the next two years, until a special election in 2020 for the right to complete the final years of McCain's term. The seat will then be up again for a full six-year term in the 2022 election. Arizona law also stipulates that the appointee must be from McCain's party. Speculation so far has suggested McCain's wife Cindy but Ducey has so far declined to comment. Advertisement He followed his father and grandfather into the service, attending the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, where he later joked - he was 'an undistinguished member of the Class of 1958,' finishing fifth from last in his year. Upon graduation, he trained in Florida and became a naval pilot, known for his hijinks and often cavalier attitude. He married his first wife, Carol, in 1965 and adopted her two young children, Andrew and Douglas, and the couple had a daughter, Sidney - but it wasn't long before MCain headed off for war, at his request. 'I didn't possess any particular notion of greatness, but I did hold strong notions of honor,' he writes in Faith of My Fathers. 'And I worried that my deserved reputation for foolishness would make command of a squadron or a carrier, the pinnacle of a young pilot's aspiration, too grand an ambition for an obstreperous admiral's son, and my failure to reach command would dishonor me and my family. 'Despite my concerns, I resolved to follow the conventional course to command. With the country at war, that course led to Vietnam. The best way to raise my profile as an aviator, perhaps the only way, was to achieve a creditable combat record. I was eager to begin. The nine moments that made McCain PRISONER OF WAR, CELEBRITY McCain, became a public figure at age 31 when his bed-bound image was broadcast from North Vietnam in 1967. The North Vietnamese had figured out that he was the son and grandson of famous American military men a 'crown prince,' they called him. He was offered an early release, but refused. McCain's captors beat him until he confessed, an episode that first led to shame and then discovery. McCain has written that that's when he learned to trust not just his legacy but his own judgment and his resilience. Less than a decade after his March 1973 release, McCain was elected to the House as a Republican from Arizona. In 1986, voters there sent him to the Senate. THE KEATING FIVE He called it 'my asterisk' and the worst mistake of his life. At issue was a pair of 1987 meetings between McCain, four other senators and regulators to get the government to back off a key campaign donor. Charles Keating Jr. wanted McCain and Democratic Sens. Dennis DeConcini of Arizona, Alan Cranston of California, John Glenn of Ohio and Don Riegle of Michigan to get government auditors to stop pressing Keating's Lincoln Savings and Loan Association. All five denied improper conduct. McCain was cleared of all charges but found to have exercised 'poor judgment.' 'His honor was being questioned and that's nothing that he takes lightly,' said Mark Salter, McCain's biographer and co-author of his new memoir, 'The Restless Wave.' THE SENATE McCain became his party's leading voice on matters of war, national security and veterans - and eventually became chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He worked with a Democrat to rewrite the nation's campaign finance laws. He voted for the Iraq War and supported the 2007 surge of forces there even as his own sons served or prepared to serve. But there was one thing that wasn't as widely known about him: McCain, owner of a ranch in Arizona that is in the flight path of 500 species of migratory birds, became concerned about the environment. 'People associate John with defense and national security, as well they should. But he also had a great concern for and love of the environment,' said Sen. Susan Collins, the Maine Republican who traveled to the ends of the earth with McCain to the Arctic Circle in 2004 and Antarctica two years later on fact-finding missions related to climate change. Back on McCain's Arizona ranch, the senator gave Collins an extensive nature tour of the property. 'I particularly remember his love for the birds,' Collins said. 'He loved the birds.' TOWN HALLS, STRAIGHT TALK McCain in the 2000 election did something new: He toured New Hampshire on a bus laden with doughnuts and reporters that stopped at 'town hall' meetings where voters were invited to exchange views with the candidate. The bus was called the 'Straight Talk Express,' and that's what he promised to deliver at the town halls. The whole thing was messy, unscripted and often hilarious. And ultimately the events re-introduced McCain to voters as a candid and authentic, just a year after President Bill Clinton was acquitted of lying to Congress and obstruction. In New Hampshire that year, McCain defeated George W. Bush in an 18-point blowout, only to be pushed out of the race in South Carolina. But the town halls remained a fond McCain memory. 'The town halls were festivals of politics,' Salter said. 'They were so authentic and open and honest.' 'NO MA'AM' McCain, in 2008 making his second run for president, quickly intervened when a woman in Lakeville, Minnesota, stood at a town hall event and began to make disparaging remarks about Democratic presidential nominee and then-Sen. Barack Obama. 'He's an Arab,' she said, implying he was not an American. 'No ma'am,' McCain said, taking the microphone from her. 'He's a decent, family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and that's what this campaign is all about. He's not.' It was a defining moment for McCain as a leader, a reflection of his thinking that partisans should disagree without demonizing each other. But it reflected McCain's reckoning with the fear pervading his party of Obama, who would go on to become the nation's first black president. CANCER McCain last year was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the same aggressive cancer that had felled his friend, Sen Edward Kennedy, in 2009. Friends and family say he understood the gravity of the diagnosis but quickly turned to the speech he wanted to give on the Senate floor urging his colleagues to shed the partisanship that had produced gridlock. Face scarred and bruised from surgery, he pounded the lectern. Some of the sternest members of the Senate hugged him, tears in their eyes. 'Of all of the things that have happened in this man's life, of all of the times that his life could have ended in the ways it could have ended, this (cancer) is by far one of the least threats to him and that's kind of how he views it,' his son, Jack McCain, told the Arizona Republic in January. HEALTH CARE VOTE Republicans, driven by Trump, were one vote away from advancing a repeal of Obama's health care law. Then McCain, scarred from brain surgery, swooped into the Senate chamber and, facing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, dramatically held up his hand. The thumb flicked down. Gasps could be heard throughout the staid chamber. McConnell stood motionless, arms crossed. Trump's campaign promise and the premiere item on his agenda was dead. TRUMP McCain tangled with Trump, who never served in the military, for years. As a candidate, Trump in 2016 claimed the decorated McCain is only considered a war hero because he had been captured. 'He's not a war hero,' Trump said at an event in Iowa. 'I like people who weren't captured.' Shortly before Election Day in 2016, McCain said he's rather cast his vote for another Republican, someone who's 'qualified to be president.' Trump fumed, without using McCain's name, that the senator is the only reason the Affordable Care Act stands. McCain responded: 'I have faced tougher adversaries.' Advertisement 'More than professional considerations lay beneath my desire to go to war. Nearly all the men in my family had made their reputations at war. It was my family's pride. And the Naval Academy, with its celebration of martial valor, had penetrated enough of my defenses to recall me to that honor. I wanted to go to Vietnam, and to keep faith with the family creed.' He was stationed in the Gulf of Tonkin, flying A-4 Skyhawks, and was assigned to the USS Forrestal, which suffered a catastrophic fire on July 29, 1967, wounding McCain and killing 134 sailors. He then volunteered for assignment with another aircraft carrier, the USS Oriskany, and was flying his 23rd bombing mission over North Vietnam when he was shot down on October 26, 1967. He parachuted into a lake and was badly injured but was taken captive by the North Vietnamese, who offered him minimal medical assistance until they realized how high-ranking his father was; in mid-1968, McCain Sr was named commander of all US forces in the Vietnam theater. As POW, McCain was kept for some time at Hoa Lo Prison, more commonly known as the Hanoi Hilton and was regularly tortured over the next five and a half years, much of which was spent in solitary confinement. Sen. McCain first entered politics in 1982 after retiring from the Navy the previous year; he would continue as a public servant until his death John McCain ran for president twice without success - the second time against President Barack Obama in 2008; here, the pair shake hands before the first of three presidential debates in September 2008 Sen. McCain chose Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, pictured, as his 2008 candidate for vice president McCain was offered release numerous times but refused to leave unless all other POWs captured before him were set free, realizing that the North Vietnamese would turn his freedom into a massive propaganda campaign and victory. His treatment by his captors was so cruel that, at one stage, he unsuccessfully attempted suicide, and at another he made an anti-US propaganda 'confession', later writing that, while he felt it was dishonorable, he realized 'Every man has his breaking point. I had reached mine.' Sen. McCain, like his father and grandfather before him, attended the United States Naval Academy - where he later joked he was 'an undistinguished member of the Class of 1958' Without proper treatment, his extensive injuries left McCain unable to raise his arms above his head - subsequently affecting his future prospects in the Navy. Eventually, McCain was released after the signing of the Paris Peace Accords in 1973, which ended direct US military involvement in Vietnam, and he returned to the US to recover from his extensive injuries. He earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross, among other honors. His wife had suffered her own injuries in a car accident and McCain admitted that, upon his return to the US, he engaged in extramarital affairs, and his marriage to Carol broke down. In 1977, McCain was assigned as the Navy's liaison to the US Senate, and he retired from the Navy in 1981 the same year he married his second wife, Cindy Lou Hensley, a teacher and the daughter of Jim Hensley, the founder of the third largest Anheuser-Busch beer distributorship in America. He relocated to Arizona, and the couple went on to have three biological children Jack McCain, Meghan McCain and James McCain and adopt a daughter from Bangladesh, Bridget. Tributes paid to Senator John McCain who has died aged 81 Advertisement While flying combat missions during the Vietnam War, McCain was shot down in 1967 and taken prisoner by the North Vietnamese McCaine spent five and a half years as a prisoner of war before his release in 1973, following the Paris Peace Accords, which ended direct US military involvement in Vietnam In 1982, McCain ran for Congress as a Republican despite criticism that he was a carpetbagger recently settled in the state. During one candidate forum, he countered that criticism with the response: 'I wish I could have had the luxury, like you, of growing up and living and spending my entire life in a nice place like the first district of Arizona, but I was doing other things. 'As a matter of fact, when I think about it now, the place I lived longest in my life was Hanoi.' He was re-elected in 1984, 1986, 1992, 1998, 2004 and 2010, serving at various times as chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs; on the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and currently as chairman of the Committee on Armed Services and member of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. He published his memoir, Faith of My Fathers, in 1999, writing: 'My public profile is inextricably linked to my POW experiences. Obviously, such recognition has benefited my political career, and I am grateful for that. But I have tried to make what use I can of Vietnam and not let the memories of war encumber the rest of my life's progress. Neither have I been content to accept that my time in Vietnam would stand as the ultimate experience of my life.' John McCain Senior Year 1954 Episcopal High School, Alexandria McCain as a young boy with his grandfather, left, and father, right, who both were four-star admirals in the United States Navy McCain earned a reputation as a maverick, a conservative not daunted by taking differing opinions from the Republican party. He also had a reputation as a straight shooter, and he weathered scandals such as the Keating Five, when five senators were accused of corruption in 1989 in connection with Charles Keating of Lincoln Savings and Loan, who contributed politically to the men and sought their help when the company was in trouble. McCain was ultimately found innocent of any wrongdoing by the Senate Ethics Committee, but the incident spurred him to become an advocate of campaign finance reform; he and Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold eventually pushed through the McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act in 2002. McCain ran for president in the 2000 election campaign, announcing his candidacy on September 27, 1999; he was pitted against Texas Gov. George W. Bush for the Republican nomination. Although McCain won New Hampshire, he was soon outspent by Bush and was subjected to a smear campaign in South Carolina. He ultimately withdrew from the race on March 9, 2000, and he endorsed Bush two months later. After divorcing his first wife, Carol, McCain married Arizona woman Cindy Hensley, pictured, who poses with two of their children The Arizona politician was not done with the presidency, however, and threw his hat in the ring again for the 2008 presidential campaign. He announced his candidacy on April 25, 2007 and went on to win the nomination, announcing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. He lost the election to President Barack Obama and returned to the Senate. McCain and President Donald Trump engaged in a well-publicized feud, as Trump criticized the war hero, especially for his vote against a Republican replacement for 'Obamacare,' the health care law approved under President Barack Obama. Trump signed a military policy bill this month named for McCain, but in a sign of their testy relationship the president made no mention of McCain's name in remarks at a signing ceremony. The senator, in a 60 Minutes interview, previously spoke of having 'different upbringing' and 'different life experiences' from Trump - who disparaged McCain for having been captured during the Vietnam War. 'He is in the business of making money and he has been successful both in television as well as Miss America and others,' he said. 'I was raised in a military family.' He said: 'I was raised in the concept and belief that duty, honor, country is the lodestar for the behavior that we have to exhibit every single day.' Sen. McCain told United States Naval Academy graduates in October: 'You'll know that to serve this country is to serve its ideals the ideals that consider every child on earth as made in the image of God and endowed with dignity and the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is a noble cause. It is your cause, and it's worth living and dying for' Last July, Sen. McCain was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer but he was back in the Senate two weeks later. His last Senate vote was in December. In a speech on the Senate floor following his diagnosis - outlined in a chapter titled Regular Order in his book The Restless Wave, published just months ago - McCain said: 'Our deliberations can still be important and useful, but I think we'd all agree they haven't been overburdened by greatness lately. And right now, they aren't producing much for the American people. 'Both sides have let this happen. Let's leave the history of who shot first to the historians. I suspect they'll find we all conspired in our decline - either by deliberate actions or neglect. We've all played some role in it. Certainly I have. Sometimes, I've let my passion rule my reason ... I hope we can again rely on humility, on our need to cooperate, on our dependence on each other to learn how to trust each other again and by so doing better serve the people who elected us. 'Stop listening to the bombastic loudmouths on the radio and television and the Internet. To hell with them.' He added: 'Let's trust each other. Let's return to regular order. We've been spinning our w heels on too many important issues because we keep trying to find a way to win without help from across the aisle.' Sen. McCain spoke proudly of his 'sense of honor' and told a new generation of Annapolis graduates just six months ago: 'May your lives be as lucky as mine' McCain's family announced on Friday that he was stopping treatment for brain cancer, just days before his 82nd birthday. He is survived by his wife, Cindy; seven children and several grandchildren in addition to his legacy of bravery and service that continues to inspire soldiers and sailors today. In a speech to Naval Academy graduates in October, he said: 'I know what you will risk and what you will receive in return. I know America is lucky to have you, and that you will think yourselves lucky to serve America. Even in the worst of times and they come for most of us you'll know that to serve this country is to serve its ideals the ideals that consider every child on earth as made in the image of God and endowed with dignity and the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is a noble cause. It is your cause, and it's worth living and dying for. 'I have, sometimes unwittingly and often imperfectly, served that cause all my adult life. Like your service, mine began here in the place of honor and honor's demands. I arrived a rebel without a cause, and left much the same. But I would discover that a sense of honor had been imparted to me here that would speak to me in the darkest hours. 'And so I come back, again and again, to the place where I learned to dread dishonor and from where I embarked on an eventful life, in good company, in the service of my country and its great cause. 'May your lives be as lucky as mine.' Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin says late Senator John McCain will be remembered as an American hero but admits it was 'unfortunate' that he was surrounded by people 'who weren't serving him well,' during their run for office. McCain died at his Arizona home at 4:28pm on Saturday surrounded by his wife Cindy, and their family. In an exclusive interview with DailyMailTV, Palin, 54, and her husband Todd, 53, reflected on her time as McCain's running mate during the 2008 presidential election and revealed her frustration over his political hangers-on. 'I respect his military service. I think it's unfortunate that he had people around him - and they continued to be around him for a very long time - who weren't serving him well,' she said. 'They certainly weren't serving the country well with what they were trying to do.' 'I believe he was told things about what America really wanted or really needed because he's been in that DC bubble for so many years. In an exclusive interview with DailyMail TV, Palin, 54, and her husband Todd, 53, reflected on her time as McCain's running mate during the 2008 presidential election Game changer: Sarah Palin gave John McCain's campaign an enormous boost when she first joined as his vice presidential running mate in 2008 'I don't think inherently he necessarily was really connected, so he did rely on people telling him - in polls - telling him andhe went from there. 'I think that's unfortunate because he had some strange people around him and..disloyal people, and you know, I don't say that as like hate speech or griping about it, it's just a fact they were just some not nice people.' Todd added: 'But when she was doing debate prep for a big debate with Biden or just wanted to talk about some issue, she could have like four or five people around her with all the cue cards and all this and sit there for hours and not accomplish much. 'But sit in the back of the bus with John and her and it was awesome to watch. So, I just respected John and he had a huge heart you know.' Sarah said McCain had agreed with her about not letting other people 'mold you into something you're not.' 'You can't do that. You can't be insincere and not genuine and accomplish what needs to be done, but yeah, that was a huge lesson,' she said. 'If it was just John McCain and me, or just our families together it was awesome. Those were the good times. ' When asked on what she believed was McCain's political legacy, she said the senator will be remembered in high respects for his military service. 'The unfortunate part about it will be that I think some of the people around him- still try to undermine us. McCain and Cindy had four children together - Meghan (center), Jack and James, in addition to adopting a daughter, Bridget, from Bangladesh The senator has been battling cancer for the past year and relocated indefinitely to his home in Arizona last December. He is pictured right with his daughter Meghan 'Part of that legacy unfortunately will be some of these people that had influence on him will, unfortunately, they really took advantage of, and that wasn't good. The former governor and her husband also spoke out against claims that McCain had regretted picking her as his running mate. The 81-year-old revealed in his memoir, The Restless Wave, published in April, that he wished he had chosen Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman as his VP instead. In an earlier interview with DailyMailTV in May, Palin had said she attributed his statements to 'his ghostwriters.' 'I was reading part of his book and he had nothing but praise her. He had one little sentence where he was saying "maybe I should have picked Joe,"' Todd said. 'Four-five little words. He praised her and how he selected her, but that's how it worksthat's how the perception in the media works.' Sarah reiterated that McCain had never told her those sentiments himself. 'Well, with that headline though that he evidently regretted picking me, well my thought was, "well he's never said that to me." 'We've always had great conversations and thankfulness that I accepted the opportunity, and was given the opportunity. It's all been good. Then Republican presidential candidate John McCain (C) greets family members of his running mate, vice presidential candidate and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, upon his arrival to attend the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis in 2008 'I had never heard that from him before andit's a shame to live life with regrets especially like that, that would be a huge regret. That's life-changing, nation-changing regret. Let it be a lesson that we not live life with regrets.' The two had kept in touch over the years after their failed campaign despite their differences, Palin said. 'We've always had great conversations- and we've been able to agree to disagree, certainly on political issues. 'He was gracious in those situations too where he knew that I wanted more domestic oil development in certain areas. He hadn't. 'But when we talk about it we can see each other's point of view and I'm not giving an inch on it, and he wasn't giving an inch on it, but we got along anyway.' Despite the bumps along the road, the Palins said they will remember the personal aspects of her run with McCain, including his 'big heart' and spending time with his family. 'Cindy [McCain] holding Trig, his sons who were so nice and great to my kids, and my kids getting along well with their family. 'I'll remember the good times that's for darn sure. And I won't re-hash the strange times that happened after the campaign that some of his people orchestrated.' John McCain, he is an American hero. You consider his military recordthe hell. 'The physical and mental hell he went through in service to our country. I don't put up with it when people - in our own party even - want to keep criticizing him even invoking his military service. 'I think go ahead criticize his politics, but you bring up that military service, you slam him as a vet, and I'll defend him as aggressively as I defend my own kids. 'John McCain will be remembered, I think he should be remembered, as an American hero when you consider his military service. President Donald Trump says the United States is close to a 'big trade Agreement' with Mexico. Trump took to Twitter on Saturday morning to share the news that 'a big Trade Agreement with Mexico could be happening soon!' 'Our relationship with Mexico is getting closer by the hour,' he added. 'Some really good people within both the new and old government, and all working closely together.' The US and Mexico have been discussing a trade deal as part of negotiations over the North American Free Trade Agreement. Donald Trump took to Twitter on Saturday morning to share the news that 'a big Trade Agreement with Mexico could be happening soon!' Trump has been seeking a revised version of the 24-year-old trade deal with Mexico and Canada. The president's tweet came after Jesus Seade, the NAFTA representative for president-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, met with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Seade spoke highly of the meeting on Thursday, revealing it helped resolve concerns that the deal placed too many restrictions on how Mexico can treat foreign oil companies investing in the country. 'It was a rich, fun, important negotiation, from which everything emerged in a very satisfactory way for all involved,' Seade told Time. The US and Mexico have been discussing a trade deal as part of negotiations over the North American Free Trade Agreement 'We've adjusted very well the focus, but without changing the content, the substance, and we've arrived at a solution that should be satisfactory for everyone.' 'We still need to check technical texts, and I want to be respectful of everyone, but it's now substantially agreed, with the correct focus.' Also present at the meeting was Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo and Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray. Guajardo likewise said he expected Saturday to be a 'big day' for trade negotiations. The NAFTA talks are expected to continue next week and the goal is for the deal to be finalized by the end of the month. Canada is expected to rejoin talks after the US and Mexico work out their concerns. Trump's tweet came after Jesus Seade, the NAFTA representative for president-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (pictrured), met with US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer Trump recently said he has had better relations with Mexico following Obrador's election in July. The president has long had a thorny partnership with America's neighbor due to his push for Mexico to pay for his border wall. He had an especially heated relationship with current Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. After Trump vowed that Mexico would pay for the border wall in May, Nieto made his stance on the issue clear. 'President @realDonaldTrump: NO. Mexico will NEVER pay for a wall. Not now, not ever. Sincerely, Mexico (all of us).' On Friday Obrador thanked Trump for treating Mexicans with more 'respect' in recent months. 'For some time now, he has been very prudent in referring to Mexicans, or he hasn't said offensive things,' Obrador said. 'I have to thank him for that. Up to now, things are going well. There has been respect.' A clever trick by Sydney police to help put a member of one of Australia's most dangerous families in jail has been revealed. The criminal, who was reporting to Merrylands Police Station in 2013 as part of his bail conditions for an armed robbery charge, was told by police he had to wait in a cell while they fixed a computer glitch. He had been bailed over the armed robbery of an Armaguard truck outside a shopping centre in Sydney on March 4 2013, but police needed more evidence. Scroll down for video The man, who was involved in the 2013 robbery of an Armaguard cash truck, admitted to stealing the Mercedes C63 used to carry out the crime The man decided to pass the time by telling the other two inmates in the cell about the details of his criminal past. But little did he know he was in fact talking to undercover police officers - and court documents seen by The Daily Telegraph show exactly what the criminal said. The man, whose loose tongue was used by police to put him behind bars for more than 10 years in February, admitted to the two men within minutes of having an armoury of weapons at home. He said: 'F**k I got a heap. I got everything man. 'Like glocks, revolvers, SKS and things like that. 'Real man. I've got three of them.' The criminal, who cannot be named and was jailed for more than 10 years in February, admitted to owning an armoury of guns at his home - including a glock (stock picture) He admitted to stealing a Mercedes C63 at gunpoint from its owner in Vaucluse. He said: 'Couldn't find the keys so we woke them up.' 'Just placed a gun put, like, a gun to their head and tell em to give me the keys. '(I waited) till they come home. As he was going up the driveway I jumped out.' He then admitted to the crime police had been trying to nail him on - that he had stolen the Audi RS6 that had been used in the robbery. The now convicted criminal even expressed his frustration that the guards wouldn't open the truck - leaving him empty-handed. He said: 'Stubborn c***s man. One of them (stayed inside the van). One of them did. Lock himself inside the van.' Putting the cherry on the cake for the undercover cops, the man also reveled he had used the C63 in another robbery of a pub - saying he took 'two hundred (thousand' in the heist. The undercover officer also reassured the criminal that the cell at the Merrylands police station was not bugged. He said: 'My solicitor once told me that police cells, they're fine. 'They can't. They do the jail ones, in here. Apparently fine.' The unnamed criminal has since lodged an appeal which has not yet been heard. It was a terrifying moment as a knife-wielding maniac rampaged through an A&E waiting room. But as other staff fled or froze, one nurse bravely stood her ground against the thug to make sure patients were safe. Now Caroline Clayton-Barker has been hailed for her courage after the knifeman, Yusuf Aka, was jailed for five years. Caroline Clayton-Barker has been hailed for her courage after the incident With all the waiting patients able to flee, the nurse runs for the nearest doorway leaving Aka alone, still gripping the knife One wheelchair-bound man is left stranded amid the room's chairs and is spotted by a calm-headed nurse who approaches Aka Speaking for the first time about the dramatic incident at Leicester Royal Infirmary in January, Ms Clayton-Barker insists she was only doing her job. When you sit at that desk you dont know whats going to come in, you get everything, she told The Mail on Sunday. You just take it in your stride. Its only afterwards you think, oh crikey. It doesnt bear thinking about what might have happened. Chilling CCTV footage of the incident was revealed to the public only after 22-year-old Aka was convicted last week. It shows how he stabbed a man in the back in a random attack and then began tearing apart the A&E waiting room. Ms Clayton-Barker, 36, was working the night shift in the early hours of January 16. As she assessed patients waiting to be seen by emergency doctors, Aka dressed in a black hoodie and wearing sunglasses strode up to two strangers outside the building. He lunged at one of the men, stabbing him in the back with his 8in hunting knife and when they fled he calmly walked into the hospital. Yusuf Aka was jailed for five years after rampaging through the A&E The second he stepped through the doors, he threw his knife at a member of staff and then grabbed hold of a computer and launched it across the waiting room. As Aka wrestled more of the hospital equipment off the front desk, Ms Clayton-Barker tried to ring security but then realised the danger was so great she would have to protect her patients herself. She shouted Everybody out, go! and ushered them to a safer room where security guards were based, then approached Aka as he threw a screen at a distressed man in a wheelchair. He was just on a mission to cause damage to whoever and whatever. He was fixated. It was scary, she recalled. Security guards and police then wrestled Aka to the ground and Miss Clayton-Barker and her colleagues tended to patients before cleaning up the destruction. Aka pleaded guilty to wounding with intent, affray and possession of a knife at Leicester Crown Court on Friday and was jailed for five years. The court heard he had been on licence for robbery at the time of his rampage and was seeking attention for mental health problems. He has a history of taking cannabis and outbursts of violence when things did not go his way. Local MP Andrew Bridgen said: I am absolutely proud to have Caroline as a constituent. We would all hope that in a time of an emergency we would react with the courage that she showed. Investigating officer Det Con Chris Symmonds said: The actions of members of staff who quickly took control of the situation were commendable, and they should be proud of what they accomplished. A huge testing track for new driverless cars is set to be built on a corner of the battlefield where King Richard III was killed. Councillors are expected to approve this week the controversial application to construct a 300-yard-wide circular track partially on the site of the historic Bosworth battlefield in Leicestershire, where the decisive confrontation of the Wars of the Roses took place in 1485. The 26 million plan also involves building a 400-yard approach road, a two- storey control tower and a storage facility. Painting of King Richard III by an unknown artist from 16th Century in National Portrait Gallery It will allow high-tech autonomous vehicles to be tested at up to 155mph on the 83-acre site owned by Horiba Mira Ltd, and will create at least 250 jobs. But concerns have been raised about the impact of the development on the battlefield, where a pivotal moment in English history took place. Richard III was the last King to be killed in battle and his death leading to the Tudor dynasty was immortalised by William Shakespeare with the line: A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse! Historic England said: An assessment has demonstrated the development proposal would cause some harm to the significance of the registered battlefield. But Hinckley & Bosworth Council concluded: The public benefits to be delivered by the proposal are considerable and outweigh the less than substantial harm caused. Trendy clothing rivals Superdry and Jack Wills are embroiled in a bitter row over copycat coats. Superdry accuses the smaller brand of using confidential information to mimic its winter range. But in a withering putdown, the Jack Wills camp dismissed the accusation, claiming its clothes are for fashionable teens, while Superdry is for their mums and dads. Jack Wills (left) is embroiled in a bitter row with Superdry (right) over copycat coats Why would we want to copy their designs? Our clothes are worn by gorgeous, cool young people and theirs appeal to the middle-aged, said a company insider, adding that the brands are at the other end of the spectrum from each other. Superdry is worn by mums and dads. Jack Wills is for their teenage kids. It considers itself a British heritage brand, and so doesnt regard Superdry as a competitor. A Superdry insider last night shot back: Our customers have grown up with us and were proud to appeal to cool kids and cool parents. Superdry which last year sold 872 million of clothing compared with its competitors 142 million alleges that its former head of international business development, Greg Roberts, took top-secret data to Jack Wills when he became its wholesale boss last November. The firm believes Jack Wills has used this information which includes details on best-selling clothes, contracts, factories and special materials used to try to jazz up its winter coats range. Lawyers have identified a series of Jack Wills garments that they say bear a striking resemblance to Superdry designs. Superdry points to similarities between its 114.99 Glacier Biker Jacket, with a furry hood, and Jack Wills fur-free 99 Cuffley Padded Jacket. Superdry has threatened to seek an injunction from the High Court to stop Jack Wills from releasing its winter coats. Founded in 2003 by high-profile Remain campaigner Julian Dunkerton, Superdry had a setback in the High Court last week when a judge refused to force Jack Wills to release a series of internal emails connected to the case. But its bosses have vowed to fight on. A spokesman said: Superdry products are . . . a result of the hard work, creativity and dedication of our people and must be protected from exploitation by competitors. Jack Wills said it was pleased the court hearing went in its favour. A teenager has been forced to watch her grandmother die after being told she couldn't speak to her after she was hit by a car. Her grandmother, Sue Carroll, was on her way to pick up one of her granddaughters when she was fatally struck on Wyong Road at Berkeley Vale on New South Wales' Central Coast. 'She was just about to take a step off the road and then the car hit her,' Natalee told 9 News. 'She just fell to the ground. I ran over but I wasnt allowed to go near her but I tried my hardest just to stay there'. Scroll down for video Her grandmother, Sue Carroll (right), was on her way to pick up her granddaughter, Natalee (left), when the fatal accident occurred This is just one of five road related accidents that have happened in different parts of New South Wales in just a span of a day. Three people were also killed after three separate vehicle crashes in Bogabilla, Cobar and Blacktown yesterday, 9 News reports. One pedestrian was also struck while crossing the Pacific Highway in Sydney's St Leonards, while another pedestrian was hit in Springwood, west of Sydney. Data from the New South Wales Centre for Road Safety shows that, while road safety has significantly improved since the 1990s, the number of road related accidents are steadily increasing since 2014. In 2014, there were a total of 307 casualties in New South Wales alone, followed by 350 in 2015, 380 in 2016 and 391 deaths in 2017. Thousands of military engineers are feared to have inhaled potentially fatal asbestos chemicals while working on Britains Sea King helicopters, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Last night, defence chiefs confirmed they had issued an alert in a desperate effort to warn Royal Navy and RAF personnel who have maintained the Sea King since it entered service in 1969. It was recently flown in a search-and-rescue role by Prince William. Thousands of military engineers are feared to have inhaled potentially fatal asbestos chemicals while working on Britains Sea King helicopters, The Mail on Sunday can reveal In an unprecedented move, the Ministry of Defence has also contacted foreign governments that bought the helicopter and civilian contractors flying ex-British military Sea Kings. Serving personnel or veterans with health problems caused by exposure to asbestos on Sea Kings will be able to sue the MoD for hundreds of thousands of pounds. Sea King pilots, such as Prince William and Prince Andrew, who flew it in the Falklands War, are not believed to be at risk. The alert came in a secret document seen by this newspaper. Service personnel were told not to share its contents with anyone outside the Armed Forces without authorisation. It was recently flown in a search-and-rescue role by Prince William The MoD confirmed it had launched an urgent operation to remove parts containing asbestos from its Sea Kings and military stores. But the MoS can reveal that defence chiefs pledged in 2003 to make the fleet asbestos-free within two years. Yet this potentially lifesaving work was never completed, putting more military personnel at risk. Four years ago, Sea King engineer Petty Officer Greg Lukes, of the Royal Australian Navy, died from cancer after being exposed to asbestos fibres. Sea Kings have been used in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. The MoD said: The safety of our personnel and our partners is always our highest priority. All Sea King items suspected to contain asbestos have been removed from stores. A reveller at an inner city Sydney bar has been arrested after a male paramedic was assaulted in the early hours of Sunday morning rushing to help a woman who had passed out. It is understood the woman was part of a group celebrating a birthday at the Pontoon Bar in Darling Harbour. She became unconscious and paramedics were quick to arrive at the scene, however, the group became aggressive and the male paramedic was assaulted, reports 9 News. A reveller at an inner city Sydney bar has been arrested after a male paramedic was assaulted on Saturday night rushing to help a woman who had passed out At about 12.20am paramedics called police for urgent assistance. The group became so confrontational that riot police were also called in to control the situation. Police arrested a man at the scene and he was led away in handcuffs. The 27-year-old was charged with common assault, obstruct or hinder ambulance officer by act of violence, possess prohibited drug, and supply prohibited drug. The man was granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday 19 September 2018. The woman is now in a serious but stable condition in St Vincent's Hospital. A second man, aged 42, was arrested and has been issues a Future Court Attendance Notice for hinder police. It is understood the woman was part of a group celebrating a birthday at the Pontoon Bar in Darling Harbour A farmer has stripped down and celebrated the first downpour in months as the country suffers through devastating drought. The farmer, from regional New South Wales, bared all and ran into the muddied plains on his land, savouring every minute of the rare rainfall. However, despite the rain in parts of New South Wales and Queensland on Saturday, the country is still battling the big dry. A farmer from regional NSW has shown his joy as he celebrated the rainfall The 19 second video shows the farmer naked in his beige Akubra hat while he runs through the shallow puddles. His hat is then whisked off in the wind and flung behind him. The woman behind the camera says, 'now that is a naked farmer'. The video has been shared 13,000 times and received more than 800 comments in less than a day. 'Now that's a naked farmer,' the man cheers as he runs in the rain One Facebook user reference the classic McCain ad and wrote, 'Marg, MARG!!! The rains are 'ere!!' another said 'Love it. Let the rain come'. Other posted: 'Bloody beautiful the rain I mean. Hope you get some more rain. Thinking of you all.' Residents of Australia's hardest hit areas have tried rain dances in a desperate bid to wet the ground. Some Australians were experiencing their first drops of rain in more than a year, according to the ABC. Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Gabrielle Woodhouse said after the thunderstorms on Saturday night, the showers would start to ease on Sunday. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British mother jailed for five years in Iran for supposed espionage, will learn today whether the authorities will extend her three-day temporary release or force her to say goodbye to her young daughter and return to prison this evening. Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 40, who is currently staying in the Iranian countryside with her parents and her daughter, Gabriella, four, was detained in April 2016 at Tehran airport after visiting her family. Her husband, City finance expert Richard, said she had hoped to learn yesterday whether her leave which is often granted to prisoners in Iran would be prolonged. Nazanin was released Thursday on a three-day furlough and pictured with beaming daughter But when the familys lawyer arrived at the prosecutors office, he was told that the official handling the case was away, and to return this morning. The agony goes on its going to be a very worrying day, Mr Ratcliffe said. If she doesnt get an extension, it will be a blow to all of us, but most of all to her: to be back in jail after tasting freedom for just three days would be very hard. Mr Ratcliffe, from North London, said that before learning that there would be no decision over the possible extension, the family was able to enjoy an outing to a coffee shop yesterday, where he was able to talk to them via Skype. He has applied for an Iranian visa, and said that if charity worker Nazanin gets the extension and his request is granted, he will try to visit her. But he added: Until Nazanin is really home, shes not home. Nazanin's husband Richard Ratcliffe said she is not home until 'she is really home' He and the familys lawyer had not expected her to be granted even a three-day spell of freedom after being refused earlier requests, and it would be naive to suggest that this is the beginning of the end, or to assume that from now on, its going to be plain sailing. Its been a huge process just to get this far. Mr Ratcliffe said the Iranian authorities had become more amenable since Britains decision to go through with a deal to lift sanctions in return for Iran curbing its nuclear weapons programme. Last year, then Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was forced to apologise after falsely stating Nazanin had been in Iran to train local journalists a claim which may still cause years to be added to her sentence. Mr Ratcliffe could not say whether Mr Johnsons resignation in July had made a difference, but added: Its very clear [his successor] Jeremy Hunt really cares. Mr Hunt is considering whether to grant official diplomatic protection to Nazanin, who has dual British-Iranian nationality, to increase the pressure on the Iranians. Mr Ratcliffe said this had to be carefully considered, though, as rather than help, it might hinder her chances of permanent freedom. There are thought to be at least a dozen dual British-Iranian nationals in detention, most of whose cases have not been publicised at the request of their families. Two people were killed on Saturday when a passenger train collided with a dump truck in Northeast Texas. According to Fort Worth fire spokesman Mike Drivdahl, two people inside the truck were killed when the their vehicle was struck by a westbound train and burst into flames. Emergency crews say 11 people on the Trinity Railway Express were also injured in the crash Saturday afternoon and were taken to a nearby hospital. Fort Worth and Arlington firefighters investigate a destroyed dump truck after it was hit by a Trinity Railway Express passenger train The Dallas Morning News reports that among the injured, two are listed in critical condition while three others have serious but non-life-threatening injuries The accident occurred in Euless, about halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth Fort Worth and Arlington firefighters investigate a destroyed dump truck after it was hit by a Trinity Railway Express passenger train, in background, at Calloway Cemetery Road The Dallas Morning News reports that among the injured, two are listed in critical condition while three others have serious but non-life-threatening injuries. An investigation into the circumstances of the incident is currently underway. The accident occurred in Euless, about halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth. A police officer walks away from a railroad crossing arm where a Trinity Railway Express passenger train collided with a dump truck, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018 The Morning News reports the collision shattered some train windows and damaged the front of the train. Dallas Area Rapid Transit spokesman Morgan Lyons tells KHOU the accident should have been avoidable. 'Our trains do not take more than a few seconds to get through an intersection,' Lyons told WFAA-TV. 'There is nothing nothing on the other side of that intersection that is worth risking your life.' It is not clear how fast the train was traveling but Lyons said the train can travel at speeds up to 79 mph in that area. It remains unclear why the dump truck was on the railroad tracks. The crash was reported about noon in the 12500 block of Calloway Cemetery Road in far East Fort Worth, an area between north Arlington and Euless. An estimated 50 people were examined by emergency medical units who responded to the scene. Passengers who were not in need of immediate medical attention were taken to a nearby strip club to use the restroom and cool off before a bus shuttle arrived to take them to Fort Worth. The crash was reported about noon in the 12500 block of Calloway Cemetery Road in far East Fort Worth, an area between north Arlington and Euless A paramedic assists train passengers who were treated and released from a Fort Worth fire department mobile care unit after their train collided with a dump truck 'There was dust and rocks came in; the windows were busted,' said witness Tirone Gray, 39, who says he was sitting near the locomotive and felt 'everything' at the point of impact. 'My original thought was that the train was going to roll.' MedStar Mobile Healthcare spokesman Matt Zavadsky said that a fatal train accident has 'not happened in this area for a long time,' according to the Dallas Morning News. 'This was a very tragic crash,' he said. 'But everybody worked really well together, and it came out to as good of an outcome as we could have had.' 'Right after an incident like this, we often try to do a debriefing and review the incident to see if there were things we could have done better,' Zavadsky said. 'In the particular case, we were congratulating all of the people that were part of this very unique situation.' Delays are expected on the TRE as Dallas Area Rapid Transit addresses repairs on the tracks. MedStar Mobile Healthcare spokesman Matt Zavadsky said that a fatal train accident has 'not happened in this area for a long time' Chancellor Philip Hammond is planning to hammer the pensions of thousands of higher-rate taxpayers to fund Theresa Mays 20 billion-a-year boost for the NHS, The Mail on Sunday has learned. And spirit drinkers together with small business investors are likely to face higher taxes in Novembers Budget as Mr Hammond, right, tries to find the money needed to fulfil the Prime Ministers pledge. The run-up to this autumns Budget speech has already been marked by rows across Whitehall after Mr Hammond warned other big-spending Government departments that the money for the NHS would leave little scope for handouts elsewhere. There was a particularly bad-tempered response from Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, who has lobbied overtly for a generous settlement for the MoD. Chancellor Philip Hammond is planning to hammer the pensions of thousands of higher-rate taxpayers The Chancellors predicament has been eased by better-than-expected forecasts of a 10 billion surplus this year, but he has billions more to find. A senior Government source said Mr Hammond had identified the 38 billion which is paid out from the public purse each year in pension tax relief as one of the last remaining pots of gold we can raid. But it is likely the Chancellor will deprive only the wealthiest workers of the tax break, to limit the potential for a toxic political row reminiscent of the fury over Gordon Browns raid on retirement funds during Tony Blairs premiership. The source said Mr Hammond was planning to target people who can afford to put tens of thousands of pounds into their schemes each year. The Treasury is also considering a further hike on spirit duties, following Mr Hammonds decision to increase them by nearly four per cent last year. The current level of tax on a typical bottle of Scotch whisky is 79 per cent one of the highest levels in Europe. Mr Hammond is also understood to be looking to remove historic tax breaks for investors who plough money into small companies. When Mrs May announced the NHS funding boost of an extra 20 billion a year by 2023 to pay for thousands more doctors and nurses while cutting the number of cancer deaths and improving mental health services she admitted that taxpayers would have to foot much of the bill. Mr Hammonds plans are likely to further irritate his critics on the right of the Conservative Party, who were infuriated by his claim last week that a no-deal Brexit would force the Government to increase borrowing by 80 billion a year. Mr Browns decision in 1997 to abolish the tax perks on pensions which invested in dividend-bearing funds cost workers 118 billion. A Treasury spokesman said: We dont comment on Budget speculation. Sir Vince Cable is to pave the way for his early resignation as Liberal Democrat leader by unveiling radical reforms which would allow him to be succeeded by a non-MP. The secret proposals, dubbed Project Ozark, are intended to make the party more attractive to voters and could be the precursor to forming a wider anti-Brexit movement. Last night, a well-placed Lib Dem source confirmed that Sir Vince would use a major speech next month to ask party members to drop the condition that the Lib Dem leader is drawn from their Commons contingent. Vince Cable's radical reforms would allow him to be succeeded by a non-MP The party has slumped from 57 seats before the 2015 General Election to just 12 seats and is languishing at single digits in the polls. The source admitted it was unlikely that Sir Vince, 75, would lead the party into the next Election if the current Parliament ran its full five-year term until 2022. Vince would be 79. Its only sensible hes thinking about that. It comes amid rumblings from party members that Sir Vince, who took over from Tim Farron after last years Election, has failed to pull them out of the doldrums and re-fashion the party as a Brexit resistance force. One senior Lib Dem warned that allowing non-MPs to lead the party will be seen as a snub to rising star Layla Moran, 35, MP for Oxford West, who has been tipped to r Senator John McCain has passed away at the age of 81 and officials from both sides of the political spectrum are sharing their respects to the late maverick conservative. He passed away a day after his family announced that the Vietnam War hero would stop treatment for his stage-four brain cancer. The Arizona Republican died at 4.28pm on Saturday surrounded by family and aides at his Arizona ranch. His daughter Meghan McCain led a stream of online tributes saying: 'I love you forever, my beloved father'. Despite his prickly relationship with the senator, Donald Trump tipped off his hat to McCain with a one line message, followed by a heartfelt two-paragraph statement issued by the Obamas. 'My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!' the president tweeted Saturday evening. Tributes have poured in from politicians and celebrities to honor the life of Senator John McCain who passed away Saturday afternoon at the age of 81 of stage four brain cancer Despite his contentious relationship with McCain, Trump paid his respects Saturday evening sharing his 'deepest sympathies' to the senator's family in a one line tribute The First Lady also shared her sympathies, thanking McCain for his service to the nation Vice President Mike Pence commended the senator for his military service and public works Ivanka Trump joined the chorus writing: 'Honoring the memory and legacy of Senator John McCain, an American patriot' The senator's wife Cindy McCain, 64, took to Twitter to share her heartbreak upon her husband's death. 'My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved best,' she wrote Saturday evening. Their daughter Meghan McCain, 33, shared a moving note on Twitter, revealing her last moments with her father. 'I was with my father at his end, as he was with me at my beginning...All that I am is thank to him. Now that he is gone, the task of my lifetime is to live up to his example, his expectations, and his love. 'He was a great fire who burned bright, and we lived in his light and warmth for so very long. We know that his flame lives on, in each of us. The late senator's wife shared her heartbreak on Twitter saying: 'I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years.' Meghan McCain shared a moving letter announcing the death of her father on Saturday evening The Obama's shared a lengthy tribute to McCain, praising the Vietnam veteran's courage Former president George W. Bush called McCain 'a friend whom I'll deeply miss' in tribute Former president George H. W. Bush also released a statement commending McCain as 'a patriot of the highest order, a public servant of rarest courage' The Clintons shared a moving tribute, praising the Vietnam veteran for his exemplary service 'My father is gone, and I miss him only as an adoring daughter can. But in this loss, and in this sorrow, I take comfort in this: John McCain, hero of the republic and to his little girl, wakes today to something more glorious than anything on this earth. 'Today the warrior enters his true and eternal life, greeted by those who have gone before him rising to meet the Author of All Things: "The dream is ended: this is the morning,"' she wrote. Barack Obama also issued a touching statement commending the Arizona native, who he defeated in the 2008 presidential election, as inspiration to the nation. 'John McCain and I were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds, and competed at the highest level of politics. But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher - the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed.' The statement continued: 'Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At John's best, he showed us what that means. And for that, we are all in his debt. Michelle and I send our most heartfelt condolences to Cindy and their family.' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asked Republicans in his home state to observe a moment of silence for McCain in a lengthy statement saying: 'From his cell in Hanoi to the halls of the Senate, he never stopped fighting with courage and determination.' Attorney General Jeff Sessions released this statement honoring the senator's life saying: 'For John McCain, his country was his life. He was tireless in its service' Sarah Palin, McCain's former running mate in his 2008 presidential campaign, took to Twitter to write a two-part statement saying: 'John McCain was a maverick and a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs' Senator Lindsey Graham was McCain's closest confidante on the Senate floor and said he lost his dear ally and mentor. He followed up with a second tweet saying: 'I will need some time to absorb this' Arizona Governor Doug Ducey said all flags would be lowered to half-staff in honor of McCain's dedication to his state and the nation Ducey shared a long message to praise McCain's legacy saying: 'We were most proud to call him a fellow Arizonan' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Shumer said he'll introduce a resolution to rename a Senate office building after McCain Mike Pence followed the president's tribute on Twitter writing: 'Karen and I send our deepest condolences to Cindy and the entire McCain family on the passing of Senator John McCain. We honor his lifetime of service to this nation in our military and in public life. His family and friends will be in our prayers. God bless John McCain.' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asked Republicans in his home state to observe a moment of silence for McCain in a lengthy statement saying: 'Today is a deeply sad day for the Senate and for our nation...It's an understatement to say the Senate will not be the same without our friend John.' 'From his cell in Hanoi to the halls of the Senate, he never stopped fighting with courage and determination,' he added. Sarah Palin took to Twitter to share her condolences as well. She was McCain's running mate during the 2008 presidential election. 'Today we lost an American original. Sen. John McCain was a maverick and a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs. John never took the easy path in life - and through sacrifice and suffering he inspired others to serve something greater than self,' she wrote, calling him a dear friend and sharing an image of the two together on the campaign trail. Senator Lindsey Graham was McCain's closest confidante on the Senate floor and took to Twitter saying: 'America and Freedom have lost one of her greatest champions. .And Ive lost one of my dearest friends and mentor.' 'I will need some time to absorb this, but I want Cindy and the entire McCain family to know they are in my prayers,' he added. Former Secretary of State John Kerry described the late senator as 'an American original - guts, grit and ultimately grace personified' Former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright recalled how she saw first-hand how McCain motivated democracy's advocates 'while instilling fear in tyrants across the globe' Former Senator Joe Lieberman, a close friend of McCain's shared his heartbreak writing: 'His death today hurts. I have lost a dear friend' South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster hailed McCain 'among the greatest of men' Minority Leader of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi praised McCain as a leader and public servant of deep patriotism Al Gore wrote on Twitter that he 'always admired and respected John from the opposite side of the aisle' Former Speaker of the House John Boehner said the Arizona senator 'lived with courage until the end' Former Vice President Joe Biden said 'more than anything, John was a friend' Bernie Sanders also shared his respects saying McCain will be missed by all Americans 'who respect integrity and independence' US House candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she learned about the power of humanity through interning for Senator Kennedy where she observed his friendship with McCain Former California Governor Arnold Scwarzenegger commended McCain for his dignity and service, adding 'He showed us the way' Retired American astronaut and retired US Navy Captain thanked the Vietnam veteran for his service, adding 'Fair winds and follow seas, Captain' Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also voiced his respect for McCain adding: 'Canadians join Americans tonight in celebrating his life and mourning his passing' Former president George W. Bush called McCain 'a man of deep conviction' and his dear friend in a moving tribute. 'Some lives are so vivid, it is difficult to imagine them ended. Some voices are so vibrant, it is hard to think of them stilled. John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order,' he said. 'He was a public servant in the finest traditions of our country. And to me, he was a friend whom I'll deeply miss. Laura and I send our heartfelt sympathies to Cindy and the entire McCain family, and our thanks to God for the life of John McCain,' he added. The Clintons shared a lengthy joint statement as well praising the late Republican for his heroic service to the country. 'Senator John McCain believed that every citizen has a responsibility to make something of the freedoms given by our Constitution, and from his heroic service in the Navy to his 35 years in Congress, he lived by his creed every day. 'He was a skilled, tough politician, as well as a trusted colleague alongside whom Hillary was honored to serve in the Senate. He frequently put partisanship aside to do what he thought was best for the country, and was never afraid to break the mold if it was the right thing to do. 'I will always be especially grateful for his leadership in our successful efforts to normalize relations with Vietnam. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Cindy, his mother, Roberta, his children, and his entire family.' The American flag at the White House was lowered to half-staff after McCain's passing Paying respects: Flags across the nation were lowered to half mast following senator's death A hearse arrived to the Sedona, Arizona home of the late senator on Saturday evening Soon after the hearse was pictured leaving the McCain ranch estate hours after the senator's death was publicly announced A military veteran paid respects at the entrance to the McCain ranch complex where the senator passed away surrounded by family and aides on Saturday afternoon His hearse pictured en route to Phoenix, Arizona from his ranch in Sedona Honoring his service: Senator's hearse traveled with a stunning police escort procession Dozens of Americans lined Interstate 17 holding American flags as they waited for the procession to pass through with the hearse carrying the late McCain Former vice president Al Gore shared a statement as well calling McCain 'a true patriot'. 'Senator McCain was an American hero and a true patriot ... I have no doubt that the Maverick's legacy will forever be an important model of leadership and civil discourse,' he wrote. US House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi tweeted her condolences as well. 'He was a patriotic, courageous hero who served his country above all. You will be missed, Senator McCain. May you Rest In Peace.' Arizona governor Doug Ducey shared a lengthy statement as well calling McCain 'a giant. An icon. An American hero. He will never be forgotten.' He also ordered all flags be lowered to half-staff in remembrance of the trailblazer's life. He is expected to be named as McCain's replacement in Senate. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer went so far as to say he will introduce a resolution to rename a Senate office building - the Russell - after McCain 'so that generations remember him'. Senator John McCain's family announced Friday he would discontinue treatment for his aggressive terminal brain cancer The Arizona Republican was diagnosed with aggressive glioblastoma last summer On Friday the McCain family announced in a joint statement that the 81-year-old would stop treatment for his aggressive brain cancer that forced him to step away from Washington in December in order to seek medical treatment. 'Last summer, Senator John McCain shared with Americans the news our family already knew: he had been diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma, and the prognosis was serious. 'In the year since, John has surpassed expectations for his survival. But the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict. With his usual strength of will, he has now chosen to discontinue medical treatment. 'Our family is immensely grateful for the support and kindness of all his caregivers over the last year, and for the continuing outpouring of concern and affection from John's many friends and associates, and the many thousands of people who are keeping him in their prayers. God bless and thank you all.' Theresa May has reportedly given the go-ahead for Britain to start work on a British-made satellite navigation system. It comes as a show of strength as Brussels threatens to freeze the UK out of the European Galileo programme because of Brexit. Chancellor Philip Hammond has signed off funding worth 100million to kick-start a project to rival the continental system which Britain had a key role in creating, the Sunday Telegraph reported. Theresa May (left) has reportedly given the go-ahead for Britain to start work on a British-made satellite navigation system while Chancellor Philip Hammond (right) has signed off funding worth 100million to kick-start the project, the Sunday Telegraph reported Galileo was the source of a major row between Britain, the European Space Agency and European Commission. Disagreements were had over the level of access the UK will have to the Public Regulated Service (PRS) - a navigation and timing signal intended for use by government agencies, armed forces and emergency services. The UK insists that for its involvement in the system to be worth continuing, it must be able to have detailed technical information about the PRS signal in order to rely on it for military purposes. But this is something the EU is only prepared to grant to members of the bloc. The UK's future status as a 'third country' after Brexit means that its firms may not be able to participate in creating some of the more sensitive elements of the project. Defence procurement minister Guto Bebb told MPs in June that Britain had the capacity to create a rival to Galileo at a cost of 3billion to 5billion. Graham Turnock, the chief executive of the UK Space Agency, told The Telegraph: 'We would like to continue to participate and we would still like a good outcome on Galileo but the signs I'm afraid are not terribly positive given the position and approach that the Commission has taken.' 'We still want to be part of the Galileo project but we have got to prepare for all eventualities,' a Whitehall source said. There are fears that Galileo is only the start, and Britain will be excluded from other European critical satellite systems, for instance, the Copernicus Earth Observation Programme. A fisherman has spent a freezing three hours in wintry waters after his boat was capsized by a whale. The sailor first contacted police after his boat started taking on water at 3am on Sunday morning off the western coast of Queensland's Fraser Island. He was found two hours later by a rescue helicopter after he managed to activate an emergency distress signal. Scroll down for video The sailor first contacted police after his boat started taking on water at 3am on Sunday morning off the western coast of Queensland's Fraser Island (stock images) Water Police were able to rescue the boatman by 5.50am. He was wearing a life jacket. The 42-year-old was suffering from hypothermia and some injuries. 'He had an injury to his upper left arm and rib area so it was a bit difficult to actually get him into the vessel...he was quite fatigued and relived at the same time,' Hervey Bay Water Police Senior Constable Craig Collins said. The man was immediately taken to the Hervey Bay Hospital for treatment. Marine rescue VMR Hervey Bay advised boatmen to be on the lookout for the injured whale. They also advised boatmen to be prepared with the necessary safety gear and an emergency beacon when going out to sea. Whales are often spotted in Australian waters from July to November because of the annual migration season, where different species of whales migrate from Antarctica to Australia in order to mate and breed. As the nation mourns the loss of Senator John McCain, preparations for the war hero's funeral are underway - but one face sure to be missing from the crowd is president Donald Trump. McCain had been locked in a war of words with Trump dating back to 2015 and specified months ago that he did not want the president to attend his funeral. Those close to the Republican Arizona senator reportedly started making arrangements for McCain's funeral in May, nearly a year after he announced that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive and rare form of brain cancer. He died on Saturday at his Arizona home surrounded by his family at the age of 81. According to a report by the New York Times, McCain's inner circle said vice president Mike Pence was invited to the services but not Trump. Donald Trump is not invited to Senator John McCain's funeral because of their long-standing feud McCain died at the age of 81 on Saturday after a long battle with aggressive brain cancer, his family announced The Times cited McCain's 'rocky relationship' with the president as the reason Trump was not on the invite list. McCain reportedly spent the last year of his life planning his own funeral, CNN reported Saturday night. Friends of the senator said he wanted the service held at three locations: Arizona, the National Cathedral in Washington and Annapolis, Maryland. Sources said that McCain had requested that George W Bush and Barack Obama deliver the eulogies at his funeral. Two family members reiterated to CNN on Saturday that Trump wont be present at the service. Trump has not commented on McCains wishes that he stay away from the funeral, but did offer a short message on the senators passing. My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain, he wrote. Our hearts and prayers are with you! Trumps statement comes a little over a week after he failed to recognize McCain during a signing of the John S McCain National Defense Authorization Act, which lawmakers implemented to honor McCains leadership of the Senate Armed Services Committee and his years of service in the Senate. During the ceremony Trump praised Rep. Martha McSally as terrific, but did not once mention McCain, even though the event was in his honor. McSally is seeking the Republican nomination for the Senate seat in Arizona. At a June rally in Duluth, Minnesota Trump referenced McCains no vote on the Affordable Care Act by giving a thumbs-down gesture and eliciting boos from the crowd. Meghan McCain fired back in a tweet that Trumps attacks on her father never stops being gross. Trump and McCains bad blood stems back to June 2015 when Trump announced he was running for president and called Mexican immigrants rapists and drug runners during a speech. McCain distanced himself from the future-president saying in an interview that he disagreed with Trumps comment. Trump fired back by calling McCain incompetent during a July 2015 rally at the Phoenix Convention Center. Donald Trump and John McCain's public feud dates back to 2015. In a July 2015 tweet Trump bashed the Arizona senator. Their war of words continued for several years The back and forth banter continued for the next two years, as Trump repeatedly launched public attacks often times on Twitter at McCain. In a 2016 tweet Trump slammed the senator as foul mouthed and in a 2017 post he lashed out at McCain for voting against the Affordable Care Act. 3 Republicans and 48 Democrats let the American people down. As I said from the beginning, let ObamaCare implode, then deal. Watch! he wrote. At one point during the two politicians bitter feud, Trump mocked McCains record as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War saying that McCain was only labeled a hero because he was captured and he liked people that werent captured. For his part, McCain publicly criticized Trump on numerous occasions. In a July statement, McCain lashed out at the president after Trump said during a meeting in Helsinki with Russian president Vladimir Putin that he accepted Russias claim that that they did not meddle in the US presidential election. McCain said of Trumps comments: No prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant. McCain, who died at the age of 81, has also launched public attacks at Trump over the past several years McCain again bashed Trump in March when Trump congratulated Putin on re-election. An American president does not lead the free world by congratulating dictators on winning sham elections, McCain said. The senator also wrote about his long-standing feud with Trump in his memoir The Restless Wave saying that Trumps behavior was disturbing. His lack of empathy for refugees, innocent, persecuted, desperate men, women, and children, is disturbing, the book read. The way he speaks about them is appalling, as if welfare or terrorism were the only purposes they could have in coming to our country. His reaction to unflattering news stories, calling them fake news, whether they're credible or not, is copied by autocrats who want to discredit and control a free press, McCain wrote. He has declined to distinguish the actions of our government from the crimes of despotic ones. He has showered with praise some of the world's worst tyrants. Former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency John Brennan called Donald Trump 'a real threat to national security' a week after the President revoked his top-level security clearance. During an interview with comedian Bill Maher on Friday, Brennan vented about his experience since retiring from the intelligence community and directed much of his ire towards the commander-in-chief, who took away his credentials on August 15. Brennan, who called the President 'treasonous' following his meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Finland last month, explained during the interview why he thought the description was accurate. During an interview with comedian Bill Maher Friday, Brennan vented about his experience since retiring from the intelligence community 'There are two principal reasons why I used that term,' Brennan explained to Maher on the HBO talk show 'Real Time.' 'One, I think I exhausted all the other adjectives in the English language to describe Donald Trump's failures to fulfill his responsibilities as president of the United States. 'And two, I saw him on that stage in Helsinki failing to be able to say to the world and to Vladimir Putin that Russia tried to interfere in our election, that it never should have happened and it never should happen again, and if it does Russia is going to pay some very severe consequences as a result, but he didn't do that.' The 62-year-old spy chief has been a vocal critic of the President since allegations of collision between the Trump campaign and Moscow emerged The 62-year-old spy chief has been a vocal critic of the President since allegations of collision between the Trump campaign and Moscow became the focal point of a special counsel investigation headed by former FBI director Robert Mueller. The criticism has only escalated in the passing months as Trump continues to push for warmer ties with the Kremlin. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders explained to reporters that Brennan's 'frenzied commentary' and 'unfounded and outrageous allegations' was the basis for the revocation. At one point, Brennan explained how extraordinary it was for a former top-level intelligence officials to have his credentials revoked. 'I didn't ask to keep my security clearancesformer directors don't do that.' 'We keep those clearances because sometimes, those in government want to avail themselves of our experience, our expertise, our knowledge about certain issues,' Brennan said. 'This is the first time in 38 years that I haven't had a security clearance, and the basis for the revocation is bogus. Mr. Trump and the administration didn't adhere even to the process that they reaffirmed last year, and the politicization of security clearances, either the granting or the revocation, is a real threat to our national security.' Brennan, who called the President 'treasonous' following his meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin last month in Finland, explained why he thought the description was accurate Brennan slammed Kentucky Senator Rand Paul for being 'the one that put this idea in Donald Trump's head,' even though, according to Brennan, 'Rand Paul has never served on the intelligence committee. He knows not of what he speaks, but yet he has this impression that I'm 'monetizing' security clearances, so he continues to spout out on these issues.' 'But again,' he continued, 'I believe very strongly in the principle that national security is one of the most sacred and solemn professions in this government, and every American citizen deserves to have national security professionalsintelligence professionalswho are not going to be politicized, and no president ever should take that capability away from them.' Towards the end of the interview, Maher suggested that the Trump presidency was one of the greatest threats the country has ever faced, on par with the Revolutionary War and Civil War, a notion Brennan was quick to embrace. 'And I think it's going to get worse before it gets better, because don't forget: Donald Trump has the authority of the president of the United States in his hands, in terms of what he can do domestically here and as well as what he can do internationally to try to distract attention, whether or not he's going to try to pursue some type of foreign adventure, military or otherwise. But fundamentally though, what he's doing to this country: he's dividing us.' Researchers have longed scratched their heads at what caused the spike in America's murder rate in 1993 - where seven homicides by firearm were reported for every 100,000 Americans, according to the Pew Research Center. For a long time theorists believed the influx of crack cocaine was the culprit as the drug flowed through poor urban areas and saw addicts turn to crime. But two new academic papers reveal that crack didn't drive America's notorious murder boom, which fell in the mid-90s. Instead it was a boom of cheap and accessible guns that weaponized and fueled the deadliest years in US history and led to New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's famous zero-tolerance policy, according to The Trace. New research reveals that the mass production cheap handguns led to 90s murder boom, agents and NYPD displayed with a massive seizure of illegal pistols in 1993, the deadliest year in US history for homicides by firearms The 90s violence was so bad that it led to Giuliani's famous zero-tolerance policy that allowed cops to stop and frisk suspicious suspects and arrest them for minor infractions, leading to a decrease in the homicide rate 'Whats striking about the gun market is you get these surges in production. The production booms were followed by surges in killings,' Geoffrey Williams, an economist at Transylvania University in Kentucky researching US gun violence for the past three years, said. Williams along with colleague W. Alan Bartley penned a working academic paper where they say that the 'supply shock' of cheap pistols in the 1980s and early 90s led to increases of gun homicide among young black men. Research shows that the production of guns priced at $100 or less peaked in 1993. That same year murders, both committed by firearms or by other means, reached their highest point in history. Stunning new research disproves past theories that the crack cocaine epidemic led to the 90s, as firearm homicides among black men are seen peaking in 1993, the same year the production of cheap guns peaked. Cocaine deaths continued to rise even after 1993 The nation's capitol had a gun murder rate of 75 per 100,000 residents. Gary, Indiana marked the highest murder rate with 110 deaths by gun violence per every 100,000 residents. Shocking graphs reveal how US handgun production boomed in 1993 where nearly 1,200,000 firearms were manufactured. That year also saw the highest number of firearm homicides among young black men reaching nearly 200 per every 100,000. That same year cocaine overdoses killed 100 per 100,000,000 people in the nation, a fraction of gun violence victims. The violence was so bad that it led to Giuliani's famous zero-tolerance policy that allowed cops to stop and frisk suspicious suspects and arrest them for minor infractions such as loitering, prostitution, and aggressive panhandling. While his tough crack-down led to an increase of misdemeanor arrests in the 1990s, it also correlated with New York's decrease in homicides, according to Politifact. Economists now say that a surge in cheap and accessible guns drove violent crime, not the crack epidemic which was happening around the same time period. In 1993 1,200,000 guns were manufactured, the same year murder by firearms reached an all time high Williams and Bartley came to their conclusion by studying the price of handgun prices listen in Gun Digest over the years and cross matching them with gun fatality and cocaine epidemic data. Why did US handgun production explode in the early 90s? The report authors say the The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives slacked off when it came to gun industry restrictions. Additionally a group of six LA based gun manufacturers known as the 'Ring of Fire' expanded the market for cheap firearms that were nicknamed 'Saturday Night Specials' as they repeatedly were found at the crime scenes of weekend drunken disputes. As a result of 1993's gun violence epidemic the federal government doubled ATF law enforcement funding from just over $2billion in 1990 to more than $4billion in 1994. The Brady background check system also reduced the number of gun owners as allowed dealers to instantly check whether purchasers had felony histories. By 2000 the cheap handguns sunk to the smallest share of production. Over those seven years, the gun homicide rate also fell among black men. In contrast cocaine overdose deaths across all ages and races steadily increased from 1980 to all all time high in 2000. If the theory that crack fueled the 90s murder boom was correct, gun homicide rates should have followed - but they didn't. Economists reached their conclusions by comparing the prices of guns over the 90s by referencing old Gun Digest magazines and cross referencing them with murder rate and crack epidemic data Firearm homicide rates among black men actually sunk to 100 per every 100,000 when cocaine deaths peaked that year. However crack was associated with a rise of property crime - not murder as previously suspected. Another working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research in July, reveals that also the overall gun homicide rate has declined in the US, the murder rate for young black men remains 25 per cent higher than it was before the crack epidemic. Paper author Timothy Moore of Purdue University said: 'It's easy to think that it's gone. But younger black males are still doing worse than other groups.' 'The diffusion of guns both as a part of, and in response to, these violent crack markets permanently changed the young black males rates of gun possession and their norms around carrying guns,' the paper says. In the past couple of years the number of gun homicides have risen yet again. The national murder rate rose by 10 per cent in 2015 and another 8 per cent in 2016. Experts say history may be repeating itself as according to the ATF, domestic gun production reached an all-time peak of 11million weapons in 2016. At the same time gun violence has ravaged cities across America, devastating cities including Chicago, St. Louis, and Baltimore. 'Theres nothing controversial about saying that means influence injuries. Take the likelihood of people committing suicide by jumping off bridges. Studies show that when you make it harder to jump off a bridge, fewer people commit suicide that way. The supply of guns is an integral part of that same story: the widespread availability of a means of injury results in a greater amount of that kind of injury,' Dr. Sandro Galea of the Boston University School of Public Health said. A Portland State University honor student of Middle Eastern decent was racially abused by an elderly white woman this week after she allegedly sideswiped his car inside a parking garage. Bassel Hamieh said that the incident was triggered after the woman refused to voluntarily exchange insurance information with him following the minor fender bender. Instead, she she began mocking his name, questioning his U.S. citizenship and telling him 'some of you are terrorists,' according to The Oregonian. Bassel Hamieh (R) said that the incident was triggered after the woman refused to voluntarily exchange insurance information with him after a fender bender Shocked at the brazen abuse being inflicted upon him, Hamieh began filming the woman (pictured) with his camera phone in order to capture some of the encounter Shocked at the brazen abuse being inflicted upon him, Hamieh began filming the woman with his camera phone in order to capture a potion of the encounter. Despite the exchange ending in the woman handing over her information after a public safety officer came to defuse the situation, the incident left a bad taste in Hamieh's mouth. 'She made the wrong decision to speak to me the way she did, but the issue is a systemic one,' the 23-year-old Portland native told the paper. 'I ultimately decided to post the video to show that people like me have to deal with this kind of hate all the time for no reason other than we exist.' Pictured: Oregon Health & Science University building is where the incident occurred Hamieh later posted the exchange on his Facebook page, which has already accumulated 34,000 views. Another version of the footage generated 172,000 views on Twitter. Hamieh is an American-born citizen of Lebanese decent and lived in Beirut with parents for 11 years. The incident began shortly after the honor student finished a chemistry exam at the Oregon Health & Science University building and was heading for the parking lot to meet a friend who was coming to pick him up. The friend was driving Hamieh's car when the other driver sideswiped the vehicle. But instead of getting out and checking if anyone was hurt, the motorist attempted to keep driving. Hamieh he was able to stop the driver from getting away after getting out of the vehicle and stopping her from exiting the building. The collision left heavy scratches on the left front side of the car, Hamieh said. 'At first, I didn't think this was going to be an issue at all. I explain that she hit my car, show her the damage, get her information and we both move on with our lives,' Hamieh said. 'But then when she started bringing up my race and making this about more than what it was, I decided to record it because I didn't feel safe, and I felt I needed something to protect myself in case she later said it didn't happen.' The footage shows the woman, who is seen carrying a cane and parked in a disabled parking spot, telling the the 23-year-old that he doesn't 'look like a Portland guy.' Hamieh later posted the exchange on his Facebook page, which has already accumulated 34,000 views and 172,000 views on Twitter The woman persisted in denying that she hit his car, refusing to exchange insurance information and informs Hamieh that he has a 'huge accent,' noted that she has an 'American accent' and has been 'all over the world.' Undeterred, Hamieh continues tro politely ask for the woman's insurance information and ID, reminding her that it is the proper and lawful thing to do after an accident. But despite his entreaties, the woman begins to mock the pronunciation of his last name and says 'I knew it,' in reference to Hamieh's ethnicity. On the video, he asks her 'what's wrong with Middle Easterners?' 'What do you think?' she replies. 'Some of you are terrorist.' After informing the woman that he was born in Portland, much to the woman's disbelief, a public safety officer comes and mitigates the situation and telling Hamieh to contact him if the woman gave him any more trouble. Disheartened by the situation, Hamieh hopes that others can learn from the incident and think twice before making assumptions about people based on their ethnicity or religion. 'It's all about what she said and the fact that people seem to feel more and more comfortable saying these things every day,' Hamieh said. Six police officers were assaulted and injured when they tried to intervene in a fight that erupted between pub patrons last night. Police were called to the area to escort rowdy customers from the Queenscliff Brewhouse at 10pm last night on Gellibrand Street. When police officers tried to escort a patron from the pub, two men allegedly assaulted them, 9 News Melbourne reports. A pub exploded into a violent brawl when patrons assaulted six police officers who tried to escort them from the premises (stock images) The man being escorted by police soon joined in and assaulted the officers. Police chased them down as they ran off to a nearby laneway, where the officers had to deploy OC spray. More patrons came in and tried to stop the officers from arresting the men. Six police officers - one woman and five men - were injured during the fight before they were able to arrest six of the violent punters. Another man turned himself in at the Geelong Police Station, according to 9 News. The police officers are being treated in hospital for their injuries, which included swelling, along with hand and face injuries. Luckily, the injuries were non-life threatening and minor. Two men were charged with assault, resisting police, and causing reckless injury. They are set to appear at the Geelong Magistrates Court on the 5th of October, The Age reports. Three men were released but could still face charges including hindering police and being drunk in a public place, while another man is expected to face the same charges, including assaulting police. Another man was fined for being drunk in a public place. The brawl left six men under arrest and six injured police officers, while another man also came forward and turned himself in at the Geelong Police Station (pictured) The investigation is ongoing. Police have yet to speak to an eighth man involved, whose name was not publicly disclosed. 'We have a zero tolerance approach to this it is simply not on. Anyone who think they can abuse, assault or injure any member of Victoria Police should know that there will be very serious consequences,' Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said. Anyone with any information should contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or submit a report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au. The late Sen. John McCain will lie in state at the Arizona Capitol on Wednesday, which is his birthday, before his remains travel to Washington D.C. on Thursday for his burial ceremony. A private ceremony will take place inside the state Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday at 10 am PT. The public is then invited to pay their respects to McCain from 2 pm - 8 pm PT. On Thursday, there will be a memorial service celebrating his life and legacy at North Phoenix Baptist Church in Arizona at 10 am PT. He will be flown to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland in the evening. John McCain's funeral journey will begin Wednesday in his home state of Arizona, at the Capitol in Phoenix (pictured), on what would have been his 82nd birthday He will be lain in state in the U.S. Capitol rotunda in Washington DC on Friday McCain's funeral will be Saturday at the Washington National Cathedral His burial will be at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland on Sunday McCain will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol in Rotunda. The formal ceremony will take place at 11 am ET to honor his life and service to the nation. Public is invited then to pay their respects to McCain as he lies in state for remainder of the day. McCain's remains will arrive in Washington D.C. at Joint Base Andrews on Thursday evening. He will be welcomed to the U.S. Capitol building with a ceremony at 11 am on Friday. A public viewing of his casket will follow. His public funeral service will take place on Saturday at Washington National Cathedral. On Sunday there will be a private memorial service for McCain at the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Maryland, at 2 pm ET. He will be buried in a private ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery next to his Naval Academy classmate and lifelong friend Admiral Chuck Larson. The six-term Arizona senator and decorated Vietnam War veteran died Saturday of brain cancer at his ranch near Sedona, Arizona, at age 81 Dozens line Interstate 17 as they wait for the procession with the hearse carrying the late Arizona Sen. John McCain The late Sen. John McCain was lie in state at the Arizona Capital Wednesday, which is his birthday Gov. Doug Ducey will appoint McCain's replacement in the Senate "It's tough to imagine politics without John McCain. But we need to go on," says a tearful Sen. Jeff Flake https://t.co/gJ8qHkHOyJ pic.twitter.com/MHbFplfVUN CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) August 26, 2018 Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced McCain's funeral journey will begin Wednesday in his home state of Arizona, at the Capitol in Phoenix, on what would have been his 82nd birthday. In a tweet, Ducey, a Republican, described the event as a 'rare and distinct occurrence for a truly special man.' He adds: 'John McCain is Arizona, and we will honor his life every way we can.' The six-term Arizona senator and decorated Vietnam War veteran died Saturday of brain cancer at his ranch near Sedona, Arizona, at age 81. Events are expected to begin in his home state and move to Washington before his burial at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Congressional leaders in Washington D.C. say McCain will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol rotunda. Republican and Democratic leaders did not give a date for the event, saying Sunday that more details would be released later. Former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama are expected to speak at McCain's service in Washington. While Ducey will appoint a replacement for McCain, who held his Senate seat for more than 30 years, there is another Senate race taking place in Arizona this year - the one to replace retiring Sen. Jeff Flake. McCain's death has now become an issue in that contest, when voters go to the polls on Tuesday to decide the party's nominees for the general election. A candidate for the GOP nomination has suggested that a statement that McCain was ending medical treatment was designed to hurt her campaign. Kelli Ward made the comment on Facebook hours before McCain died Saturday. Ward had unsuccessfully challenged McCain in the 2016 GOP primary and is now running for a seat being vacated by Flake. A post from a Ward campaign aide questions whether the Friday announcement was timed to distract from a bus tour that Ward had launched that day. Ward commented: 'I think they wanted to have a particular narrative that is negative to me.' After her comment was publicized, Ward deleted it and wrote 'the media loves a narrative' and said she 'feels compassion' for McCain's family. Ducey does not plan to announce whom he will appoint to replace McCain until after the senator's burial. Media: Sen. @LindseyGrahamSC (R-SC), a kind of heir apparent to @SenJohnMcCain in the @GOP, to @DanaBashCNN #InsidePolitics: "I had always viewed him as indestructible. It never crossed my mind that there would be political life without John McCain, until now. It's different." pic.twitter.com/2lULuN3d1M Porter Anderson (@Porter_Anderson) August 26, 2018 Flags fly at half-staff at the Arizona Capitol in memory of the late Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain Kelli Ward, a candidate for the GOP Senate nomination, deleted a Facebook comment that was critical of John McCain Arizona voters go the polls on Tuesday to pick the party nominees to replace retiring Sen. Jeff Flake The Arizona Republican's death on Saturday of brain cancer leaves a vacancy in the Senate for the state. State law requires the governor to name an appointee of the same political party who will serve until the next general election in 2020. Ducey's spokesman Daniel Ruiz II said in a statement Sunday that the governor will not be making any announcements until after McCain is buried. The statement says, 'Now is a time for remembering and honoring a consequential life.' Tributes have poured in for the late senator. Retired Gen. David Petraeus is honoring him as a distinguished veteran who always 'had the backs' of military service members. Petraeus, a former CIA director who previously oversaw coalition forces in Iraq, tells ABC's 'This Week' that McCain was committed to ensuring that those who fought the wars after Sept. 11 'had what was needed to prevail.' He says McCain was also very forthright in standing up against torture, working to limit the enhanced interrogation of detainees. Petraeus notes that an extraordinary moment of McCain's military career was when he was a prisoner of war in Vietnam and was offered freedom by his captors, but 'he would not break faith with his fellow prisoners.' Sen. Susan Collins remembers McCain's momentous vote against their party's effort to repeal the Obama-era health law. The Maine Republican tells CNN's 'State of the Union' that she and GOP colleague Lisa Murkowski of Alaska - both repeal opponents - spoke to McCain before the July 2017 vote because they knew he was struggling with the decision. German Chancellor Angela Merkel paid tribute to McCain as 'one of the great political personalities of our time' French President Emmanuel Macron says the senator's voice will be missed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country salutes McCain as a 'great American patriot and a great supporter of Israel' Collins says he pointed to them and said, 'You two are right!' Collins says Vice President Mike Pence was waiting to speak to McCain next, but she knew McCain's 'no' decision would hold. She says, 'Once John McCain made up his mind about something, there was no shaking him.' McCain later dramatically held up his hand and flicked his thumb down, killing the measure. German Chancellor Angela Merkel paid tribute to McCain as 'one of the great political personalities of our time.' Merkel offered her condolences in a statement tweeted Sunday by her spokesman, Steffen Seibert. She says that McCain was 'a tireless fighter for a strong trans-Atlantic alliance; his significance went well beyond his own country.' People leave flowers and candles outside the A.L. Moore-Grimshaw Mortuary in Phoenix, Arizona where the body of the late Senator John McCain is currently being held With a police escort, a procession follows the hearse carrying the late Arizona Sen. John McCain along Interstate 17 on the way to Phoenix Merkel says, 'John McCain was led by the firm conviction that the sense of all political work lies in service to freedom, democracy and the rule of law. His death is a loss to all those who share this conviction.' And people in Vietnam are remembering McCain as having played an important role in normalizing relations between their country and the United States. McCain was captured in 1967 when he parachuted into Hanoi's Truc Bach Lake after his Navy aircraft was shot down during a bombing mission. He spent over five years in the prison known as the 'Hanoi Hilton.' On Sunday, a memorial was held at the lake, with residents leaving flowers to remember McCain. One resident, Nguyen Van Trung, says McCain 'fought for peace in many countries, including Vietnam.' Another resident, Hoang Thi Trang, says that to the Vietnamese people, McCain 'was not only a companion in resolving postwar issues, but also a friend.' French President Emmanuel Macron says the senator's voice will be missed. Macron has tweeted in English that McCain 'was a true American hero. He devoted his entire life to his country.' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country salutes McCain as a 'great American patriot and a great supporter of Israel.' Netanyahu says Sunday he is deeply saddened by McCain's passing at the age of 81 and will always treasure his friendship. McCain was a frequent visitor to Israel who backed it in the Senate and strongly opposed the nuclear ambitions and militancy of its archrival Iran. Netanyahu says McCain's 'support for Israel never wavered. It sprang from his belief in democracy and freedom.' Other tributes poured in from across the Israeli political spectrum. Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman called McCain one of Israel's greatest friends. Yair Lapid, head of the opposition Yesh Atid Party, lauded McCain as 'a soldier with integrity in a world of politicians.' A former Vatican representative to the United States is calling on Pope Francis to resign writing in an 11-page testament that he knew of the sex abuse allegations against Archbishop Theodore McCarrick but covered them up. Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, 77, who served as apostolic nuncio in Washington DC from 2011 to 2016 said that Pope Francis knew of the allegations as early as 2013, according to the National Catholic Register. Vigano said in his letter that he personally told Pope Francis that McCarrick was accused of inappropriate behavior and Pope Benedict XVI imposed sanctions on McCarrick ordering him to a life of penance. According to Vigano, during a June 2013 meeting the Pope asked him what kind of man McCarrick was like. Vigano said he replied: 'He corrupted generations of seminarians and priests and Pope Benedict ordered him to withdraw to a life of prayer and penance.' He alleged that the Pope was trying to find out if he was an ally of McCarrick or not. A former Vatican representative for the United State is calling on Pope Francis (pictured on Saturday in Ireland) to resign Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano (pictured) wrote an 11-page letter accusing Pope Francis and others of covering for McCarrick Cardinal Theodore McCarrick is seen on December 8, 2015 in Washington, D.C. McCarrick has said he has 'absolutely no recollection of this reported abuse' and believes in his innocence Vigano told the outlet that Pope Francis 'continued to cover' for McCarrick and 'not take into account the sanctions that Pope Benedict had imposed on him'. Vigano said in 2009 or 2010, Pope Benedict implemented sanctions that stated McCarrick 'was to leave the seminary where he was living. He was also forbidden to celebrate (Mass) in public, to participate in public meetings, to give lecturers, to travel, with the obligation of dedicating himself to a life of prayer and penance'. He said instead of taking action, Pope Francis revoked the sanctions and made McCarrick his 'trusted counselor'. Vigano said he sent several letters to Vatican representatives about McCarrick but they fell on deaf ears. He said in his letter that 'the corruption has reached the very top of the Church's hierarchy' and that's why he's speaking out publicly. Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano said he personally told Pope Francis about the abuse The letter ended with Vigano asking Pope Francis, and others who allegedly tried to cover up the allegations, to resign. 'He (Pope Francis) knew from at least June 23, 2013 that McCarrick was a serial predator,' Vigano stated, but although 'he knew that he was a corrupt man, he covered for him to the bitter end.' 'It was only when he was forced by the report of the abuse of a minor, again on the basis of media attention, that he took action (regarding McCarrick) to save his image in the media,' he wrote. Vigano wrote that Pope Francis 'is abdicating the mandate which Christ gave to Peter to confirm the brethren,' and urged him to 'acknowledge his mistakes' and, to 'set a good example to cardinals and bishops who covered up McCarrick's abuses and resign along with all of them.' The former DC nuncio also implicated Cardinals Angelo Sodano, Tarcisio Bertone and Pietro Parolin as well as Cardinal Donald Wuerl, McCarrick's successor as archbishop of DC. Earlier on Saturday, Pope Francis traveled to Ireland and addressed the sex abuse claims plaguing the Catholic Church. The failure of ecclesiastical authorities bishops, religious superiors, priests and others to adequately address these repugnant crimes has rightly given rise to outrage and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community, Francis said, according to NBC News. Pope Benedict XVI (pictured) imposed sanctions on McCarrick ordering him to a life of penance but Pope Francis allegedly revoked the sanctions Father Boniface Ramsey (seen above in a CBS interview) said 'virtually everyone knew' about Cardinal Theodore McCarrick's alleged sex abuse Archbishop Sean Cardinal O'Malley (seen above at the Boston College 2017 141st Commencement Exercises at Boston College Alumni Stadium on May 22, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts) apologized Monday and said he didn't see a letter sent to his office in 2015 Church attendance in Ireland has plummeted in recent years as people call on the Vatican to take action and tackle the abuse allegations. The area has also been hit with its own share of scandal after a mass grave was discovered in 1993 at secretive Catholic institutions of confinement for unmarried mothers, prostitutes and other fallen women. At least 796 children were found buried in the grave. A priest in New York City has also spoken out saying that he repeatedly warned church officials about now ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick - who was suspended last month over sex abuse allegations. Father Boniface Ramsey told CBS News this week: 'I had the impression that virtually everyone knew about it. 'Archbishop McCarrick was inviting seminarians to his beach house. There were five beds and there were six people. Archbishop McCarrick arranged it in such a way that somebody would join him in his bed.' The priest, an archbishop of Newark at the time, said he was informed about the inappropriate behavior in 1986. Ramsey wrote in a letter to Cardinal Sean O'Malley, of Boston, in June 2015: 'Some of these stories were not presented to me as mere rumors but were told to me by persons directly involved.' The letter was sent to O'Malley after Pope Francis appointed him as president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. O'Malley said Monday that he didn't see a letter sent to his office in 2015 concerning McCarrick's possible inappropriate behavior with seminarians. 'I should have seen that letter precisely because it made assertions about the behavior of an archbishop in the church,' he said. O'Malley said his priest secretary told the pastor a recommendation to review cases fell outside the commission's mandate. He apologized Monday to the pastor and to anyone whose concerns were reflected in the letter. Pope Francis ordered McCarrick removed from public ministry amid allegations he sexually abused a teenage altar boy and engaged in sexual misconduct with adult seminarians decades ago. McCarrick has said he has 'absolutely no recollection of this reported abuse' and believes in his innocence. Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona spent decades in Congress and was known as a bit of a maverick conservative Sen. John McCain, who spent more than five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam and later dedicated his life to public service eventually running for president has died. He was 81 years old. John Sidney McCain III was born on August 29, 1936 in the Panama Canal Zone, the second of three children born to John Sr and Roberta McCain. It was a respected military family with quite a legacy; both Sen. McCains father and grandfather served as four-star United States Navy Admirals, and McCain grew up on a number of naval bases in the US and abroad before finishing private high school in Virginia. He followed his father and grandfather into the service, attending the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, where he later joked - he was an undistinguished member of the Class of 1958, finishing fifth from last in his year. Upon graduation, he trained in Florida and became a naval pilot, known for his hijinks and often cavalier attitude. He married his first wife, Carol, in 1965 and adopted her two young children, Andrew and Douglas, and the couple had a daughter, Sidney - but it wasn't long before MCain headed off for war, at his request. 'I didn't possess any particular notion of greatness, but I did hold strong notions of honor,' he writes in Faith of My Fathers. 'And I worried that my deserved reputation for foolishness would make command of a squadron or a carrier, the pinnacle of a young pilot's aspiration, too grand an ambition for an obstreperous admiral's son, and my failure to reach command would dishonor me and my family. 'Despite my concerns, I resolved to follow the conventional course to command. With the country at war, that course led to Vietnam. The best way to raise my profile as an aviator, perhaps the only way, was to achieve a creditable combat record. I was eager to begin. 'More than professional considerations lay beneath my desire to go to war. Nearly all the men in my family had made their reputations at war. It was my family's pride. And the Naval Academy, with its celebration of martial valor, had penetrated enough of my defenses to recall me to that honor. I wanted to go to Vietnam, and to keep faith with the family creed.' He was stationed in the Gulf of Tonkin, flying A-4 Skyhawks, and was assigned to the USS Forrestal, which suffered a catastrophic fire on July 29, 1967, wounding McCain and killing 134 sailors. He then volunteered for assignment with another aircraft carrier, the USS Oriskany, and was flying his 23rd bombing mission over North Vietnam when he was shot down on October 26, 1967. He parachuted into a lake and was badly injured but was taken captive by the North Vietnamese, who offered him minimal medical assistance until they realized how high-ranking his father was; in mid-1968, McCain Sr was named commander of all US forces in the Vietnam theater. As POW, McCain was kept for some time at Hoa Lo Prison, more commonly known as the Hanoi Hilton and was regularly tortured over the next five and a half years, much of which was spent in solitary confinement. McCain was offered release numerous times but refused to leave unless all other POWs captured before him were set free, realizing that the North Vietnamese would turn his freedom into a massive propaganda campaign and victory. His treatment by his captors was so cruel that, at one stage, he unsuccessfully attempted suicide, and at another he made an anti-US propaganda confession, later writing that, while he felt it was dishonorable, he realized Every man has his breaking point. I had reached mine. Without proper treatment, his extensive injuries left McCain unable to raise his arms above his head - subsequently affecting his future prospects in the Navy. Sen. McCain first entered politics in 1982 after retiring from the Navy the previous year; he would continue as a public servant until his death Sen. McCain, like his father and grandfather before him, attended the United States Naval Academy - where he later joked he was 'an undistinguished member of the Class of 1958' While flying combat missions during the Vietnam War, McCain was shot down in 1967 and taken prisoner by the North Vietnamese McCaine spent five and a half years as a prisoner of war before his release in 1973, following the Paris Peace Accords, which ended direct US military involvement in Vietnam Eventually, McCain was released after the signing of the Paris Peace Accords in 1973, which ended direct US military involvement in Vietnam, and he returned to the US to recover from his extensive injuries. He earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross, among other honors. His wife had suffered her own injuries in a car accident and McCain admitted that, upon his return to the US, he engaged in extramarital affairs, and his marriage to Carol broke down. In 1977, McCain was assigned as the Navys liaison to the US Senate, and he retired from the Navy in 1981 the same year he married his second wife, Cindy Lou Hensley, a teacher and the daughter of Jim Hensley, the founder of the third largest Anheuser-Busch beer distributorship in America. He relocated to Arizona, and the couple went on to have three biological children Jack McCain, Meghan McCain and James McCain and adopt a daughter from Bangladesh, Bridget. In 1982, McCain ran for Congress as a Republican despite criticism that he was a carpetbagger recently settled in the state. During one candidate forum, he countered that criticism with the response: I wish I could have had the luxury, like you, of growing up and living and spending my entire life in a nice place like the first district of Arizona, but I was doing other things. As a matter of fact, when I think about it now, the place I lived longest in my life was Hanoi. He was re-elected in 1984, 1986, 1992, 1998, 2004 and 2010, serving at various times as chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs; on the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and currently as chairman of the Committee on Armed Services and member of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. He published his memoir, Faith of My Fathers, in 1999, writing: My public profile is inextricably linked to my POW experiences. Obviously, such recognition has benefited my political career, and I am grateful for that. But I have tried to make what use I can of Vietnam and not let the memories of war encumber the rest of my lifes progress. Neither have I been content to accept that my time in Vietnam would stand as the ultimate experience of my life. McCain as a young boy with his grandfather, left, and father, right, who both were four-star admirals in the United States Navy After divorcing his first wife, Carol, McCain married Arizona woman Cindy Hensley, pictured, who poses with two of their children McCain and Cindy had four children together - Meghan (center), Jack and James, in addition to adopting a daughter, Bridget, from Bangladesh John McCain ran for president twice without success - the second time against President Barack Obama in 2008; here, the pair shake hands before the first of three presidential debates in September 2008 Sen. McCain chose Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, pictured, as his 2008 candidate for vice president McCain earned a reputation as a maverick, a conservative not daunted by taking differing opinions from the Republican party. He also had a reputation as a straight shooter, and he weathered scandals such as the Keating Five, when five senators were accused of corruption in 1989 in connection with Charles Keating of Lincoln Savings and Loan, who contributed politically to the men and sought their help when the company was in trouble. McCain was ultimately found innocent of any wrongdoing by the Senate Ethics Committee, but the incident spurred him to become an advocate of campaign finance reform; he and Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold eventually pushed through the McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act in 2002. McCain ran for president in the 2000 election campaign, announcing his candidacy on September 27, 1999; he was pitted against Texas Gov. George W. Bush for the Republican nomination. Although McCain won New Hampshire, he was soon outspent by Bush and was subjected to a smear campaign in South Carolina. He ultimately withdrew from the race on March 9, 2000, and he endorsed Bush two months later. The Arizona politician was not done with the presidency, however, and threw his hat in the ring again for the 2008 presidential campaign. He announced his candidacy on April 25, 2007 and went on to win the nomination, announcing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. He lost the election to President Barack Obama and returned to the Senate. McCain and President Donald Trump engaged in a well-publicized feud, as Trump criticized the war hero, especially for his vote against a Republican replacement for 'Obamacare,' the health care law approved under President Barack Obama. Trump signed a military policy bill this month named for McCain, but in a sign of their testy relationship the president made no mention of McCain's name in remarks at a signing ceremony. The senator, in a 60 Minutes interview, previously spoke of having 'different upbringing' and 'different life experiences' from Trump - who disparaged McCain for having been captured during the Vietnam War. 'He is in the business of making money and he has been successful both in television as well as Miss America and others,' he said. 'I was raised in a military family.' He said: 'I was raised in the concept and belief that duty, honor, country is the lodestar for the behavior that we have to exhibit every single day.' Sen. McCain told United States Naval Academy graduates in October: 'Youll know that to serve this country is to serve its ideals the ideals that consider every child on earth as made in the image of God and endowed with dignity and the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is a noble cause. It is your cause, and its worth living and dying for' Sen. McCain was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in July 2017 - but returned just two weeks later to the Senate Sen. McCain spoke proudly of his 'sense of honor' and told a new generation of Annapolis graduates just six months ago: 'May your lives be as lucky as mine' Last July, Sen. McCain was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer but he was back in the Senate two weeks later. His last Senate vote was in December. In a speech on the Senate floor following his diagnosis - outlined in a chapter titled Regular Order in his book The Restless Wave, published just months ago - McCain said: 'Our deliberations can still be important and useful, but I think we'd all agree they haven't been overburdened by greatness lately. And right now, they aren't producing much for the American people. 'Both sides have let this happen. Let's leave the history of who shot first to the historians. I suspect they'll find we all conspired in our decline - either by deliberate actions or neglect. We've all played some role in it. Certainly I have. Sometimes, I've let my passion rule my reason ... I hope we can again rely on humility, on our need to cooperate, on our dependence on each other to learn how to trust each other again and by so doing better serve the people who elected us. 'Stop listening to the bombastic loudmouths on the radio and television and the Internet. To hell with them.' He added: 'Let's trust each other. Let's return to regular order. We've been spinning our w heels on too many important issues because we keep trying to find a way to win without help from across the aisle.' McCain's family announced on Friday that he was stopping treatment for brain cancer, just days before his 82nd birthday. He is survived by his wife, Cindy; seven children and several grandchildren in addition to his legacy of bravery and service that continues to inspire soldiers and sailors today. In a speech to Naval Academy graduates in October, he said: I know what you will risk and what you will receive in return. I know America is lucky to have you, and that you will think yourselves lucky to serve America. Even in the worst of times and they come for most of us youll know that to serve this country is to serve its ideals the ideals that consider every child on earth as made in the image of God and endowed with dignity and the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is a noble cause. It is your cause, and its worth living and dying for. I have, sometimes unwittingly and often imperfectly, served that cause all my adult life. Like your service, mine began here in the place of honor and honors demands. I arrived a rebel without a cause, and left much the same. But I would discover that a sense of honor had been imparted to me here that would speak to me in the darkest hours. And so I come back, again and again, to the place where I learned to dread dishonor and from where I embarked on an eventful life, in good company, in the service of my country and its great cause. May your lives be as lucky as mine. Scott Morrison has unveiled his new-look cabinet after being sworn in as Australian Prime Minister. Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce was not given a portfolio but has been appointed Special Envoy for Drought Assistance and Recovery while Tony Abbott was snubbed altogether and will remain on the backbench. Mr Morrison named the rest of his frontbench on Sunday evening, making Dan Tehan the new Education Minister, Kelly O'Dwyer the new Minister for Jobs and giving Michaelia Cash a new portfolio as Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Technology. The nation's new leader paid tribute to outgoing Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who resigned on Sunday after leaked WhatsApp messages revealed a betrayal during her unsuccessful challenge for the Liberal leadership. Mr Morrison's rival for the party leadership Peter Dutton will continue to act as Home Affairs Minister but Mr Morrison said there will be 'changes to the portfolio's structure'. Scroll down for video Scott Morrison unveiled his new-look cabinet at a press conference on Sunday evening Josh Frydenberg (left) has secured a place in cabinet but Julie Bishop (right) has resigned Greg Hunt (left) will serve as Health Minister while Marise Payne (right) will be Minister of Foreign Affairs Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce was not given a portfolio but has been appointed Special Envoy for Drought Assistance Marise Payne was named Foreign Affairs Minister after a strong recommendation from Ms Bishop. Josh Frydenberg will act as Treasurer and Mathias Cormann will continue to be Finance Minister. Simon Birmingham swaps the Education portfolio for Trade, Tourism and Investment while Angus Taylor becomes Minister for Energy. Melissa Price will take over for Mr Frydenberg as the new Environment Minister. Greg Hunt will continue as Health Minister while David Littleproud will be the Minister for Agriculture and Water. Karen Andrews will be Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, and Alan Tudge will be Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population. Tony Abbott looks set to remain in political wilderness on the back bench after being blamed for orchestrating the political coup against Malcolm Turnbull. Mr Morrison said he wants to reshape the cabinet on merit and is looking to build a 'new generation of Liberal leadership' with a focus on promoting talented women. 'I will be considering the formation of the ministry and the cabinet over the course of the weekend,' he told The Daily Telegraph. 'What the party voted for was that stable choice, moving to a new generation, and that means that we'll have continuity, but there will be points of emphasis and direction that we'll be consulting with our cabinet on.' Peter Dutton (left) and Mathias Cormann will be given the opportunity to continue in their roles Simon Birmingham will be Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment while Karen Andrews will serve as Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Ms Bishop quit as a minister after bombshell messages appeared to reveal the sabotage and betrayal behind her run for the top job. Ms Bishop decided it was 'in the interests of the nation' that she resign from her position, Perth Now reported. 'Today (Sunday) I advised the Prime Minister that I will be resigning from my Cabinet position as Minister for Foreign Affairs,' Ms Bishop said in a statement. 'I will remain on the backbench as a strong voice for Western Australia. 'I have been pre-selected by the Liberal Party for the seat of Curtin and I have made no decision regarding the next election.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison is expected to announce his new cabinet later today. Alan Tudge (left) and Angus Taylor (right) will assist the PM in rebuilding the Australian public's confidence in the Liberal Party Shortly after Ms Bishop's resignation, Malcolm Turnbull tweeted: 'I thank Julie for her loyalty and friendship over many years but especially as my Deputy. She has been and remains an inspiring role model for women here and around the world.' On Friday, Ms Bishop launched a failed run against Mr Morrison and Peter Dutton to become Australia's next prime minister. Leaked messages broadcast on ABC's Insiders program on Sunday morning appear to expose the betrayal Ms Bishop faced during her run for the top job. The thread titled 'Friends for Stability' allege Mathias Cormann was securing votes for Ms Bishop to keep Mr Morrison out of the race. 'Cormann rumoured to be putting some WA votes behind Julie Bishop in round 1,' a message believed to be have sent by Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher read. Melissa Price will be Minister for the Environment while Dan Tehan becomes the new Education Minister 'Be aware that this is a ruse trying to get her ahead of Morrison so he drops out and his votes go to Dutton. 'Despite our hearts tugging us to Julie we need to vote with our heads for Scott in Round one.' 'Someone should tell Julie,' someone wrote. 'Agree,' another responded. 'I have. Very respectfully,' Christopher Pyne allegedly wrote. The newly-appointed PM received a congratulatory message of support from US President Donald Trump. 'We enjoyed a very close and positive relationship with former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, and we are confident that close working relationship under Prime Minister Morrison will continue,' a State Department official said. Tony Abbott was not given a role in Mr Morrison's new cabinet and some ministers have even called for the former PM to quit politics altogether Mr Frydenberg, the member for Kooyong in Victoria, previously served as Energy Minister and had the task of overseeing the controversial National Energy Guarantee, which put Mr Turnbull on the outer with party colleagues. Mr Frydenberg won the role of deputy leader of the liberal party, replacing Ms Bishop, after receiving an 'absolute majority' vote. Mr Morrison said Ms Bishop had been an 'amazing contributor and driver of foreign policy and an advocate for Liberal values from one end of this country to the other and one end of this world to the other'. A key focus for the newly-appointed PM will be to rebuild the Australian public's lost confidence in the Liberal party ahead of the next Federal election. Christopher Pyne (left) and Michaelia Cash have been given roles in Mr Morrison's cabinet The newest addition to the royal family has embraced yet another royal tradition - summer retreats to the Scottish holiday home. Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex are believed to be staying with the Queen at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire over the Bank Holiday weekend. It seems bracing walks and BBQs are on the agenda - but this visit to Prince Albert's estate isn't the first time the newlyweds have holidayed across the northern border. The couple, who are known as the Earl and Countess of Dumbarton in Scotland, reportedly visited the Castle of Mey earlier this summer. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (pictured at the Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition in July) are believed to be holidaying with the Queen at the Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire This isn't the first time the newlyweds have holidayed in Scotland - Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex are believed to have visited the Castle of Mey (file photo) They joined Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at the former residence of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother on Scotland's northern coast, the Sunday Times reported. Their second Scottish retreat comes after the duchess' father Thomas Markle gave a series of interviews criticising the royal family. The former lighting director, 74, claimed the pair had 'cut him off' after he staged a series of fake photos with a Los Angeles-based paparazzi photographer before their wedding in May. The duchess is believed to be reluctant to talk to her father in case he leaks anything to the press. Earlier this month he gave his 'final interview' with the Mail On Sunday - before talking to the Sun a day later. A source told the Sunday Times: 'Meghan doesn't think it's a fair game between her father and the media so she's not going to engage in it or instruct anyone on her behalf to set the record straight. 'There have always been fears over his vulnerability. Now he's got himself into a cycle of talking publicly. It's very sad.' Thomas Markle, pictured, has compared the royals to Scientologists and even gone as far as to claim Meghan would be better off 'if I was dead' A source said: 'Meghan doesn't think it's a fair game between her father and the media so she's not going to engage in it or instruct anyone on her behalf to set the record straight' In his interview with the Mail On Sunday, Mr Markle claimed Meghan told him there would be 'no room' for him to give a speech at the wedding, and that he 'doesn't care' about the Royals and wants his old life back. He said: Im not mad at Harry. Im not mad at Meghan. I love them. I wish them well. But as for the rest of it, f*** it. Im done. In the same interview, which lasted nine hours, Mr Markle said he had given just three interviews but felt the need to speak out again to combat the 'lies' about him. Mr Markle said: 'Thousands of stories have been written about me, most of them bull***t. Ive given two interviews. This is my third. Things have been made up, spun around and others are outright lie.' A third of bobbies on the beat have been axed in three years amid a surge in violent crime- despite government promises to protect frontline policing. More than 7000 neighbourhood police officers have left the force or been assigned to other duties since March 2015, according to The Sunday Times. The number of police community support officers has also reportedly fallen by 18 per cent. But officers assigned to administrative roles have multiplied by a quarter in three years- despite government pledges to protect frontline policing. Former Scotland Yard commissioner Lord Stevens, pictured, said the investigation's findings were 'incredibly alarming' Sussex is the police force with the fewest police on the beat per head of population, where just 8.3 neighbourhood officers patrol 100,000 people. Villagers in Martock in Somerset have hired a security firm to patrol at night due to the lack of a police presence. Sussex is the police force with the fewest police on the beat per head of population in Sussex, where just 8.3 neighbourhood officers patrol 100,000 people. Pictured: Sussex HQ Lord Stevens, the former Scotland Yard commissioner, said the findings were 'incredibly alarming'. He said: 'If the increase in violent crime carries on escalating, you are going to get a very dangerous tipping point where there is no control, and it is a very difficult thing to bring back. 'I don't think we've reached that point yet and, God willing, we won't,' he added. Villagers in Martock, Somerset (pictured), hired a private security firm to patrol at night due to a lack of police presence in the area The Home Office said: 'Decisions about frontline policing, and how resources are best deployed, are for chief constables and democratically accountable police and crime commissioners.' In England and Wales murders leapt from 539 to 736 in the three years to March 2018 and violent deaths in London this year have now reached 100. In terms of knife crime, police in England and Wales recorded 39,598 offences involving blades in the year ending December 2017, a 22% increase compared with the previous year. Popular childrens breakfast cereals show 'grossly misleading' portion sizes, containing up to three times more than the recommended serving size, a new study has found. Frosties, Coco Pops and Crunchy Nut cornflakes are cereal offenders with nutritional information showing sugar quantities based on a much smaller serving size. However, images on most boxes display overflowing full bowls that are on average three times bigger than the manufacturers own recommended portion, according to a team from Cardiff University. Popular childrens breakfast cereals such as Frosties (left) and Coco Pops (right) show misleading portion sizes on front-of-box packaging, containing up to three times more than the recommended serving size, a new study has found Nine of the 13 top UK breakfast cereals that were studied depicted a bowl brimming with cereal and milk that would require three times the 30g recommended serving and 375ml of milk, which equates to 31.5g of added sugars. Even at the manufacturer's suggested portion size, eight of the 13 cereals studied contained over one-half of the recommended daily sugar intake for a four to six-year-old child. The researchers, writing in the British Dental Journal, accused companies of hoodwinking parents into thinking a portion of cereal contained less sugar and fat and it was 'cause for concern'. In fact, most of the breakfast cereals contained high sugar levels with Crunchy Nut cornflakes, Frosties and Coco Pops containing 35 per cent sugar by weight. A bowl of Cookie Crisp cereal contains the equivalent of three sugar cubes, or two and a half Kit Kat fingers (left). Multigrain Cheerios also contain the equivalent of two and a half sugar cubes, or two Kit Kat fingers (right) 'This suggests that if the imagery on the cereal packet is imitated, children aged four to six would be exceeding their daily limit of free sugars by 12.5 per cent by eating one bowl of cereal,' the study says (stock image) 'This suggests that if the imagery on the cereal packet is imitated, children aged four to six would be exceeding their daily limit of free sugars by 12.5 per cent by eating one bowl of cereal,' the study says. The study also found that although cereals are eaten primarily at breakfast time, they are regularly consumed between meals, because they are quick and easy to prepare. Although marketers made legitimate claims about other nutritional constituents, the researchers said these claims might mislead consumers into thinking the cereals are healthier than they are. The Association of Cereal Food Manufacturers said: 'Breakfast cereals are an important source of fibre, vitamins and minerals.' This graphic reveals the most sugary cereals on supermarket shelves, ranking them from left to right, with the most sugary Frosties, on the left, as a bowl contains more than 71 per cent of a seven to 10-year-old child's daily sugar allowance of 24g Advertisement Heavy rain soaked the 59th year of the Notting Hill Carnival today, but it did not stop the determined revellers who were out for a party. Instead of the t-shirts and shorts sported for the searing hot weather of just a few weeks ago, there were umbrellas and a roaring trade for colourful plastic rain macs at Europe's biggest street party. As of 9.15pm on Sunday there were 126 arrests at the west London carnival, for offences including theft, criminal damage, sexual offences, common assault, assault on police, possession of offensive weapons, and possession of drugs. More than 125 arrests made on Notting Hill Carnival's family day As of 9.15pm on Sunday there were 126 arrests at Notting Hill Carnival, for offences including: 2 x theft/going equipped 1 x theft from a person 3 x criminal damage 2 x sexual offences 3 x common assault 7 x public order 8 x assault on police 20 x possession of offensive weapons 42 x drugs offences 26 x other offences including 12 for psychoactive drugs A total of 16 knives have been recovered by police. Advertisement After a wave of violent crime in the capital in recent months, Scotland Yard announced knife arches had been placed at 'strategic points' along the route to help reassure people about their safety, though the Metropolitan Police did not disclose where. Police hope the 'tried and tested' method of knife arches will put off those planning to arm themselves with knives and offensive weapons but not everybody will be expected to pass through them. The bank holiday weekend event is also being policed by the highest number of officers in six years. Police held 20 revellers in total for possessing offensive weapons. Other offences included eight assaults on police and three common assaults. The weapons tally came as knife detection arches were being used at the carnival for the first time. Police at the festival, which continues Monday, were allowed to indiscriminately stop and search people. The controversial Section 60 order was given the go-ahead by police chiefs partly due to a recent spike in violence across London. But critics say the powers, which allow officers to stop and search people without reasonable suspicion, lead to the disproportionate targeting of African-Caribbeans. The tactic is used if it is believed that incidents involving serious violence may take place. Commander Dave Musker, who is in charge of the policing operation at the west London carnival, said: Given the intelligence picture and incidents of violence I have seen across the city over the last week, I have made the decision to authorise this order as an additional preventative measure. More than 6,000 officers were on duty yesterday with nearly 7,000 today. One car got caught up in the festivities and was covered in paint by party goers amid the Carnival General view at the Red Bull Music Academy Sound System at Notting Hill this evening as performers flanked to the stage despite the rain Don't rain on my parade: Groups dance through the rain at the carnival as their coloured outfits brighten up cloudy grey skies Revellers at the carnival kept their costumes intact as they continued partying through the pouring rain this bank holiday The rain comes but fails to dampen spirits too much: Revellers put on plastics ponchos to celebrate one of the world's largest street festivals Revellers hold coffee cups and swap sunglasses for plastic ponchos as they march through the streets of Kensington One reveller mounts someone's car which is covered in painted handprints and splashes of colour Umbrellas up! Revellers party through town with their umbrellas up and ponchos on Visitors wear rain ponchos on the first day of the Notting Hill Carnival Former X-factor winner Alexandra Burke officially opened the two-day as its first ever ambassador for the past year Metropolitan Police officers exercised their stop and search powers in the rain at the Carnival today Huge crowds of police are seen on duty of the first day on the carnival as one million people are expected to go today A performer takes part in the Notting Hill Carnival Family Day in Londo Visitors dance in the rain on the first day of the Notting Hill Carnival Two women shelter from the rain wrapped in a flag before the Notting Hill Carnival Family Day Performers take part in the carnival by jumping and dancing in elaborate costumes People with paint guns spray and cover each other in paint as the revelry begins A man dances to drums before the Notting Hill Carnival Family Day Reveller dance in the street early this morning on Ladbroke Grove in west London. The festival opened with J'ouvert, a large street party to celebrate Caribbean cultures Paint and paint powder is thrown at the festival as one man tries to stop passersby Festival goers pose after getting covered in paint at the festival Notting Hill Carnival becomes a sea of orange as revellers are covered in paint with ripped t-shirts describing the apocalypse The event is expected to attract more than one million revellers to its floats, food stalls and music to the famous borough Neon dust and paint fill the air at the carnival just in time for the wild partying in the evening Met have 'no doubt saved lives' The Met task force said the had uncovered these knives and 'no doubt saved lives' at Notting Hill Carnical today. They added 'officers have been threatened with being spat on' Advertisement Singer Alexandra Burke, named today as the carnival's first ever ambassador, carried out her first duty in the role by opening this year's event. Burke described it as 'a privilege' and just a bit 'nuts' to be a carnival ambassador. It is a year-long role as the voice of carnival to help promote the community spirit and positive aspects surrounding the annual event. She recalled going to carnival as a child with her family and said: 'The one thing that stands out for me about carnival is bringing the community together. It is people coming together and having a fantastic time. 'It is just about a good vibe, good music, good food and amazing people around you. 'So have the best day no matter what the weather is saying.' At 3pm the music stopped for a 72-second silence in tribute to the 72 people who died following the fire at Grenfell Tower in June 2017. One of the DJ's playing at the festival slammed some revellers for not staying silent, telling them to not come back tomorrow. The tower block is within half-a-mile of the parade route. The silence was broken at the Rampage sound stage, just off Colville Square, with cheers, whistles and the booming voice of the late Aretha Franklin singing Respect. Revellers had been asked to show respect and some, including Notting Hill Carnival Limited executive director Matthew Phillip, wore something green for Grenfell in tribute. Some 13,000 officers have been deployed to the bank holiday weekend event - around 450 more than last year and more than the parades over the past five years. Almost 7,000 officers, some from the Metropolitan Police's newly formed Violent Crime Task Force, will be policing Monday's event to 'combat the threat of violent crime,' according to the Metropolitan Police. This will be up from 6,100 on-duty officers on Sunday's less busy family day. Undercover police officers as well as officers from the force firearms and dog unit are on duty. The event is expected to attract more than one million revellers to its floats, food stalls and music. Kensington and Chelsea Council's new leader Elizabeth Campbell was among the carnival crowds. She was chatting with council deputy leader Kim Taylor-Smith and Conservative politician Shaun Bailey. Rain doesn't deter the performers as 'first in line' leads the group with a matching bedazzled umbrella in the excitement Dancers perform during the Children's day parade was they try not to trip on rollerblades around the course One group of revellers covered themselves in oil and walked the route with chains, drums and even a vaccum cleaner One pair's costume includes one being dragged through the festivities along the Notting Hill route in an absence of colour The huge street party in West London has party goers painting the route in fluorescent colours on Sunday's family day One woman at the carnival poses in her paint covered clothes and hands as she enjoys the festivities of its 59th year Notting Hill revellers throw powder paint kicking off the three and a half mile carnival with an explosion of colour Some revellers even shunned the protective overalls to to indulge in the colourful atmosphere of the carnival The large party in West London is celebrated by many Caribbean cultures in places where West Indian people have migrated Music will also stop for a 72-second silence to pay tribute to the 72 people who lost their lives in the Grenfell tragedy Actress and Harvey Weinstein accuser Lysette Anthony (pictured last year), 54, said women were facing a 'huge backlash' Harvey Weinstein's victims are being shamed in a 'huge backlash', one of his British accusers has said, amid a row over a sexual assault claim against a leader of the Me Too movement. Lysette Anthony, 54, who last year became the first Brit to accuse the disgraced Hollywood mogul of rape, said she had contemplated suicide over the 'shame' and that her son had been bullied at school as a result. Saying that women were being victimised for speaking out about abuse, the Hollyoaks star said 'people have been sitting around dinner tables looking to find us complicit', according to The Sunday Times. It comes after Asia Argento, a #MeToo campaigner who has said that Weinstein raped her, was embroiled in a row after she herself was accused of sexual assault. Model-turned-actress Anthony told police last year that she had been attacked by the movie mogul in London in the late 1980s. Weinstein denies all the allegations of non-consensual sex against him. She said: 'The shame over years of degradation was enough to make me contemplate suicide at one point. A friend had to talk me down. 'Please ask yourselves, what is the cost of owning up to being part of his bloody harem? Quite a lot.' After making the accusation she said she had been 'interviewed at length by detectives, district attorneys and more police than I can shake a stick at.' Speaking about Argento, she said the Italian actress was being 'hurled under a bus' and 'punished and vilified' after she herself came under fire. Harvey Weinstein was accused of rape by Lysette Anthony and Italian actress Asia Argento, who has since been accused of sexual assault. Argento and Weinstein are pictured in 2004 Text messages which emerged this week allegedly revealed the actress had sex with her former co-star Jimmy Bennett, when she was 37 and the boy just 17. Earlier this month the New York Times reported she paid Bennett $380,000 in hush money after having sex with him in 2013. Argento denies the claims which she says are part of 'a long-standing persecution'. Argento pulled out of an appearance at Le Guess Who music festival in the Netherlands this weekend. Weinstein, who has been accused of sexual assault by over 20 women, was arraigned on three charges in June and three more were added last month. He denies them. Weinsteins lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, states that allegations of dirty tricks made by Lysette Anthony are totally false. He said that neither Mr Weinstein nor his agents or representatives had anything to do with the allegations now faced by Asia Argento. Bank Holiday revellers in high spirits as they hit the Merseyside town to make the most of the three-day break Advertisement Warnings of a Bank Holiday washout did not stop determined partygoers from celebrating the long weekend in Liverpool last night. Scantily-clad revellers were in high spirits as they hit the Merseyside town to make the most of the three-day break - but some were rather worse for wear by the end of the night. They were pictured stumbling across cobbled streets in high heels and short dresses as they made their way to taxis waiting by the pavement. Some were even missing shoes by the end of the night - with others pictured taking a quick nap in the window bay of a late-night takeaway or hitching piggy-back rides from friends. Bank Holiday revellers in Liverpool (pictured) were in high spirits as they made the most of the three-day break last night But by the end of the night, some partygoers looked worse for wear - even taking naps in the window of late-night takeaways This pair of partygoers didn't let the rain dampen their long weekend as they embraced on the cobbled streets of Liverpool One man had clearly taken things too far, and rested his head on his friend's left after vomiting on the rain-soaked street Some had clearly had enough of their late-night revelry and took a break from their partying on the side of a closed shop A young woman in a denim jacket opted to take a seat on the damp pavement before heading home from a long night Friends were even seen getting a head start of their morning-after hangover, scarfing down chips and kebabs in late-night takeaways Others demonstrated what happens when you have a bit too much to drink - and a man was pictured being comforted by his friends on a porch after vomiting. But some clearly hadn't let the rain dampen their spirits, embracing and walking arm-in-arm on the city's cobbled streets. Friends also made an early attempt to avoid a morning-after hangover - scarfing down a kebab in a late-night takeaway. And others had clearly had enough of their night of revelry, resting on the pavement or even perching on the side of nearby shops. Others were far from smiling anymore as they rested their feet on a metal step outside a building in Liverpool, Merseyside This woman braved the cobbled street in chunky white heels as she made her way across the city with friends in Liverpool A woman in a white t-shirt dress encouraged her friend up from the floor in Liverpool - despite the fact she only has one shoe The pair were later seen near a pink taxi at the bottom of the street - this time one of them is barefoot and carrying her heels The night has all got a bit too much for this man who is taking a much needed nap in Liverpool near a helping of fried chicken The night got a bit too much for one man, who slumped over on the bar inside a fried chicken shop. A woman in a white t-shirt dress was encouraging her friend from the floor, and the pair were later seen strolling down the street with one shoe each in hand. Another group were far from in high spirits as they rested their feet on a metal-plated doorstep. A group of women looked glamourous in high waisted black skinny jeans, blouses, and heels as they enjoyed the Bank Holiday Another pair walked walked arm-in-arm as they crossed the cobbled street in chunky black heels and matching dresses This couple were still determined to enjoy their weekend as they peered into passing clubs in Liverpool city centre yesterday The Met Office predicted lots of rain and wind on Saturday, with a weekend washout thought to be on the agenda. The heavy rain is expected to continue across the country today, with weather experts forecasting downpours from Brighton to Stornoway. Maximum temperatures are only expected to reach the high teens Celcius (mid-60Fs) across much of the UK. Two girls stumbled across the city centre cobbles in heels after picking up some late-night food from a nearby takeaway Another group held their food in a bag as one friend adjusted her leopard print shoes in the street at the end of the night A glamourous hen party gathered outside a takeaway in the city centre at the end of a busy Bank Holiday night out in Liverpool Meanwhile, brave festival-goers at Reading and Leeds festival didn't let the wet weather put them off their weekend of music. They were seen arriving in their waterproofs and wellies and carrying umbrellas - some even waiting in the rain all day to catch headline sets from Fall Out Boy and Kendrick Lamar. And the weather isn't expected to stay dry for the Notting Hill Carnival, which goes into full swing in the streets of the neighbourhood today. The Met Office predicted heavy rain in the area from noon to 8pm, with only a 20 per cent chance of showers in the evening. A leader of ISIS in Afghanistan was killed in an air raid on Saturday night, it was reported today. Abu Sayed Orakzai apparently died in Nangarhar province, becoming the fourth Afghan leader of the terror group to be killed in just over two years. Orakzai and 10 other terrorists were targeted in Jungle village on intelligence from the National Directorate of Security, 1TV news in Afghanistan reported, citing sources. Another leading Afghan ISIS member, Qari Hikmatullah, was killed in an air strike by the U.S. military in April this year. A leader of ISIS in Afghanistan was killed in an air raid on Saturday night, it was reported today (file photo shows an airstrike against Taliban insurgents in Nangarhar) Nato's General John Nicholson said last week that that terror groups including Islamic State had increasing influence in Afghanistan. 'ISIS did not exist in Afghanistan three years ago, so it is a new dynamic,' he said. On Sunday, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani unveiled another ceasefire offer, saying security forces would observe the truce beginning this week - but only if Taliban militants reciprocated. Despite a wave of violence that has rocked Afghanistan and its capital Kabul in recent weeks, killing scores of civilians and Afghan security forces, Nicholson said he was seeing signs of hope. The Taliban have long insisted on direct talks with Washington and refused to negotiate with the Afghan government, which they see as illegitimate. In June, Washington indicated a change in its longstanding policy, with US officials meeting Taliban representatives in Doha in July. This month has seen an extraordinarily violent series of events including an attack that saw the Taliban storm the provincial capital of Ghazni - just a two-hour drive from Kabul. Militants held large parts of the city for days and Afghan forces needed US air power to push them back. Matteo Salvini refused to allow the passengers to disembark in Catania, Sicily Nearly 140 migrants stranded for ten days on a boat in Italy to have been allowed to disembark after Ireland and Albania agreed to take some of them in. The coast guard vessel docked in Catania, Sicily on Monday but Italy refused to let those on board leave the boat without an EU commitment to relocate them. Both Ireland and Albania have now pledged to take on 20 of the migrants each following a deal brokered by the Catholic Church late on Saturday - and the migrants have today been allowed to disembark. Scroll down for video All 137 migrants on board the Italian coast guard vessel in Sicily have been allowed to disembark (pictured) It came after Ireland and Albania both agreed to take on 20 of the mainly-Eritrean migrants in a deal brokered late on Saturday The Diciotti ship rescued the migrants from an overcrowded boat near the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa on August 16. It arrived at the port of Catania in Sicily overnight 'for a technical stopover' - but Mr Salvini refused to allow them to disembark until the EU committed to taking care of some of them. Mr Salvini, who is under investigation for his role in the stand-off, said: '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. 'Italy has already done its duty, and when it's too much, it's too much.' Only Ireland did, pledging to take 20 of the migrants, the majority of whom are from Eritrea in northeast Africa. Non-EU Albania will take 20, while Italian Catholic bishops said they will care for about 100. The Diciotti vessel rescued the migrants from an overcrowded boat near the Island of Lampedusa on August 16 It comes after concerns mounted about the medical and psychological health of those aboard the Diciotti Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini (pictured) refused to let those on board leave the vessel without an EU commitment to relocate them The Italian coast guard initially picked up 190 migrants, but 13 were taken to Lampedusa island due to serious medical conditions. Italy has now threatened economic reprisals against the EU for not helping it enough with migrants. Their release comes after concerns mounted about the medical and psychological health of those aboard the Diciotti yesterday. The Italian health minister ordered an inspection of sanitary conditions for the migrants, who have been sleeping on the ship's deck and coping with a baking sun and limited toilet facilities, the Red Cross said. After the medical exams, Catania's maritime health office ordered all 11 women aboard and five of the men to disembark. Of those 16, two were found with suspected tuberculosis and three with suspected pneumonia. The former president of the European council has said the threat of a no-deal Brexit could lead to the break up of the UK. Herman Van Rompuy, the former Belgian Prime Minister said the possibility of a no-deal Brexit was an 'operation fear' tactic being used by the UK government. A tactic he thinks will fail and could lead to a renewed push for Scottish Independence. He told The Observer said: 'The no-deal issue is not just a problem for the UK or Brussels,' Herman Van Rompuy has warned a no-deal Brexit could cause the break up of the UK and possible fresh calls for Scottish Independence 'It is also an existential threat to the UK itself. One can imagine that a no deal will have a big impact and cause concern in some of the regions. 'Speaking of Scotland it could have consequences for them for them and others. He added: 'We could end up with a situation in which the EU27 becomes more united and a United Kingdom less united. 'This talk about a 'no deal' is the kind of nationalist rhetoric that belongs to another era.' Nicola Sturgeon previously said a no deal Brexit would be an 'unmitigated disaster' The First Minister tweeted: 'A 'no deal' Brexit would be an unmitigated disaster- and the fact that UK govt is even talking about it is evidence of their abject failure. That they once had the nerve to tell us that independence threatened our place in Europe adds insult to injury. 'Scotland deserves better.' Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has previously said a 'no deal' Brexit would be an 'unmitigated disaster' Despite this Sturgeon is not expected to make the case for backing an independence referendum anytime soon. Mr Rompuy added a no-deal Brexit could bring about fresh elections in the UK. He said if there was no Commons support for a no deal you are 'very close to new elections' and it could mean article 50 would have to be 'postponed.' A Downing Street spokeswoman said: 'We have always said the United Kingdom would continue to thrive in the event of a no-deal Brexit. 'But we are confident of getting a good deal one that delivers for every part of the United Kingdom and takes back control of our money, laws and our borders. That is what this government will deliver.' Theresa May has called for a crisis summit in order to prepare for a 'no deal' situation, amid fears the row between Brexiteers and Remainers is undermining negotiations with Brussels. The prime minister told cabinet ministers on Friday morning to be prepared to meet on September 13 to work out a plan for critical areas not yet covered by disaster plans. The crisis meeting comes as Dominic Raab risked a Cabinet row with Philip Hammond after questioning the worth of economic forecasts about Brexit, days after the Chancellor warned that no deal could cause major damage. Theresa May called for a crisis summit in order to prepare for a 'no deal' situation, amid fears the row between Brexiteers and Remainers is undermining negotiations with Brussels. Pictured: May attending church this morning near to her Maidenhead constituency In an interview with the Sunday Times, the Brexit Secretary said that some projections needed to be treated with 'a measure of caution', adding that GDP estimates for 2019 'have been revised up. Mr Hammond was accused of launching a 'dodgy Project Fear' on Thursday when he suggested that GDP could fall and borrowing could be around 80 billion a year under a scenario in which Britain resorted to World Trade Organisation (WTO) terms after a no-deal Brexit. Without naming Mr Hammond, Mr Raab told the Sunday Times: 'I'm always chary of any forecast because most of them have been proved to be wrong.' The newspaper also claimed that the Cabinet will meet to discuss no-deal Brexit preparations over fears that a row between Brexiteers and Remainers was undermining negotiations with Brussels. Mr Hammond's comments in a letter to Conservative MP Nicky Morgan, chairwoman of the Treasury Select Committee, emerged hours after Mr Raab had attempted to play down the likelihood of a no-deal Brexit while outlining the impact of such a scenario via a series of technical papers. The crisis meeting comes as Dominic Raab (pictured on August 23) risked a Cabinet row with Philip Hammond after questioning the worth of economic forecasts about Brexit, days after the Chancellor warned that no deal could cause major damage The Chancellor said that his initial January analysis on GDP and borrowing was undergoing a 'process of refinement' ahead of a parliamentary vote on any deal, noting scenarios which have higher barriers to trade with the EU are expected to have a 'more damaging effect' on the economy and public finances. He also defended 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. Meanwhile, a former European Council president Herman Van Rompuy, warned that a no-deal Brexit could cause the United Kingdom itself to collapse. The ex-Belgian prime Minister told the Observer that crashing out without a deal was an 'an existential threat to the UK itself'. Mr Hammond (pictured on June 6) was accused of launching a 'dodgy Project Fear' on Thursday when he suggested that GDP could fall and borrowing could be around 80 billion a year under a scenario in which Britain resorted to World Trade Organisation (WTO) terms after a no-deal Brexit He added: 'We could end up with a situation in which the EU27 becomes more united and a United Kingdom less united. 'This talk about a 'no deal' is the kind of nationalist rhetoric that belongs to another era.' A rally was held in Newcastle on Saturday by those calling for a second referendum on the final Brexit deal. Sir Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat leader, told the People's Vote event that teenagers aged 16 and 17 should be allowed to take part in any second ballot. The 2016 vote to leave the EU - which was for those aged 18 and over - was 'imposed on young people to the loss of their futures', he said. Neither of the two main parties officially back a second referendum despite MPs from across the political spectrum joining with the Lib Dems to back a second poll on the final Brexit deal. Prime Minister Theresa May and her husband Philip leave after attending a church service near to her Maidenhead constituency this morning On Tuesday, Labour shadow minister Barry Gardiner warned civil disobedience and social disruption could emerge if a second EU referendum was held, and said the result of the 2016 vote should be respected. Sir Vince said on Saturday: 'Some say a People's Vote would cause aggro, all the lies of 2016 would be repeated. We need to anticipate that. 'We need an adjudicator who can look at what campaigners say and fact check them properly. 'Brexit has been imposed on young people to the loss of their futures. Advertisement American war hero, presidential nominee and longtime leading politician John McCain died aged 81 on Saturday afternoon at his home in Arizona. McCain was the son and grandson of admirals and followed them into the US Naval Academy. While serving as a pilot, he was shot down over Vietnam in 1967 and held as a prisoner of war for more than five years, suffering horrific torture at the hands of the North Vietnamese. In 1982 he ran for the House of Representatives on Arizona's Republican ticket and won. Four years later in 1986, he won a seat in the Senate, where he served for the rest of his life as a leader of the Republican Party. Circa 1936: Senator John S McCain III poses for a family portrait on his Navy admiral grandfather John Sidney McCain Sr's lap as a baby, alongside (L-R) sister Alexandra, father John S McCain Jr and mother Roberta Circa 1938: Future Senator John McCain sits on the sofa with his sister Sandy in a family photo 1944: McCain as a young boy (third from left) poses for a family portrait with (L to R) his mother Roberta, brother Joe, grandfather Admiral John S McCain, sister Sandy and father John S McCain, Jr Circa 1951: McCain is pictured left around the age of 15 in a family portrait with Roberta, Joe and John S McCain, Jr July 14, 1961: US Navy Lt John S McCain III, left, and his parents, Rear Adm John S McCain Jr, right, and Roberta Wright McCain stand in front of a plaque with an image of his grandfather, Adm John S McCain, as the Naval Air Station Meridian McCain Field is commissioned and named in honor of Adm McCain in Meridian, Mississippi January 13, 1964: McCain is pictured during his time as a US Navy Lieutenant during the Vietnam War 1965: McCain III (bottom right) stands with his Navy squadron during flight training during the Vietnam War October 26, 1967: US Navy Airforce Major John McCain (center) is rescued from Hanoi's Truc Bach lake by several Hanoi residents after his Navy warplane was downed by Northern Vietnamese army during the Vietnam War. McCain said that upon capture he was beaten by an angry mob and bayoneted in the groin Between 1968 and 1973: McCain lies injured in North Vietnam during his time as a prisoner of war in this undated photograph 1967: McCain is examined by a Vietnamese doctor after his Navy warplane was downed by the Northern Vietnamese army March 14, 1973: McCain, center, is escorted to Hanoi's Gia Lam Airport, after being released from five years of captivity March 14, 1973: McCain smiles from a bus window on arrival at Clark Air Base in the Philippines, after his release from Hanoi March 18, 1973: Lieut Commander McCain waves to well wishers after arriving at the Jacksonville, Florida, Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida, where he was greeted by ex-wife Carol and his 13-year-old son Doug May 25, 1973: US Navy Lt Cmdr McCain is greeted by President Richard Nixon after his release from a prisoner of war camp January 1987: Vice President George H W Bush re-enacts the swearing in of Sen John McCain with wife Cindy and their kids July 31, 1986: McCain meets with President Ronald Reagan in the White House's Oval Office the year he was elected to Senate March 3, 1987: President Ronald Reagan shakes hands with Senator John McCain during a dinner for newly elected members of the 100th Congress in Washington DC November 7, 1991: The Republican Senator from Arizona is hugged by former North Vietnam Col Bui Tin on Capitol Hill in Washington after a hearing of the Senate Select Committee on POW and MIA affairs. Tin oversaw a military prison operation dubbed the 'Hanoi Hilton', where McCain was held prisoner during the Vietnam War June 24, 1992: Senator McCain holds up an article from the Washington Times during a hearing of the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs on Capitol Hill in Washington December 1, 1992: Democratic Senator John Kerry, left, chairman of the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs, listens to Senator McCain, during a committee hearing July 11, 1995: President Bill Clinton talks to Senator McCain after announcing that the US would be establishing normal relations with communist Vietnam during ceremonies at the White House in Washington, DC November 11, 1999: The presidential hopeful meets with supporters at the Veteran's Day Parade in Nashua, New Hampshire Circa 1980s: McCain clutches daughter Meghan's arm in a family portrait when the senator's children were young December 2, 1999: Republican presidential hopefuls Senator McCain and Texas Governor George W Bush chat after the televised 'The Republicans: A New Hampshire Forum' primary debate in Manchester, New Hampshire January 8, 2000: During his first run for president in 2000, McCain smiles alongside wife Cindy in Camden, South Carolina January 20, 2000: McCain stands at the Russell Senate Office Building with the US Capitol in the background. Top Democrat Chuck Schumer, of New York, has called for the building to be renamed after McCain following the 81-year-old's passing January 30, 2000: Confetti falls on Republican presidential hopeful McCain and his wife, Cindy, at the end of their 114th New Hampshire town hall meeting with voters at the Peterborough Town House in Peterborough, New Hampshire March 9, 2000: McCain and his wife Cindy smile at their family ranch in Sedona, Arizona, where the senator died Saturday April 6, 2000: McCain greets President Clinton at the annual Radio/TV Correspondents Dinner in Washington, DC April 26, 2000: The former POW greets a Vietnamese man on the banks of Lake Truc Bach in Hanoi, Vietnam, where McCain was pulled ashore after his plane was shot down in October 1967 November 4, 2001: McCain waves to the crowd prior to Game 7 of the World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the New York Yankees at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix January 9, 2004: The Arizona Senator smiles alongside daughter Meghan and wife Cindy in New York City August 22, 2004: Former Senator Hillary Clinton shares a laugh with McCain before meeting with Swedish officials January 19, 2008: Cindy McCain uses a cheetah hand to make her presidential hopeful husband laugh as they ride to a polling station in Charleston, South Carolina, on the day of the state's Republican presidential primary May 3, 2008: President George W. Bush (right) smiles as he listens to Senator John McCain in the Oval Office August 30, 2008: McCain introduces his daughter Meghan at a campaign stop in Washington, Pennsylvania September 3, 2008: McCain, center, joins vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, left, and her family following her speech at the Republican National Convention in St Paul just two months ahead of the election September 4, 2008: McCain greets the crowd as he takes the stage at the Republican National Convention in Minnesota September 5, 2008: McCain grins during a campaign event at the Freedom Hill Ampitheatre in Sterling Heights, Michigan September 25, 2008: McCain shakes hands with former president Bill Clinton after speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative October 6, 2008: Republican nominee McCain embraces his wife Cindy following his second presidential debate with Democrat Barack Obama at Belmont University's Curb Event Center in Nashville, Tennessee October 7, 2008: Democratic presidential candidate Sen Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, greets his opponent McCain at the start of a townhall-style presidential debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee November 3, 2008: McCain speaks at a rally in Tampa, Florida, on the day before the general presidential election November 17, 2008: President-elect Barack Obama meets with former Republican hopeful McCain 13 days after the election January 19, 2009: President-elect Obama introduces his former rival at a bipartisan dinner in the National Building Museum February 29, 2012: McCain laughs during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in New York City June 27, 2013: McCain speaks to members of the press outside the Senate Chamber alongside (L-R) Senate Majority Whip Sen Richard Durbin, Sen Michael Bennet, Sen Charles Schumer, Sen Lindsey Graham and Sen Robert Menendez June 15, 2017: The former Senate Intelligence Committee member heads into a closed-door committee meeting with Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats in the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, DC October 16, 2017: McCain receives the Liberty Medal from former Vice President Joe Biden at National Constitution Center November 21, 2017: Father-of-the-bride McCain whispers something into daughter Meghan's ear the night of her wedding December 6, 2017: McCain was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in July 2017 - but returned to the Senate just two weeks later March 18, 2018: Meghan McCain posted the photo above with her father on the family's ranch earlier this year June 17, 2018: Meghan wishes her dad a Happy Father's Day when posting the photo above to Instagram two months ago August 25, 2018: A military veteran pays his respects to American war hero John McCain at the entrance to the McCain ranch complex in Cornville, Arizona, on Saturday The search for more than 20 suspected illegal immigrants has continued into the early hours of the morning after the fishing boat they were on ran aground in crocodile-infested waters in far north Queensland. Locals helped bring the boat ashore before asylum seekers jumped off the vessel and fled into a nearby rainforest. The boat came to shore at Cape Kimberley just north of the Daintree River. A Department of Home Affairs spokesman said the Australian Border Force is responding to 'what we believe to be an illegal fishing vessel in the vicinity of Daintree River.' More than 20 illegal immigrants are on the run after the fishing boat they were on ran aground in far north Queensland Officers apprehended 11 of the asylum seekers but continued to search the thick rainforest with sniffer dogs late on Sunday night. 'The ABF now has a contingent of officers on site and is grateful for the support provided by the Queensland Police Service,' the Home Affairs spokesman said. 'We can confirm that 11 people have been located. The first priority is to confirm the safety and welfare of the people on the fishing vessel.' There was no further update early Monday morning. Daintree tourism operator David Patterson had just completed a fishing tour at the mouth of the Daintree on Sunday morning when he noticed a boat that 'looked like Chinese junk.' 'We saw this boat and didn't think a lot of it really, then after the radio chatter [we heard] it was deserted and people were seen leaving it,' he told the ABC. 'It was empty and apparently, other boaties were saying over the radio, it was adrift and before that people were seen leaving it and running off into the bush at Cape Kimberley.' It's believed the illegal immigrants have travelled to Australia from Indonesia, and the fishing boat was carrying 27 people. The asylum-seeker boat appears to be the first to make it to Australia in four years, the Courier-Mail reported. The boat came to shore at Cape Kimberley just north of the Daintree River One of the men is understood to have identified himself to authorities as a taxi driver. Two men made their way to a local boat ramp but have since been detained. The rest of the crew are on the run from the authorities. Some of those who were onboard the vessel are believed to be hiding in mangroves. Federal MP George Christensen for better border protection in his home state after reports of the incident broke. 'With Peter Dutton back as Home Affairs Minister, I am confident there will be a greater focus on border security in NQ. Qld borders need to be made more secure esp given proximity of PNG & Indonesia, considering level of radical Islamism in Indonesia, Malaysia & Philippines,' he tweeted on Sunday. The news also angered North Queensland-based federal independent Bob Katter. 'They have caught [some of] these people but how many out there haven't been caught?' he told the ABC. A teenage boy has been accused of being a major drug kingpin after he was arrested in Melbourne's business district on Saturday morning. Luke Lewin was arrested in a short-stay apartment early on Saturday morning, after police allegedly found him with ecstasy, prescription drugs and wads of cash. Police later searched the apprentice electrician's family home in Melbourne's south-eastern suburb of Bonbeach. They allegedly discovered more drugs, stun guns, jewellery and large sums of cash. Luke Lewin (pictured) is accused of being a major drug dealer in the Melbourne drug scene The 19-year-old (pictured) faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Sunday following his arrest Saturday morning Lewin appeared before Melbourne Magistrates Court on Sunday afternoon, accused of being a major drug dealer. Appearing before the court in a grey hoodie, he did not speak during the brief trial, the Herald Sun reports. The teenager did not apply for bail and has been remanded in custody. He is scheduled to return to court on August 28. Three brothers out for a morning dive in Wellington made an unexpected find when they came across a monster 4.2m long giant squid. Daniel, Jack and Matthew Aplin were driving along on a track near Red Rocks on the city's south coast when they came across the massive beached cephalod. The brothers said they had come across sharks while on their diving trips but had never seen a squid of that size. Diver Jack Aplin (pictured) was with his three brothers searching for a diving spot on Wellington's southern beaches on Sunday morning when he came across a monster 4.2m long squid Jack Aplin said he and his brothers got a tape measure out to find out the size of the squid after they came back from diving. Unsure who to notify of their unlikely find, the trio eventually decided to contact NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) who arranged to have the squid collected. A Department of Conservation spokesman said the specimen was likely a giant squid - which he said are 'not common but not rare'. Social media commenters were quick to make light of the discovery - posted on the Ocean Hunter Spearfishing & Freediving Specialists Facebook page. Matthew Aplin (pictured) and his brothers were not sure what to do with their giant discovery - and eventually called NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research), who arranged to have the squid collected. One said: 'That's a whole heap of calamari' Another added: 'People worry about sharks. Bugger seeing that in the water.' Others compared the brothers' find to the colossal squid held at Te Papa - the Museum of New Zealand in Wellington - where a 5.4m colossal squid is on display. One commenter on the Ocean Hunter Spearfishing & Freediving Specialists Facebook page, where the photos were uploaded, joked about the amount of food the squid could provide Another said the sight of the 4.2-metre long squid in the water would be more terrifying than encountering a shark Other commenters on the Facebook thread said the massive find on the south Wellington beach was even more impressive than the squid specimen held at the city's Te Papa museum - which measures 5.4m in length One commenter said: 'This is significantly more impressive than the Te Papa squid.' Another even added that the discovery looked 'bigger than the one in Te Papa'. The squid ended up bringing the trio good luck - who ended the day's diving with a bag full of paua, an edible sea snail, and butterfish. Wealthy landlords are considering funding Britain's largest private police force to patrol London's most exclusive streets. The London estates reportedly had talks with Essex-based security company TM Eye on the possibility of hiring the firm as an alternative to police officers. Belgravia's posh residents have been increasingly targeted in muggings, and robberies have more than doubled in the area. The news comes as a third of bobbies on the beat were axed in three years amid a surge in violent crime - despite government promises to protect frontline policing. TM Eye already has several uniformed 'bobbies' on streets in Belgravia but The Duke of Westminster's estate was reportedly thinking of hiring the firm in full scale. Wealthy landlords are considering funding Britain's largest private police force to patrol London's most exclusive streets. Pictured: Police on patrol in an area where a private force may be hired If the plan goes ahead, it would be the largest private force in Britain. TM Eye has access to the Police National Computer and can launch prosecutions. The Sunday Times reported the Duke of Westminster's estate held talks with the private firm, however Grosvenor said it was not pursuing and was not in talks with any private firms. David McKelvey, TM Eye's managing director and former MET detective chief, said to the Sunday Times: 'We are talking to the big estate owners with a view to their coming on board and funding it through a small amount on their service charge. 'If we can get them, or the councils, on board there is no reason you couldn't have hundreds of officers.' This wouldn't be the first time local estates have turned to private firms to solve its policing problems. The rural area of Martock in Somerset hired Atlas UK Security Services in Yeovil to patrol in the evenings. Sussex is the police force with the fewest police on the beat per head of population in Sussex, where just 8.3 neighbourhood officers patrol 100,000 people. Pictured: Sussex HQ The possibility of privately hired forces comes as more than 7000 neighbourhood police officers have left the force or been assigned to other duties since March 2015, according to The Sunday Times. The number of police community support officers has also reportedly fallen by 18 per cent. But officers assigned to administrative roles have multiplied by a quarter in three years- despite government pledges to protect frontline policing. Sussex is the police force with the fewest police on the beat per head of population, where just 8.3 neighbourhood officers patrol 100,000 people. Villagers in Martock in Somerset have hired a security firm to patrol at night due to the lack of a police presence. Lord Stevens, the former Scotland Yard commissioner, said the findings were 'incredibly alarming'. He said: 'If the increase in violent crime carries on escalating, you are going to get a very dangerous tipping point where there is no control, and it is a very difficult thing to bring back. 'I don't think we've reached that point yet and, God willing, we won't,' he added. The Home Office said: 'Decisions about frontline policing, and how resources are best deployed, are for chief constables and democratically accountable police and crime commissioners.' In England and Wales murders leapt from 539 to 736 in the three years to March 2018 and violent deaths in London this year have now reached 100. In terms of knife crime, police in England and Wales recorded 39,598 offences involving blades in the year ending December 2017, a 22% increase compared with the previous year. A far-right activist has slammed Australia for losing its culture to Muslim extremists and said he is prepared to fight protesters when he tours the country in November. British-born Canadian comedian Gavin McInnes was banned from Twitter earlier this month for being a 'violent extremist' and has been labelled by critics as sexist, racist and a white supremacist. McInnes is the founder of the pro-Donald Trump males' rights group The Proud Boys - whose members are notorious for engaging in street brawls with left-wing Antifa protestors. Scroll down for video Far-right activist and comedian Gavin McInnes, who is touring Australia in November, said Australia was losing its culture to Muslim extremists McInnes (pictured right, with right-wing provacateur Milo Yiannopoulos at an event in London in May) also said he was prepared to fight violent left-wing extremists at his tour events According to news.com.au, McInnes said Australian culture was being lost to Islam. 'Look at Sydney, it's being lost to Islam just like West London was. In fact there's parts of Sydney totally indistinguishable from West London,' he told the publication. 'It's exactly the same - the sense of capitulation, discouraging assimilation.' Census data from 2016 reveals that Australia is religously diverse, though, with Islam making up less than 2.6 per cent of the population - according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The 48-year-old said his goal was not to preach politics during his national tour of Australia in November - billing his trip as a comedy tour. But the co-founder of Vice magazine said he was prepared to fight against violent left-wing protesters. McInnes (pictured centre) is the founder of pro-Donald Trump males' rights group The Proud Boys and has previously called Australia 'the last verge of masculinity' McInnes (left) previously launched an attack on Channel 10 show The Project's Waleed Aly in 2016 for criticising Donald Trump's infamous 'p***y grabbing' comments He said: 'People will show up and if they want to fight - I'm happy to fight.' McInnes previously described attacks on Donald Trump's 'p***y grabbing' comments as a 'war on masculinity' on Channel 10 show The Project in 2016. He also referred to Australia as 'the last verge of masculinity' and a 'hot Canada'. McInnes' tour is being organised by magazine Penthourse, who were also behind right-wing provacteur Milo Yiannopoulos' controversial tour of Australia last year. The body of a Canadian man who had been missing in the Bavarian Alps since August 2 has been found. The remains of Jeff Freiheit, 32, a school teacher from Manitoba, were discovered Saturday by his mother, who had joined the search. He was found in a wooded area near the Brauneck mountain south of Munich, along with a backpack containing his passport. His body was recovered with the help of a helicopter. Jeff Freiheit, 32, (left and right) a school teacher from Manitoba, had been missing since August 2 His heartbroken wife Selena (pictured together) confirmed the news on Facebook, writing: Through a broken heart Ive found peace in knowing that he did not suffer' Police said Sunday there was no evidence of foul play. They believe he suffered a fatal fall of 60-100 meters while hiking. They say forensic tests will be conducted in Munich to confirm the man's identity, however his heartbroken wife Selena confirmed the news on Facebook. 'It is with overwhelming grief and sadness that I share with you that Jeff was found and is no longer with us,' she wrote on Sunday morning. 'Through a broken heart Ive found peace in knowing that he did not suffer. 'Our family is beyond grateful for the outpouring of support during this sad and difficult time.' Jeff had embarked on a month-long journey from Munich in Germany, to Venice in Italy, according to Global News. A search team is seen in the mountains before his body was discovered by his mother Police said Sunday there was no evidence of foul play and they believe he suffered a fatal fall of 60-100 meters while hiking. Search crews are pictured He was an experienced hiker who had climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, Machu Picchu and Everests base camp. Jeff's mother Kathy Freiheit found his body, according to a friend who recorded a YouTube video updating people with the heartbreaking news. He said it is believed his death would have been quick. Tony Smith, 47 (mugshot pictured) tortured his baby, also called Tony Smith, so badly his legs had to be amputated and was jailed for 10 years A prisoner who nearly beat his son to death has been attacked by his fellow inmates with 'a sock filled with tuna cans' and metal bars. Tony Smith, 47, tortured his baby, also called Tony Smith, so badly his legs had to be amputated and was jailed alongside the youngster's mother Jody Simpson, 24. Two inmates at Swaleside Prison on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent are believed to have attacked Smith after being wrongly housed in the wing for vulnerable prisoners, The Star reports. Smith survived the beating, but has been left with a fractured eye socket, broken ribs and a broken jaw. A prison source told the newspaper: 'They came into contact with Smith and held him hostage in his own cell for four hours. 'During that time they tied him to a chair and attacked him with a sock filled with tuna cans and metal bars. They also stamped all over him. 'Prison guards managed to get them off in the nick of time he's lucky he didn't die.' An investigation is being launched into how the attack was allowed to take place. His trial at Maidstone Crown Court in Kent heard that by the time baby Tony (pictured with mother Simpson) was seen by doctors at 41 days old, he was seconds from death with septicaemia A prison service spokesman told The Sun: 'Staff resolved an incident involving three prisoners at HMP Swaleside on 7 August. 'The incident has been referred to the police so it would be inappropriate to comment further.' Smith and Simpson were each sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for what were described as 'a series of spiteful assaults' on their very young son. Tony's mother Jody Simpson, 24 (mugshot pictured) was also jailed for 10 years Shocking pictures revealed the squalor inside the flat in Maidstone, Kent, where Smith and Simpson abused their baby. They had denied causing or allowing serious physical harm to a child but were both unanimously found guilty less than an hour after a jury retired to consider verdicts. Maidstone Crown Court in Kent heard that by the time baby Tony was seen by doctors at 41 days old, he was seconds from death with septicaemia. He was grey, frothing at the mouth and grunting, with a 'shockingly swollen' body and in multiple organ failure. It was only 'aggressive' medical treatment from the GP, paramedics and staff at Pembury Hospital in Kent and then London's Evelina Children's Hospital which saved his life. The court heard the horrific fractures to both the youngster's thighbones and lower legs, right ankle, left thumb and two bones in a big toe were revealed by subsequent x-rays. Experts later concluded they would have been caused by yanking, pulling and twisting, with considerable force and up to 10 days before he was finally taken to his doctor. Two inmates at Swaleside Prison on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent are believed to have attacked Smith (pictured with Simpson) after being wrongly housed in the wing for vulnerable prisoners Pictures have been released of the terrible squalor inside the one-bedroom apartment the couple stayed in at Square Hill Road in Maidstone The dislocated fracture to the youngster's right lower leg and ankle may have even been inflicted by a swinging action. He was in so much pain from this one injury alone that he showed signs of distress even when sedated in hospital. Sadly, the septicaemia was so severe that Tony, who has since been adopted and given a new identity, has been left with life-changing injuries. As well as having had both legs amputated, his hip joints are so damaged by infection that they may not be able to even bear the weight of prosthetic limbs. But in spite of his horrific start in life and facing on-going medical treatment and disability, the court heard how the youngster, now aged three, is thriving with his new family. Shocking pictures of the conditions inside the flat where Tony Smith was abused have been released following his parents' sentencing Kent Police released this image of an attempted robber who tried to steal a man's dog before hurling 'acid' in the victim's face Detectives have released an image of an attempted robber who tried to steal a man's dog before hurling 'acid' in the victim's face. The suspects, believed to be two men, threw the noxious substance over the victim when he refused to hand over his pet. Police launched an appeal earlier this week and they have now shared a computer-generated image of one of the attackers. Detective Constable Celia King said: 'We would like to speak to the person shown in the computer generated image. 'I would urge anybody who recognises the man or anyone with information about the incident to call the appeal line.' The incident happened on a footpath Hubbard's Lane in quaint Boughton Monchelsea, Kent, between 7.30am and 8.30am on Sunday, August 19. A police spokesman said the victim was walking along a footpath when two men tried to steal his dog. The incident happened on a footpath Hubbard's Lane (pictured) in quaint Boughton Monchelsea, Kent, between 7.30am and 8.30am on Sunday, August 19 When the victim challenged them, he and the dog were reportedly sprayed with a noxious substance by one of the men. The man had to be treated in hospital and the dog was taken to a vet as a precaution. A police spokesman said: 'One of the men is described as being white, in his mid 40s, 5ft 11in tall, of large build and with short dark hair. 'He was wearing a white t-shirt and jeans. 'The second man is described as being white, in his 30s, 6ft tall, of slim build and with dark hair.' In the initial appeal police warned other dog walker to be 'vigilant'. Detective Sergeant Jemma Croppe said: 'We are urging dog walkers in the area to be vigilant and are advising them to keep dogs on leads.' Theresa May has reportedly given the go-ahead for Britain to start work on a British-made satellite navigation system to rival the European Union's Galileo project. Chancellor Philip Hammond signed off funding worth 100million to kick-start the project that would rival the EU's system that Britain played a key role in creating, the Sunday Telegraph reported. Britain's project is being launched because it is feared that the UK's access to sensitive security information could be restricted after Brexit. Theresa May has reportedly given the go-ahead for Britain to start work on a British-made satellite navigation system to rival the European Union's Galileo project Galileo is a 9billion ($11.44 billion) satellite programme being developed by the EU as a rival to the U.S. Global Positioning System. It was commissioned in 2003 and is due for completion by 2020. The system has emerged as a flashpoint between Britain and the EU, which is already beginning to treat Britain as an outsider. The European Commission started to exclude Britain and its companies from sensitive future work on Galileo ahead of the country's exit from the EU in seven months time. A spokeswoman for Britain's Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy declined to comment. The EU has said Britain will be able to continue to use Galileo's open signal, but that Britain's military could be denied access to the encrypted version when the satellite becomes operational. Galileo is a 9billion ($11.44 billion) satellite programme being developed by the EU as a rival to the U.S. Global Positioning System. Pictured: SSTL satellites Galileo Formation The UK insists that for its involvement in the system to be worth continuing, it must be able to have detailed technical information about the PRS signal in order to rely on it for military purposes, something the EU is only prepared to grant to members of the bloc. The UK's future status as a 'third country' after Brexit means that its firms may not be able to participate in creating some of the more sensitive elements of the project. Defence procurement minister Guto Bebb told MPs in June that Britain had the capacity to create a rival to Galileo at a cost of 3billion to 5billion. Graham Turnock, the chief executive of the UK Space Agency, told The Telegraph: 'We would like to continue to participate and we would still like a good outcome on Galileo but the signs I'm afraid are not terribly positive given the position and approach that the Commission has taken.' Passengers fainted and were sick with terror when a Jet2 plane's wing flaps malfunctioned, forcing a hero pilot to land the aircraft at full speed. The aircraft landed at 3.30am at Manchester Airport even though it was due to land in Leeds Bradford, 58 miles from its original destination, two hours earlier. After circling Leeds for an hour, the pilot told passengers the wing flaps, which are used to decrease the plane's speed, were malfunctioning and they needed to make an emergency landing. The aircraft landed 'fast and hard' at full speed, using the entire length of the runway to slow down, with six fire engines spraying down the plane's wheels. One mother feared the plane was going to go up in a ball of flames and another said the heroic pilot saved their lives. Passengers fainted and were sick with terror when a Jet2 plane's wing flaps malfunctioned, forcing a hero pilot to land the aircraft at full speed on Friday The aircraft landed at 3.30am at Manchester Airport even though it was due to land in Leeds Bradford, 58 miles from their original destination, two hours earlier Passenger Jennifer Gilroy, 42, was on the Leeds-bound flight from Crete with her 13-year-old daughter and praised the pilot for keeping the packed flight calm. Speaking to Mail Online, she said: 'The pilot saved our lives, really. I was thinking if the plane catches fire, the jets are towards the back and would be the first to go. And we were sitting towards the back. 'It was a really good pilot, he kept us all calm. When we landed, he came out and spoke with every person.' Ms Gilroy said she first knew something was wrong when the plane started to descend and then came straight back up and began to circle Leeds. The plane circled for nearly an hour, Ms Gilroy said, before the pilot came over the system to announce the wing flaps weren't working and they were trying to figure out a solution. Later it was announced they needed to head to Manchester because it was the closest airport with a long enough runway for the plane to land at full speed. Ms Gilroy said the passengers were told to brace themselves for a hard landing and she told her daughter she loved her, just in case the worst happened. She said: 'We were bracing ourselves, you could hear everything screeching. It came in at full speed, seriously fast, hitting the ground. 'It felt like the plane wasnt going to stop. It kept going, going and going.' Passenger Jennifer Gilroy, 42, was on the Leeds-bound flight from Crete with her 13-year-old daughter and praised the pilot for keeping the packed flight calm Penie Craig (left), 49 was travelling back to Leeds Bradford Airport with her husband Michael, 54 (right) and son Jaiden, 14 when the Jet2 had to make an emergency landing at Manchester Airport after the wing flaps stopped working Ms Gilroy said she sustained a back injury from the hard landing, having to go to A&E the next day because her back locked up. She has stayed at home in attempt to recover and said she hasn't heard anything from Jet2, besides a standard survey of how her flight went. Ms Gilroy also said that the flight was delayed from Greece for about an hour, waiting 30 minutes to board and another 30 minutes while on the plane. She wrote on Facebook: 'It was scary! My back is completely done in as well now...only person I'm showing mi tan of is to doctor! 'We were v lucky so I guess my back is nothing to what could have been...pilot did great xx.' Penie Craig, 49, was travelling back to Leeds Bradford Airport after a two-week break in Crete with her husband Michael, 54, and son Jaiden, 14. She sensed something was wrong when the plane failed to land at the estimated time and an announcement followed from the captain who said he was having to circle the plane because of a 'technical error on the flight deck'. She said: 'I hate flying as it is and after another 20 to 25 minutes, the captain came on again and said 'unfortunately it's to do with the flaps'. The budget airline recently had to make an emergency landing after cabin pressure dropped (stock image) 'When you land, they help to slow you down but they weren't working. 'They tried to think of something else but we were due to land at Leeds Bradford and the runway there wasn't big enough, meaning we wouldn't have slowed down quickly enough and we would have gone off the runway.' She added: 'It was just awful and my first thought was, 'oh my God, the plane was going to set on fire' but I had to be calm because my son was there. 'I'm not a great flyer. I've flown loads before but this time it was really stressful and I had to stop myself throwing up. It really has unsettled me and I'm glad I'm not going on holiday again too soon.' The budget airline firm said flight LS444 from Heraklion in Crete to Leeds Bradford had to go into a 'holding pattern in order to assess a flap indication issue'. A spokeswoman for Jet2 said: 'The aircraft landed safely and onward transport was arranged for our customers back to Leeds' A spokeswoman for Jet2 said: 'The decision was taken to divert into Manchester Airport as a precautionary measure due to it having a longer runway to facilitate a smooth landing. 'The aircraft landed safely and onward transport was arranged for our customers back to Leeds. The safety of our customers is always our number one priority.' This latest incident with a Jet2 plane comes days after another jet travelling from Faro in Portugal to Leeds Bradford was forced to make an emergency landing in Bordeaux when cabin pressures dropped on August 10. On Thursday, another Jet2 plane was met with fire engines and ambulance crews on arrival after cabin pressures dropped again on another flight from Newcastle to Dalaman meaning that too had to make an emergency landing. The process to replace Senator John McCain's seat in the Senate will soon begin as the country continues to mourn the maverick Republican following his death from brain cancer. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey will bear responsibility for deciding who should fill McCain's seat, which he held onto for more than 30 years. Under state law, Ducey will name someone to fill the Senate vacancy until 2020. A special election will then be held for the right to finish out the last two years of McCain's term. Ducey, who is a Republican, will have to appoint a member of his own party to succeed McCain under state law. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey (right) will bear responsibility for deciding who should fill Senator John McCain's Senate seat, which he held onto for more than 30 years The governor has remained tight-lipped about McCain's successor out of respect for his family as he continued to battle his illness. There has been speculation that McCain's wife Cindy McCain could be chosen to fill the seat, Politico reports. Ducey's chief of staff Kirk Adams, former state lawmaker Barbara Barrett and former Senator Jon Kyl were all named as possible replacements, according to The Arizona Republic. Other potential nominees that have been fueling speculation include: former Reps. Matt Salmon and John Shadegg, Karrin Taylor Robson and state treasurer Eileen Klein. Ducey, who has refused to comment about McCain's replacement, did rule out naming himself. In a statement following McCain's death, Ducey said: 'John McCain is one American who will never be forgotten. There has been speculation that McCain's wife Cindy McCain could be chosen to fill the seat. The couple are pictured above in January last year 'He was a giant. An icon. An American hero. But here at home, we were most proud to call him a fellow Arizonan. 'Like so many of us, he was not born here, but his spirit, service and fierce independence shaped the state with which he became synonymous.' The vacancy created by McCain's death narrows the number of Republican-held seats in the 100-member U.S. Senate to 50, with Democrats controlling 49. That could also give Republicans a slight edge in the battle to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the US Supreme Court in the weeks ahead because McCain had been too ill to cast any votes this year. A senator for Arizona for more than three decades, McCain had been suffering from glioblastoma, a brain cancer, since July 2017 and had not been at the US Capitol this year. His family revealed on Friday that McCain was discontinuing cancer treatment. He died on Saturday afternoon with his wife Cindy and other family members at his bedside. 'At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for sixty years,' a statement from his office said. McCain will lie in state in both Phoenix and in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C. He will receive a full dress funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral before being buried in Annapolis, Maryland. Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona died Saturday aged 81 after a year-long battle with cancer Flags were flying at half-staff at the White House on Sunday morning following the death of U.S. Senator John McCain after a year-long battle with brain cancer. The 81-year-old maverick senator's body was given a police escort as he was taken to Phoenix from his Arizona ranch after he passed away Saturday night. An order of mourning has been announced, with McCain to lie in state first at the Arizona state Capitol in Phoenix on Wednesday prior to a memorial service in Arizona on Thursday. On Friday, McCain's body will be transported to Washington, DC to lie in state at the US Capitol, prior to a funeral service at the National Cathedral on Saturday. He will be buried on Sunday in a private service at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis. McCain, who became a prominent critic of President Donald Trump, had made it known prior to his death that he did not want Trump to attend his funeral. Vice President Mike Pence is expected to represent the current administration. Former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama have both been asked of give eulogies at the funeral service, the New York Times reports. No date has been set for his funeral. McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam who ran unsuccessfully for president as a self-styled maverick Republican in 2008, died on Saturday aged 81. Flags were flying at half-staff at the White House on Sunday morning following the death of U.S. Senator John McCain after a year-long battle with brain cancer He had been battling glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, discovered by his doctors in July 2017, and had not been at the U.S. Capitol in 2018. He also had surgery for an intestinal infection in April of this year. His family announced on Friday that McCain, who served as a U.S. senator from Arizona for over three decades, was discontinuing further cancer treatment. 'Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28 p.m. on August 25, 2018. With the senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family. At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for sixty years,' a statement from his office on Saturday said. His wife Cindy McCain tweeted: 'My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. 'He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the place he loved best.' His daughter Meghan McCain wrote a heartbreaking tribute to her dad that was titled: 'I love you forever, my beloved father'. Shortly after 7pm local time a hearse left the senator's beloved Hidden Valley estate and led a motorcade as McCain's body was removed from the family home to be transported to Phoenix, with a number of people seen lining the route. John McCain, pictured with daughter Meghan, in the last publicly available photograph posted to her Twitter account earlier this year The motorcade was transporting McCain from his family home in Sedona, Arizona, to Phoenix With a police escort, a hearse carries the late Arizona Sen. John McCain along Interstate 17 on the way to Phoenix Mourners react as a hearse carrying the body of late U.S. Senator John McCain arrives in a procession in Phoenix, He would have celebrated his 82nd birthday on Wednesday. 'He was a great fire who burned bright, and we lived in his light and warmth,' said Meghan, one of the late senator's seven children - three of them from a previous marriage. Near the driveway to his ranch in a rural part of Sedona, Arizona, a sign read 'Sen McCain, thank you for your service.' A police escort accompanied the hearse that carried his body, as a fiery sunset cast its last light over the rustic countryside McCain loved dearly, and local residents came bearing flowers for the late political titan. A steady stream of friends and colleagues had come to bid him farewell at his Arizona ranch in the months since his cancer diagnosis, in July 2017. Despite his contentious relationship with McCain, Trump paid his respects Saturday evening sharing his 'deepest sympathies' to the senator's family in a one line tribute Meghan McCain shared a moving letter announcing the death of her father on Saturday evening US President Donald Trump, who once mocked McCain's war record, said he sent his 'deepest sympathies and respect' to his family, but pointedly did not pay a personal tribute to the man. McCain had been a rare and outspoken Republican critic of Trump, accusing him of 'naivete,' 'egotism' and of sympathizing with autocrats. He made a decisive vote last year that killed Republican attempts to repeal Barack Obama's health care reforms, and Trump never forgave him. The sharp-tongued McCain had disagreements with many fellow politicians - including inside his own camp - but the Republican stalwart was widely recognized for his deep integrity, and condolences came swift from the highest reaches of American politics. Former President Barack Obama, who triumphed over McCain in the 2008 election, said that despite their differences, McCain and he shared a 'fidelity to something higher - the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed.' Obama said the two political opponents 'saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world.' Former President George W. Bush, who defeated McCain for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination, called his one-time political rival 'man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order' and a 'friend whom I'll deeply miss.' US flags fly at half-mast in front of the Capitol building in Washington a few hours after the death of US Republican Senator John McCain English teacher Derek Davis from the U.S. places a U.S. flag and flowers in memory of the late U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) at the McCain Memorial in Hanoi, Vietnam Former president Bill Clinton hailed McCain for having 'frequently put partisanship aside,' while his former vice president Al Gore said he always admired how the senator 'would work to find common ground, no matter how hard.' 'John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order,' said former president George W. Bush, whom McCain sought and failed to defeat in 2000 and succeed in 2008. On Capitol Hill, McCain became close friends with Senator Lindsey Graham and former senator Joe Lieberman - a trio dubbed the 'Three Amigos.' Now that the trio is missing its driving force, Graham wrote that 'America and Freedom have lost one of her greatest champions... And I've lost one of my dearest friends and mentor.' Hailing him as a 'truth-teller' with 'unsurpassed' dedication to the US and its military, the top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said he would seek to rename a Senate building in his honor. Shortly after 7pm local time a hearse left the senator's beloved Hidden Valley estate and led a motorcade as McCain's body was removed from the family home to be transported to Phoenix McCain stopped receiving cancer treatment earlier this week, his family saying 'the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict.' The scion of a decorated military family, McCain embraced his role as chairman of the Armed Services Committee, pushing for aggressive U.S. military intervention overseas and eager to contribute to 'defeating the forces of radical Islam that want to destroy America.' Asked how he wanted to be remembered, McCain said simply: 'That I made a major contribution to the defense of the nation.' One dramatic vote he cast in the twilight of his career in 2017 will not soon be forgotten, either: As the decisive 'no' on Senate GOP legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act, McCain became the unlikely savior of Obama's trademark legislative achievement. Taking a long look back in his valedictory memoir, 'The Restless Wave,' McCain wrote of the world he inhabited: 'I hate to leave it. But I don't have a complaint. Not one. It's been quite a ride. I've known great passions, seen amazing wonders, fought in a war, and helped make a peace. ... I made a small place for myself in the story of America and the history of my times.' McCain gives a dramatic thumbs down to Obamacare repeal On July 27 2017 the Republican's number one priority was in the spotlight. The Republican plan to overhaul the Affordable Care Act and repeal 'Obamacare' had a number of opponents. Ahead of the vote McCain had been noncommittal but on entering the senate instructed a few reporters as he walked onto the Senate floor that fateful night: 'Wait for the show.' He spoke to prominent Democrat Chuck Schumer, who looked elated, before speaking to the second in command Republican John Cornyn, who looked ashen faced. McCain believed the bill hadn't been correctly legislated from the beginning and was a stickler for things being done properly. John McCain casts a decisive vote and is captured giving the thumbs down to a Republican motion which would have blocked Barack Obama's affordable care act He voted against the Republican amendments, and the Senate's last bid to repeal Obamacare - giving a famous thumbs down motion on the floor, leading him later to be accused of treachery. Afterwards he said: 'I've stated time and time again that one of the major failures of Obamacare was that it was rammed through Congress by Democrats on a strict party-line basis without a single Republican vote,' McCain said in a statement after his stunning vote. 'We must now return to the correct way of legislating and send the bill back to committee, hold hearings, receive input from both sides of aisle, heed the recommendations of nation's governors, and produce a bill that finally delivers affordable health care for the American people. We must do the hard work our citizens expect of us and deserve.' Advertisement Remarkably, he stuck by Trump as the party's 2016 presidential nominee even when Trump questioned his status as a war hero by saying: 'I like people who weren't captured.' McCain declared the comment offensive to veterans, but urged the men 'put it behind us and move forward.' His breaking point with Trump was the release a month before the election of a lewd audio in which Trump said he could kiss and grab women. McCain withdrew his support and said he'd write in 'some good conservative Republican who's qualified to be president.' By the time McCain cast his vote against the GOP health bill, six months into Trump's presidency, the two men were openly at odds. Trump railed against McCain publicly over the vote, and McCain remarked that he no longer listened to what Trump had to say because 'there's no point in it.' By then, McCain had disclosed his brain cancer diagnosis and returned to Arizona to seek treatment. His vote to kill the GOP's years-long Obamacare repeal drive an issue McCain himself had campaigned on came not long after the diagnosis, a surprising capstone to his legislative career. John McCain's 2008 concession speech unites the nation John McCain concedes defeat in the 2008 presidential election with running mate Sarah Palin (left) 'My friends, we have come to the end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly. A little while ago, I had the honor of calling Sen. Barack Obama to congratulate him on being elected the next president of the country that we both love. In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance. But that he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans, who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president, is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving. This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight. I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our goodwill and earnest effort to find ways to come together, to find the necessary compromises, to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited. Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that.' Advertisement In his final months, McCain did not go quietly, frequently jabbing at Trump and his policies from the remove of his Hidden Valley family retreat in Arizona. He opposed the president's nominee for CIA director because of her past role in overseeing torture, scolded Trump for alienating U.S. allies at an international summit, labeled the administration's zero-tolerance immigration policy 'an affront to the decency of the American people' and denounced the Trump-Putin summit in Helsinki as a 'tragic mistake' in which the president put on 'one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory.' McCain, with his irascible grin and fighter-pilot moxie, was a fearless and outspoken voice on policy and politics to the end, unswerving in his defense of democratic values and unflinching in his criticism of his fellow Republican, President Donald Trump. He was elected to the Senate from Arizona six times but twice thwarted in seeking the presidency. An upstart presidential bid in 2000 didn't last long. Eight years later, he fought back from the brink of defeat to win the GOP nomination, only to be overpowered by Democrat Barack Obama. Sen. McCain was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, in July 2017 - but returned just two weeks later to the Senate McCain chose a little-known Alaska governor as his running mate in that race, and turned Sarah Palin into a national political figure. After losing to Obama in an electoral landslide, McCain returned to the Senate determined not to be defined by a failed presidential campaign in which his reputation as a maverick had faded. His death comes nine years to the day from the death of his close friend Ted Kennedy. Despite his battle with his illness many believed McCain would have emulated his mother, Roberta, who is still alive aged 106. It was 2008 that brought McCain's integrity to the forefront of American consciousness with a number of shows of fairplay and grace not often seen in politics. 'No ma'am': McCain tells Republican voter Obama is NOT an Arab Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., right, takes back the microphone from Gayle Quinnell who said she read about Sen. Barack Obama and 'that he was an Arab,' On the 2008 presidential campaign trail McCain won plaudits when a Gayle Quinn asked if Obama was an 'Arab' at a town hall meeting in Lakeville, Minnesota in October that year. She said: 'I can't trust Obama. I have read about him, and he's not, he's not he's an Arab.' McCain took the microphone from her and said 'No, ma'm. 'He's a decent family man [and] citizen that just I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that's what the campaign's all about. He's not [an Arab].' He told another man that there was no reason to be afraid of Obama, adding he was a 'decent' person and 'you don't have to be scared of as president of the United States'. Advertisement Before he made his gracious concession speech that is widely said to have united the nation behind their first African American president, McCain encountered a number of opportunities when he could have launched personal attacks on his opponent. However, rather than add to fears in some areas about electing the first non-white president he took pains to ensure he spoke with respect about Obama. Instead of stoking prejudice and adding to fears he took steps to dispel the myths. The motorcade transporting McCain from Sedona to Phoenix John Sidney McCain III was born on August 29, 1936 in the Panama Canal Zone, the second of three children born to John Sr and Roberta McCain. It was a respected military family with quite a legacy; both Sen. McCain's father and grandfather served as four-star United States Navy Admirals, and McCain grew up on a number of naval bases in the US and abroad before finishing private high school in Virginia. He followed his father and grandfather into the service, attending the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, where he later joked - he was 'an undistinguished member of the Class of 1958,' finishing fifth from last in his year. Upon graduation, he trained in Florida and became a naval pilot, known for his hijinks and often cavalier attitude. He married his first wife, Carol, in 1965 and adopted her two young children, Andrew and Douglas, and the couple had a daughter, Sidney - but it wasn't long before MCain headed off for war, at his request. 'I didn't possess any particular notion of greatness, but I did hold strong notions of honor,' he writes in Faith of My Fathers. 'And I worried that my deserved reputation for foolishness would make command of a squadron or a carrier, the pinnacle of a young pilot's aspiration, too grand an ambition for an obstreperous admiral's son, and my failure to reach command would dishonor me and my family. 'Despite my concerns, I resolved to follow the conventional course to command. With the country at war, that course led to Vietnam. The best way to raise my profile as an aviator, perhaps the only way, was to achieve a creditable combat record. I was eager to begin. The nine moments that made McCain PRISONER OF WAR, CELEBRITY McCain, became a public figure at age 31 when his bed-bound image was broadcast from North Vietnam in 1967. The North Vietnamese had figured out that he was the son and grandson of famous American military men a 'crown prince,' they called him. He was offered an early release, but refused. McCain's captors beat him until he confessed, an episode that first led to shame and then discovery. McCain has written that that's when he learned to trust not just his legacy but his own judgment and his resilience. Less than a decade after his March 1973 release, McCain was elected to the House as a Republican from Arizona. In 1986, voters there sent him to the Senate. THE KEATING FIVE He called it 'my asterisk' and the worst mistake of his life. At issue was a pair of 1987 meetings between McCain, four other senators and regulators to get the government to back off a key campaign donor. Charles Keating Jr. wanted McCain and Democratic Sens. Dennis DeConcini of Arizona, Alan Cranston of California, John Glenn of Ohio and Don Riegle of Michigan to get government auditors to stop pressing Keating's Lincoln Savings and Loan Association. All five denied improper conduct. McCain was cleared of all charges but found to have exercised 'poor judgment.' 'His honor was being questioned and that's nothing that he takes lightly,' said Mark Salter, McCain's biographer and co-author of his new memoir, 'The Restless Wave.' THE SENATE McCain became his party's leading voice on matters of war, national security and veterans - and eventually became chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He worked with a Democrat to rewrite the nation's campaign finance laws. He voted for the Iraq War and supported the 2007 surge of forces there even as his own sons served or prepared to serve. But there was one thing that wasn't as widely known about him: McCain, owner of a ranch in Arizona that is in the flight path of 500 species of migratory birds, became concerned about the environment. 'People associate John with defense and national security, as well they should. But he also had a great concern for and love of the environment,' said Sen. Susan Collins, the Maine Republican who traveled to the ends of the earth with McCain to the Arctic Circle in 2004 and Antarctica two years later on fact-finding missions related to climate change. Back on McCain's Arizona ranch, the senator gave Collins an extensive nature tour of the property. 'I particularly remember his love for the birds,' Collins said. 'He loved the birds.' TOWN HALLS, STRAIGHT TALK McCain in the 2000 election did something new: He toured New Hampshire on a bus laden with doughnuts and reporters that stopped at 'town hall' meetings where voters were invited to exchange views with the candidate. The bus was called the 'Straight Talk Express,' and that's what he promised to deliver at the town halls. The whole thing was messy, unscripted and often hilarious. And ultimately the events re-introduced McCain to voters as a candid and authentic, just a year after President Bill Clinton was acquitted of lying to Congress and obstruction. In New Hampshire that year, McCain defeated George W. Bush in an 18-point blowout, only to be pushed out of the race in South Carolina. But the town halls remained a fond McCain memory. 'The town halls were festivals of politics,' Salter said. 'They were so authentic and open and honest.' 'NO MA'AM' McCain, in 2008 making his second run for president, quickly intervened when a woman in Lakeville, Minnesota, stood at a town hall event and began to make disparaging remarks about Democratic presidential nominee and then-Sen. Barack Obama. 'He's an Arab,' she said, implying he was not an American. 'No ma'am,' McCain said, taking the microphone from her. 'He's a decent, family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and that's what this campaign is all about. He's not.' It was a defining moment for McCain as a leader, a reflection of his thinking that partisans should disagree without demonizing each other. But it reflected McCain's reckoning with the fear pervading his party of Obama, who would go on to become the nation's first black president. CANCER McCain last year was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the same aggressive cancer that had felled his friend, Sen Edward Kennedy, in 2009. Friends and family say he understood the gravity of the diagnosis but quickly turned to the speech he wanted to give on the Senate floor urging his colleagues to shed the partisanship that had produced gridlock. Face scarred and bruised from surgery, he pounded the lectern. Some of the sternest members of the Senate hugged him, tears in their eyes. 'Of all of the things that have happened in this man's life, of all of the times that his life could have ended in the ways it could have ended, this (cancer) is by far one of the least threats to him and that's kind of how he views it,' his son, Jack McCain, told the Arizona Republic in January. HEALTH CARE VOTE Republicans, driven by Trump, were one vote away from advancing a repeal of Obama's health care law. Then McCain, scarred from brain surgery, swooped into the Senate chamber and, facing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, dramatically held up his hand. The thumb flicked down. Gasps could be heard throughout the staid chamber. McConnell stood motionless, arms crossed. Trump's campaign promise and the premiere item on his agenda was dead. TRUMP McCain tangled with Trump, who never served in the military, for years. As a candidate, Trump in 2016 claimed the decorated McCain is only considered a war hero because he had been captured. 'He's not a war hero,' Trump said at an event in Iowa. 'I like people who weren't captured.' Shortly before Election Day in 2016, McCain said he's rather cast his vote for another Republican, someone who's 'qualified to be president.' Trump fumed, without using McCain's name, that the senator is the only reason the Affordable Care Act stands. McCain responded: 'I have faced tougher adversaries.' Advertisement 'More than professional considerations lay beneath my desire to go to war. Nearly all the men in my family had made their reputations at war. It was my family's pride. And the Naval Academy, with its celebration of martial valor, had penetrated enough of my defenses to recall me to that honor. I wanted to go to Vietnam, and to keep faith with the family creed.' He was stationed in the Gulf of Tonkin, flying A-4 Skyhawks, and was assigned to the USS Forrestal, which suffered a catastrophic fire on July 29, 1967, wounding McCain and killing 134 sailors. He then volunteered for assignment with another aircraft carrier, the USS Oriskany, and was flying his 23rd bombing mission over North Vietnam when he was shot down on October 26, 1967. He parachuted into a lake and was badly injured but was taken captive by the North Vietnamese, who offered him minimal medical assistance until they realized how high-ranking his father was; in mid-1968, McCain Sr was named commander of all US forces in the Vietnam theater. As POW, McCain was kept for some time at Hoa Lo Prison, more commonly known as the Hanoi Hilton and was regularly tortured over the next five and a half years, much of which was spent in solitary confinement. Sen. McCain first entered politics in 1982 after retiring from the Navy the previous year; he would continue as a public servant until his death John McCain ran for president twice without success - the second time against President Barack Obama in 2008; here, the pair shake hands before the first of three presidential debates in September 2008 Sen. McCain chose Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, pictured, as his 2008 candidate for vice president McCain was offered release numerous times but refused to leave unless all other POWs captured before him were set free, realizing that the North Vietnamese would turn his freedom into a massive propaganda campaign and victory. His treatment by his captors was so cruel that, at one stage, he unsuccessfully attempted suicide, and at another he made an anti-US propaganda 'confession', later writing that, while he felt it was dishonorable, he realized 'Every man has his breaking point. I had reached mine.' Sen. McCain, like his father and grandfather before him, attended the United States Naval Academy - where he later joked he was 'an undistinguished member of the Class of 1958' Without proper treatment, his extensive injuries left McCain unable to raise his arms above his head - subsequently affecting his future prospects in the Navy. Eventually, McCain was released after the signing of the Paris Peace Accords in 1973, which ended direct US military involvement in Vietnam, and he returned to the US to recover from his extensive injuries. He earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross, among other honors. His wife had suffered her own injuries in a car accident and McCain admitted that, upon his return to the US, he engaged in extramarital affairs, and his marriage to Carol broke down. In 1977, McCain was assigned as the Navy's liaison to the US Senate, and he retired from the Navy in 1981 the same year he married his second wife, Cindy Lou Hensley, a teacher and the daughter of Jim Hensley, the founder of the third largest Anheuser-Busch beer distributorship in America. He relocated to Arizona, and the couple went on to have three biological children Jack McCain, Meghan McCain and James McCain and adopt a daughter from Bangladesh, Bridget. Tributes paid to Senator John McCain who has died aged 81 Advertisement While flying combat missions during the Vietnam War, McCain was shot down in 1967 and taken prisoner by the North Vietnamese In 1982, McCain ran for Congress as a Republican despite criticism that he was a carpetbagger recently settled in the state. During one candidate forum, he countered that criticism with the response: 'I wish I could have had the luxury, like you, of growing up and living and spending my entire life in a nice place like the first district of Arizona, but I was doing other things. McCaine spent five and a half years as a prisoner of war before his release in 1973, following the Paris Peace Accords, which ended direct US military involvement in Vietnam 'As a matter of fact, when I think about it now, the place I lived longest in my life was Hanoi.' He was re-elected in 1984, 1986, 1992, 1998, 2004 and 2010, serving at various times as chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs; on the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and currently as chairman of the Committee on Armed Services and member of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. He published his memoir, Faith of My Fathers, in 1999, writing: 'My public profile is inextricably linked to my POW experiences. Obviously, such recognition has benefited my political career, and I am grateful for that. But I have tried to make what use I can of Vietnam and not let the memories of war encumber the rest of my life's progress. Neither have I been content to accept that my time in Vietnam would stand as the ultimate experience of my life.' McCain earned a reputation as a maverick, a conservative not daunted by taking differing opinions from the Republican party. He also had a reputation as a straight shooter, and he weathered scandals such as the Keating Five, when five senators were accused of corruption in 1989 in connection with Charles Keating of Lincoln Savings and Loan, who contributed politically to the men and sought their help when the company was in trouble. John McCain Senior Year 1954 Episcopal High School, Alexandria McCain as a young boy with his grandfather, left, and father, right, who both were four-star admirals in the United States Navy After divorcing his first wife, Carol, McCain married Arizona woman Cindy Hensley, pictured, who poses with two of their children McCain was ultimately found innocent of any wrongdoing by the Senate Ethics Committee, but the incident spurred him to become an advocate of campaign finance reform; he and Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold eventually pushed through the McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act in 2002. McCain ran for president in the 2000 election campaign, announcing his candidacy on September 27, 1999; he was pitted against Texas Gov. George W. Bush for the Republican nomination. Although McCain won New Hampshire, he was soon outspent by Bush and was subjected to a smear campaign in South Carolina. He ultimately withdrew from the race on March 9, 2000, and he endorsed Bush two months later. The Arizona politician was not done with the presidency, however, and threw his hat in the ring again for the 2008 presidential campaign. He announced his candidacy on April 25, 2007 and went on to win the nomination, announcing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. He lost the election to President Barack Obama and returned to the Senate. McCain and President Donald Trump engaged in a well-publicized feud, as Trump criticized the war hero, especially for his vote against a Republican replacement for 'Obamacare,' the health care law approved under President Barack Obama. Trump signed a military policy bill this month named for McCain, but in a sign of their testy relationship the president made no mention of McCain's name in remarks at a signing ceremony. The senator, in a 60 Minutes interview, previously spoke of having 'different upbringing' and 'different life experiences' from Trump - who disparaged McCain for having been captured during the Vietnam War. 'He is in the business of making money and he has been successful both in television as well as Miss America and others,' he said. 'I was raised in a military family.' He said: 'I was raised in the concept and belief that duty, honor, country is the lodestar for the behavior that we have to exhibit every single day.' Sen. McCain told United States Naval Academy graduates in October: 'You'll know that to serve this country is to serve its ideals the ideals that consider every child on earth as made in the image of God and endowed with dignity and the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is a noble cause. It is your cause, and it's worth living and dying for' Last July, Sen. McCain was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer but he was back in the Senate two weeks later. His last Senate vote was in December. In a speech on the Senate floor following his diagnosis - outlined in a chapter titled Regular Order in his book The Restless Wave, published just months ago - McCain said: 'Our deliberations can still be important and useful, but I think we'd all agree they haven't been overburdened by greatness lately. And right now, they aren't producing much for the American people. 'Both sides have let this happen. Let's leave the history of who shot first to the historians. I suspect they'll find we all conspired in our decline - either by deliberate actions or neglect. We've all played some role in it. Certainly I have. Sometimes, I've let my passion rule my reason ... I hope we can again rely on humility, on our need to cooperate, on our dependence on each other to learn how to trust each other again and by so doing better serve the people who elected us. 'Stop listening to the bombastic loudmouths on the radio and television and the Internet. To hell with them.' He added: 'Let's trust each other. Let's return to regular order. We've been spinning our w heels on too many important issues because we keep trying to find a way to win without help from across the aisle.' Sen. McCain spoke proudly of his 'sense of honor' and told a new generation of Annapolis graduates just six months ago: 'May your lives be as lucky as mine' John McCain Sophomore Year 1952 Episcopal High School, Alexandria McCain's family announced on Friday that he was stopping treatment for brain cancer, just days before his 82nd birthday. He is survived by his wife, Cindy; seven children and several grandchildren in addition to his legacy of bravery and service that continues to inspire soldiers and sailors today. In a speech to Naval Academy graduates in October, he said: 'I know what you will risk and what you will receive in return. I know America is lucky to have you, and that you will think yourselves lucky to serve America. Even in the worst of times and they come for most of us you'll know that to serve this country is to serve its ideals the ideals that consider every child on earth as made in the image of God and endowed with dignity and the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is a noble cause. It is your cause, and it's worth living and dying for. 'I have, sometimes unwittingly and often imperfectly, served that cause all my adult life. Like your service, mine began here in the place of honor and honor's demands. I arrived a rebel without a cause, and left much the same. But I would discover that a sense of honor had been imparted to me here that would speak to me in the darkest hours. 'And so I come back, again and again, to the place where I learned to dread dishonor and from where I embarked on an eventful life, in good company, in the service of my country and its great cause. 'May your lives be as lucky as mine.' In today's incredibly fraught political atmosphere, bipartisanship feels more like a term in the history books than a possibility in Congress. But John McCain was always reaching across the aisle, so unafraid of straying from the party line that he earned the infamous Maverick nickname in the Senate. From voting against the Bush tax cuts in the 1980s to helping save Obamacare last year, McCain made it clear that his beliefs would always trump party loyalty. It was a beloved Democrat congressman who would help teach McCain the benefits of working together. From voting against the Bush tax cuts in the 1980s to helping save Obamacare last year, John McCain made it clear that his beliefs would always trump party loyalty McCain was a newcomer to Arizona when he won an open seat for the state in the House of Representatives. But his green status didn't stop veteran Arizona congressman Mo Udall from reaching out, often inviting him to state events and becoming his mentor. 'Mo reached out to me in 50 different ways,' McCain told Slate in 2008. 'Right from the start he'd say: "I'm going to hold a press conference out in Phoenix. Why don't you join me?" It was beloved Democrat congressman Mo Udall who would help teach McCain the benefits of working with the opposing party 'All these journalists would show up to hear what Mo had to say. In the middle of it all, Mo would point to me and say, "I'd like to hear John's views." Well, hell, I didn't have any views. But I got up and learned and was introduced to the state.' When McCain won a seat in the Senate four years later, it was Udall's influence that he credited. 'There's no way Mo could have been more wonderful,' he said. 'And there was no reason for him to be that way.' When Udall was struck down with Parkinson's disease, relegated to a hospital bed in Washington, it was McCain who visited him every few weeks. The senator would always come with a stack of newspaper clips to read to his mentor, specifically selected to match Udall's favorite subjects. McCain also struck up a friendship in the Senate with John Kerry, an anti-war protester who at first sight would seem like a surprising accomplice to the former POW. But together they worked on helping to restore America's relations with Vietnam. Kerry revealed that a connection formed between the pair thanks to one conversation on a long flight. McCain also struck up a friendship in the Senate with John Kerry, an anti-war protester who at first sight would seem like a surprising accomplice to the former POW 'We traveled together to Vietnam and we found common ground in the improbable place,' Kerry said on Saturday following McCain's death. 'I stood with John, the two of us alone, in the very cell in the Hanoi Hilton where years of his life were lived out in pain but always in honor.' Their friendship endured and Kerry revealed McCain always believed that one day America would come together as well. 'John McCain showed all of us how to bridge the divide between a protester and a POW, and how to find common ground even when it was improbable. 'I will be grateful for that lesson every day of my life.' Even when he was accepting the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, McCain wanted to make it clear that he did not see Barack Obama as his enemy. Even when he was accepting the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, McCain said of Obama: 'Much more unites us than divides us' 'You have my respect and admiration,' he said in a direct address to Obama at the Republican National Convention. 'Despite our differences, much more unites us than divides us. We are fellow Americans, and that's an association that means more to me than any other.' And even when a Republican went on to take the presidency in 2016, McCain - unlike many of his fellow congressman - did not bow to party loyalty. The Maverick made it clear from 2015, when Trump called Mexicans 'rapists', that he did not agree with the bombastic businessman's statements. And while McCain refrained from ever responding - or matching - the president's vicious personal attacks, he made it clear in his last speech that he did not agree with the direction Trump was taking America. As Congress becomes increasingly partisan, McCain serves as a symbol of the enduring Maverick. Pictured are flags flying half-staff in honor of McCain at the Capital on Sunday 'To fear the world we have organized and led for three-quarters of a century, to abandon the ideals we have advanced around the globe, to refuse the obligations of international leadership and our duty to remain "the last best hope of Earth" for the sake of some half-baked, spurious nationalism cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems, is as unpatriotic as an attachment to any other tired dogma of the past that Americans consigned to the ash heap of history,' he said last year in Philadelphia. The bad blood between the two men was so thick that it was made known, even before McCain's passing, that Trump would not be invited to his funeral. But in one last display of bipartisanship, McCain selected both Obama and George W Bush to read eulogies at his service. Still reaching across the aisle and bringing two parties together, even from the afterlife. The devastated mother who lost both of her children in the Dreamworld theme park tragedy has revealed her continued anguish two years after the accident. Kim Dorsett's children Luke Dorsett, 35, and Kate Goodchild, 32, were crushed to death by machinery on the Thunder River Rapids ride at the Gold Coast theme park on October 25, 2016. Luke's partner Roozi Araghi and New Zealand mother Cindy Low also died when the raft they were riding flipped on a conveyor belt. Ms Dorsett told Channel Seven's Sunday Night she still relives the moment her children were killed, wishing the conveyor belt could have been stopped before the tragedy. 'Push that button. That's all they had to do. My kids would still be here,' she said. 'That's all it took from when the raft went up... till it was all over. It was seven seconds. Just seven seconds. And they could have stopped that conveyor belt in two.' Kim Dorsett's children Luke Dorsett, 35, and Kate Goodchild, 32, were crushed to death by machinery on the Thunder River Rapids ride Ms Dorsett has revealed her continued anguish two years after the accident Kate was a mother to two young daughters - Ebony, 12, and newborn Evie. Ms Dorsett revealed the heroic last act of her son Luke, who managed to save his niece from an excruciating death as the equipment failed. 'I think (Luke) realised what was happening, and he saw Ebony falling, and he grabbed her, steadied her, and then pushed her off the side. Saved his niece, absolutely,' Ms Dorsett said. After checking her phone to discover six missed calls, Ms Dorsett was notified of the death of her children by two police officers. 'Just absolutely surreal. Thinking that you'd lost one, all three of them was... and at Dreamworld - I just could not... to go to a park and not come home,' she said. 'They all took that time to say goodbye that morning. 'They all got into the car and left. Then three of them just never came back. And I live that moment forever.' Ms Dorsett said she had a bad feeling the morning of the tragedy. Ms Dorsett revealed the heroic last act of her son Luke, who managed to save his niece from an excruciating death as the equipment failed Luke's partner Roozi Araghi and New Zealand mother Cindy Low also died when the raft they were riding flipped on a conveyor belt 'I remember waking up and just had an uneasy feeling, but never in my wildest dreams was going to happen to the kids or anybody I knew, just that something wasn't quite right.' She is upset at how the aftermath of the tragedy was handled by Dreamworld's parent company Ardent Leisure, and disputed claims from chief executive Deborah Thomas that she had spoken to the family before the inquest hearings. 'I think I did get a bit annoyed at that, because I knew that wasn't true. 'I guess the big thing is that if anyone would have pushed that button to stop that conveyor belt, anybody, that's all they had to do was to push that button, my kids would still be here.' Ms Dorsett said she had a bad feeling the morning of the tragedy (Pictured: the ride after the accident in 2016) Several hundred people are attending a memorial service for 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts Sunday - less than a week after her body was found in a cornfield outside her small hometown in Iowa. The funeral for the University of Iowa student is being held Sunday afternoon in the gymnasium of BGM High School, where Mollie graduated from in 2017. Family, friends and residents of her hometown Brooklyn - a city of just 1,500 - are paying their respects after a month-long search ended in tragedy. Bishop Thomas Zinkula of Davenport, Iowa, planned to lead the funeral while Mollie's father, cousin and one of her teachers planned to speak at the service. Cristhian Bahena Rivera, 24, has been charged with first-degree murder after leading police to her lifeless body that had been left stabbed to death since her July 18 disappearance. Friends and family arrive for the Mass of the Resurrection for Mollie Tibbetts at the BGM High School Gymnasium Brooklyn community celebrates the Mass of the Resurrection for Mollie Tibbetts at the high school from which she graduated riends and family are pictured arriving to mourn he loss of 20-year-old Mollie Sunday Tibbetts was reported missing from her hometown in July 2018 and her body discovered just last week Tibbetts had been staying in Brooklyn during a summer break from her studies at the University of Iowa. An autopsy conducted Wednesday revealed Tibbetts was killed by 'multiple sharp force injuries.' Her younger brother Scott Tibbetts, 18, scores three touchdowns Friday in his high school football game he nearly missed after his sister's body was discovered. Mourners tie balloons at the site Mollie's body was found on the day of her funeral Rob Tibbetts delivered an emotional eulogy for his daughter on Sunday in Brooklyn, Iowa in front of hundreds Scott is a senior at the high school where Mollie's memorial is being held Sunday. Rivera was arrested Monday when police traced him through surveillance footage that showed his car following Mollie. He then made a full confession to killing her but his motive is still unknown. When Rivera, a father-of-one, was approached by police on Friday, he went willingly to participate in an interview. He then confessed to attacking Mollie, putting her body in the trunk of his car and driving her to a field 10 miles away. Mollie's body was found in the cornfield earlier in the week after she went missing last month Rivera then led the officers to her body which was dumped in a cornfield. It was a stunning end to a five week long investigation which focused on others living in the town, including a pig farmer who was questioned three times and had his home searched. Mollie was allegedly followed by a truck driven by Cristhian Bahena Rivera before he killed her when she threatened to call police It was later revealed that Rivera was an illegal migrant farm worker from Mexico who used a fake ID to pass background checks, his employers say. He was working at Yarrabee Farms 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. The colorful balloons are admired by a driver as hundreds of mourners paid tribute to Mollie Lang later revealed that Rivera used a fake ID and social security number to cheat the Social Security Administration verification system, which the farm used. Cristhian Bahena Rivera, 24, was arrested on Monday and made a full confession to killing Mollie 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. Authorities say 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 British mother who returned to prison in Iran following a temporary release this weekend says she has 'lost much of her faith' after she was once again separated from her daughter. A heartbreaking photo showed the moment Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe said goodbye to the four-year-old girl after failing to win an extension to her three days of freedom. The 40-year-old could be seen hugging little Gabriella, who burst into tears when she was told her mother was returning to prison. Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe said she was delighted to 'see normal life again' at the weekend but said she was losing her faith in a 'dark world', CNN reported. Heartbreaking: Nazanin saying goodbye to her young daughter Gabriella after learning she will return to prison She said: 'This feels a dark world. I used to pray but these past two years I've lost much of my faith. Who would take a child from their mother?' 'I was so happy yesterday walking in the street seeing normal life again.' Saying she had envied people in the street who were walking and holding their children's hands, she said: 'I just want a normal life'. Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was jailed for five years inIran for supposed espionage and was set to learn yesterday if authorities would be lengthening her three days of freedom. However, after a 'day of mixed messages', the request for an extension was not granted. She was told she must return to prison by sunset, her husband Richard Ratcliffe said. Mr Ratcliffe said: 'Nazanin waited for Gabriella to wake up before saying goodbye, and left her family home to return to Evin prison.' He added: 'She promised Gabriella that the next time she saw her it would be forever not just for a few days, for proper freedom, not just for furlough. 'And next time they will go back to London to be with daddy.' Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 40, who was staying in the Iranian countryside with her parents and her daughter, Gabriella, four, was detained in April 2016 at Tehran airport after visiting her family. In a statement, Mr Ratcliffe said his wife was told by the Iranian authorities that she would have to return to the prison by sunset. 'After discussion with her family in Iran, Nazanin decided that she would go into prison. She did not want to be dragged out of the house in front of her baby, but would walk into prison with her head held high.' His statement added: 'She wanted to say goodbye to Gabriella calmly and left her in the care of her mother. Her father has taken Nazanin back to prison.' The family had hoped to learn on Saturday whether her leave which is often granted to prisoners in Iran would be prolonged, but after a day of 'mixed messages', it was denied. Kate Allen, Amnesty International UK's Director, said: 'This is a crushing disappointment. 'There were real hopes that not only would her three-day furlough be extended, but that her permanent and unconditional release was also just around the corner. 'We shouldn't lose sight of what Nazanin has had to endure - nearly two-and-a-half years behind bars, eight gruelling months of solitary confinement without a lawyer, a deeply unfair trial, and also being subjected to a string of unfounded accusations from the Iranian authorities. 'Nazanin is a prisoner of conscience who should never have been jailed in the first place. 'Anything the UK Government can now do to speed up the process of permanently freeing Nazanin, should be done. Nazanin was released Thursday on a three-day furlough (pictured with her beaming daughter) 'The sooner that Nazanin is able to travel back to the UK with her young daughter Gabriella, the better.' Prior to the decision to send Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe back to prison her husband said: 'The agony goes on it's going to be a very worrying day,' 'If she doesn't get an extension, it will be a blow to all of us, but most of all to her: to be back in jail after tasting freedom for just three days would be very hard.' Mr Ratcliffe, from North London, said that before learning that there would be no decision over the possible extension at the weekend, the family was able to enjoy an outing to a coffee shop yesterday- where he was able to talk to them via Skype. He has applied for an Iranian visa, and was hoping if charity worker Nazanin gets the extension and his request is granted, he will try to visit her. But he added: 'Until Nazanin is really home, she's not home.' He and the family's lawyer had not expected her to be granted even a three-day spell of freedom after being refused earlier requests, 'and it would be naive to suggest that this is the beginning of the end, or to assume that from now on, it's going to be plain sailing. It's been a huge process just to get this far.' Nazanin's husband Richard Ratcliffe (pictured) said she is not home until 'she is really home' Mr Ratcliffe said the Iranian authorities had become more amenable since Britain's decision to go through with a deal to lift sanctions in return for Iran curbing its nuclear weapons programme. Last year, then Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was forced to apologise after falsely stating Nazanin had been in Iran to train local journalists a claim which may still cause years to be added to her sentence. Mr Ratcliffe could not say whether Mr Johnson's resignation in July had made a difference, but added: 'It's very clear [his successor] Jeremy Hunt really cares.' Mr Hunt is considering whether to grant official diplomatic protection to Nazanin, who has dual British-Iranian nationality, to increase the pressure on the Iranians. Mr Ratcliffe said this had to be carefully considered, though, as rather than help, it might hinder her chances of permanent freedom. There are thought to be at least a dozen dual British-Iranian nationals in detention, most of whose cases have not been publicised at the request of their families. A teenage boy is fighting for his life in hospital after suffering a gunshot wound on his family property. The 15-year-old was shot in the back during a hunting expedition on his property in Bathurst, in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. Emergency services were called to the rural property at around 9am on Sunday morning, where it is alleged an unattended firearm discharged in the back of a ute. The 15-year-old was shot in the back during a hunting expedition on his property in Bathurst, in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales The ute he was travelling in allegedly rolled backward and a sudden movement made the 12-gauge shotgun fire, Yahoo7 reported. The teen was airlifted over 200km to the Children's Hospital at Westmead for urgent medical care. It is understood he was conscious when emergency services arrived, however was placed in an induced coma shortly thereafter. The teen was airlifted over 200km to the Children's Hospital at Westmead for urgent medical care New South Wales Ambulance said paramedics stabilised him as best they could before flying him to the hospital. 'He was then treated in that ambulance by paramedics and driven to Bathurst,' Ambulance Parkes' Inspector Peter Rolands said. The boy was intubated, put on life support and received a blood transfusion before being put in the induced coma to travel. His family made the 3-and-a-half hour journey to Westmead from Bathurst to be by his side. His current condition is still unknown. The Orana-Mid Western Police District is investigating the incident, but note it appears to have been an accident. Scott Morrison has extended an olive branch to Tony Abbott by offering him a special role as the Prime Minister announced his new-look cabinet. Mr Abbott - a former prime minister who is now a backbench MP - was offered the role of special envoy to the Prime Minister in indigenous affairs, the Daily Telegraph reported. The move comes after Mr Abbott backed Mr Morrison's rival Peter Dutton for the Liberal party leadership. Scott Morrison has extended an olive branch to Tony Abbott by offering him a special role as the Prime Minister announced his new-look cabinet Mr Morrison unveiled his new-look cabinet on Sunday evening after being sworn in as Australian Prime Minister Mr Abbott's spokesman said he was yet to accept the Prime Minister's offer and was 'worried about something that is a title without a role'. 'Mr Abbott has been asked to consider being an envoy in the indigenous area.' 'He said he would consider it but needed to know the precise terms of what was being proposed, as it's not clear how any such role would interact with the minister and all the other bodies in this space. 'He looks forward to discussion with the PM once all this has been thought through.' Despite backing Mr Dutton's bid to wrestle the leadership from political rival Malcolm Turnbull, Mr Abbott sent an email to voters in his Warringah electorate saying he supported Mr Morrison and new deputy leader Josh Frydenberg. He said Mr Turnbull's accusations of treachery were 'pretty shameless', and said 'insurgents' or 'wreckers' were not to blame for the change in leadership. Mr Morrison unveiled his new-look cabinet on Sunday evening after being sworn in as Australian Prime Minister. Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce was not given a portfolio but has been appointed Special Envoy for Drought Assistance and Recovery while Tony Abbott was snubbed altogether and will remain on the backbench. The move comes after Mr Abbott backed Mr Morrison's rival Peter Dutton for the Liberal party leadership Mr Morrison named the rest of his frontbench on Sunday evening, making Dan Tehan the new Education Minister, Kelly O'Dwyer the new Minister for Jobs and giving Michaelia Cash a new portfolio as Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Technology. The nation's new leader paid tribute to outgoing Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who resigned on Sunday after leaked WhatsApp messages revealed a betrayal during her unsuccessful challenge for the Liberal leadership. Mr Morrison's rival for the party leadership Peter Dutton will continue to act as Home Affairs Minister but Mr Morrison said there will be 'changes to the portfolio's structure'. Advertisement Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle were fighting back tears, choked up, and even got in a warm chuckle or two when they remembered the life and legacy of Republican Senator John McCain. Former colleagues, friends, and fellow senators took to the airwaves Sunday morning to reminisce about McCain and memorialize his legacy. 'I had always viewed him as indestructible. It never crossed my mind that there would be political life without John McCain, until now,' said Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham, on CNN. Graham was McCain's closest friend in the Senate. The two traveled the world together for years with former Sen. Joe Lieberman, calling themselves 'The Three Amigos.' Sen. Lindsay Graham, McCain's closest friend in the Senate, said he viewed he senator as 'indestructible' Sen. Jeff Flake remembered McCain as 'having a big brother that nobody wanted to mess with' Democratic Sen. Chris Coons remembered going to Vietnam was Sen. McCain on his final trip to that country McCain died on Saturday, a day after his family announced that the Vietnam War hero would stop treatment for his stage-four brain cancer. Sen. Jeff Flake, McCain's fellow Republican senator from Arizona, fought back tears on CNN after the network played McCain's floor speech about the senator after Flake announced he wouldn't seek re-election this year. 'I'm going to miss him,' Flake said. 'It's tough to imagine a Senate without him. It's tough to imagine politics without John McCain. But we need to go on.' The senator also remembered about McCain as a mentor. 'It was like having a big brother that nobody wanted to mess with,' Flake said on NBC's 'Meet the Press.' Democratic Sen. Chris Coons remembered going with McCain to Vietnam in June 2017 on what turned out to be McCain's final trip to the country where he was imprisoned for five years during the Vietnam War. Coons recalled visiting the cell where McCain was held during their trip. 'That was a remarkable visit,' he said on CNN. 'if anyone doubted his courage, his dedication to our country, spending time with him in Vietnam was a remarkable experience to get to go and visit the Hanoi Hilton prison where he spent five years under terrible conditions, two years in solitary confinement and being a victim of torture and resisted torture. He worked tirelessly to rebuild bridges between the American and Vietnamese people.' He added: 'I was so struck by his ability to help our country reconcile with Vietnam and to reconcile with that difficult chapter in our history.' But it was McCain's maverick legacy that most of his colleagues spoke about, praising his political courage, his willingness to work across the aisle, and his convictions as qualities deeply needed in today's political climate. 'He will be missed for many many reasons, that example he set of working across the aisle, working to bring people together, here at home and around the world, is one that should be remembered,' Hillary Clinton, the former Democratic senator and presidential nominee said on NBC's 'Meet the Press.' 'Our institutions are being severely tested right now, including his beloved Senate. He was, in every way he knew how, trying to sound the alarm,' she noted. Flake said McCain's capacity for forgiveness is something that is needed in today's harsh political climate. 'Oh, to forgive,' he said on ABC's 'This Week,' when asked about McCain's legacy. 'You know, his people talk about he had a temper, it was passionate, that's certainly the case. But he would quickly forgive and move on and to see the good in his opponents, that is something that particularly these days we could use a lot more of.' One moment in McCain's long career that stood out for several of his colleagues was when the senator made his dramatic return to the Senate on July 27, 2017 after being diagnosed with brain cancer, to vote on a hastily assembled GOP bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. He walked on to the Senate floor to a standing ovation from lawmakers and gave a dramatic thumbs down to signal his 'no' vote on the legislation, killing Republican plans to remove President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act. Hillary Clinton remembered doing vodka shots with McCain in Estonia Here is then-Sen. Hillary Clinton and John McCain on that August 2004 trip to Tallinn, Estonia 'It was John, through and through,' Flake said on CNN. Lindsey Graham remembered the moment with more gravity. 'When he came back, it's the first time I saw him walk into chamber where I really thought that maybe he wouldn't be here forever,' he said on CNN. But there was also laughter behind the tears. Former Sen. Jon Kyl, who represented Arizona in the Senate for years with McCain, said on 'Fox News Sunday' of serving with the senator: 'There was never a dull moment, I'll put it that way.' He added: 'John was always there as a kind of conscious of the Senate.' Clinton recalled McCain inviting her to travel on official trips with him across the globe, including one memorable night in Tallinn, Estonia in August 2004 when she was the senator from New York. 'We spent a memorable night in a hotel right on the old square doing vodka shots,' she said on CNN. And she said she'd like to toast McCain soon with some vodka. 'I hope, I hope that will happen at some point in the future,' she said on NBC's 'Meet the Press.' The accolades for the senator have been pouring in since his death. McCain's daughter Meghan McCain led a stream of online tributes on Saturday saying: 'I love you forever, my beloved father'. Despite his prickly relationship with the senator, Donald Trump tipped off his hat to McCain with a one line message, followed by a heartfelt two-paragraph statement issued by the Obamas. 'My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!' the president tweeted Saturday evening. Tributes have poured in from politicians and celebrities to honor the life of Senator John McCain who passed away Saturday afternoon at the age of 81 of stage four brain cancer Despite his contentious relationship with McCain, Trump paid his respects Saturday evening sharing his 'deepest sympathies' to the senator's family in a one line tribute The First Lady also shared her sympathies, thanking McCain for his service to the nation Vice President Mike Pence commended the senator for his military service and public works Ivanka Trump joined the chorus writing: 'Honoring the memory and legacy of Senator John McCain, an American patriot' The senator's wife Cindy McCain, 64, took to Twitter to share her heartbreak upon her husband's death. 'My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved best,' she wrote Saturday evening. Their daughter Meghan McCain, 33, shared a moving note on Twitter, revealing her last moments with her father. 'I was with my father at his end, as he was with me at my beginning...All that I am is thank to him. Now that he is gone, the task of my lifetime is to live up to his example, his expectations, and his love. 'He was a great fire who burned bright, and we lived in his light and warmth for so very long. We know that his flame lives on, in each of us. The late senator's wife shared her heartbreak on Twitter saying: 'I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years.' Meghan McCain shared a moving letter announcing the death of her father on Saturday evening The Obama's shared a lengthy tribute to McCain, praising the Vietnam veteran's courage Former president George W. Bush called McCain 'a friend whom I'll deeply miss' in tribute Former president George H. W. Bush also released a statement commending McCain as 'a patriot of the highest order, a public servant of rarest courage' The Clintons shared a moving tribute, praising the Vietnam veteran for his exemplary service 'My father is gone, and I miss him only as an adoring daughter can. But in this loss, and in this sorrow, I take comfort in this: John McCain, hero of the republic and to his little girl, wakes today to something more glorious than anything on this earth. 'Today the warrior enters his true and eternal life, greeted by those who have gone before him rising to meet the Author of All Things: 'The dream is ended: this is the morning,'' she wrote. Barack Obama also issued a touching statement commending the Arizona native, who he defeated in the 2008 presidential election, as inspiration to the nation. 'John McCain and I were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds, and competed at the highest level of politics. But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher - the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed.' The statement continued: 'Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At John's best, he showed us what that means. And for that, we are all in his debt. Michelle and I send our most heartfelt condolences to Cindy and their family.' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asked Republicans in his home state to observe a moment of silence for McCain in a lengthy statement saying: 'From his cell in Hanoi to the halls of the Senate, he never stopped fighting with courage and determination.' Attorney General Jeff Sessions released this statement honoring the senator's life saying: 'For John McCain, his country was his life. He was tireless in its service' Sarah Palin, McCain's former running mate in his 2008 presidential campaign, took to Twitter to write a two-part statement saying: 'John McCain was a maverick and a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs' Senator Lindsey Graham was McCain's closest confidante on the Senate floor and said he lost his dear ally and mentor. He followed up with a second tweet saying: 'I will need some time to absorb this' Arizona Governor Doug Ducey said all flags would be lowered to half-staff in honor of McCain's dedication to his state and the nation Ducey shared a long message to praise McCain's legacy saying: 'We were most proud to call him a fellow Arizonan' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Shumer said he'll introduce a resolution to rename a Senate office building after McCain Mike Pence followed the president's tribute on Twitter writing: 'Karen and I send our deepest condolences to Cindy and the entire McCain family on the passing of Senator John McCain. We honor his lifetime of service to this nation in our military and in public life. His family and friends will be in our prayers. God bless John McCain.' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asked Republicans in his home state to observe a moment of silence for McCain in a lengthy statement saying: 'Today is a deeply sad day for the Senate and for our nation...It's an understatement to say the Senate will not be the same without our friend John.' 'From his cell in Hanoi to the halls of the Senate, he never stopped fighting with courage and determination,' he added. Sarah Palin took to Twitter to share her condolences as well. She was McCain's running mate during the 2008 presidential election. 'Today we lost an American original. Sen. John McCain was a maverick and a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs. John never took the easy path in life - and through sacrifice and suffering he inspired others to serve something greater than self,' she wrote, calling him a dear friend and sharing an image of the two together on the campaign trail. Senator Lindsey Graham was McCain's closest confidante on the Senate floor and took to Twitter saying: 'America and Freedom have lost one of her greatest champions. .And I've lost one of my dearest friends and mentor.' 'I will need some time to absorb this, but I want Cindy and the entire McCain family to know they are in my prayers,' he added. Former Secretary of State John Kerry described the late senator as 'an American original - guts, grit and ultimately grace personified' Former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright recalled how she saw first-hand how McCain motivated democracy's advocates 'while instilling fear in tyrants across the globe' Former Senator Joe Lieberman, a close friend of McCain's shared his heartbreak writing: 'His death today hurts. I have lost a dear friend' South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster hailed McCain 'among the greatest of men' Minority Leader of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi praised McCain as a leader and public servant of deep patriotism Al Gore wrote on Twitter that he 'always admired and respected John from the opposite side of the aisle' Former Speaker of the House John Boehner said the Arizona senator 'lived with courage until the end' Former Vice President Joe Biden said 'more than anything, John was a friend' Bernie Sanders also shared his respects saying McCain will be missed by all Americans 'who respect integrity and independence' US House candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she learned about the power of humanity through interning for Senator Kennedy where she observed his friendship with McCain Former California Governor Arnold Scwarzenegger commended McCain for his dignity and service, adding 'He showed us the way' Retired American astronaut and retired US Navy Captain thanked the Vietnam veteran for his service, adding 'Fair winds and follow seas, Captain' Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also voiced his respect for McCain adding: 'Canadians join Americans tonight in celebrating his life and mourning his passing' Former president George W. Bush called McCain 'a man of deep conviction' and his dear friend in a moving tribute. 'Some lives are so vivid, it is difficult to imagine them ended. Some voices are so vibrant, it is hard to think of them stilled. John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order,' he said. 'He was a public servant in the finest traditions of our country. And to me, he was a friend whom I'll deeply miss. Laura and I send our heartfelt sympathies to Cindy and the entire McCain family, and our thanks to God for the life of John McCain,' he added. The Clintons shared a lengthy joint statement as well praising the late Republican for his heroic service to the country. 'Senator John McCain believed that every citizen has a responsibility to make something of the freedoms given by our Constitution, and from his heroic service in the Navy to his 35 years in Congress, he lived by his creed every day. 'He was a skilled, tough politician, as well as a trusted colleague alongside whom Hillary was honored to serve in the Senate. He frequently put partisanship aside to do what he thought was best for the country, and was never afraid to break the mold if it was the right thing to do. 'I will always be especially grateful for his leadership in our successful efforts to normalize relations with Vietnam. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Cindy, his mother, Roberta, his children, and his entire family.' The American flag at the White House was lowered to half-staff after McCain's passing Paying respects: Flags across the nation were lowered to half mast following senator's death A hearse arrived to the Sedona, Arizona home of the late senator on Saturday evening Soon after the hearse was pictured leaving the McCain ranch estate hours after the senator's death was publicly announced A military veteran paid respects at the entrance to the McCain ranch complex where the senator passed away surrounded by family and aides on Saturday afternoon His hearse pictured en route to Phoenix, Arizona from his ranch in Sedona Honoring his service: Senator's hearse traveled with a stunning police escort procession Dozens of Americans lined Interstate 17 holding American flags as they waited for the procession to pass through with the hearse carrying the late McCain Former vice president Al Gore shared a statement as well calling McCain 'a true patriot'. 'Senator McCain was an American hero and a true patriot ... I have no doubt that the Maverick's legacy will forever be an important model of leadership and civil discourse,' he wrote. US House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi tweeted her condolences as well. 'He was a patriotic, courageous hero who served his country above all. You will be missed, Senator McCain. May you Rest In Peace.' Arizona governor Doug Ducey shared a lengthy statement as well calling McCain 'a giant. An icon. An American hero. He will never be forgotten.' He also ordered all flags be lowered to half-staff in remembrance of the trailblazer's life. He is expected to be named as McCain's replacement in Senate. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer went so far as to say he will introduce a resolution to rename a Senate office building - the Russell - after McCain 'so that generations remember him'. Senator John McCain's family announced Friday he would discontinue treatment for his aggressive terminal brain cancer The Arizona Republican was diagnosed with aggressive glioblastoma last summer On Friday the McCain family announced in a joint statement that the 81-year-old would stop treatment for his aggressive brain cancer that forced him to step away from Washington in December in order to seek medical treatment. 'Last summer, Senator John McCain shared with Americans the news our family already knew: he had been diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma, and the prognosis was serious. 'In the year since, John has surpassed expectations for his survival. But the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict. With his usual strength of will, he has now chosen to discontinue medical treatment. 'Our family is immensely grateful for the support and kindness of all his caregivers over the last year, and for the continuing outpouring of concern and affection from John's many friends and associates, and the many thousands of people who are keeping him in their prayers. God bless and thank you all.' A developer transforming Hitler's holiday village has gone bust just weeks after the retreat was given 'resort' status by the German government. Envisioned as Hitler's answer to Butlins, the Prora beach resort on Rugen island was built between 1936 and 1939. But the outbreak of the Second World War stopped construction and the eight accommodation blocks were left abandoned, along with a theatre and cinema. Scroll down for video A developer transforming Hitler's Prora beach resort (pictured) has gone bust just weeks after the retreat was given 'resort' status Developers acquired part of the crumbling resort in 2012 and started transforming it into luxury accommodation, reportedly completing and selling 90% of the apartments. But the developer, Wohnen in Prora Vermogensverwaltung GmbH, has now filed for bankruptcy, leaving the future of the project in doubt. Philipp Hacklaender, who has been appointed administrator by the court in Berlin, said the developers had been hit by a number of unforeseen costs. He said: 'The debtor has bought, redeveloped and sold the apartments in Block One in Prora. 'Unexpected problems came up, as the structure of the building was not sound, so the debtor had to tear down and rebuilt significant parts, observing the protection of monuments rules. 'That seems to have been very costly and time-consuming, so that the debtor could not hand over the apartments to buyers in time.' Only last month, local government was so confident in Prora's future that they awarded it 'resort' status, allowing it to charge tourist taxes. The beach resort (pictured), on the island of Rugen, Germany, was built as a Nazi holiday spot between 1936 and 1939 It was in recognition of the 'rapid tourist development' there, said Harry Glawe, the region's Minister of Economic Affairs. Mayor Karsten Schneider even told the local Ostsee Zeitung newspaper that there would be Euro 500m (450m) invested in the area to make it more of a destination. But now the development faces an uncertain future. 'The debtor, the main creditor and I are trying to find a solution to the financial problems,' said Dr Hacklaender. 'For the time being, I am quietly confident we can get the building and outside facilities finished with fresh money. Negotiations on this are ongoing.' The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 stopped construction and the eight accommodation blocks were left abandoned The resort, part of Hitler's Strength Through Joy initiative, was acquired by developers in 2012 Prora was part of Hitler's Strength Through Joy initiative, which promoted the advantages of Nazism to the people of Germany. Robert Ley, head of the German Labour Front - Strength Through Joy's parent organisation - imagined Prora as a Nazi version of Butlins, providing affordable holidays to the average worker. Hitler himself took an interest in the project, demanding the resort be the 'most mighty and large one to ever have existed' and have a festival hall big enough for 20,000 guests. After the war, Prora was used as a base by the Soviets and, later, the East German army. Mr Glawe and Mayor Schneider did not respond to requests for comment. Hook-handed hate preacher Abu Hamza once worked as a strip club bouncer in Soho Hook-handed hate preacher and one of Britain's most infamous terrorists Abu Hamza once worked as a bouncer and enforcer in the strip bars of Soho, a bizarre fan letter the former imam wrote to President Trump reveals. It's a life far cry from the high security Colorado prison where he is serving a life sentence over a string of terror offences. The former imam of north London's Finsbury Park mosque had a reputation for socialising and heavy drinking when he first came to Britain from Egypt nearly forty years ago. A bizarre fan letter the former imam wrote to President Trump revealed he once worked as a bouncer and enforcer in the strip bars of Soho: a far cry from the high security prison where he is serving a life sentence over a string of terror offences In fact, in the early 1980s Hamza was the personal bodyguard to Jean Agius, one of London's most notorious clubland barons who once owned popular Soho topless waitressing nightclubs the Venus Rooms and Mystique. Agius, now 73, told the Sunday Times his former bodyguard who worked with him between 1980 and 1983 was 'a very educated, cheerful giant'. A friend of Agius told the authors of a book about Hamza, called The Suicide Factory: 'He wore jeans and t-shirts, and usually had a gold chain around his neck. 'He had this huge chest, huge, broad shoulders and big biceps. He was cool and, yes, he was a womaniser.' In the early 1980s Hamza (filmed here in 2000) was the personal bodyguard to Jean Agius, one of London's most notorious clubland barons who once owned popular Soho topless waitressing nightclubs the Venus Rooms and Mystique The former imam of north London 's Finsbury Park mosque (pictured) had a reputation for socialising and heavy drinking when he first came to Britain from Egypt nearly forty years ago Hamza, who is currently appealing his life sentence, also told a New York court he had worked in the strip clubs in central London's party district after coming to the capital in the 1980s to 'make money and enjoy myself', adding that some of the employment he gained was 'on the wrong side of morality'. This black and white snap appears to have been taken within the confines of the US Supermax prison in Colorado It is well known that Agius worked in a world of drug-taking and alleged prostitution when he was arrested after a sting operation by Scotland Yard and charged with conspiring to live off immoral earning - a charge he was cleared of the following year. In the letter to President Trump, written in the cleric's recognisably messy scrawl, he refers to himself as both Mostafa Kamel Mostafa, his real name, and Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Masri, his alias. He also includes a peculiar biography detailing his time working in strip clubs during the 80s before he became a terrorist. Hamza was jailed in the UK for six years for soliciting murder and inciting racial hatred in 2006, before the US won an eight-year legal battle to extradite him in 2012. Hamza is a double amputee. He is also blind in one eye and suffers from diabetes, psoriasis and a condition that means he sweats excessively and has to shower twice a day. A Perth mosque has been firebombed as the Islamic community marked the end of Ramadan. Emergency crews arrived at the mosque in Mirrabooka at 12.20am on Sunday morning to find chairs and a palm tree had been deliberately lit on fire. The blaze spread to an air conditioning unit - and smoke and water badly damaged the second storey of the building. Emergency crews arrived at the Mirrabooka mosque in Perth (pictured) to find palm tree and chairs on fire Crews contained the blaze but the fire spread into the building via an air conditioning unit, with the floor's second storey badly damaged by smoke and water A spokesman for West Australian police said an arson investigation was ongoing, after six aerosol cans were seized by forensics at the scene on Sunday. Police added that state security would be involved were the offence deemed to be racially motivated. Speaking to 7 News, mosque leader Ameer Ali said he hadn't had any trouble in three decades and had a positive relationship with the community. The mosque's leader Ameer Ali said the religious centre had never seen any trouble in 30 years 'We do everything for the community,' he said. 'Why are they hating us? I don't know.' Speaking to 9 News, Mr Ali said the mosque had been operating for 30 years off the generosity of its members at weekly collections. 'Every Friday something like 2000 people come to pray at this place. There have been no incidents so far, nothing happened. 'It's heartbreaking - if someone was doing this deliberately then they knew what they were doing.' The mosque's repair bill could hit upwards of $250,000. Scientists have just uncovered a massive 85-mile long cold water coral reef deep in the Atlantic Ocean off South Carolina's coast. The discovery was made last week during a series of dives as part of a project called Deep Search involving the research vessel Atlantis. A team of deep-sea scientists embarked on the expedition about a half mile below the surface and 160 miles off the coast of Charleston. Scientists spent seven hours obtaining samples of cold water coral they discovered as part of a project called Deep Search involving the research vessel Atlantis last week Expedition chief scientist Erik Cordes was among those to dive in the submersible vehicle, Alvin, on Thursday when they discovered the forest of Lophelia coral on a site called Richardson Ridge. 'It was an awesome dive!' Cordes tweeted. 'We traveled over 1km and were on Lophelia reef the entire time! A newly discovered line of coral mounds almost 20 miles long.' The team of scientists spent seven hours obtaining samples of the coral. The scientists have estimated that the reef they uncovered actually stretches for at least 85 miles, according to HuffPost. The discovery of the reef confirms recent observations and research made by scientists working on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Okeanos Explorer ship. Expedition chief scientist Erik Cordes (left) was among those to dive in the submersible vehicle, Alvin, on Thursday when they discovered the forest of Lophelia coral The Deep Search team said they had been using the submersible vehicle, Alvin, to explore the seafloor during the day The 85 mile stretch of cold water coral includes the ecosystems previously discovered by the Okeanos team this summer. 'This is a huge feature,' Cordes told the HuffPost. 'It's incredible that it stayed hidden off the U.S. East Coast for so long.' Cordes described the ecosystem as being unlike anything he has ever seen before and said there was 'just mountains of it'. 'We couldn't find a place that didn't have corals,' he said. The research team on boat the Atlantis vessel have been exploring various canyons and ecosystems. 'We're out here exploring these areas as the US considers drilling in these waters,' Cordes tweeted. He added that the coral reef needs to be protected from oil and gas development. A team of deep-sea scientists embarked on the expedition about a half mile below the surface and 160 miles off the coast of Charleston on a site called Richardson Ridge A young man has accidentally shot himself in the leg on a hunting trip with friends through New Zealand bushland. The man, in his 20s, was hunting pigs in Mangatawhiri, about 60km south of Auckland, when he shot himself on Sunday afternoon. Friends used a makeshift tourniquet to stem the man's bleeding until a rescue helicopter arrived to take him to hospital in a serious condition. A man in his 20s is in a serious condition after accidentally shooting himself in the leg on a hunting trip through New Zealand bushland (pictured) An Auckland hospital helicopter and police air support helicopter flew out to assist the man shortly after 2pm after his friends called for help. The rescue team ran into trouble when the terrain proved unsuitable for the rescue helicopter to land on. The hill was too steep for the helicopter to land and thick bush restricted their direct access, a spokesman for the rescue helicopter said. In the end, intensive care paramedic Marcel Driessen and Dr Nick Longley were dropped into a nearby paddock. They attended to the young man, stabilising his wounds and eventually winched him up into the helicopter and flown to Middlemore Hospital in Auckland. Pope Francis attends the closing Mass at the World Meeting of Families (Danny Lawson/PA) The Pope has asked for forgiveness for the crimes of church figures in Ireland as he laid bare a litany of abuse and mistreatment meted out to victims. Addressing a large crowd at an open air Mass in Dublin, as his historic visit to the country drew to a close, Francis said the church hierarchy had been guilty of cover-ups and failing to show compassion. Praying for the strength to achieve justice for the victims, the Pope referred to his private meeting with eight abuse survivors on Saturday evening, explaining that he wanted to take up what they had said to him. 'We ask forgiveness for the abuses in Ireland, abuses of power, of conscience, and sexual abuses perpetrated by members with roles of responsibility in the church,' he said. 'In a special way, we ask pardon for all the abuses committed in various types of institutions run by males or female religious and by other members of the church, and we ask for forgiveness for those cases of manual work that so many young women and men were subjected to. We ask forgiveness.' Pope Francis leads the service for more than 100,000 Irish Catholics in Dublin's Phoenix Park on Sunday afternoon The reverberations of a litany of clerical sex crimes have cast a shadow over the first papal visit to Ireland since 1979. The Pope's plea for forgiveness rang out around Phoenix Park as elsewhere in Dublin survivors and campaigners protested at his visit. A vigil for the victims was also held at the site of the mother and baby home in Tuam, Co Galway, where a mass grave containing around 800 babies not afforded proper burials was recently uncovered. The Pope told the pilgrims who braved the rain and a three kilometre hike to reach Phoenix Park: 'We ask forgiveness for the times that, as a church, we did not show the survivors of whatever kind of abuse the compassion and the seeking of justice and truth through concrete actions. We ask for forgiveness. 'We ask for forgiveness for some of the church hierarchy who did not take charge of these situations and kept quiet. We ask for forgiveness. 'We ask for forgiveness for all those times in which many single mothers were told that to seek their children who had been separated from them, and the same being said to daughters and sons themselves, that this was a mortal sin. A girl ties baby shoes to a fence in Dublin as a part of a protest to highlight child abuse at the hands of the Catholic church Protests against clerical sex abuse in Dublin highlighting the issue which has dominated Pope Francis's two-day visit 'This is not a mortal sin. We ask for forgiveness.' The pontiff ended the prayer by asking: 'Give us the strength to work for justice. Amen.' His words were met with applause by the massive crowd of faithful. The Papal Mass in Dublin came hours after the Pope called for firm action in pursuing justice for church abuse victims. On the second day of his visit, he said the crimes committed by members of the church had left an 'open wound'. At an address at the holy shrine of Knock, in Co Mayo, he said no-one could fail to be moved by stories of young abuse victims who were 'robbed of their innocence' and left with 'painful memories'. Thousands who came to see the Pope at a site revered by Irish Catholics applauded as he urged decisive steps to bring truth to the victims. Pope Francis during a visit to Knock Holy Shrine, in County Mayo (Niall Carson/PA) The crowd in Phoenix Park where half a million people were issued with tickets for Francis's closing mass on Sunday 'I beg the Lord's forgiveness for these sins and for the scandal and betrayal felt by so many others in God's family,' he said. The first day of the papal visit on Saturday was dominated by the bitter legacy of historical scandals linked to church abuse and mistreatment. On Saturday evening, the Pope met a number of victims of criminality and cruelty inflicted by church members. The private engagement in Dublin came hours after Francis expressed 'pain and shame' over failures to tackle the scandals. Some of the survivors who attended the behind-closed-doors meeting said the pontiff employed blunter language with them, apparently using the Spanish word 'caca', Spanish for excrement, to describe those who covered up abuse. Abuse survivor Marie Collins, who was at the meeting, told the Press Association: 'He was very frank, he listened to us all and he gave us all an opportunity to talk about our experiences.' Advertisement Meet the real Paw Patrol the elite team of detector dogs celebrating their 40th anniversary of sniffing out drugs, cash and weapons at UK borders. With a sense of smell 10,000 times greater than our humans and the ability to search an area up to four times faster than people and with greater accuracy, dogs make the perfect detectives. In the last 40 years Border Force dogs have found half a billion pounds in cash, four tonnes of cocaine, 900million cigarettes, ten tonnes of ecstasy and amphetamines, a tonne of heroin, 450 tonnes of tobacco and 30 tonnes of illegal animal products. Jess is one of the Border Force dogs: In 40 years the dogs have found half a billion pounds in cash, four tonnes of cocaine, 900million cigarettes, ten tonnes of ecstasy and amphetamines, a tonne of heroin, 450 tonnes of tobacco and 30 tonnes of illegal animal products Aaron and Ron the pointer: The canines have detected drugs concealed inside a passenger's wooden leg, impregnated into clothing and hidden inside fruit and vegetables which are cut open and then put back together so the join can't be seen. Ron is based at Gatwick and runs along the haul of lorries quickly sniffing out any illegal cargo Cigarettes hidden in a loaf of bread discovered by the dogs Crates of hidden cigarettes found by Border Patrol dogs They can now even sniff out fake passports from the ink used and even identify different currencies of cash. The canines have detected drugs concealed inside a passenger's wooden leg, impregnated into clothing and hidden inside fruit and vegetables which are cut open and then put back together so the join can't be seen. Notable finds this year include 80 firearms concealed inside an engine block at Coquelles Freight and 77 pounds (35 kilos) of cocaine held in liquid suspension in soft drinks in cargo at Gatwick Airport. The potential ramifications could have been lethal. Other hiding places include inside air tanks, a foot spa, engine parts, steel girders and sophisticated covert packs inside cars and freight vehicles accessed by hydraulic lifting compartments like false floors and roofs. Dover has also had several 6-8 million detections of cigarettes in freight. Robert Gray, 57, was a member of the first ever detector dog team used by the then Her Majesty's Customs & Excise (HMCE), which became the Border Force dog unit. Notable finds this year include 80 firearms concealed inside an engine block at Coquelles Freight and 77 pounds (35 kilos) of cocaine held in liquid suspension in soft drinks in cargo at Gatwick Airport. The potential ramifications could have been lethal Other hiding places include inside air tanks, a foot spa, engine parts, steel girders and sophisticated covert packs inside cars and freight vehicles accessed by hydraulic lifting compartments like false floors and roofs Over the decades the types of dogs used have varied, from Gun Dog breeds like Labradors to pointers German Short Haired, Pudle Pointers, Slovak Pointers and mixed breeds such as Springadors Since the first canines were used 40 years ago, Border Force have trained almost 700 other detector dogs, along with their handlers. This relationship between dog and human is critical Jess, pictured with her handler Catherine Jurczenko, at Heathrow. The incredible springier found more than 1million in cash in her first five months working at Heathrow, and has been affectionately nicknamed 'Wonga Dog'. Rosco, who is based in Dover, specialises on going onto boats that arrive from Calais. He is often in and out of ferries Originally the dogs team were part of H.M. Customs and Excise in 1978, which over the years has evolved. It became part of Border Force when it was established as an operational command in 2012 In 1985 he gave a demonstration to Princess Diana with his springer spaniel Oscar. At the time the late mother of Harry and William had become the face of an anti-drugs campaign. Rob said: 'The Princess loved it and laughed all the way through. The difference between then and now, which can be seen in the video, is it was believed then the animals needed to be possessive. 'You can see Oscar would not let go of the bag. But we realised having the dogs attacking the cases was not the best thing for the animal or us so we now teach passive responses, like sitting down, or staring. Training a detector dog can take anywhere between three to 10 months. While it was originally led by the RAF, Rob has led efforts to bring training in-house, so that it is delivered directly to Border Force officers, by Border Force officers How many border force dogs are there, what is there biggest find and what breeds are used? Border Force have trained around 680 dogs over the last 40 years. It's difficult to quantify the biggest find as over the years there have been many of similar quantities. However the biggest firearms find of note would be 80 firearms concealed inside an engine block at Coquelles Freight early this year and 77 pounds (35 kilos) of cocaine in liquid suspension, concealed inside soft drinks in cargo at Gatwick Airport this year. Dover have also had several 6-8 million detections of cigarettes in freight. Total number of finds is difficult to estimate, but is thought to be around: Cash: 500,000,000 Heroin: 1 Tonne Cocaine: 4 Tonnes Cigarettes: 900,000,000 Hand Rolling Tobacco: 450 Tonnes Other drugs including amphetamines ecstacy and illegally imported prescription drugs: 10 Tonnes Cannabis Resin and Herbal: (Although our dogs are no longer trained to detect this commodity) 80 Tonnes Many breeds of dogs have been used by Border Force over the years including: English Springer Spaniels, Labrador Retrievers and Border Collies. Most of the breeds used come from within the Gundog group, as they are ideal for detection work as they have a natural instinct to hunt and retrieve and have been bred to work in close co-operation with humans. Cash has a distinctive smell, although not always obvious to the human nose which is why detector dogs are used by Border Force. Border Force detector dogs are trained using bank notes provided by the Bank of England. Bank notes worldwide are made of a similar material and printed with similar ink which is how Border Force dogs are able to detect different currencies. Detector dogs at London Airports, between April 2016 and March 2017, (Gatwick & Heathrow) detected 8,000,000 cash, 82 Kilos of Class A drugs and 5 Million Cigarettes. Of the 82 kilos of Class A drugs, this included 30 kilos of heroin and 52 kilos of cocaine with an estimated street value of 6,000,000. Between April 2016 and March 2017, nationally, Border Force dogs found 154kg of Class A drugs, 29 million cigarettes and 82,000kgs of tobacco in April 2016. Search techniques include sniffer dogs, carbon dioxide detectors, heartbeat monitors and scanners - as well as visual searches - to find well-hidden stowaways, illegal drugs, firearms and cigarettes which would otherwise end up causing harm to local people, businesses and communities. Advertisement 'This method also means they can be used safely around people.' Rob is now the chief instructor for the national dog team, leading in the detection of international contraband coming into hubs. He said: 'The first ever Dog Unit was created in 1978 at Heathrow after two officers were provided dog handling training by the Royal Air Force. They were part of a special operations team called Team Alpha, which, by the time I joined in 1981, had four dog handlers working alongside three other Border Force colleagues. 'It was all freight searching to begin with. We had three Labradors and one spaniel. People quickly started to realise how good these dogs were at finding things that shouldn't be there, and new dog units started springing up all over the country. By the mid 80s there were about 80 handlers spread across the UK from Plymouth to Manchester.' Over the decades the types of dogs used have varied, from Gun Dog breeds like Labradors to pointers German Short Haired, Pudle Pointers, Slovak Pointers and mixed breeds such as Springadors. Cigarette and Tobacco dogs entered the service in 1989 and Cash dogs in 1998. Border Force had Firearms detector dogs from 1997 2000 and again from 2016. Products of animal origin entered the service in 2003. The 40th anniversary coincides with the Home Office Border Force 'Border Paws' campaign at Heathrow airport to explain what happens at passport control. The next two weeks are expected to be some of busiest of the year as families return from summer holidays. Leaflets and a Border Force quiz on the dogs will be handed out for use in family lanes to raise awareness of the vital border security process. Originally the dogs team were part of H.M. Customs and Excise in 1978, which over the years has evolved. It became part of Border Force when it was established as an operational command in 2012. Since the first canines were used 40 years ago, Border Force have trained almost 700 other detector dogs, along with their handlers. This relationship between dog and human is critical. Rob said: 'When I first started my detector dog training, the first two weeks they paired you with a German Shepherd where you teach it basic husbandry grooming, health and safety, and walking to heel. It's all about making sure you can form a bond with your dog. That bond is so important if you want to be a dog trainer.' Training a detector dog can take anywhere between three to 10 months. While it was originally led by the RAF, Rob has led efforts to bring training in-house, so that it is delivered directly to Border Force officers, by Border Force officers. 'I really want to take our dog units to the next level. 'I've been on a bit of a mission to get the dogs to become better and better in terms of the things they can find. It used to be they could only really find cannabis we weren't getting a lot of class A detections. That's completely changed now; they're great at finding all sorts. Over the years, Border Force dogs have found an estimated 500,000,000 in illegal or counterfeit cash, alongside detections of Class A drugs, firearms, tobacco, as well as items from the illegal trade of wildlife. Crucially, the dogs no longer just work in freight or customs areas. In 1995, Rob trialled the first use of dogs to search and screen passengers passing through the border at Heathrow. Now, dogs are used to screen passengers at border controls throughout the UK. In all these changes, one thing never seems to change: the commitment of the officers working in these dog units. Rob added: 'It's a way of life, being a dog handler. 'People are so committed to the job and the animals it's not uncommon to find people who have been in these roles for decades as handlers. Something about the role just keeps people doing it and passionate about the work we do. Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes told Mail Online: 'Border Force detector dogs and their handlers have played an integral role in keeping the public safe for the past 40 years. Their incredible sense of smell, workability and loyalty make them an invaluable asset to the security of our borders. It is also nice to see how much they enjoy their work which should be a warning to those trying to smuggle banned goods into this country.' Campaigners have renewed calls for Jeremy Corbyn to step down as Labour leader over the anti-semitism row by launching an online petition. Volunteer charity Campaign Against Antisemitism started a Change.org campaign this week calling for Labour MPs to issue a vote of no-confidence in the embattled leader. Entitled 'For the many not the Jew', the petition has already garnered over 5,000 signatures. A message accompanying the description reads: 'For weeks, events from Jeremy Corbyns disturbing past have trickled into the light. Scroll down for video Volunteer charity Campaign Against Antisemitism started the petition to oust Jeremy Corbyn (pictured) on Change.org this week The campaign, called 'For the many not the Jew' has already received over 5,000 signatures 'For as long as the Labour Party is in Jeremy Corbyns grip, it cannot be a force for good. 'His past demonstrates that he should never have been elected to the leadership of the Labour Party and he is unfit to hold any public office. 'To achieve this, only 52 Labour MPs need to propose a challenger, or Labour MPs could propose a vote of no confidence, or set up their own political party. We call on the Parliamentary Labour Party to take action.' The news comes just hours after the Labour Against Anti-Semitism group lodged an official complaint against Corbyn after footage of him emerged saying British Zionists 'do not understand English irony'. Speaking in 2013 at a conference promoted by Hamas's propaganda website, the now Labour leader said British 'Zionists' did not want to study history or understand irony 'despite having lived in this country all their lives', MailOnline revealed last week. Speaking in 2013 at a London conference promoted by the Hamas's propaganda website, Mr Corbyn said British 'Zionists' did not want to study history or understand irony 'despite having lived in this country all their lives' The Labour leader made the comments at a conference at Friends House in London's 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. In a statement released on Friday evening Mr Corbyn said he had been defending the ambassador from 'what I thought were deliberate misrepresentations' by people 'for whom English was a first language, when it isn't for the ambassador'. Mr Corbyn said: 'I described those pro-Israel activists as Zionists, in the accurate political sense and not as a euphemism for Jewish people - and that is made clear in the rest of my speech that day. 'I am now more careful with how I might use the term 'Zionist' because a once self-identifying political term has been increasingly hijacked by anti-Semites as code for Jews.' Corbyn has faced months of scrutiny over accusations of anti-semitism within the Labour party A Ryanair pilot fainted as his plane was being diverted during a thunderstorm. The flight from London Stansted to Palermo in Italy was forced to land 67 miles away in Trapani because of the treacherous weather on Thursday evening. As the plane approached the runway, the co-pilot passed out and the captain was forced to land the plane himself. A Ryanair pilot fainted as his plane was being diverted during a thunderstorm (stock image) After the plane touched down, the co-pilot was rushed to hospital. He was later released after being assessed by doctors. Ryanair told MailOnline: 'The first officer on this flight briefly fainted while the aircraft was being landed by the captain at Trapani. 'He was examined by local medical staff and taken to hospital, where he was examined and released shortly thereafter without suffering any ill effects whatsoever.' Hillary Clinton has fond memories of traveling the world and drinking vodka shots with Senator John McCain. That contest has become the stuff of political legends. It took place in Tallinn, Estonia, in August 2004, when Clinton was a Democratic senator from New York traveling with McCain and other colleagues. 'We had fun and laughed a lot. We had some drinking associated with our fun,' she said on CNN Sunday morning. Hillary Clinton recalled drinking vodka shots with John McCain during at 2004 trip to Tallinn, Estonia, where the two are pictured here 'What happens in Tallinn, stays in Tallinn,' she said 'We spent a memorable night in a hotel right on the old square doing vodka shots,' she said on CNN on Sunday. She denied the drinking contest was her idea. 'I would not take credit for it. I think it was a mutually agreed upon venture but we used to say what happens in Tallinn, stays in Tallinn,' she laughed. McCain recalled the trip in his final book 'The Restless Wave.' 'This was a trip that saw a pleasant evening's repast become an urban legend that recounted a vodka-drinking competition she and I are alleged to have had in Tallinn,' he wrote. Clinton said it was a common act of McCain's to invite younger colleagues to travel with him on codels, the name for official trips senators take to other parts of the world. 'He liked to tryout different colleagues to see whether they were good traveling companions,' Clinton said on CNN. 'And I admit to being a little surprised when he first approached me and said would you like to travel? And I immediately said, sure, I think that would be quite an experience. And during those long long flights, we had a lot of time to talk. We talked about the unfairness that sometimes infects our politics.' Clinton has spoken of their vodka drinking contest on previous occasions. In December 2015, when she was running for the presidential nomination, she posted a video to her Facebook page where she talked about drinking with the senator. Clinton and McCain took several trips together when they were senators including this August 2004 trip to Norway Hillary Clinton and John McCain at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing in 2013 She said no winner was declared. 'We both I think agreed to withdraw in honorable fashion I think after having reached the limits that either of us should have had,' she said. After that trip, McCain was reported to have called Clinton 'One of the guys.' That wasn't the only memorable trip they took together. In February 2005, they made a joint journey to Iraq and appeared on NBC's 'Meet the Press' together via satellite to talk about the trip. When Tim Russert, then moderator of the show, asked McCain at the end of the interview if he thought Clinton would make a good president, she came to McCain's rescue. THIS MORNING: A look back at some of Senator John McCain's best moments on Meet the Press. He was the show's most frequent guest, appearing 73 times. #MTP pic.twitter.com/KQExC9euGf Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) August 26, 2018 Clinton also talked about the 2008 presidential contest where she lost the Democratic nomination but McCain was the Republican nominee 'Oh, we can't hear you, Tim,' she said. 'Yeah, you're breaking up,' McCain added, laughing. But then he said: 'I happen to be a Republican and would support, obviously, a Republican nominee, but I have no doubt that Senator Clinton would make a good president.' Asked the same question about him, Clinton replied: 'Absolutely.' Clinton, a Democrat, and McCain, a Republican, formed a cordial relationship when both served in the Senate - a fact that became remarked upon when they ran for their parties' respective presidential nominations in 2008. McCain went on to be the GOP nominee while Clinton lost the Democratic nomination to Barack Obama, who defeated McCain in the general election. 'I thought it would have been a great campaign because we both respected each other and worked with each other,' Clinton said on Sunday on CNN. And she said she'd like to toast McCain soon with some vodka. 'I hope, I hope that will happen at some point in the future,' she said on NBC's 'Meet the Press.' Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. A truck driver has been arrested for throwing a metal object at a dump truck protecting President Donald Trump's motorcade during a recent trip to the Hamptons. Justin Velez, 25, was arrested on Friday for felony criminal mischief from an August 17 incident on Sunrise Highway in Hampton Bay. They say more charges could be filed. Velez, of Brentwood, was issued an appearance ticket for Sept. 26 in Southampton Town Court. Information on his lawyer wasn't immediately available. State police say Velez damaged the hood, mirror and door on the driver's side of a New York State dump truck being used as a barricade for Trump's motorcade. Trump was attending a fundraiser in Southampton hosted by a close friend who's the chairman of Nathan's hot dogs. Rachel Elliott, 25, was thrown from a Peugeot 306 last week and was put into an induced coma A mother who was in a coma for a week after a horror car crash which killed two people has woken up - giving her devastated family hope she will recover. Rachel Elliott, 25, was thrown from a Peugeot 306 which ploughed into a wall and lamppost at 3.30am in Bundoran, Ireland, on August 19. The driver of the vehicle, carrying six adults, lost control and two 20-year-olds, Shiva Devine and Conall McAleer, were killed. Two others were seriously injured. Horrifying pictures show the battered car lying in pieces at the scene of the crash. Ms Elliott was put in an induced coma in Dublin's Beaumont Hospital as doctors battled to save her life. They said she has suffered life-changing injuries to her brain, back and pelvis. Her family said they were going through 'a living nightmare'. But the mother-of-one has now opened her eyes and is showing improvement, her sister Donna told worried friends and family on Facebook. 'We want to thank everyone for your continuous support,' she wrote, adding: 'Please keep praying.' Donna previously told the Impartial Reporter: 'It's heart-wrenching seeing her there and you can't do anything. The Peugeot 306 after the accident last week. It was carrying six adults at the time of the smash Shiva Devine and Conall McAleer, both aged 20, were killed in the crash 'We just want her to pull through, we need her to pull through. She has to pull through for her wee boy Ronnie. 'We are numb, it is a living nightmare. We don't know if she will make it, it's waiting game for us. We don't have any answers.' The attorney of a man who murdered his five-year-old son after taking him to Disneyland has tried to kill herself in the same spot where the boy's body was dumped. Rebecca Lizarraga, 50, was arrested on Thursday following a two hour stand-off with police near Bradbury Dam in Santa Barbara, California after she fired her gun several times while threatening to kill herself. The lake is the same location where the badly decomposed body of Aramazd 'Piqui' Andressian Jr. was found dumped in June last year after he went missing two months earlier while in his father's care. Lizarraga was the family attorney who represented Piqui's father, Aramazd Andressian, in his bitter divorce and helped him win back custody of his son just one week before the boy was murdered. Rebecca Lizarraga, 50, was arrested (above) Thursday following a stand-off with police near Bradbury Dam in Santa Barbara, California after she fired her gun and threatened to kill herself Lizarraga was the family attorney who represented Piqui's father, Aramazd Andressian, in his bitter divorce and helped him win back custody of his son just one week before the boy was murdered after a trip to Disneyland The stand-off involving Lizarraga took place exactly one year after Andressian was sentenced to 25 years in prison after he admitted to killing his son. Santa Barbara Sheriff's deputies responded to the lakeside location on Thursday afternoon after one of Lizarraga's family members called 911 to report that she was armed and suicidal. Authorities described her as being 'distraught' and that she fired several shots over the duration of the two hour stand-off. Lizarraga was taken into custody after deputies used 'less lethal impact weapons' to subdue her, before she was transferred to hospital for mental health evaluations. The sheriff's office said they would recommend to the district attorney's office that she be charged with illegal and reckless discharge of a firearm. Lizarraga was not involved with Andressian's criminal case after he was charged with murdering his little boy. The stand-off involving Lizarraga (left) took place exactly one year after Andressian (right in July 2017) was sentenced to 25 years in prison after he admitted to killing his son The lake is the same location where the badly decomposed body of Aramazd 'Piqui' Andressian Jr. was found dumped in June last year. Pictured above are detectives investigating the boy's murder She represented him in his bitter divorce and custody battle with Piqui's mother Ana Estevez. Andressian and Estevez had both been fighting for sole custody of their son. They both feared the other parent would try and flee with Piqui to another country - Andressian to Iran and Estevez to Cuba. Lizarraga fought hard to obtain the joint custody outcome and court documents tied to the divorce showed the estranged couple eventually agreed in April last year to take care of the boy on alternating weeks. Andressian took his son to Disneyland about a week later on April 21. Authorities said Andressian killed his son after the day out in a revenge plot to get back at his estranged wife. Investigators revealed at his trial that Andressian had smothered his son to death with a child's jacket in his car about an hour after they arrived in Santa Barbara. His father was found passed out in a park the following morning, sparking an intensive search for the boy. Andressian had taken prescription pills and was found in a car doused in gasoline in an apparent suicide attempt. Authorities said Andressian killed his son after the day out in a revenge plot to get back at his estranged wife Ana Estevez. She has spent the past year lobbying lawmakers for family court reform in her slain son's honor Piqui's Resolution was finally passed on Thursday, which will aim to protect children by prioritizing their safety in custody battles Investigators searched for more than two months before they found the boy's badly decomposed body on June 30 near the lake. During Andressian's sentencing hearing last year, his sobbing estranged wife wished him an eternity in hell. 'I hope you relive the image of murdering my baby every day of your insignificant life,' Estevez told Andressian just before he was sentenced. 'May your dark soul burn in eternal hell.' Estevez also called her husband a failure as a father, a man and a human being. 'There is no real pain, just an incomprehensible deadness. Like my son, I, too, have died,' she said. The boy's mother has spent the past year lobbying lawmakers for family court reform in her slain son's honor. Piqui's Resolution was finally passed on Thursday, which will aim to protect children by prioritizing their safety in custody battles. Hours before Senator John McCain died on Saturday, a Republican seeking Arizona's other US Senate seat suggested that his family's earlier announcement that he was ending cancer treatment had been timed to hurt her campaign. Friday's announcement of McCain ending medical treatment for aggressive brain cancer came the same day former state senator Kelli Ward was launching a statewide bus tour - her big push before Tuesday's primary. A campaign aide to Ward wrote on Facebook: 'I wonder if it were just a coincidence that Sen McCain released his statement on the kickoff day of Kelli Ward's bus tour or if it was a plan to take media attention off her campaign?' Ward, who lost a primary to McCain running from the right in 2016 and is now trying to win the GOP nomination for retiring Senator Jeff Flake's seat, said in response: 'I think they wanted to have a particular narrative that they hope is negative to me.' Arizona Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kelli Ward suggested the announcement that McCain was ending medical treatment was intended to hurt her campaign hours before Sen John McCain died on Saturday The question was posed by aide Jonathan Williams and Ward's reply came within ours of McCain's death Saturday afternoon Screen shots of Ward's response were taken and tweeted out, before she deleted it The question was posed by aide Jonathan Williams and Ward's reply came hours before McCain's death Saturday afternoon. A screen shot of Ward's response was tweeted out, inciting backlash at the insensitive comment. Ward deleted the comment as the photo made its rounds online, instead replacing the post, saying the media is making up 'fake stories' to hinder her chances at gaining the Senate seat. 'I've said again and again to pray for Senator McCain & his family,' Ward wrote. 'These decisions are terrible to have to make. I feel compassion for him and his family as they go through this.' 'It's not the McCains creating a narrative - it's the media making something out of nothing,' she continued. 'The media, the left, the Establishment have the agenda. They've been attacking me for fake stories for a year on this issue.' Ward has acknowledged she is the underdog in Tuesday's primary. She faces Rep Martha McSally and former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Wade's response came just hours before Senator McCain died on Saturday afternoon Ward then edited her comment, blaming the media for a 'fake story' Ward is pictured at her campaigning bus tour Friday, which suggested was overshadowed by news of McCain's medical condition The McCain family's statement Friday read: The progress of disease and inexorable advance of age render their verdict. With his usual strength of will, he has now chosen to discontinue medical treatment. It continued: Our family is immensely grateful for the support and kindness of all his caregivers over the last year, and for the continuing outpouring of concern and affection from Johns many friends and associates, and the many thousands of people who are keeping him in their prayers. Jabs were taken toward Senator McCain at the bus tour Friday by Ward and Fox News contributor Tomi Lahren - even after the family released the statement. While addressing a group of Ward supporters, Lahren reportedly said: We cant put up another RINO like McCain and Flake. CNN reporter Kyung Lah, who was covering the event, tweeted that when Ward got up to speak she repeated Lahrens comment saying they could not elect another McCain or Flake. The term RINO stands for Republican In Name Only and is used by conservative Republicans against other Republicans who they believe has fallen short of certain political ideals and are more liberal than they feel they should be. Deep forehead wrinkles may be an early sign of cardiovascular disease, researchers have warned. A study presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in Munich found that people with more wrinkles than is typical for their age had a higher risk of dying from the condition. Researchers said the wrinkles could be linked to atherosclerosis - the hardening of arteries due to plaque build-up. Deep forehead wrinkles may be an early sign of cardiovascular disease, scientists have warned Atherosclerosis is a major contributor to heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems. Changes in collagen protein - which gives structure to our hair, skin and nails - and oxidative stress seem to play a part both in atherosclerosis and wrinkles. The study suggested the tiny blood vessels in the forehead may be more sensitive to plaque build-up meaning wrinkles could be a sign of the vessels ageing. Scientists analysed a group of 3,200 working adults who were all healthy and were aged 32, 42, 52 and 62. They were assigned scores depending on the number and depth of wrinkles on their foreheads. A score of zero meant no wrinkles while a score of three meant 'numerous deep wrinkles'. Researchers found a link between forehead wrinkles and atherosclerosis - the build up of plaque in arteries The participants were followed for 20 years, during which time 233 died of various causes. By the end of the study 15.2 per cent had score two and three wrinkles, 6.6 per cent had score one wrinkles and 2.1 per cent had no wrinkles. The authors found that people with a wrinkle score of one had a slightly higher risk of dying of cardiovascular disease than people with no wrinkles. Those who had wrinkle scores of two and three had almost 10 times the risk of dying compared with people who had wrinkle scores of zero, after adjustments for age, gender, education, smoking status, blood pressure, heart rate, diabetes and lipid levels. Study author Yolande Esquirol, associate professor of occupational health at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse in France, said: 'The higher your wrinkle score, the more your cardiovascular mortality risk increases. Those who had 'numerous' wrinkles on their forehead were almost 10 times the risk of dying compared with people who had none 'You can't see or feel risk factors like high cholesterol or hypertension. 'We explored forehead wrinkles as a marker because it's so simple and visual. Just looking at a person's face could sound an alarm, then we could give advice to lower risk.' She said that advice could include straightforward lifestyle changes such as getting more exercise or eating healthier food. Risk of heart disease increases as people age, but lifestyle and medical interventions can mitigate the danger. The challenge is in identifying high-risk patients early enough to make a difference. Dr Esquirol added: 'Of course, if you have a person with a potential cardiovascular risk, you have to check classical risk factors like blood pressure as well as lipid and blood glucose levels, but you could already share some recommendations on lifestyle factors. 'This is the first time a link has been established between cardiovascular risk and forehead wrinkles so the findings do need to be confirmed in future studies, but the practice could be used now in physicians' offices and clinics. 'It doesn't cost anything and there is no risk.' Previous research has analysed different visible signs of ageing to see if they can presage cardiovascular disease, with a link detected between male-pattern baldness, earlobe creases, xanthelasma (pockets of cholesterol under the skin) and a higher risk of heart disease, but not with an increased risk of actually dying. Wonga is on the brink of collapse after a surge in customer compensation claims. The payday loans firm was once one of the fastest-growing consumer finance companies in Britain. It even had ambitions to get a New York stock market listing that could have valued it at more than $1billion. But the company is now on the rocks just three weeks after being given an emergency 10million cash injection to stay afloat. Wonga is on the brink of collapse after a surge in customer compensation claims (pictured: the firm's TV advert) Wonga, launched in 2007, is chaired by former insurance boss Andy Haste In 2014 the Financial Conduct Authority introduced a cap on the cost of short-term credit for consumers. This sparked claims from those who had borrowed from Wonga at astronomical annual interest rates of up to 5,853 per cent before the new rules came into effect. A fresh influx of compensation demands from claims management companies - which help customers get compensation in exchange for a cut of the payout - was triggered after the 10million cash injection went public. Claimants can seek compensation if Wonga treated them irresponsibly - for example, by repeatedly giving them loans they were clearly struggling to pay back. Wonga has lined up professional services firm Grant Thornton to act as administrator if it is not able to swerve insolvency, Sky News report. Executives from the firm are said to have been in talks with the Financial Conduct Authority to discuss its options. Its administration process may be similar to the one used by House of Fraser, which would involve a buyer acquiring some of Wonga's operations. A portion of the company's 500-strong workforce could be preserved under this process. Wonga has reportedly lined up professional services firm Grant Thornton to act as administrator if it is not able to swerve insolvency Wonga previously raised its profile by sponsoring Newcastle United (players pictured with firm's logo on their shirts) Wonga, launched in 2007, is chaired by former insurance boss Andy Haste. It is owned by big names in the venture capital industry including Balderton Capital, Accel Partners and 83North. It was made to set up a 2.6million compensation scheme in 2014 when it emerged up to 45,000 customers were sent threatening letters from a fake law firm invented by Wonga staff. The company previously raised its profile by sponsoring Newcastle United and continues to trade in countries including South Africa and Spain. Despite losing about 65million in 2016, it had been targeting a return to profitability in 2017. It is not clear whether this was achieved as figures have not yet been published. Controversy over short-term lending led the firm to introduce a flexible loan product to improve its image. The board had been targeting a return to profitability this year. Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer wants rename a Senate office building after Senator John McCain - an idea that appears to be gaining momentum after some of his colleagues agree with the proposal. 'I want to be the first Republican co-sponsor for that resolution,' Republican Senator Jeff Flake said on CBS' 'Face the Nation.' 'I think that that would be a fitting tribute. There are many other things that we need to do but that's a good one. John McCain had his office just right near mine in the Russell building that's where he was his entire time. I think that that's a fitting tribute,' he added. Sen. Chuck Schumer wants to name a Senate office building after Sen. John McCain Schumer proposed the idea shortly after McCain died on Saturday Schumer said: 'I'd like decades from now for little children to ask their parents who was John McCain' Democratic Sen. Chris Coons agreed. 'I think it's an excellent idea,' he said on CNN Sunday morning. Schumer proposed renaming the Russell Senate Office Building after McCain on Saturday, in the wake of the senator's death. 'Nothing will overcome the loss of Senator McCain, but so that generations remember him I will be introducing a resolution to rename the Russell building after him,' he said in a statement. 'I want generations in the Senate, and in the world, to remember him,' Schumer said. 'And I'd like decades from now for little children to ask their parents who was John McCain.' The Russell Senate Office Building is the oldest Senate office building - it opened in 1909 - of the three structures that sit across the street from the U.S. Capitol building to house the senators' offices. It is named after the late Sen. Richard Russell of Georgia and it's where McCain's Senate office was located. Russell was a Democrat from Georgia who served from 1933 to 1971. He was known as the senator's senator. But there have been unsuccessful efforts over the years to rename the building that bears his moniker because he was a staunch opponent of the civil rights movement and supported segregation. He would use parliamentary maneuvers to scuttle civil rights legislation like bills banning lynching and abolishing the poll tax. Schumer's proposal got support from other senators The Russell Senate Office Building is the oldest of the three buildings that sit across the street from the U.S. Capitol building and house senators' offices Political fans would recognize the building's rotunda from its numerous TV appearances. The Russell Rotunda is the area where senators give television interviews. On any given day the Senate is in session, TV cameras from every network are set up in the rotunda. A statue of Sen. Russell also stands in the rotunda. The building also contains the Kennedy caucus room - named that in 2009 in honor of Senators John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Edward M. Kennedy. The room has been the site of some of the most famous hearings in Senate history: the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic hearings; the 1974 Watergate hearings, the Iran-Contra hearings, and the 1991 Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination hearings. A racial slur was found scrawled on a sign in front of Duke University's Center for Black Culture, school officials say. The school has since painted over the 'heinous racial epithet' written in penned in one-inch tall letters on Duke's West Campus in Durham, North Carolina. It is unclear whether the person who wrote the slur has been identified, and officials did not say if anybody would be charged in connection with the incident. In an email addressed to students Saturday afternoon, Duke University President Vincent Price wrote: 'Such a cowardly and hateful act has absolutely no place in our community. 'While we can't undo or unsee this painful assault on our right to live and study in a civil and respectful environment, we can and do promise that odious acts like this will be acknowledged and challenged at every opportunity, especially at a time when some seek deliberately to provoke hatred and distrust.' Duke University officials are investigating a 'heinous racial epithet' that was found scrawled on a sign in front of the school's Center for Black Culture, according to an email to students The email continued: 'I regret that my early words to you in this new semester are marked with sadness and anger. 'Let us use this moment to come together in support of our fellow students, faculty or staff who are so maligned; let us not allow provocateurs to sow among us discord or malice; let us reaffirm and act upon our commitments to inclusion, tolerance and respect.' DailyMail.com has reached out to the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture for comment. According to the university's website: 'Established in 1983, The Center remains a safe, welcoming and supportive space that reflects the core values, culture, mission and perspectives of Duke's Black community.' Another racial slur had been found on the university's campus three years ago on a poster for a Black Lives Matter event. Someone had crossed out the word 'black' on the flier and written 'white' next to it, followed by the words 'no n****rs'. Three years ago the campus reported another racial slur after a someone vandalized a poster for a Black Lives Matter event, crossing out the word 'black' and written 'white' next to it, followed by the words 'no n****rs' Earlier this year a different race-related campus controversy kicked off when a longtime administrator complained about a rap song playing in a campus coffee shop. Larry Moneta, the vice president for student affairs, visited the Joe Van Gogh shop on May 4 and became angry about the song Get Paid by Young Dolph, which includes the N-word several times as well as the line: 'I f****d her up real good.' After having his vegan muffin and a cup of tea, Moneta complained to staff before emailing Duke Dining director Robert Coffey, which prompted the firing of two baristas. Moneta announced his retirement last month after having worked at the school since 2001. Maine Governor Paul LePage is in stable condition after he was hospitalized for experiencing discomfort over the weekend. The 69-year-old Republican was visiting family in New Brunswick, Canada when he halted his trip and was transported to a hospital in Bangor, Maine on Saturday. Governor spokesman Peter Steele announced in a prepared statement that LePage was taken by ambulance to Presque Isle in northern Maine then transported to Eastern Main Medical Center in Bangor at 11:30pm. On Sunday the spokesman confirmed Lepage 'is resting comfortably' at the hospital where he stayed over night and was 'in good spirits' during his ambulance transport. Maine's Republican Governor is in good spirits and stable condition after spending the night in the hospital after 'experiencing discomfort' while visiting family on Saturday His spokesperson Peter Steele announced Governor LePage is expected to make a full recovery on Sunday The details of his discomfort was not released as he was kept in the hospital overnight for observation. 'Doctors said he is very strong and healthy. ... The governor is stable and is expected to make a full recovery,' Steele said. Earlier in the week LePage spoke at several tech business events and attended the ribbon cutting ceremony of The Jackson Laboratory in Ellsworth. LePage was elected as the governor of Maine in 2010 and is nearing his second and final term in office, as Maine limits governors to just two terms. In the gubernatorial elections LePage did not exceed 50 percent of the popular vote as both races had multiple candidates. On Friday, a day before he experienced discomfort, he attended a SBA New England Road Tour to Portland event in Maine, pictured at the lectern The details of the discomfort have not been released and he was kept in the hospital overnight for observation He previously served as the mayor of Waterville, a central Maine city of about 16,000 people. LePage is known to be a staunch fiscal conservative and guided the state to a surplus of more than $175million at the end of the most recent fiscal year. He's had a tumultuous time in office, often going head to head with Democrats, media outlets, Maine NAACP, and immigrant rights advocates. Maine Democratic Party Chair Phil Bartlett said the party is 'happy to hear Governor LePage is going to make a full recovery, and we're thinking of him and his family.' Pious Ali, a Democratic City Council member in Portland who is critical of the LePage administration, said he's 'hoping he gets back to work soon.' With tears in their eyes and flags in their hands, dozens of Americans stood in the dark to pay their respects to John McCain as his body arrived at a Phoenix mortuary. McCain died on Saturday, a day after his family announced he was ending medical treatment for brain cancer. The senator was just days shy of his 82nd birthday. Around 200 people gathered at the A.L. Moore Grimshaw Mortuary on Saturday night, waiting to say goodbye one last time. The hearse carrying McCain's body began the procession at his ranch near Cornville. Around 200 people gathered at the A.L. Moore Grimshaw Mortuary on Saturday night as John McCain's body arrived on Saturday night McCain died on Saturday, a day after his family announced he was ending medical treatment for brain cancer. He was just days shy of his 82nd birthday With tears in their eyes and flags in their hands, dozens of Americans stood in the dark to pay their respects to the senator The hearse carrying McCain's body began the procession his ranch near Cornville for a 100-mile journey to Phoenix It was accompanied by Arizona Department of Public Safety vehicles for the 100-mile journey. As the hearse pulled up to the mortuary, mourners could be heard shouting 'I love you John!' Others were in tears as they reflected on the legendary senator. 'I just feel really sad,' Matilda Calderon told The Arizona Republic. 'He was a great man, he did a lot for the US.' Some people held American flags while others brought signs thanking McCain for his service The procession was given a full police escort for the entirety of the journey to Phoenix Many also left their homes to hold flags on the street as the hearse drove by them on the way to the mortuary Mourners could be seen waving their American flags or lifting them up in the air as the hearse drove by Some held up huge flags while others lifted theirs up to the sky as McCain's body drove by. Many also wore flag-covered clothing. Steve Dickman watched the hearse as he held a large American flag. 'He voted his conscience and his heart, not necessarily his party,' he said. Dickman recalled the time he met McCain at a book signing and was surprised that the senator was taking time to have personal conversations with people. Makeshift memorials formed in front of the mortuary as well as McCain's Phoenix office (pictured) on Sunday Maria Vicllalpando, 67, of Phoenix, pays respects to McCain at his office on Sunday Many mourners left cards and messages to the late senator, while others dropped off flowers Anthony Walker, of Phoenix, adds a flag and card to the memorial outside McCain's office Stephanie Wilson wipes her eyes after paying her respects to McCain outside a makeshift memorial at the A.L. Moore Grimshaw Mortuary 'He wanted to get to know you and your views. I like that,' Dickman said. Makeshift memorials formed in front of the mortuary as well as McCain's Phoenix office on Sunday. Dozens of bouquets of flowers, candles, balloons, and American flags could be seen in both locations. A sign that was left in front of McCain's office included the message: 'Often disagreed, but always respected you.' Michael Wilson and Stephanie Wilson hug as they visit a makeshift memorial to honor McCain Members of the Honor Guard stand guard in front of A.L. Moore-Grimshaw Mortuaries to honor McCain on Sunday A child's note can be seen on the grass by a makeshift memorial at the mortuary on Sunday 'Thank you for your service and leaving our nation better than you found it.' Members of the Honor Guard also stood guard in front of the mortuary, holding Prison Of War flags to honor the Vietnam hero. McCain will now lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda before his life is honored in a full dress funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral. He will also lie in rest at the Arizona Capital in Phoenix ahead of being buried at the US Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland. Deep Truths Header Gog and Magog identified: Turkey, NOT Russia! --by James Arendt I used to believe that Gog and Magog which invades Israel as depicted in Ezekiel chapter 38 is Russia. This is a popular belief taught by famous evangelists and Bible teachers such as Chuck Missler. But from December 13, 2014 when I learned that Daniel 9:27 is referring to Jesus Christ, not the Antichrist as I was taught, and when I learned that today's misinterpretation of Daniel 9:27 was formulated by a Jesuit priest named Francesco Ribera in 1585 for the purpose of getting Protestants to stop thinking of the Popes as antichrist but to think of the Antichrist as a single individual who rises in the future, I have come to seriously question all interpretations of Endtime Bible prophecy I have been taught over the past 40 years! The prophecies in Ezekiel 38 is one of them. Is Gog and Magog really Russia? I learned this doctrine has been around only from a couple hundred years ago! How did Russia become associated with Magog? The text below is from http://blogs.christianpost.com/guest-views/debunking-the-russia-war-of-gog-and-magog-myth-8754/ The erroneous belief that Russia is Magog can be traced back to a small group of 18th and 19th century theologians who wrote long before the primary evidence from the ancient Assyrian records was discovered, translated and made available to the public. Instead, they based their assertions on secondary sources, historical works written over 500 years after the time of Ezekiel, and to make matters worse some of these sources had come to be purposefully altered. These altered references include statements attributed to the first century AD Jewish historian Josephus, and first century AD Roman historian Pliny. In his book The Antiquity of the Jews Josephus says that the Greeks called the "Magogites" the "Scythians" despite the fact that the Greeks did not call the Magogites the Scythians. In this same passage there are other errors in the identification of other ancient nations of Asia Minor. This passage shows that the author did not understand that Ashkenaz is the Hebrew word for the Scythians. (Interestingly, the Assyrian word for the Scythians, Ishkuza or Ashguza is similar to the Hebrew word for the Scythians Ashkenaz.) This passage also comes into conflict with what the ancient Greek historian Herodotus who after living with each group wrote about the Scythians and the Lydians in his book The History. Since Josephus used Herodotus' book as a reference, one can only speculate how and why these obviously wrong statements are in Josephus' book. Were these inaccurate statements the products of Josephus' imagination, or were they the result of alterations to the few copies of Josephus' work that existed in medieval times? (Jews did not preserve the writings of Josephus because they considered him to be a traitor.) Beginning in the 11th century these surviving manuscripts were copied by Catholic monks, and obviously altered in some places to suit prevailing beliefs. Ecclesiastical acceptance of the erroneous connection between Magog and the Scythians traces back to Saint Jerome of the late fourth century AD. Unfortunately, the oft quoted statement that has Josephus connecting Magog with the Scythians is an act of document forgery. Similarly, the oft quoted statement that has the ancient Roman historian Pliny in his work The Natural History that connects Magog with the Scythians is another forgery. Nineteenth century Scottish Reverend John Cumming is credited as being a leading promoter of the Bible interpretation that calls for Russia invading Israel. In his book The Destiny of Nations Cumming quotes a passage from Pliny's book about Magog which he purposefully altered. Reverend Cumming on page 126 wrote: "Pliny says 'Hierapolis taken by the Scythians was afterwards called Magog.'" Pliny on page 439 actually wrote: "Bambyx (a part of Lydia) the other name of which is Hierapolis, but by the Syrians called Magog." Pliny's statement has been misquoted by Cumming in a way that makes it seem that Magog was related to the Scythians rather than the Lydians. Unfortunately, this same misquote of Pliny has been carried forward in time and appears in Hal Lindsey's book The Late Great Planet Earth (page 53). This alteration is easily verified by going to a copy of Pliny's book and seeing how key words were changed and switched around. It is difficult to believe that none of the many authors of books that discuss Ezekiel 38/39 and the war of Gog and Magog have not discovered this sleight of hand and exposed the deception. (While many contemporary Evangelicals gave Cumming's books on prophecy favorable reviews, an article in the Westminster Review in 1855 about Cumming attacked him for his "intellectual dishonesty, anti-Catholic bigotry, and moral and spiritual perversion.") The correct identification of Magog with Lydia and not Scythia is consistent with the ancient texts of the Assyrians, who at various times were either the allies or the foes of the Scythians, but had peaceful dealings with the Lydians, who they also referred to as "Magog." Within academia today, no professional archeologists, historians or serious Bible researchers associate Magog with the Scythians or the Scythians with the Russians. The truth is that modern scholars have unequivocally documented that a group of Scandinavian Viking traders called the Rus began the Russian state during the mid AD 800's, and gave their name to Russia. Therefore there is no historical or factual basis for any connection of Russia to Magog. ANCIENT NATIONS OF EZEKIEL 38/39 Ezekiel 38/39 makes reference to a group of ancient nations that are all found in Asia Minor: Magog (Lydia), Meshech, Tubal, Togarmah and Gomer. The correct identification of these nations comes from the "Royal Court Records of the Assyrians"; the primary source on this subject. These same Assyrian Court records are referred to in the Bible (Ezra 4:15, 19). LYDIAN MIGRATION TO ITALY An early Lydian dynasty experienced a prolonged famine which caused half of the Lydian population to migrate to the west coast of Italy, just north of Rome. The Romans called these Lydian migrants "Etruscans." The Etruscans settled in an area called Tuscany and they helped found the city of Rome and jump start the Roman civilization. Hundreds of years after this migration, the Lydian population in Asia Minor came to be ruled by a militant ruler whom the Greeks called "Gyges of Lydia." To the Assyrians this same leader was known as "Gugu King of Ludu," and "Gugu of Magugu." Ezekiel referred to this same leader as "Gog of Magog" where "Magog" means "the land of Gog." Read more: http://blogs.christianpost.com/guest-views/debunking-the-russia-war-of-gog-and-magog-myth-8754/#ixzz3Ym7ZzkO7 Request James Arendt I was raised in the Hegewisch neighborhood on the southeast side of Chicago, Illinois, served in the USAF from 1970 to 1974, and became a full-time missionary for Christ living 40 years in Japan, 3.5 years in Russia, and a few months in other countries such as Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, South Korea, Taiwan and mainland China where I also served the King of Kings, Jesus, as an Ambassador for His Kingdom. I have been unemployed since March 2020 due to the pandemic. Pandemic assistance from the US government will be terminated from September, 2021. If you love Deep Truths, please consider sending a donation toward my support and ministry of sharing God's truth with the world. Thank you and God bless you! My Paypal ID: james.arendt@deeptruths.com Or you can click on the icon below: I'm also the webmaster of I'm also the webmaster of jamesjpn.net . You can read my bio there. Are you sure you want to report it? Topic : gog-magog-is-turkey.html Sort Newest Oldest Likes Dislikes Positive Critical 5/5 (1) RSS Alerts Page 1 of 1 Please enter at least one item. Item: Item: Item: Item: Item: Please enter at least one item. Item: Item: Item: Item: Item: Please enter the link of the website Optionally you can add display text Please enter the email address Optionally add any display text Please enter the link of the image Please enter the link of the video. Supports YouTube, Vimeo, MetaCafe and Dailymotion. Add Comment Powered by Commentics A teenager who suffers from dwarfism claims he was banned from going to college because of his size after being branded a health and safety risk. Louis Makepeace, 18, who stands at a just 3ft 10in, said he was discriminated against after being refused a place at Heart of Worcestershire College. He was originally given a conditional offer for the Hospitality and Catering course but said the college backtracked because he's too small for the kitchen. Louis Makepeace, 18, claimed Heart of Worcestershire College discriminated against him after retracting his offer to study Catering. The teen said he was told he'd cause too much disruption Louis claimed college bosses branded him a 'safety risk' to the other 14 pupils and said he would cause a 'disruption' if he got under their feet. Mother Pauline, 56, said she was also told by the course leader there was no point him doing the course as he would never be allowed to work in a restaurant kitchen anyway. The Worcester teen now fears his dream of becoming a chef is over after his 'humiliating' ordeal. Louis, who has achondroplasia, a form of short-limbed dwarfism, said: 'It was really upsetting as I had my heart set on this course. Louis claimed college bosses branded him a 'safety risk' to the other 14 pupils on the course 'We are supposed to have equality of opportunity yet I'm not allowed to do something I love doing. 'They are simply not prepared to make the necessary adjustments to accommodate me such as making the surfaces and hobs lower. 'We were prepared to be flexible and my mum said I could maybe do the cooking at home whilst the new equipment was installed but they kept saying no. 'They said I would be a health and safety risk and disruption to the other students and get in their way, which was really humiliating. Louis and his mother Pauline at their home in Worcester. Pauline, 56, said she was also told by the course leader there was no point him doing the course as he would never be allowed to work in a restaurant kitchen anyway 'It really has dented my confidence, how am I ever supposed to get the culinary skills that's going to get me a job in a catering environment. 'I have always loved cooking Italian recipes since I was little, and keeping myself healthy and fit and I'm a huge fan of Gino D'Acampo. 'But how am I supposed to get by if this is how I'm treated - I feel like I have been excluded from the real world. 'My confidence is shrinking and I feel that people stare and laugh at me. People just think I'm still a kid and will push in front of me in queues. Louis Makepeace, 18, said he was discriminated against after being refused a place at college 'I just want to be treated as a normal person without them laughing at me and go around and do quite normal stuff.' Mother-of-two Pauline said she is still pushing for a final answer from the college but has been told to find Louis another course. She said: 'He's been really upset by this, he got the initial offer but now they are pulling the rug from under his feet. 'They won't give me straight answer but when I asked the course leader whether he should find another course he told me it would 'probably be a good idea'. The teen had an offer to study Hospitality and Catering at Heart of Worcestershire College 'He said it was pointless doing the course as he would never be allowed to work in a restaurant kitchen anyway even if he qualified. It was outrageous. 'He claimed that Louis would be a health and safety hazard in the kitchen to his other pupils so we couldn't have him standing on a step of some sort. 'Apparently it would take seven weeks for contractors to come in to make adjustments such as a lower surface and lower hobs and they weren't prepared to wait. 'It wouldn't be so bad but there was a chap there several years ago who had the same condition as Louie and they adjusted the kitchens for him. But Louis, who suffers from dwarfism, said his offer was retracted due to his 3ft 10in height 'I would have thought that would have had the same equipment there that he could use. 'I keep getting so irate because we were prepared to be flexible and do work from home video a video-link while the adjustments are made. 'But they just keep fobbing me off with excuses and say he should do another course instead.' A spokeswoman for Heart of Worcestershire College said: 'As the student's place at the college is still under discussion, we do not wish to make a comment.' Cattle and rare-breed sheep have begun a week-long graze in the shadow of Buckingham Palace as part of a conservation drive to boost wildlife in Green Park. The Royal Parks charity, the Rare Breed Survival Trust, and Mudchute Park and Farm have joined forces to bring the creatures to London to graze on one of the wildflower meadows. Following a successful pilot with sheep last year, the Dexter cattle - plus Oxford Down, Southdown, Whitefaced Woodland and Black Wensleydale sheep - arrived on August 26. Cattle and rare-breed sheep will graze in one of the wildflower meadows at Green Park as part of a conservation trial to help insects such as bees and butterflies thrive The Royal Parks charity, the Rare Breed Survival Trust, and Mudchute Park and Farm have joined forces to bring the sheep and cows to London The cows are particularly welcome to the project as they 'rip up rather than nibble plants, cows open up pasture far quicker than sheep, encouraging insect-friendly species to flourish' It is hoped their stint on the royal green space will encourage a greater range of flowers and grasses to grow, to the benefit of insects such as bees and butterflies. The trial scheme is part of The Royal Parks Mission: Invertebrate project, with experts poised to record and contrast the numbers of insects, spiders and other creepy crawlies with last year. Dr Alice Laughton, who is leading the project, said they are excited to welcome the 'two bovine guests' to the visiting heard. 'As they eat larger volumes and rip up rather than nibble plants, cows open up pasture far quicker than sheep, encouraging insect-friendly species to flourish,' she said. Dexter cattle plus Oxford Down, Southdown, Whitefaced Woodland and Black Wensleydale sheep will stay for one week in the shadow of Buckingham Palace Dr Alice Laughton, leader of the project, said: 'Even this busiest of parks, right in the heart of central London, can be home to ideal habitats for invertebrates' 'They also tend to prefer different varieties to their woolly counterparts, so will make perfect grazing companions. 'Even this busiest of parks, right in the heart of central London, can be home to ideal habitats for invertebrates. 'In turn, these little creatures pollinate plants, break up debris and provide a food source for birds and small mammals - they are truly the cornerstone of biodiversity.' Advertisement Only a handful of the 500,000 people expected to attend the Pope's final mass on his visit to Ireland on Sunday actually turned up - unofficial attendance figures claim. Despite half a million tickets being made available for the landmark mass, according to Journal.ie only 130,000 worshippers turned up to the ceremony. The numbers compare poorly to the crowds who gathered for Pope John Paul's visit in 1979, where over a million people gathered in the same park for mass. In total 2.7 million people turned out to see Pope John Paul II at several locations over three days - and Sunday's event was expected to trump that. But organisers were left red faced and disappointed as aerial photos revealed massive green spaces in between small pockets of people. Commentators blamed inclement weather as part of the reason turnout may have been lower than expected. The Garda Press Office has not made any announcements to the media regarding the figure, which is based on information gathered by officers tasked with overseeing the event. An aerial view of the crowd at Phoenix Park in Dublin as Pope Francis attends the closing mass of his two-day trip to Ireland An aerial view of Phoenix Park in Dublin where half a million people have tickets to see the Pope give his closing mass An aerial view of the crowd at Phoenix Park in Dublin as Pope Francis attends the closing Mass on Sunday afternoon Thousands of people gather at Phoenix Park in Dublin to hear the Pope's Mass before he finishes his trip to Ireland The Popemobile drives through cheering crowds waving Irish and Vatican flags as Francis completes his two-day visit An overhead view of Phoenix Park in Dublin, where Pope Francis is finishing his Irish trip with a huge outdoor mass today The crowd in Phoenix Park were half a million people were issued with tickets for Francis's closing mass on Sunday Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, President Michael D. Higgins and the head of state's wife Sabina Higgins at the Phoenix Park service Pope Francis leads the Catholic service in Phoenix Park in Dublin this afternoon where hundreds of thousand went to see him Pope Francis, wearing a specially-designed green vestment, at the altar in Phoenix Park where he delivered his mass Priests wear plastic rain coats ahead of the World Meeting of Families closing mass in Phoenix Park, Dublin, on Sunday Pope Francis leads the closing mass in Dublin's Phoenix Park on the second and final day of his visit to Ireland A woman sleeps at Phoenix Park in Dublin as she waits for Pope Francis to give a huge outdoor mass on Sunday afternoon Pope Francis finished his trip with an outdoor mass where he once again begged for God's forgiveness for the 'open wound' of sexual abuse. Francis greeted cheering crowds from his Popemobile in in Dublin's Phoenix Park, where some 500,000 tickets had been issued, although aerial shots showed gaps in the crowd amid pouring rain and claims that less than half the ticket-holders had turned up. Catholic pilgrims gathered in torrential rain in Dublin, some of them waiting for hours for a chance to see Pope Francis, who visited the holy shrine at Knock this morning and once again addressed the topic of clerical abuse which has threatened to overshadow his visit. The 81-year-old, who flew to County Mayo to see the shrine, said no-one could be failed to be moved by stories of young abuse victims who were 'robbed of their innocence' and 'left scarred by painful memories'. At the Dublin service he prayed for the victims of abuse and mistreatment and once again asked for forgiveness. Demonstrators also gathered for a second day to protest the Catholic Church's role the mistreatment of young people. The Stand For Truth rally at the Garden of Remembrance was timed to start alongside the Pope's service while the Say Nope to the Pope campaign had earlier gathered outside Dublin's post office. Francis's visit to Knock, regarded as the site of an apparition and revered by Irish Catholics, followed in the footsteps of Pope John Paul II, who was the last pontiff to visit Ireland in 1979 and also spoke at Phoenix Park. Earlier on Sunday Pope Francis was greeted by thousands of adoring Catholics as he arrived in Phoenix Park to give a closing mass on Sunday A girl ties baby shoes to a fence in Dublin as a part of a protest to highlight child abuse at the hands of the Catholic church Protests against clerical sex abuse in Dublin highlighting the issue which has dominated Pope Francis's two-day visit Clerical sex abuse protesters assemble at the General Post Office for a second day of demonstrations during the Pope's visit Pope Francis delivers his speech during his visit at the Knock Shrine in which he once again addressed the issue of sex abuse Pope Francis's cape blows in the wind as he addresses Catholic worshippers at the Knock shrine in County Mayo today Pope Francis takes off his cap as he arrives at the airport in Knock on day two of his papal visit to the Republic of Ireland Pope Francis is presented with flowers by Saoirse McCarthy, 11, from St. Patrick's National School, as he heads to Knock The pontiff arrives in his Popemobile for a visit to the Knock Shrine in County Mayo on Sunday morning Pope Francis kneeling down to pray at the Knock Shrine where he asked for God's forgiveness over clerical sex abuse The Pope has his cape straightened as he addresses Catholic worshippers in Ireland on day two of his visit The issue of clerical sex abuse has threatened to overshadow the trip, with the Vatican under fire in recent weeks over its handling of fresh allegations in the United States. Francis, visiting a country which has undergone sweeping social changes since John Paul visited almost 40 years ago, has tried to heal wounds caused by a series of scandals which revealed decades of institutional abuse. In a lengthy prayer to the crowd in Phoenix Park, the Pope listed a litany of different types of abuse and mistreatment inflicted by church figures, including industrial laundries and clerical cover-ups of sex crimes. On each occasion he asked for forgiveness to applause from the crowd, which was estimated between 130,000 and 200,000 by various media outlets. Gardai said the attendance would be confirmed after the event was over. Addressing the crowd, the Pope referred to his meeting with eight survivors on Saturday evening and said he wanted to take up what they had said to him and seek forgiveness. He said: 'We ask forgiveness for the abuses in Ireland, abuses of power, of conscience, and sexual abuses perpetrated by members with roles of responsibility in the church. 'In a special way, we ask pardon for all the abuses committed in various types of institutions run by males or female religious and by other members of the church, and we ask for forgiveness for those cases of manual work that so many young women and men were subjected to. 'We ask for forgiveness for some of the church hierarchy who did not take charge of these situations and kept quiet. We ask for forgiveness. The Pope sits with clergy and worshippers on his visit to the revered Catholic shrine in County Mayo on Sunday morning Pope Francis lights a candle at the Catholic site in Ireland which is said to have been the site of an apparition in 1879 Pope Francis waves from his Popemobile as he arrives at the Knock Shrine on the morning of his second day in Ireland The Pope could be seen shaking hands with several Irish bishops as he attended a private mass held by the highest members of the country's clergy at the small church in the center of the city of Dublin Pope Francis meeting with Irish bishops at the Convent of the Dominican Sisters in Dublin as part of his visit to the country to attend the 2018 World Meeting of Families An Irish bishop addresses the congregation and the pontiff as he sits at a small table in front of the altar during the meeting The Pope was pictured smiling and waving to the gathered masses alongside the cabin staff and pilots of the Aer Lingus jet Moments before he boarded the aircraft the pontiff bade farewell to Archbishop Diarmuid Martin who had been a central part of his trip Pope Francis turns and waves to gathered crowds on the runway at Dublin airport as he boarded a plane on Sunday evening to go back to Rome This is the moment a group of animal liberation activists today stormed a dolphin display. Members of the Vegan Strike Group, an international organisation who claims to fight animal enslavement, disrupted the daily show at Loro Parque, Tenerife. Photographs showed the activists swimming into the pool waving around posters calling for the closure of the animal park. This is the moment a group of animal liberation activists today stormed a dolphin display Members of the Vegan Strike Group, an international organisation who claims to fight animal enslavement, disrupted the daily show at Loro Parque, Tenerife Workers at the side of the arena could be seen calming down dolphins that were in the water ready for their show. Security officers could be seen jumping into the pool and escorting the campaigners from the premises. Last month, travel operator Thomas Cook announced it would stop selling trips to animal parks that kept killer whales. As such, it planned to cut ties with Loro Parque from next summer after 'customer feedback and consultation with animal rights experts'. Writing on Facebook after the display, the Vegan Strike Group said: 'For the fourth time our Vegan Strike Group activists have disrupted a dolphin show on Spanish soil. Workers at the side of the arena could be seen calming down dolphins that were in the water ready for their show Security officers could be seen jumping into the pool and escorting the campaigners from the premises A statement from the group said: 'The Policia Nacional came to have a look, but Ronny, Renate and Peter were NOT taken to the police station. We did not receive a fine and we were able to leave the park through the staff exit' 'This was the fourteenth time we took action for the dolphins and the sea lions since the foundation of the Vegan Strike Group. 'Loro Parque, the infamous dolphin park on Tenerife was our battle scene today. This park was already on our wish list for a long time. 'Even though we, as animal lovers, have to leave the sea creatures in a chlorine bath, we are very satisfied with this successful action.' The statement continued: 'The Policia Nacional came to have a look, but Ronny, Renate and Peter were NOT taken to the police station. 'We did not receive a fine and we were able to leave the park through the staff exit.' Loro Parque has been contacted for comment. President Donald Trump's approval rating has remained steady after his week from hell that saw his former campaign manager Paul Manafort convicted on eight counts and his former personal attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty on eight counts, a new poll revealed on Sunday. In an NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey, conducted August 22nd (the day after the Manafort and Cohen news broke) through August 25th, the president's approval rating was 44 percent while 52 percent disapproved. In an earlier, separately conducted poll, through August 18th and August 22nd, Trump's approval rating was at 46 percent while 51 percent disapproved. A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll found President Trump's approval rating is 44 percent, which is within the margin to his previous approval rating The new number came after Michael Cohen (pictured) pleaded guilty to eight charges and Paul Manafort was convicted on eight counts That's within the margin of error. Republican pollster Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies, who conducted the poll with Democratic pollster Peter Hart at Hart Research Associates, told NBC News that Trump's approval rating is 'remarkably stable.' Even though his approval rating is steady, 40 percent say the president may have been involved in wrongdoing. Voters are split along partisan lines on that topic, with 53 percent of Republicans saying Trump was not involved in wrongdoing while 71 percent of Democrats said he may have been. And 56 percent say the president has not been honest about special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into alleged collusion between his 2016 presidential campaign and Russia with 21 percent saying he has been honest. In the partisan breakdown, Republican support for Trump on the honesty issue could be soft: only 46 percent strongly agree that he has been honest while 81 percent of Democrats strongly disagree that Trump has been honest. Last week was considered one of the toughest in Trump's presidency that saw his former campaign manager and former personal attorney in court in the same hour on the same day. 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. And White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said repeatedly at her briefing last Wednesday that the president 'did nothing wrong' and there 'are no charges against him.' Manafort was convicted of eight charges of tax and bank fraud on lastTuesday. 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. Last week was seen as one of the toughest in Trump's presidency after Paul Manafort (pictured) and Michael Cohen were in court within hours of each other 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. 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. Captain Harith al-Sudani, a mole from Iraq's little-known Falcon Intelligence Cell On a day when four bombs had already rocked Baghdad a car parked up in a back street, laden with explosives ready to cause more carnage. Soon afterwards, thick black smoke rose skywards and victims lay scattered on the floor. Some looked dead, others injured, screaming for help as they clung to life. To any locals who stumbled across the scene, it was one of sheer horror. But all was not as it seemed. For when the car exploded the street was empty. Only after the device detonated did the 'wounded' run in, taking up their positions like well-trained actors. The payload of the original bomb had been replaced by a much smaller device, designed to deceive rather than destroy. The ruse was the work of Captain Harith al-Sudani, a mole from Iraq's little-known Falcon Intelligence Cell, who managed to penetrate the highest ranks of Islamic State. When the footage was taken in 2016, he was 14 months into one of the world's most dangerous undercover operations. As he posed as a jihadi, his job with the terror group was to transport bombs to specific targets before detonating them. But in reality, the father of three was handing them over for his team to disable, and then faking explosions and casualties so that IS leaders believed their sick plots had succeeded. After the bomb went off in the Al-Hurriyah district of north-west Baghdad, Iraqi police issued a statement saying at least ten victims had been killed and 34 wounded. They said the attack had targeted a popular fruit and vegetable market in a commercial street. Thinking that a murderous terrorist plot had been carried out as planned, the IS-linked Amaq News Agency laid claim to the bombing. But the 'attack' including the arrival of the fake victims had been caught on CCTV from a neighbouring building, and the footage subsequently leaked. Security officials shut down rumours of a hoax, with some claiming the scene was actually a film set. It is only now, with the heroic double-agent dead and IS near-defeated on the battlefield, that the truth can be revealed. Captain al-Sudani is believed to be one of the blindfolded men shot by IS in this video from 2017 Captain al-Sudani, considered one of Iraq's greatest spies, foiled 30 vehicle-explosion attacks and prevented 18 suicide bombings. His father Abid, said of his son's bravery: 'He saved the lives of many people. He wanted to serve his country. 'Every operation was stopping the bloodshed of innocents. Let his work tell the story.' Weeks after the car bomb was caught on camera, 36-year-old Captain al-Sudani, a former computer technician, sent his father a text on New Year's Eve. 'Pray for me,' he wrote, as he set out on what was to be his penultimate mission in the markets of eastern Baghdad. CCTV footage in a street in Al-Hurriyah, Baghdad, from 2016 shows a man parking a car (left), before walking away and getting into a truck (right) that drives away The spy had 1,100 pounds of military-grade explosives in his truck. He was sweating, as any slight bump from one of Baghdad's notoriously bad drivers could set off the bomb. He also feared that his carefully maintained cover may have been blown. He was told he had been chosen to take part in a spectacular attack, which would see a series of co-ordinated bombings in multiple cities across the world. He picked up a white Kia truck-bomb in the eastern Baghdad neighbourhood of Al-Khadra and set off towards his target. His Falcon team were on standby to intercept the truck packed with explosives. But on the way to meet them at a safe rendezvous point, his jihadi handler called him from Mosul and accused him of lying about where he was. In a moment's panic, Captain al-Sudani said he must have made a wrong turn, which the IS commander appeared to accept. The spy then called his comrades and told them the plan had to change and they should meet him nearer to the planned attack site. After the truck explodes in the empty street, injuring no one, fake victims arrive and lie down on the ground among the shrapnel, pretending to be in pain Springing into action as soon as the Captain pulled up, eight agents dismantled the bomb, removing the electronic detonator, 26 plastic bags of C4 and ball bearings. In another clever ruse Iraqi security officials planted a story with the Arabic media, who told of a white truck exploding outside the Al-Bayda cinema in eastern Baghdad. The IS mission was seen as a success. But what Captain al-Sudani did not know was that his terrorist masters had bugged his truck and so they heard his entire conversation with the Falcons. The intelligence agency's director, Abu Ali al-Basri, told the Daily Mail: 'When Daesh [the Arabic name for IS] had some doubt about him, they provided him with a truck bomb. It was supposed to be blown up in a market area. Daesh planted a spying device in his car and they listened to his conversations.' In January 2017, after 16 months undercover, Captain al-Sudani received what would be his final mission. This time he was ordered to a remote farmhouse outside Tarmiya, north of Baghdad, then an IS stronghold. He entered the building and never came out. As more actors arrive, one man starts to load casualties into his van. Islamic State believed that its attack had been successful A member of his unit, who asked not to be named, said of the mission: 'We were waiting for him and preparing another fake car bomb, to deceive [IS] and protect people from their evil, but Harith never came back. 'We waited for four days for the green light to break in [to the farmhouse] and search for him.' They were eventually given the order to mount a rescue operation. One Iraqi officer was killed in the raid, but there was no sign of Captain al-Sudani. Footage released by IS in August 2017 shows the moment that Iraqi intelligence officers believe he was executed. It is not known how long he was held captive, although it is likely he was tortured. Captain al-Sudani is thought to be one of the four prisoners, blindfolded and wearing orange jumpsuits, seen being shot in a wooded area in the IS propaganda video. His former Falcon team-mate said he would never be forgotten. 'Harith managed to infiltrate Daesh for two years, and he lived among them and saved [the] lives of innocent people,' they said. 'In one week he gave information about 11 suicide bombers, with accurate details which led to them being killed. Daesh did not suspect him [at the time].' Mr al-Basri said: 'He was giving us all the information about the car bombs and the locations Daesh wanted to strike. 'We defused the bombs and made fake bombs in the locations to give messages that [attacks were] achieved.' It was not until after Captain al-Sudani's death that his wife, Raghad Chaloob, and their children learned of his secret life. His 12-year-old son, Moamal, told a local TV channel earlier this month: 'My dad was spending most of his time in his work. We asked him to stay at home with us, but he was saying 'I can't, our country is more important'. 'He joined Daesh to ruin their plots. We are very proud of him.' The Falcon Intelligence Cell works with British Special Forces as it continues to hunt down jihadis. It is instrumental in the search for the terror group's leaders as IS loses control of its last remaining pockets of territory. Additional reporting: Ammar Shamary The daughter of a property tycoon died from a heroin overdose after struggling to cope with killing a teenage cyclist in a road accident. Hannah James, 37, was found dead in the bath of her Paris apartment by her boyfriend. The interior designer had mixed heroin with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic painkiller she had purchased on the dark web. Hannah James, 37, was found dead in the bath of her Paris apartment by her boyfriend Her family described how she spiralled into depression after the breakdown of her marriage two years earlier. She had also been left traumatised by a road crash in 2010, which left 17-year-old student Joel Semmens dead. Miss James was behind the wheel of her black convertible Audi TT returning from a client meeting in Byfleet, Surrey, when she hit Joel on his bike. Police initially suspected she was drunk or under the influence of drugs, but blood tests proved this was not the case. However, she admitted failing to stop at the scene of an accident and using a vehicle with an unsuitable tyre, and was sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid work. Her father David, 74, the chairman of a luxury Home Counties property company, said his daughter enjoyed a substantial income from a family trust. But he added that she had been a troubled teenager, who was expelled from school and began experimenting with drugs at an early age. The 37-year-old's family described how she spiralled into depression after the breakdown of her marriage two years earlier Speaking at Westminster Coroner's Court, he said: 'In late October 2010 Hannah had a driving accident ... and hit and killed a cyclist aged 17. 'He was crossing the main road without stopping, on an unlit bike wearing dark clothing and no safety gear. 'She was traumatised by the accident. We noticed she was showing signs of depression and noticeably drinking more and, now we know, taking drugs.' The hearing was told Miss James had been employed by the family firm to furnish the multi-million-pound properties it let and sold. Miss James was behind the wheel of her black convertible Audi TT returning from a client meeting in Byfleet, Surrey, when she hit Joel Semmens (pictured) on his bike She lived in a 1.2million home in Putney, south-west London, with her husband but after their marriage ended in 2015 she moved to the French capital. Mr James said: 'She had been there for about nine months to get away from all the friends she shared with her ex-husband and come to terms with the failed marriage. 'She seemed cheerful and happy as she had a new boyfriend. She invited us to see the apartment and we did in March 2017. 'We noticed she had lost weight and looked withdrawn. We went to a restaurant and she didn't have an appetite. 'We thought depression was affecting her as she declined to come to lunch the next day.' He said that just a few weeks after returning home from the trip, he received a phone call from his daughter's boyfriend to say that she had died. Mr James added: 'There were two envelopes locked in a drawer in Hannah's former bedroom, that she gave to my wife [to open] if anything should happen to her. 'They contained seven carbon copies of paramedic response reports from 999 calls by her husband [saying] that resuscitation had been carried out as a consequence of heroin overdose. This was the first knowledge we had. 'When we cleared her apartment we found hypodermic syringes in the bedroom and bathroom.' Mr James is listed as the current director of Waldon Properties Ltd, which specialises in renting luxury mansions in Surrey. His wife Elizabeth is listed as the company's secretary. The couple live together near Woking. Miss James's boyfriend, John Gladwell, found her body on March 31 last year after breaking into her home when she did not answer the door. The inquest heard she ordered drugs on the dark web, a hidden part of the internet accessible only using specialist software, from a dealer known as the 'Dream Factory'. 'When I last saw her she was just how I remember her her mood was bubbly, it always was,' Mr Gladwell said. 'I was aware of the drug use ... she used coke, heroin. 'From what she was telling me she was trying not to take drugs any more ... I think it was an accident. There's no doubt in my mind it was an accident.' Coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox recorded a verdict of accidental death due to misadventure. For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit a local branch, see samaritans.org for details Six teenagers have been summoned to court to answer affray charges following the death of Mariam Moustafa, 18, who died three weeks after she was attacked by a group of girls outside a shopping centre. Three 17-year-old girls, two 15-year-old girls and a 19-year-old woman have been summoned to appear at Nottingham Magistrates' Court on September 27. Egyptian student Mariam, of Nottingham, was taken to the city's Queen's Medical Centre for treatment after she was beaten outside the Intu Victoria shopping centre on February 20. Mariam, who had just been offered a place at university in London, had originally been discharged, but started to deteriorate at home and was rushed back to hospital She died at Nottingham City Hospital on March 14, 2018 of a stroke. Chief superintendent Rob Griffin previously said the force remains committed to seeing 'that justice is done'. He said: 'Nottinghamshire Police, working closely with colleagues from the East Midlands Major Crime Unit, have carried out a thorough and professional investigation into this case. 'During the investigation we have meticulously gathered all of the available evidence. 'We have now provided the CPS with all of that evidence, so that they can now consider it and reach a decision over the next steps in the case. 'I have been in regular contact with Mariam's family and their legal representative and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has been in close touch with Egyptian authorities over the course of the last five months to keep them fully informed of the progress of the investigation.' The last photo of Mariam Moustafa, (left) an engineering student, two weeks before she was left in a coma (right) Mariam, who had been offered a place at university in London, was born in Rome, where her family had moved from Egypt in 1991. Italian prosecutors also opened an investigation into her death. In a statement, Nottingham Police said: 'We'd like to remind people that nothing should be published by anyone which could likely lead to any juvenile (aged under 18) who is involved in these court proceedings being identified, whether as a defendant or witness.' 'Mariam was admitted to hospital following reports of an incident which happened in Parliament Street, Nottingham, at about 8pm on Tuesday 20 February 2018. She died in hospital on 14 March 2018. She died of a stroke.' Rebel Wilson has returned about $4.2 million of the major payout she received from Bauer Media after a historic defamation win. The Australian actress was awarded a record $4.7 million payout in September 2017 when Bauer Media was found guilty of defaming the star in a series of articles. However Victoria's Court of Appeal slashed the payout to $600,000 this year, and ordered Wilson to pay back more than $4 million plus interest. Rebel Wilson has returned about $4.2 million of the major payout she received from Bauer Media after a historic defamation win (pictured leaving court after winning case in June) Wilson has now repaid the sum, but the fight is not over. The Hollywood actress has lodged an application for her own appeal before the High Court. The High Court decision will bring an end to a two-year long saga between Wilson and Bauer Media. The Australian actress was awarded a record $4.7 million payout in September 2017 when Bauer Media was found guilty of defaming the star in a series of articles (outside court in June last year) A fishing boat carrying at least 20 suspected illegal immigrants crashed on Australia's coastline, prompting an outcry for better border security. The fishing boat carrying suspected asylum seekers ran aground near Cairns on Sunday, with those on board fleeing into crocodile infested waters. Australian Border Force (ABF) confirmed 11 people had been located by its officers and police after the 'illegal fishing vessel' approached the mouth of the Daintree River, far north Queensland. Scroll down for video There has been an outcry for better border security after a fishing boat carrying at least 20 suspected illegal immigrants crashed on Australia's coastline Nine News reported at least 20 people were on board, but ABF has not confirmed a number. If those in custody are confirmed as asylum seekers, the boat arrival would mark the first suspected illegal entry vessel on Australian land since 2014. MP George Christensen was among several federal MPs calling out the government for not doing enough to secure the nation's borders. 'Qld borders need to be made more secure esp (especially) given proximity of PNG & Indonesia, considering level of radical Islamism in Indonesia, Malaysia & Philippines,' he tweeted. 'With Peter Dutton back as Home Affairs Minister, I suspect this incursion will be dealt with swiftly and that there will be more focus on border security in North Queensland,' he later posted to Facebook. Opposition immigration and border protection spokesman Shayne Newman pinned the arrival on the new prime minister. 'This boat arrival falls squarely at the feet of PM Scott Morrison,' he tweeted. The boat came to shore at Cape Kimberley just north of the Daintree River near Cairns on Sunday (authorities pictured at the beach where the boat arrived) More than 20 illegal immigrants are on the run after the fishing boat they were on ran aground in far north Queensland 'Unlike the chaos and division inside the Government that has put the security of Australia's borders at risk, Labor is a united team.' Paramedics in Mossman treated two people in custody for fever and chills while another three were assessed. ABF told Senate Estimates in April the last people smuggling venture under the Operation Sovereign Borders construct to reach Australia was in July 2014. A Sri Lankan man came to Australia alone in November that year in the last documented boat arrival. A Connecticut restaurant recently came under fire for naming one of its signature cocktails after the racist Tuskegee Experiment, which allowed medical doctors to withhold syphilis treatment from African-American men. 323 Restaurant and Bar removed the extremely offensive cocktail, The Tuskegee Experiment, after a customer flagged it and posted a photo of the drink menu on Facebook. 'This is not ok,' Eric Armour wrote in the caption of the photo, adding that 'this is ridiculously horrible'. 323 Restaurant and Bar recently came under fire for naming one of its signature cocktails after the racist Tuskegee Experiment, which allowed medical doctors to withhold syphilis treatment from African-American men. Pictured is the name of the cocktail on the bar's menu The restaurant (pictured) removed the extremely offensive cocktail, The Tuskegee Experiment, after a customer flagged it and posted a photo on Facebook of the drink on their menu According to the restaurant's menu, the drink was made of Myers dark rum, Malibu, pineapple juice, fresh lime, pineapple and jalapeno mash with a dash of tabasco. The drink's name was referring to the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, which started in 1932. The Tuskegee Experiment was a 40-year study which tracked the progression of untreated syphilis in African-American men. Medical workers in the segregated South withheld treatment from the unsuspecting men infected with syphilis simply so doctors could track the ravages of the horrid illness and dissect their bodies afterward. The US Public Health Service, working with state and local health agencies, began what was supposed to be a short-lived program in Tuskegee to record the progression of the illness, which begins with a small sore and can progress to open wounds, blindness, deafness, mental illness and death. Workers initially recruited 600 black men into a health program with the promise of free medical checks, free food, free transportation and burial insurance in a county where many blacks had never even seen a doctor. The men were tested and sorted into groups - 399 with syphilis and another 201 who were not infected. The disease-free men were used as a control group. Health workers told syphilitic fathers, grandfathers, sons, brothers and uncles only that they had 'bad blood'. The Tuskegee Experiment was a 40-year study which tracked the progression of untreated syphilis in African-American men. The men seen in this 1950's photo were included in the syphilis study SYPHILIS EXPLAINED Syphilis is a chronic bacterial disease that can be contracted by other means but is typically a sexually-transmitted disease. In very rare cases, it can be spread through prolonged kissing, as well as the more common routes of transmission: vaginal, anal and oral sex. It comes from the bacteria Treponema pallidum. Signs and symptoms: Sufferers develop sores, though these can often go ignored. The infection develops in stages. STAGE ONE Small, painless sores (like ulcers) on genitals or in the mouth Appear within 10-90 days after exposure They disappear within six weeks, and do not leave a scar, before developing to stage two STAGE TWO Rosy rash on the palms of the hand and soles of the feet Moist warts in the groin White patches inside the mouth Swollen glands Fever Weight loss This all fades away without treatment before developing into stage three STAGE THREE Without treatment it can progress to more severe issues with the heart, brain and nerves Paralysis Blindness Dementia Deafness Impotence Death Treatment: In the early stages, patients can receive an injection of Benzathine penicillin G. This will not undo the internal damage but will eliminate the infection. Advertisement None of the men were asked to consent to take part in a medical study. They also weren't told that 'bad blood' actually was a euphemism for syphilis. Instead, doctors purposely hid the study's purpose from the men, subjecting them during the study's early months to painful spinal taps and blood tests. Medical workers periodically provided men with pills and tonic that made them believe they were being treated, but they weren't. And doctors never provided them with penicillin after it became the standard treatment for syphilis in the mid-1940s. The government published occasional reports on the study, including findings which showed the men with syphilis were dying at a faster rate than the uninfected. But it's doubtful any of the men - or their wives, girlfriends or other sexual partners - had any idea what had happened until an Associated Press story was published nationwide on July 26, 1972. The study ended and the men sued, resulting in a $9million settlement. It's unclear why the restaurant would name a cocktail after this horrific experiment. A DailyMail.com request for comment was not immediately returned. The Tory Brexit wars escalated yesterday after the Brexit Secretary dismissed the Treasury's dire economic forecasts. Dominic Raab said some projections needed to be treated with 'a measure of caution' days after Philip Hammond warned a 'no-deal' Brexit could cause major damage to Britain's finances. The Chancellor was accused of launching a 'another instalment of dodgy Project Fear' when he suggested last week that gross domestic product (GDP) could fall and borrowing could be around 80billion a year higher by 2033/34 if it leaves the EU without a deal. Dominic Raab said some projections needed to be treated with 'a measure of caution But Mr Raab told The Sunday Times: 'I'm always chary of any forecast because most of them have been proved to be wrong.' Stressing that 'some of the forecasts' should be treated with 'a measure of caution', he pointed out that estimates of UK GDP for next year have been 'revised up'. The Chancellor's dire predictions, set out in a letter to Conservative MP Nicky Morgan, the pro-Remain chairman of the Treasury select committee, emerged hours after Mr Raab tried to play down fears over the impact of a no-deal Brexit. Mr Raab's predecessor as Brexit Secretary, David Davis, yesterday criticised Mr Hammond and urged colleagues to ignore the 'misery merchants' of the Treasury. Writing in The Sun on Sunday, he said the timing of the Chancellor's letter 'was either spectacularly incompetent or deliberate', and added: 'I know what I think.' Mr Davis said: 'It was an attempt to frighten the population into imagining the most terrible consequences of leaving the EU without a deal.' It also emerged yesterday the Cabinet will meet to discuss plans for a no-deal Brexit over fears a row between Brexiteers and Remainers is undermining negotiations with Brussels. Philip Hammond warned a 'no-deal' Brexit could cause major damage to Britain's finances. No 10 has ordered Cabinet ministers to clear their diaries for September 13 to work on a plan to pump extra funding into key areas not yet covered by contingency plans. Meanwhile, former European Council president Herman Van Rompuy has warned that crashing out of the EU without a deal poses 'an existential threat to the UK itself'. The ex-Belgian prime minister said: 'We could end up with a situation in which the EU27 becomes more united and a United Kingdom less united.' On Saturday a rally was held in Newcastle by those calling for a second poll on the final Brexit deal. Sir Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat leader, told the People's Vote event that teenagers aged 16 and 17 should be able to vote in any second ballot. He said the 2016 referendum to leave the EU in which only those aged 18 and over were eligible to vote was 'imposed on young people to the loss of their futures'. On Tuesday Labour shadow minister Barry Gardiner warned that a second referendum could lead to civil disobedience on the streets. n Philip Hammond has signed off at least 92million to fund a satellite navigation system which will rival the EU's Galileo programme. It comes after the European Commission said Britain cannot play a full part in Galileo even though it helped create it. The father and stepmother of the three-year-old boy whose remains were found at a ramshackle compound, reportedly planned a terrorist attack on one of the largest public hospitals in the southeast United States. New information from a 13-page court motion that contains statements from some of the 11 children who were starved and forced to live in squalor in New Mexico alongside five adults, claim the couple wanted to target Grady Memorial hospital in Atlanta due to Jany Leveille, 35, being unhappy with the service. In a journal she 'expressed her displeasure with Grady Hospital due to the treatment she and her mother received there,' reports CNN. Siraj Ibn Wahhaj (left) and his wife Jany Leveille (right) were charged with child abuse resulting in death and conspiracy to commit child abuse on Friday for neglecting to provide medication to Wahhaj's severely disabled son whose remains were found in their New Mexico compound The couple wanted to target Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta (pictured) due to Jany Leveille, 35, being unhappy with the service Lucas Morten (left) and Siraj Ibn Wahhaj (right) reportedly planned terrorist attacks in a hand-written 'Phases of Terrorism' document and it's being used against them by prosecutors It's not clear what treatment the family had received there. The terror plan made as part of a handwritten 'Phases of Terrorism' document that was found, containing information on how they could bring down certain establishments. Children told police Leiville and her husband, Siraj Wahhaj, 40, 'intended to confront "corrupt" institutions or individuals, such as the military, big businesses, CIA, teachers/schools and reveal the "truth" to these corrupt institutions or individuals,' if she failed to persuade them with her message. The document allegedly instructed those involved to 'shoot or otherwise attack the non-believer' and contained 'instructions for "The one-time terrorist," instructions on the use of a "choke point," a location "called the ideal attack site," the "ability to defend the safe haven," the "ability to escape-perimeter rings," and "sniper position detection procedure".' Children stated they received advanced training to shoot the above-mentioned, and police found they had a makeshift shooting range on site containing an AR-15 rifle, 30-round magazines that were loaded, four pistols that were loaded and additional ammunition. Documents were discovered at the New Mexico compound that contain evidence of their plans to kill police, teachers, bank workers and those at other 'corrupt' institutions (pictured above are items recovered) The group are said to be 'Muslim extremists' trying to get their message heard and planned to slay those who they could not persuade according to a court filing (pictured above are items recovered) Children were taken into custody earlier this month and interviews have revealed the charged adults' intentions of terror (pictured above are items recovered) The young people held claimed Morten 'stated he wished to die in Jihad, as a martyr,' also telling Wahhaj's brother to follow Allah 'until he makes you die a martyr as you wanted and the only way is by joining the righteous'. Morten also told the man to 'take all your money out of the bank and bring your guns' in his plan. The father and step-mother of Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj, 3, have been charged with child abuse after neglecting to give toddler medicine needed to treat his seizures The motion continues: 'At times, Jany Leveille would laugh and joke about dying in Jihad as would Subhanna Wahhaj.' All of the accused were prepared for a raid and had strategically placed weapons at the end of an escape tunnel for the children but the filing notes the two men would stay behind to fight law enforcement. Information in the motion is being used by prosecutors asking a judge to reconsider giving the five adults probation. It could allow at least three of the defendants to be released on house arrest with ankle monitors. Wahhaj's sisters Hujrah Wahhaj and Subhannah Wahhaj, and a man, Lucas Morten, are charged with 11 counts of child abuse. After Abdul Ghani Wahhaj passed away, the couple is charged with child abuse resulting in death, which is a first-degree felony, and conspiracy to commit child abuse, also a first-degree felony. It convicted, they could face life behind bars. According to court documents, the children were starved while they lived in the compound (pictured above are items recovered) CNN obtained audio from a dash cam where police can be heard notifying Tanya and Jason Badger, who complained the compound residents were trespassers and that there may be a missing child there, that someone inside was on the FBI watch list. 'We've gotten multiple calls on this child but, at the same time, our hands are tied because the FBI has whatever they got going on up there with them,' Officer Bryan Donis is reported to have said. He added: 'I know this boy is missing from Georgia and that this guy is on the terrorist watch list and that there is a group of people they're (FBI) keeping an eye on for whatever reason.' In June, police showed up to evict the group but say they didn't see a reason to take any further action despite noticing the terrible conditions. An interview with CNN, shows Taos County Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe getting emotional and eventually walking out after being questioned about the incident. He mentioned that FBI surveillance had picked up a limping boy. The couple were among the five adults and 11 children found during August 3 raid of this New Mexico, where they found in a state of filth and hunger. All five adults arrested at compound are jailed and charged with child abuse Photographs taken on the compound reveal how the group lived in squalor and had a makeshift shooting range as the children were allegedly trained to use firearms to eventually carry out school shootings Wahhaj and his wife Leveille are accused of failing to provide Siraj's severely disabled son Abdul-Ghani with his medication needed to treat his health problems including seizures, ultimately leading to his death. The affidavit alleges that the couple knew the child suffered seizures and was diagnosed with a seizure disorder but neglected to provide him medication or seek medical care for him. Wahhaj and Leveille, as well as the three other adults who lived at the compound, already face charges of child abuse for their reign of terror at a makeshift desert camp in New Mexico that they called home. Police raided their camp on August 3 and found the five adults and 11 children living in filth and hunger with no plumbing. The children living there were allegedly trained to handle firearms to carry out school shootings. Three days after the raid, police found the highly decomposed body of three-year-old Abdul-Ghani in a tunnel at the camp. 'We now know the child died on December 24, 2017 and was concealed at the compound,' Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe said in a statement. Opened cans of tuna and cranberries sit next to a dusty boot in the compound. There was no other food on the site and the children had not eaten for days when they were discovered Toddler Abdul-ghani had been reported missing in December from Jonesboro, Georgia by his mother Hakima Ramzi. She said Wahhaj said he was taking the child to a park but never returned. His father Wahhaj is accused to kidnapping the child and performing purification rituals on him. Prosecutors say that the child died late December 2017 during a religious ritual where the Quran was read out to cast out demonic spirits as the child's exhausted heart faded in and out. The ritualistic death was described at court hearings using information garnered from FBI interviews from the teenagers discovered at the compound. Ordeal: Hakima Ramzi's attorney told DailyMail.com: 'Hakima told us, 'He told me he was taking Abdul-Ghani to the park for a little while'. Instead he held a exorcism which ended in Abdul-ghani's death These accounts conform with aspects of an alternative, meditative Islamic healing ritual called ruqya. The New Mexico Office of Medical Inspector has not yet determined how Abdul-ghani died. Spokeswoman Alex Sanchez said Friday that the agency is performing analyses. Leveille's lawyer Kelly Golightley declined to comment on charges, Wahhaj's lawyer Clark did not commented on them either. Judge Sarah Backus said the previous evidence provided by prosecutors was troubling but did not indicate any clear threat to public safety from the defendants, who have no criminal records. Leveille, a Haitian national, was transferred from Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody back to Taos County on Thursday where she is also being held on immigration charges, the sheriff's office said. The remaining suspects are also in Taos County jail awaiting trial. One in three beat bobbies have been axed in only three years amid a huge surge in violent crime. Home Office figures reveal that more than 7,000 traditional neighbourhood police officers have been reassigned to other duties or quit since March 2015. The findings will raise fears in Whitehall that forces are retreating from the front line, and that the days of Dixon Of Dock Green-style bobbies pounding our streets are gone for good. One in three beat bobbies have been axed in only three years, figures reveal The news will further harm public faith in the police at a time when officers have come under fire for failing to attend the scene of many crimes. The fall comes amid spiralling violent crime in Wild West Britain, as highlighted by the Daily Mail. Last month the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that police recorded 5.5million offences in the year to March, a rise of 45 per cent compared with 2015. Violent crime in England and Wales has almost doubled from 778,000 offences to 1.4million over the same period, while murders have increased from 539 to 736 and knife offences have soared from 26,065 to 40,147. Senior officers have insisted that bobbies on the beat, who protect communities and gather intelligence, play a crucial role in solving crime. A more old-fashioned policing policy has seen Durham Constabulary become the best force in the country for achieving justice, with 18 per cent of crimes detected compared with 5 per cent in similar-sized forces. Analysis of official figures by The Sunday Times found that the number of neighbourhood police officers fell from 23,928 in March 2015 to 16,557 this year, a drop of around a third. Over the same period, the number of police community support officers, or PCSOs, has declined by around 18 per cent from 12,370 to 10,139. Police officer numbers have dropped from around 143,700 in March 2010, a few weeks before the Tory-led coalition won power, to 122,400 this March. Lord Stevens, the former Scotland Yard commissioner, said the figures were incredibly alarming, adding that public confidence in the police was linked to officers on the street in uniform. Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Sir Ed Davey said: This looks like the death of the traditional beat bobby by stealth. The Home Office insists that 92 per cent of officers are front-line but they include more than 40,000 in non-visible roles such as office-bound intelligence analysts, custody officers and operational support officers and nearly 9,000 in other support roles. The Government says it has protected overall police budgets in real terms since the 2015 spending review. Despite this, Home Secretary Sajid Javid has acknowledged pressures and pledged to fight for more money. A Home Office spokesman said: Forces are changing how they deliver local policing so that they can respond better to the changing nature of crime. They recognise effective community engagement is more than just having a visible police presence. Most have already set out plans to either protect or increase front-line policing this year. The forces using PCSOs to investigate burglaries Police forces are using PCSOs to investigate crimes including burglary and vandalism as they run out of fully trained staff. Senior officers at more than a third of forces are directing the civilian officers to respond to calls for help from the public. The police and community support officers, who do not have powers of arrest, are expected to pass inquiries on to detectives if they become more complex. PCSOs, nicknamed plastic policemen by their detractors, have been investigating burglaries in the West Midlands, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire and Cleveland. One PCSO published CCTV footage of an intruder caught on camera at a social club in Aldenham, Hertfordshire. Police forces are now using PCSOs to investigate crimes including burglary and vandalism In Surrey, a PCSO urged residents to be vigilant after three break-ins at properties in Banstead and Hooley. In Lincolnshire a PCSO asked for help to solve a shed burglary and damage to a nearby fence. Simon Kempton, of the Police Federation, which represents rank and file police officers, said: This is policing on the cheap. Chief constables are simply running out of properly trained people to send to jobs. HM Inspectorate of Constabulary has criticised chief constables for failing to provide adequate training for PCSOs expanded responsibilities. Hertfordshire Police said regular police officers, special constables, civilian investigators and PCSOs all have a valuable role in offering a reassuring presence to the public [and] helping to fight crime and anti-social behaviour. A Manchester Airport worker has been taken to hospital after the plane-towing vehicle he was driving crashed into a catering truck. The driver was left trapped in the crushed tug and broke both legs in the horrific collision on Sunday afternoon. Manchester Airport are investigating the incident and a spokesperson said the Aviator employee's condition is not thought to be life threatening. Scene of a crash on the airfield pictured outside Terminal 1 at Manchester Airport An airport worker told the Manchester Evening News: A tug drove past us and smashed into an Alpha food truck. He ended up hitting the corner full on. The tugs cab ended up underneath the Alphas cab. The man driving the tug was trapped with one leg badly injured. Im pretty sure he will have lost it. An air ambulance along with the fire service were reportedly on hand as well as police following the incident. The source added that the driver was cut out from the vehicle and broke both legs. Manchester Airport (pictured) are investigating the incident and a spokesperson said the Aviator employee's condition is not thought to be life threatening A Manchester Airport spokesman added: We are aware of an accident on the airfield involving an Aviator employee. He has been taken to hospital and an investigation will now take place. Its the second crash on the airfield in the last year with after an aircraft crashed into a catering truck in September. A hole was left in the side of the vehicle and passengers felt a small jolt. That's what I call a magical present! Simon Cowell has given son Eric, four, his own Hogwarts play house and its the size of a normal semi. Erics mum Lauren Silverman and Simons fellow BGT judge Amanda Holden were snapped, hoping to get into the handmade house built at the music tycoons LA home. But my Malibu sources say cheeky Eric has issued a no mummies allowed decree! Erics mum Lauren Silverman and Simons fellow BGT judge Amanda Holden were snapped, hoping to get into the handmade play house built at the music tycoons LA home Simon Cowell has given son Eric, four, his own Hogwarts play house and its the size of a normal semi He's the voice of Love Island, feted by fans for his pithy descriptions of the action in the contestants villa. But while the bronzed beauties of the reality programme rake it in with lucrative endorsement deals, show narrator Iain Stirling seems to be on his uppers to the tune of 8,000. I bumped into Iain, 30, after his show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and he told me: I was trying to extend my overdraft the other day from 5,000 to 8,000 and the person on the phone said, Are you the guy from Love Island? It was brutal. But hes still laughing. He explained the need for his overdraft with a deadpan one-liner: I like shoes. It has been a tricky few years for Colin Firth and wife Livia and it seems the trials of married life continue to test them It has been a tricky few years for Colin Firth and wife Livia and it seems the trials of married life continue to test them. Colin has been spotted regularly with male chums at the posh High Road House private members club, in Chiswick, West London, just a stones throw from the family home, amid claims that the couple are struggling to move on after Livias dalliance with an Italian journalist. The Firths 20-year marriage plunged into crisis when ecofashion campaigner Livia, 48, mother of two of Colins three sons, admitted to a year-long affair with Marco Brancaccia from 2015 to 2016 during a trial separation. One friend told me: They tried hard to come back from this but it was always going to be hard. Its noticeable to some who know them that theyre finding it tough. Quote... unquote Am I am mates with John Torode? Weve been doing MasterChef since I had a hairline and he had a waistline of course I am! Gregg Wallace laughs off any hint of frostiness towards his co-star in typically cheeky style Mates? Of course we are! Gregg Wallace and John Torode I was asked to play the Queens 92nd birthday, so I asked my partner to the Albert Hall to watch me. She said, Who else is on? Frank Skinners girlfriend can match him for witty one-liners, he reveals at the Edinburgh TV Festival I took John Gielgud out for his 90th. I thanked him for spending the day with us and he replied, Dont worry, old chap, all my real friends are dead. Gyles Brandreth explains how he was firmly put in his place by the late, great actor He was teased to be arriving in Albert Square as part of an explosive autumn storyline. And EastEnders fans have been given their first look at Mel Owen's ex-husband Ray Kelly making his debut on the soap, with the seemingly charming figure making his acquaintance with her current boyfriend Jack Branning. It has already been hinted that Ray's Mr Smooth exterior is not all it seems - with the soap describing him as an 'expert liar' - and his risk-taking nature will take centre stage in an explosive autumn storyline. New face: EastEnders fans have been given their first look at Mel Owen's ex-husband Ray Kelly making his debut on the soap, as he has an awkward first encounter with her boyfriend Jack In scenes set to air on Friday September 7, Ray (played by Irish actor Sean Mahon) will be seen making his arrival on the Square, before introducing himself to Jack (Scott Maslen). And while at first it seems Ray is just taking in the Walford sights, another snap hints he is in pursuit of Mel (Tamzin Outhwaite) in particular, as he can be seen holding a key-ring emblazoned with the letter M. The encounter is bound to be awkward as Ray remains unaware that Jack is Mel's new man, as the pair's romance continues to blossom. However it's hinted that Ray will try and win Jack's trust by inviting him for lunch. Toe-curling: The pair could be seen having an awkward introduction in first look snaps, as soap bosses hint fans will see the seemingly charming figures true colours very soon It was reported back in June that Ray would be arriving on the show as part of a huge autumn storyline surrounding him and Mel, with sources telling the Metro he'll arrive with a sinister vendetta. They said: 'Rays arrival will have a massive impact on Jack, Mel, Hunter and others in Walford. 'It will be interesting to see where he finds his place in the Square, whether he could be the next big villain and whether he might clash with other alpha males on the Square such as Phil, Jack and Max who are bound to be interested in who he is and what his game is.' Intriguing: Mel made a sensational return to the Square in January after 16 years away, and she is set to take centre stage in an explosive storyline involving her ex-husband Ray As of yet fans have known very little about Mel's 16 year absence, apart from the fact that she has a teenage son Hunter (Charlie Winter). It comes after Ray arrival on the Square was stemmed by a phonecall from Hunter, telling him a slew of lies in a bid to convince him to come and see him. Fans will have to wait and see what lies behind Ray's 'silver fox' exterior, and how the sinister storyline will unfold. EastEnders airs these scenes on Friday 7th September at 8pm on BBC One. Human Nature have spoken candidly about their incredible career ahead of their upcoming 30th anniversary. The 'boy' band spoke about to the Daily Telegraph this week following the release of their latest album Romance of the Jukebox, which just debuted at No. 2 on the ARIA charts. 'We did a show the other night and John Farnham was actually on before us, so our support act so to speak,' exclaimed member Michael Tierney. 'He is nearly 70 now and his voice is incredible!' Iconic! Human Nature have opened up about their incredible career ahead of their upcoming 30th anniversary Just like Farnsey, the foursome plan to continue performing well into the future. 'Sometimes you see artists who look like they dont want to be there anymore but I think when you still like the thrill of getting on stage, we will be doing it until the thrill is gone,' said Michael. Human Nature, who debuted back in 1989, are set to celebrate their 30th anniversary next year. 'We did a show the other night and John Farnham (pictured) was actually on before us, so our support act so to speak,' exclaimed member Michael Tierney The group have already announced a national tour to celebrate the momentous occasion, which will kick off on the Gold Coast next year. Their most recent album, Romance of the Jukebox, just debuted at No. 2 on the ARIA charts, behind Ariana Grande's Sweetener. The album is another collection of classic covers, including The Monkees' I'm a Believer and Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge over Troubled Water. 'Sometimes you see artists who look like they dont want to be there anymore but I think when you still like the thrill of getting on stage, we will be doing it until the thrill is gone,' said Michael Human Nature shot to fame in the mid-nineties with hits like Wishes and Cruel. They later found huge success in America as a touring casino act. The group have also maintained success in Australia, topping the charts back in 2016 with Gimme Some Lovin': Jukebox Vol II. She always turns heads on a night out. And Jessica Wright ensured all eyes would be on her as she headed to the I Saw It First fashion dinner at STK Ibiza with friends on Sunday. Clad in a chocolate brown mini dress, the former TOWIE star, 32, oozed glamour on the outing as she posed for snaps ahead of the meal. Glamorous: Jessica Wright ensured all eyes would be on her as she headed to the I Saw It First fashion dinner at STK Ibiza with friends on Sunday Clinging to her hourglass curves, the scanty satin mini dress featured a low-cut neckline that teased at her ample cleavage. The thigh-grazing garment also offered a look at her tanned and toned pins, whilst a pair of gold barely-there heels boosted her petite frame. The elder sister of Mark Wright finished off the look by styling her glossy raven locks loose and poker straight to frame her pretty features. Brunette beauty: Clad in a chocolate brown mini dress, the former TOWIE star, 32, oozed glamour on the outing as she posed for snaps ahead of the meal Chest a glimpse! Clinging to her hourglass curves, the scanty satin mini dress featured a low-cut neckline that teased at her ample cleavage Jessica's outing comes after fans flooded a recent post of hers suggesting she looked just like Katie Price Posting a new snap to her 1.3 million followers, Jess struck a pose for the camera with her long dark locks falling around her shoulders, pouting for Britain and looking off to the side of the camera. Comments came in comparing her to the likes of Chloe Sims, Demi Lovato and Cheryl - but most were struck by how much she resembled Loose Women star and former glamour model Katie Price, 40. Loving life: Jessica seemed in high spirits as she chatted with pals at their dinner Brunette beauty: The elder sister of Mark Wright finished off the look by styling her glossy raven locks loose and poker straight to frame her pretty features Remarks flooded in such as 'You look like Katie price in this!' and 'Hell no you look like Katie Price!' Others wrote 'I thought you was Katie Price until I looked at your name you could be twins [sic]' and 'Katie Price so much!' 'Double of Katie Price!!!' another exclaimed. In the shot, Jess wore a white top with what appeared to be pancake stacks or burgers on it. She captioned it: 'When bae asks if youre hungry.' Double trouble? Jessica's outing comes after fans flooded a recent post of hers suggesting she looked just like Katie Price Love Island's Dani Dyer has revealed she only signed up for the ITV2 show after failing to land a role on her dad Danny's starring soap EastEnders. The 22-year-old told The Daily Star On Sunday she would love to land to appear on the BBC soap, but thinks bosses are reluctant due to Danny's ongoing role as Mick Carter. It comes as Dani also revealed that her boyfriend Jack Fincham has missed his former job as a stationery salesman since being crowned Love Island champion, admitting he's thought about returning on a part-time basis. New gig: Dani Dyer has revealed she only signed up for Love Island after failing to land a role on her dad Danny's starring soap EastEnders Dani reveals she tried to land a part on EastEnders before applying on Love Island and Survival Of The Fittest, but was given a firm no by bosses who feared a public backlash. She said: 'I don't know about EastEnders, they wouldn't let me in it. 'I think it's because my dad is already on it so if I went on it there would be a massive outrage' Big goal: She told The Daily Star On Sunday she would love to land to appear on the BBC soap, but thinks bosses are reluctant due to Danny's ongoing role as Mick Carter A source also told the publication that Dani decided to make the move into reality TV after growing 'fed up' with working as a barmaid. They added that despite dad Danny's reservations at her career change, he now agrees it is one of the best things she could have done. Dani became the runaway winner of this year's Love Island thanks to her relationship with boyfriend Jack Fincham, with the coupling pairing up on day one and staying together until the series' end. Since leaving the villa Jack and Dani's relationship has gone from strength to strength, with the pair even moving into their first home together in London earlier this month. Sensational: Since being crowned Love Island champion Dani's career has gone from strength to strength, as has her relationship with boyfriend Jack Fincham Meanwhile Dani also revealed that beau Jack is growing his old job selling pens, telling The Times he was keen to return to work soon after Love Island's end. She said: 'When he came out, he was saying to my dad, 'I'm going to have a week off work, I reckon, and then I'll go back to selling pens. 'And my dad was like, 'No, Jack, it's not going to work like that, mate. You're going to have a different life now.' 'Jack didn't realise. He genuinely said, 'Dan, I think I'll have a week off,' and then he said, 'Well, how about I go back a couple of days a week then?' And I was like, ''Jaaaack!!!!'' Jack revealed earlier this week that he had quit his job selling pens, saying at the Edinburgh TV festival: 'I will stay in touch with the boys though. [I have] lovely opportunities elsewhere'. This blog may be a labor of love for me, but it takes a lot of effort, time and money. For over 14 years and 30,000 articles I have been providing accurate, original news that would have remained unnoticed. I've written hundreds of scoops and sometimes my reporting ends up making a real difference. I appreciate any donations you can give to keep this blog going. She's known as a world-class beauty. And Megan Fox was showing off her gym-honed body once again on Friday. The 32-year-old Transformers star definitely sizzled in the video shared on the Frederick's of Hollywood official Instagram account. Not shy! Megan Fox was showing off her gym-honed body once again on Friday In the sexy short, the mother-of-three starts out in what appears to be a dark-colored bustier as she reclines in front of the camera. An extreme close-up of her cleavage clad in a strappy lingerie top is next, before cutting to a close-up of the actress's youthful visage. A wider shot shows the bra once again, as well as a sheer wrap and several large charm necklaces. Things then take a somewhat fashion-runway feel, as Megan can be seen walking in a sultry manner toward the camera. Dimly lit: In the sexy short, the mother-of-three starts out in what appears to be a dark-colored bustier as she reclines in front of the camera Strutting her stuff! Things then take a somewhat fashion-runway feel, as Megan can be seen walking in a sultry manner toward the camera Splashdown! Images invoking rain and psychedelia are up next She must work out! Finally a shot of her torso takes center stage, revealing her taut tummy and toned legs For that scene, she dons a different bra and panty set, which can be seen worn underneath a transparent duster-style coat. Images invoking rain and psychedelia are up next, before a shot of her torso takes center stage, revealing her taut tummy and toned legs. Megan looked divine in the lingerie line, which is probably no coincidence as the caption for the video states that they are pieces from Megan's own Fall Collection for the storied underwear brand. Real talk: Her post from Thursday showed the Tennessee native clad in denim and hiking boots, talking with a bespectacled man Meanwhile, the Jennifer's Body star was showcasing a decidedly less sensual episode on her own Instagram account. Her post from Thursday showed the Tennessee native clad in denim and hiking boots, talking with a bespectacled man. It apparently was a scene from her new Travel Channel show called Mysteries & Myths. Her caption explained: 'Out in the field at an active dig with the Head of the Archaeology Department at Gotland University, Dan Carlsson. We were researching Viking graves, and he let me hold a broach that is around 1,000 years old.' Cool info! Her caption explained: 'Out in the field at an active dig with the Head of the Archaeology Department at Gotland University, Dan Carlsson. We were researching Viking graves, and he let me hold a broach that is around 1,000 years old' Two years have passed since they fall in love on The Bachelorette. And now Lee Elliott, 37, has taken to Instagram to publicly commemorate his special anniversary with Georgia Love, 29, by penning a very gushing post to her. Lee posted the heartwarming message on Sunday to his 101,000 followers. Scroll down for video 'My only regret is that I didn't find you sooner!' The Bachelorette's Georgia Love and Lee Elliott celebrate their two-year anniversary by sharing gushing social media tributes 'I have loved you for 2 years, 24 months, 104 weeks, 730 days, 17,520 hours, 1,051,200 minutes, 63,072,000 seconds,' the besotted bloke calculated. 'My only regret is that I didn't find you sooner so that I could love you longer! Happy 2nd anniversary @georgiealove my love!' he added. Georgia shared an equally as loved-up post, writing: 'Two years ago we stood atop a hotel in Singapore, a few rose petals around and a few more cameras.' 'My love': Lee, 37, publicly commemorated his special anniversary with by penning this adorable caption - with Georgia, 29, also sharing her own special post 'I'd looked forward to that moment for so long, when I could say those three words and finally call you mine.' 'While I knew I loved you in that moment, I had no idea how much more I would continue to love you every day and just how wonderful our life together would be.' 'Happy anniversary my Lemon, my Michael Cameron, my love.' Reality romance can work: Two years have passed since they fall in love on the second season of The Bachelorette 'Thank you for taking me on two, wonderful, happy, loving and fun-filled trips around the sun. Lets take a few more, why dont we?!' Earlier this week Georgia and Lee reached another milestone in their fairy tale romance by moving into their first home together. Georgia revealed the joyous news by sharing a photo of herself and Lee posing out the front of their new Melbourne-based abode on Instagram. True love! Georgia and Lee reached another milestone in their fairy tale romance by moving into their first home together recently in Melbourne 'Do we love our new home?' she wrote in the caption. 'Oui!' She added the hashtags: '#whitepicketfences #homeiswheretheheartis #homeiswhereverimwithyou.' Lee also celebrated the momentous occasion with a touching social media post of his own. We're so happy! Lee also celebrated the momentous occasion with a touching social media post of his own Sharing a photo of himself and Georgia kissing in a pool on The Bachelorette, the 36-year-old wrote a gushing tribute to the ambitious anchorwoman and their relationship. '2 years to the day that I first told you that I loved you in the Marina Bay Sands pool overlooking all of Singapore,' he wrote. 'So I could not be more excited that today will mark yet another milestone as we move in to our very own home together!' Flashback: Georgia and Lee met on the second season of The Bachelorette The tradie finished: 'Here's to never having to say goodbye again, only goodnight.' Georgia and Lee previously lived in Melbourne's St. Kilda, before purchasing their new digs in Richmond. Since finding fame on reality TV, Georgia has gone on to work as a TV presenter and weatherwoman. She appears on the television series Grown-ish. And Francia Raisa walked the red carpet on Saturday night at the 33rd annual Imagen Awards, where she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress - Television. The 30-year-old actress flaunted her cleavage in a yellow dress while making her way into the celebrity-filled award show. Nominee: Francia Raisa walked the red carpet on Saturday night at the 33rd annual Imagen Awards, where she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress - Television The pastel yellow frock featured a high slit that revealed much of the Bring it On: All or Nothing star's taut thigh. She added a couple extra inches with a pair of pointed, nude heels and accessorized with large gold earrings. Francia brushed her medium-length dark chocolate locks behind her ears and painted her lips a soft pink. Gorgeous: The 30-year-old actress flaunted her cleavage in a yellow dress while making her way into the celebrity-filled award show Stunner: The pastel yellow frock featured a high slit that revealed much of the Bring it On: All or Nothing star's taut thigh Francia went with a classic move and brought her mother Virginia Almendarez along as her plus one. Mom donned a white blouse with a black jacket and matching pants and wrapped her arm around her daughter on the carpet. It was definitely a proud day for Virginia as she got to celebrate her daughter's nomination for Best Supporting Actress - Television. Grace: Francia went with a classic move and brought her mother Virginia Almendarez along as her plus one Proud: Mom donned a white blouse with a black jacket and matching pants and wrapped her arm around her daughter on the carpet Danny Trejo, 74, looked classy in a dark grey suit and a fedora as he smiled wide for cameras on the carpet. Rita Moreno looked full of life and grabbed attention in a bright red jacket and stunning neck piece. She was also nominated in the Best Supporting Actress - Television. Style: Danny Trejo, 74, looked classy in a dark grey suit and a fedora as he smiled wide for cameras on the carpet Fiery: Rita Moreno looked full of life and grabbed attention in a bright red jacket and stunning neck piece Karina Ortiz also nominated in the Best Supporting Actress - Television category looked stunning a brown dress with a plunging neckline. Constance Marie, 52, showed off her legs in a slinky black dress, adding a couple extra inches with strappy heels. Best Supporting Actress - Television nominee Gina Torres, 49, looked gorgeous in a long black frock. Norman Lear and Helen Hernandez were class acts as they took photos on the carpet together. Beautiful: Karina Ortiz also nominated in the Best Supporting Actress - Television category looked stunning a brown dress with a plunging neckline Fun: Constance Marie, 52, showed off her legs in a slinky black dress, adding a couple extra inches with strappy heels Elegant: Best Supporting Actress - Television nominee Gina Torres, 49, looked gorgeous in a long black frock Lear founded the Imagen Awards and its often referred to as the Latino Golden Globes. The award show took place at the J.W. Marriott L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles. The program began in 1985 to "encourage and recognize the positive portrayal of Latinos in media," according to the official website. Class acts: Norman Lear and Helen Hernandez were class acts as they took photos on the carpet together Big night: Jenna Ortega, 15, donned a black dress and tied her hair into a complicated bun On stage: She joined Craig Gerber on stage, and he wore a black suit A Trophy: Torres took the mic and with a trophy and hand and was all smiles Working together: Francia Raisa and Jon Ecker, 35, took the stage together as presenters She often surprises fans by bringing special guests on stage during her concerts. And Taylor Swift proved on trend as she gave the audience a jolt by asking Tim McGraw and Faith Hill to perform during her Nashville show on Saturday. The 28-year-old superstar shared the venue with the country star legends as the trio belted out Taylor's debut single Tim McGraw. Special guests: Taylor Swift gave the audience a jolt by asking Tim McGraw and Faith Hill to perform during her Nashville show on Saturday 'When you think Tim McGraw. I hope you think of my favorite song,' Taylor said as she pointed to Tim on stage. Tim rocked a metallic jacket with faded denim pants as Faith flaunted her figure in an all-black jumpsuit. The three musical geniuses wowed the crowd as one fan posted to social media: 'Taylor, Tim, and Faith... I'M SCREAMING!' Before the married couple appeared, Taylor performed Better Man - the award-winning country ballad she wrote for Little Big Town. Belt it out! The superstar shared the venue with the country star legends as the trio belted out Taylor's debut single Tim McGraw Shout out: 'When you think Tim McGraw. I hope you think of my favorite song,' Taylor said as she pointed to Tim on stage Casual cool: Tim rocked a metallic jacket with faded denim pants as Faith flaunted her figure in an all-black jumpsuit 'Every single thing that I do I've learned in Nashville, and I'm so incredibly grateful,' the Look What You Made Me Do songstress remarked. Meanwhile, Taylor's Reputation Stadium Tour broke her own record for highest-grossing U.S. tour of all time for a female artist. Her 1989 World Tour previously held the record for highest-grossing U.S. tour by a female artist. Preparing: The trio rehearsed at the Nissan Stadium, with Taylor perching at the piano while wearing a cat-print T-shirt and a pair of black Madewell shorts Laugh attack: The three superstars seemed to be enjoying themselves during practice 'Across the 27 domestic dates that have been reported to Billboard so far, Swift (28) has brought in $191.1 million, with an additional $11.1 million earned in Canada,' reported Billboard. The Reputation Tour is accumulating more than $7 million per concert, and has had 1,489,904 attendees over the course of 27 shows. The $202.3 million earned so far does not include the six concerts she played in the U.K. earlier this year. Swift still has 11 remaining dates to play in the United States, with the next two set for Minneapolis, Minnesota on August 31 and September 1. Fan fare: The three musical geniuses wowed the crowd as one fan posted to social media: 'Taylor, Tim, and Faith... I'M SCREAMING!' Giving props:'Every single thing that I do I've learned in Nashville, and I'm so incredibly grateful,' the Look What You Made Me Do songstress remarked Crooner: Taylor serenades the crowd Costume: Taylor's tour has been marked by some inventive outfits She's the former stripper who reignited a flame with millionaire medic Geoffrey Edelsten, 75, last year. And over the weekend, Gabi Grecko, 29, drew on her risque roots as she posed completely topless on social media. The sexy stunner took to Instagram on Saturday night to flaunt her buxom bust in a pair of sparkly nipple pasties. Scroll down for video 'National boob day!' Gabi Grecko, 29, (pictured) flaunted her ample assets this week as she posed in eye-popping sparkly nipple pasties Gabi began the selfie-video by playfully pulsating her bare-breasted body. Seconds later the star offered her legion of followers an extra-long glimpse of her cavernous cleavage as she was seen slightly squeezing her breasts together. Clad in pink cat-eye sunglasses and an undone black zipper ensemble, Gabi gave fans a double dose of bust in a mirror-effect photograph. Tight squeeze, yes please! Seconds later the busty star offered her legion of followers an extra-long glimpse of her cavernous cleavage as she was seen slightly squeezing her breasts together 'Nycs national boob day parade today,' she captioned both the video and image. It appears the blonde bared her breasts for the annual 'GoTopless' day in New York City. The event, which falls on Women's Equality Day, August 26, invites people across the world to go topless in the name of gender equality and women's rights. Down Under bound!? Gabi's (pictured) flesh-baring antics come after suggestions Geoffrey wants to settle Down Under with the blonde Gabi's flesh-baring antics come after suggestions Geoffrey wants to relocate Down Under with the blonde. The couple, who tied the knot in 2015 and separated five months later before reuniting late last year, currently split their time between Los Angeles and New York. But before they can feather their nest at his Melbourne penthouse, Geoffrey is flying to New York to 'sort out' the American aspiring rapper's Australian visa. Seeing double: Clad in pink cat-eye sunglasses and an undone black zipper ensemble, Gabi (pictured) put on another busty-display in a mirror-effect photograph earlier on Saturday Visa run! Millionaire medic Geoffrey Edelsten, 75, is desperate to 'sort out' Australian immigration papers for former escort wife Gabi Grecko, 29 so they can live in his native Melbourne permanently According to a report in the publication earlier this month, the aging tycoon and his busty bride will also be scoping out synagogues in the Big Apple to find the perfect one for their upcoming vow renewals. But the publication claims the ceremony is being delayed because Gabi is 'still undergoing her conversion to Judaism.' The couple first got married in 2015 at a Melbourne registry office but split acrimoniously five months later. Jesinta Franklin (nee Campbell) has claimed David Jones have 'snubbed her from the guest list of their last two fashion shows.' Her shock comment, which was reported by the Sun-Herald this week, comes after it was previously claimed 'there are no hard feelings' between both parties after ending their business relationship in 2017. David Jones dropped Jesinta, 27, as their key ambassador in December after working together for two years. Scroll down for video No love lost? Jesinta Franklin claimed David Jones have 'snubbed her from past two fashion shows' as she's spotted 'schmoozing' rival retailer Myer's new CEO John King After the WAG spoke to The Sun_Herald, the publication wrote, '[Jesinta] explained to The Goss that [David Jones] had left her off the guest list for the past two shows.' The model spoke to the newspaper while attending Myer's spring/summer show last Thursday in Sydney. When asked why she chose to attend the rival retailer's star-studded event, Jesinta reportedly said she 'likes to support Australia designers.' However, the publication hinted there could have been another reason she attended. No entry: Sydney Morning Herald claim Jesinta told them she wasn't extended an invite to recent David Jones events following their two year working relationship which has since ended New venture? The Goss columnist Amy Croffey wrote '[Jesinta] and her manager Annie Kelly were spotted schmoozing Myer's new CEO John King post-show' The Goss columnist Amy Croffey wrote: '[Jesinta] and her manager Annie Kelly were spotted schmoozing Myer's new CEO John King post-show.' After splitting from David Jones in December, the famed WAG said that she and the brand were unable to agree on the terms of the deal, leading to the end of their working relationship. 'I was really honoured they wanted to continue the relationship, but I'm at a point in my life where I know what I want and I'm not afraid to ask for it,' she told the Daily Telegraph in February. Daily Mail Australia have reached out to Jesinta's rep and David Jones for comment. Business deal: After splitting from David Jones in December, the famed WAG said that she and the brand were unable to agree on the terms of the deal, leading to the professional split At just six-years-old, Pixie Curtis already has her own successful hair accessories company and over 100,000 followers on Instagram. So it's no surprise that the youngster has a strong opinion on style, with her mother Roxy Jaceno recently revealing Pixie almost refused to attend Myer's Spring Summer fashion show because she didn't like Roxy's dress. 'She said she wouldn't come out with me tonight if I wore this,' Roxy told Sydney Morning Herald, referring to her hot pink $1700 Prada frock. 'She said she wouldn't come out with me tonight if I wore this!' Pixie Curtis threatened not to attend Myer's Spring Summer fashion show because she didn't like her mother's dress (pictured) A cheeky Pixie added: '[The dress] is the opposite of nice!' Roxy's designer frock certainly stood out at the glitzy fashion event. The PR queen teamed the fluoro pink organza dress with tan suede heels Gianvito Rossi heels. Unique! PR queen Roxy Jacenko teamed the fluoro pink organza dress with tan suede heels Gianvito Rossi heels Despite her odd dress choice, the blonde beauty still looked beautiful, with perfectly curled tresses and an expertly applied makeup palette. Little Pixie looked adorable in a white turtleneck sweater, shimmering leggings, a faux-fur leopard print jacket and black slip-on sneakers. Roxy set up Pixie with her own business - Pixie's Bows - in 2011, which has grown exponentially since its inception. Wild child! Little Pixie looked adorable in a white turtleneck sweater, shimmering leggings, a faux-fur leopard print jacket and black slip-on sneakers A retail expert told Daily Mail Australia this month that if Pixies Bows' popularity continues to grow, the company is likely to have a $3 million-per-year annual turnover by 2023, at which time Pixie will be 11. If this prediction proves correct, Pixie could be worth a whopping $21 million by the time she turns 18. Among the fans of Pixie's bows are AFL WAG Rebecca Judd's daughter Billie, three. Other fans include Katie Holmes's daughter Suri Cruise, 11, Jessica Alba's daughter Haven, five, Jenna Dewan-Tatum's daughter Everly, four, and Sarah Jessica Parker's eight-year-old twin daughters, Marion and Tabitha. She's playing a lesbian teenager whose guardians place her into gay conversion therapy in her new film The Miseducation of Cameron Post. And after days of promoting the indie drama, Chloe Grace Moretz was enjoying a night out at Annabel's in London on Saturday. The actress treated herself to a fun-filled outing, hitting the town with a pal as she let off some steam following a busy week in the UK. Stepping out in style: Chloe Grace Moretz was enjoying a night out at Annabel's in London on Saturday Chloe was casually clad in a sombre, all-black ensemble for her night out, joined by a number of female friends. She sported a simple black jacket and matching trousers, set off with patent leather boots. The starlet added a pop of colour to her look thanks to an eye-catching, mint green T-shirt. Keeping it simple: Chloe was casually clad in a sombre, all-black ensemble for her night out, joined by a number of female friends Sombre style: She sported a simple black jacket and matching trousers, set off with patent leather boots Bright: The starlet added a pop of colour to her look thanks to an eye-catching, mint green T-shirt Chloe, who is one of five children and has two gay brothers, has opened up about her new movie role, as well as her close bond with her elder siblings Colin and Trevor. Talking to Gay Times, the actress, revealed: 'The healthiest relationship that I've ever seen and grew up with was not that of my parents, it was that of my brother and his boyfriend who have been together still to this day for 11 years. 'That has been my most healthy parental relationship that I've ever seen. Proud sister: Chloe, who is one of five children and has two gay brothers, has opened up about her new movie role, as well as her close bond with her elder siblings Colin and Trevor 'It gave me faith and hope that you can find someone to be with for a long period of time who you truly love. 'But for me, it's interesting that it wasn't your typical nuclear family unit it's my gay brother and his boyfriend.' She added: 'I grew up fighting on their behalf because it broke my heart to see that yes, they can stand up for themselves, but people wouldn't listen. Family: She's set to star as Cameron Post, a lesbian teenager whose guardians place her into gay conversion therapy during the 1990s, in her new film The Miseducation of Cameron Post (pictured with her four brothers and mother earlier this year for her 21st birthday) 'So I took it upon myself with their blessing to go out there and talk about it, and to tell people, "Hey, being gay is not a big deal at all. But be proud and be out there and raise the flag high. Be a part of the community, and be for the community." 'So it was never a question to me whether or not I was ever going to be an advocate, and what that meant to my heart and how it shaped me.' Chloe went on to reveal that she is taking her new film, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, to politicians in Washington, D.C. In the film, the actress plays a lesbian teenager whose guardians place her into gay conversion therapy during the 1990s. Smitten: She told Gay Times: 'The healthiest relationship that I've ever seen and grew up with was not that of my parents, it was that of my brother and his boyfriend.' (pictured with her brother Trevor in 2016) She said: 'In the current state of America, if you don't have a message that you're pushing out, if it's not some sort of activism, then why are you doing it? 'I want this movie to be a platform. I want this movie to start a conversation and to help lobby against conversion therapy in America. 'I'm actually flying to DC to do a screening and to have an open conversation with a couple of politicians, and to talk about lobbying against gay conversion therapy in America.' Important: Chloe went on to reveal that she is taking her new film, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, to politicians in Washington, D.C (Chloe with her brother Trevor in 2014) Only recently, Chloe explained the reason why she wanted to do the film after taking a year and a half off. Talking on The One Show, she said: 'I took about a year and a half off after working 15 years straight, it struck me in a personal way because I have two gay brothers. 'And the story of a young woman who is sent to a Christian conversation therapy camp, it focuses on the interpersonal relationships of meeting other people for the first time'. Pre-order the September 2018 issue of Gay Times at gaytimes.co.uk/buy He's not afraid to tap into his humorous side every now and then. And on Sunday, Hugh Jackman took to Instagram to share a video of himself partaking in the now-viral Kiki dance challenge - with a twist. The hunky 49-year-old was seen busting a few impressive moves underwater to Drake's famous number one hit, In My Feelings. Starting a new trend? Hugh Jackman wowed fans as he took part in a VERY impressive Kiki dance performance underwater Comically signalling the lyrics with his hands, Hugh wore a blue long sleeve swimwear top and shorts for the performance. 'I'm (finally) #inmyfeelings #underwater #kiki #thankful to #youknowwhoyouare @champagnepapi #drake' [sic],' Hugh captioned the post. The video quickly generated more than a million views and thousands of comments from astonished fans. Man of many talents: The hunky 49-year-old was seen busting a few impressive moves underwater to Drake's famous number one hit, In My Feelings Perhaps the Hollywood star dedicated his moves to wife and actress Deborra-lee Furness, 62. Earlier this year, Hugh opened up about what has kept his 22-year marriage to his wife rock-solid since the days before he was famous. Speaking to Closer Weekly in April, Hugh said: 'You've got to find the right person. It's powerful, but simple.' 'When you're dating, you put on the best version of yourself. On the dance floor, you're like, I'm pulling out my best moves, I've got my best clothes on,' he told the publication. Dressed the part: Comically signalling the lyrics with his hands, Hugh wore a blue long sleeve swimwear top and funky shorts for the performance The famous Australian couple met on the set of ABC drama Correlli in 1995 when Hugh was fresh out of acting school. Although the series only lasted one season, the superstar says meeting his wife was the 'greatest thing to come out of it'. The pair were married in 1996 and after struggling with infertility, adopted their children Oscar and Ava in the early 2000s. She's recently spent some time apart while from handsome husband Chris Hemsworth as he films the Men In Black reboot in London. And Elsa Pataky reunited with her actor beau, 35, as the loved up couple enjoyed a rare date night out at swanky club Annabel's in the British capital on Saturday. The Spanish actress, 42, looked effortlessly chic in an edgy black leather jacket over a simple black blouse as the pair made their exit hand-in-hand. Smitten: Elsa Pataky, 42, looked effortlessly chic as she enjoyed a rare date night with handsome husband Chris Hemsworth, 35, in London on Saturday Elsa slipped her slender pins into a pair of black skinny jeans, and elongated her statuesque frame in stylish suede ankle boots. Tying up her biker chic look, the Fast and Furious star toted a tiny black chain cross-body bag, while accessorising with a delicate gold chain and matching earrings. Elsa swept up her blonde tresses into a tousled ponytail, with soft tendrils framing her face, while minimalist make-up amplified her fresh-faced glow. Loved up: The showbiz couple looked totally inseparable as they made a quick dash from the club and into the back of cab, where Chris lovingly wrapped his arm around his stunning wife Thor star Chris looked ever the leading man in a khaki suede jacket over a simple grey T-shirt. The Australian stud tied his date night look together with black jeans and patent tan leather boots, as well as a long black chain hanging from his neck. The showbiz couple - who often gush about each other over social media- looked totally inseparable as they made a quick dash from the club and into the back of cab, where Chris lovingly wrapped his arm around his stunning wife. Stylish couple: Elsa slipped her slender pins into a pair of black skinny jeans, and elongated her statuesque frame in stylish suede ankle boots Chris and Elsa tied the knot in 2010 and share three adorable children, daughter India Rose, six, and twin sons Tristan and Sasha, four. The pair, who were previously based in Los Angeles, now enjoy a blissfully relaxed life in Byron Bay on Australia's east coast. Last year, Chris and Elsa celebrated a relationship milestone: starring in their first movie together. They played a married couple in war drama 12 Strong, and the Aussie actor joked that filming 'was like a little holiday away from the kids'. Happy family: Chris and Elsa tied the knot in 2010 and share three adorable children, daughter India Rose, six, and twin sons Tristan and Sasha, four Appearing on US breakfast show Good Morning America in January this year, Chris said: 'We left the kids with their grandparents, and went off for a few weeks and shot together. 'We've been rehearsing that relationship and that on-screen chemistry for seven years so if we didn't have chemistry, we would've been in trouble.' 12 Strong tells the story of the first Special Forces team that's deployed to Afghanistan following the events of 9/11. In the film, Chris plays the role of Captain Mitch Nelson, who has the task of leading his team of 12 soldiers to take down the Taliban. Elsa plays the part of the captain's dutiful wife, who looks after their daughter while he is at war. They announced their engagement in December last year, three years after he broke things off with his then-fiancee Kate Hudson. And Matt Bellamy, 40, and Elle Evans, 28, looked as loved-up as ever as they stepped out for a date in Malibu on Saturday. Beaming as they walked hand-in-hand, the couple couldn't help but laugh as they chatted away and made their way through the sun-soaked streets of Los Angeles. Romantic bliss: Matt Bellamy, 40, and fiancee Elle Evans, 28, put on a loved-up display as they enjoyed a date in Malibu on Saturday The pair, who began dating in 2015, looked chic in their casual ensembles, as Elle opted for an all-black outfit that ensured she put on a leggy display. Donning a tank top over minuscule black shorts, the former Playmate completed her look with a pair of matching sandals and sunglasses. Styling her blonde locks into cute buns on either side of her head, she wore light touches of make-up to highlight her natural features. Relaxed: The pair, who began dating in 2015, looked chic in their casual ensembles, as Elle opted for an all-black outfit that ensured she put on a leggy display The Muse frontman donned a grey T-shirt over his muscular torso, which he paired with loose-fitting blue trousers and black slip-on shoes. Matt proposed to Elle during a holiday to Fiji, and the model revealed the good news on Instagram, she wrote: 'Was going to surprise everyone on Christmas, but just can't wait any longer...We are so happy to announce to the world that we are engaged! 'Just a few days after my birthday, on the most romantic holiday of our lives, the man of my dreams asked me to marry him!' Elle added that 'after tears of joy, gasps of shock, and a split second of disbelief, of course - I said YES!' I can't imagine our lives apart. Paint it black: Donning a tank top over minuscule black shorts, the former Playmate completed her look with a pair of matching sandals and sunglasses Casual: The Muse frontman donned a grey T-shirt over his muscular torso, which he paired with loose-fitting blue trousers and black slip-on shoes 'What I can imagine is a bright future full of love & light, family & friends, moments that turn into cherished memories, and a lifetime of pure bliss.' Matt was previously engaged to Italian psychologist Gaia Polloni for nine years ending before things in 2009, he then dated Kate Hudson from Spring 2010. In April 2011 Matt and Kate announced their engagement, before welcoming their son Bingham Hawn 'Bing' Bellamy into the world in July of the same year. The pair revealed they had amicably split in December 2014, and have co-parented their child since parting ways. He sensationally abandoned the James Bond 25 project last week over 'creative differences'. And it's being reported that director Danny Boyle's specific issue with the proposed plot for the latest film was that writers wanted to kill off 007 and have him 'regenerate' for James Bond 26, a la Doctor Who, as Daniel Craig finally bids goodbye to the franchise. The Sun reports that, according to an insider: 'There were discussions about killing off Bond in dramatic fashion at the end. I quit! Danny Boyle's specific issue with the proposed plot for the latest James Bond film was that writers wanted to kill off 007 and have him 'regenerate' for James Bond 26, a la Doctor Who, it's been reported 'It would also leave it open for a twist in the next instalment either Bond hadnt died or there could be a Doctor Who-esque regeneration with a new actor. 'There were clashes over budget and theres pandemonium among crew with people leaving the production left, right and centre.' The decision to kill Bond - something that has never been done thus far in the film series, despite many a near miss - is said to be the idea of long-serving producer Barbara Broccoli, who wants a 'pure gold spectacular finale'. But Boyle, 61, was allegedly dead set against the idea. The 'regeneration' concept is something that takes place every few seasons of Doctor Who, with the forthcoming latest season breaking new ground by casting the first female Doctor, played by Jodie Whittaker. Gone Bond: Daniel Craig finally bids goodbye to the franchise - but will his 007 meet a sticky end? Bond, however, has already been played by seven actors, with the new one simply taking over the role, with no need to explain anything. In contrast, Doctor Who - which is a supernatural sci-fi series - actually morphs into a difference person; something that is all part of the show's plot. Unlike Bond himself, his fellow secret service colleagues' titles - such as M and Q - are acknowledged as code names. When M was killed at the end of Skyfall, a new M was instaled. The part was played by Dame Judi Dench, but went next to Ralph Fiennes in Spectre. The death of M was another bold move in the franchise, perhaps paving the way for Bond himself to die. Regeneration: This concept is something that takes place every few seasons of Doctor Who, with the forthcoming latest season breaking new ground by casting the first female Doctor, played by Jodie Whittaker [pictured R] Dial M for Murder: When M was killed at the end of Skyfall, a new M was instaled. The part was played by Dame Judi Dench, but went next to Ralph Fiennes in Spectre Boyle had been collaborating with screenwriter John Hodge on the script for the movie. Filmmakers who could step in to replace Boyle include Dallas Buyers Club's Jean-Marc Vallee, Baby Driver's Edgar Wright, Hell or High Water's David Mackenzie and White Boy Rick' Yann Demange, it has been reported. The North American release date for the upcoming James Bond movie - tentatively slated for November 8, 2019 - remains up in the air following Boyle's exodus from the project over creative differences earlier this week. Sources told The Hollywood Reporter the movie will not hits its original release date, and could be pushed back until the following year. Last hurrah: The upcoming film will be Daniel Craig's last in the iconic role The film will be distributed in the states by MGM, and overseas by Universal; in the UK, its release date is slated for October 25, 2019, the publication reported. In a separate report, insiders told Deadline indicated that the film remains on track to hit theaters November 8, citing contrary information as 'wishful thinking by rival distributors.' The date might remain intact assuming a new director is hired within the next two months. Producers Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, according to the outlet, have yet to declare which direction they will be moving in. The month in question will be a big one in cinemas, with Wonder Woman 1984 due to debut November 1. The TOWIE cast have jetted off to Sardinia to film the first few episodes of the upcoming series. And Amber Turner was determined to bring the glamour, ensuring she stood out from the crowd in a low-cut peach dress with a dangerously high thigh-high split. Unfortunately for the 25-year-old beauty, her co-stars Yazmin Oukhellou and Shelby Tribble had also opted for salmon coloured ensembles for their day out filming at Sottovento Nightclub and Porto Cervo Harbour. Wow: Amber Turner was determined to bring the glamour to TOWIE filming in Sardinia, ensuring she stood out from the crowd in a low-cut peach dress Coordinating: Unfortunately for the 25-year-old beauty, her co-stars Yazmin Oukhellou (left) and Shelby Tribble (right) had also opted for salmon coloured ensembles Amber put on a glamorous display in the extreme plunging number, which she teamed with gladiator inspired gold heels. She wore her long blonde extensions down in tumbling curls and matched the coral tones of her make-up to her dress. Yazmin showed off her figure in a tiny peach crop top and matching skirt which clung to her every curve. Making a statement: Amber put on a glamorous display in the extreme plunging number, which she teamed with gladiator inspired gold heels Looking good: Yazmin showed off her figure in a tiny peach crop top and matching skirt which clung to her every curve Hell for leather: Also spotted working her magic in front of the cameras was Georgia Kousoulou, who stood out from the crowd in a leather look miniskirt The brunette beauty posed up a storm with her boyfriend James 'Lockie' Lock, proving they had come a long way since their arguments last series. Shelby was also clad in a bright coral hue, going hand-in-hand with Pete Wicks as they arrived at the filming location. Also spotted working her magic in front of the cameras was Georgia Kousoulou, who stood out from the crowd in a leather look miniskirt. Cute couple: Yazmin and boyfriend James 'Lockie' Lock proved they were still going strong Hand-in-hand: Shelby and Pete Wicks are also doing better than ever Glamorous girls: Amber and Georgia ensured they were the centre of attention The blonde showed off her flat stomach in a Bardot crop top and highlighted her plump pout with a slick of scarlet lipstick. Also spotted on location was Amber's love interest Dan Edgar. The pair have finally made things official, with the Lothario claiming he was ready to commit to the blonde during the hotly anticipated finale in May. Top of the crops: Georgia showcased her flat stomach in the tiny top The look of love: Lockie and Yazmin only had eye for each other Here come the boys: Billi Mucklow's brother Sam is making his debut this series Since then, the couple have been enjoying a series of sun-drenched holidays as their blossoming romance appears to go from strength to strength. It seems the lovebirds were meant to be after Amber had her sights set on him since she first joined the TOWIE crowd. The blonde cheated on her then-boyfriend of four years Jamie Reed with the hunk while the cast were away in Tenerife. Until the finale, the pair have endured an on/off romance which has seen them split up a number of times so no doubt fans will be watching out for what happens next. Sealed with a kiss: Georgia and her boyfriend Tommy were seen filming a romantic scene Stepping out: Also spotted on location was Amber's love interest Dan Edgar, who was joined by Myles Barnett and James 'Diags' Bennewith Date night: Georgia and Tommy went hand-in-hand as they sauntered along She's a devoted mother to her daughter Anja and son Noah. And Alessandra Ambrosio was treating her little girl to a private Ariana Grande show on Saturday, celebrating her 10th birthday in style. The supermodel was spotted arriving at the pop princess' exclusive Sweetner Sessions event in Los Angeles, going hand-in-hand with an excited Anja. Birthday girl: Alessandra Ambrosio was treating her daughter Anja (pictured right) to a private Ariana Grande show on Saturday, celebrating her 10th birthday in style The youngster was also joined by several friends for her special outing at the show. Alessandra opted for a casual ensemble for the occasion, rocking a star print dress. The leggy model covered up with a low-key denim jacket and kept her look casual by donning a pair of white trainers. Chic: Alessandra opted for a casual ensemble for the occasion, rocking a star print dress Casual: The leggy model covered up with a low-key denim jacket and kept her look casual by donning a pair of white trainers Fun-filled: The youngster was also joined by several friends for her special outing at the show The brunette beauty wore her hair pulled in to a high ponytail and sported natural make-up for the occasion, while her daughter Anja wore a sparkling Princess Jasmine-themed bomber jacket from Shop Disney. Last week, the former Victoria's Secret Angel took her two children on a road trip. The beauty drove her kids up the California coast from Los Angeles, past Big Sur and on to San Francisco in what many consider to be a trip of a lifetime. Cali trip: Last week, the former Victoria's Secret Angel took her two children on a road trip The Versace model's last post was near the Golden Gate Bride in San Francisco. The star captioned the image, 'Golden Gate Bridge #roadtrip #familyvacation.' She wore a grey sweatshirt as she held on to Anja and Noah, six. Scenic: When in Big Sur they posed by a cove where the water was a pretty turquoise green/blue Pristine shores: Big Sur is where several scenes for Big Little Lies was filmed This bridge has been in many films: It has been seen in Big Little Lies as well as The Sandpiper with Elizabeth Taylor A lot of room for birds: This rock reached out of the ocean and was home to seagulls It's chilly in the Bay Area thanks to the fog that rolls in and makes the city feel more like winter than summer and that is why Alessandra and Anja were bundled up. When in Big Sur they posed by a cove where the water was a pretty turquoise green/blue. The kids were also seen napping in the back of the car with blankets. Snooze: The kids were also seen napping in the back of the car with blankets A big marina: This appeared to be a pit stop somewhere between LA and SF This comes after she was seen with her new beau, Nicolo Oddi, who is the founder and CEO of Alanui, a knitwear fashion label based in Milan. On Thursday evening they were seen side by side when leaving dinner in LA. The couple have already been seen holding hands in public. It is not known when they started dating. Earlier in the day, the Vogue model was spotted in Santa Monica for an extended family lunch at The Ivy. The 37-year-old put on a leggy display as she strutted around the beach-side town. New love for this model: Ambrosio was seen with her new love Nicolo Oddi in LA on Thursday evening Alesssandra was the epitome of summer in the flirty yellow frilly dress with a cute floral print. Her ensemble featured a deep v-neck which drew attention to her ample cleavage. The model complimented her incredibly long and lean legs with a pair of tan strappy block heels. Time to celebrate! Sharing videos and photos on her Instagram Stories, she captioned the family clinking their glasses with the hashtag: 'comemorando dia dos pais' - which from Portuguese translates to 'Celebrating Father's Day' She accessorised with a similar colored over-the-shoulder bag and a jade stone pendant necklace. Alessandra had her brunette locks styled back naturally and appeared to be wearing a minimal amount of makeup underneath her round sunglasses. Attending lunch with her mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, nephew, and two kids, the family were celebrating an belated Brazilian Father's Day which fell on last Sunday 12 August. Sharing videos and photos on her Instagram Stories, she captioned the family clinking their glasses with the hashtag: 'comemorando dia dos pais' - which from Portuguese translates to 'Celebrating Father's Day'. She has two children: daughter Anja Louise, nine, and son Noah Phoenix, six. It's Queensland's largest charity run of the year. And over the weekend, convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby was among those whoe successfully crossed the finish line at at the Sunday Mail Bridge to Brisbane Fun Run The 41-year-old former beauty student was spotted cheerfully running down the race track, holding up a 'peace' sign in one photo. Living her best life! Bali drug trafficker Schapelle Corby, 41, smiled ear-to-ear as she crossed the finish line at the Sunday Mail Bridge to Brisbane Fun Run over the weekend Schapelle dressed the part for the activity, wearing a black T-shirt on top of a grey long-sleeved top. She teamed up the top with a pair of black leggings and Nike sneakers, as she posed alongside a friend. Schapelle's long raven-coloured locks were tied up in a high pony tail for the occasion. All smiles! The 41-year-old former beauty student was spotted cheerfully running down the race track, holding up a 'peace' sign in one photo While Schapelle appeared to be in high spirits during the run, Schapelle hasn't always enjoyed a trouble-free life. Schapelle returned to Australia in May 2017 after serving almost a decade behind bars and three years on parole for smuggling drugs into Indonesia. She was arrested at Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport in October 2004 after customs officers discovered 4.1kg of marijuana wrapped in plastic inside her boogie board bag. Ready to run! Schapelle dressed the part for the activity, wearing a black T-shirt on top of a grey long-sleeved top Happy lady! She teamed the top with a pair of black leggings and Nike sneakers, as she posed alongside a friend After being sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment at Denpasar District Court in 2005, she ended up serving only nine years after receiving sentence cuts. Schapelle met her boyfriend Ben Panangian in 2006 during a church service in Bali's Kerobokan Prison, where they were both serving time for drug offences. It was previously speculated that the couple would never be reunited, as Ben would not be allowed into Australia because of his criminal history. But they recently hooked up in Singapore before heading to a beach resort in Vietnam for a two-week holiday, Woman's Day reported earlier this year. They recently returned home from their romantic getaway to Europe. And seemingly having caught the holiday blues upon their arrival, Peter Stefanovic and his wife Sylvia Jeffreys, 32, both took to Instagram on Sunday to share a series of photos from their trip. Peter shared a photograph of the pair against a stunning beach backdrop in Mallorca, Spain as the 36-year old journalist penned a comical caption to the post. Holiday blues! Peter Stefanovic and wife Sylvia shared sweet photos from their lavish European holiday after returning home, with Peter uploading a photograph of the pair against a stunning beach backdrop in Mallorca, Spain 'Got our Med-icine. Get it? *Ill get my coat,' he wrote. Peter was lying down beside Sylvia, who was pictured basking in the European sunlight, wearing a wide-brim straw hat and a pair of wide sunglasses. Moments earlier, Sylvia shared a picture of the smiling couple posing in front of the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Paradise: Meanwhile, Sylvia shared a picture of the smiling couple posing in front of the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris, France Wearing tortoise shell sunglasses, the Today show presenter opted for a white lace blouse which she teamed up with golden statement hoops. 'There's no one I'd rather block a world class view with @peter_stefanovic. The [time] goes back on tomorrow. See you bright & early @thetodayshow,' she wrote, adding the hashtags '#holiday' and '#paris'. The two are known for splashing the cash on lavish occasions - including their very luxurious wedding ceremony early last year. 'There's no one I'd rather block a world class view with @peter_stefanovic. The [time] goes back on tomorrow. See you bright & early @thetodayshow,' she wrote, adding the hashtags '#holiday' and '#paris' The lovebirds tired the knot at the exclusive Ooralba Estate in the Kangaroo Valley which featured over 160 guests. Among the attendees were fellow Channel Nine stars Richard Wilkins and Lisa Wilkinson. Peter's brother and Today show host, Karl Stefanovic, led the star arrivals at the wedding. Holiday's over! The two are known for splashing the cash on lavish occasions - including their very luxurious wedding ceremony early last year - but are now back in Sydney ready to work They both appeared on last year's season of Love Island. And Georgia Harrison and Montana Brown proved they're still close as they stepped out in London together on Saturday night. The pair looked like they'd had a great evening at STK restaurant, putting on a merry display as they headed home. Partying the night away: Georgia Harrison and Montana Brown proved they're still close as they stepped out in London together on Saturday night Georgia turned heads in a pair of silk leopard print trousers, teamed with a very low cut top. The blonde accessorised with several layered necklaces and wore her hair pulled back ina bun. Montana showed off her legs in a tiny leather look miniskirt, keeping the rest of her look simple. Glamorous: Georgia turned heads in a pair of silk leopard print trousers, teamed with a very low cut top Joining forces: Montana showed off her legs in a tiny leather look miniskirt, keeping the rest of her look simple She sported a beige T-shirt and pulled her look togther with a stylish pair of black heels. Georgia was recently spotted modelling for Charlotte Dawson's new Fredafunk's 2018 Summer Collection. Joining her reality star pal in posing for the campaign, Georgia proved to be a great advert for the brand as she sizzled in the sexy snaps. Stunning: Georgia was recently spotted modelling for Charlotte Dawson's new Fredafunk's 2018 Summer Collection Clad in a pair of distressed denim dungarees, the blonde bombshell went topless beneath, flashing a hint of her assets. The short cut garment also showed off her tanned and toned pins, whilst she boosted her frame with a pair of barely there nude heels. Georgia finished off the look by wearing her glossy locks in loose waves, whilst she framed with hazel hued peepers with a dramatic sweep of smokey eye shadow. Glamorous: Charlotte Dawson also stunned in the snaps, proving to be her own best advert as she slipped into a stylish mustard co-ord Chest a glimpse! Clad in a pair of distressed denim dungarees, the blonde bombshell went topless beneath, flashing a hint of her assets Leggy lady! The short cut garment also showed off her tanned and toned pins, whilst she boosted her frame with a pair of barely there nude heels Glam: Georgia also wore a denim jumpsuit and finished off the look by wearing her glossy locks in loose waves, whilst she framed with hazel peepers with a dramatic sweep of eye shadow Charlotte also stunned in the snaps, proving to be her own best advert as she slipped into a stylish mustard co-ord. A plunging tie front blouse offered a look at her cleavage and abs, with ruffled detailing on the sleeves framing her toned arms. The matching flared trousers boasted thigh high slits that allowed her toned pins to peek through, whilst she accessorised with nude platform heels. Actor Al Strobel has suffered a minor heart attack while visiting Melbourne for a Twin Peaks fan event. The 79-year-old actor, who played the 'one-armed man' Phillip Gerard in the cult television series, was visiting the city for an 'In Conversation' event. The Herald Sun reported on Sunday that the actor was taken to a hospital where a blot clot was removed and a stent inserted. Scroll down for video Rushed to hospital: Twin Peaks actor Al Strobel, 79, was rushed to hospital after suffering a minor heart attack in Melbourne following an 'in conversation' event at the weekend Earlier that day, the actor had appeared alongside two other visiting Twin Peaks stars Dana Ashbrook and Sheryl Lee at the Palais Theatre. According to the report, the 'In Conversation' series will continue in Adelaide, Sydney and Perth without the actor. 'Al is doing well and looks forward to getting back to meeting as many Twin Peaks fans again as soon as possible,' promoter David Williams reportedly said. 'Al is doing well and looks forward to getting back to meeting as many Twin Peaks fans again': Promoter David Williams said after the heart attack. Pictured with co-star Michael J Anderson Despite Twin Peaks first being launched in 1990, the classic series has had somewhat of a revival of late. It follows the investigation of the death of homecoming queen Laura Palmer by FBI agent Dale Cooper, played by Kyle McLachlan. In 2017, a revival Twin Peaks: The Return was launched with the drama series coming full circle in the two-part finale. The show also spawned a 1992 feature film, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. The show is regularly listed as one of the greatest in television history. Good Morning Britain host Kate Garraway is reportedly in talks to head to the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! jungle when the series returns in November. The veteran TV host, 51, is said to be packing her bags for the Australian outback, with a potential deal on the table worth 150,000. According to The Sun, has already been approached by show producers, who believe she will be a 'massive ratings hit'. On her way? Good Morning Britain's Kate Garrway, 51, 'in talks to appear on I'm A Celebrity'...as Holly Willoughby is 'confirmed' to co-host with Declan Donnelly Sources told the publication: 'Kate has been approached by show producers because they know she would be TV gold'. 'Kate has always been relatable and game for a challenge but since entering her fifties she's embracing all aspects of life and sees the Aussie jungle as the ultimate life test.' 'She's in great shape at the minute too so wouldn't have any qualms about stripping off in a bikini and would be flying the flag for the more mature lady.' New line up: It comes as fellow ITV presenter Holly Willoughby is said to be confirmed to co-host this year's I'm A Celeb with Declan Donnelly, amid Ant McPartlin's break from TV Last year, Kate was coy about wanting to enter the infamous jungle, telling The Express that it was 'a really great show', but 'you're not allowed to talk about things like that, are you? No you can't talk about it.' MailOnline have contacted representatives for Kate and ITV for comment. It comes as fellow ITV presenter Holly Willoughby is said to be confirmed to co-host this year's I'm A Celeb with Declan Donnelly, amid Ant McPartlin's break from TV. Fan favourite: According to The Sun, has already been approached by show producers, who believe she will be a 'massive ratings hit' (pictured on Monday with Jeremy Kyle) New team? TV insiders told The Mirror : 'Holly is 100% confirmed to be going into the Jungle this year as Ant's stand-in', as speculation continues to mount surrounding the signing... TV insiders told The Mirror: 'Holly is 100% confirmed to be going into the Jungle this year as Ant's stand-in', as speculation continues to mount surrounding the signing... 'It's been in the works for weeks as ITV were really keen on getting her in. They've taken their time announcing it as they wanted to be sure Holly could fit it in with her family and other work commitments.' Shortly before the apparent confirmation, further sources told The Sun that talks about the presenter's potential stint are at an 'advanced stage', as the 37-year-old is said to be the 'only star in talks for the role'. Holly has worked with ITV for nearly two decades as a presenter for the network's most-viewed shows, which feature Celebrity Juice and Dancing On Ice. MailOnline has contacted ITV and Holly's representatives for comment. Following Ant's drink-drive charge earlier this year, Holly spoke out about their close bond, admitting that she 'loves him to bits.' In an interview with The Guardian, the blonde shared: 'Everybody knows that Ant is a very good friend of mine and I've known him for a very long time.' She also touched on her decision to refuse from speaking about his arrest: 'Out of respect for him, I love him to bits, it's not something that I find very easy to talk about. Because it's a friend. His is not my story to tell.' Close pals: Following Ant's drink-drive charge earlier this year, Holly spoke out about their close bond, admitting that she 'loves him to bits' (pictured June 2016) Holly's possible stint has been much-talked about since Ant announced he will take a break from presenting for one year. TV bosses recently 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. Ant and Dec, also 42, were split up for the first time earlier this year after the star suffered a relapse during his addiction recovery and had to take a break from his career to focus on his health. Impressive resume: Holly has worked with ITV for nearly two decades as a presenter for the network's most-viewed shows, which feature Celebrity Juice and Dancing On Ice Following the embattled star's revelation, fans were left to speculate who would replace him alongside co-host Dec 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. 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, as well as Scarlett Moffatt. Will this woman replace Ant McPartlin on I'm A Celebrity? Comedian Julia Morris emerged as a favourite to take the troubled star's role after UK viewers went wild for her one-liners on the Australian version The replacements? Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt - who won the show when she was a contestant on it in 2016 - was 'ruled out' of the job last week, The Sun claimed In a statement to MailOnline earlier this month, Ant shared details of his recovery following his drink-drive charge in March. '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. 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 'Ant is clearly making good progress and we wish him all the very best and look forward to him returning to ITV next year. An announcement on I'm A Celebrity plans will be made in due course.' Ant's career break follows the collapse of his marriage to Lisa Armstrong and a four-week treatment in rehab in the wake of the 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's been partying the days and nights away during her raucous hen do in Ibiza. And Billie Faiers didn't show any signs of slowing down as she led the glamour once more with sister Sam, 27, as the celebrations continued on Sunday. The Mummy Diaries star, 28 - who is set to wed Greg Shepherd - flaunted her incredible figure in a red and white bikini top, which drew attention to her ample cleavage. Scroll down for video Billie Faiers' hen do: The bride-to-be, 28, caught the eye in a vibrant red and white bikini as she joined glam sister Sam, 27, on day four of the celebrations in Ibiza on Sunday Billie highlighted her washboard abs in the skimpy design, and slipped her slender pins into a pair of white mesh trousers, which showed off her scanty bikini bottoms. The reality star looked ready for the beach in a pair of simple white flip flops and toted a nude shoulder bag. Billie styled her glossy blonde tresses into a chic braid, while stylish black shades shielded her eyes from the sun. Hot stuff: Billie highlighted her washboard abs in the skimpy design, and slipped her slender pins into a pair of white mesh trousers, which showed off her scanty bikini bottoms The mum-of-two glitzed up the beach ensemble with gold hoop earrings and heightened her colour-clashing style with vibrant red lip stick. Sister Sam was on hand to ensure the bride-to-be was having the best time, and complemented her sibling's outfit with her own scarlet red bikini. The former TOWIE star displayed her cleavage and taut stomach in the high-waisted design, and wrapped up in a sophisticated white crochet kimono. Beach babes: Billie styled her glossy blonde tresses into a chic braid, while stylish black shades shielded her eyes from the sun Sam carried a chic Louis Vuitton backpack with her, and sauntered around in pair of cream sliders. The Celebrity Big Brother alum followed in Billie's style footsteps with her own classic hair braids, and opted for mirrored aviator shades. Joining them was fellow TV star Ferne McCann, who dazzled in a crimson two-piece, paired with a glittering net waist belt. The First Time Mum star - who gave birth to her baby daughter Sunday in November - flaunted her incredible physique in the scanty number, and inject some extra shimmer with metallic sandals. Having fun: Billie styled her glossy blonde tresses into a chic braid, while stylish black shades shielded her eyes from the sun Ferne swept up her blonde locks into a tight ponytail, and looked ready for her lavish day in the sunshine with classic black shades. Billie is preparing to marry businessman Greg, who she shares daughter Nelly, four, and 18-month-old son Arthur, in the Maldives after whopping four-year long engagement and much divisive chat over the nuptials. After finally settling on the plans, the couple have been throwing themselves into their pre-wedding festivities, with Greg having flown to Las Vegas earlier this month. All together: Sister Sam was on hand to ensure the bride-to-be was having the best time, and complemented her sibling's outfit with her own scarlet red bikini Here she goes: Billie rode a unicorn as she flew through the air Smile: The star looked delighted as she boarded the ride Smile: Ferne Mccann was seen chatting with pals at the club Sight to behold: Billie was lifted on a crane into the air Cheeky: Ferne flashed her peachy posterior as she chatted Celebrate: Billie was treated to a celebratory cake on the day Things were obviously set to get wild for Billie and her gal pals as they jetted to Ibiza in the wee hours of Thursday morning, during which they certainly made an impact on the airport with all the ladies rocking stylish matching denim shirts. Sam has two children Paul, aged two, and Rosie, with her love of more than three years Paul Knightley. Just weeks ago, Sam claimed she ended her feud with former BFF Ferne after they famously fell out over rival ITV2 programmes documenting motherhood. They put their problems aside on attending Billie's bridal shower and the former pals managed to heal the rift in their friendship. Sam told The Sun: 'We were both at my sister's bridal shower - Ferne was there. It was fine. It was nice. We were just catching up on the babies really. So we are fine.' Her younger boyfriend Younes Bendjima wasn't keen on her revealing selfies. But having ditched the boy toy, Kourtney Kardashian is living her best life - with plenty of bikini belfies in the mix. The reality star couldn't help but smile as she shared a series of cheeky bikini snaps while on holiday in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with gal pal Stephanie Shepherd. The 39-year-old was seen downing shots surrounded by a gaggle of guys on a rooftop terrace overlooking the Pacific Ocean just days after calling it quits on her nearly two-year relationship with Younes, 26. Sun's out! Kourtney Kardashian couldn't help but smile as she shared a series of cheeky bikini snaps while on holiday in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with gal pal Stephanie Shepherd Looking good: Kourtney made sure to show off her hard-earned physique as she crawled on top of a pool lounger wearing a tiny electric orange bikini Memorably, Younes once commented disapprovingly on one of Kourtney's revealing bikini shots - writing on Instagram in July: 'Thats what you need to show to get likes?' But that was all forgotten as Kourtney crawled on top of a pool lounger wearing a tiny electric orange bikini on Saturday. Her pert posterior was on display in a pair of thong bikini bottoms as she soaked up the sun while vacationing. The mother-of-three kept her short chestnut brown hair tied up into a ponytail and wore small mirrored frames over her eyes. Drink up! The 39-year-old reality television star imbibed in shots while on a rooftop terrace overlooking the Pacific Ocean just days after calling it quits on her nearly two-year relationship with boy toy Younes Bendjima, 26 Good times: After some rest and relaxation in the pool, Kourtney found her way to the rooftop for shots with fellow guests at the beachside retreat After some rest and relaxation in the pool, Kourtney found her way to the rooftop for shots with fellow guests at the beachside retreat. Dressed in a pair of distressed denim shorts with a sheer white cropped blouse wrapped around her torso, the eldest Kardashian daughter laughed as shots were poured for the group. Stephanie showed off the handy work - a large ice shot fashioned into a grenade - before Kourtney downed the drink and through the ice onto the beach. Fancy: Stephanie showed off the handy work - a large ice shot fashioned into a grenade - before Kourtney downed the drink and through the ice onto the beach Dressed in a pair of distressed denim shorts with a sheer white cropped blouse wrapped around her torso, the eldest Kardashian daughter laughed as shots were poured for the group Ready to race: She later proved a little athletic prowess as she jumped on to a teal colored beach cruiser for a few social snaps Kourtney hasn't been afraid to show her former lover what he's missing as she's posted a series of revealing swimsuit photos on social media. She later proved a little athletic prowess as she jumped on to a teal colored beach cruiser for a few social snaps. Kourtney hasn't been afraid to show her former lover what he's missing as she's posted a series of revealing swimsuit photos on social media. The 5ft stunner sprawled across a rock wall wearing an iridescent purple one piece in one sultry shot. She climbed atop her friends shoulders in one video and showed off her ample assets in a purple thong bikini. Kourtney and Younes dated for nearly two years before calling it quits just days ago. Laugh it off: Kourtney climbed to new heights with her pals Hello there: She climbed atop her friends shoulders in one video and showed off her ample assets in a purple thong bikini Matthew 'Matty J' Johnson and Laura Byrne are on their second ski holiday of the past month. After heading off for a romantic weekend in Thredbo in mid-August, over the past few days the pair have been sharing photos from New Zealand to social media. The ski bunnies posed on the edge of the South Island's snowy Tasman Glacier in a picturesque selfie shared by Matty to Instagram on Sunday. Off they go: Matthew 'Matty J' Johnson and Laura Byrne are on their second ski holiday of the past month, this time sharing photos from their New Zealand trip The Bachelor star amusingly captioned the image of himself and his girlfriend: 'Climbing glaciers is all white'. Fans were quick to speculate that Matty had whipped his accessories designer partner of one year away so he can propose. One fan commented under the image: 'I'm just waiting 'til you announce your engagement. That's why your on holiday right?' Another simply wrote: 'Just propose already!!' Chasing powder: The couple also headed off for a romantic weekend in Thredbo in mid-August The pair do certainly looked loved up in the images, and have recently taken their relationship to the next level. A year after Matty, 31, and Laura, 32, met on the set of The Bachelor, the couple marked their first anniversary by moving in together. Earlier this month, the couple were seen moving boxes out of their car and into a garage at Matty's abode in Sydney's Bondi. Ready to wed? Fans were quick to speculate that Matty had whipped his accessories designer partner of one year away so he can propose. One fan wrote: 'Just propose already!!' With the help of removalists - and their three-legged dog, Buster - the pair appeared to be jovially settling into their new home. In an interview with Who earlier this month, Matty and Laura said they were looking forward to finally putting some roots down. 'Weve spent forever spending one night at my place and one night at Mattys so it will be nice to be in the one place,' Laura told the publication. Real Housewives of New York star Bethenny Frankel broke her silence on Sunday after the 'excruciating sudden' loss of her rumored fiance Dennis Shields. Taking to Twitter, having previously just shared an image stating 'Thank you' to her 1.58million followers, the grieving 47-year-old penned: 'It's hard to breathe & I appreciate you giving me the space & support to try to do so... 'It's excruciating - sudden death is no closure & constant & memories. Our relationship is current so it's painfully raw. Trying to stay healthy & move through it w tears & close friends.' 'It's hard to breathe': Real Housewives of New Yor k star Bethenny Frankel has broken her silence after the 'excruciating sudden' loss of her rumored fiance Dennis Shields on Sunday (pictured in 2016) The LawCash CEO died, age 51, from an apparent oxycodone overdose in his Trump Tower apartment on August 10 - according to TMZ. The I Suck at Relationships author previously stated with an August 13 Instagram post of Dennis in bed with her late dog, Cookie. Bethenny - who began dating Shields in late 2015 - captioned the snap: 'Rest In Peace my sweet babies who gave me endless unconditional love. #nowandforever.' Painful: The grieving 47-year-old tweeted: 'I appreciate you giving me the space & support to try to do so. It's excruciating - sudden death is no closure & constant & memories' They both attended NYU: The LawCash CEO died, age 51, from an apparent oxycodone overdose in his Trump Tower apartment on August 10 'Rest In Peace my sweet babies who gave me endless unconditional love': The I Suck at Relationships author previously broke her silence with an August 13 Instagram post of Dennis in bed with her late dog, Cookie 'She is absolutely devastated,' a source told Us Weekly. 'She lost her best friend, her partner, her business partner. He's family. His family is her family. They've known each other over 30 years.' The Esquire Bank and YieldStreet chairman left behind four children with his estranged wife Jill Schwartzberg, who attended Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale with Frankel. A source told Us Weekly: 'She lost her best friend, her partner, her business partner. He's family. His family is her family. They've known each other over 30 years' 'Always and forever!' The Esquire Bank and YieldStreet chairman left behind four children with his estranged wife Jill Schwartzberg (L), who attended Pine Crest School with Frankel Roller coaster: The Martha Stewart protegee is still fighting for full custody of her eight-year-old daughter Bryn (T-L, pictured June 21) with her own estranged ex-husband #2, Jason Hoppy The Martha Stewart protegee is still fighting for full custody of her eight-year-old daughter Bryn with her own estranged ex-husband #2, Jason Hoppy, despite filing for divorce in 2012. Fans can catch more of the real estate investor - who reportedly earns '$1M per season' - in the second part of TRHONYC's 10th season reunion, which airs this Wednesday on Bravo. And Bethenny - who sold her Skinnygirl empire to Beam Suntory for $100M in 2011 - still receives payouts and a small percentage of sales from her former company, according to Forbes. She's enjoyed the ultimate in rest and relaxation during a girls' retreat to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. And Kourtney Kardashian certainly looked ready for a night of fun as she stepped out wearing a gorgeous apricot-hued Versace dress for dinner with her friends on Saturday evening. The 39-year-old social media maven showed off her tanned and toned legs in the thigh-baring vintage frock as she left Flora Farms with a group of women. Orange you glad to see me? Kourtney Kardashian certainly looked ready for a night of fun as she stepped out wearing a gorgeous apricot-hued Versace dress for dinner with her friends on Saturday evening Her lithe legs took center stage in the form-fitting frock which featured a silver pendant across one strap. She added inches of height to her petite 5ft frame with a pair of electric yellow Yeezy season 7 plastic pumps. Kourtney's fashionable ensemble was complete as she carried a miniature black leather Louis Vuitton monogrammed purse in one hand. Smile! The 39-year-old social media maven showed off her tanned and toned legs in the thigh-baring vintage frock as she left Flora Farms with a group of women Gorgeous: Her lithe legs took center stage in the form-fitting frock which featured a silver pendant across one strap She wore her short brunette tresses naturally in loose waves with small silver earrings peering from underneath her hair. Kourtney showed off her sun-kissed skin with just a touch of makeup highlighting her already stellar complexion. The mother-of-three has been enjoying a girls' trip with Stephanie Shepherd, who formerly worked with Kim Kardashian. Pals: The mother-of-three has been enjoying a girls' trip with Stephanie Shepherd, who formerly worked with Kim Kardashian Kourtney seemed to be in great spirits with her lady friends just weeks after calling it quits with her boy toy of nearly two years, Younes Bendjima, 26. Earlier this month, the Algerian model was pictured getting cozy with another woman in Mexico which - amid growing tension between the pair - may have contributed to the demise of their relationship. Kourtney shares co-parenting responsibilities of her three children - Mason, eight; Penelope, five; and Reign, three - with ex Scott Disick. Macaulay Culkin just turned 38-years-old and he marked the occasion with a European holiday with his girlfriend Brenda Song. The Home Alone star was spotted arriving back in New York with massive amounts of luggage on his birthday, Sunday. Upon his arrival home, Culkin was greeted with some loving birthday messages from his good friend and goddaughter, Paris Jackson. Cute couple! Culkin and Song have been quietly dating for over year and just spent some time getting a little R&R on vacation together Birthday boy! Macaulay Culkin spotted returning to New York on his birthday Sunday with girlfriend Brenda Song as they arrived home from a European holiday Birthday wishes: Paris Jackson show's off matching tattoo's with Macaulay Culkin Sunday as part of a happy birthday post to her lifelong friend Richie Rich! Macaulay Culkin looking debonair in one of the photos posted online for his birthday by Paris Jackson Paris posted an affectionate birthday message to her lifelong friend on social media along with a collection of photos. 'Happiest of birthdays mack attack, i love you so so dearly and keep you very close to my heart. always,' Jackson wrote on Instagram. The 20-year-old daughter of the late Michael Jackson has known Culkin since birth. The pair have remained close her entire life and even have a set of matching tattoos. Twinning: Macaulay 'Mack' and Paris show off matching customized plaid shirts Friends forever: Macaulay has been close with the daughter of the late Michael Jackson since birth. He previously struck up a friendship with MJ when he was a child Besties! Paris shared a collection of intimate snapshots of Macaulay and her through the years Eye spy: Even Mack's girlfriend Brenda Song made it into one of the birthday photos. She's spotted here in the background with her beau in front of the Louvre in Paris Unlikely duo: Michael Jackson and Macaulay Culkin became friendly when the actor was still a child. He was even featured here with the King of Pop in the music video for MJ's 1991 hit Black or White During his Home Alone days, Culkin struck up an unlikely friendship with Paris' father, the King of Pop. The Richie Rich star spent several nights at Jackson's famed Neverland Ranch over the years and even appeared in the music video for Black or White. As a child, Culkin spoke at the icons sexual molestation trial and has repeated denied rumors that he was abused by the star. Back in the USA: Mack looks casual as he arrived back in New York with his girlfriend Brenda Song Big red: Song was spotted lugging an enormous red suitcase in New York after spending time with her boyfriend Macaulay Culkin who she met on the set of Changeland Culkin rang in his 38th birthday by touching down in New York after enjoying a vacation with his girlfriend of over a year, actress Brenda Song. The duo kept their travel outfits casual. Song was spotted in wire rimmed Ray Bans with a massive red suitcase. She wore a casual white tee, black denim skinny jeans and an oversize cardigan with a bright blue Goyard tote and a cute black hat. Culkin opted for a layered look with a white graphic t-shirt under an open Hawaiian print shirt and a denim jacket. The former child star sported a classic pair of black Wayfarers to shield his eyes from the summer sun. Under the radar: Song only posted one picture from their trip in Berlin and Macaulay was no where in sight Throwback! Instead of posting a picture of her boyfriend, Song commemorated his birthday with this shot of former child star Devon Sawa The couple tends to keep their relationship under the radar but was spotted on their recent trip showing some rare PDA in Berlin. Keeping with the tradition of not publicizing their relationship on social media, Song's birthday post to her beau included a photo of another former 90s child heart throb. Alongside a picture of actor Devon Sawa, she wrote: 'Happy birthday @culkamania! Youre the absolute best. Thank you for being you.' She spent decades putting her life back together after her affair with then-President Bill Clinton went public during the 1990s when she was just a 22-year-old White House intern. And now it has been reported that Monica Lewinsky is in 'advanced discussions' to join the new series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! The speaker and writer, 45, is reportedly considering a large pay packet from ITV to enter the Australian jungle. New stardom?: It has been reported that Monica Lewinsky is in 'advanced discussions' to join the new series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! A source told the Sunday Express: 'Monica now has a platform on which to speak about bullying, particularly in a digital age - that's why she agreed to explore being on the show. 'Plus, of course, the money being offered is very, very attractive.' MailOnline has contacted representatives for Monica and I'm A Celebrity for comment. Monica has spent decades putting her life back together after her affair with then-President Bill Clinton went public during the 1990s when she was just a 22-year-old White House intern. Controversy: She spent decades putting her life back together after her affair with then-President Bill Clinton went public during the 1990s when she was just a 22-year-old White House intern I'm A Celeb: The speaker and writer, 45, is reportedly considering a large pay packet from ITV to enter the Australian jungle The speaker's tryst began in November 1995, Clinton was 49 years old and Lewinsky was 22. Clinton would initially deny having sexual relations with Lewinsky, claiming in a January 1998 deposition that the two were never alone together in the White House. Unknown to Clinton, however, Lewinsky had already revealed the details of the affair to her friend Linda Tripp, saying there were nine sexual encounters through March of 1997; several included oral sex and at least one involved Clinton penetrating her with a cigar. Controversy: Monica has spent decades putting her life back together after her affair with then-President Bill Clinton went public during the 1990s when she was just a 22-year-old White House intern Tripp and Lewinsky became friends at the Pentagon, where Lewinsky was transferred after White House aides became suspicious of her long visits to the Oval Office. The Clinton-Lewinsky affair became public a day after Clinton's sworn testimony, when Tripp gave Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr tapes of Lewinsky admitting to her relationship with the president. 'I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky,' he said in a nationally televised press conference. Past drama: The speaker's tryst began in November 1995, Clinton was 49 years old and Lewinsky was 22 (Monica pictured in 2002) He admitted months later that the accusations were accurate, but claimed that his definition of 'sexual relations' differed from others'. 'I know that my public comments and my silence about this matter gave a false impression. I misled people, including even my wife,' he said at the time. 'I deeply regret that.' 'Indeed I did have a relationship with Ms. Lewinsky that was not appropriate. In fact, it was wrong. It constituted a critical lapse in judgment and a personal failure on my part for which I am solely and completely responsible.' He was impeached in 1998 on charges of lying under oath and obstruction of justice. The Senate acquitted him along party lines, with no Democrats casting 'guilty' votes. Star-studded: Only recently, it was reported that Good Morning Britain host, Kate Garraway, is in talks to head to the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! jungle Only recently, it was reported that Good Morning Britain host, Kate Garraway, is in talks to head to the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! jungle when the series returns in November. The veteran TV host, 51, is said to be packing her bags for the Australian outback, with a potential deal on the table worth 150,000. According to The Sun, has already been approached by show producers, who believe she will be a 'massive ratings hit'. MailOnline has contacted Monica's representative for comment. She might be due any day now, but Claire Danes didn't let her pregnancy keep her from visiting a park in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood with her family on Sunday. The expecting 39-year-old showcased her large baby bump in a summery blue and grey-striped maxi-dress and her favorite olive-green Birkenstock sandals. The four-time Golden Globe winner went make-up free for the sunny outing and she scraped her flaxen locks into a fuss-free top-bun with a yellow flower tucked inside. Due any day! Claire Danes didn't let her pregnancy keep her from visiting a park in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood with her family on Sunday 'Not really. Just all of the food. I welcome all of the food,' Claire said of her cravings at a June 6 FYC screening - according to People. 'I get to retire for a little while and just be pregnant...which feels like a huge luxury. When I was pregnant with my first son, I worked until I was in my eighth month, so this feels like a huge gift, to have a chance to kick my feet up a little bit.' Next month marks Danes and her husband Hugh Dancy's ninth wedding anniversary, but the acting couple originally met playing love interests on the 2006 set of Lajos Koltai's Evening. Baby on board: The expecting 39-year-old showcased her large baby bump in a summery blue and grey-striped maxi-dress and her favorite olive-green Birkenstock sandals Tiny flower in her hair: The four-time Golden Globe winner went make-up free for the sunny outing and she scraped her flaxen locks into a fuss-free top-bun Congrats! Next month marks Danes and her husband Hugh Dancy's ninth wedding anniversary, but the acting couple originally met playing love interests on the 2006 set of Evening Hot day: Claire held their son Cyrus Michael Christopher's blue shirt as he beat the 90F-degree heat in his striped swim trunks and green Crocs Holding hands: The 43-year-old Englishman sweetly doted on his five-year-old boy while casually clad in a grey Henley top, khaki shorts, and tan plimsolls The native New Yorker held their son Cyrus Michael Christopher's blue shirt as he beat the 90F-degree heat in his striped swim trunks and green Crocs. The 43-year-old Englishman sweetly doted on his five-year-old boy while casually clad in a grey Henley top, khaki shorts, and tan plimsolls. The Emmy nominee will next play the dual roles of Peter and Simon in Roundabout Theatre Company's off-Broadway play Apologia, which begins previews September 27 at the Laura Pels Theatre. Begins previews September 27! The Emmy nominee will next play the dual roles of Peter and Simon in Roundabout's off-Broadway play Apologia at the Laura Pels Theatre Premieres next June! After maternity leave, Danes will conclude her role as bipolar ex-CIA case officer Carrie Mathison in the 12-episode eighth (and final) season of Showtime's Homeland As former CIA director Saul Berenson: Her castmate Mandy Patinkin (R) will compete for the supporting actor in a drama trophy at the Emmy Awards airing September 17 on NBC Daniel Aukin is directing the New York debut of Alexi Kaye Campbell's West End hit - which also stars Stockard Channing, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Talene Monahon, and John Tillinger. After maternity leave, the A Kid Like Jake actress will conclude her role as bipolar ex-CIA case officer Carrie Mathison in the 12-episode eighth (and final) season of Homeland, which premieres next June on Showtime. Claire's castmate Mandy Patinkin - who plays former CIA director Saul Berenson - will compete for the outstanding supporting actor in a drama trophy at the Emmy Awards airing September 17 on NBC. She found fame in 2000 with her catchy pop tunes and girl-next-door image. And nearly two decades on from her break-out into the pop scene, Samantha Mumba dazzled as she took to the stage at Manchester Pride on Sunday. The Gotta Tell You hitmaker, 35, showed off her toned pins in a slinky sequin rainbow mini dress which hugged her frame as she performed. Sparkle: Nearly two decades on from her break-out into the pop scene, Samantha Mumba dazzled as she took to the stage at Manchester Pride on Sunday Songstress: The Gotta Tell You hitmaker, 35, showed off her toned pins in a slinky sequin rainbow mini dress which hugged her frame as she performed Upping the racy factor, she slipped on black thigh-high boots and fishnet tights. Her caramel tresses were styled into a sleek ponytail while her pretty features were enhanced with a glowing palette of make-up. Cracking a broad smile as she worked the stage, the star was every inch the popstar as she performed her greatest hits. Samantha recently made a return to UK televison with an appearance on Loose Women after building a new life for herself in Los Angeles following her retirement from music. Dazzle: The Gotta Tell You hitmaker, 35, showed off her toned pins in a slinky sequin rainbow mini dress which hugged her frame as she performed Work it: Upping the racy factor, she slipped on black thigh-high boots and fishnet tights Wow factor: Her caramel tresses were styled into a sleek ponytail while her pretty features were enhanced with a glowing palette of make-up Grind: Cracking a broad smile as she worked the stage, the star was every inch the popstar as she performed her greatest hits Comeback: Samantha recently made a return to UK televison with an appearance on Loose Women after building a new life for herself in Los Angeles following her retirement from music The Baby Come On Over hit-maker has since focused her attention on acting, appearing in a number of independent Irish films, and has announced her grand return to the charts for next year. She welcomed daughter Sage in 2016 with husband Torray Scales. In 2015 Samantha opened up about her baby joy, revealing that she was initially scared of the responsibilities motherhood would bring. She explained in a blog post: 'The night we conceived we just knew. I even bought a pregnancy test just to have on hand in case. 'All the fun stuff that can seem scary to give up, Im embarrassed admitting that now. And grateful that fate intervened on my behalf.' Power: Samantha looked glorious as she worked the stage Smile: The star flashed her toned legs as she sang her heart out Cheeky: The star showcased her peachy posterior as she danced Glamour: The star looked flawless during her return to the stage New mother Eva Longoria Baston shared a 'Sunday Funday' snap of herself cradling her adorable nine-week-old son Santiago Enrique on the AstroTurf surrounding her swimming pool. 'Everything he does is cute,' the 43-year-old Golden Globe nominee gushed to ET earlier this month. 'His noises he makes, his smile. He's finding his voice, so he makes all these funny [baby noises], you're just like, "What was that?" He talks a lot. I mean, he just wants to talk and talk.' '#BabyBaston': Eva Longoria Baston shared a 'Sunday Funday' snap of herself cradling her nine-week-old son Santiago Enrique on the AstroTurf surrounding her swimming pool The Dog Days actress added: 'He's a dream, and he's such a good baby. I knock on wood. He's just been so easy, so sweet, we've been really lucky, he's super healthy. It's just been great.' Missing from the candid moment was Eva's third husband - Televisa president Jose 'Pepe' Baston - whom she wed two years ago after a three-year romance. Longoria has already brought her little 'assistant director' along to work with her on the set of ABC's 2019 drama series, Grand Hotel. 'Everything he does is cute': The 43-year-old Golden Globe nominee has already brought her little 'assistant director' to work on the set of ABC's 2019 drama series, Grand Hotel 'It's been so hard to leave him. I kind of had to ease back into work': The Dog Days actress is executive producing the show - centered on a family-owned Miami Beach hotel - and she's also playing Beatriz and helming the second episode The Black-ish director is executive producing the show - centered on a family-owned Miami Beach hotel - and she's also playing Beatriz and helming the second episode. 'It's been so hard to leave him. I kind of had to ease back into work. I've been with him 24 hours a day since he was born, so to leave him for [even] four hours is crazy,' the 'Texican' beauty said. 'Everybody used to [ask] me, "How do you do it all? You do so many things?" And I was just like, "Because I don't have kids." I mean every project was my baby and now I actually have a baby.' 'Can I pull off the look?' Last Tuesday, Eva confirmed she was 'super excited' to portray Elena Marquez in Paramount's 2019 live-action adaptation of Nickelodeon's Dora the Explorer, which is already in production in Australia Meet Dora! Isabela Moner (Transformers: The Last Knight) plays the titular teen while Longoria's Frontera castmate Michael Pena plays Papi Cole and her Overboard co-star Eugenio Derbez plays the villain Alejandro Gutierrez Last Tuesday, Eva confirmed she was 'super excited' to portray Elena Marquez in Paramount's 2019 live-action adaptation of Nickelodeon's Dora the Explorer, which is already in production in Australia. Isabela Moner plays the titular teen while Longoria's Frontera castmate Michael Pena plays Papi Cole and her Overboard co-star Eugenio Derbez plays the villain Alejandro Gutierrez - according to THR. But first, the two-time SAG Award winner will serve as honorary chair and key note speaker of the Global Gift Foundation's Women's Empowerment Luncheon taking place September 20 in San Francisco. She's known for her striking looks and supermodel status. But Karlie Kloss was keen on having a night off as she enjoyed her friend Taylor Swift's concert in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday evening. The 26-year-old blonde bombshell rocked a vintage Led Zeppelin T-shirt while partying with pals in the VIP section before heading backstage to grab a selfie with the Picture to Burn songstress. Good times: Karlie Kloss was keen on having a night off as she enjoyed her friend Taylor Swift's concert in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday evening Friends: The 26-year-old blonde bombshell rocked a vintage Led Zeppelin T-shirt while partying with pals in the VIP section before heading backstage to grab a selfie with the Picture to Burn songstress 'No one puts on a show like @taylorswift,' she captioned the selfie with her gal pal. '#ReputationTour Nashville was out of this world. I am SO proud of you.' Kloss' distressed grey T-shirt featured a Led Zeppelin print, which she glammed up with bright red lipstick. The 6ft2in stunner could be dancing and singing along to songs with a host of friends at the Nissan Stadium. Smile! The 6ft2in stunner could be dancing and singing along to songs with a host of friends at the Nissan Stadium Hugs: Never one to miss a good time, Nicole Kidman was at the star-studded performance and even snagged a quick photo with Swift Never one to miss a good time, Nicole Kidman was at the star-studded performance and even snagged a quick photo with Swift. Feud rumors spread back in August 2017 when Karlie Kloss was noticeably left out of Taylor's Look What You Made Me Do music video. But the 26-year-old model put the rumors to bed on Saturday night when she attended Swift's concert in Nashville. Observant fans took photos of Kloss enjoying the show from her seat in the VIP section, putting rumors to rest about the assumed bad blood. Still a fan: Karlie Kloss put Taylor Swift feud rumors to bed on Saturday night when she attended the pop star's concert in Nashville. Seen here in the background of a fan's selfie 'Ok can we put the Karlie/ Taylor feud rumors to BED now? Thanks,' @saradaviss said. While @kellytheprice said: 'F**k all y'all that said she wasn't Taylor's friend anymore.' This is the first time in more than one year that the two women have been publicly seen in the same vicinity. Look who's here! Observant fans took photos of Kloss enjoying the show from her seat in the VIP section Feud over? Several observant fans took photos of Kloss enjoying the show from her seat in the VIP section Mended fences: This is the first time in over a year that Taylor and Karlie have been publicly seen in the same vicinity 'F**k all y'all that said she wasn't Taylor's friend anymore,' one fan said after seeing Karlie In an interview with The New York Times in March, Karlie attempted to reassure fans that her friendship with Taylor was still intact. 'Don't believe everything you read,' she told the media outlet. But the Victoria's Secret model fueled rumors once again when listing her closest friends during a chat with Porter Magazine in April. 'I've built really amazing friendshipssome that last, some that don't,' she explained. 'A couple have become some of the most important relationships in my life. In particular, those I've been in the trenches with, such as Jourdan Dunn, Joan Smalls, Toni Garrn, and Lily Aldridge.' It's still unclear whether or not the two friends have mended fences considering Swift didn't publicly congratulate Kloss on her engagement to Joshua Kushner on July 24. Falling out: Feud rumors spread back in August 2017 when Karlie Kloss was noticeably left out of Taylor Swift's Look What You Made Me Do music video They have been engaged for over a month. And Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin looked the image of romantic bliss when they were glimpsed strolling in Beverly Hills of a Sunday. Justin, 24, and Hailey, 21, held hands as they walked side by side, she in a distressed denim jacket with matching high-waisted jeans. Stepping out: Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin looked the image of romantic bliss when they were glimpsed strolling in Beverly Hills of a Sunday Hailey, carrying an iced beverage and tucking what appeared to be a slender book in the crook of her arm, teamed a white T-shirt with beige sneakers. Slinging a black bag from her right shoulder, the niece of Alec Baldwin swept her signature blonde hair back into a bun and modeled gleaming hoop earrings. Meanwhile, Justin was wearing a torn pair of black shorts with splotches of chessboard print, and he buttoned himself into a splashy Hawaiian shirt. Never tattoo much? Justin was flaunting his inkings to his fiance, who tenderly placed her hand on his arm while inspecting the ink Chic as ever: Justin, 24, and Hailey, 21, held hands as they walked side by side, she in a distressed denim jacket with matching high-waisted jeans Coordinated: Hailey, carrying an iced beverage and tucking what appeared to be a slender book in the crook of her arm, teamed a white T-shirt with beige sneakers The celebrity couple gamely posed for a photo with a claque of female fans, with Hailey playfully giving one of them bunny ears for the camera. Justin proposed to Hailey in a restaurant at the Bahamian resort where he was staying on a weekend in July, a brace of eyewitnesses gossiped to TMZ. Before he popped the question on July 7, his security detail allegedly instructed the other restaurant-goers to tuck away their cellphones. Touch of glitz: Slinging a black bag from her right shoulder, the niece of Alec Baldwin swept her signature blonde hair back into a bun and modeled gleaming hoop earrings Wow! It seems Hailey was impressed at the extensive ink as she gazed in admiration Deep in thought: The newly-engaged duo looked every inch the lovebirds during their outing Stern and serious: In one moment, Justin was steely faced as he hung out with his girlfriend Meanwhile: Justin was wearing a torn pair of black shorts with splotches of chessboard print, and he buttoned himself into a splashy Hawaiian shirt He and Hailey were seen the next day kissing and mingling with other revelers at Great Guana Cay's Nippers Beach Bar And Grill. It was during the same outing that eagle-eyed onlookers first captured photographs of Hailey's ring - which TMZ claims cost $500,000 - and posted them to the Internet. By the day after that, Justin himself fired up his Instagram page and confirmed to his more than 100 million followers that he and Hailey were engaged. Gracious: The celebrity couple gamely posed for a photo with a claque of female fans, with Hailey playfully giving one of them bunny ears for the camera Spouses-to-be: Justin proposed to Hailey in a restaurant at the Bahamian resort where he was staying on a weekend in July, a brace of eyewitnesses gossiped to TMZ Hailey held forth about her religious convictions in Elle UK last year, saying: 'It's something I plan to stick to for the rest of my life raise my kids that way, marry someone who believes in the same things. It's important to me.' Meanwhile, Justin, who in 2014 was arrested in Miami on charges including driving his Lamborghini under the influence, is a famous congregant of the Sydney-born megachurch Hillsong and something of a religious protege to its pastor Carl Lentz. A source exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com that Hailey and Justin will attend Hillsong classes prior to going down the aisle. Setting the scene: Before he popped the question on July 7, his security detail allegedly instructed the other restaurant-goers to tuck away their cellphones Reveal: He and Hailey were seen the day after the proposal kissing and mingling with other revelers at Great Guana Cay's Nippers Beach Bar And Grill 'The marriage course is something which is encouraged and in some cases demanded by Hillsong pastors before they will marry you,' the insider confided. Yet in the slipstream of his latest split from his on-off flame Selena Gomez earlier this year, Justin and Hailey had been back on in the weeks prior to their engagement. Former teenage sweethearts Justin and Selena reportedly went on again late last year - but by this March, they were on a break. Selena's mother Mandy Teefey told Gossip Cop in January she was 'not happy' her daughter had taken up with her used-to-be. Only the best: It was during that trip that eagle-eyed onlookers first captured photographs of Hailey's ring - which TMZ claims cost $500,000 - and posted them to the Internet They purportedly first started dating in 2010 before going red carpet official at the following year's Vanity Fair Oscar Party. 'Jelena' are said to have split up late in 2012 - only for a rash of unconfirmed reconciliation rumors to flare up around them for a bit in 2013. That July, however, Selena explained in an interview with the Associated Press: 'I've known him for a really long time and we enjoy each other's company every now and then. But I'm definitely single and enjoying being that.' Sugababes star Amelle Berrabah has unveiled her three-month-old baby daughter Amirah Hope to the world. The 34-year-old gave fans their first look at the adorable tot as she told OK! magazine about her 'traumatic' birth which led her to nearly faint due to a high fever. Amelle also spoke about her incredible 2014 wedding to record producer Marcio Sousa Rosa, revealing she took a step back and let him plan their incredible Mauritius Island nuptials. Cute: Sugababes star Amelle Berrabah has unveiled her three-month-old baby daughter Amirah Hope to the world in an interview with OK! magazine Speaking about the day she welcomed baby Amirah into the world, Amelle revealed that she was actually induced and spent an entire day suffering painful contractions. She said: 'They induced me on May 23 and for the next 24 hours I was getting pains, but no labour. 'The day after that they tried breaking my waters, which was traumatic, but it didn't work so they had to force the contractions again.' 'I had a fever so I nearly fainted while I was giving birth.Childbirth is beautiful, but it's very hard!' Lovely: Amelle announced the birth of her first child in May, and spoke to OK! about the 'traumatic' birth in which she almost fainted due to a high fever Loved-up: The songstress also gushed about her 2014 wedding to husband Marcio Sousa Rosa, admitting that she decided to let him plan the big day Amelle announced the birth of little Amirah back in May by tweeting a black and white snap of the tot's foot intertwined with her and her husband's hands. She captioned the post: Our daughter... Amirah Hope Sousa Rosa.' Read the full story in this week's OK! Magazine - out today Amelle also spoke about her magical 2014 wedding to husband Marcio, admitting she was happy to take a step back and let him plan their big day.. She said: 'Marcio wouldn't have planned it if he wasn't sure I'd be happy. He already knew what kind of wedding I'd like, and he had a lot of help from my family and his amazing wedding planner to make it perfect. 'We got married on a private island in Mauritius. I've always felt that it's pretty daunting and stressful planning a wedding, and it should be a day that's the opposite to stress, so this took all of that away.' Read the full story in this week's OK! Magazine - out today The Overland train service between Adelaide and Melbourne is under threat with the South Australian government needing to guarantee funding, the Labor opposition says. Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas says no services have been scheduled from January next year with the Overland's continued operation dependent on Great Southern Railway receiving state government assistance. "Not only does the Overland play an important role in the tourism industry in SA, it also supports regional communities.," Mr Malinauskas said on Sunday. "Along with contributing funding to this service, the government must use next week's state budget to boost investment in SA's growing tourism sector." The Overland has operated since 1887 and currently runs two services a week, carrying about 30,000 passengers each year. In 2015 the former state Labor government announced a $1 million, three-year funding agreement. John McCain, a lion of the US Senate, war hero and presidential candidate, was also one of Australia's great friends. Mr McCain's death on Saturday after stopping treatment for an aggressive brain tumour will be felt across Australia, with the 81-year-old a regular visitor for half a century and over the years a staunch defender and peacemaker for Australia. When US President Donald Trump, just days after moving into the White House early last year, had the stoush with then Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull about the asylum-seeker deal Mr McCain immediately backed Australia. "Australia, they fought alongside us in wars including losing over 500 brave Australians in the Vietnam War, which some of us remember," an outraged Mr McCain told reporters on Capitol Hill. Mr McCain, a Navy fighter pilot who was shot down during the Vietnam War, endured torture, solitary confinement and more than five years locked up in horrendous prisoner of war camps. His family military history stretches back to a relative who served on the staff of America's first president, George Washington, in the 1700s. In May last year, just two months before his brain tumour diagnosis, Mr McCain visited Australia and delivered the Alliance 21 Lecture at the NSW State Library in Sydney. He spoke fondly of the ties his father and grandfather, both four-star US Navy admirals, also had with Australia. "My grandfather first sailed here aboard the Great White Fleet (the early 1900s)," Mr McCain told the event hosted by the United States Studies Centre. "He later commanded US air forces in the South Pacific during the Second World War, fighting in the defence of Australia, and then commanded aircraft carriers under Admiral Halsey. "My father captained a submarine out of Perth for much of the Pacific campaign and then commanded all US forces in this theatre during the Vietnam War." His family's bond with Australia continued with his sons, Jack and Jimmy, serving alongside Australian forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. "The McCain family has literally been sailing and flying around Australia and the Pacific for most of the past century - for better or for worse," he said. Mr McCain also joked about his own Navy deployments to the Asia-Pacific and how he spent "many evenings on R&R here in Sydney, enjoying the many cultural amenities of King's Cross". Despite both being senior figures in the Republican Party, Mr McCain and Mr Trump have engaged in regular verbal, sometimes personal, stoushes. Mr McCain went to great pains during last year's Australian visit to talk up the strength of the US-Australian alliance, rather than Mr Trump's controversial tweets and policies. "Our foreign friends always tend to focus on the person in the White House," he said. "But America is far bigger than that." One of Mr McCain's more recent efforts in Congress was pushing for the Asia-Pacific Stability Initiative, a $US7.5 billion military funding program for US forces and their Asia-Pacific allies to combat China's rise. "Australia has always had a special place in my heart," Mr McCain said last year in Sydney. "And on behalf of my entire nation, I want to say something to my Australian friends that we Americans can never tell you enough: Thank you from the bottom of my heart, thank you." A 15-year-old boy shot in the back during a hunting trip has been flown to Sydney in an induced coma. The boy was struck after an unattended shotgun in the back of a ute fired about 9am on Sunday on a rural property in Sofala, 40km north of Bathurst, emergency services said. NSW Ambulance said paramedics stabilised him as well as they could before flying him to Westmead Children's Hospital in Sydney. Police say they are investigating but it appears to have been an accident. Scott Morrison has created a new ministry aimed at neutralising problems faced by the Turnbull government and putting some firepower into the coalition's attacks on Labor. As a former campaign director for the NSW Liberals and strategist for a number of federal polls, Morrison knows what is needed to build momentum ahead of an election due by May 2019. By putting urban infrastructure and population into one portfolio, held by Melbourne-based minister Alan Tudge, the prime minister puts a sharp focus on two related issues which are concerning city voters and driving many to consider voting for parties such as One Nation. Similarly, Sydney-based David Coleman will nuance the government's message on immigration, citizenship and multicultural affairs in a way blunt-instrument Peter Dutton could not. With the coalition keen to make Bill Shorten's links with militant unions a key election attack point, Kelly O'Dwyer - a former staffer under ex-treasurer Peter Costello - is well placed as jobs and industrial relations minister to take up the fight. Any pretence of wanting to be ambitious on tackling climate change has been dumped with Angus Taylor, who made a name for opposing wind farms, taking on the energy portfolio - freshly separated from the environment role. However he will bring his economic know-how - learned in Oxford and honed in McKinsey and Co - to the vexing question of how to bring down power prices. It will also enable new environment minister Melissa Price to focus on meeting the Paris emissions targets and saving the Great Barrier Reef - despite her living in Western Australia. Dan Tehan's no-nonsense approach to everything he's touched as a minister will give the coalition an opening to solving the problem of Catholic and independent school funding which could cost them marginal seats if not fixed within the next few months. Keeping a number of seasoned players in their positions will ensure continuity. Adding the public service as a stand-alone focus area for Finance Minister Mathias Cormann will enable him to implement the findings of a landmark inquiry into the bureaucracy and find new savings in the budget. Cronulla have emerged as arguably the biggest challenge to Melbourne's crown as NRL premiers after moving into the all-important top four just a week before the finals. The Sharks on Sunday made it three wins on the trot with a 26-point win over Newcastle to be arguably the most in-form team in the competition. The victory meant Shane Flanagan's side leapfrogged St George Illawarra into fourth after the Dragons dropped their fourth match in five games with a crushing 38-0 loss to Canterbury. The Sharks' statement victory comes as fellow rivals Sydney Roosters and South Sydney suffered upset defeats to all but hand over the minor premiership to the Storm. The Storm were the only team in the top four to notch another two points in round 24, having held on for a two-point win over Gold Coast despite having four top-line players injured. The Roosters were outclassed by Brisbane and face the prospect of losing Dylan Napa for most of the finals series, while the Rabbitohs were outdone by Canberra. Should the top four hold their positions with wins next week, a dream week one of finals could unfold with matches between the Storm and Sharks plus Roosters and Rabbitohs. Perhaps ominously for the premiers, the Sharks beat the Storm 17-14 just two weeks ago in Melbourne. "Obviously three wins at this time of the year, especially how tight the competition is, is really important," Flanagan said. "I wouldn't say we're playing great. We played well against Melbourne and the last couple of weekends have been a bit patchy, but we're winning footy games so I can't be too harsh." Intrigues also surrounds the make-up of the bottom half of the top eight, with fifth-placed Penrith and sixth-placed St George Illawarra in deeply concerning slumps. The Dragons were thumped by the suddenly resurgent Bulldogs, while the Panthers were barely in the contest in a 36-16 knockout by the Warriors. Penrith, who haven't led during a contest since Anthony Griffin's sacking three weeks ago, have also been hit by injuries to Dean Whare, Tyrone Peachey and Wayde Egan. The Dragons, who have been largely untroubled by injury for most of the year, had Euan Aitken, Jason Nightingale and Cameron McInnes fail to finish the match against the Bulldogs. In contrast, the Broncos were impressive in their 22-8 victory over the Roosters while the Warriors are also starting to heat up with their third win in four weeks. Dragons stand-in captain Tyson Frizell said it was disappointing to put in a poor performance for retirement-bound wing Jason Nightingale, but said it was important they not dwell on their form. "We've got a similar squad that we did at the start of the year. We're going through a tough period at the moment, but there's no reason why we can't get back to that form," he said. "We've got to move on quick and fix it. There's no point feeling sorry for ourselves now. It's very disappointing but hopefully there's still a lot of games to come." Scott Morrison is hoping to move on quickly from the political circus of last week by bringing together some of the coup instigators and Turnbull backers under the one tent. But before his new 23-member cabinet and wider ministry is sworn in on Tuesday, he will tour western Queensland to get a first-hand picture of the drought. Later in the week he will head to Jakarta as the final touches are put to the Indonesia-Australia comprehensive economic partnership agreement. Mr Morrison said his new ministry - which includes some of those behind the toppling of Malcolm Turnbull - would bring healing to the coalition and prepare the government for an election due by May 2019. It includes six women - up from five under Mr Turnbull - but three-quarters of his full ministry is male. New Energy Minister Angus Taylor will work on a revised plan to get power prices down and maintain reliable electricity, while WA's Melissa Price comes into cabinet to oversee environment policy. Despite his role in the destabilisation of Mr Turnbull last week, Peter Dutton remains Home Affairs Minister but loses his immigration role to Sydney MP David Coleman. Mr Dutton's focus will be on cyber security, law enforcement, border protection and Australia's key security and intelligence agencies. Victorian MP Alan Tudge will take on population and infrastructure, which Mr Morrison said was all about "congestion busting" in the capital cities. With Julie Bishop going to the backbench and expected to retire from parliament at the next election, former Defence Minister Marise Payne takes on Foreign Affairs. Despite having swung behind Mr Dutton's tilt at the leadership, Mathias Cormann has been returned as finance minister and Senate leader. Mr Morrison has brought back the old portfolio of Industrial Relations, handing it to Kelly O'Dwyer who will oversee the coalition's attacks on union misconduct while also taking a fresh look at productivity gains from workplace reform. Ex-Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce was made special envoy for drought assistance and drought recovery, however former prime minister Tony Abbott remains on the backbench. The US State Department has paid tribute to Julie Bishop for her five-year trailblazing role as Australian foreign affairs minister. Ms Bishop was a highly visible presence on the world stage, regularly stepping into the lead role at summits and other gatherings when prime ministers Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott were unable to attend. The Trump administration, after building strong bonds with Mr Turnbull and Ms Bishop, will now attempt to forge similar partnerships with former treasurer and new prime minister Scott Morrison and Ms Bishop's replacement, Defence Minister Marise Payne. "We worked very closely with former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and enjoyed a very positive relationship with him and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop," a State Department spokesperson told AAP on Sunday. "This included an official visit by the prime minister to the White House in February and hosting Foreign Minister Bishop for the Australian-US Ministerial (AUSMIN) Consultations in Palo Alto in July. "We are grateful for their service to the alliance and wish them all the very best going forward. "We are confident that the close working relationship under Prime Minister Morrison will continue." Ms Bishop told Mr Morrison on Sunday she will be resigning from her position as foreign minister and would move to the backbench. Ms Bishop did make a bid for prime minister last week, but was the first casualty of the vote. "We congratulate Scott Morrison on becoming the new prime minister of Australia," the State Department spokesperson said. "The United States has no better friend than Australia. "We look forward to working with the new prime minister and his cabinet." Scott Morrison has offered Tony Abbott a role as special envoy for indigenous affairs, but the former prime minister is yet to accept the appointment. The prime minister has been in discussions with Mr Abbott after leaving him out of his new-look cabinet, in an effort to heal the wounds of last week's damaging leadership spill. A spokesman for Mr Abbott said he was considering the job offer, but was "worried about something that is a title without a role". "He said he would consider it but needed to know the precise terms of what was being proposed, as it's not clear how any such role would interact with the minister and all the other bodies in this space. He looks forward to discussion with the PM once all this has been thought through," he told The Daily Telegraph. A mobile police facility will be set up in Melbourne's northwest on Monday as police continue their investigation into a brawl between two gangs of youths earlier this month. The Taylors Hill mobile police presence is part of ongoing patrols after the clash between two groups of Sudanese Australian youths, who threw rocks and damaged a police car during a fight over a teenage relationship on August 8. "We have spoken to two persons of interest and also identified a number of causal factors that contributed to what occurred in Taylors Hill and these have been incorporated into what has become a complex, ongoing investigation," North West Metro Region Commander Tim Hansen said in a statement. Senior cabinet minister Mathias Cormann has ruled out a switch to the lower house to replace Julie Bishop in her safe West Australian seat. New Prime Minister Scott Morrison has restored Senator Cormann to his roles as finance minister and the government's leader in the upper house after he resigned at the height of last week's leadership crisis. As the fallout continued into the weekend, Ms Bishop announced she would quit as foreign minister and was weighing up whether to recontest her ultra-safe Perth seat of Curtin. Asked whether a switch to the lower house was on the cards if Ms Bishop leaves politics, Senator Cormann said: "absolutely not". "I love my job as leader of the government in the Senate. I'm very grateful to the prime minister for having given me the opportunity to continue to serve in that role," the WA senator told ABC radio. "This is where I will continue to make my contribution." Ms Bishop made a failed bid for the Liberal leadership during Friday's spill after more than 10 years as the party's deputy. John McCain was among the US senators who most reliably engaged with the press, vacillating between rich sarcasm and bursts of anger or frustration John Sidney McCain III had but one employer throughout his iconic and tempestuous career: the United States of America. It was a family tradition. McCain was a direct descendant, he claimed, of a captain in George Washington's army during the Revolutionary War. And like his father and grandfather before him, each four-star admirals named John McCain, he lived in the service of his country: first as a US Navy fighter pilot, then as a lawmaker until his death Saturday at age 81, following a brain cancer diagnosis in the summer of 2017. He too might have become an admiral, if a Soviet-made surface-to-air missile had not cut short his own high-flying military trajectory on October 26, 1967. On the day of his 23rd mission over Vietnam, his A-4 Skyhawk was hit as he flew across Hanoi's skies. McCain ejected, and parachuted into a small lake in the center of town, where he was nearly lynched by a furious mob. His two arms and right knee were badly broken. With his father the commander of all US forces in the Pacific, McCain would remain a prisoner of war for more than five years. He was released in 1973 after the Paris Peace Accords, but the physical consequences of his deliberately ill-treated fractures -- and torture in prison -- would cost him his career as a pilot. "For some reason it was not my time then, and I do believe that therefore because of that, that I was meant to do something," he said in a 1989 interview. - Defeated by Obama - McCain is shown injured in a Hanoi hospital in 1967, a few days after he was captured as a prisoner of war That something, it became clear, would be politics. After a few years as the Navy's Senate liaison, McCain moved to Arizona, the home state of his second wife, and won a seat in the US House of Representatives in 1982. His ambitions grew, and he rose quickly to the Senate, the most powerful political body in America. It became his second home for 30 years. McCain long cultivated the image of a Republican maverick, defying his party on issues ranging from campaign finance reform to immigration. He saw little use for party discipline, an attitude reinforced by his past episodes of rebellion -- as an unruly student at the US Naval Academy, or a hotheaded prisoner provoking his Vietnamese jailers. "Surviving my imprisonment strengthened my self-confidence, and my refusal of early release taught me to trust my own judgment," McCain wrote in his 1999 memoir, "Faith of My Fathers." It was this unorthodox, unbridled McCain, disdainful of authority and occasionally arrogant, who threw his hat in the ring in the 2000 presidential race. A self-proclaimed "straight talk" campaigner, he offered Americans his moderate-right vision, while keeping at arm's length the Christian conservatives that his opponent George W. Bush had successfully seduced. McCain came up short, but solidified his stature and eventually seized the Republican torch from the unpopular president Bush. In 2008, he made peace with the party establishment, and finally won the presidential nomination. With the White House within reach, he made an instinctive -- and deeply controversial -- call. Many of his associates would never forgive him for choosing as his runningmate a virtual unknown, the untested Alaska governor Sarah Palin. The decision helped usher in the grass roots Tea Party revolution and the rise of populism later embodied by Donald Trump. Democrat Barack Obama easily prevailed in the election. McCain, now twice defeated, took to joking about how he started sleeping like a baby: "Sleep two hours, wake up and cry, sleep two hours, wake up and cry." - Dismayed by Trump - McCain served in the US Congress since 1983, first as a representative before starting his long stint as senator in 1987 McCain could work a crowd. In Washington, he held court with reporters in the halls of Congress, at times pithy and impatient. "That's a dumb question," he told one probing journalist. But the snappy tone could turn to self-deprecation: "I don't think I'm a very smart guy," he once said. He could also be volcanic, especially about causes dear to him: the armed forces, American exceptionalism and, in his later years, the threat posed by Russia's Vladimir Putin, whom he branded "a murderer and a thug." McCain's fellow Republicans occasionally mocked his interventionist reflexes, noting he could never say no to a war. After all, he once referenced a Beach Boys tune when singing about whether to "bomb bomb bomb" Iran. To the end, McCain remained convinced that America's values should be shared and defended worldwide. He routinely hopped a flight to Baghdad, Kabul, Taipei, or a revolution-wracked Kiev, received more like a head of state than a lawmaker. After the annexation of Crimea, Russia placed his name on a blacklist in retaliation for US-led sanctions. "I guess this means my spring break in Siberia is off," he shot back. Regarding Russia or Syria, McCain's voice carried far. But the senator was in effect a general without an army. Trump's election seemed to trample on the struggles and ideals of the veteran Republican, who quickly grew dismayed by the billionaire businessman's nationalism and protectionism, his flirtation with Putin and his seeming contempt for the dignity of the office of president. He even took issue with Trump's multiple draft deferments during the Vietnam war, granted after he was diagnosed with bone spurs in his foot. But none of it made McCain want to recede into happy retirement. Perhaps thinking of his grandfather, who died just days after returning home following Japan's surrender in World War II, McCain's non-stop work meant defying death. Even after his 2016 re-election, he refused to rule out another Senate bid in 2022. Cancer ultimately denied him that goal. McCain is survived by his wife Cindy and their four children, and by a daughter from his first marriage. Dozens have been injured in a strong 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck western Iran near the border with Iraq Two people were killed and more than 200 injured in a strong 6.0-magnitude earthquake that struck western Iran near the border with Iraq early Sunday, officials told local media. The shallow quake hit 26 kilometres (16 miles) southwest of the city of Javanrud in Kermanshah province, the US Geological Survey said, near the site of a powerful quake last year that killed hundreds. The head of the emergency department Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Saeb Sharidari, told state news agency IRNA that two people were killed and 241 people injured, six critically. Sharidari said the two dead were a pregnant woman and a 70-year-old man who died of a heart attack. The provincial head of the Red Crescent, Mohammad Reza Amirian, said there had been at least 21 aftershocks. He said there were potential problems with drinking water due to damaged infrastructure in villages, but that it had not yet been necessary to distribute food and tents. Kermanshah governor Houshang Bazvand told the Tasnim news agency that electricity had been temporarily cut to several villages. A crisis centre was set up, with hospitals and relief organisations placed on alert. But the local director of crisis management, Reza Mahmoudian, told the Mehr news agency that "the situation was under control" and no request for help had been sent to neighbouring provinces. There were reports that the quake was felt far across the border into Iraq. Images on social media showed people being rushed to hospitals, but suggested relatively light damage to infrastructure. Iran sits on top of two major tectonic plates and sees frequent seismic activity. In November last year a major 7.3-magnitude quake killed 620 people in Kermanshah province and another eight people in Iraq. burs-er/mtp The US Capitol dome is seen as flags fly at half-mast in honor of senator John McCain who died following a yearlong battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer America paid tribute Sunday to John McCain, the Vietnam War hero and two-time presidential candidate with a legendary temper whose personal courage and insistence on treating even his foes with respect earned him near-universal admiration. McCain died on Saturday, four days shy of his 82nd birthday, following a yearlong battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer. He is survived by his wife Cindy and seven children, three of them from an earlier marriage. Flags flew at half-mast over the White House and US Capitol in honor of McCain, as organizers announced he will lie in state at the US Capitol Rotunda. That honor has been accorded to only a few notable Americans, including John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and civil rights icon Rosa Parks. A memorial service will take place at the massive National Cathedral overlooking Washington on Saturday before McCain is laid to rest according to his wishes at the US Naval Academy in nearby Annapolis, Maryland, on September 2, his office said. Ahead of the national ceremonies, McCain will lie in state at the Arizona State Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday and a memorial service will take place at the North Phoenix Baptist Church. Photographs, flowers and notes at a makeshift memorial to senator John McCain outside his office in Phoenix, Arizona "This is a rare and distinct occurrence for a truly special man," said Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, adding: "John McCain is Arizona." In Phoenix, a succession of ordinary Arizonans left flags or flowers at McCain's office or a local mortuary to honor the man who represented them in Congress for 35 years. Former presidents George W. Bush, a Republican, and Barack Obama, a Democrat -- his successful rivals in, respectively, the 2000 and 2008 elections -- are set to speak at the national memorial service, according to The New York Times. Media reports earlier this year said the senator had expressly asked that President Donald Trump not be invited. Instead, Vice President Mike Pence is expected to attend. - 'Deepest sympathies' - As tributes poured in from the US and abroad, Trump said simply that he sent his "deepest sympathies and respect" to the McCain family. US Air Force veteran David Carrasco pays tribute to McCain outside a mortuary in Phoenix, Arizona, the state McCain represented in Congress for 35 years A rare Republican critic of Trump, McCain had accused the president of "naivete," "egotism" and of sympathizing with autocrats, especially after Trump's widely criticized appearance in Helsinki alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin. McCain cast a decisive vote last year that killed Republican attempts to repeal Obama's health care reforms. The repeal was a Trump priority, and the president never forgave McCain. The hawkish McCain was an unrelenting critic of Obama's foreign policy, saying the Democratic president was weak on Libya, Iraq and Syria. Still, Obama said he and the senator "shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher -- the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched and sacrificed." Barack Obama, who is expected to speak at McCain's funeral, said he and the Republican statesman "shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher" Bush, whose tough campaign against McCain in 2000 left both sides bruised, praised the Arizonan as "a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order." Ordinary Americans also paid tribute, many of them in Phoenix, McCain's hometown. "I didn't agree with him all the time," said Michelle Hasnelle of Phoenix "(but) he was always for the people of Arizona -- he was one of us." McCain spent more than three decades in the Senate, looming large in debates over war and peace and the moral direction of the nation. As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, he was a powerful advocate for the nation's veterans. - 'A great statesman' - As a fervent Atlanticist, a persistent critic of authoritarian leaders, and a frequent congressional traveler, he earned respect around the globe. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called McCain "one of the great political figures of our time (who) fought tirelessly for a strong transatlantic alliance." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was "an inspiration to millions." McCain "embodied the idea of service over self," according to British Prime Minister Theresa May, while French President Emmanuel Macron saluted "a true American hero." Across the Pacific, the China Daily referred to him as a "titan of American politics." Sarah Palin, whom McCain plucked from obscurity to become his 2008 White House running mate, described him as "a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs." Key moments in McCain's life McCain drew criticism from the left for giving a platform to Palin's right-wing views, which contributed to the rise of the conservative Tea Party movement. But he also earned respect from liberals for his steadfast opposition to torture and his push for immigration reform. Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said he would seek to rename a Senate building in his honor. Praise for McCain however was not universal: Chinese social media users called him an "enemy of China" for his hawkish foreign policy views. And comments on the US far-right Breitbart website slammed the senator for his key vote against the Obamacare repeal. McCain had been away from the Senate floor since December, remaining at his Arizona ranch for treatment of glioblastoma -- the same form of brain cancer that took the life of another Senate giant, Democrat Ted Kennedy, in 2009. The son and grandson of four-star admirals, McCain will be buried in the cemetery of the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, on a peaceful hillside overlooking the Severn River. As a student at the academy, he had a reputation as a rebel, but with a wit and charm that drew people to him. In 2015, McCain himself revealed the simple epitaph he wanted on his tombstone, which will stand alongside those of naval heroes going back to the 1800s: "He served his country." In 2008 Senator John McCain formally becomes the Republican party's White House nominee and chooses a virtually unknown governor as his running mate: Alaska's Sarah Palin US Senator John McCain, who died Saturday at age 81, spent 35 years in politics after a military career interrupted by his Hanoi confinement during the war in Vietnam. Here are five key dates in the life of the iconic Navy pilot-turned-politician: August 29, 1936: John Sidney McCain III is born in the Panama Canal Zone. With his father a US Navy submarine commander and his grandfather an admiral, McCain follows their footsteps into a military career. He graduates from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, and becomes a fighter pilot. October 26, 1967: McCain's A-4E Skyhawk is shot down over Hanoi by a surface-to-air missile. He ejects and is taken prisoner. Fractures in both his arms and right leg are poorly treated, and McCain -- whose father has risen to become commander of all US forces in the Pacific, including Vietnam -- is beaten and tortured throughout his detention. He is released on March 15, 1973, at the end of US involvement in the war. November 2, 1982: Upon leaving the military, McCain, recently remarried after divorcing his first wife, is elected to an Arizona seat in the US House of Representatives. Four years later he is elected to the Senate, where he was re-elected five times and serviced until his death, although his final months were spent away from the Senate floor as he underwent treatment for brain cancer in his home state of Arizona. His term would have ended in January 2022. September 4, 2008: Eight years after a stinging defeat in the 2000 Republican presidential primaries to George W. Bush, McCain formally becomes the party's White House nominee against Democrat Barack Obama. He chooses a virtually unknown governor as his running mate: Alaska's Sarah Palin. The Republicans are defeated in November. July 28, 2017: At around 1:30 am, McCain enters the Senate chamber and, with a dramatic thumbs down gesture, casts the deciding vote against the partial repeal of the Obamacare health law, torpedoing one of Trump's central campaign promises. The American president is livid. Senator John McCain, seen shortly after his brain cancer was diagnosed in July 2017 One of John McCain's final wishes, as he struggled against a devastating brain cancer, could not have been more clear: He made it known that he did not want Donald Trump to attend his funeral. The two men never pretended to like each other. It was not just their clashing personalities or vastly dissimilar backgrounds. Their differences were fundamental, their values dramatically at odds, and their disagreements public and pointed. When Trump announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination in June 2015, suggesting that many Mexican immigrants were criminals and "rapists," McCain denounced him for using language that "fired up the crazies." Trump's response: McCain was a "dummy" who had barely managed to graduate from the US Naval Academy. Never one to give in, Trump then attacked the former navy pilot over what might have seemed his least vulnerable point: the military career -- including more than five years as a wounded and tortured prisoner of war in Vietnam -- for which he received a slew of decorations including the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit and three Bronze Stars. Trump, who received serial deferments and did not serve in the military, said that McCain was "a war hero (only) because he was captured," adding, "I like people that weren't captured." That comment that drew widespread condemnation, including from several veterans groups. McCain's response starkly illustrated the two men's different characters: The senator sought no apology on his own behalf but said that Trump did owe an apology "to the families of those who have sacrificed in conflict" and of those taken prisoner while "serving their country." The rise of Trump's populist candidacy in 2016 was widely seen as a disavowal of McCain-style Republicanism and of the more establishment approach he took during his own presidential run in 2008. Eight years later, here was a man who openly professed his love of money, who had avoided military service because of a foot problem he later said had healed itself, a man who bragged about greasing the wheels for his New York real estate empire by donating to both Democrats and Republicans, a man who, in short, unapologetically flouted the long-established traditions of American politics and the presidency. Senator John McCain remained a vocal critic of President Donald Trump long after being diagnosed with brain cancer As McCain pursued his own re-election to the Senate in 2016, he broke with his party's nominee after a video aired in which Trump could be heard bragging that when he saw beautiful women he would sometimes "grab 'em by the pussy." McCain announced that he would instead vote for "some good conservative Republican who is qualified to be president." - Putin and Trump - Senator McCain, seen here in the Capitol in October 2017, snapped at journalists when they refused to stop questioning him about the president One day in November 2016, not long after Trump's surprise victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton, the Arizona senator exploded when journalists in the Capitol continued to pummel him with questions about the incoming president: "Do not ask me about Donald Trump. I do not want to be rude to anyone, but I do not want to be asked about Donald Trump." It was not an easy vow to carry out, given Trump's undeniable talent for dominating political debate even while blowing up long-established norms and tenets of American domestic and foreign policy. But what most scandalized the aging senator was the new president's persistent refusal to acknowledge and confront Russian meddling in the US political process. As time went on, McCain's resistance grew more direct and his words sharper. As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee he opened his own inquiry into Russian interference. And when he heard Trump's accommodating words toward Russian President Vladimir Putin when the two met in July in Helsinki, he could contain himself no longer. "Today's press conference in Helsinki was one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory," McCain said in a blistering statement. "The damage inflicted by President Trump's naivete, egotism, false equivalence, and sympathy for autocrats is difficult to calculate." Even as McCain's health ebbed, he missed few opportunities to lash out at the president. He was one of just three Republican senators to vote against -- and thus defeat -- a Trump-backed effort to repeal Barack Obama's signature health-care law. That single vote earned lasting disdain from the president. But McCain did not back down. In an op-ed article in the Washington Post, he called the president "impulsive" and "often poorly informed." In a prepared speech that seemed directed at the president and his aides, McCain denounced the "spurious nationalism" of people who "would rather find scapegoats than solve problems." And when an October 2017 interview turned to the subject of service in the Vietnam War -- a profoundly marking experience in McCain's own life -- he did not hold back. "One aspect of the conflict, by the way, that I will never countenance is that we drafted the lowest-income level of America, and the highest-income level found a doctor that would say that they had a bone spur," he said. "That is wrong. That is wrong." President Donald Trump signed the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act without ever mentioning the senator's name The allusion to the medical deferment that saved a young Donald Trump from serving in that war could not have been clearer. The patent contempt the two men displayed for each other showed no sign of fading, even as McCain continued to weaken. A few weeks ago, Trump could not even bring himself to say McCain's name during a signing ceremony for a defense funding bill that fellow senators had named in the Arizona lawmaker's honor. Drought in Australia's eastern states has turned green pastures into dust Widespread rain fell across drought-affected parts of eastern Australia over the weekend, bringing relief to farmers struggling to cope with the driest conditions in more than half a century. Graziers have had to hand-feed sheep and cattle, sell down stock -- and in some cases even shoot them to end their suffering -- as they run out of hay and grain in the severe conditions affecting Queensland and New South Wales states. The wet weather was the first farmers in some areas had seen for more than a year, and even included hail. But locals cautioned the ground had become so dry in recent months that more downpours over the next few weeks and months would be needed to make a difference. "Those rains will be far from drought breaking," National Farmers' Federation president Fiona Simson told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Sunday. "What we need is 20 (millimetres, 0.79 inches) next week on 20 the next week, 20 the next week, and... (in the) next few months... to aptly build up those depleted soil and moisture reserves in the soil." The respite came as new Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he would make addressing the drought the top priority of his government. Drought-hit Australian famers have had to hand-feed their livestock, and in some cases shoot them to end their suffering "It was pleasing to see the report on the rain yesterday in the last 24 hours," Morrison, who will visit stricken areas with the deputy PM this week, told ABC radio early Sunday. "That is encouraging, but we know that is nowhere near what is obviously needed." The government under previous PM Malcolm Turnbull, who was ousted in a party coup Friday, had pledged Aus$1.8 billion (US$1.3 billion) in financial aid for graziers and local communities. The Labor opposition called on Morrison to factor the battle against climate change into his drought policies, amid a push by the right wing of his Liberal Party to ditch an emissions mitigation policy which contributed to Turnbull's ousting. "If he is not prepared to stand up and say 'this is a consequence of climate change and I am going to commit to both mitigation and adaptation', then he will fail farmers," shadow agriculture minister Joel Fitzgibbon told Fairfax Media. While droughts are not uncommon in Australia, the length and severity of the dry conditions have strained farmers' efforts to stay afloat. Former Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda has previously pleaded not guilty to 18 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court International judges will next week listen to final arguments in the case against former Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda, three years after the opening of his war crimes trial. The man once known as "The Terminator", in September 2015 pleaded not guilty to 18 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court. Prosecutors at the Hague-based tribunal said Ntaganda's rebel army in 2002 and 2003 conducted a reign of terror in the vast northeast Congolese province of Ituri, where they unleashed horrific abuses on local inhabitants. Ntaganda played a "key role" in these attacks, using child soldiers and capturing sex slaves, while attacking civilians on ethnic grounds, the ICC's chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said during the hearings. The charismatic warlord, a feared ex-general with a penchant for cowboy hats and fine dining, planned operations for his Patriotic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (FPLC). He gave the orders and provided logistics and weapons to his troops, prosecutors said. At least 800 people were killed by the FPLC as they battled rival militias for control of the mineral-rich area. In particular, prosecutors say Ntaganda lead a November 2002 attack on the gold mining town of Mongbwalu that lasted six days and left 200 villagers dead. More than 60,000 people have been killed since violence erupted in the volatile Ituri region in 1999, according to rights groups. Ntaganda, now around 44, was also the founder of the M23 rebel group, which was defeated by UN-backed government troops in November of 2013 in the mineral-rich Kivu region of the DR Congo. Ntaganda is the first suspect to voluntarily surrender to the ICC. In March 2013, he walked into the US embassy in Rwanda and asked to be sent to The Hague. Observers said Ntaganda was possibly fearing for his life as a fugitive from a rival faction in the M23 movement. - 'Not a criminal' - During his trial, the soft-spoken Ntaganda sought to persuade judges that he was "a soldier, not a criminal" and that he did not deserve the moniker of "Terminator". "I never attacked civilians, on the other hand I have always protected them," Ntaganda said when he spoke in 2015 for the first time since his arrest. Bosco Ntaganda, pictured in 2009 when he was chief of staff of the rebel group National Congress for the Defence of the People, which was later incorporated into the Congolese army Ntaganda wants to present himself as a "human being" his lawyer Stephane Bourgon told AFP, adding his client is likely to make a statement during the closing arguments. Next week's hearings will run from Tuesday until Thursday and will be followed with interest after the surprise acquittal of another Congolese rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba. Initially sentenced to 18 years for war crimes committed by his troops in the Central African Republic, Bemba was acquitted on appeal in June. He has since returned to Kinshasa. The acquittal was seen as another blow to prosecutor Bensouda's office, who in the past has been criticised for targeting only African perpetrators for prosecution. However, Ntaganda's former FPLC commander Thomas Lubanga was sentenced to 14 years in jail in 2012 in the second conviction by the court since it was set up 16 years ago. Former Egyptian Ambassador to Vietnam, Reda El Taify giving an exclusive interview to a VOV correspondent in Egypt. He made the statement in a recent interview granted to a Radio Voice of Vietnam (VOV) reporter on the occasion of President Tran Dai Quangs visit to Egypt over August 25th-29th. In regard to the Vietnam-Egypt relationship, the former Egyptian diplomat said his nation has maintained sound historical and political relations with Vietnam since 1963. This year, the two countries are celebrating the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. There were many important milestones set in bilateral ties during the three visits to Egypt by late President Ho Chi Minh in the cause of national liberation, freeing Vietnam from the yoke of foreign oppression, he said. Egyptians have always showed great respect and admiration for President Ho Chi Minh, who is one of the most renowned revolutionary leaders not only in Vietnam but also in the world. Ho Chi Minh was seen as a great contributor to Vietnams independence. A second important milestone was marked by the historic visit to Vietnam of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-sisi in September 2017. It was also the first visit of an Egyptian President to Vietnam, Taify noted. Anticipating the prospects for Vietnam-Egypt relations after President Tran Dai Quangs upcoming visit to Egypt at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, Mr Taify said the visit is regarded as a breakthrough in the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Egypt, which he hopes will yield great results across a variety of fields such as politics, economics, culture and tourism. He said he wants to see many more Vietnamese businesses come to his nation to conduct meetings with Egyptian partners, while hoping that the Egypt-Vietnam Friendship Association will be established in the not too distant future, thereby providing a good opportunity for the two countries leaders to exchange views and update each other on potential fields of development for the two countries. There will be a broad range of activities promoting bilateral relations after the visit, he said, adding that currently, the Egyptian government grants annual scholarships to Vietnamese students with a desire to learn Arabic. We also hope that the Vietnamese government will facilitate the provision of scholarships to Egyptian students so that they can come to Vietnam to study and experience the culture, history and life there. We are looking forward to welcoming thousands of Vietnamese tourists to our nation. As you know, Egypt is viewed as an internationally important travel destination, therefore, I would like to welcome you to our nation in order to enjoy the cultural values and the hospitality of Egyptians," he said. To date, the number of Egyptian tourists to Vietnam and vice versa remains low, while two-way trade turnover between the two nations stands at just between US$300 and US$400 million. Talking about the options for both nations to promote tourism and bilateral trade, the former Ambassador said there should be more exchanges on culture and trade. In terms of culture, the two countries should organize diverse cultural activities in both Vietnam and Egypt, such as launching Egyptian Cultural Days in Vietnam and Vietnamese Cultural Days in Egypt, and intensifying the exchange of journalist delegations. In trade relations, they should further promote bilateral trade through trade exhibitions which will help to fully exploit the strengths of both countries export products./. US President Donald Trump speaking at a rally Aug. 21, 2018 in Charleston, West Virginia "Convictions tighten squeeze on Trump" and "Trump's moment of truth is at hand," read two of many banner headlines about the recent sensational testimony of the president's former lawyer. Yet through it all, Donald Trump has learned he can count on the unwavering support of Republican leaders. "How does this implicate the president?" was the laconic comment of one senior Republican senator, John Cornyn. That reaction typified his party's response to the sworn testimony Tuesday by former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen that Trump had directed him to pay two women for their silence to avoid damaging scandals on the eve of the 2016 presidential election. On the same politically jarring day, Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort was convicted on several counts of bank and tax fraud. And yet nothing the president does seems able to provoke a revolt among Republicans -- whether it is the protectionist policy he pursues in a traditionally free-trade party, his conciliatory attitude toward Russia in a party long leery of its Cold War foe, or his alleged extramarital affairs in a party that claims to embrace family and religious values. Analysts say that with crucial midterm elections only months away, Republican candidates fear saying anything that might offend a president who remains popular among most of the party faithful -- and who savors his ability to make, or break, a candidate with a single tweet. Manafort was the first person to be tried in the highly sensitive investigation of suspected collusion between the Trump team and Moscow during the 2016 election. While the trial dealt with Manafort's personal finances, the verdict brought the shadow of special counsel Robert Mueller ever closer to Trump's inner circle. But none of this appears to have shaken the faith of the president's supporters. "There have yet to be any charges or convictions for colluding with the Russian government by any member of the Trump campaign," said Republican senator Lindsey Graham. A New York Times editorial on Thursday summed up Republicans' response this way: "Congressional Republicans have been operating under a see-no-evil policy with President Trump: ignoring his lying, his subversions of democratic norms and his attacks on government institutions or, when that's not possible, dismissing such outrages as empty bluster." - 'He walks right through it' - Trump's capacity for survival has surprised even some of Washington's most experienced political hands. "The only thing that I can see making a real difference in the loyalty shown by Republican officeholders is if Mueller comes forth with a very strong and thoroughly documented report of collusion and obstruction," said Christopher Arterton, professor emeritus of political science at George Washington University. Robert Bennett, who was president Bill Clinton's personal lawyer in the Paula Jones sex-scandal case in the 1990s, said that in his 50 years practicing law in Washington, "I've seen time and time again things which would be a death blow to most normal human beings. And he (Trump) walks right through it." Trump's secret? The still ardent support of his electoral base, which will be key to Republican candidates in November, when the Republican majority in both houses of Congress will be at stake. "As long as that support appears solid, leaders in Washington will give lip service to supporting Trump (and complain privately and off-the-record that he is taking the party down)," said Arterton. - An influential ally - Trump has a powerful and influential ally in Fox News, the cable network with the largest US audience, which is ever quick to sing his praises -- a favor he often returns. In the 24 hours after the Cohen bombshell, Fox focused not on his sensational suggestion that Trump had ordered payments to an adult film star and a former Playboy Playmate, but on the murder of an attractive young white woman, Mollie Tibbetts, allegedly by an undocumented Mexican immigrant. In an election-style rally Tuesday evening in West Virginia, Trump did not mention Cohen, instead invoking the death of Tibbetts. The following day he tweeted a link to a video about her to his 54 million Twitter followers. Republican Newt Gingrich, a Trump ally, openly acknowledged the president's strategy. "If Mollie Tibbetts is a household name by October, Democrats will be in deep trouble," he said in an email to the Axios news site. But "if we can be blocked by Manafort-Cohen, etc., then (the Republicans) could lose the House badly." Donald Trump was widely criticised over his tweet about farmers in South Africa South African farmers have demanded Donald Trump "leave us the hell alone" after the US president criticised the country's land reform plans, accusing him of trying to deflect attention from his own scandals. "The people were furious about Trump -- and I think they still are," said Preline Swart, a 37-year-old black woman who farms grain and cattle with her husband east of Cape Town. "He's an outsider and he knows nothing about farming," she said on the sidelines of a summit of farmers, officials and industry players in Bela Bela, 100 miles (160 kilometres) northeast of Johannesburg. Trump's Wednesday tweet, posted on the eve of the "Land Solution" gathering, touched on the overwhelmingly white ownership of farmland in South Africa -- one of the most sensitive issues in the country's post-apartheid history. "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," tweeted Trump to his 54 million followers. 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. "I think Donald Trump must really take his long hair... and leave our people the hell alone," added Swart. While many of the farmers at Thursday and Friday's land summit rejected Trump's intervention, many are unsure what the government's plan to expropriate land to fix historical injustices will mean for them. "The deputy president assured farmers government isn't going to do anything reckless," said conference speaker Tshilidzi Matshidzula, 30, a dairy farmer with 1,000 cattle on his ranch in the country's Eastern Cape province. "(But) as a farmer, although I'm black, expropriation is a serious concern. The sooner we get formal clarity on how it will be handled, the better." - 'Alarmist, false, inaccurate' - As he spoke, other black delegates congratulated Matshidzula for the speech he had just given on how to resolve land inequality. According to President Cyril Ramaphosa, who himself farms cattle on a 5,100 hectare ranch, the white community that makes up eight percent of the population "possess 72 percent of farms". In contrast, "only four percent" of farms are in the hands of black people who make up four-fifths of the population. The stark disparity stems from purchases and seizures during the colonial era that were then enshrined in law during apartheid. "I'm worried about the politicians and the politics in our country if they don't get (land reform) right," said Andre Smith, 49, who grows pecans and other crops on 100 hectares in the Northern Cape province. "We don't love Donald Trump and his outspokenness." South Africa's government reacted angrily to the tweet with officials telling their American counterparts Trump's comments were "alarmist, false, inaccurate and misinformed". - 'Let Donald Trump do his thing' - "He doesn't understand the South Africa situation. We have to inform him, we have to invite him to visit us," added Smith, overlooking the conference venue's car park, full of the white Toyota pickup trucks beloved of South African farmers. Trump has a long history of sparking controversy on Twitter. "Donald Trump was hot-headed -- and not for the first time!," laughed Whiskey Kgabo, a farmer of more than 30 years who grows mangoes on his rented 888-hectare plot in northeastern Limpopo province. "I don't have anything against Donald Trump... but he should first check that this is the position," said Kgabo who spoke to AFP surrounded by hay bales. Swart added that Trump, rocked by his longtime lawyer Michael Cohen pleading guilty to felonies and his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort being convicted of federal crimes, "just wants something new to talk about". Jannie de Villiers, 56, chief executive of the Grain SA industry trade body, rejected the Fox News segment's suggestion that South Africa was following the same path as Zimbabwe's disastrous Robert Mugabe-era seizures of white-owned farms. "I don't think we're there, and I definitely don't think we're heading for that. It's definitely not the Zimbabwe solution." Agricultural production collapsed and the economy almost halved in size following the seizures that started in 2000. "But we do need to address the past and that's not an easy process. We've got a non-racial consensus that we've messed up land reform so far," added De Villiers. Conference speaker Riedewaan Marcus, 24, a farmer in the Western Cape province backed by the Agri Dwala foundation which supports emerging black agriculture said he was "not a fan of Donald Trump". "There's a lot going on in America, and there's a lot going on in South Africa," he said. "Let Donald Trump do his thing. And we'll do our thing." President Ghani has rejected the resignations of his top security officials Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday rejected the resignations of the intelligence chief and the interior and defence ministers, as the government faces fierce criticism over an increasingly deadly insurgency. Ghani called on Defence Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami, Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak and intelligence chief Masoom Stanekzai to continue their duties, after rejecting their resignation letters submitted Saturday and demanding they help bolster the country's defences. "President Ghani did not approve their resignations... and gave them the necessary instructions to improve the security situation," said a palace statement. Earlier Saturday Ghani's powerful national security adviser Mohammad Haneef Atmar had resigned, in a blow to the embattled unity government before parliamentary elections scheduled for October. The palace announced later Sunday that Atmar had been replaced by Hamdullah Mohib, who was serving as Afghanistan's ambassador to the United States. "Accepting the resignation of a long-time friend and colleague was a difficult decision for me, but the decision had to be taken for the sake of the interest of the country," said Ghani, according to a statement. The Ghani administration has been widely criticised for its inability to counter an energised insurgency. The Taliban have intensified assaults on police and troops across the country and the Islamic State group has targeted the capital Kabul. This month has seen an extraordinarily violent series of incidents, including an attack that saw the Taliban storm the provincial capital of Ghazni -- just a two-hour drive from Kabul -- despite repeated warnings from local officials that the city was in danger. Militants held large parts of the city for days and Afghan forces needed US air power to push them back, resulting in widespread destruction and estimates of hundreds of deaths. The resignation letters came a week after Ghani offered a conditional three-month ceasefire to the Taliban, a move welcomed by the United States and NATO after nearly 17 years of war. The Taliban have yet to officially respond to the offer. A brief ceasefire in June had sparked hopes that a path for talks with the insurgents was opening. New Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison pictured at the oath-taking ceremony: he has rewarded supporters and extended an olive branch to rebel right-wingers with his cabinet line-up New Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison rewarded supporters and extended an olive branch to rebel right-wingers as he unveiled his "new generation" cabinet Sunday after taking power in a party-room coup. Morrison, the former treasurer (finance minister), was sworn in as prime minister Friday after winning a Liberal Party leadership challenge against incumbent moderate Malcolm Turnbull. The challenge had been instigated by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, whom Morrison -- also to the right of the party -- defeated in a secret ballot. He sought to heal the wounds exposed by the infighting. "This new Liberal-National team is a next-generation team," Morrison told reporters in Canberra of the governing coalition between the Liberals and the rural-based Nationals party. "What we have done today in pulling this team together is provide for stability... it does begin the process of healing." Dutton kept Home Affairs but his super-sized portfolio was split to separate immigration and national security, with migration issues to be handled by former assistant finance minister David Coleman. The environment and energy portfolio, which was held by the man who is now Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, was also broken up in an acknowledgement of the tensions the two issues caused within the party. Environment and energy policies were key bones of contention between Turnbull and the right-wingers, who wanted him to prioritise older electricity generation sources such as coal over renewables and emissions mitigation. Wind-farm critic and Dutton supporter Angus Taylor was chosen as energy minister, tasked with the job of lowering soaring electricity prices. MP Melissa Price, who represents major mining and agriculture centres in Western Australia state, picked up the environment ministry. Marise Payne, the former defence minister, was given the foreign affairs portfolio after incumbent Julie Bishop resigned Sunday. Bishop, a rare female voice in the Australian government, had put her hand up to be one of three candidates to replace Turnbull. But she received minimal support from colleagues, even as opinion polls pointed to her popularity among voters. Her departure has raised questions about whether she fell victim to party politics and to a perceived glass ceiling for women in Canberra. Renowned for her steely gaze dubbed the "death stare", Bishop's highlights as foreign minister include her strong condemnation of Russia's role in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines MH17 in 2014. Moderate Christopher Pyne was promoted to defence minister, while Dutton allies Matthias Cormann (finance), Mitch Fifield (communications) and Greg Hunt (health) remained in their cabinet roles. Former deputy PM and Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce, who was forced to quit in February and move to the backbench over his affair with his younger former media adviser, returned in a drought advisory role. But there was no room for ex-PM Tony Abbott -- a vocal critic of Turnbull after Turnbull ousted him as leader in 2015. Morrison said he was open to Abbott, who had supported Dutton, being involved in government decisions in an advisory capacity. Iran bought its F-5 fighters from the United States before the 1979 Islamic revolution An Iranian F-5 fighter jet crashed in southern Iran on Sunday killing its pilot, state media reported. The jet, a training aircraft, crashed as it attempted to land in Dezful in the southwestern Khuzestan province, the official IRNA news agency said. Its pilot was killed but his co-pilot survived and was hospitalised. The cause of the accident was unknown. Iran bought its F-5 fighters from the United States before the 1979 Islamic revolution and still has 48 in service, according to the latest estimates by Jane's IHS Markit. Last week, Tehran unveiled its first domestically built fighter jet, which is closely modelled on the F-5. Afghanistan's intelligence agency said Islamic State leader Saad Arhabi was killed in an airstrike during a joint operation with coalition forces on Saturday The leader of the Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan was killed by airstrikes over the weekend along with 10 other people, government officials said Sunday following a string of deadly attacks by the extremist group. Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security said Saad Arhabi, also known as Abu Saad Orakazai, died in a joint operation with coalition forces late Saturday in the group's eastern stronghold in Nangarhar province near the border with Pakistan. 'The Emir of Daesh in Afghanistan along with 10 others was killed,' the Afghan intelligence agency said in a statement, calling the group by an Arabic acronym. Arhabi is the fourth leader of IS's Afghan branch to be killed since the group first emerged in the country around 2014. The agency also said a large number of weapons, ammunition and explosives were destroyed by the air attacks. Provincial governor's spokesman Attaullah Khogyani confirmed the leader's death, also citing a joint operation involving strikes. US forces in Afghanistan confirmed they had conducted a strike in the location described by Afghan officials, which 'targeted a senior leader of a designated terrorist organisation'. IS has a relatively small but potent presence in Afghanistan, mainly in Nangarhar but more recently in the northern province of Jowzjan. Hours before the raid the group claimed a deadly suicide attack which appeared to target a sit-in protest outside an election commission office in the city of Jalalabad. Two people were killed. Arhabi died along with 10 others during the airstrike against the group's eastern stronghold in Nangarhar province near the border with Pakistan (stock image) The bombing followed a number of bloody attacks claimed by IS in recent weeks, including assaults on several government installations in Kabul and a bombing at a school in a Shiite area of the capital that killed at least 37 people. The group, however, has suffered repeated setbacks in the latest fighting season amid a bloody turf war with the much larger Taliban. Estimates of their numbers in the country run as high as around 2,000. More than IS 150 fighters surrendered to Afghan forces in Jowzjan on August 1, a move which troops and the Taliban hailed as the end of the groups foothold in the north of the country. Not much is known about Arhabi's history before becoming the emir of ISIS-K following the death of Abdul Haseeb Logari in April 2017, The National reported. Arhabi is said to have been responsible for increasing the number of brutal ISIS attacks in Afghanistan. Ethiopia's Prime minister Abiy Ahmed Abiy, who took office in April, has prioritised reconciliation between critics and the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), which has held power unopposed for 27 years Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Saturday pledged the 2020 election would be "free and fair" and promised a democratic transition if his party loses, as he pushes forward with lightning reforms to transform the one-party nation. Abiy, who took office in April, has prioritised reconciliation between critics and the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), which has held power unopposed for 27 years. In an announcement on Saturday night, he said work had been done to make the Electoral Commission "non-partisan and credible", adding that the country could adopt an electronic voting system for the upcoming polls. In his first press conference since taking office, he ruled out postponing the polls and said the ruling party wanted to "conduct truly democratic elections". "EPRDF's desire at this moment is to conduct a truly democratic election," he said. "If EPRDF wins a truly democratic election it can implement its agenda with full confidence, and if EPRDF loses, it will fulfil its long-held pledge to implement democratic transition." The EPRDF has held power unopposed since the elections of May 2015 when it scooped up all 547 seats in the parliament, in a ballot denounced by the opposition as a "farce". Observers say the EPRDF, which has held power since 1991, has been forced to change course due to a wave of anti-government protests by the country's two largest ethnic groups that began in late 2015, leaving hundreds dead. A year later, with the unrest ongoing, the government of then prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn imposed a state of emergency. But he resigned in February this year, paving the way for Abiy to take over, becoming the first leader to ever come from the Oromo people, Ethiopia's largest ethnic group. Since then, Abiy has launched a series of sweeping changes which have shifted the power balance within Africa's second-most populous country. He has shaken up the security services, ended the state of emergency, freed jailed dissidents and signed a peace deal with neighbouring Eritrea, ending two decades of hostilities. A USAID mural in the village of al-Badhan, north of Nablus in the occupied West Bank on August 25, 2018 US President Donald Trump's cut of more than $200 million in aid for Gaza and the West Bank is the latest in a series of steps Palestinian leaders say aims to "liquidate" their cause. The move follows Trump's recognition in December of the disputed city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital as well as his freezing of $300 million in annual funding for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). Washington's new policy on Jerusalem overturned decades of precedent and prompted the Palestinian leadership to break off relations with the White House. The US president responded by threatening to withhold aid until they returned to the negotiating table, and Friday's announcement of the cut appeared to be in line with his stance. For many Israelis, the changes made by Washington are long overdue and bring years of failed peace efforts closer in line with reality. But Palestinian leaders argue the White House is playing into the hands of Israeli politicians. Speaking in June, when the US aid was merely frozen instead of cut, longtime Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat spoke of the need to "defeat the American-Israeli scheme to liquidate the Palestinian cause". He and other Palestinian leaders reacted furiously to Friday's announcement, with one calling it "cheap blackmail" to coerce them into accepting terms of the peace plan that the White House has promised to unveil. "America is now sharing in the dreams and the policies of Israel's right-wing government," said Palestinian political analyst Jihad Harb. - 'More than absurd' - A Palestinian child looks at a horse in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in the Gaza Strip on August 25, 2018 But for Kobi Michael, formerly in charge of Palestinian issues at Israel's strategic affairs ministry, Trump's approach serves as a necessary rude awakening for the Palestinian leadership. He cited Palestinians' refusal to accept Jerusalem as Israel's capital, coupled with the UN's method of classifying Palestinian refugees, as "characteristics which are much more than absurd in the eyes of the majority of the Israelis". The aid cut adds to the financial woes of the Palestinian Authority, whose $5 billion budget for this year includes a $1.2 billion deficit. Foreign aid was put at $775 million. Humanitarian conditions in the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip, which is run by Islamist movement Hamas, are also badly deteriorating. Just last month, the World Bank announced it was increasing its annual allocation to the Palestinians to $90 million from $55 million "in response to an increasingly difficult situation". The US funding that was cut was for humanitarian programmes, infrastructure and budget support in the occupied West Bank. It also included assistance for humanitarian programmes, such as health care, in the Gaza Strip. The White House has maintained some $61 million in assistance this year for the Palestinian security forces, which coordinate with their Israeli counterparts. - Capping refugees? - The Trump administration is taking on core questions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Jerusalem's status being the most controversial of them all. The Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state and almost the entire international community takes the position that the issue must be negotiated between the two sides. Palestinians wait at an UNRWA clinic in the southern West Bank city of Hebron on August 9, 2018 After the dramatic reduction in funding, refugees' rights are now reportedly in Washington's crosshairs. Some 750,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled during the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation. Those still alive today along with their descendants are classified as refugees, amounting to a total of five million people who are eligible for services provided by UNRWA. Palestinians and rights groups say the agency provides vital assistance -- including schooling for hundreds of thousands of students -- that otherwise may not be available. But Israel argues UNRWA's means of operation perpetuates the refugee problem. It also insists on the Palestinian leadership giving up its demand that refugees be granted the right to return to their former lands now inside Israel. On Saturday, Israeli television reported the US now wanted to cap the number of Palestinians classified as refugees to 500,000. A US embassy official did not confirm the report. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation -- the media organisation's philanthropic arm -- was arrested at Tehran airport in April 2016 Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the British-Iranian woman who has been held in Tehran for more than two years on sedition charges, returned to prison on Sunday after temporary release, dashing her family's hopes of an extension. "We have just heard the sad news that Nazanin's extension has been refused and she has returned to prison," said a tweet on the official "Free Nazanin" Twitter account. "Here is the moment she said goodbye to a distraught Gabriella," it added, along with a picture of Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her four-year-old daughter. She was unexpectedly released for a three-day furlough on Thursday, and was reunited with members of her family outside the Iranian capital. Husband Richard Ratcliffe said they had received "mixed messages" from the Iranian authorities on Sunday, ahead of her return to Evin prison. The charity worker had initially been told her request for an extension had been approved, but then received a call telling her to return to prison by sunset. "She was shivering and shaking and crying - and said: 'How can you take me away from my baby, when she needs me'?" he said in a an email received by AFP "Gabriella was crying and sucking her thumb -- she didn't want her mummy to go back." Ratcliffe said his wife, who has denied all charges filed against her in Iran, spent her time with her parents and daughter in Damavand, a mountain resort near Tehran. Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation -- the media organisation's philanthropic arm -- was arrested at Tehran airport on April 3, 2016. She is serving a five-year jail sentence for alleged sedition. A picture shows the walking path leading into the Gaza Strip after the Israeli-controlled Erez crossing (background), on November 1, 2017 in Beit Hanun, the northern access point into the coastal Palestinian territory Israel will reopen the Erez border crossing with the Gaza Strip on Monday, Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said, a week after closing it due to clashes. In a statement from his office on Sunday, Lieberman said the decision to reopen Erez, the only crossing for people in the north of the Palestinian enclave, was made "given the calm along the border". Israel closed the crossing on August 19 in response to what Lieberman then called "violent incidents", tightening its blockade of the landlocked territory run by the Islamist movement Hamas. The Erez crossing is the only one for people between Israel and Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade for a decade. Gaza's sole crossing with Egypt has also remained largely closed in recent years. For several weeks, Egypt and the United Nations have been trying to forge a lasting ceasefire between Hamas and Israel after months of tensions and violence. Palestinians in Gaza have gathered at the border since March 30 calling for Palestinian refugees to be allowed to return to their former lands now inside Israel. During this time, at least 172 Gazans have been killed by Israeli fire. One Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper in July. There have also been several severe military flare-ups, including three since July. Palestinian militants in Gaza and Israel have fought three wars since 2008. Tran Dai Quang is welcomed at the airport by authorities of Luxor (Photo: VNA) This is the first visit to Egypt by a head of the State of Vietnam since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1963. The visit is to reaffirm commitments that both sides signed in 2017, and promote measures to boost bilateral cooperation in all aspects such as politics, economy-trade and investment, culture and education. 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 1, 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. Egypt was the first North African country to recognise Vietnams market economy in November 2013. Egypt is the fifth largest trade partner of Vietnam in Africa. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached USD350 million in 2017. Vietnams main exports to the country included seafood, auto spare parts, fabrics, black pepper, coffee, rubber, and consumer goods. 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. The two countries have coordinated and provided mutual support at international forums, as well as shared views on issues of mutual concern at the United Nations./. Namibia's President Hage Geingob is calling for peaceful debate in the "difficult conversations" over land reform in the southern African nation as he faces increasing pressure to return ancestral lands. Namibia's President Hage Geingob on Sunday urged citizens to take part in the debate over mooted land reforms, including the expropriation of land, in order to avoid chaos. The southern African country will hold a "national land conference" from October 1-5, for discussion of policies that will accelerate the land reform programme. "I believe that we should have difficult conversations, as Namibians, with the aim of finding peaceful and sustainable solutions to the challenges of inequality, landlessness and outstanding pains of genocide," Geingob said during Sunday's heroes day commemorations in northern Namibia. According to Geingob. the October conference will examine a policy of voluntary redistribution of land but also compensated expropriation by the government. "If we dont correct the wrongs of the past through appropriate policies and actions, our peace will not be sustainable," the president warned. The debate comes as neighbouring South Africa is considering plans to allow for expropriating farms without compensating the owners, largely the white minority which possess 72 percent of farms. But there is also 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. Namibia was a German colony from 1884 to 1915. Apartheid South Africa then took over and ruled the country until 1990 when it gained its independence. The government started the land reform programme in 1990 but opted to use the willing buyer-willing seller system to buy land, at market prices, from private farm owners who owned the land before independence. The Namibian president has over the years admitted that approach has failed and so is now urging discussions on land grabs. Geingob, who was the country's first prime minister, was one of the drafters of the Namibian constitution which protected property rights of people who owned land prior to independence. He is however facing increasing pressure to return ancestral lands to the rightful owners. Geingob called for calm and insisted that white people who own farms are also Namibians. "It is true that they came and stole the land 100 years ago, but a white boy who was born on that land has Namibian blood," Geingob said. The government announced in parliament two years ago that German citizens own 141 out of 281 farms which belong to foreign nationals. Over 108 farms measuring more than 450,000 hectares are owned by South Africans. A legend of American theater, Neil Simon was credited with shaping American humor in the 1960s and 1970s in a vein similar to film director Woody Allen, with a focus on life in the big city and family conflict Neil Simon, the prolific and Pulitzer Prize-winning US playwright celebrated as the king of comedy who won more Oscar and Tony nominations combined than any other showbiz writer, died on Sunday. He was 91. The brains behind more than 30 plays, 20 screenplays and five musicals, Time magazine dubbed him the "patron saint of laughter." Many of his works are classics of 20th century American theater and Simon has been credited with playing a seminal role -- along with film director Woody Allen -- in re-crafting US humor in the 1960s and 1970s. His influence has been felt through the generations, The New York Times drawing a line between Simon's early comedies and the character-based comedy in the 1990s hit sitcom "Seinfeld." Longtime friend Bill Evans announced his death early Sunday in a New York hospital of complications from pneumonia. His wife, a daughter and grandson were at his bedside, Evans told AFP. He had represented Simon for three decades from 1976 to 2006. Simon was the author of critically acclaimed and commercial hits such as "Barefoot in the Park" (1963) "The Odd Couple" (1965) "The Sunshine Boys" (1974) and "Lost in Yonkers" (1990). Much of his work, peppered with witty one-liners, explored the everyday struggles of the middle-classes and inter-family conflict, influenced by his troubled upbringing during the Great Depression. "The good mechanic knows how to take a car apart; I love to take the human mind apart and see how it works. Behavior is absolutely the most interesting thing I can write about. You put that behavior in conflict and you're in business," Simon told The Paris Review in 1992. - 'Odd couple' - "Barefoot in the Park" turned Robert Redford into a star. Redford also appeared in the 1967 hit movie version opposite Jane Fonda. Other plays that went on to become major Hollywood movies included "The Goodbye Girl" in 1977 that won Richard Dreyfuss an Oscar for best leading actor and "The Odd Couple" in 1968 about two friends sharing an apartment starring Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon. "Dilemma is the key word. It is always a dilemma, not a situation," Simon told The Paris Review. Born on July 4, 1927 in the Bronx, he grew up in northern Manhattan, the son of a skirt-chasing salesman who left the family home multiple times, forcing his mother to rent out her room to make ends meet. Simon served in the military and then worked with his older brother Danny on producing jokes for television and radio scripts. "Barefoot in the Park," about a bickering couple inspired by his first marriage, and "The Odd Couple" that followed, were credited with capturing the zeitgeist of the 1960s. "He was a writer and an artist who couldn't stop going inside of himself and finding new things. Like any creative artist, there was a compulsion to explore and go deeper," Evans told AFP. "He found a connection in all of us," he added. "The phrase 'odd couple' is now used in so many different contexts. It was a privilege knowing him." - 'Americana' - In the 1960s, at the height of his success, with four plays running on Broadway, Simon was earning about $60,000 a week and easily double that thanks to royalties, The New Yorker reported in 2010. In the 1980s, he produced the semi-autobiographical trilogy of plays "Brighton Beach Memoirs," "Biloxi Blues" and "Broadway Bound" starring a young Matthew Broderick as the playwright's alter ego Eugene Jerome. Broderick is now a celebrated stage actor married to film star Sarah Jessica Parker. Evans called the trilogy a "slice of Americana." Simon described his craft as catharsis. "It's like analysis without going to the analyst. The play becomes your analysis," he told The Paris Review In 1991, Simon achieved the highest honor in US drama, winning the Pulitzer Prize for "Lost in Yonkers," an autobiographical comedy about a mother and her daughter that was his last big splash on Broadway. Such was his wealth that he produced many of his plays and in 1983 he was given the rare accolade of having a New York stage, the Neil Simon Theatre, named in his honor. In addition to his Pulitzer, he won a Golden Globe and three Tonys. He chalked up 17 Tony nominations and four Oscar nods. He was married five times to four different women -- he married his third wife twice -- and had three children. If convicted, the two Reuters journalists could each face up to 14 years in prison for violating Myanmar's state secrets law Two Reuters journalists in Myanmar face a ruling Monday that could see them each jailed for up to 14 years, a landmark case that ignited global outcry after they were arrested while investigating a Rohingya massacre. Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, have been in Myanmar's Insein prison since December after they were invited to a dinner with police in Yangon and pounced on as they left the restaurant. They were charged with violating a colonial-era state secrets act for possessing classified documents about Rakhine state, claims undercut by a police witness who said his superior had ordered a set-up and by arguments that the documents had been published in state media. Reuters denied the charges and hired prominent rights attorney Amal Clooney to help, arguing the journalists were simply doing their job in working to expose abuses. "We tried for them as much as we could the whole time," Than Zaw Aung, one of the lawyers for the journalists, told AFP a day before the verdict. "Our journalists will be free tomorrow (Monday) if the judiciary is free and fair." Myanmar's former junta routinely jailed and censored the media, and journalists fear the Reuters trial shows that the repressive reflexes are on the rise even under civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The trial on the outskirts of the former capital has been packed with well-wishers and family, with Wa Lone flashing a trademark double thumbs up upon arrival and Kyaw Soe Oo embracing his young daughter in emotional reunions. Wa Lone's wife gave birth to their first child this month. - 'Baseless' allegations - The two consistently gave stirring defences of their work when speaking to reporters at the courthouse. The reporters say the allegations against them are 'baseless' "We are not wrong and the things alleged by the prosecution are baseless," Wa Lone told the media after closing arguments last week. Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone were probing the September 2017 massacre of 10 Rohingya men and boys in the Rakhine state village of Inn Din, a week after the military launched a sweeping crackdown on members of the stateless Muslim minority. The United Nations and Washington have labelled the campaign "ethnic cleansing", after some 700,000 Rohingya fled Rakhine to Bangladesh, bringing with them testimonies of rape, arson and indiscriminate killings in the northern part of the state. The Myanmar army leadership has denied most allegations of abuses, and said they were responding to attacks on police posts. But they conceded about a month after Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were arrested that the Inn Din massacre occurred, prompting speculation that authorities had attempted to thwart the story. In February, Reuters published its account of the murders, which contradicts the military's claim that the killings happened after the village came under seige by Rohingya fighters. If convicted, the two journalists can appeal and would also be eligible for a possible pardon by Myanmar's civilian president, a staunch Suu Kyi ally. burs-joe/qan MADISON, Ill. (AP) - IndyCar driver Robert Wickens was breathing without medical assistance and began speaking with his family Saturday for the first time since his harrowing wreck at Pocono Raceway. Schmidt Peterson Motorsports made the announcement shortly before the start of the IndyCar race at Gateway Motorsports Park. The team is only fielding James Hinchcliffe's car for Saturday night's race, though a backup No. 6 car that Wickens had driven this season was parked outside the haulers. Many drivers, crew members and fans were wearing "RW6" hats and T-shirts as they signed a "Get Well" sign in the paddock, and cars were carrying stickers that read "Better Stronger Faster." FILE - In this Aug. 18, 2018, file photo, Robert Wickens prepares to qualify for an IndyCar series auto race in Long Pond, Pa. Wickens underwent surgery this week on his right arm and lower extremities and tests showed the Canadian does not have injuries that have not already been detected. Wickens previously had titanium rods and screws placed in his spine to stabilize a fracture associated with a spinal cord injury suffered in a weekend crash at Pocono Raceway. IndyCar said in a statement Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, the severity of the spinal cord injury is still unknown.(AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File) "The team has a very strong character, a very strong culture. Everybody rallies around and rallies through it," Schmidt Peterson general manager Piers Phillips. "The general spirit was been awesome and that's something here at SPM we've always tried to build from the start of the season." Wickens crashed early in last Sunday's race at Pocono, touching Ryan Hunter-Reay and hurtling into the catch fence. The Canadian driver's car was shredded and debris scattered across the track in a wreck that involved five cars but only left Wickens with serious injuries. He was airlifted to a hospital and has undergone a series of surgeries, including a procedure to insert titanium rods and screws to stabilize his fractured spin. Wickens also had surgery late in the week on his extremities, and will require additional surgery and rehabilitation. The outpouring of support for Wickens has extended far beyond IndyCar, which is hardly surprising given his extensive racing experience. Among them have been Tweets from former Formula 1 drivers David Coulthard and Mark Webber, and another from Alex Zanardi, who posted a photograph on social media of a banner he had signed with members of his touring car team. Zanardi, who won back-to-back CART titles in the 1990s, was involved in a near-fatal crash in Germany in 2001 that resulted in amputations to both of his legs. IndyCar President Jay Frye has praised the way the new generation of car handled the impact of Wickens' wreck. But he also acknowledged that improvements could be made not only to the car but also to the fencing at tracks and the way information is relayed to the public after major incidents. The series was criticized for the time it took to announce Wickens was alive and alert. "This new kit has the driver-side impact pieces that we think was an important element to the way the car held up," Frye said this weekend. "There were also five or six other things that we've done to the car over the past few months, safety updates, and again they did their job. "But as I say, we're never satisfied. Driver safety is our number-one priority." Hinchcliffe was hit in the hands by debris from Wickens' wreck, resulting in a fractured finger and trouble making a fist. The swelling had subsided by the middle of the week, though, and Hinchcliffe said he wasn't concerned about missing the race at Gateway. "They're OK. A little sore, a little swollen, but honestly they feel great in the car," he said, showing off compression gloves he was wearing under his race gloves. "Once we got in the car and I was able to grab the wheel, nothing was too sore. Thankfully we're only turning one way." ___ More AP Auto Racing: https://apnews.com/tag/apf-AutoRacing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports DONGDUCHEON, South Korea (AP) - Ninety-three-year-old Ham Sung-chan's eyes widen with excitement as he describes the shock and euphoria of reuniting with his baby brother, now 79, during three days of family reunions in North Korea. But there's a deep and bitter regret, too, and it stems from a simple bit of math: After nearly 70 years of a separation forced by a devastating 1950-53 war that killed and injured millions and cemented the division of the Korean Peninsula into North and South, Ham and his North Korean brother got a total of only 12 hours together. Ham was one of the 197 South Koreans who visited North Korea's scenic Diamond Mountain resort from last Monday to Wednesday for rare reunions with relatives in the North. The heart-wrenching images of elderly Koreans embracing each other for the last time continued in a second set of reunions involving around 300 South Koreans that took place from Friday to Sunday. FILE - In this Aug. 20, 2018, file photo, South Korean Ham Sung-chan, 93, right, hugs his North Korean brother Ham Dong Chan, 79, during the Separated Family Reunion Meeting at the Diamond Mountain resort in North Korea. After nearly 70 years of a separation forced by a devastating 1950-53 war that killed and injured millions and cemented the division of the Korean Peninsula into North and South, Ham and his North Korean brother only got a total of 12 hours together. (Lee Ji-eun/Yonhap via AP. File) "There's a large sense of dejection that has set in," said Ham, who described the details of his trip in an Associated Press interview in his home in Dongducheon, north of Seoul. "The time we spent together was too short, way too short. It wasn't a week; it wasn't 10 days. Just after we met, we had to depart." Here's how Ham described the brief but intense time he spent with his North Korean brother after so many decades apart: ___ SLEEPLESS IN SOKCHO Born in eastern North Korea, Ham was in his 20s, selling fish and cosmetics in the South, when war broke out in June 1950 and prevented him from returning to his hometown. Ham thought his mother was still in the North until he met her in the South in 1983, several years before her death. But he did not expect any of the three brothers he'd left in North Korea to be alive. If they weren't killed by the war or North Korea's devastating 1990s-era famine, he thought they would have died of old age. One of his brothers, however, 79-year-old Ham Dong Chan, was frail but still alive and eager to meet his oldest brother. But Ham's joy when he learned of this soon gave way to anxiety. His mind raced with endless questions. Who's this person they say is my brother? Will he resemble the skinny, quiet kid I remember? What if I don't recognize him? Did he have a difficult life? Does he have grandchildren? Ham's two daughters and son bought gifts for their uncle, filling four large bags with underwear, long johns, duck-down parkas, medicine, vitamins, sugar, candy, instant noodles and five boxes of "Choco Pies," a brand of South Korean-made chocolate-covered cakes known to be popular among North Koreans. The day before the reunions, Ham, his wife and younger daughter drove to a resort in the South Korean coastal town of Sokcho, where the South Korean participants spent a night before crossing into North Korea by bus. Red Cross officials arranged health checkups for the participants, who were told not to criticize North Korea's authoritarian leadership and broken economy and not to point at portraits of the three leaders of the Kim dynasty that has ruled the North since 1945. "I couldn't sleep at all that night," Ham said. ___ DAY 1: 'BROTHER, IT'S ME!' On Monday morning, Ham's bus crossed into North Korea. Ham said he felt "spooky" when three North Korean soldiers, in olive-green uniforms and large round hats, came aboard his bus during a border check. "They only asked me when I had crossed over to the South," Ham said. "I told them it was before the war." After arriving at the Diamond Mountain resort, Ham marveled at how the modern facility differed from the underdeveloped surroundings, where small, crude homes were scattered around fields and on hills. The resort was built by South Korea's Hyundai business group during a period of rapprochement in the 2000s. Analysts say North Korea, which has long rejected South Korean demands to increase the number of reunions and participants, keeps the meetings at Diamond Mountain to limit North Koreans' awareness of what's going on in the outside world. Ham unpacked in room No. 512 at the Kumkangsan Hotel at the resort. It had nice beds, air conditioning and hot water, but the bulky television did not work. The first meetings took place at about 3 p.m. Ham's heart trembled as he walked with his wife and daughter toward the banquet hall where the North Korean relatives were waiting at white tables. As Ham approached a table marked with the number 90, a slim, deeply wrinkled man in a suit and tie sprung from his seat. The brothers embraced tightly, smiling widely, tears streaming down their faces. "He yelled, 'Brother, it's me!'" Ham said. "I recognized him right away. He was still that skinny, quiet kid. Maybe our bloodlines pulled us together." For four hours, Ham and his brother mostly talked about family, explaining to each other when their parents and brothers had died. ___ DAY 2: FROM THRILLED TO DEVASTATED Ham had another sleepless night after the meeting. He was thrilled to see his brother but devastated that one-third of their reunion was already over. On Tuesday, the brothers had deeper conversations over lunch in a room at a nearby hotel, away from North Korean government watchers and the dozens of South Korean reporters covering the event. Dong Chan, who came to the meetings with his 72-year-old wife, had thought that his oldest brother was dead. He did not know that his mother had made it to the South, remarried there, and lived for decades. Dong Chan said he had been hospitalized in Pyongyang to treat migraines when he received word from North Korean authorities that his brother in South Korea was looking for him. "He told the authorities that it must be a different person with the same name because he was so convinced that I had died," Ham said. "When North Korean officials asked again, this time mentioning the names of our parents, he was shocked." During those three hours of talks on Tuesday, workers brought Ham's bags of gifts. Ham also gave Dong Chan an album containing dozens of photos of him, his family and their mother. Dong Chan gave Ham three bottles of liquor made from ginseng and a silk tablecloth. Workers then delivered boxed meals of rice cakes, grilled chicken and octopus, stir-fried mushrooms and pickled cucumbers. "It didn't taste good; I couldn't finish it," Ham said. Ham told his brother about how he overcame poverty in his younger days and how proud he was of his three U.S.-educated children. But because of the anti-American sentiment prevalent in the North, he left out that he worked at a U.S. military base in Dongducheon for nearly two decades as a civilian employee. Ham said Dong Chan was equally proud of his life as a retired North Korean government worker. Dong Chan said he's living in an apartment in Pyongyang, North Korea's capital, which itself is a status symbol in North Korea. He also talked about a grandson who was studying at the prestigious Kim Il Sung University. "Once I heard that he was living in Pyongyang, I was relieved," Ham said. "As brothers, we had so much to talk about over so little time. But other South Korean relatives were meeting North Korean nephews they'd never seen - some of them told me it was hard to keep a conversation going after 30 minutes." ___ DAY 3: 'EXPLODED WITH TEARS' Ham tried hard to be cheerful during his last lunch with Dong Chan on Wednesday. He laughed, clinked glasses of beer with his brother and shouted, "Good health is the best!" Ham promised Dong Chan that he will be the first South Korean to apply for a North Korean visa if relations improve to the point where cross-border travels are allowed. Dong Chan told Ham that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's relationship with South Korean President Moon Jae-in was so close that the Koreas will be able to unify in three years. But Ham's spirits sank as the clock ticked away. After organizers announced that the meeting had ended, Ham said goodbye and walked out of the banquet hall alone, sobbing all the way to the bus waiting to take him home. Ham's wife and daughter lingered a bit longer at the hall, tearfully embracing the North Korean relatives they were just getting to know. Later, outside the hotel, Ham, still in tears, waved both hands from inside the bus as his brother came out to see him off. The bus slowly rolled out of the resort and headed back to South Korea. "I had told myself, 'I won't cry, I won't cry,'" Ham said. "But I exploded with tears." ___ Follow Kim Tong-hyung on Twitter at @KimTongHyung In this Aug. 23, 2018, photo, Ham Sung-chan, 93, watches gifts he received from his North Koran brother Ham Dong Chan during an interview at his house in Dongducheon, South Korea. After nearly 70 years of a separation forced by a devastating 1950-53 war that killed and injured millions and cemented the division of the Korean Peninsula into North and South, Ham and his North Korean brother only got a total of 12 hours together. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) In this Aug. 23, 2018, photo, Ham Sung-chan, 93, watches gifts he received from his North Koran brother Ham Dong Chan during an interview at his house in Dongducheon, South Korea. After nearly 70 years of a separation forced by a devastating 1950-53 war that killed and injured millions and cemented the division of the Korean Peninsula into North and South, Ham, 93, and his North Korean brother only got a total of 12 hours together. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) WASHINGTON (AP) - Arizona Sen. John McCain, the war hero who became the GOP's standard-bearer in the 2008 election, has died. He was 81. His office says McCain died Saturday. He had battled brain cancer. In 1967, his plane was shot down on a bombing mission over North Vietnam. He was severely injured and spent more than five years as a prisoner of war. FILE - In this June 3, 2016, file photo, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., greets the audience as he arrives to deliver a speech in Singapore. McCain, the war hero who became the GOP's standard-bearer in the 2008 election, died Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. He was 81. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File) He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1982 and the Senate in 1986. A conservative on most issues, he pushed for campaign finance reform and the effort to account for those missing in Vietnam. He ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, then won it in 2008. But he and running mate Sarah Palin lost to Barack Obama. WASHINGTON (AP) - John McCain lived most of his life in the public eye, surviving war, torture, scandal, political stardom and failure, the enmity of some colleagues and the election of President Donald Trump. Even brain cancer didn't seem to scare McCain so much as it sobered and saddened him. "The world is a fine place and worth fighting for and I hate very much to leave it," McCain wrote in his memoir, referencing a line from his favorite book, the Ernest Hemingway war novel "For Whom the Bell Tolls." ''I hate to leave." FILE - In this undated file photo provided by CBS, U.S. Navy Lt. Commander John S. McCain lies injured in North Vietnam. McCain, the war hero who became the GOP's standard-bearer in the 2008 election, died Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. He was 81. (CBS via AP, File) A look at public moments that made McCain: PRISONER OF WAR, CELEBRITY McCain became a public figure at age 31 when his bed-bound image was broadcast from North Vietnam in 1967. The North Vietnamese had figured out that he was the son and grandson of famous American military men - a "crown prince," they called him. He was offered an early release, but refused. McCain's captors beat him until he confessed, an episode that first led to shame - and then discovery. McCain has written that that's when he learned to trust not just his legacy but his own judgment - and his resilience. Less than a decade after his March 1973 release, McCain was elected to the House as a Republican from Arizona. In 1986, voters there sent him to the Senate. THE KEATING FIVE He called it "my asterisk" and the worst mistake of his life. At issue was a pair of 1987 meetings between McCain, four other senators and regulators to get the government to back off a key campaign donor. Charles Keating Jr. wanted McCain and Democratic Sens. Dennis DeConcini of Arizona, Alan Cranston of California, John Glenn of Ohio and Don Riegle of Michigan to get government auditors to stop pressing Keating's Lincoln Savings and Loan Association. All five denied improper conduct. McCain was cleared of all charges but found to have exercised "poor judgment." "His honor was being questioned and that's nothing that he takes lightly," said Mark Salter, McCain's biographer and co-author of his new memoir, "The Restless Wave." THE SENATE McCain became his party's leading voice on matters of war, national security and veterans - and eventually became chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He worked with a Democrat to rewrite the nation's campaign finance laws. He voted for the Iraq War and supported the 2007 surge of forces there even as his own sons served or prepared to serve. But there was one thing that wasn't as widely known about him: McCain, owner of a ranch in Arizona that is in the flight path of 500 species of migratory birds, became concerned about the environment. "People associate John with defense and national security, as well they should. But he also had a great concern for and love of the environment," said Sen. Susan Collins, the Maine Republican who traveled to the ends of the earth with McCain - to the Arctic Circle in 2004 and Antarctica two years later - on fact-finding missions related to climate change. Back on McCain's Arizona ranch, the senator gave Collins an extensive nature tour of the property. "I particularly remember his love for the birds," Collins said. "He loved the birds." TOWN HALLS, STRAIGHT TALK McCain in the 2000 election did something new: He toured New Hampshire on a bus laden with doughnuts and reporters that stopped at "town hall" meetings where voters were invited to exchange views with the candidate. The bus was called the "Straight Talk Express," and that's what he promised to deliver at the town halls. The whole thing was messy, unscripted and often hilarious. And ultimately the events re-introduced McCain to voters as a candid and authentic, just a year after President Bill Clinton was acquitted of lying to Congress and obstruction. In New Hampshire that year, McCain defeated George W. Bush in an 18-point blowout, only to be pushed out of the race in South Carolina. But the town halls remained a fond McCain memory. "The town halls were festivals of politics," Salter said. "They were so authentic and open and honest." 'NO MA'AM' McCain, in 2008 making his second run for president, quickly intervened when a woman in Lakeville, Minnesota, stood at a town hall event and began to make disparaging remarks about Democratic presidential nominee and then-Sen. Barack Obama. "He's an Arab," she said, implying he was not an American. "No ma'am," McCain said, taking the microphone from her. "He's a decent, family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and that's what this campaign is all about. He's not." It was a defining moment for McCain as a leader, a reflection of his thinking that partisans should disagree without demonizing each other. But it reflected McCain's reckoning with the fear pervading his party of Obama, who would go on to become the nation's first black president. CANCER McCain last year was diagnosed with glioblastoma, the same aggressive cancer that had felled his friend, Sen. Edward Kennedy, in 2009. Friends and family say he understood the gravity of the diagnosis - but quickly turned to the speech he wanted to give on the Senate floor urging his colleagues to shed the partisanship that had produced gridlock. Face scarred and bruised from surgery, he pounded the lectern. Some of the sternest members of the Senate hugged him, tears in their eyes. "Of all of the things that have happened in this man's life, of all of the times that his life could have ended in the ways it could have ended, this (cancer) is by far one of the least threats to him and that's kind of how he views it," his son, Jack McCain, told the Arizona Republic in January. HEALTH CARE VOTE Republicans, driven by Trump, were one vote away from advancing a repeal of Obama's health care law. Then McCain, scarred from brain surgery, swooped into the Senate chamber and, facing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, dramatically held up his hand. The thumb flicked down. Gasps could be heard throughout the staid chamber. McConnell stood motionless, arms crossed. Trump's campaign promise - and the premiere item on his agenda - was dead. TRUMP McCain tangled with Trump, who never served in the military, for years. As a candidate, Trump in 2016 claimed the decorated McCain is only considered a war hero because he had been captured. "He's not a war hero," Trump said at an event in Iowa. "I like people who weren't captured." Shortly before Election Day in 2016, McCain said he's rather cast his vote for another Republican, someone who's "qualified to be president." Trump fumed, without using McCain's name, that the senator is the only reason the Affordable Care Act stands. McCain responded: "I have faced tougher adversaries." ___ Follow Laurie Kellman on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/APLaurieKellman FILE - In this Jan. 30, 2000, file photo, confetti falls on Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and his wife, Cindy, at the end of their 114th New Hampshire town hall meeting with voters at the Peterborough Town House in Peterborough, N.H. Aide says senator, war hero and GOP presidential candidate McCain died Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. He was 81. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia, File) John McCain, with his irascible grin and fighter-pilot moxie, made a name for himself as an outspoken politician. He was at times bitingly funny, ruthlessly self-deprecating, and eloquently patriotic. Some quotes from the former senator and U.S. presidential candidate: WAR IS WRETCHED FILE - In this June 3, 2016, file photo, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., greets the audience as he arrives to deliver a speech in Singapore. McCain, the war hero who became the GOP's standard-bearer in the 2008 election, died Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. He was 81. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File) "War is wretched beyond description, and only a fool or a fraud could sentimentalize its cruel reality." - May 6, 1999, speech to the American Red Cross. STEADY STRAIN "'Steady strain, buddy, steady strain,' we cautioned each other whenever we began to take a short view of our lives. It was best to take the long view. We would get home when we got home." - From the 1999 book "Faith of My Fathers: A Family Memoir" by Sen. John McCain. HIGH ROAD TO A HIGH OFFICE "I will not take the low road to the highest office in this land. I want the presidency in the best way, not the worst way." - Feb. 19, 2000, after losing the South Carolina Republican primary. IN THE WORDS OF CHAIRMAN MAO "In the words of Chairman Mao, 'It's darkest before it's totally black.'" - July 2007, in response to a reporter's question about his struggling bid for the Republican presidential nomination. A GOOD FIGHT "I don't mind a good fight. For reasons known only to God, I've had quite a few tough ones in my life. But I learned an important lesson along the way: In the end, it matters less that you can fight. What you fight for is the real test." - Sept 4, 2008, speech to the Republican National Convention accepting the party's presidential nomination. A DECENT, FAMILY MAN "No, ma'am. No, ma'am. He's a decent, family man, citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and that's what this campaign is all about" - October 2008 at a town hall to a questioner who asked if his opponent for the White House, then-Sen. Barack Obama, was an "Arab" implying he was not American. BOTTOM OF HIS CLASS "Look, I am the luckiest person that you will ever have on your show, ever. And I am very aware of that, and I am very happy. For a guy who stood at the bottom of his class at the Naval Academy, we've come a hell of a long way." -- McCain said in an Aug. 2, 2017, interview on KFYI radio in Phoenix after his cancer diagnosis. HE SERVED HIS COUNTRY "He served his country, and not always right -- made a lot of mistakes, made a lot of errors -- but served his country, and I hope we can add, honorably" - Sept. 12, 2017, in an interview on how he hopes he's remembered. A LAND MADE OF IDEALS "We live in a land made of ideals, not blood and soil. We are the custodians of those ideals at home, and their champion abroad. We have done great good in the world. That leadership has had its costs, but we have become incomparably powerful and wealthy as we did. We have a moral obligation to continue in our just cause, and we would bring more than shame on ourselves if we don't. We will not thrive in a world where our leadership and ideals are absent. We wouldn't deserve to." - Oct. 17, 2017, speech at National Constitutional Center. FILE - In this Dec. 1, 1992, file photo, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., left, chairman of the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs, listens to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a former POW in Vietnam, during a hearing of the committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. Arizona Sen. McCain, the war hero who became the GOP's standard-bearer in the 2008 election, has died. He was 81. His office says McCain died Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. He had battled brain cancer. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File) Shooting at video game tournament claims multiple lives JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - A gunman opened fire Sunday at an online video game tournament that was being livestreamed from a Florida mall, killing multiple people and sending many others to hospitals, authorities said. Sheriff's officers did not immediately confirm the number of dead at the Jacksonville Landing, a collection of restaurants and shops along the St. Johns River. But an official close to the investigation said the shooting left four people dead and that the gunman died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. It was not clear if the official included the suspect in the death toll. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to release information. Sheriff Mike Williams said authorities had yet to identify the suspect who attacked the video football tournament, which featured the game "Madden NFL 19." The competition was held in a gaming bar that shares space with a pizzeria. Viewers could watch the games online and see the players. ___ For McCain, a life of courage, politics came down to 1 vote WASHINGTON (AP) - For John McCain, a lifetime of courage, contradictions and contrarianism came down to one vote, in the middle of the night, in the twilight of his career. The fate of President Donald Trump's long effort to repeal Barack Obama's health care law hung in the balance as a Senate roll call dragged on past 1 a.m. on a July night in 2017. Then came McCain - 80 years old, recently diagnosed with brain cancer, his face still scarred from surgery, striding with purpose toward the well of the Senate. The Arizona Republican raised his right arm, paused for dramatic effect and flashed a determined thumbs-down, drawing gasps from both sides of the aisle. Trump's health care bill was dead. McCain's lifelong reputation as free thinker, never to be intimidated, was very much alive. ___ McCain on his time as POW: 'I fell in love with my country' DENVER (AP) - On Oct. 26, 1967, a missile the size of a telephone pole blew the wing off of John McCain's Skyhawk dive bomber. McCain, then a 31-year-old lieutenant commander in the Navy, parachuted out of the plane and landed in a lake in Hanoi, North Vietnam. He broke both arms and a leg in the fall, was dragged from the lake by an angry crowd, and was beaten and bayoneted. Thus began a harrowing, five-year ordeal that was to define the future senator and presidential candidate's life. Before his imprisonment in Vietnam, McCain was Navy royalty - the grandson and son of four-star admirals - as well as a self-described lousy student at the U.S. Naval Academy and a hotshot pilot who had survived three accidental crashes. His time in captivity gave his life purpose. "I have never felt more powerfully free, more my own man, than when I was a small part of an organized resistance to the power that imprisoned me," McCain wrote in his 1997 memoir, "Faith of My Fathers." ''Nothing in life is more liberating than to fight for a cause larger than yourself." ___ For McCain, a cross-country funeral procession in the works WASHINGTON (AP) - Two former presidents are expected to speak at Sen. John McCain's service and he will lie in state in both the nation's capital and Arizona as part of a cross-country funeral procession ending with his burial at the U.S. Naval Academy, according to plans taking shape Sunday. McCain had long feuded with President Donald Trump, and two White House officials said McCain's family had asked, before the senator's death, that Trump not attend the funeral services. Vice President Mike Pence is likely to attend, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe private discussions. A day after McCain died of brain cancer at 81, his family, friends and congressional and state leaders were working out details of the farewell to the decorated Vietnam War hero, prisoner of war and six-term senator. His office website said McCain will lie in state and have funeral services in Arizona on Wednesday and Thursday. The procession will then head to Washington, where McCain will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda. There will then be a procession past the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and a funeral service at Washington National Cathedral. A private funeral is planned at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Trump tweeted that his "deepest sympathies and respect" went out to McCain's family. First lady Melania Trump tweeted thanks to McCain for his service to the country. ___ Gentle humor was the lifeblood of playwright Neil Simon NEW YORK (AP) - When master playwright Neil Simon accepted the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2006, he was visibly nervous. But his gentle humor was evident. "It took me six years to write my first play," he said, recalling that he found the title for "Come Blow Your Horn" from one of his daughter's nursery rhyme books. He said it turned out to be "a so-so play" that was turned into "a so-so movie" with Frank Sinatra. But it was successful enough that Simon considered calling his subsequent works "The Sheep's in the Meadow" and "The Cow's in the Corn." "For the first time," he said, "I had money in the bank. Yes, sir, yes sir, three bags full!" Simon, who died Sunday at 91, was a meticulous joke-smith, peppering his plays, especially the early ones, with one-liners and humorous situations that critics said sometimes came at the expense of character and believability. ___ Neil Simon, Broadway's master of comedy, dies at 91 NEW YORK (AP) - Playwright Neil Simon, a master of comedy whose laugh-filled hits such as "The Odd Couple," ''Barefoot in the Park" and his "Brighton Beach" trilogy dominated Broadway for decades, has died. He was 91. Simon died early Sunday of complications from pneumonia at New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, said Bill Evans, a longtime friend and spokesman for Shubert Organization theaters. In the second half of the 20th century, Simon was the American theater's most successful and prolific playwright, often chronicling middle class issues and fears. Starting with "Come Blow Your Horn" in 1961 and continuing into the next century, he rarely stopped working on a new play or musical. His list of credits is staggering. The theater world quickly mourned his death , including Tony Award-winning actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein, who tweeted that Simon "could write a joke that would make you laugh, define the character, the situation, and even the world's problems." Matthew Broderick, who in 1983 made his Broadway debut in Simon's "Brighton Beach Memoirs" and his movie debut in Simon's "Max Dugan Returns," added: "I owe him a career. The theater has lost a brilliantly funny, unthinkably wonderful writer. And even after all this time, I feel I have lost a mentor, a father figure, a deep influence in my life and work." ___ AP: States' follow-through mixed on sexual misconduct policy As the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct began snaring politicians, state legislatures across the country vowed to re-examine their policies to prevent harassment and beef up investigations into complaints of sexual wrongdoing. About half of all state legislative chambers have followed through with at least some sort of change to their sexual harassment policies, most often by boosting their own training, according to a 50-state analysis by The Associated Press. But the others have done nothing this year, even as sexual misconduct allegations against lawmakers have been mounting. The mixed response highlights both the political pressure to act and the institutional resistance to do so that exists in many state legislatures, where women now serve in record numbers yet remain outnumbered 3-to-1 by men. "In the wake of Harvey Weinstein and the #MeToo movement that swept across different industries, we had to act," said Democratic Assemblywoman Nily Rozic of New York, which mandated more robust sexual harassment policies for government agencies and private employers. But "I think we have a long ways to go in addressing sexual harassment in legislatures across the country," she said. ___ Pope apologizes for 'crimes' against Irish women, babies KNOCK, Ireland (AP) - Pope Francis issued a sweeping apology Sunday for the "crimes" of the Catholic Church in Ireland, saying church officials regularly didn't respond with compassion to the many abuses children and women suffered over the years and vowing to work for justice. Francis was interrupted by applause as he read the apology out loud at the start of Mass in Dublin's Phoenix Park. Hundreds of kilometers (miles) away, somber protesters marched through the Irish town of Tuam and recited the names of a 796 babies and young children who died at a Catholic-run orphanage there, most during the 1950s. "Elizabeth Murphy, 4 months. Annie Tyne, 3 months. John Joseph Murphy, 10 months," the protesters said in memory of the children who were buried in an unmarked mass grave discovered last year. With his weekend visit to Ireland, Francis became the first pope to visit the predominantly Catholic country in 39 years. He told the hundreds of thousands of people who turned out for Mass that he met Saturday with victims of all sorts of abuses: sexual, labor and religious ones. ___ Replacing McCain in the Senate is political balancing act PHOENIX (AP) - Sen. John McCain's death in office has handed Arizona's governor an empty Senate seat to give out - and a difficult political puzzle to solve before he does. Arizona law requires only that Gov. Doug Ducey name a replacement who is a member of McCain's Republican party and who will fill the seat until the next general election in 2020. But in a state with a deeply divided Republican Party, where McCain was a towering but divisive figure, the choice is far more complicated. Ducey is balancing the demands of the many conservative Arizona Republicans who have soured on McCain due to his dovish immigration stance, criticism of President Trump and vote against a rollback of President Obama's health care law. They are wary of Ducey appointing a moderate. But naming someone with dramatically different views from McCain could be viewed as disrespectful to McCain's legacy, carrying its own risks. In either case, Ducey wants to set the party up to hold the seat two years from now, no easy task given the turmoil in his party. The decision is under close scrutiny in Washington. While McCain has been treated for cancer in Arizona and unable to vote in Washington, his party's already narrow Senate majority had shrunk from two votes to one. With the confirmation of Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, scheduled for next month the GOP needs every reliable vote it can get. Ducey's office has heard from Vice President Mike Pence's aides about the choice, a person familiar with the discussions said Sunday. The person was not authorized to discuss the matter and asked for anonymity. A day after McCain's death, political types from Arizona to Washington were buzzing with options. The senator's wife, Cindy McCain, was viewed as a possibility, as was former Sen. John Kyl and former McCain chief of staff, Grant Woods. Another group of former lawmakers and state officials were floated as middle-ground options - including Ducey's chief of staff Kirk Adams - who might not anger the right wing of the party. ___ Letter: Vatican knew about disgraced archbishop's behavior DUBLIN (AP) - The Vatican's retired ambassador to the United States accused senior Vatican officials of knowing as early as 2000 that the disgraced former archbishop of Washington, Theodore McCarrick, regularly invited seminarians into his bed but was made a cardinal regardless. The letter, an extraordinary allegation from a one-time Holy See diplomat, also accuses Pope Francis of knowing about McCarrick's behavior in 2013 but rehabilitating him - a claim of cover-up against the pontiff himself. The National Catholic Register and another conservative site, LifeSiteNews, published the letter attributed to Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano on Sunday as the pope wrapped up a two-day visit to Ireland dominated by the clerical sex abuse scandal. Vigano, 77, a conservative whose hard-line anti-gay views are well known, urged the reformist pope to resign over the issue and what he called the "conspiracy of silence" about McCarrick. He and the pope have long been on opposite ideological sides, with the pope more a pastor and Vigano more a cultural warrior. The Vatican did not immediately comment. The document's authenticity was confirmed to The Associated Press by an Italian journalist, Marco Tosatti, who said he was with Vigano when the archbishop wrote it Wednesday. WASHINGTON (AP) - Two former presidents are expected to speak at Sen. John McCain's service and he will lie in state in both the nation's capital and Arizona as part of a cross-country funeral procession ending with his burial at the U.S. Naval Academy, according to plans taking shape Sunday. McCain had long feuded with President Donald Trump, and two White House officials said McCain's family had asked, before the senator's death, that Trump not attend the funeral services. Vice President Mike Pence is likely to attend, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe private discussions. A day after McCain died of brain cancer at 81, his family, friends and congressional and state leaders were working out details of the farewell to the decorated Vietnam War hero, prisoner of war and six-term senator. Flags flying a half-staff in honor of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., frame the U.S. Capital at daybreak in Washington, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018. McCain, 81, died at his ranch in Arizona after a yearlong battle with brain cancer. (AP Photo/J. David Ake) His office said that McCain will lie in state in the Arizona State Capitol on Wednesday. A funeral will be conducted at North Phoenix Baptist Church on Thursday with former Vice President Joe Biden speaking. The procession will then head to Washington, where McCain will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda on Friday with a formal ceremony and time for the public to pay respects. The next day, the procession will pass the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and head to a funeral at Washington National Cathedral. A private funeral is planned for Sunday at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Trump tweeted that his "deepest sympathies and respect" went out to McCain's family. First lady Melania Trump tweeted thanks to McCain for his service to the country. Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, who blocked McCain's own White House ambitions, are among those expected to speak at McCain's funeral at Washington National Cathedral. "These were bitter contests, both of them," said Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and "to ask them to speak at your funeral, and for them to be honored at the opportunity, that tells you all you need to know." Flake told CBS' "Face the Nation" that McCain "was quick to forgive - certainly put the good of the country above himself, and the fact that his former opponents will be there speaking says all we need to know." McCain died at his Arizona ranch after a yearlong battle with brain cancer. A black hearse, accompanied by a police motorcade, could be seen driving away from the ranch near Sedona where McCain spent his final weeks. For 50 miles along Interstate 17 southbound, on every overpass and at every exit ramp, people watched the procession. Hundreds, including many waving American flags, parked their cars and got out to watch. Congressional leaders announced that McCain would lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda, though they did not give a date. "The nation mourns the loss of a great American patriot, a statesman who put his country first and enriched this institution through many years of service," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Arizona will accord McCain that honor on Wednesday, when he would have turned 82. "This is a rare and distinct occurrence for a truly special man," GOP Gov. Doug Ducey said in a tweet. Ducey does not plan to announce his selection of a Senate successor to McCain until after McCain's burial. Under state law, the governor's appointee to serve until the next general election in 2020 must come from the same political party. A statement from Ducey's office said that "now is a time for remembering and honoring a consequential life." Trump's brief Twitter statement said "hearts and prayers" are with the McCain family. Trump and McCain were at bitter odds until the end. The president, who as a candidate in 2016 mocked McCain's capture in Vietnam, had jabbed at the ailing senator for voting against Republican efforts to roll back President Barack Obama's health care law. Earlier this summer, McCain issued a blistering statement criticizing Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Obama, who triumphed over McCain in 2008, said that despite their differences, McCain and he shared a "fidelity to something higher - the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed." Obama said they "saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world." Bush, who defeated McCain for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination, called McCain a "man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order" and a "friend whom I'll deeply miss." Other tributes poured in from around the globe. French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted in English that McCain "was a true American hero. He devoted his entire life to his country." Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said McCain's support for the Jewish state "never wavered. It sprang from his belief in democracy and freedom." And Germany's chancellor, Angela Merkel, called McCain "a tireless fighter for a strong trans-Atlantic alliance. His significance went well beyond his own country." McCain was the son and grandson of admirals and followed them to the U.S. Naval Academy. A pilot, he was shot down over Vietnam and held as a prisoner of war for more than five years. He went on to win a seat in the House and in 1986, the Senate, where he served for the rest of his life. "He had a joy about politics and a love for his country that was unmatched," said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. "And while he never made it to the presidency, in the Senate, he was the leader that would see a hot spot in the world and just say, we need to go there and stand up for that democracy," she told CNN's "State of the Union." Former Vice President Joe Biden, who developed a friendship with McCain while they served together in the Senate, said the Arizona lawmaker will "cast a long shadow." "The spirit that drove him was never extinguished: we are here to commit ourselves to something bigger than ourselves," Biden said The Senate's top Democrat, New York's Chuck Schumer, said he wants to rename the Senate building that housed McCain's suite of offices after McCain. "As you go through life, you meet few truly great people. John McCain was one of them," Schumer said. "Maybe most of all, he was a truth teller - never afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all too rare." ___ Associated Press writer Ken Thomas contributed to this report. ___ Follow Kellman on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/APLaurieKellman Joe Gruber, of Anthem, Ariz., holds an American flag at an overpass along Interstate 17 as he and dozens of others wait for the procession with the hearse carrying the late Arizona Sen. John McCain, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, in Anthem, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Hurricane Lane secured its place in the history books before it quickly dissipated into a tropical storm and moved off from Hawaii. The storm caused damage, mostly on the Big Island, where rivers raged near Hilo and nearly 40 people had to be rescued from homes. There were no deaths from the storm, which had the potential to cause much more destruction. Here's a look at the storm and its impact on Hawaii. People look out over the ocean along Waikiki Beach in a light rain from Tropical Storm Lane, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, in Honolulu. Federal officials said Saturday that torrential rains are now the biggest threat to Hawaii after the once-powerful hurricane that threatened the island state was downgraded to a tropical storm, and they urged people to continue to take the storm seriously. (AP Photo/John Locher) RAIN MAKER The storm named Lane was barreling toward the Hawaiian Islands as a powerful Category 5 hurricane in the middle of the week. But then it slowed down, moving as slow as 2 mph at times. As it lingered, the storm's outer bands were already over the Big Island, allowing Lane to drop 51.53 inches (131 centimeters) of rain as of early Sunday morning, according to preliminary figures from the National Weather Service. That puts it in third place for the most rain from a storm in the United States since 1950. Hurricane Harvey, which stalled over Houston last year, dropped the most rain in that span with 60.58 inches (154 centimeters), Bingaman said. Hurricane Hiki dropped 52 inches (132 centimeters) in Hawaii in 1950, and Amelia produced a 48-inch (122 centimeter) rainfall in 1978. Rain was still falling on the Big Island, and the total could still increase. ___ SO WHAT HAPPENED TO LANE? Residents and businesses across the islands prepared for the worst, boarding up windows and stocking up on supplies. Tourists in hotels along Waikiki Beach in Honolulu didn't heed warnings to get out of the water. But many visitors stocked up on snack food and beer at convenience stores just in case. While the Big Island took the brunt of the storm, the worst of fears never materialized as Lane quickly fell apart. Winds ultimately caused the demise of Lane, National Weather Service meteorologist Vanessa Almanza said. The storm moved in the central Pacific along a high-pressure ridge last week, when there wasn't much wind shear to affect the hurricane. But then the storm began moving north toward Hawaii around the high-pressure ridge, and that's when its winds died down and it lost speed. The jet stream "just kind of pushed the top off of the hurricane and what happens is it loses exhaust so it just starts collapsing," Almanza said. It was downgraded to a tropical storm on Friday, and all warnings for Hawaii were cancelled Saturday morning after the storm turned west and moved away from the state. ___ LAVA Hawaii's Big Island has had more than its fair share of natural disasters this year, with Kilauea volcano destroying more than 700 homes with lava. If there's any silver lining, it's that the lava rock might have helped absorb some of the rainwater better than soil because it's more porous, Bingaman said. Matthew Purvis, president of the Mainstreet Pahoa Association, said land in the Puna district on the southern part of the island is so porous, there are few waterways that will get clogged or overflow. ___ SPEAKING OF KILAUEA The volcano is still erupting. In fact, it's been in a continuous state of eruption since 1983, and it opened up several vents beginning in May. It was those vents that sent lava down rural streets, destroying entire neighborhoods as it flowed to the ocean. The volcano has settled down since, but it is still active. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory says Tropical Storm Lane had little effect on the volcano beyond some minor rock falls at the summit. The observatory also lost communication with some monitoring stations. The observatory also says whiteout conditions could occur on the new lava field because of steam created when rain falls on the still-hot lava flows. ___ NEED A BREAK It's been a trying few months as Mother Nature - or Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess, has set her sights on the Big Island, first with destruction from the volcano to storm damage. "Definitely we need a break," Hawaii County Managing Director Will Okabe said, quickly adding that it's hurricane season and other storms could still develop. "We are going to be prepared, and we always do that well on the Big Island," he said. ___ HURRICANE AND WILDFIRES It's not known if the storm played any role in the start of several wildfires near the historical coastal town of Lahaina on Maui. But the high winds early Friday morning certainly helped spread the fire, according to Maui county officials. The hurricane also played a role in helping firefighters contain the fires, with about 12 inches of rain falling on the island in a 24-hour period through Saturday. The wildfires in a dry part of the county burned 2,000 acres (810 hectares); destroyed 21 structures and forced more than 600 people into shelters. One woman was injured and flown to Honolulu for treatment. Brush fires also started on Oahu, which is also dry but got only a fraction of the rains that the Big Island and Maui received from the storm. ___ Associated Press writer Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu contributed to this report. A surfer walks along Waikiki Beach in a light rain from Tropical Storm Lane, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/John Locher) James Fujita, left, and Reid Fujita take down plywood boards that were to protect their store from Tropical Storm Lane along Waikiki Beach, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, in Honolulu. Federal officials said Saturday that torrential rains are now the biggest threat to Hawaii after the once-powerful hurricane that threatened the island state was downgraded to a tropical storm, and they urged people to continue to take the storm seriously. (AP Photo/John Locher) A surfer walks along Waikiki Beach in a light rain from Tropical Storm Lane, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/John Locher) Kevin Pak empties out hydro barriers, which are used to block water similar to a sandbag, as he helps reopen an ABC store along Waikiki Beach, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/John Locher) Piiholo Road resident Rudy Salazar sections a Eucalyptus tree blown over by high winds from Lane, on the Hawaiian island of Maui, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. (Matthew Thayer/The Maui News via AP) David Crocker, who is homeless, pushes his belongings past a puddle in Kihei on the Hawaiian island of Maui, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. He said he refused to go to a shelter during Hurricane Lane. "I didn't have any problems at all," Cocker said. (Matthew Thayer/The Maui News via AP) Dan Wong, left, and Cassie Tarleton watch waves crash along the coastline ahead of Lane, Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, in Honolulu. As Lane approaches Oahu, large ocean swells have impacted local beaches and coastlines. (AP Photo/John Locher) KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Afghanistan's top security officials have tendered their resignation, but President Ashraf Ghani asked them to remain at their posts. The presidential palace said Sunday that Ghani declined the offers to resign submitted by Defense Minister Tareq Shah Bahrami, Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak and Masoum Stanekzai, Afghanistan's top intelligence official. On Saturday, Ghani accepted the resignation of Mohammed Haneef Atmar, his national security adviser, and replaced him with Hamdullah Mohib, who previously served as the ambassador to the United States. Security personnel inspect the side of a suicide attack near the office of the Election Commission in Jalalabad city, capital of eastern Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. At least two people were killed and four others wounded Saturday when a suicide bomber detonated his vest full of explosives near the office of the Election Commission in eastern Nangarhar province, officials said. (AP Photo/Mohammad Anwar Danishyar) The security shake-up comes after weeks of unrelenting attacks by the Taliban, who have seized several districts across the country in recent years. The insurgent group has also boosted its diplomatic profile, sending official delegations to Indonesia and Uzbekistan, and accepting an invitation for talks in Moscow. SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) - Five people still have life-threatening injuries Sunday, a day after their tourist bus flipped over on a Bulgarian highway, killing at least 16 people and leaving 18 injured, authorities said. Dr. Nikolay Gabrovski from Sofia's emergency hospital spoke Sunday about the victims' injuries. Police said the bus was carrying 33 pilgrims from the village of Bozhurishte and a driver on a weekend trip to a nearby Orthodox monastery. It overturned Saturday and dropped down onto a side road below the highway about 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Sofia, the capital. In this handout photo provided by the Bulgarian Interior Ministry, a view of a bus that crashed and overturned, near the town of Svoge, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. Bulgaria's health minister says a tourist bus has flipped over on a highway near Sofia, the capital, killing at least 15 people and leaving 27 others injured. Police said a bus carrying tourists on a weekend trip to a nearby resort overturned and then fell down a side road 20 meters (66 feet) below the highway. (Bulgarian Interior Ministry via AP) Police said Sunday that 13 people died at the scene, among them a 13-year-old boy, and three of the injured died in the hospital. That updates comments from the health minister, who said Saturday that 27 people had been injured. An investigation into the cause of the crash has been launched. Prime Minister Boyko Borissov called an emergency meeting Sunday with senior law enforcement officials to tighten traffic controls on the roads during the peak summer tourist season. The government has declared Monday a national day of mourning for the bus victims. DENVER (AP) - On Oct. 26, 1967, a missile the size of a telephone pole blew the wing off of John McCain's Skyhawk dive bomber. McCain, then a 31-year-old lieutenant commander in the Navy, parachuted out of the plane and landed in a lake in Hanoi, North Vietnam. He broke both arms and a leg in the fall, was dragged from the lake by an angry crowd, and was beaten and bayoneted. Thus began a harrowing, five-year ordeal that was to define the future senator and presidential candidate's life. FILE - In this March 14, 1973, file photo, U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. John McCain, center, is escorted by Lt. Cmdr. Jay Coupe Jr., to Hanoi, Vietnam's Gia Lam Airport, after McCain was released from captivity. An aide says that McCain died Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. He was 81. (AP Photo/Horst Faas, File) Before his imprisonment in Vietnam, McCain was Navy royalty - the grandson and son of four-star admirals - as well as a self-described lousy student at the U.S. Naval Academy and a hotshot pilot who had survived three accidental crashes. His time in captivity gave his life purpose. "I have never felt more powerfully free, more my own man, than when I was a small part of an organized resistance to the power that imprisoned me," McCain wrote in his 1997 memoir, "Faith of My Fathers." ''Nothing in life is more liberating than to fight for a cause larger than yourself." When McCain was shot down, his father was poised to assume command over the entire Pacific theater. Once McCain gave his captors his name, rank and serial number they realized they had a potential propaganda coup on their hands. McCain was taken to the hospital for some basic treatment - his left arm was left broken, to heal on its own. His captors filmed him there for propaganda purposes and McCain later found out the North Vietnamese had crowed: "We have the crown prince." After six weeks in the hospital, McCain, who had lost about one-third of his weight, was transferred to a prison cell. After a brief time with cellmates, McCain began two years in solitary confinement in a 10-by-10 room. "The most important thing for survival is communication with someone," McCain wrote in a 1973 memoir of his captivity. He developed a code so he could communicate with the man in his neighboring cell, who broke down crying when he tapped out his name to McCain. In the midst of this deprivation, McCain's captors asked him if he wanted to go home. It was a trick question. The U.S. military's code of conduct required prisoners to be released in the order they were detained. The North Vietnamese wanted to make a show of releasing McCain early, as his father assumed command over the Pacific. McCain refused. "That was character, what you do when people are not watching," said Col. Bud Day, who was imprisoned with McCain. "To have gone home at that time would have been absolutely the wrong thing and he had no intention of dishonoring himself." Instead, McCain was in for the worst bout of torture yet. For four days after he refused release, McCain was beaten every two hours to three hours by 10 guards. Filled with thoughts of suicide, McCain broke and agreed to sign an anti-U.S. propaganda statement confessing to "black crimes." He later wrote: "I had learned what we all learned over there: Every man has his breaking point. I had reached mine." It was the last time McCain would break. He refused to sign any other statements or meet with visiting American anti-war activists. Eventually, McCain was removed from solitary confinement and mingled with other U.S. prisoners of war. McCain helped them fight boredom by re-enacting classic movies and taking part in discussions of the history of the English-language novel, going back to the 18th century. "We only had half the facts right, but John said nobody knew the difference," recalled Orson Swindle, a fellow prisoner. "We were just starved.' In December of 1972, McCain and his fellow prisoners cheered as American bombs fell around the prison complex where he was held - the "Hanoi Hilton" - during the Christmas bombing that marked an escalation of the U.S. offensive. They might die in the attack, but the prisoners figured it was the best chance of subduing the Vietnamese and getting home. On March 14, 1973, it was finally McCain's turn to be released. He was bused to a nearby airport and escorted onto an American plane. "There is no way I can describe how I felt as I walked toward that U. S. Air Force plane," McCain wrote. For the rest of his life, McCain would be unable to lift both his arms over his head because of the injuries he suffered during his captivity in Vietnam. But he gained something, too. "In prison, I fell in love with my country," he wrote. "I had loved her before then, but like most young people, my affection was little more than a simple appreciation for the comforts and privileges most Americans took for granted. It wasn't until I had lost America for a time that I realized how much I loved her." ___ More reporting on John McCain can be found at https://apnews.com/tag/JohnMcCain FILE - In this May 25, 1973, file photo, U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. John McCain is greeted by President Richard Nixon, left, in Washington, after McCain's release from a prisoner of war camp in North Vietnam. An aide says that McCain died Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. He was 81. (AP Photo/Harvey Georges, File) FILE - In this undated file photo provided by CBS, U.S. Navy Lt. Commander John S. McCain lies injured in North Vietnam. McCain, the war hero who became the GOP's standard-bearer in the 2008 election, died Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. He was 81. (CBS via AP, File) HANOI, Vietnam (AP) - In October 1967, John McCain was a 31-year-old Navy lieutenant commander on his 23rd bombing round over North Vietnam when he was shot out of the sky and taken prisoner. McCain, who died Saturday at age 81, was held 5 years as a prisoner of war. The following story was written by Associated Press photojournalist Horst Faas on March 14, 1973 when McCain was released: ____ FILE - In this undated file photo provided by CBS, U.S. Navy Lt. Commander John S. McCain lies injured in North Vietnam. McCain, the war hero who became the GOP's standard-bearer in the 2008 election, died Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. He was 81. (CBS via AP, File) The North Vietnamese officer called out to each group of American prisoners arriving at Gia Lam Airport for their flight to freedom: "Step forward when your name is called and go home." One by one they obeyed, 107 U.S. fliers and one American civilian. They saluted or shook hands with American officers in Hanoi to pick them up and then walked into one of the three U.S. Air Force C141 transport planes that carried them to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines for the first stop on their way home. Only one of the POWs, Lt. Cmdr. John McCain III, son of an admiral, had difficulty getting out of the bus. He walked with a heavy limp but went unaided to his evacuation plane. The POWs wore loose gray shirts and baggy trousers issued by their captors an hour before. The men seemed tense when they got off the small camouflage-painted buses at Gia Lam. Unsmiling, some with their facial muscles trembling, they lined up and were marched to a roped-off area outside Hanoi's bomb-shattered commercial airport terminal. A crowd of several hundred North Vietnamese soldiers and civilians stared at them in the glaring noon sun. Then they walked past the officers of the Joint Military Commission and the International Commission of Control and Supervision. Only when they spotted the American escort officers did most of the men break into wide grins. Tension and stiffness gave way to relaxation. There was shoulder-slapping and again and again the words: "My God, it is so good to be back. It has been such a long trip." None of the prisoners talked to the large crowd of Hanoi-based and visiting newsmen away from the three evacuation planes. As the POWs were transported from their last detention camp in downtown Hanoi to Gia Lam Airport, they drove by scenes of the damage inflicted by heavy B52 raids late last year. The downtown area was clogged Wednesday morning with a traffic jam of thousands of trucks, carts and bicycles. Almost all the vehicles appeared to be involved in round-the-clock reconstruction work. The 1-mile Longbien Bridge, connecting Gia Lam Airport with Hanoi across the Red River, was reopened in early March after three sections were destroyed by accurate laser bombing raids last late year. But traffic on the narrow, two lane bridge, formerly known as Paul Doumer Bridge, moves only at bicycle pace. ____ EDITOR'S NOTE - Horst Faas won the Pulitzer Prize in 1965 for combat pictures taken in Vietnam and in 1972 for photos shot in rebellious East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). He was the AP's chief of photography in Asia from 1962-74 after joining the news company in 1956 and photographed conflicts in Algeria and central Africa before being assigned to Vietnam in 1962. In the 1970s, he was transferred to the AP's European office where he worked as a senior photo editor. Faas retired in 2004 and died in his native Germany in 2012. ___ More reporting on John McCain can be found at https://apnews.com/tag/JohnMcCain FILE - In this May 25, 1973, file photo, U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. John McCain is greeted by President Richard Nixon, left, in Washington, after McCain's release from a prisoner of war camp in North Vietnam. An aide says that McCain died Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. He was 81. (AP Photo/Harvey Georges, File) NEW YORK (AP) - Michael Cohen is tweeting thanks to people who've sent him birthday wishes and who've contributed to his legal defense fund. Donald Trump's former personal lawyer and "fixer" tweeted on Sunday: "I want to personally thank all those who #DM me on my birthday expressing #love #Continued Strength #WellWishes and #support" for his GoFundMe page. Cohen turned 52 Saturday. CORRECTS SOURCE TO GOFUNDME - This screen shot shows the GoFundMe page for Michael Cohen, the former lawyer for Donald Trump. The page, created by Cohen's lawyer Lanny Davis, is asking the public for help paying for Cohen's legal defense, and one anonymous donor already has ponied up $50,000. (GoFundMe via AP) It was his first tweet since pleading guilty Tuesday to tax evasion, bank fraud and campaign finance violations. Cohen said in court that Trump directed him to arrange payments to buy the silence of two women alleging affairs before the 2016 election. Trump denies the affairs. Cohen's GoFundMe page , dubbed the "Michael Cohen Truth Fund" has raised close to $160,000 from about 3,000 donations. One anonymous donor gave $50,000. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Caught in one of the toughest campaign fights in his lengthy political career, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson's recent comments that Russians are meddling in Florida's election system have triggered a firestorm for the mild-mannered politician. The statements mark the third time Nelson, a Democrat, has said something questionable, or untrue, during the last few months. But it has also triggered a line of attack from Republican Gov. Rick Scott and his campaign supporters who contend that the 75-year-old Nelson is "terribly confused" or even "incoherent." Nelson's campaign has labeled it as "dirty politics," but Scott's campaign has defended the criticism. FILE- In this Aug. 6, 2018, file photo Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.l istens during a roundtable discussion with education leaders from South Florida at the United Teachers of Dade headquarters in Miami. Caught in one of the toughest campaign fights in his lengthy political career Nelson's recent comments that Russians are meddling in Florida's election system has triggered a firestorm for the mild-mannered politician. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File) And some view the tactic as a way to suggest that Nelson - who will turn 76 in September - is too old to run. "It seems like they are trying to project a strong relationship between longevity in office and age and flip-flopping and uncertainty," said Susan MacManus, a retired University of Florida professor and long-time political analyst. Nelson, whose only loss in his long political career was his 1990 defeat in the governor's race, had relatively easy matchups in his last two re-election campaigns. But Scott, a two-term governor leaving office due to term limits, has been on attack since jumping into the race last spring. The two have traded barbs over everything from guns to health care and the environment. Scott, relying primarily on $25 million of his own money that he's pumped into his campaign, has pounded Nelson in a series of ads so far. Nelson's slow start to his campaign has worried some Democrats as they battle to regain control of the U.S. Senate. But now Nelson's comments on Russian meddling has created a controversy that may hang over his campaign until November. He told reporters earlier this month that Russians had penetrated the systems of certain Florida counties and "have free rein to move about" ahead of this year's election. He made the comments after being asked about a rare warning that both he and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio sent to state election officials earlier this summer. Nelson's comments ricocheted quickly because Russian hackers targeted Florida along with other states during the last election. While many details of the 2016 hacking efforts have remained murky, an indictment last month said Russian operatives sent more than 100 fake emails to elections offices and personnel in Florida. Scott demanded proof of a new incursion. And state officials pressed federal officials for confirmation. U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, head of the Senate intelligence committee, and Rubio, the Florida Republican who sits on the committee, declined to either confirm or deny Nelson's statements. Nelson stuck by his comments but declined to answer detailed questions, saying the information is "classified." This past week, however, federal authorities told Florida election officials they saw no signs of any "new or ongoing compromises" of state or local election systems. Scott said this proved Nelson was "reckless" and "irresponsible." His campaign then put out a lengthy 2-minute video on YouTube that strung together Nelson's comments that called him "terribly confused." Chris Hartline, a spokesman for Scott, went further: "It's been more than two weeks since Bill Nelson's bizarre Russia comments, and the only people more confused than Bill Nelson are the people who have to listen to him speak. His constantly changing, incoherent explanation has left watchers across the country and across the political spectrum scratching their heads." Carlie Waibel, a spokeswoman for Nelson's campaign, blasted the video: "This is the worst, the worst kind of dirty politics and shows just how desperate Rick Scott is as he's detracting from his poor record as governor." But this is not the first time this year that Nelson has said something that invited scrutiny. Shortly after the shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that killed 17 people, Nelson said on national television that the person behind the shootings was wearing a gas mask and used smoke grenades. Nelson in the spring tweeted out that the shootings of two teenagers in Miami was done with a type of military semi-automatic rifle. Neither were correct. Even before his comments on Russian meddling, the Scott campaign had put out several ads that hinted at Nelson's age - and even incorrectly stated how long he had been in office. Republican groups supporting Scott's campaign have called Nelson confused multiple times. Macmanus, who has studied the importance of older voters in Florida, said "there is a danger in just making that assumption" that calling a candidate old and confused will resonate. She pointed out that Florida's voting demographic has been changing in recent years and that baby boomers - those born in the immediate aftermath of World War II - are no longer the largest voting bloc. Citing the appeal of Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, she said younger voters don't automatically reject someone just because of their age. "The age thing is long gone," Macmanus said. Lauren Schenone, press secretary for the Scott campaign, maintained they were not criticizing Nelson due to his age. "The problem with Bill Nelson has nothing to do with his age," Schenone said. "It's that he has become such a party-line liberal, and like most career politicians, he talks a lot but doesn't get anything done." Hien accompanied her husband on a state visit to Ethiopia from August 23 25, which aims to discuss measures to boost the relations between Vietnam and Ethiopia, particularly in economics and trade. This is the first trip to Ethiopia by a Vietnamese head of state since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1976. Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia is a registered charitable organisation in Ethiopia dedicated to the treatment and prevention of childbirth injuries called obstetric fistula. The foundation was established in 1974 when the country was confronting the tragic situation of thousands of Ethiopian women suffering from obstetric fistula. On the same day, the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment, and Industry and Trade in collaboration with the Foreign Ministry of Ethiopia to host the Vietnam Ethiopia business forum, gathering more than 300 enterprises from both sides in an effort to improve the bilateral trade and investment. A series of meetings also took place between Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh and Ethiopian Trade Minister Melaku Alebel; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong and Ethiopian Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Shiferaw Shigute; and Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung and Deputy Ministers of Communications and Information Technology Sisay Tola Yadete and Mebra Mariam Kallo. President Quang and his wife will depart for Egypt on August 25 to begin a five-day State visit at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. BERLIN (AP) - A German journalist who is on trial in Turkey on terror-related charges returned to Germany on Sunday after a Turkish court ruled that she could leave the country. Mesale Tolu flew to Stuttgart days after the court decision became public, a ruling that German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has called "a step toward improving our relations with Turkey." Tolu has been charged with engaging in terrorist propaganda and being a member of a banned left-wing group, the Marxist-Leninist Communist Party. She rejects the accusations. Journalist Mesale Tolu answers to questions of journalists at the airport of Stuttgart, Germany, Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018. Tolu has been charged with engaging in terrorist propaganda and being a member of a banned left-wing group, the Marxist-Leninist Communist Party. She rejects the accusations. (Christoph Schmidt/dpa via AP) She was released from prison in December while the trial continued, but a court only lifted an exit ban a few weeks ago. There has been no verdict yet in the trial. Her case was one of several that soured German-Turkish relations in the last two years. At least seven other German citizens are still detained in Turkey for what Berlin considers political reasons. An exit ban that prevents Tolu's husband, Suat Corlu, from leaving Turkey wasn't lifted. He faces similar charges in the same proceedings. Tolu told reporters at Stuttgart airport that she plans to continue supporting people in Turkey whose detentions were politically motivated, German news agency dpa reported. "It's not the case that I am really happy about my departure, because I know that nothing has changed in the country where I was locked up," she said. ROME (AP) - Italy's Catholic bishops offered to care for a majority of 140 migrants the country's government had prevented from leaving an Italian coast guard ship docked for days in a Sicilian harbor because politics shouldn't be practiced at the expense of the poor, prominent churchmen said Sunday. Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, president of the Italian bishops' conference, told Italian state TV the bishops worked with Italy's Interior Ministry "in a spirit of collaboration" to help end the stalemate over where the asylum-seekers the coast guard ship rescued would go. Parishes will care for some 100 migrants, while Albania and Ireland each will accept about 20 under an arrangement announced late Saturday night by Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte. The majority of the migrants were disembarked from the Diciotti at a dock in Catania early Sunday. Migrants waiting to be disembarked from the Italian Coast Guard ship "Diciotti" in the port of Catania, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP) The ship rescued 190 migrants on Aug. 16, most of them young men fleeing harsh rule in Eritrea, and docked in Catania four days later. Anti-migrant Interior Minister Matteo Salvini refused to let passengers who were not minors or ill off the ship until fellow European Union nations volunteered to take the asylum-seekers. Except for Ireland, none did. Albania is not an EU member, and Cardinal Bassetti expressed appreciation to leaders there and in Ireland, which Pope Francis was visiting over the weekend. Francis, who as pope also is the bishop of Rome, has used his papacy to stress the need for society to care for migrants and others in need. On Sunday, Bassetti urged more "involvement by Europe, but also by the whole world" in addressing the needs of migrants and refugees. In separate comments, another bishops' conference official, the Rev. Ivan Maffeis, told Sky TG24 TV that the Italian churchmen got involved because "you can't do politics on the backs of the poor." A government office that safeguards the rights of people who have been detained determined last week that the migrants were being kept on the ship unjustly and without proper authorization. A Sicily-based prosecutor formally notified Salvini on Saturday he was being investigated for suspected abduction, illegal arrest and abuse of office. Any prosecution of Salvini would be handled by a special tribunal for government ministers, and Salvini's fellow senators would have to vote on whether to lift his Parliamentary immunity if the case progresses. Salvini staunchly defended his actions, saying he was keeping Italians safe. Much of his electoral base blames migrants for crime. ___ Frances D'Emilio is on Twitter at www.twitter.com /fdemilio Migrants are identified and receive aid as they disembark from the Italian Coast Guard ship "Diciotti" in the port of Catania, Italy, early Sunday morning, Aug. 26, 2018. Italy's populist government had not let them leave the ship for ten days after they were rescued in the Mediterranean on Aug. 16, demanding that other European Union countries would take them. Only Ireland did, pledging to take 20, while non-EU Albania will take 20, and Italian Catholic bishops said they would care for about 100. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP) A migrant, center, receives aid just after disembarking from the Italian Coast Guard ship "Diciotti" in the port of Catania, Italy, early Sunday morning, Aug. 26, 2018. Italy's populist government had not let them leave the ship for ten days after they were rescued in the Mediterranean on Aug. 16, demanding that other European Union countries would take them. Only Ireland did, pledging to take 20, while non-EU Albania will take 20, and Italian Catholic bishops said they would care for about 100. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP) Migrants are identified by Italian Police officers as they disembark from the Italian Coast Guard ship "Diciotti" in the port of Catania, Italy, early Sunday morning, Aug. 26, 2018. Italy's populist government had not let them leave the ship for ten days after they were rescued in the Mediterranean on Aug. 16, demanding that other European Union countries would take them. Only Ireland did, pledging to take 20, while non-EU Albania will take 20, and Italian Catholic bishops said they would care for about 100. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP) Migrants disembark from the Italian Coast Guard ship "Diciotti" in the port of Catania, Italy, early Sunday morning, Aug. 26, 2018. Italy's populist government had not let them leave the ship for ten days after they were rescued in the Mediterranean on Aug. 16, demanding that other European Union countries would take them. Only Ireland did, pledging to take 20, while non-EU Albania will take 20, and Italian Catholic bishops said they would care for about 100. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP) A migrant, center, receives aid just after disembarking from the Italian Coast Guard ship "Diciotti" in the port of Catania, Italy, early Sunday morning, Aug. 26, 2018. Italy's populist government had not let them leave the ship for ten days after they were rescued in the Mediterranean on Aug. 16, demanding that other European Union countries would take them. Only Ireland did, pledging to take 20, while non-EU Albania will take 20, and Italian Catholic bishops said they would care for about 100. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP) Migrants disembark from the Italian Coast Guard ship "Diciotti" in the port of Catania, Italy, early Sunday morning, Aug. 26, 2018. Italy's populist government had not let them leave the ship for ten days after they were rescued in the Mediterranean on Aug. 16, demanding that other European Union countries would take them. Only Ireland did, pledging to take 20, while non-EU Albania will take 20, and Italian Catholic bishops said they would care for about 100. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP) Migrants disembark from the Italian Coast Guard ship "Diciotti" in the port of Catania, Italy, early Sunday morning, Aug. 26, 2018. Italy's populist government had not let them leave the ship for ten days after they were rescued in the Mediterranean on Aug. 16, demanding that other European Union countries would take them. Only Ireland did, pledging to take 20, while non-EU Albania will take 20, and Italian Catholic bishops said they would care for about 100. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP) Migrants disembark from the Italian Coast Guard ship "Diciotti" in the port of Catania, Italy, early Sunday morning, Aug. 26, 2018. Italy's populist government had not let them leave the ship for ten days after they were rescued in the Mediterranean on Aug. 16, demanding that other European Union countries would take them. Only Ireland did, pledging to take 20, while non-EU Albania will take 20, and Italian Catholic bishops said they would care for about 100. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP) Italian Deputy Premier and Interior Minister, Matteo Salvini, speaks at a Lega party's meeting in Pinzolo, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. Italian state TV says Italy's interior minister is being investigated for his role in forbidding migrants rescued at sea to disembark. Minister Matteo Salvini indirectly confirmed the report Saturday, tweeting that a Sicilian prosecutor asked him for his data and that "if he wants to interrogate me or even arrest me because I defend the borders and security of my country, I'm proud." But Salvini said he'll soon allow the migrants he had kept on an Italian coast guard ship for days to leave. (Daniele Panato/ANSA via AP) ROME (AP) - The Latest on Europe's response to mass migration (all times local): 5:45 p.m. The United Nations' refugee agency says it's relieved that the latest Mediterranean Sea standoff over migrants is over, but is calling again for Europe to establish procedures for the proper disembarkation of people rescued while trying to reach the continent by water. A migrant, center, receives aid just after disembarking from the Italian Coast Guard ship "Diciotti" in the port of Catania, Italy, early Sunday morning, Aug. 26, 2018. Italy's populist government had not let them leave the ship for ten days after they were rescued in the Mediterranean on Aug. 16, demanding that other European Union countries would take them. Only Ireland did, pledging to take 20, while non-EU Albania will take 20, and Italian Catholic bishops said they would care for about 100. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP) U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said in a statement issued in Geneva on Sunday that the episode involving 190 migrants who were rescued by an Italian coast guard ship on Aug. 16 "needs to be a wake-up call." After the Diciotti docked in Sicily, the Italian government refused to let any passengers who weren't minors or needed medical help get off the ship. The remaining 140 migrants were allowed to leave early Sunday after Italy's Catholic bishops assumed responsibility for 100 of them and Albania and Italy offered to take about 20 each. Grandi said: "The Diciotti situation is now resolved, but what happens next time? We need a collaborative and reliable European approach towards persons rescued at sea." ___ 3:40 p.m. Germany's interior minister says he is confident of reaching an agreement with Italy for that country to take back migrants who show up at the German-Austrian border after previously applying for asylum in Italy. Germany has already reached similar agreements with Greece and Spain as it implements a domestic deal to defuse an internal political dispute over migration. In June, German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer threatened to turn back previously registered migrants unilaterally at the German-Austrian border. Chancellor Angela Merkel insisted that Germany must first reach agreements with other countries. Seehofer told ZDF television on Sunday he's making good progress toward a deal with Italy. He said that, in return for Italy taking back previous asylum applicants, it would involve Germany taking in a similar number of migrants rescued at sea. ___ 10:30 a.m. Ten days after they were rescued in the Mediterranean Sea, Italy has allowed all the migrants stuck on an Italian coast guard ship to disembark. Early Sunday, 137 migrants left the Diciotti, stepping onto the dock at Catania, Sicily, where police photographed them for ID checks, a requirement for asylum-seekers. Italy's populist government had not let them leave the ship earlier, demanding that other European Union countries take them. Only Ireland did, pledging to take 20. Non-EU Albania will take 20, while Italian Catholic bishops said they would care for about 100. On Aug. 16, the Diciotti's crew rescued 190 migrants, most from Eritrea, from a smuggling boat. The others, including minors and ailing migrants, were allowed off earlier. Italy has threatened economic reprisals against the EU for not helping it enough with migrants. Migrants waiting to be disembarked from the Italian Coast Guard ship "Diciotti" in the port of Catania, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP) Migrants are identified and receive aid as they disembark from the Italian Coast Guard ship "Diciotti" in the port of Catania, Italy, early Sunday morning, Aug. 26, 2018. Italy's populist government had not let them leave the ship for ten days after they were rescued in the Mediterranean on Aug. 16, demanding that other European Union countries would take them. Only Ireland did, pledging to take 20, while non-EU Albania will take 20, and Italian Catholic bishops said they would care for about 100. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP) Migrants are identified by Italian Police officers as they disembark from the Italian Coast Guard ship "Diciotti" in the port of Catania, Italy, early Sunday morning, Aug. 26, 2018. Italy's populist government had not let them leave the ship for ten days after they were rescued in the Mediterranean on Aug. 16, demanding that other European Union countries would take them. Only Ireland did, pledging to take 20, while non-EU Albania will take 20, and Italian Catholic bishops said they would care for about 100. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP) Migrants disembark from the Italian Coast Guard ship "Diciotti" in the port of Catania, Italy, early Sunday morning, Aug. 26, 2018. Italy's populist government had not let them leave the ship for ten days after they were rescued in the Mediterranean on Aug. 16, demanding that other European Union countries would take them. Only Ireland did, pledging to take 20, while non-EU Albania will take 20, and Italian Catholic bishops said they would care for about 100. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP) A migrant, center, receives aid just after disembarking from the Italian Coast Guard ship "Diciotti" in the port of Catania, Italy, early Sunday morning, Aug. 26, 2018. Italy's populist government had not let them leave the ship for ten days after they were rescued in the Mediterranean on Aug. 16, demanding that other European Union countries would take them. Only Ireland did, pledging to take 20, while non-EU Albania will take 20, and Italian Catholic bishops said they would care for about 100. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP) Migrants disembark from the Italian Coast Guard ship "Diciotti" in the port of Catania, Italy, early Sunday morning, Aug. 26, 2018. Italy's populist government had not let them leave the ship for ten days after they were rescued in the Mediterranean on Aug. 16, demanding that other European Union countries would take them. Only Ireland did, pledging to take 20, while non-EU Albania will take 20, and Italian Catholic bishops said they would care for about 100. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP) Migrants disembark from the Italian Coast Guard ship "Diciotti" in the port of Catania, Italy, early Sunday morning, Aug. 26, 2018. Italy's populist government had not let them leave the ship for ten days after they were rescued in the Mediterranean on Aug. 16, demanding that other European Union countries would take them. Only Ireland did, pledging to take 20, while non-EU Albania will take 20, and Italian Catholic bishops said they would care for about 100. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP) Migrants disembark from the Italian Coast Guard ship "Diciotti" in the port of Catania, Italy, early Sunday morning, Aug. 26, 2018. Italy's populist government had not let them leave the ship for ten days after they were rescued in the Mediterranean on Aug. 16, demanding that other European Union countries would take them. Only Ireland did, pledging to take 20, while non-EU Albania will take 20, and Italian Catholic bishops said they would care for about 100. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP) Italian Deputy Premier and Interior Minister, Matteo Salvini, speaks at a Lega party's meeting in Pinzolo, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. Italian state TV says Italy's interior minister is being investigated for his role in forbidding migrants rescued at sea to disembark. Minister Matteo Salvini indirectly confirmed the report Saturday, tweeting that a Sicilian prosecutor asked him for his data and that "if he wants to interrogate me or even arrest me because I defend the borders and security of my country, I'm proud." But Salvini said he'll soon allow the migrants he had kept on an Italian coast guard ship for days to leave. (Daniele Panato/ANSA via AP) LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Embroiled in a tough re-election fight against a retired Marine, Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Barr showed no hesitation in welcoming a campaign visit from President Donald Trump, brushing off the latest headlines showing legal turmoil for two of the president's former confidants. The White House announced recently that Trump plans to visit Kentucky ahead of the November midterm election. The state is home to a closely watched congressional race in the 6th District between Barr and Democrat Amy McGrath, a retired fighter pilot. In 2016, Trump easily carried the 6th District, which stretches from the Appalachian foothills to bluegrass country in and around Lexington and has leaned Republican in recent years. Talking to reporters Thursday at the Kentucky Farm Bureau's country ham breakfast, Barr linked himself to Trump on the tax cuts and regulatory rollbacks that the congressman credited for the nation's economic growth. But he was circumspect when asked about the guilty plea of Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, and conviction of Paul Manafort, the political operative who for months led Trump's presidential campaign. FILE- In this Aug. 25, 2018, file photo Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., addresses the audience during the Republican Party's Lincoln Dinner in Lexington, Ky. The White House announced recently that Trump plans to visit Kentucky ahead of the November midterm election. The state is home to a closely watched congressional race in the 6th District between Barr and Democrat Amy McGrath, a retired fighter pilot. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File) Asked if those developments gave him any pause in welcoming Trump to campaign for him, Barr replied: "I don't think the American public or the Congress fully knows all of the facts related to that. What we do know .... is that none of it has anything to do with the Russia investigation." McGrath chided Barr for his response, saying he "seems to have a crystal ball that it has nothing to do with the Russian investigation." "Congressman Barr continues to reveal the desperation of an incumbent whose re-election hopes are slipping away and reminds us how impotent he is in fulfilling his constitutional role of checking the executive branch," McGrath said in a statement. "Barr is literally scared of President Trump and lacks the courage to stand up to him on anything." Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations for his role in buying the silence of a porn actress and a Playboy model who alleged affairs with Trump. Manafort was convicted of eight financial crimes in the first trial to come out of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election. In a recent speech at a Democratic dinner, McGrath said integrity and character matter and characterized the upcoming election as a fight for "the soul and the fabric of our country." She didn't mention Trump but it appeared to be a jibe at the embattled president by McGrath, who flew 89 combat missions, including bombings targeting al-Qaida and the Taliban, during her career as a Marine. Barr said he saw Trump's upcoming Kentucky visit as a chance to discuss the state's opioid-abuse epidemic and to promote his efforts to have the Camp Nelson Civil War site designated as a national monument. But when asked if he was concerned Trump-related scandals could hurt his re-election effort, he replied that his constituents "are fully in favor of a fully functional government over the next two years and that we continue the progress growing the economy." In an election that could be decided by which party's base has the best turnout, a Trump visit would boost Barr's prospects by helping energize GOP voters, said Republican political strategist Scott Jennings. "The most committed anti-Trump Democrats are already going to vote, so I don't think there's any risk in bringing him in," Jennings said. Barr was elected to Congress six years ago by capitalizing on the unpopularity of Democratic President Barack Obama. Jennings said Trump's approval in the 6th District still appears to be "right-side up," and that his visit would remind voters of the tax and regulatory cuts achieved under consolidated Republican control in Washington. Asked if a Trump visit to Kentucky carries risk for Barr if Mueller's probe produces more bad news for Trump, Jennings said: "For Andy Barr, there are things you can't control. You can't control the news of the day in Washington that has nothing to do with you." Barr, meanwhile, sounded less patient with another Trump policy - the use of tariffs to win better trade deals. Those tariffs have resulted in retaliatory duties from some of the U.S.'s top trading partners, targeting such Kentucky staples as bourbon and agricultural products. Barr said he's been told by some whiskey distillers in his district that retaliatory tariffs will impact them in coming months, once their overseas stockpiles are depleted. "We need to make sure that we wrap up these negotiations and get better deals before the end of the year, because then the tariffs would bite," Barr said. "So that's been my message to the administration. We're supportive of the objective of reciprocal trade, but let's wrap it up. Let's make sure that we don't have any protracted uncertainty." BERLIN (AP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel is making clear that she opposes setting new, more ambitious European emissions reduction targets for 2030. She says the continent needs to concentrate on fulfilling the aims it has already set. The European Union wants to achieve a 40 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2030. Last week, EU climate chief Miguel Arias Canete told Germany's dpa news agency that he plans to propose increasing that to 45 percent. Merkel told ARD television on Sunday that she is "not so happy at the moment about these new proposals because many member states already aren't fulfilling today what they promised." German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks after she arrives for the annual 'Summer Interview' with the German public broadcasting service ARD in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Aug. 26. 2018. (Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP) She said: "I think we must first keep to the targets we set. I don't think that permanently setting new targets makes sense." LONDON (AP) - The husband of a British-Iranian charity worker who has been held in Iran for more than two years says his wife hasn't been granted an extension to her temporary release from prison. Richard Ratcliffe had hoped the three-day leave would lead to permanent freedom for his wife, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. But on Sunday, he said Iranian authorities told her she had to return to prison by sunset. The Free Nazanin campaign released images Thursday showing Zaghari-Ratcliffe hugging her 4-year-old daughter, Gabriella, during her release. Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested during a holiday with her daughter in April 2016. Iranian authorities accuse her of plotting against the government. Her family has denied the allegation and insists she was in Iran to visit family. She had worked for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of the news agency. Formula One driver Charles Leclerc was saved from potentially devastating head injuries by his halo safety device after a horror crash in the Belgian Grand Prix. Just moments after the start of the race at the notoriously dangerous Spa Francorchamps racetrack on Sunday, Leclerc collided with McLaren's Fernando Alonso as they sped into the first corner. With the force of the impact, Alonso's car was sent flying into the air and vaulted over Leclerc's Sauber before coming crashing down on the Monegasque's cockpit. Luckily for Leclerc the halo safety device, a fiberglass scaffold structure designed to shield the driver from impacts, came to his rescue. Mclaren driver Fernando Alonso of Spain, top, goes over the top of Sauber driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco on Sunday in the horror crash Photos taken in the aftermath show tyre marks on Leclerc's halo device - indicating he would likely have been hit on the head by Alonso's car 'I don't know how it would have ended up without it. I am happy it was there,' said 20-year-old Leclerc. 'It all happened very quickly. At the time, I knew there was an orange car, I thought it was Fernando. I felt the impact, but it wasn't that big in the car. I was lucky.' After the first corner crash both Leclerc and Alonso walked away unscathed, with the former waving to the crowd to indicate he was unhurt in the crash. Motorsport governing body FIA made the head protective device mandatory in F1 this year in order to protect drivers from potentially fatal impacts such as loose tires barreling at high speed, other flying debris and - in this case - one car landing on another. 'What is clear is the significant tire marks on the chassis and the halo,' FIA race director Charlie Whiting said. 'It doesn't take much imagination to think the tire marks could have actually been on Charles' head.' The FIA has been looking at ways to improve cockpit protection and limit the risk of head injuries, after French F1 driver Jules Bianchi - who was a close friend of Leclerc's - died in July 2015 and British IndyCar driver Justin Wilson died a month later. During the high-speed crash at the fast-paced Spa Francorchamps racetrack Alonso's car hit Leclerc's going into the first corner Charles Leclerc, 20, gives a thumbs-up to the crowd at Spa as he walks away unscathed from the incident Leclerc took to Twitter after the incident to say that he had originally not been a fan of the halo but appreciated having it after Sunday's crash '(Alonso's car) would probably have made contact with his head,' Whiting said. Alonso, who was sent airborne by Nico Hulkenberg's Renault ploughing into the back of his car, was thankful no one was harmed. 'On the positive side we are all OK, with Charles, with the halo. It's good news all three of us are OK,' Alonso told television broadcaster Sky. 'It's good proof (for the halo). We didn't need any proof, but it's a good thing.' The halo forms a semi-circular barrier around the driver's helmet in the front half of the cockpit, protecting the head without completely closing the cockpit. When first tested ahead of 2016, drivers were split as to whether they liked it with some - such as four-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton - criticizing it on aesthetic grounds. Others, like two-time F1 champion Alonso and four-time champion Sebastian Vettel were outspoken in backing its usage. Former F1 champion Nico Rosberg tweeted: 'We can end the HALO discussion now. It will save lives.' The halo device is a new measure introduced into F1 by motorsport's governing body the FIA for this season BROOKLYN, Iowa (AP) - The Latest on the funeral being held for an Iowa college student whose body was found earlier this month in a cornfield outside her small hometown (all times local): 5:35 p.m. The father of the 20-year-old Iowa woman whose body was found in a cornfield last week wants people to remember her by "celebrating something wonderful." A poster for missing University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts hangs in the window of a local business, Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018, in Brooklyn, Iowa. Tibbetts was reported missing from her hometown in the eastern Iowa city of Brooklyn in July 2018. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) Rob Tibbetts urged the hundreds of people at his daughter, Mollie Tibbetts', funeral on Sunday afternoon to remember her passion for life and her desire to help others. To highlight his call to celebrate "wonderful" things, Rob Tibbetts recognized a couple who had just married the day before during his eulogy inside the gymnasium at Brooklyn-Guernsey-Malcom High School. Mollie Tibbetts body was found last Tuesday after a suspect lead police to the cornfield where her body had been since July 18. ___ 3:05 p.m. Several hundred people are attending the funeral for the University of Iowa student whose body was found last week in a cornfield outside her hometown. The funeral Mass was being held Sunday afternoon inside the gymnasium of BGM High School in Brooklyn, Iowa. Twenty-year-old Mollie Tibbetts attended the school before her death. Bishop Thomas Zinkula of Davenport, Iowa, planned to lead the funeral. Mollie Tibbetts' father, cousin and one of her teachers planned to speak at the service. Cristhian Bahena Rivera is charged with first-degree murder in Tibbetts' death. Investigators say the 24-year-old Mexican farmworker led them to a cornfield Tuesday where Tibbetts' body had been left since her July 18 disappearance. ___ 9 a.m. A Mass will be held for an Iowa college student less than a week after her body was found in a cornfield outside her small hometown. The funeral for 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts will be held Sunday afternoon in the gymnasium of BGM High School in Brooklyn, the city of 1,500 in central Iowa where she grew up. Tibbetts graduated from the school in 2017. Cristhian Bahena Rivera is charged with first-degree murder in Tibbetts' death. Investigators say the 24-year-old Mexican farmworker led them to a cornfield Tuesday where Tibbetts' body had been left since her July 18 disappearance. Tibbetts had been staying in Brooklyn during a summer break from her studies at the University of Iowa. A retired Catholic bishop who served in Phoenix for more than 20 years before stepping down amid a sex abuse scandal has died aged 82. Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien served the diocese in Arizona's most populous city from 1982 to 2003. But an investigation in 2002 revealed that he had helped to cover up allegations of abuse against suspected pedophile priests. Thomas J. O'Brien, a Catholic bishop from Phoenix who retired in 2003 after admitting that he helped cover up abuse by suspected pedophile priests, has died aged 82 He was granted immunity from prosecution after signing a document admitting his part in cover-ups of alleged sexual misconduct by diocesan priests. The following year he was arrested over a hit-and-run accident which killed a pedestrian and quit his job. He was subsequently convicted of leaving the scene of a fatal accident and sentenced to four years of probation and 1,000 hours of community service. A statement from the diocese said O'Brien died from 'ongoing health complications related to Parkinson's disease.' Phoenix City Councilman Michael Nowakowski said in a statement that 'as his director of Hispanic Ministry for eight years, I witnessed his advocacy for the Hispanic community that ensured ministries and services for the Spanish speaking. His gentle spirit will be missed.' O'Brien was also under investigation for a hit-and-run crash which killed a pedestrian when he stepped down (pictured in court). He was convicted and sentenced to four years probation O'Brien served the diocese in Arizona's most populous city from 1982 to 2003. He died of 'medical complications from Parkinson's', a statement said O'Brien was ordained for the Diocese of Tucson, Arizona, in 1961 and served as an associate pastor at Immaculate Conception Church in Douglas. He was transferred to territory that would later become the Diocese of Phoenix in 1964, was named pastor of St. Catherine Church in Phoenix in 1979. He served as vicar general for the diocese before being appointed the third Bishop of Phoenix by Pope John Paul II in November 1981. O'Brien played host to the pope's 1987 visit to Phoenix that was capped by an outdoor Mass at Tempe's Sun Devil Stadium and also met with Mother Teresa when she visited Phoenix in 1989. Funeral plans weren't immediately available Sunday. * The 73rd joint patrol on the Mekong River with law enforcement from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand was completed Friday (August 24). Six vessels and more than 180 law enforcement personnel participated in the mission, which started Tuesday (August 21). * Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak and visiting Chinese State Councilor Wang Yong agreed that Thailand and China should oppose unilateralism and protectionism in trade together and jointly facilitate trade, investment during a bilateral meeting in Bangkok on August 24. * US President Donald Trump on August 24 tweeted that he has asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to cancel his upcoming trip to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), citing the lacking of progress on the Peninsula denuclearization. * US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reiterated on August 24 that the central bank will stick to the strategy of gradual rate hikes to manage potential risks and support domestic economic recovery. * The European Union (EU) and NATO are not threats to Russia, and Germany is willing to have good relations with Russia, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Tbilisi on August 24. * US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on August 23 spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov over phone to discuss the ongoing challenges in Syria and the US "serious concerns" related to the possible military activity in Idlib, US State Department said. * The top US envoy on Iran criticized a European Union decision to give US$20.7 million in aid to Tehran on August 24, saying it sent "the wrong message at the wrong time," and he urged Brussels to help Washington end the Iranian threat to global stability. * Mexico and the United States need to resolve complicated bilateral issues before modernization of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) can move forward, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said on August 24. * Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Amro Nassar said on August 24 that the investment of the European Union (EU) in Egypt is estimated at US$15.1 billion. * At least 180 Palestinians were injured Friday during clashes with Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza Strip close to the border with Israel, medics said. * Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed on August 24 with Lithuanian and other Baltic states' leaders security, business and science cooperation, and asked for diplomatic support in Israeli's relations with the European Union (EU). * A Taliban key commander Mullah Hemmatullah is among 10 dead as government forces aircrafts targeted the militant group's hideout in Nawbahar district of the southern Zabul province on August 24, provincial police chief Mohammad Mustafa Mayar said. * China's banking and insurance regulator has warned against illegal fundraising under the cover of virtual currencies and digital assets. * US State Department said on August 24 that President Donald Trump has ordered it to "redirect" economic aid to the Palestinians that are worthy of more than US$200 million. * Russia's state-owned arms supplier Rosoboronexport has signed 15 contracts worth over 20.3 billion rubles (about US$300 million) at the ongoing Army 2018 defense exhibition being held in Kubinka near Moscow. * The Independent National Electoral Commission of the Democratic Republic of Congo said Friday night that it has invalidated six presidential candidatures, including that of former Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba for the elections scheduled for December in the country. * Hurricane Lane crept closer toward the heart of the Hawaiian islands on August 24 as it weakened into a Category 1 storm while still drenching the Big Island with torrential rains and severe, widespread flooding, weather and civil defense officials said. * A fire that broke out at the building of the Russian central bank Friday in downtown Moscow has been put out and it caused no casualties. The cause of the incident is being investigated. * Hundreds of German firefighters continued to battle a massive forest fire near Berlin on Friday. PHOENIX (AP) - Sen. John McCain's death in office has handed Arizona's governor an empty Senate seat to give out - and a difficult political puzzle to solve before he does. Arizona law requires only that Gov. Doug Ducey name a replacement who is a member of McCain's Republican party and who will fill the seat until the next general election in 2020. But in a state with a deeply divided Republican Party, where McCain was a towering but divisive figure, the choice is far more complicated. Ducey is balancing the demands of the many conservative Arizona Republicans who have soured on McCain due to his dovish immigration stance, criticism of President Trump and vote against a rollback of President Obama's health care law. They are wary of Ducey appointing a moderate. But naming someone with dramatically different views from McCain could be viewed as disrespectful to McCain's legacy, carrying its own risks. In either case, Ducey wants to set the party up to hold the seat two years from now, no easy task given the turmoil in his party. As flags fly at half-staff at the Arizona Capitol in memory of the late Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, television crews broadcast live Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018, in Phoenix. McCain, the war hero who became the GOP's standard-bearer in the 2008 election, has died at the age of 81, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, after battling brain cancer. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) The decision is under close scrutiny in Washington. While McCain has been treated for cancer in Arizona and unable to vote in Washington, his party's already narrow Senate majority had shrunk from two votes to one. With the confirmation of Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, scheduled for next month the GOP needs every reliable vote it can get. Ducey's office has heard from Vice President Mike Pence's aides about the choice, a person familiar with the discussions said Sunday. The person was not authorized to discuss the matter and asked for anonymity. A day after McCain's death, political types from Arizona to Washington were buzzing with options. The senator's wife, Cindy McCain, was viewed as a possibility, as was former Sen. John Kyl and former McCain chief of staff, Grant Woods. Another group of former lawmakers and state officials were floated as middle-ground options - including Ducey's chief of staff Kirk Adams - who might not anger the right wing of the party. "If he picks someone too far left, we're going to have a primary in two years," said Constantine Querard, a conservative Republican strategist. Ducey himself faces a weak primary challenge from his right in the state's primary elections Tuesday, and spokesman Daniel Ruiz said on Sunday that the appointment will not be made until after McCain's funeral, which will likely be next week. "Now is a time for remembering and honoring a consequential life well lived," Ruiz's statement said. Doug Cole, a former McCain staffer and veteran Arizona strategist, said one of Ducey's key choices has to be whether he wants to name someone who wants the job for the long term. "Do I appoint a caretaker or do I appoint someone who will stand for election?" Cole asked. "Does he choose from the family?" Some observers predict the governor will be solicitous to the McCain family's wishes. That's led to widespread speculation that Cindy McCain could be selected, likely under the assumption that she would not run for the seat in 2020. But Cindy McCain's politics are largely unknown. Another caretaker option would be Kyl, now a Washington lobbyist viewed as a safe, uncontroversial choice. But Kyl already is tasked with shepherding the Kavanaugh nomination and Republicans may be loath to upend that process. Barrett Marson, a Republican strategist in Phoenix, said that if Ducey opts for someone with long-term designs on the seat, "he has to pick someone who can galvanize voters in 2020." Woods, a former Arizona attorney general and McCain aide, is another possibility. But he is known for sharing McCain's stances on immigration, which could be anathema to the state's conservative voters. Arizona operatives speculate that one of two former congressmen from the state, John Shadegg and Matt Salmon, could fill the seat. They're both GOP stalwarts who don't have a history of feuding with the base, as is Adams, Ducey's top aide and a onetime speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives. State Treasurer Eileen Klein could also be a strong candidate in 2020 if Ducey wants to pick someone who'd run for election rather than a caretaker, according to Republican operatives. The person who was previously seen as McCain's most likely successor is Arizona Rep. Martha McSally. Like the late senator, she's a former fighter pilot - one of the first women to fly in combat and an air force colonel. But she is running for the Senate seat vacated by Sen. Jeff Flake, who, like McCain, outraged the state's conservative base for bucking Trump on immigration and other issues. Like Ducey, McSally faces a primary on Tuesday, but her challenge from the right has been stiffer than the governor's. It's also illustrated how fraught the McCain issue is for Arizona Republicans. One of her rivals, former state senator Kelli Ward, ran against McCain in the 2016 GOP primary. On Saturday, hours before McCain died, Ward speculated on Facebook that the McCain family announced the senator was ending medical treatment on Friday to distract from her final push in the primary. In a sign of how hostile many GOP primary voters are to the state's late senior senator, earlier this month McSally had avoided mentioning McCain's name while boasting that she'd been with Trump at the signing of the defense bill named in McCain's honor. McCain supporters and the senator's daughter Meghan lacerated McSally for following the president's lead in not mentioning McCain. McSally said she didn't intend to snub McCain and went on to praise him. ___ Associated Press writer Ken Thomas contributed from Washington. An Alabama man has been slapped with a $1,000 fine for touching a Hawaiian monk seal and harassing a sea turtle on Kauai, and then posting the videos documenting his exploits on Instagram. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, said the Alabama resident, who was vacationing on Kauai last year, agreed to pay the fine, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported on Friday. NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement in Hawaii used the man's social media accounts to track down his home address. He has not been publicly named. An Alabama man who posted a video on Instagram last year showing him touching a critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal (pictured) has been fined $1,000 Hawaiian monk seals are a critically endangered species and are protected by both state and federal laws (stock image) The culprit, in the video posted on Instagram with the hashtag #monkseals, walks up to a sleeping monk seal on Poipu Beach at night, and strokes it with his hand. The startled animal whips around to face the intruder, who then flees. The man panned his camera to a sign from the NOAA urging beachgoers to maintain a safe distance from wildlife. 'Violations are usually the result of things like tourists wanting to get a good, close picture with a seal or a thrill-seeker trying to get a rush,' Adam Kurtz, NOAA Fisheries wildlife management coordinator, said in a statement. 'But it's really frustrating when you see people harass these animals.' Hawaiian monk seals are a critically endangered species, with their population estimated to be around 1,400 in the wild. They are protected by both state and federal laws, including the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The tourist also has shared a video showing him aggressively pursuing a sea turtle (stock image) The Alabama tourist could have been injured because Hawaiian monk seals, which weigh between 400-600lbs, are wild animals that can act unpredictably, Kurtz said. The seal could have lunged at the man instead of simply turning toward him. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials, while investigating the man's Instagram account, also found a video of him aggressively pursuing a sea turtle while snorkeling at Poipu. All species of sea turtles in US waters are listed as either threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act, according to NOAA. BLACKSBURG, S.C. (AP) - A coroner says police officers fatally shot a South Carolina woman after she pointed a gun with a laser targeting system at one of the officers. Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler says 41-year-old Stephanie Owens called 911 from her Blacksburg home early Sunday morning asking for help. Fowler says that when Cherokee County sheriff's deputies arrived, Owens had a gun and threatened to shoot them. The coroner said in a statement that deputies tried several times to get Owens to drop the gun. But he says that about 55 minutes after she called 911, Owens pointed the laser target at a deputy, and four of the five officers at the scene fired on her. Fowler says Owens died two hours later. The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating. Directors who dissolve companies to avoid paying workers or pensions could face hefty fines or be banned from running a business under Government plans. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said it was planning to press ahead with proposals to help protect staff, pensions and small suppliers when a company goes bust. It comes following large-scale insolvencies such as the collapse of construction giant Carillion earlier this year and high street chain BHS in 2016. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has announced plans to crack down on reckless directors (Chris Radburn/PA) Under the shake-up, the Insolvency Service would have the power to fine or even disqualify bosses who deliberately dodge debts by dissolving companies and setting up a near-identical business with a new name a practice known as phoenixing or bumping companies. Other measures in the Government plans include giving struggling companies more time to restructure or attract new funding to rescue the business, in order to help safeguard jobs. Shareholders would also be given more powers to hold boardrooms to account, with executives told to explain to them how they can afford to pay dividends. Business Minister Kelly Tolhurst said the new measures were needed after some recent large-scale business failures showed that a minority of directors are recklessly profiting from dissolved companies. She said: That is why we are upgrading our corporate governance to give new powers to authorities to investigate and hold responsible directors who attempt to shy away from their responsibilities, help protect workers and small suppliers and ensure the UK remains a great place to work, invest and do business. The Insolvency Service, part of the Governments Business Department, is the regulator charged with investigating bosses when a company falls into administration, and disqualifying those found to be incapable of running companies. It currently disqualifies around 1,200 directors a year. Business Secretary Greg Clark launched a consultation over planned action against irresponsible company directors in March, and the measures are expected to be set out in more detail in the autumn. Stuart Frith, president of insolvency and restructuring trade body R3, said its members had long raised concerns about directors deliberately dissolving businesses to avoid paying their debts. He said: A strengthened disqualification regime will be an important part of ensuring that directors are less likely to walk away from their responsibilities. The Government is also planning to introduce better training for directors to make them aware of their legal duties, and will invite ICSA: The Governance Institute to convene a group of investors and companies to develop a code of practice for external board evaluations. Heathrow has pledged to become the destination of choice for Chinese trade, tourism and investment if it is allowed to build a third runway after it began serving its 10th destination in the country. The west London hub welcomed its first flight arriving directly from the city of Chongqing on Saturday. The three-times-a-week service by Tianjin Airlines will be able to transport up to 81,000 passengers a year and offer space for 3,744 tonnes of annual exports and imports. It is the fifth new Chinese route for Heathrow this year (Steve Parsons/PA) Today, @TianjinAirlines launches its newest route between Heathrow and Chongqing, a bustling metropolis and the gateway to the magnificent three gorges. Find out more: https://t.co/whpe1BLbta pic.twitter.com/CSgw9DmMU0 Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) August 25, 2018 Chongqing is a popular tourist destination as it is used as a launching point for boat trips down the Yangtze River and to the Three Gorges Dam. This is the fifth new Chinese route for Heathrow this year. The increase in flights follows negotiations between the UK and Chinese governments which saw a restriction on flights between the countries lifted. Analysis by consultancy Frontier Economics found that last years flights to China via Heathrow contributed 510 million to the UK economy. Although Chongqing is Heathrows 10th Chinese route, rival airports in the European Union connect daily to eight other airports in the country, such as Hangzhou, Chengdu and Kunming. Heathrow claims this is evidence that its plan to build a third runway must go ahead. The airports chief commercial officer Ross Baker said: We are tremendously pleased to welcome our 10th direct connection to China. Heathrow is proud of its role as the UKs hub airport and biggest gateway for Chinese passengers and cargo going between our two countries. But we have much further to go, and now that Parliament has voted unequivocally in favour of Heathrow expansion we will ensure London, and the UK, become the destination of choice for Chinese trade, tourism and investment. Support from Labour MPs helped push through the proposals to expand Heathrow with an overwhelming majority of 296 in a Commons vote in June. But a legal challenge to block the project has been launched by a group of councils, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Greenpeace, who claim the Government has failed to properly deal with the impact on air quality, climate change, noise and congestion. Chelsea are insistent owner Roman Abramovich is not looking to sell the club. A report in the Sunday Times has claimed club directors acting for the Russian billionaire have brought in advisers from merchant bank Raine Group as part of a strategic review. The newspaper also states Abramovich rejected an offer for a minority stake in the club from Silver Lake Partners, an American private equity firm. It was reported in June that Britains richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe had failed with a 2billion bid for Chelsea. Ineos chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe was reported to have made a bid to buy Chelsea earlier this summer (Ken Lennox/Ineos) The club announced in May that plans to redevelop their Stamford Bridge stadium had been put on hold, which was interpreted in some quarters as Abramovichs response to delays over the issuing of a UK investors visa. According to a club source familiar with the situation, Abramovich has no plans to sell the London club and nothing has changed in that regard. He bought Chelsea in 2003, since when the club have enjoyed the most success in their history, with five Premier League titles, five FA Cups and the 2012 Champions League among their trophy wins. Philip Hammond has been accused of trying to frighten the population after warning that a no-deal Brexit could do major damage to the economy. Former Brexit secretary David Davis lashed out at bogus forecasts from the Treasury after the Chancellor suggested that GDP could fall and borrowing could be around 80 billion a year higher by 2033/34 if the UK resorted to World Trade Organisation (WTO) terms. In an op-ed in the Sun on Sunday he said that Mr Hammond was being either spectacularly incompetent, or deliberate, adding: I know what I think. Mr Daviss intervention came as his successor as Brexit Secretary, Dominic Raab, suggested some fiscal projections needed to be treated with a measure of caution. Writing in the Sun, Mr Davis, who quit in protest at Theresa Mays Chequers deal, said the Chancellors estimates, outlined in a letter to Treasury Committee chairwomen Nicky Morgan, came from a Treasury that has trouble forecasting deficits even 12 months ahead. He added: It was an attempt to frighten the population into imagining the most terrible consequences of leaving the European Union without a deal. And even more disgraceful, by doing so it will undermine the Governments hand in striking a deal with the EU. If they do not think we dare walk away, then they will give us the worst deal they can think of. Bear in mind that the Chequers deal already concedes enormous amounts to the EU. Philip Hammond warned of the economic impact of a no-deal Brexit in a letter to Nicky Morgan on Thursday (Brian Lawless/PA) Mr Hammonds comments emerged hours after Mr Raab had attempted to play down the likelihood of a no-deal Brexit while outlining the impact of such a scenario via a series of technical papers. Mr Hammond on Thursday was accused of launching a dodgy Project Fear with his letter. The Chancellor said that his initial January analysis on GDP and borrowing was undergoing a process of refinement ahead of a parliamentary vote on any deal, noting scenarios which have higher barriers to trade with the EU are expected to have a more damaging effect on the economy and public finances. He also defended the Governments 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. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said most Brexit economic forecasts `have been proved to be wrong (Peter Nicholls/PA) Mr Raab risked a Cabinet row with Mr Hammond after questioning the worth of economic forecasts about Brexit. In an interview with the Sunday Times, the Brexit Secretary said that GDP estimates for 2019 have been revised up. Without naming Mr Hammond, Mr Raab told the Sunday Times: Im always chary of any forecast because most of them have been proved to be wrong. The newspaper also claimed that the Cabinet will meet to discuss no-deal Brexit preparations over fears that a row between Brexiteers and Remainers was undermining negotiations with Brussels. Meanwhile, former European Council president Herman Van Rompuy warned that a no-deal Brexit could cause the United Kingdom itself to collapse. The ex-Belgian prime minister told the Observer that crashing out without a deal was an an existential threat to the UK itself. He added: We could end up with a situation in which the EU27 becomes more united and a United Kingdom less united. This talk about a no deal is the kind of nationalist rhetoric that belongs to another era. Charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is expected to find out if her temporary release from prison in Iran has been extended, her husband says. Richard Ratcliffe said his wifes lawyer was attempting to get her three-day release from Evin on furlough increased to a longer period on Sunday. The British-Iranian mother was released from the Tehran jail on Thursday and has been staying with family outside the capital. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe with her daughter Gabriella, after the charity worker was given temporary release from prison in Iran for three days (The Free Nazanin campaign/PA) She was reunited with her four-year-old daughter Gabriella after more than two years in jail, with her husband calling them all well and happy after speaking to them on Friday. Mr Ratcliffe previously hoped to find out if the application had been granted on Saturday. He is hoping she will be allowed to remain outside the jail for a couple of weeks, adding that her lawyer was very confident of an extension. He said he understood that the deadline for his wife to return to the prison will be at the end of the day on Sunday. Update - I have been told that the decision about Nazanins temporary release being extended will not be made until tomorrow morning. On a more positive note- Gabriella is overjoyed to have her Mum home for now! #FreeNazanin Tulip Siddiq (@TulipSiddiq) August 25, 2018 Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, from Hampstead, north London, was sentenced to five years in jail after being accused of spying by Tehrans Islamist regime. She denies the allegation and said she was on holiday in Iran to allow her daughter to spend time with relatives there. Richard Ratcliffe at a vigil, marking both his daughter Gabriellas fourth birthday and his wifes 800th day in jail (Kathryn Younger/PA) Gabriella has been staying with family since Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was detained at Imam Khomeini airport in April 2016. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Thursday the temporary release was extremely positive and called on Iranian authorities to allow her to return to her family in the UK. Severe downpours could not dampen the spirits of pilgrims who trekked from near and far to Dublins Phoenix Park to see the Pope. Tens of thousands of people made their way through Dublins streets on Sunday morning ahead of the papal mass, the largest outdoor event taking place in Europe this year. A total of 500,000 free tickets were issued for the religious event in the 700-hectare park. It is the last event of Pope Francis whirlwind 36-hour visit to Ireland. For those making their way to the Phoenix Park, detailed routes and travel options for the Papal Mass are downloadable from our website. #PopeInIreland #papainEirinnhttps://t.co/GNZdCno6hJ pic.twitter.com/o5M1IhkGde WMOF2018 (@WMOF2018) August 26, 2018 The second day of the pontiffs historic visit to the country began early on Sunday with a pilgrimage to the National Marian Shrine in Knock, where local people reported an apparition of Our Lady in 1879. In Dublin, Heuston Station was a hive of activity from early on Sunday morning with people who had heeded the Gardas advice to take public transport. They were purchasing flags and trying to meet others before making the almost three-kilometre walk from the station to their seats. The trek being made by most who wanted to see the event involved at least a six-kilometre round trip walk. Prior to the event gardai had warned people to come prepared in the same way they would for a pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick in the west of Ireland. People gather in Dublins Phoenix Park ahead of the arrival of Pope Francis (Brian Lawless/PA) Young and old wore comfortable shoes, donned rain jackets and plastic ponchos in an assortment of colours. Many also carried fold-up chairs so they could rest any potentially weary limbs later in the day. Ann Dargan from Cappawhite, Co Tipperary and her friend Mary Holleren said the walk certainly was not going to deter them as they had walked the Camino de Santiago together. Were walkers, weve done the Camino together so walking is no problem, said Ms Dargan. She said it was a pity, however, if it had led others not to attend. A total of 500,000 free tickets were issued for the religious event (Joe Giddens/PA) The friends rented an apartment on Francis Street for the weekend so that they could go to see the Popemobile pass by OConnell Street and also attend the Croke Park festival on Saturday night. They were not in Phoenix Park for the visit of Pope John Paul II almost 40 years ago so they were very excited this time around. Its a really lovely atmosphere, said Ms Holleren. Everyone is just laughing and joking and chatting, she added. It is the last event of Pope Francis whirlwind 36-hour visit to Ireland (Joe Giddens/PA) Brian and Marie Smith travelled with their three young children by train from Portarlington, Co Laois for the occasion. Mrs Smith said the train journey had been very quick and pain-free because there were no stops. The family were not put off by the distance. I wanted to bring the kids to see the Pope, Mrs Smith said. Its a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Pope and get his blessing hopefully, she said. Husband and wife Robin and Patricia Cronin from west Limerick also opted to take the train. The early-morning start and journey involved in getting to the event did not deter them because they said they enjoy hikes and walks. Were farmers, said Mr Cronin. His wife added: Were used to getting up early. The couple, who have been married for 37 years, said while they were content to walk, others might have felt it was too difficult to attend. The only problem I would have is that a lot of people were put off by the warnings, I think it should have been made easier for them to come here, Mrs Cronin said. US presidents past and present have joined world leaders in mourning Arizona senator, one-time presidential candidate and Vietnam war hero John McCain, praising him for a lifetime of service and accomplishments. The 81-year-old died on Saturday afternoon at his ranch in Sedona, Arizona, following a year-long battle with aggressive brain cancer. Political leaders across the country and around the world have extended their condolences to McCain's grieving family, one of them being President Donald Trump, who once criticized his fellow Republican for being taken prisoner during the Vietnam War. On Saturday evening Trump tweeted: 'My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!' Former President Barack Obama, who triumphed over John McCain in 2008, was one of the many world leaders mourning the Arizona senator's passing on Saturday afternoon Donald Trump tweeted his condolences to the grieving McCain family on Saturday evening United Kingdom Prime Minister Teresa May paid tribute to McCain from across the pond, tweeting that he was a 'great statesman who embodied the idea of service over self' French President Emmanuel Macron likewise offered his condolences to McCain's family Trump's predecessor Barack Obama, who triumphed over McCain in 2008, also shared his sadness at the news. In a statement, Obama said that despite their differences, he and the senator shared a 'fidelity to something higher the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed'. Obama said the pair 'saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world'. Another one of the six president's McCain served under during his four decades in public office, George W Bush, called McCain a 'man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order' and a 'friend whom I'll deeply miss'. President Bush, who defeated McCain for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination, was among those expected to speak at McCain's funeral. In a statement, Obama said that despite their differences, he and McCain shared a 'fidelity to something higher the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed' Former president George W Bush called McCain a 'man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order' and a 'friend whom I'll deeply miss' in a statement shared on Twitter McCain is expected to be remembered at ceremonies in Arizona and Washington before being buried, probably this coming week, at the US Naval Academy Cemetery on a peninsula overlooking the Severn River in Annapolis, Maryland. Tributes to the Republican leader have also been pouring in from outside the US. United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May hailed McCain as 'a great statesman, who embodied the idea of service over self', while her predecessor David Cameron said the world had 'lost a great defender of liberty'. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar callled McCain 'a wise and remarkable statesman, US ally of Ireland and a proud Scots Irishman who was a champion for immigration reform in the US Senate'. French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted in English that McCain 'was a true American hero. He devoted his entire life to his country'. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said McCain was 'one of the great political personalities of our time', adding that he was 'a tireless fighter for a strong transatlantic alliance; his significance went well beyond his own country'. Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said McCain's support for the Jewish state 'never wavered. It sprang from his belief in democracy and freedom'. French President Emmanuel Macron (top left), United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May (top right), German Chancellor Angela Merkel (bottom left) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (bottom right) also shared touching remarks about McCain's passing Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said McCain's support for the Jewish state 'never wavered. It sprang from his belief in democracy and freedom' Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar callled McCain 'a wise and remarkable statesman' Former UK Prime Minister David Cameron said the world had 'lost a great defender of liberty' Cameron is pictured with McCain at an event in Bournemouth, United Kingdom, in 2006 McCain was the son and grandson of admirals and followed them to the US Naval Academy. A pilot, he was shot down over Vietnam and held as a prisoner of war for more than five years. He went on to win a seat in the House of Representatives and in 1986, the Senate, where he served for the rest of his life. Former vice president Joe Biden, who developed a friendship with McCain while they served together in the Senate, said the Arizona politician will 'cast a long shadow'. 'The spirit that drove him was never extinguished: we are here to commit ourselves to something bigger than ourselves,' Biden said. Former vice president Joe Biden, who developed a friendship with McCain while they served together in the Senate, said the Arizona politician will 'cast a long shadow' Biden posted his tribute to McCain on Twitter shortly after the news of his death was reported The Senate's top Democrat, New York's Chuck Schumer, has said he wants to rename the Senate building that housed McCain's suite of offices after him Schumer tweeted: 'The Senate, the United States, and the world are lesser places without John McCain. Nothing will overcome the loss of Senator McCain, but so that generations remember him I will be introducing a resolution to rename the Russell building after him' The Senate's top Democrat, New York's Chuck Schumer, said he wants to rename the Senate building that housed McCain's suite of offices after him. 'As you go through life, you meet few truly great people. John McCain was one of them,' Schumer said. 'Maybe most of all, he was a truth teller never afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all too rare.' A black hearse, accompanied by a police motorcade, could be seen driving away from the ranch near Sedona where McCain spent his final weeks. For 50 miles along Interstate 17 southbound, on every bridge and at every exit slip road, people watched the procession. Hundreds, including many waving American flags, parked their cars and got out to watch. Hundreds, including many waving American flags, went out to watch as a black hearse was escorted by a police motorcade from the McCain family ranch Saturday night As the nation mourn's McCain's passing, President Trump has been criticized for how brief his remarks about the senator's death were. He has been panned by politicians on both sides of the aisle for failing to acknowledge the impact McCain has had on American political life, and his record as one of the nation's most celebrated war heroes. Insiders say Trump has been left off the list of people McCain requested to attend his funeral months before he died after being locked in a war-of-words with Trump since 2015. Those close to the Republican Arizona senator reportedly started making arrangements for McCain's funeral in May, nearly a year after he announced that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive and rare form of brain cancer. The Times cited McCain's 'rocky relationship' with the president as the reason Trump was not on the invite list. McCain reportedly spent the last year of his life planning his own funeral, CNN reported Saturday night. Friends of the senator said he wanted the service held at three locations: Arizona, the National Cathedral in Washington and Annapolis, Maryland. Sources said that McCain had requested that George W Bush and Barack Obama deliver the eulogies at his funeral. Two family members reiterated to CNN on Saturday that Trump wont be present at the service. McCain deliberately left Trump off the invite list for the memorial service he and his family have been planning for months, according to sources familiar with the arrangements The late Arizona senator slammed the president on Twitter last month, calling his performance at the Helsinki Summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin 'disappointing, yet not surprising' Trump and McCains bad blood stems back to June 2015 when Trump announced he was running for president and called Mexican immigrants rapists and drug runners during a speech. McCain distanced himself from the future-president saying in an interview that he disagreed with Trumps comment. Trump fired back by calling McCain incompetent during a July 2015 rally at the Phoenix Convention Center. The back and forth banter continued for the next two years, as Trump repeatedly launched public attacks often times on Twitter at McCain. In a 2016 tweet Trump slammed the senator as foul mouthed and in a 2017 post he lashed out at McCain for voting against the Affordable Care Act. 3 Republicans and 48 Democrats let the American people down. As I said from the beginning, let ObamaCare implode, then deal. Watch! he wrote. At one point during the two politicians bitter feud, Trump mocked McCains record as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War saying that McCain was only labeled a hero because he was captured and he liked people that werent captured. For his part, McCain publicly criticized Trump on numerous occasions. In a July statement, McCain lashed out at the president after Trump said during a meeting in Helsinki with Russian president Vladimir Putin that he accepted Russias claim that that they did not meddle in the US presidential election. McCain said of Trumps comments: No prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant. Thousands of eager pilgrims set off well before dawn on Sunday morning to make the up to five-hour long journey from all corners of the island for the Papal Mass in Dublin. The weather had not been kind to those who had planned ahead as rain poured from the early hours of the morning, and heavy winds whipped rain ponchos and pulled down hoods. Many visitors said despite the weather and the long walk they wanted to show young people that faith is strong in Ireland, and to set an example for younger generations. Latest imagery from our command unit in @phoenixparkopw. Corrals starting to fill up, people moving well #PhoenixPark #PopeInIreland #PopeInThePark pic.twitter.com/aSwj5577Vt Dublin Fire Boogade (@DubFireBrigade) August 26, 2018 Therese McKernan, who set off at dawn via bus with her fellow parishioners from St Brigids Church in Belfast, had been at Pope John Pauls Papal mass in Phoenix Park in 1979. I came here in 1979 for the last mass and it was a wonderful experience, she said. I had my tickets and bus booked ages ago, an event like this is too important. These things dont happen very often, a twice in a lifetime occasion in my case, but its important to set an example to young people in the family, to be part of this amazing community festival. Youth worker Orlagh McGlade travelled to the Papal mass from South Armagh along with friends, both religious and secular. Orlagh McGlade travelled to the Papal mass from South Armagh (Brian Lawless/PA) I was struck by the amount of young people who are here, its great to see, the 23-year-old said. Its just unreal to see everyone coming together, and sometimes you think the faith in Ireland has been lost but when you see everyone here today its clear the faith is still alive and well. Ive worked in a youth ministry for years in a range of different areas, and I have a mix of friends, who have faith and who dont. I have secular friends as well, who are here today, to see the faith is normal and full of life and fun and thats what its all about. Typical!! You wait all day for a Dublin Bus and then 70 turn up.#PopeInIreand #PhoenixPark pic.twitter.com/Du6mcgQihW Regina Looby (@reglooby) August 26, 2018 The McCorry family including a mother, six sisters, one husband and six children braved the elements in Phoenix Park decked out with Vatican flags on picnic chairs. Most of us were here for Pope John Paul, and had to come down for this, I mean why would you miss this? I think its important for everyone that faith is still alive in Ireland and to let people know were Catholics and we love our church. I attended Pope Benedicts mass in Rome, and I went to John Pauls funeral too. I love each pope as they guide the church in a different way, but Francis and his love for the poor, I love that about him. Undeterred by the typically Irish weather, many pilgrims brought their own supplies with folding stools and flasks of tea proving the most popular accessory for the early attendees. Folding stools and flasks of tea proved popular for pilgrims (Brian Lawless/PA) One group of 45 friends and family from one parish left Co. Derry early on Sunday morning. We got a bus around seven this morning, we headed straight down the road with no stops, said Nicola Barker. We wanted to be here early, so we knew to pack lunches, weve plenty of tea, sandwiches and fruit. The weather hasnt bothered us at all, we wouldnt miss an event like this. Daniel ODonnell is coming, we wouldnt miss it for the world. After the mass were going straight home as were all back at work tomorrow, well be back at work blessed tomorrow. The Vaticans retired ambassador to the United States has penned a letter accusing senior Vatican officials of knowing about the actions of a disgraced former cardinal. The 11-page letter claims that as early as 2000, the former archbishop of Washington ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick regularly invited young Catholic scholars into his bed, but the Vatican hierarchy still promoted him to cardinal. The letter also accuses Pope Francis of having initially rehabilitated McCarrick despite being informed of his attitudes to young seminarians in 2013, soon after he was elected pope. The National Catholic Register and another conservative site, LifeSiteNews, published the letter attributed to Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano on Sunday as the pope was wrapping up a two-day visit to Ireland. Mr Vigano, 77, a conservative whose hardline anti-gay views are well known, also urged the reformist pope to resign over the issue. He and the pope have long been on opposite ideological sides, with the pope seen more as a pastor and Mr Vigano more a cultural warrior. The Vatican did not immediately comment on the letter or confirm its authenticity. Pope Francis is visiting Ireland (Yui Mok/PA) In it, Mr Vigano accused the former Vatican secretaries of state under the previous two popes of having ignored detailed denunciations against McCarrick for years. He said Pope Benedict XVI eventually sanctioned McCarrick in 2009 or 2010 to a lifetime of penance and prayer, but that Francis subsequently rehabilitated him. Francis accepted McCarricks resignation as cardinal last month, after a US church investigation determined that an accusation he had sexually abused a minor was credible. Since then, another man has come forward saying McCarrick began molesting him starting when he was 11, and several former seminarians have said McCarrick abused and harassed them when they were in seminary. The accusations have led to a crisis in confidence in the US hierarchy, because it was apparently an open secret that McCarrick regularly invited seminarians to his New Jersey beach house, and into his bed. Mr Vigano apparently sought to answer some of those questions. His letter identifies by name the Vatican cardinals and archbishops who were informed about the McCarrick affair, an unthinkable expose for a Vatican diplomat to make. He said documents backing up his version of events are in Vatican archives. Mr Vigano, the Vaticans ambassador to the US from 2011-2016, said his two immediate predecessors did not fail to inform the Holy See about accusations against McCarrick, starting in 2000. He said Francis asked him about McCarrick when they met on June 23, 2013, at the Vaticans Santa Marta hotel where the pope lives, three months after Francis was elected pope. Mr Vigano wrote that he told Francis: Holy Father, I dont know if you know Cardinal McCarrick, but if you ask the Congregation of Bishops, there is a dossier this thick about him. He corrupted generations of seminarians and priests and Pope Benedict ordered him to withdraw to a life of prayer and penance. The pope declined to confirm or deny the claims. Francis said the 11-page text by Mr Vigano, which reads as a homophobic manifesto and attack on Francis allies in parts, speaks for itself. Francis was asked during an airborne press conference on Sunday if Mr Viganos claims that the two discussed McCarrick in 2013 were true. The pope was also asked about Mr Viganos claims that McCarrick was already under sanction at the time, but that Francis rehabilitated him. Francis said he had read Mr Viganos document and trusted journalists to judge for themselves and said: I wont say a word about it. The mother of a young girl who managed to get a selfie on stage with Pope Francis on Saturday night in Croke Park says she is over the moon. Alison Nevin, 12, from Swords in Dublin who was brought along as a representative of the Traveller community to meet Pope Francis during the Festival of Families saw the golden opportunity for a selfie with the leader of the Catholic Church, and took it. Her mum, Brigid, told the Press Association it is important that young traveller people have confidence in themselves, and Alison, who has met Pope Francis before, is a good example for others. Pope Francis speaking at Croke Park (WMOF18/Maxwell) She said: It was a lovely experience for us all, we were given two tickets for myself and Alison to attend, but we werent expecting to get up that close to him. One of the speakers brought Alison up along with her, as a representative of the young Traveller community. She was a bit nervous when she was sitting on the bench waiting to meet with him, but she said the nervousness left when she got up. She said she had been thinking of asking him for a selfie in her head, and didnt tell anyone about it, just decided to go for it. Shes absolutely over the moon, her Facebook and Instagram were hopping off all over the place. We had to turn the phones off last night, they were ringing non-stop, and the picture was shared over and over. She starts her first day of secondary school tomorrow, so shell be started school famous. One of the biggest cheers in Croke Park on Saturday was for activist Missy Collins talking about Traveller families, their faith and their exclusion in Irish society with Alison by her side, Ms Collins asked the Pontiff to pray for young Traveller people in Ireland. Missy Collins pleads for Pope Francis to pray for the young of Irelands Traveller community #PopeInIreland #WMOF2018 pic.twitter.com/t8Ps1yaJ6F Greg Daly (@GregDaly) August 25, 2018 Its very important for us to have members of the travelling community represented for young people, Brigid added. With Alison being so young, shes set a trend for her peers to have confidence in herself and do it. The Croke Park event marked the second time Alison met with Pope Francis. Due to suffering from a number of medical issues in the past, she and her mother were gifted tickets for a Papal Mass, and travelled to Rome to meet with the Pontiff and present him with a gift, three years ago. Brigid said: This is actually her second time meeting the Pope, we travelled to Rome three years ago, where she got a special audience with the Pope as the first Traveller child he met that day. Alison was in and out of hospital at the time, and we were given tickets for us to meet with him. He came off the podium and met with her, and she was able to give him a gift. Alison would be religious in herself, she has very strong belief so to get this experience, shes just over the moon. The Pope vowed to pursue justice for victims of church abuse in Ireland as he ended his historic visit to the country by seeking forgiveness for its dark litany of clerical crimes. Addressing a large crowd of pilgrims at an open air Mass in Dublins Phoenix Park, Francis laid bare the many forms of abuse and mistreatment meted out to children and vulnerable adults in past decades. Seeking forgiveness for each scandal in turn, the pontiff also acknowledged members of the churchs hierarchy had also sought to cover up the sins of colleagues and failed to show compassion for the victims. We ask forgiveness for the abuses in Ireland, abuses of power, of conscience, and sexual abuses perpetrated by members with roles of responsibility in the church, he said. The legacy of church abuse cast a long shadow over the first papal visit to Ireland since 1979, as the pontiff repeatedly moved to address the scandals. His words drew praise in some quarters but others accused the Pope of not going far enough. An aerial view of the crowd at Phoenix Park (Liam McBurney/PA) A total of 500,000 tickets were snapped up for the Phoenix Park Mass but the actual crowd appeared significantly smaller. The awful weather, widespread travel restrictions and long walking distance to the venue were all likely factors, but some who compared it with the massive crowds who greeted John Paul II four decades previously suggested it was also a sign of the churchs waning influence in Ireland. As the Popes plea for forgiveness rang out around the park on Sunday afternoon, elsewhere in Dublin abuse survivors and campaigners protested at his visit. A vigil was also held at the site of the mother and baby home in Tuam, Co Galway, where a mass grave containing around 800 babies not afforded proper burials was recently uncovered. Praying for the strength to achieve truth and justice for the victims, the Pope referred to his private meeting with eight abuse survivors on Saturday evening, explaining that he wanted to take up what they had said to him. In a special way, we ask pardon for all the abuses committed in various types of institutions run by males or female religious and by other members of the church, and we ask for forgiveness for those cases of manual work that so many young women and men were subjected to, he said. We ask forgiveness. People gather to protest at the site of the former Tuam home for unmarried mothers in County Galway (Niall Carson/PA) The Pope told the pilgrims who braved the rain to reach Phoenix Park: We ask forgiveness for the times that, as a church, we did not show the survivors of whatever kind of abuse the compassion and the seeking of justice and truth through concrete actions. We ask for forgiveness. We ask for forgiveness for some of the church hierarchy who did not take charge of these situations and kept quiet. We ask for forgiveness. We ask for forgiveness for all those times in which many single mothers were told that to seek their children who had been separated from them, and the same being said to daughters and sons themselves, that this was a mortal sin. This is not a mortal sin. We ask for forgiveness. The pontiff ended the prayer by asking: Give us the strength to work for justice. Amen. His remarks were met with applause by the crowd. The Papal Mass in Dublin came hours after the Pope called for firm action in pursuing justice for church abuse victims. On the second day of his weekend visit, he said the crimes committed by members of the church had left an open wound. Pope Francis during a visit to Knock Holy Shrine, in Co Mayo (Niall Carson/PA) At an address at the holy shrine of Knock, in Co Mayo, he said no-one could fail to be moved by stories of young abuse victims who were robbed of their innocence and left with painful memories. Thousands who came to see the Pope at a site revered by Irish Catholics applauded as he urged decisive steps to bring truth to the victims. I beg the Lords forgiveness for these sins and for the scandal and betrayal felt by so many others in Gods family, he said. Before departing Dublin for his flight home, the Pope held a short meeting with a number of Irish bishops. He told them the scandals had also caused hurt and discouragement to current members of the priesthood, something he said was often ignored or underestimated. A recurrent theme of my visit, of course, has been the Churchs need to acknowledge and remedy, with evangelical honesty and courage, past failures with regard to the protection of children and vulnerable adults, he said. He said the bishops had resolutely moved forward with steps to better safeguard children within the Church. In these years, all of us have had our eyes opened to the gravity and extent of sexual abuse in various social settings, he added. In Ireland, as elsewhere, the honesty and integrity with which the Church chooses to confront this painful chapter of her history can offer an example and a warning to society as a whole. Abuse survivor Marie Collins said Pope Francis was `very frank at the meeting (Brian Lawless/PA) The first day of the papal visit on Saturday was also dominated by the painful reverberations of historical scandals linked to church abuse and mistreatment. On Saturday evening, the Pope met a number of victims of criminality and cruelty inflicted by church members. The private engagement in Dublin came hours after Francis expressed pain and shame over failures to tackle the scandals. Some of the survivors who attended the behind-closed-doors meeting said the pontiff employed blunter language with them, apparently using the Spanish word caca, Spanish for excrement, to describe those who covered up abuse. Abuse survivor Marie Collins, who was at the meeting, said: He was very frank, he listened to us all and he gave us all an opportunity to talk about our experiences. Theresa May is preparing to fly to Africa on a three-nation trade mission in an attempt to bolster Britains post-Brexit fortunes. Mrs May will visit South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya as she makes her first trip to the continent since becoming Prime Minister in 2016. She will be accompanied by a 29-strong business delegation, adding her aim is to deepen and strengthen partnerships around the world as the UK prepares to leave the EU in 2019. Prime Minister Theresa May (Simon Dawson/PA) Security will also feature on her agenda, with the threat of Boko Haram in Nigeria and elsewhere in west Africa and the work of British troops in Kenya to help countries fight al-Shabaab militants in Somalia under consideration. Mrs Mays visit to Nairobi will mark the first by a British prime minister to Kenya since Margaret Thatcher in 1988. It is also the first to Africa by a British PM since David Cameron in 2013 for Nelson Mandelas memorial service. Mrs May will fly into South Africas legislative capital Cape Town on Tuesday, where she will meet young people before delivering a keynote speech on trade and how UK private sector investment can be brought into Africa. After a bilateral meeting with South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, in which Zimbabwe is likely to feature, the PM is also expected to visit Robben Island. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (Victoria Jones/PA) Mr Mandela was imprisoned here and the visit would commemorate the 100th anniversary of the former South African presidents birth. On Wednesday, Mrs May intends to meet Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in the capital Abuja before meeting victims of modern slavery in Lagos. After arriving in Kenya on Thursday, Mrs May is expected to meet president Uhuru Kenyatta shortly after his return from seeing US President Donald Trump in Washington and before he travels to China to meet president Xi Jinping. The British PM will then see British troops and later a business school. A state dinner hosted by Mr Kenyatta will conclude the trip. The PM will arrive back in the UK just days before Parliaments summer recess ends and a hectic and potentially stormy two-week session is expected before a further break for the party conferences. Mrs May said: Africa stands right on the cusp of playing a transformative role in the global economy, and as longstanding partners this trip is a unique opportunity at a unique time for the UK to set out our ambition to work even closer together. A more prosperous, growing and trading Africa is in all of our interests and its incredible potential will only be realised through a concerted partnership between governments, global institutions and business. As we prepare to leave the European Union, now is the time for the UK to deepen and strengthen its global partnerships. This week I am looking forward to discussing how we can do that alongside Africa to help deliver important investment and jobs as well as continue to work together to maintain stability and security. I am proud to be leading this ambitious trip to Africa and to become the first UK Prime Minister in over 30 years to visit Kenya. (Jonathan Brady/PA) UK officials have indicated they hope the trip will counter stereotypes of Africa, citing the Band Aid charity efforts as having framed attitudes among some older Britons since the 1980s. With United Nations figures showing more than 200 million 15 to 24 year olds live in Africa, officials add the UKs aim is to find ways to help young people on the continent make a living through jobs in a secure environment. The Prime Ministers deputy official spokeswoman said: The visit will also emphasise that it is in the worlds interest to help secure African jobs and growth because if we do not then conflict, poor work prospects and economic instability will continue to encourage migration, dangerous journeys to Europe. We will be talking about security and the PM will use the visit to announce further support to tackle instability across the region because nations cant prosper without it. Details on investment in Britains diplomatic network in Africa are expected to emerge, amid growing Chinese influence on the continent. It comes after Foreign Office minister Sir Alan Duncan last year told MPs that savings would be made in Africa and elsewhere to free up 4.2 million to fund 50 new jobs in the European network, while former foreign secretary Boris Johnson this year announced new diplomatic posts in Swaziland and Lesotho. Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has hinted at unhappiness with his squads composition and fitness levels. The opening-night Premier League win against Leicester only masked pre-season problems, with last weekends 3-2 loss at Brighton exposing underlying issues. The defeat saw odds on Mourinho leaving tumble as United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and key midfielder Paul Pogba came under scrutiny. Jose Mourinho was frustrated at Brighton (Gareth Fuller/PA) It led to an uncomfortable week which continued during a tetchy press conference previewing Mondays Premier League with Tottenham. The United manager was brusque throughout and, perhaps tellingly, rejected the chance to back his squad. Asked if he was content with the United squad is and where they are in terms of fitness, Mourinho retorted: You know my answer. Manchester Uniteds Paul Pogba was on target at Brighton (Gareth Fuller/PA) The Portuguese made frustrations clear over the summer about the lack of players he had available in the summer, when the fitness and attitude of some players came into question. Mourinho was also vocal about his need to sign a fourth player, but United were unable to bring in the centre-back he craved. You know, you know my answer, the United boss said when again asked about his happiness with the squad, before nodding towards media coverage he just claimed that he had ignored. I do not need to answer because you know my answer, Mourinho said. I do not even know sometimes why I am here because you know everything. During the week it looks like you show that you know everything and then I come here and you ask me questions. Its a bit strange. Jose Mourinho was full of praise for Manchester Uniteds fans (Lynne Cameron/PA) Mourinho was unwilling to give much away ahead of Mondays match. The Portuguese would not talk about Spurs and their summer, nor would he touch upon the achievement of finishing runner-up despite having done so recently. The only subject Mourinho really opened up about was how Uniteds fans remained supportive of him and the team as they rocked in Brighton. The supporters were fantastic in both matches, he said. Not for me, for the team, which is the only thing that matters. In my career I was never selfish, never thinking about myself, I was always a club man and thats what I am. So, I am really happy when the supporters support the team. Luke Shaw scored in Manchester Uniteds win over Leicester (Nick Potts/PA) Against Leicester, you can say in a normal situation because the team was playing well and was winning. To be supportive of the team against Brighton, where we didnt play well and lost the match, it gives you a fantastic feeling. I hope that feeling, the players also feel it and the players are ready to give them everything they have. Jose Mourinho wants a "winning style" at Manchester United (Nick Potts/PA) Mourinho underlined the importance of cutting out mistakes if they are to repay that faith against Tottenham and get their season back on track. Winning style, he said of the way he wants United to play. A winning style. Dont make defensive mistakes. Be dominant. Chances, score goals and go home with the three points. REIMS, France, Aug 25 (Reuters) - In the hilly region of Champagne in eastern France, winegrowers are bringing in grapes early this year for a harvest they expect to be one of the best in a decade. The harvest began at the end of August for most vineyards instead of the usual September after a rainy winter and a summer heat-wave look set to yield a bumper crop and high-quality bubbly. Champagne wines are expected to see a sharp rise in production, up 56 percent from last year to 3.5 million hectolitres, after several years of unsatisfying crops due to bad weather. "The last few years have been tough, this year is expected to be exceptionally good so we are very happy," said the president of Champagne winegrowers' union, Maxime Toubart. While most Champagne winegrowers are celebrating an exceptional harvest, others see the beginning of long-term change in the region. Winegrower Eric Rodez, who runs his own vineyards and operates a 1936-built traditional press, is convinced climate change is making earlier harvests the norm. "Because of climate change, we have to be prepared to regularly harvest in August," Rodez said, noting that starting earlier is the only way to keep the uniqueness of the Champagne wine, produced with grapes that cannot be too ripe. The trend has already emerged over the last decade with three harvests starting in August rather than September. Thirty years ago, harvests in October were not unheard of. According to Toubart and the Champagne winegrowers' union, the more than 15,000 Champagne winegrowers will likely harvest between 13,000 and 16,000 kilogrammes (29,000-35,000 pounds) of grapes per hectare (2.5 acres). That leaves a comfortable margin for producers to use only the best grapes and rebuild reserves used up in recent years since the industry has agreed this year to bring 10,800 kilogrammes per hectare to market. "We have never experienced this before in the Champagne region, in terms of quantity and quality," said Jean-Marie Barillere, president of the Champagne houses' union. "This will enable us to put into cellar amazing wines which will be on the market in three years," he added. Each year, 310 million bottles of French Champagne - whose geographic designation is strictly controlled as a brand - are sold worldwide while more than a billion are stored in cellars waiting for the right moment to be savoured. (Reporting by Celia Mebroukine, editing by Leigh Thomas) Aug 25 (Reuters) - Iran has resumed talks with Russia to build a new nuclear power plant capable of generating up to 3,000 megawatts of electricity, energy minister Reza Ardakanian said Saturday, according to the Tasnim news agency. The Islamic Republic currently has the capacity to produce 1,000 megawatts of nuclear electricity, Tasnim reported. Iran already runs one Russian-built nuclear reactor at Bushehr, its first. Russia signed a deal with Iran in 2014 to build up to eight more reactors in the country. The United States in May pulled out of a deal between Tehran and major powers to limit Iran's nuclear ambitions, and Washington imposed new sanctions on Tehran in August. (Reporting By Babak Dehghanpisheh in Geneva Editing by Ros Russell) Egypt's health ministry said three more Egyptian pilgrims died in Saudi Arabia during the annual hajj season which concluded three days ago, driving the death toll among Egyptians to 48. Three women, aged 43, 65 and 78, died of a sudden drop in pressure and respiratory failure, the ministry said late on Saturday . Deaths from heat exhaustion, fatigue and natural causes are not uncommon among pilgrims on the hajj in Saudi Arabia. Last year, 110 Egyptians died of natural causes during the pilgrimage, according to figures released by the health ministry at the time. All capable Muslims are required to perform the hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, at least once in their lifetime. Saudi Arabia said last week more than 2.37 million pilgrims performed the five-day ritual, mostly from outside the kingdom with some 600,000 from inside the country. Around 80,000 Egyptians were estimated to have gone on hajj this year, Egyptian officials have said. Search Keywords: Short link: CAIRO, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Islamic State claimed responsibility for a gun attack on a checkpoint east of the Libyan capital Tripoli earlier this week, the group's Amaq news agency said on Saturday. Thursday's attack took place between the towns of Zliten and Khoms on the coastal road leading from Tripoli to the port city of Misrata, an area in which members of the Islamist militant group are known to be operating, according to the Zliten mayor. Amaq said "seven Libyan road security personnel were killed" in the attack by Islamic State fighters, while around 10 more were wounded. It provided no evidence. A local official and a resident on Thursday said at least four people had been killed in the attack, among them security personnel. Libya has seen occasional attacks by Islamist militants who have benefited from the turmoil that followed a NATO-backed uprising in 2011. Islamic State has said it was behind a deadly attack by gunmen on the offices of the electoral commission in Tripoli in May and an attack on a court complex in Misrata last year. Local forces drove the militant group from its former stronghold in Sirte, southeast of Misrata, in 2016, but Libyan and Western officials say militants have sought to regroup through mobile desert units and sleeper cells in northern towns. The United Nations is leading efforts to prepare for national elections in Libya, which it hopes will reunify rival factions based in Tripoli and the east of the country. (Reporting by Ali Abdelaty, Writing by Sami Aboudi; Editing by Ros Russell) By Alison Bevege SYDNEY, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said on Sunday she has resigned from new Prime Minister Scott Morrison's Cabinet, two days after a bruising leadership battle that toppled former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull. Bishop announced she would move to the backbench and had not yet decided whether to contest the next election, which is due by May 2019. That decision could have serious implications for Morrison's government, which has a parliamentary majority of only one seat. Morrison emerged as the surprise winner of Friday's party-room vote to replace Turnbull after a week of political chaos in Canberra that marked the emergence of Australia's sixth prime minister in less than 10 years. He took over as leader of the Liberal Party, the senior partner in a Liberal-National coalition that has consistently trailed the opposition Labor party in opinion polls in recent months. Bishop contested Friday's vote but was eliminated in the first round, with Morrison then emerging as a surprise compromise winner over Peter Dutton, Turnbull's conservative challenger who brought the leadership crisis to a head earlier in the week. "I will remain on the backbench as a strong voice for Western Australia," Bishop said in a statement soon after she arrived back in her home state. The possibility that Bishop could leave parliament before the next election will be a major concern for Morrison, Turnbull's former treasurer, because it opens the possibility of another by-election being held for her seat. His party will already have to contest a by-election for Turnbull's harbourside electorate in Sydney, traditionally a safe Liberal seat. Turnbull's resignation from parliament was expected in the coming week. Morrison has spent his first two full days in power working on a new Cabinet, although the only confirmed change so far is that his Liberal deputy and former energy minister Josh Frydenburg will take over as treasurer. (Reporting by Alison Bevege Editing by Paul Tait) The Colombo Defense seminar the apex seminar organized by the Sri Lanka Army is to be held on 30th and 31 August. This year the seminar will focus on the theme of global disruptions and implications on national security. Global disruptions have been the focus on many policy and academic conversations in the 21st Century. The impact global disruptions can have on national security is a very pertinent and timely conversation. As Sri Lanka is struggling to set up a coherent national security and foreign policy strategy, understanding and responding to the interweaving impacts of global transformation is a must for academic, policy and security establishments to deliberate upon. This article attempts to function as a prelude to the important deliberations that are to take place at the defense seminar and connect it with Sri Lankas security interests. The Colombo defense seminar is taking a four pronged approach to address global disruptions, the key focus will be on demographic shifts, technological transformations, especially cyber and Artificial intelligence (AI) futures, transforming Urban security landscape and the political extremism that is challenging policy makers globally. The seminar is taking place at a time of ongoing political crises, geo political rivalries and political polarization strafing the Sri Lankan body politic. Sri Lankas security narrative While the above is true, how our security thinking has evolved especially post conflict era needs to be revisited along with seeking answers to how are we shaping our future security strategy? Sri Lankas future security discourse is heavily influenced by the evolving maritime competition in the Indo Pacific Ocean. The current administration, especially Prime Minister Wickramasinghe has taken a keen interest to deepen the Ocean security discourse and analyze its impact. Currently there is an ongoing debate about the role and composition about the future role of the Sri Lanka Army. What is more important apart from the downsizing debate is identifying what role will the Army has to play and what types of challenges it will have to face in defending Sri Lankas national security. These may include gearing up for increasing political warfare which is making a comeback in this century. Political Warfare The concept of political warfare was prominent during the Cold War, where both the Soviet Union and United States used an array of military and nonmilitary interventions in countries from arming militias, changing education systems, values to creating political propaganda to counter the spread of democracy or communism. Post-Cold war era saw a retreat of political warfare. In the aftermath of the 2016 US Presidential election, many American security experts tend to agree that Russia has mastered a new form of political warfare that enables it to intervene in democratic States to change political outcomes of democratic forms of politics such as elections, civil society and press. American think tanks claim that the United States have actually failed to adapt strategies to contain political warfare in the 21st Century, a strategy Americans were good at when they were intervening in domestic politics of countries using a panoply of weapons of statecraft, during the cold war has returned to haunt them in the 21st Century. The geo political shocks of the external power struggles will have a serious impact on Sri Lankas national security, if political warfare erupts the fall out will be felt heavily on Sri Lanka. Political warfare has the ability to undermine political systems, governance, democracy and increase ethnic tensions, arm radical militias and the splintering can be across multiple fault lines. In Sri Lanka the two key fault lines are ethno-religious and a possible radicalized left. As both these trends have a history in Sri Lankas conflict landscape. Climate Change Challenges Another key area that global militaries are significantly concerned about are the humanitarian catastrophes of climate change induced climate events and possible weaponization of the climate. Both needs a military that is sensitive and sophisticated enough to comprehend and mitigate the challenges. Climate scientists are arguing we are entering an era of Weathers of Mass Destruction (WMD). Climate change is creating a set of acute challenges accelerating extreme weather events that leads to social and political vulnerabilities and related conflicts. A classic example is the emerging geo strategic importance and rivalry to dominate the Arctic. America, China, Russia are engaged in a massive military buildup while European powers are looking at increasing there economic gains by using the Artic as a trading route. In a few days a merchant vessel registered to the Danish shipping giant Maersk will use the Northern Arctic sea route. Though commercial shipping in full flow may at least take another decade, a decade back what Maersk is doing right now was unthinkable. This is purely a consequence of climate change and global warming. The security and strategic challenge for a military is not merely studying climate change, but a military that can arm itself with climate data, especially for a country like ours, which is an island nation in the Indian Ocean. A classic example though not from state sector is the acquisition of Climate Corporation a digital agriculture company that provides farmers with weather, soil and crop yield data by Agricultural behemoth Monsanto five years ago for a Billion dollars. Climate Corporation was in the possession of 30 years of weather data, 60 years of crop data and unprecedented amount of crop yield and soil data. The power such information puts in the hand of one company is alarming yet that is the way information and data is revolutionizing industry and politics. Technological Disruptions The technological disruption is the speed demon of all the modern social and political disruptions. Technological developments in the 20th Century came at a much slower pace, it took even in the United States 45 years for some of the US households to be electrified, the telecommunication sector since its late 19th century invention and despite heavy use in the two world wars, still took 68 years to reach a majority of people even in the developed world. Yet the Internet has connected and reached a majority within two decades. The next concern is how fast will Artificial intelligence take over key human tasks and these has significant political and security implications Imperatives for the Sri Lankan Military Sri Lanka needs to invest in a strategic advancement center within the Sri Lanka Army or as a joint force apparatus, a center that has experts, analysts, including civilians with an industrywide cross sectional integration. Such an initiative will aid in identifying and strategizing to mitigate coming challenges from Climate Change, patterns of violent political extremism and constant cyber political incursions. Sri Lankas army needs access to real time data, it needs access to analysts and experts who can crunch the data provide geo strategic projections, this will enhance not just the situational analysis of the military but also of the political leadership. Today we are mostly engaged in military debates that belongs to the 20th century while we are increasingly pressured by 21st century challenges emanating from unprecedented global transformations. For most of the post conflict period the, military mantra was civil military relations. The future of Sri Lanka Army may require a more civil military partnerships especially with industry, think tanks and the academia. Most modern militaries have already started deeper engagements with civilian sectors especially in the realm of geo politics, geo economic and technology. The professional advancement of the military needs to be a priority it cannot play the role of the key national safeguard if it does not have the knowledge, insight or intelligence that is needed to face challenges that emerge from global disruptions. It needs the professionalism that can see through political failures, and not succumb to partisan political motives. Sri Lanka military could benefit from the joint force doctrine, where the Army, Navy and the Air force along with a civilian intelligence infrastructure may have to work as a seamlessly integrated defense architecture to confront threats and adversaries of the 21st Century. The writer is the Director, Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS) Responding to rumours of development around Japan-Sri Lanka Friendship Road in Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte, the Megapolis Ministry today said that there would be no such land-filling in the Kimbulawala Lake. Megapolis Additional Secretary Madhawa Waidyaratne told the Daily Mirror that only a temporary Access Road was being constructed towards the recently built Seema Malaka in Diyawanna Oya to ease off carrying building materials to the construction site. He said the Access Road would be removed within a period of one month after the concrete structure was built. The public-funded structure, a gift to the Amarapura Maha Sangha Sabha, was originally planned to be constructed as a floating structure. A construction flaw identified in one of the four water-filled barges caused the entire structure to sink midway of the construction process, therefore it was later decided to fit bars underwater as a support structure, he said. Mr Waidyaratne said that due to technical difficulties, the private entity that launched the project had requested the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (SLLRDC) for support. He said the Ministry, considering the project as a pioneer spiritual development need, had agreed to support the company to carry out the project. Mr Waidyaratne said SLLRDC had identified the need for a temporary access road to transport the machinery and materials to the site and had begun its work. However, he assured that there would be no landfilling or handing over lands to any individual or company via the process. He also explained that there was no impact to areas water volume or no flood threat to the area because of the work. The Ministry request residents around the area not to panic over rumours about any threat, her said. The Daily Mirror in a news article dated May 26 titled Section of Seema Malakaya on Diyawanna has sunk, reported that the floating structure built by a private construction company on the Diyawanna Oya for use as a Seema Malakaya by the Amarapura Maha Sangha Sabha had partially sunk because of a construction issue. (Thilanka Kankarathna) Video by Damith Five suspects had been arrested by the officers of the Mirihana Special Crimes Investigation Unit, during a raid at a house for operating a counterfeit currency note racket at Lunawa, Moratuwa yesterday. The Police said the suspects were arrested along with 15 counterfeit notes of Rs. 5,000. They said that they raided the house following a tip off. A laptop computer, scanner, printer, type writer and several rubber stamps, which could have been used for counterfeit note printing, were also recovered from the house, a Police officer said. The Police said the arrested, aged between 33 and 41, were identified as residents of Lunawa, Koralawella, Egoda Uyana and Angulana. The Police said that investigation had revealed the suspects had been printing fake Government Certificates and Education Certificates as well. They would be produced in the Moratuwa Magistrate's Court, according to Police.(Darshana Sanjeewa) The film glorifies the Rajputs and vilifies the Islamic conquerors from Afghanistan The film has been a commercial success, and Karni Sena and Bhansali have officially patched up their differences Sanjay Leela Bhansalis epic about a legendary Rajput queen, her warrior husband and a marauding Muslim conqueror leaves you both appalled and awed. Its visually breathtaking. But the films comic book characterisation and what looks like a glorification of Jauhar, the ancient Hindu custom of women of the defeated side committing ritual suicide by fire, is enough to make one squirm. As the film starts, a statement to the effect that the film does not encourage in any way women to throw themselves into bonfires flashes across the screen. But the frenzied visuals at its end suggest just the opposite. The production was plagued by protests, and cinemas were ringed by armed police on opening day (imagine a Sri Lankan filmmaker getting that kind of protection). The director and two assistants were physically attacked, and mobs threatened to burn down the set, forcing the director to move locations. They even threatened to cut off the nose of Deepika Padukone, who played the role of Padmavati. Bhansali is a product of the religion-dominated political culture as exemplified by the BJP. Thats a tragedy even greater than that of Padmavati and Bhairao Mastani But all the protests were for the wrong reasons. Before the film opened, Hindu women threatened mass suicide in honour of Padmavati. The chief troublemaker was Sri Rajput Karni Sena, a nationalist Rajput organization which thought that the film was an insult to Rajput pride and the Padmavati legend. Its hard to see why, as the film glorifies the Rajputs and vilifies the Islamic conquerors from Afghanistan. But alls well that ends well. The film has been a commercial success, and Karni Sena and Bhansali have officially patched up their differences. A letter to the movie maker signed by Karni Sena high ups said that they do not have any objection about screening the film in Gujarat and Rajasthan, and Deepika Padukone didnt have to go for a plastic nose job. The films sensuous texture, from period interiors to tents billowing like sails and staggeringly detailed costumes, all in matching colours, overwhelms the viewer from the start. But when it comes to the two lovers (if one might be presumptuous enough to call them that) this sensuality is always held in check. Kissing scenes are now possible in Hindi cinema, though still not the norm. In this case, the royal lips come tantalisingly close but sadly, some man-made disaster intervenes to keep them apart. The director has wisely avoided this regal predicament. If not, the Rajputs would have declared total and unconditional war (the Rajput equivalent of the Fatwa) on him. Comically enough, one protest was that the virtuous queens navel gets too much exposure in the film. In fact, one notices very little of it. Rani Padmavatis face and torso, made up and adorned in exquisite period detail, steals all the attention from her navel. Its the beauty of her face, as described by the revenge-seeking Brahmin adviser who defects to the Muslim side, which makes the fearsome Alauddin decide that he must have her at any cost. If anyone, its the Muslims who should have protested. Alauddin Khalji (Ranveer Singh), a historical figure and the films villain, is shown to be a sadistic, treacherous figure who kills his father-in-law, his childhood friend and anyone who stands in his way to power and eats roasted meat like a savage. In one scene, he makes a captive Indian princess stand in a pool of water, holding up two burning torches chained to her hands, while he circles the pool, taunting her. Sadism and brutality existed on both sides during the war. Many Muslim rulers were refined men. Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, wrote his autobiography. Others, like Akbar and Shah Jahan, were tolerant patrons of music and arts. Some, like Jehangir, was cruel religious fanatics. But you can find such examples on the Hindu side, too. Alauddin is not all brute force in the film. He responds to fine music and regrets that he cannot write poetry. But such moments of sensitivity and finesse are harshly overridden by the overall image of an unwashed, scar-faced and lusty brute madly in love with himself and power. If that wasnt bad enough, hes shown to be bisexual. This is a tradition which goes back to Alexander the Great, and beyond. But when the villain has this trait and all Rajputs in the film are very progressively heterosexual, that does nothing positive for Indias beleaguered LGTB community. By contrasts, Rajput King Ratan Singh (Shahid Kapoor) and Queen Padmavati are both physically and morally beautiful. The script shows her to be politically more astute than her husband, as she warns her husband that sultan Alauddins invitation to him might be a trap. But he believes in chivalry and noble conduct in war. Not that the entire Muslim army is shown to be treacherous. When Alauddin is seen to be losing his duel with Ratan Sing, and his boyfriend and general Malik Kafur Jim Sarbh) gets ready to kill the latter with an arrow, a fellow commander tells him thats against the rules of war. But Kafur retorts that what matters is to win. Sanjay Leela Bhansalis epic about a legendary Rajput queen, her warrior husband and a marauding Muslim conqueror leaves you both appalled and awed But such sops to minority sentiments are useless when weighed against the films overwhelming pro-Hindu bias. This one-sided portrayal doesnt diminish the films considerable dramatic power but diminishes its artistic value. What a pity, because Padmavati at times has the dramatic power of Ridley Scotts Gladiator. Indian epic filmmaking has come of age. From Asoka to Yoda Akbar and Bhansalis previous historical epic Bairoaho Mastani, they are impressive feats of filmmaking, and our own budget epics look amateurish, even inept, by comparison. The historical events in the films cant be determined exactly, except for the siege of Chittor by Alauddins army. There are several versions of the Padmavati legend and she is not a historically verifiable figure (some say she lived in the 13th century, others put it as the 14th). That hardly matters, because films based on historical events, from Ridley Scotts Gladiator to the more recent biopic about Winston Churchill, can distort history or even invents events. Gladiator is a good example of deliberately distorting history for dramatic effect. Emperor Marcus Aurelius, for example, wasnt killed by his son Commodus. But Commodus was one of the worst tyrants to rule from Rome. He was actually worse than the character in the film. Commodus, as emperor, revelled in Gladiator games and slaughtering animals. He even dressed up disabled people as mythological creatures so that he could kill them in one of his gladiator spectacles. Also, Commodus wasnt killed fighting anyone in the arena, as the film shows. He was killed in a bath by his mistress Marcias accomplice. The biggest flaw in Padmavatis storyline is the black and white portrayal of Hindu and Muslim rulers and their politics, and its glorification of the Jauhar tradition. 16,000 Hindu women marching stridently like beautifully draped zombies towards a bonfire, while deterring the bewildered conqueror by throwing charcoal at him, cant be described as anything else. As for Rajput heroics, the king is so steeped in macho tradition that, when Padmavati makes a deal with Alauddin and gains access to the chained, bedraggled figure, Ratan Singh berates her for dealing with the enemy for his sake. Even to commit suicide, she must ask for his permission, which doesnt say much for the status of Indian women of that era. And that battle scene where a Rajput general carries on fighting even after his head rolls off his head is simply ludicrous. As Indian critic Uday Bhatia put it, the Rajputs were known to make terrible tactical mistakes and die to fight bravely, and Padmavati is forced to choose between fire and a murderous lunatic who makes parrot noises. American critic Rachel Salz was even more cryptic in her dismissal of the film: Padmavati and her king, Ratan Singh, dressed in gorgeous silks and bangles, are more heaven to look at than delightful to know. As the film starts, a statement to the effect that the film does not encourage in any way women to throw themselves into bonfires flashes across the screen. But the frenzied visuals at its end suggest just the opposite Nonetheless, there is much one can salvage from this one-sided extravaganza. Bhansalis use of folk music for the score is interesting, and the dance sequences are often enchanting, though its hard to understand why sultan Alauddin performs a break dance with his warriors at one point. Despite such faux pas, the film is enjoyable if you can forget its finger-in-the-eye racism and other prejudices. Bhansalis earlier epic Bhairao Mastani, also featuring Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh (she as the Muslim warrior princess Mastani, and he as the Rajput warrior Bhairao who falls in love with her) was a more balanced film, with the same exquisite period detail but more historical insights into the realpolitik of the time the fearsome dominance of Brahmins and that loathing for the Muslim invader which clouded judgement (Mastani is the daughter of Hindu ruler by his Muslim wife) and defeats idealist and romantic love. There is a very well-executed song-dance sequence too, where Padukone and her fellow dancers perform in carrying medieval lutes and in semi-European costumes. All this is in the tradition of Bollywoods best moments, but in contrast to the secular tradition of Indian filmmaking of as exemplified by Satyajit Rai, Bimal Roy and Raj Kapoor (in their different approaches), Bhansali is a product of the religion-dominated political culture as exemplified by the BJP. Thats a tragedy even greater than that of Padmavati and Bhajirao Mastani. By L.B. Senaratne As we view the Kandy Esala Perahera, we see a colourful procession of men, elephants and banners. But, little seems to be known about the behind-the-scenes rituals of the Sri Dalada Maligawa. The Esala Perahera is not only about parading the Golden Karanduwa. The ritual performed during the Kandy Esala Maha Perahera season gives the entire festival more significance and meaning. Amidst these busy preparations, there are two very important women, who are indispensable during the performance of rituals. Their duties have been passed down from generations and their families have served the Sri Dalada Maligawa for years. They themselves are not aware of an exact date or period of when their duties began. They only know that they come from two families - the Ranaweeras. For years I have been trying to delve into the status symbols and how they were first put in place to become the two most indispensable women during this festival. But there is no record as to how they came to serve the Sri Dalada Maligawa and join its retinue. However, they are very much part and parcel of the establishment. These two women are known as the Alathi- Ammala. There is no corresponding word in English to describe them. Their ritual is simple but dignified and they are present every Wednesday for the Nanumura Mangalya, (The bathing of the Sacred Relic) during every Vesak and Poson Day as well as every day of the Esala Maha Perahera or the exposition of the Sacred Relic. The ritual is simple yet dignified. What one notices is that two women with lighted wicks dipped in pure coconut oil, goes and place them on a betel leaf and step into the Inner Shrine. However, what they really do inside the Shrine Room is a matter of conjecture. We are told that it is a simple but sacred ritual. They do not speak about it and no one asks them. Only the serving priests know what they do. Some years ago when the Venerable Rambukwelle Vippassi Thera was the Mahanayake of Malwatte Chapter, while waiting inside the inner chamber during an exposition, we discussed as to how this office of Alathi Ammala came into place at the Sri Dalada Maligawa. It was said that this type of office existed during the time of the Walli Yak Mangalaya at Maha Vishnu Devale. At that time the elder Alathi Amma was Ranaweera. The Mahanayake Thera summoned one of the two in service and asked them whether they know about how they came into office. They replied, that their duties are bestowed upon them when the elder office bearer passes away, but are unable to trace their origin. The Mahanayake noted in his observations, it could be that the Kings at that time were Hindu or aligned to Hinduism, though they performed Buddhists rites. So, it is a custom that the Mahanayake was not certain of. But it could be attributed to the fact the Hindu Kings used women for blessings, whenever they leave the Palace for official functions and when he returns to the Palace to ward off the evil eye. The Mahanayake said that it could be that ritual, which was carried out on the King and that this same ritual is also carried out to the Sacred Relic. This ritual is to say Ayu -Bowan thrice with lighted wicks placed on a Betel leaf. It is a simple process, but a dignified one. In his first ever press conference since taking office last May, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed warned his nation on Saturday that the under-construction Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) "may never see the light of day" if delays on the project continue. During the press conference, Abiy addressed a wide variety of issues including reform measures, internal conflicts within the country, and progress on the nations mega projects, including the GERD. Abiy said that during a visit to the GERD two months ago, he discovered that electromechanical works contracted to the Metals and Engineering Corporation (MetEC) which is run by the Ethiopian military have been delaying the project. Salini is completing its part of the project on time and now it is demanding huge payment because the project is lagging from the side of MetEC, Abiy told the media, referring to Salini Impregilo SpA, an Italian industrial group specialised in construction and civil engineering. Thinking big is one thing but accomplishing it is another. We have handed over a complicated water dam project to people who have not seen a dam in their life and if we continue in that direction, the project may never see the light of day, Ahmed warned. In 2011, Ethiopia started construction on the GERD over the Blue Nile River, the main tributary to Egypt's Nile. Ethiopia stresses that the dam is being constructed mainly to generate electricity, and that it is necessary for the country's development. Addis Ababa insists that the dam will not harm downstream countries. Addis Ababa plans to start filling the dam's reservoir sometime this year. When completed, the dam will be the largest in Africa, with a reservoir capacity of 74 billion cubic metres. Egypt has repeatedly voiced concerns that the rate at which the GERD's reservoirs are being filled could reduce its share of Nile water, which Ethiopia has dismissed. Search Keywords: Short link: By Rebecca Wright and Ivan Watson 24 August 2018 TOWNSVILLE, Australia (CNN) In a dusty, secluded corner of the Australian state of Queensland, a septuagenarian scientist is on an urgent mission to raise the alarm about the future of the planet. John Charlie Veron widely known as The Godfather of Coral is a renowned reef expert who has personally discovered nearly a quarter of the worlds coral species and has spent the past 45 years diving Australias Great Barrier Reef. But after a lifetime trying to make sense of the vast ecosystems that lie beneath the oceans surface, the 73-year-old is now becoming a prophet of their extinction.Its the beginning of a planetary catastrophe, he tells CNN. I was too slow to become vocal about it.In 2016 and 2017, marine heat waves caused by climate change resulted in mass bleaching , which killed about half of the corals on the Great Barrier Reef, along with many others around the world.Somewhere between a quarter and a third of all marine species everywhere has some part of their life cycle in coral reefs, he says. So, you take out coral reefs and a third to a quarter of all marine species gets wiped out. Now that is ecological chaos, it is ecological collapse. Watch the full documentary: Race to save the reef One of the natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef is 2,300km long roughly the length of Italy and is the only living organism that can be seen from space.When Veron, a former Chief Scientist at the Australian Institute of Marine Science, first went diving on the vast reef in the early 1960s he felt like his life started.It was so much packed into a small area, so much life, so much activity, even noisy. It was really a metropolis, it was really humming and buzzing, he says. Its a wilderness, its dangerous, its exciting.At that stage, he had no idea about what was in store for this vibrant underwater habitat.I was a climate change skeptic, at first, he says. He realized that climate change was serious in the mid-1980s, and around 1990 he became alarmed about its impact on coral reefs. Coral reefs on death row Veron says the mass bleaching events in the past few years and the prospect of losing one of natures greatest treasures were a wake-up call for the world in the wider battle against climate change.Its more than an alarm bell, says Veron. Its an air raid siren.But the die-off came as no surprise to him. Back in the 1990s, he had predicted that climate change would destroy the reef, documented in several books he published, and in a 2009 keynote lecture titled Is the Great Barrier Reef on Death Row? at the Royal Society in London, where he was introduced by veteran British naturalist Sir David Attenborough.Attenborough described Veron as one of the great authorities in the world on coral who has devoted himself to looking after and raising awareness about the dangers facing the reef. [] By Nina Chestney 26 July 2018 LONDON (Reuters) Premature deaths from heatwaves in Britain could more than treble to around 7,000 a year by mid-century if the government does not take action, a committee of lawmakers said on Thursday, 26 July 2018 . The warning is topical as Britain swelters in a heatwave, with temperatures of 32-34 degrees Celsius possible in southern and eastern England this week, according to the UK Met Office. The lawmakers called on the government to develop a strategy to protect the health of the elderly in periods of extreme heat. In August 2003, a 10-day heatwave across Europe was thought to be the warmest for up to 500 years. The heatwave led to more than 20,000 deaths across Europe, including 15,000 in France alone and 2,193 in Britain. The highest temperature in Britain was recorded at 38.5 degrees Celsius. A similar heatwave occurred in July 2006 and there have been periods of unusually hot weather or heatwaves in July 2013, July 2015, July-September 2016, June 2017, April 2018 and June-July 2018. The Met Office predicts there is a risk that similarly intense heatwaves will occur every other year by the 2040s and the average number of heat-related deaths in Britain will more than triple to 7,000 a year by the 2050s, the cross-party Environmental Audit Committee said in a report. The government is failing to address the danger of heatwaves, the committee warned. Heatwave warnings are welcomed as barbecue alerts but they threaten health, well-being, and productivity, said Mary Creagh, chair of the committee. The government must stop playing pass the parcel with local councils and the National Health Service (NHS) and develop a strategy to protect our ageing population from this increasing risk, she added. [ more ] Heat-related deaths in Britain set to treble by 2050, UK lawmakers warn 26 July 2018 (UK Parliament) Prediction that higher temperatures which caused 2000+ deaths in 2003 will be summer norm by 2040s making adaptation to heatwaves a matter of life and death. The Environmental Audit Committee publishes its report into Heatwaves: adapting to climate change.The Committee has found that failing to address the danger of heatwaves will threaten the wellbeing of an increasing number of vulnerable people. Chairs comments Mary Creagh MP, Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee: Heatwave warnings are welcomed as barbecue alerts, but they threaten health, wellbeing and productivity. The Met Office has projected that UK summer temperatures could regularly reach 38.5C by the 2040s. The Government must stop playing pass the parcel with local councils and the NHS and develop a strategy to protect our ageing population from this increasing risk.Heatwaves cause premature deaths from cardiac, kidney and respiratory disease. There will be 7,000 heat-related deaths every year in the UK by 2050 if the Government does not take action.The Government needs to do more to warn the public of the health risks of heatwaves, particularly when they fall outside of the summer period, and should appoint a minister to lead work across Government. The Governments new adaptation plan promises no effective action to prevent overheating in buildings. It must change building regulations and planning policies to ensure homes and transport networks are able to deal with extreme heat, and that local authorities and cities have green spaces and heat-resilient infrastructure. The Committee has called on the Government to: Ensure NHS England issues guidance on planning for summer pressures, to ensure that adequate steps are taken to prepare the NHS for more frequent heatwaves. NHS organisations should submit annual heatwave plans to ensure they are prepared for the sudden onset of a heatwave; Inspect resilience to heatwaves in hospitals and care homes through the Care Quality Commission and NHS England; Protect peoples health by changing building regulations to prevent overheating; Review the capacity of local authorities to deliver climate change resilience, require them to report on their adaptation to climate change and introduce an urban green infrastructure target for cities; Introduce stricter water efficiency standards as part of the building regulations; Coordinate a study of vulnerability to heat-health risks on transport and how this contributes to economic loss during heatwaves; Make businesses aware of the threat of heatwaves and the economic consequences. Public Health England should also issue formal guidance to employers to relax dress codes and allow flexible working during heatwaves, and the Government should consult on introducing maximum workplace temperatures, especially for work that involves significant physical effort; Issue guidance for head teachers about safe temperatures in schools and relaxing school uniform policy during hot weather; Launch a public information campaign on the growing frequency and intensity of heatwaves and run a year-round heatwave alert system to warn vulnerable people about the health risks; and Provide a Ministerial lead in the Department of Health and Social Care with responsibility for climate change related health risks. Full background on each recommendation follows NHS guidance on summer pressures Heatwaves place strain on the NHS and social care system. During the 2013 heatwave, double the amount of consultations for heat-illness took place compared to a non-heatwave year. Hospitals can overheat to 30 degrees Celsius when the temperature outside is just 22 degrees Celsius. However, the NHS only asks hospitals and other healthcare organisations to report on their preparation for winter pressures.NHS Englands Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response assurance does not account for the risk of overheating hospitals, and the Care Quality Commission do not inspect for it either. The ability of nursing homes to cope with the serious health impact of heatwaves on older people is not assessed. This is worrying given that in the 2003 heatwave, excess deaths in nursing homes in some parts of the UK rose by 42%. Ensuring safe and heatwave resilient homes Certain types of homes (single aspect flats, houses built in the 1960s and 1970s) and densely populated urban areas are at significant risk of overheating. Even at current temperatures, 20% of UK homes overheat. This presents a risk to those who are vulnerable to high temperatures such as older people, those with underlying cardiovascular or respiratory conditions, those with disabilities and children. There is no building regulation to prevent overheating in buildings, and tests to identify overheating are weak and ineffective.However, the Committee heard uncertainty from Government Ministers about whether the building regulations should be used to protect human health. The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers believe building regulations should be changed to protect health, and have developed a series of tests to prevent buildings overheating at design stage.The Committee heard that public money is used to support the construction of modular homes. According to a study on Modular Construction in UK Housing by Pinsent Masons, there are currently around 15,000 modular homes built in the UK each year by China National Building Material Company. Modular homes are not resilient to heatwaves, and the Committee is calling for the Government to end public funding for them. Local authorities and cities Local authorities should be driving adaptation for heatwaves, across a range of areas such public health, local spatial plans, and urban development. However, the Committee only received evidence from one local authority and the Local Government Association confirmed that they do not have a bespoke work programme on climate change adaption. Funding for programmes to support local authority climate change adaptation was withdrawn in 2015/16, leading to the closure of numerous regional climate change partnerships.Cities can be up to 10C hotter than surrounding countryside due to the urban heat island effect; hard surfaces in urban areas absorbing heat during the day and emitting heat at night. Overheating at night prevents physiological recovery from heat. In the 2003 heatwave, excess deaths in London increased by 42%. However, measures to reduce the urban heat island effect are not included in local plans and the Governments planning framework does not make mention of it. The Government should introduce an urban green infrastructure target as part of the metrics for the 25 Year Environment Plan and in the National Planning Policy Framework to ensure towns and cities are adapted to more frequent heatwaves in the future. Transport, water supply and productivity Heatwaves can cause railway tracks to buckle and roads to melt. Only 50% of the UKs motorways and major roads are surfaced with material that is the most resilient to the kind of summer temperatures the UK is beginning to experience regularly. During the June 2018 heatwave, railway tracks buckled causing significant delays either because trains could not operate or because they had to be run at a slow speed to avoid damage. This means that passengers sometimes have to endure rail journeys in uncomfortably hot carriages. There are also concerns that the health risks and service disruption of travelling at peak times during a heatwave results in economic losses as staff may not be able to get to work. There is no regulation on maximum workplace temperature, resulting in difficult working conditions particularly for those engaged in heavy manual labour or outdoor work. The Committee is calling on the Government to make businesses aware of the developing threat of heatwaves and the economic consequences and for Public Health England to issue formal guidance to employers to relax dress codes and allow flexible working when heatwave alerts are issued. Additionally the Committee recommend that the Government should consult on introducing maximum workplace temperatures, especially for work that involves significant physical effort, and that the Department for Education should issue guidance for head teachers about safe temperatures in schools and relaxing school uniform policy during hot weather. The UKs water supply is expected to reduce by 47% and this will be exacerbated by the increasing demand for water during heatwaves, particularly in cities. The Committee is calling for the Government to raise its ambitions for water efficiency by adopting 110 litres per person per day as the mandatory standard in Part G of the building regulations for all new buildings. Ministerial lead on responsibility for climate change health risks Adapting to heatwaves is complex. The impact on health can be affected by overheating on public transport, in cities and in buildings, with policies spanning several government departments and local government. Although the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have overall adaptation responsibility, the Department of Health and Social Care holds responsibility for heatwaves and heat-health. Therefore, we were concerned to hear that despite these significant health hazards, the Minister for Public Health, Steve Brine MP, did not consider it his departments responsibility to take active steps to address the heat-health issues of overheating buildings and planning policy. The Committee is calling on the Department of Health and Social Care to provide a Ministerial lead on responsibility for climate change related health risks. The Minister should work closely with DEFRA, and across government, to ensure there is a holistic and coordinated approach to adapting to the health risks of climate change, building on the advice of the Committee on Climate Change. Public information campaign on risk of heatwaves In August 2003 temperatures reached 38.5C in England and there were 2,193 heat-related deaths across the UK in 10 days. The Met Office predicts that similar heatwaves will occur every other year by the 2040s. Prolonged periods of high temperatures cause cardiac and respiratory disease leading to excess deaths, particularly in older people. The average number of heat-related deaths in the UK is expected to more than treble to 7,000 per year by the 2050s. Although extreme heat events have become more common in Europe since the 1950s, there is public misconception that heatwaves have become less frequent. The Government does not provide clear information for the public on the developing threat of heatwaves.The Governments heatwave alert system only runs from June to September, so vulnerable people are not warned about unseasonal heatwaves. Moreover, the Committee heard that alerts are only put out if a threshold of approximately 30C is reached, even though the Medical Director at Public Health England acknowledged that heat-related deaths begin when temperatures rise above 25C. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and the country's intelligence chief Abbas Kamel are flying to Addis Ababa on Monday to discuss bilateral relations and developments in the mega dam project Ethiopia is building on the River Nile, Egypt's foreign ministry said. The two Egyptian officials will deliver a message from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the ministry said in a statement emailed to Ahram Online, without revealing the nature of this message. The officials will discuss progress on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and efforts to implement a 2015 agreement signed by Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan over Nile water rights, the ministry said. The talks will also tackle decisions taken by the foreign ministries of the three countries since talks were held in May over the disputed hydroelectric project. These decisions include setting up a scientific committee to study the process of filling the reservoir of the $4 billion dam. The decisions also state and the leaders of the three nations will meet every six months for consultations. The visit will come two days after Abiy said that the ongoing construction on the 6,000-megawatt dam is facing delays and issues over its design. Egypt fears that the project, which is set to be the biggest dam in Africa, will threaten its Nile water supply. Addis Ababa maintains that the dam will not reduce Egypts share of the Nile water and will help Ethiopias development. The talks on Monday will also discuss steps to set up a fund to invest in infrastructure projects in the three African nations. In June, Abiy and El-Sisi signaled that they had made a breakthrough during talks in Cairo after an extended deadlock on the issue. The Egyptian president said at the time that the two countries have come a long way in building confidence and strengthening bilateral cooperation. Abiy said at the time that his country was committed to securing Egypt's share of Nile water. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts Local Development Minister Mahmoud Shaarawy issued a circular letter to all governors on Saturday asking that restrictions be lifted for licensing tuk tuks (three-wheeled auto-rickshaws) and to organise their routes. The statement comes amid rising congestion in major urban areas which is worsened by low capacity public transportation and paratransit. The statement from the Local Development Ministry said that the letter instructed governors to estimate the total number of tuk tuks across each governorate, including the number of licensed up-to-date vehicles, and any reasons for delays in licensing. According to a report by Egypt's Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS),the number of relatively few licensed tuk tuks, which are allowed to operate only on side streets, reached 99,000 by 2016, up from 65,800 in 2014. Shaarawy also called on governors to create tuk tuk routes only in unplanned areas and between villages. Lastly, the minister called on the governorates to provide the ministry with a half-monthly report in order to monitor what has been achieved in this regard. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt said it will be opening the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip for five days to receive Palestinian pilgrims returning from the hajj in Saudi Arabia. According to official state news agency MENA, travel will be limited to the return of the pilgrims on 27 and 31 August, and 1, 2, and 3 September. The crossing will resume normal operations starting 4 September. The Rafah border crossing is the main gateway to the outside world for 1.8 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip, and is the only crossing point not controlled by Israel. Egypt opens the crossing periodically for humanitarian purposes. Search Keywords: Short link: Pope: I cannot fail to acknowledge the grave scandal Pope Francis has said he is ashamed of the Catholic Church's failure to adequately address the "repellent crimes" of sex abuse by clergy on his papal visit to Ireland. The failure of church authorities to adequately address repugnant clerical child abuse crimes in Ireland remains a source of shame for the Catholic community, Pope Francis said as he made the first papal visit to Ireland since 1979. "I SHARE THOSE SENTIMENTS" I cannot fail to acknowledge the grave scandal caused in Ireland by the abuse of young people by members of the Church charged with responsibility for their protection and education, Francis said in a speech at a state reception. The failure of ecclesiastical authorities - bishops, religious superiors, priests and others - adequately to address these repugnant crimes has rightly given rise to outrage and remains a source of pain and shame for the Catholic community. I myself share those sentiments, he stated. The Pope veered off his script when speaking out about abuse, saying he had set out a "greater commitment to eliminating this scourge in the Church, at any cost". PROTESTS TOOK PLACE But Francis words aren't likely to calm the outrage among rank-and-file Catholics following new revelations of sexual misconduct and cover-up in the United States, an ongoing crisis in Chile and prosecutions of top clerics in Australia and France. Pope met angry protesters WATCH He met by protesters angry at how the church dealt with the various scandals which have weakened its influence. One of a number of protests against clerical child sexual abuse took place near Dublin Castle on Saturday morning. As part of their work session last Monday evening, the Blue Earth City Council learned how the fundraising efforts of a New Pool Slide Committee is coming along. The answer was sort of, not too bad, but a long way to go. Dave Kittleson, the chairman of the committee, gave the report to the council. He listed all of the fundraising efforts to date, which included lifeguard fundraising events, letters sent out with city utility bills and ads in the newspaper and on the radio. We also had a booth at the county fair, Kittleson said. And the pool lifeguards manned the booth. They made $554 there. So far the committee has raised just over $20,000 in donations that have come from over 100 different people and groups. The Kiwanis Club of Blue Earth just last week donated $500 to the fund, Kittleson added, and they are hoping to hear from other service clubs and organizations. The cost of the new slide, however, is at $93,500. We have also made application for two grants which together would total another $15,000 for the slide fund, Kittleson said. One was from Southern Minnesota Initiative Fund and one from the Huisman Foundation. Blue Earth Community Pool manager Michelle Hall and lifeguard Grace Leland both said the new slide would be a big draw for the pool. We have heard a lot of excitement about the new slide coming already, Hall said. It will be longer, faster than the current one, and will be covered. The current slide often has a line waiting to use it, Leland said. She added that having a new slide would be a real treat for the kids and would bring more kids to the pool. The reason the slide committee had been invited to give a report at the work session is because the council is starting their study of the 2019 city budget. City Administrator Tim Ibisch said after the meeting that the council could decide to budget for the balance needed for the slide during budget talks in the two September council meetings. It will be up to the council to decide what action to take (about the slide), Ibisch said. I know the council has been trying to do some large park and rec project each year, so they could decide to do something about this. If there is a decision made this fall about the new slide, it could be installed next spring. The City Council members did tell Kittleson and the slide committee members who were present at the meeting that they appreciated all the work on fundraising for the slide project. The slide was not the only park and rec item mentioned during the work session. Public Works Department supervisor Jamie Holland discussed the possibility of adding three new campsites at the city owned campground at the Faribault County Fairgrounds. The cost would be about $9,000 for the work to make them, Holland said. We have quite a demand for the campsites so it could be worthwhile to add three more. Holland presented the idea as part of this proposed budget for 2019. After exactly 20 years as Frundt & Johnson, the Blue Earth-based law firm is getting a new name. Frundt, Lundquist & Gustafson. The name change became official on Aug. 1, says partner Daniel Lundquist. After we finished all the paper work and filed with the Secretary of States office. The name change also signifies a change in ownership. The three partners involved in the law firm are David Frundt, Lundquist, and Ryan Gustafson. Actually, I became an owner of the firm about five or six years ago, Lundquist says. But, we didnt change the name. Not even when Mike Johnson retired in late 2015. But then, when Ryan became a partner last year, we decided it was time. The three say they have been working on the change since the first of the year, but admit they are so busy working for their clients that doing their own work was on the back burner at times. There has always been the name Frundt in the company name, says David Frundt. I am a fourth generation partner in the law office. His great-grandfather Henry John Frundt started the law office, followed by John Henry Frundt, then Davids father Chuck Frundt. There have been others involved in the firm as well, as noted by the changes in the name over the years. I think the succession of names goes like this, Frundt says. Frundt, Frundt, Johnson & Roverud; Frundt, Frundt, & Roverud; Frundt, Johnson & Roverud; then Frundt & Johnson. David Frundt joined the firm in the fall of 1998. Daniel Lundquist came on board in March of 2007. Ryan Gustafson in September of 2011. I think one of the important things is that we are all small town guys and are all committed to life in a small town and understand what that means as far as servicing our clients, Lundquist says. Frundt grew up in Blue Earth, Lundquist in Wheaton and Gustafson in Arlington. And all three of us are graduates of William Mitchell College of Law, now known as Mitchell-Hamline College of Law, Lundquist adds. William Mitchell is very well respected for their clinical program, in that they teach not just what the law is, but how to effectively practice law. The three attorneys are staying very busy, they all agree. One of the reasons is that their law office has had as many as four, and even five, attorneys at some times in the past. But now it is just the three of them. Plus, they have taken in the clients of the former Randy Bichler office in Wells and Bill Barke office in Blue Earth. And, Winnebago attorney Doug Johansen retired recently. It has put some extra pressure on us, for sure, Lundquist says. We have discussed ultimately getting a fourth attorney into our office again, but at the moment we are able to serve the community with the three of us. There is another reason they can handle the amount of work they do. We also benefit from having an excellent staff here, Frundt says. They are all great people, effective, friendly, knowledgeable and efficient. It allows us to concentrate on service to our client base. The fact that all three men are from small town, rural Minnesota helps them understand what people in smaller communities need an attorney to do for them. We cant really specialize in one area, Lundquist says. We all three have to do general law practice in a wide variety of areas. The three men say they balance their busy work schedules with their family time. Frundt and his wife, Angie, have three boys who are in middle and high school; Lundquist and his wife, Jenny, have four children who are 12, 10, four and one; while Gustafson and his wife, Mary, have two children with one more on the way. So after 20 years with the name of Frundt & Johnson, and a rich history of serving the communities in Faribault County, Frundt, Lundquist and Gustafson say they are excited about continuing that heritage. I think we will be around here for a long time, Lundquist says. And we are all three happy to be a part of the community. With a brand new school year just around the corner, there will be four new teachers coming to Blue Earth Area Schools this fall. Jacob Brower At Blue Earth Area Schools, Jacob Brower was hired as a new fifth grade teacher. Prior to coming to BEA, Brower taught special education for two years at Southern Plains Educational Cooperative. A South Dakota native, Brower is a 2015 graduate of Northern State University, in Aberdeen, South Dakota, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in education. He is the husband of Blue Earth Area Middle School English teacher, Hannah Brower. The couple has two dogs and two cats. Beraiah Peterson Like Brower, Beraiah Peterson will also be teaching fifth grade students at Blue Earth Area Schools this fall. This past May, she graduated from Winona State University. Peterson gained valuable experience as a student teacher at Trimont Elementary School, located in Martin County. She received additional experience helping out at Winona Area Schools, as well. Originally from Trimont, Peterson has three sisters and one brother. Heather Hernandez Heather Hernandez, a Blue Earth native and graduate of BEA High School, will be teaching sixth grade language arts. Hernandez graduated from Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa, in 2007. There, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education. In 2011, Hernandez completed her associate of arts degree in early childhood education at Rasmussen College, in Mankato. Last year, Hernandez had the opportunity to serve as a long-term third grade substitute teacher for her hometown school district. Along with Adam, her husband of 11 years, the couple has two children. Tiffany, who is 11 years old, is entering the sixth grade, while Conrad is entering kindergarten this fall. Mikayla Gormley Meanwhile, Mikayla Gormley, a Wells native, will be handling third grade teaching duties at Blue Earth Elementary School. In 2017, Gormley graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato, with a degree in elementary education and a certificate in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Prior to coming to Blue Earth Area Schools, Gormley served as a student teacher at Franklin Elementary, in Mankato. She also had experience as a long-term substitute teacher at Franklin, as well as United South Central. She is the middle child of three sisters, Brianna and Myah, and is the daughter of Mike and Kim Gormley.United South Central is welcoming three new teachers to their district. Those teachers include Mrs. Bridgette Holl, Mr. Bjorn Hagen, and Mrs. Megan Levine. Bridgette Holl Mrs. Holl will be teaching Spanish at USC. She had a speech communication degree in secondary education from University of Minnesota Morris, a educational technology and media generalist degree from St. Cloud State University, and a traffic safety and drivers education degree from SCSC. She has a multitude of teaching experience from multiple schools including Norman G. West School in Halstad, Minnewaska Area Schools in Bleuwood, Ada Public Schools in Ada, and Pelican Rapids Public Schools in Pelican Rapids, where she recently moved from. She joins her husband CJ Holl in Wells as he takes on the position of city administrator for Wells. The Holls have two girls Lily, who will be joining USC as a ninth grader, and Daisy, who will be a USC sixth grader. Bjorn Hagen Mr. Hagen will be helping USC fill its halls and auditoriums with music as the new 5-12 band director, as well as the kindergarten music teacher. He received his bachelor of music degree in instrumental music for music education from Concordia College in Moorehead. He has recently been student teaching in Sheyenne High School for ninth through 12th graders. Megan Levine Mrs. Levine is joining USC as the new high school art teacher. She is actually a former USC?graduate and is returning to the school district she loves. Levine received her degree from Winona State. Her teaching experience shows us she taught elementary art in Owatonna for one year and continued her passion for elementary art in Mankato for two more years. She and her husband live right outside of Easton. They are expecting their first child at the end of September. USC is also receiving a new nurse on their staff for the student population. Taryn Eilertson earned her bachelor of science in nursing degree from South Dakota State in Brookings. She first worked in the critical care unit at St. Anthonys Hospital in Carrol, Iowa, then moved back to the area and worked at United Hospital District in Blue Earth for the past five years. She and her husband, Mike, have a four-year-old daughter, Lindyn, and a two-year-old son named Cullen. Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP has closed its third middle-market credit fund at about $3 billion. Led by Doug Goodwillie and Ken Leonard, Managing Partners, Kayne Senior Credit Fund III exceeded its fundraising target, with support from with existing investors and new domestic and international clients. KSCF III will focus on providing secured loans to middle-market businesses in North America. Founded in 1984, Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors is an alternative investment management firm focused on niche investing in upstream oil and gas companies, energy and infrastructure, specialized real estate, growth equity and both private credit and diversified liquid credit. The firm manages $29 billion in assets (as of 7/31/2018) for institutional investors, family offices, high net worth and retail clients and employs over 300 professionals in eight offices across the U.S. FinSMEs 26/08/2018 Kenya's president will meet with President Donald Trump on Monday as East Africa's commercial hub emerges from months of electoral turmoil. President Uhuru Kenyatta is the second African leader to meet with Trump at the White House. Nigeria's president visited earlier this year. Kenyatta's office says he and Trump will focus on trade and regional security. Kenya is the third highest recipient of US security aid in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the Security Assistance Monitor. Both Kenya and the US have troops in Somalia, and the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group has crossed the border to carry out dozens of attacks inside Kenya, calling it retribution for sending troops. Nearly 100 Kenyan police officers have been killed since May 2017 in bombings and ambushes. The Kenyan president during his Washington visit also is meeting with US business leaders to promote investment. The meeting with Trump will help Kenyatta's image after a crisis in which the Supreme Court overturned the August presidential election, citing irregularities, and the opposition boycotted the fresh vote, said political commentator John Githongo. Kenyatta then hosts British Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday. Kenya's foreign minister has said this is May's first visit to Africa since taking office in July 2016. Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma has said May's choice of Kenya shows the country's importance among the community of nations. Kenyatta and May are expected to discuss strengthening existing security agreements, Kenyan officials have said. Search Keywords: Short link: Prolific American playwright Neil Simon has died at age 91. According to Bill Evans, Simon's longtime friend and the Shubert Organization director of media relations, the playwright died early Sunday of complications from pneumonia at New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan. A statement from his representatives provided to Fox News confirms that his wife, Elaine Joyce Simon, and two daughters, Ellen and Nancy, were by his side when he died. Regarded as the first playwright to have a Broadway theater named after him, Simons work dates back to Come Blow Your Horn in 1961 followed closely in 1963 with the success of his play Barefoot in the Park. Since then, hes won Tony Awards for shows The Odd Couple, Biloxi Blues and Lost in Yonkers. In total, Simon wrote more than 30 plays and earned 17 Tony nominations with three wins. He also won a Tony for special achievement as well as a Pulitzer and the Mark Twain prize for humor. Of note is the fact that he had one Broadway season in 1966 in which four of his plays were running simultaneously: "Barefoot in the Park"; "The Odd Couple"; "Sweet Charity"; and "The Star-Spangled Girl." At the time of his death, he was married to Joyce, an actress who he wed in 1999. She was his fourth wife after Joan Baim, Marsha Mason and Diane Lander. Simon was born Marvin Neil Simon in New York and was raised in the Bronx and Washington Heights. He was a Depression-era child, his father, Irving, a garment-industry salesman. He was raised mostly by his strong-willed mother, Mamie, and mentored by his older brother, Danny, who nicknamed his younger sibling, Doc. Simon attended New York University and the University of Colorado. After serving in the military in 1945-46, he began writing with his brother for radio in 1948 and then, for television, a period in their lives chronicled in Simon's 1993 play, "Laughter on the 23rd Floor." The brothers wrote for such classic 1950s television series as "Your Show of Shows," 90 minutes of live, original comedy starring Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca, and later for "The Phil Silvers Show," in which the popular comedian portrayed the conniving Army Sgt. Ernie Bilko. In the second half of the 20th century, Simon was the American theater's most successful and prolific playwrights, often chronicling middle class issues and fears. The Associated Press contributed to this report. U.S. Sen. John McCains death from glioblastoma on Saturday at age 81 brought new attention to a disease that affects nearly 700,000 Americans. Officials at the National Brain Tumor Society, based in Newton, Mass., said in a written statement that they were "profoundly saddened" by McCain's death, and called for a nationwide effort to combat the disease. Glioblastoma has been described as an aggressive form of brain cancer that usually occurs in adults. McCain, an Arizona Republican who served in the Senate for more than 30 years, was diagnosed with the disease in July 2017 and succumbed to it 13 months later. The same type of cancer had previously taken the lives of Beau Biden, son of former Vice President Joe Biden, in 2015, and U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., in 2009. More than 12,000 new cases of the disease are diagnosed each year in the U.S., according to the American Brain Tumor Association. Glioblastoma is one of the most complex, drug-resistant, and adaptive cancers there is, said David Arons, CEO of the National Brain Tumor Society. According to the group, glioblastoma can afflict men, women and children "of any race, socioeconomic background or party affiliation." The statement concludes with a call to action to find more effective treatments and ultimately a cure. As Senator McCain often implored during his campaign for president, we as a country are stronger when we dedicate ourselves to causes greater than [our] own self-interest. Let this be the moment in our history that we decide to collectively take on glioblastoma and brain tumors with the same earnest [resolve] with which we dedicate to our other national ills. Fox News' Paulina Dedaj contributed to this story. A Minnesota digital marketing company is making going to work less ruff for employees with new pets. Nina Hale in Minneapolis is offering a fur-ternity leave policy that allows employees to work from home for one week when they get a new dog or cat, WTVR reports. Two workers inspired the new policy after asking if they could stay home and work so they could be with their new pets, Inc. reports. We had other employees that were talking about getting a pet, so we just thought, why not make it an official policy? Robinson told the business magazine. If it's important to the employee, it's important to us. Nontraditional benefits like a pet leave policy are especially appealing at Nina Hale, which has a young workforce, according to Inc., which placed the firm on its Best Workplaces list in 2017. Account manager Conner McCarthy was able to work from home after adopting a 5-month-old Goldendoodle. When [Bentley] first came home, he was definitely a lot more nervous about the new environment, which is where the work from home really came in and helped us out, he told WCCO-TV. Nina Hale has about 80 employees. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! From his days as a young and heroic Navy fighter pilot, to more than five years as a brutally tortured prisoner of war, and through 36 years as a member of the U.S. House and Senate, Sen. John McCain devoted his life to protecting the safety and security of America. McCain, who died Saturday at age 81, was Americas national security senator a true expert who understood the challenges our nation faces and the ways to meet those challenges with a strong, well-funded military that would stand firm to defend our national interest. And few Americans had as keen a sense as McCain for making many important national security predictions that history shows were correct. I remember the all-too-short times I was able to work with McCain and his amazing team when it came to foreign policy and defense issues. He immersed himself in the details not relying on his staff to tell him what to say and do. His expertise was immense and he would have made a great secretary of defense or secretary of state had he been given one of those jobs over the course of his long career. Few Americans had as keen a sense as McCain for making many important national security predictions that history shows were correct. In the times I got to personally interact with the senator, I can only describe him as gracious with little or no ego, as someone who always went around the room and never forgot your name, and always tried to make a personal connection with you. In 2015, when I interviewed him for Real Clear Defense on national security issues, he was adamant that the Obama administration was completely underestimating the threat posed by Russia. As my team was setting up our equipment to record, I chatted with the senator about Moscows invasion of Ukraine, and I asked him if he thought Russia was a declining power just using what little power it had left to grab what it could. He could tell I doubted how much of a long-term threat Russia was. Before I could even finish my sentence, he stopped me, and his face got beet red and I knew I was in trouble. Youre wrong Harry, I am sorry, but you are dead wrong. Russia is a threat because it is declining, because Putins economy is a train wreck, McCain told me. When the bear feels wounded, she is dangerous. And if we dont stand tall against Russia now, they will keep pushing, and this will only get worse. We arent learning from history, and I fear where this ends up. Putins not done. Even as the senator was thrashing me, he did it in the only way he could, never raising his voice, but you could feel the power in his words, the deep concern he had for Americas security, and his deep love of our country. You could disagree with him, but it was hard to ever make a counterpoint, as his intensity on issues of life and death when it came to geopolitics was intimidating to say the least and I certainly backed down. And look how right McCain was. Today, Russia is clearly one of Americas top geopolitical enemies, not only trying to hack our elections and damage our democracy, but still causing trouble in Ukraine, Syria and beyond. One can only wonder if we had listened to McCain a little more, of if he had been elected president when he ran against Barack Obama in 2008, how different the world would be today. But that wasnt the only time I got to get up close and personal with a John McCain foreign policy prediction. When I was part of the editorial team at the magazine The Diplomat, we had the honor of publishing his remarks on the importance on American foreign policy toward Asia. McCain was an early supporter of making this part of the world a major focus of our national security strategy. He was very concerned about Chinas military buildup in the South China Sea, and correctly predicted the dangers ahead. He said to me back in 2015 that it could be the flashpoint of our time. McCain also was surely proven correct in his support for the surge to safeguard Americas commitment to supporting Iraqs freedom. While it was clearly an unpopular move in an unpopular war, I would argue that the judgment of history will show McCain was correct. Surely, the senator had doubts, as he later revealed when he said Americas invasion of Iraq was a mistake. However, McCain correctly understood that to leave Iraq as an open wound and terrorist paradise would be an even bigger mistake something to be avoided at all costs. I think in his heart he understood that and it guided his policy recommendations. And again, McCain was proven correct. Thanks to our increased military presence and the Sunni Awakening, Iraqs future seemed to look a little brighter. And, as you can imagine, McCain was at the forefront, arguing against the Obama administration that a hasty withdrawal would be a mistake. Perhaps if America had stayed the course in Iraq ISIS might never had been born. Clearly McCain should be recognized for far more than his sage advice on foreign policy and defense issues. But for anyone who devotes his life to studying the issues of conflict and chaos, as I do, McCain was a giant. He stood for American exceptionalism and the idea that a strong America, not afraid to take on any challenge abroad, was a safe America. Godspeed, John McCain. You served America well and with honor. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Sen. John McCain died at age 81 Saturday from what we doctors generally agree is the most devastating and deadly of all cancers, a brain tumor known as Glioblastoma Multiforme Grade 4 (GBM). McCain, a conservative Republican from Arizona, died of the same disease that took the life of the man known as the Lion of the Senate, Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, in 2009. And in a remarkable coincidence, both senators died on the same date Aug. 25 nine years apart to the day. Cancer is a nonpartisan killer. If theres any issue that should be able to unite Democrats and Republicans, it should be supporting a sharp escalation in federal funding for expanded research to find out more about what causes this terrible disease and how to better prevent it and treat it. If theres any issue that should be able to unite Democrats and Republicans, it should be supporting a sharp escalation in federal funding for expanded research to find out more about what causes this terrible disease and how to better prevent it and treat it. I can think of no greater tribute our nation could give to Senators McCain and Kennedy than launching a major cancer research initiative and naming it after these two men. Whenever someone famous dies of a particular disease, millions of people read about it and wonder: could this same disease strike me or one of my loved ones? This questioning will surely happen again. I have never met a patient with a bad headache, visual change or vertigo who didnt think he or she might have a brain tumor. Could this be a brain tumor? Its a question I hear in my office at least once a week, and Im not a neurologist. Luckily, in the vast majority of cases, the problem is really a migraine or a tension or sinus headache or an infection in the inner ear something that can be treated. To give you an idea of the probabilities, more than 38 million people in the U.S. suffer from migraines. While GBM accounts for 52 percent of all primary brain tumors, there are still only 14,000 cases per year in America. Of course, these statistics dont take into account how brain tumors destroy lives. I think what really scares people is the idea that they could be walking along fine one day with little or no symptoms, and be given a death sentence the next. GBM Grade 4, the worst kind the kind McCain and Kennedy suffered from has an average survival span of only 14 to 18 months, despite surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Symptoms of GBM depend on the location and size of the tumor, and vary from one patient to the next. Common symptoms, as the tumor progresses, include headache, nausea and vomiting, visual changes, confusion, memory loss, personality changes, balance problems and dizziness. It is common to completely remove the primary tumor only to see it recur a few months later. Gliomas (including GBM) are infiltrative tumors, meaning that they can never have truly clear margins after surgical removal. Glial cells are the support cells of the nervous system, and they are everywhere, spreading their tentacles deep into brain tissue. When glial cells become malignant, it is almost impossible to get rid of the entire malignancy. The awful symptoms, and the poor prognosis despite treatment and the stoicism and moral strength and courage in the face of these harsh realities are what characterized McCains response to his brain tumor. The senator showed the same kind of courage he displayed in North Vietnam while being tortured as a prisoner of war. There may be some hope on the horizon for this dismal disease. Though early clinical trials on immunotherapy and vaccines targeting certain proteins were promising, later stage trials have not confirmed these results. Other therapies, including electrical treatments, have shown limited success. I expect that in the future, a more effective approach will involve extensive gene tumor mapping combined with a personalized immunological engineering (where your immune cells are removed and bio-engineered to fight the tumor) or where the harmful mutations in the tumor are edited out. Also promising are the latest brain imaging techniques that go beyond simple MRIs to sense chemical activity or map the biologic signature of the tumor cells as they extend further into the brain. Of course, finding a tumor is not the same thing as curing it, even though it is a step in the right direction. In the meantime, the world of medicine had too little to offer a heroic warrior like John McCain, beyond our prayers and acknowledgment that he was being realistic. He is in Gods hands now, as he always was. Medical science may one day catch up with GBM Grade 4, but it hasnt yet. Just as McCain supported a surge of U.S. troops to fight in Iraq, its time now for a surge of federal funding for increased cancer research. Iranian Defence Minister Amir Hatami arrived in Syria on Sunday for meetings with President Bashar al-Assad and senior defence and military officials as part of a two-day visit, according to the Tasnim news agency. Iranian forces have backed Assad in the country's civil war. "Not only the people of the region, but the people of the world are indebted to the battles that have taken place against terrorists in Syria," Hatami told Assad in a meeting, according to Tasnim. Hatami also told Assad that he was hopeful that all of Syria would soon be "liberated" and displaced Syrians could return home. "Relations between the two countries are strong and stable," Assad said in the meeting, according to Tasnim. Hatami also met with Syrian Defence Minister Ali Abdullah Ayoub and discussed the latest situation with "takfiri groups", he said at a news conference in Damascus, according to the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA). Iranian officials usually refer to Sunni Muslim extremist groups as "takfiris." Iran can help Syria in expanding its military arsenal, Hatami said at the conference. "The Islamic Republic has high capabilities in the area of defence and can help Syria in expanding their military equipment," he said, according to ISNA. US National Security Adviser John Bolton said last week that Iran should remove its forces from Syria. Senior Iranian officials have said their military presence in Syria is at the invitation of the Assad government and they have no immediate plans to withdraw. Hatami also said Iran can help with the reconstruction of Syria. "We hope to have a productive role in the reconstruction of Syria," Hatami said on arrival in Syria, according to Fars News. More than 1,000 Iranians, including senior members of the elite Revolutionary Guards, have been killed in Syria since 2012. The Guards initially kept quiet about their role in the Syria conflict. But in recent years, as casualties have mounted, they have been more outspoken about their engagement, framing it as an existential struggle against the Sunni Muslim fighters of Islamic State group who see Shi'ites - the majority of Iran's population - as apostates. Search Keywords: Short link: NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Iranian Christians are in dire straits in the Islamic Republic because of a new wave of regime repression that has largely not registered in the media due to the countrys economic free fall and popular uprising by a people fed up with the tyrannical nature of the regime. The mullahs have launched a cut-throat campaign to silence their opponents, and on top of their list are Irans persecuted Christians an ancient people of the land the regime stigmatizes as a gateway to the West. On August 9, an organization Article 18 that promotes religious freedom in Iran, reported that a court in Boushehr had sentenced a couple of Christian converts and ten other Iranians to one year in prison each for propagating against the Islamic Republic in favor of Christianity. The sentence came just weeks after Irans President Hassan Rouhani often portrayed in the West as a reform-minded moderate had vowed that Christians have the same rights as others do. Christianity, of course, is not alien to Iran where it arrived in Persia not long after the death of Christ. There are believed to be an estimated 350,000 Christians in Iran, with a growing trend toward converting to Christianity. Irans Statistical Center reports 117,700 Christians in a country of just over 82 million people. The real number of Iranian Christians probably exceeds 350,000 because of the anti-Christian conditions they face in the country. Turning inward not to expose oneself to the dangers of practicing Christianity has become a survival strategy in Iran. The law heavily discriminates against non-Muslims, who have been barred from all influential positions in central state organs since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Blasphemy and apostasy remain capital offences. The persecution of Irans Christians is well-documented and is not limited to Evangelicals. Last year, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), arrested two Christians a mother and her son as part of a vicious crackdown on Catholicism in the countrys West Azerbaijan Province. The U.S. administration of President Donald Trump designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization in October 2017. The 125,000-member-strong IRGC has a long record of brutality targeting Christians and democracy movements opposed to the mullah regime. Europe, so far, has declined to sanction the IRGC for their blatant human rights violations. The evidence is hard to ignore. Iranian authorities regularly arrest worshippers, raid house churches, and confiscate Bibles, Christian CDs and other religious literature, while regime-controlled media outlets spread anti-Christian propaganda. A 2018 report by the Commission for International Religious Freedom observed that, In the past year, religious freedom in Iran continued to deteriorate for both recognized and unrecognized religious groups, with the government targeting Bahais and Christian converts in particular. Four evangelical Christians were arrested in May 2017 and sentenced each to 10 years in prison for house church activities and evangelism. Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani stood trial in July along three co-defendants because of their house church activities. They were all sentenced to 10 years in prison. It is worth recalling that Nadarkhani was previously sentenced in 2010 to death for his conversion to Christianity. After a global pressure campaign ensued, Irans regime released him from prison, after a three-year incarceration. Over 70,000 people signed a petition urging Irans judiciary to release Nadarkhani. In June 2017, an Iranian court sentenced Pentecostal Assyrian Church Pastor Victor Bet Tamraz and three other members of his community to 10 or 15 years each in prison because of their faith. Iran has a choice to make. As a signatory of international human rights declarations, the Islamic Republic must adhere to basic humanitarian law including freedom of religion and belief or is rightly castigated as a pariah in the family of nations. The U.S. imposed economic sanctions on Irans precious metal trade, automobile sector and use of U.S. currency in August. A powerful second round of U.S. economic penalties will hit Irans oil and financial sectors in November. To isolate Irans clerical leaders and hold those accountable for grave human rights violations the EU and U.S. should impose a potent round of human rights sanctions on regime officials persecuting Iranian Christians. The Islamic Republic remains highly vulnerable when a spotlight is shined on their widespread repression of religious freedom. If past is prologue, new human rights sanctions and global pressure can save the lives of persecuted Iranian Christians. Benjamin Weinthal is a fellow for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Follow Benjamin on Twitter @BenWeinthal. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! The liberal news media have a new favorite word to use when discussing President Trump: impeachment. For example, MSNBC and CNN reporters, anchors and guests said impeach, impeachment or some other form of the word on the cable news channels an incredible 222 times between 6 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. And of course, they talked about possible impeachment other days as well, and newspapers and websites were also filled with impeachment speculation. Most Democrats in Congress and their leaders are shying away from talking about impeachment before the November midterm elections but thats not stopping the anti-Trump media. In the discussions about kicking the duly elected president of the United States out of office, speakers gave their fond recollections of the effort to impeach President Nixon, which resulted in his resignation on Aug. 9, 1974. Journalists and the people they interviewed fondly recalled the Nixon drama, talked about the how you cant spell election without an I, and warned the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh will face fierce opposition from Democrats. Journalists were so desperate for the narrative that they completely ignored correcting a false statement they had promoted for nearly a half-hour across the three broadcast networks. ABC, CBS and NBC first reported that Trump knew in advance of 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Russians. Then when former Trump attorney Michael Cohens lawyer, Lanny Davis, corrected the record the media ignored it for an entire day. Facts apparently dont matter. MSNBC did a number on accuracy and ran an incorrect graphic of how impeachment works two days in a row. Perhaps it was just wishful thinking as the left-wing network hoped that 60 senators could convict the president instead of the required 67. Slate flashed back to the impeachment drama it enjoyed (hint: not the one involving President Clinton.) Most of the articles of impeachment against Nixon could easily apply to Trump, it reported. Journalists couldnt control themselves. NBCs Today co-host Savannah Guthrie was enthralled talking to Meet The Press host Chuck Todd about possible impeachment. So is this gonna, in some way, be like the only issue in the midterms going forward? Guthrie asked. I think its possible, Todd said. Oddly, CNNs Ana Cabrera and sometime-conservative host S.E. Cupp accused the White House of the politics of fear over that same possibility of impeachment. Cupp stressed that saying what her network is saying is stoking these fears that the Democrats will impeach. She claimed its a voter turnout strategy. Apparently, she never watches her own network. But who can blame her? Theres one fly in the ointment. Democrats are afraid that rational Americans dont want to impeach a president for something he might have done that they dont care about and happened before he ever took office. The party fears such impeachment talk might help the GOP. The issue Democrats want to flee is the top agenda item of liberal billionaire Tom Steyer. And at least part of his wish came true the part hes paying $120 million to get turning the election into a referendum on impeaching the president. Steyer, whose record of picking winning candidates in elections is atrocious, wants to impeach President Trump and replace him. Possibly with himself. Hes already built a list of 5.5 million impeachment fans and the former hedge fund executive is seriously looking into running for president, according to CNBC. So the news media arent just buying into a bogus exercise in impeachment, they are genuinely doing the work of a likely Democratic candidate. Ah, journalism. U.S. Sen. John McCain, a war hero who survived five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, served three decades in Congress and went on to become the Republican Partys nominee for president in 2008, died Saturday. He was 81 years old. In his last hours, the Arizona Republican turned down further medical treatment, his family announced in a statement. McCain was diagnosed with brain cancer in July 2017. Doctors discovered the tumor during a medical procedure to remove a blood clot from above his left eye. He remained upbeat after the diagnosis, flying back to Washington days after surgery with a large scar visible above his eye to partake in the Senates health care debate. I greatly appreciate the outpouring of support - unfortunately for my sparring partners in Congress, I'll be back soon, so stand-by! McCain tweeted on July 20 after his diagnosis. On Friday, his family issued a statement saying,Last summer, Senator John McCain shared with Americans the news our family already knew: he had been diagnosed with an aggressive glioblastoma, and the prognosis was serious. In the year since, John has surpassed expectations for his survival. But the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict." They added, "With his usual strength of will, he has now chosen to discontinue medical treatment." McCain's wife, Cindy, tweeted that her "heart is broken" following her husband's death. "I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years," she said. "He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the the place he loved best." The senator's daughter, Meghan, posted a heartfelt note online, in which she said the "task of [her] lifetime is to live up to [McCain's] example, his expectations, and his love." "My father is gone, and I miss him as only an adoring daughter can," she wrote. "He was a great fire who burned bright, and we lives in his light and warmth for so very long. We know that his flame lives on, in each of us. The days and years to come will not be the same without my dad but they will be good days, filled with life and love, because of the example he lived for us." McCain was born in 1936 in the Panama Canal Zone, where his father was stationed in the Navy. After graduating from the Naval Academy in 1958, McCain went to Vietnam. In 1967, his A4 Skyhawk was hit by a surface-to-air missile over Hanoi. McCain was captured by the North Vietnamese, who tortured and beat him for more than five years. He was in solitary confinement for several of those years. My room was fairly decent-sized - Id say about 10 by 10, McCain would later write. The door was solid. There were no windows. The only ventilation came from two small holes at the top in the ceiling, about 6 inches by 4 inches. The roof was tin, and it got hot as hell in there. His captors offered him early release after learning his father was a notable naval officer. But McCain refused to leave before the other prisoners. He was released in 1973. McCains injuries from his imprisonment were visible the rest of his life, most noticeably the restricted movement of his arms. McCain got a taste of politics in 1976, when he served as the Navys liaison to the Senate. In 1982, McCain was elected to the House of Representatives. Only a few years later, in 1986, he won the race to replace Arizonas conservative Sen. Barry Goldwater. He was implicated in what became known as the Keating Five Scandal in 1989, accused with several other lawmakers of helping the owner of the Lincoln Savings and Loan, who had donated to his campaign. McCain ran twice for president. In 2000, he ran for the Republican nomination for president, winning New Hampshires primary but losing the nomination to George W. Bush. In 2008, he defeated a host of Republican candidates to win the GOP nomination for president. He was responsible for introducing then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to a national audience by tapping her as his running mate. The McCain-Palin ticket went on to lose the general election to Barack Obama, who became the countrys first black president. For years, McCain declined to call his choice of Palin a mistake. But in his upcoming book, The Restless Wave, McCain reportedly writes that he regrets not choosing his friend, then-U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., as his running mate, calling it another mistake that I made. Lieberman, the 2000 Democratic nominee for vice president, was an independent who caucused with Democrats. After the 2008 loss, McCain returned to the Senate, embracing his role as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. During his last years in politics, he had a complicated relationship with President Trump, who infamously attacked McCain during the GOP primary. In May, the McCain family was offended when it was reported that Trump aide Kelly Sadler dismissed McCain's opposition to the presidents choice for CIA director by quipping during a private meeting, "It doesn't matter, he's dying anyway." According to the New York Times, McCain has made clear to the White House he doesnt want Trump to attend his funeral, and would instead prefer Vice President Mike Pence at a service. McCain is survived by his wife Cindy, seven children and five grandchildren. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who died Saturday after a battle with aggressive brain cancer, served more than 30 years in the U.S. Senate and was an ardent supporter of the armed forces. The senator, who was tortured while he spent nearly five and a half years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, was larger than life, Tom Callender, a Navy affairs analyst at the Heritage Foundation, a think-tank based in Washington D.C., told Fox News. "There will be a void for a long time. Tom Callender While there will be others [like him], there will be a void for a long time, Callender said. "Someone will rise, but it will not be the same. Its tough to fill those shoes. Here's a look back at McCain's military career. McCains military roots McCain was born Aug. 29, 1936, at a military air base in the Panama Canal Zone, which, according to the History Channel, was under American control at the time. McCain, the son of a four-star Navy admiral, spent the majority of his childhood on naval bases along with his older sister Sandy and younger brother Joe. After graduating in 1954 from an Episcopal boarding school in Virginia, McCain attended the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1958. McCains interest in the military came naturally: His father, John S. McCain Jr., was a decorated Navy admiral, as was Sen. McCains paternal grandfather, John S. McCain Sr. His grandfather and father, who both served during World War II, retired with a four-star rank, Callender said. The USS John S. McCain was named after both his grandfather and father. In August 2017, the ship was involved in a collision near Singapore, killing 10 sailors. [McCain] came from a naval aristocracy, Dr. John Sherwood, a naval historian at the Naval History and Heritage Command, told Fox News. McCains father, who was a submariner during World War II, also served in the Vietnam War. At that time, John S. McCain Jr. was in charge of all U.S. military forces in the Pacific Ocean, Callender said, even leading bombing missions on Hanoi while his son was a prisoner of war. There was always a chance a bomb could land where his son was, Callender said. But he had to do his job. Being in command of all U.S. forces in the Pacific and the stress of maybe his son being killed it took a lot of balance. But he did so with honor, Sherwood added. A 'reckless, adventurous' youth to a 'changed man' McCain was a rule breaker at the [Naval] Academy, Callender said, adding that McCain graduated with a low-class rank. After graduating from flight school in 1960, McCain flew with the VA-65 squadron on the aircraft carriers USS Intrepid and USS Enterprise. McCain, who at this point in his life was still a bit reckless, Callender said, had three non-combat-related crashes during this time once flying too low over a town in southern Spain, colliding with power lines. However, he escaped the accident relatively unscathed. In another close call, McCain crashed his plane into Corpus Christi Bay. A notable aspect of his naval aviation career was luck, Sherwood said. If he had been any other pilot, [the Navy] mightve not given him another chance, Callender said. More than anything, Sherwood said, it was McCains time in the Naval Academy that helped him prepare to be a POW, though he didnt know it at the time. Sherwood added the academy was a rough place where students were expected to balance the rigorous academic and physical programs in addition to socializing and making a name for themselves among their fellow shipmen. McCains hasty demeanor changed after he spent five and a half years as a POW during the Vietnam War, Callender said. He was a changed man," he added. Combat duty and time as a prisoner of war In the 1960s, McCain volunteered for combat duty during the Vietnam War, during which time he flew carrier-based attack planes. After surviving a massive fire onboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal that killed 134 sailors, McCain transferred to VA 163. While conducting a bombing run on Hanoi later that same year, his plane was shot down. McCain landed in a nearby lake, breaking both of his arms and one of his legs in the crash. He nearly drowned before Northern Vietnamese soldiers captured him, Callender said. Before he was shot down, he received a warning that a missile had been shot against him. He ignored the warning because he thought he could outmaneuver the missile, Sherwood said. Moments after being captured, one of the soldiers slammed a rifle butt down on my shoulder, and smashed it pretty badly. Another stuck a bayonet in my foot. The mob was really getting uptight, McCain later recalled in an essay. McCain was moved to Hoa Lo prison, more commonly known at the time as Hanoi Hilton. Eventually, McCains North Vietnamese captors discovered he was the son of a well-known admiral and offered to let him go. But McCain refused. He knew it would be powerful propaganda to show that [the Northern Vietnamese] were merciful, Callender said, adding that McCain refused to break Article III of the Military Code of Conduct to "accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy." Captured American soldiers are directed to give the enemy only their name, rank and serial number. McCain told his captors he would accept freedom only if the other POWs many of whom had been there long before him were released as well, Callender said. But his request was denied. From there, McCain was severely tortured, did not receive proper medical treatment for his injuries and was forced into two years of solitary confinement, Callender said. That was common back then they did not get him good medical treatment for a long time, Callender said, adding that McCain was not fed well and lived in deplorable conditions during his time as a POW. He was by far in the worst condition out of everyone who arrived there, Sherwood added. Its a testament to his heroism. In March 1973, after years of torture, McCain and other POWs were released. He later received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross. It changed him, Callender said. That experience taught him everyone has a breaking point. Even in the harsh conditions, McCain remained even-keeled through the whole experience, even boosting the morale of his fellow POWs, Sherwood said. "It changed him." Tom Callender, on McCain's time as a POW As a historian, I always found it interesting that he didn't really talk about it [his time as a POW] unless asked, Sherwood said, suggesting McCains mentality was different than that of many other former POWs hes studied. He saw it as part of his service to the country, and didnt want to dwell on past service but what he could do today, here and now. Return to duty Aside from the mental impact, McCains time as a POW left him physically changed as well, meaning he could have been medically discharged from the Navy. But he wanted to fly again. After months of intensive physical therapy, McCain was selected as commanding officer at Cecil Field in Jacksonville, Fla. There, McCain led attack squadron VA 174 and was tasked with training new pilots to fly an A7 aircraft, a heavier attack aircraft than the ones McCain flew during the Vietnam War. When McCain first arrived, the squadron was known for its poor safety record, among other things. But McCain wanted to change its reputation and he did, Callender said. He reassigned people, took parts from broken aircraft to fix others it was his forceful personality and sheer will that dragged his command along. It ended up being a drastic improvement. Under McCains command, the squadron won the Aviation Safety Award for having the most number of flight hours without an accident, Callender said. Callender said McCains leadership during this time proved his ability to get people to do things. A new chapter In 1976, McCain started his next chapter," Callender said. That year, he was appointed to be the Navys liaison to the U.S. Senate, a position he served in until 1981. He saw how he could help the Navy from that angle, Callender said, adding that McCain was a huge proponent of a strong military from the moment he stepped into the role. Later, McCain was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and then the U.S. Senate. During this time in his career, McCain earned the nickname "Maverick" for his willingness to disagree with his party on critical issues. (For instance, McCain famously disagreed with President Ronald Reagans decision to deploy more troops to Lebanon in 1983.) McCain opposed Reagans decision because he felt that the troops wouldnt have enough tools and support to win much like in Vietnam, Callender said. [He was] always breaking the rules and pushing boundaries for what he felt was important." National Defense Authorization Act In 2017, McCain, who served as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was a key player behind the National Defense Authorization Act. President Trump signed the Act on Dec. 12, 2017. It was one of McCains last efforts to rebuild the military, thus making the legislation so poignant, Callender said. As we move forward with consideration of the NDAA, I stand ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass this important legislation and give our military the resources they need and deserve. We ask a lot of our men and women in uniform, and they never let us down. We must not let them down. Their service represents the best of our country, and this Congress should always honor their sacrifice, McCain said on the Senate floor in September 2017. One of the 'great naval figures of the 20th century' McCain had tough legacies to live up to, Callender said, citing the senator's father and grandfather. But he always felt he could do more good on the politics side." Overall, Callender thinks McCain did more in Congress for the military than he ever couldve done by staying in the Navy. His legacy will be felt much more than his grandfathers or fathers as time goes on, Callender said. McCain is "one of the great naval figures of the 20th century and someone who the Navy looks up to today as a symbol of heroism and a symbol of the sailor triumphing over adversity, Sherwood added. In the end, McCain may not have had the impact hes had if it had not been for his experiences," Callender said. "He has never been what people want to hear. But whether you agreed with him or not, he was always fighting for what he believed and what he was passionate about." John McCain was a U.S. senator for more than three decades. Before that, he was a congressman. And during his tenure in the Senate, he became the Republican nominee for president. McCain died Saturday at age 81 after suffering from glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor. Before McCain was a politican, he served in the U.S. Navy in the Vietnam War. He was a prisoner of war for more than five years and suffered lasting injuries, including to his arms and right leg. Here's a look at some things McCain accomplished throughout his lengthy political career. Liaison to the Senate late 1970s While McCain's job as a liaison to the Senate was supposedly more of a "glorified valet," according to the Los Angeles Times, the Navy veteran turned the position into what the newspaper called "an apprenticeship" that would help launch his political career. McCain in the House 1982 The Arizonan won his first campaign in November 1982 when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. McCain had moved to Arizona in 1982. He was re-elected to the House in 1984. Striking gold in the Senate 1986 McCain replaced longtime Republican Sen. Barry Goldwater in the Senate in a 1986 election. He would continuously be re-elected to the Senate until his death. Keating Five scandal 1989 The Keating Five scandal refers to a group of senators who were accused of meeting with federal banking regulators on behalf of financier Charles Keating Jr. Aside from McCain, the Keating Five included: Sens. Alan Cranston, D-Calif., Dennis DeConcini, D-Ariz., John Glenn, D-Ohio, and Donald Riegle, D-Mich. The five senators allegedly attempted to pressure federal regulators on behalf of Keating who was a massive campaign contributor to the five and would eventually spend time in prison for fraud related to his Lincoln Savings and Loan Association. The FBI and Senate Ethics Committee investigated. McCain was given a mild rebuke for his involvement in the scandal. At the time of his death, McCain was the only one of the five still serving in the U.S. Senate. Vietnam 1990s McCain is credited with being instrumental in helping to revive a diplomatic relationship between the U.S. and Vietnam. He also praised former President Bill Clinton for restoring that tie in 1995. Human rights progress in Vietnam should also be better served by restoring relations with that country, McCain said in a 1995 statement. The Vietnamese have already developed complex relations with the rest of the free world. Instead of vainly trying to isolate Vietnam, the United States should test the proposition that greater exposure to Americans will render Vietnam more susceptible to the influence of our values. Veterans Hospice Benefit Act 1991 McCain sponsored the Veterans Hospice Benefit Act in 1991 that, in part, created a pilot program that provided hospice care for terminally ill veterans. Agent Orange Act 1991 McCain co-sponsored the Agent Orange Act in 1991 legislation that affirmed certain diseases suffered by veterans could be the result of harmful chemical exposure related to their service. That recognition would make those veterans eligible for specific benefits. Following McCains brain cancer diagnosis, there was speculation his illness could be related to chemicals he came into contact with while in Vietnam. Chairman of the Commerce Committee 1997 McCain would serve as chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation from 1997 until 2001. He would also resume the role from 2003 to 2005. The committee handles issues such as: aviation, communications, transportation security, fisheries, disasters, space, tourism, consumer issues and product safety, among many other things. An influential person 1997 TIME magazine named McCain one of the 25 Most Influential People in America in 1997. McCain for President, Part 1 1999 In Nashua, N.H., McCain officially announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president on Sept. 27, 1999. I dont begin this mission with any sense of entitlement. America doesnt owe me anything, McCain said. I am the son and grandson of Navy admirals, and I was born into Americas service. It wasnt until I was deprived of her company that I fell in love with America, and it has been my honor to serve her and her great cause of freedom. It is because I owe America more than she has ever owed me that I am a candidate for president of the United States, he said. Endorsement of George W. Bush 2000 McCain would eventually endorse eventual President George W. Bush, but the two didnt see eye-to-eye on issues, according to reports at the time. Bush said McCain as his primary opponent made him a better candidate. McCain takes on campaign finance reform 2002 Along with then-Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., McCain introduced the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act or the McCain-Feingold Act. The legislation enacted regulations of political campaign financing, particularly with soft money contributions. Chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee 2005 McCain served as the chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee from 2005 to 2006. McCains gang 2005 McCain was part of the so-called Gang of 14 a group of senators who worked together to end a kerfuffle over judicial nominations. Aside from McCain, the group included: Sens. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va.; Lincoln Chaffee R-R.I.; Susan Collins, R-Maine; Mike DeWine, R-Ohio; Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii; Mary Landrieu, D-La.; Joe Lieberman, D-Conn.; Ben Nelson, D-Neb.; Mark Pryor, D-Ark.; Ken Salazar, D-Colo.; Olympia Snowe, R-Maine; and John Warner, R-Va. Only Graham and Collins remain in the Senate today. McCain and Kennedy take on immigration Along with the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., McCain pushed for immigration reform that would include, among other things, a pathway to citizenship for some undocumented immigrants. The bill also called for Mexico to crack down on its own border security and take steps to combat immigrant smugglers, the Washington Times reported then. In 2006, McCain and Kennedy signed onto another immigration reform bill that would make it out of the Senate. This bill, too, would call for a strengthening of the U.S. border with Mexico and provide a pathway to citizenship for certain undocumented immigrants. McCain for President, Part 2 2007 After teasing his announcement on news programs, McCain officially announced again from New Hampshire that he was putting his hat in the ring for the presidency. Picking Palin 2008 Surprising many, McCain picked then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. Shes not from these parts, and shes not from Washington, but when you get to know her, youre going to be as impressed as I am, McCain said then. Obama for President 2008 McCain lost the presidency to Barack Obama, a senator from Illinois. Joe Biden who is a friend of McCains was Obamas running mate. Another gang 2013 McCain was part of the bipartisan so-called Gang of Eight senators who came up with a comprehensive immigration reform bill in 2013. Aside from McCain, the group included: Sens. Michael Bennet, D-Colo.; Dick Durbin, D-Ill.; Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.; Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; Bob Menendez, D-N.J.; Marco Rubio, R-Fla.; and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Their bill passed the Senate but would die in the House of Representatives. It would also become a point of contention for Republicans in the future. McCain goes to Syria 2013 McCain traveled to Syria in 2013 to meet with rebels in the conflicted country becoming the highest ranking U.S. official to do so at the time. McCain goes to Egypt 2013 McCain also traveled to Egypt in 2013 and said the ousting of former President Mohamed Morsi was a coup. Along with longtime colleague and friend Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., McCain pushed for the U.S. to suspend assistance to Egypt after the military removed Morsi from office. McCain goes to Ukraine 2013 McCain traveled to Ukraine in 2013 and talked to anti-government protesters who wanted the country's government to align more with Europe than Russia. "We are here to support your just cause, the sovereign right of Ukraine to determine its own destiny freely and independently. And the destiny you seek lies in Europe," McCain said during his address. Chairman of the Armed Services committee - 2015 McCain served as the chairman of the Senates Armed Services Committee since 2015. At the time, the New York Times described the opportunity as McCains dream job and the the only job in Washington, other than being president, that he ever wanted. McCain goes back to Syria 2017 McCain made a secret trip to Syria in February 2017 to visit U.S. forces deployed there and to discuss counter-ISIL campaign and ongoing operations, his spokesperson later said. McCain versus health care - 2017 McCain came back to the Senate following his brain cancer diagnosis to deliver crucial votes on Republicans efforts to dismantle Obamas health care law. He first voted to move ahead the debate on the law and was warmly received by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. But when push came to shove, McCain voted no on the effort to repeal and replace ObamaCare. I believe we could do better working together, Republicans and Democrats, and have not yet really tried, McCain said at the time. Nor could I support it without knowing how much it would cost, how it will affect insurance premiums and how many people would be helped or hurt by it. Liberty Medal recipient 2017 McCain received the annual Liberty Medal award in Philadelphia for his lifetime of sacrifice and service. The award is given to men and women of courage and conviction who have strived to secure the blessings of liberty to people the world over, the Constitution Center said. Biden presented the award to McCain. In his more than three decades of service on Capitol Hill, Sen. John McCain was known for many things: his dedication to the United States, his passion and his temper, his strong convictions, and, maybe most notably, his ability to work across the aisle to get results. That dedication to bipartisanship was on full display in the hours following McCains death at age 81 on Saturday after a yearlong battle with brain cancer as tributes from Democratic colleagues and rivals began to pour in. Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did, Former President Barack Obama said in a statement. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At Johns best, he showed us what that means. And for that, we are all in his debt. Obama, who beat McCain in the 2008 race for the White House, said that despite their differences, McCain and he shared a "fidelity to something higher the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched and sacrificed." Obama said they "saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world." Speaking on NBCs "Meet The Press, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said we could all talk for hours about what he meant to the country. He leaves a legacy of service and courage, Clinton said of McCain. The courage we all came to know as a POW, but getting up every day and working for the people of Arizona wasn't easy. Former Vice President Joe Biden, who served with McCain in the Senate for more than 20 years, also issued a heartfelt statement about his longtime colleague and friend. John McCain will cast a long shadow, Biden said. His impact on America hasnt ended. Not even close. It will go on for many years to come. Biden added: America will miss John McCain. The world will miss John McCain. And I will miss him dearly. Many commentators noted that McCain represented a statesman who was unafraid to cross party lines to achieve his goals and, that in the countrys current political climate, this ability will be missed. But Democratic leaders in both the House and Senate over the weekend brushed aside these criticisms of their work and instead focused on their own friendships and dealings with McCain. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., praised McCains service both in the Armed Forces and on Capitol Hill and also said he would introduce legislation to rename the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., after McCain. As you go through life, you meet few truly great people, Schumer said in a statement. John McCain was one of them. His dedication to his country and the military were unsurpassed, and maybe most of all, he was a truth teller -- never afraid to speak truth to power in an era where that has become all too rare. He added: The Senate, the United States, and the world are lesser places without John McCain. Schumers counterpart in the House, Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said on ABCs "This Week" that McCain was a source of great strength to our country. Im heartbroken, she added. America is in tears for the loss of this great man. McCain is expected to be honored in Arizona and Washington before being buried, likely this coming week, at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland. Democratic Sen. Tim Kaines apparent reluctance to publicly confirm hell cast a "no" vote when Brett Kavanaughs Supreme Court confirmation comes to the Senate floor has drawn the ire of many progressive groups across the country. The 2016 Democratic vice presidential nominee is one of a handful of Democrats worrying pro-choice and other progressive activists as they seek to block Kavanaughs confirmation in the GOP-controlled Senate later this year. "This is the former nominee of the Democratic Party for vice president who cant seem to realize the kind of massive threat to womens rights and womens lives that Brett Kavanaugh poses and thats just mind-boggling," said Neil Sroka, a spokesman for Democracy for America, according to The Hill. Kaine, D-Va., who enjoys a sizable lead over Republican Corey Stewart in his reelection bid, argues that he is taking his duty seriously and that he's being consistent with how he considered President Barack Obamas nomination of Merrick Garland and President Trumps nomination of Neil Gorsuch. Kaine met with Gorsuch, but decided to vote against his nomination. Kaine added that he thought it was important to wait to see what Kavanaugh said during his hearing. "If everybody takes a position before the hearings, why have the hearings?" Kaine said. "You could just discharge and put something right on the floor and then that would be really bad for the American public so I think that the right thing to do on a Supreme Court nominee is to meet with them, wait for the hearing." The confirmation of Kavanaugh has become one of the most polarizing issues dividing Democrats and Republicans. Vice President Mike Pence said Friday that Democrats have turned the Senate's traditional role of providing advice and consent into "obstruct and oppose" when it comes to President Donald Trump's judicial nominees. Speaking to the Republican National Lawyers Association, Pence said Democrats were "pulling out all the stops" to defeat Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court. "The truth is, if we lived in a more respectful time, Judge Kavanaugh would be overwhelmingly confirmed," Pence said before noting that the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia had been approved 98-0 and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg received 96 votes. Pence's comments Friday came as all 10 Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee called for a delay in Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings. The Democrats cited "the possibility of criminal wrongdoing" by Trump and said Kavanaugh has "consistently and clearly" expressed doubt about investigating sitting presidents. The Associated Press contributed to this report. From Vietnam to Germany, leaders from around the globe paid tribute late Sen. John McCain over the weekend -- praising his committment to world peace and diplomacy. More than 50 years after his plane was shot down over Hanoi and he was taken as a prisoner of war, dozens of people on Sunday gathered at the city's Truc Bach Lake for a memorial service to McCain. His contribution to the Vietnam-U.S. relationship will be remembered. Le Ma Luong, the former director of the Vietnam Military History Museum in Hanoi, told Reuters. In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel called McCain "one of the great political personalities of our time and offered her condolences in a statement tweeted Sunday by her spokesman, Steffen Seibert. McCain was "a tireless fighter for a strong trans-Atlantic alliance; his significance went well beyond his own country," Merkel said. She added: "John McCain was led by the firm conviction that the sense of all political work lies in service to freedom, democracy and the rule of law. His death is a loss to all those who share this conviction." German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas added his own tribute to the Republican senator in a statement issued in Berlin on Sunday. Maas said that "he stood for an America that is a reliable and close partner. An America that takes responsibility for others out of strength, and stands by its values and principles even in difficult moments and bases its claim to leadership on that." In neighboring France, French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted in English that McCain "was a true American hero. He devoted his entire life to his country." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he is deeply saddened by McCain's passing and will always treasure his friendship. He added that McCain was a "great American patriot and a great supporter of Israel." Netanyahu noted that McCain's "support for Israel never wavered. It sprang from his belief in democracy and freedom." McCain was a frequent visitor to Israel, and backed the country in the Senate. He strongly opposed the nuclear ambitions and militancy of its archrival Iran. Other tributes poured in from across the Israeli political spectrum. Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman called McCain one of Israel's greatest friends. Yair Lapid, head of the opposition Yesh Atid Party, lauded McCain as "a soldier with integrity in a world of politicians." Officials in Pakistan also offered condolences over McCains death, saying he will be "greatly missed." Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said in a statement Sunday that McCain had "always stood for strong Pakistan-U.S. relations and a cooperative approach for promoting peace and building stability in the region." As chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, McCain made many visits to the region. In a visit to Pakistan last year, he said there could be no peace in neighboring Afghanistan without Pakistan's cooperation. Pakistani officials said McCain often worked to ease tensions between Pakistan and the United States even as Washington urges the country to do more to crack down on Islamic militants operating along the porous Afghan border. Back in Vietnam, the communist countrys former ambassador to Washington, Nguyen Quoc Cuong, praised McCains role in normalizing relations between Washington and Hanoi. Coung wrote on his Facebook page that McCain was very proud of the monument erected by Vietnam at Truc Bach Lake, where mourners left flowers and other tributes to the late senator on Sunday. Coung wrote, "Each time during his visit to Vietnam, he often took other senators and friends to the monument." Coung says there were times when McCain expressed concern that after he and Sen. John Kerry were gone, a new generation of American lawmakers would not fully understand the care with which to promote Vietnam-U.S. relations, and so he made a point to bring young senators with him on his visits to the Southeast Asian nation. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A hearse carrying the body of U.S. Sen. John McCain, who died Saturday after a year-long battle with brain cancer, arrived in uptown Phoenix on Saturday evening. At least two-dozen people stood near the freeway exit as the motorcade that carried the senators body from his Cornville home arrived at the mortuary after 8:30 p.m. local time, the Arizona Republic reported. By late evening, about 200 people were gathered outside the A.L. Moore Grimshaw Mortuary. Some could be heard shouting, I love you, John, while others waved flags or wore red, white and blue. "We knew it was coming. It was expected," one onlooker told the Republic. "It happened so quickly. But he led a good life and I'm sure his family is proud of him. He left a legacy that will long be remembered." Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey ordered all flags in the state to be lowered to half-staff in honor of McCain. May God rest his soul and look over his entire family. Our state and our nation mourn together," the governor tweeted. Meanwhile in Washington, the U.S. flag was seen at half-staff over the White House in honor of the fallen senator. McCain is expected to lie in state in both Arizona and Washington, before being laid to rest at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Md. His website states that more information will be available once funeral services are finalized. Before he died, McCain requested that former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama give eulogies at his funeral. Both men paid tribute to McCain on Twitter. McCain, a Vietnam prisoner of war, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982 and U.S. Senate in 1986. He was the GOP nominee for president in 2008. During his time in office he earned a reputation for reaching across the aisle. He died Saturday at age 81, four days shy of his birthday. He is survived by his wife, Cindy, seven children, and five grandchildren, his website states. U.S. Sen. John McCain's wife Cindy, daughter Meghan and son Jack each posted tributes to the late senator Saturday, soon after his death from brain cancer at age 81. My heart is broken, wife Cindy McCain tweeted. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years, she wrote. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the place he loved best. Daughter Meghan McCain, the author and television commentator, tweeted that she was with her father at his end, as he was with me at my beginning." All that I am is thanks to him. Now that he is gone, the task of my lifetime is to live up to his example, his expectations, and his love, she wrote. McCain underwent surgery in July 2017 to remove a blood clot in his brain after being diagnosed with an aggressive tumor called a glioblastoma. He also had his first round of radiation and chemotherapy in August 2017, which the public had learned from the family providing updates on his health via Twitter. His resilience and strength is incredible, Meghan tweeted then. The 35-year lawmaker was also a long-term survivor of melanoma, a deadly skin cancer. But doctors classified his brain cancer as a "primary tumor," meaning it's not related to his former malignancies. Cindy McCain tweeted a family statement Friday that said the senator decided to discontinue treatment. John has surpassed expectations for his survival, Cindy wrote. Our family is immensely grateful for the support and kindness of all his caregivers over the last year, and for the outpouring of concern and affection. Then on Saturday, just hours before her husband's death, she thanked the public for its outpouring of support after the family disclosed that the senator would no longer continue medical treatment. "The entire McCain family is overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from around the world. Thank you," she wrote. Sen. McCain married the former Cindy Hensley, daughter of a wealthy beer distributor in Arizona, in 1981. In 2009, Cindy McCain disclosed her own health battle: She suffers from debilitating migraine headaches. She suffered a stroke in 2004. The couple had four children together: eldest daughter Meghan, sons John Sidney Jack, James Jimmy and youngest daughter Bridget McCain, who was adopted from Bangladesh. Jack and Jimmy joined the military, following a long family tradition that started with the senator's grandfather, John S. McCain Sr., and continued with his father, John S. McCain Jr. (Both were honored with the naming of the Navy vessel USS John S. McCain.) It is not the man that was great, but instead it was his desire to serve a cause greater than himself that defined his life, Jack tweeted Saturday. To me, he was a giant, but to him he was an imperfect servant of the nation he loved deeply. Meghan had been vocal about her fathers health throughout his treatment, traveling to Arizona regularly to be by her ailing fathers side. "Going home to Arizona to be with my family - will be back on @TheView Tuesday," Meghan tweeted in May. "Thank you all again for your prayers, patience, understanding and compassion during this time. It means the world to me and my entire family." The Vietnam war hero, known as the "Maverick," had hoped to return to the Senate. But cancer treatment and surgery for an intestinal infection in April ultimately made that impossible. McCain had three children with his first wife, Carol Shepp. He adopted Carols two sons from a previous marriage, Douglas and Andrew McCain. They had daughter Sidney McCain together. McCain also leaves behind five grandchildren. My father is gone, and I miss him as only an adoring daughter can," Megahn wrote. "But in this loss, and in this sorrow, I take comfort in this: John McCain, hero of the republic and to his little girl, wakes today to something more glorious than anything on this earth. US Senator John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam who ran for president in 2008 as a self-styled maverick Republican and became a prominent critic of President Donald Trump, died on Saturday, his office said. He was 81. A senator for Arizona for more than three decades, McCain had been suffering from glioblastoma, a brain cancer, since July 2017 and had not been at the US Capitol this year. His family said on Friday that McCain was discontinuing cancer treatment. He died on Saturday afternoon with his wife Cindy and other family members at his bedside. "At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for sixty years," said a statement from his office. McCain frequently sparred with Trump and told his family he did not want the president to attend his funeral, CNN reported, citing family friends. Flags were flying at half-staff at the White House on Sunday morning, hours after Trump tweeted his "deepest sympathies and respect" to McCain's family. McCain will lie in state in both Phoenix, Arizona, and in the Capitol rotunda in Washington, D.C. He will receive a full dress funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral, where Vice President Mike Pence is expected to represent the current administration, before being buried in Annapolis, Maryland, his family said. Paying tribute to his 2008 election opponent, former President Barack Obama described McCain as an idealist and said there was "something noble" about their political battles. Cindy McCain said her husband had "passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the place he loved best." "My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years," she wrote on Twitter. Affable , Cantankerous The vacancy created by McCain's death narrows the number of Republican-held seats in the 100-member US Senate to 50, with Democrats controlling 49. Republican Arizona Governor Doug Ducey was expected to appoint a member of his own party to succeed McCain. That could also give Republicans a slight edge in the battle to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the US Supreme Court in the weeks ahead because McCain had been too ill to cast any votes this year. Alternatively affable and cantankerous, McCain had been in the public eye since the 1960s when, as a naval aviator, he was shot down during the Vietnam War and tortured by his North Vietnamese Communist captors during 5-1/2 years as a prisoner. He was edged out by George W. Bush for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000 but became his party's White House candidate eight years later. After gambling on political neophyte Sarah Palin as his running mate, McCain lost to Obama, who became the first black US president. Obama said he and McCain, despite their "completely different backgrounds" and political differences, shared "a fidelity to something higher - the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants alike have fought, marched and sacrificed." "We saw our political battles, even, as a privilege, something noble, an opportunity to serve as stewards of those high ideals at home, and to advance them around the world," Obama wrote. Defense Secretary James Mattis saluted McCain as a figure who "always put service to the nation before self," and "represented what he believed, that 'a shared purpose does not claim our identity - on the contrary - it enlarges your sense of self'." McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, remained prominent during and after the last White House race as both a frequent critic and target of his fellow Republican Trump, who was elected president in November 2016. McCain denounced Trump for, among other things, his praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders the senator described as foreign "tyrants." "Flattery secures his friendship, criticism his enmity," McCain said of Trump in his memoir, "The Restless Wave," which was released in May. McCain castigated Trump in July for his summit with Putin, calling their joint news conference in Helsinki "one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory." He said Trump was "not only unable but unwilling to stand up to Putin." In Germany, whose government has clashed with Trump over a range of issues including trade and defense, Chancellor Angela Merkel said, "John McCain was guided by the firm conviction that the value of all political work could be found in serving freedom, democracy and the rule of law. His death is a loss for all who share that conviction." French President Emmanuel Macron called McCain "a true American hero (whose).. voice will be missed" and British Prime Minister Theresa May said he "embodied the idea of service over self." Thumbs-Down McCain, a foreign policy hawk with a traditional Republican view of world affairs, was admired in both parties for championing civility and compromise during an era of acrid partisanship in US politics. But he also had a famous temper and rarely shied away from a fight. He had several with Trump. He was the central figure in one of the most dramatic moments in Congress of Trump's presidency when he returned to Washington shortly after his brain cancer diagnosis for a middle-of-the-night Senate vote in July 2017. Still bearing a black eye and scar from surgery, McCain gave a thumbs-down signal in a vote to scuttle a Trump-backed bill that would have repealed the Obamacare healthcare law and increased the number of Americans without health insurance by millions. Trump was furious about McCain's vote and frequently referred to it at rallies, without mentioning McCain by name. After Trump launched his presidential campaign in 2015, McCain condemned his hard-line rhetoric on illegal immigration and said Trump had "fired up the crazies." Trump retorted that McCain was "not a war hero," adding: "I like people who weren't captured." After Trump became president, McCain blasted what he called the president's attempts to undermine the free press and rule of law and lamented the "half-baked, spurious nationalism" of the Trump era. McCain Vs Obama McCain, the son and grandson of US Navy admirals, was elected to the US House of Representatives from Arizona in 1982 after more than two decades of Navy service. He served four years in the House before Arizona voters elected him to the Senate in 1986 to replace Barry Goldwater, the 1964 Republican presidential nominee revered by conservatives. In running for president in 2008, McCain tried to succeed an unpopular fellow Republican in Bush, who was leaving office with the United States mired in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and stuck in a financial crisis. It was a stark contrast between McCain, then a 72-year-old veteran of the Washington establishment, and the 47-year-old Obama, who was offering a "Yes, we can" message of change. McCain tried to inject some youth and enthusiasm into his campaign with his selection of Palin, Alaska's governor, as his running mate. But her political inexperience and shaky performances in media interviews raised concerns about her qualifications. McCain voiced regret in his new memoir for not choosing then-Senator Joe Lieberman, a Democrat turned independent, as his running mate. War Injuries McCain flew attack planes off aircraft carriers during the Vietnam War. In October 1967, his A-4 Skyhawk was shot down on a bombing mission over North Vietnam's capital and he suffered two broken arms and a broken leg in the crash. A mob then dragged him from a lake, broke his shoulder and stabbed him. Held at the notorious "Hanoi Hilton" prison and other sites, McCain was beaten and tortured, suffering broken bones and dysentery. He was released on March 14, 1973, but was left with permanent infirmities. Several US citizens living in Vietnam adorned a monument erected at the site of the plane crash with flowers on Sunday in tribute to McCain. "Not only did Senator McCain actively contribute to Vietnam-US ties, he was a friend of Vietnam who won huge love from Vietnamese people at many levels," Vietnam's ambassador to the United States, Ha Kim Ngoc, told the state-run Voice of Vietnam radio service. In Congress, McCain prided himself on his reputation as a maverick and had a history of working across party lines on immigration, climate change and campaign finance reform. He supported Bush's 2003 invasion of Iraq but also spoke out against the Bush administration's use of waterboarding, a torture technique that simulates drowning, and other harsh interrogation tactics on detainees in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. McCain was born on Aug. 29, 1936, at an American naval installation in the Panama Canal Zone - US territory at the time - where his father was stationed. McCain divorced his wife Carol after 15 years of marriage in 1980 and weeks later married the former Cindy Henley, daughter of a wealthy beer distributor in Arizona. A dark period for McCain came as one of the "Keating Five" group of senators accused of improperly intervening with federal regulators to help political contributor and bank executive Charles Keating, whose Lincoln Savings and Loan failed in 1989 at a cost to taxpayers of $3.4 billion. McCain was cleared of wrongdoing in 1991 but the Senate Ethics Committee rebuked him for poor judgment. On July 25, 2017, McCain delivered a Senate floor speech not long after his cancer diagnosis that was widely seen as his farewell address. It included a call to fellow Republicans to stand up to Trump and for all lawmakers to work together to keep America as a "beacon of liberty" in the world. Search Keywords: Short link: Following the death of Sen. John McCain on Saturday, tributes poured in from both Republicans and Democrats as well as family for the war hero who survived five years as a prisoner of war but finally succumbed to brain cancer. The wife of Sen. McCain, Cindy McCain, said on Twitter My heart is broken. I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. She said that he died at home, in the way that he lived his life, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved. JOHN MCCAIN DEAD AT 81 McCains daughter, Meghan, said in a statement that now that her father had passed,the task of my lifetime is to live up to his example, his expectations, and his love. President Trump, who had a tumultuous relationship with the Republican senator, shared his deepest sympathies for the McCain family over Twitter, adding that his hearts and prayers are with you. Vice President Mike Pence tweeted that his family is sending condolences to the McCain family, and said, "We honor [McCain's] lifetime of service to this nation in our military and in public life." Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., recalled the loss of one of my dearest friends and mentor. America and Freedom have lost one of her greatest Champions, he said. Graham said that he would need time to absorb this but that the McCain family are in my prayers. Another close friend of McCain, former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, issued a statement late Saturday. Although it was clear that John McCains life was ending, his death today hurts," Lieberman said. "America has lost one of the greatest patriots and public servants in our history. And I have lost a dear friend." "America has lost one of the greatest patriots and public servants in our history. And I have lost a dear friend." Former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut "Words cannot express the sorrow I feel at John McCain's passing," wrote Republican Sen. Jeff Flake, of Arizona. "The world lost a hero and a statesman. Cindy and the McCain family have lost a loving husband and father. I have lost a wonderful friend." President Barack Obama, who ran against McCain for the presidency in 2008, said that Americans remain in the former senators debt because of all that he did for the country. John McCain and I were members of different generations, came from completely different backgrounds, and competed at the highest level of politics, Obama said. But we shared, for all our differences, a fidelity to something higher the ideals for which generations of Americans and immigrants, alike have fought, marched, and sacrificed. Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did, Obama stated. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At Johns best he showed us what that means. Former President George W. Bush called McCain a friend that he would deeply miss. John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order. He was a public servant in the finest traditions of our country. Former President Bill Clinton also issued a statement: "John McCain believed that every citizen has a responsibility to make something of the freedoms given by our Constitution, and from his heroic service in the Navy to his 35 years in Congress, he lived by his creed every day," Clinton wrote. Former President George H.W. Bush wrote that McCain "was a patriot of the highest order." "Few sacrificed more for, or contributed more to, the welfare of his fellow citizens and indeed freedom-loving peoples around the world," Bush wrote. "Few sacrificed more for, or contributed more to, the welfare of his fellow citizens and indeed freedom-loving peoples around the world." Former President George H.W. Bush Former President Jimmy Carter also released a statement calling McCain a true patriot. Americans will be forever grateful for his heroic military service and for his steadfast integrity as a member o the United States Senate. McCain, according to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, "showed us that boundless patriotism and self-sacifice are not outdated concepts or cliches, but the building blocks of an extraordinary American life." "It's an understatement to say the Senate will not be the same without our friend John," McConnell said. "I will treasure the many memories we've shared together through the years." House Speaker Paul Ryan called it a sad day for the United States. Our country has lost a decorated war hero and statesman he was one of the most courageous men of the century, he said in a statement. Our country has lost a decorated war hero and statesman. He was one of the most courageous men of the century. House Speaker Paul Ryan House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., remembered McCain as an undaunted spirit who "dedicated his life to defending both America and the American idea. He never forgot the great duty he felt to care for our nations heroes, dedicating his spirit and energy to ensuring that no man or woman in uniform was left behind on the battlefield or once they returned home, she said both of his military career and political career. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called McCain one of few truly great people you encounter in life. He announced that he would be introducing a resolution to rename the Russell Senate Office Building after the late McCain. Defense Secretary James Mattis said that McCain, as a U.S. Naval officer and a defiant prisoner of war, was a man who steadfastly represented the best ideals of our country and was passionately committed to the U.S. HERE'S A LOOK AT JOHN MCCAIN'S POLITICAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Mattis said the Department of Defense will remain forever grateful for the life, the passion, and the example of Senator John McCain. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey called McCain "a giant. An icon. An American hero." "As we mourn his passing and celebrate his truly phenomenal life," Ducey added, "we're also faced with the void John McCain's absence leaves in the heart and soul of our nation." Former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer wrote that McCain's death was "heartbreaking news." She called McCain "a warrior who fought for his country and for his beloved state of Arizona." Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who was McCain's running mate in 2008, said that on Saturday, the world lost an American original. Palin said McCain was a maverick and a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs and through sacrifice and suffering he inspired others to serve something greater than self. I will remember the good times, Palin added. The United States and Mexico look close to resolving key differences on the North American Free Trade Agreement and may have a complete deal worked out by as early as Monday, according to sources close to the talks. Three people familiar with the progress told Bloomberg that there have been significant breakthroughs over the past few days on issues ranging from automobiles to energy, although it is unclear if any of the progress will be made public as Mexicos Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo has said the country wont make an announcement on NAFTA until Canada also signs on to a new deal. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Sunday morning that the administration has no announcements or anything finalized at this time, despite President Trumps enthusiastic tweet on Saturday that there could be a big Trade Agreement soon. More on this... Our relationship with Mexico is getting closer by the hour, Trump tweeted. Some really good people within both the new and old government, and all working closely together....A big Trade Agreement with Mexico could be happening soon! Despite Trumps oftentimes contentious relationship with Mexico, his administration and that of outgoing Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto have been working for the past five weeks to iron out their bilateral differences so Canada can rejoin the talks to update NAFTA. Both countries want to finalize an agreement this month so that it can be signed ahead of Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors inauguration in December. One of the biggest issues on the negotiating table deals with car manufacturing jobs, as the Trump administration pushes for a deal that would boost factory employment in the U.S. The U.S. on Thursday agreed to keep the 2.5 percent tariff currently applied under World Trade Organization rules if the cars are made at factories that already exist, which leaves open the possibility that automobiles that are built at new plants could face tariffs of 20 percent to 25 percent. Trump has also signaled that he is open to negotiating trade deals with Mexico and Canada separately, while both countries have said they want to keep the three-nation trade deal that dates back to 1994. Earlier in August, Trump threatened Canada with auto tariffs if the U.S. and Canada can't forge a deal. "Canada must wait," Trump tweeted. "Their Tariffs and Trade Barriers are far too high. Will tax cars if we can't make a deal!" Canada responded with a statement Friday night, saying: "Our focus is unchanged. We'll keep standing up for Canadian interests as we work toward a modernized trilateral NAFTA agreement." Adam Austen, a spokesman for Canada's foreign minister, added: "We're glad Mexico and the U.S. continue to work out their bilateral issues. It's the only way we'll get to a deal." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Did this bears appearance in a Colorado hotel lobby make for a spooky sight? The animal last week found its way into the Stanley Hotel -- which once inspired Stephen King to write The Shining, Fox 31 reported. The hotels vice president, Reed Rowley, told the station that the incident unfolded early Thursday morning. A front desk supervisor captured video of the romp, which took place as 300 guests were sound asleep, the station reports. Late night visitor from the wildside visits our hotel lobby. We'll make an exception to the rule about jumping on the furniture, the hotel wrote on Facebook Thursday. The bear apparently figured out how to pry open the lobby door, the report said, adding that nothing was damaged. King recalled spending one night at the Estes Park hotel with his wife, Tabitha. 16-FOOT GREAT WHITE SHARK COMES WITHIN 'ARM'S LENGTH' OF UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHER We were the only guests as it turned out; the following day they were going to close the place down for the winter, the author wrote on his website, describing their September 1974 stay. Wandering through its corridors, I thought that it seemed the perfectmaybe the archetypicalsetting for a ghost story. King added, That night I dreamed of my three-year-old son running through the corridors, looking back over his shoulder, eyes wide, screaming. He was being chased by a fire-hose. I woke up with a tremendous jerk, sweating all over, within an inch of falling out of bed. BLOOD-SUCKING 'KISSING BUGS' SPREADING DANGEROUS PARASITIC DISEASE IN US, HEALTH OFFICIALS WARN He continued, I got up, lit a cigarette, sat in the chair looking out the window at the Rockies, and by the time the cigarette was done, I had the bones of the book firmly set in my mind. The Shining was later published in 1977. Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall later starred in a 1980 big-screen adaptation directed by Stanley Kubrick. It wasnt shot at the hotel. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Amid concerns that conservative voices are being silenced on social media, a U.S. House committee announced Friday that Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and other tech executives will appear before the panel on Capitol Hill Sept. 5. Dorsey will discuss his companys algorithms and content judgment calls before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the committee announced via Twitter. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who has frequently complained about "one-sided" content on social media, said Dorsey's scheduled appearance was arranged through talks among Dorsey, himself and U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., chairman of the committee. "One-sided conversations are an affront to the public mission that serves as the foundation for these social media platforms including Twitter," McCarthy said in a statement. "That is why I worked with Chairman Greg Walden and requested Jack Dorsey to testify to Congress and talk with the American people about filtering practices on Twitter." "One-sided conversations are an affront to the public mission that serves as the foundation for these social media platforms including Twitter." House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. McCarthy added: "We all agree that transparency is the only way to fully restore Americans trust in these important public platforms." Social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook have faced accusations of liberal bias as numerous conservative commentators have been banned or censored for violating guidelines. Many have complained that the guidelines are unclear. Most recently, Salena Zito of the New York Post, wrote that her column which she said contained no expletives, conspiracy theories, hate speech or sexual language was removed by Facebook and Twitter without explanation. Dorsey has conceded that San Francisco-based Twitters staff is primarily left-leaning, but has denied notions that the platform bans users for conservative viewpoints. [I] do understand the concern, Dorsey said in an interview with Fox News Radios Guy Benson. We have folks that are at various points in the political spectrum and they dont feel comfortable today bringing up certain issues or their viewpoints on certain issues. And I dont believe that is acceptable. Noted Walden in a statement: Twitter is an incredibly powerful platform that can change the national conversation in the time it takes to go viral. When decisions about data and content are made using opaque processes, the American people are right to raise concerns. Representatives from Google and Facebook are also scheduled to appear at next month's hearing. Facebook has devised another way to connect you with some of the 2 billion people on its network. The social media giant said Friday to CNET that its testing out a new label called things in common that users would see in comments. According to the tech site, when you see a public conversation on the platformon a brand or publisher page, for instanceFacebook will highlight things you may have in common with non-friends who left comments. Therefore, you might see a label that says You both went to Rutgers University or that you were both born in California. The label might also reveal if you both work for the same company, but arent friends. The company told CNET its a small test in the United States, but it did not get more specific about any future plans. RUSSIAN TROLLS, BOTS SPREADING 'DISCORD' OVER VACCINE SAFETY, SCIENTISTS SAY Knowing shared things in common helps people connect, a Facebook spokeswoman told CNET. We're testing adding a 'things in common' label that will appear above comments from people who you're not friends with but you might have something in common with. The new feature comes as Facebook and other social media companies are tweaking algorithms or altering policies to foster healthier conversations and stop the flow of misinformation, hate speech and bots. Facebook also said the information included in the things in common labels will only have what users have set to be publicly seen and will adhere to users existing privacy settings. The company, which has seen user growth fall short of Wall Street expectations and younger users turn to platforms like Snapchat, also will launch a Dating feature in another bid to keep users engaged on the social network. Bots and Russian trolls spread false information about vaccines on Twitter in order to sow discord and propagate malicious content prior to and during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, according to a new study. Scientists made the discovery while researching how social media communications for public health workers could be improved. According to researchers, Russian trolls played from both sides, tweeting pro- and anti-vaccine content. 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, which was involved in the study, told the Guardian. In tweeting both pro- and anti-vaccine information, the Russian trolls are able to erode public trust in vaccination across borders. The study was published in the American Journal of Public Health and comes as Europe is facing a major outbreak of measles, which has been partly attributed to falling vaccination rates. TWITTER CEO JACK DORSEY TO APPEAR ON CAPITOL HILL TO ADDRESS SOCIAL MEDIA 'BIAS' There were 41,000 cases of measles across Europe in the first half of 2018, more than in all of 2017, the British publication reports. The vast majority of Americans believe vaccines are safe and effective, but looking at Twitter gives the impression that there is a lot to debate, David Broniatowsky, an assistant professor in George Washingtons School of Engineering and Applied Science, said. The trolls reportedly tried to link vaccination to other issues in the U.S., like race and religion, and even targeted the legitimacy of the government. Accounts masquerading as legitimate users create false equivalency, eroding public consensus on vaccination, researchers concluded. Scientists examined a random sample of 1.7 million tweets collected between July 2014 and September 2017, which was a crucial time during the presidential campaign. In order to identify bots, they compared the rate at which regular users tweeted about vaccines with the rate at which bots and trolls do. AMAZON PAYS A CREEPY TWITTER ARMY TO CONVINCE YOU ITS WAREHOUSES AREN'T EVIL Broniatowski told the Guardian that bots tweeted about vaccines about once every 550 tweets, versus once every 12,000 tweets for human accounts. Social media companies continued to face a backlash over their handling of fake accounts and misinformation. Both Twitter and Facebook have removed accounts linked to the Internet Research Agency, a so-called troll farm connected to the Russian government. Last week, Facebook removed another 650 accounts linked to Russia and Iran that were spreading misinformation. Arizona Sen. John McCain has discontinued medical treatment for an aggressive form of brain cancer, his family says. It's a likely indication that the war hero, onetime presidential nominee and longtime lawmaker is nearing the end of his life. The 81-year-old McCain has surpassed expectations for survival, but "the progress of disease and the inexorable advance of age render their verdict," the family said in a statement. "With his usual strength of will, he has now chosen to discontinue medical treatment." The six-term GOP senator, whose birthday is Aug. 29, has been away from the Capitol since last December. McCain's wife, Cindy, said in a tweet Saturday that the McCain family was "overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from around the world" after Friday's announcement. Among those offering support is Vice President Mike Pence, who tweeted Saturday night: "Karen and I are praying for Senator John McCain, Cindy and their family this weekend. May God bless them all during this difficult time." If McCain should resign his seat or die soon, Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey would name a replacement to serve until the 2020 election. The winner of that election would serve the remainder of McCain's term through 2022. In more than three decades in Congress, McCain became known as a political maverick willing to stick to his convictions rather than go along with party leaders an independent streak that has drawn a mix of respect and ire. Most recently, he has been a thorn in the side of President Donald Trump, keeping up his criticism of the White House even while undergoing severe medical treatment in Arizona. In July, he issued a searing rebuke of Trump's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling it a "tragic mistake" and "one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory." The strained relationship between Trump and McCain dates back to 2015, when Trump suggested the Vietnam veteran, who spent more than five years in a North Vietnamese prison after his Navy plane was shot down, was not a war hero. The ill will grew after McCain voted in 2017 against a Republican replacement for the Obama-era health law. He doomed the bill with a dramatic thumbs-down on the Senate floor. Complaints about McCain's vote have become a staple of Trump's campaign speeches. He doesn't mention McCain by name but makes clear his intent by mockingly imitating the thumbs-down gesture. The feud between the two men has persisted even amid the decline in McCain's health. While political leaders of both parties paid tribute to McCain and offered prayers Friday, Trump and the White House remained silent. Trump did not mention McCain or the health care vote in a speech Friday night at a fundraising dinner in Ohio. Earlier this month, Trump signed a military policy bill named for McCain, but he made no mention of McCain at a signing ceremony. The son and grandson of Navy admirals, McCain is a former Navy pilot. He was elected to Congress in 1982 and to the Senate four years later, replacing the retired Barry Goldwater. Despite his famous stubborn streak and occasional orneriness, McCain is widely admired on both sides of the aisle, and tributes poured in Friday after the family announced the treatment decision. "We are so fortunate to call him our friend and colleague," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Twitter. "The entire McCain family are in our prayers at this incredibly difficult hour.;; Ducey called McCain "an American hero" who always put his country before himself. A "spirt of service and civility" guided McCain's life, standing as a model for Americans regardless of political affiliation, Ducey said. McCain had surgery in July 2017 to remove a blood clot in his brain after being diagnosed with an aggressive tumor called a glioblastoma. It's the same type of tumor that killed Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., at age 77 in 2009. McCain rebounded quickly, however, returning to Washington and entering the Senate in late July to a standing ovation from his colleagues. In a dramatic turn, he later cast the deciding vote against the Republican health care bill, earning Trump's enduring wrath. McCain's condition worsened last fall, and he has been in Arizona since December. A source close to McCain who asked not to be identified said Friday the senator was at his Arizona ranch with his family. He is a long-term survivor of melanoma, a deadly skin cancer. But doctors classified his brain cancer as a "primary tumor," meaning it's not related to his former malignancies. McCain ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, then won it in 2008 before losing the general election to Obama. When Republicans took control of the Senate in 2015, McCain embraced his new influence as chairman of the Armed Services Committee, pushing for aggressive U.S. military intervention overseas and eager to contribute to "defeating the forces of radical Islam that want to destroy America." Asked how he wanted to be remembered, McCain said: "That I made a major contribution to the defense of the nation." Former Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman, a close friend, said Friday that "becoming John McCain's friend has been one of the great blessings of my life. Today I am praying for him and his family." Mitt Romney, the GOP's 2012 presidential nominee, said on Twitter, "No man this century better exemplifies honor, patriotism, service, sacrifice and country first than Senator John McCain. His heroism inspires, his life shapes our character. I am blessed and humbled by our friendship." ___ Associated Press writer Laurie Kellman contributed to this report. A former New York City firefighter who survived Sept. 11, 2001, died Thursday from cancer, which was likely a result of working at Ground Zero after the deadliest terror attack in U.S. history unfolded. Jimmy Martinez, 58, of Staten Island, was a 26-year veteran of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) with Engine Co. 157 and was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer, in 2013, the Daily News reported. FDNY HERO WHO EVACUATED HUNDREDS ON 9/11 DIES AT 45 OF CANCER In 2016, his cancer went into remission after he underwent chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. Martinez's death was confirmed on Facebook by the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York. Martinez was a first responder during Hurricane Sandy. He also responded to the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center, according to the News, and again responded to a terror attack in Lower Manhattan eight years later on 9/11. "He's there on 9/11. He's there in Brooklyn. He's there in Hurricane Sandy. In my mind, it's just unbelievable, Chief of Department James Leonard reportedly said of Martinez last year, just after the retired firefighter donated a van to the FDNY Fire Family Transport Foundation. NEW YORK STATE TROOPER DIES FROM 9/11-RELATED ILLNESS, AGENCY SAYS Martinez said that his vehicle donation was his way of "paying it forward," after he "was at the receiving end of the support from the FDNY, along with all the friends and family that were there for me." The department veteran, Leonard said, was "the role model that you want to come up to and look like and act like because he earned that reputation." Martinez, who retired from the FDNY in 2016, is one of more than 170 firefighters who have died from 9/11-related illnesses, according to the association. A California man abducted last month remains missing, as the FBI searches for clues and three suspects who demanded a $2 million in ransom, reports said. Ruochen "Tony" Liao, 28, was kidnapped July 16 in a San Gabriel shopping plaza, about 10 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, FBI officials said. Liao, who owns a Southern California luxury car dealership, had finished an evening meeting with business associates when three men abducted him. The men reportedly pulled up in two vehicles, a Toyota minivan and a Range Rover, officials said. Although a motive has not been determined, the abduction followed a possible robbery or business deal gone bad, FBI officials said. Witnesses said Liao got into a black minivan, likely a Toyota Sienna, with one of the men at around 7:30 p.m. PT, Southern California's Orange County Register reported. The two other men left the scene in a black SUV believed to be the Range Rover, according to FBI officials. The kidnappers contacted Liao's family in China and demanded a $2 million ransom, the report said. But the abductors did not provide instructions on how to deliver the ransom. The family has not heard from the suspects for about a month, said Gene Kowel, an assistant special-agent-in-charge at the FBIs office in Los Angeles. There are also few leads, the Register reported. Our hope is that Tony is still alive. Were operating under the premise that he is still alive, Kowel said. However, we do become concerned as these cases progress the chance of someone remaining alive can diminish. Liao's relatives in China are offerring a $150,000 reward, in addition to a $25,000 reward offered by the FBI, for information that could lead to Liao's location. The FBI on Monday released a sketch of one of the suspects, identified only as "David," who is believed to be an acquaintance of Liao. Authorities said he speaks Mandarin, according to the Los Angeles Times. The suspect had attended the business meeting with Liao, Matthew Lombard, a lawyer for Liao's family, said. Tony may have gone to work out an existing payment on a car or purchase a car, he said. It could have been a revenge kidnapping or to resolve a business dispute. FBI officials said Liao might have been involved with some disreputable people through his business, the Register reported. But a close friend named Chris said Liao "works hard for every dollar." He is not the type of person to try to take advantage of others. I think the reason he got kidnapped is that someone tried to take advantage of him, Chris said. He is a deeply loved person by his family. He is their only child and they are very, very concerned for him." Matthew Lombard, lawyer for Liao's family Lombard said the family is "terrified." He is a deeply loved person by his family, Lombard said. "He is their only child and they are very, very concerned for him." The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Virginia MS-13 member charged with hacking to death a man who was killed for speaking ill of the notorious gang last year has pleaded guilty, according to reports. Jose Luis Escobar-Umana, 23, pleaded guilty Thursday in Albemarle County Circuit Court to four crimes in the July 3, 2017, killing of Marvin Joel Rivera Guevera -- first degree murder, abduction, lynching and being a member of a criminal street gang, the Charlottesville Daily Progress reported. Three other MS-13 gang members have pleaded guilty in the slaying, the paper reported. Walter Antonio Argueta Amaya, 21, reportedly an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, pleaded guilty to the same four counts as Escobar-Umana. Juan Carolos Argueta, 19, and Juan Carolos Zelaya, 19, have pleaded guilty to gang participation and lynching, according to the paper. Guevera was attacked with a machete near a creek in Albemarle County, suffering more than 140 laceration wounds to his head, neck, body and limbs, the paper reported. The blows left him unrecognizable. He was identified through DNA. Prosecutors say they believe Guevera was killed for speaking ill of the MS-13 gang, the Daily Progress reported. Escobar-Umana and the other three are the only defendants in the case. The victim worked at a pizza shop where Argueta also worked. Prosecutors said the sentencings have been scheduled for dates in November and December. John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam who served as US senator from Arizona for more than three decades, died on Saturday at the age of 81. Below are some of the reactions to his death: US President Donald Trump "My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!" Arizona Senator Jeff Flake "Words cannot express the sorrow I feel at John McCains passing. The world has lost a hero and a statesman. Cindy and the McCain family have lost a loving husband and father. I have lost a wonderful friend." Former President Bill Clinton and Former Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton "He frequently put partisanship aside to do what he thought was best for the country, and was never afraid to break the mold if it was the right thing to do. I will always be especially grateful for his leadership in our successful efforts to normalize relations with Vietnam." French President Emmanuel Macron "John McCain was a true American hero. He devoted his entire life to his country. His voice will be missed. Our respectful thoughts go to his beloved ones." British Prime Minister Theresa May "John McCain was a great statesman, who embodied the idea of service over self. It was an honour to call him a friend of the UK. My deepest sympathies go to his family, and the American people." German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas "He stood for an America that is a reliable and close partner ... An America that takes strong responsibility for others and sticks to its values and principles even at difficult moments." EU Ambassador To The United States david O'Sullivan "Senator McCain recognised the enormous benefits of Europe's peaceful rebirth after 1945, and the crucial investment in that effort by successive US administrations. He supported ever stronger transatlantic cooperation built on that shared legacy. We must all try to follow his example in strengthening EU-US ties and dealing with the challenges ahead." Manfred Weber, Head Of The European People's Party In The European Parliament "He was a real American hero, a fighter for democracy and a friend of Europe. We will strongly miss him, especially in times when politicians like him are needed." Lech Walesa, Former President Of Poland "With great sadness I accepted the news of death of Mr Senator John McCain. He was a true AMERICAN HERO and a great friend of Poland and Europe. We will not forget his friendship and he will be always in our memory German Chancellor Angela Merkel "John McCain was guided by the firm conviction that the value of all political work could be found in serving freedom, democracy and the rule of law. His death is a loss for all who share that conviction." NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg "John McCain - soldier and senator, American and Atlanticist. He will be remembered both in Europe and North America for his courage and character, and as a strong supporter of NATO. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "Senator John McCain was an American patriot and hero whose sacrifices for his country, and lifetime of public service, were an inspiration to millions. Canadians join Americans tonight in celebrating his life and mourning his passing." House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi "The nation is in tears. Today, with the passing of John McCain, Congress and America have lost a leader and public servant of deep patriotism, outstanding bravery and undaunted spirit." Former Governor Of Alaska Sarah Palin "Today we lost an American original. Sen. John McCain was a maverick and a fighter, never afraid to stand for his beliefs. John never took the easy path in life - and through sacrifice and suffering he inspired others to serve something greater than self." Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison "Senator John McCain was a true friend of Australia who was committed to strengthening the alliance between our two nations. He was a man of great courage and conviction. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Cindy, and all the McCain family during this time." Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar "On behalf of the people of Ireland, I extend my deepest sympathies on the death of Senator John McCain, a wise and remarkable statesman, US ally of Ireland and a proud Scots Irishman who was a champion for immigration reform in the US Senate." Commander Micah Murphy Of The USS John S. McCain "On behalf of the crew of USS John S. McCain, I offer our support and prayers to the McCain family, our gratitude to the senator for his years of service to our nation, and a heartfelt traditional Navy sendoff: 'Fair winds and following seas.' It is an honor to have our mighty warship carry on your name and continue your legacy." Former President Jimmy Carter "John McCain was a man of honor, a true patriot in the best sense of the word. Americans will be forever grateful for his heroic military service and for his steadfast integrity as a member of the United States Senate." US Vice President Mike Pence "Karen and I send our deepest condolences to Cindy and the entire McCain family on the passing of Senator John McCain. We honor his lifetime of service to this nation in our military and in public life. His family and friends will be in our prayers. God bless John McCain." Former President George H.W. Bush "John McCain was a patriot of the highest order, a public servant of rarest courage. Few sacrificed more for, or contributed more to, the welfare of his fellow citizens - and indeed freedom-loving peoples around the world. Another American maverick and warrior, General George Patton, once observed: "We should thank God that men such as these have lived. US Secretary Of Defense James Mattie We have lost a man who steadfastly represented the best ideals of our country Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell "In an era filled with cynicism about national unity and public service, John McCain's life shone as a bright example. He showed us that boundless patriotism and self-sacrifice are not outdated concepts or cliches, but the building blocks or an extraordinary life." Former President Barack Obama And Michelle Obama "Few of us have been tested the way John once was, or required to show the kind of courage that he did. But all of us can aspire to the courage to put the greater good above our own. At John's best, he showed us what that means. And for that, we are all in his debt. Michelle and I send our most heartfelt condolences to Cindy and their family." Former President George W. Bush "Some lives are so vivid, it is difficult to imagine them ended. Some voices are so vibrant, it is hard to think of them stilled. John McCain was a man of deep conviction and a patriot of the highest order. He was a public servant in the finest traditions of our country. And to me, he was a friend whom I'll deeply miss." Former Vice President Joe Biden "As a POW, John endured the worst of what human beings can do to one another. In politics, he fell short of his greatest ambition. At the end of his life he faced a cruel and relentless disease. And yet through it all he never lost sight of what he believed most: Country First. And the spirit that drove him was never extinguished: we are here to commit ourselves to something bigger than ourselves." Arizona Governor Doug DUCEY "John McCain is one American who will never be forgotten. He was a giant. An icon. An American hero. But here at home, we were most proud to call him a fellow Arizonan. Like so many of us, he was not born here, but his spirit, service and fierce independence shaped the state with which he became synonymous." Search Keywords: Short link: When an Air National Guard airman from New York was deployed to Iraq, he promised to bring home a puppy for his daughters when he returned in June. Sadly, Master Sgt. Christopher Raguso of Long Island was one of seven men killed in Iraq on March 15 when their helicopter crashed. But on Friday, his Gold Star family welcomed a puppy from an organization that places shelter dogs with veterans and their families. This was a good thing for us. We needed something genuinely happy." Carmela Raguso, wife and mother When Calvin, a 4-month-old black Labrador, met his new family, they were overjoyed, Fox 5 New York reported. This was a good thing for us. We needed something genuinely happy, wife and mother Carmela Raguso, 36, told Long Island's Newsday. Daughters Mila, 7, and Eva, 5, also were pleased. Asking for a puppy was Eva's idea, the mother said. "The deal she made with Daddy is that she would keep his side of the bed warm until he got home and she hasn't left," Carmella told Fox 5. "So I'm thinking maybe her and Calvin can keep her bed warm and let Mommy have some peace at night." Calvin was one of 11 dogs rescued from a high-kill shelter in Louisiana by Long Island animal group Guardians of Rescue, Newsday reported. Paws of War was the nonprofit that then placed Calvin with the military family, Fox 5 reported. Their reaction was phenomenal, Christopher McNamara, a neighbor and Paws of War volunteer who helped coordinate the surprise match, told Newsday. Im so happy for the family. "Hopefully, this dog will really change their life," Paws of War co-founder Robert Misseri said. "Pray and be grateful for our armed forces every single day. This is why we live free like this." Carmella imagined what her husband would say if he were there with them. "'Carm, keep the backyard clean don't let the dog destroy the house,'" she said. "But I think he'd be tremendously happy." Eva was certainly happy. "I don't care if he chews one of my toys, it's fine," she said. "I will never get rid of him. He's the best." A Pennsylvania mother was charged Friday after police discovered her daughter died after ingesting a drink tainted with fentanyl in a sippy cup. Jhenea Pratt, 23, was arrested and charged with homicide and engendering the welfare of a child following the death of her daughter, Charlette Napper-Talley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. Police officers discovered the 17-month-old girl was found not breathing in April at Pratts apartment in Pittsburgh's East Hills neighborhood. A pink sippy cup with a red liquid was discovered on the toddlers bed. The child was taken to the hospital where she later died. Authorities conducted tests and found fentanyl was in Charlettes blood and on the sippy cup. On Friday, her death was ruled a homicide due to fentanyl poisoning. In the months leading up to Fridays arrest, investigators discovered Pratt and her boyfriend, Albert Williams, were in charge of watching the girl the day she died, the report stated, citing court documents. Williams said he had given the girl fish sticks and a drink in her sippy cup earlier in the day before they went to pick up Pratt at school and returned home. Williams left shortly after to pick up marijuana for Pratt. The toddler appeared fine until Pratt gave her a drink in the sippy cup and put her down in bed. The 23-year-old said she smoked marijuana before checking on her daughter an hour later and finding her unresponsive. Investigators said Pratt had given the child the fentanyl-laced drink despite Williams giving her the sippy cup before noon. If Charlettes drink had the drug in it when Williams gave it to her, the girl would have died very shortly after ingesting [fentanyl], according to the report. Jhenea Pratt was the only person present during the afternoon hours that was with Charlette, the affidavit said. Pratt also told authorities that her daughter may have died after drinking a fruit-flavored drink that tasted funny to her. The couple denied using, transporting or storing heroin or fentanyl. Authorities in New York are asking for help in identifying a woman whose body was found in two separate bags at a park in the Bronx on Friday. The NYPD said that authorities received a call of a suspicious package at Crotona Park around 2 p.m., and discovered the remains inside. The remains, initially thought to be those of a dog, were taken to the medical examiner's office, according to the New York Post. A man who lives near the park, who only gave his name as Victor, told WNBC he was walking his dogs when they picked up on the scent coming from the bags. "I didn't smell it, my dogs did," Victor told WNBC. "They went straight to it, both of them." CANCUN HORROR AS 8 BODIES, INCLUDING 2 DISMEMBERED IN BAGS, FOUND ON STREETS The NYPD said the medical examiner's office will determine the cause of death, and released a sketch of the adult woman. Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). A couple accused of training children to carry out mass shootings at an "extremist Muslim" compound in the New Mexico desert singled out an Atlanta hospital as one target before police arrested them, according to court documents filed Friday. Prosecutors in Taos County, citing interviews with the 11 children found at the compound earlier this month, claimed in the filing that Jany Leveille wanted to "confront 'corrupt' institutions or individuals ... and reveal the 'truth' to these corrupt institutions or individuals." According to the prosecutors, one of the children said Leveille "specifically" mentioned Grady Hospital as a "corrupt" institution. They added that Leveille "expressed her displeasure with Grady Hospital ... due to treatment she and her mother received there." The filing also said investigators recovered a 10-page, handwritten document entitled "Phases of a Terrorist Attack" from the New Mexico compound. The document includes "instructions for the one-time terrorist," but it was not clear if a specific target was mentioned. Authorities also said Leveille and her partner, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, "would laugh and joke about dying in Jihad." Prosecutors also outlined allegations that Wahhaj and his 3-year-old son, Abdul-ghani Wahhaj, left Georgia without taking medications the boy needed to treat severe health problems, including seizures that stemmed from a lack of oxygen and blood flow at birth. The affidavit alleged that Leveille and Wahhaj witnessed the boy's seizures and knew he had a diagnosed seizure disorder but apparently gave him no medication and took no action to seek proper medical care. Prosecutors quoted an extensive account of the child's death as written in a journal entry they attributed to Leveille, indicating that Abdul-ghani died in late December 2017 as the exhausted boy's heartbeat faded in and out during a religious ritual accompanied by a reading of the Koran and aimed at casting out demonic spirits. The boy's remains were found Aug. 6 inside an underground tunnel at the compound. The prosecutors filed the document as part of their appeal of a district judge's order that could allow at least three of the five adult defendants in the case to be released on house arrest with ankle monitors. Judge Sarah Backus said the previous evidence provided by prosecutors was troubling but did not indicate any clear threat to public safety from the defendants, who have no criminal records. On Friday, prosecutors said that their new evidence proved Leveille "and possibly others of the defendants may suffer from dangerous delusions ... [and] ... have history of endangering the welfare of children." In addition to charges of child neglect against her, Leveille also is being held on accusations by federal immigration authorities that she overstayed her non-immigrant visitor visa after arriving 20 years ago in the United States from her native Haiti. She was returned Thursday to Taos from a federal holding facility in Texas. The Associated Press contributed to this report. China's largest ride-hailing company suspended one of its carpooling services and fired two executives on Sunday after a woman was raped and killed by a driver last week. Didi Chuxing said in a statement it was immensely saddened by the tragedy" and will halt its "Hitch" service on its platform starting on Monday. We are deeply sorry. We fell short of your expectations. We cant and we wont shirk from our responsibilities, the company statement said, according to Reuters. The 20-year-old woman was in the eastern Chinese city of Wenzhou when she got into a Didi carpool vehicle at 1 p.m. on Friday and then sent a message to a friend at 2 p.m. seeking help before losing contact. Police said the suspect, a 27-year-old driver called Zhong, was found at about 4 a.m. on Saturday and confessed to raping and killing the woman. Didi Chuxing has since apologized, saying it has "inescapable responsibility" for the incident and that it failed to respond promptly to a possible warning sign about the driver. In a statement, the company acknowledged that it received a complaint a day earlier from another passenger about the driver involved in the killing. YELLOW CABS NOW HAVE THEIR OWN UBER-LIKE APP That passenger had complained that the driver repeatedly asked her to sit in the front, drove to a remote spot, and followed her for a while even after she got out of the car, the company said. "The incident shows the many deficiencies with our customer service processes," the company said. Didi Chuxing is China's largest online ride-hailing platform and has 30 million rides booked daily. It acquired Uber's China business in 2016. The killing of the female passenger on Friday was the latest violent crime involving a Didi driver, only three months after another driver allegedly killed a flight attendant. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A fiery testament published Sunday calls for Pope Francis to step down, alleging that the top Holy see authority was made aware soon after becoming pope in 2013 that the former archbishop of Washington, ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, had engaged in unlawful sexual indiscretions but chose not to act. My conscience requires me also to reveal facts that I have experienced personally, concerning Pope Francis, that have a dramatic significance, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, 77, wrote in the eleven-page letter, published by the National Catholic Register and LifeSiteNews. Pope Francis must be the first to set a good example for cardinals and bishops who covered up McCarricks abuses and resign along with all of them. Vigano, who served as Vatican ambassador to the U.S. from 2011 to 2016, goes on to assert that two former ambassadors wrote to the Vatican in 2000 and 2006 to document that McCarrick had engaged sexually with seminarians and priests. As a Vatican secretariat of state at the time, Vigano advocated that the then-cardinal be penalized. He also states that around 2009 or 2010, Pope Benedict XVI confidentially imposed sanctions on McCarrick essentially prohibiting him from public ministry and to carry out a life of prayer and penance but that Francis then opted to re-instate him, cover for him and advance him to the role of a trusted counselor. The corruption has reached the very top of the Churchs hierarchy, Vigano wrote, adding that he notified Francis of the allegations against McCarrick after he was elected pope five years ago and alerted him to the instituted sanctions but his report supposedly fell on deaf ears. I implore everyone, especially bishops, to speak up in order to defeat this conspiracy of silence that is so widespread, and to report the cases of abuse they know about to the media and civil authorities. ARCHAEOLOGISTS FEAR BIBLICAL ARTIFACTS, MONUMENTS WON'T SURVIVE YEMEN WAR Following an internal investigation, the church announced in June that it has found credible evidence that the then-Cardinal McCarrick had sexually abused a teenager 47 years earlier. In July, after more charges surfaced including a proclamation from Catholic Church officials in New Jersey that secret settlements had been previously made to at least two McCarrick accusers. The 88-year-old seceded from the College of Cardinals, the first person to have done so in decades, while the Vatican said that he would be trialed under church law. Nonetheless, McCarrick has staunchly maintained his innocence and has said he was shocked when he learned of the claim involving a child almost five decades earlier. Viganos explosive communique comes amid the popes historic visit to Ireland, the first for a pontiff since 1979, which has largely been clouded by the unfolding sex abuse crisis spanning multiple countries from the U.S. to Australia to Chile. STUNNING FINDINGS ON REPORT OF CATHOLIC CHURCH ABUSE: PA. PRIESTS MOLESTED MORE THAN 1,000 CHILDREN On Saturday, Pope Francis denounced the abuse in a speech to Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in Dublin Castle, and met quietly with Irish abuse victims. On Sunday morning, he again pleaded for clemency over the long-running abuse in Irish church institutions during a visit to the Marian shrine at Knock. None of us can fail to be moved by the stories of young people who suffered abuse, were robbed of their innocence and left scarred, Francis told the tens of thousands of gatherers at the shrine. This open wound challenges us to be firm and decisive in the pursuit of truth and justice. I beg forgiveness for these sins and for the scandal and betrayal felt by so many others in Gods family. However, activists and abuse victims in Ireland have conveyed disappointment that Pope Francis has not announced definitive measures or conceded Vatican responsibility for alleged cover-ups. A representative for the Vatican press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. GA English on Sunday : News in Brief from Bonn and the region Bonn/Region A forest fire in Remagen, our live reporters getting ready for Putzchens Markt, an elderly couple lost in a car park in Bad Godesberg, and a fire in Endenich prevented from spreading - here is our news in brief on Sunday. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Cause unkown: Site in Oedingen near forest on fire Near the Remagen district of Oedingen a site by the forest is on fire. The cause of the blaze is unknown. The fire brigades from Remagen and Wachtberg were called-out. The emergency services were able to keep the fire from spreading to other parts of the forest. It took most of the night to extinguish the fire. Original text: GA Bonn +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PuMa Daily: Live reports from Putzchens Markt Only a few more days to go before Putzchens Markt kicks off again. Jana Henseler and Michael Wrobel are going to report live for the GA Bonn on a daily basis. They will allow readers a view behind the scenes, theyll explain which rides are most exciting, and what the atmosphere is like. On September 7, the PuMa reporters will be taking part in the parade too. If you dont want to miss the regular updates, check out the Facebook and Instagram pages of the General-Anzeiger. Original text: GA Bonn +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Bad Godesberg: Elderly couple gets lost in underground car park A 90-year-old couple got lost in the car park at the Schwertberger Strae in Bad Godesberg. Last weekend, the street food festival meant it was very busy all around - thus the elderly couple tried to avoid the packed streets and decided to park at the Fronhofer Galeria. But when they got a ticket and parked the car they found the stairs closed and the lift not in service. A younger couple had similar problems at the other end of the car park. The parking lot management refers to the limited services outside of business hours and did not comment on the situation. The Galeria management did explain though that the lifts were not in use so that nobody can enter the shopping center. Only the exit near Healthcity is open 24/7 - but its not signposted. And not easily accessible for people with a handicap or the elderly. Original text: Scarlet Schmitz +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Fire brigade and neighbours keep fire from spreading in Endenich Attentive neighbours and a quick response by the fire brigade avoided a more serious turn of events in a fire in Endenich on Friday night. A resident of the house rescued the owner of the burning apartment. The fire brigade was able to extinguish the fire quickly. The apartment owner and another resident of the house were admitted to hospital with suspected smoke inhalation. Original text: Andreas Dyck +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The head of Islamic State (IS) militants in Afghanistan, Abu Saad Erhabi, was killed in a strike on the group's hideouts in Nangarhar province on Saturday night, authorities said on Sunday. Ten other members of the militant group were also killed in a joint ground and air operation by Afghan and foreign forces, the National Directorate of Security in Kabul said in a statement. A large amount of heavy and light weapons and ammunition were destroyed during raids on two IS hideouts. The jihadist group's Amaq's news agency carried no comment on the issue, and there was no immediate reaction from the NATO-led Resolute Support mission that trains and advises Afghan forces. The provincial governor of Nangarhar said Erhabi was the fourth IS leader in Afghanistan to be killed since July 2017. The group has developed a stronghold in Nangarhar, on Afghanistan's porous eastern border with Pakistan, and become one of the countrys most dangerous militant groups. The local affiliate of IS, sometimes known as IS Khorasan (ISIS-K) after an old name for the region that includes Afghanistan, has been active since 2015, fighting the Taliban as well as Afghan and U.S. forces. Former ISIS-K leader Abu Sayed was killed in a strike in the eastern province of Nangarhar and Sayed's predecessors were killed joint U.S. and Afghan operations. The exact number of IS fighters in Afghanistan is difficult to calculate because they frequently switch allegiances, but the U.S. military estimates that there are about 2,000. More than 150 IS fighters surrendered to Afghan security forces this month in the northwestern province of Jawzjan, where the group is fighting for control of smuggling routes into neighbouring Turkmenistan Search Keywords: Short link: It is "very, very unlikely" that Britain will crash out of the European Union next year without an exit deal with the bloc, Ireland's Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said on Sunday. "I have said and I continue to say that I believe a no-deal Brexit is very, very unlikely," Coveney told Irish state broadcaster RTE, when asked about the publication by the British government last week of planning for a possible no-deal Brexit. But he also warned that Ireland would not change its own red lines on the key Brexit issue of the Irish border, saying Ireland's position "has remained consistent and firm ... and is not going to change." Search Keywords: Short link: bohlah at 26-08-2018 08:01 PM (3 years ago) (m) Report has it that two Nigerian girls have been allegedly killed by their employers after being trafficked to work as housemaids in Saudi Arabia. It was gathered that the murder of the two young women occurred within a space of two weeks in the respective homes where they worked as servants by their Saudi bosses. Report has it that two Nigerian girls have been allegedly killed by their employers after being trafficked to work as housemaids in Saudi Arabia. It was gathered that the murder of the two young women occurred within a space of two weeks in the respective homes where they worked as servants by their Saudi bosses. According to Satellite Times, the first Nigerian girl to be murdered was by name Omotayo who until her death in June 2018 worked as a migrant domestic worker in Riyadh. She reportedly sent this photo to her friends in a group chat called Strong Nigerian Ladies a solidarity group created by Nigerian migrant domestic workers in Saudi Arabia. Omotayo, in her June post which happened to be her last, narrated to the solidarity group her latest incident of battery in the hands of the Saudi family she worked for. Her boss and the entire family had descended on her for being disrespectful to them. The maids only offence was that she insisted her three-month salary arrears be paid to her. She had put her foot down saying she would no longer accept excuses for the non-payment of her salaries just as she said she was tired of eating leftover food. Her action was seen as an affront. Another Nigerian by name Shola, was also killed by her boss. Her story was told by Adeola Oladipo, another housemaid in the Strong Nigeria Ladies Group. Shola has been constantly assaulted and starved by her sponsor in Saudi Arabia. Whenever she demands for food they would always beat her up and she became so slim like somebody with HIV. One day her male boss came as usual to beat her while she was doing chores in the kitchen. The beating became so severe she had to defend herself with a knife. In the process the knife cut her boss and her sponsor hit her on the neck and she collapsed. When the boss saw that Shola was dying, he rushed her to the hospital where he said she suddenly fell ill. A few days later, the Nigerian gave up the ghost in the hospital. According to Satellite Times, the first Nigerian girl to be murdered was by name Omotayo who until her death in June 2018 worked as a migrant domestic worker in Riyadh. She reportedly sent this photo to her friends in a group chat called Strong Nigerian Ladies a solidarity group created by Nigerian migrant domestic workers in Saudi Arabia.Omotayo, in her June post which happened to be her last, narrated to the solidarity group her latest incident of battery in the hands of the Saudi family she worked for. Her boss and the entire family had descended on her for being disrespectful to them. The maids only offence was that she insisted her three-month salary arrears be paid to her. She had put her foot down saying she would no longer accept excuses for the non-payment of her salaries just as she said she was tired of eating leftover food. Her action was seen as an affront.Another Nigerian by name Shola, was also killed by her boss. Her story was told by Adeola Oladipo, another housemaid in the Strong Nigeria Ladies Group. Post Reply I have been reporting on latest news from Nigeria for almost 10 years now. I report on every possible news area I come across, but always ensure my reports are compiled with dignity and fact to uphold my personal values and duty as a journalist Posted: at 26-08-2018 08:01 PM (3 years ago) | Addicted Hero The marine environment is critical to Grenadas economy and closely linked to the islands income generating tourism sector. Grenadas tri-island ocean state is not just a hub of maritime activity, but also home to unique marine biodiversity Belgian GP 2018 Sunday Press Conference Podium, Belgian GP 2018 RV Press Post-Race Press Conference Transcript 1 Sebastian VETTEL (Ferrari) 2 Lewis HAMILTON (Mercedes) 3 Max VERSTAPPEN (Red Bull Racing) TRACK INTERVIEWS (Conducted by Martin Brundle) Q: Congratulations Sebastian, your 52nd victory in Formula 1, moving you ahead of the great Alain Prost, and a very important victory. Take us through the first lap, that crazy first lap, up to Les Combes. Sebastian VETTEL: Well... yeah, I mean... more wins than Alain. I think... wow. Sorry. First lap: yeah, I had a great start and then I'm not sure Lewis saw me. He pushed me quite far to the left, but I knew my chance would be later on, up the hill. I think I timed it quite well. Obviously last year I was always ending up short, so yeah, it seems like it was better this year. Obviously we had a little bit less wing. Timing is crucial and I managed that perfectly I thought but then the Force India came as well, so... But as soon as I was ahead I was quite relieved. Obviously with the safety car it was the other way round. So I thought 'well, I got that done, and now I get the safety car'. But I had a very good re-start; I had a very good exit out of the first corner, kept it clean, it was tricky with the tail wind braking for the first turn. After that a very smooth race. Lewis pushed very hard, especially in the first stint, towards the end he was very fast. In the second stint I could turn everything down a little bit and control the pace. But yeah, a great weekend. Q: I love your answers; they're like an essay! Vettel: Isn't that what you asked for! Q: They're perfect. Thank you! But then you had the pace after that to just hold him where you needed to. Vettel: Yeah, also going through traffic I think I was a bit fortunate; I got them on the straights, so I didn't lose much time. But I could see he wasn't really pushing the last 15 laps, so I could relax a little bit more. It was quite tricky. I really enjoyed the race. To get a lot of time on this track is always very nice, in a great car even better, so now obviously looking forward to next week. Q: Very well done. Lewis, seventh podium in Spa, but not the one you needed today, but still scoring 18 points. Lewis HAMILTON: Yeah, congratulations to Seb. We did everything we could, I did everything I could in the race and I think we ultimately performed quite well this weekend, but he drove past me like I wasn't even there on the straights. So we've got to keep pushing as hard as we can to try to catch up but, you know, that's all I can say. Q: You had a go into the final chicane for the safety car restart. You thought you might be able to sneak through there? Hamilton: I think I could have but again he would have sailed past me on the straight. They've got a few trick things going on in the car. I did what I could, we did what we could and we've just got to keep working. Q: Monza coming up, so their straight-line speed will be pretty handy there too. Hamilton: Yup. Q: Well, we'll see what happens next weekend. Max, congratulations. You have an awful lot of fans in the grandstands but it looked a pretty lonely race on the track? Max VERSTAPPEN: Yeah, especially after the first 10 to 12 laps, but initially it was a bit chaotic and I had to get past a few cars, but we stayed out of trouble and after that we just did our own race and of course very happy to be on the podium here. Q: This track hasn't always been kind to you but today it worked really well. That was the best you could achieve with the pace you've got. Verstappen: Yeah, before we had been a bit unlucky, it happens sometimes, but I'm very happy with today. QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR Q: (Scott Mitchell Autosport) Lewis, just picking up on something you said after the race, you referred to Sebastian and Ferrari's straight-line speed at the start. You mentioned there that it didn't seem like you were surprised to have him attack you. Are you surprised by the extent of Ferrari's engine performance with the latest upgrade? And how do you think they've achieved that? We've heard you mention them maybe doing engine tricks. Do you think they're just outsmarting Mercedes at the moment? Hamilton: Well, we came here with a pretty good upgrade and, I mean, generally, every time we do bring an upgrade they bring a bigger one. But no, we knew they were quick on the straights. They were quicker, particularly in qualifying in the last sector. We've known for the last four races or so that they've had some things on their car that's enabled them to be quicker on the straights and yeah, we've just got to work harder, I guess. Q: (Christian Menath) Just to follow up for both of you, Lewis and Seb, it looked like in the middle sector the Mercedes was much quicker in the qualifying session. What do you both think? Is it more due to the power or the aerodynamic set-up that you have less drag but more downforce? In the first sector and last sector is it only do to the power that you're losing out on the straights? Hamilton: It's just power. They're able to deploy more, somehow, than us, from Turn One to Eau Rouge, and then it carries on down the straight. And it's the same down the back straight. I'm not really sure how but that's how they are. Q: And Seb, is it just engine performance? Vettel: Well, I hope so. I hope we have more power. That's what we're working for. If that's the case then obviously well done to our engine guys. I think we've been making progress, especially the last two years, so, that's good news. I think this feels pretty straightforward. We ran a little bit less wing, were faster in sector one, sector three and sector two was a little bit slower. But I wouldn't disagree that this year in terms of power we are a lot closer than we were last year. I think last year we didn't have a chance here, despite maybe running less wing or more wing. It's good to see that we're making progress. Q: (Phil Duncan PA) Lewis, when you say 'tricks' do you mean, do you think that Ferrari are bending the rules slightly? Or do you think it's all legal? Hamilton: No, we all have trick things on our cars. Trick is just a word for something special, I guess. Q: Something special that's legal? Hamilton: Just something special. I don't know. I don't know what's on their car so I couldn't tell you either way. Q: (Jaap de Groot De Telegraaf) Question for Max. Was there extra pressure on you this weekend. It's your home race, a lot of Dutch fans. Can you tell me something about the pressure? You tried yesterday with the rain to gamble all or nothing and today you delivered by getting the podium. How relieved are you? First how you dealt with the pressure and second how relieved you are delivering to the fans by coming third? Verstappen: There was no extra pressure. I just enjoy driving here at Spa in general. It has nothing to do with the fans, they just give you extra motivation and I just like to see it next to the track: that much orange. I think it shouldn't give you extra pressure. But, yeah, today was a good recovery after yesterday when we were unlucky in qualifying. So, of course, happy to be on the podium here. Of course, it was also great to see in the last lap, all the fans cheering you on. So really happy with that. Q: (Livio Oricchio) Lewis, we saw an important advantage of Ferrari here today during the race. Do you think it's related to the correct risks of Spa Francorchamps and next weekend Monza? And when we have another circuit like Mexico or Austin, maybe it can be less than we saw here? Hamilton: No, I think they seem to have it where there are straights. You've got Mexico, long straights, they will have the advantage there. They generally have the advantage at places like Singapore. The next race, with this kind of performance they have on straights, we might struggle to match them there. We gave it everything we had today. We were, generally, often quicker in the middle sector in qualifying but for some reason, I think in the race even then, I couldn't keep up. For them to pull over a second gap, that's some serious pace they had today so we've just got to keep working hard and keep pushing. Q: (Lennart Bloemhof De Volkskrant) Max, how special is it for you to finish third here 24 years after your father did the same thing at Spa? Verstappen: I think it's always nice to be on the podium. Yeah. I mean, 24 years ago, I don't think my Dad even cares at all. Also I don't really. Vettel: 24 years ago he cared, I think. Verstappen: 24 years ago he cared but now he's like, 'you know what, it's done. I'm retired.' Yeah, it's always good to be on the podium honestly. Q: (Ben Hunt The Sun) Lewis, just reading into what you're saying to your answers with regards to the trick things, will you or Mercedes be speaking to the FIA... Hamilton: I'm not saying that there's anything illegal on. I'm just saying we all have something trick. There's probably something trick on... Trick is just something that helps you bring that extra bit of performance. That's all I mean. I don't mean anything to it so please don't read into it and please don't twist my words and say that I say they're doing anything illegal because they're not. They just outperformed us today and we've got to work harder, but there are things that they have on the car that we might not have on the car and vice versa and we've got to try and find out what and improve on that. That's it. Q: (Scott Mitchell Autosport) Lewis and Sebastian, obviously the restart presented different challenges for the pair of you: Lewis's chance of attack, Seb you needed to worry about defending. Can you just talk us through the sort of approach mentally to that restart and then how you handled it, obviously into La Source and down the Kemmel straight? Vettel: Yeah, I think it was one of my worst restarts initially to surprise Lewis. I think he was sharp and obviously I knew that I had nothing to fear because the safety car lane or where the race basically restarts is not braking for turn 18. Also, when I realised the initial bit that it's not great, also caught some wheelspin that I didn't want, but I didn't want to slow down again to then surprise him again or get a second chance because I don't think that's fair. Then I focused on the last corner, the last pair and that worked really well plus turn one where we had some tail wind the whole race so I was making sure I knew where the wind was going and again, got it really right and had a great exit and once I was told the gap, which was around 0.9s exit of turn one, I knew that I should be safe but then you never know with a little bit of headwind up that long straight and obviously looked in the mirror, tried to see him when I could and saw that he wasn't a threat so I was happy when I went into turn five and stayed ahead. Hamilton: It started out well. I probably could have gone up the inside into the last corner, maybe, just about, but again, they would just overtake us on the straight so I held back and tried to stay close but he just pulled away out of the last corner and then through turn one they've been quicker than us all weekend there and out of it so by the time I came out of turn one, he was quite far ahead. Q: (Arjan Schouten AD) Max, is this result also proof for you that in the last eight races there are still things possible, despite the difficult split with Renault in which you are involved? Verstappen: We just try to make the best of it 'til the end of the race. Hopefully on a street circuit we can be closer or at least fight them. Yeah, let's see. North Korea said on Sunday it had expelled a Japanese tourist detained during a trip to the country. The state-run KCNA news said North Korea had expelled Tomoyuki Sugimoto on humanitarian grounds after detaining him on suspicion of breaking the country's laws. It did not say specifically what Sugimoto was suspected of having done. In early August Japanese media reported that a Japanese man had been detained in North Korea, and government officials were trying to gather information on his safety. Japan, in addition to demanding that North Korea abandon its nuclear weapons and missile programs, has also sought the return of abductees kidnapped during the 1970s and 1980s. It has said it will not provide any economic aid to Pyongyang until that issue is resolved and normal diplomatic relations have been established. Search Keywords: Short link: